All posts by Gordon Hunsucker
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5 Photography Tips
5 Photography Tips
Light:
- Golden Hour Magic: Shoot during the "golden hour" - the hour after sunrise and before sunset - for soft, warm light that enhances colors and creates beautiful shadows.
- Experiment with Shadows: Don't shy away from harsh light; instead, use it creatively. Experiment with shadows to add depth and drama to your photos.
- Reflectors and Diffusers: Use reflectors to bounce light onto your subject and diffusers to soften harsh sunlight, providing more flattering illumination.
Exposure Triangle:
- Understanding ISO: Know when to adjust your ISO settings. Lower ISO settings (e.g., 100-400) are ideal for bright conditions, while higher ISO (e.g., 800-3200) is useful in low-light situations, but be mindful of noise.
- Shutter Speed for Motion: Choose the right shutter speed to freeze action or capture motion blur intentionally. Faster shutter speeds freeze action, while slower speeds create a sense of movement.
- Aperture for Depth: Experiment with different aperture settings to control depth of field. Wider apertures (lower f-stop numbers) produce a shallower depth of field, great for portraits, while narrower apertures (higher f-stop numbers) keep more of the scene in focus, ideal for landscapes.
Focus:
- Focus Modes: Understand and utilize different focus modes such as single point, continuous, and manual focus to ensure your subject is sharp and well-defined.
- Back Button Focus: Consider using back button focus for more control over focusing, separating focus activation from the shutter button.
- Focus and Recompose: When shooting portraits or still life, focus on your subject's eyes and then recompose the shot if necessary, ensuring the most critical part of your image remains sharp.
Composition & Perspective:
- Rule of Thirds: Utilize the rule of thirds to create balanced and visually pleasing compositions. Place key elements along the gridlines or at their intersections for more dynamic images.
- Leading Lines: Incorporate leading lines into your compositions to guide the viewer's eye through the image, adding depth and visual interest.
- Change Your Perspective: Don't be afraid to get low or high for unique perspectives. Experiment with different angles and viewpoints to capture scenes from fresh and unexpected angles.
Equipment
Camera Gear:
- Invest in Quality Lenses: While the camera body is essential, lenses often have a more significant impact on image quality. Invest in high-quality lenses suited to your photography style.
- Tripod for Stability: A sturdy tripod is invaluable for low light situations, long exposures, and achieving tack-sharp images. Invest in one with adjustable legs and a ball head for versatility.
- Remote Shutter Release: A remote shutter release or cable release eliminates camera shake when shooting long exposures or self-portraits, ensuring sharper images.
- Lens Filters: Experiment with different lens filters like polarizers for reducing glare and reflections, ND filters for long exposures, and graduated ND filters for balancing exposure in landscape photography.
Lighting Equipment:
- External Flash or Speedlight: Invest in an external flash or speedlight for more control over lighting, especially in low-light situations or when shooting indoors.
- Light Modifiers: Diffusers, soft boxes, and umbrellas help soften and shape light, providing more flattering illumination for portraits.
- Reflectors: Reflectors bounce light onto your subject, filling in shadows and creating a more balanced lighting setup, especially useful in outdoor photography.
Accessories:
- Camera Bag: Invest in a quality camera bag to protect your gear and keep it organized while on the move. Look for one with padded compartments, weather resistance, and comfortable straps.
- Memory Cards and Storage: Always carry extra memory cards and a portable hard drive or laptop for backing up your images while on location.
- Lens Cleaning Kit: Keep your lenses and camera sensor clean with a lens cleaning kit containing lens wipes, a blower brush, and sensor swabs.
- Camera Strap: Consider upgrading to a comfortable and secure camera strap, especially if you spend long hours shooting. Look for padded straps with adjustable length for comfort.
With the right equipment, you can expand your creative possibilities and capture stunning images in various conditions.
Healthy Summer Tips
10 Healthy Summer Tips
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you're spending time outdoors or engaging in physical activities. You can also include hydrating foods like watermelon, cucumbers, and oranges in your diet.
- Protect Your Skin: Use sunscreen with a high SPF to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially if you're swimming or sweating. Wearing hats, sunglasses, and lightweight clothing can also provide additional protection.
- Eat Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Take advantage of the abundance of fresh produce available during the summer months. Incorporate a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables into your meals to provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Stay Active: Summer is a great time to engage in outdoor activities like swimming, hiking, biking, or playing sports. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week to maintain your fitness level and overall health.
- Practice Food Safety: When picnicking or barbecuing, be mindful of food safety practices to prevent foodborne illnesses. Keep perishable foods refrigerated until ready to eat, avoid cross-contamination, and ensure meats are cooked to the proper internal temperature.
- Get Adequate Rest: Don't underestimate the importance of sleep for your overall well-being. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to recharge your body and mind.
- Manage Stress: Summer can be a busy time with vacations, family gatherings, and other activities. Practice stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to maintain your mental health and overall balance.
- Stay Cool: Beat the heat by staying indoors during the hottest part of the day, usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you need to be outside, seek shade, wear lightweight, breathable clothing, and use cooling accessories like handheld fans or cooling towels.
- Stay Safe in the Sun: In addition to wearing sunscreen, take other precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Stay hydrated, take frequent breaks in the shade, and listen to your body's signals.
- Stay Connected with Healthcare Providers: If you have any chronic health conditions or concerns, stay in touch with your healthcare provider during the summer months. They can provide personalized advice and ensure you're taking appropriate precautions for your health needs.
By following these tips, you can enjoy a healthy and vibrant summer season!
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Earth Day April 22/2024
Earth Day 2024
Earth Day is an annual event that takes place on April 22nd to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The first Earth Day was held in 1970, and it is now celebrated in over 190 countries around the world.
In 2024, Earth Day will fall on a Monday, April 22nd.
Earth Day 2024 is expected to be a significant event, with many organizations and individuals planning to take part in activities and initiatives aimed at promoting environmental sustainability. One of the main themes of Earth Day 2024 is "Planet vs. Plastics", which aims to raise awareness of the harmful impacts of plastic pollution on human and planetary health. Previous events have featured a range of activities, such as tree planting, clean-up campaigns, and educational events.
If you're interested in getting involved in Earth Day 2024, there are many ways to do so. One option is to check out the website of EARTHDAY.ORG, which is a leading organization that coordinates Earth Day activities around the world. EARTHDAY.ORG has a variety of resources available to help individuals and organizations plan their own Earth Day events, including a "How to Do Earth Day" toolkit.
Other ways to get involved in Earth Day 2024 might include volunteering for a local clean-up event, organizing a tree planting or gardening project, or simply spreading awareness about environmental issues on social media.
Overall, Earth Day is an important opportunity to come together and take action to protect our planet. By getting involved in Earth Day 2024, you can help make a positive impact on the environment and build a more sustainable future for all.
How Your JavaScript Can Benefit Your SEO
If you’ve ever been to a stunning, interactive website that makes you simultaneously want to throw confetti in the air and share it with your friends, there’s a good chance it was built with JavaScript.
If you’ve ever been to a stunning, interactive website that makes you simultaneously want to throw confetti in the air and share it with your friends, there’s a good chance it was built with JavaScript.
In fact, any site that uses Google Analytics (and other tracking tools) or features interactive elements or web applications also uses JavaScript, a nearly omnipresent coding language. The possibilities are limitless.
The downside? If done wrong, it can tank your SEO. So, how can you use JavaScript SEO to your advantage and boost your search performance? Let’s dive in.
How to Make Your JavaScript SEO-Friendly
What is JavaScript SEO?
Before defining JavaScript SEO — let’s talk about the most common use cases for JavaScript. In addition to website development, JavaScript is an excellent option for gaming, computer programs, and more.
In web development, it’s primarily used for an interactive website, web and mobile apps, and dynamic content.
Once you know how the programming language is used, JavaScript SEO is simply about ensuring search engines can easily find any site built with JavaScript.
If your understanding of SEO is primarily limited to keyword optimization, you’re far from alone. There are ultimately three types of SEO — on-page, off-page, and technical.
On-page SEO focuses on the content that’s on your site (keyword optimization). Off-page SEO is concerned with your site’s reputation, popularity, and usefulness — and is mainly out of your control.
JavaScript SEO falls under the third category — technical SEO — which focuses on ensuring your site is searchable, indexable, and crawlable so people searching for the information you offer can find it.
Want to learn more about On Page and Technical SEO? Grab our free tutorial here!
How to Make Your JavaScript SEO-Friendly
Most of the JavaScript used on websites, including yours and mine, won’t significantly impact SEO. The biggest challenge comes when your developer uses JavaScript to build sections with lots of important information or entire pages.
The reason is simple: JavaScript can make it more difficult for search engines to read your site.
1. Use dynamic rendering (sparingly) as a workaround.
One of the most significant issues with JavaScript SEO and indexing relates to how your code is rendered — or how Google indexes (or doesn’t index) your site.
That means you must understand how your site can be rendered — server-side rendering, client-side rendering, and dynamic rendering.
Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
What it is: When JavaScript is rendered on the server before appearing in your browser or to Google’s crawlers.
How it affects SEO: It reduces the load time for your page’s most important content, which increases SEO performance.
The downside of SSR: SSR can drastically increase the time required if you need user inputs.
Client-Side Rendering (CSR)
What it is: CSR is when JavaScript is rendered on your browser with only a basic version of HTML, and the rest of the content is delivered via JavaScript.
How it affects SEO: It reduces indexability because most of your content is delivered via JavaScript.
The downside of CSR: While rendering is faster, search performance is much lower, so you’ll need to focus on giving Google as much information as possible so it can index your content appropriately.
Expert tip: Kristina Azarenko, a leading technical SEO expert, says, “Using client-side rendering means Googlebot can’t access any content.
A much better and more successful approach is using server-side rendering, so Googlebot also serves the content from the server.”
Dynamic Rendering
What it is: Dynamic rendering identifies bots that cannot render JavaScript and delivers an SSR version.
How it affects SEO: It allows bots to index a version of your content, which makes it more findable.
The downside of Dynamic Rendering: Ultimately, dynamic rendering is a workaround that Google says shouldn’t be a long-term solution because “it creates additional complexities and resource requirements.”
Dynamic rendering can be used by sites that experience rapid content changes or have content that uses JavaScript that is incompatible with browsers. It’s not the best fit for most sites and doesn’t need to be used on every site page.
2. Use unique, descriptive meta content.
Make sure that Google can easily find out what each page includes using meta content, page titles and meta descriptions. This includes
- Title tags.
- Meta descriptions.
- Alt text and attributes for images.
Adding meta content lets Google figure out what your site or page is about, making indexing your site and pages more straightforward and accurate.
3. Implement lazy loading.
Lazy loading speeds up page loading by serving content only as needed or about to be read. It’s particularly helpful for loading large images or content that requires lots of resources.
Your images and resource-heavy content and elements won’t get loaded with the rest of the top-of-page content, but as users read through the content, they’ll load.
And if your user doesn’t read to the bottom of the page, you won’t load unnecessary images.
The downside is that if you have someone scrolling quickly, they might end up waiting for images to load. What’s more, it may affect how Google sees your web page. So, if you follow this practice, do so carefully.
4. Make sure your JavaScript is compatible with Google.
Go into your Search Console and paste the URL of your specific page into the URL Inspection tool to see how Google renders it.
Want another tool to test? You can also use Google Rich Results Test and Google Mobile Friendly Test to see the rendered HTML.
Expert tip: David Zimmerman of Reliable Acorn recommends using tools like the Google Mobile Friendly Test because they show you what the Google spider sees.
Zimmerman adds that just because “your developer ‘read somewhere’ that Google can read JavaScript doesn’t mean that they understand how to write an SEO-friendly JavaScript website.”
The bottom line here? It’s a good idea to stay on top of things.
5. Fix any search-related errors.
You can preview the tested page once you confirm Google has indexed the page. Google only renders the content it can see, so if the tested page doesn’t appear correctly, Google won’t be able to index it.
Best of all, you can discover what’s happening and why and take steps to resolve the problem.
6. Fix and retest.
Once you’ve fixed any errors related to JavaScript rendering and compatibility, you can use the URL inspection tool to ensure your JavaScript works correctly in live mode and request that Google indexes the updated code.
JavaScript SEO Best Practices
I caught up with several JavaScript SEO experts to learn about their best practices, and we’ll get to those in a moment. However, first and foremost, make sure you’re operating on the latest information.
1. Get a primer on JavaScript SEO.
A lot goes into JavaScript SEO, and with browsers undergoing regular updates, if you haven’t done JavaScript SEO in a while, you may need a primer.
If you need to revisit what search engines are looking for when it comes to JavaScript or get detailed instructions about what to fix — and how — Google breaks down everything you need to know in Google Search Central.
It’s the secret weapon of anyone with a website because it tells you exactly how to make your website SEO-friendly — and it includes an entire section dedicated to JavaScript.
2. Put all important content into the source code.
Remember how I mentioned that Google can only index what it can see? To ensure your site is indexable, follow Azarenko’s advice and “make sure JavaScript issues don’t break your SEO efforts.”
She recommends “ensuring all-important content is available in the source code (i.e. before JavaScript is executed). This allows Google to ‘read’ your information without depending on JavaScript.
Include all metadata (title, meta robots, canonical tags, etc.), body copy, and structured data.”
3. Regularly test your site for JavaScript SEO-friendliness.
Even small edits to your JavaScript code or content can change how Google sees your site. And this isn’t limited to your JavaScript — using tools like Google Search Console to monitor page performance can help ensure your site stays at the top of search results.
Expert tip: Tristan Harris recommends using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse to test SEO performance and identify improvement areas.
Best Practice #4. Stay on top of Google’s Guidelines.
Google regularly updates its algorithms — and, therefore, its best practices. With that in mind, paying attention to Google’s page for updates is a good idea.
Zimmerman recommends using a page monitor like Hexomatic to keep up with Google’s guidelines for JavaScript SEO, “If the page monitor shows me Google has made an update, I check it out to see if it should change my processes in any way.”
Best Practice #5. Follow best on-page SEO practices.
Sure, I’m focusing on JavaScript SEO specifically here, but the key principles of SEO still apply. While JavaScript can reduce the amount of content search engines see, ensuring your content is optimized for best SEO practices is still essential.
Expert tip: Dave Ver Meer recommends disabling JavaScript.
“It’s the quickest way to identify a range of larger issues. When you visit pages on your site, you can find red flags like missing content because it’s not being rendered before the page loads and if some links don’t work,” Ver Meer says.
Trying It Out
To test my new skills in a relatively (read: completely) safe environment, I went to my sometimes-friend, sometimes-nemesis ChatGPT.
My prompt: “I want to create a Javascript code form to collect leads. Please use fun placeholders for name, email, budget, and message.”
GPT’s response: “Certainly! Below is a simple example of a JavaScript form that collects leads. This form includes fields for name, email, budget, and a message. I’ve added fun placeholders, as you requested.
The form also includes basic validation to ensure that the name, email, and message fields are not left empty.”
Here’s the HTML for the form.
As for the fun placeholders? Well, GPT thought Iron Man would be fun. Here’s what the full code in HTML looks like:
And here’s the JavaScript:
Of course, ChatGPT had a disclaimer:
Now for the fun part. Let’s see how ChatGPT optimizes this JavaScript for SEO.
Unsurprisingly, the HTML version of the code was considerably more robust. I’ve broken it up into two sections so you can compare the differences. (I’ll spell them out below.)
The body looks quite similar, with most changes related to the hypothetical lead gen page content.
Now, let’s look at the updated JavaScript.
Does it look familiar? Let’s compare the code side by side.
They’re identical. Surprised?
Here’s why.
My brand-new JavaScript code is responsible for the functionality of my brand-new lead gen form.
And only the functionality.
It’s not responsible for the structure or “page” content. That’s where the HTML comes in. And that’s also where recommendations for SEO optimization apply.
How I Used ChatGPT to Optimize JavaScript SEO
Are you wondering about the specific changes ChatGPT recommended to optimize the JavaScript SEO?
Change 1. Add a page title & meta description.
Change 2. Use heading tags.
Change 3. Label form fields for SEO and accessibility.
Change 4. Add alt text to images.
Change 5. Use responsive design to make the page mobile-friendly.
Change 6. Add schema markup to help search engines understand the content of your page.
The Bottom Line of JavaScript SEO
Deciding to use JavaScript on your website requires understanding the implications for SEO and planning accordingly to ensure your site remains SEO friendly — or findable, crawlable, and indexable by search engines.
This is not meant to caution you against JavaScript. On the contrary, to make the most of your interactive features, it’s necessary to find and hire developers who understand JavaScript and SEO and can help you stand out while getting found.
The biggest takeaway? The most important thing you can do to make your JavaScript SEO-friendly is to ensure that it renders correctly and that your page HTML is structured to provide as much information as possible about the page’s content.
Perhaps surprisingly (and perhaps not), the rules of on-page SEO apply to JavaScript SEO — the key lies in ensuring search engines can “see” your content.
8 Email Disclaimer Examples I Love (For Your Inspiration)
If I reach the footer of an email in my inbox, it usually means one of two things: 1) The email was so engaging I read all the way to the end (that’s rare), or 2) I scrolled down to unsubscribe.
If I reach the footer of an email in my inbox, it usually means one of two things: 1) The email was so engaging I read all the way to the end (that’s rare), or 2) I scrolled down to unsubscribe.
There, sandwiched between social icons and the company logo, lies the humble email disclaimer.
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An email disclaimer is a legal statement that protects the sender from some legal liability. Legal disclosures may seem like the least exciting part of an email marketer’s job, but violating regulations can be costly.
I’m going to show you the types of email disclosures, examples of each, and best practices for a compliant, user-friendly disclosure.
Table of Contents
- What is an email disclaimer?
- When To Use an Email Disclaimer
- The Best Email Disclaimers
- Getting Disclaimers Right
What is an email disclaimer?
An email disclaimer is the text and links at the bottom of an email that contain essential information for the recipients, including the company’s terms and conditions, privacy policy, and how to unsubscribe.
Emails sent by an individual should place any email disclaimers in the signature, while mass emails should embed disclaimers in the footer. Setting them up this way means they appear consistent in every email you send.
When To Use an Email Disclaimer
When you need an email disclaimer, which ones to use depends largely on what business you’re in and where your customers live. Here are a few factors to consider:
- The purpose of the email (commercial or transactional).
- Whether your industry has specific regulations, like HIPAA.
- Whether your email contains trademarks or copyrighted information.
- Where you and your customers are located.
Location-Specific Email Regulations
Most countries have regulations concerning emails, including:
- CAN-SPAM Act (United States).
- CASL (Canada).
- GDPR (European Union).
- UK-GDPR (United Kingdom).
- California (CCPA), Colorado, Utah, and Virginia all have email laws that took effect in 2023.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where your company is headquartered. If you have one person on your email address from any of the above places, you need to comply with the regulations for that area.
Working in marketing and communications for 15 years, I’ve worked with my fair share of attorneys. While it can feel creatively stifling to be told what you must and can’t include in your emails, it protects both you and your company.
Even the weakest of these regulations, CAN-SPAM, carries strict penalties. You can be fined up to $51,744 per email for any violations. In Europe or Canada, violations can run into the millions.
GDPR, CASL, and UK-GDPR are broad regulations covering how you should store and manage customer data (including email addresses). Across all these regulations, you should include in your email at a minimum:
- Company name.
- A physical address.
- Instructions or a link to unsubscribe.
In many cases, that’s just the beginning.
The Best Email Disclaimers
Just because email disclaimers are legal statements doesn’t mean they need to be boring or unintelligible. In fact, it’s your job to find a balance between compliance and clarity for users.
The email disclaimer is also valuable real estate. It’s a place where readers know to look for vital information about the sender: who they are, how to learn more, and how to engage with the brand by managing email preferences, etc.
It’s an often-overlooked place to build trust with your customers.
1. Email Confidentiality Notice
You’ve most likely seen a confidentiality disclaimer from someone like an accountant or attorney.
A typical notice might read, “This email and any information, files, or attachments are for the exclusive and confidential use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient…”
While legal experts differ on how much protection this affords the sender, it’s still a good idea to include it if your emails include personal information.
You might need it if: The email communication includes any personal information other than the person’s name. This could include membership numbers, payment information, or identifying information like date of birth.
Example: Expedia Group
The disclaimer in this footer is short and to the point, ensuring readers see it and understand why it’s important. I’m more likely to read the text because of its easy-to-consume length. There’s not too much to wrap my mind around.
What I like: The confidentiality disclaimer in Expedia’s standard email footer is much shorter and simpler than what you typically see. However, it appeals to common sense and shares the why: “This email and its links may contain your personal information; please only forward to people you trust.”
2. Privacy Policy
What’s the difference between confidentiality and privacy?
Confidentiality is an ethical responsibility preventing the disclosure of information, while privacy is a human right. This refers to respect for a person’s private life, home, and correspondence.
A privacy policy (or privacy notice) is a legal document that explains how an organization handles personal data. Both GDPR and CCPA (California) require that companies include a privacy policy in emails.
Because these are long, most brands link out to the full policy. The policy should be in plain language, concise, transparent, and in an easily accessible form.
You might need it if: Any of your recipients lives in Europe, California, Colorado, Utah, or Virginia, or you want to offer more transparency on how customer data is used.
Example: Hyatt Group
The brief privacy policy here links to the full policy if anyone wants to access it to understand how exactly Hyatt is using their private information.
It also clearly states what rights their clients have, “…to access, to rectify and to object for legitimate reasons to the processing of your data.”
Sharing this information allows Hyatt customers to know that they still have rights regarding how their data is used, even though it is already supposed to be protected by the privacy policy.
What I like: Hyatt links its privacy policy to a company value — respecting customers. I like that they also give a way to contact them with feedback or questions about data use.
3. Unmonitored Email Disclaimer
What happens when a customer replies to your mass email?
If you use an email platform to send email distributions, you can make your reply-to email any email address that you want — including one that doesn’t match the sender’s email.
Small businesses often use a generic email address or even the founder’s email as a reply-to email so they can keep all their responses in one inbox.
Larger companies that use a CRM or ticketing system often want their customers to submit questions and support tickets a different way — so their reply-to email is unmonitored.
If that’s you, you need to let your customers know how to get in touch with you instead of replying.
You might need it if: The reply-to email is different from the sender email or is unmonitored.
Example: TripAdvisor
When writing a newsletter, people might have questions. And, when those questions arise, recipients may want to hit reply.
If they receive a bounce back unexpectedly, they may feel abandoned — completely left in the dark. A disclaimer can help you direct them to the right place.
Tripadvisor lets email recipients know that this email address cannot receive responses and directs them to their Help Center instead.
What I like: TripAdvisor’s email disclaimer about replies is concise but clear. They give an alternate way for customers to get in touch with TripAdvisor if they need to.
4. Copyright and Trademark Notices
If your company owns trademarks or copyrighted information, it’s important to protect your intellectual property. Adding a copyright and trademark notice lets your readers know that the content can’t be duplicated without permission.
You might need it if: Your email references any trademarks or copyrighted information owned by you or anyone else. This could include references to partners, products, platforms (like the Apple or Google Play stores), and more.
Example: Adobe
Adobe’s trademark notice is easy to read and comprehensive. It lists the top trademarks protected by law and links to a full list of trademark guidelines.
You don’t need a legal background to understand what it’s saying — don’t use the company’s branding irresponsibly. You can also tell what belongs to Adobe and what does not.
What I like: This tidy little phrase protects Adobe from accidental trademark violation: “All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.”
5. Terms and Conditions/Offer Restrictions
If you run email promotions, this disclaimer is for you.
The terms and conditions in your email footer act as the fine print for consumers. Let’s say that you run a promotion for a free tumbler with every purchase.
You need to let your customer know when the promotion ends and if there are any location restrictions or minimum purchase amount.
You don’t want to take up space in your header and body copy for every detail, but they’re still important to include — hence the email disclaimer.
You might need it if: You sell products or services or are running any kind of a sale, contest, or sweepstakes. Terms and conditions are particularly important if you offer any financial products like credit card offers or are running sweepstakes that might have tax implications.
Example: Primary
Some promotional disclaimers include big blocks of text with promotional periods, location restrictions, and more offer-specific details.
Instead of unique disclaimers for each promotion, online retailer Primary uses this blanket approach: “All promotions are limited time only, while supplies last. Sale prices as marked and subject to change.”
What I like: To further protect themselves from liability, Primary includes the phrase that they reserve “the right to modify or cancel promotions at any time.”
6. HIPAA Email Disclaimer
If you’re in the healthcare industry, you are no doubt already familiar with HIPAA.
At first glance, a HIPAA email disclaimer looks a lot like a confidentiality notice.
It often contains the same language that the email contains confidential information that is only intended for the recipient.
HIPAA email disclaimers go a step further by describing the different ways the company may communicate with you and share medical information and telling you how to change your preferences if you need to.
Adding a disclaimer isn’t enough to make your email HIPAA-compliant — for instance, customers must opt-in, and emails must be encrypted — but it’s a start.
You might need it if: You’re a healthcare provider or insurer transmitting information electronically.
Example: Ascension St. Vincent
The HIPAA disclaimer here describes in plain language how the medical practice communicates with patients and examples of confidential information it might send. It gives a clear way to contact them to update communication preferences.
What I like: The disclaimer includes responsibility for the recipient in the case of a mis-send. They need to inform Ascension St. Vincent and then delete it immediately and permanently.
7. Unsubscribe Link
When a customer wants to end the relationship, make it easy for them to find it with an email disclaimer.
A one-click unsubscribe option is the best practice, but you can give other options like unsubscribing by email or an email preferences center.
Keep it light. You can inject a little personality here, like the example below, but don’t take it to the extreme where you’re shaming the recipient.
Pro tip: To prevent unsubscribes, offer context on how the recipient landed on your email list in the first place, for example: “This email was sent to you because you signed up for our newsletter at [website URL].”
You might need it if: You send mass emails. That’s it. Unsubscribe instructions are required in emails by law in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
Example: Chubbies
What I like: Men’s retailer Chubbies adds personality and humor into its unsubscribe text but still makes it clear how to take yourself off the list. If you take the time to get to this portion of the email, you can have a little laugh. This was a clever way to add an extra splash of personality to the newsletter.
8. Combo Disclaimers
In most cases, companies have multiple disclaimers they need to include in their footer.
The more that you have, the more important it becomes to reduce the text and lay out your disclaimers in a way that readers can easily scan and find what they need.
You might need it if: You have more than one disclaimer you need to include.
Example: Ikea
Ikea works in dozens of countries and hundreds of markets, so it keeps its disclaimers simple and uses links to send users to its contact, privacy policy, and unsubscribe pages.
What I like: Ikea provides exactly what it needs to while keeping its footer clean and to the point. The company blends best practices and several types of disclaimers to create something comprehensive. Don’t be afraid to mix and match.
Getting Disclaimers Right
If you’re like me, writing legal documents is outside of your wheelhouse. Don’t worry. With some outside resources, you can make your email program compliant without compromising quality.
1. Work with your legal department.
I’ve worked for companies regulated by the SEC and FTC whose legal teams wanted to review every single piece of marketing collateral we produced.
Some of the attorneys I worked with were fantastic, while others didn’t get it (one wanted to add disclaimers longer than my ad’s character count).
To avoid conflict and overbearing reviews, be proactive in building a relationship with your legal counsel.
Ask them to educate you on legal issues for email communications, to create a list of terms for you to avoid, and to help create your disclaimers.
2. Avoid legalese.
Legal writing is like its own language. It’s difficult to avoid legalese in writing documents, but it isn’t impossible. Ask your legal team if you can edit some of the disclosures into plain language (think simple words, short sentences, active voice).
While your company’s privacy policy may be out of your control, your emails aren’t. Give a short paraphrase on why your privacy policy matters before linking to it in your email. Here’s an example:
We care about your privacy! That’s why we won’t ever sell your data to a third party. View our privacy policy.
3. Know when to link out.
In emails, particularly on mobile, sentences quickly turn into long walls of text. Email disclaimers should be user-friendly and scannable with a clean design. That way, your readers can find what they need quickly without frustration.
Many companies decide to provide links to their privacy policy, email preferences center, and contact page. For complex businesses, this keeps everything simple, clean, and easy to find.
4. Create a comprehensive compliance program.
Last, remember that email disclaimers are just one way to protect your business. Adding a HIPAA disclaimer isn’t enough on its own to make you HIPAA-compliant, just like adding a privacy policy won’t make you compliant with GDPR.
These disclaimers are one small piece of the big picture which is data collection and management. Put a strategy in place to implement best practices for email marketing and keep your team abreast of regulatory changes.
It’s a big task, but the payoff of greater customer trust and business protection makes it worth it.
I Asked ChatGPT to Write 3 Marketing Job Inquiry Emails — Here’s What I Got
As a full-time freelancer, I’ve sent out hundreds of job inquiry emails.
As a full-time freelancer, I’ve sent out hundreds of job inquiry emails.
While I also reply to freelance role ads, I know first-hand that you can win some of the best projects by being proactive and running outreach. In fact, that’s how I started cooperating with some of the world’s most renowned brands.
Just because a company you’ve got your eyes on hasn’t advertised a role doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not open to bringing the right person on board. Your job, however, is to grab their attention and show why you’re a good fit for the organization.
Sound a bit scary to get in touch with a company that isn’t actively looking?
Well, you might change your mind if you look at the number of applications businesses receive the second they post an opening on LinkedIn – it’s in the hundreds. And that’s scary.
If you don’t know how to go about creating a job inquiry email, then keep reading — I’ll tell you all about it.
Table of Contents
- What is a job inquiry email?
- How to Write a Job Inquiry Email
- What ChatGPT Wrote Me
- Writing My Own Job Inquiry Email
What is a job inquiry email?
A job inquiry email is a message you send to a company you’d like to work for but doesn’t currently have any job openings for someone in your field.
The email acts as a letter of interest, where you introduce yourself, mention your qualifications, and briefly explain what makes you a good fit for the organization.
You also add a CV in the attachment so that the company can get a better idea of who you are.
How to Write a Job Inquiry Email
It’s time for some practice. Here are a few tips that I follow whenever I write a job inquiry email.
1. Research the company first.
I’m assuming that you usually send a job inquiry to a company that you like and admire, so you know a thing or two about them.
But that’s not enough. You need to do proper research, which goes beyond visiting their site and quickly scrolling through their social media profile.
Google the brand and search for any interesting articles that you could refer to in your email, like being recognized as the best place to work.
Alternatively, you can try to find out who is responsible for recruitment and do a little digging on the person you’ll be contacting. It will be easier for you to build a connection. A generic email will not get you far.
Kimberley Tyler-Smith, an executive at Resume Worded, says, “A generic email gets lost in the inbox. Showing you’ve researched the company, their challenges, and their recent campaigns, you instantly put yourself in the ‘intriguing’ pile.”
Tyler-Smith suggests that applicants dig into industry publications, social media, and news mentions. Find out the company’s current projects, challenges, or recent successes.
“Make it clear how your skills and experience directly address the company’s challenges or opportunities. Did you love their latest marketing push? Did you notice a gap they’re not filling? Tie your skills and experience directly to these. Then offer a solution or suggestion,” she says.
Since marketing is about showcasing the brand, a candidate’s email needs to demonstrate that they have properly researched the business.
They can do it by referencing the brand’s messaging, the digital outlets it utilizes, and mentioning its history within their email’s context, says Christy Pyrz, chief marketing officer at Paradigm Peptides.
“By focusing on candidates who have shown in their job inquiry email that they have taken the time to research the brand, recruiters will find a hire that is the right person for the marketing position,” says Pyrz.
2. Start with a strong opening.
Most professionals receive anywhere between 50 to 100 emails every day. That’s a lot, especially considering how little time most of us have in between deep-focus work and meetings to check our inboxes.
Your email’s subject line and preview text need to stand out to catch the hiring manager’s eye and drive them to open it. Email clients typically display 50-90 characters of the message in preview.
What should those first few words focus on? Connor Butterworth, the CEO and owner of Southwestern Rugs Depot, says that your email should forge a bond by tailoring your message to the company’s recent achievements or news.
“If I receive an email that references, for instance, a recent campaign of ours and explains how the candidate’s skills could enhance similar projects, it instantly sets them apart,” he says.
Andrea Hoymann, head of strategy at Brand chemistry, agrees and provides an example of the information she’s looking for.
“Tell me something very specific you’ve noticed about our marketing. If you liked a post on social media, tell me why and how it’s relevant to our target market. And if you’ve improvement suggestions, it’s even better!” she says.
Personalizing the opening and the remainder of the email tells the potential employer that you haven’t sent the same message randomly to hundreds of companies.
“It also shows your strategic thinking as a marketer and gives me a glimpse of the ideas and perspectives you could bring to the team,” adds Hoymann.
3. Treat every job inquiry email as a micro-pitch.
Since our inboxes get flooded with emails every day, if you want to make sure that yours doesn’t disappear in the ether, you should treat every job inquiry email as a micro-pitch.
Remember, you only have a few seconds to grab the hiring manager’s attention. So, what can you include in your email?
Mark McShane, HR and managing director of AED Training, says, “Start with an impactful opener that distills your professional essence and clearly shows how your skills meet company requirements.”
For example, McShane says, let’s say you’ve bolstered social media engagement by 50% through innovative campaigns in your past role. This metric will captivate an employer.
“It’s not simply about enumerating accomplishments; it involves illustrating the link between your talents and their potential to drive the company’s marketing goals,” McShane says.
4. Attach your CV.
Even though your email should include some of your accomplishments and qualifications that are relevant to the brand you’re applying to, don’t forget to also attach your CV.
It will give them a chance to learn more about you and ask additional questions if necessary.
Make sure your CV is properly labeled, so hiring managers can store it on file, even if they’re not looking for anyone at the moment.
5. Use formal language.
It’s best to use a formal tone of voice in your email. It doesn’t have to be cold or uptight; just don’t make it overly relaxed.
Since you’re not speaking to them as their employee or customer, it’s safer to keep it professional — especially considering that you’ve never spoken to them before.
Approach this email like you would have approached an interview, i.e., with a professional demeanor.
6. Show excitement and readiness to wait.
Your job inquiry message should only be a “cold email” by definition. Its content should convey a positive message and show you as a professional whose presence could also boost morale within the team.
One of the ways to grab the hiring manager’s interest is by demonstrating your long-term interest, according to Sarah Jameson, marketing director at Green Building Elements. To do this, you need to strike a balance between professional and enthusiastic.
“You can say something along the lines of ‘I’m currently looking for a new role, and [company name] is doing the exact kind of work I want to be part of. I’d love to apply for any positions in the company where I could be a good fit.’ These lines can help establish why you’re interested in this specific company,” she says.
They also prevent the hiring manager from writing you off if, at the time they receive your email, there are no relevant openings. Make it clear that you’re willing to wait for your opportunity to join the marketing team’s ranks.
7. Prove that you need the job, understand it, and have the capacity to do it well.
Joshua Uebergang, director at Shopify marketing agency Digital Darts, says that there are three criteria candidates need to meet if they want their job inquiry email to work. He uses a custom formula to assess applicants.
“You need to get it, want it, and have the capacity to do it. If you can demonstrate them in your outreach email to businesses, you will stand out from 99% of ‘normal’ applicants,” he says.
According to Uebergang, getting it means understanding the role, the systems, and how they work together. This, he says, cannot be faked, so you should study the business before reaching out.
Wanting it involves genuinely liking the job and waiting to do it responsibility for fair compensation.
Finally, the capacity to do it “means they have the mental, physical, and emotional capacity to do it well,” he says.
Uebergang says that he uses a Google template to score each individual’s outreach message — the higher the number of points, the higher the likelihood that the company and candidate would be a great fit.
What ChatGPT Wrote Me
I’ve decided to check how helpful ChatGPT3.5 is when it comes to writing job inquiry emails.
I used three prompts. Each time, I gave it more information to see how it would impact the output. Here is what I got.
Version 1
The prompt: “Write me a job inquiry email for a product marketing position at G2.”
What I Think
This first prompt was very generic; all I asked for was to write a job inquiry email. It suggests using a hiring manager’s first name, which is a good idea if we manage to find it, as it adds a more personal touch.
Even though the email includes an explanation of why a candidate is contacting them, it says it’s to express interest in the Product Marketing position as advertised on the company website, which clearly shows that ChatGPT doesn’t understand what a job inquiry email is. This is a grand mistake.
The email includes a list of relevant achievements, and there is even a suggestion to include a specific number, i.e., “a 20% increase in product awareness” — that’s spot on.
While ChatGPT explains why a candidate is excited about working for G2, the reason given is very generic. Stating “being at the forefront of the tech industry” could apply to many companies.
The email mentions that there is a CV attached and thanks the hiring manager for their time, which are both desired elements to be included in a job inquiry email.
Overall, I could treat the output as a first draft, but it would need quite a lot of work (especially research) before sending it to a hiring manager. To give ChatGPT some credit — the prompt was brief and provided minimal instructions, so I couldn’t expect a top-notch result.
Version 2
The prompt: “Write me a job inquiry email for a product marketing position at G2. The hiring manager’s name is Laura. Suggest an email title. Use a formal tone of voice, but show my excitement to explore roles at the company.”
What I Think
ChatGPT followed my instructions to use a formal tone of voice well but didn’t do a good job of displaying my enthusiasm.
There are better ways to show excitement than using general statements like “I am enthusiastic about the prospect of joining G2” and “I am excited about the opportunity to bring my skills” — especially when these aren’t followed by an explanation of why.
I would rather go for more emotional statements, like “I can’t picture a better place to grow as a product marketer than G2,” and then mention something brand-specific to back it up.
Once again, ChatGPT did a good job at suggesting that I use numbers to prove that I truly am, as it says, a “seasoned marketer.” Also, this suggestion is perfectly in line with the job inquiry email tips I shared in the previous section.
I would rework the opening statement a bit — while it no longer suggests that I saw an opening advertised on the company website, it says that I would like to express my interest in the Product Marketing position. This could puzzle the hiring manager since they know they aren’t actively seeking new team members.
Version 3
The prompt: “Write me a job inquiry email for a product marketing position at G2. The hiring manager’s name is Laura. Suggest an email title. Use a formal tone of voice, but show my excitement to explore roles at the company. Keep the email within 100 words.
Mention that I have five years of experience in product marketing in B2B and that I would like to work at G2 as it would be an amazing opportunity to learn about how SaaS companies build their product–market fit and strategize around standing out on the market.
These insights would help me become an even better product marketer and would be used to further grow the G2 brand. Take the company’s culture code, pasted below, into account, and build the narrative of my email around my culture fit alignment:
- Performance – Because this is where it all starts. We all have to do our jobs well.
- Entrepreneurship – Because as we grow, we need to strive to improve every single day.”
What I Think
Here, I put ChatGPT to a bit of a challenge — my instructions themselves were 164 words long, but I’ve asked it to write an email under 100 words (which it did). Given the tricky circumstances, I think it did a very good job.
The output mentions all of the key points I’ve asked for, without getting into details. The copy is to the point and uses adjectives moderately (which is something I believe ChatGPT likes to overdo).
This email is missing something present in the previous two versions, i.e., information about a CV in the attachment. Still, there is a placeholder for the LinkedIn profile link, so it gives the hiring manager an option to read more about me.
I think this is my favorite version so far — which isn’t surprising, given how specific I was in my prompt. Good job, ChatGPT.
Writing My Own Job Inquiry Email
Now I’m going to write my own job inquiry email, based on the best practices I discussed earlier. Here it comes:
Hi Laura,
I saw that you’ve collected Series D funding — congratulations! On that note, I would like to ask whether you’re planning to grow your marketing team in the coming months. If so, I would love to express my interest in a product marketing role.
A few words about me — I have over five years of experience building product marketing strategies in the B2B space. Among others, I was responsible for:
- Introducing my company’s digital products to the EU market.
- Developing product messaging and positioning that set the company apart from competitors and demonstrated an understanding of the customers’ needs.
- Implementing new features in line with user needs and new technologies on the market.
- Broadening the visibility of the company and core products, improving the adoption rate by 25%.
I know that your company’s values include authenticity, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a focus on job performance.
All these characteristics strongly resonate with me. I’ve always wanted to work for a company that nourishes diversity and appreciates different perspectives, as it’s the best environment for innovation and career progress.
My CV is attached. Thank you for your consideration. If you believe I could be a good addition to the team, then I would love to discuss the possibilities.
Regards,
Kasia Kowalska
What I Did Here
I started by conducting thorough research, and I came across an article saying that G2 has collected D series, which I thought would make a good opener. I listed a few accomplishments, which I thought might be relevant to the brand.
I only included four, as I also attached my CV in case she wanted more details. I explained my interest in working for G2 by aligning with their brand values, which happen to be close to my heart. This shows I did the research.
I thanked the hiring manager for her time and emphasized that I would love to discuss how we could potentially work together. I kept the email short, knowing that recruiters’ time is very limited.
I chose a polite but professional tone of voice and did a little digging to find out who the Product Marketing Lead at G2 was, i.e., Laura Horton, so I could personalize my salutation.
I use this format whenever I am applying for new projects, and it works pretty well, so feel free to borrow it.
Humans vs. AI
Should you entrust your job inquiry email copy entirely to ChatGPT? I would advise against it. Still, you can treat its output as a first draft, as the tool does a good job of suggesting the right structure and the key points worth mentioning.
Your role is to make it personalized and relevant by adding details not only about you but also about the company you’d like to work with. This way, you boost the chances of grabbing the hiring manager’s attention.
When writing your email, put yourself in the recipient’s shoes. They have to go through hundreds of emails per week, and those that come from potential candidates are generic. This creates an opportunity to put your foot in the door and stand out, especially since the position is not advertised.
To sum up, use ChatGPT as a starting point, but don’t rely on it entirely. Let it do its part of the job, and you do yours. Good luck!
