TL;DR: Top 10 SEO Ranking Factors for 2026

1. Secure, crawlable website
2. Fast page speed (especially mobile)
3. Mobile-first design
4. Strong domain authority & clean URL structure
5. Helpful, optimized content (E-E-A-T aligned)
6. Solid technical SEO foundation
7. Positive user experience signals (RankBrain, engagement)
8. High-quality links (internal, backlinks, outbound)
9. Brand trust, reputation, and social proof
10. Verified business details (NAP, schema, reviews)

What Does It Really Mean to Rank in 2026?

Google doesn’t just show “10 blue links” anymore.

Search results now include AI Overviews, AI Mode, and other experiences that combine generative summaries with traditional web listings. These features are designed to help people find accurate and helpful information quickly while highlighting content that demonstrates real expertise and trust.

Google’s systems select content for these experiences based on how well it follows Google Search Essentials and E-E-A-T principles: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. The same fundamentals that help your pages rank in classic search also influence whether your content appears in AI-powered results.

If your website is technically sound, fast, and focused on providing clear and original information, it can perform well across both traditional and AI search experiences.

In this guide, you will learn the top 10 SEO ranking factors for 2026 and how to apply them to stay visible, credible, and competitive in a search environment shaped by AI.

Table of Contents:

Before we get into the details of each ranking factor, let’s take a quick look at the basics of search engine optimization ranking.

Stick around until the end of this article as we finally answer the question that plagues most beginner SEO learners: which is more important, pleasing Google or my audience?

Recommended Resource: Need more website traffic? Learn how to rank #1 on Google with our Ultimate Guide to SEO.

Understanding SEO, or “How Do I Rank Higher on Google?”

What Is SEO Ranking?

SEO ranking is a website’s position on search engine results pages (SERPs) for specific keywords or phrases. The higher a website ranks, the more likely it is to be seen, resulting in more clicks and traffic to the website.

Appearing in the top 3 results is excellent because your click-through rates skyrocket the closer you get to #1, as shown in the image provided by Backlinko below:

Appearing on the first page within the top 10 results is also useful. That’s because 95% of people never pass the first page.

Hence the famous joke in the Google SEO ranking world: where’s the best place to hide a dead body?

On page 2 of Google.

What Does Google Look for in SEO?

Google aims to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” Delivering relevant search results is a huge part of that. Here’s how they work:

First, Google’s search bots (pieces of automated software called “spiders” or “crawlers”) crawl the web. Sounds creepy, we know. But all that means is they visit web pages.

Second, they add correctly optimized and crawlable pages to Google’s index and catalog them.

Third, when people search Google, it shows what it thinks are the most relevant results based on the search terms they enter (out of the trillions of pages in Google’s index).

Google has various deeply complex algorithms to decide which content gets displayed and in which order. But we’ll get into all that fun stuff later.

Once your page lands on the SERP, you have to rely on your page titles and meta descriptions to get searchers to click your link and visit your site.

How Do Google Search Rankings Work?

When people want to find information, they type or say words related to what they’re looking for. Those are called keywords, and we’ll look at those in the content optimization section of this guide.

But keeping your website ranking on Google isn’t just about making the most out of competitive keywords. It’s also about the quality of information.

According to Google’s own search quality ratings, when it indexes the main content of each page, it checks factors like:

• Purpose of the page
• Content quality and amount
• Website info and info about the content creator
• Website reputation and content creator reputation
• User interaction with the page (time on page, bounce rates, and so on)
• Experience, Expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T)

In just a moment, we’re going to explore that last one (E-E-A-T) in more detail because it has become very important.

For now, it’s enough to know that all the factors listed above go into Google’s algorithm and help to determine SEO ranking.

Based on the rating guidelines above, Google shows searchers the most relevant, high-quality results related to what they’re looking for. The most relevant are shown first, with the rest shown over successive pages.

One of the goals of addressing SEO ranking factors is to let Google know when your pages on your site are relevant to particular search queries, so people will click the links and visit your site.

Before getting into two types of SEO, let’s explore the concept of expertise, authority, and trustworthiness in greater detail.

What Is E-E-A-T and Why Does It Matter?

In 2026, Google evaluates content quality through E-E-A-T, which stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
This framework helps Google identify content that is accurate, useful, and created for people. It is also an important signal for visibility in AI Overviews and AI Mode.

What Each Element Means

Experience
Google looks for signs that the creator has real, firsthand experience with the topic.
For example, a reviewer who has personally used an SEO tool and includes screenshots or performance data shows clear experience.

Expertise
This refers to the author’s depth of knowledge. For technical, health, or financial content, professional expertise helps demonstrate reliability.
For example, a certified digital marketing strategist writing about analytics setup shows clear subject expertise.

Authoritativeness
Authority comes from being recognized as a trusted source by others. It is often earned through mentions, backlinks, or references from credible sites.
For example, when reputable SEO publications or conferences reference your work, Google views that as a sign of authority.

Trustworthiness
Trust is the foundation of E-E-A-T. Google weighs this most heavily when deciding what to rank.
Trust is built through clear sourcing, accurate information, and transparency about who created the content.

Why E-E-A-T Matters for SEO and AI Search

E-E-A-T is not a single ranking factor. Instead, Google’s systems use many signals to evaluate whether a page shows these qualities.
According to Google’s Helpful Content and Search Essentials documentation, pages that demonstrate strong E-E-A-T are more likely to appear in AI Overviews, featured snippets, and other enhanced results.

For topics that can affect people’s finances, health, or safety (called Your Money or Your Life, or YMYL), E-E-A-T signals are given extra weight to protect users from inaccurate or misleading content.

How to Strengthen E-E-A-T on Your Site

1. Show real experience. Add original images, data, or examples from firsthand testing or use.
2. Include detailed author bios. List qualifications, expertise areas, and links to professional profiles.
3. Use structured data. Add Person, Article, and Review schema to make author and topic information clear to Google.
4. Cite credible sources. Link to original research, official reports, or authoritative studies.
5. Display trust signals. Show reviews, accurate business details, and clear contact information.
6. Keep information current. Update content regularly to reflect the latest data or guidelines.
7. Be transparent. Include visible publication and review dates, and explain how your content is created or reviewed.

E-E-A-T and AI Overviews

Content that clearly demonstrates trust and originality has a better chance of appearing in AI Overviews.
Google’s AI systems choose supporting links from pages that meet key criteria:

• The page is crawlable and indexable.
• The content is accurate and written for people.
• Structured data matches what is visible on the page.

Tip: Begin each article with a short, factual summary that answers the main question. Concise, clear introductions help your content appear in AI Overviews.

Example: Turning E-E-A-T into Practice

What is On-Page SEO and Off-Page SEO?

Two terms you’ll hear mentioned a lot when talking about SEO ranking factors are on-page SEO and off-page SEO.

On-page SEO refers to factors on your own website that you can optimize, such as the underlying code and the content.

Off-page SEO refers to actions taken outside your site to affect your site’s trustworthiness and authority by building the right inbound links and social signals.

Both types are included in the top SEO ranking factors. Before we hit our top 10 ranking factors, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about monitoring and tracking ranking.

How To Monitor Search Engine Rankings

Before improving your SEO ranking, you’ll need to know your starting point.

There are a couple of ways to find this. First, search Google using the terms you think your customers will use. Use an incognito or private window in your browser so Google’s personalization doesn’t skew the results. See where your content appears.

However, this is impractical for larger sites with hundreds of pages, so you’ll likely want an SEO tool to help you out.

For example, with Semrush, you can type your domain into the search box, wait for the report to run, and see the top organic keywords you’re ranking for. Or, use their keyword position tracking tool to track the exact keywords you’re trying to SEO rank for.

But Semrush is just one of your many options. Check out our guide for some other keyword research tools.

Now let’s look in detail at the top SEO ranking factors and how to go about mastering Google search engine optimization ranking. After all, SEO is mostly about getting that #1 spot, specifically on Google.

Top 10 Current SEO Ranking Factors for Google

1. A Secure and Accessible Website

Unsurprisingly, the first of our SEO ranking factors has to do with having the right kind of URL. Specifically, that’s a URL that Google’s crawlers can easily reach and crawl.

In other words, Google has to be able to visit the URL and look at the page content to understand what that page is about. To help the bots out, you’ll need the following:

• A website created with a well-coded website builder
• A robots.txt file that tells Google where it can and can’t look for your site information
• A sitemap that lists all your pages

If you’re running a WordPress site, you can set up a sitemap via All in One SEO. If not, then you can use an online sitemap generator.

HTTPS isn’t a Google ranking factors in deciding whether or not to index a page, but Google’s own John Mueller has tweeted that it’s a “light-weight ranking factor” and that “having HTTPS is great for users.” We at OptinMonster agree.

If you still need to enable SSL security on your website, get to it.

2. Page Speed (Including Mobile Page Speed)

Page speed has been cited as one of the leading SEO ranking factors for years. Google wants to improve users’ web experience, and fast-loading web pages will do that.

Google announced a search engine algorithm update focused on mobile page speed that started affecting sites in July 2018. It could be penalized if your site doesn’t load fast on mobile devices.

Use Google’s PageSpeed Insight tool to see how your site stacks up.

And, if you’re using WordPress, check out these tips for speeding up a WordPress site from WPBeginner.

But the best idea is to start using Google Search Console (if you’re not already). This has an entire section dedicated to updating you on your site’s performance, including speed.

For a more in-depth overview, check out this guide on how to use Google Search Console to improve your SEO.

3. Mobile Friendliness

While we’re on the subject of mobile, mobile-friendliness is another major SEO ranking factor. More people use mobile devices than desktops to access the web, and that’s one reason there’ve been changes in how Google ranks search results.

Google’s mobile-first index is now a reality, which means it’s drawing its results from mobile-optimized sites first rather than sites geared to desktop computers. If your site is mobile-optimized, you can avoid getting needlessly under-ranked.

Many of the SEO ranking factors we’ll look at in this article will help you lay the foundation for a good search engine ranking, but you also have to look after user experience when people land on your site.

Things to look at include whether you:

• Have a responsive site that automatically resizes to fit the device
• Use large fonts for easy readability on a small screen
• Include accessible menus so your site is easy to navigate
• Ensure that ads don’t hide essential content

Get more tips on mobile-friendly design to improve Google search ranking in our guide to improving your mobile conversion rate.

If you have the team, the time, and the energy, you should explore Google AMP (accelerated mobile pages). The upside is that your pages load nearly instantly from mobile devices. There have also been rumors that Google ranks sites built with AMP more highly than others.

The downside is that you need to make another version of your site following AMP’s guidelines. Then, you need to maintain everything. As you can imagine, this can be a time-intensive project.

But whether you decide to try Google AMP or not, you still need to be sure that your site is 100% optimized for mobile devices.

4. Domain Age, URL, and Authority

Did you know that nearly 60% of the sites with a top ten Google search ranking are three or more years old? Data from an Ahrefs study of two million pages suggests fewer sites than a year old achieve that ranking.

So if you’ve had your site for a while and have optimized it using the tips in this article, that’s already an advantage.

In some cases, the domain name matters. Though Google has penalized exact-match domains (those where the target keyword is in the URL), that penalty is generally for spammy sites with thin content.

Research from Moz shows that exact-match domains deemed relevant, valuable, and high-quality can see a ranking boost because of it. However, if you already have an established website, you don’t need to go looking for an exact-match domain for your business.

What is the best route for choosing your domain? Focus on a URL that reflects your business and optimize the heck out of it instead!

When it comes to SEO ranking factors, authority matters. As you’ll see, that’s usually a combination of great content (see the next tip) and off-page SEO signals like inbound links and social shares. And thanks to E-E-A-T, it can also include the authority of the content’s creator.

Moz has codified this into metrics called page authority and domain authority scores, both ranked from 0 to 100, which tell you how likely a particular page or domain is to rank in organic search results.

Related ContentDomain Authority: What It Is and How to Improve Yours

You can check domain authority or page authority with Open Site Explorer. Just plug your URL into the onsite search box, and you’ll get a report showing domain authority, page authority, established links, and new links.

We’ll look more at linking practices to improve SEO ranking in tip #8.

5. Optimized Content

We’ve discussed content in this guide to Google SEO ranking factors. That’s because it’s one of the most important search ranking factors (right up there with user experience, links, and RankBrain, which we’ll get to in a while).

Now let’s dig down and see what optimizing content for SEO really means.

As our keyword research guide said, Google’s search algorithm relies on keywords. These are the words and phrases searchers use when seeking information. They’re also the words and phrases describing your site’s topics.

Ideally, those will match up. That’s why it’s so important to use keywords in your content.

One negative SEO ranking factor to be aware of is duplicate content. For SEO, fresh, original content is always best. And if you have similar content, tell Google which one should be ranked as most authoritative using canonical URLs.

But one of the biggest questions we get at OptinMonster is about how to use LSI keywords to optimize content. So let’s start there.

Understanding LSI Keywords and SEO Ranking

SEO isn’t just about the main keyword. It’s also important to include terms related to the main terms people are searching for. These are called LSI (latent semantic indexing) keywords. They provide a kind of online word association to help Google know which results to show.

For example, using the right LSI keywords will tell Google that when searchers type in “mini,” your page is relevant to the car rather than the skirt, and vice versa.

It’s worth noting that as more people search by voice, content optimization includes optimizing for questions and natural language searches. That means some LSI keywords will be longer because people speak differently than they type.

Think about it: Let’s say you own a restaurant. And half of your customers type the phrase “best restaurant near me.” But then people also search for “what’s the best restaurant in Montreal” when searching by voice.

Even though both questions are targeting the same thing, Google’s results may show up differently. Using LSI keywords would be one way of making sure your restaurant ranks for both sets of questions. The more help you can give to Google to understand your content, the more likely your page SEO rank will increase in your niche.

Here’s an important point, though: keyword stuffing is outlawed because it will result in poor-quality web pages and will hurt your SEO ranking.

So make sure that once you’ve targeted your keyword, you’re only including it (and your LSI keywords) in an organic and natural way.

Understanding Search Intent for Content Optimization

Search intent is also important when optimizing content. That means understanding what people are really looking for when they type in search keywords.

For example, let’s say you’ve identified “Florida real estate” as a keyword you want to rank for. You might think that writing content for people looking for real estate in Florida is a good idea. But if the people searching for that term also include realtors looking to sell in Florida, your content won’t meet their needs, and your page won’t rank.

Through a series of low click-through rates and high bounce rates (which we’ll discuss more in a moment), Google will pick up on the fact that your content isn’t matching their user’s search intent.

Sometimes, it’s clear what people are looking for. For example, if they use the word “compare,” they’re likely trying to decide between buying a product. And if they use the word “buy,” they want to make a purchase.

The keywords they use will change depending on whether they want to:

• Find a particular website (navigational)
• Get the answer to a question (informational)
• Research information before making a purchase (investigational)
• Make a purchase (transactional)

Well-optimized business sites will include content for each of those search types.

So how do you make sure your keyword matches user intent? Go straight to the source!

Open a Google search in your in-private browser and type in your keyword. See which results are currently ranking and determine whether or not your content would be a good fit. If not, you need to restart your keyword research. If so, take this opportunity to see why certain pages are ranking.

You can do a competitive analysis of the top 10 results in the SERP to see how you can make your content even better! Then you can fully optimize your content by making it an improvement over the current search results.

Do you still need clarification? Learn more about keyword ranking, LSI keywords, and keyword intent.

Is Content Length an SEO Ranking Factor?

In a word, yes. Google wants content to be quality and have some length to it. While writing more words to stretch out the size is never advisable, if a subject calls for depth, give it depth.

The research suggests that content over 2000 words gets more top ten positions in Google search engine rankings.

This isn’t a rule set in stone, and there are certainly some exceptions. But as a general rule of thumb, your content should be around the 2k word mark or more if you really want to be competitive on the SERP.

Longer content attracts more links and shares too, which are two other important SEO ranking signals we’ll cover shortly.

SEO Ranking Factors: Answer Boxes or the “Zero Position”

Google’s increasingly delivering answers via answer boxes is another aspect of optimizing for better search engine rankings. Here’s what an answer box looks like:

Our experience suggests that optimizing for answer boxes means:

• Answering questions
• Including the questions as headings with properly formatted title tags (more about that in the next tip)
• Ensuring that the answers are correct, relevant, and not too long
• Targeting content to keywords that already have answer boxes
• Adding lists or tables

There is one downside to the coveted “zero position” however:

It sometimes hinders people from clicking through to your site.

Since people get the answer to their questions directly, they may have no reason to continue to the content. That means you may have 100,000 people see your slot in the answer box, but only 10,000 actually click through to the article.

But let’s be honest: getting that zero position rocks because it means Google thinks highly of your content (which is always flattering), you’ll get way more brand recognition, and you’ll also end up with more traffic than you would have.

Plus, if you don’t get that spot, someone else will.

Using Video to Improve SEO Ranking

Our roundup of video marketing stats shows that:

• People are watching videos across all age groups
• Some 79% of people would rather watch a video than read a blog post
• People use video to help them make purchase decisions (remember those transactional searches?)

The bottom line? Start to include videos in your content strategy. Video gets read, shared, and linked, providing plenty of signals to amplify your search ranking.

6. Technical SEO

We said earlier that getting the code right is one aspect of optimizing content for better SEO rankings. This can be intimidating, especially if you’re more of a wordsmith and less of a “techie.”

Here are some of the aspects you can control even if you’re not a coder:

• Add keyword phrases in page titles, which is where Google first looks to determine which content is relevant to which search
• Use header tags to show content hierarchy starting with your title at h1 and then use h2 or h3 for subheads
• Create a meta description that both entices readers and includes your keyword phrase
• Keep those meta descriptions short and catchy at around 160 characters
• Use keyword phrases in image alt tags to show how those images are relevant to the main content
• Include alt tags also help visually impaired people enjoy your site with screenreaders
• Use schema markup to tell Google what kind of content you’re producing

You can easily set all of this up with a plugin like All in One SEO; it’s the best WordPress SEO plugin on the market.

With All in One SEO, you can set a focus key phrase and additional key phrases, and the TruSEO on-page analysis will score how well your pages and posts are optimized. Plus, it gives you an actionable checklist you can use to make improvements.

The on-page SEO checklist also includes a smart meta tag generator to easily set your metadata, such as SEO titles and meta descriptions with dynamic fields like current year, month, custom fields, author info, and more.

Other powerful All in One SEO features include schema markup, smart XML sitemaps, robots.txt editor, SEO health check, and more.

7. User Experience (RankBrain)

Google’s been using artificial intelligence to better rank web pages for a while. It calls that signal RankBrain. This includes other signals that affect your search engine ranking. These include:

• Click-through rate: the percentage of people who click to visit your site after an entry comes up in search results
• Bounce rate (especially pogo-sticking): the number of people who click on your page and quickly go back to the search results
• Dwell time: how long visitors stay on your site after they’ve arrived

If people land on your site, don’t like it, and bounce away, then Google will think it’s irrelevant to their needs. If enough people do this, you might find your site more difficult to rank higher in search results.

This indicates that your content needs to match the searcher’s intent. You should go back and target a more effective keyword.

In contrast, if people click through to your web page and stick around for a while, that tells Google your content is relevant to their search.

So when you optimize titles, descriptions, and content to get the clicks and deliver value on the other end, you can boost your search engine ranking.

8. Links (Backlinks, Outbound and Internal)

As we said at the start, the web is built on links. So, naturally, links are a crucial SEO ranking signal. There are three kinds of links to think about:

• Inbound links
• Outbound links
• Internal links

All three are typically tied to a descriptive anchor text.

Inbound Links

Google uses inbound links to help determine your content’s authority and relevance.

The best-case scenario is where an authoritative site includes a relevant link to yours in a piece of their content. So, if the Content Marketing Institute has a link to your content marketing resource, that’ll be perceived better than if a random person with a low-quality site links to it.

You’ve likely heard inbound links referred to as “backlinks.” You aim to get as many highly authoritative sites to link back to you. That also means you want to have very few inbound links from low-quality domains.

You can find your inbound links using a tool like Semrush.

Outbound Links

At the same time, you want to show that you’re creating quality content for your visitors. That involves using outbound links by linking to relevant, authoritative sites in your niche.

So does that mean you should give out tons of outbound links to boost your authority? Absolutely not.

All it means is that as you’re doing research, you should only pull from reliable sources with high domain authority. To be honest, for your users’ sake, you should probably be doing this anyway to ensure you provide the most value.

Internal Links

Finally, linking to your own content can tie pages together for both Google and your visitors, making each page more valuable. If you have an authoritative page with a link to another page on your site, that helps your visitors find the other page and pass on some authority.

This helps that second page boost its search engine ranking.

As you create new content, build a solid web of internal links so your pages can support one another. Also, don’t forget what we said at the start of this section:

All three types of links are tied to descriptive anchor text.

When you add a link to a piece of text in your content, that text should describe where the link is headed!

You can use All in One SEO’s Link Assistant addon to speed up the internal linking process. It will automatically generate a link report for your site that gives you insight into the following:

• Linking opportunities: Suggestions of relevant pages you can link to and anchor text you can use.
• Orphaned posts: All of the pages/posts on your site with no internal links.

You can apply AIOSEO’s internal linking recommendations in 1-click without manually editing each post.

Related ResourceSee The Ultimate Guide to SEO Link Building to learn the tricks & techniques the experts are using to build quality links.

9. Social Signals

When people share your content on social networks, that’s another sign that it’s valuable. Cognitive SEO’s study of 23 million shares found a definitive link between social shares and search engine ranking.

Google’s official word is that social shares are not a direct SEO ranking factors. Links from Twitter or Facebook aren’t counted the same as links from other authoritative websites.

Still, there’s no denying that the highest-ranking pages in Google search results usually have a lot of shares. Though this is probably due to a few related factors:

• More social shares generate more traffic to the page itself
• More shares also make your content more likely to build backlinks

Because of that, getting more social shares does help your search engine rankings, if only indirectly.

Not only do you need to have a social media presence yourself, but you need to make it easy to share your content and amplify those social signals. We have some great tips for doing this in our guest blogging guide and guide to growing your email list with social media.

We also highly recommend using a plugin like Smash Balloon:

Smash Balloon lets you easily display your Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram feed directly on your site. Or, if you want to be more aggressive, OptinMonster recently created a popup campaign that is designed to grow your social media following:

This little campaign packs quite the punch when it comes to growing your brand on social media.

10. Real Business Information

This last tip is important for businesses targeting particular local areas. The presence or absence of business information is one of the most crucial local SEO ranking factors.

So it’s important to look after areas like:

• NAP (name, address, phone number)
• Business listings on Google My Business and Facebook
• Reviews on both those sites and relevant directories like Yelp and others
• The right local search terms

That’s it! Now you know the essential SEO ranking factors. For more helpful information, check out our other SEO and content marketing guides:

• SEO tips and best practices from the experts
• How to use SEO for lead generation
• Impressive Content Marketing Examples

And you’ll want to check out these SEO statistics to help you boost traffic to your site.

Exclusive Bonus Download the SEO Ranking Factors Cheat Sheet to boost your search rankings quickly.

But let’s wrap up by discussing the question in every new SEO-er’s and webmaster’s mind.

Should You Strive To Please Your Audience or To Please Google?

This is really what the essence of SEO comes down to. Is the goal to make content that Google can easily read and rank, or is it to make content that your users will enjoy?

Unfortunately, the answer is much less climactic than you’d probably like: it’s both.

Asking which of these two aspects is more important is like asking which side of a pair of scissors is the sharpest. Both parts of SEO need to be perfectly in place to rank well.

You should never sacrifice your user’s experience (UX) to make Google happy. Doing so will only annoy your audience, which will, ironically, get you penalized by Google!

Besides, you should keep in mind that while ranking on Google can help launch your business to the next level, Google will never be your paying customer. Your readers, on the other hand, might put money in your pocket.

So if you want to get the best SEO advice ever, here it is:

Create awesome content that your users will love. Then, with equal energy, optimize that content to help Google understand why your audience loves it so much. But always, no matter what, begin with your user in mind.

The multi-billion-dollar SEO industry simply boils down to that. ☝️

Finally, as awesome as your SEO may be, it certainly isn’t the only Google ranking factor you should consider.

Once that organic traffic lands on your page, you need to convert them. OptinMonster is the world’s #1 conversion optimization kit that helps you drive more traffic, grow your email list, and boost revenue.

So what are you waiting for? Join thousands of clever digital marketers by joining OptinMonster today!

FAQs:

1. What are the top SEO ranking factors in 2026?
The most important factors are site security, page speed, mobile optimization, domain authority, high-quality content, technical SEO, user experience, links, brand trust, and accurate business information.

2. Is content still the #1 ranking factor?
Yes. Google prioritizes helpful, original, and people-first content that demonstrates E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness). Without strong content, technical tweaks won’t get you far.

3. How important is mobile SEO in 2026?
Critical. With Google’s mobile-first indexing, your site must be responsive, fast-loading, and easy to navigate on phones to rank well.

4. Do backlinks still matter for SEO?
Absolutely. High-quality, relevant backlinks remain a major trust signal, but they must be earned naturally. Internal links and outbound references also strengthen context.

5. How does Google’s AI (SGE and AI Overviews) affect SEO?
Ranking is no longer just about “page one.” AI Overviews and SGE highlight content that’s trusted, easy to read, and answers searchers’ questions directly. Following SEO best practices helps your site appear in these formats.

6. Can social signals improve rankings?
Indirectly. While social media activity isn’t a direct ranking factor, a strong brand reputation and active community can boost trust, engagement, and visibility — all of which support SEO.

7. Does domain age still matter?
Older domains tend to have more authority, but what matters most is the quality of your content and backlinks. A newer site can still outrank older ones with the right SEO strategy.

8. How do I optimize for user experience (UX) in SEO?
Focus on fast load times, clear site navigation, mobile usability, accessible design, and content that satisfies the searcher’s intent. Google measures signals like bounce rate, dwell time, and engagement.

9. What role does schema markup play in SEO?
Structured data helps Google understand your content and makes your site eligible for rich results (reviews, FAQs, product info). This boosts visibility in both traditional and AI search results.

10. What’s the best way to future-proof my SEO?
Stick to the fundamentals: publish people-first content, ensure technical health, build trust signals, and keep user experience at the center. SEO evolves, but these principles stay consistent.

But being part of the ecosystem also means paying close attention to the other tools that share the same mission. Over time, I’ve tested nearly every major platform in this space, not just to see how they perform, but to understand where we stand and how we can keep getting better.

This list is the result of that ongoing process. These are the tools I’ve worked with, learned from, and continue to measure against my own benchmarks. Some focus on automation, others on data, and a few, like OptinMonster, specialize in optimizing that crucial moment when a visitor becomes a lead. Each tool here brings something valuable, and I have a lot of respect for the results they deliver.

I’ve included only the platforms that have proven themselves in real campaigns. They’re reliable, effective, and worth your time if you’re serious about building a stronger lead generation system in 2026.

Here’s how they stack up.

OptinMonster – Best for On-Site Lead Capture and Conversion

I’ve spent years testing lead generation tools, and I can tell you that most of them focus on what happens after someone becomes a lead. Very few help you capture the lead effectively in the first place. That’s exactly why we built OptinMonster.

When I use it on our own sites and with our clients, it still surprises me how quickly it changes results. The difference comes from how personalized you can make every interaction. Instead of showing one generic popup to everyone, I can create messages that match exactly where someone is in their journey. If a visitor has already seen an offer, I can show them something different. If they’re about to leave, I can use exit-intent to catch them just in time. It’s not a guessing game. It’s precise.

Key features

• Behavior-based targeting that shows the right campaign to the right person at the right moment
• Exit-intent technology that detects when visitors are about to leave and captures them with a personalized message
• Drag-and-drop campaign builder for creating popups, slide-ins, and floating bars without code
• A/B testing built directly into the platform so I can test headlines, designs, and triggers quickly
• Advanced integrations with CRMs, email platforms, and automation tools like HubSpot, Mailchimp, and Salesforce

What I like most is that OptinMonster gives me control. When I’m running tests, I can see in real time which message, trigger, or design is converting best. That kind of visibility changes how you think about conversion optimization. I’ve used it across landing pages, blogs, and ecommerce sites, and it performs consistently everywhere.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that lead generation starts on your website. All the automation and CRM data in the world won’t matter if you can’t capture visitors before they leave. OptinMonster does that better than anything I’ve used, and we’re proud to say we’ve built it to solve that exact problem from our own experience.

HubSpot – Best for All-in-One CRM and Lead Nurturing

I’ve used HubSpot on and off for years, and every time I go back to it, I’m reminded why so many marketers trust it. It does everything in one place. I can capture leads, track their activity, follow up automatically, and keep my sales and marketing data connected. When I tested it again recently, I started from scratch with a simple form and workflow. Within an hour, everything was live, and new leads were being tracked inside the CRM without me touching a thing.

What I appreciate most is how it balances power with ease of use. The automation builder feels intuitive. I can build sequences that send emails, score leads, and alert my team when someone looks ready to buy. The analytics are simple to read but detailed enough to show what’s working. It feels like a platform that was built for marketers who actually want to understand what’s happening in their funnel.

Key features

• CRM that connects forms, emails, ads, and chat in one dashboard
• Marketing automation for sending personalized follow-ups
• Lead scoring based on user behavior and engagement
• Clear analytics for campaign tracking and ROI
• Integrations with Zapier, OptinMonster, and most major tools

When I use HubSpot, I never feel like I’m guessing. Every contact record tells a story. I can see when someone first visited the site, what they downloaded, and which campaign brought them in. That level of detail makes it easy to build relationships instead of just sending automated messages.

If you want one tool that can manage your leads from the first click to the final conversion, HubSpot is the one I’d start with. It keeps everything connected and gives you the visibility you need to actually improve results.

Zapier – Best for Automating Lead Workflows

Zapier is one of those tools I didn’t fully appreciate until I started using it to connect everything in my lead generation process. It’s not a lead capture tool on its own, but it’s the bridge that makes all your other tools work together. When I tested it, I connected forms from OptinMonster, email sequences from HubSpot, and a Google Sheet for tracking. Within minutes, the entire system was automated. New leads came in, got tagged, and started receiving follow-up emails without me doing anything manually.

What makes Zapier special is how quietly it works in the background. Once the automations are set up, you almost forget it’s there, but you see the results in how much time you save. I’ve built workflows that send new leads to Slack, notify the sales team, and even trigger ads for retargeting. It’s not flashy, but it’s incredibly powerful once you realize how much manual effort it removes from the process.

Key features

• Prebuilt “Zaps” that connect thousands of apps without coding
• AI features that suggest automations based on what you’re doing
• Multi-step workflows that connect lead capture, CRM, and follow-up
• Real-time syncing between tools like HubSpot, OptinMonster, Salesforce, and Gmail
• Central dashboard for monitoring and editing automations

What I like most about Zapier is that it gives structure to the chaos. Every time I find myself doing something repetitive, there’s usually a way to automate it. It’s also reliable. Once I turn an automation on, it just runs. I’ve used it for years now, and it’s never missed a lead or failed to send data where it needed to go.

Zapier is what keeps my lead generation stack organized. It connects every moving part, keeps data clean, and lets me focus on strategy instead of setup. If you use more than one marketing tool, it’s the easiest way to make sure they all work together without friction.

Intercom – Best for Conversational Lead Engagement

I’ve tested a lot of chat tools over the years, but Intercom is the one that actually feels like it belongs inside a modern lead generation system. When I added it to my site, I noticed one thing right away: people who would normally just browse started talking. The live chat and AI assistant work together to turn casual visitors into qualified leads without any heavy lifting.

Setting it up was simple. I connected it to my CRM and created a few automated flows to greet visitors, answer questions, and collect emails. Within a few hours, it started generating real leads from traffic that wasn’t converting before. The conversations didn’t feel robotic. The AI was quick, polite, and on-topic, and when someone asked something complex, the chat handed it off to me seamlessly. That handoff is what makes it work so well—it doesn’t break the conversation.

Key features

• Live chat and AI automation that qualify leads in real time
• Custom chat flows that match each visitor’s behavior
• CRM integrations with tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive
• Built-in inbox for managing conversations with sales and support teams
• Detailed conversation analytics to see which interactions drive conversions

What I like most about Intercom is how natural the experience feels for both sides. From my end, I can watch conversations unfold and see which messages lead to signups or demos. From the visitor’s side, it feels like someone is actually there to help. I also like how easy it is to test different messages. A small tweak in tone or timing can double the number of leads you get.

Intercom is the tool I reach for when I want to make my website feel alive. It gives your visitors a reason to stay, ask questions, and start conversations that turn into real opportunities.

Cognism – Best for B2B Lead Data and Prospecting

When I started working with Cognism, I was mostly curious to see how accurate the data really was. A lot of B2B prospecting tools promise clean leads, but very few deliver. Cognism felt different right away. The database is updated constantly, and every contact I pulled went through live verification. During testing, I ran a few outbound campaigns with lists from Cognism, and the bounce rate was almost nonexistent. That alone made it worth it.

Building lists was fast. I could filter by company size, industry, and job title, and the search results were spot-on. I exported a batch of leads directly into HubSpot, and everything synced without errors. What impressed me most was the intent data. Cognism tracks which companies are actively researching topics or tools related to your product. That gave me a clear sense of who was actually in the market, not just who fit a demographic.

Key features

• Verified B2B contact data with high accuracy
• Real-time intent tracking that identifies active buyers
• Advanced filters for precise targeting by role, company size, and location
• Direct integrations with CRMs like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Outreach
• GDPR-compliant data sourcing for transparent prospecting

What I liked most about Cognism is how dependable it feels. I’ve used it long enough to know the contacts don’t go stale quickly. The data is clean, the interface is easy to navigate, and the export options save a lot of time. If I had to point out one thing that takes getting used to, it’s the pricing. It’s built for teams that prospect at scale, not for hobby projects. But if you rely on outbound to feed your pipeline, it pays for itself fast.

Cognism has become one of my go-to tools for B2B lead generation. It helps me find the right people faster and makes my outreach smarter instead of louder.

Salesforce – Best for Enterprise AI-Driven Lead Generation

When I first started testing Salesforce, I could immediately see why it sets the standard for enterprise-level lead management. It’s not just a CRM. It’s a system that connects every part of the lead journey, from the first form submission to final conversion. I used it to capture new leads, assign them to sales reps, and create automated workflows that followed up without me lifting a finger. The AI feature, Agentforce, felt like having another team member who never sleeps. It learns from your data and starts making smart suggestions fast.

Key features

• AI-powered lead scoring and qualification through Einstein and Agentforce
• Automated workflows that trigger emails or ad sequences based on lead behavior
• Real-time analytics that show which campaigns or sources are converting best
• Deep integrations with tools like HubSpot, LinkedIn Ads, and Slack
• A unified dashboard that tracks every lead interaction in one place

What I liked most was how accurate the AI recommendations became after a week of data. It started flagging leads that didn’t look promising at first, but ended up being some of the highest-value deals. The reporting was also genuinely useful. I could open one dashboard and understand exactly where my pipeline was strongest.

What I didn’t like was the initial setup. Salesforce isn’t a plug-and-play tool. I spent a full day getting the automation right. Once configured though, it ran smoothly and didn’t need much maintenance afterward.

I picked Salesforce because it delivers the most complete lead generation experience I’ve tested. The AI insights are reliable, the automation feels human, and once everything is running, it gives you a clear sense of control over the entire funnel.

Which Tool Should You Pick?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from testing all these platforms, it’s that there isn’t a single “best” tool for everyone. The right choice depends on how you generate leads and what kind of systems you already have in place. Each of these tools does something exceptionally well, and once you understand that, the decision becomes much easier.

If your goal is to turn more of your website visitors into subscribers or customers, start with OptinMonster. It’s built for that exact moment when attention turns into action, and it’s what I use myself to grow lists and conversions.

Here are just two examples of how other online businesses used OptinMonster to increase leads and revenue:

• How PodBike Gets 18.22% More Email Subscribers with GeoTargeting
• How KnivesShipFree.com Boosted Revenue $10,118.20 Using Giveaways

If you want to manage your entire funnel from one place, HubSpot is the most complete all-in-one platform I’ve tested. It’s perfect if you need your marketing and sales teams working from the same dashboard.

For automating connections between tools, Zapier is the backbone of every good stack. It quietly keeps everything running without you having to check on it.

If live conversations are where most of your leads come from, Intercom is the best way to capture and qualify them in real time.

When accuracy and outbound prospecting matter most, Cognism stands out with clean, verified data and real intent insights.

And if you need something that can handle complex automation and enterprise-level workflows, Salesforce is still the benchmark.

I’ve used every one of these tools long enough to know that they all work. The key is to start with one that solves your most immediate challenge and build from there. Once you see results, you can layer in the others to create a system that runs smoothly and scales with you.

Ready to generate more targeted leads? Get started with OptinMonster today.

More on Lead Generation:

• What Is Lead Quality? And How to Measure It (+8 Bonus Tips!)
• How to Automate Lead Generation in 3 EASY Steps (Step by Step)
• What is a Lead Magnet? 69 Effective Ideas & Examples to Use
• How to Generate More Leads From Your Website: 9 Expert Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best lead generation tool for websites?

From my own experience, OptinMonster is the most effective tool for website lead generation. It focuses on turning visitors into subscribers or customers through behavior-based targeting and exit-intent campaigns. You can personalize every interaction, test what works, and see measurable results in real time.

2. Which lead generation software works best for small businesses?

If you’re a small business looking for an affordable, all-in-one solution, HubSpot is the tool I’d recommend. It’s easy to set up, connects your marketing and sales data, and gives you clear visibility into where every lead comes from. The starter plan is budget-friendly, and it’s flexible enough to grow with you.

3. How do I automate lead generation across multiple tools?

To automate your process, Zapier is the easiest place to start. It connects apps like OptinMonster, HubSpot, and Google Sheets without coding. I’ve used it to sync leads automatically between tools, send notifications, and trigger follow-ups. Once your automations are running, you don’t have to touch them again.

4. What tool should I use for B2B lead generation?

For B2B prospecting, Cognism has been the most reliable in my tests. It provides verified contact data, intent signals, and CRM integrations that make outreach faster and more accurate. The leads are clean, compliant, and ready to use in real campaigns.

5. Do I need AI in my lead generation tools?

Not every business needs AI, but it helps once you’re scaling. Salesforce and Intercom both use AI in smart ways — Salesforce for predicting which leads are most likely to convert, and Intercom for real-time chat qualification. I’ve found that these features save time and make follow-ups more focused.

6. How can I choose the right tool for my business?

Start with your biggest challenge. If you’re not capturing enough leads, focus on OptinMonster. If you’re struggling to manage or follow up, use HubSpot. Once you solve one problem, you can layer in other tools to build a stronger, more complete system.

TL;DR:

Best all-around SEO & PPC tools: Semrush (from $117.33/mo) and Ahrefs (from $129/mo)
Budget-friendly SEO tool: LowFruits (from $25 credits or $249/year)
Market research & domain insights: Similarweb (from $125/mo)
PPC campaign research: iSpionage (free plan, paid from $59/mo)
Social media analysis: Sprout Social ($199/mo) and Rival IQ ($239/mo)
Content & backlinks: BuzzSumo (from $199/mo) and Majestic (from $49.99/mo)
Free or low-cost options: MozBar (free), Social Blade (free, paid from $3.99/mo)

As a content marketer, I’m always looking for competitor analysis tools that will give my company a leg up. I spend hours on competitive research each week, using a variety of software.

Through my experience, I’ve identified some of the best tools available to help businesses analyze their competition and optimize their marketing strategies.

In this blog post, I’ll share my top picks for competitor analysis tools to help you make an informed choice for your business.

Competitor Analysis Tools Comparison Table (2026)

SEO & Web Traffic Competitor Analysis Tools

1. Semrush

Semrush is arguably the best SEO competitor analysis tool on the market, and for good reason. You can use it to find potential competitors, spy on marketing strategies, and improve your own search performance.

In my job as an SEO content writer, I use Semrush every week to:

• Monitor the traffic of competitor pages
• Discover which keywords are driving traffic to competitors
• Find which competitors rank in search and have featured snippets for top keywords

To conduct this competitive research, I simply enter the competitor page’s URL or my keyword. It’s that easy to get started. And those are just the features I use as a writer. Other members of our marketing team take advantage of even more of Semrush’s advanced functionality.

Semrush Features

Here are Semrush’s top features for competitive research:

• Competitor traffic analysis
• Competitor keyword analysis
• Keyword gap tool (discover which keywords you’re missing out on)
• Organic research tool that shows your organic competitors
• Advertiser research to monitor competitors pay-per-click (PPC) campains

Additionally, Semrush lets you monitor and optimize your own site with features like Site Audit, Backlink Analytics, and the On Page SEO Checker.

Best for: In-depth SEO research on competitor keywords, traffic, content gaps, and more.

Is Semrush Free? Semrush does offer a free plan. It includes several several useful features but with fairly low daily limits

Premium Pricing: Starts at $117.33/month

2. LowFruits

Need a less expensive alternative to Semrush? Aptly named, LowFruits helps you find the low-hanging fruits your competitors aren’t taking advantage of. It does this by analyzing SERPs (search engine result pages).

In other words, you can discover keyword variations that your competition is performing poorly for. Then, you can create optimized content to outrank them for those keywords and drive more traffic to your site.

LowFruits is another tool that I use regularly. I’ll enter a single keyword to find keyword variations to target, as well as a list of top competitors for that keyword. I’ve also imported lists of keywords to get the information on entire batches of keywords at once.

LowFruits Features

• Rank Tracker: Track keyword search rankings for competitor sites
• Keyword Finder: Discover low-competition keyword variations
• Domain Explorer: See which competitors have weak Domain Authority
• SERP Extractions: Enter competitor domains to extract the keywords they have SERP rankings for.

Best for: Competitor keyword research on a budget

Is LowFruits Free? No, there is no free version.

Pricing: Starts at $25 for 2,000 credits or $249/year

Note: LowFruits has 2 pricing structures:

1. Pay as you go (starting at $25): Purchase credits to run Keyword Finder and SERP Extraction reports. Pricing starts at $25 for 2,000 credits
2. Subscription (starting at $249/year): Access all of LowFruits’ features. The Standard plan is $249 per year and gives you 3,000 credits per month. The Premium plan is $749 per year with 10,000 credits per month.

3. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is an all-in-one SEO toolset that focuses heavily on competitor research. It offers very similar functionality to Semrush at a comparable price point.

I personally prefer Semrush due to the amount of data it provides and its breadth of tools. However, Ahref and Semrush are both leaders in their field, with each having its strengths and weaknesses. For instance, Ahrefs has the world’s largest index of live backlinks, and it’s refreshed every 15-30 minutes. That’s a powerful feature for marketers focused on link-building.

Ahrefs Features

• Site Explorer: Analyze traffic, keywords, and backlinks for any competitor URL
• Keyword Explorer: Discover new keywords and see which sites rank for them
• Content Explorer: Find content ideas by analyzing the top-performing content in your niche
• Rank Tracker: Track search rankings for your competitors, your own site, or specific keywords
• Site Audit: Monitor and optimize your own site

Best for: Comprehensive competitor analysis with a heavy focus on backlinks.

Is Ahrefs Free? No, there is no free plan. However, verified website owners can access some data using Ahrefs’ free Webmaster Tools.

Premium Pricing: Start at $129/month. Limited Starter plan available for $29/month.

4. Similarweb

SimilarWeb is a versatile tool that lets you research where your competitors’ traffic comes from.

Important note: Similarweb analyzes traffic primarily at the domain level, so it’s not the best tool for in-depth content marketing or blog post research. You can see the top landing pages for a competitor site, but you can’t get full data on specific page URLs like you can with Semrush or Ahrefs.

Even so, I was impressed by the amount of information at my fingertips during my testing.

I simply entered a domain URL and had access to that site’s organic and paid traffic, their top referring websites, and important audience information such as geography, demographics, and other sites the audience has visited.

Similarweb Features

• Traffic analysis: Explore any website’s traffic data
• Organic search analysis: Find your competitors’ top SEO keywords and landing pages
• Paid search analysis: See the performance of any site’s paid search ads
• Referral information: Research a site’s incoming and outgoing referral traffic

Best for: Getting insights into the strategies of high-profile competitors

Is Similarweb Free? No, there’s no free plan, but there is a 7-day free trial.

Premium Pricing: Starts at $125/month

5. iSpionage

iSpionage is a popular competitive analysis tool that focuses on PPC research and also provides SEO data. Their software gives you an inside look at your competitors’ marketing strategies.

In my testing, I entered a domain URL and was immediately able to view trending PPC keywords, monthly advertising budgets, and more. iSpionage also helps you find the best keywords for your own SEO and PPC campaigns.

iSpionage Features

• PPC Summary: See an overview of a competitor’s PPC performance, including average ad position, budget, and monthly clicks
• PPC Keywords: Explore top PPC keywords for both Google and Bing/Yahoo
• Organic Keywords: See competitors’ top keywords, their SERP ranking, and the pages that rank for them
• Ads analysis: Review a site’s individual ads and their performance
• Landing Page analysis: Discover competitors’ top landing pages and see screenshots of those pages

Best for: PPC campaign research

Is iSpionage Free? iSpionage offers a free plan with limited functionality.

Premium Pricing: Starts at $59/month

Social Media Competitor Research Software

6. Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a social media management solution that lets you schedule and monitor your social media posts. It connects to all major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest.

Additionally, you can view competitive analysis reports to monitor the social media activity of your competitors.

I signed up for Sprout Social and connected it to a Facebook Page that I manage. In addition to in-depth data on my own Page, I was able to see competitor comparison charts and an overview of recent posts by competitors.

Sprout Social Features

• Competitor performance for Facebook, Instagram, and X
• In-depth competitor data, including audience size, audience growth, engagement metrics, and post count
• Competitor post feed that lets you see the recent posts from your competition
• Complete social media management to schedule posts and monitor your own social media performance

Best for: Comprehensive social media management with competitor insights.

Is Sprout Social Free? No, there isn’t a free version, but they do offer a 30-day free trial.

Premium Pricing: Starts at $199/ month

7. Rival IQ

Rival IQ is a dedicated social media competitive research tool, and it’s extremely easy to get started. I signed up for an account and was immediately prompted to enter my URL and the URLs of 3 competitors. For my testing, I entered websites for popular outdoor brands, and Rival IQ automatically accessed the public data from their social channels.

Within seconds, I navigated to the Competitive Audit section and accessed in-depth comparative data.

Depending on which plan you choose, you can track between 10 and 40 companies. Plus, you can connect Rival IQ directly to your social channels to track all your private social insights in a single dashboard.

Rival IQ Features

• Competitive benchmarking through social media data
• Custom Landscapes that let you create different groupings of companies to compare
• Custom Dashboards to track cross-channel or channel-specific data
• Social content analysis for hashtags, topics, and more

Best for: Experienced social media managers who want a dedicated competitor research tool

Is Rival IQ Free? No, there isn’t a free version, but they offer a 14-day free trial. You can also access limited reports and benchmarking data under Free Tools on their website.

Premium Pricing: Starts at $239/month

8. Phlanx

Phlanx is an influencer marketing platform that helps you discover and connect with social media influencers. It also includes competitor tracking for Instagram, YouTube, X, and Twitch.

As an influencer platform, Phlanx focuses mostly on engagement. I tried out their competitor tracking and found charts comparing engagement levels for various brands:

Additionally, their Engagement Calculators allow you to vet potential collaborators or keep an eye on rival brands.

Phlanx Features

• Competitor engagement tracking for several social platforms (Facebook not included)
• Engagement calculators for all major social platforms
• Influencer Directory to find the right social accounts to partner with
• Collaborations board to post collaboration requests and browse requests from other brands

Best for: Marketers seeking out influencer opportunities

Is Phlanx Free? No, there isn’t a free plan. Phlanx does offer a 30-day free trial, but you have to enter your credit card to access it.

Premium Pricing: Starts at $39/month

9. Social Blade

Are the above social competitor analysis tools out of your budget? Social Blade may be the right choice for you, as its free tool offers tons of competitor data.

The site’s search box suggests simply entering a username, but I had the best results by entering the full URL for a social media profile.

For instance, I entered a URL for a YouTube channel and got an in-depth chart full of useful metrics:

The free version does include a lot of ads. If you find them frustrating, you can opt for one of Social Blade’s very reasonable paid plans.

Social Blade Features

• Competitor tracking for YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, and X
• Detailed statistics to track daily performance
• Future projections that predict growth over the next 5 years
• Premium data charts & favorite slots for premium members

Best for: Social marketers on a tight budget

Is Social Blade Free? Yes, you can access Social Blade’s basic charts for free.

Premium Pricing: Starts at $3.99/month

Content-Based Competitor Research Software

10. Owletter (for Email Marketing)

Email marketing has the highest ROI (return on investment) of any digital marketing strategy. With Owletter, you can easily monitor your competitors’ email campaigns, so you can optimize your own.

I signed up for Owletter and found it very easy to set up email campaign tracking. I simply entered the name and website URL for each brand I wanted to track. Owletter then gave me a unique email address to use to sign up for that brand’s email newsletter.

Note: Some websites’ signup forms may block Owletter email addresses. One website gave me an error message that the address could not be verified.

Once I signed up for those newsletters, Owletter created a single inbox where I could view all of my competitor’s email campaigns:

I could sort the emails by website or topic tag, or I could search for specific subject line keywords.

Most importantly, Owletter stores and analyzes these emails to create summaries for each brand you monitor. Over time, these summaries will show your competitor’s email frequency, the days and times they send emails, common subject line words, spam score, and more.

Owletter Features

• Email inbox to monitor competitor email campaigns
• Email analysis that provides an overview of your competitors’ email marketing strategy
• Scheduled email reports with a summary of email activity from monitored sites
• Email alerts for specific websites or subject line keywords

Best for: Email marketers

Is Owletter Free? There’s no free plan, but you can sign up for a 14-day free trial

Premium Pricing: Starts at $19/month

11. Buzzsumo (for Content Marketing)

Buzzsumo is a comprehensive content marketing research tool. It lets you discover content that is trending in your industry, so you can optimize your own content strategy.

For example, I tried out Buzzsumo’s Content Analyzer tool. I entered a URL and got a list of the site’s most engaging content.

I could see the number of shares and engagement on social media for each post, a list of backlinks, and more. The Evergreen score shows which content continued to get engagement after 30 days. This helps you learn how to create content with lasting impact.

Keep in mind that this example is just one use for this extremely robust software. Buzzsumo’s functionality is broad, and you can get in-depth content data on any topic, brand, or URL.

Buzzsumo Features

• Content analyzer: See the most engaging content from competitors or on specific topics
• Competitor alerts: Get a notification whenever a competitor is mentioned online
• Content idea generator: Enter a topic keyword to get suggestions for engaging posts
• Trending feeds: Set up content feeds for different topics

Best for: Marketers wanting to optimize their brands’ content

Is Buzzsumo Free? There’s no free version, but you can sign up for a 7-day free trial.

Premium Pricing: Starts at $199/month

More Competitive Research Tools

There are countless software options for competitive analysis. I’ve reviewed my top 11, but here are a few more to consider:

12. Majestic: Discover your competitors’ backlinks

13. Serpstat: Analyze your competitor websites SEO and PPC data

14. SpyFu: Download competitors’ SEO and PPC keywords

15. MozBar: See instant metrics on any page or SERP with this Chrome browser extension

16. Talkwalker by Hootsuite: Track social media and consumer data to keep an eye on the competition

17. Brandwatch: Conduct social media market research to benchmark your brand against competitors

Understanding Your Competitors = Better Marketing for Your Brand

There you have it! This list of competitor research tools has everything you need to perfect your marketing campaigns.

Use your competitors’ success to increase your web traffic, and then use OptinMonster to turn those visitors into quality leads. OptinMonster can help you nurture website visitors through your sales funnel by:

• Encouraging visitors to sign up for your email list with a lead magnet
• Offering enticing discounts to exiting visitors
• Showing product and content recommendations based on visitor behavior
• Precisely targeting your popups to just the right people at just the right time

Sign up for OptinMonster today and launch a comprehensive lead-generation campaign in minutes. That way, you’ll be ready to convert all the visitors you’ll gain through your competitive research.

Frequently Asked Questions

At a Glance: Off-Page SEO Essentials

What it is: Actions taken outside your website to build authority, trust, and visibility in search engines through backlinks, brand mentions, and reputation signals.

Why it matters: Off-page SEO accounts for roughly 50% of ranking factors. While you control your content, search engines rely heavily on what others say about you to determine credibility.

Core strategies:
Link building – Earn high-quality backlinks from authoritative, relevant sites
Brand building – Generate mentions, reviews, and social signals that demonstrate trustworthiness
Relationship marketing – Collaborate with influencers, partners, and communities in your niche

Bottom line: Off-page SEO is about building your site’s reputation across the web. It requires consistent effort, relationship-building, and creating content worth linking to—but the ranking and traffic payoff is substantial.

Time investment: 3-6 months minimum to see measurable results
Best for: Businesses willing to invest in long-term authority building, not quick wins

Most site owners obsess over keyword placement and technical audits but the real reputation signals that move your rankings happen off your website.

Off-page SEO isn’t just about backlinks. It’s about building trust, proving authority, and earning visibility where your customers already spend time.

At OptinMonster, these are the exact strategies we’ve used to grow our organic presence and we’re pulling back the curtain to share them with you.

What Is off-Page SEO and Why Is It Important

Off-Page SEO, Explained (In 1 Sentence)

Off-page SEO includes everything you do off your website to boost its credibility and visibility in search. It builds trust and authority by earning backlinks, mentions, and signals from reputable sources — not by tweaking content or code.

Unlike on-page SEO which is all about optimizing your site’s content and structure, off-page SEO focuses on what others say about you. It’s the trust signals that come from backlinks, brand mentions, social shares, and reputation outside your domain.

You might be thinking, “Why should I bother with off-page SEO when I can focus on optimizing my website?” Well, let us share some compelling reasons:

• Improved Search Engine Rankings
• Increased Website Visibility
• Building Online Reputation
• Enhanced User Engagement
• How We Use These Off-Page SEO Strategies at OptinMonster

Improved Search Engine Rankings

Off-page SEO signals, particularly backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites, endorse your website’s quality. Search engines, like Google, value these endorsements and use them as an SEO ranking factor.

In fact, a study by Backlinko found that websites with a high number of backlinks tend to rank higher in search results.

The more high-quality backlinks you have, the higher your website will likely rank in search engine results.

Increased Website Visibility

Off-page SEO techniques, such as social media marketing and influencer outreach, can significantly expand your website’s reach and visibility.

Imagine your website as a small shop hidden in a quiet street. Without proper promotion, how will people find it?

Promoting your content and brand on external platforms can attract a larger audience, generate more organic traffic, and enhance your online presence.

Building Online Reputation

Off-page SEO involves managing your online reputation by monitoring and responding to customer reviews, feedback, and mentions.

The assessment criteria outlined in Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines heavily depend on a website’s reputation outside of its own pages to determine its level of trustworthiness.

By actively addressing customer concerns and maintaining a positive reputation, you can establish trust and credibility with search engines and users, leading to higher search page rankings and increased brand recognition.

Enhanced User Engagement

Off-page SEO activities, such as social media marketing, encourage user engagement and interaction with your brand. This can increase website visits, longer sessions, and higher conversions.

When users actively engage with your content and share it with others, it amplifies your online visibility and improves your website’s authority.

On-Page SEO vs. Off-Page SEO

On-page SEO and off-page SEO are two essential components of a comprehensive search engine optimization strategy. Here’s a comparison between the two:

On-Page SEO

• Focuses on optimizing elements within your website, such as content, title tags, URLs, headings, SEO-optimized hosting, and internal linking.
• Involves keyword research and page optimization to align your website’s content with user search queries.
• Aims to improve your web pages’ user experience, readability, and relevancy.
• Helps search engines understand the context and purpose of your website’s content.

Resource: On-Page SEO Checklist: How to Fully Optimize Your Posts

Off-Page SEO

• Concentrate on activities outside your website to boost its visibility and authority.
• Includes link building, social media marketing, content marketing, influencer outreach, online reputation management, and brand promotion.
• Enhances your website’s credibility and popularity by acquiring high-quality backlinks from reputable sources.
• Supports brand awareness, expands your online reach, and attracts a larger audience to your website.

Balancing on-page and off-page SEO techniques is crucial for a successful SEO strategy. Think of them as two sides of the same coin.

While on-page SEO ensures your website is optimized for search engines and users, off-page SEO helps establish your website’s authority, reputation, and visibility across the web.

Off-Page SEO Techniques

Now that we’ve explored the importance of off-page SEO, let’s take a look at some effective off-page SEO techniques you can implement to boost your website’s visibility.

In our experience, these eleven off-page SEO techniques are the easiest to include and offer the best return:

1. Link Building (Backlinks)

Link building is the essence of off-page SEO and is the most important off-page SEO technique for any website aiming to rank higher on the search engine results pages (SERPs).

Backlinks are the number one off-page SEO factor for Google, and as discussed above, Google tends to rank a site higher if it has a greater number of backlinks.

Moreover, the quality of these backlinks also equally matters, as a link from a high domain authority site carries more weight than one from a low-DA site. Regardless, Google’s algorithm also considers the link’s relevance to your domain.

Typically there are two types of backlinks that you can acquire to improve your off-page SEO:

1) Natural links: These are the backlinks that you get organically without doing anything. For example, some other website links back to you because they appreciate your page as a resource. Google regards such links highly as they indicate trust, appreciation, and endorsement.

2) Links Acquired via self-promotion: these are the backlinks you create by digital marketing or online promotion. It involves contacting a website to link back to you or asking an influencer to share your content to magnify your reach in exchange for an agreed compensation.

While creating authoritative and relevant backlinks, your link building strategy should align with the link building guidelines from major search engines such as Google.

Not only do backlinks bring referral traffic to your site, but Google also perceives your site as a trustworthy and reliable source of information.

However, building quality links requires dedicated effort and a long-term strategic approach. When executed correctly, your website’s average ranking in search results will likely increase.

Pro tip: Off-page SEO isn’t just about getting a link to your site from just anyone; it’s about getting a link to your site from the right one. And you want to make sure that you’re getting the “link juice” from the backlink too.

Link juice is only passed along in dofollow backlinks. This type of backlink is like the source site acknowledging and voting for the linked article, post, or page, resulting in an increase in the link’s authority.

The other type of backlink is a nofollow backlink. These are just links that don’t pass any authority from the source site to the linked site.

2. Social Media Marketing

Popular social media platforms websites have some of the highest domain authority sites. Have a look at a few:

• LinkedIn (DA: 98)
• Facebook (DA: 96)
• Twitter (DA: 94)
• Instagram (DA: 93)

This makes social media marketing one of the most effective off-page SEO strategies.

Social media platforms offer an excellent opportunity to expand the reach of your content. By leveraging social media, you get more clicks to your latest content and obtain valuable backlinks from platforms with high domain authority (DA).

While Google has not explicitly stated that backlinks from social media platforms directly impact SEO, they have acknowledged that social platforms are crawled for data just like any other website on the web.

Although the precise SEO impact of a backlink from a social platform remains uncertain, one thing is certain: your social profiles will rank in the search engine results pages (SERPs).

Not only will your social profiles rank, but they are also likely to appear at the top for brand-related search terms.

That’s why it’s crucial to ensure that your social profiles reflect positively on your company and its values. This can greatly influence a user’s first impression, especially if they don’t know much about your brand.

Furthermore, amplifying insightful content through social media platforms increases its visibility and the likelihood of it being shared and linked to by others.

3. Guest Posting

Guest posting is a popular off-page SEO technique for writing and publishing content on someone else’s website or blog. It involves collaborating with other website owners or bloggers to contribute valuable articles or posts relevant to their audience.

The benefits of guest posting are multi-fold. Firstly, it allows you to tap into an established audience and reach a wider group of readers who may not be aware of your website or brand.

By providing valuable content, you can showcase your expertise and attract new visitors to your site.

Additionally and more importantly, guest posting provides an opportunity to build high-quality backlinks to your website. Including a link to your site within the guest post acts as a valuable endorsement and can improve your search engine rankings.

Search engines highly value backlinks from reputable and relevant websites, as they indicate the credibility and authority of your site.

There are a number of blogs open for the guest post. You just need to identify the keyword you’re interested in and then search on Google in this way:

• Keyword + “write for us”
• Keyword + “become a contributor”
• Keyword + “contribute”
• Keyword + “guest blogging”

You can learn how to build an effective guest blogging strategy here.

4. Broken Link Building

Broken link building is an exciting strategy. The purpose is to find broken links and contact the resource owner that has a broken link.

The broken link could be one of your pages that you would then provide the update to, or it could be an outdated competitor’s link that you would then offer to replace with one of your links to similar content.

This will help reduce the number of redirects and 404 pages, resulting in a better user experience.

Broken links usually happen when web hosting expires, or site assets are messed up during migration. They can also simply be the result of typing mistakes.

Always opt for a reliable web hosting provider, and be sure to proofread to avoid spelling errors.

5. Local SEO

Local SEO is an essential off-page SEO technique that optimizes your online presence to improve visibility in localized search results.

It involves strategies and tactics to increase your business’s visibility to potential customers within a specific geographic area.

Local SEO is particularly valuable for businesses that serve customers in specific locations, such as brick-and-mortar stores, service providers, or businesses with multiple branches.

To effectively implement local SEO, consider the following strategies:

• Optimize your website with location-specific keywords and relevant content.
• Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing.
• Build consistent citations (mentions of your business name, address, and phone number) across relevant online directories.
• Encourage and manage customer reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, and industry-specific review sites.
• Create location-specific landing pages if you have multiple business locations.
• Leverage local link building opportunities by partnering with local organizations, sponsoring events, or participating in community activities.

6. PR (Press Release)

PR (Press Release) is a powerful off-page SEO technique that involves crafting and distributing newsworthy announcements or information about your business to media outlets and online platforms.

Press releases are designed to generate media coverage and public interest in your company, products, services, events, or any significant developments related to your business.

When done effectively, PR can yield several benefits for your off-page SEO strategy, such as increased visibility and brand exposure, quality backlinks, enhanced reputation and credibility, and increased website traffic.

To leverage PR effectively for off-page SEO, consider optimizing press releases for SEO by incorporating relevant keywords and including anchor text links to your website or specific landing pages to maximize the SEO benefits.

Ensure your press releases are optimized for search engines to improve their visibility and discoverability.

7. Influencer Marketing

Add a community-driven section to your article, reach out to well-known influencers in your niche, and request that they provide valuable insight via feedback, a quote, or a review. Add some context to their quotes and highlight them in some way.

Once the content publishes, ask them to share it within their circle. People love to know what influencers think about things.

In this way, you can build relationships with influencers and leverage their authority to increase your own.

8. E-E-A-T

E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. It’s a framework used by Google’s search quality raters to evaluate the quality of content, especially in “Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL) topics.

E-E-A-T is crucial for both on-page and off-page SEO. Here’s how you can enhance E-E-A-T through off-page SEO techniques:

Experience:

• Showcase Awards and Certifications: Display any relevant awards or certifications prominently on your site.
• Provide Comprehensive Case Studies: Share detailed case studies demonstrating your successful track record and hands-on experience.
• Document User Success Stories: Publish testimonials and stories from users who have benefited from your services or products.

Expertise:

• Showcase Credentials: Ensure that authors with relevant qualifications and expertise are contributing to your content, especially for topics that require specialized knowledge.
• Guest Post: Write guest articles for reputable websites in your industry to showcase your expertise.

Authoritativeness:

• Build High-Quality Backlinks: Earning backlinks from authoritative websites in your niche can boost your site’s authoritativeness.
• Engage in Industry Forums and Communities: Regularly contribute to industry-specific forums, Q&A sites, and online communities. This can position you as an authority in your field.
• Get Mentioned: Aim to get your brand or content mentioned (even without a link) on reputable platforms.
• Collaborate with Experts: Partner with recognized experts in your field for webinars, podcasts, or co-authored content.

Trustworthiness:

• Secure Your Website: Ensure your website uses HTTPS, which signals to users that your site is secure.
• Gather Positive Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and industry-specific review sites.
• Address Negative Feedback: Respond to and address any negative feedback or reviews professionally.
• Maintain an Updated Privacy Policy: Ensure your website has a clear and transparent privacy policy, terms of service, and other trust signals.
• Be Consistent: Ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) information across all online platforms and directories.

Additional Tips:

• Showcase Awards and Certifications: If your business or website has received any awards or certifications, display them prominently.
• Engage on Social Media: Regularly post and engage with your audience on social media platforms. This not only builds trust but also showcases your expertise and authority.
• Transparency: Be transparent about who you are, what your business does, and any affiliations or partnerships.

Improving E-E-A-T is a continuous effort that involves showcasing your expertise, building authority, establishing trust, and sharing your experiences. By diligently applying these principles, you can enhance your off-page SEO and increase your chances of achieving higher rankings in search results.

9. Brand signals

Brand signals refer to the various indicators search engines use to determine the authority, trustworthiness, and popularity of a brand online. These signals can influence search rankings and play a crucial role in off-page SEO.

Here’s how you can enhance brand signals through off-page SEO techniques:

Brand Mentions:

• Unlinked Mentions: Even if a reputable site mentions your brand without linking to you, it’s a positive brand signal. Monitor and encourage such mentions.
• Engage in PR Activities: Collaborate with media outlets, bloggers, and influencers to get your brand mentioned on their platforms.

Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number):

• Ensure your business’s NAP details are consistent across all online directories, social media platforms, and your website.

Positive Reviews and Ratings:

• Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and other industry-specific review sites.
• Respond to reviews, both positive and negative, professionally to show that you value customer feedback.

Social Media Engagement:

• Maintain an active presence on relevant social media platforms.
• Engage with your audience by responding to comments, sharing valuable content, and participating in discussions.
• Use branded hashtags to promote campaigns and encourage user participation.

Branded Searches:

• Encourage users to search for your brand name on search engines. A higher volume of branded searches indicates strong brand recognition.
• Optimize for branded keywords to ensure that users find accurate and positive information about your brand.

Brand Affiliations and Partnerships:

• Collaborate with other reputable brands in your industry for joint campaigns, webinars, or events.
• Display logos of partner brands, certifications, or awards on your website to boost credibility.

User Engagement:

• Create shareable content encouraging users to engage with and share your brand’s content.
• Monitor metrics like bounce rate and time on site to ensure users engage positively with your brand’s content.

Community Involvement:

• Participate in or sponsor local community events, charities, or causes.
• Engage in industry-specific forums, webinars, and online communities to position your brand as a thought leader.

Quality Backlink Profile:

• Aim to get backlinks from reputable, industry-relevant sites. A strong backlink profile can enhance your brand’s authority.

Transparency and Trustworthiness:

• Maintain transparency in business operations, affiliations, and partnerships.
• Display trust signals like SSL certificates, privacy policies, and terms of service prominently on your website.

Generating strong brand signals is essential for enhancing your brand’s online reputation and authority. By building a consistent, trustworthy, and recognizable brand presence, you can boost your off-page SEO and improve search engine rankings.

Bonus Off-Page SEO Techniques

10. Repurposing Content

Every social media platform has its preferred content: Instagram was popular for pictures but now transitioning into reels (short form videos), YouTube for videos, and Facebook and Twitter for expressing your thoughts.

We often share content on Facebook and Twitter that we neglect on YouTube and Instagram.

For example, say you have written a step-by-step guide to creating an exit popup on Shopify. You can then create a YouTube video tutorial to go along with it and add the content URL in the description box.

This way, visitors from Google will find your content piece, and YouTube searchers will get the video. Always try to repurpose the content piece with your audience and resource in mind, and take advantage of the boost different types of content can get from other social networks.

11. Questions & Answers

Writing great content and giving it to the right people can be one of the best ways to build your authority on different question-and-answer websites like Stack Overflow, Quora, and Yahoo Answers.

Pick a high-authority and relevant platform, search for your niche and related questions, and answer them in a way that adds value to the question.

If you have written a guide on the same topic, leave a link to your site so visitors can easily find your content. Be careful with the links so that they don’t look like spam. If handled correctly, this strategy can be the game-changing off-page SEO tactic.

12. Webinars & Public Speaking

We regularly host live webinars and virtual events to share actionable advice on lead generation, popups, and conversion optimization. These sessions attract thousands of registrants and generate natural mentions from attendees and partners.

For example, our “Exit-Intent Secrets” webinar and partner sessions with MonsterInsights have earned us both backlinks and long-tail brand searches over time.

SEO Bonus: We repurpose webinars into blog posts, social media clips, and email guides — multiplying our visibility across channels.

13. Awards & Recognition (Backlink Gold)

Being included in curated “best of” lists has become a valuable passive link-building strategy. OptinMonster has been featured in dozens of “Top Popup Builders” and “Best Lead Gen Tools” roundups from high-authority domains.

Examples of backlinks from awards/lists:

• WPBeginner – Best Lead Generation Plugins
• ThemeIsle – Best Popup Plugins for WordPress

Pro Tip: If your product gets mentioned in a list, share it, link to it, and consider creating a testimonial or badge page to earn even more visibility from the original source.

14. Event Marketing & Community Sponsorships

OptinMonster has sponsored WordPress meetups, virtual summits, and marketing events to boost visibility among our ideal audience. These partnerships often result in:

• Featured mentions on event pages (with dofollow backlinks)
• Co-marketing opportunities with speakers and hosts
• Branded search lift from attendees looking up our tools post-event

A few event types we’ve supported:

• WordPress Meetups (Miami, Chicago, Austin)
• WPBeginner Anniversary Giveaways
• Plugin & SaaS roundtable webinars

These efforts don’t just support SEO — they drive real trust and new users from people who engage with us live.

Remember, off-page SEO is an ongoing process that requires consistent SEO effort and adaptability. So, go ahead and unleash the power of off-page SEO to unlock new opportunities for your website’s success!

How We Use These Off-Page SEO Strategies at OptinMonster

We don’t just talk about off-page SEO, we use it every day to grow OptinMonster.

Here’s a look at how we apply some of the strategies from this article to our own content marketing, PR, and link building efforts.

Guest Posting: Reaching New Audiences + Earning Backlinks

Guest blogging is one of our go-to strategies for building high-quality backlinks and getting in front of new readers. We regularly contribute to trusted sites in our space, like:

• WPBeginner – OptinMonster Review
• MonsterInsights – OptinMonster Deep Dive
• TrustPulse – Why We Use OptinMonster

Each post includes natural links back to our most helpful resources, plus tailored tips based on our real product experience.

Digital PR: Sharing Product Updates and Research

When we launch new features or share internal data, we use press releases and email outreach to get the word out. For example, when we launched TrustPulse, we created a detailed announcement post and shared it with partners and journalists.

That campaign earned us backlinks from marketing blogs, niche tech roundups, and even mentions in roundup-style “best popup tools” posts.

Read the original:
TrustPulse Launch Announcement

Influencer Outreach: Building Relationships That Last

We also build long-term relationships with creators and marketers in our niche. Here’s how we approach influencer marketing:

• We offer early access to new features and ask for honest feedback.
• We collaborate on joint webinars or blog mentions when our audiences overlap.
• We celebrate users who give us shoutouts — and sometimes invite them to share their story.

Most of our best backlinks and mentions happen because we’ve built genuine connections over time.

Want to get results like this for your brand? Start by picking one tactic from this list and applying it to your next content campaign. Consistency is the key to off-page SEO.

Off-Pafe SEO Techniques Summary:

1. Link Building (Backlinks): Acquiring high-quality backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites to boost your site’s credibility.
2. Social Media Marketing: Leveraging social platforms to amplify content reach, engage users, and gain backlinks.
3. Guest Posting: Writing and publishing content on other websites to reach new audiences and earn quality backlinks.
4. Broken Link Building: Finding broken links on other sites and offering your content as a replacement to earn backlinks.
5. Local SEO: Optimizing for local search to improve visibility among local customers.
6. Press Releases (PR): Distributing newsworthy announcements to gain media coverage and backlinks.
7. Influencer Marketing: Collaborating with industry influencers to expand reach and build credibility.
8. E-E-A-T: Enhancing Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness to meet Google’s quality standards.
9. Brand Signals: Strengthening indicators like consistent NAP information, positive reviews, and social engagement to boost brand authority
10. Repurposing Content: Adapting content for different platforms to reach wider audiences.
11. Questions & Answers: Providing valuable answers on Q&A platforms to showcase expertise and direct users to your content.
12. Webinars & Public Speaking: Hosting or participating in webinars and podcasts to share expertise, build authority, and earn mentions or backlinks.
13. Awards & Recognition: Earning mentions and backlinks from “Top Tools” lists, industry awards, and expert roundups to enhance trust and visibility.
14. Event Marketing & Sponsorships: Supporting industry events, meetups, or conferences to gain backlinks, mentions, and targeted exposure.

FAQs About Off-Page SEO

Also checkout:

• 24 Expert SEO Tips & Advice to Boost Your Traffic
• SEO Best Practices: Simple Routines for Ultimate Success
• 50+ Powerful SEO Statistics That Will Help You Boost Traffic to Your Site
• A Beginner’s Guide to Email Marketing Automation
• What Is White Hat vs Black Hat SEO: How to NOT Do SEO
• How To Create a Content Marketing Strategy

TL;DR

Guest posting means publishing content on trusted websites in your niche to reach new audiences, build authority, earn backlinks, and drive qualified referral traffic back to your site.

The biggest benefits of guest posting include increased brand visibility, stronger SEO through high-quality backlinks, referral traffic that converts, and long-term credibility in your industry.

Successful guest posting starts with clear goals. Whether you want traffic, backlinks, leads, or authority will determine which sites you target, what topics you pitch, and how you structure your author bio.

Finding the right sites matters more than volume. Focus on relevant blogs with engaged audiences and solid authority, not sites that accept anyone willing to submit a post.

Personalized outreach beats templates. Building relationships, understanding the site’s audience, and pitching tailored ideas dramatically improves acceptance rates.

High-quality content is non-negotiable. Guest posts should match the host site’s tone, provide original insights, and be useful enough that the publisher is proud to feature them.

Your author bio is where results compound. Linking to a targeted landing page or lead magnet with a clear CTA turns guest post traffic into subscribers and customers.

Promotion and tracking are essential. Promoting guest posts and tracking performance with UTM links, GA4, and conversion tools helps you identify which placements actually drive ROI.

If you’re serious about growing your brand, building backlinks, and driving qualified traffic, guest posting is still one of the most powerful (and underutilized) strategies in digital marketing.

With AI content everywhere and Google cracking down on low-quality links, it is fair to ask whether guest blogging still works in 2026. The short answer is yes if you do it right.

When focused on quality, relevance, and real value, guest blogging remains one of the best ways to grow visibility, build authority, and reach new audiences. This step-by-step guide shows you how to make it work today.

Note: Throughout this article, the terms ‘guest posting’ and ‘guest blogging’ are used interchangeably, as they convey the same meaning.

What Is Guest Posting and Why It Is Still Effective

Guest posting is when you write and publish an article on someone else’s blog or website, typically in your industry or niche. It’s a way to share your expertise with a new audience, build backlinks to your own site, and grow your authority as a content creator or business.

By writing guest posts on blogs, you can improve on the following:

• Referral Traffic: Boost referral traffic and content marketing ROI by driving traffic from other reputable sites.
  
• Brand Awareness: Introduce your brand to new audiences through content on other sites.
  
• Lead Generation: Attract new subscribers and improve lead generation due to new readers visiting your site or landing page.
  
• Social Proof: Gain credibility when trusted, authoritative sites publish your content.
  
• SEO Link Building: Obtain backlinks from high-quality sites, a key SEO ranking factor.

• Content Marketing: Guest posting helps website owners meet their content needs, addressing a major content marketing challenge.

Remember, the success of guest posting largely depends on the quality and relevance of the content, as well as the reputation of both the guest blogger and the host site.

Related Content Ultimate List of Blogging Statistics and Facts

How Guest Posting Works in Practice

Here’s the step-by-step tutorial you need to follow to do guest posting successfully:

1. Know Your Goals
2. Find Guest Posting Opportunities
3. Guest Post Outreach
4. Choose a Winning Guest Post Idea
5. Submit Your Pitch
6. Write Great Content
7. Work That Bio
8. Be Responsive
9. Promote Your Content
10. Write More Guest Posts
11. Track Success

Step 1. Know Your Goals

Like every other marketing strategy, a successful guest blogging strategy starts with knowing your goals. After all, you have to know where you’re headed if you ever expect to get there.

The typical goals for a guest blogging strategy align with the benefits described earlier. They include:

• Driving traffic to a specific landing page (or to your site in general) to get more leads and sales
• Building awareness of your brand, products, and services
• Improving SEO by attracting inbound links
• Positioning yourself as an expert so you can be cited more often and get speaking engagements
• Increasing email subscriber numbers or your social media audience

It’s essential to have a goal in mind so you can frame your author bio appropriately and ensure that your links deliver what you’ve promised. It’s the best way to build trust with the new audience you’re attracting.

Step 2. Find Guest Posting Opportunities

TL;DR: Use search operators, social media, and backlink tools to discover high-authority blogs that accept relevant guest posts.

Before you write a guest blog, you’ll have to find a site that accepts guest authors and is actively looking for content. Beyond that, you’ll need to ensure that posting on the site will help you meet your goals.

How to Find a Site That Accepts Guest Posts

There are lots of ways to find sites that are happy to accept guest posts.

For example, you can use Google to find sites that accept guest posts on the topics you want to write about. Some sample search queries include:

• [topic keyword phrase] + “write for us”
• [topic keyword phrase] + “guest article”
• [topic keyword phrase] + “become a contributor”

These queries should direct you to a blog’s guest post guidelines page, guest post submission page, or actual guest pieces from other contributors.

See this list of search queries from Optimize Smart for even more suggestions.

You can also use similar queries on Twitter. Just type “guest post” or “guest article” into the search box, and you’ll see a list of tweets showing guest posts.

Whether you’re using Google, Twitter, or another search source, make a note of the guest blogging sites. You’ll need those later when it’s time to see if the opportunity is right for you.

You can also find guest posting opportunities by checking out where your competitors are guest posting. Most guest bloggers will share their posts to enhance their reputation. When you follow competitors on social media or subscribe to their email newsletter, you’ll likely see links to their guest posts.

Another way to find this information is to see where their inbound links are coming from. To do this, log in to Semrush (Ahrefs is also a good alternative), and go to Backlink Analytics. Type the URL of the competitor site you want to check into the search box. Then select the Backlinks tab.

When you get the report, you’ll be able to see the actual backlinks, the anchor text, the referring domains, and more. Look for the dropdown menu that says Ref. page platform and change the platform to Blog. This will narrow the results down to blog sites, and some of these backlinks may be from guest posts.

This information will help you find more sites that accept guest posts. For more information on using Semrush for guest blogging research, see their article on How to Guest Post for SEO

Other places to find guest posting opportunities for your guest blogging strategy include:

• Alltop, which lists the top guest posting sites in almost every niche
• Lists of sites that accept guest posts, like this one
• Checking out where the most prolific bloggers in your niche are guest posting

How to Assess Guest Blogging Opportunities

Finding the sites is only one part of the equation. You also have to figure out if those sites are worth your while and will help you meet your goals. Most importantly, you should choose sites that aren’t spammy. Publishing on spammy sites can hurt your guest blogging SEO.

Here are some areas to assess. Pick one of the sites you identified above to get started.

Domain Authority

First, use Moz’s Link Explorer to check the domain authority for the site you’re considering. This tactic tells you if the site is well-regarded online. It’ll also give you an idea of whether guest blogging on that site will provide good value in terms of links and referral traffic. Here’s a domain authority report for the Content Marketing Institute as an example.

The higher the number (on a scale of 0 to 100), the better.

There’s no clear benchmark for what is a “good” domain authority score. The average will vary based on industry and the size of your niche. But as you’re comparing potential sites to guest post for, it’s a smart idea to prioritize the ones with the highest domain authority.

You must create an account to use Moz’s Link Explorer. The free account allows a limited number of searches per month. Pricing for Moz Pro starts at $99 per month

Follower and Subscriber Count

You should also check for the brand’s email subscriber and social follower numbers. Most site owners publish these if they’re big enough, and it’ll give you an idea of the size of the potential audience you could reach.

If social follower numbers aren’t on the site, check out their social media profiles yourself and see if the website owners have an audience, and whether they actively promote all content published on their site (including guest content). If you look back over a month’s worth of content, you’ll see whether they regularly post links to blog posts.

Blog Content

Next, look at the content of the website’s blog. See if the content published is a match for the topics you want to write about. Don’t worry if comment numbers are low; that’s true of many sites these days. And even if the number of social shares isn’t impressive, a site that reaches your ideal target audience can still help you meet your goals.

Check out the author bios at the end of guest posts, to make sure you’ll be able to get appropriate credit and send readers back to your site, as in the example below from the OptinMonster blog.

We’ll look at how to create a great guest blogging bio later in this guide.

Step 3. Guest Post Outreach

TL;DR: Build real relationships before pitching — engage with the blog’s content and community first to stand out.

Before you approach site owners to suggest a guest post (known as “pitching”), you’ll need to form a connection with them.

Don’t be fooled by all these guest blog post pitch templates you see online. For most site owners, cold pitches won’t work unless the content is stellar.

In fact, many website owners are so tired of irrelevant pitches and poor quality content that they’ll only take guest content from people they already know, like, and trust. Here’s how you can become one of those people.

First, get to know their site and the type of content they publish by following them on social media, where many people share their content, or by subscribing to their site in Feedly, so you get updated whenever there’s something new.

Read the content consistently for a few weeks, or longer, so you understand what matters to them and their audience. If they list their top-performing or featured content on their site, check that out, too. For example, anyone visiting WPBeginner can easily see what kind of content is most popular by looking at the sidebar:

Connect with site owners on social media, so you can tag them when you share their site content. Share anything you really love and include a comment so it’s not just a plain link.

Comment on their blogs, sign up for their email marketing newsletter, and respond to their emails.

The point is to build a relationship with the site owner. Don’t fake it; they’ll figure it out and you won’t achieve your goals.

Step 4. Choose a Winning Guest Post Idea

TL;DR: Research what’s already popular on your target blog and pitch a fresh, high-value angle that aligns with their audience.

Once you have a good understanding of your target site, and what matters to the site owner, it’s time to find a topic to pitch.

You should already know what’s popular on the site. Now, think about how you can add value by:

• Responding to what’s on the site
• Providing additional information on a popular topic
• Writing something new on a topic that’s likely to be popular with the audience

When you’re ready to narrow your choice, Buzzsumo is a great tool to use. With Buzzsumo, you can search for the most shared content on a specific site, within your industry, or within a general topic.

You can use these results to discover what blog topics readers are likely to share. When more readers share your guest post, your brand will get more reach.

If you find a topic that’s widely shared, and relevant to a site, but hasn’t yet been published on your target site, that’s a good topic to kick off your guest blogging strategy.

Buzzsumo has a 30-day free trial. After that, pricing starts at $199 per month.

Looking for an edge when choosing your topic? Research shows that in-depth content, posts that use proprietary research, and posts that share experiences and life hacks tend to be popular.

Important note: Before pitching a guest blog topic, make sure the site doesn’t already have a post about it. If the blog has a search bar, search for a few related keywords to see what posts they already have. You can also use the Google operator site: xyz.com to search for results within that website. While you want to create posts similar to the site’s most popular content, you shouldn’t pitch specific topics that have already been covered.

One last thing: if the site has guest post guidelines for pitching and writing, read them. If you don’t, website owners might just reject your pitch before even reading it.

Step 5. Submit Your Pitch

TL;DR: Personalize your email, lead with a strong headline, and explain exactly how your content will benefit their readers.

For a successful guest blogging strategy, it’s important to avoid generic guest posting pitches. If you’ve done your homework as we suggested earlier, you’ll be able to craft a winning pitch that’s personal to each site owner with very little effort.

The first rule is to keep the pitch short and to the point. Site owners, especially those with authoritative sites, get a LOT of pitches, so don’t waste their time.

Second, use their name – most site owners won’t read pitches from people who can’t be bothered to research this basic contact detail.

Third, include the post title. In fact, some successful pitches use this in the email subject line and as a secondary heading within the body of the email.

Your Buzzsumo results also give you a snapshot of popular headlines. Use this as a starting point for coming up with your own, and nail the right headline with this list of headline tools. If the person you’re pitching loves your title, you’re halfway to a successful pitch.

Next, describe the post briefly. Say what it will cover in a couple of sentences or a few bullet points.

Say how this piece of content will help their readers. Since by now you’re familiar with their existing content, this will be easy to do.

Finally, show why you’re the right person to write the post. Note, this isn’t a resume; just hit a couple of high points.

Here’s one example of how this would work.

Remember, this is not a guest posting template. Craft your own unique pitch for the site you want to reach, using your own natural tone and language.

Step 6. Write Great Content

TL;DR: Match the host blog’s tone and format, include helpful internal/external links, and optimize for both SEO and user experience.

If your pitch is accepted, the next thing to do is write your guest post. Especially if it’s the first time you’re writing for a site, you want to make it better than your best.

Craft a Stellar Headline

Start by taking a look at the headline in your pitch again. Even if the site owner loved it, it won’t hurt to come up with some alternatives. Some of the best headlines:

• Include the benefit for the reader
• Use action words
• Tap into emotion

We use headlines like those on the OptinMonster blog, and our readers love them! Here’s a guide to writing great headlines to help you nail yours.

Research Keyword Phrases

Website owners will love it if your guest content ranks well in search engines and drives organic traffic to their site. So, just like you’d do for your own content, carry out some keyword research to find a couple of core phrases you can use to optimize it.

Good keyword usage (not stuffing) shows search engines that content is relevant, which helps searchers find it – and you. Read our full keyword research guide for help with this.

Link Appropriately

Ideally, your guest post will have a great link profile, which helps with SEO and building authority. That means you should include relevant internal and external links in the guest post you’re writing.

Within the content, link to great content from the site you’re writing for, and useful resources on external sites. This helps give the content a good link profile, which is also good for SEO and building authority.

Make sure you follow any linking guidelines set out by site owners. As you’ll see when we get to the bio section, some limit links.

Include Images

Finding images can be a hassle, so unless site owners prefer to do this themselves, help them out by including or suggesting relevant images for your guest post. These will underline your main points and break up the text to make it easier for readers to scan. Use our guide to free image sites to help get high-quality images for your guest blogging strategy.

Format the Post Correctly

Finally, format the post so it matches others on the site. Note how they use subheadings, capitalization, bold text, lists, etc. The less work you leave for site owners to do, the happier they’ll be to keep working with you. Some sites provide guest post guidelines for guest post writers, in which case, all you need to do is follow them.

Step 7. Work That Bio

TL;DR: Use your author bio to drive traffic and leads by linking to a landing page with a clear CTA and optional lead magnet.

The bio is the payoff for the hard work you’ve invested in your guest blogging strategy. That’s because it’s where you get to link back to your own site and resources. Options commonly offered include:

• A single link to your home page
• A link to any page/resource on your site
• A link to your site plus a social media link
• A couple of web and social media links

There are even a few site owners who put no restrictions on links in the bio, though that’s not very common. In most cases, you’ll be able to link to a URL of your choice plus a social link.

How to Use Your Bio for Lead Generation

If you get the choice, consider improving lead generation by linking to a landing page with a lead magnet, so you get signups from people who already like the content you’ve written and want to learn more. Here’s an example of that guest blogging strategy from Adam Connell on Blog Boost Traffic:

OptinMonster is a great way to deliver your lead magnet. Follow our guide to creating your first campaign, then visit the Success tab in the OptinMonster campaign builder. You can deliver the lead magnet immediately via a success theme or a link, and can also send it by email.

Whether you’re linking to a landing page or not, include a clear call to action (CTA) so readers know what to do next. A typical guest posting CTA can ask readers to:

• Visit your site
• Download a free resource
• Follow you on social media

OptinMonster’s Referrer Detection feature is another useful way to capitalize on traffic resulting from your guest blogging strategy. It allows you to show specific campaigns to people coming from a particular site, without needing to create a whole landing page.

Follow our instructions for creating your first campaign, then go to Display Rules » Current URL path » exactly matches. Add the URL of your guest post.

You’ll be able to track the success of your campaign in OptinMonster’s conversion analytics dashboard.

Another approach to the bio is to define your target audience. Say who you work with and how you can help them, as in the example from Cate Scolnik below:

If you can, add UTM parameters so you can check the success of each guest blog in Google Analytics. That’ll tell you which sites are really working to meet your goals. You’ll be able to track the traffic coming from different sites within your GA4 dashboard.

If you have a WordPress site and want an easier way to track UTM links, try MonsterInsights.

MonsterInsights brings the power of Google Analytics to your WordPress dashboard with an easy-to-use interface. That’ll save you time and stress.

MonsterInsights starts at just $99.50 a year, and there’s a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Try MonsterInsights today!

Finally, there’s no rule that your guest posting bio has to be identical on every site. Don’t be afraid to change your bio depending on your goals. Here’s one bio for a travel site:

And here it is customized for a productivity site:

Step 8. Be Responsive

We’re going to keep this next guest blogging strategy tip short and sweet: keep an eye on the comment section and respond to comments and mentions of your post.

Why? Not just because it’s good manners, although that’s a good reason. Being responsive is how you make connections with your new audience, which can help you meet some of your strategic goals.

Blog owners will also be happy if you’re responsive, making it more likely they’ll be receptive to new pitches, or will suggest ways you can contribute further. This moves you even closer to achieving your goals for your guest blogging strategy.

If the blog owner allows it, subscribe to comments on your guest post, so you’ll get an email alert when anyone comments. You can also track mentions and shares of the post via a Google alert.

Step 9. Promote Your Content

TL;DR: Amplify your guest post through email, social, and repurposing — more traffic means more authority and ROI.

Content promotion is a key part of your guest blogging strategy so more people read your content and follow it back to your site. The site owner will be happy to benefit from increased traffic, too.

You can promote guest posting content via the same channels you use to promote your own content. For example, you can inform subscribers about your guest blog in your email marketing newsletter. You can even include links to your best posts in any drip email campaigns you have scheduled.

You should also share your content on social media. If you’re promoting content via Buffer or another social scheduling platform, add your guest post links to your queue. Remember, not everyone will see your social media post the first time, so reshare your guest posts several times.

Wherever you share your guest posts, encourage your subscribers and followers to visit, comment, and share. Some will be happy to oblige.

Finally, link to and mention your guest blog content whenever it makes sense, both in posts on your own blog and on other guest posts, which brings us to the next point:

Step 10. Write More Guest Posts

While one guest post will help you achieve some goals, for real success you need to keep writing more. With a good guest blogging strategy, more is more, as long as you can maintain high-quality guest articles.

The more posts you write, the more online presence you’ll have, and the more people will see you as an authority. That leads to more invitations to write and participate in events, more organic traffic to your site, and more leads and sales.

Of course, if you’re writing a lot of guest posts, you’ll need a way to keep track of them. That’s why it makes sense to have a guest posting calendar.

An easy way to do this is to create a new calendar in Google Calendar and add the titles and due dates of any guest blogging commitments.

If you’re writing for a few publications regularly, use color-coding to have an easy visual guide to what’s coming up for which sites. You can even note when posts are scheduled to be live, so you can kick social media promotion into high gear.

Other tools for tracking your blogging commitments include Asana and CoSchedule.

Step 11. Track Success

TL;DR: Use UTM links, Google Analytics, and OptinMonster’s conversion data to measure which guest posts drive real results.

If you want to know if your guest blogging strategy is working, you’ll need to measure success. This means using some of the tools mentioned earlier in this guide.

For example, if you want to see if your content is bringing in more leads, track traffic to your landing page with Google Analytics, and use OptinMonster’s conversion analytics to assess the success of your marketing campaigns.

Search Buzzsumo as described earlier to see if your guest content is being shared on social media. Buzzsumo also lets you set up an author search so you can track all your guest content from one place. To do this use author: [your author name] in the search box.

Use Semrush as described earlier to see how your guest content ranks for target keywords and if you’re getting new inbound links and related traffic from your guest posts.

Lastly, remember to follow up with the blog owner or editor. Thank them for the chance to contribute and ask if they have any feedback or potential opportunities for future collaborations.

How OptinMonster Uses Guest Posting to Grow Traffic and Trust

Here’s how we’ve used guest posting to expand our reach, generate leads, and earn authority-building backlinks from top industry blogs.

Where We’ve Guest Blogged

Our content team and contributors have published guest posts on:

• WPBeginner – One of the largest free WordPress resources online
• Blogging Wizard – A go-to platform for content creators and marketers
• WPForms Blog – A trusted source for WordPress tips and lead generation tactics

Each of these placements was strategic, targeting high-authority sites with engaged audiences that overlap with our core customer base.

What Guest Blogging Has Delivered

From these placements and others, we’ve seen real, measurable results:

For example, our WPForms guest post on list-building tactics consistently drives traffic to our own list-building templates with an average time on page of 3.7 minutes.

Why It Works

We follow the same process we outline in this guide:

• Personalized outreach (not generic pitch blasts)
• Highly relevant, high-value content tailored to each audience
• Clear CTAs with lead magnets customized to the guest post topic
• Post-publish promotion to maximize visibility

And because we track every campaign using UTM parameters and OptinMonster’s Referrer Detection, we know exactly which placements convert and which ones to scale.

FAQ – Guest Posting

That’s it. By following this guest posting guide, you’ll be ready to become a successful guest blogger.

Guest posting stands out as a tried-and-true strategy to boost brand visibility, establish authority, and foster meaningful industry connections.

But remember, the success of your guest blogging efforts is often tied to the tools you use to convert that newfound traffic into loyal subscribers or customers.

If you’re looking to supercharge these conversions, consider OptinMonster.

With its intuitive design and powerful features, it’s no wonder many successful bloggers and marketers trust OptinMonster to optimize their guest blog returns.

As you venture into the world of guest blogging, ensure you’re equipped with the best tools to maximize your efforts. Happy blogging!

Get started with OptinMonster today!

Related Resources:

• How to Write an Excellent Blog Post in 10 Steps
• Ultimate List of Blogging Statistics and Facts
• The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Content Marketing
• How to Create a Content Marketing Strategy

This eCommerce holiday calendar covers the entirety of 2026, so you can plan all 12 months of promotions. For each holiday, I’m sharing marketing tips to help your eCommerce store make more sales throughout the year.

January 2026 Marketing Calendar

January 1: New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day marks the beginning of the calendar year and the end of the holiday shopping season. On the eCommerce calendar, it’s the time to promote resolution-related products.

• Products to Promote: Fitness gear, planners, healthy cooking items, and self-improvement books.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote New Year’s resolution-themed products.
  • Social Media: Ask followers to share their resolutions, especially those related to your company’s niche.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on products that help achieve new goals.

OptinMonster has several New Year-themed templates. The one below is a full-screen spin-to-win campaign:

You can add a Coupon Wheel like this one to any OptinMonster campaign.

January 4: National Spaghetti Day

National Spaghetti Day celebrates the beloved pasta dish enjoyed by many around the world. Like so many food-themed holidays, it’s a great opportunity to have some fun with your eCommerce marketing.

• Products to Promote: Pasta, kitchen gadgets, and cookbooks.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share spaghetti recipes and promote related products.
  • Social Media: Ask followers to share their favorite spaghetti recipes or their favorite Italian restaurants.
  • Website Popups: Highlight discounts on pasta and kitchen tools. Offer a family spaghetti recipe or guide to homemade pasta as a lead magnet.

January 10: National Cut Your Energy Day

This day encourages people to reduce their energy consumption and be more environmentally conscious.

• Products to Promote: Energy-efficient appliances and eco-friendly products.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Offer tips on cutting energy usage and promote sustainable products.
  • Social Media: Share infographics on energy-saving tips.
  • Website Popups: Promote sales on energy-efficient items.

January 12: National Hot Tea Day

National Hot Tea Day celebrates the warmth and comfort of drinking hot tea.

• Products to Promote: Teas, kettles, teapots, tea sets, serving platters, and tasty treats that go well with tea.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share tea party recipes and special tea blends.
  • Social Media: Host a tea-themed giveaway or a virtual tea party.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on tea sets and accessories.

January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

This federal holiday honors the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and his contributions to equality and justice.

• Products to Promote: Books, educational materials, products from Black-owned businesses, and charity-related items.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share content about MLK’s legacy and your brand’s commitment to diversity and equity.
  • Social Media: Highlight community service events.
  • Website Popups: Promote Black-owned businesses and donations to relevant charities.

January 21: National Pie Day

National Pie Day is dedicated to celebrating the love of pies, from sweet to savory.

• Products to Promote: Baking supplies, pie ingredients, kitchenware, and cookbooks.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share pie recipes and baking tips.
  • Social Media: Do a bracketed poll tournament to determine the best type of pie.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on pie-related products or a pie-baking guide as a lead magnet.

January 26: Australia Day

Australia Day marks the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson in New South Wales in 1788 and is celebrated with parades and barbecues.

• Products to Promote: Australian-made items, outdoor gear, and BBQ supplies.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share Australia Day-themed products.
  • Social Media: Highlight Australian culture and products.
  • Website Popups: Offer sales on BBQ supplies and outdoor gear.

January 29: Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is celebrated with family gatherings, feasts, and fireworks.

• Products to Promote: Festive decorations, traditional foods, and gifts.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share Chinese New Year traditions and special promotions.
  • Social Media: Post content about the zodiac animal of the year.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on festive items and gifts.

February 2026 Marketing Calendar

Month of February: Black History Month

Black History Month celebrates the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history.

• Products to Promote: Books by Black authors, products by Black-owned businesses, and educational materials.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight Black-owned businesses and promote related products.
  • Social Media: Share stories and achievements of notable Black figures.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on products related to Black history and culture.

February 2: Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is a quirky tradition where a groundhog predicts the weather for the upcoming weeks based on whether it sees its shadow. Have to sets of marketing campaigns ready: one for an early spring and one for 6 more weeks of winter.

• Products to Promote: Winter or spring clothing, seasonal decorations, and novelty items.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote winter sales or spring previews based on the groundhog’s prediction.
  • Social Media: Share fun facts and history about Groundhog Day.
  • Website Popups: Offer flash sales tied to the groundhog’s forecast.

February 7: National Wear Red Day

National Wear Red Day raises awareness about heart disease in women by encouraging people to wear red.

• Products to Promote: Red clothing, heart health-related products, and fitness gear.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote red apparel and highlight heart health tips. Offer matching donations to the American Heart Association.
  • Social Media: Share stories and tips on heart health awareness.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on red items and health products, and encourage donations.

February 9: National Pizza Day

National Pizza Day celebrates everyone’s favorite cheesy dish with various deals and promotions.

• Products to Promote: Pizza-making kits, kitchen gadgets, and pizza-themed merchandise.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share pizza recipes and promote related products.
  • Social Media: Post polls on favorite pizza toppings or on New York-style vs Chicago deep dish.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on pizza-related items or a pizza recipe ebook as a lead magnet.

February 14: Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love and romance, often marked by giving gifts like chocolates, flowers, and jewelry.

• Products to Promote: Chocolates, flowers, jewelry, and romantic gifts.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote special Valentine’s Day gifts and offers.
  • Social Media: Share romantic stories and gift ideas.
  • Website Popups: Offer exclusive Valentine’s Day deals and bundles.

February 17: President’s Day

President’s Day honors past and present U.S. presidents and is often celebrated with sales and discounts.

• Products to Promote: Patriotic merchandise, home goods, electronics.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote President’s Day sales and highlight patriotic products.
  • Social Media: Share historical facts about U.S. presidents.
  • Website Popups: Offer sitewide discounts for President’s Day.

February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day

Random Acts of Kindness Day encourages people to spread kindness through small, thoughtful gestures.

• Products to Promote: Greeting cards, small gifts, and charitable donations.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Encourage customers to perform acts of kindness and share related products.
  • Social Media: Promote a kindness challenge or giveaway.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on products that can be given as gifts.

February 25: Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is celebrated with parades, parties, and festive masks.

• Products to Promote: Costumes, masks, party supplies, decorations.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote Mardi Gras-themed products and party supplies.
  • Social Media: Share Mardi Gras history and celebration ideas.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on festive items and decorations.

February 28: Ramadan Begins*

*Ramadan is expected to begin the evening of February 28, 2026, but exact dates can vary.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. It’s a time of spiritual growth and increased charitable giving.

• Products to Promote: Prayer mats, Islamic books, dates (fruit), and Ramadan decorations.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share Ramadan recipes, gift guides, and special offers on relevant products. Educate customers about the significance of Ramadan.
  • Social Media: Post daily Ramadan tips, share iftar (fast-breaking meal) recipes, and host a charity drive.
  • Website Popups: Offer Ramadan-themed bundles and promote suhoor (pre-dawn meal) essentials.

March 2026 Marketing Calendar

Month of March: Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month honors the contributions and achievements of women throughout history.

• Products to Promote: Books by female authors and products by women artists and women-owned businesses.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight products from women-owned businesses.
  • Social Media: Share stories of inspirational women.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on women-focused products.

March 8: International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day celebrates women’s achievements and promotes gender equality.

• Products to Promote: Empowerment-themed products, beauty and wellness items, and women’s accessories.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Feature special promotions on women’s products.
  • Social Media: Share user-generated content celebrating women.
  • Website Popups: Offer exclusive deals for International Women’s Day.

March 14: Holi

Holi is a Hindu festival marking the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Known as the Festival of Colors, it involves joyous celebrations where people throw vibrant colored powders, dance, and feast together.

• Products to Promote: Color powders, white clothing, festive snacks, and sweets.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send out festive offers that celebrate the arrival of Spring.
  • Social Media: Share vibrant images and videos of Holi celebrations, or run a photo contest for the best Holi moments.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on Holi essentials and promote limited-time festive bundles.

You can get started with your Holi marketing with this OptinMonster template:

March 17: St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day honors the patron saint of Ireland with festivities, parades, and wearing green.

• Products to Promote: Green clothing, Irish-themed products, beer, beer accessories, and party supplies.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send out themed discount codes.
  • Social Media: Post green apparel items and photos of festivities.
  • Website Popups: Promote limited-time offers on themed products.

March 20: First Day of Spring/Spring Equinox

After the long winter, people are ready to celebrate the arrival of spring. This is the time in your eCommerce calendar to shift to your warm-weather items.

• Products to Promote: Gardening supplies, spring fashion, warm-weather clothing, and outdoor decor.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Announce new spring collections.
  • Social Media: Share tips for spring cleaning and gardening.
  • Website Popups: Offer spring sales and promotions.

March 20: International Day of Happiness

The International Day of Happiness promotes the importance of happiness and well-being.

• Products to Promote: Wellness products, inspirational books, cozy apparel, games, or other fun or relaxing items.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share happiness tips and promote wellness products.
  • Social Media: Encourage followers to share what makes them happy.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on products that promote happiness.

March 29: Eid al-Fitr Begins*

*Eid al-Fitr is expected to begin the evening of March 29, 2026, but the exact dates may vary.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated with prayers, family gatherings, feasts, and acts of charity.

• Products to Promote: Eid gifts, festive clothing, home decor, and gourmet foods.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send Eid greetings and highlight special Eid collections and last-minute gift ideas.
  • Social Media: Share Eid celebration photos from around the world and run an Eid outfit contest.
  • Website Popups: Offer exclusive Eid discounts and promote express shipping for last-minute shoppers.

March 29: Earth Hour

Earth Hour encourages turning off non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness about climate change.

• Products to Promote: Eco-friendly products, energy-saving devices, and reusable items.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote eco-friendly product lines.
  • Social Media: Share energy-saving tips and Earth Hour facts.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on sustainable products.

April 2026 Marketing Calendar

Month of April: National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month celebrates poetry and its impact on culture and society.

• Products to Promote: Poetry books, writing journals, and literary-themed merchandise.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Feature a daily poem and related products.
  • Social Media: Host a poetry contest and share user submissions.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on literary products.

April 1: April Fool’s Day

April Fool’s Day is a day for practical jokes and playful pranks. Online businesses can even post and send their own prank messages, but make sure your joke is light-hearted and not deceptive.

• Products to Promote: Gag gifts, prank kits, and novelty items.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send a playful email with prank product suggestions.
  • Social Media: Share funny prank ideas and user-generated content.
  • Website Popups: Offer special deals on novelty items.

April 10: National Sibling’s Day

National Sibling’s Day honors the bond shared by sisters and brothers. It’s also a chance to have fun with the teasing nature of many sibling relationships.

• Products to Promote: Personalized gifts, matching apparel, photo frames, and games.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Feature gift ideas and photos of team members with their siblings.
  • Social Media: Encourage followers to tag siblings and share funny stories.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on personalized sibling gifts.

April 11: National Pet Day

National Pet Day celebrates pets and promotes pet adoption.

• Products to Promote: Pet supplies, pet toys, personalized pet products.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight special offers on pet products.
  • Social Media: Share pet adoption stories and user-generated pet photos.
  • Website Popups: Offer exclusive deals for pet owners.

April 20: Easter

Easter is a Christian holiday that represents renewal and resurrection. Families often gather for meals, and children enjoy gifts from the Easter Bunny.

• Products to Promote: Easter decorations, chocolates, children’s toys, and pastel spring clothing.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send an Easter-themed newsletter with a gift guide. Don’t be afraid to use plenty of egg and bunny puns.
  • Social Media: Highlight gifts that are perfect for an Easter basket, as well as spring dresses and accessories.
  • Website Popups: Promote Easter sales and limited-time offers.

April 22: Earth Day

Earth Day focuses on environmental protection and sustainability. It’s often marked with outdoor events and educational programs.

• Products to Promote: Eco-friendly products, reusable items, and gardening tools.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight eco-friendly products and sustainable practices.
  • Social Media: Share tips on reducing environmental impact.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on sustainable products.

April 23: Administrative Professionals Day

Administrative Professionals Day recognizes the contributions of administrative staff. Bosses and coworkers often give gifts to show their thanks.

• Products to Promote: Personalized gifts, flowers, gift cards, and other common gift items.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote gift ideas for administrative professionals.
  • Social Media: Share stories about your company’s outstanding administrative staff.
  • Website Popups: Offer special deals on popular gifts.

April 25: Arbor Day

Arbor Day encourages planting and caring for trees.

• Products to Promote: Gardening tools, tree saplings, eco-friendly products. Run a promotion that your company will plant a tree for every purchase over a certain amount.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send a newsletter promoting tree planting and related products. Share your company’s tree-planting efforts
  • Social Media: Share tree-planting tips and environmental benefits. Post photos of your staff planting trees.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on gardening supplies.

May 2026 Marketing Calendar

Month of May: AANHPI Heritage Month

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month celebrates the contributions and culture of AANHPI communities.

• Products to Promote: Books, art, cuisine-related items, and products by AANHPI-owned businesses.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight products from AANHPI creators and discuss the importance of the month’s observance.
  • Social Media: Share stories and contributions of AANHPI individuals.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on.

May 4: Star Wars Day

Star Wars Day, celebrated with the phrase “May the 4th be with you,” is a day for Star Wars fans to celebrate the franchise.

• Products to Promote: Star Wars merchandise, costumes, and collectibles.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Feature a Star Wars-themed product line.
  • Social Media: Host a Star Wars trivia contest or giveaway.
  • Website Popups: Offer special discounts on Star Wars products.

May 5: Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla. In Mexico, it’s a regional holiday rather than one celebrated nationally. In the US and some other countries, the holiday celebrates Mexican culture and cuisine.

• Products to Promote: Mexican cuisine, cultural decorations, and festive attire.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share recipes and promote Mexican food products.
  • Social Media: Highlight Cinco de Mayo events and traditions.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on cooking supplies, festive decorations, and attire.

May 6: National Teacher Day

Like World Teachers Day in October, National Teacher Day also recognizes the dedication and contributions of teachers.

• Products to Promote: Teacher appreciation gifts, books, and educational supplies.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote special discounts for teachers.
  • Social Media: Share stories and shoutouts to teachers.
  • Website Popups: Offer deals on teacher-related gifts and supplies.

May 11: Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring mothers and motherhood.

• Products to Promote: Flowers, jewelry, personalized gifts, spa products.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send gift guides for Mother’s Day.
  • Social Media: Host a Mother’s Day photo contest.
  • Website Popups: Offer special Mother’s Day discounts.

You can easily promote your Mother’s Day promotions with OptinMonster:

May 12: International Nurses Day

International Nurses Day celebrates the contributions of nurses around the world.

• Products to Promote: Healthcare-themed gifts, wellness products, and appreciation items.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight special deals for nurses, and encourage people to give gifts to nurses in their lives.
  • Social Media: Share stories of inspiring nurses.
  • Website Popups: Offer exclusive discounts for healthcare professionals.

May 15: Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Global Accessibility Awareness Day focuses on digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities.

• Products to Promote: Accessibility tools, inclusive tech products, and adaptive devices.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote accessibility features of your products.
  • Social Media: Share tips on creating inclusive content.
  • Website Popups: Highlight accessible product discounts.

May 25: National Wine Day

National Wine Day is a celebration of wine and winemaking.

• Products to Promote: Wines, wine accessories, and gourmet food pairings.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send a newsletter featuring popular wines and pairings.
  • Social Media: Host a virtual wine-tasting event.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on wine and related products.

May 26: Memorial Day

Memorial Day honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

• Products to Promote: Patriotic merchandise, outdoor gear, and barbecue supplies.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight Memorial Day sales and special offers.
  • Social Media: Share tributes to fallen soldiers.
  • Website Popups: Promote holiday weekend deals with themed popups

June 2026 Marketing Calendar

Month of June: Pride Month

Pride Month celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, honoring the 1969 Stonewall Riots and promoting equality and acceptance.

• Products to Promote: Rainbow-themed merchandise, LGBTQ+ books, Pride flags, and products by LGBTQ+-owned companies.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share stories and support for the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Social Media: Highlight pride events and special promotions.
  • Website Popups: Offer exclusive discounts on Pride merchandise.

June 6: Eid al-Adha Begins*

*Eid al-Adha is expected to begin the evening of June 6, but exact dates may vary.

Eid al-Adha, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is an Islamic holiday marked by a multi-day celebration.

• Products to Promote: Formal clothing, home decor, kitchenware for large gatherings, and charitable donation options.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote Eid al-Adha gift guides and highlight products perfect for family gatherings.
  • Social Media: Share the story and significance of Eid al-Adha, and encourage followers to share their celebration plans.
  • Website Popups: Offer special discounts on festive attire and home goods, or promote a charitable giving campaign.

June 6: National Donut Day

National Donut Day honors the Salvation Army volunteers who served donuts to soldiers during WWI. It’s also a great excuse to eat some donuts!

• Products to Promote: Donuts, baking supplies, and kitchen gadgets.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send a special offer for National Donut Day, and share the story of the holiday’s origin.
  • Social Media: Ask followers to share their favorite donut flavor.
  • Website Popups: Offer a discount on baking supplies and donuts, or use a donut-making guide as a lead magnet.

June 15: Father’s Day

Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and the influence of fathers in society.

• Products to Promote: Tools, gadgets, sports equipment, and personalized gifts.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send gift guides for Father’s Day.
  • Social Media: Share stories and photos of dads.
  • Website Popups: Offer special Father’s Day discounts.

OptinMonster includes an attractive Father’s Day template. Here, you see that template in our drag-and-drop builder which lets you easily edit the template with just a few clicks.

June 19: Juneteenth

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865. Long celebration by many African Americans, it became a federal holiday in 2021.

• Products to Promote: Educational books and products by Black artists and Black-owned businesses.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight Juneteenth sales and educational resources.
  • Social Media: Share the history and significance of Juneteenth.
  • Website Popups: Offer site-wide discounts and highlight products by Black-owned businesses.

June 21: Summer Solstice/First Day of Summer

The Summer Solstice marks the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer.

• Products to Promote: Summer clothing, outdoor gear, and travel accessories.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote summer sales and new arrivals.
  • Social Media: Share summer tips and activities.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on summer essentials.

June 21: International Yoga Day

International Yoga Day celebrates the physical and spiritual benefits of yoga.

• Products to Promote: Yoga mats, apparel, and accessories.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight yoga products and discuss the benefits of yoga.
  • Social Media: Share yoga tutorials and challenges.
  • Website Popups: Offer special discounts on yoga gear.

June 27: National Sunglasses Day

National Sunglasses Day promotes the importance of wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.

• Products to Promote: Sunglasses, eyewear accessories, summer apparel.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Feature a sale on sunglasses and share information on eye health.
  • Social Media: Run a sunglasses selfie contest.
  • Website Popups: Offer a limited-time discount on all eyewear.

July 2026 Marketing Calendar

Month of July: Disability Pride Month

Disability Pride Month celebrates the diversity, achievements, and contributions of individuals with disabilities.

• Products to Promote: Accessibility aids, inclusive fashion, and educational resources.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share stories and highlight inclusive products.
  • Social Media: Promote awareness and inclusivity campaigns.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on accessibility products.

July 4: Independence Day (US)

Independence Day commemorates the Declaration of Independence in 1776, marking the birth of the United States.

• Products to Promote: Patriotic decor, BBQ supplies, and summer apparel.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send out holiday promotions and cookout guides.
  • Social Media: Run a patriotic-themed photo contest.
  • Website Popups: Offer exclusive Independence Day sales.

July 7: World Chocolate Day

World Chocolate Day celebrates the deliciousness of chocolate in all its forms. If you need an excuse to enjoy some chocolate, here’s your chance!

• Products to Promote: Chocolates, baking supplies, chocolate-themed gifts.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Feature special offers on chocolate products.
  • Social Media: Share chocolate recipes and fun facts.
  • Website Popups: Offer limited-time discounts on chocolate-related items.

July 20: National Ice Cream Day

National Ice Cream Day is a day to indulge in and celebrate ice cream.

• Products to Promote: Ice cream makers, gourmet ice creams, toppings.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight ice cream products and exclusive deals.
  • Social Media: Host an ice cream flavor contest.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on ice cream-related products.

July 27: Parent’s Day

Parent’s Day honors the role of parents in bringing up their children and supporting their families.

• Products to Promote: Family photo frames, personalized gifts, and home decor.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send out a gift guide for Parent’s Day.
  • Social Media: Share stories and photos of parents.
  • Website Popups: Offer special Parent’s Day discounts.

July 30: International Day of Friendship

International Day of Friendship, like Friendship Day in August, celebrates the bonds of friendship between individuals and communities.

• Products to Promote: Personalized products, books about friendship, and thoughtful gift items.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote friendship-themed gifts and offers.
  • Social Media: Share stories and photos celebrating friendship.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on popular gift items.

August 2026 Marketing Calenda

Month of August: Back to School

In the United States, many schools start their fall semesters in August. This earlier start time is especially common in Southern states. If you have a local or regional business in these states, remember to time your back-to-school marketing appropriately. If you have a national or international customer base, use geotargeting and lead segmentation to target your back-to-school promotions to the right people at the right time.

• Products to Promote: School supplies, backpacks, clothing, electronics, and dorm essentials.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send segmented emails with school essentials and special offers for students and parents.
  • Social Media: Share back-to-school tips, product highlights, and user-generated content of school preparations.
  • Website: Offer discount codes for back-to-school items and bundle deals.

August 1: International Beer Day

International Beer Day is celebrated worldwide to enjoy and celebrate beer. It’s a day for beer lovers to try new brews, visit local pubs, and share a drink with friends.

• Products to Promote: Beers, brewing kits, barware, coolers, and other beer accessories
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote special beer selections and have some fun with brewing trivia.
  • Social Media: Host a virtual beer-tasting event or share fun facts about beer.
  • Website popups: Offer a limited-time discount on beer-related products.

August 2: Ice Cream Sandwich Day

Ice Cream Sandwich Day is dedicated to celebrating one of the most beloved summer treats, the ice cream sandwich. This day is perfect for indulging in and promoting these nostalgic frozen treats.

• Products to Promote: Ice cream, ice cream makers, cookies, and picnic/outdoor accessories
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight a variety of ice cream sandwiches and recipes.
  • Social Media: Run a contest for the best homemade ice cream sandwich.
  • Website popups: Feature a popup with a special offer on ice cream or picnic products.

August 3: Friendship Day

Friendship Day is a day to celebrate friendships and show appreciation to friends. It’s a time for people to connect, share memories, and exchange gifts.

• Products to Promote: Gifts, personalized items, and greeting cards. If you have a referral program, you can offer an extra incentive for referring a friend.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send gift ideas and special offers for friends, and focus on the special role that friendship plays in our lives. Keep a casual tone, and thank your subscribers for being a friend and supporter of your company.
  • Social Media: Encourage followers to share stories and pictures of their friends.
  • Website Popups: Offer a discount on gift items, promote your refer-a-friend program, or give a Friends & Family coupon code.

August 9: National Book Lovers Day

National Book Lovers Day is dedicated to those who love reading and books. This holiday is obviously great for publishers, authors, and booksellers. But a wide variety of eCommerce stores can also use it by focusing on the cozy factor of curling up with a good book.

• Products to Promote: Books, ebooks, e-readers, ebook subscriptions, coffee, tea, mugs, blankets, and loungewear
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight a product bundle a relaxing night of reading.
  • Social Media: Share book recommendations from your staff, reading challenges, and polls about favorite books and authors.
  • Website Popups: Promote a limited-time discount on any of the products above. Also, consider offering a free ebook or short story PDF as a lead magnet.

With OptinMonster, you can have an ebook popup running on your site in minutes. Just start with our eBook Download template, and use our easy drag-and-drop builder to customize it for your ebook. A high-value, relevant lead magnet is one of the best ways to grow your email list.

August 19: World Photography Day

World Photography Day celebrates the art and science of photography. It’s a day for photographers to showcase their work and for enthusiasts to appreciate the beauty of captured moments.

• Products to Promote: Cameras, photography accessories, frames, photo printing services, and photography classes.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Showcase popular cameras and accessories with special offers. Include beautiful photographs throughout your email.
  • Social Media: Run a photography contest and showcase user-generated content. Even if you don’t sell camera equipment, you can ask for creative photos of your products in use.
  • Website Popups: Provide a discount code for photography equipment. Offer a lead magnet of a free photography guide or discount on a photography course.

August 26: National Dog Day

National Dog Day celebrates all dogs and encourages adoption. It’s a day to recognize the joy and companionship that dogs bring into our lives.

• Products to Promote: Pet supplies, dog food, and pet toys. Don’t sell these? You can donate a percentage of the day’s proceeds to an animal rescue organization.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote special deals on dog products or highlight your company’s commitment to animal welfare.
  • Social Media: Share heartwarming stories of dog adoptions, post photos of staff members’ dogs, or ask followers to share photos of their dogs.
  • Website Popups: Offer a discount on pet supplies or promote your animal rescue donations.

August 26: Women’s Equality Day

Women’s Equality Day commemorates the certification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. It’s a day to celebrate women’s achievements and promote gender equality.

• Products to Promote: Products by women-owned companies, women’s gifts, and books related to women’s issues.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight products that promote women’s empowerment.
  • Social Media: Share stories and quotes from inspiring women.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on women’s products to celebrate equality.

September 2026 Marketing Calendar

Month of September: Back to School (continued)

The back-to-school season continues into September as students and parents finalize their preparations for the new school year. This time is crucial for last-minute purchases and deals.

• Products to Promote: School supplies, clothing, electronics, and dorm essentials.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight back-to-school sales and special offers for students and parents.
  • Social Media: Share back-to-school tips and showcase product highlights.
  • Website Popups: Offer discount codes for back-to-school items and bundle deals.

September 1: Labor Day

Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States that honors the contributions of workers. It’s traditionally celebrated with barbecues, parades, and sales events and marks the end of summer.

• Products to Promote: Outdoor equipment, grills, picnic supplies, and apparel. Customers look for good deals for Labor Day, so consider sitewide discounts.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote Labor Day sales and special discounts.
  • Social Media: Share posts celebrating workers and highlight sale items.
  • Website Popups: Feature a limited-time Labor Day sale with exclusive offers.

September 7: Grandparents Day

Grandparents Day is a time to honor grandparents and the role they play in families. It’s a day for giving gifts and spending quality time with them.

• Products to Promote: Gifts, personalized items, photo albums, and books.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send gift ideas and special offers for grandparents. Include photos of grandparents with their families. You can even add photos of employees’ grandparents.
  • Social Media: Encourage followers to share stories and photos of their grandparents.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on personalized gifts for grandparents.

September 12: National Video Game Day

National Video Game Day celebrates the enjoyment and culture of video gaming. It’s a great opportunity to offer special deals to gamers and discuss games.

• Products to Promote: Video games, consoles, gaming accessories, and merchandise related to popular games.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight popular video games and special deals on gaming gear.
  • Social Media: Host a gaming challenge, post polls about favorite games and consoles, share gaming tips and tricks, or live stream a gaming session on Twitch.
  • Website Popups: Provide a discount code for gaming products. Use Page-Level Targeting to create “You might also like” popups related to the games visitors are browsing.

September 20-October 5: Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a famous Bavarian festival known for its beer, food, and festivities. It typically runs from late September to the first weekend in October.

• Products to Promote: German-themed merchandise, and German-made products, beer, and brewing kits.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote Oktoberfest-themed products and beer selections. Since the festival lasts over 2 weeks, you can plan “Beeer of the Day” campaigns for email, social media, and your website.
  • Social Media: Share fun facts about Oktoberfest and German culture. Post photos from Oktoberfest events.
  • Website Popups: Offer a limited-time discount on Oktoberfest products.

September 22: First Day of Fall/Fall Equinox

The Fall Equinox marks the beginning of autumn. After the heat of the summer, customers are excited to prepare for cool, crisp weather and fall festivities.

• Products to Promote: Fall clothing, home decor, seasonal foods, and candles.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight fall collections and seasonal promotions.
  • Social Media: Share fall-themed content and engage with followers about their favorite fall activities.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on fall products to celebrate the new season.

September 29: National Coffee Day

National Coffee Day celebrates the beloved beverage and is a great opportunity for promotions related to coffee.

• Products to Promote: Coffee, coffee makers, mugs, and coffee accessories.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote special deals on coffee and related products.
  • Social Media: Share coffee recipes and fun facts, and host a coffee giveaway.
  • Website Popups: Feature a limited-time offer on coffee products.

October 2026 Marketing Calendar

October 5: World Teachers’ Day

World Teachers’ Day recognizes the crucial role teachers play in education and development. It’s a day to honor and appreciate educators worldwide.

• Products to Promote: Educational materials, gift cards, stationery, books, and self-care gifts.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight special deals on teacher appreciation gifts. Promote any discounts that you offer for teachers.
  • Social Media: Share stories about impactful teachers and promote giveaways.
  • Website Popups: Offer a discount code for teacher-related products.

October 7: National Taco Day

National Taco Day is a celebration of the beloved taco, a staple in Mexican cuisine. Tacos are an increasingly popular comfort food, so National Taco Day offers a fun way to connect with customers. In 2024, this holiday was changed from October 4 to the first Tuesday in October.

• Products to Promote: Taco kits, cooking utensils, Mexican cuisine ingredients, margarita ingredients, and themed apparel.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send out taco recipes and special offers on taco-related products. Highlight the different types of tacos that originated from varying regions of Mexico.
  • Social Media: Host a taco photo contest and share recipes.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on taco kits and related cooking items.

October 10: World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness about mental health issues and promote mental well-being.

• Products to Promote: Self-care items, books on mental health, and spa services.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share tips on mental well-being and promote relevant products. Give an insider look at how your company prioritizes the mental health of your team members.
  • Social Media: Post about mental health awareness and invite followers to share their mental health journeys.
  • Website Popups: Feature special offers on self-care and wellness products.

October 13: Indigenous People’s Day

Indigenous People’s Day celebrates and honors the culture, history, and contributions of indigenous communities.

• Products to Promote: Indigenous art, cultural books, handmade crafts, and products by Indigenous-owned companies.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote products made by indigenous artists and highlight their stories.
  • Social Media: Share educational content about indigenous cultures.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on indigenous-made products, art, and books..

October 18: Sweetest Day

On Sweetest Day, businesses encourage customers to give candy and desserts, either as a romantic gesture or an act of kindness.

• Products to Promote: Sweets, chocolates, flowers, and greeting cards.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight gift bundles and special offers on sweets and treats. Include recipes for special desserts.
  • Social Media: Promote a giveaway for a gift basket of special treats.
  • Website Popups: Feature limited-time discounts on Sweetest Day gifts.

October 20: Diwali

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains worldwide. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

• Products to Promote: Candles, lanterns, festive decorations, sweets, jewelry, and other Diwali gifts.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight Diwali gift ideas and offer special discounts. Showcase photos of Diwali light displays and share details about the origins and significance of the holiday.
  • Social Media: Share Diwali stories and recipes, and host a photo contest.
  • Website Popups: Offer a site-wide coupon code in celebration.

October 31: Halloween

Halloween’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. In fact, the National Retail Federation estimates that Halloween spending reached $12.2 billion in 2023. With so many dollars at stake, don’t wait until the last minute to start your Halloween promotions. Many eCommerce retailers begin promoting their spooky products as early as July and August.

• Products to Promote: Costumes, decorations, candy, and themed party supplies.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote Halloween sales and costume ideas. If you don’t offer these products, you can still create Halloween-themed emails with subject lines like “Scary-Good Savings”
  • Social Media: Host a costume contest and share decorating tips.
  • Website Popups: Offer special deals on Halloween products or a sitewide discount.

OptinMonster offers multiple premade templates for Halloween, including this one:

You can add a Countdown Timer to any OptinMonster campaign. In this popup, the timer can count down to Halloween, creating a sense of urgency to order in time.

November 2026 Marketing Calendar

November 1-2: Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead

Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that honors deceased loved ones with vibrant altars, marigolds, and festive gatherings. It’s a time of celebration and remembrance.

• Products to Promote: Decorative items, sugar skulls, traditional Mexican crafts, and candles.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share the history and significance of Dia de los Muertos with special offers on related products.
  • Social Media: Post educational content and host a giveaway featuring festive items.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on decorations and traditional crafts.

November 11: Veterans Day

Veterans Day honors military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It’s a day of remembrance and appreciation for their service.

• Products to Promote: Patriotic items, flags, military-themed gifts, and apparel. Highlight any military discounts that you offer.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send out a thank-you message to veterans with exclusive offers.
  • Social Media: Share stories of veterans and promote discounts for military personnel.
  • Website Popups: Offer special deals for veterans and their families.

November 13: World Kindness Day

World Kindness Day encourages acts of kindness and the spirit of giving. It’s a day to promote good deeds and positive actions.

• Products to Promote: Inspirational books, wellness products, charity items, simple “thinking of you” gifts, and products that support charitable causes.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Encourage customers to perform acts of kindness and offer discounts on related products. Use this holiday to highlight your company’s charitable giving, and include a link to donate to a cause of your choice.
  • Social Media: Share stories of kindness and create a hashtag campaign.
  • Website Popups: Promote charitable products and offer discounts for those who donate.

November 15: America Recycles Day

America Recycles Day promotes recycling and encourages people to buy recycled products. It’s a day dedicated to environmental awareness.

• Products to Promote: Recycled goods, eco-friendly products, and reusable items.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight your eco-friendly product range and offer discounts.
  • Social Media: Share recycling tips and host a giveaway of sustainable products.
  • Website Popups: Offer special deals on eco-friendly products, or simply use your popup to link to your sustainable collection.

November 18: National Entrepreneur’s Day

National Entrepreneur’s Day celebrates entrepreneurs and their contributions to innovation and economic growth. It’s a day to support and inspire business owners, and it’s an especially good marketing opportunity for B2B (business-to-business) companies.

• Products to Promote: Business books, B2B software and products, productivity tools, and tech gadgets.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote products that help entrepreneurs with special discounts. Tell the story of your own company’s founding.
  • Social Media: Share success stories of entrepreneurs and host a live Q&A.
  • Website Popups: Offer exclusive deals and downloadable business guides as lead magnets.

November 27: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a traditional American holiday where families gather to give thanks and enjoy a feast. It’s celebrated with meals, parades, and football games. It also kicks off the winter holiday season.

• Products to Promote: Cooking supplies, home décor, and fall apparel.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send out Thanksgiving recipes and special offers on cooking supplies.
  • Social Media: Share customer photos of Thanksgiving celebrations and host a contest.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on Thanksgiving essentials.

November 28: Black Friday

Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year, known for massive sales and discounts. Be sure to start planning your Black Friday deals and marketing well in advance, so this important weekend doesn’t sneak up on you.

• Products to Promote: Popular electronics, fashion, home goods, and virtually anything.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send out early bird specials and exclusive discounts. Offer previews of Black Friday deals to subscribers.
  • Social Media: Create countdowns to your biggest deals and share sneak peeks.
  • Website Popups: Promote time-sensitive deals and flash sales. Use countdown timers to build anticipation.

OptinMonster has a ton of Black Friday campaign templates to save you time:

November 29: Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday encourages consumers to shop at local and small businesses. If you’re a small business, this day is your time to shine! Even if you’re a bit larger, you can promote any products made by small businesses.

• Products to Promote: Locally-made products, unique gifts, and specialty items.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight small business products and offer special promotions.
  • Social Media: Share stories of local businesses and create a support-local hashtag campaign.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts for purchases from small business partners.

December 2026 Marketing Calendar

December 1: Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday is the eCommerce equivalent of Black Friday, with major online retailers offering significant discounts. It’s one of the biggest online shopping days of the year.

• Products to Promote: Electronics, fashion, home goods, toys, and any other products.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send early access deals and exclusive online discounts.
  • Social Media: Run countdowns and live updates on deals.
  • Website Popups: Offer time-limited flash sales and exclusive online-only offers.

In addition to traditional popups, OptinMonster offers templates for floating bars, slide-in boxes, and full-screen mats. For example, we have this floating bar template for Cyber Monday, which can float at the top or bottom of your webpage:

December 2: Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that encourages people to give back to their communities through donations, volunteering, and acts of kindness.

• Products to Promote: Charity-related items, matching donations, and percentage-of-purchase donations.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote charitable partnerships and donation-matching campaigns.
  • Social Media: Share stories of giving and encourage followers to participate.
  • Website Popups: Highlight donation options and promote matching gift programs.

December 4: National Cookie Day

National Cookie Day celebrates the joy of baking and eating cookies, and it’s perfectly timed for the holiday baking season.

• Products to Promote: Baking supplies, cookie gift boxes, and kitchen gadgets.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share cookie recipes and offer discounts on baking products.
  • Social Media: Host a cookie recipe contest and share user-generated content.
  • Website Popups: In addition to special deals, you can offer a downloadable PDF of cookie recipes as a lead magnet.

December 14-22: Hanukkah

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

• Products to Promote: Menorahs, candles, traditional foods, and gifts.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Share Hanukkah stories and offer special discounts on holiday items.
  • Social Media: Post Hanukkah-themed content and engage with followers.
  • Website Popups: Highlight Hanukkah promotions and limited-time offers.

December 19: National Ugly Sweater Day

National Ugly Sweater Day is a tongue-in-cheek holiday where people wear their most outrageous holiday sweaters. Many families, friends groups, and workplaces host ugly Christmas sweater parties during the holiday season.

• Products to Promote: Ugly sweaters, not-ugly sweaters, holiday apparel, novelty gifts.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Promote sweater collections and special offers. Include a photo of your team wearing crazy sweaters.
  • Social Media: Host an ugly sweater photo contest and share entries.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on sweaters and holiday attire.

December 21: Winter Solstice/First Day of Winter

The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. Because it has the shortest amount of daylight, it also means each following day will be a little longer. That’s good news for people who struggle with Seasonal affective disorder. The Winter Solstice is also the official beginning of winter.

• Products to Promote: Winter clothing, home décor, wellness products, and last-minute holiday gifts.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Highlight winter-themed products and special solstice sales. Share any express-shipping options that will allow arrival before Christmas Day.
  • Social Media: Share winter tips and product features.
  • Website Popups: Promote winter sales and limited-time offers.

December 24: Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is celebrated with family gatherings, festive meals, and last-minute holiday preparations. It’s a night full of anticipation and joy.

• Products to Promote: If you have physical stores that are open, promote last-minute, in-person shopping. If not, take a break for the day!
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send last-minute gift guides.
  • Social Media: Share holiday stories and festive countdowns.
  • Website Popups: Promote last-minute in-store deals.

December 25: Christmas Day

Christmas Day is about family and celebration, not shopping. Any marketing that you send out should be focused on wishing your customers a wonderful holiday.

• Products to Promote: It’s best not to promote products on Christmas Day.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send a holiday greeting and thank customers for supporting your business. You can include links to post-Christmas sales, but they shouldn’t be the main focus of your email.
  • Social Media: Share season’s greetings and customer photos.
  • Website Popups: Transition to post-Christmas sales.

December 26-Januay 1: Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration honoring African heritage in African-American culture. It involves activities such as lighting the kinara, feasts, and gift-giving.

• Products to Promote: Kinara sets, African-made gifts, and educational books.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Educate customers about Kwanzaa and offer themed products.
  • Social Media: Share Kwanzaa traditions and product highlights.
  • Website Popups: Promote Kwanzaa deals and educational content.

December 26: Boxing Day

Boxing Day is celebrated the day after Christmas, traditionally with shopping, sporting events, and family gatherings. It’s a major shopping holiday in many countries.

• Products to Promote: Post-Christmas sales, electronics, and fashion.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Announce Boxing Day sales and exclusive discounts.
  • Social Media: Share sale highlights and engage with customers.
  • Website Popups: Promote Boxing Day deals and clearance events.

December 31: New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is celebrated with parties, fireworks, and countdowns to the new year. It’s a time for reflection and new beginnings.

• Products to Promote: Party supplies, festive décor, and resolution-related items.
• Marketing Ideas:
  • Email: Send New Year’s Eve party ideas and special offers. You can also send a year-in-review email about company milestones.
  • Social Media: Host a New Year’s countdown and share festive content.
  • Website Popups: Offer discounts on party supplies and New Year essentials.

Show Your Best Holiday Offers to the Right Website Visitors

I hope this 2026 eCommerce calendar helps you plan your marketing strategy for the next year! Want more tips for eCommerce marketing? Check out these resources:

• eCommerce Email Marketing: Email Types, Examples, & Tips
• The Ultimate eCommerce Optimization Guide: 13 Steps to Instantly Boost Revenue
• How to Create a Fail-Proof Digital Marketing Plan in 5 Steps

Do you want to make website popups like you’ve seen throughout this list? With OptinMonster, you can create a popup, floating bar, or other onsite campaign in minutes. Then, in just a few clicks, you can precisely target those campaigns to the right people at just the right time.

Get Started With OptinMonster Today!

Best Overall	Best Free	Best Pro
InShot – simple, fast, AI captions + effects	CapCut – free, AI-powered, trending templates ( pricing/ToS changes)	Final Cut Pro – Mac/iPad, advanced AI object tracking, pro tools

With Instagram reels rapidly becoming an essential part of generating leads on social media, it has now become crucial to have the best editing software for Instagram Reels to make your content pop.

Over the past few months, I’ve tested numerous editing apps to find the best ones for creating high-quality reels. 

In this article, I’ll share my insights and experiences with the seven best editing software for Instagram reels, detailing how I shortlisted each product and my experiences using it.

Here’s a table summarizing the best editing software for Instagram reels:

Tool	Best For	Key Features	Pricing
InShot	All-around editing with ease of use	AI captions, beat sync, filters, fast exports	Free w/ watermark, Pro $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr
CapCut	Best free AI-powered editor	Auto-captioning, script-to-video, trending templates	Free; Pro $19.99/mo (regional variations)
Final Cut Pro	Professional creators on Mac/iPad	AI object tracking, multi-cam editing, advanced color grading	Mac: $299 one-time; iPad: $4.99/mo or $49/yr
Splice	Mobile users who want advanced audio + multi-layer control	AI audio cleanup, smart trimming, large sound library	Free version; Premium from $4.99/mo
VN Video Editor	Free advanced control without subscriptions	Smart cut detection, multi-layer timelines, pro-style transitions	Completely free
KineMaster	Precision editing on mobile	AI background removal, auto-subtitles, multiple layers	Free w/ watermark; Premium $7.99/mo or $51.99/yr
Adobe Premiere Rush	Existing Adobe users ( discontinued for new)	Cloud sync, templates, cross-device editing	Free limited; $19.99/mo (ending Sept 2025)

Best Editing Software for Instagram Reels

1. InShot

InShot has stayed one of the most popular Instagram Reels editors thanks to its simple, user-friendly interface and fast exporting. It’s great for quick trims, adding text overlays, and layering music but in 2025, InShot has leveled up with a range of AI-powered tools.

In addition to auto-captions, background removal, and beat syncing, InShot now includes AI visual effects like sky replacement, the “giant effect,” and advanced cutout tools. These features give creators more creative freedom and allow for cinematic-looking edits without needing pro software.

When I tested it, I found InShot ideal for turning raw clips into polished Reels in just a few minutes. It’s especially strong if you want simple edits that still look professional. The free version does come with a watermark, and some of the pro tools are locked behind a subscription, but overall it’s one of the best value-for-money editors on the market.

Pricing:

• Free with watermark
• $4.99/month or $29.99/year

2. CapCut

CapCut has exploded in popularity as one of the most powerful free editing apps for Instagram Reels and TikToks. In 2025, it’s packed with AI features like auto-captioning, background removal, script-to-video generation, and smart editing templates synced with trending audio. These tools make it easy to create viral-ready content fast.

But there are some important updates you should know before making CapCut your primary tool:

• CapCut Pro Pricing: The Pro subscription now costs $19.99/month in many regions, up from earlier $7.99–$9.99 tiers. Free cloud storage has been removed, and storage now requires a paid add-on (e.g. 10GB at $0.99/month, 100GB at $4.99/month).
• Content Rights Concerns: CapCut’s new Terms of Service grant ByteDance broad rights over your content (including visuals, voice, and likeness), even if you delete your account. This has raised red flags for creators doing commercial or client work.
• Regulatory Issues: CapCut was briefly banned in the U.S. in 2025 alongside TikTok, then reinstated, but ByteDance is now developing a separate “CapCut US” version to comply with regulations. This could result in feature differences between U.S. and international users.
• Competition from Instagram: Meta is testing its own editing app, Instagram Edits, which directly rivals CapCut by offering templates, creative tools, and insights without leaving Instagram.

Despite these risks, CapCut remains one of the most feature-rich free editors available, especially for creators who want AI-powered shortcuts and access to trending templates. Just be mindful of the pricing changes and terms before relying on it for professional projects.

Pros	Cons
Wide range of AI tools (auto-captions, script-to-video, background removal) Huge library of trending templates and audio Free version still offers strong functionality Fast, intuitive editing interface	Pro plan now more expensive ($19.99/mo in many regions) Cloud storage no longer free Content rights concerns in updated Terms of Service Uncertain long-term availability due to regulatory issues

Pricing:

• Free version available
• CapCut Pro: $19.99/month (regional variations)

Note: If you use CapCut for client or commercial work, read the Terms carefully before uploading sensitive content.

3. Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro remains Apple’s flagship editing tool, offering professional-grade precision and advanced features that make it ideal for serious creators. Apple has enhanced both the Mac and iPad versions with AI tools like object tracking, smart reframing, auto reframing, and scene cut detection, which are especially useful for repurposing videos into vertical formats like Reels.

On Mac, you get the full power of a desktop editor with blazing-fast rendering (especially on Apple Silicon), multi-cam editing, and advanced color grading. It’s a one-time purchase, but the learning curve and upfront cost are higher.

On iPad, Final Cut Pro feels surprisingly robust. The touch interface is intuitive for quick edits, and the AI tools make trimming and reframing almost effortless. While it doesn’t match the full feature set of the Mac version, it’s an excellent option for creators who want pro editing tools on the go at a much lower price point.

Pros	Cons
Professional-grade editing with AI object tracking and reframing Optimized performance on Mac (M1/M2 chips) Intuitive iPad interface with AI scene detection Flexible pricing: one-time on Mac, affordable subscription on iPad	Steeper learning curve for beginners Interface is less polished than competitors Limited customer support since it’s a free app

Pricing:

• Mac: $299 one-time purchase
• iPad: $4.99/month or $49/year

4. Splice

Splice continues to be a favorite for creators who want multi-layer editing on mobile without the steep learning curve of pro desktop tools. Splice has added AI-powered audio cleanup and smart trimming, which really helps when you’re working with background noise or need to cut clips quickly.

During my tests, I loved the app’s intuitive design and the extensive music and sound effects library. It’s easy to line up audio with visuals, and the multi-track editing makes your Reels feel more dynamic. The downside is that Splice can lag when handling longer or more complex videos, and the subscription cost is higher than many competitors.

Pros	Cons
Multi-layer editing for more creative control AI audio cleanup and smart trimming save time Large music and sound effects library Clean, intuitive interface	Occasional lag with longer projects Premium subscription is pricey compared to others

Pricing:
Free version available
Starts at $4.99/month

5. VN Video Editor

VN Video Editor has held its ground as one of the best free options for creators who want more advanced control without paying for a subscription. VN has introduced AI-assisted tools like smart cut detection and a keyframe assistant, which help speed up editing while keeping pro-level flexibility.

When I tested it, I found VN excellent for multi-layer timelines, detailed trimming, and complex transitions. It feels closer to a desktop editor than most free apps. That said, the learning curve is steeper compared to simpler tools like InShot, and the interface isn’t as polished as CapCut. But for those willing to spend a little more time learning, it’s hard to beat VN’s value.

Pricing:
Completely free

6. KineMaster

KineMaster continues to be a powerful all-in-one mobile editor, offering a wide range of professional features right on your phone. It has added AI-powered background removal and auto subtitles, making it easier to produce Reels that are polished and accessible without needing extra apps.

When I tested KineMaster, I liked how precise the timeline editing felt, especially with multiple layers of video, text, and audio. The effects and transitions are plentiful, and it’s flexible enough for creators who want more control than apps like InShot provide. However, the free version adds a watermark, and the premium plan is now one of the pricier options among mobile editors.

Pricing:
Free with watermark
$7.99/month or $51.99/year for premium

7. Adobe Premiere Rush

Adobe Premiere Rush used to be a strong option for creators who wanted cross-device editing and simple workflows connected to Creative Cloud. It offered handy templates, solid transitions, and even some AI-powered tools like motion graphics templates.

But here’s the big update: Adobe has announced that Premiere Rush is being discontinued. As of September 30, 2025, new users will no longer be able to download Rush, and premium subscriptions will stop renewing. Current users can keep using it on existing devices until September 2026, but no new features or long-term support will be added.

That means while Rush still works if you already have it installed, it’s not a great choice for new creators looking to invest in an editor. Adobe is steering users toward Premiere on iPhone (for mobile) and Premiere Pro (for desktop) instead. If you’re just starting, tools like CapCut or InShot are better future-proof alternatives.

Pros	Cons
Seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop + mobile editing workflow Simple templates and transitions	Being discontinued in 2025 No new updates or major AI features planned Steeper learning curve compared to other mobile apps

Pricing:

• Free limited version still available for existing users
• $19.99/month as standalone (until Sept 30, 2025, after which renewals stop)

Note: Premiere Rush will no longer be available for new downloads after September 2025. Existing users should export their projects and consider migrating to Adobe Premiere Pro, Premiere on iPhone, or other alternatives.

How To Choose the Best Editing Software for Instagram Reels

The following are the must-have features in Instagram Reels editing tools that you are looking for:

• Aspect Ratio: Instagram Reels have a unique vertical format. The ideal tool should allow you to easily adjust the aspect ratio to 9:16, ensuring your content fills the entire screen without any black bars on the sides.
• Cover Photo: An engaging cover photo is crucial as it’s the first thing viewers see. The right tool should let you create or edit a captivating cover photo that reflects the essence of your Reel and encourages users to click.
• Original Audio: The ability to add your own voiceover or original audio gives your Reels a personal touch. Look for tools that offer high-quality audio recording features.
• Sound Effects: Sound effects can significantly enhance the entertainment value of your Reels. Tools with a sound effects library give you the creative flexibility to add more engagement to your content.
• Seamless Transitions: Smooth and creative transitions are key to keeping viewers engaged. Tools with a variety of transition options can help your Reels flow more naturally.
• Trending Audio: Music is at the heart of many viral Reels. Editing tools that provide access to trending audio tracks or integrate with the Instagram music library can be crucial for creating content that resonates with current trends.
• Tag People and Hashtags: Tools that allow you to tag people and add relevant hashtags directly can enhance discoverability and engagement.
• Metrics and Analytics: Understanding how your Reels perform is essential. Tools with built-in analytics can provide insights into viewer behavior, helping you refine your strategy.
• Hands-Free and Countdown Features: For creators who film themselves, hands-free recording and countdown timers are invaluable for ease of use.
• Influencer Collaboration: Tools that facilitate easy collaborations with influencers can add variety to your Reels content.

Instagram Reels Hacks and Bonus Tips

• Understand the Instagram Reel Algorithm: Using relevant hashtags and understanding the Instagram Reels algorithm is crucial to maximize visibility and engagement on the platform.
• Consistency is Key: Regularly posting Reels can significantly increase your visibility and engagement on Instagram. Consistency helps in building a loyal audience and keeps your brand top-of-mind.
• Experiment with Diverse Content: Feel free to experiment with different types of content in your Reels. Whether it’s behind-the-scenes footage, tutorials, product showcases, or entertaining challenges, diversifying your content can help you discover what truly resonates with your audience. Pay attention to the metrics and feedback to refine your approach.

How to Convert Instagram Followers

Earlier in this post, we mentioned that one of the biggest advantages of upgrading your Instagram videos is that you can drive more sales from your online store.

The only question that remains is, “How?”

Now, we’re going to answer that question with the following tool:

OptinMonster is the best lead generation software on the market. So you might be wondering how it will help you convert your Instagram followers into customers.

This happens in a few easy steps.

First, OptinMonster gives you all the tools you need to create stunning optin campaigns in a matter of minutes.

By “optin campaigns,” we’re referring to things like popups, floating bars, fullscreen welcome mats, and more.

The goal of these campaigns is to get users to “opt-into” your offers. This could be for:

• Signing up for a newsletter
• Joining a webinar
• Downloading a coupon
• Making a purchase
• And much more…

But the best part is that you don’t need to be a professional coder or designer to build high-converting campaigns.

That’s because OptinMonster gives you 700+ pre-made templates to choose from:

These templates are fully-response and look great across devices.

Plus, they’re easy to modify. Once you’ve selected the template you want, everything can be customized to your brand’s style and offer with just a few clicks.

That’s because OptinMonster uses a codeless drag-and-drop visual editor:

At this point, though, you might be wondering:

“How will any of this help convert my followers from Instagram?”

One of the best reasons for using OptinMonster are the powerful targeting rules. While you’ve likely heard of OptinMonster’s Exit-Intent® Technology or Geolocation targeting, there’s an even better rule for targeting your Instagram followers:

Referrer Detection.

This allows you to show campaigns to your site’s traffic who came from a specific 3rd-party site.

In this case, that would mean targeting people who came from your Instagram account:

Notice how the message is totally tailored to someone coming from their Instagram account.

By personalizing the user experience (UX) in this way, you’ll be more likely to see HUGE increases in signups and conversions across your site.

Want to see it in action for yourself? Click below to start your 100% risk-free OptinMonster account today:

Frequently Asked Questions

We hope you enjoyed this post. If you did, you’ll definitely want to check out the following resources:

• Best Instagram Plugins (Compared)
• How to Add an Instagram Feed to WordPress
• Social Media SEO: How to Incorporate Social Media Into Your SEO Strategy

These articles will have even more information on how you can take your Instagram marketing strategy to the next level.

TL;DR:

Blogging is still thriving in 2026, with over 600 million blogs worldwide and more than 7.5 million posts published daily. The average post takes about 4 hours to write and runs 1,416 words, yet readers only spend 52 seconds on it. Despite the competition, blogs remain a powerful tool — businesses that blog see 2x more email traffic, marketers who prioritize blogging are 13x more likely to get positive ROI, and 71% of B2B buyers rely on blog content during their journey.

If you want to start a blog that makes money, it’s important to be in the loop with the latest trends so that you’re not missing out on any opportunities to increase your traffic or revenue.

Let’s dive right in!

Ultimate List of Blogging Statistics and Facts

We hope these blogging stats give you some insight and help you make healthy decisions for your blog’s future.

General Blogging Statistics

1. 7.5 million blog posts are published every day.
2. More than 409 million people view over 20 billion pages each month on WordPress.com.
3. On average, it takes about 4 hours to write a blog post.
4. The average reader spends 52 seconds reading a blog post.
5. There are approximately 600 million blogs in the world in 2023.
6. The average blog post length is 1,416 words in 2023.
7. Only 14% of bloggers write blog content that’s 2,000+ words in length.
8. 44% of bloggers publish new content between three to six times monthly.
9. 65% of content marketers say they have a documented content strategy.
10. 71% of B2B buyers consume blog content during their buyer journey.
11. A blog increases your chances of ranking higher in search by 434%.
12. 61% of Americans spend 3X more time-consuming blog content than emails.
13. Blog posts with 6-13 word long headlines tend to drive more traffic.
14. Odd-numbered headlines perform better than their even-numbered counterparts.

Blogging SEO Stats

15. Only 38% of bloggers are updating older articles.
16. 34% of bloggers say that updating content produces strong results.
17. Around 5% of bloggers don’t have access to analytics.
18. Titles with 6-13 words attract the highest and most consistent amount of traffic.
19. SEO leads have a 14.6% close rate, while outbound leads (such as direct mail or print advertising) have a 1.7% close rate.
20. 72% of online marketers describe content creation as their most effective SEO tactic.

Want more SEO statistics? We got you covered.

Blogging Traffic Stats

21. Businesses that blog experience twice as much email traffic as businesses who don’t.
22. Having a hyphen or colon in the headline increased click-through rates by 9%.
23. Making your headline 6-8 words can increase your CTR by 21%.
24. Over 50% of bloggers report that it has gotten harder to get traffic from Facebook over the past two years, and nearly one-fifth say it has gotten harder to get traffic from Google.
25. Over the past year, there’s been a 93% increase in blogs using promotional techniques to drive traffic to their post including paid ads.

Guest Blogging Statistics

26. 60% of blogs write 1-5 guest posts per month.
27. 3% of blogs write over 100 guest posts per month.
28. Only 6% of bloggers publish the majority of their original content as guest posts.
29. 62.96% of readers perceive blogs with multiple authors to be more credible.
30. 79% of editors say guest content is too promotional.
31. Guest content is in higher demand in the summer months of June, July, and August.

Travel Blogging Statistics

32. 59% of travel bloggers run more than one travel blog.
33. Over 80% of travel planning is done through the internet and is growing.
34. 33% of US travelers use travel blogs for travel advice.
35. The majority of travel blogs are between 1-4 years old.
36. Most travel blogs use publication and sponsored posts as one of the main income sources.
37. The average travel blogger will charge an average of $200 per sponsored post.
38. 94% of travel blogs sell advertising.
39. Most travel blog’s traffic mainly stems from non-brand search with direct traffic a distant second.

Blogging Growth Stats

40. The number of bloggers in the USA is expected to grow to 31.7 million in 2020.
41. There are more than 500 million blogs that exist in 2019.
42. Tumblr has more than 440 million blogs.
43. WordPress has about 60 million blogs.
44. Blogging has grown by 12% since 2015.
45. At this moment, there are roughly 1.9 billion web pages. Judging by the growth rate, we will be hitting 2 billion in less than a year.
46. The average blog post is 1151 words, that’s a 42% increase in the last 5 years.

Social Media Blogging Statistics

47. 66% of marketers reported using blogs in their social media content in 2017.
48. 59% of people will share an article without reading it first, or ever.
49. LinkedIn is the most effective social media platform for delivering content and securing audience engagement.
50. 95.9% of bloggers promote their blog posts via social media.
51. Tumblr had 456.1 million blog accounts as of January 2019.
52. 69% of bloggers say they use social share buttons.

Blogging With Visuals and Videos Stats

53. Articles with images get 94% more views as opposed to those with no visuals.
54. 71% of bloggers report using visuals as part of their marketing strategy.
55. Using photos of real people instead of stock photos can result in a 35% conversion increase.
56. 43% of consumers increasingly want video content from marketers.
57. 19% of bloggers are now including video in their typical posts.
58. 45% of bloggers who add audio to their posts such as podcast see better results.
59. Video content is 50 times more likely to drive organic search traffic than plain text.
60. 32% of marketers say visual images are the most important form of content for their businesses.

Blogging Statistics for Marketers

61. Marketers who prioritize blogging are 13x more likely to have a positive ROI on their efforts.
62. 61% of the most effective B2B content marketers meet with their content team daily or weekly.
63. 64% of B2B marketers outsource blog copywriting.
64. Spending on marketing automation tools is expected to reach $25.1 billion annually by 2023.
65. 60% of marketers have a documented personalization strategy.
66. 57% of marketers say they’ve gained customers specifically through blogging.
67. 53% of marketers say blogging is their top content marketing priority.
68. B2B marketers who have blogs get 67% more leads than those who don’t.
69. Around 60% of marketer will reuse blog content 2-3 times.
70. 60% of B2B marketers struggle with creating engaging content.

How To Ensure Your Blog Stays Relevant

The blogging industry has become extremely saturated. Ever since the first bloggers shared their success stories publicly, more and more people are getting into the industry.

As a result, competition has gotten higher, and surviving as a blog these days has become increasingly difficult. If you’re not putting in the effort, you’re more than likely going to fail.

But there’s one very important thing you can do that most thriving blogs are doing today. That’s to create “evergreen content”, which is essentially content that doesn’t have an expiry date. People can look back at it in years from now and still find it useful.

It’s also common for bloggers to revisit old content and update the information to provide a fresh take on the subject. Bloggers have stated that content that gets touched up like this is an excellent way to boost SEO.

Related Content13 Best Blog Sites: Which Is Right For You?

Blogging Predictions

So, now that you know this information, what do you do with it?

It’s difficult to know the answer to that unless we first look at where blogging is going, and if it’s still worth putting time and energy into your blogging efforts.

Like Bitcoin, we could be seeing blogging’s peak at the moment, and one day we could wake up to a huge crash.

But as the blogging statistics show, it doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere anytime soon. It’s still totally relevant in 2026 and is steadily rising.

It might be hard to determine exactly how many blogs there are out there at any given moment. The blog marketing stats say about 600 million, although that number also includes inactive sites, which may affect the accuracy of the statistic.

Also, not all platforms choose to share their data publicly.

And although it may be hard to accurately gauge how many blogs there are, one thing’s for sure: At this rate, we will be celebrating 1 billion blogs in no time!

Let’s see what the future holds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources (aka, “Everything We Went Through so You Didn’t Have To!” ? )
HubSpot | SEO Tribunal | TopRank | Content Marketing Institute | IsItWP | Jeff Bullas | Marketing Experiments | Social Media Examiner | Statista | Travel Memo | Professional Travel Bloggers Association | Referral Rock | SEJ | Junto | Orbit Media | Impact | Tech Client | ConversionXL | WordPress | Neil Patel | Red Website Design | Growth Badger | Hosting Tribunal  | Tech Jury

TL;DR

An email marketing campaign starts by building a targeted list with optins and lead magnets, then setting clear goals for sales, signups, or engagement. From there, segment your audience to personalize messages and choose an email platform with automation and analytics. Next, map your workflow to plan the sequence and timing of emails, and focus on writing subject lines that drive opens. Pair those with persuasive copy and a clear CTA, and make sure your emails are mobile-friendly and accessible. Finally, A/B test and optimize key elements like subject lines and CTAs, then launch and monitor results so you can keep improving with every campaign.

Email marketing remains one of the most profitable digital marketing channels, returning up to $36 for every $1 spent. But there’s a catch: only well-planned, targeted campaigns deliver those kinds of results.

At OptinMonster, we’ve helped over 235,000 marketers and business owners build high-performing email campaigns that drive leads, conversions, and long-term customer loyalty. If you want your small business to reach this level of success, you must learn how to create email campaigns that will move you toward your company’s goals.

In the sections below, we’ll walk you through the 10 essential steps to create an email campaign—from strategy to send—and show you how tools like OptinMonster can help you launch faster and grow smarter.

Exclusive Bonus: Level up your email marketing! Click here to get the free checklist + BONUS resources and see your results skyrocket.

How to Create an Email Marketing Campaign in 10 Simple Steps

Below are the 10 proven steps we use at OptinMonster to help 235,000+ marketers create campaigns that get results.

Step 1: Build Your Email List with Targeted Optins

Use high-converting signup forms and lead magnets to grow a list of subscribers who want to hear from you.

Use popups, embedded forms, and lead magnets like checklists or discounts to attract qualified leads. Exit-intent popups work especially well to convert abandoning visitors into subscribers.

 How OptinMonster Helps:

With OptinMonster, you can start growing your email list right away. It only takes a few minutes to add stunning optin forms to your website. And you can target them to the right people at the right time.

Here are just a few of OptinMonster‘s signup form options:

• Welcome gates, which appear when people arrive on your site. You can also use our page slide feature so people can get straight to the content when they’re ready.
• Lightbox popups can appear on any page and temporarily blank out the rest of the content to focus on the optin. These convert very well.
• Exit-intent popups, which appear when people are about to leave the site. That’s a good time to offer your lead magnet.

But did you know that 50% of website visitors leave your website without interacting at all? And that some websites have a bounce rate of over 90%?

We recommend using exit-intent popups to convert those abandoning visitors into subscribers and customers.

Exit-intent popups detect user behavior to prompt them with a targeted campaign when they are about to leave your site forever. This smart technology can skyrocket your conversions.

What can an exit intent popup do for your business? See our case studies for examples:

• How BrianTracy.com Increased Its Email List 150% Using Content Upgrades
• How SnackNation Adds 1200 Segmented Leads Every Week
• How Wild Water Adventures Recovered $61,000 in Sales Using OptinMonster

Step 2: Set Clear Campaign Goals

Know exactly what you want to achieve—sales, signups, engagement, or reactivation.

All good marketing starts with setting goals, and email marketing is no different. Consider what you want to achieve to run a successful email marketing campaign.

Typical goals for an email marketing campaign include the following:

• Welcoming new subscribers and telling them about your business and values, so you build a relationship with them.
• Boosting engagement with your content and your business, whether promoting a webinar or trying to make an initial sale.
• Nurturing existing subscribers by providing something they’ll value.
• Re-engaging subscribers who haven’t been particularly active.
• Segmenting your subscribers so you can send more targeted email marketing campaigns.

You can also set email marketing goals according to your conversion goals.

Step 3: Segment and Understand Your Audience

Group your subscribers by interest, behavior, or lifecycle stage to personalize messaging.

Start with basic segmentation like demographics or engagement level, then refine with behavioral triggers such as page views, downloads, or purchase history.

 How OptinMonster Helps:
OptinMonster allows you to use Page-Level Targeting, Geo-Location Targeting, and OnSite Retargeting® to segment users before they even hit your email list. This ensures every subscriber enters your funnel with context.

Step 4: Choose the Right Email Marketing Platform

Pick a platform that supports automation, segmentation, analytics, and integrations.

The best email service providers have tools to help you create more effective email marketing campaigns. Look for features like:

• Easy drag-and-drop campaign creation.
• Features such as automation, templates, and workflows.
• Integrations with software you already use, like WordPress and OptinMonster.
• Ways to segment your audience.
• In-depth analytics on email campaign performance.

For instance, Constant Contact offers robust and easy-to-use email automation features.

In their example above, Constant Contact shows how you can easily create an automation workflow to send subscribers a special offer for their birthday or anniversary. Constant Contact also lets you create SMS text campaigns, making it a robust marketing platform.

Learn More: What Is Email Automation? A Beginner’s Guide to Email Marketing Automation

 How OptinMonster Helps:
We integrate seamlessly with top ESPs like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Constant Contact, Brevo, and 70+ others. You can send leads to segmented lists or tags automatically.

Step 5: Map Out Your Email Workflow

Plan the number, sequence, and timing of your emails in advance.

Since email is vital to your overall digital marketing strategy, you want to approach it in an organized way

Here are a few things to plan for:

• Email frequency, which we’ll look at below
• The types of emails you’ll be sending
• A rough idea of content
• The main action you want subscribers to take (such as signing up for an event, following you on social media, or buying a product)

You want your emails to be timely, relevant, interesting, and valuable.

For example, many companies welcome new subscribers with a short email series to help them get to know their products and services.

Asana sends a series of 4 emails. The email subject lines are:

1. Welcome to Asana
2. What do you need to get done this week?
3. Plan your day with Asana
4. Hit your next deadline

The first is a welcome email with three key tasks you can accomplish in the software. Three days later, another email asks what you need to get done and encourages you to start using the product. Two days later, there’s an email talking about the Asana dashboard. The series ends with an email two days later highlighting the calendar view.

Don’t overwhelm your subscribers by emailing too often. That will send them straight to the spam button. Instead, stick to the schedule you’ve told them about so they know what to expect.

Feel free to ask for subscriber input on email scheduling via a poll or survey. You can also offer an “opt down” option for those who love your emails but don’t want to get them as often.

Once you’ve outlined your email plan, it’s time to start writing.

Step 6: Write a Click-Worthy Subject Line

Craft subject lines that get opened without sounding spammy.

A good starting point for any successful email marketing campaign is the subject line, which is crucial in getting people to open and click on your emails. Like the headline on your blog post, an email subject line has to get attention so people want to go further.

You only have a few words to make an impression, so your email subject line length is critical. Campaign Monitor’s data shows that most subject lines range from 41 to 50 characters. Even less of your subject line shows on mobile screens, so putting the most important parts at the start is wise.

Best practices for improving your subject lines include:

• Telling people what they’ll get when they open your emails. No need to be clever or witty unless that’s your brand’s personality.
• Adding personalization, such as including people’s names in the subject line, can keep users more engaged.
• Avoiding spam trigger words, so your emails make it to the inbox.
• Borrowing one of these high-converting email subject lines and adapting it for your own use.

Step 7: Write Email Copy That Converts

Focus your message around one goal, use a conversational tone, and include a clear CTA.

Next, it’s time to write your email marketing copy. You’ll want to create a hook right at the start that will get people to want to read on.

Keep email marketing copy short for best results, and avoid pitching your offer too early. You want people to get comfortable first.

Address subscribers by name, and write in a casual, friendly tone. Write like a person talking to another person.

Other items to consider for your email copy include the following:

• A personal story. Being human never hurts a company and often helps people connect emotionally. Some of the most successful emails we’ve seen use this technique.
• Something of value to your readers. That can be a piece of content, useful information, or the resource you’re promoting. Make it clear how this will help them. The example below from Semrush underlines the potential benefit in the first line of the email.
• A poll, survey, GIF, or video keeps readers more engaged.

Of course, you don’t have to put all of those in every email. Ideally, your emails should be short, with only a couple of main points within each one. If you do decide to go longer, make your email scannable with heading a white space.

The last part of your email marketing copy is the call to action (CTA). Your CTA reflects the one thing you most want people to do when they’ve read your email.

CTAs usually appear multiple times within your email marketing copy. While you don’t want to pitch to readers too soon, there’ll likely be a CTA near the start, middle, and end.

The best calls to action are short and clear. With the right copy, it should be a no-brainer for subscribers to click your link.

Learn More: Email Copywriting That Sells: 17 Simple Ways to Write Better Marketing Emails

Step 8: Design Mobile-Friendly, Accessible Emails

Use responsive templates and alt text so your emails look great on all devices and are inclusive.

Email design matters in any successful email marketing campaign. If your emails look terrible, that reflects poorly on you and can make people stop reading. With more people than ever reading emails on mobile devices, it’s important to use a responsive email template, so your email resizes automatically whether people are reading it on a phone, tablet, or desktop.

It’s also important to make sure your important information is in text, not hidden in images. This is vital for email accessibility. Remember to use alt tags to describe images so people using screen readers will know what your images show.

Step 9: A/B Test, Analyze, and Optimize

Continuously improve your campaigns with data-driven tweaks.
Test different subject lines, CTAs, content blocks, and send times. Monitor open rates, click-through rates, conversions, and unsubscribe trends to optimize future campaigns.

Finally, emailing is just the first step in achieving email marketing success. To nail it, you’ve got to collect data to improve future campaigns.

That means A/B testing everything: design and layout, email marketing copy, subject lines, and calls to action. Consider testing emails with different segments and experimenting with email send times.

You’ll also want to monitor email analytics from your service provider relating to opens, clicks, unsubscribes, and forwards. This will enable you to figure out what’s working and what’s not with your email marketing campaigns.

Another issue to monitor is your sender’s reputation, which affects email deliverability. Use Sender Score to see if any red flags might stop your emails from reaching subscribers’ inboxes.

Step 10: Launch and Monitor Your Campaign

Send your emails at the right time and monitor delivery and performance in real time.

Use your ESP’s analytics dashboard to spot issues quickly, such as deliverability problems or sudden drop-offs in engagement. Follow up with retargeting or next-step sequences.

What Are the Types of Email Campaigns?

There are various types of email marketing campaigns that businesses can use to achieve their goals. Some common types include:

Newsletter Email Campaigns

Email newsletters are a great way to keep subscribers engaged and informed about the latest news, updates, and industry trends related to a brand. Newsletters can include various content types, including articles, blog posts, videos, and images. They can also be customized to target specific subscriber segments based on interests or behaviors.

Learn more: 29 Awesome Newsletter Ideas That Will Keep Subscribers Engaged

Promotional Email Marketing Campaigns

Promotional emails are designed to promote a product, service, or event. They often include information about a sale, discount, or exclusive offer. They also include announcement emails for new product launches. These emails can be highly effective in generating immediate revenue and encouraging customer loyalty. Promotional emails can also be personalized based on subscriber behavior, such as past purchases or website browsing history.

Learn more: Mastering Promotional Emails: Best Practices, Examples, and Templates

Welcome And Onboarding Email Marketing Campaigns

Onboarding emails are sent to new subscribers, welcoming them to the brand and introducing them to its products or services. These emails can set the tone for the subscriber’s relationship with the brand and provide a valuable opportunity to make a positive first impression. Welcome emails can also include incentives, such as pricing discounts or freebies, to encourage subscribers to purchase.

Learn More: How To Write the Perfect Welcome Email Series

Abandoned Cart Email Marketing Campaigns

Abandoned cart emails are sent to people who left items in their online shopping cart without making a purchase. These emails encourage potential customers to complete the transaction by reminding them of the things left in the cart and providing incentives such as discounts or free shipping.

Learn More: 14 Abandoned Cart Email Examples Proven to Boost Revenue

Re-engagement Email Marketing Campaigns

Re-engagement email campaigns encourage inactive subscribers to re-engage with the brand. You can send them to people who haven’t opened your emails in a while. Or, you can send them to people who have canceled a paid subscription with your company. These emails often include incentives, such as discounts or exclusive content, to encourage the subscriber to take action.

Re-engagement emails can also be used to gather feedback from subscribers about why they have been inactive and what the brand can do to improve their experience.

Learn More: 10 Win Back Email Examples (Plus How to Launch Your Own)

Email Marketing Campaign Examples

Here are some examples of successful email marketing campaigns that businesses have used:

Promotional Email From Dropbox

Dropbox’s referral program is a classic example of how email marketing campaigns can be used to grow a business. Dropbox offered its existing users free storage space if they referred their friends to use Dropbox.

The referral program was promoted through email campaigns, and users were encouraged to refer their friends through personalized referral links in their emails. This successful email marketing campaign generated over 4 million new users for Dropbox.

What worked: The referral program was simple and effective, and Dropbox leveraged the power of word-of-mouth marketing through its existing user base. The personalized referral links made it easy for users to refer their friends, and the free storage space incentive was a powerful motivator.

Email Newsletter From TheSkimm

Our next email marketing campaign example is from TheSkimm, a daily newsletter that delivers news and information in a conversational and engaging tone. TheSkimm has over 7 million subscribers, and the newsletter generates revenue through affiliate partnerships and sponsored content. TheSkimm’s email marketing campaigns focus on growing its subscriber base and engaging its audience.

What worked: TheSkimm’s email marketing campaigns are highly personalized and targeted, and the newsletter content is designed to resonate with its audience. With their huge number of subscribers, you knowTheSkimm has tons of data to optimize every part of their email campaigns.

Promotional Email From Charity: Water

The last successful email marketing campaign example is of a nonprofit organization. Charity: Water uses email marketing to promote its campaigns and drive donations. Charity: Water’s email marketing campaigns are focused on storytelling and emotional appeals, and the organization uses personalized emails to connect with its audience and build relationships.

What worked: Charity: Water’s email marketing campaigns are highly emotional and engaging, and the organization uses storytelling to create a personal connection with its audience.  The organization’s focus on transparency and accountability also helps to build trust with its audience and encourage donations.

See More Examples: 10 Brilliant Email Marketing Examples and Why We Love Them

FAQs

If you’ve ever found yourself searching for fresh blog post ideas or pondering over the most trending blog topics, you’re not alone. Beginners and experienced writers alike often struggle to churn out a steady stream of engaging content.

Sure, you can do search engine keyword research and browse other popular blogs. But sometimes, writer’s block still hits.

The quest to discover what to blog about is a universal challenge, but fear not! This comprehensive guide is here to fuel your creativity with a plethora of blogging ideas.

From exploring diverse blog topic ideas to diving deep into niche-specific blogging topics, I’ve got you covered.

Whether you’re brainstorming ideas for a blog revamp or seeking blog content ideas to kickstart your blogging journey, this guide promises a treasure trove of inspiration.

Get ready to uncover unique blog ideas that resonate with your audience and position you as a thought leader in your domain.

Because this is a very long list of blog post ideas, I have it broken down into blog topics. Feel free to use the links below to jump to a particular topic:

Business | Finance | Technology | Fashion | Beauty | Home | Lifestyle | Fitness | Travel | Leisure and Entertainment | Food and Drink | Useful | Educational | Roundup | Fun | Timely | Controversial | Promotional

Are you ready to write your next blog post? Let’s dive into our 130+ blog ideas.

Exclusive Download the Blog Post Ideas Cheat Sheet to make content creation a breeze!

Business Blog Ideas

If your target audience is business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs, here are a few ideas for new content for your blog:

1. The Future of Remote Work: Pros and Cons.
2. Startup Success Stories: Lessons to Learn.
3. Navigating Business Ethics in the Modern World.
4. The Role of AI in Streamlining Business Operations.
5. Strategies for Effective Team Building and Leadership.
6. The Evolution of eCommerce: Trends to Watch.
7. Building a Sustainable Business: Eco-friendly Practices.

Finance Blog Ideas

Here are a few of our favorite blog ideas for money-management websites:

8. Personal Finance Tips for Millennials.
9. The Rise of Cryptocurrencies: What You Need to Know.
10. Investment Strategies for a Post-COVID World.
11. Understanding the Basics of Stock Market Investing.
12. The Importance of Financial Literacy in Schools.
13. Navigating the World of Online Banking.
14. Retirement Planning: Starting Early vs. Starting Late.

Technology Blog Ideas

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when deciding which tech topics to write about. You can use these new blog post ideas to stay on track:

15. The Impact of 5G on Everyday Life.
16. Virtual Reality: Beyond Gaming.
17. The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.
18. The Role of Technology in Sustainable Living.
19. Exploring the World of Quantum Computing.
20. The Rise of Smart Cities.
21. Wearable Tech: The Future of Health Monitoring.

Fashion Blog Ideas

Fashion blogs can be an extremely effective form of content marketing, especially if you engage in affiliate marketing. Here are some blog post ideas to make the most of your site:

22. Sustainable Fashion: Brands Leading the Way.
23. The Evolution of Streetwear Culture.
24. Fashion Trends from the Runways of Paris and Milan.
25. The Influence of Pop Culture on Fashion.
26. Vintage Fashion: Making the Old New Again.
27. The Intersection of Fashion and Technology.
28. DIY Fashion: Upcycling and Customizing Your Wardrobe.
29. Top Fashion Accessories of the Year: Our Product Reviews

Beauty Blog Ideas

Beauty blogs can include more than just reviews of new products. These blog post topics can help you have a well-rounded content calendar:

30. The Rise of Clean Beauty: Brands to Watch.
31. Makeup Trends from Around the World.
32. The Science Behind Skincare: Debunking Myths.
33. Beauty Routines for Different Skin Types.
34. The Influence of K-Beauty and J-Beauty.
35. DIY Natural Beauty Remedies from Your Kitchen.
36. The Future of Beauty: Tech Innovations in the Industry.

Home Blog Ideas

DIY articles, lists, and tutorials can be extremely successful types of blog posts. You can use these blog post suggestions to break through your writer’s block and keep your new blog content flowing:

37. Minimalist Living: Tips for Decluttering Your Home.
38. The Art of Feng Shui: Balancing Your Living Space.
39. DIY Home Decor Projects on a Budget.
40. Smart Home Innovations for 2024.
41. Urban Gardening: Growing Food in Small Spaces.
42. The Rise of Co-living Spaces: A New Way to Live.
43. Sustainable Home Design: Eco-friendly Materials and Practices.

Lifestyle Blog Ideas

When you write about topics that can improve people’s lives, your target audience will be excited to click! Here are some of the best blog post topics for lifestyle websites:

44. The Art of Mindfulness: Practices for Everyday Life.
45. Balancing Work and Life in the Digital Age.
46. The Rise of the Digital Nomad Lifestyle.
47. The Importance of Self-Care in Stressful Times.
48. Living a Zero-Waste Lifestyle: Tips and Tricks.
49. Exploring Different Cultural Traditions and Festivals.

Fitness Blog Ideas

If your blog niche is fitness, we’ve got you covered! Take a look at these blog post ideas we’ve compiled to make your work a little easier:

50. Home Workouts: Staying Fit Without a Gym.
51. The Benefits of Yoga and Meditation for Mental Health.
52. Exploring Different Fitness Regimens from Around the World.
53. The Science of Nutrition: Debunking Diet Myths.
54. Wearable Fitness Tech: Tracking Your Progress.
55. The Mental Benefits of Regular Exercise.
56. Adventure Sports: Pushing Your Physical Limits.

Travel Blog Ideas

For travel blogs, readers can include frequent travelers, vacation planners, and daydreamers. Here are some blog ideas that go beyond basic guides to travel destinations:

57. Solo Travel: Tips for Safe and Fulfilling Journeys.
58. Exploring Hidden Gems: Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations.
59. Sustainable Travel: Minimizing Your Carbon Footprint.
60. Culinary Adventures: Foodie Destinations Around the World.
61. Budget Travel: Exploring the World Without Breaking the Bank.
62. The Rise of Workcations: Combining Work and Travel.
63. Travel Photography: Capturing Memories Like a Pro.

Leisure and Entertainment Blog Ideas

With so many online services available, it’s never been easier to access entertainment. But the choices can be overwhelming! Here are some blog post ideas to help your readers find the best of the best. Or to learn more about something they already love:

64. The Golden Age of Streaming: What to Watch in 2025.
65. Rediscovering the Joy of Board Games.
66. The Evolution of Music: From Vinyl to Streaming.
67. The World of Indie Films: Hidden Cinematic Treasures.
68. The Resurgence of Book Clubs in the Digital Age.
69. Exploring the World of Virtual Reality Gaming.
70. The Impact of Social Media on Pop Culture.

Food and Drink Blog Ideas

Readers visit food blogs for step-by-step recipes, cooking tips, and more. These blog ideas will get them excited to read more of your content:

71. The World of Fermented Foods: Health Benefits and Recipes.
72. Exploring Global Cuisines: A Culinary Journey.
73. The Art of Mixology: Crafting the Perfect Cocktail.
74. Veganism and Plant-Based Diets: Beyond the Hype.
75. The Science of Baking: Perfecting Your Pastries.
76. Coffee Culture: From Bean to Cup.
77. The Rise of Craft Breweries: Exploring Unique Beers.

Useful Blog Ideas

Tutorials, checklists, and step-by-step guides are great ways to drive traffic. Most of us go straight to the internet when we need some easy-to-follow instructions. These helpful blog posts will give users what they’re looking for:

78. 10 Life Hacks to Simplify Your Daily Routine.
79. The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Workspace for Maximum Productivity.
80. Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Busy Weekdays.
81. Tips for Managing Stress in a Fast-Paced World.
82. How to Save Money on Everyday Expenses.
83. DIY Home Maintenance: Fixing Common Household Issues.
84. Travel Packing Checklist: Essentials for Every Trip.

Educational Blog Ideas

Enlighten and engage your readers with in-depth articles on the following topics:

85. The History and Evolution of the Internet: A Deep Dive.
86. Understanding the Basics of Renewable Energy Sources.
87. The Science Behind Sleep: Why It’s Essential for Our Health.
88. An Introduction to World Religions and Their Philosophies.
89. The Art of Effective Communication: Verbal and Non-Verbal.
90. Exploring the World of Quantum Physics.
91. The Role of Microorganisms in Our Ecosystem.

Roundup Blog Ideas

Who doesn’t love a great list? Roundups are an important part of any blog, regardless of its niche or target audience. Here are a few ideas you can use for inspiration:

92. Top 10 Books to Read in 2025: Editor’s Picks.
93. Monthly Tech Roundup: The Latest Innovations and Gadgets.
94. Best Movies of the Year: A Cinematic Recap.
95. Roundup of the Most Inspiring TED Talks This Year.
96. Fashion Trends from Around the World: Seasonal Highlights.
97. The Most Influential People in the World of Business in 2025.
98. Top Health and Wellness Tips from Experts This Month.
99. 10 Best Podcasts on a Subject of Interest.

Fun Blog Ideas

Even if most of your blog posts are fairly straightforward, it’s a good idea to write some joyful content every now and then. These blog topics can give you some ideas to inject some levity:

100. The World’s Most Unusual Festivals and Celebrations.
101. Decoding the Science of Laughter: Why We Find Things Funny.
102. DIY Craft Ideas for a Rainy Day.
103. Exploring the World’s Most Unique and Quirky Museums.
104. The Joy of Retro Gaming: A Trip Down Memory Lane.
105. Fun and Unconventional Ways to Stay Fit.
106. The World’s Strangest Foods and Where to Try Them.

Timely Blog Post Ideas

Readers are most likely to click on posts that are relevant to them. And timeliness is a key factor in that relevance. Keep your audience engaged with these fresh blog ideas:

107. Understanding the Impact of Current Global Events on the Economy.
108. Fashion Trends for the Upcoming Season.
109. The Latest Advances in Medical Research and What They Mean for Us.”
110. Tech Predictions for the Upcoming Year.
111. A Recap of the Most Significant News Stories This Month.
112. The Role of Climate Change in Recent Natural Disasters.
113. Celebrating International Women’s Day: Stories of Empowerment.

Controversial Blog Post Ideas

Spark discussion and engagement by thoughtfully addressing controversial topics, such as the ones we’ve compiled here:

114. The Ethics of AI: Potential Benefits and Dangers.
115. Debating the Merits and Drawbacks of a Universal Basic Income.
116. The Ongoing Debate: Organic vs. Conventional Farming.
117. The Role of Social Media in Shaping Public Opinion.
118. Vaccinations: Myths, Facts, and Controversies.
119. The Future of Education: Traditional Schools vs. Online Learning.
120. The Impact of Celebrity Culture on Society.

Promotional Blog Post Ideas

Promotional blogs are particularly popular posts for eCommerce sites. They let you talk about your products and services and move users through your sales funnel. Here are some post ideas to help you get started:

121. Introducing Our Latest Product: Features and Benefits.
122. Why Our Brand Stands Out in the Market: A Comparative Analysis.
123. Customer Testimonials: Real Stories from Satisfied Clients.
124. Exclusive Offers and Discounts for Our Loyal Readers.
125. Behind the Scenes: A Look into Our Production Process.
126. Join Our Upcoming Webinar: Topics and Guest Speakers Revealed.
127. Celebrating Our Company’s Anniversary: A Journey Through the Years.
128. Giveaway Alert: How to Win Our Product for Free.

Personal Blog Post Ideas

Motivational personal stories can make excellent blog posts. Readers are drawn to honesty and vulnerability, so these blog ideas can help you build an audience.

129. My Journey to Becoming a Full-Time Blogger: Challenges and Triumphs.
130. Life Lessons I Learned from Traveling Solo.
131. The Books That Changed My Perspective on Life.
132. Finding Balance: My Personal Strategies for Juggling Work and Family.
133. My Experience with Meditation and Mindfulness.
134. The Role of Mentorship in My Career Growth.
135. Personal Reflections on a Year of Growth and Transformation.

There you have it, 135 great blog post ideas to write about.

Convert Your Reader Into Subscribers

While I’ve equipped you with a treasure trove of blog ideas and topics, another essential piece to the puzzle is making sure your content reaches its intended audience and drives action. 

Enter OptinMonster. 

More than just a lead generation tool, it’s your secret weapon in the blogging arsenal. 

With its intuitive drag and drop builder, you can craft compelling opt-in forms that resonate with your readers. But that’s just the beginning.

OptinMonster’s advanced targeting features ensure your content reaches the right eyes at the right time, turning casual browsers into dedicated subscribers. 

So, as you pen down your next masterpiece using the ideas from this guide, remember to give it the OptinMonster advantage. After all, great content deserves an audience that values it.

FAQs