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I’ve tried and tried, but I can’t crack the TikTok algorithm. Friends and peers regularly ask for advice on how to get eyes and engagement there, and I hate to admit it, but I’ve got nothing.

Thankfully, TikTok ads are here to bypass the unknowns and reach your audiences, and the best TikTok ads have created quite the playbook to success.

While TikTok’s future is still uncertain — it’s already banned in several countries and is on the verge of the same fate in the United States — its marketing potential can’t be denied.

Marketers report that it has the third-highest engagement of all social media and it is also the fastest-growing (rising 9% year over year from 2023). Let’s take a look at some of the best TikTok ad examples so you can reap some of its rewards.

Table of Contents

• Why Should You Invest in TikTok Ads?
• How to Get Started with TikTok Ads
• Types of TikTok Advertisements
• What makes a great TikTok ad?
• 10 of the Best TikTok Ad Examples to Inspire Your Next Campaign

Why Should You Invest in TikTok Ads?

Not convinced that TikTok is worth investing your marketing dollars in? Here are some quick facts and statistics that may change your mind:

• It’s affordable: TikTok’s CPM is half the cost of Instagram, a third of the cost of Twitter, and 62% less than Snapchat. (eMarketer)
• After seeing an ad on TikTok, viewers trust the brand 41% more and are 31% more likely to be loyal to the brand. (TikTok)
• TikTok users are 1.8x more likely to convince their family and friends to buy the item they purchased previously (versus non-TikTok users). (TikTok)
• 37% of TikTok users in the United States made purchases either through links on the app or directly on the platform. (Statista)

How to Get Started with TikTok Ads

If you’re new to TikTok, you’ll definitely want to download a copy of our comprehensive guide to TikTok Marketing before we continue.

It’s free and will give you a strong foundation on harnessing the platform’s power for business success.

You can also check out our article “TikTok Ads Guide: How They Work + Cost and Review Process [+ Examples].”

In it, fellow HubSpotter Flori Needle breaks down everything you need to know about creating an account, actually building an ad in the platform, and getting approved.

Keep reading for inspiration for those ads.

Types of TikTok Advertisements

While limited in terms of targeting and objectives compared to platforms like Instagram and Facebook, TikTok offers a number of ad formats for marketers and advertisers to choose from.

TikTok TopView Ads

A TopView TikTok Ad is essentially a video ad shown to users immediately upon opening the app.

It appears as a three-second full-screen experience before transitioning into an in-feed version of the video with icons and the ability to interact or navigate as you wish.

Source

TikTok claims users are 1.5x more likely to recall a brand from TopView than other ad types, while a study by Kantar found 68% of users were more likely to click on TopView ads than others.

The platform touts this as their most premium ad type, and I don’t blame them for the exposure and undivided attention it provides. That said, this ad type is only available to select users.

What’s it best for? Awareness, website traffic, conversions (lead generation).

In-feed Videos

In-feed ads appear directly in a user’s content feed and resemble native TikTok videos minus a small “sponsored” tag.

These advertisements can be video-based or image (more on that shortly), up to 60 seconds long, and include a call-to-action button that can direct users to a website, landing page, or even TikTok Shop.

(This is definitely the most popular TikTok Ad type.)

What’s it best for? Website traffic, conversions, app downloads.

In-feed Image/Carousel Ads

While primarily known for video, TikTok also allows you to upload static image content, which brings us to the in-feed image or “carousel” ads.

This format is similar to “Carousel” on Instagram. It allows you to upload multiple images in a sequence that users must then scroll through to see the entire message (though you can also automate the scrolling).

Unlike videos, which people can passively watch, these ads let you highlight multiple things and promote engagement/interaction with your brand in-feed.

What’s it best for? Website traffic, conversions/lead generation, engagement, and promoting products in TikTok Shop.

Branded Mission (Hashtag Challenges and Effects)

Branded Missions (commonly referred to as Hashtag Challenges) are essentially larger ad campaigns (usually centered around a hashtag or branded effect) where brands are paired with TikTok creators to create content around their goals.

Rather than crafting a finished ad, brands are putting together more of a creative brief to explain what they’re looking for from creators and convince them to participate.

Source

A Branded Mission campaign must include:

• ​Bundled Feature Page (Branded Hashtag page and/or Branded Effect page)
• ​Branded Mission Page
• ​Branded Mission Details Tab
• ​Branded Mission Submission Tab
• ​Mission Center Page

More details on these from TikTok here.

What’s it best for? Building brand awareness and generating engagement.

Spark Ads

Simply put, Spark Ads are like “Boosted” posts on Facebook or Instagram — existing content you decide to promote to new or larger audiences with advertising.

The difference here is that it can be content on your profile or from other users who have granted permission to promote their videos.

In other words, you can share any of the great user-generated content customers create about your product. This allows brands to get the most out of content already proving to work, working “smarter, not harder.”

Spark ads are displayed in-feed like they were initially posted but add a call-to-action butt that can drive traffic to a brand’s TikTok profile, website, or TikTok Shop.

What’s it best for? Building awareness, trust, conversions, Tiktok Shop sales, and customer appreciation.

What makes a great TikTok ad?

Fast-paced and Concise

TikTok ad videos can be up to 60 seconds long, but even the platform recommends keeping them 9 to 15 seconds long, as these tend to perform best.

It’s always wise to keep your content short and sweet to avoid losing your audience’s attention and also leaving them wanting more.

(And willing to click to get it.)

Less Produced

Gaining popularity during the COVID-19 lockdown, TikTok became known for the less-refined production value of its videos.

People from all walks of life could edit and share videos and the majority were shot vertically on a smartphone, had no fancy sound or lighting, and were usually in homes or real-life scenes/settings.

This style became a platform staple and key to adapting to its culture.

Conversational Tone

Another staple of TikTok is its conversational tone. Much of the content features people speaking to the camera or with a narrative voiceover, making information accessible and easy to understand. It’s rare to see original content that does not follow this style, and great TikTok ads tend to emulate it.

Overall, the best TikTok ads feel native to the platform, aligning with the style of the content shared there and what your particular target audience wants and does there.

Most of the points above come back to this, but here are a few other things we commonly see:

• Focusing on the customer (their pain points, interests, concerns, and experiences)
• Incorporating trends (memes, topics, sounds, etc.)
• Working with popular, relevant influencers or creators

Let’s take a look at some examples of ads that capture these elements well and what you can learn from them.

1. BetterHelp

One of the hallmarks of TikTok content is lower production value. I don’t mean this as an insult in any way; I simply mean it’s less refined.

Rather than looking like a traditional, big-budget television commercial, TikTok videos tend to look like a private consumer filmed them with just a smartphone.

They may be dimly lit, the footage a little shaky. This makes the content come off as more authentic and relatable, a perfect sentiment for BetterHelp.

What We Like:

• Short and direct with its messaging.
• The “talking head” style feels like you’re just receiving advice from a friend. It’s more of a heart-to-heart conversation.
• The setting of the narrator doing a skincare routine aligns with and drives home the idea of self-care.

The Lesson: Keep your video conversational and straightforward. This video doesn’t feel scripted but like an organic conversation with someone who cares about you. Rather than coming off like a pushy sales pitch like a lot of advertising, it makes you want to listen.

Pro Tip: Always include captions in videos with speaking. This makes your video accessible to a larger audience and helps get your message across even if viewers have their sound off.

2. DoorDash

What We Like:

• It uses a compelling hook to grab your attention.
• The ad uses a Gen Z narrator to appeal to the demographic on the platform. 78% of Gen Z in the US reports using TikTok_, according to Measure Protocol.
• The ad uses a popular effect on TikTok, known as green screen, allowing the creator to demonstrate how easy it is to sign up for DoorDash. Combining all these tactics gives you a video that looks and feels authentic to the platform.

The Lesson: Know your audience. From the creator to the hook, it’s clear who DoorDash is trying to appeal to with this ad: young adults who want some extra cash for fun things like AirPods. Get to know your buyer persona and cater your TikTok ad to speak to all their interests.

3. SuperGoop

Like many millennial women, my “for you” page is often full of makeup and skincare tips. So, this SuperGoop TikTok fits right in.

In it, a creator shows viewers how to get a “glowy” summer look using two SuperGoop products.

What We Like:

• A swift length of 29-second
• “Hacks” and how-tos are popular on TikTok. This ad delivers value as a tutorial for solving a common problem.
• Capitalizes on a simple, first-person narrative voiceover.
• Ends with a call to action; telling viewers to “shop now” for the product featured in the video

The Lesson: Always end with the next steps for your viewer. It’s one thing to convince someone to want your product or service, but if you don’t tell them how to actually get their hands on it, you only create more friction.

4. HelloFresh

There’s nothing worse than watching an ad that feels scripted or forced. One way to get around this is by filming a vlog-style video, like this one from HelloFresh:

What We Like:

• Grabs your attention by mentioning a common pain point: spending too much at the grocery store.
• Shows the entire customer journey, from unboxing to enjoying the meal with a loved one. Viewers get a full recap of a real-life customer experience.
• Her recommendation feels personal, almost like an endorsement from a trusty friend.

The Lesson: Tell a story. Part of what makes this ad appealing is that it takes you on a narrative journey with the main character. You’re introduced to her and her relatable pain point and are compelled to stick around to see how things turn out for her.

Storytelling is a tried-and-true strategy in any form of marketing, and TikTok is no different.

5. JCPenny

What We Like:

• Ad is framed as a “shopping haul,” which is a popular format on social media.
• Uses a first-person narrative
• Highlights several JCPenny products in real life
• It’s timely/seasonal, making it even more relevant to its target audience.
• It’s messaging is honest. It recognizes that people don’t always think of the brand as trendy or young anymore but uses the video to prove why that’s a mistake.

The Lesson: Tackle objections head-on. I like that JCPenny recognized the potential objections of their audience and addressed them directly. This shows they understand who they’re talking to and are ready to prove them wrong.

6. Crumbl

Crumbl takes a less conventional approach with this TikTok Ad, leaning into studio shots of its treats and not a single human face — but this works for a brand known for its aesthetics.

What We Like:

• It’s visually striking — a feast for the eyes. This ad uses bright colors, swelling music, and slow-motion shots of its cookies to grab the viewer’s attention and pique their cravings.
• It uses humor and the uplifting message of celebrating “small wins” to connect with viewers.
• Stays true to the Crumbl brand and personality.

The Lesson: Stay true to your brand. While a talking head-style video doesn’t really make sense for Crumbl’s offering, they knew their young audience was on TikTok, and it’s somewhere they needed to be. So, they got creative.

Rather than leaning into trends that didn’t align with their brand, they combined other platform strategies that did (humor and motivation) to create something that feels authentic to them.

7. Kung Fu Tea

Hashtags play an important role on social media. They help users find relevant videos and connect with those with similar interests.

For marketers, they can also boost a post‘s visibility and reach. Kung Fu Tea’s #BobaChallenge is the perfect example of a brand harnessing the power of hashtags in a Brand Mission on TikTok.

The challenge is simple: Stab a straw in your boba cup with your eyes closed. Silly? A little, but also highly engaging, simple to execute, and effective at creating genuine reactions. As a result, the #BobaChallenge went viral, racking up thousands of likes and shares.

What We Like:

• It’s playful. The challenge invites consumers of all backgrounds to participate in a relatable experience (trying to crack the seal on your Boba) and not take themselves too seriously.
• Uses a hashtag to encourage UGC and create a sense of community.

The Lesson: Create a sense of community. Social media is all about connection, and using your TikTok Ad to bring people together over a shared experience or love of your product is a great way to use this to your advantage.

8. Clearly

Here’s another example of a Branded Mission centered around a hashtag — but this one leverages TikTok influencers.

Clearly, an eyewear company, kicked things off with a branded hashtag (#ClearlyTransform) asking people to show their best look with their favorite pair of glasses.

The overall goal was to help people feel confident while wearing glasses and introduce Clearly as a brand that can make that possible.

To spread this message even further, Clearly partnered with five high-profile creators, including TikTok star Leenda Dong (who has 17 million followers).

What We Like:

• The relatable mission of wanting to feel comfortable and confident in your glasses.
• Uses a hashtag to encourage UGC and create a sense of community
• By partnering with TikTok influencers, the challenge generated 241,000+ video submissions, 32.7 million engagements, and 12,000 new followers over six days.

The Lesson: Relevant influencers or creators can really help expand the reach of your content. Explore how your brand can partner with those your audience loves in your TikTok Ad.

Learn more about that here.

9. Quince

Like Crumbl, Quince, a lifestyle brand aiming to make luxury style more affordable, leans into aesthetics in its ad.

What we like:

• It’s short and sweet.
• Creates a sense of calm and comfort, exactly the feeling one would want from their fall bedding.
• Still leans into TikTok’s low-production style with the bedroom setting and real-life behind-the-scenes narrative.

The Lesson: Be concise. Your video doesn’t have to be long to get its message across. Leave your viewers wanting more.

10. CoverGirl

Like SuperGoop, CoverGirl leans into the popularity of beauty tutorials on TikTok by creating one using its new foundation.

The video shows a makeup enthusiast applying the foundation and hyping up the results. The audience is getting value by seeing the product “in action” and learning a few tips from the narrator.

What we like:

• It shows the product in action, not only educating consumers how to use it but also proving the results it can deliver.
• It comes off as friendly and approachable, not salesy.

The Lesson: Show your product in action. Nothing quiets doubts like being able to see how a product actually performs. Next to samples and trials, “demonstrations” like these are one of the best ways to scratch that itch in buyers.

Need more examples? TikTok has a directory that shares high-performing ads. You can filter by goal or ad type for more inspiration. All you need is a TikTok Ads profile.

Creativity Got the Customer

TikTok advertising offers marketers a goldmine of opportunities to engage audiences creatively and authentically. As the examples in this article show, the best TikTok ads are less about polished production and more about relatability, storytelling, and aligning with platform trends.

So, don’t be intimidated by the ever-mysterious algorithm — start experimenting with ads that captivate and convert.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in September 2022 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Zoom backgrounds have been my lifesaver since I started scheduling remote meetings. With these backgrounds, my video stays on, and I don’t have to worry if my living room is a mess.

My Zoom background has become as essential as my outfit, setting the tone and vibe for every call.

Just like dressing to match an occasion, choosing the right Zoom background is an art. You can match upcoming holidays, celebrate birthdays, or radiate professionalism.

The right backdrop can transform your screen and make you relatable.

Below, I share my favorite collection of Zoom backgrounds, which promise to make your meetings memorable.

Table of Contents

• How to Set a Zoom Background
• When to Use a Zoom Background
• How to Troubleshoot Glitchy Backgrounds
• My Favorite Zoom Backgrounds

First, let me show you how to set up a Zoom background.

1. Open Zoom.

To start, open your Zoom app and log in.

2. Go to Zoom “Preferences.”

Click the Settings icon on the top right corner of the screen (under your profile picture).

You can also access settings by clicking your profile picture at the top right and then clicking “Settings.”

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3. Click “Background & effects.”

When you’ve opened your settings, click “Background & effects” on the left-hand side.

Under this heading, click “Virtual backgrounds” to see Zoom’s background options.

4. Click the “Plus” sign and “Add Image.”

Now, click the plus sign on the right and click “Add Image.” Voila.

You can now add any image you have the rights to that meets the image guidelines.

When to Use a Zoom Background

I like to show my face when running meetings, so my camera is always on.

However, I don’t always use a Zoom background.

So, when do I turn a background on?

Well, some days, I might wake up to a messy living room or find my siblings loitering around. I have had to take important meetings in weird places, like the kitchen, because it was the only room available.

Whether you’re in a chaotic environment or want to limit distractions, Zoom backgrounds come in handy. Plus, these backgrounds can be a great way to break the ice and begin conversations.

Many people are often surprised to learn that my house isn’t the Zoom background I always use. While this can serve as a conversation starter, it’s important to stick to your meeting’s tone when choosing a background.

For instance, if you have to meet with a lead (which you can easily handle with HubSpot’s Zoom integration), you shouldn’t be using a Taylor Swift concert background unless you’re sure the lead is a fan.

What works best is a professional and non-distracting Zoom background. Remember, the point of the background is to lessen distractions.

So, try to avoid super bright or complex images in professional settings and ensure you have usage rights to the images you select. Such images should be royalty-free and not require licensing or attribution.

How to Troubleshoot Glitchy Backgrounds

Technology doesn’t always work as planned. If your background glitches, try a few quick options to fix it.

• Sign out and sign in again.
• Ensure virtual backgrounds are enabled.
• Make sure your background meets the image requirements.
• Update your Zoom app.

My Favorite Zoom Backgrounds

Now, here’s the fun part. Check out my top picks of Zoom backgrounds below:

• Zoom Backgrounds for Casual Meetings
• Holiday Zoom Backgrounds
• Standard Zoom Backgrounds

Zoom Backgrounds for Casual Meetings

1. Vacation Vibes

What I like: While I love my job, this background makes me think about how I plan to spend my next vacation. Two nights at a water-front resort? Sign me up.

2. Cute Animals

What I like: I don’t own any pets, but many of my friends do. If you let them, they can spend the whole day talking about how Whiskers or Tabby add joy to their lives, and I love it for them.

I’ve found that cute animal backgrounds make me calmer and more relaxed. You should be considerate, though, in case one of your teammates has cynophobia or zoophobia.

3. Nature

What I like: This background reminds me of a quiet and breezy stroll. Its calm appeal brings the outside world into a digital meeting.

4. Concert

What I like: The mix of colors in this Zoom background adds vibrancy to Zoom meetings. I would love to see these backgrounds at check-in meetings at the end of a work week.

Zoom Backgrounds for Formal Meetings

5. Library

What I like: This background puts me in a serious mode. I found it works best for sprints or co-working sessions with colleagues.

6. House

What I like: There’s no place like home, they say. A house background like this is welcoming and cozy. I recommend making the house background one you dream of having. That way you get extra motivation whenever you get on Zoom.

7. Minimalist Architecture

What I like: This minimalist design is simple. This background helps me feel serene, especially if it’s a busy workweek.

8. Splash of Color

What I like: Colors usually evoke different emotions in viewers. This pink and white background evokes feelings of passion, which I love. I’m passionate about what I do after all.

Holiday Zoom Backgrounds

9. Christmas Tree in Office

What I like: This background offers a homely and cozy vibe for Christmas. The tree in the home office provides a semi-professional atmosphere even though festivities are in the air.

10. Red Christmas Stockings

What I like: This picture makes me want to curl up on a couch while sipping a hot cup of coffee. I’m sure your coworkers will get that vibe, too.

11. Birthday Letters Balloons

What I like: In my mind, birthdays are holidays. This is an excellent background for your big day. Just be sure to share some cake as well.

12. Green Foliage

What I like: You can be in the holiday spirit and still want to keep things simple. This holiday background helps me achieve just that. The green and red foliage does not attract too much attention.

13. Winter Plants

What I like: Sometimes, you want to use real plants for your background — unlike the previous example. This background keeps the plants at the edges so you can be the focus at the center.

14. Christmas Wrapped Gifts

What I like: This background also keeps the gifts and other objects in the picture by the edges and leaves the center free. It also serves as a reminder for me to get my gifts ready and wrapped early.

15. Boxed Gifts

What I like: This background creates a festive and cheerful atmosphere that evokes the joy and warmth synonymous with this time of the year.

16. Candy Sticks

What I like: The vibrant red and white stripes are eye-catching and symbolic of the holiday season, evoking warmth and nostalgia. It’s a simple yet playful design that can brighten up any Zoom call and put everyone in a merry mood.

17. Santa Figurine

What I like: This figurine background adds a playful element to Zoom meetings. It’s chill and will put most people in a good mood.

18. Christmas Outdoor Lights

What I like: The twinkling lights create a cozy, magical ambiance, and the variety of colors makes the background warm and inviting. Plus, it feels like you’re celebrating together, even if you’re miles apart.

19. Merry Christmas Signage

What I like: This background is visually appealing and sets a festive or cheerful mood. I also love neon signs, so this is a personal favorite.

20. Christmas Ball Ornament

What I like: The background is simple and keeps the focus on me during meetings. It’s just festive enough to get folks in the holiday spirit, but it’s not distracting or too bold.

21. Star-shaped Cookies

What I like: This soft, cookie-themed background with warm tones and textures creates a cozy yet professional look, especially with the plain background.

22. Heart-shaped Lights

What I like: I’m a sucker for celebrating love. Hearts are universally associated with love, care, and connection. Using this as a backdrop subtly communicates warmth and positivity to those in the meeting. In addition, the design is neutral for professional and casual settings while adding a touch of personality.

23. Cookies and Flowers

What I like: The combination of flowers and cookies adds natural beauty and a sense of homeliness, uplifting the overall mood. They make the space feel lively and fresh.

24. New Year Wishes

What I like: The New Year sign carries a sense of excitement and optimism, setting a positive tone for my end-of-the-year meetings.

25. Fireworks

What I like: Fireworks are synonymous with celebration, so they immediately bring an energetic and joyful vibe, perfect for marking the occasion of New Year. This can help energize Zoom calls and make them exciting.

26. Autumn Atmosphere

What I like: The mix of oranges, yellows, and browns gives the background a cozy, inviting feel, perfect for creating a relaxed meeting atmosphere.

27. Wooden Christmas Tree

What I like: This wooden Christmas tree has a clean design. This design ensures the background isn’t distracting during calls.

28. Easter Egg

What I like: This is another simple design that doesn’t cause distractions. The vibrant colors create an exciting atmosphere for meetings.

29. Wintertime

What I like: Sometimes, I just want to celebrate the winter season, not tied to any specific holiday. That’s why I love this background. It’s simple, classy, and can be used from Thanksgiving until the end of winter.

30. Simple Christmas Decoration

What I like: Having the elements in this background by the corners is subtle and keeps the focus on me. Because of its professionalism, I can use this background for both internal and external meetings.

Standard Zoom Backgrounds

31. White Office Area

What I like: This maintains the vibe of an office even though I’m in the comfort of my home. The neutral tones ensure my audience isn’t distracted.

32. Modern Living Interiors

What I like: As an avid reader, this picture is a part of my “future home” vision board. This background adds a touch of style and sophistication to my Zoom background.

33. Brown Mountains

What I like: I feel a sense of tranquility and connection to nature when using this background. The stunning mountains evoke stability and adventure.

34. Comic Illustration

What I like: I love comics, and this background allows me to show that. It could lead to interesting conversations and, who knows, maybe a comic book club.

35. Cinema Elements

What I like: Like above, this background allows me to show that I’m a cinephile and find others on my team who are like me. If we’re hosting a trivia event about movies, it’s particularly fitting.

36. Geometric Background

What I like: The clean lines and shapes create a visually stimulating environment that reflects my personality and creativity. If yellow and blue are your company colors, this is an especially great option.

37. Black Wall

What I like: Somedays, I might just want to throw the most basic background on Zoom. I use this background when I don’t necessarily have to contribute to the Zoom meeting. This background avoids distractions and keeps the attention away from me.

38. Glass Wall

What I like: This background is unique. The image setup adds a sense of depth and dimension to my appearance. It’s also so cool and makes for a great conversation starter.

39. Coffee Shop

What I like: This Zoom background makes my meetings feel personal. The call feels like sharing a cup of coffee with a colleague.

40. London Bridge

What I like: The illuminated bridge against the dark skies creates a contrast that captures one of my favorite landmarks in the United Kingdom. It’s relaxing and inspires creativity and exploration.

Found an Exciting Zoom Background?

I’m sure you’ve found some excellent backgrounds from this list.

From cozy holiday scenes to vibrant, professional vibes, there’s a Zoom background here for every occasion.

So, pick your favorite, log in with confidence, and let your screen tell the story.

Remember: Your Zoom background is more than a virtual setting. It’s a statement.

Whether you’re hosting a festive holiday party, leading a professional meeting, or catching up with friends, the right background can elevate the mood, position your brand in a good light, and make your online interactions memorable.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in August 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

As a marketer and pop-culture fanatic, I am fascinated by celebrity marketing. I love seeing a new ad or social media campaign featuring the biggest pop stars and actors and observing how their brand aligns (or doesn’t) with the company they endorse.

If you‘re a small or upcoming brand, you may think celebrity marketing isn’t possible for you now. Getting icons like Beyonce or Taylor Swift to endorse your product or service can’t be easy, right?

While it‘s not always simple, even smaller brands can leverage celebrities in their marketing campaigns. Here’s how you can get big-name celebs to promote your products, plus some celebrity endorsement examples to inspire (or warn) you.

Table of Contents

• What is celebrity marketing?
• Is celebrity advertising effective in 2024?
• How to Get Celebrity Endorsements
• How to Leverage Celebrity Marketing for Your Brand
• Social Media Celebrity Endorsements
• Celebrity Endorsements Gone Wrong
• Successful Celebrity Endorsements

What is celebrity marketing?

Celebrity marketing involves using celebrities to promote, endorse, or act as ambassadors for a brand‘s products or services. The idea is to use the celebrity’s influence and public favor to shine a positive light on a brand.

Celebrity marketing can take on various forms, such as:

• A social media shoutout, such as pop star and actress Ariana Grande mentioning Ralph Lauren in her Instagram caption.
• Celebrity appearances, such as the annual Met Gala, where celebrities gather to raise funds for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• Advertisements, such as Zendaya and Anne Hathaway’s appearance in ads for the jewelry company Bulgary.

Is celebrity advertising effective in 2024?

Celebrity advertising is still effective in 2024 but looks different from previous years. Look at this 2008 L’oreal hair dye advertisement featuring Beyonce and Solange Knowles.

Now, compare that to the 2024 ad for Beyonce’s hair care line, Cecred.

Do you see the difference?

Both advertisements feature Beyonce narrating, but the Cecred ad is more personal. In it, we see Beyonce using the products as she washes her hair while candidly explaining her process.

Furthermore, the ad is clearly shot from her phone. The video is authentic and makes the audience feel like they’re watching a friend share her haircare secrets.

In contrast, the 2008 L‘oreal ad is less relatable and is clearly shot on a curated set with cameras and glossy lighting. Most importantly, we don’t see Bey use the product or explain her process.

These ads are a prime example of how celebrity marketing has changed.

Before the rise of social media, celebrities were just names and faces on a TV screen or magazine. There were few pathways or incentives for celebrities to have genuine, authentic interactions with consumers.

Since the creation of platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok, the divide between celebrities and consumers has been much thinner.

I’ll never forget the day I randomly posted my admiration for music icon Missy Elliot to X, and she liked and commented on my post. Or when I got into an argument on Instagram with Chet Hanks (son of actor Tom Hanks).

I was right, by the way.

The mystique of celebrity is long gone, and consumers now crave authenticity in marketing. 88% of consumers say authenticity is important when deciding which brands to like and support.

Even in influencer marketing, brands are more successful with micro and nano influencers because they have a closer and more authentic relationship with their followers than mega or celebrity influencers.

TL;DR: Celebrity marketing can still be effective in 2024 and beyond, but these kinds of campaigns have to be authentic, relatable, and personal to succeed.

How to Get Celebrity Endorsements

When finding the right endorser for your brand, there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy. Who do you want to endorse your brand? How much should you spend? What kind of audience do you want to attract?

Before you begin your search, here are some steps I know to be helpful.

1. Figure out your budget.

Before you proceed with an endorsement, you should determine how much you will spend. Once you‘ve chosen a number, it’s essential to stick to it.

2. Know your target audience.

Before finding a celebrity, determine who you want to target your marketing efforts toward. This would also be a good time to research and identify your buyer personas. Consider:

• What kind of consumers do you want to target?
• Where is your audience engaging most?
• Do you want to reach a small or large audience?
• Consider the type of audience you want to focus on before approaching an influencer.

Check out HubSpot’s Create a Buyer Persona tutorial if you need clarification on who your buyer persona is.

3. Find celebrities who can show a passion for your brand.

It may seem obvious that choosing a popular celebrity will attract the most attention, and—in some cases—that definitely works.

However, finding an influencer passionate about your mission can give your brand authenticity. Also, pitching your idea to them is much easier if they believe in it.

For instance, actress Kristen Bell has been open about her experience with depression and anxiety, so her endorsement of the women-focused online telehealth company Hers feels natural, authentic, and empowering to women who share similar experiences.

4. Consider micro-influencers.

Micro-influencers (social media influencers with 1,000 to 10,000 followers) are more cost-effective than celebrities and, as I mentioned, can be more powerful when promoting a product.

Micro-influencers can produce up to 60% more engagement than other influencers.

Ultimately, micro-influencers are incredibly trustworthy sources within their niche industry. The content they post is usually relatable and direct to their target audience.

Think back to your target audience and compare it to the micro-influencer audience. When choosing micro-influencers, you‘ll want to ensure their audience is similar to your brand’s target audience.

How to Leverage Celebrity Marketing for Your Brand

What I love about celebrity marketing nowadays is that there is no one way to do it. Each campaign I’ve seen has been unique in its way, and its success proves there are several methods to leverage a celebrity endorsement.

Here are some ways you can do so.

Host an in-person fan meet-up with the celebrity (Bonus if it’s for a worthy cause!).

Earlier this holiday season, rapper Megan Thee Stallion partnered with True Religion to release its holiday collection.

As part of the collaboration, the company hosted an event with the artist’s Pete & Thomas Foundation, which supports underserved communities.

The event, “When Wishes Come True,” consisted of LGBT and at-risk youth shopping for new clothes with Thee Stallion, paid for by her foundation and the denim company.

True Religion posted footage from the event, which includes shots of fans happily hanging out with Thee Stallion and gleefully sharing their excitement over meeting her.

Utilize your celeb’s expertise to give your audience advice.

Since becoming a mom, rapper Cardi B has been very candid about her journey through motherhood and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

So, it made sense that Walmart would tap Cardi B for their Mom Hacks campaign series, in which mothers share their thoughts and expertise on motherhood. In the video below, Cardi gives new moms personal tips on baby care.

Release an exclusive line of merchandise.

Steph Curry and Under Armour have worked together since the basketball player signed with the brand in 2013. Curry’s endorsements of the brand have taken many forms, from community impact efforts to collaborations with other athletes.

However, one of the most popular results of Curry’s endorsement is the Curry Brand, a line of golf and basketball apparel, footwear, and accessories exclusive to Under Armour.

The brand is a massive success, boosting Under Armour’s revenue and generating $250 million annually.

Social Media Celebrity Endorsements

Now more than ever, celebrity endorsements have a more significant impact due to the popularity of social media marketing, which is suitable for small brands.

Why? Social media is typically more affordable than traditional platforms like TV and radio. Additionally, it’s often more effective than traditional marketing campaigns. Social media can create a direct relationship between your brand and the consumer.

And, let’s be honest, who isn’t on social media? In 2024, 72.2% of the U.S. total internet user base used at least one social media platform. Social media is a compelling opportunity for small businesses to increase brand recognition and reach a larger audience.

And connecting with your social media audience doesn’t have to be difficult.

Tools like HubSpot’s social media software are available to help you keep up with your audience and gauge their likes and dislikes, which can help you determine the kind of celebrity they’ll want to represent your brand.

Of course, celebrity endorsements can often be risky endeavors. Let’s explore some examples of bad celebrity endorsements next.

Celebrity Endorsements Gone Wrong

Celebrity branding can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, the right celebrity endorsement has the potential to cast your brand in an excellent light and elevate your audience to new heights.

On the other hand, celebrities can be unpredictable. Scandals from their personal lives can surface and reflect poorly on your brand.

Their views can change and no longer align with your brand’s vision, or they may not connect with your audience as much as you hoped.

Here are some celebrity endorsement examples that missed the mark.

1. Beyonce and Adidas

I‘ve been a fan of Beyonce since the Destiny’s Child days, so I had high hopes for the collaboration between Ivy Park (Bey‘s athleisure brand) and Adidas.

Unfortunately, my hopes were dashed when Bey and Adidas made like Destiny’s Child and parted ways.

As it turns out, sales from the Ivy Park / Adidas collaboration fell to $40 million, well below Adidas‘ projection of $250 million.

Beyonce is one of the world’s most famous and influential celebrities, so how could any collaboration with the artist be anything less than successful?

Well, remember what I said earlier about authenticity and accessibility?

While collaborating with Adidas, Beyonce didn’t establish personal, authentic consumer connections.

Ivy Park / Adidas ads consisted of glossy, highly stylized videos of Bey and other celebrities modeling the clothes but ultimately saying nothing personal or genuine about the products.

There were no videos of Bey doing a real workout while sporting the merchandise, no narration, and no candid shots or moments. The promotional materials were visually stunning, but the content was impersonal and inauthentic.

The failed collaboration with Adidas proved that fame alone isn’t enough to guarantee a successful endorsement.

So, make sure whatever celebrity or influencer you work with is willing and able to build genuine relationships with your target consumers.

2. Ray J and Bunny Eyez

Singer, songwriter, and television personality Ray J collaborated with eyewear company Bunny Eyez to promote the limited edition Ray J Jacob tiltable frames.

Sadly, Ray J made an embarrassing misstep by overselling the durability of the glasses.

In an interview with entertainment journalist Speedy Morman, Ray J called his line of Bunny Eyez frames unbreakable and confidently challenged Morman to try breaking them.

In a moment that became one of the biggest memes in the last decade, Morman easily and with a straight face snapped the frames in half on camera.

After a beat of awkward silence, all Ray J could muster was a feeble “I don’t care.” To this day, I believe this to be one of the funniest videos on the internet.

To avoid blunders like this, set guidelines for how you want a celebrity to promote your brand and ensure they don’t make any promises you can’t keep.

3. The Rock and The U.S. Army

Actor and former wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson‘s $11 million marketing deal to promote the U.S. Army wasn’t only unsuccessful, it cost the army recruits.

According to Military.com, the agreement between the U.S. Army and The Rock’s United Football League resulted in the loss of 38 enlistments.

A significant issue with the deal was that The Rock reportedly failed to promote the U.S. Army via his social media accounts in accordance with their agreement. Basically, he allegedly made fewer posts than he was supposed to.

If you’re going to enlist a celeb to endorse your brand, be clear about how many posts they’re supposed to make and take them to task if they don’t uphold their end of the deal.

Successful Celebrity Endorsements

Next, let’s explore some examples of successful celebrity endorsements.

1. Megan Thee Stallion and Nike

Megan Thee Stallion’s deal with Nike began in 2021 after the rapper became candid about her fitness and mental health journey. The partnership includes a line of footwear, apparel, and digital workouts.

Thee Stallion’s endorsement quickly saw success with her Nike apparel line, Hot Girl Systems, selling out within a week of its launch. The campaign remains successful for several reasons.

For one, Megan Thee Stallion is admired for her athleticism on stage almost as much as her artistry.

So, the partnership feels natural and even includes Megan acting as the “Hot Girl Coach” for the Nike Training Club app, where she shares workout routines and encourages healthy habits such as meditation.

2. Doja Cat and Taco Bell

In 2020, rapper and singer Doja Cat made multiple posts to X demanding Taco Bell bring back the discontinued Mexican Pizza. By this time, Doja Cat already had two viral songs nearly inescapable to anyone online, “Moo” and “Say So.”

Knowing Doja Cat’s talent for creating viral hits, Taco Bell responded by partnering with her, commissioning the artist to write a silly song about pizza, and featuring her in multiple Taco Bell ads.

Demand for the Mexican Pizza grew, and Doja Cat announced the return of the menu item during her 2022 Coachella performance.

The return was so well-received that the fast-food giant ran out of ingredients for the item in just two weeks.

3. Saweetie and True Religion

Rapper Saweetie collaborated with True Religion to promote its Spring 2024 collection and first women-focused campaign.

The collaboration was an excellent match because Saweetie is open about her love for the brand and grew up wearing True Religion.

Moreover, according to Kristen D‘Arcy, True Religion’s chief marketing officer, Saweetie‘s luxurious and self-assured persona embodies the brand’s values of “confidence meets individuality.”

True Religion’s work with rappers like Saweetie, Megan Thee Stallion, and Chief Keef helped the brand make a huge financial comeback by associating its clothes with hip-hop, one of the most popular genres among Gen Z.

4. Kristen Bell and Hers

As I said, Kristen Bell‘s openness about her experience with depression and anxiety made her collaborate with the online telehealth company Hers. Bell serves as the company’s first Mental Health Ambassador and appears in ads for Hers.

The ads are short and to the point, but they feature Bell speaking sincerely and relatably about mental health and her reliance on it.

Celebrity Marketing Takeaways

Trying to get the most famous person you can think of to endorse your brand can be tempting, but it’s not always the best decision.

The wrong celebrity endorsement can harm your brand’s image build a rift between you and your intended consumers.

You need more than just getting the biggest celebrities in the world to represent your brand. You need to recruit big names who have an authentic alignment with your brand and can personally connect to your audience on a genuine level.

More importantly, their values and public persona must align with your brand’s mission. Remember all this before you reach out to the brightest stars on the red carpet.

By mid-December, my Instagram feed is overflowing with my friends’ Spotify Wrapped playlists.

So I started my festive, timely conversation with Spotify’s Head of Global Business Marketing, Grace Kao, with an easy one: What’s on her Spotify Wrapped? 

“I definitely channel my 12-year-old daughter right now,” she told me. “So female power singers: Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo… Beyoncé, obviously.” 

In the spirit of reflection, I give you “Marketing Wrapped”: Kao’s top marketing strategies of 2024, and what to bring into 2025.

Lesson One: Personalization creates connection. 

If Kao had to choose a cornerstone of 2024’s Marketing Wrapped, she’d choose “Connection.” 

Which is why Wrapped is such a strong marketing tactic. It’s not about just personalization — it also fosters connection.

As Kao told me, “Spotify Wrapped does so well because it’s personal, but it’s also about community. All we want to do is share our Wrapped with others. I want to hear about your Wrapped because it’s a connection we both share.”

While I’ll admit my own Wrapped is slightly embarrassing (I don’t listen to anything post-2020, so my Wrapped is stuck in a time-loop of Taylor Swift’s Folklore… As an aside, I’m bad with change), there’s something deeply gratifying about seeing all my social media connections on the same page for once.

While discussing how personalization creates connection, another campaign sprung to Kao’s mind: The recent Coke and Oreo “Bestie Mode” collab, in which users could receive curated Spotify playlists that combined their fav hits with their best friends’ top songs. 

“In 2024, we saw people wanting more music and more connection, so this was a great opportunity to bring two iconic brands together and do something fun that brought value to our customers.” 

Lesson Two: Don’t sleep on podcasts as a lead gen opportunity. 

Gen Zers don’t just like listening to podcasts — they like buying from them, too. 

According to one report released in October of this year, 82% of Gen Z listeners have taken action on a brand after hearing a podcast ad.

This doesn’t surprise Kao. As she puts it, “Gen Z trusts podcasts more than they trust influencers on social media right now.” 

This makes sense to me. I recently purchased a Ninja blender because I heard a podcaster in the health space rave about it. (I’m also a notorious shopaholic, though, so take note: I require minimal convincing.) 

Kao boils the reasoning down to authenticity: “I think it’s because podcasts are unscripted in a certain sense. It’s like listening to an organic conversation.” 

If you think this marketing lesson applies only to B2C, think again: Spotify’s 2024 Culture Next report found that one of the top podcast genres for Gen Z is business and technology. 

So in 2025, Kao’s suggestion is to lean into podcasts as a lead gen opportunity, especially if your target audience includes Gen Z. 

Lesson Three: Be the first. 

“Spotify is a daily companion throughout your life. We’re there for your first dance at your wedding, your first kiss, your first job interview, or the first song you play in your new car,” Kao quips. 

“And that first experience is what drives brand loyalty.” 

She’s not wrong. I’m still loyal to Lululemon years after Alo Yoga, Vuori, and Outdoor Voices hit the scene as alternative athletic apparel companies. For no reason other than the simplest one: I shopped there first. 

“A lot of brand loyalty comes from being first to market. And so when brands think about 2025, it’s important to consider: How can you be first, or at least part of a user’s first experience?” 

Whether you sell software, collaboration tools, or car tires, the point holds: You might not be top-of-mind during someone’s first dance, but you can be the brand they found first, and the one they choose to stick with because of the small, measurable impact you’ve had on their first moments — be it a first marketing job, first team project, or first big marketing campaign. 

And that’s something to celebrate. 

Over the past three years, I’ve written over 200 marketing content pieces from blog posts to guides to landing pages. Over that time, I’ve witnessed more and more brands investing not just in new content, but in content optimization.

It makes sense why content marketing teams are optimizing their content.

Brands that produce hundreds of pieces of content each year suddenly find themselves with a library of thousands of outdated blog posts that erode brand trust and drag down their SEO.

Your content is an asset that you need to protect and invest in to continue reaping the benefits.

To refresh your content, follow this step-by-step guide to content optimization. I’ve compiled my knowledge from years of optimizing content as a writer and strategist to start you down the road to success.

Table of Contents

• What is content optimization?
• Benefits of Content Optimization
• Challenges of Content Optimization
• How to Optimize Content

What is content optimization?

Content optimization is the act of updating and improving a piece of marketing content to reach content goals like search rankings, engagement, and conversions.

There are several reasons why you should optimize your content.

First, your content may have missed expectations and isn’t performing as you hoped. You can correct for this by optimizing it for new keywords or changing algorithm preferences, like E-E-A-T.

Another reason is that your content has outdated pricing, links, or screenshots of products that hurt your credibility, rankings, and conversions like signups.

How often should you update content?

There’s no hard-and-fast rule for how often to update content. Some content needs to be updated at least once a year, like a blog post on “Top small business apps in 2024.” Others stay evergreen and relevant for longer.

By our own analysis at HubSpot, we found a drop in performance for content more than 571 days old. If your content is approaching two years old, it’s time for an update.

Benefits of Content Optimization

Optimizing your content is an involved process, sometimes taking as long as writing the original content. So, why bother?

When properly optimized, I’ve seen content outperform the original content and reach new audiences. Here’s how.

1. Better SEO and Discoverability

If your older content isn’t drawing traffic, it’s not worth much to you. Content optimization can rescue lagging rankings and boost your visibility in search engines and AI programs like ChatGPT and Perplexity.

When HubSpot began optimizing old content, the brand grew organic views on those posts by an average of 106%.

The higher your content ranks, the more likely you are to gain high-intent traffic— that’s marketing speak for reaching prospects who are looking for your product or service.

2. Better Engagement

The more updated and relevant your content is, the more credible and useful it will be to the reader. In turn, this creates better brand engagement.

If I run into more than one broken link or outdated reference while searching online, I’m likely to go back to the drawing board.

But when I find a good resource that speaks to my problem, I’ll read til the end, click on related content, and even sign up for that brand’s newsletter.

3. More Conversions

The more people discover and engage with your content, the more likely they are to convert by signing up for an email list or demo or making a purchase.

We at HubSpot found that optimizing content more than doubled the monthly leads from older posts.

Excellent content can aid the sales process at every stage. You can also improve the chance of conversions by adding new calls to action (CTAs) that relate to your current offers and promotions.

Challenges of Content Optimization

Of course, content optimization isn’t without its challenges. Here are the top two risks when you optimize your content.

1. Maintaining a Consistent Voice

When you add new keywords or sections, particularly from a different writer from the original content, you risk losing cohesion. Careless updates can result in an article that doesn’t flow well or seems stuffed with keywords, hurting the quality.

2. Risk of Dropped Rankings

Any time you edit already-published content, you run the risk of dropping in rankings as search engines re-analyze your content.

If a piece of content is a top traffic driver for you, proceed with caution.

Figure out which keywords you want to protect and keep those keywords in headers and body copy. Consider what you can add rather than replace in your content, like new examples and sections.

How to Optimize Content

Now, let’s get to the good part — optimizing content.

Before I start, I’ve learned that there are two halves to content optimization: process and tactics. The steps I will go into here are tactics, but it’s equally important to build a structure and repeatable process for optimization.

First, assemble your team. On a small content team, a marketing manager may complete every step in this process. Others may use a team of two to five contributors.

Possible roles include a content manager to create briefs, a writer, an editor, a graphic designer, and a digital content manager.

I also recommend that you create a content optimization checklist to cover every step in the process and can easily delegate optimization steps to freelancers or team members. This has saved me many times from forgetting an important step!

1. Assess your content and goals.

First, assess the content you want to improve and determine an objective for the update. Is your goal to increase search rankings and traffic? Or is it to drive more conversions? Your approach could be very different depending on the objective.

Then, look at the content itself. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Highlight any sections with obvious outdated information, data, or images.

2. Conduct keyword research.

If SEO strategy is your objective, then keyword research is a crucial step in the process. At this stage, I like to use a keyword research tool like Google Ads, Ahrefs, or Moz to see which keywords the content is already ranking for.

Then I can look for related keywords that people may also search for.

Ahref’s “parent topic” feature is useful to see different keywords in relation to one another, along with Google’s People Also Ask (PAA) tool to gather ideas. Identify a primary keyword and secondary keywords that you want to rank for.

3. Analyze competitor content.

Next, I run a Google search to identify the top five search engine page results (SERPs).

A competitor search is helpful for two reasons.

First, to find out what is already working. Is Google rewarding content with lots of images or examples, for instance?

Second, this is helpful to uncover what gaps there are in the SERPs. Are all the top-ranking articles talking about the same three things but forgetting to mention something equally important?

I also look for ways I can differentiate my content to make it stand out.

4. Create a content optimization brief.

With all the information gathered in steps one through three, I can create a content optimization brief. This is particularly useful when handing the optimization off to a second person, like a freelance writer.

Even if you’re a one-person team, this can help to organize your thoughts and strategy. Here’s what to include in a content optimization brief:

• A link to the current content and copy in Google Docs if possible
• Description of the target audience and their search intent
• Primary and secondary keywords to include
• General update instructions, like checking for broken links and outdated research (e.g., Remove any references to the COVID-19 pandemic in content.)

• Specific instructions about this piece of content (e.g., Add a new H2 section at the bottom with five examples of influencer marketing campaigns.)

• Project details like the deadline and how to deliver the updated draft

5. Prepare your draft.

At this stage, I get my document ready for rewriting. After years of working in Word, I switched to Google Docs for the collaborative editing ease. I may already have the content draft in Google Docs but if I don’t, there’s a hack.

I can get ready to work by saving the web page as an HTML file, then right-clicking on the file and opening it in Microsoft Word. From there, I can copy/paste the text into Google Docs and delete any extra formatting I don’t need.

Next, I’ll adjust the outline to include any major changes requested, for example, removing or adding H2 or H3 sections. Any new sections can stay blank for now as long as I can see the outline.

6. Update links and research.

Now that my strategy and outline are set, I can start digging into the draft. I always start with the lowest-hanging fruit— checking for broken links and replacing them with working ones.

If I cite research, I want to include the most recent research available. That often means checking for more recent reports or removing dated research.

Fact-checking is an important piece of content updates too. I review software and often find in my updates that the pricing or feature lists have changed.

In some cases, the product has been rebranded or the company has gone out of business entirely since the original post.

7. Use a content optimization tool.

While I can optimize content with only the instructions in the brief, content optimization tools make the process more robust and efficient. Three tools that I recommend for content optimization are HubSpot, Clearscope, and Dashword.

In Clearscope and Dashword, you enter your primary keyword and search intent and copy/paste the original draft into the program. The tools give you an A-F grade that you can then try to improve.

In Clearscope, you can view the top SERP outlines and common PAA questions to see what you might be missing. Then both give you a readability grade and a sidebar with a list of keywords found in the top SERPs.

The more you add and the lower your readability score, the better your score becomes.

Source

These tools have basically gamified content optimization. Hitting that A+ or A++ score is incredibly satisfying!

Source

HubSpot’s SEO marketing software has the benefit of integrating the optimization tool into your CMS so you already have the content and data at your fingertips and can edit it from one platform.

With the tool, you run an SEO analysis of your entire site, explore keywords and topical coverage for your content, and monitor your performance.

Source

Beyond providing keywords and recommendations, several of these platforms like HubSpot and Surfer SEO have added content optimization AI tools to write or rewrite content for you.

These can save you time but if you use them, make sure to still edit the content to keep it differentiated and on-brand.

8. Write on-page content.

At this stage, I write new sections and rewrite content sections that need to be reworked. If I didn’t write the original content, I aim to match the voice and style of the original author.

I may rewrite headings and body copy with the primary and secondary keywords.

9. Optimize your off-page SEO with title tags and a meta description.

While you’re rewriting your on-page content, go ahead and optimize your off-page content like title tags and meta description.

Make sure your primary keyword appears in not just your headline but title tag and meta description. Rewriting the meta description can give a better teaser to give people a hook to draw them in and an idea of what to expect in the article.

An off-page SEO checklist is helpful to give content optimization specialists reminders and guidelines to optimize metadata.

9. Optimize for E-E-A-T.

Optimizing for E-E-A-T is another way you can improve your content.

E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness and is Google’s framework for helpful, reliable, people-first content.

Essentially, you can build credibility with your readers by adding expert perspectives and first-hand experience.

While Google doesn’t officially list this as a ranking factor, many brands (including us at HubSpot!) have seen improved search rankings.

In one HubSpot test, we found that E-E-A-T-ifying content significantly boosted clicks, signups, and conversions. Here are some tried-and-true ways to adapt your content with expertise and authority:

• Share anecdotes and insights from your personal experience on a topic
• Review software or products personally so you can share your experience
• Interview subject matter experts to include expert quotes and insights on the topic

10. Add images, videos, and alt text.

One brilliant (and underused) tactic for content optimization is optimizing for image search. When someone searches on Google, they see images and video snippets between and around the top-ranked articles.

Others go directly to Google Images to search for information. I’ve found that images and video improve my content’s quality by visualizing information.

Source

I recommend breaking up lengthy text with interspersed images and relevant embedded videos.

Try images like photos, illustrations, and infographics to engage readers. Videos are also a great way to drive engagement, especially if you have an active YouTube strategy.

For best SEO results, add relevant alt text that describes the image for accessibility and includes the primary keyword.

11. Optimize for conversions.

One of my favorite ways to optimize content is to add or update CTAs to encourage action. I love writing a compelling CTA that touches on a reader’s challenges and ties together solutions.

CTAs don’t just belong at the end of a blog post or landing page. Add one CTA “above the fold” on a web page or article, one at the end, and even another in the middle for long content.

12. Edit, publish, and distribute your optimized content.

Once your draft is ready, it’s go time.

Hire a professional editor for structural edits and proofreading to make sure your content still flows and meets your brand guidelines. Then update the content in your CMS and add any new links and images.

Not every marketer uses a distribution strategy for updated content, but I recommend distributing it through social media, newsletters, and more as you would with new content. You can use Content Remix to repurpose your blog content across marketing channels.

Once it’s published, keep an eye on the page analytics so you can watch the magic happen— and improve your optimization strategy over time.

Grow Your Traffic, Engagement, and Conversions with Content Optimization

Through my time as a writer and content marketer, I’ve found that content is a living, breathing thing. It shouldn’t be published, then left to slowly decay. It’s most valuable to brands when it’s updated, expanded, and improved over time.

Just as SEO recommendations change, you can teach yourself a new skill by learning to optimize content and adopt content best practices. Simply create a strategy and repeatable process, find the right tool, and start optimizing!

Just when it looks like I can‘t possibly write anything else about AI, I arrive with another blog post on the subject.

Today, I’m sharing AI automation examples that you can incorporate into your marketing processes to streamline your strategy and outpace the competition.

Let’s dive in!

7 Examples of AI Automation

1. AI Bots

Best for: Streamlining time-consuming, tedious marketing process and engaging with consumers.

A bot is an AI-powered intelligent automation with many use cases for both marketers and consumers. Marketers like myself typically use AI bots to streamline tedious tasks.

For example, I often have to interview marketing leaders and source their quotes for the posts I write. It would take me forever to listen through 30-60 minutes of an interview and fish for the most compelling quotes.

Then, one of my colleagues introduced me to an AI tool called Castmagic, which can transcribe audio into text.

I would then paste the transcribed text into ChatGPT and prompt the chatbot to identify the most interesting quotes from the text. This use of bots cuts hours‘ worth of work into just minutes!

I also save time by using HubSpot’s internal GPT to generate post titles, meta descriptions, outlines, and topic ideas.

And I’m far from the only marketer who saves time using AI tools like bots. According to our recent survey of 1000+ marketers, 86% of marketing professionals say AI helps them save an hour each day in their normal workflow.

Of course, I can’t forget how chatbots help marketers connect with consumers. Chatbots can direct visitors to your website to the correct product or service, answer questions, or troubleshoot issues.

All this can be done quickly and efficiently, and your customers will appreciate the swift action.

In fact, a recent study found that 62% of consumers prefer to engage with digital assistants rather than wait for human agents.

2. AI Personalization

Best for: Quickly gathering data to provide data-driven insights and high-quality personalized content.

According to our 2024 State of Marketing Report, 77% of marketers who use generative AI say it helps them make more personalized content, so AI and personalization already go hand-in-hand.

However, AI can also automate the process of creating personalized content by quickly and efficiently collecting data on customer behavior, preferences, location, and more.

AI then uses this information to generate data-driven insights and tailor content to individual customers.

For example, HubSpot’s Breeze AI gathers quality data to create personalization at scale.

3. AI Content creation

Best for: Creating quick-hit, short-form videos such as Reels, YouTube Shorts, or TikToks.

As a podcaster, blogger, and former YouTuber, I can confirm that content creation, while fun, is incredibly time-consuming.

If you‘re a hobbyist, you probably don’t mind the time spent, but if you’re a marketer, you know you only have so much time to spare for a task.

Fortunately, AI content creation automates the process of crafting content, such as:

• Videos
• Social Media posts
• Blog posts
• Podcasts

For example, I recently made an entire YouTube channel using various types of AI in just minutes. I‘ve also created TikToks and blog posts using only AI.

And let’s not forget my earlier example of using AI tools like Castmagic to transcribe podcast interviews into written content.

4. Lead Generation

Best for: Gathering consumer information to generate leads.

Automated lead generation is among the most useful forms of AI in marketing. Intelligent automation in lead-generating tasks like lead capture, scoring, and nurturing makes finding new customers easier and far less time-consuming.

For example, let‘s say I visit the website of my favorite shoe store, DSW, and I’m greeted by an automated pop-up asking for my name and email address in exchange for 10% off my next purchase.

That information would then be sent to a CRM and would be used for target email campaigns that turn me into a new consistent customer.

AI automation allows this process to be completed in seconds, saving marketers time and money.

5. Customer segmentation

Best for: Meeting your customers’ needs and generating a higher ROI.

AI automation can swiftly categorize your customers into subgroups based on demographics, behaviors, lifestyles, location, and needs.

This is because AI is exceptionally useful for extracting, processing, and applying data. With automated customer segmentation, you can generate personalized content like emails, videos, and more.

As of 2024, almost a quarter of marketers already use AI for customer segmentation.

6. Email marketing

Best for: Running a smooth, personalized email marketing campaign.

I‘ve dabbled in email marketing quite a bit throughout my career.

I once managed the newsletter for the TV station I worked for as a journalist and curated HubSpot’s Marketing Daily Newsletter before it was converted to a Master in Marketing.

So, trust me when I say AI automated email marketing made my work as an email marketer a breeze. With AI, I was able to:

• Analyze email performances and open rates to see what worked with my target audience and what didn’t
• Compile analytics to determine the health of my campaigns
• Quickly clean my email lists
• Send personalized, segmented content.

7. Ad targeting and optimization

As you‘ve probably noticed by now, AI is a pro at using data to help create a seamless, targeted marketing campaign. So, it’s no surprise that Ad targeting and optimizing personalized marketing materials are as easy as counting to 3 for AI.

Now, you have some great examples of AI automation in AI. How do you plan to implement intelligent automation into your next marketing campaign?

It’s hard to ignore the fact that video is now a leading trend for marketing teams. I mean, even LinkedIn has jumped on the bandwagon by prioritizing video content (now, whether or not you agree with that, it is a conversation for another day, but I digress).

The truth is that video is here to stay, and marketing teams are investing more in it than ever before.

With 2025 just around the corner, I decided to take a deep dive into some of the latest HubSpot data, including the 2024 Video Marketing Survey, to get a clearer picture of what trends are shaping the field.

I also spoke with a few experts to get their insights on how they’re planning to invest in video marketing as we move into the new year.

Table of Contents

• How much does video marketing cost?
• How much are marketers spending on video marketing?
• How AI Is Making Video Marketing More Affordable
• Affordable Video Marketing Techniques

How much does video marketing cost?

The short answer? It varies wildly. You might spend a few hundred dollars on simple videos or tens of thousands on professional productions.

Typically, the biggest expenses fall into a few categories:

1. Production. Costs for scripting, filming, and shooting, which can range from affordable for smaller teams to expensive for large-scale productions.
2. Post-Production. Editing, adding effects, and finalizing the video. As content gets more polished, this becomes a bigger part of the budget.
3. Promotion. Social media ads, paid search, or sponsored content to get the video in front of the right audience.
4. Tools. Software for editing and video performance analytics, plus any subscriptions to specialized video platforms.

Looking ahead to 2025, I think we’ll see more teams leaning into AI tools to reduce costs, especially in production and post-production.

With the rise of short-form videos, brands might shift toward creating more frequent, lower-cost content for social platforms.

And while social ads will still be a major spend, I expect personalized, interactive video formats will become a bigger part of the budget as brands look for new ways to engage audiences.

How much are marketers spending on video marketing?

The numbers tell an interesting story. Our 2024 Video Marketing Survey shows marketers are putting a significant amount of their total budget into video.

And it’s paying off — 52% report high ROI, while 47% see average returns.

Most marketers that I spoke with plan to increase their video budget next year.

It makes sense when you look at the impact: 52% cite brand awareness as their primary goal, and 41% say video helps customers understand their products better.

What’s the typical budget breakdown? According to digital transformation expert Suriel Arellano, here’s how businesses usually slice it:

• 40-50% on production
• 20-30% on promotion
• The rest on talent and marketing

How AI Is Making Video Marketing More Affordable

Video marketing can get expensive quickly — whether it’s for production, post-production, promotion, or analyzing results.

But AI video tools are seriously changing the game, helping marketers like myself reduce costs across all stages of the process.

Here’s how I’ve seen AI make video marketing more cost-effective.

1. Production Stage: Brainstorming & Scripting

Creating a video from scratch often involves hours of brainstorming, scripting, and outlining. AI tools can significantly speed up this process, reducing the time spent on these tasks.

For example, ChatGPT or Breeze can assist in quickly generating video scripts or brainstorming ideas. By simply providing the AI with a few key details about the video’s objective and audience, marketers can generate entire scripts or outlines in minutes.

This saves both time and money, especially if you have limited resources.

Now, as a professional writer, I should add a disclaimer here. I certainly don’t advocate for ChatGPT replacing human creatives, including writers. A skilled scriptwriter will bring a level of expertise your project desperately needs.

However, I do recommend using ChatGPT to help you brainstorm new ideas or angles and polish certain aspects of the script.

2. Post-Production: Editing & Effects

Once your video is shot, the editing phase can be one of the most expensive stages, especially if you’re hiring a professional editor. AI tools are helping reduce post-production time though by automating many of the tedious tasks.

The cost of editing a video could rack up thousands of dollars easily. AI-powered tools like Descript and Adobe Premiere Pro can automate video editing tasks such as cutting, adding subtitles, and even creating social media-friendly formats.

One of the coolest editing features I’ve seen is text-based editing.

Essentially, you can edit words from a video transcript, and the editor will clip the video accordingly. Given that I have extremely limited video editing skills, I love how easy this is. See it here in action.

Source

3. Promotion: Ads & Audience Targeting

Once your video is ready, promoting it to the right audience is crucial.

Traditional ad spend can quickly add up, especially if you’re relying on manual targeting and content creation. AI tools make it easier to optimize both your promotion strategy and your ad spend.

You can use machine learning to optimize ad placements, identify the best audience, and adjust campaigns in real time to reduce cost per conversion.

You can also use AI-powered translation tools to create multilingual versions of your videos. It can be helpful for reaching international audiences without the expense of hiring multiple voice actors.

Affordable Video Marketing Techniques

1. Weigh your options.

According to our video marketing data, 69% of video marketers surveyed own production equipment while 10% rent, and the remaining group does both. But which approach is right for your brand? Let’s break it down:

	In-House	Agencies
Cost Structure	Lower cost per video, higher upfront investment.	Higher per-video cost, no equipment investment.
Quality	Good for simple content, limited by team skills.	Professional quality, access to expert talent.
Time	Quick turnaround for simple projects.	Longer lead times but consistent delivery.
Control	Full control over process and edits.	Less direct control but professional management.
Best For	Regular, simple content needs (social media, product demos).	Complex projects, high-production value content.

The choice often comes down to your content type and frequency.

For instance, if you’re a makeup brand creating regular tutorial content, in-house production might be perfect — you just need good lighting and a camera to showcase products in action.

However, if you’re a travel brand needing cinematic destination shots with professional talent and multiple locations, an agency could actually be more cost-effective.

Most smaller brands (those with 200 employees or less) report better ROI when working with outside agencies, particularly for high-production value content.

But if you’re planning to create frequent, simple videos for social media, building an in-house team could be a smart long-term investment.

2. Separate need-to-haves from must-haves.

If there’s one piece of video equipment you should focus on, it’s lighting.

Many believe that having the best camera does the trick, but the truth is that lighting is what makes or breaks the quality of a video.

Lighting sets the tone and mood of a video, two elements you need to maintain your audience’s attention in a video.

Sound is another area to splurge on — specifically your mics. This will enhance the quality of your video, especially if you have to settle for low-end cameras.

As for everything else (the camera, the lens, the accessories), I think these are great add-ons, but if you’re on a budget, you can make do with low to mid-range options while still getting a high-quality result.

Pro tip: When you’re filming with a smartphone, I recommend shooting in landscape mode for YouTube but vertical for platforms like TikTok and Instagram Stories. This saves you from having to reshoot or crop later.

3. Focus on engagement over production value.

While 40% of marketers emphasize the importance of engaging video editing, you don’t need expensive software to create compelling content.

What matters most is capturing attention quickly (51% of marketers agree this is crucial) and telling an engaging story (37% prioritize storytelling and scriptwriting).

Pro tip: “Localization and personalization of video content will be a priority in 2025 because it is easier and more affordable than ever thanks to AI,” says Matt Panousis, co-founder of Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies, an AI-enabled VFX studio.

So, finding ways to personalize and humanize your content will be a key aspect of engaging your audience.

4. Use free editing software.

If you’re part of a small business or team that’s trying to create a video marketing strategy without spending much money, don’t worry.

You can use the awesome video tools that come with smartphones, and you can find good video editing software. Some of this software is even free.

One of these tools is HubSpot’s Clip Creator — which can convert text into engaging videos for your business. You can start from a template or generate a video with AI.

I tried creating a few for my own freelance business and loved getting to experiment with different versions.

Get started with HubSpot’s Clip Creator.

5. Involve SMEs for educational content.

Educational videos are one of the most effective content types in 2024, and involving Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on your team can help you create high-value content without the high cost. SMEs can provide:

• Expert Insight. Adding value to your content with authentic, credible knowledge.
• Efficiency. SMEs are often quicker at delivering accurate and valuable content, which can reduce the need for extensive scriptwriting or research.
• Affordability. Instead of paying for external experts or influencers, your own team members can provide the same level of expertise.

6. Use more video on social media platforms.

The most effective way to promote videos is on social media platforms, with 69% of marketers saying it’s the most effective strategy for reaching audiences.

The best part? It’s essentially free if you already have a strong following. We’ve also seen that you don’t need a massive advertising budget to reach your target audience, so there’s no reason not to try.

My favorite hack here is finding ways to repurpose your content. For example, you can take a single piece of content and turn it into a YouTube video, several TikTok clips, an Instagram reel, and so on.

Video Marketing Is Worth the Investment in 2025

Video marketing can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re working with a tight budget. But here’s what the data is telling us: you don’t need Hollywood production value to create content that resonates with your audience.

With 52% of marketers seeing high ROI from video and 41% saying it helps customers better understand their products, it’s clear to me that video is definitely worth the investment.

Focus on what matters most: capturing attention quickly, telling engaging stories, and getting your content in front of the right eyes through social media.

And with AI tools making video production more accessible than ever, I believe there’s never been a better time to start creating videos that connect with your audience — without breaking the bank.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March 2016 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

In the early days of my career as a content marketer, I wish I had access to the meeting agenda examples to have today. Back then, I was managing a team that was fairly new to me, and I hated the idea of conducting meetings.

The questions flew around randomly, the objective changed every minute, and we couldn’t come to helpful conclusions. As essential as they were, these meetings did not get anything done.

Research reveals I was not alone: even in 2024 71% of professionals feel meetings are unproductive and inefficient.

Enter: meeting agendas. Having a solid meeting agenda revolutionized how I conduct my meetings.

In this post, I will explain the importance of a meeting agenda and its key components. I’ll also share some of the top meeting agenda examples and templates that I have personally used to transform how my team collaborates.

Table of Contents

• Why a Meeting Agenda is Essential (Even for Short Meetings)
• Meeting Agenda Format
• Meeting Agenda Sample
• 7 Meeting Agenda Examples
• 7 Meeting Agenda Templates

Why a Meeting Agenda is Essential (Even for Short Meetings)

In my opinion, the purpose of the meeting agenda is not limited to achieving KPIs or assigning tasks. It is to balance the fundamental crisis of how people behave in hierarchical groups. Accomplishing tasks as a group is a complicated process, and each member has a different idea of why the meeting is held.

Meeting agendas work as a leveler between the attendees. An agenda informs everyone of the tasks at hand, the preparation needed for that task, what they must achieve at the end, and how, as a group, they will achieve that.

Especially for managers who are statistically known to spend 40% of their time in meetings, agendas are life savers.

A general misconception is that meeting agendas are not required for smaller, more casual meetings. I’d argue otherwise. In order for people to come together and effectively communicate to resolve and strategize, meeting agendas are a necessity. No exceptions!

In a conversation with Reilly Renwick, the chief marketing officer of Pragmatic Mortgage, he mentioned that “Agendas are there to help keep meetings focused and on track.”

“With an agenda, everyone knows what’s being discussed, who’s in charge of each topic, and how much time to expect for each discussion — straight to the point with no room for confusion.”

If you’re wondering if there are any success metrics to prove this point, Renwick said that having a meeting agenda “helped us cut meeting times by about 22-26.3%, making our conversations more focused, and giving us the chance to make quicker decisions.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ll take those shorter meeting times.

Meeting Agenda Format

The format of the meeting agenda is pretty simple. And it should be simple. It should provide an at-a-glance read with the minimum possible cognitive load imposed upon the reader.

Now, let me show you what I think is the basic structure of a meeting agenda.

Meeting Title

This is where you tell people what the meeting is about in just a few words. Think of it as a headline. It should be clear and specific.

Something like “Planning Q4 Goals“ works better than ”Team Meeting.” My advice would be to keep it short and easy to understand, especially since people might get multiple agendas in a day.

Duration

How long will this meeting take? And more importantly, how long is each part of it? Break it into chunks so people know what to expect.

For example:

• Introductions – 5 mins
• Project Updates – 15 mins
• Feedback and Q&A – 10 mins

This helps keep the meeting on track and stops it from dragging on.

Objective

Why is this meeting even happening? Write this in one or two plain sentences. I like to think of this as a quick way to ensure everyone’s on the same page.

For example: “We’re meeting to discuss the Q4 launch plan and finalize roles for execution.“

It doesn’t have to be fancy — just clear.

Agenda Items

This is the list of what you‘re going to talk about, in the order you’ll talk about it. Write it in a way that’s easy to read. Something like:

• Review data from last quarter (Go over key numbers and results)
• Plan marketing campaign (Brainstorm and decide on main goals)

Simple and straightforward, right?

Action Items

What happens next? End the meeting with a clear list of tasks and who’s doing what.

For example:

• Alex: Draft the campaign outline by Friday.
• Sarah: Share competitor analysis report by Monday.

Pro tip: Share the agenda well before the meeting (2-3 days earlier if possible). Also, share relevant documents along with the agenda. This will help everyone be well-prepared for the meeting.

Sheraz Ali, founder of HARO Agency, also shares a similar thought. Here’s what he told me about what his team does:

“A crucial practice we’ve implemented is the pre-agenda communication protocol. Team members receive agenda drafts 48 hours before meetings, allowing them to prepare, contribute potential discussion points, and arrive with thoughtful insights.

This approach transforms meetings from passive information-sharing sessions into dynamic, collaborative experiences.”

Meeting Agenda Sample

If you’re wondering how to create the nuts and bolts of a meeting agenda that’ll help you run a productive and efficient meeting, I’ve designed a sample meeting agenda that you can find below.

It’s based off the meeting agenda that Roger Schwarz, an organizational psychologist, a leadership team consultant, and CEO of Roger Schwarz & Associates, uses to run his team meetings.

Topic	Preparation	Structure
1. What are the current issues with our blog’s email subscription strategy? Time: 15 Minutes Purpose: Analysis Leader: Cliff	Read the attached memo that includes images of recent emails we’ve sent out and our email subscription and engagement data.	1. Review data and highlight the key issues and insights extracted from it Time: 5 Minutes 2. Go over why you think email engagement has suffered Time: 5 Minutes 3. Ask team why they think email engagement has suffered Time: 5 Minutes
2. How should we enhance our blog’s email subscription strategy? Time: 15 Minutes Purpose: Brainstorm Leader: Tova	Come up with three ideas to boost the blog’s email engagement.	1. Propose possible solutions for boosting email engagement Time: 5 Minutes 2. Ask team what they think of your proposed solutions Time: 5 Minutes 3. Ask each team member to propose one of their own solutions Time: 5 Minutes
3. What are the next steps that we should take? Time: 15 Minutes Purpose: Decision Leader: Karla	Think about how you could practically implement each of your ideas into our blog’s email subscription strategy.	1. Decide on a proposed solution or multiple solutions Time: 5 Minutes 2. Explain why we’re going to pursue that specific path Time: 5 Minutes 3. Divvy up responsibilities to each team member Time: 5 Minutes

To dig a bit deeper, let’s explore some excellent meeting agenda examples and what they achieve. These are some of the personal meeting agendas I have created over time for my diverse work meetings. Let’s get into it.

1. Team Sync Meeting Agenda

Team sync meetings are meetings conducted for ongoing projects and recurring tasks where the team needs to touch base periodically.

Here is an agenda I created for that purpose, preferably for a quick 35-minute team meeting (even though the duration isn’t explicitly mentioned).

This agenda is deliberately designed for quick outcomes and is suited for members who are already familiar with working together.

What I like

Not only is this easy to read and understand, but it also helps all attendees know what to expect.

It includes an estimate of the overall duration of the meeting and the distribution of that time. It also specifies the objective and the conclusion of the meeting very well.

Would you appreciate something like this sent to you before a meeting? I definitely would.

2. Brainstorming Session Agenda

Brainstorming sessions are very common in my field of work. In this kind of meeting, people usually come together to generate new ideas and creative solutions.

Here is an example of a meeting agenda for brainstorming sessions. This is a 45-minute meeting schedule, which can become longer if the meeting has more members attending.

For brainstorming sessions, it is important to leave room for an introduction as well as a conclusion.

This meeting agenda example gives the session structure while encouraging out-of-the-box thinking and collaboration. It also leaves room to break the ice and make the attendees comfortable before moving on to the real task: brainstorming.

What I like

This agenda is aware of the unstructured nature of the meeting and concludes by giving time fo ‘follow-ups without dictating what they will be. Personally, I love this one!

3. Client Update Meeting Agenda

Client update meetings usually involve an external client party where the team is liable to provide project status updates.

This meeting agenda example is specially made to touch base with the client for their feedback so the team can be more efficient at giving the client what they want.

The objective is carefully divided to keep all attendees and clients up to date about the project’s development and key achievements; then, the bottlenecks are acknowledged and discussed.

What I like

I really like that there is a specific welcome section to set the tone of the meeting. There’s also room for the client to give feedback and plan the next steps. This is brilliant and works for a rather formal setting.

4. New Team Member Introduction Agenda

This is a very common meeting that happens with all new team members. This agenda is not as purpose-driven as the others. Instead, the objective is to introduce a new member to the team and get them acquainted.

This is another great example of why — whether small, big, formal, or casual — all meetings need an agenda.

What I like

This meeting agenda example allows the new and regular team members to break the ice, encouraging smoother collaboration and momentum within the team.

5. Performance Review Meeting Agenda

Performance review meetings can be one-on-one conversations or even group meetings.

This agenda is suitable for in-depth performance analysis of the team members, from strengths to areas for improvement. In my experience, meetings like these are very difficult to conduct successfully without a meeting agenda.

In this meeting agenda example, you can see the extent of influence that a well-structured meeting agenda can have. It can even strategically set the tone of the meeting, especially in sensitive cases like performance reviews.

What I like

I really like how the agenda offers space to control the flow of the conversation that will occur in the meeting. This allows the attendees and the meeting lead to feel at ease and achieve efficient outcomes.

6. Crisis Management Meeting Agenda

This is a meeting between familiar team members with an urgent problem that needs immediate attention.

Here, there is a deliberate focus on the structure, which starts with determining the challenge. Once everyone is on the same page, the agenda moves on to the present and long-term challenges, setting the stage to find a resolution.

What I like

I really like how there is a recap section in this agenda that confirms action items and timelines. This helps the team members stay on top of their responsibilities and also helps team leads make sure that nothing is left unattended.

7. Strategic Planning Meeting Agenda

Strategic planning meetings map out the big picture and long-term direction of a project or even an organization.

This is a classic strategic planning meeting agenda example where the outcomes are high-stakes; hence, there is a lot of focus on the slow pace of the conversations.

What I like

This meeting agenda example is sweet and simple and probably the most recurring type of meeting agenda. In my experience, these agendas work well because of their straightforward structure.

In addition to all the meeting agenda examples from my work meetings that I shared in the previous section, I’ve also collected some meeting agenda templates that work for various team sizes and industries.

Below are some meeting agenda templates that can help you get started with just a few clicks.

1. HubSpot’s Free Staff Meeting Agenda Template

Staff meetings are one of the most common meetings in an organization.

HubSpot‘s staff meeting agenda template can be perfect for your recurring staff meetings where you’ll need to know what you‘ll talk about, who will be presenting, when they’ll start, and so on.

You can download this agenda template in PDF or Excel format for free and edit it as needed.

Source

What I like

I love how simple and neat this meeting agenda template is. The format is easy to understand, follow, and re-use for any type of staff meeting. It imposes less control on the structure and can be molded as per requirement.

2. HubSpot’s Free Board Meeting Agenda Template

Board meetings are usually high-stakes meetings involving the company‘s board of directors. They are where the company’s most important decisions are made, so there is much less room for error in these meetings.

HubSpot’s free board meeting agenda template will make sure you cover everything you need. This template is also available for download in PDF or Excel format for free.

Source

What I like

I really liked how this template helps you get everyone on the same page by laying out which topics you‘ll discuss and how many minutes you’ll spend on each topic.

3. Project Kickoff Meeting Agenda Template

This is a template that you can use for meetings that introduce a new project or goal where the team needs end-to-end briefing about the objective and tasks. It also simplifies assigning work and summarizing the next steps of the project.

Source

What I like

I love that the template offers a Q&A session. In my experience, there will always be many questions when a project starts, and having space for Q&A is ideal.

4. Problem-Solving Meeting Agenda

This meeting agenda template is useful when teams come together to tackle a specific challenge or issue. It works equally well for meetings where one party drives the conversation, or where the meeting is rather casual between a workgroup coming together to bust their bottlenecks.

Source

What I like

I really like how the template makes space for an in-depth analysis of the problem and the things needed to resolve it. For example, the “What are we missing” section has the potential to bring up topics that might have been neglected before in the meeting.

5. Quarterly Review Meeting Agenda

This specific template is designed for formal meetings where a team or organization’s work over a quarter is overviewed. This template is perfect for meetings that require the attendees to put goals and tasks from a period into perspective.

Source

What I like

This template covers almost everything you would expect from a quarterly review meeting, and I highly recommend using it as is.

6. Stakeholder Alignment Meeting Agenda

Stakeholder alignment meetings are where all the key people involved in a business or project come together to get on the same page.

This template is suitable for such formal meetings where the structure is very important. While adopting templates like this, make sure to keep your company‘s or projects’ hierarchical needs in mind, and add a dedicated time for everyone to speak and share.

Source

What I like

I love the checklists that are provided in the template, as they help you keep track of the various tasks essential to structure the meeting properly.

7. Basic Meeting Agenda Template

This is an all-purpose meeting agenda template that can be used for almost all meetings. If you are confused about the objective or outcome of a meeting, you can start by using this template and slowly work your way to more specific templates.

Source

What I like

I love that this particular template is useful for almost all settings. When in doubt, go for this one!

Meetings Shouldn’t Be a Waste of Time

Unproductive or unorganized meetings are as beneficial to you as procrastinating on the web – they’re time-sucks.

Fortunately, the meeting agenda examples and templates I provided above can help you design and structure a productive and efficient meeting that will make people feel excited, focused, and ready to get to work.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in December 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

“Teamwork makes the dream work,” is one of my favorite teamwork quotes. Seriously, I’ve said this quote in the office and on Zoom. I’ve even set it as my Slack status. Turns out John C. Maxwell said it in 2002.

It remains a popular quote today, in part because he was right: If you’re aiming high, a team helps you hit the mark.

I love quotes. They take truths that we all know and boil them down into something memorable. I use quotes to keep me motivated and stay connected with my team. That’s why I love quotes that are connected to teamwork.

To help take teams to the next level, I’ve collected my favorite 99 quotes about collaboration, teamwork, and determination across the following categories:

• Quotes About Collaboration
• Teamwork Quotes to Inspire Collaboration
• Hard Work Quotes to Inspire Determination
• Short Teamwork Quotes
• Motivational Teamwork Quotes
• Teamwork Quotes From Iconic Business Leaders
• Communication Quotes to Inspire Teamwork

Teamwork Quotes to Inspire Collaboration

I’m the type of person who loves to work collaboratively. That’s why I love group projects that bring multiple great minds together. I can bounce ideas off my teammates and gain their insights.

If you’re looking for a bit of inspiration to get you psyched to work in a team, start with these quotes.

15. “It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) that those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” — Charles Darwin (Click to Tweet.)

16. “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” — Henry Ford (Click to Tweet.)

17. “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” — Michael Jordan (Click to Tweet.)

18. “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” — Phil Jackson (Click to Tweet.)

19. “The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal in unison.” — James Cash Penney (Click to Tweet.)

20. “Politeness is the poison of collaboration.” — Edwin Land (Click to Tweet.)

21. “Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” — Amy Poehler (Click to Tweet.)

22. “Effectively, change is almost impossible without industry-wide collaboration, cooperation, and consensus.” — Simon Mainwaring (Click to Tweet.)

23. “The team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.” — Mia Hamm

Want more? Check out these corporate team-building activities.

24. “Teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability.” — Patrick Lencioni (Click to Tweet.)

25. “You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins.” — Jim Stovall (Click to Tweet.)

26. “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.” — Babe Ruth (Click to Tweet.)

27. “There is no such thing as a self-made man. You will reach your goals only with the help of others.” — George Shinn (Click to Tweet.)

28. “It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” — Napoleon Hill (Click to Tweet.)

29. “The whole is other than the sum of the parts.” — Kurt Koffka (Click to Tweet.)

30. “A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself and his contribution to praise the skills of others.” — Norman Shidle (Click to Tweet.)

31. “The ratio of We’s to I’s is the best indicator of the development of a team.” — Lewis B. Ergen (Click to Tweet.)

32. “Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” — Vince Lombardi (Click to Tweet.)

33. “One piece of log creates a small fire, adequate to warm you up, add just a few more pieces to blast an immense bonfire, large enough to warm up your entire circle of friends; needless to say that individuality counts but teamwork dynamites.” — Jin Kwon (Click to Tweet.)

34. “No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team.” — Reid Hoffman (Click to Tweet.)

35. “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” — Mark Twain (Click to Tweet.)

36. “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” — Booker T. Washington (Click to Tweet.)

37. “Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team of people.” — Steve Jobs (Click to Tweet.)

38. “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” — Ryunosuke Satoro (Click to Tweet.)

39. “Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there.” — Virginia Burden (Click to Tweet.)

40. “None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.” — Mother Teresa (Click to Tweet.)

41. “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” — Harry Truman (Click to Tweet.)

42. “It takes two flints to make a fire.” — Louisa May Alcott (Click to Tweet.)

43. “The way to achieve your own success is to be willing to help somebody else get it first.” — Iyanla Vanzant (Click to Tweet.)

44. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — African Proverb (Click to Tweet.)

45. “Success is best when it’s shared.” — Howard Schultz (Click to Tweet.)

Need help collaborating effectively? Take a look at 21 marketing collaboration tools to improve teamwork.

Hard Work Quotes to Inspire Determination

We’ve all hit a rut. Trust me, I’ve been there too. Once the caffeine wears off or when I have competing priorities on my plate, I can get so stressed that I feel paralyzed.

A little bit of motivation can get me out of my head and back to the grind. These are my favorite quotes about hard work that keep me inspired.

46. “Hard work beats talent if talent doesn’t work hard.” — Tim Notke (Click to Tweet.)

47. “We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in.” — Ariana Huffington (Click to Tweet.)

48. “When the ideas are coming, I don’t stop until the ideas stop because that train doesn’t come along all the time.” — Dr. Dre (Click to Tweet.)

49. “Someone once told me growth and comfort do not coexist. And I think it’s a really good thing to remember.” — Ginni Rometty (Click to Tweet.)

50. “Hard work keeps the wrinkles out of the mind and spirit.” — Helena Rubinstein (Click to Tweet.)

51. “Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment.” — Mahatma Gandhi (Click to Tweet.)

52. “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” — Thomas Jefferson (Click to Tweet.)

53. “Diamonds are nothing more than chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs.” — Malcolm Forbes (Click to Tweet.)

54. “The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.” — Vince Lombardi Jr. (Click to Tweet.)

Need tools to boost collaboration and encourage innovation? See how HubSpot can help.

Short Teamwork Quotes

Sometimes, I don’t have the time or energy to read a full motivational speech. Even a paragraph-long pep talk can feel like a big lift. That’s when I turn to short quotes.

These short truisms boil the big ideas about teamwork into something simple and byte-sized.

55. “Teamwork makes the dream work.” — John C. Maxwell (Click to Tweet.)

56. “The bigger the dream, the more important the team.” — Robin Sharma (Click to Tweet.)

57. “None of us is as smart as all of us.” — Ken Blanchard (Click to Tweet.)

58. “If you take out the team in teamwork, it’s just work. Now who wants that?” — Matthew Woodring Stover (Click to Tweet.)

59. “Tough times don’t last. Tough teams do.” — Robert Schuller (Click to Tweet.)

60. “Together, ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results.” — Becka Schoettle (Click to Tweet.)

61. “Communication works for those who work at it.” — John Powell (Click to Tweet.)

62. “Effective teamwork begins and ends with communication.” — Mike Krzyzewski (Click to Tweet.)

63. “It’s better to have a great team than a team of greats.” — Simon Sinek (Click to Tweet.)

64. “Ego is the ultimate killer on a team.” — Patrick Lencioni (Click to Tweet.)

65. “Strategy is not a solo sport, even if you’re the CEO” — Max McKeown (Click to Tweet.)

66. “There is no such thing as a ‘one-man show’ in a winning team.” — Jose B. Cabajar (Click to Tweet.)

67. “Many candles can be kindled from one candle without diminishing it.” — Midrash (Click to Tweet.)

68. “We rise by lifting others.” — Robert Ingersoll (Click to Tweet.)

69. “In teamwork, silence isn’t golden. It’s deadly.” — Mark Sanborn (Click to Tweet.)

70. “A single leaf working alone provides no shade.” — Chuck Page

71. “A successful team is a group of many hands but of one mind.” — Bill Bethel

Motivational Teamwork Quotes

Sometimes, I find the start of a team project to be overwhelming. There are so many things to do and the ball hasn’t even gotten rolling. These motivational teamwork quotes help me start projects on the right foot.

72. “When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes reality.” — Joe Paterno (Click to Tweet.)

73. “The power of one, if fearless and focused, is formidable, but the power of many working together is better.” — Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Click to Tweet.)

74. “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” — Henry Ford (Click to Tweet.)

75. “When you hand good people possibility, they do great things.” — Biz Stone (Click to Tweet.)

76. “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” — Sun Tzu (Click to Tweet.)

77. “Our destiny is not written for us, it’s written by us.” — Barack Obama (Click to Tweet.)

78. “Every once in a while, you hear an expert that says team chemistry is overrated. You just write that person off.” — Tony La Russa (Click to Tweet.)

79. “Create an environment where people can take risks. If everything has to be brilliant from the word go, you’re never gonna get off the ground.” — Paul Hewson, a.k.a Bono (Click to Tweet.)

80. “Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prison of the past or a pioneer of the future.” — Deepak Chopra (Click to Tweet.)

81. “Decency is avoiding disrespect, not avoiding disagreement. Integrity is trying to get it right, not being right.” — Adam Grant (Click to Tweet.)

82. “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupery (Click to Tweet.)

83. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead (Click to Tweet.)

84. “When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing.” — Bo Schembechler (Click to Tweet.)

85. “You are either supporting the vision or supporting division.” — Saji Ijiyemi (Click to Tweet.)

86. “Not finance, not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and rare.” — Patrick Lencioni (Click to Tweet.)

87. “Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” — Mattie Stepanek

88. “Interdependent people combine their own efforts with the efforts of others to achieve their greatest success.” — Stephen Covey

Teamwork Quotes From Iconic Business Leaders

Knowing that business behemoths like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and David Packard don’t just value teamwork but actively promote it inspires the heck out of me. Hopefully, these quotes will inspire you, too!

89. “I am a big believer in the power of a team. A good team can win a championship if they have the fundamentals and work together as one.” — Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks

90. “The best team is not the team with the best players, but the team that plays best together.” — Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase

91. “My model for business is The Beatles. They were four guys who kept each other’s kind of negative tendencies in check. They balanced each other, and the total was greater than the sum of the parts.” — Steve Jobs, Co-founder and former CEO of Apple Inc.

92. “I invite everyone to choose forgiveness rather than division, teamwork over personal ambition.” — Jean-Francois Cope, CEO of Atos

93. “Teams should be able to act with the same unity of purpose and focus as a well-motivated individual.” — Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft Corporation

94. “The five separate fingers are five independent units. Close them and the fist multiplies strength. This is organization.” — James Cash Penney, founder of J.C. Penney

95. “A group of people get together and exist as an institution we call a company so they are able to accomplish something collectively that they could not accomplish separately — they make a contribution to society.” — David Packard, Co-founder of Hewlett-Packard

Communication Quotes to Inspire Teamwork

I’m sure you’ve experienced this truth, too: Collaboration, cohesiveness, and teamwork can’t happen without effective communication. The following quotes are a reminder of the importance of communication in facilitating teamwork.

96. “The art of communication is the language of leadership.” — James Humes

97. “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” — Epictetus

98. “Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy, and mutual valuing.” — Rollo May

99. “Communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.” — Nat Turner

Great quotes can help motivate teams, inspire them to innovate, and get them thinking big. But quotes are just the start. For teamwork to make the dream work, businesses need the right combination of people, processes, and technologies.

It’s this team trifecta that puts companies on the path to success.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in March 2016 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Faced with an urgent need to brush up my spreadsheet skills, I went online and searched for the best Excel resources available. I discovered a lot of amazing options, both free and paid.

Microsoft Excel is a versatile spreadsheet application that’s useful for data entry and storage, budgeting, data analysis, project management, reporting, inventory management, and much more.

Whether you’re a marketer, freelancer, entrepreneur, or business owner, and no matter your profession, Microsoft Excel is a valuable skill to have.

Today, I’m going to share some of the best ways to learn Excel online free of charge, plus some paid options.

Table of Contents

• Learning Excel
• How to Learn Excel With Free Training Resources
• How to Learn Excel With Paid Training Resources

Here are the things you’ll be learning in Excel through the training resources I’ll share:

Below are the 21 amazing free and paid Excel resources I discovered. Feel free to bookmark your favorites and take advantage of them so you can work more efficiently in Excel.

How to Learn Excel With Free Training Resources

1. GoSkills & HubSpot Academy Excel for Marketers Course

This is one of the best free Excel resources I found out there.

In this GoSkills and HubSpot Academy free Excel for Marketers course, you can quickly get up to speed with Excel’s most common formulas, functions, and shortcuts. This universal course content can be applied to any context, including marketing, and is perfect for those who need a refresher in Excel fundamentals.

By the end of the course, you’ll have mastered time-saving hacks to simplify your workflow and gain a shiny certificate of achievement for your efforts.

 

What I like: I love that I can complete this crash course in just under two hours since it was created for busy people like marketers, business owners, and other professionals.

2. HubSpot Excel Resources

Since Excel is one of the most in-demand skills for data-driven marketers — and because we want marketers and others like you to succeed — we’ve created some of our own educational content about Excel here at HubSpot.

From free eBooks, to templates, to video tutorials, we tried to cover a wide range of Excel-relevant topics.

Here are a few of our best Excel resources:

• Hubspot Academy x GoSkills Excel for Marketers course (free course)
• 50 Hacks to Help You Become an Excel Master (free ebook)
• The Ultimate Guide to Using Microsoft Excel (long-form content)
• 10 Excel Templates to Make Marketing Easier (free templates)
• How to Create a Pivot Table in Excel: A Step-by-Step Tutorial (video and blog post)
• How to Use Excel Like a Pro: 29 Easy Excel Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts (long-form content)

What I like: I’m excited that I can pick and choose resources in different formats, like a video tutorial, a blog post, a free eBook, free templates, a free course, and more.

3. Microsoft’s Excel for Windows Training

To learn a new application, I’m sure it makes a lot of sense to consider the source.

And in this case, no one knows Excel better than the people at Microsoft.

In this training, they did a great job by putting together this resource hub for all Microsoft Office applications and services.

The Excel training has a whole bunch of free tutorials that cover the latest version of Excel, organized into functional learning modules.

Check out the training here.

What I like: It’s great that the videos are broken down into short topics and modules that are practical, straightforward, and easy to understand.

4. The Spreadsheet Page

Unlike most of the Excel resources on this list, the Spreadsheet Page creates and shares professionally designed Excel templates you can download at no cost, and customize for personal, business and educational purposes.

You can find templates for to-do lists, invoices, budgets, calendars and more.

The well-organized site is chock full of helpful Excel tips, collected by an expert named John Walkenbach. Over the past 30 years, he’s written more than 60 Excel books for users of all levels, and around 300 articles and reviews for magazines like InfoWorld, PC World, and PC/Computing.

At one point, he wrote the monthly spreadsheet column for PC World. In other words, the man knows his stuff — and he knows how to present it.

I learned they’ve been around since 2005, and millions of users around the world have downloaded their free templates and workbooks.

They also have a blog where you can find more Excel tips, resources, tutorials, random observations, and jokes.

Source

What I like: When you download any of their templates, you’ll also get a handy tutorial on how to customize the file for your own use, so you can learn by doing. How cool is that?

5. Contextures

Contextures is a place where you can find hundreds of free Excel resources in the form of training videos, tutorials, a monthly newsletter, and sample workbooks.

This Excel resource has hundreds of downloadable spreadsheets that offer step-by-step instructions for performing data validation, adding filters and conditional formatting to rows and columns, designing charts, creating PivotTables, running functions and more.

Debra Dalgleish, a Microsoft Excel Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award recipient, started Contextures in 2000 and has built hundreds of Excel solutions for clients as a consultant. She got her first MVP award from Microsoft in 2001, and every single year since. And in 2021, she also got her 20-year MVP ring.

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What I like: Debra stated clearly on her site that readers should let her know if there’s a topic they think she should cover on Contextures. How nice of her!

6. Chandoo.org

This site is another fantastic resource that can help you learn Excel at no cost.

Purna “Chandoo” Duggirala, Chandoo.org‘s founder, says he has one goal: “to make you awesome at Excel and Power BI.”

He started the blog in 2007 and built it as a community, citing values like humility, passion, fun, and simplicity. He also works to make it a valuable resource for folks who do not have English as their first language.

Today, the blog contains hundreds of Excel articles and tutorials. You can sign up to receive weekly Excel tips through his newsletter, and also watch Excel training videos on his YouTube channel.

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But it’s not all so formal. For example, Chandoo once created a digital Easter egg hunt for a blog post a while back, which included a downloadable Excel workbook containing seven hidden pandas. Readers were challenged to locate the pandas using clues, Excel techniques, and even “I-Spy” skills.

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While the articles, videos, forums, and other parts of the site are free, you can pay to join one of Chandoo’s structured training programs, like Excel School ($147 – $247), or VBA Classes ($97 – $347).

Plus, there’s always the option to buy one of his books — The VLOOKUP Book or Excel Formula Helper Ebook.

What I like: When people ask questions about Excel formulas, formatting, shortcuts, pivot tables, and so on in the forum, anyone can answer them. But I think it’s wonderful that Chandoo goes a step further and uses some of these questions to create articles and tutorials.

7. Excel Easy

I found Excel Easy to be a comprehensive tutorial for learning Excel. Its learnings are divided into chapters, and these are sorted into the following sections:

• Introduction
• Basics
• Functions
• Data Analysis
• VBA
• Examples

In each chapter, Excel Easy walks you through what it perceives to be the fundamentals of Excel, in the form of written guides with screenshots to help you master each concept.

At the end of the tutorial, you have access to 300 examples showing you how to perform each concept in real scenarios. Concepts include basic formulas and functions, how to create a ribbon, creating multiple worksheets, formatting cells, data validation, table creation, and more.

Source

What I like: With hundreds of examples available for learners to practice with, I believe this can make it easier for beginners to understand and learn Excel at a faster rate.

8. MrExcel.com

With this free Excel resource, you can learn Excel and also get in touch with Excel experts to ask questions or make inquiries.

MrExcel.com was launched by Bill Jelen in 1998m and its claim to fame is its interactive message board, which is constantly monitored by its community of Excel gurus. The board is organized according to subject, like general announcements, questions, and MrExcel.com products.

When a user posts a question, a member of the MrExcel.com expert community will reply with an answer. The questions range from simplifying an Excel task, to solving urgent inquiries.

Not a native English speaker? You can ask questions in your native language.

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What I like: I think it’s great that the site also has a library of helpful Excel books and ebooks. And if you need help with problems that are more complex, you can hire an Excel consultant directly from the website, for a fee.

9. Exceljet

Dave Bruns, a Microsoft Excel MVP award winner, founded Exceljet in 2012 and runs the site with his wife. Their goal is to help ordinary people use Excel faster and more effectively.

I discovered that Exceljet has several thousand pages of content, including articles and over 400 short videos, that allow you to itemize your Excel training based on the project you’re working on.

Other free resources include the following and more:

• 500 Excel Formulas
• 350 Excel Functions
• 222 Excel Shortcuts
• Pivot Table Examples
• Excel Tables Guide
• Pivot Table Examples

Source

They also have several paid video trainings that take a deeper dive into specific Excel topics of interest to their users and followers.

What I like: With their bite-sized videos, I love that I can watch and practice a skill in less than 10 minutes. And I can subscribe to their free email newsletter to join over 100,000 people who get weekly Excel tips on useful formulas.

10. Excel in an Hour

This crash course is a free tutorial from GoSkills, an award-winning education platform that’s trusted by more than 8000 organizations worldwide.

To my pleasant surprise, Excel in an Hour includes:

• 16 easy-to-digest Excel tutorial videos.
• Downloadable exercise files and reference guides.
• Unlimited quiz and test attempts.
• Certificate of completion.

It was designed to help beginners quickly learn the most common formulas, functions, and tools they need to handle everyday Excel tasks with ease.

The downloadable practice worksheets also make it easy to apply new knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Source

What I like: I’m really excited that this free course requires no prior knowledge of Excel and I can get a shiny certificate once I complete it. Hurray!

11. Trump Excel

To share his knowledge and help people learn Excel, Sumit Bansal, a Microsoft Excel MVP award winner, created this Excel tutorial site in 2013.

On Trump Excel, I found a huge number of free Excel tutorials and videos like:

• 100+ Excel functions with examples and videos.
• Excel tips you can apply instantly to boost productivity.
• Excel VBA tips to automate repetitive tasks.
• Excel charting tips.
• Excel dashboards, including detailed tutorials, examples, and download files.
• Excel templates for every situation.
• Best Excel books to make you an Excel pro.

But that’s not all. There are also free courses on topics like Excel Power Query, VBA, Dashboard, and a comprehensive Excel training made up of 12+ hours of basic and advanced videos.

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What I like: In addition to the huge number of free Excel resources available, I love the free 51 Excel tips ebook that I can download, study at my convenience, and keep in my personal library.

12. Introduction to MS Excel

Here’s another detailed Excel resource you want to consider. It’s a free training from Simplilearn, a global leader in digital upskilling that offers world-class training to individuals and businesses worldwide.

In this free Excel course, you’ll enjoy seven hours of self-paced video lessons and learn essential spreadsheet features, plus how to automate activities, analyze data, create reports, and use Excel for real-world tasks.

It’s great for beginners and all those who have never used Excel before.

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What I like: I’m excited that this course was designed for beginners no matter their background or profession. And I love that I can get a shareable certificate once I complete the course.

13. Microsoft Excel – Improve Your Skills Quickly

I found this free Excel resource on Udemy, a leader in online learning that’s trusted by over 16,000 companies and millions of learners around the world.

The course instructor, Phillip Burton, has been teaching on Udemy since 2015 and has over 800,000 students so far — plus over 40 video courses. Here’s everything you’re going to learn in this free tutorial:

• Learn more about formatting, filters, and conditional formatting to improve the presentation of your spreadsheets with a few clicks.
• Create tables, Pivot Tables, Charts, Pivot Charts and Sparklines.
• Find out how powerful Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is and automate your code.
• Learn functions such as SUM, SUMIF, VLOOKUP, OFFSET and INDIRECT.

Source

What I like: It’s great that this course was designed for people who want to develop their Microsoft Excel skills in a couple of hours, including all those using older versions of Excel, who want to learn newer versions. The practice activities included here also help learners gain hands-on experience.

How to Learn Excel With Paid Training Resources

14. GoSkills

GoSkills offers a range of Excel certification courses for all skill levels. Their most popular course is Excel – Basic & Advanced, which teaches essential real-world skills you’ll need for everyday use.

This training starts with the basics and with each lesson, you can build your knowledge from beginner to intermediate and then move to advanced lessons.

By the end of this course, you will be able to handle everything from reports and charts to complex data analysis and project management.

Designed to accommodate busy learners, all lessons are bite-sized (3-7 minutes long) and come with a video tutorial, practical exercise, short quiz, transcripts, and quick reference guide.

The award-winning platform also features courses on business and software skills like Microsoft Office, project management, lean six sigma, productivity, soft skills, finance, development, and design.

Price

• 7 days free trial
• $39 per month, billed monthly
• $20.75 per month, billed yearly

What I like: When you complete this course, you stand a chance of getting a highly sought-after Excel certification that’s recognized worldwide.

15. Excel Essentials from Excel Exposure

This is a paid Excel resource that can help you unlock your inner Excel ninja, overcome your fear of Excel, reduce errors in your Excel documents, automate some tasks, gain confidence, use Excel faster. and save valuable time.

That’s a lot of benefits.

Excel Essentials from Excel Exposure is a self-paced online course with over five hours of content that covers Excel basics, up to advanced concepts like Pivot Tables and VLOOKUPs.

The course instructor, Ben Currier, has spent the last 15 years working in finance and accounting in various industries like real estate, healthcare, video games, diamond jewelry, and more.

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Price

• $197 – One-time payment; lifetime access
• $59 per month, billed monthly

What I like: Even though this is a paid course, it’s awesome that the first module is available free of charge.

16. Coursera

Partnering with 350+ leading universities and companies worldwide, Coursera is a global platform for online learning and career development.

The site offers online classes to anyone, anywhere, on a wide variety of topics, ranging from music production to Excel to coaching skills, and much more.

Here are some of the popular Excel resources that I found:

• Introduction to Microsoft Excel
• Using Basic Formulas and Functions in Microsoft Excel
• Excel Skills for Business
• Create Charts and Dashboards Using Microsoft Excel
• Create a Financial Statement Using Microsoft Excel

Source

Like many real-world classes, each course includes video lectures, interactive quizzes, peer-graded assessments, and the opportunity to connect with fellow students and instructors.

Once you finish a course, you’ll receive formal recognition along with an optional course certificate.

Price

• Learn a single topic or skill: $49-$79 per month
• Complete multiple courses with Coursera Plus Monthly: $59 per month, 7-day free trial
• Complete multiple courses with Coursera Plus Yearly: $399 per year, with a 14-day money-back guarantee

What I like: I love the various pricing options available, especially Coursera Plus monthly, that I can use to complete multiple courses within one or two months.

17. Udemy’s “Microsoft Excel – From Beginner to Expert in 6 Hours”

If you had six hours to spare, how would you use them? “Sleep,” “clean the house,” and “bake something” are some of the things that come to mind. But what if you can become an Excel expert in that amount of time?

That’s what Udemy promises in its “Microsoft Excel – From Beginner to Expert in 6 Hours” course. You will learn everything you need to know about Microsoft Excel, from the fundamentals to the most advanced features.

I also noticed that the course includes five hours of video, an article, 128 downloadable resources, access on mobile and TV, closed captions, lifetime access and a certificate of completion.

Udemy is one of the most bountiful online learning resources out there, and their Excel courses are many. In fact, typing “Excel” into the search bar yields thousands of results, each one displaying a star rating, price, length, and level.

Source

Price: $149.99, currently discounted to $16.99. (Check page for frequent discounts.)

What I like: It’s amazing that the course instructor, Todd McLeod, is a Microsoft Certified Master Instructor and a university professor with 20+ years of experience teaching Microsoft Excel. I get a lot of value learning from experts who are not only familiar with the tool, but how to teach it.

18. Excel Everest

The name of this resource may look intimidating, but you‘d be surprised how convenient the training is. Excel Everest is an out-of-the-box resource that teaches you Excel while you’re in Excel.

I found out that the product you buy downloads an Excel file to your computer, where you’ll open Excel and engage in walk-throughs of 41 different Excel functions right from a sample spreadsheet.

Topics covered include conditional formatting, VLOOKUP, chart creation, and so much more.

This Excel training resource offers hundreds of exercises, along with video tutorials embedded directly in a sample Excel spreadsheet.

By applying these concepts in Excel as you learn them, you‘ll feel them stick with you long after you complete Excel Everest’s training.

Price: $159

What I like: I think it’s a good sign that top companies like Google, Eventbrite, PlayCore, and more trust Excel Everest for their employee Excel training.

Microsoft Online Excel Training – Learn Excel Formulas, Pivot Tables, Macros, VLOOKUP & more…

19. Learn iT!

Learn iT! offers Excel training in a variety of formats and breaks every lesson down by module. It’s one of the best solutions for Excel learners who want more than just a video series or a written step-by-step guide.

Here are some of their open Excel trainings:

• Excel Introduction
• Excel Intermediate
• Excel Advanced
• Excel Power User
• Excel Pivot Tables
• Excel Intro to Data Analysis
• Excel VBA

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With 28 years of success helping companies and careers grow, Learn iT has upskilled over one million individuals, helped 10,000+ companies upskill their workforce, and also trained people in over 15 countries.

Price

• Excel Introduction, Intermediate, Advanced: $145 – $290
• Excel Power User, Pivot Tables: $145 – $290
• Excel Intro to Data Analysis: $145
• Excel VBA: $995

What I like: I think it’s awesome that you can take your selected course four different ways: an in-person instructor-led session, live online with classmates, privately in a custom-made session, or a self-paced mix of instructor-led and interactive elearning courses.

20. LinkedIn Learning

In case you didn’t know, LinkedIn isn’t just for professional networking. LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform — yes, from LinkedIn — that provides access to more than 24,000 high-quality on-demand courses.

You can discover and learn various business, technology, and creative topics and skills with the help of subject matter experts (SMEs) who host their training on the LinkedIn Learning platform.

Many of these courses include exercise files, assessments, and video transcripts.

When I searched for Microsoft Excel on LinkedIn Learning, I got over 7,000 results, showing different Excel courses from various SMEs. Here are some of them:

• Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365)
• Excel: VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP for Beginners
• Excel: Supply Chain Shipping Analysis
• Excel Quick Tips

Check out LinkedIn Learning for all available Excel courses.

Source

Price

• Premium LinkedIn subscriptions provide unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning.
• Premium LinkedIn subscriptions also offer a one-month free trial.

What I like: It’s wonderful that so many high-quality Excel resources are available to choose from, depending on individual needs, preferences, and priorities.

21. eLearnExcel

eLearnExcel is a Microsoft Excel eLearning company. It’s also a product of the International Academy of Computer Training (IACT) — Ireland’s largest and most experienced IT Training company.

They offer eight Excel training courses, and seven of them provide relevant Excel certifications.

Check out some of their courses below:

• 15 Time-Saving Excel Tips You’ll Use Everyday
• Understand the Basics of Excel Step-by-Step
• Discover the must-know Excel Formulas and Functions
• How to analyze data in Excel to make better decisions
• Discover How to Make Beautiful Charts in Excel

If you complete all eight courses, quizzes, and the Excel Master Project, you’ll be awarded the Excel Master Diploma.

It‘s not a bad item to put on your resume — or on your business’s website, if multiple employees enroll in eLearnExcel’s courses as part of a business subscription.

Price

You can get all courses with any of their membership plans below:

• 14-day free trial
• $24 per month, paid monthly. Cancel anytime!
• $247 for one-year access
• $297 for two-year access
• $999 for lifetime access

What I like: I think it’s lovely that their courses are not only approved by Microsoft, but are also used by them.

Start Learning Excel Online

Whether you need to brush up your Excel skills quickly, or you want to learn Excel from scratch, I’ve shared the best ways to learn Excel online free of charge. I also added some paid resources that are well worth the money.

Personally, I can’t wait to dive into my favorites — I’m planning on taking the Excel for Marketers course from GoSkills and HubSpot Academy, the Spreadsheet Page, Exceljet, Contextures, Excel in an Hour, Trump Excel, and all the HubSpot Excel resources.

Once you’re ready, start with one or more of the free courses. In no time, you’ll be able to increase your productivity, expand your knowledge, and implement the power of Excel for your projects.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in March 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.