Rappers have always been great marketers. Their aggressive promotional techniques, such as the use of MySpace and other social media, have blazed the path for mainstream businesses. Regardless of musical tastes, entrepreneurs can learn a lot from the hyper-promotional world of rap. 

Currently, many rappers are utilizing user-generated content to great effect. While old-school corporations zealously guard their intellectual property, rappers often allow their music to be remixed, sampled and cut. A good example of this would be Jay-Z’s “The Black Album.” The “final” studio album from the legendary rapper got off to a great start, debuting at number one on Billboard and selling 463,000 units in its first week. Jay-Z also released an acappella version of “The Black Album” for the express purpose of it being used for remixes by DJs and fans. The resulting remixes and mashups include Kev Brown’s The Brown Album and Danger Mouse’s The Grey Album. While Jay-Z received no payments for these albums, they attracted massive amounts of attention to his music. His fans were able to personally engage with the music and were more likely to spread the word about him and buy his music in the future. 

Jay-Z’s user-generated initiative brings up another important rapper marketing element – partnerships. While business partnerships can be extremely lucrative, many entrepreneurs are reluctant to enter into them. Rappers, on the other hand, collaborate so often that it’s unusual to find a song that doesn’t feature at least one guest-rapper. Songs featuring five or more collaborators are not uncommon. And rappers constantly reference each other in their songs even when they don’t appear on the album. These plugs are freely given to label-mates, strategic partners and friends. It’s an entrepreneurial practice that allows rappers to be introduced to new audiences and assist one another in the climb to the top. 

One final area of marketing where rappers excel is repeating the message. Some studies suggest that people need to see or hear your marketing message up to seven times before they take action, making repetition a crucial key to success. Rap lyrics, often derided for their formulaic structure, are replete with self references. For example, if you listen to a Snoop Dogg album, you’ll constantly be reminded of his name throughout. If a friend were to join you halfway through a song, it wouldn’t take long for them to hear a clear reference to Snoop Dogg and know exactly what rapper you were listening to. By constantly providing their listeners with “brand” references, rappers use this form of promotion to the extreme. 

Even as marketing evolves in our social media-driven world, rappers continue to find innovative ways to reach new audiences. And the aggressive marketing seems to be working; while other genres of music falter due to file sharing and the sour economy, rap and hip/hop have maintained a steady sales and a loyal fanbase.

It’s likely that this title got your attention. While it may have effectively drawn you into the article, using the same techniques in the subject line of your next marketing email would be a bad idea. Why? Because using ALL CAPS and repeated exclamation points is a quick way to ensure that your email will be quarantined by spam blockers. Using the word “free” can be okay in moderation, as long as it isn’t ALL CAPS or paired with an exclamation point. Here are some other helpful tips to help you get the most out of the subject line of your next marketing email:

Read the newspaper for inspiration: Just as your email subject lines face a tight character limit, journalists must craft an attention-getting headline in a limited space. Read through your local paper to find effective headlines. Why do particular headlines catch your attention? How do they incorporate the highlights of the story? Answering these questions helps you take the best elements from the newspaper and apply it to your emails.

Read other emails for inspiration: Go through your inbox and look for the subject lines which catch your attention. More importantly, look through your spam folder for the subjects that catch your eye. Take note of the effective subject lines you receive on a daily basis and apply these same elements to your own work.

Use name recognition: If the people on your email list opted to receive your emails, remind them who you are in the subject line. Name recognition is one of the most powerful elements you can include because it separates you from the unsolicited content they are flooded with each day.

Be aware of spam filters: In order to reach your users, an email must pass through a series of spam filters. While you want to use catchy words in your subject line, avoid the elements that the filters search for. This includes ALL CAPS and multiple exclamation points!!! Subject lines with this kind of writing never look professional anyway, so the spam filters are mainly just picking up on amateurish efforts. It’s always a good idea to run your email through a spam checker before you send it, just to make sure there aren’t any potential problems.

Test it repeatedly: Before sending an email, conduct a subject line test. Come up with four different subject lines for your email and send these four different versions out to a small portion of your contact list. For example, if you have 5,000 names on your list, you could separate four groups of 50 names and send each group a different subject line. Wait at least a day and then analyze your statistics to find out which one got the best open rate. You may be surprised by what you see!

Many entrepreneurs face the challenge of balancing their home-based business with the demands of raising a family. Though this arrangement can provide its share of difficulties, it also presents opportunities to teach children the importance of work and get them involved in a positive way.

Start by gathering your family together to discuss the significance of your business. The experts from PMI Education suggest that you explain to your children that your business is how you earn money for their food, clothes and other essentials. Help them understand that the reason you work hard is because you love them. You can then ask them for ideas for ways that they can help contribute. For example, your children could help you clean your office or stuff mailers into envelopes.

If you have small children, it’s also important to establish clear rules for your work time. Set up your home office a room with a door that you can close, which sends them a clear signal that you are busy. Some entrepreneurs find it helpful to hang a picture or sign on the door to indicate to their youngsters that they are working. If a separate room with a door isn’t an option, you should consider using noise-cancelling headphones. In addition to helping you focus, they’ll provide a tangible sign to your family that you are busy with work.

By explaining to your children the purpose of your business, you teach them the value of a strong work ethic. And if they are old enough to help around the office, they can take pride in their work and feel that they are also contributing to the family.

Starting your own business is an exciting experience with many rewards. Entrepreneurship provides the freedom to set your own schedule and do things on your terms. Profits come to you rather than being diverted to a corporation and an endless line of bureaucracy. PMI Education knows that making the decision to start your own business is one of the most important things you will ever do in your professional career. The positive impact of this decision will be felt for the rest of your life.

The life of an entrepreneur also presents its own unique challenges. At a traditional office job, you can often receive a steady paycheck while giving moderate effort. Running your own business means that you and you alone are responsible for success. If you don’t get things done, no one else will. This increased responsibility is distasteful to some people and they are probably better off working a 9-5 job for a large corporation.

One thing that is important for every small business owner to have is a “why.” Corporate drones don’t need a larger reason for what they do. They get up each morning, go through their routine and collect a paycheck from someone they’ve never met. But you are an entrepreneur. You are the boss who decides how successful each day will be. And in order to take your business to the highest level, you need to have a purpose. A reason for why you invest yourself in your work.

The consultants from PMI Coaching suggest that you take a moment today to think about what is most important to you. Write down the five things you would most like to accomplish by owning your business. Now create a dream/vision board. To do this you’ll need a large sheet of paper, scissors and glue. Get a bunch of magazines and find images that show what you want in life. If travel is important, find a photo of the exact place you want to travel to. If family time is crucial, find photos of family activities that mean the most to you. Arrange these photos in a collage on the paper and in the middle put a great photo of yourself. This is your “why.” It will help you summon the motivation to get out of bed when you’re sick and work extra hours when necessary. It will help you measure your success and strive for improvement. Keep your dream/vision board in a convenient place and update it as your wants and needs evolve. By keeping your purpose in mind, you’ll find more joy and success in your work.

An important decision many entrepreneurs face is whether or not to hire employees. An article featured on Bloomberg Businessweek addresses this issue and offers valuable suggestions to help you know when to hire your first employee. The article calls the hiring decision “crucial” and the experts at Professional Marketing International agree that it is a critical decision for any enretpreneur. Here are some factors from the article you should consider before hiring your first employee.

1. Is it necessary? Waiting to hire an employee is a smart strategy because it allows you to get a clearer picture of exactly what your needs are. Because most startups have limited time and resources, it is important for you to make a careful decision. A rushed hire often results in problems down the road if the employee’s background and references weren’t checked. Conversely, some business owners regret not hiring an employee earlier in their business, so if you know it’s necessary, just be sure to make it a careful and thoughtful decision.
2. Is it possible? Evaluate your cash flow and have your accountant do a projection of revenue for the next several years. It’s not only a prospective employee’s salary you need to think about – other considerations include benefits, workers comp insurance, payroll tax reporting and more.
3. Are there alternatives? For business needs such as marketing, bookkeeping and customer service, outsourcing is a possible solution. Hiring an intern from a local college is another possibility. These part-time positions allow you to gauge your needs and come up with the best hiring plans.
4. How will they contribute? If your evaluations suggest that a full-time employee is a necessity, hire someone who can contribute in multiple ways. Look beyond the immediate job description and hire someone who can wear many hats; someone who can brainstorm with you and bring wide-reaching value.