SenderID and SPF may cause YOUR email, sent from Voodoo servers, to be rejected.  Please have your IT experts set up your mail (DNS) servers to authorize Voodoo’s mail server today.  You’ll be impressed at the results!

 

What is SPF?

 

SPF is an extension to Internet e-mail. It prevents unauthorized people from forging your e-mail address and/or those of your employees.  There is no central institution that enforces SPF, but the SPF Project is a great source of information about it. For SPF to work properly, your company’s email server will need a line or two of code added or modified. Otherwise, receiving ISPs may mistake you and your other Voodoo users for unauthorized senders.

 

If you send trackable email campaigns from your Voodoo account(s), anti-SPAM compliance requires you to install a Sender Policy Framework (SPF) record in your email domain settings.

SPF authorizes Voodoo’s mail server to send on your behalf and helps authenticate the validity of your mail to receiving Internet Service Providers (ISPs). As ISPs become more stringent in blocking SPAM, these settings are more important than ever. A missing or incorrect SPF record on your email domain may cause email sent from your Voodoo account(s) to bounce or be flagged.

Ask your email domain manager to add the line(s) of code explained below into the TXT record of your DNS settings. This helps everyone!

Your outgoing Voodoo email messages, and incoming support notifications may be sent from the following server host names:

server1.voodooviral.com
server2.voodoovideomarketing.com

 

How to setup your SPF records to authorize Voodoo servers

 

In most email domains, you will access your SPF records via a path such as this:

Manage Domain (or Domain Settings) > Manage DNS (or DNS Records) > Advanced > Edit DNS.

 

Example 1 — You have a Company Email Domain (non-Google or Microsoft)

 

Access the records under TXT > SPF. If you already have SPF setup, a typical record will look something like this (the ip4 addresses correspond to the ip4 addresses of your current email server):

 

v=spf1 ip4:208.65.144.0/21 ip4:208.81.64.0/22 include:mailserver.net –all

  

Action: Immediately following any ip4 addresses, add Voodoo’s server names (shown in bold), to complete your TXT record like this:

 

v=spf1 ip4:208.65.144.0/21 ip4:208.81.64.0/22 include:server1.voodooviral.com include:server2.voodoovideomarketing.com include:mailserver.net –all

 

 

Example 2 — You use a Google or Gmail back end for your Email Domain

 

Your current SPF record will probably include these items:

 

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all

 

Action: Immediately following any ip4 addresses, and before the final “include,” insert Voodoo’s domain hostnames like this:

 

v=spf1 include:server1.voodooviral.com include:server2.voodoovideomarketing.com include:_spf.google.com ~all

 

 

Example 3 — You use an Microsoft Outlook back end for your Email Domain

 

Your current SPF record will probably show these items:

 

v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com ~all

 

Action: Immediately following any ip4 addresses, and before the final “include,” insert Voodoo’s domain hostnames like this:

 

v=spf1 include:server1.voodooviral.com include:server2.voodoovideomarketing.com include:spf.protection.outlook.com ~all

 

 

IMPORTANT: Be sure to Save your revised SPF record!

 

You can test the “public-facing” SPF using the Query tool here:

http://www.kitterman.com/spf/validate.html

 

 

Finally, a word about Sender Reputation.  Voodoo prides itself on having among the absolute highest Sender Reputations of mass email senders.  

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A huge benefit of using Voodoo is that every video sent from Voodoo, or posted on social media, is automatically custom-branded with your company logo, colors, tag line, etc. Each recipient knows the video comes from you and your company, even when you're representing another vendor's product.

This custom-branding takes place on your Voodoo video frame (the header and footer that wraps around each video). Your frame puts you in the spotlight by branding every video in your library and directing all responses to back to you. 

When you came on board, it's likely that Voodoo's award-winning graphic designers customized your video header to feature your logo and company colors. But did you know you can design your own video frame?  

Voodoo's video frame consists of 2 sections: the header (Upper) and footer (Lower). The header is shown above the video, and the footer is directly below it. 




Video Frame Header
Most users feature their logo and tagline in the header.

Using our Photoshop (PSD) header template, you can customize the header however you like.

Video Frame Footer (Lower)
The footer is where your contact information is automatically displayed, including individual contact info and company information (i.e., company name, address and website address).
This contact information is dynamically displayed whenever the video link is clicked.  Your information is pulled directly from your Personal Settings. Note:  When you make changes to your Personal Settings, the changes affect the frame for all videos in your account. 

Use our Photoshop (PSD) footer template to modify the color of the divider line at the top of your footer. Some users place a logo bug or other graphic in the center of their footer, however, many users leave the entire area blank so there are no visual conflicts when the frame is viewed in any web browser on any device.

Template Files 
Here are Photoshop (PSD) template files for you to use to create your own header and footer:  

http://www.interactiveemailmessage.com/VBC/VideoBrandcaster-Header-Template.psd
http://www.interactiveemailmessage.com/VBC/VideoBrandcaster-Footer-Template.psd

These templates are pre-formatted to the correct size and resolution and include some sample frame designs for inspiration. Use these templates as a starting point, then make changes to reflect your company's unique brand personality. 

After creating your designs with the PSD files, export your header and footer (separately) in .jpg format. Use File > Export > Quick Export as JPG or File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy). We suggest JPG, Maximum Compression Quality, Quality 100.

When you have the files exported, email them to support@voodooviral.com referencing your username and we will take care of the rest. 

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Voodoo just created a new video tool to generate leads and increase sales through video marketing. Login now and you'll find 5 new Tech Upgrade teaser videos in your account.

These extra-short videos are specially designed for posting to social media and driving traffic to you and your website. Prospects who watch them quickly discover how costly it is to use old communications technology in today's customer-centric business environment. 

All 5 teasers are quick attention grabbers with an entertaining payoff — and they're all under 22 seconds long: 

Map vs GPS:  Old vs. New Business Technology (:15) Is Your Business Phone Costing or Making You $$$:  Importance of a Business Phone Upgrade for Profitability (:16) Don't Work Blind:  New Technology gives your the Insight to Earn More (:16) The Old Technology Time Bomb:  Old Phone Systems are Ready to Explode (:18)  Don't Let Someone Eat Your Lunch:  Business Competition requires Quick Response (:21)

Is Your Business Phone Costing or Making You $$$

You can post these as often as you like in your twitter, LinkedIn and/or Facebook feeds. Just grab a link from your Video Library, write a little something fun and post. The videos play in your customized frame with your logo and contact information, so all viewer response comes straight to YOU.

Twitter posts will get even more engagement if you also add a thumbnail to you post. We've created thumbnail images for each video and you can grab them here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/h57d1qii07h444e/AACDj2t9KAhrl6SxVTFHbJo-a?dl=0

For more information on posting to social media, and tracking the number of views your videos receive, check out our blog post:  Voodoo Feature #502 - How to Post Trackable, Personalized Videos on Your Social Media Accounts

These Tech Upgrade teasers are one more competitive advantage you get from Voodoo — and nowhere else. Now you can use super-short-form video in your social media to generate:

 Higher Click-Through Rates (CTR)
 Higher Engagement Rates
 Higher Conversion Rates

All 5 videos are ready to use right now! 

 

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Your security is important to us, so please note this quick system announcement: 

Because of some recent security updates to popular browsers, some saved bookmarks or favorites linking to our login page may be showing as unsecure. 

Please check the URL of any bookmarks or favorites you use to access the Voodoo login page. (The prefix may or may not be visible in your browser's URL bar, but you can right-click, or control-click on a Mac, to copy the link, then paste it to view the full address.  If you see the prefix http, that means the link is not secure, so you'll want to change to the secure prefix https:

http://www.voodooviral.com/Clients/login.aspx

Simply add an "S" to the http portion of the URL, so it appears as: 

https://www.voodooviral.com/Clients/login.aspx

And then save or replace the bookmark or favorite.

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2016 was an exciting year for Voodoo. We released many new features and loads of new content for our customers use in their campaigns. Here is a quick recap of our most popular changes and additions:

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Exclusive Voodoo Telecom Prospecting Videos

Your account gained value with new videos lovingly created by Voodoo's award-winning video production team. In 2016, we proudly announced 6 exclusive videos (+ companion email campaigns) to boost your VoIP, telecom and Unified Communications prospecting efforts.

All 6 videos are available in standard personal and Digital Business Card (DBC) frames. 
 

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Install Your Own YouTube Videos 

Voodoo Business Builder users now can choose any YouTube video, then frame it, share it and track it. Add any YouTube video to your Video Library, then use your branded, personalized Voodoo version for prospecting and customer nurturing.

You can even record a video on your smartphone, then instantly frame it with your logo and contact information. Click the image above to see how this feature works. 

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Thumbnail Images for High-Impact Social Posting 

To save time with your social posts and website galleries, we've created a standard set of images for our Exclusive Telecom Prospecting Videos. Use these images in your social media accounts to increase click-through rates.



Click here to access our dropbox folder and download the image thumbnails.

We've also created a set of thumbnail images for Mitel videos.  Click here to access these images. 


 

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Automatic Bounceback Handling

Voodoo implemented a new, vital, time-saving behind-the-scenes feature in all user accounts called Automatic Bounceback Handling. This essential feature allows you to:

• keep your lists cleaner
• improve deliverability rates
• protect your sender reputation
• save time!

This new feature keeps all bounced emails out of your personal inbox. It also helps keep your lists clean and gives you more accurate statistics on how your campaigns are performing. 

To learn more about Automatic Bounceback Handling, check out our blog post here. 
 

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We are now at work building out new features for 2017.  If there are features or improvements you'd like to see in Voodoo, please shoot us an email: support@voodooviral.com. 

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We've all witnessed the massive growth of social media. Has your business taken the plunge?  Social media can be a cost-effective way to promote and grow your business. But creating content to "feed the beast" of social networks can be overwhelming and time consuming. In this Voodoo QuickTip we talk about how to use your Voodoo custom-framed video content, along with images (that we now provide to you) to boost social media engagement and drive traffic to your website. 

Voodoo QuickTip #712: Thumbnail Images for Posting Voodoo Videos to Social Media and Websites 

As a Voodoo user, you can post links to your co-branded and personalized videos on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. This helps you build traffic, engagement, fans, connections and followers. You can see exactly how many people clicked through to watch from each post, and you're likely to be surprised at the high view rates.

Check out this Voodoo QuickTip on How to Post Trackable, Personalized Videos to Your Social Media Accounts.

Now that you know you can easily post a link to any video in your Video Library on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, let's talk about how (and why) to add still thumbnail images to your social posts. Adding an image is one of the best ways to increase engagement with social media followers (clicks, retweets, shares, replies, comments).

According to Twitter, Tweets with photos receive an average 35% boost in Retweets. That means driving more traffic to your content, and more potential prospects learning about the products and services your company offers. 

You can also leverage Voodoo videos by posting them on your company website. Adding video to your website can increase your SEO rankings, and drive more traffic to your site.  The most flexible way is to place a small thumbnail image from the video on your website.  Link the thumbnail to one of your Voodoo videos.  When visitors click-through, they'll see a full-size version of the video playing in your company's custom frame. 

Read more about posting videos to your website in this QuickTips blog post: Using Customized Video on Your Website. 

To help Voodoo users save time with social posts and website galleries, we've created a standard set of images for our Exclusive Telecom Prospecting Videos.  



Click here to access our dropbox folder and download the image thumbnails.

We've also created a set of thumbnail images for Mitel videos.  Click here to access these images. 



eVideo Launcher and Business Builder users, start posting Voodoo videos to your social media accounts and install them on your website using the images we've created for you.

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This is part 2 of our Using Voodoo for Funnel Prospecting series of QuickTips.  In this QuickTip, we will take a deeper look at using video to touch people during Phase 1 Pre-Sale of the customer lifecycle - specifically the Consideration and Decision stage at the middle and bottom of funnel. 

As mentioned in our last QuickTip, the Pre-Sale Funnel can be divided into the following stages: 

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