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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Some email recipients who subscribe to Microsoft Office 365’s Advanced Threat Protection service, a/k/a ATP, report encountering a warning message upon clicking Trackable links in email sent from Voodoo accounts.

Warning Messages, Office 365, Office 365 ATP, Advanced Threat Protection

Social media can be an effective way for you to generate more traffic and attract more prospects. But managing all the content across different the different social media networks can be time-consuming, and it can be difficult to keep consistent with posting content. 

Some of our users log into each separate network (i.e. Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+) individually and post content including Voodoo videos. This can work for some businesses, especially if you are used to logging into each network daily.  But most people get busy and stop sharing content on a consistent basis.  
 
There are tools available for social media to help you stay organized and consistently post to multiple networks. Social media management tools can assist you with curating, scheduling and reposting content on a daily basis across all the different networks. You can login and schedule all of your posts out for a month (or any timeframe). You can quickly share your posts across different networks on different days and times.  

Of course, there are many tools available.  If you simply google social media management tools you will see many different options. Some of these options are even free and some have upgraded features that are only a few dollars a month. I'm just going to talk about two of the options available for you, but I highly suggest reviewing much more to determine which one will best meet your needs. 

Hootsuite
Hootsuite is used my many Voodoo clients. You can use Hootsuite to follow other sources on social media, allowing you to easily share content across your networks. You can also post your own original content, including videos from Voodoo. It allows you to schedule your posts and also search across the different networks. 

Buffer
Buffer is another popular tool used by many Voodoo clients. Buffer is very similar to Hootsuite, but it also has an auto-scheduling feature that will auto-schedule your posts for optimal times. It also has a re-buffer feature allowing you to repost your most popular content. 

If you want to be more active on social media, we highly suggest using a social media management tool.

Resources for you to start learning more about these tools:  

From Social Media Examiner, 5 Social Media Management Tools to Save Time:  
https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/5-social-media-management-tools-to-save-time/

Voodoo QuickTip Blog Posts: 
Best Practices for Posting to LinkedIn
http://www.voodooviral.com/Tips/post/Best-Practices-for-Posting-to-LinkedIn.aspx

Best Practices for Posting to Twitter
http://www.voodooviral.com/Tips/post/Best-Practices-for-Posting-to-Twitter.aspx

New Thumbnail Images for Posting Voodoo Videos to Social Media 
http://www.voodooviral.com/Tips/post/Best-Practices-for-Posting-to-Twitter.aspx

5 New Tech Upgrade Video Teasers 
http://www.voodooviral.com/Tips/post/5-new-Tech-Upgrade-Teaser-Videos-now-in-your-Voodoo-account.aspx

Build Campaigns, Business Builder, Campaign Manager, Quick Tip, Social Media, twitter, Voodoo Video Brandcaster, Voodoo Video Club social media

If you have the type of Voodoo account that doesn't use our email engine and tracking tools, how can you email and track video content from your video library?

MailChimp is one way to consider. It's an email marketing service provider that offers free accounts up to 2,000 contacts. In this QuickTip, I'll walk you through creating an email in MailChimp linked to a video in your Voodoo account.

Create an Email in MailChimp
The first step is to create an email template in MailChimp.  Login to your MailChimp account. Click Create Campaign > Create an Email. Name your campaign. Then choose the list of contacts you want to receive your email and click Next. 

Add a subject line and the additional details for the campaign. The options for Track opens and Track clicks will automatically be selected — keep those options enabled and click Next. 

Next, you will create your email. Select a template and then add your content. The best way to link to a video in Voodoo is to insert a thumbnail image of the video, and then link the thumbnail to your video's unique URL from Voodoo. 

In this example, the image of the video is "clickable", i.e. link to the video's URL address. I've also included a link (to the same video) in the body text of the email.  To help you save time creating email content, social posts and website galleries, we offer a free set of thumbnail 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 free thumbnail images for Mitel videos. Click here to access these images.

Where do I get t URL for linking? We recommend using the email URL from your Voodoo Video Library. To find this URL, login to Voodoo and select the video you want to send in your email. Click the Share button, select the yellow Email icon. Your default email client will open with content pre-populated. Simply copy the complete URL address from the email body text and paste it as the "link to" URL for your MailChimp email.   Video Link-Click Tracking MailChimp will provide your detailed reporting and click tracking for the individuals who click your video link. Video Brandcaster and Voodoo Video Club users can also check their Statistics to confirm the total number of clicks to the video's URL.

When a recipient clicks a link with your Email URL, it is tallied in your Voodoo Email clicks. This allows you to compare the volume of clicks with your other social marketing tactics, e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.  Don't want to utilize Voodoo's Email click stats? Then simply click View for your chosen Voodoo video, and copy the resulting URL from your browser's URL bar. Link that address to the thumbnail in your MailChimp template.

Sending Your Email 
Once you have made all your edits to your email template, click Next. Be sure to save and test your email. Use the Preview and Test menu option to preview your message and send yourself a test to review how the email will look in most inboxes.  When you are ready, click Send or Schedule. 

MailChimp Standard Reporting
MailChimp allows you to review individual campaign reports. Access Reports using the Reports menu. 



MailChimp Link Click Tracking
The reporting in MailChimp will also include the email address of who clicked the link. You can use this list to follow up with contacts who viewed your video. (Note: Unlike Voodoo accounts with email and video click tracking, MailChimp does NOT send Video View notifications. You will need to login to MailChimp and access your reports to see this information.)   

Voodoo Video Brandcaster, Voodoo Video Club mailchimp

Login to your Account & Billing area by clicking here. (Bookmark the page on all your devices for easy access wherever and whenever you want.)

Your Account Email Address is permanent:

Each Voodoo Video Club account requires a unique Account Email Address, which is also your Login email address. Your Account Email Address cannot be changed and can only be assigned to one account.

Note: Your Video Frame Email Address may be changed.

After logging in to your Voodoo application, you can change the email that is displayed in the video frame. Visit your Personal Settings at the upper right, make changes and Save. (This will not affect your Account (login and billing) email address. 

Once your account status is authenticated, you'll see a red button to access your Voodoo Video Club app and personal Video Library.

Lost Your Voodoo Video Club Account Login Info? 

If you forget your Account Email or password, attempt to access your account by clicking here. Then click the Lost your password? link (see photo below). Enter your Account Email Address — the one you used to sign up for Voodoo Video Club.

[Remember: your original signup address (“Account Email Address”) may be different from the one you've entered in the Personal Settings area and which appears publicly in the footer of your branded video frame.]

Our system will send you an email from support@voodoovideomarketing.com with instructions to reset your password and gain access to your account.

If you don’t receive it within a few minutes, follow these steps:

1) Check your spam or junk folder.

2) Add support@voodoovideomarketing.com to your safe sender list.

Important Note:  Remember, you cannot change your username. The user name you signed up with is your permanent account identity for login authentication and cannot be changed.

Update Email or Contact Information on your Video Frame

While you cannot change the username (your Account Email Address) that you use to login with, you CAN change the email and contact information displayed on your video frame.

To do so, make sure you are fully logged into the Video Library of your Voodoo Video Club app. Select Personal Settings (the little person icon near the upper right).

A panel opens allowing you change the information that appears publicly in your video frame footer. Want to hide something, like your phone number? Simply put a dot (.) in any field you'd like to hide. (To hide your address, please contact Voodoo support.)

Remember to click Save before exiting Personal Settings. These changes are universal: the footer for all your videos will instantly reflect your new settings.

Voodoo Video Brandcaster, Voodoo Video Club Login help, change my video frame, update contact info

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. 

Business Builder, eVideo Launcher, Quick Tip, Voodoo Video Club, Voodoo Video Brandcaster custom, branding, video frame

LinkedIn is a social networking site aimed specifically at the business community. It's the world's larget professional networking with hundreds of millions of members. If you want to expand your business' reach and connect with prospects and customers, LinkedIn is a great choice.

This QuickTip covers best practices for posting Voodoo content to LinkedIn. FYI — there are many online resources about the best ways to use LinkedIn, but here are some suggestions for Voodoo users: 

What to Post
Unlike Twitter, your posts on LinkedIn can contain up to 1300 characters or five lines of text. But like Twitter, don't make your posts all about you. The content you share should at least 2/3 helpful content and no more than 1/3 promotional content. It's easy to find or "curate" helpful content to share with your followers. Tools like Buzzsumo can help identify the most popular content by topic. 

Be Consistent 
Post frequently and consistently. We recommend using a social posting tool like Hootsuite or Buffer which allow you to post to multiple social media feeds simultaneously and schedule your posts in advance. Buffer offers a "rebuffer" feature where you can re-post past content with a single click.

Best Times to Post
According to SproutSocial, the best times to post on LinkedIn: 

• Tuesday through Thursday are the most recommended days to post
• Noon and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday are the most optimal times to post
• Least optimal posting times include every day from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Least optimal posting days include Saturday and Sunday
• Safe to post 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays

Share Videos Our most important tip is to share high quality content — content your connections will find helpful to their business success. It's okay to post some promotional content aimed at new prospects. Voodoo's exclusive prospecting videos are ideal for this purpose, particularly the Tech Upgrade teaser videos now available in Voodoo telecom accounts.

These  extra-short videos are specially designed for posting to social media and driving traffic to you and your website. The videos are about 2/3 informational and 1/3 promotional in and of themselves, so they're generally perceived as a "soft sell" by people who watch them. Your prospects (and existing customers) quickly discover how costly it is to use old communications technology in today's customer-centric business environment.

Tracking the Number of Click-Throughs

Want to track how many people watch the videos you post on LinkedIn and other social networking services?  It's easy. Just QuickSend yourself a Voodoo campaign and create your post using the video link it generates. Learn how with Voodoo Feature #502 - How to Post Trackable, Personalized Videos on Your Social Media Accounts.

What are you waiting for? Login to your Voodoo account and review your video library for what you'd like to use on LinkedIn. There is a lot of engaging content in your Voodoo account and unlimited ways to utilize it on social media.

Build Campaigns, Quick Tip, Social Media social media, LinkedIn