What’s Trending in Marketing of March 2024

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Step right into our March 2024 of “What’s Trending,” your gateway to the latest in marketing trends and insights. Stay informed and ahead of the game with our collection of marketing trends and reports for the 2024 year.

Noteworthy Marketing Trends and News

Google’s Update and Latest Changes

In its ongoing quest to enhance user experience and maintain the integrity of its search platform, Google unveiled an important core update in March 2024. This update marks a significant shift in the way Google evaluates content quality and addresses spam across the vast expanse of the internet. In this update lies an effort to minimize the presence of “unhelpful” content in search results. By refining its criteria for assessing content relevance and usefulness, Google aims to ensure that users are presented with the most valuable information in responses. This not only enhances the overall quality of search results but also raises the bar for content creators, compelling them to produce more substantive and engaging material.

These changes mean marketers and SEO experts need to rethink how they do things online. As Google updates its algorithms, they have to update their methods to make sure their content gets seen. By keeping up with these changes and adjusting their strategies, marketers can stay successful in the fast-paced online world. Read more here.

AI in Online Shopping

To meet consumer expectations, AI has a huge impact in online shopping now. IBM’s research found that more shoppers want AI help when they’re shopping. They want it to help them find products, solve problems, and get deals. But, even though companies want to give them this kind of help, what they offer often isn’t good enough, which makes shoppers unhappy. Still, shoppers like the idea of using AI, especially things like virtual assistants and features that use augmented reality.

Making AI shopping help work well means using customer data responsibly to give people personalized help that matches what they like. Also, since shoppers want better online and in-store experiences, AI is becoming really important for stores. Brands need to focus on using AI to make shopping more fun for customers while also making sure their privacy is protected and that everything is easy to use, no matter where they’re shopping. Read more here.

Automated Pausing in Ad Groups

Google Ads has recently implemented a significant update that introduces automated pausing of ad groups exhibiting low activity. This move aims to streamline budget efficiency for advertisers by redirecting resources towards more productive campaigns and eliminating wasteful spending on underperforming ad groups. One of the key advantages of automated pausing is its ability to optimize budget allocation in real-time. By automatically identifying and pausing ad groups with minimal activity, advertisers can prevent unnecessary expenditure on campaigns that fail to yield desired results. This proactive approach to budget management enables advertisers to allocate resources more effectively, maximizing the return on investment (ROI) from their advertising efforts. Read more here.

Learning Marketing Trends and Ideas

Tailoring The B2B Sales Funnel To Meet Your Needs

The B2B sales funnel typically consists of three main stages: awareness, consideration, and decision. However, it’s not rigid and can be adjusted to fit specific business needs while still incorporating elements of these stages. By tailoring the sales funnel, businesses can more effectively identify where customers are in their journey and determine appropriate actions.

For instance, a modified B2B sales funnel may include five stages:

  1. Lead Generation: Introducing leads to the company and establishing authority through content and online presence.
  2. Lead Nurturing: Continuing to educate leads about the company and their pain points, while qualifying them based on their level of interest and need.
  3. Initial Meeting: Engaging directly with qualified prospects through various interactions like discovery calls or product demonstrations to build trust and establish a relationship.
  4. Closing: Finalizing the deal and securing commitment from the prospect to do business with the company.
  5. Retention: Nurturing the relationship with customers after the sale to ensure continued business and encourage referrals, thus enhancing customer retention and attracting new leads through referrals.

This modified funnel retains elements of the standard three stages while providing a more tailored approach to understanding customer needs and journey progression. Read more here.

Modern Logo Design Trends of 2024

In branding, a compelling logo is crucial for creating a lasting impression and distinguishing your brand. Modern logo designs are essential for crafting a memorable brand image in today’s digital age. Trends in logo design include minimalist designs, bold typography, handmade elements, and dynamic logos adaptable to different platforms. Handcrafted and calligraphic logos offer authenticity and uniqueness, standing out in a digital world. While AI-generated logos may lack originality and understanding of brand values, professional expertise ensures a logo reflects the brand’s ethos effectively. When designing a logo, prioritize simplicity, versatility, and alignment with brand values. Embracing modernity in branding with a well-designed logo enhances brand awareness and loyalty. Collaborating with a professional designer is a strategic investment in creating a logo that captures attention and resonates with your audience. Read more here.

Using Hashtags on LinkedIn

Using hashtags on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook helps users expand their audience beyond their followers. Hashtags categorize content with relevant keywords, making it visible to users searching for those terms. While hashtags are often seen as casual, they hold value on professional platforms like LinkedIn. Here are ten tips for using hashtags effectively on LinkedIn:

  1. Follow LinkedIn’s hashtag rules and limit the number of hashtags used.
  2. Follow relevant hashtags to monitor conversations and discover content ideas.
  3. Research industry trends and competitor content for hashtag inspiration.
  4. Create a company hashtag to strengthen brand identity.
  5. Utilize LinkedIn’s suggested hashtags feature.
  6. Use hashtags in comments as well as in posts to increase visibility.
  7. Balance niche and popular hashtags for broad and targeted reach.
  8. Incorporate location-based hashtags to target specific audiences.
  9. Utilize event hashtags to highlight involvement in industry events.
  10. Reuse effective hashtags from successful posts to maintain engagement.

Using hashtags on LinkedIn can attract more leads and engage clients and prospects effectively. Incorporating hashtags into posts can enhance visibility and encourage interaction, potentially leading to successful marketing campaigns. Read more here.

Recent Marketing Trends, Reports, and Updates

Blog Content Ideas

In March 2024, content marketers have a range of creative options beyond the typical themes of St. Patrick’s Day and college basketball. Instead, they can explore topics such as National Puppy Day, alternative “March Madness” activities, the transition to daylight saving time, spring fitness, and National Craft Month. These ideas offer opportunities to engage audiences with fun, informative, and helpful content related to various products and industries. For instance, content around National Puppy Day can appeal to pet lovers, while articles on adjusting to daylight saving time can provide practical tips relevant to different lifestyles. Similarly, focusing on spring fitness or National Craft Month allows marketers to offer valuable assistance and insights to their audience while promoting their products in a more organic and engaging way. Read more here.

Profitable E-Commerce Ideas

Several e-commerce business ideas cater to various niches and interests, offering opportunities for entrepreneurs. These include selling homemade pet treats, starting an educational platform, crafting handmade toys, and offering eco-friendly baby toiletries. Additionally, flipping thrifted goods, selling specialty foods, dessert boxes, brand-name fashion reselling, and online plant sales are popular options. Collectibles and natural cosmetic products present profitable ventures as well, along with home decor items like candles, rugs, and bedding. Each idea requires thorough research, compliance with regulations, and strategic marketing to ensure success in the competitive e-commerce landscape. Read more here. 

AI in Writing

AI-aided writing, editing, and research tools, including ChatGPT, Google’s Bard, Grammarly, and others, have significantly advanced, making them invaluable for copywriters in tasks like brainstorming, research, outlining, and proofreading. While fears of AI taking over copywriting jobs persist, it’s unlikely to replace human writers entirely, as AI still frequently provides misleading information, termed “AI hallucination.” Despite its advancements, double-checking AI-generated content remains crucial to avoid errors. Read more here.

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Types Of Advertisement Opportunities For Popular Streaming Services

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For years, the only way to reach audiences was through traditional types of advertisement such as print, TV, and radio. While these types of advertisement methods are still available, new methods of reaching your audience have opened up online; for example, streaming platforms. If you haven’t looked into advertising on a streaming services/platform, then you should.

Advertising on Streaming Services/Platforms

Streaming services/platforms, such as Netflix or Spotify, are like the online versions of radio and TV. The only difference being everything is available on demand. Essentially, the programming is more customizable. Which allows users to create a more personal experience in regards to what they listen to and what they watch.

Therefore, streaming platforms have more data available when it comes to the individual user and their watching or listening behaviors. While traditional TV and radio is limited to the number of people watching or listening to any given program. It means that advertisers will be able to leverage their buyer persona information to more effectively reach their target audience with different types of advertisement methods using streaming services/platforms.

Because of the nature of streaming, advertisers often receive more exposure as well. For example, instead of running an ad on a show that airs once a week, you can run an ad on a show that can be streamed at any time. Since many consumers binge-watch their shows, you can gain massive amounts of exposure. All the while, staying at the top of mind by advertising throughout an entire season or series of a show. You’ll also be able to target more niche shows, podcasts or musicians that you know your specific target audience is more likely to be engaged with.

Learn More:3 Ways To Use Targeted Marketing To Reach Qualified Prospects

The following are some of the different types of advertisement options available on some of the more popular streaming channels:

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is YouTube’s attempt to develop their own content streaming platform/service. This stream provides viewers with 50 live TV channels for a monthly fee. They’ve also made some innovations in regards to their different types of advertising options. For example, you can now target your ads to viewers that watch most of theirTV online (also known as cord-cutters). You’ll also be able to use their DoubleClick Bid Manager. DoubleClick Bid Manager specifically targets viewers who are watching YouTube TV on their TV screens. This allows you to tailor different types of advertisements based on the environment in which they will be shown.

Hulu

Hulu is a video streaming platform with over 17 million subscribers. It is unique as it offers multiple ways to target your audience, and has numerous customization options. For example, their Targeted Blitz ability allows you to target by demographics, geographic area, genre, content length and more. Whereas Splash allows you to intercept almost every unique viewer on a single day. Additionally, you can align your brand with episodes of specific shows. Hulu will even help hand-pick shows based on thematic relevance to your brand.

Spotify

Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services/platforms on the planet. As of January 2018, Spotify boasted 70 million paying subscribers. However, there are more than 157 million active users since the service is free with advertising. Besides running targeted audio-only ads, there are plenty of other advertising opportunities available on the platform. These include podcast partnerships, sponsored playlists, and more.

Pandora

Pandora‘s streaming platform is based on being able to create personalized radio stations. Roughly 78 million people listen to Pandora every month. Pandora allows users to customize their listening experience, giving them access to extremely valuable data. This data can then become leverage to target your audience. Pandora also only serves one ad at a time, which means your ad won’t get buried under a sea of running advertisements.

Google Play Music

Google Play Music is another popular music streaming platform that boasts access to more than 30 million songs. Their advertising platform provides access to both Lightbox ads and TrueView video ads; both of which are mobile-optimized and easy to set up. You will be able to use keywords, remarketing, and affinity audiences in order to target your audience at the right time. Google Music Play allows the use of Google AdWords to set up marketing campaigns.

DirecTV Now

DirecTV is a streaming service that provides users access to more than 25,000 on demand shows and movies. They currently have slightly over 20 million subscribers. DirectTV allows you to run your ads on the most popular shows, and on demographically targeted networks. You can also, lock into marquee programmings (such as season premieres and finales), and reach your audience across multiple devices. You can even run ads that viewers can interact with directly on their screens.

These streaming services/platforms have enormous audiences and can provide you with a great chance to boost your brand awareness. Additionally, they offer a variety of different types of advertisement options to help fit your brand’s specific needs.

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Five Reasons To Hire An Advertising Agency Versus Staffing In-House

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Marketing and advertising are essential for the success of any business. As your company grows, you will eventually be faced with the difficult decision of whether to build your own marketing group or to outsource to an advertising agency. Here are five benefits to hiring a full-service advertising agency. Read more

Beyond Pixels: Unconventional Non-Digital Marketing Ideas to Elevate Your Brand

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In a world dominated by digital marketing, it’s easy to overlook non-digital strategies. While online platforms offer incredible reach and targeting options, there’s something uniquely effective about tangible, real-world interactions. In this article, we’ll explore some unconventional non-digital marketing ideas to boost your brand without relying on screens and algorithms. 

Non-Digital Marketing That Creates Direct Interaction:

Handwritten Thank You Notes:
These days most communication is digital, receiving a handwritten note can be a delightful surprise. Send personalized thank you notes to customers, partners, or supporters to show genuine appreciation. 

Host Workshops or Classes:
Share your expertise by hosting workshops, classes, or seminars related to your industry. This positions your brand as an authority and creates opportunities for in-person connections with potential customers. Home Depot does a great job at this by hosting free workshops that educate and bring visitors out to their stores. 

Pop-Up Shops or Experiences:
Set up temporary retail spaces or experiential installations in high-traffic areas. This allows you to directly engage with potential customers and create a memorable brand experience. IKEA did this by creating fun pop-up stores. Even if your brand isn’t retail, consider creating a simple pop-up tent experience. It’s a good way to bring an experience closer to potential customers. 

Vehicle Branding:
Turn your company vehicles into moving billboards by incorporating your brand’s logo, colors, and messaging. This not only advertises your brand, but also adds a professional touch to your business operations. If you don’t have the budget for a full vehicle wrap, displaying your brands website url or a QR code in the window is a good way to bring awareness to your brand. 

Non-Digital Marketing That Increase Brand Visibility

Branded Merchandise:
Create custom-branded merchandise like apparel, mugs, or tote bags that people can use in their everyday lives. This not only provides value to your audience, but also turns them into walking advertisements for your brand. A word of caution: It’s easy to want to order all the same things other companies do, like can koozies, pens, etc. Really think about what branded items will really parallel your brand. Also, cheap is not the best approach as well. Getting one premium item vs many less expensive items can make a big impression.  

Read more about branding: The Power of Story Branding

Unique Packaging and Presentation:
Your product’s packaging is an often overlooked marketing opportunity. Consider creating distinctive, eye-catching packaging that sets your brand apart on the shelves and leaves a lasting impression. This past Halloween consumers were bombard with custom packages and flavors, all appealing to the emotion that coincides with the holiday. 

Sponsorship and Partnerships:
Forge strategic partnerships with other businesses or events that align with your brand values. This could involve sponsoring local sports teams, community events, or collaborating with influencers in your industry. Additionally, more brands are embracing the use of influencers because they already have an audience and they create the content using your brand. 

Unconventional Non-digital ideas

Guerilla Marketing:
Guerrilla marketing involves unconventional and often surprise tactics to grab the attention of potential customers. This could include things like flash mobs, street art, or unexpected pop-up events. It’s a bold way to create memorable brand experiences. 

Street Art and Murals:
Commissioning local artists to create street art or murals that incorporate your brand can be a visually striking way to engage with the community and generate buzz around your products or services. 

While digital marketing remains a powerful tool, there’s a world of untapped potential in non-digital strategies. Implementing these creative ideas can help your brand break through the noise and establish a meaningful connection with your audience in a tangible, memorable way. By thinking outside of digital, you’ll not only differentiate your brand but also create experiences that resonate with your customers on a deeper level. 

 

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Optimizing Your Advertising Budget: 5 Essential Factors for Success

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The media landscape is constantly changing. New technologies and trends are emerging rapidly and existing platforms continue to evolve, providing more ways to spend your advertising budget. Today’s media plan looks far different than even last year, with more media channels, more devices, and even more opportunities to connect with shoppers. How do you find the most effective balance with an advertising budget and media plan that make sense now? Read more

Choosing Your Advertising Agency Partnership: Key Considerations for Success

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Selecting the right advertising agency can significantly influence the success of your marketing endeavors. These agencies possess exclusive proficiency, ensure cost-effectiveness, facilitate scalability, deliver industry insights, and produce quantifiable outcomes. Consequently, forging an advertising agency partnership can enable you to efficiently engage your intended audience, foster brand recognition, and generate sales. Nonetheless, with numerous agencies available, ensuring the most suitable agency partnerships for your business can be a daunting task.

In this article, we will delve into essential markers to consider when choosing an advertising agency that aligns seamlessly with your business objectives:

1. Location

When choosing an advertising agency, you should deliberate on its geographical location and relevance to your target market. While numerous agencies can operate remotely or cater to a global clientele, opting for an agency with a physical presence in your target market holds certain advantages. Firstly, a local agency exhibits an enhanced understanding of regional market dynamics, consumer behavior, and cultural subtleties. They can effectively utilize their local expertise to craft advertising campaigns that deeply resonate with your intended audience’s specific preferences and needs.

Additionally, a nearby agency allows for easier and more efficient collaboration. Engaging in in-person meetings and conducting on-site visits can foster a more profound comprehension of your business and cultivate robust collaborative partnerships. Such interactions allow the agency to immerse themselves in your brand’s ecosystem, acquiring firsthand familiarity with your offerings and effectively harmonizing their creative and strategic endeavors with your overarching goals.

Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that geographical proximity is not always a decisive factor, particularly in the current digital era. With advanced communication tools and technologies, agencies can effectively collaborate and deliver results regardless of their location. It ultimately depends on the nature of your business, target market, and the level of personal interaction and local knowledge you prioritize.

2. Expertise and Industry Knowledge

While evaluating prospective agency partnerships, thoroughly gauge their industry-specific experience and proficiency. Seek out agencies that possess a proven track record of accomplishments in collaborating with businesses like yours. Their expertise should extend to a comprehensive understanding of your target audience, prevailing market trends, and competitive landscape.

An agency equipped with extensive knowledge will contribute invaluable perspectives and aid in formulating customized advertising strategies that align with your unique objectives. Moreover, evaluate the agency’s proficiency across diverse advertising channels, encompassing digital, print, television, radio, and outdoor platforms.

3. Track Record and Portfolio

Review the agency’s track record and portfolio of past work. Reviewing the agency’s track record and portfolio allows you to assess their past performance and success. Request case studies or examples of campaigns they have executed for similar clients. Pay careful attention to the outcomes they have attained, including increased brand visibility, amplified conversions, or enhanced sales figures. By examining their portfolio, you can gain insights into their creativity, strategic acumen, and capacity to deliver results that harmonize with your objectives.

4. Range of Services

Take into account the breadth of services provided by the advertising agency and assess their compatibility with your marketing requirements. Certain agencies specialize in distinct domains, such as digital advertising, social media marketing, content creation, or traditional media buying. Evaluate your specific needs and ascertain that the agency can deliver a comprehensive range of services to fulfill your objectives. Opting for a full-service agency can guarantee a holistic approach to your marketing endeavors and maintain consistency across diverse channels.

5. Communication and Collaboration

Effective communication and collaboration are key to a successful agency partnerships. Evaluate their communication style and responsiveness during the evaluation process. Are they attentive to your ideas and concerns? Do they actively seek your input and provide feedback? Clear and open lines of communication will facilitate a productive working relationship and ensure that your objectives and feedback are understood and incorporated into the campaigns.

6. Creativity and Innovation

Creativity and innovation are crucial elements in successful advertising campaigns. Look for agencies that demonstrate a track record of creativity and innovative thinking in their work. Review their previous campaigns to gauge their ability to come up with original and impactful ideas. A creative agency will bring fresh perspectives and unique concepts to your campaigns, helping your brand stand out and capture the attention of your target audience.

7. Budget and Costs

Consider your budget and the agency’s pricing structure. Different agencies may have various fee structures, such as hourly rates, retainer fees, or project-based pricing. Have an open discussion about your budget constraints and ensure that the agency can deliver the desired results within your financial parameters. While it’s important to find a cost-effective solution, remember that quality and expertise should not be compromised solely based on cost.

8. Client References and Reviews

Gather client references or seek out reviews and testimonials from previous clients. By doing so, you can obtain invaluable insights into the agency’s standing, level of professionalism, and client contentment. Connect with present or past clients to gather firsthand insights into their experiences collaborating with the agency. Inquire about their satisfaction levels, the agency’s adherence to deadlines, and their overall impression of the agency’s performance. Client feedback serves as a valuable resource for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the agency’s capabilities, strengths, and areas for improvement.

9. Cultural Fit

Consider the cultural fit between your company and the advertising agency. Evaluate their values, work ethics, and company culture to ensure compatibility. A strong cultural fit will foster a harmonious and collaborative working environment. Establishing a shared understanding and synergy between the agency and your brand’s vision, values, and target audience facilitates the creation of campaigns that authentically embody your brand’s identity and strike a chord with your audience.

Bottom Line

Partnering with the right advertising agency carries immense weight in determining the success of your marketing efforts. By meticulously assessing these pivotal elements, you can make a well-informed decision when selecting the advertising agency that best aligns with your business.

Remember to consider the agency’s expertise, track record, range of services, communication style, creativity, budget, client references, and cultural fit to ensure a successful and productive partnership.

 

 

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What’s Trending In Marketing For August 2023

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Hello and welcome to our August 2023 edition of “What’s Trending,” where we bring you the most relevant marketing news and insights. This month, we dive into the revival of an infamous fast food mascot and explore current trends to watch out for in the summer of 2023. Stay informed and ahead of the game with our curated collection of marketing updates and reports.

Noteworthy Marketing News

 

Quiznos eyes comeback as they bring back Spongmonkeys mascots. 

In a new ad campaign from the famed sub sandwich company plans to bring back the creepy corporate mascots, the Spongmonkeys. After years of decline and a 2014 bankruptcy, Quiznos is making a comeback by franchising new locations. The quirky rodent-like characters aim to revive the brand’s popularity. With just over 150 locations left, Quiznos is determined to regain its place in the restaurant industry and attract customers with the nostalgic return of the Spongmonkeys. Read more here. 

Twitter loses almost half of advertising revenue since Elon Musk takeover.

Since Elon Musk’s $44bn acquisition of Twitter in October, the platform has faced a substantial 50% drop in advertising revenue. The company’s anticipated sales growth in June did not materialize, though July showed some promise. Musk’s cost-cutting measures, including laying off about half of Twitter’s staff, aim to address the platform’s struggles. Meanwhile, rival app Threads has gained traction with an estimated 150 million users, while Twitter grapples with heavy debt and negative cash flow. Despite challenges, Musk aims to turn the platform around. Linda Yaccarino, the new CEO, emphasizes video, creator, and commerce partnerships to boost ad sales. However, the road to recovery may be prolonged due to pre-Musk revenue declines and competition. Read more here.

Netflix scraps low-tier ad free plan.

Netflix’s ad-free $9.99/month basic plan is being discontinued in the US and UK, impacting both new and returning members. However, existing users have the option to keep their current plan until they decide to cancel. Alongside this move, Netflix is introducing a new $7/month plan with commercials. This decision is part of the company’s strategy to diversify its revenue streams and remain competitive in the rapidly evolving streaming market. Notably, Netflix’s recent emphasis on its ad-supported tier has yielded positive results, attracting nearly 5 million monthly users and creating an enticing opportunity for advertisers. Read more here.

Improving Your Marketing Program 

 

Core Difference Between Buyer Journey vs. Customer Journey.

Discover the core difference between the buyer journey and the customer journey in this insightful article. Uncover the stages consumers go through before making a purchase decision and how businesses can nurture relationships post-purchase to build brand loyalty and create brand ambassadors. Learn valuable strategies to engage customers and ensure the long-term success of your business. Don’t miss out on these essential insights! Click here to read the full article.

The Importance Of Lead Generation Content Marketing.

Learn the power of lead generation content marketing in boosting your business growth and attracting potential customers. Discover how to create compelling content that converts prospects into loyal leads, standing out from tough competition. Quality content with specific purposes and formats, along with consistent publication, helps build trust and credibility with your audience. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your company’s online presence. For a consultation, visit the link below and take the first step towards a successful content marketing strategy. Click here to read more.

8 Reasons to Invest in OTT Marketing.

Discover the top 8 reasons to invest in OTT marketing. With close to 200 million streaming viewers expected in the next few years, OTT advertising reaches a massive audience. Target your audience more effectively using GPS and behavioral data. Unlike traditional TV ads, people engaged in streaming content are more likely to watch entire ads. Personalized OTT ads improve engagement and yield better data on viewers. Flexible campaigns allow real-time adjustments for improved results, and A/B testing helps fine-tune your strategy. Paying for ad views, OTT ads offer a cost-effective and high ROI approach to complement your inbound marketing efforts. Read more here. 

Recent Marketing Reports, Updates, and Trends

 

As we enter the peak of summer ’23, the advertising realm is abuzz with thrilling trends. Artificial intelligence continues to transform content creation with innovative and easy to use tools such as, chatGPT and Jasper.  Among Gen Z, Instagram Reels reigns supreme as the favored social medium, offering brands an avenue to showcase authenticity and engage viewers. Short-form videos dominate summer marketing campaigns, while Influencers maintain their impactful role in fostering genuine connections. These are just a few of the key trends shaping the industry this season. To discover more about these trends and beyond, explore the full article here.

How does ‘Estimated read time’ in your meta description impact SEO?

In a recent poll by Search Pilot, the impact of adding “estimated read time” to meta descriptions was examined. While many believed it wouldn’t affect organic traffic, some thought it could be positive. However, the majority’s prediction was correct, as the display of estimated read time had no noticeable impact on site traffic. This finding highlights the importance of SEO testing and being cautious when following competitors’ actions. The article showcases the significance of user polls in understanding marketing trends. Read more here. 

Hootsuite’s Social Media Trends 2023.

The 2023 social media marketing landscape presents challenges due to economic uncertainties. Despite this, social media marketers enjoy increased budget and autonomy, as the profession matures. Successful marketers will carefully assess opportunities and consider long-term impacts in their strategies. The 2023 social media trends report offers valuable insights to navigate this defining year in the industry. Embrace these trends to optimize marketing strategies amid the evolving social media landscape. Read more here. 

 

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Why Hiring a Marketing Agency Would Benefit your Company

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Marketing your business is critical to not just achieving growth, but to simply surviving. If you’re a small to mid-sized company, then marketing is absolutely essential to generating awareness of your business. However, effective marketing can be very challenging without experience, not to mention that it can be very time consuming as well. Businesses that attempt to develop marketing strategies on their own often find themselves stretched thin. As a result, they have little time to focus on their core business. Because of this, you should strongly consider hiring a marketing agency.

Reasons To Hire A Marketing Agency

For many, hiring a marketing agency requires some convincing. After all, some businesses believe that paying for marketing services is an unnecessary expenditure. However, working with a marketing agency can be incredibly beneficial. The following are a few key reasons that a reputable marketing agency is worth the cost:

  • Cheaper than an in-house team

Marketing a business not only takes a lot of work, it takes a lot of specializedwork. Marketing teams typically consist of a marketing coordinator, a marketing director, a social media manager, a content strategist, a marketing manager, and more. The cost of hiring these positions full-time is rarely something that smaller businesses can afford. When you hire a marketing agency, you pay a set fee. This set fee provides you with access to all of the marketing specialists you need.

  • Scale as your company grows

As your company grows, it will become increasingly difficult to scale your marketing efforts. The bigger your company gets, the more time and effort you will need to dedicate to your marketing. A marketing agency like STEVENS & TATE MARKETING will be able to keep up with your growing marketing needs.

  • Take advantage of marketing expertise

When you work with a marketing agency, you’ll have access to a team of experts with vast experience. They will know what works and what doesn’t. They will also work closely with you to tailor a marketing strategy that suits your needs. Inexperienced companies that don’t use an agency often end up developing a marketing strategy through trial and error. Relying on trial and error to improve your marketing efforts is not cost-effective.

  • Have access to the latest marketing tools

Marketing agencies invest in all of the latest marketing tools and technology. Smaller companies can rarely afford these tools on their own. Fortunately, marketing agencies will use all of their high-end marketing tools when working with you.

How To Choose The Right Marketing Agency

Not all marketing agencies are of the same quality. Nor do they all offer the same services or charge the same fees. As such, hiring the right marketing agency can be difficult. The following are some tips to help you choose a marketing agency that will fit your unique needs:

  • Have a goal

You’re not going to know if the agency can offer what you need if you don’t have a marketing goal in mind. You need to figure out exactly what you’re trying to achieve. For example, maybe you want to build a successful website or you’re trying to increase your leads. Ask the agency how they’ll go about helping you achieve your specific goal.

  • Find out about their services

Some marketing agencies specialize in specific services, such as SEO. Others offer more broad services, such as digital marketing. Find out what services they offer to determine if they are a good fit for your company’s needs.

  • Ask for references

Speak with the agency’s current clients. A reputable marketing agency should have no trouble providing you with references. You should also ask how many existing clients they currently have and for how long they’ve had them. The longer the clients have been with them, the more you can assume that they must be doing a good job. High client turnover is usually a bad sign.

  • Look at previous work

Good references don’t always indicate good work. Take a look at the marketing strategies that were implemented for previous clients. Look at their websites, their social presence, their content, and more. If you don’t think they’re of high quality, then that’s a big red flag.

  • Look for a good cultural fit

You need a marketing agency that’s willing to work with you to tailor a strategy to meet your needs. To achieve this, your team has to get along with their team. A good cultural fit is essential. When speaking with an agency, pay attention to how well they communicate with you. You should also get along well with them. Finally, try to find an agency that shares the same values as your company.

Begin Working With A Marketing Agency Today

At first glance, handling your own marketing efforts might seem more cost-effective. However, that’s simply not the case. Not only are you likely to save money long-term, but your marketing strategy is more likely to succeed if you work with a reputable marketing agency. With that in mind, you should strongly consider hiring a marketing agency to oversee your company’s marketing strategy.

 

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Creating Advertising Strategies That Work

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Advertising is an integral ingredient of building a successful business. It’s how you make your business, products, or services known to your target audience. You must devise creative advertising strategies if you want your customers to choose your products or services over the competitors’.

While there are many ways to advertise, your chosen strategy must fit your brand objectives. This post looks at some advertising strategies and guides you on creating one that works for your business.

Defining an Advertising Strategy

An advertising strategy is an action plan that aims at the following:

  • Building brand awareness
  • Attracting new customers
  • Inviting existing customers to make multiple purchases
  • Increasing sales.

Your advertising strategy is part of your comprehensive marketing plan. They must align with your company goals and objectives and can be a mix of digital and traditional marketing channels. These are the two broad categories of advertising strategies. Traditional marketing entails using media like:

  • Television ads
  • Billboards
  • Prints ads
  • Direct mail
  • Street teams

Digital advertising tactics include the following:

  • Social media marketing
  • Email marketing campaigns
  • Content marketing
  • Search engine optimization
  • Pay-per-click advertising
  • Social media marketing
  • Influencer marketing

Steps to Creating Effective Advertising Strategies

Having the most effective advertising strategy takes time to achieve. You must continually fine-tune your approach to determine the advertising methods that best engage your customers.

If you’re starting or want to overhaul your current advertising strategy, here’s a template you can use:

1. Identify Your Target Audience

Your advertising strategy should be about reaching out to the people interested in purchasing your products or services. Consider the specific demographics of this target group, including the following:

  • Their gender
  • Age
  • Attitudes
  • Personal values and attitudes
  • Income levels
  • Occupation.

With this information, you can create a buyer person or a fictional representative of the target customer base that your business wants to reach. The consumer profile of your target audience can give you an abstract idea of what your customers want. You can use this to shape your advertising message.

2. Determine Your Advertising Objectives

Once you identify your target audience, ask yourself why you want to advertise. There could be different goals to achieve through advertising, such as boosting sales, promoting newly launched products, or increasing website traffic. It could also be to create awareness about a product’s benefits.

Having clarity of purpose is a crucial step forward in the direction of creating an effective advertising strategy. Your marketing objectives can also inform your choice of advertising platforms, as different channels have varying outcomes.

3. Create Your Advertising Content

Once you determine what you want to achieve through your advertising strategy, it’s time to create content that helps you achieve this goal. Some factors to help in your content creation strategy are the following:

  • Having an SEO strategy such as voice or video search for local and mobile SEO
  • Keyword research for more insights into what your customers want to see
  • Having a blog or website that you regularly update with relevant, educating, and engaging content
  • Creating attractive landing pages that trigger a sales funnel for your business.

Influencers and content marketing agencies can help you craft relevant content that enables you to put your brand message out there. Forging partnerships with these professionals can help you reach your target audience in ways that automated content advertising strategies cannot.

4. Choose Your Advertising Platforms

In choosing your advertising platforms, consider those most helpful in reaching your target audience. In this digital era, only a tiny percentage of businesses will consider traditional marketing channels as their primary platforms. Digital advertising platforms are more likely to reach a broader audience and have a greater return on investment.

Consider incorporating a mix of advertising channels to test their viability for your business. Online marketing provides an array of advertising strategies, as previously mentioned. However, if you’re new to advertising, you’d rather stick to a few channels first.

Once you accumulate enough analytics and data from the channels, you can determine their effectiveness and consider branching out to other platforms. After testing the results, you can create a vibrant mix of responsive media for an effective advertising strategy.

5. Audit the Results and Keep Improving

Launching an advertising strategy is only the beginning of your business promotion strategy. You must also analyze and refine the various advertising methods you use. A/B testing is one of the approaches you can use. It entails showing different types of ads to similar customers. Then, you can gauge the messages with better click-through rates. Investing more in ad messages with higher click-through rates can yield better returns for your business.

Your marketing team should constantly be on its toes to review marketing campaign metrics. Consequently, it should engage in relevant targeting to reach a broad audience. Assessing and refining advertising strategies is an ongoing process as long as your business operates.

Effective Advertising Strategies Are Crucial to Your Business Success

A business without a well-structured advertising strategy will fail because it lacks a systematic method of reaching its customers. An advertising plan creates brand awareness and tells your customers why they should choose your products or services, not your competitors’.

Creating a strategy that works and withstands the test of time can be complex, but the steps above can help you get started. With time, you can fine-tune the plan to add more steps depending on what works best for your business. You should eventually be able to automate your advertising strategy and reap from the investment.

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Soft Sell Advertising: What it is, Why it works, and How to Execute

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When it comes to advertising, businesses as a whole tend to be aggressive. They let you know exactly who they are, what they do, and why you should buy from them. Even in inbound marketing, companies will try to tie the topic of conversation in with their products or services in some way. However, this isn’t the only course of action. You can also reach your target audience and successfully engage them by advertising in a more subtle manner. Such a strategy is known as soft-sell advertising.

What Is Soft-Sell Advertising?

Soft-sell advertising is a more subtle form of advertising. The goal behind soft-sell advertising is to evoke a positive emotional response. The idea is that the customer will then subconsciously connect the response they had to the brand that invoked it. Businesses that implement soft-selling marketing will often create ads that are warm or humorous, as these tend to be the ads that invoke the most positive feelings.

The History of Soft-Selling

The idea of soft-selling first emerged in 1914, when Theodore MacManus published an ad that would become the model for the soft-sell. The ad was essentially an essay on the burden of being the best in one’s field. The ad was for Cadillac, yet Cadillac wasn’t mentioned a single time. Nor was there an illustration that ran with the ad. Yet the ad was incredibly successful.

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The Benefits Of Soft-Sell Advertising

The following are some of the reasons why you should incorporate soft-selling advertising into your marketing strategy:

  • Less pressure on customers – Because soft-sell ads don’t push products or services, customers will feel less pressure to buy. The pressure is apparent in hard-sell ads, and it’s often off-putting. Using soft-selling ads, you give your audience the ability to discover your brand and make a purchasing decision on their own time.
  • Increase brand awareness – Even though you’re not pushing your brand into their faces, audiences will be more likely to share your content. The reason? People don’t share ads, they share content. When you create a soft-sell ad, you have to focus on the quality of the content and not on the sale. If you are able to create high-quality content that invokes a positive emotion, your audience will share that content. People will share content that elicits a positive reaction to their friends, thereby increasing your brand awareness.
  • Build more trust – Another result of having to focus on content quality is that you’ll build more trust. You’re basically offering your audience something of quality without asking for something in return. This shows them that you care about more than just sales. As a result, they’ll be more likely to explore your brand further. Not to mention that building trust is essential to building long-lasting relationships.

Examples of Soft Sell Advertising

Soft sell advertising has grown in popularity, both in regards to inbound marketing and outbound marketing. The following are a few examples of effective soft-selling ads:

  • Yeti – Yeti is a company that sells coolers and outdoor accessories. They filmed an entire series of videos called Hungry Life showing a well-known chef spending time in nature, where he picks plants, goes fishing, and prepares his meals outdoors. Although Yeti’s coolers do make an appearance, they are never showcased or talked about. Yeti is obviously targeting a specific audience by showcasing a specific lifestyle. That audience will then make an emotional connection between that lifestyle and the Yeti brand.
  • Burt’s Bees – Burt’s Bees uses their founder as the spokesperson. This is perfect because he essentially represents their main buyer persona. The Nature of Burt video introduces Burt, who explains who he is. He’s likable and funny, and their target audience can relate to him. What makes the video so effective is that it builds an emotional connection between the viewer and Burt, all without ever promoting the brand or its products.

Implement a Soft-Sell Advertising Strategy Today

Because many companies focus many of their marketing efforts on generating brand awareness, they tend to be overly aggressive. However, soft-sell marketing can be incredibly effective in terms of engaging your audience and building trust. As such, you should be sure to include soft-sell marketing tactics in your inbound marketing strategy.

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