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Top Graphic Design Trends for 2018

February 7, 2018/in Articles, Brand Development, Directors /by Terry Becker

With a substantial number of companies turning to the internet to market their businesses, it is harder to stand out from the crowd than ever before. However, knowing the graphic design trends that are most likely to occur in 2018 can put you ahead of the game.

1. Color Is Key

The key aspect of all elements of graphic design in 2018 is color – from multiple brand color schemes to the return of color gradients and the use of unusual color combinations. The colors you choose this year could make or break your web presence. The multiple brand color approach is already being piloted by companies like Dropbox. Rather than change their familiar and instantly recognizable logo, they introduced a new range of official brand colors including pink and purple, which are set to be central colors in design this year. It is worth noting that color of 2018 is PANTONE® 18-3838 Ultra Violet.

2. Image Authenticity

There has been a move away from stock images over the past few years, with businesses realizing that visitors and customers wanted and trusted authenticity. This move will increase this year with the winning pictures being carefully chosen, purposefully created, and impactful. Images that include photos of real people, which are really connected to your company are going to be essential, especially when it comes to your social media presence.

3. Think Fonts

In your written content, the focus of your font choice needs to be on providing a quality reading experience. However, the fonts you use in your design have multiple other purposes. One of these is to encourage an individual to stop scrolling and find out what you are all about. Graphic design trends for 2018 include using handwritten and bold fonts to create eye-catching features. Of course, color comes in here as well; fonts can be colorful, as long as the color engages and intrigues your visitor.

4. Getting to Grips with GIFs

GIFs are quite literally everywhere. While they are great fun, it is hard to see how they can be used seriously within your graphic design. However, while the GIFs you regularly share on your personal social media may not be right for the job, it is possible to create them specifically for your needs, website style, and your customer segment.

5. Brutalism Bares All

Although brutalism has been around for a while, it is set to be one of the significant graphic design trends of 2018. Clear lines, bold yet limited colors, and functional typefaces are at the heart of this approach. This striped-back approach does not work for everyone, and it needs to be used carefully, with the question, “Does this fit my brand story?” being repeatedly asked during the design process. Websites that use the brutalist style well include EPIC Ireland, particularly in their headers and menus; Fake Music; and Tennent Brown Architects.

From bright colors and 3D modeling to brutalism and flat graphics, if the trends of 2018 tell you anything, it is that there is no one right way to stand out from the crowd. It is about choosing the typography, color palette, and design approach that best encapsulate your brand, its image, and its story.

Logo Design Trends For 2018

February 2, 2018/in Advertising Agency, Articles, Brand Development, Directors /by Mark Beebe

Your business logo encapsulates your business. In one simple graphic, your potential customers learn everything they need to know about you. Logo design done right embodies your brand, makes you instantly recognizable, and creates a timeless appeal.

One of the critical mistakes that businesses of all sizes make when designing their logo is following the wrong trends. Another is following trends too tightly, and not adding that spark that makes them stand out from the crowd. Do you remember when everyone decided to include pixilated images in their logo? But, can you name any of the individual companies that tried that?

One of the key trends for logo design in 2018, is designing with social media in mind. Logos on social media need to be short, punchy, and fit neatly into a square field. That does not mean that square logos are the way forward; it just means that the finished logo should fit, and be visually balanced, within a square.

Considering Context

Designing your logo is not just about the logo itself, but also how it is presented to your potential audience. One trend that is gaining momentum, and which is likely to continue to do so into 2018, is placing your logo in a real-world context. That includes ideas such as showing the logo on wall signage, business cards, and stationery. Taking this approach creates a visual link with the audience, so when they then see your signage with your logo, they automatically think back to what they have seen, and read about that logo and therefore that brand.

Mindful Monograms

Monograms and single letter logos are ideal for social media. They play on a classic idea that has been placed on everything from letterheads to cufflinks for centuries. However, it can be challenging to make monograms and letter logos unique. If you are going to use your business initials to create your monogram, then be watchful of unintended words, shapes, and puns that can be created.

Making this type of logo stand out, and say something meaningful about your brand, can also be difficult. Colors, shapes, letter styles, and letter combinations need to be well chosen to ensure that you do not create a logo that looks just like everyone else’s.

Going Back to Basics

Logos that include geometric shapes and clean lines are set to be on trend in 2018. These logo designs come back into favor regularly because they are, when done right, elegant and timeless. However, you need to avoid these types of logos becoming over simplistic and boring. You also need to ensure that your logo design stands out; after all, there are only so many shapes and shape combinations that can be used to create a geometric design.

Bringing Back Color

Working in a digital medium gives you unprecedented access to colors in tones and shades that have been near impossible to create or show in a logo before. This is one of the reasons why there has been a surge towards brightly colored logos. However, when using color, it is not enough to just use blocks of bright, intense colors. To stand out, your logo design needs to consider intensity, saturation, shades, fading, and mixing of colors. Moreover, the colors you use must still reflect your business and its brand.

Logo design trends are there to guide you in creating the perfect logo. However, the focus of your logo design must remain on designing a logo that represents your business positively and makes you both visible and memorable.

Why Marketing Automation Is Important In Senior Living Today

January 25, 2018/in Articles, Directors, Senior Living Marketing /by Dan Gartlan

Experienced industry marketers have pointed out that marketing automation is the next generation of senior living marketing strategy. Without automation, senior living sales teams are missing opportunities to reach potential clients and key decision-makers. And that affects your bottom line.

Marketing automation offers insights into the behaviours, interests, and needs of individual leads. That kind of information is critical when your sales team is trying to convert a lead into a move-in. If your sales team knows exactly what the lead wants, converting that person becomes much easier.

Why Automation Helps Increase Conversions:

You Can Personalize Your Communication

By tracking what your website visitors request about your property off your website, you can follow where that lead is at in their buying process. The more touchpoints you offer on your website, the more data you can obtain from your prospect. And that data makes it possible to market back to them on a personal level. This type of personalized communication makes a real difference in senior living marketing.

Why Inbound Marketing Solutions Are Integral To Your Success

Move Your Prospects Through The Sales Process Faster

Helps seniors move through the sales process faster. Seniors, as well as their adult children, love to get timely responses to questions and content. Automation makes this easier by engaging interested seniors with relevant content and gauging their responses. Quick engagement with high-quality information will help the lead reach the decision point faster. And that is critical in senior living marketing these days.

Allows You To Nurture Your Leads To A Close

It is more than likely your prospect is looking at more than one senior living community. A carefully crafted set of emails will help to keep your brand top of mind and educate your prospect on your unique selling points. This helps nurture the lead further down the sales funnel. As they reach the decision-making point, you can provide targeted information and the option of contacting a salesperson to talk further.

Provides Critical Insights into Individual Leads

Marketing automation software can track what web pages a lead has the most interest in and which offers they signed up for. This information offers critical insights into what is of most interest to the lead. One lead might be interested in a small single bedroom apartment and the social programs. Another lead might be interested in a larger unit and what healthcare services are available. The sales team can use these details in making their pitches and converting a lead into a move-in.

The power of marketing automation is the ability to gather information and nurture leads through the sales process. Then, the sales team can leverage and gather information to convert the sales-qualified lead into a paying resident. Making this critical link between marketing and sales is why marketing automation is so critical in the senior living market today.

PPC Landing Pages and Other Trends You Should Know in 2018

January 23, 2018/in Articles, Directors, Marketing Strategy, Social Media /by Nicole Wagner

As 2017 draws to a close, another exciting and interesting year of PPC marketing will conclude soon. PPC landing pages still hold strong, but the other trends in pay per click marketing are worth analyzing as well. That also means it is time to anticipate the future landscape and direction of paid search, with some help of the smartest guys in the industry. Voice search and artificial intelligence were two of the hottest topics in 2017, and it is likely that we will hear plenty more about them in the next year, as well as PPC landing pages.

In 2018, Ilya Cherepakhin predicts that PPC marketers will get pushed on two important fronts. They will unleash the intelligence and power of audience management and make inroads into voice search. Although there are other challenges, such as smart bidding automation, multi-channel attribution and cross-device analytics, he contends that voice search and audience management are likely to open up bigger frontiers for success, besides the good old PPC landing pages.

Voice search, though still evolving, cannot be overlooked. Marketers will have to rethink and devise new strategies for natural presence and PPC. This is because voice technology will tap into a considerably different kind of user behavior compared to that of an average mobile user. The use of existing mobile search technique will not be enough. It would be essential to have new and more relevant marketing objectives, reconsider the type of products and services that are more suitable for voice users, and come up with better mobile experiences for these users.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a buzzword in the current year. In 2018, it will become an even bigger element of marketing workflows. A lot has been said about Google introducing the use of AI for both conversion optimization and attribution modeling. However, over the course of 2018, use of Google’s AI is expected to skyrocket. Many bid management platforms have started to adopt artificial intelligence into their algorithms too.

Check out this article about Video Marketing

Although AI is driving better performance and outcomes, it is important to keep in mind that at the end of the day, human interaction is very crucial. Over-reliance on AI can lead to a few big shakeups. In 2018, we can continue to anticipate more improvements in the automation of PPC fueled by more sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine learning. What experts find most exciting probably is that PPC advertisers will have much more options compared to the past to leverage the technology. This is because it is getting integrated into many third-party tools.

It is also expected that more marketers will add long-tail keywords in their search account, and strive to better understand if there is sufficient difference between regular text searches and voice search to justify additional builds. Although experts guess that there would only be relatively small gains, plenty of marketers expect the incremental gains will make it easier for them to attain their 2018 goals.

According to Jeff Baum, an important trend for many PPC marketers to concentrate on in 2018 will be the adoption of machine learning. With upgrade to its ad rotation settings, smart bidding technologies, and the roll out of numerous smart display campaigns, Google has indicated that machine learning will be crucial for improving performance.

Meet The Newest Generation Of Homebuyers- Gen Z

January 19, 2018/in Articles, Directors, Homebuilder Marketing /by Nicole Wagner

A new generation is starting to make its presence known. That is Generation Z. They are entering the real estate market in growing numbers. Most are currently renting, but a growing number are looking to move into home ownership. Real estate professionals need to understand this new generation of homebuyers.

What Defines Generation Z?

Generation Z is defined as those born between 1995 and 2010. They are the generation that grew up with the Internet being common place. Currently, they are over 66 million strong, making them over 20% of the American population. This generation is ethnically and racially diverse. They are also the first generation to grow up with Internet access being the norm.

Home Builder Marketing Tips To Drive Traffic And Sales

They want to own a home. Generation Z, like the generations older than them, think that home ownership is a major part of the American Dream. What makes them different is that many of them are looking to move to home ownership at a rapid rate, though their income levels are still at entry level figures. This drive to own a home is focusing many of them to prepare for home ownership early.
They want to belong to a community. Members of Generation Z love to have shared amenities. They like being part of communities. In fact, a full third of them are very involved with their community or neighborhood. This need to belong to a community is going to influence the neighborhoods they choose and the amenities they want.
They use social networking in the home buying process. This goes back to being the most technology connected generation. When looking for a home, to rent or own, they turn to their family and friends for help. They share the search process with friends and roommates at rates not seen in other generations. This shows why tapping into social networks is critical for tapping into this generation as homebuyers.

Homebuilder Marketing: Target Your Homebuyers With A New Media Mix

They rent in smaller buildings. The reason for this trend is not completely obvious. However, some real estate experts speculate that it relates back to the need of many Generation X members to be part of their community. A smaller building offers better chances to meet neighbors and build relationships.
They use the Internet to do research and to put in rental applications. This is a natural extension of their social networking and comfort with technology. They “google” everything. Gen Z wants to put in applications online and they don’t want to have to go into an office to do it. They learn what they want from the Internet and use that information to make decisions on where they live.

Want more Real Estate Marketing Resources? Click here!

Generation Z is starting to make their presence known as homebuyers. Their impact is going to be even stronger in the coming years. Learning what matters to this generation is the first step in helping them become homeowners, whether now or in the next few years.

How Pop Culture Creates Creative Marketing Solutions

January 3, 2018/in Articles, Directors /by Dan Gartlan

If there is one thing that marketers know how to do really well, it’s write blogs. We do research, look at trends, write our findings, and publish them for the world to see. After publishing a number of articles we noticed that one of them did really well. “Four Things You Can Learn About Real Estate Marketing From Bon Jovi” Is one of the most viewed blog articles on our website. Aside from being a well-written article with profound insight, I was wondering if there was any other reason this article drew a considerable amount of online traffic. There is only one reason I can think of for this.

People know and care about Bon Jovi, which made them curious about what the article had to say. Today, there are more brands, franchises, and celebrities to talk about than ever before. It’s time we start using them to our advantage. This article explores how the world of pop culture presents creative marketing solutions for anyone who wants to increase their online traffic with their online blog.

Read one of our Creative Marketing Solutions from pop culture: “Four Things You Can Learn About Real Estate Marketing From Bon Jovi”

Lions And Tigers And Bears? Nope. Zombies.

For the last decade or so, zombies have become a pervasive part of American culture. The Walking Dead is one of the most popular shows on television. There are countless articles about zombies online, including this one that explains why a zombie apocalypse could actually happen, and Canada’s parliament even discussed the possibility of a zombie apocalypse on the parliament floor. Whether it’s just fun to think about or an excuse to hoard hundreds of cans of tomato soup in your basement, people talk about zombies.

Even without seeing a specific movie the concept of zombies is pretty universal. Why not incorporate this into your writing? We know that if someone is already interested in a topic or has prior knowledge on a subject they are more likely to click on links pertaining to that subject. So don’t feel ashamed, write about zombies, super heroes, even vampires! By having some fun with your writing you will be surprised at what kind of reaction you will get out of your readers. (Note: If you choose to write about vampires, do not write about the sparkling ones. You’ve been warned.)

Marvel At Your Writing.

There was once a time when comic books, and the people who read them, were seen as nerdy or stupid. Look at any movie from the 80’s. What was the easiest way to convey to the audience that a child was a social outcast? Make the kid read a comic. BOOM! Audience knows this kid is weird and awkward but he probably has a heart of gold because the kid is also the main character. Fast forward to 2017 where 16 Marvel films have grossed over 10 billion dollars worldwide and you will know that times have changed.

Today, comic books aren’t seen as nerdy or lame because everybody is watching and loving these films. With so many movies full of allusions to rich, decades old backstories along with pop culture references and endless Stan Lee cameos, these movies are fun to watch and even more fun to talk about. Take advantage of that! Whatever you end up writing about though, make it relate back your field of expertise. Otherwise people won’t read your blog in a way that supports your business. For example, if you do opinion pieces on politics you could write something like… “Why ‘Captain America: Civil War’ Is A Metaphor Of Today’s Political Divide.” Actually, don’t write that. I like that one. Write your own article!

Take Advice from Jean-Luc Picard: Engage!

One of the best things about pop culture is that EVERYONE has an opinion on something. Which Batman is your favorite (Ben Affleck. Obviously), what was the best Lord of the Rings Film (Fellowship), and did Han really shoot first (Yes. Yes he did)? The thing about opinions is that they can’t be proven one way or another, but that doesn’t stop people from sharing theirs. So if you post an article about why Indiana Jones could beat Bruce Lee in a fight, expect someone to disagree with you. When they do, have a friendly argument about it. These back-and-forth exchanges are interesting to both the commenter and other visitors who may engage in the conversation themself.

If, through these discussions you become inspired with a new idea, or decide that your original article was wrong, write a new article! You can even tag the commenter who inspired your new article. This gives you an air of genuineness and will further encourage other readers to comment. The point is, people reading your articles want to be more informed, but they also want to be entertained. That doesn’t have to stop when the article is finished. So keep making your content with your visitors in mind. This will encourage you to write content that keeps brining people back for more.

Whatever industry you happen to be in, these creative marketing solutions should be able to help you increase your online traffic. There is an endless number of ways to talk about any subject, so let your creativity run wild. If we can write an article about Jon Bon Jovi that relates to real estate marketing then you should be able to discuss almost any topic there is. Whatever you end up writing about, just remember; your article should be fun, relevant, and engaging so people keep coming back to your website to see what you have to say next.

An Advertising Approach On 4 Social Media Platforms

December 28, 2017/in Advertising Agency, Articles, Directors /by Nicole Wagner

There is no right way to have an advertising approach. What is great about advertising is that you can advertise on multiple platforms. Online advertising is just one platform. Online advertisements have become very useful for companies. With advertisements, there are some tips so that advertisements are being used effectively. Tips include: make sure the ad aligns with the social media strategy, consistent coloring (matches website), rotate images, variation, and ad testing (determining what is and is not effective). Advertisements can be used on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Each platform uses ads slightly different.

Ads on Facebook

To create an ad on Facebook, you must first have admin permission. When creating an ad on Facebook, it will have you choose the campaign, followed by the budget, scheduling, targeting, biding, ad placement and variations. Facebook allows you to track the progress of the ad. With Facebook, you choose an objective for the ad and there are many to choose from.

Ads on Twitter

On Twitter you choose ads based on the objective of the campaign. There are twitter cards, which allow for rich media, a link, a button, and room for text on the ad. Twitter has four parts to the ad campaign. These are the timeframe, creative, targeting and budget. Twitter also allows you to do keyword targeting.

Ads on LinkedIn

A LinkedIn ad targets the audience based on professional attributes. You can create an ad or sponsor content. LinkedIn allows for up to 15 ad variations.

Ads on Instagram

Ads on Instagram can be created through Facebook. If you have a business manager account, the ads can be created through the Instagram app. You can include a call-to-action button.

What is great about having ads on social media is that the ads will be shown to the right people. With having ads online, you can make the smallest changes and get the ads to the right people. The social media platforms allow you to choose your audience and age range. Each social media platform has their own way of creating ads, but each platform is a great choice. The right advertising approach for your company might by online advertising. It is up to you to determine which social media platform is best.

Advertising Agency Trends

December 26, 2017/in Advertising Agency, Articles, Content Marketing, Directors, SEO /by Nicole Wagner

The world of the traditional advertising agency is gone. Today, clients want agencies that truly embrace all forms of advertising, both traditional and digital. Smart agencies know this and stay on top of the trends in marketing and sales that will have the most impact for their clients. Let’s look at a few trends that are hot and here to stay.

Native Marketing

If there is one trend in advertising that is going strong and will remain strong for years to come, it’s native marketing. Blending advertisements smoothly with surrounding content has been around for decades. Doing it in new and innovative ways in the digital marketplace is what is driving the current growth.

Business Insider predicts that native advertising will hit $21 billion next year (2018). In 2013, spending for native advertising was $4.7 billion. That translates to a 445% growth in just 5 years.

The beauty of native advertising is that it’s very unobtrusive. It organically blends into the user experience.

Marketing Automation

Let’s face it. The world of marketing is a bit cutthroat with so many companies vying for consumer attention. Trying to bring a brand to the forefront and keep it there requires a solid set of tools that collect data, provide analytic tools and does a lot of the work for you. That set of tools is marketing automation.

A marketing automation platform gathers pertinent information on what visitors are most interested in, which pages they visit most, and what changes as they go further down the sales funnel. This information offers critical insights to what the target audience needs at each stage of the journey. All of that information can help an advertising agency develop highly focused ad campaigns

5 Benefits of Marketing Automation

Content Marketing

Content marketing is becoming more sophisticated and more personalized. It starts with web pages providing basic information. Adding elements like video and infographics enriches the experience.

Gathering information with marketing automation allows for personalization. Certain areas of the web page can provide content drawn from the visitor’s profile. Marketing apps take that to a whole new level with interactive content experiences, completely based what is known about the visitor.

This increasing sophistication of content marketing is going to demand more sophisticated options from advertising agencies.

Personalized Marketing

Consumers expect personalization and they value it. It goes back to the days when a shopkeeper knew the names of all his customers. “Hi, Mrs. Jones, how is your oldest son doing in school?” “Hello, Mr. Gonzalez. That car part you wanted just came into stock.” The personal connection builds trust that cannot be replicated.

That personal touch is becoming the norm when it comes to marketing. People respond better to email offers that include their name and refers to what interests them. When they log 0nto a site like Amazon or E-Bay, they like the fact that they get recommendations based on their browsing and purchase history.

Closed Loop Marketing Analytics

Smart marketing means know who visits your website via SEO or marketing efforts. Analytics tracks which web pages a visitor visits. It tracks how often the visitor comes back and what most interests him/her. Analytics may track when a visitor becomes a lead. It can even track some parts of the lead’s journey to becoming a buyer. But, does it track what converted that lead into a buyer?

That is what closed loop marketing analytics track. This type of analysis helps marketers understand which effort ends up in sale and which effort did not. It highlights the most effective marketing efforts and which ones need attention.

From an advertising agency perspective, it can show you which ad campaigns had the most impact and which ones did not.

Continuous Website Improvements Based on Data

Most companies do a major website redesign every few years. The problem with just a major redesign is that once it’s done, it’s done. Nothing major will change until the next redesign 2-3 years in the future.

A new approach, rapidly gaining popularity, is a web design based on continuous improvement. Instead of rolling out a completely outfitted website that takes months to build, it starts with a streamlined, well-designed core based on tightly focused goals and objectives for content, design and development.

When that new website goes live, it starts gathering user data, linking it to marketing/sales effort. The data shows what is working and what is not. That data is what drives the next wave of improvements, often done on a monthly basis. This cycle of analyzing data, making improvements and gathering data can go on forever, continuously improving the website and its effects on marketing/sales.

Staying on top of major marketing trends is critical for any advertising agency. These trends impact client advertising directly. Which trend do you think will have the most impact in the coming year?

When Should You Hire A Real Estate Advertising Agency?

December 12, 2017/in Articles, Directors, Homebuilder Marketing /by Dan Gartlan

If you are a home builder, you are busy with the details of running your company: bookkeeping, employee management, client projects and paying the bills. Marketing is part of that effort, but, at some point, you may start to wonder if hiring someone to help might be a good idea. When is the right time to hire a real estate advertising agency?

There is no set answer as to when you should hire an advertising agency for your business. Your situation is unique and only you can determine if you need help. However, there are some guidelines you can use when making that decision.

Do you want to grow your business faster?

Remember, time is money in the construction game. If you want to bring in more projects, build more houses, or move into the big leagues, you need to step up your marketing. If you don’t have the time or resources to devote to that additional marketing effort, you need to bring in an outside agency. They have the knowledge and expertise to market your construction business to the right audience.

Click here to read about Real Estate Video Marketing Ideas For Homebuilders

Are you running out of ideas on how to improve your marketing?

Unless you are a marketing professional, you probably have limited knowledge on the subject. You may start to run out of ideas on how to step up your marketing efforts. That is when a real estate advertising agency can help.

Their focus and expertise is marketing. They know how to reach your potential audience using a variety of marketing tactics, many of which you have never even thought of. They can definitely give your marketing a positive boost.

Are you running low on time and/or resources to handle the marketing in-house?

You are a home builder. While marketing is part of your job, it is definitely not its main focus. Hiring someone from outside is an efficient use of time and resources. It will give your company more time and money to focus on attracting clients and building new homes. That way, you can keep costs down while improving your profits.

You Still Need to Be Involved

When you make the decision to outsource your marketing to a real estate advertising agency, you still need to be involved. Building homes is a very personal business. The advertising must reflect your approach to working with clients and building homes. Otherwise, potential clients are going to get confused, which erodes that critical trust required in the home construction business.

As stated before, only you can decide when to bring in an agency to handle your marketing needs. When you do make that decision, take the time to find an agency that can understand what you want to accomplish. That way, your advertising will reflect you and your business.

Top Trends in Social Media

December 6, 2017/in Articles, Digital Media, Directors /by Nicole Wagner

Today, a number of brands and advertising agencies rely on social media to connect with their audience. However, with so many companies competing with each other, it is important you look for ways to stand out. Also, creating content that is tailored to go viral or attract your customers. Monitoring and keeping an eye on social media trends can save you plenty of time and effort. This is allowing you to make the most of your audience’s short attention span. Here are some of the most important social media trends that you shouldn’t miss out on:

Going ‘Live’

Facebook Live has been a tremendous success as numerous brands are using the feature to broadcast events, launch new products or simply interact with their audience. However, simply going ‘live’ isn’t good enough as you’ll need to look for ways to engage with viewers by asking questions or suggestions. Live streaming also tests the commitment of your audience, which means that people who are uninterested in the subject will naturally stay clear.

Senior Living Tips for Facebook Advertising

Say Hello to ‘Snaps’ and Expired Content

SnapChat is living proof that you can exploit the audience’s sense of urgency by featuring content that will only last a short period of time. This type of content usually contains short video stories that only last for 24 hours from the initial posting time. Because users are always fearful of missing out on videos, this type of content creates an urgency, causing you to check your phone after every few hours. A number of brands and celebrities have been using snaps to announce exciting news or promote product launches. This helps marketing companies generate immediate results of their campaigns. Recently, Instagram stepped up a notch by introducing a polling feature that allows followers to cast votes on Instagram stories. Users can also customize their poll options to receive a more customized feedback.

Social media has revolutionized customer service by introducing chat bots. This is a kind of software application that is built to mimic human-conversation. The obvious benefit of a chat bot its immediate response. Customers don’t have to wait for brand-representatives to get back to their queries. Some chat-bots are used to build lasting relationships with potential customers and audiences. Another notable advantage of using chat bots is that you can always expect the program to be polite to people no matter how rude the customer replies may be.

Influencer Marketing

Influencers are people who have authority of a certain niche and possess the ability to influence a certain audience. In the past few months, you must have seen an incredible rise in influencer marketing, especially on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This provides marketing companies the chance to benefit from the influencer’s large social media following list. Brands typically use influencers to host competitions or collaborations that encourages the audience to follow the company’s social media profile.