Dress To Impress With AR and VR In Fashion Branding

Fashion is sophisticated and complicated, being at the forefront of creating trends and pushing boundaries to pursue beauty. Many praise the fashion industry for innovation and criticize its ethical standards.

You’re familiar with these challenges if you’re running a fashion business. But could AR and VR in fashion bring your business’s sustainability to the next level?

We say yes!

Contemporary fashion thrives on innovation and technology, and industry professionals like yourself know that technology is constantly changing. According to the Consumer Market Outlook, the lucrative fashion industry fetched around 1.46 trillion USD in 2020. To maintain this revenue, fashion brands must innovate.

So, what’s the next big thing in fashion tech? Experts have said it’s augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Using AR and VR in fashion sounds far-fetched, but the market already uses them.

We’ll show you a few splendid examples for inspiration here, so stick with us till the end!

How Do AR and VR In Fashion Work, Anyway?

If you’re reading this article and wondering what AR and VR are, here’s a summary. AR and VR are the technologies used to create alternative or enhanced digital reality. It includes adding digital elements to real world backgrounds (AR) or immersing customers in entire virtual worlds (VR).

More specifically, AR enhances the physical world by enhancing sight and sound. It highlights specific real world features or overlays digital elements on them.

Viewers can access AR technology on their smartphones through an AR app.

VR is a complete simulation experience in a digital world created from scratch. It introduces viewers to an all-rounded computer-generated artificial environment with interactive elements.

Users can see, hear, and interact with the virtual environment in real time. They use a virtual reality headset to engage with the VR world.

AR is generally more widely used than VR because of its high accessibility on smartphones.

But both AR and VR in fashion provide a unique and memorable customer experience for your brand. They enhance the shopping experience with awe-inspiring graphics and keep your customers engaged.

So why do AR and VR matter in fashion retail?

Fashion retail is going ‘phygital’; more customers interact with retail brands using a hybrid of physical and digital mediums. AR and VR help to bridge the gap between both forms. They offer virtual fashion experiences just as good as physical brand interaction.

AR and VR technology used in the market are changing how customers interact with brands.

3 Ways AR and VR In Fashion Will Impact The Retail Industry

1. Improved Sustainability

The fashion industry has faced criticism for its unsustainable practices and wasteful consumption. But not all is bleak because AR and VR in fashion could be the key to positive change for many fashion businesses.

Augmented reality in fashion industries helps reduce unnecessary product shipping. Customers can try products on before they buy them, reducing impulse purchases.

Globally, there will be less production and consumption of fashion products, decreasing the number of wasted apparel and resources. It’s better for the environment and a step in the right direction for fashion businesses.

2. Reduced Costs

AR and VR reduce unnecessary shipping costs so that you can save on freight charges. It also decreases spending on traditional advertisements like print and television because you can market online.

With AR and VR, you can take advantage of free social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Use social media to host your AR technology and reach out to more customers at a much lower cost.

3. Increased Sales

Customers are more likely to purchase something when they know what they want. On traditional online shopping platforms, customers can only see 2D product images. They need help to visualize what the actual product looks like realistically.

With AR and VR, they can see and interact with a life-sized version of the product. Instead of estimating the color and size of a garment online, they can try it accurately with AR filters. AR and VR experiences give customers more accurate product information to make better decisions.

Using AR product marketing on e-commerce websites and social media platforms for luxury brands will significantly boost sales.

Nearly 80% of Burberry’s purchases in China happen on mobile devices. Experts predict that around 80% of luxury goods purchases will occur online by 2025.

So, the market for AR and VR in fashion is growing and has excellent potential for many fashion brands.

Augmented reality technology is also excellent for online retailers without physical stores. If you have an online business, customers can’t view your products in an actual store. They can use AR filters as a substitute dressing room to virtually try on your clothes before buying them.

Cool! Now Show Me Some Real-Life Examples Of AR and VR In Fashion

These are some of the most innovative uses of AR and VR in fashion. Take notes from these luxury brands to use their strategies for your business too!

Try Before You Buy

Computer-generated 3D imagery has come a long way since VR’s early days. Modern 3D virtual models are more advanced and look like actual products. It’s because AR and VR digitally simulate hyper-realistic colors and textures of clothing on virtual models.

Customers can virtually apply clothes on AR human models to see how it looks on a human body. Interestingly, they can even customize the human model to look like them. It’s one of the most convenient benefits of using augmented reality technology in fashion.

For instance, Gucci collaborated with Snapchat in 2020 to create a ‘try-on’ feature for shoes. Users could overlay AR shoes on their feet using the Snapchat application. Customers were able to try the shoes without going to the shop. They could buy the product if they liked the shoes in the filter.

ASOS also launched a 2020 AR feature on their app that allowed customers to try clothes on different body sizes. The application offered sixteen animated models of varying skin tones and body sizes. Customers could even test the outfits and human models in realistic outdoor environments.

You can launch small-scale AR filters to showcase your products on a social media platform. Users will have fun trying the clothing filters, and it’s excellent publicity for your brand too!

You can even create virtual fitting rooms offering a head-to-toe makeover for users’ virtual avatars.

Interactive Navigation And Display Screens

Earlier, we mentioned that fashion retail is becoming ‘phygital’, so remember to care for customers at your physical stores too.

Use AR and VR to improve your customer experience at the physical shop. Technology can track the shopper’s location in the store. When they access an AR app on their phone, it shows them a live navigation map. It’s helpful for customers visiting your shop for the first time.

Renowned fashion brands like H&M and Zara also use AR display screens to enhance customers’ shopping experience.

Some display screens include virtual fitting rooms, mirrors with 3D avatars, and touchscreen outfit selection. It attracts attention and enhances customer interaction with the brand.

FashTech To Expand Your Brand Experience

FashTech sounds like a big fancy word, but it simply means ‘fashion technology.’ It includes using AR and VR in fashion to expand customers’ brand experiences.

Use FashTech to expose your customers to more content from your brand. Big-label fashion brands like Coach use FashTech VR to give customers exclusive access to fashion show footage. The luxury brand installed virtual reality headsets in its stores. These headsets allowed consumers to browse looks from their latest runway events.

Fashion week runway shows are only available for a limited audience. But with VR technology, they’re made more accessible to everyone.

Customers experience a different aspect of your brand when you use VR. They can buy limited-edition products and even personally experience events in which your business participates.

You can use VR to give customers exclusive access to fashion week shows, limited-edition brand collaborations, and photoshoots.

Interestingly, VR allows you to build alternate fantasy worlds to complement different fashion themes. You’ll save production costs of renting a physical photoshoot location because you can create it virtually.

How about a virtual runway in a virtual showroom? Bring your customers to digital fashion shows without losing any of the real-life glitz and glamor.

A VR showroom lets your customers experience the feeling of walking down a runway, elevating the fashion experience. Isn’t that a grand idea for fashion week events?

AR and VR will revolutionize the fashion shopping experience for brands globally. Smaller fashion businesses can take inspiration from luxury brands’ strategies and launch mini AR and VR campaigns.

So, implement AR and VR in fashion marketing to elevate your customers’ experience of your brand and products. Dress them to impress, and you’ll also dress them for success!

Also read: How AR and VR are Transforming the Future of Businesses

June 19, 2023August 31, 2023

How AR and VR are Transforming the Future of Businesses

A few years ago, you might have considered VR and AR as expensive technologies inaccessible to many businesses. In 2023 and 2024, experts expect the VR and AR market to expand rapidly. It will become more accessible to most businesses and even individual households. Gone are the glitchy, low-resolution graphics and heavy headsets of early VR models. VR and AR developers have created high-quality, streamlined reality technologies that blur the lines between digital images and the real world. Advancements in technology have also made VR and AR equipment more affordable.

Why is this relevant to your company? Brands don’t just use VR and AR for entertainment and games. VR and AR are also powerful business tools, offering unique brand experiences to customers. Keep reading to learn about AR and VR transforming businesses with in-depth, immersive interactions in 2023.

How AR and VR Are Transforming the Future of Businesses

It may be the first time you’ve heard of AR VR technologies in business. You may wonder about the hype and how it can benefit your brand. VR and AR can significantly help the future of businesses by driving innovation, increasing efficiency, and enhancing customer connections. The virtual world offers excellent opportunities for enhanced product interaction and customer communication. It boosts your brand’s marketing versatility and builds stronger customer relationships.

AR and VR Transforming Businesses: Using Video To Drive Higher Conversion Rates

A survey by Viostream found that videos on landing pages increase conversion rates by 80%. Another Zappar 2018 report found that AR increases conversions by 70%. That’s a lot of conversions! Won’t you want that?

So, attract potential customers with attention-grabbing moving graphics in VR and AR. Use VR and AR videos to make unique brand content that speaks personally to customers. For instance, you could present customers with a first-person VR perspective of your product’s benefits. It could be a car test drive, dining at a restaurant, or a spa experience. You can make a creative and memorable first impression on customers with a VR brand introduction video.

Audiences are more likely to convert after seeing, hearing, and interacting with your products and services. Research also proves that visual and auditory immersion increases human empathy levels by showing them an individual perspective. Subjective and unique interactive experiences appeal to people emotionally, compelling them to take action.

Improving Customer Service And Experience

Virtual reality offers your customers the virtual experience of products. Customers can interact with virtual versions of products and services in real time and try them for free. With VR, product designers won’t have to make physical product samples. Thus, it reduces the production costs.

VR is most beneficial for products and services offered in retail and design. Customers can view retail products overlaid on physical environments with augmented reality (AR). They can try new product launches in an AR environment without needing to buy it. Or, they can experiment with different design variations without changing their environment physically. Your customers will appreciate AR technology as they can try the actual-scale product or service for free.

Product designers can also gather live customer feedback from VR tests and modify the products accordingly. For instance, during a VR product demo, product designers can monitor real-time user reactions and identify any new issues. They can resolve these problems when designing an improved version of the product. They’ll also be able to respond faster to your customer’s needs with data gathered from a virtual environment. VR makes your product design and development process more efficient. VR also increases meaningful interaction between customers and your business and makes customers feel more positive about your brand.

Furthermore, you can use VR technology to personalize customer service channels. Traditionally, customers could call the service hotline for help. How about making a VR environment for customers to chat with an avatar of your customer service officer? Even though it’s virtual, the sight and sound of a person humanizes your brand and personalizes customer service. Your customers will appreciate the added sincerity in your communication.

Marketing Across Different Social Media Platforms

You might already use Instagram and Facebook for your current marketing strategy. But with VR and AR, you can expand your brand’s content reach to appeal to younger potential customers. A 2022 study by Harris Poll found that 38% of Gen Z Americans had not used AR before but were interested in trying it. AR and VR are transforming the future of businesses by widening their content reach scope.

Younger audiences are more willing to experiment with VR and AR content on social media platforms. Younger audiences also enjoy visual video content, so use VR and AR to appeal to their preferences. Create VR and AR brand content with high-quality graphics and sound to immerse them in the experience.

For instance, people widely use TikTok AR filters as trendy visual effects. Experiment with custom-made product filters representing your brand and avail them on TikTok for customers to use. Or, create VR content in the Metaverse and introduce your brand to the Metaverse virtual community. With VR and AR, you can reach a bigger audience of potential customers across different platforms.

AR and VR Transforming Businesses: Becoming A Convenient Substitute For Physical Interaction

The popularity of the Metaverse shows that consumers are excited by advancements in online digital interaction. AR and VR are transforming the future of businesses by enabling in-depth remote communication between customers and brands.

VR technology has good potential to substitute in-person meetings. You can host online work discussions with colleagues’ avatars in a virtual meeting room. Or, you could use VR simulations to train staff in remote locations, saving them the trouble of traveling. VR environments can improve communication between colleagues if many of your team members work from home.

A virtual environment is also an excellent alternative for customer Facebook groups. You could host a virtual public lobby for customers to discuss your products with fellow customers. It’s an ideal platform for customers from different locations to gather and interact with your brand.

AR and VR Transforming Businesses By Elevating Virtual And Offline Events

The pandemic familiarized many of us with the routine and convenience of online meetings. Indeed, virtual company events save space and physical resources, and you can invite more people.

But hosting events over video call can sometimes feel passive and dull. VR and AR technologies can greatly enhance your online events; your audiences won’t need to watch through a screen. They can enter a 3D interactive virtual event environment with a VR headset. It’s an exclusive, personal and hence memorable way to experience a subject. Usage of VR and AR isn’t only restricted to online events. You can also use AR during offline events to impress your audience. Set up live AR presentations during an offline event for commemorative footage, like a digital cake-cutting or tree-planting ceremony.

AR and VR Improving Business’s Training And Education

VR and AR can benefit employees too. Research has shown that VR and AR can improve information retention by 25% as compared to traditional learning methods. It is a unique and efficient way of learning, revolutionizing businesses’ staff training programs. You can even use VR and AR for customer product training events.

VR and AR headsets help students immerse themselves in training environments that simulate real-world situations. They can interact with the product or virtual environment instead of reading about it from hardcopy learning materials. VR exposes employees to a safe and realistic learning environment and better prepares them for the actual event.

Virtual training worlds are most useful for high-risk tasks that require extensive hands-on work. Some examples are emergency response services, medical emergencies, and repair operations.

Using digital learning materials and virtual worlds also reduces the cost of physical learning materials. Learning becomes more accessible to all employees with online or digital information, and you can conduct training remotely. Use VR and AR to transform mobile learning for your employees and save on your business’s training costs.

The future of VR and AR for business is very promising. You’ve learned how AR and VR are transforming the future of businesses and taking brand experiences to greater heights. You can deepen connections with your customers, improve staff training programs, and revitalize brand content. You’ll gain an edge over competitors by adopting VR and AR technology early, so don’t hesitate!

June 15, 2023August 31, 2023

Up-And-Coming 2023 Trends In Social Media Marketing

Social media spending rose in 2022 and will continue to grow in 2023 as marketing picks up after the pandemic. More people are staying connected online – Statista’s data found that 4.26 billion people used social media platforms in 2021! And that figure will keep rising, which is good for social media marketing in 2023! Marketers like yourself can look forward to rapidly developing technologies and feature updates on social media platforms. These developments will help your social media marketing keep up with changing consumer behavior and social media habits.

In times of frequent changes, it’s only natural for us to seek experts’ advice. And they answered that call. Many top marketers have shared their predictions on trends in 2023 for online social commerce. So, we’ve distilled it all into this helpful article for you – read on to learn more about those insights!

Social Media Marketing in 2023: Short-Form Videos Go Viral

Move over, horizontal wide-screen videos. The ideal video format in 2023 is vertical and under 15 seconds long. Short-form video content predominates most social media platforms, with TikTok as the frontrunner leading the pack. There are also Instagram Reels, Youtube Shorts, and even Twitter. It’s nothing new, and it’s here to stay.

Experts say that the short-form video trend will continue to grow in 2023. Brands should capitalize on the popularity of short video formats when producing social media content. Short-form vertical videos are easy and cost-effective, with high organic reach compared to other content types. You can easily create a short vertical video using TikTok’s in-app editor or Canva. Short-form videos are arguably the best social media content format for marketers and content creators this year.

TikTok has poised itself to succeed in this area because of its first-mover advantage in the market. TikTok has also become the primary advertising platform chosen by content marketers, especially because of its large user base. More social media users are flocking to TikTok from other websites, causing engagement on the social platform to skyrocket.

Short-form visual social media content is an essential ingredient in viral social media marketing campaigns. In 2023, digital marketing will use faster informal and conversational marketing strategies. Business is no longer constrained to old-school, formal, and face-to-face agreements. Many brands and consumers are increasingly adopting a ‘digital-first’ attitude towards business and consumption.

With so much digital noise, viral social media marketing helps your brand stand out on social networks. Viral marketing uses funny and emotional content to make the audience feel and remember your brand better. Short-form videos are concise and memorable; they are ideal mediums for your brand’s content to become viral. So, start with something funny and relatable to evoke emotion in your audience. The best viral content keeps audiences engaged and entertained by offering a memorable interaction with your brand. It’s conversational and caters to what your audience wants to know, not what you want to sell to them.

Short vertical video content should also be cross-posted to other platforms: TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Facebook and Instagram. For instance, you could regularly publish Instagram reels and use other short vertical videos as regular posts instead of photos. Remember to post your video at the right time when most of your audience is online. It gives your post higher visibility and rewards your account with more engagement. Pin important featured posts to the top of your profile for new visitors.

Also read: Trendy Instagram Ideas For 2023

High Confidence Levels In ROI Of Social Media Marketing

The experts said it first: confidence levels in social media marketing are at an all-time high this year. In a 2021 survey by Hootsuite, 96% of marketers were confident in social media’s ROI (return on investment). Marketers believe social media marketing helps them engage their audience and increase conversions. Marketing budgets are yet to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels, but numbers show it’s steadily growing. As ad spending gradually increases, this trend will also hold true for social media marketing in 2023. For content marketers like yourself, 2023 is the time for your brand’s marketing strategy to shine.

Proactive & Targeted Engagement With The Audience

According to marketing pundits, brands should aim for proactive and targeted audience engagement for higher ROI in 2023. Social media channels are already saturated with content, and there’s stiff competition to cut through the noise. Brands that proactively and strategically target a specific audience niche will succeed in making their mark. You need more than just a content strategy to drive leads and sales. Your brand must be willing to do the legwork of personally reaching out to your consumers. It’s tedious and time-consuming, but proactive engagement gives you the most conversions.

Social media is an excellent tool for finding and developing sales prospects. Marketing experts recommend starting by creating content to attract your potential target audience. Once you’ve identified the right audience, select those who show interest in what you’re offering. Start creating content to target this specific group. Remember that your end goal is a sale because content creation drives your sales. You should aim to turn these interested audiences into potential customers.

Next, reach out to the interested prospects and engage them in personal conversation. Pay attention to their needs and offer helpful information to nurture a meaningful consumer relationship. The subsequent sale will be much more sincere and natural when you’ve earned their trust and respect. In the long term, you’ll build a loyal customer base of people who trust your brand to meet their needs.

Influencer marketing is one of the popular social media trends for 2023. Content creators aren’t as inaccessible as you think; most smaller creators earn less than USD 100 per post. You can engage more cost-effective micro-influencers if you own a relatively small business. Micro-influencers tend to have a smaller, more devoted following. Their content creation caters to a niche audience, so it aligns with your brand’s targeted social media marketing strategy.

And no, you don’t necessarily have to engage an influencer. Influencer marketing strategy increases brand awareness and trust among your consumer base. You can create authentic content for target audiences to increase brand loyalty. To learn more about influencer marketing, read our blog post on DIY influencer strategies to promote your brand!

You should also diversify your social media marketing strategy across various platforms to reach your target audience. LinkedIn is still best for B2B marketers due to its focus on work and business. TikTok is great for your B2C strategy and for engaging younger audiences. Experts predict that most brands will target these two large platforms for their social media marketing in 2023. More social media users are congregating on LinkedIn and TikTok after moving away from other platforms. It’s also because Twitter’s 2022 content guideline changes have driven brands and users away from the platform in 2023. Organic engagement could be cut back on Twitter, decreasing opportunities for brands to build their customer base there.

Social Media Customer Care = Higher ROI

While you’re busy out there growing your customer base, remember to care for your existing customers too. The social media marketing is competitive, and you shouldn’t lose customers at this point. Make a customer care program part of your brand experience; it benefits existing and potential customers, increasing ROI.

Social media is fundamentally a tool to enrich customer connections, not just a content broadcasting channel. Customers check out your brand for the content but stay for the relationships and impeccable customer service. Your brand should primarily use social media to connect with customers and grow their loyalty. Encourage sincere brand conversations and introduce a customer care program to get this done.

How do you implement a customer care program? Marketing specialists shared a few tips to help you begin. Browse your social media channels to identify where customer acquisition and retention happen most frequently. Next, create content that drives engagement, like asking for opinions and product input. Respond to audience queries as often as possible, and look where your brand is tagged online. Finally, develop excellent customer service to meet customers’ needs after the sale.

Customers want to interact with your brand digitally like they would in person. So, ensure you provide avenues for them to communicate with you directly; social media makes it more accessible. Leave your Instagram DMs open, and respond to comments often. Host an Instagram or Facebook live stream every month to answer frequently asked questions. These little moments of personable interaction in your social media marketing strategy help turn passing customers into brand devotees.

Alternative Realities & Artificial Intelligence

Social media trends for 2023 will see the continued rise of alternative realities and artificial intelligence (AI). You’re probably familiar with these terms: augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Alternative realities are so prevalent and ubiquitous in digital marketing that AR and VR advertising is already considered mainstream. If you are yet to try any of these options, you’re missing out. But don’t worry because 2023 is still early enough to start. AR and VR are still growing in popularity on social media platforms like TikTok. Users are still experimenting and getting comfortable with AR visual content, so now’s the next best time to strike.

TikTok leads in this area because of its first-mover advantage and reliability in hosting AR and VR technologies. It already hosts AR filters and special effects that content creators can add to videos. TikTok’s existing infrastructure and extensive user database – projected to exceed 800 million by 2023, makes it appealing to marketers. TikTok wins the lion’s share of ad budgets for social media marketing compared to other social media giants like Instagram. So, consider getting your brand’s content out on TikTok to reach a newer and larger audience.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to be popular, with recent rapid advancements in AI content creation models. OpenAI research has given birth to projects like DALL.E (AI image generation) and ChatGPT (AI content writing), among others. AI is revolutionizing content creation, and brands should embrace it by using AI tools to enhance their content quality. Experts predict that adopting AI tools in marketing will become more widespread in 2023. The early adopters will have a strategic edge over other brands as they lead the forefront of AI-assisted marketing. So, consider revitalizing and diversifying your brand’s social media marketing strategy with AI-assisted content this year.

A Return To Facebook’s Roots With Community Development

Facebook re-embraces its origins with the resurgence of community development. Experts predict that 2023 is when Facebook’s obsession with vanity metrics in social media marketing finally fades out. In 2023, vanity metrics will give way to meaningful, smaller-scale conversations. Businesses quietly and sincerely build strong customer relationships to accumulate engagement metrics that matter. Online Facebook communities are engaging in more honest and heartfelt conversations with the brands they follow.

That’s good news for your social media marketing strategy. Your brand’s community is the bread and butter of your business, and conversations are how you grow that community. Create groups for customers to gather and talk to each other, and involve yourself by asking about customers’ concerns. When you care for your customers, they’ll have a reason to care for you.

Social Media Marketing In 2023 Is Full Of Possibilities

It’s a lot to take in. So many changes are ahead, and experts have offered exciting insights on what opportunities to seize. But there is also plenty of promise and hope. Remember their advice when you start planning this year’s marketing strategy. Bring your brand’s social media marketing to new heights in 2023 and embrace what’s to come. The future is yours to create, and we wish you all the best on your business journey.

June 13, 2023July 4, 2023

Trendy Instagram Ideas For 2023

Think about this: it’s a new year, and you’re looking through your brand’s Instagram accounts to revisit old content. Something feels off. Maybe your content is getting a little stale. Or you’re waiting for that creative spark to make content that doesn’t fall flat. Your audiences aren’t engaging with your posts as often as they used to. You may have even entertained the radical idea of abandoning Instagram altogether.

But Instagram is still alive, contrary to what some rumors suggest. The stalwart social media application has consistently evolved to keep up with the latest trends. It remains a crucial platform for creators and brands to stay in touch with their customer base. Instagram is one of the main touchpoints for people to find information about your brand. So, don’t dismiss Instagram from your toolbox of content-sharing channels yet.

Entering 2023 doesn’t mean you have to spring-clean everything from the previous year. Sometimes, you need a different way of presenting old content ideas to revive your engagement numbers again. We’ve compiled ideas for inspiring things to try on Instagram with your brand. Go through the list and pick a few that excite you – or try them all!

Engaging Instagram Ideas For 2023

The main goal of your Instagram strategy should be to engage your audience. Audience engagement gets people talking and gives your brand a leg-up in the Instagram algorithm race. These ideas for 2023 will help you vary the type of content you post to increase engagement and brand awareness.

Informative Things To Try On Instagram: How To Do This (And Much More) With Short Guides And Tutorials

Forget boring instructional manuals and lists – use video tutorials to answer all your customers’ questions instead. Post video guides catering to customer inquiries and commonly-faced issues. You could teach audiences how to place an order, fill out a form, or set up your product or service. For instance, Zoom uploads short ‘pro-tip’ Instagram reels teaching customers how to use its application functions. These bite-sized tutorials convey small, digestible pieces of information to audiences. It’s perfect for capturing and retaining audience attention.

You could also add some guided videos closely related to your brand products. For instance, a small food business might post a how-to video on food decoration ideas for birthday celebrations. Feature your products and services as options in these videos; intrigued audiences may check out your page.

Pick relevant topics for your target audience to give them the information they want. Provide valuable content to your customers, and they’ll look up to your brand for authoritative data in the future. It boosts your credibility as a subject area expert in your industry.

Lastly, consider hosting a live Q&A session to address frequently asked questions. ‘Lives’ are one of the most helpful things to try on Instagram to answer customer queries effectively. Use ‘Instagram Lives’ to directly connect with your audience and answer the questions in the chat box. It heightens the sense of immediacy and closeness with your audience, boosting their trust in your brand.

Relatable Things To Try On Instagram: A Day In My Life, Or What Goes On Behind The Scenes

There’s no better way to enhance the human connection between your team and customers than candid videos. User-generated content posted by influencers evokes trust and rapport with followers because of its honesty and transparency. Use this influencer marketing strategy to make your brand feel more relatable and personable.

Create behind-the-scenes reels showcasing what goes on in your business’s day-to-day operations. You can do this through vlogs, team member introductions, or group interviews. Take a few team selfies and fun shots during company bonding sessions. Combine photos and videos into one Instagram post to make a dynamic slideshow for followers to scroll through.

You could also do “a day in my life” videos and get staff to vlog about their daily work life. You can also film process clips to show customers how you make your products. Some small businesses film and upload “pack an order with me” videos to show the packaging and delivery processes. Some also compile honest “blooper reels” to show outtakes and rejected product shots.

‘Behind-the-scenes’ videos make a brand more transparent and relatable, with honest communication, increasing customers’ trust. Audiences will better appreciate your hard work in creating quality products and services. It humanizes your brand and strengthens connections between your staff and the customers they serve.

Cool Things To Try On Instagram: Up Your Reel Editing Game

You can quickly assemble a basic transition reel with many free mobile phone editing applications. Experiment with stop-motion, zoom-ins, and close-ups for interesting visual effects. As simple as it sounds, a well-edited Instagram reel has high replay value as it’s mesmerizing and satisfying to watch. It captivates audiences quickly and is perfect for the short attention spans of your Gen Z audiences.

Be bold and take inspiration from other popular social media platforms too! TikTok video edits are a goldmine for new content ideas and viral microtrends. You can discover new audio and visual effects ideas for your Instagram reels.

Funny Things To Try On Instagram: Make Them Laugh

Humor is an excellent ingredient for creating relatable content because who doesn’t love a good laugh? Witty content is one of the defining characteristics of great Instagram ideas for 2023. Research by IPSOS shows that 81% of consumers love it when brands create humorous content. Tickle your audiences’ funny bone with memes, candid reaction videos, quirky jokes, or ingenious wordplay.

Memorable Things To Try On Instagram: Archive Your Best Moments And Thank Followers For Their Support

You can also balance your humor with sentimentality. Post a thank-you note to your followers when you hit social media follower milestones. Or, compile nostalgic year-end rewind reels to compile your most memorable company events and achievements. These are a beautiful testament to your brand’s progress and growth. It’s one of our most memorable Instagram ideas for 2023. An archive reel is also an excellent opportunity to thank your customers for their support!

Thrilling Things To Try On Instagram: Sneak Peeks And Countdowns

Generate hype with an Instagram story countdown for a new product launch, a contest, or a milestone giveaway. Countdowns create suspense and excitement, increasing audience engagement when they subscribe for timer notifications. To up the ante, post sneak peeks of upcoming content and get audiences to comment on their thoughts. It encourages audiences to engage actively with your content. Remember to share your links and posts on the Instagram story, too, as only some people scroll through their feeds.

Unexpected Things To Try On Instagram: Ask Your Audience For Ideas Instead

Use content to ask your audiences a question. Ask them for ideas, answers, and opinions – you’d be delighted at how many of them respond to your post. Get them to ‘Caption This!’ with a witty tagline and test their creativity. Upload meme-worthy photos, puzzles, or abstract images with no context. Next, ask your audience to come up with a caption. Feature the best answer on your Instagram story and tag the user to give them a shoutout. Remember to post the runner-ups and honorable mentions too! It drives discussion and engagement in the comments section.

Buzzworthy Things To Try On Instagram: Quizzes And Giveaways (People Love Competitions And Free Stuff)

People love the thrill of competitions and the prospect of free things. An effective way to increase visibility and engagement on your posts is to host a giveaway or a contest. Get your followers to share the post and tag people – their friends, family members, and colleagues, to join the competition. You’ll usually gain new followers as more people discover your brand page during the giveaway period. It spreads your content to new audiences and potential customers, increasing brand awareness. There’s nothing wrong with some friendly competition where people try their luck to be one of the winners. It’s fun and exciting for everyone, and you’ll boost peoples’ positive impressions of your brand.

Traditional Things To Try On Instagram: Show Off Those Glowing Testimonials

Customer reviews are the foundation for your brand to grow and expand. It’s the reason why traditional testimonials are the tried-and-tested, old-but-gold method of building an excellent brand reputation. Customers usually check online reviews when deciding whether to buy from a brand. Use positive customer testimonials as leverage to convince potential customers of your brand’s trustworthiness. Feature great testimonials on your Instagram feed, and thank the reviewers for their support. Also, try reposting user reviews on Instagram, such as Instagram story mentions. Social proof increases your brand’s reliability and customer trust; it’s a critical part of your Instagram marketing strategy.

Also read: How To Leverage Your Content Marketing Strategy In Instagram Reels

After reading our list of things to try on Instagram, it’s time for you to start creating your content. Choose what fits your brand and target audience best, and most importantly, have fun while doing it. Good luck!

June 8, 2023July 4, 2023

Is TikTok Going to Replace Google In The Future?

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TikTok is the fastest-growing video platform in the world. Its popularity spread like wildfire and it became an effective mass media platform. It has become a global tech giant, influencing trends from shopping to music.

The pandemic sped up the rise of TikTok as many people began spending more time online. A recent viral tweet in May 2022 questioned whether TikTok beats Google as a search engine. With its widespread reach and content, TikTok could compete with Google to be the world’s top search engine. But is TikTok going to replace Google?

TikTok: A Youthful Community

TikTok is commonly associated with younger users. Studies indicate that nearly 40% of users aged between 18-24 use TikTok to search for lunch. A survey of US users by Wallaroomedia found that 60% of American TikTok users are between 16 to 24 years old. Many of these young users are part of Gen Z, people born between 1997 and 2012.

Another study by Omnicore Agency estimated that 43% of the global TikTok audience are users ages 18 to 24. According to demographic insights from Statista, TikTok’s global audience comprises 21% women aged 18-24 and 15.5% men aged 25-34.

A Tik Tok Triumph

Elf Cosmetics’ #EyesLipsFace campaign on TikTok has been recognised as the most influential campaign by AdWeek. The campaign generated over 7 billion views, 5 million user-generated videos and 1.5 billion earned record breaking media impressions on platforms like Vogue, Buzzfeed and Forbes.

Elf cosmetics’ unique approach of composing its own music hit all the right notes which was then added to 300,000 spotify playlists forming a deeper connection with Gen Z.

There are several critical differences in how TikTok and Google work, which could explain why users increasingly prefer TikTok instead of Google.

Tik Tok vs Google : A Closer Look

The main reason would be a difference in format. Users actively search for something and type specific questions with keywords in the search box. Google lists the websites; users must manually browse content by opening those links in new tabs. Conversely, TikTok allows users to scroll through a seamless stream of TikTok videos in its search results. Users experience fewer interruptions when browsing TikTok than Google, leading to higher satisfaction levels. It is one area where TikTok is better than Google.

Some users who prefer TikTok have stated that subject matter experts usually provide content on TikTok, and these people are familiar with the subject and post videos on it. Compared to blog posts found in Google results, TikTok videos often have higher engagement in the form of comments. Users can verify the accuracy of the information presented in the video based on the likes and comments the post has gained.

Tiktok : A Rising Alternative

User satisfaction with Google services is also decreasing, which explains why TikTok is rising as a better alternative. It explains why engagement is falling on Google maps or search. Some users complained that Google’s search results now rank inaccurate information on the first page, and more accurate information is often hidden in secondary pages, making it harder to find.

Google’s Senior Vice President, Prabhakar Raghavan, addressed this trend at the Fortune Brainstorm Tech conference. He noted that users seek more immersive experiences instead of using keywords to discover content. Google confirmed these findings through studies done on young people in the US. You can bet on videos when it comes to immersive experiences for consumers. TikTok’s strength lies in providing users with engaging content discovery.

Users browse TikTok passively, seeking exciting videos without specific intent. Along the way, they discover a fashion trend or a dance challenge they like. It creates a positive content discovery experience; they enjoy and return to it spontaneously. Over time, as they find more exciting videos while browsing, their trust in TikTok increases, sure to find quality content on TikTok. It makes TikTok their primary choice when searching for information.

Winning the Attention Game with TikTok

Finally, TikTok also beats Google in providing more attention-grabbing, visual-based content. Humans respond 60,000 times faster to visual content than text. Attention spans are decreasing in the current visual economy, and Internet users seek quick and easy content. The short-form video format on TikTok satisfies global consumers. Video content captures Internet users’ attention much faster, providing quick and convenient entertainment.

Also read: How To Leverage Your Content Marketing Strategy In Instagram Reels And Tiktok

TikTok And SEO: Targeting Users With What They Want

Despite the differences, TikTok could be a key player in the future search engine optimization (SEO) strategy. Google is starting to index results from TikTok or Instagram. It means that content on these platforms can rank higher on search results.

Given how much TikTok influences consumer buying patterns, SEO professionals should capitalize on this trend. A survey found that 44% of TikTok users discovered new products through the platform. Users spend 14% more when TikTok content is part of their purchase decision. Some businesses could benefit greatly from posting content on TikTok if their products are marketed best through video. SEO professionals should consider adding short-form, vertical-format videos to their content strategies.

Google Still Has Its Place

All this isn’t to say that TikTok will replace Google. Google retains its spot as the world’s top search engine because of its broader range of content.

TikTok is better for video-based content with lower stakes. It could be craft or cooking content. Watching a video demonstration to learn a craft technique is more effective than reading a blog. There are also less severe consequences for the user if the TikTok video on crafting presents incorrect information.

Google : The Hub of Trustworthy Information

Compare this with content on financial planning or current affairs. Such topics have higher stakes because they affect important life events more. They also require accurate information from sources with more expertise and credibility. In such instances, turning to Google for information would be better. Google brings back multiple search results across various textual and visual formats. This forces users to compare information across different sources. While this seems tedious, it ensures the user filters out the most accurate and reliable information.

TikTok’s Viral Content Culture

Tiktok’s application interface encourages more content to go viral. Accurate information may spread fast, but so does inaccurate information. TikTok’s young and impressionable user base also means many young users risk exposure to viral but inaccurate information. It is one of the downsides of TikTok, it emphasises content discovery, not content filtering. A large number of internet users discredit TikTok due to this reason.

TikTok offers robust content discovery, while Google fulfils a user’s search intent. TikTok may excel in several areas where Google doesn’t. However, for good reason, Google has persistently ranked as the world’s primary search engine. Each platform fulfils a different purpose, and internet users can choose which one to use. Ultimately, it’s about deciding which platform is the best for the type of content a user wants.

May 25, 2023August 31, 2023

The Top 5 Soft Skills SEOs Should Develop To Succeed

Master 5 Soft Skills SEOs Success. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a specialized profession that requires expertise and technical know-how. Unsurprisingly, building a career in SEO typically involves mastering the hard skills needed to excel in it. An SEO expert must have a good understanding of SEO tools to excel. From keyword research to link building and understanding the ranking factor of content.

However, considering the current scenario, knowledge of technical SEO is not enough for an SEO professional to do digital marketing. You must pair them with soft skills enabling you to engage with your clients and customers fully.

What Are Soft Skills?

You may wonder: what exactly are these soft skills? And why are they so important?

Soft skills are the personal qualities and characteristics of a person. These include work ethic, punctuality and empathy. They are skills that you do not usually study in school. Instead, you acquire them through relationships with others. Having them makes it easier for you to work well with colleagues. You can also create more appealing SEO content. When you understand how people think and know what appeals to them, your SEO strategies will bear more fruit.

After all, you work with people and create content for people to enjoy; they consume it. Knowing how to deal with the human element in your work would help you go that extra mile to succeed. These are the top 5 soft skills SEOs should develop.

Empathy At The Heart Of All You Create

Empathy is king in any task that requires creating content for consumers. You must understand what customers want when they interact with your content. Indeed, not everyone thinks the same way or has the same life experiences. It leads to different perspectives and desires among people. Being an SEO professional, you must understand the varying requirements and create content for every audience.

However, empathy is not all about changing your opinion or attitude to fit others. Instead, it is about being accepting of others. You will better understand and cater to various viewpoints when you have empathy. Building this skill will benefit you greatly in digital marketing.

For instance, an SEO professional should know how the customer and search engines judge SEO content. They need a good balance of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are knowing how search engines crawl for results and filter content. While soft skills are understanding what customers are looking for and creating relevant content. Hard skills are knowing what keywords to put into the content. Soft skills are knowing how to incorporate the keywords naturally so that customers enjoy the reading experience.

Customers search for keywords in the content. Content that incorporates keywords in a jarring manner will put them off. SEO content creators can only achieve this balance if they have hard and soft skills.

Empathy is also telling great brand stories. Everyone loves a good story – including you. A brand should always have a good story at its core to showcase its progress to customers. Empathy and an innate understanding of life and emotions, can make you a master storyteller. A good sense of storytelling will help you naturally construct and convey marketing narratives.

In content marketing, an exciting narrative provides more value and enjoyment to consumers. Narratives take the reader on an exploratory journey. They appeal to universal human values and personal development. You can engage your customers better through your content when you tell them a story that appeals to their emotions.

Communicate With Clients And Colleagues

Listening is paramount in developing practical communication skills. We might not always be fully engaged when we hear another person speak. We may be thinking of what to say in response or be distracted by something else.

Good listening is not simply hearing what the other person is saying. It is proactive and attentive; involves much empathy as well. Careful listening means taking a non-judgemental stance towards another person. Ensure you carefully observe their body language and take the time to ask insightful follow-up questions afterward. You will better discern their innermost feelings and thoughts by reading their verbal and nonverbal cues.

Being able to listen well also means thoroughly understanding your client’s needs. With this, you can set clear and reasonable expectations for yourself. Knowing what the client requires helps you create a realistic content creation strategy. You’ll be able to communicate these goals to your client while acknowledging that you are keeping their considerations in mind. Clients feel valued and heard, knowing that you have their best interests at heart. It builds trust between both parties.

Good listening should be paired with good speaking and writing skills for you to become an even more effective communicator. When speaking with clients or writing content for consumers, you want to present as accurate and error-free information as possible. Training your verbal and written reasoning skills comes through practice and takes time. Practice this by striving to get better at composing emails or writing reports. You can also explore different ways of presenting complex SEO concepts more straightforwardly to co-workers or clients. These train you to adapt your communication skills to fit a variety of audiences from different backgrounds.

These are valuable in helping you present your next strategic plan to your client. Explaining things clearly and concisely can elevate your clients’ confidence in you. It is because they believe you can deliver effectively for them.

Managing Your Time Well

Time management is of utmost importance in a job that is driven by meeting deadlines. Some tasks are more urgent than others. A seasoned SEO professional is familiar with getting work done within specific periods. Given these demands, it is essential to manage your time well. You must know how to prioritize your work to optimize the effectiveness of time spent on projects.

Prioritizing work includes knowing the amount of time needed at each project stage. For instance, the process of link building requires a lot of time. It is not easy to do because you need to get organic hyperlinks that lead to your website from other websites. It is essential to determine page rankings on Google; it shows the worthiness of your webpage content. If you can systematically prioritize your work, you can allocate enough time for this part of SEO strategies.

Managing your time well also means that you’ll have more confidence in your abilities to complete projects. Good time management strengthens your work ethic because you can ensure the timely completion and delivery of projects. More confidence in yourself naturally translates to a client’s greater confidence in you.

Flexibility is another critical factor in good time management. In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, trends are always changing. Search engines constantly update how they crawl for results and examine web pages. An SEO professional must keep up with change. They must be flexible with evolving deadlines and client demands. For instance, an SEO professional may find out that specific campaigns are not working for one business. A client can suddenly change their demands at the last minute. An SEO professional needs to be able to switch strategies as fast as possible.

Think Critically

When creating SEO content, an SEO specialist often deals with large quantities of information. Data is available in large amounts, and information can be made by anyone and posted online for all. One needs to know how to separate the jewels from the junk.

Google Analytics often yields a lot of data on SEO campaigns. An SEO professional uses his or her analytical and technical skills to work on this data. But they must be able to think critically about what this data means.

Critical thinking is a combination of optimism and a healthy dose of skepticism. It means seeing both sides of the same coin and questioning existing perspectives. It helps immensely with implementing SEO strategies. Someone who thinks critically could sift out informative, credible content from their research online. They would be able to determine what the analytics data could mean about consumer behavior and social media outreach success.

For instance, when doing keyword research, Google Keyword Planner might bring back lots of results on keywords used by competitors. Being able to think critically about these keywords means that you know how and when you should use them. Not all keywords will fit every business, and you shouldn’t just use keywords because all the other competitors are using them. Even if it works for one company, it may not work for another.

Critical thinking also means acknowledging that you don’t know everything despite being an SEO expert. You should be humble and willing to learn or improve in areas where you may be lacking. Constant improvement means that you keep growing as a professional; it is a good attitude.

In his book, “Influence”, author Robert Cialdini said, “we are persuaded by reason, but we are moved by emotion.” Reason appeals to logic, and if people can see the rationale behind something, you’ll convince them. But you also want your strategies to touch people’s hearts as they will remember it better that way. Appeal to consumers’ emotions through excellent communication and upholding universal values. It will create deep and lasting positive impressions on your clients, consumers, and colleagues.

Through this guide, we hope you have gained a profound understanding of 5 soft power soft skills SEOs should develop to excel. Add these to your toolbox of SEO skills to become an even better SEO professional.

February 27, 2023May 25, 2023

How To Leverage Your Content Marketing Strategy In Instagram Reels And Tiktok

Does your company understand the difference between Instagram Reels and TikTok videos?

If it does, good for you! Suppose it cannot, then it can limit the effectiveness of social media marketing campaigns.

IG Reels and TikTok videos have different purposes, and their viewers aren’t the same. If you focus on one, it’d be a waste of a good opportunity.

TikTok continues to wear the crown of the fastest-growing social media platform. It’s popular among the millennials and Gen-Z, whose hunger for tiny informative content in bulk is quite widespread.

41% of TikTok users belong to the age group between 16-24years. For brands who wish to target this demographic segment, TikTok is a no-brainer.

Instagram or IG isn’t far behind TikTok. It can be worth your time, money and effort to invest in social media marketing, specifically on Instagram. When you use Instagram Reels, which are 30-second video bytes, you also reach IG’s 1.5 billion users! We’ll tell you how it works later.

According to this report, IG’s user demographics are as under:

As you can see, IG’s user demographics are nearly the same as TikTok, so your company should also market on this platform. (Read this for more information on the state of Social Media for marketing in 2022!)

But how to promote on these platforms?! Can short-form videos help you to leverage these social media platforms?

TikTok has the answer: “Don’t make ads, make TikToks!”

Short-format videos with catchy music have proved to be highly effective in drawing attention, influencing the audience and creating desired effect. It’s one of the dominating reasons behind TikTok’s overnight success. However, they are not the same as Instagram reels. Both platforms cater to different audiences, which calls for creating separate content for them.

Why should you create content for both platforms?

Instagram and TikTok videos may have common features. However, these platforms are viewed by a wide variety of audiences. To boost the effectiveness of your digital marketing efforts, create video content for both.

Why should you be doing that?

Here are four reasons!

Reach out to more people

A handsome chunk of your target audience may use TikTok, while others may use Instagram. So, it makes good sense to focus on both platforms.

To augment your engagement rate, create separate content for these platforms and this will also benefit your brand visibility.

Impress your audience with creativity

Instagram and TikTok both offer you a range of editing features. You can create appealing videos if you have a strong content strategy and ideas.

Once you publish a video, the social media platforms place a watermark on it. And that means if you import or share videos from Instagram on TikTok, IG’s watermark will be shown on them.

It’ll look unprofessional to your prospective customers! Instagram users may not like it if you import TikTok videos on IG.

So, it is better to develop diverse video clips for these platforms.

Do you want to keep your viewers engaged, and asking for more?

Then on to the diversity of the content! Produce content on topics that appeals to them. Focus on trending topics and on those that matter to your viewers. You can use them to inform, entertain and encourage interactions over the two platforms driving traffic and attracting followers.

Create videos that go viral

If you can identify trending content on both IG and TikTok, you can leverage them to create videos that can become viral. As mentioned before, both platforms have different audiences; you must brainstorm for content that will appeal to them respectively. So, identify and create accordingly to strike the right cord with your audience. That’s it!

We have elaborated why you must have separate videos for both of these platforms, now we’ll talk about ways to create them.

Three ways to develop drool-worthy content for Instagram and TikTok

Here are three ways to get the most bang for your bucks on IG and TikTok.

Seek out hot trends and hashtags

You already know the benefit of using trending hashtags and hot trends. With relevant hashtags, you reap the following benefits:

- Amplify your content’s reach
- Increase your followers
- Learn about your competitors
- Promote your brand to the public
- Those searching by such hashtags will find your content.

There are two ways to find such hashtags. Firstly, by using the manual way, you spend time researching current trends and the latest developments. You also focus on what your audience is talking about. These will also take you to the relevant hashtags; don’t forget to note them.

Secondly, tools like All Hashtag, IG’s Explore feature, and TikTok’s Discover feature can help you find relevant hashtags.

Use influencer marketing to create your content

The best way to use platforms like TikTok and IG is to generate user-generated content.

Here’s why!

On both of these platforms, you’ll aim to reach Gen Z.

They prefer to create content and participate in online conversations on burning topics. They are urged to get and feel involved, belong, and participate in trending discussions.

Influencer marketing can be an effective tool to reach this group audience. Doing so will:

- Help you to gain their trust
- Encourage existing customers to talk about their recent purchases
- Ensure that your product has maximum views on social media.

Use the skills of Tiktok influencers and collaborate with them for effective branding. You won’t be disappointed.

Show that you care for your fellow IG and TikTok creators

Social networks love those who generate regular content. It rewards those who engage viewers in conversations. For companies and marketers, one way to do this is by engaging viewers in comments.

TikTok users love talking about posts that interest them and they don’t shy away from commenting and engaging in conversations with other brands. Comments are ranked on TikTok by the number of likes. Make your comments meaningful and relevant, and more importantly, ensure that they connect your readers with your brand.

The same rules apply to IG Reels. You have to engage with the viewers, comment and like their comments. With time, you’ll build up a strong online brand presence and your audience will see you as an influencer!

Remember, that videos are the heart and soul of platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.

Social media marketing isn’t rocket science once you understand the platform’s demographics. If you can cross that boundary, you can use your content marketing strategy in Instagram reels and TikTok and transform your brand like a pro.

To sum up:

- Study and analyze thoroughly
- Consistently generate content
- Engage with thought leaders and influencers,
- Hold conversations interesting conversations
- Use hashtag strategy and influencer partnerships.

Leverage your content marketing strategy in Instagram reels and TikTok with these tips and techniques. Write to us for personalized solutions and more.

January 16, 2023May 12, 2023

Four social media trends for 2023

Do you know who is in charge of your brand? We’ll give you three chances!

Your CEO? Nope!

Company stakeholders? Na-da!

The government? Niet!

http://www.jicsi.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/social-media-customer-service-jicsi.jpg

People who are actually in charge of your brand are your customers.

This is the ‘Age of the Customer’ in which they are really in charge. And here’s how.

Your customers want:

– Personalized content

– Faster service

– Better experience

– And fast!

If you want your brand to survive (which you do, of course!), you have to listen to and cater to their demands.

In this article, we will show you some social media trends that will take 2022 by storm.

The more you are prepared for these, the more success you will have in fulfilling your customer’s demands. And the more success you have in that, the more you earn.

It’s simple math.

Well, let us begin.

Upcoming social media trends for 2022

Trend 1: TikTok is poised to take over social media

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Move over Facebook, TikTok is here to stay. In fact, from 2022 onwards, this platform might just be known as the ‘king of social media.’ TikTok is dominating right now, but it will surpass all other social media platforms the next year, forcing its competitors to adapt.

TikTok is the go-to app for connecting current and new customers, and it has also broken download records for short-term videos.

The platform’s highly personalized content recommendation mechanism shall connect with a qualified and engaged audience for content developers and companies. Right now, TikTok is gearing up to introduce an e-commerce system in the platform in addition to a monetization model.

If you want to connect with prospective customers who are tech-savvy, TikTok is the place to go.

Trend analysis

Since its inception, the platform’s awareness has been growing. Conversations on this platform increased in numbers, spiking right during the 2020 pandemic. There has been a 61% rise in mentions from 2020 to 2021. This has not only brought more users to the platform but has also made it the first-ever apart from Facebook to reach 3 billion global downloads.

Trend 2: Social ads shall develop, and cookies shall face a crunch

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By 2023, Google will work towards removing cookie tracking. However, the future of social advertising remains to be defined. There is an immediate need to balance offering personalized services and adhering to consent and compliance for companies and brands.

Undoubtedly, a future without cookies is a bright one for customers, advertisers, and publishers. However, it is not such good news for companies who have been making a profit so long off private data collections and sales. Companies now have to rethink their strategy.

Trend analysis

Advertising has come a long way over the years. With the continuing evolution of social media, brands can reach more prospective customers and increase engagement and awareness.

Since last year, advertisers have been using social media platforms more intensively to reach out to customers.

As the internet collects billions of data points on users, it proves to be a veritable gold mine for companies. Advertisers are now seeing how social ads are essential moving forward.

Trend 3: Social selling shall make customer’s journeys easier

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Social commerce used to mean placing ads and promotions. But now, social media platforms have begun to offer innovative selling solutions that make a customer’s buying journey easier.

For instance, Instagram provides new shopping features that enable social media users to buy items without leaving their dedicated app. Over to 2022, companies and brands should reconsider their customer’s purchase paths.

From now, the emphasis needs to be on offering a more accessible and more streamlined buying journey. Promotions can be done through various means. On Instagram, for instance, brands can use Stories, Reels, and posts.

Trend analysis

Social media platforms are beginning to offer innovative shopping features to e-commerce merchants, and platforms like Instagram have become one of the most popular social media for influencers.

These influencers endorse their brands by strategic partnerships and promote their services and products by catering to a large follower base. Such influencer marketing strategies create significant opportunities for brands as well to align their offerings with the influencers for reaching their customers.

70% of online marketers plan to spend more money on Instagram influencer marketing. 2022 might be your year to jump in as well for this marketing strategy!

Trend 4: Consumer needs will be shaped by post-pandemic content

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The pandemic has forced marketers to adapt to the evolving content trends, which has challenged their existing customer relationships and brand development. While social media was undoubtedly used for promotion and advertising, its use for marketing had to be augmented during the pandemic.

During the pandemic, half a billion more people are using social media worldwide, which is a 14% rise in social media use from pre-pandemic times!

Trend analysis

To remain visible, brands need to communicate in local and comprehensive terms. It is now more essential to target specific potential customers based on relevance.

This means creating content based on generation, age group, gender, hobbies, etc. For all this, getting and using customer data is paramount for a customized experience.

Customers love videos and live audio more than text. Brands have to keep in mind when devising their content strategies.

To sum up

These are just some of the many trends that shall come in 2022. Brands that adapt to these changes and innovations will undoubtedly rise to the top because these trends are dictated not by any global industrial movement or innovation but by customers worldwide.

The need of the hour, in short, is to provide customized solutions.

July 4, 2022May 12, 2023

Event Branding Ideas for Your Business

“The corporate event last night was fantastic, wasn’t it? At least I feel so.”

“So do I! They truly came up with innovative ideas for branding their event.”

“Oh yes. And by the way, as I was checking their event page on social media, I noticed that their customers and clients were interacting heavily in the comment section. It looks like they are impressed as well!”

“Yup. Talk about outdoing yourself! Their company sure did raise the bar for event branding!”

This could be people talking about your company!

The above is no pipe dream, and this can be your reality if you know what to do and how to do it. Whether you’re planning to organize your first promotional event or your 100th one, you must know what works and what doesn’t.

Look at it this way:

Event branding budgets are typically between $1000 and $20000. Depending on your company’s success criteria, it can even be more. You don’t want such hefty amounts to be a waste because of ineffective strategies.

That’s where this article comes in. You’ll learn:

What are branding events?
How do you brand a business event?
What makes a branding event successful?
Why is event branding important?
Top corporate event branding ideas
Best event branding examples

But why should you believe us?

MIU is a revered digital enabler based out of Singapore. We assist brands in enhancing their reach and influence over respective industries with immersive experiences at corporate events. We ensure happening audience interaction using the dynamism and superiority of augmented reality and audio-visual experience.

This article is about your venture and how you can get better at event branding.

Before we come to the exclusive tips, let’s cover the basics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Image source: https://www.superoffice.com

What are branding events?

Event branding is all about showing the essence of your company’s brand through proper event marketing endeavors. Event branding can be:

digital
on-site, or
hybrid

How to do event branding for your business?

We’ll go through this in detail later, but for now, here are some tips to stimulate your mind.

Determine your brand identity
Keep your message consistent throughout the campaign
Create an affirmative presence on social media
Develop an inbound marketing campaign ahead of the event
Use the power of print media to create attractive flyers and posters
Give a unique name and tagline to your event.

What makes a branding event successful?

At the very least, you have to stand out from your competition when you host an event. All of your marketing elements should harmoniously stand together. Beyond that, you should leave a long-lasting impression on the audience, leaving them waiting for the next one.

Why is event branding important?

If you want to build brand loyalty, events are one of the most potent ways to keep generating that for a long time on auto-pilot. They give you ample scope for interaction with the audiences and thus enhances brand engagement.

One of the essential advantages of branding an event is that you have audiences’ complete attention, have a reasonable amount of time to work on the details and thus plan a more effective event. You must seize the opportunity to emphasize its position and enhance its impression on the customers.

Since the basics are covered, we can finally get to the meat of the matter- some of the top (and pretty unique!) corporate event branding strategies.

Corporate event branding ideas

Here are some unique corporate event branding ideas to get you thinking. These will work regardless of whether you’re hosting an event or have a display stand at someone else’s event.

Make these a part of your event branding arsenal to make memorable, positive impressions on your audience.

Here’s how to do it!

How about an immersive brand strategy?

Also known as live marketing, engagement marketing, and participation marketing, experiential marketing is sometimes lumped together with event marketing. However, it is much more than traditional conferences.

Experiential marketing focuses on creating unique and memorable customer engagement, direct in nature, and on promoting brand affinity and awareness.

Image source: https://squarespace-cdn.com

Experiential marketing strategies can take several forms. They can be:

A series of live events
One-off events extending over a couple of hours
Hosting corporate retreat events
Creating experiences that reflect your brand
Offering demos and samples
Holding activities at trade shows.

Regardless of the formal approach, experiential marketing boosts an event’s ROI.

While traditionally, experiential marketing works in a physical event, nothing stops you from using this strategy to create online events.

There are several benefits of experiential marketing, such as

Builds brand loyalty
Expands brand affinity
Generate leads
Creates brand awareness
Promotes cross-channel marketing efforts
Giving people a unique way to try out your product

Now, let’s come to our next strategy. It may not be as complicated as this one, but there’s no arguing about its effectiveness. Let’s talk about…

Branding the Bun

A fantastic way to promote your logo at events is by branding the free food you’ll be offering.

While guests will be attending for the valuable content and networking, good food served at the event can enhance audiences’ satisfaction. Attention goes there as well, so how about leaving behind your brand signature there?

The best way to satisfy your audience?

Satisfy their tummies and create a good impression!

Here are some ideas to get inside their minds through their mouth:

Print your logo on top of the jelly on gelatin cups
Put your logo on the back of fortune cookie papers
Imprint your logo on hard candies
Put your logo on toothpick flags or club sandwiches and buns, making them instantly Instagrammable!

Speaking of making things Instagrammable.

Hire a Pied Piper

image source: https://www.marketing91.com

You’ve all heard about the Pied Piper story.

How about replicating the same effect on your target audience?

You may not need a magic flute anymore, but you do need influencers and brand advocates.

Influencers and brand advocates; are public figures appreciated and trusted by a large number of followers. They take your brand to target audiences as a user, without the feel of promotion. As a result, they have more acceptability to the audience. They frequently share your content and products through social media or by word-of-mouth.

We suggest you leverage your brand advocates and influencers to:

Build up a pre-event hype
Spread word about the event post-event

Ask them to share personal pictures of them participating in activities related to your brand.

For instance, if your company produces fitness equipment, ask your influencers to share their pictures using that equipment. You can then share these images on your company’s Instagram page and promote your brand.

Sometimes it is essential to let your audience see what activities your company is involved in.

Show them the entire picture

Use a 360-degree camera to shoot the event and stream it live. It will let remote attendees freely rotate the view to experience your event from multiple angles.

You can bet your money that all the colors, logos and other brand signatures you have put around the area won’t waste. Online viewers streaming the event live from your event website shall see all your logos each time they change the camera angle! It’s a win-win for you both.

This is how you…

Give them some love

Attendees get take-home gifts from events, so this strategy may not be that unique. But you can’t deny how effective this is! Would this marketing and branding technique still be used if it wasn’t that effective?

Things you can gift are:

Pens
T-shirts
Tote bags

Personalize the items you’ll be gifting, and yes, don’t forget to put your logo on them.

You can imprint an important photo into promotional items like t-shirts, mugs and notepad covers. Personalization makes common items seem far more valuable because they have your company’s logo on it.

“But hold up!” you say. “We’re a small company that doesn’t have a big budget! We want to start small with these event branding ideas.“

Well, who said the budget could be a constraint? You need creative ideas that you know your audience will be receptive to and still have successful event branding.

We’ll show you how to do that right now!

Low-cost event branding ideas

The following ideas are not just cost-saving, but they have another huge benefit: they have a fast turnaround time. You can have these created and set up quickly if you’re under tight deadlines.

Lectern branding

image source: https://www.signpac.com.au

A lectern is a stand from behind which a speaker presents on stage. All eyes are on the stage during such times, and your audience will be hanging onto the very words your speakers utter.

Branding a lectern is a clever way to show your brand in such a crucial area of the event hall. The audience will click, and they will shoot videos at the lectern. And you know what that means, right? Every time a user shares those photographs, or videos, online or offline, your brand image will be seen. It’s a great exposure to your brand!

Interestingly, lectern branding is not expensive. You can just print the logo on the lectern’s surface or stick it with tape, tack and velcro. Since the logo is so light, you need not worry about it falling off.

By the way, you can customize your logo in any way you want.

Your investment is within $5! Now isn’t that a great deal?

Speaking of money well spent, you can also install a…

Social media prop

The best thing about social media props is that they are instantly Instagrammable! It’s a fantastic way to encourage attendees to instantly take photos and share them.

Social media props have your logo and company and marketing details, which means that when clicks of these props are shared online with event hashtags, your brand image and messages are promoted too.

Your investment: Between $10 to $30 for a small frame.

Our next point is somewhat similar and is just as effective for showing off your brand logo.

Sponsor backdrop

Is this truly an inexpensive way to promote your event?

Yes and no.

These can be pretty expensive if you go with a traditional pop-up or want a remarkable backdrop, but if you are going to tread the affordable path, go for an extra-wide banner stand. These are available in widths of 3.2 meters and offer the perfect background at a fraction of the cost.

Generally, background banners can be both cheap and easy to make. They give your event branding an extra edge by allowing special guests and celebrities to be photographed in the foreground.

You can even use 1m banner stands as signages for helping people move around the event venue.

You have seen some of the top creative event branding ideas for your business. Let’s now move further with some examples.

The best event branding examples

User conference

It’s a no-brainer that networking events are great for making connections and alliances. As long as they reflect your brand, they can be formal or informal. Even in the digital world, face-to-face meetings are still highly sought-after.

Lean Startup offered attendees inspiring experiences to promote first-rate guest interactions, at their newest conference. Lean Startup’s blossoming global community was its event’s central immersive networking theme. They even regularly updated their public potential attendees’ guest list to ensure everyone would meet like-minded individuals on arrival.

Publisher conference

image source: https://publishingperspectives.com/

There are mainly two types of events or, say, two kinds of corporate events.

One is a user conference focusing on customer engagement, developing thought leadership and nurturing prospects.

The other one is publisher conferences, where the focus is on driving revenue for media companies. Publisher conferences bring together readers of an organization’s materials and provide enormous educational sessions reinforced by partnerships with other firms.

Content Marketing World is the annual publisher conference of CMI (Content Marketing Institute). Every year, they have different themes. However, these themes are not randomly chosen concepts but after months of careful planning by their operations, content marketing, PR, and event planner or event management teams to ensure they align with the company’s goals. Themes can be offbeat as long as they reflect the event’s purpose.

Virtual events

https://blog.hubspot.com/hubfs/how-to-promote-virtual-events.jpg

Virtual events, like online conferences, use digital channels and platforms for participating in seminars and live lectures. Such events are significant for those with budget or travel issues.

Organizers of Google I/O used 360-degree cameras to capture keynote speeches live for virtual attendees. These videos were also put on YouTube for free-and-easy access. While their event was mainly for in-person attendees, their virtual counterparts were not left out and left wanting the same experience.

Wrapping up

In this article, you’ve learnt what we promised:

What are branding events?
How do you brand a business event?
What makes a branding event successful?
Why is event branding important?
Top corporate event branding ideas
Best event branding examples

Branding an event is very doable if you know when and which rabbit to pull out of the hat. Hopefully, these strategies will help you out for your next event, whether physical or virtual or a hybrid one.

Best of luck with your next event!

June 27, 2022May 12, 2023

6 Effective E-Commerce Platforms For Small Business in 2022

Let’s say that you somehow have made or procured a time machine. You take a seat, push the lever, and off you go to the 1960s! Of course, you’ll see many exciting things, but one of those will be how businesses functioned back then.

Shop owners had to open physical shops located at a specific place, and, and did a substantial amount of investment for building the stores even before any sale occurred. It was indeed very tough back then!

Having seen enough, you decide to come back to your timeline and do a comparative study. When it comes to physical shops, you’ll know that we still have them. In fact, despite flourishing online stores, millions of small traders and merchants still have physical shops. While there is no accurate and authentically available data, the number of physical stores worldwide is undoubtedly more than that of its online cousins.

Realities are transforming fast. The advent of, and constant evolution of, the internet has given rise to a new and exciting industry: e-commerce. It is an industry that rewards creativity, passion and entrepreneurship. Now, anyone can start their own company by launching a company website and selling goods and services. Such companies are location-independent, and there are no worries about physical footfall.

Let’s say that you’re an entrepreneur and have something to offer to customers. An online store is a viable option but it comes with certain costs. You cannot just create a website anywhere. Even though there are free websites, those are not good ideas for a business. You must consider a few things like hosting, domain name, SSL certificate, etc. Over the years, e-commerce stores have become virtual platforms for merchants, entrepreneurs and other business owners.

What is an e-commerce store?

6 effective e-commerce platforms — image source: https://cdn.searchenginejournal.com

E-commerce stores are websites that enable people to purchase goods and services from their comfort zones. Through such stories, you can accept and process orders, accept payments, manage shipping, transportation and logistics, and provide customer service in a completely regulated environment.

The scene today

Thanks to e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Wix and Square Online, business owners can now operate conveniently in the digital space and make the most.

The only problem?

Selling online is cost-effective, thus popular and efficient to sell more and generate more revenue. It simplified business, but that also means there’s a lot more competition. Now anyone can have their -Commerce store and get a piece of the proverbial pie. Many online platforms multiplied, each claiming to be the best e-commerce platform.

It creates yet another issue.

Small business owners are spoilt for choice when it comes to e-commerce platforms. Which one should they choose?

Here’s how to Choose The Best E-commerce Platform for your online shop

Choosing an e-commerce platform that suits your business is like choosing the postal address of your physical store. There are several points to consider, like its reputation, the support that it can provide and a few more.

Often we mistake following fellow ventures and their strategies, while businesses can be similar but never the same. The requirements of your competitor’s store might not be the same as yours. For instance, a company may need a user-friendly open-source website where one can experiment with inventory management systems, various web hosting and abandoned cart recovery, and more.

Others may desire a service which holds their hand throughout the journey. Open source platforms may not be suitable for all companies. Hosted solutions are better for beginners since they are user-friendly and come with various tools and features.

To help you pick the best e-Commerce platforms for your company, here’s a list of popular e-commerce platforms for small businesses.

6 popular e-commerce platforms for small business

Shopify

Shopify is as revered an e-commerce brand as AliExpress is for dropshipping. Shopify offers you some of the best sales features you can find, including powerful tools and a famous app market full of plugins.

If you’re serious about selling online and business growth, Shopify won’t let you down. It offers SaaS to customers and is specially designed for those serious about building their online store. With multiple advanced sales and site management tools, access to discount codes, 24/7 customer service, an integrated payment processor, and free SSL security certificate, Shopify leaves no stone unturned in delighting its customers. Optionally, you can also access new sales strategies.

Pricing: The introductory price is $29 per month.

Pros:

14-Day Free trial
Many plugins to pick
Integrated payment gateways
Unlimited products on every plan
Suitable for all kinds of businesses
Wide range of themes to choose from

Cons:

Minimal blogging platform
Fees can add up fast if you choose additional features and services.

Square Online

Square Online can be the perfect solution if you’re looking for a platform to combine both online selling strategies with offline sales. This website-building service is brought to you by Square and you can get your website here for free if you have a Square Point of Sale System.

Weebly powers Square Online. Is that good?

Yes and No. Let us explain.

Weebly is known for its limited customization options, which means you’ll face the same on Square Online. The brighter side is that Weebly is perfect for beginners. Building a website here is a no-brainer. You can have your website up and running. Your website can get ready in just a few hours! You’ll also have access to advanced inventory management functions, thanks to your access to the Square Point of Sale System. How does that benefit you? Well, let’s say that when someone purchases from your website, your inventory will get updated as well.

Thanks to its integrated and advanced AI, Square Online’s advanced features and benefits are there.. It allows customers to enjoy a better experience without spending a lot on each service separately. The same AI makes adding products and features to your e-commerce store a breeze.

Pricing: Square Online gives you both monthly and yearly payment options. You can save between 25% and 30% if you pay early.

Pros:

Fantastic for AI design
One of the best choices for beginners
Enviable inventory management tools
Combines the benefits of both online and offline selling
Excellent deal if you’re already using the Square ecosystem’s features

Cons:

Limitations in customization, especially with shop checkout
Don’t have many choices in payment processing options.

Wix E-commerce

Wix can be ideal for you if you value both money and performance for your e-commerce store. It delivers exceptional performance and is not unkind to website creator newbies either. Wix gives you total control over your store, tons of exciting features, hundreds of website templates, a range of payment systems, a secure checkout process, a drag-and-drop site builder, and an agile design.

When it comes to online stores, the presentation of products and proper showcasing of product galleries are essential. It is where Wix shines. Thanks to its comprehensive store management tools collection, you can now create stunning product galleries.

Another feature that customers love about Wix sites is that it gives you the option to calculate global tax and shipping on the back-end too.

You won’t find as many shopping features here as you can get on Shopify, but remember, Wix is not primarily an e-commerce website builder.

Wix may not have the most advanced tools on the market, but it makes e-commerce site building very easy, making it perfect for beginners.

Pricing:

Pros:

Multiple secured payment options
Large selection of plugins and apps
An exciting range of quality themes
Plenty of discount options and coupons available

Cons:

No data export option
Limited e-commerce features
Difficult to add extra functions since it’s not open-source

Squarespace

For those who want creative control more than other benefits, Squarespace can be a perfect choice. Squarespace is a cloud-hosted website builder and it has a similar style to Wix and provides you with some advanced marketing tools like quick integration with social media channels.

Squarespace is excellent in providing gorgeous online business and portfolio websites, but not so much in offering e-commerce features compared with industry giants like Shopify. However, you get an SSL certificate and a free domain if you pick their annual plan. Regardless of your plan, you get an agile and responsive checkout with zero transaction fees.

Pricing:

Pros:

Budget-friendly plans
Multiple templates to choose from
Above-average social media integration
Free domain when you choose annual plans
Great for those who require 24/7 customer support

Cons:

No app market
Large transaction fees
Limited payment options for you

Weebly

Weebly is a young company in this industry yet famous, especially among small business owners. It’s excellent for beginners as you need neither tech talent nor too much time to get started, and it is easy on your pocket.

The downside?

Weebly lacks some features which you’ll find with its competitors. For instance, you can’t sell across various channels like Facebook and Etsy. Another issue, which may put off some serious e-commerce website building purists, is the matter of website customization. On Weebly, website customization is noticeably more complex.

The good thing is you’ll get fantastic benefits like blogging and password-protected pages.

Weebly can be the perfect solution if you’re starting out with a few products. You can always move out to its competitors when your online shows scale up.

Pricing: Weebly has price tiers for those who need just a website, and for those looking to build an online store.

Pros:

Beginner-friendly and easy to use
Lots of responsive themes
Wide selection of integrated apps
Team collaboration and membership areas
Very affordable prices

Cons:

Limited design options
Not ideal for international websites

Ecwid

Ecwid is ideal for companies that want to integrate their business website, social media network and business page. You can also sync and manage your storefronts through Ecwid.

Ecwid is a popular solution as it is a cloud-based platform, which means you don’t need to download or install anything. If you have a company website, you can add Ecwid with a plugin such as WordPress, Wix, Joomla and Drupal. You can enjoy a good number of services and benefits essential for a serious e-commerce website owner. These benefits include:

responsive design
automatic language detection

Ecwid also allows you to add your site to multiple sites, social networks and blogs and lets you pick from a collection of online payment processes.

Prices: There is an annual and a monthly payment tier, with a free plan in both. You save 17% when you choose the yearly payment plans.

Pros:

Works with existing websites
Free plan in both monthly and yearly tiers
Reasonable premium plans
Ability to sell on social sites and marketplaces
Ability to create a mobile app for app stores
Automatic language detection
Multiple secure payment gateways

Cons:

High integrated payment fees
It is not a standalone solution or e-commerce (you’ll still need a website)
No customer support on lower-price tiers
Back-end stats are not comprehensive

To Sum Up

So there you have it! 6 effective e-commerce platforms for small businesses. There are pros and cons to all these solutions, so you have to consider them well before choosing one. Fortunately, we have given you the best e-commerce website building solutions on one page. These platforms offer you a free trial option before investing a dime; you can pay with either a debit or credit card. We hope you benefit from that and discover which platform will suit you best.