digital marketing Archives - Page 7 of 7 - MIU Your Creative Digital Agency

November 3, 2020June 17, 2021

E-Commerce Packaging: the Ins and Outs

When it comes to packaging design for online products, there are many factors that come into consideration. Beyond just making your product attractive, issues regarding eCommerce packaging have also been raised.

Ecommerce, or electronic commerce, is the buying and selling of products on an online store. The question comes in when considering how to design a product to stand out of the proverbial crowd, especially in an online setting.

With a huge majority of consumers turning towards online shopping in 2020, there is no doubt that the shopping experience has changed drastically. This change in consumer experience signifies huge implications for shopping design. As a result, it is important for marketers to learn how to better advertise their products on the virtual shelf.

This not only applies to products but services as well. Online retailing has taken the world by storm especially with the onset of Covid-19. Even as the situation stabilises, it is clear eCommerce platforms are not going away anytime soon, if at all.

We’ve talked about how important packaging is for a brand and the best steps to design an impactful packaging to grab your consumers’ attention in a brick-and-mortar store. But consider this: how does designing a product differ when it comes to doing it for an eCommerce store as compared to physical stores?

Well, since you are designing products to showcase on a digital platform, there are factors present that would not otherwise be considered for a physical setting. Research has shown that the online customer experience is more than just conveying product information — it must also mimic the sensory experiences that products evoke in the offline world. It is important to keep this in mind when creating your packaging so as to successfully draw in consumers in your e-commerce journey.

Factors to consider in an online packaging design

1. The product packaging must be photogenic

It goes without saying that you would be taking a photo of your product or service in order to promote it in online stores. If you want to appeal to your consumers with your product, you need to make sure it stands out, is attractive, and captures well on photos.

What usually works for the screen are often graphics that pop. In fact, graphics appeal to both the older and younger demographic. Older consumers with vision problems appreciate the clear visuals, and younger consumers think graphics look cool. Use it to further enhance your product design and draw in a larger online crowd. With emotional appeal in mind — think about what makes a product design feel personal and welcoming on the screen.

2. It must have an idiosyncratic point

It’s easy to go with the flow and design a packaging that has worked for millions of other products. But consumers online are no longer interested in the same thing. They want to see something different — unusual, even — that firmly grabs their attention and holds it. What has worked for brands in the virtual sphere are their unique shelf designs. So, embrace your weirdness and get creative!

Take a look at the packaging for the Festina Divers Watch. By encasing their watches in a bag of water, they are conveying the message that their watches are completely and utterly waterproof. This is a great example of an extremely memorable and innovative packaging. Consumers are sure to remember it for some time to come.

3. It must go well with the eCommerce site

You may not realise this, but it is not enough to just have a strategic packaging for your product. Consider how it looks when placed on the eCommerce website. Does it blend well with the web design, or does it clash? No matter how amazing your packaging is, that can come to nought if it does not go together with your website design — which will turn consumers away.

Minimalism and white space are all the trend right now. Consumers prefer a clean, simple look rather than a cluttered design with unnecessarily complicated fonts. They want to be able to tell at one glance the brand, the logo, and the product offered, rather than having to scan through plenty of labels just to find out the information.

The rise of eCommerce

As more online businesses spring up, the consumer shopping experience shifts bit by bit. This presents businesses with plenty of opportunities to get creative and adapt to the new situation. Instead of continuing what has always worked, it should be time to rethink and develop new ideas to grow alongside such changes.

Design evaluation is but an example. The shift online allows businesses to experiment with the virtual space, and how it interacts amongst different cultural, social and retail contexts. Perhaps with this shift, it is time to set new KPIs for design — one that succeeds by being quirky and idiosyncratic.

MIU offers an unlimited design package. You can contact us today for more details by clicking here.

October 29, 2020September 4, 2023

Businesses in the Face of Covid-19

Covid-19 and the ‘New Normal’

In the face of the Covid-19 era, many businesses and individuals have had to adapt to the new normal. From social distancing rules to travel restrictions, these measures to combat Covid-19 have affected the modus operandi of many businesses. The introduction of circuit breaker has seen many defaulting to having their employees work from home as a consequence. On the other hand, consumers have begun shopping online more voraciously.

With phase 3 of Singapore’s circuit breaker on the horizon, here are some things that one can expect.

Phase 3: The New Normal

Social, cultural, religious and business gatherings or events will be allowed to resume during this phase. However, gathering sizes would still have to be limited so as to prevent large clusters from arising. Individuals would also have to be aware to avoid close contact with each other.

ESG’s Enterprise Infoline, as it has done in the previous two phases, will continue to assist businesses in the last part of the three-phased approach to resume activities in a safe manner during this post-pandemic period.

“With advisories and guidelines that were applicable to different sectors as the COVID-19 situation evolved, the Enterprise Infoline provided business owners with help to navigate the compliance requirements; procedures that can be complex particularly for small and micro SMEs. ”

Ms Chew Mok Lee, Assistant Chief Executive

One phrase which has gained momentum in the past few weeks is the ‘new normal’. Despite the fact that things are looking up, it is important to note that the impact of Covid-19 will still be felt far beyond 2020. Remote work will most likely be retained in the ‘new normal’, so don’t expect the current situation to change too drastically. Until a vaccine is uncovered, it will be a fixed aspect of our lives.

What this means for businesses and their employees

Singapore’s phased approach to open the economy could mean that the ‘new normal’ may involve a cautious approach of alternating between remote work and the office. However, working life as we know it might never return to the normal we all remember.

This is not an indicator that productivity, creativity and profitability levels pre-Covid will not return for businesses. In fact, the changes that arose due to this pandemic may as well have presented more business opportunities in Singapore. Human beings, after all, tend to resist change and the ‘new normal’ allows businesses across the world to reimagine the impossible and shift to new ways of working and collaboration.

Leaders are redesigning their business operations to navigate this significant change and evolve the business for it to continue thriving. This has seen the acceleration of some non-traditional workforces. For instance, flexible working arrangements are expected to be the ‘new normal’ in some industries. Take Twitter as an example — CEO Jack Dorsey announced that employees can keep working from home ‘forever’ if they wish.

As everyone transitions through this period, the best way to ensure businesses’ survival in a post-Covid era would be to adopt a blended approach. Take the most efficient working methods from pre-Covid and combine it with the best methods mid-Covid, and we will see a strategy fit for commercial success.

When we look back at 2020 from hindsight, there’ll certainly be questions raised around company conduct. Organizations will be judged not only on how they managed the financial crisis, but how they supported their employees as well.

“People will remember how leadership and businesses dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic. They understand that it’s a difficult time for businesses and in most cases acknowledge that changes may be required due to changing business pressures. If these conversations are managed and handled in a human and authentic way, reputation and employer brand will be maintained and amplified.”

Robert Stone, Chief Talent Officer at McCANN

What this means for businesses and their consumers

As the Singapore government eases the country back into normalcy, many Singaporeans are remaining cautious and playing it safe. They intend to adopt a wait-and-see approach when it comes to resuming activities. Only 1 in 4 Singaporeans, for example, say they would be comfortable to visit restaurants if the option is made available. 30% say they will not join a cultural event or gathering in 2020; 28% say they will not visit a gym or take a sports membership; and 53% do not intend to travel this year even if it is allowed.

“Many marketers had hoped that once the Circuit Breaker restrictions are eased, life would get back to the way it was. Singaporeans, at present, do not feel that way as seen from their reduced spend intention at dining out or disinclination towards going on holidays or attending large events or gatherings.”

Prasad Shinde, Senior Client Officer at Ipsos in Singapore

Due to the circuit breaker, online shopping has seen a tremendous boom in activity. With digital shopping becoming increasingly pervasive in our everyday lives, it would be a smart move for businesses to grab this opportunity to go digital in order to expand their customer base. It is where most consumers’ attention have turned in the face of the lockdown.

In a survey conducted, 88% of Singaporeans said that they have bought something online during this period, of whom, 2 in 3 say that they had shopped for a new product category for the first time. While the bulk of online purchases are on groceries and food products, other categories saw some first-time online shoppers as well.

“There are clear shifts in the adoption of e-commerce for the purchase of items that were typically purchased in brick and mortar stores — groceries and fresh produce for example –- as well as an introduction to different omni-channel purchase options. It has become quite common for example for a purchase to be made via WhatsApp and for collection to be made at a curbside pick-up. The awareness and familiarity with such possibilities, as well as the perceived greater convenience to shoppers, may mean that demand for these options remains long after life goes back to normal, so it will be interesting to see whether any retail sectors look to make some of these permanent.”

Nick Hunter, Director of Market Strategy and Understanding at Ipsos in Singapore

This could very well signal to businesses the type of change they need to undergo in order to adapt to this ‘new normal’. Covid-19 has proven across all industries that it is possible to maintain high quality outputs and relationships even with remote work at the core of their strategy.

For digital advertising and branding, contact us.

October 27, 2020October 5, 2023

Large Marketing Firms versus Boutique Agencies

All about boutique marketing agencies

When looking for a digital marketing agency, it may be easy to just pick one amongst the list of well-known companies out there. After all, with the number of projects they have undertaken, this seems like the obvious choice. It’s easy to be wowed by the big brands they have worked with and the testimonials they have gotten.

Oh yes, we know all about the psychology of choice.

So why give boutique agencies a chance? Many have the misconception that businesses turn to these smaller agencies when they can’t afford the expertise of a larger company. Let me ask you this: if that’s the case, why are there still so many marketing firms sprouting up?

Betting your all on a boutique marketing agency that is barely established just doesn’t seem worth it when you have the budget to go big. But size doesn’t always matter, and neither does money.

Big brands have worked with smaller names just as well — and have been quite successful in their marketing strategy too! This only proves that boutique agencies aren’t just all bark and no bite. In fact, boutique agencies can just as well come up with the most creative digital marketing strategy for your company.

Still not convinced? We’ve laid down the pros and cons of large marketing firms against that of boutique agencies. The rest is up to you.

Why you should give boutique agencies a chance

Large agencies

Pro: Renowned for what they do

Established companies of course have plenty of testimonials behind their business. It’s easy to develop a sense of security knowing that these companies are reputable and have handled all sorts of projects. After all, if they have the marketing skills to make it, they certainly have the skills to write about it.

Con: Heavy politics and bureaucracy

One weakness that bugs large companies is the bureaucratic process that they so often adhere by. But remember, all big businesses were once small businesses, after all. It’s possible to get the job done without first waiting for the green light from the head of the department, who is also waiting for feedback from a higher committee. It’s always easier to add processes than to remove them. The larger a company gets, the slower the decision-making becomes.

Pro: More resources

Since large companies tend to have more resources to work with, it’s easier for them to stay competitive — and offer you the same resources as well. With a large agency, the many resources act as a security net that can allow clients to feel assured leaving their marketing plan in the care of these big firms.

Con: The Innovator’s Dilemma

Following the work of Harvard professor and businessman Clayton Christensen, the Innovator’s Dilemma argues that large companies default to a status quo once they have reached a certain level of success. Rather than breaking the mold to disrupt the equilibrium, they stick to what they know and only innovate within that certain area.

Boutique agencies

Pro: Budget stretches further

With lower overhead costs and agency fees, the money that you pump in for the campaign will be used to its full potential in the hands of a boutique agency. They are able to find ways to stretch your budget to its maximum, so you receive more bang for your buck.

Con: Inadequate management

Oftentimes in a small agency, there are only one or two people in the management team overseeing the whole process. This might mean that they do not have time to check-in thoroughly with each employee and the work they do. Without a dedicated management team, there is a greater risk of mismanaging occurring.

Pro: More control and flexibility

With fewer processes for each step, boutique agencies often have more control and flexibility over their work. This means that you do too since you have the final say. The small size of the team you are working with means that there is a lot more transparency — and thus accountability — that a boutique agency can offer you.

Pro: Niched and specialised

The only way boutique agencies are able to stand out in their field is if they find a niche that they are good at and position themselves as the leader in that niche. This way, they are able to compete with larger firms in the same industry.

Having a niche also helps them develop a stronger understanding of the work they do and thus allows them to hone their expertise in it, which may be something that a large firm is unable to offer. With their specialised knowledge, boutique agencies can then give advise on the best marketing strategies to undertake, leading to effective results.

What this means for you

Boutique agencies might not have many testimonials to go on, it’s true. However, this means that they rely a lot more on the outcome to prove their worth.

When it comes to a marketing agency, you need to discern which is the best partner to hire for your company.

Let us tell you — for a marketing plan to really succeed, you need to stick with it through and through. Long-term engagement is important, and if you don’t visualise yourself staying with the agency for a few years at least, then it is not the right one for you.

MIU offers a wide variety of services with comprehensive strategies to go along with it. As a client-oriented creative agency, we place a strong importance on the customer journey. Saying that we understand the importance of long-term engagement is not enough — this manifests in our policy of staying with our clients even after the work is done. With our diverse portfolio of work, we firmly believe that we can provide for you the service your company is looking for.

You can contact us by clicking here

October 22, 2020June 30, 2021

The Head to Toe of Video Marketing

Although video marketing is fairly new, the increasing global internet penetration rate has propelled this form of marketing into the spotlight. With the evolution of social media and the rise of accessible online tools, many businesses have quickly adopted this strategy into their marketing plan.

Video marketing explained

It is a known fact that videos attain more reach than images or text, making it very helpful for driving leads and sales. In fact, 72% of consumers prefer learning about a product or service through a video.

Let’s face it — stories sell. Videos provide more engaging content than images or text ever could. Many consumers are often too busy or lazy to read product descriptions or research on a service and would prefer to see your business in action. Videos do just that — they captivate even the laziest due to how easy it is to consume information in a video.

To meet this growing demand, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn have all become ‘video first’ and created new video-friendly placements like ‘live’ broadcasting, and ‘stories’. At the same time, the popularity of video-based platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, and Tik Tok have exploded and become staples of online video consumption. – Biteable

Video marketing goes beyond just creating and placing advertisements online. There are many types of videos you could do for your business. Some of the more notable ones include:

Product demos
Testimonials and reviews
Vlogs
Explainer videos
Tutorials
Behind-the-scenes
Live streams

Videos are great SEO material — YouTube is the most used website after Google, and that includes its search engines! They are an effective way to reach a massive audience due to their wide exposure and ease of sharing.

In fact, it is important to remember that 76% of consumers would share a branded video with their friends if it was entertaining. So create fun entertaining videos to encourage social shares. These can increase traffic to your site and generate revenue for your company. Don’t believe us? Check out Biteable’s summary of video statistics here.

Tips for creating a successful video marketing strategy

In order to plan a good video marketing strategy, there are a few factors you have to keep in mind. A good video marketing plan includes the steps we have listed down below but is not limited to them. Read through and see if you agree.

1. Establish your goals

The first step of any campaign should always be to determine what your goals are. Is your main concern to bring awareness to your brand and grow your audience? Videos are a good way to introduce yourself to the public and can be the start of a long-term relationship with your consumers.

If your goal is to increase brand awareness, your KPIs should focus more on total video views, shares, and view duration, rather than sales.

2. Define your audience

Before you can jump into crafting a video for your marketing campaign, you need to understand your audience. Who do you want to make the video for? Who are you trying to attract? More importantly, what are their interests and preferences? Without such information, your campaign can easily turn aimless.

3. Decide the content

Okay, so you have your goals and your target audience. What’s next?

Now, you can confidently decide what kind of content you want to put out and the type of video best suited for it. What is the message you want to get across? What sort of video would help you achieve that? Product demos, for example, would help in driving sales, so consider that if sales are your main target.

Always strive to keep your video entertaining yet educational, no matter the type. You need to keep your viewers engaged for your video marketing to be effective. Do remember to keep in mind the budget you need for this as well — which may depend on the type and reach of the campaign you want to run.

4. Consider which platform to use

Are you planning to upload your video onto YouTube? Or Instagram? Depending on your platform of choice, you might have to consider certain factors. For instance, video dimensions. Clearly, a vertical video would fit more appropriately if you were planning to post it to Instagram, particularly as a story or IGTV.

You would also need to keep in mind the video length. No one wants to watch a 10 minute-long explanation of your business on Twitter. Of course, even if you were to post it on YouTube or Facebook, data has highlighted to us that 2 minutes is the best length for optimal engagement.

Another important factor to consider is that 90% of consumers watch videos on their mobile, and that more than 50% of all videos are watched on devices. According to Google, smartphone users are twice as likely than TV viewers and 1.4 times more likely as desktop viewers to feel a sense of personal connection to brands whose video ads appear on their devices. Now isn’t that powerful?

5. Have a clear CTA

CTAs are an essential component of any marketing plot. Needless to say, there should always be a call-to-action at the end of your video. This tells consumers the next step you want them to take and nudges them to take action.

6. Have a good title and thumbnail

Unfortunately, first impressions will always play a part in any sort of information consumption. If neither your title nor your thumbnail stands out, consumers will most likely scroll past without registering it. Captivate attention with an interesting title and thumbnail!

You can even conduct A/B testing on your homepage with Google Analytics to determine which thumbnail or which title would work best. Alternatively, you can also conduct A/B testing on Facebook with their Facebook Ads Manager tool — if that is the platform you intend to use.

7. Track data and analytics

The last step, though not the least, is to measure how well your video is performing. This is where the fruit of your video marketing efforts lies. Observe metrics such as number of views, click-through rates, social shares and more.

Here’s an additional tip: since video marketing overlaps with content marketing, you can definitely make use of whatever videos you have on hand to generate more content! Include them in your articles, blog posts, and even email marketing campaigns. After all, statistics have shown that emails with videos can increase click rates by 300%.

Just like the statistics above shows, we know how big of a difference a video marketing campaign can make. At MIU, we take each of our marketing campaigns seriously and as our own. Whether we are dealing with video campaigns, email campaigns, or content marketing, you can find all of our services right here. Have any marketing needs? Let us know.

October 15, 2020July 12, 2021

The Comprehensive Guide to Brochures in Singapore

Brochures in the age of digital marketing

One may wonder if brochures still have a place in digital marketing. Don’t worry – this is absolutely a normal concern to have. While brochures may not be a business’s first option when it comes to marketing, they offer their benefits that other marketing methods do not provide. Let us explain to you why brochures won’t be going away, not even in 2020.

Brochures are cost-effective

Are you looking to make more bang for your buck while still managing to promote your brand? Brochures are just the thing you need. Not only that, but they are easy to distribute. You can hand them out at company events, exhibitions, and workshops. Alternatively, brochures can also strategically placed in various locations, including your promotional mail. Meaning, they will most likely help you reach a wider audience.

They are permanent and tangible.

While online ads are brief and only lasts as long as the consumer is on the webpage, brochures are permanent ads for your company. Many might prefer browsing through a tangible brochure and keep them for future reference rather than scouring the internet for information about your company that may or may not be there. Since they are always visible, having a robust graphic design for your brochure would grab attention quickly.

Brochures personalise your business.

They act as an easy way to connect with your audience. When you hand a detailed brochure over to your consumer, they will appreciate the effort taken to design it as they flip through each page. Not to mention, it is a great way to network — be it with your consumers or your competitors. Additionally, a brochure can go towards building brand awareness and credibility. Done right, and they can even contribute to your brand identity.

Multiple distribution channels

Are you worried about the relevance of brochures in the age of digital marketing? Well, guess what — technology has made it possible for digital brochures to be a thing. So if digital marketing is more your style, you can opt for e-brochures instead. Having both physical and digital brochures can expand your visibility, is a great way to introduce your company, and makes for positive press. Indeed, brochures are here to stay in the age of digital marketing.

Top 5 brochure design agencies in Singapore

1. Jehm Studio

Priding themselves on their artistry, Jehm Studio specialises in a wide range of designs, from brochures to posters to banners. With a heavy focus in a user experience strategy, this design studio creates stunning graphic designs that are unparalleled thus far.

2. Diseno Advertising

Diseno Advertising is one of the well-known design firms in Singapore, but did you know they offer brochure design services as well? Great at visual story-telling, Diseno is one of the best choices to turn to for your design projects. They even provide printing services as well — talk about a one-stop solution for all your brochure needs!

3. Breworks Design & Communication

From each photo and each word selected to include in the brochure, Breworks takes it seriously. They understand just how important each element plays a part in delivering your key message to your target audience — and know how to bring it out by assembling the best designs and layouts. With 17 years of experience, BDC certainly knows the ins-and-outs of the marketing industry.

4. Secret Hideout

Secret Hideout offers modern and versatile designs to capture your audience’s attention amongst the ever-changing trends. If you find yourself in urgent need of a brochure for your company, Secret Hideout can get the job done in just a few weeks. They take pride in being such a reliable agency, enough to deliver the brochures right to your doorstep.

5. MIU LLP

Innovative and futuristic, MIU has always had a flair for designing. Beyond the unlimited design package which we have talked about frequently, their design team comprises people from various backgrounds, contributing to the unique flavour they have. As a creative agency based in Singapore, MIU offers high-quality solutions for your business brochures.

How to decide if a brochure design agency is professional

With plenty of choices out there, how can you tell which agency has the right skills to deliver? One of the few ways is to see just how they design their brochures — do they include the necessary information? These are some aspects that should be present in a brochure.

The logo MUST be visible on the brochure cover. (Source: Online Logo Maker)

Company logo

This might go without saying, but the brand logo always has to be prominent on the first page of your brochure. Not only does it help with brand awareness, the clarity of whose brochure it goes a long way in making your brochure more appealing. No one wants to pick up and read a brochure if they have no idea who it is about.

Headline and subheadings

Along with the company logo, the headline should be right beside it on the cover page. This makes it clear to the reader what the brochure is about, and is a good drawing point for your target audience. From there on, keep in mind to have subheadings within the brochure as well, so that everything is organised and easy on eyes.

Graphic Design Portfolio | Graphic designer portfolio, Portfolio design, Book design — Help readers break down your brochure into chunks by having a content page for easy reference. (Source: Creative Market)

Content page

To help your audience understand what the brochure has to offer, a content page must be present inside it. Otherwise, you might lose your audience’s interest just as quickly as you grabbed it. When they know the contents of the brochure and how informative it is, they are more likely to read it as well as keep it with them.

Illustrations

This goes without saying. Nobody wants to receive a 10-page brochure that is filled with just text. Moreover, the human brain processes visuals faster than text, where up to 90% of the information it absorbs comes from visual outlets. Illustrations and graphic designs are a great way to attract consumers, so keep it as a vital aspect of your brochure!

Dental Brochure Design | | Brochure design, Brochure, Dental — Remember to include a CTA by leaving some form of contact information! (Source: Branding LA)

Contact information

It is important to remember to include your company’s information or any way that interested consumers can reach your business. Without this section, the whole purpose of the brochure is lost! I would recommend having at least two different points of contact in the brochure itself — be it your company website, Facebook, or social media channels.

And there you have it! Our comprehensive guide to everything brochure-related for your marketing needs. Now you’re ready to venture off on this new marketing journey. Need a brand consultant for your brochure marketing strategy? Find your solution at MIU today.

October 8, 2020July 21, 2021

Top Media Agencies in Singapore You’ve Never Heard of

With millions of media agencies out there, it can be difficult to find a market segment for potential customers. Having a defined marketing angle is but the key to thriving in the business of media planning and buying. While the basic responsibility of a media agency is to advise companies on how they can better advertise and present themselves to the public, there are plenty of ways one may do so. Here are some local media agencies that have carved out a niche for themselves based on their creative marketing.

5 best media agencies and their niche areas

1. Singsys – mobile app development

Many media agencies may boast of their web development services, but Singsys takes it a step further. Not only do they offer web design and web development services, but they also specialise in mobile web design and development as well. An increasing digital penetration rate means that there are plenty of internet users to market to. According to this study, 58% of site visits come from mobile devices. It is therefore important to put a focus on mobile development to attract the consumers there, and Singsys knows that. With expertise in iOS and Android app development, they are confident of providing a top-notch service that few other media agencies claim to have.

2. Hashmeta – gamification

Now that we all know that 58% of web visits stem from mobile devices alone, what better way to capture your audience’s attention than with online marketing? Hashmeta capitalises on their strong coding experience to up your digital marketing game… literally. With skills in gamification, Hashmeta creates more than an ad — they create an experience. From mini-games like spot the difference, catching games, and quizzes, audiences are hooked into the ad from the very start. To top it all off, Hashmeta ends their mini-games with vouchers that players can redeem. This allows them to generate leads and results in a win-win situation for both the consumer and the client!

3. Dog Digital – content management systems

Dog Digital places importance on its transparency with its clients. Right from the get-go, they do not shy away from revealing their digital marketing strategies. Content management systems such as Umbraco and Sitecore are a huge part of the tools they use — but these are not the secret to Dog’s success. The key ingredient is Dog Digital’s team of dedicated professionals that make sure consumers get the most personalised and seamless experience no matter where the content may be. Although Dog has a strong base in content marketing, they also offer other services (of which they also specialise in!) such as search engine optimisation, web and content architecture, as well as public relations and social media marketing.

4. The Secret Little Agency – immersive ads

If you’ve ever seen a Secret Little Agency ad, you will understand why they are so good at their job. By combining various elements to create a powerful multimedia ad, they easily and successfully intrigue any viewers that chance upon their advertisements, no matter the product or service being promoted. Just take a look at their portfolio! Hopping on the Animal Crossing bandwagon — whose popularity skyrocketed due to quarantine — The Secret Little Agency uses this adorable game to promote Deliveroo’s services. Another ad that they did for Grab saw them handing out water bottles to passengers across the island. After such an incredible stunt, customers’ had positive reinforcements towards the brand, and Grab’s user engagement on their social media actually doubled. Talk about impressive!

5. Wavemaker – positive provocation

Another agency that comes up with extremely creative ads is Wavemaker. You’d be surprised that their advertisements are even considered as one — because of how ingenious it is. What Wavemaker does differently is that they always make sure to include a positive provocation in all their ads. They did just that for Netflix, challenging the brand to take over the local television channel as their positive provocation. In order to promote Netflix’s original show Stranger Things, they broadcasted 80s movies back to back with fake throwback commercials weaved between. Indeed, with a heavy focus on user experience, their advertising solutions know no bound.

We’ve joined the club

MIU is another agency that goes beyond expectations by bringing you the best in their work. With plenty of media planning services offered, one thing MIU does right is having a client-focused digital marketing plan. As a creative agency, they’ve done their marketing research and know what’s up-and-coming in the industry. What they boast is their commitment to giving clients their 100%. Their unlimited design and epic SEO packages are created to serve their clients’ needs from start to finish — never stopping until results are seen. In fact, MIU strives to continue the communication between them and their clients even after the service has been rendered. After all, everyone wants long-lasting results — and that is what we’re here for.

October 1, 2020October 5, 2023

The Ultimate Guide to Advertising in Singapore

The world of advertising may be a complicated one to navigate, particularly in an era where options abound. You might get overwhelmed with having to make advertising decisions for your company. What should you advertise? Where should you advertise? How should you advertise?

First and foremost, you should understand that advertising is not the same as marketing. In fact, it is merely a subset of the larger branch known as marketing. Where marketing involves a lot more research, advertising is in its most basic form the act of promoting your product or service directly to your consumers.

At its core, marketing is a lot more customer-oriented, often consisting of data and analytics, where consumer behaviour is observed. Advertising, on the other hand, tends to be more product-oriented and involves putting information collected during the marketing stage into practice.

Most Common Types of Advertising in Singapore

illustration of traditional marketing vs digital marketing options — Examples of the types of advertising that exists (Source: 99Designs)

There are many ways to advertise your product or service in Singapore. Depending on your targeted audience, budget, and the product or service you are advertising, you may consider various platforms to promote your business on. Here are some of the most accessible types of advertising in Singapore:

1. Print advertising

One of the earliest forms of advertising available, print advertising refers to any type of promotion done on paper, such as in newspapers or magazines. This category can also include brochures, flyers and leaflets that can be handed out to consumers.

2. Cable TV advertising

Cable TV was also an early form of advertising that arose in the 20th century with the advent of television. TV ads are commonplace in Singapore, often manifesting as commercials that play during programme breaks. A huge demographic of Singaporeans still watch TV, so this is a good alternative to print advertising.

3. Mobile advertising

We’ve all gotten one of those messages before (Source: Disruptive Advertising)

Another device you can tap into for advertisement purposes, besides cable TV, is mobile phones. Although usually only used by specific industries (e.g. banks, insurance companies), it is a pretty well-known form of advertisement. Surely, every one of us has at least gotten an advertising message once in our lives — unless you don’t own a mobile phone.

4. Digital advertising

An up-and-coming form of advertisement, digital advertising involves anything that is conducted via online platforms. The most well-known examples include Google ads, social media ads such as TikTok Ads, and even paid content marketing. The online market is a huge base you could tap into, and many companies have begun to undergo digital transformation. Having an online presence is now seen as a necessity.

5. Outdoor advertising

Best department Store in orchard road - Robinsons The Heeren, Singapore Traveller Reviews - Tripadvisor — Digital billboards such as the one at Robinsons are but one example (Source: The Hustle)

Beyond the aforementioned types of advertising, the last type of advertising you can find in Singapore are outdoor advertisements. They generally include billboards, bus stop ads, display ads on the MRT and other such signage. Often placed in high traffic locations, outdoor ads are a quick way to get your message out there and attract your intended audience. Government ads tend to employ this method as a way to efficiently educate the general public.

How to Launch a Successful Advertising Campaign in Singapore

As previously mentioned, advertising is merely a subset of marketing. In order to conduct an effective advertising campaign, it is important to employ other marketing strategies along with your advertising campaign.

To plan an effective marketing campaign, we recommend companies to seek creative agencies for their marketing services. It is not always easy to come up with an impactful ad — look at this NETS e-payment ad that suffered backlash for its ‘brownface’ controversy.

Avoid pun-ishment this New Year! (Source: AsiaOne)

Of course, it is also helpful to look at past cases of successful ads that were done. These ads by the Singapore Police Force have received much praise for their witty yet impactful content. One of the reasons why such ads worked for the SPF was because they understood their audience. Knowing that the majority of their online audience preferred humorous content, the SPF crafted their ads to appeal to them.

With our experience in advertising as a digital marketing agency, MIU is confident in our advertising campaign ideas. Our advertising plans are merely a small part of our marketing package — browse the services we offer for a deeper understanding of our company. If you believe that our working style aligns with your company’s, you can hit us up for a free recommendation! After all, who doesn’t like free stuff?

September 15, 2020October 5, 2023

The Complete Breakdown of the Types of Digital Marketing

Digital marketing has been on the rise in the past couple of years and has become a necessity for brands, particularly in Singapore. With Singapore having the highest digital penetration rate in Southeast Asia, it is easy to see why. As we enter this digital era, the way we consume and process information has changed along with the way we shop. It is therefore important for brands to adjust the way they market themselves, too.

At this point you might be wondering, what exactly is digital marketing and how is it different from the standard marketing process? There are many aspects to digital marketing, from web development to content marketing, and it can be easy to mix them up.

7 facets of digital marketing in 2020

SEO Agency VS In-House SEO: Why You Need A SEO Agency Now? [2020] - Nexis Novus — SEO refers to the process of boosting your ranking on search engines. (Source: Nexis Novus)

1. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

This is the most commonly known form of digital marketing — with over a thousand searches for “SEO agency” on Google each month, businesses are vying to make themselves relevant in this cutthroat world of competition. Knowing SEO is easy. Understanding it takes a lot more work.

To build up SEO on your website in order to rank higher on search engines, you must first understand how search engines work. Beyond just including major keywords with high search volume on your website, it is important to also look at off-page SEO. This includes backlinks — external websites that link to you — which can easily influence the amount of organic traffic coming into your website just as much.

2. Content marketing

How to do Content Marketing for Pharma | BlueNovius — Create, create, create! (Source: BlueNovius)

With the majority of people in Singapore heading online, it is also just as important for a business to have a strong online presence. It is so vital now for a brand to have their own website — the lack of a website actually screams unreliability. According to a survey, 72% of users look at websites when finding information about a brand, with 63% of these users citing it as their third most trusted source of information. More than half of these users will browse the company’s website as well. If this doesn’t indicate to you how important it is for a brand to build their own website, what does?

More often than not, a company blog allows you to showcase your expertise in the industry to potential customers, and generates search traffic for your business as well. Content marketing is often tied in with SEO in order to better market your brand and increase the success of the campaign. If done right, it will lead to traffic growth, increase brand awareness, and even convert website visitors into customers for you.

3. Social media marketing

How to Repurpose Top Content for Social Media Posts — Social media marketing is all the rage now – after all, who doesn’t use it? (Source: Digital Marketing Institute)

Webs aside, it is also just as important for brands to have a presence on social media as well. Just in 2020 alone, an estimated 3.8 billion people are using social media, and this figure is expected to increase to 4.4 billion within the next 5 years (Statista). Indeed, digital penetration is an unstoppable phenomenon. Not only that, 79% of our population in Singapore are on social media as well (Talkwalker).

Just as content marketing does, having a good social media marketing strategy will increase brand awareness, improve traffic, and generate leads for your business.

4. Web design and development

Web Design Best Practices For Your Next Website Project — First impressions are important – and so is your website’s user experience. (Source: Kinsta)

As previously mentioned, the number of online users who look at a company’s website exceed half — meaning that the majority of online users, which are your potential customers, would come across your website! It is therefore essential to make sure your website is not only functional, but user-friendly and visually appealing as well.

A website development agency will help brands improve the layout of their website, making sure it is not only user-friendly, but aesthetic as well. A website with a good user interface will be sure to convert online visitors to customers much more successfully than one without. More often than not, this requires the expertise of a digital marketer with knowledge in the user experience, which a web development agency offers.

5. Pay Per Click (PPC)

What hotels should look for in a pay-per-click program | Hotel Management — Convert clicks into revenue with PPC ads. (Source: Hotel Management)

PPC is a type of advertising that drives traffic to your website through online advertisements, in which the publishers are paid per click. Google Ads are the most common form of PPCs, where you are able to pay to get your link as one of the first results on the search engine. Many other well-known PPCs include paid ads on Facebook, Twitter ad campaigns, and sponsored messages on LinkedIn.

6. Email marketing

Beyond creating content for their website, brands can often reach out to their audience via email marketing campaigns. These usually include newsletters, holiday promotions and other follow-up emails. Email marketing campaigns are good for promoting events, discounts and any other relevant content.

7. Digital Public Relations (PR)

Get to know the best PR agencies in Egypt | Amwal Al Ghad — Maintaining good relations with your audience is essential. (Source: Amwal Al Ghad)

Of course, it is not sufficient to keep your content strictly to your business website — you need a boost from various other sources as well! This is where digital PR comes in — with a PR agency, you would be able to secure online media coverage with other content-based websites such as digital publications or blogs. This can help create backlinks to your website as well, boosting your SEO.

Besides sourcing for media opportunities, PR also includes the handling of customer relations, such as any comments, questions or reviews that might surface online. When customers see that you are actively making an effort to communicate with your customer base to make things as transparent as possible, they are more likely to view your brand in a positive light — which helps to humanise your brand, generate productive conversation, and allows you to deliver impactful messages regarding your brand.

How this changes the way you look at a digital marketing agency

So now that we understand the various types of digital marketing that exists, how do you know which marketing agency you should look for? Well, although there are thousands of digital marketing agencies based in Singapore, you need to find one that complements your needs. After all, the best marketing strategy is to engage in all of them – tastefully.

Knowing that you’re about to embark on a great marketing journey, it is vital to find an agency that makes the experience as comfortable and incredible as possible. Remember, you are building a long-term business relationship with the agency, so make sure you stick with one that works best with you.

At MIU, we guarantee client satisfaction by keeping communication lines open even after each project, so we can always ensure that we are always hitting success with each goal met. Take a look at our portfolio and let our work speak for itself.

September 8, 2020September 4, 2023

3 Digital Marketing Companies in Singapore that Stand Out

3 digital marketing companies in Singapore that stand out

With so many digital marketing agencies out there, it can be hard to decide which one you should work with. For an agency to stand out amongst the millions out there, they have to be doing something right. Here are three digital marketing companies in Singapore that have proven their value.

Moonshot Digital is a company that understands just how important digital marketing is to a business. As such, they have branded themselves not just as any marketing agency, but as one that caters to luxury brands. With a firm understanding of the target audience, Moonshot Digital has worked with brands like Givenchy, Kohler and Esquire to appeal to the affluent consumers in Asia.

Amber Creative is a digital marketing company in Singapore that particularly specialises in web development and web design, as well as PPC advertising. Their website itself speaks for their expertise, but if you are still not convinced of the work they do, just look at their case studies where they have helped many clients in their digital marketing needs.

MIU LLP may seem like any other digital marketing company at first glance, but their strengths lie in their many digital marketing packages that clients can choose from. With each package being catered specifically depending on the needs of their clients, MIU LLP promises a meticulous digital marketing plan for each of them. Not only that, but they believe in keeping the communication going even after the campaign has ended. After all, analysing the outcome is just as important as the process itself — this will help to refine the campaign for better results.

How to decide on which digital marketing company to work with

It may be all and well for us to tell you which digital marketing agency in Singapore is worth your time, but ultimately, you know your business best. To find an agency that suits your needs, you have to determine what exactly you are looking for in one. After all, it has become increasingly common for businesses to adopt different digital marketing strategies at the same time. Having one agency to handle them all makes the process much easier. Not only will they already know your likes and preferences, but they most likely already have a prior understanding of your customers.

For a digital marketing agency to perform to the best of their abilities, they need to have an understanding of the types of digital marketing that exists. This allows them to guide their clients along on their marketing strategies, no matter what area they are looking for help in.

However, being the top digital marketing agency is not as simple as that. To assist you in deciding what makes a digital marketing agency the best, we have compiled some traits that each agency needs to have.

Digital Literacy — You want an agency that knows what it’s doing. (Source: University of Miami)

Digital Expertise. Of course, this goes without saying. A digital marketing agency without digital expertise is just ironic. But how can we measure something as intangible as expertise? One way is by gauging how strong the agency’s online presence is. Does the agency have a great website that is consistently being updated? Do its social media platforms stay relevant to current news and topics? More importantly, look at the track record of the digital marketing agency in question. Have they been able to generate leads and sales for their clients in the digital space? This will give you all you need to know about the agency’s proficiency.

Data-driven. Regardless of the strategy that you or the agency might implement, it is extremely important to be able to measure the data generated. Analytics is everything in digital marketing, and you should focus on the return on investment (ROI) you get. You are running a business after all. Make sure the agency that you choose is upfront about their statistics.

5 Ways You Can Build a Customer-Focused Company as a CEO — A satisfied customer is the best strategy of all. (Source: SpotOn)

Customer-driven. It is important for an agency to know what their client wants, but it is even more important for them to know what the customers of their clients want. Knowledge of customers will ultimately be what produces results – because if your customers are satisfied, you will be too.

Communication and transparency. We cannot stress this enough. Good interpersonal communication drives the team to work efficiently. Good intrapersonal communication allows the team to work effectively. The point is, if they are clear on what you want, it will translate onto their work. This is where transparency is also important – successful agencies will ultimately focus on the long-term growth and revenue of their clients, rather than misleading them with vague numbers and figures.

10 Moves To Unleash Creativity At Work For Better Output — Digital marketing is all about breaking through the clutter and capturing your audience’s attention. (Source: Vantage Circle)

Creativity. Just as you are unable to decide which agency to work with due to the millions of choices out there, an agency must be innovative in order to stand out. Rather than following trends, look for a digital marketing agency that sets the trends. When they can think out-of-the-box and push their limits, they will truly be able to ascend to the title of ‘Best Digital Marketing Agency’.

Still unsure of your choices?

Why not explore with us? Whether you are looking to launch your business into the online sphere or seeking to improve your online presence, digital marketing is a necessary step. You can start your digital marketing journey with our free consultation here – no commitments required. Let us enlighten you further and guide you on the best route to take for your company.

August 25, 2020July 23, 2023

3 Reasons Why Photography is So Important

Photography for Digital Marketing

When we talk about digital marketing, visualisation is an essential aspect that cannot be separated from the topic. Where traditional marketing prioritises verbal communication from the business owner, digital marketing builds on visualisation to attract consumers. With various techniques in brand visualisation, business owners should be as creative as possible to make their brand stand out amongst their competitors.

To understand why photography is so important in digital marketing in 2020, we have to look at what current circumstances entail. In this period of Covid-19, businesses are expanding online more urgently than ever. With the restriction that the government has implemented on going out and mingling in crowds in recent times, people are turning to online shopping more than ever.

So, it’s no argument that digital marketing has seen a huge surge in demand during this period. And while you can argue that text is vital even in the age of digital marketing, you cannot deny that images are just as important, if not more. To put things in clarity, we have laid out the reasons why photography is an essential aspect in digital marketing.

1. Photography is irreplaceable

Many business owners use graphic designs or animated illustrations nowadays when working on digital marketing for their brand. But we cannot replace how photography has already become an essential part of brand visualisation and digital marketing. Photography brings to the table a different perspective that cannot be carried across in graphic illustrations, animation, or videography.

Already, this conjures up an image in people’s minds on what one might be able to do when travelling in Australia (Source: Tourism Australia)

For example, if you run a travel agency, the best way to attract customers is by showing them images of travel destinations rather than merely describing the place. Certainly, this is way more effective than having graphic or animated illustrations in terms of digital marketing. Customers will have a clear image of their planned destination when you present a real-life travel destination right in front of their eyes.

2. Content with images get more engagement

Studies show that tweets with images tend to perform better in terms of engagement. (Source: adweek)

The use of photography on digital marketing itself still remains the main content strategy for online marketing. According to some studies, content with real-life images had a higher audience engagement. It was found that tweets which included images get 89% more favourites and 150% more retweets on Twitter than plain text tweets. The same thing was observed on Facebook.

For Facebook, posts that include images get 53% more likes and 104% more comments than those with just words. (Source: Mike Gingerich)

On the other side, pages with images or videos on blog posts on websites draw, on average, 94% more views than their text-only counterparts. (Business2Community) In conclusion, images can do a better job of telling stories, conveying emotion, selling products & services. After all, 93% of human communication is visual. (source)

3. We’re more likely to remember pictures

What do you remember more, pictures or words? (Source: moosend)

Photography has been used numerous times in the past to attract audiences to look at the brand in question – and is still being used for the exact same reason today. The rapid growth of smartphones, digital photos, and the ability to instantly share images has put the use of photography at the forefront of online marketing strategies.

Many businesses still use photography as their main element in digital marketing. And this is for a reason – humans retain information better when it is presented with a visual. Also known as the picture superiority effect, this phenomenon was found to enable us to remember 65% of the information fed to us via an image, as opposed to a mere 10% with just text.

Perhaps it might be because real-life photos can evoke various emotions in one image. Even if that were not the case, the emotions brought about in photography can also be capitalised on to draw a large number of views to your digital marketing campaign. This process will therefore bring your audience perception of your products or services.

There is a phrase that goes: a picture is worth a thousand words, so selecting the right photography for your brand will bring a strong foundation for your brand visual campaign. We have come up with an unlimited design package precisely because we understand the importance of having visuals in digital marketing. With MIU, we are always ready to meet the needs of our clients in the age of digital marketing – visual or otherwise.