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AEO Optimisation for Business Success

Introduction

 

An illustration of a chatbot sitting atop a phone, appearing to be answering customer queries and taking calls, symbolising a digital feature built for Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO).

Search behaviour, user intent, and your brand converge with AEO to provide consumers with formatted answers to their queries.

 

Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) is your key to industry visibility. What is Answer Engine Optimisation? While SEO leverages keywords for your brand’s search engine visibility, AEO prioritises user intent by accurately matching user queries with answers.

As digital spaces prioritise conversion-oriented actions, businesses must adapt their strategies to keep up with competitors vying for a top spot on online search engines. An uptick in featured snippets across social and search platforms enables you to be the definitive answer for user queries today – if you know how to leverage it.

AEO differs from traditional SEO – being skilled in both is key to industry scaling. Read on to discover how to stay top-of-mind with AEO.

1. Improved User Engagement

The world is busier than ever, and your audience is always on the go. User queries have become increasingly active to suit – as in users are actively seeking out information for jobs, errands, and interests, and they want answers fast. AEO optimises your content for quick answers right at the top of search results (Position Zero).

It’s a surefire way to power your customer experience.

Prime SERP (Search Engine Results Page) placement brings:

   1a. Increased visibility, positioning your brand as a go-to source for answers.

   1b. Improved conversion rates when coupled with direct CTAs for your product

   1c. Enhanced user experience with quick answers to consumer queries.

   1d. Higher click-through rates, encouraging users to view your other offers.

It benefits as a long-term advertising tool for your services and marketing collateral.

Direct answers mean lesser bounce rates, with users staying on your pages longer and with focused intent for further information. Maximise this by hyperlinking your socials and blogs for improved traction to your digital ecosystem. Reference your touchpoints organically so your audience sees the suite of your offers as a credible and valiant first impression.

 

2. Identifying User Intent

Is your audience seeking informational, navigational, or transactional content?

Understand what your target audience is looking for by focusing on question- based keywords:

Keywords Examples
What What is influencer marketing?
Why Why is AEO important for small businesses?
How How can I boost user engagement?
Best Best strategy to increase website traffic?

Notice how the questions are in a natural, conversational tone. Get to the root of user queries, considering how your audience would think to ask for this information. According to Yaguara, about 20.5% of the global population uses voice search for their queries.

Optimising content to be voice-search-friendly for both machine and consumer identification lets users engage with your brand on the go. Answer engine optimisation tools like bullet points, numbered lists, and FAQs direct search engines towards your answers quickly. It gives your work the advantage of appearing on AI-driven interfaces like Google’s featured snippets and Knowledge Panels.

Digital community-based platforms like Reddit, Quora, and LinkedIn are great for qualitative insights into what’s on the ground. Understand your audience’s key concerns, preferences, and industry pain points. They tell you what’s in vogue and future trend predictions to keep you industry-competitive.

Once you have your content, be quick to answer queries in your first sentence – skip the fluff and avoid lengthy introductions. The goal is:

Get your point across in one short paragraph.

Deliver a high-authority answer by supporting it with statistics and definitive language to position you as the ideal source for industry expertise (and bonus points if it entices readers to learn more about you).

 

3. Add Schema Markups

Schema markups are the holy grail of AEO engagement: they help clean up your content formats for search engine retrieval.

Ever seen one of these?

Electronics leader “Apple” uses AEO to include their brand overview, products, and specifications for easy searchability.

They’re called rich snippets – rich with information. Schema markups make all the information one would need readily available before users even enter your site. Services, pricing, and reviews are transparent upon first impression, paving the way for fantastic user experience and improved conversions.

According to Search Engine Journal, users click on rich results 58% of the time, a stark contrast from non-rich results’ 41% at present.

Here are examples of schema markups:

3a. Local business schema

Catch the eyes of locals by including details of your business:

      • Business name
      • Address
      • Contact
      • Operating hours

3b. Product schema

      • Pricings and discounts
      • Star ratings
      • In-stock status

Schema markups are great for brick-and-mortar businesses wanting to get their names out there. It’s long-term exposure for a fraction of the cost requested by consistent advertising collateral. Schema markups prioritise content over popularity, evening the playing field between large and small businesses. 

Leveraging schema markups is the difference between your online identity appearing as a one-liner or as a holistic presentation of your key services. When competitors have already begun to leverage this asset, utilising this feature remains a no-brainer for the business owner looking to expand in a competitive global market.

 

4. Build Topical Authority

Part of your brand being a leading resource for information is asserting your knowledge on the content your consumers are seeking answers for. Cover entire content pillars: overviews, technical strategies, and relevant market research. Hyperlinking external credible sources shows that you’ve done your research, and inspires affiliation with other industry leaders.

It’s a structured way to ensure your sites and blogs remain qualitative and industry-forward. Position yourself as the one-stop authority for informed industry developments, powering returned engagement and audience trust. 

Enable this through comprehensive market and consumer research. What subjects does your audience expect you to lead on? What topics on your socials best perform? It’s the best repository for understanding why your audience resonates with you and what makes you stand out. Go beyond the basics and showcase your expert commentary within these strategies, offering a sneak peek into your own services for free promotional advertising.

 

Conclusion

AEO is a phenomenal tool for staying at the top of search pages and your target audience’s minds. More often than not, you have the information for business scaling – AEO just helps you format it for digital success. 

Employing the expertise of a digital marketing agency lets you streamline your work across all platforms, optimised according to researched content pillars. Big corporations have already leveraged this tool to appeal to the masses.

Stay competitive with expert SEO, and take your content a notch higher with distinguished AEO proficiency. A blend of these tools breathes longevity into your branding, ensuring your services stay industry-and-consumer resonant through changing trends.

MIU’s in-house team of experts handles marketing, branding, and strategic scaling for you, in one place. Check out our suite of services on our site, built for excellence and bespoke for you.

Leave the details to us.

 

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TikTok Marketing for Your Business Benefit

Introduction

A person holding a phone with the TikTok logo shown towards the viewer, symbolising them opening up the social media platform.

TikTok’s footing as a digital engagement powerhouse serves as the optimal platform for your brand’s digital scaling.

TikTok has emerged as one of the leading social media platforms worldwide. What started as a space for quirky dance trends has become a potent digital engine for outreach and engagement.

According to The Social Shepherd, 61% of TikTok users discover new brands while on the platform. It’s an excellent tool for getting your brand name out there. Short-form content creation encourages videos that get right to the point, a signature aspect of TikTok reels.

 

1. Unmatched Engagement

TikTok reports the highest number of actual user engagement against any other social media platform. The age of “doomscrolling” is upon us. The saturation of content-heavy feeds is turning media into noise for us to bide the time.

TikTok videos serve as a respite through direct CTAs and customised algorithms. Users’ “For You” pages (FYP) are now as curated as their “Following” tabs. TikTok is all about the “new”. New trends, new creators, and new companies. It’s how businesses, both big and small, fuel their bread and butter from the platform – leveraging popular trends to resonate with their target audience.

Hook viewers’ attention within the first three seconds to ward off the dreaded doom scroll. Make your TikTok content catchy – save the lengthy monologues for YouTube and blogs. Instead, find the “in” thing for your target demographic now. Reel them in with what makes them tick and encourage the hands of action-driven conversions!

Just remember that the “in” thing changes about every other day.

A map representing connectedness, with hands reaching out and supplying hearts and a megaphone, symbolising likes and shares, respectively.

TikTok epitomises the connectedness of social media platforms, making it quick and easy for your content to reach global audiences.

Consistent engagement with your audience lets you stay on top of trends. Analyse which posts perform best and find common themes between them. Likes, comments, and shares tell you exactly why your target audience flocks to you. Leverage your TikTok analytics when crafting business objectives for a concise direction on future strategies.

A digital marketing blueprint lends a peek into the consumer’s mind. See what the collective is thinking and get a sense of what future content pillars can look like from you.

Dynamic trend cycles require quick content output and a repository of future works at the ready. The marketer’s world is incredibly fast-paced, an ode to AI’s takeover of the written word. Utilise human-focused TikTok features like “stitches” to boost credibility and search engine optimisation (SEO), aligning with consumers and industry peers. Gain brand awareness while diversifying your social media content.

Leverage shifting TikTok trend waves to your advantage – use their frameworks to become ever-adaptive.

 

2. Portal to The Young

TikTok boasts a uniquely young audience— millennials and below, with Gen Z making up most of its demographics. According to a Statista study, in 2024, 18 to 24-year-olds made up 34.8% of its global user base, and 25 to 34-year-olds formed another 34%.

The young by far are the most trend-driven and digitally savvy generation. Self-actualisation is the name of their game. TikTok trends now centre on self-identity and finding community. In short, they are active engagers who shape trends and influence purchasing decisions.

The platform’s main trends emphasise on lifestyle and “vibe-focused” branding. The arrival of “Brat Summer” (English singer-songwriter Charlie XCX’s digital marketing campaign marvel for her 2024 “Brat” album) was a testament to the Gen Z’s search for self-identity and self-actualisation after years of consuming generic online media. This demographic longs to align with archetypes for a sense of belonging.

A screengrab from a website’s article titled “Demure vs. Brat summer: Which side are you on for the battle of TikTok’s newest trends?The two biggest TikTok trends of 2024 battled for dominance – is a “Demure” or “Brat Summer” vibe the new favoured aesthetic?

 

Corporations have caught up to this shift, promoting services to suit these various archetypes:

Brand Name Logo Company Branding
Coach
  • Rebranded towards trending nostalgia of the early 2000s image and the designs of the time.
  • Gained a strong consumer base of Millennials and Gen-Zs who appreciated its unique and charismatic branding.
Jaguar  
  • Jaguar’s “Copy Nothing” campaign featured androgynous models for inclusivity and youth-centric marketing.
  • A pre-emptive pivot towards younger audiences separates them from locomotive competitors’ traditional marketing strategies and demographics.
Alo Yoga
  • Capitalised on the “health and wellness” trend, honing in on the “Pink Pilates Princess” archetype.
  • Established wellness centres acting as hotspots for content creators.
  • Formed an “aspirational wellness” image for influencer content and increased public traction.

 

TikTok has solidified the age of the influencer. User-generated content (UGC) brought authentic marketing to the forefront, with users trusting UGC product promotions from their favourite influencers over hyper-curated TikTok ads straight from corporations. Reposting UGC content boosts sales and fosters your credibility, making your feed dynamic and conversions high.

TikTok is crafted for engagement. Model your products or services for online virality and experience steady exposure and conversions with organic content.

 

 

3. Level Playing Field

TikTok’s algorithm gives businesses a fair chance at success. It stands out from digital contemporaries by prioritising content relevance over follower size, meaning companies both big and small, have an even bet at achieving content virality on the platform.

This is game-changing for corporations. Gone are the days where expensive campaigns were a necessity for exposure, nor is that form of advertising still preferred amongst the Millennials-and-younger crowd anymore.

On TikTok, authenticity beats production quality. A new account with zero followers can go viral overnight from a single video! Filter your content through to your target audience based on their interests and user behaviour. Your demographic reach is crafted for you.

Your content takes over from there. Capturing and holding your audience’s attention contributes to increased video completion rates – higher rates equate to better reach. Leverage relevant hashtags and trends to land on your target audience’s FYP, and curate your content according to what’s most likely to go viral.

TikTok has steadily become an influencer marketing hub, with a growing emphasis on supporting small creators and businesses. In fact, the hashtag ‘#SmallBusiness” is currently sitting at 31.5 million posts.

A picture taken from the TikTok app showcasing its “#SmallBusiness” hashtag, with 31.5 million posts under the social media trend. The hashtag’s caption mentions a “#SmallBusiness Post Contest” held by TikTok, symbolising their commitment to aiding small companies.

TikTok prioritises your exposure – a win for your engagement scores is a win for their overall user traction.

Social media centres on connectedness. Advertising your products on the TikTok Shop leads viewers directly towards making a sale, enabling you to advertise and fulfil conversions all in one app.

TikTok marketing is designed for you to succeed.

 

Conclusion

TikTok has taken the digital world by storm since its inception, becoming a hub for consumer engagement, international trends, and serious sales conversions. Its content-first algorithm has fundamentally changed the nature of marketing in the modern day, and sales-focused UI features have returned significant profits for businesses savvy enough to leverage them.

Stay in the know by establishing a strong presence among TikTok users. Keep up with the trends so others keep up with you.

MIU’s express purpose to keep you in the consumer’s eye includes bespoke SEO strategies that separate you from the crowd.

Our in-house team of experts identifies market trends, consumer behaviour, and service gaps to ensure your brand success.

Visit our website to discover our suite of services.

Stay ahead with MIU.

 

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Photography for Marketing Purposes

Introduction

A woman holding a camera photographing various products on a table, suggesting this is product photography for marketing purposes.

Good marketing photography can level up your brand to new heights of industry authority.

Ah, photography. The cornerstone of creative expression since the camera’s invention in the 19th century.

Following their entry into the mainstream, innovation has been the name of their game for businesses and consumers. What was once used to amplify physical prints has now been translated for the digital zeitgeist, and their marketing impact on target audiences has been tried-and-true.

Read on to discover how good photography for marketing purposes can transform your business positioning.

 

Consumer Trust is A Valuable Currency

Consumer trust is sacrosanct to any successful business model. It’s the sentiment that separates a hard sell from the impression that your product will genuinely benefit buyers. Establish credibility for your brand by using up-to-date, high-quality images that showcase your business true-to-form.

Context is key here.

Whether you’re an established business wanting to promote new services or a startup looking to dominate local markets, photography is essential to creating a solid branding foundation.

Original images beat stock pictures any day. Hire a professional photographer or outsource a design team to curate brand-specific photos for you. Showcase your company, assets, and people to market “you” directly within each content element.

As they say: “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

In an “eye-first” era, let your consumers SEE who you are without saying a word.

 

5 Different Types of Marketing Photography

Photography is a loaded term – we know. We’ll break it down for you.

No. Types of Photography What is it?
1. Product Photography
  • Show your products being used for audience clarity.
2. Lifestyle Photography
  • Market aspirational scenarios that entice viewers to engage with the products
  • Use people and backdrops that resonate with your target audience, selling not just the product, but the lifestyle.
3. Behind-the-scenes (BTS) Photography
  • Build trust with your audience by showing BTS manufacturing processes, in-house teams, and workplace culture.
4. Event Photography
  • Document live events, trade shows, and award ceremonies to foster credibility and industry authority among viewers.
5. User-Generated Content Photography
  • Share photos and testimonials from satisfied customers to build community and hone trust among your target audience.

A healthy mix of these pointers provides a holistic digital marketing plan for your social media and website. Make your online advertising pages dynamic and avoid oversaturating them with just one form of content each time you post.

Content planning is streamlined when you have a format for what you want and when you want it, making data-driven marketing a breeze for expanded SEO optimisation.

MIU enters here. Our team of experts map out what works best for your socials through dedicated research of your industry, competitors, and changing market trends.

Consistent posting schedules let your consumers know they can trust you to deliver reliable, thorough insights for why they should choose you.

 

How to Create An Emotional Connection?

Good marketing makes noise. You decide whether that’s out loud or in the hearts of your audience. Photography that inspires an aspirational lifestyle, ease of life, or a cosier home instantly creates a link between product and consumer, engaging them on an emotional level and creates a strong connection.

Build this relationship through your preferred advertising mediums and watch how well your marketing efforts translate into direct ‘call-to-actions’ of user engagement.

Conclusive consumer insights are crucial here.

Thoroughly analyse your market to understand pain points and desires and see where market gaps exacerbate consumer dissatisfaction industry-wide. This makes leveraging insights much easier, providing a concise digital marketing blueprint for better products, advertising, and, of course, revenue.

Understanding consumer behaviour steadies the ground for any marketing plan. Keep this up and even emerging industry trends can be swiftly acknowledged and leveraged hassle-free.

Next up, marketing.

Having a product isn’t enough. It’s the strategic advertising push that separates a successful product catalogue from an underrated one. Analyse your target demographic to know which platforms they frequent and what tone of content they specifically look for there.

Do they prefer TikTok, engaging with more humorous, short-form approaches?
Is their go-to app YouTube, bordering on long-form, educational content?
Streamline your advertising to minimise the fluff and maximise the impact.

Let your branding make an impact in a market ever-so-saturated.

 

Why Defining Your Platform is Crucial

Gone are the days of laggy MySpace chat rooms and Craiglist conversations. A myriad of social media platforms now dominate today’s digital spheres.

With an excess of possibilities for content formats, how will you choose what best suits you?

Don’t fret. We’ll give you the condensed version:

Platform What’s it good for?
TikTok Known for short, snappy content.
Instagram Solid spot for photos and vibe-focused branding.
Facebook The largest social media platform, great for broad reach and targeted advertising.
YouTube Staple for long-form videos, running strong for decades.
LinkedIn Great for B2B networking, industry collaborations, and targeted outreach within niche markets.
Reddit / Quora Excellent for educational content, thought leadership, and niche community engagement for robust customer loyalty.

 

Analyse where your consumers frequent for ‘time-pass’ and to shop. Understanding this user behaviour lets you create tailored strategies, targeting your desired demographics in droves.

When you post concise, consistent content for your audience, they will know what to look for and on which platform to look for it.

Whether through digital or print advertising, match yourself with user intent and streamline your messages to power engagement rates for the long-term.

 

The Importance of A Solid Brand Identity

Great brands distinguish themselves with signature visuals. Facebook stays true to blue! Think of Sephora; its distinct black-and-white stripes stand out. Visuals impact viewers much quicker than text can.

This is the importance of visual content in social media. Let your content soar a class apart – even during passing glances – with signature colours and art styles for instant recognition.

Utilise brand-linked colours to standardise your designs online. Congruent imagery tells a story of a personal brand ethos and a mission, not just for a product or service but for how you want to shape your industry.

Photography plays a pivotal role as a visual storytelling medium – strengthening your brand identity and allowing for organic product marketing. It’s the art of the soft sell.

Don’t tell your audience to buy your product – show them why they need it.

An infographic explaining “The Role of Photography in Branding and Marketing”. Its seven sectors highlight “First Impressions”, “Consistency Across Platforms”, “Storytelling”, “Emotional Connection”, “Product Highlighting”, “Engagement and Interaction”, and “Influence and Persuasion”.

 From ideation to consumer impressions, curated marketing photography is key to gathering quality leads and tangible results.

Having a signature brand identity is a sure-fire way to scale online. Consumers will resonate with you upon first glance, paving the way for innovative visuals that never stray from your true image.

With quick brand recall comes a sense of connection between your audience and you. Consumers are more likely to purchase your products if they see them in their everyday, and for good reason! Great market exposure is often associated with a thriving brand that offers reliable products the public loves.

According to Statista in 2023, the topmost quality millennials seek worldwide of brands is Reliability – and it comes in at a whopping 53%!

Advertise your services as ones your target audience can trust, and watch your brand image and market positioning transform for the better.

 

Conclusion

Photography’s status as a mainstay in marketing is no fluke. It’s the single most effective form of communication to your audience, powerful yet silent.

All photography isn’t good photography, and good photography is tough to implement consistently for every platform. Let your marketing strategies make an immediate impact upon audience perception with a creative agency.

MIU’s team of designers work to build you consistent branding and steady leads.

Visit our website to discover our suite of services, built to impress and crafted for industry excellence.

We bring your vision to life.

 

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Digital Marketing Trends of 2025

A person holding a tablet showing a graph labelled “Market Trends”. 7 pop-up circles surround the tablet, symbolising digital marketing tools and online connectivity through the graph’s digital analytics.

Leveraging digital marketing trends ahead of their online saturation is key to consumer exposure and advanced brand recall.

The age of technology has ushered in dynamic digital trends that appear ever-evolving. Now, marketing is crafted for virality. Shareability in digital strategies is sacrosanct to your business success.

But with great exposure comes user fatigue.

Users crave a mix of “smart” augmented insights, user-generated content (UGC), and genuine creativity permeating brand marketing media. With so many factors to consider when strategising your digital outreach, crafting a solid marketing plan can be challenging.

We’ve condensed how you can jump ahead of the trends.

Read on to find out the foremost trends in digital marketing for 2025.

1. AI-Driven Marketing

AI is shaping digital landscapes by powering insights, personalising content creation, and making audience engagement more efficient than ever. Its sheer prominence across industries has revolutionised how the general public consumes and seeks out data.

AI-powered marketing is now a massive driver for creating and disseminating branding and PR collateral, making it a significant marketing trend for 2025 and the foreseeable future.

1.1 Enter Conversational AI Chatbots.

Businesses worldwide are enlisting the support of these omni-channel platforms to satisfy user demand. Your target audience expects snappy, concise answers, and they want them fast.

Conversational AI chatbots instantly provide 24/7 support. Through granular user analytics, hyper-personalised responses are achieved for a “human” touch.

According to Statista in 2024, 96% of surveyed shoppers believed that businesses should enlist chatbots over traditional customer service support to take their calls.

It’s your round-the-clock virtual assistant, making you the go-to for quelling customer queries and forging solid emotional connections. Its personalised responses are leagues ahead of regular chatbots, and advanced query comprehension allows for more accurate, targeted answers to user questions in real-time.

1.2  AI Content Generation

Utilise AI to help you craft frameworks for blogs, blueprints, and websites. Then go in and refine these to inject YOU into your brand and give your media that ever-craved “human touch”.

Consumers are savvy to AI advertising. According to LinkedIn, 62% of customers are less likely to engage with noticeably AI-crafted content.

Refinement is the name of the game.

Use smart tools to optimise your e-commerce product images, resize design collaterals for accompanying platforms, and power your data with robust systems.

1.3 Campaign Automation

Systemise your processes for maximum PR benefit. Use AI to craft email marketing and consumer outreach collateral that knows exactly what your target audience appreciates (and when to send it to them).

A/B testing is handy for knowing what tone and message your audience resonates with the most. Automate your campaign collaterals for improved industry analysis and find the most lucrative path to take your brand.

Apply the strategic use of AI to your advantage. With global businesses applying these tools exponentially, stand out by blending your words with a smart-powered digital marketing blueprint.

 

2. Gamification of Brands

Branding doesn’t have to be so formal. The gamification of marketing has now made the ever-dreaded “hard sell” more fun!

2.1 Experiential Marketing

Experiential marketing has ushered in a new age of brand affiliation.

Introducing a rewards system for your brand eliminates the need for consistent and tedious interactions with your audience. Incentivise engagement and drive sales with tiered mechanics that reward your consumers with each buy.

Sephora serves as a shining example. Every dollar spent both online and in-stores contributes to one point earned for your account, giving customers tiered rankings. Each rank unlocks access to new rewards, with the most frequent spenders being invited to exclusive events and having first dibs on select products.

They’ve created a community through consumption! It’s done well in driving immediate sales, promoting strategic long-term spending, and fostering a connection with the Sephora brand – why spend elsewhere when you can spend at Sephora and “level up”?

2.2 Augmented Reality (AR) Marketing

AR marketing is the solution to consumer decision paralysis.

With overconsumption on a rise across industries, buyers are becoming more privy to the notion of “Do I need this, or is it just trending?”.

Actualise your services through AR technology to make them feel tangible to consumers.

AR systems that show a 360-degree view of your products right in users’ homes allow them to get a sense of how your brand integrates organically into their homes – whether that’s a couch in their living rooms or coffee packets in their kitchens. Consumers are more incentivised to buy your products once they’ve seen them in their spaces.

AR is transforming business operations. This ease of shopping heightens user experience, and bringing YOU into their homes fosters a long-term emotional connection.

 

3. Storytelling Video Content

Narratives are in again. They’re a direct combat to the harsh age of the hard-sell. Consumers love a good story to take them along brand image, brand language, and brand content, crafting a cohesive story that empowers your brand recall. 

Storytelling videos use narrative-driven content to engage audiences, trigger emotional resonance, and communicate a brand’s message. Casting relatable characters (influencers or not) and keeping storylines strong with bold settings capture the public’s attention and hold their gaze enough to convey your strategy.

Chanel’s short-film “A rendez-vous” does this with finesse. Two stars cast alongside a mountainous waterfront, intertwined with love and – of course – Chanel No. 5. It narrates Chanel’s brand voice perfectly: quaint, aspirational luxury.

Margot Robbie applies Chanel No. 5 to her neck, savouring it with her eyes closed, symbolising how decadent and high-quality it is.

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi appear as lovers in this short Chanel film – aspirational love and luxury in one amber Chanel No. 5 bottle.

Introduce a conflict, a satisfying resolution, uphold your product as a saviour, and wrap it all up in strong, memorable visuals. For companies looking to mitigate short attention-spans in 2025, storytelling videos are great social media assets that stand the test of time, boasting longevity and brand-audience affinity.

 

4. Sustainable & Ethical Marketing

Sustainability has seen a growing focus within several industries in the last decade, evident from “no cutlery” initiatives in F&B deliveries to country-wide efforts shifting towards electric vehicles in the upcoming years. Eco-friendly messaging is being pushed from a government level down to the masses, and brands know to engage with this rhetoric quickly to stay industry-competitive.

Patagonia’s “Worn Wear” campaign stands as an early adopter of focused sustainability in modern marketing. Launched in 2013, this campaign allowed consumers to shop pre-loved items in select stores, championing the rise of sustainable products at a time when they were deemed  “unfashionable” for both businesses and customers alike.

Now, Patagonia’s steadfast approach to green efforts has solidified its spot in the consumer zeitgeist as a morally exceptional and business-responsible brand. Its circular economy approach of giving new life to old clothes through repairs and recycling built a loyal, eco-conscious customer base that has persisted till today.

People sat at a table grouped around a laptop showing a green recycling logo with images of infrastructure within it. One person’s hand is gesturing towards the logo, symbolising a corporate discussion on green initiatives and strategies for the global future.

Green initiatives are taking over, from infrastructure to marketing – aimed to be commonplace for the nearing global future.

Brands that currently boast strong financial performances shifted alongside green initiatives and ethical marketing strategies back in the day.

But many companies lost favour when they neglected to include inclusivity within their brand image. Beauty and fashion corporations felt this impact immensely. Industry leaders like Victoria’s Secret and Tarte Cosmetics faced criticism for their lack of diversity and narrow portrayals of beauty – excluding body types, ethnicities, and gender identities from their products and marketing.

Post-backlash, these brands are now changing their tune.

Still recovering from boycotts and lost market favour, they’re now making a concerted effort to showcase diversity in any way they can. But some consumers believe it’s too little too late, questioning the sanctity of their commitment to diversity.

 

Conclusion

The past few decades have seen a major shift in consumer behaviour and market demand. Trends are ever-evolving, but consumer ethics have stayed true to form thanks to informed purchases and online rallying.

Brands with persistent success adapt to constant changes in digital platforms, fashioning themselves as thought leaders and always ahead of the curve.

MIU has a sustained focus on innovation, crafting SEO strategies for your long-term success.

Our team of experts identify market trends, gaps, and where you can fit in for industry dominance.

Visit our website to discover our suite of services

Stay ahead with MIU.

 

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Emotional Marketing Strategy and Customer Experience

Emotional Marketing Strategy and Customer Experience

What is Emotional Marketing? 

In a world full of advanced tools and complex business strategies, it’s often not the high-tech solutions that win over customers.

So, what does?

The timeless power of storytelling, also known as Emotional Marketing, exists.

Why?

Only facts may not always convince customers to buy. Sometimes, it’s the emotional connection that makes the difference.

At the core, consumers are people with intricate emotions and personal stories. Our special ability to feel and understand emotions has been important for human success. This skill sets us apart from other species. This deep emotional intelligence, allowing us to empathise and connect, is a driving force.

Social Psychology has studied this for a long time. Today, it is a strong tool followed by the evolution of digital marketing. It helps brands build meaningful connections with their audiences using targeted marketing. And the results speak for themselves.

A great example is Apple’s iconic digital marketing strategy – Think Different campaign. Rather than pushing a specific product and service, it aimed to inspire Mac users to challenge the status quo.

The campaign was very impactful. It won an Emmy for Best Commercial. It is still known as one of the most legendary ads ever made.

 

The Role of Emotional Connection 

Emotional connections are important for brands that want to influence customer behaviour. However, many brands do not connect with the emotions that matter most to their best customers.

Some brands are great at building emotional connections. However, any company can use emotional motivators as marketing tactics.

This includes those that sell everyday products. The process uses data to analyze the main emotional triggers for valuable customers. It also applies statistical modelling to link these emotions to purchase behaviour.

Customers who feel a strong emotional connection to a brand are 52% more valuable than those who are just satisfied. These existing customers show greater loyalty and use the brand more often. By building strong connections, brands can boost revenue and market share. This approach often gives a better return on investment than just improving customer satisfaction.

 

Emotional Marketing Statistics

 

Graph depicting the impact of emotional marketing on various metrics
Emotional Marketing Statistics

 

Evoking Positive Emotions

Most people like watching more than reading or listening. This is why a strong visual ad can help boost your brand’s visibility. Visual ads tend to evoke more emotion than text-only ones.

Videos can warm the heart, share funny moments with friends, or brighten someone’s day. They create lasting impressions. Think of an ad featuring a cute baby with an irresistible smile—it’s instantly shareable and memorable.

People are twice as likely to share these types of ads because they leave them with something to talk about afterwards.

Campaign effectiveness of Emotional Marketing
Emotional, combined and rational metrics based on campaign effectiveness.

 

Effective Emotional Marketing Examples: 

Approaches for Executing Emotional Marketing

1. Understand Your Audience’s Emotions 

Conducting thorough market research to pinpoint your audience’s emotional triggers. Identify their pain points, aspirations, and values through surveys, social media analytics, and customer feedback. 

2. Craft Compelling Emotional Stories 

Leverage storytelling and create deeper connections with your audience. Develop narratives that reflect their experiences and emotions. Share success stories, customer testimonials, or behind-the-scenes glimpses to humanize your brand and make it relatable.

3. Utilize Visuals and Colors Effectively 

Visual elements are crucial in eliciting emotions. Colours, images, and videos can convey specific feelings. Use brand archetypes strategically in your marketing materials to reinforce your message on social media posts and marketing messages.

4. Appeal to Fundamental Human Values 

Align your brand with universal values such as family, love, freedom, or adventure. Advertising campaigns that tap into these core values can forge strong emotional bonds with your audience. 

For example, a travel brand might emphasize the joy of discovery and creating lasting memories.

5. Generate Emotionally Engaging Content 

Create content designed to evoke feelings of joy, nostalgia, or empathy. This can include blog posts, social media updates, videos, and ads. People are more likely to share emotional content with friends and family, which expands your brand’s reach and boosts engagement.

6. Build a Connected Community 

Foster a sense of belonging by building communities around your brand. Use social media platforms, forums, and reward programs to create a space that makes customers feel valued. Engage with them regularly, listen to their feedback, and express appreciation for their support.

7. Highlight Social Proof 

Showcase customer testimonials, user-generated content, and customer journey stories to build trust and validation. Seeing others benefit from your products or services can boost potential customers’ confidence in your brand, creating a loyal customer base.

8. Support Meaningful Causes

Associate your brand with social causes to evoke positive emotions and enhance customer loyalty. In the bottom line, today’s consumers are increasingly socially conscious and prefer brands that contribute to the greater good. Work with non-profits, run charity campaigns or use sustainable practices. This shows your commitment in your marketing efforts.

Emotional marketing and customer experience
Depiction of how emotional marketing leads to a positive outlook about the brand.

 

Emotions and Strategy

Among all the emotions used in advertising, happiness has consistently proven to be among the most effective.

Marketing focuses on ensuring that people hear a message, share a story, and recognize an identity. The main goal is to boost sales.

People usually keep emotions and business apart. However, in marketing, connecting with emotions can bring great rewards. Brands that do this well see substantial benefits.

Emotional marketing taps into the universal human experience—our emotions—to capture attention and resonate with its audience. This approach works well because it connects with people. It addresses feelings, challenges stereotypes, and speaks to real pain points. Simply put, emotion drives sales.

Emotional marketing can be challenging if you’re unfamiliar with how it works or how to apply it effectively. Negative emotions can create anger. 

Emotions will either boost or harm your business, making it essential to approach it with a strategic mindset. 

At MIU, we understand that effective marketing goes beyond emotional appeal. Our experts craft bespoke, data-driven strategies precisely aligned with your brand’s unique objectives. To implement a comprehensive emotional marketing strategy for your brand, partner with us. 

Amplify your brand’s presence through innovative solutions that will achieve your marketing goals and sustainable growth.

 

 

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AR/VR Advertising Campaigns that Will Leave You in Awe

A person is flying through a futuristic cityscape while wearing a virtual reality headset, embodying the next wave of AR/VR advertising campaigns. The individual is in mid-air, arms extended as though swimming, surrounded by tall, illuminated skyscrapers and trails of light, capturing motion and technology.

Pause and Ponder: Where is AR/VR Technology Used?

Isn’t it challenging to enumerate its applications when integrated into almost every industry? Perhaps it’s simpler to identify where VR/AR needs to be utilised.

Over the past few decades,  AR/VR technology has emerged in multiple fields, including healthcare, e-commerce, education, gaming and advertising. 

By 2024 the estimated VR revenue will exceed $12 billion. 

 

VR for Marketing 

Have you ever heard of experiential marketing?

It’s also known as “engagement marketing.” 

There’s a fine line between experiential and virtual reality marketing. Both have shared goals, i.e., to get the audience actively engaged. 

In VR advertising, consumers interact with marketing materials hands-on instead of merely watching the ad. 

Here’s the cool part – Virtual reality combines tools and the latest computer technologies to teleport viewers into make-believe worlds, immersing their senses with headsets.

 

Digital Stunts Takeover NYC and Paris

Besides virtual reality marketing and AR advertising, companies also use technological tools to create AR campaigns. 

Yes,  this kind of eye-popping trickery isn’t new – remember when luxury brand Jacquemus had everyone second-guessing reality with their video of massive, vibrant leather purses cruising the Parisian streets? 

Maybelline’s giant mascara wand coating the bullet trains in NYC deserves a spotlight, too. 

Similar instances of brands executing larger-than-life marketing stunts have occurred in the real world using AR/VR technologies. 

Here are some applauded marketing strategies that testify to the wild, out-of-the-box thinking that keeps us all talking.

 

Keeping it Gucci

Gucci Garden in the Roblox Metaverse

Fashion label Gucci recently unveiled “Gucci Garden” in the Roblox Metaverse, which enables players to venture into a virtual town, learn about its history, and interact with fellow gamers. 

This digital immersive experience encompasses interactive elements like mini-games, art exhibitions, and a Gucci store where virtual clothing can be purchased for Roblox avatars. 

As avatars don these outfits, it intrigued onlookers, motivating them to explore and discover the diverse attractions of the entire town. 

The following marketing strategy underscores Gucci’s commitment to staying relevant and progressive in an ever-evolving market. 

 

Etsy House’s Edgy Aesthetics 

Etsy shoppable virtual house

This immersive augmented-reality experience invites customers to explore a virtual home adorned with aesthetically designed Etsy finds. 

With true-to-life visuals, smooth navigation and 360-degree views, it is a creative visual strategy that provides ease for customers by hovering over items for details and direct purchase links.

 

Try Before You Fly

virtual reality holiday for thomas cook from vr studio visualise

Virtual reality is widely used in the travel and tourism sector to replicate real travel encounters.

For instance, the UK-based travel agency Thomas Cook initiated the ‘Try Before You Fly’ program. This marketing strategy enabled users to virtually immerse themselves in vacation settings like the US, Greece, Singapore, etc. By utilising Samsung VR headsets, prospective travellers could virtually explore activities such as snorkelling in Sharm-el-Sheik, in Eygpt, strolling through the Egyptian pyramids, or taking a tour of Manhattan. 

Wearing a VR headset triggers a contradiction within minds – while logical thinking acknowledges the virtual nature, the rest of the brain cannot distinguish the real world. This gives a sensation of immersive experience and triggers a response. 

Thomas Cook’s pioneering move marked it as the globe’s first travel. company to offer in-store VR experiences for its clientele. This endeavour yielded conversion rates for bookings. 

 

Burn that Ad 

Under the motto “Because flame-grilled is undeniably superior,” Burger King devised a clever strategy to outshine its rivals figuratively. 

They introduced a unique aspect to their app, enabling users to employ augmented Reality to scan any competitor’s advertisement and virtually burn it. 

The objective?

Provide an entertaining experience to the users of “taking down” Burger King’s competition—complimentary Whoppers for customers for utilising this feature.

Businesses can gradually integrate virtual reality experiential advertising into various advertising components.

 

How Can Your Business Benefit from AR/VR?

An infographic of benefits titled "Get Creative with AR/VR" in the center, surrounded by seven suggestions in speech bubble shapes. Suggestions include redesigning social media, promoting products, engaging clients, using storytelling, interactive experiences, showcasing designs, and immersive learning.

Engage your target audiences by immersing them in the virtual world.

    1. Redesign your social media feed with aesthetic 3D infographics. 
    2. Promote products and services with a narrated 3D commercial.
    3. Deliver impactful client presentations with immersive business-purpose videos.
    4. Educate and entertain with AR/VR Game-based learning content. 
    5. Enable ‘try before you buy’ 360-degree virtual experiences.
    6. Showcase designs and previews using interactive AR/VR. 
    7. Use storytelling skills with informative 360-degree videos on YouTube. 

 

VR Marketing: Worth Exploring?

You might wonder why a business owner like yourself should explore the expansive market of expensive VR campaigns. 

While VR/AR might seem out of reach for many marketing budgets, its presence is steadily increasing.  Several brands are capitalising on their growth for product promotion and immersive storytelling. 

WebVR provides a transformative viewing encounter on both mobile devices and desktops. While ideally suited for headset usage, it offers a fresh, multi-dimensional method of content consumption. This technology is compatible with mobile phones. 

Even though crafting a virtual reality campaign might not be feasible, there are valuable insights to gather regarding marketing innovation and content strategy. 

These insights could spark new ideas and help increase your digital audience engagement.

 

Turning Your Dreams into Reality 

Isn’t the very essence of VR all about immersing viewers completely?

That’s why we want to immerse you with a glimpse of the remarkable capabilities of VR. 

Contact us today and discover how we can positively impact your business with advanced VR technologies. 

Let’s propel your business towards success as a team. 

 

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Dress To Impress With AR and VR In Fashion Branding

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

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

AR VR in Fashion woman searching clothes

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

Interactive Navigation And Display Screens AR VR in fashion

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

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How AR and VR are Transforming the Future of Businesses

How AR and VR are Transforming the Future of Businesses Office Employer Man Using VR Headset

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

AR and VR Transforming Businesses augmented reality book

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

AR and VR Transforming Businesses Woman using vr headser experiencing metaverse world

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

AR and VR Transforming Businesses Man office employee sitting on round chair using vr headset

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

work meeting at metaverse due training and education activity

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!

 

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Trendy Instagram Ideas For 2023

Trendy instagram ideas for 2023 art vector website banner

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

a day in my life travelling, Trendy Instagram Ideas For 2023

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

gamers woman live streaming on social media, Trendy Instagram Ideas For 2023

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

beauty vlogger doing video her followers, Trendy Instagram Ideas For 2023

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)

influencer posting social media Trendy Instagram Ideas For 2023

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!

 

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No Influencer To Promote Your Brand? Do It Yourself!

No influencer to promote your brand? Why not do it yourself? Brands and consumers have gone digital with their consumption and marketing, making the digital marketplace more lucrative and crowded. Businesses generate digital content daily and must compete with each other for consumer attention. Your brand is no exception because it needs to cut through the noise to stand out. Your business must adopt new advertising strategies to retain high conversions and advertising performance levels in the competitive digital landscape.

Statistics show that consumers prefer content over advertising. In Germany, about 50% of consumers install adblockers. 99.5% of digital advertising impressions are ignored by audiences and fail to create increased conversions. Research by Pulse Advertising has found that original creator and user generated content give brands an advantage over others. Many consumers seek authentic and original content over superficial traditional advertising.

Influencer marketing strategy is a powerful tool to harness the benefits of original content creation. It is because influencers produce native content that resonates well with potential consumers. Native content creation enhances your business’s marketing campaigns and creates increased conversions.

Remember to consider the importance of influencer marketing for business to generate interest in your products. Even if you don’t have an influencer to promote your brand, you can still use an influencer marketing strategy to succeed.

Why Do Brands Work With Influencers?

Collaborating with influencers helps brands to improve audience engagement and increase conversions. Interestingly, influencers enjoy the attention of their followers on social media. They have the ability to influence consumer behaviors and consumption patterns. Engaging a successful influencer with more than 250,000 followers creates the same impact as a celebrity endorsement.

Influencer marketing strategy is essential for successful digital marketing and sales. It is evident in the example of the American beauty brand Glossier. Over 70% of Glossier’s sales come from referrals and influencer shares from its Instagram ambassador campaign. Through this campaign, Glossier engaged many macro and micro-influencers who created original, relatable content to promote the brand. Glossier has now become a billion-dollar enterprise, even though it only started in 2014.

You don’t need to work with influencers to enjoy the same benefits. Your brand can use similar strategies to enhance its advertising performance and conversion rates. We’ll show you how to do so in this blog.

 

Know Your Target Audience

Influencers succeed because they have a target audience interested in their content niche. They establish relationships with their target audience by providing content that caters to them. For instance, micro-influencer mayzunewin from Myanmar owns a tour company, and her target audience is people who love traveling. She uses personal travel experiences on her Instagram account to share helpful advice with her followers. She builds a strong relationship with her target audience by creating content that appeals explicitly to travel lovers.

Similarly, identify and attract a target audience for your brand. Have a thorough understanding of your target audience’s needs and wants, and address them in your original content. Establish close relationships with your target audience to make your marketing strategy more focused and impactful.

 

Build Brand Loyalty By Increasing Trust

Build Brand Loyalty By Increasing Trust

Micro-influencers’ authenticity and honesty help them gain the trust of their audience, turning a follower into a loyal fan. Similarly, small businesses should create strong brand loyalty to attract dedicated customers and increase conversions.

For instance, Glossier’s product team built brand loyalty by increasing the trust of their audience. The company promised to deliver products based on what consumers wanted. They created candid, transparent content that was true to the brand motto. They featured honest product reviews from many customers, shared product inspiration photos, and considered product ideas from customers. It increased customers’ confidence in the business’s honesty and reliability.

Build brand loyalty among your customers by creating authentic and honest content. Take customer feedback seriously and make content that is genuine to your brand image and values. Make customers feel involved and valued by being transparent about your production processes. It increases trust and brand loyalty among your customers, leading to increased conversions.

 

Engage The Youth And Increase Content Interaction

Creating exciting and engaging content is crucial because Gen Z comprises 40% of global consumers. Research from Marketing Charts shows that visual content can best engage Gen Z. They enjoy tapping, swiping, and clicking on interactive elements such as polls, stickers, and comments. They also want short, bite-sized content that creatively relays information. Influencer samseats collaborated with Feasty to link his Tiktok video content to the food app. His video was concise, presenting his recipes creatively, and was even visually appealing. The link lets users click and scroll to view the full recipe on the Feasty app.

Replicate this with your brand by producing interactive visual content that increases engagement and conversion among younger users. Include links, stickers, and filters to make your content more captivating and exciting.

Gen Z consumers also love content that is relatable and memorable. For instance, Bretmanrock is a Filipino beauty influencer famous among Gen Z audiences for his funny makeup videos. Some audiences have even turned his reaction videos into viral memes. His content is relatable and memorable because of his humor and wit.

Engage Gen Z audiences with content that has a strong sense of humor to make your brand approachable and charismatic. Produce content like memes, social media challenges, and comedy videos. Create a fun and memorable content consumption experience for your brand’s younger audience. Viewers might attempt the social media challenge or share your memes and videos with others. It improves content interaction and increases brand awareness. Your funny content might even go viral as a social media trend!

Also read: Enhance Your Brand Experience With AR/VR

 

Increase Brand Awareness Through Competitions And Giveaways

Increase Brand Awareness Through Competitions And Giveaways

Influencers host giveaways and competitions to engage their followers and generate interest. Bretmanrock hosts giveaways encouraging his followers to vote on their favorite products and tag their friends. It spreads the content as his followers tag new audiences in the comment section.

Host public giveaways and social media competitions to generate interest in your page. Also, encourage audiences to leave their votes in the comments. Invite them to tag friends to bring more attention to your page and introduce your content to new people. It increases digital engagement and provides good publicity for your brand. With greater brand awareness, you will increase the number of likes and comments on your social media posts. It improves your social media page rankings and increases visibility as well.

You must pair your great product or service with a solid marketing strategy. Use an influencer marketing strategy to grow your brand and upgrade your advertising. Adopt the mindset of an influencer in this digital landscape to increase brand reputation, improve audience engagement and increase conversions. You can do all these and more, even without an influencer.