Giving is the reason for the season
Happy holidays! As we all know, giving is the reason for the season. In the spirit of the holidays, PGN Agency of Royal Oak is giving away 12 of our team’s most swear-by marketing rules. We hope that you can take some knowledge into the New Year with these 12 digital marketing and branding tips. Like Santa and his cookies – take these while they’re hot!
Tip #1: Build Your Brand Strategy
Branding. It’s the buzzword of the decade! Your brand strategy is the work that it takes to make your brand seen, and in the long game, successful. Note that we said “long game”, because building your brand strategy is just that – a process. Rome wasn’t built in a day – neither will your brand be! Here are a few tips to start with:
- Establish your brand identity and be sure to enforce it. Consistency is key, especially when it comes to your logo, colors, & voice.
- Remember that branding includes internal communications (email signatures, office signage, business cards…)
- Start sharing on multiple platforms, wherever it makes sense.
Tip #2: Utilize Your Content Calendars
Behind every great Instagram feed is a well-thought-out content calendar (and a social media strategist that scoured the internet for relevant social holidays). Not sure where to begin?
- Define your goals for your social media strategy
- Decide on the frequency of your posting
- Choose what profiles you’ll be sharing on (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
- Create a monthly template that you can duplicate throughout the year (there’s an app for that, or you can create a good ole classic spreadsheet!)
- Start with adding in US & “social” Holidays
- Keep evergreen content on hand
- Recycle – yes, recycle – old content
Tip #3: Authentic Marketing is Good Marketing
Yeah, we saw that eye-roll! It’s true – authentic marketing is good marketing. By being authentic online, you’re able to tap into psychological biases such as the likability bias. This bias creates a bond between you and your audience. Bonding with a brand reinforces trust and brand loyalty. Followers won’t be able to help but tell their friends about your business! The more people who genuinely like your brand, the more people who will naturally want to do business with you.
Tip #4: Don’t Forget About Your Call-to-Action
Your mom called, she’s reminding you that it’s okay to ask for help! Or, in this case, ask for your customers to take action with your brand. It’s important to guide your visitors through the buying process using strategic CTAs. “Read More” “Sign-Up Today” or “Vibe with Our Tribe”…okay, maybe not the last one. The point is: if you aren’t encouraging your customers to take the next step, they are bound to be distracted by another shiny object.
Tip #5: Tell a Story
‘Twas the night before Christmas…You already know the next line because that story has been told to you repeatedly over the holidays. Consistency, creativity, and relevancy are key elements of telling a memorable story. Stories make for great marketing due to the fact that storytelling can evoke and influence our emotions. Stories are what humans share to prove that they are human – how can your brand breathe life into your business?
Tip #6: Trending Audio
Want to easily find trending sounds? Go to Instagram, and click on the Reels ‘Explore’ page in the middle. As you scroll through recommended Reels, look for ones with a “trending” arrow next to them. When you come across a sound you like, select it and “save audio”. Reels using a trending sound will help increase your reach, also known as “views”. Other indicators of a successful Reel include insights such as number of saves and shares.
Tip #7: Picture Perfect Photography
If you aren’t prioritizing your photography and videography, you’ve got work to do! It’s impossible to overlook the importance of visuals. In fact, 84% of people say that they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video. (Wyzowl, 2020) (Source: https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics)
Good photo and video takes a trained eye. Your grandmother has an iphone, but that doesn’t mean she will take a good photo! It’s worthwhile to invest in an agency that understands the art of photography and videography – like PGN Agency!
Tip #8: Instagram Reel’s Templates
Speaking of video, short-form video like those seen on Reels and TikTok produce an average engagement rate of 54% (Wistia, 2021) (Source: https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics)
We know that video-editing isn’t everyone’s jam. Instagram Reels templates allow you to create a Reel using pre-set music and clip durations from existing Reels. The beauty of Instagram Reels templates is that they eliminate some of the most time-consuming steps of creating a video. When you’re scrolling, look for a button that says, “Use Template”.
Tip #9: Keywords Are King
Keywords are the main drivers of traffic to your site. By picking out keywords relevant to your business or service, search engines use these words to show your site to people searching for those keywords. You should choose some generic ones, and some specific ones, to get all the traffic possible!
Tip #10: Know How to Hashtag
Using hashtags is a way to group content around a certain topic, making it easy for people to find content that interests them. Hashtags can help boost both your brand’s reach and engagement. It’s worth using hashtags that are generic and specific to your brand. For example: #PGNAgency (specific) #AgencyLife (Generic) Hashtags can be used on just about any social media platform, but they’re most popular on Twitter and Instagram.
Tip #11: Schedule Content Ahead of Time
Social media scheduling tools are more than just a convenient shortcut to queue up posts. The right tools help your overall social media management process, improving your efficiency so you have more time to push out great content and develop connections with your followers in real time. Some great social media scheduling apps include: Facebook Meta, E-Clincher, Monday, and Hootsuite.
Tip #12: The Secret Recipe to Good Branding
Everyone loves a simple 2-ingredient recipe, right? Well, how about this: Your business + PGN Agency = A recipe for success. Contact PGN Agency, a Metro Detroit marketing and advertising agency, for a thoughtful conversation about what we can do for your business. What’s more – mention this blog and receive $200 credit towards your first project with our team! Give us a call at (248) 414-6860 today!