8Apr

Is Marketing Expensive?

Posted by: IndiVisualCreations Categories: Marketing TIps
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Expensive mistake: Being cheap about marketing

The related myth is that you can rely on social media to build vitality and attract customers for free.  “Social media is not free, to do it properly takes unbelievable amounts of time, and it’ll typically take six months to a year before you’ve got even slight momentum–it’s not fast.”

If you’re not sure how much money to budget for marketing, it’s suggested to aim for 10 to 20 percent of your targeted gross revenue.  

Marketing is what we like to refer to as Image Development. 

  • Logo
  • Branding
  • Advertising
  • Networking
  • Writing
  • Social Media Development
  • Press Kit Creation and Professional Bio.

I recommend always using an experienced marketing professional for this work and remember when getting quotes…if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Experienced design professionals are worth their weight in gold and while it may be costly, you will save money in the long run by not having to pay someone else to “fix” what wasn’t done correctly the first time.

Costs – Marketing
Marketing is not an expense it’s an investment and it’s important to have a clear understanding on where to start investing. If you can get this, you are one step ahead.  Good marketing is critical to the success of any business.

Many companies view marketing as an expense. Truth is when a business understands the importance and the role it plays in growing a business it’s clear on why it should be considered an investment.  Marketing is crucial when it comes to gaining the attention of prospective consumers and clients, developing products or service demand and turning those prospective consumers into customers.  Marketing has an affect on your sales, pricing, promotions and your advertising strategies.  When understand the importance of marketing you can use it to promote the ongoing transition of your services and products to the consumer; this can create success in your small business.

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4Apr

Social Media Makeover in Only 7 Days

Posted by: IndiVisualCreations Categories: Digital & Social Media Marketing
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When’s the last time you updated your social media profiles with your latest company information, making the most of each site’s features?  Not sure where to start?  This simple checklist will help you make over your social media presence in just seven days.

Take stock of all your social media accounts and make sure your overall social media presence is polished, professional, and up to date.

Day 1: Audit Your Current Social Media Presence

  •  Create an Audit Doc:  Create a document with a list of every social media account your company has claimed, including the user name, URL and important information for each site.
  •  Update your Passwords:  While you’re creating your initial audit document, log in to each account you own and update your passwords. Make sure you have a different strong, unique password for each account, and if multiple people need to access your passwords, search for a secure password manager.
  • Create a Task List:  Note on your audit document each of the following that need to be created, revised or updated: descriptions, profile photos, cover photos, logos, videos and product and service descriptions.
  •  Double Check the Facts:  Make sure you spell, punctuate, and abbreviate each word of your business information — such as your phone number, address, web addresses and other business details — consistently on each site you use so that search engines attribute your business with proper citations.
  • Align your Assets:  Request creative support for updates to your logo, profile images, and copy on your sites so you can take the next steps.

Day 2: Google+ Local

  • Refresh your Cover Image:  This image can be up to 2120 x 1192 pixels.
  • Update the About Section:  Select the “About” tab on your profile and navigate to the “Story” module to update your page’s tagline or add an introduction.
  • Check Links:  Make sure these are all working links with up-to-date content, since this profile is associated with Google and helps it know what other accounts are affiliated with your company.
  • Confirm Business Details and Contact Information:  Confirm all your details (phone number, address, email and hours of operation) are optimized and current, because this content feeds into other Google properties such as Maps.

Day 3: Facebook

  • Log in and navigate to your Facebook page where you can directly edit some components.
  • Update your cover photo:  At 851 x 315 pixels, your cover image should be unique and represent your company and its current look. It can be made up of no more than 20 percent text, so focus on a bold and inviting image.
  •  Update your Profile Image/Logo:  Your profile image is 160 x 160 pixels and should be able to stand alone in the news feed where it will display at 90 x 90 pixels.
  •  Arrange and Update Apps and Icons:  Make sure the most relevant apps are showing at the top of your page (you can select three to display).  You can also select new “cover images,” 111 x 74 pixel images, for many apps by selecting the down arrow and the edit pencil.
  •  Update your Page Content:  Under “Edit Page,” you can change various pieces of content affiliated with your page, such as your subcategories, address and short description.
  •  Update Settings:  Under “Edit Page” review exactly how your page is operating, including posting ability, private messaging settings, tagging ability, restrictions, app access, etc. to make sure it’s all optimal and up to date. Remove apps you do not use.

Day 4: Twitter
To update your Twitter account, you need to click the gear icon and select “settings” to edit your profile.  Once there, you can update a number of things under the following sections.
Profile

  •  Update your logo or profile photo: Use a square logo that is recognizable at 90 x 90 pixels.
  •  Update or add a cover photo: This image size works best at 1252 x 626 pixels.
  •  Update your bio section: Remember, you only have 160 characters.
  •  Double check your location
  •  Confirm your website

Design

  •  Refresh your Background:  Experts recommend using an image that’s 1600 x 1200 pixels and under 2 MB in size.
  •  Coordinate Background and Link Colors
  •  Apps:  Revoke access to any apps that you no longer use to keep your account secure.

Day 5: LinkedIn
Log in to your LinkedIn account, hover over your profile image and click “Manage” your company page.  This will take you to a view with several editable tabs — “Home,” “Careers” and “Services.”

Homepage

  •  Page details: Make sure your company type, size, URL, industry and locations are all up to date.
  •  Company description: Can be up to 2,000 characters.
  •  Image: This image needs to be 646 x 220 pixels and can be up to 2 MB in size.
  •  Standard logo: It needs to fit the ratio of 100 x 60 pixels for LinkedIn.
  •  Square logo: This logo version should be 50 x 50 pixels or square.
  • Company specialties: Make sure this is up to date by adding any new services or major product lines and removing those you no longer offer.

Careers Page

  •  Cover image:  This unique careers image should be a minimum of 970 x 240 pixels and can be cropped to fit the space.
  •  Content:  Description, video, slides, images

Testimonials

Services page

  •  Products and Services:  You can customize this page with product logos, images, descriptions, names and even video modules.

Day 6: YouTube
Go to “My Channel” under the dropdown menu, and then select the areas you want to edit and optimize.

  • Channel Art:  YouTube recommends a photo at 2560 x 1440 pixels with a “safe” area within this image for text and logos of 1546 x 423 pixels centered within the image.
  • Channel Icon:  A high-resolution, square image that displays well at smaller sizes, ideally 800 x 800 pixels.
  • Description:  Under the “About,” section, update the description of your company, and optimize this description for search.
  • Links:  You can include links to relevant sites such as your website and social pages.
  • Videos:  Feature your most important videos and make sure uploaded videos are optimized for onsite and offsite search by including important keywords they use to search for your videos.

Day 7: Pinterest

  • Log in, locate your profile icon in the upper right hand, hover, and select “Your Profile & Pins,” then select the pencil under your description and select “Edit Profile.”
  • Account Type:  If you joined Pinterest before it had the option for business pages, you can convert your account type to a business at business.pinterest.com.
  • Profile Image:  A square version of your business logo at 211 x 211 pixels displays best across the site.
    About: 200 characters to describe your business.
  • Boards, Board Covers and Descriptions:  Refresh your Pinterest boards by adjusting board names and descriptions and selecting new cover images for each board and arranging them into a new order on your page.
  • Add Maps:  A new Pinterest feature is the ability to add maps to boards, called Place Pins.
    Get Started!

With this checklist, you can tackle a social media makeover to make sure your business web presence is refreshed, accurate and even more effective. All that you need is to get started! 

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16Dec

Reaching Millennials through Smart Marketing

Posted by: IndiVisualCreations Categories: Marketing TIps
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Millennials, young adults who are currently between 18 and 34, control $1.3 trillion in annual buying power.  This group, making up 25% percent of the population, are so powerful, but also so unique to generations before them.  Their differences touch many aspects of millennials’ lives – from work ethic and preference, to spending habits and value of technology.

The biggest threat to advertisers today is their over-dependence on “traditional” advertising.  Millennials have become one of the smartest, most opinionated and globally aware group of consumers. As a demographic they can be marketers’ worst nightmare, but also potential best friend.

Millennials Express Themselves through Brands, Millennials want brands to have more than just a logo. They want a brand to have a personality, which they can display their ideals through.  This generation shows their beliefs by what they choose to purchase.

The best way for brands to get their messages heard by millennials is to market within them.  Millennials don’t trust advertising; instead they go to their peers for new information.  It’s estimated that 98% millennials are more likely to engage with a friend’s post over a brands post.

The terms “Instagram Famous” and “Facebook Famous” are very existent in today’s society. It doesn’t take you to be an actor or singer anymore to grow a following; instead posting images that have a high relevance to fellow followers can create stardom. These social-media focused millennials grow their own personal following, by posting lifestyle images that express themselves. These images often market brands they believe in, making these “famous millennials” a public to target.

Millennials Want to Be Your Friend, Millennials have more friends online and probably offline than any other generation.  Social media has created an online community for millennials with 46% of the generation reporting to have 200+ Facebook friends, compared to 19% of non-millennials. Millennials base their social existence off their online following, and what their friends think of their image.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MARKETING EFFORTS?
When marketing to millennials it is essential to develop your brand in such a way that millennials would like to befriend it. Millennials don’t want to be “sold” an idea on social media; instead they want to relate to your account. Gain followers, or friends, by posting about more than just the item itself; instead post genuine and sociable core attributes of your brand.

Everything is a Branding Exercise.  The generation is self-absorbed; the reason why millennials constantly post status updates, tweet and are on Instagram. They make statements of where they go and what they wear, as a way for others to notice them. Take notice of the not so subliminal messages millennials are sending through social media, and make your brand relatable.

Millennials Want to Make a Difference. Millennials are loyal to brands that they believe are making a difference. With their generation being the technology era, they have become more aware of the demand to be philanthropic in today’s world. This generation is less motivated by cost, rather by the aim to make the world more compassionate, innovative and sustainable. Brands that stand for more than their bottom line, receive greater millennial brand love. They support cause-campaigns, with almost 50% of millennials more willing to make a purchase if it supports a cause.

SUMMARY:
Reveal the behind-the-scenes story of your brand, keeping authenticity in mind. Millennials are mindful of their impact on the environment, and want to know how your product is made. Highlight your philosophy and reasons behind it.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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23Nov

Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Media

Posted by: IndiVisualCreations Categories: Marketing TIps
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With the new year upon us, resolutions can be hard to accomplish – especially for businesses. Whatever your resolution may be, changes in your marketing strategies can be a positive step to consider. It can put a fresh spin on gaining more outside interest in your company, and give you the extra push you need to accomplish your goal. In today’s world, there’s a struggle between the choice of using “traditional” and “non-traditional” media.

Whether or not to advertise through a print medium, online advertising, radio advertising, or jump on the band wagon and start posting about your business on Facebook can be a difficult choice.

The question that most people seem to be asking themselves is, “Which is more beneficial?”

Traditional media still reaches the masses while non-traditional has the ability to hone in on your target geographically and behaviorally.

The truth is that both are equally important. There is an emerging trend of businesses using social media and non-traditional media platforms, but traditional media is still valuable, important and resourceful. Combining both options is optimal.

The secret is figuring out which media source reaches your customers specifically.
Each platform serves a different community, so you will need to do some research, and find out what your customers use to receive information.

Due to the variety of platforms available, it’s crucial to understand and acknowledge where they receive their information. Even with this knowledge, marketing can still be daunting and tedious.

At IndiVisual Creations, we’ve had a lot of success for our clients by combining traditional advertising with new media options.  We tailor-make our services to fit each of our clients’ needs, and put our best foot forward to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck. We take pride in supplying you with services you can rely on. Give us a call, or visit our website to learn more.

“Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Media”

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25May

Using Social Media as a Tool for Success

Posted by: IndiVisualCreations Categories: Digital & Social Media Marketing
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Social media is similar to starting a new business, and with it comes many obstacles: how to treat your customers, present yourself to the community, and effectively spread the word about what you do and what makes you different from your competitor.

Same as a new business you have to hire a friendly person to work the front counter is a good way to create a welcoming atmosphere.   Your Pages should be just as inviting.  If done correctly, you will begin to build your clients, generate a voice in a online community, and keep your fans coming back.

This might sound easy, but Social Media can be hard to maintain once you get it started.  What to post about and who to build relationships with can be tricky.  Here’s a list of tactics to use to keep your Social Media thriving:

Actively Engage with your Customers:  Don’t post only about your company.  Use interactive ways to promote your business by talking about current events going on in the community, or sharing posts made by others that will generate conversation relevant to your customer”s interests.

Measure your Success:  Track who your followers are, and make sure you are reaching out to the appropriate audience.  Having your message fall on deaf ears is not only frustrating; it’s a waste of time.

Ask for Advice from Others:  Using other people’s strategies to your advantage can really help, and most people are willing to share how they use their Social Media pages.  Getting advice will not only help you, it will let you engage and build stronger relationships in the online community.  After all, social media is a group effort.
Get into a Routine:  Make sure you stay on a schedule.  This gives your fans a time frame for when you will or will not post, which helps keeps things rolling.
At IndiVisual Creations, we provide customized Social Media Packages to fit our customers’ specific needs.

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