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Category: Content Marketing

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Unleashing Your Marketing Superpowers: How Power On Marketing Helps You Become the Hero

Every great superhero has an origin story—that moment of discovery when they first realize their powers. Maybe it’s the first time Superman leaps into the sky or when Peter Parker realizes he can cling to walls after being bitten by a radioactive spider.

For many marketing managers, their journey follows a similar path. One day, you’re thrown into a world of content creation, ad campaigns, branding, and analytics. You quickly realize you need to be faster, smarter, and more strategic than ever before. But with great responsibility comes great complexity, and even the most dedicated marketing professionals can find themselves overwhelmed.

That’s where Power On Marketing comes in—your ally, your mentor, and your secret weapon. We help turn ambitious marketing managers into Creative Marketing Operators, ready to take action, strategize, and execute like a pro.

Discovering Your Superpowers

Some marketing managers are natural strategists, while others are creative wizards. Some are data-driven analysts, while others thrive on storytelling. But no matter your strengths, every hero has their kryptonite. Maybe it’s struggling to keep up with social media trends, juggling website updates, or launching campaigns that feel like a shot in the dark.

At Power On Marketing, we step in to help you harness your powers effectively. Whether you’re a lone wolf managing a company’s marketing on your own or part of a lean team that needs extra firepower, we provide the expertise, tools, and strategy to elevate your game.

The Superpowered Human: Balancing Creativity & Execution

Much like Spider-Man juggling crime-fighting and a photography job, marketing managers are expected to wear multiple hats. You’re running email campaigns, fine-tuning PPC ads, handling social media, and proving ROI—all while trying to be innovative and engaging.

But even the best heroes need a sidekick. Imagine having a team that not only helps you create killer content but also ensures it reaches the right audience at the right time with the right message. That’s what we do. We optimize workflows, fine-tune messaging, and implement scalable strategies so that your marketing efforts aren’t just reactive but proactive.

The Agency as the Ultimate Super Team

Every superhero thrives when they have the right team. Superman has the Justice League. Spider-Man joins forces with the Avengers when things get tough. And marketing managers? They have Power On Marketing.

Instead of going it alone, we give you access to a team of experts in branding, content creation, SEO, website development, and paid media. We don’t just offer tools—we offer solutions. We help bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be, so your marketing efforts feel less like an uphill battle and more like a well-oiled machine.

Mastering the Art of Strategic Outsourcing

The strongest heroes know when to call for backup. Sometimes, marketing managers get stuck in the DIY mindset, trying to do everything themselves. But the best results come from knowing what to handle in-house and when to bring in reinforcements.

That’s why we offer flexible solutions—whether you need full-service support, strategic guidance, or just an extra set of hands on a project. We empower you to focus on what you do best while we take care of the rest.

Your Heroic Moment Starts Now

In every superhero story, there’s a moment when the hero steps up, embraces their powers, and takes action. If you’re ready to level up, take your marketing from good to great, and wield your full potential, Power On Marketing is here to help.

Because every hero needs the right team—and we’re ready to power up your journey.

 

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Crafting a Brand Message That Captivates and Converts

In today’s fast-paced world, you have only a few seconds to capture a potential customer’s attention. How do you make those seconds count? By telling a compelling story. Your brand’s message needs to be clear, engaging, and customer-focused to stand out.

Why Your Brand Message Matters

A strong brand message creates a connection with your audience, builds trust, and encourages loyalty. Customers want to know how your business solves their problems—not just what you do. The better your story resonates, the more likely they are to choose you.

Shifting the Focus to Your Customer

Many businesses make the mistake of centering their messaging around themselves. Instead, successful brands put their customers at the heart of the story. Think of your brand as the guide helping them achieve success. When your messaging is framed around solving their challenges, engagement and conversions naturally increase.

How to Create a Strong Brand Narrative

  1. Identify the Problem – What challenges do your customers face? How does your business help them overcome these hurdles?
  2. Offer a Clear Plan – Make the path to working with you simple. Show them what to expect when they take the next step.
  3. Highlight the Outcome – What does success look like if they choose your business? What happens if they don’t?
  4. Stay Consistent – Your brand’s voice should be clear and recognizable across all platforms.
  5. Keep It Simple – A straightforward message is always more effective than a complex one.

Let’s Talk About Your Brand

Your brand’s message can be the difference between being noticed or being ignored. A well-crafted story ensures that customers see you as the solution they need.

Need help refining your brand messaging? Let’s schedule a quick consultation to discuss how to make your brand stand out and drive results. Contact us today!

 

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The Smart CEO’s Guide to Marketing in 2025: Growth Without the Overhead

Why Traditional Marketing Structures Are Holding Your Business Back

If you’re a CEO, COO, or business leader, you already know that marketing is critical to growth. But let’s be honest: the traditional approach to in-house marketing is riddled with inefficiencies, high costs, and inconsistent ROI.

In 2025, businesses that thrive aren’t the ones with the biggest marketing teams—they’re the ones with the smartest marketing strategies. That means leveraging the right expertise, technology, and resources without the overhead of full-time staff.

The challenge? Many companies feel stuck between two costly options:

  1. Hiring an in-house marketing team, which means salaries, benefits, training, and software subscriptions that quickly add up.
  2. Piecing together freelancers or agencies, which often leads to disjointed branding, missed opportunities, and a lack of strategic direction.

What if there was a better way?

The Power of a Plug-and-Play Marketing Team

At Power On Marketing, we operate as an extension of your business—giving you the strategic direction and execution of a full-scale marketing department at a fraction of the cost.

Instead of hiring a full-time marketing manager who may have limited skills in SEO, social media, content creation, email marketing, and paid ads, you get an entire team of experts working toward one goal: growing your business.

What You Gain When You Partner with Us:

  • A Complete Marketing Department – Strategy, execution, analytics, and optimization all under one roof.
  • Agility and Speed – No onboarding delays, no training costs. We plug into your business and start delivering results immediately.
  • The Best Tools & Technology – We invest in the latest AI-driven marketing tools so you don’t have to.
  • Lower Overhead, Higher ROI – You get top-tier marketing without the long-term financial commitment of an in-house team.

The Cost of Doing Nothing

Here’s a hard truth: If your marketing strategy today looks the same as it did two years ago, you’re already behind your competition.

Marketing in 2025 is driven by data, automation, and hyper-personalized customer engagement. If you don’t have a strategy that adapts in real-time, you’re leaving money on the table.

Consider these stats:

  • 76% of business leaders say AI-driven marketing is improving efficiency and reducing costs.
  • Companies that outsource marketing functions report a 43% faster time to market for new campaigns.
  • 60% of small to mid-sized businesses cite lack of expertise as their #1 marketing challenge.

The Future of Growth Is Flexible

CEOs who are serious about scaling their business in 2025 don’t hire more people—they hire the right people.

If you’re ready to replace inefficiency with innovation, let’s talk. Power On Marketing is built for companies that need to grow, need results, and need them now.

Your next move? Let’s have a conversation. Book a call today and discover how we can transform your marketing from a cost center into a profit engine.

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Marketing with Cheer: 2025 Marketing Trends to Inspire Your New Year Strategy

Blog featuredimages december wrapping up the year with a festive marketing flair

Wrapping Up the Old Year and Unwrapping 2025’s Marketing Potential

As the year comes to a close, we look ahead with anticipation to 2025 and the new opportunities it holds. The holiday season is not only a time for celebration but also a time to refresh our perspectives, taking what we’ve learned from this year and preparing to make an impact in the next. In the spirit of giving, we’re unwrapping 2025’s anticipated marketing trends, helping you take a festive look into the future and gear up for success with joy and optimism

1. Social Commerce – Turning Posts into Presents

Social commerce was big in 2024 and promises to keep growing. Shoppers have embraced buying directly from social platforms, and brands have enjoyed building more accessible shopping experiences. This holiday season, consider how social commerce can seamlessly integrate into your strategies, making it easy for customers to purchase products as they scroll. Bring the magic of a holiday gift shop directly to your followers’ feeds with enticing, shoppable posts that make shopping as joyful as gift-giving.

2. The Expansion of AR and VR in Digital Marketing

2025 is shaping up to be a year of even more immersive experiences, thanks to the growth of augmented and virtual reality. Imagine holiday campaigns that allow users to “try on” virtual decorations or step into a winter wonderland from their phones! With these tools, brands can create magical, memorable interactions that add depth to the holiday experience. Planning to invest in AR/VR for the new year? Start with small, festive elements to test what resonates with your audience.

3. Purpose-Driven Marketing – Spreading Holiday Spirit Year-Round

Purpose-driven marketing was a powerful trend in 2024, showing that consumers value brands that stand for more than profit. As you prepare for 2025, think about how your brand can continue supporting meaningful causes that resonate with your audience. The holidays are the perfect time to highlight your community contributions and remind your customers of your shared values. Purpose-driven marketing doesn’t stop with the New Year; let it become a lasting part of your brand identity.

4. Customer-Led Innovation – Giving the Gift of Choice

In 2025, brands will increasingly seek customer input to create products and services that people truly love. During the holiday season, you can experiment with customer-led innovation by gathering feedback and ideas through social media polls, surveys, and interactive stories. Create holiday-themed polls, ask customers to vote on seasonal products, or invite them to share their “wish lists” for new features. This approach strengthens your connection with customers and shows that their voices matter.

5. Voice Search and Conversational Marketing

The popularity of voice search and conversational marketing tools is expected to grow in 2025, driven by the convenience of virtual assistants and chatbots. This holiday season, consider how these tools can add value for your customers, like offering voice-activated gift guides or festive chatbot helpers. As you prepare for the new year, integrating voice search capabilities or conversational marketing into your strategy can make interactions with your brand feel more accessible and natural.

6. Privacy-First Marketing – Building Trust Like Family

With data privacy becoming a top priority for consumers, 2025 will emphasize privacy-focused strategies. Treat your customers’ privacy with the care you’d give a family gift, ensuring transparency and respect in all interactions. Showcase your commitment to privacy during the holidays by highlighting secure ways customers can shop, browse, and interact with your brand. Building this foundation of trust will carry you into the new year with stronger customer loyalty.

Tying it All Together for a Joyous, Successful New Year

The holidays are a time for joy, reflection, and connection, and these trends embody those values in a way that will shape 2025’s marketing landscape. By adopting these forward-thinking approaches, you’re positioning your brand to meet the new year with creativity, authenticity, and an abundance of holiday cheer. Here’s to unwrapping new ideas, making meaningful connections, and a new year filled with innovation and growth. Happy Holidays and a joyful New Year from our team to yours!

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2024’s Hottest Marketing Trends: Wrapping Up the Year with a Festive Marketing Flair

Blog featuredimages december 2025 marketing trends to inspire your new year strategy

Embracing the Holiday Season in Marketing

As we step into the holiday season, there’s a special kind of magic in the air—and it’s not just the smell of pine trees and peppermint! The holidays bring a unique opportunity for marketers to reflect on what made the year memorable and set the stage for next year. Today, let’s unwrap the hottest marketing trends of 2024 and look at how they’ve shaped this year. From authentic campaigns to AI-powered strategies, these trends have helped brands connect more meaningfully with audiences, and this holiday season is the perfect time to use them. So grab a hot cocoa, settle in, and let’s explore how to end the year on a festive note with these 2024 marketing trends!

  1. 1. Authenticity is King – Festive Campaigns with Heart

Authenticity topped the trend charts in 2024, reminding us all that audiences crave real connections. In the world of holiday marketing, authentic storytelling truly shines. Many brands have taken this trend to heart, producing holiday campaigns that feel genuine and human-centered. Take a page out of their playbook by showcasing your brand’s values and celebrating your community authentically. Whether it’s through heartfelt customer stories or team highlights, let your brand’s personality shine in your holiday messaging.

  1. 2. The Rise of Short-Form Video Content

2024 saw an explosion of short-form video content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, and it’s only gaining momentum. This holiday season, bring a touch of festive flair to your short-form content by sharing quick, fun, and creative clips. Highlight your products with a holiday twist, showcase your team in holiday prep mode, or create a countdown to the holidays series. By engaging with followers through quick, entertaining videos, you’ll build a stronger connection and keep the holiday spirit alive.

  1. 3. Personalization at Scale

Personalization became more accessible than ever in 2024, allowing brands to reach audiences in meaningful ways. This holiday season, why not leverage personalization to make each interaction special? Consider festive email campaigns that deliver personalized messages, holiday deals based on browsing history, or even surprise gifts based on past purchases. When done right, personalization helps customers feel valued—especially during the holidays when everyone’s looking for that perfect gift or recommendation.

  1. 4. AI-Powered Marketing – Keeping it Human-Centric

Artificial intelligence revolutionized the marketing world in 2024, enabling brands to predict trends and personalize experiences at scale. As the year comes to a close, consider using AI to enhance your holiday marketing, from personalized gift suggestions to holiday-themed chatbots ready to assist customers in real-time. Keep it human-centric by using AI to build authentic relationships, such as by tailoring customer experiences and offering relevant holiday deals.

  1. 5. Sustainability in Marketing

This year, audiences continued to value sustainability, and brands that embraced eco-friendly practices stood out. To tap into this during the holiday season, consider promoting sustainable products, using eco-friendly packaging, or supporting a green initiative. Position your brand as eco-conscious, and your audience will appreciate the effort to give back to the planet this holiday season.

  1. 6. Experiential Marketing and Hybrid Events

Hybrid events have become an innovative way to blend online and offline experiences, and 2024 was no exception. This holiday season, create virtual and in-person experiences that invite your audience to join in the celebrations. From virtual holiday workshops to online pop-ups, experiential marketing can help build community and bring a festive atmosphere right to your audience’s screen.

Ending the Year on a Festive Note

As we reflect on these 2024 trends, it’s clear that marketing continues to evolve to meet people’s desire for connection, purpose, and joy. End the year by celebrating your team’s achievements, showcasing the holiday spirit, and gearing up for an incredible 2025. This holiday season, may your campaigns be merry, your strategies bright, and your audience engaged like never before. Cheers to a successful season and the trends that made it memorable!

Wrap up the year in style—partner with Power On Marketing to leverage 2024’s hottest trends and bring festive flair to your brand: Power On Marketing.

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What Are You Looking to Create?

In today’s fast-paced business environment, creating something new requires more than just a great idea. It demands strategic planning, expert execution, and a keen understanding of the latest trends and technologies. Whether you’re a business leader, marketer, or project manager, the challenge often lies in turning your vision into reality. 

One of the most impactful decisions you can make is choosing to partner with a marketing agency. But what exactly are you looking to create, and how can a marketing agency help you achieve it?

Defining Your Vision

The first step in any creative endeavor is defining your vision. What is the purpose of your project? Who is your target audience? What message do you want to convey? Answering these questions is crucial because it sets the foundation for everything that follows. It helps you stay focused and ensures that your efforts align with your goals.

Setting Clear Objectives

Clear objectives act as a roadmap for your creative journey. They provide direction and help you measure progress. For instance, if you’re developing a marketing campaign, your objectives might include increasing brand awareness, generating leads, or driving sales. Each objective should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Understanding Your Audience

Knowing your audience is vital to creating something that resonates with them. Conducting market research, analyzing demographics, and understanding consumer behavior are all part of this process. The better you understand your audience, the more effectively you can tailor your message and deliver value.

Crafting Your Message

Your message is the core of your creative project. It’s what you want to communicate to your audience. A compelling message is clear, concise, and emotionally engaging. It should reflect your brand’s values and connect with your audience on a personal level.

The Role of a Marketing Agency

Once you have a clear vision, the next step is bringing it to life. This is where a marketing agency can make a significant difference. Here’s how partnering with a marketing agency can help you achieve your creative and business goals.

Expertise and Experience

Marketing agencies are staffed with professionals who have specialized knowledge and experience in various aspects of marketing. From digital marketing and social media to branding and content creation, these experts can provide insights and strategies that you might not have considered. Their experience in working with different industries and clients allows them to understand what works and what doesn’t, helping you avoid common pitfalls.

Access to Advanced Tools and Technologies

Marketing agencies have access to the latest tools and technologies that can enhance your marketing efforts. From advanced analytics and automation tools to design software and content management systems, these resources can significantly boost your productivity and the effectiveness of your campaigns. Leveraging these tools, agencies can deliver more targeted, data-driven, and creative solutions.

Creative and Strategic Thinking

A fresh perspective is often invaluable. Marketing agencies bring creative and strategic thinking to the table, helping you develop innovative solutions that stand out in a crowded market. They can help you craft compelling stories, design eye-catching visuals, and create engaging content that resonates with your audience.

Cost-Effective Solutions

Building an in-house marketing team can be costly and time-consuming. By outsourcing your marketing needs to an agency, you can access top-tier talent and resources without the overhead costs associated with full-time employees. This allows you to allocate your budget more efficiently, ensuring that you get the best return on your investment.

Scalability and Flexibility

One of the significant advantages of working with a marketing agency is scalability. Whether you’re launching a new product, entering a new market, or dealing with seasonal demand, an agency can scale its efforts to meet your needs. This flexibility allows you to adapt to changing market conditions and seize new opportunities quickly.

Focus on Core Competencies

Outsourcing your marketing needs to an agency allows your team to focus on what they do best. Whether it’s product development, customer service, or operations, you can concentrate on your core competencies while the agency handles your marketing efforts. This can lead to improved efficiency and better overall performance for your company.

Enhanced Performance and ROI

Marketing agencies are results-driven. They focus on delivering measurable outcomes and improving your return on investment (ROI). By leveraging their expertise, you can achieve better performance and higher ROI for your marketing campaigns. Agencies use data and analytics to track progress, make informed decisions, and optimize strategies for maximum impact.

Embracing Technology in Marketing

In today’s digital age, technology plays a significant role in marketing. Partnering with an agency that embraces technology can give you a competitive edge.

Leveraging Digital Tools

There are countless digital tools available that can help you create, design, and manage your projects. From graphic design software to project management tools, these resources can boost your productivity and help you stay organized.

Utilizing Data and Analytics

Data and analytics can provide valuable insights into your audience and help you make informed decisions. By analyzing data, you can identify trends, understand consumer behavior, and measure the effectiveness of your campaigns. This information can guide your creative decisions and improve your overall strategy.

Embracing Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the marketing industry. AI-powered tools can automate repetitive tasks, generate creative content, and even provide personalized recommendations. By embracing AI, you can save time and enhance your creativity.

Cloud Collaboration

Cloud-based platforms enable real-time collaboration, allowing teams to work together seamlessly regardless of their location. This is particularly useful for global teams, as it enables them to share ideas, provide feedback, and work on projects simultaneously.

Full-Service Digital Marketing Solutions

A comprehensive approach to marketing encompasses various services that together create a cohesive and effective strategy. Here’s how a full-service marketing agency can support your business.

Vision Boards and Brand Strategy

Developing a clear brand strategy and vision board helps set the direction for your marketing efforts. Agencies can assist in creating a visual representation of your brand’s identity and strategic goals, ensuring all marketing activities align with your overall vision.

Rebranding and Brand Identification

If your brand needs a refresh or a complete overhaul, marketing agencies can guide you through the rebranding process. This includes redefining your brand identity, updating your logo and visuals, and ensuring your new brand message resonates with your target audience.

Graphic Design

High-quality graphic design is essential for creating visually appealing and effective marketing materials. Agencies offer a range of design services, from creating logos and branding elements to designing brochures, banners, and social media graphics.

Website Design and Development

A strong online presence starts with a well-designed website. Marketing agencies provide website design and development services that ensure your site is not only visually appealing but also user-friendly and optimized for search engines.

Social Media Management

Effective social media management involves more than just posting content. Agencies can help you develop a social media strategy, create engaging content, manage your social media accounts, and analyze performance to improve your results.

TV and Ad Buys

Traditional advertising methods, such as TV commercials and ad buys, can still be highly effective. Marketing agencies can plan and execute these campaigns, negotiating the best rates and placements to maximize your reach and impact.

What Are You Looking to Create?

The journey of creation is unique for everyone. Whether you’re a business leader, marketer, or project manager, defining your vision, understanding your audience, and embracing technology can help you bring your ideas to life. By partnering with a marketing agency, you gain access to expertise, advanced tools, and creative thinking that can elevate your projects to new heights.

At the heart of creativity is the desire to make something meaningful and lasting. So, what are you looking to create? Whatever it is, remember that the journey is just as important as the destination. Embrace the process, stay true to your vision, and let your creativity shine.

When considering how to best achieve your creative goals, think about the advantages of partnering with a team that combines expertise, technology, and a comprehensive approach to marketing. Such a partnership can provide the support and resources needed to bring your vision to life, ensuring that your creative endeavors are successful and impactful.



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Video Marketing

As you may already know, video is becoming the Michael Jordan of marketing. Because our current generation is lazy and can’t hold still for five minutes to read an article, videos have this problem covered. They provide a more personal experience for your customers who have that short attention span and are comfortable with social media.

Videos are an increasingly important marketing tool for businesses because they’re useful and versatile. Whether it’s for your social media, your website, or for your customers, videos are important to the success of your business. Enough with the boring content and memes that don’t mean anything (cat memes are still okay), upgrade to videos, you’ll thank us.

The Numbers:

Videos for business don’t just “look good,” they bring big numbers. Numbers and data are the name of the game in marketing, because that’s what everyone wants and needs. A survey by Renderforest.com found that videos can increase awareness of your brand by over 70%. As a result, your business reaches new audiences and attracts new potential customers to your website and media pages.

This increase in brand awareness correlates with traffic, which video can increase by over 51%. It’s simple: the more people that come to your website and social media sites, the more successful your business will be. Unlike the horrible traffic on US-19 at five o’clock where you’re stuck listening to “Put you to sleep” radio, this is the traffic you’ll enjoy.

But enough with the “boring” statistics, let’s get to the one thing that ALL business leaders are most interested in, MONEY.  Using video marketing increases sales by over 34%. Over 45% of people are more likely to buy a product or service after watching a video because of the improved SEO. It’s simple math, folks! People want to see what your product or service does. These stats are great, but you first need to know what type of video you need to produce, for what platform, and who your target audience is before these numbers even matter.  Keep reading if you’d like your business to make more money.

How to Use Video Marketing:

The amazing thing about video marketing is how far it’s come and how many different areas in which it can be used. With its ability to communicate and deliver messages efficiently, video marketing has evolved in numerous ways to help you be as successful as possible.

Informative Videos

To start out with video marketing, your best bet is to create informative videos.  These are videos that explain who you are, what you do, and how you can help the target audience you are pursuing. Don’t get too personal right away though; make them want to come back for more just like a first date (yes, we give dating advice as well).

Tutorials and How-to

People love tutorials or how-to videos. These go along with informative videos, but they are more in-depth. You can use these to show how a product works or show your audience how to better use an online system that they may already be using. Many people are visual learners, so these types of videos make it easier for them to follow along and want to visit your page for the next video you share.

Educational Videos

Depending on your company, educational videos are great as well. Use certain narrative resources such as graphics and scripts to gain their attention and combine them with interesting topics to keep their attention throughout. The purpose of these is to be engaging and fun while providing useful information in the process. Webinars and live streams on social media are two of the main effective ways to use this technique.

Testimonials

An effective video marketing technique that gets overlooked is testimonials. This is an powerful way for your audience to hear about how your company has helped others from the perspective of previous or current clients. Future customers tend to trust the opinion of others who are like themselves rather than the voice of the company. When doing this though, make sure these are people that ACTUALLY like you (if possible).

In today’s marketing era, video is essential to success. But, it’s more than just plastering your face or visuals in a video; you need to use it in a smart, content-strategic way. When you create video content for your company, remember that the #1 goal is to stay on track with the audience you are trying to reach. Make sure your quality is recognizable and that your viewers understand what you are trying to say about a product or service. Create videos that people will share and discuss with others, so that they are more likely to check out the rest of your company’s attributes.

One more word of advice: don’t try to go viral right away. Yes, it worked for the Kardashians, but being normal human beings like most of us are, perfection takes time and repetition. Repetition. Repetition.

 

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5 Social Media Trends for 2022

Want to stay ahead of the game on social media? A solid social media presence is very important, and trends are always evolving and growing in different ways to engage your audience. Using these trends is a great way to get people involved and increase engagement. Check out these new trends to spice up your social media presence.

1. Video Content

With the success of TikTok, other platforms like Instagram and Facebook have spiked their video content with clips like Reels to engage audiences. It’s predicted that by 2022, more platforms will include videos in their social feeds. Short videos have become a trendy way for brands to sell their products entertainingly. Video content is one way to increase your engagement and join the trend.

2. Behind-the-scenes content

With the video and TikTok trends comes behind-the-scenes content. Many small businesses have jumped on the trend and are showing the behind-the-scenes of how their products are made. Just as the do-it-yourself trend was popular a few years ago, customers are getting a glimpse into how their products are made and their company operates. The customer can get more involved in the products, which increases sales and followers.

3. Interactive Posts

Interactive posts have increased in the last year as more and more people work from home or cell phones, and this trend isn’t going away anytime soon. This trend is popular on Facebook and Instagram, but LinkedIn has expanded its survey-like posts. Interactive posts are a great way to gauge your followers’ reactions with a simple slider or poll. Offering your followers something fun like a quiz or poll will increase their engagement and give them something to look forward to.

4. Shoppable posts

As more and more businesses turn to social platforms to share their products and reach customers, shoppable posts make it easier for customers to shop from their phones. With swipe features, embedded product links, and automatic product tagging, you can seamlessly connect your e-commerce brand to your social media by tagging images of your products in your posts for direct purchase.

5. Carousels

Carousels are still new to social media, but they’re growing in popularity on Twitter and Instagram, and are predicted to become even more popular by the middle of 2022. A carousel is a series of 5-10 texts or images in a single social media post that can be viewed by swiping or clicking. It’s a way to show lots of content, but only in one post, either for education or entertainment. It’s very popular with photographers showing multiple images from a photo shoot, or clothing brands introducing a new line or collection.

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INFLUENCER MARKETING: THE DOS AND DON’TS

DOS:

Do Focus on Engagement

Ahhhh, the classic debate of engagement vs. follower counts. Many brands are continuously making the mistake of overlooking a key factor when it comes to connecting with and utilizing influencers for their brand advertisements – ENGAGEMENT. That number displayed at the top of an influencers page… NEWSFLASH you can buy it, and it is not that expensive to buy either. It truly means nothing anymore, and if you are a true spotter of good influencer talent, how many followers someone has will not phase you and will not be the first thing you check for. The first thing you should be paying attention to is engagement levels – not their follower count. DO focus on engagement and DON’T concentrate on their overall number at the top of the screen because it genuinely does not have meaning anymore when it comes to brand partnerships that will have value and ROI for your brand.  

Do Find the Right Niche

It can be easy sometimes to get caught up in the wrong influencer genre for your company because of their status or celebrity. Make sure you spend the time researching the community and market you need to immerse yourself so you can see results. Too often, the audience your influencer appeals to is not interested in your product, because it is not what they usually see on the influencers page. Finding influencers that are accustom to your product, have a follower base built around it, and are knowledgeable will produce more ROI (return on investments) than the wrong influencer in the wrong niche. For example, beauty brands should not work with influencers that are fashion or travel-oriented, but rather influencers built around skincare and self-love. The same could go for a clothing brand. Prioritize fashion bloggers and not food influencers just because of a status they might have within the social media community. 

 These all go hand and hand and are mistakes that might seem like common sense but are made more commonly than you would think. If you sell kids toys, you would want to advertise with someone like Amber Fillerup or Cara Loren, knowing they have children and a massive mother audience. All of these are things to increase sales and warrant yourself proper exposure with the right community.

Do Pay Attention to Comments

Okay, we are giving away one of our trademark Instagram clues that so many digital marketers are overlooking when selecting influencers. Check their comment section. Are they receiving a lot of comments? Are the comments genuine? Are the comments filled with emojis or “so cute” comments? If so, they are not the right fit for your brand. You want to see engagement but also genuine engagement (unfortunately, engagement can be bought too). Are the followers discussing what is happening in the photo in the comments, are they talking about the brand featured, are they asking questions? The more questions an influencer can raise, the more likely it is to turn that into a sale for your brand. Is the influencer responding to comments, are they making a conscious effort to engage and spread knowledge and awareness about the products that they advertise? Take that little business secret and run wild in the comment section; you’re welcome!

Do Create a Budget

Have a budget and stick to it. Whether your goal is to give out free products or pay influencers for their services, know what you can afford, and only dedicate around 20% of your marketing budget. Do not put all your eggs in one basket with influencer marketing since it is such a new form of advertisement. It still has its pros and cons and does not always work the way you want it to. 

Do Have Backup Plans

You will commonly find out that the influencer you were dead set on working with is just not interested, or their fees are straight up too expensive. Have a solid enough list that this set back does not screw up your whole quarter. Not everyone will be eager to work with you, and not everyone works for the exchange of a free product, be aware of this and always be respectful of that because you do not want to burn a bridge for an opportunity in the future.   

Do Ask for Leftover Content

No shame in the game, if you are paying an influencer for posts, you know that one picture has a million others behind it. Influencers take hundreds of photos before they get what they consider as their “best shot” for the brand, and then they only end up using three to four of the images they spent hours creating. So, ask for all the extras! If you ask for this from the beginning and make it part of your arrangement, you can use the images down the line, and you will build-up collateral for yourself at no extra cost.

 

DON’T: 

Don’t Fall Victim to Pricing Sheets

The people who do not want to have a conversation about your brand and send you a pricing kit right away… they are taking advantage of you. A good influencer will get to know your brand and your needs before concluding what pricing should be. The ones that present you automatically with a pricing sheet and exhibit pushy demeanors with it, most of the time, their rates are way too high for the value they actually bring, and these influencers do not care about your brand. They want to make their post and move on. The influencers that want to invest time and energy into your brand are the ones worth paying for, and sometimes the ones you want are not really who is suitable for your brand. Do not fall victim to the overpriced drama queens that make you feel less than you are. Your brand is unique and has value to be shared with others, and the right influencer will help you cultivate that.   

Don’t Be Caught Up in a Fake Account

Check the influencer’s credentials. Ask for their insights, check their engagement, check them out on sites like https://igaudit.io/ . When looking at sites like this one, the influencer should be at least 65-70% authentic following. No one is hardly ever 100% seeing as bots sometimes follow without the purchase of fake followers. Sometimes, Instagram tracks inauthenticity as just not very engaging followers, so inactive accounts are basically impossible to avoid. Still, a really high authenticity rate is anything above 70%, so keep that in mind when searching.

Don’t Exclude Micro-Influencers

This has been the year of micro-influencers. On occasion, they are even outselling the influencers that have millions of followers, why you ask because they are real people! So many people are on social networks looking for real and honest reviews of their favorite products. Partner with individuals who are going to review your products with honesty and authentic conversations and invest in the people who are not just searching for the dollar sign you can offer them. Micro-influencers are great for that, and they also usually are more affordable. The two options you are presented are you can either take the one big macro-influencer route or several small micro-influencers. Both have their benefits, and you should try out both avenues to see, which is the better fit for you. 

We hope some of this information opened your eyes to the inner workings of influencer marketing! There is still so much more to discover, and it is truly an undertaking. If this is something you are interested in learning more about, reach out to our social media team here at Power On Marketing!

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LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO MANAGE CUSTOMER CENTRICITY

Taking the knowledge you have gained by evaluating and defining your ideal clients needs (see Creating a Customer Centric Business Model), and determine how to leverage technology to provide the level of service expected in a cost effective way.  There are a lot of choices when it concerns what technologies are worth the effort to implement.  From the implementation of a CRM, Business Blog, Social Media, Distribution Networks, Email Marketing, Website Platforms, etc., there can be a lot of tools to choose from.

How can these technologies improve your ability to manage customer more effectively?

  • Customer relationship management (CRM) software can be used to segment your client base in a way that will allow you to tailor your messaging to relate to their buying behavior.  Properly setting up your CRM and automating custom tailored messaging and campaign tracking will give you the ability interpret the results you achieve in a way that will allow you to replicate the success in a more predictive manor.
  • Business Blogging is just a way to build your website content in a way that is easier to track and follow as a customer interested in what you have to say.  You can categorize and link information in a way that tells a story.  Creating a story that relates to your customer base and flows through multiple pages on your site will increase a prospects willingness to contact you.
  • Social Media is a venue that is most likely being used by your ideal customer base.  Furthermore it is a way to reach your ideal client in a more personal setting in a more personal way.  The key to effectively using social media is to understand the mindset and interests of the participants of each type of social media account.  For example LinkedIn is expected to be used for business purposes but you should further segment its use between business and personal pages on LinkedIn.  Personal LinkedIn pages are for your personal accomplishments, which can be written in a way to sell your companies services.  While company pages should focus on the companies marketing and accomplishments for the same purpose.  Of course relating this messaging to what your ideal prospect wants to hear is the key to success.
  • Distribution Networks can be used to create brand awareness.  Remember when you are reaching out to new networks understand the networks purpose and relate your message to them.  In addition, remember this message could be the first impression you make on the prospect and the link used to get them back to the site should take them to page that continues the story you are telling.
  • Email Marketing is a great way to stay in touch with your client base.  It can be used as a way to improve lead conversion rates and a way to unobtrusively provide current customers with useful information that relate to them.
  • Website Platforms need to be established in a way that tells a great story, captures reader’s interests and entices them to convert and share the information with people they know.  This can be accomplished with appropriately placed Calls to Action, Share It Functionality and tools like live chat.  Making customer interaction and usability is vital to successfully relate to site visitors.
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