Coronavirus’ Impact on the Marketing Industry
The impact of the Covid-19 virus has been massive and widespread. Almost every single industry that you can imagine has felt the effects that the shockwave of the Coronavirus has left in its wake, and the marketing industry is no exception. With much of the population forced to self-isolate at home, digital marketing has become even more crucial than ever before as people have become increasingly reliant on technology in order to stay in contact with one another. Marketers and brands have had to make several adjustments as a result of the pandemic, and interestingly enough, many unexpected opportunities and consequences emerged as a result of the virus.
Not many industries can say that they have seen new opportunities arise as a result of Covid-19, but marketers have been lucky in that sense. In a field where connecting with your audience is key, marketers have found themselves in a time period where people are looking for some kind of connection more than ever. This has made the effort that marketers have out into their social media management worthwhile. Effective marketers have used this time period to take their brands social media and build relationships with their customers, providing them with a stable, dependable voice to look towards. This can be invaluable during a time like this, and can help to increase the loyalty that people feel towards a brand. If marketers are able to build that relationship, it can help to keep their company afloat during this time of great financial uncertainty. Marketers have also gained some unexpected hands-on experience of how they should respond in a crisis situation. In the future, if something tumultuous is to happen with their company again, they are better equipped now to handle the fallout.
On the flip side, the Covid-19 pandemic has also had many negative consequences for the marketing industry as a whole. For example, it has been a very difficult time for customer acquisition. With many people out of work, there is not much unnecessary purchasing or experimentation in regards to purchases happening. Customers are tending to stick with brands and companies that they are familiar with and are behaving in a more risk-averse manner. Additionally, the virus has put many campaigns and partnerships that had been planned on hold, perhaps permanently as many companies and industries are bleeding money every day. Marketers as a whole have had to hold steady in order to keep their collective heads above water, and thus not much experimentation has been occurring, stifling growth within the industry. Overall, Covid-19’s impact on the marketing industry has been undeniable. However, although this impact has come with its fair share of negative consequences, there have been many opportunities that have emerged as well, and it is important for marketers to adapt to the changes that have happened and face these opportunities head on if they wish to succeed.
Tik Tok Performance Improvement Tips:
Ever since its debut in September 2016, Tik Tok has emerged as one of the fastest growing social media platforms available. Younger individuals in particular, such as members of Gen Z and Millenials have really helped to popularize the platform, creating viral trends and dances that have reached across the globe. The viral nature of Tik Tok is part of what is so enticing about it to begin with; the idea of being able to record a message or participate in a trend and have your voice heard by millions of people from all different walks of life can be a very attractive prospect. However, performing well on Tik Tok is about more than simply just recording your video and posting it to the masses. There are several ways that individuals who are seeking to reach the widest audience possible can set themselves up to do well on the platform. While these tools can be useful for anybody seeking to find popularity on Tik Tok, they can be especially useful for marketers, whose ultimate goal is to reach a vast audience to effectively spread their message.
One of the best things you can do to ensure that a large audience sees your post is to utilize hashtags. Hashtags have become a staple of many different social media platforms, and Tik Tok is no exception. In particular, make sure to take advantage of hashtags having to do with the “For You” page (#ForYouPage, #ForYou, #FYP), which is the customized video feeds that Tik Tok curates for you when you first open the platform. Using these hashtags increases your likelihood of appearing on the “For You” page of other people when they utilize Tik Tok. Another crucial tip would be to record your videos vertically. Tik Tok is a platform in which the video display is vertical, so recording your videos in this format will make them more visually appealing to the audience. Prospective Tik Tokers should also be mindful not to focus solely on likes. There are many metrics and analytics that a video’s success can be examined through. While likes are important they are not the be all and end all when it comes to determining how successful a video is going to be. Those seeking to find success on the platform should also make sure that they have recent uploads from their accounts. Videos that appear on the “For You” page are typically pulled from the last 90 days of uploads, so having recent uploads on your account will help increase the likelihood that people will discover your account. Finally, and maybe the most important tip of all would be to keep viewers engaged. If the people watching enjoy your content and keep going back to your page, your viewership will increase as Tik Tok will take that as a sign that people enjoy your content. Therefore, it is important that your posts grab the attention of the viewer right away so that they keep coming back for more.
Tik Tok is still very young as far as social media platforms go. There is no doubt that over time it will continue to evolve and adapt to meet the needs of those who are utilizing it. As it currently stands, the tips and tools listed above can help marketers and potential future viral video stars increase their reach on the platform and cast the widest net possible to spread your message more effectively.
Social Media and its Effects on Marketing Today
By Ryan Gumb
Social media has become a regular part of everyday life for countless individuals around the world. When we wake up in the morning the first thing that we do is grab our phones to check our social media accounts. In fact, for many of us, the time spent sleeping is the longest period of time we go without checking our social media accounts. It is an undeniable fact that social media has made its way into our society in a variety of different aspects. One of the greatest ways that it has impacted society can be found in modern marketing and advertising.
Prior to the emergence and subsequent boom of social media, the faces of marketing and advertising were very different. What is now known as “traditional media,” was referred to simply as “media.” Television and radio ads, as well as print ads in newspapers and magazines, were often the direction that marketers opted to go in. Often times, press releases would need to be drafted and submitted to news publishers in order to get the word out about whatever it was that was being promoted. With the emergence of the internet, digital advertising began to blossom. Buying ad space on websites became commonplace, whether it be through side banners, videos, pop-ups, or even via blogs. While all of these methods of marketing and advertising still exist to this day, they have become less prevalent in the wake of social media marketing.
Social media has allowed companies to connect more directly with their customer base than ever before. Customers now have a tool at their disposal that will allow them to directly contact a company that they plan to do business with, allowing for customer service to take place at a rapid, and sometimes instantaneous pace. Social media also provides companies with an opportunity to promote themselves in a very cost effective manner. It may cost money to pay a social media manager or to run paid ads, but social media is still cheaper than many of the other methods of advertising that had previously been more popular.
Some companies even opt to utilize services such as Sendible and Hootsuite which allow them to streamline and queue social media posts in advance. Social media has also brought forth the emergence of “influencers.” Influencers are individuals with significant followings on social media who partner with brands in order to promote their products or services. They essentially act as thought leaders, influencing their followers to patronize the brands that they are working with. Many companies have found success by making use of social media influencers, and this has provided them with another method that they can utilize to connect with potential customers.
Additionally, social media gives companies an opportunity to establish a brand personality for themselves. Wendy’s is a prime example of this brand personality development. Wendy’s is famous for their Twitter account, which is snarky and sarcastic, often times making witty comments back at people who reach out to them on the platform. Often times, they will even throw a friendly jab at some of their biggest competitors, such as McDonalds and Burger King. This tongue-in-cheek approach has worked very well for Wendy’s, but brands must be careful, as social media can lead to offensive conversations and ruin the reputation of the company. The minute that something is put on the internet, especially on social media, it is there forever, and many companies have experienced severe backlash for things that they posted online.
In conclusion, social media has completely changed the landscape of the world of advertising and marketing. Brands now have direct access to customers, and customers now have direct access to brands. While this may mean that it is easier than ever to reach a customer base, it is not necessarily a completely positive thing, as brands are more under the microscope than ever before, and must now make sure that everything they say and do is being perceived positively by the general public. The use of targeted social media ads, influencers, and positive direct customer interaction can establish strong reputations and personas for companies who would have had a hard time growing a few years ago.
How to Be a Better Client and Maximize Your Marketing Efforts
Some industries are labeled with a bad reputation no matter how trustworthy the individual business entity is. Auto body shops and marketers are two such industries. So what happens when a well-known marketing agency teams up with Staten Island’s only environmentally friendly auto body shop to increase business? This week’s Vonsense podcast, “How to be a better client” can answer that question.
This week the Von Agency team spoke with Barry Crupi, Co-owner and operator of Barry’s Auto Body to get his opinion about why his various marketing campaigns have been successful.
The first point that Barry brought up was the need for the client to know what s/he expects to gain from the marketing campaign. There are many forms of marketing – from Facebook ads, to LinkedIn, to YouTube videos and podcasts. Each platform presents different creative opportunities. As a client it is important to communicate your goals to your marketer and to work with them to adjust the campaign to optimize performance.
Passariello brought up the importance of tracking. In his words, “If you can’t track it, don’t do it.”
The team discussed the importance of being realistic when it comes to expectations. Several of the campaigns Politika created for Barry’s Auto Body were a bit edgy and resulted in a few negative comments even though the overall campaign was successful. As Barry said, “Sometimes you have to ruffle a few feathers in order to get people’s attention.”
The group discussed involving family in marketing campaigns as was the case with the “I Gotta Guy” series in which Barry, his sister and partner, Michelle and his father appeared in the video. Barry said that it was extremely important because all of his family is involved in the community so people recognized them in the video and connected them to the business.
That led to the discussion about what role community involvement plays in marketing. Barry emphatically stated that volunteering in the community and donating to local non-profits was extremely important because that creates trust between the community and your business. When small business engages with charitable institutions, everyone wins.
The group all agreed that customer service is the best marketing opportunity a business has. When you provide a quality experience for your customer you establish a solid base for word of mouth business, especially in today’s competitive market when customers are not geographically restricted on where they can shop.
To learn more about how to be a better client when dealing with a marketing agency, listen to this week’s edition of Vonsense:
Blurred Lines: Why Social Media Marketing Just Got Tougher
By Joseph Corrado Quadara
If you’re an avid social media user (like 80% of the U.S population) you’ve probably noticed the frequent updates that take place on your favorite platforms. These changes happen so often that users are left confused and frustrated. Seems counter-intuitive since the purpose of the platform is to provide a positive user experience.
It seems like social media companies are spiraling deeper and deeper into a game of Monkey in the Middle. On one side are the billions of loyal users essential to a company’s success. On the other side are the millions of businesses/advertisers who pay the bills. With update suggestions from both sides, the company is regularly forced to make a choice between generating revenue and keeping its users happy. It’s a tough position to be in and the problem doesn’t end there.The executives of these companies must continually improve their platform to keep up with existing competitors.
With these constant pressures, the reputation and uniqueness of these platforms are at risk. Facebook users are becoming frustrated with the number of advertisements in their newsfeed. Unhappy customers? Time for another change.
” The first changes you’ll see will be in News Feed, where you can expect to see more from your friends, family and groups. As we roll this out, you’ll see less public content like posts from businesses, brands, and media,” said Mark Zuckerberg in a recent post.
Good news for users but bad news for businesses who purchased Facebook advertising in order to be seen. It seems like Mr. Zuckerberg is focusing more on the user-experience and less on his bank account which has ballooned to a whopping $73 billion.
As a direct result of keeping up with the competition, the less wealthy, Twitter was forced to make some big changes. Since its inception, Twitter has been famous for its limiting the number of characters in its posts. This 140 character platform was once so popular that the act of creating a post, “tweeting,” was given a name by its users and included in the OED (Oxford English Dictionary). Caving to the pressure to assimilate, Twitter is now allowing users 280 characters in their Tweets, crushing the platforms only unique feature and leaving President Donald Trump’s entertaining tweets the only reason to sign on.
You don’t have to be psychic to know that social media platforms will continue to change. However, you do need to stay on top of these changes if you want to continue to use them as an effective marketing tool for your business. Unless your business is social media, the best way to capitalize on the platform would be to hire a professional. At Politika, our Social Media Managers remain up to speed on the newest platform updates. We analyze your business goals and create a plan to achieve them in an effective and measurable manner. As the line that separates one social media platform from another is becoming more and more blurred, the experts at Politika will focus on making your marketing campaign a complete success!
Social Media 101 for Old Schoolers
For the older crowd, which is pretty much anyone born before 1990, social media may seem bizarre to them. Growing up, the older crowd didn’t have five hundred friends. They had a few friends because quality beats quantity any day. The best moments of their youth were captured in photographs or permanently stored in their memories, not uploaded onto Instagram for everyone to “like.” Though we advance to new levels in technology, we seem to lose something very human along the way. But there’s no use crying over spilled milk.
Social media has heavily integrated itself into everyone’s lives. Grandparents use it to keep in touch with their grandchildren, parents use it to stalk their children, and children use it to show how cool their lives are. What a world we live in. But fear not, older crowd. Though social media may seem bizarre to you, I’m sharing some social media basics so you know what the hell is going. (more…)
How to Choose the Right Marketing Firm
There may come a time when your company will grow beyond its own marketing capabilities and when that time arrives, you will need to hire a marketing firm. However, the idea of hiring a marketing firm is easier said than done. Not every marketing firm may fit your business goals and company needs. So where do you start?
Start by establishing how you will evaluate different firms so you can avoid wasting time exploring options that turn out to be unfruitful in your key decision making. Below are key factors that you should take in account when considering a marketing firm for your company.
Relevant Experience. The marketing firm should have experience with companies of your size and with similar business models. It is important that the marketing firm has the capacity to service the size of your company. The firm does not necessarily need to have experience within your industry though it would be a big plus, but if the firm has experience in various industries, this will prove helpful as the firm can provide an outsider’s perspective into your business. Your company can differentiate itself from the competition.
Handling Challenges. Ask the marketing firm to provide you with reports on how they raised the profile of other companies. Did their strategies increase reach new audiences, increase profits or visit frequency? You have a marketing challenge in mind and you need to know if the company has previous experience in successfully accomplishing similar challenges.
Creativity and Strategy. Inquire about the marketing firm’s creativity and strategy capabilities. Not all ideas and strategies that worked for one company may work for another. Every company is different, so recycling ideas may not be good idea. It’s important that the firm can think differently. The firm should demonstrate its ability to think creatively and critically about your challenges and offer solutions.
Options. If you haven’t established a budget for marketing efforts, ask the marketing firm to provide you with proposals for high, medium, and low budgets. Ideally, you want to give the firm a budget so they know what they’re working with. No marketing firm has mind reading capabilities, so openly discuss how much you can spend on marketing efforts. No one’s time is wasted and the firm can provide a range of options for your budget.
Success. Marketing efforts and its success does not happen overnight, unless you’re willing to spend grand amounts of money. How would you rate success? Your measurement of success and the marketing firm’s are likely different. Discuss what you expect from the firm because when everyone is on the same page, the firm can push your company forward into new directions.
Compatibility. The marketing firm must be compatible with your company. Water and oil never mix. You want a firm that can work with your company on every level. If your company likes to joke around sometime and the firm is stiff, then it may create social tensions. Get to know the firm before you commit to any long-term partnerships. Meet the firm’s staff and get a feel for yourself if this firm will have your company’s best interest in mind. You can also assign the firm small marketing tasks so you can gauge how effective and compatible the firm is.
Hiring a marketing firm is not an easy task. Don’t rush to hire a firm because wouldn’t you rather take the time to do it right the first time instead of making a mistake and starting all over again? Don’t waste your time and money. Good luck!
SEO Myth:Paying for search results will boost organic search results
Spending on search engine advertisements will not improve your organic SEO rankings. Search engines like Google and Bing, have erected barriers that prevent the crossover of paid search results and organic search results.
How to Avoid and Resolve SEO Penalties
Social Media Marketing Tips: Measure your results
