Old Skool Tech

Old Skool Tech

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From floppy disks to USB sticks, The A-Z book to google maps, record players to tiny iPods with their infinite music libraries; technology has evolved dramatically but trends show we’re still being influenced by our love of technology gone by.

Children of today might not know how to tell the time on an analogue clock, or may think a typewriter is a bingo machine*, however they are still somewhat cultured in old school tech. Most likely learning through beloved TV shows and films such as; Stranger Things – born from the 80’s, Super 8 – a film named after a vintage 60’s camera, and Guardians of the Galaxy featuring a Walkman and a cassette with hits from the 70’s and 80’s.

The demand for newer and better technology is high and this demand is also seen in the classroom with many apps and games developed with an educational theme. A popular app being ‘Kahoot!’, allowing teachers to create and share games and quizzes via those connected on the app. And, with high demand for jobs in coding including web development, what better way to ensure there are coders of the future than to create games teaching 3-year olds how to code – such as Cubetto.

But, there’s still something fashionable about old school tech. Despite the fact we can have any song at our fingertips, industry figures are showing that vinyl record sales have gone up by 53% on 2015 and sales are experiencing a 25 year high**. People seem to be drawn to retro pastel coloured record players as they head to second-hand record shops to purchase their vintage sounds.

Technology is everywhere, influencing our daily lives; in schools, during leisure activities and in our businesses. Society clearly embraces its every twist and turn, but there’ll always be space in our hearts for yesteryear.

Sources: *bbc.co.uk ; **The Guardian

Facebook tips to benefit your business

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With over 2 billion users, Facebook is still the most popular social media channel. So, how can you harness it to the benefit of your business?

Setting the tone

Firstly, developing a marketing strategy will go a long way to ensure messages are consistent and targeted specifically for your audience. If your tone is not right then it will be easy for your potential customers to move on in the very fast paced social media world.

We find that creating a persona detailing your target customer is by far the best way to start. This way you can make sure your messaging is just right for your audience.

Targeted Facebook ads

Social media is an ideal way to communicate about new products and services. And, if you want to really target your audience you might find that Facebook Ads work for you. But be strategic with your scheduling. Research has shown that Sunday and Monday are the cheapest days to place ads.

We also find that testing posts can help really hone your message so it is just right. Test messaging with different calls to action and switch off the least successful. Hootsuite, a social media management platform, has identified that the phrase ‘sign up’ actually has the best conversion rate.

Explore other social channels

However, it’s worth noting that teenagers don’t think as much of Facebook as their millennial counterparts. YouTube is by far the most popular channel with teens with 91% using it in 2016*.

So, although getting your business on Facebook could prove to be beneficial, don’t put all your eggs into one basket. Take time to get to grips with other social channels. For instance, Snapchat is fast becoming a go to for businesses. Check out Hootsuite’s beginners guide to Snapchat to set you on your way

Social media agency Croydon

If you’re embarking on using a social media channel talk to us about the best combination of channels to help you stand out from the crowd.

Sources: Research by The National Cyber Security Alliance and Microsoft

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Flamenco meets Stranger Things – TV advert review

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The opening of the ad for the 2018 H&M Collection displays a fairly mundane scene, with actress Elizabeth Olsen tediously dancing with a man. Quickly the mood shifts and the scene transforms into a vibrant dance with a group of women wearing stylish clothes. This advert has been well received and recently named ‘Ad of the Day’ by The Drum. But what are the features that make it such a success?

Women empowerment

The pivotal moment of the ad is the change in pace and the use of upbeat music which is brought on by a woman taking over the dance from the man. Through this display of a woman taking control and women coming together, builds an image of community and friendship. The advert portrays H&M as a source of positivity and encouraging women empowerment. It presents H&M as a company striving for diversity.

A famous face

At the end another famous face, Winona Ryder is revealed. H&M may have cleverly used her presence because it means the ad can resonate with those born in the 80’s thus appealing to an older generation acting as a reminder that H&M is still for them. However, Winona is equally respected within the young of today because of her empowering role as a single mother in the hit Netflix series, Stranger Things. This all makes the ad personal to viewers.

Presenting the product and brand in a good light

The change in mood from run of the mill to fun and uplifting captures the audience’s attention. The use of fast-paced, contemporary music bursting through our speakers, while multiple dancers dressed in brightly coloured clothes from the H&M collection bring life to the streets of Argentina really sells an energised, on-trend brand.

Keep a watch on our blog for reviews on the latest ads.

Explore more Social channels

Is it time for SMEs to explore more social channels?

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Some companies run their entire business through Facebook, so with all the recent news about the social media channel and the #DeleteFacebook campaign, is it time for SME’s to explore other channels to spread the word of their business?

Social media for business

Facebook for business can be great. The channel has helped many businesses promote their services or products. You can target your audience, share news, showcase product launches, and create events, but as a business is it the best plan to put all your eggs into one basket? With advertising only on one social media channel you are essentially isolating yourself from reaching quality potential customers who are on another channel.

To successfully target an audience, you should be in the mix. If you want an audience made up of Millennials then you’ll need to re-evaluate how you use social media. Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube are all more popular among teens than Facebook*. Furthermore with many leaving Facebook, your audience might be exploring new platforms.

Is it time you had a website?

The Facebook scandal on the misuse of user data has left many people feeling unsafe, and confused. Almost in an attempt of remedying itself, Facebook has introduced a new tool. The tool enables you not only to delete your account, but see and delete the data being collected and prevent any further data collection. Perhaps this is a way of encouraging people to stay on the site as it leaves users feeling like they are back in control of their profile. Despite this, people have been deleting their Facebook profile, including celebrities and big companies.

With this in mind, if you don’t already have a website, is it time you considered creating a website for your business? This way you have a platform that is your own that you can drive your inbound marketing to, rather than to one social media platform.

So, is it the beginning of the end for Facebook? We don’t think it is going anywhere fast. It is still the most popular social network out there followed by YouTube and WhatsApp**.

Social media Croydon

If you want advice in making your business stand out on social media contact Smart Cow, your Croydon based digital marketing agency, today.

Sources: *www.emarketer.com and **www.statista.com

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