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The social network with over 3 billion monthly active users

10/04/202309/21/2023 by scmarketing

Facebook has evolved significantly since it burst on the scene in 2004. As of July 2023, it has over 3 billion monthly active users worldwide and is the most-used social network. With these staggering numbers, Facebook is a great platform to incorporate into your business’s social media strategy. In this article, we will discuss some new statistics in relation to using video on the social platform and tips to help you make the most of this social channel.

Video marketing is integral to many brands, and Facebook is no exception. It is a powerful tool for brands to connect with their audience and increase engagement. According to recent statistics, almost 50% of time spent on Facebook is watching videos. It is the second most popular platform for video marketing, coming second only to YouTube. Therefore, incorporating video content in your Facebook strategy is a smart move.

Live videos

Live videos generate significantly higher engagement rates than pre-recorded videos. The exact number varies depending on the Facebook account, but the statistics are clear: live videos tend to garner more comments, shares, and reactions.

Introduce captions

It’s important to note that people tend to watch Facebook videos to completion with the sound off, so it’s essential to add captions to your videos. This is because many people watch social media videos on commutes or in places where they must keep the volume down.

Visual content

Social media users tend to engage more with visual content on Facebook than any other type of content. In other words, if you want to increase engagement, you should focus on creating visually appealing content such as images, infographics, and videos.

Keep in mind that your content’s quality is essential to keeping your audience engaged. Therefore, it’s important to invest in high-quality visuals to stand out from the rest.

Post directly on Facebook

Facebook’s algorithm prefers content posted natively rather than links to external websites. So, it’s preferable to upload your videos directly to Facebook instead of just sharing a YouTube link or other external links. This will help increase your posts’ visibility and rank higher in Facebook’s algorithm.

Having said that, if you are creating video content having a YouTube channel for your business is important. But take heed and post videos to both channels to help encourage engagement on Facebook.

Connect to your target audience

With over 3 billion active users, Facebook provides an excellent opportunity for your brand to connect with your audience. But take heed, that it’s important to understand your target audience to understand how important this channel is for your business and your sector.

Video and social media marketing for your business

Facebook is a popular platform for video marketing that offers great opportunities for brands. With the number of users, it is a great way to connect with a wide audience and gain potential followers and subsequent customers.

If you feel like utilising video is too overwhelming or you just need help getting started, contact us for your video and social media marketing needs. We can provide you with the advice and resources needed to create effective social campaigns that will help you reach more viewers across a variety of platforms. With our expertise, you can rely on us to make sure your brand has maximum impact in the digital environment.

Is a company rebrand a costly mistake?

10/04/202307/27/2023 by scmarketing

If your internet access has dropped for days on end or you’ve been in the middle of nowhere, you could be forgiven for not knowing that Twitter, one of the most recognisable brands in the world, has recently been rebranded as ‘X.’

The move has left many users scratching their heads, wondering how it happened and why. And as ‘Twitter’ was awash with opinion from everywhere, we were interested to read this article in Marketing Week, where Mark Ritson, columnist and brand consultant, offers reasons why this was a mistake.

Here, we explore some of those reasons and examine why rebranding can be a costly decision for any company.

Rebranding is always a mistake

According to Ritson, no matter what your brand name is, you should always keep it. The only reason to rebrand is if you have to for legal or ownership reasons. In Twitter’s case, this was not the situation. Rebranding can be complicated and requires a lot of time and resources. It can damage a brand that has taken years to build.

Brand equity

A brand’s ability to be recognised by its target market and its ability to come to mind in buyer situations is of significant importance. It is often the deciding factor behind a consumer’s purchasing decision. Rebranding means losing all that brand equity and starting from scratch, which is a time-consuming and costly process.

Branded assets

Distinctive assets are crucial for any brand. The bird, the name, and the blue colour have become synonymous with Twitter’s brand. Rebranding means losing these distinctive assets. In a world where app usage is just as visually competitive as any shop shelf, standing out and claiming a share of your online presence is crucial. Losing such distinctive assets may impact a company’s ability to compete with its competitors for a while.

Cause for confusion

Rebranding can be confusing for users. Twitter’s rebrand to ‘X’ is not as simple as a name change. A company then has to consider the entire look and feel of the brand impacting logo, font, colour scheme, website, marketing material…the list goes on. This can lead to confusion among users, who may no longer recognise the brand they once knew and loved.

The decision to change at a time when a new kid on the block has appeared couple prove a costly mistake. Threads, previously the challenger brand, could find it is transformed into a stable and established platform sooner than it realised.

Why rebranding could be a costly mistake for your company

Whilst rebranding can serve as a critical step in a company’s evolution and become an opportunity to reinvent itself, this process can come with a significant financial burden.

Changing a company’s name, logo, or message requires the creation of an entirely new identity – an arduous task that takes a lot of time and resources. Updating social media accounts, brand guidelines, and website content is just the beginning. The cost of redoing printed materials, collateral, marketing campaigns, and advertising reach is a long-term investment. While rebranding can be an essential move for a business’s survival and growth, it’s imperative to consider the financial implications thoroughly. Choosing to rebrand should come after careful analysis of the return on investment and the potential outcome.

“It’s a Mistake!”

Only time will tell whether Twitter’s rebrand to ‘X’ is a significant mistake and whether it could have long-lasting consequences for the company. As Mark Ritson points out, rebranding is only necessary in specific situations. It should be done only if there is a legal or ownership need to do so. And, as if we were in any doubt, Ritson concludes his article by simply saying – “It’s a mistake!”

Using digital marketing to increase your bottom line

10/04/202307/19/2023 by scmarketing

Small business owners tend to have a lot to juggle. Between managing inventory, employees, and bookkeeping, it can feel like there isn’t enough time left in the day to focus on marketing. However, with the growth of digital marketing, it has become easier than ever for small businesses to reach a wider audience and increase their bottom line.

Here, we take a closer look at how small business owners can use digital marketing to increase their profits.

Create a website

The first step in using digital marketing to increase your bottom line is to create an online presence. This can start with a website, which is an important asset for any business. A modern website design that is mobile optimised serves as a point of contact for potential customers, a hub for information about your products or services, and a platform for sales. With the help of a website, tailored for your target audience, small businesses can easily showcase what they offer and attract new customers.

Content marketing

Content marketing can provide value to potential customers by creating and sharing relevant and useful information. This can take the form of blog posts, videos, or infographics. By offering valuable content, small businesses can attract new customers, establish themselves as industry experts, and build brand awareness.

Content marketing is an important part of any ongoing marketing campaign and especially important for search engine optimisation (SEO). Content should include keywords that will help you be found in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Pay-per-click advertising

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is another powerful tool for small business owners looking to increase their bottom line. PPC advertising allows businesses to target specific keywords and demographics, and only pay when someone clicks on their ad. This can be particularly useful for small businesses with limited advertising budgets, as they can maximise their spend by only paying for clicks from high-potential customers.

Email marketing

Email marketing is a valuable tool for small businesses looking to build relationships with customers. By building you on email database and sending regular newsletters and promotional emails, business owners can keep their customers engaged and informed. This can be particularly effective for small businesses, as it enables you to keep in touch with your client base and encourage repeat business.

Social media presence

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter are powerful tools for building relationships with customers. Not only do they provide a direct line of communication between the business and its customers, but they also offer the opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services on another channel.

Digital marketing agency, Croydon

Digital marketing has become essential for small businesses looking to increase their bottom line. By building an online presence, leveraging social media, and investing in content marketing, PPC, and email marketing, small business owners can attract new customers, build brand awareness, and increase sales. While it can be overwhelming to navigate the world of digital marketing, the reward of increasing your bottom line and growing your customer base is well worth the investment.

If you would like help with your digital marketing strategy, get in touch.

Getting personal: The changing landscape of LinkedIn posts

04/19/202304/17/2023 by scmarketing

It’s no secret that LinkedIn has long been the go-to platform for professionals looking to network and expand their careers. But lately, this social media giant has been undergoing a transformation of sorts. With more and more members sharing personal stories and thoughts, LinkedIn is no longer just the place to post your CV and industry news. But what sparked this shift? And what does it mean for small business owners who use LinkedIn to connect with potential clients and partners?

In this article, we’ll explore how the pandemic, Zoom meetings, and a growing desire for authenticity in professional settings have all contributed to this new trend of “getting personal” on LinkedIn.

Showcasing skills

For many years, LinkedIn has been viewed as a place to showcase one’s professional skills and accomplishments. The platform serves as a digital CV, allowing members to highlight their careers and connect with others in their industry. It wasn’t entirely uncommon to see articles and posts related to industry trends and business best practices, but personal stories were few and far between.

However, in recent times, that has changed. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shift to remote work created a sense of isolation for many people. Face-to-face interactions were replaced with Zoom calls, which can often feel impersonal and disconnected. Many LinkedIn members began to use the platform as a way to share their personal experiences and connect with others on a more emotional level.

Be authentic

The desire for authenticity in professional settings has been growing for some time. In a world where social media filters and staged Instagram photos dominate our feeds, LinkedIn members have been seeking out more genuine and relatable content. Personal stories that touch on topics like mental health, work-life balance, and career setbacks have all become more common on the platform.

But should these personal posts be restricted to Facebook or Instagram? Many argue that LinkedIn is not the place for such content, and that personal stories do not belong in a professional setting.

However, there is evidence to suggest that sharing personal stories on LinkedIn can actually be beneficial. For one, it allows small business owners to connect with potential clients on a more direct and personal level. When clients feel that they know and trust a business owner, they are more likely to work with them.

Sharing personal stories can help establish a business owner’s brand and position themselves as an expert in their industry. By sharing insights gained from personal experiences, business owners can demonstrate leadership and a unique perspective that sets them apart from competitors.

One of the significant advantages of sharing personal stories on LinkedIn is the increased visibility that comes with it. The LinkedIn algorithm prioritises content that generates engagement, meaning posts that spark discussion or elicit an emotional response from others. Personal stories often fall into this category, as they tend to resonate with others on a deeper level.

Connecting on a personal level

The landscape of LinkedIn has undergone a significant shift in recent years, and personal posts are becoming increasingly common. While some may argue that such content belongs on Facebook, there are several benefits to sharing personal stories on LinkedIn, especially for small business owners.

By connecting with potential clients on a more personal level, establishing brand, and increasing visibility, business owners can leverage the power of the platform to help grow their businesses. As we continue to adapt with hybrid/remote work and seek out genuine connections in our professional lives, it’s likely that this trend of “getting personal” on LinkedIn will continue to grow.