social media

Is a company rebrand a costly mistake?

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!”

digital marketing growth

Using digital marketing to increase your bottom line

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.

LinkedIn

Getting personal: The changing landscape of LinkedIn posts

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.

digital marketing strategy

5 Digital marketing strategies to reach your customer base

As a small business owner, you know the importance of reaching your customer base. You also understand that digital marketing can help you do just that. But what exactly is digital marketing? How can it help you improve engagement with potential customers and increase traffic to your website? Here, we explore five digital marketing strategies that can help you get the most out of your online presence.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

SEO optimises your visibility online by using keywords and phrases related to what customers are searching for. Analysing and researching keyword trends will help ensure that potential customers find you easily when they search for products or services in your industry.

Content marketing

High-quality content is essential if you want to rank well on search engine results pages (SERPs). Content should be interesting, relevant, and engaging while still containing the right keywords and phrases. Content also gives businesses an opportunity to show off their expertise in a particular industry. This type of content establishes a company as an authority while simultaneously driving leads through SEO-focused content strategies.

Social media marketing

Social media marketing involves creating content specifically designed to engage with users on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. It can include anything from posting links to blog posts or videos to creating polls or engaging conversations about topics related to your product, your service or your industry. Social media marketing helps build brand awareness, loyalty, and trust between businesses and their target audiences.

Pay Per Click Advertising (PPC)

PPC advertising is the process of promoting content or ads on social networks or Google using tactics such as sponsored posts or pay-per-click campaigns (PPC). These types of campaigns allow businesses to target specific audiences based on demographics like age, gender, location and interests. This makes PPC great for boosting website traffic and increasing leads.

Email marketing

Email marketing involves sending emails directly to potential customers who have opted-in to receive them from a company’s mailing list. Email campaigns give businesses a direct line of communication with their target audiences while allowing them to tailor messages specifically tailored toward particular segments within those audiences – making it easy for companies to nurture relationships with current customers and reach new ones at the same time.

Digital marketing planning and support

Digital marketing encompasses many different strategies all focused on one goal – helping businesses reach their customer base more effectively than ever before. From SEO optimisation for increased visibility online to social media campaigns for boosting brand awareness – there are endless possibilities when it comes to leveraging digital marketing tactics for maximum success! By leveraging these five strategies outlined above, you will be well equipped with the knowledge needed move forward in achieving your goals!

If you’re ready to start planning out your digital marketing strategy, why not contact Smart Cow for a free marketing consultation, we provide professional digital marketing services that can help any business take their online presence to the next level!

Remember: no matter how competitive the market may be or how slow growth may seem – with the right tools like modern digital marketing strategies, you will always have a chance at success. So don’t wait – start putting these tactics into action today.