Branding is an essential aspect of any business, as it helps to establish a company’s identity and distinguish it from the competition. In the constantly evolving world of business, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest branding trends to ensure that your company’s branding efforts are effective and relevant. Every year, new tools, algorithms and trends emerge that can help or hurt your brand. Key trends are based on data that is emerging that is showing us behavioural changes among purchasers. By understanding these key trends, you can potentially apply them to your business and take advantage of that added attention you might receive from consumers. So, what can we expect to see in the world of branding in 2023? Here are a few key trends to keep an eye on:
Personalization will be key.
With the proliferation of data and the increasing use of artificial intelligence, companies will be able to personalize their branding efforts like never before. This will involve customizing marketing materials, messaging, and even products and services to meet the specific needs and preferences of individual customers.
Sustainability will be a top priority.
Consumers are becoming more environmentally and socially conscious, and they expect the companies they do business with to prioritize sustainability as well. Brands that can demonstrate a commitment to sustainability will be well-positioned to win customer loyalty.
Authenticity will be more important than ever.
In an era of fake news and mistrust of institutions, consumers are seeking out brands that they perceive as genuine and authentic. Companies that can demonstrate a commitment to transparency and honesty in their branding efforts will be more likely to win the trust and loyalty of consumers.
Storytelling will continue to be a powerful branding tool.
Companies will continue to use storytelling as a way to connect with consumers on an emotional level and communicate their brand values. This can involve creating compelling narratives around the company’s products, services, and mission.
Omnichannel social media will continue to be a crucial branding platform
Social media platforms will remain an important way for companies to connect with consumers and build their brand. Brands will need to be strategic in their use of social media, creating content that resonates with their target audience and utilizing paid advertising to reach a wider audience. Omnichannel marketing is the name of the game in 2023. Having a good system in place to track and observe all marketing efforts is critical.
Brand partnerships will be increasingly important.
Collaborating with other brands can help companies reach new audiences and add credibility to their branding efforts. Brands will need to be selective in their partnerships, choosing partners that align with their values and have a similar target audience. The world of branding is constantly evolving, and it’s important for companies to stay up-to-date on the latest trends to ensure that their branding efforts are effective and relevant. In 2023, we can expect to see a focus on personalization, sustainability, authenticity, storytelling, omnichannel social media, and brand partnerships. By staying ahead of the curve, companies can set themselves up for success in an increasingly competitive business landscape.
Every year on December 31, I put “pen to paper” and reflect on the year that has passed, and together with Dave, we set new goals for the year ahead. The goal-setting is actually a constant practice we do at SocialEyes, however, it doesn’t feel official until I publish this yearly blog post!
A bit of a recap over the last few years:
2019 was a pivotal year with fantastic milestones – we had our new logo designed, launched our website refresh, got new printed collateral, won some great publication features and threw our first ever charity event in support of Sick Kids – something on my bucket list to do again soon!
2020 was a year of reflection, change and transformation – 2020 injected new meaning into our business and also our personal lives. Covid shook our world, our businesses and for many of us, our mental health. 2020 was a year of important lessons – both personally and professionally. We learned the importance of resilience, adaptability and understanding.
2021 was the year of agility and growth! – We carried over what we learned in 2020 – and really focused on agility, adaptation, company culture and realized our value as a company and brand. We achieved some great strides – growing our team, slowly expanding into the US, winning some great media and PR opportunities, and got together for our first SEC In-Person Summer Picnic (the first time we got together since March of 2020).
Bringing us to 2022 – the year that I will peg as transformative, eye opening and goal-oriented.
Here are a few of our lessons learned and accomplishments in 2022:
We started off 2022 with an all-team meeting where we delved deep into who we are as an agency, what sets us apart, what clients can expect from us, and what our competitive advantage truly is.
SocialEyes is a full-service digital marketing agency focusing on building custom and measurable marketing solutions to help our clients thrive and achieve their business goals, offering a boutique customer experience.
By focusing on our customer service and the “boutique experience” that we offer, clients can expect a level of quality service, results-oriented performance and a team that is accessible, empowered, committed, attentive and accountable. We have become our clients’ marketing partner- we are in it with each and every client, always striving for the best results and top-notch service.
Our team lives by these expectations and it is reflected in our partnerships, retention rates and overall feedback.
Service Expansion
At one time, SocialEyes was a sole social media agency, and over the last couple of years, we have expanded our service offerings and now operate as a full-service digital marketing agency.
We have become a one-stop shop for all things digital, from social, Google Ads, Web Development, Brand Redevelopment, to SEO, Lead Generation, Videography, Business Coaching and Consulting, and as a result, we have landed some clients that rely on us for ALL of their digital marketing endeavours, and we get to see the fruits of our labour when we get to implement an omni-channel digital marketing approach that includes social, Google, website performance, lead generation, etc., to achieve results.
We expanded our client portfolio as this was the year of true infiltration into the US.
In 2021, we had a few US clients begin their digital marketing journey with us, and 2022 took us to new heights!
We have made some great connections and are now lucky enough to work with various clients in legal, home building, real estate and the professional services realm in various states.
By the end of 2022, we recognized that 20% of our business is now in the US.
Our team is all over the globe and the talent is endless!
2020 changed the way businesses operate – and from being a sole in-office business with local employees just a few short years ago, we have been able to expand our talent pool by not being limited to GTA employees.
We have team members operating in the GTA, New Brunswick, US and Israel, not to mention that our team is mastering new talents and skillsets, which makes us, as a team, much stronger, our clients happier, and our team members engaged and excited!
PR and Speaking Events
We had some great strides this year in media mentions, features, speaking engagements and more including but not limited to:
Marly was included in Top 100 Magazine, Top 40 Under 40
United Country Real Estate Annual Convention, Keynote Speakers in Destin Florida
Speaker at the Buzz Conference in Toronto
Speaker at an EXP Realty Training Session
Rolled out two Law Society of Ontario Accredited Courses online
Executed multiple webinars for realtors, lawyers and financial service providers
Published articles in:
Los Angeles Wire
Real Estate Magazine
US Reporter
The Lawyer’s Daily
New York Weekly
Social Media Examiner
Newswire Canada
Masthead
Ceo.ca
Yahoo Finance
Miami Wire
….last but not least, the launch of the SEC Academy.
This is a big one and something that has been in the works for a while, and still is for 2023!
As an agency that has always focused on the correlation between digital marketing and business development, consulting, coaching, and training has always been something we wanted to get more into.
For those that are interested in mastering the art of using digital marketing for business growth, we now have solutions through the SEC Academy – courses, webinars, training sessions, customizable group coaching and more!
In 2022, we turned this vision into a realty by formally launching the SEC Academy, which resulted in hosting multiple training sessions for clients and colleagues, rolling out ONLINE MASTER CLASSES and Webinars for those who want to learn how to master the art of digital marketing for business growth.
We are working on MORE for the SEC Academy, so stay tuned for some exciting stuff in 2023.
Now, let’s not be confused, the year was not all rainbows and butterflies. Every business has setbacks, challenges and overwhelming times (we sure did this year as well), however, even with challenge, 2022 was a fantastic year and we are really excited for what 2023 has in store for us!
Our goals for 2023 is to:
Stay dynamic
Continue building meaningful relationships with our team and our clients
Focus on results-oriented marketing strategies
Pivot and shift objectives where and when we have to
A big thank you to everyone on our team, our amazing and loyal clients and ALL of our supporters! We are so grateful!
The digital marketing landscape changes quickly. It’s crucial that marketers stay ahead of the curve and implement changes to their marketing plans before it’s too late. That’s why we’re sharing some of our top predictions and insights for 2023 so you can start planning your marketing strategy for next year right now.
Welcome to the Metaverse
Tech experts predict that the next evolution of the internet will be the Metaverse: a digital world where humans conduct almost all their activities in this 3D virtual, shared space. Facebook changed its name to Meta last year and pledged $10 billion to this far-out concept. Big brands have announced how they are entering the Metaverse, like Starbucks Odessey, for example.
As far as your 2023 marketing goes, you don’t need to start integrating NFTs quite yet. Consider starting with a 3D avatar on your Facebook or Instagram page. You can create a virtual, animated version of yourself (or your company’s mascot) and start using it to interact with your followers.
Keep Up with TikTok
Although short-form video content has taken the marketing world by storm, longer-form video content hasn’t thrown in the towel (just take a look at YouTube’s massive growth over the last four years!). Consumers are still interested in longer content.
TikTok announced this year that it was increasing its maximum video length to 10 minutes. You can use TikTok’s Creative Center to search audio trends, see the top-performing ads, trending hashtags and more to help you plan your marketing content and ads.
Holistic Marketing
To compete with others in your industry, you need to be investing in marketing systems that cover all your bases, from social media to user experience to Google ads. The various digital aspects are all connected, so leveraging one helps you leverage another.
If you have a B2B business, growing your presence on LinkedIn is a must in 2023. It’s predicted that by 2024, 25 per cent of all ad spend in the United States will be spent on LinkedIn.
Not only can you create and promote ads, gain connections, and nurture leads on LinkedIn, but it is one the best social platforms for establishing authority and credibility. If your business depends on a stellar reputation (what business doesn’t?), then you need to capitalize on LinkedIn.
User Experience is EVERYTHING
It’s obvious that the experience users have on your website and social pages impacts their opinion of you. It’s not enough to simply show up online, you need to cater to users and ensure their experience is over-the-top amazing.
One important aspect we see growing in popularity in 2023 is the use of chatbots on websites. These automated chat boxes appear in a pop-up on your website to help users find what they’re looking for, answer their questions, and facilitate a seamless funnel.
Is Your Marketing Plan Ready for 2023?
Make 2023 the year you skyrocket your company’s growth through digital marketing. Our team of marketing experts is ready to help. Contact us today to learn more.
The digital marketing landscape experienced several changes in 2022. From old platforms evolving and new consumer behaviours to a refocus on the importance of paid ads, there were many lessons learned for business owners to carry forward into 2023. Here, we’ll go over the five biggest digital marketing lessons of 2022.
Lesson #1: Paid Ads Are a MUST
Organic traffic and engagement are always valuable objectives to work towards, but 2022 has confirmed that you cannot solely rely on them. Posting social media content and hoping for users to find it isn’t enough, and it isn’t going to expand your brand’s reach online.
Paid ads are a must when it comes to visibility and awareness, whether that’s social media ads or Google Ads. To optimize your ROI for paid ads, don’t manage them yourself.
Lesson #2: Short Video Content
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and even YouTube are showing us how much more valuable short-form content is than longer-form video content. While there is still a place for long videos on YouTube, even the video hosting platform introduced YouTube Shorts to capitalize on this lasting trend. In 2022, they rolled out an ads program for Shorts.
In 2023, continue to create short video content that can be posted to your social media pages.
Lesson #3: Platforms to Use
New social platforms get developed every year, but there is far from any guarantee that they will do as well as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter. These old favourites are evolving to keep up with the times by adding new features and, in Facebook’s case, rebranding.
2022 welcomed Meta, Facebook’s new name and the Meta-verse it lives in. We learned that there are plans to increase opportunities for paid features across its platforms.
What about those other platforms that are less known for digital marketing capabilities, like Clubhouse? This platform still garners thousands of users every month, but nowhere near as many as the core four mentioned above. Clubhouse saw a steep rise and decline in users in 2021 and 2022, and other big platforms have introduced social audio features themselves.
Lesson #4: Consumer Behaviour Changes
The way consumers use their devices has continued to evolve in 2022. They are more inclined to send instant messages than talk on the phone, and many choose to record voice memos over sending text messages.
What does this mean for business owners and marketers? It means convenience is king, and if your content isn’t easily accessible and understandable, it doesn’t stand a chance.
Lesson #5: Less Focus Needed on Follower Count
There was a time when a brand’s follower count on social media mattered more than any other metric. Today, and in the past couple of years, that has proven to be a metric of the past. A high follower count on any platform does not guarantee high conversions.
It is much more important to focus on garnering higher quality followers and engagement on your social media platforms. View your followers as potential leads that you can nurture, build trust and credibility with, and ultimately, successfully sell your products or services to.
Finish 2022 Strong with an Effective Marketing Plan
Our team of social media marketing experts can help you craft a custom marketing plan for your unique goals and objectives. Contact us today to learn more.
Regardless of the industry or the type of business you run, we are all after leads. Leads- which can also be considered potential clients- drive your business forward and allow you to keep growing. However, garnering new leads isn’t always straightforward, especially when there are different types of leads and different ways each prospect enters your ecosystem.
Here, we’re exploring the difference between digital leads and referral leads, and how to make your digital lead generation efforts successful.
The Difference Between Referral Leads and Digital Leads
It is very important to recognize that digital leads are not the same as referral leads; they are at the very early stages of their process and they require multiple touch points before consideration. “One of the common pieces of feedback we hear is that digital leads are not always the best quality…however, we have seen first-hand, that when there is a tight process in place to vet and nurture a digital lead, that conversion rates are actually pretty strong,” says David Broudie, CSO of SocialEyes Communications.
It is all about recognizing that not all leads are created equally, and we have to stop treating them as such. Let’s define:
Referral leads are from past or current clients. When a paying patron of your business gives you the name of someone they know, it means that the lead has already been vetted and qualified to some capacity by the referrer. There is a higher chance that that lead will eventually buy from you than someone window shopping your offerings.
A digital lead enters your sales funnel through one of your inbound or outbound digital marketing strategies. For example, a follower of your brand’s Facebook Page reaches out to ask a clarifying question about your offering. Or, a user on your website gives you their email address in return for an e-book. Another example could be a user who clicks one of your Google ads, lands on your website and considers buying one of your products.
Because digital leads aren’t vetted before entering your funnel like referral leads are, they need a system and process to move them through.
Digital Leads Need a System
There are several steps you need to take when you receive a digital lead. These steps are important not only to verify the quality of the lead allowing you to decide if it’s worth your time and effort pursuing but also for nurturing them through your sales funnel. Here are the four steps we highly recommend:
Verify the leads are REAL
One of the downsides of marketing your business digitally is that you may occasionally garner the attention of spammers and bots. You must examine the authenticity of these leads to ensure they are coming from real human beings.
If the majority of the leads coming from your paid ads are not real people, you need to re-examine your ad strategy.
Contact the lead within 12
The best time to contact a lead is actually within the first hour of submission – though we aim at the very very most, 12 hours. This is an optimal time because it is fresh!
Consider the time of contact
One of the frustrations with contacting digital leads is the fact that sometimes leads will not answer their phone, even if they have given you their details. Consider that most people work during the days, so you may want to consider following up at different times, send a follow up email to ask what time is best, use SMS messaging to reach out – try different ways and methods to reach out to the lead
Enter Leads into Your Database
Every business that conducts digital lead generation efforts needs a database to store their leads’ contact information and record of communication or contact with them. The leads that you determined weren’t ready to buy in the short term must also be entered into the database with reminders to check on their status at a later time.
Remember that digital leads require MULTIPLE touch points
A lead is not “dead” if they have not been responsive to you. It is all about timing and making that connection at a time that is convenient for the lead. It may take several reach outs.
A process is 100% necessary in dealing with digital leads – and business owners have to realize that there is a different process and vetting system that is required in dealing with digital leads. Setting up that process and system prior to launching any digital lead generation campaign is a very important step and should not be missed.
If you have any questions, or are interested in setting up a successful digital lead generation campaign, feel free to contact us.
There are four more months in 2022 to hit your sales and marketing goals. Now is not the time to take your foot off the pedal, it’s time to double down on your goals and the steps to achieving them. Not only are you thinking about the quarterly goals you want to hit, but also the goals you set for the year.
Here, we’re detailing the best ways to prepare for the last quarter of 2022 so you can end this year with a bang.
Get Clear on Your Goals
This is the last push of the year for you and your team. Being aligned with your company’s vision is key for everyone on the team to give their best.
Spend some time evaluating the goals you set for 2022 and what is left to accomplish in quarter four. Are your goals still attainable? Does your team have the manpower, time, and resources to accomplish them? Do you need to increase your goals due to having achieved so much this year already?
Get crystal clear on the goals for these next four months and make sure your team is on the same page.
Connect with Big Clients First
According to Sales Gravy, you should spend more time this quarter on the 20 per cent of clients that create the most business for you. Perhaps they pay for your highest tier package, account for the most billable hours in your firm, or have the most valuable connections you want to tap into.
Focus on how you can sell to them, nurture your relationship with them, and garner referrals from them. Sales Gravy also recommends coming back to leads that you had earlier in the year that didn’t quite happen. Go back to the leads that told you to contact them later in the year or to leads that didn’t have the funds back then.
Plan Your Remaining Marketing Budget
How much is left in your marketing budget for the year? If you work with a digital marketing agency (which we suggest you do!), discuss how you can make the most of the remaining budget. Decide where that money could be best spent to get the most ROI from it.
Working with marketing professionals is important here because that remaining money in your budget could lead to massive increases in website traffic, hits, and sales if delegated effectively.
Focus on the Prize
What if you’ve fallen behind on all of your quarterly goals this year? Maybe your business faced unforeseen circumstances that made staying open a challenge. Now is not the time to throw in the towel.
Quarter four is your time to focus on the prize, on ending the year with some type of goal achieved, even if it’s not what you originally planned. There are still four more months to turn things around, double down on your efforts, and make this year a success.
Interested in Optimizing Your Marketing Plan in Quarter Four?
Let us take care of your quarter four marketing plan while you focus on your business. Reach out to us today to get started.
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