Businesses
that offer financial services are being faced with a huge opportunity right
now. People everywhere are evaluating their finances and wondering how they’re
going to make it through this crisis. Your business can provide immense relief,
support, and information. Taking advantage of this opportunity in an adaptable
and effective way is your challenge. Here are some ways you can serve your
customers.
Provide Information
This
pandemic is changing every day. For most people, that uncertainty is alarming
and unsettling. You can ease their nerves by providing accurate and timely
information regarding finances. How are the pandemic changes affecting
financial services? Are you communicating those changes to your customers?
You
can provide this information in several ways. Send regular email updates to
your clients. Write blog posts. Be active on social media. Research the
questions your customers are asking and find different ways to answer them.
Take telephone and video meetings with clients who want to talk in person.
Now
is the time to get in front of your community and provide valuable insight.
Your reliable information and guidance can be amazing for easing minds and
nerves.
Be Present Online
You
know where most of your customers are spending their time right now. At home
and online. They’re scrolling through social media for entertainment, news, and
advice. Your business needs to be leveraging its social media strategy to take
advantage of this increase in traffic.
How
can you leverage social media? By posting relevant, accurate, and empathetic
content. Use stories and live videos to share helpful information and to give
tips. As an expert in the field, your opinion on finances is hugely valuable
right now. Don’t hesitate to help your audience.
Consider
hosting a live video discussion where customers can ask you questions and get
answers in real-time. Talk about the state of the economic climate right now.
You can easily host this discussion through your smartphone from home. Remember
to be authentic to the situation. It’s okay to share how you’re struggling and
relate to your customers. Just be sure to follow with real solutions.
Adapt to Technology
Most
financial businesses use technology quite a bit, so adapting even further
shouldn’t be a problem. The biggest changes you’ll have to make are switching
to online meetings and communicating with your team and clients remotely. Some
tools that make this easier are Slack, Asana, Zoom, and Skype.
If
you weren’t doing this before, start making your application forms usable
online. Clients should be able to fill out forms from their laptops and send
them back to you. Make sure your forms have e-signature capabilities. Insurance
advisors can continue to attract and convert leads by making the most of different
technologies.
The
demand for financial services is high right now. People are ready to learn
about protecting their financial future and stretching their money further.
It’s up to your business to seize this opportunity and adapt to the changes.
For
help optimizing your social media strategy, contact us today.
Realtors
everywhere are wondering how to continue business as usual when the climate is
anything but normal. How can people buy houses if they’re in isolation? How can
I best serve my clients right now? These are great questions that can be
answered with technology. Specifically, through leveraging social media.
Social
media has long been aiding in realtors’ marketing plans. Right now, more
homebuyers/sellers are spending time on social media and the internet in
general. This is the best place to communicate, connect, and engage with your
clients.
Let’s
start with one of the main tasks of being a realtor: showing your clients
new listings through open houses and tours.
You
can still provide these services through technology. Consider filming a tour of
the listing and then posting it to your Instagram feed. It’s best to film it as
a story so it can be watched later. File the story in a highlights reel for
current listings. Your clients can see every aspect of the home from the safety
of their current dwelling.
If
your client is trying to sell their home, guide them on filming a tour. Take
their video and edit it. Then, send it to your network of realtors.
Collaboration with other agents has never been so important. Make sure you’re
connected to other realtors on social media so you can see their new listings
quickly and send their videos to your clients.
Should you still focus on database building right now?
Absolutely!
Email was important before Covid-19 and it’s still important now. People are
spending more time on their laptops and computers, many working from home, so
they have more access to their email than usual. Take advantage of this by
creating email campaigns that cater to your clients’ needs. One campaign could
be for buyers and another for sellers. Give them tips that pertain to their
goals in the current climate.
Remember,
not addressing the current climate can make you seem tone-deaf and insensitive.
Don’t avoid talking about the situation, be authentic and real about it.
How can you continue building your reputation?
Again,
through social media marketing. Your profiles are still great places to build
authority and credibility in the industry. Plus, now is the perfect time to get
authentic with your audience. Show your community that you’re also being
affected and that we’re all in this together. You could do this by filming a
live video on Instagram or Facebook. Share how you’ve been coping with the
situation and any tips you can give others.
If
you can come through with effective tips and real solutions to their problems,
your reputation will grow. Consider all the different ways you can be of
service to your clients right now.
Can you really sell houses online?
Totally.
The reasons people want to sell their homes or buy new ones haven’t changed.
The process of doing the selling and buying has. Being adaptable and proactive
as a realtor is key in a time like this. Use technology and social media to
your advantage and support your network of realtors. If you need some guidance when it comes to
social media marketing during this pandemic, we can help. Contact us today to get started!
Businesses
everywhere have been impacted by the coronavirus and many owners are anxious
about taking next steps. If you’re in this situation, you’re not alone. And,
there are plenty of things you can do to stay busy and keep moving your
business forward.
Communication is Key
With
so many people practicing social distancing, face-to-face communication is
uncommon. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t maintain regular communication
with customers, clients, employees, and your community.
You
just need to find new ways to communicate. For your customers, consider sending
out email newsletters or getting more active on social media. For your team,
join a real-time communication platform, like Slack, to support each other.
We
may be physically distancing ourselves from our communities, but online
communication has never been easier.
Get Your Team on the Same Page
If
you’ve sent everyone home to work remotely, you’ve taken a noble first step.
Managing your team remotely is the next challenge.
Platforms
like Slack and Asana are great for keeping everyone on the same page. Slack
allows for real-time conversations between the whole group or select individuals.
Make
your expectations for your team clear from the start. If you want everyone to
be available on Slack from 9 to 5, say so. Ask your team for their input on how
to ensure everyone is productive and focused. Remember, for many people, this
is their first time working from home. It may take some time to adjust to
working in a new environment.
Adapt to Appropriate Technology
If
you sell tangible products but had to close your storefront’s doors, you can
still keep your virtual doors open. This is an amazing excuse to explore
e-commerce channels and get your business online.
Where
would your products sell best online? Through Facebook, Instagram, or Shopify?
Can you offer fast delivery or curbside pickup?
If
your business is service based, how can you provide your services without
physical contact? Zoom and Skype are great tools for online consultations and
meetings with clients.
Strengthen Your Online Presence
As
mentioned above, communication with your community is super important right
now. Be a strong and supportive source for your customers and followers. Now is
the perfect time to double down on your online strategies.
Start
by brainstorming new content ideas. Putting out fresh and relevant content is
crucial to your online presence. Keep it authentic, on-brand, and timely.
Some examples are:
Resources for the elderly community
If you’re working from home, show how you’re using your time
Shoutout different #HealthcareHeroes in your community
Cooking recipes, music playlists, cute pets
Another
idea is to start a virtual book club. Look for ways to unite your online
community and spur engagement.
Make
sure you’re optimizing your engagement online. That means responding to all
comments and encouraging positive conversations. Perhaps you can post polls or
questions in your Instagram Storied to get new discussions started. This is an
amazing opportunity to learn more about your audience and new ways to provide
value.
Remember, This Too Shall Pass
The
uncertainty is affecting everyone right now, not in the least small and
medium-sized businesses. Remember that we’re all in this together. Remind your
team, customers, and community that they’re not alone. This too shall pass.
How
are you preparing your business for when it passes? If you need help getting your business online
and creating a strong online presence, we can help. Give us a call at
416-938-1240 or send us a message today.
(January 28, 2020, 11:24 AM EST) — Legal
marketing has gone through a major shift and notable evolution over the years.
There was once a time where the law society prevented lawyers and firms from
marketing themselves and in some cases even forbade many forms of marketing and
soliciting business via means of advertising strategy. Lawyers were not allowed
to advertise on TV, billboards, buses, via Yellow Pages, radio, etc.
There was reasoning behind these restrictions:
protection of the legal industry and profession as a whole and preventing the
power of advertising persuasion and influence.
Law firms and lawyers today must adhere to and
obey the Rules of Professional Conduct
by the Law Society of Ontario. Chapter 4 addresses marketing of
professional services. Section 4.2-1 states that: “A lawyer may market legal
services only if the marketing a) is demonstrably true, accurate and
verifiable; b) is neither misleading, confusing or deceptive, nor likely to
mislead, confuse or deceive; and c) is in the best interests of the public and
is consistent with a high standard of professionalism.”
In today’s world, marketing strategy is now not
just the norm, but a necessary practice embedded in most successful firms’
business development plans. Traditional marketing now co-exists with inperson
networking and digital marketing — and most large national firms today
implement a holistic strategy comprised of various marketing, technology and
business development tactics. This has been pegged as innovation.
Today we see all sorts of legal marketing
happening in mainstream media, magazines, e-newsletters, direct mailouts, but
also online on blogs, social media, websites, YouTube, podcasts and more. In
fact, marketing has now become an essential element of a law firm and lawyer’s
practice.
In the late ’90s and early 2000s, the Internet
era started rolling and businesses started to use the power of the world wide
web to market their business. Law firms started to create their own websites.
Over the next decade, out came paid digital advertising practices, search
engine optimization tactics and social campaigns. Lawyers and law firms were
slow to the race, however; by the time we reached 2012-2013, we started to see
law firms beginning to adopt.
As a marketing and business development
co-ordinator at a mid-size Toronto boutique litigation firm, part of my role in
2014 was conducting a competitor analysis and online audit of digital best
practices among other firms. Launching the firm blog, getting the firm’s lawyers
using LinkedIn and debuting a solid social media strategy fell within the scope
of my work and by 2015, the firm was utilizing the power of online marketing to
raise awareness of the firm and its lawyers.
Modern
day legal marketing
We still see billboards, we still hear radio
ads, we still advertise in magazines and newspapers.Traditional marketing and advertising still exists and there are
definitely ways of getting exposure inall
traditional media opportunities, whether earned or paid.
Today, however, law firms and lawyers are
utilizing online marketing strategy to gain exposure, target a market and raise
their profile. The power of the Internet cannot be ignored and while at the end
of the day, word-of-mouth and in-person networking are crucial, in today’s
world, reputation is not enough on its own to build business, attract clients
and grow.
Legal discussions and engagements are happening
on platforms like Twitter in real time, a platform
largely attended by lawyers. It is becoming
more and more important to be part of the conversation
as a means to understand the landscape and be
part of this online community.
Technology is ever-advancing and each month
there are new strategies, platforms, tactics and best practices to consider:
from Facebook to LinkedIn to YouTube and now platforms like TikTok, innovation
and modernization is necessary to evolve, adapt and reach new audiences.
With change comes opportunity, innovation and
the ability to reach clients like never before and
establish authority, leadership and
credibility.
Digital
marketing’s competitive advantage
There is no doubt that business development
tactics like taking a client for lunch, attending networking events, staying in
touch with contacts and referral sources are important practices. These
practices should be maintained.
Traditional media also still has significant
value and weight. Exposure via traditional marketing is a
valuable tool for brand exposure and profile.
Digital marketing is a whole different ball
game when it comes to analytics and target marketing. A magazine and newspaper
have distribution numbers, readership demographics and circulation rates;
social media analytics disclose reach, click-through rates, cost per click
results, cost per acquisition; website analytics provide time spent on page,
page views, bounce rates and consumer behavior data. Taking things a step
further, social media and digital media buys allow users to target their market
by demographic: geographic location, age range, interests, occupation, job
roles and more.
The
digital revolution is a powerful marketing tool
Stay tuned for part two of this article, which
will touch on the power of analytics, target marketing and tips to optimize
digital marketing strategy for your legal business and practice.
Marly Broudie is the founder and CEO of
SocialEyes Communications Inc., a digital marketing agency
based in Toronto. Broudie started her career as
a paralegal and then worked at a litigation firm in
business development and marketing, where she honed
her skills in social media, marketing, content
It’s December 31, 2019. Today’s date marks the last day of the year, but also the last day of the decade. Every year on December 31, I sit down and think about what I have accomplished over the past year, but also what I wish for and what goals I wish to achieve for the following year. It is a day to reflect, a day to plan and a day to set objectives.
What’s changed over the last decade? Holy crap – a lot! Went from living in my parent’s home to moving out and moving in with my boyfriend (now husband), travelling Europe a few times, getting married, having 2 children, leaving my 9-5 job in the legal industry and launching a business.
2019 was a great year and I am proud of the goals and accomplishments this year:
1.) We grew our team from 4 full time staff to 7– and I am so proud of us. We grew into a larger office space this year and we have really built a strong, talented, dedicated team and I can say with utmost confidence that we are building and growing every single day. Learning new skill sets, brainstorming together, collaborating and driving all of our careers forward, together. There is nothing quite like taking a step back and just watching our team work together and thrive together. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!
2.) SocialEyes went through a rebrand– 2019 marked the year of a brand refresh for SocialEyes. New colours, new fonts, a new logo, a brand new website, new printed collateral and a brand guide that we live by and adhere to. On February 19, 2019, we launched our new and improved websitewww.socialeyescommunications.com, we got new brochures and folders printed, new business cards, created new templates for our own social media footprint and honed our skills at brand building… we now offer Brand Guidelines as part of our service offerings because we got (really darn!) good at it especially during this process going through it for our own company!
3.) Article Contribution Opportunities– In 2018, I set a goal that I would seek out 1 or 2 article contribution opportunities. I really enjoy writing, story-telling and felt that I finally was at a point where I had valuable information and insights to share. The following articles were written by me and published:
4.) Threw my very first charity event – This is a big one! Since 2011 (the year in which my sister passed away), I set a goal that I would one day throw a charity event in support of Sick Kids Hospital… 2019 was the year. This was totally and completely outside of my comfort zone…. I had never ever thrown an event and didn’t know a THING about event planning. I set it as a goal in December of 2018… and on November 20, 2019, the SociaLux Gala occurred. Sunny Kiani (my beautiful friend and talented owner of Lux Events Co.) put her best foot forward to throw this event with me and was ALL in from the moment I brought it up to her back in February. With 203 attendees, the night was magical and meaningful…. we raised $32,134 for Sick Kid’s Hospital. THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR INCREDIBLE SPONSORS, DONORS, VENDORS AND ALL ATTENDEES!
WOO 2019 has been fantastic!
It is now time to reflect on these accomplishments, and set objectives for 2020. I want to be able to grow even more (collectively as a team, but also personally), spend more time conducting research, developing skill sets, BUT also taking more time for myself. 2020 is going to be the year for self-reflection and self-growth. Taking more time for ME, getting more comfortable in saying “I can’t get to that right now” while simultaneously staying tenacious, determined and dedicated.
I encourage everyone to take an hour today or tomorrow (the first day of the year) and set your goals for the next 365 days. It helps to put things into perspective!
The
holiday season is lucrative for almost every type of business. Consumers are
shopping till they drop, and manufacturers are doubling their inventories to
prepare for it. The social media marketing you’ve done all year has led you to
this season. But, what now? How do you leverage your social marketing efforts
and capitalize on all those wish lists? Here are three ideas to make the most
of your social media marketing during the holidays.
Get Personal
The
holidays are a competitive time for businesses, especially B2C. Every one of
your competitors is paying the inflated cost for social media ads and Google
ads. To stand out, take a different route: get personal with your audience.
Today’s consumers want to buy from brands that they can relate to, identify with, and trust. That means showing the human side of your brand. We already know how amazing video content performs on social media. So, consider doing a daily Facebook live where you interview one of your team members and ask them about their favourite product from your brand. Talk about the causes your business supports. Get real about how your products or services can change consumers’ lives. There’s no better time to show your brand’s authenticity.
2. Make Holiday Content
Get
in the festive spirit with consumers and start celebrating the season on your
social media pages. That doesn’t just mean adding red and green to your brand
colours (although that can be a fun idea). Consider your business goal for the
holiday season and then create content to help achieve it.
Let’s say you want to collect user-generated content that you can use for the following year. Hold a holiday-themed giveaway for each of the 12 days of Christmas. For people to enter, they must send you a selfie of them with one of your products. Or, perhaps your goal is to follow up with those customers who showed interest but didn’t buy throughout the year. Focus your ad budget for December on retargeting those users with holiday reminders of the products they showed interest in.
3. Stay Consistent
It’s
easy to get overwhelmed during the holiday season with increased orders and
dwindling time. You might start putting social media on the backburner and
neglect new messages in your social inboxes. However, there’s never been a more
crucial time to be consistent with your social media marketing. Even if you
don’t use a social post scheduler during the year, consider it for the
holidays. You can pre-write a ton of posts and schedule them to go out every
day of the week (or whenever your target audience is most likely to see them).
On
Facebook, don’t let your engagement fall to the wayside. You can create
Facebook Messenger drip campaigns that ensure every person who reaches out to
your brand gets a response. Mobile Monkey published a super helpful article on how to set up your
first drip campaign on Messenger.
Our
final tip is to work with a reputable social media marketing agency to boost
your leads and sales, especially during the holidays. Contact us today to learn more.
