Organic Reach on Facebook will Decline

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Organic reach on Facebook decliningFacebook is always refining and introducing new features in an effort to give users a more valuable experience. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always work in businesses favour when it comes to reaching as many people as possible with content.

Facebook Reach is the number of unique people who saw your content. There are different kinds of reach: post, page, organic, viral and paid.

Organic reach is free. It happens in the news feed when your fans see your updates.

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Key Points for Social Media Promo

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Follow these 3 Key Points for all your Social Media Promotion

Social media is all about interaction and engagement with your audience. In order to have engaged fans that you don't overwhelm with sales pitches in every post, you need to focus on the three following key aspects:

michael kors stunning imagery on facebook
  1. Visual Storytelling: put time and effort into crafting your brand story on social media. The most effectively way to tell that story online is through visuals. Michael Kors employs stunning visuals as seen here. Dior uses well-crafted videos with strategically chosen locations such as the Château de Versailles, emblem of Dior's tradition, which bought to life the Dior Fall 2013 collection. Christian Dior Video on Facebook. 
    Likeable Media provided these statistics: Photos make up 93% of the most engaging content on Facebook; they get 53% more likes, 104% more comments and 84% more click-throughs on links than text-based posts.  Tweets with image links get 2X the engagement rate of those without. It's vital to consider how to make compelling, visual content that doesn't look like an advertisement, in other words, content that consumers want to share.
  2. A Balanced Approach: It’s far too easy for fashion companies to fall into a trap of only pushing products and sales. The most successful fashion companies in social have a well-balanced approach that also takes time to nurture conversations with fans on what the fans find valuable.
    Take a look at the high fashion brand, Tiffanys. They post helpful information about weddings, such as this post.Tiffany's use of ideas for fans. Photo of beautiful wedding cake
  3. Strategic Use of Sales / Promos: It's all about planning and timing to create a perfect pitch for your fans and push them to purchase. Strategically plan your sales posts/tweets around your fans' lives and interests (summer, school, season changes), and employ visual creativity. The Kit Kat brand often employs clever ways of displaying their product with holiday periods such as this post for St Patrick's Day.
    Kit Kat uses imagery of St patricks day with their product

The New Year Website Review Checklist 2014

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Cre8ive's Website Review Checklist for 2014

As we are underway with the New Year, add another new year’s resolution to your list and take the time to reflect over your business website. Review your marketing plan and see what worked and what didn’t. Review your metrics, such as Google Analytics, and use this valuable information as you plan campaigns for 2014 and beyond.

Aim to review your plan periodically throughout the year or at least once a year. This is the ideal time to take a retrospective review of what has and what hasn’t worked for you during the past 12 months. Spend a few minutes going through our Website 8-step checklist – Customers’ expectations are higher than ever and this could make all the difference for 2014.
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Examples of Poor Web Design Using Real Life

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Using a series of clever videos, Google Analytics shows examples of poor web design — but in real life.
It’s important to ensure your website is easy to use - your potential customers should be able to find what they need on the 'digital shelf' as easily as in real life. However, many sites leave visitors frustrated and consequently they leave. By understanding the process better, you will see where and why you’re losing customers and be able to improve your online shopping experience.

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Best Practice Standards for Email Marketing

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The Network of Digital Marketers (formally known as eMarketing Network) was set up to provide support to agencies, suppliers and practitioners of email marketing, online advertising, eCommerce and online promotions. Their objective is promote ethical best practice eMarketing in New Zealand.
They have written guidelines on best practices and ethical conduct regarding the use of email for marketing purposes.They have 6 Guiding Principles for eMail Marketing to safeguard people from receiving unwanted or intentionally deceptive emails. Each of the Principles complements the next and should be
viewed as a collective entity. In brief they are:
1. Send only relevant offers to consenting recipients
2. Include an unsubscribe function
3. Tell the recipient who you are
4. Apply the basic "truth in advertising" doctrine
5. Do not abuse permission
6. Do not harvest email addresses

Representations of Gender in Advertising

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We found this interesting University project. Three students in the Women and Gender Studies class at the University of Saskatchewan created this video to show 'how ridiculous media portrays gender roles and stereotypes in advertising through presenting gender roll reversals'. Please note that some of this content may be inappropriate for younger viewers.

Christmas Marketing

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15 Top Tips to get your Business Ready

Christmas Marketing: 15 Top Tips to get your Business Ready
  1. Begin planning your holiday campaign in advance so you are ready to launch before the ‘silly season’ is underway. A good way to do this is by developing a Promotional Calendar. Use this as the basis of all promotional activities you conduct throughout the holiday season including holiday hours, late nights, specials and discounts.
  2. Repetition sells. Send multiple emails, direct mailers or holiday cards announcing your sales. (But don’t go ‘silly’ and send daily announcements – find the right balance so you don’t annoy your customers)
  3. Create your email calendar. Email is one of the most powerful tools in your online marketing kit, serving as a great way to deliver promotions directly to your customers. Your email calendar should include email content, list segmentation, copywriting, design and testing. To make the most of this opportunity, align your email sends with the timing of your biggest promotions that will be identified in your Promotional Calendar. Continue reading...

Marketing Guidelines for Medical Practices

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Medical Practices have never really had to consider ‘advertising’ but in today’s changing and challenging world marketing is becoming increasingly important for all fields. Marketing is more than selling and advertising. It includes; analysis, planning, pricing, customer service and monitoring.
Medical Practices have certain restrictions though when it comes to promotion. The Medical Council of New Zealand provides guidelines that Doctors should adhere to when advertising:

• Clear and accurate health care information
• Be cautious when ‘Advertising’
• Take reasonable steps to control content
• Claims must be valid, evidence-based and able to be substantiated
• Must not encourage excessive use of health resources
• Not appropriate to off coupons, gift certificates or medical treatments as prizes
• Health and welfare of the patient comes first

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Top Tips for Effective Online Copywriting

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If you want to know about how to write compelling website copy, then read on. Copywriting is one of the most essential elements of effective online marketing. The art of 'direct-response' copywriting involves strategically delivering words that get people to take some form of action.

You must:
1. understand your customer’s needs and concerns
2. have the ability to clearly communicate the benefits of your product/service
3. be able to close the sale.
4. keep your website copy fresh and updated

You may have a fantastic offer but you also have to communicate it to your audience in a way that appeals to them. And that’s where the art of good copywriting comes into play. Here are 6 simple tips for achieving effective copywriting.

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