Archive for GrowCommunity

Online Branding and YOUR Business

As consumers are less frequently using traditional forms of advertising, it is important to start building your online presence now.

Google searches have replaced the need for a phone book and social media marketing has become an effective way to virally-expand your brand’s exposure on an epic scale. Compared to signage, social media marketing allows you the opportunity to record data regarding those who have seen and interacted with your advertisement.

Taking the time to build your brand’s presence online is a worthwhile investment. You will gain access to valuable analytics while opening a door for communication to your customers.
 
This opportunity to #ConnectMORE with your target audience will help you build trust with your customer and help your brand build a loyal following. Taking an online approach for your future marketing pursuits can also result in the following:

An opportunity to Build a Following – People are searching for you…
 

The sooner your business is online; the sooner people can find you. People are searching for your brand on social media channels and Google. It might start with just a few friends liking and sharing your Facebook page, but that leads to a wider audience being exposed to your brand.

Remember, word of mouth advertising is now spread online! Once you have a captive audience of social media followers, it’s easier to spread your messages to them and convert your audience into customers.

Own your own advertising goals

You are not limited to local reach when using online marketing tools. Your target market can be isolated or you can choose to expand globally.

The option for reaching a segmented audience is limitless and the data recorded for such marketing initiatives will help you plan for future campaigns and/or promotions.

Claim your keywords and hashtags!

Your brand’s hashtag is important, so make sure to claim your own before a competitive businesses does. Your hashtag helps your audience connect with you overall brand and helps people discover your brand to further your reach on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and more!

Getting your brand online leads to more exposure for your business and, as a result, can help boost your online and in-store traffic.

Join us at CC Communications’ Online Branding and YOUR Business Introductory Seminar on November 28th at Solo Trattoria in Sault Ste. Marie.

From 5:30 until 7:00 pm, you will learn how having and maintaining an online presence can take your business to the next level and help you #ConnectMORE with your customers!

Delicious appetizers from Solo Trattoria is included with your $45 ticket.

Get your tickets today and reserve your spot by clicking here! 

 

Secrets to create Engaging Social Media Content

Over 76% of marketers report that finding quality content is the greatest marketing challenge. Posting regularly to social media requires research, familiarity with trending topics, strong communication skills and brain power!

Today, we are sharing three of CC Communications secrets to keep your social media content engaging:

Start a Conversation to #ConnectMORE 

Social media is the perfect place to #ConnectMORE with your audience and “get social” with your customers. Try posting content that is interactive. For example, ask your audience questions about their preference or personal opinion to entice a conversation.

Once your followers have started to engage with you, it is important to respond. Social media platforms make it easy to respond to followers by replying to their comments or by using the “@” symbol to speak directly with them. Other users are more likely to participate in the conversation when they view responses from the company.

In this post to the left, it is clear that the company has not made an effort to converse with their audience. Such posts are ad driven to increase sales but fail to start an interactive conversation.

If a social media user is interested in the product, they may purchase the item, however posts such as this fail to encourage conversation or social interaction. This is a disadvantage because social media interaction through the form of written conversation often spurs interest from other users who could become potential buyers of such products and/or services. 

Can you spot the difference in this Coca-Cola post for example?

It makes a point to engage followers by asking them a question, while still promoting the product.

Represent Your Brand

Sharing and reposting existing content is part of a good social media strategy, but the majority of your content should be unique and relevant to your overall products and services. People will follow your social media pages to view content that represents your business and brand.

To accurately represent your brand and preserve your image, you should avoid “clickbait.”

Clickbait is the posting of articles with attention grabbing headlines that are designed to urge users to click on a link. Due to their frequent use, Facebook officials have altered their algorithm to reduce the viewership of “clickbait” articles. This recent change was made as an overall initiative to provide the Facebook community with organic and authentic content. Have you been a victim of “clickbait?”

Think Outside of the Box and Make it Visual 

Keep your content fresh! Research and capitalize on trends people are socializing about. Include visuals that represent your brand. In doing so, your social posts become 80% more interactive according to Facebook analytics.

For example, by adding this image of a quote to the Facebook post it has become more visually stimulating and might encourage viewers to remember it’s positive message (and your brand in association).

For commercial photography, consider utilizing the photography services of CC Photography, a division of CC Communications. Also book your FREE 30 minute consultation  as our agency is driven to provide business owners with the opportunity to increase their brand awareness and build community through interactive and conversational content.

It’s time to #ConnectMORE with your online audience!

Business owners recognize the power and potential social media networks offer. Having a Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIN, or Twitter account keeps you in contact with your clients and offers potential customers the opportunity to become familiar with your brand.

Learn what it takes to be successful at social media marketing during CC Communications #ConnectMORE social media seminar on May 31st at Solo Trattoria from 5:30 pm until 8:30 pm. I will explain key terms such as “SEO” (search engine optimization) and the importance of using #Hashtags!

In addition, you will learn how to develop a strategy to put “promoted ads” on Facebook to use and identify new ways to start finding customers online. You will also learn how to also measure the success of your efforts while utilizing new information regarding the ever-changing world of digital marketing!

Avoid the costly mistake of going it alone and running campaigns without a goal in mind. Save time and marketing dollars by becoming more proficient in understand HOW social media platforms operate. I train business owners how to create content and use social media to help reach their overall business goals.

In this seminar, I’ll show you how to add a social component to your online approach by looking at your products and services from a customers point-of-view. I’ll give you ideas on how to develop and manage your upcoming posts and identify key differences in your current approach to help you build a strategy for future content creation and management.

Also enjoy the opportunity to network with others and enjoy special finger foods prepared for us while taking in a fresh new approach to the potential social media marketing has to offer your growing business and brand.

Click here to purchase your ticket and reserve your spot today!

How can hiring an agency help my business grow?

According to the Public Relations Society of America, Public Relations is defined as “anticipating, analyzing and interpreting public opinion, attitudes and issues that impact, for the good or ill, the operations and plans of an organization.”

The perspective a client has of your brand is extremely important and can impact your overall growth. How you structure your organization, the business practices and services you offer, and your presentation to the public, are all essential components of maintaining a positive brand image.

Public relations agencies help businesses, including start-ups, with research on a continual basis to put campaigns into action that will allow the public to perceive the business in the “light” it wishes to emulate.

Public relations agencies direct courses of action and communication, plan public policy, set campaign objectives, and employ a series of tactics to brand a business. CC Communications specializes in the following public relations services: performing market research to provide overall brand direction including logo development, the composition of press releases and online content, the organization of media relations or press conferences, the creation of special events and marketing promotions designed for public outreach, and of course, social media management.

Businesses should consider hiring a public relations agency when they want to enhance and build their brand through modern forms of media. At CC Communications, we work very closely with our clients to analyze their organization and create positive stories that translate to the public to create “top-of-mind” consciousness.