8 marketing trends for 2016 you should be trying today

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Few industries are as fast-paced as marketing, and it can be difficult to judge which directions it will be going in a few months time, let alone a year. That in mind, however, here are eight marketing trends to look out for in 2016, some of which you may be able to apply to your own strategy with success…

SMS Marketing

SMS Marketing has been undergoing something of a resurgence in recent years, and for good reason. Why should you use it? It’s cost-effective, often with staggered pricing packages based on the number of texts sent; with very high open rates it’s likely to get better results than many other forms of marketing such as email, and by all accounts most recipients don’t seem to find SMS messages from brands intrusive, especially when they’re relevant to them and offer them a good deal or something they need.

Relationship Marketing

The extraordinary growth rate of smartphone ownership makes it easier than ever for brands to establish meaningful two-way relationships with their customers. Marketers are very focused now on using data segmentation to make messages as personalised as possible. Relationship marketing must be built on trust, and it can increase the opportunity of creating brand advocates, so if you believe in the power of word-of-mouth advertising, this could be an area you want to look at closely.

Internet Of Things

The next few years are going to see many more types of device being connected to the internet – ikettles anyone? – and wearable tech is moving in leaps and strides, literally in the case of movement-tracking devices for sports-enthusiasts. As a result, there’s a great deal of useable data becoming available to marketers from all over the place – how much of it will actually serve a valuable purpose is yet to be determined, but there is obviously potential in it. What possibilities does the internet of things hold for your company?

Location Marketing

This is one of the most exciting developments yet to emerge from the rise of smartphone use. Just to give one instance of how it can be used – companies can place small electronic beacons around a location such as a store or a conference hall to help them communicate with smartphones in the close vicinity. So if you have someone waiting in line to pay a cashier at a busy period you can offer them the ability to pay online, or remind them of a daily discount. If someone is attending an event you can remind them your brand has a stall, or send them news via LinkedIn. Not everyone will enjoy having their location tracked by marketers of course, but it’s undeniable that there are exciting prospects for this field.

Automation

Increased automation in marketing is getting a lot of people excited. Whether it’s timing social media posts, emails or SMS marketing in advance, or segmenting and analysing data, automation is becoming easier and less expensive, and will yield better results in return for less time spent on the tasks. Will we one day have robots writing blog articles? This author hopes not, but technology is disrupting the processes of all industries nowadays and marketing is no exception.

Social Media E-Commerce

Making purchases through social media has been on the cards for years now – in fact some sites such as Pinterest and Instagram have already been experimenting with it for a while. Many experts believe that 2016 will be the year that social media e-commerce truly takes off. You may be able to buy a product you see on a brand’s Facebook page just by clicking a button, and never leaving the platform, before sharing news of your purchase with friends and family. Big and innovative retailers will be following developments on this eagerly.

Multichannel Sales

The path to purchase will become ever more complex, with research often spanning multiple platforms and devices, so it’s important for brands to have a coherent story across the web, and to track where in the pipeline customers are entering, offering payment options throughout. The need for mobile optimisation of websites has never been greater, and the fact that some three-quarters of consumers consult social media before purchasing cannot be ignored. If you’re not socially active, you’re missing out.

Content Marketing

This will continue to thrive in 2016 and beyond. Whether it’s blog articles, videos, infographics or podcasts, the number of ways that brands can get their message across is always increasing. Look at your current content strategy – can you mix things up a little? Understand what types of content work best for you, and focus on producing more of it.

Building your brand from scratch through marketing

One of the key factors of success is an effective marketing campaign. But, most people skip over what makes a marketing campaign successful. If your marketing campaign is successful, you will attract a large consumer audience. They will be interested in purchasing your product or using a service that you are offering. We also think that if a promotion campaign is success you’re going to see interest from investors and find new ways to expand your company. But these two factors should not be the only results of a marketing campaign. Ideally, what you want to see after an extensive promotion plan is a build in brand recognition.

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Brand Recognition

Brand recognition will allow consumers to recognise what your business is and what it offers by name or logo alone. Imagine, if you came across a product. You were unsure what it was but you noticed that it had the microsoft logo on it. Even if it didn’t look like a piece of tech, you might automatically assume it was something related to computer technology. If you had some knowledge of the brand you might even start to make conclusions about the product. You think that it’s designed to be easy to use and for the masses. You might also wonder if it’s related to a games console or a Windows phone. With this type of brand recognition, a business will be able to successfully sell a product on name alone. You will often see this type of effect in the movie industry.

For instance, in 2014, Interstellar would have been a massive risk for the producer if it hadn’t had the name Christopher Nolan as the director. That name has become a brand Warner Bros. can rely on to market a film to the masses. The brand has an established consumer base, and that’s what you want for your business. You might be wondering how you can achieve this through marketing.

Logo Design

You will need to create a logo for your business. Typically, all business brands have a logo that consumers can recognise. For instance, there is the Disney castle or the Pixar lamp. In some cases, the name of the business forms part of the logo and in other instances it is completely separate. The important thing to think about is how to make the logo for your business unique to your company. It should not be copycatting off another success story. This can lead to two problems that you want to avoid. The first is that customers might confuse your business with another company. That might seem like an advantage, but it won’t be when that company sues you for copyright infringement.

In some situations a logo is unnecessary. The name is all that is needed to make the brand a success. This occurs either after a certain point when the company has been on the market for years. Or, if someone in the public limelight is associated with that business. An example of this would be the late Steve Jobs or Richard Branson.

Don’t forget that there is nothing stopping you making yourself the person who people see when they think of your company. You just have to put yourself out there, including your image in your marketing strategy. If you think you have the charisma and appeal, this could lead to great success.

Key Marketing Concepts

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There are several key marketing concepts related to establishing a brand during marketing. The first is personal merchandise. You can sell customized merchandise to consumers or give it to them for free. If it has your company name or logo on it, this merchandise could then act as an effective form of marketing. Consumers can be given it at business events or in relation to marketing concepts. For instance, you could start a social media campaign for your business with the hashtag #getshade. You might do this if your business is selling suntan lotion but at the same time, you could offer free printed sunglasses. This type of concept could work for any type of campaign.

Another key concept we have already touched upon is social media. Social media is one of the biggest weapons in your arsenal for establishing brand recognition. Using social media, you can connect with consumers, finding out what they think your business is and what they want you to offer. Once you have done this, you’ll see who your target customers are. You can then alter your marketing to match their preferences entirely. If you do this, you could see your customer base double or even triple.

However, social media isn’t the only way you should be establishing a brand online. You need to think about setting up a stylish, modern site that will attract the interest of consumers. Don’t forget that the way you style your site will have a direct impact on your brand. Even the type of content you write can have a positive or negative effect. You need to be careful about the tone you use as well as how your business is portrayed. Ideally, you need your business to be seen as an establishment that is professional, but that does care about the customers.

Your Employees

You might be surprised to learn that your employees can and perhaps will make up a part of your brand. You should not shy away from this idea. Instead, you should use the notion to strengthen your brand and your business image like other businesses have done before. We can look at Apple again as an example here with the “Apple Geniuses.” The Apple Geniuses are just sales assistant like in any other store but it’s the way they have been marketing that separates them from the rest. They have been portrayed as the friendly face of a major corporation. If you want your brand to be successful, you need to come up with a similar idea. Or, at the very least make sure that your employees are people you want your customers to interact with.

We hope we have shed a little light on what brand recognition is and how useful it can be for your company.

Balancing business and baby like a pro

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If you’re a business owner, than the success of your company is one of the biggest priorities in your life. But there’s one thing that’s even more important, and that’s your family. Quite frankly, juggling the two is one of the hardest challenges of a modern day entrepreneur.

It’s difficult, but it’s not impossible. With the right level of planning, there’s nothing stopping you from gaining enjoyment from both business and your family. Here are four very effective tips that will help you do just that.

Work From Home

Your work life eats away at the waking day. However, it’s not only time in the office that has to be considered. Even a one-hour commute to work will add 10 hours onto your weekly work time. That’s an extra 21 days that you’re missing out on your loved ones.

In today’s business climate, though, this doesn’t need to be an issue. It’s now very possible to run the operation from the comfort of your home while still maintaining a professional front. Even if little distractions add an extra 30 minutes to your day, you’ll still gain back an extra 7.5 hours every single week.

And no more traffic jams. Hallelujah!

Get Outside Help

Whether working from home or not, you can’t handle the entire company with one pair of hands. Even if you’re capable, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. Quite frankly, prioritising your workload is a must.

Accepting that you need help to gain success in business is vital, especially if the outside influences can improve your family life too. Top accounting firms can take control of the finances, leaving you to concentrate on the running of your venture. As well as keeping your operation in the best health, it will allow you to enjoy your personal life too.

What more incentive could you want?

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Be Organised

Balancing business and family is a constant juggling act. The key to getting the most out of life is to ensure that your time is spent effectively. Ultimately, the only way to do this is through increased organisation.

Modern technology can help you stay on top of both work and leisure. You are bound to carry your smartphone on a 24/7 basis. Downloading the best Apps will bring huge improvements to both major sections of your life.

Besides, knowing that you are on top of things will allow you to relax and enjoy your leisure time too.

Make Time For Yourself

Dedicating your life to business and family will take up the majority of your schedule. But it’s critical that you don’t forget to invest in personal enjoyment too.

You could take up a new hobby or vow to get fit. Alternatively, you might just want to arrange a weekly meeting with a friend to watch films or have a beer. Whatever you do, that time away from work and family will allow you to appreciate those aspects too.

As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Besides, failing to nurture your individual needs will leave you depressed. That’s not going to help anyone.

 

Planning a family holiday on a budget? Read this…

Planning a family vacation can be exhausting. There is so much to organise and when it is left solely up to you the pressure to make it memorable can be overwhelming. So stop planning by yourself and get everyone involved to share the load. This will not only help you get excited about going away, but it will also make the whole process less stressful. Use these tips to create a budget vacation that you all remember for the right reasons.

Shop around

It can be tempting to buy your flights, car hire and accommodation from the first website or travel agent you visit. But it’s worth shopping around before you buy. There could be better deals for you and your family to utilise. Discounted and last minute sites such as Hotwire.com, will compare deals to ensure you get the best one. This can be useful if you’re short of time and want to book your vacation quickly. Also, consider using comparison sites for your insurance and currency too. Always read the small print and ensure that the offers you are buying suit your family’s needs and won’t incur additional charges later on.

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Research with your kids

Before you go away on your trip, it’s a brilliant idea to sit down with your kids and research the area you’re travelling to. You can do this online or with magazines from a travel agents. This will highlight exactly what there is on offer to keep you all entertained throughout your vacation. Explain to your children that you are sticking to a budget, so you need to prioritise where you spend your available money. Once they are familiar with local attractions and points of interest, you could get them to choose one or two things they would like to experience. You can then research any coupons or deals that might be available during your stay. Some attractions may have family tickets or discounts on children under a certain age. Also research free attractions such as museums, art galleries and parks you could visit too. Undercover tourist discount codes can help make many of those more expensive attractions much more affordable.

Start an emergency fund

Even after you’ve booked and paid for your vacation, it’s wise to save some additional money just in case. It’s best to plan for any eventuality while you’re away. So start saving a little each week to create an emergency fund for your vacation. Little things like saving money on gas or on groceries will go a long way over time, so start this as soon as you can. It will put your mind at ease and if you don’t use it, you can spend it on some beautiful souvenirs from your trip. Encourage your kids to save their pocket money for your vacation, to take the pressure off you too.

These tips will help you plan and save for you vacation with ease. It doesn’t have to be difficult if everyone gets involved and sticks to the budget. Utilise as many freebies and deals as you can to stretch your budget further and enjoy every second of your family trip.

How to outsource on a tight budget

smart-725843_640If you’re running a part-time business, you’ll be very short of time. You can automate a few  tasks, but the only real way to buy more time is to get help from other people.

The problem is that you can’t outsource work unless you’ve got the money to pay for it. You need the time to earn money, but you can’t get that time until you’ve got someone else working for you!  It’s a vicious circle.

Here are three ways to break that circle… Continue reading “How to outsource on a tight budget”

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