social media marketing Archives - Page 3 of 9

June 7, 2022June 7, 2022

Growing Your Seasonal Business

Growing Your Seasonal Business is an article about how to market your seasonal business for stability and growth for the future. Owning and operating a seasonal business can be stressful. We’ve heard this many times. Firstly, you become too busy during the season to keep up on other things. Next, when the season draws to a close it’s difficult to maintain stability. You only have so long to make as much as you can. Well, hopefully this blog helps to remedy some of these issues.

There’s plenty you can do from a marketing standpoint to keep busy during the season and ensure stability for the next.

Here is a short list of seasonal businesses this article is meant for:

Lawn care and landscapers. Contractors. Roofers and siding companies. Craft business owners that are reliant on summer shows or festivals. Tree service providers. Nurseries and gardening related companies, we see you. Also, concrete and asphalt business owners. We are sure there’s plenty more but these come to mind now. This Growing Your Seasonal Business blog isn’t discriminatory. If you’re another seasonal business, read on.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce provides you some of these ideas here: https://www.uschamber.com/co/grow/marketing/marketing-seasonal-businesses . Most of these we have discussed before in past blogs. It’s worth repeating though. We’ll admit, we’ve never thought of the “Generate excitement with early payment deals.” However, this also seems like a fantastic idea too! Read the above link for more.

Marketing your seasonal business

Website. Yep. Keep that site fresh and mobile friendly during both the on and off season. Review your business website monthly or at the very least, quarterly. New photos, content, updates, blogs, and specials should all be considered. As well as these, some keyword strategies should be implemented. Can’t handle all of this during the busy season? We know a small local marketing team you can call 😉
Reviews. This is a great way to touch base with customers even in the off season. After the season is over you can call, text, or email your customers and get their opinions on your products or services. Reviews are also ultra important for your online recognition. Speaking of email…
Email marketing. Have you collected customer emails during the busy season? No? Why not? It’s a simple way to get their info to share future company news, blogs, offers, and industry news with when the season is over. Sending out a consistent email blast is an effective way of creating brand recognition too.
Social media. Probably one of the most powerful tools in your box. Can’t stay up on it? Not really sure of all the constant changes that occur? Unsure of the types of content to create consistently? There’s so many ways you can utilize social media. Moreover, there are people looking for the above businesses we listed…CONSTANTLY! Take advantage of that. Need help? Again, there’s a local marketing team we know that’s pretty good at making social media pages stand out 😉

Need help growing your seasonal business? 77 Design Co has you covered. We are a call, text, or click away.

Analyze. Create. Achieve.

May 24, 2022May 24, 2022

Still Struggling to Meet New Customers?

If you own a small business and are struggling to meet new customers, a fresh innovative marketing strategy is most likely needed.

Small business has taken a big hit in the last few years. It is our #1 goal at 77 Design Co to serve these local companies and help them recover and flourish.

Marketing is an investment! Certainly, if you view your marketing budget as an expense…something is wrong. Above all, that money should be working to double, triple, or otherwise at least significantly increase the number of leads and referrals.

Marketing doesn’t have to be expensive either. In fact, there are some inexpensive ways you can get the most bang for your buck that also matches your budget. Getting the right eyes on your business is critical to its success.

If you are still struggling to meet new customers, especially now after the pandemic, a solid marketing plan will help. Actually, it will help dramatically! There are also ways to market without spending a ton. Constant Contact has a few inexpensive ways here: https://www.constantcontact.com/blog/market-your-small-business/ and we also have some pretty great ideas too!

You invest in marketing, it shouldn’t be an expense!

For a free marketing evaluation and consultation, or if you just need some fresh new ideas…send us a message! We are always happy to help! Finally, here’s a list of most of the services we offer:

marketing (digital and print)

creative content

graphic design (logos, brochures, etc)

web design

commercial video/photography/aerial

social media training and/or management

marketing consulting

creative writing and blogging

email marketing…and more.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend when you get to it. Also, remember to take a few moments to reflect on all of those who fell for our freedoms. Without their sacrifices, where would we all be?

As always…Analyze. Create. Achieve.

May 11, 2022May 11, 2022

What’s the Story of Your Business?

What’s the story of your business? Tough question. Even tougher for someone else to answer other than you. Brand storytelling is one of the most often overlooked marketing tactics. It’s also one of the most effective!

What’s the story of your business? You will need to tell it!

Number one on this HubSpot list: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/marketing-techniques is “Brand Storytelling.” Read about it for yourself. They do a much better explanation of it than we can here.

Marketing is marketing. Period. If it is to be effective, there must be a great story. The history of your business is a great way to start spinning the tale. This is especially true if there is a long company history. We have worked with businesses that have been around for over 100 years, and others that have just started. However, both have unique stories to tell.

Why does this matter?

Believe it or not, many customers find interest in your company history. Even if you don’t think your company has much of a story, it does! There’s a reason why you got into what you do. Often, that is forgotten. Time to get back to the roots.

Who, what, why, when.

It’s not just the history we are talking about. Every business has a story.

Who started the business? Was it you, a group of partners, or maybe your great-grandfather a century ago? At any rate, that story should be shared. Personalization is another key component to storytelling. Videos and photography of the key company players should be utilized within the marketing. Show who the faces of the business are. Do this regularly.

What and why. Additionally, you can weave a great marketing story about what you sell and why. What do you do better than the competition? Why does someone need your product or service? Share industry news and stories. Be the expert!

When did the business start? It does not matter how long ago. It is a little easier to spin a marketing story around an older business, but that doesn’t mean people won’t be interested if you are newer. As I have shown, all businesses have a story.

If the company has been around for a long time, use that. From a marketing perspective, you can use social media or printed materials to show longevity. Old news articles or even a tag line like, “Serving Customers since 1928” builds trust with customers. Alternatively, if the business is new this gives you a chance to be fresh and exciting. Solving old problems with a new perspective.

Seek help telling your story.

We love storytelling! Especially through visuals and content. What’s the story of your business? Find a marketing firm or team that can properly present your story to customers. It will change your business!

Analyze. Create. Achieve.

April 27, 2022April 27, 2022

Let’s Talk Marketing & Strategy

Let’s Talk Marketing & Strategy is a blog about exactly what marketing is. We’ll also cover some simple strategies you can take to improve the marketing of your business.

Firstly, let’s use the definition from a HubSpot blog and Dictionary.com, “the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising.” It and more can be read here: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/what-is-marketing

There it is. Consequently, the definition is a little broad. We create content, images, video, and do design work. We also do market research and a little advertising. The initial definition is a bit blurry in our opinion though. Thats marketing for you. For example, there is no mention of brand, creativity, or messaging. These are essential pieces of marketing too. However, the description does get a bit more detailed further in the read.

Purpose.

So, let’s move along. As you can see in the HubSpot link above, they describe the purpose of marketing thoroughly. There’s not a whole lot that we would add.

However, our idea about marketing is much more primitive…”get more eyes on your product or service.” Truly we believe this is the main purpose. Yes, <caveman grunt> our views can sometimes be uncouth. We can assure you though that your marketing will never be. Also, if done correctly, marketing will substantially increase leads, referrals, and visibility.

Marketing’s main purpose, we believe, is to get more eyes on your product or service.

What next?

Next, now that we’ve got an idea about the definition and purpose of marketing, we can turn to the strategy. HubSpot has an extensive list of the forms of marketing. They are all in the article above. Some of these are, blogging, social media, SEO, video, and more. Additionally, there’s newer forms of marketing popping up yearly. Influencer, VR (Virtual Reality,) text, and alternate forms of digital marketing are some of the most recent types.

Traditional forms like print and social media also still make HUGE impacts. Of course, all of this depends on the style of message(s) your company puts out. Tags, links, images, designs, offers, and much more all are relevant to the strategy success. More than we could explain here.

Simple strategies we’d recommend include:

Keep the website simple. Update it regularly. Of course, make sure it’s mobile/SEO friendly. Change content and images often. Additionally, ensure there are no broken links or inaccurate info.

Images for the site and all social media posts should look and feel professional. Eye catching photos and designs attract more clicks. They also increase the length of time a reader views the page. Don’t believe us? You don’t have to. There are so many studies that back up this claim. Google it.

Hire a professional photographer. That is, hire one with experience in product or commercial photography. A wedding photographer, for example, will shoot things in a completely different manner. Likewise, with graphic designers. One that routinely creates bright elegant invitations will have a different style than one who works with industrial clients. Many in these fields won’t admit that they aren’t jack-of-all trades, but the final work will showcase the varying differences. Ask for examples of work.

Social media channels should be posted on regularly. Find the ideal post times. Or, hire an individual or team capable of making excellent social media posts. Create a buzz! Make posts that are interesting and informative. Use these channels to be a help. Highlight your team. Highlight your company’s product or service. Show off customers. These are just a few ideas.

Need some help developing a successful marketing strategy? Drop us a line https://77designco.com/contact-us-2/ for a free consultation. We are always excited to learn about your business!

Analyze. Create. Achieve.

April 5, 2022April 5, 2022

Comparing Marketing to Gardening

Admittedly, we’ve posted about this topic, Comparing Marketing to Gardening, in the past. There’s no problem with repurposing good content! At the same time, we feel this is good. Also important. It’s that time of year again. Spring time!

In Western Pa, spring is here. We couldn’t be happier! We love gardening and we love what we do! This weeks blog post explores how comparing marketing to gardening will help with business growth.

Much like your garden, a business requires constant attention, maintenance, and care to result in good growth. We all want healthy, bountiful vegetables or fruits from our gardens. Your business should be looked at in the same way. Due to a variety of reasons, there are many similarities to both that you may not initially be aware of.

Comparatively, here’s an article about business growth and gardening from Medium.com similar to our blog: https://medium.com/the-mission/5-steps-to-grow-your-business-like-a-plant-4e7abbadf390

Attention:

We must pay attention to everything about our business. Troubles can occur if we don’t. Exactly like a garden. Things can spiral out of control if they aren’t looked after. The weeds can take over and almost always this results in a depletion of growth. Customers can get upset due to a lack of response, something an employee did, or a bad estimate. Just to name a few. Getting great reviews from your clientele base is essential. Stay on top of things. Pay attention to potential problems and ‘weeding the garden’ are both crucial in order to succeed.

Maintenance:

New customers come from a range of different places. For example, word of mouth may be the main tool you use. But, perhaps you started promoting your business on social media or another outlet. Customers that find you elsewhere will expect a certain level of maintenance on your platforms. They want to see and read about your business. Consistent upkeep is essential so things stay fresh. Rarely does a business thrive on social media by letting things get stagnant. Marketing and finding new leads for your business consistently is similar to watering or adding essential nutrients to garden soil. Therefore, maintenance must be exercised regularly.

Care:

Care certainly wraps up both of the above. This can be looked at in several ways. Care means caring about your customers and your reputation. Likewise, care also means caring about what happens with your marketing garden. Just planting and walking away will result in failure.

If your business “has been doing it this way for so long” it may be time for a change. When you do make a change take great care in how you do it because nobody wants to spend more than they have to without the desired results. Like a garden, you should rotate. You can’t continuously plant the same seeds and plants in the same areas year after year without changing things a bit. This will hinder growth. Care will ensure that your garden stays healthy.

In conclusion, plant the (marketing) seeds of your business garden. Pay attention to everything happening. Maintain customer relationships, and grow new ones. Care for the new things you are trying and your reputation. Then, watch your profits and business garden grow!

Analyze. Create. Achieve.

March 23, 2022March 23, 2022

Spring Cleaning Your Business Marketing

Spring Cleaning Your Business Marketing focuses on how to clean up your business marketing to make it more efficient. Spring is here! Usually this means more cleaning and getting rid of some unwanted items. For the most part, this is also applicable for a business.

Spring Cleaning Your Business Marketing

If you want to make the most of your marketing, occasionally you need to do a little clean up. Likewise, you’ll have to consistently monitor all of it. Think of it as caring for a pet. Websites, social media, printed materials, and even your company image should be reviewed yearly. Yearly isn’t that bad! Not quite as much as pet care.

A little cleaning or updating is likely necessary. This keeps things fresh. So, let’s get into Spring Cleaning Your Business Marketing a little deeper.

Website Updates

You have a business website. Maybe it’s new or just a few years old. No need to make drastic changes. You like what you have. Ok, great! As much as you are happy with it, there’s always ways to improve!

Therefore, small changes can make a BIG difference. If there isn’t anybody updating the site regularly, plug-ins probably are out of date. New keywords can be added. You can update the images on it. Add new employee bio’s or products. Additionally, what about revising the menu and content? Taking time for these changes will keep it fresh and Google happy. However, there’s also a lot more to it than can be thoroughly explained here.

Social, Social, Social

Further, let’s get into social media. This type of marketing typically can be fruitful. That is to say, IF it’s being used properly and consistently.

Time to spring clean. For example, ask yourself, “when is the last time you invited new contacts to follow or like your page?” Have you acquired any new products or equipment? Heck, when is the last time you even posted to the page? By the same token, it’s time to clean these social media pages up. Below is a list of new and improved items you can start doing on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or whatever pages you have:

New photography
Add videos
Update any new services or products
Do a “History of your company” post or series
Highlight wonderful recent projects
Employee bios
Spotlight new or long time customers. The list can go on…

In fact, the uses for social media are endless. Perhaps we will create a future blog on this topic alone.

Conclusion

Finally, along with the above mentioned, analyze what worked in the last year. At this point you can figure out where leads, messages, and calls came from.

Perhaps you are just looking to create brand recognition. Just being visible and not intentionally seeking out leads is fine too. For example, during the pandemic you just wanted your company to be helpful. Admirable. Many company’s did just that.

If leads and referrals are what you want though, time to clean. Subsequently, whatever isn’t working you may want to drop. Or, at least change. Some marketing avenues don’t work for all. Print direct mail may be better for a home improvement company than, say, a niche manufacturer. Likewise, social media may produce more for a restaurant than an auto repair shop. Drop the useless marketing or make some necessary changes after trying a while.

All of this is sort of like cleaning out the gutters. It doesn’t happen often. But, when it does things flow much smoother.

Analyze. Create. Achieve.