Or... why we have a love/hate relationship with Rubik’s Cubes?
OK, we don’t hate them, in fact we should probably be grateful to this 80s icon since we’ve won a lot of business recently because of it. However, when it comes to developing websites (or any type of software) we have to bury the Rubik’s Cubes. Let me explain….
Technical agencies, such as ourselves are often too quickly regarded as not creative. This can feel unfair and too hasty because we have seen some fantastic creative work from technical agencies over the years. It’s just that the strength of this type of agency is more in technical creativity, this blends all of these factors:
The elegance of the solution... The interaction design of the page (helping bring it to life from a static comp produced by a creative team). The integration of the solution into CRM systems and complex legacy IT platforms to create beautiful digital…
A review of 7 areas to help focus your LinkedIn strategy for B2B Marketing
If your business has been using LinkedIn for a while now, it useful to review how it's supporting your marketing strategy. Perhaps it has not really done anything for you and you're thinking 'this ship has sailed, it's time for me to consider other options?' Well think again, you might be like many of other LinkedIn users, who have held accounts for several years, who, only now, are discovering how to achieve real and measurable business benefits from this platform
When I first discuss LinkedIn with new clients, it quickly becomes apparent that many of them are missing the boat when it comes to really engaging with this site. I hear comments such as 'It's just a job seeking tool for recruiters isn't it?' or 'it's for networking with people I know,…
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08 Jul 2014
The latest statistics on mobile app usage to inform your mobile marketing strategy
With smartphone users currently accounting for around a quarter of the four billion mobile users around the world it is already a priority to optimise content and experiences for mobile consumption. Mobile apps offer a fast and convenient way for people to access information and as such it is more important than ever to understand how they are used and to keep up with the habits of their users.
In this post we have compiled the latest stats from the best sources on mobile app downloads and usage to give a summary of statistics on consumer mobile app adoption to help members develop their mobile strategies.
How important is app usage compared to mobile browsing?
Apps have surpassed web browsers in terms of time spent on mobile devices.
A recent study conducted by Flurry Analytics showed that apps currently command 86% of the time that the average…
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01 Jul 2014
What can marketers learn from the success of publishing sensation Buzzfeed?
BuzzFeed is one of the fastest growing media businesses on the planet. In the space of four years they have transformed from a widely derided content aggregator site packed with pet memes and listicles that generated limited income into a profitable social content advertiser with over 300 staff, including a Pulitzer prize winner and a host of former broadsheet desk editors. They have an office in London, a cavernous headquarters on Fifth Avenue, their own video production studios and, perhaps most interestingly, a reporter based in Istanbul tasked with covering the conflict in Syria.
In November 2013 BuzzFeed received 130 million unique visitors (a 350% increase year on year) and 30 posts received more than 1 million views. There were…
A guide to best practices in video scripting and production to convert more prospects to customers
It happens to far too many businesses. They decide to make their first video, with the idea that it will bring in more customers, get shared by influencers, and maybe even go viral. What’s wrong with this picture? They're set to fail... To avoid this, I've taken all the mistakes I've seen made and highlighted 12 best practice tips, tools and techniques to help create a more effective, higher impact video.
1. Identify ways which highlight your video will fail - ask yourself these questions
While video can be a great medium for achieving these top-of-funnel marketing goals, I see three key ways in which this sets you up for failure:
1. ‘Bringing in customers’ and ‘engaging influencers’ tend to be slippery goals. How many more customers should it bring in? Which influencers are going to…
Is Marketing Automation right for your business - find out the reasons why other businesses are using it
Are you at the stage of choosing your marketing automation system or building the business case? If so, then this infographic may give you some advice on how to either sell the idea to your boss or ensure it meets your business needs.
Marketo and Software Advice, a company that researches and reviews marketing automation tools, spoke with hundreds of companies to find out the key drivers to purchasing a marketing automation system. For 91% it was a new initiative, and companies with less than 500 employees were the main buyers to purchase a Marketing Automation System.
The main drivers were for lead acquisition and to automate their processes, as shown in the infographic.
More resources on Marketing Automation on Smart Insights
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Is User-generated content in advertising the ultimate in brand advocacy?
"So now all we need is a load of people with cameras to tell everyone else how great our product is..."
Recently, in the US, Coke launched what’s being hailed as ‘the world’s first TV ad made completely with user-generated content’. The ad was produced by W+K and was made up of short videos filmed on the fly by real customers/brand advocates, whereby Coke asked the question: “What does it feel like when you take a sip of Coke?” And thus, the ‘AHH Effect’ ad was born…
[youtubevideoembedder id="XokGFN86ljc"]
Whilst the slight advertising cynic in me wonders whether there are a few rather contrived elements to the content, one has to temper that with the notion that hardcore Coke fans really would do all sorts of crazy sh.. for the chance to be in a TV ad with such a hugely potential reach.…
7 Steps for completing a blog or website Content Audit
It’s easy to forget about your website’s old content, especially if it’s getting buried under your newer posts and pages. These stagnant pieces of content might be the reason your website isn’t ranking very well on SERPs, or could even be driving away potential customers when they stumble upon them while browsing.
Conducting a content audit is the best way to optimize all your current and future content to serve your audience better.
Why should you audit?
As Google’s own Matt Cutts says, it’s important to review your content to prevent it from 'going stale'. Conducting a blog or website content audit can take a lot of work, but if you’re serious about improving your website’s traffic, conversions, and user experience, it’s something you cannot and should not avoid.We found that many of their clients thought their on-page…
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17 Jun 2014
Including video marketing examples inspired by The World Cup
A quick browse of the current Mashable Viral Video Chart reveals an unsurprising trend – with the World Cup well under way, marketers from across a wide number of industries are looking to the forthcoming tournament to generate a buzz around their products.
At the time of writing, this offering from Samsung Mobile advertising the new Galaxy S5 was leading the way over the last 7 days. (more…)…
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16 Jun 2014
5 techniques to integrate social media into your event marketing
Over the last decade, social media has emerged as one of the most useful platforms for finding new customers, developing your brand and expanding your business.
While there’s a massive amount of social media marketing information out there, almost all of it is aimed at business-to-consumer (B2C) businesses. With the right strategy, however, social media can be an equally powerful marketing platform for B2B businesses.
In this guide, we’ll show you five tactics that you can use to learn more about your upcoming trade shows, monitor your competitors, own your search engine results and connect with prospects with ease.
1. Incorporate social media into your company branding
In order for prospects to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, they need to know how to find you. Make social media an integral part of your branding by adding your usernames and URLs to banners,…
