Getting Down to Business: How To Communicate About Your Company

March 25, 2022 Freya Whiteside Communication, Small business  

Even copywriters can find it hard to talk about their company. Here’s how to start talking more about your business and build your content strategy.

Where to start? When you’re busy running your business, perfecting your product or keeping customers happy – often all at once! – talking about your business can get lost in the mix. 

Here’s how to start sharing who you are, what you’re doing and what makes your business unique.

 

What makes you, you? 

Before you start, have a think about what you want to communicate about your business. 

At PFM, we’ve recently rehauled our internal values. This sort of work can sound abstract (after all, who cares if your business aims to be driven, kind or anything else?). But when you think about the values your team and company hold, it can structure the things you’d like to talk about – and help shape your tone of voice, but that’s another story.

Some of your values may surprise you! So arrange a chat, ask your team and get on it. The more we talked about Pilot Fish Media, the more we understood how we wanted to communicate: we wanted everyone to get involved, we wanted to be thoughtful and we wanted to be authentically us. 

 

Now: less about you

You’ve figured yourself out. You’re excited about your business and ready to share it with the world. 

But…who cares? Before you start talking to anyone who’ll listen, you need to figure out what your audience actually wants to know. Most people will love a pic of your office dog, but beyond those quick, cute wins, you want to offer something valuable to whoever you’re talking to. 

Put yourself in your customers’ shoes. Think about the channels you’re using and why someone would follow you there: do they want to get a job with you? Are they waiting for your next product drop? What questions, concerns, and curiosities might they have when they come across your page?

If you need some inspiration, take a look at content you’ve already published and see what’s done the best and worst. 

 

Design your content strategy 

This is the part where two become one! Combine what you want to communicate about your business with what your audience wants to know. 

One way to start thinking about the content you put out on a regular basis is to come up with some key content pillars. Pick 3-5 broad themes you’ll come back to again and again and use these to plan posts and ideas. You’re on the money when these pillars match stuff your audience wants to know about. 

With your pillars in place, you can start organising your calendar and planning your posts; Google Sheets is a great place to write in all your work! Whether you work on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis is completely up to you. Just make sure that your content is varied, and double-check your creative is tweaked based on each platform’s needs!

Your content pillars and content will also vary slightly based on the social media channels you’re using. On LinkedIn, for example, you may include more information about job hunting or industry expertise, whereas on Instagram you might focus more on your product or service. 

If this is sounding complicated, don’t worry! The best way to find what works? Creating, posting and figuring it out as you go.

 

 

Interested in launching your own digital content strategy? Drop me a line at [email protected] to chat all things copy and content!

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eCommerce Trends To Watch Out For In 2022

January 18, 2022 Marius Platt Business, eCommerce, Insights  

I don’t think I need to tell anyone that eCommerce is a part of everyday life for every consumer group as we come to the end of 2021. The inevitable takeover has only been accelerated by Covid-19 and associated lockdowns, with consumers purchasing online more than ever. In fact, 70% of Britons say buying online is now their preferred shopping method.

 

Looking ahead to 2022, here are 5 key trends I think will shape the world of eCommerce.

 

Predicted eCommerce trends for 2022:

  • Using social media as a sales channel
  • Increased use of voice search
  • Sustainability
  • Returns will become an even more prominent customer touchpoint
  • Subscriptions & Loyalty programmes

 

Using social media as a sales channel 

Social media is an incredibly powerful marketing tool for eCommerce brands to utilise. It not only allows them to send direct traffic to their website, but it also gives them the opportunity to create and foster a community which they can nurture to encourage returning custom. Whether it’s through paid social ads, organic content or influencer marketing, social media is the most important marketing tool currently available to drive sales online. 

Unsurprisingly, as social media grows, so too will the ability to sell to customers on their platforms. We’ve actually already written an entire blog about social commerce which you can read here to get ahead of the trend for 2022.

 

Increased use of voice search

The global increase of voice search has been well documented in recent times. The majority of new devices now come with voice functionality, from your new smart watch to the TV remote. 

Not only are these devices becoming more popular, but they are actually being integrated more into consumers’ day to day lives: “65% of 25-49-year-olds speak to their voice-enabled devices at least once per day.” It’s important to note, however, that it isn’t just the 25-49 year old category that is using this functionality. Both those older and younger are using these devices.

Voice is expected to be a $40 billion channel in 2022, although it only accounts for $2 billion currently. This section of the market is still relatively small and a very viable channel going forward into 2022 and further, which provides an interesting opportunity for D2C businesses to get ahead of the competition by adding focus to voice search in 2022. 

 

Sustainability

Sustainability is no longer a buzzword reserved for eco-friendly businesses. It’s the reality that modern consumers expect now and will expect in the future. Simply put, if your business isn’t looking to improve on sustainability, but your main competitor is, then you will lose customers. 

Customers are increasingly buying from purpose-driven brands and brands that align with their values, and this isn’t just a trend for 2022. In order to connect with these eco-aware consumers, you need to ensure your business values align with your target audience’s.

An excellent example of a successful sustainable business would be Pangaia. They are by their own admission “a materials science company on a mission to save our environment”, but from any consumer’s perspective, they’re a clothing brand who sell quality recycled/organic clothes. 

Shopify states that within 1 year, they were able to generate $75m in revenue while staying profitable, grow their staff size by 12x and increase their Instagram following by 14x. These statistics clearly showcase that when sustainability is at the forefront of a business, and the consumer aligns with this mission, growth and success are inevitable. 

 

Returns will become an even more prominent customer touchpoint

We already know that how businesses deal with eCommerce returns can create a competitive advantage. It’s a significant part of the customer experience which can be easily overlooked due to not being particularly glamorous. However, with increased online sales comes increased returns. 

When done correctly, the returns process can massively improve customer return rates. In fact, 92% of customers said they will buy again if the returns process is easy. However, on the flip side, a quarter of shoppers attribute a delay in processing their return to a negative customer experience.

This simply cannot be overlooked, and it needs to be a priority touchpoint for eCommerce brands in 2022. If you have the ability to improve future purchase decisions and increase a customer’s lifetime value, why would you overlook it?

 

Subscriptions and loyalty programmes

Subscriptions are a great way to increase customer retention rates, which is ultimately at the forefront of any eCommerce brands’ thoughts.

This can be a great tradeoff. Customers get the products they want, regularly and for less. They don’t have to spend time purchasing the product/service regularly or making decisions. Businesses keep the customers they want, for longer and for less cost. It can help with business forecasting and planning for the future – something every business would love to be able to do accurately. However, your business needs to be thinking long term and needs to have the technology in place to implement this. 

As eCommerce continues to grow in 2022, you’ll need to find new ways to differentiate yourself from the competition. Subscription and loyalty services should be in your conversations going forward if they haven’t been already. 

 

 

If you’re looking for help moving your eCommerce business forward in 2022, please get in touch with me at [email protected]!

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Festive Social Media Ads Guide

December 6, 2021 Maya Benabdelhadi eCommerce, Holiday sales, Small business  

With BFCM planning out of the way, it’s now time to focus on your Christmas social strategy. Facebook ads are a strong asset to your multi-channel marketing strategy during the holiday season and we are here to guide you to creating a successful holiday campaign. Gifting season means holiday marketing campaigns everywhere you look. It is important to create a campaign that cuts through the noise and delights your customers. Our festive social media ads guide outlines 4 key steps to help you stand out from the crowd.

 

1 – Identify your Goals

In identifying your key goals for your holiday campaign, you can address these and work to overcome any challenges you may face. Your goals might be along the lines of:

  • Creating a sense of community around your holiday campaign. 
  • Driving new customers to your offering.
  • Increasing sales by 40%.

Once you have laid out your expectations, you will be able to more easily manage your campaign and measure its success.

 

2 – Define your offering

Before you start building anything, it is key to define what you will be offering to your customers. For example, will you be bundling any of your products into the perfect gifting set, offering free shipping on all orders or pushing gift wrapping as an add on at checkout? You can then communicate these in the creative of your ads at the appropriate stages of the funnel.

It is important to note that you don’t always need to include a discount or add-on, you can also look at strategies including partnering with a charitable organisation whereby a percentage of the purchase goes to the selected charity. Work towards an offering that most aligns with your goals.

 

3 – Develop strong ad creative

In their 2021 Holiday Marketing Guide, Facebook identified four key needs of holiday shoppers:

  • Community and Connection;
  • Engagement and Entertainment;
  • Anticipation and Occasion;
  • Inspiration and Spontaneity.

Develop your ads with these key needs in mind. You want to create something that makes your audience feel something, communicates your brand values and captures your brand voice and identity. Check out a few of our favourite holiday marketing campaigns, which harness these needs and might inspire your approach.

 

Apple’s ‘Make someones Holiday’ campaign gives us all the feels.

Disney: From our family to yours.

 

4 – Launch as early as possible and remember to test, test, test. 

When creating and launching your ads make sure to test different copy variations and creatives at different stages of the funnel to define what your audience reacts best to. Alongside your copy variations, test different ad formats including videos, carousels and still images. This approach will allow you to optimise upon what works best among your customers and maximise results.

If you are an eCommerce brand, make sure to update your product catalogue and test collection ads and dynamic ads to help you maximise results. Make sure you work hard to define and understand your buyer persona and what they are looking for this holiday season to deliver them a winning social ads campaign!

Remember: Don’t just rely on Facebook ads this holiday season

We know that social ads are a strong approach to driving web visits and conversions. However, don’t sell yourself short and miss potential sales through other channels. It is best practice to pursue an omni-channel marketing strategy which nurtures new and existing customers. 

 

Looking for some help in developing your social ads strategy this holiday season and into the new year? Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected], to find out how we can help you!

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How to Choose the Right Digital Marketing Agency for Your Brand

November 29, 2021 Lucy Booth Insights, Small business  

Finding and choosing the right digital marketing agency for your brand can sometimes feel like a dreaded or daunting task. With the sheer power of social media nowadays, it’s super important you spend time digging through agencies to find one that suits your needs. A solid marketing campaign can lead to business-changing results. 

 

We’ve put together some top tips for you to consider to help you find the right digital marketing agency for YOU. 

 

1. Build your foundations 

Whether it’s a mind map or a bulleted list, brainstorm your business’ needs and aspirations. What are your core values? Think about your digital marketing goals. Are you keen to increase your following? Perhaps you want to target a different audience and form more of a community amongst your followers. You may even wish to generate more leads and sales by jumping on the paid ads wagon. There are a variety of ways in which the right digital marketing agency can elevate your brand. However, it is key that you think about your own business needs first to ensure you find an agency suited to you and your brand. 

 

2. Research 

This is often the most tedious step because the internet is FULL of so many different digital marketing agencies. The best way to go about this is to filter your searches. You’ve done the first bit, you know what goals you want to achieve so try to find an agency that supports this. Have a look through their previous work, have they worked with brands similar to yours? Even if the brand itself bears little resemblance to yours, they may have similar aspirations. Dig around the agency’s social media content. How do they run their own social media platforms? Finally, ask around. See what your peers think and stimulate conversation. Perhaps they will have an agency in mind that you can explore! 

 

3. Communicate 

Once you have narrowed down your choices, the best thing to do is reach out to the agency and speak to them. Make sure you tell them who you are (ie. what’s important to you) as well as what you are hoping to achieve and take away from the partnership. Prepare a range of questions to ask them – this will help you to compare answers against the other agencies and make your final decision. 

 

4. Meet the Agency 

Holding a meeting with the agency in person is the most effective way to find out if they are the right fit for you. This will give you both a chance to understand each other’s strengths and determine whether they are the one for you. 

 

 

Start the process today and get in touch with us to see if Pilot Fish Media would fit your brand today at [email protected]!

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In Other News: CSR Grows Larger, Holiday Shopping Goes Hybrid and Tik Tok Unveils Community Tok

November 24, 2021 Maya Benabdelhadi Business, eCommerce, Holiday sales, In other news, Insights, Social Media, TikTok  

It’s this time of the week again: let PFM give you the lowdown on what’s been happening in the digital marketing world this week. Get ready for the latest social media news and digital marketing insights!

 

 

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) gets bigger and bolder

While consumers’ interest in CSR is not new, the pandemic has shown us all how much of an impact businesses can have on the wider society beyond just selling their products. In our home city of Edinburgh, for instance, who could forget when, at the very start of Lockdown, Leith Spirits started manufacturing hand santisers for free when it was virtually impossible to find any!

Now more than ever, consumers expect more from brands. Not only do they value companies with sustainable (environment- or social-oriented) activities, an increasingly large proportion of consumers purposefully choose the brands they purchase from and work for based on their sustainable agenda and stay away from companies without one.

“More than ever before, brands will need to have an opinion on issues that affect our world. From racial issues to environmental topics, consumers want to see what brands will say and act and hold them accountable.” Chris Asahara, Global Head of Content and Social Media at Les Mills

What does it mean?

In short, it means that integrating CSR to your business strategy will be critical in 2022. But in more details:

  • Brands need to contribute to society at large to be noticed and valued;
  • To communicate this effectively, brands’ social media need to become value-oriented;
  • To show that they walk the talk, brands need to consistently weave their CSR agenda and efforts through their multiple channels and touch points.

 

Holiday shopping experience becomes increasingly hybrid

Here are some key metrics to get started

  • 48% of worldwide consumers plan to do 75% or more of their holiday shopping online
  • In that group, 47% shop on their mobile phones
  • 64% of US consumers use retail apps

In 2020, consumers got used to shopping online as physical options were limited or undesirable. This year, while most UK consumers are in a position to visit a store physically, they have had a taste of the ease and convenience of online shopping. As such, consumers will want to combine the best of both worlds this holiday season.

What does it mean?

The hybridisation of the consumer’s shopping experience has a few consequences, the first one being the need for an eCommerce platform. Beyond this, however, are the following:

  • For conversions, digital shopping experiences will need to be pleasant, fast, and seamless;
  • Investments in server capacity may need to be explored to make sure your website can cope with the increased traffic;
  • Successful digital shopping will require flexibility in delivery options (ie. home delivery, pick-up from store…) and returns;
  • Consumer service both online and offline will be paramount.

 

Tik Tok introduces ‘CommunityToks’

In its latest promotional campaign, Tik Tok introduced CommunityToks, which consist of subnetworks within the app linked by a single shared topic or interest, and are marketed at advertisers. CommunityToks focus on driving engagement, fostering rich subcultures and allowing for more personalisation.

What does it mean?

CommunityToks make advertising more effective via more precise targeting and more personalised content:

  • Businesses can reach and leverage segments interested in the same key topic;
  • It’s easier for brands to become part of relevant conversations;
  • Brands can share their content with smaller audiences that are more in line with their strand of content, which increases their resonance with the content;
  • It’s an opportunity for branded content to be seen as peer-to-peer communication, leading to deeper connection with the audience.

 

Wondering how to successfully meld physical and digital shopping this holiday season? Book a complimentary consultation with us at [email protected], we’d love to chat!

 

Sources

Hubspot 2022 Social Media Trends Report

https://www.marketingdive.com/news/future-of-holiday-retail-is-mobile-app-blended-experiences/609826/

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-launches-new-communitytok-promotional-push-to-highlight-subculture/610388/

https://www.tiktok.com/business/en/blog/communitytoks-authentic-connection-creativity-joy?platform=facebook&attr_source=social&attr_source=social&channel=social-organic-post-community-tok-44519&attr_medium=organic-post&attr_campaign=social-organic-post-community-tok-44519&attr_agency=gbmhq

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