+44 1509 440 151 [email protected]
Unleash the Power of Social Media in Digital Marketing to Drive Success  

Unleash the Power of Social Media in Digital Marketing to Drive Success  

In a world where digital marketing reigns supreme, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to reach and engage with their target audiences. And in recent years, social media has emerged as an unrivalled champion of digital marketing, offering a dynamic, ever-evolving medium for brands to connect with their customers in new and exciting ways. 

But as new social media trends emerge and consumer behaviour continues to change, many businesses are left scratching their heads, wondering: is social media really a part of digital marketing?  

Well, to put it simply: yes, yes, it is.  

In fact, social media has become a vital component of any effective digital marketing strategy, offering a wealth of opportunities for businesses to enhance their online presence and drive tangible results. 

The Relationship between Social Media and Digital Marketing 

To understand the relationship between social media and digital marketing, let’s first establish what digital marketing entails. Digital marketing refers to the use of digital channels, such as websites, search engines, social media platforms, email, and mobile apps, to promote products or services and engage with target audiences. Unlike traditional marketing methods, digital marketing harnesses the power of technology to reach a wider audience and drive measurable results. 

Understanding social media platforms 

Social media platforms are online communities that allow individuals and businesses to connect, share content, and engage in conversations. The most popular social media platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat, among others. 

What sets social media apart from other digital marketing channels is its emphasis on user-generated content and social interactions. Social media enables businesses to create profiles, share posts, and interact with their audience. These platforms offer a wide range of features, including likes, comments, shares, stories, and live streaming, creating opportunities for brands to engage directly with their customers. 

Social media platforms provide businesses with a unique channel to build brand awareness, establish a brand identity, and foster relationships with their target audience. By leveraging the power of social media, businesses can share valuable content, promote their products or services, and connect with customers in a more personal and interactive way. 

Understanding the role and significance of social media platforms is crucial for businesses looking to develop effective digital marketing strategies. By harnessing the power of social media, brands can engage with their audience on a deeper level, humanise their brand, and create a loyal community of brand advocates. 

Importance of Social Media Today 

Social media has become an essential component of any successful digital marketing strategy. Here are some key reasons why social media holds such great importance: 

Expanded Reach and Brand Awareness 

With billions of users actively engaging on social media platforms, businesses have an unrivalled opportunity to expand their reach and build brand awareness.  

Social media allows brands to connect with a global audience, making it easier to showcase products or services to a larger pool of potential customers.  

By consistently interacting and sharing valuable content on these platforms, businesses can increase their visibility and establish themselves as industry leaders. 

Enhanced Customer Engagement 

Social media provides businesses with a unique avenue to engage directly with their customers.  

Through comments, direct messages, and interactive features, brands can foster meaningful conversations, address customer queries, and gather valuable feedback.  

This real-time interaction allows businesses to better understand customer preferences, tailor their marketing efforts, and provide personalised experiences, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

Targeted Advertising and Lead Generation 

Social media platforms offer robust targeting options, allowing businesses to reach their ideal customer profiles with greater precision.  

From demographic filters to interests and behaviours, businesses can tailor their ad campaigns to specific audience segments.  

This targeted approach not only maximises the return on investment but also helps generate high-quality leads that are more likely to convert into customers. 

Content Promotion and Amplification 

Social media acts as a powerful amplifier for businesses’ content marketing efforts.  

By sharing blog posts, videos, infographics, and other valuable content on social media platforms, businesses can significantly extend the reach of their content.  

The ability to tag influencers, use hashtags, and encourage sharing enables businesses to tap into the vast networks of their audience and influencers, driving more traffic to their website and boosting brand visibility. 

Competitive Advantage and Industry Insights 

Social media allows businesses to monitor and analyse their competitors’ online activities and gain insights into industry trends.  

By observing competitors’ strategies, businesses can identify gaps and opportunities within the market, tailor their own marketing tactics, and gain a competitive edge.  

Furthermore, social media platforms offer valuable analytics and reporting features, providing businesses with data-driven insights on audience demographics, engagement metrics, and campaign performance, facilitating continuous optimisation and improvement. 

Social Media as a Marketing Tool 

Social media has revolutionised the way businesses approach marketing. With its ability to facilitate direct communication, build brand communities, and drive engagement, social media has become a fundamental marketing tool for businesses of all sizes.  

Here are some ways businesses can leverage social media as a marketing tool: 

Establishing a Strong Brand Identity 

Social media platforms enable businesses to build a distinctive brand identity that resonates with their target audience.  

With the right branding elements such as logos, colours, and tone of voice, businesses can create a cohesive identity that sets them apart from their competition.  

By consistently sharing content that aligns with their brand values and voice, businesses can establish themselves as industry thought leaders and build brand trust and loyalty. 

Creating a Two-Way Conversation 

Remember it’s called social media, it’s all about being social and interacting with others.  

Social media facilitates direct communication between businesses and their audience, providing an opportunity for businesses to humanise their brand and build personal connections with their customers.  

By responding to comments, reposting user-generated content, and sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses, businesses can show their audience a relatable, human side to their brand that builds authenticity and brand trust. 

Providing Customer Service 

Social media has emerged as a game-changer, offering businesses an unrivalled opportunity to connect with their customers like never before. Among its many benefits, one aspect shines above all: providing exceptional customer service. 

Gone are the days of endless phone calls and frustrating automated systems. Today, social media has become the go-to platform for customers seeking quick information and assistance from businesses. With a well-established social media presence, companies can provide lightning-fast responses, personalised interactions, and an unparalleled level of customer support. 

Imagine a scenario where customers can air their queries and concerns directly on a business’s social media page, instantly gaining the attention and care they deserve. Through social media, businesses can deliver prompt and attentive customer service that leaves customers feeling valued and heard. 

But it doesn’t stop there.  

The impact of exceptional social media customer service extends far beyond mere satisfaction. It has the power to transform a one-time shopper into a loyal brand advocate. By swiftly addressing customer concerns and resolving issues in a public forum, businesses can showcase their commitment to customer satisfaction for all to see. 

The transparency and responsiveness of social media customer service can have a ripple effect, reaching a wider audience and enhancing the overall reputation of the business. Positive feedback and glowing testimonials can go viral, attracting new customers and generating a buzz that money simply can’t buy. 

So, let’s delve into the world of social media and harness its potential to revolutionise customer service. By seizing the power of this digital realm, businesses can not only elevate their customer support but also create lasting connections that drive repeat business and fuel their success in the digital age.  

Running Targeted Ad Campaigns 

Social media advertising offers businesses the opportunity to run targeted ad campaigns that speak directly to their ideal customers.  

By leveraging the targeting capabilities provided by social media platforms, businesses can create ads that resonate with specific audience segments, generate more leads, and increase their ROI. 

Driving Traffic to Your Website 

Social media can drive traffic to a business’s website, leading to more sales and higher conversion rates.  

By sharing links to high-quality content and product pages on their website, businesses can encourage their audience to visit their site and learn more about what they offer.  

Additionally, social media can improve a business’s search engine rankings through social signals such as likes or shares, leading to better visibility and more web traffic. 

Challenges and Opportunities of Social Media in Digital Marketing 

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, social media presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses.  

Let’s explore two key aspects: managing multiple social media channels and tracking and measuring social media ROI. 

Managing Multiple Social Media Channels 

One of the challenges businesses face in social media marketing is managing multiple platforms simultaneously.  

With numerous social media channels available, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, businesses must develop a cohesive strategy to effectively engage with their audience across these various platforms. 

This challenge can be addressed by carefully selecting the social media channels that align with the target audience and business objectives.  

By understanding where the target audience is most active and what platforms are most effective in reaching them, businesses can focus their efforts on those specific platforms.  

Additionally, using social media management tools can help streamline the process of content creation and scheduling, making it more manageable to maintain an active presence on multiple platforms. 

While managing multiple social media channels may be challenging, it also presents significant opportunities for businesses.  

Each platform provides unique features and demographic profiles, allowing businesses to tailor their content and messaging to specific audience segments.  

By utilising diverse platforms strategically, businesses can expand their reach and engage with a wider range of potential customers, ultimately driving more significant business outcomes. 

Tracking and Measuring Social Media ROI 

Another challenge that arises with social media marketing is tracking and measuring the return on investment (ROI). As businesses invest time, effort, and resources into their social media strategies, it becomes crucial to assess the impact and effectiveness of these efforts. 

Tracking social media ROI involves monitoring key metrics such as engagement rate, reach, website traffic, conversions, and customer acquisition costs.  

However, accurately measuring the direct impact of social media on revenue generation can be complex, as social media often plays a role in assisting and influencing conversions rather than directly driving them. 

To overcome this challenge, businesses can implement tracking mechanisms such as UTM parameters and conversion tracking tools to attribute conversions and revenue to specific social media campaigns.  

Additionally, utilising social media analytics and reporting tools can help track and measure campaign performance, identify trends, and gain valuable insights into audience behaviours and preferences. 

While tracking social media ROI can be challenging, the opportunities it presents are significant.  

The ability to measure and analyse social media performance allows businesses to refine their strategies continually.  

By identifying successful tactics, content formats, and platforms, businesses can optimise their social media efforts, increase their ROI, and make data-driven decisions that align with their overall marketing objectives. 

Conclusion  

  • Social media has become a powerful tool in digital marketing, offering opportunities for businesses to connect with their target audience, build brand awareness, and drive results. 
  • Managing multiple social media channels can be challenging, but businesses can overcome this by developing a focused strategy and using social media management tools. 
  • Selecting the right platforms and tailoring content to specific audience segments can help businesses expand their reach and engagement. 
  • Tracking and measuring social media ROI is crucial for businesses to understand the impact of their efforts.  
  • By leveraging tracking mechanisms and analytics tools, businesses can gain insights into campaign performance and optimise their strategies. 
  • Overcoming the challenges of social media in digital marketing enables businesses to fully utilise its potential, achieve marketing goals, build brand loyalty, and drive meaningful business outcomes. 

But you might be wondering how to overcome these challenges. That’s where we come in!

CREATIVE in TiME is a full-service digital marketing agency that works on a variety of social media channels, from creation to management on both B2B and B2C businesses all across the UK.

Get in touch with our team today to get started. 

Our other social media blogs:

7 Steps to Boost Your Brand Through Social Media

The Top 3 Social Media Scheduling Tools and Why

Is Social Media Scheduling Worth It?

The Top 3 Social Media Scheduling Tools and Why 

The Top 3 Social Media Scheduling Tools and Why 

Are you struggling to find the perfect social media scheduling tool for your business?  

With so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to know which one to choose. Each platform comes with its unique set of benefits at various price points, which is why we’ve put together this blog piece to help you choose the right platform for you.   

We will be reviewing and evaluating the following top 3 social media scheduling tools: 

  • Planable – CREATIVE in TiME’s favourite!  
  • Later  
  • Sprout Social  

Here, you will find a breakdown of the platforms, what they offer and what makes each one unique for a more informed decision for your social media scheduling. Or, of course, you can get in touch with CREATIVE in TIME, and we can take the stress of social media marketing and scheduling away from you.  

Planable  

If you’re looking for social media planning software that offers a comprehensive and collaborative approach, look no further than Planable.  

This user-friendly tool allows businesses to schedule their social media posts in advance, with the added bonus of creating, previewing, and approving content for multiple platforms in one place. But what sets Planable apart is its unique collaborative features, which allow team members and clients to work together in real-time, providing feedback and suggestions on content before it goes live. However, please be aware that when more than one person is commenting etc on the platform, it will increase your monthly cost. This makes it an excellent option for agencies and businesses with multiple stakeholders involved in the social media planning process.  

Compared to Sprout Social and Later, Planable offers a more comprehensive and collaborative approach to social media planning, making it a top choice for businesses with a presence on multiple platforms. While Later is great for scheduling Instagram posts, it lacks the same level of collaboration and feedback options as Planable.  

And while Sprout Social offers similar features, it provides a different level of collaboration and integration options, making Planable the go-to choice for businesses looking to streamline their social media planning process. 

Later 

Later is the social media planning software you’ve been searching for to take your Instagram presence to the next level.  

With Later, you can easily schedule your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest posts in advance, all in one place. Plus, you’ll get access to a visual content calendar and Instagram Stories scheduling, making it easier than ever to plan your social media content. 

And if you’re a small business or an individual with a limited social media presence, Later has you covered with a free plan that allows you to schedule up to 10 posts per month. With features like a drag-and-drop interface, media library, and hashtag suggestion tool, Later is a comprehensive social media planning tool that won’t break the bank. 

While Sprout Social offers similar features, it can be costly for small businesses, with plans starting at $249 (around £199) per month. However, Sprout Social does have more integration options, including LinkedIn and YouTube, making it a better fit for businesses with a presence on these platforms.  

And while Planable provides a more collaborative and comprehensive social media planning tool, Later’s Instagram-specific features make it the perfect choice for businesses looking to up their Instagram game.  

So, if you’re ready to streamline your social media planning process and take your Instagram presence to the next level, give Later a try. 

Sprout Social  

If you’re looking for a comprehensive social media planning tool, Sprout Social could be the one you’ve been searching for. 

This software allows businesses to manage and schedule their social media content across multiple platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. With features like a content calendar, social media inbox, and social listening tool, Sprout Social provides everything you need to stay on top of your social media game. 

What sets Sprout Social apart is its focus on social media analytics. With detailed insights into social media performance and audience engagement, Sprout Social provides businesses with the data they need to make informed decisions about their social media strategy.  

However, this level of sophistication comes at a cost, with monthly plans starting at $249 (around £199) per month, which may be a drawback for small businesses. 

While Later offers a more affordable option for businesses looking to manage their Instagram presence, Sprout Social offers integration with a broader range of platforms and a more extensive suite of features, making it a better option for businesses with a more significant social media presence.  

And compared to Planable, Sprout Social offers a more comprehensive social media management tool with a focus on analytics and reporting. Does Sprout Social sound like the ideal tool for you? 

How To Know Which Social Media Scheduling Tool to Use 

Choosing the right social media scheduling tool is crucial and should align with your availability, business goals, and budget.   

Consider the most important features to you, such as team management, scheduling capabilities, and analytics.   

You should also choose a tool that fits your budget and provides the features you need to achieve your business goals. By selecting the right tool, you can streamline your social media management and achieve success on your social media platforms.  

Social Media Scheduling Tool Roundup  

So, we’ve gone over a lot right now and we know it can be overwhelming so here is a more digestible table going over the key differences between the top 3 social media scheduling tools.  

Feature  Planable Sprout Social Later 
Social Media Platforms Supported Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest 
Content Calendar Yes Yes Yes 
Social Listening No Yes No 
Analytics Basic Advanced Basic  
Collaboration Yes Yes Yes 
Approval Workflow Yes Yes Yes 
Hashtag Recommendations Yes Yes Yes 
Bulk Scheduling Yes Yes Yes 
User Permissions Yes Yes Yes 
Customer Support Email, Live Chat Email, Phone, Live Chat Email, Live Chat 
A table showing the differences between Planable, Sprout Social and Later with their set list of features.

Take Your Social Media Stress Away with CREATIVE in TiME 

While there are social media scheduling tools out there that can make your life much easier, our marketing agency can make it a whole lot easier. Yes, with scheduling tools, the act of actually getting your posts out consistently becomes more manageable, but formulating a social media marketing plan, creating the graphics, sourcing the written imagery, writing the captions, finding the hashtags…it’s a lot of work. But it doesn’t have to be.   

CREATIVE in TIME is a creative digital marketing agency that has been developing effective social media marketing campaigns for years with a proven track record of boosting engagements and driving traffic to company websites using social media platforms.   

As a full-service marketing agency, we don’t just specialise in social media marketing; we do it all! From Search Engine Optimisation and Content Marketing to Pay-Per-Click (PPC) and Website Development, CREATIVE in TIME have the knowledge and expertise to streamline and up-level your business’s overall marketing strategy. 

Get in touch today, and we can get started on making the best out of your business’s digital presence.   

Is Social Media Scheduling Worth It? 

Is Social Media Scheduling Worth It? 

With millions of people glued to their social media platforms every day, businesses simply can’t afford to miss out on the action. However, manually managing multiple social media platforms can take time and effort that many business owners simply don’t have the time for.  

That’s where social media scheduling tools come into play (and of course, CREATIVE in TIME’s digital marketing agency). 

With popular and powerful tools like Sprout Social, Later, and Planable, businesses can schedule their social media posts far in advance if they wish, saving your business A LOT of time and effort.   

But how do you know if social media scheduling is right for your business?    

Pros of Social Media Scheduling 

Social media scheduling platforms are designed to make your life easier and save you time so you can focus on other aspects of your social media marketing (SMM).

Consistency is KEY 

Consistency is a crucial element of social media marketing.  

By scheduling your posts consistently, you can ensure that your brand is always in the spotlight, building awareness and driving engagement. Consistent posting can help businesses stay top-of-mind with their audience, leading to increased engagement and conversions.   

Plus, when you’re consistently posting, you’re showcasing your expertise and establishing yourself as an authority figure within your industry. Ultimately, you’re building trust with your target audience and gaining more leads. 

Saving Your Business Time 

Scheduling social media posts in advance can save businesses significant time. Instead of manually posting on different platforms every day, businesses can schedule their posts for the entire week or month in one go.   

This means that social media managers can focus on other aspects of their job, such as creating content and engaging with their audience. And let’s be real, who doesn’t want more time to focus on creating amazing content and engaging with their audience?  

At CREATIVE in TIME, we are passionate about social media marketing and maximizing engagement for our clients. We have discovered that strategically scheduling our posts in advance not only saves us time, but also allows us to perfect each post for maximum impact. By utilising the data provided by our clients’ social media accounts, we can confidently post at the optimal time for their unique audience. We refuse to miss out on potential engagement and always aim to post no later than 12pm for optimal results. 

Scheduling posts in advance can help businesses to avoid the stress of last-minute posting, which can lead to mistakes and inconsistencies in their social media strategy. Streamlining social media scheduling can help businesses save time and increase productivity.  

Improved Audience Engagement 

Scheduling posts at the right time can help improve social media engagement.   

By analysing the best times to post on each platform, businesses can schedule their posts to reach their target audience when they are most active. This can increase likes, comments, and shares, increasing visibility and engagement.   

Maximize your engagement by strategically scheduling your posts at the optimal time. While online guidelines can be helpful, the most effective posting schedule is unique to your audience’s social media activity. Utilize the data provided by your business social media account to gain insight into your demographics and post with confidence. Don’t miss out on potential engagement by posting too late – aim to post no later than 12pm for optimal results.  

By posting optimally, businesses can increase their engagement and reach, leading to a more successful social media strategy.  

Getting The Data You Need with Analytics 

Most social media scheduling tools offer analytics that can help businesses track their social media performance. This data can be used to make informed decisions about future social media strategies. By analysing engagement rates, reach, and other metrics, businesses can identify what is working and what is not and adjust their social media strategy accordingly. Analysing engagement rates can show you how well different types of posts are performing, which can help you build an effective marketing strategy in the future.  

Social media analytics can help businesses identify their target audience and tailor their content to meet their needs and preferences. Social media analytics allows businesses to make data-driven decisions about their social media strategy, leading to improved engagement, reach, and conversions.  

Cons of Social Media Scheduling 

However, social media scheduling does come with its drawbacks. Social media scheduling can be difficult to get your head around and make it work effectively for your business. Get in touch with CREATIVE in TIME and let us do what we do best so you can focus on the rest of your business. 

Lack of Flexibility 

While scheduling social media posts in advance can be a time-saving and efficient strategy, it can also be limiting when it comes to responding to current events or trending topics. Businesses may need to adjust their scheduled posts to stay relevant and timely.   

For example, when a major yet sudden news event happens such as when the Queen dies, you need to be able to move your social media posting around. 

You might need to delay or cancel scheduled posts that are no longer appropriate or could be seen as insensitive. You might also want to create a new post in line with the new update. Also, if your business goals change, you might have to change your entire social media marketing strategy. 

It is crucial for businesses to strike a balance between scheduling posts in advance and leaving room for flexibility.  

At CREATIVE in TIME, we understand that many business owners don’t have the time to be able to amend their strategy suddenly, which is why we are here to work with you. As dedicated marketing experts, we are used to this sort of thing and can save you time and stress by reworking your strategy.   

The Dangers of Over-Scheduling

Scheduling too many posts in advance can overwhelm your target audience, leading to a decrease in engagement. Posting too frequently can cause followers to become overwhelmed and disinterested, leading to a decline in engagement.   

Over-scheduling can lead to a lack of authenticity, as the business may need to engage with its audience in real-time. Therefore, it is important for businesses to carefully consider the frequency and timing of their scheduled posts to avoid over-saturation and maintain engagement.  

A Costly Investment 

While social media scheduling tools can be a valuable asset for businesses, they can also be costly, especially for smaller businesses with limited budgets. Some scheduling tools require a monthly or annual subscription fee, which can add up over time, and some tools may have additional costs for advanced features or analytics.   

It is important for businesses to carefully consider the cost-benefit of using a scheduling tool and to explore different options to find one that fits their budget and needs. Businesses can also consider using free scheduling tools or relying on the scheduling features within each social media platform to save costs.  

Summary  

Scheduling social media posts in advance offers countless benefits, including saving time, maintaining consistency, boosting engagement, and providing valuable analytics. While it’s important for businesses to be aware of potential drawbacks such as limited flexibility, over-scheduling, and associated costs, the advantages of social media scheduling are truly impressive.  

When it comes to choosing a social media scheduling tool, there are dedicated tools available, with these being our top 3.  

  • Sprout Social 
  • Later 
  • Planable  

Social media scheduling can be a game-changer for businesses looking to improve their marketing efforts. With the right tool and strategy, businesses can save time, improve engagement, and reach their target audience more effectively.  

Use CREATIVE in TIME for ALL your social media marketing needs 

CREATIVE in TIME use social media scheduling tools and marketing strategies to market your business towards success. By automating the scheduling process, we can spend more time fine-tuning your marketing strategy and crafting individual posts that will blow your audience away. 

With a vast experience in the marketing industry, CREATIVE in TIME has been at the forefront of the social media landscape, providing top-notch services across all areas of marketing. Trust us to help you stay ahead of the competition and achieve your business goals  

Want to know more about social media marketing? Check out our blogs on social media for more information:  

Don’t let your social media presence fall behind. Let us help you create engaging content and effective campaigns that will drive results for your business. Contact us today at CREATIVE in TIME today. 

Why You Need Video Marketing in 2023

Why You Need Video Marketing in 2023

Last Updated: 13th March 2023

Ever wondered why people eagerly await the latest John Lewis advert right before Christmas? This is just one case of a successful video marketing strategy! 

Marketing is all about how you tell your story. Video marketing allows you to tell your story in a whole new way that engages and resonates with your audience. Videos not only grab your audience’s attention, but it holds onto it, lingering in the back of their mind until they convert.  

Did you know that 78% of marketers saw a direct increase in their business sales once implementing video marketing strategies? Who would want to miss out on that opportunity? 

In this article, you will find a comprehensive list of why CREATIVE in TiME think you need to implement video marketing in your marketing strategy in 2023. 

Rank Higher on Google   

Those who use video marketing in their strategy have noticed a significant improvement in their SEO rankings. By having SEO-optimised content and video marketing, you not only appeal to your audience but also to Google’s algorithm. YouTube video previews are a great example of how Google ranks video content for its users. 

YouTube itself allows you to add links to your website and blog in the description of your video whereas TikTok allows you to redirect viewers to your store or website when using paid advertisement on your video content. These backlinks can help to boost your SEO rankings through Off Page SEO.

Get Higher Engagement Rates 

Videos get far more views and engagement than still photo posts on your social platforms. In fact, social video generates 1200% more shares than written and image content together. But why? 

Video marketing has the power to engage your audience by using a variety of mediums including visual audio and text. Rather than relying just on one aspect, it combines multiple features into one format. It is a fully immersive experience which can capture your audience’s attention and retain it through to the conversion stage of your marketing funnel. 

User-generated video content is proven to have a direct impact on a brand’s success as they build trust that doesn’t directly come from the company.

Build Trusted Relationships 

A lot of users prefer to learn through video. So, let’s give them exactly that. 

One of the most effective ways to build a relationship with your audience is by using video marketing. Video marketing can help you build trust, which will make it easier for you to sell your products or services. It is much more personal as it provides the human element to your business – a key point in the selling process. With blog pieces such as these, you don’t get to meet the person behind the words but with video content, you can feel more connected to who you are talking to. 

Elevate Your Existing Marketing Channels 

You might have noticed that the public’s attention span is nothing like it used to be. Users switch off if something doesn’t strike them in the first few seconds. This just means that you have a few mere seconds to hook in your audience. Video content is able to do just that not only by being engaging but also by delivering information quickly and easily.  

By adding text or graphics at strategic points in your video, you’ll be able to draw attention where it matters most while keeping things interesting enough that people want to see more from you down the road. Video marketing also has great potential when it comes to other marketing strategies such as email marketing campaigns. It can help increase your click-through rate and decrease your unsubscribe rate by having a mix of content in forms that resonate with your audience more. The video element makes them stand out from other forms of promotion because they’re more personal.  

Video is one of the most powerful tools available at our disposal when it comes to reaching out to customers and potential customers. Why waste it? 

Create Highly Shareable Content 

Video content is highly shareable across any channel.  

Fully immersive video content allows your target audience to become fully engaged with your business. This leads to a higher chance of them actively connecting with your business and converting. Video allows you to stand out from the crowd and build your brand, especially on social media platforms. Social media is the perfect place for video marketing! It’s not just another form of online content but an entirely different way of communicating with people.   

A video on how to make the most out of your SEO and digital marketing for your business with Andrea Warner, co-founder of CREATIVE in TiME.

With the rise of TikTok, it’s easier than ever to create video content. All you need is a high-quality smartphone and some creativity. Video is a great way to get your message across in a compelling way as well as to help to increase brand awareness.  

By using video marketing on your social media platforms, you have created content that your target audience wants to share with others, helping to expand your reach even further. 

Repurpose Your Existing Content 

According to a survey conducted by ReferralRock, 94% of surveyed marketers repurpose their content, are you one of them? 

Say you have a blog post or a client testimonial in your case study, have you ever considered turning that into video content? You will be using the same informational content however by having it presented in video format, you can share this information across social channels and present it in a more digestible way for your audience.  

There will be members of your target audience who won’t necessarily have the time to read through your whole case study or blog but by having it shortened into a minute-long video, they will be able to consume this content in a way that works best for their needs. 

This also allows you to create one video that can be used across multiple channels, meaning businesses don’t just need to focus on one platform. A longer and informative YouTube video can be broken up into a shorter clip with a key moment that will drive your users to the YouTube video. Shorter videos can be repurposed and distributed across TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Short for maximum coverage. 

Getting the Most Out of Video Marketing  

Hopping On Current Trends   

Creating short yet engaging videos on your social channels can be an effective way to hop on trends in a cost-effective manner. When it comes to TikTok, trending filters and sounds can change within a matter of days, so it is vital to hop on this trend in a way that benefits your business as soon as possible. These same trending sounds and filters are also often seen repurposed on Instagram reels. 

Evergreen Content

Evergreen content is content that can be consumed at any point in time, and it would still be relevant to the user. Instagram reels are an excellent home for evergreen content as they can be used for informative content. This will help keep your engagement up for a longer time period over trending topical content.  

The Right Social Channels

TikTok  

TikTok videos are trendy and short. They are often best for B2C businesses and to promote products such as clothing, home products etc. User-generated content thrives on this platform. 

LinkedIn 

Posting video content on LinkedIn is ideal for B2B businesses and is usually best for targeting companies over individuals. 

Instagram/Facebook 

Instagram videos are often best for B2C businesses with videos being uploaded in reels rather than on standard posts. Instagram and Facebook platforms can be linked and post the same content to both platforms. 

YouTube 

YouTube videos can be used by B2B and B2C businesses as the users on the platform vary. YouTube is known for long-form content which can often be informative.  

Twitter 

Video is not commonly used on Twitter but due to its short character limit for tweets, it can be an ideal way to show your message. Since video is not used much on this platform, it would be recommended to use the other platforms for your video content. 

So, Should You Use Video in Your Marketing Strategy?

 Absolutely!  

Video marketing is an extremely effective way to communicate with your audience and grow your brand. If you haven’t been using video marketing yet, why haven’t you? It is one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies out there. Once you have your engaging video content, you can repurpose it for any online and offline platform with the power of video editing. 

What are you waiting for? Get in touch today to find out how CREATIVE in TiME can elevate your marketing strategy with video marketing.  

Is Social Media Marketing Important? 

Is Social Media Marketing Important? 

Be it business profiles or personal accounts which are being used to support your business, social media marketing is important for all businesses

It can help you build up your brand and generate leads, but there are some things that you need to keep in mind before diving into this enterprise.  

One drawback of social media marketing is that it can be very time-consuming. It’s not right for every business—only those who know how to implement a successful campaign. 

Did you know that customers spend 20% to 40% more money on brands they’ve interacted with on social media? 

Is Social Media Marketing Really That Important? 

If you’re looking for a way to reach your target audience and help them discover your brand, social media marketing is a great option.  

By building an online presence on social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, you can increase brand awareness, boost sales and even build your brand’s reputation. 

Social media marketing also gives companies the opportunity to generate leads by offering something of value in exchange for contact information.  

This could be anything from free eBooks or webinars to access to exclusive deals or discounts on purchases made through the company’s website or app store listing. 

What Is Social Media Marketing? 

Social media marketing is a form of digital marketing that uses social networks and social media platforms to drive awareness, engagement and sales.  

Social media marketing has become an essential part of the overall marketing strategy for most businesses and organisations.  

Social media marketing works because people use it every day as a source of information about topics they like or are interested in learning more about.  

When you post content on social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter that appeals to your target audience’s interests (and when it includes links back to your website), those users will (if you’re doing it right) find it interesting enough to comment on or share with others who might be interested too! 

Why Is Social Media Marketing Important? 

We may be biased, but social media marketing is important for a number of reasons. 

Let’s start with the first reason: connecting with customers.  

When you’re looking for someone to hire or buy from you, what do you want? The ability to answer questions quickly and accurately? A great deal on something your company sells? Someone who’s responsive when it comes down to resolving problems?  

Social media gives businesses an opportunity to do all of these things by keeping their customers informed about changes in products or services—or even by offering discounts or other incentives (like free shipping). 

Another reason that social media marketing is important is that it helps build brand awareness.  

It gives potential buyers an easy way to reach out and talk directly with companies they’re interested in buying from—and that means more sales opportunities! 

Did you know that it takes 6-8 marketing touchpoints to make a sale? 

This makes social media marketing more important than ever to ensure that your potential customers have multiple touch points with your business. 

How To Get Started with Social Media Marketing? 

These are just a few of the basics of social media marketing. You can do your own research to find out more about this topic, but if you want to get started right away and make sure your profile is complete and professional, here’s what you should do: 

  • Create a social media profile for yourself or your business. This might be on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or another platform—it doesn’t matter which one so long as it’s relevant to your industry and audience.  
  • Make sure that all the information on your profile (name of the page/profile; contact information) is completely accurate and up to date; this way, people will know whom they’re interacting with when engaging with your profile. 
  • Include your company logo as your profile images to encourage brand awareness. 
  • Remember to include links back towards your website to provide easy access to potential customers. 

What Are the Benefits of Social Media Marketing? 

Social media marketing is a great way to increase traffic to your website and make it easy for people to find you online. It also allows you to connect with potential customers and grow your audience, which can be very beneficial in terms of growing sales. 

It helps companies promote their products or services, build relationships with customers and potential customers, create communities around their brands, drive direct traffic to their websites, get new leads and make more sales. 

One benefit is the ability to increase brand awareness.  

When people see your products or services advertised on social media platforms, they may become interested in what you have to offer. They could decide that they need what you’re offering themselves, or they might want their friends (or family) to know about it as well.  

Either way, this is an effective way for companies like yours to reach new audiences who may not otherwise be aware of what products exist. 

Social media marketing is one of the best ways to reach your target audience and build brand awareness.  

It’s also important to keep in mind that while social media marketing is a great way to get started with digital marketing, it doesn’t have to be your only strategy. You can still use traditional forms of advertising and promotion as well! 

If you would like to broaden your digital marketing horizons, then we would suggest using SEO (search engine optimisation). If you would like to find out more about SEO, then click here. 

Get in touch with CREATIVE in TiME to find out how we can help you with social media marketing. 

Instagram Marketing Strategies for 2023

Instagram Marketing Strategies for 2023

Instagram is a competitive social media platform but it is not impossible to gain traction…if you do it right! 

With an active audience of 1.16 billion people, it is no shock that Instagram can be an amazing place for businesses to gain followers and traffic. 

The potential reach of Instagram is only set to grow and did you know that 90% of Instagram users follow at least one business? 

It isn’t only businesses marketing to consumers that can benefit though, over 36% of businesses use Instagram when researching new services and products. 

Think of this as a cheat sheet to use for your business so that you can get your Instagram strategy up there with the best. 

Setting Up An Instagram Account 

If you already have an Instagram account, then you may not need this section but before you can set up a strategy, you need an Instagram Business account. 

Skip ahead if you have a business account already, or look at step 3 if you already have a personal account. 

Step 1: Download the Instagram app 

Step 2: Sign Up 

  • Open the app 
  • Tap either Create New Account (iOS) or Sign Up With Email or Phone (Android) 
  • Enter your email/phone number and click Next 
  • Choose your username and password 
  • Fill out your profile information and click Next 

Step 3: Switch to a Business Account 

  • Go to your profile and tap the three lines at the top right 
  • Click Settings, then Account 
  • Scroll down and click Switch to professional account 
  • Tap Business and follow the prompts! 

Best Instagram Marketing Strategies for 202

Now that you have your Instagram account set up, it is time to look into how you should be using your account and why. 

1: Choose Your Goals 

Before you start posting, you need to decide why you are posting. You can’t use your Instagram account effectively until you know what you are trying to do. 

Instagram marketing isn’t one size fits all, it can mean different things to different businesses. 

Do you want to: 

  • Improve your brand awareness? 
  • Drive traffic to your website? 
  • Get new leads? 
  • Sell products? 
  • Establish brand authority?  

You can even use multiple of these goals to build a strategy unique to you. If you are unsure of what your strategy goals are then get in touch now to see how we can help you. 

2: Understand Your Audience 

Once you decide your goals, you need to understand your audience on Instagram. 

In the UK, Instagram statistics show that: 

  • 30.36 million people in the UK use Instagram 
  • Instagram reaches 60% of the online population in the UK 
  • 25-34 year olds make up the largest user group 
  • 76% of 15-25 year olds use Instagram 
  • 42.5% of users are male and 57.5% are female 

From these statistics, you may want to market towards these demographics however this does not mean you have to. 

Whatever audience you want to market to, you need to make sure your content is speaking directly to your audience. 

3: Optimise your Profile 

The dreaded Instagram bio, with only 150 characters, it can seem impossible to make a good first impression and convey your businesses personality. 

Those 150 characters really have their work cut out for them! 

However, there is a shining light, you also have some other fields on your profile which allow you to showcase your brand such as: 

  • Name: up to 30 characters 
  • Username: up to 30 characters 
  • Website: a clickable URL 
  • Category: A business feature where you can tell people what your business is about without using precious bio characters 
  • Contact information: A way to show people how to contact you 

Make sure that all of these features are being utilised and showcase your brand in the best light. Many people will form opinions about your brand from your social media profiles. 

4: Create Content 

Instagram is a very visual platform and therefore your posts need to look the part.  

You don’t need professional photographs or fancy cameras to take good pictures. Just make sure that they are clear, well-lit and in focus. If you are photographing a product then it needs to be well-composed with a simple backdrop reflecting the product. 

If you are using other images such as infographics then make sure that your text is easy to read and not too small, that your colours are cohesive and that they are crisp. 

Once you have some amazing images, you need to make suer that they are serving a purpose. You wouldn’t cook a 5* dinner if no one is hungry! 

Your images need to tell a story, get people engaged or excite people. You need quality posts to make the most out of your images. 

If you are stuck on what content to create then don’t fear! Check out this list of content ideas to get your started: 

  • Videos 
  • Reels 
  • Behind-the-scenes posts 
  • Infographics 
  • Reviews 
  • Quotes 
  • Instructional posts 
  • Company events 
  • Share blog content 
  • Industry news 

5: Use Hashtags 

Hashtags are a great way to increase your visibility and get your profile found by new users. When you use a hashtag, your post will appear on the page for that hashtag. People can also choose to follow hashtags which means you could shows up on users feeds even if they don’t follow you (yet!) 

You are able to use up to 30 hashtags in a post however we would recommend using around 11 per post.  

Make sure that your hashtags are relevant to your business and specific to your niche. 

6: Use Instagram Stories 

Video is quickly becoming a large focus of social media strategies and over half of business use stories. 

A third of the most viewed stories on Instagram are posted by businesses! 

Stories are a great way to be open and raw with your audience as they disappear after 24 hours. It allows you to post whatever content you want without it clogging up your social media profile. 

There are a few uses for stories which we think all businesses should make use of: 

  • Show behind-the-scenes clips of people at work 
  • Answer FAQs 
  • Link out to your website or useful resources 
  • Tell a story 
  • Talk to other people 

Let’s Summarise Instagram Marketing

In your social media strategy, you should: 

  • Use a business account 
  • Choose your goals 
  • Understand your audience 
  • Optimise your profile 
  • Create valuable content 
  • Use hashtags 
  • And use Instagram stories 

Do you need help creating an Instagram marketing strategy for your business? Get in touch now to see how we can help your business to flourish on Instagram.