There’s something exhilarating about catching a moment as it happens. It’s why we pull out our phones during concerts, why we stream breaking news instead of waiting for tomorrow’s paper, and why businesses that lean into real-time customer data are steadily outpacing those that don’t.
As businesses strive to build trust and loyalty among their audiences, leveraging the power of brand advocates—customers, employees, and influencers who passionately support and promote a brand—has become a key driver of growth.
In the digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a linchpin in transforming marketing strategies from standard to spectacular. Embracing AI in your marketing efforts can not only enhance efficiency but also personalize experiences at scale, ensuring that every campaign hits its mark.
For the past century, technology has grown at an extremely rapid pace. It was so rapid, that it came to the point that people would predict a future of flying cars and advanced robotics that could perform any human task possible. Although these may still be in our imaginations, it goes to show how the swift pace of development has shaped our expectations and even business practices.
For many, the term press release brings to mind newspaper blurbs buried in the middle of the newsprint next to grocery coupons and help wanted ads. Today’s electronic, Internet driven world has changed the look, feel, and effectiveness of these once hit-or-miss marketing tools. Online channels provide an opportunity to generate widespread buzz about your products and brands.
The Internet is saturated with tips and guides on what to include in a business plan: business concept; goals, strategies, actions; products and services; market analysis and your competitive advantage; your proposed personnel team; and, of course a financing plan. If you are overly concerned about format there is also a plethora of resources that will guide you from the executive summary to the appendices that showcase the research and data supporting your plan. It is important to utilize these resources because you certainly want a complete plan, but what separates the okay business plans from the great plans?
In the age of early morning Internet surfing and immediate gratification, people expect to have their questions answered as soon as they are asked. They don’t care what time it is and they don’t want to be put on hold to wait their turn for a customer service representative. Some don’t even want to wait for a chat representative to type. A solid and honest list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can go a long way towards building and keeping a client base and towards fostering a high level of customer satisfaction.
Businesses have historically used marketing as a one-way communication tool – them telling prospective customers what they have to say. This version of marketing is based on assumptions of who a business thinks their customers are instead of building on a foundation of their customers’ realities. So how can a business know which marketing to deliver to whom? The answer: buyer personas – a fictional representation of an ideal customer based on a variety of market research.
As a small business owner who wears many hats you might be intimidated when told you need to do one more thing called blogging. What if I instead suggest that you write some short articles? Pick topics related to your business, topics that interest you, that you are enthusiastic about – and write. Now post those articles on your website a couple times a week; daily if you really get into it. Congratulations! You are blogging. But is it really worth your time?
10% of people remember what they hear. 20% of people remember what they read. But 80% of people remember what they see and do (Wyzowl). Instagram is based on the power of visual communication…without too much work for the user; and has other social media platforms trying to match pace. Forrester Research found that Instagram generates 120 times more engagement than Twitter and the ability to immediately edit and post images provides the instant gratification missing on Facebook.
There are a lot of moving pieces that go into running a successful restaurant. Health codes, liquor licenses, making sure to purchase the right amount of food and beverage so that you are not consistently running short or throwing away unused food, staffing, accounting, etc. You have a lot on your plate, pun intended.
We experience thousands of brands every day. Some we are more conscious of, for example, you are watching your favorite show and see some delicious looking food trying to entice you to make a trip to your local Chili’s. Others we are not as aware of. There is branding everywhere, from the Covergirl mascara you apply before work, to the Ford logo on the middle of your steering wheel as you drive in.
When we were growing up "#" meant something completely different. Unless you have been living under a rock or have sworn off technology completely, you are likely well aware that this symbol has transitioned from being thought of first as a number symbol and is now all over the internet in the form of hashtags.
