Blog thumbnails_Heart attack (1)

One of my closest friends, just had a heart attack at 35. 

The call came out of nowhere. His wife, with a voice both calm and strained, informed me that this dude had undergone angioplasty overnight and was thankfully recovering well.

Visiting him brought a mix of emotions. I saw his smile and felt relieved. It was a sign that the worst had passed.

The incident was a stark wake-up call for all of us.

Why him, we wondered?

Could it be the relentless stress of his IT job? Or perhaps it was his erratic lifestyle, marked by irregular meals and a body clock disrupted by global conference calls?

Was it the lack of exercise, the smoking, the weekend binges, or his love for fast food?

Some say painkillers can cause heart attacks! Was it that he popped some pill several months back and he turned out to be the unfortunate exception?

It seemed like a puzzle with too many pieces, possibly a mix of these factors, or maybe just sheer bad luck.


‘Why him?’ I asked. ‘Could it also be me? I wondered.

Modern day luxury, often celebrates excess. Meals dripping with butter and cheese, seem the tastiest. Washing down food with with soda or alcohol has become a norm. Gym memberships become forgotten relics of New Year resolutions. Stress needs chai and smoke.

We separate work from life, and therefore seek to ‘balance’ a stressful week with weekend binge. Rather than taking feedback from the body, we subdue our symptoms by popping pills too quickly.

How can we consider a shift in narrative?

Boasting about the kilometres cycled over the weekend.

100 continuous days of Yoga practice.

Boasting about the new places you discover rather than new food joints.

Support friends striving to make positive lifestyle changes, instead of coaxing them.

It is time to redefine what we consider normal. By fostering a culture that celebrates these decisions, we can encourage and inspire each other towards a healthier, more vibrant life.

Perhaps, it could be me. But at least I would know, I did everything within my control and it was sheer bad luck.

That answer would bring me peace.

Let me know your thoughts.

Blog thumbnails (1)

Sora: Charting the Future of Creativity and Innovation in Agency Business

The advent of Sora by OpenAI is not just a technological breakthrough; it’s a paradigm shift in the digital agency landscape. This AI-driven platform, capable of transforming text prompts into rich, detailed video content, heralds a new era of creativity, efficiency, and engagement in content creation. While the initial exploration of Sora’s impact on creative processes, storytelling, personalization, operational efficiency, and ethical considerations has shed light on its transformative potential, a deeper dive reveals the broader implications for the agency business, client relationships, and the global creative ecosystem.

Revolutionizing Client Engagement and Collaboration

Sora’s capabilities extend beyond content creation, offering new avenues for client engagement and collaboration. Agencies can leverage Sora to involve clients more directly in the creative process, providing a tangible visualization of ideas and concepts that were previously difficult to communicate. This collaborative approach not only enhances client satisfaction but also streamlines the revision process, allowing for real-time feedback and adjustments. By democratizing the creative process, Sora fosters a more inclusive, transparent, and dynamic client-agency relationship.

Expanding Creative Horizons and Global Reach

The introduction of Sora breaks down geographical and cultural barriers in content creation. Agencies can now effortlessly create localized content for diverse global markets, tailoring visuals and narratives to specific cultural contexts and languages. This capability is invaluable in a globalized economy, enabling agencies to expand their reach and resonate with audiences worldwide. Furthermore, Sora’s ability to generate a wide range of aesthetic styles and visual themes allows agencies to cater to niche markets and emerging trends, positioning them as leaders in innovation and cultural relevance.

Future-Proofing Agencies in a Digital-First World

As digital transformation accelerates, agencies face the challenge of staying relevant and competitive. Sora offers a pathway to future-proofing agency business by embracing AI-driven content creation. By integrating Sora into their service offerings, agencies can offer cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving demands of digital marketing, from social media content to immersive advertising campaigns. This forward-thinking approach not only secures a competitive edge but also attracts top talent and innovative clients looking to push the boundaries of digital creativity.

Nurturing Talent and Fostering Innovation

The advent of Sora also has profound implications for talent development within agencies. By automating routine aspects of video production, Sora allows creative professionals to focus on higher-level strategic and creative tasks. This shift can lead to a more fulfilling work environment, reducing burnout and fostering a culture of innovation. Agencies can harness this opportunity to attract and retain top talent, investing in skills development and creative exploration that aligns with the future of digital content creation.

The Rising Importance of Linguistic Precision and Technical Knowledge

In the era of Sora, the ability to craft detailed, effective prompts becomes paramount. This necessitates a deep understanding of the English language, technical terminologies, and the nuances of visual storytelling. As such, professionals who may not have traditional video production skills but possess a strong command over language and an understanding of specific industry jargon find themselves on equal footing with seasoned video producers. This democratization of content creation underscores the shifting skill sets required in the digital landscape. The expertise in articulating precise, imaginative prompts that accurately capture the desired outcome is becoming as valuable as the technical skills once exclusive to video production professionals. This shift not only broadens the creative playing field but also emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary skills in leveraging AI technologies like Sora.

The Future of Video Agencies in an AI-Dominant World

As Sora continues to evolve, with its ability to generate increasingly complex and contextually accurate video sequences, questions arise about the necessity of traditional video production agencies. If Sora reaches a point where it can autonomously produce high-quality, contextually rich video content with minimal human input, the unique value proposition of video agencies may come under scrutiny. This potential future challenges agencies to reconsider their roles, focusing perhaps more on strategic creative direction, conceptualization, and human-centric storytelling nuances that AI cannot replicate. While Sora promises efficiency and scalability, the creative intuition, emotional intelligence, and cultural sensitivity of human creators remain irreplaceable, suggesting a future where collaboration between AI and human creativity becomes more integrated.

Navigating Uncertainty: The Future of Agency Business

These developments bring us to a crossroads, filled with both excitement for the possibilities and skepticism about the future of the agency business. The democratization of content creation through AI like Sora raises questions about the evolving role of agencies, the skills valued in the creative industry, and the balance between technological efficiency and human creativity. As agencies navigate this shifting landscape, the challenge will be to harness the power of AI in ways that augment human creativity rather than replace it, ensuring that the essence of storytelling, with its depth, emotion, and cultural resonance, remains at the heart of digital content.

In conclusion, while Sora represents a significant leap forward in content creation capabilities, it also prompts a reevaluation of the skills, roles, and value propositions within the agency business. The future may hold uncertainties and challenges as the industry adapts to these technological advancements. However, it also offers opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and a deeper exploration of what it means to create content that resonates with audiences on a human level. As we stand on the brink of this new era, the ultimate question remains: how will we navigate the balance between the efficiency of AI and the irreplaceable value of human creativity?

 

As we delve deeper into the transformative impact of Sora on the agency business, a particular application stands out, showcasing its unparalleled capability to bring narratives to life: the virtual tour of an art gallery. This example not only highlights Sora’s ability to generate diverse visual content but also its potential to revolutionize virtual experiences and digital exhibitions.

Virtual Art Gallery Tour Brought to Life by Sora

Prompt: Tour of an art gallery with many beautiful works of art in different styles.
Generated by Sora, OpenAI’s AI-driven platform, designed to transform text instructions into vivid video content.
This virtual tour exemplifies how agencies can leverage Sora to create immersive and engaging content for clients in the art world and beyond. Museums, galleries, and educational institutions can offer virtual visitors a glimpse into their collections, making art more accessible to a global audience. Moreover, this application of Sora opens up new avenues for storytelling, allowing curators and artists to narrate the stories behind their works, enhancing the viewer’s engagement and appreciation.

Conclusion: Embracing the Sora Revolution

The introduction of Sora by OpenAI is more than a technological innovation; it’s a catalyst for change in the agency business, redefining the landscape of digital content creation. As agencies embrace Sora, they unlock new possibilities for creativity, efficiency, and global engagement, setting the stage for a future where AI and human creativity coalesce to create unprecedented value. However, this future also demands a commitment to ethical practices, collaboration, and continuous learning. By navigating these challenges, agencies can leverage Sora to not only transform their operations but also to shape the future of the creative industry at large.

Elevate your e-commerce business with these top marketing strategies

Elevate Your Ecommerce Business with These Top Marketing Strategies

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the ecommerce industry, with many people turning to online shopping as a result of lockdowns, quarantines, and social distancing measures. Because of the pandemic, There has been a sharp increase in demand for ecommerce. With physical stores closed or operating at reduced capacity, many people turned to online shopping as a way to purchase essential and non-essential goods. This resulted in a forced change of consumer behavior and shopping habits. The pandemic led to an accelerated adoption of shopping habits, with more people now preferring to shop online even after restrictions are lifted.

With strengthening of supply chains, concepts like Instant Commerce took roots. Some ecommerce sectors, such as groceries, home goods and online pharmacies have seen a particularly strong growth through this. In response to the increased demand for online shopping, many businesses and venture capitalists have invested in their ecommerce infrastructure, including their websites, mobile apps, fulfillment systems and delivery personnel.

Additionally, some other supportive factors for this growth include :

  1. Increased internet and mobile penetration: The widespread availability of the internet and the increasing use of mobile devices have made it easier for people to shop online.
  2. Improved payment systems: The development of secure online payment systems, especially UPI, and deeper penetration of credit and debit cards, has made it easier and more secure for people to make purchases online.
  3. Greater selection: Online retailers often offer a wider selection of products than brick-and-mortar stores, which can be a major attraction for shoppers.
  4. Competitive prices: Online retailers can often offer lower prices due to lower overhead costs, such as rent and utilities.
  5. Personalization: Ecommerce companies can use data about customers’ browsing and purchasing history to personalize their shopping experience and recommend products.

Before diving into the best Ecommerce digital marketing strategies, let us take a look at different types of Ecommerce businesses:

  1. Business-to-consumer (B2C) ecommerce: These businesses sell products or services directly to consumers through an online platform. Example : Ikea.
  2. Business-to-business (B2B) ecommerce: These businesses sell products or services to other businesses through an online platform. Example : Software as a Service companies like Zoho.
  3. Consumer-to-consumer (C2C) ecommerce: These allow individuals to sell products or services to other consumers through an online platform. Example : OLX.
  4. Consumer-to-business (C2B) ecommerce: These allow individuals to sell products or services to businesses through an online platform. Example : Fiverr.com

If you are in charge of promoting an ecommerce brand, the growth of the market seems bright. At the same time however, because of steep competition, there is a need to offer a differentiated solution for your customer and engage in a mixture of conventional and unconventional ecommerce marketing strategies. Here is some ground work you need to do before diving into the marketing strategies:

  1. Research if there is really a demand for your offering : The reason behind the failure of a lot of failed ecommerce businesses is very simple. There just isn’t enough demand for the offering in the market. Through primary and secondary research, make sure that your potential customers are willing to pay for your offering. This exercise of a few weeks will help you save on hundreds of thousands of dollars and several years of effort and frustration.
  2. Build a strong product differentiator : Simon Sinek says, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” Therefore, having a clear differentiator about your offering and how it will positively impact the lives of your customers, vital.
  3. Understand your target audience : It’s important to have a clear understanding of who your customers are, what they are interested in, and what motivates them to make a purchase. This will help you create targeted marketing campaigns that are more likely to be successful.
  4. Create a strong online presence : This includes having a well-designed website that is easy to navigate and use, perhaps a mobile app, or presence on social media platforms and other online channels where your target audience is active.
  5. Offer a seamless customer experience : This includes making it easy for customers to find and purchase products, providing clear and accurate product information, and offering excellent customer service. An Elevated Digital Experience at every touchpoint for your customer is the key.
  6. Use data and analytics : Collecting and analyzing data about your customers and their behavior can help you better understand their needs and preferences, and allow you to tailor your marketing efforts accordingly.

Now that the foundation for marketing has been laid, let us look at some conventional ecommerce digital marketing strategies which will give you results in 2023 :

  1. Search Engine Optimization : Use search engine optimization (SEO) or app store optimization (ASO) to improve your website’s visibility in search results. SEO or ASO is still here. Users will prefer organic ranking and love the process of discovering platforms on their own.
  2. Paid advertising : Utilize paid search advertising, such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads, to target specific keywords and drive traffic to your site. This still remains the fastest means of promotion digitally.
  3. Social Media Marketing : The platforms may change, but the need to engage in a community is here to stay. Use social media platforms to promote your products and connect with your audience.
  4. Video Content : Create and distribute valuable, relevant video content to attract and retain customers. Video remains the most powerful form of content. Short videos between 1-2 mins are great for reels whereas longer videos are suitable for more DIY kind of offerings.
  5. Email Marketing : Every year, experts predict the death of email marketing, and every year, it seems to bounce back. Utilize email marketing to stay in touch with your customers and promote your products or services. Serious users open email, spend time on reading them and engage with them.
  6. Affiliate Marketing : Some ecommerce products are best sold through affiliate networks. Utilize affiliate marketing, where other websites promote your products in exchange for a commission.
  7. Ad Retargeting : Remember, the awareness-to-conversion funnel is painfully long. There are some schools of thought which say that an ad needs to make an average of 7 impressions before a potential customer even starts taking it seriously. Use retargeting ads to show ads to people who have visited your site but haven’t made a purchase.

Here are some unconventional ideas which you can build upon :

  1. Offer chatbot via Whatsapp : The penetration and trust that Whatsapp enjoys is second to none. Offer customer support via a powerful Whatsapp bot which not only resolves queries before the purchase but also helps customers make payments, track their orders and give feedback.
  2. Create a customer loyalty program : Offer rewards or incentives to customers who make multiple purchases or refer their friends to your site. There are several loyalty-program platforms available in the market which you can easily plug into your existing ecommerce setup.
  3. Offer a subscription service : You would be surprised to know that even seemingly unrelated ecommerce companies can be great candidates for a subscription service. Consider offering a subscription service where customers can receive regular deliveries of your products. This will shoot your LTV through the roof.
  4. Host a contest or giveaway : Contest marketing is a great way to generate engagement and word of mouth. Run a contest or giveaway to generate buzz and attract new customers to your site.
  5. Humanize touchpoints : Having a high cart dropout rate? Record a video which reassures users that the decision they are about to make is the right one. Another example of humanized touchpoint can be a video thanking the customer after the purchase. Seeing human faces makes customers feel valued, and therefore prefers sticking to the platform.
  6. Use personalized content : Create interactive content, such as quizzes or polls, to engage with your customers and gather valuable data about their preferences and interests. Furthermore, personalize your touchpoints by using technology.
  7. Offer personalized recommendations : Use customer data and machine learning algorithms to offer personalized product recommendations to individual customers.
ChatGPT-Vs-Google-What-is-the-Future-of-Web-Search

ChatGPT Vs Google: What is the Future of Web Search?

“I have stopped using Google Search now”, said a friend. “I just go to ChatGPT and ask questions.” I was astonished.

 

It is possible that the technology behind ChatGPT or other similar language models could be used to improve natural language processing in search engines, but there are no specific plans for this at this time. It’s worth noting that Google already uses a number of AI technologies to improve its search results, including RankBrain, which helps understand the meaning of search queries, and predictive search, which provides suggestions as users type. These and other AI technologies are helping to make searches more accurate, relevant, and personalised.

 

The core utility of Google has been its ‘Search’ feature. With this feature, Google helps users find results which most likely contain the information that they are looking for. However, the innovation of ChatGPT looks quite promising and it may have eliminated the need for ‘Search’ entirely. With ChatGPT, you don’t need to ‘search’ for results; you straightaway get the answers to your questions. Most experts say that the answers are 95% to 98% accurate in the latest version of ChatGPT. Is that really true?

 

Will ‘Know’ really replace ‘Search’? We performed a small experiment to understand this. We provided a wide range of queries to both ChatGPT and Google Search and here are the output comparisons:

Query 1: What is the height of Machu Picchu from mean sea level?

 

Our Take: Although both results were accurate, Google Result was quicker and more concise than ChatGPT.

 

Google : 1 

ChatGPT : 0

Query 2: What is the moon’s surface made up of?

 


Our Take: While we don’t know the scientific factuality of the answer, it looks like ChatGPT gave a more accurate result than Google.

 

Google : 1

ChatGPT:1

Query 3: How to make Gulab Jamun?

 


Our Take:

While Google provided search results, ChatGPT provided the actual recipe. This resulted in us having to spend less time finding the most accurate result.

 

Google : 1 

ChatGPT : 2

 

Query 4: How to get rid of pigeons?

 


Our Take: Google displayed ads first, and the actual answer came after the ad. ChatGPT, on the other hand, directly provided the answer. However, we feel that in terms of accuracy, there was no clear winner so we can give one point to both.

 

Google : 2

ChatGPT : 3

 

Query 5: HTML code for changing border-radius

 


Our Take: When it comes to asking for queries about technology, it looks like ChatGPT is a hands-down winner. It explains the code and also gives you the option to copy it for immediate use.

 

Google : 2

ChatGPT : 4

Query 6: What are some interview questions for a sales manager?

 

Our Take: Google and ChatGPT both displayed the answers. But while Google was busy serving ads and thereby truncating the answer, ChatGPT gave the full response. Moreover, when we look at the responses carefully, ChatGPT’s output seems to be more accurate.

 

Google : 2

ChatGPT : 5

 

ChatGPT – A Clear Winner

 

What does this mean? Will we move away from Google and start using ChatGPT for web searches? Will ChatGPT eat into Google’s pie of Search business? Will one surpass the other or can both of them co-exist? Only time will tell. One thing is for sure – finally, there is a technology that will give Google a run for its money.

 

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts

 

Hottest-Digital-Marketing-Trends-that-Brands-Must-Embrace-in-2023

Hottest Digital Marketing Trends that Brands Must Embrace in 2023

Digital Marketing Trends 2023

As 2023 dawns, the world is at an unsure place. While Crypto has seen a lot of ups and downs, there is almost no doubt that blockchain is here to stay. Although Metaverse was the talk of the town at the beginning of 2022, suddenly its buzz has quietened. Artificial Intelligence (AI), on the other hand, seems to be leveling up with the release of ChatGPT.

Digital marketing is on the cusp of revolution. The way forward for this industry is to latch onto the most influential and powerful trends. Here are some of these digital marketing trends that brands should look out for in 2023.

Personalisation

As consumers become more savvy and accustomed to personalized experiences, businesses will need to find ways to personalize their efforts in order to stand out. This also includes customising and personalising marketing communication to address the pain points of various groups of customers. The goal of personalisation is to create a more relevant experience for customers to increase engagement and build loyalty.

Personalisation in marketing can be achieved by curating the website experiences of target audiences depending on their location and other factors. Social media posts can also be used to target specific audiences by tailoring the posts based on demographics and interests of customers.

So, personalisation can be an effective way for businesses to improve customer experience, drive engagement and boost conversions. The use of AI can turn out to be a great option to deliver data-driven and targeted messaging and recommendations to customers.

Video content

Video content continues to grow in popularity and is likely to remain an important digital marketing trend for businesses. There are many benefits to using video content in digital marketing. For one, video is highly engaging and can capture the attention of viewers in a way that text and images may not.
Video content also has the potential to be more immersive and convey more information in a shorter amount of time than other types of content. It can be used in various formats in digital marketing, including short social media videos, live streams, product demos, explainer videos, customer testimonials, or traditional video advertisements.

Videos can be the preferred option of content consumption over text for some people. So, opting for a video format can help businesses reach out to a larger audience and potentially attract new customers. Video content is thus a powerful tool for digital marketing, helping businesses to engage and entertain audiences to drive conversions

Social Media & Influencer Marketing

Social media & influencer marketing has been one of the popular digital marketing trends that brands have been jumping on in recent years. In 2023 too, using social media platforms and partnering with influencers will continue to be the key strategy for businesses to connect with customers, build brand awareness, and drive sales.

With the widespread use of social media by people across the globe, the importance of social media is increasing in the digital marketing mix. As a result, brands are focusing more on communicating with their customers through social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Thanks to its great reach and higher engagement, social media and influencer marketing is likely to keep growing as a viable option for brands to connect with their customers in a more personal and interactive way. This can include creating and sharing posts, running social media ads, and engaging with users through comments and messages.

Voice Search Optimization

With the increasing popularity of voice assistants like ‘Siri’ and ‘Alexa’, more and more people are using voice commands to search the web. As a result, businesses will need to optimise their websites and content for voice search in order to reach the right audience.

To optimize for voice search, businesses can go with the following strategies:

Overall, voice search optimisation is an important trend in digital marketing as the use of voice search continues to grow. By optimising for voice search, businesses can improve their visibility and reach in search results and better meet the needs of customers using voice assistants.

Customer Experience - Biggest Digital Marketing Trend to Capitalize On

Of all the digital marketing trends, focusing on customer experience is the most important one. With growing competition, businesses will need to provide a seamless and positive customer experience in order to stand out and retain customers. The use of AI and other technologies as well as chatbots can be beneficial in making customer journeys more seamless and enhancing their experience. This, in turn, can boost engagement and help brands witness better customer loyalty and higher conversions.

Digital marketing is a crucial aspect of any modern business. It allows you to reach and engage with your target audience online, through various channels such as social media, email, and search engines. By implementing a comprehensive digital marketing strategy, you can increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, and generate leads and sales. Our digital marketing services include search engine optimizationsocial media marketing, email marketing, and more, all designed to help you reach your business goals and grow your online presence. We have a team of experienced digital marketing experts ready to help you succeed in the digital world.

 

Do you know of any other digital marketing trends which marketers should watch out for in 2023? Let us know in the comments section.

Blog_1200 x 628_1st March

6 Reasons Why Blogging is Absolutely Necessary for Your Business

A vital part of today’s online culture is blogging. Initially, the concept of blogging came about when individuals started sharing personal details online and started treating blogs as personal journals. It eventually was adopted by companies of all scales across the world for various reasons. While every company has a website, it doesn’t help businesses stand out amongst the others. Thus companies needed to come up with sharing dynamic content that can engage their customers. Most of them took to blogging as it helps the company truly shine. After noticing an upward trend in online visibility post blogging, businesses have started integrating blogs into their marketing programs and treating them as a separate marketing channel altogether.

 

While a company website has more of a practical approach in addressing its audience with a certain tone of professionalism, a blog has a more relaxed tone to it which a consumer will be more comfortable with. Apart from being a great read, a blog can have several other benefits too for a company such as:

1. Strengthening SEO and Driving Traffic to the Website

Source: NationalNews

Blogs are an important source of driving traffic to your website. The more well-written and articulated blogs that you publish, the more the chances of your website showing up on search engines. Blogging helps you strengthen your SEO which aids with driving traffic to the site. Putting up fresh blogs regularly is also a prompt that goes to search engines such as Google that your website is active and is constantly churning out new content. The right keywords are the backbone of a blog and being mindful and intelligent while choosing them will only improve results.

2. Boosting Lead Generation Efforts

Source: Anologix

One of the easiest ways to boost leads is by adding a lead generation-specific call-to-action button at the end of every blog so that the viewer knows exactly what they need to do next. These buttons can also help in collecting data which can be utilized for other marketing activities such as targeted ads, emailers, etc. An alternate way to generate leads through blogs can be to redirect the user through internal links to the important pages of the website where the audience can make a purchase or decide to avail a service.

3. Creating Internal Links and Backlinks

Source: Cuong

A brilliant aspect of blogs is that you can add relevant internal links and backlinks to your blog and help viewers with site navigation. Internal linking enables you to direct the audience to the important pages of your website. Backlinks help prove authority to search engines and establish that the content being created is being consumed by a wider audience and thus will position your website as an industry expert. Backlinks and internal links are some of the most crucial factors that the Google algorithm considers while driving website traffic to the website and increasing SEO success.

4. Educating and Engaging the Audience

Source: CRISS

A blog is an extremely handy tool to dive deeper into the organisation and the industry it caters to. Sharing relevant excerpts, interviews, trends, customer case studies, etc can help bridge the gap between you and your customer and also keep them interested in the field. Sharing updates related to work culture, new additions to the work-family, etc is vital as it helps your audience understand that the company’s interest is not limited to generating sales. Such updates humanize the brand and help you in developing a better connection with the audience.

5. Social Media Redirection

Source: LogRocket

In the chaotic world of social media, blogs prove to be a simple way to be discovered. Content creation can be exhausting especially when the requirement to be creative and stand out is so continuous. At such times, leveraging your blog content and sharing it with links across your social media channels proves to be a fruitful way to gather more engagement. It helps you to stay consistently active without having to brainstorm about every post. This proves to be a win-win situation for your organisation as not only are you uploading fresh and creative content on social media but are also driving traffic to your website.

6. Establishing Long-term Brand Relationships

An ideal business blog is that which informs and educates its readers and addresses their queries. There is also a psychological tendency to trust the written word. Thus blogs are a great way to have extensive conversations with customers, industry experts, and peers. Being a reliable source of information proves to establish your brand credibility. All of this compounds and forms a long-lasting relationship between the brand and its consumers.

 

There are billions of people in the world connected to the internet and a few thousand more brands trying to reach this wide audience. A steady flow of website traffic is something that every brand craves for. With the surplus devices that have made their way to every home, it is critical that blogging makes its way into the marketing strategies of organisations.

 

Thus with the multitude of benefits discussed above, the concept of blogging cannot be underestimated. If you are a company and are looking to step into blogging, do reach out to us. We will be happy to guide you in the best possible way.

Blog Creatives_Contest Marketing_1200 x 628

An Introduction To The Concept Of Contest Marketing

In a world where millions of brands are trying to secure the ‘Top Of Recall’ spot in our minds, it comes as no surprise that marketers all over the world try to come up with ingenious ways to capture the attention of customers. One of the most yielding methods has been found to be the concept of running contests. Contest marketing is a strategy that uses giveaways and prizes to engage and identify customers. 

 

The online culture has given rise to a plethora of opportunities for firms to interact with their potential customers and the contest strategy stands out amongst the others. Organizations of all scales have been able to leverage the advantages of social media via contests to amplify the brand message and awareness. It helps the brands bring their products to the forefront. Many companies have now set a specific budget aside just to cater to these contests, right from initiation to design and distribution overall, ensuring a successful execution at the desired level.

1. Content Marketing in Today’s Digital Era

Source: Raven5

In current times, most of the contests held have been online, either via social media or the company website and newsletters. A few kinds of contests are held across social media platforms wherein the viewers are asked to tag their friends or retweet or engage with the content that is shared. Based on the reach that is achieved, winners are announced. There are numerous variants of contests such as draws or giveaways where the viewer is required to fill in their details and either on a weekly or monthly basis, one of the people registered will be declared the winner. Some other examples of contests utilize Crowdsourcing or Trivia Knowledge, Sweepstakes, Fill In The Blanks, etc.

2. What Does Contest Marketing Offer?

Source: SBSA

The gratification plays a big role in running successful contests and varies depending on the industry the company running the contest caters to. It usually ranges from coupons, cash prizes, free-of-cost products, online courses, etc. Anything that excites customers will be up for grabs to encourage more people to participate. The kind of gratification a company offers plays a major part in the level of participation. Thus this is one of the reasons why running contests is a favourite primarily in B2C companies and is not very popular with the B2B industry as they gain very little from such activities. 

 

The popularity of contests has increased steadily over time. The ‘competitive’ behaviour is ingrained in every human being. Right from sports world cups to various events all around the world, the concept of being a ‘winner’ is extremely appealing to the human psyche. Therefore, it is observed that the average effectiveness of running contests is quite decent. If the contest is run by a big brand, chances are people will be readily participating. However smaller brands need to invest a few resources to create a buzz around the campaign and to get people excited and curious. It is a great way to narrow down, target, and get in touch with the real potential consumer base of the brand.

3. Integrating Contests into Your Marketing Strategies

Source: Easypromo

While incorporating the contest strategy into the marketing plan, it is important to remember that there are no limitations to creativity and every idea can be executed innovatively. Running contests is an extensive and fun task that requires consistent monitoring. If there is no team available within the organization, there are several tools and software programs available online that can aid with running them as well. 

 

If you are a business that wants to break the monotony of posting regular content on social media or are looking to do something different, contest marketing can be a great avenue to build engagement for you. If you need help and guidance with incorporating contests into your marketing plans, please feel free to reach out to us. We would be happy to help you conduct amazing contests and boost engagement for your brand.

The-Best-Time-For-Investing-in-OTT-Ads-02

Why Now Is The Best Time For Investing in OTT Ads?

Does this sound familiar – You have been contemplating taking a holiday and randomly see an ad for a cheap flight ticket while playing a game or you see great deals for a holiday resort while playing your favourite videos. These are all called OTT Ads that stand for Over The Top Advertisements.

 

These ads are displayed specifically on streaming platforms and are shown directly to the viewers thus eliminating all the middle points such as distributors between the advertiser and the end customer. Unlike traditional TV advertising that comes with a few limitations such as predetermined broadcast schedules, geographies etc, OTT ads provide a lot of flexibility. Any device that streams videos can be used for OTT ads including mobiles, computers, laptops, gaming consoles and streaming devices such as Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, etc.

 

The ads are distributed according to the requirements of the brand. The advertising industry is seeing a steady shift where brands prefer investing in OTT ads compared to traditional TV ads. They are adopting advanced digital strategies that help them plan their digital marketing in a much more efficient manner.

 

OTT ads are designed and distributed in a strategic way. These kinds of ads will reach a smaller but more data-driven and targeted audience group. The targeting precision reduces resource wastage significantly. Not only can the OTT videos be completely leveraged as a complete funnel performance channel, but it has the capacity of engaging the customers and influencing consumer behaviour too by ensuring ad relevance.

 

One of the features is that most ads on OTT aren’t skippable thus almost forcing the viewer to watch the entire ad so it remains at ‘Top Of The Mind’ recall.

Tick These Boxes While Investing in OTT Ads

Platform adaptation: Remember that OTT ads will be viewed by your target audience across several platforms on various devices such as the laptop, TV, mobile phone, tabs etc. You will want to make sure that the ad doesn’t seem disproportionate on any device and is adapted for the best quality of viewership across all platforms.

Source: Appsflyer

Keeping it short and simple: It’s best to keep the ads short and straightforward. This practice is best when we have an ad that is not skippable. It’s important not to annoy our audience with really long ads. We risk losing the attention of the viewers. It’s ideal to wrap up the message of our video in a span of a maximum of 30 seconds.

Source: Balcom Agency

Relatability in ads: The overall feel and vibe of the video should resonate with your brand. A person whilst seeing the ad should be able to easily comprehend the message and be easily able to identify with the brand. Loss of interest is very common if the ads aren’t relatable to the target audience. At the end of the day, the audience should be able to link the ad to the brand.

Source: BankBound

Understand the audience demographics: Having knowledge about who your ideal target audience should be and all their details such as location, behaviour etc help narrow down on targeting options thus increasing the possibility of generating leads. Understanding the interest-based behaviour of people will also help you position your offerings in a way that will resonate with the audience.

Source: Neil Patel

Clear call to action: After watching an ad, there needs to be a clear direction for the audience with instructions on how they can engage with the ad. A button should be extremely visible with either a – Buy Now or Know More or any other message with reference to your offerings. If there is no clarity on what to do next after watching the ad, the audience is likely to forget to engage with the brand.

Source: ClearVoice

In conclusion, the OTT industry has erupted into the field of advertising and by the look of it, it is here to say. More people by the day are switching from traditional TV media and spending a lot of time exploring various streaming platforms. Successful execution of OTT ads can give you an added advantage over competitors and help target new audiences. This new phase of advertising can also assist you to work smarter and be impactful. OTT ads are transforming the paid media landscape and now is the best time to jump on the bandwagon. 

Blog-Creatives_consider_844-x-343

Things To Consider When Choosing The Right Digital Marketing Agency

It’s safe to say that the world we live in today has become a fairly digitalised world. Searching for and validating things on Google and understanding an organisation through its social media and website has become second to nature. Businesses of all sizes look forward to having a strong digital presence to increase brand awareness, gather leads and ultimately boost revenue generation. But as doing this in-house can be a costly and time-consuming affair, it has become economically wise to outsource the responsibilities to a professional digital marketing agency.

 

Given that there are so many aspects to digital marketing, it’s important to understand and have absolute clarity on your desired outcome. Every agency may not have expertise across all the verticals of digital marketing. Some are stronger in creating websites but may not be adept with SEO while the others will have a niche expertise in pay per click (PPC) advertising and social media strategies. The clarity in objective will help you narrow down to the perfect agency with the required expertise that will help you reach your goal.

 

Here are some of top attributes to look for while choosing a digital marketing agency:

Agency’s Approach to Digital Marketing

Source: PNGITEM

One of the first things to look for is how the agency perceives digital marketing as a concept. Spend some time having discussions with the agency and understand how much they have explored in the digital universe. Question the agency’s methodology and if they are able to present a rationale backed by legitimate resources and reports, you know you will be in good hands. It proves that they assess data before making decisions instead of blindly following trends. It is also important for the digital marketing agency to be well-versed with the technical side of things and stay up to date with the latest industry trends.

Estimated and Promised Results

Source: 3C Software

The kind of results that the agency estimates is a reflection of how well they understand the digital industry. Any agency offering instant results and promising immediate revenue generation and brand awareness is a major red flag since all forms of digital marketing are long term strategies. Realistically estimated outcomes may not be as attractive but you can be assured that they will be achieved via transparent methods that will always keep you in the loop. Too many variables impact the end result and not even the best digital marketing agency in the world can guarantee good and quick results. 

Digital Presence Evaluation

Source: VH

One of the first things to do while deciding on a digital marketing agency is study the digital presence of the agency. Experts know the value of clear communication, good design and a great UI experience. If you visit the website of an agency and find yourself confused as to where to proceed next and how to navigate, it’s probably not a good sign. If you are satisfied with the prima facie visit and have had a good experience on the website, check out if they have an active and attractive social media presence. If you like their digital presence, it is most likely that the quality of their work for your brand will also impress you.

Pricing Packages

Source: UpLabs

While budget plays a major role in selecting the right agency, it is important that it isn’t the only deciding factor. There are quite a few agencies that offer attractive packages at a very low price range. But it is important as an organisation for you to understand the way they function and if they will be able to offer qualitative service while keeping their cost low. Have a discussion with your agencies about the kind of time they will be investing and the resources that they will be utilising to reach a better understanding. Agencies quoting a premium pricing plan are bound to direct more resources towards your brand and churn out quality work. 

References and Reviews

Source: Experis

When selecting the right digital marketing agency, always make sure to go through all the testimonials, reviews on Google and other platforms. Unlike their website and social media platforms, where only the positive reviews are displayed, make sure you check their Google reviews. This can give you access to the negative reviews, if any, and help you understand what challenges the agency faces and where they struggle. One of the key aspects to watch out for is the complete absence of reviews altogether. It’s best to avoid an agency exhibiting no reviews as it shows a gap in understanding the field of digital marketing. 

In conclusion, it is vital to have many conversations with a potential agency to understand their style of functioning and build a certain level of trust and comfort. A digital presence is pivotal in driving sales today and an absence can cause you to lose out on a substantial amount of leads. Digital Marketing is an ever evolving game that takes a considerable amount of time and effort to show significant results. So choose your digital marketing partner wisely.

Creatives 7 Reasons | Till It Clicks

7 Reasons Why Your B2C Business is Plagued by Poor Customer Engagement

Having a long-lasting, loyal customer base in today’s hyper-competitive environment can be extremely difficult for businesses. Also, with brand loyalty fleeting, the cost of customer acquisition is shooting up at a staggering rate. Taking proactive measures to enhance customer engagement is the only viable solution for brands to overcome this challenge.

But to take customer engagement to the next level and deliver better experiences, it is necessary to first understand the existing problems. This blog sheds light on the critical problems affecting customer engagement and ultimately taking a toll on your business’ conversions, profits, and customer retention.

Following are the top 7 reasons why your brand might be failing to keep customers engaged.

1. Poor Website UI/UX

UI-UX Development | Till It Clicks

Source: Codism

Your website is your business’ digital storefront. If the design and user experience are not attractive and user-friendly, customers will not stay on your website long enough. Outdated designs and a sluggish user experience can easily drive away potential customers and affect your business.

2. Oblivious to Customer Problems

Customer-Problem | Till It clicks

Source: WiredPlus

Enhancing customer engagement can be very tricky, especially when you are not aware of the problems customers are facing. Setting up an effective customer feedback system is necessary. This can help you gain crucial insights into the key improvement areas of your product/ service. As a result, you can make required changes and enhance customer engagement significantly.

3. Reliance On a Reactive Engagement Model

Marketing-Outreach | Till It Clicks

Source: JFG

Gone are the days when customer engagement and service followed the reactive route. Engagement today is the outcome of your marketing outreach efforts. You can’t expect customers to easily get attracted to your brand. Instead, you have to strive hard and proactively create brand stickiness to keep your customers engaged.

4. Absence of Personalised, Targeted Strategies

Personalized-Marketing | Till It Clicks

Source: Froggy

Customised and targeted marketing strategies are beneficial for brands to deliver personalised and relevant experiences to their customers. The more customers relate to your product/ service, the more it helps in keeping them hooked to your brand for a longer duration. However, if you fail to incorporate the personalisation element, your brand is very likely to create a bad first impression and fail to engage the potential customers.

5. Not Having an Omnichannel Presence

Omni channel-Presence | Till It Clicks

Interactions across different channels and mediums help in reinforcing customers’ trust in your brand. Omnichannel presence also enables brands to be consistently visible and accessible to potential customers. This also plays a huge role in boosting customer engagement levels.

6. Low Bandwidth and Inadequate Resources

Inadequate-Resources | Till It Clicks

Source: OnlineBusiness

Time and resources are imperative when bringing effective customer engagement strategies to fruition. However, most brands fail to recognise the value of these factors. As a result, they do not have the time or resources to focus on customer engagement strategies and end up struggling to connect with their customers.

7. Lack of Powerful Customer Communication

Customer-Communication | Till It Clicks

Source: REVE Chat

Communication is at the heart of your business growth. It has the power to make or break your business. Establishing and maintaining seamless customer communication across both online and offline channels is a vital necessity. It can drive high customer engagement, and thus deliver substantial outcomes for your business.

Customer engagement can be a hard row to hoe for every business, irrespective of its size and type. Get rid of the above mentioned 7 problems to successfully step up customer engagement and boost your business growth. Craft meaningful strategies and improve your brand’s customer engagement metrics with TIC. Contact us to know more about how our seasoned marketers can help you drive up customer engagement for your business.