There is no question that video is now an important marketing tool and will be for the foreseeable future. But how do you add a video to your email marketing campaigns?
I am sure that you will have noticed that many organisations now turning to video to enhance their news, updates, helpful tips and other information. COVID-19 made ‘Zoom’ and ‘Teams’ names that every business person has recently become aware of, practically overnight. As many of us are working remotely and not able to engage in person it’s easy to see that video can fill an important gap.
Video is now becoming more important as a marketing tool and is likely be for the foreseeable future, but how do you add a video to your Email Marketing Campaigns? There are some important factors to consider as it is vital that you get this right, there is nothing worse than clicking a play button only to discover that it doesn’t work, or worse still, just offers an empty box on the page where your video should be.
Bear in mind that most commonly used email clients including, Outlook, Gmail and Yahoo, do not support video within the body of an email. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a video within your campaign, it just means that you have to approach it from a different angle to get a video in front of your reader.
Embedding Video in Your Email Campaign
The easiest way to insert a video into your email campaign is to simply create an engaging still from the video and link this to the operational video hosted online. This could be on YouTube, Vimeo or another public video hosting platform. However, a better option would to be to link this to a page on your website where the video is embedded and set to play automatically. This means that when the user clicks on the video not only does it start playing for them automatically, but they are also now on your website where (hopefully) you have other content for them to consume and engage with.
Movement attracts attention
As an alternative to using a still image another technique is to use an animated gif. This is more complex than just using a static image, but the addition of movement into the body of your email can really attract attention
If you have your own design team they should be able to create the necessary gif’s for you. If that’s not the case then you can speak to our design team for this service. In addition there are online tools which can automatically generate gif’s from image sets that you upload. Once you have an animated gif you use it within your campaigns in the same way as a static image.
Placement is important
Make sure you pick the perfect spot within your campaign to place your image or animated gif. If you put it right at the bottom of your campaign and make people scroll (yawn) to get to it they are likely not to see it and therefore not click to watch your video. Ideally you want a short piece of text at the top of your email and then your ‘video’ underneath.
Top Tip – Just push play
Whichever route you take, either inserting an animated gif or a static image, make sure you include a play button on the gif/image to tell the viewer that it is a video and thus encourage them to click through to your content.
If you are struggling to get a video in your campaign or if you would like us to review your campaign before you send it, just drop us a line, we are a friendly bunch and always happy to help! 01603 858250 / communicate@smartmessenger.co.uk
Nothing stands still in the social media world for long, that’s part of the reason we love it so much – there’s rarely a dull moment. But, just when you thought the trend of here-today-gone-tomorrow content was done with, along comes Twitter with its oddly named Fleets.
A squished-up version of ‘fleeting moments’, Fleets last just 24 hours, and are to Twitter what Stories are to LinkedIn and Instagram and, more recently, Vanish mode is to Messenger and Instagram. Or what they all are to Snapchat.
Confused? Let us explain. The boffins at Twitter wanted to give new or shy users the chance to dip a toe in the platform’s conversational waters, without getting bogged down in likes and retweets.
With us so far? Jolly good. Now, this is where Fleets come in. Users can post text, or reactions to tweets with the tweet attached, as well as photos and videos, all of which can be personalised with snazzy backgrounds or fonts.
Here’s where you can go a bit cross-eyed if you don’t pay attention. You can reply to Fleets by sending a private Direct Message, but only if you follow the person you’re contacting and they follow you OR if the person you want to reply to has their Direct Messages set to open.
“We’ve learned that some people feel more comfortable joining conversations on Twitter with this ephemeral format, so what they’re saying lives just for a moment in time,” wrote Joshua Harris, director of design, and Sam Haveson, product manager, in a blog.
We’ll have to wait and see if Fleets bring a host of new blood to the platform, but the feature certainly has got its work cut out for it with the sudden rush of short-term competition. Tell us which are your favourites and we’ll tell you ours…
We’re 24 fingers, a digital marketing agency and a proud member of the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Excel Business Networking Group, the Trusted Business Community and the Organisation for Responsible Businesses. If you’re feeling all fingers and thumbs with your online marketing, use our hands (and hearts and minds) to get extra digits on your bottom line. Book your free strategy call here.
Did you know you can also use text marketing for appointment reminders?
Everyone needs an appointment
It used to be that appointments were used only in a few businesses, so people were used to remembering them. As rules change, more and more businesses are finding they now have to use appointments in order to safely manage the risk of coronavirus. Appointments are the perfect way to ensure you’re keeping everyone safe, but there is always a risk of customers forgetting and not turning up. You can’t stop making appointments or overbook and risk too many people turning up at once, so what do you do?
Help stop no-shows
With text reminders, you significantly reduce the risk of no shows by reminding customers about their appointment without the need to make time-sapping reminder phone calls. Unlike other forms of marketing, text messaging has high open rates and fast response times, meaning customers will soon let you know if they can’t make it.
It’s relatively easy to miss or ignore an email and reminder calls are not only time-consuming for you to make, they are unlikely to be made at a convenient time for every customer. Text reminders are the perfect way to get a short message across to customers without intruding on their day.
Not only do text messages cost significantly less than traditional methods, but the reduction in no shows will also mean you’re better off. The best thing to do is to send reminders with enough notice that they can rebook if necessary, without causing too much disruption, but not so much notice that they forget to show up. Most businesses send reminders 24 hours before an appointment, but of course, this part is up to you.
What to include
The main information you should include is the recipient’s name, date and time of their appointment, and where the appointment is being held. If suitable you can also include additional information, such as anything they need to bring, link to a map, photo of the front of your building or other important things they may need to know.
As well as reminding people about their upcoming appointment, it’s good practice to give them an opportunity to rebook. You may be thinking that giving them the ability to change their appointment could cost you but actually, the more intuitive and user-friendly your messages are, the better! Surely, it’s better to have someone rebook than not turn up and disappear forever?
With Smart Messenger Text Messaging you can include links and attachments so that recipients have everything they need in one place.
If you do have a cancellation and a waiting list of people, you may wish to text your waiting list to inform them of the availability.
Mind your tone
How you word your message is key. It should be informative and get to the point but you also want to make sure it’s coming off as friendly and welcoming. Customers should feel as though they can easily call or text you back should they need to and they will be met with a friendly tone. The best advice is to keep the message as short and simple as possible, after all, you’re just reminding them about an appointment, not marketing to them!
Business cost
You might be thinking that text reminders sound like they’ll be a great addition to your business but are wondering if they’re costly to implement. The answer is no, with Smart Messenger we can build a package to suit your needs so whether you’re sending messages to ten or a thousand people we’ll find the right solution for your business. Our prices start from just £10 per month.
If you’d like to find out how text messaging can help reduce your no shows and boost customer satisfaction, get in touch.
Email marketing works best when you have a dedicated list of recipients who gain value from the content you share. Email marketing works best when you have a dedicated list of recipients who gain value from the content you share.
It’s no good having a massive list if those contacts are never going to bother opening your campaigns. So instead, focus on getting sign-ups to your email list from people who are genuinely interested. Those are the recipients who are most likely to engage and ultimately work with you.
Building your email list from scratch isn’t an easy task, but there are tried-and-tested ways to create a good one. We’re going to show you how in five steps.
Step 1: Make a compelling offer
Before anybody signs up to your email list, it’s important to tell them what content you intend to share. As an expert in your industry, you may be sending out news and views, thought leadership pieces, instructional guides or updates about events. If you are not sure what to write, read our blog ‘Help! What content should I create for my email marketing campaigns?’ for inspiration.
Once you’ve decided what kind of valuable content you intend to share, make it clear whenever you ask people to sign up to your list. Whether that’s a pop-up banner, a landing page or a call to action at the end of a blog post, explain exactly what they’re signing up for. If a reader enjoys a blog you’ve shared on LinkedIn, they may well be compelled to sign up to your email list to read more. Give them the opportunity by clarifying your compelling offer and what they can expect.
Step 2: Position your sign-up forms
Deciding how to position your sign-up forms is tricky. You want them to be prominent and eye-catching, but not irritating and off-putting. Some businesses use pop-up forms on their websites, which may increase the quantity of sign-ups, but these do run the risk of annoying visitors. It’s vital not to give the impression that your email marketing will be spammy. So, try to strike a balance about when using them.
That said, you want to provide plenty of opportunities to sign up to your email list across your website and social media platforms. Be logical about where you place your sign-up form, like beside each blog post. You can also have a floating bar on each page so as the visitor scrolls through, it remains visible for them to sign up. You can also place the sign-up form in either the header or footer of your website pages too.
Step 3: Keep it simple
You don’t need a lot of data from the people signing up for your email list, so don’t ask for it. Whatever email marketing platform you use, whether it’s one of the big-name companies or a Mailchimp alternative like Smart Messenger, you only need the email address itself to get started. You may be keen to personalise each email, so you are addressing the recipient by name, so you can ask for a name and email address if you want. However, it’s good to remember that the less you ask from people, the more likely they are to sign-up.
Remember that you are legally obliged to process data in line with the rules of GDPR. So, you must be clear on every sign-up, whether that’s an online form or if you are collecting data at events or networking, precisely what you are using people’s data for. In doing this, you give people signing up the chance to be clear on what to expect and to judge whether your campaigns will be of legitimate interest to them.
Step 4: Develop multiple ways to get sign-ups
It’s not enough to simply host a form on your website and expect to get more sign-ups to your email list. You need to be multi-faceted in your approach. Consider options like hosting webinars or events where, when people sign up to attend, they also sign up to your email list. By making sure that the event/webinar/session aligns with the content you share, you’ll know the people joining your list are genuinely interested.
Use your social media to its full advantage too. Put links to your sign-up form in the bios of all your social accounts and regularly put the link at the bottom of your longer posts. This works well when you are posting blogs on social media, so the reader can get on the list to directly receive more content like the piece they’ve just enjoyed.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask the people on your email list to share your emails with their network. Not only does this help you to reach more people, but a forwarded email comes with social proof because it’s been recommended by somebody independent of your organisation.
Step 5: Cultivate your sender reputation
Having a good sender reputation is a bit like having a good credit score, it’s something you need if you want to succeed. These days, email service providers act as gatekeepers of their customers’ inboxes, and they judge marketing emails on sender reputation before they allow them to pass.
If people routinely unsubscribe, report or send your email to the spam box, your sender reputation will plummet. That’s why it’s vital to share content that is valuable and genuinely useful to your email list. Instead of being dumped in the spam box, a good sender reputation helps improve your chances of making the recipients inbox and being read.
Your history plays a massive part in determining whether you make it through to inbox nirvana. Email service providers will check whether you’ve had good open rates, low spam complaints and minimal bounce rates. Make sure your campaign history and sender reputation are something to be proud of.
We hope this helps you to get started on building a great email list and please do sign up to our email list for more content like this and information about Smart Messenger.
If you’d like to learn more about email marketing from our Smart Messenger experts, please get in touch.It’s no good having a massive list if those contacts are never going to bother opening your campaigns. So instead, focus on getting sign-ups to your email list from people who are genuinely interested. Those are the recipients who are most likely to engage and ultimately work with you.
Building your email list from scratch isn’t an easy task, but there are tried-and-tested ways to create a good one. We’re going to show you how in five steps.
Step 1: Make a compelling offer
Before anybody signs up to your email list, it’s important to tell them what content you intend to share. As an expert in your industry, you may be sending out news and views, thought leadership pieces, instructional guides or updates about events. If you are not sure what to write, read our blog ‘Help! What content should I create for my email marketing campaigns?’ for inspiration.
Once you’ve decided what kind of valuable content you intend to share, make it clear whenever you ask people to sign up to your list. Whether that’s a pop-up banner, a landing page or a call to action at the end of a blog post, explain exactly what they’re signing up for. If a reader enjoys a blog you’ve shared on LinkedIn, they may well be compelled to sign up to your email list to read more. Give them the opportunity by clarifying your compelling offer and what they can expect.
Step 2: Position your sign-up forms
Deciding how to position your sign-up forms is tricky. You want them to be prominent and eye-catching, but not irritating and off-putting. Some businesses use pop-up forms on their websites, which may increase the quantity of sign-ups, but these do run the risk of annoying visitors. It’s vital not to give the impression that your email marketing will be spammy. So, try to strike a balance about when using them.
That said, you want to provide plenty of opportunities to sign up to your email list across your website and social media platforms. Be logical about where you place your sign-up form, like beside each blog post. You can also have a floating bar on each page so as the visitor scrolls through, it remains visible for them to sign up. You can also place the sign-up form in either the header or footer of your website pages too.
Step 3: Keep it simple
You don’t need a lot of data from the people signing up for your email list, so don’t ask for it. Whatever email marketing platform you use, whether it’s one of the big-name companies or a Mailchimp alternative like Smart Messenger, you only need the email address itself to get started. You may be keen to personalise each email, so you are addressing the recipient by name, so you can ask for a name and email address if you want. However, it’s good to remember that the less you ask from people, the more likely they are to sign-up.
Remember that you are legally obliged to process data in line with the rules of GDPR. So, you must be clear on every sign-up, whether that’s an online form or if you are collecting data at events or networking, precisely what you are using people’s data for. In doing this, you give people signing up the chance to be clear on what to expect and to judge whether your campaigns will be of legitimate interest to them.
Step 4: Develop multiple ways to get sign-ups
It’s not enough to simply host a form on your website and expect to get more sign-ups to your email list. You need to be multi-faceted in your approach. Consider options like hosting webinars or events where, when people sign up to attend, they also sign up to your email list. By making sure that the event/webinar/session aligns with the content you share, you’ll know the people joining your list are genuinely interested.
Use your social media to its full advantage too. Put links to your sign-up form in the bios of all your social accounts and regularly put the link at the bottom of your longer posts. This works well when you are posting blogs on social media, so the reader can get on the list to directly receive more content like the piece they’ve just enjoyed.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask the people on your email list to share your emails with their network. Not only does this help you to reach more people, but a forwarded email comes with social proof because it’s been recommended by somebody independent of your organisation.
Step 5: Cultivate your sender reputation
Having a good sender reputation is a bit like having a good credit score, it’s something you need if you want to succeed. These days, email service providers act as gatekeepers of their customers’ inboxes, and they judge marketing emails on sender reputation before they allow them to pass.
If people routinely unsubscribe, report or send your email to the spam box, your sender reputation will plummet. That’s why it’s vital to share content that is valuable and genuinely useful to your email list. Instead of being dumped in the spam box, a good sender reputation helps improve your chances of making the recipients inbox and being read.
Your history plays a massive part in determining whether you make it through to inbox nirvana. Email service providers will check whether you’ve had good open rates, low spam complaints and minimal bounce rates. Make sure your campaign history and sender reputation are something to be proud of.
We hope this helps you to get started on building a great email list and please do sign up to our email list for more content like this and information about Smart Messenger.
If you’d like to learn more about email marketing from our Smart Messenger experts, please get in touch.
There was a time, not so long ago, when watching live telly was a national pastime, from Saturday morning kids’ shows to special episodes of EastEnders. Knowing it was being broadcast as we watched was thrilling – and hilarious if something went wrong.
The rise of the internet and smartphones has put the power of live broadcasting into everyone’s hands, and while there’s less chance of an elephant having a poo on our living room floors (Ed’s note: poor John Noakes), the content being created by entrepreneurs and influencers can be every bit as compelling.
It’s no surprise that Instagram also offers live streaming on its platform, alongside Facebook and YouTube. But is Instagram Live of any use to business owners? Absolutely. Allow us to explain…
Lights…
If you’re planning to plunge into the livestreaming world using Instagram, it’s easy peasy. First swipe right from your feed to open the Stories Camera. Then tap ‘Live’, followed by ‘Start Live Video’. Easy peasy.
The trickier part is making sure your video is one worth watching, so let’s rewind a little. First of all, do your homework – has anyone else posted videos about the subject, product or service you plan to cover? If not – great. But if they have, can you put a must-see spin on it that will turn viewers into customers?
Camera…
Next, get in touch with your ideal audience. All the world may be a stage and us mere players on it, but nobody wants to speak to an empty house. Use the countdown sticker in Instagram Stories or post on your Instagram Feed to give your followers a heads up.
Timing is everything too, so check your analytics to ensure you’ll be grabbing your target audience at the moment when they’re most receptive (and willing to buy).
Action!
You can also partner up with a creator or business collaborator, or even a follower for your Instagram Live if you’re not keen on flying solo for your video debut (though remember what happened to The Supremes…). The ‘Using Live With’ button is a great way to build anticipation and even engage a wider audience before you’ve even uttered a single word.
When you finally push the button and go live, you can interact with your viewers using a Q&A, either by taking questions during the stream or via the Questions sticker in Instagram Stories. Having a few in the bank before you get going is a great way to avoid any awkward pauses. Audiences prefer longer live streams, so aim for at least 10 minutes.
Stick to the script
Chances are your viewers will be receptive and friendly, but to make sure the entire process is a positive community experience, don’t forget to turn on the comment moderation button.
Open Instagram settings, scroll down to Privacy and then choose Comments. Here, you can filter out replies containing specific words or phrases, or use the Manual Filter to select your own words or phrases that you don’t want to pop up onscreen.
Cut! That’s a wrap
When you’ve finished your Instagram Live, don’t forget to promote it in your Stories, where it will remain for 24 hours before being automatically deleted.
You can, of course, hang on to your magnum opus for longer, by downloading it from Instagram TV (IGTV). It’s a good idea to watch your videos back and critique them as objectively as possible. Which bits did viewers respond to the most, and what made them turn them off? You can use that information while planning your next video.
If you’re still gripped by stage fright, don’t worry. Drop us a line and we’ll soon have you ready for your close up, Mr DeMille…
We’re 24 fingers, a digital marketing agency and a proud member of the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Excel Business Networking Group, the Trusted Business Community, the Organisation for Responsible Businesses and the Rotary Club of Brentwood à Becket. If you’re feeling all fingers and thumbs with your online marketing, use our hands (and hearts and minds) to get extra digits on your bottom line. Book your free strategy call here.
GIF’s are becoming increasingly common in email marketing campaigns. So, why should you be using them?
GIFs or Graphics Interchange Formats if you want to be technical, are essentially a series of images that quickly scroll through, giving the illusion of motion. They’re becoming increasingly common in email marketing campaigns, with a recent Litmus Survey showing over 50% of companies now use GIFs on a semi-regular basis.
They draw attention
The movement of a GIF can be enough to draw a recipient’s attention to the desired area. Unlike videos, which can be a little overwhelming in an email, GIFs are a great way to make sure recipients head straight for the most important part of an email – typically this would be your call to action or a product you’re promoting. If you’re showcasing a product that has moving parts, a GIF can be the perfect way to demonstrate how it works.
Show more
GIFS are a fantastic way to show more of what you do without the need for a lengthy email. Keep your body text short and to the point to let the GIF speak for itself – perfect for scrolling through products or showcasing services. Another application is to show variations of the same product, a recipient might not be attracted to a certain colour, so by utilising the movement of a GIF you could use it to scroll through different colour options. By showing off the different versions recipients are more likely to see one they like and engage.
Walk-throughs
Another brilliant way to utilise the movement of a GIF is by using it to walk recipients through an aspect of your product or business. It could be that you’ve rolled out a new-look website and need to let them know about some functionality changes, or perhaps you’re just offering a little behind-the-scenes look at processes – either way, GIFs can be used very effectively here.
They’re fun!
Let’s be honest, GIFs are just way more fun than a static picture! By including an eye-catching GIF in your email you’re showing recipients your fun side, just imagine their happy face as they open your email to be greeted by a GIF. They don’t have to be funny to be fun, something as simple as an animated drink being poured can be fun enough. By adding personality you’re helping recipients connect with your business on an emotional level, something that encourages brand loyalty.
The golden GIF rules
If you’re going to include them in emails there are a few golden GIF rules you should be aware of before you do.
Firstly, not all browsers support GIFs and in this instance will only display the first image. You should, therefore, always ensure the first image is the most important one (and one you would be happy for recipients to only see).
Secondly, they should be used tastefully and not tacky i.e. no big flashing images or rapid scrolling that will likely induce nausea and headaches! GIFs should complement the body text of your email as opposed to drawing attention away from it, so try to avoid anything too over-the-top and flashy.
Thirdly, you should use GIFs sparingly. We’ve all heard the saying “too much of a good thing”, while GIFs are fun and can be used to help you stand out, you also don’t want to overdo it. Not only will an email crammed full of GIFs draw away from your reason for emailing, but it will also likely result in your email going straight in the bin. Use them every now and then to keep things fresh and engaging.
Finally, bear in mind file size, as some GIFs can be large. The larger the file the slower the load time of your email, something that results in recipients clicking off and finding another, quicker to load, email to read.
Where to get them from
The safest option in terms of copyright is to create your own, speak to our design team about your ideas and we will help you to make them a reality.
You can find this article and many more from Smart Messenger here
When we say, “Just call us!” we mean it and remember that our support is unlimited. Our friendly team are based in Norwich, UK and are ready to pick up the phone.
For millions of businesses across the country, 2020 was pretty much one to forget, and this year isn’t panning out quite as many had hoped. But it hasn’t been all doom and gloom for Instagram.
Last year it rolled out live video, search and reels – and that was just the stuff available to UK users – and the Facebook-owned social media platform ain’t done yet.
It has launched the Professional Dashboard, a one-stop-shop for everyone with a business and creator account, where they can track their performance, find and try out professional tools, and access carefully selected educational information.
Some of the features were already available, but Instagram has said Professional Dashboard brought them all together in one place, and will help users:
Track their performance by helping gain insights and identify trends based on their account performance.
Grow their business by easily accessing tools they use to run their account more efficiently and discovering new tools to help build their business.
Stay informed by getting the most out of Instagram using resources such as tips, tricks, guidance and inspiration.
Excitingly, Instagram plans to add more to Professional Dashboard over time, and it’s already piqued plenty of interest, with 82 million accounts visiting the Professional Resources hub to date, while 37 million accounts have tapped on at least one item.
Once you’ve visited, and you’ve got all that luvverly data, give us a shout and we’ll help you work out what it really means for your business and how to implement it within your social media strategy. Advice sessions come for free here.
We’re 24 fingers, a digital marketing agency and a proud member of the 42 Club, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Excel Business Networking Group, the Trusted Business Community, the Organisation for Responsible Businesses and the Rotary Club of Brentwood à Becket. We help companies who are all fingers and thumbs with their social media grow their business and brand. Book your free strategy call here.
Education is ultimately about enabling individuals to realise their full potential
Education is ultimately about enabling individuals to realise their full potential. It is meant to be a transformative experience, and it needs to take place in a physical environment which enables and encourages the optimum outcome for each student. Whilst acknowledging operational and functional requirements, it is this educational goal that should primarily drive a vision for the future of our educational establishments, and their wider campus as places that are intrinsic to this transformative process
Educational establishments must continue to develop their campus’s built and natural environments to reflect current pedagogical practices, as well as meeting the expectations of prospective students and professionals. Upgrading of campus digital learning facilities must be keep pace with industry standards if educational institutions are to produce graduates with cutting edge skills and the expertise to be innovative in the UK’s rapidly evolving digital industries where the pace of change is fast and old technologies quickly become outdated.
Delivery of this infrastructure is particularly crucial in higher education establishments where the campus environment and facilities on offer are key to attracting the most talented students, ensuring courses run cost effectively to full capacity and therefore secure ongoing funding.
The design challenge for professionals is twofold: Firstly, given the pace of innovation and change in modern times how do we future-proof the designed environment to adapt to change, avoid obsoletion and provide longevity for clients?
Secondly, how can innovation in the design of the educational environment support the development of the digital skills and connections required by local businesses and growth industries to fulfill their growth ambitions?
In 2018 the digitech sector is growing 2.6 times faster than the rest of the UK economy, with overall sector value increased by £14 billion from £170bn in 2016 to £184bn in 2017.(1) Britain is leading Europe in tech investment, in 2017 it attracted $7.8 billion of funding, almost double the amount received in 2016, compared to France and Germany’s combined total of $6 billion. The Prime Minister reaffirmed that the UK’s leadership is set to grow as the governments modern Industrial Strategy delivers a package of benefits to drive further investment in centres of UK expertise including government funding incentives, and greater access to talent and data under new plans.(2)
Currently, some 2.1 million people are now employed in the digital tech economy and a new digital tech job is created in the UK every 50 minutes.(3) This makes the digital technology industry a major driver of the UK economy and sets the imperative to boost industry skills and productivity in the East.
Norwich has a fast growing digital tech economy and is becoming a thriving digital hub, attracting and creating digital tech businesses such as Rainbird AI, Validus-IVC and Epos Now.(4) Located directly on the A11, Norwich has the opportunity to form the educational breeding ground and gateway to the wider A11 Norwich – Cambridge Tech Corridor. This corridor has the potential to bringing with it thousands of jobs and more than £500 million in investment.(5) This advantageous positioning renders the creation of a local digi-tech savvy workforce a strong focus of the education agenda for Norwich in order to capitalise on the opportunity it represents to fuel the growth the sector within the city.
The catalysation of growth in this strategically important sector a requires the nurturing of talent in the next generation of digital technology professionals by providing specialist industry focussed training, skills and business development to support their development.
Ideally situated for the establishment of a Digi-Tech centre of educational excellence, the creation of a flagship Digi-Tech Hub in Norwich with first class educational facilities for the delivery of innovative educational programmes designed to meet the skill requirements and drive innovation within the dynamic and rapidly evolving digital tech industry is vital to the future of the local economy.
So, in answer to the questions posed at the beginning of this article, the design of future-proofed campus environments that have the flexibility to adapt to keep pace with changes in digital technologies must be multi-faceted in its approach.
1. Design in digital infrastructure
The next generation of digital educational spaces need to create an immersive digital-technology environment embedded with future-proof ICT infrastructure which delivers both the capacity and capability to support the latest technology and the provides space to grow and upgrade as necessary to stay at the forefront of teaching ion terms of technological innovation. Achieving this requires a collaborative approach to pool specialist knowledge in order to find innovative ways to deliver cutting edge infrastructure coordinated between architects, project managers and IT specialists to achieve a joined-up result.
2. Flexibility and adaptability: Anticipate and design for change
In response to changing student profiles and ever-evolving educational policies, educational institutions are coming under increasing pressure to be flexible and dynamic in order to meet government and industry demands and student expectations.
Educational spaces and facilities should be designed not just in response to the current needs of teachers and students but to also accommodate changes and fluctuations to student numbers, courses, educational programming and focus over the coming years. Multidisciplinary practices, accustomed to approaching issues from differing perspectives, are perhaps at an advantage when it comes to designing spaces that can meet the diverse needs of a variety of stakeholders, including education professionals, full time, adult and apprentice students.
As for designing to support the development of the digital skills and connections, the campus built environment is critical to supporting the development of new relationships and collaborations which lead to innovation, new business start-ups and the development of a completive advantage for both educational institutions and the industry sectors which are reliant on the talents and skills of graduates supplied to them by universities and colleges.
3. Create social learning and networking spaces
Social leaning is now recognised by leading universities such as Havard (6) and the University of Sheffield as being essential to creating an engaging leaning environment where people have opportunities to connect and collaborate. Consequently both universities have invested heavily in the design and programming of their campus environments in order to create opportunities for the kind of social interaction that facilitate making connections and foster collaborations across faculties in order to sustain their reputations as lading innovative universities.
“The University has in recent years provided increasing numbers of high quality informal meeting spaces particularly where interdisciplinary discussions can take place. These spaces are essential in a modern research based University which is relying upon innovation between disciplines in order to explore the potential for new research and development. Similar high quality external spaces are lacking and will form a vital component of our Masterplan.” (7) Sheffield University, 2015
A 2011 study by the University of Queensland confirmed that social learning spaces can contribute to enhanced student engagement by fostering active learning, social interaction and belonging amongst tertiary students and suggested that the design of these spaces is integral to students’ perceptions of social learning spaces.
The creation of social leaning spaces and break-out areas for collaborative learning spaces where students can meet with guest speakers, industry experts and other students on different courses is key to creating a dynamic learning environment that reflects the modern day workplace environment. These spaces create settings where a dialogue can be created between people with a variety of digital tech skill specialisms, facilitating the meeting and exchange of ideas, and through doing so spark new ideas and collaborations that drive innovation.
Pro:works take a holistic view of education that considers the student’s learning experience and learning outside of scheduled classes. Attention is given to the total leaning environment, including how pedestrian flows and landscape design can be directed and shaped to bring people from different learning disciples together into shared social spaces to create new flexible platforms for both formal learning and informal social encounters across the campus to extend leaning opportunities beyond the confines of classroom walls. As a multi-disciplinary team, Pro:works have the in-house expertise required to integrate these informal social leaning environments to work alongside more traditional classroom areas and computing labs and facilities, staff and storage areas to ensure a robust and seamless integration of both educational and functional facilities to create truly innovative places for learning.
4. Incubate on campus
Student – industry collaborations can be fostered with the provision of on-site digi-tech start-up incubation units which provide talented students, graduates and local businesses with dedicated spaces start up new ventures. These spaces become part of the educational service offering key to attracting students and inviting digital start ups. The integration of education and industry on campus can improve employment prospects and create a fluid transition from college to workplace within a supportive environment. Strong connections and recruitment opportunities can be forged with local companies who can provide a continuous feedback loop on graduates skills sets and emerging skill needs within the digitech industry which can be used to guide the development of courses to ensure they remain at the forefront of digital-technology education.
5. Collaborate
Complex projects, often run to tight delivery timescales require specialist expertise from multiple consultants in order to find creative and innovative solutions to projects within the constraints of the projects required timeframe. This is why a collaborative approach between a network of trusted experts with long standing relationships creates cost effective knowledge sharing that can lead to innovation and facilitate the management of project to bring them to a close on time and on budget. This is the Pro:works collaborative approach. As a multi-disciplinary team with a diverse complimentary skill set, Pro:works are skilled at design, project management and co-ordination as industry specialists.
A flexible company business model allows us to be adaptable in our approach to meeting the challenges of the fast-paced digital era. As such we are well versed in flexible approaches to design that create relationships which allow for adaptability and move with the times. This kind of flexibility is at the core of our ethos and is translated into our designs to create educational spaces and working practices that can evolve over time to meet the needs of students now and in the future. This design approach facilitates our education sector clients in gaining the competitive edge that allows them to emerge as market-leading educators for the digital generation and to have the flexibility within their built environments to accommodate change to maintain this competitive advantage to support growth and innovation.
As I read the email from my usual supermarket, the third I had received in as many weeks, it struck me that a month ago, I would probably have simply deleted it as irrelevant when it landed in my inbox. How times have changed, and with it, our thirst for knowledge.
They say knowledge is power and indeed, it can feel like it in these unprecedented times. The more access we have to relevant and factual information, the more able we are to make the right decisions and do the right things to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. And the more able we are to make a difference for society as a whole.
And so now, more than ever, organisations need to engage people through effective communications. As well as giving people the information they need – such as the Tesco CEO is doing in letting me know how can I pick up the food my family needs safely – we also need to take people with us, including on the journey that we all now find ourselves on.
So how can we engage people through our communications, keeping connected to our staff and customers, through this and beyond? Here are some key principles:
Make it consistent: striking a balance between information overload and too few updates is important. We need to maintain regular channels of communication, and ensure that a communications void doesn’t open up between us and our staff and customers;
Make it factual, clear, and accessible: we need to be really clear on the facts, particularly at a time when there is so much confusion, false messaging, myths and legends around. Through clarity – including and especially in language use – we can make our messages accessible to the widest possible audience – which is vital. We have a duty to not exclude anyone from the messages we are sharing;
Be positive: we know that things are tough right now but it’s ok to be positive in our communications. We can be hopeful, which leads us onto…
Reassure: people are desperate for reassurance and whilst we can’t and shouldn’t give false hope we can give reassurance around what we can and will do;
Invite feedback and questions: people will want more information, and may have questions, and this is important as communications and engagement isn’t a one way street, it’s a two way dialogue. But – and this leads us on to…
Be realistic: our customer service, and indeed other services – understandably – may be creaking at the seams. It’s ok to say so and manage expectations around response times;
Be collaborative: our communications messages should at all times, and now more so than ever, have an equality to them. We are working together in partnership.
Perhaps though one of the most important qualities which comes through the best communications at this time is authenticity, the human touch. We are all going through something which is at turns confusing, scary, and upsetting. Sharing company messages with a human touch instantly allows us to connect to others: and we all need to feel connected, especially now.
May you stay safe and stay well at this time, knowing this too shall pass.
Every successful business needs a reliable online meeting platform to grow and nourish internal and external relationships. But how do you know which platform will best suit you and your business?
Sure, there are many great options around, but choosing one that will provide all of the features you are looking for may be difficult. Every business is different and thus will have different needs. This is still true when it comes to video conferencing applications.
The first step in making this decision is considering your priorities and needs. How many employees will use the conferencing platform? How many clients? What type of online meetings are you looking to host (for example, webinars, networking events, lectures)? Do you care about having a branded interface? Are you looking for a platform that won’t put a time limit on your video calls? Can I talk to someone who understands my requirements?
Once you know what features and functions you need most to become more efficient and productive, you can begin looking at which platforms suit you best.
We have made a helpful graphic with a comparison of the main video conferencing platforms’ features.
One thing you will notice very soon is that most platforms only offer some of the features you need. This means you will likely have to use more than one platform, depending on what type of online meeting you want to host. This is not a cheap nor time-efficient solution. Using multiple conferencing platforms leads to more expenses, and more time spent getting to know how each application works. In this day and age, this is no longer a viable approach to online meetings.
Finding a single solution to your problems doesn’t have to be a struggle. We know that nobody wants to be wasting time nor money, now more than ever before. We are here to support businesses and help them grow, without limits.
With Mio Conferencing Solutions you will be able to pick and mix online conferencing features, so the service you get fulfils all of your business needs. Each and every feature and function, all in one place! Do you find it frustrating when you need technical help and are presented with only chat bots or FAQ pages? Our dedicated account managers are there to further assist, providing a personalised customer support experience and support along every step of the way.
Are you tired of time limits that keep cutting your online meetings short? Do you want to find an option that offers better customer support? Or maybe you need a platform that will allow you to host a large online gathering? Don’t worry, Mio has got your back! With our 1000+ attendee capacity, reliable customer support, and no limits on calls, you will get work done without unnecessary frustration.
That’s not all, of course. We also offer a dial out service, managed calls, company branding, integrated web and audio and more!
Above all, we want to make sure that you get value and that it is exactly why you need to have a smooth online meeting experience, which is why our solutions are tailor-made to meet your requirements.
Join our community today. Contact us on +44 (0) 203 1427 020 or info@miocommunications.co.uk for a chat about your requirements.
It’s no good having a massive list if those contacts are never going to bother opening your campaigns. So instead, focus on getting sign-ups to your email list from people who are genuinely interested. Those are the recipients who are most likely to engage and ultimately work with you.
Building your email list from scratch isn’t an easy task, but there are tried-and-tested ways to create a good one. We’re going to show you how in five steps.
Step 1: Make a compelling offer
Before anybody signs up to your email list, it’s important to tell them what content you intend to share. As an expert in your industry, you may be sending out news and views, thought leadership pieces, instructional guides or updates about events. If you are not sure what to write, read our blog ‘Help! What content should I create for my email marketing campaigns?’ for inspiration.
Once you’ve decided what kind of valuable content you intend to share, make it clear whenever you ask people to sign up to your list. Whether that’s a pop-up banner, a landing page or a call to action at the end of a blog post, explain exactly what they’re signing up for. If a reader enjoys a blog you’ve shared on LinkedIn, they may well be compelled to sign up to your email list to read more. Give them the opportunity by clarifying your compelling offer and what they can expect.
Step 2: Position your sign-up forms
Deciding how to position your sign-up forms is tricky. You want them to be prominent and eye-catching, but not irritating and off-putting. Some businesses use pop-up forms on their websites, which may increase the quantity of sign-ups, but these do run the risk of annoying visitors. It’s vital not to give the impression that your email marketing will be spammy. So, try to strike a balance about when using them.
That said, you want to provide plenty of opportunities to sign up to your email list across your website and social media platforms. Be logical about where you place your sign-up form, like beside each blog post. You can also have a floating bar on each page so as the visitor scrolls through, it remains visible for them to sign up. You can also place the sign-up form in either the header or footer of your website pages too.
Step 3: Keep it simple
You don’t need a lot of data from the people signing up for your email list, so don’t ask for it. Whatever email marketing platform you use, whether it’s one of the big-name companies or a Mailchimp alternative like Smart Messenger, you only need the email address itself to get started. You may be keen to personalise each email, so you are addressing the recipient by name, so you can ask for a name and email address if you want. However, it’s good to remember that the less you ask from people, the more likely they are to sign-up.
Remember that you are legally obliged to process data in line with the rules of GDPR. So, you must be clear on every sign-up, whether that’s an online form or if you are collecting data at events or networking, precisely what you are using people’s data for. In doing this, you give people signing up the chance to be clear on what to expect and to judge whether your campaigns will be of legitimate interest to them.
Step 4: Develop multiple ways to get sign-ups
It’s not enough to simply host a form on your website and expect to get more sign-ups to your email list. You need to be multi-faceted in your approach. Consider options like hosting webinars or events where, when people sign up to attend, they also sign up to your email list. By making sure that the event/webinar/session aligns with the content you share, you’ll know the people joining your list are genuinely interested.
Use your social media to its full advantage too. Put links to your sign-up form in the bios of all your social accounts and regularly put the link at the bottom of your longer posts. This works well when you are posting blogs on social media, so the reader can get on the list to directly receive more content like the piece they’ve just enjoyed.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask the people on your email list to share your emails with their network. Not only does this help you to reach more people, but a forwarded email comes with social proof because it’s been recommended by somebody independent of your organisation.
Step 5: Cultivate your sender reputation
Having a good sender reputation is a bit like having a good credit score, it’s something you need if you want to succeed. These days, email service providers act as gatekeepers of their customers’ inboxes, and they judge marketing emails on sender reputation before they allow them to pass.
If people routinely unsubscribe, report or send your email to the spam box, your sender reputation will plummet. That’s why it’s vital to share content that is valuable and genuinely useful to your email list. Instead of being dumped in the spam box, a good sender reputation helps improve your chances of making the recipients inbox and being read.
Your history plays a massive part in determining whether you make it through to inbox nirvana. Email service providers will check whether you’ve had good open rates, low spam complaints and minimal bounce rates. Make sure your campaign history and sender reputation are something to be proud of.
We hope this helps you to get started on building a great email list and please do sign up to our email list for more content like this and information about Smart Messenger.
If you’d like to learn more about email marketing from our Smart Messenger experts, please get in touch.It’s no good having a massive list if those contacts are never going to bother opening your campaigns. So instead, focus on getting sign-ups to your email list from people who are genuinely interested. Those are the recipients who are most likely to engage and ultimately work with you.
Building your email list from scratch isn’t an easy task, but there are tried-and-tested ways to create a good one. We’re going to show you how in five steps.
Step 1: Make a compelling offer
Before anybody signs up to your email list, it’s important to tell them what content you intend to share. As an expert in your industry, you may be sending out news and views, thought leadership pieces, instructional guides or updates about events. If you are not sure what to write, read our blog ‘Help! What content should I create for my email marketing campaigns?’ for inspiration.
Once you’ve decided what kind of valuable content you intend to share, make it clear whenever you ask people to sign up to your list. Whether that’s a pop-up banner, a landing page or a call to action at the end of a blog post, explain exactly what they’re signing up for. If a reader enjoys a blog you’ve shared on LinkedIn, they may well be compelled to sign up to your email list to read more. Give them the opportunity by clarifying your compelling offer and what they can expect.
Step 2: Position your sign-up forms
Deciding how to position your sign-up forms is tricky. You want them to be prominent and eye-catching, but not irritating and off-putting. Some businesses use pop-up forms on their websites, which may increase the quantity of sign-ups, but these do run the risk of annoying visitors. It’s vital not to give the impression that your email marketing will be spammy. So, try to strike a balance about when using them.
That said, you want to provide plenty of opportunities to sign up to your email list across your website and social media platforms. Be logical about where you place your sign-up form, like beside each blog post. You can also have a floating bar on each page so as the visitor scrolls through, it remains visible for them to sign up. You can also place the sign-up form in either the header or footer of your website pages too.
Step 3: Keep it simple
You don’t need a lot of data from the people signing up for your email list, so don’t ask for it. Whatever email marketing platform you use, whether it’s one of the big-name companies or a Mailchimp alternative like Smart Messenger, you only need the email address itself to get started. You may be keen to personalise each email, so you are addressing the recipient by name, so you can ask for a name and email address if you want. However, it’s good to remember that the less you ask from people, the more likely they are to sign-up.
Remember that you are legally obliged to process data in line with the rules of GDPR. So, you must be clear on every sign-up, whether that’s an online form or if you are collecting data at events or networking, precisely what you are using people’s data for. In doing this, you give people signing up the chance to be clear on what to expect and to judge whether your campaigns will be of legitimate interest to them.
Step 4: Develop multiple ways to get sign-ups
It’s not enough to simply host a form on your website and expect to get more sign-ups to your email list. You need to be multi-faceted in your approach. Consider options like hosting webinars or events where, when people sign up to attend, they also sign up to your email list. By making sure that the event/webinar/session aligns with the content you share, you’ll know the people joining your list are genuinely interested.
Use your social media to its full advantage too. Put links to your sign-up form in the bios of all your social accounts and regularly put the link at the bottom of your longer posts. This works well when you are posting blogs on social media, so the reader can get on the list to directly receive more content like the piece they’ve just enjoyed.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask the people on your email list to share your emails with their network. Not only does this help you to reach more people, but a forwarded email comes with social proof because it’s been recommended by somebody independent of your organisation.
Step 5: Cultivate your sender reputation
Having a good sender reputation is a bit like having a good credit score, it’s something you need if you want to succeed. These days, email service providers act as gatekeepers of their customers’ inboxes, and they judge marketing emails on sender reputation before they allow them to pass.
If people routinely unsubscribe, report or send your email to the spam box, your sender reputation will plummet. That’s why it’s vital to share content that is valuable and genuinely useful to your email list. Instead of being dumped in the spam box, a good sender reputation helps improve your chances of making the recipients inbox and being read.
Your history plays a massive part in determining whether you make it through to inbox nirvana. Email service providers will check whether you’ve had good open rates, low spam complaints and minimal bounce rates. Make sure your campaign history and sender reputation are something to be proud of.
We hope this helps you to get started on building a great email list and please do sign up to our email list for more content like this and information about Smart Messenger.
If you’d like to learn more about email marketing from our Smart Messenger experts, please get in touch.
If you’re on any of the social media platforms, you’ve probably asked yourself countless times, how do you go about growing your followers? And when it comes to Instagram, a platform which is really working wonders for many brands’ sales, it really pays to grow your Instagram followers.
If you’re looking to grow your Instagram followers, there are definitely tips and tricks that you can use to build your follower numbers. Tips and tricks which don’t involve badgering your mum, your mate’s cousin’s sister and your dog into following you under duress. So before you go about asking Rover for a follow back, here are our top 24 tips for growing your Instagram:
Choose your Instagram content wisely
First things first, you are never going to grow your following if what you post isn’t relevant to your audience and your brand. This means producing images that work well and are optimised for Instagram, as well as those which are consistent with your brand. A good way to consider it is: if someone searches a hashtag and sees your image on the explore page, are they going to be intrigued enough to click on it? If the answer’s no, then they’re not likely to land on your page and add to your follower numbers. Booo.
Develop a theme
Curating your content is one of the best ways to gain new followers. The aim of developing a theme is to instantly make new people who land on your Instagram grid want to follow you, simply because your grid looks so beautiful / interesting / colourful*, *delete as applicable*.
It’s really simple to curate your feed and develop a theme, too, although it does take a bit of work and getting used to. However, simple ways of developing a theme include using the same colours and tones in all of your posts, using the same filters or presets on all of your images, or having a common element throughout to create cohesion. By doing this, your followers will instantly recognise your posts when they appear in their feeds, and it will also reiterate and endorse your brand and the consistency it offers.
Use your Instagram bio
Your Instagram bio is prime real estate, but you’ve only got 150 characters, so it’s important to use it wisely. It’s often the first impression of your Instagram feed, so you need to make sure it’s snappy and compelling, so that people decide to follow you. Remember to include a CTA and a link to your website, too, as this is the only place that you can include a link on Instagram (although if you want the secrets of how to get around that, get in touch and let us give you the tips of the trade for getting more out of your Instagram link – just saying).
Develop a good relationship with your audience
By developing a good relationship with your audience, you’ll be able to work out what they like and dislike about your posts and those of your competitors. Look at what your competitors are posting; what’s working well for them, and is this type of post something that you can incorporate into your social media schedule to increase your relevance and therefore your followers?
But don’t overshare
We all know people who overshare on social media (you know the types – at any given time you know where they are, what they’re doing and what they’re having for dinner, too). And for personal accounts, this is absolutely fine.
However, for professional accounts, you need to make sure that whatever you’re posting is in keeping with your brand. Posting a photo of you as Director of your company in the thick of some of the behind-the-scenes action is absolutely fine; posting your holiday snaps to your company page, unless they’re somehow relevant to your brand, is maybe going a bit far. Whenever you’re worried about oversharing, ask yourself whether it’s something that your followers would like to see in relation to your brand; these last five words are crucial as it needs to move your brand forward, always.
Don’t see your followers as numbers
Yes, of course, this article is all about growth, and growth on Instagram in the most literal sense is follower numbers. But just as a watched pot never boils, watching your followers constantly won’t help you in the long run. This is the reason for getting to know your followers and your audience; it’s always better to have a small but engaged audience than a large, indifferent one. So spend some time interacting with your followers: reply to their comments and messages, set polls and questions in your Stories and generally treat them like the human beings that they are.
Build your network
When it comes to Instagram, there is definitely an element of ‘if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’. By this we mean, grow your network through the actual ‘networking’ bit. Go and seek out your target audience to follow, as well as others in your industry or local brands, and they might just give you a cheeky follow back as a show of support.
Set up an account swap
If you do build your network effectively, you will likely get to a point where you can set up an account swap with some of your followers. This could be in the form of an account or Stories takeover for a day, which is a great way to show off what you do to their audience, and vice versa.
Show your face
People buy from people. So where relevant, include photos of you or your team. Images with faces will naturally increase engagement on Instagram, as people want to feel like they’re interacting with another person. If you can’t include an image with faces in, using an image which is a point-of-view can help to increase engagement as it makes your followers feel like they’re part of what you’re showing them. In your face…
Add value
Remember that when you post, you should be telling a story which shows your audience what value you can add to their lives. Don’t go generic; get your audience invested in what you’re talking about and how you can help them. If you can, try to elicit some emotion with your posts: this could be making them laugh or inspiring them, or making them feel part of your team or in da club, for example.
Use a call to action
When it comes to engagement, there is no harm in using a call to action to specifically ask people to interact with your posts, as long as it’s subtle. This could be asking your followers to tag their friends who could benefit from what you’re offering, or asking a question and asking them to comment with their answers. The former will certainly help to grow your Instagram, as when your followers tag their friends, it will bring new people over to your feed, all of whom are potential new followers.
Give shoutouts
Collaborating with someone? Had some great service from someone? Don’t forget to give them a shoutout on your Instagram. This can help to build your following, if they or their followers come and give you a follow. It’s also good karma: you’re telling your audience how great they are, and in return they are likely to give you shoutouts in future, which will introduce their followers to you.
Work with influencers
Similar to shoutouts, but on a much more formal basis, working with influencers is a great way of getting your content and products in front of a different audience. It can be a great ROI, as they sing your praises to their followers for you, which should bring their followers flocking to your feed, too.
Whether you decide to simply engage with influencers in the hope of it helping to grow your following, as they might naturally fall in love with your page and your products and share what you offer with their own followers, or pay some influencers (whilst following all of the relevant ASA guidance, of course) is up to you and how much return you would like to see from working with influencers.
Use User Generated Content (UGC)
User Generated Content (UGC) is a simple way of getting your followers – and potential new followers – involved. UGC is taking photos that your followers have posted and have tagged you in, and using them to your best advantage. They might be good enough (and consistent with your theme enough) that you can use them on your grid, but if you don’t feel that they fit your theme, adding them to your Stories is a great option. Once your followers and potential followers know that their images might get shared in your feed, they are more likely to tag you so that you can repurpose their images.
As a side note: it’s always polite to ask if you can share someone else’s image (unless it’s really obvious that they’re happy for you to do so). Why not ask your audience to tag you in their posts? This is a really easy way of generating more content for your feed and keeping your followers engaged. Win, win.
Post consistently
Posting regularly will really help to build your followers. You’ll have more posts for people to find via hashtags or on the explore page, and your followers will know when to expect posts from you, meaning that they will know when to check in and see what’s new with you. This consistency will help people to rely on your feed and follow you.
Post to stories
Yes, we know, Stories is just another aspect of social media that you’ve got to keep up with, but it’s really worthwhile posting to Stories regularly. It’s a much more informal way of keeping your followers up to date with what you’ve got going on, and the fleeting nature of them means that people often engage with them really quickly, but they make a huge impression.
They’re great for sharing behind-the-scenes content, for example, which will help to build the authenticity of your brand. Use polls and questions for engagement, and you’ll often find that people start talking about how great your stories are, which will bring more followers to your page.
Use Reels
Now we really are getting into the realms of having to teach slightly more mature dogs new tricks, but Reels have taken off with a huge amount of popularity. Once you get the hang of them, you’ll see that there’s loads you can do with them, and they can often be really fun and engaging. For example, if you’re a clothing brand, why not use Reels to create a fashion show of several different looks? You can use the same model throughout, just stopping the video for outfit changes, and content such as this has potential to not only appear on the explore page, but also go viral.
Use hashtags
This is a no brainer on Instagram, as hashtags help to get your content in front of different people. In fact, by tagging away, your content will be found more easily by those that don’t already follow you…and then, of course, they might just follow you, and your Instagram numbers will grow. #hashtagwinningallovertheshop.
Use the right hashtags
Of course, your hashtags need to be relevant in order to attract the right audience. It’s no good if your Instagram followers are growing but they aren’t people that would buy from you or invest in your brand. Therefore, research the most popular hashtags for your industry and use the tags that are relevant to you.
Remember that if you’re a small brand who wants a local following, many locals often follow localised hashtags, such as #BrentwoodBusiness, so it’s worth researching which of these to use, too. If you’re not sure what would work well for your industry or business, get in touch and let us do the heavy lifting for you.
Create a branded hashtag
Of course, hashtags don’t always need to be those used by others. In fact, sometimes, you might want a hashtag which is unique to your brand or your marketing campaign. By creating a custom hashtag for your marketing campaigns, such as #50SquidforSFH for our recent charity campaign, your followers, or even those just interested in the campaign, can easily find your posts. And if your followers start tagging their posts with your campaign hashtag? Well, that’s another route to finding that aforementioned User Generated Content.
Host a giveaway
Holding a giveaway can really build your following very quickly. Everyone loves to try their luck at winning something, and if you ask your followers to tag a friend and follow your page as a condition of entry, you may find that other likeminded users arrive for the giveaway but stick around for the long term.
Pay for an ad
Sponsored posts are a really good way of gaining followers. If you target the ad audience, you’ll find that your grid posts or stories are put in front of relevant people, who are the likely to come and follow your page if they like what they see. Not sure who or how to target the ad? We’ve got a course for that.
Geolocation tagging
A really simple trick: remember to tag your posts with your business location if you can, or if you’re out and about – for example at meetings or on a photoshoot – use that location. People who are searching for that location in the explore page may well find your content this way. And if they happen to be looking for a local photographer who happened to tag their location at their recent photoshoot, for example, they may well come and follow your page.
Marketing outside of Instagram
Of course, you can also market your Instagram account outside of the app itself: on your website, on email newsletters, on your business cards and printed material…you name it, you can put your Instagram handle on it. This is a really simple but effective way of driving people to your account who may not have come across it otherwise, growing your Instagram from outside of the app.
24 tips to grow your Instagram not enough? Let our 24 fingers get to work
And if this little lot isn’t enough for you, book in for your free Instagram consultation. Our 24 fingers can get to work with even more tips and tricks to grow your Instagram followers. We’ll soon have you at that hallowed 10k.
