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Can you believe it’s September already? Nope, neither can we! As we dive headfirst into Q4 planning, we’ve been having some great chats with clients. From what’s next for social media (will the updates ever slow down?) to the latest in – you guessed it – AI, there’s always something to keep us on our toes. But, while we’ve been working on some exciting new website builds, the question on everyone’s mind seems to be: “Is SEO still worth it?”
We get it: with all the buzz around social media and AI changing how people find information online, it’s tempting to think SEO might be taking a backseat. Spoiler alert: it absolutely isn’t! In fact, SEO isn’t just surviving – it’s thriving these changes. Let’s break down why SEO should still be a key player in your business strategy in 2024.
1. Your Customers Are Still Searching
Despite all the noise from social media, search engines remain the go-to resource for people looking for information. If you want your business to be visible when potential customers are actively searching for what you offer, good SEO is non-negotiable.
The twist? Search behaviour is evolving. People are getting more specific with their queries, using longer phrases and questions. To stay ahead of the curve, you need to target these long-tail keywords and create content that directly answers those niche questions. Not only does this boost your rankings, but it also brings in traffic that’s ready to engage with your brand.
2. Local SEO Drives Footfall
If you have a brick-and-mortar store or cater to a local area, local SEO is your best friend. The rise in “near me” searches and location-specific queries means people are actively looking for businesses like yours.
However, local SEO isn’t just about being found; it’s about standing out. By optimising your local presence – think up-to-date Google Business Profile, glowing reviews and easy-to-find contact details – you’re making it easier for nearby customers to choose you over the competition.
3. SEO Builds Trust and Authority
Showing up in the top search results is like getting a virtual high-five from Google. It signals that you’re a trusted authority in your field, which is especially important in industries where credibility is everything.
Plus, optimising for SEO often leads to a better overall user experience on your website. Faster load times, mobile optimisation and quality content all contribute to a site that not only ranks well, but also earns the trust of your visitors. Win-win!
4. Content and SEO Go Hand-in-Hand
Gone are the days when SEO was about keyword stuffing and link schemes! Today, it’s all about creating high-quality content that genuinely helps your audience. When you align your content strategy with your SEO goals, you end up with a website that’s not just optimised for search engines, but also truly valuable to your visitors.
By focusing on content that answers your audience’s questions and meets their needs, you’re not just improving your rankings – you’re attracting more qualified leads. These are the people who are already interested in what you offer, making them more likely to convert into loyal customers.
5. SEO Offers Long-Term ROI
Unlike paid ads, which stop working the moment you stop paying, SEO is the gift that keeps on giving. A well-optimised site with strong content can continue to draw in traffic and generate leads long after your initial investment.
Think of SEO as a marathon, not a sprint. It requires time and consistent effort, but the long-term payoff can be huge. With SEO, you’re building a foundation for sustained growth and success.
SEO in 2024 and Beyond
SEO isn’t just still relevant; it’s essential! It keeps you visible when it matters most and ensures you’re reaching your target audience in a meaningful way.
But remember, SEO isn’t a one-and-done strategy. It’s constantly evolving, and staying on top of the latest trends is crucial. That’s where we come in. We’re not just here to help you keep up – we’re here to help you lead the pack.
Ready to take your SEO game to the next level? Let’s chat about how we can tailor a strategy that works for your unique business needs. Drop us a line – we’re excited to help your business thrive on search engines!
It’s that time again: time to create some content! You know the drill: you’re sitting at your desk, coffee in hand, ready to tackle your social media posts for the month – then suddenly, your mind goes blank. Yep, we’ve all been there!
But, the good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way. At ie instinct, we live and breathe all things Social Media Marketing, meaning we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves to help you break out of that content rut and start creating posts that’ll have your followers coming back for more.
These aren’t your run-of-the-mill suggestions – we’re talking about tried-and-tested tactics that’ll help you connect with your audience, showcase your brand personality and keep your feed fresh and engaging.
Get ready to say goodbye to creator’s block and hello to a vibrant, engaging social presence!
1. Tune into trending topics
In a world where feeds are constantly refreshing and attention spans are shorter than ever, staying on top of trends is crucial. But where do you start? You could try setting up Google Alerts for keywords relevant to your industry, follow industry-specific hashtags on platforms like X and LinkedIn or even join industry groups on LinkedIn and Facebook to stay in the loop. Just remember to always align trends with your brand voice and values before jumping on board!
2. Peek behind the curtain
People love feeling like insiders, so give them that exclusive access they crave. This could be snippets of your team’s day-to-day, walking through your product development process or giving a virtual tour of your workspace. This kind of content humanises your brand and helps build a stronger connection with your audience.
3. Harness the power of nostalgia
Nostalgia is a powerful tool in social media marketing – it helps people connect with your brand on a whole new level. But you don’t have to limit yourself to sharing old photos (although those can be great too!). Share your company’s history, revisit past campaigns (just like Coca-Cola have again recently with their ‘Share a Coke’ campaign) or showcase how your industry has evolved over time. This type of content not only provides interesting insights, but also helps position your brand as an experienced player in your field.
4. Get visual
Eye-catching visuals are no longer nice-to-haves – they’re essential for stopping that scroll. But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a professional graphic designer to create content that stops thumbs in their tracks! Infographics are a great way to show information in an easily digestible format. Got some impressive stats about your industry or product? Turn them into a colourful, shareable carousel.
And let’s not forget about video! Short videos or reels, whether educational, entertaining or both, are continuing to dominate every platform. From quick tips related to your product or service to those behind-the-scenes peeks we mentioned, video is a no-brainer for getting your content in front of new eyes.
5. Celebrate the little things
Everyone loves a good celebration (we know we do)! From National Donut Day to World Emoji Day, quirky holidays can be a fun way to connect with your audience on a lighter note. We recommend looking for social media holidays that are relevant to your industry, and thinking about how you can tie them back to your brand in a meaningful (or entertaining) way. For example, if you’re a tech company, you might want to mark World Password Day or Computer Security Day.
Final word: How to create effective social media content
And there you have it! A bunch of content ideas to freshen up your content calendar. Remember, the key to great social media content is to mix it up and stay authentic to your brand voice – don’t be afraid to try new things, keep an eye on your analytics to see which content works best, and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Still feeling a bit overwhelmed? Fear not – we’re here to support you with all things social media! So if you’d love some friendly backup from an experienced partner, be sure to drop us a line here or via our socials.
And hey, while you’re here, why not grab our free Social Media Content Calendar? It’s packed with daily prompts, holiday reminders and space for your own brilliant ideas. Get in touch here to grab yours and let your social media content shine!
Ah, Social Media Management. It’s like trying to tame a digital dragon – it’s exciting, but boy oh boy, can it breathe fire! As the social media landscape changes faster than a TikTok trend, so do the challenges and opportunities that come with its management. What worked last month might not cut it today (yep, a lot can happen in 30 days!), algorithms are constantly changing and people’s online habits are always shifting. Basically, there’s a lot to keep up with – especially when you’re busy keeping your business afloat.
So if you’re thinking, “How am I supposed to keep up with it all?!”, that’s where we come in: your remote Social Media Specialists. We’re not talking just sprinkling a few posts here and there, oh no! We’re talking a full Social Media Strategy that can drive real business results. But, why exactly do you need us in your corner? We’ve broken it down into 5 reasons why your business could benefit from expert Social Media Support.
1. You want to stay ahead of platform changes
As we know, social media platforms love to keep us on our toes. One day, everything’s smooth sailing. The next? Algorithm change alert!
As Social Media Experts, we’re always on top of the latest changes and trends. When Instagram drops a new feature or Meta does a 180, we’re already 10 steps ahead, turning potential pitfalls into golden opportunities for your brand.
For example, when Instagram introduced Reels, we quickly embraced this format as part of our clients’ strategies, helping them reach new audiences and increase engagement. We’re also partial to sharing a few ourselves, which you can check out on our profile!
2. You want to share impactful content
It’s easy to fall into the trap of constantly trying to churn out content that’s engaging, relevant and resonates with your audience. But, from our experience, it’s not just about quantity – quality and consistency are key to building and maintaining an engaged audience.
Our Content Management skills mean you’ll have a steady stream of posts that tell your brand story and have the power to stop the scroll. We handle everything from eye-catching visuals to compelling copy, using a tailored content calendar – that’s right, made just for you – to maintain a consistent posting schedule, keeping your brand fresher than a mojito on a hot summer’s day (oops, now we fancy a drink!).
3. Your ad spend doesn't have a great ROI
With so many targeting options and bidding strategies to navigate, advertising on social media can feel a bit like a maze. And without the guidance of social media specialists, budgets can quickly go to waste on ads that don’t deliver.
With our expertise in audience targeting and ad optimisation, you can rest assured your campaigns will be fine-tuned for maximum impact and budget-friendliness. We’ll work with you to set clear goals for each campaign, whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic or generating leads. From there, we’ll craft ad content that speaks directly to your target audience.
Oh, and we’ll also keep a constant eye on your campaigns by analysing performance data and making real-time adjustments to boost results, so you can really get more bang for your buck.
4. You need help turning data into action
We don’t just collect data, we crack the code, providing you with clear, actionable insights about your social media performance – and use this information to continuously refine your strategy.
We go beyond basic metrics such as likes and followers – we dive deep into all the data we can get our hands on, be it engagement rates, click-throughs and conversions, to get a full picture of your social media performance. We’ll then whip up custom reports that focus on the metrics that matter most to your business.
But of course, we don’t just stop at reporting! We turn these insights into solid recommendations for improving your strategy. This might mean switching up your content mix, changing posting times or tweaking who you’re targeting. Whatever your data’s telling us, we listen and do what’s best for your business.
5. You don't have time to manage everything Social Media
Great social media management is more than just posting. It involves engaging with your community, constantly monitoring trends and handling any PR hiccups among a bunch of other surprises – which can be a full-time gig in itself!
From content calendars to performance tracking, our all-in-one Social Media Management services aim to make your social presence shine. We respond to comments and messages quickly, keep tabs on conversations happening in your industry and are prepared to handle crisis management when needed.
Think of us as an extension of your marketing team: versatile, reliable and always here when you need us!
Ready to take your Social Media to the next level?
So, what do you say? If you’re itching to take your social media to new heights, we’re always happy to chat about how our Social Media Support services can help your business flourish. Get in touch here and let’s start making some social media magic together!
Whew, what a ride it’s been since ChatGPT burst onto the scene! Since November 2022, the groundbreaking language model has truly taken the world by storm. And of course, being a team of marketers who thrive on instinct and intuition, we’ve been front and centre watching how this technology could potentially level up (or down) our marketing game.
But now, with the benefit of hindsight, we wanted to share what we’ve learned 18 months on from its release. Buckle up!
Can AI truly replace human marketers?
First, let’s address the elephant in the room: no, ChatGPT and its AI cousins aren’t going to replace human marketers anytime soon! While they can without doubt lend a helping hand with creating first drafts or even sparking content ideas, they just can’t capture the nuances of a brand’s unique tone of voice and overarching goals the way seasoned marketers can.
Using AI as a supportive tool
That being said, AI is here to stay – so we might as well take advantage of it to facilitate our marketing efforts, right? They’re not perfect, but AI tools have the potential to streamline and enhance certain aspects of our work. After all, why spend hours agonising over the perfect opening paragraph when an AI assistant can provide a solid starting point? The key lies in recognising its strengths and limitations and using it as a sidekick rather than a substitute for human expertise.
AI’s strengths and limitations
From our experience, AI can be really handy for high-volume content needs. But even then, we put in the work to tweak and tailor that content to perfectly fit our clients’ needs. Because at the end of the day, there’s simply no comparison to the deep, nuanced understanding an experienced marketing team has when it comes to truly grasping a company’s mission and crafting authentic strategies that resonate.
The bottom line
All in all, the past 18 months have only reinforced our belief that the most effective marketing solutions come from the sweet spot where human creativity meets technology-powered efficiency. Sure, AI can lighten the load and streamline processes, but it’s that strategic vision and deep understanding of a brand’s essence that truly sets great marketers apart.
While we’ll keep exploring and adapting to the ever-evolving AI landscape, one thing remains constant: our commitment to providing clients with strategic, instinct-driven marketing solutions that strike a chord with their audiences and drive real results. AI may be revolutionary, but it’s no replacement for the real deal (that’s us, by the way!).
So, what’s your take on AI’s role in marketing after 18 months of ChatGPT? We’d love to hear your thoughts – get in touch and let’s discuss!
Be sure to keep up with the ie insights and all of our socials so you don’t miss out on any updates!
As you’ve probably heard, Instagram has been at it again, shaking up its algorithm and announcing all-new updates! But what do these changes actually mean for marketers? The short answer: probably not much, if you’re already executing a sound, authentic Instagram strategy.
Still, it’s important we understand these updates and what they could potentially mean for our strategies moving forward. So, let’s break down the key updates!
What are the new changes to Instagram?
First things first, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, has announced four new changes to the platform and its ranking system:
- A new input to ranking that will give smaller creators more distribution
- Replacing reposts with original content in recommendations
- Adding labels to reposted content, linking to the original creator
- Removing content aggregators from recommendations
The main goal? Making Instagram’s never-ending recommendation feeds a much more balanced place by boosting original content from up-and-coming creators.
Why is Instagram making these changes?
For years now, creators have been calling out Instagram for favouring accounts with tons of followers in recommendations, making it nearly impossible for smaller accounts to be discovered organically.
Then there was the rise of meme pages and regram accounts that solely existed to repost other people’s viral content without giving any credit which, according to Instagram’s data, were being recommended and shown to viewers much more than original creators’ posts.
Adam Mosseri finally acknowledged this criticism, saying the platform wants to “give all creators an equal footing in terms of reach” with this ranking revamp, with a laser focus on rebalancing the Reels recommendation feed.
The latest Instagram updates: Breaking it all down
So what is changing, exactly? Here are the key points:
Boosting smaller creators
A new “input” is being added to Instagram’s ranking algorithm that will specifically give smaller creators way more distribution in places like the Reels recommendation feed. The idea is to help these accounts get in front of new audiences if their content resonates, rather than just having it come down to follower numbers.
Prioritising fresh content
Instagram says it will start replacing reposted/regrammed reels in recommendations with the original source video. So if you create something that gets reposted by another account, your original post would be the one that gets prioritised.
Labelling reposted content
For cases where reposted/regrammed reels do still appear, Instagram will add a new label linking back to the original creator. Account owners will apparently be able to opt-out of these citation labels initially, but who knows if that flexibility sticks around in the long run!
Removing content regram accounts
This is the big one: Instagram says it plans to eventually remove accounts that primarily exist just to reshare other creators’ content from recommendations entirely over time. So those meme pages and viral regram accounts may be in trouble in terms of reach.
What do these changes mean for marketers?
For brands and businesses using Instagram for marketing, these updates likely won’t require any major strategic overhauls. You’ll still want to focus on creating super engaging, original content that resonates with your audience.
But say you run an account that highlights user-generated content, or you collaborate with smaller influencers/creators on branded posts, then these updates could present some new opportunities. In theory, investing in those authentic creator feeds could get far more exposure through Instagram’s revamped ranking system.
It’s also just another reminder about the increasing importance social media platforms are placing on short-form video content. Prioritising Reels as part of your Instagram strategy will be key to showing up in those valuable recommendation feeds.
The bottom line
All in all, it looks like Instagram is clearly trying to evolve its recommendations from being an exposure machine for accounts with massive followings and reposted/regram content to a real launchpad that highlights more original, engaging videos and creators – regardless of follower count.
While the specific impacts are yet to be seen, it’s absolutely an important shift to keep tabs on as the Instagram algorithm continues to evolve.
As these updates roll out over the coming months, we’ll be keeping a close eye on what’s working (and what’s not!). But as always, the focus should remain on creating high-quality, audience-first content that captures attention and provides value.
And there you have it! What do you think – will you be giving these updates a ‘like’? And if you have any more questions about what these changes could mean for your business, you can reach out here or via our socials – we’re all ears!
We all know branding is one of the most important driving forces behind any business, right? It goes far beyond just whipping up a new logo or quickly refreshing your website; it’s the entire emotional experience you create through every interaction with your customers.
But is it really worth the investment, time and resources? If you’re on the fence about turning your attention to your branding, we’ve put together a few compelling reasons why nailing your brand identity is so crucial for long-term business success. Strap yourselves in – we’ve got a lot to cover!
First things first: What is branding?
Let’s start with the basics. At its core, branding is how you shape the perception of your company in the minds of customers and the public. While a logo and colour scheme are crucial brand elements, your brand encompasses much more than just visuals. It’s the intangible: your company’s personality, values, voice and the promises you make to your audience. In essence, branding is all about how people view your business – and how it makes them feel.
Think iconic brands like Apple, Nike and Disney. What instantly comes to mind? Each one has carefully chiselled an instantly recognisable brand identity through their marketing, product design and overall brand experiences they cultivate over time that resonate on a deeper level.
And these strong emotional connections are no happy accident – they’re the result of careful, strategic branding decisions over decades. Companies like Disney have raised branding to an art form, making their brand pillars of magic, family fun and imagination an integral part of their movies, parks, merchandise and more to become a household name. Now that’s the power of strong branding!
Why Branding is Make-or-Break for Businesses
Still not sold on the idea that branding deserves a prime seat at the strategy table? Consider these crucial ways it impacts your business:
It gives you a competitive edge
With so much noise out there, having a quality product or service alone is often not enough to truly captivate customers and earn their loyalty long-term. Your unique branding communicates what makes you special and memorable compared to others on the market. It’s your secret sauce that can’t be replicated, even if another company offers similar products or services on the surface. Without strategic branding, you risk blending in and being perceived as a commodity.
It builds trust and loyalty
These days, customers have more options to choose from than ever before, meaning they’re highly selective about the businesses they support. They’re more likely to purchase from brands they feel they can trust and view as credible, authoritative figures in their industry. Consistent, professional branding that’s reinforced across all your channels – your website, products, customer service interactions, social media profiles and more – builds that recognition as an established, reliable brand worthy of their business.
What’s more, when your brand personality, values and overall experience resonates authentically with your target audience, it creates a bond that can turn one-time buyers into passionate advocates for your brand. People want to feel loyal to companies whose purpose and philosophies align with their own values and lifestyle.
It future-proofs your business
From a financial perspective, there are clear incentives for prioritising branding. A cohesive brand lays a solid foundation that prepares your company for future growth through increased recognition, equity and credibility. It also gives you the flexibility to explore new products, services or brand extensions that make sense within your brand identity down the road.
Most importantly, your brand is one of your company’s most valuable assets that directly impact revenue. Cultivating a powerful brand enables you to maintain pricing power, add perceived value to your offerings and ultimately boost profits over time. Highly resonant brands can even command premium pricing for their products and services. Strategic branding is an investment that continues giving to your business.
Bringing your brand to life
Hopefully, we’ve convinced you by now that strategic branding needs to be a top business priority, not an afterthought! But how do you build and reinforce a cohesive brand identity that connects with your audience? Here are some key components:
Define your brand's core identity and strategic foundation
Before creating visuals, you need to get clear on your brand’s core identity through an in-depth consultation process. This involves defining your company’s core values, brand personality, tone of voice, unique value proposition, positioning in the market, target customer profiles and what they’re looking for in a brand. This crucial discovery phase lays the strategic groundwork for all your brand’s visuals and messaging.
Develop memorable and distinctive brand identity visuals
With your brand strategy solidified, it’s time to bring it to life visually through consistent assets like a unique logo design that captures your brand’s essence, a vibrant colour palette that evokes certain feelings and associations, a distinctive typography system, custom iconography or illustrations, defined photography styles and more. These cohesive visual elements are what will make your brand highly recognisable.
Create comprehensive brand guidelines
Once you’re set on your brand’s strategic foundations and visual identity, you’ll want to thoroughly translate them into detailed brand guidelines. This includes specific guidelines around your voice, tone, key messaging, content pillars and more which will not only help maintain brand consistency across all channels, but ensure your entire team stays aligned for years to come.
Nurture your brand through meaningful customer experiences
Ultimately, your brand needs to be embedded into every single interaction and experience customers have with your company. Whether it’s your website design and UX, product packaging, customer service approach, in-person events, social media content or advertising campaigns. Staying true to your brand at every touchpoint is crucial for memorability and creating meaningful connections.
Final word: Why you need to invest in branding
All in all, branding is so much more than just visual elements – it’s the embodiment of how you make customers think and feel about your company. When you thoughtfully nurture every component of your brand’s identity, the payoff is huge in differentiation, loyalty, added value and bottom-line impact.
Does your current branding feel outdated or like it fails to capture your business’ full essence and potential? Our team can help bring your company’s story to life through an insightful brand strategy and top-notch creative execution across all channels and customer touchpoints. Get in touch here to arrange a chat about your branding needs!
Be sure to keep up with the ie insights and all of our socials so you don’t miss out on any updates!
All aboard! We’re no strangers to hopping on exciting marketing projects but when 3 Counties Connected Community Rail Partnership (3CCCRP) approached us, we knew we were in for a fantastic journey.
The goal of the partnership is to get local communities more engaged with the Wrexham, Chester, Shrewsbury and Crewe railway lines, encouraging passengers to choose more sustainable travel options, so we dug in to create a brand and marketing strategy that would put 3CCCRP on the right track.
Building a bold brand identity
When 3CCCRP approached us, they needed a brand identity that would authentically represent the sustainability and connectivity of the network. Working closely with the team, we channelled our inner conductors and got to work, carrying out in-depth research into the themes central to their mission: travel, locations of the railway and the environment. We experimented with various shapes, patterns, and iconography inspired by local flora and fauna, eventually landing on a bold, earthy colour palette, nature-inspired illustration and fun typeface – a first-class ticket to visual bliss.
Creating a smooth-sailing website
We then set our sights on creating an engaging, user-friendly website that would allow the community to easily access the latest information in a clear and captivating manner. As a bilingual website serving both Welsh and English speakers, ensuring accessibility and clarity was key – we didn’t want any passengers getting lost along the way!
Bringing the brand to life
Finally, we helped bring the 3CCCRP brand to life by creating vibrant marketing collateral, helping the partnership gain awareness and credibility with Transport for Wales and the local community. From eye-catching posters to engaging social content, we ensured their message was loud and clear – like a well-tuned locomotive.
A few stops to go
From a strong visual identity and digital presence, we’re proud to have played a role in bringing 3CCCRP’s vision to life and helping them connect with their target audiences. Just like all railway lines, there’s always work being carried out meaning we’re still working with the 3CCCRP team on developing their Our Stations page, to include more bespoke illustrations and location information for their users.
Be sure to keep up with the ie insights and all of our socials so you don’t miss out on any updates!
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘marketing strategy’ time and time again, and we all know that every business needs one to reach their goals. But what if we asked you ‘what is a marketing strategy?’ – what does it actually mean?
With so much marketing lingo floating around out there, the specifics can definitely get a little confusing. That’s why we thought we’d break down what this common industry term boils down to – because knowing the ins and outs of an effective marketing strategy is crucial for any brand looking to make some serious waves in our increasingly competitive landscape.
So, let’s dive in!
What is a marketing strategy?
In essence, your marketing strategy is your brand’s overall game plan for how you’re going to reach, engage and win over your target audience. It’s more than just tactics and campaigns – it’s the overarching vision that guides all your marketing efforts.
The core components of your marketing strategy might include:
- Your value proposition – This is where you lay out that special sauce that makes your product or service irresistible. What can you offer that the competition can’t?
- Your target audience – Who exactly trying to win over? You’ll want to get pretty specific about the groups of people that make up your ideal customers.
- Your key messaging – How are you going to package up that value proposition in a clear, compelling way that resonates with those target audiences?
- Your channel strategy – What communication channels (social media, email, advertising etc.) will you use to share that messaging and get in front of the right people?
- Your analytics – Your marketing efforts go beyond hitting ‘post’. What are the metrics telling you? Establish how you’ll measure performance to continually level up.
All in all, the purpose of a marketing strategy is to give you complete clarity on what, how and why you’re going to promote your services to make you stand out and give you that so-called ‘competitive edge’.
Benefits of a marketing strategy
It’s a given that the business world is wildly competitive these days, so having a solid marketing strategy in your pocket is more important than ever. But what can it actually do for your business? Here are just some of the benefits:
It helps you stay aligned and intentional
No more ‘winging it’ or spreading your efforts too thin across different channels and tactics! A solid marketing strategy keeps all your marketing campaigns, messaging and initiatives working together like a well-oiled machine towards one cohesive goal.
Your branding stays on point
With clear branding and messaging guidelines woven throughout your strategy, you can ensure your one-of-a-kind brand identity, voice, visuals and vibe remain consistent and recognisable no matter where your audiences are interacting with you – whether on your website, through your socials or even in your office space.
It helps you stand out
When your branding and messaging stay consistent across all channels and touchpoints, it becomes easier for people to recognise you and remember your name – and ultimately gain their trust to make that first point of contact.
Marketing strategy vs. marketing plan
The terms ‘marketing strategy’ and ‘marketing plan’ are often used interchangeably, but in reality, they’re pretty different. That’s why we thought we’d also touch on the difference between the two – to really bring home the importance of a dedicated marketing strategy.
So, to understand the difference between a marketing strategy and a marketing plan, it’s first best to clarify what separates a ‘strategy’ and a ‘plan’ – and Harvard Business School make this distinction super easy.
Essentially, they say a strategy is a set of choices you make, that positions you on a playing field of your choice, in a way that you win. A plan, however, is simply a list of goals – it doesn’t need the same coherence as a strategy, nor a specified way of accomplishing those goals.
In other words, a strategy provides clear positioning and a unified theory for how the brand will deliver value, while a plan is a list of marketing tactics, channels and budgets to achieve the strategy – without the same overarching vision.
Marketing strategy vs. digital marketing strategy
As if confusing it with one term wasn’t enough, a ‘marketing strategy’ is also often confused with a ‘digital marketing strategy’ (and we totally get why!). But again, while a marketing strategy outlines the bigger picture for your brand’s overall game plan, a digital marketing strategy is your plan for using online channels to build awareness and reach your audience.
For example, if your chosen social media platforms are Facebook and Instagram, what are your goals for each? It’s important to remember that every platform has different uses, audiences and benefits, so tailoring to each of them falls part of your digital marketing strategy – and, of course, your overall marketing strategy.
Final word: How to create an effective marketing strategy
And there you have it: the full rundown on what a marketing strategy truly is and why it’s so crucial for promoting your business effectively. As we’ve seen, it goes way beyond just having a handful of tactics or campaigns up your sleeve – a comprehensive, research-backed strategy is what really allows you to be laser-focused and intentional about every effort rather than just winging it.
But if just reading through all those pesky strategy components has you feeling a little overwhelmed, don’t worry! Crafting a solid marketing strategy is no easy feat, especially when you’re already juggling a million other priorities for your business.
That’s where the savvy minds at ie instinct come in. Our team lives and breathes this strategy stuff, and we’re experts at helping brands like yours develop killer game plans tailored to your unique voice, audiences and goals.
So if you’d love some friendly backup from an experienced marketing strategy partner, be sure to drop us a line here or via our socials – we’re here to support you with all things marketing!
Calling all food lovers! We’ve been cooking something seriously yummy with an iconic British pub brand, and we can’t wait to give you a taste – in fact, we’re going to tuck in right now!
Who are Brunning & Price?
If you’re familiar with the UK’s pub scene, chances are you’ve sipped a pint or two at a Brunning & Price pub. From pouring their first brew in 1989 to boasting a mouth-watering 79 locations across the UK, these beloved pub restaurants have become key players in the hospitality game. Whilst the parents have changed to The Restaurant Group and more recently Apollo Global Management, the brand has stayed true to its founders’ Jerry Brunning & Graham Price core values of delivering high-class traditional pub experiences.
As the Brunning & Price family tree continues to grow, one key challenge has been staffing each pub with great people who embody the brand’s commitment to delivering quality food and drink whilst creating a cosy atmosphere – which is where ie instinct came in with the secret sauce!
Our recipe for success
After being approached by their Head of HR and Senior Recruitment Manager, we’re super proud to have partnered with Brunning & Price to promote and support their recruitment activity, offering a full menu of services from a robust digital strategy to hands-on graphic design, social media management, paid advertising and much more.
But what really spices up our partnership is how we immerse ourselves in Brunning & Price’s unique culture. We regularly work with them at their head office and within their pubs, allowing us to continue crafting messaging that captures the brand’s spirit, increases awareness through direct traffic and job board partnerships and resonates with prospective employees.
Relishing the future
And the best is yet to come! This summer, we’ll be launching a brand new careers website that serves as a central hub for all of Brunning & Price’s recruitment efforts. The website sitemap and design are looking piping hot and nearly ready to be served so be sure to keep an eye out and join us in raising a glass when it goes live! (Don’t worry, we’ll be the first to pull the cork!)
Be sure to keep up with the ie insights and all of our socials so you don’t miss out on any updates!
IE INSTINCT WINS DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALISTS OF THE YEAR
Yes, we are award winners!
What a first year we had, through the unprecedented times, brought by COVID-19, ie instinct has accomplished, not just surviving, but actively thriving in everything the pandemic has thrown at our new growing business. To now be recognised as an award winner, really is the icing on the cake!
The Corporate Livewire Prestige Awards recognise small and medium-sized businesses that have proven to be the best in their market over the past 12 months.
And, we truly have. Not only do we have a fantastic team and wonderful clients to show for it, but we’ve also got the trophy and certificate to go with it!
Corporate LiveWire Prestige Awards
All shortlisted companies put forward in the prestige awards are asked to support their nomination with evidence of their work, positive feedback from their clients, information on previous accreditation and recognition as well as highlighting the most outstanding parts of their businesses.
The judging panel base their decisions upon areas such as service excellence, quality of the product/ service provided, innovative practices, value, ethical or sustainable methods of working, as well as consistency in performance.
The winners selected are those who can best demonstrate their strengths in these areas.
Read our awards announcement from the Prestige Awards here.
“This award is a fantastic achievement and represents the dedication of the team to producing quality creative marketing content which inspires and challenges our clients and their customers”
Callie James
Managing Director
What's next?
This award represents the dedication involved at ie instinct. The team are enjoying being able to support our clients in new and exciting ways. In the last 6 months alone, we’ve unveiled several new client projects and brought more specialists into the team. It’s definitely an exciting time for ie instinct and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.
If you’re looking for support with your marketing strategy and activity, get in touch, we are here to support you with all things marketing!
