Data-Driven Customer Experience Transformation with Mohamed Zaki
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Professor Mohamed Zaki of Cambridge University discusses his new book “Data-Driven Customer Experience Transformation.” Mohamed explores the shift from product-centric to customer-centric business models, distinguishing customer satisfaction from delight, and leveraging AI and data analytics to predict customer behavior. Mohamed also shares his insights on omnichannel experiences, personalization strategies, and real-world case studies, including Caterpillar’s CX transformation.
What’s Right with America With Honorable Paul Johnson and Larry Aldrich
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Honorable Paul Johnson and Larry Aldrich, authors of “What’s Right with America,” challenge fear-driven narratives dominating media. They discuss how optimism drives innovation, the power of individual agency over collective thinking, and the economic strengths of the United States. The conversation explores marketing lessons from their data-driven approach to countering pessimism, the importance of entrepreneurship, and how brands can tap into shared American values rather than divisions.
Bigeye’s Retail Revolution Study
Pets are now being seen as more a part of the family than they were before. There is an increase in the humanization of these animals whether it be toys made to mimic human products, owners purchasing pet insurance, or grooming made to be a spa experience.
Bigeye’s 2023 US Pet Owners Study
Results from Bigeye’s new 2023 US Pet Owners Study reveal 97 percent consider their pets to be family members. What are the implications for pet care marketing?
3 Ways to Boost Occupancy Rate Using Property Management Marketing
Good property management marketing can bring ideal tenants to your properties easily and effectively. Instead of competing on price or square footage, a well placed ad from a media buying agency or curated social media posts can bring your community, neighborhood, and units to life.Help prospective tenants discover and choose your property with three of the best kept secrets every multi-family marketing and property management firm needs to start using today. 1. Invest in a responsive, mobile-friendly site According to GogoDigital, 98% of renters use mobile devices on a weekly basis to power their apartment search. Of them, nearly half said they would opt out of a property or unit if the site didn’t work effectively on their cell phone or tablet. Work with a digital marketing agency like BIGEYE to ensure your website works across devices and creates a seamless experience between all your channels such as social media, advertising, and email. This simple update lets prospective renters know you operate a trustworthy, modern business. This is especially important as more and more renters expect to conduct the leasing process online using virtual signing tools to execute their leases and 360 digital tours to screen properties and make their final decisions. 2. Content is king and search engine optimization is queen The best property management marketing site in the world needs to be search-friendly in order for your business to thrive. Prospective residents often start their apartment hunt on search engines, either to discover and explore properties, or to find companies that can assist with the leasing process. Understanding what your specific goals are (think: promoting your property managed community versus offering a white-glove realtor service) will help you create engaging content that catches prospective residents’ attention and boosts your ranking in Google and other search engines. 3. Demonstrate your authenticity through social media and community engagement Put words into action by reinforcing the values your property management marketing efforts are promoting by creating an authentic social media presence and participating in community events that are aligned to your ideal residents’ needs. As an example, if your brand focuses on LEED certification and eco-conscious buildings, you may want to co-sponsor a beach clean up near your property to demonstrate your commitment and make like-minded individuals aware of your units. If you aren’t sure where to start, a local, top Florida advertising agency can point you in the right direction to build partnerships and activate events via social media. Learn more about how our team at BIGEYE has helped single- and multi-family marketing managers like you succeed in today’s digital landscape by contacting us today.
Marketing Anti-Aging Products
As the anti-aging product market continues to expand rapidly in the coming years, it’s time to get your anti-aging marketing strategy in shape. Throughout history, nobody has looked forward to getting old, loosing their looks, and declining in health. In the modern, high-tech era, however, people are more youth-obsessed than ever. In effort to capitalize on our growing need to look and feel young, more and more companies are releasing skin creams that erase wrinkles, sprays that eliminate dark circles from around the eyes, and other products that promise to turn back the clock on the aging process. A Rapidly Growing Market According to the Anti-Aging Products Market’s Global Anti-Aging Products Market research report, the anti-aging products market will reach a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 7% by 2023. Global Cosmetic Industry Magazine (GCI Magazine) echoes this prediction, estimating a 5% CAGR for anti-wrinkle product market through 2027, which would make wrinkle cream a $12.8-billion industry. Developing an Effective Anti-Aging Marketing Strategy Here are a few tips to help you make the most of the rapidly expanding anti-aging sector: 1. Concentrate on the right market for your anti-aging product GCI Magazine identifies the best anti-aging product markets worldwide as the Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe. When it comes to specific countries, however, research analyst Amir Shaikh identifies the United States as the single biggest market for anti-aging products, devices, and services. Anti-aging product marketers would also be wise to consider a both sexes when choosing appropriate outreach strategies. In the words of Forbes senior contributor Andria Cheng, men are becoming increasingly “style-conscious,” engendering a growing market for male anti-aging skincare. 2. Stress scholarship and science As reported by the daily business and tech newsletter Trends, Harvard professor David Sinclair echoes the sentiments of his fellow anti-aging researchers, declaring that the makers of anti-aging products have gone from empty promises to a serious industry. In short, modern science has us living (and maintaining healthy bodies and minds) longer than ever before. In light of this, marketers should tout the scholarship and science that underlie their various anti-aging products. Trends quotes Life Biosciences CEO Mehmood Khan, who stresses the fact that technology, academia, and medicine blend seamlessly with commerce in the anti-aging sector. “Gone are the days where you’re a businessman or engineer or academic,” says Khan. “In the modern age, those lines are blurred and rightly so.” 3. Build your brand to excel Any college undergraduate who has taken “Marketing 101” can tell you that building an effective brand is essential for every modern company. But, for companies in the anti-aging market, branding is particularly important. Based on its analysis of current trends, GCI Magazine predicts that companies that establish prestige/premium brand associations will fare far better in the anti-aging market. People are also looking for clean anti-aging brands that promise organic, chemical-free, and naturally sourced ingredients. In order to drive home these values, companies may want to consider tying their brand to an appropriate and worthy celebrity spokesperson. GCI Magazine reports that “celebrity endorsements will have a major influence over consumers purchasing anti-wrinkle products.” Just take care to ensure that your chosen celebrity affiliations reflect the underlying values and qualities of your products. Contact Bigeye to learn more A forward-thinking digital marketing firm Bigeye has the know-how to develop campaigns that are optimized for specific and emerging business sectors. If you’re ready to take advantage of the rapidly expanding anti-age product market, contact us today.
4 Great Holiday Retail Marketing Campaigns and Why They Work
Holiday shoppers research purchases and respond to retail advertising promotions. See four classic holiday retail marketing campaigns. With the scent of pumpkin spice in the air, ’tis the season for holiday advertising. Of course, businesses have plenty of good reasons to ramp up retail marketing during the holiday season. According to WordStream, 80 percent of seasonal shoppers research purchases on the internet before buying. In addition, over three-quarters say they’ve changed their mind about a purchase after performing a mobile search. At least a third of people say they’ve bought things over the holidays because of a promotional offer. In any case, this season sparks holiday retail purchases, and businesses must market to make sure shoppers can find and remember them. Four Favorite holiday retail advertising campaigns For some inspiration to get into the holiday marketing spirit, consider some of the best seasonal advertising campaigns. Home Alone with Google Assistant Most shoppers remember “Home Alone,” the classic holiday movie from the 1990s. Google produced a video parody of this movie, which of course, featured Google Assistant and even the adult version of the original child star, Macaulay Culkin. The video scored tens of millions of views and lots of social buzz. It works well because it combines nostalgia, humor, and the relevance of demonstrating how people can use the app. Starbucks red cups No brand marketing agency can discuss holiday advertising without evoking the scent of pumpkin spice. Actually, this all started with Starbucks themed holiday cups back in 1997. Every year, the cups get a different look that mostly reflects traditional holiday designs. Mostly, the decorated cups signal the introduction of the coffee chain’s holiday menu, which of course, includes pumpkin spice. Over the years, the campaign has generated excitement and even a little controversy. Mostly, the company uses fairly traditional or recognizable seasonal designs. For one memorable year, they introduced a plain, red cup with their logo, which displeased plenty of customers. If people like the current year’s cups or not, they earn Starbucks plenty of press and social media attention that’s paid off for the business. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Starbucks Coffee ☕ (@starbucks) Coca Cola’s polar bears Coca-Cola has a long history of savvy and effective holiday advertising campaigns. For instance, lots of people believe the soft drink company contributed a lot to the modern version of Santa Claus during the 1930s. The Coca-Cola ploar bears arrived as holiday mascots during the 1920s, even earlier than Coca Cola’s Santa. The cartoon bears work well because they’re cute and fun. More recently, the company has even used them to help raise awareness of the impact of global warming on real polar bears. Since 2011, Coca-Cola has contributed and raised about $5 million dollars to help preserve habitats. Though considering the billions of dollars in profits that the company has made from these playful animals, the World Wildlife Federation has criticized the company by saying that they ought to do more. Apple’s “The Surprise” video Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many retailers struggle to send out the right holiday message. While they want to promote a positive message, businesses need to remain mindful that just about all of their customers have endured a touch year. “The Surprise” video from Apple hits many of the right notes by mixing hopefulness with a hint of sadness. A family goes to visit their somewhat cranky grandpa, who has just lost his wife. On Christmas morning, the kids cheer him up with a sweet, sentimental video that — of course — they created on their iPad. The engaging video tells a story, elicits a few tears, and like the Google Assistant video, demonstrates the usefulness of the product. How to hit the sweet spot with holiday retail marketing Movie parodies, disposable, holiday-themed cups, imaginary bears, and sentimental videos may not appear to have much in common. Still, they all evoke nostalgia for holiday traditions, or in the case of the year of Starbucks plain cups, stoke attention when they don’t.
How to Put Aside the iPhone and Hire a Video Production Company
Advantages of hiring a video production company over DIY iPhone marketing videos include effectiveness, creative input, and even cost and time savings. The IPR College of Creative Arts recognized that plenty of videographers produce relatively high-quality films with nothing more than their iPhone camera. Still, they pointed out that just a few issues of using a cellphone to create videos include storage limitations, potential lighting problems, and difficulties with post-production editing. Most of all, the DIY approach to creating marketing videos can actually cost more in lost time and the chance of not creating the most effective products. Companies that want to represent themselves well should consider working with an experienced video production company. Important benefits of working with a video production company Most of all, creating professional and effective videos involves a lot of work and craftsmanship. An investment in a video production company can ensure videos communicate the right message and do a good job representing a brand. It’s important to consider these important benefits of working with a video advertising company on marketing video production: Production values: Producing high-quality, engaging videos requires an investment in equipment and editing software. Perhaps most important, it also takes experience and training. Creative ideas: Since a video marketing agency has experience working with other companies, they’re likely to contribute new ideas, or at least, objective input. Having other sets of eyes and ears on the project will probably yield more polished results. Marketing talent: A video advertising company will help ensure that the video speaks to the market audience in a professional and engaging way. They know how to assess an audience. Just as critical, they know what works and what doesn’t work so well. Efficiency: Any marketers trying to produce their own first videos will spend plenty of time trying to get everything right. A good video production company will already have an efficient process in place, and this avoids wasting time or money. Dependability: The professional videographers know how to set up shooting locations and hire talent. They’ll take care of everything and make certain the project gets completed by the promised deadline. How to hire a video advertising company Of course, all video marketing agencies won’t have the same capabilities. These suggestions can help ensure the chosen company can meet expectations. Look at their most recent marketing video products Most video marketing agencies will post some demos to their business website. At the same time, lots of these agencies don’t update these demo videos frequently. They’re likely to also have social media pages, and as active marketers themselves, they should keep these updated. If not, send a quick message to ask for links to recent samples. Find out if the video marketing agency specializes in certain niches or markets In particular, look for video production companies that have samples for similar businesses. Some of these agencies specialize in certain niches and may have particular experience with closely related markets. The don’t necessarily need experience with a company exactly like a particular client’s business. At the same time, a video production company that specializes in live music events might not be the best fit for a dog food supplier. Ask for ideas about video marketing Asking prospective agencies if they have any ideas about an organization’s video marketing can serve multiple purposes. Obviously, input from professional video agencies can provide valuable information. In the early stages before making a commitment, sharing ideas will mostly serve to help understand how the agency would approach a particular market. Perhaps most important, it should start a conversation that should demonstrate that the company is interested in the client’s business and willing to work as a partner. Preparing for that first conversation with a video marketing agency It’s most important to begin with a good understanding the objectives that the project should help satisfy. These should support overall business goals and might include increasing brand awareness, attracting new customers, or even retaining existing ones. Even better, propose some solid metrics to help measure the project’s effectiveness to ensure everybody’s operating under the same assumptions. Clients shouldn’t need to have planned every detail of their video campaign before meeting with a video production company. In fact, companies hire these agencies to develop, create, and perfect the product. Why hire a video production company? Very small businesses might start out by producing their own videos with an iPhone or other simple equipment. Still, the end product from professional video agencies can multiply returns on investment in terms of expertise, savings, and the effectiveness of the final product.
Everything You Need to Know About Living in Austin, Texas
Learn everything you wanted to know about what makes Austin, Texas weird from the people that call it home. Download our Austin, TX research report to review all of the details. Introduction The capital city of Texas, Austin is the 11th-most populous city in the United States and the seat of Travis County. Located nearly in the center of the state, Austin is about three hours south of Dallas; three hours west of Houston; and about 90 minutes north of San Antonio. Experiencing a population growth of 34.1% between 2007 and 2017, the Austin region is one of the fastest-growing in the country Austin has been the fastest-growing major metro in the country for nine straight years, from 2010 to 2019. The metro population jumped to an estimated 2.2 million people as of July 1, 2019, according to the United States Census Bureau. That is an increase of 2.8% from the prior year, bigger than any other metro with at least 1 million residents. That’s 169 people added every day, on average. With a vibrant, well-educated, and youthful population of 2.2 million in the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), the median age in Austin is 34.7 years. Of Austin’s population aged over 25, 44.8% have a Bachelor’s Degree. Leading the US in tech salary growth, it’s the number four city tech workers would consider moving to. Austin’s laid-back, take-it-or-leave-it kind of attitude matches well with its fun and “weird” culture, celebrated on bumper stickers and T-shirts with the slogan, “Keep Austin Weird.” “Everyone is welcome and has a place somewhere here. And it just makes it such a unique place because you just never know who you’re gonna meet or what experience you’re going to have just ‘cause there’s so many different things.” Jamie E, 38 Austin Neighborhoods Downtown Austin is popular with younger residents with middle to upper household incomes. These Austinites love the convenience of being just blocks from shopping on Congress Avenue, live music venues on 6th Street, and even some great parks, hiking, and biking along the Colorado River. Across the Colorado River from Downtown Austin sits South Austin, where young, artsy types congregate. Barton Heights offers great family areas, while Travis Heights and Bouldin Creek attract mainly hip, liberal Austinites. North and Northwest Austin include Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Leander, which attract a lot of families. The Leander is an award-winning school district, and Apple and Dell have large operations in the area. North Austin also has some great luxury apartments. These fast-growing Austin neighborhoods are popular with families. West Austin has some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city, such as Westlake Hills and Steiner Ranch. The commute into town is a bit longer than in other areas of Austin, but residents are closer to Lake Travis and the great outdoors. Neighborhoods Oak Hill and Circle C Ranch are further south. Although East Austin used to be considered the poorest part of the city, the area is now mostly a hipster neighborhood with many sleek, modern developments. Southeast Austin is home to a lot of University of Texas students, likely because of the large numbers of apartments and other rental properties in the area. “I am in a tiny house in East Austin. With three dogs – I have two Huskies and a mix. You’d be surprised the people who to live in the tiny houses where I’m at.” Shelly S, 42 Doing Business in Austin The Austin region offers businesses deep talent, education, quality healthcare, telecommunications, and a modern, international airport. The major employers include: Amazon, AMD, Apple, Charles Schwab, Dell, General Motors, IBM, Intel, National Instruments, Samsung, Tesla, VISA, and Whole Foods. Key Industries include: Advanced Manufacturing Clean Technology Creative & Digital Media Technology Data Management Financial Services and Insurance Life Sciences Space Technology The growth isn’t slowing down any time soon. The new Tesla Gigafactory, set to be located in eastern Travis County, will be one of the world’s largest and most advanced automotive plants and will bring an estimated $1 billion in capital investment to the region. In addition to being home to tech giants, Austin has a thriving startup scene. Austin area startups attracted $2.2 billion across 263 venture deals in 2019. Startups account for a larger share of businesses in Austin than in nearly all major US metros and Austin ranks 6th for new businesses per 1,000 population. “A couple of my friends work at Google and Facebook and they’re always saying so many people are moving in. I would say those apartment complexes are definitely to cater to people like that. Cause it’s like the new hub.” Madison P, 28 The Cost of Living in Austin Texas consistently ranks as one of the nation’s most favorable business climates based on its low tax burden and competitive regulatory environment. Texas features no personal or corporate income tax, and overall the state has one of the lowest state and local tax burdens in the US. According to Austin’s Chamber of Commerce, the cost of living is 2% lower than the national average. Austin Apartment Costs Renters will generally find more expensive prices in Austin than most similar cities. The median two-bedroom rent of $1,450 is above the national average of $1,193. The city’s median one-bedroom rent is $1,175. While rents in Austin fell moderately over the past year (-0.6%), many cities nationwide saw slight increases (+0.2%). According to RENTCafé, these 5 Austin neighborhoods offer a good selection of rental apartments, unique dining, shopping, atmosphere, walkability, and a sense of community: Downtown Austin (average rent $2,200/mo) Central Austin ($2,100/mo) Clarksville, between downtown and the MoPac Expressway ($2,100/mo) Zilker, South Austin ($1,400/mo) Travis Heights, South Austin ($1,400/mo) What Austin Renters Want No two renters are the same but many Austin renters are consistently seeking features and amenities. Here are the top things tenants report looking for in a property: Convenient Location – People want to live, work, and play in a geographically convenient circle. If your multifamily property is located
What Retail Marketers Should Expect from Black Friday This Year
For retail marketing, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and all those holiday shopping events will probably blend into weeks before and after winter holidays. By now, everybody knows that the pandemic turned 2020 into a disruptive year for marketers. Because of that, both retail marketers and customers feel somewhat uncertain about the shopping season before the holidays. In fact, Yahoo.News even answered the frequently asked question, “Has Black Friday been canceled this year?” Rest assured that Black Friday of 2020 will take place the day after Thanksgiving, just as it always has. Consumers will also still look forward to holiday shopping, even if they approach it differently this year. Learn why the idea of Black Friday still matters and how retail marketing can best prepare for holiday shopping days during a pandemic. A Retail Marketing Perspective on Black Friday 2020 While Black Friday deals still generate excitement, customers may not miss a lot of aspects of traditional one-day sales events. For instance, stores will probably have social distancing measures in place, so they’ll probably do what they can to discourage the usual stampedes and lines. In fact, many stores will probably push eCommerce marketing more this year to attract a growing number of online shoppers and limit the chance of crowds inside physical locations. Will Cyber Monday replace Black Friday? Every year, Cyber Monday has stolen a bit more attention from Black Friday. Typically, marketers think of Black Friday as an event for local stores and Cyber Monday as the time to run online sales. It’s likely that consumers will still look for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Still, the two sales days will begin to merge together as retailers look to increase eCommerce marketing to improve sales. Instead of representing a one-day sale, customers will learn to associate these events with the entire holiday shopping season. To illustrate this, Digital Commerce 360 published some 2019 stats about online sales during the two days: Black Friday online revenue: $7.43 billion Cyber Monday online revenue: $9.42 billion Even last year, retailers did not necessarily wait until traditional shopping days to push their holiday deals. In fact, they reported revenue of over $4 billion on Thanksgiving and decent receipts on the Saturday and Sunday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. That’s why some sources have even coined a new term, Cyber 5, to include all five days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. Note that some major retailers, including Walmart and Sam’s Club, have decided to close on Thanksgiving. Also, even last year, Walmart started holiday sales five weeks before Thanksgiving, and Target started even earlier. Holiday retail tips for Black Friday 2020 With both historical trends and the disruptive nature of 2020 in mind, consider these retail marketing tips for a successful holiday sales season: Plan ahead: In light of all of the dramatic changes and disruptions to retail marketing this year, retailers should not wait to plan for holiday sales. This includes early planning for promotions, inventory, supplies, and employees. Besides social distancing, lots of retailers have also struggled with supply and manpower problems because of coronavirus. Run longer promotions: It’s fine to mention Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and all those familiar sales events, but really, expect the holiday sales season to begin earlier, run over the course of months, and perhaps, even bleed into after-holiday sales for excess inventory. Lots of customers get gift cards for winter holidays, and good deals can encourage them to use them and perhaps, even spend more. Focus on increasing online sales: Vend reported that shoppers didn’t just intend to extend their holiday buying beyond Black Friday, 67 percent of them planned to shop online. That compares to 51 percent in 2019. Retailers need to make certain their sites, shipping methods, and customer service can handle an increase in online visitors. Improve digital marketing platforms: Even though Black Friday or even Cyber Monday may no longer refer to distinct days, lots of folks still use those terms to search for deals. With that in mind, retailers can create targeted pages and social media posts for those terms and then make it clear that the holiday deals will start early this year. Incorporate physical stores and eCommerce marketing into an omnichannel marketing strategy: Plenty of case studies have found that retailers with both brick-and-mortar stores and eCommerce sites do best when they merge them both into their universal sales strategy. As much as possible, have the same sales online and offline, and allow in-store pickup for online orders for items available in local stores. Customers may like to shop online; however, many of them also enjoy having the option to quickly pickup their orders locally. Black Friday is not dead Lots of shoppers still enjoy the tradition of post-Thanksgiving shopping for the holidays, and plenty of retail stores have taken very effective measures to ensure safety. Just think of all of the Christmas movies that feature scenes in a festively decorated store. More stores may close or limit shoppers on the Friday after Thanksgiving. At the same time, they can still advertise Black Friday deals by making clear they’re generously starting earlier and finishing later this year.