Video Production 101: What You Need To Know Before Doing Video
For a company taking its first shot at creating video content, it can be overwhelming to walk into a meeting room for the first time to create a digital video strategy. Often, new content creators are unfamiliar with the actual costs and types of teams needed to help successfully create and distribute digital video content. It’s important to remember that your team is not alone in wanting to create content; you are competing with thousands of other brands and individuals who are each vying for a piece of your audience’s time. This audience attention is a limited resource… until there are magically more hours in the day, the amount of time people have to consume content is not going to change anytime soon. Below are a few tips from our Orlando video production agency to help ease you through the process of creating your first branded video for optimum resource allocation and sharability. Have a Good Idea: This seems like a no-brainer, but you might be surprised at the number of people who want to create content just for the sake of creating content. It is essential to remember that bad content reflects poorly on your brand, and is unlikely to be shared organically. Brainstorm an idea that’s on-brand, and targets your audience. (If you don’t have a good idea, fear not! Our Florida marketing agency is brimming with agency experts who have the knowledge and understanding to help you create a digital video concept that captures your brand. Assign a Project Manager/ Producer: This is a crucial step in creating a successful video. The project manager should be the person in control of the actual production process. This person should have the responsibility of overseeing the budget, and may assign people to schedule shoots and secure essential film equipment. This person may also step in as a producer, who can give feedback to the production team. The project manager will ultimately also be responsible for formulating a distribution strategy. [quote] For more ideas about how to amplify the reach of your digital video content, contact the team at our Florida advertising agency to talk about making the most out of your project, no matter what your budget. [/quote] Create a Budget: In my experience, a company can create a piece of digital content at almost any budget. I’ve seen successful videos shot at production values of less than $200, and I’ve seen hundreds of thousands of dollars thrown away on campaigns that didn’t quite hit the mark. More money can buy you better tools, but they can’t make a bad idea good. In fact, some studies suggest that production values have absolutely no bearing on a viewer’s perception of a digital video. I recommend that a brand settle on a budget after coming up with the idea, as it will help to determine what’s realistically feasible. If your concept involves flying in an elephant from Nigeria, but you’re working with a small budget, it’s worth it to see if the same effect can be achieved using a green screen or editing device. Formulate a Distribution Strategy: Will your strategy involve sponsored placements on sites like Twitter and Facebook? Or are you depending on shares alone, targeting influencers and popular bloggers within your network? No matter what your strategy, the most important part is to have a strategy in place for when you’re ready to put your video out into the world.
The Pope’s Election as a successful Marketing Campaign
The way everyone is talking about it, it could have been an announcement from NASA about life on another planet, or a miracle performed on earth in front of thousands of witnesses. It’s all over newspaper outlets, television, social media sites, mobile phones and popular blogs (including this blog from your favorite Orlando ad agency!). More than the Superbowl, the Grammys and the Oscars combined, Twitter feeds are lighting up with revelry about the big news. Yesterday, the Vatican announced a new pope. Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina will succeed Pope Benedict XVI as the leader of the Catholic Church. Adding another layer of excitement to the announcement, Bergoglio is the first non-European leader in more than 1,000 years. While it’s always big news when the Vatican announces a new Pope, the reveal has special significance in the digital era. Because of the lightning-fast speed at which information travels, anyone can witness the digital behaviors that drive the spread of the big news throughout the Internet. To be able to latch on to these digital behaviors is a marketer’s dream. If any product or service launch gained the same traction as the announcement of the new Pope, then the marketers behind the announcement would certainly secure their places as leaders within the industry. The ways that people share things have shifted dramatically in the past eight years, which was when the Vatican announced Pope Benedict XVI. With the advent of social sharing, so too have come ways to reach millions of people instantaneously. It starts with buzz. People are excited about something new, and they want to share their excitement with others. They may not even know what, exactly, it is that they’re excited about – that’s certainly often the case with the launch of items such as the iPhone and the upcoming Google Glass. The buzz is that whatever it is, it will be revolutionary. A new pope has the potential to shift the direction of the Catholic Churh, an organization that has members in countries around the world. The buzz leads to anticipation. More people are talking, and more media are covering the big announcement. People around the world are sharing messages, reeling in anticipation, and covering every breaking bit of information from every angle (white smoke versus black smoke). Just before the Vatican introduced the new pope, masses of people were in St. Peter’s square, eagerly awaiting the announcement. From afar, people around the world tuned in via their televisions, mobile devices and laptops. Who will it be? When will they announce it? Why does it matter? [quote] Ready to create your own buzz and anticipation? Check out all of the services we have to offer including a range of video and digital services. We’ll be expecting your phone call. 407-839-8599. [/quote] Then, once the team is ready to share the big news, it’s time for the big reveal. The audience’s attention is focused, as they are eager and ready to share their thoughts. The big reveal is an almost majestic experience – highly ritualized, and offering a spectacle for everyone waiting to witness history and hear the news. For the announcement of the new pope, the ceremony is as old as the Catholic Church. For Apple, it’s a press conference attended by only the most highly-regarded technophiles. And finally, once the big reveal is completed, it’s the time for media reporting and social sharing. The people who’ve bore witness to the main event are tweeting, Facebooking, posting on LinkedIn, blogging and engaging in all types of digital sharing. The momentum lasts as long as people keep talking about it. It’s big news, and in the age of digital sharing, anyone can contribute to the conversation about the new Pope. The cycle operates in a bell curve, with the highest point being the big reveal. Eventually, the excitement tapers off, and it’s up to the marketers to keep their product fresh and innovative. For marketers, the entire scene is familiar. The team at our Florida advertising agency wishes the new pope the best of luck in his endeavors in helping to guide the Catholic Church to greatness. What do you think about the coverage of the new Pope? Would love to hear your comments below.
Get More Shares on Your Video Content With This Guide
As marketers, the team at our Florida advertising agency is well aware that younger generations aren’t consuming media in the way that we did growing up. Many young adults don’t even own televisions – they can get their media from a variety of sources such as Hulu, Netflix and YouTube . This also has added side effects. While Hulu runs commercials, Netflix and (most of the time) YouTube do not. That means this younger generation has the capability to opt out of watching advertising through commercials. When targeting young people, marketers have even more of a challenge in trying to engage young people. In the television days, no one ever questioned whether a household was actively engaged while watching a commercial – but, since digital content is so easy to track, engagement becomes key. Below are a few tips to help get more shares with your own digital video content. 1. Seed Your Video: Did you read our video about the importance of seeding branded content? If not, then we certainly recommend that as a starting point. The article discusses the importance of investing some of your budget into making sure your video gets optimal placement on the types of websites that attract your audience. 2. Tell a Story: Storytelling is a far more effective tool than the corporate speak we’re all used to. Leave the formal, data driven content to a boardroom; in order to connect with today’s busy, tech-savvy consumer, it’s important to relate through storytelling techniques. Most stories take the listener on a journey, so think about your journey as you create a script for your digital video content. [quote] Our creative team is known for being excellent storytellers. Check out all of the services we have to offer including a range of video and digital services. We’ll be expecting your phone call. [/quote] 3. Promote! I’m often surprised by people who think that simply uploading a video to YouTube is enough to get people interested in their content. But, if you want to get more shares and likes for your video, you must also think like a PR professional. This may involve reaching out to trusted contacts, influential bloggers, and friends with popular Twitter accounts to help spread your content. 4. Listen to the Conversation: Where are people talking about things that are relevant to your brand, and to your video content in general? Make sure you have an active presence at these hubs. Tweeting at people who mention your brand or share an interest in your brand’s field will help facilitate engagement in the long run, but can also be a short-term way to help promote your content. 5. Post at Peak Times: Brands and businesses can use social media monitoring analytic tools to help determine when their audiences are most active, most engaged and most interested. Use this knowledge to help push your video during peak times. Also, remember to push it quickly and repeatedly across social networks…. in almost every case, the most important timeframe of a video’s life cycle is the first 48 hours. In this age, we operate in real-time, so anything that’s shared later will have less impact, and will ultimately be less relevant. If you need help with creating video content to market to the masses, contact the team at our Orlando video production company. We’re equipped with the skills and the resources to help seed your content and get it shared!
Not Just For Cats & Kids: Up Your Marketing Campaigns With Videos
Cats and kids have long ruled the online viral video scene, with images of dancing babies and cats doing, well, pretty much anything, flooding our inboxes daily. Just how much do people love videos? A recent ComScore study revealed that 181 million U.S. Internet users watched nearly 37 billion online content videos in April of 2012. That’s a lot of cats playing the piano—and marketers can’t ignore those types of numbers. People Are Visual Of course there’s more to online videos than felines, and as a marketer, using video in a campaign feeds our instant gratification, I’m-too-lazy-and-or-busy-to-read lifestyles. Most people are visual and would rather watch and listen to a brand’s story by clicking play than by plodding through paragraph after paragraph of black-and-white text. So, consumers not only will watch your video, but they are probably seeking it out. Everyone loves a good how-to video, and these can serve as extensions of product videos and commercials. Short videos are easy for an audience to digest, and they ramp up click-throughs and open rates for email marketing campaigns. Videos Bring Brands To Life In a world where consumers can shop in their underwear from the comfort of their home, videos can do more to not only tell the story of a brand, but to promote a sense of closeness to that brand, bringing its products and the people behind them to life, and recreating the experience of shopping at the store. Who doesn’t want to know what it’s like to work at their favorite brands? Videos can provide that behind-the-scenes element that draws consumers in and makes them feel like the brand is a part of them and they’re a part of the brand. Consumers can see products at work or clothes in motion, making them more likely to purchase. Choose BIGEYE to assist in your Orlando video production, helping you create videos to integrate into your marketing campaigns to see results. [quote] Let us bring your brand to life with our engaging and exciting video production. Send us an email and get your free quote today! [/quote] Search Engines Love Videos When an Internet user types a query into a Google or other search engine’s bar, a study shows they are 41 percent more likely to click on a video result than a plain text article of blog post. Statistics like this one make videos a must in marketing campaigns. In ranking video content, Google puts the same emphasis and uses the same algorithm as text content. Videos Are Fun Our agency can take your product and your brand to a new level with Orlando video production, helping you create videos that will enhance your marketing campaigns. Adding professional-grade videos to your arsenal will boost credibility and trust from existing and potential customers. Unlike most of the tasks you probably perform throughout the course of a work day, making marketing videos is a chance to let loose, have fun and be creative. How have you used videos in your marketing campaigns? What type of results have you seen?
Content is King at Our Florida Advertising Agency
Earlier this year, I wrote a post about the impact of content marketing in 2013. Since that time, more than a few people have wanted to know more about what I meant… what is content marketing? How can I use it to help grow my business? Is it expensive? So, I thought it would be a good idea to address these questions in a follow-up post discussing what content marketing means to me. Every day, thousands of blog posts are written, thousands of hours of content is being uploaded to YouTube, and millions of people are posting and sharing on social networks. Yes, it can be hard to sift through everything. The idea behind content marketing is that your customers won’t NEED to. If your customers trust you to provide leading, cutting-edge reports on trends, ideas and innovations within your industry, then why would they need to look elsewhere for the same content? If you can make this information accessible, fun and engaging, then this virtually eliminates the need to look to sources such as trade magazines, big media companies and RSS feeds to find the information that’s relevant to their area of interest. Content marketing is why Pepsi can offer an interactive home page that streams Tweets, video and content from a number of sources. There is seemingly no connection between Pepsi and the music industry, but Pepsi has honed in on the types of people it hopes to attract, and can thereby zero in on their interests. In a sense, it’s no longer about the drink (that’s always the bottom line), but it’s about the entertainment value and perceived relationship between the music fans and their soft drink choices. People can go to Pepsi Pulse to learn more about their favorite artists, watch video coverage of new and interesting things in entertainment, and potentially even see their own Tweets broadcast on the Pepsi home page. Companies that embrace that their brands aren’t just about the products that they sell will have much more success further down the line. The association may only be psychological, but with all other things equal, pop culture music fans regularly exposed to the Pepsi brand are more likely to choose Pepsi amongst competitors. Your content strategy doesn’t need to be limited to the product you sell. Writing, blogging and reporting about things that may be of interest to your followers is a great way to build relationships – you may run a small furniture store, but your funny cat meme you post early on a Monday morning will help bring smiles to the faces of your fans. [quote] Engaging with your followers on a personal level is extremely important. To learn more about our expertise in brand engagement, give us a ring at 407.839.8599. [/quote] One important thing to remember is that the content you’re pushing out should be high quality. If you own a small fashion retailer, writing uninformed, keyword-oriented posts about subjects you know little about will come across as fluff, and may even dilute your brand. Think you don’t have the finances to run an effective content strategy? Try hiring an agency like ours on an ongoing basis, and see if you don’t see notable returns after three months, which is the about the amount of time most companies report seeing increases in business upon implementing SEO strategies. The team at our Orlando advertising agency bets that you’ll see a significant bang for your buck in terms of more, higher-quality clients and sales.
College grads entering music marketing: Looking past record labels
The record industry’s dead. That’s what the news reports and the numbers support. In the traditional sense it’s true. Music labels like Sony and Warner Music Group are like dial-up modems or skorts. Their model is broken, outdated and most likely never returning to its glory days. Thankfully though, the music itself isn’t going anywhere. If anything, it’s becoming more expansive and infiltrating more ear canals through the use of the latest and greatest marketing strategies employed by individuals and small firms who understand that success in the industry anymore is measured in Twitter followers and YouTube views. Artists no longer need to rely on major labels to push their work for them. It’s a beautiful thing, really. And it means a whole lot to youngsters trying to break into the competitive, relatively small field of music marketing. In the past, labels threw hundreds of thousands of dollars toward the anticipation of album launches months ahead of their release. Now, marketing lead-time is much more immediate. Take for example, Kanye West and his GOOD Fridays. GOOD Fridays were the rapper / producer’s ingenious marketing ploy in support of his LP album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. West released free singles on a weekly basis, generating 15 tracks in all. What makes this tactic so effective is West’s understanding of the fact that consumers no longer want to wait for the rigmarole of an album launch to subside. In fact, the album as a primary moneymaking unit for an artist is no more. It’s a relic left over by labels that require artists to meet Minimum Delivery and Release Commitments if they want to see their bonuses. [quote]Kanye may be a polarizing public figure; say what you will about him, but even Taylor Swift can’t argue that when it comes to self-promotion, the man is unmatched in his efforts. [/quote] Upstart company Fanbridge is at the forefront of the shifting world of music marketing. Based out of New York City, Fanbridge Co-Founder and President Noah Dinkin used to manage bands before launching the “leading fan management and marketing platform for email and social media.” Dinkin now helps artists, musicians, actors and athletes to grow their individual brand by growing their fan base. The site allows users to track and update Facebook, Myspace and Twitter pages all from a single location. Other sites like CD Baby allow independent artists to distribute their albums online without having to go through major distribution channels. At the end of the day, our Orlando video production company realizes that music has fallen back into the hands of its creators. Those creators need to be informed of the various simple yet effective outlets available to them online. That’s where the music marketer takes the reins. Marketers today must think on their feet. They need to help license material out to various commercials and television spots. Consider how helpful the MacBook Air ad was to Yael Naim’s “New Soul.” They need to ensure that an artist is continuously present in the eyes of his/ her fans. That can mean posting behind-the-scenes videos on YouTube or Tweeting links to new songs that can be previewed on Last.fm or SoundCloud. Mostly, it’s important to remember that a stodgy old print ad in Billboard Magazine only goes so far anymore. Live streaming, mobile applications, Tumblr, Do-It-Yourself (DIY); these are but a few of the buzzwords future music marketers would do well to familiarize themselves with. Want to learn how to implement the latests trends in music for your next Video Production Project? Contact us to get a free quote!
Excellent free fonts for your typography collection
Typography is now an art form and can really make or break an ad, article layout, or website. Maximize your font drawer with a gambit of free fonts. Browse these sites for great free font downloads: Font Squirrel: http://www.fontsquirrel.com/ Font Fabric: http://fontfabric.com/category/free/ My Fonts: http://www.myfonts.com/ Gluk Fonts: http://www.glukfonts.pl/fonts.php?l=en Lost Type: http://www.losttype.com/browse/ Da FontL http://www.dafont.com/ The League of Moveable Type: http://www.theleagueofmoveabletype.com/ Always keep a variety of fonts in your quick draw. From script to plain text, as well as some with a bit of artistic flare. Mixing your fonts can elevate the design of your promotional content, website etc. Helpful tips when pairing different fonts: 1) Use fonts with similar feel but not too similar. Mixing fonts that only have slight variations can make for a messy appearance. Instead chose bold combinations to make for a dynamic design choice. We like to call this the Goldie Lock’s rule of choosing fonts that are “not too similar but not too different.” TIP: Use at least 2 fonts to get some flare for your ad. We use this rule for all of our Florida marketing agency clients and it always gives us a great looking ad in the end. [quote] Here are a few examples of how we use fonts to spice up our ads. [/quote] 2) Consider using the font in italics, bold or underlined for a different yet similar approach. It’s easy and can have a great impact on the overall look. Also think about all caps versus an all lowercase approach in your text to help emphasize certain aspects of your design. 3) Mix San-Serif and Serif fonts together. What is a serif you ask? It’s the little tale or line that extends from the edges of the letters. San-Serif fonts don’t have this accent detail where as Serif fonts do. 4) Unify fonts by simply using the same color palette. Try using different shades of the same color or different colors with similar intensities or saturation level. 5) Think about the font weight and priority that it carries in design. Some fonts are naturally going to draw the eye first, so think about using these fonts for headers or titles etc. To get the right balance, test your font features. Does it have a bold, italic, or strong option? 20 of our favorite free fonts Handwritten & Script These handwritten and script fonts really ad a trendy, design forward feel to your ads. Use them for main headers for an attention grabber or use them to emphasize a side note, tip, or product detail. It’s a great way to make callout text have a stand alone feel. Claire Hand: http://www.behance.net/gallery/aClaire-Handa-the-new-team-scope-free-font/1945173 Five Minutes: http://www.behance.net/gallery/Five-Minutes/890532 Sofia: http://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/sofia Wisdom Script: http://www.losttype.com/font/?name=wisdom%20script Modern Serif A bit on the chunky side, these fonts are great for headers, side notes and to make regular ol’ content copy stand out. Poly: http://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/poly Bobber: http://www.behance.net/gallery/Bobber-Typeface/3371595 Hagin Type Face: http://fontfabric.com/hagin-free-font/ Znikomit: http://www.glukfonts.pl/font.php?l=en&font=Znikomit Sreda Slab Serif: http://fontfabric.com/sreda-free-font/ Foro: http://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/foro Sleek San Serif These fonts are great for content copy or titles. Typically lighter in weight and thinner looks, these san serif fonts off a sleek feel to your promotions or websites. Raleway: http://www.theleagueofmoveabletype.com/raleway Flex Display Typeface: http://www.behance.net/gallery/Flex-Display-free-fonts/6032321 Haymaker: http://www.losttype.com/font/?name=haymaker Font Reswysokr: http://www.glukfonts.pl/font.php?l=en&font=Reswysokr Muncie: http://www.losttype.com/font/?name=muncie Lintel Modern Sans Serif Typeface: http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/northernblock/lintel/ Quicksand: http://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/Quicksand Classic with a Twist In love with Times New Roman? Well how about a twist on an old classic. Quite legible and understated, these fonts are great for content copy or as an elegant header. Calluna: http://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/Calluna Forum: http://www.behance.net/gallery/Forum/3295480 Which ones did we miss? Do you have other favorite free fonts?
David Ogilvy on the importance of understanding copywriting
David Ogilvy was one of the true giants of advertising. His name is often mentioned alongside other advertising legends like Leo Burnett, Bill Bernbach, and Howard Luck Gossage. “The Father of Advertising” or “the original Mad Man” as he is known today, founded the agency Ogilvy & Mather in 1948 when he was just 37 years old. Today, it has more than 450 offices in 169 cities. To get a glimpse into Ogilvy’s genius as a copywriter, just take a look at the letter below. It was written to Ray Calt in 1955, outlining Ogilvy’s “appalling” copywriting habits. I doubt that Mr. Calt ever expected such a response. But hopefully, he got a good laugh out of it. I think every copywriter out there can relate to one or a few of the things mentioned in it. I can especially relate to bullet point #9—although rum is often replaced by really strong coffee and Handel on the gramophone is replaced by Jaytech or Blackmill on my Bose noise canceling headphones. By the way, if you haven’t read Ogilvy’s iconic book “Confessions of an Advertising Man” you’re missing out on one of the most interesting reads in the business, still relevant decades later. April 19, 1955 Dear Mr. Calt: On March 22nd you wrote to me asking for some notes on my work habits as a copywriter. They are appalling, as you are about to see: 1. I have never written an advertisement in the office. Too many interruptions. I do all my writing at home. 2. I spend a long time studying the precedents. I look at every advertisement which has appeared for competing products during the past 20 years. 3. I am helpless without research material—and the more “motivational” the better. 4. I write out a definition of the problem and a statement of the purpose which I wish the campaign to achieve. Then I go no further until the statement and its principles have been accepted by the client. 5. Before actually writing the copy, I write down every concievable fact and selling idea. Then I get them organized and relate them to research and the copy platform. 6. Then I write the headline. As a matter of fact I try to write 20 alternative headlines for every advertisement. And I never select the final headline without asking the opinion of other people in the agency. In some cases I seek the help of the research department and get them to do a split-run on a battery of headlines. 7. At this point I can no longer postpone the actual copy. So I go home and sit down at my desk. I find myself entirely without ideas. I get bad-tempered. If my wife comes into the room I growl at her. (This has gotten worse since I gave up smoking.) 8. I am terrified of producing a lousy advertisement. This causes me to throw away the first 20 attempts. 9. If all else fails, I drink half a bottle of rum and play a Handel oratorio on the gramophone. This generally produces an uncontrollable gush of copy. 10. The next morning I get up early and edit the gush. 11. Then I take the train to New York and my secretary types a draft. (I cannot type, which is very inconvenient.) 12. I am a lousy copywriter, but I am a good editor. So I go to work editing my own draft. After four or five editings, it looks good enough to show to the client. If the client changes the copy, I get angry—because I took a lot of trouble writing it, and what I wrote I wrote on purpose. Altogether it is a slow and laborious business. I understand that some copywriters have much greater facility. Yours sincerely, D.O. There might be only one David Ogilvy, but BIGEYE‘s copywriters give him a run for his money. Contact us today to discuss the wide array of service offerings!
Social media’s newest “it girl”: Welcome the new app Vine
Social media is constantly evolving, which means there will always be a new platform that is bigger and better than the existing ones. The newest platform to hit the web is Vine, a Twitter creation. It is an app that allows you to create six-second videos and share them on an Instagram-like newsfeed, Twitter and Facebook. Those six-seconds don’t have to be consecutive. You can start and stop recording by tapping on the screen until your time is up. It is currently only available on an iPhone or an iTouch. Chris Taylor from Mashable wrote, “It’s the kind of moment that comes rarely, but tech journalists live for it; a service is launched with little fanfare and receives a sudden, energetic burst of genuine buzz.” It hasn’t been all champagne and roses. The first glitch happened a few days after it’s launch in the appearance of pornography videos. Twitter said in a statement to ABC News, “Users can report videos as inappropriate within the product if they believe the content to be sensitive or inappropriate (e.g. nudity, violence, or medical procedures).” All videos that meet those descriptions will be immediately deleted. Although there have been early hiccups, our Florida advertising agency believes Vine has a bright future. It has a big advantage as being the brainchild of a major social service, Twitter. Have you started using Vine already, or need some expert advice on where to begin? Contact our team today to schedule a consultation!
New year, New plan: Resolve to revamp your strategy in 2013
I’m not always one for resolutions, but this year sees more reasons for change. In 2012, we saw what a major role social media and digital strategy played in the presidential election – many people have gone on the record to say that one of the primary reasons for Romney’s defeat was the lack of an integrated digital campaign strategy. Regardless of whether that’s true, it speaks to the profound implications that an effective social media strategy might have on your business. So this year, I’ve decided to make it my personal resolution to help impress the importance of a digital strategy on our Orlando ad agency clients, as well as all of our friends in the advertising and marketing world. It can be difficult to keep up with all of the new trends and ideas. Two years ago, daily deals were the future of Internet marketing, while today, businesses like LivingSocial and Groupon are tanking. This is why we consider it essential for businesses of all sizes to reassess their digital strategy to help grow their businesses through marketing in 2013. Our Orlando marketing agency strives to provide our clients with successful digital marketing strategies on budgets of any size. Our first tip is to remember to invest in marketing, but know how to do so wisely. Generating a flashy marketing campaign won’t be worth the effort if the product can’t stand on its own. We encourage you to work with a strategist or consultant who truly understands the intricacies of successful digital media. Companies that have taken the plunge to invest a few dollars in professional marketing typically see high returns for the money spent. Next, companies should invest resources in learning how to leverage social media. As we’ve noted in the past, a college student might not be the best person to run your social media platform. Smaller companies can resolve to use social media to their advantage, encouraging people to Tweet at them for the opportunity to win new products or encouraging them to share information in order to receive discount promo codes. Finally, and most importantly, we urge you to resolve to continue to consider the end user. Sure, you want to sell products, but think of the ways that your company might alienate users when you constantly send emails, overselling them on products or services that they might otherwise love. While we’re not telling you to that marketing strategy is completely organic and reliant upon word-of-mouth, we do encourage you to carefully seed your strategy, and to allow it to take off from there. Carefully review customer data to find out what people love about your brand, and use that information to develop plans that speak directly to your customer. Above all, resolve to create a brand strategy that puts your customer first, thereby empowering you to extend your company’s resources to create the solid foundation for an invigorating digital strategy in the new year. Check out some of the digital marketing and engagement campaigns we’ve done for our clients. We’re pretty satisfied with our work, no bragging needed.