Sometimes we impress ourselves.
Check out case studies of some of the work we have done to help our clients succeed as well as insider articles helping you know the latest trends in marketing.
Recent Case Studies
Case Study
Growing Your Social Media to Market Your Business: SJNA Traffic Increase
Are you questioning how social media can benefit your company? Many businesses feel that social media is the least important or effective of the marketing methods, therefore it is usually given the least amount of attention.
This lack of direction usually leads most social media accounts to flounder, but with the right love and affection (such as the kind your business would get from IOI), social media can be a powerful driver in recruiting new customers and keeping past and current customers engaged and active.
Recently, IOI Ventures took over social media control for our client, St. John’s Northwestern Academies, an independent, private college prep school in Wisconsin. SJNA had a strong base of past alumni and parents that they had already tapped into, but they were not making significant strides in using social media to actually benefit their business by attracting new users to their page.
The Plan:
At IOI, we came up with the plan to strengthen SJNA’s accounts by focusing more on the content and ideas that would drive new prospective families to the campus. We needed to focus on capturing new potential customers to help boost business while still keeping our current parents and students informed and up to date on campus life and student events.
Sending More Users to the SJNA site:
Our first step was to capitalize on our audience and push them to our sjnacademies.org home page. Since taking over the SJNA socials in April, their website conversions from social media are up over 500 percent with Instagram and LinkedIn contributing over 1,000 percent increases. We did this by implementing more directed CTA’s in our posts and creating a link tree for Instagram which helped propel that 1,000 percent increase. With these new and simple fixes in place, their accounts began to grow and become a far more useful tool in recruitment.
Generating a more influential online presence:
The next step we took on for SJNA was to reach a new set of eyes. We began growing their account by using more targeted fixed hashtags, creating collab posts with local brands, following and interacting with more accounts in our genre, and using more directed content and CTA’s. In the first five months, these changes garnered over a 300 percent increase in total reach across our entire social network. SJNA’s Instagram account has seen the largest jump with nearly a 50 percent increase in just six months of IOI oversight.
Armed with these tactics and tricks and a legitimate planned social media strategy, you can grow your businesses social
To learn more about how IOI Ventures can help you take your social media game to the next level, click here: https://www.ioiventures.com/
Case Study
How IOI’s Strategy Helped Produce a Slam Dunk for St. John’s Northwestern Academies At The 2023 NBA Draft
At the 2023 NBA Draft, IOI had a very special relationship with one of the newest members of the Golden State Warriors. Brandin Podziemski is a 2021 graduate of St. John’s Northwestern Academies, one of IOI’s newest clients. Brandin was selected as the overall 19th pick in the first round, and SJNA was not equipped to provide the level of coverage needed surrounding an event of this magnitude.
Luckily, IOI already had a blueprint for success with SJNA thanks to our experience just a year prior at the 2022 NBA Draft when Keegan Murray, an alum of another IOI client DME Academy, got selected as the No. 4 overall pick.
Goals:
St. John’s Northwestern wanted to increase brand awareness and drive media engagement all while bringing the attention and recognition a first round pick deserved. SJNA always wanted to reach the local community and national media by promoting the story through various news outlets. Finally, they wanted to leverage Brandin’s time at SJNA by building out long-form pieces that would drive traffic to their website and increase interest in the academies.
Strategy:
The draft was taking place June 22 and we knew we needed a strong clear strategy prior to June 1 in order to accomplish the goals set forth by SJNA.
Despite having been a recent graduate and successful alumnus, SJNA wasn’t connected with Brandin on social media. We began interacting with him and his NCAA program, Santa Clara University, to develop trust and foster the relationship.
We developed a social media content plan outlining the month of June leading up to the NBA Draft. We focused on highlighting Brandin’s impressive statistics, extensive awards, and all his recognitions by utilizing feed posts and stories to drive engagement through polls and open-ended questions.
In order to drive traffic to the SJNA website, we built out a landing page highlighting Brandin and his accomplishments. We also developed multiple long-form blog pieces, which we distributed to both national and local media outlets, in preparation for the draft
Ahead of draft night, we organized local media and community members to attend a watch party hosted by SJNA. This provided a backdrop for quality coverage from local media and created excitement and buzz around the future of SJNA athletics.
As the draft began, we planned to provide live coverage through social media utilizing the countdown feature, polls, and open-ended questions. We also prepared to post a final long-form blog post added to the link to our social media posts, continuing to drive traffic to the SJNA website.
Outcome:
On draft night, we ramped up our social media with a series of posts and stories and also continued closely monitoring any related content. Once his name was called, we posted content congratulating Brandin and began interacting with his alma mater, Santa Clara University, Brandin himself, and the Golden State Warriors.
Two local media television crews turned up to the NBA Draft watch party and shared footage of the night on their live broadcasts and social media accounts, which we reposted to the SJNA social media accounts. On the national level, Brandin gave us a boost when he flashed the lining of his jacket to reveal a St. John’s Northwestern logo and commented on his appreciation of the school live on the ESPN broadcast.
Thanks to our newly developed social media relationship with Brandin, he is now following SJNA on social media and is liking, commenting, and sharing nearly all our posts to his page. With his now nearly 42k followers, this contributed to a huge boost in our numbers.
In the month of June alone, we saw an increase of Facebook and Instagram reach at 256,432 (increase of 622% month-over-month) and 59,368 (increase of 566% MOM) accounts reached, respectively. We also gained 70 new Instagram followers and garnered 2,466 (increase of 36% MOM) profile visits with content about Brandin being 6 out of the 10 top performing posts for the month.
Overall, the 2023 NBA Draft was a success for not only Brandin and his family, but for St. John’s Northwestern Academies as well. We met and exceeded the goals we had set for the event and are confident we will continue to drive brand awareness, increase web traffic, and see a rise in social media engagement as Brandin undoubtedly shines for the Golden State Warriors.
If you’re looking to elevate your business, let us help! Talk with our team today to get started!
Case Study
IOI Ventures Boosts Lead Generation for 3 Keys Brewery Through Facebook Campaign
This case study explores how IOI Ventures successfully executed a lead generation campaign on Facebook to generate more leads for 3 Keys Brewery’s email list. By leveraging the targeting capabilities and extensive user base of Facebook, IOI Ventures devised a strategic campaign that effectively reached and engaged the brewery’s target audience, resulting in a significant increase in qualified leads.
Objective:
The primary objective of the campaign was to expand 3 Keys Brewery’s email list and gather valuable leads for future marketing initiatives. We aimed to maximize the impact of Facebook’s vast user base and sophisticated ad targeting options to reach individuals who were likely to be interested in craft beer, good food, and a nice atmosphere, all at an affordable price.
Strategy and Execution:
Identifying the target audience: We collaborated closely with 3 Keys Brewing & Gastrobrew’s team to define its ideal customer persona. Tom and Gabe from 3 Keys identified key characteristics and demographics, such as age, location, interests, and engagement with similar brands.
Ad creative development: IOI Ventures crafted visually appealing and engaging ad creatives that showcased 3 Keys Brewery’s unique offerings, including high-quality images of their craft beers, brewery ambiance, and special events. The ads were designed to evoke curiosity and encourage users to take action by signing up for a chance to win a $100 gift card.
Precise targeting and ad distribution: Utilizing Facebook’s advanced targeting options, we narrowed down the target audience based on geographic location (Bradenton, Florida), age, interests, and behavior patterns related to craft beer and brewery visits. By ensuring precise targeting, the campaign could effectively reach individuals with a high likelihood of becoming valuable leads.
Ongoing monitoring and refinement: During the 30 days campaign duration, we closely monitored the performance. Tracking metrics such as click-through rates, conversion rates, and cost per lead. We continuously refined the campaign by adjusting targeting parameters to optimize results.
Results:
IOI Ventures’ Facebook lead generation campaign yielded exceptional results for 3 Keys Brewery:
Increased lead volume: The campaign generated a whopping 809 leads during the 30 days we were running the campaign.
Higher lead quality: The leads acquired through the campaign are all leads within a 15 miles radius of 3 Keys Brewing and Gastrobrew. These new leads are much more likely to stop in now that they are more aware of the restaurant.
Cost-effective results: The cost per lead was only $0.53, indicating efficient campaign management and optimization. Our total spend was $425.66 for a total of 809 leads.
Enhanced brand exposure: Our campaign’s reach and engagement resulted in a wider audience discovering 3 Keys Brewery and increased brand awareness within their target market of Bradenton, Florida.
Conclusion:
Through a strategic lead generation campaign on Facebook, IOI Ventures successfully assisted 3 Keys Brewery in expanding its email list and connecting with a broader audience of craft beer enthusiasts. By leveraging Facebook’s advanced targeting capabilities and continuously optimizing its campaign, we achieved significant improvements in lead volume, lead quality, and cost-effectiveness. This case study demonstrates the value of leveraging social media platforms for lead generation and highlights the importance of well-defined targeting, compelling ad creatives, and ongoing monitoring and optimization for campaign success.
Get in touch with our team to learn more about generating more leads for your business!
Case Study
The IOI Team Takes on the Northeast
Although the IOI team is small, we are very mighty. Our time in Philly and Atlantic City solidified that we are continuing to move in the right direction and that there are only more clients to partner with, more challenges we can overcome together, and more goals to crush. If there’s one thing IOI loves, it’s an excuse to get together and celebrate.
We kicked off the New Year in the best way we knew how – a team trip.
Are we surprised that the trip started out with an FAA system-wide outage, affecting every team member’s flight? While most were able to hop on a later flight, a handful of us hopped in the car and made the six-hour drive to Philadelphia. Talk about being committed to the cause!
Some hours and multiple Philly cheesesteaks later, the whole team was on the ground and ready to rock and roll. IOI kicked off the week at the U.S. Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia where we partnered with our Norwegian client, Spond, and States Soccer to host a happy hour for coaches and potential partners. It was a great opportunity to meet current and prospective clients for IOI and a chance to mingle with other entrepreneurs who share similar visions. Not only did we leave with some great new connections, but we also created lasting memories with our team.
The night wasn’t over yet – in fact, it was just beginning! Next up, a bus ride to Atlantic City to join our fellow Rhombus Services businesses – Pellucid Travel, Financial Wing LLC, BrandPoint Services, and Entrepreneurs United. Not only was this a special opportunity to spend time with our sister companies, but we were also able to celebrate with BrandPoint as they achieved an incredible milestone of $100 million in revenue as well as 20 years in business!
Throughout the week, IOI sat in on many of BrandPoint’s sessions highlighting their work divisions, the talented employees that comprise each of them, and the goals their business has set as they enter a new year. They even hosted a gala that celebrated individuals who have truly made a difference in their organization throughout the year. The opportunity to join internal conversations as they prepare for the future and celebrate all that has been accomplished was not lost on IOI.
These conversations sparked a fire as we moved into our smaller breakout session with the IOI team where we focused on individual goal-setting, key initiatives, annual goals, and core values. We identified areas where we as a team can seize the opportunity to be better and truly give our best to our clients. We also spent a lot of the time laughing, which seems to be a common theme when we are all in the same room.
Our time was bookended by guest speaker, Ted Ma. His words of wisdom focused on how to become the best version of yourself. He encouraged each of us to identify areas in our lives where we can step into our growth zones and welcome challenges that make us uncomfortable. Needless to say, we got a nice kick in the @ss.
If I had to sum up our time together I would say it was short but so sweet. If you were on the outside looking in, you would never know we are a completely remote team. Sitting in a room alongside people who share a common vision and goal fuels the passion inside of you.
Do you want to be part of the ride? Get in touch with our team and get ready to level up your business.
Case Study
Under Armour Flag Football Paid Media Campaign Hits Year-Long Target In One Month!
What do you get when you combine a passion for sports, an entrepreneurial spirit, and kids? Under Armour Flag Football Leagues. IOI Ventures has partnered with Under Armour’s Flag Football team to expand their footprint and grow the number of flag football leagues across the country.
The partnership encourages families to sign their children up to play, as well as generate leads for new league operators. Without league operators, Under Armour can not expand its program. Challenge accepted.
Goals:
IOI worked closely with the Under Armour Flag Football team to draw up a paid media campaign to drive leads for league operators. They expressed a goal to onboard 10 new league operators this year. With a rigorous vetting process and high turn-down rate, IOI was challenged with driving a significant number of qualified leads to try and yield just one league operator per month.
Strategy:
To achieve this goal, we knew that we needed to increase the volume and quality of the leads coming to their “Start A Flag Football League” landing page (a past IOI website project).
IOI’s account management team worked with Under Armour to settle on a budget and regional targets for league operators. The IOI paid media team then worked with the Account Manager on a detailed paid media campaign brief outlining the goals of the client, their target audiences, geographics, keywords, custom URLs for tracking, headlines and descriptions for context in the ads.
Additionally, IOI’s creative team worked with photo assets from the client to refresh the visual elements of the ads.
Results:
In just 31 days, IOI was able to generate 930 leads at a cost per lead of $7.04. Because of the close attention to detail around audience targeting and geo-fencing, the quality of the leads was confirmed when the client told us that they were onboarding 10 new league operators and had 5 more ready to onboard shortly thereafter.
As a result, Under Armour Flag Football moved their proverbial goalposts back a bit. Their new goal for the year is now 30 league operators – and we are confident that we’ll get them there.
Need help generating leads or revenue with paid media? Get in touch with our IOI team now and level up your digital marketing.
Case Study
Challenger Sports’ Redesigned Website Drives Record-Breaking Traffic, Registrations, and Revenue!
What is the first thing to make an impression on users when they visit a website? If you guessed the design, you would be right! Nearly 94% of first impressions are related to a website’s design and almost 48% of website visitors attribute website design to a business’s credibility.
Challenger Sports is an organization that is passionate about delivering high-quality soccer camps and learning experiences for youth soccer players and their families of all ages and ability levels. Although they had this vision for their business, their website was not designed in a way that made it easy for users to find and register for camps. They were experiencing an 80% drop in camp registrations due to poor user experience, inability to search and find a camp easily, and was not optimized for mobile devices.
Goals:
IOI worked closely with the Challenger Sports team to develop goals and a pathway to achieve them. Their first goal was to increase annual camp revenue to $7.9M with 45,000 registrants, which would be a 20% increase in growth year over year. They also wanted to reduce the high drop-off rate on the website.
Strategy:
To achieve these goals, we knew a new website and camp search experience would be crucial. IOI built a custom camp finder making it easier for users to search and register for upcoming camps. We also developed cohesive branding and messaging through the website as well as more calls to action that encourage users to contact Challenger Sports through the integration of HubSpot forms.
Aside from website updates, IOI developed a full marketing strategy with the goal of pushing soccer camp registrations. This included a $5,000 budget allocation to Google and Meta ads directing to the camp finder. This campaign also included four email blasts and four social media posts promoting the new website and camp finder, along with long-form content that lives on the site. We doubled down on all these efforts by adding a registration camp banner to all email blasts and Regional Director’s email signatures.
Results:
The Challenger Sports website and camp finder redesign launched at the end of January 2023 and recorded a 22% increase in camp registrations year-over-year in the first 45 days. It also created and collected 878 new contacts in HubSpot. From IOI’s marketing efforts alone, this strategy led to 1,258 camp registrations and $274,215 in revenue.
With the partnership between IOI Ventures and Challenger Sports, all initial goals for this campaign were met and exceeded. The updates to their website and camp finder pages have made the customer experience smoother and have led to more leads and registrations.
Are you looking to optimize your website and collect more leads? Get in touch with our IOI team now and take your website from good to GREAT!
Recent Articles
IOI Insider
Tapping into Trending Holiday Topics for Your Social Media Content
In the world of social media, staying current and engaging with your audience means tapping into trending holiday topics. Whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, or even National Donut Day, there’s always a holiday around the corner to provide fresh opportunities for content creation. Here are a handful of ways to make the most out of trending holiday topics to boost your social media presence:
Early Bird Gets the Worm
The first rule of capitalizing on trending holiday topics is to start planning your content well in advance. Keep a well-organized content calendar that highlights upcoming holidays and events relevant to your audience. This ensures you have time to plan and create content well in advance. Early engagement can build anticipation and excitement among your followers.
Know Your Audience
Understanding your audience’s preferences and interests is paramount. Different holidays resonate differently with various demographics. Make sure you research what holidays matter most to your followers, be inclusive, and align your content accordingly. You don’t want to ruffle feathers or have your account suspended.
Monitor Trends
Stay up-to-date with current trends and conversations surrounding the holiday. Follow relevant hashtags, join relevant social media groups, and pay attention to what influencers in your niche are doing. This will help you identify the trending topics, challenges, and conversations to engage with in your holiday-themed content.
Create Valuable and Relevant Content
Don’t just jump on the holiday bandwagon for the sake of it. Ensure your content provides value to your audience and is relevant to the holiday. If it’s Thanksgiving, offer cooking tips or share stories of gratitude. If it’s Halloween, create spooky DIY tutorials or share costume ideas. By providing valuable content, you’re more likely to engage and retain your audience.
Utilize User-Generated Content
Encourage your followers to contribute to your holiday content by sharing their experiences, stories, or creations related to the holiday. User-generated content not only boosts engagement but also creates a sense of community and trust around your brand. For example, you can run a Halloween-themed contest or challenge where your followers can submit their own spooky creations. Share and celebrate the best entries on your social media channels to build a sense of community.
Host Holiday-Themed Contests and Giveaways
Kickstart the holiday season with a jolt of excitement and festive engagement. Hosting contests or giveaways infused with holiday themes is a brilliant strategy to immerse your audience in the joyous spirit of the season!
Encourage your followers to take part in fun challenges or friendly competitions, all while dangling tempting holiday-themed prizes as delightful incentives. Whether it’s wickedly cool Halloween merchandise, generous discount codes, or the promise of exclusive content, these giveaways can work their magic and create buzz across your social media channels.
Be Visual and Creative
People are drawn to eye-catching visuals and creative content. Use high-quality images, videos, infographics, and other multimedia elements to make your holiday content stand out. Experiment with creative storytelling techniques and interactive content formats like polls, quizzes, and live streams to engage your audience.
Leverage Holiday Hashtags
Hashtags are your ticket to reaching a broader audience interested in the holiday. Research and use relevant holiday-themed hashtags in your posts to increase discoverability. Popular Halloween-related hashtags like #Halloween, #SpookySeason, or #TrickOrTreat can help expand your reach.
Stay Authentic
While it’s important to align your content with holiday themes, remember to stay true to your brand’s identity. Authenticity resonates with audiences. If your content feels forced or unrelated to your brand, it can turn off followers.
Tapping into trending holiday topics for your social media content is a dynamic and rewarding strategy. By planning ahead, understanding your audience, monitoring trends, creating valuable content, encouraging user-generated content, hosting contests, being creative, and using relevant hashtags, you can boost your engagement and keep your audience coming back for more. So, start planning your holiday-themed content and join the conversation on social media today! Not sure where to begin? Get in touch with our team here and we can help you out!
IOI Insider
From Athlete to Coach: How Sports Shaped My Career as a Marketing Account Manager
Life often takes unexpected turns, and in my case, the journey from being an athlete and coach to a Marketing Account Manager has been nothing short of transformative. While it might seem like sports and marketing are worlds apart, the skills and lessons I learned on the field have profoundly influenced my professional life. In my short five months on the job, I’ve already seen so many instances where my experiences as an athlete and coach have helped me excel in my role as a Marketing Account Manager.
Goal-Oriented Mindset
In the world of sports, setting and achieving goals is fundamental. Whether it’s running a faster mile, hitting a certain number of home runs, or improving your shot, athletes constantly strive for improvement. This goal-oriented mindset directly translates to the world of marketing, where setting and achieving objectives is equally essential. As an account manager, I’ve learned to set clear, measurable goals for my team and clients, just as I did as an athlete. This mindset has not only helped me stay focused but also ensured that my marketing campaigns have a clear direction and purpose.
Teamwork and Collaboration
Team sports teach invaluable lessons about teamwork and collaboration. As a former athlete, I understand the significance of working together to achieve a common goal. This experience has been particularly beneficial in my role as an account manager, where cross-functional collaboration is often key to success. Whether it’s coordinating with graphic designers, content creators, or data analysts, my background in sports has taught me how to communicate effectively and leverage the strengths of each team member to achieve optimal results.
Resilience and Adaptability
Sports can be physically and mentally demanding, requiring athletes to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to changing circumstances. This resilience and adaptability are valuable traits in the fast-paced world of marketing. In my career, I’ve faced unexpected challenges and shifts in marketing trends, but my background in sports has helped me remain composed, pivot when necessary, and find innovative solutions to problems.
Leadership Skills
As both an athlete and coach, I’ve had the opportunity to develop leadership skills. Whether I was leading my team on the field or guiding fellow athletes as a coach, I learned how to inspire, motivate, and mentor others. These leadership skills have been indispensable in my role as an account manager, where I provide guidance, direction, and support to team members in need.
Time Management and Discipline
Athletes are often required to balance rigorous training schedules, competitions, and academic commitments. This demands excellent time management and discipline. These skills have carried over into my marketing career, where juggling multiple projects, meeting deadlines, and staying organized are essential. My ability to manage time effectively and stay disciplined has greatly contributed to my success in the marketing industry.
The journey from being an athlete and coach to a marketing account manager may seem like a leap, but the skills and lessons learned in the world of sports have been invaluable in my professional life. The goal-oriented mindset, teamwork and collaboration, resilience and adaptability, leadership skills, and time management and discipline acquired through sports have all played a significant role in shaping me into a successful marketing professional. So, whether you’re on the field or in the office, remember that the skills you acquire in one arena can often be transferred to another, helping you excel in unexpected ways.
Looking for a career change like I did? Visit IOIVentures.com to check out available positions.
IOI Insider
The Journey from AthleteTrax System to HubSpot Payment Tool
In the fast-paced business world, staying up-to-date with the latest tools and technologies is not just a convenience; it’s a necessity! At IOI, we understand the importance of having a streamlined sales process for our clients. However, the journey to reach this point has been filled with challenges and learning experiences. Today, I want to share my experience transitioning from the AthleteTrax System to the HubSpot Payment tool and how it has revolutionized our client’s internal process.
The Old Way: AthleteTrax System
Before embracing HubSpot’s Payment tool, our client used AthleteTrax System for managing their Camp and Academy payments. While it served them well in some aspects, manually tracking payments in HubSpot became inconvenient and time-consuming for the sales team. Here are some of the challenges the sales team faced:
- Manual Entry: Entering the payment confirmation into HubSpot manually led to occasional errors and inconsistencies, consuming valuable time in corrections.
- Lack of Integration: Without seamless integration between payment tracking and other sales functions, coordination among different departments suffered.
- Limited Insight: Extracting insights and reports took a lot of work, hindering our ability to make quick, accurate, and informed decisions.
- Adaptability Issues: As our client’s business grew, the manual process became increasingly inefficient, and scaling their operations came with complications.
The Turning Point: HubSpot Payment Tool
The decision to switch was driven by our need for a more efficient, streamlined process. We saw immediate improvements. Here are a few:
- Automated Payment Processing: Payments are processed automatically once clients provide information, reducing errors and freeing time for their accounting team.
- Integrated Workflow: The Payment tool fully integrates with other HubSpot functionalities, ensuring smooth coordination across various departments.
- Real-time Reporting: With just a few clicks, we can now access detailed reports and insights, enabling us to make better-informed business decisions.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: The smooth and secure payment process has improved customer experience, building trust and loyalty.
- Ease of Scaling: The flexibility and efficiency of the HubSpot Payment tool has made scaling their operations a breeze.
A Brighter Future
Since implementing the HubSpot Payment tool, our client’s internal sales process has been transformed. Not only has it saved them time and reduced errors, but it has also empowered them with real-time reporting.
The decision to move from AthleteTrax System to HubSpot was not taken lightly. But looking back, it’s clear it was the right choice for our client’s company. Our client has streamlined payment processing and aligned it with their internal sales workflows.
In a competitive business environment, the tools you use can make or break your success. If your company is facing similar challenges, consider evaluating your current payment processing system. The HubSpot Payment tool has been a game-changer for our clients and could be for you too!
At IOI Ventures, we do not just love HubSpot’s Payment tool; we’re proud to be a HubSpot Gold Solutions Partner. This partnership allows us to leverage HubSpot’s cutting-edge technology for our internal processes and share our hands-on expertise with our clients.
By aligning ourselves with HubSpot’s vision, we’re committed to driving innovation and providing tailored solutions that enhance efficiency and growth. Whether you’re looking to simplify your payment processing or seeking end-to-end sales solutions, IOI Ventures is here to guide you every step of the way.
If you want to learn more about how HubSpot and HubSpot Payment Tools have empowered our client’s sales team, let IOI guide you and contact us!
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IOI Insider
Tapping into Trending Holiday Topics for Your Social Media Content
In the world of social media, staying current and engaging with your audience means tapping into trending holiday topics. Whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, or even National Donut Day, there’s always a holiday around the corner to provide fresh opportunities for content creation. Here are a handful of ways to make the most out of trending holiday topics to boost your social media presence:
Early Bird Gets the Worm
The first rule of capitalizing on trending holiday topics is to start planning your content well in advance. Keep a well-organized content calendar that highlights upcoming holidays and events relevant to your audience. This ensures you have time to plan and create content well in advance. Early engagement can build anticipation and excitement among your followers.
Know Your Audience
Understanding your audience’s preferences and interests is paramount. Different holidays resonate differently with various demographics. Make sure you research what holidays matter most to your followers, be inclusive, and align your content accordingly. You don’t want to ruffle feathers or have your account suspended.
Monitor Trends
Stay up-to-date with current trends and conversations surrounding the holiday. Follow relevant hashtags, join relevant social media groups, and pay attention to what influencers in your niche are doing. This will help you identify the trending topics, challenges, and conversations to engage with in your holiday-themed content.
Create Valuable and Relevant Content
Don’t just jump on the holiday bandwagon for the sake of it. Ensure your content provides value to your audience and is relevant to the holiday. If it’s Thanksgiving, offer cooking tips or share stories of gratitude. If it’s Halloween, create spooky DIY tutorials or share costume ideas. By providing valuable content, you’re more likely to engage and retain your audience.
Utilize User-Generated Content
Encourage your followers to contribute to your holiday content by sharing their experiences, stories, or creations related to the holiday. User-generated content not only boosts engagement but also creates a sense of community and trust around your brand. For example, you can run a Halloween-themed contest or challenge where your followers can submit their own spooky creations. Share and celebrate the best entries on your social media channels to build a sense of community.
Host Holiday-Themed Contests and Giveaways
Kickstart the holiday season with a jolt of excitement and festive engagement. Hosting contests or giveaways infused with holiday themes is a brilliant strategy to immerse your audience in the joyous spirit of the season!
Encourage your followers to take part in fun challenges or friendly competitions, all while dangling tempting holiday-themed prizes as delightful incentives. Whether it’s wickedly cool Halloween merchandise, generous discount codes, or the promise of exclusive content, these giveaways can work their magic and create buzz across your social media channels.
Be Visual and Creative
People are drawn to eye-catching visuals and creative content. Use high-quality images, videos, infographics, and other multimedia elements to make your holiday content stand out. Experiment with creative storytelling techniques and interactive content formats like polls, quizzes, and live streams to engage your audience.
Leverage Holiday Hashtags
Hashtags are your ticket to reaching a broader audience interested in the holiday. Research and use relevant holiday-themed hashtags in your posts to increase discoverability. Popular Halloween-related hashtags like #Halloween, #SpookySeason, or #TrickOrTreat can help expand your reach.
Stay Authentic
While it’s important to align your content with holiday themes, remember to stay true to your brand’s identity. Authenticity resonates with audiences. If your content feels forced or unrelated to your brand, it can turn off followers.
Tapping into trending holiday topics for your social media content is a dynamic and rewarding strategy. By planning ahead, understanding your audience, monitoring trends, creating valuable content, encouraging user-generated content, hosting contests, being creative, and using relevant hashtags, you can boost your engagement and keep your audience coming back for more. So, start planning your holiday-themed content and join the conversation on social media today! Not sure where to begin? Get in touch with our team here and we can help you out!
IOI Insider
From Athlete to Coach: How Sports Shaped My Career as a Marketing Account Manager
Life often takes unexpected turns, and in my case, the journey from being an athlete and coach to a Marketing Account Manager has been nothing short of transformative. While it might seem like sports and marketing are worlds apart, the skills and lessons I learned on the field have profoundly influenced my professional life. In my short five months on the job, I’ve already seen so many instances where my experiences as an athlete and coach have helped me excel in my role as a Marketing Account Manager.
Goal-Oriented Mindset
In the world of sports, setting and achieving goals is fundamental. Whether it’s running a faster mile, hitting a certain number of home runs, or improving your shot, athletes constantly strive for improvement. This goal-oriented mindset directly translates to the world of marketing, where setting and achieving objectives is equally essential. As an account manager, I’ve learned to set clear, measurable goals for my team and clients, just as I did as an athlete. This mindset has not only helped me stay focused but also ensured that my marketing campaigns have a clear direction and purpose.
Teamwork and Collaboration
Team sports teach invaluable lessons about teamwork and collaboration. As a former athlete, I understand the significance of working together to achieve a common goal. This experience has been particularly beneficial in my role as an account manager, where cross-functional collaboration is often key to success. Whether it’s coordinating with graphic designers, content creators, or data analysts, my background in sports has taught me how to communicate effectively and leverage the strengths of each team member to achieve optimal results.
Resilience and Adaptability
Sports can be physically and mentally demanding, requiring athletes to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to changing circumstances. This resilience and adaptability are valuable traits in the fast-paced world of marketing. In my career, I’ve faced unexpected challenges and shifts in marketing trends, but my background in sports has helped me remain composed, pivot when necessary, and find innovative solutions to problems.
Leadership Skills
As both an athlete and coach, I’ve had the opportunity to develop leadership skills. Whether I was leading my team on the field or guiding fellow athletes as a coach, I learned how to inspire, motivate, and mentor others. These leadership skills have been indispensable in my role as an account manager, where I provide guidance, direction, and support to team members in need.
Time Management and Discipline
Athletes are often required to balance rigorous training schedules, competitions, and academic commitments. This demands excellent time management and discipline. These skills have carried over into my marketing career, where juggling multiple projects, meeting deadlines, and staying organized are essential. My ability to manage time effectively and stay disciplined has greatly contributed to my success in the marketing industry.
The journey from being an athlete and coach to a marketing account manager may seem like a leap, but the skills and lessons learned in the world of sports have been invaluable in my professional life. The goal-oriented mindset, teamwork and collaboration, resilience and adaptability, leadership skills, and time management and discipline acquired through sports have all played a significant role in shaping me into a successful marketing professional. So, whether you’re on the field or in the office, remember that the skills you acquire in one arena can often be transferred to another, helping you excel in unexpected ways.
Looking for a career change like I did? Visit IOIVentures.com to check out available positions.
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The Journey from AthleteTrax System to HubSpot Payment Tool
In the fast-paced business world, staying up-to-date with the latest tools and technologies is not just a convenience; it’s a necessity! At IOI, we understand the importance of having a streamlined sales process for our clients. However, the journey to reach this point has been filled with challenges and learning experiences. Today, I want to share my experience transitioning from the AthleteTrax System to the HubSpot Payment tool and how it has revolutionized our client’s internal process.
The Old Way: AthleteTrax System
Before embracing HubSpot’s Payment tool, our client used AthleteTrax System for managing their Camp and Academy payments. While it served them well in some aspects, manually tracking payments in HubSpot became inconvenient and time-consuming for the sales team. Here are some of the challenges the sales team faced:
- Manual Entry: Entering the payment confirmation into HubSpot manually led to occasional errors and inconsistencies, consuming valuable time in corrections.
- Lack of Integration: Without seamless integration between payment tracking and other sales functions, coordination among different departments suffered.
- Limited Insight: Extracting insights and reports took a lot of work, hindering our ability to make quick, accurate, and informed decisions.
- Adaptability Issues: As our client’s business grew, the manual process became increasingly inefficient, and scaling their operations came with complications.
The Turning Point: HubSpot Payment Tool
The decision to switch was driven by our need for a more efficient, streamlined process. We saw immediate improvements. Here are a few:
- Automated Payment Processing: Payments are processed automatically once clients provide information, reducing errors and freeing time for their accounting team.
- Integrated Workflow: The Payment tool fully integrates with other HubSpot functionalities, ensuring smooth coordination across various departments.
- Real-time Reporting: With just a few clicks, we can now access detailed reports and insights, enabling us to make better-informed business decisions.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: The smooth and secure payment process has improved customer experience, building trust and loyalty.
- Ease of Scaling: The flexibility and efficiency of the HubSpot Payment tool has made scaling their operations a breeze.
A Brighter Future
Since implementing the HubSpot Payment tool, our client’s internal sales process has been transformed. Not only has it saved them time and reduced errors, but it has also empowered them with real-time reporting.
The decision to move from AthleteTrax System to HubSpot was not taken lightly. But looking back, it’s clear it was the right choice for our client’s company. Our client has streamlined payment processing and aligned it with their internal sales workflows.
In a competitive business environment, the tools you use can make or break your success. If your company is facing similar challenges, consider evaluating your current payment processing system. The HubSpot Payment tool has been a game-changer for our clients and could be for you too!
At IOI Ventures, we do not just love HubSpot’s Payment tool; we’re proud to be a HubSpot Gold Solutions Partner. This partnership allows us to leverage HubSpot’s cutting-edge technology for our internal processes and share our hands-on expertise with our clients.
By aligning ourselves with HubSpot’s vision, we’re committed to driving innovation and providing tailored solutions that enhance efficiency and growth. Whether you’re looking to simplify your payment processing or seeking end-to-end sales solutions, IOI Ventures is here to guide you every step of the way.
If you want to learn more about how HubSpot and HubSpot Payment Tools have empowered our client’s sales team, let IOI guide you and contact us!
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The Impact of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Internet Searches for Soccer in the United States
The FIFA Women’s World Cup has become an influential sporting event that goes beyond the boundaries of the soccer pitch. With its widespread popularity and exceptional talent on display, the tournament has left a lasting impact on the sport’s growth in the United States. Let’s look at how it has impacted internet searches.
- Surge in Search Volume – According to Google Trends data, searches related to soccer in the United States experienced a substantial increase during the FIFA Women’s World Cup compared to previous years. The tournament’s occurrence led to a sharp rise in search volume, indicating a heightened interest in soccer-related topics across the nation.
- Regional Interest – Analyzing search data by region reveals intriguing insights into the geographic impact of the Women’s World Cup. Soccer has traditionally been more popular in certain states, but the tournament managed to pique the interest of regions less associated with the sport. States like California, New York, and Texas, which typically exhibit a high interest in soccer, witnessed a surge in search activity during the Women’s World Cup. Moreover, states with lower soccer interest, such as Utah, Oregon, and Wisconsin, experienced significant increases in soccer-related searches during the tournament, showcasing the event’s nationwide appeal.
- Rising Interest in Women’s Soccer – The FIFA Women’s World Cup has undoubtedly contributed to raising awareness and interest in women’s soccer. Google search trends indicate a notable spike in queries related to women’s soccer during the tournament. People searched for information about the players, schedules, match results, and even women’s soccer leagues and events beyond the World Cup. This surge highlights a shift in perception, with more people recognizing and appreciating the talent and achievements of female athletes in the sport.
- Player Searches – Individual players became breakout stars during the Women’s World Cup, and their exceptional performances led to increased search interest. Players like Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Rose Lavelle saw a significant uptick in online searches during the tournament. Not only did fans seek information about their playing careers, but they also explored their off-field activities and advocacy efforts, further engaging with the sport and its personalities.
- Social Media Impact – Social media platforms played a vital role in driving internet searches related to the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Memorable moments, spectacular goals, and emotional celebrations spread like wildfire on social media, leading to higher search volumes as people sought more information and videos of these events. Additionally, hashtags related to the Women’s World Cup trended on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, encouraging fans to engage with the content and search for further soccer-related topics.
- Long-Term Impact on Youth Participation – One of the most significant impacts of the Women’s World Cup on internet searches is the potential long-term effect on youth soccer participation. As more children witnessed the excitement of the tournament and the achievements of their female role models, interest in playing soccer has likely grown. This interest might translate into more searches for local soccer clubs, training programs, and resources, as parents and children seek ways to get involved in the sport.
The statistics speak volumes about the FIFA Women’s World Cup’s impact on internet searches for soccer in the United States. The tournament has driven a surge in search volume, expanded interest in women’s soccer, and captivated the attention of regions less traditionally associated with the sport. Players have become household names, and social media has played a pivotal role in sparking curiosity and engagement. Moreover, the tournament’s influence may extend to long-term effects on youth participation, as a new generation of soccer enthusiasts emerges. With each Women’s World Cup, soccer’s presence and popularity in the United States continue to grow, solidifying the tournament’s status as a catalyst for change within the sporting landscape.
Want to capitalize on this increase in traffic? Talk to IOI about solutions for your team, club, or organization – including our SPECIAL OFFER on sports websites.
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Powering Up Your Performance: How We Used KPIs to Level up St. John’s Northwestern Academies’ Social Media
In the world of marketing, it’s no secret that there are a million acronyms that all seem equally important to remember. You’ve probably felt like you’re swimming in a hypothetical alphabet soup at times, but let us clear things up by telling you about one of the most important and influential acronyms and how IOI uses them to measure success for our clients.
KPI, or key performance indicator, is a type of performance measurement we use to evaluate the success of a campaign or specific project- in this case, social media. We use them to track the progress toward a specific marketing goal, understand the performance of social media posts, and make adjustments to achieve success.
We began managing all social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn) for St. John’s Northwestern Academies in April 2023. Prior to this, their onsite team managed the strategy, content planning, and posting across all channels.
We narrowed down the important KPIs that we wanted to focus on. This included post time and date, the format of the post, impressions (Instagram), reach, engagement, success rate, and follower growth.
SJNA primarily posted content as it came in throughout the week, but never considered the content’s format, the time of day, or calls to action. Our goal was to increase engagement and reach by using content that would perform well and drive traffic to the website.
Three things we implemented in April that contributed to continual platform growth over the course of four months included:
- Tailored the content to meet the needs of our followers: We shifted the type of content that was posted from individual photos to photo/video carousels and reels. This led to an increase in engagement from 14.95% in April to 36.52% in just one month.
- Posted during time windows when followers were most active: After recording our posting times for one month, we discovered the times garnering the most engagement were between 10-11 am and 4-6 pm. Although the engagement growth is slow, it continues to be steady, increasing by an average of 10 engagements month over month.
- Audited current hashtags and adjusted based on reach: All hashtags can’t be winners and many people will argue that they don’t serve a purpose at all, but we beg to differ! By tracking the engagement on each post and following the analytics, we were able to see which hashtags performed well and which hashtags were underperforming. Utilizing highly engaged hashtags in future copy gave us the opportunity to reach and engage with potential followers while promoting SJNA’s brand.
In the past four months, we have increased the following on SJNA’s Instagram by 18% and LinkedIn by almost 7%. The success rate of our posts across channels also increased from 4.19% to 4.88% in one month.
KPIs can seem overwhelming and it takes time to see true growth in the metrics. To determine which KPIs you should be measuring, evaluate your business goals and objectives to narrow down the analytics that matters most to your progress.
Get started on the right track today and have IOI help grow your business. Get in touch with our team to see how we can help you KO the competition!
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How to make your webinars more engaging and interactive
An engaging webinar not only increases participation among your audience but leads to a better outcome overall. To make your webinars more interactive and valuable for your audience, consider implementing the following strategies:
Set clear goals: Define the objectives of your webinar and clearly communicate them to your audience. This will help participants understand what to expect and stay engaged throughout the session.
Know your audience: Research and understand your target audience’s interests, needs, and preferences. Tailor your content and delivery to meet their expectations, addressing their pain points and providing practical solutions.
Interactive content: Incorporate interactive elements such as polls, surveys, quizzes, and Q&A sessions. Encourage participants to share their opinions, ask questions, and play an active part in the webinar. This involvement fosters engagement and creates a two-way conversation.
Visual aids and multimedia: Utilize visually appealing slides, images, videos, and graphs to enhance your content. Visual aids help reinforce key points, break up monotony, and make the webinar more visually stimulating.
Engage with storytelling: Incorporate storytelling techniques to make your content relatable and memorable. Narrate relevant anecdotes, real-life examples, or case studies that resonate with your audience. Stories evoke emotions, capture attention, and facilitate better retention of information.
Collaborative activities: Encourage group activities or breakout sessions where participants can collaborate and share ideas with each other. This fosters a sense of community and allows attendees to learn from their peers, enhancing the overall value of the webinar.
Use interactive tools: Leverage interactive tools such as whiteboards, annotation features, or live chat to promote engagement. These tools enable participants to actively participate, ask questions, and provide feedback in real-time.
Time management: Plan and manage your webinar’s timing effectively. Structure your content into digestible segments with breaks in between to prevent information overload. Respect participants’ time by starting and ending the webinar on time.
Follow-up and resources: Provide additional resources, handouts, or links to relevant materials after the webinar. Follow up with participants through email or social media, addressing any unanswered questions or concerns. This post-webinar engagement reinforces the value of the session and encourages future participation.
Remember to continuously seek feedback from your audience to improve the quality of your webinars. Analyze participation metrics, conduct surveys, and engage in post-webinar discussions to gather insights and refine your approach.
Implementing these strategies will not only keep your audience involved and engaged but will contribute to the overall success of your webinar. Eager to learn more, get in touch with our team here.
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Top 5 Reasons To Go With A Pro To Build Out and Optimize Your Website
In today’s digital age, having a well-designed and functional website is crucial for any business or individual looking to establish a strong online presence. While there are various DIY website builders available, hiring a professional web developer or designer can make a world of difference. These are the top five reasons why you should consider hiring a professional (cough, cough, like IOI) to build your website.
- Customized and Unique Design:
One of the main advantages of hiring a professional to build your website is the ability to have a customized and unique design. Professional web designers possess the knowledge and expertise to create visually appealing layouts that align with your brand identity. They can tailor the design to match your specific requirements, ensuring that your website stands out from the competition. With a distinctive design, you can create a memorable user experience that leaves a lasting impression on your visitors. - User Experience Optimization:
User experience (UX) plays a critical role in the success of any website. Professional web developers understand the principles of UX design and can create websites that are intuitive, easy to navigate, and user-friendly. They consider factors such as page load times, mobile responsiveness, and clear call-to-action buttons to enhance the overall experience for your site visitors. By providing a seamless and enjoyable browsing experience, you increase the chances of converting visitors into customers or clients. - Technical Expertise and Functionality:
Building a website involves more than just aesthetics. It requires technical expertise and knowledge of various programming languages, frameworks, and content management systems (CMS). Professional web developers possess the necessary skills to ensure that your website functions smoothly and efficiently. They can integrate advanced features and functionalities, such as e-commerce capabilities, database management, secure payment gateways, and interactive elements. A professional’s technical expertise ensures that your website is not only visually appealing but also fully functional. - Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
Having a beautiful website is pointless if it doesn’t rank well in search engine results. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a crucial aspect of building a website that drives organic traffic. Professional web developers have a deep understanding of SEO best practices and can optimize your website’s structure, code, and content to improve its visibility in search engines. They can implement proper meta tags, headings, alt tags, and ensure that your website loads quickly. By hiring a professional, you increase the chances of your website being discovered by potential customers or clients. - Time and Cost Efficiency:
While it may seem tempting to save money by building a website yourself or using a DIY website builder, it can quickly become time-consuming and costly. Professionals have the experience and efficiency to create a website more quickly and effectively. They are aware of potential roadblocks and can troubleshoot issues efficiently, saving you time and frustration. Moreover, investing in a professional website from the start can save you money in the long run by avoiding costly redesigns or fixes that may be required with a DIY approach.
Hiring a professional to build your website offers numerous benefits that extend beyond just appearance. From custom design to enhanced user experience, technical expertise, SEO optimization, and time efficiency, professionals bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to ensure that your website is a powerful tool for your business or personal brand. While there are costs associated with professional web development, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial investment. So, when it comes to your online presence, entrust the task to a professional to create a website that leaves a lasting impression and helps you achieve your goals.
IOI Ventures is currently running a website promotion for sports organizations. CLICK HERE for more information.
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IOI Ventures Reaches Gold Tier as a HubSpot Solutions Partner
Sarasota, Florida: Today, IOI Ventures announced that it reached the gold tier of HubSpot’s Solutions Partner Program. HubSpot, a leading CRM platform for scaling companies, works hand-in-hand with partner experts to grow their businesses through inbound software, services, and support.
The Solutions Partner Program is an ecosystem of experts that offer marketing, sales, customer service, web design, CRM, and IT services. It’s a global community that believes putting customers first is the key to growth. It enables members to offer a wide breadth of more sophisticated solutions across the entire customer experience.
To achieve status as a gold tier solutions partner, partners must work through HubSpot’s Academy Program to acquire the Partner Certification while maintaining a specific MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) threshold.
Over the past year, IOI Ventures has grown its business by incorporating inbound strategies to attract, engage, and delight customers. IOI utilizes HubSpot to align its marketing and sales teams to create a clear and smooth funnel for contacts to progress through from when they first submit a form through the completion of the deal. Notable milestones and achievements include:
- Doubled employee numbers
- Acquired another growing company
- Nearly doubled our existing client base
About IOI Ventures:
IOI Ventures partners with small & medium-sized businesses that are looking to optimize their digital marketing efforts and scale their business. Our approach is unique. We connect the dots between marketing and sales with a focus on lead generation and revenue growth through digital marketing best practices.
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Double-Digit Increase in User Engagement Following Site Redesign
Mobile-Friendly Website Redesign Boosts User Experience and Increases Traffic for 200×85
200×85, a youth hockey organization, partnered with IOI Ventures to redesign their website in 2022. The objective was to create a new website that enhanced branding, drove leads and was mobile device responsive to provide a seamless user experience to users whether they were at home or at one of their events. In this case study, we will analyze the results of the website redesign project in terms of audience metrics and behavioral metrics.
Audience Metrics
The 200×85 audience was niche but has been growing over the years incrementally. Since the site redesign, the company has seen a 10.09% gain in users from Q1 2022 to Q1 2023. In addition to this pure volume gain, new users have grown 8.44% from Q1 2022 to Q1 2023, exemplifying that the website has been able to attract new visitors who were not previously aware of the company’s offerings.
Behavioral Metrics
The website redesign project has also positively impacted how users engage with the website. Visitors are exploring more pages and interacting with the content. Page views have increased by 12.33%, and the pages per session metric has increased by 12.25% from Q1 2022 to Q1 2023. These metrics show that the user experience seems to be improved, they’re finding the new site easy to navigate and the content more exciting.
Another important metric that reflects the success of the website redesign project is the increase in mobile users by 16.66%. This metric indicates that the new website is responsive and mobile-friendly, making it easier for the visitors to navigate through the website on their mobile devices. The increase in mobile users also shows that the website redesign project has been successful in providing a better user experience to the visitors.
Conclusion
The website redesign project has been a success for 200×85, and the key metrics analyzed in this case study prove that the site has increased the company’s online presence. The partnership between 200×85 and IOI Ventures has resulted in a website that is engaging, informative, and user-friendly.
Get in touch with our team to learn more about getting your website redesigned!
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Did your couch just become your office? Here’s a few tips for making the switch to remote
Recently, I made the decision to transition from an in-person office job to a fully-remote position. It was going to be my first time working a job that didn’t require me to be in a stuffy office every day, but I had no idea how the process actually worked. Commuting to my living room was definitely a culture shock in the first few weeks, but a handful of simple changes to my routine made the transition a lot smoother than expected.
If you’re currently hoping to leave behind your archaic corporate office but can’t see yourself working from home, here’s a few tips I learned that will help you ditch the cubicle.
One of the first things that struck me was the need to be self-motivated. However, having completed my master’s degree in a 100 percent online situation in college and being solely responsible for my department at my last position, I was confident in my ability to keep myself focused without leaving the comfort of my own home. One hack I use to stay on track is time blocking. This practice of working through tasks at a designated pace helps keep me focused and efficient throughout the day. To learn more about time blocking techniques, click here:
Another change I made to help me focus was to create separate logins and profiles on my laptop. Google Chrome has an incredibly useful feature which allows me to create multiple profiles on the same login. This keeps all of my information and bookmarks separate and also improves focus time by removing distractions from my browser interface. For an even greater level of separation, try a work/personal desktop on your laptop. Making this change will separate work and play mode and help keep you on track. For help on making the changes within Chrome, check out this article.
After my first week of staring at a small laptop screen and sitting hunched on a cheap office chair that wasn’t up for the task, my back and eyes were pleading for some upgrades. So, I added a much larger external monitor to my desk and paid out for a far more comfortable and supportive chair. While these may cost you a bit up front, it’s worth it as the benefits down the line far outweigh the initial price.
Early in my time with IOI, before I was completely onboarded, I took the chance to dig into learning new technologies and softwares. More importantly, I haven’t stopped. I continue to read articles and take courses on the latest trends to help elevate my game (Hubspot Academy is a great place to start). Also, save yourself some time by subscribing to industry-relevant newsletters that deliver all the goods straight to your inbox.
Armed with these few simple tricks, the switch from a daily commute and conference rooms to my home desk and video calls has been a breeze. With these in mind, you will set yourself up for success in the new modern working environment.
Get in touch with our team to learn more about setting yourself up for success in a fully-remote position!
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Clear is Kind
Recently I was interviewing a candidate for a position and we got to talking about standard operating procedures (SOPs). This candidate said something to me that shed new light on why having good SOP’s are essential for a growing business. “Clear is kind!”, she beamed. “When you are clear with me I can provide my best for you.”
If you are looking to grow your business at scale, embracing SOPs is an absolute must for success. Here are my top 5 reasons why:
Consistency and Efficiency: SOPs provide a clear and concise set of instructions for employees to follow, ensuring that tasks are completed consistently and efficiently. When everyone knows what is expected of them and how to accomplish their tasks, there is less room for error and miscommunication, leading to increased productivity and efficiency.
Training and Onboarding: SOPs are an essential tool for training new employees and onboarding them into your company’s culture and processes. When you have a standardized set of procedures in place, it is easier to bring new employees up to speed quickly and ensure that they are following the same guidelines as the rest of the team.
Quality Control: SOPs are critical for maintaining quality control standards within your business. When everyone is following the same procedures, it is easier to identify potential issues and address them before they become significant problems. This ensures that your products or services are consistent and meet the expectations of your customers.
Scalability: SOPs are essential for business scalability. When your business is growing, it can be challenging to maintain consistent processes and procedures. By having standardized procedures in place, you can easily scale your business without sacrificing quality or efficiency.
Continuous Improvement: SOPs are living documents that should be updated regularly to reflect changes in processes, technology, or best practices. By regularly reviewing and updating your SOPs, you can identify areas for improvement and implement changes to optimize your business processes.
Currently, my favorite tool for creating SOPs effortlessly is www./scribehow.com.
It’s a super easy Chrome plug-in that can make SOPs based off of what you are already doing on your computer.
The bottom line is, utilizing Standard Operating Procedures is crucial for business growth and success. SOPs provide consistency, efficiency, training and onboarding, quality control, scalability, and continuous improvement. By implementing SOPs, you can streamline your business processes and set your company up for success. #worksmarternotharder
Get in touch with our team to learn more about utilizing SOP’s!
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Five Human Elements to Stand Out From the Rest
It’s no surprise marketers everywhere have leaned into the wide range of softwares and AI tools available today. Data and automation are such powerful pillars to lean on, but every once in a while we need to broaden our scope. Let’s zoom out a little bit, and do an audit on WHO we should be, HOW to create an ideal client experience, and WHEN to take a quick break from the numbers and shift our attention to the bigger picture.
Here are five human elements AI can’t bring to the table.
1) Be present. Show up! When’s the last time you showed your face on a Zoom call, or took your client out to lunch? If you don’t prioritize your working relationship, they won’t either. There’s a trickle down effect with everything and if you put in the time, they will too. “I just feel like we need more pizazz in our posts” is a human conversation, and we should be there to have it.
2) Be approachable. YOU teach people how to treat you. We are more in control of the information we receive than we think. “Our client seems happy, they haven’t said anything” is an easy thing to tell yourself. Or, “I can’t force them to be more honest than they’re willing to be.” But – are you approachable? If they give you truthful negative feedback, do you seem willing to receive it? Presenting a polished, professional front during your meetings is good – but being viewed as “one of them” is even better. Break down the barrier. If they’re not happy, you want them to seek you out for advice – not secretly Google other initiatives (or companies) behind your back.
3) Break from the routine. Throw some darts at the wall every few weeks. Did you see something interesting while scrolling Instagram? Have an interesting shower thought? Make sure these thoughts don’t fizzle out. Carve out some time for a brainstorming session during your check-ins, or toss an “anything goes” doc in the shared drive. It’s great to hit a stride and continue to do what works, but if you bury your head in your AI-driven marketing regimen, you may miss a simple TikTok trend that would give your client’s social media a breath of fresh air.
4) Provide human insights. There’s no reason to labor over things that technology does quicker, and frankly, better. Let Excel crunch the numbers, you can even let ChatGPT create a list of competitors. Instead, spend your time supplementing these services with meaningful feedback. “Here’s a chart showing your website traffic” is an AI insight. “Your clients shouldn’t be bouncing from the home page so quickly, I just don’t think the font feels inviting enough” is a human insight.
5) Be honest. Brands don’t always know what’s best for them. It’s tempting to take on a client that wants 5k new Instagram followers, and is willing to pay for it. But, is that really where they should be focusing? AI might be able to create a social media growth plan, but we have the perspective and context to make tailored recommendations based on our experiences. “How to gain 5k followers in 6 months” is an AI prompt. However, saying “Your target market doesn’t use social media effectively and your new followers likely won’t convert to measurable sales” is a human recommendation. Or, since we’re “being honest” – “Your market is a bit boring for Instagram, let’s try Linkedin”.
There’s no doubt that AI tools and data softwares have revolutionized the world of marketing. As users of these tools, we have the opportunity to shift our focus from “busy work” to providing a creative, insightful, and personalized experience to our clients. Let’s make sure we maximize that at all times.
To put a bow on it – I asked AI to “create an infographic for a blog post about marketing tips and tricks”, and got this image below. Could it pass as a stock photo? Sure. But is it effective? Does it send a clear message? Is it useful for this blog post? Let a human decide.
Get in touch with our team to stand out from the rest!
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Sharing Across Multiple Platforms
Format your content to fill a variety of digital spaces
In this ever growing digital landscape, there are a variety of social media platforms to post content to. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and the list goes on and on. But before you figure out what platforms to use to help expand the reach of your content, the quality of your content must be finalized. You can post something everyday across numerous social feeds, but if what you are posting isn’t easily consumable or aesthetically pleasing, your audience won’t engage with it. If your content isn’t good, people will not want to spend their time reading or sharing it, no matter where you post it.
Next, you must also figure out the format of your content. For example, if you were to post a link or text driving to an article on Twitter, you might want to create a video or use photos to call attention to that very same piece of content on Instagram. Twitter is more of a text-heavy interface, where Instagram is more visuals-focused. Another example is if you have a short-form content video for a platform like TikTok, that video might not be applicable to gain traction on Facebook. Understanding your content is important, but also understanding the platforms you are posting it on is just as crucial to its success. In a sense, understanding the behavior of users on certain platforms. For more “fun” content, Instagram and TikTok may be your best route. For more informative pieces, Facebook and Twitter are always safe bets.
In an effort to make it easier to post content across multiple platforms, there is a variety of software tools to help you plan and organize your posts, as well as schedule them out at one time or sporadically throughout the day. When trying to find the best software for your needs, it’s imperative to find one that allows you to customize your posts for different platforms. As mentioned before, a post revolving around a video that is good for Instagram, may not be applicable to getting the most reach on Facebook. Here are some of the best tools you can use to get the most out of cross posting: Hootsuite, HubSpot, Sprout Social.
Click here for a list of others to see if they fit your needs.
Using everything at your disposal to allow your content to have a seamless transition from one platform to another not only benefits your brand but your audience as well. You do not want to divide segments of your audience who may be prone to digesting content that is more visual based in comparison to those who prefer text. Creating an internal strategy of how to best do this is vital to the success of your content. Maintaining your brand’s voice across what can sometimes be a dizzying array of digital platforms will serve you well further down the road.
Get in touch with our team and get ready to level up your business.
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Doubling A Client’s Instagram Followers
How we added 10k new followers in a quarter of the time it took to acquire the previous 10k
In September of 2020, we launched brand new social channels for one of our clients. They had no social media presence previously, so when we created an Instagram account their total number of followers was zero.
After a little over two years, the following on Instagram eclipsed the 10k mark. It took almost 600 posts, stories, videos and Reels to get us there, but the account had reached a significant milestone. The next 10k came much quicker than the previous 10k, as we reached the 20k follower benchmark in just seven months. Not only that, but we achieved that feat producing a mere fraction of the posts it took previously.
Between September, 2022, and March, 2023, we posted 250 times on Instagram. Of those posts, 90 percent of them were in the form of IG stories or Reels. Why is that important? Because in August, 2020, the platform made a significant pivot towards pushing Reels in an attempt to compete with the rise of short-form video platform, TikTok. Over the next few months, Instagram feeds would take on a whole different experience.
The growth that we saw in the past six months is likely a direct result of catering our content to the platform’s recent changes. While both engagement and impressions dropped year-over-year — common for most accounts on the platform after IG’s changes — our number of followers soared. Six of the last seven months, we added more than 1,400 new followers to our audience. It wasn’t that more people were seeing our content, it was that our content was being consumed better by people interested in what we produced. Because we were producing Reels, the algorithm better served our content to people with similar interests. Our Reels were showing up in people’s Feeds and in the Explore page because we had optimized the content for the platform.
This approach is applicable to other platforms as well. YouTube has made a big transition lately to Shorts — its way of competing with TikTok and Instagram. Twitter has recently changed the maximum character limit from 280 to 4,000. Facebook stories are relatively new to the platform, and TikTok allows for videos up to 10 minutes long. It’s important to adapt your content to take advantage of all these changes as the platform adapts as well.
Do you want to get your followers up? Get in touch with our team and get ready to level up your business.