We’ve got quite a bit to talk about
We love what we do. And because of that, we like to talk about it!
So below, you’ll find some of our thoughts on topics that we immerse ourselves in on a daily basis. From using social media to maintain long-term relationships, to responsive design, to how mums use their mobiles and the merits of Pinterest!
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We’re all doing it, evidently. Well, around 80% of us are anyway according to a recent study by Nielsen. Doing what? Using our mobile devices whilst watching TV.
It seems that no respectable TV show is complete these days without a twitter hashtag emblazoned across the screen at some point, encouraging us all to engage in conversation with eachother, or indeed with the TV producers themselves. Not long ago, presenters and programme makers had to explain what the hashtag meant…these days no explanation is given – a simple #madeinchelsea or #bgt on screen tells us all we need to know.
One of the key benefits of having a Facebook Page is that it allows a business or brand to maintain an ongoing relationship with their most avid fans. But they’re pretty busy people and (like any decent social network these days) Facebook only shows its users what’s most important to them. Because of that brand Page updates will, on average, only reach around 16% of their fan-base.
Just like Google, Facebook has its own algorithm called ‘EdgeRank’ for determining what content is most important and therefore how high up it appears in a user’s News Feed. As Social Media Specialists, it’s our job to understand the intricacies of this algorithm and apply NFO (News Feed Optimisation) to maximise the reach of every post – thereby influencing as many people as possible.
Continue reading “News Feed Optimisation & the impact of real-time Facebook Insights” »
As far as memorable early milestones go, buying my daughter’s first pair of shoes has got to rank up there. The wonder on her face as she looked at the shelves of bright, pretty shoes; my joy at imagined future shopping trips; the anticipation of pushchair-bound freedom; the sense of responsibility at needing to encase and protect her precious, baby soft feet – not too tight, with enough flexibility.
Moments like this are a gift for brands looking to find ways to build meaningful and lasting connections with consumers. A key opportunity to provide both practical help and emotional empathy can create a powerful first impression that leads to long term brand preference. But treading carefully is vital. Do it right, and brands are welcomed for their contribution. Do it wrong, and encroaching on a treasured moment will more than wrong-foot you.
Continue reading “You (could have) had me at ‘Hello’. A lesson in first impressions” »
Dopamine is a chemical neurotransmitter that is a key part of what makes us human. Its transmission in the brain motivates us and can drive competitive behaviour. It also reinforces behaviours that make us feel good.
Social affirmation is a fundamental human desire: the need to be recognised and acknowledged is inherent in our self-esteem. Strokes are the recognition or attention we give each other, consciously and unconsciously. They can be positive “warm fuzzies” or negative “cold pricklies”. Dopamine helps us remember how good we feel when we get warm fuzzy strokes, and helps us adapt our behaviour to get more positive strokes in the future.
We often meet passionate marketers who firmly believe that if consumers “only knew their brand like they do” (by spending time with it in social media) they would love it just as much. We know there is appetite, as the average person already connects with as many as nine brands.
So why will someone chose your brand? And more importantly, why will they continue to spend time with it? In principle, it’s very simple. People like brands in social media for the same reasons we like anyone – they make us smile, they sound interesting, they support or help us, they share our values, they’re generous, or they’re just cool and we like being seen with them.
