Google Analytics 4: Get to Know the New Standard for Data Analysis

Understanding the past is the only way you can shape the future. This is true even in technology where knowing and using your past data informs your future decisions. Such is the case with Google Analytics 4, the new version of Google Analytics that was released in October 2020.

There are things you’ll need to know about the new version in order to get the most out of it. In this article, we’ll go over the basics of this Next-Gen Analytics and how it’s different from its previous versions.

Keep reading to learn more about the new standard for data analysis.

What Is Google Analytics?

Google Analytics is a free web analytics tool provided by Google that monitors and reports website traffic. It’s the most popular web analytics service on the internet.

Google Analytics 4 is the latest version of Google Analytics. It is a complete rewrite of the previous versions and does away with your old universal analytics property.

What’s New in Google Analytics 4

The main difference between Google Analytics 4 and the previous versions is that GA4 is an event-based data model while the older versions were property and hit-centric.

This means that in GA4, data is collected as events. This gives you a more complete picture of your data and how users interact with your website.

Another difference is that GA4 uses a machine learning model to generate insights and predictions. This is in contrast to the older versions which used rules-based models.

The machine learning model is more accurate and allows for more customization. You can also use it to create custom reports and dashboards.

Lastly, GA4 includes a new suite of measurement tools that weren’t available in the previous versions. This includes things like conversion tracking, funnel analysis, and cross-device tracking.

Conversion Tracking

Conversion tracking allows you to see how users interact with your website and convert into customers. You can track conversions at the page level, product level, and even at the keyword level.

This makes it easier to see which pages are converting well and which ones need improvement. You can also see which products are selling well and which ones need more exposure.

Funnel Analysis

Funnel analysis allows you to see how users interact with your website and where they drop off. This can be helpful for identifying areas of your website that need improvement.

Therefore you would want to start by looking at the pages with the highest drop-off rate. From there, you can try to improve the design or content on those pages to increase conversion rates.

Cross-Device Tracking

Cross-device tracking allows you to see how users interact with your website across different devices. This includes things like desktop, mobile, and tablet.

If one device has a high drop-off rate, you can try to improve the user experience on that device. For example, if mobile has a high drop-off rate, you can try to improve the mobile design or make it easier to navigate.

What Type of Data Does GA4 Collect?

GA4 collects the same type of data as the older versions. This includes things like page views, unique visitors, session duration, bounce rate, and conversion rate.

However, GA4 also collects a few new types of data. One is user-engagement data which tells you how users interact with your website. Another is event-level data which gives you more information about specific events that happen on your website.

Lastly, GA4 collects property-level data. This is data that’s specific to your website or app. It includes things like page load time and site speed.

What Are Some Events in Google Analytics 4?

Events in GA4 mean anything that happens on your website or app. This can be anything from a pageview to a click on a button. There are three main types of events in GA4:

Engagement Events

These are events that tell you how users interact with your website. They include things like page views, unique visitors, and session duration.

Conversion Events

These are events that tell you how users convert on your website. They include things like a purchase made, signup completed, and lead generated.

Custom Events

These are events that you create yourself. They can be anything you want. For example, you could create a custom event for when a user views a product page or add to cart.

Why Upgrade to Google Analytics 4?

There are several reasons why you should upgrade to Google Analytics 4 ASAP.

The main one is there will be no overlap in data collection. You will not be able to import data from the older versions into GA4. This means that to start collecting an archive of data, you will want to upgrade right away so you have a bank of info before the old version becomes obsolete in 2023.

Secondly, you will want to run both versions side by side during the transition period. This will allow you to compare data and see which version is more accurate.

You may find that some features are not yet available in GA4. This is normal and to be expected with a new release. Google is constantly working on adding new features and improving the existing ones.

Overall, Google Analytics 4 is a more accurate and complete picture of your website data. It’s the new standard for data analysis and should be used by all website owners.

How to Upgrade to Google Analytics 4

If you’re using an older version of Google Analytics, you can upgrade to GA4 in two ways.

The first way is to create a new property in your Google Analytics account. This will allow you to run both versions side by side and compare data.

The second way is to start from scratch with GA4. To do this, you will need to create a new Google Analytics account and add your website to it.

Once you’ve done this, you can start using all the new features GA4 has to offer.

Need Help Converting To and Understanding GA4?

Google Analytics 4 is an invaluable tool for all website owners. If you’re not using it to the fullest of its potential, you’re missing out.

Connect with us at Big Bold Thinkers for help with all things Google Analytics 4. We can help you convert to GA4, understand the new features, and make the most of this powerful tool. Send us an email today and let’s get your project started!

Brand Activation: What It Is, How It Works and Why Use It

Did you know that 100% of consumers will share any content they create at an event? This is a fantastic way to gain exposure for your company and its products. But how do you do this the right way and not go viral for all the wrong reasons?

This highly effective form of marketing takes some work, but the rewards are exceptional. Read on as we tell you how to utilize brand activation.

What Is Brand Activation?

Brand activation is any event, experience, or interaction between your brand and consumers. Its aim of it is to generate awareness of the brand itself and build a lasting relationship between the company and customers.

It is often confused with other elements of marketing, both physical and digital. However, brand activation is defined by an event or experience as opposed to other traditional and digital efforts.

Why Is Brand Activation Important?

Brand activation is important as it creates touchpoints, which are increasingly important in today’s marketplace. Consumers want to have a connection to a company or brand. With numerous faceless companies bombarding consumers with ads every day, they want companies they connect with.

This can be done in several ways. They may range from huge, grand galas at exclusive nightclubs, to sending surprise gifts in the post. Companies could also hold in-store events or virtual gatherings.

If you are a new company, it gives customers a chance to meet you and see the type of business you are. For existing ones, it can revitalize a marketing campaign and introduce you to a whole new audience.

Types of Brand Activation

Brand activation takes a lot of hard work, and is more akin to event organizing. However, when done correctly it will pay dividends. Below are the four main types of brand marketing events.

Experiential Marketing

Experiential marketing focuses on creating feelings, emotions, and real-world experiences. Often referred to as engagement marketing, it is used as a vehicle to convey the organization’s values, sentiments, and core mission. It is one of the few brand promotions that seldom involve the products or services a company sells.

However, these experiences work best when they relate to the product in some way. For example, a car manufacturer may put on track days where people can come to race their vehicles for free. A fashion brand may organize a fashion show using members of the public, with their friends and family as the audience.

While there is often no replacement for physical interaction, digital and online events are starting to become popular. The use of VR and augmented reality often plays heavily in these.

Product Sampling

Unlike experiential marketing, this method of building brand awareness relies solely on the products a company sells. They have one simple aim which is to let potential customers try a product, in the hope they will return to buy it again.

To get a sampling campaign right you have to tread a fine line. A great example is a perfume provided as a sample in a department store or airport. This is often left for you to try at your leisure with no fuss.

Contrast this with an overeager supermarket assistant who really wants you to try a food you don’t like. This can leave a bad impression on a company.

These campaigns do not only have to be physical events. If you have customer data on mailing lists, you may be able to send them a sample through the mail.

Events and Shows

Trade shows and industry events are a great way to get interactive marketing going without the huge outlay and tasks involved in creating your own event. All you need is a great booth design and a unique proposition. They also introduce you to a new audience that has already displayed some interest in your industry.

You can also use these as a springboard for other forms of brand activation. For example, you may decide to use them alongside product sampling.

In-Store Retail

For anyone who has a physical store, or an online brand just opening one, then there is no better place for events than on their premises. Public launches are a great example, especially when the time-honored tradition of getting a celebrity or influencer to open one is employed.

Other factors can be the inclusion of in-store social media interactions. Augmented reality is making this extremely exciting and opening up new possibilities.

For those who don’t have permanent premises, a pop-up store concept is an option. As they are usually temporary, they also add a sense of urgency and exclusivity to drive the experience.

Tips for Effective Brand Activation

One of the top tips for successful brand activation campaigns is to surprise your audience. You don’t want to shock them, but surprising them can be a delightful experience.

Try to concentrate on what the audience wants. It is another fine line between giving something of value to your customers and producing a publicity stunt. The latter can be extremely annoying and put more people off than attract them.

As it is about interaction, you should listen to what your audience wants. Watch social media and ask them questions, or get their feedback from your customer service channels.

Planning Your Campaign

Now you know about brand activation, you can begin planning your campaign. Decide on a method that works best for you. If you have a wider plan, you can fit this in with your digital marketing efforts there.

Big Bold Thinkers are the experts in marketing. From activation event organization to digital marketing, we can be your one-stop shop. Click here to read our related article on how to build a brand identity that drives real growth.

Event Managers: How to Spark Your Creativity

Is there a career that’s more rewarding than event planning? There’s something satisfying about seeing months of hard work come together, and nothing beats the smile on a client’s face.

Event managers may love their jobs, but that doesn’t mean that every idea comes to them instantly. There’s only so much that can be done with a client’s creative vision. Creative event ideas need to come from the people planning them for true success.

Do you feel like you’re stuck in a rut when you’re coming up with event ideas? Don’t worry, we have some tips on how you can get your creativity flowing again.

Rethink Old Events

Every event you’ve planned could be considered a success, but most planners have one or two they’re incredibly proud of. If you want to get into your creative space again, take time to think about some of your greatest hits.

Even the most successful event has room for improvement. Think about what you would have fixed or how you could have made the successful event even better. Consider changing the event’s purpose for a new way to look at things.

Are you having trouble thinking about what you’d improve? Try to think about how you’d plan the event differently if something important changed. Imagining the event at a different venue or time of year can be a great creative exercise.

Study the Competition

Your event planning company is at the top of its game, but there are still plenty of other people in the industry. One of the keys to success in any industry is to understand the competition. If you’re in a creative slump, now is an excellent time to see what your competitors are up to.

Visit their website and see how they position themselves and describe their services. Take a look at their social profiles and see what they’ve been posting. You can learn a lot about upcoming and past events, current promotions, and their staff.

Take time to read reviews from customers. This can give you an idea of what they’re doing well, and may even give you some ideas of what you can improve in your own work.

Get Into a Mood

Sometimes event creatives need a little “exercise” to get themselves out of a rut. An exercise that allows people to think and learn visually can be great for individuals or teams. If you’re looking for the ideal exercise to spark some creativity, consider making a mood board.

Mood boards (also known as inspiration boards and vision boards) allow people to organize and visualize their creative ideas. Creating some mood boards for events you commonly plan can help you look at things in a completely different way.

How would your staff plan a rustic wedding? What venues would they choose for a corporate event to celebrate a big win? Think of different scenarios for people to play around with and you’ll be amazed at what people create!

Creativity for Event Managers

Getting back into a creative mindset doesn’t have to be difficult for event managers. When you rethink some of your greatest hits, look at the competition, or set aside time for brainstorming, you’ll have the creative juices flowing in no time.

Are you looking for more advice for creatives? We love being a source for all creative minds, so contact us before your next big project.

How To Plan a Community Event

How to Plan a Community Event

There are many aspects to planning a community event. Successful engagements become anticipated affairs because of their seamless unfolding and momentous objective. Planning a community event also comes with its fair share of needs and challenges. Here are ways to maneuver through the hurdles and throw a memorable community engagement.

Develop Your Community Event Goal and Objective 

Set tangible goals and objectives first when planning your event. Why does the community need this engagement? Find the aim of the event. Knowing the purpose will determine the type of event that will effectively meet the objectives.

If it is a corporate event, you may need to merge community needs with the company’s brand, values, and vision. A festival will require communal activities like a sports competition, a cook-off, or an eating challenge. Similarly, a workshop event will require activities that appeal to the community.

Build a Planning Team for the Community Engagement

Successful community engagement events have a planning committee. You cannot handle all the responsibilities of a community event alone. Have a team of experts while planning your event. The goal and objectives of the community engagement determine who you need on board. The scale of the event influences the size of the committee.

The team will list all responsibilities and effective ways of ensuring their fulfilment. The committee members also get individual roles for the smooth running of the event.

Budget

Budget discussions ensue once the committee comes up with the preferred layout of the community event. You may already have allocated funds for the event and base your deliberations on available funding. You may need strategies involving the community to raise funds or involve the local government.

Local businesses are always willing to financially support a worthy cause as part of their corporate social responsibility. Residents can raise funds by buying products or services to raise funds for the event. You could also use available funds and charge a small fee for participants to raise funds. The bottom line is, with a committee, you can always find several ways to fund the event.

Market the Event

Get the message about the event to the community. Raising awareness is significant if the community engagement requires participants or community involvement in raising funds. Residents need to know the importance of the event and how they can participate.

Include the costs and activities of the event. Is it a family affair? Are children and pets allowed to participate? Ensure that the message is appealing and the event affordable and worthwhile.

Insurance

Make provision for several insurance covers while planning your event. Community engagement events have high-risk factors. Someone could get hurt from one of the activities, or an accident may occur damaging adjacent property. Have an expert explain the risks involved when planning the event and get the relevant policies as mitigation strategies.

Licencing

You may need permits to make loud noise or a license to use music or videos. Different places have varying requirements for holding events. Check with the local government to find out the legal documentation you require for the community engagement.

3 Rebranding Strategies and Best Practices for Professional Services

You’ve probably heard the news by now. Facebook recently went through a massive rebranding, changing the company name to Meta and introducing a new logo. CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced Meta as a way to bring the metaverse to life and help people and companies connect.

The rebranding involved a name change as well as a new logo and direction. And Meta isn’t alone. Many companies have switched their names and logos over the years, such as Dunkin’ Donuts becoming simply Dunkin’.

However, not all rebranding strategies result in success. If you’re planning on a company rebrand soon, make sure to follow these strategies for the best chance of success and to make the transition as smooth as possible!

1. Focus on the Reason Behind the Rebrand

The first step in your rebranding strategy is to outline the reason behind the change. Why are you doing this, and what are you hoping to accomplish? Are you rebranding the company mission and values, renaming the company, or coming up with a new slogan?

Rebranding isn’t easy, and not everyone will love the new direction. That’s why you must ensure it’s the right move for your company.

Here are some common reasons that companies rebrand:

  • Changing or updating the company image
  • Updating your company, products, brand, or services
  • Repairing a bad reputation
  • There’s a legal reason
  • You’re launching a new service
  • You’re a spin-off from another brand
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • International growth

All rebranding strategies start with a reason. This reason should be the foundation of your new marketing efforts.

2. Change Your Logo

This is tricky because your logo is the visual representation of your brand. When people think of big brands like McDonald’s or Starbucks, they envision the company logo.

It takes between 5-7 impressions before someone remembers a brand. You don’t want to waste the hard work you’ve put into brand recognition.

If you change your logo too much, there’s a chance people won’t recognize the change, and they won’t realize it’s your business. However, updating the colors, font, or other aspects might be just enough to refresh your brand without losing customers.

You need a professional to design your new logo if you want it to look good.

The right marketing strategy is key to launching a successful rebrand. You want to keep your customers in the loop, and you can do that on your website, through email, and through social media.

3. Shift Brand Positioning

Changing a logo isn’t enough to change your entire brand. Another important part of the branding process is to view your company’s mission and values and evaluate if they’re still right for your vision.

You’re communicating a message, and you want your values and mission to reflect your message.

What do you hope to accomplish, how do you plan on doing it, what steps are you taking, and what’s important to you?

Where does your brand—your products and services—fit into the market? For example, you might be a low-cost provider of a key service.

Rebranding Strategies That Work

These rebranding strategies will help make the process easier and the transition much smoother.

Business rebranding is tricky to pull off right, and you don’t want to make any mistakes. To protect your business, you need to rely on professionals to pull off a successful rebrand.

If you’re in need of a branding agency in Dubai, look no further. Learn more about our marketing services and get in touch to get started on your company rebrand today.

7 Advantages of Using Local SEO for Your Business Website

Studies show that about 46% of all searches on Google are looking for local information. Many of the consumers doing these local searches will visit a local store within the next day.

Local SEO is an essential part of marketing when you have a brick-and-mortar shop for your business. It allows you to connect more with your target audience and increase the visibility of your business.

Do you want to learn more about the advantages of using local SEO strategies? Keep reading this guide for the top seven benefits of using local search engine optimization.

1. Better Online Visibility

One of the primary reasons you need local SEO as one of your digital marketing strategies is that it will give your business better online visibility. In today’s world, people want to get relevant information as quickly as possible.

Because of this, most people searching on Google will never look past the top five or 10 results for their search. If your business doesn’t rank in these positions, you will likely not get much traffic.

Many people looking for your exact products or services may not know you exist if you don’t rank within the first few positions on Google.

When you use local techniques for your SEO strategy, it helps you rank organically in the top results. This means your business will be more visible and more likely to be seen by your target audience.

2. Relevant Website Traffic

Using a local SEO marketing strategy will also provide you with much more relevant traffic to your website. While you may think all website traffic is beneficial for your SEO, this is not always the case.

For example, you may get a lot of people to visit your website, but if they are not interested in what you are selling, they will leave your website immediately. This increases your bounce rate, which can negatively impact your rankings.

However, local SEO allows you to target local customers looking for your services. When they visit your website, they will be more likely to visit your storefront and make a purchase! Having this relevant traffic will be much more beneficial!

3. Loyal Local Customers

When you prioritize local SEO, you will also create a loyal base of local customers. Local SEO makes it easier for your customers to find your business and easier to stop by and visit your location.

If you provide them with a great experience, they will continue to use your services as a loyal customer.

This can also help you build a community. Your business can connect with other locals that understand the importance of supporting the local economy. These may lead to more referrals and better business relationships.

4. Save on Ad Spending

When you are trying to rank for popular keywords, you will often spend a lot of money just to get a few clicks on your website. However, local SEO makes it easier to get organic traffic.

Not only is organic traffic much more valuable than traffic from ads, but it will also help you save on ad spending. Rather than paying for keywords to improve your visibility, you can organically build your rankings and gain more value than you would from a paid ad.

5. Better Conversion Rates

Local SEO can also help you improve your conversion rates and increase your sales. When you have more relevant traffic to your website, you reach people that are actually interested in what you have to offer.

This will result in more people making a conversion on your website or coming to your store prepared to make a purchase. If you need help growing your business and increasing your conversions and sales, local SEO is a necessary marketing strategy to try.

Plus the more traffic you have to your website, the more sales you are likely to have.

6. Gain More Reviews

Having reviews for your business is a necessary aspect of marketing. It provides customers with more information about your online reputation and can encourage people to choose your business over a competitor’s.

In fact, 91% of consumers from the ages of 18 to 34 trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

Local SEO can help you gain more local reviews. This is because local SEO helps you attract more local customers. When you provide them with a great experience, you can give them an opportunity to provide feedback.

The more local reviews you have, the higher you will rank on Google as well.

7. Stand Out From Competitors

Finally, local SEO helps you stand out from your competitors. When you have many similar stores in the area that all sell the same thing, each store needs to compete for the same customers.

Most people looking for your products or services will choose the company that has a higher ranking on Google, as it allows the potential customer to learn more about the products and services available before visiting the actual store.

While local SEO may not provide you with increased foot traffic to your business, it will greatly increase the online traffic to your site and can help you attract more business.

Find the Best Local SEO Service Provider Today

Local SEO is a necessary strategy for businesses with a physical storefront. It can help you grow your business, connect with your customers, and more!

If you are looking for the best ways to boost local SEO for your business, Big Bold Thinkers can help! We provide digital marketing services and that can help your business stay at the forefront of digital innovation.

Subscribe to our blog today for more information on the importance of SEO services for business or contact our team to learn more about our SEO options.

A Comprehensive Video Marketing Guide This 2022

Videos have taken the digital marketing world by storm, especially with the development of top-class camera technology. It’s easy to market and sell goods or services by creating a visually-appealing video that resonates with your target audience. Furthermore, video sharing and streaming platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok have high-user traffic that you can tap into to popularize your brand.

The savvy business owner or marketing manager knows the potential of a strong video marketing strategy. Besides setting trends, you can keep up with what your competitors are doing and surpass their efforts. Here’s a comprehensive video marketing guide to help you achieve your digital marketing goals and grow your business.

The Definition of Video Marketing

Many internet users prefer watching videos to reading long articles about a brand’s products. It’s easier to keep people engaged and entertained as you pass across promotional messages via video. Video marketing refers to utilizing short film content to promote and advertise goods, services and events.

This type of marketing allows you to reach a large audience on social media platforms. It can also help boost your SEO and general rankings on major search engines. But to optimize the potential of video marketing and increase brand awareness, you should have a superb video marketing strategy.

Video marketing is crucial to a business because:

  • It boosts engagement. It’s easy to get the attention of internet users through the use of captivating and educational video content.
  • Videos build brand credibility. You can achieve that by creating content that resonates with and appeals to the emotions of your target audience.
  • Video content enhances consumer trust. Creating compelling testimonial video content that humanizes your brand can evoke trustworthy feelings.
  • Videos improve the conversion rate and drive sales. It’s easy for people to purchase after watching a video with credible, compelling, engaging and informative content about a product.
  • There’s an increase in lead generation. Video content is a good tool for attracting new leads and driving traffic to your website and social media outlets.

Top Reasons to Use Video Marketing on Social Media

Why use videos on social media posts? Besides their popularity, videos enable your brand to gain more exposure due to the compatibility of video content with email, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other top social media outlets.

Secondly, videos get more engagement than photos and text content on any social media platform, and they also tend to stay visible for longer on social feeds. Moreover, it’s easy to share them on social platforms and even have the potential to go viral.

Another reason to incorporate video marketing on social media is to reach a large audience. Whether your target audience is local or global, videos can get you your customers. Furthermore, videos enable the viewers to understand your products better.

Video marketing also personalizes your engagement with consumers and helps your brand stand out from the competition. Ultimately, you’ll rank higher on SERPs.

Now that you know the importance of videos, how about video best practices? Here are three points to get you started:

  • Create eye-catching video content that immediately hooks readers.
  • Focus on a particular emotion while generating your videos.
  • Remember that videos should be more entertaining and less promotional.

Types of Video Content

The type of video content you choose to integrate into your video marketing strategy should depend on the intended outcome.

Brand Videos

These videos showcase your brand’s products, mission or services. They aim to create brand awareness and attract a targeted audience.

Demo Videos

They demonstrate how a product works and offer insight into what to expect. You might want to create a demo video to advertise specific product features and show the quality of a product.

Expert Interviews

Businesses looking to enhance product credibility can create videos involving interviewing industry experts. These videos can help you win the trust of potential and existing consumers.

Tutorial Videos

Tutorials are instructional videos that offer step-by-step guidance on achieving a goal. They are perfect for showcasing how hard-to-use products such as applications and software work.

Animated Videos

These videos use elements like cartoons and other characters that move artistically. They help create curiosity, capture viewers’ attention and explain hard-to-understand concepts in a fun way.

Live Videos

These are real-time videos that allow you to engage with your audience via chat. Your viewers can give you immediate feedback on your products or services.

Video Marketing Tips and Tricks

Any marketing manager should have various fundamental factors in mind to run a successful and comprehensive video marketing campaign. Here are some insightful video marketing tips:

  • Analyze the competition. It’s wise to learn how the competition markets videos on social media pages and online platforms. At the same time, check how they use other marketing content such as photos and blog posts to complement their video content. That’ll help you uncover marketing trends and identify possible weaknesses in your video marketing strategy.
  • Take time to plan your video marketing strategy. Now is the time to settle on the type of video content you want to develop. It’s also paramount that you define the goals you want to achieve with the marketing videos and settle on the budget. That will save you time and resources otherwise used for edits and re-shoots.
  • Develop a script for your video content. It’ll eradicate unnecessary fluff, make the video flow better and ensure that you stick to providing necessary information throughout the video. Always ensure that you develop a script with clear and easy-to-digest content, and it should be in a conversational tone with simple vocabulary.
  • Get a high-quality camera. You’ll need high-quality videos to appeal to viewers, and that’s why the camera you use matters. Get high-end cameras and camera-related appliances for demos, tutorials, product shoots and tutorials. You could also hire professional photographers, especially for outdoor shoots.
  • An elaborate studio setup. Ensure that you have tripods, working microphones and proper lighting for your video shoot. You can also soundproof the studio to eliminate unwanted external and background noise.
  • Top-notch talent. High-quality videos often stem from the efforts of a skilled video recording crew. It’s crucial for people conducting interviews, handling video demos or creating any other type of video content to be comfortable in front of a camera. Likewise, those behind the cameras should be professionals skilled at video recording.
  • Focus on final edits before posting. Video editing enables you to correct any irregularities with the audio, lighting and clips, and you could also add things like music to make the video interesting to watch. It also helps improve the video quality and transform the recording to the correct file type for various social media platforms.

To Wrap It Up

Any business can benefit from video marketing, as the correct type of video content can help you reach a massive audience and solidify your brand name. It’s in your best interest to partner with online marketing experts for high-quality services. Big Bold Thinkers invites you to subscribe to The Big Bold Blog for further digital marketing insight or contact us to learn about our services.

How To Build a Brand Identity That Drives Real Growth

You’re a reasonable business owner. You know that providing a product or service is only one-half of a successful reputation. The other half is a well-developed brand identity and marketing strategy.

Proper branding and design will be the foundation for any of your other marketing endeavours. Even experts recognize the importance of branding for your business’s long-term success.

Your business’s brand is, in essence, the personality of your operations. It takes time and significant energy to really hone in on what your brand means and how it can reach public consumers. Keep reading if you’re interested in how to build a brand identity.

A Solid Brand Starts with a Solid Team

If your business’s brand is its personality, you need to have a good grasp o the personality of your team as a whole. Every member of operations has something to contribute to the company’s overall story.

So, take the time to get everyone on the team together and interact. For some examples, consider reading this article about how team-building activities can be so beneficial. Learning the dynamics of each team member will go a long way in helping you establish your brand identity.

Before you get too far in building your branding identity, it’s important to develop your own core values. What matters most to you when promoting your products or service? Are you offering high-end and high-cost to your consumers or low-cost and high-value?

It might help to come up with a business-specific vision statement. How are you going to provide genuine value to the people in your community or consumer market?

You can even open a discussion about the branded design elements that the employees might like to see. Incorporate their feedback so that they feel a sense of ownership over the brand you’re all building together.

Build a Brand Identity That Speaks to Your Target Consumers

Another way of looking at a top-tier brand identity is recognizing how it is different from everyone else. You should already be familiar with the competition in your local niche market. What do those businesses have to offer consumers?

In addition, what makes your business unique? How do your products or services stand out compared to others? Answering these questions will help you narrow down what to promote throughout all of your branded materials.

It would be useful to narrow down your target consumer, as well. What does the ideal buyer of your products or services look like? What are their core values, and how do they align with your business’s?

Be Willing to Outsource Branding and Design

Even if you have a good understanding of your business’s core values, designing an entire brand can feel overwhelming. Don’t worry if that intimidates you, though. That’s where professional brand designers can be of help.

Working with a reputable third-party design service could take developing your brand identity to an even higher level. It’s likely they’re more in tune with analyzing the current state of your industry. So, that could translate to a brand design that really speaks to those target consumers.

Don’t hire just anyone to work with you on your branding and marketing strategy, though. Take the time to research potential design services.

For one thing, make sure they have developed a positive reputation in their field. Most qualified graphic designers are educated with a Bachelor’s degree. Plus, they should have a solid portfolio prepared with their previous work for you to peruse and compare.

You should also look at any potential online reviews from previous customers. In addition, be willing to reach out directly to their previous clients. Doing so could give you valuable insight as to whether you can trust in a positive working relationship with them, too.

Research Other Established Brands

Speaking of brand research, don’t be afraid to check out your industry competition. As mentioned above, you’ll want to know how you differ from these competitors. What values and marketing messages would make more sense for you to include in your branding design?

It takes time to develop a proper branding strategy that really stands out ahead of market competition. This brand involves way more than just a solid logo design or tagline, though these are important elements, too.

The Value of a Well-Developed Brand

Remember this: investing in a powerful brand identity will return the financial favour in the long run. When repeat consumers keep purchasing your products or services, you’ll be thankful you took the time to work on this brand personality.

A well-developed branding strategy will build a reliable reputation that consumers can trust. Building these relationships will be critical to long-term profitability.

Repeat customers not only continue contributing money to your operation. On top of that, these happy customers are more likely to recommend your brand to their friends or family members.

Integrate Your Business’s Brand in All Areas of Marketing

Whether you’re marketing online or offline, you’ll want your brand design to stay consistent. That means you need to be ready to use the same colour scheme, tone of voice, and even font style in all areas of marketing.

A great way to set the standard for this is through your website design. Your business’s website, after all, is going to be the digital foundation for any other digital marketing technique you use. Your social media profiles, for instance, will link directly back to your site where it will showcase your brand identity.

Consistency is going to be key for brand recognition as your business continues to grow. When you focus on what your business really stands for, your consumers will be able to tell. Building a genuine relationship will ensure the longevity of your business and its brand.

Start Investing in Your Business’s Brand Identity Today

Branding and design are essential to any business’s long-term profitability. If you can’t connect with your consumers on a genuine level, you’re simply not going to last.

That’s why we encourage you to start investing in your ideal brand identity today. Build a brand identity alongside us after you contact our marketing services.

Powerful Ways to Level up Your Marketing Collateral

Businesses struggle from time to time to keep their brand relevant and produce results. Keep target audiences engaged in marketing collateral no matter what’s going on.

Effective marketing strategies pave the path to remaining successful. Consistently creating marketing material design ideas keeps you moving the needle. Try generating new leads for existing products while rolling out new products and services.

Design marketing collateral that makes it easy to accomplish your goals. Keep reading for powerful ways to level up your marketing deliverables.

Create Authentic Marketing Collateral

It’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends in producing cookie-cutter marketing materials. This practice will do nothing to improve your marketing deliveries.

Your company requires authentic marketing material design ideas unique to your business. The marketing collateral should tell a story about your brand, product, and service.

Showcase your brand’s best qualities in advertisements and marketing materials.

Focus More on Visuals

Visual marketing materials are what’s hot today. The trend has held steady year after year. You’ve noticed that videos are getting shorter if you’ve been paying attention. Yet, you still need to deliver a strong message.

Understand when it’s beneficial to your brand to provide long-form content. Know which platforms to share the marketing materials.

Follow social media protocols. Understand how your visuals are best utilized based on where they will get seen. Remain true to your message, and don’t force yourself into a box.

Focus on visuals in marketing deliverables that give your audience great content and valuable information. Always include a call-to-action, plus a link that connects to a landing page or website.

Personalize Your Content

Personalize your marketing collateral by making your audience feel like you’re speaking directly to them. Address a need your product will solve.

Invest in a marketing strategy specific to the demographic you’re reaching. Show diversity in your marketing material designs.

Another solution is to utilize tools in your email marketing program. Allow subscribers to choose the types of emails they receive. Utilize website analytics to cater to user experience on your website.

Write blogs that speak to your target audience. Use visitor comments and questions to create new content.

Develop More Campaign Driven Content

Avoid creating individual marketing pieces independent of each other. Try creating content that tells a story. Look at your marketing strategy in the long term. Where is it taking the consumer?

Look at your existing marketing collateral to see how you can expand the content. Don’t shy away from repurposing what you already have in your arsenal.

Reuse images and videos with great responses to develop new marketing material design ideas.

It’s Time to Level Up!

Set your goal of expanding your marketing collateral portfolio as a top priority. Your marketing strategy is sure to have a greater return.

Here at Big Bold Thinkers, we have years of experience helping businesses with designing marketing collateral. Get in touch today to discover how we can help you take your marketing strategy to the next level!

The Do’s and Don’ts of Brand Activation

Is your brand marketing strategy struggling to attract consumers? Perhaps the issue goes back to your initial brand activation.

You’ve probably heard that you only have one chance to may a good first impression. Luckily, in today’s fast-track atmosphere, brands can have a do-over. Instead of seeing your brand rollout as a failure, see it as a test launch.

Revisit your objectives and determine what didn’t go as planned. Build from there or invest in brand activation services.

You want to create memorable experiences for your target audience. However, if you’re marketing using the wrong tactics in the wrong places, you’ll miss your mark.

Building a brand is essential to the success of your business. For a successful launch or relaunch, you need the right information. Keep reading for tips on the dos and don’ts of brand activation.

Do Understand What is Brand Activation

Brand activation is more than designing a professional logo, a tagline, and social media pages. Brand activation is a strategy to make people stop and take notice of a new player on the block.

You want your brand rollout to turn heard and garner interest in your business.

Brand building requires skill and marketing knowledge. You’ll need to know your target audience and where they are most likely to see your brand. Once you gather this information, the next step is to get your brand information to them.

Do Invest in Brand Building Strategies

There are multiple ways to build a brand. Investing in brand activation services can improve your return on investment.

By leaving your brand building to the pros, you have a team dedicated to building a strategy for your specific audience.

Do Become Intentional About Experimental Marketing

Experimental marketing is not a bad thing. Digital advertisement has presented many ways to reach audiences and build your brand.

Whether it’s social media, PPC advertising, or hiring a street team, plan strategically and capitalize on what works for your brand.

Don’t Hire People Not Trained in Street Marketing

Street team marketing is a way to get your information in the hands of people. Sometimes those people will stop and ask questions. Make sure your street team is knowledgeable about your product or services.

Don’t Overestimate Your Intended Results

It’s common for a new brand owner to believe everyone needs what they are offering. The biggest disappointment with brand activation is unrealistic expectations.

Everyone wants to receive 9,999 responses to the 10,000 marketing pieces distributed over the weekend. In reality, the number might reach 100 website visits and nine purchases.

The goal is to build brand momentum off those results.

Build the Brand of Your Dreams

A brand is your business introduction to the world. Don’t trust your brand activation to amateurs. Research the companies you’re considering working with for your brand launch.

Need help planning your brand activation? Contact us today, and we’ll help you build a brand that people notice.