Author: Sam Silvey

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Business Digital Marketing Marketing

Three Reasons You Should Refresh Your Website

Three reasons you should refresh your website

Three Reasons You Should Refresh Your Website

It shows your customers that you care. We know, the easy thing to do is to let your website sit and not deal with it. We get it – sometimes you just don’t have the time to take on an additional task. It is important though to show your customers that you put time and effort into your business. If you have an outdated site, this can be viewed as the company being lazy. Keep reading to learn more about the three reasons you should refresh your website.

 

You’ve adapted – show the world the new you!

Through the years you have grown and changed! Update your old employee photos and add in new company videos. Freshen up the “about” page by adding in recent accomplishments that you have achieved. 

 

Tech is always changing

The world of tech is always evolving. Many companies are now using TikTok to advertise. Use this type of cheap marketing to your advantage by adding these updates to your site. Make an announcement and link your new social media pages! 

 

Note: Make sure your website is device-friendly for all computers, cell phones and tablets. 

Need help revamping your website? We’re pros at this! Contact us today to learn more.

Categories
Business Design Digital Marketing

Adding Brand Colors In Your Photoshoot

Adding Brand Colors In Your Photoshoot

If you’ve stumbled across this article, it may be because you are planning an upcoming photoshoot for your brand. How exciting! Adding brand colors in your photoshoot can seem like a big task. Let us show you how in this article! 

 

Your Background

 

Let’s say your brand colors are black, grey, and light blue. You will want your backdrop to be styled in a way that complements those colors. Use mostly neutrals with no other bright colors that will compete with your brand. A white background is always a safe bet if you are unsure. 

 

Your Outfit

 

While using the brand color selection of black, grey, and light blue, let’s continue talking about what you are going to wear. 

Your background matters- so try to think about what your clothes will look like in comparison to your photo’s background.

 

For example:

If the photos are being shot on a neutral background, you could wear a fun light blue suit as shown below. If your background is light blue, wear a neutral.

Accessories

 

Your clothes do not always have to be your statement piece. If you want to utilize your pop of color in a fun way, try doing so with jewelry, a coffee mug, or some type of stationary product. 

Fun Edits

 

Do special effects or an overlay with your “pop of color”. This could simply be done with a flat lay photo. Add a transparent overlay with one of you branding colors.

Do you need to find images that matches your brand? Try searching here!

Needing help cultivating your brand strategy? Contact us here!

Categories
Digital Marketing Marketing

Lighting Tips For Photoshoots

Lighting Tips For Photoshoots

We live in a world where anyone can take great photos with their cellphones! Luckily, mobile devices have come a long way in recent years, allowing you to take magazine-worthy images. Here are a few lighting tips for photoshoots.

  1. 1. Take photos by a window

Taking photos by a window on a nice, sunny day always yields great results! This will allow you to get the soft glow of natural lighting. You can also play up the lines from the shadows of your blinds. Here is an example:

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  1. 2. Avoid the harsh, direct sunlight 

Are you shooting outside? The best lighting tends to be in the morning and late afternoon hours before sunset. If you are in the hot sun, make sure the person or product you are capturing ARE facing the sun. If the sun is behind the individual it will cast a shadow over their face. 

  1. 3. Edit your photos

If the coloring is a little off, use the auto-correct feature on the Adobe Lightroom app. You can play around with the hue and saturation further if needed. Editing the white and black balances can also make your photo lighter and more alive! 

We recommend using Adobe Lightroom to edit your photos. Download the software here. 

Now, go take those magazine-worthy photos, friends! 

Need further help with your photoshoots? Contact us today!

Categories
Business Digital Marketing

Where Your Video Content Belongs

Person Holding a Smartphone

There’s no denying that video content is more engaging today than ever before… and it’s here to stay! Are you struggling with how to get the most use out of your video content? In this article, we’ll share a few tips and tricks on how to effectively get multiple pieces of content from one video.

 

Full Length Videos:

A full length video can be a great educational piece to use for your brand. However, when it comes to Instagram and Facebook, shorter clips perform best. If you have a video over 15 minutes, put that on your Youtube channel. You can always share your Youtube video link on your social media page with the “swipe-up” feature. Youtube links are also great to insert into your scheduled email campaigns. Hype up your readers by telling them how awesome your new video is, insert a visual to entice them, then add your Youtube link. 

 

Do you have a video over 1 minute long? Upload that to your IGTV channel. According to Instagram, the maximum length your video can be is 15 minutes when uploading from a mobile device. 60 minutes when uploading from the web.

 

Make Edits to the Full Length Video:

Take up to 1 minute clips from longer videos and use them as Instagram Reels. Your engagement rate will be higher by doing this. Followers are more likely to watch shorter videos all the way through vs. a full length video.

 

Add a Viral Song or Soundbite:

The songs that are viral on TikTok are usually the same songs that are viral on Instagram Reels. You can use the same edit for both social media platforms. That’s called killing two birds with one stone! 

 

Bonus Tips:

• Don’t be afraid to cross-post the same content on all social media platforms – in fact, that’s what you need to do!

• Incorporate lifestyle content into your social media calendar. This helps you not come off as too “salesy”. 

• You don’t have to dance. When the TikTok craze first began, everyone was doing the same dances. If that’s your thing, go for it! But if not, that’s ok too. TikTok and Instagram Reels are not for dancers only. 

• Take 3-10 second video clips of everything. You can add multiple video clips to TikTok and add them together! This makes for great content. 

• Have fun – loosen up on camera! Show that you are relatable, someone who the viewer could be friends with in real life. Get on camera and talk about an embarrassing moment from your childhood that everyone can get a giggle out of!

 

https://about.instagram.com/features/reels

https://about.instagram.com/features/igtv

Categories
Business Marketing

Rebrand Your Business

Rebrand Your Business

Is it Time to Rebrand Your Business?

When you think about your company brand, you really want to picture the entire customer experience. From your logo, website, social media, messaging, storefront, and everything in between…what does your brand look like to your customers? Is it consistent and easy to recognize? If not, it’s probably time to rebrand your business.

Your brand has the power to set your company apart from the competition, promote recognition, connect with customers, and create strong business value. However, if your brand isn’t consistent, it can provide a confusing message and ultimately cause your company to fall short of its full potential.

Here at Spectruss, building stronger brands is what we do best!

We worked with The Plastic Surgery Group to rebuild a stronger, more cohesive brand for their company. Through detailed strategic planning, we successfully helped rebrand the company as RefinedLooks Plastic Surgery and Spa. Check out some of our work below!

 

Behind the Brand

The Plastic Surgery Group, Chattanooga’s first and largest plastic surgery practice, has led the way in plastic, cosmetic, reconstructive, and noninvasive procedures for over 60 years. After a year of working with the Plastic Surgery Group’s new medspa, Refine Aesthetic Studio, our team at Spectruss encountered challenges with operating multiple practices with different names and proposed a strategy to restructure the entire practice.

Rebrand Strategy

Our team began working on a strategy to help rename the practice as one brand to strengthen their identity and better reach their current and future patients. The new brand name, RefinedLooks Plastic Surgery and Spa, was born. The practice’s hand reconstruction and therapy center, Hayes Hand Center, was kept separated from the new name to minimize confusion and preserve its integrity.

New Logos

We designed a brand new logo for RefinedLooks Plastic Surgery and a variation for the Spa using elements that were inspired by the aesthetics of their offices and reminiscent of their past identity. Our team also worked on establishing a more prominent presence at their location by adding new outdoor signage at the exterior skin of their building as well as in the interior.

Website Redesign

A brand new website consolidating the practice into one was also designed, re-imagined and built by our team. The new site highlights the practice’s doctors, team and features a newly organized structure of their procedures and new services that lacked prominence from their previous site.

E-Commerce Store Revamp

RefinedLooks previously had two separate websites with two different e-commerce stores offering the same products. This not only spread their marketing efforts thin but also created inconsistent branding and an inefficient business process for the practice. By eliminating one of the two e-commerce sites, our team helped funnel all marketing promotions into one site to better track, process customer orders, and improve overall efficiency.

Videography

Our team also extended our videography services to RefinedLooks to bring their practice to light for current and potential clients. This brought a better understanding of all the procedures and services that are being offered at the practice.

Consistent Branding

From a brand new identity to print and web materials, we ensured the new branding was prominent and consistent across all marketing materials. By rebranding the Plastic Surgery Group and Refine Aesthetic Studio to RefinedLooks Plastic Surgery and Spa, our team helped strengthen the practice’s aesthetic brand, improve marketing strategies, and set up the practice for exponential growth opportunities.

You can check out the new website at refinedlooks.com!

 

Let us help rebrand your business. Contact us today to get started.

Categories
Marketing

Most Common Marketing Myths

most common marketing myths

The world of marketing is fast-paced and always changing. It can be hard to keep up. There’s a lot of misconceptions out there about marketing your business and we are here to debunk five of the most common marketing myths.

Myth 1: Marketing is the same as advertising

 

While marketing and advertising often go hand in hand, there is actually a significant difference between the two.

Marketing refers to the ongoing plan that scopes the entire process of selling a product or service – everything from branding, design, strategy, SEO, web development and social media. 

Whereas advertising is just one aspect of your marketing plan (but a very important one at that!) This encompasses creating, placing, and promoting ads across different channels to spread the word to your audience about your company. The key to successful advertising is to make sure your messaging is consistent with all other aspects of your marketing.

 

 

 

 

Myth 2: It worked for another company, so it will work for us

 

Successful marketing isn’t a copy-and-paste solution for every business.

Each business has its own brand, messaging, products/services, and target audience. So your marketing efforts need to be unique to your company! Be authentic with your marketing. Really knowing your audience and your brand messaging is crucial for devising a great marketing strategy tailored to your business.

 

 

Myth 3: Marketing is for only attracting new customers

Actually, acquiring new customers is only half the battle. It’s important to make sure your marketing efforts not only bring in new customers, but also retain the ones you do have!

Incentivizing your current customers to engage with your brand and keep them coming back is crucial for successful marketing. Otherwise, you will forever be chasing after new customers and losing them just as quickly as they came.

 

 

Myth 4: Marketing should deliver fast results

If you aren’t seeing an immediate payoff in your marketing, something must be wrong….right? Nope. Marketing takes time.

While digital marketing has faster results than traditional marketing methods, it still takes consistency and data analysis. It may take several clicks and website visits before a consumer converts into a customer. And then from there, you must use that data to tweak your marketing strategies to make them that much better.

 

 

Myth 5: Great products and services sell themselves

Having quality products or services is great, but what good is that if no one knows about it? Chances are, you have a competitor or two. And if you sit back and wait for customers to find you, it’s very likely that your competitor will get to them first.

Let’s chat.

Categories
Business

How to Spring Clean Your Business

Spring Clean Your Business

Spring is in the air! A time for flowers blooming, birds chirping, warmer weather and… deep cleaning. Yes, we all know that when this time of year rolls around, it’s time for closet cleanouts, home reorganization, yard work…the list can go on and on. Spring cleaning might feel like a big undertaking, but the end results are so worth it – – a decluttered, re-energized, happy home. Now, let’s spring clean your business!

But, spring cleaning doesn’t just apply to your house. It’s also important for businesses too! By taking a yearly deep dive into your business, you can evaluate what areas are doing well and what areas may need a breath of fresh air.

Ready to revitalize your business this spring? Here are a few tips to get you started!

Spice up your social media presence

It’s no secret that social media is extremely beneficial for building customer relationships and growing your business. However, if your social media isn’t getting the traction you hoped, it might be time to give it a refresh.

–Update bios: One of the quickest and easiest ways to spice up your social media is to update your bios on all of your social media platforms. Add some personality and even some emojis to make it fun. Also, be sure that your website link, phone number, and address are all up to date.

–Get personal: People will get tired of only seeing products and services on a social media business page. They also want to see faces behind the brand! Share employee spotlights, fun facts, and hobbies away from work to give your social media a personal touch and attract customer engagement.

–Create short-form video content: Okay, we’ve all seen the Tik Toks and Instagram Reels explode over the last year…and people love it. Creating quick, interesting videos is a great way to capture the attention of your audience and showcase your brand.

Re-energize your customer service

Has your company recently taken the time to see how satisfied your customers are with your business? Luckily, you don’t have to be a mind reader to figure out what they want…you just simply ask them! A customer satisfaction survey is a great way to get feedback on a product or service, determine how customers feel about your level of service, and even gather testimonials.

Based on customer responses, your company can then determine what practices, products, or services could be improved to offer an even better experience for your customers.

Declutter your desk

This may seem like a no-brainer, but organizing your desk can significantly boost productivity. In fact, a recent study found that executives waste six weeks a year searching for lost items or information. Yikes!

Maybe you’re back in the office, or maybe still working from home, or maybe your workweek is even split between the office and home. Wherever your work desk is, now is a great time to do a deep clean so you can feel organized, focused, and motivated.

Tidy up your website

Is your website in need of an update? Chances are, your business has undergone some kind of change in the last year. Don’t let your website fall behind.

Just like our lives, your company website could benefit from a yearly spring cleaning. Maybe your site could use a content or SEO update, or maybe your entire design needs a revamp. Your company website is the face of your brand, so make sure it measures up!

Refresh your logo

Spring is a time of new beginnings. Is your logo feeling a bit dull or outdated? It might be time to think about a redesign for your brand. Giving your logo a new, updated look is a great way to give your business a breath of fresh air, but it is also important that in doing so you stay true to your brand.

Contact us today!

Categories
Business Marketing

Secrets to Successful Rebranding

Secrets to Successful Rebranding

Rebranding is an opportunity to revitalize a business, inspire consumers, and stimulate company growth. While many may think of a rebrand as simply updating a logo or picking new colors, it is so much more than that. The true power of rebranding is fueled by a carefully planned brand strategy. Keep reading for our secrets to successful rebranding.

A rebrand can be the best thing to ever happen to a business…or it can be the worst. The key is to be true to your company’s identity and make it about better serving and reaching your customers. A successful rebrand needs to tell a story of who you are and who you have become as a company.

Behind the Rebrand

After a year of working with our client, The Furniture Shoppe and The Patio Shop, our team at Spectruss encountered multiple challenges in operating a single store with two names. We wanted to consolidate and strengthen the brand as one to eliminate confusion from a consumer’s point of view.

We began working on a strategy to rebrand the company back to its original roots as one store, Fowler Brothers Company. Our team dove deep into the company’s rich history of 135 years to form a precise brand strategy from start to finish including a new logo, website redesign, and storefront remodel.

Logo Redesign

We wanted to create a fresh, modernized look while also using elements of the original company logo (top right picture).

Paying respect to the history of the family-owned business, we designed a new logo that reflects the vision of the founders that long-time patrons would also recognize.

Storefront Remodel

One of the challenges that Fowler Brothers faced was the physical store’s lack of presence at its own campus. Our goal was to unify the store as one showroom for both home furnishings and patio furniture. We began reimagining the exterior design of the campus to create an eye-catching storefront that passersby wouldn’t miss.

We worked very closely with the president and owner of Fowler Brothers Company, Carter Fowler, with choosing every detail for the remodeling project from interior finishes to price tag designs, and everything their name would be on. 

Before:

After:

 

New Digital Presence

Launching a seamless rebrand across all channels was crucial to the success of the new Fowler Brothers Co. Home and Patio brand.

Our team gave Fowler Brothers Co. a new digital experience by developing a new website, an e-commerce store, and a unified social media account. This resulted in one simple way of identifying the brand through all online platforms.

The new website also features an interactive style questionnaire which allows customers to select their ideal style choices and rooms they wish to furnish for a customized interior design recommendation. This was a great way to highlight the store’s interior design services as well as give a personalized feel for website visitors.

Rebrand Success

Our goal of giving Fowler Brothers Co. Home and Patio “One name, One store, One company”, has been a total success and one of the most exciting projects we’ve been a part of. Our team at Spectruss was proud to receive a Silver ADDY from the 2021 American Advertising Awards for our work on the rebranding project.

Check out Fowler Brothers Co. website here.

Need help rebranding your company? Contact us here.

Categories
Marketing

The Benefits of Green Marketing

The Benefits of Green Marketing

Our society is becoming increasingly concerned with the environment around us. Despite the higher cost, millions of consumers have begun to purchase socially responsible products in support of helping our planet be a cleaner, better place. In fact, the sustainable market is on track to reach $150 billion this year in 2021. 

In response to this trend, many companies are turning to eco-friendly products and “green” marketing strategies to tap into this growing market. Referred to as green marketing, this powerful strategy can strengthen your brand reputation and loyalty, as well as give your brand a competitive edge in the marketplace.

 

 

 

What is green marketing?

As you probably guessed, green marketing is when a company highlights the environmental benefits of their products in their marketing assets and campaigns. Consumers recognize these brands by terms like “sustainable,” “eco-friendly,” “organic,” or “recyclable”.

Your company could be the most environmentally-sensitive brand out there, but if you aren’t marketing it, who’s going to know? By using green marketing tactics, you can show consumers that your business is socially responsible and cares about giving back to the environment just like they do!

 

 

 

 

Do consumers really care if a brand is “green”?

In short, yes. A whopping 90% of millennials say they are willing to pay more for products that contain sustainable or eco-friendly ingredients. And products with these attributes have been steadily climbing in sales – – 19% in 2014, 22% in 2017, and now to an anticipated 25% in 2021.

 

 

 

 

Benefits of green marketing

While the demand for sustainable, eco-friendly products is certainly evident, many companies are unsure if going green will benefit their business. For example, the upfront costs of launching a sustainable product or switching current business processes to meet more eco-friendly measures can seem astronomical. However, there are several reasons why a business should consider investing in green marketing:

1.It expands your reach and attracts new audience segments.

2. It strengthens brand visibility, loyalty, and reputation.

3. It provides easy consumer education and engagement.

4. It makes your brand more personal and relatable.

5. It offers unique product positioning by helping your brand stand out.

 

 

 

 

Example of an Eco-Friendly Brand

 

 

Our team at Spectruss partnered with Double Cola to help them launch a brand new beer called Brewski. Their brand voice and design were essential in positioning their product in a saturated beer market.

The Brewski brand prides itself on providing adventurous minds with the thrill they have been seeking while also encouraging conscious choices. Brewski helps the environment with its fully recyclable cans and eco-friendly cardboard holders. Check out the full Brewski case study at https://spectruss.com/case-studies/brewski/

Green marketing is a powerful way to connect with your consumers and build a strong brand reputation for your business.

Categories
Business Design

Can Design Make or Break your Business?

Can Design Make or Break your Business?

Did your know that the design of your website could be the deciding factor for whether or not a customer will do business with you? In fact, users take only 0.05 seconds on average to form an opinion about a website… and 94% of those first impressions are related to design!

Is your website design falling behind? Here are several key design tips to keep your users engaged and take your website to the next level.

Bold Font

 

We hate to break it to you…. but most users will only read about 20% of words on a webpage. To avoid your users getting lost in large blocks of copy, use bold text to really help your messaging stand out. Not only does bold text make your website more functional, but it can also bring a fresh, modern look to your website.

Visual Hierarchy

 

Visual hierarchy is the arrangement and presentation of design elements to show their order of importance. This design principle is crucial for leading users to your “call to action”, which is ultimately the most important aspect of your website.

A call to action is what prompts the user to take action on your page by contacting your business or buying a product. A recent study found that 70% of websites for smaller businesses lack a clear call to action. Without this design element, your website could be missing out on significant customer conversions.

Personalized Content

 

Consumers are tired of a generic interactions and want an experience to be tailored specifically for them and their location. Even a small amount of personalization goes a long way towards boosting engagement. In fact, 93% of companies who incorporated personalization to their website saw a significant boost in customer conversions. And a recent study found that 44% of people said they would become a repeat customer after a personalized shopping experience with a brand.

Photography with Graphics

 

Grabbing a users’ attention and keeping them interested with your site is crucial for converting visitors into customers. A great way to do this is by introducing eye-catching imagery. A big trend we’ve seen this year is to mix photography with graphics and here’s why:

  • It adds depth to your site and draws people in
  • It gives your website extra personality
  • It reinforces company branding
  • It grabs immediate attention

 

Overlapping graphics with photography is a great way to add a creative flair to your site as well as unify your brand personality. Find free graphics here.

Mobile Ecommerce

The year of 2020 set a precedent for mobile online shopping. Mobile ecommerce traffic grew by 25% in the first quarter of 2020 – making up 71% of total traffic!

With 45% of consumers saying they are shopping more on their phones since March 2020, it is more important than ever before to ensure your mobile web design experience is flawless.

 

Could your company website use a boost? Contact us today to see how we can help you take your website design to the next level!