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<p>We've entered into a new decade of email design. </p>



<p>We must adapt our email strategies to appeal to new audiences and keep ahead of the competition. Check out the trending 2020 email designs below that will be sure to spark new interest and grab the attention of your readers!</p>



<h3>Design for Dark Mode</h3>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2020-01-09-at-4.50.47-PM-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-212486" width="898" height="395"/><figcaption><br></figcaption></figure></div>



<p>We’ve all heard about Dark Mode. This new feature on digital devices displays copy on a dark background and a light foreground. This setting is gaining huge popularity and is a solution for those with light sensitivity. More people are using dark color schemes as the default setting on their digital devices and find bright designs to be a jarring experience. </p>



<p>Designers should start using darker background colors in their email designs to stand out against the many bright-colored email campaigns we saw in 2019. </p>



<p></p>



<h3>Use Minimalistic Design</h3>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/negative-space-2-1024x777.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-212492" width="815" height="618"/></figure></div>



<p>The power of minimalism is in the beauty of simplicity. Inboxes can get quickly jam-packed with emails, so cut through the noise with an easy-to-read design using plenty of negative space. By simplifying the content and making it easily digestible, you provide a clear call to action for the reader. </p>



<p>Minimalistic design in emails has been gaining attention over the last year and is expected to continue to soar in 2020.</p>



<p></p>



<h3>Apply 3D Visuals</h3>



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<p>Designers are getting more creative with their use of visuals in emails. 3D visuals have already begun to gain popularity with big brands because it delivers imagery that is more realistic and intriguing. In contrast to traditional flat imagery, 3D visuals bring products to life and spotlight key messages. </p>



<p>Using 3D imagery in email campaigns brings a wow factor to the table and is expected to continue to gain major traction in 2020.</p>



<p></p>



<h3>Ditch the Columns</h3>



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<p>Switch it up and don’t be so boring! So many emails follow the typical column layout which starts with the email header at the top followed by the product image, description, and so forth. </p>



<p>This year, think beyond the conventional email layout and start using broken grids in your designs to create a more engaging experience for your subscribers.</p>



<h3></h3>

Email Design Trends for 2020

<p>The holiday season is here and businesses everywhere are gearing up for the busiest shopping day of the year- Black Friday. Over 74 million Americans shop on Black Friday (if they were to form a country, it would be the 20th most populous on Earth!) Is your business ready?!</p>



<p>With so many stores offering huge deals on Black Friday, it can be difficult to stand out against all the noise. However, incorporating a few simple strategies can help your business provide an excellent Black Friday experience and leave a lasting impression on your customers.</p>



<h4>Staff well</h4>



<p>The crowds....the lines. We all know what this national shopping day is like. Make sure you have plenty of staff to get your customers through the checkout lines quickly. If your store is understaffed, it will be a very long and frustrating day. Black Friday shoppers are expecting lines, but your store can offer a refreshing experience by being extra organized and efficient. </p>



<h4>Make it fun</h4>



<p>Black Friday is a long and busy day for your staff, so make it fun by bringing in lots of snacks and goodies for the break room. You can even offer contests and prizes for meeting goals at the end of the day. Making it fun for your employees will help to create a positive atmosphere which will translate to a great customer experience with your store.</p>



<h4>Keep your store looking extra special</h4>



<p>According to a recent study, foot traffic to big box stores is expected to increase by 34% this year. Many small and medium retailers located near these stores could expect a spike in traffic as well. It is important for your businesses to prepare for this additional traffic by making sure your store looks in tip-top shape. Bringing out your latest merchandise, sprucing up your window displays and keeping things in order throughout the big day will be sure to leave a great impression on your customers. </p>



<h4>Don't try to compete with the big box stores</h4>



<p>Let's face it, the retail giants will always be able to offer bigger and better deals on Black Friday. Trying to compete with the big stores will only hurt your business by eating up all your margins. Instead, your business needs to focus on what those box stores can't offer- a personal experience. As a smaller business, putting community and family values first is essential for generating loyal customer relationships. So, don't bother opening on Thanksgiving because your customers will appreciate your businesses more for staying closed on the holiday. </p>



<h4>Offer coupons with future dates</h4>



<p>With the influx of traffic to your store on Black Friday, it is important to implement a strategy to encourage those shoppers to keep coming back. A great way to do this is by handing out coupons to customers at checkout. Be sure that those coupons are dated for a week or two in the future. This will bring shoppers back to your store during a less rushed time and could lead to long-term customer relationships. </p>

5 Tips for a Successful Black Friday

<p>If your emails aren’t mobile-friendly, you could be missing out on a huge opportunity to engage your subscribers and drive conversions. A recent study shows that 67% of all emails are now opened on mobile devices. In order to grab the attention of the modern day consumer, it is imperative to tailor your emails for smaller screens and scrolling fingers. Check out these key tips to ensure your emails are optimized for mobile viewers. </p>



<h3>1. Short Subject Lines</h3>



<p>47% of email recipients decide whether to open an email based on the subject line alone. If the subject is too long, it can get cut off on a mobile screen and disrupt the opportunity to connect with your reader. A mobile device only shows 25-30 characters of an email subject line, so it is imperative to be concise with your wording. </p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/short-subject-lines-gmail-email-1024x853-1024x853.png" alt="" class="wp-image-212365" width="613" height="510"/></figure></div>



<h3>2. Single Column Layout</h3>



<p>On a mobile device, multiple columns in an email often look too busy and can be confusing for the reader. Using a single column template will simplify your design and highlight your important content. It also makes the email easily scrollable, keeping your call-to-action in direct line of sight.</p>



<h3>3. One Clear Call to Action</h3>



<p>Emails that contain a single call to action (CTA) can increase clicks 371% and conversions 1,617%. To receive the maximum amount of clicks on a mobile device, it is important to keep a CTA to 2-4 words, use a higher contrast button color, place CTA towards the top of the email, and size the button to at least 44 x 44 pixels. </p>



<h3>4. Concise Copy</h3>



<p>Too much copy in an email can be overwhelming and boring to look at, especially on a mobile device. Use bulleted lists and short paragraphs to create easily scannable content for the reader. It is also important to increase the size the text to avoid people needing to zoom in to read the information. </p>



<h3>5. Space to Click</h3>



<p>Mobile screens get crowded quickly. If you stack links and CTA’s too close together without leaving enough space around them, recipients can accidentally click the wrong link. To keep this from happening, make sure to leave plenty of room to click, keep links to a minimum, and avoid stacking them. </p>



<h3> </h3>



<p></p>

5 Quick Tips for Mobile-Friendly Email Campaigns

<p>The holiday season from November to the end of December is the most lucrative time of year for retailers. Is your business ready for the shopping frenzy? With the holidays quickly approaching, now is the time to formulate your marketing strategies to attract customers and generate those sales! Check out these marketing tips below to see how your business can maximize its sales during the holiday season.</p>



<h3>Make Your Cyber 5 Strategy Part of a Bigger Game Plan</h3>



<p>Those extremely important shopping days from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday are referred to as the "Cyber 5". A common misconception is to get your ad campaigns up and running just in time for Black Friday. While it is crucial to recognize the Cyber 5 as huge shopping days, implementing a more comprehensive advertising approach will result in a more consistent and effective campaign. In 2018, marketers devoted 19% of their search budgets to Cyber 5 spending, but those days make up for just 9% of holiday shopping. This year, more businesses are looking to adopt a strategy that encompasses the Cyber 5 as well as the whole extended holiday season. This results in catching the attention of both the October early-bird shoppers and the last minute shoppers.</p>



<h3>Optimize for Mobile Use</h3>



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<p>A growing number of consumers are visiting websites from mobile devices. <br> Your business must be optimized for mobile use if you want customers to find your store and stay to shop. A responsive web design is crucial for grabbing the attention of consumers and will result in greater engagement and higher sales numbers. The National Retail Federation projects 105 billion in online sales this holiday season with an estimated 127 million shoppers predicted to shop on Cyber Monday. Of these Cyber Monday shoppers, 25 million said they would specifically use their mobile devices for purchases. </p>



<h3>Take Advantage of In-Channel Buying </h3>



<p>Consumers are more connected than ever before. A recent study found that 64% of customers are using multiple channels to complete a single transaction. This translates to many touchpoint across numerous different platforms. In 2018, holiday traffic to digital sites from social media channels grew by 22% year over year. This year, even more shoppers are expected to be buying in-channel. This means that retailers should be ready to push their brand where the consumers already are, such as social media platforms. </p>



<h3>Royal Highnies' Holiday Success </h3>



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<p>Royal Highnies is a growing luxury loungewear and undergarment retailer. From boxer shorts to lounge pants, to tee shirts and more, Royal Highnies provides ultimate comfort for the whole family.</p>



<p>During the 2017 holiday season, Royal Highnies wanted to boost its online advertising in order to attract more consumers to the brand. This is where Spectruss came in. Our team worked with Royal Highnies to implement digital marketing strategies that would result in a huge ROI. </p>



<p>First, we conducted detailed market research to identify a specific target market for Royal Hignies. Based off this audience, we did rigorous keyword research to ensure their brand would be seen by the right consumers.</p>



<p>Once we defined a specific customer base, we developed a digital marketing plan that included creative email campaigns, shopping ad campaigns, display ads, social media ad campaigns and fresh graphics.</p>



<p>This campaign utilized new approaches and creative materials designed specifically to reach Royal Highnies' target market. The end result? Royal Highnies saw a 25% increase in online sales and a 10% increase in wholesale sales.</p>

Boost Your Sales During the Holiday Season

<p>We’ve all seen the headlines, and some of us have already felt it. A recession is looming. The R word can send chills down a business owner’s, and even employees’, spine. Luckily, there’s good news. We know how to beat a recession. On top of that, we know how to make your company beat your competitors in a recession. Here’s how:<br></p>



<p></p>



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<p></p>



<p>First, a company should see a recession as an opportunity to beat your competition, not to run and hide. For instance, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut took advantage of McDonald’s choosing to drop their advertising budget during the 1990-91 recession. The result was Pizza Hut growing 61%, Taco Bell 40% and McDonald’s declined 28%. Pretty astonishing numbers, right!?<br></p>



<p>Second, a recession is a great time to trim the extra fat and lower your recurring overhead. Payroll is the largest recurring line item cost for each business, and if things slow down during a recession, you could be stuck with an uncomfortable amount of payroll. At the same time, those large agencies that you have been using for your campaigns and technical aspects of marketing, charge huge numbers based on their large overhead. This is where smaller, more nimble agencies, such as Spectruss, have an upper hand. Not only do we thrive in the digital realm, but we also have all of the capabilities in-house to act as your entire marketing department. This lowers your costs, and allows you to easily scale up or down with us, even on a month-to-month basis.&nbsp;<br></p>



<p>Third, have a team that is constantly watching the data. There will be a lot of opportunity that will open up during a recession, including areas of advertising with less saturation, lower costs per click, and adjusted sales pitches that really resonate. Having the ability to track all of this data, monitor it daily and adjust in real time will produce the largest return on your investment.&nbsp;<br></p>



<p>Attacking advertising and marketing with a digital first approach has helped Spectruss grow over the last 8+ years. We have grown to bring all technical aspects of marketing and advertising in-house, thus strengthening the client’s brand identity and lowering their overall cost. We can either act as your out-of-house marketing department taking lead from your in-house CMO, or even help you build strategy as your Virtual CMO. In short, Spectruss makes your business recession proof.&nbsp;<br></p>



<p>Give us a shout today to setup a free consultation with Founder Sam Silvey.&nbsp;<br></p>

Recession Proof Your Business

<p>In a fast paced, digitally-run world, it is becoming increasingly harder to grab the attention of consumers. If brands want to stand out in this highly competitive market, they must get creative with their messaging and their marketing strategies. Customers are looking for authenticity in a brand and one of the best ways to establish this is with user-generated content (UGC).</p>



<p>UGC is content related to a certain brand that is voluntarily produced by individuals with the potential to drive conversation and build engagement. If a customer has a great experience with your brand, they are inclined to share that experience with their peers. Word-of-mouth referrals are extremely profitable for businesses because it provides authentic information from previous customers, boosting brand credibility and recognition. </p>



<p>The power of user-generated content has proved to be so beneficial that brands are integrating this into their marketing campaigns.</p>



<p></p>



<h2>Share a Coke With…</h2>



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<p>When Coca Cola launched its “Share a Coke” campaign, people went crazy over the personalized bottles. Coca Cola changed its traditional label to  “Share a Coke with” followed by a name. This multi-national campaign, which used 250 of the country’s most popular names, aimed to have people find a coke bottle with their name on it and then share it with friends. </p>



<p>To keep the hype going, Coca Cola asked customers to share pictures of themselves enjoying a coke with their personalized bottles on social media. This lead to massive amounts of user generated content, raising awareness and increasing user engagement with the brand. This massively successful campaign resulted in Coca Cola’s customers stepping into the role of  advertiser.</p>



<p></p>



<h2>The Royal Wedding</h2>



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<p>We all remember the highly anticipated royal wedding of American TV star Meghan Markle and Prince Harry of England in 2018. The lavish royal weddings of the past have always been real affairs, but this time, things were a little different. </p>



<p>Along with sending traditional reporters, the BBC news channel also sent 50 people from the general public to watch the wedding and share their experiences on social media. This built a connection with the public by providing them with a way to view the wedding through the eyes of every day people. <br></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2019-07-18-at-13.21.42-1024x632-1024x632.png" alt="" class="wp-image-212344" width="630" height="388"/></figure></div>



<p>The individual stories shared from these 50 viewers were a form of user-generated content. The BBC news used this strategy as a way to attract more viewers and engagement from the public. </p>



<p>People trust the opinions of peers which is why it is so important for brands to incorporate UGC. The more trust and transparency a brand can establish with its customers, the stronger the brand will become. </p>



<p></p>

What is UGC and Why are Brands Using it?

<p>What can a full-service all in-house advertising agency do for your business? The opportunities are endless, but you may have some questions. What services do we offer and which ones are best for your brand? And how much does it cost? Well, our services aren’t a one size fits all. We customize pricing for each client based on their specific business needs. At Spectruss, we love to learn everything we can about your company so we can develop the best plan of action for you!</p>



<p>Over the past 10+ years, our team at Spectruss has studied everything from video creation to web programming to become experts on how each aspect can benefit and grow a company. Our agency offers a vCMO service which encompasses all aspects of web programing, graphic design, videography, photography, content writing, advertising, digital marketing, and social media management. The vCMO package comes in four different levels including: entry level, silver, gold, and platinum. Each level provides more hours of service with a lower cost per hour. </p>



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<p>Not sure if you are ready for a vCMO package? We also offer a la carte services which means you can take advantage of individual tasks such as branding, website design, etc. The best way to know what you can get for your budget and what services are ideal for your company is to give us a call! In fact, we are extending an offer to you to schedule a FREE 30 minute strategy consultation with the founder and CEO of Spectruss, Sam Silvey!</p>



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Free Strategy Consultation with Our CEO

<p>Month-to-month means no long term commitment. We all know the painstaking process of signing to a year long commitment. If things don’t go right, you still have to finish out the contract. We give the freedom and ability to go month-to-month with our vCMO service and give you the peace of mind to cancel at any time. But, we are sure that’s not going to happen, because you’re going to love our services!</p>



<p>We offer four different vCMO levels: entry level, silver, gold, and platinum. Each level provides more hours of service with a lower cost per hour. That’s the beauty of having no long term commitment. You can change the level of work you may need each month!</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/All-in-house-3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-212332"/></figure></div>



<p>So what exactly is vCMO? Well, vCMO or virtual Chief Marketing Officer, is a service we provide that covers all strategic marketing for your business. Our team of professionals strategize the best ways to maximize your company’s growth and then implement those methods to provide the largest ROI for your business. Within our vCMO service, we provide all aspects of web programing, graphic design, videography, photography, content writing, advertising, digital marketing, and social media management. And if your company already has a Chief Marketing Officer? Great! We will work along side them to assist with any and all outsourcing needs. Since we do everything in-house, we provide strong brand consistency and high quality results.</p>



<p>We realize not everyone is ready to sign a contract, which is why we are excited to offer our month-to-month vCMO services to demonstrate the work we can do to grow your company. Ultimately, our goal is to establish a long lasting relationship with our clients. When you grow, we grow too! We are confident in what we do and we know that when you experience our work for your company, you’ll want to stay with us!</p>



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Spectruss Now Offers Month-to-Month vCMO

<ul><li>How does Spectruss work with their clients?&nbsp;</li><li>What is the preferred method to work with a full service agency?&nbsp;</li><li>What is the best way to hire an agency?&nbsp;</li><li>How do you pay for advertising and marketing agencies?&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p>We get asked these sort of questions a lot, and we know, it can get very confusing. Over the last 10+ years, we have narrowed down the ways we work with clients to three main options.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Before we dive into these options and why we chose them, let me explain an important piece of the puzzle. Most agencies out there are specialist, meaning they focus on one area of advertising or marketing. While this seems like a good idea to those companies looking to outsource a few areas, we have seen it cause major problems in brand identity, leading to a decrease in ROI.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>That said, Spectruss has set out to change the marketing and advertising industry by providing everything in house. This comes as no easy task, but our founder Sam Silvey is stubborn and believes in his mission of building the strongest brands in the world. Having everything in house not only strengthens brand consistency and identity, it also lowers the overall cost of labor for the client, thus providing a stronger ROI.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Now, on to those three ways that we work with our clients ;)</p>



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<p>Our preferred method of working with clients is referred to as the Virtual CMO. Basically,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;it’s a retainer package that rewards our clients with lower cost per hour as they commit to more hours per month. Our goal with the Virtual CMO package is to build a mutually beneficial relationship with our clients, acting as an extension of their marketing department. We not only provide all of the technical aspects of programming, videography, photography, design, content writing and digital advertising, we also act as consultants to help brain storm and build cutting edge campaigns and high-level marketing strategy. And don’t let the name confuse you, we have no dreams of eliminating the valuable position of Chief Marketing Officer, our goal is cultivate relationships, including not biting the hand that feeds you :)</p>



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<p>Many new clients come to us with individual tasks that they’d like us to do. We call these a la carte services. Typically we see clients coming to us to build their new e-commerce site, help manage their digital advertising, send out monthly email campaigns, or manage social media accounts. We are always more than happy to bid on these a la carte services, but please know, at Spectruss we get really psyched on building complex strategies that provide the largest ROI for our clients. The feeling we get when we see our strategy pay off for our clients is like a drug to us. Again, we are more than happy to start small with any client, but we love the opportunity to grow as you grow.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>Finally... we arrive at campaign based projects! This is the Mad Man approach to advertising, working on a percentage of your total advertising budget for the year. You’ve heard some people refer to this as the Agency of Record, but we avoid that work like the plague due to it’s recently obtained negative connotation. In short, we will work with companies who have already identified their total advertising budget for the year, or for an individual campaign, and take a percentage of the total budget to build and execute said campaign. The one monumental thing that we do different at Spectruss as opposed to the typical Agency of Record model, is we have everything in house. If you have questions about what I mean, <a href="https://spectruss.wistia.com/medias/ak3h1unfvs">check out this video where I cover the flaws in the Agency of Record.&nbsp;</a></p>



<p><script src="https://fast.wistia.com/embed/medias/ak3h1unfvs.jsonp" async></script><script src="https://fast.wistia.com/assets/external/E-v1.js" async></script><div class="wistia_responsive_padding" style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><div class="wistia_responsive_wrapper" style="height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;"><div class="wistia_embed wistia_async_ak3h1unfvs videoFoam=true" style="height:100%;position:relative;width:100%"><div class="wistia_swatch" style="height:100%;left:0;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0;transition:opacity 200ms;width:100%;"><img src="https://fast.wistia.com/embed/medias/ak3h1unfvs/swatch" style="filter:blur(5px);height:100%;object-fit:contain;width:100%;" alt="" aria-hidden="true" onload="this.parentNode.style.opacity=1;" /></div></div></div></div></p>



<p>So there you have it, the three ways that Spectruss works with their clients. To recap, we offer the Virtual CMO Package, A La Carte Services, and Campaign Based Projects. I imagine the last question you have is “how much does it cost?” So, I’ll give you a hint, it’s not free... But seriously, all of our quotes are custom for our clients, but a typical range is from $5,000 / month to $100k+ / month. And yes, we take Amex ;)</p>



<p>I’m sure you are ready to sign on the dotted line, but not so quick! Before we get started, let’s setup a free 30 minute strategy consultation and discovery session so we can learn more about you and your business! All you got to do is fill out the form below and we will give you a shout immediately to set up a chat.&nbsp;</p>



<p></p>



<p>Awesome! We look forward to chatting with you, and ultimately, helping you build a faster, stronger, better business!</p>

3 Ways of Working with Spectruss

<p>What does that mean exactly? Glad you asked. We are an advertising agency that has everything you need right here in the same office. In the office, we have a web programmer for all your website needs. Behind our programmer is our project manager who handles all lines of communication from the client to team in the office. Our creative director is on the other side of the room creating any and all design work. The social media and advertising manager work closely in creating the best strategic plan for each client. Our photo and video director handles on-location shoots, campaigns, commercials and more. Our full-service, in-house team works together to create a seamless work environment on every project.</p>



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<h4>WHY THIS IS YOUR BEST OPTION</h4>



<p>When companies start to outsource their web design, videographer, etc. the brand starts getting confusing. Each outsourced service doesn’t understand the concept of your brand and many times the brand image gets lost. We pride ourselves in working together as a team to create a brand consistency that will leave a lasting impression on your audience. </p>



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<h4>A WORD FROM THE OFFICE</h4>



<p>We asked our social media manager what was her favorite part about having an all in-house agency. Her response was, “Whenever I need content to post, I simply ask one of our graphic designers to create a unique design. If I need video or photo content, I just ask our photographer/videographer for some new content. Being able to collaborate with everyone in the office makes each project go smoothly!"</p>

FULL-SERVICE, ALL IN-HOUSE AD AGENCY

<p>Every company starts off with just an idea. Imagine an idea that can be brought to life surpassing your wildest dreams. That’s how Spectruss treats every design project. We are passionate about creating beautiful designs that proudly reveal your brand to the world! </p>



<p>Our in-house creative director, Justin Aragon, has a Bachelors degree in Architecture from the University of Tennessee. His background in architecture has helped shape his career as a designer. Our creative director says, “My architectural training and knowledge of the classics have helped me identify and incorporate the qualities of timeless design to every project.”</p>



<p>Our design team keeps your brand cutting edge, memorable, and consistent across all mediums. From classic, to modern, graphic heavy, to a more minimalistic approach, the Spectruss design team works in every style to ensure a brand aligns with your company. Whether you’re needing a logo, graphic work, branding voice, web design, or all the above, the creative minds at Spectruss can't wait to take your idea and turn it into a beautiful, timeless brand. </p>



<p>Here's just a few of the designs we've created. Love what you see? Let's talk!  </p>



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/brewski1-2.jpg" alt="" data-id="212291" data-link="https://cms.spectruss.com/bring-your-brand-to-life/brewski1-2/" class="wp-image-212291"/></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/woke.jpg" alt="" data-id="212292" data-link="https://cms.spectruss.com/bring-your-brand-to-life/woke/" class="wp-image-212292"/></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/jonesy.jpg" alt="" data-id="212293" data-link="https://cms.spectruss.com/bring-your-brand-to-life/jonesy/" class="wp-image-212293"/></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/design4-2.jpg" alt="" data-id="212294" data-link="https://cms.spectruss.com/bring-your-brand-to-life/design4-2/" class="wp-image-212294"/></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/onion.bottom-1.jpg" alt="" data-id="212295" data-link="https://cms.spectruss.com/bring-your-brand-to-life/onion-bottom-1/" class="wp-image-212295"/></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/kyte.jpg" alt="" data-id="212296" data-link="https://cms.spectruss.com/bring-your-brand-to-life/kyte/" class="wp-image-212296"/></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/Monty_Insta1-1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" data-id="212297" data-link="https://cms.spectruss.com/bring-your-brand-to-life/monty_insta1-1/" class="wp-image-212297"/></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/IPA_logo-3-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" data-id="212298" data-link="https://cms.spectruss.com/bring-your-brand-to-life/ipa_logo-3/" class="wp-image-212298"/></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/southside-3.jpg" alt="" data-id="212302" data-link="https://cms.spectruss.com/bring-your-brand-to-life/southside-3/" class="wp-image-212302"/></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/Sturm-Purple-1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" data-id="212303" data-link="https://cms.spectruss.com/bring-your-brand-to-life/sturm-purple-1/" class="wp-image-212303"/></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/design6-1.jpg" alt="" data-id="212304" data-link="https://cms.spectruss.com/bring-your-brand-to-life/design6-1/" class="wp-image-212304"/></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/summit.jpg" alt="" data-id="212305" data-link="https://cms.spectruss.com/bring-your-brand-to-life/summit/" class="wp-image-212305"/></figure></li></ul>

Bring Your Brand to Life

<h4>Chattanooga advertising agency uses strategic digital marketing to help Sturm Cosmetic Surgery experience growth by five times in a single month</h4>



<p><strong>Chattanooga, TN- August 9th, 2019-</strong> Spectruss, a full-service advertising agency based in the Chattanooga, TN area, initiated strategic planning and progressive advertising management to increase growth for Sturm Cosmetic Surgery by 380% from June to July. Incorporating research-based digital marketing strategies has been the foundation for building a strong and growing customer base for Sturm Cosmetic Surgery, located in Ames, Iowa.  </p>



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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>“Reaching a specific target audience is a key component to Sturm Cosmetic Surgery’s incredible growth,” says Preslie Gifford, Advertising Manager at Spectruss. “In order to market to a focused demographic, it is essential to make sure display ads are seen by the right people. I focus on utilizing Google Ads due to the fact that research indicates potential cosmetic patients search ‘the best of the best’ near their location. This means people in the Ames, IA surrounding area who are searching anything related to cosmetic procedures will see Sturm Cosmetic Surgery at the top of the google search list. Social media advertising isn’t far behind in ranking. The key to social is combining fun, informative and promotional content.”</p></blockquote>



<p>With consumer research, competitive analysis, and audience segmentation, Spectruss has built a strong brand identity for Sturm Cosmetic Surgery that has produced significant results. Spectruss used digital strategies to drive more traffic to Sturm’s website which in return, drove traffic to the office. Sturm Cosmetic Surgery experienced double the amount of website traffic in the month of July compared to the month of June.</p>



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<p>ABOUT SPECTRUSS <br> Spectruss is a full-service advertising agency based out of Chattanooga, TN that specializes in marketing solutions utilizing custom website development, brand identity, videography and photography, digital marketing, e-commerce, paid media, public relations, review management, and data analysis. Their mission is to build long-lasting relations, living on the cutting edge of technology, advertising, and marketing to provide an unrivaled return on investment for clients. <br> For more information about Spectruss, its clients, and services, visit https:// spectruss.com. </p>

Spectruss Provides Exponential Growth for Cosmetic Surgeon

The success of a company depends heavily on the way you market your business. Specialized marketing efforts are crucial for creating brand consistency and business growth. In order to take your company to the next level, you must hire a marketing expert; however, in-house marketing directors or chief marketing officers require an expensive salary while still needing to outsource additional services such as videography, programming, design, etc.

What if you could partner with a whole team of dedicated marketing experts who deliver strategic marketing to reach your business goals, without the premium salary? Enter the Virtual CMO.
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<h3>So what is a Virtual CMO?</h3>
A Virtual CMO (vCMO) covers all strategic marketing for your business. It’s an outsourced team of &nbsp;professionals who work together to lower your customer acquisition cost while freeing up your valuable time. VCMO reduces overhead, relieves the pain of 3rd management, and strengthens your brand identity.
<blockquote>“Every business needs a strong and consistent brand identity, whether B2B or B2C. To accomplish this, you must tackle every area of advertising and marketing. Not only is this expensive for a business to do, it's also a lot of 3rd party management, which allows for inconsistency in brand identity.” - Sam Silvey, CEO at Spectruss.</blockquote>
<h3>VCMO Services Include:</h3>
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<h2>Benefits of a Virtual CMO</h2>
<h3>Cost Efficiency</h3>
One of the biggest benefits of hiring a vCMO is that your business is saving a huge amount of money! A virtual CMO is providing companies with estimated savings between 30-70%. This is because an average Chief Marketing Officer’s salary is $170k, not including additional costs of outsourced divisions. With a virtual CMO, an effective, outsourced team could cost less than a third of that expense.
<h3>High Quality Results</h3>
With a higher focus and consistency comes a higher quality output. An outsourced vCMO sees your business from an outside perspective which allows for unbiased, honest opinions about your company. Their network of marketing resources will allow them to analyze what works, what needs improvement, and clearly prioritize the problems needed to be solved for your business.
<h3>All in one Staffing Solution</h3>
A virtual CMO provides expertise across multiple disciplines. If your company launches a new product or service into a new marketing medium (digital media, social media, etc.), an in-house marketing director may not have the experience or skills to effectively execute to the public. When you hire an outsourced vCMO, you will have access to a broader range of expertise.
<h3>Consistency</h3>
Effective marketing requires consistency to establish brand recognition and positive customer experience. While business owners have every intention of driving their marketing efforts, something more pressing is bound to hit their desk becoming the new priority. An outside team’s priority will always be to provide marketing that delivers proven and measurable results while ensuring you make the right marketing decisions for your business.
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Virtual CMO is the Answer to Growing Your Business

<h2>Social Media Demographics</h2>
In order to maximize your brand’s social media presence, it is important to understand the demographics of different social platforms.&nbsp;You don’t want to waste time creating content on a platform where your target audience doesn’t have a large existence.
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Instagram</h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Facebook</h3>
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<h3>LinkedIn</h3>
<a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/new-social-media-demographics/"><img class="wp-image-211731 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screen-Shot-2019-06-18-at-2.22.27-PM-300x204.png" alt="" width="527" height="358"></a>
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<h3>Twitter</h3>
<a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/new-social-media-demographics/"><img class="wp-image-211732 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screen-Shot-2019-06-18-at-2.22.12-PM-300x203.png" alt="" width="553" height="374"></a>
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<h2>Social Media Engagement</h2>
It is important to note why consumers follow and unfollow brands. Paying attention to these indicators can help you improve your business profile and create more engaging content.
<h3>Why Consumers Follow Brands</h3>
<a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2019/41243/why-people-follow-and-unfollow-brands-on-social-media"><img class="wp-image-211729 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screen-Shot-2019-06-18-at-10.51.02-AM-300x227.png" alt="" width="553" height="419"></a>
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<h3>Why Consumers Unfollow Brands</h3>
<a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2019/41243/why-people-follow-and-unfollow-brands-on-social-media"><img class="wp-image-211730 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screen-Shot-2019-06-18-at-11.02.13-AM-300x188.png" alt="" width="581" height="364"></a>
<h2>Build a Strong Profile</h2>
<h3>Strategy</h3>
Building a social media strategy for your business is extremely important. It will help you to pinpoint who you are as a brand and give you direction on content to post. Take the time to identify your target audience to ensure you are utilizing the best platform to reach your consumers.
<h3>Theme</h3>
Using a theme helps boost your presence by creating a visually appealing profile and adding an overall uniformed look. Theming your account is especially effective on Instagram. Using similar filters, imagery and color schemes helps set a mood that reflects your brand to your followers.
<h3>Visuals</h3>
Use strong visuals on your social media accounts by integrating high quality pictures and videos. Posting eye-catching visuals is a great way to attract a bigger following. Think outside the box with your images such as utilizing puzzle feeds or grid images on instagram.
<h3>Captions</h3>
Be informative, get creative and use humor. Captions are an important part of your social media posts because they can drastically increase engagement. Asking questions in your captions encourages your followers to comment responses on your post. When a post receives a certain amount of engagement, Instagram’s algorithm actually boosts that post so more users are likely to see it.
<h3>Content</h3>
Mix up your content and keep it interesting. Utilizing Instagram/Facebook Stories is a great way to add something different to your profile while also reaching a large audience. Over 500 million instagram users engage in instagram stories every single day. Utilizing live stories is another great way to draw in your audience. Since your followers are notified when you start a live video, its a great way to increase engagement with consumers.

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Tips to Strengthen Your Brand's Social Media Presence

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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Chattanooga-based marketing agency introduces the all-new Kyte Life CBD brand to the market with custom branding and innovative design</h2>
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Chattanooga, TN- March 29th, 2019- Spectruss, a full-service creative agency based in the Chattanooga, TN area, introduces Kyte Life, a premium line of 100% organic, full spectrum CBD products. With months of market research, Spectruss identified the best avenue to release a CBD line to successfully target consumers. Spectruss integrated this research to build a custom e-commerce platform to propel Kyte Life to the forefront of the health and wellness industry. Kyte Life will be sold direct to consumer at its website www.kyte.life.
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<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kyte_Tincture.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-211712 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kyte_Tincture-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="327" height="327" /></a></p>


The Spectruss team incorporated thoughtful marketing strategies and design techniques to create a memorable and distinct visual identity for Kyte Life. Choosing a catchy name and unique color scheme that would stand out against its competitors was a crucial step to integrate into both the packaging and website design for Kyte Life. The creative experts at Spectruss ensured that Kyte Life’s packaging provided a memorable presentation to attract consumers to the product. Spectruss successfully communicated consistent branding style throughout the design of Kyte Life’s e- commerce website.
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“We are excited to introduce Kyte Life and offer a broad selection of premium CBD products online! Through detailed brand development, we have secured a strong visibility for Kyte Life to reach consumers across the nation.”

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Kyte Life launched several products including CBD Tincture, Salve, Soft Gels, and Vape Pen and Cartridge Kit. Infused with subtle delicious flavors, each product undergoes quality manufacturing to ensure it is void of any harsh chemicals or metals. Kyte Life’s CBD products are always 100% organic, THC free and Gluten free.
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In addition to brand development, Spectruss integrated event sponsorship opportunities so Kyte could stand out against the competition. This provided face to face contact with consumers and paved the way for generating direct contact with Kyte’s target audience.
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kyte-Life-at-Mint-400-Race.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-211710" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kyte-Life-at-Mint-400-Race-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="336" height="336" /></a></p>


Moving forward, Spectruss will continue to help Kyte Life create compelling content, secure brand influencers and select strategic partners for growing its direct to consumer customer base. Spectruss is also helping with the setup of the Kyte Life Foundation, including the selection of beneficiaries.

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Spectruss Launches CBD Product Line, Kyte Life

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Chattanooga marketing agency expands design team by providing new internship opportunity</h2>
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<b>Chattanooga, TN- May 31st, 2019</b>- Spectruss, a full-service creative agency based in the Chattanooga, TN area, is excited to welcome a new graphic design intern, Bruno Benna, to the team. Spectruss is pleased to provide an internship opportunity that will provide substantial design experience by working directly with the creative director. The creative team at Spectruss prides themselves in providing excellent visual design for clients in order to dramatically set them apart from competitors.

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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/bruno-1.jpg"><img class="wp-image-211698 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/bruno-1-240x300.jpg" alt="" width="272" height="339"></a></p>
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Bruno Benna, originally from Dallas, TX, moved to Collegedale, TN four years ago to attend college as a graphic design student. Currently a senior at Southern Adventist University, Bruno will be graduating in December of this year. Having a background as Public Relations Director and Creative Director for his university’s Yearbook has helped shape his perspective as a graphic artist. As a designer, Bruno tries to derive his inspiration and influence from pop culture and current design trends. Practicing Animation and motion design is his current obsession.

“If there was one concrete word to describe my work, it would’ve been easier to just scrap this whole introduction and just slap a bold san serif above one of my photos and called it a night,” said Benna.

Growing up I would always get in trouble for scribbling on walls, books, furniture and literally anything that my short arms could reach. I loved making art and building my own board games. When he’s not behind a computer screen designing, you will most likely find him jamming out to Ariana Grande, scrolling on Instagram for Corgi videos, or playing the switch.

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<p style="text-align: center;">###</p>
ABOUT SPECTRUSS

Spectruss is a full-service creative agency based out of Chattanooga, TN that specializes in marketing solutions utilizing custom website development, brand identity, videography and photography, digital marketing, e-commerce, paid media, public relations, review management, and data analysis. Their mission is to build long-lasting relations, living on the cutting edge of technology, advertising, and marketing to provide an unrivaled return on investment for clients.

For more information about Spectruss, its clients, and services, visit https:// spectruss.com.

The Spectruss Creative Team Welcomes New Design Intern

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At Spectruss, we know that obtaining a strong online presence is crucial for growing a business. Since its founding, we have worked alongside Sturm Cosmetic Surgery to create a custom designed website to reach a targeted audience. By integrating thoughtful design and strategic marketing strategies, we have established and grown Sturm Cosmetic Surgery’s online visibility over multiple different channels.
<h2>Brand Identity</h2>
Portraying your brand through storytelling is vital for captivating the interest of your consumers. Our creative team developed a compelling core message for Sturm Cosmetic Surgery to feel “Beautifully You” by articulating precise copywriting content for the website. Creating informative content with special attention to style and tone brought the inspiring brand voice to life.
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<h2>Graphic Design</h2>
Excellent visual design is a crucial element that sets a business apart from its competitors. Our creative team was eager to build a beautiful platform for Sturm Cosmetic Surgery that would readily attract customers. We thoughtfully created a logo, color scheme, and graphics to portray the company’s brand image. Our team also edited and retouched all gallery photos to ensure a uniformed look was achieved.

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<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Screen-Shot-2019-05-09-at-4.09.03-PM.png"><img class="wp-image-211675 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Screen-Shot-2019-05-09-at-4.09.03-PM-300x178.png" alt="" width="718" height="426"></a>

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<h2>Responsive Website Design</h2>
To achieve a seamless website experience, our team integrated responsive design which allows easy navigation between different screen sizes. Designing a mobile- friendly site for Sturm Cosmetic Surgery was an important step to ensure patients could easily view hours, upcoming events, and find directions.

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<h2>Search Engine Optimization</h2>
<p class="column">One of the most important steps you can do for a new business is to maximize its online traffic visits through search engine optimization. In order to stand out against competitors, our team optimized Sturm Cosmetic Surgery’s website to obtain a high- ranking placement in the search results, leading to increased visibility and more website clicks.</p>

<h2>Paid Advertising Management</h2>
<p class="column">Paid advertising is an excellent way to increase business growth by driving traffic towards multiple different online platforms. By utilizing search engines such as Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster, and Google my Business, our team achieved excellent growth results in less than two months.</p>

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<p style="text-align: left;">Goal Conversion Rate: 2.38%</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Site Visits: 1.1k</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Discovery:</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">36%leads came from Paid Search</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">28%leads came from organic search</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">20%leads came from social</p>
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<h2>Social Media Management</h2>
Social media is an effective platform for your business to gain exposure and build customer relationships. Our team managed Facebook and Instagram platforms for Sturm Cosmetic Surgery to ensure informative and up-to-date content was used to portray services, products, and upcoming events. In less than two months, we saw significant growth and built a social community for the business.
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Facebook:</h3>
<p style="text-align: left;">-270 fans</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">-1.2k engagements</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">-2.6k page content clicks</p>

<h3 style="text-align: left;">Instagram:</h3>
<p style="text-align: left;">-147 followers</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">-1.3k engagements</p>

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Spectruss Designs Custom Branding and Builds Online Visibility for Recognized Cosmetic Surgeon

With the virtual world constantly changing, the channels a business chooses to reach its potential customers is becoming increasingly important. Utilizing the ability to grab users' interest with your brand even away from your site is essential for increasing online traffic.

The automated push notification is an optimal channel in the post-GDPR era, allowing growing e-commerce brands to "push" communications to target users. Email and SMS are platforms that have been used for years, but today, the trend is shifting towards push notifications. Automated push notifications have shown to have a significantly higher user engagement in comparison to both email and SMS.

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<a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2019/40830/automated-push-notifications-are-the-new-secret-weapon-of-e-commerce"><img class="wp-image-211664 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Screen-Shot-2019-05-03-at-11.54.35-AM-300x300.png" alt="" width="485" height="485"></a>

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<a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/chirp/2019/40630/push-notifications-vs-sms-vs-email-a-comparison-infographic"><img class="wp-image-211662 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Screen-Shot-2019-05-02-at-12.26.29-PM-300x196.png" alt="" width="687" height="449"></a>

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<h3>High Click Through Rate</h3>
Eye-catching and difficult to ignore, automated push notifications prove to have a high click through rate. As soon as the notification appears on the user’s screen, there is usually an immediate click response. In contrast, emails have a tendency to get lost in a spam folder and left unopened. A recent <a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/chirp/2019/40630/push-notifications-vs-sms-vs-email-a-comparison-infographic">study</a> shows that push notifications have a significantly higher click through rate of 7x more than emails and a retention rate of 93% with segmentation.
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<h3>One Click Subscription</h3>
Opting-in to push notifications is as simple as one click. When the notification appears on the screen, the visitor selects “allow” which then immediately adds the user to the subscriber list. This is an effective and simplified way for a business to target their audience. <a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2019/40830/automated-push-notifications-are-the-new-secret-weapon-of-e-commerce">Studies</a> have found that automated push notifications have an opt-in rate of around 5-15% compared with 2% for email newsletters. Because of the opt-in/opt-in option, users have more control of the content they are receiving which results in the alerts being of higher value to the consumer.
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<h3>Significant Engagement</h3>
Rethinking the platforms used to engage with your potential customers is essential. Along with a higher opt-in rate, <a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2019/40830/automated-push-notifications-are-the-new-secret-weapon-of-e-commerce">push notification</a> also receives an average engagement rate of 21%, whereas the average email click-through rate is only 3% percent.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2019/40830/automated-push-notifications-are-the-new-secret-weapon-of-e-commerce">Studies</a> also show that the average person only spends a total of 20 minutes checking their email each day, with an average of 6.4 hours before an email notification is opened. This highly contrasts with the average 16 hours a day that a smartphone is turned on or the time a person is online. Users who opt in to push notifications are much more likely to see your business’s push notifications on their device. <a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2019/40830/automated-push-notifications-are-the-new-secret-weapon-of-e-commerce">Visitors</a> are also 88% more likely to engage with your brand because of push notifications compared with other channels.

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How Push Notifications Can Increase Online User Engagement 

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<h2>Chattanooga-based creative agency builds visibility for celebrated whiskey distillery through custom website development</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/spectruss-provides-local-distillery-chattanooga-whiskey-with-a-platform-for-continued-growth/chatt/" rel="attachment wp-att-211639"><img class="size-full wp-image-211639 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Chatt.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="700"></a>

Chattanooga, TN-April 17th, 2019- Spectruss, a full-service creative agency based in the Chattanooga, TN area, launches a new website for widely-recognized whiskey distillery, Chattanooga Whiskey. The development of the new site, chattanoogawhiskey.com, created a seamless website navigation experience built to drive consumer interaction and showcase the whiskey brand.

With the modern consumer becoming increasingly tech-savvy, providing an error-free online experience has become more important than ever. By integrating several key development processes, Spectruss has successfully built an effective website to provide Chattanooga Whiskey with a strong online presence.

To ensure a positive customer online interaction, Spectruss has utilized responsive design which uses flexible layouts to detect a visitor’s screen size and orientation. This allows for the website to seamlessly adapt to the visitor’s layout accordingly, which results in efficient user experience.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/spectruss-provides-local-distillery-chattanooga-whiskey-with-a-platform-for-continued-growth/responsive-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-211640"><img class="wp-image-211640 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/RESPONSIVE.png" alt="" width="560" height="973"></a>

Spectruss gave Chattanooga Whiskey the ability to easily edit and update its website content at any time. This was achieved by building on top of a content management system, which simplifies the web programming languages to provide easy content management.

Performing search engine optimization was a critical step for increasing the online visibility of Chattanooga Whiskey. Obtaining a high-ranking placement in the search results is critical for standing out against competitors and increasing website traffic.
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ABOUT SPECTRUSS
Spectruss is a full-service creative agency based out of Chattanooga, TN that specializes in marketing solutions utilizing custom website development, brand identity, videography and photography, digital marketing, e-commerce, paid media, public relations, review management, and data analysis. Their mission is to build long-lasting relations, living on the cutting edge of technology, advertising, and marketing to provide an unrivaled return on investment for clients.

For more information about Spectruss services, visit <a href="https://spectruss.com/services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://spectruss.com/services/</a>

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Spectruss Provides Chattanooga Whiskey with a Custom Platform for Continued Growth

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<h2>10 Ways Businesses Can Improve Their Social Media Presence</h2>
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<h2>1. Resize!!!</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re reusing an image with the same dimensions across all of your social networks then you’re doing it wrong. More than likely, one of those images will be chilling awkwardly alone and distorted. As marketers, we all know how important it is to effectively convey your brand’s image in a professional and consistent manner. So, always be aware of each social networks optimal image sizes and think about how your content will show up in people’s streams. Or How will it look on mobile compared to a desktop? </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Below is a list of social media image sizes sheet from reachconvertgrow.com:</span>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/improve-your-social-media-page-in-less-than-one-hour/sd3fvz/" rel="attachment wp-att-211629"><img class="size-full wp-image-211629 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/sD3FvZ.png" alt="" width="1000" height="7424"></a>
<h2>2. Consistent Profile Picture on Every Network</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Your profile picture is a strong element of your online presence. It’s important to maintain the same identity across multiple platforms so you stay top-of-mind. This not only ensures consistent branding but also helps make it easier for people to recognize you when they see your profile image on each of the different social media platforms. If you use different photos and logos you’ll dilute your brand’s visual identity and recognizability.</span>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/improve-your-social-media-page-in-less-than-one-hour/logo/" rel="attachment wp-att-211630"><img class="size-full wp-image-211630 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/logo.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="1000"></a>
<h2>3. Consistent Handles as Well</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">As mentioned above, appearing consistently increases brand recognition. Same for handles. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">By having a strong and consistent handle: </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-It creates a memorable handle for your business. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Makes your company easier to find online</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Makes printed marketing materials cleaner. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-And most importantly- it shows professionalism. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Namechk is a great resource that allows you to check to see which are available and will even help you claim all the handles.</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other things to consider when choosing your social media handles</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">-If it’s for a personal brand, try @firstnamelastname.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-If it’s for another company, use the same as your domain if possible.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Keep in mind that there is a limit of characters on Twitter. If you want your handle to be the same on all platforms, it needs to be 15 characters or less.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Avoid using numbers in your handles (@mycompany1) makes you look like you’re unoriginal.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Avoid underscores! They’re so easy to forget or mistype.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Don’t abbreviate or misspell your name – it makes it difficult to remember.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Keep it short! The longer the username, the harder it is to remember or write.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-If your first choice has been taken, add gravitas such as “HQ” or “I am”.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-You can also try prefixing it with friendly terms like “hello”, “this is”, “we are” or “we make”.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-If your account is being used for things such as customer service, you can add “ask” or “help”.</span>

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<h2>4. Untag the Bad</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Photos tagging is great for interacting with more followers if used right. But if you’re tagging inappropriate photos or posts, you’ll look like an amateur, instead of a pro. You might face legal woes too.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">So… two approaches to make sure you’re using tags best:</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">1 ) Check your photo tag settings</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Make sure your settings align with your social media policy.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">For your networks you can do some of the following:</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-See where you’ve been tagged</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-See who can see your tagged photos and posts</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Approve photos you’ve been tagged in before they appear</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Remove tags from unwanted photos and posts</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Restrict who can tag you in photos</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Check each network for what’s available for your strategy.</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Review tags regularly</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Create a routine to check and review the posts you’re tagged in. Then untag yourself from any bad photos or inappropriate posts.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">You might ask... why not just shut down tagging?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Because:</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-It’s like hearing your name called out from the crowd</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Tags elicit a response from others</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-You can jump into pertinent conversations</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-You’ll show up in more places</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Tags exist for those reasons, so don’t cut yourself or brand off from being seen more.</span>

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<h2>5. Be Discoverable in a Search</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Use the right keywords in your profile to be discovered for your business, industry, or niche. When people do web searches, you want your brand logo to show up above the fold. It’s easy (and fast) to add the right words to your social profile.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are a couple of ways:</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Identify the right keywords</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Find out what people search for most when looking for professionals in your space. Look at industry trends or related phrases. Keyword tools like SEMrush and Google Keyword Planner will help identify the right words and terms.</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Use those keywords</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Update your social media profiles with the words and phrases identified above. For example, brands cab update their Instagram bios to link promotions and advertise their hashtags. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">For: LinkedIn job title, description, experience, and skills sections. Do the same kind of thing for all your social accounts. In your bio, for photos, interests and more.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Don’t just stuff a list of keywords into these sections.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Work them in naturally, like how you talk. The search engine gods will reward and rank you higher. So you’ll show up, not down, the results page.</span>

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<h2>6. Fill in Every Field</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">While you’re adding keywords to your profile, make sure all the fields are filled in. Why?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">So readers won’t perceive you as unprofessional and lazy. This adds credibility and a new level of connection you can build with people who are learning about you for the first time. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">You should also ensure that you provide the right and helpful information while filling the bio. These include details about your business, such as your address, phone number, website, hours, other social media links, background story, mission statement, etc. when possible. By doing this you will be able to attract more people because they will know that you can provide the solutions that they need. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Also, check this over time. Social networks remove, add, and update fields.</span>

&nbsp;
<h2>7. Cross Promote</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Don’t get this confused with cross-posting, two totally different things. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Cross Posting - the act of posting the same message across multiple social media channels (using tools like Buffer or Hootsuite) for a single piece of content.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Cross promoting - content promotion through the creation of unique messages for each social media channel. Takes a bit longer to execute than cross-posting, you'll likely have more success connecting with each platform's unique user base.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">While cross posting shows that a brand is out of touch and irrelevant - likely to be penalized by each social network's algorithm - cross promoting shows users that brands have made a genuine effort to meet them where they are at.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Cross Promotion Tips: </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Adapt each post so that it’s made appropriate for the network to which you’re posting on. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Include social posts in your weekly newsletter</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Get creative with links in your profile.&nbsp;</span>

&nbsp;
<h2>8. Test your links</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Always make sure your links work. Sounds basic, but typos happen more often than you think. It takes just a second or two to test them, so do it. Otherwise, you’ll look lame and confuse people. Or worse...not get those cross-promotion benefits.</span>

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<h2>9. Build social trust</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">How? By asking friendlies for reviews, endorsements, and recommendations. It shows other you’ve succeeded and readers trust that more than an ad.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">LinkedIn: Use LinkedIn’s endorsements section. People can click to endorse your skills. Even more powerful are LinkedIn recommendations. When you do ask for these (and you should) make it easier for them.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-What talents, abilities, &amp; characteristics describe me?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-What successes did we experience together?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-What I’m good at?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-What can be counted on?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Are there any other distinguishing features you think I possess?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-What was my impact on you?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-What was my impact on the company?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-How did I change what you do?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-What’s one thing you get with me that you can’t get anywhere else?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-What are five words that describe me?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Facebook: For Facebook pages, use their visitor post section. So people can highlight the good work you’ve done.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Twitter: For Twitter, pin positive tweets to the top of your stream. This allows you to control what visitors see when they first arrive.</span>

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<h2>10. Pin Best Content on the Top of Your Profile</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Unlike other posts, pinned one’s stay put. They are the first things people see when looking you up. Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter all support pinning. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This is your chance to showcase your best work, so choose wisely. Maybe try a key message, cool video, a new landing page, or hot offer?</span>

<em>Resource: Hootsuite</em>

Improve Your Social Media Page in Less Than One Hour

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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Local marketing agency experiences continued company growth and gains two new hires to their sales department</h2>
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<strong>Chattanooga, TN - April 8th, 2019</strong>- Spectruss, a full-service creative agency based in Chattanooga, TN, is growing their sales department with two additional account manager hires. Spectruss is excited to welcome Brandon Curtis and Preslie Gifford to the team. Spectruss values business development as a crucial part of engaging with current and future clients to build and maintain professional relationships.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">New Account Managers</h3>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Brandon-Headshot.jpg"><img class="alignnone  wp-image-211623" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Brandon-Headshot-240x300.jpg" alt="" width="272" height="340"></a></p>

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Brandon Curtis brings eight years of experience focused on growing businesses through relationship building and marketing solutions. Brandon is from Chattanooga, TN and studied Recording Arts at Middle Tennessee State University outside of Nashville, TN.
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After years of working in the studio and on tour with several bands, he decided he wanted to settle down and make a big career change. When it comes to marketing your business, he believes that there is no “one size fits all” solution.

When he is not working in the office, you can find Brandon watching old episodes of Shark Tank, hiking with his two dogs (both rescues of course), getting his hands dirty with various woodworking crafts or playing soccer with his son.

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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Preslie-Headshot.jpg"><img class="alignnone  wp-image-211624" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Preslie-Headshot-240x300.jpg" alt="" width="280" height="350"></a></p>

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Preslie Gifford is a soon to be graduate of Auburn University with a degree in public relations and marketing. While in college, she interned with the former legend Coach Pat Dye where she worked as a social media intern for the Coach Pat Dye Radio Show which aired on Auburn radio.

Her love for marketing started when her dad invented a hunting product called Hitch-N-Skeet. Trying to get Hitch-N-Skeet in stores, she reached out to major companies like Cabelas and Bass Pro Shops. It’s safe to say she’s pretty good at skeet shooting.

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In her free time, she is starting a hair and makeup business with her college roommate called Capre Beauty. So, most all of her weekends are spent beautifying women or traveling to new cities. She also loves meeting new people and trying new restaurants.

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<p style="text-align: center;">###</p>
ABOUT SPECTRUSS

Spectruss is a full-service creative agency based out of Chattanooga, TN that specializes in marketing solutions utilizing custom website development, brand identity, videography and photography, digital marketing, e-commerce, paid media, public relations, review management, and data analysis. Their mission is to build long-lasting relations, living on the cutting edge of technology, advertising, and marketing to provide an unrivaled return on investment for clients.

For more information about Spectruss, its clients, and services, visit https:// spectruss.com.

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Spectruss Continues to Grow with Recent Hires

With the drastic expansion of e-commerce, brick and mortar businesses have taken an obvious shift towards online retail. The increase in e-commerce shopping has transformed the way marketers must strategize.

<a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/ecommerce-marketing">E-Commerce</a> marketing is the act of driving awareness and action toward a business that sells its product or service electronically. E-Commerce marketers can use social media, digital content, search engines, and email campaigns to attract visitors and facilitate purchases online.

.<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-29-at-9.32.56-AM.png"><img class="wp-image-211609 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-29-at-9.32.56-AM-300x199.png" alt="" width="424" height="281"></a><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-29-at-9.32.56-AM.png">
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<h2>E-Commerce is Becoming the Mainstream<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></h2>
E-commerce has made the shopping experience instantly available to consumers. <a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2019/40839/four-things-marketers-should-learn-from-e-commerce">Studies</a> have found that Millennials today make over 54% of their purchases online.&nbsp;Another recent <a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2019/40839/four-things-marketers-should-learn-from-e-commerce">study</a> found that in the United States alone, over 17 million online transactions occurred on Amazon within just two days during the annual Prime Day event. In China, Singles Day shopping in 2018 shattered the previous year's record, making $30.8 billion in one day, which is a 27% increase year over year.

As e-commerce continuously grows, it’s important that businesses utilize online shopping as part of their business strategy. With the switch to online shopping, businesses have the ability to track and measure the digital footprint left by consumers. <span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>Collecting and examining this data helps marketers to determine the best future strategies.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-29-at-9.33.31-AM.png"><img class="wp-image-211610 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-29-at-9.33.31-AM-300x201.png" alt="" width="415" height="278"></a>

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<h2>The Entire Customer Experience is What Matters</h2>
When it comes to tracking online shopping trends, marketers can get hung up on individual metrics such as shopping cart abandonment or bounce rates. While it is important to track individual metrics in order to increase numbers, potential customers can drop out of the buying process at any point in time. It is crucial for marketing professionals to study the entire part of the customer transaction in order to pinpoint what areas of the website may need improvement.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Examining the conversion rate of each individual point of a customer’s online interaction will help marketers locate metrics for the customer’s entire experience.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

In order to analyze the impact on conversion rates, it is important to initiate tactics like A/B tests and quality assurance. This will help marketers to discover at what point in the buying process are they losing the interest of the consumer. Gathering feedback from the customer will also help with determining possible adjustments to the online shopping experience. A great example of collecting this information is by using online surveys to ask consumers why they did not want to proceed with the purchasing process.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

<a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2019/40839/four-things-marketers-should-learn-from-e-commerce">Nathalie Torres</a>, the data director of Inamoto &amp; Co, explains that "decades ago, brands were judged on product alone. Today, brands are being judged by the entire customer experience—and it takes smart design thinking to get this right.”

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-29-at-9.33.57-AM.png"><img class="wp-image-211611 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-29-at-9.33.57-AM-300x197.png" alt="" width="457" height="300"></a>

E-Commerce is Fundamentally Changing the Way Marketers Think

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to communicate with your audiences. It’s important that your email stands out to your subscribers and speak a clear and interesting message. An effective design can grab the attention of your reader and increases the chance for them to read your content. </span></p>

<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Intelligent Design</b></span></h2>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> Intelligent design within emails refers to the combination of design with technology.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>This allows your subscribers to interact within their emails. Creating embedded surveys within an email allows readers to interact within their inbox, without getting redirect to another page.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/analysis-banking-business-1451448.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-211599" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/analysis-banking-business-1451448-300x243.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="243"></a></p>
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<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Typography</b></span></h2>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> Integrating creative and original typography into your email will help it to stand out. Using different fonts will also bring different parts of the email to life. Branding ideas use different typography to highlight certain offers within an email to capture the reader's attention and lead them to make a purchase.</span></p>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/email-marketing-design-trends-to-help-reach-a-larger-audience/achievement-break-business-688668/" rel="attachment wp-att-211592"><img class="alignnone wp-image-211592" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/achievement-break-business-688668.jpg" alt="" width="626" height="391"></a>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Videos</b></span></h2>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Based on a recent <a href="https://www.campaignmonitor.com/resources/guides/video-in-email/">study</a>, e</span><span class="s1">mbedding videos in an email is the latest trend that has proved to increase the email open rate by 19% and the click-through rate by more than 50%.&nbsp;</span><span class="s1">Also, including video content within an email is an interesting way to communicate your message to the reader.&nbsp;</span><span class="s1">Videos grab the attention of the audience while also easily getting your point across. </span><span class="s1">Viewers are more drawn to video content rather than reading through text. A video clip also saves time for the reader and the sender by explaining a concept or product in a quick and interesting way. Including videos in emails is an effective marketing trend that has proven success.</span></p>

<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>AMP Powered Emails</b></span></h2>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) allows the viewer to stay within an email rather than being redirected to a new web page. Last year, Gmail (Source) announced the addition of interactive emails powered by AMP. AMP powered emails allow information to be updated in real-time, which means that an email can always stay up to date with its content. This is a valuable marketing trend that will drastically change email effectiveness. </span></p>

<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Visuals</b></span></h2>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> Visuals have gone to the next level. The new trend is creating 3D images. Using tools such as Adobe Dimensions CC helps designers to create innovate images with a realistic look. This content wows the reader and brings a who new design perspective to the email that your subscribers will love.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p1"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-22-at-11.03.21-AM.png"><img class="wp-image-211595 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-22-at-11.03.21-AM-189x300.png" alt="" width="249" height="395"></a></p>
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Email Marketing Design Trends to Help Reach a Larger Audience

<h2>Spectruss competes in AFF of Chattanooga's American Advertising Awards, the largest and most representative competition in the advertising industry, and lands a Silver ADDY Award and a National Client</h2>
Last night, the American Advertising Federation of Chattanooga hosted its annual American Advertising Awards at The Edney from 6:30 om - 8 pm. Individuals of the local advertising and media community came out to celebrate the best of online/interactive, film/video &amp; sound, print, cross-platform and out-of-home.

At the Gala, 12 Gold, 23 Silver, and 21 Bronze were awarded to a wide range of local advertising agencies, in-house marketing departments, and freelancers that participated. Entries were judged based on creativity, originality, and creative strategy. A panel of four judges from across the nation reviewed and scored the work.

Spectruss was awarded a Silver ADDY Award for their work on their "Randy the Safe Guy" viral video that received over a million global views. The video was distributed through YouTube and Facebook and featured on Reddit, Digg, Info Wars, and thebigshow.com.

The award-winning video was created for Liberty Safes of Chattanooga, a client of Spectruss. The goal was to create a strong, rough around the edge video to promote the business online while overcoming Facebook's ban on the sale and promotion of guns and accessories. As a result, the Spectruss team created an entertaining commercial featuring “Randy the Safe Guy” and devised a clever way to get around the ban – censor any mention of the word “gun.”

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1lxdso8mro[/embed]

Soon after the viral success, Liberty Safe's National Company reached out to Spectruss to produce similar campaign commercials for their nationwide networks.

The American Advertising Awards is a three-tiered advertising creative competition with the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition for creative excellence. Entry in the local Ad Club competition is the first step towards winning a national ADDY. At the second tier, local ADDY winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions. District ADDY winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards.

So... stay tuned on Randy the Safe Guy and Spectruss's adventure towards fame!

Spectruss Wins 2018-2019 American Advertising Federation of Chattanooga ADDY Award

<h2>After months of preparation, rebuilding the Spectruss RZR and the long 2,000-mile journey to Las Vegas, the results are in from the brutal test out in the dessert from last Sunday’s Mint 400.</h2>
Sam started just after 6:45 a.m.,&nbsp; 59th on the grid. After 3 nearly sleepless nights, Sam and his crew had the car running perfectly. After lap 1, Sam and his co-driver, Cory Wilson, pitted and replaced the left rear drive axle, due to a malfunction.

After an underpowered first lap due to drive train issues on the left side, Sam started lap 2 at around 9:35 a.m. At around mile marker 33, Sam entered a rough part of terrain which sent the car airborne, bucking the car sideways and rolling it over at around 60 mph.

Sam and Cory and the Spectruss&nbsp;Team completed around 130 miles of the mint 400 before an official DNF (did not finish) was declared at around 10 a.m.

Watch the full action below.

[video width="640" height="358" mp4="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/55365629_258733801726578_5506181132777326571_n-1.mp4"][/video]

When in Doubt, Flat Out- Spectruss Racing Results

<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1"><i>A Chattanooga-based marketing agency takes their talents off-road</i></span></h2>
&nbsp;
<h2 class="p1"><a href="https://spectruss.com/spectruss-is-competing-in-the-largest-off-road-race-in-the-u-s/spectrussracing_logo/" rel="attachment wp-att-211566"><img class="wp-image-211566 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/SpectrussRacing_Logo.jpg" alt="" width="469" height="151"></a></h2>
&nbsp;
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Chattanooga, TN - March 5th, 2019</b>- Spectruss, a full-service marketing agency based in the Chattanooga, TN area, is competing in the most celebrated, prestigious, and challenging off-road race in the United States, the Mint 400, in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 10th at 6 a.m. Spectruss is only one of the three teams competing in the race east of the Mississippi.</span></p>
&nbsp;

<a href="https://spectruss.com/spectruss-is-competing-in-the-largest-off-road-race-in-the-u-s/_dsc9954/" rel="attachment wp-att-211567"><img class="wp-image-211567 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC9954.jpg" alt="" width="615" height="410"></a>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Known as “The Great American Off-Road Race”, this annual four-hundred-mile marathon between the top off-road racers in the world includes over five hundred and fifty race teams in twenty-four different classes of off-road vehicles. The four-wheel racing with the Pro UTV Classes and more&nbsp;limited race vehicles will be held Sunday, March 10 at 6 a.m., with pre-race festivities beginning earlier in the week on Fremont Street East in downtown Las Vegas. Click <a href="https://spectruss.com/racing/"><span class="s2">here</span></a> to view the full schedule. The world famous Mint 400 has always attracted celebrities and racers from around the globe. This year Formula One Champion Jenson Button, NASCAR Racer Casey Mears, and two-time UFC Champion Cain Velasquez will all join the field of racers. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We’re very excited to embark on this all-new adventure in racing and to showcase who Spectruss is to all these outdoor enthusiasts. Spectruss is all about new challenges, but this is a big one. I couldn’t be more excited,” said Sam Silvey, President of Spectruss.</span></p>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/spectruss-is-competing-in-the-largest-off-road-race-in-the-u-s/_dsc9936/" rel="attachment wp-att-211565"><img class="wp-image-211565 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC9936.jpg" alt="" width="386" height="579"></a>

&nbsp;
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">When the racing gets underway, the event will be live streamed online here, <a href="http://themint400.com/live/">http://themint400.com/live/</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>and will later air on national TV. Last year 250 thousand viewers tuned in for the live stream and the event amassed over 300 million impressions on social media. This year they expect those numbers to grow and ABC will air the event on TV, reaching 80 million homes nationwide.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">For more information, go to <a href="http://spectruss.com/racing"><span class="s2">spectruss.com/racing</span></a>. </span></p>
<p class="p5" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">###</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">ABOUT SPECTRUSS</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2">Spectruss is a full-service creative agency based out of Chattanooga, TN area that specializes in brand identity, web design, paid media, e-commerce, videography/photography, digital marketing, public relations, and more. It has distinguished itself by creating beautiful and cutting edge work, fueled by market research and data analysis, that produces a guaranteed return for their customers. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2">For more information about Spectruss, its clients, and services, visit <a href="https://spectruss.com/"><span class="s1">https://spectruss.com</span></a>.</span></p>

Spectruss is Competing in the Largest Off-Road Race in the U.S.

<h2>Fascinating Instagram Facts to Build Brand Presence and Grow Your Prospective Customer Base</h2>
&nbsp;

We all know Instagram has become a major game changer for consumers and businesses globally. As Facebook refocuses on connecting people with content from family and friends, Instagram has become "the new home for brands," where engagement is high, followers are brand-loyal, and real business goals can be achieved. Below are a few interesting facts your e-commerce brand needs to know in order to advantage of the platforms' exploding popularity as an ad channel.

&nbsp;
<h2>Instagram at a glance</h2>
&nbsp;

The platform has more than 1 billion active monthly users.

More than 500 million people use Instagram daily.

400 million people use Instagram Stories daily.

Instagram has 58 times more engagement per follower than Facebook.

An average user spends 53 minutes on Instagram daily.

50.7% of Instagram users worldwide are female, while 49.3% are male.

61% of Instagram users are 18 to 34 years old.

&nbsp;
<h2>Instagram for business</h2>
&nbsp;

More than 200 million Instagram users visit at least one business profile daily.

75% of users reportedly visited a website or made a purchase after seeing an Instagram ad

60% of people say they've discovered a new product on Instagram

50% of Instagram users follow at least one business

Top brands post 4.9 times per week on Instagram

Wednesdays are the most expensive days to run Instagram Ads.

(www.marketingprofs.com)

&nbsp;
<h2>Advertising Dos and Dont's</h2>
&nbsp;
<h3>DO tag people in your posts</h3>
Tagging can be useful if you partner with other businesses or influencers and want to get more brand exposure through reposting or mentioning. In fact, posts that mention users see up to 56% more engagement that posts that don't. You can use up to 30 tags on a post, but 9 is ideal.
<h3>DO tag locations in your posts</h3>
Selecting the right Instagram location for your content can play a pivotal role in helping you extend your reach. Instagram has slowly made their location feature more and more powerful and now posts with a location tag have 79% higher engagement than post without.
<h3>DO use photos with faces</h3>
People like people and a study conducted at Georgia Tech confirmed this statement is true for Instagram posts as well.&nbsp;They analyzed 1.1 million randomly-selected Instagram photos with faces detection software and found that those with faces receive 38% more likes.
<h3>DO feature products</h3>
Research from Gartner L2 found that Instagram users clearly enjoy seeing photos of products, with 65% of top-performing brand posts featuring a product of some kind. However, this doesn't mean you should consistently post tons of product photos. It's best to use to 80/20 rule which means roughly 20% of your content&nbsp;should be promotional and 80% should provide value for your audience as educational or entertainment.
<h3>DON'T forget your hashtags</h3>
Did you know that posts with at least one hashtag get 12.6% more engagement than those without? Hashtags are key to securing more exposure—without them, only your followers will see what you post. You can use up to 30 tags on a post, but 5–10 is ideal—including your brand name. It’s also better to post hashtags in the first comment of your post, rather than the caption, so the text looks neat and clutter-free.
<h3>DON'T underestimate the power of a great caption</h3>
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Instagram’s algorithm tends to boost posts that receive the most likes or comments—so when it comes to prospects seeing your posts, a good caption could make all the difference. Captions can be as long as 2,200 characters and should entice users with relevant and valuable information that complements the visuals. You should also use CTAs in your captions to drive engagement—particularly those with action- focused language like “Use,” “Start,” and “Get,” for example.

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<h3>DON'T post at random times</h3>
Thanks to Sprout Social's decision to round up all the studies they could find on when to share content, marketers can now use their findings to figure out the best times to post to maximize engagement.

Everything Your E-Commerce Brand Needs to Know About Instagram

Augmented reality (AR) is technology that overlays digital information like images, sound, and text onto your view of the real world, creating an interactive experience. Early adopters have firmly established AR’s potential. Not only as a marketing channel but as a brand differentiator. It allows a new level of convenience, speed and can leave a lasting brand impression.&nbsp;Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, has said that AR will one day be as important in our everyday lives as "eating three meals a day." The question is, how can your marketing strategy effectively capture an audience's attention once AR has become commonplace?

But beware... Developing AR for the sake of having the "latest" technology will fail. Using AR to make your brand appear innovative can be viewed as forced. And, if AR is the overall marketing campaign, you're doing it very wrong.

In augmented reality marketing, the AR element must:

Provide a meaningful and branded interaction

Play an authentic role in the communications

Be a gateway to a new reality of brand engagement

There needs to be substance to the experience, beyond just focusing on the technology factor. To understand how to best integrate AR with your brand, think&nbsp;about how your audience will actually interact&nbsp;with it. You will need to go beyond the initial wow factor&nbsp;and create something&nbsp;functional.&nbsp; The augmented content must in some way enhance the physical world it is being superimposed into.

Let's take a look at AR Benefits:
<h2>Helps Customers Visualize the Product</h2>
From virtually trying on clothes to placing furniture, AR showcases products in a personalized environment. In 2015, Home Depot released their&nbsp;<a href="https://corporate.homedepot.com/newsroom/project-color-app-paint" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Project Color app</a>, which uses patent technology to show users what paint color will look like in their home. The AR technology takes into account lighting, objects, and shadows in the room, so you can see how that yellow shade will look in real life. In 2017, Home Depot took it a step further -- now, you can also&nbsp;<a href="https://virtualrealitytimes.com/2017/03/31/the-home-depot-app-augmented-reality/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">use their app</a>&nbsp;to check out how objects like patio furniture, faucets, and other products look in your home.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/elevate-your-brand-from-the-competition-with-interactive-and-engaging-experiences/homedepotar/" rel="attachment wp-att-211227"><img class="alignnone wp-image-211227" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/homedepotar.png" alt="" width="577" height="327"></a>
<h2>Attracts Customers to Your Store</h2>
Retailers have made in-store navigation easier and quicker for shoppers with a little help from AR. One example of such technology being put to use is in Lowe’s stores. The brand’s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lowesinnovationlabs.com/instorenavigation" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">In-Store Navigation app</a>&nbsp;(powered by Google Tango) uses AR technology to create a mobile experience that guides shoppers through the store. Shoppers create a shopping list, and the app identifies the quickest route possible to check off all the items.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4US6BO59YU[/embed]
<h2>Increases&nbsp;Customer Engagement</h2>
One study found that AR apps generate nearly twice the level of engagement from customers.

AMC Theatres, understanding their audience is most interested in upcoming movie trailers when they’re at the movies, incorporated AR technology into their AMC app. When a user sees a movie poster in a theatre, they can open the AMC app on their phone, scan the poster, and receive relevant information, including a cast list and a trailer. If they’re interested in the movie after scanning, they can also purchase a ticket immediately, within the app.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/elevate-your-brand-from-the-competition-with-interactive-and-engaging-experiences/dp_1002_amcstubs_digitalcard-fore/" rel="attachment wp-att-211228"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-211228" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/DP_1002_amcstubs_digitalcard-fore.png" alt="" width="1200" height="856"></a>

&nbsp;
<h2>Increases Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty</h2>
Fifty percent of customers say they're more likely to shop with a brand that offers AR, MR, or AI. Sephora introduced a “Sephora Virtual Artist” iOS app that allowed customers to experiment with makeup products, finding the right tones and shades that complemented their own face. Sephora’s use of augmented reality isn’t just helpful for users -- it also drives sales by appealing to Sephora’s more tech-savvy consumers and encouraging those consumers to become brand ambassadors by recording and sharing their augmented reality experiences online.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/elevate-your-brand-from-the-competition-with-interactive-and-engaging-experiences/sephoraar/" rel="attachment wp-att-211226"><img class="alignnone wp-image-211226" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/sephoraar.png" alt="" width="393" height="745"></a>
<h2>Boots Purchase Willingness</h2>
Forty percent of people would pay more for a product or service they could experience through AR. In their flagship store in Moscow, Topshop took a common shopping annoyance, long fitting room lines, and turned it into a genius marketing tool: a virtual fitting room. The AR Door used augmented reality to overlay Topshop dresses onto customers wishing to try them on. The AR Door was able to garner interest in Topshop’s new dress collection, converting window-shoppers into buyers.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=61&amp;v=L_cYKFdP1_0[/embed]
<h2>Attracts a Wider Audience</h2>
For the 51% of Americans who prefer online shopping, AR brings the store to users who aren't near a physical location.

Think about stadium seats, augmented reality enables you to both visualize and interact with a space -- two critical functions when choosing how much you’re willing to pay for a seat. For Super Bowl LII, StubHub introduced an AR feature on their mobile app that allowed ticket buyers to see a virtual 3D model of the U.S. Bank Stadium, as well as nearby parking garages and concession stands. This enabled potential buyers to visualize their full experience before purchasing and minimized the risk of paying for a subpar seat.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/elevate-your-brand-from-the-competition-with-interactive-and-engaging-experiences/samar-1-1024x538/" rel="attachment wp-att-211230"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-211230" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/SamAR-1-1024x538.png" alt="" width="1024" height="538"></a>

Elevate Your Brand From The Competition With Interactive and Engaging Experiences

&nbsp;
<h2>6 Smart Reasons Why Your Business Should Sponsor an Event</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/how-sponsoring-a-local-event-can-grow-your-business/lwff_socialadsnight/" rel="attachment wp-att-211233"><img class=" wp-image-211233 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWFF_SocialAdsNight.jpg" alt="" width="379" height="379"></a>

There are many unique ways to attract audiences, but businesses are overlooking some of the opportunities right in front of them. According to an infographic, sponsoring an event is one of the channels most businesses have yet to even try. Little do they know, event sponsorship (like a festival or charity event) is an extremely effective marketing tool to reach local audiences.

What does it mean to sponsor an event? Sponsors offer funding or products and services to support events, trade shows, nonprofit, or organizations. In exchange, you receive brand exposure and a chance to connect with new customers.

With six years of experience sponsoring a local event, Lookout Wild Film Festival, Spectruss found many benefits of event sponsorship within your local community.
<h2>Brand Awareness</h2>
As a sponsor, your brand is placed in front of large audiences who haven’t heard of your business. The bigger the event, the more press and social media mentions you get before, during, and after the event day. With many sponsorships, you get featured ads, signs, or media sports that boost brand recognition. Also, you can build local search visibility&nbsp;because SEO gets your website seen across the entire internet and targets an audience closer to home.
<h2><a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/chirp/2018/40265/going-hyper-local-how-sponsoring-an-event-can-grow-your-business-infographic">A</a>uthority in Your Field</h2>
We all know that public perception can make or break a company. Well, event sponsorships build credibility and authority around your business. Customers who attend will see your brand as reliable and trustworthy, ultimately leading to lead generation. One survey found that 74% of customers are more likely to buy a product of a brand they were exposed to via event marketing.
<h2>Direct Access to Your Target Market = Lead Generation</h2>
Events are known to generate a good number of quality leads. If you carefully chose the right event, your sponsorship will bring your target audience directly to you with highly interested customers. Event holders typically provide data about attendees in advance so you can do your research well and plan a strategy for meeting as many people as possible. By simply attending the event, you can learn about customers by engaging one on one, showcase your products, spur word-of-mouth promotions, and build a mailing list.
<h2>Content &amp; Social Media Marketing</h2>
Event sponsorships provide fresh material to expand your content strategy. By connecting with the event holder on social media, you can find relevant audiences to target. According to ESP, 98 percent of&nbsp;sponsors use social media to promote their involvement. Popular events get a lot of engagement, which you can use to create content themes.
Even better, event promotion doesn’t end with sponsors. The Event Marketing Institute reported that 98 percent of consumers create social content during events. When attendees share photos, quotes, videos, and blogs, you get exposure to much larger networks. User-generated content has a greater impact on customers, so make it easy for people to tag your business on social media.
<h2>Boost Sales</h2>
Beyond leads, consumer events allow you to rack up sales on the spot. Events attract people who are ready to buy, sorting our the "window-shoppers". If sales are your top priority, choose an event with high foot traffic and few direct competitors.&nbsp;For bigger events, you can often pay more for category exclusivity. That way, you don’t have to worry about selling the same products as another vendor. From 2016-2017, companies who used event marketing saw, on average a 22% lead decrease and a 14% sales increase.
<h2>ROI</h2>
Whether you plan to sell or not, events are about starting quality relationships. The goal is to leave with a list of leads to follow up on afterward. You don’t necessarily need to make a huge profit on event day, as long as you have a long-term way to leverage your investment.

How Sponsoring a Local Event Can Grow Your Business

<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">A Cinematic Celebration of The B</span><span class="s2">est Outdoor Adventure and Conservation Films From Around The World</span><span class="s1"> at “The Jewel of the South”</span></h2>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Lookout Wild Film Festival (LWFF), presented by Spectruss, is excited to host its 7th annual four-day film festival from January 24-27th at the Tivoli Theatre, “The Jewel of the South”, to celebrate “wild” places and the people they inspire alongside hundreds of other adventure enthusiasts from around the world. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">This one big movie marathon is a celebration of “wild” places throughout the world, of outdoor sports and the extremes that people will go to in order to experience Earth’s rugged, natural beauty, and the conservation efforts of our most precious resources.&nbsp;The judges received a record-breaking number of 138 hours of film submissions from 36 countries for this year’s event. After reviewing, the judges finally narrowed it down to 17 hours of film selections, each chronicling another filmmaker’s unique experience.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">In addition to the films, this year’s festival will feature virtual reality caving, live music, backstage yoga, a dinner with a lecture on wildness, a silent auction and an advocacy expo of area non-profit groups.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">"Our goal has always been to show films about wild places and the people they inspire. We had no idea that along the way we would inspire so many audience members to go explore and protect the wild places around us,” said Andy Johns, founder of the Lookout Wild Film Festival. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">This year, LWFF returns to Chattanooga for its 7th year with a new identity and theme from their lead sponsor, Spectruss, dedicated to going back to the roots of what the festival is all about, battling the elements, conquering fears and celebrating triumphs.</span><span class="s1"> Below are a few marketing materials the agency designed:&nbsp;</span></p>

<h3>Updated Logo</h3>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWFF_CIRCLELOGO.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-211195" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWFF_CIRCLELOGO-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300"></a>
<h3>Posters</h3>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWFF_2019_POSTERS3-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-211194" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWFF_2019_POSTERS3-2-194x300.jpg" alt="" width="194" height="300"></a> <a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWFF_2019_POSTERS2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-211193" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWFF_2019_POSTERS2-194x300.jpg" alt="" width="194" height="300"></a><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWFF_2019_POSTERS1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-211196" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWFF_2019_POSTERS1-194x300.jpg" alt="" width="194" height="300"></a>

&nbsp;
<h3>Billboards</h3>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWFF_BB_896x288.jpg"><img class="alignnone  wp-image-211197" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LWFF_BB_896x288-300x96.jpg" alt="" width="587" height="188"></a>
<h3>Stickers</h3>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/DSC8209.jpg"><img class="alignnone  wp-image-211198" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/DSC8209-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="409" height="409"></a>

<span class="s1">Due to the outstanding growth of the festival, this will be LWFF’s first year at the Tivoli Theatre, featuring a new movie screen that is that largest of its kind in North America. “At the heart of the festival, we’re just gathered together and telling stories. Because of partners like Spectruss, we’re able to share those stores to an even bigger audience in a fantastic venue,” said Johns.</span>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Below is the 2019 LWFF Schedule:</span></p>

<h3 class="p1"><span class="s2">Thursday, Jan. 24th</span></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Lobby doors: 6 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Theater doors: 6:30 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Films: 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. (15-min. Intermission) </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Feature Film: Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey <a href="http://dirtbagmovie.com/"><span class="s3">http://dirtbagmovie.com/</span></a></span></p>

<h3><span class="s2">Friday, Jan. 25th</span></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Lobby doors: 6 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Theater doors: 6:30 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Films: 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. (15-min. Intermission) </span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s4"> Feature Film: Confluence <a href="https://amymarquis.com/portfolio/confluence-official-trailer"><span class="s3">https://amymarquis.com/portfolio/confluence-official-trailer</span></a></span></p>

<h3><span class="s2">Saturday, Jan. 26th</span></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Backstage Yoga and Time-lapse Films: 1 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Advocacy Expo 1 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Lobby doors: 1 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Theater doors: 1:30 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Matinee Films: 2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (15-min. Intermission) </span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s4"> Feature Film: Bears of Durango <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bearsofdurango/"><span class="s3">https://www.facebook.com/bearsofdurango/</span></a></span></p>
<span class="s2">Rock/Creek Lecture Series and Dinner: 5:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.</span>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Lobby doors: 6 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Theater doors: 6:30 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Films: 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. (15-min. Intermission) </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> After party in Lobby: 10:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.</span></p>

<h3><span class="s2">Sunday, Jan. 27th</span></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Backstage Yoga and Time-lapse Films: 1 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Lobby doors: 1 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Theater doors: 1:30 p.m.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2"> Matinee Films: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.</span> <span class="s2">(15-min. Intermission)</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s4"> Feature Film: Bikes of Wrath <a href="http://bikesof-wrath.squarespace.com/"><span class="s3">http://bikesof-wrath.squarespace.com/</span></a></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2">Tickets can be purchased here, <a href="https://www.tivolichattanooga.com/events/725980/Lookout_Wild_Film_Festival_2019"><span class="s3">https://www.tivolichattanooga.com/events/725980/Lookout_Wild_Film_Festival_2019</span></a> for a $40 general admission weekend pass, $60 VIP weekend pass with exclusive lodge seating and souvenir item, or a $12.50 individual viewing block. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s2">Previously, with the help of Spectruss, LWFF has sold out shows in The Walker Theater with 3,600 attendees in 2018, making this event well known within the community.&nbsp;</span></p>

Lead Sponsor For This Year's Lookout Wild Film Festival From Jan. 24-27th

<h2>Artificial Intelligence</h2>
&nbsp;

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/AI-3.png"><img class="wp-image-211190 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/AI-3-300x169.png" alt="" width="604" height="341"></a>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Artificial Intelligence is any technology that seeks to mimic human intelligence, which covers a huge range of capabilities such as voice and image recognition, machine learning techniques and semantic search. It’s one of the biggest and most important trends in digital marketing today. AI can analyze consumer behavior and search patterns, utilizing data from social media platforms and blog posts to help businesses understand how users and customers find their products and services. Businesses adopting AI in 2019 will be able to save costs and accelerate growth, cutting an edge over their competitors.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">According to <a href="https://www.gartner.com/imagesrv/summits/docs/na/customer-360/C360_2011_brochure_FINAL.pdf">Gartner</a>, 30% of companies worldwide will be using AI in at least one of their sales processes by 2020. </span>

How it will change marketing:
<h3>1. A more educated marketing process</h3>
The growth of AI in the marketing world will allow for more truly data-driven campaigns, where AI will allow data to be more properly used and integrated into each ad campaign.
<h3>2. A more personalized marketing process</h3>
More than ever before, AI will allow marketers to reach consumers at every stage of the process based on their interests and demographics. One example of this is by making it easier to put customers into distinct groups that will allow for added segmentation to highly&nbsp;targeted niches.

For a content standpoint, AI will be better to track what type of content consumers are most interested in, allowing a website to be "curated" for each individual user.
<h3>3. A broader focus</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Rather than spending a significant amount of time sifting through data to come up with a strategy, marketers will spend more time applying what has been learned from the data, allowing the most creative marketers to get ahead rather than simply those who are best at crunching data.</span>

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<h2>Voice Search</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/VS.png"><img class="wp-image-211186 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/VS-300x169.png" alt="" width="607" height="341"></a>

<em>"Hey, Siri, where is the closest CVS?"</em>

Almost one-third of the 3.5 billion searches performed on Google every day are voice searches, with personal assistant devices leading the way (TheeDesign, 2017). More and more people use Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant every day. As their capacity for recognizing human speech has improved significantly, they can be incredibly helpful in both searchings for information on the Web and doing things around the house.

50% of all searches will be voice searches by the year 2020
20% of mobile queries on Google are voice searches
25% of all Bing searches are voice searches

Tip: Remember to write in a conversational tone and think about keywords that people will speak rather than type. Optimize this content into your website by incorporating questions and phrases into your blog posts or social media posts. The best way to start building this natural language is by writing an FAQ section and answer all of those questions. Think of all the questions your customers ask on the phone or email and note the phrases you hear over and over again.

&nbsp;
<h2>There is More Than One Reality- AR &amp; VR</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/AR.png"><img class="wp-image-211185 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/AR-300x169.png" alt="" width="605" height="339"></a>

Today’s user wants basically two things: to be engaged and to be an active participant in the brand’s messaging. Augmented and Virtual Realities (AR and VR) can fulfill both of these needs, offering brands tremendous opportunities in the field of customer experience.

Businesses are already embracing the power of this new technology in creating brand awareness, as well as in selling individual products. IKEA, for example, has been using VR gaming technology since 2016. With its shopping app, IKEA VR Experience, its customers’ can try out different IKEA solutions before buying them. Other big players that have experimented with AR include Nivea, Starbucks, and Volkswagen.

Virtual and Augmented Realities are becoming increasingly commonplace as a marketing tool for brands. The VR and AR market is supposed to be worth 27 billion dollars. It is expected that in only four years, it will reach the size of 209.2billion dollars (Statista).

Tip: VR and AR marketing are still emerging, so it’s a great time to explore your options and get ahead of the curve. It will assist many verticals in displaying what the client can expect from granite countertops to plastic surgery. An example would be&nbsp; VR and AR could allow consumers to get a 360-degree view of a product before actually purchasing it.

&nbsp;
<h2>Social Media</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/stories.jpg"><img class="wp-image-211184 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/stories-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="625" height="352"></a>

There are 3.196 billion global social media users, which equates to 42% market penetration (We are Social). With numbers like that, its significance to the society cannot be ignored — especially in the marketing world.
<h3>Influencer marketing</h3>
In today’s world, where social media is ubiquitous, people tend to gravitate toward experiences that are authentic and real. And potential customers are more likely to believe a real person over an advertisement about how good a certain product or brand is. This is where influencers come in.

When planning campaigns, consider hiring a micro-influencer to improve the quality of your outreach with more niche audiences. Unlike well-known or celebrity influencers, micro-influencers have smaller, highly engaged social media audiences. They are more affordable for brands, are viewed as more trustworthy by consumers, and often drive better results.

Tip: One of the easiest ways to find micro-influencers is through a hashtag search on Twitter or Instagram.
<h3>Social media stories</h3>
According to consulting firm Block Party, Stories—the vertical, disappearing videos invented by Snapchat—are now growing 15 times faster than feed-based sharing. An estimated four out of five major brands are already on Stories. If you aren’t creating Stories, it’s time to start. Stories can be as easy to create as you choose, so there’s a low barrier to entry for any team’s skill set. Share content weekly (and at different times of day) to see what works best with your audiences.

Facebook’s own chief product officer Chris Cox shared a chart showing that Stories are set to surpass feeds as the primary way people share things with their friends within the next year. And nearly a billion users across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat already turn to Stories to share.

Tip: Shoot your videos vertically. That’s how people watch them.
<h3>Tap your team’s full creative resources</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Stories work best when they integrate video, storytelling, text, images, and more. Expecting a single social media specialist to integrate all these skills is a tall order. Instead, find ways for your video, photography, and graphic design teams to join forces to create something memorable.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span>
<h3>Get creative with your Story structures</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Stories are easy to create and allow you to produce content quickly, so you should experiment with different structures to find what works best for your brand. For example, you can create tutorials showing people how to use your product, give a behind-the-scenes look at your company culture, host a takeover, or run a Q&amp;A on topics that interest your customers.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span>
<h3>Add UTMs to your links to track success</h3>
Business accounts with over 10,000 followers (or verified accounts) can add a “swipe up” feature to their Stories. This lets viewers follow a link to another website or landing page.

By adding UTMs to your Story URLs, you can track where users are going and get a better understanding of what content they like. If you don’t have access to the “swipe up” feature, add a link with a UTM code to your bio.
<h3>Get in early with Facebook Stories</h3>
So far, Facebook Stories (which appear on the network’s flagship platform) haven’t really caught on. But CEO Mark Zuckerberg wants to get Stories right on Facebook and is investing a lot in the format.

Currently, only around nine percent of major brands post to Facebook Stories, but companies that get in early may enjoy an early adopter advantage. Plus, it’s easy—the tap of a button lets you syndicate Stories straight from Instagram to Facebook.
<h3>Experiment with AR and custom GIFs in your Stories</h3>
Consider adding augmented reality features and GIFs to your storytelling. AR experiences and GIF stickers are now widely available as features of the Stories cameras on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Use GIFs to enhance your images, grab attention, and direct viewers’ attention to something like a call-to-action or “swipe-up.”

&nbsp;
<h2>Visual Search</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Untitled-design-3.png"><img class="wp-image-211183 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Untitled-design-3-300x169.png" alt="" width="616" height="346"></a>

While many have been focused on the marketing potential of capturing conversational queries thrown at personal assistants, big brands such as Google, Pinterest and Microsoft have been focused on developing a stronger competitor in interactive SEO: visual search.

Visual search can take the user experience to a totally new level. With visual search, users can upload an image to conduct a search and get more specific results

As 93% of consumers consider visuals to be the key deciding factor in a purchasing decision (Kissmetrics), visual search engines are bound to revolutionize the retail industry.

Marketers can get the edge on competitors by jumping on the visual search trend in 2019 to draw customers and serve them the perfect product.

Digital Marketing Trends You Can’t Ignore in 2019 and Tips From Our Experts

<h2 class="digg-story__title entry-title js--digg-story-title">Spectruss&nbsp;didn't let Facebook's ban on firearms stifle sales for a client</h2>
&nbsp;

The social media giant,&nbsp;Facebook, announced it was banning the sale of guns and ammunition on the site in 2016. Recently, it included ads for weapon&nbsp;modification accessories. An example of this would be gun safes, mounts, gun cases, and slings. Since Liberty Safes of Chattanooga is a client of Spectruss, this became a challenge to effectively promote the business online. But, with a little creativity and some fun, the team at Spectruss created an entertaining commercial featuring “Randy the Safe Guy” and devised a clever way to get around the ban – censor any mention of the word “gun.” It resulted in receiving over 1 million global views and was shared by big websites, like Reddit.

Check out the hilarious video below:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1lxdso8mro[/embed]
<h2><em>"It's </em>a safe<em> for all purposes — you can store anything in there, from your family heirlooms to your lunch."</em></h2>
&nbsp;
<h2>Info Wars</h2>
"The most brilliant gun safe ad ever."

https://www.infowars.com/watch-gun-safe-peddler-bypasses-facebook-censors-in-clever-ad/
<h2>Reddit</h2>
Reddit, an American social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website, picked up the commercial just six days ago with the caption, "I just stumbled across this gem while looking at safes." It's already received&nbsp;hundreds of engagements and 4.4K up likes.
<h2><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/aa0caq/i_just_stumbled_across_this_gem_while_looking_at/"><img class="alignnone wp-image-211143" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/4th-Ranked-Video-on-Reddit-With-4.4K-Up-Likes.-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="649" height="365"></a></h2>
&nbsp;
<h2>Digg</h2>
<em>Digg, </em>the homepage of the internet<em>,</em>&nbsp;named&nbsp;the commercial&nbsp;the&nbsp;"Most&nbsp;Brilliant Gun Safe Ad We've&nbsp;Ever Seen". The platform features the best articles, videos, and original content that the web is talking about right now. (<a href="https://digg.com/video/liberty-safe-ad">https://digg.com/video/liberty-safe-ad</a>)

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Digg.-copy.jpg"><img class="wp-image-211144" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Digg.-copy-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="645" height="363"></a>

&nbsp;
<h2>Facebook</h2>
On Facebook, its received a reach of over 300K, with only $600 spent on advertising.

<a href="https:/iframe%20src=https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLibertySafeChattanooga%2Fvideos%2F355366645027271%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560%20width=560%20height=315%20style=border:none;overflow:hidden%20scrolling=no%20frameborder=0%20allowTransparency=true%20allowFullScreen=true/iframe"><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLibertySafeChattanooga%2Fvideos%2F355366645027271%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></a>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Creating a Viral Video by Bypassing Facebook Censors

<h2>‘Tis the season of office holiday parties and cheers to making it a memorable one and not an embarrassing one</h2>
&nbsp;

Despite&nbsp;having the word “party” in the name, this is still a work event. However, we all know mixing booze, coworkers, and clients can be volatile. The night could go well or it could turn into a drunken disaster. You don't want to be "that guy or that girl" who people remember because of poor choices. So, here are a few survival tips to avoid humiliating yourself and not becoming “that” guy.
<h3>1. Eat beforehand</h3>
Your party will more than likely have food available for guests and you’re obviously allowed to eat some. But, you should still eat at least some before the party begins for many reasons. The first being you don’t want to be that “guy” who lingers around the food table and is too busy to mingle because he constantly stuffing his face with mini-sandwiches. The second being, if you plan on drinking, you’re putting yourself in a situation to become more intoxicated than you intended.

&nbsp;
<h3>2. Acknowledge the dress code</h3>
Whatever you choose, remember that this is still a business event and not a bros night out. You need to find out what the dress code is from your co-workers and dress appropriately. Not doing so can result in conversations behind your back about not getting the memo or you simply feeling uncomfortable. Showing up in an ugly Christmas sweater at a formal event won’t be considered funny or professional. In reality, it would be really creepy.
<h3>3. Show up</h3>
Whether you’ve been with the company for a while or you’re a newbie, a holiday party is a great way to build relationships with your co-workers and a great networking opportunity. To show that you’re committed to the company, make sure you show up for at least 30 minutes and introduce yourself. You don’t to that “guy” who never shows up at company events.
<h3>4. Know your drinking limits</h3>
You only get one first impression, so you need to prepare yourself ahead of time by setting guidelines, whether that's one or two drinks max. While indulging in more than a few drinks helps combat any shyness or nervousness, it's better to be introverted than to make a fool of yourself. Overall, you want to make a great impression so people will remember you.
<h3>5. Go beyond your usual circle</h3>
Company holiday parties are not just for employees, you'll also be seeing new faces, including clients or your colleagues' spouses and friends. It's easy to spend the party around the same people you spend most of your work time with. But, this is a great opportunity to make new connections and build relationships. Arrive at the party with a goal to speak to at least three new people. Make sure to ask open-ended questions as you chat so the conversation flows well and keep good eye-contact.
<h3>6. Be mindful of social media</h3>
Remember that social media is open to the public and you'll want to avoid posting photos of anyone who has had too much to drink. Even though they are dropping it low, it's a huge no-no to post anything negative about your company or its holiday party. In general, it's best to always stay positive and ask permission before posting photos on social media, especially if it's someone else.
<h3>7. Avoid talking work</h3>
Since this is an office event, it's obvious that some business-related conversations will come up, but this isn't the time to ask about new openings or eligibilities. This is supposed to be a party, not a company meeting.&nbsp;You'll end up annoying people who are there to just relax, which is also what you should be doing. It's important to avoid any gossiping about your coworkers, politics, religion, and so on as well. Things can get awkward real quick. If you're not sure what to talk about, try movies, Netflix series, weekend plans, pets, travel plans, and food.
<h3>8. Know when to leave</h3>
It might be a fun night, but don't make a nickname for yourself as the party animal by being the last one to leave. Learn to read the room and take your cue from the majority. If you note the is party slowing down, this might be a good time to make your exit.
<h3>9. Say goodbye and thank you</h3>
If you don't say your goodbyes, it will leave the wrong open-ended questions about why you snuck out. You also need to make a point of going up to the people who organized the party and thank them for doing a great job, whether you loved it or hated it. Expressing your gratitude about the party if a professional and polite way to acknowledge the time and money they put into the party.
<h3>10. Make it to work the next day</h3>
If you don't make it to work, everyone will know why you didn't show up...because you drank way too much. If you're not there, everyone will sit around and talk about your bad behavior the night twice as much. You're already in trouble, don't let it escalate.

&nbsp;

How to Survive Your Company’s Holiday Party From Start to Finish

<h2>'Tis the season for holiday festivities and cheers to everyone who made ours a successful one!</h2>
The team at Spectruss&nbsp;would like to give a very warm thank you to everyone who joined us for our holiday party on December 6th, 2018. As always, we had a wonderful time gathered together with teammates, clients,&nbsp;and friends to celebrate the merry and bright season.

Also, a special shout-out to Gallery 1401 for the amazing event venue and Rick Rushing &amp; the Blues Strangers for laying down some sick tunes!

Please tag or share with us any images you took at the event so we can post them on our website and social media pages! You can view all the event photos here,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1948899268551346&amp;type=1&amp;l=66ca07b653">https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1948899268551346&amp;type=1&amp;l=66ca07b653</a>.

Thank you and happy holidays from all of us at Spectruss!

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3545.jpg"><img class="wp-image-211104 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3545-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="609" height="405"></a>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3534.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-211106 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3534-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="393"></a>

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<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3573.jpg"><img class="wp-image-211110 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3573-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="633" height="422"></a>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3548.jpg"><img class="wp-image-211108 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_3548-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="596" height="397"></a>

The Spectruss Holiday Event

<h2 class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><i>A Chattanooga-based marketing agency continues to grow with business development hire</i></span></h2>
<p class="p1" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s1"><b>Chattanooga, TN - Dec. 5th, 2018</b>- Spectruss, a full-service marketing agency based in the Chattanooga, TN area, is excited to welcome James Knicely to the team as Account Manager to engage with current and future clients to build and maintain a consistent pipeline for Spectruss.</span></p>
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/120318Headshot_0004.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-211096 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/120318Headshot_0004-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="292" height="438"></a>
<p style="text-align: center;">LinkedIn Profile: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knicely-44736366/">James Knicely</a></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">James Knicely joins Spectruss with an extensive background working with large commercial accounts including Comcast, IKEA, NBC, and Marriott. During this time, James began to realize his passion for building relationships to help grow businesses. As the account manager, he will drive all aspects of business development and sales at Spectruss. Some of the responsibilities include developing new customer relationships, reviewing and responding to inbound leads, lead evaluation and qualification, engaging in outbound lead generation activities, and identifying business opportunities and performing targeted outreach. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">"I'm excited to be joining the team at Spectruss&nbsp;where I can exercise both my technical and relational sides in tandem to provide value and a unique perspective. It's a group of really talented people and it's a great opportunity to work with amazing companies as we help them grow their brands and businesses,” said James.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">James hails from Virginia, where he was born, raised, and educated at the University of Virginia with a Bachelor’s degree focused in International Relations and Affairs. He thrives in collaborative environments where he can work with teammates, customers, or partners to achieve common goals. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Together as a team at Spectruss, they provide clients with a full breadth of advertising and digital marketing services including video/photo production, brand identity, paid media, web development, e-commerce, PR, and specialized services in the form of a virtual CMO. The agency enables their clients to put their best foot forward in the market, so they can focus on their business, while Spectruss focuses on letting people know where to find them.</span></p>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/team.png"><img class=" wp-image-211098 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/team-300x169.png" alt="" width="561" height="316"></a>

When James is not in the office or meeting with customers, he can be found hiking the many trails around Chattanooga with his wife and dog, or on the field playing ultimate frisbee. He is a self-admitted beer snob but also is a firm believer that who you are sharing a drink with, matters more than what drink you are sharing. Whether it's personal or for business (or both!,) James enjoys connecting with people and building the Chattanooga community.

Seriously, shoot him an email (<a href="mailto:james@spectruss.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">james@spectruss.com</a>), and he'd love to grab a drink (beer, coffee, water, kombucha, whatever…).
<p class="p3" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">###</span></p>
<p class="p1"><a href="https://spectruss.com/"><span class="s2">ABOUT SPECTRUSS</span></a></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Spectruss is a full-service marketing agency based out of Chattanooga, TN that specializes in marketing solutions utilizing custom website development, brand identity, videography and photography, digital marketing, e-commerce, paid media, public relations, review management, and data analysis. Their mission is to build long-lasting relations, living on the cutting edge of technology, advertising, and marketing to provide an unrivaled return on investment for clients. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">For more information about Spectruss, its clients, and services, visit <a href="https://spectruss.com/"><span class="s2">https://spectruss.com</span></a>.</span></p>

Spectruss Welcomes a New Addition to the Team

<h2>Pop-up shops for digital-first brands create a clear definition of success and measurement</h2>
&nbsp;

Many retailers are hopping aboard the pop-up wagon. Pop-up shops offer the chance for your customers to get up close and personal with your products in a truly immersive setting. In addition to producing sales, you can also increase brand awareness and receive valuable feedback directly from your customers.

Consumers love the lure of exclusivity, and brands love the unmatched opportunity for experimentation of abstract concepts. Last month, Wayfair announced that it would open two temporary stores in empty shopping mall spaces over the holiday season. The temporary stores will test how offline customers interact with the brand, fine-tune its merchandising strategy and push traffic back to Wayfair’s online store. Some in-store sales will be an added benefit. Bob Sherwin, head of North American marketing at Wayfair said, “Physical pop-ups are a natural evolution of our <em>test-and-learn culture.</em>”
<h3></h3>
<h3>What is a pop-up event?</h3>
They are temporally retail spaces that give brands the opportunity to sell their products in an environment completely designed and controlled by them. Since they are temporary, they offer a relatively <strong>low-cost and low-commitment</strong> way for companies to take creative risks, generate buzz, and introduce their brands to new audiences.

With any marketing strategy, it’s important to measure its success in terms of ROI. Here’s how to achieve that for a pop-up approach:

Quantitatively: Brands can track foot traffic, dwell times, sales conversions, average cart size and compare it to online, increase in online engagement and impact on traffic to their website.
Qualitatively: Brands can witness/ learn customer sentiment, purchase motivation; how they respond to size, color and fit; how window design impacts foot traffic.
<h3></h3>
<h3>Advantages of a pop-up to the retailer:</h3>
Each brand will have different goals and outcomes that they'll expect to accomplish through doing a pop-up. Here are some benefits to help you consider doing one:

-Builds brand awareness, brand hype, and exposure

-Test market products or services with key consumers

-Secures customer loyalty

-Creates "Get it while it lasts" urgency

-Educates new customers

-Test a new revenue stream

-Engage customers offline

-Go to where your customers are

-Provide an opportunity for experiential retail

-Learn target customer behavior patterns

-Adds credibility, especially for e-commerce retailers

&nbsp;
<h3>Different types of pop-ups:</h3>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Store-within-a-store.png"><img class="wp-image-211092 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Store-within-a-store-300x169.png" alt="" width="605" height="341"></a>

If you're looking for shorter timeframes like a week or by the day, store within a store is a great option. These spaces typically come as a move-in ready space with some minor decorating and set up. You'll benefit from the regulars that visit the store and the existing store benefits from the fresh new foot traffic you're bringing them. It's a win-win situation and works well for a cross-functional situation.&nbsp;Also, it delivers extra rent revenue for the existing store.

What to consider: Are you a good fit for the clientele and the brands that are already in the store? The owners will want to make sure it doesn't disrupt their operation.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Kiosk-or-booth.png"><img class="wp-image-211089 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Kiosk-or-booth-300x169.png" alt="" width="618" height="348"></a>

You'll find these located in footfall areas such as shopping centers or local markets. These are exactly what you would expect when the retailer sets up a shop in the middle of the mall where customers are walking by. It is a great way to keep new customers walking in front of your products. These spaces have seen a huge amount of interest because it requires little setup and investment. This is ideal for e-commerce retailers going offline for the first time.

What to consider: What other retailers are going to be in your general vicinity? Do you compliment each other or compete? Does the size of the booth limit my stock?

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Vacant-Space.png"><img class="wp-image-211090 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Vacant-Space-300x169.png" alt="" width="632" height="356"></a>

These spaces have great flexibility with rental lengths, often times are move-in ready, and are even great for cocktail hours for your customers. Because they are constantly rotating brands/events in and out, they like to book up as far in advance as they can. You'll also likely benefit from experienced space owners that have experienced pop-ups as well.

What to consider: Can you get primetime dates? Renters book important dates in advance so it's very important to get a head start on these types of spaces.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/In-line.png"><img class="wp-image-211088 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/In-line-300x169.png" alt="" width="630" height="355"></a>

Besides the big anchor stores at the entrances, these are considered in-line spaces. They are the next step up from the kiosk and still come with the built-in foot traffic. In-lines spaces are usually really cost effective as well. Another benefit is that mall owners and shopping centers already know temporary retail sp they'll understand your needs and will help you become successful.

What to consider: Where are you going to be located in the mall and what stores will be next to? Make sure you are pleased with your location and the foot traffic that flows by.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Street-level.png"><img class="wp-image-211091 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Street-level-300x169.png" alt="" width="628" height="354"></a>

Street level storefronts represent some of the most coveted and exclusive retail spaces in the world. This is because brands make large profits in these spaces. Consumers love to have an in-store experience and the results prove it. If you have the budget and you're looking to get some new customers, this is the best option for you!

What to consider: You might not be able to book too far in advance. Many landlords are looking for long-term tenants.

Why Should You Run a Pop-up?

<h2 style="margin-top: .5em;">Using the soul of WordPress so clients gain a competitive&nbsp;edge</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Hey.png"><img class=" wp-image-211051 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Hey-300x240.png" alt="" width="447" height="357"></a>

Today, millions of businesses are using WordPress for running their online business in a profitable and effective way. Although WordPress can meet many requirements, it cannot meet each and every one of them. As the competition in the marketing industry increases, each business has to have a website that will help them gain a completive edge.&nbsp;After a certain time duration, this requires every business to make changes in their website functionality to serve their clients in the best possible way.

However, redesigning or remodeling of a website is not possible every time and will take a lot of time, money, and effort. This is when you need the assistance of an experienced and specialized developer to create your own personalized plugins.

At Spectruss, we experienced an example of this accommodation first hand when our developer, Evan, ran into this problem working with images for our websites. He noticed the inefficiency of running every single image we use manually through an image compressor and decided to write a custom plugin that would automate the process. The result was a plugin which reads off a Google Lighthouse audit to&nbsp;detect all of the bloated images on a Wordpress site and replace every single one with a new, optimized version.

"What this plugin does for me, and can do for any Wordpress developer, is efficiently automate the never-ending task of optimizing images for the web," said Evan Norton, Web Developer at Spectruss.

[video width="1280" height="720" poster="/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/evan-poster.jpg" mp4="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/THERES-ALWAYS-A-SOLUTION..mp4"][/video]

&nbsp;

Unlike random untested plugins downloaded from the web, our customized plugins work exactly how each unique client wants them to perform to improve the overall users' experience. Whether you want to improve the security of your site, boost the performance and speed of the site, or apply any additional custom functionality, all of these things can be easily achieved with&nbsp;Spectruss.

Our plugin development services will not only help boost the existing functionality but also enable you to add new features to your site in a quite <strong>easy</strong> and <strong>economical way</strong>.&nbsp; With our experienced and specialized WordPress plugin developers, your website is used as an effective medium or tool for targeting customers, grabbing their attentions, increasing revenues, and boosting traffic on the site. Additionally, our plugins are highly packed with important features like:

-High level customization

-Multi-user&nbsp;capable

-A stronger level of security

-Consistency and Flexibility in design

-Optimized for search engines for higher ranking.

These are only a few benefits of utilizing our plugin developers. To learn more, call Spectruss today.

Spectruss Creates Custom Plugins to Meet Specific Demands

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Location-based marketing creates many opportunities to reach consumers based on the specific geographic area they are physically present in. Geofencing is a type of location-based marketing that establishes a virtual fence around a pre-defined geographical area to attract mobile users. Today, geofencing is used in social media, human resources, telematics, cybersecurity, and marketing. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">How does geofencing work?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Geofencing uses a combination of technologies to track customers’ locations: </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-GPS</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">-Bluetooth </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">- Beacons</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Once the virtual boundary is dawn around a physical location and a user enters that set location, a triggered response is distributed. Dependent upon the device and technology, marketers can prompt mobile push notifications, send targeted ads on social media, initiate text messages (SMS) and deliver location-based marketing data. Ever notice the food recommendations you receive once you enter a certain location? That is geofencing. </span>

&nbsp;
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Intertwined benefits of geofencing for marketing:</span></h2>
<h2></h2>
<h3></h3>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Increase local sales</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">If one of your marketing goals is to drive foot traffic to your store and increase local sales, geofencing is your answer. In fact, it was reported by salesforce that fifty-three percent of shoppers visited a specific retailer after receiving a location-based alert. Therefore, it is an extremely effective way to target users while they are at the set target location. In addition, this is a valuable tool for driving customer loyalty by targeting individuals who have previously visited your business with promotional and loyalty offers. </span>

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tracking Conversions and measuring ROI</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Local sales can be difficult to measure. However, with geofencing, there are a number of metrics you can measure, including sales, how long they were in the store, and how often they visit. Reports also indicate the performance of the campaign for each geofence, so you can see which one garnered the highest CTR or the lowest CPA, for example. All this insight can be valuable information that adds depth to your analytics. </span>

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Customer Personalization&nbsp;</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Another benefit of geofencing is the data you obtain in order to personalize customer offers. It gives you demographics about the local population, including what kind of offers interest them and got them in your store. If you look at the purchase history provided and realize customers’ wants and needs, you can alter your promotions accordingly. </span>

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Increase brand awareness with concentrated spends</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Better engagement leads to more effective marketing spend. With geofencing, you can reach the audiences most likely to take action, which means less budget spend on less relevant consumers. </span>

&nbsp;

How to Target Customers with Geofencing

<h1 style="text-align: center;">A Spectruss Case Study</h1>
<h1></h1>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Overview</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;">Royal Highnies is a growing retailer showcasing luxury loungewear online. They have spent years moving into the spotlight as a maker of premium undergarments and loungewear, specializing in what is widely known as "the perfect boxer short." From Royal Highnies boxer shorts to tee shirts to lounge pants and more, Royal Highnies delivers the ultimate comfort and quality for men, women, and children.</p>
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Challenge: Maintaining Various Sales Channels</h2>
The shopping behavior of modern consumers has evolved, and expectations have risen. Consumers want their shopping experience to be easy and convenient, no matter where they are. Like most retail companies Royal Highnies faced challenges to differentiate, adapt, and meet these ever-changing buying behaviors of digitally empowered customers across various sales channels. The company wanted to present their wholesale customers with a seamless experience alongside their normal retail store, while also capitalizing on direct to consumer sales. Fortunately, with the right strategy in place, it is possible to successfully reach and manage both channels on a fully responsive, seamless platform.

&nbsp;
<h2>Solution: Identifying Channel Opportunities</h2>
At Spectruss, our customized, scalable omnichannel strategy allows us to understand the entire retail landscape to help retailers like Royal Highnies manage the challenges of selling across all retail platforms. Our approach delivers a seamless and consistent experience across channels while factoring in the different devices that consumers are using to interact with Royalhighnies.com. The purpose is to create personalized real-time customer experiences on the channels where they are shopping and buying, whether it’s in a physical store, online store, or social media, to nurture more sales and engagements. It inter-relates every channel to engage with customers as a holistic-whole, to ensure they are having a wonderful experience with the brand throughout each and every channel.

&nbsp;
<h2>Fully Responsive Site</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RH_CaseStudy_images_1.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-4052" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RH_CaseStudy_images_1-300x150.jpg" alt="" width="714" height="357"></a>
<p style="text-align: left;">After building a beautifully designed website, we set up a mobile and tablet-specific personalized strategy that uses geography to enhance the experience for on-the-go shoppers. This integration and seamless experience across all consumer touchpoints allow multi-channel selling to be as natural as possible for double the conversions rates.</p>
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Made Every Touchpoint Shoppable</h2>
<h3><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RH_CaseStudy_images_2.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-4053" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RH_CaseStudy_images_2-300x150.jpg" alt="" width="706" height="354"></a></h3>
<h3>Instagram’s Newest Shopping Features:</h3>
In order to fully capitalize on direct to consumer, we incorporated Instagram’s newest shopping features to close the loop between the product discovery stage and conversion stage. This helped Royal Highnies provide a more seamless experience for customers who see their products on social media, eliminating the need for them to search for their website for the desired product and make a purchase.

&nbsp;
<h2>Search Engine Optimization</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RH_CaseStudy_images_3.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-4054" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RH_CaseStudy_images_3-300x150.jpg" alt="" width="736" height="368"></a>

Optimized all devices for search engines to increase organic and paid search results.

&nbsp;
<h2>Wholesale Extensions</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RH_CaseStudy_images_4.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-4055" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RH_CaseStudy_images_4-300x150.jpg" alt="" width="704" height="352"></a>

To balance wholesale with growing D2C sales, our developers integrated a wholesale plugin specifically for WooCommerce that provides wholesale customers an amazing experience alongside Royalhighnies.com normal retail store.
<p style="text-align: center;">Automatically adjusts pricing based on email</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Product visibility control</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Tiered discounts</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Streamlines order form</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Tax control</p>
&nbsp;
<h2>Seamless Integrations</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RH_CaseStudy_images_5.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-4056" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RH_CaseStudy_images_5-300x150.jpg" alt="" width="756" height="378"></a>

We installed QuickBooks and ShipStation extensions so Royal Highnies can keep their shipping and accounting information in sync by allowing ShipStation to automatically send sales receipts directly to their QuickBooks platform.
<h3>Online Shipping and Order Fulfillment:</h3>
Without proper automation and infrastructure, delays and mis-ships can occur, especially when selling on multiple channels. To prevent this, we integrated ShipStation so Royal Highnies can easily customize a streamlines order fulfillment process, handling everything from order import and batch label creation to customer communication.
<h3>Accounting Software:</h3>
We integrated QuickBooks to help Royal Highnies effectively manage their money, track expenses, create customer reports, and generate receipts and invoices, anytime and anywhere.

&nbsp;
<h2>The Results</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RH_CaseStudy_images_6.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-4057" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RH_CaseStudy_images_6-300x150.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="366"></a>

Royal Highnies has already seen a 48% increase in sales since launch from mobile and tablet devices. These were devices that were previously returning little to no sales since the site was not optimized for mobile and tablet sales.

Fully Responsive E-commerce Site to Capitalize on Direct to Consumer Sales and Streamline Digital Wholesale Orders.

The holiday shopping season is upon us and with the right strategy in place, it can bring in as much as 30% of a retailer’s total sales in just one season. One of the biggest misconceptions about holiday marketing is that you need to get your ads up and running just in time for Black Friday. In reality, <a href="http://welcome.openx.com/rs/745-BUQ-779/images/2018%20Consumer%20Holiday%20Shopping%20Report.pdf">a recent study</a> showed over 40% of US consumers plan to begin their holiday shopping before November, and a solid 31% plan to start before September or earlier.

&nbsp;
<h2>Start early</h2>
Campaigns that start in October see a 7% increase in impressions, a 12% decrease in average cost-per-click (CPC) and a 20% decrease in average cost-per-impression (CPM) compared to other holiday months. These stats prove that by starting early, you’ll be able to reach both new and existing customers with strategic holiday messaging at a lower cost, which will positively impact your total ROI. It is also important to remember that the earlier you run your holiday campaigns, the better because of the less competition you’ll likely see. As the holiday season ramps up, so will the competition. However, you’ll be ahead of the game and can focus your budget on bringing your new high-intent users down the funnel to convert.

&nbsp;
<h2>Keep them running</h2>
While October is the best time to start running your campaigns, this doesn’t mean that you should skip out on other holiday months. In fact, engagement is highest in November and December. Last season, advertisers saw a 9% increase in click-through-rate (CTR) in November and a 15% increase in CTR in December. This means during the two months, your brand needs more meaningful, engaging content and a clear understanding of your customer’s&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: 400;">journeys. </span>

&nbsp;
<h2>The rise of mobile marketing</h2>
As content consumption habits shift further online and into mobile, so do shopping habits, and it’s crucial to build omnichannel engagement programs that meet consumers where they spend their time. Based on a recent study, this year consumers are planning to spend a majority of their holiday budgets online and via mobile devices this year. For the five-week holiday period from Nov. 21st- Dac. 26th in 2017, mobile shopping accounted for 41% of purchases. In fact, on Thanksgiving, mobile shopping accounted for more purchases than those that came from a standard desktop computer. Beyond that, cross-device campaigns feature some of the best performance when compared to regular desktop or social media campaigns. Plus the average CPC is 63% cheaper on mobile than it is on a desktop for the average holiday campaign.

&nbsp;
<h2>Tapping into social media for success</h2>
One of the best ways to take advantage of a mobile audience is to make sure that you’re running your ads across social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. In fact, AdRoll customers saw a 400% increase in CTR on Instagram when compared to their display campaigns, and a 54% increase in CTR on Facebook.

&nbsp;
<h2>Personalize the holiday shopping experience</h2>
Make sure you are planning your social media strategy around a user-centric approach. Try to think like your customers, figure out the platforms they use, and produce content they want to see and engage with. It’s not a secret that video marketing is a major trend to exploit. Providing something of value is often the key to success, and 77% of consumers are more likely to watch an online video ad if they would receive a discount off a holiday purchase.

&nbsp;
<h2>Vary your promotions/sales</h2>
If you want to keep consumers interested, you’ve got to add variety to holiday promotions. Start by deciding how many different types of sales or promotional events you want to offer during the holiday shopping season. Here are a few ideas that you can use for different types of promotional offers during the holiday shopping season:
<ul>
 	<li>Provide early access to those on your email list.</li>
 	<li>Offer "VIP" shopping opportunities to your most loyal customers.</li>
 	<li>Create a sale for different product or category of products each week.</li>
 	<li>Ramp up your sales percentages as it gets closer to the holidays.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

&nbsp;
<h3><a style="font-size: 1.4em;" href="https://www.shopify.com/enterprise/holiday-marketing-calendar">Holiday Marketing Calendars</a></h3>
&nbsp;

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/October_holiday_marketing_calendar_2018.png"><img class="wp-image-4013 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/October_holiday_marketing_calendar_2018-300x248.png" alt="" width="628" height="519"></a><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/November_holiday_marketing_calendar_2018.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-4014 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/November_holiday_marketing_calendar_2018-300x248.png" alt="" width="626" height="517"></a><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/December_holiday_marketing_calendar_2018.png"><img class=" wp-image-4015 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/December_holiday_marketing_calendar_2018-300x280.png" alt="" width="634" height="593"></a>

The Holiday Season Has Already Began, Are you Prepared?

<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1"><i>A marketing agency reaches new milestones by providing profitable, scalable growth</i></span></h2>
&nbsp;
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Chattanooga, TN - Aug. 13th, 2018</b> - Spectruss, a full-service marketing agency based in the Chattanooga, TN area, continues to see rapid growth through its innovative virtual CMO service. It provides clients with direct access to the expertise of an in-house marketing team minus the premium salary of hiring a full-time marketing director. Additionally, the agency recently hired multiple new team members to support their continued growth in servicing complex B2B and B2C markets. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Spectruss’s vCMO&nbsp;services develop and tailor profitable marketing strategies for their clients which includes initiatives, execution, tracking, and more. Every vCMO client is partnered with a dedicated team of marketing professionals that consists of a Marketing Strategist, Creative Director, Copywriter, Graphic Designer, Videographer, Photographer, Programmer, Data Analyst, and Social Media Manager.</span></p>
To learn more about the Virtual Cheif Marketing Officer services, click the link below.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/spectruss-services/vcmo/">https://spectruss.com/spectruss-services/vcmo/</a>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">“I am proud of the diverse and extremely talented team that we have assembled at Spectruss. We now have the ability to develop and manage every aspect of marketing systems, ranging from e-commerce technology, to design, video and digital advertising. With all of these services being managed under one roof, time to live and overall ROI for our clients drastically increases,” said Sam Silvey, President of Spectruss. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Over the years, Spectruss has grown to become one of the leading players in the dynamic landscape of digital marketing by transforming Fortune 500 companies with tremendous growth. The Certified Google Partner and Hubspot Partner is the only local agency to effectively provide every service in-house for businesses. With experience in complex industries, Spectruss has seen a demand in B2B shifting their process online through direct to consumer e-commerce systems.</span></p>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/unnamed.png"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3811" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/unnamed-300x169.png" alt="" width="300" height="169"></a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/hubspot-certified-agency.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3812" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/hubspot-certified-agency-300x162.png" alt="" width="317" height="171"></a>

&nbsp;
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">“A lot of&nbsp;</span><span class="s1">traditional manufacturer buyers are becoming accustomed to online purchasing. At Spectruss, we provid</span><span class="s1">e unique B2B markets with a customized E-commerce platform for each of their clients. In additi</span><span class="s1">on to strengthening their buyers’ relationships, our seamless online interfaces eliminate wasted time in the ordering process,” said Jordan Layao, Business Development. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">In addition to B2B markets, Spectruss has successfully positioned their B2C clients as #1 subscription box featured on the Today Show, #1 in Wired Magazine, and on some of the top brand influencers in the world.</span></p>

<h3 class="p1"><span class="s1">The agency’s continuous growth also consists of four new hires: </span></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Amanda Tracy produces designs that visually communicate Spectruss clients’ messages across in an effective and aesthetically pleasing manner. Amanda received a BFA in Graphic Design from Tyler School of Art at Temple University, and has over 7 years professional design experience, working in both small branding studios and large advertising agencies. Her work has been featured in Print Magazine, Awwwards, and Creative Quarterly.
</span>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/amanda1.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-3813 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/amanda1-212x300.jpg" alt="" width="170" height="242"></a>

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Nick Friend joins Spectruss as the Photo/ Video Director with an extensive background in filmmaking from major sets. Like Terminator: Genisys and Planet of the Apes, and Jack Reacher, as well as TV shows like True Detective, VICE, and Togetherness. He is in charge of making sure that Spectruss’s vision, along with their clients, is realized through photography film, and videos. Nick has a Bachelor's degree focused in documentary film from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, with a minor in creative writing.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/nick1.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3814" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/nick1-212x300.jpg" alt="" width="184" height="262"></a></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Jordan Layo oversees business development to grow and retain existing clients by presenting new solutions and services. His deep interest in leadership led him to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing. Jordan had the privilege of working with several startups in the Chattanooga area, most notably Muse + Mettā, to help build their brand and order of operations.
</span>

<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/jordan1.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3815" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/jordan1-212x300.jpg" alt="" width="175" height="247"></a></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Evan Norton comes to Spectruss as a web developer/programmer ensuring that the functionality, navigation, and overall performance of websites meet the needs of clients. Knowing development was his passion, he attended Covalence, a coding bootcamp, straight out of high school, receiving a certification in full stack development. After a few months of building experience working on personal projects and freelance work, Evan joined Spectruss.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/evan2.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3816" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/evan2-212x300.jpg" alt="" width="154" height="219"></a></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">If you would like more information about Spectruss, please call Erin Taylor at 423.800.8633 or email info@spectruss.com.</span></p>
<p class="p3" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">###</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2">About Spectruss</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">Spectruss is a full-service marketing agency based out of Chattanooga, TN that specializes in Marketing Solutions utilizing custom website development, graphic design, photography, online and print advertising, social media management, review management, and data analysis. Its mission is to exert passion through every project, design, or website development they touch.</span></p>

Spectruss Sees Record Growth with Innovative Marketing Solutions and New Hires

<h1><span style="font-weight: 400;">What are you doing today in order to increase your visitor to sale conversion?</span></h1>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">E-commerce business is changing faster than ever before, along with customers taking more time to think about their purchases. Shopping cart abandonment is an online retailers’ biggest challenge due to potential lost revenue, but luckily marketers can help solve this problem with cart abandonment emails. According to SalesCycle, approximately 75.6% of online shopping carts were abandoned in 2018. Cart abandonment is when online shoppers on your e-commerce site add items to their shopping cart, and then leave your site before converting (completing the purchase). The thing is, ¾ of people who abandon their carts usually plan to come back, so if you’re not reminding shoppers with abandoned cart emails, you’re missing a huge opportunity to recover lost sales.</span>

&nbsp;
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to Create Abandoned Cart Emails that Convert:</span></h2>
&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Timing</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The time distribution of your abandoned cart email is crucial if you want prospects to complete their purchases. The sooner you send it, the easier people will remember who you are and why they added the items into their cart. If you wait too long, you lose that shopping urge that caused the shopper to add the item to their cart in the first place. So make sure to distribute your email within 24 hours of them exiting your checkout so the prospect’s near purchase is still fresh in their mind. </span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Use Converting Subject Line</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Subject lines have the potential to grab the attention of the customer and increase open and click rates. It's the first thing prospects will see, so if your subject line isn't well thought out, all your hard work won't be read. The most effective subject lines are those that are straight to the point and evoke emotion like excitement, humor, fear of missing out, etc. So have fun and be creative with winning back customers. Another important factor in grabbing attention is to make it feel personal. You can play around with subject lines to see which have the highest open rates by using A/B testing in your campaign. Here are a few great subject line suggestions:</span>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> “Hey Joe, you forgot something.” </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Baby come back!” (the song) </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Don’t let your favorite items sell out” &nbsp;</span></li>
</ul>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Abandoned-cart-email-madwell-1516973722.png"><img class=" wp-image-3775 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Abandoned-cart-email-madwell-1516973722-300x179.png" alt="" width="517" height="307"></a>
<h3></h3>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Include Abandoned Product</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">In your email’s content, make sure to include the exact product along with the product image, size, color, pattern, etc in the hero of the email. This is a great way to remind them of what they are missing out. Using visual marketing to show interested shoppers which items they’ve abandoned makes the email more personal and immediately grabs their attention again.</span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/j-crew-abandoned-cart-email-template.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3777" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/j-crew-abandoned-cart-email-template-220x300.jpg" alt="" width="357" height="488"></a></p>

<h3></h3>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eye-catching CTA button</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Bold and easy-to-see CTAs can direct the attention of the shopper towards the desired action you want them to pursue. In this particular situation, the action is to finish buying the product, so make it easy for them to complete the action a button text like: &nbsp;“Continue Shopping” or “Snatch it!”</span>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/asos-abandoned-cart-email.png"><img class="wp-image-3769 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/asos-abandoned-cart-email-200x300.png" alt="" width="383" height="575"></a>
<h3></h3>
<h3>Present an Incentive</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Who doesn’t love discounts or free shipping? One of the most common reasons users abandon their shopping carts is because of extra costs like shipping, tax, and fees. With that in mind, try offering an incentive in your abandoned cart emails that are only exclusive to them. This could be the final push they need to complete their purchase.</span>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/hayneedle1.png"><img class=" wp-image-3770 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/hayneedle1-254x300.png" alt="" width="424" height="501"></a>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Effective emails that convert can also include scarcity that informs readers of the items they placed in the shopping cart have a high risk of selling out if they continue to wait. When deciding on your incentive, it's recommended to test two incentives in your emails to find out what your audience responds to best.</span>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/pacsun-cart-abandonment-email.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-3771 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/pacsun-cart-abandonment-email-233x300.jpg" alt="" width="397" height="513"></a>

&nbsp;
<h3></h3>
<h3>Offer Customer Support</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Another common reason for abandoned shopping carts is because of a failed/poor website or checkout flow experience. This includes long/complicated checkout process, website errors, slow delivery, not enough payment methods, or couldn’t see total order cost up-front. So, with each cart abandonment email, give the opportunity to provide customer assistance or guidance.</span>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ShowProducts.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-3773 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ShowProducts-242x300.jpg" alt="" width="415" height="514"></a>
<h3></h3>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Include Customer Reviews and Testimonials </span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">If visitors are in doubt when completing their purchase, a credible and honest review might influence a conversion. Go through your testimonials and place them at the bottom of your email.</span>

<a href="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/abandoned-cart-email-templates-dollar-shave-club-2.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-3778 aligncenter" src="https://cms.spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/abandoned-cart-email-templates-dollar-shave-club-2-300x244.jpg" alt="" width="453" height="368"></a>

At Spectruss, our powerful abandoned cart automation workflows implement these tips and more to remind your customers what they've left behind and encourage them to complete their purchase. With this abandoned cart messaging system, our retail clients reconnect with customers who navigate away from their shopping carts, recapture sales, and generate more revenue.

&nbsp;

Recover Lost E-commerce Sales with Abandoned Cart Emails

<h2><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Spectruss_LOGO.png"><img class=" wp-image-3669 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Spectruss_LOGO-300x300.png" alt="" width="174" height="174"></a></h2>
<h2 class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">Cogent Studio and PV Design join forces to become Tinker Ma</span></h2>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Chattanooga, TN - Sep. 5th, 2018</b>- Chattanooga-based architecture and design firms Cogent Studio and PV Design announced a merger between the two award-winning firms. Already working seamlessly as one firm, Tinker Ma partnered with Spectruss, a full-service marketing agency, to provide a newly redesigned website; <a href="http://tinkerma.com"><span class="s2">tinkerma.com</span></a> that highlights its portfolio of notable architectural projects like the Flying Squirrel, High Point Climbing &amp; Fitness, and the Dwell Hotel just to name a few. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We have had an amazing few years full of learning, growth, and some amazing projects. Along the way, we have been focusing on developing our vision for the future and creating strategies, alliances, and collaborations that will help us thrive.&nbsp;We are excited to forge a collective based on our mutual desire to shape the built environment through thoughtful design, technical expertise, and the drive to help communities thrive,” said Trey Wheeler, Principle at Tinker Ma. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Under the leadership of Trey Wheeler, AIA, NCAR, Craig Peavy, AIA, NCARB, LEEP AP, and Thomas Palmer, AIA, LEEP AP, Tinker Ma is built on an impressive portfolio of 60 years of experience with significant living, staying, eating, shopping, learning, playing, place-making, and conceptual projects that have created an lasting imprint on the community. To help deliver and celebrate this endeavor, Spectruss developed a new platform to help Tinker Ma refine their message and grow their already extensive services in a way that is accessible and engaging for both of their existing clients and new ones.</span></p>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-05-at-11.14.08-AM.png"><img class=" wp-image-3672 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-05-at-11.14.08-AM-300x236.png" alt="" width="661" height="520"></a>

&nbsp;
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Created with user experience firmly in mind, <a href="http://tinkerma.com"><span class="s2">tinkerma.com</span></a> provides visitors with an informative experience, showcasing the firm’s award-winning projects that positioned the firm to be awarded the 2018 AIA Tennessee Merit Award, Best Construction Detail, Best Residential Design of the Year, and featured in the Hospitably Design Magazine, along with many more. </span><span class="s1">The website has been designed using the latest technology that delivers an intuitive, well-crafted and visually compelling online presence that reflects the reputation and talent of the firm.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1">If you would like more information about Spectruss, please call Erin Taylor at 423.800.8633 or email info@spectruss.com.</span></p>
<p class="p5" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">##</span></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s2">About Spectruss</span></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s1">Spectruss is a full-service marketing agency based out of Chattanooga, TN that specializes in Marketing Solutions utilizing custom website development, graphic design, photography, online and print advertising, social media management, review management, and data analysis. Its mission is to exert passion through every project, design, or website development they touch.</span></p>

Spectruss Provides Award-Winning Architecture Firms a Platform for Continued Growth

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram has more than 400 million users that share 80 million posts daily, making it a compelling platform for advertisers. The platform itself says its ads can help drive awareness and increase customers among a highly engaged audience. Instagram offers photo ads, video ads, carousel ads, and stories ads. </span>

&nbsp;
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reasons to Use Instagram Ads:</span></h2>
<h2></h2>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Audience Growth</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The key reason brands advertise on Instagram is the efficiency of this marketing channel. It’s one of the fastest growing social media platforms, with over 250 million daily active users in June 2017 according to <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/26/instagram-700-million-users/">TechCrunch</a>.</span>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/instagram-stories-250-million-daily-users-june-2.png"><img class=" wp-image-3645 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/instagram-stories-250-million-daily-users-june-2-300x169.png" alt="" width="556" height="313"></a>

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Constantly Adapting</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">In Instagram’s monthly updates, you will find that the platform is updated regularly to provide a better user experience and making advertising even more efficient. </span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Attention </span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram is a highly engaging social media platform that helps your brand receive a lot of attention and engage with new users. &nbsp;According to Pew Research, 51% of Instagram users access the platform daily, and 35% say they look at the platform several times a day. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Additional <a href="https://karolakarlson.com/reasons-for-advertising-on-instagram/">Instagram advertising stats</a>:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">- 95 million photos and videos are shared on Instagram per day.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">- Currently, Instagram has 1 million monthly active advertisers—up from just 200,000 in&nbsp; &nbsp;March 2016.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">- eMarketer projects that Instagram’s global mobile ad revenues will reach $2.81 billion this year, accounting for over 10 percent of parent company Facebook’s global ad revenues.</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Targeting</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram ads use Facebook’s advertising system, which most likely has the most powerful targeting ability. You can specify your target audience’s location, demographics, interests, behaviors, and more. You can even target people who have bought from you or interacted with you and others similar to them.</span>

&nbsp;
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram Feed Ad Formats:</span></h2>
&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carousel Ad</span></h3>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Carousel ads bring another layer of depth to campaign where people can swipe to view up to 10 additional photos or videos in a single ad. They are a great way to accomplish business goals by highlighting several products and specific details to give them a considerable boost. You can recognize these ads by the small dots under the image, indicating that there is more than one image.</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/wersm-instagram-tesco-carousel-ad-summer-796x426.png"><img class="wp-image-3628 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/wersm-instagram-tesco-carousel-ad-summer-796x426-300x161.png" alt="" width="553" height="297"></a></span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">These ads provide an excellent opportunity to:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">-To create a step-by-step illustration of how to use your product</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Tell a story about your brand in several images or videos</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Give a good sense of the essence of your promoted offer</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Lower your Instagram ads cost</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Specs:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caption: up to 125 characters</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Media type: image or video</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommended image/video resolution: min. 600 x 600 pixels, max. 1080 x 1080 pixels</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image format: .jpg or .png</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minimum number of cards: 2</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maximum number of cards: 10</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image ratio: 1:1</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Video aspect ratio: 1:1</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minimum video length: 3 seconds</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maximum video length: 60 seconds</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Video thumbnail image ratio: Should match the aspect ratio of your video. If not, thumbnail auto resize is available.</span>

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Single Ad</span></h3>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Exactly how it sounds, these are ads with a single image in landscape or square format. This is the most widely used ad type and consists of an image, ad copy, and a call-to-action button. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/null-53.png"><img class=" wp-image-3630 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/null-53-300x254.png" alt="" width="434" height="367"></a></span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Specs: </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Caption: up to 125 characters</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Media type: image</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommended image size: 1080 x 1080 pixels or 1200 x 628 pixels (the typical Facebook ad image size)</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image format: .jpg or .png</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Max. file size: 30 MB</span>

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Video Ad</span></h3>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram used to have a 15-second limit for video, but now videos can be up to 60 seconds long and shot in landscape or square format. They are an effective way to explain how your product or service works or simply share a fun and engaging message. Overall, this type of ad is known to catch users attention as they scroll through their feed. </span>

&nbsp;

<img class="aligncenter" src="https://www.adweek.com/files/2016_May/airbnb-instagram_0.gif" width="664" height="374">

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Specs:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caption: up to 125 characters</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Media type: video</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommended video resolution: 600 x 600 pixels (square) or 600 x 315 pixels (landscape)</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aspect Ratio: 1:1 (square) or 1.9:1 (landscape)</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minimum resolution: 600 x 600 pixels</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maximum resolution: 1080 x 1080 pixels</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minimum length: 3 seconds</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maximum length: 60 seconds</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maximum size: 4GB</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Frame rate: 30fps max</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">File type: .mp4 container</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Video: H.264 video compression, high profile preferred, square pixels, fixed frame rate, progressive scan</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Audio: Stereo AAC audio compression, 128kbps + preferred</span>

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Slideshow Ad</span></h3>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Slideshow ads are looping video ads with up to 10 images and music. It’s almost like a carousel ad that scrolls on its own, with music. You can upload an existing slideshow or create a new slideshow. Facebook Ads Manager has an easy-to-use slideshow creator where you can select the images, music, video captions, and a thumbnail for your Instagram ad. You can also choose whether you’d like to images to transition or fade while changing.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Specs:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caption: up to 125 characters</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Media type: images + soundtrack</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image duration: up to 50 sec per image</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image size: min. 600 x 600 pixels, max. 1080 x 1080 pixels. If you use images of different sizes, your slideshow will be cropped to be square.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Music file format: WAV, MP3, M4A, FLAC, and OGG. You must have all legal rights necessary to use the song.</span>

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lead Ads</span></h3>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram lead ads help to collect valuable information from prospects without leading them off the Instagram platform. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">As someone clicks on your Lead Ad, they’ll be guided to a new page with a lead form that asks for their name and contact details (e.g. the person’s full name, email address, phone number, etc.)</span>

<img class=" aligncenter" src="https://unbounce-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/photos/IMG_7954.gif" width="321" height="571">

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Tip: When you create this form, there are several fields to fill in. Once you hit “Finish, you won’t be able to edit the lead form. You can use the “Save” button to save a draft of the lead form if you wish to edit it afterward. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">When setting up Lead Ads, you’ll also need to include your company’s privacy policy (As you will be collecting user information).</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Specs:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caption: up to 125 characters</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Media type: image</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommended ad image size: 1080 x 1080 pixels or 1200 x 628 pixels (the typical Facebook ad image size)</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image format: .jpg or .png</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Max. file size: 30 MB</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other requirements: Privacy policy</span>

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stories Image Ad</span></h3>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2017, Instagram opened up Instagram Stories ads to businesses globally and people appear to be highly engaged while watching the stories from their followers. You can create image stories ads that contain up to six images to share your brands messaging in a fun and engaging way. There is not much customization you can do with these ads, making them very straightforward and simple to create. </span>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/artifact-uprising-ad-2.png"><img class=" wp-image-3644 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/artifact-uprising-ad-2-300x264.png" alt="" width="391" height="344"></a>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Specs:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caption: not currently available. Any text must be part of the image file</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Format: Full-screen vertical ad (9:16)</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommended Resolution: 1080 x 1920</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minimum Resolution: 600 x 1067</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">File types: .jpg or .png</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Max. image size: 30MB</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Photo content: visible for 5 seconds</span>

&nbsp;
<h3>Story Video Ad</h3>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram stories video ads is a great way for your brand to stand out among all its peers' advertising. With this format, you can upload a video or GIF of up to 15 seconds in length. Simply upload your video or GIF and choose a video thumbnail. The thumbnail you choose will be what people see before your video plays. It can influence a user’s decision to watch the ad. It’s an amazingly engaging way of showcasing your product, building your brand’s personality, and engaging your audiences by reminding them of your offers.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span>

<img class=" aligncenter" src="https://media.sproutsocial.com/uploads/2017/12/wild-turkey-instagram-story-video.gif" width="276" height="491">

<span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Specs:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caption: not currently available. Any text must be part of the image file</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Format: Full-screen vertical ad (9:16)</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommended Resolution: 1080 x 1920</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minimum Resolution: 600 x 1067</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">File types: mp4 or .mov</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Max. video size: 4GB</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Max. video length: 15 seconds</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommended Video Codecs: h.264, VP8</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommended Audio Codecs: AAC, Vorbis</span>

A Guide to Advertising on Instagram

<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">The expertise of an in-house marketing team minus the premium salary</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">So your company is ready to take your marketing efforts to the next level. What do you do? Either you hire a full-time, in-house marketing director or chief marketing officer (CMO), but these positions require a $70-$200K salary that is way out of budget. You really need an expert with the experience and ability to lead all marketing aspects to reach your overall marketing goals while getting your money’s worth. But, can one person really execute all your marketing efforts alone? </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The answer is not likely. A CMO will have to outsource most of your marketing divisions like a videographer, copywriter, designer, programmer, etc. The list of invoices goes on and on. So what is the best solution for your business? </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Partnering with a Virtual CMO (vCMO) who in contrast to the traditional CMO, can provide dynamic expertise across multiple disciplines- digital marketing, social media, analytics, tracking, and programming, just to name a few. It positions your company to collaborate with a dedicated team of marketing experts who deliver strategic marketing to reach your marketing goals, minus the premium salary. Think of it as your all-in-one staffing solution. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">What is a vCMO?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">A virtual chief marketing officer (vCMO) is a service that gives clients access to the skills, experience and strategic insight of our proven marketing professionals at a fraction of the cost of hiring an in-house Marketing Director. </span>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Every-client-is-partnered-with.png"><img class="wp-image-3619 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Every-client-is-partnered-with-300x169.png" alt="" width="509" height="287"></a>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Why should you hire a Virtual CMO?</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cost Efficiency </span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The biggest benefit of hiring a cVMO is that your business can save an estimated savings of 20-70%, instead of hiring an in-house CMO. This is because a CMO’s average salary is $170,000, not including the additional costs of the outsourced divisions. With a vCMO, an effective, outsourced team could cost less than a third of that expense. This means you get all your marketing needs, for less.&nbsp;</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jack of most trades</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">A vCMO provides expertise and experience across many disciplines. If your business launches a new product or service or ventures into a new marketing medium (digital media, public relations, or social media), your in-house marketing director may not have the experience to be able to lead the effort effectively. When you hire an outsourced team, you will have access to a broader range of expertise for less money. </span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Consistency </span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Effective marketing requires consistency to establish brand recognition and positive customer experience. While business owners have every intention of driving their marketing efforts, something more pressing is bound to hit their desk becoming the new priority. An outside team’s priority will always be to provide marketing that delivers proven and measurable results while ensuring you make the right marketing decisions for your business.&nbsp;</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">High-quality results</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">With a higher focus and consistency comes a higher quality output. An outsourced vCMO&nbsp;will provide a network of marketing resources to provide their honest opinion on your company and ideas so they identify your strengths to meet your business goals. They will analyze what works, what needs improvement and clearly prioritize the problems needed to be solved. This includes implementing game-changing strategies, execution, and monitoring market trends. They will also be able to provide reports based on valuable tracking tools for your business. Having a dedicated vCMO to report on marketing efforts means better business decisions and accountability. &nbsp;</span>

Virtual CMO as a Profitable and Viable Marketing Service

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Key performance indicators (KPI) for marketing tells you how well you’re doing in relation to your overall marketing and business goals. Marketers use KPIs to understand what is selling, who’s buying, how they’re buying, and why they’re purchasing. They give you enough insight to make better decisions to prove and improve the ROI of your marketing efforts.<a href="https://www.columnfivemedia.com/"> Column Five Media </a>recently reported how to measure five important KPIs and how improve each one. </span>

&nbsp;
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) </span></h2>
CLV is the net profit that a customer will generate for a business during the entire relationship with that customer. It can be calculated historically, over specific time periods, or it can be predictive. One of the most effective ways to boost LTV is by focusing on two areas: retention and upselling (add-ons and complementary products). The longer a customer continues to purchase from a company, the greater their lifetime value becomes. Incorporating a customer loyalty program can help you keep achieve this, increasing average purchase frequency (APF) and Average customer lifespan (ACL).

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/average-transaction.png"><img class="wp-image-3439 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/average-transaction-300x169.png" alt="" width="445" height="251"></a>

&nbsp;
<h2>Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)</h2>
CAC is the cost of convincing a potential customer to buy a product or service. The online traffic you generate must be converted into sales, so make sure you’re focusing on boosting conversion rates to lower your CAC. When you try to improve your conversions, you need to optimize the landing pages you are directing traffic to. Construct A/B testing on the content, CTA layout, structure, testimonials, emails, etc. The other way is to retarget potential customers and receive attention through email and ad targeting. Referral programs are also a great way to lower CAC and grow revenue. When a customer refers two friends who then make a purchase, you’ve just gained three customers for the price of one.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/average-transaction-1.png"><img class="wp-image-3441 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/average-transaction-1-300x169.png" alt="" width="445" height="250"></a>

&nbsp;
<h2>Marketing ROI (MROI)</h2>
Marketing ROI is exactly what it sounds like, a way of measuring the return on investment from the amount a company spends on marketing. There are several benefits associated with using this measurement including justifying marketing spend, deciding what to spend on, comparing marketing efficiency with competitors and accountability. Analyze your data before, during, and after every marketing activity for every part of the marketing mix. Also, use the insights you derive to focus on efforts that bring the greatest returns.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/average-transaction-2.png"><img class="wp-image-3445 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/average-transaction-2-300x169.png" alt="" width="445" height="250"></a>

&nbsp;
<h2>Traffic-to-lead Conversions</h2>
This simple KPI is how many subscribers, leads, or users you are generating from your top-of-funnel efforts. The goal is to increase both traffic and conversion rate. Here are some common places a business might get visitors: email marketing, social media, blog post, etc. Once you identify where your leads are coming from, you want to make sure the pages they’re landing on are doing everything they can to capture a visitor’s interest.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/average-transaction-3.png"><img class="wp-image-3446 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/average-transaction-3-300x169.png" alt="" width="445" height="250"></a>

&nbsp;
<h2>Lead-to-Customer Conversions</h2>
Once you have leads, you need to turn them into customers. You’ll need a lead-nurturing system to guide leads through each stage of the sales funnel; Awareness, Interest, Decision, and Action. Make sure to segment your leads so you can offer more targeted content. Create content that solves specific issues for specific buyer personas. Lastly, engage with your leads often, 10 times on average to make the sale.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/average-transaction-4.png"><img class="wp-image-3447 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/average-transaction-4-300x169.png" alt="" width="445" height="250"></a>

KPIs to Track and Improve Your Marketing Performance

<h2>How to optimize voice search SEO</h2>
&nbsp;

In the fast-changing world of search marketing, technology search engines have drastically improved its interpretation and&nbsp;serve results activated via voice and it’s becoming an important piece of a search marketing strategy. According to SEO Tribunal, it’s predicted by 2020 50% of all searched will be voice searches. So as it continues to grow, brands need to know how to implement a strategy that focuses on optimizing voice search.

&nbsp;
<h3>What is voice search?</h3>
<h3></h3>
Voice search uses speech recognition technology to enable human speech into text. It analyzes the text to detect questions comments while connecting to external data sources such as search engines to find the relevant information. As a result, it translates that information into a list of results and fulfills the user's intent.

&nbsp;
<h3>Top Brands Offering Voice Search Assistants</h3>
&nbsp;

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Google-Assistant.png"><img class="wp-image-3405 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Google-Assistant-300x169.png" alt="" width="472" height="266"></a>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Google-Assistant-1.png"><img class="wp-image-3407 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Google-Assistant-1-300x169.png" alt="" width="470" height="265"></a>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Google-Assistant-2.png"><img class="wp-image-3408 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Google-Assistant-2-300x169.png" alt="" width="469" height="264"></a>

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Google-Assistant-3.png"><img class="wp-image-3410 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Google-Assistant-3-300x169.png" alt="" width="470" height="265"></a>

&nbsp;
<h3>Primary Reasons Users Use Voice-Enabled Technology</h3>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Online-Searches.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3397" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Online-Searches-300x169.png" alt="" width="470" height="265"></a>

&nbsp;
<h3>What does this mean for marketers?</h3>
&nbsp;
<h3>Use natural language.</h3>
When determining target keywords and content, keep in mind the conversational nature of voice searches. Voice-activated searches can be longer than 10 words so it matches with consumer searches more, and increases your rank. You need to be aware of how your audience speaks about your business, products, and services.
<h3>Incorporate Q&amp;A.</h3>
Voice searches are more often in the form of a question, so it's important to look at keywords in questions form as a part of your content strategy. Develop questions that searches may ask and make sure you have content that answers those questions.
<h3>Consider local.</h3>
Twenty-two percent of voice queries are for local content. Since users have local intent when searching on their mobile phones, you need to incorporate effective keywords. Research the phrases people use to describe the community around your location, landmarks around your business location, and titles of local institutions that are relevant to your business.
<h3>Use "near me" queries.</h3>
Eighty-eight percent of all "near me" searches are done on mobile. Incorporate "near me" in your title tags, meta descriptions, internal links, and anchor text to optimize local sources as mobile voice searches.

Voice Search is the New Organic Search

<h2><em>Watch Spectruss New Office Tour</em></h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Spectruss_LOGO.png"><img class="wp-image-3318 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Spectruss_LOGO-300x300.png" alt="" width="128" height="128"></a>

CHATTANOOGA, TN – July 18th, 2018– Spectruss, a creative agency based out to Chattanooga, TN, is pleased to announce its new office location to a larger, more convenient space to accommodate continued business growth.

View the new office tour below.

https://youtu.be/a5l_vlRfAds

The 3800 Saint Elmo Ave location, will continue to provide dedicated marketing services for its continually growing client-base and flourishing team of employees.

"We have distinguished ourselves by remaining committed to better serve our clients needs and producing a guaranteed return for their marketing investments. This is an exciting time for Spectruss and we are&nbsp;eager to&nbsp;utilize this easily-accessible location," said Sam Silvey, President of Spectruss.

Spectruss has spent many years working with complex B2B markets, collecting, analyzing and executing based on real-time data. Its experience in the B2B realm has put their clients as #1 subscription box featured on the Today Show, #1 in Wired Magazine, and on some of the top brand influencers in the world.

Check out&nbsp;<a href="https://spectruss.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fspectruss.com%2F&amp;h=AT1GVkytKCb-ijRAwQ9DNqgjh-iTub0Sb2J7sFSlKlh41-7HX4uokDC1npY67uIJY3MvTKHIEP2CNuYtG8fSisk7j9bq6e21M6_nQu6KZhRa8I-7TX8sDSmlWmmA_JaP0JK1Nd54">https://spectruss.com</a> to see what&nbsp;the agency has done, what they are currently doing, and where&nbsp;they are heading.
<p style="text-align: center;">###</p>
About Spectruss

Spectruss is a creative agency based out of Chattanooga, TN that specializes in Marketing Solutions utilizing custom website development, graphic design, photography, online and print advertising, social media management, review management and data analysis. Its mission is to exert passion through every project, design, or website development they touch.

Spectruss Accommodates Continued Growth with New Office Location

<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Using the 5 W’s to provide memorable experiences for shoppers</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Global e-commerce sales are expected to eclipse $2.8 trillion. While this statistic confirms online shopping is on the rise worldwide, this growth is dependent upon a new finding from a recent <a href="https://www.episerver.com/learn/resources/research--reports/online-consumer-behavior-2018">Episerver report: Reimaging Commerce: Global Findings</a>. Only 17% of people say shopping is their primary purpose when they visit a brand’s website for the first time. So, online shoppers log on to do more than purchase. The finding reveals a new modern definition of “commerce”, which no longer means making a purchase, but rather encompasses the entire journey from research to final sale. This suggests business should look beyond transactions and focus their efforts on other powerful engagement opportunities that are present throughout the entire online customer journey. Investing in all aspects of the online shopping experience and providing memorable experiences sets businesses up for long-term success. </span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brands that focus on optimizing for experience over conversions win sales by knowing:</span></h3>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Who2.png"><img class=" wp-image-3382 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Who2-300x169.png" alt="" width="449" height="253" /></a>

When a brand personalized experiences, a quarter of shoppers are more likely to purchase from the brand again, 20% are more loyal and 20% trust the brand more.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/What22.png"><img class=" wp-image-3383 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/What22-300x169.png" alt="" width="460" height="259" /></a>

Fifty percent look at the product they came for first when visiting a brand's website or mobile app. Consumers mirror in-store behaviors online and are loggings on to find information regarding deals, shipping information, payment options, returns, and more.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/When33.png"><img class=" wp-image-3384 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/When33-300x169.png" alt="" width="465" height="262" /></a>

Businesses can identify future investments opportunities within their e-commerce experiences by determining where online shopping has disappointed consumers in the past.
<h3>The top 10 reasons for site abandonment:</h3>
1. Shipping was too expensive

2. Couldn't find what they were looking for

3. Price concerns

4. Just browsing

5. Not enough info

6. Found a better product

7. Looking for store or brand info only

8. Shown irrelevant products/services

9. Checkout too long

10. Digital content wasn't personalized
<h3></h3>
<h3>Most important content:</h3>
Product descriptions

Customer Reviews

Images of Products in Use

Company Information

Images of Products Not in Use
<h3></h3>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Where.png"><img class=" wp-image-3385 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Where-300x169.png" alt="" width="472" height="266" /></a>

The increasing popularity of smartphone browsing indicates that brands must offer mobile-responsive websites and should start exploring location-based marketing strategies. Brands that can best satisfy shoppers' diverse device desires position themselves to earn sales when shoppers are ready to purchase.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/why.png"><img class=" wp-image-3386 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/why-300x169.png" alt="" width="475" height="268" /></a>

Adding new tech functions to activities like browsing and research can help shoppers see new technology as helpful partners along the path to purchase.

Why Experience-Driven Commerce Matters: 2018 Study

<h2>A Chattanooga-based marketing agency expands in-house services for clients</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Spectruss_LOGO.png"><img class=" wp-image-3318 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Spectruss_LOGO-300x300.png" alt="" width="102" height="102"></a>

<b>Chattanooga, TN - July 9th, 2018</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">- Spectruss, a marketing agency based in the Chattanooga, TN area, is thrilled to introduce Nick Friend as the Director of Photo and Video Production for the agency’s growing client list. This new addition will expand Spectruss's wide variety of offered marketing <a href="https://spectruss.com/marketing-solutions/">services</a>.&nbsp;</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Nick Friend joins Spectruss&nbsp;with an extensive background in filmmaking from major sets like Terminator: Genisys and Planet of the Apes, and Jack Reacher, as well as TV shows like True Detective, VICE, and Togetherness.&nbsp;From pre-production all the way to final delivery,&nbsp;Friend is in charge of making sure that Spectruss’s vision, along with their clients, is realized through photography film, and videos. </span>
<p class="p1">"I’m most excited to be a part of a close-knit tribe of ambitious professionals. Having worked freelance for most of my career, I’ve found absolute value in the people with whom I work. I think that the people that we meet and the places we go inspire the stories that we tell. I truly believe that progress can be dangerous but comfort is always lethal, so I’m really excited to join a new team and contribute to new and challenging projects, " said Friend.</p>
<p class="p1"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/16143474_4182534001328_1235530696365426871_o.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3311 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/16143474_4182534001328_1235530696365426871_o-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300"></a></p>
<p class="p1">The Tennessee-based filmmaker takes an organic, collaborative approach to content creation. Above all, he believes that story is king and with a good story, comes great content. Here is the link to his film reel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fptkqqoekrM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fptkqqoekrM</a>.</p>
<p class="p1">Prior to Spectruss, he specialized in original, thought-provoking films and videos for brand and companies across the country. Friend has a Bachelor's degree focused in documentary&nbsp;film from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, with a minor in creative writing.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">###</span></p>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">ABOUT <a href="https://spectruss.com">SPECTRUSS</a></span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Spectruss is a Marketing agency based out of Chattanooga, TN that specializes in Marketing Solutions utilizing custom website development, graphic design, photography, online and print advertising, social media management, review management and data analysis. Its mission is to exert passion through every project, design, or website development they touch.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">For more information about Spectruss, its clients, and services, visit </span><a href="https://spectruss.com"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://spectruss.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span>

Spectruss Launches Video Production Services with Recent Hire, Nick Friend

<h2>Findings based on an analysis of 18,639 landing pages</h2>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Landing pages are an essential tool in helping inbound marketers generate more leads and convert them into prospects and customers. A landing page is a web page that allows you to capture a visitor’s information through a lead-capture form (ads, social media, email link, etc.). It’s an effective way to target your audience, offer them something of value and convert a higher percentage of your visitors into leads. While also capturing analytics on demographic information and what they’ve converted on. The value and relevance of this offer has a major impact on the conversion rate, so it’s important to know what makes up a high performing landing page. Recently, <a href="https://medium.com/unbounce-marketing/infographic-the-data-behind-landing-page-trends-in-2018-b4b6787a40dd">Unbounce </a>conducted a study of 18,639 lead gen and click-through landing pages to discover proprietary findings of specific attributes related to conversions. </span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">What makes up a high performing landing page?</span>

&nbsp;
<h3>1. ONE Call-to-Action (CTA)</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Pages with one call-to-action, meaning there’s only one place to click on your landing page, has an average conversion rate of 13.50%. While landing pages with 5+ links have an average conversion rate of 10.50%. This confirms landing pages that focus a visitor’s attention on one main call-to-action(or link) are more likely to earn conversions. &nbsp;CTAs are the most important element of a landing page, as it’s the best way to get users to take the action. They can use all different types of messaging to attract attention such as “Start a free trial”, “Contact us to learn more”, or “Get a free quote”. </span>
<h3><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/CTA.png"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3291" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/CTA-120x300.png" alt="" width="120" height="300"></a></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">2. Fast Page Speed </span></h3>
It’s mandatory for your landing page to load within a few seconds. Efficient and speedy landing pages are more likely to earn conversions. While landing pages with an image are more visually appealing, oversized images can cause the page to load slowly. This can lead to visitors bouncing and fewer conversions. In fact, 82% of landing pages have at least one image that needs compressing. Landing pages that have no images that require compressing have an average conversion rate of 11.40%. &nbsp;Pages with over 1MB of potential image compression have an average conversion rate of 9.80%. For more suggestions on how to reduce your page loading time, visit Google PageSpeed Insights.
<h3></h3>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">3. Social Proof </span></h3>
Social proof (like photos of customers, testimonials, social media posts) establishes trust and ultimately persuade visitors to convert. &nbsp;Pages that have indications of social proof in the form of copy have an average conversion rate of 12.50%. In comparison to pages without that only convert at 11.40% on average.
<h3></h3>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">4. Email Traffic</span></h3>
Marketers can drive traffic to a landing page from a variety of sources like social media, paid media, direct, etc. However, specifically, emails produced the highest average conversion rate at 13.0%. One survey shows that email marketing is 40 times more successful at acquiring new clients than Facebook or Twitter.
<h3></h3>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">5. Mobile Responsiveness</span></h3>
<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/277125/share-of-website-traffic-coming-from-mobile-devices/">As of the first quarter of 2018</a>, 51.77% of global web traffic originated from mobile devices, meaning a mobile responsive landing page is guaranteed to boost conversions. Mobile responsive landing pages are pages that are designed to display on mobile devices with minimal resizing, panning and scrolling. It’s re-arranging the elements of the page to comfortably fit within the confines of a smaller screen. Landing pages with a mobile page have an average conversion rate of 11.70%, in comparison to those that don’t have a mobile page which converts on average at 10.70%.
<h3></h3>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">6. Lower Word Count</span></h3>
It’s reported that 29.5% of landing pages have too much copy, with an average conversion rate of 11.10%. Landing pages that are word-count-conscious convert on average at 14.30%. The content on a landing page should briefly explain the value of offer clearly, simply, and in a compelling way.

What Converts Landing Pages?

<h1>Top 10 Typography Trends You Don't Want to Miss in 2018</h1>
<h2></h2>
<h2><b></b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Font vs. Typeface:</span></h2>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The choice you make for your brand’s font is an important one because the right one conveys so much about your brand. So, when choosing your font it’s a good idea to know what you’re actually looking for, which is typefaces. You may see the terms “font” and “typeface” used interchangeably, but they refer to separate facets of text display. </span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“A typeface is a set of one or more fonts each composed of glyphs that share common design features.”Like people, typefaces have personalities and moods. It’s the design we often call today “font” such as Arial, New York Times, or Courier. But the font incorporates the typeface plus the attributes, such as the style (bold, Italic, etc). No typeface is equally created, they come in all shapes and sizes, and each one has its own style and characteristic, just like your brand. </span>

&nbsp;
<h2></h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/10-e1529352989187.png"><img class="wp-image-3263 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/10-e1529352989187-170x300.png" alt="" width="275" height="485"></a>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">2017 top favorite fonts:</span></h2>
&nbsp;
<ol>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Helvetica</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Arial</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Georgia</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gotham </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Myriad Pro</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Corbel</span></li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">2018 trends from <a href="https://www.marketingprofs.com/chirp/2018/33580/top-10-typography-trends-of-2018-infographic">Marketprofs</a>:</span></h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serifs will dominate</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Retro Makes a comeback</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bigger is better</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cutouts and Overlays</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Highlights and underline</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hand drawn letters</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gradients will take over</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Custom fonts will emerge</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Colorful fonts will be the new black</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Transparency in typography</span></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to select the right font for your brand:</span></h2>
&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">1. Match font with your brand’s tone.</span></h3>
First, &nbsp;select a font that matches your brand's identity.

&nbsp;
<h3>2. Use Hierarchy.</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">After selecting the fonts placement, rank each font&nbsp;by importance. It’s suggested to never use more than three fonts because it'</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">s messy and inconsistent.&nbsp;</span>

&nbsp;
<h3>3. Know the basics of primary font types.</h3>
<h5>Serif</h5>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">A “serif” is a small line (sometimes called feet) at the end of each stroke in a letter or symbol. It's often present in print (books, newspapers, etc.). Sans Serif fonts create a classical and elegant appeal and talks to older audiences. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Popular serif fonts: Times New Roman, Georgia.</span>
<h5>Sans serif</h5>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Sans serif fonts&nbsp;don’t include lines or embellishments at the end of a stroke. It commonly appears on computer screens and smartphones. Therefore it's appealing to the younger generation.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Popular sans serif fonts: Helvetica, Arial, Futura. </span>
<h5>Script</h5>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">A highly decorative and elegant font is known as script fonts, with plenty of embellishment and stroke flourishes, and the letters connect. It's popular in the feminine market.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Popular script fonts: Lobster, Reklame Script. </span>
<h5>Handwriting</h5>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">A casual and personal approach is transpired from handwritten fonts. It's preferred by businesses who want their brand image to be relatable and approachable.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">E</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">xamples: Bradley hand, Kristen, and MV Boli.</span>
<h3></h3>
&nbsp;
<h3>4. Master mixing fonts.</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Try to select versatile typefaces which change smoothly yet noticeably to differentiate between functions within your design.</span>

&nbsp;
<h3>5. Preview overall design.</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">See how the font looks within the overall design. The goal is to remain consistent with the template.&nbsp;</span>

&nbsp;

Comment your favorite fonts!

Here's What You Need to Know about Typography

<h2>Video&nbsp;marketing is here, and it's here to stay</h2>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Today, video marketing usage is rising rapidly among brands and marketers. Having a strong video marketing strategy plays a crucial role in the success of your outreach and branding efforts. It’s one of the most effective ways to thrive in your industry and attract more clients. This is mainly because it’s the fastest and easiest way to learn and retain information. Hubspot recently reported that 99% of those who already do use video, say they'll continue to do so in 2018 and 65% of those who don't currently use video, say they plan to start in 2018. What does this mean? That video is here to stay. &nbsp;Think about this: <a href="https://mashable.com/2016/06/15/facebook-video-five-years/#t2eLSseRisqm">A Facebook executive predicted </a>that the platform will be ALL video in less than five years, and we already see that coming true.&nbsp;</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Other reasons why marketers rely on video:</span>
<ul>
 	<li>97% of marketers say video has helped increase user understanding of their product or service.</li>
 	<li>95% of people have watched an explainer video to learn more about a product or service.</li>
 	<li>76% of businesses say it helped them increase traffic.</li>
 	<li>83% of consumers would consider sharing it with their friends.</li>
 	<li>80% of marketers say video has increased dwell time on their website.</li>
 	<li>85% of people say they’d like to see more video from brands in 2018.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">How to use it to your advantage:</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Live Video/ Live Streaming</span></h3>
<ul>
 	<li><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">82% of consumers prefer live video from a brand instead of social posts.</span></i></li>
</ul>
Live videos give a unique perspective on the behind-the-scenes of our company. Here you can live stream interviews, internal and external events, Q&amp;As, presentations, and encourage engagement with viewers by commenting with questions.

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Video Tutorials/ Demo</span></h3>
<ul>
 	<li><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">91% of customers have watched a tutorial video to learn about a product or service.</span></i></li>
 	<li><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">79% of customers would rather watch an explainer video to learn about a product than read text.</span></i></li>
</ul>
Showcase how your product or service works. Here you can take someone who is unfamiliar with your products and walk them through how it works to allow prospects to fully grasp its value and potential.

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brand Video</span></h3>
<ul>
 	<li>81% of people have been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand's video.</li>
</ul>
A solid brand video is the best way to increase relatability and trust by showcasing your company’s vision, mission, value, or products and services. You can even display your employee’s individual passions to allow viewers to connect. The ultimate goal is to build awareness around your company and attract your target audience. &nbsp;Check out the Spectruss<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SPECTRUSS/videos/1689108261197116/"> video</a>.

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Case Study and Customer Testimonial Videos</span></h3>
<ul>
 	<li>The top three most effective video types are product demo videos (49%), tutorial videos (50%), and customer testimonial videos (51%). (Forbes)</li>
</ul>
One of the most effective ways to build trust is by showcasing your happy and loyal customers. Describe the challenges and how your company helped them meet their goals.

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Expert Interviews</span></h3>
<ul>
 	<li>94% of marketers who use influencer marketing find it an effective practice, and can generate up to 11x the ROI of traditional advertising.</li>
</ul>
Find the influencers or thought leaders in your industry and conduct short interviews on camera. This is a great way to build credibility and establish authority with your target audience.

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">360-Degree/ VR Video</span></h3>
<ul>
 	<li><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">90% of Americans believe that content will be better in 360-degree video than in a traditional one.</span></i></li>
 	<li><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">59% of businesses that used VR video for marketing purposes said that is was an effective marketing tool.</span></i></li>
</ul>
Virtual reality allows viewers to navigate and control their experience. Brands should consider leveraging virtual reality at conferences and industry tradeshows.

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">When creating your video, think about these questions:</span>
<ol>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Who's your target audience?</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What's the goal? </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When and where to share your videos?</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What's the budget?</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Are there additional creative requirements?</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Who will be featured?</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">How long should it be?</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Is it a series of videos?</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;

Why Use Video Marketing?

<h2>Ten questions with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinaragon/">Justin Aragon</a>, Creative Director here at Spectruss</h2>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/justin.jpg"><img class="wp-image-3195 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/justin-300x233.jpg" alt="" width="517" height="401"></a>

Tell us how your background in architecture has shaped your career?

<b>"Architecture is built for permanence. My architectural training and knowledge of the classics have helped me identify and incorporate the qualities of timeless design to every project. Staying relevant over time is very important to me."</b>

How does working at Spectruss&nbsp;excite you?

<b>"Working with an enthusiastic team, great clients, unique projects and leading the creative side of the business excites me every morning!"</b>

In your opinion, what differentiates Spectruss?

<b>"People usually come up to me and say… “I can tell when you guys did it.” We’ve built a more modern identity that separates us from others."&nbsp;&nbsp;</b>

Describe your creative process.

<b>"Developing a strong concept and letting that blossom effortlessly."</b>

During the creative process, what should others keep in mind?

<b>"Step 1: Question everything. Step 2: Have an answer. Step 3: Slay."</b>

What does strategic design mean to you?

<b>"Flawlessness. In reference to the previous question: If you have an answer or a reason for every design decision then you’ve developed a superb strategy!"</b>

Can you give us a tip for success?

<b>"Show… Don’t Tell."</b>

Do you have any inspirations?

"<b>Less is More - Mies Van Der Rohe"</b>

Are you seeing any trends?

<b>"I only like trends that have an ability to become a classic. But I always feel like the trendy thing to do is to not be trendy."</b>

Any advice?

<b>"Give white space a chance!"</b>

&nbsp;

Q & A: Justin Aragon, Creative Director at Spectruss

<h2>A few tips to better your editing skills</h2>
As the content manager, editing is an integral part of my job and is expected to meet high standards. At first, this role was intimidating because I know everyone makes mistakes. After editing hundreds of pieces and learning from past mistakes, my fear turned into confidence. Within this process, I discovered ten editing tips below from hard-learned lessons that can improve your editing skills.
<h3>1. Start with technical errors</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Here is where you extensively check for spelling and grammar. I recommend using grammar-checking apps like <a href="https://www.grammarly.com/">Grammarly</a>. </span>
<h3>2. Pick up some of the proofreading tricks below:</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Switch up the time and setting you're reading in</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Isolate each sentence</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Have someone else read it</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/binoculars.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3168" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/binoculars.png" alt="" width="53" height="53"></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Read out loud</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Change up font type, size, or color</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/font-symbol-of-letter-a.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3170" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/font-symbol-of-letter-a.png" alt="" width="45" height="44"></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Point at the screen as you read</span></p>

<h3>3. Check consistency</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Overall, your content messaging should be consistent throughout your piece. Read through your content and eliminate any unnecessary words that don’t make sense. Sometimes these words are used to express a thought or used repeatedly.</span>
<h3>4. Have style manual handy</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Having your preferred style manual by your side is extremely helpful during uncertainty. &nbsp;I personally use the Associated Press Stylebook as a reference guide. </span>
<h3>5. Double check EVERY name, link, fact, stat, etc.</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">You never want to misspell someone’s name, especially a client’s name. Incorrect information can be misleading and audiences will question your credibility. The only way to uncover these preventable mistakes is to question and check everything. &nbsp;</span>
<h3>6. Look for passive voice</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">This is commonly known as a bad writing habit. You always want to try writing in active voice. Eliminate passive voice by making the subject do the action. For example, “Tickets may be purchased at the gate.” is passive. To be active, say, “Purchase tickets at the door.”</span>
<h3>7. Cut down the number of words, but not ideas</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Check to see if you’re using words exactly the way you intended. Start cutting down words with adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions. </span>
<h3>8. Keep a list of past mistakes</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">A list of your editing mistakes isn’t there to remind you of failure. It’s there to remind you not to make those same mistakes again. &nbsp;A successful writer can identify their editing weaknesses, and having this list in front of you can help reinforce them. </span>
<h3>9. Use Command + F (Mac) or Control + F (PC)</h3>
This simple feature can save you from making a mistake at the hit of a button. All you do is press Command or Control + F, type in your problem word or phrase, &nbsp;let your browser take you to the word in your piece, and swap it out with the correct one.
<h3>10. Finish where you started</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Check spelling, grammar, and confirm names one last time before publishing. And again. And again.</span>

<em>What are your favorite editing tips? Share them in the comments section below.</em>

Content Marketing: 10 Editing Tips

<h2><em>Spectruss, a creative agency, continues to grow&nbsp;</em></h2>
<b>Chattanooga, TN - May 22nd, 2018</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">- Spectruss, a creative agency based out to Chattanooga, TN, is excited to announce its recent hiring of Erin Taylor as the Client Relations and Content Manager while promoting Annie Tarver to Marketing Strategist. &nbsp;</span>

Erin Taylor comes to Spectruss with more than four years of creative writing and client relationship-building experience. After graduating from The University of South Carolina in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Taylor transitioned into the agency environment to enhance her client’s brand image and reputation through her communication skills. Taylor will provide content for Spectruss and its clients, including articles, social media posts, press releases, and any other copy associated with the agency. Other tasks include in-depth market research, review analytical data, collaboration with the creative team, and building and maintaining positive relationships with Spectruss clients.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_1015.jpg"><img class="wp-image-3141 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_1015-245x300.jpg" alt="" width="218" height="267"></a>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinmarietaylor/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinmarietaylor/</span></a></p>
Annie Tarver, who was recently the social media coordinator, attained Hubspot certifications for Spectruss, as well as a Google Partnership. Tarver researches data and trends within the marketplace to coordinate a precise marketing plan while specializing in Google Adwords and Analytics for Spectruss Clients. Tarver is an experienced social media coordinator with a demonstrated history of working in the internet industry. She is skilled in Google Adwords, SEO, Online Advertising, Microsoft Excel, and Customer Service. Tarver has a strong media and communications professional presence with a Bachelor’s degree focused in Business Marketing from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_0296.jpg"><img class="wp-image-3142 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_0296-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="254" height="254"></a>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/annietarver/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/annietarver/</span></a></p>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">For more information about Spectruss, its clients, and services, visit </span><a href="https://spectruss.com"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://spectruss.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">###</span></p>
About Spectruss

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Spectruss is a creative agency based out of Chattanooga, TN that specializes in Marketing Solutions utilizing custom website development, graphic design, photography, online and print advertising, social media management, review management and data analysis. Its mission is to exert passion through every project, design, or website development they touch.</span>

Spectruss Welcomes New Team Member and Promotes Social Media Coordinator

<h2>One of the most robust and advanced E-Commerce Platforms in the industry</h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"></h3>
&nbsp;

&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Overview</b></h3>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Accuserv, a national distribution company focused on providing products and services to multi-unit operators, always stays one step ahead within the supply-chain industry. The company knew they were embarking on fulfilling a vast need for large multi-unit operators as a unique supply resource, but that was not enough. They wanted to position themselves to take advantage of the latest innovations and technology to provide high-quality and price-transparent products to their growing customer base.&nbsp;So, they reached out to Spectruss to lend a hand.&nbsp;</span>

&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Challenge</b></h3>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2013, Accuserv and Spectruss started a journey that would revolutionize and disrupt the entire supply-chain industry. At the time, Accuserv barely had a website, and their branding and marketing was an afterthought. Their partner list included multi-unit, Fortune 500 powerhouses such as Yum! Brands, Humana, Regions Bank, and Chick-fil-A, just to name a few. Our goals over the coming years were to take their brand identity and transform it into a cutting-edge company while building a customized E-Commerce System unique to each of Accuserv’s clients. The result: a complete disruption of the supply-chain industry.</span>

&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: center;"></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Our Approach</b></h3>
<img class="wp-image-3114 size-full aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Accuserv_CaseStudy_WooNet.jpg" alt="" width="1440" height="400">

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Knowing the importance of identity, we started our multi-year project by updating the branding, marketing collateral, and presentational website for Accuserv. This initial project built the base for things to come while giving the sales team the tools they need to land more clients. Next on the agenda, Spectruss set their aim on developing a customized E-Commerce System that would connect with Accuserv’s NetSuite System, and give each of Accuserv’s&nbsp;clients a customized ordering system. Thus, changing the landscape of multiple industries.</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">At Spectruss, we know a brand represents more than their logo. So, our team enhanced Accuserv’s brand identity and reputation by:</span>
<p style="text-align: center;">Revamping their brand image</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/camera-portrait-mode.png"><img class="wp-image-3202 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/camera-portrait-mode.png" alt="" width="28" height="28"></a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Creating a revolutionary and customized E-Commerce experience</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cart-of-ecommerce.png"><img class="wp-image-3206 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cart-of-ecommerce.png" alt="" width="29" height="29"></a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Social media management</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/social-media.png"><img class="wp-image-3203 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/social-media.png" alt="" width="39" height="39"></a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Seamless website design</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/website-design-symbol.png"><img class="wp-image-3204 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/website-design-symbol.png" alt="" width="30" height="30"></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Digital marketing</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/email-envelope-outline-shape-with-rounded-corners.png"><img class="wp-image-3205 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/email-envelope-outline-shape-with-rounded-corners.png" alt="" width="28" height="28"></a></p>

<h3 style="text-align: center;"></h3>
&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Customized E-Commerce Platform</b></h3>
&nbsp;

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Accuserv_CaseStudy_ECOM.jpg"><img class="wp-image-3116 size-full aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Accuserv_CaseStudy_ECOM.jpg" alt="" width="1440" height="400"></a>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">We created one of the most robust and advanced E-Commerce platforms in the industry that allows Accuserv to assess and assimilate data while customizing the scope of services for each and every client. Now, intrinsically unique operators from healthcare to hospitality can individually access their own customized profile, on their own Accuserv website, populated with all of the products for their specific facility needs. </span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Our devoted custom approach focused on localization, personalization, and customer experience. We wanted Accuserv’s multiple industry&nbsp;clients&nbsp;to be wowed at its innovative and cost-efficient, streamlined E-Commerce System.</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Accuserv is now able to present these benefits to their clients, positioning the company as a disruptor within the multi-billion dollar, supply-chain industry:</span>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Customized E-Commerce shopping experience for each partner</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/customer.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3217" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/customer.png" alt="" width="41" height="41"></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Simple and automatic order generation for effortless fulfillment and processing</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/blockchain.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3218" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/blockchain.png" alt="" width="40" height="40"></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Consistent, transparent and guaranteed, competitive pricing</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/transparency.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3219" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/transparency.png" alt="" width="41" height="41"></a></p>
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center;"></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Social Media Management + News</b></h3>
&nbsp;

<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Accuserv_CaseStudy_PostImpressions.png.jpg"><img class="wp-image-3117 size-full aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Accuserv_CaseStudy_PostImpressions.png.jpg" alt="" width="1440" height="400"></a>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Increased brand awareness by creating authentic and shareable content for Accuserv’s social media channels <a href="https://twitter.com/accu_serv">Twitter,</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oneaccuserv/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/accuserv-lighting-&amp;-equipment/">LinkedIn.</a></span>

&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Responsive Web Design</b></h3>
&nbsp;

Our professional graphic designers designed an innovative and engaging website that maximizes ease of use for Accuserv’s clients, ensuring user satisfaction and conversion increase. With extensive research and data analysis, we custom built the web pages to achieve SEO support for better search engine rankings and consistency across all mediums. Our web development plans always consist of three necessities: attract, convert, and repeat.

&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Email Marketing Campaigns</b></h3>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Accuserv_CaseStudy_.EMAIL_.jpg"><img class="wp-image-3113 size-full aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Accuserv_CaseStudy_.EMAIL_.jpg" alt="" width="1440" height="400"></a>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Effectively drafted and delivered real-value content that captivated Accuserv’s innovative supply-chain solutions that help their&nbsp;clients succeed. We focused the messaging on valuable and exclusive information by educating subscribers through Accuserv case studies and latest news stories. Our goal was to capture recipient’s attention and&nbsp;share the company's rapidly evolving capabilities. After distribution, we carefully tracked and monitored performance metrics to improve future campaigns. </span>

&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Results</b></h3>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Accuserv_CaseStudy_PagePostEngagements.png.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3118 size-full" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Accuserv_CaseStudy_PagePostEngagements.png.jpg" alt="" width="1440" height="400"></a>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Twitter-Engagements.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3418" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Twitter-Engagements-300x169.png" alt="" width="483" height="272"></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Email campaign open rate:</span><b> 26% </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">(compared to industry average of 17.7% ) </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Email campaign click rate: </span><b>3.4%</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (compared to industry average of 2.4%) </span></p>
&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Testimonial</b></h3>
&nbsp;

<em><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Spectruss has played an integral part in building Accuserv to the revolutionary and disruptive supply-chain solutions company it is now. From custom built E-Commerce Systems that integrate into our NetSuite platform, to complete inbound and outbound sales funnel development, Spectruss has been there every step of the way.”</span></em>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Buddy Bockweg, President - Accuserv</span></i>

&nbsp;

Disrupting Multi-billion Dollar Supply Chain Industry by Rethinking E-commerce: A Spectruss Case Study

Figuring out the best times to post on social media is never easy. People browse at different days and times depending on the platform. The ideal time to post on each social network is when your audience is most likely to see and engage with your content. But, how do you figure out those perfect times? In reality, there are no exact magical times to place every post in front of your whole audience. But, based on research, some posting times are proven to be more effective than others. Sprout Social also furthered this specific topic and researched best posting times for different industries.

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Thankfully, there is a handful of secondary research available to use as a resource. In fact, </span><a href="https://coschedule.com/blog/best-times-to-post-on-social-media/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CoSchedule</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> recently combined its data with more than twenty other studies on this specific topic that claims its findings will help you get more traffic, more engagement, and more followers. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Before diving into the best times it’s important to consider audience location. Eighty percent of the U.S. population is in Central and Eastern time zones. So, these time zones would be ideal for a United States audience. If you’re trying to reach a global audience, it’s recommended to create different social handles for different regions. Or, you can target their time zones according to demographic research from Google Analytics. </span>

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<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/app-icon2.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3079 size-thumbnail" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/app-icon2-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150"></a>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram audiences are engaged throughout the week, thanks to our mobile devices.</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Best days: Monday and Thursday.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Best times: Between 8-9 a.m., 2 a.m., and 5 p.m. Avoid posting from 3-4 p.m.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Sunday is found to be the least engaging day. </span>

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<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2000px-F_icon.svg_.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3081 size-thumbnail" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2000px-F_icon.svg_-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150"></a>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Facebook is still dominating social media with 1.4 billion daily active users. The best days to post is during the workweek because users are known to be active on their computers and mobile devices. Use Facebook analytics and</span><a href="http://www.fanpagekarma.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Fanpage Karm</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">a(free) to track data and find best times based on engagements. Analyze every detail of your Facebook’s posts and determine best posting times with Fanpage Karma, a free analytics platform.</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Best days: Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Best times: 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Posting at 3 p.m. will increase clicks, while 1 p.m. will increase shares. </span>

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<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/square-twitter-256.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3083 size-thumbnail" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/square-twitter-256-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150"></a>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Users are often online scrolling through their feed during their downtime. Use Twitter Analytics and </span><a href="https://moz.com/followerwonk/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Followerwonk</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to track and determine best times to tweet. </span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Best day: Wednesday.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Best times: 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 5-6 p.m.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">B2B performs 16% better during business hours. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">B2C performs 17 % better on weekends. </span>

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<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/square-linkedin-512.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3084 size-thumbnail" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/square-linkedin-512-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150"></a>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">LinkedIn is used by 25% of U.S. adults, mainly for professionals during work hours. </span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Best day: Aim for the middle of the week: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Best times: 5-6 p.m., 5-6 p.m., and 12 p.m.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Best time to post if midweek from 5-6 p.m.</span>

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<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How do find the best time to post?</span></h2>
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<b>Know your key audience </b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Research and build a profile for your audience based on demographic and psychographic information. What social networks do they check frequently? Where do they get their information? What websites do they visit?</span>

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<b>Test different posting times</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Figure out best times to post based on previous post engagements.</span>

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<b>Consider audience location</b>

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<b>Watch competitors</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">See when your competition receives high engagements and what type of content they are posting.</span>

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<b>Continue to monitor and tack</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">While monitoring the results of your social media marketing campaign is essential, it’s also important to see who is saying what about your business. This provides an opportunity to respond with answers and be aware of what’s circulating. &nbsp;</span>

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Best times to post on social media: Based on new research

First, let’s do a brief history lesson on the findings of SMART goals. In the 60’s, researchers began examining the power of goal setting and the first published paper appeared in 1968 by Dr. Edwin Locke. “Toward a Theory of Task Motivation and Incentives” confirmed that set goals do in fact result in superior organizational performance. Later in 1981, George T. Doran furthered Dr. Locke’s findings and laid out the main principles of SMART goals in, “There’s a S.M.A.R.T way to write management’ goals and objective.” His simple, yet mighty formulation consist of:

<b>   <a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-04-23-at-11.06.27-AM.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-3062 " src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-04-23-at-11.06.27-AM.png" alt="" width="1002" height="249" /></a></b>

<b>          </b><b>                  </b><b>                  </b><b>                 </b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Choosing goals for marketers can sometimes be a hit or miss because you have to play the guessing game at picking the right goal. Incorporating these five areas into your marketing goal will allow your team to hit r</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">ealistic achievable numbers. </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here is how you set it:</span>

<b>Specific</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Set each particular metric you seek to improve. This includes specifying real numbers, deadlines, and team members assigned. Focused metrics can be coverage, visitors, news flow, number of social media posts, Facebook likes, etc. For example, one of my previous campaigns included, “Increase attendance of University of South Carolina students at the April 27th event by five percent.” Which leads to the next target...</span>

<b>Measurable</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: As shown in my example above, you need to state a measurable objective outcome. Like achieving an X percentage increase or gain at least X positive news stories. Objectives should always be clearly defined and concrete instead of vague like “I want to improve my social media channels.” This is crucial in your planning because not only will it show you where to spend your time and money, but also is the o</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">nly way to prove it was worth doing.</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> The more specific, and quantifiable they are, the easier they will be to evaluate. </span>

<b>Attainable</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Well thought-out objectives are </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">realistic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. It should be attainable, yet challenging. Your goal objectives should not seem unreasonably high because this might result in failure. Start with your </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">own </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">analytics and based on that starting point, set your objective(s) in small increments towards reaching your overarching goal. </span>

<b>Relevant</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Each goal and objective placed should move you towards your company’s general marketing plan goal. As well as, remaining consistent with current industry trends. When drafting your goals seek input from management, refrain from lengthy time frames and get a second professional opinion.</span>

<b>Time-bound</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Creating tangible deadlines will help you and your team defeat procrastination. This builds consistency and enhances productivity. </span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over time, as you monitor and track your SMART goals, you will start to see your company or organization rise to the top internally and externally. Good luck! </span></h3>

The Great and Mighty S.M.A.R.T Goals

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<h3>Learn how you can increase the open rates in your emails.</h3>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-3030 size-full" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Tech_12.jpg" alt="" width="3500" height="2333">
<ol>
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<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Appealing subject line</span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">To make sure your hard work doesn’t immediately get tossed into the trash, your subject line needs to convince people that your email is worth opening. Introducing the email’s call to action with a short and sweet phrase does this. The subject line needs to make audiences feel special, so use personalized phrases.. Including the words “thank you” have the highest above-average engagement levels (Adestra, 2015). Another way to grab attention is by using numbers and compelling questions, especially if you know it’s relevant to the recipient. </span>

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<ol>
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<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Use customized content </span></h4>
</li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">People are drawn to content that is intended for them. The open rate for emails with a personalized message was 17.6% compared to 11.4% without (Statista, 2014). Hence, do your research and have an understanding of who your different target audiences are and their </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">wants</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Then, Segment your subscribers into lists by demographic and psychographic information, to increase relevance. According to the Direct Marketing Association, segmented and targeted emails generate 58% of all revenue. It’s &nbsp;important to avoid incorporating spam words like: “Free access”, “Get it Now”, or “Winner” that may make the email appear in the junk mail. Also, build organic SEO by including keywords and phrases into your email’s content to create an opportunity for click-throughs to your website. </span>

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<ol>
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<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Valuable content builds trust</span></h4>
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</ol>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Emails should offer something of value. Whether it’s an exclusive value (offers), valuable information (tips), or emotional value (inspirational), if subscribers receive value from what you, they will start to build trust and continue to open your emails. Keep in mind the frequency of your sent emails. Hubspot reported that 78% of consumers have unsubscribed from emails because a brand was sending too many emails. Eighty six percent of consumers would like to receive promotional emails from companies they do business with at least monthly, and 15% would like to get them daily (Statista, 2015). </span>

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<ol>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">
<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Land email at the perfect time</span></h4>
</li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">If your first email does not receive your desired open rate, it’s ok because you can use it as an opportunity to test the best delivery time. You want to schedule the delivery time when a majority of your subscribers are actively looking through their inbox. So, once you send a test, analyze and choose the distribution times that produce higher open rates. Hubspot reports that 11 a.m. ET has the highest click-through rate for email sends. Another noteworthy time finding from Tomasz Tunguz is, 66% of unsubscribers occur between 5 and 10 p.m.</span>

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Secrets to Getting Your Email Blasts Opened

<h3><em>Take a risk. Increase your e-commerce business to new levels.</em></h3>
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<h5>If you follow these steps, the payoff will be well worth the hard work:</h5>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-2827 size-full" src="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/pexels-photo-230544.jpeg" alt="" width="525" height="350">
<h4><strong>Research the Current Competitors in Your Marketplace</strong></h4>
Knowing where your business stands among competitors is the most important step to take. <em>Why?</em> Because there are numerous choices online for consumers to choose from. In order to ensure your business is attracting the most attention, it is imperative to see what your competitors are doing well and capitalize on what they are not.
<h4><strong>Use Google Adwords</strong></h4>
With Google Adwords, there are two networks to use in hopes of achieving the highest position possible on SEO:
<h5><strong>Search Network</strong></h5>
When you advertise on the Search Network, your ad can show next to search results, on other Google sites like Maps and Shopping.

Acquiring the perfect list of keywords is vital to the success of all search campaigns. Fortunately, there is a tool called Keyword Planner that sorts through all past searches for specific words and gives ideas for other words that might work best within the campaign.
<h5><strong>Display Network</strong></h5>
Advertising on the Display Network allows&nbsp;you to capture potential consumers on&nbsp;their favorite websites, YouTube, Gmail accounts, mobile devices and apps, through different types of ads.
<h5><strong>Four different types of ads on the Display Network:&nbsp;</strong></h5>
<em>Responsive Ads</em>

<em>Uploaded Image Ads</em>

<em>Engagement Ads</em>

<em>Gmail Ads</em>

The Display Network gives the opportunity to grab the customers' attention earlier in the buying cycle. Everyone knows that ads can be very boring and repetitive but by creating ads that are appealing to the eye, consumers' attention can be caught quickly and efficiently.
<h4>REMARKETING IS ESSENTIAL</h4>
Remarketing ads on both the search and display networks&nbsp;helps potential customers remember your business.

<em>Tip:&nbsp;</em>Tag your site for remarketing -&nbsp;Add the remarketing global site tag and event snippets to your website to show ads to people who have visited your desktop,&nbsp;mobile website, or app.
<h4>Create Ads to Run on Social Media Platforms</h4>
<em>Running ads on social media platforms helps:</em>

Raise brand awareness

Gain bigger followings on social media channels
<h4>Rigorously Post on All Social Media Platforms</h4>
<em>Ideas for potential posts:</em>

Introduce new products

Run promotions

Discuss current social topics
<h4>Send Email Campaigns</h4>
Promote new things happening within the company

Give information about upcoming promotions

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<h3>Applying these steps to your e-commerce business model could help your business reach new heights you never thought possible.</h3>

Don't Hold Back Your E-Commerce

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Messaging for a social media strategy is the number one way to gain public favor and increase brand integrity. It’s important to balance your content production of frequency and quality. While sales are important, it shouldn’t be the primary focus of all your content. No one wants to follow an account that feels forced. So, when drafting your next content calendar, add the 70/20/10 rule:</span>

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<b>70 percent</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of your content build brand awareness.</span>

This content should focus on your brand story in a fun and engaging manner. Use it as an opportunity to create your brand voice and differentiate yourself from others. Aim to make your posts become shareable. A few examples are:
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<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sharing an inspirational story</span></h4>
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<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Posting videos</span></h4>
</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">
<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Giving shout-outs</span></h4>
</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">
<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sharing interesting articles</span></h4>
</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">
<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Posting funny memes</span></h4>
</li>
</ul>
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<b>20 percent</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of content should be other people’s content- shares and reactions</span>

Here is where you share the love and build your network. It’s a perfect opportunity for relationship-building with other brands, influencers, and followers. Make sure the content is still consistent with the mission and culture of your business

<span style="font-weight: 400;">because you don’t want to confuse your audience. Your brand should genuinely believe in what’s being shared.</span>

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<b>10 percent</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of content should be promotional</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The smallest portion of your content should be self-promotions. Your sales pitch should remain just as seamless as the other weekly posts. Remember, social media is communicating </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">with</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> your audience, not </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">at</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Each post doesn’t &nbsp;have to be completely straightforward like, “Buy now!” or “Partner now!”. Sharing your success stories or case studies is a more subtle way of communication your call-to-action. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span>

The Perfect Formula for Your Social Media Strategy: 70/20/10 Rule

<h2>Love Live Music? Chattanooga’s Got You Covered</h2>
We may not be Nashville or Memphis, but don’t count Chattanooga out for great music. If you just can’t live without great live music, you’ve come to the right place.

Not only does Chattanooga have a vibrant music scene, but it’s always growing and getting better.
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Moon River Music Festival</h3>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-2903 size-full" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Moon-River-660x330.jpg" alt="" width="660" height="330">

Four years into Moon River, Drew Holcomb, founder of the Music Festival, decided to branch out of showcasing his hometown of Memphis to explore other beautiful cities in Tennessee. Once Drew laid his eyes on Coolidge Park, he knew it was the perfect spot to bring people together to listen to incredible music.

The festival will be held September 8-9 at Coolidge Park in Chattanooga, TN. It will be the first year Chattanooga has held the Moon River Festival.

<strong><em>To find out more information, check out&nbsp;<span style="color: #0000ff;"><a style="color: #0000ff;" href="https://moonriverfestival.com">https://moonriverfestival.com</a></span></em></strong>

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<h3>Chattanooga is a city that loves sharing new music all-year round. Here’s a list of some of the top-rated places for live music in the Scenic City:</h3>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/pexels-photo-196652.jpeg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2906 size-full" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/pexels-photo-196652.jpeg" alt="" width="525" height="350"></a>
<h3></h3>
<h3><strong><a href="https://www.tivolichattanooga.com/soldiers-sailors-memorial-auditorium">Memorial Auditorium/Walker Theatre</a></strong></h3>
This 3,866-seat auditorium has been around since 1921 and has hosted acts such as James Brown, Phish and Alice in Chains and Shooter Jennings.

Upstairs from the main hall of Memorial Auditorium is the Walker Theatre, a more intimate setting that seats 851 people. This area may be smaller, but the acts are just as big in notoriety.
<h3><strong><a href="https://www.thesignaltn.com/">The Signal</a></strong></h3>
Chattanooga’s newest music venue, this place can has a standing-room capacity of 1,300 and is located on Chestnut Street in the Southside, conveniently located near Finley Stadium, Chattanooga Brewing Company and Southside Social.
<h3><strong><a href="https://www.tivolichattanooga.com/">Tivoli Theatre</a></strong></h3>
Known as the Jewel of the South, this beautiful historic theater has been entertaining Chattanoogans for more than 90 years. Located in the heart of downtown on Broad Street, the interior boasts the a high-domed ceiling, a grand lobby, crystal chandeliers and an elegant foyer, and hosts some of the most famous musicians in history, including The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, John Prine and Lucinda Williams.
<h3><strong><a href="http://revelryroom.co/">Revelry Room</a></strong></h3>
Located downtown at the Chattanooga Choo Choo, this intimate venue opened in 2015 and is one of Chattanooga’s most popular places to see live music. Adjoining the venue is Hush Lounge, where those who want a quieter place to talk and have drinks are welcome. Nearby is Passenger Street, Songbirds Guitar Museum, and&nbsp; luxury apartments. Also, there are plenty of restaurants and shops within walking distance on Main Street.
<h3><strong><a href="http://www.jjsbohemia.com/">JJ’s Bohemia</a></strong></h3>
JJs Bohemia is on MLK Blvd., what used to be known as Ninth Street, or The Big Nine, as locals used to say. At one time, music clubs lined the street, filling downtown Chattanooga with the sounds of jazz, blues, and R&amp;B. That time has passed, but JJ’s Bohemia keeps the the music alive. The place is small and funky, but the shows are amazing. If you go, you’ll see some of the best up-and-coming national acts and the best bands from around the city. The beer is cheap, the place is small, the shows start late, and it can get crowded, but JJ’s is known for consistently great music.
<h3><strong><a href="http://thehonestpint.com/">The Honest Pint</a></strong></h3>
This neighborhood Irish Pub is located in Chattanooga’s downtown Patten Parkway. Not only is it known for its live music, which ranges from rock and roll to traditional Irish music, but it’s also known for its delicious food and outstanding beer selection. The tater tots, which are cooked in duck fat, are are to die for. The pub also features plenty of pool tables and dart boards upstairs.
<h3><strong><a href="https://songbirdsguitars.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiA1O3RBRBHEiwAq5fD_Jih8VydTv1COo6LZDnhHBfyyf49vS7qGiaYNVYgqYYSyRgh4vBzshoCbMoQAvD_BwE">Songbirds Guitar Museum</a></strong></h3>
Not only is this the home to what many consider the premier guitar private guitar collection in the world, with a around 1,700 historic guitars from the 1930s to the 1970s, but it’s also becoming known for its impressive live music shows, where nationally-known guitarists show off their skills.

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<h5><em>If free live music is your thing, then the<span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong> <a style="color: #0000ff;" href="http://www.nightfallchattanooga.com/">Nightfall Music Series</a> </strong></span>and <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong><a style="color: #0000ff;" href="http://www.riverfrontnights.com/index.html">Riverfront Nights</a> </strong></span>are for you.&nbsp;</em></h5>
&nbsp;
<h3><strong>Want more? Check out<a href="https://www.chattanoogafun.com/blog/post/music-venues/"><span style="color: #0000ff;"> this list</span> </a>of even more great places to catch Chattanooga’s live music scene.&nbsp;</strong></h3>

Chattanooga, New Home of Moon River Music Festival

<h3>Benefits of Organic SEO</h3>
Eighty percent of organic SEO attracts search traffic. Why? Because organic search engine optimization does not feel forced or unnatural. In fact, it is known as natural SEO because it focuses on unpaid methods like high-quality content creation, link-building, and keyword enhancement which greatly increases a site’s page rank. Think of organic SEO as organisms, meaning they will grow, expand, and adapt over time in response to readers’ desire.

In present-day SEO, you can not include as many keywords as possible to reach the people who are searching for you. It actually does the opposite. Loading your webpage with keywords to manipulate a site’s ranking can be recognized as “keyword stuffing”, harming your site’s ranking. So, although producing organic SEO is time-consuming, it is a valuable asset in increasing your websites’ traffic.

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<h3>Benefits:</h3>
<h3>1. Low-cost investment.</h3>
While pay-per-click ads are guaranteed to be placed in front of potential website viewers, the cost adds up over time and only ends up reaching a smaller audience. With organic SEO, you are spending significantly less and building long-term ROI.
<h3>2. Credibility.</h3>
Seventy percent of the links search users click on are organic. Why? Because people can tell the difference between forced content and natural. Organic SEO builds your company’s credibility, creating long-lasting relationships.
<h3>3. Gain domain authority.</h3>
Using organic SEO increases your domain authority and increases your search rankings, pushing competitors down the list.
<h3>4. Long-term optimized search presence.</h3>
Organic SEO will forever remain on your site and Google will continue to give you more credit for links that have been linking to you. Meaning it will continue to increase rankings and long-term ROI.

Why SEO is Essential in Every Business

<h3 class="it1"><span class="i7 ">CISTECH’s Passion leads to Innovation </span></h3>
<p class="it1"><span class="i7 ">Our client CISTECH, INC., an XA service company, is excited to join the next generation of business technology leaders at Infor Partner Network (IPN). The company’s dedication to excellence within this industry directed them towards Infor’s XA and Birst solutions to gain a competitive edge in today’s manufacturing environment.</span></p>
<p class="it1"><span class="i7 ">IPN’s mission is to provide partners, like CISTECH, with world-class solutions to sell, the highest level of individual service, and a rich enablement program that serves as a foundation for building a profitable, predictable, and growing business. With Infor XA, CISTECH will access its discrete manufacturing system that covers every type of manufacturing, including engineer to order, configure to order, and high volume repetitive manufacturing.</span></p>
<p class="it1"><span class="i7 ">With the partnership investment and the company’s well-established reputation of experts and quality service, CISTECH has a promising future. As well as, positioning the company to surpass its goal of providing their customers significant benefits and success across the manufacturing industry in North America.</span></p>

<h5 class="it1">For more information, click the link below to read the full press release from CISTECH:</h5>
<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cistech-inc-joins-infor-partner-network-300618236.html">https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cistech-inc-joins-infor-partner-network-300618236.html</a>

Spectruss client, CISTECH, Inc. Joins Infor Partner Network

<h2>Get More Customer Reviews</h2>
According to a survey by Search Engine Land, 72% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations from real people. That means positive customer reviews may be the single most effective marketing tool out there for your business.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Screen-Shot-2018-02-21-at-1.20.02-PM.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-2864 size-full" src="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Screen-Shot-2018-02-21-at-1.20.02-PM.png" alt="" width="1135" height="146"></a>
<h4>But how do you do it?</h4>
At Spectruss, we provide services that get your customers spreading the good word about your business on the sites that matter. Our solution helps you tactfully ask and remind customers for feedback, guides them through the online review process, and gives you a chance to reach dissatisfied customers before they write a negative review.

The Review Management &amp; Automation service we offer allows your business to increase local search visibility and catch potential negative reviews before they get published.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Screen-Shot-2018-02-21-at-11.45.07-AM.png"><img class="alignright wp-image-2865 " src="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Screen-Shot-2018-02-21-at-11.45.07-AM-287x300.png" alt="" width="268" height="280"></a>
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<h3>Take a look to see how Spectruss established a successful review management campaign for Southeastern Endodontics.</h3>
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Before Spectruss, Southeastern Endodontics had a total of 5 customer reviews. Since adopting our services in March 2017, the dentistry practice has seen an immense amount of improvement.

<a href="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Screen-Shot-2018-02-21-at-10.58.51-AM.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-2849 " src="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Screen-Shot-2018-02-21-at-10.58.51-AM.png" alt="" width="742" height="283"></a>

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<span style="color: #000000;">Total New Reviews: 22</span><img class="wp-image-2872 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Screen-Shot-2018-02-21-at-1.26.22-PM.png" alt="" width="581" height="370">

<span style="color: #000000;">Average Review Rating: 4.82</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">Effected an increase of 1.02 star</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">33% increase in Overall Star Rating</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">157% increase in Total Review Count</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">Increase in Social Likes &amp; Checkins&nbsp;</span>

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<a href="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Screen-Shot-2018-02-21-at-3.33.45-PM.png"><img class="wp-image-2920 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Screen-Shot-2018-02-21-at-3.33.45-PM.png" alt="" width="841" height="113"></a>

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<h3>Matthew Brock, DDS, MSD</h3>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dr-brock.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-2880 size-medium" src="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dr-brock-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300"></a>

<b>Dr. Matthew Brock</b> is a graduate of University of Tennessee College of Dentistry and Boston University. He received his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies and Masters of Science in Dentistry at Boston University School of Dental Medicine (BUSDM). He&nbsp;is one of a distinguished few in the region that have achieved a Master’s degree in the science of endodontics.

Dr. Brock is a member of the American Dental Association, a Specialist Member of the American Association of Endodontists, and a member of the Tennessee Dental Association, Chattanooga Dental Society, Tennessee Association of Endodontists, and Georgia Association of Endodontists.
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<h3>"A little over a year ago I was looking into revamping our website and running an SEO on the site to keep everything up to speed.&nbsp; I knew of a few places to call and ran across Spectruss when they were one of the sponsors for an event at the Hunter Art Museum.&nbsp; I contacted Sam Silvey, President of Spectruss, and set up a meeting for my partner and I to meet with him and brainstorm about some ways to improve our online presence.&nbsp; Sam was great at listening to our perspective and concerns.&nbsp; In health care my partner and I have chosen to not really advertise much, but we do want a strong online presence as so many people use the internet to research and look for health care providers, even an address while they are on their way to the appointment.&nbsp; After listening to us, Sam had some great ideas of how to improve our site &amp; get feedback from our patients so that we could grow the practice and offer the best possible care to our patients.&nbsp; Sam has truly been great for my partner and I to work with through this process." &nbsp;-Matthew Brock DDS, MSD</h3>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span class="value">What are your customers saying?</span></h2>
<p class="detail" style="text-align: center;">Get your free report using our online review analysis system.</p>

<h2 class="detail" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://reviews.spectruss.com/">Click Here to Receive a Free Review Analysis</a></h2>

The Power of Local Search Optimization - Case Study of Southeastern Endodontics

Have you ever wondered if your phone or electronics are&nbsp;listening to your conversations? You talk about something new, for the first time, and then suddenly the ads on Facebook mobile are for what you just talked about? Maybe you plan an event and without scheduling it your phone already knows about it?
<h3>Voice Recordings and Software Listen to your Conversations</h3>
The digital age has introduced a new world of personal voice listening devices currently ranging from ones Xbox, Amazon Echo, smartphone, and even your Samsung smart TV. Most recently, in November of 2015, police began investigating a death where incriminating evidence was possible to be found near the crime via an Amazon Echo located inside the house. The Echo could have possibly picked up key information as it recorded. The police filed a warrant, but Amazon fired back with a motion which stopped them from using Amazon recordings on the ground that is going agents the first amendment and broke privacy laws.

The Amazon Echo is like a personal assistant and is constantly tuning into surrounding conversations which can spark the question of where all that personal information is stored. With this information, if you are in the privacy of your own home, is your voice recordings on the Echo protected by the first amendment? Could the device be impacting free expression and what ones says out loud in private? These are the kinds of questions that are coming up more frequently as listening devices enter in as evidence in a courtroom.

While it’s very possible that our devices are listening into conversations and making advertisements on the web related to those subjects, companies such as Google and Facebook deny giving information out to third parties. It could be from other methods such as when you download a new app and it asks for microphone privileges or the idea that we are searching for connections when we see advertisements. Looking for connections in everyday life is a human trait that could be making the digital generation more paranoid of possible coincidences.

The Future is Listening - Voice Recordings

Conversant Group, Chattanooga-based IT services and consulting company, recently launched their new logo designed by Spectruss creative director Justin Aragon. We took a moment to talk with Justin about logo design and his creative process. Justin is a Chattanooga local with a background in architecture design. You may have seen his logo work around the Chattanooga area including Cogent Studio, Passageways by AIA TN, and Hutton &amp; Smith Brewing Company.

&nbsp;

<strong>Q: What are some elements you like most about the new Conversant Group logo?</strong>

A: "The logo was designed to have one seamless singular line to construct the C and the G from the Conversant Group. The circular form is very friendly and evokes a continuous dynamic energy that also plays with the idea of "Connecting the Dots," something reflective of the company's ideals. I think those elements are what makes this logo special."

<strong>Q: How long did it take for the final design? Do you do lots of revisions?</strong>

A: "There was a total of 12 logos presented with multiple variations for the Conversant Group rebrand. I developed 5 initial conceptual designs and further explored elements that were successful from the first set as well as incorporating some feedback from the entire company. The second round of revisions included 7 logos and the new logo was chosen during the presentation. The final design only took a few minor refinements and additional variations and alternatives were added to the collection. The project spanned for about two months from conception to the completion of the company brand book."

<strong>Q: When designing a logo, what are some things you have to keep in mind?</strong>

A: "The most important thing to keep in mind when designing a logo is to not only design something beautiful&nbsp;but also create something that is meaningful and reflective of the brand or company. I like my logos to embody a sense of timelessness minimalism that stay relevant over time. It has to be technically legible, emotionally memorable... with a potential of being iconic!"

<strong>Q: What do you use to design? Ex: pen and paper, tablet, Illustrator...</strong>

A: "I usually start with typography, so searching for the right type to begin&nbsp;the project involves jumping straight to digital to begin the process. During conceptual meetings, I begin doodling rough ideas of imagery in my head, paper, tablet, or whatever I can grab. But... Illustrator is where it's at!"

<strong>Q: What should one start doing if they are interested in logo design work?</strong>

A: "It's always a good idea to have a little bit of graphic design knowledge and be able to reference different styles from history. Besides having a vision and collecting a few inspirations, the first thing that I usually ask a client or anyone seeking for a logo design is to tell a story about them, their company, or anything interesting. I like to grasp their personality and be able to assess their taste level from their enthusiasm. I also like to listen to any visual cues in their story that can be translated to possible graphic ideas. The best logos are ones that have an emotional connection with the owner. Knowledge, a clear vision, inspiration and being able to express the need for this logo are definitely things to prepare when seeking high-level design work!"

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You can see more of Justin Aragon’s logo design work at&nbsp;<a href="https://spectruss.com/graphic-design/">spectruss.com/graphic-design</a>

Logo Design Q&A with Creative Director, Justin Aragon

<h2>If you're looking to try and boost your social media platforms and gain more attention, consider these 5 tips.</h2>
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<strong>1. Create a voice for the company</strong>
Social media is similar to an employee, their role being the brand ambassador for your business via the web. With that in mind, they should have a consistent speech pattern for all post, responding to comments, answering messages, and visual presence. This brings consistency on your social media pages and also makes it feel more personable for customers. All around less like they are talking to an automation.

<strong>2. Post regularly</strong>
Stay up to date with all the latest happenings within your business on social media so people can learn about what you do. This is another way of letting people know that there is a group of hard working individuals behind your business. Regular content also helps by giving you frequent chances to appear in customers news feed. Don't be afraid to talk about things your community is interested in that are not specifically about your business. While you should post about yourself, you also need to engage in the scenes that your customers are there gain respect in the community.

<strong>3. Find times of day that promise most engagement for posts</strong>
Check your social media analytics page/records to see what time of day people most often engage with your social media pages. Use this data to start posting at high traffic times to get more results. You can also look into what types of post do best over others and consider regularly posting more like-minded statuses to the ones that do well.

<strong>4. Talk to your customers</strong>
When people comment, comment back. Engage with customers and let them know that they are heard. Even on the little things. If someone leaves a bad review or comment, take a moment and evaluate how best to handle the situation without escalating the problem or speaking as the company in a manner you could later regret. Rember that there are people on the internet who cannot be pleased and you may run into them. Evaluate the situation and execute with the utmost care.

<strong>5. Use graphics designed specifically for each platform</strong>
Don't post the same images and words to every social media platform. There are ways to make content more appealing specifically to each platform. For example, a generic candy ad will not do well on Instagram, people will scroll right past it. But a picture of a hand with bright colored candies taken by a camera phone will look more spontaneous and do well on Instagram. If you don't know if your image is good for a platform, check out your competitors and see what they do with like-minded content.

5 Tips for Better Marketing on Social Media

<p class="p1">Social media helps people connect over the web, and over time businesses have been using social media to also connect with their clients.&nbsp;With many ways to connect to clients, and with many different platforms, medical companies are reaching out through Facebook and Instagram as new ways&nbsp;to connect.</p>

<h2 class="p1">Bloggers sharing their stories</h2>
<p class="p1">People on social media already love to share their experiences online. Be it by blogging or photo journalism, we love to tell others what we’re up to. Many people have started sharing their experiences while in hospitals, battling medical struggles, and how to deal with challenges from similar issues to try and help others going through the same predicament.</p>

<h2 class="p1">Medicine/healing treatments looking for recognition</h2>
<p class="p1">Companies who have treatments or services to help those in need are looking for people who could use their services in exchange for publicity if that person has a large push the community. Some business have put out ads for such people or search on social media channels to find the biggest influencers and offer them sponsorships.</p>

<h2 class="p1">Sponsorships</h2>
<p class="p1">Before you can be sponsored by a medical company, you must first be evaluated. The evaluation is less on the status of your sickness or issue, and more on your ability to influence people on social media who will be looking at relative content. For example, companies will want to see how many people follow you and interact with your post. If you have a strong following, their more likely to get more recognition then from an Instagram with fewer followers, but a stronger story. Lots of clothing and makeup companies do this already by sending influential people their products in exchange for photos and high praise on products if they honestly feel like they enjoy the products.</p>

<h2 class="p1">Company awareness on social media</h2>
<p class="p1">Through connecting with patients, clients, and former/current users, medical companies are hoping to use social media as a new way to better talk about their services. New marketing tactics are likely to hit the next generation of clients and must be explored to see if they produce any results for said companies. Who will be the next to hit social media, or will marketing start on even newer platforms like video games and other smart electronics.</p>

Medical Companies Joining Social Media

<p class="p1">Check out some helpful tips for better business branding online. While some may seem more intuitive than others, remembering&nbsp;and refreshing on helpful tips could spark a new idea!</p>
<p class="p1"></p>

<h2 class="p1">Create a Visual</h2>
<p class="p1">People like to look at visuals over long bodies of text. Create visuals for your business to get people attention online with eye-catching colors, a logo, interesting photography, etc. When on social media platforms, pictures carry much farther than text and can get to a wider reach of people. Make sure to not only set up pictures for your business but to regularly update them with new visuals to keep people interested. As time goes on, people may get concerned if the visual content has not been updated over time and wonder if you're still open.</p>
<p class="p1"></p>

<h2 class="p1">Be on Social Media</h2>
<p class="p1">Why for some people social media is second nature, for others it is not. If you haven’t joined a few social media channels for your business, consider starting that today! Social media is a great way to let people know about your business without even asking you any questions over the phone or stepping into your store/office. The top platforms to start on are Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.</p>
<p class="p1"></p>

<h2 class="p1">Consistency</h2>
<p class="p1">If you decided to start sending out weekly emails, monthly parties, daily blogs, etc., keep it consistent. Try your best to keep up a maintainable schedule of consistency in what you do. While this can be helpful for yourself, in that it keeps new content and events coming regularly, it can also keep others thinking about your business. If they come to expect to see new content from you every week, they are thinking about you every week.</p>
<p class="p1"></p>

<h2 class="p1">Don’t Please Everyone</h2>
<p class="p1">It can be extremely tough to please everyone online. Some people are unpleasable. This is something you must remember. With social media being a way that people can voice their opinion without showing their face, this has led some people to be completely unpleasable. Handel situations calmly if there is a problem. Remember the type of voice you want your company to have and use it. If a comment or rating is upsetting, see if there is a way to resolve it without changing a positive persona.</p>
<p class="p1"></p>

<h2 class="p1">Reach out to your Community</h2>
<p class="p1">Consider ways you can stand out in your community. Join in local events in your city or post regular helpful tips on the web, there are many ways to get involved. Look for ways for people to keep you in their thoughts. When you reach out to your community, your reach out to all their friends and family who could also be potential customers in the future.</p>
<p class="p1"></p>

<h2 class="p1">Be Trendy</h2>
<p class="p1">Consider if your company actions are too dated for the present face of your brand. Is it time to switch to email questions over phone calls? Could people get digital, paperless coupons over physical ones? While every company is different, it might be time to look at what the kids are doing these days and see if you can jump into some of the latest trends.</p>
<p class="p1"></p>

<h2 class="p1">Know who your Selling To</h2>
<p class="p1">If your customer base is mainly people in their 50’s and 60’s, you may not be needing to create content for teenagers and young adults. Find out who your target audience is and what their trends are. While teens might be more likely to get online at noon during school lunch, an adult may not be online to see your new content till 6:30 after a long work day.</p>
<p class="p1"></p>

<h2 class="p1">Share Information and Knowledge</h2>
<p class="p1">Keeping the business secret recipe can keep you above your competition, but that doesn't mean you can't help with some of the small things. Use your knowledge and share tips and advice among the community to show just how much you know and why people should be interested. This can help make you look more reputable and knowledgeable.</p>

8 Tips for Better Business Branding Online

<h2 class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">The Importance of Regularly Scheduled Website Maintenance and How It Can Boost Your Business</span></strong></h2>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Quarterly maintenance and updates are important, that much we know- or have been told. </span><span class="s1">But why is keeping your online presence clean and optimized important? In a growing digital world it is not enough to “just have an online presence" anymore. Having an optimized site that is accessible across multiple platforms, user-friendly, and overall nice to look at, will help you achieve your business goals and customer satisfaction by:</span></p>
<p class="p1">-Boosting SEO rankings and overall driving more traffic to your site.</p>
<p class="p1">-Preventing hackers that look for outdated software and plugins from gaining access to your site.</p>
<p class="p1">-Ensuring brand consistency and awareness to customers and prospects with a site that expresses your business's brand, mission, and vision.</p>
<p class="p1">-Improving user experience and return rate to your site by providing customers &nbsp;and prospects current and informative content and user friendly experience.</p>
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<h2 class="p1"><b></b><strong>The Importance of Website Maintenance and Your Consumer</strong></h2>
<p class="p1">A study by Adobe, <a href="http://wwwimages.adobe.com/content/dam/Adobe/en/max/2015/pdfs/state-of-content-oct.pdf">The State of Content: Expectations on the Rise</a>, links why optimizing your online presence is important to your consumer and how damaging a lack of maintenance to your website can be to your business.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- 39% will stop engaging with your content if images won’t load</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- 39% will stop engaging if content takes too long to load</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- 38% will stop engaging if content is unattractive in its layout or imagery</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- More than 7 in 10 consumers (73%) say content “must display well” in order for them to continue engagement</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- 66% of consumers would prefer to view something beautifully designed</span></p>
<p class="p1">To learn more, check out the rest of the adobe report by clicking <a href="http://wwwimages.adobe.com/content/dam/Adobe/en/max/2015/pdfs/state-of-content-oct.pdf"><em><strong>here.</strong></em></a></p>

<h2 class="p1"></h2>
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<h2 class="p1"><strong>So, Why Is Website Maintenance Important?</strong></h2>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">In a nutshell, regularly scheduled maintenance and updates prevents major maintenance issues that can be damaging to your business, brand, and customer experience. A well maintained website gives your business and brand credibility and your consumers confidence in your products and services.&nbsp;</span></p>

What Can Website Maintenance Do For You?

Getting a consumer excited enough about your product or service to spark them to talk more about it to others- it's the most important and promising challenge in marketing. Just a casual conversation, while engaging, doesn't necessarily generate on-going engagement. The challenge for brands is to organize user-generated content that actually accomplishes valuable goals for a brand. It's not starting a conversation- it's framing it.

User-generated content allows the consumer to become more involved in the marketing and sales process for a product or service. Starbucks started utilizing user-generated content early in the game through their "My Starbucks Idea," which allowed customers to send their best coffee or tea idea to Starbucks because they recognized the disconnect with their current offering. Also, in 2014, Starbucks launched a contest featuring their signature white cup where they asked consumers to decorate and submit a picture of their artwork on the cup by posting a picture on social media with the hashtag #WhiteCupContest. In just a few weeks, thousands of customers submitted their artwork to Starbucks. This initiative engaged customers, gained Starbucks publicity, and showed that Starbucks once again was listening closely to the opinions and ideas of their consumer.

Simply putting a contest on your Facebook page isn't going to generate on-going engagement. So what should companies do to turn a promotion or contest into consumer engagement?

First, reward consumers with recognition when they positively promote or advocate for your brand. These folks don't "owe it to you" to be engaged with your brand. Earn their business! As you monitor your social channels and you see someone post a picture or content saying how great your company did— engage! Reach out to them and thank them for their feedback, ask to use their content on your page, and encourage them to complete reviews or rankings to have their voice heard by more people.

When running a promotion, don't just think that once the award is given, the marketing benefit stops. Ask consumers who submitted entries if you can use their content in an on-going manner. Utilizing videos and photos generated by consumers engages new customers and encourages repeat customers by endearing the brand to the public.

Finally, harness user-generated content to create advocates for your brand. "There are stories about your brand that are being shared every day. Harnessing UGC enables you to engage and share the narratives through the voices of your most passionate brand advocates" (Wright, 2017). By engaging with consumers about the content that they create, you can generate more passion and excitement for your brand from them, their friends, and your general consumer audience.

Next time you see someone post an Instagram selfie with your product or see someone post a picture of a great job your company did, don't simply settle for the double tap to show your appreciation. Engage with your audience, earn their continued business, and utilize their content to reach new audiences.

Sources:
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/examples-of-user-generated-content
http://marketingland.com/ugc-brands-new-years-content-resolution-2017-206106

Importance of User-Generated Content

<b>Overview:</b>

Many years ago, Royal Highnies set out on a quest to create the perfect boxer short. Today, Royal Highnies produces luxury undergarments and loungewear for the whole family. Their products are sold by boutique retailers both online and in brick and mortar stores.

<b>The Situation:</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Digital marketing provides an opportunity for smaller companies, like Royal Highnies, to compete against larger, more established brands in the crowded retail apparel space. However, capturing buyers’ attention online can require a hefty marketing spend. </span>

For the 2017 holiday season, Royal Highnies wanted to boost the success of its online advertising campaigns and sell more underwear that’s fun to wear. That’s where Spectruss came in.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-2843 size-full" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RHanalytics.jpg" alt="Royal Highnies Analytics" width="800" height="660">

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<b>The Spectruss Solution:</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Our plan started with research. We took the time to understand the exact target markets Royal Highnies needed to reach, then developed a plan around keywords and platforms that would put Royal Highnies in front of its desired customers - and convince them to make a purchase.<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2845" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RH_G1.jpg" alt="Marketing Company Increase Growth" width="900" height="498"></span>

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<h4>After defining their markets and doing rigorous keyword research, we developed a digital marketing plan that included:</h4>
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<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Creative email campaigns</span></h4>
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<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shopping ad campaigns</span></h4>
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<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Display ads</span></h4>
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<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Social media ad campaigns </span></h4>
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<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fresh graphics</span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2846" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RH_G3-2.jpg" alt="Spectruss provides ROI" width="900" height="488"><a href="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RH_G3.jpg">
</a>The campaign incorporated new creative materials and approaches. Each piece of the plan was designed to better reach Royal Highnies’ target markets and convert prospects into customers. We also maintained a rigorous schedule of reviewing campaign results and, in response, making small adjustments to continually improve the success of the campaign.</span>
<a href="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RH_G2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2772" src="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RH_G2.jpg" alt="" width="1" height="1"></a><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2847" src="https://spectruss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RH_G2B.jpg" alt="Top Marketing Companies" width="900" height="562">

<a href="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RH_G2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2772 aligncenter" src="https://spectruss.com/old_site/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RH_G2.jpg" alt="" width="1" height="1"></a>

<b><i>Royal Highnies achieved more while spending less, thanks to Spectruss’ strategic approach. <a href="https://spectruss.com/case-studies/#/royal-highnies">SEE MORE OF THE AWESOME WORK WE DID FOR ROYAL HIGHNIES HERE</a></i></b>

Royal Highnies Spends Less and Makes More with Spectruss

<h3>Lookout Wild Film Festival Surpasses Expectations in Sixth Year.</h3>
The annual Lookout Wild Film Festival started six years ago. The film festival began in hopes of bringing a substantial presence and impact within the Chattanooga community. It began with only a few board members and has since grown into a very well-known, successful annual event. With selling out two nights in a row, the 2018 Lookout Wild Film Festival proved to be its best year yet. The festival took place at the Walker Theatre Auditorium for its fourth consecutive year.

The lineup included 80 films that individually captured beautiful, powerful stories. The films ranged from rock climbing to surfing while captivating the audience with deep, meaningful raw footage. With four days to see incredible films, the Lookout Wild Film Festival presented a wide range of showtimes.&nbsp;This allowed&nbsp;the audience to see as many films as possible.

Not only did the Lookout Wild Film Festival provide outstanding entertainment for the viewers, but it also provided a full bar, concessions, yoga, and live filmmaker Q&amp;As. These are just a few aspects that created an environment that proves to keep people returning.

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The founder of the Lookout Wild Film Festival, Andy Johns, hopes to experience even further success down the road. He recently said, "As we continue to grow, our goal still remains the same. That is to share inspiring films that tell a story of beauty while educating viewers."

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<h4>For more information about the Lookout Wild Film Festival, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lookoutfilmfestival.org">www.lookoutfilmfestival.org</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/LookoutWildFilmFestival/">www.facebook.com/LookoutWildFilmFestival/</a>.</h4>

2018 Lookout Wild Film Festival, Huge Success!

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For years, Spectruss has excelled in custom website development, UI / UX design, graphic design and custom API integrations. With the extensive experience and knowledge we have gained over the years, it is time to take the steps to become certified in all areas, including digital advertising. With that said, we are excited to announce that we are now officially a Google Partner and will be offering custom packages for increasing brand awareness and conversions for our clients.

Becoming a Google Partner is a proud achievement for Spectruss. With this partnership, Spectruss represents a company with employees who are certified as Analysts and Account Managers in Google Adwords, who have the ability to maximize the return of every dollar you spend on online advertising. As a Google Partner, Spectruss is well-versed in every Adwords aspect and completely dedicated to paid search marketing for all clients.

To become a Google Partner, one must prove the mastered use of comprehensive analytics, negative keywords, site links inside of ads, ad extensions, phrase match keywords, split testing, ad scheduling, mobile development, YouTube advertising, digital sales and more. We successfully passed all nine of our exams, displayed an increase in return for our clients, and have spent over $10,000 in advertising in the last 90 days.

Spectruss is adamant about staying current on all things technology and is constantly looking for ways to increase our clients return on investment. As a creative marketing agency, Spectruss is always looking for creative ways to help our clients grow their business.

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