media-chimps-v4

Branding Through Graphic Design: Building Strong Visual Identities

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 12:15:08 GMT

"Your visual identity acts as the face of your brand"

It’s important to establish a strong and recognisable brand if you want your business to succeed.

One of the most effective tools for achieving this is graphic design.

From the iconic swoosh of Nike to the golden arches of McDonald’s, visual identities are often the first thing that comes to mind when we think of these brands.

This is why it's beneficial to delve into the pivotal role graphic design plays in branding and explore case studies of renowned brands that have masterfully crafted their visual identities.

The Power of Visual Identity

Your visual identity acts as the face of your brand- it’s what captures the essence of your values, culture, and offerings in a single glance.

Graphic design is the artistic medium that we use to shape this identity, communicate messages, spark emotion, and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Graphic design and branding will work together seamlessly and coherently to take your business from a company to a recognisable household name.

Case Study: Apple

Apple is a great example of how graphic design can create an iconic visual identity for your brand.

The Apple logo, a simple apple with a bite taken out of it, is now associated with innovation, quality, and user-friendly technology.

The design is minimalistic, which reflects Apple’s commitment to sleek, cutting-edge products.

The clean lines and lack of elaborate details contribute to its timelessness and versatility across various applications.

Elements of Successful Visual Identity

Simplicity: The axiom "less is more" holds true in graphic design for branding. Simple designs tend to be more memorable and adaptable, making them easier for consumers to recognise and recall.
Consistency: Consistency across all visual elements, from logos to colour schemes and typography, helps reinforce the brand's identity. McDonald's, for instance, maintains its red and yellow colour palette consistently across its global franchises, creating a cohesive experience for customers.
Versatility: A strong visual identity should work across different mediums – from packaging to digital platforms and even merchandise. The Nike Swoosh is a prime example, effortlessly adapting to shoes, apparel, and advertisements.
Authenticity: Graphic design should resonate with the brand's core values and resonate with its target audience. The eco-friendly approach of The Body Shop’s logo aligns with the company's emphasis on sustainability and natural living.

Case Study: Coca-Cola

The text-based logo for Coca-Cola is arguably one of the most recognisable logos in the world.

The distinctive typography evokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth, although this is more prevalent in America due to Coca-Cola’s status as a part of American culture.

But this nostalgic feeling aligns perfectly with the brand’s emphasis on happiness and togetherness.

The choice of such a vibrant red was a risky choice, as red is often associated with anger and negativity, but instead, it has been used to help the brand stand out and trigger a subconscious association with energy and excitement.

Conclusion

When showcasing your brand’s personality through visual representation, graphic design is the bedrock on which this relationship is built.

A successful visual identity becomes the conduit through which consumers connect with a brand on a personal, and emotional level.

Consider the timeless minimalism of Apple or the inviting script of Coca-Cola, these case studies demonstrate the potent impact that graphic design can have when building enduring visual identities.

As your business continues to navigate the competitive landscape, the symbiotic relationship between branding and graphic design remains an indispensable tool for carving out a lasting place in the hearts and minds of consumers.

If you need help developing a visual brand identity for your business, contact our chimps and see how we can help you.

The Role of AI and Automation in Modern Marketing Strategies

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 13:47:44 GMT

"AI and automation have shaped modern marketing strategies"

Marketing has had to evolve to keep up with the progressions in technology that we see day-to-day.

One development that has made a massive impact within the marketing landscape, is AI and automation.

This has revolutionised the way businesses approach marketing.

AI-driven technologies have allowed more personalised, efficient, and data-driven marketing strategies to take place.

AI and automation have shaped modern marketing strategies, and learning about the benefits, applications, and how your business can leverage these advancements will allow you to stay ahead within a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Personalised Customer Experiences

AI can allow your business to gather and analyse large amounts of customer data, which allows you to create and run highly personalised marketing campaigns.

By understanding customer preferences, behaviours, and purchase history, your business can deliver tailored content, product recommendations, and offers.

This all enhances customer engagement and loyalty.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Incorporating AI into your marketing efforts will empower your business to make informed decisions, based on real-time data analysis.

AI algorithms can predict trends, identify patterns, provide insights into consumer behaviour, help you optimise your campaigns, refine targeting strategies, and allocate your resources more effectively.

Enhanced Lead Generation and Nurturing

AI-driven automation streamlines lead generation and nurturing processes.

Chatbots and virtual assistants can engage with your website’s visitors, answer queries, and guide potential customers through the sales funnel.

Automation is helpful for things like email campaigns, they are triggered by specific actions or behaviours, and can then nurture leads with relevant content, increasing the likelihood of conversions.

Predictive Analytics for Improved ROI

Predictive analytics, fuelled by AI, enables you to forecast future trends and outcomes.

By analysing historical data and identifying correlations, you can allocate resources more efficiently within your business, optimise your marketing budgets, and focus on the channels and strategies that bring the highest return on investment (ROI).

Content Creation and Curation

AI-powered tools can assist you in content creation and curation, saving time and effort for yourself and/or your marketing team.

Automated content generators can produce data-driven articles, reports, and product descriptions, while AI-driven recommendation systems can curate personalised content suggestions for individual users.

It’s important to note that you should AI generate all your content and articles, as this feels inhuman and impersonal to the user, but it can be used to assist the creation process.

Social Media Management and Customer Engagement

AI-driven platforms can analyse social media conversations, sentiments, and trends in real-time.

You or your marketing team can use these insights to tailor your social media content, engage with customers, and promptly address concerns.

Automated scheduling tools can also be used to ensure consistent posting, for times you are out of the office, or across a range of time zones.

Chatbots and Customer Support

Chatbots provide 24/7 customer support on your website, answering frequently asked questions by guiding users through product inquiries or troubleshooting.

They help your customers feel more satisfied and connected, as a chatbot will give instant responses, as well as free up human support agents for more complex tasks.

Optimised Advertising Campaigns

Ai-powered advertising platforms, such as programmatic advertising, use algorithms to automate ad placement and bidding.

These algorithms are in place on platforms such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and more.

This results in more precise targeting, reduced ad spend wastage, and improved campaign performance for your business.

The use of AI and automation in modern marketing strategies has allowed for a whole new era of possibilities.

By leveraging these technologies, businesses can create a personalised customer experience, make data-driven decisions, streamline lead generation, and enhance engagement across various touchpoints.

As AI continues to advance, its role in marketing will only grow, enabling your business to stay competitive and relevant in your market.

Embracing AI and automation is more than just a trend; it’s a strategic imperative for businesses seeking to thrive in a technology-driven market.

If you need help with your marketing efforts and have been struggling to utilise AI and automation, contact our team and see how we can help you.

Understanding the Cost-Effectiveness of Managed Website Providers

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 08:00:00 GMT

Having a robust online presence is vital for businesses to thrive.

Whether you're a small start-up, or managing a well-established company, having an effective website is crucial for attracting new customers, keeping your current customers, and driving growth.

When it comes to managing your website, you will face a critical decision: should you handle it in-house or opt for a managed website provider?

We’ll look into the cost benefits of choosing a managed website provider over handling website managing internally.

Analysing factors such as server expenses, IT personnel, and time savings to shed light on why managed website services have become an increasingly popular and cost-effective choice.

Server Expenses

If you decide that your business will manage your website in-house, the cost of maintaining and operating servers can be significant.

Purchasing and maintaining your servers require a considerable upfront investment, then ongoing expenses for hardware upgrades, data centre facilities, and electricity consumption.

Plus, if your business’s website experiences a sudden spike in traffic, usually a positive thing, this may cause you to need additional server capacity which is a further cost.

Alternatively, a managed website provider will offer you a more budget-friendly alternative.

Providers like mediachimps will operate on a subscription-based model, allowing your business to pay only for the resources you actually need, and allowing you to have a consistent payment model to make budgeting and finances much more straightforward.

By using the servers the website providers have, you can avoid upfront hardware costs and enjoy the flexibility to scale your resources up or down, based on your website traffic requirements.

IT Personnel

Running your website in-house requires a team with high IT skills.

Hiring, training, and retaining qualified staff can get expensive quickly, especially for small to medium sizes enterprises (SMEs).

Additionally, ongoing professional development and certifications are necessary to keep the team up to date with all the latest technologies, website maintenance requirements, and security practices.

Managed website providers will handle these personnel-related costs on behalf of your business.

Providers like us have employed teams of highly experienced and talented IT professionals who specialise in website hosting, maintenance, and security.

When you outsource these tasks to a managed website provider, you can focus on your business’s core competencies, while benefitting from the expertise of a specialised team, who keep things running smoothly in the background.

Time Savings

When you manage your website in-house, it demands a significant time investment and takes a lot of effort.

From routine maintenance and security updates to troubleshooting and resolving technical issues, the responsibilities can be overwhelming.

It takes away valuable time and resources from your core business operations.

With a managed website provider, your business can save time, which we all know is a precious resource, and we never have enough of it.

Providers will handle all routine maintenance tasks, such as backups, software updates and security monitoring, ensuring your website is always operational and secure.

Downtime is costly, but having a well-built and managed website is a great foundation for avoiding downtime.

You then also have access to support 24/7, and the support teams are equipped to address any issues quickly and efficiently, maximising website uptime and driving profits.

Enhanced Security and Reduced Risk

Website security should be a top concern for your business, no matter the size.

Cyberattacks and data breaches can have devastating consequences, both financially and in terms of reputation.

With a managed website, there are security measures in place and constant monitoring.

Firewalls, malware scanning, and encryption will safeguard your website from potential threats, all of which are provided to you by managed website providers.

Although, we recommend partnering with an IT-managed service provider (MSP) in addition to working with a managed website provider, to fully protect your business.

If you are interested in fully managed IT support for your business, we recommend Itek Systems Management , a trusted and expert enterprise that we have worked with for years.

By leveraging these security features, your business can reduce the risk of security breaches and the associated costs of data recovery, customer trust loss, and regulatory fines.

A well-built and maintained website is much less susceptible to security issues, and the provider's expertise on the topic allows you to focus on business growth, without the worry of cyber threats.

Conclusion

Choosing a managed website provider offers substantial cost benefits over handling website management in-house.

When you avoid upfront server expenses, minimise IT staff costs, and benefit from time savings, your business can direct your resources toward your core operations that drive growth.

Plus, the enhanced security provided by providers like us mitigates the risk of cyber threats, protecting your finances and reputation.

When considering the cost-effectiveness of managed website providers, it’s essential to evaluate the specific needs and scale of your business.

Ultimately, by partnering with a reliable and reputable managed website provider, your business can strike the perfect balance between cost efficiency and a high-performing, secure online presence.

If you think a managed website would work for your business, get in touch with our chimps.

Navigating Marketing Ethics: Balancing Business Goals and Consumer Trust

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 09:05:18 GMT

"You have to balance your business goals with maintaining consumer trust"

Marketing is a crucial aspect of promoting your products and services, driving sales, and building a brand reputation.

However, in this era of heightened consumer awareness and social consciousness, ethical considerations are more important than ever.

You have to balance your business goals with maintaining consumer trust, and it is a delicate process that marketers must navigate.

So, what is there to consider when it comes to the wide spectrum of marketing ethics, the challenges it presents, and strategies for finding the perfect balance between business objectives and maintaining consumer trust?

Transparency in Advertising

Transparency is the cornerstone of ethical marketing.

Consumers what to make informed decisions on the products and services they purchase, which is why the information you present them with must be accurate and truthful.

As a marketer, avoiding exaggerations, misleading claims, or hiding essential information should be avoided.

It may make more people buy what you’re offering, but they will be let down when it is not as described, it’s not fair on them and reflects very badly on your business.

By being transparent, your business can build trust with your audience, and foster long-term relationships and loyalty.

Respecting Consumer Privacy

Consumer data is a valuable asset to any marketer, as it allows you to make data-driven decisions and gain a better understanding of your customers.

Ethical concerns can begin to arise when it comes to the collection, storage, and use of personal information.

The best way to stay ethical and within legal regulations is by respecting consumer privacy; obtaining explicit consent, protecting stored data from unauthorised access, and transparency with data usage are all means of respecting consumer privacy.

There are also privacy regulations to keep in mind, GDPR is a big one, so following these regulations ensures ethical practice while maintaining consumer trust.

Social Responsibility and Sustainability

Nowadays, consumers expect their favourite brands to demonstrate a level of social responsibility and a commitment to sustainable practices.

Ethical marketing will involve aligning your business goals with societal values.

By promoting sustainable practices, supporting social causes, and transparently communicating these efforts, your business can connect with socially conscious consumers and build a positive brand image.

Honesty in Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is a commonly used marketing tactic and is very popular, but some consumers will doubt the legitimacy of endorsements when transparency is compromised.

Marketers should always ensure that influencers disclose any paid partnerships or sponsorships, as this allows the viewer to differentiate between genuine recommendations and paid endorsements.

This may seem counterintuitive, but influencers won’t endorse products they don’t believe to fit their brand, and most wouldn’t make sponsored content featuring a product they think is bad, for the sake of their reputation.

So, being upfront with the fact it is paid is your best option.

By fostering honesty and transparency when influencer marketing, your business can maintain consumer trust and credibility.

Avoiding Targeted Vulnerable Audiences

Targeting specific audiences is a key part of your marketing efforts, but you have to be cautious when your target audience may be vulnerable.

This includes children, the elderly, or any other individuals with specific vulnerabilities.

Exploiting these groups for profit is unethical, so responsible marketing practices when targeting vulnerable groups will ensure that advertisements are appropriate, not manipulative, and do not take advantage of the audience in any way.

Again, a large part of this comes down to honesty and transparency, and generally ensuring that you are not exploiting any weak points the vulnerable audience may have.

Authenticity in Content Marketing

Content marketing is another tool in many marketers’ toolboxes and is very effective for engaging audiences.

But ethical content marketing requires maintaining authenticity and providing value to consumers.

This means avoiding clickbait, false promises, or misleading headlines is essential.

Your content should entice and intrigue the audience, but not by presenting false or exaggerated concepts.

You should focus on creating high-quality, informative content that aligns with your target consumer’s interests and needs.

Monitoring and Responding to Consumer Feedback

Lastly, ethical marketing involves actively listening to your consumers and responding to their feedback.

Your customers are incredibly important, so paying attention to their praises and pain points will help them feel heard, and allow you to improve your products or services, ultimately fostering a better relationship.

Always address their concerns, resolve any issues promptly, and incorporate customer feedback into your business’s practices and decisions.

Doing this demonstrates a commitment to customer satisfaction and trust in your business.

Navigating marketing ethics requires a careful balance between achieving your business objectives and maintaining consumer trust.

Priorities to consider for ethical marketing practices include:

Transparency in advertising
Respecting consumer privacy
Demonstrating social responsibility and sustainability
Fostering honesty in influencer marketing
Avoiding the exploitation of vulnerable audiences
Promoting authenticity in content marketing
Actively engaging with consumer feedback

By prioritising these practices, your business can build a strong ethical foundation.

This not only protects consumers, but also enhances your brand reputation, encourages long-term loyalty, and contributes to the overall success of your business.

By finding the right balance between business objectives and consumer trust, you can create a positive impact and create meaningful connections with your target audience.

If you need help developing your marketing plans, contact our team today and see how we can help you.

Marketing on a Budget: Creative Strategies for Small Businesses

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:35:46 GMT

"With some creativity and strategic thinking, you can still achieve impactful marketing results without breaking the bank"

Effective marketing is crucial for the success of any business.

However, small businesses may have to work with smaller budgets, and this can limit their options when it comes to marketing.

Luckily, with some creativity and strategic thinking, you can still achieve impactful marketing results without breaking the bank.

There are a variety of budget-friendly marketing strategies that can help your small business maximise its reach, engage your target audience and drive growth.

Utilise Social Media

Social media is great for connecting with your target audience and building brand awareness, and it’s free!

Create profiles on the platforms that your target audience use and are active on, and regularly share interesting and engaging content.

This can include informative articles, aesthetically pleasing images/graphics, videos, and customer success stories.

It is important to interact with your followers, respond to comments and messages as quickly as you can, and leverage social media analytics to better grasp what resonates with your audience the most.

Content Marketing

Content marketing is straightforward, inexpensive, and effective.

Many small businesses will leverage blogging, as a blog that is consistently publishing valuable and relevant content on your website that addresses your audience’s pain points and provides solutions, will bring meaningful traffic.

This also helps to establish your business as a thought leader, and an expert in your field.

Blog content will bring organic traffic to your website, raise awareness, and help build trust with users.

Additionally, you can repurpose your blog content into other formats like infographics, podcasts, or short videos to reach an even wider audience.

Email Marketing

Email marketing remains one of the most cost-effective ways to engage with your customers.

Building your email list can take time, but offering incentives such as exclusive discounts or informative newsletters, can speed up the process.

Use email marketing tools to create visually appealing templates and automate personalised email campaigns to nurture leads and keep previous customers interested.

It is also important to remember to segment your audience based on their preferences and behaviour, to then deliver targeted content that will resonate with each segment.

Collaborate with Complementary Businesses

If you’re a small business, working together with others like you can expand your customer base and get your name out there.

Seek partnerships with other small businesses that complement your products or services, through marketing campaigns, or using cross-promotions to leverage each other’s audiences.

For example, a local bakery could partner with a coffee shop for a “coffee and cake” promotion or a fitness studio with a smoothie/juice shop.

Optimise for Local Search

For brick-and-mortar businesses, optimising your online presence for local search is crucial.

Claim and optimise your business profiles on Google, Bing, and any other local directories.

Encourage your satisfied customers to leave positive reviews, as they can significantly impact your local search rankings.

On top of this, participate in local events, sponsor community initiatives, and collaborate with local influencers to increase your visibility in the community.

Embrace User-Generated Content

User-generated content is a powerful tool for building trust and credibility.

Encourage your customers to share their experiences with your products or services on social media using a branded hashtag.

Repost and showcase their content on your social media channels or website.

This not only engages your existing customers but also attracts new ones through authentic recommendations.

Participate in Industry Forums and Online Communities

Don’t be scared to jump into the conversation.

Join online forums and communities that are relevant to your industry or niche, and actively participate in conversations by answering questions, sharing insights, and offering value.

When you establish yourself as an expert, you can gain visibility and credibility within your target audience.

Include a link to your website or blog when you get involved, to drive traffic to your website.

Conclusion

Marketing on a budget doesn’t mean compromising on effectiveness.

By employing these creative strategies, your small business can maximise its marketing efforts within your financial means.

Consistency and understanding of your target audience are key.

Embrace these cost-effective marketing tactics and watch your small business thrive in a competitive marketplace.

If you need help developing your marketing strategies and plans, mediachimps can help!

10 Must-Have Digital Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 14:23:52 GMT

"With the right digital marketing strategies, your business can reach a wider audience, build brand awareness, and drive conversions"

Even small businesses have a great opportunity of thriving online and being a real competitor in their industry.

With the right digital marketing strategies, your business can reach a wider audience, build brand awareness, and drive conversions.

However, with there being so many options available, you need to identify the most effective strategies that will bring results, and work for you.

So, here are 10 key marketing strategies for your small business:

Establish a Strong Online Presence
Leverage the Power of Social Media
Content Marketing
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
Email Marketing
Influencer Marketing
Video Marketing
Mobile Optimisation
Reviews and Reputation Management
Data Analytics and Tracking

Establish a Strong Online Presence

The best start for your marketing efforts will be to establish a strong online presence.

This includes a professional website that effectively showcases your products and services, provides users with all essential information about you, and provides a seamless user experience.

You will then need to optimise your website for search engines (SEO) to increase visibility in search results and bring organic traffic.

Leverage the Power of Social Media

There are so many different social media platforms, all of which are great for different purposes, but they all allow your business to engage with your target audience and build brand awareness.

Take the time to identify the platforms which align with your business and audience demographics, and develop a solid social media marketing strategy.

If you are consistently sharing valuable content, interacting with your audience, and running targeted advertising campaigns, you can reach a much wider audience and drive conversions.

Content Marketing

Content marketing is a great asset for establishing your expertise, building trust with your leads, and driving organic traffic to your website.

Valuable, informative, and engaging content will attract more people to your website, such as blog posts, articles, infographics, and more.

Ensure your content is being delivered in a format that will appeal to your target audience, and use the content to highlight their pain points and then provide solutions.

Use a variety of channels for this to get the best reach, like your website, social media, and email newsletters.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising

PPC advertising allows you to target and reach potential customers by showing them ads that will be of interest to them.

You can run PPC campaigns on a wide range of platforms, and it’s a cost-friendly option as you only pay when someone clicks on your ad, which shows interest.

As long as you conduct thorough keyword research, create compelling ad copy and imagery, and optimise your campaigns, you can maximise your return on investment (ROI).

Email Marketing

Building an organic email list takes time, but it is an invaluable asset for small businesses.

Look into email marketing strategies and implement one that is tailored to your business, as email marketing will nurture your leads, build customer relationships, and drive repeat business.

Sending personalised and relevant content to your subscribers will help you stay fresh in their minds.

Discounts, informative newsletters, product updates, limited-time deals/sales, all of these are things that can benefit the customer, and you.

Once you have an email list you can look into segmentation, so you can send specific and targeted content based on user preferences and behaviour.

Influencer Marketing

Use the power of influencers to increase your reach, tap into new markets, and gain new customers.

There are plenty of influencers out there who are looking to do brand deals, so if you find one that aligns with your brand values and will have a connection with your target audience, you can work with them.

People will trust other people before they trust a brand, so if you team up to create authentic and engaging content that promotes what you’re selling, their followers are likely to consider you.

Overall, it helps with visibility, credibility, and conversions.

Video Marketing

Video content is one of the most popular deliveries of online content, as it’s engaging and easy to consume.

Incorporate video marketing into your strategy to engage and captivate your audience with compelling videos that showcase your products, share educational content, and tell your brand story.

Your content can be educational, showcase products, or talk about your brand story, whatever suits you, although we recommend a mix of all the options.

Use YouTube, social media, and your website to publish videos and increase your visibility.

Mobile Optimisation

Mobile devices are used to browse online more than desktops, so it is important to optimise your digital marketing for mobile.

You have to ensure your website is mobile-friendly and fully responsive, this gives the user a seamless browsing across all devices.

Optimise your content and ads for mobile screens and consider mobile-specific campaigns to reach your audience effectively.

Reviews and Reputation Management

Other people’s perceptions of your brand and services can have a huge impact on your success.

Encourage your happy customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, Facebook, and whichever options they have available.

Always respond to reviews quickly, whether they are negative or positive, as this shows good customer service, and will build trust with potential customers.

Data Analytics and Tracking

Data is your best friend, so implementing data analytics and tracking tools is crucial for measuring the effectiveness and success of your marketing efforts.

Setting up analytical tools isn’t too complicated, applications like Google Analytics make it simple to track your website data and will provide you with insights about the data.

Using data, you can identify areas with a need for improvement, and make data-driven decisions which will benefit your business.

The more refined and well-planned your digital marketing strategies are, the more success they will bring.

Conclusion

As a small business, you have to create and develop digital marketing strategies to thrive and succeed.

By establishing a strong online presence, using social media, creating valuable content, and utilising various advertising channels, small businesses can reach their target audience, build brand loyalty and drive conversions.

Implement these 10 must-have digital marketing strategies and adapt them to your unique business goals to watch your business flourish.

Contact our team to find out more about how we can help drive your business to success.

How AI Will Change Web Design

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 13:35:06 GMT

"We need to explore the benefits of using AI in web design"

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a revolutionary tool in a range of industries, and web design is no exception.

The technology we use is continuously evolving and advancing, and AI is transforming the way websites are being created, personalised, and optimised.

This is why we need to explore the benefits of using AI in web design, how it will change current best practices and the web design environment, and recommendations for leveraging AI in the web design process.

Benefits of AI in Web Design:

Enhanced User Experience:

AI algorithms are able to analyse user behaviour, preferences, and patterns.

Although it doesn’t understand the human thoughts and feelings behind user experience, it will still pick up on the patterns and pure data, to which we can attribute emotions.

This lets the AI create personalised experiences for your users.

This can lead to increased user engagement, higher conversion rates, and improved customer satisfaction.

Time and Cost Efficiency:

AI-powered tools and frameworks automate repetitive tasks, like content generation, layout design, and image optimisation.

This can reduce the time it takes to fully design a website, allowing you to allocate more of the time budget to creativity and strategy.

This greatly improves the quality of your website, as you can spend time building something creative and bespoke.

Data-Driven Decision-Making:

Compared to humans, AI is capable of processing large quantities of data and generating actionable insights.

This is helpful for your decision-making, optimising your website’s performance, and creating effective marketing strategies.

Improved Accessibility:

Website accessibility is greatly important, as you need your website to be accessible to those with disabilities, and it helps with SEO.

AI can automatically generate alt text for imagery on your website, optimise your text’s readability, and provide voice interfaces.

AI can help enable a more inclusive web experience.

Changes in Current Best Practices and Environment:

Design Automation:

AI tools can analyse existing websites, user feedback, and design trends to generate design prototypes and suggestions.

This assists the design process and allows for more focus on experimentation, creativity, and innovation.

Dynamic Content Generation:

AI-powered content generation can be helpful if used in moderation and correctly.

It can assist copywriters in producing relevant and engaging text and reduce the reliance on manual content creation when the content doesn’t need to be personalised and human.

This allows marketers to focus on higher-level messaging and storytelling when it comes to your website.

Responsive and Adaptive Design:

An AI algorithm can analyse user behaviour across a range of devices and screen sizes.

For example, if your website looks bad on mobile, the AI will pick up on a higher bounce rate on mobile and report this to you, allowing you to make changes.

You can then ensure you are creating responsive and adaptive designs, that will deliver a positive consistent experience for users across all platforms.

Data-Driven Optimisation:

AI-driven analytics can provide real-time insights into your user’s behaviour, allowing designers to optimise the user experience, layout, and content based on data-driven decisions.

With the human touch, the data that AI can provide is incredibly valuable, but one cannot work without the other.

Recommendations for Using AI in Web Design:

Embrace Collaboration:

AI is a very powerful tool, and it’s a great assistance to human creativity and thought processes.

Embracing the collaboration between AI systems and humans allows you to leverage their capabilities and enhance your work.

Stay Updated:

Knowledge is power, so keeping up with all the latest advancements in AI and web design will help you stay competitive.

If you familiarise yourself with AI-powered design tools and frameworks, you can improve your workflow.

Understand User Behaviour:

Use the AI-driven analytics that you get, as it lets you gain insight into user behaviour, preferences, and pain points.

This lets you create personalised experiences and optimise your website accordingly.

Test and Iterate:

Last, but certainly not least, test.

AI-powered A/B testing and optimisation tools can help you refine your designs and make data-driven decisions.

If you need more advice on how to adjust your website to the current technological landscape, contact us and see how we can help you.

What is email marketing?

Tue, 23 May 2023 08:24:59 GMT

"Email marketing continues to be a tried-and-true method for reaching and engaging with potential customers"

There are various marketing strategies available to you, and all of them are competing for attention.

Email marketing continues to be a tried-and-true method for reaching and engaging with potential customers.

It’s an essential tool for businesses looking to perfect their marketing strategy and helps you effectively connect with your target audience.

Understanding Email Marketing

Email marketing describes the practice of sending targeted emails to specific groups of individuals who have willingly provided their contact information to you, such as email addresses, to receive valuable content.

This is content such as updates, promotions, deals, newsletters, and so on.

It is one of the most direct and personalised forms of marketing and allows you to communicate with potential customers, nurture the relationships you have already, and build brand loyalty.

Benefits of Email Marketing

Increased Reach: There are billions of email users worldwide, when you use email marketing it enables you to connect with an incredibly wide audience, regardless of their location and time zone.

Cost-Effective: When it comes to marketing, email marketing stands out as a cost-effective option. It does away with the need for print materials, postage fees, or advertising space, making it a great solution for businesses of all sizes. Compared to other marketing channels, it's a relatively affordable choice.

Targeted Audience: Segmenting your audience based on demographics, interests, or past interactions through email marketing enables you to deliver customised content to specific groups. This personalised approach amplifies engagement and boosts conversion rates.

High ROI: When implemented strategically, email marketing has the potential to deliver outstanding returns on investment. Based on recent research, a single pound spent on email marketing can produce an average return of £33, rendering it one of the most lucrative marketing channels.

Key Strategies for Successful Email Marketing

Building an Engaged Subscriber List : To expand your email list, provide enticing incentives like exclusive content, discounts, or free resources. Get creative with captivating opt-in forms on your website and social media channels to obtain visitor emails.

Personalisation and Segmentation: Customise your emails based on subscriber preferences by segmenting your list into categories like demographics, purchase history, or engagement level. This ensures each email resonates with its intended audience and helps you achieve your goals.

Compelling Content: Craft engaging and relevant content for your subscribers. Mix informative articles, industry expertise, product updates, and special offers. Balance promotion with education to keep your audience interested.

Attention-Grabbing Subject Lines: Craft attention-grabbing subject lines for emails to increase open rates. Test different options with A/B testing to determine the most effective approach.

Mobile Optimisation: In today's world where mobile devices are widely used, it's essential to optimise your emails for mobile viewing. Utilise responsive design and conduct tests on different devices and email clients to ensure a smooth and seamless user experience.

Analyse and Refine: It is advisable to frequently analyse email metrics, including open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. By doing so, you can enhance your email marketing strategies, pinpoint areas that need improvement, and optimize your campaigns for superior outcomes.

Email marketing continues to be an invaluable tool for businesses that are looking to connect with their target audience, improve engagement, and drive conversions.

It is incredibly versatile, cost-effective, and has the potential for high ROI, making it an essential component of your full marketing strategy.

By implementing strategies like our recommendations, you can leverage email marketing to build stronger relationships with customers, increase brand visibility, and drive business growth.

If you need help developing your marketing strategies, contact us and see how we can help.

The Benefits of Minimalist Web Design: How Simplifying Your Site Can Improve User Experience

Tue, 09 May 2023 15:24:02 GMT

Using a minimalist design can greatly improve user experience, but how?

Minimalist web design can mean a lot of different things, depending on the individual’s taste.

But overall, it includes a design that relies on more simplistic and sleek aspects, text, and imagery.

Rather than relying on bright colours and complicated design, it is supposed to offer a calmer look.

This can have an effect on user experience, which is a key part of web design and development.

User experience describes how the user feels and the experience they have while using your website, and you want to make that experience positive.

Using a minimalist design can greatly improve user experience, but how?

Clarity and Focus

When you have a minimalist design, there are much fewer distractions on the page, which allows for clearer messaging.

Whether this is text or images of your product, all the focus is there.

When you reduce the visual clutter, the essential elements will draw the user in.

It can also help with readability and overall comprehension for those browsing your website.

Faster Load Times

Load times are incredibly important on your website.

It’s said that you only have 3 seconds to grab someone’s attention and keep it, and the maximum loading time for elements on a web page before the user leaves is 10 seconds.

Having a minimalist website means there are fewer elements and graphics to load, making for quicker loading speeds, which leads to a lower bounce rate.

It also greatly helps with user satisfaction, nobody likes a slow website.

With mobile browsing being so popular and the standard nowadays, loading speeds are especially key.

Enhanced User Navigation

User navigation is how the person on your website makes their way around the pages and falls down your funnel.

When you have a minimalist design, you can have a simplified navigation structure.

If you create an intuitive user flow, it is a much quicker and more pleasurable experience for the user.

If a user gets lost on your site, they won’t be able to make a conversion.

Navigation plays a part in the overall usability of your website, making it more functional.

It can be incredibly frustrating when you’re trying to find something on a website and can’t seem to find the page/product that you’re looking for.

Why would someone want to make a purchase from you and put even more effort in, when simply using your website is too time-consuming?

Mobile Responsiveness

Having a mobile-friendly website is very important, as 64% of online searches are done on mobile devices, and the rise in that percentage yearly has been seen as high as 2.5%.

Knowing this, you understand that your website must be responsive and mobile-friendly.

Using a minimalist design can help with this, as there are fewer elements to juggle and rescale when the website is reformatted for different-sized devices.

A simple design is also going to work well on a smaller screen, as the focus will be exclusively on the key content.

You need your website to be functional and optimised for a range of different devices and screen sizes if you want it to rank well on search engines and provide a positive user experience.

Improved Brand Perception

Depending on your business and sector, having a minimalist website can solidify your brand and personal image.

Minimalist websites look sleek, professional, and sophisticated.

If this is how you want to be perceived, with the write colour scheme and design, you can achieve it perfectly.

The simplicity will convey a sense of modernity, making you look ahead of the curve and current.

This will have a positive impact on your brand reputation, perception, and user trust.

Accessibility and Inclusivity

Minimalism can also help with accessibility on your website.

If a user has a sight impairment, a minimalist website will be much easier for them to use, the lack of clutter will reduce the struggle.

With clear typography, ample whitespace, and simplified layouts, the readability of the website will go up.

It is incredibly important to take accessibility and inclusivity into mind for your website, as it helps with SEO and makes sure that your website can accommodate all diverse user needs.

The main benefits of using minimalist web design for user experience are:

Clarity and Focus

Faster Load Times

Enhanced User Navigation

Mobile Responsiveness

Improved Brand Perception

Accessibility and Inclusivity

A simplified site might not work for everyone, but if it fits the tone of your brand then it has a load of benefits that it can bring you.

If you’re a business looking for a website redesign or a website to be built from scratch, contact our team and see how we can help you.

How to Measure the Success of Your Ad Campaign: Key Metrics to Track

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 13:58:44 GMT

"Measuring the success and results is crucial when running campaigns, as it allows you to understand if you have achieved your KPIs and goals"

Ad campaigns are a good way to bring attention and new customers to your business.

Measuring the success and results is crucial when running campaigns, as it allows you to understand if you have achieved your KPIs and goals.

Some may find it intuitive, but figuring out which metrics you want to track and measure can be a struggle.

What are the key metrics to track to measure success?

Impressions
Click-through Rate (CTR)
Conversion Rate
Cost per Click (CPC)
Return on Investment (ROI)
Engagement
Brand Awareness

Impressions

Impressions are the number of times that your ad has been shown to your target audience.

Tracking your impressions can help you understand the reach of your ad campaign, and how many people have seen it.

Impressions cover how many people it reached, it doesn’t include any engagements or conversions that have come from seeing the ad.

The more impressions you get, the more visibility and reputation you will have, so it’s still important to keep an eye on it.

Click-through Rate (CTR)

Your CTR is the percentage of people who actually clicked on your ad after seeing it.

To calculate this, you would divide the number of clicks by the number of impressions, then multiply by 100, for example:

280 people saw your ad, and you had 14 clicks.

(14/280) x 100 = 5

Your CTR is 5%

The higher your CTR is, the more likely it is that your ad is resonating with your target audience.

If it resonates, then it’s more likely to drive conversions.

Conversion Rate

A conversion rate is the percentage of people who carried out the desired action on your website, after clicking on your ad.

Similar to CTR, your conversion rate can be measured pretty easily, you divide the number of conversions by the number of clicks, then multiply by 100.

The ad got 14 clicks, and you had 5 conversions.

(5/14) x 100 = 35.7

Your conversion rate is 35.7%

A conversion can be a whole range of things, from filling out a form, making a purchase, or signing up for a newsletter.

Tracking your conversion rate lets you understand how effectively your ad drives conversions.

You may want to tweak your Call-to-Actions (CTAs) if you have a low conversion rate.

If you have a high CTR and low conversion rate, then you should ensure that your ad isn’t misleading or unrelated to the action you want them to take.

Cost per Click (CPC)

Most online advertising platforms follow a Pay per Click (PPC) model, so instead of paying the platform a sum of money to advertise, you pay a much smaller amount every time someone clicks on your ad.

This means you are only paying for actual results.

CPC is simply the amount you pay for every click your ad receives.

The CPC will vary depending on the platform, audience, and what you are advertising.

For example, on Google Ads, if you are trying to advertise a niche product or service with low search volume, the CPC will be much lower than trying to advertise a saturated and popular product, that will receive many searches monthly.

It’s important to track your CPC so that you can fully grasp the cost-effectiveness of your ad campaign, and how much you need to spend to drive clicks and conversions.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Your ROI is the amount of revenue you generate from an ad campaign, compared to the amount you spent on it.

It can be calculated by dividing the amount of revenue by the amount of investment, then multiplying by 100.

You spent £1500 on an ad campaign, and you make £1800 in sales generated from the campaign.

(1800/1500) x 100 = 120

Your ROI is 120%

When you track ROI, you can understand the profitability of your ad campaign, which can advise you in decision-making on your future investments and campaigns.

Engagement

Engagement is the number of likes, comments, and shares your ad receives.

Similar to clicks, using engagement metrics allows you to see if people are enjoying and resonating with the ad.

The kind of engagement you are receiving also matters, think about comments.

If a user is taking the time to comment on a Facebook ad, by asking a question or making a statement, that shows obvious interest in what you’re offering.

A share is also incredibly valuable, as it acts as a type of endorsement and recommendation to their audience.

If you are receiving engagements, it shows that your brand is creating a buzz, and if you have meaningful engagements, it can drive sales.

Brand Awareness

There are a few different ways you can measure your brand awareness (According to Zapier ) :

Social Listening
Branded search volume
Change in direct traffic
Backlink profiles
Brand awareness surveys
Social share of voice
Earned media coverage

Brand awareness measures how well your target audience recognises your brand.

An unknown brand won’t have anywhere near as many sales as a well-renowned brand does.

When you track brand awareness, you can see the effectiveness of your ad campaign in building your reputation.

When someone thinks of the type of product you’re selling, you want to be the first brand that comes to their mind.

When you are tracking these key metrics, you can gain insight into the overall effectiveness of your ad campaign.

You can then make data-driven decisions to optimise the campaign and create more successful ones in the future.

The more data and knowledge you have, the more successful you will be.

You can only fix things when you’re aware of them.

If you need help with your ad campaigns and analytics, contact our team and see how our marketing experts can help you.

The Importance of Colour in Web Design: A Guide for Marketers

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 13:58:47 GMT

"Colour can convey meaning, evoke emotion, and influence your user’s behaviour."

When it comes to designing your website, choosing the right colours is crucial.

Colour can convey meaning, evoke emotion, and influence your user’s behaviour.

As a marketer, understanding colour’s role in web design and how it impacts your online presence is key.

Colour Psychology

If you want to learn about the importance of colour in web design, your first step is understanding colour psychology.

Colours can have a range of meanings and associations depending on the context, culture, and individual preferences.

However, some common consistencies apply to most people.

For example:

Red: passion, excitement, urgency, danger

Blue: trust, security, calmness, professionalism

Green: growth, health, nature, wealth

Yellow: happiness, optimism, caution, energy

Black: sophistication, elegance, power, mystery

White: purity, simplicity, clarity, innocence

Of course, these are just a few examples, and the meanings of these colours can change depending on the context.

A red heart symbolises love and romance, while a red stop sign evokes a feeling of danger and prohibition.

As a marketer, choosing colours that will reflect your brand values and messaging is important.

Colour Combinations

Another important part of colour in web design is the combination of colours.

There are lots of different colour schemes that you can use, depending on the effect you’re looking for.

Monochromatic: different shades of the same colour

Analogous: colours that are adjacent to each other on the colour wheel

Complementary: colours that are opposite to each other on the colour wheel

Triadic: three colours that are evenly spaced on the colour wheel

Tetradic: four colours that are two complementary pairs

Like colour psychology, the choice of colour scheme will depend on the context and desired effect.

A monochromatic scheme can create a harmonious, sleek, and elegant look, while a complementary scheme can create a dynamic, fun, and contrasting effect.

Colour Accessibility

Another key consideration in web design is colour accessibility.

Some users may have visual impairments that make it difficult to distinguish certain colours from each other.

Red and green, and blue and yellow are common forms of colour blindness, so keep this in mind when choosing your colour scheme.

As a marketer, it is important to choose colours that are easy to read and distinguish, especially for key information such as a call-to-action.

Overall…

Colour is an essential component of web design and can significantly impact user behaviour.

As a marketer, you have to consider and choose colours that align with your brand values and messaging and use colour combinations that create the desired effect.

Additionally, colour accessibility should be taken into consideration to ensure that your website is accessible to all users.

If you need help to design your website, the mediachimps team is here to help.

We also have a special offer running at the moment, featuring a 4-page website for £50 a month.

Storytelling in web design and marketing

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:30:15 GMT

"We know how important storytelling is for your brand and what roles it will play in your success"

Storytelling is a classic tradition, being used for centuries to entertain, educate, and inspire people.

They catch our attention, engage our emotions, and leave a lasting impression in our heads.

Nowadays, storytelling is utilised in way more ways than it used to, as now it’s a vital aspect of running your business.

As we provide web design and marketing services, we know how important storytelling is for your brand and what roles it will play in your success.

If you want to help your business connect with your audience, you need to take storytelling into account.

The first key importance of storytelling for your business is its ability to humanise your brand.

There are so many businesses competing for users’ attention online, so it’s becoming increasingly difficult for you to stand out.

However, if you use storytelling to share your business’s history, values, and vision, it helps to create an emotional connection with your audience.

It’s no longer a case of just selling something, the audience can begin to feel like they are part of something bigger, rather than a simple transaction, they are now part of your story.

Consumers are much more likely to make a purchase with your brand if they see you as human, and any personal connection they have with your story will make them sympathise with and support you.

Using storytelling in your web design and marketing is also helpful because it communicates complex information and concepts in a simple and engaging way.

Everything is fast-paced now, so most of your audience won’t have the time, or patience, to read lengthy paragraphs of text.

A well-crafted story will convey this information in a way that is easy to understand and remember, saving them time.

You can also add to this by using images, animations, any visuals, and interactive elements.

This helps you create a story that will engage your audience while educating them about your brand and products.

Gaining a sense of community is also important for your brand, and storytelling can help you reach this.

Fostering brand loyalty is key, as your loyal customers are going to support you continuously, so sharing your story and personality will keep people with you.

When you share your story with the audience, they will begin to connect with you as an individual, and the people behind the brand, rather than just the concept.

This connection can bring a feeling of trust and loyalty to your brand, as it starts to feel like the audience is part of a bigger community that shares these beliefs and values.

By nurturing this relationship, you can create a loyal customer base that will support you over your competitors.

Finally, storytelling can really help you and your brand differentiate from competitors in your market.

If you’re in a saturated market, and there are a bunch of other businesses selling the same products as you, you have to make a deeper connection to convince people you are the option they should go with.

If you can tell a unique and compelling story, then that connection is much more likely to happen.

A story that resonates with the audience will help you be more memorable since a consumer’s choice will usually rely on their connection/loyalty, or convenience.

So, if you remain in their head, it’s easy to make a purchase with you.

Storytelling is an essential element of your website and marketing efforts.

Storytelling helps your business connect with your audience, communicate complex information, create a sense of community, foster brand loyalty, and differentiate yourself from competitors.

If you need help with your copywriting and incorporating storytelling into your website, contact our chimps.

How graphic design plays into your brand identity

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 10:43:14 GMT

"Graphic design provides your business with a range of assets and products"

Graphic design is a very important component of your business’s branding, as it dictates the appearance your audience will see.

Your audience will need to identify, recognise, and connect with the visual representation that graphic design creates.

Our graphic design services aim to create effective visual communication, which can help you stand out in a crowded market, attract new customers, and stay relevant in the minds of existing customers.

Graphic design provides your business with a range of assets and products.

Logo Design

Your logo is one of the most important elements of your brand identity, as it is the face of your brand and what will be recognised first.

A graphic designer can help you create a unique and memorable logo that perfectly captures your brand’s values and personality.

Our team would work with you to select the best colour palette, typography, and imagery that’ll make your logo create an impact.

Brand Guidelines

Brand guidelines are a set of rules that will control how your brand is presented, including visually.

The visual side of it will include guidelines on colour palette, typography, imagery, icons, design style, and so on.

When you create brand guidelines, they have to be aligned with your values and personality.

The guidelines will help any upkeep consistency with your appearance across all platforms, such as your website, social media, and marketing materials.

Website Design

Your website will often be the first touchpoint prospects have with you.

A well-designed website that is consistent with your overall identity will help build a sense of trust and general credibility with your audience.

Working with a graphic design team can help web designers create a website that is true to your identity and guidelines, is visually appealing, and easy to navigate.

Social Media Graphics

Social media marketing is such a large part of building brand awareness and connecting with your audience.

Your social media graphics and content need to be consistent with your brand identity.

Your profile pictures, headers, and any posts should all look cohesive, but not identical, you need variety or viewers will get bored.

Again, a lot of it comes down to being memorable, consistent social media presence will make you much more identifiable.

Marketing Materials

Brochures, business cards, flyers, letterheads, and all marketing materials are key to building your brand awareness.

Like social media, physical materials need to look good and be consistent with your branding, without that consistency your audience won’t be able to recognise you in the busy marketing world.

So...

Graphic design is all about creating a visual representation of your brand, that aligns with your values, mission, and purpose.

Working with a graphic design team assures consistency, and increases your professionalism and credibility.

It can also help you build an emotional connection with your customers, your personality will show through, and a lot of psychology goes into your branding.

In conclusion, graphic design plays a critical role in building your identity.

Differentiate your brand from your competition and nurture the connection your audience has with you.

Our professional graphic design team can help you meet your goals and create a brand that is impactful and long-lasting.

Facebook ads: How they work and why you should use them

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 10:37:36 GMT

"Facebook Ad campaigns are a powerful tool"

We know how important it is to have a strong online presence and to effectively reach your target audience.

Facebook Ad campaigns are a powerful tool that can help you achieve both of these goals.

In this blog post, we will explain how Facebook Ad campaigns work and why you should use them for your business.

How Facebook Ad Campaigns Work

Facebook Ad campaigns allow you to create ads that will appear on Facebook, Instagram, and other websites and apps that are part of the Facebook Audience Network.

You can choose from a variety of ad formats, including photo ads, video ads, carousel ads, and more.

You can also target specific demographics, interests, behaviours, and locations to ensure that your ads are reaching the right people.

When you create an ad campaign on Facebook, you set a budget and a bidding strategy.

Facebook will then show your ad to users who are likely to engage with it based on your targeting and bidding strategy.

You only pay when someone clicks on your ad or takes another desired action, such as filling out a form or making a purchase.

Why You Should Use Facebook Ad Campaigns

There are many reasons why you should use Facebook Ad campaigns for your business, including:

Reaching a larger audience:

With over 2 billion active users, Facebook is the largest social media platform in the world.

By running ads on Facebook, you can reach a huge audience that includes people who may not have found your business otherwise.

Targeting specific demographics:

Facebook allows you to target your ads to specific demographics, interests, behaviours, and locations.

This means that you can ensure that your ads are being seen by people who are most likely to be interested in your product or service.

It’s cost-effective:

Facebook Ad campaigns are often more cost-effective than other forms of advertising.

You can set a daily or lifetime budget, and you only pay when someone engages with your ad.

Tracking your results:

Facebook provides detailed analytics on your ad campaigns, so you can track how many people are seeing your ad, how many people are clicking on it, and how much it is costing you.

This information can help you optimise your ads to get better results.

Building brand awareness:

By running ads on Facebook, you can increase your brand awareness and get your business in front of more people.

Even if someone doesn't click on your ad, they may still remember your brand and consider it in the future.

In conclusion, Facebook Ad campaigns are a powerful tool that can help you reach a large audience, target specific demographics, and build brand awareness.

They are cost-effective and provide detailed analytics that can help you optimise your ads for better results.

If you're not already using Facebook Ad campaigns for your business, now is the time to start!

Get in touch with our chimps and see how we can help you run Facebook Ad campaigns.

Rediscovering your creativity in a profit-driven environment

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 08:43:55 GMT

"You can rediscover and nurture your creativity in a corporate setting"

You’re in a room full of business owners and entrepreneurs, and simply state that “money is what drives all of you”, what would the response be?

Immediately, many would take offense, you’re implying that everything they do is soulless and ungenuine, that’s how many would take it anyway.

But realistically, it is a true statement.

Money becomes the main motivation when you monetise a craft or rely on a creative medium for your income.

It’s only human, as we will value survival over joy.

It’s a bleak concept, but it’s realistic, and if you run a business there is no way to escape this.

Creativity gets stifled, and you will always have to work within the bounds of what will allow you to survive.

This conundrum will leave many workers feeling hopeless, so shutting up and producing what you think is required seems like the best option.

It’s not though.

You can rediscover and nurture your creativity in a corporate setting and get out of the hole you dug up beneath your feet.

Limitations

This doesn’t mean that you can show up to work and pitch an idea that has no benefit or correlation to the products or services you are offering.

It’s a case of escaping a defeatist mindset; yes, some things are out of bounds, but nobody is stopping you from pushing the limits, thinking outside the box, and other quotes your mother may have on a mug.

It’s cliché, but the more time you spend restricting your ability to create new and exciting things, the harder it will become in the long run.

What’s the fix?

There isn’t just one solution, and any advice we give, or anyone for that matter, will magically restore your brain to its original childlike wonder.

Still, any form of mindfulness about the topic is a good first step, so here are some examples that may help you.

Practice your craft outside of work

After a long day of working, you get home and all you want to do is the same thing you did all day at work!

I know, just hear me out.

Anything you are creating, you will do in a way that adheres to the processes and expectations you have at work, so practice in your own environment.

Suddenly, all the rules and regulations are gone.

There is no fear of a disappointed boss, or potentially damaged brand reputation.

There was a passion and craving to do this at some point in your life, as you ended up on this career path.

Why?

Who were you at that point, and what drew you into your role?

Of course, this doesn’t come without issue.

Lack of motivation is a big thing, there is no reward for creating in your own time.

So, you decide to share what you make online to feel more fulfilled, that will help!

Remove the pressure to perform

It did not work.

Now you’re performing for the general public, who don’t need to worry about the HR department when critiquing your work.

Your 19 hours of work just got 3 likes, and as much as you hate to admit it, the lack of validation is slightly soul-crushing.

The first way around this is to stop caring, but that isn’t very realistic.

Alternatively, you can change the channels through which you share your personal work.

Instead of posting on Instagram, or any other oversaturated platforms, show family, friends, and anyone whose opinion you actually value.

Many creators have also started seeding their content on Tumblr, as it’s a platform that values authenticity more than most; content is also shown in chronological order for users, so a lack of likes won’t keep it from being seen!

Play around

You will be your own biggest critic throughout life, so sometimes you have to cut yourself some slack and understand that not everything will be perfect.

You will create, whether it’s at work or alone, and some of it may be mediocre, or plain bad.

The more fun you try to have with things, the less constricted you will feel.

Give yourself the chance to do things that feel a bit silly.

You are still the same person you were as a child, dig up that whimsy and imagination that you used to have.

Balancing work and play isn’t easy when so much of your time is spent working, but the two concepts can coexist and feed off of each other.

What is your main inspiration in life?

What do you feel connected to?

Whatever draws you to the positive things in your life, apply that logic to your work.

Talk to your boss

When you have someone to report to, you can start to conceptualise them as a greater power who must be obeyed and never questioned, it can even start to incite fear.

It’s important to remember that your boss is human, and conversations can flow without you adhering to the imagined power dynamic.

If you want to try something new that doesn’t feel like it fits into what they are currently asking from you, tell them that, and pitch ideas that are a little more ‘out there’.

Worst case scenario, they hate it.

But it still shows initiative and proves that you are willing to try new things and develop your work style.

Communication will take you far.

You have to contribute to the business you work for, there will always be a monetary drive for those working above you.

But lack of creativity will kill whatever you are producing, it’s inhuman, so they have to allow you to experiment.

Find likeminded creatives

It’s only natural to want to surround yourself with similar people, and having those around you who will encourage creativity and motivate you to keep going is always great.

Whether it’s your friends, co-workers, or even online communities of creatives, find your people and allow yourself to flourish with them.

You can find inspiration in so many places.

The digital landscape is full of content, creators, and groups who will share ideas that can help you use your creativity more.

This also allows you to get new perspectives and opinions on the things you are creating and working through.

It’s hard to keep yourself motivated and allow yourself to let the creativity flow fully within a corporate setting, but not impossible.

Self-reflection will dictate your success in this, as you can’t be authentic to yourself if you have no clue what your truth is.

Curate your environment so that it nurtures these qualities and surround yourself with people and things that inspire you.

Most importantly, don’t set yourself up for failure.

Never assume the worst from the get-go, allow yourself to rediscover the creativity you went into the industry with.

At mediachimps, we think that self-expression and creativity are key when it comes to running your business.

If you want a website or a marketing model that encourages this, get in touch and see how we can help you.

5 mediachimps templates that are perfect for your restaurant

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 10:59:41 GMT

With our Do It Yourself Websites, you can have your website up and running in a week, without compromising on appearance.

All websites are fully customisable, will fit your branding, and be responsive for any device.

As much as our chimps make building your website simple, you still have to choose one of our mediachimps templates that work for you.

Here are some of our favourite templates that might just be perfect for your restaurant, café, bakery, you get the gist.

All of these templates are fully customisable, so don’t worry if the names seem too specific, they could be used for any business type.

"Sushi restaurant"

This template is modern, sleek, and minimalist, while still having plenty of space for imagery.

With a classy and simple design like this, you can showcase your content and keep the user's attention.

This would fit anywhere with high-quality images and copy, the template lets your business speak for itself.

"Burger restaurant"

This fun design gives you lots of options for text, imagery, and icons.

While having more going on, its use of whitespace keeps things tidy and ensures that nothing looks cramped or busy.

Plus, a very fitting burger menu is there for navigation, rather than a navigation bar.

This design would be great for any casual eating location, as it also features contact and location information right after the main image, super easy for the user to find you!

"Poke restaurant"

A personal favourite, this fun and dynamic template gives off a very natural feel.

The navigation bar makes things easy to find and keeps users from getting lost.

There are so many ways you could utilise this template as it has lots of room for exciting design elements.

"Local restaurant"

This template is very visually appealing while remaining high-class.

People eat with their eyes, so using the gallery to showcase your food is great for getting people's attention.

It still gives plenty of room for copy and important information.

It's bright and keeps your attention on the page, with lots of variation in the layout throughout.

"Bake shop"

With a slightly more quirky layout than the others, this template is great for any business that wants to give off a different and carefree vibe.

It's tidy, but not confined to boxes and sections.

There are also dynamic imagery opportunities within the template, so when the user scrolls down the page everything isn't completely stationary.

Something a little different to make you stand out.

We have templates to fit any business, no matter the industry you are in.

Take a look through our templates and preview them on our 'Do It Yourself Websites' page , to see what could work for you.

We also have a special offer available, meaning you can get a customised, fully managed, 4-page website for only £50 a month!

Contact our chimps and see how we can help you.

One-page websites: Simplify design and navigation

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 14:54:46 GMT

Could it fit your business?

Considering our current digital landscape, businesses are still looking for ways to stand out from competitors in their market, and to grab the attention of potential customers.

A good way to do this is by using one-page websites.

As the name suggests, a one-page website is a website that consists of only one page, rather than a multitude that will be navigated around.

There’s a whole range of benefits to this kind of website, they are easy to navigate, simplistic, and generally a great option for businesses who want to make a powerful first impression.

For some businesses, this kind of website won’t fit your business model or needs, but it’s something to consider when deciding on a website for you.

One key benefit of one-page websites is that they are easy to design and navigate.

Due to the fact that all of the information is on a single page, it saves your users from clicking through many pages to find what they are looking for.

You can also implement an anchor navigation system, so they don’t get stuck scrolling for ages.

It helps to reduce the time it takes users to get what they need from your website, and can give a very positive user experience overall.

Another plus you get with one-page websites is that they can be visually appealing to the user, sometimes more so than a traditional website.

All of the information is contained on a single page, meaning that the web designer has lots of flexibility in how they can present this information.

Without a design system to follow on multiple pages, you can create something unique, aesthetically pleasing, and true to your brand.

The better your website looks, the more visitors it will bring.

One-page websites are also a great fit for start-up businesses, especially if you have a limited budget.

These websites are simple to design and navigate, so they typically can be created at a low cost.

If you’re a new business looking to establish an online presence without breaking the bank, it could be a good move for you.

Finally, one-page websites are also great for businesses that are looking to make a strong first impression.

Because they are visually appealing and easy to navigate, they can help to attract more visitors to the site and can help to establish a positive image for the business.

In conclusion, one-page websites are a great option for businesses looking for a simple, visually appealing, and easy-to-navigate website.

They are also great for businesses that are just starting or that have a limited budget.

If you're interested in creating a one-page website for your business, don't hesitate to contact our chimps .

We would be more than happy to help you create a website that will help you stand out from the competition and attract more customers.

5 Instagram image trends to keep an eye on

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 16:39:22 GMT

What's trending?

As much as Instagram reels seem to be taking over, the original image posts are still widely used and play an important role in your social media marketing plan.

How we post these images can appeal to different audiences, and trends are always changing.

Here are some things we’ve noticed recently.

Photo dumps

You might see people captioning a post and calling it a ‘Photo dump’, but what does that mean?

Photo dumps are a more casual and light-hearted way of posting, using the carousel feature, meaning you can post many images at once for the viewer to slide through.

The algorithm also prioritizes Carousel posts, helping you get more interactions.

Photo dumps are lowkey and effortless, as it’s just a string of images, the images can be completely random or an array of images from one event/period.

Unedited casual posting

Similar to a photo dump, casual posting in general is in!

Instagram is often very material and high quality, so opposing that with unfiltered content is starting to circulate.

Authenticity is in (finally), so embrace that blurry picture.

This is great for brands as it cuts down on photography and editing costs, but it only works for certain brand personalities and overall vibes.

This doesn’t mean you don’t have to think about your content though, there should still be a plan and message conveyed through your posts.

Creator centric photos

Instagram is a great place to showcase your personality, and who your brand really is, but an easy way to do this is by showing the people behind the brand.

Whether it’s a selfie or photos from a staff night out, bring a bit of life to your business’ brand account!

If you look at all the major Instagram influencers, all of them are creators, take inspiration from their content and posting style and see how they are successful.

You can learn a lot from them, editing and post styles especially.

Oversaturated images

Lighting is always a big thing when it comes to your Instagram photos, but recently, bright and oversaturated photos are in.

This is a stark contrast from what we’ve seen in previous years, as high-quality images with clear lighting have been the preference.

If your brand is considered edgy or alternative at all, high brightness and saturated images can work very well in your favour, as it is reminiscent of the early 2000s myspace type photos.

It’s bold, different, and overall fun.

Text over images

Outside of captions, text with imagery is starting to pop up more frequently in our feeds.

The text incorporated into an image can quickly and easily provide context and any important/extra information to your audience.

It can also work in favour and improve your design if done well.

Text can also strengthen your brand, as it can fit in with your website/logo font, brand colours, and tone of voice.

For more advice on social media marketing, contact our chimps.

How to write a quality social media call-to-action

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 14:48:42 GMT

How do you convince your viewers?

In marketing, you are almost always trying to convince people to do things.

When you want your audience to do something, you have to encourage them, and a good way to do this is by using a CTA (call-to-action).

A call-to-action is self-explanatory, it is you, calling the audience to carry out the desired action.

So, how do you write a good CTA?

Make it direct and conversational

Establishing a personal connection with your audience will make any call-to-actions much more meaningful.

Using conversational language makes it feel like you and the viewer are already connected and friendly.

Direct the statement towards them using words like “you” or “your”.

It immediately makes it personal, less vague, and like you’re trying to sell them something.

Tell, don’t sell.

Use action words

You don’t want to suggest an action, you want to tell them to do it.

Inspire immediate actions to be taken with your phrasing.

You should be clear and instructional.

Simplicity helps, the more direct you are the more likely the viewer is to get decision fatigue.

Don’t be vague

Again, you’re trying to tell them to do something specific, so be clear.

Rather than saying “Click here”, say “Click here to get 50% off”.

The more context you give the reader, the more likely they are to click, as the action should benefit them.

You also only have one CTA per post, as giving many actions and instructions at once can be overwhelming and confusing for the viewer.

Focus on their benefit

The viewer will have to take time out of their day to carry out the action you are instructing them to do, even if it's only for seconds.

This is why it’s essential to show them the benefit of your CTA, if they don’t gain anything, what’s the point?

The best way to inspire them is just to tell them what they want to hear and make them aware of what they gain, so they have the incentive to do so.

Phrasing plays a huge part in this.

Don’t say “Click here to download our PDF” but say “Click here to improve your sales by up to 60%”, you get the gist.

Make it snappy

You want to make CTA’s feel almost urgent.

Whether it’s a limited-time offer, or something related to current events, impulsivity is easy to profit from when it comes to your target audience.

If they feel like it’s their only chance to get the benefits you are offering them, they are much more likely to take it.

Test and experiment

If you use a CTA that doesn’t get many clicks, don’t let it get to you too much.

It isn’t an instant failure, it just means you should mess around with the wording, size, colours, etc.

A/B testing can also be a great resource, if you run two identical campaigns at the same time, each with a different CTA, you can see which is more effective for next time.

It’s all about learning as you try new things.

Take any data and feedback that you can get.

A good CTA should fit in with your brand personality, be short but persuasive, and be influential enough to get the viewer to follow through.

If you need help with your social media marketing and copywriting, our chimps can help.

5 Instagram tips for your business

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 16:29:38 GMT

"It’s a flexible and diverse platform where a business can thrive."

Instagram is a brilliant platform for any business.

The formality is pretty balanced, so it works for casual, brand personality-enforcing content, advertisements, and more ‘proper’ posts.

It’s a flexible and diverse platform where a business can thrive.

Using Instagram for your brand and using it personally doesn’t have to differ too much, but here are 5 tips for using Instagram for your brand.

1. Create user-generated content

Everyone is tired of seeing the same stock images and basic content circling Instagram.

You need to create something unique that stands out, so creating content specific to you is the best plan.

Upholding professionalism constantly isn’t Instagram’s vibe, instead, post something fun and casual.

A selfie with your co-workers, fun office pics, live streams, you get the gist.

You don’t need high-quality imagery and designs every day, showcase your personality and have a little fun.

You want to make your brand look human, coming across as genuine will build a more personal connection and trust with your customers.

2. Stay on top of trends

Following trends blindly isn’t the best plan, as not all trends are relevant to your brand, and may not appeal to your target audience.

Another way to humanise your brand is using trends and memes to connect with your audience but doing this well isn’t easy.

We’ve all seen a brand try and make a meme or join in on a joke, and it doesn’t land.

Often brands will join in too late, and it seems so corporate and lifeless for people to even give it a pass.

Join in quickly and make jokes that make sense for your brand.

Instagram’s algorithm will promote content that it thinks will do well, this includes trends.

Just keep an eye out and be careful.

3. Don’t focus on vanity metrics

You’re human, and in a social media landscape, vanity metrics mean everything.

You catch yourself getting excited over views and likes, but what’s the benefit of this?

Likes are always good and help the algorithm, but the metrics you want to watch out for most are comments and follows.

One new follower from the niche you’re trying to appeal to will mean much more than 10 likes from people you don’t want to reach and will likely not interact with again.

Comments are always a good sign, as it shows that viewers care enough about the content to give feedback or ask a question based on it.

Empty interactions, such as likes, may look better when you look at your account, but bring less benefit.

4. Interact with your niche

This doesn’t mean following every other business or person interested in your market and niche, but making a name for yourself is always a good thing.

Simply liking and following accounts with good content related to you may lead to a follow back, and it looks good for your business.

Again, it’s all about humanisation.

Your brand will gain visibility within the niche, and eventually, this will build trust.

Just ensure that you aren’t coming across as too desperate, commenting on every post and asking people to follow back, that kind of stuff doesn’t look so great.

Just…act natural? (Easier said than done, we know.)

5. Make use of the link in your bio

“Link in bio” is a phrase that you will see on Instagram pretty much daily.

The reason for this?

It works!

You can’t link to your website or any content in an Instagram caption, so you have to make use of your bio.

It’s good to have in any situation, one-click whenever anyone views your account and they can be taken straight to your website, products, or any information.

The link section on your Instagram should never be blank, if there’s nothing new to showcase, then just have it linked to your website.

I mean, what’s the harm in having something there?

You always want to direct your social media audience to your website or store.

For more advice on social media marketing, contact our chimps.

Image SEO: The essentials

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 15:57:03 GMT

"Optimising your images is essential for your website, and often gets forgotten about"

As we’ve mentioned before, SEO is always evolving, it’s an ever-changing landscape that isn’t always the easiest to keep up with.

There are still some consistencies within the environment, and best practices are still there to help you and your business succeed.

Image SEO is the act of optimising your images to help your web page rank higher, or to optimise an image for the image results page on a search engine.

Optimising your images is essential for your website, and often gets forgotten about.

So, what can you do to make sure that your images are search engine optimised?

Compress your images

Search engines will consider the image size when it comes to your image SEO.

Your web page load time will affect your ranking, and the bigger an image is, the longer it will take to load.

You need to find the perfect balance between file size and quality, as you don’t want to sacrifice quality and have a sloppy-looking image just to have the smallest file size possible.

Google, as an example, doesn’t look at individual image file sizes, but instead at the page as a whole.

So, you can prioritise your images and know which needs to be the highest quality, allowing you to mess around with different sizes.

There are online tools available to you to compress your images, you can also consider file sizes and the effect they have on your images.

Accurate alt text

Alt text on an image is helpful for various reasons, the first being accessibility.

This means that anyone using a screen reader can know what the image includes on a webpage, allowing the user to fully experience your website even if they can’t see it.

Alt text also helps search engines crawl your website and understand what it is a little bit better.

This means that it can be indexed correctly, and helpful and accurate alt text helps your webpage’s ranking and increases the likelihood of you being featured on Google images.

To add alt text most beneficially, detail is the key.

Give lots of detail, this paints a more detailed picture for anybody using a screen reader or any accessibility needs, and it’s more specific and helps your SEO.

Having alt text is also helpful as a failsafe because if your image doesn’t load for any reason, alt text will tell the user what is supposed to be there.

Name your files

As well as alt text, file names can affect how crawlers will perceive your image.

This is why you should change the file name to something accurate, descriptive, and SEO friendly.

This also helps with being a result on the image page of a search engine.

If you take a picture for your website, the file name will typically be something along the lines of “IMG_1234”, which offers absolutely nothing to the search engine.

Rename it to something descriptive, this along with good alt text can help push your content up the image page.

Use unique images

To put it simply, search engines will prioritise organic and original images.

A stock image is never going to rank highly, as multiple pages will be using them.

As well as crawlers preferring original imagery, users will too.

If you use exclusively stock images and designs on your site, there’s no diversity or stand-out factors, you just look like another soulless corporation.

Even though the quality may not be as professional if you don’t have the equipment, original photos can make users feel more comfortable.

When it comes to graphics, there are plenty of design software and websites available to you that allow you to create your own, as well as plenty of graphic designers who can create something bespoke for you.

The more you research, the more factors come into play, but hopefully, these basic best practices will help you rise in the image ranks.

If your business needs help with SEO and marketing, contact our team.

How to effectively name your blog

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 08:07:34 GMT

What do you need to consider while naming your blog?

Having a blog can bring meaningful traffic to your website, showcase your knowledge and help your users.

As much as the content of the blog will be your main focus, there's another big thing to consider.

The blog name!

What should you take into consideration while naming your blog?

What's your niche?

Blogging has been popular for a while, so there's a pretty wide selection of blogs for readers to choose from.

This is why you have to ensure that you stand out.

What is it that makes you different?

Who is it that you're appealing to?

Your blog name should set the mood for the content you'll be producing and should be alluring to those interested in your niche.

Who's going to read it?

So, you know your niche, who's it going to attract?

The reader demographics will play a role in naming your blog, as you want to appeal to the right people.

If you have a finance blog aimed at working professionals, you may want the name to be more straightforward and serious.

While a blog on video games may have a little more fun with its name, as it will be targeting younger people.

Is your blog just for fun, or built into your brand?

When you are writing a personal blog in your free time, you only have to consider what you're writing about, but it's a different story if it's for your business.

Your blog name has to fit in with your brand's identity.

A great example of this is LADbible , which has a range of different blogs.

One is SPORTbible , with sports news and stories, the name still fits into their branding and is recognisable.

You want readers to recognise your business from your blog, so a related name is a good plan.

Make sure it's easy to spell and pronounce

Word of mouth is one of the most powerful marketing tools you have.

It's free and much more authentic for the recipient, as it's a genuine recommendation from those they know or online.

This is why you have to ensure that people can spell or pronounce your blog name, how can they recommend it or talk about it if they can't understand what it's called?

You should be able to understand what the blog is about from its name, so make sure they can understand what it says in the first place.

Research!

The final step is just to research, everything.

Research competitors, your target audience, your brand tone and identity, and every single aspect of your blog.

It seems excessive, but they do say knowledge is power.

It is always best to be fully prepared and completely understand the environment you are entering.

The more you know, the easier success will be.

If you need help running a blog for your business, our marketing team can help.

Get in contact for a chat.

What to consider while choosing an email marketing platform

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 15:00:18 GMT

What does your business need to gain?

Email marketing is a great resource for you and your business.

It can help generate and nurture leads, as well as improve customer relations, and more!

Using an email marketing service makes things much easier, but how do you go about choosing the right one for you?

Costs

Many email marketing services will offer tiered subscription plans.

The more you pay, the better service you can use, but this doesn’t mean that you have to pay loads.

Mailchimp , as an example, has a free subscription tier, within this they offer a wide range of features.

For smaller businesses, the free subscription might be perfect!

I can offer exactly what you need, but for some, it may not be anywhere near enough.

Explore multiple options, look at what’s included within the service and subscription, and compare to all your other options.

The aim is always going to be getting the best service, with the most features, for the lowest price.

But try to remain open-minded while considering.

Features

What you require from email marketing will differ depending on your business, customers, size, and many more variables.

This is why you should consider what features you need before trying to select an email marketing platform.

Do you need to send out content to loads of contacts at once?

How much freedom do you need with design?

What amount of analytics do you need?

There are loads of questions you should be asking yourself.

Have a think about your priorities and what you really need, and then what you want.

Integrations

Depending on your business and current processes, there might be essential third-party integrations when it comes to email marketing.

Whether it’s for opt-in popups, your website’s platform, CRM, or eCommerce services, investigate the level of freedom you will get with integrations.

You should never sacrifice something essential for your business, cause the more well-known platforms don’t allow integration, there will be plenty of options that can, it’s all about finding them.

It’s also worth considering looking into services like Zapier , which offers integration between thousands of cloud applications, so you only need to integrate one third-party service into your email marketing.

UX and UI

An email marketing service can be perfect for you in terms of features, but you have to be able to use it.

The user experience and interface are incredibly important, you need to have ease when setting up campaigns and planning your content.

Marketing is a fast-paced business, so having to spend ages learning and navigating a platform isn’t helping anyone.

Many platforms will use templates for building your emails, which saves a lot of time and means you can create aesthetically pleasing and professional content, without too much time consumption.

It also means you don’t have to outsource any graphic design for your emails, everything is offered within the platform already.

Designing your campaign, scheduling, and looking at data and insights from previous emails shouldn’t feel like a hassle.

Consider using a platform that simplifies this process.

If you need help with managing your email marketing, contact our chimps and see how we can help.

Improving CX personalisation

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 13:01:48 GMT

When engaging with loyal customers, you have to ensure you are doing it effectively.

The best way to keep customers happy and loyal is by providing them with positive experiences and interactions.

The term CX describes 'Customer Experience', but there's more to consider than just the message and tone.

Personalisation offers a sincere and knowing perspective from you, as the provider.

It builds trust and a deeper relationship with your customers.

There are a lot of considerations that should be accounted for when trying to improve your CX.

So what steps should you take?

The message

The first is to consider your message and its meaning.

When you are in contact with a customer, what message do you want to send them?

What is the goal of this interaction?

Does it offer them any benefits?

The way you interact with customers shows a lot of your personality and values, it allows them to further their perception of you.

This is why it's important to ensure that you are presenting in the way you want, a way that will encourage conversions or at least be a positive interaction for them.

Once you have established the message you want to get across, you have to consider the tone.

This is where you should show your personality.

The tone you take should reflect who you are, as well as fit the message.

Always make sure you are being professional, friendly, and following your business' policies.

Where to send your message

There's a multitude of channels and platforms you can use to communicate with your customers.

The industry standard used to be using email and phone only to contact customers, but now things are changing.

Using social media is encouraged.

Many businesses will use direct messaging over social media to communicate with their customers, typically to respond when the customer makes first contact.

Using social media is often more convenient for the customer, as you can quickly send messages, and get a quick response.

It also allows you, as the business, to have personalised responses immediately, as you can know the customer's name from the account they message you from.

Although social media is on the rise, you can still use email and text, you just have to ensure it feels sincere.

Email marketing and telemarketing will usually go out in batches, meaning that without segmentation, everyone receives the same message.

This is why it isn't always the most effective method, but if you put the time and effort into it then it's worth considering.

When to send your message

This is another aspect of personalisation you should consider.

If you have customers in multiple countries, they may have different time zones.

This means that sending out a batch of emails to customers at the same time may come across as sloppy.

You're sending the email at 5 pm in your time zone, but some customers could be receiving it in the middle of the night, what's the point in that?

It can go even deeper than that, some people can be influenced to opt-out of brand messages if you get them at a bad time.

For many, weekends aren't appropriate to be receiving anything from a business.

Weekdays have been named the most appropriate, typically around midday or the early evening.

This is understandable, as getting woken up by a text on an early Sunday morning would put anyone off.

You should also consider the regularity of these messages.

If you are bombarding customers, it's off-putting and annoying for them.

When asked, 72% of people said that frequent messaging was the top reason for them to opt-out of getting texts from a brand.

Listen to feedback

It's a simple step, but very effective.

Allow your customers to give feedback on their experiences with communicating with your brand.

This means that you can make changes and adjust, based on what they are thinking and feeling.

Customer feedback will give you some brilliant insights into what is and isn't working within your marketing plans.

If you give them a simple and systematic way to provide feedback, it makes them more inclined to do so.

Don't only ask for feedback directly, you can include a link to a form in any brand messages, ask for feedback after customer interactions, and so on.

If you can collect data in any way shape or form, always do it.

If you need help with improving your CX or any aspect of customer relations and marketing, contact our chimps.

We're here to help!

Web design: 5 key features for your home page

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 13:05:32 GMT

The home page is the most important landing page on your site, so what features will keep users from bouncing?

When a user comes across your website, typically, the first page they will see is your homepage.

This is why your homepage is incredibly important.

It has to look great and have quality content, but there are some features you should include which may help your bounce rate.

Your logo

Nice and simple.

This shows them who you are, any pre-existing reputation and visibility can be linked to your website through your logo and branding in general.

Simply having your logo visible isn't the only issue, placement matters.

You want your logo to be visible on the homepage, somewhere that it'll draw attention and be noticed, but not distract from the main contents.

Most web designers put it in the header, usually to the left or in the center.

This is because it is noticeable, but doesn't draw too much attention.

It's also best practice to link your logo to your homepage.

This is so that users can easily navigate back to the homepage if they get lost, simply by clicking on your logo.

Strong headline

Next up is your headline.

Your headline is the big bit of text at the top of any web page, if you are using an image and text it is often called the 'Hero'.

The headline is the first bit of copy that a user will see, ultimately dictating whether they stay on your website or not.

You want the viewer to have a good idea of who you are and what you do within the first couple of seconds of seeing your homepage.

The most effective way to portray this is a strong headline.

You should keep it short, but still punchy.

Nobody will take in a full paragraph at first glance, so a sentence or two is your best option.

Keep these words in mind: clear, simple, and impactful.

Natural navigation

They're on the home page, great start.

But you want them to explore and learn more, right?

The navigation bar is the main way users will make their way around your website, so don't overcomplicate it.

You want to establish a natural path for users to follow if they wish to learn about your business.

The end goal will always be a conversion, so you want them to end up on a contact or checkout page in the end.

Make it easy for them to get there, using CTA's (call to action), page linking, and a clear navigation bar.

Page linking can also be referred to as 'breadcrumbing', it's the action of leading users from one page to another without them having to think or consider it too much.

CTA

As mentioned above, a CTA is a call to action.

The most common CTA's you will see are things like:

Shop now
Read more
Contact us
See deals
Call now

You get the gist.

Text or buttons with a link to a page where the user can make a conversion, the name is self-explanatory.

You are calling them to take an action, an action you wish for them to take on your website.

A good CTA will be eye-catching and attention-grabbing, so the design should be thought out well.

Having a CTA on the home page is helpful for those who already know your website, they could be revisiting or know you from social channels, etc.

If there's a button to take them where they need to go, it saves them navigating and making their way through.

Social media links

On the topic of social channels...

Having social media presence is incredibly important for brand reputation and visibility.

You want to build trust with your website users, so social channels can solidify your identity and build that trust that you need.

You may showcase your products online, previous customers may have left reviews and be following you.

There's a whole range of things that can be found on social media that will show that you're real and trusted.

There are so many websites now that have malicious people behind them, especially in the eCommerce market.

Visitors want to feel safe and the best way to do this is to let them see what other, real people are saying.

Reviews can be fabricated on a website, so seeing real people online makes users feel at ease.

If you need help with web design and development for your business, get in touch with our chimps and see how we can help!

Thinking outside the box

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 10:10:16 GMT

Standing out and being different can be scary, but it can be a really good thing for you and your business.

Sometimes you can start to feel stuck or constrained when it comes to your creativity.

It’s difficult to break out of the mindset that prioritises belonging, so you have to remember that blending in with the crowd and doing what’s seen as ‘right’ can be detrimental and lose you a lot of opportunities.

Consistency is a good thing, but it fails to breed innovation if there is no development.

So how do you start to think outside the box?

Don’t fall into habits

If you are faced with something that you’ve dealt with before, your brain’s first response is to use the same solution as before, it worked last time, right?

This may work for some situations, but falling into habits like this can stop you from finding even better methods.

Adapt yourself to the specifics of the situation you’re dealing with.

Strive to do better than before, every time you do anything.

Not just the bare minimum.

Risk can bring incredible results and is often worth it, as long as there’s thought behind it.

Simplify the problem

Rather than overthinking the bigger picture, think of the specific issue you are facing and come up with a solution.

It may feel silly but think about it from a child’s perspective.

If you explained it to a child, what would they say?

Kids are creative and naturally innovative as they haven’t had the life experience that we have.

Ignore the fear of failure

It's natural to be scared of failing.

Without failure, how do you learn and develop?

Rather than focusing on what could go wrong with an original solution, think about what good it could bring.

Fear of failure and disappointment builds subconscious walls when it comes to innovation, so you must break down those walls and work to your full potential.

Mistakes are a natural part of life; the only true failure is if you learn nothing from them.

Put it on paper

Simply thinking of a solution limits the results your brain comes up with.

There are many ways you can overcome this.

For some, simply writing it down can show a new perspective or solution.

Create a mind map, use a starting word or phrase and build ideas from that.

If you’re creative, draw a picture of what you need to visualise or any ideas.

Putting the issue down on paper will encourage you to see it in a new way, meaning you can think differently and come up with a new solution.

Get a new perspective

Don’t hesitate to talk to your co-workers, family, or friends.

Often, we keep issues to ourselves when they are work related, since you know the most about your job, you can think that nobody else will get it or be able to offer any meaningful advice.

This isn’t always the case, as these people won’t have the same understanding as you, it means that their input may differ from yours greatly.

This is a good thing!

Even if you don’t use their advice, you now know what an outsider thinks, and it allows you to take a step back and put yourself in their shoes.

The deeper the understanding of the situation you have, the more ability you have to come at it from multiple angles.

In this digital age, adaptation and innovation is key to making your business stand out.

So don’t be scared to do things a little differently, be unique and create something truly bespoke.

If you need help with creative ideas and development within your business, contact our chimps and see how we can help you.

Branding terms and their definitions

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 10:47:36 GMT

Anyone who’s worked in marketing knows that branding is an integral part of any businesses marketing plan.

The basics of branding are pretty simple, you have your logo, brand colours and font.

But this only covers the appearance, the physicality of your brand.

There are many other aspects to it, while researching there’s many terms that you’ll come across.

To simplify this process, we’ve compiled some of the terms you’ll see regarding branding.

So, here’s our list of important branding terms and their definition!

There's many more terms that you might see, but we hope that this quick guide helps you get a grasp of what sort of things you'll come across.

To know more about branding and what we offer, get in contact with our chimps.

Web design: The four essential pages

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 08:33:46 GMT

"What information is essential and needs to be showcased on your site?"

When building a website, the pages included need to be considered first.

What information is essential and needs to be showcased on your site?

eCommerce stores or large companies might need many pages on their website, but there are 4 basic pages that are always included.

For smaller businesses, these four pages can be all you need on your website.

So, what are they?

Home

Unsurprisingly, the home page is the first of the four required pages.

This is the landing page, what your websites users will see first before any movement and navigation on your site.

The home page will welcome the user and should give them an overview of the basic information they need to know.

As far as copy goes, the home page should include a brief description of who you are, what you do and why your services/products are important and desired.

You should also have a navigation bar, so that users can make their way to other areas of the site efficiently.

Along with quality content and a navigation bar, your home page should always have a CTA.

A CTA or ‘call to action’ is a motivator for your user to make a conversion.

One you may see often is contact buttons, it could also be something like “View our SALE products now”, you get the gist.

Whatever action you want the viewer to take while on your website, give them a reminder and motivation to do so on the home page.

About

Next, you have the about page.

This is important to include as it gives the user a more in-depth idea of who you are and what you do.

This is also a good page to get some of your brand’s personality across.

Introduce the team, your location, history of your business.

Anything!

It’s all about you.

Think about your website’s goals, although the common desired endpoint will always be a sale, think about what steps a customer may take before that.

If they won’t make a purchase straight away, what will they want to know?

Establish a personality and reliability on the about page.

Have fun with it, one of the biggest challenges in branding is personification, how to come across as real and genuine rather than a faceless brand who wants to take the user’s money.

Products/Services

You’ve given them information on you and your business, but its time to leave the spotlight.

If you want a sale, you have to let the user know what exactly you provide.

Your products and services will have been briefly covered on the home page and possibly the about page, but now it’s time for detail.

Showcase what you can give people with and why they should want it.

A simple description and image won’t cut it, you need to really sell it to them, let them know that having this product will benefit them.

If a user is unable to see exactly what you have to offer, then they will be likely to leave your site and go somewhere else to see what other businesses have.

The point of a products or services page is to convert the user, to turn a lead into a customer.

It should answer any questions the user may have on what you do and give a clear picture of what you can provide them with.

Contact

Finally, you need a contact page.

Think about your website as a sales funnel.

Using the AIDA model, your four pages act as the four levels in the funnel.

The home page grabs their attention, it’s the first page they will see on your website and will reel them in.

Then the about page gains their interest, they are aware of your brand and are learning more about who you are and what you do.

Next, the products/services page will make them desire what you are offering, it shows what you can provide and why they want it.

Then finally, the contact page is the CTA.

They know of your brand, they are interested in what you have to offer and now they desire it.

Next step is to contact and make a purchase.

Your contact page should have an easy-to-use contact form on it, so they get send an enquiry directly without having to leave the site.

Along with the form, you should also have your businesses address (if you have a physical location), your email and a phone number.

This means they can visit or get in contact whichever way suits them best.

The big four

Those are the four basic pages every website will need, anything beyond that will depend on the type of business you are running and personal choice.

For some businesses, the four is all you need.

At mediachimps, we are currently running a special offer featuring a four-page website for only £50 a month + VAT.

Look at our special offer page and get in contact for more information.

Linktree: Getting started

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 09:54:10 GMT

Linktree lets you have multiple links and keeps them all in one page.

Social media platforms will usually allow you to add one link to your bio, intended to direct your audience to your website.

Nowadays, your website isn't the only thing you might want to link to.

Specific landing pages, blogs, social media accounts, there's plenty options.

Linktree offers a solution to this issue, meaning you don't have to choose a single link to direct people to.

Multiple links, one page

Using the Linktree website, you can create your 'tree'.

Your account creation will then create a Linktree landing page, containing buttons for the viewer to click.

These buttons are links and will take them to the pages and accounts you direct them to.

This means that there's multiple links on one page, so the entire page's link can be used on your socials.

You give these buttons a title, so they know what they're clicking on.

As well as the button links, you have social icons.

You could link your social media accounts using the normal buttons, but the icons look much tidier and keeps it away from being text heavy.

There are more features to Linktree, especially with the paid subscription options.

These are just the basic's to getting set up with a free account.

SEO and analytics

The one concern with Linktree is that it can affect SEO and analytics.

This is due to the fact that people aren't going directly to your links, they are visiting a completely separate page then navigating to yours.

The analytic features within Linktree are limited without a paid account, so this can be an issue for tracking and reporting.

Overall, you can consider the options and make the choice that's best for you when it come's to Linktree.

If you want a free account, a paid account or no account at all.

Watch our video on Linktree and how to get set up.

If you need help with your marketing, contact us at mediachimps to see how we can help you.

TikTok: Getting started on mobile and desktop

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 13:55:45 GMT

Our simple guide to setting up TikTok for your business.

Staying up-to-date with social media trends and events is key when it comes to getting the advantage over your competitors.

One of the biggest trends we've seen recently is TikTok usage, along with the effect it's had on other platforms.

Think about YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, Facebook Watch...

All of them accommodate short videos, inspiration taken from TikTok and it's success.

The platform has changed the way that video content is consumed, this includes any social media marketing you have been doing.

Brand personality

Many brands caught on early and started using TikTok to promote their products and services, while many have used it to establish a brand personality and connect with their audience.

It's optimised for short, casual and fun videos allowing brands to be a bit more human.

TikTok's algorithm aims to boost new creators, so if you want to grow your audience organically, it's a great place to start.

Viral sounds and trends

The key to success on TikTok is being vigilant. If you use viral sounds and join in with trends, then gaining visibility is achieved more easily than it would be on other social media platforms, such as Facebook or Instagram.

If you haven't made a TikTok account or have not been creating content for your business, then now is the time to jump on the bandwagon.

Watch our video on setting up your TikTok account and the basic navigation of the app.

If you need help with your marketing, contact us at mediachimps to see how we can help you.

Search Engine Optimisation: What is local SEO?

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 14:59:22 GMT

Local SEO is the optimisation of your website to specifically target your local area.

Local SEO is important for any SME as acquiring local customers is the first step to wider expansion.

More specifically, local SEO aims to up your rank in local search results.

Local search results are delivered from all search engines, though your ranking may differ with each.

They can be found on maps as well as a normal search result.

A search engine will show a collection of businesses near to the searcher’s location when they enter the keyword for a type of establishment.

For example, if ‘restaurant’ is searched, several will show from the immediate geographical area.

The order in which they’re shown is decided by a few factors: distance, relevance and prominence.

This means you will be shown the results which are the closest, the most accurate to your search phrase and with the best ratings/volume of ratings.

So how do you optimise for local SEO?

Search listings

The first big thing to have refined is your Google listing . This can be managed through your Google Business Profile (previously known as ‘Google My Business’).

Your Google Business Profile determines what is shown as your SERP (search engine results page).

It includes your business information, reviews, images, posts and more.

Make sure your business profile has all the correct information and add relevant keywords in your descriptions so that Google can identify you correctly.

You would do this for Bing as well, using Bing Places for Business.

Not only do you want your result to look good, but you need it to have all the important information that a potential customer would want.

Although keywords are important, don’t overuse them to the point where it's unnatural as that will be off-putting.

Local SEO content

Your website’s written content is very important when it comes to local SEO.

‘Crawlers’ will look at the wording and make assumptions about your business based on it, so it’s a good idea to have relevant, local content on your website.

Location keywords and phrases are good to use on webpages. Headings can include your location to help with targeted searches.

If you have a blog, use local topics where possible - this will reinforce your location.

The SEO tactics used for your content should be the same for local SEO.

You should focus on specific search phrases while keywording for this.

For example, if you are a coffee shop then your key phrase for local SEO should be something like ‘Coffee shop’ or ‘Coffee shop Fife’.

This will give local search results, but if you were to use keywords like ‘Coffee’ or ‘Latte’, then the search results would show informational web pages or stores selling these products.

Encourage ratings

Having positive reviews will always be a good thing for your business, but it also helps with local SEO.

The volume of reviews you have is incredibly important alongside the number of stars.

The more reviews you have, the more reliable you are to Google and the searcher.

You should encourage your customers to leave a review after they have used your services, it adds authenticity to your listing as ratings and reviews are shown in local search results.

Ratings will help with your prominence - you should also respond to reviews as the volume of interactions affect your prominence.

Conclusion

SEO doesn’t have a definitive rulebook, local or otherwise.

Your best bet is to have high quality and relevant content on your website to bring searchers to you.

Make sure your SERP is shipshape for effective local search results. Be sure to interact with customer reviews and make certain that you’re showing your business in an up-to-date, accurate and positive way.

If you need help with your SEO and marketing, contact us at mediachimps to see how we can help you.

Facebook: How to schedule a post in Meta Business Suite

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 14:14:46 GMT

If you want to schedule a post on Facebook, this quick and easy tutorial can help you use the Meta Business Suite to get your content out there.

It’s so important to maintain a regular and visible presence on social media.

However, if your social media is doing well and generating lots of business, then it might be the case that you’ve got orders to ship, appointments to attend or all sorts of other things that take up your valuable time.

Such a difference maker

This is where social media scheduling is such a difference maker. It frees you up so that you can focus on other areas, yet it maintains your online visibility.

There are plenty of third party social media scheduling tools: SproutSocial , Buffer , Hootsuite , SocialPilot …

But did you know that you can schedule content via Facebook directly? Here’s how to do so for a simple photo and caption post via Meta Business Suite desktop:

- Go to the Facebook page for your business and click on ‘Create Post’
- Select ‘In Meta Business Suite’
- Click on ‘Create Post’
- Enter your caption in the ‘Text’ box
- Click ‘Add Photo’ for your image
- Then, on the bottom right, click on the blue downward pointing arrow and select ‘Schedule Post’
- Select the date and time that you’d like your post to be published, then click Save
- Lastly, click on the blue ‘Schedule Post’ button on the bottom right

And that’s it, your post will be published on the date you’ve chosen at the time selected.

Current affairs

Scheduling means that you could think up an entire week’s worth of Facebook content, set it up to publish on specific days at specific times and be free to get on with whatever else demands your attention.

Just remember to keep up with current affairs. Sometimes, unpredictable events can happen and content that you might have scheduled months ago could suddenly be irrelevant or insensitive.

Be sure to regularly check on what you’ve got scheduled and delete anything that becomes inappropriate to avoid a potential backlash.

Google Ad Grants: £8000 available for UK charities

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 14:54:58 GMT

Google is offering a grant to UK charities of up to £8,000 for Google Ads.

If you’re a charity organisation, then this grant is something you should definitely be taking advantage of.

What are Google Ads?

Quite simply, Google Ads is what it says on the tin: advertising on Google.

Using Google, you can run PPC (Pay Per Click) ad campaigns which direct users to your website.

Pay Per Click means that you only pay for the click-throughs (the number of times a person has clicked on the ad).

The price of the click is determined by keywords and bidding.

You will bid on keywords/phrases and the more competitive (popular) it is, the higher the price.

For example, the word ‘soap’ will have a much higher PPC price than the phrase ‘homemade soap Fife’ because the latter is more specific.

Your keywords should be specific enough that the price is lower and your ad is being shown to the right audience while still having

enough searches to improve visibility.

With the use of great keywords and a quality website, Google Ads can heavily increase visibility and conversions.

Eligibility

There aren’t many restrictions of eligibility for this grant.

You must have current and valid charity status meaning that you are registered with OSCR, the Charity Commission, CCNI and/or registered as a charity with HM Revenue & Customs.

You must understand and agree to Google’s terms and conditions on non-discrimination and donation receipt and use.

You must have a live website with substantial content, relevant and explanatory in terms of who your organisation is and what it does (something that mediachimps can help you with).

Your website must also have the proper level of security certification needed.

Non-eligible organisations

There are some entities and organisations that are not eligible.

They include:

· Government entities

· Schools

· Universities

· Academic institutions

· Hospitals and medical groups

Although academic institutions aren’t eligible, philanthropic arms of educational institutes are.

Conditions

There are some more conditions even if you are eligible.

Most of these are only relevant once you are set up with Google and are ready to start building and running your campaign. You must follow these conditions to stay qualified for a non-profit account.

· All ads must link to the non-profit website address that has been approved in your application

· Ads must reflect the mission of the chairty, you cannot use the grant for any other means

· Ads cannot link to a webpage that is mainly used to redirect users to other websites

· Ads cannot offer financial products e.g. credit cards or mortgages

· Your ads can sell products but only if 100 percent of the proceeds go towards supporting your program

· Your ads cannot ask for donations in the form of large goods, keywords related to this are also prohibited

· Ads are limited to the search market, they cannot be run in the display market

· You must log in to your ad account a minimum of once a month

· You must maintain a 5 percent CTR (click-through rate) on your ad - if you don’t achieve this for two months in a row, your account will be cancelled (A CTR is the percentage of those who click on your ad after it has been shown to them)

· Non-profit organisations cannot buy a branded keyword that they do not own

· Your keywords must have a quality score above 3

· Majority of single word keywords are not allowed as a charity organisation should have more specific and targeted keywords

· Your account must have geotargeting

· Your account must have at least two sitelink extensions active

· Your campaign must have a minimum of two ad groups with a minimum of two ads running in each

There are further conditions that Google explain during the application process, but these are some of the most prevalent ones.

How to set up

To set up for Google Ad Grants, there are a few things you will need.

You’ll need a validation token: this can be acquired from Charity Digital .

If you are not registered with them already, then getting set up is an easy process.

You will also need a Google account, it is recommended to not use a personal account but rather an account for your organisation. This can then also be used for Google Analytics, a YouTube channel and any other Google applications.

After you have ensured that you have got these two things set up, you will start the application process.

Google’s application form will be looking for information about your charity and to check the validity of your application.

It will be looking for information on you and your campaign, meaning you have to adhere to their guidelines while applying.

If you haven’t used Google Ads before, the application can feel a bit overwhelming - but that’s something we can help with.

If you don’t have a website, mediachimps currently has a special promotion offering a 4-page website for only £50 +vat a month.

Our marketing team can go through the application process for this grant for you and run your ad campaigns.

If we have all of the information needed, we can have you set up within days and our team is ready to help whenever you need.

If you’re a charity organisation, take a look at our special offer and get in touch .

How to add a custom mail server to Apple Mail

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 15:38:41 GMT

How to add a custom mail server to Apple Mail: Step-by-Step and video

What is a custom domain?

For a personal email account, most people will use a server like iCloud, Gmail or Yahoo. But for a business, this can look unprofessional.

This is why custom mail servers exist!

Having a custom mail server allows you to have a custom email address, such as name@mediachimps.com

It looks the part and gives brand visibility and credibility - you want your business name to get out there as much as possible.

How to add your custom mail server to Apple Mail (or scroll to the end for the video)

When you search ‘how to add a custom domain to Apple Mail’, most results explain how to add the domain to the Apple server, which requires an Apple+ subscription.

However, you can add the custom server to your mailbox rather than completely transfer.

This doesn’t require Apple+ and is free because of this.

So, let’s add your custom email to Apple Mail.

The first step is to head to settings, or system preferences if you are on an iMac.

For iPhone, scroll through your settings until you get to Mail.

Now select Accounts.

If you're on an iMac, go to Internet Accounts.

From there, click Add Account. At this point in the process, it’s the same for both iPhone and iMac.

Once you have clicked Add Account, there are several account types you can choose at this point.

We are looking for Mail account, so click on that.

Firstly, you want to add a name to the Mail account, this is what the mailbox will show as in your Apple Mail, so we’ve simply put it as ‘mediachimps’.

Then it’s just the email address and password that needs to be entered.

In most cases, you will get this pop-up.

It may seem worrying due to the red text, but it’s normal. Chances are that you haven’t entered any incorrect details, it simply means it can’t grab enough information from the log in details alone.

All details for this will have been provided to you by your domain provider, the details are needed to give Apple Mail access to your domain.

As long as the information is correct, you will be able to sign in fully.

You choose which applications can get access to this account, so make sure Mail is ticked, so your mailbox will be successfully added.

Now, you can see your account is added, it lists the applications it uses and has all basic information.

The plus sign on the bottom left allows you to add another account, the minus lets you remove an account.

When you check your mail app, the original iCloud mail account will still show alongside the added mail account.

Both will have separate inboxes, but can be viewed as one with the All inboxes option.

Easy enough, right?

Having all of your email accounts stored in one place means you can view your personal and work emails easily, while also allowing to keep them separate and organised.

How to write an effective caption - Instagram

Wed, 25 May 2022 15:07:27 GMT

"It’s important to keep captions short but impactful, you need to get your message across in just a couple sentences without the need to click on anything to get all of the information."

Unlike other social platforms, Instagram was founded on visual content. The platform was made to showcase pictures and videos, but the right caption will enhance any post and attract engagement.

Engagement is crucial to maximizing the reach of your content. Instagram’s algorithm places posts with the most likes and comments near the top of your followers’ feeds.

The content

The first thing to consider is the message that you want to get across. A caption needs to be impactful whilst remaining short and clear.

If you have a sale that ends soon, then let it be known and mention the end date for placing orders.

If you want to increase interactions with your account, ask a question or prompt a discussion.

If you want to showcase yourself and your knowledge, add some facts or statistics that are relevant.

Figures can be much punchier than a simple explanation, so don’t be afraid to use them to really get your point across.

Think about what you want to gain from your social content and make it easy for your audience to do what you’re asking of them.

The main thing is to get straight to the point, no babble or lead up to the key message. Make the important information visible as soon as the viewer looks at the text.

You must also take spelling, punctuation and grammar into account. Having any mistakes or typos in a caption looks unprofessional and sloppy.

Language is more casual online, so using slang or abbreviations usually isn’t frowned upon (depending on your target audience) but basic spelling and grammar must still be correct.

If your brand identity is more casual and fun, then type in that tone.

You want to present your brand with a human voice, so personality must be taken into consideration.

Lastly, be natural!

Overly formal writing can look strange and inhuman, remind your audience that you are real people working for a real company.

Even if it’s subconsciously, it makes them feel more connected to you and makes your brand more likeable.

The length

If you use social media for marketing, you’ll know the struggle when it comes to truncation.

Truncation is when your caption is shortened by the ‘… more’ button.

This is a problem because it’s hiding what could be valuable information.

Unless your caption is short enough, truncation is unavoidable.

This is why it’s important to keep captions short but impactful, you need to get your message across in just a couple sentences without the need to click on anything to get all of the information.

Depending on the device, you have as few as 125 characters before your Instagram caption will truncate.

If you have a lot of information to get across, this might be too short but it’s a good aim to have for day-to-day posts.

According to Sprout Social , posts on Instagram with 140-150 characters had the highest amounts of engagement.

The total limit for an Instagram caption is 2,200 characters but unless you’re writing an essay for your audience, you should be fine.

If you want to check your post length before uploading, Sprout Social offers a social media character counter which allows you to check the characters of your post and advises you if it’s too long or short.

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