Have you considered your communication strategy for next year?

​So before you head off to celebrate Christmas with your nearest and dearest I encourage you to consider your communication strategies for next year. What are your business goals? Are you effectively promoting your business online? Do you have a professional brand presence?

As of October 2016 19.8 million Australians were actively surfing online.* The online world never sleeps giving businesses like yours a 24/7 shopfront to potential customers. It makes it easy for consumers to gain awareness of your business and see if you are the right choice for them before they decide to build a relationship with you.

I know that for many small rural businesses the idea of marketing and building an online can be stressful, and confusing and mostly ignored because it can be time consuming to DIY. Because of this I have broken this post into two aspects of communication which will be important in creating a successful brand in 2017.

1. Social Media

We need to look at Social Media as a communication tool we can master instead of ‘just doing’.  We need to remember Social Media in a business sense refers to relating and communicating with a mass audience, communicating meaning to exchange information in a conversational and informative manner. I feel often social media pages throw information at followers instead of investing time into communicating with those interested in the brand or business.  If we do this we gain insight into our target audience which in turn benefits the business.

Maddie Cook Communications predicts the following Social Media trends for 2017:

1. Video content will dominate all major social media platforms and businesses will begin to feel the pressure to implement this form of content. By the end of 2017 I predict to see major platforms enabling users to create and share video and live video content and discover news around them.
2. Increase in Social Media ad spend although if not implemented correctly it doesn’t necessarily mean it will achieve desired reach and brand awareness.
3. After much debate of similarity, Snapchat and Instagram will go separate ways with Snapchat or Snap Inc. now promoted as ‘a camera company’.
4. Instagram released its Instagram for business in 2016. We can expect to see this feature enhanced in 2017 as we use Instagram to stand out from competitors, access insights and find new customers. This will be enhanced by Instagram Stories a popular tool in late 2016.
5. Collaboration is fast becoming one of the quickest ways to grow on social media and increase exposure. This technique could also be described as Influencer marketing. It is about creating content with other influencers in your space to better connect people to your brand. However clever content collaboration/ Influencer marketing needs to be subtle.
6. Compelling copy can make a person click or keep scrolling past your brand. This goes hand in hand with eye catching images. Use the image to capture the audience’s attention before securing their full attention with exciting copy.
7. Mobile is important. Your social media page, website, logos etc all need to be optimised for mobile. If not, prospective clients will be frustrated and you will lose their attention.  
8. Facebook will embrace the ‘search’ tool already built into the network, increasing brand reach and interaction.
9. In 2016 we saw Twitter transition from a social network to the ‘fastest’ news network. In 2017 we can expect to see Twitter become the home of world news through videos, live streams and broadcasts.
   
   

Branding

Consistent branding across all online and print media is a must. People need to be able to connect your business between shopfront and Facebook. Branding goes hand in hand with social media. Your social media page needs to look professional and consistent with your brand in order for the user to like and follow your page.

So do you really need a professional brand image? New logo? Signage? Facebook profile image?

Decide for yourself…

1. Your logo is the first point contact for the prospective client. It is the first impression of your business. If your logo looks professional and feels positive and reliable that is the impression people will develop of your brand. If it looks cheap and feels dated people won’t feel comfortable trusting your brand.
2. An effective logo helps people remember your brand and distinguishes you from competitors. An effective logo should be immediately identifiable by customers.  
3. Not only does consistent and professional branding create trust and credibility but creates financial value. ‘The Greater a company’s devotion to build its brand value, the better the financial return from its efforts.’**
4. It is easier for people to generate word of mouth about your brand if you have a positive brand image and professional logo.
   
   

Having a professional image and being present and active on social media is essential in boosting your business. Maddie Cook Communications provides a professional, supportive and friendly approach to solving your communication needs. Contact me for a free Maddie Cook Communication information pack. Please get in touch with me and support my small business while I take care of yours. 

*Source | Nielsen, Digital Measurement  http://digitalmeasurement.nielsen.com/digitalmedialandscape/
**Source | Deluxe https://ww.deluxe.com/blog/six-reasons-why-strong-brand-important-small-business/

People need to be able to connect your business between shopfront and Facebook. Birdsnest based in Cooma sucessfully apply's consistant branding from shop front to Social Media. 
Photo Source: VisitCooma ​http://visitcooma.com.au/about-cooma/business/