We’re all about helping SMEs grow and one of the best ways to do that is by getting new leads.

Often, our customers know what they want to achieve, but find it tricky to know where to start. We’re always here to help, and to get you started we have put together 10 key ways to generate new leads and grow your business:

 

1) Purchase relevant data

Contacting the right people is vital. Purchasing relevant data is an ideal way to target relevant businesses, honing in on specific job titles that you think would be beneficial to talk to.

Use market research to understand your potential customers’ needs, preferences and behaviours. This information will help to guide your sales pitches and marketing efforts.

2) Create email campaigns

Sending prospecting emails is a great way to gauge interest and generate new business. Think about your timing and recipients carefully to get the most out of your efforts.

Sending personalised offers to your existing customers and newsletters with product updates works well and is highly effective for lead generation. Our expert team is always here to run successful email campaigns for you.

 

3) Cold calling

Although it can be daunting picking up the phone and contacting someone new, it can be a great way to get an instant response and establish genuine interest in your products and services.

 

4) Networking

Attending industry events is a great way to make connections within the industry. Consider entering awards and attending award ceremonies, to get industry recognition.

Networking is a powerful tool to connect with potential leads and partners that can refer business to you.

5) Good PR

It’s a good idea to write engaging and insightful articles for industry magazines and websites to get widely seen.

Share positive reviews, customer testimonials and case studies to establish yourselves as a reputable and trusted company worth doing business with.

 

6) Collaborate

Developing partnerships or collaborations with other companies is a great way to increase your reach and access their audience too.

Gaining backlinks will give your business a great boost. Each time another website links to yours in an article, it boosts your domain authority and improves the chance of people clicking through to your website.

 

7) Improve SEO

Working to improve your SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), will mean your business will appear higher on web searches and reach more people.

Writing relevant blogs will show your brand authority and help with SEO. Adding internal links will also help crawlers to find relevant content and improve your search ranking.

8) Regular social media posts

Posting regularly on social media will increase your reach. Sponsored ads and boosted posts are a great way to get seen and gain followers. Plus, targeted ads will help you reach specific demographics, driving significant traffic to your website and landing pages.

It’s also a good idea to share links to your blogs and white papers on social media to establish your authority in the industry.

 

9) Keep up-to-date

Make sure your company information is up-to-date, simple things like keeping your Business profile on Google My Business updated will mean new customers can contact you easily and you don’t miss out on any potential business.

 

10) Offer referral schemes

One of the best ways to generate new business is through word of mouth. Encourage your current customers to refer new clients to you. Offer incentives for referrals that result in new business.

Once you’ve done the hard work getting new leads, don’t forget to follow them up quickly, so you don’t lose out on potential business. Our team is always here to help with your marketing needs.

 

For a free virtual marketing ideas session with marketing experts, call us on 01962 600 147 or email info@tlc-business.co.uk

Well, this is our last blog for 2023 and what a year it has been!

As the end of the year rapidly approaches, it’s time to look ahead and see what marketing trends will be big in 2024.

 

Sustainability

Sustainability has been a big focus in 2023 and will continue well into 2024 and beyond.

Environmental concerns are at the top of businesses and consumers agendas, so showcasing your brand’s commitment to eco-friendly practices and social responsibility has never been more important. Promoting your sustainable and ethical processes and services, will be key to driving success.

AI-Powered Personalisation

In 2024, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to be used more to create personalised customer experiences by analysing data and tailoring content and product recommendations to individual preferences.

Chatbots will become even more sophisticated in handling customer queries and guiding them through the buying process, improving the customer experience.

 

Voice Search and Smart Assistants

Earlier in the year, we did a blog focused on how the emerging voice search trend is a game changer for marketing.

In 2024, optimising for voice search will be essential for SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). Integrating with smart assistants like Alexa and Siri will be crucial as more people rely on voice-activated devices for information and shopping.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

AR and VR technologies will be increasingly used in marketing to provide immersive experiences. From virtual try-ons for fashion to interactive product demos, these technologies will engage customers in new and unique ways.

 

Video Marketing

Video content will continue to dominate marketing strategies in 2024. Short-form videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels will remain popular. With live streaming and interactive video experiences also expected to grow in popularity.

 

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have been gaining popularity in recent years and are expected to make a big impact on marketing in 2024. If you’re not familiar with NFTs, it’s a unique digital asset that can be bought, sold and traded in the same way as physical goods can. Customers can buy their own NFT using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum on NFT marketplaces like OpenSea.

In 2024, NFTs are expected to be popular in the creative and entertainment industries, particularly for unique digital merchandise and collectibles, as well as exclusive access to content.

Popular rock band, Kings of Leon, have already successfully marketed their music and events, with exclusive experiences available through using digital tokens. Even luxury brand Gucci has released limited-edition virtual sneakers that players can wear in virtual worlds such as Roblox and VR Chat. With the growth of the metaverse, NFTs are expected to entice more customers, and NFT creators, investors and NFT influencers will continue to profit from assets they acquire.

If you are looking to get into NFT marketing you should know your audience well and offer unique and exclusive digital collectibles, to build a sense of urgency and demand among followers.

 

Social Commerce

One thing is clear, social media platforms are here to stay and will be very important for marketing in 2024.

The integration of e-commerce features will make it easier for users to shop directly through the platforms. This trend will blur the lines between social interaction and shopping.

Community Building

Creating nurturing online communities around your products or services will be important in 2024. These communities will provide a sense of belonging and loyalty among customers and set you up for success.

 

Mobile Optimisation

Another key trend we saw this year, that will continue into 2024, is mobile optimisation. As more and more people use mobile devices for browsing the web, all businesses will need to offer a fast seamless mobile experience to remain competitive.

AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) and mobile optimisation will be essential for making sure users can easily navigate your website, boosting customer satisfaction, engagement and ultimately customer loyalty.

 

Get 2024 off to a great start with a free virtual marketing ideas session with marketing experts, call us on 01962 600 147 or email info@tlc-business.co.uk

Choosing to rebrand is a big call and you’ve got to make sure it’s worth the investment.

So in this blog, we’ll look at the top reasons businesses choose to rebrand, what you should consider and the key benefits:

 

Top reasons why businesses choose to rebrand

Outdated brand image

Rebranding is often a strategic move to stay relevant in a competitive and constantly changing market. One of the most common reasons to rebrand is to reflect new consumer trends, changing values or customer interests.

 

Rebuild reputation

Rebranding can be a good PR move, to help a company distance itself from any negativity and communicate new values to regain trust.

 

Attract new customers

Rebranding can create a new identity that appeals to different demographics, while maintaining brand recognition.

Mergers and acquisitions

Rebranding is often necessary after mergers and acquisitions to reflect the company’s new direction. Unifying two company identities makes it easier to deliver a clear and consistent message.

 

Changing company vision

As a company’s goals evolve, rebranding can help to align the company brand with its new direction and values.

 

International expansion

Entering new markets can mean a rebrand will help to appeal to different cultural preferences and improve brand recognition.

Top 5 things to consider when rebranding

If you feel your business needs rebranding, then our expert team is here to help:

1) Consistent messaging

A big thing to get right in a rebrand is to develop a consistent tone of voice. Our experienced copywriters can create a clear, relevant and cohesive message tailored for your audience.

 

2) Strong branding

Pay attention to every detail of your branding, from colours to typography, to create a stronger identity. Our graphic design team is always on hand to help, as your brand colours, in particular, will say a lot about your business. Check out our previous blog on colour psychology to help choose the right colours for your business.

 

3) Logo Redesign

Your logo represents your brand so it needs to be right. If your logo looks outdated, or no longer matches your brand identity and values, it’s time to redesign your logo. Our talented graphic designers can create a fresh, well-designed logo that can breathe new life into your brand and make a lasting impression on your audience.

4) Website design

Creating a visually appealing and user-friendly website is essential for making a positive impression on your audience. Our creative team can create a website that will showcase your business effectively online, generate more enquiries and drive sales.

 

5) SEO

Get your updated brand noticed, by optimising your website for search engines. This ensures that your business ranks highly in web searches, making it easier for potential customers to find you. Our expert team can help with Google analytics, SEO content creation and much more, just ask!

 

Recent Twitter rebrand

One of the biggest rebrands in recent months is Twitter rebranding to X in July 2023, as Elon Musk was keen to reinvent Twitter (which he bought for $44 billion back in 2022) and change the vision of the platform. But has the move away from the iconic blue bird and ‘tweets’ to X and ‘posts’ improved the brand?

Response to the rebrand

CEO of X, Linda Yaccarino, reveals the platform lost 11.6% of its daily active users since Elon Musk’s takeover, dropping from 254.5 million to 225 million users. A recent poll found 32% of people had a negative reaction to the rebrand, with a greater percentage feeling ‘very negative’ about it. Some critics are concerned the dramatic shift disregards Twitter’s history and identity, and may confuse and alienate existing users, damaging Twitter’s customer loyalty and reputation, at least in the short term.

 

Transforming the platform

It will be interesting to see how X develops, as Musk plans to create an “everything app” or “super-app”, similar to China’s WeChat, where a person can do basically anything they want on the platform, like shop, listen to a podcast and watch videos. Something we don’t currently have an equivalent of in the UK or US. Rebranding is just the start of this transformation, but it’s clear a rebrand has the power to make, or break, a brand.

 

Benefits from rebranding

So, what are the benefits from rebranding? There are some clear benefits you could gain when choosing to rebrand:

• Improved brand perception
• Increase in followers and customer loyalty
• Updated image
• Take your business in a new direction
• Clear brand messaging
• Better connection with company values
• Attract new customers
• Stand out from competitors
• Boosted reputation
• Easier expansion into other markets
• Opportunities for partnerships and collaborations
• Increased sales
• Boost your market share

If you feel your business could use a rebranding boost, our friendly team is here to support you every step of the way.

For a free virtual marketing ideas session with marketing experts, call us on 01962 600 147 or email info@tlc-business.co.uk

Personalised marketing can make the difference between your customer engaging with your brand, or not.

Here are some of the top 7 reasons why personalisation is so important in the current world of marketing:

 

1) Prevent content fatigue

With 333 billion emails sent worldwide in 2022, it will come as no surprise that people get bombarded with tons of mass mail outs and copy and pasted generic messages on a daily basis.

Personalising your marketing will make sure instead of being an annoyance, the content your customers receive is relevant and welcomed. It will reduce the chance of them tuning out or becoming overwhelmed, especially as emails sent worldwide are expected to rise to 392.5 billion by 2026!

 

 

2) Increase engagement

With so many ways to get to know your customers’ likes and dislikes from their purchase histories to online behaviour, there’s really no excuse not to tailor your marketing.

When marketing messages are tailored to your customers’ individual needs or behaviours, they’re likely to engage much more.

 

3) Better customer experience

Offering tailored promotions and deals is a great way to grab your customer’s attention. Giving them more of what they want will definitely improve their customer experience.

Another top tip is it’s always best to address your existing customers by their name, so you are speaking directly to them.

 

 

4) Higher ROI

Personalisation can lead to a better return on marketing investments. By targeting specific segments of your audience with messages that they find relevant, there’s a greater chance they’ll take the desired action, whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or another form of engagement.

 

5) Build brand loyalty & a good reputation

Nearly two thirds of people (62%) would stray from a brand if it delivered non-personalised content, Statista’s recent survey finds.

By only delivering relevant messages, your customers will feel valued and understood, which will not only enhance loyalty, but also build trust and boost your reputation.

 

6) Stay competitive

As more brands recognise the value of personalisation, those that don’t adapt may find themselves at a disadvantage.

Customers have come to expect a personalised experience and companies that don’t deliver will be left behind.

 

 

7) Enhance cross-selling and up-selling opportunities

When you understand a customer’s preferences and purchasing behaviour, you’re in a better position to recommend complementary or premium products and boost your sales.

If you need support personalising your content, our experienced marketing team is always here to help.

 

For a free virtual marketing ideas session with marketing experts, call us on 01962 600 147 or email info@tlc-business.co.uk

In our last blog, we touched on how visual content will really make your message stick in people’s minds.

 

So now we’ll share some top tips on how to use videos successfully, to get people talking about your business:

 

First impressions count!

It’s essential to capture your audience’s attention in the first few seconds. A compelling hook will engage people with your message and make them much more likely to watch your entire video!

 

Know your audience

To connect with your audience, you’ve got to fully understand your target audience: their demographics, interests and what matters most to them.

Most importantly, tailor your video content so it resonates with them. You don’t want to send your audience to sleep!

 

Keep it short

Most people have short attention spans. So keeping videos short, will prevent you from losing your audience.

We find videos that are 2 to 3 minutes in length work really well. If you want to share lots of information, it’s best to create a series of short videos.

Tell a story

Create a story that grabs your audience’s attention and delivers a powerful message.

Make it something your audience can relate to and something they won’t forget in a hurry!

 

Create high quality content

Poor graphics and wobbly camera work are a big no-no. A low quality production will detract from your message and mean people are less likely to watch until the end.

It’s worth investing in the right equipment (or hiring a trusted videographer to create the video for you) and checking the quality of your audio and video before sharing it.

 

Optimise for mobile

Many people watch videos on their mobiles, so it’s no good trying to cram in loads of text. Your message will get lost and your video will appear cluttered and unattractive on a small screen.

Make sure your videos are mobile-friendly with a clear design and visuals, so viewers are hooked until the end.

 

 

SEO optimisation

Once you’re happy with your video and the content you are sharing, use relevant keywords in your video titles, descriptions and tags, to improve search engine visibility.

That way, your video will pop up when people search for related content, making it much easier to discover.

 

Include a Call to Action (CTA)

The outro (end of your video) is the perfect time to have a strong Call to Action. Guide your audience towards your website, hitting subscribe, or making a purchase – and keep your viewers hooked!

 

Share on social media

Sharing your videos on social media is a great way to reach a bigger audience.

Find out which platform works best for your business and content. Instagram videos are short and visually engaging, Tik Tok videos are brief and follow the latest trends, while YouTube allows for longer and more in-depth content. Don’t forget to focus on platforms that are most popular with your target audience so your video gets the most views.

 

 

Keep up with new trends

It’s essential to stay relevant and adapt to changing trends and technologies, to give your audience what they want and expect.

 

Engage with comments

Encouraging viewers to comment on your videos is a great way to create some buzz around your content.

When they do comment, respond quickly, as this will help to build loyal followers.

 

Experiment

Don’t be afraid to try new formats, styles and topics. Experimenting can help you discover what really connects with your audience, so you can fine-tune your video marketing strategy and get the best out of your business.

 

Analyse success

Use analytics tools to track the performance of your videos. Pay attention to metrics like views, engagement, click-through rates and conversion rates. Find out what video content is successful and use this information to give your audience more of what they love.

 

Consistency

Regularly posting new videos is key to keeping your audience engaged. Consistency helps build trust and keeps your brand top-of-mind, so you can develop a strong following.

 

Comply with regulations

Be aware of data protection and copyright laws, especially if you’re using music, images or footage from third parties, so you don’t end up with a hefty fine.

Our experienced graphic designers are always happy to help you create new video content.

 

For a free virtual marketing ideas session with marketing experts, call us on 01962 600 147 or email info@tlc-business.co.uk