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It’s Time to Take the Power of Social Media Seriously

Looking to maintain normality as we navigate through unfamiliar times? Let Think help with your social media and brand management.
 
We have a team who are adept at thinking outside the box for content creation and we understand the technicalities of placing your brand in front of the right audience.
 
Social media can be a true asset during times of unprecedented disruptions — it has become one of the main avenues of business and personal communication, and a primary source of news and entertainment. How has your business been represented?
 

The Basics

 
Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you know who the main social media platforms are: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
 
Businesses and brands who really take the time to create relevant and informative content for their ideal target audiences understand how critical this portion of your marketing strategy is because they’ve experienced its results. Users are spending more time at home, which is strengthening the need for alternate means to connect with the world. People need social media more than ever before.
 

The Process

 
Think about where you turn to check in on your favorite local business. Did they update their websites with relevant operational information? If not, your audience may turn to your social media pages.
 
Social media has long been a favorite platform to turn to for real-time updates. Your clients or customers are engaging directly with your company, but are you engaging with them? It’s important to take the time to create well thought out content and prepare it ahead of time. You don’t want your page to feel rushed and thrown together.
 
Audiences expect to be able to stay updated with your business to learn about company news, exclusive deals, tips, and more. Not every industry is the same, but each business should be active on social media to promote their company, constituents, employees, and communities. Staying active through social media can serve as a great platform to create a connection with your target audience and increase business and brand loyalty.
 

The Results

 
Unfortunately, not everyone has had the luxury to prioritize social media management. Time is of the essence, and frankly, not everyone has it.
 
At Think, together we’ll create catered content to build your brand. If production is an issue, look no further. We’ve been creating custom graphics, engaging content, and video clips for our social media clients for years. They’ve experienced the results. Are you ready, too?

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Business in disruption. What is your plan for evolving your business strategy?

Chess board with one black chess piece standing

COVID-19 has rocked the economy.
 
Businesses that are waiting for COVID-19 drama to pass so we can go back to normal are at high risk of failure. Among those businesses that are adapting, some are actually growing.
 
We have unprecedented resources in place to find a vaccine. People, AI, and Machine Learning around the globe are working relentlessly and multiple potential vaccines are being funded, produced, and trialed in hopes that one will rise to success. Once a vaccine is in place, most of normal will return, but that may be a year or longer away.
 

Taking the Steps Towards Growth

 
Even among the hard hit restaurant sector, there are those that are applying strategies that have adapted and are building even greater confidence among their customers. They are not only making money now, they are also preparing themselves for when we do come out of this pandemic.
 
They are building new loyalty among their customer base and establishing trends in their market that not only make them strong, they are setting themselves up for even greater success once a COVID-19 vaccine is found. This is the same critical thinking that all businesses need to apply.
 
Until there is a vaccine, all businesses need a plan to operate with COVID-19. That includes plans for your market when more businesses phase in, when case numbers drop, or when they resurge. We may even identify treatments that help alleviate the harm caused by the virus, which will also have an affect on the business ecology.
 

In a Climate of Disruption, What Are You Doing?

 
With disruptions, come bursts of innovations. Unprecedented times like the monumental one we’re living in now have a tendency to push us to reflect and evaluate what our business has been doing.
 

An Evolving Business Strategy

 
Having a planned, flexible, and evolving business strategy will allow you to quickly make the necessary changes to meet the disruptions in the marketplace — this isn’t something all businesses do effectively. You need to understand the phased changes that are ahead and plan for them. Winging it and depending on luck and wits is not a good plan. What business strategy has unfolded for you as a result of COVID-19?
 

Google Tools for Working Remotely

 
In our current phase of “the new normal,” the ability to work from home or remotely has become inherently important to the success of a business. With countless tools and software companies who claim to be the communication solution for you, it’s easy to overcomplicate things. Isn’t it funny how the answer to your problems can be right in front of you? Check out how we harness Google Tools to serve our customers.
 

Website Updates and Upgrades

 
Now more than ever it is critical to have a comprehensive online presence. The internet is constantly evolving and it’s important that your business evolves with it! A fresh site with visual appearance and practical functionality will draw and service the right people.
 
Every year website standards change and they can be very profound. Not everyone has the ability to keep your website updated in-house, which is why hiring an agency who is knowledgeable of the technology, design, content, and marketing can be of great benefit…
 

Harnessing the Power of Ecommerce

 
Businesses today are under tremendous pressure to meet and exceed their customers expectations. With nowhere to go but online, what can a business do? Ecommerce offers you the ability to reach customers anywhere at any time, and there’s potential for your operational costs to be cut, too!
 

Online Marketing

 
Online marketing was a critical component of marketing strategy before COVID-19. Now that people are social distancing and working remotely it is even more relevant.
 

Grow your Business

 
Business growth is not accidental. The THINK team brings multiple disciplines to the table for every client. Not sure how to take the first step? Contact us. THINK can help!

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Tips on Working Efficiently from Home

Woman working in a coffee shop on her computer

Working from home can be rejuvenating or it can present you with some personal challenges. How have you been doing?
 
For many companies, working remotely or from home presents a new type of reality — one with mixed definitions of benefits. It’s important to reflect on the advantages! Agile workplaces that have taken advantage of this climate may notice trends like:
 

  • Increased productivity
  • Increased employee empowerment
  • Increased job satisfaction

 
Some of the hardest hurdles to jump include staying motivated, keeping yourself accountable, and maintaining a collaborative spirit. When you personally identify where you or your team may fall short, you’ve taken the first steps to work towards a solution.
 
To maintain your work ethic and the quality of your work while you’re remote, here are some of our tips.
 

Create a DESIGNATED Workspace

 
Sure, you can open your laptop at the breakfast table when your workday begins, but what happens when it’s over?
 
When we work in offices, we are in “work mode.” A designated workspace has been a key for many of us at THINK. It provides us with structure and stimulates our brain to say, “Okay, we’re on the clock. It’s time to get the job done.”
 
Your house is your home — your escape. It’s your haven of distractions! One of the biggest struggles when it comes to working remotely is to separate yourself and your work from the countless numbers of distractions you’ve got. By recreating your office and channeling that “work mode,” you can have a productive day from the comfort of your home.
 
Those distractions? Indulge guilt-free — after your work is done.
 

Lists Can Be Lifesavers

 
Do you create a list when you go to the grocery store? Regardless of whether you make a list mentally or physically, you don’t leave until everything you need is in your basket.
 
Writing down a daily “To Do List” can help you prioritize like no other and schedule your day like a pro. A simple list can do wonders for keeping you organized and productive. Don’t forget about jotting down small tasks too! It’ll give you a sense of accomplishment which can positively motivate you to keep going.
 

Prioritize Your Methods of Communication

 
Video
 
Now that we are in an age where we can’t hold standard meetings, video conferencing has become the preferred method of in-depth communication. It’s more personal than both phone conferencing and messaging, and can be the most effective way to strategize with your clients or team.
 
Voice
 
Sometimes it’s great to hear someone else’s voice. That immediate feedback you get when you hold a conversation saves time, and leads to more meaningful conversations.
 
Message
 
Email is great for passing along compartmental information and attachments. You also have the added benefit of being able to prioritize your information
 

Collaborate through Video Conferencing

 
Email and chat boxes are great for passing information to each other, but with the whole office communicating like this, an inbox can be full in the blink of an eye.
 
If you find yourself spending longer than 2 minutes typing out directions or asking a question, video conferencing might be the better option. A great brainstorming session usually requires the ability to bounce ideas off each other, talking face-to-face, and in real-time.

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The New Normal and Communicating with your Target Audience

With social distancing, quarantines, and shelter-in-place orders a societal norm for a while, people don’t really have a place to go… except online. Now is a great time to ask yourself:
 
Am I effectively communicating with my target audience? Am I effectively communicating my updated delivery methods to my target audience? Who exactly are they? Am I using the right platforms and strategies to reach MY audience? By identifying and analyzing your target audience and where they spend their time, you can utilize this information to transform your marketing strategy and see real results.
 

The Basics: What is a Target Audience?

A target audience can be defined as that particular group of people that your business or product is aimed at reaching. These are the people who are most likely to buy your product or hire your service — they are pivotal to your entire business model.
 
You’ve had that ideal consumer on your mind since before you opened your doors.
 

The Challenge

One of the biggest challenges you may face in marketing is to figure out how to effectively reach and communicate with your target audience. To do this, you need to channel them. Be prepared to ask and answer questions — Where do they go for entertainment? How old are they? What do they do for a living?
 
By filling in the blanks, you can discover more about your ideal consumer and even learn about the most effective methods to reach them digitally.
 

The Decision

Your next decision — Where online would be the best place to reach them.
 
For example, social media should always be used. It can be the easiest and most effective way to reach your target audience, especially on a personal level. With so many platforms, it can be hard to decide which one to focus on and what kind of content you want to put out.
 
The power of creating valuable, engaging content is truly great. If you put out engaging, interesting content to an audience that has been looking to solve a problem or is attracted to your business model, you have the tools to build a lasting impression with benefits. From there, it’s all up to if or how you engage.
 
This decision will be made easiest when you keep your target audience in mind throughout your marketing strategy. It’s all about maximizing awareness. It’s not an efficient use of your time to focus on creating content to reach an audience who has no interest in your product or service.
 

The Marketing Sweet Spot

All the digital content you put out should be reflective of your brand and business standard. While keeping your target audience in mind throughout the brainstorming process, you will be able to authentically communicate and build awareness.
 
Unsure if the strategies you have in place now are up to par with today’s ever evolving marketing world? Now is as a good of a time as ever to conduct a full marketing audit to measure the effectiveness of your communication methods currently in place.
 
Once you identify your target audience, and begin putting out relevant and engaging content where they are actually going (ie, online), you have taken the first steps to effective communication.