Get your new business of to the best start possible with the right marketing materials!

So, you’ve decided to start a business. You know you need the basics like a logo and business cards – but what other marketing assets should you make a priority?

Marketing materials can encompass everything from websites and letterheads to social media graphics and promotional videos. If you’re just starting out in the small business world, chances are your budget is probably a little tight – but skimping when you start up can mean unnecessary spending down the road.

Think about it: you pick the first business name you think up and print up a bunch of business cards, letterheads, and pens. A few weeks later, you’re hearing from your customers that they can’t remember your business name. Now you’ve confused people, still have to pay for proper branding, and you’ve got to pay to reprint materials you could have gotten right from the start. 

The good news is that we’re here to tell you what you need it, why you need it, when you need it, and how you get it. We hope this run down of essential marketing materials helps empower you when you’re hiring a graphic designer or marketing agency.

Here’s what you need to successfully get your business off the ground:
 

1. Brand Values

Because no physical products come out of this stage of the branding process, it’s often rushed or disregarded – but this is one of the most important stages, and it will influence everything you do from here on out. Your brand values are the set of principles that will dictate every aspect of your business, including the look, messaging, and customer service approach.

Here’s what you’ll want to define:

• Values: what does your business stand for?

• Objectives: where do you want to be in 1, 5, or 10 year’s time?

• Customer personas: who are your talking to and what do they care about?

• Tone of voice: how will you talk to your customers? And why?

• Proposition: what will you do for your customers? And how will you benefit them?

• Tagline/mission statement: how can your brand’s essence be summed up into as few words as possible?

Taking the time to properly develop your brand values will allow you to properly train your workforce and will help you communicate your brand to third parties. We suggest asking your marketing team for a brand book or set of written guidelines that you could hand off to an outside team.

2. Brand Identity

Now it’s time to develop the look and feel of your brand. This is where you’ll work with a designer to create a logo and everything that goes with it. You’ll want to come out of this stage with:

• Primary logo: as well as any alternative logo formats you might need for packaging, online use, or small sizes

• Logo usage guidelines: what is the smallest size your primary logo should be printed? What do you do when you can only print your color in one logo? Make sure your designer provides you with guidelines for every situation you might encounter.

• Font palette: what fonts are you going to use on print, web, and in Microsoft Office?

• Color Palette: what primary and secondary colors will complement your look, logo ad tone?

• Graphic elements: anything needed to complete your print and web designs.

• Sample usage: make sure your designer provides examples of how all these elements will come together to create your signature look.

3. Build a winning website

We talk a lot about the importance of a well designed and properly optimized website, so we won’t waste a lot of space here talking through why you need one. Instead, we’ll run through a few key considerations when it comes to building it:

• Get to the point: you’ve got a limited time to capture visitors’ attention, so get your message across clearly and effectively on every page.

• Contemporary: outdated websites make your brand look instantly aged and untrustworthy. Take the time to get your website looking slick, and outsource it to a specialist if you need to.

• Architecture: once you start adding menus and pages, they can be a right pain to change down the line. To make sure you’ve got a great user experience from the outset, map out your site’s architecture before you start building it.

• Search engine optimization (SEO): with a reputation for being the cheapest marketing method around, it’s crucial that you build and write your website with SEO at the forefront of your mind.

• Contact: make your call to actions and contact information crystal clear.

• Host: choose a content management system that’s reliable. Personally, we would recommend Squarespace – here’s why.

• Domain: be sure to match your domain name to your business’ name.
  

4. Social media

Did you know, 70% of the US population have at least one social media profile? That’s a whole lot of potential customers to capture.

We suggest selecting just 2-3 platforms to get started on – especially if you’re handling your social media in house. To effectively leverage social media, there’s a few things you’ll need to do:

• Only use high resolution profile and background images (pixilated pictures make you look untrustworthy and out of touch)

• Write a succinct and enticing bio

• Link back to your website

• Include contact details

• Keep an eye on your inbox/direct messages

• Commit to regularly posting

• Reply to those who engage with you

• Interact with relevant people and/or profiles

Maintaining social media should be a daily job – if it’s not, you’re not doing it right. We suggest creating a content calendar to stay organized. And, make sure you have a set of templates on hand to save time when you need to create a quick Facebook graphic. 

5. Blogs

Investing in content marketing comes with endless benefits. A well maintained blog boosts your SEO efforts, helps you build backlinks and brand awareness, generates leads, adds brand value, and ups engagement.

Just remember the golden rule: the content you’re publishing must be quality. Churning out subpar articles won’t get you far -- if it even gets you anywhere. Here are a few general post types to get you going:

• Videos

• Infographics

• Webinars

• Tutorials

• Whitepapers

• Presentations

• ‘How to’ guides

• Buzzfeed-style listicles

With good content, you need good images. If you’re not in the position to fork out money for sites like iStock and Shutterstock, consider Unsplash, Pixabay and Pexels for good, free alternatives. 
 

6. Templates

Next up is templates. The extent of this list will vary depending on the nature of your business, but below is an idea of the types of templates we suggest you think about:

• Email campaigns - sales, welcome, thank you, updates, or otherwise

• Newsletters

• Direct mail

• Job descriptions

• Email signatures

• Powerpoint presentations

• Social media graphics

• Letterhead/memos

Your logo should feature on each and every one of them -- which is why it’s important to have a logo that sits well in different settings, and your brand’s look, feel and tone should be encapsulated too. Remember though, your templates don’t need to be uniform to be consistent.

7. Print collateral

We’ve been carrying on about online a lot -- and rightly so! -- but don’t forget about good old offline advertising. Depending on your industry, things like physical brochures and business cards can be an important asset.

If you’re investing in printed materials, remember to:

• Do your research: spending a bit of time selecting a quality printer.

• Don’t compromise: poor quality paper reflects badly on your business.

• Don’t rush: if there’s a proofreading mistake that’s your fault there’s no going back -- without throwing money down the drain.

• Keep it consistent: print materials still needs to mirror your online presence.

• Think of the bigger picture: think about how you can make print materials evergreen so that you don’t have to reprint regularly. Consider what really needs a date and what could go without one.

• Get the right amount of copies: you can easily order more, so don’t go print crazy and order 1000s of copies unless you’re absolutely certain they’ll be used. But, you usually get a discount the more you order, so don’t be afraid to print some extras.

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Need a little help?

Getting all your marketing assets together can feel really daunting -- I know, I’ve been there! But here at Hue & Tone Creative, there’s a lot we can help you with. From logo design and letterhead to web design and social media management, get in touch to see how we can support your business’ success.

Creating a social media post that connects with your audience can feel like a tough equation to crack. It’s not about creating a viral post or achieving international attention, it’s about getting a return on the time you invest in social media. 

Instead of constantly guessing what's going to bring you success, we’ve pulled together six key ingredients to help you build a strong social media post and get your audience socializing with you! 

1.  Know when to stop

Whatever platform you’re publishing on, keep your social media posts short and snappy. You don’t have an infinite amount of time to draw peoples’ attention, so curate something concise and eye catching. 

Every once in a while you can publish a meatier post -- but for the most part it’s important to bear in mind the medium you’re writing for. Social media is all about quick, consumable content, so try to keep it quick as often as you can.

2. Take the test

When you’re putting your post together, put yourself in your audience’s shoes and ask yourself “would I really stop scrolling for this?” - and answer honestly!

It’s easy to slip into the habit of posting every piece of content you’ve got out on social, but if it doesn’t sit right, don’t hit send for the sake of posting. Incorporate social media into your content strategy, and consider producing pieces for the sole purpose of social engagement.

3. Keep it clean

It sounds super simple, but you’d be surprised by how many businesses fill their posts with a line of clunky URL. Keep your posts nice and clean by shortening your links to something succinct and tidy - a tool like bit.lywill do the trick.

4. Don’t hide away

Make the most of hashtags to increase your post’s exposure and open yourself up to new audiences. While you’re at it, mention relevantpages or people to benefit from their bandwidth too.

As with everything in life though, remember, it’s all about balance. Going over the top with hashtags or tagging can easily start looking spammy.

5. Impactful imagery

Your words are one half of the battle. Your images are the other. People can sniff overly staged imagery from a mile off, so try to mix your pictures up a bit to keep your feeds looking human. 

Play around with styles to see what gets most traction. Cartoon figures or real-life people? Plain images or a text overlay? Something subjective or objective? If it’s feasible, the odd video would be a great addition to experiment with as well.

6. Ask away

People aren’t mind readers. If you want to spark a discussion, make it clear that you’re asking a question, looking for feedback, or welcoming their thoughts. 

If you wanted to be slightly sneaky, you could always ask a colleague to get the ball rolling by posting the first comment...
 

So, there are our six tips to start your journey to social media success – now, go get posting!

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SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT IN GREENSBORO, NC

Does posting on social media slip your mind on a daily basis? Or, maybe you're overcome with panic every time you're about to hit "post"? Well, we're ready to get social on your behalf. At Hue & Tone Creative, social media is a part of our daily routine. Let us take social media off your to do list -- we'll handle everything from the planning to the posting.

Your content is at the core of everything you do. Every part of your business relies on strongly written content – everything from your website and welcome emails to business cards and online ads. 

But how do you know if your content is connecting with potential and future customers? We’ve put together a list of 5 key signs that you need to revamp your content or bring in some outside help to revive it. 

1.  Your traffic isn’t converting

Plenty of people are landing on your website, but your conversion rates are way below what you’d expect them to be. There are a whole load of factors that could be contributing to this, but content tends to be one of them – along with page design, graphics, and mobile compatibility. 

Across industries, the average landing page conversion rate was 2.35%, yet the top 25% are converting at 5.31% or higher. Ideally, you want to break into the top 10% — these are the landing pages with conversion rates of 11.45% or higher. 

Ask yourself -- does your content do your product or service justice? Does it clearly explain what you’re about? Does it speak to your audience in a way they want to be spoken to? Is it accurate and engaging? Does it give people a reason to choose you over your competitors? If you just answered with a stream of no’s, there’s plenty of room for improvement.

If you’re not sure how your content is being received, consider sending out a survey or asking a few key customers for their thoughts. Sometimes an outside perspective is needed!

2.  Your website it stale

When’s the last time you added a piece of content to your site? So long ago you can’t remember? Well, therein lies your problem.

Google likes to see fresh content, and places greater value on up-to-date, newsworthy articles. In a nutshell, if you don’t have fresh content, this means you could be impeding your efforts to gain organic traffic. A simple way to overcome this is by adding a blog section (and actually posting on it!) which will help improve your SEO (find out more about that here).

In addition to a blog, consider setting a calendar reminder that goes off every 6 months to prompt you to review and update the content on your static web pages.

3.  Social media struggles

If you’re constantly grasping for ideas of what to post on social media, it’s probably because you don’t have anything to shout about, and the reason you don’t have anything to shout about is probably because you haven’t published anything new – or, worse, you’re out of touch with your audience.

Regular, relevant content will bring your social media streams to life, give you something to talk about, get your audience engaging with you, and drive traffic to your website.

4.  People aren’t talking about you

If you want people to talk about you, you need to give them something to talk about. Producing great content will get people sharing it on social media, encourage other websites to link to your material, and can help get your audience engaged in new ways. 

The end result? Brand awareness, word of mouth advertising, more inbound links (which will benefit your SEO efforts) and inevitably more leads.

5.  No internal linking opportunities

Internal linking aids your website’s navigation, help you define the architecture and hierarchy of your site, and plays a part in building your website authority. 

When it comes down to it, the more relevant content you have, the more opportunities you have to add internal links. For example, we sent you to this article about SEO earlier in our blog post – but because we have so much relevant content we also could have linked you to this article or this article… or even this one! See? Relevant content builds linking opportunities. 

When it comes down to it, having a bank of relevant content not only makes your marketing more effective – it also makes things easier on you in the long run. Having a deep well of articles and posts to send people to gives you more to promote – as well as the behind-the-scenes SEO benefits of establishing authority. 

If you’re stuck on what to post about, we’ll leave you with this blog series for a little further reading. 

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HUE & TONE: TRIAD BASED MARKETING SOLUTIONS

Completely stumped on what kind of content to post? Not even sure who your customers are? Or maybe you're just not sure how to reach them? We can help you answer all these questions -- and help you plan and enact solutions for all your marketing woes. Shoot us an email or give us a call.

It’s no secret that video marketing is on an upward trajectory. In fact, on Facebook alone, more than 8 billion videos are watched every single day. If you’ve ever done any video marketing, you also know it’s no secret that video marketing can be tricky. Finding the right formula of content, length, and delivery method can be difficult to say the least. 

Defining the optimum length

The optimum length for videos is a difficult thing to define, and there are a whole load of variables that can influence the answer, like:

• Who’s your target audience?

• What’s your product or service?

• Where is it being promoted?

• What’s it about?

• How engaging is your speaker?

Because of all these factors, the ideal length will vary from industry to industry and business to business.

As an example, let’s think about the type of product you’re promotoing. If you’re selling a $20 item, it’s likely your audience will be unwilling to invest five minutes to watch your video. If you’re selling a $2,000 service though, five minutes suddenly seems like a more reasonable request.

What the data tells us

When video hosting and analytics giant Wistia looked at the stats from 500,000 videos, the sweet spot was 2 minutes. According to their research, it’s after that point that there’s a fairly steep drop off and people click away. 

That said, their numbers also showed there’s minimal drop-off between 6 and 12 minutes -- so, assuming you can keep viewers until the 6 minute mark, by that point, there’s a good chance you’ve secured the next 6 minutes of their time too.

As with any type of content, it’s important to keep your message and goals in mind – if your video needs to be long, it needs to be long. There’s no use in condensing what would have been a 10 minute video down to 2 minutes for fear of people not watching, if the end result means you’re compromising on the quality and credibility of its substance. 

Videos on social media

Once you’ve got your video edited, it’s time to disperse it through social media. According to data from HubSpot, the most engaging video lengths for each platform are:

• Instagram: 30 seconds

• Twitter: 45 seconds

• Facebook: 1 minute

• YouTube: 2 minutes

 

Action items: Here's what you can do 

Discovering what works for you is all about trial and error, and engagement is a key metric to measure. So, what can you do to find your own sweet spot? Here are a few ideas:

• Categorize your videos, because there’ll likely be different patterns for sales, ‘how to’ and tutorial videos.

• Analyze the play to finish ratio from all your videos to date and see what’s working best.

• Look out for trends in where viewers are trailing off. If there are any, engineer your next videos to this length and see what results you get.

• Take a look at what your competitors are doing, and if they’re getting good engagement, see if you can identify any lessons from their success.

If you’re new to the world of video marketing, check out our three-part series on producing and editing iPhone footage here, here and here.

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HUE & TONE CREATIVE: SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT IN GREENSBORO, NC

Need a second opinion on your video content? Ask the experts. From compelling email campaigns to social media account management, Hue & Tone Creative is here to cover all your marketing needs.

Are you lacking imagination for your next Instagram post? Everyone’s creative cogs stop turning every now and then, but fear not, we’ve put our creativity to the test by coming up with 75 post ideas to help you through your creative block:

1. Lighten the mood with a meme

2. Pull out a quote from a happy client

3. Post a picture of your products

4. Film a demo of how to use your product or service

5. Publish pictures of customers using your product or service

6. Shout about any competitions you’re running

7. Put your own spin on a big event - like Super Bowl

8. Re-post stuff your followers tag you in

9. Push out any promotions

10. Create some motivational quotes

11. Celebrate any business milestones

12. Tell people about any job vacancies you’ve got

13. Share team bios

14. Share your team members favorite product

15. Let people see what goes on behind the scenes

16. Tease people new product launches

17. Wish everyone a good weekend

18. Remind your audience of your contact details so they can share any questions/concerns

19. Promote employee recommendations

20. Create an event reminder - if you’re hosting any

21. Shout about any charity work you do

22. Promote local charity events

23. Have fun with your brand

24. Show alternative uses for your products

25. Ask questions to gauge audience interest in a topic

26. Share your industry knowledge

27. Ask for feedback

28. Tell the story behind your brand

29. Point people to new content on your site

30. Shout about any awards you’ve won

31. Raise money for charity

32. Consider interviews with industry experts

33. Set a challenge for people to get involved with

34. Remind people when the clocks change

35. Remind people of your unique selling points

36. Share some New Year’s Resolutions

37. Post live pictures and videos from events

38. Share relevant news stories

39. Visualize an inspirational, well-known quote

40. Film a video that will make people laugh

41. Get an influencer to endorse you

42. Latch onto a trending hashtag

43. Let people know what a day in the life at your business is like

44. Publish statistics around your product or service

45. Share any positive press coverage you receive

46. Get involved with topical trends (think ice bucket challenge)

47. Think of something crazy that could go viral

48. Reach out to a celebrity and see if they’ll engage with you

49. Show before and after transformations

50. Thank your customers for their loyalty

51. Congratulate customers or clients for their own successes

52. Point people to key pages of your website

53. Share a fun fact

54. Create a collage to show a timeline of events

55. Run a quiz

56. Feature products that are on sale

57. Make a business announcement

58. Hook onto random awareness days - like International Day of Happiness

59. Play an April Fool’s Day prank

60. Show people what life would be like without your product or service

61. Sell your product in a 20 second video

62. Be vulnerable: share a challenge your business has

63. Set up a user-generated content competition

64. Post a picture of the person in control of your Instagram so people can put a face to a name

65. Share a #throwbackthursday

66. Invite people to follow your other social media channels

67. Run a Christmas-themed giveaway

68. Schedule a ‘Merry Christmas’ post for on the day

69. Remind people of your business hours

70. Share your company’s culture

71. Start your own unique weekly series, like #whatifwednesday

72. Ask people to leave you a review (and tell them where they can do it)

73. Share styling tips

74. Start a countdown to a key date/event

75. Share someone else’s content that’ll be valuable to your audience - but make sure it’s not someone who can take business away from you!

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SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING IN the triad

Looking to develop your social media presence? Hue & Tone Creative is a web marketing agency specializing in graphic design and social media management. Be sure to check out our portfolio to see clients we’ve helped in the past, or give us a call if you're ready to get started building your online presence.

In the final quarter of 2017, Twitter boasted an average of 330 million active users a month -- not bad given all the claims that it’s past its heyday, right?

All those users means endless sets of eyes on what you post, retweet, and site. With so many onlookers around to spectate on your activity, the spotlight is on, meaning a small slip-up could turn into a big embarrassment.

We have your back, so we’ve put together a list of 10 potential Twitter mishaps you should avoid:

1.  Inappropriate hashtags

What might be a seemingly innocent hashtag when you post it can quickly turn into a somewhat embarrassing oversight… one that might be hard to explain to your boss. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples:

• When singer Susan Boyle launched a new album, her PR team created the hashtag #susanalbumparty. The intention? Susan’s album party. The reality? Well, something rather rude.
  

• Another hashtag horror story comes in the form of #therapist. The publisher was hoping to promote their therapist services, but got their wires tangled in something totally different: the rapist.

The lesson? Always triple check for alternative interpretations.

2.  Ill-timed hashtags

Sticking with the hashtag theme, consider what’s going on in the world before posting away. For example, a doughnut company once referenced #notguilty in a tweet, the same day the same hashtag was being used for a high profile murder case.

Not only can it make you look insensitive, but you run the risk of inserting your brand into a political battle – somewhere most brands don’t need or want to be.

3.  Being stingy

If you hog your own feed and don’t ever retweet, reply or like anyone else’s content, what’s to stop your audience from doing the same to you? Social media is about connecting, so share the love every now and then, and it’ll be reciprocated!

4.  Lack of research

Retweeting is so simple, and because of this, lots of people click away without thinking about what they’re promoting.

Always do a quick background check to make sure a seemingly innocent retweet isn’t endorsing a questionable source – it’s better to be safe than sorry.

5.  Think before you link

If you’re going to link out to an external website, scout it out first. Similar to your retweets, you need to know who you’re promoting and where you’re sending people to.

6.  There’s no going back

Once you’ve hit publish, there’s literally no going back. Yes you can delete your post, but there’s no stopping people from taking a screenshot of what’s already been out there -- even if you only left it up for a moment.

Whether you’re bantering with a competitor, in a Wendy’s style feud, playing a prank or going on a rant, really think about what you’re saying before you go past the point of no return.

7.  Bombarding the sales pitch

If you’re tweeting for business purposes, don’t let your ego go overboard. While Twitter is, of course, a great platform to promote your product or service, you need to mix it up with content that people will want to engage with.

After all, who wants to visit a profile that’s repetitively salesy?

8.  Leaving people hanging

If someone’s taken the time to reach out to you, at least have the courtesy to respond!

If you build up a reputation for being unresponsive, people will stop engaging with you on social media. This can be particularly detrimental if you’re running a brand or business page – once you lose a relationship with a customer, it can be hard to get it back.

This is particularly important if you schedule your tweets – don’t forget to make sure prescheduled tweets posted correctly, monitor comments, and check your messages.

9.  Random retweets

If you retweet too many random posts, you run the risk of irritating your followers and making them hit that dreaded ‘unfollow’ button. We’re not saying don’t retweet things, but try to keep them relevant. And if they’re not relevant, keep them rare.

10.  Don’t hammer hashtags

Hashtags are great, but there’s a time and a place for them. If you hashtag every other word, your post will be hard to read. If you cram as many as you can into your character count, you can look desperate.
 

To make the most of them, stick to what’s relevant and trending, and leave the rest out.

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SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING IN GREENSBORO, NC

Stale social media presence? That's what we're here for! Whether you’re looking to increase your followers or simply need a break from handling your account, Hue & Tone Creative has you covered for all things social.

Millions tune in to watch shows like Grey’s Anatomy, events like Super Bowl LII, and cult favorites such as Star Wars. Why? Because the content is so darn good.

Content, as stated by the Oxford English Dictionary, is information made available by a website or other electronic medium. People know good when they see it and recognize good content when they read it. Which is why crafting strong content is so important on the information-overloaded web.

“The force is strong with this one.” –Darth Vader, Star Wars: Episode IV

“What makes for strong content?” you may be asking. It starts with knowing your audience. The subjects you discuss as well as how you choose to tackle them are dictated by those seeking your infinite wisdom and wares. Exploring topics that are helpful to your customers, followers and clients make for good content because it’s relevant. Ask yourself, “what can I do to serve the needs of my unique base”? And create from there.
 

“Always pass on what you have learned.” –Yoda, Star Wars: Episode VI

You can’t teach what you don’t know. Integrate your company’s core competencies (those things you do exceptionally and distinguishes you from competitors) into your content. Kim K posts tons of information regarding make-up and fashion help. Oprah’s website is packed with inspirational tidbits and plenty on healthy eating. Your content could detail how to start a non-profit, demonstrate yoga techniques, or show the masses How to Curate Their Instagram Feeds. Basically, write what you know.
 

"There is NO substitute for WORK." –Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers Coach (1959-1967)

Content is often copied from one site and reposted on another. This should only occur when express permission has been provided by the content’s owner. It should also be an option rarely elected. For one, originality is rewarded by Google search rankings and secondly, you can’t contribute much to the virtual conversation if you’re only saying what has already been said. Don’t have the time to create original content? Partner with a professional content provider. Unlike reposting published pieces, working with a content generating service is a savvy alternative that provides you with unique postings for your site.
 

"Pretty good is not enough, I wanna be great." –Christina Yang, Grey’s Anatomy

Your content choices and execution should be in alignment with your brand image. If you’re known for being reliable, posting consistently and on time is a way to demonstrate that trait. Presenting thought-provoking and engaging topics showcases you as the thought-leader that you are. Great at design? Be sure that your content is presented in the showiest of packages that displays your exceptional stylistic talents. If you’re great, your content should be great. Post that which you are.
 

"Knowing is better than wondering." –Meredith Grey, Grey’s Anatomy

What content have you produced that garnered the most engagement and views? There’s an analytic for that.  Refer to your site’s pageview data and determine what your readers prefer. This helps to cultivate similar content that speaks to the needs and wants of your followers. Do your research and give the people what they want.

Keep in mind, your web content may not make a colossal mark or be permanently enshrined in greatness like Star Wars. Instead, it might convert a visitor into a lead or even a client. She may be persuaded to subscribe to your newsletter. He could be moved to try your service. And that is much better and even, dare I say, compelling.

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WEB DESIGN, CONTENT CREATION, and SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT 

No matter what you're looking for help with, Hue & Tone Creative can help take your website -- and the content on it -- to the next level. If you'd like to see what we can do, be sure to take a look at our design portfolio, scope out more of our blog posts, and take a look at the services we offer.

In 2015, there were a total of 205 billion emails sent and received. According to Marketing Charts, emails sent to Gmail users found that 68.4% of all incoming messages were classified as Promotions; marketing messages sent for the purpose of driving a purchase or conversion. Promotional emails and other forms of direct marketing are made possible when businesses obtain personal contact information. The more leads a company is able to capture increases their potential for a future sale or conversion. There’s a myriad of ways to generate more leads, but here are a few that can be done quickly through your website and social media without a lot of fuss.

Don’t Ask, Won’t Tell

First things first: ask for what you want. Sometimes, just having a place on your site dedicated to requesting a user’s contact info is enough. If you never make the request, you’re much less likely to capture the lead. A good place for such a request is a Landing Page.

Create a Landing Page

We love this example from VTL Design! 

Basically, a landing page is a place on your site that allows you to capture a visitor's information; most typically through a lead form. More technically, it’s a web page that stands alone from the rest of your site and is created for a specific function. Maybe you’re promoting a webinar and are attempting to attract attendees or maybe you want visitors to subscribe to receive your newsletter. Normally, you can’t reach a landing page from your site’s main navigation menu. Your visitors either land on it or it pops up shortly after they arrive. A landing page allows you to put special requests front and center while capturing user data simultaneously if they choose to proceed.

Simple enough, right? Well, asking doesn’t guarantee a yes, but as stated earlier, you have to at least ask and the landing page is where you pop that question.

It’s not what you ask for, but how you ask for it.

“What’s your math,” is the most creative means by which I’ve heard a phone number solicited. The gentleman wanted something, but instead of asking the same way everyone else has, he got creative and, as a result, he got the digits. On your landing page, you have what’s called the Call to Action button or CTA. A CTA is the equivalent of a pickup line. Traditionally that line has been “Submit”. Research has shown that this word has a lower conversion rate than other phrases. Subscribe, Start Your Free Trial, Launch, Download Now, Create a Site, Get Your Free E-Book, Sign Up for Free are more successful alternatives just to name a few. While it makes sense that your conversion goal will dictate what you ask for, the world is your oyster in terms of how you can ask. So, get creative in your request and the lead may be yours.

Social Sharing is Caring

Does your company have a Twitter account, Facebook Page, Instagram, ect? If so, make sure to include social sharing buttons on your website. Visitors who don’t want to fork over contact information may opt to engage with you through these mediums. They can follow you and you can, in turn, follow your followers. It’s a way to gain instant leads. Not only will your social media promotions show up automatically in their feeds, you will have unfettered access to those interested in your service or product and access to their entire social network. Easy peazy.

A business’s success is dependent upon how successfully they attract and keep customers. Lead generation is an essential part of that task. Capitalize on the traffic coming to your site by extending an offer or making a request that may perpetuate the relationship. Don’t be afraid to make the first move. As leads increase, you’ll be happy you did.

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WEB MARKETING IN GREENSBORO and WINSTON-SALEM

If your web traffic is stagnant, it's time to give Hue & Tone Creative and a call. We'll work together to help you get your content back on track and your website in front of new eyes. Want to learn what we can do? Give us a call.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, The Starbucks Holiday Cup, and the NFL’s Thanksgiving Games are all examples of how companies capitalize on the Holiday Season. You may be wondering how your business can get in the holiday game. If you’re not yet prepared to spend millions on gigantic floating turkeys or interested in joining the controversial cup circuit, you could simply create season-specific content for your darling customers and clients. Below are 5 thankworthy tips to generate more interesting holiday content for your website and social media outlets.

1. Customization is Key.

Your customers’ likes and dislikes, locations, and values, etc., should dictate what you’re posting on a normal basis. Likewise, it’s helpful information for the direction of your holiday content. For local clients, contributing a calendar of nearby holiday events would be beneficial. If your base is smorgasbord of religious beliefs and practices, then focusing on shared values like gratitude and family could aid in promoting holiday cheer without offending anyone. If you don’t quite know the makeup of your patrons, see our helpful guide to creating customer personas. The point is to customize your content for your audience which will have them coming back for more helpings through the holidays and beyond.

2. A little Industry Anyone?

Your content should fit your industry. Gift guides, product reviews, stories regarding your company’s philanthropic pursuits are all popular methods and sources for holiday driven content. Whatever you choose, it should be industry-based. A recipe app could of course feature holiday inspired recipes like red velvet cake or Cajun turkey tips, whereas the Goodwill could, more relevantly, post about finding the perfect holiday look or ways to tailor donations toward holiday needs. Injecting your content with juicy business/industry-specific information will have your customers salivating for more.

3. Help Me, Please!

The holidays are a time for many decisions to be made. What should I cook, how should I decorate, what are the best gifts of 2017 and where should I shop? With so many options to choose from, having a trusted advisor to hep navigate such choices is gold. Do you have information regarding high-demand products or data concerning online shopping vs. in-store purchasing? If so, create posts sharing your expert knowledge. Providing valuable holiday information will delight your clients and could prompt them to share the useful data and your awesome posts with countless others.

4. Picture This.

We’re all familiar with the adage “pictures are worth 1,000 words,” therefore, don’t limit your holiday posts to just text.  Use this time to display compelling images and heartwarming videos about your company. Showcase photos of your office decorated for the holidays or a video of your employees at the annual toy-drive. If your company doesn’t personally participate in these practices, highlight other organizations and businesses who do. Promote vendors, sister companies and other business affiliates by posting videos and pictures of their holiday experiences. It’s a great way of saying thank you to them and to drive some holiday traffic your way.

5. Give Thanks.

Speaking of thanks, some companies like to use the season to highlight the people who make it all possible – their staff.  Who doesn’t like to be appreciated? Create posts that show your employees in festive wear, acknowledging their contributions or cutting a rug at a company party. Create contests for customers and clients regarding the best-looking turkey or ugliest holiday sweater and post submissions on your site. Get others involved by asking for votes. Show the people who matter most that you care and create some buzzworthy holiday content at the same time.

The truth is, there are literally thousands of ways to create interesting holiday content for your site. The challenge is doing so in a way that’s relevant and valuable to those you serve. Honor them this holiday season by providing content that places their needs, wants and contributions at the top of the list.

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SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING IN GREENSBORO, NC

Content stale? That's what we're here for! Whether you’re looking to increase your views or simply need a break from handling your account, Hue & Tone Creative has you covered for all things social.

The following article is a guest contribution from Tamika M. Page. 

Twitter debuted March 21, 2006 when co-founder Jack Dorsey posted the inaugural Tweet which read, "just setting up my twttr."  While Jack was off launching what is arguably one of the biggest communications technologies of the last century, which currently averages about 328 million monthly active users according to Statista, an online statistics company, I was somewhere in the world learning the importance of thinking before I spoke.  Journey with me, if you will, back to Atlanta circa 2001.
 

At an early morning yard sale, I enthusiastically remarked to a potential customer that she looked like a lady basketball coach. She wasn’t flattered. In fact, she gave me a strange look, put down the candle sticks she had been eyeing and walked away obviously offended. Needless to say, I lost the sale. After fighting the urge to yell, “hey lady, that was a compliment,” I decided to ask some trusted advisors what they thought of the strange exchange. The results were mixed. My Grandmother heard genuine praise while my best friend stared at me in shock; as if I’d lost my mind for uttering the thought aloud. My brother laughed for what seemed like five minutes while my mentor gave me a copy of The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners.  How was it possible for one statement to spur multiple and varying reactions?

 

Meanings get lost in translation.

What I was attempting to express was that this lady had an athletic physique, a beautiful haircut and reminded me of the late, great Pat Summitt, coach for Tennessee Lady Vols. However, my meaning was somehow lost in translation. Why? Well, this woman and I had two different world-views, or lenses through which we viewed the world. What I meant was not at all what she heard. It seems this plays out repeatedly on Twitter. Every week some high-profile individual is reprimanded, or a company is hit with a wave of backlash for an uninhibited Tweet. While my impulsivity cost me, at most, seven dollars, these professionals and companies lose big when they quickly and, oftentimes, thoughtlessly take to social media with their opinions, jokes and grievances.

 

Your Tweet could be interpreted as an official declaration of war.

After President Trump exercised his First Amendment right via Twitterverse, North Korea’s Foreign Minister, Ri Young Ho, responded with the following, “Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make all self-defensive counter measures.”
 

You could lose your job, at least for a couple of weeks.

Take the case of ESPN’s Jemele Hill who Tweeted her opinion on how the public should respond to Jerry Jones’s threat to bench any Cowboy’s player who didn’t stand during the National Anthem. ESPN accused Hill of violating the company’s social media guidelines for a second time and suspended her for two weeks. Hill is lucky when one considers other celebs like Gilbert Gottfried who lost his endorsement with Aflac after posting Tweets making light of Japan’s 2011 tsunami.

You could lose customers and respect.

Home Depot quickly parted ways with a social media representative who posted a racially insensitive Tweet targeting African Americans from the brand’s Twitter account. The company decided to Tweet apologies, sans their media rep. When they directed one of these apologies specifically to Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and the NAACP, it only made matters worse.

 

3 Ways to Avoid Twitter Faux Pas

1.     When in doubt, don’t: We all have a little voice inside us that nags right when we’re about to say or do something that might lead to unwanted trouble. If you possess the slightest inclination that your post may be inappropriate or could be misconstrued as such, don’t Tweet it out. It’s much easier to refrain than to retract.
 

2.     Never go to bed angry or Tweet that way either: Acting from anger is seldom a good idea. Typically, we behave in ways we later regret. Therefore, instead of Tweeting in this state, go for a walk, take deep breaths, do the stanky leg, whatever. The point is to delay expression until you’ve calmed down. This can potentially save your relationship as well as your reputation.

3.     Ask for Help: Consult a firm that specializes in multimedia communications. You may know construction or cakes or calligraphy, but framing your company’s messages perfectly is a specialty in itself. Outsourcing this all-important task will protect your brand and frees you to focus on what you do best.

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Meet the writer:

Tamika Page works as a marketing assistant and instructor in Atlanta, GA. Her first words were “increase market share.” Although her first words were far less remarkable than previously stated, she does have extensive experience in helping small businesses grow and discover their unique identities.

Want to chat with Tamika directly? TamikaMPage@gmail.com

Simply getting your business on Facebook doesn’t guarantee any kind of social media success. To really reach people and build a following you’ll need a top-notch profile that will grab attention and pull customers in… but how do you make that happen?

Keeping up with Facebook’s latest features can feel like a full time job. But no matter how many features are available, there’s a few elements you should never ignore.

We’ve put together our 7 essentials for a killer Facebook page that will take your page from bland to BAM!

1.    Fill out the basics

Before you get focused on the visuals, make sure that all of your business information has been filled out correctly. This means making sure your address, hours, web link, and business description are all filled out properly.

 

2.  Simple + strong profile picture

Keep it simple when uploading your profile picture – stick to your logo or a professional headshot. Make sure your image is properly formatted (square) and is high resolution. Nothing makes a worse impression than a blurry image!

3. A distinctive cover photo

When it comes to choosing your cover photo, make sure that your image enhances your profile picture without distracting from it. Your cover photo should show off your products, relate to your services, or communicate your company’s values/mission.

A properly sized cover photo will be formatted to 820px X 312px for desktop or 640px X 360px for mobile.

Can’t communicate everything in one photo? You can also play around with a video cover photo!

4. Direct Your Visitors

You can enhance your Facebook page by selecting a Call to Action (CTA) button to go at the top of your page (it overlays over your cover photo). You can select one of 7 options that will take your customers to the landing page of your choice. The button options are:

• Buy Now

• Shop Now

• Sign Up

• Call Now

• Contact Us

• Send Message

• Send Email

5. Gather Reviews

Make it a regular part of your customer interactions to ask for Facebook and Google Business reviews. Send a follow-up note to happy customers, put a link on receipts, or offer discounts for people who leave you a review!

Collecting a lot of positive reviews can provide credibility to a new page – and they’re a great way to distinguish yourself in a crowded market! 

6. Set up an auto reply message

56% of shoppers prefer using Facebook Messenger over calling a customer service number when they have an issue. Set up an autoreply message for your page so that people who reach out will get an immediate reply!

But, you ask, what should it say? We suggest using autoreply to set expectations for when you’ll get back to your computer, letting people know where to view FAQ, or to provide alternate ways of getting in touch.

It’s impossible to be monitoring your page messages around the clock, but having an informative autoreply message will ensure customers feel like they’re getting top notch service…whether you’re available or not!
 

7. Keep your timeline fresh

Need ideas on what to post on Facebook? We’ve got you covered.

This may seem like an obvious one – but posting high quality, engaging content is key to creating engaged followers. It’s key to post often and consistently. Be sure to incorporate visual content like photos, videos, gifs, and infographics to help boost your interaction! 

Were these 7 essentials not enough? Download our comprehensive Facebook checklist for even more tips and to-do’s, and before you know it you’ll have more comments than you can even respond to!

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Social Media Marketing in Greensboro, NC

Have you hit a plateau for likes and follows? We can fix that! Whether you’re looking to increase your views or simply need a break from handling your account, Hue & Tone Creative has you covered for all things social.

We all want our feed to look like this!

Ever stumble across a gorgeous Instagram feed and suddenly come down with a major case of account envy? We’ve all been there.

Creating a lust-worthy Instagram account is more than just slapping on a filter and a handful of hashtags. It’s about telling a story and understanding your own unique style.

Whether you’re trying to revamp your feed for yourself or your brand, we’ll give you the scoop on how to create an account your followers will love. 

 

Choose a Theme

Found the perfect filter or editing settings? Keep your feed cohesive by using it on your other images. 

All successful Instagram accounts have something in common. They all have a look. Finding your own theme takes a lot of research and self-discovery, so don’t get discouraged if it takes some time to get your feed where you want it to be.

Start by studying your favorite Instagram accounts, creating color stories on Pinterest, or simply writing down a list of adjectives that describe your brand. Think about what emotions you want your followers to feel when they scroll through your feed and brainstorm how you can express that visually.

For instance, a feed for a yoga studio could use relaxing colors, natural light, or motivational quotes. An account for a café might use vibrant colors or flat lays of ingredients... Once you get rolling the ideas are endless!

After you’ve decided on a style, use that as a guideline for all your future posts. 

Spice it Up

Now that you’ve found your look, keep your interesting by varying what you post. No one wants to follow an account that posts virtually the same images all the time.

Get creative by telling your story in different ways:

• Piece a mosaic of individual images

• Celebrate a holiday

• Change your setting

Still need more examples of what to post? We’ve got even more ideas to help you get inspired.

Quality over Quantity

Never post a subpar picture just for the sake of likes. It’s much better to have a small number of great images than hundreds of blah ones. Always post high quality images that reflect your brand’s vibe and overall style. If it doesn’t fit your look, don’t post it.

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Pro tip: Use a social media scheduler to help you preplan your Instagram content. We recommend giving Buffer or Hootsuite a try! 

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Try an App

Although Instagram has a huge array of filters to choose from, don’t be afraid to venture outside of the app! There are tons of (mostly free) photo editing apps on the market with beautiful color stories and editing features.

VSCO- subtle effects and presets

1967- filters with a vintage feel

Foodie- perfect for lovers of food photography

A Color Story- lovely collection of filters and light effects

Adobe Lightroom- a high quality on the go photo editor

One last takeaway…

Creating a cohesive look takes time so don’t rush the process! Post frequently and try not to overthink it. 

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Social Media Marketing in Greensboro, NC

Running out of ideas on what to post? Can’t seem to increase your number of followers? Take a breather and leave it to the experts. Whether you’re trying to get the word out for an event or are preparing to launch a hot new product, Hue & Tone Creative can help you ramp up likes, retweets, and mentions on all of your social channels.

Everyone knows that hashtags and pictures go together like PB&J. But not everyone knows how to correctly utilize hashtags.  When it comes to helping people find your company and products on Instagram, hashtags can play a big role -- but only if you're using the right ones. 

Today, we're going to run through the two main types of hashtags, and then cover how to find and use them properly.

Types

Before you start collecting hashtags, it’s important to understand which ones you should be using. There are two main types to choose from: community and branded hashtags.

Community hashtags are popular on Instagram, but they don’t really have anything to do with brands. For instance, #tbt or #cat could be used by anybody, it’s not exclusive to a company. These are great for helping people discover your profile -- but you'll want to be specific and primarily use hashtags that directly relate to the mission of your brand.

Unlike community hashtags, branded hashtags are for… you guessed it, brands! Usually companies use a consistent tag featuring their name, but you could also make one for a promotion, competition, or product launch.

Branded hashtags are awesome for supporting user-generated content campaigns (UGC) because they help people connect with you and show their love for your brand. 

Where to Find Hashtags

Although it would be easy to throw on a couple of hashtags and call it a day, you really need to your homework if you want to be discovered. 

Save your hashtags tags in Google Docs or a spread sheet so that you have on hand when you need them. 

We recommend thinking like your audience. Dig around and find out which influencers and hashtags are popular with your followers. It also helps to zero in on the more specific community hashtags because they have a smaller following. For example, #artistsoninstagram has over 3 million posts, but if you narrow it down to #inkdrawing, you have about 820,000 posts to compete with. Less competition = more exposure for you.

Speaking of competition, it may also help to scope out what tags they’re using. If they’re posts are getting a crazy amount of attention, hunt around for the right hashtags to spark some likes on your own page. 

Instagram Pro tip

Keep your post clutter free by hiding your hashtags. 

1. Open Notes in your phone.

2. Type a dot and hit return (Repeat this process 5 times).

3. Add all the hashtags you want to use after the 5th dot.

4. Copy all the dots and hashtags.

5. After you post your picture in Instagram, hit the comment button and paste all your dots and hashtags.

6. When you look back at your post, all the tags should be hidden!

Need a few hashtag ideas to help you get started? Here are some popular ones for some of the top industries and the Triad:

Fitness:
#fitlife
#getoutside
#eatclean
#fitspo
#fitnessgoals 

Greensboro & the Triad:
#gso
#gbo
#sogso
#wsnc
#gatecity

 Marketing:
#digitalmarketing
#advertising
#entrepreneurship
#influencermarketing
#marketingstrategy

Restaurants:
#delicious
#locallygrown
#eatlocal
#treatyoself
#hungry

Nonprofits:
#volunteer
#change
#dogood
#socialgood
#socialimpact

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Social Media Marketing in the Triad: Hue & Tone Creative

Does managing all your social media accounts feel like a chore? We can give you a hand! Whether you’re looking to expand your list of followers or boost your amount of likes, the digital marketing pros at Hue & Tone Creative can give your accounts the attention they need.

Think about the last time you watched something. Did you sit back on the couch and grab the remote, or did you reach for the phone in your pocket?

The days of devouring media solely on a TV screen are long gone. In fact, the total number of videos uploaded in the last 30 days dramatically surpasses the amount of content produced by major U.S. networks in the past 30 years.

With all those videos out there, how do you get eyes on your own content?

This week for Part 3 of our Great Mobile Video series, we’ll show you how to your iPhone videos to stand out on three major platforms.   

YouTube

YouTube’s search engine is massive, so getting noticed in a sea of competing content boils down to the work you put into your SEO.

To help your videos pop up more often in search results, put time and effort into your metadata (title, description, tags, category, and thumbnail).

TITLE
Your title should be no more than 60 characters long, but keep in mind that mobile users will only see about 26 characters of that.  

Avoid using “clickbait” titles to draw in views. An example? “This will change your life forever!” about a video showing off a new mop. Come up with a title that’s catchy, but honest… or you risk annoying your viewers and forfeiting subscribers.

Organize your videos into playlists. It will entice viewers to watch more of your content. 

DESCRIPTION
Because only 2-3 lines of text (about 100 characters) are shown in the description of your videos during searches, put the most important info first. Mobile users won’t see your description at all, only your title.

TAGS
Spend time researching relevant tags (Google’s Keyword planner is a great tool to use). Make sure that you only use tags that have to do with your video. Irrelevant tags could cause you to land in trouble with Google.

CATEGORY
Make sure to choose the right category based on your viewers’ demographics. We recommend visiting YouTube’s Creator Academy to make sure that your selection is the right fit for your brand.

CREATE A CLEVER THUMBNAIL
An eye-catching thumbnail can help your videos stand from competing search results. Think of your thumbnail as a little snapshot of what your video is about. Stick to a simple scheme like an image from your video paired with bold title. Canva is a great tool to use if you’re not savvy with Photoshop. 

Facebook

Think YouTube is the leading video viewing platform? Well, that’s sort of true…

On average, 45% of people watch over an hour of YouTube or Facebook videos every week. Focusing on one over the other could cause you to miss out on a lot of potential leads.

While you may be tempted to simply share your YouTube link on Facebook, studies show that uploading videos directly to Facebook can increase your share rate dramatically. In fact, when compared to YouTube links, native Facebook videos perform 10x better and receive higher levels of engagement.

Sidebar: Because 85% of Facebook are viewed without sound, make sure that you have your subtitles enabled.

The uploading process it pretty similar to YouTube’s, choose a descriptive title and a compelling thumbnail to draw in views. We highly recommend spending time on your actual post. Only 400 characters of your post will share when people are scrolling through their feeds, so choose your words wisely.

Investing in a Facebook campaign is another great way to amp up your views. Check out our guide for more details. 

Instagram

Before your video debuts, drum up excitement by mixing in teasers with your normal content. 

When it comes to Instagram views, hashtags are your best friend. Using at least one hashtag will bring in 12.6% more engagement that not using any. Just try not to go overboard. The rule of thumb is to choose relevant hashtags that are consistent with your brand, and are easily discoverable by new viewers.

Advertise your video in your bio with a compressed link. You can promote the video further in your other posts by stating “link in bio” at the bottom of the captions.

If you have influencers or special guests featured in your video, make sure to tag their page and have your participants do the same for you. This makes it easier for their viewers to discover your brand. 

One final takeaway…

When you get started with video, don’t obsess over your amount of views. Results take time. Instead, focus on producing and uploading high quality videos regularly, so that you can build up a following and increase your brand awareness overtime.

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Hue & Tone Creative: Social Media Marketing in the Triad

Looking to launch an ad campaign or ramp up your social media presence? Get started with the pros! From social media management to email campaigns, the creative thinkers at Hue & Tone Creative can help bring your brand’s story to life.

Grab a cup of coffee and get ready to edit together a viral video! 

We’re back after taking a week off from the blog!  Two weeks ago, we shared some filming basics (you can catch up on Part 1 here). Now we’re jumping into the must-know stuff about editing video.

Let’s go ahead and dive in head first! 

Edit on a computer

Although there are plenty of video editing apps to choose from, editing on a computer is the key to producing quality professional videos.

iMovie is the perfect starter program for beginners, but its features can be a little limited.  It’s a great place to start -- you can use filters, voiceovers, and a small array special effects. But you might be a little limited when it comes to visual effects, audio editing, and graphic integrations. (It’s also the only cheap/free option on this list!)

Need an app for spontaneous videos? Magisto and Adobe Premiere Clip are free and perfect for on-the-go projects:

Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the leading cross-platform video-editing programs on the market. Because it’s used by film makers, journalists, and broadcasters, Premiere Pro is perfect for high quality professional content. Virtually every type of film or file type is compatible and can be exported to any screen and format. Premiere Pro also works seamlessly with other Adobe programs like Illustrator and After Effects – great for integrating custom titles.

Final Cut Pro X is a high quality professional program from Apple. Like Premiere Pro, Final Cut specializes in advanced techniques and 4K video. And, we personally find it to be a little more beginner friendly than Adobe Premiere. You can also purchase title and animation templates directly through Apple Motion rather than editing them in separate Adobe programs.

A final tip? No matter which software you use, make sure to back up your files! Nothings worse than losing all your hard work to a corrupt file or technical hiccup. If you’re really looking to make video a big part of your marketing take the safe route and invest in a cloud plan or external hard drive. 

 

Consider the Viewer

The obvious goal of your video is to be shared. When you’re editing, focus on what you want your audience to see, think, and feel.

The best way to spark your creativity? Go watch other people’s videos and see what’s trending!

Are you trying to spark an emotional response? Sharing a clever hack? How you present your material makes a difference in how it’s received by others. Think of your video as a story, with a clear beginning, middle, and ending. If you’re viewers are confused by what they’re watching, they’ll move on to something else.

Studies show that the average viewer’s attention starts to dwindle after 8.25 seconds. To keep your viewers engaged, trying to break up talk-heavy scenes with visuals or infographics. You can also shake up static scenes by varying your camera angles. 

 

Cut out the fluff

You have a limited amount of time to hold your viewer’s attention and communicate your message. If your video if veering off-topic, cut it down. There’s no point filling your video with irrelevant content.

Make sure to scan your video for mistakes, “ums”, awkward little moments where you may have lost your train of thought (it happens to everyone). Cutting on specific words can help transition to a different topic and make the video flow evenly. 

Tailor for social

Your video’s length really depends on which platform you’re uploading to. Keep this little guideline in mind before you start filming. Save intros/outros for YouTube videos. There’s no need to use them for shorter social media videos.

Facebook: 1 minute

Twitter: 45 seconds

YouTube: 2 Minutes

Instagram: 30 seconds

 

Add Some Music

Want to use some subtle background music? Here’s a list of sites that offer music with a Creative Commons license.  Just be sure to double check the terms before you use a song. 

• Jamendo

• ccMixter

• AudioFarm

• Free Music Archive

• ASH Music

Music can add a nice touch and help set the tone of your movie, but make sure to watch the volume! Background music should enhance the scene, not overpower it.

 

Create a Silent Video

No, not a Charlie Chaplin inspired silent film (although, that may be a fun idea). We mean a soundless video.

Videos on Facebook and Instagram autoplay without the sound, so it’s important to edit with that feature in mind. No one wants a loud video to start playing when they’re standing in line at Starbucks or sneakily browsing Facebook during a boring meeting (don’t do that, BTW).

Using strong visual elements like bright colors, bold fonts, and graphics will help your audience get the gist of what your video’s about when it’s muted.

You can also add captions with iMovie, Premiere Pro, or Facebook Live. Just watch your placement and make sure to use a crisp bold font that’s easy to read at any size.

That’s it for this week’s installment! Check back next week for Part 3 of our mobile video series…we’ll be giving you a run down on how to get more views!

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Social Media Marketing in Greensboro and Winston Salem

Struggling to get noticed on social? We can fix that! From social media management to email campaigns, Hue & Tone creative can help boost your engagement and help create a loyal following. We can also help you come up with a plan to creatively incorporate video into your daily social schedule!

It’s no secret, video marketing isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, by 2019, video will make up over 80% of online consumer traffic.

While anyone can pull out their iPhones and start filming, quality videos take effort.

Not sure where to begin? Our 6 pro tips can help you make a video worth watching.

1.    Find A Location

While spontaneous videos can work well for social, it’s better to go for a more professional approach for advertising videos and promotional content.  Find a private area where you can focus and feel comfortable. You don’t want your filming to be interrupted by noisy traffic or someone yelling on their phone.

Choose a quiet space alone without any distractions. Want to film outside? Choose your day wisely. Wind is audio’s worst enemy.

2.    Check Your Lighting

Whether you’re filming inside or outside, terrible lighting can ruin an otherwise great video.

Never film directly in front of a window! You’ll wind up looking like a creepy silhouette. 

If you’re shooting outside, indirect lighting is your friend! The best times for filming are typically in the early morning or late afternoon while the lighting is still soft.

Filming inside requires a little more setup than outdoor videos. To make up for a dim space, it’s important to add additional lighting.

You don’t need to blow your budget for great lighting. At just under 60 bucks, this lighting kit is perfect.

Filming near a well-lit window works well in a pinch. Try to avoid shooting under fluorescent lights. They’re way too harsh and super unflattering on camera. 

3. Clean Your Lens

Have you ever watched a video and gotten super distracted by a weird smudge on the screen? We have. Don’t be that person. You want your audience to focus on you, not your dirty screen.

4. Lock Your Exposure & Focus

On an iPhone, your focus and exposure adjusts automatically. While this is great for pictures, it can make a video super choppy and blurry.  

To fix this, focus your camera by tapping and holding the screen. After a few seconds, the AE/AF button will pop up.

5. Film Horizontally

Although most Snaps and Instagram Stories are shot vertically, this is a major don’t for phone videos. Shooting horizontally will ensure that you don’t have any awkward rotation problems when people are watching your video.

And, make sure not to mix vertical and horizontal shots – it’s an editing nightmare!

6. Invest in a Tripod & Mic

Even if you try to hold your phone as steady as possible, you’re still going to end up bumpy shots. We highly suggest buying a tripod. Trust us, it makes all the difference! 

Here are a few options that won’t break the bank:

• Acuvar 50" Inch Aluminum Tripod: $14

• UBeesize Portable and Adjustable Tripod: $12

• Eocean 50-Inch Tripod: $23

Along with having a smooth and steady shot, clear audio is essential. Buying a external microphone will ensure that you’re sound isn’t compromised. We personally love our Lavalier mic because it’s travel-friendly and works for phones, laptops, and tablets.

• Lavalier Lapel Microphone: $16

• Comica CVM-VS08: $59

• Rode VideoMic Me Directional Microphone: $59

For under $20 you can also by a fuzzy microphone cover to help block out wind and background noise. This 5 pack from eBoot is practically a steal.

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We'll be taking next week off from blogging... but be sure to keep an eye out the following two Wednesday's -- we'll be posting two more installments on how to get great mobile video! You’ll be going viral in no time!

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Hue & Tone Creative: Social Media Management in Greensboro, NC

Need second opinion on your current social strategy? Ask the experts. From compelling email campaigns to social media account management, Hue & Tone Creative is here to cover all your marketing needs.

Live video is quickly becoming one of the top ways to watch, share, and interact with brands. When surveyed, 80% of people said they would rather watch a live video than read a blog... in fact, we should probably be broadcasting this content to you right now...

Before you hit "record" on your smart phone, let’s check in about the state of live video on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Facebook Live

With an audience of over 78 million, Facebook Live is one of the best platforms to use if you want to connect and engage with your followers in real time. The interface is intuitive and easy to use and as soon as you go live Facebook notifies your followers. 

A few of our favorite features:

• When streaming is complete, anyone who missed your video can watch the complete video on your business page.

• Your followers can easily express how much they like (or love) what you're doing with the emoji reaction buttons during streaming.

• If you're looking to connect with your followers on a more personal level, you can also engage with your viewers by responding to their comments/questions live. It’s a great way to connect with your followers on a more personal level!

Our only warning about Facebook Live? It's prone to lagging, so we recommend streaming only when you have a 4G signal or WIFI connection.

 

Twitter

Twitter makes live video streaming simple with help from Periscope -- and videos are 6 times more likely to be retweeted than images. 

Periscope viewers watch over 110 years of live content daily!

Periscope is a live video app that lets mobile users stream anytime, anywhere. Twitter purchased the app in 2015, so every video you create on Twitter also gets posted to Periscope. This is a great way to expand your reach and expose your brand to audiences around the world. 

A few of our favorite features:

• Twitter’s streaming process is user friendly and full of engaging features. Viewers can “heart” your videos, comment, and ask questions while the video is live.

• You can use the Periscope Global Map to broadcast your stream to an international audience.

• 360 Video. Similar to Facebook, the videos are marked with a 360 badge and viewers can easily move the perspective around with their fingertips. While 360s are currently only available for select businesses, Twitter plans to roll out 360 to all users soon -- and you will need a specific camera to film.

 

Instagram

Need more details and ideas on what to post to Instagram? Check out this guide we put together for some inspiration!

Unlike Facebook, Instagram Stories are temporary (they last 24 hours). And, live videos on Instagram disappear as soon as you’re done filming, so this platform is best for people who only want to share videos with their followers. The videos aren’t stored anywhere, so there’s no way to rewatch it.  

While you’re filming live you can check the number of viewers that have tuned into your broadcast and you can start a Q & A session in the comments. Keeping an eye on the number of videos can help gauge how interested viewers are in the video.

That's the update! What other live video updates are you most excited about? 

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Hue & Tone Creative: Social Media Management in the Triad

In a social media rut? It’s time to make a change! From social media strategy to a fully customized management plan, we can help your brand break through the clutter.

Networking or job hunting on LinkedIn? You only get one chance to make a positive first impression. Don’t let a lackluster profile picture prevent you from making the right connections.

Get noticed for the right reasons -- give your profile picture a refresh with these 5 simple tips!

Dress to Impress

Pictures of you in shorts and a t-shirt at your friend’s barbeque don’t belong on your profile.

The rule of thumb? Dress for the position you want. Blazers, dress shirts, and blouses are always strong options. Feel free to show off your personality with understated pops of color (think chunky jewelry or a fun tie).

Choose a Simple Background

According to LinkedIn, your face should take up 60% of the frame.

Don’t overcomplicate your picture with a distracting background. The focus should be on you, not what you’re standing in front of. Choose a simple background like a plain wall, bricks, or an outdoor setting. If you’re in a pinch, you can make a DIY backdrop with fabric or poster board. 

 

Lighting

Great lighting is the key to a killer picture! Always take your pictures during the day so that you can take advantage of natural light. Shooting near a window or doorway with an indirect light source can help create beautiful soft images.

If you’re shooting outside, avoid direct sunlight. It’s way too harsh and you’ll end up squinting in every frame. Find an area with open shade (next to trees or a building) for the perfectly balanced lighting. 

 

Avoid Crazy Filters

Save Nashville and Toaster for Instagram. When it comes to profile pictures, clarity is what counts. Feel free to adjust the brightness and saturation to help punch up the color... just don’t go overboard!

Smile

It may seem silly, but smiling always makes a difference in pictures. Look directly into the camera and smile warmly and genuinely. Your potential connections will get the sense that you’re friendly and approachable!

One last note…

Your picture is all about you! Don’t be too serious. Have fun and show off your personality… just do it in a professional way!

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Professional Creative Services in Greensboro and Winston Salem

Whether you’re a recent grad or a seasoned professional, Hue & Tone Creative can help you stand out from the competition. From personal branding to business and resume design, Hue & Tone Creative is here to create a custom look for YOU.

Social advertising is a powerful component of online advertising. More specifically, Facebook has a user base of 1.94 billion active monthly users worldwide, and with consumers spending over 50% of their digital time on mobile devices, it pays to advertise on a site that dominates mobile. Facebook also allows you to target your ads, learn more about your users, and has flexible pricing options... need we say more about why this is a good idea? 

DO use compelling imagery: When paired with a relevant image, people are 65% more likely to remember information. You’ll grab your viewer’s attention and help them remember your product… even after they’ve scrolled away from your ad!

Not sure what kind of image to use? Stock photos are a great option if you don’t have any original pictures on hand.

DON’T blow your budget: Low costs are one of the great things about advertising on social. Facebook allows you to spend as little as $5 a day, which means even small and new businesses can buy advertising without blowing their budget. We suggest starting off small – especially if you’ve never run a Facebook ad before. Spend a little and find out what works before you increase your daily budget.  

DO some testing: A/B testing (also called split testing) allows you to test the success of different versions of your ad. You play around with the headlines, graphics, and CTA’s to find out what will get the most clicks, likes, and highest ROI.

Tip: When A/B testing, be sure to only tweak one element of your ad at a time. If you create a completely different ad you won’t be able to pinpoint which ad element is having an impact on your ad performance.

DON’T forget about mobile viewers: Over 1 billion people visit Facebook via phones and mobile devices daily. Don’t ignore a huge segment of people by sticking solely to desktop designs. 

DO create a CTA: Develop a call-to-action that illustrates the purpose of your ad. What benefit does your product/service provide to your audience? Why do they need this? What is the value?

DON’T make it too text heavy: Too much text will make your ad look cluttered and confusing. If you’re using a graphic, keep the 20% rule in mind: 80% of the ad should be imagery and the remaining 20% should be your text. 

DO learn about your audience: Facebook allows you to narrow down and target specific audiences through: location, interests, behavior, demographics, and connections. Do some research on who visits your page and is interested in your product before you tailor your ads. 

DON’T confuse your audience: You only have a few seconds to capture your viewer’s attention. Make sure that your purpose, product, and information is clear and easy to find. One ad = one objective.

DO try a video: 43% of consumers would like to see more video ads from marketers in the future. Get ahead of the trend and promote a how-to, customer testimonial, or behind-the-scenes video.

DON’T forget to keep track: It’s crucial to track how your ads are performing. If you don’t measure the success of your ads, you won’t be able to tailor future ads, and you’re sure to waste money on viewers who don’t have any interest in your product or services. After you’ve tested out a few promotions, set detailed goals for each campaign (ex. reach, likes, conversion, shares, etc.) and monitor your results frequently.

Ready to create your ad, but not sure where to start? Read up on our 5 easy tips.

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Social Media Marketing in Greensboro, NC

Looking to launch a new campaign? Get the most out of your investment by working with creative professionals. From email newsletters to Facebook and Instagram ads, Hue & Tone Creative is here to help your business stand out from the competition.

With over 75 billion ideas to choose from, Pinterest is one of the best resources for creative inspiration.

While we all have fun pinning ideas for DIY terrariums or artisan cocktails, we also know it can be a great place to promote your business. Today, we're honing in on how to use Pinterest if you're an interior designer.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just need a little fresh marketing inspiration, we hope you can find some new ideas in this collection. 

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Let's get started with a few must create boards...

Whether you create your own custom content, stick to repining, or bring in content from your website, these boards are the perfect way to display your creative expertise for your clients.

Prints & Patterns
From florals to stripes, prints help add character to any room.

 Home Décor
Pinterest is a haven for home design! We especially love how you can search for just about any style or room you can imagine.

Color Play
Pinterest is full of great color scheme ideas for any aesthetic.

Lighting
A collection of Edison lamps, decorative sconces, and chandeliers offer an upgrade to the basic table lamp.

Textiles
What better way to add a touch of color and texture than a rug, tapestry, or dramatic pair of drapes?

Storage
Pin a collection of creative storage solutions to keep clutter at bay.

Travel
From Grecian sea sides to Italian landscapes, design inspiration can be found worldwide.

Furniture
No room would be complete without the perfect furniture. Pin great finds from online stores or innovative ways to arrange each piece.

Hotels & Hospitality
Whether you’re creating a relaxing escape for visitors or streamlined designs to appeal to a wide audience, Pinterest is full of ideas.

Tablescapes
Create a beautiful scene for photoshoots, gatherings, and events.

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Need some new sources to pin from? These accounts are full of creative ideas and gorgeous images:
 

My Design Agenda
A great source for international design, installations, home décor.
 

Apartment Therapy
This well-known name has a loyal following of over 877,000 pinners. This account is full of shopping guides and design inspiration for every room.
 

Old Brand New 
Old-Brand New is curated by a LA-based blogger, Dabito. This diverse account is filled with art, style, and playful color combinations.
 

Design Milk
Interested in modern, minimalistic aesthetic? Design Milk is a stylish resource for clean design.
 

Remodelista
This account is perfect for designers that are drawn to cozy interiors and soft color palates.

Have a favorite account that we left out? Let us know in the comments!

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Design & Marketing in Greensboro, NC

Ready to start seeing results? From design to delivery, Hue & Tone can help you create a truly unique social campaign. If you’re ready to start seeing a return on your social media dollars then it’s time to invest in a creative agency that can give you more. If you’re interested in social media management, a new campaign, or another creative service, give us a call today so we can set up a social media audit.