Creative Agency VS In-House Employee
Creative Agency VS In-House Employee - What is the right fit for your business?
Are you looking to recruit a marketing and social media superstar? Take a minute to consider if an in-house employee is the right fit, or if you should instead, consider hiring a creative agency.
Did you know, that the cost of working with a premium boutique agency such as Melbourne Social Co is generally equal to, or sometimes even less than, that of a junior in-house employee?
Melbourne Social Co’s team of fifteen is made up of specialist digital marketers, brand strategists, content creators, social media managers, web developers and PR gurus. Our team is increasingly sought after by businesses seeking a dedicated digital employee – because we’re able to provide the creative skills and expertise of an entire team at rates comparable to a single employee.
In our experience, it's really difficult to find one employee who can cover all aspects of the marketing and social media space, from strategy, through to creating content (photography, videography and graphic design,) managing online communities, running ad campaigns, engaging influencers, analysing results and more. (If you do happen to find this person, hold on to them!)
As part of your monthly package with Melbourne Social Co, you gain access not only to our entire team and knowledge base, but to our industry connections, our software programs, our training platform, our studio and extensive props department and more. We can also extend our service to you well beyond the traditional 9-5 confines, meaning you have coverage across the clock on social media and your brands’ digital assets.
When you engage our team, you work closely with a dedicated Account Manager, who position themselves as an extension of your team. Coffee date? Count them in. A quick text message to run an idea past them? Fire away! Weekly phone catch-ups to discuss progress? Of course! Your Account Manager will get to know your business like it’s their own, and will become a passionate advocate for your brand.
Here at Melbourne Social Co, we don’t waste time. As a creative agency, we know how to work efficiently and productively, as every hour we work is accounted for. We’re used to working in a fast-paced environment, we buzz with creativity and we love to get results. We genuinely love building relationships with our clients, and enjoy nothing more than being a part of, and celebrating their successes.
Because you only pay for the work you commission, what you won’t find us doing on your time is; sitting behind a desk in your office from 9-5, scrolling online shopping sites, taking extended lunch breaks, calling in sick every month – the list goes on! (And yes of course we scroll online shopping sites and we love to lunch in our own time, we’re Melburnians after all!)
Almost convinced? We’d love to shout you a coffee and chat further about why a creative agency is the way to go - reach out to us and we’ll pencil it in.
The difference between Paid and Earned Media
If you own a brand or business, it’s likely (we hope) that you’ve ventured into the world of social media to advertise it. All the while, you’ve probably been exposed to ‘paid media’ and ‘earned media’, while having limited understanding of what these terms mean.
To help you understand how ‘paid media’ and ‘earned media’ impact your digital marketing strategy, we’ve decided to break down and compare these two terms. Wondering what they mean? Read on below:
Paid Media:
Paid media can be considered the more traditional form of advertising – that is, as conventional as it can be when it comes to digital marketing. Paid media involves paying social media platforms to advertise your brand in the form of sponsored and targeted ads. More specifically, the channel is able to target specific groups that will be interested in your brand.
Paid media and social media are a match made in marketing heaven. The use of user data and analytics by social media platforms means that these channels are able to effectively target your audience in ways that traditional paid media can’t. Paid media also allows you to reach your audience in ways that you cannot achieve independently, and provides you with accurate and easy ways to measure your impact.
We all know that you get what you pay for, so if you’re looking for unmatched reach and control, paid media should be a vital element of your digital marketing strategy.
Earned Media:
Earned media refers to the publicity gained through engagement from your audience. The people who engage with your brand are given a microphone, which provides you with free publicity in the form of comments, likes, shares, reviews and mentions.
This may seem like a daunting prospect for all of you out there striving to put your brand on the radar, but rest assured knowing that earned media is reflective of the quality of your brand.
Earned media allows your brand's exposure to grow beyond the traditional boundaries of advertising, and have its voice wedged into every nook and cranny of the social media platforms it inhabits. With this being said, earned media simply can't operate on its own - consumers responsible for the creation of earned media need to react to paid and earned media.
What makes earned media attractive for brands and businesses is that it’s completely free. However, the payment that you make for earned media is the inability to control it and measure its effectiveness. Although this prospect is daunting, if your brand continually produces well-curated content, earned media will most likely reflect the same quality.
And the winner is...
Paid media and earned media are two sides of the same stone; one is unable to exist without the other. On one hand, paid media provides excellent targeting and control. On the other, earned media allows your brand to gain exposure in new and unconventional areas of social media, and enter the consciousness of the consumer from a peer perspective. Each format functions most effectively when the other is also in use. Therefore, to perfect your digital marketing mix, it’s best to include both paid and earned media.
Do you need help shaping a social media strategy or managing your social media accounts? Here at Melbourne Social Co we have an expert team of social media specialists ready to help your business!
Get in touch with us today by sending us an email at info@staging.project-progress.net or calling us on: 1300 386 165.
Who runs the world? Girls!
2018 was truly a big year for women, with the year seeing plenty of incredible moments of female activism and empowerment. From the foundation of new movements and celebrations of important milestones, there is no denying that 2018 was the Year of the Woman.
So, in honour of International Women’s Day, here’s a round-up of inspirational women we believe excelled in their industries in 2018.
1. Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin was named one of ten CNN heroes of the year.
Twitter: @AbisoyeAjayi
Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin, 34, is a Nigerian Women and Girls Advocate Social Entrepreneur. A graduate of Business Administration from the University of Lagos, Ajayi-Akinfolarin began her career working for E. D. P Audit and Security Associates. Soon she realised the large gender gap in the tech field and started a non-profit organisation, Pearls Africa Foundation, focused on minimising the gender gap in technology and encouraging more women to gain relevant technological skills.
Through GirlsCoding, a free programme run by her Pearls Africa Foundation, Ajayi-Akinfolarin seeks to educate — and excite— girls about computer programming. GirlsCoding has boosted the girls’ self-esteem. They now have a voice and know their rights. Since starting the initiative, Girlscoding has reached more than 400 beneficiaries, including girls from orphanages and correctional homes, in addition to young women fleeing the Boko Haram insurgency.
On November 1, 2018, Ajayi-Akinfolarin was named one of ten CNN Heroes of the year. Later that month she was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women.
Credit: Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin / International Women’s Day
2. Zoe Foster Blake also published a book! Have you heard of the Break-Up Boss?
Instagram:@zotheysay
Website: http://www.zotheysay.com
Zoë Foster Blake is an Australian author, columnist, magazine editor, and cosmetics entrepreneur. She has now she delivered us Break-up Boss, a rather light-hearted but realistic pocket guide to break-ups and its companion piece, an eponymous app.
it has a singular goal: to help women handle, heal and move on from their breakup in a healthy, positive way. Also, 10 per cent of every purchase goes to the Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre in Victoria.
Credit: Wikidata / International Women’s Day
3. Michelle Akhidenor made the list for her outstanding hardship in starting the Peer Project in 2018!
Instagram:@michakhidenor
Website: https://thepeersproject.com
Melbourne born, Michelle Akhidenor is considered as one of the most energetic millennials around. A multilingual entrepreneur and coach, she is the founder of a global podcast which interviews some of the world's most outstanding millennial entrepreneurs. She offers guidance and helps young millennials challenge their assumptions and align their passion.
While there is still a way to go, the progress made so far marks the beginning of a new wave of activism, empowerment, and change. It’s this sense of celebration of the past and determination for the future which highlights why 2018 was a great year for women!
Credit: Hotsta / International Women’s Day
4. Cardi B for becoming the first female solo artist to win Best Rap Album
Instagram:@iamcardib
Okay, you caught us. Yes, Cardi B was the first female solo artist to win Best Rap Album at the 2019 Grammy Awards in 2019, but surely this needs to be in the top five!
Cardi B became the first solo woman to win best rap album for "Invasion Of Privacy" at the 2019 Grammy Awards. According to Time Magazine, Best Rap Album only became an official Grammy category in 1996 and has typically been won by male artists, with the exception of Lauryn Hill (won as a member of the hip-hop group Fugees in 1997).
This marks Cardi’s first Grammy win, and she spoke about the challenges of creating the album while pregnant during an emotional acceptance speech.
Credit: Vogue Australia / International Women’s Day
Happy International Women’s day, there is no denying that 2018 was the Year of the Woman. Here at Melbourne Social Co, we're proud to be a team of 15 creative and wonderful women. Learn more about us here.
Five Digital Trends That Will Stick Around For 2019
Digital Trends to look out for in 2019.
As we head into the new year, we find many businesses consider that it might be time to rethink their social media strategy for 2019. Around this time of year, we hear resolutions and goals being thrown around such as “This year I want to double my following” or “I’m going to much more ahead of my social media planning”, but how do you actually go about doing that?
To help our clients, we’ve pin pointed a few trends that are likely to stick around this year. Based on our own research and professional experience, below are a few digital marketing trends we suggest taking a look at for the upcoming year;
Content Will Still Reign
Content marketing will continue to be a crucial component of digital marketing. The quality is always going to be the focal point, but there’s also an increased interest in who the intended audience is. Having a more in depth understanding of a targeted market, and the ability to target that market more precisely is a rising trend in creating effective marketing.
While general content for the mass audience will always be important, specialised content for specific industries can also produce impressive results. A combination of specific content and constantly improving techniques for measuring content effectiveness, content marketing remains relevant and essential in 2019.
Video Marketing Continues To Rise
Video marketing will be the leader of digital trends in 2019. It is predicted that 80% of the online content will take up the form of visual representation. The videos will be the focal point of any marketing strategy as these will distribute the message in a better way while providing entertainment to the viewers.
Video has become a favourite form of communication since the rapid adoption of smartphones and social media apps. More than ever, we are seeing that video content does not have to have a high production value. Don’t shy away from pulling your smartphone out and recording a message to your potential customers about a recent win or to share some insights that will be valuable to them!
Chatbots Are Here To Stay
This AI based tech uses instant messaging to chat in real time, 24/7 with your customers or site visitors. Chatbots are here to stay as many customers prefer interacting with a chatbot as they are responsive, give answers almost immediately, they recall your entire buying history and best of all, they never lose patience.
Sephora is the perfect example of an advanced business. You can get all kinds of make-up tips if you chat to Sephora using the Kik App. The personal assistant feature also provides you with product reviews when you’re shopping in a store.
Email Is Getting More Personalised
Email continues to be a strong contender as a channel of communication with billions still using it for work, personal and commercial purposes. In fact, “Email remains a significantly more effective way to acquire customers than social media- nearly 40 times that of Facebook and Twitter combined”- McKinsey & Company.
In 2019, a combination of automation and more importantly, personalisation will make email marketing effective.
If you feel stuck on gaining a customer database, the easiest thing to do is run a competition. The old age marketing trick of attracting people to your brand by giving something away still works!
Storification
The stories format has boomed in 2018 on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp. It is even being tested by Linkedin!
Brands need to consider that although posts with high resolution and quality production values are still important, less polished, more intimate content performs better in the stories format. Consumers often feel more comfortable with brands when to see raw but authentic, in the moment views into the backgrounds of brands.
It’s not too late to start planning your digital marketing strategy for 2019, and our sister company The Social Co Academy can help brush up those skills! Check out their training resources here.
Thinking about outsourcing your digital marketing strategy to an agency? Contact us today for more information.
Creative ways to get into the Christmas spirit
It’s nearly Christmas time and that means it’s time to add some festive cheer to your brands' social media calendar!
Christmas is all around us and it’s important to adjust your online presence to reflect the season.
Give your profile some Christmas flare!
Now that December is here, everyone’s mind turns to Christmas, so go with the flow and spruce up your profile with some Christmas cheer. You don’t have to go overboard and flood your profile with Christmas themed tweaks, but think about giving your profile picture some snow flakes, or some festive baubles. Put a cheery Christmas greeting in your bio; adding a festive touch to your profile will make sure your audience is feeling the Christmas vibe from you.
Christmas Offers
Music to the ears of Christmas lovers! Christmas discounts, December offers, it’s all part of the festive season, and it is definitely something your brand should consider. Whether that is discounts, buy one get one free, contests or any sort of offer prompted by the festive season, it’s a great way to generate excitement and festivity over the Christmas period.
Embrace the spirit of giving
Christmas is about giving, and this should be embraced by brands wanting to celebrate this festive season. Christmas is a time where sales can sky rocket, where audience engagement will rise, but it is also important to embrace the spirit of giving back this Christmas, and doing so to your followers. Giving back to your loyal followers is an amazing way to embrace the spirit of Christmas.
Having the Christmas spirit present in your social media is so important. Christmas is such a big part of social (and shopping) culture of today that you would be foolish not to use this joyful time to your brands advantage!
Want to chat to our team about a seasonal promotional strategy? Get in touch today.
Melbourne Social Co celebrates our 7th Birthday
We’re excited to be celebrating our 7th birthday at Melbourne Social Co this month!
Director Shelley Friesen began forging a career in social media over ten years ago – establishing Melbourne Social Co in 2011. While pursuing IT wasn’t a stylish choice for a child of the 80’s, Shelley’s intuition to pursue social media was bang on, and now seven years later the digital marketing world is as thriving as ever.
Being in the industry this long has allowed us to evolve over time and be able to offer more than just standard social media management. We know that there is “no one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to amplifying a brand’s presence online.
The evolution of Melbourne Social Co is something our team is truly proud of. Moving into our 8th year now, our agency’s focus is on creating innovative and game-changing digital content for our wonderful portfolio of clients.
“The business we founded in 2011 is very different to the agency we operate today, such is the fast-paced and ever evolving digital marketing landscape. That being said, this evolution has been a wonderful journey to go on, from humble beginnings as a social media management team, to our positioning today as brand strategists and premium content creators. It’s such a rewarding industry to be a part of, and a pleasure to work with a creative, dynamic team who are incredibly passionate about what they do.” Shelley Friesen - Director, Melbourne Social Co
Want to know more about our team? Get in touch today.
How to strategically use graphic quotes on Instagram
It’s time to debunk the stereotype that graphic quotes on Instagram are only used as a last resort, as filler content when you’ve run out of original content ideas.
We think brands need to embrace the quote, the info-graphic, the text template, and we are here to tell you why!
They help generate engagement
Text images or graphic quote are very to the point, they are a great tool to utilise when you want to draw attention to something specific, for example a sale, or a big campaign. Breaking up your feed with quotes and text means that the message will be more obvious and not hidden in a caption underneath a pretty picture. Additionally, posting inspirational, humorous or thought provoking quotes is engaging to your followers because it’s something new and different in terms of branded content.
Promotions/Testimonials
Promoting the amazing comments, reviews and testimonials your brand receives through graphic quotes is an amazing way to promote your business. Consumers love to hear what people are saying about products their considering buying – so what better way to grab their attention than through snappy, succinct quote posts on your socials?
Conversation Starters
Posting thought provoking quotes or question graphics is a great way to engage and start a conversation with your audience. A branded graphic asking followers “what’s your favourite product of ours” and prompting them to respond in the comments is a great way to create relationships with your followers and keep them engaged.
Building Brand Awareness
One of the best things about implementing the use of quotes or text images into your feed is the ability to make them branded. You have the ability to choose the colour scheme, the appropriate text and also the opportunity to put your logo on these templates. In doing all this, you’re generating more awareness for your brand and keeping it at the forefront of your followers mind - all while maintaining that gorgeous Instagram grid!
Want a little help creating gorgeous graphic quotes for your brand? Contact our team today to find out what we can do for you.
Or, perhaps you'd like to browse our range of graphic templates we've created via The Social Files.
Tips for starting a creative career
The creative industry is thriving right now, with the rise of digital marketing, Instagram influencers and the world’s obsession with all things social; a creative career is the popular choice right now.
While a creative career doesn’t necessarily require academic studying, there are things you need to learn before delving into the creative world. When embarking on any career, it is important you arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can, and the same goes for starting your creative career. Here are some tips to ensure the success of your big career move!
Find a course that’s right for you!
Just because a creative career doesn’t necessarily require a university degree, doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to learn! Our sister brand The Social Co Academy has amazing online courses on offer. Their amazing courses were recently featured in Fashion Journal as a course to help kick-start your creative career. The courses will help you learn how to master social media marketing from the comfort of your home, teaching you everything you need to know!
Take inspiration from those with established creative careers!
Scroll through instagram and get inspired by the people who are doing it right. It can be hard to find the right balance on social media; so don’t be afraid to look to your fellow creators for inspiration and ideas. Establishing a creative career doesn’t come easily, so be sure to keep up with the latest trends and content appearing in your career space!
Be flexible!
Social media is ever changing, and you should be to! Learning to be flexible in any career will help you stay at the top of your game. Adapting and changing, as you need, will help keep your content and ideas fresh and ensure you stay relevant in the fast paced creative world.
Want to know more about The Social Co Academy?
Perhaps you'd like to book in a consulting session with our team?
Or, maybe you're looking for the perfect internship to get your foot in the door at a creative agency.
Four Ideas To Inspire Great Content
This Week We're Sharing Four Ideas To Inspire Great Content
Content is the driving force behind all aspects of communications. Whether it be social media, public relations, marketing campaigns; content is at the heart of every strategic approach. Coming up with content ideas is so important, but it’s no surprise that coming up with new ideas all the time can sometimes be a struggle!
Don't worry, we're here to help! This week, we've put together four helpful ideas to help inspire and stimulate your content ideas.
Check out what your competitors are doing and find opportunities to create even better content
Cut down the time you spend coming up with new ideas and look to your competitors, because they’re handing them to you! They’re your competitors for a reason, so sift through their content and find some content opportunities that you could do better!
Review what you’re currently doing and improve upon it
There is always room to improve, so be sure to always review your current and past content to see where there is room for improvement. Making sure you’re always refining and tweaking your content will keep it fresh and the best it can be.
Look at your analytics to see what content is doing well and then create more of it
This tip is important; statistics don’t lie, so trust in them and use them as a guide for what is working and what isn’t. Review the content that has done well statistically, assess why it’s been successful and apply this knowledge to future content, this will in turn ensure that your future content is engaging and well received by your audience.
Make sure you create content of significance for your audience
An obvious one, making sure your content is geared towards your audience will help your content to be valuable and specific. Keeping your audience in mind at all times will help spark idea that your audience will love!
Repackage your existing content
Make the old new again by revamping some past content! There’s no rule that says you cant reuse content, so when your lacking inspiration, sift through the archives and repackage some vintage content.
Would you like to know more about our Content Creation services? Contact us today.
Melbourne Social Co's tips to create a happier and more exciting workplace!
Here at Melbourne Social Co we've put together our top tips to create a happier and more exciting workplace!
Don’t put up with a dull workplace that stifles your creativity, considering how much time we spend at work each week. A happy and exciting workplace is important to boost productivity and workplace pleasure.
Inspirational quotes and messages
Why not surround yourself with words that inspire and motivate you to do your best. The workplace can get a little dull so adding anything that stimulates employees and pushes them to be their best is a great way to improve and strengthen a workplace. Check out some of our fave inspo quotes here at Melbourne Social Co.
Desk plants and flowers
Bring some Zen to the office! Here at Melbourne Social Co we love adding some gorgeous greenery or fresh blooms to the workplace. It's good for the soul and the mind. Studies have shown that plants can boost office productivity and happiness, so why not brighten up the workplace!
Personalise your workspace
Your workplace is essentially your second home; with the amount of time spent at work it should reflect you! Add some personal touches to your workspace to make yourself more comfortable and at home.
Get an office mug that will make your day, everyday
Stop using the generic workplace provided mugs and get yourself a mug that’ll make you smile! Even something as small as having groovy mug can improve your mood at work and in turn will help to create a happier workplace.
De-clutter
Clutter creates stress, and there is no place for unnecessary stress in the workplace. Do yourself a favour and remove the clutter and mess from your workplace to ensure you can be as efficient as possible!
Want to chat to our team about your digital strategy? Or would you like to learn more about careers at Melbourne Social Co?
Get in touch today!
