The latest news from Melbourne Social Co
It’s been a busy few months here at Melbourne Social Co!
Let us catch you up to speed.
Firstly, we have been thrilled to welcome two new team members to the agency, Jess and Nicole. Both join the Melbourne Social Co team as social media managers. Nicole comes to us from New Zealand, with a wealth of knowledge in the agency and client relations space, while Jess recently completed an internship with our agency, which gave us an opportunity to see her incredible creativity up close!
In other exciting team news, we’ve recently restructured our leadership team, leading to two newly created roles at Melbourne Social Co. We have been thrilled to fill these two new roles internally, with Hannah taking on the role of Head of Production, and Bridget taking on the role of Head of Accounts. These roles have been created to ensure our agency continues to provide the very best output in terms of content production and client servicing, and we’re thrilled for Bridget and Hannah to make these roles their own.
Finally, it’s been a busy few months with new client acquisition. Despite the climate of economic uncertainty, our agency continues to secure exciting new contracts, with a focus on property and hospitality, two industries that are very close to our hearts. We’re very proud of our growth in 22/23, and look forward to more exciting opportunities in the new financial year.
If you’d like to chat to our team about a marketing campaign or content production, please reach out.
Looking to begin a career in Social Media?
We’re often recruiting for a number of Social Media Manager roles at Melbourne Social Co. Each role we advertise tends to get hundreds of applications. Which, to be honest, is kind of amazing. To think that hundreds of people want to work at this wonderful business that we’ve created is a bit of a thrill really.
But, on the flipside, unfortunately it’s impossible for us to reach out to and interview every candidate that applies, as much as we’d love to.
So what makes a Social Media Manager application stand out from the rest? Here are a few things that we look for when reviewing applications.
The Power of People: Boosting Your Retail Brand's Social Media Content with a Human Element
In today's digital landscape, social media plays a vital role in connecting retail brands with their audience, showcasing products, and driving engagement. While product images are crucial, incorporating a human element in your social media content can elevate your brand's online presence. Discover the benefits of featuring people in your social media content and how it enhances engagement, authenticity, and brand appeal.
- Relatability and Emotional Connection: When your social media content features real people, whether employees, customers, or influencers, it instantly becomes more relatable. Humans are drawn to faces and stories, forging emotional connections with your brand. Highlighting experiences, emotions, and stories of people associated with your products builds a powerful bond, increasing engagement and fostering customer loyalty.
- Authenticity and Trust: Authenticity is crucial in today's influencer-driven market. By incorporating a human element, you showcase the real people behind your brand and products. This transparency builds trust with your audience, driving engagement and conversions. Authentic content cultivates strong relationships, encourages customer advocacy, and enhances brand credibility.
- Storytelling and Brand Narrative: Storytelling captivates audiences, making it an effective tool for retail brands. Featuring people in your content allows you to tell compelling stories about your brand, products, and associated individuals. Whether sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses, customer testimonials, or employee spotlights, these narratives humanise your brand, differentiate you from competitors, and leave a lasting impression on followers.
- Social Proof and User-Generated Content: Including people in your content leverages social proof. When your audience sees real people engaging with your products, it validates your brand's value and quality. User-generated content (UGC), such as customer photos, showcases genuine experiences, building trust and credibility. UGC not only increases engagement rates but also fosters a sense of community and the potential for viral content.
- Increased Engagement and Virality: Social media algorithms prioritise engaging content. Incorporating a human element increases the likelihood of likes, comments, and shares. People are more inclined to interact with content featuring individuals, sparking conversations and virality. Cultivating a sense of community through the human element drives engagement and expands your brand's reach.
So, while integrating a range of content pillars is essential, integrating a human element into your retail brand's social media content significantly enhances your online presence. Relatability, authenticity, storytelling, social proof, and increased engagement associated with featuring people in your posts elevate your brand, foster connections with your audience, and drive business success. Embrace the faces, stories, and experiences behind your products—it's the human touch that sets your retail brand apart in the digital world.
Want to know how you could incorporate a human touch into your social media strategy? Reach out to us today.
Want to see what goes on behind the scenes at MSC? Follow us on TikTok.
Why Australian Food Brands Should Embrace the Social Media Feast
Social media is a must-have ingredient for success, especially for Australian food brands. With its vast reach and engagement potential, social media platforms are essential for connecting with customers, building brand awareness, and driving business growth. In this blog post, we'll explore why Australian food brands should embrace social media and provide insights into creating engaging content for maximum impact.
- Wide Reach and Targeted Audience: Social media platforms offer a vast audience for Australian food brands. By strategically using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, food brands can reach their target audience effectively. Tailor your content to specific demographics, such as health-conscious individuals or local communities, amplifying your reach and connecting with the right audience.
- Mouth-Watering Visual Delights: Visual content is the secret sauce for success on social media. Capture attention with high-quality, captivating visuals of your dishes, products, and recipes. Utilise platforms like Instagram to showcase the artistry and flavors of your offerings. Experiment with engaging videos, professional images, and different angles to entice followers and make them crave your delectable creations.
- Storytelling through Recipes and Cooking Tips: Engage your audience through storytelling using recipes and cooking tips. Australians are passionate about cooking and love trying new recipes. Share your signature dishes, highlight seasonal ingredients, and provide step-by-step instructions. Incorporate interactive elements like videos, GIFs, or live streams to enhance engagement. Encourage your followers to recreate your recipes and share their experiences, fostering a community of food enthusiasts.
- Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peeks: Unveil the magic behind your brand by sharing behind-the-scenes content. Australians appreciate transparency and want to see the dedication and passion that goes into creating mouth-watering food. Showcase your team, sourcing processes, and quality control measures. This transparency builds trust and fosters a deeper connection with your audience.
- User-Generated Content and Competitions: Harness the power of user-generated content (UGC) and competitions to boost engagement. Encourage your audience to create content related to your brand and run competitions that encourage participation. Ask followers to share their food experiences, recipes, or food styling using your products or dishes. Repost and feature UGC, giving credit to the creators. This not only increases engagement but also provides social proof and authentic testimonials.
- Collaborations and Influencer Partnerships: Supercharge your reach by collaborating with food influencers, bloggers, or local chefs. Partnering with influencers allows you to tap into their dedicated followers and generate authentic content. Seek influencers who align with your brand values and target audience for genuine endorsements and recommendations.
Social media is the secret ingredient that elevates Australian food brands. Embrace the wide reach, visual appeal, storytelling, and user-generated content opportunities offered by social media platforms. Serve up mouth-watering visuals, share recipes, provide behind-the-scenes access, and foster a sense of community. By leveraging social media, your food brand can create a delectable digital feast that engages customers and drives business success.
Want to work with our team? Reach out to us today.
Want to see what goes on behind the scenes at MSC? Follow us on TikTok.
Social Media Marketing for Hospitality Businesses
Check out some of our best tips for using social media marketing to promote your hospitality business.
Social media marketing has become an essential tool for hospitality businesses looking to grow and reach new customers! With over 4 billion people using social media worldwide, there's no denying that it's a powerful marketing channel for the hospitality industry; after all, everyone loves to eat!
Here are our top tips when it comes to Social Media Marketing for Hospitality Businesses.
Define Your Target Audience
The first step in creating a successful social media marketing strategy for your hospitality business is to define your target audience. Are you targeting millennials and young adults, families, high-income diners and foodies, tourists, business travellers, or luxury travellers - the list goes on! Once you've defined who your target audience really is, you can create content that speaks directly to them.
Use High-Quality Visuals
At its core, social media is a visual medium, so it is essential to use high-quality visuals to showcase your hospitality business. Include photos of your location, key menu items (food and drinks) and amenities. Using professional, high-quality imagery and video that showcases your business's assets, customer appeal, and point of difference will help to build a strong visual presence.
Showcase Your Brand Personality
Effectively showcasing your brand personality and values is greatly favoured in the social media landscape. This can include highlighting your business' unique features and amenities, such as best-selling dishes, aesthetic interiors or unique services. Do this alongside sharing stories about your staff, customers and brand ethos to create rapport, differentiate from competitors and brand loyalty.
Respond to Customer Feedback
Social media is a two-way communication channel, and it's essential to respond to customer feedback promptly. Whether it's a positive review or a complaint, make sure to acknowledge it and respond professionally and constructively. This process will help build trust and loyalty with your customers, leading to repeat sales and valuable word-of-mouth marketing.
Leverage Influencers and User-Generated Content
Think about how many times you've been out for a meal and seen someone take a picture of their lunch (maybe even you did too!). The power and availability of user-generated content can be cleverly leveraged to promote your business to a greater audience. Featuring and posting UGC alongside partnering with influencers in your industry effectively and affordably advertises and promotes your business. Resharing this customer-created content can have a flow-on effect and encourage others to share their experiences at your venue on social platforms, creating a continual cycle of authentic independent advertising whilst encouraging new customers to visit.
Use Paid Advertising
When it comes to social media marketing, oftentimes you need to 'pay-to-play.' Meaning you will see greater results when you put funding behind your online advertising. Monetizing ads on social media can be an invaluable tool for hospitality businesses. Consider using Facebook or Instagram ads to target your ideal audience based on demographics, interests, and behaviours. You can also use Google Ads to target customers who are searching for related industries or businesses such as hotels or activities in the area.
Ready to get started?
Without a doubt, social media marketing is an essential tool for hospitality businesses looking to grow and reach new customers! By defining your target audience, creating and posting high-quality visuals, showcasing your brand personality, responding promptly to customer feedback, leveraging influencers and user-generated content, and using paid advertising, you can create a highly successful social media marketing strategy for your hospitality business.
However, we always remind our clients that social media marketing is just one component of a comprehensive marketing strategy, and your businesses should also focus on other marketing channels to achieve the greatest ROI.
Want to chat to us about social media marketing for your hospitality business? Click here.
Want to get a feel for our work? Visit us on Instagram.
