New Year Business Resolutions You Need To Make Now

New Year Business Resolutions You Need To Make Now

The start of a New Year is a good time to reflect on your businesses progress over the past year and plan for the future.

From launching a venture you’ve been dying to get off the ground to having more ‘me’ time, read on for our top New Year’s business resolutions that you need to make now!

Plan for your business:

Too often we make business development the last thing on our to-do list when really it should be at the top! Rather than just focusing on the day-to-day running of the business, this year allocate time for yourself/and your team to put the development of your business first. Use that time to plan for new ventures, events or marketing strategies, or to tackle a business problem you’ve been putting off.

You’ll be amazed and how spending a little time each week can really help your business grow and develop.

Take time out for you: 

In order to run your business in the most effective way possible, you need to be inspired and motivated! This is hard to achieve when you’re constantly on the go, so it’s important to allocate a few hours to take time out for yourself throughout the week. If you struggle to find the time, make sure you schedule it into your calendar like you would any other meeting. Trust us! The world can wait for a few hours.

Use your ‘me’ time to switch off, relax, play a sport, spend time with family and friends – whatever it is that makes you feel great!

Let go of what isn’t working and try something new:

The New Year is a great time to evaluate where your business is at, what’s working and what isn’t. Be brave enough to let go of things that aren’t doing your business any good, and take the leap to try something new.

New things you could try in 2017 could be kick-starting a great marketing campaign, launching an online store or running an event. Let go of what’s holding you back and give something new a go.

Choose your priorities:

Every day we wake up to a long to-do list and unfortunately we can’t do it all! So instead of trying to tackle everything, learn to focus on your business’s priorities, delegate the non-essentials and be content to not always complete everything on your list. This will help you be less-stressed and more focused on the business tasks that really matter.

What are your business resolutions for the New Year? Comment and share with us below!


If embarking on a digital marketing campaign is one of your business goals for 2017, get in touch with our team of experts today.

e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165.

 


How to unwind at the end of a busy year

How to unwind at the end of a busy year

As 2016 is drawing to a close it’s a great opportunity to take some time out during the Christmas and New Year period to unwind and recharge.

Unsure where to start? Check out our top tips below!

Switch off:

While there’s no doubt that we love social media here at Melbourne Social Co, sometimes even we need a little time out from the online world. Taking a few hours (or days!) to switch off will help your feel more inspired and motivated.

Just ensure you continue to schedule your businesses social media content while you switch off – better yet, engage a social media manager to create, distribute and monitor your social media activity for your business while you're offline.

Spend time with your family:

There’s nothing quite like spending quality time with your loved ones, so make sure you lock in some time for a little family fun! Whether you choose to relax on the couch with a movie, or head away for a mini vacation, taking time out with the people who matter in your life will lift your spirits and recharge your energy.

Have a change of scenery:

Throughout the year, sometimes we get so caught up in our routines that we forget to experience the amazing world around us! It may be a cliche, but sometimes we really do need to stop and smell the roses! This holiday season, try to take a few days to jet off to a different location or head somewhere you’ve never been before – even if it’s a great local beach, or walking track that you’ve been dying to go to.

Get inspired: 

In order to begin the New Year in the right frame of mind, it’s important to take some time to get inspired! Attend a seminar, organise a coffee catch up with a person you admire or read a great book from an inspiring author– the options are endless!

Make sure you write down what it is about these things that inspire you so you can aim to action them in your 2017 goals!

Relax: 

Seems simple doesn’t it? But see if you can spend some time doing absolutely nothing! Watch a movie, go for a walk or just have a sleep-in. All of these non-work related activities are vital to help you begin a new year with a fresh and recharged mind.


How are you unwinding at the end of this year? Comment and share with us below!


If you need help taking your social media marketing to the next level in 2017 make sure you get in touch with our expert team here at Melbourne Social Co.

e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165


Instagram for business

Which Instagram Archetype Are You?

We are slightly obsessed with Instagram here at Melbourne Social Co and considering we spend a bit too much time scrolling through our feeds, we’ve noticed a few different user trends emerging.

From the foodie, to the hashtagger, to the selfie queen… Read on below to find out which archetype category you fall into!

The Foodie:

The name says it all doesn’t it? This Instagram user loves to snap every meal they have, and every coffee they drink. So don’t you dare touch your food before they photograph it! They are commonly found at all of the cool cafes and restaurants... especially those known to have great lighting and stunning interiors! 

The Hashtagger:

Perhaps they’re on the hunt for more followers or maybe they need a lesson or two in hashtagging etiquette, either way we see this Instagram type pop up on our feeds all too often! You know you’re a hashtager if you post at least 15 – 20 hashtags per post, and sometimes even comment on your own posts multiple times with the tags!

The Selfie Queen:

This Instagram user has a good chance at becoming the next Kim Kardashian with the number of selfies they take! It doesn’t matter where they are or what they’re doing, it’s always a great time for a #selfie!

The Baby (or pet) Lover: 

The baby (or pet) lover has a feed filled with pictures of their children or their fur-babies. They are their pride and joy and they love to capture all the cute and quirky things that they get up to.

The Fitness Guru:

The fitness guru loves to post snaps of their meal preparation, gym workouts and amazing bodies. They are experts in their field and their feeds are positive and inspiring!

Do you fit in any of these Instagram archetypes or have we left any out? Comment and share which one you are below.


If you need help using Instagram for your business, then get in touch with our team of digital marketing experts at Melbourne Social Co today.

e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165


Working with Digital Influencers

Working with Digital Influencers

If you're working in marketing or PR in 2016, you've no doubt heard of influencer marketing. For those of you that haven't - influencer marketing is essentially collaborating or partnering with digital influencers (or social media celebrities) to assist in the promotion of your brand.

Influencer marketing is one of the most powerful ways to increase brand awareness and build trust in your brand in an authentic and engaging way.

By tapping into the large following of likeminded influencers on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat, you can put your product or service in front on your consumer in a way that really makes a difference for your business.

So if you’re looking to begin working with digital influencers, here are some great ways to get started!

Social media takeovers and collaborations:

One of the best ways to grow your brand awareness and to develop trust with your consumers is by getting a key digital influencer to create co-branded content or even 'take over' your social media channels. An influencer could share a “day in their life”, create a series of images that showcase your products, write a blog filled with their top tips and tricks (tying back to your product or service) or take their fans on a 'behind the scenes' tour of your brand.

Consumers love to engage in content created by their favourite online personalities and by tapping into their fan-base, your collaboration is likely to attract more followers for your business accounts as well.

Giveaways:

There’s no better way to get people engaged in your brand than by doing giveaways! Everyone loves a free product or service and consumers are more likely to engage and interact with your promotion if you tap into digital influencers to share and promote the giveaway to their followers.

Product reviews: 

While you may know that your product or service is great, one of the most challenging aspects of being a business owner is convincing your consumers. Using digital influencers to recommend your brand is a great way to do this, as they have a huge loyal and trusting fan base that are eager to hear more about their reviews and recommendations. A recent study has shown that 92% of consumers trust recommendations from peers or trusted authorities and likewise, a massive 72% of people rely on social media to inform their purchasing decisions. So what are you waiting for?


Are you looking to tap into the power of digital influencers to grow your business? Here at Melbourne Social Co we specialise in working with social media celebrities to take your marketing strategy to the next level!

Get in touch with us today to find out more!

e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165


How To Stay Motivated As A Business Owner

How To Stay Motivated As A Business Owner

There’s no denying that being a business owner is hard - if it wasn't, everyone would be doing it! And sometimes, staying motivated can be a challenge, especially when you have to deal with the day-to-day ups and downs of running a business.

However, staying motivated, positive and inspired is a must - both for yourself, your employees and ultimately your business!

Unsure how? We've put together our top tips for staying motivated as a business owner to try now.

Remember why you started:

It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day running of your business and the stresses that come with it, and sometimes we forget why we even started our business in the first place! Maybe you started your business because you were really passionate about an idea, a product or a service. Maybe you wanted to help people? Maybe you wanted to be your own boss. Regardless of the reasons, it’s important to take some time to reflect on this drive you had when you started, why you wanted to create your brand and channel that through everything you do!

Set goals:

For those occasions when feel like your business is at a standstill and you're stuck in a rut, it’s a good idea to set some realistic goals and work towards them! Start with something small like improving your brand's social media presence or writing a blog. If you're feeling ambitious, plan towards something larger like opening a new bricks and mortar location or running a big marketing campaign.

Each time you achieve a goal, make sure you stop and reflect on how far you’ve come.

Look after yourself:

Sometimes a weekend away, or a big sleep in can do wonders for your physical and mental health and not to mention how you run your business! By looking after yourself, you give yourself the energy and the resources to do the best job you can.

Make sure you make yourself a priority and schedule in some much needed ‘me’ time, whether that’s to hit the gym, curl up on the couch with your pooch or family, or watch trashy TV (Keeping Up With The Kardashians anyone?!)


Do you need some help setting or achieving some of your business’ goals? We're here to help!

Contact us now for more information on how we can work together to continue to grow your business.

e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165

 


5 Reasons Why Your Social Media Marketing Isn’t Working

5 Reasons Why Your Social Media Marketing Isn’t Working

As we all know, social media marketing is an essential part of any business marketing strategy, as it’s a great way to connect with your consumers, increase brand awareness, drive sales and a whole lot more!

However, implementing social media for business takes time and effort and requires a strategy to ensure you engage your audience, build a following and direct the right people to purchase your product or service.

If your social media marketing has been a little lacklustre lately, here are 5 reasons why it may not be working:

You’re not consistent:

One of the biggest downfalls of social media marketing is not being consistent enough across all existing social media channels. Whether you’re too busy to post regularly, or your content and tone of voice isn't consistent across platforms and the rest of your branding, your social media will suffer. Consistency is required to develop trust, engage your consumer and get results! This can be done with an experienced social media manager who can create engaging content on a consistent basis and distribute it at optimal times.

You’re posting overly promotional content:

We get it! You love your business and you want the world to know about your amazing product or service, but unfortunately not everyone wants to engage in your promotional content all the time. That’s why it’s best to scale back on your promotional content and introduce content that engages and entices your audience into your communications strategy. A great question to ask yourself before posting is, “would my audience find this interesting?” Here at Melbourne Social Co we feel that if you offer your audience engaging content that adds values to their daily lives, they're going to be more likely to follow and trust your brand, and consume your sales message when you do post it.

You’re not on the right networks for your target audience:

Too often businesses think that they need to be across all social media platforms to be effective. However here at Melbourne Social Co, we believe it’s important to choose the right channels (even if it’s one or two) and to do them really well!

A digital marketing expert (like us) can help narrow down your target audience and recommend the best channels to reach that audience so you can get the best results. 

You don’t have an advertising budget:

If you’ve created some amazing content but no one is engaging in it or your reach is really low, then you may need to think about your advertising budget. Recent studies have shown that only 3-6% of your audience will see your content on Facebook so it’s more important than ever to invest in advertising to get your content in front of the right people! Facebook and Instagram advertising is a low-cost advertising option that will really make a difference to your social media marketing.

You don’t have a point of difference:

The internet is flooded with businesses just like yours, so it’s vital to determine a point of difference across all of your digital marketing content. Points of difference could be beautiful imagery, unique aspirational quotes, captivating videos… the options are endless! Let your high-quality and engaging social media content separate you from the crowd.


Are you struggling to cut-through with your social media marketing? Or are you having difficulty creating consistent high quality content that engages with your target audience?

Get in touch with your digital marketing experts at Melbourne Social Co today.

e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165


Want to learn how to put together your own professional social media strategy?

Take our Social Co Academy Short Course


Five Tips For Networking Success

Five Tips For Networking Success

Whether we like it or not, an essential part of our careers is networking, as it’s a vital way to meet new customers/clients, share new ideas, drive word-of-mouth recommendations and perhaps make some great new likeminded friends!

If you’re unsure of how to nail your next networking event or meeting, read on below for our top tips.

Be prepared:

Whether you’re about to walk into a meeting with potential clients or attending an event, make sure you are prepared! Being prepared means thinking of some great conversation starters or questions and determining what your “elevator pitch” is. An elevator pitch is your chance to explain who you are, what you do and what you are passionate about in around 30 seconds. The trick is to practice this pitch so you capture your audience’s attention and entice them to stick around and continue to talk to you.

Other ways to be prepared include planning the right outfit ahead of time, figuring out how to get there, and making sure you get to the meeting or event early so you're not feeling rushed or stressed out when you arrive.

Be friendly and conversational:

Coming across friendly and approachable will go a long way in helping you to meet new people and make great connections. This means being aware of your body language, your tone of voice, the way you speak and make sure it is coming across as approachable and relaxed as possible.

Ask questions:

For those of you who don’t like to talk to much (and for everyone else as well!) make sure you ask questions. Asking questions is a great way to learn more about other people and to become inspired by other’s passions, skills and experience.

Share your passion:

Everyone has a story, but what captures people’s attention is when you share your unique selling point. What is it about you that makes you stand out from the crowd? Usually that will be what you are passionate about, the very thing that makes you tick! Sharing your passions is a great way to win people over with your enthusiasm and make a lasting impression.

Follow-up:

Now that you’ve done a great job at networking, remember to follow up. Ensure that you exchange business cards, or connect via social media so you can continue the conversation and make lasting friendships or business relationships. LinkedIn is a great platform for keeping in touch with likeminded professionals or potential customers/clients so don’t be afraid to add your new connections. As a general rule, it’s best to follow up within 2 days of meeting the person so that you're fresh in their minds.


Do you need help getting your personal brand or business out there? Your digital marketing experts Melbourne Social Co can help!

Get in touch with us now to find out more:

e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165


3 Steps To Facebook Success

3 Steps To Facebook Success

3 things to do to make your Facebook posts visible to your audience

Thanks to Facebook’s regularly changing algorithms, reaching your customers organically on the social media platform has never been more difficult.

Recent studies have suggested that approximately only 3% - 6% of your total fans view your posts, which means it’s vital to start implementing some key tactics to increase your reach and to get your Facebook content in front of more people.

Wondering how? Here are three things to try today...

Boost your posts:

One of the best ways to increase your reach and make your content visible to more people is through boosting. A boosted post is a post from your business page that, for a fee, can appear higher up on your audience’s News Feeds. The amount of people who view and engage with your post depends on the budget you want to spend.

Boosting posts is a great way to ensure that the right audience can view your Facebook page content as you can utilise key demographic targeting options including age, location, gender and interests as well as tailored budget and scheduling functions.

Post content your audience wants to see:

Another great way to make your Facebook content visible to your audience is to post content your audience wants to see, not just what you want to show them! This is important as the more people engage with your content, the greater the reach. To do this, think about who your target audience is and post content that is a mix of business promotion and general interest content you know they will respond to and engage with. 

Choose the right timing:

Choosing the right timing for your social media posts should be a vital part of your social media strategy! You’ll be amazed at the difference you get by posting content at optimal times. To do this, ensure you understand your demographic and their social media habits so you can post when they are active online in order to optimise engagement.

Are you struggling to engage and reach your audience on Facebook? Do you need help creating amazing content that your audience can connect with? Get in touch with your digital marketing experts here at Melbourne Social Co today.

e: [email protected] – p: 1300 386 165


Instagram management

Introducing Instagram's New Business Tools

Great news for businesses! Instagram, one of the world's most popular social media platforms, will start to roll out their new business account profiles in the coming months. These new profiles will make it easier for businesses to be contacted, view insights about their content and audience and reach new customers with accessible promotion and advertising tools.

Here at Melbourne Social Co we’ve rounded up some of the biggest changes:

Contact button:

One of the most practical changes of the new business profiles is the addition of a contact button, where consumers can directly call or email a business straight from the app.

This contact functionality also has a map, where consumers can get directions to store or office locations, eliminating the need to leave the app to search for directions. The new contact button will be clearly visible and placed next to the ‘follow’ button at the top of the account page.

Insights:

For the very first time, the new business accounts will give businesses access to vital insights about their followers, including who they are (gender, age, location) popular posts, impressions, reach and even website clicks. These insights are all accessible right from your mobile phone, which makes tracking statistics easy and simple to do.

Promote: 

Not only can you view these insights straight from your phone, now you can promote your most popular posts to reach even more people! This is done directly from the app simply by picking a top performing post, choosing a 'call-to-action' button, selecting your audience, budget and duration.

Another great feature of the new Instagram business accounts is that you can also continue to monitor and view the insights of your promotions in an easy and straightforward way. To do this, click on your Instagram post, click the View Insights link and all the stats are ready for you to see and use.

Stories:

New to all Instagram users (not just businesses) is the 'Stories' feature. No need to worry about oversharing, with Instagram Stories, you can share as much as you want throughout the day. Instagram has also introduced new text and drawing tools, so it's time to get creative with your stories.  The photos and videos will disappear after 24 hours and won’t appear on your profile grid or in feed.


Need help creating 'double tap' worthy imagery for your social media channels? Eye-catching images are key to engagement and success on Instagram, but do you have time to source and create beautiful images on a regular basis? Our creative team can take care of this for you!

Melbourne Social Co's Product Photography For Instagram Package:

As part of this service, your business will receive:

14 professionally styled product images per month. Our team will style, photograph and edit a series of product images for use on Instagram, (as well as Facebook, Pinterest and within blog posts.)

Together we will plan a look that will not only suit the aesthetic of your brand, but will push you in a new and exciting direction, showcasing your products in the best possible light.

Cost: $599 + GST per month

Want to get a feel for our style? Follow us on Instagram @melbournesocialco.


Mastering the flatlay for Instagram


Need help managing your Instagram accounts on a daily basis? We can take care of that too.

Tailored specifically to your businesses needs and goals, our team are experts in social media strategy, content creation and audience engagement, and would be more than happy to discuss managing and building your Instagram profile on your behalf.

Contact us for more information – [email protected]


Product Photography For Instagram Package Terms and Conditions:

  • These rates are only valid for clients who sign a 3 month booking with Melbourne Social Co. Month by month rates are available, please ask us about these
  • Each booking will be specifically quoted after a consultation with the client
  • The images created by our team will become the property of your business. We may share these on our website and social media channels from time to time, crediting your business. Please let us know if you don't want us to do so


The Lowdown on Snapchat for Business

The Lowdown on Snapchat for Business

Ever since its launch in 2011, Snapchat has become a seriously popular social media platform for both businesses and individuals thanks to its instant, creative and interactive features.

While it’s most commonly used by the millennial generation, many Australian businesses are embracing the Snapchat revolution thanks to its potential to reach - well over 3 million Australians use the social media platform on a daily basis.

Ready to start using Snapchat for your business? Read on below for more information on this trendy social media platform and why you should use it now!

What is Snapchat:

Snapchat is a social media platform where you can send pictures or videos with a 10-second time limit to your choice of followers. You can also send “stories” which are 10-second media items that all of your followers can view for the next 24 hours. Snapchat also has a variety of fun features, including animated filters, instant messaging, voice/video calling and replay options.

Why should businesses use it? 

Many businesses are tapping into Snapchat’s popularity to run marketing campaigns including ads, sponsoring interactive features, as well as using it on a day-to-day basis as a way to connect with their audiences. Businesses including Samsung, McDonalds, MTV and Cosmopolitan along with well-known personalities like Ashy Bines, Lara Bingle and Kim Kardashian use Snapchat as a vital marketing tool for their businesses or personal brands by posting multiple daily “stories” to keep their consumers engaged and connected.

How can businesses use it?

For businesses, the main aim of communication on Snapchat is to engage your audience in your business by posting short “stories” to all your followers. You can use these stories to promote sales, updates on the business, share behind the scenes footage, run influencer takeovers, post instructive or informative videos and a whole lot more! The options on ways to market your brand are endless.

A few examples of how Australian businesses have used Snapchat include Myer, who used Snapchat to live stream their fashion parade for Spring Fashion Week, along with Cricket Australia who shared highlights of the Ashes series. Other examples include retail brands like Showpo and Frank Body who use Snapchat to take fans behind the scenes of their photoshoots, share tips, run influencer takeovers and more.

Unsure how to get started using Snapchat for your business? Or, would you like to know more about this popular social media platform? 

Get in touch with Melbourne Social Co today.

e: [email protected]

P: 1300 386 165