What You Need to Know About Blogging

When you blog for your business, there is a fine line between having a captivating blog and going too far. There are some things that you need to remember to have a successful blog.

• Mention any and all
  
  sources. If you pull information from someone, such as statistics, images, etc. then it is only courtesy to tell your readers where you got the information from. This is not only courtesy but you also need to avoid plagiarism. As a marketing firm in Los Angeles, we post blogs all the time and it can be tiring to always cite info on a deadline but it's worth it. 
• Do not start fights. If you have an issue with someone or another firm, company, etc. do not start or continue the feud on your blog. Your blog is for posting helpful information or making sales. 
• Don't be misleading/pulling bait & switches. If you have deals on your blogs, then hold to them. If you offer 40% off on something, then hold to that 40% off and don't switch it to 25% because they missed some tiny detail. 
• Have a purpose. Don't let your corporate blog become something that talks about anything from news to nature. Now, if you want to tackle these angles but with your consistent focus, then that's fine. Let me explain, if you are a fellow LA creative agency and you have a post about your mom's cooking, then tie into your industry such as, "5 lessons to learn about branding from Grandma's pie." I don't know how that would be done but I'm sure it can be done. 
• Get permission to borrow things. If you find photos or info that you would like to use, then just ask permission. Chances are that the owner of the info or photo is perfectly fine letting you utilize it. 
• Include calls to action. As a creative marketing team at Integraphix, we can tell you that there is a difference in ROI from blogs when you include a CtA. 

Need assistance setting up and/or managing your blog? Then contact Integraphix! We have great copywriters with extensive experience writing for corporate blogs. 

5 Tips to Make a Splash with Marketing on Instagram

Using social media is great for business. When you remember to do your social media marketing correctly, then you get serious traction. One of the top social media platforms in the world is Instagram. It is a great tool to use for businesses that provide products, content, or services that benefit from visual representation.

So how do you market on Instagram effectively?

1. Remain true to your brand. Make sure that your images say a clearly defined message that is true to your brand. Your brand has a personality and what you post on Instagram, and all social media, should be an extension of that personality. 
2. Share your experiences. The best way to connect with your brand with consumers, especially on an emotional level, is to show how people benefit from your services and/or products. Consumers will see the images on your Instagram and wonder what it would be like to benefit from your company. 
3. Use beauty where you see it. The best photos are not always in nature, it is showing something in an artistic way, even if it is man-made. If your company makes sandals, Then show people enjoying a stroll downtown while wearing your sandals! Your company makes shovels? Show people building a playground with your shovels. As a LA marketing company, we can tell you that there are lots of amazing shots to be taken here, and likely in your city too! (If you're in another city). 
4. Inspire others to take action. Get people to do something after viewing your photos. Inspire them to create their own moments with your brand. 
5. Research your target market. This is a must for any marketing, and any marketing firm in LA will tell you this. If you don't research your audience, then your images could fall flat. What do people love about your brand? 

Just because you are using social media marketing does not mean it is going to be worthless or that it does not require good work. As a Los Angeles marketing firm, we love all marketing and have years of experience in the field, including social media marketing. Contact Integraphix about how we can help your company get noticed on social media. 

A Brief Explanation Why to Use Taglines When Branding

Why should you use a tagline when branding? Well, some believe that they are useless/have overrun their course. However, many other marketers believe that it is just a matter of creating ones that are effective, creative, and memorable.

First, let's distinguish a tagline from a slogan. A tagline is a message your business has for a long time, perhaps forever. Nike's is "Just do it". A slogan is like a tagline but for a specific product, service, or campaign; so maybe Nike would create a slogan for a new running shoe. Understand?

So why should you use a tagline for your business? Will it really make for good branding?

What are the benefits of a tagline? 

• A good tagline will help you send a clear message of what your brand desires, needs, gives, etc. If your sandwich shop has the tagline, "Premium quality ingredients. Delicious Sandwiches." then people know you don't settle for ingredients that fell off the back of a truck but rather select ones that took effort to grow/make. 
• It will help you stand apart from the competition. Now say your competition's tagline is, "Good sandwiches fast."Well, sure, they might get their food ready faster than you but maybe they get meats that are not as tasty. Most people would rather wait an extra 2 minutes and get something worth eating than quick and mediocre. 
• Good taglines provoke emotion which helps consumers connect and take action. "Wow, this place cares about their customers because they get really awesome ingredients; this Swiss cheese is divine! I like them, they show love for us!" 
• It helps you be versatile. Now you don't have to name your shop, "Joe's Sandwich Shop" because people will know what you sell because of your tagline. 

How can you make a great tagline? 

As a Los Angeles marketing company, we have over 20 years of experience creating taglines. It can be tough but when you have a real understanding of the business, then they come much more easily. 

1. Think about why you created the business. What was your promise when you created it? Back to the sandwich shop example, your promise could be to make sandwiches something people desire for lunch and not just settle for. 
2. Remember to use personality. Use a personality that is appropriate for your target market. 
3. Use pathos- draw on emotion. 
4. Be inspired! 

If your business needs a great tagline or a new slogan, then contact Integraphix. Need to do some rebranding? We do that too. 

9 Marketing Concepts to Learn From Apple

So yesterday, Apple had their large, annual event announcing the new iPhone and iOS software. Why is it one of the biggest and most talked about events? It is so popular because of the following and influence that Apple has.

Even if you are not an Apple fan, you have to admit they have done a great job with marketing and is a large reason why they have such a dedicated following.

Since the company is clearly great at being creative, what are some marketing lessons that we can learn from Apple?

1. Learn from great marketing minds. Jobs was great when it came to thinking up marketing ideas and showmanship, however, he was also smart enough to recognize the greatness in others. When Apple was a small company in a garage, he recruited the marketing guru that was Mike Markkula and get his insight. He gave Apple marketing concepts to adhere by and they did, in fact, they still do. Steve also tapped into the
   
   mind of advertising genius Lee Clow; Clow was the mastermind behind the famous 1984 ad that Apple ran in the NFL championship game. 
2. Make a product worth marketing. It is hard to do marketing for a product that is junk. Let's be honest, the smoothest ad can only do so much. Apple created great products and then the marketing to match. As any leading Los Angeles marketing firm will tell you, you can only do so much with creativity, there has to be some quality products behind it that back everything up. 
3. Take a stand. Three core concepts that Markkula gave to Apple were these: 1) Empathize with customers, 2) Focus on doing a few things excellently, and 3) remember the values of simple & high quality with everything that's done. This was applied to the products, the products, and how the business conducted itself. One thing Steve Jobs was known for was insisting on quality of consistency and taste across everything they did. Apple stands for unity and consistency, just look at how they handle their events. 
4. You have to spend money. You can't do good marketing without spending some money; you don't have to spend a lot as long as you spend it well. Steve Jobs was a fan of big gestures and showmanship and it worked! The 1984 commercial, all their events revealing the iPhones, iPads, iOS software, etc. Don't spend money if you don't have strategy, research, and a vision. If you're just going to spend money and hope it works out, you're wasting time and money. 
5. Make it an experience. People love to be part of an experience. The Apple store is an experience. Their keynotes are experiences. Using an Apple product is an experience. You get the idea. Tell stories and get people involved and connected. 
6. Build mystery and excitement. People love suspense and surprise, why do you think people camp out for their keynotes and everyone wants to know what the next product will look like and do? Don't be so quick to tell everyone everything about things, hold something back for them to discover or at least hold off until the end to tell it. Maybe intentionally leak some info, a photo, spread some rumors, contradictions of rumors, etc. This is a great, yet difficult, digital marketing tool. 
7. Make consumers brand evangelists. Apple has one of the best examples of brand evangelists. People who own Apple products are not afraid to flaunt them and mention them in person, online, etc. Word-of-mouth marketing is one of the most potent forms of marketing; to be successful, you have to harness that energy. 
8. Don't talk too much. Many of Apple's ads don't talk about the product but rather the people who buy them and how their lives are improved. 
9. Use pictures. People love visuals over words, we like to look at them. Many of Apple's ads have a great picture with minimal wording. Take the unveiling of the MacBook Air for instance, Jobs slid the computer from a manila envelope and people went nuts. 

Hiring a marketing firm is a big decision but when you need to get your product and name out there, then you have to. As a marketing agency in LA, we have tremendous experience getting companies the recognition they desire. Contact Integraphix - a Los Angeles marketing company.