For all of the complex innovations, new channels and tech stacks in advertising, the industry’s reason for being isn’t that complicated.

It’s this — have a great product/experience with a clear value proposition, then go find your customers and delight them with the news.

It doesn’t matter how many obnoxious buzzwords you can pack into a self-indulgent LinkedIn post; if you can’t do the above, then your proprietary tech ‘whatever’ isn’t worth a damn.

Despite that simplicity, too many brands/marketers never bother to understand, at an intimate level, where their consumers spend their time, how they spend their time, and what they want from that time spent.

Hello, Customer Journey Map.
A Customer Journey Map takes all of those questions and turns them into a comprehensive understanding of how customers experience a brand. It’s critical to ensuring all advertising efforts are working in concert to hit the target. Here are some important questions to start with when building a Customer Journey Map for your brand:

• How does someone come to discover and know your brand the way you know your brand? 
• Where are the places that they learn what they need to know to purchase? 
• What’s involved in the actual purchase experience both on and off-line?
• After they purchase, how do they maintain a strong relationship with your brand and/or become loyal and buy more? 

In our experience, these questions generally lend themselves to five categories that belong in your Customer Journey Map:

1. Discovery. Users don’t ‘discover’ brands out of thin air; they discover them when brands are smart about where and who they talk to. This includes social channels/groups where their customers are, gaming sites where their customers play, product samplings at places their customers go, etc. In short, go where they are and be present.

Want to talk about getting discovered? In the physical realm, few brands (recently) have done it better than Oatly.

2. Consideration. Okay, so you’ve got their attention. Now what? In this stage, users tend to get closer to you through product pages or landing pages, lead forms, white papers, etc. Zoom sessions or (eventually) face-to-face meetings. If your lead is getting ‘warmer,’ so to speak, that means they’re asking peers (and influencers — the real ones, not the Instagram models) about you or looking at ratings/reviews too. 

And keep in mind that consideration is also a function of share-ability. You’d be amazed at how many sales get made on WhatsApp, Slack, G-Chat, or on-site chat features. So, yeah, embed yourself there too. 

Be omnipotent (err, close to it). And think about what really gets people to consider you — can you offer a free trial? An incentive? A side-by-side comparison? A money-back guarantee? Or how about the use of Augmented Reality to try items on from a smart phone…

Warby Parker built a massively successful business on the back of the consideration phase of their business model doing just that.

3. Acquisition. This is the holy grail for most marketers (though loyalty is arguably more important). The transaction. The money exchanging hands. But it’s not as simple as watching the register ring. 

Again, place messages in the context of where the user is shopping. Chances are, they’re in your store on or offline. Repeat messaging to people who’ve clicked on ads with intentional calls to action are the most common pathway to purchase. But remember — you know your customers are on multiple channels. Don’t go all in one channel just because you like the attribution data (your customer doesn’t care about your attribution).

Also, is checkout easy? Do you make it easy to add other items to the online cart, and can customers see shipping and savings costs before they have to enter their credit card information? And what happens when they land on the thank you page? 

But that just scratches the surface. If you’re selling online, maybe you can’t offer two day shipping like Amazon. That doesn’t mean you can’t delight the customer while they’re waiting — give them shipping updates. Invitations to join the community of buyers they’re joining. Send them videos on how to use or style the product, or tutorials on how to get the most value out of it. Build anticipation! And what about when they open the package? The sneaker biz has nailed this — unexpected packaging and boxes with special gifts and surprise notes inside. Cards with detailed information on where to leave reviews, or hashtags to use to share the experience. Everything is an opportunity to enrich the shopping experience. And this doesn’t even begin to touch retail. Ask yourself how you can delight a customer at every point in the process. Then get to work.

4. Service. Much as we’d like every purchase to go smoothly, the reality is there are a multitude of reasons that they don’t. Whether a product doesn’t fit right or it’s defective or the customer just needs help, there’s an entire ecosystem that must be constructed to deliver service to customers in need. 

But no one wants to call a 1-800 number. No one wants to email a service account and wait a week for a stranger to reply. They want instant access through chat features or bots, DMs or call services that save your spot in line, then call you. They want easy returns and they don’t want to have to wait for their purchase to be credited either. 

Touch points along the way include a strong FAQ section on the website, terms & conditions, digital return labels and return confirmations, and more. As a bonus, utilize YouTube for tutorial videos too.

Boom. Instant access through a chat feature — and a successfully expedited return and new purchase.

5. Loyalty. We talked about the glory of acquiring a new customer. But the real glory (and cost savings, and lifetime value) is in keeping one. Continue to deliver content that showcases product usage and styling ideas. Give your best customers access to early releases or new product drops. Encourage them to rate/review you! Ask for their feedback, then listen to it. Delight them once in a while with things that show your appreciation. Go out of your way for them; offer incentives, or notify them when their favorite items are back in stock, or are coming out in new styles. Invite and engage them in communities of their peers, and hand the keys to them.

Take the case of Mini Cooper, where drivers have coordinated their own road rallies all across the country. Mini could’ve found a way to shut it down on legal terms. Instead? They embraced it and joined the fun.

Putting each of these steps together makes for a truly comprehensive customer journey map. And doing so makes it easier to put together a media plan that really speaks to the customer you want, and not just a catch-all because everyone else is doing it. 

Go where your customers are. Put messages in those places. And then, delight them like it’s your job. It is.

In the heart of the South, few things ignite passion quite like Atlanta Braves baseball. And no one understands this affinity (and celebrates it!) more than Cortland—a vertically integrated multifamily company focused on delivering an above and beyond apartment living experience.

Cortland owns and operates communities across the US Sun Belt and is the top owner of apartment homes in the metro-Atlanta area. With its headquarters here in Atlanta, Cortland became an official sponsor of the Atlanta Braves in 2019. This past season Cortland wanted to pursue a gameday activation that would engage with Braves fans to highlight the Cortland x Braves partnership and continue to grow awareness for their brand.  

The Yalo Challenge: Engaging Fans with Cortland’s Brand

As Cortland’s agency partner, Yalo was given the opportunity to design a memorable pop-up experience for this activation. With so many fans passing through, the big question for our team was How can we create a memorable experience for Braves fans that also engages them with the Cortland brand? 

The answer? Create unique co-branded merchandise that captures the essence of Braves Country & Cortland. Yalo worked with the Braves to secure a 10×10 activation space right outside of Truist Park’s Third Base Gate. As this gate is the closest to gameday parking lots, it typically manages about 60% of gameday traffic—which is approximately 25,000 people during a typical sold out game!

A Cherished Piece of Braves Swag

Collaborating closely with Cortland, Yalo’s creative team developed multiple ideas that leveraged iconic Braves and Cortland imagery before landing on an illustration of the Braves mascot Blooper next to Cortland’s spokespug, Cortie. 

This illustration was printed on rally towels & t-shirts, which were then given out to Braves fans who stopped by the activation booth to learn more about Cortland. 

“I thought the incorporation of Blooper (the Braves mascot) into the overall design was clever,” says Mike Gomes, Chief Experience Officer for Cortland. “While we recognize that not many people may be aware of Cortland and our mascot Cortie, we know that fans love Blooper. As a result, they’ll be likely to wear their t-shirt around town, further promoting Cortland and our partnership with the Braves.”

More Than Just Game Day

Creating limited-edition Cortland Living x Braves swag was a win-win for both parties; not only did it elevate the fan experience—providing them with items to wear & cheer on the Braves—but it also boosted Cortland’s brand awareness, filling up Truist Park with the Cortland spokespug, Cortie. The unique (and limited) design motivated fans to stop by the activation booth and learn more about who Cortland is and the benefits of living at a Cortland community. Fans also had a chance to interact and get pictures taken with the Cortie mascot. 

By providing fans with something to take home—an item that symbolizes their passion for the Braves—Cortland created a connection that goes beyond the game. 

In a city where Braves baseball is a cherished tradition, Cortland gave fans something they can treasure for years to come. Yalo and Cortland’s collaboration demonstrates the power of thoughtful, community-focused brand activations. By tapping into local culture and creating engaging experiences, brands can forge lasting connections with their audience that resonate long after the event ends.

Spring is finally here, and just like nature is coming alive with vibrant colors and new growth, it’s time for your business to blossom on social media. There’s no better time to refresh your social media strategy and watch your online presence flourish. 

1. Plant Seeds of Engagement

Just like planting seeds in a garden, cultivating engagement on social media requires patience and nurturing. Use this springtime energy to sow the seeds of interaction with your audience. Ask questions, run polls, and encourage user-generated content. With people feeling more lively and engaged during this season, you’re bound to see your social media interactions bloom!

2. Embrace Fresh Content Ideas

Spring brings a sense of renewal and creativity. Take advantage of this by sprucing up your content strategy with fresh ideas. Showcase your products or services in a spring-themed photoshoot. Share tips and tricks relevant to the season. Whether it’s spring cleaning tips for homeowners or outdoor activity ideas for families, tailor your content to resonate with the spirit of the season.

3. Let Your Brand Blossom

Spring is all about growth and transformation, making it the perfect time to let your brand personality shine. Show the human side of your business by sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses, introducing your team members, or even sharing stories about your company’s journey. Authenticity and relatability are the fertilizer for building strong connections with your audience.

4. Tap into Spring Events and Holidays

Springtime brings with it a plethora of events and holidays, from Easter and Mother’s Day to Earth Day and the start of baseball season. Use these occasions as opportunities to engage with your audience. Share relevant content, run special promotions, or host themed events to connect with your followers and drive traffic to your business.

5. Sprout New Connections

Spring is a time of growth, and that includes expanding your network on social media. Take this opportunity to connect with other businesses, influencers, and potential collaborators in your industry. Engage with their content, participate in relevant conversations, and explore opportunities for partnerships that can help your business blossom.

6. Collaborate and Cross-Pollinate

Just like flowers benefit from cross-pollination, businesses can thrive by collaborating with others in their industry or community. Partner with influencers or complementary businesses for joint promotions or giveaways. Engage in conversations with fellow entrepreneurs and share each other’s content. By working together, you can reach new audiences and foster a sense of community online.

7. Weed Out What’s Not Working

Not every seed you plant will sprout, and not every social media strategy will yield results. Use this season of renewal to evaluate what’s working and what’s not. Weed out any tactics or platforms that aren’t delivering the desired outcomes and focus your efforts on those that show promise. By pruning away the dead weight, you’ll create space for new growth and success.

Spring is a season of growth, renewal, and endless possibilities – and your business’s social media presence should reflect that. By embracing the spirit of the season, tapping into seasonal events, refreshing your visuals, engaging with your community, and cultivating new connections, you can watch your online presence bloom and your business thrive. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to spring into action and harness the power of social media – let Yalo help you grow your business this season!

Spring is in the air, and you know what that means—it’s time to give your marketing content a good old-fashioned spring cleaning! Just like decluttering your home, refreshing your marketing content can breathe new life into your brand, attract more customers, and boost your business’s success. So grab your metaphorical mop and broom, because we’re about to dive into the ultimate spring cleaning guide for your marketing content!

1. Dust Off Your Old Content:

First things first, let’s take a look at what you’ve got hiding in the dusty corners of your content archives. Go through your blog posts, social media updates, email campaigns, and website content with a critical eye. Identify outdated information, irrelevant topics, or content that no longer reflects your brand’s message. Once you’ve identified these pieces, decide whether they need to be updated, revamped, or deleted altogether.

2. Organize Your Content Calendar:

Spring is the perfect time to get your content calendar in order. Take stock of upcoming events, holidays, product launches, or promotions and plan your content accordingly. Ensure that your content is aligned with your marketing goals and that you’re delivering the right messages to your audience at the right times. Consider incorporating seasonal themes or trends to keep your content fresh and engaging.

3. Spruce Up Your Visuals:

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so why not make sure your visuals are saying all the right things? Take a look at the images, graphics, and videos you’re using in your marketing content and assess whether they’re still relevant and on-brand. Update outdated visuals, invest in high-quality photography or design services if needed, and consider experimenting with new formats to keep your audience engaged.

4. Polish Your SEO Strategy:

Spring cleaning isn’t just about tidying up—it’s also about optimizing for success. Take some time to review your SEO strategy and ensure that your content is optimized for search engines. Update meta titles and descriptions, incorporate relevant keywords, and improve internal linking to boost your content’s visibility and ranking. Consider conducting keyword research to uncover new opportunities and stay ahead of the competition.

5. Freshen Up Your Social Media Presence:

Your social media profiles are often the first point of contact for potential customers, so it’s important to make a good impression. Give your profiles a spring makeover by updating your profile pictures, cover photos, and bios. Evaluate your posting schedule and content mix to ensure that you’re providing value to your followers while staying true to your brand voice. Experiment with new platforms or features to reach new audiences and keep things interesting.

6. Declutter Your Email List:

Over time, your email list can become cluttered with inactive subscribers or outdated contacts. Take this opportunity to clean house and declutter your email list. Segment your subscribers based on their interests or engagement levels, and tailor your email content accordingly. Consider running re-engagement campaigns to win back inactive subscribers or offering incentives for new sign-ups. A smaller, more engaged email list can lead to higher open and click-through rates, ultimately driving better results for your business.

7. Evaluate Your Metrics:

Last but not least, take a step back and evaluate the performance of your marketing content. Look at key metrics such as website traffic, engagement rates, conversion rates, and ROI to determine what’s working and what’s not. Use this data to inform future content decisions and optimize your strategy for maximum impact.

Spring cleaning your marketing content may seem like a daunting task, but the results are well worth the effort. By refreshing and revitalizing your content, you can attract more customers, boost brand awareness, and drive better results for your business. So roll up your sleeves, grab your virtual feather duster, and get ready to make your marketing content shine this spring!

Gather ’round, fearless marketers, for we’re about to embark on a spine-tingling journey into the dark and mysterious world of marketing risks. In the spirit of the season, we’re diving headfirst into the heart of the unknown, where rewards are bountiful and the path is shrouded in uncertainty. We will show you that in marketing, as in life, it’s essential to embrace the spooky, step out of your comfort zone, and confront the mysteries of the marketing world. After all, fortune favors the bold.

The Ghostly Gamble of Innovation

When it comes to marketing, innovation is the key to unlocking the treasure chest of success. Be it a new approach, a unique campaign, or an out-of-the-box idea, it often feels like you’re tiptoeing through a haunted mansion – filled with eerie surprises at every turn. But remember, it’s those who dare to innovate that usually reap the most lucrative rewards. So, arm yourself with creativity, venture into the unknown, and let your marketing campaigns haunt your competition’s dreams.

Unearth the Secrets of Spooky Social Media

Social media is the labyrinth of the digital world, filled with strange algorithms, unpredictable trends, and spooky engagement metrics. Don’t be afraid to step into the darkness. Experiment with new platforms, quirky hashtags, and eerie memes. Sometimes, it’s the riskiest posts that go viral, turning your brand into an internet sensation.

The Cursed Content Conundrum

The creation of content can often feel like a cursed endeavor. But it’s in the eerie depths of creativity that the most compelling stories are born. Don’t shy away from writing engaging, thrilling, or even bizarre content that sets your brand apart from the rest. Sometimes, embracing the unknown and creating content that pushes boundaries can elevate your marketing efforts to new heights.

Dance with Data Demons

Data analytics might seem like a cryptic spell conjured by wizards, but it’s the most powerful tool you have to navigate the marketing underworld. Risk-taking in marketing means delving deep into the shadows of data analysis, making data-driven decisions that may spook your competition. Trust in the power of insights, and don’t be afraid to alter your strategies based on what the numbers reveal.

The Haunting Art of Storytelling

Storytelling is the dark art that can send shivers down your audience’s spine. When done right, it connects people to your brand on a visceral level. Share stories that captivate and intrigue, tales that draw people into your brand’s world. The risks you take in crafting your brand’s narrative can lead to unforgettable connections and loyalty.

So, fellow marketers, as you stand on the precipice of uncertainty, remember that the rewards are there, waiting to be claimed by those who dare to tread where others fear to go. Don’t be afraid of the dark – embrace it, and let your marketing shine through like a beacon in the night.

Marketing in the shadows is where the real magic happens. Happy haunting, fearless marketers!

Calling all content connoisseurs and linguistic wizards. ????

Are you ready to dive into the captivating world of creative content and word choice in your social media posts? Well, hold onto your keyboards because we’re about to unleash some seriously important marketing magic!

Picture this: You’re scrolling through your favorite social media platform, looking for something that catches your eye, something that makes you go, “Oh wow, I need to click on this!” What do you think makes you stop mid-scroll and pay attention? You got it—captivating content and the perfect choice of words.

Let’s be real, folks. Social media is a crowded playground filled with countless posts, memes, and videos all vying for attention. So, how do you stand out in this digital jungle? It’s all about the power of words, my friends! A well-crafted post can grab your audience’s attention, make them laugh, spark their curiosity, or even bring a tear to their eye. That’s the kind of influence words have!

But it’s not just about throwing words together like confetti. Nope, nope, nope! It’s about understanding your target audience, speaking their language, and making a genuine connection. You want your audience to feel like you’re their virtual BFF, their confidante, the one who gets them and delivers the goods.

Here’s the secret sauce: relatability and authenticity. When you create content that speaks directly to your audience’s interests, needs, or pain points, you become their go-to source of wisdom. And when you sprinkle it with a dash of your brand’s personality, you create a bond that’s stronger than any online cat video.

Let’s not forget about the almighty algorithms. They’re always lurking in the shadows, determining what content gets seen and what gets lost in the digital abyss. But worry not, for we hold the key to their hearts: engagement! When you craft content that sparks conversation, encourages likes, comments, and shares, those sneaky algorithms can’t help but notice. They’ll shower your posts with love, boosting your visibility and reaching more eyeballs than you can shake a GIF at.

So, how can you nail the art of content and word choice? Here are a few tips to keep in your marketing arsenal:

Know thy audience: Get to know your target market like they’re your favorite sitcom characters. Understand their pain points, desires, and what makes them tick. Then, serve up content that caters to their cravings.

Be a word wizard: Words have power, my friends. Choose them wisely and strategically. Craft headlines that demand attention, use evocative language to create an emotional connection, and sprinkle in a touch of humor to brighten their day.

Keep it concise: In the age of scroll-happy fingers, brevity is your best friend. Grab attention with concise, punchy copy that gets straight to the point. Think of it as a micro-story that leaves your audience craving more.

Embrace multimedia magic: A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. But why stop at just one medium? Combine engaging visuals with clever captions, witty hashtags, and interactive elements to create an immersive experience that makes your audience come back for more.

Remember, dear marketers, every social media post is a chance to leave a lasting impression. So, grab that metaphorical pen, unleash your creativity, and let your words dance across the digital realm. Your audience is waiting to be wowed, and you, my friend, have all the power to make it happen. Happy posting!

We know we’re making it sound a bit easier than it actually is! But “a thousand-mile journey begins with one step,” as the famous philosopher Lao Tsu wrote. Yalo is here to help you shine in the world of content marketing strategy for social media. Our content marketing services are delivered by tried-and-true marketing and branding pros who know how to turn a phrase, and where to turn it. Contact us below using the Contact button and let’s start a conversation – either by phone …. Or by words!

At one point or another you’ve probably asked yourself: “How can I improve my marketing skills?” Maybe not in those exact words (that’s kinda weird), but you’ve definitely wondered if you could be working harder or smarter to build your brand.

The answer is yes, of course. Everyone could. And a good way to start is by learning which marketing strategies to avoid. Sounds complicated? Just bear with us.

There’s a reason Socrates, Plato, and Descartes aren’t well known for their social posts, email campaigns, and out-of-home work. (Besides the fact that they lived roughly a million years before electricity.) It’s because content isn’t a philosophy; it’s a tactic. Too often, when coming up with marketing strategies, these two things get confused.

While there are many viable tactics that play an important role in growing a brand, what’s really important are the philosophies behind the tactics. Here, we’re going to discuss some marketing mistakes to avoid that miss the big picture and put your brand or business in a hole from the start.

#1 The “Silver Bullet” Marketing Strategy

Unless you are marketing to an extremely specific, possibly magical market segment, the consumer is not a werewolf. One strategy (or silver bullet) is not going to take care of your entire problem. How many times have you seen a brand make one Instagram post a week and leave it at that? If you want to have meaningful engagement with the consumer, you need to create a constant dialogue to grow the relationship over time. Repeated interaction with a brand builds the interest and, more importantly, the trust that is required to maintain those relationships. Branch out and engage your target audience in multiple ways and continue to do so consistently over a long period of time. It won’t kill a werewolf (probably?), but it will help your business.

#2 The “If We Build It, They Will Come” Marketing Strategy

An outdated marketing technique that we see all the time is the idea that you just need a cool website, and the money will start rolling in. Building a website is just the tip of strategy iceberg. This points back to strategy #1—there is no silver bullet, not even parallax scroll. Unless you are constantly going out of your way to engage the consumer, they’re not going to just show up in person or virtually and give you their money. The ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson might be powerless to avoid what you’ve built, but everyone else is going to need a little bit more from your brand. That’s a “Field of Dreams” reference, for those of you under the age of 45.

#3 The “Going with Your Gut” Marketing Strategy

Speaking of outdated references, there’s a reason the phrase “OK Boomer” became part of the pop culture lexicon. It’s not so much about that specific generation as it is about thinking that your experience is universal—that it transcends geography and generations. Consumers are all different. They’re different from each other and different from you. Even if a 55-year-old man has been working in the same business for 25 years, that doesn’t mean he knows the best way to reach his 28-year-old female audience. There are numerous ways you can survey consumers to figure out what they want and develop a strategy that addresses those specific needs and desires. So don’t just go with your gut—do the research. OK Boomer?

#4 The “Strategy-less” Marketing Strategy

“Do you make viral videos? Let’s do that.”

A viral video or any singular piece of content is a “what.” Before a brand has a “what,” it needs a “why.” It’s essential to develop a strategy as the foundation for your content. Before you can make something meaningful, you have to figure out why you’re making it in the first place. What purpose will it serve? How does it fit with the other moving parts of the brand? Foregoing strategy to just “make stuff” is like shouting into the wind. So put a purposeful strategy in place, and you won’t just be making stuff; you’ll be building something.

#5 The “All We Need Is an Intern” Marketing Strategy

Imagine the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs letting his nephew start at quarterback because he’s really, really good at playing Madden on his PS5. Sounds ridiculous, but similar things happen all the time in the marketing and advertising industry. Just because your sister’s boyfriend took a Photoshop class last semester does not mean he should be handling crucial aspects of your business. Professionals—people who’ve studied advertising and marketing and put it into practice for multiple industries—have more than just the basic tools and programs to make a piece of content. They also have the experience and understanding to give meaning to the work. It’s worth investing in people who know what they’re doing when it comes to your business needs.

#6 The “We Don’t Have a Budget” Marketing Strategy

If you and your agency have a clear picture of your budget from the start, then you can work within that framework to create a strategy that maximizes resources and ensures all your ideas remain viable options. While it may seem freeing to have no budget, it can be a huge waste of time and resources to come up with 100 different variations of an idea only to have 99 of them dismissed because you can’t afford them. Think of it like building a sandcastle: it’s far easier to focus on getting it right if you’re working in a sandbox as opposed to running all over a huge beach. Your agency needs the sandbox.

#7 The “Hire a Pro, Treat ‘Em Like a Rookie” Marketing Strategy

There’s an old idiom that says, “why keep a dog and bark yourself?” And while we’re not sure why any human would bark (idioms can be weird), there’s a lot of truth in that statement when it comes to hiring marketing teams. When you pay an experienced marketing team to do what they do best, it’s a huge waste of time and effort to not delegate the work to them. Allowing the team you hired to do their jobs is an incredibly important strategy, yet work is so often undercut with “thanks, but let’s do my idea instead.” In other words: let the people you pay to do a job actually do their job. In other, other words: let the dog bark.

#8 The “Keep Your Cards Close to Your Vest” Marketing Strategy

Welcome to the loop. Sales doesn’t know what Marketing is doing. Marketing doesn’t know what Operations is doing. Operations doesn’t know what Sales is doing. Ad infinitum. If you aren’t sharing business goals and objectives with all the departments involved with those goals and objectives, you don’t get a well-oiled machine—you get a Rube Goldberg device that leads nowhere. It’s crucial to make sure everyone can see the bigger picture; that way, each part can work toward a cohesive whole, and you’ll have a strategy to avoid a communication breakdown.

#9 The “We’re Just Like Apple” Marketing Strategy

Does your business or brand spend millions of dollars a year on creative? How about hundreds of millions on marketing as a whole? Do you have a passionate, sometimes obsessive fan base that will probably support your brand no matter what? If you said yes to this, then congratulations, you are Apple. Otherwise, you’re going to have to approach things another way. Without investment in resources, you can’t get the quality, consistency, and loyalty you desire. Let’s be honest, even with all that, you still can’t be Apple. But you can take a page out of their book—when it comes to your brand’s strategy, “Think Different.”

More likely than not, you’ve already experienced a few of these “strategies.” Don’t worry, we’ve all been there at some point. But with the right agency, budget, and team behind your brand helping you build a strategy that’s right for you, success will come. Good luck out there.

Oh and by the way, Yalo has been helping companies excel and stand-out in the marketplace for a long time now. We’ve even won awards. You can consider us for your needs too. Reach us at the bottom of this page to start a conversation.

If it’s not on your Instagram or Facebook, did it really even happen? Social posts and pics are ramping up for the holidays. We’ll all have more time to browse. And, with vacations and family time crammed into the upcoming week—we’ll also have access to a lot more content.

But before you snap and share, think about your thanksgiving theme. Is it food-focused, family-centric, or maybe you’re just plain #blessed. Whatever you decide, we believe it’s best to choose your theme and stick with it. After all, your posts are your personal brand.

If you need a nudge to get things started with that brand strategy in mind, click this link from Good Housekeeping to borrow some smart ideas. If your business needs the same kind of help, Yalo is here for you! Check-out our many creative marketing services available, and scroll down below to contact us and get a conversation started.

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Halloween is a great opportunity for brands to creatively connect with their customers, from Mausoleum pop-up stores to selling garlic-sauce talisman necklaces. Even celebrities such as Keke Palmer are participating in this year’s Halloween-themed campaigns.

Here’s a look at a few spooktacular strategies. ????

HEINZ

https://youtu.be/2hGvv3IQ5gs

https://www.tiktok.com/@heinz_us/video/7155635428958162218?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7153689563667138091

https://www.tiktok.com/@heinz_us/video/7158233381975657771?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7153689563667138091

Heinz released new versions of its condiments designed for Vampire Influencers—Black Garlic Mayo and Tomato Blood Ketchup.

To promote these new variants, the brand partnered with Toby, a 280-year-old vampire influencer, who prefers to drink Tomato Blood Ketchup over human blood. Heinz will also open a store in the middle of the Boldu-Cretuleasca forest, in Romania, on Halloween, and will only be open from midnight to 1 a.m. Those who visit the store will be gifted with a sample of the Black Garlic Mayo. ????????‍♂️

PAPA JOHNS

Papa Johns launched a garlic sauce talisman necklace for Halloween. The campaign sees Papa Johns resurrect its ‘80s horror film parody series, “Jack!,” with the launch of its first-ever piece of jewelry—the Stranger Bling necklace is a nod to Netflix’s hit “Stranger Things“. ????

UBER EATS

https://youtu.be/nJfMGntAs9k

Actress Keke Palmer partnered with Uber Eats to deliver a new horror short, “Don’t Run Out,” with $1 million worth of discount codes hidden in it.

The video sees a trio of friends who, on Halloween night, realize that they’re running low on candy. Palmer’s character explains how one family vanished on Halloween after the same thing happened to them, as she rushes to order more on Uber Eats. The friends all split up, each pursued by a masked figure in the shadows, later revealing itself at the end.

CHEETOS

Chester Cheetah and Cheetos are taking their antics to virtual reality this Halloween. Cheetos unveiled Chesterville, a new, digital suburban neighborhood and the first exciting venture into virtual reality for the brand.

“This is a significant moment for both the brand and the portfolio as we broaden the ways we engage with fans, inviting them to experience Cheetos in an entirely new way,” said Stacy Taffet, senior VP of marketing for Frito-Lay, the parent company of Cheetos. 

The goal is to gain access to the spooky mansion atop Cheetos Hill. Once inside the mansion, fans can unlock a chance to vote for their favorite “ghost of Cheetos’ past” and help bring a no-longer-available flavor back to life in the real world. Fans will choose from one of three favorite flavors to resurrect for a limited run: Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Chipotle Ranch, Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Pepper Puffs or Cheetos Nashville Hot snacks. ????

TWIX

https://youtu.be/yO2RW2HpbSg

If Halloween had a mascot.. it would definitely be chocolate.

Since 2012, Twix has delivered ad campaigns focused on the left and right sides of their chocolate bars. ????

Features of Right Twix

• The caramel content is lesser in the Right Twix than the left Twix, and the cookie is a bit darker towards the middle. 
• The Right Twix is written in white color on the red label. 
• It tastes great as it is made from superior ingredients.

Features of Left Twix

• It contains an added layer of caramel and a lighter cookie to absorb it.
• The name Left Twix is written in red color on the white label.
• It also tastes sweet as it is made from finer ingredients.

Need more spooky inspiration? Here is a compilation of 10 of the best Halloween Commercial Ads ever, including Burger King, Nike, LG, Skoda, Mars, Snickers, IKEA and Booking.com.

COMPILATION OF SOME OF THE BEST HALLOWEEN ADS

These commercials are fun and boo-tiful examples of creative branding and marketing that leverage our collective participation in a holiday experience. Have you ever considered how your brand might benefit from such an exercise at a certain time of the year? Allow Yalo to help you mine the possibilities – creative marketing campaigns are what we’re all about. Please scroll down to the page bottom and click the Contact Us button to start a conversation.

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Is Your Social Media Messaging Good Enough?

Does it make a difference what and how you post on social media? Don’t you just need to maintain a presence? Or if you do not have a presence, then how do you know the right message is getting out there to your target audience? In reality, it’s all about emotion, quantity and speed. Your company’s social messages Do make a difference, because business social media is exploding.

The Social Media Explosion

How fast are social networks growing?

• Percentage of users ages 16-64 who are increasing social media use – 43%
• Annual growth in total number of social media users – 10.5% =376 million

Across age groups, where are the commercial uses for social networks:

• Discovering brands/products via ads on social – 27%
• Discovering brands/products via recommendations on social – 24%
• Researching products online via social – 43%

Simultaneous to audience growth, information being added to the Internet will grow from 4.4 billion GB per day in 2016 to 463 billion GB per day in 2025 (IDC estimate). With exploding users and content projected to grow a 100-fold per day, how do you differentiate your messaging to gain, maintain and grow followers, engagement and sales? How do you make sure your content influences and accelerates through the Internet, so you get your “share of eyeballs?”

Social Media Diffusion

Information diffusion is how fast data is moving through a network. It has been studied extensively in social, physical and computational sciences. Research in word of mouth and viral marketing has been documented in business literature. With the emergence of social media, new communication techniques have been explored such as: SMS, weblogs, picture-sharing portals and online communities. The following research considers the variables that effect the diffusion on information on social networks.

Sentiment and Social Media Quantity and Speed

Steiglitz and Xuan conducted research on the effect of emotion on political tweets. This research analyzed 64,432 tweets posted one week before two German state parliament elections. They proved the following hypotheses:

• The larger the total amount of sentiment (positive or negative) a political Twitter message exhibits, the more often it is retweeted.
• The larger the total amount of sentiment (positive or negative) a political Twitter message exhibits, the shorter is the time lag to the first retweet.

Using supervised learning (regression) the study considered: 

Dependent variables

• Number of times the tweet has been retweeted
•  Time lag between the tweet and the first retweet

Independent variables

• Total amount of sentiment
• Number of hashtags
• URL inclusion
• # of user’s followers
• Number of tweets posted during the sample period activity.

The regression models’ coefficients indicated that for every unit increase in negative words there was a 6% increase in retweets(pg. 238). Likewise, for every unit increase in positive words there was a 4% increase in retweets. An important hypothesis they were not able to prove:

• The association between sentiment and retweet time lag is stronger for tweets with negative sentiment than those with positive sentiment.

Sentiment and Social Media Predictability

Ashan and Kumari researched 20,000 tweets on the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The analysis considered the impact of sentiment along with the following environmental factors in predicting information diffusion:

• URL’s
• Hashtags
• Number of followers
• Account age
• Tweet age
• # User created tweets

Using two different regression approaches, analysis was completed determining the independent variables that provided the best model predictability. As seen below, in each model sentiment content was included and provided a significant increase in predictability.

Including the sentiment content significantly improves the predictability of social media performance and is enhanced with the ability to consider hashtags.

Sentiment and Positivity

Ferrara and Yang conducted a study of 19 million tweets with the following distribution:

Their findings indicated that positive tweets reach a larger audience and are shared more often. As tweet score becomes more positive, the number of retweets, favorites and seconds to first retweet increases at an accelerated rate.

Just how much of a difference does positivity make:

• Positive tweets are favorited 5 times the rate of negative tweets.
• Positive tweets are retweeted 2.5 time faster than neutral or negative tweets.

So What? – Words Make a Difference

These are the key findings on sentiment content:

• Sentiment content increases the quantity of social media traffic and its speed through social media channels
• Sentiment contentm, used in addition to environmental factors, improves the predictability of social media diffusion
• Increased positive sentiment content increases social media acceptance and diffusion (spread and shares)

At Yalo, we feel that your words really make a difference. There are many environmental factors that also need to be considered. With these environmental factors we have varied levels of control; however it comes to how we share content we have complete control. Control of what we share and also how we share it! Sentiment analysis from Yalo is the tool to tune content delivery for influencing followers and customers, as well as for analyzing social media traffic that reflects and responds to brand image.

Interested in this fascinating new Yalo marketing-communications and analytics service? Curious how it could be applied towards your business goals? Let’s have a conversation for nuanced understanding.

4 Quick Tips to increase your #BrandEngagement on Instagram

1. Pay Attention To Your Color Palette

Taking the time to create an engaging Instagram feed aesthetic is one of the most effective ways to persuade someone to follow your business’ Instagram account. From bright colors, single color, to black and white, use a strategic brand color palette to create a distinct style. See how Yalo uses color to tell a story and create interest:

Color can you make your Instagram content feel aligned with your overall aesthetic and brand.

2. Stay Consistent With Fonts

Font selection is as important as image selection for text overlays on photos and videos. If text plays a key role in your Instagram content, it’s important to also think about the font you’re using and how it relates to the fonts used on your website or other marketing materials. Pick a font family that has multiple font weights (i.e. light, regular, semibold, and bold) this is critical for building a clear text hierarchy. Yalo uses the Muller font family:

3. Make The Most Of Your Captions

Captions are a chance to enhance your content further and there are plenty of ways brands use them. Some choose to treat captions as a place for sharing stories and micro-blogging. Others use them to add a short, snappy headline to a post. Still others use captions to ask questions and encourage replies. The possibilities are endless. What’s important is to ensure the copy is aligned with your brand. What’s more, captions are a huge opportunity to build a stronger relationship with your audience.

Good to know: Instagram captions are limited to 2,200 characters, and after three lines of text they become truncated with an ellipsis.

4. Leverage Hashtags

Incorporating trending and relevant hashtags in your social media posts helps you to expand your reach, increase your post engagement, and enhance your brand image. However, it’s imperative to use brand-relevant hashtags to reap great results. You can use tools like Best-Hashtags and iQHashtags to create hashtag strategies, learn organic growth techniques, and build an engaged community.

Good to know: You can use up to 30 Hashtags per post.

If you like these easy strategies and want to know more about leveraging Instagram and other social media platforms for the benefit of your brand, we should have a conversation. Get it started by reaching-out to us here!