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Category: Marketing Tips

7 Best Tips to Increase CPG Sales With Social Media 

Posted on by Kaitlin Colston

Today we’re giving you our 7 best tips to increase CPG sales with social media. With the rise of online sales for consumer packaged goods, it’s more important than ever to leverage social media to boost sales. In 2020 alone, CPG online sales have increased 125%. Social media plays a large role in what consumers decide to purchase. How large? 55% of consumers say that they are more likely to buy a product based on a social media post. If you are looking to boost your CPG sales you’re in the right place. Below we will walk you through our best practices, tips, and tricks so that you can boost sales with social media. Let’s jump in! 

1. Know Your Audience

The first step to increase CPG sales online is understanding your customer and who to target. To do this, you need to create buyer personas. Hubspot’s definition of a buyer persona is a semi-fictional representation of your ideal customer based on market research and real data about your existing customers. A detailed buyer persona allows you to understand who you are targeting, what makes them tick, and why they need your product. By understanding these mechanisms you can create the social content that converts. 

To figure out your online persona(s) ask questions like: 

  • What are their goals?
  • What are their challenges?
  • How can your product help solve the above? 

Social Medie - Increase CPG Sales

2. Be Where Your Audience Is 

Now that you know who your audience is, you need to find out where they spend time. To create brand awareness and increase CPG sales you must be engaging on the social channels your audience is. For example, a B2B company may have better results focusing their time on LinkedIn, and a B2C Company typically will have more success on platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. To increase CPG sales, find out where your audience hangs out, then make a plan to be on those channels. Only focus your efforts on the channels your target market is on, you don’t need to be on every platform. 

3. Create A Social Strategy

If you get on social media without a plan, your results will be less impactful. Figure out what your goals are and what makes your audience tick. After you understand your company KPIs and goals, such as increase CPG sales, as well as the needs of your audience you can create a social strategy. The strategy should involve types of posts, the frequency you will post, performing hashtag research, deciding how your brand will interact with consumers, and more. Once you have the basics ironed out your social team or marketing agency will be able to create a content calendar that drives engagement and increases sales. 

4. Create Content that Is Interesting and Helpful 

Social media isn’t the place to hard sell. Create content that helps your consumers understand the benefits of buying your products, and adds value to their life. Keep in mind your buyer personas and make sure everything you create caters to them. If you are helpful, informative, and interesting people will actively engage and your brand will be top of mind when it comes to making a purchase.

5. Make it Easy To Purchase

Having great content and beautiful photos is not the only part of increasing CPG sales on social media. A common mistake we see is brands not making it easy for consumers to buy their products directly from social media. Below are some common ways you can help link your social to your products and increase conversions. 

LinkInBio – You’ve likely seen these in posts on Instagram, brands simply put the link to a specific product they are posting about in their bio. 

Shoppable Posts – This feature makes purchasing a breeze, with shoppable posts Instagram users can complete purchases without ever leaving the Instagram app. You can see in the example below clickable tags pop up in the post right within the viewers feed. 

Shoppable Post - Increase CPG Sales

Source: Instagram

Paid Ads – On almost any social platform you can run ads to target your audience by answering questions such as age, locations, and audience interests. Your ads will pop up in the social feeds of anyone who fits the profile you create in your ads. The closer you target these ads to your digital buyer persona the more success you will have.

6. Leverage the Power of Influencers 

Influencer marketing has exploded with the rise of social media. For brands, influencers are a powerful sales tool. Digital Marketing Institute found that 74% of consumers trust opinions they find on social media, including those from friends, families, and influencers. These opinions help them make the right decision about buying a product or service. Bringing on a relevant influencer to help promote your product can allow you to reach a wider audience and gain trust quickly on social platforms. 

7. Consistency is Key 

To grow your brand and increase your revenue on social media you need to be consistent. Being consistent allows for your brand to reach more people, and have better engagement. This will ultimately lead to growth. You need to be consistent in post frequency, your brand voice, tone, product photos, color palettes, font choices, and overall aesthetic. This will allow followers to get to know your business and products and for you to gain traction. 

Recap: How to Increase CPG Sales With Social Media

  • Understand your audience and how your product will help serve them.
  • Create engaging content that will leave people wanting to come back for more.
  • Make sure it is easy to find and purchase your product from your social pages.
  • Be consistent in your aesthetics, and brand voice. This will lead to gaining more followers and ultimately more sales. 

Ready to leverage your social media and increase CPG sales? We’re here to help you! Submit an inquiry or give us a call and let’s chat! 

How to Create Product Photos that Stand Out From the Competition

Posted on by Kaitlin Colston

Product photos can make a huge impact when it comes to positioning your brand online. More so than shopping in person, your consumers rely heavily on the information and photos you provide them. Product photography plays a huge role in a consumer’s buying decisions. According to FieldAgent, 83% of US Smartphone users say that product photography is extremely influential to their purchasing decisions. 

What is Product Photography? 

Before we dive into how to take great product photos, we must define what product photography is. In essence, product photography is a type of commercial photography that involves taking photos of products for commercial use. This applies to anything you can sell from a basic stock photo with a white backdrop you see on many storefronts to lifestyle shots that showcase how a product is used in a recipe or a runner showing off a pair of brand new running shoes. Product photos are everywhere, and they play a powerful role in brand engagement and sales if they stand out. 

6 Key Elements For Product Photos

Lighting 

Lighting can make or break your product photo. You can use natural light or studio light to capture your product. 

Lighting will set the tone for your photo. In the example below, Sweet Logic captures their confetti mix using soft and bright lighting which exudes a clean and cheery feel and allows the consumer to focus on the product.

Lighting - Product Photos

Source: Sweet Logic

In contrast, if you are looking to create a more dramatic light you could play with shadows or times of day to create a different look. 

Composition

How you arrange your photo will determine where the viewer’s eye will go. The composition can make a photo more interesting depending on where you place the elements within your photo. Using complementary backgrounds, a curated color palette, and keeping props simple will allow your product to be the main focus. 

Additionally, while there are no hard and fast rules to composition, try using the tried and true technique, the rule of thirds. In this simple technique, you divide the frame into 9 equal parts. You place the important parts of your photo (in this case the product) where the lines intersect. By placing the subject off-center and giving the photo negative space typically leads to a more attractive photo result. 

Use a Tripod 

Thinking of skipping a tripod? Don’t. Using a tripod provides stability and allows for sharp and clear photos. They play a crucial part if you want your product photos to look high-quality. Tripods are not expensive and many on the market will help no matter what type of camera you are using! 

Context is Key 

Give your product context for consumers browsing online. Stock photos are helpful, but showcasing your product in lifestyle situations and real-life applications allows your customers to understand how to use your product. Context can help build emotional connections to your brand and reassure them of their decision to buy. 

Context - Product Photos

Source: Amazi Foods

Above, Amazi Foods gives valuable context and shows consumers how they can create a delectable cake using their plantain chips. Not only does this give a real-life example of how a consumer can use the product, but the photo creates desire enticing any viewer to order! Craving the recipe? Check it out here!

What equipment will I need? 

Smartphone 

Smartphones have come a long way and advances in technology have allowed for advanced electronics that can handle many lighting conditions, and create detailed photos. While a smartphone will not create the most professional-looking product photos it can be a great way to get started. 

Digital SLRs/Mirrorless Cameras 

If you are wanting to do your product photos yourself but would like to produce better quality than a smartphone can offer, the next step would be to invest in a digital SLR or mirrorless camera. This will allow you more control as well as the ability to work in various lighting conditions. These cameras will also create a more detailed product photo. 

Hire An Agency

After reading above you can see, product photography takes a lot of time, investment, and skill. And you need to get it right! According to Justuno, 93% of consumers consider visual appearance to be a key deciding factor in their purchase decision. If you are short on time or skills, considering hiring an agency that is well versed in product photography. Professional photographers know exactly what it takes to create images that add value, build trust and ultimately boost conversions and sales for your product and brand. 

Key Takeaways For Better Product Photos

  • Photography can directly impact your sales, make sure to give consumers detailed photos and information that empowers them in their buying decisions. 
  • Lighting, composition, and context play a key role in producing great product photos 
  • 93% of consumers consider visual appearance while making a purchase decision, overcome this marketing challenge and hire an agency to create professional product photos that deliver value, build trust and ultimately boost sales for your brand and products. 

How can you overcome your biggest marketing challenges?

Posted on by Alexandra Harris
marketing agency, marketing challenges, building website

How can you overcome your biggest marketing challenges?

I recently asked several of my clients: What is your biggest marketing challenge? The majority of them said social media or digital marketing. The world of digital marketing was intimidating to many of them and social media, while necessary, was something they rarely had time to do. An effective online presence is critical to the success of a small business. So how can you overcome the challenges you face when it comes to marketing online?

 

  1. Decide Where To Focus
    There are more ways than ever to promote your business. There’s SEO, social media, PPC and other online advertising methods, content marketing, and more! The list goes on. While it’s great to have choices, you also have to refine your approach and decide what’s right for you. Instead of spreading yourself thin by trying to do everything, choose 2-3 marketing mediums, and focus on doing them well! Think about who your customers are and where they live in the digital landscape when deciding where to focus!
  2. Content Calendars
    One of the key things you can do to create structure around your marketing is create (and stick to) a content calendar! A content calendar is important to keep your content marketing well-organized and on track. It helps you with prior brainstorming which not only saves you from last-minute disastrous planning but also helps you produce content consistently. These calendars can be as simple or detailed as you choose, and can be planned out months in advance. 
  3. Choose The Right Software
    Marketing automation and email marketing software comes in a variety of sizes, and what each company needs may differ. Picking a new marketing tool for your company can be quite tricky these days – not to mention daunting! However, by implementing the right software, you will be better equipped to effectively nurture new and existing leads. 
  4. Hire an agency
    Our list wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t include this very important point. If you’re a small business with limited resources, it may be more effective to hire an outside marketing agency to handle your marketing needs. For smaller businesses, working with an agency can save time and money over hiring someone in-house, and allows business owners to focus on running operations and increasing the bottom line.

If you would like to schedule a consultation or want more marketing tips from us, please contact us today, and we’d be happy to help!

Kindly,

Alexandra harris

founder

7 Marketing Tips for Businesses on a Budget

Posted on by Alexandra Harris
marketing tips

7 Marketing Tips For Businesses on a budget

For small business owners and entrepreneurs, every dollar counts. Luckily, in today’s digital age, there are several affordable options for a business on a budget. You just need a little time and know-how. Check out our new list with 7 marketing tips for businesses on a budget to get started!

 

  1. Prioritize local search.
    Search engine optimization is more important than ever, especially if you have a brick and mortar location. Think about it: What’s the first thing you do when you need to buy something? You do a cursory search online to do your research or track down the closest store. Google My Business is a free first step that everyone should take. Claiming your business online with Google lets you adjust how your business appears in search rankings and on maps, including your hours, location, photos, and customer reviews. 
  2. Invest in content marketing.
    We’ve said it time and again, content marketing is an effective way to position yourself as an expert in your industry, and it allows people to organically find you through Google and other search engines. Content marketing involves creating and distributing helpful material that’s audience-focused and serves the purpose of boosting customer acquisition. Publishing content consistently on a set schedule to boost search rankings and, more importantly, to build and retain a loyal readership and establish your business as a useful resource. 
  3. Replicate what’s working.
    Chances are you know of at least one competitor that’s killing it with their marketing. Keep an eye on your competitors’ marketing efforts using tools like Brand24 (premium) or Google Alerts (free). Google Alerts, in particular, is a service that everyone should be using because it seamlessly tracks online mentions of your company name, product name, competitors, industry keywords, and more—all on autopilot. For example, if your competition is outranking you on search engines, take a look at their blog posts and website content. How can you replicate that success, or, ideally, do it even better? 
  4. Leverage email marketing.
    Email marketing still reigns supreme because of its massive return on investment. For every dollar you spend on email marketing, you can expect <a return of $38, on average. Email marketing can be used to strengthen your relationship with customers, help bring in new ones, spread brand awareness, and much more. Ensure you regularly keep your email list clean by using an email verifying tool. This will keep your sender score high and ensure better deliverability so you stay out of the spam folder.
  5. Post on question & answer sites.
    Sites such as Quora, Yahoo Answers, and Reddit are indexed by search engines, and if you post correctly and tactfully they can provide a steady boost to your site traffic. Quora, in particular, has become a go-to source for marketers to drum up content ideas, establish authority, and drive traffic.
  6. Display social proof.
    People love reviews and testimonials. They eliminate analysis paralysis, enhance credibility, and prevent buyer’s remorse. And best of all, they’re free. Ask your happy customers for feedback, reviews, and testimonials via email, surveys, or even in-person. Then take that feedback and share it for all to see. Consider using a site like Canva to make quotes into images that are shareable and eye-catching.
  7. Engage with your audience on social media
    Social media marketing is a no-brainer for businesses looking to get their message out on a budget. Whether you’re B2C, B2B, or something in between, remember that you aren’t selling to companies, but to people at companies. When it comes to social media marketing, it’s best to keep things relaxed and relevant. Make a habit of responding to all comments on your page to encourage and facilitate more engagement. Also, make time to engage with other pages in your niche to maximize your exposure beyond just your audience. 

With a little creativity, stretching your marketing dollars is easier than you think! If you would like to schedule a consultation or want more marketing tips from us, please contact us today, and we’d be happy to help!

Kindly,

Alexandra harris

founder

Content Marketing For Small Businesses

Posted on by Alexandra Harris

why should you invest in content marketing?

Content marketing is all of the content that a small business produces and includes blog posts, whitepapers, and e-books. In a 2018 report by Clutch, findings showed that most small businesses (80%) do not invest in content marketing, and less than 25% of those businesses planned to invest in the future. Is that a mistake, though?

We may be a little biased, but we believe that it is! Content marketing is a fantastic way to establish and build your brand and boost SEO – all while being highly cost-effective. According to Demand Metric, content marketing is 62% less expensive than traditional marketing and advertising but generates three times more leads. 

However, we know that creating and publishing content requires resources such as writing talent and marketing knowledge, which small businesses don’t always have access to. Not to mention, a sheer lack of time. We get it! If you’re a small business, your employees are already wearing multiple hats, and there may not be any bandwidth to add content marketing to the list of duties that they perform.

Nonetheless, consistent content marketing brings measurable returns, which is why companies should consider developing a content marketing strategy or bringing in an agency to help them do so. With content marketing, small businesses can achieve higher brand recognition, improve trust among their customer base, and keep their website and social channels updated and fresh. 

If you’re ready to begin exploring the world of content marketing, contact us today for a FREE 15-minute consultation to learn how Adelante Creative can help move your business forward!

We’re here to help!

 

Kindly,

Alexandra harris

founder

3 Reasons Why Re-targeting Matters

Posted on by Alexandra Harris

3 REASONS WHY RE-TARGETING MATTERS

People who visit your company’s website have demonstrated an interest in your product or service, even if they don’t make a purchase on their initial visit. By re-targeting these users with skillfully positioned ads, you can significantly increase your conversion rates. Re-targeting also increases other marketing efforts, such as brand awareness and brand recall. These are just some of the reasons why re-targeting matters:

1. Multiple chances to convert

Re-targeting provides a second (or third) chance to convert users by focusing on those who have visited your website or landing page. These users have demonstrated an interest in your brand, product, or service.  As such, they are more qualified and likely to be persuaded by your continued efforts. 

2. Build the brand

It is essential to understand that re-targeting is more than just a performance or conversion-focused tactic. It also plays a role in building brand awareness. “I see your ads everywhere!” is retargeting at play. Potential customers believe you’re spending millions of dollars on ad campaigns when they see ads on the sites they visit. These impressions build both trust and awareness of your brand.

3. Up-sell and cross-sell opportunities

Re-targeting is not exclusive to first-time conversions. Companies can build a list of high-value users to up-sell or cross-sell, by placing a retargeting pixel on conversion or “thank you” pages. If a consumer has converted before, there is a good chance they will convert again.

​Simply put, re-targeting adds immense value and opportunity to any business, and there is no reason to delay adding re-targeting to your marketing arsenal. Adelante Creative can help you get started. Get in touch with us today for more information.

Kindly,

Alexandra harris
FOunder