Ezekiel Muoneke

Customer service is a key differentiator for any business, as customers expect to be recognised, understood, and assisted in a timely and relevant manner.

Choosing the Best Social Media Platforms for Your Digital Marketing Campaign Ezekiel Muoneke Content Writer Blog June 17, 2023 3:08 pm Social media is a powerful tool for digital marketing as it can help you reach new audiences, build relationships with your customers, and drive traffic to your website. But how do you choose the best social networking sites for your brand when there are so many options available? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the top five social media platforms for digital marketing, based on their popularity, features, and potential for growth. We will also give you some tips on how to use each platform effectively to achieve your marketing goals. So, without any further ado, let’s get started! 1. Facebook When it comes to social networking platforms, none comes close to this social media giant. Created in 2004 as the brainchild of Tech entrepreneur, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook is still the most popular social media platform, with around 2.8 billion monthly active users.  Its novelty and the variety of interesting (and addicting) features the platform provides to users—including the well-known Like button, Stories, the Feed, comments, and tagging—are the main drivers of its success. Facebook is also a great platform for digital marketing, as it allows you to create a business page, run ads, join groups, and use Messenger to communicate with your customers. You can also use Facebook Live to stream video content or create a Facebook Shop to sell your products directly on the platform. Here are some tips when it comes to using Facebook for your digital marketing campaigns: ~ Consider your audience when creating content. You can use Facebook Insights to analyse your page performance and learn more about your followers. ~ Post regularly and consistently, but don’t spam. Aim for quality over quantity, and use a variety of content formats, such as images, videos, links, polls, and quizzes. Additionally, interact with your audience by answering messages, reviews, and comments.  ~ Encourage user-generated content by asking questions, running contests, or featuring customer stories. ~ Use Facebook Ads to reach new customers and target them based on their interests, demographics, and behaviour. You can also use Facebook Pixel to track conversions and optimise your campaigns. 2. YouTube Established in early 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, YouTube stands as the second most popular social media platform, with around 2 billion monthly active users. It is also the largest video-sharing platform in the world, where users can watch, upload, comment on, and share videos. YouTube is a great tool for digital marketing since it lets you show off your brand’s personality, show off your goods or services, and enlighten your audience. Additionally, you can utilise YouTube Ads to advertise your videos to more people and create leads. Here are some pointers on utilising YouTube for digital marketing: ~ Create a branded YouTube channel that reflects your business identity and values.  ~ Use a catchy name, a professional logo, a compelling banner image, and a clear description. ~ Optimize your videos for search engines by using relevant keywords in your titles, tags, descriptions, and captions. You can also use hashtags to categorise your videos and make them more discoverable. ~ Make engaging, educational, and entertaining high-quality videos. Using a good camera, microphone, lighting, and editing software cannot be overemphasized as it’s one of the factors that keeps your audience engaged to your content. Keep your videos short and concise (around 10 minutes or less), and use a strong call-to-action at the end. ~ Interact with your viewers by responding to comments, asking for feedback, and collaborating with other creators. You can also use YouTube Analytics to measure your video performance and improve your strategy. 3. Instagram Now under the Meta umbrella, Instagram is the third most popular social media platform, with around 1.4 billion monthly active users. It’s also the most popular photo and video-sharing platform in the world, where users can post, like, comment on, and share visual content. Instagram is a fantastic platform for digital marketing, as it allows you to showcase your brand aesthetic, tell your story, and connect with your customers. You can use Instagram Ads to reach new customers and target them based on their interests, demographics, and behaviour. You can also use Instagram Shopping to sell your products directly on the platform. Here are some pointers for using Instagram for digital marketing: ~ Create a business account that reflects your brand identity and values. Use a catchy name, a professional logo, a compelling bio, and a link to your website. ~ Optimize your posts for discovery by using relevant hashtags, geotags, captions, and keywords. You can also use Instagram Guides to curate your posts into themed collections. ~ Create captivating, educational, and entertaining images and videos. You can do this by utilising quality lighting, a good camera, and editing software. Try out other multimedia forms like Reels, Stories, IGTV, and Live. ~ Interact with your followers by responding to comments, messages, and mentions. Encourage user-generated content by asking questions, running contests, or featuring customer feedback. ~ Use Instagram Insights to measure your post-performance and improve your strategy. 4. TikTok With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok ranks fourth among social media platforms. Users can produce, watch, and share videos up to 60 seconds on the most widely used short-form video platform in the world. TikTok is a fantastic platform for digital marketing since it enables you to take advantage of the newest trends, highlight the individuality of your brand, and connect with a youthful, diverse audience. TikTok Ads can be used to advertise your video content to a larger audience in addition to generating leads. Here are some pointers for utilising TikTok for digital marketing: ~ Make a TikTok account that embodies your brand’s beliefs and corporate identity. Utilise a memorable name, a credible logo, an engaging bio, and a link to your website. ~ TikTok Trends is another tool you can use to see

5 Ways to Ace Your Digital Marketing Campaign in 2023 Ezekiel Muoneke Content Writer Blog June 14, 2023 10:17 am Digital marketing is constantly evolving and changing, and even though it’s already mid-2023, this is no exception. If you want to stay ahead of the curve and grow your business online, you need to keep up with the latest trends and best practises. With that in mind, here are five digital marketing trends you need to embrace that have gained meteoric traction over the past few months and how to leverage them for your success. 1. Embrace the Metaverse The metaverse is a buzzword that refers to a variety of immersive virtual experiences that take place online, usually with other people. Think of it as an extension of the internet, where you can interact with digital worlds and avatars in real time. Some examples of metaverse platforms are Roblox, Fortnite, Decentraland, and Facebook Horizon. The metaverse is not just a playground for gamers and tech enthusiasts. It’s also a huge opportunity for marketers to reach new audiences, create engaging content, and build brand awareness. Many big brands like Starbucks, Nike, and Adidas have already announced their plans to launch metaverse experiences in 2023. What can you do now? Start exploring the metaverse yourself and see what it has to offer. Look for ways to create value for your customers and prospects in these virtual spaces, whether it’s by hosting events, offering rewards, or showcasing your products. Keep an eye on what your competitors and industry leaders are doing in the metaverse and learn from their successes and failures. 2. Leverage Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) is not a new trend in digital marketing, but it’s becoming more powerful and pervasive every year. AI is behind most of the algorithms that determine what you see on social media, search engines, and online ads. AI is also making marketing smarter by helping you analyse data, personalise content, optimise campaigns, and generate insights. What can you do now? Examine how AI is affecting the core aspects of your digital marketing channels and optimise your strategy accordingly. For example, you can use tools like Google Analytics, Google Ads, or Facebook Ads Manager to access AI-powered features that can help you improve your performance. You can also use AI tools like Grammarly, Lumen5, or Phrasee to create better content for your audience. 3. Focus on Customer Experience Customer experience (CX) is the sum of all the interactions that a customer has with your brand across different touchpoints and channels. CX is not only about providing good service or support but also about creating positive emotions, building trust, and exceeding expectations. CX is becoming more important than ever in digital marketing as customers have more choices and higher standards than before. Most algorithms and AI in digital marketing are designed to optimise for CX, as this is what drives customer loyalty and retention. What can you do now? Audit your current CX and identify any gaps or pain points that need improvement. For example, you can use tools like Hotjar, UserTesting, or SurveyMonkey to collect feedback from your customers and understand their needs and preferences. You can also use tools like Google Optimise, Unbounce, or Optimizely to test different variations of your website or landing pages and see what works best for your audience.   ENJOYING THE ARTICLE? Sign up For Our Newsletter 4. Experiment with New Formats Digital marketing is not only about text or images anymore. There are many new formats that you can use to capture attention, engage your audience, and deliver your message in creative ways. Some of these formats include: • Livestream content: Live video is one of the most engaging forms of content online, as it allows you to interact with your audience in real time, showcase your authenticity, and create a sense of urgency. You can use platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitch to livestream your events, product launches, Q&A sessions, or behind-the-scenes moments. • Short-form video: Short-form video is a type of video content that lasts between 15 seconds and 3 minutes and is usually optimised for mobile viewing. Short-form video is great for capturing attention, conveying information quickly, and encouraging action. You can use platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or Snapchat to create short-form videos that showcase your brand personality, products, or tips. • Augmented reality: Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital elements onto the real world, creating an interactive and immersive experience. AR can help you enhance your products, services, or content by adding value, fun, or information. You can use platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook to create AR filters, lenses, or effects that showcase your brand or products. What can you do now? Experiment with different formats and see what resonates with your audience. Don’t be afraid to try new things and learn from your mistakes. Use analytics tools to measure the performance of your content and optimise it accordingly. Keep an eye on the latest trends and innovations in digital marketing and be ready to adapt. 5. Advertise with a Purpose Customers today are not only looking for products or services that meet their needs but also for brands that share their values and have a positive impact on society. They want brands to help them make sustainable choices more manageable and to align their promises with their actions. In response, we’re seeing more brands shift from purely focusing on their own profits to embracing a greater purpose. They are taking a more active role in highlighting important causes and inspiring action. For instance, Nigerian brand Rensource Energy is on a mission to provide clean and affordable energy to millions of people in Africa by using solar power and smart technology. They recently used an innovative ad campaign to showcase their impact and vision in rural Africa, featuring emotional testimonials from beneficiaries of this effort. To this end, what then can you do? Define your brand’s

The Concept of Value Proposition  Ezekiel Muoneke Content Writer Blog June 10, 2023 1:54 pm Have you ever wondered why some customers choose your products or services over others? What makes them decide to buy from you and not from your competitors? How would you communicate your unique value to them in a clear and compelling way? If you’ve asked yourself these questions, then you need to know about value propositions. A value proposition is a concise statement that summarises the benefits that you offer to your customers, how you deliver them, and why you are different from other alternatives in the market. It is effectively the main reason why customers should buy from you. A value proposition goes beyond a catchphrase or tagline. It is a powerful tool that can help you attract, retain, and delight your customers. It can also help you stand out from the crowd and create a loyal fan base. A good value proposition should answer these questions: • What is your product or service? • Who are your target customers? • What problem or need will your product or service solve for them? • How does your product or service solve it better than others? • What evidence is there to back up your claims? A value proposition should properly answer these questions and should be communicated to your customers directly, either via your website, social media, email, or other marketing channels. But how do you create a winning value proposition for your business? How do you make sure that it resonates with your target audience and reflects your brand identity? How do you test and improve it over time? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more. We will show you how to craft a winning value proposition for your business in five simple steps. Let’s get started! Step 1: Identify Your Customer’s Needs and Pain Points The first step in creating a winning value proposition is to understand your customers’ needs and pain points. What are the problems that they are trying to solve? What are the goals that they are trying to achieve? What are the challenges that they are facing? To answer these questions, you need to do some market research. You can use various methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, online reviews, social media comments, competitor analysis, etc. The goal is to collect as much information as possible about your customer’s profile, preferences, behaviour, motivations, and expectations. You can use tools like personas and empathy maps to organise and visualise your findings. A persona is a fictional representation of your ideal customer based on real data. (See our article on buyer personas.) An empathy map is a diagram that helps you understand what your customer thinks, feels, sees, hears, says, and does. Step 2: Analyse Your Competitors  Who are the other players in your market? What are their value propositions? How do they position themselves in relation to your target customer segment? What are their strengths and weaknesses? You can use tools like SWOT analysis, a competitive matrix, or benchmarking to compare and contrast your competitors and the competition.   Step 3: Define Your Unique Value Proposition Based on your customer and competitor analysis, what is the unique value that you can offer to your target customer segment? How do you solve their problem or satisfy their need better than anyone else? What are the features or benefits that make your product or service stand out from the rest? You can use tools like the value proposition canvas, lean canvas, or business model canvas to articulate your value proposition. Step 4: Communicate Your Value Proposition Effectively The fourth step in creating a winning value proposition is to communicate it effectively. This means that you need to convey your value proposition to your customers in a way that grabs their attention, sparks their interest, and persuades them to take action. To communicate your value proposition effectively, you need to use various elements, such as: • A headline: This is the main statement that summarises your value proposition in one sentence. It should be catchy, clear, and concise. It should also highlight the main benefit that you offer to your customers. • A sub-headline: This is a supporting statement that expands on your headline and provides more details about your product or service. It should be informative, relevant, and specific. It should also address the main pain points that your customers have. • A bullet list: This is a list of key features or benefits that you provide to your customers. It should be short, simple, and scannable. It should also emphasise how you solve your customers’ problems or help them achieve their goals. • A visual: This is an image, video, or graphic that illustrates your product or service in action. It should be attractive, engaging, and appealing. It should also show how your product or service works or what results it delivers. • A call-to-action: This is a button, link, or form that invites your customers to take the next step in the buying process. It should be visible, clear, and compelling. It should also tell your customers what to do next and why they should do it. You can use these elements to create a value proposition canvas that shows how your value proposition fits with your customer’s needs and pain points. A value proposition canvas is a visual tool that helps you align your product or service with your customer segment. ENJOYING THE ARTICLE? Sign up For Our Newsletter Step 5: Test and Improve Your Value Proposition The fifth and final step in creating a winning value proposition is to test and improve it. This means that you need to measure how well your value proposition resonates with your customers and how it affects their behaviour and satisfaction. To test and improve your value proposition, you need to use various methods, such as: • Feedback: This is the information that you collect from

Branding: The Idea of Standing Out from the Crowd Ezekiel Muoneke Content Writer Blog June 8, 2023 10:57 am Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business, whether it is a small start-up or a multinational corporation. Branding is not just about having a catchy logo or a memorable slogan, it is about creating a unique identity and personality for your business that sets you apart from your competitors and resonates with your target audience.  But what exactly is branding and why is it so important to incorporate into your business’s life? How can you create a strong brand that stands out from the crowd and attracts loyal customers? In this article, we will explore these questions and provide some tips and examples of effective branding strategies. What is Branding? Branding is the process of creating a distinctive name, symbol, design, style, voice, message, and image that represents your business and its values, products, and services. In a nutshell, it is the way you make your customers feel when they interact with your brand, and the way you communicate your values, vision, and mission. Why is Branding Important? Branding is important because of its ability to make or break your business. Strong branding can give you a competitive edge in the market, increase your customer retention and loyalty, boost your reputation and word-of-mouth referrals, enhance your profitability and growth potential, and create a lasting impression on your audience. On the other hand, weak or inconsistent branding can confuse your customers, damage your credibility, lose your market value, and invariably hinder your growth potential, making you forgettable or irrelevant in the sphere of things. According to a study by Nielsen, 59% of consumers prefer to buy new products from brands they are familiar with, and 21% would opt for a new product because they had an affinity to the brand. What this simply means is that strong branding can help you:  • Establish a clear and consistent identity for your business that reflects who you are, what you do, and why you do it. • Differentiate yourself from your competitors and highlight your unique selling proposition (USP). • Build trust and credibility with your customers and stakeholders by delivering on your promises and exceeding their expectations. • Create an emotional connection with your customers and inspire loyalty and advocacy. • Increase your visibility and recognition in the market and attract more leads and sales. How to Create a Strong Brand that Stands Out from the Crowd? 1. Define Your Brand Purpose Your brand purpose is the reason why your business exists beyond making money. It is the core value that drives your actions and decisions. It is the impact that you want to have on the world. Your brand purpose should answer these questions: • What problem are you solving for your customers? • How are you making their lives better or easier? • What difference are you making in the society or the environment? • What is your vision for the future? Your brand purpose should be clear, concise, compelling, authentic, and meaningful. It should inspire you and your team to work towards a common goal. It should also resonate with your customers and make them feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves. For example, Nike’s brand purpose is “to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world”. This statement reflects their passion for sports and fitness, their commitment to excellence and innovation, their inclusiveness of all people regardless of their abilities or backgrounds, and their aspiration to inspire others to achieve their potential. 2. Identify Your Target Audience Your target audience is the group of people who are most likely to buy your products or services. They are the people who share similar needs, wants, preferences, behaviours, values, demographics, psychographics, lifestyles, etc. You need to identify your target audience so that you can tailor your branding strategy to suit their needs and expectations. To identify your target audience, you need to conduct market research using both primary (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups) and secondary (e.g., reports, articles, statistics) sources. You need to collect as much information as possible about their: • Age • Gender • Location • Income • Education • Occupation • Family status • Pain points • Desires • Aspirations • Values • Beliefs • Attitudes • Opinions • Behaviours Based on this information, you can create buyer personas or fictional representations of your ideal customers. (We talked about this extensively in a previous article.) For example, Spotify’s buyer personas include: • Chloe, a 22 year old college student who loves music and podcasts and uses Spotify to discover new artists and genres, as well as to relax and have fun with her friends. •David, a 35-year-old lawyer who loves music and podcasts and uses Spotify to stay updated on the latest news and trends, as well as to unwind and escape from his stressful work. •Emma, a 45 year old motherof two who loves music and podcasts and uses  Spotify to enjoy to her favourite tunes annd shows, as well as to bond with her family and friends. Buyer personas help you to understand your customers better and communicate with them more effectively. They also help you to segment your market and target your marketing campaigns more precisely. 3. Develop Your Brand Identity Your brand identity is the visual, verbal, and emotional expression of your brand. It is the way you present yourself to the world and how you want to be perceived by your audience. Your brand identity includes: ~ Your brand name: The name that identifies your business and distinguishes it from others. It should be catchy, memorable, easy to pronounce and spell, relevant to your industry and audience, and legally available. ~ Your brand logo: The symbol or graphic that represents your business and conveys its essence. It should be simple, distinctive, scalable, adaptable, timeless, and consistent with your brand personality. ~ Your brand colours: The colours