Category

Digital

Are you re-opening with confidence?

By | Blog, Digital, In-Store

It’s been a busy week in the world of retail…and we have to say, it’s been full steam ahead for us too!  Unless you’ve been having the longest lockdown snooze ever, you will know that on 15th June, non-essential retailers were able to start opening their doors once more – hooray!

We’ve been busy helping retailers and shopping centres prepare for this very moment, so they can confidently re-open, knowing they have everything in place to encourage customer spend once more!  Working with businesses both big and small, we’ve been producing everything from social distancing signage and floor vinyls, eye-catching window displays, targeted radio messaging and even pedestrian roundabouts!

As well as creating physical measures to help everyone shop safe, we’ve also been taking the load off businesses by helping them with their online marketing comms and social media content to help spread the news to their target audience that they’re welcoming their customers in store once again!

Of course, it’s a time of transition for all retailers and customers alike, as we get used to the ‘new normal’ whilst we’re out shopping.  It’s understandable that many business owners are feeling like they’re having to work things out as they go along a little, and find solutions for things they may not have thought of until they started trading again.

If this sounds like you, panic not!  We’ve got everything ready at our fingertips, and a team of digital wizards ready to help anyone who needs a helping hand with either in-store or digital comms.  We’re determined to help get as many businesses up and running again as quickly as possible, so that everyone has the best chance of success.

After all, nothing is more true right now than the fact that #WeAreInThisTogether

Click here to check out our guide to re-opening 

Ready to chat?  Give us a call on 03333 22 00 22 or email sayhello@onbrand.co.uk

 

Are you ready to re-open? Your FREE Downloadable guide…

By | Blog, Digital, In-Store

We’ve made it our mission to help retail businesses thrive once they’re able to re-open their doors again on June 15th.

That’s why, we’ve put together the ultimate ‘guide to re-opening’ which gives you all the tips, info and services for you will want to consider before you welcome your customers in-store again.

It’s free to download and you can get your copy by entering your email address below:

    We work across a range of business, retail and consumer brands, with the clear mission to create the most memorable customer experiences.

    From how a brand sounds through an efficient telephone journey, to compelling social media campaigns that lead to engaging websites, to incredible award ceremonies and enjoyable retailer events.

    We make each moment memorable, customers happy and brands shine.

    Let’s get you ready for success.  

    Get in touch by calling: 03333 22 00 22 or email: sayhello@onbrand.co.uk

    Are you ready to re-open?

    By | Blog, Digital, In-Store

    With the great news announced by the government that retailers will be allowed to start opening their doors once again from 15th June, we wanted to do our bit to help make sure that you’re ready.

    BBC News reported that:

    “Shops have been told to consider placing a poster in their windows to demonstrate awareness of the guidance and commitment to safety measures.”….

    As a specialist retail marketing agency, we’ve been preparing for this news for quite a number of weeks now, and whilst we can absolutely help you with a poster or two, we’ve also put together a whole host of options for retailers to communicate that it’s safe to shop with them. From floor stickers, to window vinyls, to social media content to radio messaging…we have everything at the ready to help you successfully open for business!! 🙌🏻💚.

    So what sorts of things should you be considering right now? 

    Not sure where to start?  Don’t worry, we’ve done the thinking for you.

    It obviously depends on the type and size of your retail business, however, here are just some of the things we have planned and ready to help you roll out:

    Outdoor Comms

    Yes, a simple poster can remind your customers to social distance or show your gratitude for their custom by welcoming them back into store, but if you’re looking for more eye-catching or creative ways to engage your customers, there are plenty of additional options!

    A bold new window vinyl could be worth considering if you’re really wanting to stand out and let your customers know you’re open again.  We can help you tailor the messaging, look & feel in line with your branding, to help drive a bit of buzz around you opening your doors again.  Art-work could even be worked up on an A-Frame board alongside branded balloons outside the store too!

    Store Navigation

    Floor stickers are an effective way of marking out where customers should stand to ensure they’re maintaining social distancing standards.  You might even want to include friendly messages on them, which raise a smile as they navigate your store – after all, this is the ‘new normal’ and so making them feel welcome, whilst adhering to measures will certainly help encourage spend.

    How about your staff?  How can you help make sure customers adhere to social distancing with your team?  Of course, there are all sorts of ways of using pespex screens at payment desks etc; however, we rather like the idea of a simple badge for each staff member to wear, reminding customers that they’re here to help, but from a distance.

    Digital Comms

    Let’s not forget, many customers will still be cautious for quite some time, and so ensuring they can still engage and shop with you from home is key.  Now is not the time to forget about all the great work you’ve been doing over the past couple of months to build relationships with them online.

    Use your social media channels to showcase your open store and demonstrate that it’s safe to shop with you.  You could even incentivise your online audience with a voucher to bring to store, to encourage footfall.  In the not too distant future, after a little digital reassurance, it won’t be long before you see them step foot in your shop once again!

    Finally, don’t neglect your website in your preparations to open!  You should think about updating your homepage messaging with your planned opening date alongside any messages around what customers can expect from their new shopping experience with you..  It’ s crucial to make sure your website is optimised for SEO, making sure it appears higher up in those all important google searches….it sounds like a lot, but these are all really simple tasks for us, which we can easily take off your hands!!

    So, the big question is:  Are you ready to re-open? 

    Need a helping hand?

    Get in touch by emailing sayhello@onbrand.co.uk & we’ll get you sorted in no time! 👍🏻

    Download our free definitive re-opening guide

    We’ve put together the definitive guide to reopening for Retail. We’ve collated the very best products to help you reopen your store, services you can engage and tips on nailing your website & social media experiences. Enter your email address below to receive our guide.

      The Psychology of Lockdown: Where’s your business at?

      By | Blog, Digital, In-Store, On The Phone

      We thought we’d share a little something we were discussing in our team meeting this morning…

       

      As a team, we’re always making sure we stay on top of industry news and often share things we’ve seen online and in the world around us.  Today, one of the team shared this really interesting little diagram from Robert Stead at the Marketing Centre.

      What particularly got us talking was the fact that this very diagram truly encapsulates what we as an agency have already been experiencing.  We’ve been helping clients get through the ‘fear zone’ and have been on the case helping them to adapt their comms strategies to not only set the right tone, but to make sure they’re reaching out to their customers in an authentic way, across the right channels.  The result?  Well, we’ve noticed a real shift with our clients moving across into the ‘learning’ and ‘growth’ zones over the past couple of weeks.  The shift means that we’re now pulling together new packages to help businesses thrive in whatever the ‘new normal’ might be when Boris makes his next announcement.

      The big question is – in which ‘zone’ does your business currently sit?

      © The Marketing Centre

      Need help getting in the (growth!) zone? Feeling apprehensive about what any ease of lockdown might mean for your business?  Get in touch – we’re here to help!

      Going quiet on social media is a BIG mistake

      Marketing during a Pandemic: Going quiet on Social Media is a BIG MISTAKE

      By | Blog, Digital, Social

      Trying to figure out how to make your marketing budget work hardest for you during such an uncertain time, may feel like quite the conundrum.

      What’s absolutely certain though is, that whatever you do, make sure you’re investing in engaging with your audience.   Let’s face it, you’ve worked long and hard (and quite likely spent a few £s!) in developing your audience so far.  Now is not the time to stop talking to them…in fact, it’s the perfect opportunity to turn those good relationships you have with them, into great ones!

      How do you do this?

      You should be thinking about how you shift any planned marketing expenditure on things such as future trade shows, advertising or conferences etc. to channels which will help you stay open for business.   Think SEO, PPC and of course, Social Media.   The brilliant thing about apportioning additional budget to these channels is that, within days, they can be up and running, quite often with immediate payback…a bit of a no-brainer no?

      Let’s Talk a bit more about Social Media…

      It may feel daunting as to how you get social media right during a pandemic.  Yes, it’s vital to show sensitivity and empathy towards the status quo, however, what’s really important is to remember that your audience are sat at home scrolling through their phones for content that resonates.  Now is the time to connect with them and add value to their lives whilst in lockdown.

      Going quiet on social media is a BIG MISTAKE

      Whilst we all get used to this new world we’re all living in, it may be tempting to stop posting across your social channels whilst you work out how to keep your business afloat.  Quite understandable, but it’s not going to help you in the long-term.  In actual fact, consistent posting to show your customers you’re still there for them is vital in order to retain them.  In recent days, social media usage has been up by 50% – your customers aren’t switching off, so neither should you!

      You may be a business that previously relied on having a shop front.  What we all need to acknowledge, however, is that the world has become more digital than ever before.  Content is King and it’s your job to ensure your brand/business evolves to inspire, build your community and drive value online.

      We’re proud to have a team of digital and social media experts, with years of industry experience behind us.  If you need a helping hand to create engaging and authentic content or need strategic guidance on how to evolve your social media channels, get in touch with our friendly team of marketing superstars:

      Email us: sayhello@onbrand.co.uk

      Give us a call on: 03333 220022

      We’re all in this together.

       

       

       

      Hello? Is Anybody there? Introducing ‘Live Chat Service’ for your Customer-Facing business…

      By | Blog, Digital

      Many retailers, shopping centres and businesses alike; open, closed or partially closed are seeing a rise in web and social media traffic as customers search for the answers they need.

      • “Are you open?”
      • “Are you offering local delivery”
      • “Can you offer an online consultation?”
      • “When will you next be receiving stock?
      •  “Hello, I have a retailer specific enquiry…”
      • “Are the car parks open? Are they free for NHS workers?”
      • “What opening hours are you or your retailers trading etc”

      Whilst your physical service may be dropping, your customer service shouldn’t.

      OnBrand can help manage your customer enquiries while you focus on running your business.

      Our brand new Live Chat service will integrate with your website and your social media channels and we’ll manage your increased customer demand for you.

      We can respond with pre-agreed customer messages and up to date business information and our experienced response agents will offer helpful & polite responses to your customers, maintaining your customer SLAs and fielding the main volume of repeat questions on your behalf.

      The service is easily set up and can be live in a matter of hours.

      Set-up is only £250+vat, with monthly costs from £199 for 4 hours agent time a month (additional hours charged where required on an hourly bases @ £45 per hour)

      Act now, and we have help save a potential future headache.

      Your customers still need YOU!! Let us help you reach them…

      By | Blog, Digital

      There’s no doubt about it. Times have changed.

      We all need to stay home, but now isn’t the time to be shutting down and switching off. Customers who can no longer visit you physically, are still going to need to reach you. In fact, even in these early stages of lockdown, we’ve seen an increase in customer queries across our retail clients’ websites and social platforms.

      It’s time to get creative and look at how you can best drive the messages which are truly going to help and support your customer base during these challenging times.

      How, you ask?….Don’t worry, we’ve already done the thinking for you, and have put together a list of approaches you may find worth your while…

      1. Live Chat – This is a new service we’ve built in response to the corona outbreak, and it’s a great little tool to provide your customers with instant help and reassurance. Customers who visit your website will be invited to chat live, through their keyboard, to a team member.
      2. Social Media – Who is talking to you or about you? How do you reach a wider audience and what are the right messages to be sharing to authentically engage your customers during these time? Our team of social media superstars can help with everything from social media listening to content creation, to paid media.
      3. Website Management – do you have the time, ability and resources to manage updates to your website? OnBrand can step in and step up your customer communication.
      4. Managing the media/press – press statements, contingency messages, fielding press enquiries, organising video statements and providing the right message to the right people are all things we’re experienced in helping with.
      5. Creative & Design – need a fast turnaround of a poster, banner or a piece of comms? Ask us – we’re here to help.
      6. Ideas – want to know how to keep your brand in front of your shoppers? Want to position yourself as a trusted voice in the community? Want to provide positivity? Engagement with gamification? We’re creative problem solvers and ready to brainstorm!

      Not sure where to start? We’re offering FREE 15 minute calls to any business who needs Marketing advice or guidance during these uncertain times. No challenge is too big or too small – download your problems and we’ll help you find a solution!

      We’re here to help you get through this.

      Get in touch:

      Email us: sayhello@onbrand.co.uk
      Give us a call on: 03333 220022

      Saying the right thing at the right time…

      By | Blog, Digital

      The world as we knew it just a couple of weeks ago, is now a completely different place. Not only are we having to make significant changes to the way we approach our day to day lives, but we’re also having to make big decisions about how we evolve our businesses.

      Whilst this might, quite rightly, feel daunting, we’re here to help you communicate your new business approach & help your retain those customers you’ve worked so hard for.

      Whilst it’s true that getting your comms right at a time like this is crucial to the survival of your business, it’s important to remember that you’re not in this alone. Our team are experts in understanding consumer behaviour and are experienced in helping tailor messaging to reflect public sentiment. We’re here to be an extension of your team and lend a helping hand to ensure your messages have cut through, add value and are broadcast across the right channels for your business.

      Be safe in the knowledge that there is an extra pair of hands who can help you write a press statement or act quickly to craft a social media comms plan.

      Whatever your PR & Comms needs, we’re here to help get you through this.

      Get in touch:

      Email us: sayhello@onbrand.co.uk
      Give us a call on: 03333 220022

      Shutting up Shop doesn’t mean you have to give up

      By | Blog, Digital

      In this new ever changing world, we’re all having to adapt our and evolve our businesses in ways we were perhaps not expecting.

      For retailers, restauranteurs and, in fact, anyone with a shop front, who relies on footfall to drive their income, it’s a particularly challenging time.

      We’re passionate about supporting independent retailers and businesses through this tricky period and we’re here to help you find creative solutions in order to help you reach your customers.

      Need an e-commerce website in a hurry? Or perhaps you already have a website, but you need us to wave our magic OnBrand wand to add a sales functionality to it? We’re here to help you drive your sales online.

      And when you’re up and running with your shiny new site, we can even help you put together a Social media plan to drive those all important customers to purchase.

      So don’t lose hope. Just think of the current situation as a major plot twist. We’re here to help you make sure it’s a happy ending.

      We’re currently offering all businesses big and small, a FREE 15 minute phone to chat through your current challenges. Drop us an email or give us a call and one of our super friendly team will be ready to help!

      Email us: sayhello@onbrand.co.uk
      Give us a call on: 03333 220022

      Social Media SOS

      By | Blog, Digital

      With the physical world becoming more and more limited, people are turning to social media more than ever to connect with each other and run their daily lives.

      For businesses, there’s lots to be thinking about right now, but, whatever you do, make sure you’ve thought about how you may need to shift how you approach your social media communications.

      ‘Doing Social Media’ properly is quite a craft in itself. Contrary to some ‘non-marketeers’ opinion, it isn’t just a case of writing a bit of copy to go alongside an eye-catching product image…oh no! In order to drive maximum results, and come out the other side of this challenging period in a positive way, you’ll need to ensure you have a strong handle on the following:

      Editorial Strategy & Content Creation

      During these times, it’s crucial to get the balance right between communicating your key messages whilst demonstrating that you recognise the impact of COVID_19 in the world around us.

      For example, think about how your products/services could be helping the community during lockdown.   What’s a unique way that you, as a business, can add value through what you share? Simply pushing product is a big no-no.

      Our editorial and social media experts are here to help you craft your social media posts to ensure they resonate with your customers and drive loyalty and sales, whilst the world is navigating its way through such an unpredictable era.

      We can help with everything from putting together editorial strategies to writing and creating posts for multiple channels…we’ll make sure you get it right.

      Paid Media

      Your business model may look very different today, from what it looked like just a couple of weeks ago and it’s likely that you’ll be wanting to reach as much of your target customer base through social media as possible.   Once you’ve got your messaging right (that bit’s crucial!), you’ll need someone who knows what they’re doing with paid media, so that your budget works as effectively as possible.

      No idea where to start with this?  Fear not, we do this every day for a range of different clients and we’re here to help you too!

      Content Scheduling

      In this fast-moving world, you probably have a to-do list longer than your two arms put together. Stopping your day to remember to post a piece of social media content, may not be at the top it!

      That being said, it’s really important to keep to consistent and frequent posting times across your social channels in order to get the most from them.  Forgetting to post can have a significant impact on your organic reach and engagement.

      Let us take a load off your mind – we’ll schedule all content for your business at the optimum time. We can use a test and learn approach to ensure we post content at a time your audience are most likely to engage….result!!

      Community Management

      With so much change going on, and a world full of people at home and logged into their social accounts, it’s likely your business is going to see an uplift in people commenting and asking questions on your social pages. Are you ready to respond?

      We can help with everything from setting up automated responses to FAQs across your social pages, to manual social listening and responding to your audience.

      The businesses who are able to show they’re using their social media presence to authentically connect during these times, are the ones who will come out on top.

      Our team are ready to help you with as much of the above as you need. We’re passionate about supporting fellow businesses to get their comms right, which is why we’re offering a FREE 15 minute call to chat through anything that may be troubling you from a marketing/comms perspective to help you find a creative solution.

      We’re in this together.

      To arrange your FREE 15 minute chat, get in touch with our friendly team of marketing superstars:

      Email us: sayhello@onbrand.co.uk
      Give us a call on: 03333 220022