Author: uptown@adm

Written by Allison Herrera

Here at Uptown Girl Media, we love a good QR code!

Paired with a creative strategy, QR codes are an easy tool for people to quickly access your goods or services, which helps grow your business/brand. In simple terms, QR codes are a simple mechanism that engages potential clients & customers. Below are 17 ways you can utilize QR codes to maximize growth for your business/brand.

1. Business Cards
2. Cashless Payments
3. Clothing/Merchandise
4. Contact Information
5. Event Posters
6. Galleries & Museums
7. “Hello, My Name Is…” Tags
8. In-Store Posters with Coupons
9. Instruction Manuals
10. Outdoor Billboards
11. Product Packaging
12. Promotions During Live Events
13. Public Wifi Network Access
14. Restaurant Menus
15. Social Media Pages
16. Upcoming Events or Webinars
17. Websites

so much more! Of course, the above are all great ideas (scroll down & see picture examples), but they provide no strategy. Contact us today – we can help! With our state of the art data & statistic reports, we can also track QR codes we custom create for clients by showcasing the total number of scans, the number of scans over specific periods of time, scans by top cities, & so much more. A QR code created by Uptown Girl Media is also personalized in terms of design. Contact us today, & we will maximize your digital marketing campaign!

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Business Cards

Cashless Payments

Restaurant Menus

Social Media Pages

Written by Allison Herrera

Keywords aren’t dead. In fact, they’re Instagram’s newest functionality! Although we all push hashtags on social media, you may want to begin implementing keywords on Instagram. Here are the differences between hashtags & keywords…

Hashtags

• You choose to manually sort & organize content
• Users can follow hashtags, just as they follow accounts
• Can be used on stories, posts & reels
• Can be general or specific

Keywords

• Instagram catalogues your content
• Helps Instagram act as a search engine
• Only works on posts
• Limited categories (as of right now)

Although Instagram isn’t releasing much information on keywords, they’re transforming the app into more of a search engine & are similar to SEO, as they are based on captions & images. For instance, when you search something on Instagram, the app now suggests “keywords” based on your interests! If you’re interested in learning more about keywords and/or hashtags, shoot us an email at contact@uptowngirl.media. We’d love to chat with you!

Written by Allison Herrera & Brittany Prats

Say “hello” to Meta. Facebook rebranded as Meta last month, & we are LOVING the changes that are coming along with the new name. Along with a move to virtual reality under Meta, here are five (5)  Facebook & Instagram updates you should look out for.

1) Facial Recognition is no more!

• While the jury is still out about whether we’re happy or sad to see it go, this update is definitely going to be an adjustment for everyone.
• For obvious safety & privacy reasons, many were concerned about where this data was going and how it was being used. Meta’s VP of Artificial Intelligence made it clear that they wanted to assess the positives & negatives of facial recognition, after noticing the intense concern from their users.
• Meta is never going to stop evolving, so to say that facial recognition is gone for good is quite unlikely. Meta even stated that while they are in the process of saying goodbye to facial recognition, they are still looking into how to enhance the feature and, hopefully, reintroduce it once AI is in a better state to display transparency and offer complete privacy to their users.

 

2) Facebook Group fans, where you at?! Don’t worry, Facebook Groups aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, in fact, Facebook has made them more of a priority for their users! With the new update, they launched customizable features to make groups as user friendly and tailored as possible.

• Feeling like you want to change up the look of your group? Well, now you can! Facebook has graciously granted us with the ability to not only change fonts, colors, and backgrounds; but we can now create our own reaction emojis tailored to the group’s purpose. Instead of a like button, maybe it’s a gingerbread man or a dog… the possibilities are really endless!
• Facebook also wants to increase the engagement aspect of groups, so you can now send an automated, yet customized, welcome message to all new members!
• The update also allows admins to pin an important announcement to the top of the page, so that all users will immediately see it when they enter the group.

3) Tired of saying “link in bio” on all of your Instagram stories… us too. Well, guess what? Meta has made it a million times easier on us, you can now add a link directly into your Instagram Story! While this feature was previously available to users with higher followings, now every single user is able to put a link in their story whether they have 10 million followers or 10 followers.

4) Remember that carousel post from senior prom? The one where you wish you could just delete that ONE picture of you and your ex? Yeah, we know that feeling a little too well. Thankfully, Meta has once again come to our rescue! With the new update, you can go into a previously posted carousel and delete any pictures you wish.

5) Instagram Lives can sometimes feel impersonable. In order to make IG Lives more interactive for both the user and the creator, Meta introduced badges.

• Badges are basically a little icon next to a user’s name when they comment on an Instagram Live indicating that the user supported the creator through purchasing a $.99, $1.99 or $4.99 heart.
• This is a great way for creators to make some extra money, as well as an inexpensive way for users to show their support for their favorite creators.

The fun doesn’t end there…more Meta updates are coming.

We already know that Meta is prioritizing Facebook groups, but what if I told you they could make them more organized & specific to your needs? They’re currently looking into allowing admins to create a subgroup within their overarching group. For example, if you’re in a group for a specific organization, the admin can create subgroups within that group for things like upcoming events, merchandise, member spotlights, announcements, etc. – all without having to create a million different groups for each topic. Within the topic of subgroups soon being introduced, Meta is also developing paid subgroups, where users can subscribe to a subgroup in order to receive exclusive content.

Along with these updates, there are also potential features in development, which can potentially change the game as far as enhancing the user’s experience. It seems that with the new updates, Meta is more focused on the user and creating an enjoyable, but extremely tailored experience for them. A few of the features we heard about through the grapevine include:

1. Awards can soon be added to a post in order to make it more clear what the tone of the post will be. Words like “Insightful”, “Interesting”, and “Fun” can be awarded to creators, so users will be more likely to stop and read the whole post if it’s something that they came to Facebook in search of.
2. Community Chats can potentially be used to bring users together in real-time. No more waiting for them to respond or wondering if they ever will. A community chat will allow the users to talk whenever and wherever, with people who share their same interests.
3. Facebook Events can be really fun and helpful for the user; but from an Admin’s standpoint, it’s tedious. Meta is in the works of introducing a feature where you can make an event recurring – meaning you won’t have to put in all of the same information every single month for that monthly meeting that always happens at the same time, in the same place, and with the same people. This will make it way easier for planning events and can better regulate when recurring events are happening.

 

This might seem like a lot of information (and it definitely is), but Meta is trying to make Facebook and Instagram as user-friendly and interactive as possible – whether that be through groups or getting rid of the age-old “link in bio” dilemma.

Too much to take in? Not a fan of change? Uptown Girl Media has your back! We’re super excited about these changes & how they can enhance digital marketing, so we’d be more than happy to help you update your marketing. Contact us today!

Written by Brittany Prats

Edited by Allison Herrera

How would you describe the person you just swiped right on to your best friend? Probably the same way you describe brands like Adidas or Dior to your best friend, whether you realize it or not. Try to picture whether you would swipe right or left on a brand you’ve encountered recently. We all have our own opinions (good or bad), and that too can shape a brand’s personality. Let’s be a little honest here, ask yourself how you talk about your ex boyfriend/girlfriend. All of your friends are going to rally around you & start thinking a certain way about them based on what you say.

The same thing happens for brands. If you’re saying one thing about a brand that can sway other people’s perception, then that brand’s perceived personality is altered. This is why it’s absolutely crucial for a brand to establish it’s values and stick to them, in order to form a personality relevant to them. Let’s examine a couple of brand personalities we know best:

1. Uptown Girl Media – I mean, come on, you had to have known we were going to talk about our own brand personality!
   • Our brand is most focused on sincerity. Sincerity in a brand’s personality means the brand is trustworthy, honest, authentic, but also cheerful. At Uptown Girl Media, we will always be your biggest cheerleader, though we will always be honest with you and helpful in any way possible. The softer pink tones seen throughout our content displays that idea of being happy and excited at all times, but not too bold in a way that is in your face.
   • If Uptown Girl Media was a person, it would be that girl who constantly knows everyone in a room – and is strangely friends with them all. She grabs brunch every Sunday with her friends, but always extends the invitation to new people. She was captain of the cheer team in high school, and still to this day cheers on her favorite teams…no questions asked! She is the girl who lifts your spirit with one quick smile and a simple “hello” at the local Rouses, with a compliment in one hand and a latte in the other. You can call her at 3:00 a.m. to come bail you out of jail – and without any questions, she absolutely will. But, she’s also the girl you know you can scream the ten minute version of “All Too Well” with and not be judged for a second…because she also hates your ex-boyfriend for breaking up with you. No matter what the circumstances are. She is your ride or die – your biggest advocate, and she is always there to help you in a time of need. She pushes you to be the best to your potential and doesn’t mind sharing a few of her tips and tricks in a weekly blog post to help you get there. 😉
2. Table & Tap – We love our Table & Tap weekends, where we can experience a Saturday night out & then brunch in the morning – all in one place!
   • Table & Tap is clearly focused on giving that experience of excitement. A brand’s focus on excitement means that their personality is based around being bold, passionate, enthusiastic, and always down for a good time. Table & Tap really focuses on being a place where you can be bold and be yourself. They make themselves stand out from other bars, in order to really bring out that excitement within their customers. Whether it’s through their bold colors throughout their content/marketing or whether it’s through consistent enthusiasm for every event they house, Table & Tap’s personality is displayed in every little thing they do.
   • Table & Tap as a person is that guy who lives every day as if it’s always Saturday night! He is always dressed in darker colors – no need for coffee when it comes to this dude,  but he is always ready for a good time with his buddies. He is always the life of the party, even if it’s a random Tuesday night. He is bold, and always excited about what he and his friends are doing. He may or may not be the guy who gets pumped to & yells the lyrics to every Drake song…with zero amount of shame!
3. NOLA Discount Pharmacy – What else can we say besides that they’re the best in the pharmacy biz? That’s really all the information you need to describe NOLA Discount’s personality.
   • They are an amazing display of competency within a brand’s personality. Competency within a brand’s personality is best described through dependability, intelligence, and conscientiousness. NOLA Discount isn’t going to upcharge you on your prescription, and they certainly aren’t going to steer you the wrong way. They won’t make you wait three hours for a prescription that takes only ten minutes to fill. Through how they act in store and through their social media, they display how dependable they are and how successful they are in their field, framing their personality in an effective way. Their content and ads use the colors purple and yellow which represents the wisdom they hold, but also the joyfulness they inherit through helping their customers. Also, the use of LSU’s colors purple & gold help to represent just how proud they are to be a locally owned & operated business and how they love serving the local community! Their content is very joyful, while also showing that they have been in this business for a long time and are here to truly help their customers.
   • If NOLA Discount was a person, they would be the smartest girl in high school who was also voted “most friendly”. She is always put together, has friends in every clique, and makes sure she tells everyone hello. She was president of every single club and had a 4.0 GPA all throughout high school and college. She never seemed stressed and was always down to help anyone in need. She’s best friend status – you know you can always count on her and that she would never let you down. If you called her crying about a boy, she would drop everything and come over with candy and ice cream (only from NOLA Discount Pharmacy) to console you. She loves shopping, but tends to only buy from small, locally owned businesses. If you ask her to do something, she will do it within fifteen minutes or less because she hates making people wait…but loves helping however she can. She works long hours but never complains, because she always has a coffee in hand from a local cafe. You trust her opinion on everything she recommends because you know that she would never steer you wrong.
4. Dior – Dior is one of those brands that people long to own something from.
   • When someone says they own a Dior bag or a Dior bracelet, people are stunned. Why is that? Well, that is because Dior has established itself as a brand of sophistication. A sophisticated brand portrays confidence, composure, and especially elegance. Dior creates a sense of luxury, and the brand pushes the idea of confidence and elegance through their products, like a bag or sunglasses. Through the softer colors displayed on their advertisements and content, they show the idea of how subtlety is beautiful and elegant – making you truly stand out from the crowd.
   • If Dior was a person, she would be the showstopper – the one who walks in a room and everyone turns their head to look. She’s the It-girl people envy and want to be. She only shops at Canal Place and spends her days drinking mimosas at brunch with her elite friends (more champagne than orange juice…duh). She works out at an exclusive gym and does all of her grocery shopping at Whole Foods…WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT PRICE TAGS! But, she isn’t in your face about her designer items. She typically has on only one statement piece revealing that she is subtle, yet luxurious. Her wardrobe consists mostly of neutrals. She is kind and makes sure she smiles and waves at everyone she sees while out and about. She enjoys giving back to the community by donating unused items to local charities. She enjoys a night on the town with a cocktail in hand and heels on, and she doesn’t mind stopping at Carousel Bar for a few drinks after dinner. She always smells good, is the best dressed in the room, and makes everyone love her for her personality that’s just as bubbly as a bottle of champagne.
5. Jeep – #JeepLife baby! Everyone knows the Jeep brand, & everyone knows the culture and personality behind Jeep.
   • Jeep as a brand very clearly establishes itself through ruggedness. Rugged brands have traits that include displaying toughness, athleticism, outdoorsiness, and reliability. Jeep positions itself by constantly portraying themselves as a rugged, outdoorsy, all terrain vehicle. This is shown throughout their social media and advertisements where you would be incredibly hard pressed to find a jeep on a normal, paved road. Jeep keeps their consistency by displaying their vehicles in off road situations and by making sure that the message being displayed is always that they are ready for adventure no matter where you are.
   • If Jeep was a person, it would definitely be the guy who invites you on a date to go rock climbing in his Patagonia shorts. He spends most of his money at Massey’s, even though his mom urges him to dress better – aka no more “gym” clothes. Although he drives a Jeep, he prefers biking everywhere. He even has a canoe strapped to his vehicle “just incase”. This guy eats clean, but he loves a good steak! He is always down for a road trip, loves adventure, and is always outdoors more than he is indoors.

Now, I know you’re probably like “Okay, cool…but what’s the point”. Well, by having a strong brand personality, your brand can better connect to your audience. Strong brand personalities give your brand human-like qualities, making it easier to connect with your consumers on a whole new level. They want to be a part of that personality, thus want to be a part of your brand by supporting you. However, you have to make sure that you are staying consistent and being true to the personality you’re setting for your brand. If it starts to get confusing for your consumer, they’ll lose interest. Establishing that consistency is key when creating your brand’s personality. Something to always keep in mind is to picture your brand as a person…would you swipe right?

Still confused or feeling like you might end up swiping left? THAT’S OKAY! We’re here to help. Brand Personality is a huge part of establishing your brand as a whole, so contact us today if you’re feeling lost.

Written by Allison Herrera

Email marketing is not dead. I know you’ve heard us say that from time to time; but with the Holiday season just days away, email is your best friend. We want to set you up for success during this busy time of the year with three email list growth tactics.

1. Create incentives, free downloads or useful tools so people have a reason in giving you their email address.

This could be any form of premium content, such as free webinars, templates, discounts, etc., which many people find valuable enough to give out their email address.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Run creative email marketing campaigns.

Did you know emails save as a lead- and/or contact-generating channel? Every time someone forwards or shares your emails, your database is expanded…which is why running creative marketing campaigns are crucial!

Already have a large database? I’m sure some of your contacts are now stale 🙁 BUT, that’s okay! I highly recommend running a re-engagement campaign.

3. Include sharing buttons inside your emails.

Adding a “share” button on your email is perfect for recipients who want to share your content with others who would also resonate with it! A sharing button makes forwarding emails to friends & colleagues easy.

If you’re thinking about buying email lists, here’s a pro-tip: DO NOT DO IT. When focusing on your audience, organically growing your email list keeps you on top as a credible company with genuine relationships.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below are seven reasons for not buying email lists. 

1. You’ll violate the rules of consent under GDPR.
2. Reputable email marketing services don’t let you send emails to lists you’ve bought.
3. Good email address lists aren’t for sale.
4. People on a purchased or rented list don’t actually know you.
5. You’ll harm your email deliverability and IP reputation.
6. You can come across as annoying.
7. Your email service provider can penalize you.

Need help boosting your email marketing game? Contact us today! We’re ready to support you just in time for the holidays.

Written by Allison Herrera

If you’ve been on Instagram lately, you’ve most likely noticed a new “Add Yours” sticker feature! This new sticker feature is unlike any other on the app.

The “Add Yours” sticker promotes the core existence of social media – community engagement. This feature also boosts brand exposure. This sticker is exactly as it sounds: you add your own content in accordance to the prompt shared by a user. The “Add Yours” sticker is essentially a fun way which users can create viral chains of content within Instagram through responding to other users’ stories.

 

 

 

 

 

 
For example, a users with access to this feature can post a story with a “Add Yours” sticker highlighting a custom prompt for their community, such as “outfit of the day”. This then guides followers in adding their own outfit of the day picture via the feature by simply pressing on the sticker & sharing it on their own stories – swiping up to add media from their camera roll.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
As for brand exposure, a chain reaction begins every time a user shares an “Add Yours” sticker on stories. When an account shares an “Add Yours” sticker, the original creator’s name shows up on every single participant’s shared sticker. This is a big deal in terms of brand exposure; because if you’re the original creator, your name is circulated on every account interacting with your “Add Yours” sticker. This means hundreds of thousands of accounts could potentially see your “Ask Yours” sticker & discover your profile. This is also a gateway for conversation starters, as you can see which of your followers are joining in on the chain.

 

 

 

 

 

 
The “Add Yours” sticker primarily focuses on building community; so even if the Instagram gods haven’t graced your profile with this feature yet, you can still participate in the “Add Yours” sticker chain as you see them develop on stories! While Instagram rolls out this feature on more & more accounts, now is your opportunity to flourish in creativity & implement this sticker into your social media strategy. So, jump on this chain reaction!

Not sure how you can take advantage of social media or this new feature? Hopping on board with new Instagram trends are easy & painless with our assistance. Contact us today, & we will develop a customized game plan for you!

Written by Allison Herrera

Emily in Paris is taking Netflix by storm. The 10-episode rom-com series starring Lily Collins features an American digital marketing/social media coordinator whose job transfers her abroad from Chicago to Paris to bring an “American point of view” to a French marketing agency. Emily in Paris was an easy, breezy watch for some viewers; whereas, for others, it was like forcing a cheap bottle of Bordeaux down one’s throat. Why? Because as Emily continues to live her best life on social media through bad selfies and generic hashtags, this show reveals how many people have zero concept in what strategizing social media entails, especially when utilizing it for business gains.

The amount of work, attention and engagement unpaid and aspiring influencers work for their social media strategy and content is millions and millions of times more than what Emily puts in. We understand that this is just a Netflix series, but it glamorizes our job and makes it seem simple to those who lack an understanding of what really goes on behind all of our hard work. Without proper planning, strategy or unique and captivating content, social media success is certainly not overnight. These are the areas where Emily continuously has us waving red flags…

Followers

Emily begins the show with her Instagram handle as her own name and only has forty-eight (48) followers, which is a hard pill to swallow. No 20-something-year-old who has Emily’s personality, background in marketing and is a social media whiz possesses such a pathetically small following. But, then again, we don’t know this chick’s life.

When she steps foot in Paris, she changes her handle to @emilyinparis, which is where she begins growing her account. In less than 24 hours, she grows her social media account to 200 followers after taking touristy photos of cheese, croissants, children playing, etc. And after a few short weeks, Emily is deemed as an “influencer”. Influencers might scoff at this, because it takes more work and time than Emily displays in attaining this status. This alludes that grabbing the attention of over 25,000 strangers and several notorious brands in merely a few short weeks based on basic (or ringarde, as a snobby French designer refers to Emily at one point) content is nearly impossible.

Posts

Remember the word ringarde mentioned above? Yep, Emily’s posts are ringarde AF. Her account resembles what was once popular on Instagram when the app first came out – basic, unedited photos of objects, food and strangers just living their lives taken on an iPhone camera. Let’s be real…this kind of content wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) attract thousands of people to her account. Honestly, how does someone get over 1,000 followers in ONE MORNING after posting THIS?

Or perhaps this photo of CHEESE. In LESS THAN ONE HOUR, Emily gained over 3,000 followers from a PICTURE OF CHEESE.

I read a quote the other day that states that in Emily in Paris, “The portrayal of what performs on social media, and Emily’s ‘knack’ for the platform, is honestly disrespectful to anyone who has ever been tasked with creating content.” Although we would have watered that down just a tad, we couldn’t agree more. Are we upset about the show? Nah…just maybe her trash captions.

Captions

This criticism goes past Emily’s “content”. Her clichéd captions are garbage. I’m sorry, but someone had to say it. For example, how am I supposed to get on board with a caption like THIS?

Should we even bring back that horrid “chiseled abs” caption we already blessed you with?! Yep…I think so.

If you didn’t already know, snapping photos, typing out captions on the spot and posting on a whim makes every social media marketer CRINGE. She just fires off content and captions right on the spot, which is nothing short of chaos in a social media connoisseur’s world. Emily is obviously unaware (or unconcerned) regarding…

• Optimal times of day to post for your audience
• Strategies behind adding tags and locations
• HASHTAGS!

This now brings us to the subject of hashtags. For the love of God, Emily, hashtags increase engagement. If this chick knows anything about social media, she should know the strategy and intention behind hashtags, yet she uses ones that not a single soul would engage with.

These captions and hashtag choices feel like Emily took a crash course on “how to be cool through social media” from an out of touch boomer who is trying to re-live her high school glory days while learning TikTok dances in her spare time. Instead, Emily is painted as a young millennial with a career in digital marketing and social media galivanting Paris. LOLZ. Of course, if this was a show reflecting real life, her ringarde posts would piss off Parisians one by one, as I assume Parisians are already annoyed with American posts glamorizing the Eiffel Tower and macarons.

Social Media Presence

Emily’s engagement is so inauthentic that it feels almost as if it is run by bots. Proposing that Emily’s audience growth is organic and that she practices what she preaches when it comes to engagement is as possible as Gumbeaux becoming the next quarterback for the New Orleans Saints – 110% unlikely. As I mentioned, her posts would have been the peak of existence when Instagram first developed; but when viewed in 2020, her engagement seems offsetting, as if she is a socialization experiment.

In Conclusion

Emily may perhaps appeal to an American audience, as she plays off of French clichés. But if you’re starting a new Instagram account in 2020, you have to distinct yourself from the millions of other women dying to become influencers. Personally, I don’t see her excelling through this account. When it comes to her career, though, Emily’s ideas aren’t half bad…but, they are certainly half baked. And, in the real world, she would need to show some KPIs before executing any plans.

So, perhaps Emily Cooper doesn’t understand social media management, but the verdict still stands…we love Emily in Paris. Everything about this show has a hint of laughable, unrealistic elements, which adds to her lack of her social media knowledge. Think about it, who in her position can afford a different designer piece every day or has a fling from a smoking hot Parisian neighbor in her same apartment building? The list goes on…but, one thing is for sure – we’re already anticipating Season 2!

**If you have any questions regarding what social media management and strategy actually entail, feel free to shoot us an email at contact@uptowngirl.media – we would love to chat with you.

Written by Allison Herrera

Winter is coming. But, really. We’ll trade out pumpkin everything for the scent of pine needles & sugar cookies in just a few, short weeks. & with winter comes the holidays.

This year in the United States, we can expect a quite different holiday season…especially in South Louisiana (thanks, Covid 19 AND Hurricane Ida). There’s many moving factors in terms of consumer behavior & the holiday shopping season. Lucky for us, Google and Boston Consulting Group conducted a series of surveys in regards to just that!

Their studies reveal that over 80% of consumers are seeking out in-person shopping experiences. When the pandemic initially hit, we observed a dramatic shift toward e-commerce. Retailers were practically forced to move to e-commerce or face the consequences of dying as a business. But, don’t put all your eggs in a basket when it comes to only selling online. As people yearn for more in-person experiences again, studies reveal that only 14% of U.S. shoppers say they will not shop in-stores this holiday season.

What does this mean? Well, it certainly doesn’t mean pull out of marketing – especially digital marketing. Instead, these numbers simply imply that a stronger look at your ad campaigns call to action (CTA) & social media strategy as a whole. Right now, companies should strongly focus on marketing the consumer experience & customer service – especially in terms of replying to direct messages on social media.

Studies from Sprout Social reveal that growth is expected across all social media platforms – Instagram in particular. They are predicting that Instagram messages received this year will increase on an average of 44% this holiday season. So, if you’re not replying back to messages, you will potentially lose a sale.

Three (3) tips for your marketing strategy during the “most wonderful time of the year” are…

• Have FAQs front & center. This eliminates answering the same question over & over again.
• Designate social media managers to certain field requests or concerns from clients. Make sure everyone is on the same page!
• ENGAGEMENT IS KEY! Whether it’s customized notes or company swag, show those who support you how much you appreciate them. It’s the little touches that make all the difference.

Not sure where to start or want to expand past just these three (3) tips above? Contact us today! We can help you with the mentioned above & develop a more streamlined, customized customized strategy for your desired holiday season goals.

Written by Becca Miller & Brittany Prats

Edited by Allison Herrera⁣

It’s finally November, so you know what that means…Happy Holidays, y’all! But as much as we seriously wish it was automatically Christmas after Halloween, we’re grateful for those extra weeks of holiday shopping we can get in. With the holidays quickly approaching, it’s sometimes difficult to think of the perfect gift for that someone special – so where do you turn to? SOCIAL MEDIA, BABY!

Whether it’s TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or all of the above, businesses are benefiting from the constant influence that social media has on consumer’s buying decisions. With the holidays quickly approaching (Christmas is 54 days away, but who’s really counting?!), this is your perfect opportunity to set up your Instagram Shopping, amp up your TikTok page, then let the purchases roll in!  Let’s break it down.

It’s time to be a little honest with ourselves – how many times have you bought something impulsively because you saw it on social media? I know I have at least a dozen times…but, hey, maybe I just don’t have much self control when it comes to online shopping (surprise, I actually do not have a single ounce of self control in me when it concerns shopping). But, I’m not alone!

TikTok is a main source of the boost in fashion sales in the past few years. In fact, on TikTok, the hashtag #TikTokFashion has well over 20 billion views. What does that mean exactly? Well, when someone posts a video of a new product they found or their latest haul from Zara, they use this hashtag to not only bring more viewers in, but potentially to increase revenue for the brand itself. Businesses like Shein are thriving through TikTok because of the sheer amount of reach they’re able to receive without even posting a video themselves through their own account.

In general, both small businesses and corporations have put TikTok at the forefront of their social media strategy because of how direct and accessible it is. Sure, when you post a shirt on Instagram people may think it’s cute – but consumers are more likely to buy it if they see someone (a human element) show it in a haul on TikTok? The answer is quite clearly yes.

Shopping on social media has become a huge part of every social platform. Instagram recently changed their entire interface by adding in a shopping tab, which is right next to a user’s profile. Users can search by categories, sales, shops, and more. They can also search for products using their search bar. The shopping tab allows businesses to list their products and notify users if they have updated listings. Instagram has now allowed ALL businesses to use this feature. This is great news because now “mom & pop” shops can utilize another feature that can propel their business forward. You don’t have to meet certain criteria in order to use this feature – it’s readily available for easy shopping as you post on your social media. You can even tag your products in your posts to make it simple for a user to shop directly from your post.

Another great feature that Instagram recently offered is that now, every business can use their link feature! You no longer have to hit 10,000 followers in order to access the link feature. Now, any business is able to post links to their stories. This is great news for businesses, because you can now constantly promote your product and give users an opportunity to purchase your products that you’re sharing. Use it to your advantage when creating story highlights, this way your link & story can be shared with users longer than 24 hours.

While a lot of the information remains unknown regarding TikTok’s algorithm and why videos go viral – here’s what we do know, along with Instagram and Facebook videos…

• With TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, users don’t have to follow your brand to see your content.
  • That’s really the beauty and uniqueness of why social media is a critical sales tool this Holiday Season. Billions of users scroll through their TikTok “for you page” seeing mostly videos from brands or people they don’t actually know. What’s even crazier is that for whatever reason, viewers seriously trust these strangers’ opinions.
• When it comes down to gift giving, there are hundreds of accounts dedicated solely to what gifts you should be giving your mom, dad, boyfriend, girlfriend, brother, sister, cousin, dog, hamster, lizard, and quite literally anyone else you could EVER think of.
• While social media is a great place to even just get your product out there and get people to start viewing it, it’s mainly a top tier decision maker for a lot of people.
  • When viewers watch a video of something that peaks their interest, the viewer may not even give it a second thought if the video has millions of views. Be cleaver, be creative, be trendy, and you’re sure to get someone buying your product this holiday season.

Whatever the reason is for why social media is such a big influence on the consumer’s purchase decision process, all you need to know is that if your brand isn’t utilizing TikTok, Instagram or Facebook, you should start sooner than later. Big Businesses take advantage of these platforms and the potential of going viral – so why shouldn’t your small business reap the same benefits?

Aerie Crossover Leggings were sold out for months, because of a few, short videos that went viral. Lululemon Hotty Hots were also sold out for months also because of a few, short videos that went viral. So, don’t think the same thing can’t happen for your product – because it can!

However, we know swimming in unknown waters can be a little scary, especially if you have no idea where to start. Let us help! Uptown Girl Media specializes in all things social media, & we know we can help your product be the gift of the season! Give us a call, so we can make this the merriest Holiday Season your business has had yet.

Written by Allison Herrera

I would argue that a brand’s social media might just be the most important aspect of their marketing strategy. I know, that’s a bold statement, but think about it….

How do you find most of the brands you use? Social media. Where do you go to see real people experiencing a product? Social media. Where do you go when you have a concern about the brand or their product? Social media.

Social Media is where brands can be their most authentic selves and can interact with their customers on a more personal level – all while promoting their product in a subtle, but effective way.

Prioritizing social media can flip your whole brand upside down. You’ll start seeing better results, higher levels of engagement, and (hopefully) an increase in revenue. Understanding the importance of not only implementing social media marketing, but prioritizing it as well can be extremely beneficial for strengthening your brand and the connection to your audience.

Show Your Customers Your Personality

This is your chance to show everyone the best aspects of your business or brand. Consider what your audience may want to know or will be the most helpful information. Your social media profiles are a hub of information for your customers – from opening hours to products to menus.

You want to make sure that you are highlighting how trustworthy your business is, that means sharing everything about your business. We use social media as a tool for our clients in sharing your staff bios, product photos/videos, behind the scenes content, etc. Don’t forget to always incorporate your company’s core values, brand voice, and uniqueness in every post you create.

You can also use your social media as a hub in highlighting what makes your business unique and sets you apart from your competition. Keep your branding consistent, yet still trendy – you want to keep attracting customers for as long as you can.

Remember that social media is not the place to be inauthentic! You want to invest your time in your social media to keep the connection to your customers as authentic and as real as possible.

Target and Attract Your Audience

Social media serves multiple purposes, so narrowing down how you want to use it and who you are trying to reach through messaging is crucial. With the advancements in social media, reaching and interacting with your audience through social media provides value, while remaining more of a low-cost way of marketing your business. If you concentrate on the characteristics of your target audience, you can effectively personalize messages that appropriately resonate with your target audience. For example, the mediums and language you would use to connect with a Gen-Z female varies from how you would attract an audience of male baby boomers.

To help you determine your target audience, ask yourself these questions:

• Who is the audience you’re trying to reach?
• What platforms does this audience typically use?
• What trends are popular among this audience?

 

Diversify Your Content

Not all social media platforms are created equal. Consider what your business is and how it can grow on certain social media platforms. For example, an interior designer might do better on Pinterest than someone who is in plumbing. Also, every platform has their own content that may perform better than on another. Consider Reels – they were initially only made for Instagram, but now you are able to watch them on Facebook.

Being able to diversify your content is a great way to connect with your audience while maintaining a consistent presence on social media. But remember, not all content is meant for all platforms. Below is a breakdown of each popular platform and their purpose.

• Facebook: You’re allowed to post a range of content like pictures, videos, articles, and galleries. With Facebook you can reach a large audience because everything is so public.
• Twitter: Remember you are limited with your characters, 280 characters to be exact. Messages are going to be more short, sweet and to the point, maybe even a little informal. But you’re able to post photos, videos and articles to accompany your text.
• Instagram: This is your hub for sharing photos and videos! There’s many different ways to reach your audience: hashtags, locations and tagging users.
• LinkedIn: Consider this or professional network. You can share posts or articles related to your business or your industry. This will be a great hub to collect new employees and share your current company culture.
• Pinterest: Remember her? This platform lets users discover new content like pictures and articles that are based on their favorite interests. Users are able to browse by topic and categorize everything they find into boards for future use.
• TikTok: He’s the new kid on the block that works off of short form video clips. The audience on TikTok is a much younger audience and you need to stay relevant. But because they are a newer app, it’s a little easier to go viral and reach a wider audience

Don’t limit yourself to one platform – consider having a range of social profiles. But, keep in mind to diversify your content. Some content may not be relevant to certain platforms. It can take a lot of time and energy to create different content for different profiles. Consider hiring a marketing agency, a.k.a us, to help you plan your content!

Create An Attainable Plan

After assessing your clients’ needs, it’s time to put together their goals with an attainable and specific plan. Whenever we welcome a new account to the Uptown Girl Media family, we explain that marketing is not a “one size fits all”, so each client’s plan differs based on what we refer to as “SMART Goals” – an acronym we use for goal setting. Click here and read our blog post all about SMART Goals.

Track EVERYTHING

It’s incredibly important to track how well your social media content is working or if you need to adjust your strategy. But there are many numbers to process, which can become overwhelming. Start off by focusing on your followers, then process engagement you’re receiving. This can help you determine what your followers love or hate, and is also a great start to tracking your overall goal.

Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t seeing results right away! Social media is a process and results can take as long as 12-18 months. Rome wasn’t built in one day 😉

Wondering what else you can track on social media? We can help break down your data to give you a full report of how your social media is performing.

Getting your brand out there can be hard, especially when there are millions of social media users competing against. Understanding why you should prioritize social and the benefits that can come from that is a great start!

Overall, social media is a serious game changer in pushing your brand to where you aspire it to be. Does this all still seem a little confusing to you? It’s okay – that’s why we’re here to help. Social is our speciality, and we would love nothing more than to assist you in transforming your business. Ready to strengthen your brand and get social? Give us a call!