POSTS PORTFOLIO SEARCH SHOP
SEARCH
SHOP
  • Your Cart Is Empty!

iluma Agency © 2022 - All Rights Reserved

Blog

Blog, Marketing

Viral Visibility

By on

August 14, 2018

- Blog, Marketing

Social Media Marketing Hacks for Franchisees: Viral Visibility

As social media marketing becomes increasingly competitive and over-saturated, franchisees are finding it challenging to use platforms like Facebook and Instagram effectively. Combined with brand parameters that may at times feel restrictive to their content (relative to non-franchise local businesses), franchisees often become discouraged and may fail to recognize the importance of local content marketing to gain brand exposure, build loyal relationships with followers and grow their business. By posting content that their members are compelled to share, franchisees will experience extra visibility at no cost. With the right tools and tactics, they can earn more social likes and shares to increase their digital presence—all while staying perfectly on brand.

Use Facebook’s algorithm to your advantage

In January 2018, Facebook changed its algorithm to prioritize “meaningful interactions,” which includes posts from “friends, family and groups.” Facebook intended to filter out “less public content” or, at least, limit it. For businesses, this generally made it more difficult to gain visibility without investing ad spend to boost posts. But for the social media savvy, this change isn’t a challenge but rather an opportunity.

Franchisees can gain the upper hand by focusing on content that sparks interaction among their local community and customer base. Meaningful interactions count toward your engagement, which makes Facebook’s algorithm favor you and show your posts to more people in the future.

Dare to engage your audience

Increase interaction by sharing and posting user-generated content. People love being recognized by the brands and businesses they care about. Your followers will feel like you care about them and in return may even share your content with their followers. Feel free to shout-out your biggest fans and share the love.

To stand out from other businesses on social media and encourage reciprocal communication rather than just talking at your followers, consider asking questions and using fun prompts relevant to your customers’ interests that will give them a chance to be in the spotlight. Although cheap, point-blank calls to action like “share if you agree” or “use the reactions to vote” are judged unfavorably by Facebook’s most recent algorithm update, there are plenty of ways to stir up a conversation naturally. Your customers and followers are just waiting for the opportunity to share things about themselves, engage with your business, and interact with one another.

Keep up with your followers

While the content you share says a lot about your business, what your customers are saying about you matters even more—and your response to them probably matters the most. By constantly monitoring your local social media channels and responding to all comments, messages, and reviews, you are gaining more insight into what your customers are interested in, building loyalty among your followers, and even encouraging others to join in the conversation. Social media users crave more personal interactions—and you have the opportunity to provide exactly that.

Developments in technology have increased the viability of practicing social listening, responding to comments and reviews, and tracking hashtags, tags, and mentions from multiple social platforms across hundreds of franchise locations.

Host and promote events

From an open house to grand opening, workshops, anniversary parties and beyond, hosting a local event as a franchisee is an ideal opportunity to ramp up your social media exposure.

Start by creating a Facebook event page and be sure to promote it on-location as well. Any time your customers or followers RSVP via Facebook, all of their Facebook followers are notified about the event.

Posting content from the event itself, especially photos showing your customers and followers, will likely be shared on their profiles for all their friends to see. During an event hosted at your franchise location, encourage Facebook check-ins—which essentially let your customer’s friends know they visited your business.

Consistency is key

In the media world, one day you’re in and the next day you’re not. That’s why it’s important to post constantly and consistently. You have to remain cohesive and gain the attention of your followers. The more consistently you post, the easier it is to stay relevant, on trend, and top of mind. As you build a history of content, you gain valuable insight about the types of social posts that win the most engagement, shares, and visibility.

Never lose sight of your vision

While engaging with your followers is highly encouraged, all interactions should primarily align with your brand’s overall vision. Not only do you want to avoid confusing your audience and driving them away; by transmitting a consistent message, you are gaining more credibility from your audience, as well as increasing retention. The more on brand your business stays, the more identifiable you will become. And the more on brand dozens or hundreds of locations stay, the more identifiable your local business will become on a national or even global scale.

While optimizing your social media content can increase valuable web traffic and brand exposure, quite possibly the most important benefit is the relationships built between franchise businesses and their followers. As the digital world has become an overwhelming and intimidating place, consumers are straying away from sales pitches and looking for more authentic engagement from brands.

At iluma Agency, we enjoy helping hundreds of franchisees use social media to connect with their customers and qualified prospects. For a digital marketing approach tailored to your brand and your local market, please reach out to our team.

0
Blog, Marketing

Franchises & Instagram Stories

By on

August 3, 2018

- Blog, Marketing

What Does Your Franchise Need to Know About Instagram Stories?

Since its launch in October 2010, Instagram has steadily evolved into a vital digital marketing tool for franchises to grow their social media presence and brand—especially at the local level. With nearly 1 billion active users, and especially popular with millennials, savvy businesses are catching on: They can use this platform to command attention from their target audience and separate themselves from the crowd. Now, as Instagram’s “Stories” feature gains increasing popularity, franchise business growth can happen in new ways.

Show the personal side of your business.

In a market saturated by companies seemingly selling the same product or service, your target audience learns to recognize (and ignore) traditional ads. From fun filters to Gifs, and even Boomerang videos, Instagram Stories lets you amp up your content with creative flare.

Show your company’s human side by using these features:

  • Filters
  • Text
  • Stickers
  • Gifs
  • Freehand drawing
  • Boomerangs
  • Location stickers
  • Hashtags
  • Music

Stand out from the “white noise” of endless social media and create Instagram Stories your followers will take the time to watch. Get creative:

  • DIY tutorials
  • Behind-the-scenes footage
  • Staff takeovers
  • Exclusive Stories-only promotions

By infusing content with humor and originality, B2C companies are able to show a side of them that reduces fear of trial and helps build lasting relationships.

New features are continuously being rolled out, so be sure to check your phone for Instagram updates.

Be interactive to reinforce a strong sense of community.

With the addition of “polling” and “question” features, Instagram Stories has given its massive platform the feel of a small, tight-knit community.

The polling option allows your followers to vote for their favorite choice or select from pre-set answers (which could be as simple as “yes” or “no”) or even on a slider scale. As soon as they select an answer, they’ll be shown a screen that shows the most up-to-date poll results from everyone who answered. The questions option flips it around and allows your followers to send you questions to answer.

These options are especially appealing for membership-based franchises, including the hundreds of Orangetheory Fitness studios we work with. For a fitness franchise like Orangetheory, building a supportive sense of community both in studio and online is essential so members never feel alone on their fitness journey. The interactive component of Instagram Stories keeps members engaged and reminds them that they are part of something bigger than themselves.

No matter how near or far your customer is, you can make them feel included and involved—and even like they play a larger role in company decision making. Using Instagram Stories helps you reinforce the sense of belonging that customers so often crave from their favorite brand.

Leave a lasting impression.

Similar to Snapchat, content uploaded to Instagram Stories disappears after 24 hours—unless you take advantage of Instagram’s latest update: Story Highlights.

Story Highlights let you upload past stories for permanent display in a special section at the top of your profile. You can completely customize your Story Highlights section to exude a more cohesive and on-brand look.

Likely the first thing potential new customers see when visiting your profile, Instagram Story Highlights are an opportunity to showcase videos that elevate your brand.

Master Instagram’s algorithm.

Instagram’s complicated and unchronological algorithm attempts to compile a unique feed of content for every user based on their app activity. It works on a ranking system, primarily based on three factors: interest, recency, and relationship. This sounds great in theory, but a business who doesn’t spark interaction and engagement will find it challenging to gain more followers and will be seen less and less by the followers they already have.

Staying top of mind is key. By generating Instagram Stories your followers love to watch and interact with, the boost in engagement results in additional exposure for your Instagram content—and additional exposure for your brand.

Tell your story.

Social media is changing the way we interact with others—and that’s not a bad thing. Instagram Stories has opened up the lines of communication between businesses and their audiences and has created a distinct opportunity to ascertain a strong relationship with both clients and prospects. As brand awareness continues to serve an essential role in franchise growth, staying up to date with the latest social media marketing trends and creating your digital footprint is a necessity, not an option.

For innovative social media marketing strategy and management custom tailored to your franchise brand, schedule a call with our team.

0
Blog, Meet the Staff

Meet iluma’s Team: Ismael Llano

By on

July 25, 2018

- Blog, Meet the Staff

Ismael Llano has joined iluma Agency’s account management team as Brand Manager. He brings over 15 years of marketing expertise, with more than 10 years of senior client relations experience, to this integral role on our team. From strategy to communication, Ismael works closely with both our external clients and all internal departments to ensure we elevate the brand while driving local franchise growth. He’s excited to bring his dedication to the franchise world while continuing to grow and learn—and we’re delighted to get to work with such a positive, vibrant and talented leader.

Born, raised, and surrounded by family in South Florida, Ismael attended the University of Miami, where he double majored in art science and advertising, with a minor in marketing. His appreciation for art encompasses abstract and pop artists such as Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol.

Having also lived in New York for two years, Ismael wrote a sitcom pilot about a character who moves from Miami to New York to work in advertising. Ismael likes keeping busy. Far from his only creative endeavor, he has also taken part in micro theater plays and currently co-hosts a weekly podcast with a lifelong friend.

Listening to “Pero… Let Me Tell You,” Ismael’s podcast, sounds like you’re hanging out with a couple of friends—and features the “rants and musings of two Cuban-American guys discussing news, politics, culture and arts.” Proudly sharing a birthday with Lucille Ball, Ismael enjoys making people laugh.

Along with his great sense of humor, Ismael also radiates positivity everywhere he goes. Through his podcast he has had the opportunity to interview some of Miami’s greatest—like Sef Gonzales, aka Burger Beast. He has even been sponsored to attend Croquetapalooza, a Cuban food lover’s dream come true. In one of his favorite podcast episodes, Ismael interviewed the leader of Amigos for Kids, a local organization that helps prevent child abuse. He is excited to continue growing his international digital audience and looks forward to building an entire podcast network.

Our upbeat and open-minded Brand Manager offers us this advice: “Don’t just exist. LIVE.” Specific to franchise brands, he recommends an approach that focuses on longevity rather than merely chasing short-term goals. We’re confident that Ismael is exactly the right person to help our franchise clients realize long-term success and get the most from their brand.

Ismael said his favorite part of iluma Agency is the people. He enjoys being surrounded by interesting people who are passionate about what they do.

To stay connected and keep up with our growing agency team, follow us on Facebook.

0
Blog

3 Franchise Marketing Lessons from the Membership Model

By on

April 3, 2018

- Blog

Long popular within the fitness industry, membership-based businesses have expanded to additional verticals, with some of the fastest-growing franchises receiving revenue from membership dues.

The membership business model asks customers to “join” instead of “purchase.” Joining means submitting regular payments to continue receiving a product or service. For a business, this holds the promise of sustained retention and profitability.

While not all franchise companies can operate on a membership premise, every brand can learn from the best practice digital marketing tactics used to target, acquire, and keep new members.

  1. Build a Community—Locally and Worldwide

Successful membership-based franchises don’t just have regularly paying customers; they have members who are part of their brand’s community. Members are comfortable visiting their fitness studio or spa because they feel welcomed and valued, with a deep sense of belonging. The staff at these franchise locations demonstrate a genuine care for their members’ lives.

Membership-based franchises showcase members on social media and continuously publish engaging posts that foster member and staff interaction with the brand and with each other. This sense of connection helps solidify the brand as a community they would never want to leave.

Often, membership-based franchises are also deeply involved in their local communities—and leverage their contribution across digital channels. When participating in a nearby college’s homecoming parade or sponsoring a 5K run for charity, they promote the action on Facebook Live, create slideshows on Instagram using location-specific hashtags, and show the best photos in an email blast. More than just a business vying for customers, they are truly part of their members’ community and life.

  1. More than a Brand, Be a Lifestyle

Membership marketing taps into a prospective customer’s emotional need to feel good about his or her life. Rather than focusing solely on a product or service, messaging across digital ads and social media focuses on the life their customers live thanks to being a member and long-time consumer of their product or service.

Lifestyle-focused digital campaigns encourage members to share their own social media content showing them engaging with a product or reaping the benefits of their membership in their daily life. These satisfied members act as brand ambassadors, providing additional business visibility while reminding everyone in their social network to become a member, too.

When a strong correlation is made between your brand and a better lifestyle—whether it’s better health, luxury, confidence, or fun—member retention skyrockets. Customers would do anything to maintain that feeling.

  1. Roll Out the Red Carpet

Members have VIP status. They receive access to services and products no one else receives. They’re treated with special attention from staff, are eligible for members-only discounted pricing, and are invited to member appreciation events.

Despite their exclusivity, members-only products, services, events, and promotions are meant for the world to see. Roll out the red carpet to treat your customers like royalty, and use social media, email marketing, and digital advertising to show everyone else what they’re missing.

Digital communication also supplements staff efforts to let members know about these promotions and exclusive events available to them. Using e-blasts to reward return customers and Facebook events to invite them to special events can help increase purchases, satisfaction, and retention.

Best in Class

Orangetheory Fitness is an example of a membership-based franchise getting it right on every level.

Community: The “Orange Nation” includes all members, coaches, and staff who belong to Orangetheory’s network of more than 1,000 studios worldwide. When members join Orangetheory, it’s more than a workout—they’ve joined a family. From buzzing about favorite coaches and playlists to celebrating post-workout triumph, studio-driven social media conversations at the local level keep that sense of community alive and strong.

Lifestyle: Orangetheory’s recent More Life campaign focuses on their members getting more out of life the more they workout at Orangetheory. In addition to national promotions including a call for members to submit their own More Life stories, local franchisees highlight their members’ personal records, number of classes attended, participation in local races, wedding transformations and more across social media and in email newsletters.

Exclusive Experience: Special members-only events, ranging from studio anniversary and member appreciation parties to a triathlon-inspired “Dri-Tri,” remind the Orangetheory community about the extra perks of being a member. Local studios promote attendance through Facebook event pages and ads, and they share exciting event footage across their digital channels for all to see.

Applying the Membership Marketing Model

Your brand doesn’t need a membership model to market like one—or to grow like one.

Shape each prospect and customer into the equivalent of a lifetime member by equipping your franchisees to promote a sense of community, showcase the brand as a lifestyle, and highlight an enviable customer experience across digital platforms. Implementing these tactics  leads to increased frequency of visits, better retention, and happier clients.

To learn how your brand’s marketing can be executed locally across all your unique markets to accomplish these goals, schedule a free brand health consultation.

0
Blog, Franchise Development

The Lifecycle Approach

By on

March 1, 2018

- Blog, Franchise Development

Maximize Local Franchise Marketing Success at Every Stage

Fixated on growth, international franchise brands understandably focus on the big picture—quickly attracting franchisees, expanding into new markets, and improving profitability. While these benchmarks are essential indicators of brand health, this global success is critically dependent on local achievement. A multi-unit brand is as strong as its individual units.

Ensuring franchisee success requires local marketing support tailored not only to each individual market—but also to the lifecycle of each unit: pre-open, grand opening, and mature/established. Marketing strategy should also evolve as a franchisee begins opening additional locations or joins a co-op that requires a regional approach.

keep reading
0
Blog, Franchise Development, Uncategorized

Franchise Brand Growth through Local Event Marketing

By on

January 30, 2018

- Blog, Franchise Development, Uncategorized

Your franchise brand is growing, opening more operating units exponentially each year. You’re executing a successful marketing campaign at the national brand level, profits are steady, and you’ve got your eye on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list—but you know you could grow faster if your franchisees were doing more at the local level. Your franchise location owners need to generate more leads, convert them into paying customers, and increase retention by maximizing engagement with current clientele.

Leveraging events through strategic digital and social media marketing tactics is crucial to boost local success across all markets and can elevate your brand’s growth from “good” to “great.”

Every business has marketable events, starting even before the business opens. Think pre-sales events, a “sneak peek” or open house sign-up event, and grand opening. Once open, a fitness franchise might host an annual weight loss challenge, and a salon might have a recurring makeover tutorial led by a popular stylist.

Powerful events do more than get customers in the door; they build awareness and excitement for your brand.

Many of these events can and should be planned and guided at the corporate brand level, but smart execution at the local level—including local digital marketing—is critical for success.

Think of local event marketing like a web. A single unit hosting a local event could garner a few thousand impressions, but a brand planning a nationwide event marketed through a multi-faceted digital approach could achieve exponentially more reach. If the event is promoted consistently, the same brand message will be delivered to hundreds of thousands of people, covering much more ground. With proper marketing before, during, and after the event, your customers and targeted leads are likely to share the event with their friends, creating viral visibility at no additional cost.

BEFORE THE EVENT

The success of an event depends on local marketing executed well before the event begins.

Franchisees can encourage a sense of urgency by creating a Facebook event page and scheduling social media posts counting down to the event. Local e-blasts can include messaging about the event and drive traffic to an RSVP page or lead-capture landing page designed specifically for an event.

Digital ads as well as boosted, sponsored, or pinned posts on social media can generate a high level of buzz about an upcoming event while simultaneously boosting brand awareness. Strategic targeting and ad spend deliver an event to current and prospective customers who are a fit for your brand in a specific local market.

Consistent use of on-brand event assets throughout integrated marketing activities across all locations drives a unified, recognizable message that showcases what’s unique and special about your brand. Typos, improper logo use, and clip-art at the local level can dilute the brand, show it in a negative light, and fail to attract new customers.

DURING THE EVENT

While marketing prior to an event is key to participation, keeping the momentum going throughout the event’s duration is equally important for engagement and retention. Whether an event is a few hours or a few weeks long, thoughtful digital marketing tactics can foster a sense of community that increases brand loyalty and referrals.

With attention to brand messaging and consistency, franchisees can employ these digital marketing activities to maximize event engagement online:

  • Set up a branded Snapchat geofilter to make it fun for customers to share pictures of the event with their friends
  • Upload videos from the event to Youtube and share them across multiple channels
  • Share fun event pictures and videos during the event via Instagram Stories
  • Communicate with event participants in a Facebook Group, where members of the group, including customers and staff, can all post to and interact with each other

AFTER THE EVENT

When an event ends, it’s instinctive to move right into what’s coming up next. But the best event marketing continues to keep up the buzz of an event well after it’s over.

Through email newsletters, social media, and blog content, franchisees can showcase an event’s best moments, promoting a sense of pride in attendees and a strong push for others to join in next time.

This is an ideal time to curate user-generated content by searching for event- and location-specific hashtags. Incorporating user-generated content shows customers your brand is listening and engaging—and encourages other customers to share their own content about your brand in the future.

MANAGING EVENT MARKETING ACROSS 100s OF LOCATIONS

Brands can encourage all open and pre-open franchise locations to follow these simple, replicable event marketing strategies. Before the event, develop cohesive brand assets to increase awareness across all units. During, build a sense of community by encouraging discussion and user-generated content through social media. At the event’s end, recap and repurpose content from their location for future events.

While important, managing hundreds of individual franchise locations’ events isn’t the best use of time for your corporate marketing team. Working with a franchise-focused digital agency partner for localized marketing support can help streamline event marketing success across all markets while protecting the brand. A branded event, promoted properly in all markets throughout its life cycle, earns interest from new clients, loyalty from current customers, and engagement from all—for growth at the local and brand level.

To learn more about how iluma Agency can make your brand shine with frictionless franchise digital marketing, contact us today.

0
Blog, Meet the Staff

Meet iluma’s Team: Sarah Rosenblum

By on

January 16, 2018

- Blog, Meet the Staff

The Content and Creative Director of iluma Agency, Sarah Rosenblum, has been with our company for more than 2 years and plays an important role in our LocalLight marketing program for franchisees and multi-unit businesses, including Orangetheory Fitness, Aveda, Massage Envy, and Tapout Fitness.

From social media and blog articles that drive engagement, traffic, and brand awareness to e-blasts and ads that generate clicks and leads, she manages the creative strategy and production of influential digital marketing assets that serve as a perpetual source of growth for the franchise brands we work with. She also develops and hosts a webinar series we developed for Orangetheory Fitness to help local studio owners learn the latest marketing techniques and trends, including “Snapchat & Video Marketing Techniques to Amplify Studio Growth” and “Studio Event Marketing to Increase Growth & Retention.”

Sarah was born in the northeast, moving from Arlington, Virginia, to Dublin, Ohio; Doylestown, Pennsylvania; and Columbia, Maryland before residing in South Florida. She studied sociology at Flagler College and pursued her graduate degree in writing from Nova Southeastern University. Passionate about traveling, some of Sarah’s favorite adventures include hikes in the Faroe Islands and Peru. She also taught English in Nagoya, Japan.

Recently, some of her favorite stories to share with her colleagues are about joining Orangetheory Fitness as a member of their Miami Lakes studio. She is excited to be participating in a workout program that’s efficient, fun, and helping her live a better, healthier life. She completed Orangetheory’s Hell Week fitness challenge in October and is getting ready to experience their 8-week transformation challenge.

Sarah also enjoys circulating her workout summaries around the office for everyone to see. Orangetheory Fitness is a high-tech, heart rate monitored workout that shows results in real-time on screens throughout the class and tracks cumulative performance over time.

From a marketing perspective, Sarah says she gains additional insight by experiencing a brand the way a customer does. Whether it’s working out at Orangetheory or getting a haircut at Aveda, “it helps me connect with prospective new members and clients on an emotional level,” she says. “And I love knowing that I’m not only helping brands find new customers—but that I’m helping people find service or brand they’ll love.”

Sarah and the content, social media, and creative team at iluma Agency are part of our company’s integrated digital marketing approach designed to maximize reach, engagement, leads, conversion, and growth. To learn more about iluma Agency’s LocalLight digital marketing program for franchise brands and multi-unit businesses, please call 786-703-3083, email sales@ilumaAgency.com, or contact us here.

0
Blog, Meet the Staff

Meet iluma’s Team: Samantha LeWinter

By on

September 28, 2017

- Blog, Meet the Staff

Samantha LeWinter, Digital Strategy Manager, joined iluma Agency in April 2017. She brings a wealth of expertise and talent to our team, the value of which can be seen every day as we continue to drive better and better results for our clients. Equipped with bright ideas and strong opinions as she lights the way to successful digital marketing campaigns, Samantha truly does what it takes to help brands shine. She’s also a pleasure to work with and simply to know.

Samantha grew up in Weston, Florida, but has also lived in DC and New York, where she gained experience in her roles as Digital Advertising Consultant, Key Account Manager, and Marketing Director. A graduate of Florida State University and jack of all trades, her major in interdisciplinary studies included a focus on public health and administration. Samantha is now a certified HIV counselor who has a passion for helping others and making the world a better place.

Her acts of good will extend to the animal world as well. With a self-professed “rescue problem,” Samantha sometimes tries to find homes for animals she can’t adopt herself. Even when she was little, she cared for injured turtles she found, then released them once they were better. Her current fur family includes a hound mix named Penelope and a shepherd mix named Tela.

One of Samantha’s recent hobbies is renovating the new house she shares with her husband, Eric. Eric is also a graduate of Florida State University. He and Samantha met each other 8 years ago, started dating 5 years ago, and have been married for 2 years. A rainy day, complete with a tornado, wasn’t enough to stop their wedding at the Stranahan House in the New River area of Fort Lauderdale. For their honeymoon, they enjoyed island hopping in the Southern Caribbean.

Traveling is another passion Samantha shares with our team. Her travel bug has taken her spelunking through rainforest caves in Belize as well as off-roading to a beach in St. Lucia surrounded by gorgeous mountains. She likes trying food from around the world, too, with a special love for Thai, Indian, and Korean food. Whether traveling the world or keeping it local, Samantha has an appreciation for the outdoors and any outdoor activities, recounting learning to sail with her dad in the Keys and expressing interest in hiking Kilimanjaro.

One more fun fact about Samantha is that she loves music and going to concerts—especially small music festivals. A fan of Lollapalooza, she also attended the first ever Hangout Festival.

iluma Agency Digital Strategy Manager Samantha LeWinter looks forward to continuing to drive results for your marketing campaign or beginning to work with you in the near future. If you have any questions for her, don’t hesitate to ask.

0
Blog

3 Ways to Integrate Digital Referral Marketing for Business Growth

By on

May 5, 2017

- Blog

Referrals are one of the best ways to get new customers fast. Existing and new customers who love your business are excited to share it with the people they love.

An integrated digital marketing strategy can take your referrals to the next level for uncharted growth. By integrated, we mean optimizing and coordinating across platforms (like ads, social media, email marketing, and blog) for greater success across the board.

Here are 3 tactics you can use to generate more referrals for your business:

1. Consistent and on-brand referral message, creative, and incentive.

Let’s say you’re promoting a referral incentive, like giving someone a $25 gift card for each of their referrals who signs up or buys. When promoting, be sure to use the same image, message, and offer on every channel—and do use every channel.

It might seem like overkill to show the same thing on an ads, organic social media, and email, but repetition strengthens memory and keeps the promotion top of mind, ensuring that interested customers do take that next step to refer a friend.

Data from our marketing experience has shown that this approach leads to greater success across the board. Businesses and brands promoting a referral consistently across channels like social media and email get better results on each of those platforms than if they just used one or the other.

2. Make it easy for current customers to share your business with their family and friends.

What’s your current referral process? If a customer wants to refer a friend, do they have to tell you in the store? Fill out a form? Call in?

We build referral lead-capture pages into our digital marketing program. These pages can be linked to from ads, emails, social media posts, your website, and more. When you prompt a customer to help spread the word about your business, all they have to do is push a button, enter a few names and email addresses in a matter of seconds, and they’re all set.

The easier you make it, the less excuses your customers will make to procrastinate.

3. Consistently respond and engage with online comments and reviews.

No marketing platform is isolated—and new potential customers will investigate your brand across most if not all of those platforms. Before giving your business a chance, the first thing a referred customer will do is look you up on platforms like Yelp and Google and check out your social media pages.

Don’t let any comment or review, positive or negative, go unanswered. Show referrals that your business is listening, involved, friendly, and engaged. Your online reputation matters.

These are just 3 things to keep in mind for your next referral promotion—but our ideas don’t end here. In a webinar we recently hosted for one of our fitness franchise clients, we shared referral marketing strategies and demos specifically designed for their brand.

If you’re interested in exploring additional ways to promote referral marketing for your brand or business to drive growth, we’d love to hear from you.

0
Blog, Meet the Staff

Meet iluma’s Team: Lydia Pulver

By on

April 7, 2017

- Blog, Meet the Staff

Lydia Pulver, Account Executive, has been with Illuminati Studios for three years. As she communicates with our clients and works closely with our production team to ensure high-quality digital marketing services, she enjoys the variety of projects she’s involved in. One of her favorites? OTF car wrap designs and window graphics. If you’ve ordered car wrap designs or window graphics from Illuminati Studios, then you’ve likely had the fortune of speaking with Lydia. Those of us lucky enough to work with her here at our office in Miami Lakes, Florida, are happy to report that she’s just as friendly, cheerful, and enjoyable to work with as she sounds! We’ve loved getting to know her and think you will, too.

Lydia was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on Cinco de Mayo (margaritas, anyone?). Her family then moved to Vermont before Lydia moved to Coconut Grove, Florida, with her mom. She still visits her dad and extended family in Vermont, having spent entire summers there when she was younger. Sounds like a different world from the developed gridlock of Miami—her father’s rural mountain residence doesn’t even have an address!

Here in South Florida, Lydia attended K-12 at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart and went to the University of Miami, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in communication with a concentration in advertising and a minor in psychology. Having first studied engineering and physics and at one point considering a career in accounting, her broad educational background makes her an adept team player who can take on anything. Lydia was drawn to the Univeristy of Miami as a small, private school with reputable academics—but there’s also another very big reason she went there. Lydia is a huge UM sports fan. She watches every single UM football game and attends all the home games so she can cheer on her Canes. Her love of sports doesn’t end there. She loves the Miami Heat and even brings us with her to baseball games at Marlins Park from time to time, including the recent World Baseball Classic match between USA and Colombia. Tickets courtesy of her boyfriend, David, who works for the Marlins finance department. (Thanks David!) Lydia met David in high school after becoming friends with his sister. They both went to UM, where he pursued a degree in sports management. A love of sports is definitely something they have in common!

When football season isn’t filling her weekends, Lydia enjoys trying new restaurants. Sushi is on her weekly must-eat list, but her absolute favorite food is cheese, whether it’s blue cheese crumbles on a salad, mac n’ cheese, or her famous pesto grilled cheese. She’s also quite the baker, having won our recent Pi Day pie-baking challenge here in the office. She had all the motivation she needed: The prize was a gift card to the Cheesecake Factory.

From what we hear, Lydia has done some pretty great traveling. She shares stories of family fishing trips to Scott Lake, in a very remote area of the Northwest Territories in Canada. She has done fly fishing and standard fishing, catching trout, grayling, and pike. She saw the northern lights and has even flown in a seaplane. From a month-long stay in Spain during high school to an Alaskan cruise her Oma (grandma) won in a bridge tournament, she has plenty of stories to tell about spending a night in sand dunes or her Opa (grandpa) losing their passports and finding them in his fanny pack only after visiting the American embassy! We also get to hear stories about Zoe, Lydia’s energetic 9-year-old Boston Terrier. Zoe may not see very well these days, but she never loses sight of tennis balls—those are her favorite!

Lydia looks forward to talking to you the next time you order OTF car wrap designs or window graphics. Be sure to wish her a happy upcoming birthday, but don’t tell her if you’re an FSU fan or don’t like the Hurricanes! Don’t have the latest OTF approved car wraps or window graphics? Get started here, and Lydia will be happy to contact you.

0
PREVIOUS POSTSPage 2 of 4NEXT POSTS