Easy Tips for a Greener Office

Let’s face it, spending eight hours under fluorescent lights surrounded by beige walls isn’t exactly inspiring for either your creativity or the planet. Transforming your office into a verdant paradise doesn’t require a complete overhaul (or a hefty investment). Here are some simple, actionable tips for a greener office.  

Lighten Up

Ditch the harsh fluorescents and use natural light whenever possible. Open blinds, push back curtains, and let the sunshine in. Natural light not only reduces your reliance on electricity but also boosts mood and productivity.

When artificial light is necessary, make the switch to LED bulbs. They use significantly less energy and last way longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. If you don’t like the bright look, make sure you install warm tone LEDs.

Conserve Energy

There are a few easy ways you can conserve energy at the office.

  • Power down: It’s amazing how many electronics lurk in standby mode, silently sucking up energy. Get into the habit of powering down computers, monitors, and printers at the end of the day. Consider upgrading any appliances like your kitchen fridge to a more energy-efficient model.
  • Think before you print: In this digital age, do you really need a paper copy of that report? Encourage double-sided printing when necessary and explore cloud-based document storage solutions to minimise paper usage. If you fill out a lot of paperwork, look into a tablet-based solution.
  • Consider solar: If you’re renting a space, ask the landlord if they would consider adding solar panels. Or if you own your space, look into it yourself! It could save a lot of money in the long run and save on fossil fuel usage.

Recycle and Repurpose

Make it easy for everyone in the office to toss paper, plastic, and cans in the right receptacle. Clearly labelled recycling bins are key. If there’s confusion, there are many useful printouts online that can be laminated and posted above the bins. Check with your local council for resources.

Get creative with used office supplies! Old folders can be transformed into notepads, and empty coffee containers can find new life as desk organisers. If you have any children around, make a craft corner.

Embrace the Greenery

Studies show that greenery in the office can improve air quality, reduce stress, and even boost creativity. Add a splash of life with low-maintenance plants like snake plants or spider lilies. Consider an herb garden if your office kitchen has a space for one. If you’d like an extra boost of green, vertical gardens are a space-saving way to incorporate foliage.

Get the Whole Team Involved

Organise a green office challenge, where teams compete to reduce paper usage or invent the most creatively repurposed office supply.  A little friendly competition can go a long way in boosting engagement and eco-conscious behaviour.

Going Green at Work

By implementing these simple tips, you can create a more sustainable and inspiring work environment for yourself and your colleagues. Remember, every small step counts!

Sustainability and living responsibly are a key focus and value for the Planet Marketing team, both within our business and at home. We care about our planet (hence our business name), cultures and communities, and do as much as we can to help protect them. It is an important part of who we are, and this philosophy extends to our business and how we work with clients.

Sustainable practices have been implemented in our business, and although Planet Marketing is a small business, we take corporate responsibility and protecting our environment seriously.  This translates into how we approach every project, from recommending eco-friendly marketing materials to suggesting ways to reduce your company’s carbon footprint through digital marketing strategies.

Contact us today about how we can help you turn your workplace green – and your marketing strategy even greener!

Planet Marketing provides practical and sustainable marketing advice – helping you determine what marketing suits your business best.

Naturally Better Marketing…

Top 5 Tips for Marketing Your Business on LinkedIn

With more than 12 million users in Australia, it’s no surprise that LinkedIn has become an effective and hugely popular platform for building professional networks. It can also be a great tool for brand awareness, pitching for business, and recruiting and engaging with employees. If your business page isn’t achieving the results you want, follow our top 5 tips for marketing your business on LinkedIn.

1. Review and optimise your Company page

Completing all the information on your LinkedIn Company page can on average increase your page views by around 30%, so the first and simplest step to boosting your visibility is to go back and review your Company page setup.

In your Admin view, click on edit page and select the options below:

Page info tab

    • Ensure your logo is current and upload a new logo if needed
    • Check your company name and customise your LinkedIn public URL. When you create your Company page you create a public URL that is displayed to members and can be used on your other marketing channels to drive traffic to your page. Your page URL and name must align. You can change your URL but if your preferred URL is unavailable, then choose something similar to your business name, for example an abbreviation that you use elsewhere that is recognised by your network.
    • Review your company tagline – Create an engaging, descriptive headline using keywords to describe what your business does, the services you offer or the solution you deliver. You have 120 characters maximum so make them count! We’ll cover more about keywords below.

    Buttons

    Ensure you have a custom ‘Call to Action’ button activated on your page. This will appear in your profile header. Select the button name from the dropdown list and add the appropriate URL link for that action. For example, ‘Visit website’ will link to your website home page, ‘Sign-up’ might connect to your newsletter sign-up page, and ‘Contact us’ to your contact page or form. Remember to measure the traffic coming to your website from LinkedIn to assess your strategy and see what is working for you.

    About section

    • Description – this information appears in your profile or ‘About’ section and is essential for telling potential customers, employees, partners and other stakeholders what your business does, your vision and mission and the benefits of your services or products. Your description should include links and lots of SEO or Search Engine Optimisation keywords to gain a better ranking position in online searches. You can search for keywords for your industry through Google Ads or companies like Semrush or simply think about the common keywords people enter into Google search to find the products or services you offer. For example, ‘coffee shops in Ashgrove’; ‘pet friendly hotels Sunshine Coast’; ‘mortgage refinancing’; ‘places to visit in Longreach’. You can include links to website pages where appropriate. There’s a 2,000- character limit so draft and edit to make sure every word counts!      
    • Select your industry – type in and select an option that best describes your business activities
    • Enter your company size, type and location and the year your business was founded
    • Add your specialties – You can add up to 20 of your business specialties. The more you add the more chance you have of getting noticed! Specialties, like hashtags, help other users to find you when they are searching for businesses, products and services. For example, as a Marketing business we’d use: #marketingstrategy #socialmediamanagement and #marketingplans as some of our choices.

    Locations

    Make sure you add your central and other locations if applicable. People often look for products and services by location so this is another way to ensure your business appears in user searches.

    Community

    You can add up to three community hashtags to your profile that are relevant to your industry, products or services. Community hashtags enable people to find topics they are interested in or want to follow. For example, a health food business might select their name plus #healthandwellbeing and #healthyeating.

    Now review and edit other parts of your page:

    Background image

    To add or change a background header click the edit button and edit or upload a new one. Your company page background image should be 1128 x 191px. Remember when designing the image that your logo image will sit to the front and left of it as shown below.

    You can change the background image as often as you like, for example to highlight special offers or major campaigns you are running. Include these ‘banner promotions’ in your content plan to align your marketing activities throughout the year.

    Click the Products tab to add your product information

    LinkedIn allows you to add product pages if your business operates within the following sectors:

    • B2B software
    • Computer Hardware
    • Financial Services
    • Insurance
    • Education
    • Healthcare
    • Pharmaceuticals

    LinkedIn recommends starting with two to five products to start with. Follow the prompts to add product descriptions, select the roles that reflect your key target markets, add supporting media (images, videos, product specs), hashtags and link to featured customers if you have their permission. And don’t forget to add a Call to Action!

    2. Grow your Company page community through your employees, personal network and website

    There are several easy ways to grow your Company LinkedIn following or ‘community’:

    • Ask your employees to link to your Company page by ensuring their current job role links to the business page, ask them to follow it and encourage them to share your posts by tagging them or give them permission to link their own work-related content
    • Send an invite to your personal LinkedIn network to follow the page – use the LinkedIn function to do this
    • Use the LinkedIn function to invite contacts to review your products or services
    • Add the LinkedIn icon and link to your company page on your business website header and footer, and on your contact page. Include your profile URL on business cards and other company documents and brochures.

    3. Write a content plan

    Dive deep into the companies and individuals you want to reach. What are their challenges and what content do they currently engage with?

    A content plan ensures you stay on track with a consistent and regular approach to your social marketing. A well-structured content plan sets out your social media goals and will save you time and take the stress out of worrying about what to write or post each day or week. Your LinkedIn posts should be part of a strategic plan that incorporates all the content you create include website content, blogs, newsletters (EDMs), social media, and other online and traditional marketing activities.

    How often should you post?

    To achieve the best from LinkedIn it’s recommended that you post between two to five times per week. Try not to post more than once a day as this will detract attention from your previous post.  

    Before you get too stressed about this, remember that one well-researched and informative piece of content is better than several mediocre posts.

    What should you post?

    Don’t just promote your products or services. Share valuable, informative, and engaging content that establishes you as an authority in your field.

    When planning your LinkedIn content mix follow the LinkedIn recommended 5:3:2 rule. This means that every ten posts should be mixed as follows:

    • 5 x shared posts from other external sources with your comments added to them
    • 3 x original posts – written by your business
    • 2 x fun posts – this content supports your brand personality and includes employee news, birthdays, promotions; a fun look behind the scenes, or amusing posts that are relevant to your industry.  

    Your plan should include a blend of images, videos, articles and shared posts. Consider using infographics, charts, or images to break up text and enhance understanding. Wherever possible use a post image or a collage as these perform even better! Label the image with your business name and keywords that are relevant to the post topic to boost SEO.

    Note: The recommended length of LinkedIn posts varies from 25 words for short posts and up to 2,000 words for articles. For posts, the ‘read more’ ellipsis kicks in at 140 characters so make them compelling if you want to write a longer post. The optimum length for videos is 30 to 90 seconds.

    4. Post and engage regularly

    Make sure you post regularly using your content plan and respond and engage promptly with people who comment on your posts as engagement helps to raise your page ranking. Remember to like, comment on and share content from your network too.

    Make your posts easier to find and share

    Remember to use topic and company hashtags on your posts to make them easier to find by topic or area of interest. You can also tag another business or LinkedIn user in a post by using the @ and typing their name (no spaces) to facilitate and encourage feedback and sharing.

    Content shortcut

    If you’re struggling to find or create content for your posts hit the ‘Content’ tab on the LinkedIn menu and select ‘Trending articles’ to repost popular articles related to your industry or target audience. Change the search parameters to extend beyond your industry. Hit ‘post’, add your comments and share to your feed. You can also share media content about your business or your employees’ news in the same way.

    5. Review your analytics and tweak your strategy

    Don’t just blindly post content. Use the ‘Analytics’ tab on the menu bar to gain insights and see what resonates with your audience.

    • Track reach and engagement: Monitor how many people see your content and how they interact with it.
    • Click-throughs: Analyze how many people click through to your website or landing pages.
    • Content Performance: Identify which types of content perform best with your audience.

    Use this data to refine your strategy and create content that gets results.

    Want some help?

    By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a LinkedIn legend.  Remember, the key is to be valuable, engaging, and consistent. 

    Need help with your social media strategy or day to day management? Contact us to discover how  Planet Marketing’s social media packages and services can benefit your business.

    If you have any questions, comments, or additional suggestions to add to this list, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you. Check out our Blog for other marketing tips; or Contact us.

    Planet Marketing provides practical and sustainable marketing advice – helping you determine what marketing suits your business best.

    Naturally Better Marketing…

    Easy Ways to Increase Engagement on Social Media

    Increase Social Media Engagement

    Let’s face it, social media can feel like a never-ending game of shouting into the void. You meticulously craft a post, hit publish, and get little or no response. Here are some easy ways to increase engagement on social media, turning those passive scrollers into active fans.

    Embrace Visual Storytelling

    People are bombarded with text overload every day. The key? Capturing attention with engaging visuals.

    Data can be beautiful. Use infographics to present complex information in a visually appealing way.

    A high-quality, finger-stopping image is worth a thousand bland words. Use powerful photos, quirky illustrations, or even hilarious memes (used strategically, of course) to grab attention.

    Short, engaging videos are social media gold. Showcase your product in action, share customer testimonials, or create a funny skit – the possibilities are endless!

    Spice Up Your Captions

    Your captions are your chance to connect with your audience. Here are some tips for crafting great captions:

    • Ask engaging questions: Spark conversation by posing thought-provoking questions that get people commenting and sharing their opinions.
    • Tell a story: Weave a narrative into your captions. People connect with stories, so use them to showcase your brand personality and values.
    • Humour: A sprinkle of humour can go a long way. Make your audience chuckle and they’ll be more likely to remember your post.
    • Hashtags: Hashtags help people discover your content. Use relevant hashtags but avoid going overboard – a few well-chosen ones are better than a spammy paragraph.

    Remember that It’s a Two-Way Street

    Social media isn’t a one-way broadcast system, it’s about building relationships.

    • Respond to comments promptly: Show your audience you care by replying to comments and messages in a timely manner.
    • Run engaging polls and contests: Who doesn’t love a bit of healthy competition or a chance to win something awesome? Run polls and contests to boost engagement and generate excitement.
    • Host live sessions: Live video sessions offer a unique opportunity to connect with your audience in real-time. Answer questions, share behind-the-scenes glimpses, or host a casual Q&A.

    Be Consistent and Patient

    Building a strong social media presence takes time and dedication. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results overnight. The key is to be consistent with your posting and engagement efforts. If you’re short on time and resources, consider outsourcing to get a content calendar going.

    The Takeaway

    By incorporating these tips into your social media strategy, you’ll be well on your way to boosting engagement and turning those scrollers into loyal fans. Remember, social media is about having fun, being creative, and connecting with your audience. So, embrace the power of visuals and storytelling, and watch your engagement soar!

    That’s where we come in! At Planet Marketing, we’re a team of social media experts who can help you craft a winning social media strategy, create great content, and manage your online presence so you don’t have to.

    So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the ever-changing social media landscape, don’t hesitate to reach out! We’d love to chat about your social media goals and see how we can help you achieve them – contact us today.

    In the meantime, keep an eye on our blog for more tips and tricks for your small business marketing efforts.

    Planet Marketing provides practical and sustainable marketing advice – helping you determine what marketing suits your business best.

    Naturally Better Marketing…

    Top 10 Marketing Mistakes to Avoid in Small Business

    marketing mistakes to avoid in a small business

    Small business owners are very busy people. However, being busy is not an excuse for neglecting your marketing, which is a common error we see in small business. Marketing is often at the bottom of the “to do” list, and sometimes never happens at all, leading to some easily remedied marketing mistakes.

    For a small business, marketing doesn’t need to be overly complicated or expensive, but it does need to have a strategy, an action plan, and a budget. The key issue for many clients I work with is that they don’t know where to start with their marketing, so they procrastinate and don’t start at all or they have a very scattered approach to their marketing and don’t get the results they expect. For a small business, a planned approach is very important to avoid wasting the precious time and limited marketing budget you have.

    So, to help you achieve better results from your marketing, here is a list of top marketing mistakes to avoid in a small business.   

    1. Not Investing in Marketing

    Marketing needs to be as important, if not more so, as the other key areas of your business – alongside good governance, finances, and operations. Putting it simply, it doesn’t matter how well your business operates, or how great your product or service is, if people don’t know you exist they won’t buy.

    2. No Marketing Plan

    Having a strategic marketing plan ensures you keep marketing activities on track and on budget; it helps avoid spending time and money of ad hoc items; and importantly sets out target markets, activities, and timing. Even just having a simple plan is better than none.

    Re-visit your plan regularly, and make sure you can measure the success of all marketing activities undertaken to avoid repeating ineffective marketing decisions.

    3. Underperforming Website

    A website is not optional – it is mandatory. It doesn’t need to be big and expensive, but you do need to have one, and it needs to look professional. Don’t just depend on your social media. Remember, you don’t “own” your social media pages, but you do own your website.

    Make sure your website is functioning – if you’re not sure, get a full website audit. The two biggest small business website mistakes are:

    • Hard-to-find contact details
    • No prices

    For further tips please check out our Website Tips for Small Business blog.

    4. Trying to be Everything to Everyone

    With a limited budget and limited resources, work out your priorities and do a few key things well, rather than trying to do everything with a scattered approach which means nothing gets done well. 

    For example, choose two social media channels and do them consistently, rather than taking on four channels and doing them sporadically. Make sure you have a defined target market/s – trying to appeal to everyone doesn’t work. This mistake is avoided by having a strategic marketing plan. 

    5. Expecting Immediate Results

    Evidence and research show that on average a potential customer will see your business at least seven times before they purchase. Just undertaking one ad or email will not achieve sustainable results. Consider different ways for people to be connected with your brand. Social media, newsletter, ads, networking, video, webinar, reading a helpful article you have written – to highlight just a few.

    6. Lack of Brand Consistency

    Some business owners are creative types, and some are not. If you’re not, make sure you get help with establishing a consistent brand. An inconsistent brand means mixed messages, and mixed messages mean that people will be confused about your business. This includes the type of images used, colours, words, and even fonts and layouts.

    A consistent brand looks professional, and people know what to expect. Think of big brands like Nike, Coke, McDonalds, BMW, etc. They all have a very consistent brand. Small businesses need to do the same, but on a smaller scale.

    7. No Personality

    For small businesses it is especially important to create a connection with your customers, and the best way to achieve this is to let them know who you are. Let your personality shine through in everything you do; provide information about yourself on your website and on social media.

    Our biggest pet hate with small business websites is that so many have a bland “off the shelf” sterile look. They have no personality, no information about who they are or their purpose, and no images showing the owners or their staff. First step – get rid of stock library images! Show and tell people who you are and why you want to help them.

    8. Underestimating the importance of Repeat Customers

    Only focusing on new business and neglecting repeat business is a big mistake that small business owners regularly make. Make sure you look after your existing customers and undertake marketing especially for them. Marketing to an existing customer is a lot cheaper than finding new customers; and more importantly, unsatisfied customers will tell all their friends and family. No small business can afford bad word-of-mouth advertising. 

    9. Lack of Response

    It astounds us how often we contact a small business and receive no response at all, or an extremely slow one. There is no excuse for this, especially these days with autoresponders and all the tech tools available. The sooner you respond to a lead or enquiry the better; this includes both online and phone message enquiries.

    A quick response shows you are professional, provides a good first impression, and shows that you are attentive to your clients’ needs. It is generally expected that leads are followed up on the same day; at the very most 24 hours. Potential clients do not wait these days – they will go elsewhere; and there is the added risk of reputation damage as well.

    10. Not Taking Advantage of New Digital Technology

    Make the most of social media and digital technology. Many digital marketing tools are available for free, or for minimal cost. This includes database management, image and document creation tools, newsletters, project management, website analysis and statistics, and of course, social media.

    Don’t try and do it all, but pick the tools that work best for you – or get someone to help you if you don’t feel confident to do it yourself. There are plenty of free online forums, tutorials, and blogs that provide tips and “how to” guides.

    Need A Helping Hand?

    We hope these marketing mistakes to avoid tips have helped you determine how you can improve your marketing and what marketing mistakes you may need to fix in your business.

    Feeling overwhelmed? Contact us if you’d like a free strategy session!

    If you have any questions, comments, or additional suggestions to add to this list, please let us know.

    Planet Marketing provides practical and sustainable marketing advice – helping you determine what marketing suits your business best.

    Naturally Better Marketing…

    How to Write a Website Brief

    How to write a website brief

    Thinking about updating or rebuilding your website? For any upcoming web project, a well-crafted website brief is an important early step in the process. Think of it as the foundation. A clear brief ensures that everyone is aligned on the goals, design preferences, and scope of the project, whether it be a small refresh, a rebuild, or an entirely new website from scratch.

    Very importantly, a brief also ensures you don’t waste time and money on creating a website that is not what you wanted or expected. The following points describe how to write a website brief that paves the way for an efficient and successful web development project.

    We have assisted many clients with recovering or re-building websites that were created without clear briefs – ensuring they ended up with a website which met their needs, and the best customer experience. This extra cost, time, and frustration could have been avoided by having a clear website brief written by a professional marketing person with website development expertise. 

    Project Overview

    Clearly state what you aim to achieve with the new website.

    • Objectives could include increasing sales, improving user engagement or experience, launching a new brand or business.
    • Do your users come looking for an e-commerce shopping experience, or do they regularly read your blog?
    • Does your site need to integrate with other platforms, such as a CRM or mailing list?
    • What extra features does your site have, or are you looking to add any? Consider elements like video tutorials, contact forms, online checkouts, social media integration, or custom tools.

    Be specific about your goals, as they will direct the project’s strategy and design.

    Budget and Timeline

    Setting realistic budget and timeline expectations helps your team plan and prioritise accordingly.

    • Include any fixed deadlines, such as product launches or marketing campaigns, that the project must align with.
    • Do you have content ready? If not, outline your plans for content creation – and ensuring it is very clear who is writing and providing this content.
    • Who will manage updates, security, and ongoing support post-launch? Don’t forget to add internal training for your staff if you’re outsourcing the project but would like to do web updates or maintenance after the site is live.

    Remember to plan long-term.

    Site Map

    A simple sitemap indicating the main pages and subpages helps the development team plan the layout and navigation of your website. If you’ve never built out a site map before, GlooMaps is a good free tool to use.

    Company Overview

    If your website project is being managed externally, you’ll need to provide some starting information for the people who don’t know your business very well. List out your brand’s history, core values, mission statement, and the products or services you offer. This context helps designers, developers, and even project managers understand your business and the purpose of your website.

    Audience

    You’ll also need to include some information about your target audience (demographics, online behaviour, etc.). If you’re building a new website, you may need to do some market research. It’s crucial to create a user experience that meets your audience’s needs and expectations.

    Design Preferences

    Is there a particular website you like the look of? It’s easier to emulate a design than come up with one from scratch. Include your design preferences (styles, colours, fonts, etc.) to give your team a clear understanding of the look you’re going for. This will also provide an opportunity to ensure the final design aligns with your brand identity.

    Accessibility

    Don’t forget to make your website as accessible as possible, even if the old version was not. Consider your website’s compatibility with specific browsers or devices and accessibility standards to ensure everyone has a good experience with using your website.

    Review with your team and test with fresh eyes

    Your team brings expertise and experience. They are likely very familiar with your current website, with what works and what doesn’t work. Review and update the brief together as the project evolves.

    Consider showing your brief to someone entirely new, such as a trusted partner or friend who is unfamiliar with your website. This way any new user experience problems will be pointed out that you or someone familiar with your current setup may miss.

    In conclusion, a detailed and well-thought-out website brief is essential to the successful outcome of your web development project, saving your business valuable time and resources. By clearly communicating your requirements, preferences, and goals, you set the stage for a website that not only looks great but also performs effectively, meeting the needs of your business and your users.

    More information

    Not sure where to start? We can help!

    Planet Marketing provides practical and sustainable marketing advice – helping you determine what marketing suits your business best.

    Naturally Better Marketing…

    How to Create an Email Newsletter People Will Read 

    Newsletters remain one of the most powerful mediums for engaging potential customers. However, as a business owner it can be a little overwhelming pulling together a newsletter that doesn’t take up too much time but offers worthwhile results. Here are our top tips on how to create an email newsletter people will read.  

    Use an attention-grabbing subject line

    Don’t underestimate the importance of an eye-catching subject line. Think of it this way, your header needs to capture the attention of a busy individual who could be receiving up to 100 emails a day from people trying to sell them something. 

    A well-thought-out subject line will result in a higher open rate, which of course gives you the best possible chance to communicate with your audience. 

    Here are some things to consider: 

    • Get specific with the topic  
    • Include a hook  
    • Make it directly relevant to your audience  
    • Create some FOMO 
    • Personalisation (i.e. James, cleaning not your thing? Good news, it’s ours!) 

    Send a test email to yourself prior to broadcasting. In addition to checking the content, consider how the subject line stands out in your inbox. Ask yourself – would I open this email? Or better yet, would my ideal client? 

    Start with the end

    Too often busy business owners make the mistake of sending a newsletter without a real goal or objective other than to “stay in touch”.  If you take this approach, your newsletter will lack substance, relevance, and purpose. The result? Your audience is less likely to read your next piece of communication.  

    Whenever you communicate with a client (marketing or otherwise), your number one goal should be to respond to the question, “How can I serve my customer?”. Start with service and then set the business goal. For example: Offering a free phone consultation (service), generates 10 bookings. 5 convert into an upcoming paid workshop (business goal).  

    Have ONE call to action (CTA)

    This ties in with the above tip, as you need to be clear on your messaging and what action you want the reader to take. Chances are, if you ask too much of your reader, they will feel overwhelmed and take no action at all. Limit yourself to one call to action (CTA). 

    Here are some examples of an appropriate CTA:  

    • Visit the website  
    • Click to book 
    • Purchase here 
    • Learn more on our blog 
    • Click to download 

    Your CTA should also be quite obvious, in the form of a link or a button, as your goal is to get the reader to the next step in the process.  

    Consider your frequency

    Once you’ve built up a large enough database to send out a newsletter, think about how much time and resources you can spare to compile something that will be of value to customers. How much meaningful content do you have to share? Are there times of the year where a newsletter would be more useful (for example, holiday sales)?  

    There’s no magic number when it comes to sending out emails, but we would encourage you to try and stay consistent with your frequency, whether you choose weekly, monthly or even quarterly newsletters.  

    After sending out a few newsletters, track your open rates and click-through rates to see if you’re getting the results you want.  

    Not sure how to set all this up? We’re happy to help!    

    If you have any questions, comments, or additional suggestions to add to this list, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you. Check out our Blog for other marketing tips; or Contact us. 

    Planet Marketing provides practical and sustainable marketing advice – helping you determine what marketing suits your business best. 

    Naturally Better Marketing… 

    What is a Call to Action (CTA)? – Best Practice Pointers

    call to action CTA

    Ever written a blog or social media post and felt like crickets chirped in response? You’re not alone. The secret weapon to getting readers to engage with your content is a powerful call to action, or CTA. So what is a call to action? A call to action (CTA) acts as a follow-up step, telling visitors exactly what you want them to do next. Learn more about how to create effective CTAs below.

    Call to Action – The User’s Next Step

    CTAs should always be used as part of your marketing message, whether it be at the end of a web page, blog post, or social media post.

    A strong CTA is like a friendly traffic director, standing at key intersections and guiding visitors to a logical next step.

    Some examples of a CTA you may have seen before are:

    • Visit this page to learn more
    • Find out more on our blog
    • Subscribe to our newsletter
    • Purchase now
    • Download our e-book here

    Read on to learn about CTA best practices for your marketing platforms.

    Crafting Compelling Calls to Action (CTAs)

    So, how do you craft a CTA that gets clicks? These best practices apply to CTAs of all kinds:

    • Clarity is king: Be clear about what you want visitors to do. Don’t use vague language like “Click Here.” Instead, opt for action verbs like “Download Now” or “Subscribe Today.”
    • Benefit-driven actions: People are motivated by what’s in it for them. Highlight the benefit of taking action. For example, “Download our free guide and learn 5 SEO secrets to increase your website traffic!”
    • Sense of urgency: Sometimes, a gentle nudge can work wonders. Use strong verbs like “Download,” “Learn,” or “Get” to create a sense of urgency. Consider adding more urgency with phrases like “Limited Time Offer” or “Download Before It’s Gone!”
    • Stand out from the crowd: Don’t let your CTA blend into the background. Use contrasting colours, bold fonts, or clear buttons to make it visually appealing and impossible to miss.

    Website CTAs

    CTAs can be buttons on your website, or they can be links that appear strategically and stand out from the rest of the page.

    Some best practices for website calls to action:

    • Landing pages are all about conversions, so your CTA here should be the star of the show. Where do you want users to go next, instead of leaving the website? Make it big, bold, and impossible to ignore.
    • If you have an e-commerce site, make your “Purchase Now” or “View Cart” very obvious so users complete their transactions.
    • End your blog posts with a clear CTA, encouraging readers to download a related resource or subscribe for more content.
    • If you have a newsletter, offer CTA options for subscribing.
    • The same goes for social media accounts, if you’re trying to attract a following.

    Make sure there is value to the user to follow these actions instead of leaving your web page and possibly going to a competitor’s website.

    Email Campaign CTAs

    Don’t let your email campaigns fizzle out without a call to action. At the end of each email, tell your subscribers what you want them to do next, whether it’s visiting your website or checking out a new product.

    Email-specific best practices:

    • Personalise: Personalisation is key! Use the subscriber’s name or tailor the CTA to their interests.
    • First person: Speak directly to the subscriber with first-person language like “Start my free trial.”
    • Keep it short and sweet: Aim for 2–5-word CTAs that are clear and concise.

    Social Media Attention Grabbers

    On social media, your CTAs need to stand out from the crowd. Anything without value to the reader will be scrolled past immediately, so make your CTA a bit longer if necessary. For example:      

    • “Download Your Free E-book: 10 Tips to Master Social Media Marketing”
    • “Limited Time Offer: Get 20% Off Your First Purchase!”
    • “Want to Learn More About [Topic]? Subscribe to Our Newsletter!”
    • “Start Your Free Trial Today!”
    • “Call Today to book your Appointment”
    • “Buy Here Now!”

    Refine, Test, and Convert

    By incorporating these tips, you’ll be well on your way to crafting CTAs that convert. Remember, a strong CTA is like a friendly handshake at the end of an online conversation. It leaves a lasting impression and compels visitors to take the next step. So, refine your CTAs and then do some testing.

    Test different variations, track your results, and see what resonates with your audience. With a little creativity and these best practices, you’ll soon be crafting CTAs that are click-worthy champions.

    Need More Help?

    Not sure where to start, or don’t have the time to work on your CTAs?

    Hopefully we’ve answered your question ‘what is a call to action’ now?

    At Planet Marketing, we’re a team of website development experts passionate about creating websites that not only look great but also convert visitors into customers. We offer website audits to pinpoint areas for improvement, website upgrades to refresh your existing site, and new website design services to craft a website from scratch. 

    Let’s use our expertise to help you turn your website into a lead-generating machine!  If you have any questions or are ready to get started, contact us today.

    How can we help you? To find out, Book your Free Strategy Session!  (that’s our CTA!)

    Planet Marketing provides practical and sustainable marketing advice – helping you determine what marketing suits your business best.

    Naturally Better Marketing…

    Logo Creation Tips and Tricks 

    Creating a recognisable brand for your business is important, and a major part of any brand is a logo. This could mean modernising an existing logo or creating a new logo entirely. Here are some logo creation tips and tricks. 

    Think about your design

    Make sure your logo is a true representation of your business and matches your values and mission. For example, if you provide a high-end luxury product or service, make sure your logo reflects this.  

    • Colours – Keep to a maximum of 3 colours, ideally as part of a consistent brand look. Consider where and how the logo will be used. It shouldn’t clash with other colours or blend into the background.  
    • Font – A maximum of 2 fonts should be used in a logo. Make sure both are legible! Keep it clean and simple, and make sure all letters are available in upper and lower case so you can use the font elsewhere in your branding where suitable. Consider how the font will work also on signage, packaging, merchandise and other applications.   
    • Don’t include fine details in the logo. These get lost and are not recognisable when the logo is reduced to a small size on social media profiles, etc. Make sure the logo is still clear when it is viewed in a small size (like on your phone or in the distance on a sign).  

    Use a professional designer

    Not sure where to start? You want a logo you are proud of that will work for years to come, so find a graphic designer to help you. This ensures the end result looks professional and will work in various applications (for example, different colour combinations for the web such as a white logo for a dark background and coloured logo for a white background). Feel free to contact us for a shortlist of designers.  

    Create a logo brief

    Provide a full brief to the graphic designer. This means giving them as much detail as possible to help them create a suitable logo. This avoids wasted time, money, and disappointment that the result is not what you were expecting.  

    The logo brief should include details about your business values, target audience, brand style, colours and fonts you prefer (see tip above re colours), and the tone you wish to portray.  

    Test your logo

    Make sure you get feedback and test all of your logo versions prior to making a final decision – what you personally like or prefer may not resonate with your target audience. You don’t want to inadvertently alienate people if your logo isn’t appealing or gives the wrong impression.  

    • Test the logo in different applications prior to the final decision – how will it work on signage, packaging, on different coloured backgrounds, on merchandise (including clothing), on social media?  
    • Make sure the logo works in landscape (horizontal) or portrait (vertical) format, or have 2 versions created to suit both. 

    Ensure the logo will work in different image and colour formats, often required by certain publications or event organisers. If you’re not sure about this one, check with your graphic designer. 

    Protect your logo

    Do your research. Make sure you are not infringing on anyone else’s logo, copyright, or trademark. Make sure your logo is designed from scratch for you. To safeguard your logo, getting it trademarked is recommended.  

    Your shiny new logo

    No matter what the purpose of creating your new or refreshed logo is, make sure it matches your existing branding and the image of your business that you wish to advertise to customers.  

    We hope these tips help you with creating or updating your logo. Alternatively, if you’d like assistance creating your logo or have any questions, please get in touch. All logo projects are quoted on an individual basis to suit client needs. Small business logo projects can be simple, while more complex logo projects can require multiple options and stakeholder engagement.  

    Check out our Blog for other marketing tips; or Contact us. 

    Planet Marketing provides practical and sustainable marketing advice – helping you determine what marketing suits your business best. 

    Naturally Better Marketing… 

    Which Social Media Platforms Should My Business Use?

    Not sure where to start with social media platforms? read on…

    This is one of the questions we receive frequently from clients. There is a proliferation of platforms available today. Every business has unique needs, target markets, and resources available – and for some businesses social media may not be a strategic priority at all!

    Before you plunge headlong into any social media it’s essential to have a marketing strategy in place to establish your goals. Social media should be an integrated marketing activity.

    There’s a lot to consider, but as a guide here’s a few things you should think about before you begin setting up any new social media accounts:    

    What are you trying to achieve?

    Your social media goals should align with your business goals. Are you starting a new business, aiming to increase sales? Or launch a new product, increase your brand awareness, or target a new market?

    For example:

    If you’re launching a new product to a new market segment, then the social media goals need to reflect this. The platform and content needs to align with the audience’s needs. Which platform will best reach this market?

    Where are your target audiences / potential customers?

    Check your website analytics to assess where your existing traffic is coming from. What is your conversion rate currently from referrals from social media platforms?

    Research data online to see which platforms your target audiences use and their social media habits. By identifying who your customers are you can target more customers like them using the most appropriate platform.

    For example recent data from Statista showed:

    Two thirds of Instagram’s global users are aged under 34; 31.5 per cent are aged 25 to 34, with just 2.1 per cent aged 65 and over. So if your product is designed for senior customers, and depending on the other factors mentioned here, then Instagram is probably not going to deliver the results or return on investment you’re aiming for, compared to Facebook for instance.

    You should also look at current research that shows the best performing sites for your industry. Check out this 2022 Social Media Industry Benchmarking Report by Rival IQ to see how your industry achieves the most engagement, top performing hashtags and more.

    How well are your existing social pages performing?

    Use your platform’s Insights and Analytics tools to review what content has worked well for you. You can also invest in software that compares insights from your different platforms to make this task easier. Metrics such as impressions, reach, engagement and response data will show which platforms have performed most effectively for your business and identify the type of content your audiences like and engage with.

    We often see businesses trying to do all major social platforms, when strategically it would make better sense to only use a couple of platforms. Quality and consistency is a better approach than quantity.

    What are your competitors doing?

    Analyse your competitors’ social media activities. Which platforms are they using? Where have they gained the greatest following? What kind of content are they posting, how often and when do they post and is the content successfully engaging their audiences? Use this data to identify the types of content or platform/s you need – and how much of it – to set your own goals for social media activities.

    Imagery

    We see many small businesses get excited about doing social media, but don’t stop to consider what content they will post, and where will they get their images from. Quality imagery is absolutely essential for social media – photos, graphics and also video.

    Before starting any social media platform, ensure you have plenty of imagery available to use, and have a content plan in place. If you don’t have your own images yet, we strongly advise you get a professional photographer to create an image library for you. Wherever possible, do not use image library stock photos; and definitely don’t just copy images from the internet. Check the copyright status of any image before you use it.

    How much time or budget do you have to spend on social media activities?

    An effective social media strategy requires a dedicated investment of time and money. Running too many platforms without the resources to operate them properly is unlikely to produce the results you want. Set aside regular time to post, manage your pages, respond to comments and enquiries, analyse and measure performance and protect your reputation. If you don’t have time or resources to do it yourself, get an external social media manager to do it for you – Planet Marketing can provide this service.

    Do you have the skills and time for the ongoing need to create original and engaging content – regularly and consistently? Different types of content perform differently across platforms. If you don’t have the skills or time to create videos, graphics and write posts then it’s much more efficient to engage specialists to help. A Content Plan is essential to plan ahead and get the balance right. Take a look at Mail’s Chimp’s Top 12 types of social media content to create to get an idea.     

    Note: even with great content, it’s becoming less easy to grow your social media audiences organically so you should also include social media advertising in your budget. This needs to be factored into your decisions too. Having a marketing plan and strategies in place are very important to ensure you are spending your budget most wisely.

    Evaluate your options

    Once you’ve answered all these questions then you’ll be well placed to strategically evaluate which platforms best meet your needs. Here’s a handy social media guide from Buffer to give you an idea of how the different platforms currently stack up.

    If you need assistance with your social marketing strategies, platform management and content planning and creation then we can help! Contact us for a chat to see how we can get your socials on track.

    Planet Marketing provides practical and sustainable marketing advice – helping you determine what marketing suits your business best.

    naturally better marketing…