1. Hop on Trends

Stay current with the latest trends, challenges, and popular sounds. Incorporate them into your content to increase your chances of hitting the “For You” page and reaching a wider audience. 

2. Encourage User-Generated Content

Get your followers involved by encouraging them to create and share content featuring your products. This builds a sense of community and provides authentic social proof. Create a unique hashtag for your campaign and feature the best entries on your channel. 

3. Partner with Influencers

Collaborating with TikTok influencers can give your brand a credible voice. Influencers already have a dedicated follower base, and their authentic content can help you reach new audiences. 

4. Launch Engaging Challenges

Create fun and interactive challenges that are easy for users to participate in. Ensure your challenge is relevant to your brand or product and promote it through your own content and influencer partnerships. 

5. Keep It Short and Sweet

TikTok favours short, engaging videos. Make sure your content is concise and captures attention in the first few seconds. Use eye-catching visuals, catchy music, and clear messaging to stand out. 

6. Use TikTok Ads

Explore TikTok’s advertising options like In-Feed ads, TopView ads, Branded Hashtag Challenges, and Branded Effects. These ads can give your brand significant exposure and drive engagement. 

7. Track Your Performance

Regularly track and analyse your TikTok content’s performance. Use TikTok’s analytics tools to understand what’s working and refine your strategy based on metrics like engagement rates, views, and follower growth. 

Stay creative, engage authentically, and keep up with the latest trends to connect with your audience like never before. For guidance and support with your TikTok marketing strategy, please contact us today at hello@brighterdirections.co.uk

The post TikTok Marketing Tactics for 2025: Strategies to Boost Your Brand’s Presence appeared first on Brighter Directions.

Read on to find out where the industry is headed as it heralds a new era of efficiency, speed, and environmental responsibility! 

Supersonic, and Sustainable

The last supersonic, passenger-carrying, commercial plane was spotted in the skies in 2003, and none thereafter. The unfortunate engine failure that led to the death of all 109 passengers onboard was the final nail in the coffin. These commercial supersonic flights were then discontinued, due to more reasons than one. At the time, they were just too noisy, unsustainable, and overtly expensive to continue. 

But now things have changed.  

Technological innovations have boomed over the last decade, and have led to the rise of Boom, the world’s first privately funded and developed supersonic jet. With the vision to develop a commercial airliner, Boom Supersonic predicts the ability to be able to carry 65 to 68 passengers, fly at Mach 1.7 speed, and do all of that with net-zero emissions!  

A lot more companies/startups, like Exosonic, United, Japan Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic to name a few have pledged efforts towards leading the way in making supersonic flights a reality.
 

Fuelling Sustainability 

Since the 1960s, the contribution of the airline industry towards carbon emissions has almost quadrupled! Last year, when the world had only started to recover from COVID, the travel industry witnessed an influx, leading to over 900 Mt tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2022, according to a recent study by Statista. 

These numbers are on the rise and are moving faster than any other form of transportation. Right now, only 20% of the world opts for regular air travel, but things could quickly change as Aviation Benefits predicts over 10 billion passengers to be flying by 2050. This would mean a significant rise in supply, leading to an estimate of 1.8 billion tonnes of CO2 being emitted.  

What’s the solution? Innovative carbon-neutral vehicles that run on hydrogen instead of traditional fossil fuels. There are leading companies like ZeroAviva that are working towards revolutionising the airplane powertrain industry by making easy access to hydrogen fuel a reality. 

Automation will be worth $24 billion! 

While automation has dipped its toes in every other industry only recently, it’s always been prevalent in the airline industry, like the autopilot feature, to name one. 

Now going even deeper, its increased prevalence in cargo transportation has gained quite a bit of momentum in the industry. From self-flying planes to Merlin Lab’s autonomous flying software, automation has taken different forms in the aircraft market.  

The market is predicted to be worth more than $16 billion by the end of 2027 and go up to $24 billion by the end of this decade.  

Flying Cars Exist 

As 2050 as it may sound, hybrid drive-and-fly cars do exist! Thanks to great automotive efforts by companies like Klein Vision, inter-city flying cars have been made, tested, and run between Nitra, Slovakia, and Bratislava. 

Their AirCar Pro model has already successfully completed over 140 landings, running 35-minute flights between said cities as of July 2021 and the world is now envisioning air taxi fleets by 2024. Joby Aviation is already one such established air taxi company that plans to make air taxis just as affordable as a regular taxi. Many people’s favourite Uber is also working towards launching Uber Elevate. 

Predictive Maintenance to Benefit Both Parties Involved 

Delays in flights due to a potential malfunction, the anxiety of having a safe flight across borders, expensive tickets due to continuous upkeep, etc. are a few of the many factors that can be resolved through predictive maintenance. 

An issue that has forever plagued the aviation industry, the sky-high costs that come with regular checks and disruptive maintenance can potentially cease to exist. According to Airbus, modern commercial aircraft generate about 30gb of data per day. When this data is read, interpreted, and analysed by manufacturers, it can lead to early diagnosis and timely repairs. This is what we commonly call predictive maintenance.  

As we continue to soar towards a sustainable future, these trends will continue to shape the aviation landscape, the kind that is not only faster but also increasingly automated, interconnected, and innovative. The skies of tomorrow promise to be both thrilling and environmentally conscious, and we’re here to bear witness! 

As an established agency, we have a highly knowledgeable ‘in-house’ team that consists of aviation marketing experts who offer a wide range of skills and expertise. Get in touch with us to see how we can help promote your aviation brand and campaigns into 2024. 

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Short-form video content 

More and more businesses are using short-form video content from platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels and Twitter Fleets to design innovative content to engage with a wider audience and create a strong connection between brands and consumers. Videos don’t have to be created using a social media platform but it is important to have videos within a social media strategy.  

Social responsibility 

This has become a highly important part of business and especially when promoting yourself as a brand or service. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of their own environmental impact and want to use companies that prioritise sustainability, ethical sourcing and giving back to the community. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) 

AI has become one of the most talked about things in 2023 in marketing. With platforms such as ChatGPT and DALL-E leading the way, businesses can consider using these to automate and optimise their digital marketing campaigns. All people using these AI tools though need to research and understand them so they don’t hinder their efforts and even delve into copyright misuse. 

Audio and podcasts 

Podcasts and audio streaming services are becoming an increasingly popular form of communication in 2023. Podcasts can be used to provide entertaining content, give expert advice and host virtual events, and can reach customers in a more intriguing and immersive way.  

 Posting stories 

They have been around for a while now but social media stories continue to dominate as one of the more effective ways to reach your consumers and target audience. Via such platforms as Facebook and Instagram using stories or reels as part of a marketing strategy offers quick results and close contact with audiences, and can provide an authentic glimpse into a brand’s personality. 

Privacy and security 

As technology evolves, data breaches and privacy concerns should be at the forefront of a company’s concern. Businesses need to constantly stay up to date on GDPR and privacy regulations to ensure their customer’s data is continually protected.   

Privacy and security measures should be a high priority in your digital marketing agenda making sure to enable two-factor authentication, encrypt sensitive data and regularly review and update security and privacy procedures. 

Staying on top on trends can feel like a full-time job so if you haven’t got the time to research these, or incorporate them into your marketing strategy, let us help. We can provide full marketing campaigns and offer expert advice on all aspects of marketing, please contact us today. 

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Here are some of the top reasons why outsourcing your marketing is better:

Expertise and Experience

Marketing agencies have a team of experienced and knowledgeable professionals who specialise in different areas of marketing. These experts have a deep understanding of the latest marketing trends, techniques, and strategies, and can create effective marketing campaigns that deliver results. With their expertise, you can ensure that your marketing efforts are always up-to-date and effective.

Access to the Latest Marketing Tools and Technologies

Marketing agencies invest heavily in the latest marketing tools and technologies to ensure that their clients receive the best possible results. By outsourcing your marketing to an agency, you gain access to these tools and technologies without having to invest in them yourself. This can help you save a significant amount of money in the long run.

More Time to Focus on Your Core Business

Managing your marketing strategy in-house can be a significant drain on your time and resources. By outsourcing your marketing, you can free up your time and resources to focus on your core business activities. This can help you increase productivity, improve efficiency, and ultimately grow your business. You are not just getting one person, but rather a team of dedicated professionals who take a personal interest in understanding the unique aspects of your business and the challenges it faces. This team is committed to continuous personal development to keep up with the rapidly changing online marketing landscape.

Cost Savings

Outsourcing your marketing can also help you save money in the long run. By partnering with a marketing agency, you can avoid the costs associated with hiring and training new employees, purchasing expensive marketing tools and technologies, and maintaining an in-house marketing team. This can result in significant cost savings for your business. To provide an example, the annual salary of one full-time online marketing employee exceeds the cost of a 12-month SEO contract, which includes reports and training.

Scalability

Marketing agencies can provide a range of services that can be scaled up or down as per your business needs. This means that you can easily adjust your marketing strategy based on the changing market conditions or business objectives without having to invest in new resources or tools. This can help you stay agile and respond quickly to the evolving market demands.

By leveraging the expertise and experience of marketing professionals, accessing the latest marketing tools and technologies, freeing up your time and resources, saving costs, and achieving scalability, you can achieve better marketing results and focus on growing your business. So, consider outsourcing your marketing to a trusted agency like Brighter Directions and take your business to the next level.

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Years ago, only 17.8% of sales were made from online purchases. That number is expected to grow and reach 20.8% in 2023, that’s a 2 percentage point increase in e-commerce market share and this growth is expected to continue.

Consumer buying behaviours have evolved as online shopping has rapidly grown. As our technology continues to develop e-commerce companies need to adapt and innovate to stay ahead. By staying on top of these trends, companies can position themselves for success.

Social shopping

87% of shoppers online use social media to make shopping decisions, with 55% of smartphone users purchasing a product after seeing it on social media. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are now developing the platform to make it easily accessible to buy these viral trending products.

Multichannel personalisation

Multichannel personalisation can be tailored to a shopper’s preferences, creating personalised interactions that boost customer loyalty and sales across devices.

Personalisation involves much more than recommending a relevant product. It requires a recognisable and enjoyable shopping experience, regardless of which device a consumer may be using.

E-commerce platforms can continue to enable anyone to sell their products and sync their catalogues across their branded online store, physical stores, social media, and marketplaces, and this list will continue to grow.

Conversion tools will be critical

There are many tools that you can use to optimise your conversion. You might be using some already? Google Analytics, heat maps on your e-commerce store, user testing, data mining to name a few. In order to succeed 2023 is the year it is vital for a business to stay alert and keep up with the latest trends to optimise sales opportunities.

A good customer relationship management (CRM) system is essential, other solutions are looking at engagement to help businesses connect with customers and prospects. Consider using analytical tools, click trackers, and testing solutions.

Customer retention

Another key trend in 2023 will be businesses focusing on building relationships with new and existing customers. Why? This is because businesses are becoming more customer-centric and it is easier and cheaper to build on customer loyalty than to try and invest in new customers.

If you haven’t built a relationship with a consumer and they can find what you sell for cheaper elsewhere, you’ll likely lose them. On the other hand, if you’re consistently providing value for the customer and a positive shopping experience, personalisation, and genuinely satisfying customer service, you are likely to keep this customer and in turn keep sales.

Ways to keep customer retention at a high and also going back to personalisation – how you can increase a customer’s shopping experience below…

• Display reviews on your website
• Offer your customers their favourite payment options
• Personalise the customer journey
• Offer discounts or reward programmes

If you need help with your own marketing activities the expert team at Brighter Directions can help with any PR, social media, email marketing, or content strategy.

Get in touch today on hello@brighterdirections.co.uk or call us on 01246 586 330.

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Join us as we take a look at some social trend predictions for 2023!

Authenticity

Over the past few years, “authenticity” has been a popular used word within social media. Consumers have grown to expect a level of honesty and sincerity from the brands they love.

88% of consumers claim that authenticity is key for what makes them choose a brand to support. What’s more, that number is only expected to increase over time. In fact, consumers have now become more vocal about their disapproval of brands who fail to meet this new authenticity demand.

Podcasts will grow as a marketing platform

In the UK alone, more than 19.1 million Britons listen to podcasts regularly. They’re an easy, accessible, handsfree way to consume media. But podcasts are growing in popularity so much due to their engagement with audiences and communities. Brands that initiate podcasts focusing on relevant content can expand their audience reach. It can deepen their relationship with consumers around the world. Brands can use podcasts to their advantage by having product placement and ads incorporated within.

Social media shopping will increase

Online shopping is popular yes, but few brands and businesses are really prepared for how much this era of consumer behaviour will continue to grow. TikTok is growing rapidly as a search engine allowing for its users to search and also buy thing easily. Other social media platforms such as Instagram boast large consumerism as people enjoy browsing and shopping on these platforms because they get an accessible and in-depth, perspective on different brands from their feed.

If you or your company need help with your own social media marketing activities, the expert team at Brighter Directions can help with any PR, social media, content and strategy.

Get in touch today on hello@brighterdirections.co.uk or call us on 01246 586 330.

The post The Role of Social Media in 2023 appeared first on Brighter Directions.

Facebook

What’s the latest on Facebook?

In January of this year, Facebook started the process of removing certain targeting options. Facebook said, “Starting January 19, 2022 we will remove Detailed Targeting options that relate to topics people may perceive as sensitive… such as options referencing causes, organizations, or public figures that relate to health, race or ethnicity, political affiliation, religion, or sexual orientation.”

So if you had a really successful Facebook ad campaign in 2021, the same targeting options that made that ad successful may not be available anymore. An example they give is that you won’t be able to target people who have an interest in “Lung cancer awareness” or “World Diabetes Day” anymore. The volume of targeting options being removed is what’s raising alarm to business owners who depend on Facebook ads for sales.

New Call Ads updates announced

Meta has announced some significant updates to their Call Ads, optimising the format to reach more potential customers and find better quality leads. One of the updates will allow customers to request a callback from a business in Messenger. Using it will help businesses show customers that their time is valued and eliminate the frustration of waiting on hold.

Instagram

Everything you need to know about Instagram’s new feature

Instagram has recently rolled out a new feature called “Group Profiles.” This means you can now have one account shared with other users where each group member can post their own unique content that all goes to the same feed and/or story. The content will be seen by your profile’s followers, other member’s followers and the group’s followers. Alternatively, you can also make it private.

What is Instagram’s Group Profile Feature?

Much like its predecessor, Facebook Groups, Instagram’s version allows multiple users to collaborate and share content on a single page. While this puts a fun spin on community-building, it does open up more responsibility for creators (and brands, if they choose) to administer safeguards and rules for the overall group. Just like how Facebook group pages require moderation and set of rules to run the page, Instagram would also require creators to ensure a safe space for interaction through these group profiles. Instagram currently allows users to create group chats, group video and group voice calls. However, for any kind of group interaction, creating a group chat is the first step. To create a group chat on Instagram, go to the Direct Messaging section in your Instagram app. Click on the top left icon and start selecting the members of the group. Name your group and tap on chat. Your Instagram group is created. You can set the message privacy for the group by selecting View Once or Allow replay options.

Get paid in Instagram DMs

Instagram has rolled out new payment options, allowing businesses to accept payment right in their DMs. Customers can pay invoices without switching apps or sites, allowing them a more convenient shopping experience while also granting businesses flexibility in how they do work. This feature is only available to eligible sellers who use a Professional Account on the Instagram mobile app. There aren’t any fees to accept payments in Instagram’s Direct Message chat, and there’s 24/7 access to customer support if needed. The customer’s purchases will be protected, and they can use Meta Pay, credit card, or PayPal.

At Brighter Directions we are always on the look out for new trends in social media, if you like help and support with your social media marketing strategy please contact us at hello@brighterdirections.co.uk and make sure to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter.

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On your first usage of TikTok, the app will provide featured videos. These are curated content based on the number of viewers it collected. After watching multiple videos, the app will create a video feed based on your interest. You can also follow your favourite video creator to receive notifications of any new content they have available.

What is the TikTok app?

TikTok is a video platform that allows people to create short watchable content and share it with friends, family, or the public. The app makes it easy to make entertaining videos as well as adding various effects such as filters and emojis. Home of viral videos and promising stars.

What are the effects on TikTok?

Choose between all kinds of effects: filters, speed control, time-lapses, rewind, transitions and other ‘time machine’ effects. TikTok is a social network that, unlike many others, is actually still fun to be on. It is here to get you in on all the latest trends, dances and viral videos.

Why is TikTok so popular for making videos?

The app makes it easy to make entertaining videos as well as adding various effects such as filters and emojis. Most people are also emboldened to create videos thanks to the 15-second limit.

TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create, watch, and share 15-second videos shot on phones. With its personalised feeds of quirky short videos set to music and sound effects, the app is notable for its addictive quality and high levels of engagement. Amateur and professional creators alike can add effects like filters, background music, and stickers to their videos, and can collaborate on content and create split-screen duet videos even if they’re in different locations.

Launched in its present form in 2018, TikTok joined the ranks of social media giants in record time. It had about one billion active monthly users worldwide by the start of 2021 and had been downloaded in the U.S. at least 200 million times, according to Wallaroo Media 1.

Like all social media companies, it has been the target of persistent if vague concerns about the potential use or misuse of the private information it gathers about its users. The difference is that a majority of TikTok is Chinese-owned.

Like most companies, Brighter Directions are a fan of using TikTok videos as a marketing tool!

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Artificial intelligence

Integrating artificial intelligence in your PR strategy can help you create a story to your audience, alongside enhancing your role as a company. However, by generating an effective story for your audience, try not to create fake news. In 2019, it’s thought that AI usage will increase by 26% and consumer personalisation will increase by 29%. This improves SEO and helps find relevant content based on the searchers previous queries and pattern.

CSR

Corporate social responsibilities are prominent aspects of many businesses, this is expected to grow rapidly in 2019 with more brands and SMEs expected to build marketing plans inclusive of their social actions. External issues that could influence these CSR objectives include social, political and environmental elements. Examples of good CSR objectives would be; environmental efforts, philanthropy and ethical labour practices.

Earned media

The best type of media you can generate as a company is online likes and shares as it is an extremely cost effective way of marketing because, it’s free! Earned social media is the new and improved “word of mouth” public relations. When customers share positive feedback or comments online, or an influencer decides to share brand content, it can create an overall positive image for the brand. It is a beneficial way of creating customer trust through a third party.

This type of trust can be built through many different channels like social media, press releases and blogs.  In 2019 it is predicted that there will be a decrease in highly branded content and more authentic content will come to the forefront of PR strategies. This has already taken place with Google going back to basics and emphasising its natural, high-quality content. So 2019 will be the year to create natural, more authentic messages from the heart of your business.

Social listening

Social listening is the process of monitoring digital communication from customers to understand their view of the brand and using this feedback as a way to differentiate their/your product.  Social listening is a highly effective tool that can help control the narrative of your public relations and marketing. The brands that invest in this crucial strategy will be rewarded, responding in real-time to customer concerns or issues can help minimise the possibility of a PR crisis. Further engaging with the outside world on current events and news will ensure your brand stays relevant and will help create an authentic brand image by showing your unique perspective to the audience.

Trust in brands and their content

The place for traditional advertisements in marketing is still prominent; however, consumers are now more concerned about how relevant and valuable the advertisement is to them personally. If ads are not going to become more tailored to the consumer then content marketing, influencer marketing and referral partnerships will be the future’s most used methods in marketing. They are perceived to hold actual value to the consumer and are designed more directly for them rather than a ploy for mass attention.

New Year, new you doesn’t necessarily stop at personal traits, take the time this January to implement some of the coming year’s latest trends to remain one step ahead of the competition. For any assistance with your Marketing requirements, Brighter Directions are always on hand to provide outsourced services covering PR, Social Media, Content and more. Call our office today on 01246 586 330 to discuss your requirements.

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Here are some of the ways you can stay current:

Social Media

It’s crucial to be on social media daily. Use it to stay connected with the top trendsetters within your industry. That way you’ll see when new trends appear. Customise your business’s feeds on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to easily scan relevant and trending topics. Follow the most influential movers and shakers, on Twitter, in your industry and track what they are talking about in real time. Use Facebook and LinkedIn groups to exchange tips and ask questions of experts about emerging trends and best practices.

Subscriptions

Subscribing to popular mainstream business publications, trade journals or consumer magazines, that cover the latest business or consumer news is still one of the best ways to stay in the know about specific industry issues. It is good practice to schedule regular time in your week to go through the publications, both online and offline, so you can refer to them while you’re on the go.

Networking

Networking is one of the easiest ways to keep up-to-date with what’s happening in your industry which allows you to explore how others are addressing challenges and coming up with new ways to serve their clients. The face time you get from networking is also beneficial to your business and a great way to make new business relationships.

Competitors

Competitors are going to see the same emerging trends and opportunities as you do. It is worth checking up on what they are doing to determine what ideas they’ve followed. Being the first one to try out a new trend isn’t always useful. By observing your competitors, you can then decide which methods will work best for you based on their success—or failure.

Don’t be the last person in the know, devote a small amount of your time to understand the emerging trends in your industry and stay on top. That way you can maximise your PR coverage, target and plan your marketing campaigns more effectively and gain more exposure. Proving your business is up to date and relevant!

We have also shared out best insights on how PR is important for your business, click the link to have a read and digest some useful information https://www.brighterdirections.co.uk/2018/09/04/why-public-relations-is-important-for-your-business/

If you remain unsure about how to implement your PR strategy, or would just like additional information, please contact Brighter Directions on 01246 586330, or at danielle@brighterdirections.co.uk.

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