The Best Digital Marketing Tools of 2022

Success in digital marketing largely depends on the tools you are using. According to a digital marketing speaker Hong Kong, innovation and technology do not only help marketers automate repetitive tasks. These tools have also automated the gathering of analytics, data, and insights that can be helpful to a campaign strategy, as asocial media agency Hong Kong says. With auto-captions, auto-segmentation, etc., a video marketing agency Hong Kong never doubts using digital marketing tools for successful video ads and campaigns. Today, we present the best digital marketing tools of 2022.

DATA ANALYTICS

It is the science of exploring raw data to arrive at better conclusions and decisions. Most brands and businesses extract information through lead generation and social media. They will organize and transform the data to identify consumer behaviors through patterns. Among the best digital marketing tools of 2022 for data analytics are:

  • Databox
  • Digital Marketing Tuner
  • Google Analytics
  • Google Search Console
  • Raven Tools

DESIGN

A design represents the brand or business message in creating visual content. It is an effective way to communicate with target customers. A good design can improve commercial success, perception, and visibility. Among the best digital marketing tools of 2022 for design are:

  • Adobe Color CC
  • Canva
  • Creative Cloud Express
  • Kap
  • Piktochart

EMAIL CAMPAIGNS

Email marketing is the coordinated sending of emails at a specific time for specific purposes. They contain a call to action (CTA) like download now, make a purchase, sign up for a webinar, etc. It is a direct marketing tactic to make the target audience aware of the latest products and updates in a brand or business. Among the best digital marketing tools of 2022 for email campaigns are:

  • Active Campaign
  • AWeber
  • Campaign Monitor
  • Constant Contact
  • HubSpot’s Email Marketing Software

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Every brand or business has a digital marketing team. They may include copywriters, designers, email marketers, social media managers, website developers, etc. Each team member needs to collaborate to create a synchronized marketing plan. The best way to unite these talents online is through a project management tool. Among the best digital marketing tools of 2022 for project management are:

  • Airtable
  • Asana
  • HubSpot Project
  • ProofHub
  • Trello

SEO

SEO or search engine optimization means optimizing the website content to rank among search engines, especially Google. It is a challenging task as it involves careful content curation, mobile optimization, user-friendly website designs, etc. Among the best digital marketing tools of 2022 for content or SEO are:

  • Ahrefs
  • HubSpot Content Strategy Tool
  • Keywords Everywhere
  • Moz
  • Ryte

SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS

More than half of the world’s population has a social media account. That is why brands and businesses always include social media in their digital marketing approach. So many competitors are on social media. So, they need to choose the right tools to help them succeed in their social media ads and campaigns. Among the best digital marketing tools of 2022 for social media campaigns are:

  • Buffer
  • BuzzSumo
  • Hootsuite
  • HubSpot Social Inbox
  • Iconosquare

Reference: https://unsupervised.com/resources/blogs/blogs-optimizing-your-tools/

The Benefits of Adopting Sustainability According to LinkedIn

The world celebrates Earth Day every 22nd of April. Since 1970, such a modern environmentalist movement has been supported by more than 190 countries and 1 billion individuals. According to a digital marketing speaker Hong Kong, modern consumers prefer brands and businesses that support sustainability. It means brands and businesses supporting a cause to save the planet earth, as a social media agency Hong Kong defined it.

Sustainability evolves in different themes. The most popular topics include biodiversity, circular economy, climate change, decarbonization, electrification, renewable energy, and zero-emission. As sustainability becomes a societal action and expectation, LinkedIn releases an article about the benefits of adopting sustainability.

WHY DO BRANDS NEED SUSTAINABILITY ON LINKEDIN?

The engagement of LinkedIn members towards sustainability is thriving. It is now a hot topic among LinkedIn members, with engagement continuously growing.

Purchase decisions of LinkedIn users are also influenced by sustainability. More than 41% of LinkedIn users want brands and corporations to be more transparent about their sustainability policies and practices. Around 36% of them who see a company’s commitment to sustainability made a purchase.

LinkedIn brands that actively support environmental causes grow their followers 8x more than those that do not support any cause. It is evident among companies in the automotive, construction, environmental services, oil & energy, and renewables & environment.

HOW TO GO GREEN ON LINKEDIN?

After learning the benefits of adopting sustainability on LinkedIn, here are some tips on how to go green with your LinkedIn ads and campaigns.

Understand the Sustainability Landscape

Communities are the core of success on LinkedIn. To better understand the sustainability landscape, brands and businesses need to keep themselves updated with content insights that trend within communities. Examine articles about sustainability topics like climate change, eco-friendly products, socio-political issues, etc. From these data, learn the competitive context of sustainability for your brand.  

Identify Your Customer’s Needs

Customer needs are the valuable factors that trigger LinkedIn users to buy products and services. To better understand them, collect customer feedback regularly. You can do it via focus groups, interviews, social listening, and surveys. Use these insights to tailor your content in giving solutions to your customers’ pain points. For each content, try to highlight your value proposition. It will differentiate you from the rest and increase conversions and revenues in the long run.

Be Authentic, Empathetic, and Logical

Brains and emotions are commonly seen as polar opposites. But by being authentic in communicating Be Authentic, Empathetic, and Logical about the actions and beliefs of a brand or business, they can drive an emphatic and logical impact on LinkedIn. Empathy means being an active listener and keeping an open mind to the changes in the marketing landscape. Logic means relying on analytics and data provided by LinkedIn. When creating LinkedIn ads and campaigns, mixing these two qualities results in more effective brand performance.

Reference: https://www.linkedin.com/business/marketing/blog/research-and-insights/be-part-of-the-sustainability-conversation-on-linkedin-and-not-just-on-earth-day

Ways to Save on Marketing Campaigns

According to a digital marketing speaker Hong Kong, a key to success is to spend less and earn more. It means budgeting your funds wisely. Even a social media agency Hong Kong highlights the importance of maximizing your ad spending by focusing on campaigns that have a bigger return on investment (ROI). If you are looking for ways to save money and time in your marketing strategies, here are some ways to save on marketing campaigns.

Convert Research Reports into Infographics

An infographic is a visual representation of data or information. It is one of the most shareable pieces of content on social media. Besides building the credibility of a brand or business, an infographic can also increase conversion and reach. Creating visually appealing credible information can largely influence decision-making among your target audiences. One way to save on marketing campaigns is to turn research results into a visual chart – infographics. If you have a 300 to 500 research report, you can gather the key ideas and creatively convert them into infographics. In that way, the data or information will be more digestible.

Convert Whitepapers into eBooks

Whitepapers are written documents promoting a product, service, or solution for a certain industry or niche. Its ai to is to persuade public decisions through factual and technical evidence. Written in an academic style, they are typically 2500 words long. eBooks, on the other hand, are electronic versions of traditional prints. A unique advantage of an eBook is its portability. Readers can view the eBook anywhere from any internet-connected device. It may be a smart move to turn the content of your whitepaper into an eBook. You can definitely save on marketing campaigns as they can be a lead generation magnet.

Trade Show Banners into Social Media Images

A banner stands as the workhorse of marketing during physical events and trade shows. It is a great work of art that highlights the branding and character of a business. If you have company banners sitting in your office closet, you may want to recycle them as social media images. You can turn your physical logos into digital logos and let them serve as your banner image on your social media accounts.

Turn Print Newsletters and Direct Mail into Email

You can get more out of your print newsletters by turning them into digital pieces of content. Creativity is the key to saving money on marketing campaigns. Get the main idea on the newsletter to create a short digital ad copy. Copy the image, put a short description, and use a call-to-action button at the end. They can help boost audience engagement and website traffic.

Turn Your Radio/TV Ad Copy into a Social Media Post

A video marketing agency Hong Kong recommends turning your radio or TV ad copy into digital audio or video format that you can upload to your social media pages. You can tone down the content into being sale-sy before uploading them. In such a way, they can be used as Facebook posts, LinkedIn updates, or tweets to capture people’s attention. They can help you grow your followers on your social media pages while saving money on marketing campaigns.

Upload Brochures to Your Website

Brochures are promotional documents highlighting the unique selling proposition (USP) of a brand, business, product, or service. Most of the time, brochures contain a list of products and services offered by a brand or business. Each product or service comes with details and specifications. Turning these brochures into digital catalogs is another way to save on marketing campaigns. Upload the brochure on a web page to help customers easily find what you offer.

Reference: https://blog.red-website-design.co.uk/2022/03/18/save-money-marketing-campaigns/

Top 3 Social Commerce Trends in 2022

The way people shop today has dramatically changed. Gone are the days when people visit one physical store to another for their holiday shopping. More people stayed in the comfort of their homes browsing catalogs for their buying lists. A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong noted that the COVID-19 brought about these big changes. The lockdowns and social distancing made people realize the convenience of social commerce.

According to a social media agency Hong Kong, social commerce is the process of buying directly using a social media account. For example, when a Facebook user wants to make a purchase on a digital shop in Facebook, he/she just needs to click the product link and directly buy it without leaving Facebook. He/she just needs to choose a default payment mode via Facebook pay. Other social media platforms offer the same convenience. In YouTube, for instance, viewers can buy merchandise just by clicking a video link, as a video marketing agency Hong Kong says.

As brands and businesses become familiar with social commerce, Meta conducted a study about the top 3 social commerce trends in 2022. Here are they!

Brands are Exploring the Metaverse

Last October 2021, Facebook rebranded its name into Meta. The company also leveled up as a social tech organization. Meta’s vision is built around the metaverse. It aims to harness the power of augmented reality (AR) & virtual reality (VR) to power business and work. One of the top 3 social commerce trends in 2022 is the potential of brands exploring the metaverse. They are now keen to preview what shopping in metaverse could look like.

Interactive AR shopping and live streaming are two examples of early metaverse glimmers. As Pinterest and Snapchats launched AR try-on, Meta is currently working on such product innovations. This social commerce trend is perfect for beauty and fashion brands. Some big brands that have already integrated AR into their customers’ shopping experience are Levi’s, Mac, Maybelline, NARs, etc. With 79% of global consumers preferring experience over the offerings, it is best for brands and businesses to level up shopping experiences through AR and VR.

Modern Consumers Shop for Value

As mentioned, today, over 56% o modern consumers are preferring experience over the offerings when shopping. It is important to them that the brands and businesses they followed uphold the same values they believe in. Many people now advocate for equality and sustainability.

Brands and businesses should focus on promoting diversity & inclusion, together with sustainability of the environment. In the Facebook marketplace, brands that advocate less carbon emission are very popular among modern consumers. Secondhand fashion is also booming as recycling hits the social commerce spotlight.

Shopping Inspiration Drives Sales

Gone are the days of billboards and TV ads. Gone are the very sale-sy copy ads and campaigns. Modern consumers want value before making a purchase. They are smart enough to look for reviews and specifications. As the man eats dogs online world gets stronger, it is shopping inspiration that drives sales today. This is the best social commerce trend in 2022. It is because the authenticity of the brand or business can be a big edge to success.

Meta’s research shows that influencer marketing will continue to flourish. Influencers play a critical role in inspiring their followers to patronize a brand or business. Around 45% of global online shoppers bought products and services endorsed by celebrities and influencers. This may be due to the fact that trust is a paramount basis in making purchase decisions. Family, friends, and influencers are the main inspiration that drives sales.

Live shopping has also become an inspiration among the millennial generation. Retailers who had closed their physical stores find them effective in boosting sales and building stronger connections. It gives brands and businesses the opportunity to earn while assisting their customers through chats and commenting in real-time.

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/business/news/three-trends-shaping-social-commerce-in-2022#

How to Master Content Curation

Social media evolves through connection and collaboration. A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong highlights the importance of finding the best content that the audience wants. This is to keep them coming back to you. According to a social media agency Hong Kong, the best way to connect and collaborate is through content curation.

Content curation is more than sharing. A video marketing agency Hong Kong notes that they provide extra value to social media followers while highlighting the industry expertise of a brand or business. It is a valuable social media marketing strategy as the key to content creation is “value.” Below, let’s explore some ideas on how to master content curation.

WHAT IS CONTENT CURATION?

Content curation means to assemble, categorize, comment on, present, and select the highest-quality and most relevant information that meets the target audience’s needs on a specific topic. In simple terms, curated content means sharing content from other sources. It includes linking information on a blog post from another source, rounding up advice from industry experts, or sharing a social media post. The role of a content curator is to share the most valuable content among their target audiences.

BENEFITS OF CONTENT CURATION

Effective content creation does not require too much mental effort. All you need to do is strategize. Your creativity and focus to give value to your readers and viewers are the keys. It is worth investing time as content curation offers a lot of benefits.

  • Build Relationships. A significant factor that influences the success of an online brand or business is networking. Backlinking, collaborating, connecting, or tagging the author of the original post to your content creation can build relationships. The page of the curated content and its backlinks will support each other in terms of SEO. Reaching out to the author will start a conversation and possibly a long-term connection. 
  • Diversify Your Social Media Posting. Content curation allows you to experiment with different social media formats. It also allows you to share different opinions and new ideas. As such, it diversifies your social media posting.
  • Position a Brand as an Industry Leader. It is not only original content that can build a brand reputation. Curating shows that a brand knows the best stuff and the latest trends in your niche. It gives an impression that a brand is an industry leader.
  • Saves Money & Time. Curating content is the cheapest and fastest way to fill in a social media calendar. Sharing another post is free as long as you give due respect to the author. You also no longer need to spend hours on content creation from time to time.

HOW TO MASTER CONTENT CURATION

Mastering content curation means ensuring that curated content has the following elements.

Creatively Repurposed

Like a museum curator, a content curator needs to do some research. They need to source the best information that their audience might be interested in. Once you’ve found the best pieces, you will need to creatively repurpose them. The smartest way to do so is to transform them into another format. You can turn an article piece into a webinar, a blog post into a newsletter content, an eBook to a list of statistics, or the talking points of a podcast into an infographic. 

Credit the Rightful Owners

The golden rule of content creation is to always give credit to the rightful owners. Google does not accept plagiarism either. So, it is important to backlink to your sources. Better yet, ask the author’s permission for you to share the content.

Relevant to the Industry or Niche

For content curation to be educational, entertaining, and inspiring, it should be relevant to the industry or niche. You cannot just share any type of content for a brand or business. The theme should revolve around the values it offers. Content relevance is also the most important SEO element for social media sharing. 

Reference: https://quuu.co/blog/what-does-curated-content-mean/

Best Practices in Using CTA for Marketing

Have you ever encountered the following while browsing on your social media account – “Buy Now, Get Started, Learn More, Sign Up, Subscribe?” These are called Call-to-Actions or CTAs. A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong highlights that they are the secret weapons of inbound marketers. They increase email clicks by 371%. They also increase Facebook click-through rates by 285%.

According to a social media agency Hong Kong, CTAs act as web page signposts letting the users know what to do next. They help remove the friction to move down in the sales funnel. Brands and businesses can use CTA as an ending statement to a blog post, a line in an email, or a website button. Even a video marketing agency Hong Kong uses CTA to close a deal after a video. Below, let’s take a look at the best practices in using CTAs for marketing!

THE CONCEPT OF CTA

A Call-to-Action (CTA) refers to the next step of action that marketers want consumers to take. They are direct commands or requests linked to sales. Among the most common CTAs are the following:

  • Add to Cart
  • Buy Now
  • Click Here
  • Download Now
  • Find Out
  • Get Offer
  • Limited Time offer
  • See More
  • Sign Up
  • Swipe Up

There’s a lot more CTA that brands and businesses use. If you will notice, they are either 2 to 3 words statement. In social media, a CTA is a prime opportunity for A/B testing. This is because the way you present a CTA and its wordings matter among social media users. For example, some people may shy away from a “Free Trial,” but they can react differently to “Give It a Try.”

BEST PRACTICES IN USING CTA FOR MARKETING

The best thing in digital marketing is to have the power to influence others. Brands and businesses have been adopting different strategies to boost brand awareness, revenue, and website traffic. The best and simplest way to do it is by using a call-to-action or CTA. But how? Here are some best practices in using CTA for marketing!

Apply Reverse Psychology

Use the power of reverse psychology to push users to convert into the actions you want them to take. You can do this by popping up two CTAs for the viewers to choose from. For example, if you want to get more subscribers to a blog, you can use the following pair of CTAs: “Continue Receiving Great Info” or “Miss Updates.” The key is to craft a CTA that is more than the yes or no choices.

Create a Sense of Urgency in Your CTA

People typically act quickly when they feel a sense of urgency. One best practice in using CTA for marketing is emulating the same feeling to your audiences. Brands and businesses can create a sense of urgency on CTAs by using time-related languages such as “for a limited time,” “now,” “sales end tomorrow,” or “today.” Better yet, adding a countdown timer as the offer expires can make your audience take advantage of the offer right away.

Keep a CTA Brief and Direct

The top best practice in using CTA for marketing is to keep them brief and direct – sweet and short. Most successful CTAs use a maximum of four words. They contain powerful verbs to inspire actions among the audiences. Some examples of these verbs are: “Buy,” “Get,” “Join,” etc.

Personalize CTAs

Do you know that personalizing CTAs can boost click-through rates by 200%? Simply putting a name on a CTA can make a person feel valued. AS such, they are most likely to click a CTA. Brands and businesses can personalize CTAs based on the available data of their clients and prospects. You can tailor-made CTAs according to personal information, location, status, etc.

Turn a CTA into a Clickable Button

Turning a CTA into a clickable button is another best practice in using CTA for marketing. Modern consumers find an online and website button tempting. It is because they expect action once they clicked it. Besides, instead of hyperlinked graphics or text, it will be easier to design CTA buttons.

Use Responsive Designs When Making CTAs

Ensure the proper placement of CTAs on different screen sizes and software. They should be easy to read even on small screens. An ideal CTA position is either on the middle column or the topmost part of a page. Make a CTA stand out by putting a lot of white spaces around and highlighting the CTA button with contrasting colors. The CTA text should be bigger than the surrounding text.

Reference: https://blog.red-website-design.co.uk/2022/02/04/call-to-action-best-practices/

5 Tips for Picking the Right B2B Design Agency

Making your own website is quite difficult. Aside from finding the right template to use and making sure you have all the details of your company in it, you need to make sure that you can also be found when someone makes a quick online search. Most of the time, companies take the help of a consultant who has the skills and expertise in order to find out how to select a good web design agency. However, the job can be quite challenging if one decides to do it all on their own. The first thing that you should do is to conduct a careful research so that you can arrive at a list of possible web design agencies who are experts in B2B.

Here are some tips for choosing the right B2B web design agency according to a digital marketing agency Hong Kong:

Research and Compare

You should always remember that the job of a consultant is not only to look for the right clients, but also to ensure that the right work is done. Therefore, you should also ensure that the B2B web design agency that you have chosen has some of the best resources available for its use. Do not rely on just one or two sources. It is best to get in touch with more than three agencies and compare their rates and packages offered. This is the easiest way of ensuring that you get the best service package at the lowest possible rate.

Identify the Common Promotion Tools Used

Once you have the list of possible web design agencies, the next thing that you should do is to check if they have any of the basic tools for conducting website promotion. This includes the website itself, banners, buttons, logos, and so forth. If you cannot find reviews about any of the features of the company, then you should proceed to another agency. Some web design agencies might offer some of these features at no extra cost, but other companies might charge a little higher. Hence, it is best to find out how much extra work the company will be doing for you.

Create a Structured Process of Choosing an Agency

Choosing a web design agency is also important because a good web design agency will know how to leverage the power of the Internet to boost its clients’ marketing efforts. For example, a fashion site’s website might be able to get many more hits online through the presence of the popular search engine, Google. Hence, a good web design agency will have the ability to get more people to look at their fashion site through the search engines.

See How They Can Help Make Your Business Grow

You will also need to consider how your web design agency can help your business grow. Does it have a website that can help show you how your products or services are unique, or can it present your company as one of a kind?  For example, does it have a social media strategy that can help you get more followers on Twitter or Facebook?

A good web design agency will be able to help you determine your company’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you run a fitness company, you may find that a social media site, like Instagram, is a better platform to use compared to a blog because there are a lot of Instagrammers within the age group most acquainted to fitness. On the other hand, if you offer carpentry services, then using a blog is more ideal. The web design agency should work with all aspects of your company’s operations and make sure you can find good clients for your business by presenting good social media marketing strategies and website experience. Checking for awards or contests won like the Digital Excellence Awards can help affirm your decision in a web design agency.

Presentation of Projects

One of the things you should look at when choosing a web design agency is how they present projects to clients. According to a digital marketing speaker Hong Kong, this is an essential aspect because a web designer must understand the needs of a client before they present their creation. Remember that clients who are searching for specific information online do not necessarily have a clear idea on what type of website they want to have. A professional web designer must know how to put forward ideas that will capture the audience’s attention.

The design of your website will be determined by how good your connections are. How do you know if the people you’re dealing with are capable of delivering? This is crucial because you don’t want to be spending money on web design services only to find that half of your audience is unhappy and unsatisfied with your website. To help make the right B2B web design agency decisions, you must consider how the professionals you’re working with interact with their own clients.

Reference: https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/tools-and-tips/tips-for-choosing-the-right-b2b-web-design-agency/

Improving Lead Quality with LinkedIn Ads

LinkedIn has over 690 million monthly active users (MAUs). The number is only a fraction compared to Facebook and Instagram. But brands and businesses should never underestimate the power of LinkedIn. As the largest network of professionals, it is in the platform where you can mostly find decision-makers. This makes LinkedIn a powerful tool for marketing.

A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong highlights that LinkedIn is an effective platform for content marketing. Around 3 million users share content on LinkedIn weekly and they generated 9 million impressions. When it comes to cost per click (CPC), LinkedIn beats Google by 28%.

Furthermore, a social media agency Hong Kong notes that 80% of B2B leads are generated from LinkedIn. Whereas Twitter only generates 13% and Facebook only generates 7%. Below are some ways of improving lead quality with LinkedIn ads.

Amplify Successful Organic Posts 

Organic content is unpaid LinkedIn posts that provide value to target audiences. They can be discovered through keyword searches. Organic content is a resource that can help build your Linked Company Page. As they attract people to follow your brand, they can promote trust and provide social proof. Besides, a simple organic strategy can support your paid LinkedIn ads.

Once you publish organic posts on your LinkedIn Company Page, check which really resonated with your followers. Recently, LinkedIn allowed boosting of high-performing posts. Such an option is great for adding more prospects to your sales funnel or retargeting audiences. The first thing you need to do is visit your LinkedIn analytics to find your best-performing content. You can then click the “Boost Post” option on the content where you want to drive more traffic.

Build Ideal Target Audiences for Linked Ads That Focus on First-Party Data Collection

Today, it is very important to collect 1st party data to build your audience. Many recent privacy rules and updates have restricted the collection of 3rd party data. Therefore, it will be smart to build an ideal target audience group for your LinkedIn ads that focus on 1st party data collections.

You can expand LinkedIn targeting using lookalike audiences. Lookalike audiences are users who are similar to your matched audiences in a LinkedIn Company Page. Matched audiences are those who have already interacted with your LinkedIn ads. They are the best source of 1st party data in your CRM tool. If you need to nurture top-funnel audiences, saved audiences are a great place to start. Their buyer personas are based on interests, job functions & titles, professional industries, and seniority levels.

Collect Leads via a LinkedIn Lead Generation Objective

You can also collect information from your LinkedIn leads with permission via lead generation objective. It activates LinkedIn’s native lead gen forms that automatically show the profile information of a prospect. They can become useful resources for conversion data. Alternatively, if you want to run a lead gen campaign for people who opened but did not complete a lead gen form, you can run a website traffic campaign instead.  

Use Website Conversions Objective

A website conversion objective on LinkedIn urges target audiences to complete a certain action on your company’s website. This is an ideal way to guide your prospects to the sales funnel. First, you should install the LinkedIn Insight Tag, where you can set up conversion tracking. Under LinkedIn’s Campaign Manager, click the Create Conversion button. There are several options that you may choose. The basics are:

  • Download a file
  • Join an Event
  • Make a Purchase
  • Sign Up for a list

After setting up a website conversion objective, you can collect 1st party data on your company website.

Reference: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-improve-your-lead-quality-with-linkedin-ads/

4 Snackable Content Marketers Should Understand

The attention span of modern consumers is getting shorter and shorter. The noise from different social media channels resulted in people having less time to browse content. But there is an exception to the rule. That is, they stay longer if they get interested.

According to a social media agency Hong Kong, snackable content gets the most engagement within social media platforms. They are easy for readers and viewers to consume and share. So, they can help brands and businesses promote their products and services.

When creating short-form videos, a video marketing agency Hong Kong highlights the importance of showing the exact message within the first 8 seconds of the clips. It is because most viewers only watch a video for 10 seconds or shorter.

WHAT IS SNACKABLE CONTENT?

A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong defines snackable content as posts that are easy to consume and share. They are quick to create and are mobile-friendly. These include the following: 

  • GIFs
  • Infographics
  • Memes
  • Polls
  • Q & As
  • Quizzes
  • Quotes
  • Short video clips

It is easy to create snackable content because there are many applications you can use to do so. Adobe Spark, Canva, and Pablo by Buffer are some of the most popular apps. 

4 SNACKABLE CONTENT MARKETERS SHOULD UNDERSTAND

Effective snackable content is one that balances compelling graphics or visuals plus smart text choices. It is catchy but not sensational. Not being sensational differentiates it from click-baits. Below are 4 snackable content every marketer should understand:

GIFs

GIF means graphical interchange format. It was invented by Steve Wilhite in 1987 to animate images in the smallest file format. Audiences no longer need to press the play button. The repetition of a soundless clip in GIFs makes viewers engage like the sound of a beat.

GIFs are pieces of impulsive snackable content. They can go viral because they are extremely versatile. They can be used to capture emotions or reactions, images on loops, and soundless motion videos. GIFs can establish a sound web presence among brands and businesses because they have lots of sharing potentials.

Infographics

Oxford dictionary defines infographics as visual representations of data or information. Like a bar or chart with minimal text, it is a collection of data visuals that make the topic easy to understand. The main purpose of infographics is not to excite and engage. Rather, it aims to make information recallable. 

Infographics are engaging, fun, and meaningful. With a dynamic range of applications, they can be used as comparison points, how-to guides, survey data presentations, etc. Infographics don’t necessarily need to be sequential. What is important is that they project valuable information in the form of snackable content.

Memes

A meme is an image or video that portrays a cultural shorthand. The meaning of a meme depends on the reader or viewer. They may be too personal but viral at the same time. But even if it does not have an outright meaning, a meme can make sense in daily life. 

The concept of meme perfectly encapsulates snackable content. With a word or two, they can be specifically tailored as engaging and entertaining. They can also be easily scrolled and shared. Yet, creating a meme is a delicate art. Brands and businesses should consistently aim to create entertaining memes in a tasteful way rather than killing competitors. As such, they can have a wealth of snackable content.

Quote Graphics

Quote graphics are concise nuggets of humor, inspiration, and wisdom partnered with relevant images. With very little effort, users can agree, comment, dislike, or like the quote. They are likable and shareable because they are easy to process and view.

A compelling quote is like a Michelin Star meal. As a center dish, it is delicious in its own right. An “eye-eats-first” garnishing takes it to another level. Finding quotes relevant to a brand or business can command and retain the attention of loyal customers and potential prospects. Quotes are inherently compelling. But visuals make them snackable content.

Reference: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/snackable-content

YouTube Shorts Report for Q3 of 2021

As people’s attention span gets shorter, short-form videos get hotter! It all started during the COVID-19 pandemic. To kill boredom, many netizens use TikTok as a form of expression. As it boomed, many social media platforms cloned the app. 

YouTube is one of the late cloners of TikTok. It launched “Shorts” last March. They are 15 to 60 seconds music clips that disappear after 7 days unless a YouTube channel creator saves them. A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong highlights that YouTube Shorts offer a different viewing experience because they are in vertical format. As people access different apps via mobile, YouTube Shorts stand out when it comes to quality and precision.

Below, let us take a look at the YouTube Shorts report for Q3 of 2021.

A BRIEF INTRO ON YOUTUBE SHORTS

YouTube started testing Shorts in India in September 2019. That was right after TikTok was banned in the said country. After 6 months of testing, YouTube Shorts was globally launched. 

With a 9:16 aspect ratio, YouTube Shorts take up the entire mobile screen. A huge pack of engaging music and visual effects make them more engaging and fun than regular videos, as a video marketing agency Hong Kong noted.

What is unique about YouTube Shorts is that they allow the participation of the uploader in the short clip. They can act like the ones singing or talking on audios and voice-overs. They can also add an extra flair to the visuals through animations, virtual backgrounds, effects, and GIFs.

After launching YouTube Shorts, the platform is determined to boost its discovery. YouTube enabled a dedicated Shorts tab on channel feeds and timelines. They also included Shorts as part of recommended and suggested videos during a search. YouTube also launched a Shorts Campaign last August. This was followed by a recent promotional partnership with music artists such as Camila Cabello, The Weeknd, and Ed Sheeran. 

YOUTUBE SHORTS REPORT FOR Q3 OF 2021

A social media agency Hong Kong notes that 1/3 of all global Internet users are on YouTube. It makes the platform an ideal haven for short-form videos. 

After YouTube Shorts was launched, it has recorded 15 billion daily average views. As such, they have significantly helped creators boost channel subscriptions.

YouTube Shorts Report is a twice a month content, inspiration, product, and tips update in a scrollable format. It aims to support YouTube Creators to help figure out their next Shorts creation. 

Content: What’s Happening?

Many Shorts creators have an overactive imagination. They put it to good use by becoming the main character in creative scenarios. POV videos are rising among YouTube Shorts. 

Most YouTuber’s POV skits add a wholesome approach or provide context about the universe. The most engaging POV Shorts invite viewers to an immersive experience of the new reality. 

Using humorous and relatable characters, they capture the audiences’ curiosities. These concepts open up doors for daydreaming and spark engaging discussions.

Strategy: Seeking Attention Seekers

The first 3 seconds of YouTube videos are golden. That is why YouTube Shorts are straight to the point. They make it relevant to the viewer and set proper expectations within the first few seconds.

What is good about YouTube Shorts is that it allows you to visualize your audience persona and mimic them. As such, you can create Shorts content that your viewers would get interested in or long for.

Since YouTube Shorts have a length of 15 to 60 seconds, experimenting with a TON can help creators discover what work and what didn’t. By taking a look at the analytics, creators can evolve a niche. With a good data backup, it is easier to campaign using YouTube Shorts.

Tool: Audio Tips

The right audio can make or break YouTube Shorts and other forms of videos. Here are some helpful tips from YouTube to level up your Shorts audio:

  • Find them on feeds. When scrolling in the Shorts tab, check what’s the favorite audios among viewers. Creators can use them at the moment to join and jump on the trend’s bandwagon.
  • Make sure that your audio does not overpower your voice when you are speaking. A trick is to click the volume in the middle of the video and drag the lever to make sure that your voice is heard.
  • Think about your audience persona. Make sure you are using tracks that interest them. Not all pop songs can be appealing to everyone. Sometimes, the more serious professionals get annoyed with them.

THE BOTTOM LINE

When it comes to YouTube Shorts, content, strategy, and tool should be united. Use content to let them know what is happening. Be straight in your strategy to seeking the viewers’ attention. Make your YouTube Shorts stand out with a great mix of voice and music.

Reference: https://support.google.com/youtube/thread/96358511/youtube-shorts-report?hl=en