Impact Digital

We're a marketing bureau with a twist! 🥨 Sure we help our clients understand, attract and communicate with their ideal audiences through digital, strategy and engagement, but really it's all for the purpose of creating a healthy, connected, thriving Tāmaki Makaurau and regenerative Aotearoa economy.  Our business is our gift to Waitematā 💌

Most people I encounter have an aversion to the term 'marketing'. 'Communications' seems to be okay, even 'marketing communications' is accepted, but 'marketing' alone... not so much. And I get it. There's this idea that marketing can be pushy, like putting on a show, or behaving in a way that doesn't align with your values. That's until recently at least. We're helping to change that. Because the thing is, it is marketing, not just communications, that is needed to get well outside of your bubble and design innovative ways of presenting the value of your initiative. And it's not reserved only for business. Campaigns and causes can benefit from the "customer" perspective of marketing too. Because at its core, it's really just about identifying and understanding your key audiences and figuring out a way to connect with them. We need your world-changing initiatives to grow. So, what beliefs do you hold about marketing that could be limiting? 🌟

Receiving feedback is an important part of the creative process, but we know clients can be hesitant to share their thoughts or sometimes aren't sure how. We try to make it easy by asking directly for feedback and systematically building opportunities for this into our process. Next time you'd like to give feedback, try these: > Identify the specific part of the work in question. > Ask about the thinking behind the design / creative (something from the research may be informing a choice you hadn't realised). > Explain where you'd like the output to go and how the existing solution isn't quite getting there. This can feel like a nice way to give feedback as you're allowing the designer another chance at the task, while also hopefully getting you a better result with the research and skills you paid for. Save this post for later! 🔖

You don't have to wait for your opportunity for engagement, you can create one! Just like we did for Bike Auckland with this recent webinar collaboration on sustainable events. Catch up on what you missed with the replay now available on their YouTube channel, featuring leaders from Clean Event and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited 📹 https://lnkd.in/gj4QbDH4

Grassroots organising is great for getting an idea going when you can easily manage to communicate with your close network, but once things reach a tipping point or you're ready to grow, clear, concise and well-executed communications that speak in your audience's language are going to be your best friend. We can help with marketing plans and communications support for that: https://lnkd.in/g3XWYdcB

What's your "thing"? That thing about your business that is undeniably YOU.  People want to work with people who suit the culture and values of their organisation so knowing who you are, your identity as an organisation, is really helpful for communicating with others.  Having a grasp on your brand identity gives you confidence when introducing yourself and makes your brand communications more compelling too.  What five attributes would you use to describe your business? 🌟

Getting to the crux of what matters most for your customers and stakeholders and being able to speak in their language is key to realising your offering's value in the eye of your beholder. It allows you to present solutions in a way that matches their needs and ultimately enables you to sell it to people. We loved going through this process recently with the Bike Auckland team. From discovery workshop to planning and delivery, we learned a lot about the inner workings of events and Bike Valet operations, bringing the two together in this refreshed landing page copy and industry webinar. Check it out for yourself now on bikeauckland.org.nz/valet 🚲 And while you're there, add your name to the #CyclingWorks campaign: https://lnkd.in/gQ-2z7EA #CycleCulture #BikeValet #SustainableTransport Bike Auckland

One of the best ways to engage a marketer is to ask them to gather the brief for your marketing projects - think brand refreshes, campaigns, website designs, events, etc. Although they're not necessarily going to be the person creating the graphics or writing the words, they are likely to have a good understanding of a) your customers, and b) how these elements work together, and therefore what's required in a brief for a good outcome. They may also be the person using the outputs once they're completed, for example in communications or digital platforms, and so are familiar with the nuances that can make a big difference to customer engagement and overall success!

Wicked problems can't be solved alone. They require collaboration and creativity to create meaningful change. But how do you get started when stakeholders exist across various communities or organisations? You need a working group or some kind of community-building to get things going.  We use webinars and events as a solution to kick-start connection and build momentum for your purpose. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/g4XGVkjB

Relying less on grants and funding means nailing your value proposition and figuring out creative ways to turn your solution into a sustainable system. This can start with things like brand sponsorships and corporate partnerships, but there can be a lot realised when you get to know your stakeholders and what value means to them. Your service delivers a baseline need, but the real value often comes from its wider customer experience and augmented offering. Think brand values, customer service, community engagement, etc. So, when was the last time you reviewed your value model? 🌟