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Nostalgia marketing, hot pop-up spaces, online communities, best practices for CTAs, and more!

Crafting a Winning Call to Action

Here are seven secrets to crafting a call to action (CTA) for marketing campaigns:

  • Make an offer they can’t refuse. The more valuable your offer appears, the more irresistible it becomes. Use language that reduces risk and promotes value, like: “50% off”, “Buy one, get one”, “No credit card required”, “Free”.
  • Tap into their fear of missing out. FOMO is a powerful motivator, so build anticipation, create scarcity, and suggest that time’s running out.
  • Solve a problem. Use buyer personas to zero in on pain points and tell your prospects how your business solves them.
  • Incite action. The first word of your CTA should be first-person and action-oriented. Examples include call, click, discover, download, find out, join, register, save, sign up, start, stream, subscribe, try, watch, etc.
  • Keep it short and sweet. Direct is best – aim for three to five words that focus on what you want prospects to do such as call for a quote.
  • Make it stand out. Make your CTA really pops and is easily legible so prospects don’t have to hunt for it.
  • Test your CTA. A/B test your CTAs to a small segment of your target audience.

Nostalgia Marketing vs. Newness

With the pandemic dragging on, the desire for a return to normalcy will only grow stronger and this is why nostalgia marketing will continue to enjoy a renaissance throughout 2021. Here are some examples of recent comebacks:

  • Wristwatch preferences, particularly among collectors, such as Swatches and Casio G-Shocks.
  • Drive-in theaters.
  • Baseball cards.
  • Uber Eats reunited Wayne and Garth from “Wayne’s World”; the duo last hit movie theaters 28 years ago.

While nostalgia and cutting-edge technology may seem to be at odds, the fact is that new technology is making many of these nostalgic indulgences possible.

#FunFact | Some 71% of Americans said they began playing video games more after the pandemic began, with more than one in three turning to classic video games from their childhood. Source: The NPD Group

#FGF Story | National Geographic x NASA Team Up on Perseverance Rover AR Instagram Experience

Users can enjoy an immersive 360-degree view of Mars’ panorama and take a selfie with the robot. You can find this interactive (and the other AR filters) on Instagram:

  • Open Instagram.
  • Swipe left on the home page to open the Instagram camera.
  • Swipe right on the filters to Browse Effects, on the far right.
  • Search Mars AR.

What We’re Reading

  • Pinterest Predicts 2021
  • This Vancouver Company Provides Well-Designed Cat Furniture
  • Tiktok Integrates with Shopify and Expands Ad Solutions in Canada
  • P&G’s Old Spice to Open First Barbershop, Doubling as Content Studio
  • This Virtual Pop-Up Shop Is All About SNACKS

What are you reading? Let us know at info@zenergycom.com..

Creating Online Communities

Research from Facebook and New York University’s The Governance Lab has revealed that 46.1% of Americans say that the most important group they belong to operates online as compared to 30.1% who selected in-person as a response. This research supports the rising popularity of digital communities, such as Facebook Groups and other online forums.

The researchers were able to establish four key elements in the growth and resonance of online groups.

  • Digital technology enables groups to form at unprecedented scale and speed
  • Online groups enable marginalized people to build community
  • Online and offline spaces complement each other
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has put many online groups at center stage

Download the full report here.

#FunFact | Facebook groups are used by over 1.8 billion people every month, with more than half of all the people using Facebook now members of five or more groups. Source: The Governance Lab

Feature Spaces

Whether it is for a few hours or a few months, pop-up go provides organizations across North America with a range of available spaces for pop-up activations. Check out these feature spaces:

TORONTO, ON | Located just outside Downtown Toronto, a mall with multiple space opportunities in varying sizes and features available for daily, weekly, and monthly pop-ups. Looking for brands in these sectors: Stationery & Card Store, Books/Gifts, Socks/Shoes, Tech, Entertainment, Clothing & Apparel.

CALGARY, AB | Located near downtown Calgary, a mall with stores, outlets and restaurants has multiple spaces that can be adapted to your pop-up needs. Looking for brands in these sectors: Shoes, Women’s Fashion, Tech Devices, Entertainment, Pet focused, Books.

VANCOUVER, BC | Benefit from a one-of-a-kind pop-up experience at a centrally located mall. Looking for brands in these sectors: Women’s Fashion, Entertainment. Sports, Shoes, Car Accessories, Electronics, Indian/Indo-Canadian Food.

Are you a brand interested in popping-up in one of these spaces? Contact us at info@popupgo.com.

#TrendAlert | Pinterest Predicts

Pinterest has released its 2021 Trend Report, Pinterest Predicts, and it boasts that this year will be a rebirth, not a reset. Some insights from the report site adding elegance to athleisure in order to become Athflow and incorporating a minimalist aesthetic to transition into a new market category coined Skinimalism. Pinterest claims that Pinners are ready for a renaissance, so expect the regular to be reinvented.

you a brand or creator that wants to take advantage of these trends to host a digital or physical pop-up? Contact us at info@popupgo.com.

Brands Looking for Spaces

A luxury smoking accessories brand is looking for ground level, storefront pop-up spaces in Montreal, Toronto, New York City and LA. Space size and timing are flexible.

  • A food and beverage brand is looking for a 1,000+ sq. ft. space in Griffintown area of Montreal for a one-month pop-up.
  • A specialized phone accessories brand is looking for a 100 sq. ft. space with WIFI in Kelowna, BC for a few weeks in March.
  • A sustainable fashion brand is searching for a 500-1,000 sq. ft. space in San Francisco’s Mission District.
  • A golf simulator brand is looking for a 1,000-3,000 sq. ft. space with an 11’+ ceiling height in the Greater Toronto Area.
  • A home décor brand is searching for a 1,000 sq. ft. space from April to July in downtown Oakville, Ontario.
  • A beauty, cosmetic, personal care brand is searching for 10,000 sq. ft. in Calgary.

Let us know if you have a space that fits the bill, and we can bring your vacancy to life with one of these exciting pop-up activations! Contact us at info@popupgo.com.

PROJEX® by pop-up go

The latest offering from pop-up go, projeX by pop-up go is a virtual pop-up marketplace and online shopping destination that connects consumers to a diverse variety of small businesses, boutiques, and local retailers, allowing them to discover high-quality, exclusive, and interesting finds. Brands can sell directly to consumers, create virtual pop-up stores, or host digital experiences – all in one place. It’s a great way to launch a new product, test a new concept, or simply build an online presence.

Interested in being one of the first brands on projeX? Apply now!

Pop-Ups in Action

Read about recent and upcoming pop-ups and pop-ins that we love.

#TrendAlert | 2020’s “Most Loved Brands”

According to Engagement Labs’ TotalSocial Brand Awards, Trader Joe’s is the “most loved brand” offline while Walmart’s Great Value takes the same title for popularity in social media conversations. The research shows the pandemic shifted conversation toward household cleaning, personal and beauty care, and video games.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”– Walt Disney

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Quiz power, going frictionless, LinkedIn for leads, build trust, and more!

Brand Marketers Plan to Stick to Trust-Building Strategies

Brand trustworthiness became a big theme in 2020 with the pandemic and widespread social unrest leading consumers to grapple with uncertainty. Marketing platform, Iterable, surveyed 500 B2C marketers in the US and UK and the results indicated that strategies forged in 2020 will remain relevant into this year as COVID-19 continues to place a significant strain on society and the economy.

Key findings include:

  • 87% of respondents (brand marketers) reported their brands needed to pivot to build trust more effectively.
  • 25% identified a shift to more crisis-driven communications, 24% cited a greater spotlight put on empathetic marketing, while 23% said their outreach became more sales-driven.
  • Most respondents (91%) plan to stay focused on the trust-building strategies they developed in 2020 as the pandemic and wider social unrest reshaped thinking on key aspects of marketing.
  • Almost half (47%) of brands issued statements about racial inequality in 2020, making this issue more common than public health (40%), gender inequality (34%), LGBT pride (32%) and climate change (29%).

FGF Reader Results | Valentine’s Day Spending

The results are in from our survey asking: “How will you celebrate Valentine’s Day?” and responses are split nearly equally across all options:

  • Special dinner or celebration at home: 25.9%
  • Evening out: 24.8%
  • I’m not celebrating this year: 24.8%
  • Gift of candy, flowers, jewelry, or other: 24.4%

The Power of Quizzes

Quizzes can shake up your marketing mix and engage your customers throughout their journey. Quizzes can:

  • Generate leads and grow your email list. Consider offering giveaways to drive responses.
  • Aid in qualifying leads and improving segmentation.
  • Help recommend products based on people’s responses.
  • Serve as a personal shopping assistant suggesting products based on responses.

#FunFact | 88% of marketers say interactive content, like quizzes, differentiates their companies from competitors. Source: Content Marketing Institute

#FGF Story | ClassPass Launches a Map of Clinics offering COVID-19 Vaccines

Best known for helping people find exercise programs, ClassPass will now also help residents of Boston, Chicago, and New York figure out where to get vaccinated. The New York company that’s best known for connecting subscribers with fitness classes near them is now using its technology to aggregate information about where the vaccine is being offered. The information is available through the ClassPass smartphone app and its website, with details about vaccination sites visible on an interactive map.

What We’re Reading

What are you reading? Let us know at info@zenergycom.com..

LinkedIn Generates 80% of B2B Leads from Social Media

LinkedIn is a strong social network for B2B advertisers. Created for business networking, it can perform incredibly well for B2B lead generation. LinkedIn generates 80% of B2B leads from social media, making it hard to beat for brand recognition, conversions, and bottom-line sales effect. LinkedIn has transitioned from being “just” a recruitment platform to being a professional network where people educate and inform themselves and learn about other companies in their industry.

help with your B2B social media strategy? Contact us at info@zenergycom.com.

“If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.” — Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn

#ClientNews

Working with Hettich Canada, Zenergy’s content development, creative design, digital and video production teams are rolling out a bilingual promotional campaign for their AvanTech YOU drawer system. The campaign is focused on garnering awareness about the benefits and immediate availability of their latest drawer system technology. Focusing on digital outreach, the campaign includes content development and creative design of social media and direct marketing initiatives, sales sheets, videos, as well as a dedicated microsite.

2020 Retail Challenges will be Big 2021 Opportunities

The 2020 Verint Experience Index: Retail findings urged organizations to confront three big issues: rising CX expectations, embracing digital self-serve, and expanding fulfillment options.

Consider a few highlights from this year’s new report:

  • Digital is growing, but the journey is still omnichannel—even in a pandemic: 46% of customers who made a purchase in 2020 started in a store.
  • Curbside pick-up, a relatively new option developed a year ago, beat out BOPIS for the second-most popular fulfillment option behind delivery.
  • 76% of customers who called a retail contact center tried and failed to complete their task digitally first. By converting just one-quarter of those to digital self-serve, retailers could save up to $1.7 million per one million calls.

Need help ensuring that you’re providing the best CX? Contact us at info@popupgo.com.

Mall Owners Get Creative

Malls and retail properties are seeking new life as gyms, micro-apartments, medical centers, offices, pop-up marketplaces and more. In January 2021, Epic Games, maker of the Fortnite video game franchise, announced that it is acquiring a 980,000-square-foot mall in Cary, North Carolina, which it will refashion as its new headquarters by 2024. In Louisville, Kentucky, a vacant Sears will become a Topgolf complex. On the site of yet another old Sears in Lynwood, Washington, there are plans to build hundreds of apartments. Creighton University is constructing a massive health sciences campus on the bones of a shopping mall in Phoenix. The Northgate Mall in Seattle will house an NHL training center. We’re excited to see the creative use of space as restrictions are lifted.

Do you have a space that needs a new life? Contact us at info@popupgo.com.

Brands Looking for Spaces

A luxury smoking accessories brand is looking for ground level, storefront pop-up spaces in Montreal, Toronto, New York City and LA. Space size and timing are flexible.

  • A food and beverage brand is looking for a 1,000+ sq. ft. space in Griffintown area of Montreal for a one-month pop-up.
  • A specialized phone accessory brand is looking for a 100 sq. ft. space with WIFI in Kelowna, BC for a few weeks in March.
  • A sustainable fashion brand is searching for a 500-1,000 sq. ft. space in San Francisco’s Mission District.
  • A golf simulator brand is looking for a 1,000-3,000 sq. ft. space with an 11’+ ceiling height in the Greater Toronto Area.
  • A home décor brand is searching for a 1,000 sq. ft. space from April to July in downtown Oakville, Ontario.
  • A beauty, cosmetic, personal care brand is searching for 10,000 sq. ft. in Calgary.

Let us know if you have a space that fits the bill, and we can bring your vacancy to life with one of these exciting pop-up activations! Contact us at info@popupgo.com.

PROJEX® by pop-up go

The latest offering from pop-up go, projeX by pop-up go is a virtual pop-up marketplace and online shopping destination that connects consumers to a diverse variety of small businesses, boutiques, and local retailers, allowing them to discover high-quality, exclusive, and interesting finds. Brands can sell directly to consumers, create virtual pop-up stores, or host digital experiences – all in one place. It’s a great way to launch a new product, test a new concept, or simply build an online presence.

Interested in being one of the first brands on projeX? Apply now!

Pop-Ups in Action

Read about recent and upcoming pop-ups and pop-ins that we love.

Frictionless Retail

Canadian convenience store giant, Alimentation Couche-Tard, has partnered with McGill University for an innovation lab, describing it as a live testing ground for innovative and frictionless technologies that address the retail sector’s challenges of the future. This is one of the first times this concept has been tested in Canada. The lab emulates a regular Couche-Tard store on the McGill campus but within that store, customers use an app to unlock the entryway to the “Connecté” section, allowing customers to pick up items that are paid for automatically wihtin the app. The products are recognized using computer vision and image recognition, with the cameras also tracking foot traffic and inventory.

#FunFact | There are 1,187,049 mountains in the world!

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King of digital, space seekers, content and email marketing in 2021, and more!

2021 Content Trends Report

TikTok published its 2021 content trends report and it highlights a range of key areas that experienced significant growth in audience interest on their platform in 2020. Although these insights are specific to TikTok, this trend is consistent on all social media platforms.

Top subjects in North America included:

  • Home & Garden
  • Camping
  • Video Games
  • Cooking

Download the full report or the data from 18 other countries.

Foot Locker’s Pivot

Foot Locker countered coronavirus lockdowns and an overall decrease in consumer activity in 2020 by shifting its marketing focus to digital activations, partnering with youth culture designers and charities. Additionally, Foot Locker tweaked their messaging away from product and price to storytelling.

Some takeaways from their approach that may benefit your company. Ensure to have a:

  • presence in growing categories
  • developed DTC model (when applicable)
  • direct connection with customers
  • purpose-driven store footprint (when applicable)
  • legitimate sustainability strategy
  • agile supply chains
  • flexible planning and budgeting processes

Valentine’s Day Spending is Estimated to Total $21.8B in the US

“There remains a special significance around Valentine’s Day, and consumers are committed to celebrating friends and loved ones, even if that means having to alter those traditional holiday celebrations.”

– NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay

#FGFStory | A Billion Years of Earth Plate Tectonics Movement in 40 Seconds.

An international team of geoscientists created a model of tectonics that lets you witness the radical changes in how our planet looked over an eon of time. Continents shift. Oceans reshape. The world is almost unrecognizable until we move closer to modern times. Antarctica was “once quite a nice holiday destination.” Check it out here!

What We’re Reading

What are you reading? Let us know at info@zenergycom.com..

Speed and Convenience are King

When it comes to websites, speed and convenience are king. Consumers don’t hesitate to cut ties with businesses that lose their attention, don’t reply in a timely manner, or provide a negative customer experience.

  • 40% of consumers will not return to your website if their experience is negative.
  • 80% say convenience is one of the most important elements of a positive experience.
  • 90% of consumers prefer to engage with a business through texting or another messaging app.

Need help with your digital communications strategy? Contact us at info@zenergycom.com.

#FunFact

More than three-quarters of marketers report the effectiveness of their email marketing efforts to either be improving or holding steady. Source: The 2020 State of Email benchmark survey, Validity.com

Email Marketing in 2021

Email marketing remains a crucial channel for many organizations as an accessible and effective tool for communicating with existing customers, new prospects, and as a brand awareness driver. It requires constant vigilance, maintenance, and clear objectives to deliver strong results. A strategic approach is paramount in order to get the most out of your email marketing.
Here are a few recommendations:

  • Monitor your inbox placement rate and focus on strategies that will help improve this metric.
  • Apply strategies that capitalize on subscriber preferences and competitive intel to help you achieve higher open rates.
  • Optimize your email content and construct messages to generate as many clicks or conversions as possible.

Need help with your email marketing strategy and content? Contact us at info@zenergycom.com.

Brands Looking for Spaces

  • A specialized phone accessory brand is looking for a 100 sq. ft. space with wifi in Kelowna, BC for a few weeks in March.
  • A golf simulator brand is looking for a 1,000-3,000 sq. ft. space with an 11’+ ceiling height. in the Greater Toronto Area.
  • A home décor brand is searching for a 1,000 sq. ft. space from April to July in downtown Oakville, Ontario.
  • A beauty, cosmetic, personal care brand is searching for 10,000 sq. ft. in Calgary.

Let us know if you have a space that fits the bill, and we can bring your vacancy to life with one of these exciting pop-up activations! Contact us at info@zenergycom.com.

PROJEX® by pop-up go

The latest offering from pop-up go, projeX by pop-up go is a virtual pop-up marketplace and online shopping destination that connects consumers to a diverse variety of small businesses, boutiques, and local retailers, allowing them to discover high-quality, exclusive, and interesting finds. Brands can sell directly to consumers, create virtual pop-up stores, or host digital experiences – all in one place. It’s a great way to launch a new product, test a new concept, or simply build an online presence.

Interested in being one of the first brands on projeX? Apply now!

Pop-Ups in Action

Read about recent and upcoming pop-ups and pop-ins that we love.

#TrendAlert | The Second-Hand Apparel Market is Booming!

The second-hand apparel market was valued at about $28 billion in 2019 and is forecast to reach $64 billion within five years, according to a report by ThredUp and GlobalData Retail. The report further stated that the resale market grew 25 times faster than the overall retail market last year, with an estimated 64 million people buying second-hand products in 2019.

Want to take advantage of this trend? Contact us at info@popupgo.com.

“The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard but must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

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DTC trends, unexpected influencers, what we’re reading, connected TV, and more!

Connected TV is Elevated TV Advertising

Connected TV (CTV) is the internet connected platform or service through which many people now watch TV. It encompasses watching videos on apps, on smart TVs, or on apps via over-the-top boxes that connect to TVs. Here are key facts:

  • Viewership has increased substantially in the last few years (now in over 70% of households) and will continue to grow as platforms and content continues to proliferate.
  • Ads take over the entire viewing screen and have over 90% video completion rates because closing them results in leaving the TV program.
  • Viewers are seeking long-form video content on non-traditional platforms, but still want the big screen TV experience.
  • Ads are non-clickable but there are ways of measuring effectiveness.
  • CTV delivers quality TV through the internet and not cable.

Setting Your Company Up for Success in 2021

After nearly a year of constant adjustments, here’s what to focus on moving forward:

  • Drop improvising and start experimenting to determine what works and what to scrap.
  • Improved customer experience.
  • Build new partnerships that allow you to bring your capabilities to a wider market.

#FunFact

Cisco estimates that by 2022 a staggering 82% of all created content will be video. The average U.S. consumer now pays for four different streaming video subscriptions and 23% have added at least one new paid service since Spring 2020. Source: Cisco

#FGFStory | Whole Foods Launches “Gourmet Date for Good”

Whole Foods is using food retail to set a romantic and virtual mood for Valentine’s Day with the launch of “Gourmet Date for Good”. The event includes a series of three virtual live cook-along events to celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend at home. Tickets are available by making a donation through Eventbrite to the Independent Restaurant Coalition, a US-based grassroots organization formed by chefs and independent restaurant owners that advocates for the 500,000 local restaurants and bars affected by COVID-19.

What We’re Reading

The Unexpected Influencers

Beauty, fashion, and travel are all industries that dominate influencer marketing. However, these aren’t the only brands that can benefit from influencer marketing. Brands are partnering with niche influencers to tap into highly engaged communities and are consequently benefiting from strong social proof. Don’t underestimate the power that a specialized influencer can bring to your marketing strategy.

Diet-focused Influencers

With more than 60% of Americans restricting at least one nutritional component from their diet, this audience is huge. Influencers developing content surrounding topics on gluten/allergy-free products, meal prep, and nutritional counsel have a followership that is extremely loyal.

“Cleanfluencers”

A new category of influencers has taken the internet by storm with videos of them tidying up their homes in videos that, in some cases, have reached millions of views.

Looking to partner with an influencer? Contact us at info@zenergycom.com.

Reddit Gains Traction Among Brands

Reddit is becoming a testing ground for digital advertisers, however it is essential that thoughtful targeting, strategic creative, and the right tone is used to engage with the platform’s opinionated users. Direct-to-consumer bidet company Tushy integrated the platform into its marketing after a test ad saw a 4.5 times return on ad spend.

Need help with your social strategy? Contact us at info@zenergycom.com.

Eight DTC Trends to Watch in 2021

While the broader industry outlook remains uncertain, one thing is clear: digitally native brands will continue to adapt and evolve. Here are eight trends that Retail Dive is watching in the DTC space.

  • More traditional retailers enter the DTC arena.
  • Digitally native brands see the value in physical retail.
  • DTC brands extend their category reach.
  • Tech-savvy consumers will be drawn to DTC brands.
  • Securing funding could be easier, at least for some.
  • Exit strategies get more complex.
  • Leadership turns to retail vets as founders step back.
  • Brands will continue to struggle with profitability.

Italian Alps Pop-Up Restaurant in NYC

One of the restaurants located in an NYC Eataly has launched a pop-up called Baita in Manhattan’s Flatiron district offering diners a socially distanced, climate-controlled restaurant experience using solar-powered Privé pods, styled like a classic Italian ski resort.

PROJEX® by pop-up go

While pop-up go is dedicated to executing brick-and-mortar activations successfully, our team has developed a complete digital program called projeX® to assist brands in creating online experiences with the same goals in mind. Interested in being one of the first brands on projeX? Contact us at info@popupgo.com.

Looking to pop-up? Let us help you find the perfect space! Contact us at info@popupgo.com.

Brands Looking for Spaces

  • A golf simulator brand is looking for a 1,000-3,000 sq. ft. space with a 11’+ ceiling height in the Greater Toronto Area from November 2021 to April 2022.
  • A home décor brand is searching for a 1,000 sq. ft. space from April to July 2021 in downtown Oakville, Ontario.
  • A successful pop-up restaurant brand is looking for a +/- 500 sq. ft. space for a single-day activation in Maryland, Bethesda, preferably on Bethesda Ave.
  • A beauty, cosmetic, personal care brand is searching for 10,000 sq. ft. in Calgary.

Let us know if you have a space that fits the bill, and we can bring your vacancy to life with this exciting pop-up activation! If you’re a match contact us at info@popupgo.com.

Pop-Ups in Action

Read about recent and upcoming pop-ups and pop-ins that we love.

  • The Brooklyn Brewing Company is hosting pop up event at Seneca One Tower.
  • Bloomingdale’s Shop for Good initiative involves a series of pop-up shops.
  • The Vertical Theater Group launches a pop-up theater concept to enjoy live music in the COVID-19 era.
  • Barneys, the iconic Manhattan department store, is coming back to NYC this time in pop-in at Saks’ 5th Avenue location under the banner “Barneys at Saks”.

“The only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vince Lombardi