Are You Ready To Fill Your Fall Content Calendar?

As a marketing professional, the new season also has me thinking about how I can incorporate fall content into my content marketing strategy and content calendar. We all can agree that a good plan includes taking advantage of what is happening around you to develop content that inspires and is relatable.

If you’re anything like me, the triple-digit weather in DFW didn’t stop you from grabbing the bins of pumpkins from the attic weeks ago. Let’s hope you didn’t have a minor accident with the sheetrock like I did. (But that’s a story for another day!)

Fall Content Ideas to Help You Get Started

A few of my fall content favorites include cooler weather (I know it’s coming soon!), pumpkins, lighting candles, cozy sweatshirts and blankets, football, costumes and fall festivals. The list could literally go on and on.

Let’s spend a few minutes discussing how you can add a cozy autumn vibe into your fall content approach that will elicit a positive response from your followers.

Fall Inspired Blogs

Your audience loves getting a peak into the personal lives of the team. That could mean sharing an article highlighting your teams’ favorite fall activities. You can also consider featuring everyone’s favorites, from scary movies to fall date night ideas and Thanksgiving recipes. The options are endless.

Autumn Themed Pictures

A simple idea is to post a Happy Fall message with a picture of leaves changing colors! But consider taking it a step further. Do you have an office Halloween or Thanksgiving party? If so, take pictures at your events and share them on your social media platforms. Want to go even further? Create a poll and let your audience vote for the team member with the best Halloween costume. 

Season Inspired Questions and Polls

Engage your audience with questions. Topics can range from favorite Halloween candy to favorite Fall travel destinations or what someone is thankful for. It doesn’t need to be overcomplicated; it just needs to be fun. You can also create a relevant hashtag for your post and encourage followers to use it when they comment.

Seasonal Discounts

If you have an ecommerce store, you don’t have to wait until after Thanksgiving to have a sale. Consider offering a 31% discount on Halloween or a coupon good for the month of October. It’s never too early to start shopping for the holidays.

Giving Back

Thanksgiving is about the act of giving and expressing gratitude. We all know of a story where someone has paid for the coffee or food of the person in line after them. How about incorporating an act of kindness in your social media strategy. Consider sending electronic gift cards to the first five people who comment on your post. You can also donate to the charity of your choice when you reach a set number of likes or shares on your post.

Fired Up For Fall Content!

I hope you found these fall content idea starters helpful. What other ideas can you share?

Welcome Lillian Cloud, our new intern, to the Porch!

It’s time to welcome a new team member this fall — Lillian Clould. She is a recent college graduate from Texas A&M, and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Marketing at UT Dallas. We love our interns, and we’re so excited to introduce you to Lillian. You can read about her on our team page, and today, we’ve asked her a few questions about her perspective on marketing, so you can get to know her better. And then you can send Lillian a big Front Porch “howdy!”

What is the biggest misconception about marketing today?

I believe the biggest misconception about marketing today is that marketing is only about selling people stuff they do not need. Marketing is so much more than that now and we have such an opportunity to reach people today with marketing than ever before.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t take yourself too seriously.

What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far at school?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far at school is to make sure your professors know who you are. Build relationships with your professors, they can be a great resource.

What does good brand strategy look like?

I think good brand strategy starts with knowing your brand well and what direction you want your brand to go in.  At the same time, it is important to know what your brand is not.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now where would it be?

Rome!

If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead who would it be?

My great aunt Lillian who I am named after.

If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?

Three words that describe me are passionate, loyal, and honest.

Tell us about a major milestone in your life?

A major milestone in my life was graduating college this past year and moving away from my hometown and family. I went to college in my hometown so graduating and moving to Dallas was a big change for me but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

From your perspective, how does Front Porch Marketing differentiate itself from other marketing companies?

I think that the size of Front Porch Marketing allows it to get to know their clients well and have a real connection with them. Everyone I have worked with on the team is always so willing to help and listen to me which is exactly how we treat our clients and I think that makes us special.

What is a fun fact about you?

A fun fact about me is that I love to travel and learn about history and art.

I’m the type of person that will take a photo of anything and everything. But how do you change your everyday photos into something more professional and refined? With a few adjustments and knowing what your iPhone is capable of, you can achieve something worth putting up, even for your brand’s marketing photography. Here are some tips on how you can upgrade your iPhone photos!  

Try different angles in your photos  

Shifting on where you take the photo can really change the way it looks. Try crouching or flipping your camera upside-down so your camera is closest to the subject. Another tactic is walking around or going directly on top of the subject. These can make for a professional, unique look! 

Play in rule of thirds 

The “rule of thirds” is important because it creates a good visual balance between the subjects in the frame. It makes your background or foreground visually appealing. It also helps if you have a lot of empty space to make the result a bit more intentional and artistic. Just work with your subject like it’s in a 3×3 grid in the corners or middle. You might be surprised on the different compositions you can create with just one object.  

Get the right lighting  

The truth is, lighting can really make or break your photography. Try playing with the direction of the light if you have control over it. Playing with shadows can really add some depth to your photos. You can also have multiple light sources and even throw in a color filter.  

Edit, edit, edit  your photos

Editing is what is going to make your photos pop. My favorite software/ apps to use are Lightroom or VSCO because they have great free options. Playing with the exposure, contrast, highlights and shadows can change the overall feel of the photos. You can make a photo appear richer and vibrant by pulling in highlights, and adding in contrast to reveal hidden details. Play with the colors if you want to make the overall mood of the photo warmer or a bit on the colder side. Another thing I like to do is add some grain to the photo to give it a vintage film feel. 

I hope these tips help you excel when you are taking iPhone photos! Don’t be afraid to try new things with your editing. You may never know what you can capture as you create! 

Where Do Marketing Agencies Fit into Your Business?

In today’s competitive business landscape, marketing plays a pivotal role in driving growth and success, and marketing agencies are at the forefront of this work. Good marketing can identify new customers, engage and grow a loyal audience, or launch new products and services. And while some business owners may contemplate handling their marketing efforts in-house, seeking the expertise of an agency can make a significant difference in achieving sustainable results.

Marketing agencies bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and strategic insights that can add substantial value to a client’s business. There are many different ways that agencies can contribute to a client’s success and why opting for professional assistance is essential.

What You Get When You Choose A Marketing Agency Over Doing it Yourself

When you work with a marketing agency instead of trying to do everything yourself, you’ll enjoy many advantages like specialized expertise, a strategic approach, resource optimization, access to cutting-edge tools, and time efficiency.

1. Specialized Expertise

Marketing agencies equip their teams of skilled professionals with specialized knowledge and skills in various marketing disciplines. From SEO and content marketing to social media and paid advertising, agencies can bring a diverse skill set that can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.

These marketers focus on their disciplines day in and day out, and adding their knowledge base to building your business pays off. Their expertise ensures that marketing efforts are executed effectively, delivering measurable results that align with business goals. More bang for your buck.

2. Strategic Approach

Agencies work closely with clients to develop data-driven strategies that align with their overall business objectives. By conducting thorough market research and competitor analysis, agencies identify opportunities and then craft well-thought-out campaigns to stay ahead of the competition.

A strategic approach not only maximizes marketing ROI but also enables businesses to make informed decisions for future growth. These agencies objective perspectives on growing clients’ businesses means they can make solid, research-backed decisions to build business. And then they can implement these decisions in a streamlined manner.

3. Resource Optimization

Managing marketing efforts in-house can strain resources, especially for small to medium-sized businesses. Marketing agencies offer cost-effective solutions that allow clients to focus on core business activities while leaving marketing tasks in expert hands. This resource optimization ensures that businesses get the most out of their marketing budget and manpower.

Our small to medium-sized clients benefit from Front Porch Marketing’s ability to supplement their own efforts. We work hand-in-hand with them to build their business as if it were our own, while lending expertise that clients don’t typically have in-house like website design, social media content marketing, email marketing and large design-focused projects like brochures. This leaves small business owners to focus on what they do best.

4. Access to Cutting-Edge Tools

Marketing agencies invest in state-of-the-art marketing tools and technologies to gain a competitive edge. By leveraging these tools, agencies can track and analyze data effectively, allowing for data-driven decision-making and continuous optimization of marketing campaigns. Such insights are crucial in maintaining a strong market presence and adapting to changing consumer behaviors.

It wouldn’t be cost-effective for small businesses to invest in these tools, so marketing agencies can again supplement the efforts of a business with this access to tools and the expertise to optimize their use for the benefit of a client’s business.

5. Time Efficiency

Implementing a successful marketing strategy requires time, effort, and consistent monitoring. By delegating marketing responsibilities to an agency, clients can focus on core competencies and strategic business growth. This time efficiency enables businesses to operate seamlessly while their marketing needs are efficiently addressed by industry experts.

Taking all these tasks off a small business owner’s plate gives them time to see the big picture. Then they can focus on growing their business. And they won’t get buried in the weeds of all the marketing tasks necessary to get there.

6. Reassess What Your Time is Worth, and Let a Marketing Agency Help Make Your Business Better

In conclusion, marketing agencies bring invaluable expertise and depth of knowledge. This can significantly elevate a client’s business to new heights. From specialized skill sets and strategic insights to resource optimization and access to cutting-edge tools, agencies offer an all-encompassing solution to marketing challenges.

While some clients may consider DIY marketing, it’s crucial to recognize the value that marketing agencies bring to the table. By partnering with a reputable agency, businesses can enjoy efficient and effective marketing efforts that lead to long-term success. Remember, marketing is an investment in the future, and entrusting marketing professionals can lead to remarkable returns.

Getting the Press Release Right

A press release is an official statement (written or recorded) that an organization issues to the news media and beyond. Whether we call it a “press release,” a “press statement,” a “news release,” or a “media release,” we’re always talking about the same basic thing.

Most are a page long — two pages max. The goal is to provide enough information so that news outlets have sufficient material to craft their own stories about whatever the release is detailing.

Press releases are delivered in a myriad of incarnations, from new restaurant openings to executive promotions, you’re feeding an unpredictable news cycle.  PR professionals then make the ordinary extraordinary.

Here are a couple of tips to make your next one stand out.

Create a Simple Headline that Gives an Overview of the Content

Press release headlines frame the ensuring content. They should convey the central message of your story that is easy to understand.

Make Your Email Subject Line POP

News makers barrage new outlets with this type of information overload every hour of every day and in order to lift your clients’ news out of a sea of emails, it’s paramount to write a succinct message with an eye-catching subject line.

Less is More with Press Releases

Consider the last time you scrolled through social media or read the news. Your gaze probably gravitated towards the stories that had sensational headlines or graphics. Journalists are skimmers. It’s an art form for them. They are looking for information that interest them and their audience quickly.  

Keeping your information concise is a great strategy to boost its impact. Putting the most important points at the top will give interested journalists an immediate entry way to find everything they need while removing anything that isn’t absolutely necessary to the story that they are developing.

A few types of social media marketing

Content Marketing/Content Creating: This is where a company will make content and share it on a social media platform. It can be anything from a podcast, videos, emails, etc. These messages are personal and should help the company achieve its objectives and reach a specific audience.

Advertising/Sponsorship: This is a more formal way of using social media. It is a non-personal message that promotes, or sells a product, service, or concept. You are able to create and place the exact message you want.

Influencer Marketing: This is where a company can use a social media influencer to help promote their product. This influencer is trusted and has a loyal audience, so when they share the product, it raises brand visibility.

Check out this article about 10 different types of social media to learn about other types of social media marketing.

Which type of Marketing high schoolers respond to the best

Overall, most high schoolers respond best to Influencer Marketing or Content Creating/Content Marketing, specifically on popular social media apps like TikTok or Instagram. Personally, I find traditional ads are easy to scroll past compared to an interesting video that grabs your attention. With influencer marketing, these content creators already have a following, making it a perfect place to promote. However, it is crucial to find a content creator that aligns with the idea for your product. Many beauty companies will pair up with a content creator that has an entire page on that specific topic, making it relevant on that page.

On the other hand, making original content for a company or a brand can be extremely successful. Many popular companies now have accounts on popular social media platforms and are active in many different ways. Some comment on posts that mention them or will repost videos made about them as well as making their own.

How to stand out

There are many ways to stand out as a company and gain traction through social media. I think one of the best ways are brand trips. Brand trips are when a company takes a group of influencers on an all-expense paid vacation. These trips always get a lot of attention and influencers spend the duration of it promoting the brand and what it sells. These have proven time and time again to be an effective way to bring attention to a company and product.

Another great way to bring attention to your brand is make a TikTok account. On average, high schoolers spend 113 minutes a day just on TikTok, significantly more than any other social media site. It can take a while to gain a following, so patience is important. Once an account reaches a point of success, they typically continue to grow.

After a fun and insightful summer with Front Porch Marketing, my internship has come to an end. Front Porch has taught me what it’s like to apply my advertising and marketing skills I acquired in college to real-life scenarios and clients.

Leading up to my first day at FPM, I was very nervous and did not know what to expect. But the team welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to see my full potential. I learned various skills and traits this summer in a low-stress and educational environment that I look forward to using for the rest of my career.

The Best Part of My Internship

My favorite part of my internship was working with one of our clients, Faith Family Academy. Our goal was to increase enrollment for the 2023 school year. We were doing a lot of promoting events and advertising on many different platforms. I got to see what it was like to strategically advertise to a certain target audience in a real life situation.

I learned so much about ad placement and design that I never would have thought to use before. Ultimately, this hands-on experience has taught me things I could never learn in a classroom. Most of all it taught me how to act accordingly in a professional setting.

Internships Are a Valuable Experience

The things I learned this summer I will never take for granted. I was lucky enough to expand my knowledge on marketing. They taught me with hands-on experience and a team that wanted me to succeed. I’ll apply this knowledge to my future. And I will use the experience I have acquired to drive a successful career for myself.  So I cannot thank the people I have worked with enough this summer at my internship. Plus I look forward to keeping in touch with them as I start my professional career, after my senior year at Texas Tech University!

Client-Agency Partnerships Require Nurturing

Client-Agency partnerships don’t happen instantly. Do you ever wonder what makes a strong working relationship between a client and an advertising agency? I’ve walked in the shoes of both and know first-hand the frustration that can ensue if there isn’t a solid relationship.

A successful partnership begins before the ink is dry on a formal agreement and is nurtured throughout the relationship. While there are many traits of a successful relationship, focusing on the following will help start a genuine connection from day one.

1. Drive Home That You Are Partners
   It is critical from day one that both the client and the agency view each other as partners in a client-agency partnership. Both bring unique knowledge and skills to the table. The client knows their customers better than anyone and brings the overall goals, while the strategy and execution come from the agency. Everyone must work together purposefully and respectfully to make the vision come to life.
2. Open and Honest Communication
   It’s ok for both sides to push back. Successful client-agency partners don’t always agree. Being open to honest feedback and seeing different perspectives provides a better result. Set boundaries when giving feedback. And remember, it should never be derogatory or condescending.
3. Set Expectations and Define Success
   When establishing a new client-agency partnership, the client and agency must understand each other’s processes. Schedule an onboarding meeting to share best practices, processes and procedures, timelines, etc. It is also imperative to define success together. Everyone needs to understand the agreed-upon goals, that objectives are easily measurable, and KPIs are defined.

Team Client-Agency For the Win!

It is important to remember at the end of the day, the client and the agency are working toward the same goal. You’re a team. Yes, there will be disagreements at times. But a solid partnership built on mutual respect, trust, and open and honest communication is a winning recipe for a long-lasting and successful relationship.

Looking For More Than a Beach Read? Try One of These Marketing Books.

Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Messages So Customers Will Listen

Written by Donald Miller, this book is the perfect guide to strengthen your relationships and loyalty to your consumers. This book draws on the seven universal powers of storytelling. It teaches you how to craft a brand story to gain a competitive advantage in a crowded marketplace.

Building a StoryBrand is the marketing book that will transfigure the way you sell your brand. And the value it brings. It is for leaders who are wondering how to create a clear and consistent brand message. This book is the perfect read for helping you reach your audiences.

Contagious, Why Things Catch On

This book written by Jonah Berger explains the science behind how word-of-mouth and social transmission work. Berger reveals six principles of how ideas and products catch on, appealing to business leaders, politicians, health officials, and anyone trying to sell an idea or product. The book was a New York Times bestseller. It was also awarded the best marketing book in 2014 by the American Marketing Association.

For scientific and analytical thinkers, this is the best marketing book to help you understand the science behind the human brain and natural human tendencies when marketing your brand.

Hacking Growth: How Today’s Fastest-Growing Companies Drive Breakout Success

Looking to rapidly grow your brand? Hacking Growth by Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown is perfect for you. This read touches on the marketing strategy called Growth Hacking. It originated in Silicon Valley and refers to the rapid growth of a company. This book provides you with all the necessities and tools. Your teams can use it to maximize growth, customer base, and market share in a reasoned and deliberate way.

Positioning: The Battle For Your Mind

Are you overwhelming your customers with information? Are they skeptical of the over-consumption of media? Then this marketing book written by Al Ries and Jack Trout is perfect for you. The goal of this book is to keep your brand’s strengths and weaknesses in mind, and use this information to strategically position your company in the customer’s minds.

Whether you are new to the market or seasoned, this book provides you with the information to put yourself in your customer’s shoes. Make an educated approach to align your brand with your customer’s needs.

Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers Into Friends and Friends Into Customers

Seth Godin reveals his alternative marketing strategy of advertising goods and services only after getting advance consent. People do not respond positively when their lives are “interrupted” by unwanted advertisements.

This book shows brands how to effectively use permission marketing and the wide success it has had on various companies. If you are looking for a way to passively market your brand in a manner that consumers will find subtle and professional, this is the perfect book to read.

How Can Lead Generation Benefit Your Business?

Good question! You’ve heard about “Lead Generation” but aren’t sure what that is, how to do it, or if it can help you build your business, right? As a marketing firm that works on lead generation strategies and programs all the time, we’re here to answer your questions. So ask yourself these questions next:

1. Interested in investing in the expertise of what a strategic, seasoned marketing partner can provide for your overall brand? Good. Read further.
2. Ready to invest the resources, time, money, etc. to get there? Better.
3. Know that the fundamentals of a brand architecture, brand strategy, message map, creative brief are key? Your competition and target customer are defined? Best.

Over the past two weeks, we have had new prospects reach out to us regarding lead generation. So, let’s rap about that specifically.

Let’s Get Started

What is it? Lead generation is the process of attracting and engaging your target audience. And then, converting them to customers. Engage your prospects. Build relationships. Turn leads into loyal customers. And loyal customers translate into sales.

Lead Generation Winning Strategies

There are lots. There is no silver bullet, one size fits all. Once all documents are reviewed and goals and target are considered, we recommend the right strategy for each business we work with at Front Porch Marketing.

Let’s name a few:

• Content Marketing. This really should be part of any of the processes below. It hits many buckets: social media, website, SEO and inbound marketing. Providing consistent, relevant content of value and establishing cred and authority with your prospects.
• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) and on page. This has to do with your website. Think forms, widgets and pop-ups to attract website visitors and produce leads by collecting information like email addresses for follow-up, or addition to a monthly newsletter.
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Platforms and tools — i.e. LinkedIn Sales Navigator, PipeDrive, Salesforce, ZoomInfo — can help identify and reach the optimal target audience for your business. Once you reach your audience these tools also help you nurture them. Turn them into loyal customers via email, SMS and other one-on-one relationship building communications.

What’s Your Next Step?

Our clients reap success using these strategies and tools. We can share success stories related to any of the bullets above. And, we are here to help you. Let us implement a repeatable process of lead generation and then scale it with strategies and tactics to grow your topline.