Why and How to Go Live on Social Media in 2023
We’re sharing some of the specific reasons you’ll want to consider behind going live, and offer tips on how to set yourself up for success.
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We’re sharing some of the specific reasons you’ll want to consider behind going live, and offer tips on how to set yourself up for success.
Struggling to stand out in a sea of same-same content? Here are three thoughtful considerations for making your content more genuinely YOU.
For killer content marketing, you need a killer SEO strategy. Here’s how you and your teams can stay up-to-date on the latest SEO trends in 2023 and beyond.
Need high-quality photos for social media? Here are 10 tips for taking top-notch photos with your phone.
We have a proven process for guiding purpose-driven brands and organizations through identifying their brand stories, and crafting the right content marketing and social media strategies.
If your branding doesn’t look or feel like you want it to on social media or online, try creating an Online-specific Visual Style Guide. Here’s why.
Think of the content audit as a tool for planning future content. We’re sharing here our own tried and trusted process.
I have worked for 15+ years both at agencies and client side—and I’ve noticed that no matter where I go, operational challenges tend to be consistent, regardless of company size.
Why did our content marketing agency spend more than a year working to join the B Corp movement? Because purpose matters.
A strong social media strategy is one of the best weapons in any business arsenal, but often, hashtags get left to the last minute—or overlooked altogether. But they’re a vital part of any truly killer social media plan.
Learn fast and easy ways on how to use AI tools for all your content creation needs. AI tools can provide you with content creation support.
This post sets out to underline some of the benefits of doing a brand refresh and outlines our key recommendations for making the refresh process as efficient and effective as possible.
It’s no secret that the web and the world is filled with vast amounts of content. It’s overflowing with it, in fact, and if you’re a creator it might just be seeping into your dreams as well as waking hours (anyone else having the dream about NEVER finishing that endless blog post?)
Your brand is not just logos, colors, and tagline. Your brand’s visual ecosystem is made up of all the different elements that come together to create a unique experience for your customers, regardless of where they’ve encountered your content.
You’ve heard of Instagram Reels. But how exactly can Reels fit into your content strategy? We’ve combined some basics to get you started from structure, types, and how they can work for your brand.
At our content marketing agency, we’ve heard clients express varying expectations when it comes to working with a content partner. Nearly everyone, though, wants to eliminate their version of the content sweats—with expertise and guidance on planning, creating, publishing, and promoting the right content for their brand.
Better marketing messaging is about getting the right message to the right audience, and compelling them to act on it. It’s a bold splash of colour in that grey sea. With better messaging, you can tell that a piece of content was created both strategically and passionately, with a little spark of joy or impulse, by a real human person who has a photo of their kid and their cat pinned to their bulletin board.
As a B2B (business to business) leader, you need the best way to not only reach and engage your audience, but also to convert that audience to solid leads as efficiently as possible.
We get why you might not be sure how “content marketing” differs from “digital marketing.” We’re content folks, and we’re asked all the time. Here’s our take on how they fit together (and why they always should!)
You can succeed on social media, even if you’re too busy to spend much time on it. Don’t just throw up your content—set better goals! But do you know how to set better goals to ensure your success?
If you’re involved in business, you’re all too aware that you need customers to survive and thrive. When done well, personas help you understand what someone needs from your content, product or service.
As humans, we find ourselves telling stories naturally, every day, to explain things that happen in our lives. We create narratives to find meaning. Let’s face it: all brands ARE NOT doing a good job of telling stories inclusively, or accessibly.
People will forget pretty much everything about your brand, except how they feel about it. But what does it take to evoke the right feelings in your brand storytelling?
Where do you find your spark? And if you’ve lost it, how might you re-ignite it?
Of the 7.5 million blog posts published every day, only a small fraction are good enough to capture and hold audience attention. When was the last time you were engrossed in an amazing blog post? A post you found so perfectly well-crafted, with exactly the information you needed, in language that spoke to you, and images or video that enhanced the appeal so that you read it all the way through to the end? Maybe you even liked it so much, you shared with a friend or colleague.
What exactly is purpose? And how exactly do you know if you’re driven by it? Here’s a look at why — and how — to get to the bottom of your ‘why’.
Which ad type is best for you? It all depends on your objectives and your desired level of customization. We’ve broken down the differences to make your choice easier.
Success for purpose-driven organizations is often about how well storytelling can connect with customers and win their loyalty. Here are a few that have found a formula for success.
We all stumble as we go about our marketing work. Take a look at some of the most common marketing stumbles we’ve compiled here. We promise it’ll make you feel better.
Over the years, we’ve seen messy websites and social media channels. Every business, and every project, needs a unifying visual strategy that tells a consistent story—one that feels authentic, clear and actionable. And yet, so few do. But how can you fix it? It starts with a brand visual audit.
If you sometimes struggle with content ideas, lack of resources to tackle the content, or you’re just stuck, you’re not alone. We’ve also been there, and we’ve got some advice for you in tackling some of the comment content marketing struggles
To entice customers and attract clients to your business, you need a plan that lets them know about your products and services and what makes them unique. That’s why marketing firms exist.
Content marketing is only as effective as our understanding of our customers’ needs. And in this past year, we’ve seen compassion and empathy played out as a result of the stress and strain of global events. From a content marketing perspective, there is a focus on core human needs like self-care and social connection, with a hearty side of kindness on all fronts.
Do you believe that a steady stream of fresh content is the sure antidote to all marketing woes? It could be hard to believe if you’re not achieving your desired results from your content. Here are some common reasons your content marketing efforts may be falling flat, and fast fixes you can implement now.
All the buzzwords you need in your social media marketing vocab this year.
Is your company struggling to get customers through the sales funnel? Or are you struggling with customer retention? We outline exactly what content you’ll need for every step of the buyer’s journey.
Hiring team members who embody your brand over the long-term is an investment that requires building the kind of employer brand that attracts people who are aligned with your values and culture. But creating the right recruitment campaign doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.
LinkedIn can be a hugely effective channel for connecting with followers and their larger networks to tell your brand story. To do this well, you’ll need to harness the many features that make this platform special. We’ll show you exactly how to do it.
When it comes to effective social media marketing, to ensure you’re communicating effectively and optimizing your (and your team’s) time, you really do need a social media plan. AND there’s really no way around having to adapt when things don’t go quite your way.
Content is one of the best tools brands have for connecting with their audience and building meaningful relationships. But too much content is a one-way street. And that’s a missed opportunity.
The researchers at KR&I published a study of fans and fandom (known as “The Power of Fandom”) for entertainment industry clients. In their research, they came to understand fandom three needs being met.
Everything you need to know about writing in a conversational tone and why it’s important to engage your audience.
Don’t let fears and objections hold you back from creating quality content that connects you to your customers. The more you hold back, the more your missed opportunity will pile up. We’ve listed out some common objections and how to overcome them.
Many brands have been struggling to figure out how to communicate within an environment that seems to alter daily. We’re all trying. If you’re a business leader or brand trying to express your purpose in this new world, here are a few places to start.
You need to be able to group content within a website so that you can easily find information and make it simple for visitors to search through your site’s content. The way you choose to organize the content within a website is key to the user experience (UX) and can keep a site running efficiently.
Social responsibility is not only important to a growing number of brands—it can also be the perfect engine to drive a content marketing strategy. So how, exactly, are social responsibility and content marketing related?
If you want to be successful with content marketing, you need to invest in quality content. Investing in story now will establish the groundwork for stronger relationships with your future customers.
Is it okay to keep marketing our wares? What messaging do customers need and want right now? And how can we ensure we stay on-brand at the same time? Whether your business is facing a slowdown or is busier than ever during this time, one thing is clear: this is not the time to stop communicating with your audience.
While many established thought leaders have their followers hooked on their every word, if you’re just getting started or looking to grow your followership, consider creating an impact campaign to amplify your thought leadership content.
As a content marketing agency, we’re hearing many of these kinds of questions from our business networks, and clients: How do you say what needs to be said without sounding preachy? How do you continue to keep your business running without sounding as if you’re profiteering?
It’s really all about putting one small spark of kindness out there in the world, to perhaps light another. In that spirit, we at Forge & Spark wanted to share just a few short stories about some of the women we work with who inspire us every day.
Moving away from self-serving branded content can be a challenge for many business owners, convinced that content should, above all, get results. A great place to start is to get crystal clear on the editorial voice and soul of your business.
As the time we spend online continues to grow, our attention spans keep dropping to rock-bottom levels. But what makes someone stop scrolling? What is going to grab the attention of your audience?
Do you know how to craft an honest brand voice your team can get behind? Crafting an honest brand voice your team can get behind doesn’t have to be too much to chew, though.
Finding your ideal candidate from recruiting seems to get harder every year. It’s hard to stand out from the sea of job postings. Values-based storytelling through great content can help.
Today, universities are fighting for attention in an online world where every prospective and current student is a digital native. Universities and colleges now have to think like a brand, and use a robust content marketing strategy to attract enrollment and nurture their community.
You probably come across several GIFs in a day. So, what is Giphy? And how can you optimize and leverage GIFs for your content strategy? We’ve done the work to create the ultimate guide and take you inside the world of GIFs.
Arc’teryx is a prime example of how to elevate brand story to new heights, and sell products globally. Here’s how you can do it, too.
Often the most compelling storytelling comes from a brand’s passionate community. Here’s how Airbnb Experiences exceptional content is driving it home!
Building a social media community is not like traditional advertising. Your audience is no longer a nameless mass. Online followers keep track of your brand, comment on the articles, and join in your discussions. And one interesting development about this community is the value of ‘behind the scenes’ content.
With nearly 70% of Canadians using social media, you may think that having an active social media presence is enough to build your brand. Unfortunately, that’s not enough anymore. So, how do you stand out on social media and craft posts that get remembered?
As part of a new Beautiful Brand Content blog series, I’m taking a look at beautiful examples of brand content: brands, in other words, that through content marketing nail the difficult balance between an emotionally resonant experience and effective marketing strategy.