11 Herbs & Spices: Brands That Embrace Their Personalities on Twitter

Earlier this week, Twitter user Edge (@edgette22) noticed something funny about KFC’s Twitter page that made headlines for the brand.

The quiet execution of this comical marketing strategy isn’t the first time that a brand has used Twitter to subvert traditional marketing efforts for a more playful strategy. Think back to Wendy’s always sassy Twitter responses, like this one:

Fast food companies aren’t the only brands establishing themselves as Twitter masters, check out these examples of brands showing off their personality on social media!

Netflix (@netflix)

The streaming giant knows what it’s target audience is thinking.

Taco Bell (@tacobell)

Taking senior portraits at Taco Bell has been a trend this year, and the brand took notice.

Chipotle (@ChipotleTweets)

Promoting their online ordering capabilities while disrupting everyone’s Tinder game.

Totino’s Pizza Rolls (@totinos)

Starting with the name of the account (Pete Zaroll) and the anthropomorphic pizza roll that personifies the account, this General Mills brand really brings the sass, especially when it comes to brand recognition.

Hamburger Helper (@helper)

Another General Mill’s brand, Hamburger Helper’s Twitter account has been in the news lately due to its quick-witted responses like this one:

DiGiorno Pizza (@DiGiornoPizza)

With a tagline like “It’s not delivery. It’s DiGiorno”, would you expect anything less than sassy tweets?

Old Spice (@OldSpice)

Never one to shy away from unconventional marketing and commercials, Old Spice continues that trend with their Twitter feed.

Innocent Drinks (@innocent)

This healthy smoothie/juice company based out of the UK has a Twitter feed filled with gems like this one below. What more could you ask for from a brand’s social media?

Moosejaw Mountaineering (@MoosejawMadness)

Self-described as “the most fun outdoor retailer on the planet”, Moosejaw’s Twitter is filled with funny quips like this one:

Have some more examples? Share them in the comments section below.

 Like this post? Read more at http://steverenner.com/blog-2/

Mobile Marketing Trends Not to Be Overlooked

Research shows that we use our smartphones 84 times each day, averaging 5 hours overall. That’s way more than you thought, huh? Well, it’s no secret how reliant we have become on our phones, which means mobile marketing is even more critical for brands than ever.

Ignoring certain trends that have sprung up over the last decade would put a serious hindrance on marketing results. Here are a few trends that every business should become familiar with and consider implementing before we hit 2017.

For the first time, Google has begun to include mobile apps in their first search page results. Where you would usually see ads, you can now find app recommendations right on top. If you are promoting an app of any sort, you should probably up your SEO game on those marketplaces. SEO, of all the trends, is definitely going to make the most impact.

Even if you don’t have an app, yet, it might be worth investing—considering apps make up a huge change of mobile usage these days.

Instagram Ads

Users on Instagram are more likely to engage with brand posts then any other social media platform. Just like on Facebook and Twitter, you can target your demographic according to location, interest, age, behavior, etc., but the promoted post looks very similar to organic content on a user’s feed. There is also a 30 second video option with files sizes up to 30MB.

The introduction of the carousel ads have helped advertisers showcase more products or lifestyle images. Similar to Multi-Product Ads on Facebook, users can swipe to see additional images within one post. This is especially useful to photo-based brands who want to show a variety of their work in a short time frame.

SnapChat and WhatsApp

These days, most people under 35 no longer use Facebook or Twitter. The reason for this is that SnapChat and WhatsApp offers a certain amount of intimacy between contacts. Users can share as many shocking or hilarious photos as they want, without having to worry about their entire family watching.

The social pressures of having to get likes on an Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram post is relieved because “snaps” can’t receive likes. It’s a chance to take your brand out of the office and show these curious consumers who you really are! Taco Bell has certainly jumped on the SnapChat train.

Multi-device Mobile Marketing

According to Forbes.com, consumers “often move from one screen to another while shopping.” About 65% of users start on a smartphone, 25% on a PC/Laptop, and 11% start on a tablet. And they all end up on another device at one time or another.

For this reason, there are several different devices you should be taking into consideration, including smartwatches and tablets. Times are changing and your marketing efforts need to reflect that.

Video Ads

Depending on where you are marketing, you may want to consider video advertising. YouTube is especially reliant on this form of advertising, so if you’re big on the Tube or any other video-based social platform, videos ads are great option.

Ecommerce and Social Combination

We are seeing a big socialization of online consumerism with “buy now” buttons featured on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Not only can you use these social platforms for direct sales and lead building, but you can make your own site more social.

New Payment Systems

Recently, Samsung’s “Samsung Pay” is a payment platform that can be used nearly everywhere. Services like PayPal and Apple Pay are also widely accessible on several different devices. They are secure, safe, and super fast!

Customized Lifestyle Apps

In today’s technology run world, apps are no longer accessories; they are lifestyles. People use apps on their smartphones to reflect and enhance the way they live. Need help getting in shape? FitBit or MyFitnessPal are great choices that offer freemium options. Need to manage your finances a better? Try Mint or Mintbills.

By creating a lifestyle-based app of your own, you can promote your products and services in a modern way. There are many businesses that offer app building services, but only one you can trust: Appmart.

Have you noticed any hot mobile trends in marketing lately? Let us know!

Like this post? Read more at http://steverenner.com/blog-2/

15 Amazing Twitter Cover Photos From Real Brands

With more than 313 million monthly active users, Twitter is a serious player in the world of social networking. Brands looking to market themselves via the microblogging service have a serious tool at their disposal: the Twitter cover photo.

Twitter cover photos were specifically designed for businesses. They allow brands a public space to publish content/products and receive comments/feedback from real fans/customers. It’s more than just a space to fill, the cover photo is the first thing your online community will see, much like a store front.

Although a Twitter cover photo is a simple tool, it provides many interesting opportunities for businesses. Smart companies with a sharp marketing team know how to take advantage of the cool things you can do with a cover photo in order to connect, engage, and delight fans, not to mention drive heaps of traffic to your site. Whether it’s creative, funny, educational or promotional, having a high-resolution, on-brand cover photo will allow your page to outshine the competition.

So, if you feel you might be underutilizing your Twitter page, here are a few great cover photos to give you a little inspiration.

1. Behance
Your Twitter cover photo is a valuable piece of real estate and a great space for promoting current marketing campaigns. Behance cleverly put together a collage of various artists using their platform in order to draw interest and drive engagement.

2. Design Milk
Design Milk’s creative cover photo is so captivating; it’s hard to look away. The geometric shapes and lines perfectly compliment their signature milk carton logo, making for a visually appealing look and feel.



3. Animoto
Your Twitter cover photo should essentially compel a visitor to stick around. If they can’t figure out what your company can do for them in under a second, you risk them moving on to someone who can. Using Twitter’s precious real estate, Animoto does a great job communicating exactly what they do, right away.



4. Steve Renner
Straightforward and to-the-point, Steve Renner, CEO of Acesse, entrepreneur, marketing leader, and motivational speaker (part-time blues musician and parent) knows marketing. The eye-catching color and sleek lines draw you immediately in, begging to know more about what Renner can do for you.



5. Basecamp
Although Basecamp doesn’t a have a product to showcase through photos, they use a collection of icons to portray what the company does. The checkmarks, conversation bubbles, and to-do lists all lead to a single theme: productivity.



6. Uber
After rebranding earlier this year, Uber wanted their cover photo to celebrate two main things: technology and the cities they serve. Their cover photo is sleek, modern, and a real visual reflection of both core values.



7. Etsy
This peer-to-peer ecommerce site for handmade and vintage goods smartly employed an artsy collage of images to represent their DIY roots. Not only does the display of colors pop out to the visitor, they are consistent with each change of season.



8. Starbucks
Starbucks’ eye catching, high-quality graphic resonates with loyal customers. No only is it playful, it’s only seriously enticing—showcasing a variety of their most delicious products.



9. Apartment Therapy
The perfectly polished look of Apartment Therapy would grab anyone’s attention. Right away, you know what to expect—cool décor for your apartment, and with such catchy description as, “Saving the world, one room at a time,” visitor’s are bound to feel more than welcome to stick around.



10. Taco Bell
Taco Bell knows you can’t resist their Crunchy Taco Supreme, so why not put it smack dab in the middle of their cover photo? Consistency is key in their marketing scheme, making sure they rock the same photo on every one of their social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and SnapChat.



11. Nike
Sporty and fresh is what you can always expect from Nike and their Twitter cover photo does not fail to meet our expectations. Sometimes a simple photo is all you need to evoke an inner need for speed and adventure.



12. MEC
This mountain equipment company knows their customers inside and out. Their rugged, lifestyle photo perfectly parallels the company’s line and aesthetic. Their cover photo invokes a feeling of happiness you can only get camping with the right gear and inspiration.



13. Poler
Right out of Portland, Oregon, this brand knows what their customers/fans want to see; breathtaking views. Accompanying their cute, playful logo is a majestic picture of a mountain top. Not only do you want to immediately go there, but you want to make sure you’re fully equipped with what they describe in their profile as, “The World’s Highest Standard of Stuff.”



14. Wallpaper
Welcome to Wallpaper, the “global authority on design,” and they know it. Their clever, artsy photo displaying multiple clones of the same person wearing various stages of the moon would wow any visitor. It’s clean, stylish and on par with their bold claims. No wonder they have 1.39 million followers and growing.



15. Creative Review
Since 1980, the Creative Review’s marketing strategy has been evolving and adapting right along with the best of them. Lovely in shape and color, their Twitter cover photo expresses a timelessness so few have achieved. It’s bold, progressive, and unique—a seriously deadly combination, to competitors that is.


Like this post? Read more at http://steverenner.com/blog-2/