The shortest month of the year has come to an end!
This February, we were greeted by warm days filled with sunshine, and it seemed like we were in for an early spring. That was until the heavy snowfall and freezing rain took us by surprise. But we think it’s safe to say that the worst is past us.
On a sweeter note, February marks one of the most beloved days in the world: Valentine’s Day. It’s a beautiful time of year to share love and joy with the special people in your life. Whether that be in the form of gifting chocolates and roses to loved ones or whipping up heart-shaped pizzas and cakes with gal pals.
Despite how quickly February flew by, there were a number of interesting trends, updates and campaigns in the digital world that turned some heads–and we have all the details.
Without further ado, we have put together five highlights we think you should know about. From Super Bowl LVII ads to Valentine’s Day marketing campaigns, here’s what happened this month in marketing.
How Social Media Marketing for Super Bowl LVII Performed Against Traditional Ads
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Regardless of whether you’re an avid sports fan or not, the Super Bowl has something for everyone to enjoy. For some, it’s chowing down on greasy food, while sitting on the edge of their seats and watching the big game. For others, it’s seeing the Super Bowl halftime show (any Rihanna fans?) and getting lost in the riveting music and vibrant lights.
If there’s another thing that the Super Bowl is known for, it’s advertising. This year, social media played a crucial role in its marketing, and the numbers are unlike anything ever seen before. In fact, the hashtag #SuperBowlLVII on TikTok alone collected 225 million views, which was more than double the game’s live viewership.
This goes to show the huge impact social media platforms have today–especially TikTok. Major companies advertised in the Super Bowl flocked to TikTok for their social media campaigns and invested in influencer marketing.
Doritos, for instance, asked TikTok users to post a video of themselves dancing with the hashtag #DoritosTriangleTryout for a chance to appear in its game day commercial. The challenge gained over 13 billion hashtag views, while driving user-generated content. The brand also enlisted influencers and featured cameos from musicians Jack Harlow, Elton John and Missy Elliott.
Social media even helped generate buzz off-screen, gaining impressive engagement. In the case of the Farmer’s Dog, the brand did more than just showcase an emotional, 60-second commercial that topped USA Today’s Super Bowl Ad Meter. Its engagements on the hashtag #FarmersDog grew 1115% on Twitter and Instagram as well.
To learn more about how social media marketing was a huge driving force for the Super Bowl’s advertising, click here.
Email Marketing: An In-Depth Guide
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Who says that emails are dead? Definitely not us! Without a doubt, email marketing has become a powerful tool for marketers everywhere.
Email marketing is a type of direct marketing that relies on customized emails to inform customers about certain products or services. Not only does it help improve communication with your audience, but also makes it easier to reach the right people at the right time.
If you want to generate more revenue for your business, email marketing is a surefire way to bring in more cash. According to Search Engine Journal, email marketing provides an average return on investment of $36 for every $1 spent, making it one of the most profitable and effective ways of reaching your targets.
To execute effective email marketing, you need to do more than just send an email with a simple click of a button. You have to create a meticulously planned strategy, one that initiates conversations and nurtures long-standing customer relationships.
In their blog, the Search Engine Journal shares a comprehensive guide about everything you need to know regarding email marketing. Some of the steps they recommend taking include:
- Establish your goals
- Build your list
- Create your email campaign
- Measure your results
Check out the link here to improve your marketing strategy with all the amazing benefits email marketing has to offer.
20 Valentine's Day Marketing Campaigns We Love
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Valentine’s Day isn't only an important time of year for those who have a special someone in their life. It’s also a big day for marketers, retailers and business owners.
As soon as February rolls in, stores are decked out with red, pink and white decor, flashing limited-time deals and offers. You might even recall seeing cheesy Valentine’s Day-themed ads on your TV or phone screen. But how many of them do you actually remember?
With so many different Valentine’s Day ads being shown, it’s easy for some to get lost in the massive sea of competitors. That’s why it’s essential to find ways to make your marketing campaign stand out.
In their blog, HubSpot shares some of their favourite Valentine’s Day campaigns from major brands, including Gucci, Toblerone, Pandora, Dunkin’ Donuts, and more. Some ads showed a refreshing take on addressing love in all its forms, including romantic love, platonic love, and familial love.
Companies also got creative with their marketing efforts, like selling special-edition chocolate bars, hosting fun challenges, or creating personalized videos. Here are some of our personal favourites:
- Cadbury 5 Star - Valentine's Day Alibi
- Pandora - Real Couples Explain What Valentine’s Day Means to Them
- 1-800-Flowers - Galentine's Day
We know that the season of love has already come to an end, but you shouldn’t feel discouraged. You can still use these marketing campaigns to draw inspiration and make the most of next Valentine’s Day.
For more information about HubSpot’s top Valentine’s Day marketing campaigns, click the link here.
Don’t Avoid Content Operations; Use This Helpful Framework Now
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We all know that quality content is integral for every business. However, one of the many aspects of content that is often left ignored is the efficacy of content operations.
Content ops are a crucial part of the content creation process. It refers to the activities, processes, tools, and technologies used to manage a brand’s content successfully and effectively. From strategy and creation to effectiveness measurement and content management. In order to ensure that your content operations provide smooth and efficient processes, you need to put a content framework in place.
You can post any kind of online content, but it won't rank high in search results if you don't have a structured plan. A content framework provides the perfect blueprint by describing how you will be creating content and for what audience. Aside from setting clear goals, it also allows you to keep your team aligned with the plan and aware of their responsibilities.
With the right content framework, you can attract your target audience and keep them engaged throughout every stage of the buyer's journey. This will bring your customers back for more, increasing traffic, leads, and conversions.
If you don't know where to start, you should check out the Content Marketing Institute’s easy steps to optimizing content operations. Here are some of them below:
- Articulate the purpose of the content
- Define the content mission
- Set and monitor a few core objectives and key results
- Organize your content operations system
- Formalize a governance model
To learn more about how you can improve your content operations, check out the link here.
The Top Retail Trends for 2023
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Nowadays, retail stores are completely changing the shopping experience; not just in how products are being sold, but the ways in which they're bought as well.
During the beginning of the pandemic, it became difficult to do regular shopping in person. With the rise of e-commerce businesses, however, that problem has become something of the past. Social media (we see you, Instagram Shoppable) also allowed shoppers to discover new products and get them delivered straight to their doorstep.
Since we live in an ever-changing digital world with a growing, competitive market, the retail industry is also subject to change. If you don't want your retail business to lag behind and wish to get ahead of competitors, you need to stay updated on the latest trends in the retail industry.
Recently, Square collaborated with Wakefield Research and surveyed 2,000 consumers and 500 retail owners and managers about the retail industry trends that will shape 2023. The Retail Dive analyzed the survey results, insights from the Square retail team, and interviews with creative retailers to identify the top retail trends for businesses to consider this year.
Some of the trends the Retail Dive shares in their blog include the following:
- Retailers are expanding where they sell.
- Retailers are planning for economic uncertainty
- Automation can enhance customer experience.
- Customers want to engage with brands.
Read the full blog here and stay in the loop on the latest retail trends.
Wrap Up
This blog went over the impact social media marketing had on the Super Bowl’s advertising by pushing user-generated content, boosting engagement, and increasing views.
Then we went over the significance of email marketing and how you can utilize it to improve your digital marketing strategy.
Next, we learned about some effective Valentine’s Day marketing campaigns and how they stood out from other conventional ones.
After that, we discussed the importance of content operations and implementing a framework to help enhance the creation and delivery of content.
Finally, we went over the different trends that people in the retail industry should know about to keep their brand ahead of the game.
Any questions, comments, or concerns? We’d love to hear your feedback!
We’ll be back next month with five new articles for you. In the meantime, if you’re looking to learn more, please check out our existing blogs that cover various digital marketing topics!
