Social Media: The Ultimate Tool for Local Businesses

For local Lennox businesses, social media is your ultimate wingman, to help you showcase and share your products and services with the local community. With social media, you can create a buzz, have a giggle with your customers, and build a loyal following that will stick with you through the good times and the bad times (but we don’t want anymore of those).

Build a string brand on Social Media

Unleash your business's full potential and give your profiles a makeover that will make even the Kardashians jealous. Think about your brand personality and your brand colours and create scroll-stopping images and graphics. Is your bio up to date? Make it informative and engaging that your followers feel like they're chatting with their new bestie. Don't forget to include a link to your website or online store so they can easily find their way to your amazing products and services. With a strong brand presence on social media, your local business will shine brighter than the Norfolk Pine at Christmas!

Engage with your followers

The true magic of social media lies in the power of connection. Connect with your followers and make them feel like part of your business family. Respond to comments, ask questions, and create polls. Don't be afraid to show your followers what goes on behind the scenes of your business - think of it like a VIP backstage pass to your company's awesomeness! Last but not least, make sure to big up your team and show off their amazing achievements. The more you engage with your followers, the more they'll feel like they're part of the inner circle - and that's some serious social media magic.

Run Social Media Contests

Who doesn't love a good contest? Social media contests are a great way to generate buzz, increase engagement, and reward your loyal followers. You could offer a free product or service to the winner, or a discount code for their next purchase. Make sure to promote the contest across all your social media channels and encourage followers to share it with their friends.

Partner with local influences

Another way to elevate your local business is to partner with local influencers. We’re talking about the local legend that everyone knows and loves (they don’t need a massive following). These are people who can help promote your brand to their audience. Reach out to people that align with your brand values and see if they're interested in collaborating. You could offer them a free product or service in exchange for a social media shoutout or review.

We’ve said this before, but if your business isn’t already on social media, what ya doin – jump on in! Social is a powerful tool for local businesses to connect with their community, build a strong brand presence, and lift their marketing game. By following these tips and tricks, you'll be well on your way to social media stardom. So, go forth and conquer!

 

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Lismore City Council
Lennox Centenary

Building Trust With Your Audience

We're going to dive into a topic that can make or break a business - trust. Let's get started with some fun ways to build trust with your customers and take your business to the next level.

Don't be fake

Be yourself! When it comes to building trust with your audience, be the real you, be authentic and be genuine. Know-it-alls get the eyerolls and if that’s not you, reveal your honest, transparent, and sincere side. Show your audience you're a human being with flaws and quirks just like them. Being relatable will build a rapport and connection with your audience.

Showcase your expertise

If you want to gain your audience's trust, you got to show them what you're made of. One of the best ways to do this is by showcasing your awesomeness. Whether you're creating cool graphics, making the best coffee in town or selling surfboards, sharing your knowledge and expertise will show your audience you really know your stuff. When they can see you're the real deal, they're more likely to trust your business, products, or services. So, let yourself shine!

Engage with your audience

Building trust is a two-way street, so get in there and engage with your audience. Respond to comments and messages in a timely way, ask for feedback, and create a dialogue – all will help create a sense of community and trust. When your audience knows they can reach out to you and actually get a response, they're more likely to trust you and your brand. So, don't be a stranger - get in there and start chatting.

Be transparent

It's all about transparency, baby. That means being upfront about your products, services, and policies. Don't try to hide anything or your audience will sniff it out in an instant and think you’re pulling a fast one – destroying any trust that had built up. If you make a mistake – own it! We're all human, and your customers will appreciate that you are one too.

Deliver on your promises

If you want to build trust, you gotta deliver the goods. If you promise a certain level of quality, service, or support, you need to deliver on it, consistently. Don't make promises you can't keep and then fall short. You could be forgiven occasionally, but constant let downs will kill trust in your brand. Better to under-promise and over-deliver!

Building trust isn't easy, but it's ooo-so-important for any business to succeed. So, have fun, be real, show off your skills, chat it up with your audience and deliver on your promises… and you are winning! Do all the things, it’ll create a customer base that trusts you – and they’re the ones that'll have your back through the good times and the not so good times.

 

Check out what we've been up to

Lismore City Council
Lennox Centenary

Coolabah – Print & Socials

Coolabah - Print & Socials

 

Coolabah - flyer
Coolabah - stubby cooler
Coolabah - banner
Coolabah - signage
Coolabah - signage
Coolabah - EDM Header

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    Carpets On The Move

    Carpets On The Move - Print & Social

     

    Carpets on the move - print
    Carpets on the move - print
    Carpets on the move - social

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      Kingscliff Accommodation

      Kingscliff Accommodation

       

      Kingscliff Accommodation - branding

      Background

      We were approached by Kingscliff Accommodation, a boutique guest accommodation and property management provider on the Tweed Coast. Initially we were briefed with the objective to increase the number of properties in their portfolio, however, the partnership evolved into an ongoing retainer.

       

      The work

      We started the process of planning campaigns when we realised the branding, which had been created by another agency, wasn't quite right. It's application in socials wasn't working, and so before we got started on any promotional activities, we needed to correct the branding. We still had to keep the primary elements of their previous logo design, however we shifted the brand mark to a square bounded box rather than a pill-shape which was hard to use in social. From there, we rolled out the new branding across all marketing collateral, including business cards, a letterhead, comp slips and business folders. We also pulled together a Business Development Manager's pack which included a services flyer and agency agreement.

      While this was all happening, we were simultaneously working on signage, website updates and campaign strategy - more to come on these elements later.

       

      Kingscliff Accommodation - Business Cards
      Kingscliff Accommodation - Presentation Folder
      Kingscliff Accommodation - Presentation Folder
      Kingscliff Accommodation - brochure

      Like what we do? Let us help your business grow?with an awesome branding project.
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      Hey Team Fruity!

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        How Businesses Can Support Their Communities

        If we have learnt anything from the generosity of our communities over the last couple of months, it’s that we have a lot of stuff we don’t actually need. So much so that evacuation centres closed their doors to donations, saying they have all they need and more. With most of the physical clean-up now done, ‘volunteer fatigue’ can set in. However, our community still needs a lot of love and support, especially those who lost homes, businesses and are separated from loved ones. This is a good time to focus on the little things we can do to make someone’s day that little bit better.

        Pay it forward

        We all know how the concept works, so let’s put it into action all around our community. For small businesses operating as usual, think about ways you can give your customers opportunities to ‘pay it forward’. Be Waxed and Tanned in River Street, Ballina have set up a simple system whereby customers can buy a gift voucher which staff can use, at their discretion, to treat a future customer to a little pampering. Little luxuries like this go such a long way. Imagine if most Ballina businesses led the way in setting up something like this to enable customers to ‘pay it forward’…

        pay it Froward voucher

        Consider whether your business is in a position to ‘pay it forward’. Remember, you rely on the community for ongoing business, so showing them love and support in a time like this is extremely important. Plus, doing nice things for others feels really good! Can you provide your products or services at a discounted rate, offer flood victims a meal or a drink on the house or, simply raise money in-store to donate to a flood recovery charity? At Barefruit, we’ve teamed up with Green Coast Coffee in River Street and have pre-paid for 80 coffees for flood victims. It’s the little things that make the biggest difference and your business will benefit in the long-run

         

        Pay it forward coffee
        Support your fellow local businesses

        Our human nature is to help other people in times of need and crisis, and it’s as important that businesses support each other. Many local businesses been through tough times over the last two years, so help a brother (or sister) out and get amongst the local business community. Use local suppliers, purchase ingredients from local farmers, sell local products in-store, give local businesses a shout-out on social media, take the team out to the local café for lunch, network and offer help and advice…the ways businesses can support each other is endless but the impact of a positive, collaborative and supportive business community puts meals on our tables, keeps roofs over our heads and sends our kids to school.

        At the end of the day, show kindness and support to those who need it most whenever and however you can. What goes around, comes around…

         

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        Lismore City Council
        Lennox Centenary

        Business Communications During Crisis

        It’s over a month now since our region saw the most devastating flood event ever recorded. And what an intense time it has been for our community. Our hearts go out to those affected (both directly and indirectly) and we extend our deepest gratitude for everyone who answered (and continue to answer) the call for help from friends, family, neighbours, and strangers; getting stuck in to help where it was (is) needed most.

        Our local business community had already been tested and pushed to their absolute limits over the last few years with Covid, but nothing could prepare us for the tragedy of this natural disaster. The events that unfolded hour by hour and day by day were horrific and we think it’s safe to say, that those of us who had businesses left, were in complete shock of what to do next.

        Check on your people

        Our first move as a business, was to reach out to our own team and make sure they were safe or if they needed anything. Once the team were all accounted for, we needed to check on the other important people that bring our business to life – clients, suppliers, and contractors. We quickly assessed each of their individual situations and acted accordingly. Ranging from completely devastated to temporarily closed, and everything in between, one clear theme emerged – sensitivity, empathy and relevance were needed across the board in all business communications.

        Business Communications During A Crisis

        Sensitivity and Empathy

        Even if your business was completely unaffected from the floods it’s likely that your customers have been affected in some way. Acknowledge the event and how your business is responding. Even if you intend to carry on business as usual, it’s not advisable to downplay or ignore the situation for fear of scaring off potential customers.
        It is also imperative that your tone of voice and the language you use is sensitive to what people might be feeling and experiencing.

        Relevance

        Asking people to buy while they (or those around them) are in trauma and crisis is only going to do harm to your business reputation. Instead, communicate what you can do or offer to others at this time to make life a little easier. Make sure you check on all running and scheduled campaigns and pause them if you need to. Check all scheduled social media posts and decide if they are still relevant or whether they should be rescheduled for another time. Ensure that any automated communications are reviewed, tweaked, and amended to reflect the current situation. Emails that were drafted weeks ago, may not be well-received. We recommend sending out an email to your entire database acknowledging the crisis, including any information about how your business has been affected and what this means for regular business operations (trading hours, possible delays, etc) and how you intend to help the community.

        A helping hand

        In the best-case scenario, you would find ways that your business can help. We decided to pay all our team two full days for volunteering and cleaning up, and we know we certainly weren’t the only business doing this. It was important we got involved because we love and are part of this community and that’s what we do – help each other. We live in such a loving, caring community and we are so proud to be part of it. We are in this together now and for months to come. We encourage anyone who has yet to reach out and help, to do it. Not only is it rewarding, but it’s the right thing to do.

        Northern Rivers – Our hearts are with you.

        Related Tag: Marketing Gold Coast

        Stay fruity,
        Barefruit ?

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        Lismore City Council
        Lennox Centenary

        Richmond Valley Council

        Richmond Valley Council

        Print Collateral

        Richmond Valley Council

        Brief

        Richmond Valley Council first approached Barefruit to design a booklet that would help educate households in a fun, useful way with information about waste avoidance and how to dispose of household waste correctly.

        The work

        This was a fun and educating project for our team and the project had plenty of elements that required illustrations and intricate design work. To make this booklet fun, playful and inviting, the design relied on illustrations to help explain waste avoidance practises and processes.

        Our graphic designers on the Gold Coast create custom illustrations and graphics combined with a simple colour coordinated layout so readers could easily find specific information quickly. The booklet also included a tear-out calendar that had information on specific bin collection days as well as bin stickers to help households organise their waste easier.

        Richmond Valley Council also entrusted Barefruit with the organisation of printing 8000 booklets on an environmentally friendly 100% recycled stock that would help reflect their environmental values.

        Richmond Valley Council Waste Avoidance Booklet
        Richmond Valley Council Waste Avoidance Booklet
        Richmond Valley Council Waste Avoidance Booklet
        Richmond Valley Council Waste Avoidance Booklet
        Richmond Valley Council Waste Avoidance Booklet
        Richmond Valley Council Waste Avoidance Booklet
        Richmond Valley Council Waste Avoidance Booklet

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          A Guide to Email Marketing

          Email Marketing 101

          We know things are crazy at the moment for our local businesses. It’s a big juggle managing staff shortages, implications to supply chains and the ever-changing regulations, but there is one thing you can do to help your business maintain sales in this time, and that’s Email Marketing.

          Email Marketing is your best friend. It’s one of the most effective ways to engage and build relationships with your customers, subscribers and leads. Why? Because you’re communicating with people who have already shown interest and see value in your business offering, and because of this they are much easier to nurture and convert into customers (and sales). Email Marketing on the Gold Coast can provide that extra push to move these people from the start to the end of the consumer journey.

          The Golden Rule

          Email Marketing is not about you or your brand, it’s about your audience. You need to really get in the mind of your target audience and create content you know they will value and engage with. Keep things simple to begin with and segment your contact list into customers and leads.

          With your leads, your communication should give them the information and tools (in a non-salesy way) to make a purchase decision. Maybe that looks like behind the scenes content, product features and/or exclusive discounts. When it comes to your customers, Email Marketing is all about nurturing the relationship and doing what you can to get the most out of their appreciation for your brand, for example, tips on how to care for their purchase, how to use it in unconventional ways, loyalty and referral programs and asking them to leave a review. Top tip: offer something of value to your readers in exchange for an action, for example leaving a review, because if there is something in it for you, there has to be something in it for them.

          Email Marketing

          Automation

          If you have a little time up your sleeve (perhaps when you’re isolating at home ?), setting up and automating a series of emails is the best thing you can do. Create a flow that a takes a newsletter subscriber or new customer on a journey to learn more about who you are and the products or services they are specifically interested in. The automated flow means all your new customers and subscribers are regularly reminded about your brand automatically. Remember, the content in these emails must be targeted to the reader (customers and leads need different information). Mailchimp is the place to get started and there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube to help when you get stuck.

          Reach your readers in their inbox at the right time, with relevant and personalised content in a consistent manner and it’s more likely you’ll make more sales. Remember, there is a fine balance when it comes to how often you should reach customers on email. Don’t be a spammer – touching base with your valuable contact list every week or two is more than enough.

          Check out what we’ve been up to

          Lismore City Council
          Lennox Centenary

          North Coast No Space for Weeds

          North Coast No Space for Weeds

          Print Collateral

          North Coast No Space for Weeds

          Background

          No Space For Weeeeeds is part of the North Coast Local Land Services, they aim to increase awareness of weeds within the community, encourage people to understand weeds and know how to report and control them correctly.

          The work

          North Coast No Space for Weeds (part of North Coast Local Land Services) approached us to design some print collateral to run alongside their "No Space For Weeeeeds campaign. The aim was to help promote awareness of weed identification and prevention in the local community. They were attending the annual PRIMEX event (Australia’s sustainable farm and primary industries exhibition) and was in need of a six-page A5 fact sheet flyer to hand out to event attendees with information on how to prevent spreading weeds from one location to another.

          As part of their weeds awareness campaign, they requested our graphic design services to revamp their existing annual weed awareness calendar to not only reflect their branding but to also have a clean, modern look and feel. This calendar was to be distributed to local farmers within the North Coast to help with the identification process of a particular weed and provide solutions on how to treat and prevent the weed from spreading.

          No Space for Weeds Calendar
          No Space for Weeds Flyer
          No Space for Weeds Flyer
          No Space for Weeds Flyer

          Like what we do? Let us help your business grow?with some awesome print collateral.
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          Hey Team Fruity!

            I'm , I'd like you to help my business 'barefruit'.

            I am interested in

            You can call me on and email me at

            We'd love to know how you heard about us?