Stop, collaborate and listen…

Without collaboration, networking and connection, there is no local business community. Forging strong relationships with all our business partners has always been an important part of the way we roll, and we believe that focusing on honest and transparent work relationships leads to productive and long-term partnerships, as well as the development of new and exciting business opportunities.

IRL networking

They might sound old-fashioned if you’re under 30, but actively participating in face-to-face networking, sharing your knowledge and expertise, and really engaging with others, will help build relationships and establish you as a reputable and trusted person people want to do business with. This ultimately helps build your brand and drive new business. Networking events (we like the ones with free breakfast or wine) are a great way to get yourself out there.

Networking can be challenging if you’re not a fan of public speaking (or people), but believe me, putting yourself out there will help you develop these skills. The wine helps too (haha), but seriously, the more you network, the more confident you’ll become about speaking about your business and what you can offer. I used to be physically sick before new business meetings, but now, after regularly attending networking events (and getting all grown up), I still get a little sweaty, but no more vom.

Give back

Offering your services pro-bono, such as organising an event, writing a column for a the best mag in town (ahem), or designing a logo for a local charity, is a great way to establish long-term relationships and keep you, and your business, front of mind. Sponsoring a local team, charity or event, is another great way to connect with the community – and it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

In small communities like ours, recommendation and word of mouth is very powerful, so if you’re doing something good in the community, people will get to know about it.

Winner winner, chicken dinner

Local business awards are a great way to meet potential new clients, connect with the business community and have a laugh, something we all need to do, often. We can vouch for this - the business awards we’ve entered over the years have generated some great connections and long-lasting relationships, locally and further afield.

Remember, if we’re still in business after what the last few years have thrown at us - we’re all winners.

Barefruit x

Haven’t you heard Instagram reels are taking over the world!!... just kidding, but also not really. Currently Instagram Reels and TikTok videos are all the new rage and heck we are all here for it! They are short, fun and engaging videos ranging anywhere from 10-90seconds in length. They give business’s an opportunity to showcase their businesses personality and make creative content that is easily digestible. With the busy nature of many consumers lives, they simply just don’t have the time to be sitting on their phone reading long paragraphs from businesses, nor do they want to… as let’s be real ‘ain’t nobody got time for dat’!

What are the Advantages of using video media forms (reels and TikTok)?

Now here’s why Instagram Reels and TikTok’s will become your knight in shining armour this year! Currently Instagram’s algorithm is favouring reels. This means that when you post one, Instagram will be more likely to push your content out and recommend it to other potential customers who don’t yet follow you. Instagram is loving reels so much they even got their own page on the new Instagram update last year, meaning they are now more visible then ever!

What to consider when creating your video

Let’s be real no one wants to watch a video that is boring and just plain blah, so it’s important to keep in mind these key things when creating your content!

1. Educating your audience

Educating your audience on your product or service offering should be at the top of your priority list when it comes to your social media marketing strategy! It’s important to show how your product works, its value, and identify why it’s the clear winner over its key competitors.

2. Utilising Trending Sounds to boost your audience reach

Using trending sounds is a great way to help boost your videos traffic! Using trending sounds with less than 10K reel uses will help to boost your content even more as it means your video will be one of the most shown under that sound! Utilising trending sounds gives your video a better opportunity to be featured on Instagram’s ‘Explore Page’ and TikTok’s ‘For You Page’ which is basically like gold for social media! The Instagram explore page alone gets foot traffic of approximately 200million users each day and half a million users every month.

3. Create clear, engaging, and fun visuals

The whole point of Instagram reels and TikTok’s is to generate content that is fast, engaging, and eye-catching! With these videos, comes an opportunity to reflect your brands personality, pull in more like-minded consumers and consequently increase brand engagement. Creating videos that feature yourself the owner, staff and your workplace environment is a great way of making your customers feel like they are a part of your community and know you personally, therefor increasing consumer confidence. Both Instagram reels and TikTok’s gives creators the opportunity to utilise visual filter effects, text layovers, stickers, songs and GIFs… all tools helping to create content that is engaging.

What should my reels be about?

We understand how hard it can be when it comes to creating content, so we have listed a few ideas to get you started!

Content ideas:

• Answering FAQ’s
• Tips
• Behind the scenes
• Sales or specials
• Product usage
• Meet the team
• Getting involved in funny trends

 

Photoshoots on a budget

They say a picture tells a thousand words and these days, given the power of brand images on social media, it’s probably even more. We all know great photographs, videos and images are the make or break when it comes to showcasing your product or business. Blurred, distant or pixelated images are obviously not going to win you any fans, but in saying that, gone are the days when you need to spend a motza on a camera or professional, to get the content you need for some (not all) of your marketing.

That’s right, the phone sitting in your pocket is pretty damn impressive and if your model doesn’t date back to 1998, it will more than likely rival the quality of an expensive camera. If you’re considering updating your images and promoting your brand, we have a few tips and tricks for you to get the ball rolling, or in this case, the camera clicking.

Plan, plan, plan

Believe it or not, planning your shoot is just as important as taking the actual photos. It’s important to consider the kind of content you want, as well as how it will actually be used in the creative vision for your brand. It’s also imperative to identify your key audience to ensure your brand’s message is visually consistent across all channels. We recommend storyboarding, as it is  an effective way to plan out what you actually want to achieve on the day of your shoot. Being prepared across timings, props and locations, will guarantee a smooth-running, cost-effective photoshoot.

Lights, Camera, Action

Once you’ve got the plan for the day under control, it’s time to get creative (and have some fun at the same time). Ditch the expensive studio lighting, hit the outdoors and take advantage of the incredible natural sunlight we have in this part of the world. If you do need to amp up the brightness, use a windscreen sun reflector for an inexpensive lighting hack. Explore unusual angles, rather than shooting from the same spot all the time. This will not only allow you to get closer to the subject in an original and thought-provoking manner, but will produce more interesting results than the standard head shot that you see on LinkedIn!

Let’s leave the shell-shocked surprised looks the flash creates aside and use diffused light instead. Portrait mode adds an extra stand-out element to your photos (but beware, it also highlights wrinkles!) and using interesting props or our beautiful, natural surroundings will make your pictures truly memorable. If getting visually creative isn’t really your thing, bribe one of your team with coffee and an early finish, and let them take the reins. Who knows, you might actually  have a budding photographer on your hands!

Make a good photo great

Before you upload your new photos, be sure to go through them carefully and take the time to edit them. There are a range of free, or cheap, tools and apps that are easy to use and are designed to enhance the lighting, texture and quality of your shots. Even if you know next to nothing about taking photos, aside from where to find the camera app in your phone, you’ll still be able to garner amazing new content for your brand and most importantly, save money!

Check out the full Byron Wave article here