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4 Tips to help businesses engage customers beyond Halloween

iStock reveals four tips to help businesses of all sizes to effectively, and authentically, visualize celebrations in their marketing.

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Photo by Jacqueline Smith from Pexels.com

According to Visual GPS, an iStock research initiative, 86% of people still look to celebrate the good things in life – and now, more than ever, people are feeling the strain of social distancing, wanting to feel a sense of connection and belonging with others after many months of isolation.

The most common hopes people shared once transmission for the COVID-19 virus is under control and as vaccination availability increases are travel (53%), dining out/going out for drinks (47%), reviving connections with friends and family (39%), return to live events (38%) and kids resuming normal activities (36%).

“Our concept of celebration is nuanced and ever-changing, with the pandemic further impacting the way we gather and spend time with family and friends,” said Claudia Marks, Senior Art Director, iStock. “The fact is that customer preferences and feelings about celebrations and activities outside of our homes continue to evolve, which is why using visuals that depict our modern realities is crucial to connecting with customers on a deeper level.”

Here, iStock reveals four tips to help businesses of all sizes to effectively, and authentically, visualize celebrations in their marketing:

  1. Showcase connection and community: The importance of relationships with family, friends, partners, coworkers, neighbors and more has only increased in value and meaning since the pandemic. According to iStock research, 70% of people say that the pandemic made them appreciate their personal relationships more. Not to mention, almost three quarters of people (68%) say they appreciate small/local businesses more as a crucial part of their community and 66% want to continue prioritizing supporting small businesses during this time. By focusing on the significance of community and the positive outcomes of the pandemic, businesses can foster a sense of belonging among their customers and find ways to unite us all through the visual content—imageryvideos and illustrations—they use in their holiday campaigns year-round.
  2. Be relevant: With the COVID-19 virus still a risk, businesses should consider a multi-layered approach to appeal to a broad audience. iStock research shows that 31% of people still want to see people wearing masks and 36% want to see people practice social distancing in visual communications. To alleviate differing thoughts on COVID safety measures, focus on showing visuals which depict social distancing and tell stories of security, but also, think about the future and use visuals and messaging which look beyond the pandemic.
  3. Harness the power of video: Statistics shows that video resonates more deeply with customers, with 92% of marketers noting it as an important part of their visual strategy. Though video has traditionally been more expensive and professional quality video creation may seem daunting, businesses can really benefit by integrating video into their marketing strategies, especially during holidays. To ease these barriers, iStock has created a new free, quick and easy video maker that doesn’t require any previous design or editing experience.
  4. Reflect the diversity of your audience: Use visuals that portray real people and real situations. iStock research shows that 72% of people expect businesses to celebrate diversity of all kinds so ensure you are choosing visuals that reflect the broad diversity of people across all ages, genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, abilities and body types.

Strategies

Tips that businesses should consider during the holiday shopping season

Highlight your strengths—whether it’s one-of-a-kind products, exceptional offerings, or a strong local connection. Design your holiday strategy around what sets you apart and amplify these messages through social media and your marketing materials.

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As the holiday shopping season approaches, small businesses are gearing up for one of the busiest times of the year, from Black Friday to Small Business Saturday and beyond. 

SCORE, America’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, offers entrepreneurs practical advice to make the most of the season.

Plan for the Holiday Rush

Reflect on last year’s performance. Did you meet your sales goals? Use your previous data to forecast sales, set promotional strategies and manage staffing needs to provide for outstanding customer care.

“It’s about more than just sales; it’s a powerful opportunity to connect with your community, attract new customers and reinforce relationships with loyal ones,” explains SCORE mentor Lizz Smoak.

If you plan on extending store hours during the holidays, communicate these updates with your team early so you are prepared to handle increased sales traffic. Ensure that employees are aware of the holiday schedule and have submitted any time-off requests to avoid last-minute scheduling conflicts. 

Create an Experience for Customers

“Engagement is key when customer traffic spikes during the holiday season,” notes SCORE mentor Christy Jones. “Consider offering curated gift guides or exclusive bundles to simplify decision-making for your customers, especially as you compete against large retailers like Amazon.” Plan a special event or connect with other local businesses to promote shopping small.

Stand Out from the Crowd

Consider how you can make your store or service the preferred choice. “Small business owners should contact their existing customers and highlight their unique level of service,” advises SCORE mentor John Doyle.

Highlight your strengths—whether it’s one-of-a-kind products, exceptional offerings, or a strong local connection. Design your holiday strategy around what sets you apart and amplify these messages through social media and your marketing materials.

Be E-Commerce Friendly

As you roll out holiday promotions, make sure that your digital doorstep is ready, too. Confirm your hours, location and contact info are updated on your website, Google Business Profile and other local listings. Many customers will be shopping on their phones so be sure your website is optimized for mobile use and that your most popular products are easy to find. A smooth checkout process is vital for keeping customers happy and encouraging repeat purchases.

“Small Business Saturday offers a prime opportunity for small businesses to step into the spotlight,” said SCORE CEO Bridget Weston. “With a strategic approach, small businesses can leverage this season and see big returns.”

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BizNews

Women more likely to choose wine with feminine labels

The more strongly the participants identified with other women, a phenomenon called “in-group identification,” the greater this effect was. A feminine label also influenced their expectation that they would like the wine better.

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To appeal to the majority of consumers, winemakers may want to pay as much attention to what’s on the bottle as what’s in it.

A three-part experimental study led by Washington State University researchers found that women were more inclined to purchase wine that had labels with feminine gender cues. The more strongly the participants identified with other women, a phenomenon called “in-group identification,” the greater this effect was. A feminine label also influenced their expectation that they would like the wine better.

With women representing 59% of U.S. wine consumers, the male-dominated field of winemaking might want to pay attention to the perceptions of this understudied group, said Ruiying Cai, lead author of the paper in the International Journal of Hospitality Management.  

“When you look at the market segments, women are actually purchasing a lot of wine. They are a large group,” said Cai, an assistant professor with WSU’s Carson College of Business. “We found that feminine cues speak to women consumers. They have more favorable attitudes toward the label and the wine itself. They were also expecting their overall sensory experience to be better, and they were more likely to purchase the wine.”

Gender cues often rely on stereotypes, and in initial tests for this research, a group of 90 women rated wine labels as more masculine when they featured rugged animals like wolves and stags as well as portraits of men. They designated labels as feminine that had cute animals, flowers and female portraits. Labels with castles and bunches of grapes were seen as neutral.

In two online experiments, a total of 324 women were shown fictitious wines with labels designed with these gendered cues. The participants showed higher intention to buy wines with a feminine label, such as a woman holding flowers, as opposed to a wine with a masculine label, such as a bulldog in a spiked collar. When asked about the expected sensory experience, they rated their liking of every sensory aspect higher, including the color, taste, aroma and aftertaste.

The participant’s level of wine expertise moderated their taste expectations but surprisingly, not their purchase intentions.

“Whether they were knowledgeable or less knowledgeable about wine, when they saw those feminine cues, they had a higher intention to buy the wine. The gender cue influence was so strong, it trumped the effect of that knowledge,” said co-author Christina Chi, a professor at WSU’s Carson College of Business.

A third experiment with another set of 138 women involved a taste test—also with a surprising finding. Researchers gave bottles of the same red wine with one of the gendered labels. More women who tasted the feminine-labeled wine ranked it higher in fruit flavors such as red current and blueberry than those who tasted the same wine with a masculine-cued label—and despite the fact those flavors were not dominant components in that particular wine. Women connected more mineral flavors with the masculine-labelled wine.

However, the participants who tasted the feminine-labelled wine reported liking it less than the women who tasted the masculine-labelled wines. The authors said this could be a result of the incongruence between the expected flavor influenced by the feminine label and the actual taste of the wine sample, which had a medium body, tannin and alcohol level.

Few studies have focused on the perceptions of women wine consumers in a field where 82% of the winemakers are men. That lack of perspective is very apparent on wine aisles, said Chi, noting that many vintners seem to favor masculine imagery like stallions, bulls and roosters–and one brand even features a prisoner in a jail cell.

“When designing the labels, winemakers should involve more women in the process, and it’s highly advisable to pilot test the labels among consumers for gender cues,” she said.

In addition to Cai and Chi, co-authors on this study include recent WSU graduate Demi Deng now at Auburn University and Robert Harrington of WSU.

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BizNews

License to chill? Bond shows ‘regressive nostalgia’ can freeze a brand’s future

“In order to minimize the negative impact of regressive nostalgia, it is important that the brand does not pander to the nostalgia displayed by a minority of super-consumers. Brand stewards must not be swayed by these loud voices and become exclusionary.”  

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Super-spy James Bond is a prime example of ‘regressive nostalgia’ highlighting how certain consumer groups cling to idealised past versions of brands and resist attempts to move with the times, a new study reveals. 

Researchers examined the James Bond movie franchise – a cultural icon for over 70 years – and discovered that some ‘super-consumers’ react negatively to modern portrayals of the fictional British secret agent that reflect contemporary societal values.  

Whilst loyal to the brand, these consumers prefer traditional, more exclusionary, versions of Bond which most closely follow author Ian Fleming’s original 1950s and 1960s vision – characterised as an arrogant, misogynistic, and racist Imperial British male. 

Publishing their findings in International Journal of Research in Marketing, consumer behavior experts from the University of Birmingham and ESCP Business School, London note that regressive nostalgia is characterized by a preference for racial and cultural purity and heroic masculinity. The phenomenon harbors exclusionary and aggressive tendencies that pose significant threats to brands. 

The researchers have, therefore, produced a toolkit to help marketeers shield their brand’s contemporary positioning from the negative connotations associated with this form of nostalgia – allowing brands to evolve without alienating their core consumer base. 

Finola Kerrigan, Professor of Marketing at the University of Birmingham, commented: “The James Bond franchise is a perfect example of how ‘regressive nostalgia’ manifests. Whilst the brand has successfully adapted to changing times, a small but disproportionally vocal part of its fanbase is anchored in the past, highlighting the need for careful brand management. 

“These ‘super-consumers’ cling to Ian Fleming’s characterisation of Bond and the period during which the novels were written to justify their nostalgia. They actively resist attempts to modernise the franchise, dismissing as ‘woke nonsense’ recent movies such as ‘No Time to Die.” 

Chloe Preece, Professor of Marketing, ESCP Business School, London notes that these Super-consumers view Bond as a heroic, white, male icon providing a ‘safe space’ for those feeling threatened by contemporary discussion about creating a more inclusive society. The character’s ‘man-of-action’ persona allows this group of mostly male consumers to identify with the spy’s ‘heroic masculinity’ based on his ability to sleep with the ‘Bond girls’. 

While the study focuses on the Bond franchise, the researchers identify parallels with other groups’ appropriation of brand resources and associating them with anti-social causes. 

“Brands use nostalgia to connect with consumers – delighting and enchanting their customer base whilst connecting them to others – but this makes nostalgia potentially dangerous in drawing consumers to the past, when it creates a sense of loss combining a cherished past and a despised present,” said independent scholar Dr Daragh O’Reilly. 

“In order to minimize the negative impact of regressive nostalgia, it is important that the brand does not pander to the nostalgia displayed by a minority of super-consumers. Brand stewards must not be swayed by these loud voices and become exclusionary.”  

The researchers note that marketeers should be alert to the risk posed by regressive nostalgia and have devised toolkit comprising of a series of questions to help brand managers assess the level of threat.

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