Tag: #exanimo

Branding, NewsLeave a comment

Rebranding and repositioning

I am delighted to share that after turning 9 we are rebranding and repositioning to become a more strategic, brand-focused partner to bring even more value to businesses.

Latin for “from the heart,” Ex Animo represents two core ideas embedded in everything we do and everything we are.

Firstly, our firm belief that you can make all the rational arguments you like, but if you don’t move people, you won’t get anywhere, and, secondly, that the only thing that matters is everything.

Why the change?
In today’s fast-paced world, having a strong, consistent and authentic brand is key to standing out in today’s competitive market.

That’s why we’re evolving from a digital marketing agency to a partner that helps businesses build and grow their brands from the ground up. Our aim is to go beyond just digital marketing services and help create powerful brands that truly resonate with our client’s audiences and support their long-term business goals.

Ex Animo reflects our determination to infuse our work, culture and partnerships with energy, respect, passion, confidence, creativity and authenticity. Simply put, it reminds and inspires us to feel more, to care more, to remain ever curious, to be both smart and spirited and to be forever enthralled by the power of possible.

We ARE people with heart.
We WANT to work with those with heart.
We LOVE to create brands with heart.
We’re incredibly excited about this new chapter, say hello to us at Ex Animo to learn more.

Articles, Content marketing, PhotographyLeave a comment

Custom Photography vs. Stock Photos

When brand owners and marketers create and redesign websites, pictures play a critical role in the process. Photographs are a central component of brand strategy. One question that a lot of marketers have about pictures is: Should I use stock or custom photography for my content?

There are upsides to both custom and stock photos– and there are drawbacks, too. Nobody can tell you with certainty which type of content is best for your brand; but there are some common pieces of advice that can help brands determine which variety of photos might be most effective.

couple working on a laptop together
Stock vs Custom

The difference between custom photography and stock photos

  • Custom photography is the result of hired photographers; it’s unique, individualised content designed to help highlight a brand’s offerings and personalise their messaging
  • Stock photos are generic pictures of people, places, and things; they are licensed for commercial use; anybody who wants to use them can do so

The Pros and Cons of Custom Photography and Stock Photos

The Upsides

Custom photography is original— and if you know anything about marketing and creating consumer interest, you know that individuality is key.

Smart brands use their marketing campaigns to further their overall brand strategy— photos help share their brand stories and communicate their values. It’s much easier to do this through custom content (photographs included) than with stock content.

If you need your photos to be versatile, consistent, and one-of-a-kind, custom photography presents the perfect opportunity to make it happen. You can work in tandem with skilled photo experts to create exactly what you need.

Stock photos are usually a more affordable alternative to custom photography. It can be pricey to rely on an expert’s skills to create custom content for you. You’re obviously likely to find something a little cheaper in a stock collection– but that doesn’t mean that you should give up hope on custom photos! 

You can use stock photos as support to your brand’s wide range of photography. If you notice your budget starting to dwindle, it’s not a bad idea to look into some stock photography to help liven up your content. They’re as easily accessible as they are affordable, so you should never have trouble finding one.

The Downsides

Stock photos do present some risk of dissatisfied or uninterested audiences. That’s because they tend to be simple and far-reaching. Those are great traits when you need a little filler content to boost your marketing aesthetic; they’re drawbacks if you rely too heavily on stock photos.

Competing brands can use the same images whilst use stock photos. Plus brand can tend to come off as disingenuous. It’s tough to communicate with a unique audience or share a brand message through canned content. 

Sometimes, stock photo use can even prompt people to see a brand in a more negative light. These photographs are great when they’re used sparingly, but a site that’s stock photo-heavy likely won’t go over well with audiences.

Custom photography does present some downsides, too. Staging, styling and other elements need to be well thought through. They can also present creative challenges– an uninspired marketing team may have difficulty determining the custom photography that would benefit their brand. If you add an uninspired photographer into the mix, the situation dissolves further.

Need Help With Your Brand Content or Marketing Strategy? Digital White Space Can Help

At Digital White Space, we offer a range of services designed to help our clients succeed in their digital marketing endeavours. We can help with:

Reach out to us today to find out more about our service offerings. 

Business tips, MindsetLeave a comment

‘How To Sell Remotely When Nobody Wants To See You’

Catching up with our wonderful Speaker Bernadette McClelland, who you may remember from our event One Woman Rising a few years ago!

Hello Angela, I’d love to help, I hope you and the Digital Women’s Network members are going well!

This email may help someone in the Digital Women’s Network for their sales team. The content is resonating and practical for the girls and guys who have to sell and don’t want to appear like ambulance chasers considering the environment.

During this time I’ve been running a 45 -60 minute group coaching on  ‘How To Sell Remotely When Nobody Wants To See You’

– No PPTs, No Breakout Rooms, No Big Sales Pitches – just me and whoever is on the call and the feedback has been great.  It was picked up by The CEO Institute and now being shared only with my clients, prospects, database and people I know – you are one of them. 

The request for me to run a couple more means I will be repeating it next week on Wednesday May 6th at 10am…and I have included the Zoom Link below to click on and register if it was something that resonated.

If you have sales team members or colleagues you would like to be on the call, please forward them this email.


The 3 main distinctions people received were around:

  • The ‘framing’ of the call to remove the awkwardness
  • The necessity and how to transition your new positioning statements and
  • The need to language your value to set yourself up for Q3/4
  • And more…

Because of security issues, I’m asking everyone to register in advance for the session and here’s the link  –

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJArdu2vqTkqGNAFBcVLncfaeTd06wICwOI4

Hope you/they can make it. In the meantime, take care and speak soon.

Btw – this one is complementary 

Cheers,
Bernadette McClelland
[email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettemcclelland/
+61 457 334 496
16 Angela’s Way, Sunbury, VIC 3429, Australia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1fFuEb2QYI

Join us at Digital Women’s Network in Melbourne

5, 171 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000.
Email: [email protected]
Website:https://digitalwomensnetwork.com/

DIGITAL WHITE SPACE

READ MORE ABOUT US
https://helloexanimo.com/

CONTACT US
EMAIL
[email protected]

ADDRESS
Level 5,
171 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

PHONE
0466 619 631

Mindset, NetworkingLeave a comment

PressforProgress

As we gear up for another International Women’s Day in March 2018 I found myself reflecting on the topic Press for Progress.

I think that we are all aware that by successfully harnessing and empowering half of the world’s total talent pool will have a positive and massive impact on the growth, competitiveness, future-readiness of economies and organisations across the globe, aren’t we?!

Surely we all know that different thinking in business and community can achieve a lot? From solving complex problems to uncovering new opportunities. The different lens comes from Diversity of Gender, Culture and Age.

As we kick off 2018 it has been reported that we are in decline to close the gap. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Instead of taking 170 years to close the gap at the current rate of progress, it is estimated that gender parity across the world will take over two centuries, 217 years.

Digging deeper into the decline I really want to understand more about what is making us go backward?

I honestly believe it all comes from within, we women need to silence the negative voices in our heads, appreciate our skill and make a positive change in our lives. We need to support each other (Sisterhood) and find an opportunity which comes from looking with a different lens and a positive mindset.

Look at self first, be more self-aware, seek a business coach or another professional perspective and be ready to take on the feedback. Most of my career I worked in traditionally male-dominated companies and industries and I thrived. On the flipside, I found working with other senior women a huge challenge filled with their fear-based and scarcity behaviours and attitudes. However, these experiences made me more aware and able to deal with more challenges than I thought possible.

Here are some stats of interest

  1. Only 30% of women believe that qualified men and women have equal opportunity to be recruited or promoted into management and executive positions across Australian workplaces in general, compared with 60% of men.* CEW 2017 report
  2. More than 50% of female respondents saw lack of sponsorship as a significant barrier to their promotion prospects, particularly given that they do not enjoy the same access to traditional networks as men. *CEW 2017 report
  3. Inherent bias was another key reason cited. “The amount of middle-aged male team members in middle-to-senior management positions is far beyond statistical probability,” said one male respondent, adding, “There is currently a clear male bias without a true active path to address this imbalance.”
  4. Lack of robust processes was the third most commonly mentioned factor limiting the progress of women, especially at senior levels. A female respondent reported, “Senior appointments are seldom transparent in the selection criteria.” Another respondent said, “Many appointments seem to be based on who you know. This is particularly the case at the senior manager/executive level.”

There are things we can’t change today (3) however we can change ourselves, the way in which we see these challenges and our attitudes and behaviours towards them and fellow co-workers.

I believe we have all the skills, talent and opportunity within we just need to believe in ourselves more, we need to push our selves to progress.

We all need to do the things that make us happy, so if your not happy change! First change self or your perspective (you can’t change others) Be more self-aware, surround yourself with ethical, honest and sincere people. Understand your emotions, it’s no accident that Emotion contains the word motion – without being aware of how you feel how can you know what motivates you? I strongly recommend doing yoga, focusing on mindfulness, seeking a mentor or business coach or counsellor (with a professional unbiased view) who can help you look at things differently

We must also focus on the wins! Yesterday was a thrill seeing Sally Capp kick off her campaign for Melbourne mayor is a huge step in the right direction.

Sally Capp

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-01/property-council-boss-sally-capp-to-run-for-melbourne-lord-mayor/9496286

Sally is a dynamite and its fantastic to see her stepping up and leading the way! I for one vote Yes to Sally and more women stepping up. I hope she empowers more talented dynamites to do the same. Following on the topic of surrounding yourself with powerhouse women and positive mindset, here is my shameless plug for our up and coming event this International Women’s Day.

We are celebrating on 15th March 2018, Grossi Florentino’s 80 Bourke Street, Melbourne. We are delighted to host Celebrity Interior Designer Carolyn Burn-McCrave for a luncheon to raise funds for Dress for Success and hear all about Carolyn’s own career journey, how she has been pressing for progress.

To top off the event and in the spirit of food cooking and interiors, we are delighted to offer a fantastic door prize to be won in our business card draw.

We have a stunning Italian Kitchen mixer tap Guy Grossi’s favourite, that offers hot steaming water and normal hot and cold from the same faucet worth over $2K see https://multitap.com.au/ Here is a sneak peek https://vimeo.com/243965337

We will also be podcasting with our partner The Mentor List and be raising funds for Dress for success empower hour.

Womens-Agenda-Newsletter-AD-1

To join us and for more information and tickets please head to these links;

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/this-international-womens-day-join-us-to-meet-celebrity-interior-designer-carolyn-burns-mccrave-tickets-43302123818?aff=es2

http://www.bandt.com.au/events/international-womens-day-luncheon-celebrity-interior-designer-carolyn-burns-mccrave-catered-guy-grossi

To read more about the reports I’m quoting from head to;

*CEW 2017 https://cew.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/FINAL_Advancing-Women-in-Australia_ALL-PAGES-002.pdf

The annual report for Gender parity conducted by the World Economic Forum is an important achievement that strongly influences whether economies and societies advance.

EMAIL; [email protected]
READ MORE ABOUT US
https://helloexanimo.com/
ADDRESS; Level 5, 171 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
PHONE; 0466 619 631

Business tips, Marketing StrategyLeave a comment

Influencer Marketing for beginners

Introduction

According to Wikipedia, Influencer marketing is a form of marketing in which focus is placed on specific key individuals (or types of individual) rather than the target market as a whole. It identifies the individuals that have influence over potential buyers, and orients marketing activities around these influencers.

In simpler and modern words, influencer marketing is a form of testimonial advertising where the influencers rather than the brand recommends a product/service and hence is more believable to the audience.

Who is an influencer?

In today’s digital world, an influencer is an online persona with a huge following, mostly on social media and who has the power to “influence” his followers’ purchase decision.

Influencers have been around for centuries, even before the internet existed and largely as popular celebrities endorsing a brand. The scenario today, however, is completely different. An influencer has become more realistic and approachable than ever before.

social media for beginners

Where do you find them?

On social media of course! Some of the bloggers and vloggers with millions of followers today have risen from being just ordinary internet users but with focus, determination and discipline. Thanks to the growing popularity and power of social media and blogging. Instagram, for example, is the goto for fashion lovers and thus poses a large opportunity for fashion brands to create an influencer market by hiring top style instagrammers who already have a vast network of admirers.

Why is it beneficial?

Influencer marketing is beneficial merely because of our human instinct which makes it easier for consumers to be convinced about a product from a person they admire, rather than by a brand they have never heard of. When you advertise through an influencer, you already have a warm audience. Moreover, every other brand is turning to online influencer marketing. So while a startup who has a running campaign of influencer marketing has the attention of a million prospective buyers, another startup with no campaign would still be struggling to build their online presence.

How to start your own influencer marketing campaign

  • Identify the influencer most relevant to you – If you are a new business and bucks are dear to you, you may want to start with identifying bloggers who will settle for free products rather than monetary rewards. The hunt usually begins with the business themselves having a social profile and actively engaging with influencers. This may include familiarising yourself with their offering, commenting on their posts etc. Once you’ve listened to what they have to say, it’s time for you to start a conversation
  • Start a conversation with your influencer – This is where you need to convince your influencers that your product is really worth their time. When you write that first pitch email/message, make sure to sound human, and not automaton.
  • Start campaigning – Boom! Work out a solution best suited for your business as well as the influencer and you are ready to go.

How to track a campaign

Once you’ve finally landed an influencer and started campaigning, it is necessary to track results in order to measure ROI. While conversion tracking can be a combination of several tools and methods, here are a few that anyone can implement

  • Post impressions and engagement – Impressions are the very first indication of how successful your campaign is going to be. And social influencers are a sure shot way to gather maximum impressions and engagements to your post. Higher the number of comments and shares you get, higher the chances of your post going viral.
  • Using Google Analytics URL builder to tag campaigns – Google Analytics allows to build custom URLs with parameters like campaign name etc that you can add to your social posts. It is then easy to track conversions from these URLs via GA reports
  • Specific campaign promo codes – Giving out campaign specific promo codes is another great way to create a sense of urgency and hence gain increased engagement.

Conclusion

To cut the long story short – Influencers are here to stay. The sooner you take the plunge the better. Ask us today to know what is the best campaign for you.

READ MORE ABOUT US

Digital White Space – Marketing + Communications

EMAIL [email protected]

ADDRESS; Level 5, 171 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

PHONE;  0466 619 631

LifestyleLeave a comment

Markit is on the Sunday in Federation Square Melbourne!

Looking forward to seeing the market in Federation Square this weekend Sunday 8 May!

With approximately 100 designers setting up for this unique one-day event to show their wears. The Markit is set within the beautiful Atrium and Deakin Edge Theatre at Federation Square in Melbourne. The biannual event is known for bringing together a unique line-up of Australia’s hidden creative treasures all under one roof. Markit draws an amazing selection of designers out of their workspaces for the day – ceramicists, jewellers, shoemakers, illustrators and micro fashion studios – so that Melbournians can pick up limited-edition pieces, one-off gifts and handmade objects of beauty that won’t be found on any high street. Many of the designers’ wares are only available online with Markit being one of the few places you can find them in person. You’re likely to discover new additions they’ve created especially for the market too!

http://www.markitfedsquare.com.au/

Business tips, Content marketingLeave a comment

Support that drives sales

[tg_small_content]Most companies come to us wanting a website or a campaign, they have a logo or have a bad website and need help.

Generally the way the industry works is to create a logo, put up a website or sell marketing automation, you hand over the money then you get a pat on the back and sent on your way “good luck, call us when you need anything else” There is no long-term support or care if what you have just created will work for you and your business’s changing needs. (Most companies don’t even realise that the majority of them are created by third parties, here or OS or a combination of both. Which generally entails a lot of extra time and commissions throughout the chain)
Business owners are generally so time poor – and rightly so working in the business not on it. They struggle to be across all elements around digital marketing, media and tools, and or just don’t where to start.
There is a much better way, you can have a group of experienced professionals who can work with you to drive your business objectives and grow your company’s dreams. Without adding to the head count or paying to having tiers upon tiers of management to create and deliver digital tools, websites and integrated campaigns that are designed to drive sales.
There is a new way to get the highly skilled strategists, creative team and care without the vast expense of a full blown marketing and communication team working under your roof. There is a new flexible approach on offer, a way to get the best minds assisting you to achieve success, excellence and drive sales and customer experience.
Our goal is to turn business dreams into reality and work long term to deliver that, so let’s work together.
#digitalwhitespace .[/tg_small_content]

[tg_small_content class=”animate”]

Marketing is about makeing people fall in love with your brand.

[/tg_small_content]