soqual

Planning Your Social Strategy for 2026

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:39:46 GMT

What to Start Doing Now

As 2025 starts to wind down, many businesses are already looking ahead to 2026, especially when it comes to marketing and social media . The reality? The most effective social strategies don’t happen by accident. They’re planned, intentional, and backed by clear data. Whether you’re a small business owner trying to get more traction online or a marketing manager setting next year’s budget, October is the perfect time to start laying the groundwork. By preparing now, you’ll step into the new year with confidence, clarity, and a content calendar that actually works. Here’s how to get started.

Reflect on What Worked (and What Didn’t) This Year

Before you start mapping out 2026, take an honest look at your current social media performance.

What campaigns delivered results? Look at hard metrics like engagement rate, website traffic, and conversions.
What platforms gave you the most return? If you’ve been spreading yourself thin across too many platforms, now’s the time to streamline.
What content resonated with your audience? Which posts got saved, shared, or commented on? Those are your clues for next year.

Pro tip: A simple audit can highlight which areas deserve more investment and which ones you can confidently let go. At Soqual , we call this strategic pruning, keeping what works and cutting the rest so you’re not wasting time or budget.

Set Clear, Measurable Goals

A vague goal like “grow our social media” won’t cut it in 2026. Instead, focus on specific, measurable outcomes tied to your broader business objectives. For example:

Increase Instagram engagement by 20% by June
Generate 50 qualified leads per month through LinkedIn ads
Drive 30% more traffic to your website from organic social content

When your goals are this clear, it’s easier to track progress and prove ROI, both to yourself and your stakeholders.

Map Out Your 2026 Content Calendar

The businesses with the most consistent, effective social presence aren’t scrambling each week for what to post. They’re working from a planned, strategic content calendar. Start by thinking about:

Seasonal campaigns: e.g., Christmas, EOFY, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day
Industry-specific dates: key events, product launches, awareness weeks
Evergreen content pillars: the themes your brand is built on
Example: If you’re a boutique winery, your calendar might feature summer tasting events, vintage updates in March, and Father’s Day gifting campaigns in September.

By having these mapped out early, you can batch content creation , secure photographers and videographers ahead of time, and reduce last-minute stress.

Budget for Paid Social Early

Organic reach is great, but in 2026, paid social will continue to be essential for growth, especially with algorithm changes and increased competition. Consider:

Brand awareness campaigns to reach new audiences
Retargeting ads to nurture warm leads
Conversion-focused campaigns with clear calls to action

Allocating a budget now means you can run tests in Q1, gather data, and scale your spend strategically throughout the year.

Prepare for Key Changes in 2026

The social media landscape is never static and 2026 will bring new trends and challenges. A few to keep on your radar:

Under-16 Social Media Ban: Coming into effect in December 2025, this will reshape how brands target younger audiences and manage privacy.
AI-driven personalisation: Expect smarter algorithms, but also a need for human oversight to keep content authentic.
Short-form video dominance: TikTok and Instagram Reels aren’t going anywhere, but quality will matter more than quantity.

By staying ahead of these shifts, your brand won’t be scrambling to react later.

Get Expert Support

Planning a strong social strategy takes time, insight, and the right tools. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start, that’s where we come in. At Soqual , we help businesses:

Audit their current social media performance
Build tailored strategies aligned with their goals
Create engaging, high-quality content that actually converts
Manage social platforms and campaigns from start to finish

Think of us as your strategic partner, not just your content creators.

Final Thoughts

The last few months of the year are a golden opportunity to get ahead. By reflecting on what worked, setting clear goals, and planning your campaigns now, you’ll walk into 2026 with focus and direction. If you want a tailored social strategy that drives real results next year, let’s talk.

Book a discovery call with Soqual today.

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: The FY25/26 Marketing Pivot

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 22:44:55 GMT

The Shifts Every Business Needs to Know for the New Financial Year

Marketing is changing faster than ever. The tools you used last year, the content that worked, the ads that pulled in sales, none of that guarantees success this financial year. If your strategy feels stuck, it’s time to rethink. Because what got you here won’t get you there.

Why FY25/26 Is Different

Consumers aren’t the same as they were last year. They’re tired of the same old short-form clips and hype. Instead, they want authenticity, real stories, and content that actually helps them.

And it’s not just what people want. It’s how they shop.

Today, purchase decisions are slower. People want proof, trust, and a sense of community before they commit. They want brands that get them, that speak directly to their needs, not a one-size-fits-all message.

Technology is also shaking things up. AI content is everywhere, but originality is rare. If your content feels “fake” or copy-pasted, people will scroll right past it.

And social platforms? Algorithms keep changing, meaning what worked last quarter might not work tomorrow.

What’s Out and What Needs Rethinking

Recycled Reels that chase trends without purpose
Posting just to fill the calendar (hello, “consistency” without meaning)
Generic influencer deals that don’t really fit your brand
Ads running without strong creative or offers behind them

These won’t cut it anymore. Audiences see through it, and worse, they tune out.

What You Should Be Doing Instead

Build a strategy-first marketing ecosystem. Start with your business goals, then craft a multi-channel approach; organic, paid, email, partnerships, that works together, not in silos. (Learn more about our Marketing Strategy services ).
Create content with real purpose. Go deeper than virality. Tell your brand story. Mix evergreen value with timely trends, always in your unique voice. (Check out our Content Creation expertise).
Invest in design and production. Beautiful, custom content still stands out, especially on Reels and ads. Cookie-cutter templates won’t cut it. (Explore our Social Media and Branding services).
Prioritise community and conversion. Build your own spaces: email lists, SMS, loyalty programs, where real connection happens. Use UGC, testimonials, and case studies to build trust. (We help with Email Marketing and community building).
Experiment smartly. Try new formats early, learn fast, and adapt.

Don’t Forget Your Website and SEO

All these efforts need to drive traffic and conversions back to your site. A well-optimised website and strong SEO strategy are crucial to keep your brand discoverable in the new financial year and beyond. (See how our Website Design and Google Ads and SEO services can boost your digital presence).

Ready for Your Marketing Glow-Up?

If your marketing strategy looks like it was made for last year, that’s because it was. At Soqual , we’re already ahead of the game. We create future-proof strategies, scroll-stopping content, and campaigns that work across channels, designed for what’s working now and what’s coming next.

Want to stay ahead of the curve? Get in touch. Let’s make your marketing strategy work harder this financial year.

Why Your Logo Is More Than Just a Pretty Picture

Tue, 20 May 2025 02:13:48 GMT

The role of logo design in building a strong brand identity and successful marketing strategy.

In business, first impressions aren’t just important, they’re everything. And more often than not, your logo design is the first thing

people see.

Before they read your bio.

Before they check your pricing.

Before they even know what you do, they’ve already made a judgement based on how your brand looks and feels. A well-designed logo does more than look good. It sets the tone, builds trust, and creates instant recognition. It’s not just part of your brand, it is your brand, distilled.

First Impressions Matter

Picture this. You’re scrolling online and a bold, polished logo catches your eye. You pause. You’re intrigued. You instantly get a feel for the brand before you even know what they offer. That’s the power of good design. It sparks curiosity and builds credibility, and in a split second, it makes someone want to learn more. Your logo is your brand’s handshake. It introduces your business to the world, and whether it lands or not determines what happens next.

The Psychology Behind the Design

A strong brand identity doesn’t happen by accident. Every detail in your logo, from colour to typography, is an opportunity to say something meaningful. Colour psychology matters. Blues can signal trust and calm. Bold reds can signal energy and passion. Fonts and shapes also play a role. A serif font might suggest heritage and experience. A modern sans serif feels fresh and confident. It’s about creating something that not only looks great, but feels right. Your logo should reflect your brand values and resonate with your target audience and that’s where a strategic approach to logo design and branding makes all the difference.

Consistency Is Non-Negotiable

Even the most beautiful logo won’t get results if it’s used inconsistently. Your logo should be the cornerstone of your visual identity rolled out seamlessly across social media , websites , emails , packaging, signage, and more. This consistency builds trust and makes your brand instantly recognisable. When we’re building brands at Soqual , we think beyond the logo. We develop full brand systems , with colours, fonts, tone of voice, personality, look + feel and guidelines that help your brand show up confidently and consistently. You can explore more of our branding and digital marketing services here.

Real-Life Brand Glow-Ups

We’ve seen firsthand how the right logo, combined with a cohesive brand , website , and social media strategy can reposition a business entirely. Take Hunter Valley Granite & Marble. Their original branding didn’t reflect the craftsmanship or calibre of their work. It felt dated and disconnected from the premium quality they deliver.

We created a full visual identity that brought their brand into alignment, timeless, professional, and refined. From their l ogo and branding to a clean, modern website design , plus ongoing social media management that keeps their audience engaged, every touchpoint was reimagined to better reflect who they are. Now, they’re showing up with clarity, confidence, and a digital presence that truly does their work justice.

Thinking About a Rebrand, or Launching a New Business?

Your logo is more than decoration. It’s your brand’s foundation and it deserves to be built with intention. If your business has outgrown its look, or your branding no longer feels aligned, it might be time for a refresh. At Soqual , we design branding that’s clever, strategic, and made to last, from the logo to the brand story, and everything in between. Whether you're launching something new or giving your brand a glow-up, we're here to help you get it right.

Get in touch with us or explore our branding services to learn how we can help.

The PESO Model: A Smarter Way to Market Your Brand

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 22:30:10 GMT

How Paid, Earned, Shared & Owned media work together to
g row your business.

The world of media can be overwhelming, especially when you're trying to determine the best way to market your business. Enter the PESO model—a framework that categorises media into four distinct types: Paid, Earned, Shared, and Owned. Understanding how these work together can help you build a strong marketing strategy that drives brand awareness, engagement, and conversions. Let’s break it down.

Owned Media: Your Brand’s Digital Home

Owned media includes content and platforms that your brand controls—your website , blog , newsletter , and social media accounts. This is the gold standard of marketing assets—the most valuable data you can ever own. Unlike other media types, owned media gives you complete control over your message, audience insights, and long-term brand growth. It’s the foundation that fuels every other part of your marketing strategy.

Key Owned Media Assets:

Website content – Your website is often the first place potential customers visit. Blog articles , landing pages, and help articles are all part of your owned media strategy. (Read more about content strategy in our blog on Always-On vs. Campaign Marketing .)
Social media accounts – While you don’t control how content is distributed, you do control the message you put out.
Newsletters – Email marketing remains one of the best ways to engage with your audience on your terms.

Owned media is excellent for nurturing existing audiences but isn’t always the best way to reach new customers. That’s where the other parts of PESO come into play. Learn more about our content marketing services .

Paid Media: Expanding Your Reach

Paid media is any exposure you pay for—from digital ads to sponsored content. It’s a great way to get in front of new audiences quickly and drive targeted traffic to your owned media.

Types of Paid Media:

Social media ads – Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn allow you to reach highly specific audiences based on demographics and interests.
Search Engine Advertising (SEA) – Google Ads and other pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns help you capture search intent and drive conversions.

Paid media works best when used alongside owned and earned media, ensuring that your content reaches the right people at the right time. Need help with paid advertising ? See how we can help .

Shared Media: The Power of Social Engagement

Shared media encompasses all social media content about your brand that isn’t directly posted by you. This includes customer posts, reshares, user-generated content, and influencer collaborations.

Examples of Shared Media:

Customer reviews and testimonials
Social media shares and mentions
Community-driven discussions on platforms like Facebook groups or Reddit

Encourage engagement by creating shareable content—videos, infographics, and interactive posts tend to perform well. Discover how we build high-impact social strategies.

Earned Media: Your Brand in the Spotlight

Earned media is coverage that your brand receives organically, whether through PR efforts, influencer shoutouts, or customer advocacy. Unlike paid media, you don’t have control over earned media, but it’s one of the most powerful forms of credibility.

Examples of Earned Media:

Press coverage – Being featured in news articles or industry blogs.
Influencer endorsements – When influencers talk about your brand without a paid partnership.
Word-of-mouth and referrals – Organic recommendations from happy customers.

Earned media is hard to control, but you can influence it by creating high-quality, shareable content and building relationships with journalists and influencers. Want to grow your brand’s credibility? Let’s talk .

Bringing It All Together: The PESO Strategy

Each component of the PESO model is powerful on its own, but the magic happens when they work together. For example:

A blog post (like the one you're reading) (owned media) can be promoted through social ads (paid media), shared by your audience (shared media), and picked up by a news outlet (earned media).
A paid partnership with an influencer (paid media) can lead to organic shares (shared media) and PR opportunities (earned media).

Start with owned and shared media—they’re low-cost and effective. As your strategy matures, incorporate paid and earned media to amplify your reach and results.

Looking for a marketing strategy that integrates the PESO model seamlessly? See how we can help or learn more about Soqual .

'Always On' VS Campaign Marketing

abbie@soqual.com.au (Sara Charnock) — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 05:27:50 GMT

Why "Always-On" Marketing is Your Secret Ingredient, But Campaigns Are Still Essential

In marketing, two strategies often steal the spotlight: always-on marketing and campaign marketing. Both are effective, but what if we told you that always-on marketing is the secret ingredient your business is missing? Don’t worry, campaign marketing still plays a crucial role. Here’s why the steady rhythm of always-on can be key to long-term success, with campaigns providing the punch when needed.

Always-On Marketing: The Heartbeat of Your Brand

Think of always-on marketing as the heartbeat of your business. It’s consistent and ongoing, keeping your brand visible and engaging with your audience. This strategy doesn’t crave immediate attention or headlines; it’s the background music—setting the tone without stealing the show.

Why Always-On Marketing Works:

Builds Trust Over Time: By staying in your audience’s feed consistently, you build credibility. Trust takes time, and always-on marketing nurtures relationships, making your brand dependable and familiar. Learn more about how to build trust through our digital marketing services .
Keeps You Top-of-Mind: Whether it’s through social media posts, blogs, or newsletters, always-on ensures your brand is remembered—even when they’re not buying now, they’ll think of you when they’re ready. Check out our SEO services to help your content stay discoverable.
Sustainable Growth: Unlike campaigns that have a start and end, always-on marketing is an ongoing investment. It keeps your brand active without draining resources or burning out your team.

Campaign Marketing: The Sprint That Grabs Attention

Campaigns are the bright, shiny objects in your marketing toolkit. They create buzz, grab attention, and drive short-term results. Campaign marketing is about bursts of energy—whether it’s a product launch, a special promotion, or a seasonal offer.

Why Campaign Marketing Works:

Creates Urgency: Limited-time offers or exclusive events push customers to act fast. It’s all about excitement, something special, and the fear of missing out. See how our work can help drive urgency in your marketing.
Drives Action: Campaigns are designed to prompt specific actions, whether it’s making a purchase, signing up, or attending an event.
Targets Specific Goals: Campaigns allow you to focus on one goal. Whether it's a new product launch or a flash sale, campaigns help you hit targets quickly and effectively.

The Secret Sauce: Both Work Best Together

Let’s be clear: always-on and campaign marketing aren’t competitors—they’re partners. Together, they create a marketing ecosystem that works in harmony. Always-on marketing builds the foundation that allows campaigns to succeed.

So why does always-on marketing have the edge? It’s sustainable. It’s the key to long-term growth. By staying in the conversation even when you’re not actively campaigning, you foster loyalty and consistency in your audience.

While always-on builds steady momentum, campaigns are your brand’s fireworks. They add excitement, urgency, and focus when you need them most. Use campaigns to amplify your always-on efforts, but don’t rely on them to be the only strategy in play.

How to Tackle Both:

Think Long-Term with Always-On: Focus on regular, consistent content—whether it’s social media , blogs, email newsletters , or SEO . Consistency helps build familiarity and trust.

Run Campaigns with Precision: When launching a new product, service, or sale, go all in. Create urgency, but ensure it fits into your broader strategy. See our case studies to discover how campaigns have made a difference for our clients.

The Best of Both Worlds

Your business doesn’t have to choose between always-on marketing and campaigns—they both play vital roles. Think of always-on marketing as your brand’s reliable companion, and campaigns as the exciting sidekick that brings in big results when you need them. Together, they create a strategy that’s not just about quick wins but about building something sustainable and powerful over time.

Ready to embrace both? Start by ensuring your business is always present, and then turn up the volume with campaigns. Contact us to learn how we can help you build a marketing strategy that works!

Marketing Trends for 2023

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 09:12:59 GMT

As a general rule, marketing and digital content never goes out of style… if its done right!

When it comes to attracting new customers and growing your business in an ever-changing and evolving consumer landscape, it is important to stay ahead of the curve and on top of the latest marketing trends. Here are our predictions for the top marketing trends for 2023 to keep you one step ahead of your competitors!

Video Content is King

You have the power to connect with your audiences on a much deeper level, but how? The answer is found in this first marketing trend…visual storytelling!

The emergence of short form video is an undeniable trend for marketing in 2023. It provides consumers with highly entertaining, surprising, or captivating content which, in turn, drives interactivity and connection. Even the simple addition of a video to your website may increase engagement by 80%!

So if you aren’t utilising video already, here are three reasons why it should be ruling your marketing strategy in 2023:

Captures audience attention and increasing engagement

Videos are consumed more than ever before. Whether it be for YouTube, Instagram reels, Tik Tok videos, or Facebook stories, video is a versatile and engaging content format. Not only are they great storytelling tools, they also provide you with an opportunity to relate to your target audience.

Tip! Identify familiar situations that your audience might relate to create more of a connection and build engagement.

Easy to digest

Making sure your video content is easy for your audience to digest, aka “all killer, no filler”, is important. Respect their time through clear and succinct video content that encapsulates what they would like to know and what they would find useful. Through answering those questions and growing an understanding for your audience, the more your content will immediately appeal to them!

Boosts conversions and sales

Video is a great return on investment (ROI) and the logic behind this is simple—videos are a powerful tool to convince customers of the value of your products or services through showing rather than telling.

If you have a product, why not post a casual video as a way to talk people through how to use it? Or a quick before and after reel to demonstrate the benefits of using your product?

By seeing a video, your potential customers feel more confident in making a buying decision, thus directly improving your sales.

Mobile Optimisation is More Important Than Ever

Mobile phones are one of the most convenient ways to access the internet. As the number of smartphone users is constantly (and rapidly) increasing, it is crucial to ensure your website is mobile responsive in its design. As the 10th largest eCommerce market by revenue worldwide, Australia tremendously benefits from mobile phone technology, and so does your business!

What Do We Mean By Mobile Optimisation?

Mobile optimisation is the process of optimising your website to make sure it displays correctly and functions well on mobile devices. It improves the overall user experience and supports you to achieve the highest potential for generating leads, revenue, or conversions of any sort.

Gain a Competitive Edge

Users LOVE to have a smooth experience while checking out products on their smartphones. Not only does mobile optimisation create a consistent experience and help your website look visually appealing, it provides a great opportunity for website users to share your product or service on social media. There are countless opportunities for shoppers to look for the products and services they need and the brand they want, so why not ensure that you are providing your customers with the easiest user experience and remain competitive within your market?

Tap Into User Behaviours

According to Shopify , 69.4% of internet users report using shopping apps on phones and/or tablets. Looking at consumer behaviour trends in 2023, it is clear that there will be a rapid rise in the number of mobile phone users in Australia, making it more important than ever to optimise your sites for mobile users!

Increase brand awareness and customer engagement through mobile optimised advertising

Small and medium businesses that employ digital strategies (such as leveraging SEO services , Google Ads or Facebook Advertising) have a better chance of gaining leads and being recognised by their ideal audience through mobile optimisation than with desktop or physical marketing-only strategies.

If you need a helping hand implementing these marketing trends into your future business plans, our team can’t wait to work with you! As your outsourced marketing team, Soqual can help your business grow through strategically improving your marketing content and optimising your website to achieve maximum results. Get in touch with us to discuss a customised digital marketing strategy for your business in 2023.

The Fundamentals of Social Media

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 10:05:21 GMT

Social media can be a scary playing field with trends, algorithm changes, platform updates and new features appearing almost daily. How do we keep up?

In the world of social media marketing, having a set of fundamentals in place and adapting them to each new change is key. It may sound like a whole lot of work, but trust us… having a consistent set of foundations will help you from losing your mind!

When it comes to keeping your digital marketing afloat, there are five main fundamentals we live by; define your strategy, know your audience, visually represent your brand, have clear brand messaging and integrate your campaigns.

Strategy

Say it louder for the people in the back! When it comes to your social media marketing, strategy is everything! Developing a strategy for your social media can be time consuming and overwhelming, but it sure pays off. Here’s why we recommend (no, insist!) you have a digital marketing strategy…

Direction – A strategy gives you clear direction for the weeks, months or even years ahead. Strategy can help you work out a targeted approach to achieving your goals.

Measurement – Being able to analyse your data allows you to measure the progress you’ve made towards your goals. It can also help you identify areas that are struggling, or re-allocate your budget throughout the campaign to areas that would be more beneficial for your business. Using a combination of analytics and conversion results allows you to consistently adjust your approach and make necessary corrections before it’s too late.

Consistency – A strategy can help you keep on track with your organic and paid marketing efforts. Planning and scheduling your campaigns in advance will help you build your online presence, grow your audience and get those sales flowing!

Defining Your Strategy

Defining your strategy is as simple as following some easy steps…

State your mission/vision
Set some measurable goals
Identify your target market and their buyer personas
Describe your content strategies; the type of content, how much of it, the channels you will distribute it on and whether you will adopt paid advertising
Identify and allocate your budget
Identify your competitors; What are they doing? What aren’t they doing? What’s working? What isn’t?
Outline the people who will help you achieve different aspects of your plan
Set a calendar of key events
Set a plan for the implementation of your marketing

Know Your Audience

One of our most invaluable tips for social media marketing is knowing your audience! After all, how can you market to someone if you don’t know who they are?

When defining your audience, we recommend starting with your current clients. Who are they? What platforms are they using? What are their demographics? What trends are they responding to (if any)? By asking yourself these questions, you will be given a clear idea of the people who are interested in your brand, and most likely to purchase from you.

From this, you can identify your ideal client or customer, developing a specific audience persona for each target market. Then when you are writing your social media content, write with these personas in mind. Ask yourself questions like “how would this person benefit from my service?”, “how can my product solve their problem?” or “how would this person like to be spoken to?”. Asking these questions and actively thinking about your audience’s wants, needs and challenges will result in relevant, high-quality content that converts!

The real key to connecting with your audience is knowing them inside-out! Trust us, you will reap the rewards.

Visually Represent Your Brand

Representing your brand means more than just words and a logo. When approaching your branding on social media, you need to be focusing on ensuring that every single one of your images, posts, graphics and stories are telling the world “Hello! This is me!”. Visual storytelling plays a huge part in any social media strategy, so here’s how it’s done…

Use Branded Graphics

Your social media graphics should be showcasing your complete brand kit, including colours, imagery and fonts (as well as your logo). Including these aspects throughout your posts will improve brand recognition, consistency and recall, with customers knowing the content is yours before they even read a word!

Elevate Your Brand With High-Quality Imagery

That’s right, sometimes an iPhone image taken by a family member just… doesn’t… cut it. There is a time and place for iPhone photography, but the benefits of high quality, professional imagery are second to none! Set yourself up with a collection of professional images of yourself, your team, your products or your services. These images can be used across your social media platforms, website, email marketing and so much more. Not only will they take your marketing to the next level, they will also elevate your professionalism and boost trust in your brand.

Seems daunting? It doesn’t have to be! Choose a photographer, decide on a location, grab the team and get snapping. We find creating a mood board prior to the shoot really helps with your vision and direction on the day.

Incorporate Video Content to Show Your Brand Personality

Did you know that viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to a small 10% when reading it in text? ( Forbes ). You may have noticed that video content has been on the rise in 2022, with more and more brands opting to incorporate video into their social media strategy.

Engaging, moving visuals, reels and videos are favoured by both viewers and the algorithm alike. So now is the time to start capturing and utilising video content to get your brand noticed!

Here are some different ways you can incorporate video into your strategy:

Meet the team videos
Behind the scenes shots (people love to see what goes on beyond the social media images!)
Video blogs or product/service updates
Client testimonial videos
Turn your images into a video slideshow (this is one of our favourite algorithm hacks!)
Informational videos on your product or service
Answer your FAQ’s

Brand Messaging

Your brand messaging is SO important in letting your customers know exactly who you are! And by brand messaging, we’re not just talking about social media captions. Brand messaging is the entire way you communicate your values, your offering, your personality and your voice.

Setting Your Tone

Your brand messaging shouldn’t be limited to one platform alone, it includes a mixture of verbal and non-verbal messages across your website, social media, EDM’s, videography, you name it!

Start by setting out your mission statement, your values, your tone of voice and language. From here, you will be able to refer back to this in every form of communication your business is involved in, setting the foundation for consistent messaging and a maintained brand personality.

Content Pillars

The next step? Set your content pillars! A content pillar is a topic or theme that is relevant to your audience. You can have multiple pillars for a range of different topics you regularly cover in your day-to-day content. For example, some of ours would be digital marketing tips, campaigns, educational posts, testimonials and BTS of our business. Content pillars are a great way of organising your content and making sure it fits the core categories your audience are interested in, as well as your core values.

An easy way to think of content pillars is picturing them as the foundations and key messages that hold up your communication. Take a look at your social media platforms and start categorising your posts into different content groups. From here, you can see which categories are most engaged with and in turn, find out some helpful things for your content moving forward!

Integrate Your Campaigns

An integrated marketing campaign is a campaign that adopts a mixture of platforms to showcase your business. These can involve methods such as email marketing, social media and Google Ads (there are so many platforms to us) and they are a MUST when it comes to converting your viewers into customers.

Having a consistent presence and messaging across multiple marketing platforms can work wonders in creating brand awareness for your business. Sounds daunting? It can actually be quite simple! Try to think of ways you can repurpose your social media content and adapt it to suit each marketing channel.

If you need a helping hand, our team can’t wait to work with you! Your outsourced marketing team, Soqual can help elevate your brand identity and improve your presence online.

Top Tips for Writing Killer Copy

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 09:55:53 GMT

There’s no denying that the digital world is more competitive than ever.

Whether you’re selling a product, promoting your services or simply trying to share your expertise online, standing out from your competitors and having a voice is becoming increasingly more challenging.

But it’s not impossible!

One of the best ways to stand out online is to nail your copy. Between social media posts, website blogs or paid advertising, words are all around us! Here are our top five tips for writing killer copy and being heard online.

Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is one of the most important considerations when writing copy for your brand or industry.

Knowledge around the demographic of your audience, as well as their interests and needs allows you the opportunity to be relatable. Use language that shows your audience you understand them; that you have the answers to their questions and you’re a fantastic source of information.

Be sure to also use language that doesn’t confuse your audience! Adding fancy words and industry jargon into your captions and blogs can sometimes make a reader feel like they are out of their depth and as such, they may stop reading.

Be Specific

As a writer, it can sometimes be a little too easy to branch out on tangents and lose sight of your initial message. This is because you’re passionate and have a lot to say – and that’s great! The issue this can cause however, is that you increase the potential to lose your audience.

Our advice? Share the main focus of your message at the beginning. Let your reader know what they will gain if they continue reading. Throughout your entire written piece, be sure to stick to key points and reference your main message, whether that be through headings, dot points or categorised sections.

If you find you have more to say on a broad level, use that as an opportunity to create additional content for your brand in separate posts or on another platform.

Keep It Succinct

The attention span of online consumers has dropped yet again, and is sitting around 8 seconds. What this means for copywriters is that it’s more important than ever to keep your copy succinct! This doesn’t mean you can’t write lengthy pieces of copy. It just means that your copy needs to be easy-to-read.

Our biggest tip on creating succinct copy is to keep your sentences short and to the point, reducing unnecessary ‘fluff’ words wherever you can.

Write Naturally

Writing copy in a way that feels natural to you can provide a number of benefits for your business. If copywriting is an integral part of your business model, keeping things natural is an organic way of creating and maintaining your brand’s tone of voice (the way you want your brand to communicate with your audience).

You will also find that writing naturally makes the whole process easier and more enjoyable for you! What’s more? Using your own voice to share your expertise, sell your products or promote your services will naturally attract the right audience and assist you in building relationships online.

Proofread Everything!

Our last tip for writing killer copy is to make sure you, or your writers proofread everything. Typos, grammatical errors and unfinished sentences are a sure-fire way to tarnish your brand’s reputation. Taking an extra five minutes (or half an hour – whatever you need!) to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s is a worthwhile and small investment of your time.

Over time, your ability to write killer copy for your brand will improve, so keep going! Hopefully you can take some of these tips and implement them into your writing process to assist you in hitting your target audience and having your voice heard online.

Of course, the Soqual team is always here to support you with your creative writing needs. To discuss copywriting for your brand, get in touch with our team today.

Facebook and Instagram Ads in 2021

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 03:07:38 GMT

In our line of business, it’s our job to unravel the confusion that can sometimes surround social media marketing.

One of the areas that causes the most uncertainty for people is Facebook and Instagram advertising. The first thing to understand is that Facebook advertising IS Instagram advertising! When Facebook took over Instagram, the platforms became linked through Facebook Business Manager and you can only advertise on Instagram through the Facebook portal.

So, it’s essential to have a Facebook page and Facebook Business Manager as well as an Advertising Account as a starting point. After all, social media marketing is now a core component of the marketing strategy for any business that wishes to engage its consumers and create meaningful customer relations to drive sales and loyalty.

Let's look at the stats...

Facebook is still the most widely used platform of all with 2.45 billion active monthly users.

70% of all adults are Facebook users
74% of high-income earners have a Facebook account – even more than LinkedIn
1.62 billion users visit Facebook daily
More than 40% of active Facebook users follow brand pages for product updates
Facebook ads influence online shopping decisions for 25% of active users every day
Facebook has the highest referral to e-commerce sites at 80.4% compared to Instagram’s 10.7%

Of course, which platform you use the most depends on your target audience and your product or service. Instagram has a huge Millennial and Gen Z following, so if your product or service appeals to a younger demographic, it has distinct advantages over Facebook. Additionally, as it is a highly visual medium, it traditionally works best with products that depend on visuals such as fashion, beauty, food, design, etc.

Instagram is the king of all social media platforms when it comes to social engagement.

Engagement rates of branded posts in Instagram are 4.3% compared to Facebook’s 0.15%
Over 1 billion people use Instagram every month
In 2019, more than 1/3rd of Instagram users made an online purchase using their phones with their average spend being 15.4% greater than Facebook’s
80% of Instagram users follow at least one business with 60% seeking out new products
Instagram users spend an average of 30 minutes every day on the platform
90% of Instagram users follow a business

Why you should use Facebook Advertising

The primary benefit of using Facebook advertising is the ability to target and refine your audience for a reasonably low investment, and if done correctly, is perfect for small businesses. It is not enough to establish your social media profiles and regularly post engaging content – that organic content will only get you so far. To truly grow your base, you need to find and engage with new audiences and Facebook advertising can help you do that.

Boosting vs. Advertising

Don’t make the common mistake of thinking that boosted posts are the same as advertising. Boosts have limited targeting options. You can’t target people based on behaviours or multiple matched interests and you can’t optimise your boosts based on what your objectives are – more page likes, post engagements, website clicks etc. You also can’t test your advertising when you’re boosting. Boosts are for widening the reach of your post but you have little control over how it’s done.

Benefits of Facebook Advertising

Business Objectives – you can get super specific with your business goals and create ads that can help you reach these goals.

Targeting – you can refine your audience by demographics and multiple matched interests to home in on your customer base.

Testing – one of the biggest advantages of Facebook advertising. Every advertisement should be tested to be certain that you’re spending your money in a way that will bring the best ROI possible. In Facebook Business Manager you can test audiences, the creative, the call to action, the headline, long or short copy, the graphic – just about any aspect of the ad and its delivery.

Control – advertising through Facebook Business Manager gives you control over your campaigns with the ability to continually optimise and control placements.

Need Help?

Facebook run a Facebook Blueprint course that’s free, and teaches you how to use your Business Manager, but if that sounds like a step too far for you, then we can help! If you’re keen to DIY your social media, we can assist with a one-on-one meeting to give you a few tips and pointers specific to your business. In addition, several times a year, we run social media training courses – sign up for our regular newsletter so that you know when the next one is running.

Finally, if you simply want to hand it over for an expert to take care of it, we can help with that too. Give us a call to discuss where you’re at. We’re happy to help!

We are Soqual!

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 08:19:08 GMT

Today, I’m so excited to announce our new company name, Soqual, and what it means for us as an agency moving forward.

As social media platforms have changed, our agency and services have evolved right along with them. We’ve built our new brand identity to reflect this, and this is why we chose our new name to be Soqual. “Aligning quality businesses with quality social media.” We value you – our community, and want to show our appreciation for being part of the journey with us so far.

But firstly, I’d like to mention our continuing commitment to our clients’ success and want to thank you for your partnership and loyalty during these trying times as we navigate Covid-19. These past few weeks have seen a huge amount of change, and we’re feeling it right along with you.

It may seem a weird time to be launching our new business name. Still, we want to show you, our community that it’s okay to take risks, to keep moving forward and try something new when things feel like they’re falling apart. We champion authenticity and creativity because it’s what helps us, and our clients, stand out. We hope to inspire everyone to be bolder and take risks in their branding efforts as their businesses evolve over the next few months.

As many of you know, So Social Online started back in 2015. Social media marketing was my side hustle to my full-time job in fashion management. I’d always had a keen eye for style and wanted to explore more of my creativity in the digital space. From the moment, I got my first opportunity to work with clients, I was hooked. I knew I had found my passion and So Social Online was born.

I spent the first year educating myself on everything social media marketing. I learnt how to represent brands visually in the ever-changing digital landscape. Working in an industry that is ever-changing, staying educated and up to date is still such a crucial part of my job. I would go as far as to say I am a Social Media Marketing nerd. Leadership skills came into play when I hired my first social media strategist, Abbie, who is still with us today. Fast forward to 2020, and we have grown to a team of 6.

I can’t wait to see where the next 5 years takes us as an agency and a business! Thanks for being part of the journey so far!

Nic xxx

soqual

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What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: The FY25/26 Marketing Pivot

The Shifts Every Business Needs to Know for the New Financial Year

Why Your Logo Is More Than Just a Pretty Picture

The role of logo design in building a strong brand identity and successful marketing strategy.

The PESO Model: A Smarter Way to Market Your Brand

How Paid, Earned, Shared & Owned media work together to
g row your business.

'Always On' VS Campaign Marketing

Why "Always-On" Marketing is Your Secret Ingredient, But Campaigns Are Still Essential

Marketing Trends for 2023

As a general rule, marketing and digital content never goes out of style… if its done right!

The Fundamentals of Social Media

Social media can be a scary playing field with trends, algorithm changes, platform updates and new features appearing almost daily. How do we keep up?

Top Tips for Writing Killer Copy

There’s no denying that the digital world is more competitive than ever.

Facebook and Instagram Ads in 2021

In our line of business, it’s our job to unravel the confusion that can sometimes surround social media marketing.

We are Soqual!

Today, I’m so excited to announce our new company name, Soqual, and what it means for us as an agency moving forward.

"I can’t wait to see where the next 5 years takes us as an agency and a business! Thanks for being part of the journey so far!"

- Nicole Minter

soqual

Planning Your Social Strategy for 2026

What to Start Doing Now

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: The FY25/26 Marketing Pivot

The Shifts Every Business Needs to Know for the New Financial Year

Why Your Logo Is More Than Just a Pretty Picture

The role of logo design in building a strong brand identity and successful marketing strategy.

The PESO Model: A Smarter Way to Market Your Brand

How Paid, Earned, Shared & Owned media work together to g row your business.

'Always On' VS Campaign Marketing

Why "Always-On" Marketing is Your Secret Ingredient, But Campaigns Are Still Essential

Marketing Trends for 2023

As a general rule, marketing and digital content never goes out of style… if its done right!

The Fundamentals of Social Media

Social media can be a scary playing field with trends, algorithm changes, platform updates and new features appearing almost daily. How do we keep up?

Top Tips for Writing Killer Copy

There’s no denying that the digital world is more competitive than ever.

Facebook and Instagram Ads in 2021

In our line of business, it’s our job to unravel the confusion that can sometimes surround social media marketing.

We are Soqual!

Today, I’m so excited to announce our new company name, Soqual, and what it means for us as an agency moving forward.

"I can’t wait to see where the next 5 years takes us as an agency and a business! Thanks for being part of the journey so far!"

- Nicole Minter

How Paid, Earned, Shared & Owned media work together to
g row your business.