Category: Blog

Categories
Blog Industry Trends Noisy Trumpet Social Media

Micro-Influencers Take Over The Marketing World

Influencer campaigns have been trending for years in the marketing world. Recently, over 50% of marketers who invest in influencer marketing prefer to work with micro-influencers. Despite their relatively small audience size, studies have shown that micro-influencers consistently generate higher levels of engagement and traffic across various platforms compared to a majority of highly followed influencers. This could be attributed to the fact that although they are a public figure, they offer a more relatable connection with their followers.

It can be a challenge deciding what kind of influencer is best to partner with for your business which is why we’ve come up with a few key reasons micro-influencers could be the right fit for your marketing strategy.

What is a Micro-Influencer?

A micro-influencer has an active social presence and loyal following somewhere between 1,000-100,000 followers. Their role in the influencer world is that of a public figure and a smaller-scale, relatable individual that peak’s their audiences’ interest. Micro-influencers tend to be individuals who decide to make a living out of brand deals and digital promotion. Typically, their content concentrates on a specific topic, passion, or niche, positioning them as experts in their respective fields. About 47% of all creators are micro-influencers and generate up to 60% more engagement than macro-influencers. Whether a tech blogger or a traveling foodie, micro-influencers can tap into any industry and make a living out of it.

How Micro-Influencers Benefit You

Cost Effectiveness 

Because micro-influencers have a smaller following and overall audience reach on their social platforms, they charge less than a celebrity or macro-influencer. This not only saves money, but also allows your brand to hire several micro-influencers with their own unique following to showcase across multiple audiences what you have to offer. Working with multiple creators who have unique audiences ultimately helps to expand the company/brand’s reach.

Authenticity and Passion for Your Brand

Prominent influencers regularly promote a variety of brands and products – it’s difficult to trust whether their opinions are true. Micro-influencers tend to be more selective in their brand deals depending on their niche and what their tight-knit audience would be interested in. Micro-influencers have a reputation for being more authentic than larger-scale influencers. This is partly because they are engaged and present themselves as genuine people on social media. Because of their high engagement rate with followers, they tend to trust micro-influencers more in terms of recommendations and promotions.

Niche market

Most micro-influencers represent a niche market and are experts in their field. For example, followers may go to a micro-influencer for their expertise in thrift and vintage finds. A brand such as ThreadUp, an online thrift store, could then hire a micro-influencer to promote their line of clothing, knowing the influencer’s audience will trust their content related to this topic

This gives brands a higher chance of targeting the right audience since most likely their followers have a shared interest.

More consistent engagement rate

Despite what some may think, micro-influencers experience some of the highest engagement rates compared to other types of influencers out there. Although they are public figures on social media, they are also perceived as regular people. Unlike celebrities and mega-influencers, micro-influencers have more time to devote to responding to their followers and results in a consistent engagement rate.

Conclusion 

Overall, micro-influencers have proven to be a popular choice among marketers. As influencer marketing continues to grow and evolve, micro-influencers are expected to remain a crucial part of successful digital marketing strategies. If you have any questions or want to learn more about micro-influencers and the benefit they can provide for your business, contact us today and our team will be happy to assist.

Categories
Blog Industry Trends Web

Modern WordPress Development & The Benefit to our Clients

Our agency routinely manages and builds WordPress websites with the latest developer tools and platforms in mind. We recognize the challenges developers and designers face, which is why we aim to create websites that are both contemporary and user-friendly. Many WordPress themes remain out-of-date, with some being more than a decade old. These versions cannot deliver the functionality we strive to provide our clients and is why our team went in search of the perfect solution – a user-friendly interface with a modern appearance.

WordPress Can Be A Challenge for Developers

We tested numerous new methods to enhance the overall experience for the client, user, and developer. We experimented with developing custom themes using PHP and used the headless approach with Gatsby, but these methods did not fulfill our requirements. We faced several pain points like poor performance, long build times, difficulties previewing content, and compatibility issues with tools like E-Commerce and CRMs.

Our Solution

Our research found that the Faust JS – Headless WordPress Framework works best for both developers and publishers. This structure allows WordPress to act as the same CMS (Content Management System) the client is familiar with and gives the front-end (what a user sees) a modern appearance. This was the most effective way to use a Next JS application without sacrificing the benefits of the WordPress software.

The Benefits

Unmatched Website Performance and Increased Conversions. Generally, a web page should load as quickly as possible. According to skilled.co, 47% of customers expect a webpage to load in 2 seconds or less, and AI healthcare software company mPulse Mobile found that pages that loaded in 2.4 seconds had a 1.9% conversion rate. At 3.3 seconds, the conversion rate was 1.5%. At 4.2 seconds, the conversion rate was less than 1%, and at 5.7+ seconds, the conversion rate was 0.6%.

Improved Developer Experience. Developer preview links allow our development team to work on features and bugs independently of the production code base. This grants clients access to preview functionality, test the application, and make content revisions without updating the production website. These modern tools allow our development team to deliver changes faster and with higher build quality.

Content Edits Made Easy. The CMS that clients know and love remains unchanged in regard to content editing, with lessened dependence on third-party plugins for functionality. Plug-ins on the WordPress backend are decoupled from front-end code, allowing websites to be resilient when plugins are outdated, improving the user experience.

 

 

The Results Speak for Themselves.

The following sites were built with our new tech stack and shared code.

With this new formula, it will improve site load time, so you’ll never sacrifice the build quality or overall performance.

 

 

Some Things to Remember About WordPress Development

WordPress Development is a challenging task. At Noisy Trumpet, our development team is well-versed in the latest tools and technologies to provide you with a customized solution. We help clients select suitable CMS, implement custom features, and ensure your website meets industry standards for performance and security. Additionally, we offer ongoing support and maintenance to keep our clients’ websites up-to-date and running smoothly.

Your website is in good hands, working with our team of professionals! Contact us today to learn how our team can help your business stand out online.

Categories
Blog

2023 YourSA Readers’ Choice Awards Winners

Noisy Trumpet is excited to announce that the following clients have been voted the best of the best in the 2023 SA Express News YourSA Reader’s Choice Awards!

The PM Group & Noisy Trumpet Client Winners

  • BBQ – Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q –  WINNER!
  • Art Gallery – San Antonio Museum of Art – 2nd Place!
  • Kids and Education – Preschool/Daycare – Brighton Center – 2nd Place!
  • People and Places – Local Tourist Attraction – San Antonio Botanical Garden – 3rd Place!
  • People and Places – Museum – San Antonio Museum of Art – 3rd Place!
  • Professional Services and Finance – Credit Union – Generations Federal Credit Union – 2nd Place!
  • Professional Services and Finance – Financial Planning/Investment Service – Generations Investment Group – 2nd Place!
  • Professional Services and Finance – Insurance Agency – Generations Insurance Services – 2nd Place!
  • Professional Services and Finance – Investment Services – Generations Investment Group – WINNER!
  • Professional Services and Finance – Law Firm – Thomas J. Henry – 3rd Place!
  • Services – Heating & A/C Service – Beyer Air Conditioning and Heating – The Beyer Boys – 2nd Place!
  • Services – Plumber – Beyer Plumbing Co. –  WINNER!
  • Sports – Gun Club – Mission Ridge Range & Academy – 3rd Place!
Categories
Blog Public Relations

The Importance of Diversity in Public Relations

On the latest podcast episode of “Be Heard”, our Public Relations Account Executive, Candice Avila-Garcia, speaks with acclaimed Latina author and PR veteran, Melissa Vela-Williamson, to discuss the importance of diversity in the public relations industry.

Melissa’s journey working in PR wasn’t a straight path. While attending St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, she studied creative writing and photography. During her senior year of college, she discovered PR and all it had to offer. After celebrating two decades of working in PR, she wants to share her story and inspire those starting out in the industry.

In Melissa’s new book, “Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Should Know”, she breaks down what public relations is, how diversity can positively impact public relations, and the tools you need to be successful in your role.

Being of Mexican-American heritage, Melissa shares a strong connection to her Hispanic community and is passionate about showing up for her people in any way she can. This was the sole purpose behind her new book; She wanted to bring awareness to the industry and provide invaluable knowledge for those who are interested in pursuing this career.

Listen to our conversation with Melissa and explore our other episodes today.

Categories
Advertising Blog Industry Trends

Top 3 Advertising Trends Spotted in 2023 Super Bowl Ads

The Super Bowl is not only the biggest game in American football, but it’s also one of the biggest events for advertisers to showcase their latest products and services to a massive audience. Each year, brands compete to create the most memorable and talked-about commercials, or Super Bowl ad of the night, and Super Bowl 2023 was no exception. This year, we saw a wide range of ads that were transparent in their intentions, brands teaming up to create cooperative ads, and the ever-popular throwbacks. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the trends that emerged from this year’s Super Bowl commercials and what they tell us about the state of advertising in 2023.

 

  • Brand Transparency

One of the notable trends in this year’s Super Bowl ads was transparency. Many companies, such as T-Mobile and Pepsi, made a conscious effort to let their viewers know that their intention was to sell to them. This approach of being upfront about their motives conveyed a sense of trust and honesty, letting the audience know that the companies were not trying to trick or deceive them in any way. This shift towards transparency in advertising was a fresh and intriguing development, showing a departure from the traditional tactics of trying to sneakily persuade consumers to buy their products. The trend towards transparency in advertising appeals to a growing desire among consumers for more honesty and authenticity in advertising.

 

  • Cooperative Advertising

Another popular strategy in this year’s Super Bowl commercials was cooperative advertising, a strategy in which multiple brands work together to form a mutually beneficial promotion. For example, Netflix collaborated with both General Motors and Michelob ULTRA for separate ads, and Molson Coors joined forces with DraftKings. When the right partners come together, the results can be highly effective, as the combined resources and brand recognition of the companies involved can help to amplify the impact of the commercial. Not only can it help to reduce costs, but it also allows brands to tap into each other’s customer base and reach new markets. This trend towards co-advertising is a smart move for brands looking to maximize the return on their advertising investment and create a more memorable ad campaign that resonates with their target audience.

 

  • Movie and TV Show Throwbacks

The trend of recreating beloved movies and TV shows has been a popular theme in recent years’ Super Bowl advertisements. This trend continues to captivate audiences and evoke a sense of nostalgia, making them feel happy with reminders of simpler times. This year, we saw the return of popular classics such as “Clueless” and “Grease,” with Rakuten and T-Mobile respectively recreating iconic scenes and songs from these movies. The use of these well-known characters and scenes added a layer of humor and familiarity to the ads, making them stand out among the rest. The trend of recreating iconic movies and TV shows in advertisements shows that while advertising trends may change, the timeless appeal of nostalgia remains constant.

 

In conclusion, the 2023 Super Bowl advertisements were proof of the ever-evolving world of the advertising industry. While some trends, such as brand transparency and cooperative advertising, were new, others, such as nostalgia, remain just as prevalent as in previous years. These trends reflect the changing landscape of advertising and the evolving needs of consumers, as well as the timeless appeals that remain popular year after year. Look back on our 5 trends to embrace in 2023 and see how they align with the Super Bows Ads this year!

What was your favorite Super Bowl ad this year?

As a company that is always at the forefront of digital marketing trends, Noisy Trumpet was excited to see these developments. If you or your business needs help navigating digital media, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

Categories
Blog

2023 YourSA Readers’ Choice Awards

A big congratulations to the following Noisy Trumpet clients who have made it to the final voting round in the San Antonio Express News YourSA Readers’ Choice Awards! Log on to MySA.com/YourSA and vote daily for your favorites! Deadline for voting is midnight on February 15th, 2023.

The PM Group & Noisy Trumpet Client Finalists

Remember, you can vote once a day up until February 15th – ensure your favorites make it to the top 3!

Categories
Blog Industry Trends Web

Do You Need a Campaign Landing Page?

A campaign landing page is a standalone web page created specifically for the purpose of a marketing or advertising campaign. It is designed to keep the visitor’s attention and drive them to take a specific action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form for more information. 

What’s the difference between a campaign landing page and using my homepage?

Unlike a homepage, which is intended to provide an overview of your company or organization to all your site’s visitors, a campaign landing page is intended only for the target audience of your marketing or advertising campaign. 

Why should you use a campaign landing page?

  1.   To provide a clear call to action: The primary purpose of a landing page is to convert visitors into leads or customers. An effective landing page will have a clear and compelling call to action, such as “Sign up for our newsletter” or “Buy now”.
  2.     To capture leads: A campaign landing page can be used to capture the contact information of visitors who are interested in your product or service. This can be done through a form on the page, which allows you to add the lead to your email list or contact database.
  3.     To track the effectiveness of your campaign: a campaign landing page allows you to track the success of your marketing efforts. By analyzing the traffic and conversion rates of your landing page, you can determine which campaigns are most successful and allocate your resources accordingly. 
  4.     To establish credibility: a landing page gives you the opportunity to showcase your product or service and build credibility with your target audience. By including customer testimonials, detailed product descriptions, and trust badges, you can establish trust and credibility for your visitors. 
  5. To expand Google SEO Advantages: landing pages provide a natural boost for on-page SEO as well as overall site SEO. We typically see a 1 + 1 = 3 effect where the paid search term and the organic landing page help boost the overall visibility of the target message.

What are some of the best practices for a landing page?

Take a look at this landing page our team developed for San Antonio Botanical Gardens for a great example of an engaging landing page that tells a story while also providing a clear call-to-action above the fold.  The call-to-action is repeated as the visitor moves further down the page, reinforcing the action you want the visitor to take. Finally, the imagery and messaging on this page is also used on other pieces of marketing such as direct mail, email and social media to create a cohesive cross-channel campaign.

Categories
Blog Industry Trends

A Look Forward: Five Marketing Trends to Embrace in 2023

As we enter 2023, it’s important for marketers to stay up-to-date on the latest trends to effectively reach and engage with their audiences. Innovation is a core value at Noisy Trumpet and we pride ourselves in staying on top of trends, sharing expertise, and being receptive to new advances. Here are some of the top marketing trends to watch this year:

Short-Form Videos 

Video is expected to continue its dominance as a digital marketing medium with more businesses leveraging platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, to reach their audience. Short-form videos are particularly successful as they enable more content to be produced in less time and can get their point across without requiring a long attention span.

Marketers are surely taking notice of the sky-rocketing impact short-form videos are making as they have rapidly begun to implement them into their strategy. According to Brightcove, studies prove that businesses who are using them have had 1200% more engagement on social media and a 41% increase in website traffic than those that don’t.

Influencer Marketing 

It’s no secret that influencer marketing is on the rise as it has expanded to a powerful $16.4 billion dollar industry in 2022, and it won’t stop there. Collaboration between brands and influencers drives tremendous growth and results due to their extensive following and the trust they have built within their community that generates more response to content they put out for the brand. 

In the coming year, it is expected that micro-influencers will become increasingly popular as well. Because micro-influencers have a smaller following than those who are more large-scale, it is more cost-effective and will produce greater impact per impression made. Overall, influencer marketing is an incredibly effective strategy for reaching a specific audience, heightening brand awareness, and attracting customers.

User Generated Content (UGC)

One trend we expect to see continue to grow is the use of user-generated content in marketing campaigns. User-generated content, or UGC, is a type of content created and shared by consumers, rather than being produced by a brand or business. This can include things like social media posts, reviews, blog posts, and more.

This is highly effective because it is authentic and credible. Consumers trust other consumers more than they trust brands, so content creation that comes from real people is more likely to be believed and trusted. UGC helps spread the message of a brand or business to a wider audience, without the need for expensive advertising. This can be especially powerful for small businesses that may not have the resources to create large-scale marketing campaigns. 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are set to transform the way marketers work. These technologies can be used for tasks such as analyzing customer data, predicting customer behavior, website development and automating marketing processes. Additionally, by evaluating the efficacy of various marketing channels, such as email campaigns, social media ads, or search engine ads, AI and ML can be utilized to optimize marketing efforts.

They are becoming increasingly important in the marketing field due to their ability to help organizations evaluate vast amounts of data and make more informed conclusions about their marketing strategies.

Decrease in Twitter Usage

Twitter has long been a force for marketing with its capacity to promote products and services, engage with customers, and share updates for businesses on a wide scale. However, this has drastically changed ever since magnate and investor, Elon Musk, purchased Twitter on October 27, 2022. 

Upon eliminating its Trust and Safety Council, unbanning high-profile extremist accounts, and Musk putting out inappropriate jokes and remarks himself, Twitter has lost a substantial number of advertisers and revenue. Businesses are now questioning their brand’s safety on the platform and don’t want to associate with the behavior and events taking place. Considering this, we can certainly expect to see a decline in the use of Twitter for marketing, and social media management in general. 

If you’re unsure how to navigate the rapidly evolving social media environment, our team can assist you in determining which channels are best for your industry.

Overall, 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting year for marketers, with new technologies and strategies constantly emerging. By staying on top of the latest trends, businesses can ensure they’re positioned to succeed in an increasingly competitive landscape. If your company has any questions regarding the tactics discussed, please reach out and our team will be happy to assist!

Categories
Blog Public Relations

The Value of One Earned Media Impression

Earned media public relations campaigns are measured by the number of impressions made over the course of the campaign window. More impressions mean more people reached and better results generated for the client. The value of one single impression doesn’t sound like much …until you hear this story.

Noisy Trumpet has the privilege of representing JDRF in San Antonio and Austin. JDRF is the leading nonprofit spearheading awareness, advocacy, and research for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), an incurable and unpreventable autoimmune disease often affecting children. The highs and lows of this disease wreak havoc on families and the person living with T1D; T1D can be fatal.

In early November, JDRF held their annual OneWalk at Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio. Thousands of people attended the walk to show support for those living with T1D. Leading up to the event, the Noisy Trumpet PR team worked diligently to secure earned media coverage to raise awareness of the event, including a live news shot the morning of the walk on KSAT(ABC).

An amazing and inspiring story emerged from that on-site news story.

 

At OneWalk, a participant approached Amanda Mounts, Executive Director of the San Antonio Chapter of JDRF, and shared that she was currently fostering a child with T1D. The child had been moved from home to home because caregivers did not know how to properly care for him.

On November 6, the morning of OneWalk, the woman was watching the news and saw KSAT’s live shot of the event. She was immediately inspired to gather her family and attend the walk that day. There, she was able to engage with others in the T1D community and find resources for her foster child. She was met with open arms, resources, and inspiration. As she chatted with Amanda that morning, she remarked that she ‘now knows what to do to care for her foster child’ thanks to JDRF.

Interestingly, foster children with T1D are often moved around from home to home, even to medical facilities like nursing homes because caregivers do not know how to care for diabetic children whose ups and downs affect quality of life for the whole family. Re-engaging with the foster community to share support and resources is now a renewed focus for JDRF in San Antonio.

While OneWalk-San Antonio garnered over 4.5 million impressions in media coverage, one impression is all it took to change and save a life!

If you’d like to see how media coverage can support your organization’s mission, please contact us today to learn more!

Categories
Blog Noisy Trumpet

From the Office of the President: Year End Update

As 2023 quickly approaches, I am reflecting on the amazing year that’s closing. Both The PM Group and Noisy Trumpet Digital & PR had terrific, record-setting years in terms of growth and revenue. We expanded our teams to accommodate this rapid growth and have worked hard to keep our teams engaged.

On The PM Group side, our clients’ businesses organically grew, with expansion into new markets and via competitive acquisition. Our Noisy Trumpet business grew through new client acquisition in multiple verticals. Marketing and advertising services have been exceptionally in demand during these uncertain economic times. From digital advertising to public relations, creative design and media driving promotions, all services increased this year. Results matter and businesses trust marketing agencies that deliver results.

Our teams have been a critical part of our success this year. This week we rewarded them with over $200,000 in bonuses. Those bonuses were on top of the $175,000 in bonuses paid during the year. In total, over $375,000 in bonuses were paid to our employees in 2022 for their hard work. We plan to continue our bonus programs in 2023. Great clients and employees are a blessing. I am so thankful for both.

With numerous new business proposals in the works for 2023, we don’t plan to slow down!

If your business is looking for marketing innovation, new creative ideas, or advertising agency support, we’d love to chat about the difference we can make in your business.