Blog

What is the “Google Effect”? Also known as digital amnesia, the Google effect has influenced the way we choose to store and remember information. We no longer feel the need to retain information we believe will be easily accessible online, instead all we need to remember is the website URL.    Ask yourself this: When […]

There is an estimated 75.4 million people between the ages of 18 and 34, who make up the millennial demographic. Their numbers are part of the reason that brands have targeted then and acknowledged their buying power. What does it take to incite excitement among millennials over a product or service? Lifestyle Marketing: Building a […]

Over the past few years South Africa has adopted many trends and stores from the USA, from fashion to Burger King & McDonalds, Idols and some even going as far as adopting an American accent. The biggest craze we have adopted so far has to be Black Friday, from the stampedes to fights over products […]

Instagram continues to be one of the largest and fastest-growing social media platforms, with boundless opportunity to build a brand, develop relationships with consumers, gain exposure and make sales. It then becomes imperative to understand the platform in order to navigate and get most out of the platform. The truth is, it takes time and […]

What is user-generated content? User-generated content is any form of content such as images, text, video, testimonials, tweets, blog posts, and everything in between, and, is the act of users promoting a brand rather than the brand itself. Shortly put, user-generated content is basically like free advertising! It’s one of the best ways to grow […]

‘Who runs the world? Girls! ‘Beyoncé Knowles. Let’s elaborate on that statement… Millennial women are taking over the world… we now have high powered careers, cater for a larger percentage of consumer purchases and we have a strong brand influence amongst our friends and family. We don’t want to be told what to buy, we […]

The challenge for many new businesses is to stay top of mind or at least be considered in the decision making process. One way to achieve this is through reinforcement or increased visibility to help customers recognize your business and remember it for future purchases. These 5 tips can help increase your business’s visibility online […]

Running Facebook / Instagram ads and struggling to lower your CPC? We all know it can be challenging, and when your cost per engagement is averaging R5.00 per click (yes, that’s too high), it depletes your ad spend even quicker. But with just a few tweaks, you can lower your CPC and increase your relevancy […]

There’s never a time where you’d want someone to leave your website, and discovering that you have a high bounce rate can be disheartening. Visitors leave your site for many reasons, not all of which are under your control. As you try to increase traffic on your site, consider these 10 factors that can help […]

Jonah Berger, Wharton marketing professor, feels EMOTION is one of the key drivers. In his research, he explains that people are social beings and love to share their opinions, thoughts & recommendations in order to feel accepted. So when they come across something that’s funny, cute or awesome, they just have to share it! Emotions […]

So, there’s a recession – Now what? A recession may be both an opportunity and a threat.  A worst -case scenario is when a company lowers an ad budget while one of their competitors increases theirs. Just Google it and find loads of brands that have perished this way. The opportunity lies in the ability […]

Many customers feel that brands don’t understand them, and therefore miss the boat when it comes to advertising their products. In order to prevent this from happening, there are four tips for brands to follow. #1 Ensure your brand has a positive impact on both the individual and their lifestyle #2 Make sure your brand […]

Welcome back to our ‘How to use Social Media for your Business’ blog series. As indicated in the blog title, this Blog will provide you with insights and helpful tips to use for your business’s Facebook Page. We’re sure you’ve wondered – why should my business use social media when I have a website with […]

If you recently started using social media for your business and seeing little to no engagements on your content, don’t be alarmed! Facebook and Instagram’s algorithm, in particular, now prioritize content from friends and family over business pages. However if your posts gather enough engagements, then your posts stand a higher chance of being shown […]

If your company is not making use of social media as a means to market their business, then it is definitely NOT embracing the Digital Age. Nearly 60% of the South African population has access to the internet while 18 million of them are active users on Social Media as of January 2018. Many businesses […]

According to a Demand Gen Report, 95% of buyers will choose a supplier who provided them with the right content at the right time. Using a sales funnel, you are able to push your potential clients though the buying process, and provide the necessary information needed to close the sale. Now let’s look at the […]

Before you give that eye rolling ‘durr’ response, let’s take the below points into consideration. In theory, yes, Social Media Applications (Apps) are free to use as most of them require no monthly subscription fee to access them. Although you do have to pay for Data and Wi-Fi bundles to actually view, use and consume […]

If you have a business, then you more than likely already know the importance of prominent visibility on your local search engine. Nearly half of all web searches have intent behind them, which means if your customer doesn’t find your business on the listed searches, they WILL find your competitors. #1 Content Marketing Strategy An […]

Over the last decade, user feedback has developed into an indispensable tool, not only for consumers but also for businesses. Consumers rely on ‘word of mouth’ and are more inclined to buy a product if one of their friends has bought and used that same product. When it comes to online marketing, customers want to […]

Have you ever stumbled across these two digital marketing terms, Cookie Based Marketing and People Based Marketing, and wondered what they meant and how they differ? Here’s a brief – non-technical – explanation of the two terms. Cookies are small files that carry bits of information on websites you’ve visited which then get stored on […]

A Marketers quest is to find and target the right kind of audience, at the right time with products or services that a consumer may be interested in. The problem that Marketers are now faced with is that people don’t want to be advertised to anymore. Of course adverts can be quite a nuisance when […]

Social media marketing may seem like a straightforward process but, indeed, it is anything but. While only 80% of your audience will read your title…only 20% will read your content. At this point, you may be wondering, “How can I grab my customers’ attention to drive engagement?” There are multiple components that make up a […]

One of the biggest shifts in marketing is the fact that a brand’s message today doesn’t have to come from the brand. While some people have noted that social media influencers are becoming an integral part of social media advertising in pushing a specific brand or promoting a certain product; others have stated that they […]

How many of us have walked into a restaurant, sat down, not got tended to nor greeted by the staff and then proceeded to leave the establishment with a bitter taste in our mouths? Most of us have encountered this unpleasant experience at least 5 times in our lifetime but we are equally guilty of […]

When dealing with clients and suppliers, it is essential to have the correct customer service skill set, as this will maintain profitable relationships and keep your business running in good stead. Luckily, there are a few universal skills that every employee can master to improve conversations with customers. Patience If you deal with customers on […]

1.A Single Seller Of A Product/Service In Its Industry Facebook is the only Social Networking application/website that allows its users to share photographs, videos, text based statuses, send private messages to individuals, add and keep record of one’s friends/family for future interactions on the app, stream live videos, create groups or pages for their shared […]

For decades, the youngest generations have always been the ones to establish language shifts. They may do it as a way to create a generational identity or to communicate without their parents understanding. Words have morphed, merged and muddled together to create new languages and evolved lingo from Shakespeare to slang. Some words have kept […]

As multi-tasking 21st century women, we have a lot on our plate! From careers, to families as well as time for ourselves. We need a product / brand that will save us time. I recently came across a great example of this in the retail stationery industry. A small local stationery store found themselves competing […]

Online lead generation is the key to attracting new prospects with the potential to convert them to paying customers.  At IMS we use creativity, targeting and platforms such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and DSP’s to reach your potential customers and then convert them.  Because we know the route to a simple solution is usually extraordinary.

Some may believe that small business run on dreams and caffeine, but it’s usually a lot of hard work, multitasking, juggling and of course running, running as fast as you can. Do you know what you need to start a business? It’s quite simple – One paying client and you’re in business. We are all […]

IMS is a creative advertising agency based in Lonehill and we build businesses and brands using amazing ideas, clever execution and focused channels. So if you want to grow your business, need a new approach or just want to have a chat, give us a call on 011 023 4369 or email info@imsolutions.co.za We are […]

Don’t design for brands. Design for people interacting with the brands.  This is all about data-driven marketing, and it’s always online and personalized to scale. Chatbots have taken over the days of good old-fashioned surveys and focus groups, as brands are finding it more effective and beneficial to monitor the instant pulse of the consumer […]

It’s time to take a vacation! No, not your annual vacation where family gatherings and festivities are the order of the day, but a vacation from social media. Everyone needs a ‘social media’ rest every now and then. Life seems to pass us by when we have our eyes stuck to a screen. While the […]

The 11th of January marked the day that many SME’s dreaded especially those who relied on their organic reach on Facebook to drive their brand awareness and gain traffic to their pages. ? Mark Zuckerberg has finally put his foot down and putting Facebook users first and company’s pages last. What’s worse, if your content […]

With the first month of 2018 almost behind us, there is no better time to check in and see what’s hot and what’s not in terms of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) trends for this year. Mobile Responsiveness Gone are the days, where websites were designed with a desktop-first approach, now more and more people are […]

Some may believe that small business run on dreams and caffeine, but it’s usually a lot of hard work multitasking, juggling and of course running, running as fast as you can.  As a lecturer of undergrad marketing, finance, entrepreneurial, and commerce students I often get asked what is needed to start a business.  It’s quite […]

Many companies make the mistake of trying to ‘feminise’ their products to attract more female consumers. This is often seen as insincere advertising and is not a great hook to reach your consumer. In reality, we don’t require our ‘own’ brands… all we require is a clever design, easy-to-use technology, and a lifestyle message that […]

Advertising and marketing on social media platforms can be both profitable and effective, however, one needs to bear in mind that one is bonded by the rules and regulations of the given social media platform. Facebook, for example, is not fond of adverts that direct users to 3rd party sites, as it wants to keep […]

How would it affect you if Google came along and told you that if you’re not offering consumers a mobile-friendly version of your website, that it would result in a demotion within their search rankings? Well, surprise surprise – Google is doing just that! Google is now putting mobile users first. According to current statistics, […]

In this digital age an image can enhance or tarnish your brand’s reputation. Consumers are no longer afraid to upload an image, and name and shame your poorly crafted dish or disastrous product. On the other side of the spectrum, consumers will happily post a snapshot of your appealing plating skills or of your distinct […]

Let’s face it, Facebook does not care about your brand as much as they care about its users. Facebook would rather show older posts about a friend’s engagement announcement over the launch of your new product – assuming that you did not pay for the ad space. What now? Use Facebook ads? Yes – but […]

Facebook is primarily a platform where people go to connect with their friends, be amused or get informed on current affairs. Facebook users hardly log on just to read updates from brands. So what can social media marketers do to stimulate interest? Entertain – Provide users with comic relief. Whether you create a game, record […]

Social networks are a dominant source of product and service referrals for women.  This is the platform, where experiences are shared, opinions are voiced and recommendations are given.  Women are more encouraged to follow a brand that shows them support, provides exclusive deals, offers up-to-date information and allows for feedback and comments. If we are […]

Having your own personal style is one thing that makes you unique. It sets you apart from the next person and its one way that people can identify you. Having a sense of ‘individuality’ while still trying to stay on track with current trends is important to some. With other factors to consider such as, […]

In today’s competitive business environment, you need to consider your positioning amongst your competitors, the reason why customers will use you and your prices, and value proposition.   Whether you need to grow your business or keep it ticking over, you must consider the space you are going to occupy and why customers should choose you. […]

You’ve been humming that tune for hours, and you just can’t seem to get it out of your head! The people around you are even catching on, making it harder to forget. It’s time to admit that the legless whisperer has taken residence in your ear…The earworm!!! No need to go see your GP! Defined […]

If your business is not growing, it is dying….. If you think that public relations is only for big companies, think again! Public Relations is an extremely cost-effective way to grow your business – and differentiate you from your competitors. Here are just three reasons: Get your Name out into the Marketplace: Public Relations makes […]

Gain our trust: We choose brands that we are proud to be associated with, ones that we admire and can refer to as trusted sources of information. We want a brand that speaks to us as an individual, one that we can engage with, that inspires and motivates us on a personal level. A brand […]

We all use Google every single day, but there are some things you might not know; The early version of Google could process 30 – 50 pages per second, now it can process millions of pages per second. Google’s original name was Backrub. The founders originally wanted to sell Google, and they offered Yahoo to […]

We thought we’d add a competition from one of our favourite clients.  If you like coffee you’re going to love Antlers Cold Brew coffee.  Go to their Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/anltercoffeebru/ and find the post at the top of their page with Sir Lick-a-Lot the Pug and the competition.  Like their page and post how […]

Great creative can give you an advantage over your competitors.  Here are some of the meanings of our nine favourite colours that can shape your creative: Red – Passion, action, fire, heat, danger, anger Blue – Cool, truth, purity, formality, sadness Green – Calm, youth, nature, wet, ignorance, immaturity Black – Mystery, mourning, death, elegance, […]

Let’s start with some global stats; around 48% of LinkedIn users are in a decision-making role and over 75% of LinkedIn members work at companies with more than 1,000 employees. Let’s look at one of the problems we have here in SA – South Africans like to have multiple titles especially if they are self-employed […]

Start by putting your price in the ad.  Most people who cannot afford it won’t click on it.  A researcher George Loewenstein from Carnegie Mellon, Stanford and MIT discovered that: “The sections of the brain associated with pain processing are activated when prices are too high.”  Hyper target your audience – be as specific from […]

Every brand under the sun is trying to “figure out” out how to effectively market to the “younger generation.” Youth marketing is still a grey area for many and one common pitfall is going ‘out of brand’ to cater to young people. This happens a lot, especially on social media. A brand sees a hashtag […]

If you know that MTB stands for Mountain Bike then you would have probably ridden or heard of the Hollard JUMA.  Jozi’s most awesome MTB adventure – a mix of Urban, trail, tunnels and floating bridges.  So how did a race start from nothing and become so powerful? An idea from Mark Castel from BAM […]

Let’s start with a few don’ts on social media here in SA: Don’t be a chop or as the rest of the world calls it – Don’t be a dick.  If this does not make sense, then you’re a … Use correct English and only where appropriate, use slang – imagine every one of your […]

The IMS team are moving into new offices in Lonehill. The offices were previously a pole dancing studio and will soon be a creative hub for the team.  Remember every day is a good day to be a good day. – Francois Chief Disruptor

Here are some things we can expect from 2017 Facebook video Vs YouTube.  YouTube pays you for your content views if ads are sold and Facebook does not.  Where do you think we’ll see the best content? The content you produce must be awesome so that the platform’s algorithms share it and people see it. […]

A Facebook post is worthless if no-one sees it. That’s common sense and applies to everything; you don’t hear about my product means you won’t know about my product and so you won’t buy it. One of the advantages of social media is that you can leverage other people’s conversations and comments about your product […]

Want to know how to become an expert at monitoring multiple social media platforms for business use? There is an easier way to keep your eye on the pulse, and we are going to tell you how. With most social media mediums, there are ways to enable dashboards to monitor and report on the performance […]

With trend watching becoming more popular in companies today; do you think there’s a need to ensure that your organisation can survive the ever-changing trends that keep coming its way? Trend watchers are constantly searching for clusters of innovation which addresses the needs and wants of consumers in a new and cutting edge way. Trendspotters […]

YouTube has become the third-largest website on Earth, a goliath viewed by millions each day. It’s also now apparently “over” — or at the beginning of the end — according to a group of disgruntled YouTubers who claim the company has begun censoring them. The big hoo-hah arises from misunderstandings over YouTube’s long-standing policy of […]

With many companies actively using social media, do they really know how to manage an employee’s social media crisis? As has been in seen numerous cases; employees take to social platforms not really keeping in mind the potential harm, they can cause to an organisation’s brand image. There’ve been several incidents; where people take to […]

Virtually Reality was once science fiction but in 2016 it’s virtually, a reality. This innovation immerses you within a computer generated 3D world, tracks your movement and updates the display. Thereby, tricking your brain into thinking you’re in a real place. This human-computer interaction is going to make big waves in how we experience the […]

All organizations strive in reaching the maximum customer advocacy; because more customers that are ‘for’ the brand, the more business and moolah the company makes. But one thing that causes a lot of confusion, amongst many brands is the distinct differentiation between customer and fan advocacy. How do you turn a fan into a continuous […]