 Whether you like it or not, Facebook is now a bonafide marketing channel, that should be in most businesses marketing mix. (Let us stress though, it isn’t for everyone!)
So how can Facebook help you with your Business marketing?
Facebook offers a completely new channel for businesses to be able to connect and engage with customers and potential customers. Facebook should not be used as a sales platform, but rather as a marketing research tool. Once you have determined the people you want to connect with, you need to start reaching out.
How to Connect with other Users
You will need to start reaching out and build your Facebook following once you have determined exactly whom you would like to connect with, based on:
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Common interests
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Customer demographics
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Whether your business can fulfil their needs
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How well you could engage with them
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So in what ways can you reach out to potential Facebook friends?
Well there are a number of ways for you to connect with likeminded people.
Invite Friends
For starters, you can share your new business Facebook page with your own friends from your own profile, and don’t forget to ask your staff, friends and family to do the same.
Share your Page with friends and groups
Don’t forget to share your page with friends and groups that you are a part of. You can do this the traditional way by adding your link to your business cards, or even getting a brochure printed up and handing out to your customers. Alternatively, share your Facebook URL with friends and groups that you are apart of online. And don’t forget to have a link on your website directing your customers to Like your page.
Reach out to Suppliers and Employees
These guys work for and with you; they already have an interest and insight into your business. Create a list and make sure you email them your new Facebook page’s URL and get them to Like and contribute to your page.
Create a Facebook Advertisement
Facebook advertising is extremely clever, and you can really narrow down the list of demographics for a real targeted campaign; it’s called fine-tune advertising. You can create advertisements for existing customers – all you simply have to do, is upload their email addresses to Facebook, and then Facebook will display your advertisement to them if they have a Facebook account. You can also target Lookalike Audiences – which are people who are likely to be interested in your business based on the customer list you provide to Facebook. Seriously, Facebook marketing is very clever, and you can reach a whole new world by being smart with your Facebook advertising dollars.
Facebook can be a very clever form of business marketing providing you do it right. You need to make sure you engage regularly with your friends, and understand the Dos and Don’ts of Facebook.
Corporate Sound is one of Australia's leading suppliers of quality audio productions, and we can produce a compelling audio production for you to share with your fans and friends on social media. Call us today.
 For a small to medium business, we do all right here at Corporate Sound, but when it comes to Australia’s largest and most successful businesses in turns of turnover, we just simply can’t compete. Lets take a look at the top 5 Australian businesses for 2014 as published by Australian Business Review.
BHP Billiton
With an annual profit of $72.1 billion, these guys are doing some serious business, and they have topped the charts for many years, and is considered Australia’s most successful mining company (in fact it is one of the world’s largest). BHP Billiton is a multinational mining and petroleum company with operations located throughout the world.
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto bought in $59.8 billion in 2014, and is another of Australia’s largest and finest metal and mining company. Rio Tinto has been in business for over 100 years, and specialises in the extraction of minerals.
Westfarmers
Westfarmers is a public listed company and one of Australia’s largest retailers. These are the guys who own Coles, and they employ over 220,000 people throughout the country. Their head office is based in Perth and these guys are going from strength to strength. With a $55.4 billion year, these guys proved they mean business.
National Australia Bank
To be honest, the team here at Corporate Sound were mildly surprised that the National Australia Bank was the first of Australia’s big four banks, but they topped the list, making an annual profit of $48.5 billion. According to the Australian Business Review, the National Australia Bank is actually the largest of the four banks in terms of customers and capitalisation.
Commonwealth Bank
Coming in at 5th position, is Commonwealth Bank with a $47.1 billion profit. The Commonwealth Bank has operations throughout the world, and currently employs over 44,000 people.
It goes to show how big the corporate pie is, and how big a share these guys actually have in terms of profit and capitalisation.
If you are hungry for a little more of your commercial pie, then please contact the team at Corporate Sound and ask how audio advertising can help your business grow … we’ll gladly prepare a professional audio production to represent your business and help you build your bottom line.
 All we want for Christmas at Corporate Sound is for our customers, employees and friends to have a very Merry Christmas, and a safe and happy New Year.
We would like to take this opportunity to say a very BIG thank you to our loyal customers and spectacular staff … we have had a sensational year, created many productions for radio, television, online, e-learning, in-store and even a few mini-films here and there.
We have proudly worked for many big businesses eager to get their multiple messages out to their core customers, and have helped many smaller businesses to help start building their brand by conducting audio advertisements to build brand recognition.
Corporate Sound has worked with hundreds of very talented copywriters, voice over artists and audio engineers, media agencies and marketing consultants, and we have also learnt leaps and bounds about different industries and their audio marketing tactics.
We have also learnt so much more about the evolving world of marketing. It changes so much every year, and this year was certainly no different. We’ve seen a huge influx of businesses now looking into audio streaming through the likes of iTunes Radio, Spotify and Beats Music. Not to mention sharing their audio production through the likes of YouTube and then on their social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
There have been many creative scripts, and also scripts created in-house by our team, that we have been fortunate enough to turn into great audio productions used through multiple channels.
The team at Corporate Sound would like to thank each and everyone of you for your support and we would like to wish you all a very, very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.
Thank you all for your support in 2014.
Successful companies manage to keep their staff turnovers to a minimum; and happy staff are productive staff, so what can you do to keep your staff members motivated?
Here are just a couple of tips for what has worked for Corporate Sound.
Recognise your Staff
If you have a staff member who has done an exceptional job, then make sure you recognise their achievement. Even if it is only a pat on the back, letting them know that you think they have done a good job, will encourage them to continue to achieve. Even the less egotistical of us humans like a pat on the back every now and then, even if it is to know that what they are doing is right.
Encourage Staff Training
Sadly, I have heard business owners and managers who are too scared to train their staff or encourage further education or training, because they consider that as a means of progressing the staff member’s career, rather than seeing it as a benefit for the business. The more your staff know, the more they can offer your business and its operations. The more you can offer your staff, the more they are likely to stay. It really is as simple as that.
Provide Direction
Even the most knowledgeable staff members can get lost, so make sure you let your staff know exactly what you expect of them, and the projects they are undertaking. Make sure you are available to offer advice and direction when they need it. Your staff will appreciate your open door policy, and you will get the best out of them in return.
Let Go of Micro-Managing
You hire people because of their skills. If you don’t need to, then don’t micro-manage your staff members, instead trust them to do the job you hired them to do.
Trust your Staff
Just as we mentioned above, you hired a people because you thought they were the right fit, so make sure you trust your staff to do what they are qualified to do … and you worry about your tasks at hand. If over time, your staff fail to achieve what they need to, then take action then, but in the mean time, you need to give them trust and know that you hired the right person to do the job at hand.
Having good, productive staff is essential for any business. Not only is it pivotal for operational success, but also to ensure that all stakeholders are happy in their positions. The way you treat your staff, will reflect on the way they do their job and how much they value their position.
Corporate Sound are the leaders when it comes to audio production, and we can proudly say, that we have maintained a good staff turnover since our inception. We value our staff immensely, and understand, that if it weren’t for them, then our business wouldn’t be where it is today.
Motivate your staff and increase productivity in your workplace.
If you’ve got no customers, then you really have no business. And while in theory the art of acquiring customers may seem easy, in reality, Australian consumers are becoming more and more tight with their money, and want more from their transaction. So just what do you need to do as a business to inspire your customers to spend?
Price is no doubt an important factor, so too is quality, experience is also very important. Here are just a few ways to enhance your customer experience and inspire them to spend with you.
Deliver on your Promises
It is always best to over deliver than under, so if you make a claim, make sure you can live up to it. For instance, if you promise a client that you can finish a job by a certain time, then make sure you … even finishing it a couple of days earlier.
Take for instance The Block 2014, when Max and Karston lost the guest room challenge, all because one of their suppliers failed to deliver. Their cabinetmaker just didn’t turn up with the wardrobe they were promised, and they were left with a big empty gap in their room. Needless to say, they refused to use his services again. The cabinetmaker begged them for a second chance, but the damaged was already done. He didn’t deliver on his promise.
Go Above and Beyond
Customer service is just as important as all your marketing activity, hell, it plays a big part in our marketing. At Corporate Sound we try to go above and beyond, and we make it our business to be in constant contact with our customers to ensure they are getting what they want and need from our service. We follow up on productions, send reminders to customers and work with them to ensure they get the best script, voice artist and production for their audio advertisement.
But … Don’t go Overboard
It’s also important to go overboard, and contact your customers too much, to the point it is considered spammy. Make sure you have a happy medium, and ensure your customer service is at a level that is acceptable.
Get Feedback
Don’t be scared to talk to your customers and get feedback from them. They will tell you what you need to do in order for them to spend money with your business.
Educate your Staff
There is nothing worse than approaching a business and the staff aren’t up-to-date on the products and services they are selling. Or worse yet, they give you inaccurate information and you purchase based on an assumption, rather than truth. As a business owner, it is up to you to make sure there is adequate staff training and that they are educated about your offerings.
Every business needs to ensure they are at the forefront of providing a good service, failure to do so could result in loss of business, or the inability to acquire business in the first place. If you offer a good product or service, at a reasonable price with a great customer experience, then you are more likely to inspire your customers to come back and spend, and to also introduce friends and family through referrals to also come and spend with your business.
When it comes to radio advertising, there is a myriad of advertising packages available to you, choosing the right one for your brand will be pivotal to your overall radio advertising’s return on investment.
Radio sponsorship packages are fast becoming a popular choice, as your sponsorship advertisements are broadcast with other popular segments such as sport, weather, news and competitions, and are usually bought up continuously during a certain time period – giving your brand more exposure and drawing more attention to your planned radio commercial schedule.
Sport, Weather and News
Sponsoring the sport, weather and news is an effective strategy, as often many listeners are specifically listening out for these segments on radio. Your sponsorship is usually a 10-15 spiel about your company and how you are sponsoring the segment in question. Those listening out specifically for news about the day’s weather, a recent sports event of local news will more than likely also hear the introduction about your company, and are then more likely to recognised your brand when your radio commercials are played throughout the day.
Radio Competitions
Radio competitions can give you a significant amount of exposure, but will also cost you the prize of the competition, along with advertising and permit costs (if required for your competition). Competitions generate a lot of interest, as people in general love getting things for free and having the opportunity to win a great prize. The radio announcer really jazzy these competitions up and get the listeners excited.
Get Strategic with Radio Advertising
When it comes to radio advertising, there are lots of strategic ways for you to really get your customers listening to what you have to say. Don’t be afraid to ask your media representatives about the different packages they have to offer.
Sponsorship opportunities are just one of the options, there are also LIVE broadcasts and open days that can be very beneficial to certain businesses.
The Team at Corporate Sound
While the team at Corporate Sound are not media planners, and therefore can’t schedule and book your radio advertising, we certainly can create a captivating and compelling audio production for your next radio commercial campaign. Call us today.
If you are a savvy business owner, then we’re pretty sure you are up-to-date on most things to do with Facebook, but have you explored Facebook groups? From parenting, to renovating to business, there is a Facebook group that will suit almost any business, and offers a platform to promote your business, products and services.
Finding Relevant Groups
You can only join groups from your personal profile (and not from your business page). To find groups relevant to you simply go to the search box where it says ‘Find friends’ and type in your main keywords … for example ‘Gold Coast Businesses’.
Don’t hit enter straight away, instead scroll to the bottom where it says ‘See more results for Gold Coast Businesses’.
There is a list on the left hand side with the title ‘Result Type’, select ‘Groups’ – and then join the groups relevant to you. Unless it is an open group, you will have to wait for one of the Admin’s to approve you.
Facebook Groups for Promotion
While many of the Facebook groups you sign up to will have strict rules about posting advertisements, others will allow you to advertise as much as you want. While it may seem tempting to post an advertisement every day – remember, this will clog up peoples feeds, and they will end up getting annoyed with you. So try to be mindful about how often you do post, and keep on the good side of your potential customers. Remember, Facebook isn’t all about advertising; it is also about engaging with your customers.
Engaging on Facebook
As we have just stated, Facebook isn’t just about advertising, rather think of it as a tool to network with potential customers and conducting value market research. Social platforms such as Facebook and Twitter give you an opportunity to converse with customers in a way that hasn’t been as accessible as it is today. Offer feedback, ask questions and generally strike up conversations with your prospects and earn their trust. Utilise this opportunity and see your marketing efforts prosper.
Facebook is the modern day focus group, and costs much less than what marketing companies used to charge in the days of old. Facebook groups offer another in to getting in front of your core customers, and building a rapport with them.
If you can't invest the time into Facebook, then maybe Facebook isn't the right medium for you.
If you are a small business owner, it just might not be financially feasible to hire a new staff member, even if there is extra work that needs to be done. Many Australian businesses are opting to outsource this work online, with websites such as Elance, oDesk and Freelancer all becoming vastly popular.
Hiring a Contractor
Hiring a contractor on these sites is relatively easy (if not a little overwhelming), all you have to do is set up an account, and post the job you want completed, with a rough budget of what you are willing to pay. Then you will get applications from freelancers who have also set up accounts on these outsourcing sites – and you can make your selection from there.
However, it is important to remember, you will often get what you pay for. In the past we have hired writers to help with our articles, only to find that their English is very poor, or the content was rushed or copied. In the end, it made sense for us to just write our copy ourselves – after all, that is our business.
Make sure you check their references, and look at their portfolio to ensure they can offer a level of service that you are looking for.
Finding a Contractor
Once you have found the contractor you want to use, you will then set up a project map, with milestones set out so you can have regular updates as to where your project is at. Even though you are hiring someone else to do the work, it is advisable to make sure you have regular contact with your contractors to ensure they are heading in the right direction. Set clear deadlines and ensure they stick with it.
If you find a good contractor, make sure you keep them on your list – and use them again and again, because while you can find great skilled workers on these websites, you also come across a lot of duds too.
Services Outsourced
oDesk is a site mainly dedicated to websites; programming, designing development and coding. Elance on the other hand has contractors for all areas, from sales and marketing, through to writing, graphic design, data entry and web development.
Every business owner needs a little help every now and then, but remember, if you are hiring someone to represent your company, make sure you screen them and ensure they have the right credentials. Saving dollars now, could cost you a fortune in the future, so weigh up what is necessary for you to complete your projects in the most financially feasible and operationally savvy way.
Outsourcing to Corporate Sound
If you are looking for a professional audio production for your next audio advertising campaign, then look no further than our team here at Corporate Sound. We offer the full service production, from copywriting, voiceovers to audio production. Call us today.
 Getting a professional audio production is a whole lot more than investing in a professionally produced piece of audio advertising material, it’s about understanding the psychology of your customers and working with a team of professional voice artists to help appeal to them.
Just as you would take the time to carefully select your business colours for your branding and logo, so too, should you take the time to really consider the right voice for your business.
Do you need a voice that is calm and reflective, clearing giving your listeners advice and instructions, or do you need a hyped-up and excited voiceover to entice your audience to call and buy your products?
The Genre of your Audio Advertisement
When selecting a voice artist for your next audio production, you should really consider the content of your script. Here are some characteristics of your Audio Advertisement:
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What is your product or service?
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Who is your audience? Are they predominantly male or female?
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What age is your audience?
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Is a male or female voice best suited for your audio production?
Possibly a voice artist with an accent, or who can do character voices.
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Is your script corporate, humorous, instructional or conversational?
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What is the message you are trying to convey?
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Where will you be streaming your audio advertisement?
The content of your audio advertisement will help you identify the type of voice artist you are looking for. Remember, in most cases, you only have a few seconds to really capture your audiences’ attention, and both your script and voiceover artist will play a major role in capturing their attention.
Professionally Trained Voice Artists
Professionally trained voice actors have learnt the art of infliction, pause and tone. They know how to use their voice to best appeal to an audiences’ emotions and they can easily identify the points in each script that need to be clearly conveyed.
Selecting a Voice Artist
Selecting a voice artist that is most likely to appeal to your audience takes time and research. Identifying what sex, nationality and genre will ultimately help you to narrow down the list, then you should take the time to listen to some of our talent in our voice artist library.
Look at Amart All Sports for instance. They use Mike Goldman as their voiceover artist for most of their audio advertising, which includes radio, television and telephone messages on hold. His reads are fast, enthusiastic and loud – all the traits you need when trying to motivate an individual to train … and of course to buy. His voice works perfectly for this genre, but imagine using his voice for a baby or wedding store; it just wouldn’t be fitting.
Selecting the right voice artist for your business will go a long way, and will best represent your brand and what you are all about. It will allow listeners to better identify what your message is all about, and is more likely to evoke the appropriate emotions from the right people.
Get your gym pumping with professionally produced audio advertising. Play it on your telephone lines, through the radio or in your gym and let your customers know everything there is to know about your personal trainers and your facilities.
Corporate Sound is one of Australia’s leading suppliers and producers of high quality audio productions for businesses around the country. Our productions aren’t just limited to being played on the radio, but rather you can use them across a number of channels to help get give your fitness business the workout it needs.
Here are just some of the benefits of audio advertising.
Reinforce your brand with Music and Messages On Hold
Branding is an ongoing exercise, and just because you’ve managed to get your phone to ring through external advertising campaigns, you shouldn’t stop your branding internally. Your telephone on hold gives you valuable ‘airtime’ with customers, who already have an interest in your business, reinforce what you do, your values and your products with complimentary music and informative audio messages. Not only will it distract your callers from the fact they are on hold, but it will also help educate them about your products and services – especially the ones they may not know about – for instance your boot camps or mumma’s fitness groups.
Encourage your Customers
Give your callers or potential customers a push with your audio advertising. Give them a little inspiration with a carefully written audio advertisement that you can play through the radio, online, in the gym or over the phone. Get your customers excited about your business!
Encourage Staff
Audio advertising offers a new way to get your staff motivated. Invest in a couple of professional productions inspiring your staff, and send it to them on their smartphones or through social media. Even better, play it in your gym.
Increase Sales
Audio advertising is a great way to promote your secondary products and services, in a non-confrontational way. So while your staff are getting them fit and toned, use your audio advertising to inspire, educate and sell.
Audio advertising is a great medium for any business, and the savvy fitness marketer will be able to use it in ample ways to inspire, motivate and educate. Contact the ultra friendly team at Corporate Sound today and find out how you can get your fitness business pumping with a professionally produced audio production. Call us on 07 5551 0260.
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