Category: Uncategorized

5 Steps to Market Your Startup to the Right Audience

June 13, 2025

If you are trying to get your new software company or lifestyle coaching business off the ground, it won’t be long before you’ll need a unique, strategic approach for marketing it. Word of mouth isn’t usually enough to build and sustain a customer base. Even with a solid Instagram following – not a bad start – a few other steps will go a long way in supporting further growth.

Step 1. Clearly Define Who Your Audience Is

Many aspects of marketing will be easier with a clearly defined audience or audiences, as the case may be. This means going beyond basic demographics like age, gender and location, and digging into other details. What are their behaviors, needs, pain points, and values? When possible, talk to early users to get answers. You may gain additional insights by analyzing your competitors’ audiences.

What you are doing is building detailed customer personas by determining what problem you are solving, and for whom. A target audience may be specific enough to guide product decisions and marketing efforts, but broad enough to allow for growth and discovery.

Step 2. Find Out Where They Are

What do you know about where customers spend their time, both online and offline? Are they active on LinkedIn or TikTok? Do they attend local meetups, or are they part of niche Reddit communities? Google Analytics, social media insights, and keyword research can all help get you answers to these questions.

Professional activities and other “real-world” behaviors can be included. Potential fans might be connecting at local software conferences or co-working spaces. Find out about any industry-specific Slack groups to join. Summer’s here – perfect time for a themed event to help spread the word about your new brand. By meeting your audience where they already are, you’re better positioned to tailor your messaging to fit the platform and conversations.

Step 3. Create Messaging to Match Your Vision

As for the messages themselves, this is where having someone with creative insights on your team will come in handy. Are you ready to craft targeted messages that speak directly to people’s needs and interests? They can include content such as email newsletters and online ads as well as outreach strategies tailored to the specific environment where your audience spends time.

You want to find out what works, so begin with small, measurable experiments. A/B test messages are great because they provide insights on different versions of an email or message. Track users’ engagement and refine your approach based on feedback, which you should also be soliciting. This early startup marketing phase is about showing up in the right places with messages that resonate, then learning to improve on your results.

Step 4. Hire a Branding Partner You Trust

All of these steps take time, which is why it makes business sense to invest in a digital marketing partner who can take some – if not all – of the work off your plate. No matter who they are, a good partner must take the time to get to know the details of your product or services. Understanding the passion that gets you up in the morning will help them create authentic messaging to align with your core mission and values.

Step 5. Collaborate on Creative Marketing Strategies

Discuss with your branding partner different, creative marketing plans based on the information you have collected. These are just some of the key pieces that help brand startups in today’s media environment.

Elements might include:

Diverse Content Strategy

  • Blog posts addressing the wants and needs of your customers
  • Educational videos on YouTube or or how-to shorts on TikTok
  • SEO-optimized landing pages for search traffic

Social Media Plan

  • Platform-specific posts like professional blogs on LinkedIn and visuals on Insta
  • How to foster community engagement – like replying to and reposting user content
  • Paid social ads targeted by interests and other demographic data

Email Marketing

  • Something to welcome new subscribers
  • Monthly newsletters with updates and enticing content such as discounts

Partnerships and Influencers

  • Who are micro-influencers in your niche you can collaborate with?
  • Some one to guest blog or do podcast interviews with you
  • Co-branded webinars or events

Building Your Community

  • Launching or joining relevant Slack, Discord, or Facebook groups
  • Hosting an AMA (ask-me-anything) on Reddit or doing live Q&As
  • Offering early access or perks to create loyal users

Contact HYPTE Branded Solutions to Market Your New Business

HYPTE Branded Solutions has a history of building up popular brands in wide-ranging industries. We can also assist in areas like setting metrics for your startup’s brand campaign and reviewing the performance over time to refine your strategy.

Call HYPTE at 708-343-9730 for a partner to craft creative and effective solutions tailored to your startup today.

Best Ways to Brand Your Summer Event for Different Audiences

May 19, 2025

Looking for effective ways to brand your company’s summer soiree? Whether you’re hosting the entire gala or a single booth at a much larger event, the same rule of thumb applies. You want to start by identifying what kind of audience or audiences you hope will be there. Once you clarify the answer, the rest of the details will follow much more readily.

1. Young People (18–30): Leverage Social Media-First, Trend-Driven Branding

If you’re near a body of water like Chicago-based HYPTE Branded Solutions, then you know the younger set can’t resist a sunset beach party with live DJs. But no matter where and what time of day it is, be sure to include features that appeal to these folks. Food trucks, a dance party vibe, and glow-in-the-dark merch at night will make for some highly Instagrammable moments.

  • Build your campaign around Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.
  • Use influencers or local micro-creators to preview the event.
  • Incorporate interactive or shareable event elements like AR filters, photo ops, and music playlist collabs.

Why It Works: Gen Zers tend to respond to experiences they can share. Especially when trend-savvy, visually dynamic branding taps into their FOMO and encourages self-expression through social media.

2. Older Adults (50+): Emphasize Comfort, Legacy, and Community

With older generations, event branding should be more relaxing – like an outdoor jazz concert in a local park. Local partnerships are particularly powerful among long-time local residents. To get this crowd to stay, though, you’ll also need comfortable seating and some shaded areas. Boost attention with artisanal food vendors, and find ways to encourage leisurely enjoyment and community connection.

  • Heighten nostalgia through classic fonts and themes to attract Gen Xers and Boomers, with messages that touch on lasting friendships and traditions.
  • Emphasize intergenerational connection to broaden the ages you are targeting.
  • Highlight amenities like shaded seating areas, parking and accessibility in your marketing.
  • You can still be family-friendly and have intergenerational appeal.

Why It Works: Older demographics value meaningful experiences, and they need to be physically comfortable to enjoy themselves. A well-organized event that feels safe, familiar and community-driven is sure to increase attendance and your brand’s appeal.

3. B2B Audience: Focus on ROI, Networking, and Thought Leadership

Your B2B campaign event may look a little different than the others here, although age is still a consideration. For example, a summer innovation summit might include keynote speakers, industry panels, and rooftop networking. But the music and drinks should still be tailored to the tastes of whoever the attendees will be.

  • Brand the event as a place for making strategic connections, such as through a VIP business mixer.
  • Messaging should be light-hearted but also mention the high-value networking opportunities.
  • Trade websites, LinkedIn and email campaigns are all good ways to promote these types of events. Emphasize growth and collaboration or other bold business concepts.

Why It Works: Business audiences like to know there is a clear return on their time and money. Credibility indicators like names of sponsors will let them know it is a worthy investment.

4. Families with Children: Brand Around Safety, Fun, and Convenience

If you have kids of your own or spend time with anyone who does, you know what it takes to make a daytime affair kid-friendly, whether outdoor or in. That means elements aimed at safety, making parenting easier, or making parents feel happy and heard. Then promote that it is a conveniently located, family-friendly space that will provide a respite for busy parents.

What to Do:

  • Highlight activities, food options, and clear logistics like bathrooms, stroller access, and quiet zones for the wee ones.
  • Be pet-friendly and put out dog water bowls.
  • Add structured fun through face painting or hands-on craft stations and healthy snacks.
  • Use bright, playful designs and language like “Family Zone,” or “All Ages Welcome.”

Why It Works: Busy parents prioritize safety and ease. Branding that reassures them while appealing to their kids is the sweet spot for this group.

5. Past or Existing Clients: Use Loyalty-Based, Exclusive Branding

When targeting an existing client base, you can still incorporate some of the other suggestions listed above. Only, your focus is also on brand loyalty and showing appreciation. An invitation-only summer appreciation soirée with cocktails coupled with exclusive previews of upcoming products are one way to go, but you still want to make it your own.

  • Brand this VIP experience using early access, discounts, or insider-only features.
  • Offer rewards for anyone who brings someone or recommends a friend.
  • Use personalized email invites and tailored messages with a friendly, loyalty-rewarding message.

Why It Works: Current and prospective customers like to feel seen. Exclusive (yet not overbearing) branding builds retention and referrals, giving you opportunities to re-engage afterward and promote what’s ahead.

HYPTE Branded Solutions Can Manage Your Summer Event, Start to Finish

The HYPTE Branded Solutions team has an expertise in experiential marketing that is essential to summer event planning. Our portfolio of past projects highlight just some of the seasonal campaigns we have successfully created and marketed for clients.

Don’t put off your summer event plans! Call HYPTE at 708-343-9730 to create something amazing today.

Branded Merchandise Trends That Will Make Your Campaign Stand Out

April 16, 2025

Branded merchandise trends are always changing. So how do you know which ones to follow? Some techniques are timeless, like using popular sports logos and integrating short-form videos and other smart tech features. To really stand out, however, it helps to notice which way the wind is blowing and find a creative way to harness the power of the moment.

First, be sure your landing pages and fulfillment systems are ready for action. Then explore three major trends, what makes them stand out and how they might work for you.

Nostalgic or Retro-Themed Merchandise

Putting an 80s or 90s spin on a timely message is the secret sauce to a lot of successful branded campaigns these days. From obscure references like eighties painting master Bob Ross in an Adobe ad, to a Star Wars-themed Target commercial, the message is pretty straightforward – the past is in. At least some elements of it. Music, movies and kitschy outfits, sure. Cold War politics, maybe not so much.

Pro Tip: Pay attention to nostalgia trending on social media.

What’s behind this phenomenon is apparent if you spend any time on Insta, Tik Tok or YouTube, all of which encourage audiences to revisit the past in some form. There is a lot of crossover discussion among the kids about styles their parents loved, mingled with memories from those who miss the good ol’ days.

  • Incorporate Details That Stand Out: For branded merchandise to work, think of goods inspired by past styles (e.g., vintage Ts, vinyl records, retro game consoles).
  • Pull on Heartstrings: Nostalgia has a strong emotional pull, but it should be universally appealing if you’re trying to reach a broad age demographic.
  • Aim at Multiple Generations: For example, reach out to Gen Zers as well as Gen Xers through evocative memories of a childhood fad that was amazing but now makes us laugh.

Appeal to Social Trends – with Caution

It is almost surprising how many big brands have taken chances by appealing to the latest social trend in their ad campaigns. They’re not wrong to try, though. Some have had more success than others, which is great news for smaller names. They are illustrating the difference between what makes a smart risk and something that is just plain risky.

As always with social trends, tap into the ethos of your audience, above all. How open-minded are they? What do they care about? Some savvy brands stay relevant by hinting at current events without outright supporting one cause or another. Doing so gives the appearance they are edgy for those who care, without crossing a line that might lose them customers.

  • Combine Current Trends with Themed Months. We’ve written about how brands can make use of Women’s History Month. What celebrations are up ahead that could tie to a social trend that is just taking off?
  • Be More Inspirational than Controversial. Even high-end fashion brands and luxury retailers have figured out how to leverage a moment. By making use of musical artists that might be considered rebellious and other socially conscious pop culture, businesses can create buzz and reinvigorate their image, attracting more youthful attention to their products.

Limited Edition and Exclusive Releases

People will never tire of exclusivity, especially if they think they can get a piece of the pie. You don’t have to offer VIP access to send the message that your merchandise is special, limited, and available to folks who matter. Even campaigns aimed at the youngest among us often have an air of exclusivity.

  • Advertise Your Limited Quantities: Your target groups should get the message that items like collectible merchandise or special edition apparels are available either in limited quantities or for a limited time. You get to decide whether that means there are 5 or 500 items available, on the time frame of your choosing.
  • Consider Unique Collaborations. Partnering with a luxury logo or popular influencer is another way to sell a high-value image.
  • Create a Sense of Urgency: The sense of scarcity creates a sense of urgency and exclusivity, driving demand. People are often willing to pay more for something they perceive as rare or unique.

Call HYPTE for Unique Branded Merchandise Solutions

HYPTE has paired eye-catching branded merchandise with digital marketing and live events for a variety of well-known brands. Check out our past projects and you’ll see what we mean.

Reach out to HYPTE Branded Solutions online for more information, or call us at 708-343-9730 to discuss our branded solutions.

Should You Be Creating Short-Form Video Content?

March 14, 2025

Everywhere around us, there are examples of highly engaging videos quickly capturing attention. For growing brands, short-form video content has the added benefit of delivering a specific message to a target audience they’re trying to reach. However, that doesn’t mean every company should drop what they’re doing to record themselves at work. Short videos should be crafted with strategic goals in mind – like driving brand awareness or showcasing a new product line.

If you’re on the fence about whether you could benefit from this type of content, a few key points should clarify who can benefit from them and who probably won’t.

Purpose of Short-Form Videos in Marketing

The purpose of short videos in marketing is to capture attention quickly. They let you engage audiences as long as the content is visually appealing and key messages are delivered in a digestible format. Videos lasting between a few seconds and a couple of minutes help brands expand their customer base by increasing their visibility on popular social media platforms, where viewers will share them.

They’re another way to promote calls-to-action to people who aren’t seeing your ads. By resonating with viewers and leveraging trends, they can be designed to boost brand awareness and lead to greater customer acquisition.

Should You Be Making Short Videos as Part of Your Marketing?

To determine if you should give it a shot, start by assessing a few things:

  1. Your target audience’s engagement level on social media
  2. Whether people online align with the products or services you offer
  3. If your content would be an appropriate fit for the platforms that house them
  4. If your customers frequently consumes video shorts anywhere online

Essentially, if your brand can convey a compelling message in a short format, short-form videos can be an effective tool. If so, businesses should consider partnering with a digital solutions firm that has the resources to produce high-quality, attention-grabbing videos that align with their marketing goals.

Where are Short Business Videos Posted?

These often educational or catchy videos tend to be optimized for social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts. Unlike ones that may be more spontaneous or personal, branded short-form content is professionally produced with a clear marketing or promotional intent, using techniques like storytelling, brand consistency, and elements you hope will have a measurable impact on your business objectives.

Industries That Benefit from Using Them

The visual nature of certain industries makes them an obvious fit for platforms like Instagram Reels or TikTok – anywhere in which quick, eye-catching content can drive sales and engagement. In addition, companies trying to leverage the sensory appeal of something (think: smells, sounds and textures) should consider giving it a shot.

  • Fashion and Beauty Brands: Showcase the more visual or aesthetically attractive aspects of your business through demos, tips or tutorials.
  • Food and Beverage Companies: Everyone likes a view of restaurants and cafes – any place that lends itself to behind-the-scenes processes. It’s a quick way to entice customers and generate buzz online.
  • Anything Personality Driven: Whether you have a charismatic CEO or can highlight a fun aspect of your workforce, a two-minute video will project a more lighthearted, authentic element to your campaign.

Who Might Not Benefit from These Short Vids?

You may already have a sense that these brief vids are not for you – and your gut could be onto something. Short-form videos are not the best way to convey the sophisticated nature of services or communicate the depth of offerings in a meaningful way.

  • Complex, Serious Matters: For instance, while some legal topics could be simplified for short-form video, law firms typically deal with complex, serious matters that require in-depth explanation and nuanced discussion.
  • High-Level Consulting: Certain B2B companies that provide esoteric business consulting – such as enterprise software solutions – will likely require a more formal, thoughtful approach to marketing.
  • Highly Technical or Niche Companies: Industrial or manufacturing companies focused on complex engineering in industrial spaces may not easily translate their products or services into engaging short-form video content.

Note: longer videos on YouTube remain an excellent way to showcase your headquarters and offer up helpful information to your customer base.

Evaluate Audience’s Behavior to Get Started

Undecided businesses can often determine whether short videos would be effective by evaluating their audience’s behavior on social media. If you can identify platforms where your target market engages with visual, snackable content, there may be a way to showcase your products or services there in a quick, engaging format as part of your digital marketing strategy.

Consult with Branding Experts at HYPTE About Our Interactive Marketing Solutions

HYPTE’s team of digital experts can help you design and create a digital marketing campaign that effectively conveys your professionalism and detailed expertise. As consultants, we will let you know if quick, attention-grabbing videos are a good solution for you, or if there are better ways to broaden your audience.

Check out HYPTE Branded Solutions online for more on our expansive branded solutions, and call us at 708-343-9730 with any questions.

Why You Should Improve Your Landing Pages in 2025

February 20, 2025

The sophistication of today’s search engine algorithms, rising consumer expectations, and an ever-more competitive digital landscape all point to one thing: the importance of your landing pages in growing your business. These are the pages that web users land on after clicking on a link in an email, an ad or a QR code. There’s no point in doing all the other work in your campaign if these crucial web pages are not easy to use, since their design will directly affect your bottom line.

Interactive Marketing for Your Business

A well-designed and user-friendly landing page is an essential tool that helps the digital side of your business work more smoothly. This especially holds true when working with an interactive marketing partner that will play a role in the digital side of your branding. Emails, branded merchandise, and social media all guide people to a landing page where they can connect with your company and make purchases.

A Vital Piece of Your Welcome Kit

Think of your landing page as a piece of the welcome kit, as well. A branded solutions company like HYPTE makes it easier for people to find you online, as well as to convert visitors so they don’t bounce from the page. The QR code we provide in our campaigns will be a direct path to your landing pages, enabling you to market to more potential customers. That’s why optimizing these pages is a powerful strategy that can enhance your website’s performance on search engines.

How Can You Make Your Landing Pages More Effective?

To make them more effective, design your landing pages to load quickly, make sure they are mobile-friendly, and provide clear calls to action that drive conversions. Companies that excel at optimizing their landing pages will be better positioned to stand out and foster trust, two key advantages that will ultimately drive business growth.

Not sure how to get started? Here are 6 essential ingredients for optimizing your landing pages:

1. Learn what users are looking for when they land on your page.

  • Perform keyword research.
  • Try to cover clients’ questions and provide valuable solutions.
  • Use clear, concise, and compelling headlines.

2. Make pages mobile friendly.

  • Test them to ensure the page design adjusts to different screen sizes.
  • Users shouldn’t have to zoom in or scroll too much.
  • Try the page out on various devices and browsers.

3. Improve your page load speed.

  • Compress images and videos without losing quality.
  • Simplify them by reducing the number of elements on the page.
  • Enable browser caching and optimize server response time.

4. Use keywords effectively.

  • Use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner and Semrush for keyword research.
  • Use keywords in titles, headings, meta descriptions, and throughout the page.
  • Don’t overdo it. The copy should be engaging and flow naturally.

5. Create high-quality content that is relevant to your audience.

  • Being informative and useful while answering common questions.
  • Break up long sections of text with subheadings, bullet points, and images.
  • Include internal links as well as external ones leading to credible sources.

6. For better conversion rates, tell people what actions to take.

  • Guide users to take the next step – like signing up, downloading a resource, or making a purchase.
  • FIgure out which features such as buttons and headlines perform best for you.
  • Build trust with reviews, testimonials, or industry certifications.

By combining these and other smart strategies, and consistently testing and refining your landing pages, you will be driving more “organic” traffic to your site and ultimately increasing conversions.

Consult with Branding Experts at HYPTE About Our Interactive Marketing Solutions

The creative team at HYPTE works closely with each client to discover what their most pressing demands are so that our interactive marketing campaigns are sure to meet them.Reach out to HYPTE Branded Solutions with any questions, or call 708-343-9730 for a free consultation on your branding needs today!

5 Tips for Rebranding Strategically in the New Year

January 30, 2025

Luxury car brand Jaguar took some fans by surprise late last year when it announced its rebrand. The company’s ad campaign gained a lot of attention immediately, in part due to its controversial nature. Love it or hate it, the move includes many elements that successful marketers will recognize from their own rebranding efforts. To name a few:

  • New Logo – Representing the company’s newer focus on EVs while maintaining hints of the original logo
  • New Social Media Channels – Including striking patches that emphasize moods over cars
  • New Audience Appeal – Speculation that they are aiming to gain a younger, possibly Gen Z audience
  • Notable Removals – Perhaps most surprisingly, the absence of the cat emblem that used to adorn the hoods of the vehicles

Not everyone has their name recognition, however. For your own rebranding efforts, garner what you can from such campaigns, while relying on tactics that will raise the chances of your messages being heard.

1. Be Bold

It remains to be seen whether Jaguar’s latest rebrand will be a success or merely a temporary attention-getter. But there is one clear takeaway from it for those considering their own redirection in the new year. It was bold. Within weeks the video ad had gotten over one and a half million views online. Leadership took a big risk by tossing an image the company had honed over an entire century, and seemingly overnight deciding to project a more forward-looking image instead.

2. Base Changes in Your Branding on Market Research

You don’t want to rebrand based on a hunch alone – nor on a need to drum up business during a slump. There needs to be more impetus behind the decision, such as a new product line that is redefining your overall image. To that end, consider three time-tested tactics on which to base your changes:

Customer Feedback

Engage with current customers to understand their perceptions of your brand. Use surveys, interviews, and social media to gather insights about what works and what doesn’t.

Competitive Analysis

Take another look at your competitors’ brands. What are they doing well, and where are they failing? Understanding where your brand fits within the market landscape helps you carve out a unique position.

Industry Trends

How does your campaign fit in with the latest trends in your industry? Your refurbished image should feel fresh and forward-thinking, not outdated before it even launches.

3. Infuse Brand Campaign with a Memorable Story

This is one area where the story your marketing campaign tells can be a guide that will connect all of the pieces of your rebrand. Determine a compelling narrative your company wants to tell, supported by values that may diverge from the ones you have represented. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes simple is better. Consider this an opportunity to articulate what your company stands for, including its mission and vision for the future

Additionally, be consistent across touchpoints. Your rebrand will be more powerful when the same story is evident across all communication channels – your website, social media, customer service, and advertising materials.

4. Consider Strategic Partnerships to Amplify Your Launch

Be strategic in your rollout and plan every step of your rebrand launch to a T. This can extend to email campaigns, social media teasers, video announcements, and special promotions. A well-orchestrated rollout can build anticipation and excitement – even more so if you leverage influencers and partners who can help you reach a larger audience. Consider reaching out to key industry figures whose endorsements can amplify your rebrand message.

5. After the Launch: Monitor, Measure, and Adapt

Are you prepared to track key metrics? If not, consider hiring a specialist to help. After the rebrand is live, you will need to closely monitor data such as visitors to your website to track brand awareness, customer sentiment, and sales performance. Having benchmarks in place will enable the organization to continue assessing the success of the rebrand over time.

Consult with Branding Experts at HYPTE About Full-Service Solutions

Are you ready to inject fresh life into your brand? HYPTE’s team of branding experts can help you get started! We will help you build a campaign with a strong narrative so consumers can connect emotionally with your new image.

Contact HYPTE Branded Solutions online or call us at 708-343-9730 to begin planning your new year’s rebrand.

3 Steps to Prepare Your Marketing for a New Year

December 16, 2024

Smaller brands often discover around this time what they already suspected. Despite their top-notch offerings, they lack the resources to invest more than 30 minutes a day in their digital marketing, and often skip it altogether.

As you cast your sights on new beginnings, we recommend honing in on three focus areas to end the year with a bang and get you back on track.

1. Bump up Your Shipping & Delivery Communication

The first key to ending the year on a solid note is to intensify your focus on your most urgent shipping and delivery needs. If production is shifting into overdrive, you almost certainly will need to bump up communication with folks awaiting your products or services. This is not the time to miss a complaint about a missed package because you weren’t checking your socials. If there is a minor glitch in your fulfillment and delivery system, communicating how you plan to correct course will keep it from turning into something bigger.

Shoppers will be more concerned about delivery details than usual. Will your service provider inform them when their product leaves the warehouse? Can customers choose when an item is delivered or are they given an open-ended time slot that makes it difficult to plan their day? Clients are always grateful when extra transparency is built into their orders. Alert them immediately regarding any product developments. When people know what to expect, they are much more likely to be pleased with the results.

2. Conduct an End-of-Year Digital Marketing Audit

Before leaping into the new year, it pays to take stock of the recent past. If you were to summarize your marketing experiences in 2024, what would that look like? A recent report in Forbes revealed that over seventy percent of small biz owners had negative feelings about their own marketing strategies. But you’re not an average, and paving a better way forward requires taking stock of your gains as well as your losses. Looking back at your plans from January 1:

  • Which targets were accomplished?
  • What strategies show evidence of working?
  • How many hours did your team invest — and how does that align with outcomes?
  • What was the total expense and return on that investment?
  • What measurable results have you produced, and what do they tell you about your individual strategies?
  • Where are your gaps, and who can fill them in next year?

If you’ve been conducting monthly or quarterly audits, there is already a record of data to help answer those questions. Hopefully, it reveals a happy holiday surprise. You can see a direct line from your PPC ads to your web traffic and figure out what portion of those views resulted in calls. Doing a final annual audit is important. You will know something changed if there was a sudden drop in sales after Thanksgiving and can act accordingly. Mostly, it offers you a clear, detailed picture of whether your long-term marketing is working the way you had planned.

3. Dig Into the Details in Problem Areas

SMBs usually have an idea of what’s missing. Examining the details will give you a more accurate picture of the state of your digital marketing. This makes sense, since digital branding has only gotten more rigorous as spaces are flooded with competition attempting similar techniques. Take blogging, perhaps the main type of content you will create after your website. Ten years ago, it didn’t take much to produce a successful blog. There was a lot less online competition, and SEO was more basic.

Fast forward to the present and it can take twice as long to produce similar tasks. This is partly because content quality is one of the top criteria search engines use to gauge a page’s relevance. Most internet users read blogs. Companies that produce them get more leads than those that don’t. Yet those same keyword strategies of yore will have the opposite effect in today’s online environment. A year-end audit of your efforts will let you know which areas need the most help so you can invest in better strategies in the year to come.

HYPTE Branded Solutions Can Create Your New Year’s Marketing Program

If you’ve been remiss when it comes to producing content, optimizing your web pages, or any other area of your digital marketing, it’s only because you need a partner with the skills to do those areas justice.

Ready to start a whole new digital marketing cycle on the right foot? Contact HYPTE Branded Solutions online, or call us at 708-343-9730 for a free consultation!

5 Tips for Better Warehouse Fulfillment & Logistics Before the Holidays

November 18, 2024

When holiday orders are in full speed, getting the performance you need from your distribution and fulfillment operations can be a real nailbiter. Getting this part right is vital to any growing business that relies heavily on holiday sales. To mitigate the risks, you need to start thinking about how you will address challenges before they arise. In the fulfillment world, they can include:

  1. Unexpected spikes in orders
  2. Unfamiliar service providers
  3. Unreliable sources of labor
  4. Supply chain disruptions
  5. eCommerce glitches and other tech issues

Once your products are ready to ship out, a whole new set of challenges is just beginning. Take it from HYPTE Branded Solutions, which has developed holiday marketing campaigns for a diversity of high-profile businesses, including prominent sports teams. Our dependable Warehouse Fulfillment & Logistics team is just one of many services our clients have come to rely on this time of year.

Tip 1: Vet Your Vendors to Guarantee a Dependable, Organized Fulfillment Process

Our years producing and delivering high-quality branded products and experiences have taught us that the best of intentions are nothing without an organized fulfillment system at the end of the tunnel. Even under tight deadlines, we start by ensuring that products are high quality and align with the client’s most important goals.

Since we handle solutions from concept to delivery, that gives us more control over the product fulfillment stage of a project. Knowing who you’re working with prevents the kind of unhappy surprises that stem from a disorganized warehouse, something that matters even more this time of year regardless of your type of business. Due to our years of experience developing relationships with trusted partners, we are able to produce a lineup of experts to complete and deliver creative campaigns from scratch in time for the holidays.

Tip 2: Have a Branded Merchandise Service Do the Heavy Lifting for You

The next thing you will want to clarify is what your role will be at the fulfillment stage of the game. Can your needs be met in a single format, or will you need to be in contact with your service provider every day to provide direction to them so things stay on track? Using a full-service branded merchandise solution is a perfect example of how to make this process as easy as possible. It’s one thing if you’re hand crafting goods and sending them out the door one by one. But in most cases, a contractor like HYPTE Branded Solutions will be essential in taking things out of your hands early on.

Tip 3: Factor in How Your Marketing and Promos Will Impact Sales

It’s not enough simply to base forecasts on last year’s sales figures. How do you expect upcoming ads, seasonal events and other marketing tactics to impact business? Crunching these figures to the best of your abilities will make it that much easier to line up sufficient shipping and fulfillment services in the coming weeks.

If you haven’t implemented a holiday season marketing campaign yet, it’s not too late to start. Reach out to HYPTE Branding Services for a partner that includes warehouse logistics and fulfillment as one of its primary holiday services, along with social media ad campaigns, holiday events, and other creative solutions.

Tip 4: Use Fulfillment Provider with Channels That Deliver Where and When You Need It

Assumptions are just that, and they cause us to miss opportunities to empower ourselves. Businesses that rely on third-party fulfillment providers to manage inventory and ship products need to be sure there are flexible options to get their products to the parts of the country and world they need, on their timeline. Check to see if your provider is set up to handle orders from multiple channels – such as FedEx, USPS (first class or priority mail), and so on – and be sure those channels can meet desirable shipping standards you choose.

Tip 5: Use HYPTE Branded Solutions for End-to-End Holiday Season Fulfillment

Do you want the seamless fulfillment of orders throughout the holiday season without any last-minute chaos? Reach out to the team at HYPTE for end-to-end branded solutions that include digital marketing, reliable warehouse management, creative consulting and more.

Contact HYPTE Branded Solutions online, or call us at 708-343-9730 to discuss your branding needs for the holiday season.

Seasonal Branding Mistakes to Avoid This Year (and Why You Need to Spot Them in October)

October 15, 2024

The holiday season can make or break even the most promising of brands. They become cautionary tales for the rest of us, from cumbersome check-outs to off-brand ads to marketing campaigns that lack that holiday spirit people crave. And if you’re largely relying on holiday-season revenue while still building your brand, the stakes are even higher.

However, most branding pitfalls this time of year can be avoided primarily through process testing, well-planned customer service, and a familiarity with your target audience. Once you’ve figured out consumers’ likes, dislikes, and where you want to reach them, the rest should fall into place.

Branding Mistake #1: Insufficient Warehouse Fulfillment & Logistics to Handle Your Orders

It can be a happy accident that turns into a holiday nightmare – the inability to handle all of your orders. This is a very understandable mistake for smaller businesses, and it occurs for a variety of reasons. One, you’ve introduced a new product line but were unable to test market demands. Two, in-house departments were not communicating with one another sufficiently in the lead up to the seasonal rush. Events outside of your control, such as shipping delays overseas, can also be the culprit.

One way to prevent the stress of late-year distribution troubles is to pad in enough turnaround time so that even a two-week delay isn’t likely to hurt business. At least when it comes to your marketing, you have the option to outsource merchandising services to outside experts who can handle all your warehouse fulfillment and logistics needs, removing that burden from your plate.

Branding Mistake #2: Attempting All Your Marketing In-House Without the Proper Digital Marketing Skills

According to NerdWallet, roughly four out of five people will research their purchases online before buying anything. Yet nearly half (47 perfect) of small businesses still manage all of their marketing – despite a lack of in-house digital marketing skills – and that decision is holding them back. A branding consultant like HYPTE that has digital marketing expertise can save you time and money by creating original solutions and executing on them in a fraction of the time, allowing you to focus on everything else you will need to accomplish from Halloween to New Year’s Day.

Branding Mistake #3: Not Enough Well-Trained Customer Service Agents Around the Holidays

This complaint may be the most prevalent among marketing teams and consumers alike. If you’ve got all your holiday products lined up and ready to ship, congrats! Sufficient, high-quality customer service reps to handle all the questions from customers that are sure to follow is crucial this time of year, and a lack of it could jeopardize an otherwise stellar season.

Get some peace of mind by following these customer service tips:

  1. Emphasize your training. Consider more intensive training for newcomers with less holiday marketing experience.
  2. Evaluate your online portal. Test it thoroughly to become aware of any glitches and improve your processes in time for the holiday rush.
  3. Survey your customers. You can learn a lot from past campaigns!
  4. Over-communicate. Be sure everyone throughout your organization is on board with your plans.
  5. Anticipate problems. Make sure your reps are skilled at handling disgruntled customers.
  6. Line up temps. Be sure you have access to last-minute talent should workers drop out of the pool.
  7. Hire selectively. How will you weed out the duds? Don’t let holiday angst overshadow smart hiring decisions.
  8. Prioritize. Decide how you will handle the more urgent requests.

Branding Mistake #4: Failing to Test All the Components of Your Marketing Plans in Advance

Now is a good time to begin testing the different components of your campaign, including your sales process, to make sure they are compatible. That will help you determine whether your website or mobile advertising require any technical changes. One approach is to create a prototype of end users. Solicit feedback based on specific, predetermined objectives such as how they respond to your Thanksgiving design or measurable engagement with your Black Friday video promo. Doing so gives you time to make adjustments before launching what your larger audience will see.

HYPTE Branded Solutions Will Inject Holiday Cheer Into Your Seasonal Campaigns

Kick off the season by giving yourself the gift of outside help. The team at HYPTE Branded Solutions has the expertise to create a turnkey solution from scratch, or to manage the missing elements of your digital marketing, branding, and merchandising plans from now until January 1.

Contact HYPTE online, or call us at 708-343-9730 to discuss what’s missing from your holiday marketing campaign!

Plan Your Holiday Marketing Now – And What Steps to Include This Year

September 16, 2024

Retailers and other SMBs map out their holiday season far in advance these days, which means their marketing campaigns need to be in place even sooner. All of that takes time and, more and more often, assistance from a partner that can handle the more challenging elements of your campaign:

  • Determine where to market and what trend to follow
  • Identify buyer personas – and who influences them
  • Help you find fresh new customers who are buying local
  • Skew your activity to the right medium
  • Create thematic content and experiences

To create the kinds of ideas that bring in new business, build new relationships and connect with your existing customer base, you’ll need at least three months to lay the groundwork.

Create Multiple Ways to Capture Attention – And Link Back to Your Original Strategy

Did you know that most local searches consumers make on their smartphones result in store visits within one or two days? And as much as companies are told to wrap existing digital media trends into their campaigns, many don’t take enough advantage of this technology, despite the opportunities to target people contextually based on their interests. A branding expert will have the tools to plan out the smaller steps that help you connect with those shoppers without wasting time – like a recurring promotion with retargeting pixel and increased ad spend during peak shopping hours.

A multi-pronged approach could include a variety of ways to capture your audience’s attention:

  • Bold and disruptive holiday themed images
  • Fun and engaging marketing through photo contests, polls and strategic discounts
  • Brand communication via email promotions and social media posts
  • Develop landing pages, pop-ups, and integrated content for your website
  • All while leveraging Facebook and Google’s large data pool

6 Tips for Scheduling Out Your Marketing to Stand Out from Your Competition

By scheduling out your steps with time to spare, it will be easier to make adjustments as you go. Keep in mind, there could be a change in suppliers or material shortages causing an unexpected delay. Some food for thought that will take a little advance planning:

1. Post More Often

Social media schedules tend to become tighter this time of year. This is because a lack of posts won’t be seen amidst the competition. A digital marketer will know how often and on which platforms to post – for instance, by shortening the time frame by half to twice daily.

2. Order Holiday-Themed Branded Merchandise Early

No matter the industry, companies will need at least a couple months to tailor high-quality T-shirts, knit caps and other products with holiday themes. A full-service agency can handle merchandise as well as the digital marketing elements.

3. Engage Visitors with Dynamic Ads

Businesses are using mobile apps to create engaging ads and promos that are more tailored to the individual shopper, from the images to the written copy to your landing pages.

4. Offer Discounts and Giveaways

Everyone is a sucker for a sale, and when people are ready to spend they are also more likely to take advantage of discounts, sales, coupons and giveaways.

5. Include Video Content

Possibly the best way to get attention, creating video content can also be the most time consuming. If this is part of your plan, find someone experienced in video marketing to help you wrap up your Tik Tok, Roku or video short.

6. Communicate the Details

Don’t underestimate the power of information to expand your reach. You may even feel you are over-communicating, but consumers will want to know the latest deets regarding products, sales, and your brand.

HYPTE Branded Solutions Will Help You Design Your Fall Season Campaign

As the broader holiday season gets started in October, HYPTE Branded Solutions will help you get all of the necessary parts in place so you’re ready to launch as soon as the crisp fall weather arrives.

Contact HYPTE for help getting started. Call us at 708-343-9730 to set up a free consultation!