Author: Attention Marketing

Birmingham Design Festival 2019: Truth

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For the second year running, the city of Birmingham has hosted a highly successful gathering of design and creativity: Birmingham Design Festival (BDF). The festival, co-founded by designers Luke Tounge, Daniel Acorn and a team of highly dedicated creatives and volunteers in 2017, was born out of a need the fill the West-Midlands-design-festival-shaped hole. I think it’s safe to say that they have done this and achieved something quite incredible. The line-up of brilliant speakers and the buzz it has created amongst the creative industry speaks for itself. Well done guys!

Our Junior Designer, Alex Francis, decided to use his Yay Day, an initiative at Attention Media which allows employees to take a day of paid leave to engage in something they’ve always wanted to do, to head up to Brum and check out this year’s festival!

Revolving around the theme of truth, this year’s festival set out to discuss difficult subjects from within the creative industry and shed light on topics such as feminism and embracing mistakes in the creative process.

Alex’s first stop was to an exhibition titled ‘She Speaks the Truth’, which was in partnership with the organisation Ladies, Design and Wine. Their mission is to tackle gender equality in the creative industry by championing and celebrating other women’s success, as well as offering guidance and mentorship for young creative ladies.

The exhibition was a collection of posters designed in response to the statistic ‘only 11% of Creative Directors in the UK are women’.

Next up, Alex headed over to the Birmingham City University Parkside campus to watch a lecture by Superunion’s Creative Director Katherina Tudball about their re-brand for BBC 2. She spoke about the intricacies of collaborating with a vast number of animators and the team over at BBC Creative, as well as not ‘over directing’ the artists involved and unleashing their full creative potential. She took the audience on a journey from start to finish, showing them everything from the initial ideas, to the ones that didn’t make the cut, and development of the chosen idea. It was a real eye-opener into working with a brand that has a legacy that is so rooted in our British culture.

To wrap up the festival, and put the cherry on top, Alex attended a lecture by the amazing Verònica Fuerte, Founder and Creative Director of Barcelona-based design studio, Hey. Hey is known internationally for their positive attitude towards working, clearly stated in their name. Verònica took us through the history of Hey. What we really like about Hey is their commitment to pursuing personal projects in which they can experiment and do the kind of work they want to do. A great example of this is their project, Everyhey. Every day before they began work, they would set aside half an hour to illustrate characters from pop culture in their distinctive style, and they would post these on an Instagram page dedicated to the project (@EveryHey). One thing led to another, and Hey held an exhibition showcasing all 400 illustrations. This was shortly followed by a self-published book about the project.

All in all, Alex really enjoyed his Yay Day at the Birmingham Design Festival, and would recommend to anyone (not just designers) to make their way up to Birmingham next year to get involved with the festival.

Drawing a brand: the mystery behind illustration

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Hi I’m Eve, an illustrator and designer here at Attention Media. During my year at the company I have been fortunate to apply my illustration skills to many projects. Observing from photographs, and using a mixture of techniques on Adobe Illustrator, I create both simple and intricate illustrations for several of our clients.

I believe illustration adds a special something to a brand, in a way that typeface, photography and words alone cannot. This is because illustrated design results in a truly original piece of work. Every illustrator has a unique style and a unique palette of favoured colours – so for a brand, it’s about finding the right illustrator that represents them. A unique, distinctive illustration is a stamp of creativity, which instantly raises it far above any characterless system font or standard stock imagery.

A regular client of ours – Absurd Bird – recently required a Country Weekender poster, and with the intention of adding a bit of originality to the design, I illustrated Dolly Parton and placed her next to the title text. Rather than just relying on type, the distinctive image of Dolly portrays the message of the country and western theme in an instant. Even more recently, the restaurant chain required simple illustrated icons of cocktail glasses to accompany their bar menu. This again,  provides immediate communication with the consumer (which may be even more useful after their fifth cocktail!).

I have also illustrated the awesome team here at Attention Media, which appear across social media graphics, emails and our website.. The fun illustrations represent all of our unique qualities, and bring a more quirky, creative edge to our existing brand. This was displayed well when we were nominated in the Creative category at the Exeter Living awards, where the illustration was displayed on the giant screens!

We also found a unique way of keeping in touch with the new contacts that we met at MIPIM, in Cannes, by posting them my illustrated retro-style postcards with a handwritten message from our MD, Sarah Jepson. This, again, shows an originality that is hard to re-create or copy.

Many other companies are using illustration to add individuality to their brands. Etsy use a hand drawn style of illustration which ties in really well with the handmade, independent artists that sell on the site. Ashley House printers use animal illustrations to promote various aspects of their business, such as their green printing ethos. One of my favourite graphic designers, Marta Veludo, was behind the Soda Make up brand, where each piece of makeup packaging has a cute illustration, resulting in a really fun, quirky and unique brand identity.

Simple icons can also be illustrated and used within brands to quickly and clearly clarify a message. Clothing brand Skinny Dip use icon style illustrations to highlight key customer information on their website.

We applied this technique for the infographic illustration used for our client Burrington Estates, where I illustrated an icon for each on of their housing schemes. These icons appear on their website and within certain flyers and posters to give the schemes a cohesive look and feel, while fitting the style of the brand.

I believe that illustration used within brands hints at a person behind the organisation, suggesting to the consumer that there’s a lot more to the product or service than just ‘buy me’.  This is because illustration is more than just a sales tool, it’s a personable piece of art!

Why brand positioning is even more important for developers in uncertain times

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Despite what the headlines tell us of an uncertain market and low properties levels, this couldn’t be further from the truth in our humble corner of the world. Exeter’s property market is on the up and there isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t take note of yet another planning application for new homes or commercial units. But, with this seeming boom, we are more aware than ever of the increasing competition with many large and established property developers cottoning onto the importance of a recognised brand, impactful marketing and importantly, customer care. It’s about finding that spark that gives you a little bit of edge against the rest.

It can be one of the most stressful things we do in life, and in Britain, that’s why we only choose to do it once every 23 years. When it comes to moving, or thinking about buying a new home, it can fill you a fervent excitement; looking forward to the promise of somewhere new, away from all of the ways that your current house annoys you – saying goodbye to the kitchen that’s always felt too small or the garden that’s now too hard to manage. So why don’t we do it more often?

I remember my Grandma telling me the story of how she and my Grandad bought their first house. She remembered seeing an advert in the daily newspaper – A COLLECTION OF HOMES LAUNCHING SOON – with a hand drawn sketch of the street scene. Delicate flowers, gated driveways and that classic 1950’s design. She always remembers the day they went to see the plans laid on the table of the sales office, with each plot sold marked with a red pen dabbed onto the paper. Now, property marketing has come a long way since then, just look at the CGIS, virtual reality… you can almost walk around your potential new home before even stepping foot on site! But the same principles still apply.

  1. Find your audience
  2. Launch your product
  3. Make them remember you

Everything you see, think, or do, is connected to marketing. It’s more than just ads, or brand films, or a story you read in the newspaper. Every time you see a brand, or a company, or an idea, that very thing has been marketed directly to you. You can’t just start work on a development and expect the whole population to know what you’re doing without a little bit of marketing. Word of mouth – yep, that’s marketing. Those plans you see on the planning permission – you guessed it, that’s marketing too.

It’s all about hitting the market in the right way, at the right time. Whether we’re developing unique and striking logos, a smart piece of wording that captures attention or crafting an impressive cinema style film, we’re there, behind the scenes, asking ourselves one question – how will this help sell the houses?

Engaging with the customer is the key and magical ingredient, making them feel aware, understood and able; able to buy, able to ask questions and able to find out more. You want your buyers to be excited about your product, their new home – where they pine over every piece of information you provide, lingering on the stunning photography and expertly put together words in the pages of your beautifully designed and on-brand brochure.

From the very first day we don our steel toe cap boots and hi-vis jackets, to the moment you welcome your final homeowner, we’re working to continue pushing your brand, your properties and your vision. There will be endless days of us pouring over the journey, at what touchpoints can we introduce this cool campaign, when will we see the first show home, how can we make those first few homeowners feel a little extra special.

That’s how we get them to remember you. That’s how we get people to say goodbye to their small kitchen and unruly garden and choose your development.

Because, afterall, it’s not just about housing. It’s about building something to be proud of. Just like my Grandparents were the first day they walked into that house on Westfield Street.

Alex’s thoughts on branding: New Media

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One topic I have been very interested in recently is the exploration of the graphic and creative possibilities enabled by emerging technology, particularly how they can play a part in the process of creating a brand identity. I believe it is highly valuable to think about the future of design and to be aware of emerging trends. Technology permeates our everyday lives, and without a doubt will play a huge role in the future of design and advertising.

Today I would like to talk about two examples of brand identities that I believe have utilised the potential of new media to create both compelling and forward-thinking design solutions.

First off is the brand identity for the Amsterdam Sinfonietta by Dutch design agency Studio Dumbar. Their work is internationally known for being highly progressive and influential with a focus on typography and brand identities. This is why their work excites me; because they are constantly pushing existing boundaries and challenging expectations of what graphic design is capable of.

When devising the strategy for the Amsterdam Sinfonietta brand, they came up with four themes to describe the brand’s essence; quality, perfections, experimentation and innovation. With this in mind, a technology-led concept was developed which aimed to reflect the forward-thinking attitude of the Amsterdam Sinfonietta.

To execute this technology-led concept, they used a programme called Processing which was created for designers to produce dynamic animations using code. Studio Dumbar then created custom code that allowed them to transform the orchestra’s music into dynamic patterns and movements made up of typography. These patterns and animations could then be used in all of the orchestras branded print and digital material to express the brand’s experimental and innovative values.

 

Next up is the re-brand for the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) by the design agency The Partners, which has now merged with a group of international design and advertising agencies to form one global agency under the name of Superunion.

Music, especially that produced by an orchestra, carries emotional power, so why shouldn’t the brand identity evoke an equal amount of emotion?

Orchestra music has been around for a very long time and may not necessarily appeal to today’s audiences. This insight is what sparked the rebrand; to capture the forward-thinking spirit and emotional power of the London Symphony Orchestra and make it relevant to a new generation.

“If an orchestra takes inspiration from its conductor, why shouldn’t it’s brand?”

This quote is what inspired the initial idea for the existing logo, which was to reference the motion of conducting an orchestra to form the initials LSO.

The Partners collaborated with motion capturing company Vicon Systems and the University of Portsmouth School of Creative Technologies to create the brand identity. State of the art motion capturing technology was used to track Sir Simon Rattles (LSO Music Director) every movement whilst he was conducting. The data and motion captured from this was then used to direct the motion of a series of striking animations.

The idea of ‘conducting’ the visual identity of the brand was further brought to life through the creation of a bespoke typeface that reflected the sweeping moves of the conductor, bringing the brand idea full circle.

Unusual ads that have our attention

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Adverts are statements, echoes of a brand, providing ways of presenting companies as something more than vessels for unnecessary purchases. In the age of the failing high street, businesses need to speak to us in more creative ways and appeal to our emotions rather than our purse strings. Brands need to change their approach to marketing to stay ahead of the game, and already this year some new campaigns have got our team talking.

Gillette – We Believe: The Best Men Can Be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koPmuEyP3a0

Gillette, famed for their 90’s slogan, ‘The best a man can get’, exploded onto the social media scene last month with a new ad… and a new message. In recent years, adverts have become less about companies trying to sell us ‘things’ but rather, moments in time where we are transported into a mini movie world. From a heartbreaking tale of a man stuck on a moon at Christmas to the story of Elton John’s very first piano, many ads have taken the subliminal messaging route of if the audience connects with their message, they will feel the need to buy our products to prove it.

For Gillette, they made a very risky move with the new slogan ‘The best men can be’. The ad unavoidably alienates the portion of their consumer base that disagrees with their views on how men ‘should’ behave. How significantly that impacts their business remains to be seen, however the ad triggered an extremely divided opinion from the public. What was meant with good intentions was received with less than – outrage, boycotts and, of course, thousands of #trending tweets that polarised the brand as either boldly in support of the #MeToo movement or villainizing their consumer base. The overwhelming feeling is that it is a total marmite advert – you either appreciate the message or you don’t. But, in scrutinising ‘toxic’ behaviours on a global stage it achieves something more than marketing: igniting progressive discussions.

ITV/ Veg Power – Eat them to defeat them

We live in a world where if a child asks for an apple over a chocolate bar we think that’s odd. We’d be surprised, overcome with scepticism and confusion, like we’re being tricked somehow. With the news telling us year after year that our children are at growing risk of long term health conditions resulting from their diet and exercise regimen, the childhood health debate is a long standing one.

Advertising is partly to blame for the relationship we form with unhealthy foods, as our children learn to associate good feelings with fizzy drinks and sugar filled treats. However, ITV in association with Veg Power and a band of UK supermarkets recently premiered an unexpected new ad campaign, ‘Eat them to defeat them’, to combat childhood obesity. Although shot in an entertaining action movie parody style, the ad used incredibly underwhelming messaging. Fruit and veg are painted as the enemy, with carrots fashioned as daggers and brussel sprouts drowning unsuspecting parents, and children are presented as the only way to win the war.

Using child heroism as a motivator in a healthy eating ad is an undeniably fresh way to encourage our kids to play an active role in their health, but we can’t help but ask, does it not just reinforce the divide between healthy and unhealthy foods? Surely there’s a better way to encourage healthy eating that will better impact impressionable young ones in the long term. Aldi, for example, have done an incredible job with Kevin the carrot. He was a stand out favourite for families during the Christmas ad campaign season, and by humanising veg in this way a more positive relationship with healthy food was created. The stark contrast in approach for these two ads says it all.

Jack Dicker – Archilime Architectural Visualisations

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We recently caught up with Jack Dicker from Archilime to ask him about all things CGI and 3D Design!

 

Tell us more about Archilime

As a creative studio, Archilime predominantly offers high-end, bespoke Architectural CGI for planning applications & marketing campaigns for Agencies & Developers along with 3D design development for Interior Designers, Architects and Landscape Designers. We are also making a real mark within the animation field at the moment so we can expect to see this rise over the next few years.

What made you want to be a 3D Architectural CG Artist? Did you always know it was what you wanted to do?

Actually no, I studied at Plymouth University and took on a degree in Architecture so not quite down the CGI path as usually expected. I have worked in a couple of Architectural practices and studied Architecture since I was about 15, so my love for structural design will always be there, however, I found the CGI world to be much more creative on so many different levels and it’s the way I naturally went. Having the opportunity to be creative is that natural pressure valve I need because as so many people will understand being the director of a company comes with many stresses so when I can get my teeth into working on some extremely exciting projects whether that’s lighting a scene or organising vegetation it’s just such a nice way to spend some working time, relaxing. I’ve always been fascinated with the way natural light hits and effects raw materials throughout the world of Architecture. I discovered being able to re-create any structure I wanted with 3D modelling and then creating my own lighting effects with various render engines, was the way forward.

What’s one of the most memorable projects you’ve ever worked on?

This is so difficult to answer, strangely I remember every project we have done to date but my most memorable was probably when we produced a series of CGIs for a local Architect and friend, Gavin. Gavin is the director of Woodford Architects and was one of my first ever clients five years ago. This project is probably my most memorable because we were at the forefront of technology when working with vegetation in SketchUp. The project was a Cornish barn conversion called Little Dinnabroad. We were helping companies like Skatter, Laubwerk and Corona really develop their plugins. The way that SketchUp was proposing to move forward in terms of scattering and randomising planting models over a scene was a real breakthrough. That and having SketchUp as a 64Bit system back then was huge… how technology changes so quickly… now it’s expected. Before this, Dan (Our Lead Creative) and I were having to pretty much place our models independently and rotate these with the very basic randomisation plugins available at the time and it took a considerable amount of time. Little Dinnabroad was that project where we had the opportunity to really deliver something new in the industry.

What is your favourite thing about working at Archilime?

Tough again! But in all seriousness I love coming to the studio and working with the team we have built here over time. The vibes, the positivity, the fun but also the professionalism we all share gives me a very proud emotion that I feel when thinking about what we have here. We are all on the same page in terms of work ethics and the knowledge and understanding of the industry is also there. It ultimately all starts with the staff and I think that without the people around me it would be a difficult place to come.

Where do you see the future of architectural visualisation technology going?

I can see this becoming more accessible to the public and freelancers in terms of simplifying render engines and lighting rigs to become more time efficient and appeal to a wider range of customers. We are already seeing companies like Chaos Group making the rendering process more straightforward with fewer settings to adjust and more dynamic controls hidden from the user. I guess the idea is to widen the selling market for these companies and offer the option to render their work at a basic level all in-house. More creative people are now becoming freelance in an industry that is craving that line of work and as the technology improves and the process becomes more accessible, I see the future being extremely competitive from a low-quality service point of view. On the flip side, the quality some companies are now reaching with photo-real visualisation is breathtaking but, as everyone knows, there is some serious money invested into what an Architectural Visualisation company uses in terms of hardware and licensing costs and I think that will always separate the two levels to a certain extent.

What are your software’s of choice and why?

Predominantly, we use V-ray with SketchUp as our main software options but this comes with plenty of clever plugins to enable us to achieve tasks in SketchUp that would not usually be possible with its native tools. SketchUp is, in my personal opinion, the fastest method to mass up structures and topography. We are so in tune with this software after so many years of daily use it just doesn’t seem feasible or logical to change our workflow to anything else until we need to do so. I believe we produce strong and high-quality imagery and what we are doing works for us. There doesn’t seem to be any reason to change and follow suit. My mum used to constantly say to me ‘don’t change what ain’t broke! Change what is!’. It’s true, we’re better off focusing on ways to constantly become more efficient with the way we work, not how we work.

What motto or phrases do you live by?

Ha, I do love a good quote, I have about 10 or 11 saved on my phone at any one time! My all-time favourite quote is ‘Success is the ability to move from one failure to another without loss of enthusiasm.’ I think that was Winston Churchill but I really can’t remember where I read that, it just stuck with me as it is so true…

If you were on a deserted island, what two things would you take with you?

Well, this is tough, I think I would categorically say yes to Football Manager. I’ve got a cracking Atletico Madrid game save on at the moment and I’m on the verge of some huge signings. So that takes one space and then, of course, my beautiful wife 😉 Although she wouldn’t be too pleased with my first choice!

Name one person who you consider to be your inspiration

I think this has to be Bertrand Benoit, a French Architect that had moved into the CGI industry some time ago. I find his work fascinating. The attention to detail, quality of textures, understanding of light, it’s all so absolutely bang on and the level of hyper-realism is unbeatable in my opinion.

As an entrepreneur, what piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

I think the continuous worry over a lot of very (now) minor dilemmas and issues I encountered in the start-up process was most likely unneeded. The concern of whether I wrote an email to a potential lead the wrong way, to early or late in the day, whether I should call or email that person, or how long I should wait for a response before contacting the potential lead… I had so many worries surrounding the way I carried out my actions, I now look back and know that the important thing there was that I was doing it either way. The fact that I was worried about that sort of thing makes me realise how much I wanted this to develop into something great. I was very concerned about the smaller details that ultimately in a busy working environment, doesn’t matter in the slightest. I could have done nothing, but I didn’t. I found out that timelines in business are very different to timelines in life. Within our industry, whether its 2 weeks, 4 or 8 weeks is nothing to be waiting on a fee proposal to come through for a particular project that needs thought and decision making by the client. At the start, I tried to weigh up all my options in a very unfamiliar industry and a lot of stress came from my inability to relax, take a step back and be patient. Before I started this company I came from an Architectural background so I had close to no experience in the CGI world. I learnt everything I knew myself and spent 20 hours a day reading and learning about CGI. If I was to give any advice at all, I would say just focus on your quality of work, your chosen clients will follow whilst you take your time in producing what is required to the best of your ability.

Tell us about the future of Archilime

We have a very bright future and something to definitely look forward too here, that’s for sure. The new services we are developing not only within the CGI industry but the entire interior design field, a very exciting prospect at the moment. The ability to be able to dip in and out of other fields with our wide range of experience from each artist is a powerful advantage and it’s something we are looking to further explore over the next 12 months. We have animation, interior design, graphic design and a range of marketing apps all coming to life, so developing these with some great people is something we are all very positive about. The way we can incorporate all our services to tailor around a 3D Design Development process for Architects & Developers is huge right now. Whilst using real-time rendering (live, active final render results as we work on our 3D model) and being able to offer swappable materials, textures and lighting, it allows the client to visually see their design process in 3D form before we progress to the final stages so everything is seen, agreed and explored. Exploring how we can help during the early stages for us is key for us and where we want to try and invest more research and development. It is after all about the clients’ experience, so I’m hoping that we continue to put the future of Archilime in-line with that.

Keep an eye out for our next guest blogger, Ajay from Kensington Taylor.

Council grants planning permission for 14 new homes in Colebrook, Plympton

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Plymouth City Council has granted South West property developer, Burrington Estates New Homes, planning permission for the creation of 14 new luxury homes on the former site of Colebrook House in Plympton.

Following discussions with the planning committee, a recommendation to approve from officers of Plymouth City Council, local councillors and the general public, planning permission was awarded for the collection of four bed family homes and the award-winning property developer will begin work on its latest development in the city – called Mayhew Gardens – this Autumn.

The name of the new development takes its inspiration from the Mayhew family who were responsible for the expansion of Colebrook village in the 19th century.

The intimate housing development will have a mix of exterior slate and stone work. Burrington Estates states its premium fixtures and fittings will feature throughout the new homes, which includes British-designed kitchens with integrated appliances, luxury fitted carpets and oak veneer doors. The new homes will also have the provision for Solar PV.

Burrington Estates emphasises their commitment to sensitive re-development of the site and will be providing ecological enhancements, such as planting and landscape management, bird and bat boxes and opportunities for bat roosting.

The developer is committed to ensuring minimum disruption to the community throughout the build programme, Burrington Estates will create an pedestrian access walkway from Colebrook Lane to Newnham Road. Part of the existing wall surrounding the site will be removed to allow for a road access point from Colebrook Lane.

As part of the planning permission, the derelict Colebrook House, which currently stands on the site, will be removed. Colebrook House, which was built in the mid-19th century, no longer retains any of its original external features, such as the bay windows and turrets, and has fallen into disrepair with damp, decay and roofing issues. The house was rendered uninhabitable following the complete collapse of the landing ceiling in 2013. Burrington Estates will aim to capture the essence of the house and flower garden in the new homes.

Colin Palmer, Managing Director of Burrington Estates New Homes, said: “Mayhew Gardens will be our third new homes site in the city, following the success of Notre Dame on Looseleigh Lane and The Quarters at Manadon Park. Colebrook is such an ideal location as its close enough to the city but benefitting from a great community feel. We have already received a huge amount of interest in the site and can’t wait to get started with our plans.”

David Matthews, Development Director at Burrington Estates New Homes, said: “I’ve been involved with this site from the beginning and hearing from the local residents has really helped to shape this scheme. Engaging with the community is a cornerstone of what we do and we are positive that our new homes will enhance the area and breathe new life into the grounds of Colebrook House.”

Burrington Estates New Homes have partnered with Maitlands to assist with sales for the new homes. Work will begin on site this summer with the properties set to be on sale by the end of the year. The build programme is expected to be completed in 2019.

Our top three reasons why you NEED social media

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In 2018, you might think having a social media channel is a given – a hallmark in the success of a company. But there are so many businesses out there still unsure about how to use this forever changing and often confusing means of marketing.

With so many platforms to choose from and so many different ways to use them, we thought we’d break it down and explain our top three reasons why using social media (and using it effectively) will drive you more sales and traffic than ever before.

  1. Choose the right platform

The key to social media success is knowing where to spend your time and your effort. Let’s talk about the top four channels for example.

Facebook is a great way of connecting with your audience and provides a way for you to present everything you can offer all in one place; deals, website details, opening times, instant messaging. If you are unsure where to start… start with Facebook.

“Facebook is all about information and helping people share it.” – Mark Zuckerberg, Founder, Facebook

Next up – Instagram. Did you know that there are over 95 million photos added to Instagram everyday and, great news if you’re a pizza company – it’s the most Instagrammed food! If you have gorgeous photos and something to share, Instagram is the place to be. Don’t forget about Instagram stories too. They can capture the everyday happenings of your company and, if you have over 10,000 followers, you can benefit from the swipe up feature linking directly to your website.

For a more business-to-business approach, head over to LinkedIn. This growing platform is over 500 million members and can tell you everything you need about potential candidates, your sector and top news, specially curated for you.

Finally, we have Twitter. Once the most popular place to be on the Internet (aside from Facebook), it seems to have been overtaken by it’s younger sibling – Instagram – and can feel a little lost at times. That being said, it’s great for sharing news, updates and information and is one of the best places to interact with your audience. Keep an eye on the trending topics – they’re a great way to have your finger on the pulse of popular news, events and discussions. See something that fits with you? React!

2) Invest, invest, invest

Just like any other area of your business, your social media channels require investment to drive them forward. No one is going to find your page just because you are now there! There are 60 million active business on Facebook and you need to stand out from the crowd.

From spending as little as £5 per day on advertising, you can create highly targeted campaigns which will result in your audience rapidly growing. From brand awareness, event promotions, lead generation, spend a little and you will reap the rewards.

“Social media has now become a ‘pay-to-play’ arena, if you’re not paying, you’re not playing,” Kiara Havenga, Social Media Marketer & Tutor

3) Connect with your audience

Gone are the days of email enquiries. 78% of people who complain to a brand on Twitter expect a response within an hour – can you offer that? Users want information quickly and clearly and instant messaging can provide just the solution. All of the big name social media channels offer instant messaging – a helpful and easy way to connect with users who have issues or questions.

Don’t forget about the comments section too! Connecting with your users in a positive and friendly manner presents a great picture of your brand. Other users will see the comments and be encouraged to Like, check out the website and find out more about you.

“Content is King, but engagement is Queen and she rules the house!” – Mari Smith, Social Media Expert

Social media is a fantastic way to get your brand or your company out into the world. If you’re looking to make the leap, why not get in touch? Email us at hello@www.attention-marketing.co.uk and we’ll put you on the social media map.

References: https://www.brandwatch.com/blog/96-amazing-social-media-statistics-and-facts/

https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/social-media-facts-statistics-2019

Michelmores Property Awards, Exeter 2018

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Last week we were honoured to be sponsors at the 16th annual Michelmores Property Awards. As marketing experts working closely in the property industry, sponsoring the property awards was a natural fit for us. Every year the awards showcase and celebrate the outstanding property and construction projects across the South West and recognise commercial and residential projects within the region.

The evening took place on the 7th of June at Exeter University and was hosted by comedian and actor, Josh Widdecombe, who lead the award presentations and treated the crowd to a comedic act which has us all cracking up!

We attended with our guests from Burrington Estates, Grenadier, Wilkinson Grant, Kensington Taylor, Prydis and Expedite. The Great Hall was filled with some of the industry’s most talented property developers, building contractors, architects and other industry professionals. Winners on the evening included Lloyd’s Lounge, who are just around the corner from our office, for Exeter for Project of the Year (under £5m), Tate St Ives for Building of the Year and nominations for our client Burrington Estates, with Bonhay Road, Exeter finalists for Alternative Property Investment Project of the Year and The Ship, Plymouth for Project of the Year (over £5m.)

Attention Media are delighted to have sponsored the Heritage Project of the Year category with our managing director, Sarah Jepson, presenting the award to Higher Mill, Buckfast Abbey – submitted by Form Design Group.

Emma Honey, Head of Real Estate at Michelmores, said: “Once again, the standard of entries we received for this year’s Property Awards was outstanding. From a cutting edge nuclear training facility in Somerset to a residential development that rehabilitated military veterans through a self-build training programme in construction skills, the range and breadth of projects has been fantastic and has demonstrated the excellence of the property and construction sector in our region. My congratulations go to all of our winners and to all those shortlisted.”

We had a great evening and would like to thank Michelmores and everyone involved for another amazing event, we can’t wait for next year!