The Buzz

Drones are creating quite the buzz these days–literally and figuratively. Because they can capture such stunning content, they are becoming the tool of choice for many photographers and videographers. First seen mostly in genres like extreme sports and action film, drones have now brought their very specialized set of skills into the business world.

Smart business owners and entrepreneurs recognize the immense value of compelling video and photo content in marketing themselves and their products. Now, through the use of drones, the value of that content can literally take off! Here’s why drones are the new secret weapon of effective marketing.

1. Aerial Perspective

The most obvious value of drones is that these little guys can fly. Aerial video and photography have an impact that nothing else does. You now have the ability to give your customers a unique and powerful perspective on your business and products. You can literally fly your audience down your street and into your front door.

2. Endless Angles

Flying high isn’t their only skill. Since they are so small and agile, drones can shoot from almost any perspective you can imagine. Shoot from underneath tables, fly through hallways, windows, or tunnels. Outdoors and indoors as well, the possibilities are almost endless.

3. Exceptional Quality

As camera technology advances, video quality elevates. Drones now shoot video in full HD and even 4k resolutions. This means that even at significant heights and distances, your image is clear and crisp.

With image stabilization, the camera movements in drone videos can be smooth and seamless. This takes a level of skill, of course. Make sure you hire a skilled and experienced videographer to produce your marketing videos.

4. Limitless Applications

If you own a business, I’m sure you’re already dreaming about your next drone video. We have lots of ideas as well. Here are just a few examples of how we’re using drones to create impact for our customers.

Roofing Company

Home Builder

Day Spa & Salon

Showroom

5. Emotional Impact

Most of all, videographers use drones because of the emotional impact they can produce. All the tricks and creative ideas have a purpose. That purpose is to move people. This is especially true in marketing.

Marketing is first and foremost about impact. The goal is always to deliver a message that connects with people and moves them to act. Drones can help create the emotional impact that gives your marketing content the power to do just that.

6. Unforgettable Content

Like it or not, marketing is more than just storytelling. Marketing is a competition. Whatever your business, you need messages that help you stand out from the crowd. Just having the right information isn’t enough. You need content your audience literally can’t forget.

This is why drones are such a valuable tool. With the right creative team behind it, a drone can be the key to making your marketing content sparkle. Whether it’s video, still photography, or both, the drone can make your content unforgettable.

7. Brand Power

If there’s one thing business owners want for their businesses, it’s brand power. You want people to remember you and think about you first. Lots of things go into creating brand power. You have to do an exceptional job at what you do, have integrity, and maintain good customer relationships.

Once you have those things in place, effective marketing is the next step in empowering your brand, and drones can play an important role in that. Through video and photography with creative perspectives, exceptional quality, and emotional impact, your content can be powerful and memorable.

At McWilliams Media in Tulsa, Oklahoma, we specialize in brand power. Through web design, branding, social media, and professional photography and videography, we help you build your dream. Contact us today and let us show you how drone video and photography can be your new marketing secret weapon!

The post Not Just For Spies Anymore. The Drone: Marketing’s New Secret Weapon first appeared on McWilliams Media | Website Design | Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Starbucks has been winning the marketing game for a long time. From a single store in Seattle in 1971, the coffee behemoth now boasts over 28,000 locations worldwide. Their success is due in part to the quality of their products to be sure. However, without their savvy marketing, they would not be where they are today.

A recent announcement in Business Insider reveals yet another example of the company’s marketing acumen. Starbucks has decided to release its Pumpkin Spiced Latte a week earlier this year. On the surface, this may seem insignificant, but there’s a lot we can learn from this subtle but powerful move, and from how they’ve marketed this little gem over the years.

1. Tasty Timing

Since Starbucks introduced the PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) in 2003, it has become their most popular seasonal beverage of all time. Its creation was in response to the success of their Peppermint Mocha and Eggnog Latte but has proven even more successful. Why? Well, for one thing, timing.

The flavors of fall are distinctive and nostalgic, and perhaps no flavor says fall like Pumpkin. Americans, in particular, have a strong emotional connection to the season. The childhood memories, nostalgia, family, and friendship associated with fall holidays are all big emotional buying triggers. Add to that the feeling that the beverage will warm you as it gets cold outside, and you have one powerful seasonal offering.

As marketers, we do ourselves a dire disservice if we fail to consider the timing of our offerings. How popular would the PSL have been if it had been introduced in June? It would have been foolish to try. In the same way, our marketing strategies must include a well-thought-out timeline. Don’t just consider who, what, why and how, but also when.

2. Staying Clear of the Crowd

This example may also seem to be about timing, but it’s actually more than that. Starbucks is releasing this Fall favorite about a week early this year. Why? To stay clear of the crowd of fall products that are about to flood the market.

Starbucks is using timing to stay clear in this instance. But they stay clear in many other ways through the year. They keep their brand and message clear and unique. For example, they have remained a “second wave” coffee brand in the face of the “third wave” artisan coffee movement. This has helped them stay distinct when many brands might have shifted too heavily with the trends.

In the same way, we need to design our marketing to keep us clear of the crowd. Strategic and effective marketing always takes into consideration what other messages prospects and customers will be hearing. Timing can be an important part of the response, but that’s not all.

We must know who our competitors are, but more importantly, we must know who we are. We must stay unique, distinguish ourselves clearly, and stay true to our brand. Do that well, and you will never get lost in the crowd.

3. Stay With What Works

Pumpkin Spiced Latte is a fifteen-year-old product. After a decade and a half, it is outselling all their other seasonal beverages. They haven’t changed it or discontinued it. Why? It works.

Wise marketers are aware of trends and try to anticipate when to change something. But if something works well, to change it is anything but wise. While trends may change, people tend to change very little very slowly. Since we market to people, certain things may work very well for a very long time. “If it ain’t broke…” well, you know.

4. Know Your Customer

Starbucks didn’t invent pumpkin spice. All they did was take advantage of its popularity. They found something many people already liked and capitalized on it. The combination of the flavor and the season are almost magically inviting to Starbucks customers. Year after year, they continue to employ these mystical powers to lure us in, and we keep coming back!

Good marketers know how to take advantage of these natural forces. Associating products with things people are already drawn to is a big part of what we do. So it pays to get to know your prospects’ likes and dislikes. Then you can market to them much more effectively.

5. Create Anticipation

Every year, lots of fanfare accompanies the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte. And the company plays on the drink’s popularity to create anticipation by announcing a reveal date. By the time you can get one, you already want one, and this is a powerful sales booster.

What do you do to create anticipation? When launching a product or service, do you take steps to warm up your audience to expect something great? Have a strategic plan for your launch that builds in time to get your customers ready. Create a buzz. Engineer some hype. In a way, this is creating your own season.

Professional Digital Marketing

At McWilliams Media Inc. in Tulsa and Broken Arrow, we are experts at strategic digital marketing. We are passionate about helping you achieve your goals and realize your vision. Through the power of web design, videography, social marketing and more, we help you get your message out to the right people at the right time. Contact us today.

Image Copyright: <a href=’https://www.123rf.com/profile_larryratt’>larryratt / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

The post Pumpkin Spiced Latte: What a Fall Favorite Can Teach Us About Strategic Marketing first appeared on McWilliams Media | Website Design | Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.