Gucci Snapchat

Cryptoart, Virtual Sneakers and Digital Real Estate: How Gucci’s marketing has utilised Augmented Reality

Image Credit: HypeBeast

Dominating the virtual space

Over the last few years, Gucci has been making its presence known in the virtual world. The iconic brand has done this in a way which is not so much dipping its toe into the  free-dimensional world, rather,  jumping in headfirst and causing a cultural tsunami.

From Augmented Reality (AR) try-on features to experimental digital spaces and buying digital real estate, Gucci’s recent ventures into the virtual world has got us all talking about them. Last week’s launch of their Gucci’s new virtual cryptoart space has kept this conversation going. How has Gucci utilised AR and is this merely expensive marketing or, rather, paving the way into the new age?

 

Virtual Try-on 

In 2018 Gucci partnered with Snapchat to release a try-on lens on their platform. Available internationally, it allowed Snapchat users to try on Gucci shoes in AR. It was incredibly successful and part of the experience was visiting the online Gucci store after virtually trying on the trainers, making it easier than ever to buy Gucci’s products. 

 

Gucci has now unrolled this feature onto its own app, where customers can now try on more than just trainers. Makeup, nailart, watches and even home decor, Gucci yet again enhanced the customer experience of online shopping, thrusting itself into the present age, keeping itself as relevant as its fashion.

Gucci Snapchat

Image Credit: Footwear News

Digital-only fashion

Around one year after Gucci began its AR journey with Snapchat, it launched a project which took its ventures to the next level – Gucci designed a pair of trainers which exist solely in the virtual world. Named ‘Virtual 25’, the fluorescent trainers were launched in collaboration with Wanna, available to try on using AR as well as to wear in photographs.

The digital trainers were launched on the online Gucci Sneaker Garage, and purchasing them unlocked a downloadable version of the trainers which could be worn on the users’ avatars on the game Roblox and  the virtual reality social platform VRChat. Since this, Gucci has made available a range of accessories to be used in the same way and has added further virtual pieces for the game The Sims 4.

Image Credit: Dazeen

Vault

In November 2021 Gucci, yet again, plunged itself deeper into the virtual space and launched Vault. Vault is an online concept store which showcases vintage pieces from the brand. Each item is accompanied by a profile, detailing the item’s history and story – something important in maintaining the brand’s luxury feel – and is intended to give buyers a relationship with their chosen items.

 

Since its launch, Gucci has added various aspects to Vault. Users can now access through Vault Gucci’s digital real estate on Sandbox – a metaverse world where users can buy, develop and sell virtual real estate. Users can also access Gucci Town on Roblox – a free-dimensional location offering virtual experiences such as games, art exhibitions and shopping, as well as being able to connect with people around the world.

Image Credit: Roblox

Cryptoart Gallery and Auction

Gucci’s new Vault Art Space is the most recent feature in its venture into the virtual realm.  On the 23rd June 2022, Gucci released the project in partnership with SuperRare. It is the brand’s first cryptoart exhibition, titled ‘The Next 100 Years of Gucci’ which showcases ‘collectable fragments’ from 29 artists that twist the past and present to envision the future of Gucci.

Cryptoart has emerged to reintroduce scarcity and value into art. An Indelible signature is assigned to the artwork (Non-Fungible token) and ownership of such tokens denotes ownership of the corresponding artwork, as well as all copies of it.

The pieces are available for auction solely by using the currency Ethereum (ETH) and the space will be continuously restocked with fresh pieces.

Image Credit: Vault

What is the significance of Gucci’s virtual ventures?

In navigating its way through the digital space, Gucci is undoubtedly pushing the  limits of conceptualisation and bending dimensions. Gucci’s journey has been an incredible marketing strategy where it has thrusted itself into conversations about the future and with phrases like ‘cryptoart’, ‘Ethereum’ and ‘free-dimension’ making us stop in our tracks and ask what these emerging concepts actually are, the brand remains more relevant than ever.

Gucci’s virtual ventures unquestionably fits with their brand – it is experimental, forward-thinking and lacks rules – much like its fashion. Gucci has been able to understand where the future of fashion is heading, paved that exact way and not changed in its identity at all through the journey. Yes this is marketing at its top tier, but it is also nothing short of the carving of a new epoch.

 

Get in touch with Posh Cockney today to find out how you can better connect with your customers and create memorable brand experiences. 


Does digital hospitality mean less customer service?

In today’s increasingly digital world, fewer and fewer humans are being needed for work positions. Can artificial intelligence achieve the same results as humans in an industry like hospitality, where excellent service is vital for creating memorable customer experiences?

What is hospitality?

While the industry itself contains businesses like hotels and restaurants, in practice, hospitality can be defined as a friendly and welcoming service that makes customers feel individually appreciated and encourages them to return again. 

But who can provide this service? Humans. From the second you enter the door of a hospitality business, details such as complimentary champagne and a welcome basket already create a good impression, however the smile you receive, a good conversation, voluntary help and more, also matters – creating a sense of feeling valued at all times. 

“People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” (Maya Angelou).

How effective are robots in the hospitality industry?

Using a machine that appears like a human person and can be trained specifically for certain needs offers hospitality multiple benefits: 

  • Low risk of staff shortages as robots can never call in sick
  • Cost effective
  • Less time consuming. Faster and more effective check in /check out
  • Ability to gather data from clients and therefore be able to successfully personalise their experience.

However, despite their benefits, robots are not able to empathetically interact with a guest as a human can, which can damage the customer’s experience, potentially making it less memorable. Also, without humans, the data collected by the bot would not be able to be effectively used.

What about technological improvements?

Hotels, bars, restaurants and venues in general will always need human people to match their values and objectives; however, multiple tools have been developed to enhance customer experience and facilitate the work of employees. Some of these are:

  • Remote check-in and check-out.
  • Room keys via smart phones.
  • Mobile ordering and paying (use of QR codes displayed in restaurants and bars).
  • CRM (Customer relationship management: a tool used to control active and potential customer relationships, data, bookings and information necessary to meet the expectations of the customer).
  • BotChat services (available 24/7 and solve most problems).

digital hospitality

Overall, technology is an outstandingly fast growing industry: by 2025, it is expected to have connected an additional 4.3 billion people. Innovations and improvements will always be advantageous for the hospitality industry, often decreasing costs, minimising environmental impact, improving safety and more. 

Perhaps one day in the future we will live in a robotic world – but it would be a lie if we said that digital hospitality can replace the kind of service humans provide. Creating a real connection with customers is an ability only humans hold – for now…

 

But what’s better than a singular human being? A whole team of hospitality and lifestyle expertsGet in touch with Posh Cockney today to find out how you can better connect with your customers and create memorable brand experiences. 


Important Dates for Your June Marketing Calendar (+ Content Ideas!)

Your June Marketing Calendar

Summer is so close, we can almost taste it! Or maybe that’s just the delicious taste of St Martin’s House’s Jubilee Specials Menu…

Speaking of, June has got so much in store for all us Brits this year, from the Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee to strawberries and cream at Wimbledon (let’s be real, who really goes to watch the tennis??). 

What better way to embrace these upcoming events than by including them in your June content calendar?

Without further ado, here are some of the June dates Posh Cockney is preparing for this year.

2nd-5th June: The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend

June starts off with a bang with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend. School’s out, work’s out, and hopefully the sun’s out over this four-day celebratory weekend.

There is so much versatility when it comes to what your business can do for the Jubilee. Entice your holidaying customers with exclusive weekend-only offers, or create limited edition patriotic dishes/drinks that no one will want to miss.

Whether you own a shop, restaurant or even a dental surgery, get your red, white and blue bunting out for the kill. You can never go wrong – plus it’s not often we get to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee!

5th June – The Big Lunch

One key part of the Jubilee Weekend is The Big Lunch. The Big Lunch is an event created by Eden Project Communities as a way to celebrate community connections during this weekend of patriotic togetherness. Of course, this means street parties galore! 

Is your business at the very heart of your local community? Can you provide food and drinks for any street parties happening near you? There’s always a way to get involved, and this will, in turn, solidify and strengthen your business’ relationship with the local community. 

Use this as an opportunity to get to know your existing customers and introduce yourself to new ones – as well as having a good old time!

June marketing

6th June – National Donut Day

If you’re an F&B business, this is your chance to highlight the donut dessert offerings on your menu, whether it’s a jam donut, a cronut, or a classic Homer Simpson-style treat. 

Create a special offer for any donuts on your menu and share with your followers on social media. Or, why not use Instagram stories to ask followers to vote on their favourite kind of donut? This will help increase your engagement, plus give you some new menu ideas!

Don’t already have a donut on your menu? This is your opportunity to premiere one in the best way possible. Create something unique, wacky and newsworthy, and you may be in for a chance of some press coverage

7th June – World Food Safety Day

Show off how brilliant and thorough your F&B business’ food safety practices are by highlighting them on social media! Showcase your kitchen’s cleaning process on Instagram Stories, or even share your food hygiene rating score.

You could even use Insta reels to give your customers a tutorial on how to keep their kitchen extra clean at home. Know any great hacks? Get sharing! This can both humanise your brand and entertain your followers, alongside demonstrating your business’ value of top notch food hygiene.

8th June – Best Friends Day

Got any best friends amongst your staff team? Post photos of them on social media and ask them to share why they love their best friend so much.

Why not create a special offer perfect for duos? A 2-for-1 offer is a true crowd pleaser, and you can use this on any products you think a pair of best friends would want to purchase. Are you an F&B business? Promote a 2-for-1 offer on selected cocktails for all customer pairs that can prove they’re besties!

10th June – World Gin Day

Who doesn’t love a bit of gin? Tempt your customers to a special offer on all your gin-based offerings and share on social media. 

Not an F&B business? Get a shot of your team having a refreshing drink over their lunch break – doesn’t have to be gin, no one will know! 

If you’re a hotel or events venue, partner with a local gin distillery and set up a gin-based tasting, or even work with them to set up a competition where winners receive a VIP trip to the distillery.

12th-18th June – Healthy Eating Week

Before we tuck into a whole load of strawberries and cream-based desserts later this month, the middle of June means it’s time to embrace healthy eating. 

If you’re an F&B business, make a special effort to promote your veggie and vegan menus, and create offers for your healthiest dishes and drinks (smoothies are your best friend here).

Anyone who works in an office can set up a healthy eating table for their hungry colleagues, and share on social media for all to see.

19th June – Father’s Day

It’s time to celebrate all fathers young and old, dead or alive! Ask your team to share a photo of their dad and one thing they love about them for the company Instagram.

What do (most) dads love? Beer. If you’re an F&B business, reward all dads that come into your restaurant with a free pint of beer. Or, mix it up and do something to stand out from the rest. Dads hardly ever receive flowers, so why not be the first to give them? Your brand is sure to be remembered for this kind and unique gesture.

24th June: Bring Your Dog to Work Day

Forget the Queen’s Jubilee! There is no day more important in June than Bring Your Dog to Work Day. 

This one’s fairly self-explanatory… bring your dog to work. But like all novelty days, there are always ways to mix it up. For example, ask your team to bring in any pet of their choice (although the pet tarantula might be a miss). Is your office full of cat-lovers? Make the day your own and bring in your pet cats – just be prepared for some potential violence in the staff room!

It cannot be forgotten that Bring Your Dog to Work Day is an event created by ethical pet company Hownd to raise money for animal charities. If you’re a F&B business, perhaps dedicate a special dish to the cause and have a percentage of profits go towards an animal charity. Or make your restaurant dog-friendly for the day (if it isn’t already) and ask dog-owners to donate to your chosen charity.

(Pictured – Judit, Head of Social Media with her pooch!)

June marketing

27th June – Wimbledon begins!

Ah, Wimbledon. Strawberries, cream and sunshine… oh, and a bit of tennis. 

This is your chance to serve up a strawberry and cream-based dessert better than anywhere else and showcase it all over socials. Give it your own branded twist, or do something wacky and outside-the-box that might grab the attention of journalists. There’s always scope for a limited edition strawberry and cream-themed cocktail, hmmm.

With Wimbledon being a live sport, anything can happen. Get your funniest social media team member to provide Twitter commentary throughout the matches – there’s nothing better than quick reactive brands. 

If all else fails, any F&B site with a pub garden has a fabulous advantage here. Create special discounts on some of your best drink offerings and start screening the matches. As long as you can entice customers with a big screen, they’ll stay for everything else you offer.

 

Still need more content ideas for your June marketing calendar? Get in touch with Posh Cockney today.


Andaz Hotel joins the Posh Cockney Family

We have some exciting news!

After a competitive two-stage pitching process, Posh Cockney has been selected by Andaz Hotel, London as their new PR and Marketing agency. 

Posh Cockney will manage all communications including PR and Social Media for both Andaz Hotel and its five F&B sites. 

Andaz London Liverpool Street is a luxury lifestyle hotel with 267 spacious guest rooms, situated adjacent to Liverpool Street station. Whilst part of the Hyatt group, the hotel embodies its South London persona with modern decor and an ethos of being your true self. 

Posh Cockney CEO Liam Norval commented:

“Andaz London Liverpool Street is an incredible hotel and we can’t wait to get started. This is a fantastic partnership and we are very excited to work alongside their team, putting creative and strategic plans in place to improve their brand awareness and boost weekend bookings.”

We are very excited to get creative with incredible campaigns for this exciting new client – watch this space!

Luxury Hotel in City of London | Andaz London (hyatt.com)
@andazlondon

 

Looking to shake up your PR and Marketing? Contact us to see if we can help.

 


Everything you need to know about the metaverse

The term ‘metaverse’ has been thrown around a lot lately, especially since Mark Zuckerberg announced his plans to develop it. But what actually is it? In this blog, we explore everything you need to know about the metaverse.

What is the metaverse?

The metaverse is yet to exist in its entirety but here’s what we know now. It’s an artificial universe accessed through two technologies: virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). You’ll need a VR headset to view and participate in it, but the idea is that people can interact with one another in a more immersive way with this three-dimensional experience. 

However, the difference between the vision and reality is vast. The vision is a virtual space entered through a single gateway. Right now, each metaverse is separate. Meta and Microsoft are rolling out their own metaverses, to name just a couple. For the vision to work, the platforms must have a seamless connection so that you can switch between them without using separate gateways. 

Supporters of the metaverse envision an online world to stay connected with friends and family, through concerts, conferences and trips around the world. This will come at a price. Expect decentralised economies trading in cryptocurrency. You’ll be able to buy and sell virtual goods, NFTs and event tickets. The driving force behind the construction of the metaverse is of course to generate a bigger digital economy. 

Who owns the metaverse?

Strictly speaking, no one and everyone. There is no specific company that owns the metaverse. Facebook’s rebrand to Meta may make you think otherwise, but Meta and the metaverse are two different things. The metaverse vision includes companies working together to provide a seamless interface, however there is yet to be any collaboration between companies. That said, the metaverse will technically be owned by those that built and use it; software developers, engineers, computer scientists, artists, world builders and users. However, the companies that own the tools to allow these people to do their jobs will also have an influence in the future of the metaverse. 

When will it arrive?

The metaverse as a single, connected space will be years in the making. There just isn’t the internet infrastructure to host millions of virtual users across the globe just yet. The metaverse will need strong and fast internet connections, otherwise the virtual world will be full of glitches – hardly the user experience Meta and other companies are aiming for. 

Mark Zuckerberg expects to see the metaverse mainstream in the next 5-10 years. But don’t get too excited – it’s still in the early stages of development. However, some features, like virtual reality meetings and games (Fortnite and Roblox), are already operational. It’s the interoperability of these features that’s needed to progress. 

How will this change the way we work?

Working remotely is already a reality for many of us. However, what could change is how we interact with each other online. Meta has already released Horizon Workrooms, a virtual reality space to hold meetings. Other tech giants are following this trend, with Apple investing heavily in its AR glasses and Microsoft launching Mesh for Teams, a mixed reality feature. This could mean a move away from Zoom meetings and a move towards meetings held in VR.

Companies could also develop their own virtual workspace to allow you to work from the office, from home. It takes all the benefits from working in the office (collaboration, efficiency, resources) into a virtual space whilst removing all the hurdles (commuting, renting an office space, overseas colleagues).

It could also mean attending conferences across the world with your digital avatar and conducting training sessions via AR, which could cut your staff training times by 60%. This hypothetically makes for a more inclusive and accessible workspace, provided that everyone has a VR headset and a stable internet connection.

No matter how you feel about the expansion into the metaverse, it’s clear that’s where the future is heading. By 2030, experts predict that a large proportion of people will be using the metaverse in some way. PwC predicts that 23 million jobs will be using VR by 2030 too.

The impact of the metaverse to enhance our digital experience has huge potential. Instead of working from home, you could be working from your own digital workspace, whether that’s on the beach, in the jungle or alongside your coworkers’ digital avatars. The future is much closer than we think! 

Interested in learning more from Posh Cockney’s insight? Get in touch today.


may marketing dates

Important Dates for your May Marketing Calendar (+ Content Ideas!)

Your May Marketing Calendar

Spring has sprung, and with longer and warmer days ahead, we’re looking forward to key May dates to plan our content. 

May has two Bank Holidays, so make sure you account for that when making content. It’s a great chance to change your promotional offers to suit those long weekends and the summer days ahead too! 

In this article, we delve into a list of May marketing dates and matching content ideas.

2nd May – May Bank Holiday

The first May bank holiday is a great time to officially open your pub/restaurant garden for the summer.

Make the most of the long weekend with special offers on food and drinks, and encourage visitors to sit outside in the sun. Use a specific hashtag to spread the word online that you have outdoor seating ready for customers.

4th May – Star Wars Day 

May the fourth be with you! A favourite amongst Star Wars fans, this day is a great opportunity to capitalise on that. In other words, think Star Wars themed food and drinks, a special Star Wars dish or a fancy dress competition. 

May marketing dates

10th-14th May – Eurovision

This year’s Eurovision will be held in Turin, Italy. The flamboyant and party-like atmosphere of Eurovision is the perfect chance to have fun! For example, you could invite your customers down to watch the contest in your venue, with special Italian food and decor to entice them in.

You could even hold a competition for best dressed customer!

As the results come in live, this is a good opportunity for your brand to be reactive. Use memes and a sense of humour to react quickly on Twitter and Instagram as the results come in. 

13th May – World Cocktail Day

This is a great one for all you restaurant and bar owners! Any special promotions on your cocktails today? How about a cocktail-making masterclass to celebrate the day? 

14th May – FA Cup Final

Nothing gets people outside the house like an FA Cup Final! Make the most of your extra guests by offering a match-day special alongside screening the game at your venue. However, there’s no need to go too fancy, they’re here for the game after all. But whilst they’re here, hook them in with a special offer and a fun experience to get them coming back once the football’s over. 

16th-22nd May – National Vegetarian Week

This is a great opportunity to highlight to your customers your vegetarian dishes on offer. If you’re looking for TikTok inspiration, show your audience how you can swap out meat from a popular dish with a veggie alternative. Have fun by highlighting how easy veggie dishes are to make!

17th May – World Baking Day

It’s been a while since the Great British Bake Off has been on our screens. How about recreating your own ‘bake off’ in your venue? If you’re not keen on getting customers involved, do an out of hours baking competition with your staff, post the process on social media and get your customers to vote for their favourite bake! As a result, you’ll boost engagement and get your audience excited about your business. 

If you’re thinking of something a bit smaller but with a big impact, have a bake sale or donate a portion of your baked goods to charity. Gestures like this are a great way to raise awareness for a charity whilst also showing how your business supports the wider community. 

21st May – International Tea Day

Everyone likes tea, right? The opportunities here are endless. From ranking your favourite teas on social media (and getting your audience involved) to a big cream tea event at your venue, there’s a chance to diversify your offerings for the day. 

22nd-28th May – British Sandwich Week

We’ve had cocktails, we’ve had tea, now for another British classic: the sarnie. What beats a good old bacon sarnie with a cuppa? Maybe your audience prefers a cheese sandwich to a BLT. Why not find out? Get your audience involved online and invite them to your venue for a week of special sarnies on the menu. 

Not a food brand? Record a TikTok asking everyone at the office what their favourite sandwich is – you’ll be sure to get some interesting choices! The stranger the better, and this format lends itself well to engagement on Tiktok. Users can duet your video and add on to the conversation. 

24th-28th May – Chelsea Flower Show

If you prefer a more sophisticated style, the Chelsea Flower Show is the place to be. For those that can’t get there in person, welcome them to your venue instead. You could host a flower arranging class in your venue, with a discount on food and drinks after. 

Share your flower-arrangements across socials and let your audience choose their favourite!

You could also keep a close eye on the Show itself. Match top flowers and features to your dishes on offer. Share them on social media side by side to show the uncanny resemblance and get your audience in on the fun!

25th May – National Wine Day

Wine lovers everywhere will love this one. If you have a special house wine, don’t be afraid to centre it in your social media campaign. Highlight why it’s your house special, what it tastes like and why you love it. 

Not a restaurant/food brand? Host a giveaway on your social media channels to win a bottle of wine. As a result, you’ll get the conversation talking about wine whilst also driving your engagement upwards. 

28th May – International Hamburger Day

Ever wondered who invented the hamburger? This is your chance to find out. Host a special day at your restaurant celebrating your hamburger dishes. Give kids a fun, interactive worksheet to keep them occupied during the meal.

28th May – World Hunger Day

End the month with a charitable donation and a day spent raising awareness. This day raises awareness of hunger and food poverty across the world, and the importance of access to education and technology to end that hunger. The Hunger Project has some food-related challenges to raise awareness of food poverty, such as giving up sugar for a week. 

 

We hope you found these May marketing dates useful and can take inspiration from our ideas. Be sure to share your results with us if you do!

Get in touch with Posh Cockney for a tailored marketing plan and content calendar to support your business goals. 


marketing agency

5 reasons why you should hire a marketing agency

What can’t you do that a marketing agency can? This is the question on every business owner’s lips. You’re doing the marketing leg work alongside running your business and everything’s fine, right? Well, what if things were going great instead? That’s where a marketing agency comes in. They can sweep you off your feet, set you in your chair and give you a moment to breathe.

A marketing agency does the easy stuff, the hard stuff and all the stuff in between. But don’t take our word for it! In this blog, we discuss five reasons why you should hire a marketing agency to deliver results for your business. 

Expert opinions and insight

A marketing agency will consist of people who live and breathe marketing. That means trained, qualified professionals with skills to match your needs will be overseeing your marketing strategy. That’s priceless right? Instead of figuring it out on your own, you can lean on the support and expert advice of your marketing agency as they navigate business growth. 

Bold, creative ideas

Another crucial thing to consider when hiring a marketing agency, is how fresh and creative their ideas are. A marketing agency that can match your ideas and develop them into creative strategies as well as come up with their own unique ideas is unmatched. Most marketing agencies will have specialists in digital marketing and design. This means the team is made up of creatives, which is especially good if you have a niche business that may be struggling with how to present itself in the media. 

More time for you to do what’s important

As a business owner, you’ll know full well that time is money. Leaving the marketing stuff to the marketing experts allows you more time and energy to develop other aspects of the business. You’ll have more time to build customer relationships, improve operations and expand your services. Now doesn’t that sound like a good deal!

Access to more tools and data

Are you spending money left, right and centre on the newest digital marketing tools? Are you paying for design tools, email tools and analytics tools but not really knowing where to start? Switching to a marketing agency will solve these problems and save you money in the long run. Agencies have all the access to the latest marketing tools to keep them competitive. This means you’ll benefit from the variety of tools they have and the data they produce so you can make more informed decisions about your strategies without breaking the bank. 

Immediate start

Hiring a marketing executive onto your permanent staff will involve a probationary period, training and building trust. When you hire a marketing agency, there’s none of that. The agency can start straight away with optimising your marketing strategies and implementing their tools. That means if you’re looking to boost your sales now, you can get that support as soon as possible, rather than hiring someone and waiting for them to learn the ropes. The benefit of this is that it’s both time and money saved, which is great for your business in the long run. 

We hope this blog helps you understand the benefits of hiring a marketing agency to help your business grow. Whilst business owners wear many hats, a marketing hat isn’t one they have to wear! The best part of a marketing agency is the knowledge and experience they bring with them, ensuring that your business is in the best possible hands. 

Is Posh Cockney the right marketing agency for you?

At Posh Cockney, we specialise in marketing and PR for the hospitality and event industries. Whether you’re a new restaurant, hotel or catering company, our services will help you hit the ground running. 

From dynamic marketing campaigns to strong PR links, we can sort every aspect of your marketing strategy for you. That includes media outreach, social media management and website development. 

If you’re interested in hiring a marketing agency and would like to know more, get in touch with Posh Cockney today.

Not in the hospitality or event industries but interested in our services? Contact us to see if we can help.


SEO tips

5 SEO tips to improve your search ranking

Most people (75%) don’t look beyond the first page of their google search result. So you have to make sure your website appears on that first page to receive any sort of traffic. Once there, users spend as little as 10 seconds on a home page if they can’t immediately see the value it offers. So, to improve your SEO, you need to appear on the first page of search results and grab the user’s attention with engaging web copy. If you’re struggling to achieve these two goals, there could be a number of problems at play. Your old content might be impacting your ranking, or you may not be using enough keywords. Whatever the problem is, we’ve compiled 5 SEO tips that could help you improve your search ranking.

SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, is the process of directing more traffic to your website by improving the quantity and quality of your content. Seems simple, right? Improve the quality of your content and see higher rankings and more traffic to your site. But sometimes it’s not always that straightforward. Algorithms and trends move quickly, so if you don’t keep up with these changes you may find your ranking starts to drop. 

 

SEO tipsAlign your content with search intent

To understand and get the most out of SEO, you first need to understand search intent (also known as user intent). This is the purpose behind every search query; what the user hopes to find out from making a google search. Understanding what your audience is looking for will help boost your SEO ranking. 

You’ll need to create content around this search intent. To do this, you need to complete keyword research that incorporates the four common types of search intent: informational, navigational, commercial and transactional. For example, if you want to rank for “best laptops for gaming”, then the search intent here is commercial rather than transactional. The user isn’t looking to buy just yet, they’re looking for content that shows them the best laptops for their needs. 

 

SEO tipsPhoto by Melanie Deziel on Unsplash

 

Produce high quality content

This might seem an obvious one, but high quality content is so important in developing a reputation as a reliable source. The more high quality content you create, the more a search engine will notice it. It also gives visitors not only a reason to come back, but to spend more time looking at your content (this is called dwell time). High quality content always focuses on search intent, and often includes trusted backlinks to other sources. 

 

Optimise your page speed

You’ll likely encounter two problems when your website loading speed is too slow. The first is that search engines will recognise this slow speed and won’t show your site in search results. The second is that visitors engaging with your site will have a high bounce rate: they’ll leave your site quickly if it doesn’t load and you’ll lose out on potential customers. 

Use a free online tool, such as Pingdom, to test the speed of your website. You can then remove anything that is impacting its speed and boost your search ranking with Google. The quicker your site loads, the more visitors you’ll get. Search engines will recognise this popularity and adjust your site’s position in the search results accordingly. 

 

Write compelling title tags and meta data

These are the most important meta tags on your site. Title tags are the clickable headlines that users see first in their search results. It’s what users use to decide whether your content is relevant to their search query. When creating optimised title tags you should: include your target keywords, match it to search intent but avoid keyword stuffing. A strong title tag is descriptive, concise and under 60 characters.

A meta description tag is a brief summary of your page. Meta descriptions don’t directly impact search rankings but they can influence click-through rates. Google will show a meta description tag up to 160 characters long, so keep your description concise and accurate with action-oriented copy to hook the user in. 

 

Optimise old content

If your SEO ranking is low, you may have your old content to blame. If you don’t use links to direct back to your old content with your new content, this old content will go ignored by your audience. Search engines won’t ignore it though, it will notice it’s low search ranking and reduce your overall website traffic as a result by prioritising other sites with better SEO. So it’s important to optimise that old content. Everything on your website should have value to users – if it doesn’t it’s time to delete or change it. 

You can refresh your old content by updating the copy with new keywords and up-to-date information. Adding new images with accurate tags can help too. Links to other pages on your site will also improve your overall website structure, making it more attractive to search engines. If your old content is really old and beyond repair, consider deleting it and replacing it with something entirely new. Make a space on your website for content about trending topics and popular keywords. Search engines will recognise the high-value and high-quality content you are creating and will give you a better ranking position. 

 

Photo by Stephen Phillips – Hostreviews.co.uk on Unsplash

We hope these 5 SEO tips have helped you improve your search rankings. These are just a few ideas you can try to boost your SEO and optimise your website content. Search engine algorithms change regularly, so it’s important to have a grasp of how and when your website appears in searches.

 

Get in touch with Posh Cockney to find out more.


April marketing calendar

Important Dates for your April Marketing Calendar (+ Content Ideas!)

Your April Marketing Calendar

With April on the horizon and the weather finally warming up for Spring, we’re all in high spirits at Posh Cockney. For us, the end of the month means finalising plans and ensuring that all our creative ideas are ready to go for the month ahead. 

One of our favourite ways to plan monthly content is by tapping into key dates that occur throughout the month. This helps to boost SEO and engagement for our clients, while also seamlessly exhibiting brand personality

Struggling to come up with marketing ideas for the next month? Maybe Posh Cockney can lend you a hand.

Without further ado, here are the dates you’ll want to keep in mind for your April marketing calendar, plus some content ideas to help get you started!

april marketing calendar

1st April – April Fool’s Day

This day is an absolute favourite of brands for content planning. You have free reign to get as wacky as you want (within reason, of course!). April Fool’s Day is all about making your audience laugh and doing the things they’ll least expect. 

Perhaps you can announce a new fake product or dish on social media – the stranger the better! The weirder it is, the more likely your audience is to engage and potentially even make it go viral. 

Or, why not actually sell this product for a limited time only – everyone loves a bit of novelty!

Whatever it is, you can’t really go too wrong on April Fool’s Day. Just make sure it happens before noon!

2nd April – International Pillow Fight Day

Bring pillows to the office and film a team pillow fight for your business’ social media platforms, showing the more human side of your brand. You could even create a fundraiser for a charity and try to break a record for the longest pillow fight. 

Does your business sell pillows? Take advantage of this day and promote an unmissable offer on your pillows. Better yet, create a campaign using pillow fights to demonstrate the durability of your pillows. This can also work for hotels.

5th April – National Caramel Day

Is your business a restaurant, café, coffee shop or any brand that uses caramel for a drink or dish? Create a special offer on your caramel-based goods and share on social media! You could even promote a limited edition drink or dish with caramel in for one day only.

Why not boost social media engagement with an Instagram Stories poll that asks your audience to vote on their favourite caramel-based drinks and desserts?

6th April – New Beer’s Eve

New Beer’s Eve marks the end of the US prohibition era in 1933, when alcoholic beverages were finally made legal again and Americans queued around blocks to get a taste of beer for the first time in 13 years.

Although it’s been almost 90 years and people can now drink beer any day they like, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get people queuing for beer again. Create an amazing offer on your beer menu, or offer free beer for customers who spend a certain amount on the rest of your menu. 

On social media, ask your followers to comment their favourite beer brands – this will boost your engagement while also giving you some menu inspiration! 

If you’re not a hospitality business, allow your staff members to crack open a cold one in the office and share on social media. 

7th April – World Health Day

World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated annually on 7th April to mark the founding of the World Health Organisation in 1948. 

If you’re an F&B business, share your company’s values of health and wellbeing on social media and promote your healthiest dishes. 

Or, encourage your team to join you on a sponsored walk for a health charity.

10th April – National Siblings Day

Why not promote a 2 for 1 offer on your products for siblings? If two customers in your shop or hospitality business can prove their siblings, allow them to celebrate National Siblings Day with a special offer. 

You could even ask them to share something sibling-related on social media with a branded hashtag to redeem a free drink or product. 

Or, ask your team to send in pictures of them with their siblings for you to share on social media.

13th April – National Make Lunch Count Day

National Make Lunch Count Day is all about encouraging ourselves to take a proper break from work and eating away from our desks at lunch time, whether that’s soaking up the sun on a bench outside or eating at a local café. 

F&B businesses can absolutely take advantage of this. Do you serve an express lunch menu perfect for workers taking their lunch break? Or can you launch one on the 13th for this reason?

Get the word out by reaching out to local businesses/offices and maybe even offering them an exclusive discount for all their lunch time needs. Connecting with hungry local workers on their lunch breaks is the best way to create loyal customers!

15th-18th April – Easter Weekend

Easter is a great holiday to tap into, especially for family-friendly businesses. Whether it’s an Easter egg hunt, egg painting activities or just a whole lot of chocolate, your business’ ability to entertain children is always going to be valuable to parents. 

But Easter isn’t always just for kids. Why not hide eggs around your shop or restaurant, and give freebies or prizes to the customers who find them all? Or can you serve desserts with Mini Eggs on top?

At the end of the day, you can never go wrong with fun Easter-themed decorations around your venue!

April marketing calendar

21st April – Get to Know your Customers Day

Your customers are extremely valuable to you, but if you don’t know their needs and desires well enough, they may not stick around for long. While on a daily basis, it’s not always easy to ask your customers who they are and what they want without it sounding like an interrogation, Get to Know your Customers Day gives you the perfect excuse to do this.

Why not ask your followers on social media to comment something about themselves and why they choose to engage with your brand? 

Or, ask them to share a Stories post using a specific hashtag, telling you all about themselves for a chance to win a prize. 

If all else fails or you miss Get to Know your Customers Day, there are other ways you can learn about your target audience. Find out more here.

22nd April – Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual event where we all come together to show support for environmental protection. As global warming increasingly becomes more of a pressing issue, it’s more important than ever to tell your eco-conscious audience what you’re doing as a business to look after the planet. 

Simply sharing your values and sustainability practices as a company on social media is a great way to start, showing your followers that they’re supporting the right business. To take it a step further, find a way to introduce new sustainability practices into your business, like more eco-friendly packaging – there’s always more that can be done!

Why not plant a tree or introduce more plants into your venue? Perhaps partner with a company like Ecologi and plant a tree for every order, like our client Propagrub. You could even create a new special dish or product to promote this.

23rd April – National Picnic Day

National Picnic Day comes at the perfect time – just as the weather’s (usually!) getting warmer. While the rise of picnics may seem like a negative thing for restaurant businesses, as many people will turn to homemade sandwiches and cakes to bring to the park, there are definitely ways you can insert your brand into this narrative.

Make your restaurant “picnic-able” by serving your dishes in takeaway form to be enjoyed in the sunshine. Better yet, create picnic packages for different sized groups and offer blankets and baskets with this. Why should your customers go to lengths to buy all of these elements separately for a higher price when your business is handing it to them altogether?

If you’re not an F&B business, create incredible offers on your picnic-related products, like baskets, blankets and outdoor games. Or, similarly, offer them in an amazing bundle offer for one day only. Just cross your fingers that the weather will cooperate!

 

Still need more content ideas for your April marketing calendar? Get in touch with Posh Cockney today.


Bridgerton: A well versed marketing phenomenon

In a world where nearly the entire population is addicted to Netflix, it’s no wonder that everyone is hooked on the trending period drama, ‘Bridgerton’. Now, everyone is anticipating the newest season, which is due to air on the 25th of March.

The Netflix original series, which was originally based on books written by bestselling author Julia Quinn, follows the romantic encounters of the eight siblings of the Bridgerton family as they try to navigate their way through London society.

Set in Regency era London of the 1830s, Bridgerton is riddled with extravaganza. Ranging from lavish sets to eccentric costumes and a gorgeous cast, it was bound to keep watchers hooked. To loyal TV series fanatics, it is reminiscent of a periodic Gossip Girl; but Bridgerton has now carved an identity for itself.

However, what does this all mean from a marketing perspective? 

Taking the World of Marketing by Storm 

Over the past couple of years, we’ve heard a lot of talk about how TV series have diffused from our screens to real life. One example of this is Emily in Paris, a series that follows a marketing manager’s journey in the elaborate streets of Paris as she adapts to a big change of scenery. Ironically, the series has shown us just how much marketing itself works. When something is portrayed on screen and endorsed by characters, it becomes fashionable and everyone hops on that bandwagon, much like Emily’s marketing career. 

And Bridgerton is no different. This series has created so much buzz around its name that it is widely recognised and now has a large fan base tracking its every move. It has even made a transition to the theatre with productions trying to mimic the show’s atmosphere, introducing the craze of Bridgerton to an audience that can easily access it.

Moreover, the series has become a trendy subject, and businesses worldwide have embraced it in their marketing campaigns. For instance, a Bridgerton challenge went viral on TikTok last year, and this massively increased brand traffic on the app. 

Hidden Marketing Lessons in Bridgerton

  • The Power of the Published Word

Even if the source is an unknown entity, the published word is a very powerful tool.

In the show, no one knows the identity of Lady Whistledown, the town’s anonymous gossip columnist, but her opinion matters the most for the sheer fact that it is published. This is even more important in the modern world where anyone can be a so-called publisher, particularly thanks to social media.

Reading something in an actual publication, as opposed to a social media post or email, comes with an upper level of credibility. For start ups and emerging brands, this serves as an important lesson: Earned media is one of the best ways to capture attention and generate interest.

  • The Importance of Taking Creative Risks

Bridgerton is riddled with scandal at the forefront of every social interaction.

The way it deals with race and sex is risky to be sure, especially in the times that it is portraying, but it’s a risk that’s paid off. Being historically accurate may earn you fewer critics, but it will also get you fewer fans actually tuning in to watch. Playing it safe has never been a riskier strategy.

Instead expect scandal, fantastic sets and costumes, and a touch of whimsy. Creative license has been certainly taken with orchestras playing instrumental versions of Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” and Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You,”, making it impossible to look away. 

  • Perception = Reality

What people are led to believe, true or not, is their reality, and until you convince them otherwise, this is their truth.

In the pilot episode, Lady Whistledown — aka a 17th-century Gossip Girl — publishes that Daphne Bridgerton is damaged goods and unworthy of the Queen’s praise. Even though Lady Whistledown is at this point an “anonymous scribbler,” Daphne’s prospects all but dry up.

It is every brand custodian’s responsibility to create its brand’s narrative before someone else does. A brand’s story must be consistent and cohesive across all channels for it to truly stick.

  • Don’t Play by the Rules

Eloise Bridgerton at the tender age of 17 already realises this. She knows that if she follows the rules dictated by those who’ve been around longer, she will be forever stuck.

If you want to get ahead, you need to change the rules of the game, especially in this day and age. Entrepreneurs can no longer be playing by someone else’s rules; posting the same content, creating the same-same marketing materials, using the same channels hoping for a different result. It just won’t work.

 

If you want to get a feel of old London and enjoy an expertly crafted meal or cocktail, visit the new St. Martin’s House located in the iconic neighbourhood of Covent Garden. Lady Whistledown’s crowd would never pass up this opportunity!

 

Get in touch with Posh Cockney today to elevate your marketing campaign and stand out from the crowd. Normal is boring and we are sure your brand is not!