We are delighted this year to start out with six Cork Chamber Digital Marketing Award nominations to showcase some of our work in the past year with our clients.

And as the categories are shortened down, we are delighted with the news that 3 of those nominations have reached the finals.

All entries are judged by members of the public, through an independent and confidential judging and allocation system. The awards which are organised by Cork Chamber of Commerce provide a platform for Cork businesses to showcase their recent digital successes and achievements. It is an opportunity to be recognised for the digital, social and online work carried out by organisations in our local digital community.

First up is our client Cork Simon Community who are listed for the Best Social Media Campaign category. The nomination this year is for the More Than A Gift Christmas campaign which was rolled out across the entire South of Ireland for Christmas 2022. 

Last year, Cork Simon Community took home this award for the 50 Faces Campaign. So to reach the finals for the 2nd year in a row in this category is a great achievement for the entire team involved.

At some point, you might come to the realization that you might need to shake things up a bit. Maybe your current branding isn’t working? Maybe it’s not communicating your message properly? Or maybe it’s simply not fresh enough!

In a market that is so diluted with competition it’s crucial to have a strong brand at the forefront to your business. Nowadays decision making is made from a a quick judgment on whether the customer gets a good impression or not. We are talking seconds for this decision to be made.

Rebranding is a huge step to take and if correct steps are not taken they could be very costly for your business in all sense of the word.

If you are trying to decide if you should rebrand or not, then it’s important to consider whether or not it’s really the right move for you.

Here are just a few reasons to take the rebranding plunge:

Is your Brand Similar to Others?

Take a step back and see are you having a hard time differentiating your brand from competitors? This might be a sign that a rebrand plan might be needed. It’s not good for business if people keep mixing you up with someone else.

Take a step back and figure out if your branding looks too similar to what others are doing. If your brand is similar to what other companies are doing and image wise then think about how you can build and develop a unique status and make that your primary branding to hopefully stand out from the crowd.

Your Brand Has Evolved

It’s part of life that we all change, evolve and move forward. Well this is no different to your business and brand. Maybe what you offer has changed and if this is the case then a rebrand might be a necessary step. You always want to make sure that your brand represents your business, values and creates a strong message around what you offer.

Don’t be afraid to grow and develop…

Do you Need a Fresh Look and a Fresh Message?

Sometimes you don’t have to totally rebrand to be different. Perhaps you just want to appeal to new clients or customers with with a different image or look. Maybe sometimes your brand is just a little dated.

If a freshen up is required, you might consider a new logo, new tagline, new website or update your colors. Whatever comes out of a freshen up, you can attract new clients and customers if your rebrand is something customers and clients can relate to.

In some cases, rebranding can be a wonderful way to get your customers involved. Why not ask your clients/customers to give input into what they value from your business, and what they would like to gain from using your product or service.

Run and campaign for their input and show that you value your customers, trust them and this should get them excited in your business again.

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” -Socrates

Creative branding is one of our key strengths here at Integrate. Contact us today to see how we can help you figure what’s best for you and your brand.

David featured on Cork Credit Union Podcast to discuss areas of digital marketing and the future of credit unions in communities.

Marketing is vital to the survival of every organisation, credit unions are no different. David features on this episode with Gary Hanrahan from Douglas Credit Union to discuss how Credit Unions can remain relevant in a time with plenty of competition. 

Throughout the podcast, they also discuss how certain areas of digital are changing at a rapid pace and how these local institutions can win out among competitors. 

Listen below

It’s a fact – we love stories. It’s how we learn and remember important lessons. Apparently, it’s been reported that around 92% of consumers want major brands to make ads feel like a story. And we would totally agree with this…

Everyone wants to be kept interested and we are sure you love nothing more than a good story to make you intrigued just like us. Don’t believe us? Just turn on the television and check out an ad or have a think about some recent ads you have seen. How did it make you feel? Did you get emotionally involved when the ad told a story? Of course you did! It’s natural.

Storytelling can help show consumers exactly what you do, how it started and how it can impact your life. It can hit the consumer on an emotional level which, in turn, can have them come back to you again and again. The reason is they can now relate to your brand on a personal level and can engage the consumer in ways that regular content can’t.

So how can your brand tell a story properly?

• Go personal. So how did you begin your brand? Reasons for starting the company? What is your business mission? Main thing to remember is everyone has a story to tell about how they started their brand. Something as simple as “I didn’t want to work for anyone else anymore” can be turned into a storyline. The main point is to be personal. Remember, your consumer wants to know the story behind the brand, so go back to basics.
• Use the right medium. Not all stories necessarily need to be written. You can use a video or graphics or even an interesting picture to tell your story. You just have to remember to use the right message for the right medium. A short and snappy message might work best for the ad’s that you produce but not always for telling a story.
• Make it compelling. You want the audience on the edge of their seats. Make your story riveting. This doesn’t mean going overboard. You want them to believe the story!
• End with a kicker. Remember the story must have a purpose – you want the audience viewing the content to become your consumer. The story needs to end by telling the audience they need to take action. But be careful here, you don’t want them to think they were led on and turn it into a sales ploy.

We love nothing more than figuring out ways to help tell a brands story.