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Unleashing the Power of Data Velocity

Posted on by Jacob Amann

Imagine you have a state-of-the-art garden hose connected to an endless supply of water. Sounds fantastic, right? Here’s the problem: unless you turn the handle and direct that water where it’s needed, your garden won’t grow. 

Data in today’s digital marketing landscape is just like that water – abundant and full of potential, but only valuable when we put it to work.

In today’s marketing world, data velocity is that crucial turn of the handle. It’s not enough to have a database reservoir filled with information, sitting idly; you must build insights from this information with speed and efficiency. Both are critically important in being able to channel that data to nurture your customer relationships, grow operational efficiencies, identify and act on market trends, and see your business reap its benefits. 

The Data Dilemma: From Stagnant to Strategic 

Just as a garden without access to the water won’t grow, data that remains untouched in a database, no matter how vast, cannot influence decision-making, improve processes, or provide return on investment. To harness the true value of your data, it’s important to: 

Activate Your Data:

Breathe life into raw information by transforming it into actionable insights. It’s in this transformation – whether through business intelligence, machine learning models, or insightful reporting – that your data’s true value emerges, empowering your team to make informed, impactful decisions.

  • Implement robust ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes to clean and structure your data.
  • Leverage advanced analytics tools to uncover hidden patterns and predictive trends that shape strategy.
  • Focus on the insights that directly influence your marketing strategies. Whether it’s identifying customer segments, optimizing ad spend, or tracking campaign performance, prioritize data that can be directly applied to your decision-making process.

Prioritize Relevance:

Not all data is created equal – the value of data is inherently tied to its context and use case. Focus on the data points that truly matter for your specific goals.

  • Master the art of data wrangling as a critical process. Clean, structure, and enrich your raw data to transform it into a goldmine of insights by combining disparate data sets, filling in missing values, or normalizing data for consistency.
  • Incorporate third-party data strategically. External data sets can provide valuable context, but crucial to recognize that not all third-party data sets are universally valuable. Some datasets you can reference range from demographic data to search and social trend data to weather data. For instance, weather data might be incredibly valuable for a retail business that needs to anticipate changes in consumer purchasing behaviors in terms of likelihood to visit store locations or which products that may be of greater interest. Yet, for a technology company, weather may hold little value compared to demographic data. Which leads to the next point…
  • Don’t fall into the trap of data hoarding for the sake of information gathering. This can cause unnecessary analysis paralysis that leads to insignificant outcomes. 
  • Streamline Access: A state-of-the-art garden hose can’t deliver clean, pressure-perfect water if it isn’t paired with a perfectly engineered plumbing system. 

The same is true of your data. 

You must produce data feeds that will serve as your digital plumbing, allowing team members to simply “turn the handle” and instantly access the insights they need.

  • Develop a data governance framework that balances security with accessibility. Create role-based access systems to provide team members with the data they need, when they need it.
  • Invest in user-friendly interfaces that make data exploration intuitive for non-technical staff. Platforms like Google Analytics, HubSpot, and various CRM systems offer dashboards and reports that make it easier to interpret data and apply it to your marketing efforts.
  • Encourage curiosity to uncover new data-driven marketing opportunities. Regularly review your data feeds to see if there are any new trends or patterns that could benefit your campaigns.

The Velocity Advantage: Why Speed Matters in Marketing

Timing is everything. Data velocity in marketing empowers you to:

Respond to Market Shifts in Real-Time

  • Monitor social media sentiment and search trending topics to adjust messaging on the fly
  • Use real-time bidding data to optimize ad placements and budgets instantly
  • Quickly pivot campaign strategies based on emerging competitor actions or market disruptions

Personalize Customer Experience

  • Leverage real-time browsing behavior to serve dynamic website content
  • Implement AI-driven recommendation engines that learn and adapt with each customer interaction
  • Use location data and purchase history to deliver hyper-targeted mobile notifications and offers

Optimize Budget Allocation

  • Implement automated budget reallocation based on real-time performance metrics
  • Conduct rapid A/B tests to quickly identify winning creative and copy.
  • Use predictive analytics to forecast campaign performance and adjust spend proactively.

Empowering Marketers: Identify Ways to Help Cross-Department Teams Tap Into Data

As a marketer, you don’t need to be a technical expert to put data to work for your campaigns. What’s important is understanding how to leverage the data that’s been prepared and made accessible to you. 

 Here’s how to get started:

Seek Out Your Power Players:

Work closely with your data and analytics team to identify which data sets are most relevant to your marketing goals. Explain your campaign objectives clearly so they can help you pinpoint the data that will provide the most actionable insights.Together, you can:

  • Conduct a comprehensive audit of your current data sources and analytics capabilities
  • Align key performance indicators (KPIs) with overall business objectives
  • Develop a prioritized list of metrics that directly influence marketing decisions

Invest in Agile Analytics:

Implement tools that provide real-time insights and easy-to-use dashboards.

  • Evaluate and adopt cloud-based analytics platforms for scalability and real-time processing
  • Implement machine learning algorithms to automate data analysis and predictive modeling
  • Develop custom dashboards that provide at-a-glance insights for different roles within your organization

Foster a Data-Driven Culture:

Encourage your team to make decisions based on insights, not just instincts.

  • Provide regular training sessions on data interpretation and analysis tools.
  • Celebrate data-driven successes to reinforce the value of this approach.
  • Implement a system for sharing insights across departments to break down data silos.

The Bottom Line: Data Velocity Drives Value

In the race for market growth, it’s not just about having data – it’s about how quickly you can turn that data into results. By focusing on strategic data velocity in marketing, you’re not just keeping up with the competition; you’re setting the pace. 

Ready to turn on the full force of your data and watch your marketing flourish? Don’t let your valuable data sit idle – contact us today to start your journey towards data-driven marketing excellence. 

It’s time to turn that handle and let your data flow!

Navigating Q4 Advertising Challenges in an Election Year: A Strategic Guide for Marketing Decision Makers

Posted on by Coegi

Navigating Q4 Advertising Challenges in an Election Year: A Strategic Guide for Marketing Decision Makers

As Q4 approaches, marketing teams must act swiftly to prepare for one of the most challenging periods of the year. This quarter, already notorious for increased competition and rising advertising costs, is further complicated by the pressures of an election year. Early preparation and proactive conversations with clients and partners are essential to secure the necessary resources and ensure your campaigns stand out in a cluttered marketplace. Without taking these steps, you risk being outpaced by competitors and missing key opportunities. To help you navigate these complexities and execute a successful Q4 advertising strategy, we’ve compiled expert insights across our departments at Coegi.

Challenge 1: Increased Ad Costs and Cluttered Marketplace

In Q4, advertising costs typically soar, driven by heightened demand from brands eager to capture consumer attention during the holiday season. The upcoming election amplifies this pressure, as political campaigns flood ad spaces, making it even more challenging for brands to make an impact.

Our Advice:

  • Use Historical Data Wisely: While it’s essential to look at past performance to set benchmarks, data from previous years might not fully capture the dynamics of an election year. Instead, refer to 2020 data where possible, and adjust for inflation to set more accurate expectations. This approach will help you budget effectively without underestimating the cost surges.
  • Tailored Creativity: The marketplace will be cluttered with ads, both commercial and political. To cut through the noise, it’s crucial to tailor your creative assets to resonate with your target audience. Personalization and relevance are key—ensure that your messaging is sharp and speaks directly to the consumer’s needs and desires at this time of year.
  • Fraud Prevention: The political season is often associated with increased ad fraud. To protect your budget and ensure that your ads reach genuine audiences, implementing robust fraud prevention measures is essential. Without these precautions, your ad spend could be wasted on fraudulent traffic, reducing the overall effectiveness of your campaigns.

Challenge 2: Inventory Shortages and Early Sell-Outs

One of the most pressing issues during Q4, especially in an election year, is the early sell-out of premium ad inventory. With brands and political campaigns vying for the same spaces, securing inventory becomes increasingly difficult.

Our Advice:

  • Secure Inventory Early: To avoid missing out on critical ad placements, start negotiating direct partnerships and Private Marketplace (PMP) or Programmatic Guaranteed (PG) deals as early as possible. These agreements can provide you with the premium inventory you need while reducing the risk of being edged out by competitors. Early action is your best defense against the last-minute scrambles that can lead to missed opportunities.

Challenge 3: Managing Increased Workload and Risk of Errors

The fast-paced nature of Q4 often leads to increased workloads for marketing teams. With so much at stake, the risk of human errors—whether in campaign execution, budgeting, or creative adjustments—can escalate.

Our Advice:

  • Leverage Project Management: Effective project management is critical during this hectic period. Our operations team emphasizes the importance of identifying potential bottlenecks and managing individual workloads to prevent burnout and mistakes. Project managers should keep a close eye on timelines and ensure that tasks are distributed evenly across the team. By maintaining a clear view of everyone’s workload, you can mitigate risks and keep campaigns running smoothly.
  • Implement Automation: Automation tools are indispensable for managing time-sensitive tasks efficiently. Whether it’s setting up automated creative swaps or using platform rules to schedule out rapid changes, these technologies can save precious time and reduce the stress of manual updates. By automating repetitive tasks, your team can focus on strategic decision-making, ensuring that your campaigns remain agile and responsive throughout the quarter.
  • Focus on Value: When the pressure is on and you’re unsure where to begin, always start with the task that will deliver the most value. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to complete everything to perfection, but this mindset can lead to paralysis. Remember, progress is more important than perfection. By prioritizing high-impact tasks, you can keep your team moving forward without getting bogged down in the details.

Conclusion

Q4 presents a unique set of challenges, especially during an election year. However, by understanding these obstacles and preparing accordingly, marketing decision-makers can turn potential pitfalls into opportunities for success. From anticipating higher ad costs and inventory shortages to managing workloads, preventing ad fraud, and leveraging automation, the strategies outlined above will help your brand navigate the complexities of Q4 with confidence. By adopting these insights, you’ll not only survive but thrive during this critical period, ensuring that your marketing strategy is both effective and resilient.

For personalized advice tailored to your brand’s specific needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for a consultation. Let’s work together to make this Q4 your most successful yet.

 

Social: 

Social Media Strategy for Q4: Creating Opportunities for High Engagement

Key Changes to Anticipate in Q4:

  • Rising Ad Costs: Expect significant increases in CPM, CPA, and CPC metrics due to heightened competition and end-of-year spending. Many businesses push to allocate remaining budgets, driving up costs across social platforms.
  • Increased Engagement Rates: The holiday season often sees a spike in social activity as consumers engage in online shopping, connect with loved ones, and participate in festive events.

Tips for Managing Q4 Social Media Strategy:

  1. Early Planning: Start your campaigns early to secure ad space before costs rise further. Early preparation can help you lock in more favorable rates and ensure your content is ready to go live when needed.
  2. Continuous Optimization: Regularly optimize your campaigns to maximize ROI. Keep a close eye on performance metrics and be ready to make adjustments as necessary.
  3. Budget Allocation: Allocate a larger portion of your advertising budget to Q4 to accommodate the expected cost increases. Proper budgeting is crucial for staying competitive.
  4. Content Strategy:
    • Seasonality & Relevant Messaging: Tailor your content to reflect the season and resonate with your audience. Utilize holidays or cultural events to create a personal connection with users, increasing the likelihood of engagement.
    • User Experience: Make your call-to-action (CTA) clear and prominent, ideally within the first few seconds of a video ad. Ensure the user experience is seamless and intuitive.
    • Leverage AI: Utilize platform algorithms and AI capabilities to precisely target your audience. Stay ahead by testing and adopting new features, such as Meta’s Advantage+ tools, to improve your KPIs.
    • Genuine Imagery: Incorporate user-generated content and influencer partnerships to create authentic connections with your audience. Genuine content is more likely to stand out and resonate.
    • Diverse Ad Types: Use a variety of ad formats to capture your audience’s attention. Offering multiple content types increases your chances of engagement.

Search: 

Q4 Search Strategy: Navigating Industry-Specific Trends

As we approach Q4, the search landscape becomes increasingly competitive, with trends varying significantly across different industries. Here’s what to consider when planning your search campaigns:

Anticipated CPC Trends:

  • Industry Variance: CPC trends differ widely depending on the industry. For retail, expect a surge in CPCs as competition intensifies around key dates like Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Retailers often increase their budgets to capture year-end spending, driving up auction prices. Conversely, industries like financial services may experience a drop in search activity during the same period, potentially leading to lower CPCs.
  • Demand-Based Channels: Search advertising is heavily influenced by consumer demand. As inflation rises and economic pressures increase, consumers may be less likely to search for high-cost or luxury items, leading to fluctuations in CPCs. The demand-based nature of search advertising means that CPCs can vary significantly depending on how willing consumers are to make purchases during this time.
  • Google’s Role: There’s ongoing concern among advertisers that Google might be artificially inflating auction prices, contributing to CPC increases. While it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact impact, this is a factor worth monitoring.

Best Practices for Q4 Search Campaigns:

  1. Ad Copy and Keyword Adjustments:
    • Seasonal Promotions: Adjust your ad copy to reflect seasonal deals and promotions, especially around key shopping events like Black Friday. Incorporating keywords related to sales and promotions can help capture more traffic.
    • Action-Oriented Messaging: As search terms become more intent-based towards the end of the year, ensure your ad copy includes strong calls to action that align with consumer purchasing behavior. Refresh your ad copy to reflect holiday themes and urgent calls to action. Highlight promotions, limited-time offers, and unique selling points to stand out in search results.
    • Ad Extensions: Utilize all relevant ad extensions, such as sitelinks, callouts, and structured snippets, to provide additional information and increase your ad’s visibility and click-through rate.
  2. Budget Allocation:
    • Flexible Budgeting: Expect higher CPCs, especially in industries where competition peaks in Q4. Allocate your budget accordingly, ensuring you can compete effectively during high-demand periods.
    • Industry-Specific Strategies: Tailor your budget and bidding strategies based on industry trends. For example, healthcare might see an uptick in competition as insurance companies ramp up their Q4 campaigns.
  3. Keyword Strategy:
    • Focus on High-Intent Keywords: Prioritize keywords that indicate strong purchase intent, particularly those related to holiday shopping and seasonal events. This will help capture consumers who are closer to making a purchase. Consider increasing your budget for branded keywords as competition rises.
    • Negative Keywords: Use negative keywords strategically to filter out irrelevant traffic and reduce wasted spend. This is especially important during high-competition periods to ensure your budget is used efficiently.

Programmatic: 

Programmatic Strategy for Q4: Optimizing for a High-Competition Landscape

Key Changes to Anticipate in Q4:

  • Increased Costs: The competition for ad inventory intensifies, leading to higher CPCs and CPAs due to increased demand. 
  • Shift in Consumer Behavior: Consumers are actively searching for holiday deals and making purchase decisions, which means higher intent traffic but also requires more sophisticated targeting and messaging.

Tips for Managing Q4 Search Strategy:

  1. Budget and Bidding Adjustments:
    • Flexible Bidding: Implement flexible bidding strategies to adapt to real-time changes in the competitive landscape. Utilize automated bidding tools to maximize efficiency and ensure your ads appear in high impact when it matters most.
    • Budget Allocation: Allocate more budget to high-performing, high-precision targeting segments and adjust your spend throughout the quarter based on performance data. Also consider exploring emerging channels and tactics where there may be a higher volume of whitespace.
  2. Planning for the Political Season:
    • Inventory Scarcity: Be prepared for potential inventory shortages and increased costs due to political campaigns. Adjust your bids and targeting to avoid overspending during peak political ad periods.
    • Geographic Targeting: Fine-tune your geo-targeting to focus on areas less impacted by political ad spend. This can help maintain efficiency and reduce competition for your target audience.
  3. Monitoring Market Dynamics:
    • Inflationary Pressures: Keep an eye on how economic factors like inflation are impacting consumer behavior. In markets where consumers are less willing to spend, you might see reduced competition and potentially lower CPCs, which could present an opportunity to adjust your strategy.
  4. Post-Holiday Analysis:
    • Data-Driven Insights: After Q4, conduct a thorough analysis of your programmatic campaigns to identify key trends and insights. Use this data to refine your strategy for the upcoming year, ensuring continuous improvement and optimization.

Ethical AI and Data Privacy: The Cornerstone of Modern Marketing

Posted on by Coegi

Tenured marketing leaders have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of AI in our industry. AI has revolutionized how brands understand and engage with their customers. From predictive analytics to personalized content creation, the possibilities are endless. However, with great power comes great responsibility. It’s critical to proactively integrate ethical AI practices and data privacy compliance into the core of your marketing operations to ensure you are maximizing the technology while minimizing the risk involved.

Our Three-Pillar Approach: Privacy, Security, and Transparency

At our agency, instituting ethical AI practices and compliance with data privacy regulations is integral to all our AI-driven initiatives. We recognize that as technology advances, so must our commitment to responsible use. Our approach is built on three key pillars: Privacy, Security, and Transparency.

Privacy: The Foundation of Trust

We begin by assessing and classifying all data and documents according to their sensitivity level. This allows us to implement the Principle of Least Privilege, ensuring that staff members only have access to the data necessary for their specific roles and responsibilities. By limiting access, we minimize the risk of unauthorized data exposure or misuse.

This granular approach to data management not only protects our customers but also streamlines our operations. It allows us to maintain the delicate balance between leveraging data for insights and respecting individual privacy.

Security: Extending Best Practices to AI

We’ve taken the robust IT principles and SOC 2 compliance standards typically applied to traditional data systems and extended them to our work with generative AI. This includes:

  • Authorized Access Requirements: We have stringent protocols in place to determine who can access AI systems and for what purposes, reducing the risk of misuse.
  • User Authentication: Multi-factor authentication and regular credential updates are mandatory to verify the identity of users interacting with our AI systems.
  • Data Loss Prevention & Encryption Standards: We employ robust encryption for data both at rest and in transit. Our data loss prevention strategies ensure that sensitive information cannot be accidentally or maliciously exported from our systems.

By applying these enterprise-grade security measures to our AI operations, we’re creating a secure environment that fosters innovation while protecting sensitive information.

Transparency: Building Trust Through Openness

We believe in being open about our use of AI. This means communicating to clients and stakeholders about where and how AI is used in our processes. We also ensure that AI-generated content is distinguishable, maintaining the authenticity of human creativity where it matters most.

This transparency not only builds trust with our customers but also helps us stay accountable to our ethical standards.

Evolving with the Landscape

Our ethical AI framework is not static; it evolves with the technology and regulatory landscape. We regularly review and update our policies to align with the latest developments in data protection laws such as GDPR, CCPA, and others relevant to our international operations.

Beyond policies and frameworks, we invest in ongoing training for our team to ensure everyone understands the importance of data privacy and the ethical implications of AI. This cultivates a culture where responsible AI use is not just a policy, but a shared value.

The Future of Ethical AI in Marketing

As we look to the future, it’s clear that the successful marketers will be those who can harness the power of AI while maintaining the highest ethical standards. By prioritizing privacy, security, and transparency, we’re not just complying with regulations – we’re building a foundation of trust that will drive long-term success in the AI-driven marketing landscape.

The path forward requires constant vigilance, adaptation, and a commitment to ethical practices. But for those willing to invest in responsible AI use, the rewards – in terms of customer trust, brand reputation, and innovative capabilities – are well worth the effort.

The Social Commerce Revolution – Building Unbreakable Loyalty Loops

Posted on by Stephanie Dwyer

It’s clear that the social commerce revolution is more than just a trend – it’s a fundamental shift in how consumers discover, engage with, and purchase products. Building on the foundation laid out in our previous article on social commerce strategy, we’ll explore how brands can leverage this shift to create unbreakable loyalty loops and thrive in this digital-first landscape.

The Psychology of Social Shopping:

Understanding the psychological principles underlying social commerce is crucial for brands looking to succeed in this space. Social shopping tools capitalize on cognitive biases and heuristic thinking, leveraging principles such as:

  • Follow the Crowd: Utilizing social proof through features like pick lists and popularity lists.
  • Follow the Leader: Leveraging expert opinions and trusted referrals.
  • Follow Those You Like: Tapping into people’s tendency to emulate those they admire through content like influencer partnerships.

From Convenience to Community:

Social commerce initially focused primarily on convenience and tapping into unplanned discovery moments. It has since evolved into a powerful tool for building lasting relationships. In today’s social commerce environment, create shoppable communities that foster and grow shared values and experiences to ensure success.

The Power of Authenticity and Social Capital:

At the heart of a successful social commerce strategy is the cultivation of social capital within online brand communities. By prioritizing authenticity, brands can transform loyal customers into powerful advocates. This shift from transactional to meaningful relationships is crucial, as the power of authenticity significantly impacts a brand’s community-building efforts and, consequently, its revenue.

Driving Emotional Connections:

To build unbreakable loyalty loops, brands must focus on driving emotional connections with consumers through a strong digital presence. This involves leveraging user-generated content, implementing growth loops through cross-selling and upselling, and embracing community-led growth strategies. In return, brands gain unprecedented access to their perception, image, and data, yielding more effective marketing strategies.

Adapting to a Dynamic Landscape:

The social commerce ecosystem is subject to rapid change influenced by geopolitical tensions, economic shifts, and evolving consumer preferences. To remain resilient, brands must embrace scenario planning and develop adaptive loyalty loop strategies. Marketers can employ tools like predictive intelligence and behavioral econometric models to decode online chatter and adjust marketing approaches in real-time.

Expanding Beyond Social Media:

While social media platforms remain at the forefront of social commerce, the landscape is expanding. Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) services, video game companies, and metaverse developers are entering the space, looking to the success of social shopping as a blueprint for their growth efforts. The key principles of algorithmic targeting, trusted intermediaries, and frictionless purchasing remain crucial across these new frontiers.

Executing Shoppable Strategies for Unbreakable Loyalty

As the social commerce landscape continues to evolve, brands need a partner who can help them navigate this complex ecosystem and execute effective marketing strategies. This is where Coegi comes in. 

Our expertise can help you:

  1. Develop a Holistic Social Commerce Strategy: We’ll work with you to create a comprehensive strategy that aligns with your brand values and resonates with your target audience. This includes identifying the right platforms, content types, and influencer partnerships to maximize your social commerce potential.
  2. Build and Optimize Virtual Storefronts: Our team can help you establish and refine your presence across various online marketplaces and social platforms. We’ll ensure your virtual storefronts are not only functional but also visually appealing and on-brand.
  3. Create Engaging, Shoppable Content: We’ll assist in developing natively social, shoppable content that seamlessly integrates into your customers’ social media experiences. This includes strategies for repurposing user-generated content and leveraging micro-influencers for authentic brand promotion.
  4. Implement Advanced Analytics and Predictive Intelligence: Our data-driven approach will help you interpret online community chatter, identify receptive audiences, and adjust your strategies in real-time. We’ll set up robust analytics systems to track performance and provide actionable insights.
  5. Develop Adaptive Loyalty Loop Strategies: We’ll help you create flexible, scenario-based strategies that can withstand market changes and evolving consumer preferences. Our goal is to build resilient loyalty loops that continue to drive engagement and sales, regardless of external factors.
  6. Facilitate Seamless Integration: For clients with existing e-commerce operations, we’ll ensure smooth integration of social commerce elements into your current systems, creating a cohesive omnichannel experience for your customers.
  7. Training and Support: We’ll provide your team with the necessary training and ongoing support to effectively manage and grow your social commerce presence.

Transform your social commerce game and win the hearts (and wallets) of your audience. Are you ready to build unbreakable loyalty loops for your brand? Let’s partner together and unlock your full potential in the social commerce era.

Embracing Value-Based Care: How a Brand Ecosystems Can Revolutionize Healthcare Marketing

Posted on by Coegi

Originally published in Healthcare Business Today

In a post-pandemic world, the healthcare landscape is evolving faster than ever. Amidst this swift evolution, the buzz around value-based care (VBC) presents a significant shift from the traditional fee-for-service model. As healthcare marketers, understanding and navigating this transformation is paramount. But how can brands effectively integrate into value-based healthcare models? The answer lies in building a robust brand ecosystem rather than relying solely on individual campaigns.

Understanding Value-Based Care and Its Implications

Value-based care focuses on delivering quality outcomes for patients rather than merely increasing the volume of services. This model incentivizes healthcare providers based on patient health outcomes, promoting efficiency and quality over quantity. VBC is fundamentally about focusing on outcomes for the individual patient, emphasizing quality over volume.

However, the transition to VBC is complex and fraught with challenges. The healthcare sector must address diverse payer requirements, health equity issues, and the unique value perceptions of various stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers (HCPs), and payers. This shift is incredibly complicated and difficult to execute, requiring brands to understand the multifaceted definition of value to connect effectively with their audience.

The Power of a Brand Ecosystem in Healthcare Marketing

So, what exactly is a brand ecosystem, and why is it crucial for healthcare brands in a VBC environment? A brand ecosystem is a network of digital touchpoints designed to engage and communicate with audiences in a personalized, cohesive manner. Unlike a traditional campaign that delivers a single, linear message, a brand ecosystem provides a multifaceted approach, fostering deeper connections and engagement.

A brand ecosystem is essentially a combination of digital touch points designed to communicate effectively with its audience. It’s not a linear funnel but instead a holistic experience tailored to individual needs. This approach is particularly effective in healthcare marketing, where the definition of value can vary significantly across different audience segments.

Maximizing Value-Based Marketing through a Brand Ecosystem

Understanding and Communicating Value

For healthcare brands, success in a VBC model hinges on understanding and articulating value to both consumers and HCPs. Brands must take the time to define what value means for each audience segment. This involves creating tailored messages and resources that resonate with patients’ and HCPs’ unique needs.

Brands need to create unique ecosystems tailored to patient and healthcare provider audiences. Each ecosystem must reflect the distinct values and needs of its audience. This personalized approach ensures that the brand’s value proposition is clear, compelling, and relevant.

Supporting the Value-Based Care Model

Brands can play a pivotal role in supporting the VBC model by providing resources that help HCPs deliver quality care. This could involve offering educational materials, tools for patient engagement, or technologies that enhance treatment outcomes. By alleviating some of the pressures on HCPs, brands can build stronger, more supportive relationships.

Under a value-based care model, brands have the best opportunity to thrive by supporting HCPs with the necessary resources to drive patient outcomes. This support not only strengthens brand-HCP relationships but also reinforces the brand’s commitment to quality care.

Engaging Patients through Active Communication

Effective patient communication is essential in a VBC model. Brands must prioritize patient education, particularly around preventative health measures, to ensure better health outcomes. This proactive approach helps patients take an active role in their health, aligning with the core principles of VBC.

Patient education and preventative health will take a front seat under a value-based care model. Brands can enhance their value by focusing on these areas, ensuring better patient outcomes.

Not a Funnel, Not Singular: Embracing the Brand Ecosystem

The dynamic nature of value-based marketing demands a shift from traditional campaign strategies to a more integrated brand ecosystem. An ecosystem approach opens up more scale and engagement opportunities, understanding the uniqueness of each audience’s definition of value. By adopting this strategy, healthcare brands can better navigate the complexities of VBC and position themselves for long-term success.

Conclusion

Whether value-based care is fully adopted or not, the opportunity for healthcare brands to enhance their value proposition remains significant. By understanding and embracing the principles of a brand ecosystem, brands can break through the complexities of healthcare marketing and set themselves up for success.

At Coegi, we specialize in helping healthcare brands navigate this transformation. Contact us today for a consult and learn how we can support your journey towards a more integrated, value-focused marketing strategy.

The Balancing Act: Short-Term Wins and Long-Term Growth in Healthcare Marketing

Posted on by Cameron Reese

Leaders in the healthcare industry understand the unique challenges of marketing to consumers and HCPs in this space. Unlike promoting a new phone or pair of shoes, healthcare decisions are often complex and involve building trust. This blog dives into the crucial balance between achieving short-term wins and fostering long-term growth for your healthcare brand.

Short-Term Gains: Measurable Impact, Immediate Results

Short-term marketing strategies deliver a quick and measurable impact. Think campaigns promoting flu vaccinations or driving traffic to a website for a new medication launch. Here, success is measured by:

  • Media metrics: Engagement rate, site traffic, click-through rate
  • Business metrics: Sales lift, return on investment (ROI)
  • Advanced measurement: Attention unit scores (measures ad effectiveness), vaccine lift studies (tracks vaccination rates post-campaign)

These strategies are ideal for capitalizing on seasonal trends or generating immediate interest in a new product.

Long-Term Vision: Building Trust and Brand Loyalty

Long-term marketing focuses on cultivating trust and brand loyalty. It positions your brand as a reliable resource, a trusted partner on a patient’s healthcare journey. This translates to:

  • Brand metrics: Brand awareness, brand preference, customer satisfaction
  • Sales & Vaccine Lift Studies: Can also be applicable to long-term success such as share of mind and market share.

Educational content, patient testimonials, and community outreach programs all contribute to long-term success. Imagine a healthcare provider consistently offering informative webinars on various health topics. This establishes them as a trusted resource, influencing patients to choose them for future needs.

The Art of Balance: Aligning Strategies for Sustainable Growth

Focusing solely on short-term gains can negatively impact long-term brand building. While short-term metrics can provide valuable insights and some immediate sense of satisfaction, over-reliance on them can lead to overlooking the bigger business  picture. Here’s how to strike the perfect balance:

  • Identify short-term metrics that predict long-term success. High engagement with educational content could indicate potential brand preference.
  • Maintain a cohesive brand voice across all marketing efforts. This ensures a consistent patient experience, regardless of the short-term or long-term marketing touchpoint.
  • Embrace innovation in activation and measurement. Utilize advanced tools like attention unit metrics and influencer marketing to gain deeper insights and reach your target audience with authenticity.

Conclusion: A Winning Formula for Healthcare Marketing Success

By understanding the nuances of both short-term and long-term growth in healthcare marketing, brands can achieve sustainable growth. Healthcare is a personal journey for everyone, and it can not be a one size fits all approach. In order to deploy an effective long term marketing strategy, brands need to be in tune with who their target audience is, and how they like to be spoken to. By implementing a balanced approach that prioritizes immediate results while fostering long-term trust, healthcare CMOs can build brands that resonate with patients HCPs alike and position themselves for lasting success.

Celebrating Progress: A Look at Coegi’s 2024 Achievements

Posted on by Coegi

As a strategic digital media partner, Coegi continually advances the frontiers of programmatic buying, authentic social media campaigns, and comprehensive digital channel optimization. We invest in creating thought leadership and maintaining strong ties with technology partners to stay at the cutting edge of digital trends and innovations. This commitment fosters a culture that celebrates client achievements and nurtures enduring relationships. 

A Whirlwind Start to 2024

The past six months at Coegi have been marked by a series of exciting accolades and strategic partnerships that have significantly enhanced our industry standing while serving as a testament to the strength of our team’s work ethic and expertise.

Achievements and Awards

We kicked off our streak of triumphs by securing a spot in AdExchanger’s Top 50 Programmatic Power Players for the third consecutive year, affirming our leadership in programmatic advertising. Adding to our celebration, Savannah Westbrock, Coegi’s Director of Innovation and Development, was honored as one of the Top Women in Media and Ad Tech in the “Up and Comers” category by AdExchanger and AdMonsters, highlighting our commitment to fostering talent within our ranks.

The spotlight continued with our groundbreaking collaboration with Moderna on the #SpikevaxPartner Community influencer marketing campaign. This groundbreaking campaign launched 550 posts, generating over 503 million impressions and a 484% increase in engagement rates, significantly boosting Spikevax’s market share from 37% to 48% and influencing 24% of all US vaccine conversions in fall 2023.

This campaign not only became a finalist in two categories at the Shorty Awards but also clinched a prestigious win for the 2024 Grand Indie awards, celebrating the most creative and effective independent agency campaigns globally. Furthermore, it triumphed at the 2023 MediaPost Planning & Buying Awards, winning in the Influencer Marketing Category. 

Lastly, we were proud to be honored by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the “Fast 50,” highlighting the fastest growing companies in the region, as well as being included on the list of the largest marketing and advertising agencies for St. Louis.

Client and Company Partnerships

On the client partnership front, we proudly announced our collaboration with The Humane Society of the United States, aiming to amplify their animal welfare initiatives. We also deepened our relationship with Moderna by becoming their paid media partner for the Canadian market. This partnership is built on a solid two-year foundation with Moderna’s global commercial team and encompasses a comprehensive media strategy.

Our strategic alliances have also expanded to include joining forces with Meet The People. This new alliance with a network of innovative independent agencies promises to foster collaborative growth and bring fresh perspectives and resources to our clients, further enhancing our capabilities and impact in the digital marketing sphere.

The Transformative Impact of Recognition

The accolades Coegi has garnered have significantly bolstered our agency’s profile and enhanced our strategic positioning to the benefit of our clients. These awards attest to our ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions and results-driven campaigns that significantly impact our clients’ market presence and consumer engagement. This recognition not only confirms our effectiveness in current markets but also aligns with the broader industry analysis provided by key insights from industry experts.

According to Forrester’s ‘The Media Management Services Landscape, Q2 2024‘ report, Coegi is included among notable vendors and has an industry focus on retail, financial services, and pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. Coegi self-reported the extended use cases of communications strategy, media and ad operations, and martech and adtech implementation as the top use cases for which clients select us.

This recognition from Forrester cements for us our reputation as a versatile and strategic partner capable of navigating the complexities of the global media management market.

Looking Forward: Coegi’s Vision for the Future

As Coegi strides confidently into the future, our roadmap is clear and ambitious. Fueled by the success and recognition of the past six months, we are set to achieve even more as we continue to innovate and expand our impact within the digital marketing world.

Innovations and Collaborative Growth

  • Technological Advancements: Coegi is broadening its technological and engagement strategies to enhance overall performance and client relationships. We continue to harness AI and machine learning to transform content creation, streamline workflows, and optimize ad delivery. Additionally, we’re implementing universal ID solutions and enhancing our ecosystem with advanced cross-channel measurement and audience strategies through strategic technology partnerships.
  • Meet The People and Worldwide Partners Collaborations: These collaborations allow us to stay independent and maintain the unique culture of Coegi while amplifying our impact through access to a broader network of resources and expertise. By aligning with a network that shares our core values, we place people at the heart of every strategy, enhancing our client-centric approach and empowering our community-focused initiatives.
  • Award Submissions: We’re building on recent successes with several award submissions planned this year to highlight our ongoing excellence and innovation in digital marketing.

Coegi is not just adapting to changes but actively shaping the future of digital marketing. By balancing innovation with our commitment to clients and community, we are poised for a dynamic future. Thanks to our team for all their work in making the start of this year a success!

 

Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Search Engine Marketing

Posted on by Coegi

Search engine marketing (SEM) stands as a pillar in the realm of digital advertising, elevating a brand’s visibility by securing premier advertisement placements on search engine results pages (SERPs). This channel has become irreplaceable for many marketers in driving qualified website traffic by engaging users with relevant ads that match their specific search queries.

It’s evident that there is a growing importance of mobile and local SEM in brands’ media mix – specifically as a performance-driven channel. However, the way consumers are using search is evolving, as they turn to voice and visual search technologies to add convenience to their experiences. 

The incorporation of AI and advanced data analytics into SEM is also dramatically changing the landscape, requiring businesses to consistently evolve their search strategies to stay at the forefront of digital marketing innovation and best meet the consumer’s needs. 

Major Trends and Changes in SEM

SEM is constantly in flux, shaped by the continual advancements and updates in search engine algorithms. Understanding these shifts is essential for marketers looking to maintain a competitive advantage in digital advertising.

Search Algorithms and Their Impact on SEM

Major search engines like Google continuously strive to enhance user experiences, resulting in frequent and significant algorithm changes. Over the past year, Google has implemented several important updates:

  • April 2023: Replaced first-click, linear, time decay, and position-based attribution models with data-driven attribution to better align with evolving consumer behaviors.
  • May 2023: Introduction of AI-driven innovations at Google Marketing Live, refining both Search and Performance Max campaigns.
  • August 2023: Implementation of the Limited Ads Serving policy to improve ad clarity and build trust.
  • September 2023: The Helpful Content Update launches, focusing on seamless transitions from ads to landing pages that directly answer user queries and enhance the search experience. This highlights the need for marketers to develop content that resonates with the audience’s expectations and addresses their primary concerns about brands and their offerings.
  • October 2023: Introduction of search themes in Performance Max to refine ad targeting.
  • November 2023: Google shifts towards privacy-focused ad strategies, moving away from third-party cookies and instead emphasizing the use of first-party data and contextual targeting.
  • February 2024: Enhancement of AI-powered Search ads as well as the introduction of AR & VR features for shopping, aimed at improving ad engagement and consumer insights.

Each update underscores a shift towards more personalized, efficient, and privacy-conscious marketing strategies, challenging marketers to innovate within the constraints of enhanced user privacy and advanced technological capabilities.

The Rise of Mobile and Local SEM

In today’s digital ecosystem, mobile optimization and local search strategies are paramount. Mobile-friendly websites should balance aesthetics and usability, aiming for fast loading and easy navigation for users. For local businesses, the integration of location-based keywords and localized ad targeting into their SEM strategy is indispensable. This focus enhances visibility on SERPs, especially for searches with local interest, thereby connecting businesses with their highest-intent target audiences more effectively.

Voice and Visual Search Innovations

Voice and visual search technologies are reshaping the SEM strategies. Voice searches, powered by digital assistants and smart speakers, tend to feature longer, more conversational queries. This change means we need to use different keywords that match the brand or campaign’s main focus, like questions and phrases. 

Visual search, leveraging AI to allow image-based searching, enhances web interaction, particularly in shopping and information discovery. Integrating visual search into SEM strategies can significantly boost user engagement, conversion rates, and brand recognition while providing insightful consumer behavior data, making it a pivotal element for more successful and efficient marketing campaigns.

Adapting to the growing trends of voice and visual search requires websites to be user-friendly and equipped to provide accurate, easily accessible information. SEM practitioners must continually update their strategies to align with the evolving preferences and behaviors of their audience, ensuring their campaigns remain effective and relevant.

Effective SEM Strategies in Today’s Digital Marketing

Today, effective SEM strategies have become pivotal for standing out amidst intense competition. These strategies have evolved significantly, transitioning from outdated techniques to sophisticated approaches that prioritize user experience and content quality.

  • Content and Keyword Strategy Adaptations: The move away from keyword stuffing to strategies that focus on user intent and content quality reflects a significant shift in SEO and SEM practices. Originally, keyword stuffing aimed to improve SERP rankings but often led to poor user experiences. Today, search engines favor high-quality content that delivers on its promises, aligns with user behavior and intent, and satisfies users’ needs. This change is important because voice and visual searches are on the rise. Content must be engaging and specifically designed for natural language queries.
  • Leveraging Data and Analytics: Data analytics, powered by AI and machine learning, plays a crucial role in refining SEM strategies. Platforms like Google Ads employ these technologies to analyze large datasets, considering factors like user behavior, demographics, and past performance. These insights allow marketers to optimize their campaigns more effectively, adjusting bidding strategies in real time based on dynamic user behavior patterns.
  • Integrating SEM with Overarching Digital Marketing: For maximum impact, avoid thinking of SEM as a separate initiative and instead incorporate it within a broader digital marketing strategy, considering the intertwining of SEO, social media, and email marketing. This cohesive approach ensures that all channels work together towards a common goal, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the marketing efforts. 

Future of SEM and Staying Ahead

Rapid advancements in technology, such as AI and data privacy, are not only influencing but also redefining the future of SEM, necessitating that marketers integrate these elements into their strategies for sustained success.

  • Continuous Learning: As the SEM industry evolves, marketers must also evolve, adapting to changes to maintain a competitive edge and bringing a spirit of experimentation. 
  • Leveraging Campaigns for Experimentation: View campaigns as opportunities for testing and learning, diving deep into analytics to gather actionable insights.
  • Holistic Data Tracking: The cross-platform tracking capabilities of GA4 allow for a comprehensive understanding of marketing efforts across channels, facilitating more efficient budget allocation through detailed data attribution.
  • Industry Insights: Staying informed through industry publications and resources is vital for learning about the latest SEM developments.

Adopting ethical practices is crucial not only for building trust with consumers but also for ensuring long-term success and compliance with regulatory standards. 

Here are some key considerations:

  • Clear and Ethical Communication: Deploy honest, transparent advertising with high-quality, relevant content, adhering to ethical guidelines and responding to feedback to enhance trust, improve user experience, and provide value.
  • Safeguard Privacy and Ensure User Consent: Adhere to privacy laws and respect user preferences, providing clear options for data tracking and personalization consent.
  • Promote Equity and Inclusion: Ensure ad targeting is free from discriminatory practices and embraces inclusivity, catering to a diverse audience without exploiting vulnerabilities.
  • Sustainability Consideration: Prioritize sustainable SEM practices by optimizing resource use and minimizing digital waste, reflecting environmental responsibility.

Emphasizing a blend of technological innovation, adaptability, and stringent ethical standards lays out a strategic blueprint for thriving in SEM’s dynamic future.

How We Incorporate Innovation Into Our Clients’ Work

Posted on by Savannah Westbrock

At Coegi, innovation shapes every project we undertake, driving us to not just create new ideas but to also transform these ideas into valuable, tangible solutions for our clients. This approach to innovation— both the creation of fresh concepts and their successful application—is fundamental to our work. We advocate for a subtractive mindset alongside traditional “out-of-the-box” thinking, encouraging our team to enhance efficiency by removing unnecessary elements. 

Our approach emphasizes a culture where innovation means both introducing new ideas and thoughtfully streamlining, ensuring our solutions are both creative and efficient. By adopting this dual approach, we offer unique strategies that aren’t innovative for the sake of innovation, but are grounded in measurement to help global brands reach their business goals. 

Our Innovative Approach: Strategy + Culture

Our innovative approach is twofold, deeply intertwining agile methodologies with a robust cultural commitment to innovation to create dynamic, data-driven media strategies. This combination allows us to quickly develop, test and learn, and refine ideas, ensuring our campaigns effectively meet the rapidly changing needs of our clients. 

Our people and experiences have positioned us as trusted guides for global brands and agencies navigating the complexities of the media industry. We tackle major industry challenges head-on, from consumer privacy and advertising regulations to the integration of sustainability in ad tech and the deployment of AI tools. Our approachable leadership plays a pivotal role in breaking down silos, enabling seamless collaboration across departments and ensuring that innovation is a collective ambition.

Ultimately, fostering an innovation mindset has allowed us to transform innovation from a specialized discipline into a fundamental aspect of our organization. This equips us to not only address the immediate challenges of today’s media landscape, but also sets the foundation for enduring success and adaptability in an ever-changing industry.

Showcasing Innovation: Case Studies and Business Impact

Our success stories highlight how we creatively solve challenges with our clients, focusing on the teamwork and strategies that lead to innovative outcomes.

One standout example involves Coegi increasing vaccine consideration by 28% and driving an 88% lift in vaccine discussions for Moderna’s COVID-19 booster among multicultural consumers. By identifying a significant Spanish-speaking target demographic, Coegi crafted a campaign that leveraged authentic storytelling through micro and nano influencers, an approach that was largely underutilized for the pharmaceutical industry. These influencers, ranging from healthcare professionals to lifestyle bloggers, created relatable content in Spanish, addressing key questions about COVID-19 vaccination and establishing trust in Moderna’s product.

Another example highlights our work with a tourism client seeking to innovate around safety during the pandemic. Understanding the need to reassure travelers and promote safe travel experiences, we implemented a scoring model that assessed and communicated safety measures effectively. This initiative not only helped in restoring traveler confidence but also in promoting responsible tourism advertising practices during challenging times. 

The impact of our work is seen through our clients:

  • Our solutions are implemented with agility and a keen problem-solving approach, demonstrating our ability to navigate and overcome obstacles effectively.
  • Positive outcomes from these projects include both quantitative and qualitative business results.
  • These cases underscore our commitment to leveraging innovation for continuous improvement and client success.

 

The Future of Innovation in Our Workspace

Fostering a culture of innovation has been instrumental to our success thus far. As we look ahead to the future of innovation within Coegi’s workspace, it’s clear that the journey we’ve embarked upon is set to deepen and diversify. The essence of innovation, after all, is not just in conceiving new ideas but in effectively bringing them to life to solve real-world challenges. 

To streamline our focus and maximize our impact, we’re honing in on four key areas:

  • Investing in emerging technologies: Staying at the forefront of technological advancements to ensure our solutions remain innovative and relevant for our clients.
  • Fostering continuous learning: Creating opportunities for our team to grow their skills and knowledge, keeping us agile and informed.
  • Building strategic partnerships: Collaborating with a diverse range of agency and publisher partners to expand our perspectives and capabilities.
  • Exploring sustainability: Integrating eco-friendly practices into our projects, aligning with our commitment to making a positive impact on the world.

As we move forward, our vision for the future of innovation in our workspace is not just about maintaining our trajectory but about setting new benchmarks for what we can achieve. By focusing on these strategic areas, we aim to not only continue solving complex challenges for our clients but also to contribute positively to the broader industry and society. Innovation will always remain a journey—a path we navigate with purpose, determination, and an unwavering focus on creating value that transcends the ordinary.

 

5 Steps to Building a Stronger Customer Engagement Strategy Using Digital Marketing

Posted on by Coegi

Run-of-the-mill approaches to grabbing attention are no longer sufficient to win with today’s customers. Brand success depends on our ability to engage with our audience on a personal level, captivating them through unique and/or convenient offerings, and converting this brand preference into tangible outcomes within customer engagement. 

With Twilio’s 2023 The State of Customer Engagement Report showing 66% of consumers leaving brands that lack personalization, it’s clear that tailored experiences are essential to meet individual customer needs and sustain strong relationships.

Four Core Channels for Engaging Customers

To adeptly maneuver within this setting, there are four key areas to master:

  1. Social Media Engagement: Examine the entire landscape to select platforms that resonate strongly with your target audience, focusing on where engagement levels are highest. Experiment with different advertising tactics to discover which types of content generate the most interaction. It’s crucial to maintain a consistent approach across both paid and organic content, ensuring close collaboration throughout the process.
  2. Programmatic Demand-Side Platforms: The use of programmatic buying strategies on DSPs will optimize your digital advertising by placing ads in the most impactful locations across the internet. Focus on targeting the high-precision audience effectively and at the right moments to increase relevance and drive success from your campaigns.
  3. Search Marketing: To enhance customer engagement through search marketing, seamlessly blend targeted keyword optimization and dynamic content strategies across digital channels. By crafting compelling, SEO-optimized ad copy and content tailored to audience preferences, you can maximize outcomes on this performance-driven channel.. 
  4. Content Marketing: Consistently produce and share content that not only educates and entertains, but also addresses the audience’s needs and preferences. Diversify content formats across paid advertisements, social media posts, and organic blog content to capture a wider audience and foster interaction. Continuously analyze engagement metrics to refine your content strategy for better results.

The key to all of this – personalization. Utilize analytics tools, your CRM software, and/or dynamic creative optimization technology to create highly personalized experiences for their customers. This approach not only increases engagement, but also customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Implementing an Integrated Engagement Strategy

Mastering customer engagement requires weaving these tactics into a unified brand strategy. With 86% of consumers indicating that personalized experiences boost their brand loyalty, creating a marketing ecosystem can substantiate the importance of personalized engagement in enhancing customer loyalty. A well-integrated marketing ecosystem not only aligns with customer preferences for personalization but also strengthens brand loyalty by delivering cohesive and relevant experiences at every interaction.

Here are five essential next steps to transform your approach and achieve unparalleled success in customer engagement.

  1. Audit and map the customer journey: Begin by thoroughly reviewing your current customer journey to identify critical decision-making touchpoints. This will help in pinpointing where improvements or integrations can be made to enhance the overall experience.
  2. Define objectives and select tools: Clearly outline your engagement goals and choose digital marketing tactics that align with these objectives, ensuring they can work together seamlessly across channels.
  3. Develop a unified content plan: Create a cohesive plan that encompasses content marketing, social media engagement, email segmentation, and loyalty programs, ensuring each element supports the others for a unified customer experience.
  4. Analyze performance and gather feedback: Regularly monitor the effectiveness of your engagement strategies through metrics and customer feedback, using these insights to continuously refine your approach.
  5. Iterate and optimize strategically: Treat your engagement strategy as a work in progress, ready to be adjusted based on performance data and shifting customer needs, to maintain relevance and effectiveness over time.

Sealing the Deal

Mastering customer engagement in the digital age requires a strategic useof personalization, making the consumer feel that everything that they are seeing is relevant while still scaling across your audience. By harnessing the power of innovative digital marketing tools, businesses can create engaging, personalized experiences that resonate with customers and drive loyalty and growth. As you evaluate your current engagement strategies, consider how integrating these tactics can elevate your customer interactions and set your brand apart in a crowded digital landscape. Encourage your team to embrace these changes, leveraging the insights and tools available to create meaningful connections with your audience.

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