As we wrap up another eventful month, it’s exciting to tell you that our charming town of Bowral and our community had the unique privilege of hosting some promotional filming of the widely acclaimed Bridgerton series, right here in our own backyard. 🤩
This momentous event brought an electric buzz to our town. Iconic local spots like The Press Shop, Milton Park Country House Hotel & Spa, SoHi Spirits, Gumnut Patisserie, and Retford Park Estate served as picturesque backdrops, adding to the series' enchanting and regal setting.
Being a part of such a high-profile production not only highlights the beauty and versatility of our locale but also showcases Bowral's potential as a prime destination for future film projects. It’s a testament to the unique charm and spirit of our community.
Why is this my intro? Just as Bridgerton is bigger than Bowral, Banter is bigger than the Southern Highlands. We may be small and regional, but we create awesomeness, and we’re lucky to do what we do, how we do it.
Valentina xxx ❤️
Agency Vs In-house Marketing: What to do?
It’s an oldie but a goodie, and I’ve pointed out these differences before.
However, as the tide changes in our economic landscape, you might be asking yourself the same question: should I use an agency, or hire in-house? 🤔
I’m able to create a convincing argument for both sides, and indeed there is no right answer. There are so many variables that should guide your decision, and that’s why I’m sharing an independent article that really covers the right questions to ask. I particularly loved the comparison of an economic argument comparing a banana and a lamp! 🤭
In all of your considerations, please keep in mind the ever-growing role of a marketer and the ridiculous expectations we are putting on a single role. As soon as there’s a new trend or technology, we expect marketers to be all over it… and they can be, if they get to dump something else to allow room for it.
Mass Meta Update
This is by far the hardest part of the newsletter to write because there are SO MANY things to tell you about relating to social. So here’s a Meta-based snippet of the shortlist in the last few weeks. 🤯
- Instagram carousel content mentioning in comments
- Meta rolling out Opportunity Score, a new metric for evaluating ad campaigns, ad sets, and ad setups.
- Instagram developing a new feature, Blend to promote private Reel content sharing.
- Instagram limiting hashtags to 5 per post, increasing focus on content to reach your audience, bringing social media SEO into the spotlight.
Valley Outdoors (you MUST do this!)
Adventure Seekers, we're thrilled to share with you the exhilarating journey we've embarked on with Valley Outdoors, your gateway to unforgettable outdoor experiences, nestled in the heart of Kangaroo Valley. Banter’s job was to elevate Valley’s online presence and showcase its extraordinary offerings to the world.
Based halfway between Sydney and Canberra, Valley Outdoors boasts a team of seasoned outdoor professionals dedicated to curating immersive experiences in nature's playground. 🌿 From canoeing through dramatic gorges to hiking in hidden forests, from abseiling down rugged cliffs to camping under starlit skies, Valley Outdoors offers an array of accessible, inclusive adventures for all. ⛰
Our collaboration began with the creation of a stunning, SEO-friendly website designed to captivate visitors and streamline bookings. With mesmerising graphics, engaging videos, and seamless navigation, the new website serves as a virtual gateway to the wonders of Kangaroo Valley and beyond. Whether you're planning a corporate retreat, a family getaway, or a solo expedition, our user-friendly platform makes booking your next adventure a breeze.
Our partnership with Valley Outdoors extends beyond the website; it's about amplifying their brand and vision. We've crafted mini-brand guidelines, infusing natural hues and organic elements inspired by the tranquil beauty of river stones. By blending these with Valley Outdoors' iconic trail marker logos, which pay homage to owner, Travis' Canadian roots, we've created a visual identity that resonates with nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.
Valley Outdoors isn't just about adrenaline-pumping activities; it's about forging connections—with nature, with oneself, and with others. With a clear vision to become a premier destination for family outings, team-building excursions, and outdoor education, they are poised to make waves in the tourism industry, both locally and nationally. (We jumped on board and took our team for our end-of-year celebrations and we all LOVED it, then I took my family for a Sunday canoe adventure too!)
Get you, your family and your organisation out there - you’ll be back for more, I promise you. 🙏🏼
Reading Friends
We're shining the spotlight on Reading Friends, a stellar initiative led by an impressive individual, Luciana De Michiel. Reading Friends is dedicated to enhancing literacy among young children in our community with a dedicated volunteer network. 💛
Banter Group had the privilege of supporting Reading Friends right from its foundational stages. Our journey began with providing pro-bono support to assist in achieving grant funding. We rolled up our sleeves to design and construct a functional website that serves as the digital heartbeat of Reading Friends.
With a strong digital presence, we then turned our attention to a three-month Social Jump Start program, equipping the Reading Friends team with robust templates to streamline social visuals coupled with comprehensive training sessions.
Our support for Reading Friends and their noble mission continues to flourish. We take pride in being part of their journey, aiding in the pivotal work of improving literacy and opening worlds of possibilities for our children through the power of reading. 📚
CGI Advertising: Creating the World's Largest Vanilla Slice
Have you seen this? 👀 We have this brilliant, award-winning patisserie in the Highlands, Gumnut Patisserie. By award-winning, I’m talking The Sydney Royal President’s Medal winners in 2021. For April Fool’s Day, we combined two sets of awesome - Gumnut’s magical Vanilla Slice and a CGI attempt at the Guinness World Records' largest Vanilla Slice.
What you are looking at is the latest trend in digital and social media marketing, Augmented Reality (AR) advertising. It's a form of digital marketing that uses CGI technology to create interactive and engaging consumer experiences. In a sea of same, we think this stands out in the crowd. Brent shows you how he created this amazing model and the process for perfection.
Less than 5 minute reads for you
This section: Short reads, 👀 not just about marketing.
_____________________
Shopify costs go up
Shopify always looks like a good eComm option, until it’s not. Merchants on the Shopify Plus plan will need to pay 25% more to keep their stores running. 😳 To avoid the price hike, brands will need to lock in a three-year contract and renew by April 24th.
_____________________
TikTok clones Insta
TikTok is preparing to launch a clone of Instagram, which will likely be called TikTok Notes.
_____________________
LinkedIn Ad Metrics
With all this extra attention on LinkedIn, you should at least be up to speed with the best metrics to measure. Yes? Good, here they are.
_____________________
LinkedIn Pages Messaging
LinkedIn is rolling out ‘Pages Messaging’ for all business profiles. This will add a ✉️ message button to the company profile.
_____________________
Deep Fake privacy issues
I’m not going to talk about Chat GPT, it’s bigger than just that. You might remember the scare campaign (or education campaign, whichever way you look at it) called Take This Lollipop from 2011. We learned the impact of privacy breaches on social pretty quickly. 😱
Now with Deep Fake AI, we’re back at educating people what the true impact could look like. And it’s just as scary as Take This Lollipop. Rethinking your enthusiasm?
Pedigree and AI: GOOD AI and it’s cute too!
This isn’t the first time Pedigree has jumped on awesome tech to match their pet adoptions. 🐶 In 2012, their Adoption Drive matched doggos with potential owners on the basis of both dog & owner looking alike. Yep! Apparently we really do pick dogs that look like ourselves!
Now, Pedigree adopted AI to give ‘glow ups’ to shelter dog ads with the aim of drastically shortening adoption times. Their campaign uses geo-targeting and first-party data to boost ad efficacy. AI has such a bad reputation because of the BAD it can do, but what about the GOOD? Brands can embrace AI to create assets at scale and still retain authenticity.
Catch you next time 😊
