Category: Highlights

Government giggles: How humor is changing social media for public agencies

Post author By Stevie LoBosco
Post date April 22, 2024

Gone are the days of dry press releases and sterile announcements. In the age of social media and short attention spans, all kinds of government agencies are shedding their traditional stoic images and embracing a surprising tool from their marketing arsenal: humor. From the National Park Service’s witty banter to the IRS’s meme-filled musings, public agencies are discovering the power of laughter to connect with their audiences on a deeper level.

But why the sudden shift toward stand-up routines in public agencies’ content strategies?

The benefits of a chuckle: Humanizing serious business

Humor can be a powerful tool for government and public agencies seeking to break down barriers and build trust with the public. Complex organizations become more relatable by injecting a dose of wit into their social media interactions. Faceless bureaucracies are becoming a thing of the past; using memes, pop culture references, and clever captions allows agencies to connect with younger generations and broader audiences in a way traditional methods simply cannot.

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A post shared by National Park Service (@nationalparkservice)

The National Park Service exemplifies this masterfully. Their Instagram account boasts breathtaking landscapes paired with unexpected captions that leave audiences chuckling. One recent post shows a video of the Northern Lights as seen from Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, and then compares the breathtaking aurora borealis to “the night sky having a magical dance party.” This lighthearted approach not only entertains but also encourages engagement and reminds people of the beauty these parks offer.

Laughter is the best medicine: Making mundane information memorable

But humor isn’t just about giggles. It can be extremely effective at making dry, or even unpleasant, subjects more relatable and accessible. By framing dull or complex information in a humorous way, agencies can increase memorability and engagement. Tedious and complex topics become easier to digest when delivered with a wink and a smile.

Take the IRS, for instance. Navigating tax season can be a daunting task for many, but their social media presence cleverly uses pop culture references and relatable scenarios to explain filing processes and answer common tax questions.

A recent reel featuring an adorable black pup and the text “Dear Taxpayers, NOT A DEPENDANT,” not only resonates with the pet parents in the audience, but also provides a helpful resource with the caption. Through humor, the IRS makes engagement with a topic most people hate much more palatable.

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A post shared by Internal Revenue Service (@irsnews)

Laughter is contagious: Expanding visibility and engagement

Finally, humor can be a powerful tool for expanding an agency’s reach and visibility. Funny content is more likely to be shared and discussed, leading to a wider impact. Research has shown that social media posts with humor tend to receive higher engagement rates compared to strictly informative content. This increased engagement translates into a wider audience for important messages and announcements.

Humor also gives consumers a reason to engage with brands outside of the occasions, transactions, and other moments where engagement would otherwise be limited. For example, if you’re not an outdoorsy person, the dread of camping, hiking, or battling mosquitoes may keep you far away from national parks. But just try to stay away from their social media accounts. Their content is quippy, clever, and downright funny, resulting in engagement from audiences that may not otherwise have a reason to interact with the brand.

While specific data on the precise impact of humor on social media engagement is still evolving, countless anecdotal examples exist. The National Park Service’s humorous posts consistently go viral, reaching millions beyond their initial audience and driving awareness for their conservation efforts. Humor, in essence, becomes an unexpected marketing tool, attracting new followers and amplifying the reach of essential information.

Stepping onto the stage: Concerns and considerations for adopting humor in social media

Of course, incorporating humor into a content strategy or social media plan isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Maintaining professionalism, avoiding offense, and achieving the right balance between serious and silly are all valid concerns.

The key lies in a strategic approach. Developing clear guidelines for using humor ensures your content reflects your brand voice while remaining respectful and appropriate. For instance, a public health agency might avoid political jokes, while a wildlife conservation agency might avoid humor that mocks endangered species.

Finding your funny bone: How brands can embrace humor

So, how can your brand incorporate a touch of humor into its social media voice? Here’s a few quick tips to guide your first attempts into adding a little laughter into your brand’s social strategy:

1. Identify your brand voice

Before diving headfirst into jokes, understand your brand personality, voice, and tone within the context of your target audience. What kind of humor resonates with them? Can you maintain your brand voice while being funny? Think about the overall tone you want to convey and ensure your humor aligns with it.

2. Find inspiration

Look to successful examples like the two government agencies mentioned earlier. Analyze the types of humor, tone, and content that work well for them. Consider adapting those approaches to fit your brand identity.

3. Start small and experiment

Don’t jump into full-blown comedic campaigns right away. Begin with lighthearted posts, witty replies, or humorous captions for your existing social media content. Gauge audience response and iterate based on their feedback. This allows you to refine your approach and ensure your humor lands as intended. Tallwave has taken this approach first-hand in our brand marketing efforts. Remember our 2023 April Fools’ post? We loved it, but it took our audience a while to warm up and laugh like we did. But, a few months later, our humorous holiday greeting is one of our most-shared posts to date.

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A post shared by Tallwave (@tallwave)

4. Authenticity is key

Forced humor rarely works. Ensure your humor aligns with your brand values and feels genuine. Avoid humor that might be offensive, insensitive, or that might contradict your brand message.

5. Embrace trends and memes

Leveraging trending topics and memes with a unique brand spin can be highly engaging. A well-timed meme referencing a current event can spark conversation and increase reach. However, stay relevant and avoid overusing memes, as they can quickly lose their appeal.

6. Make data-driven decisions

Track your results! Analyze which types of humor resonate best with your audience and adjust your approach accordingly. Social media platforms offer analytics tools that can provide valuable insights into audience engagement.

The final act: Bringing laughter to your brand

As the case of government agencies using humor on social media demonstrates, laughter can be a powerful tool for connecting with audiences, delivering information, and building trust, even for the most unlikely brands. By incorporating humor strategically and thoughtfully, brands from all sectors can create a more engaging and relatable online presence.

At Tallwave, we understand the power of diverse strategies in crafting compelling content. Just as we helped a recent client in the healthcare sector achieve success through our content strategy work, we can help you develop a social media approach that incorporates humor effectively. Let’s chat about how we can help you bring a little laughter – and a lot of engagement – to your brand voice.

Tags social media, social strategy

CRO Customer Engagement Highlights Paid Media Reaching New Customers SEO

The road to victory: Paid media strategies in an election and Olympic year

Post author By Stevie LoBosco
Post date April 8, 2024

For a few months every four years, the U.S. presidential election and Summer Olympics dominate the media landscape and create major challenges for advertisers trying to establish reach, maintain ad frequency, and meet cost per acquisition (CPA) goals. From roughly mid-July to early November, election campaigns and Olympic promotions overtake ad inventory, limiting supply and driving up costs for other advertisers.

In 2020, the Tokyo Olympics attracted $2.25 billion in U.S. ad revenue and the U.S. election cycle totaled an unprecedented $2.5 billion of ad revenue. And that’s just for TV ads! With all of that extra competition in the market, breaking through the clutter and maintaining effective reach and frequency without breaking the bank becomes a major challenge for most advertisers.

Let’s explore how a thoughtful election- and Olympic-year paid media strategy can help you emerge victorious from this quagmire. After all, who doesn’t love a good underdog story?

Politics and pentathlons: The negative impacts on marketing

Before we discuss strategy, it’s important to understand what is at risk during these quadrennial events. Here are some of the ways your current paid media plan might feel the impact of the election/Olympic year:

Limited inventory

Channels like traditional broadcast, out-of-home (billboards, transit, airport advertising, etc.), and even CTV, have a finite amount of ad inventory. As politicians, advocacy groups, super PACs, the Olympic Games, and the likes buy up ad inventory, it becomes a challenge for other advertisers to secure inventory for themselves.

For election candidate advertising specifically, the FCC requires broadcast stations and cable systems to charge legally qualified candidates the lowest unit prices, making TV advertising more affordable, and increasing the likelihood of those candidates purchasing a lot of inventory. Additionally, because candidates are guaranteed the lowest unit price that other customers receive, this means that you likely won’t be able to secure any zero-cost added value spots during this time.

In an effort to treat competing candidates fairly, the FCC also requires broadcast stations to abide by the “equal time” rule. This means that if one candidate gets a spot in the 6p news, the other candidates must also be able to receive a similar spot. As such, many non-political advertisers get preempted (“bumped”) during this time and may not receive makegoods during the desired window. This rule makes it especially challenging for advertisers who are operating within very specific promotional windows.

With political and Olympic ads taking over the airwaves, it becomes difficult for other advertisers to secure any ad inventory at all, yet alone enough to maintain an effective reach and frequency that will grow brand awareness or compel action from potential customers.

Cluttered ad space

As politics and Olympic promotion overtake traditional advertising outlets, many non-political and Olympic advertisers will move into the digital realm to secure inventory and lock in flat rates. The political and Olympic advertisers will be here too by the way. As you can imagine (or have experienced first hand in years past), the digital marketplace becomes inundated with heated political messaging and inspirational (usually sports-themed) stories, on top of all the normal ad clutter.

It can be extremely challenging to break through all this noise. Consumers often get overwhelmed by excessive advertising, making it less likely that they will engage with or be influenced by ads.

Increased costs

While broadcast stations are required to keep costs low for advertisers, digital channels are not. Costs on Google, Meta, and other auction-based platforms will surge as competition increases. Cost per clicks (CPCs) and cost per conversions (CPAs) will increase as advertisers bid against each other to win ad space. Target CPAs are going to take more work to hit as each impression becomes significantly more expensive to secure. While you can still serve ads within a set budget, your paid media dollars won’t go nearly as far in auction-based platforms as they normally would outside the election and Olympic seasons.

Taking the podium: Overcome obstacles with a winning strategy

While the challenges that exist during an election and Olympic year may seem daunting, it’s not too late to implement a winning strategy. Strategically planning ahead can help mitigate these challenges:

Adapt your channel strategy

Perhaps the most obvious response to the challenges highlighted above would be to adjust your paid media channel strategy. The limited inventory on traditional broadcast channels will make it difficult to maintain an effective reach and frequency and auction-based digital platforms will experience increased costs. While you may not want to exclude these channels altogether, consider countering those challenges by:

Secure broadcast sponsorships and packages: These often guarantee a minimum number of impressions without the possibility of being preempted.
Extend your broadcast impressions with digital video and streaming audio: These channels have more inventory and often allow you to negotiate flat CPM rates.
Invest in podcasts: Podcasts break through the clutter by speaking to highly engaged listeners.
Incorporate flat-rate digital platforms: Plan ahead and collaborate with digital partners that will guarantee flat CPM/CPC pricing to avoid the increased bidding costs.

Understand your audience

As inventory shrinks and costs rise, efficiency is key. Don’t let your advertising dollars go to waste serving impressions to people outside your audience.

Many marketers use demographics to define their target audience, but demographics have little to do with why a person takes a particular action. Well ahead of the Opening Ceremonies and primary elections, consider investing in values-based persona research to more clearly define who your audience is and what motivates them so that you can tailor your messaging and creative accordingly. Effective ad messaging and creative that resonates with your audience will help break through the ad clutter and drive action during a time when consumers are faced with significant distractions.

Additionally, make sure you’re investing in your first-party data to understand consumer behavior. Today, marketers collect more data than ever before, but often struggle to harness the power of that data in a way that yields actionable insights. Effective data quality management enables you to analyze the right data points that help you understand your customer, enhance their experiences, and optimize campaigns for more efficient and effective results.

Invest in Conversion Rate Optimization

Conversion rate optimization (CRO) strategy is the insurance policy for any paid media plan. A strong paid media strategy can drive significant traffic to a landing page, but if users are met with a poor website experience, they might leave without converting, thus creating a leaky bucket situation. A strategic CRO program systematically tests various iterations of website design and functionality to weed out points of friction and increase conversion rates.

By investing in CRO strategy ahead of the election and Olympic year, you can help prevent valuable paid media traffic from trickling away pre-conversion during that time when paid media traffic is more expensive and harder to come by. During election and Olympic years, when digital costs increase and consumer attention is being directed elsewhere, decreases in conversion rates are almost guaranteed. An effective CRO strategy will help offset the anticipated decrease in conversion rates.

Learn more about CRO and other Integrated Digital Marketing Services from Tallwave.

Emerge victorious

Strategically planning ahead is key to ensuring strong paid media performance during election and Olympic years. Ready to get started? Let Tallwave help you get the most out of your paid media budget this election and Olympic year.

Tags conversion rate optimization, CRO, Data & Analytics, paid media

Highlights News SEO Strategy

The future is now: Leveraging AI prompt engineering

Post author By Laura Isaacs
Post date April 1, 2024

Ever felt like you’ve squeezed every creative drop out of your content calendar? Struggling to brainstorm fresh campaign ideas? Need help turning numbers into actionable insight? Welcome to the age of AI prompt engineering, a technique that empowers you to unlock the potential of powerful generative AI tools.

Think of tools like ChatGPT, Bard, or Copilot as the next evolution of search engines. Instead of simply returning relevant web pages, they can generate creative text formats, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, complete complex math equations, and even assist with coding tasks — all based on the prompts you provide.

What is prompt engineering?

Imagine having a powerful conversation partner with access to a vast library of information. This is essentially what you get with AI-powered language models. However, just like any good conversation, the quality of the interaction hinges on how you initiate it. This is where prompt engineering comes in.

Prompts are the instructions you provide to the AI, guiding it toward the specific outcome you desire. The more precise and well-crafted your prompt is, the more helpful and relevant the AI’s response will be.

Think of it like searching a library. A vague query like “find something interesting” will yield a mountain of irrelevant results. However, a focused prompt like “find books on the history of artificial intelligence published in the last year that are also available in ebook format” leads you directly to the information you seek.

These language models are trained on massive amounts of text data, giving them the ability to predict the next word in a sequence and understand the nuances of human conversation. They learn and adapt as you interact with them. That’s why providing the right prompt from the outset is crucial for unlocking the full potential of this powerful technology.

How are content marketers using prompt engineering in 2024?

One of generative AI’s most relied-on (and perhaps most controversial) uses in 2024 is content creation. Simple AI tools like Grammarly can run spelling and copy-editing checks, but a handful of tools take things a huge step further. Consider the following benefits of using AI for content creation, along with some engineered AI prompts that might help inspire content creators when using generative tools like ChatGPT:

Streamline content creation

Prompt-based AI can help you brainstorm new blog posts, generate product descriptions, craft engaging social media captions, and even write website copy in different tones and styles.

Example prompts for content creation:

“Create a listicle blog post with 10 engaging tips for businesses to leverage social media marketing in 2024.”
“Write a personalized email campaign for customers who haven’t purchased in the past three months, offering exclusive deals and re-engaging them with our brand.”

Banish writer’s block

Hit a creative wall? AI can help you jumpstart your writing process. Use it to generate outlines, suggest alternative phrasing, simplify technical terms, or even draft entire sections based on your initial ideas.

Example prompts to get the creative juices flowing:

“Continue this paragraph about the benefits of using explainer videos in marketing campaigns, focusing on increased engagement and improved conversion rates.”
“Explain the concept of blockchain technology clearly and concisely, suitable for a general audience with no prior technical knowledge. Use simple language and relatable examples.”

Diversify content formats

Expand your content repertoire beyond traditional text. Use generative AI prompts to create scripts for explainer videos, product descriptions in a conversational tone, or even catchy email subject lines.

Example prompts to expand your content’s range:

“Write a 2-minute script for an explainer video that introduces the key features and benefits of our new productivity software, targeting busy entrepreneurs.”
“Generate five engaging email subject lines promoting our upcoming webinar on social media marketing best practices, using a sense of urgency and highlighting the potential benefits for subscribers.”

A word on risk: Responsible use of AI-generated content

It’s important to remember that AI-generated content is a powerful tool, but it’s not a replacement for human expertise and is often easily detectable to human readers. Here are some key considerations:

Fact-check and edit: AI-generated content may not always be factually accurate. Always double-check the information and edit for clarity, tone, and brand consistency.
Prioritize ethical considerations: Be mindful of potential biases in the training data of AI models. Use prompts that promote inclusivity and avoid reinforcing stereotypes.
Maintain human editorial oversight: The human touch remains essential. Use AI as a springboard for creativity, not a crutch for critical thinking.

Another essential risk of AI content creation: sinking your site in the SERPs. Google’s most recent core algorithm update in March 2024 has caused significant volatility for sites with AI-created content. Proceed with caution and ensure you are using AI responsibly to avoid being penalized in the SERPs.

Beyond content creation: Using AI as your technical teammate

While content creation support can be a benefit of prompt engineering, AI offers all kinds of technical applications for marketers and growth leaders. Let’s explore how leveraging AI can go far beyond catchy headlines and blog posts:

Unveil customer insights with statistical modeling

Gone are the days of gut feeling or intuition driving marketing decisions. AI tools can analyze vast amounts of customer data to identify trends, predict customer behavior, and inform targeted marketing strategies.

Example prompts for uncovering actionable insights:

“Using historical sales data and customer demographics, develop a statistical model to identify which customer segments are most likely to respond positively to our upcoming discount promotion.”
“Analyze customer sentiment from social media conversations and online reviews to identify areas of customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction with our brand, focusing on recurring themes and potential areas for improvement.”

Forecast future success (and slowdowns) with sales prediction

Predicting future sales performance is crucial for strategic planning. Marketers can utilize AI to analyze market trends, competitor activity, and historical sales data to generate accurate sales forecasts.

Example prompts to help you look ahead and see what might be around the corner:

“Based on current market conditions, competitor analysis, and historical sales trends, predict our sales figures for the upcoming quarter, incorporating a best-case, mid-range, and worst-case scenario.”
“Develop a machine learning model that forecasts customer churn based on past purchase history, website activity, and demographic information. Identify customers at risk of churning and implement targeted retention strategies.”

Automate routine tasks

Marketers often spend valuable time on repetitive tasks like creating basic website landing pages or email marketing templates. AI can streamline these processes by generating basic code snippets based on your specifications.

Example prompts for automating routine tasks:

“Generate the HTML code for a simple landing page promoting our new e-book, featuring a signup form and a product description with a clear call to action button.”
“Create a Python script that automates the process of generating email marketing campaigns based on pre-defined templates, dynamically inserting personalized customer data and product recommendations.”

Leave the numbers up to the experts. Learn more about Data Strategy services from Tallwave.

The art of the effective AI prompt

Now that you’re armed with the knowledge of prompt engineering potential, here are some key tips to ensure you get the most out of your AI collaborator:

Clarity is key: The more specific and clear your prompts are, the better the AI will understand your intent and deliver the desired output. Avoid ambiguity and focus on providing all the necessary context.
Start simple, refine gradually: Don’t overwhelm yourself with overly complex prompts initially. Start with basic instructions and gradually refine them based on the AI’s response.
Embrace iteration: The beauty of prompt engineering lies in its iterative nature. Experiment with different prompts for the same task and see what generates the best results.
Leverage examples and templates: Many AI tools offer built-in templates or successful prompt examples from other users. Utilize these resources as a starting point for your own prompts.
Remember context is king: The more context you provide about your target audience, brand voice, and desired outcome, the better the AI can tailor its response.
Think like a teacher: Imagine you’re instructing a student on how to complete a task. Frame your prompts in a clear, concise, and easy-to-understand manner.

Balancing efficiency and ethics in AI

AI has become a powerful tool in the marketer’s arsenal, promising to streamline tasks and unlock new levels of efficiency with perfectly engineered prompts. However, this exciting new frontier comes with a responsibility to ensure its ethical and responsible use.

At its core, AI ethics is a framework of moral principles that guide the development and use of artificial intelligence. Organizations like UNESCO are actively creating guidelines to address potential issues like bias and misuse.

Why should marketers care about ethics in AI? While these tools can be performance game-changers, neglecting ethical considerations can lead to brand damage, legal problems, and even product failures.

Understanding key concerns like data privacy, fairness, and potential biases within algorithms is crucial for navigating the ethical landscape of AI marketing. By acknowledging these challenges and taking proactive steps, marketers can leverage the power of AI responsibly, safeguarding their brand reputation and building trust with customers in the process.

Embrace the future of digital marketing with Tallwave

While AI offers undeniable power and efficiency gains, it’s crucial to remember that marketing is ultimately a human endeavor. The ability to understand customer needs, craft compelling narratives, and build genuine connections remains irreplaceable. The key lies in striking a harmonious balance between cutting-edge AI tools and the irreplaceable human touch.

This is where Tallwave comes in. We can help you navigate the exciting world of prompt engineering, empowering you to leverage the strengths of AI while ensuring your marketing efforts resonate with a human audience. By working together, we can unlock the full potential of AI marketing, achieving success that’s both ethical and impactful. Let’s talk.