WHAT'S GROWING ON

Initially developed in 1994 for use in the Japanese auto industry, QR codes rapidly became popular across many industries. However, while QR codes were appearing on products in North America for a while in the mid-late 2010s, they lost their popularity — until recently. 

In the digital age we live in, using video content will be more important to make your brand stand out. People learn things by seeing, hearing, and doing, and video marketing has become the best way to pack all of these into one.

Over the past 20 years, podcasts have been on an upward trajectory and they show no sign of stopping. In 2004, George W. Bush became the first U.S. President to deliver a weekly address via podcast. Today, 55% of the U.S. population has listened to a podcast with 24% listening to them weekly. With over 48 million episodes of podcasts available, there is certainly no shortage of these virtual shows.

Design is a significant element of your digital marketing strategy. You want to design pieces (graphics, marketing materials, etc.) that attract and engage your users. Whether you are a veteran designer or design is one of the many hats you wear for your senior living community, with every design, you should ask yourself - Is it functional for your audience?

All of us have researched a new product or service, whether for personal use or business, so we know how powerful testimonials can be. After all, would you rather read a website where a company describes the benefits of their services or read real people’s firsthand accounts of their experience using the product or service?

If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine how much a virtual experience is worth! In today's modern-day era of tech-savvy people, the customer experience will always come first. If you do some research, you will see that potential residents and their families are looking for easier ways to engage with your senior living community, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Everything you do is a reflection of your senior living community and your brand. The look, feel, and voice of all your marketing should be similar. Even the look and attitude of your community staff and the presentations you give should have a similar feel. Every impression counts!

Video and photo services capture your brand's identity, they tell your story visually, and they give your audience a personalized experience. And, since all the assets captured through these services are used, in some form or fashion, across all your channels and various designs throughout your digital efforts, it's no small task. But, these services are a vital part of your senior living digital strategy.

Take a moment to imagine with me...

Excitedly you slide open that sleek white box. You peel back the plastic cover to reveal what you’ve been looking forward to for the last six months. It’s the newest iPhone with the best camera yet. You quickly rush through setup tapping every “skip” button you can find. Finally, you’ve arrived! With a swift click the camera app opens, you snap your dog in the cutest pose you’ve ever seen. But wait... why is the picture so dark? The colors look dull? You didn’t even realize that the leftover bag of Cheetos and dirty laundry were not only on the floor but now in your picture!

We shop online, chat online, and surf online. The audience that you want to reach, I'm pretty sure, is online. So how do we reach them? There are many excellent tools we can use, and the sledgehammer is digital media.