Month: June 2019

For years now, strategic Instagram users have adopted the good old follow-unfollow strategy to ‘organically’ boost their audiences for free. Cue a slew of follow-unfollow farms, bots, apps and other types of automation that do the hard work for you!

Not long ago, Instagram started cracking down on this type of thing. There are now tighter restrictions on the number of actions an account can perform in one day, and the number of people it can follow and unfollow.

There are many theories about why this has happened, and some are more credible than others. It is not yet known if these blocks are intentional (apparently it’s also happening to accounts that have never used automation before) or if it’s a new spam filter. It may be that Instagram is testing the waters to find a sweet spot.

Once upon a time, Instagram was incredibly permissive with its daily limits on the follow tool. Insta mavericks with bots used to be able to follow-unfollow 5000 accounts a day! Now it’s down to about 500 a day.

Whatever the reason, it’s clear that Instagram is serious about stopping certain types of activity. And we have to ask the question: is it favouring accounts that spend money on its ad platform?

Speculate all you want, but we’ll probably never know the real reason. All we can do is deal with the problem at hand using the tools we have at our disposal.

First of all, we need to understand that the days of following and unfollowing 1000+ people a day are gone. We need to focus on new strategies to grow our accounts.

For those who were using the follow-unfollow (automated) method, you may be finding it hard to see the bright side. ‘Now how will I get more followers (!!!)!’ Never fear, there is a silver lining:

* Many spammers will give up on Instagram automation, which means that targeted audiences will receive fewer notifications and yours will stand out.

* New strategies for building an audience are bound to come up. Until then, take this time to improve the content on your account and work on your other business channels, like Google My Business listing.

Why was everyone using the follow-unfollow method so much?

Because it really worked! Every Instagram ‘marketer’ read about that strategy first. Follow and unfollow enough people and sure enough your account would grow. From now on, you’ll have to create a strategy and do everything you can to get more targeted eyeballs on your account.

What now?

Fortunately, there are other ways to attract attention on Instagram:

• Use the DM feature more: This doesn’t mean you should spam thousands of people with messages. Be smart, take it easy and be authentic. Take a genuine interest. Start slow and when you’re comfortable (remember, authenticity), build up. A good place to start is to DM people who have engaged with your posts.
• Update your Stories regularly: Supplement quality posts on your main feed with frequent, creative uploads to Stories. This is a great way to encourage engagement with your account. Stories are a wonderful place to experiment and nurture a community.
• Branch out from Insta: Social media platforms are nothing if not fickle. Who knows if Instagram will even exist in five years? Besides, it’s never a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket. We recommend casting the net wide by structuring your social media marketing strategy in a way that incorporates a variety of platforms.

Remember, there’s no such thing as ‘the end’. It’s just a new beginning. Don’t give up on growing and changing. Do your best to adapt and you’ll do just fine! You might even end up better off because there’ll be less competition.

– Sketch Corp.

We often work with clients to define and develop their ‘brand personality’ – a concept rooted in classic psychological profiling!

Psychologist Carl Jung posed the theory that 12 essential characters exist in everyone’s unconscious mind – each one jockeying for dominance. Over the years, marketing and branding experts have taken this idea and run with it, asserting that each brand fits into one of the 12 archetypes or ‘characters’.

These characters each exhibit traits that form the brand personality. So that you can identify yours, we’ve summed up each of the 12 options below – what they’re like and how they make people feel.

THE MAGICIAN

The change-maker. The enchanter. The mystic.

The Magician injects a little wonder into every interaction and insists on doing things differently from their competitors. They have big ideas to change the world and pride themselves on questioning the status quo. Amazement and wonder are their key traits. In the hands of the Magician, obstacles turn into opportunities and perceptions are altered. Nothing is as it seems. Magicians have the knack of taking an age-old problem and pulling a totally out-of-the-box solution out of their hat.

THE HERO

The idealist. The winner. The champion.

The Hero is the motivational speaker of brand personalities, with an insatiable drive to optimise the world and make it a better place. Performance-oriented Heroes aspire to inspire with every interaction. ‘You can do it!’ shouts the hero from the side-lines. ‘Live better. Demand more. Raise your expectations.’ Agile and dynamic, the Hero works hard towards their goals and never gives up. Unsurprisingly, many sports brands fit this brand personality.

THE CREATOR

The creative. The artist. The inventor.

The Creator craves individuality. With an intrinsic need to stand out, Creators set high standards and strive to create authentic and unique work that will endure throughout the ages. At their worst, the Creator is self-indulgent and histrionic. That said, given the right environment, the Creator can push boundaries or even break them, driving innovation and changes in perception that have long-lasting societal implications.

THE EXPLORER

The adventurer. The seeker. The wanderer.

Discovery and inspiration drive the explorer, who wants to soak up all the world has to offer. ‘The Explorer’ archetype is a practical adventurer – intrepid but never caught without everything they need for their journey. This brand personality takes calculated risks that create a rich tapestry of varied experiences. All they want is freedom and a life lived out of bounds. Independent, self-sufficient and resourceful, the Explorer lives to traverse uncharted terrain and overcome challenges standing in the way of adventure.

THE OUTLAW

The wild one. The mutineer. The lone wolf.

The Outlaw appeals to the wild side we all have, stirring feelings of ‘F*** this, I’m doing it my way’. Refusing to fall into line, the Outlaw plays by their own rules and rebels against societal norms that don’t make sense to them. The thing about the outlaw though is that, as much as they like to shock, deep down they’re softies with a heart of gold. A hardened exterior belies honourable intentions. If you’re a brand that wants to defy the mainstream and throw caution to the wind, embrace The Outlaw.

THE JESTER

The clown. The light relief. The party-starter.

If your business isn’t afraid to have a sense of humour, you just might be the jester! Often your communications are tongue-in-cheek and self-deprecating (without trying too hard). You bring a smile to people’s faces. You prove that business can be FUN and it’s OK to be a little silly and immature sometimes. This playful brand personality is light-hearted and lively – even when the product or service they’re selling can be serious and practical. Their enthusiasm and enjoyment of life is infectious.

THE LOVER

The romantic. The confidante.  The sensualist.

Romantic love is one thing, but the Lover brand personality is interested in all types of close relationships. Communications and visual cues are centred around the bonds between parent and child, husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, and entirely platonic friends. Appreciative, sensitive and sensuous, the Lover aims to warm hearts, build intimacy and authentically reflect all the special relationships in our lives. Evoking emotion and celebrating human connection are the calling cards of the Lover.

THE CAREGIVER

The nurturer. The empath. The protector.

Selfless to a fault, the Caregiver is naturally nurturing and wholly focused on the needs of others. The caregiver is compassionate, sensitive and always knows the right thing to say to someone who’s grieving or experiencing hardship. Caregiver businesses are a safe haven for their customers, offering understanding, support and protection. Their products and services are known for being reliable and trustworthy. Many non-profits, healthcare organisations and baby product manufacturers align with the Caregiver archetype.

THE EVERYMAN

The democrat. The egalitarian. Mr Relatable.

Accepting and affable, the Everyman gets along with everyone and judges no one. This brand personality is good natured and likeable without appealing to any particular group. Lots of people can relate to these businesses and feel fondly towards them because every interaction is warm, welcoming and laidback. Often these are middle of the road, mass market businesses that cater to families and the middle classes. Make no mistake though – the Everyman is not boring or dull, merely genial and universally charming. Popular. The opposite of an acquired taste.

THE INNOCENT

The child. The dreamer. The peacekeeper.

Above all, the Innocent is kind. They radiate contentment, harmony and inner peace. The Innocent is an eternal optimist who’s gentle, spiritual and zen. Wholesome without being judgmental or puritanical (and anything but cynical), the Innocent is deeply pure, values simplicity and assumes that everyone else does too. This brand personality appeals to all that’s good and true in consumers.

THE RULER

The patriarch. The statesman. The old guard.

Destined for role model status, the Ruler sets the bar in their industry and maintains exceptionally high standards. They exude success, stability and profitability, effortlessly exerting power and control. An air of self-assurance and sophistication wafts around these brands, who are unfailingly polished and on message. Unsurprisingly, the Ruler believes in rules and process. Accountability and action. This is an old-school brand archetype that evokes old money and demanding the best of everything.

THE SAGE

The instructor. The truth-seeker. The coach.

Forever wanting to get to the bottom of things, the Sage brand archetype seeks wisdom and what we can ‘take away’ from any situation. Sage brands are inherently wise and don’t dumb things down for their audience. An ‘educational’ brand lexicon the trustworthy sage promises answers to questions you never knew you had, and solutions to the world’s problems. This is an archetype often favoured by news and media organisations.

Still unsure about your brand personality? Consult our branding experts on (07) 3369 6100.