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Opinion

Ne ocupăm de branding: construcție și strategie de brand. Pentru că iubim brandingul și brandurile, mai exact acele branduri care se diferențiază de marea masă. Ne plac brandurile care reușesc să ajungă în cultura-viața-casa-mintea noastră și să ocupe un loc de cinste acolo. Iubim brandurile care sunt aici să rămână pe termen lung, pentru că oferă valoare și onorează promisiunile făcute.

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Opinion
As the pandemic spread continues, it becomes more and more obvious that everyday life is affected. So what are marketers supposed to do in such times of serious concern?

Just to be clear, this is not a marketing opportunity to capitalize on, and the first step when considering brand communication during the crisis would be to make sure not to look insensitive, weird or opportunistic. This is a time to understand the unique role brands play in people’s lives and how they can help or be useful during the crisis.

Firstly, let’s try to anticipate the changes in your customer’s behavior. These days, most people are locked into their homes in isolation, and social distancing definitely causes a number of changes that affect the way they interact with businesses. Recent study confirms that 43% of people find it reassuring to hear from brands they know and trust, while 40% want to hear what brands are doing in response to the pandemic. This translates in an overall positive attitude toward brand communication during the pandemic.






















Secondly, people’s needs are shifted in times of crises, so consider how people could benefit from interacting with your brand online: can you provide relevant e-services, offer reliable information or maybe, help people stay distracted? In times when reading the news can be overwhelming, distraction and entertainment can go a long way.

For example, Code4Romania developed a bunch of platforms to help people stay informed from trusted resources: real time news updates, how to stay safe and more.

























































NGOs like Beard Brothers are asking the community to contribute and they help raise funds to fight against the virus.









































Thirdly, focus on staying positive and keeping the community together: not literally, but online. During isolation, humans seek out connection more than ever. Brands can create opportunities for people to talk, share and stay connected. Positive non-pandemic related topics can also be a reminder that good things continue to happen, despite the context. Therefore, brand communication is all so more important than ever.

Communication examples for Jumping House during the lockdown.























































So, when almost all businesses struggle and the organic traffic is down in most industries, it is a good time for brands to be emphatic, decent, humane and focus their energy on listening and helping people in a meaningful way. Brands that stay relevant during these times are the ones that bring something valuable for their customers, while showing responsibility and consistency. If you can, get involved and help out, maybe even ask your community to do the same and show them some ways of how to do that.

Stay true to your values and now more than ever it’s time to reiterate them in all your actions.







































































































It’s important to think about consumer priorities as well. Based on recent research, these are some of the most basic products people are likely to purchase in the next 30 days. Luxury items will face a lack of interest, as people focus more on buying food, supplies or means of entertainment during the lockdown.






















To sum up, keep this friendly piece of advice in mind : brand messages should be simple and accompanied by as much visual aid as possible. Focus on communicating one thing at the time, as people’s attention is smothered by tons of (mostly negative) messages daily. Keep in mind that this is a time to talk to your community like a real human being, not someone behind a monitor. Oh, and avoid making fun of sensitive subjects. Inappropriate humor won’t get you far in times of worldwide uncertainty.

PS. Remember to stay safe, stay positive, wash your hands. Everything will be alright eventually!
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Opinion
1. Bite-sized video content

Digital marketing is all about online channels. The massive rise of TikTok and other video sharing channels like Instagram Stories or the 6 second bumper ad is revealing new ways of how consumers engage with content. Storytelling has to start using short formats that are bold, clever and creative. Here are some good examples of how to effectively use the 6 seconds bumper ad, and here are some brands that are winning the TikTok game big time.2020 is less than one month away and we are wondering… what will the world of design look like next year? In our inspiration-boosting process, we’re looking into some of the coolest design trends out there. Which of the following trends should be on our „try” list for next year, in your opinion?

2. Mobile customer experience

In 2020, more than ever, consumers are expecting to have a flawless experience on all online channels, particularly on mobile devices. So marketers have to focus on facilitating the mobile-version of every piece of content they create and think of new ways of enhancing the consumer journey. 

3. Personalisation

Traditional marketing is reshaped, as consumers get smarter about customer experience and personalisation of experience. The one size fits all approach should be buried deep, while marketing becomes more personal and more human than ever.

4. Keep an eye on your data

Digital marketing can help, but how do you know it’s working? It’s very hard to track your investment in digital marketing unless you use some sort of tool like Google Analytics or Hotjar. Both are free tools that help you track user interaction with your website. These tools can help you see where your traffic is coming from, what are your most popular pages and which areas could use some improvement.

5. Don’t keep all of your digital “eggs” in one basket

There is no specific digital marketing recipe that works for every business. Many people think they can focus on one tool or channel and then move on the the next later, but in reality, diversification is key. Instead of focusing on blog content, PPC or social media, use all of them.Don’t forget about budget, though. Try new things, see what’s working and what’s not for your company or product and adjust. Stay flexible.

6. Create a unified experience

All of your online communication should reflect your brand’s identity. A cohesive presence will provide consumers with consistency and offer an overall memorable experience. And please think about unity in regards to all of your company communication – from instore to digital and mobile. Follow the red thread that makes your company unique across all media.

7. Go beyond likes and shares

Brands that win at digital marketing are the ones that listen and engage with audiences. They create connections, as opposed to being all about their product. And even further, social media platforms have expanded their functions, and brands need to take advantage of that and create social media communities and real time events.


So what is your social media strategy for this year?
How will you manage to stand out and engage with your customers?

Let’s create a strategy for your business today.
Get in touch with your online marketing specialist at theodora@premierem.ro
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Opinion
2020 is less than one month away and we are wondering… what will the world of design look like next year? In our inspiration-boosting process, we’re looking into some of the coolest design trends out there. Which of the following trends should be on our „try” list for next year, in your opinion?

1. Bold, contrasting colors

While great designs often feature neutral color palettes, 2020 will be all about bright and bold colors. The minimalism of the past years has led to plenty of monochromatic color palettes. But next year, we will see a lot more colors and gradients. Overall? A much more playful approach.

„2020 will feature brighter & bolder colors than ever before! As the value of design rises, brands are going crazier and wackier than ever with colors to attempt to stand out from the crowd.”
– Ryan Hayward, designer & founder of Pitchproof

Spotify is a great example.



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And speaking of colors. Pantone just announced the color of 2020 and it’s Classic Blue. The deep shade of blue is comforting and relatable – which is quite nice in a new and challenging era. This color is great because it’s both genderless and seasonless, making it accessible and desirable for people all over the world.

“We’re returning to classics because everything has been chaotic in the world,” said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Institute. “It’s not about doing it like you did in the past, but reinterpreting it.”



2. Introducing more art forms into the graphic design

While graphic design is a stand-alone art form, this year other art forms like illustration and animation will permeate the world of graphic design. In 2020, we will make a small step away from the strict design rules and bridge the gap between art and design.

Illustration in graphic design isn’t something new. But the new year comes with a more simplified approach. Simple illustration will be a top choice when trying to better communicate concepts and ideas.


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One of the best things about using illustration with design projectsis that no other company is going to be able to copy them exactly. Casper was one of the first big companies to embrace this trend, and they have stuck with it ever since:


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Mailchimp is another great example of using unique illustrations to convey a message effectively.

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Check out some of the unique illustrations Doist has been using lately:



3. 3D, volumetric design and isometry

Three dimensional compositions will be huge in 2020. Everything becomes more volumetric, as 3D projects are increasingly filling our world. The trend reached a peak in 2019 and it won’t go away any time soon. Thanks to modern technolgy and increasing software capabilities, 3D will grow even further.

Isometry, or the drawing 3D objects in 2D, is another trend that we will see more of in 2020. Furthermore, motion will be key. Isometric design will enable brands to evolve visually and create more engaging content.


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4. Floating objects

This visual effect of the “floating object” trend focuses on the subject itself. Minimalism gives images lightness and some voices say it’s a perfect technique for outdoor advertising. But we think online will be a great environment to explore this as well.

The era of flying elements in graphic design has definitely come. The idea of designs which move and behave like they are in a non-gravity environment conveys the overall feeling of freedom. Designed with an open composition in mind, these elements boost the major concept of a window to a new world, as they appear floating in and out of the screen.


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5. Logo animation

Logo animation will continue in 2020. Sophisticated animations will allow companies to emphasize the features and the uniqueness of their brand. Why we love them? Animated logos are influencing the brain in terms of relaxation. They can be very satisfying to watch and they can convey the feeling that the consumer is already using the product.


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Do you want to animate your logo? Here you can find some online platforms that offer this service. Some platforms offer you a trial period and you can try animating your logo for free.


6. Hand lettering & typography craze

In 2020, designers will get innovative with modern compositions and typography will play a big role. Hand letters, geometric shapes, decorated fonts – you name it. The artsy typography will get everyone’s attention. Maxi and really thick fonts will rule as well – the thicker the better.

Heavy fonts will be used with a bold or extra bold font–which gives them a “heavy” appearance. These types of fonts can give your designs a modern and contemporary feel. Dynamic photography and 3D effects added to typography will reflect this trend.

Dad Agency is a great example of using dynamic typography online. Check it out here.




7. Lush Lava, Aqua Menthe, and Phantom Blue

These three shades are expected by Shutterstock to dominate 2020. Lush-lava, or the bold orange-red demands a lot of attention. The mix of orange and rich red definitey stands out in the crowd. In Asian countries this shade repesents happiness, love and health.

See the Lush Lava images curated image collection by Shutterstock.


Aqua-menthe is a mix of cyan and mint – two colors that are pleasing to the eye and together they are even more stunning. This color makes you think about the sparkling water of a Caribbean island. It’s perfect to use as an accent or as a main color for bold, contemporary brands.

See the Aqua Menthe photos curated image collection by Shutterstock.


Phantom blue – was famously used by van Gogh in Starry Night. It is a mix of indigo and navy and it offers a very sophisticated vibe. Darker tones are all about trustworthiness, so it works great for a wide range of brands and industries.

See the Phantom Blue images curated image collection by Shutterstock.



Which trends do you think are the most likely to be seen in the Romanian graphic design landscape?

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