Idrislee

Tag: Social Media

  • Exploring the Power of Brand Imagery: How “Brand Selfies” Boost Engagement

    Exploring the Power of Brand Imagery: How “Brand Selfies” Boost Engagement

    Brand Selfies in User Generated Content

    Did you know brand imagery goes beyond traditional advertising and has evolved significantly in the digital era? My team and I recently discovered insightful research on a relatively new phenomenon known as “Brand Selfies.”

    According to a comprehensive study published in the Journal of Marketing Research, brand selfies introduce fresh classifications of brand imagery and offer valuable insights into consumer-brand interactions on social media. The research by Hartmann et al. (2021) reveals how different types of selfies distinctly impact engagement levels, questioning traditional metric assumptions and leveraging machine learning to enhance marketing strategies.

    Key Insights from the Research:

    • Brand Selfies are highly effective at driving overall brand engagement, helping to amplify visibility and strengthen brand-consumer relationships.
    • Consumer Selfies, in contrast, excel in boosting engagement specifically for the individual sharing the content, increasing personal interaction and peer influence.

    These findings significantly enrich our understanding of social media marketing dynamics. Inspired by this, my team developed strategic recommendations for Muji, suggesting ways to utilize diverse brand selfie strategies to optimize consumer interaction and brand affinity.

    Professional Advice for Marketers:

    • Clearly identify which type of selfie best aligns with your marketing objectives—brand-focused or consumer-focused.
    • Utilize machine learning tools to analyze engagement data from selfies posted online to fine-tune your marketing strategy.
    • Continuously evaluate and adapt your approach based on measurable engagement outcomes.

    Understanding the nuances of brand imagery, especially through brand selfies, can substantially elevate your marketing efforts and online presence.

    Reference:
    Hartmann, J., Heitmann, M., Schamp, C., & Netzer, O. (2021). The Power of Brand Selfies. Journal of Marketing Research, 58(6), 1159-1177.

  • Driving Seasonal Success with Social Media Campaigns

    Driving Seasonal Success with Social Media Campaigns

    Cedar and Crimson is a seasonal dropshipping brand specializing in curated Christmas-themed products. Launched in October, the brand aimed to capitalize on early holiday excitement to drive visibility, engagement, and revenue in a short window of time. With no prior audience, we built a presence from the ground up using Instagram as our primary platform.

    Through a combination of content strategy, influencer seeding, and trend-driven storytelling, I was able to scale the Instagram account from 0 to over 7,000 followers within 60 days and generate $3,000 in sales before the end of December.

    The Objectives

    • Build brand visibility quickly on a new Instagram account
    • Drive traffic to the dropshipping store using organic and strategic methods
    • Convert seasonal interest into real holiday sales

    Social media marketing isn’t just posting—it’s building a conversation, a community, and a brand that people choose to engage with daily.

    The Strategy

    Our content and campaign strategy focused on four key pillars:

    Trend-Driven Content Creation:

    Leveraged trending Christmas aesthetics, viral audios, and reel formats to maximize organic reach

    Product-Led Storytelling:

    Featured products in cozy, emotionally resonant holiday settings to increase perceived value

    Hashtag Targeting & Community Engagement:

    Daily interaction with niche holiday audiences and hashtags to grow visibility

    Influencer Seeding & UGC:

    Partnered with micro-influencers and encouraged reposts to gain traction

    The Execution

    I planned and scheduled content daily using Instagram Reels, Stories, and Carousel posts. Each piece was tailored to seasonal excitement (e.g., advent calendars, gift wrapping ideas, tree decor hacks), while call-to-action links in bio and swipe-up stories directed users to the shop.

    Key tools used:
    • Canva & CapCut for content editing
    • Meta Business Suite for post scheduling and analytics
    • Linktree for seamless user funneling to the store

    The Results

    • Gained 7,000+ followers within 2 months purely through organic reach
    • Generated over $3,000 in sales through Instagram-driven traffic
    • Multiple reels summed up to 50k+ views, establishing virality within the niche
    • Built a reusable seasonal brand page that can return yearly

    Professional Insights

    To maximize seasonal brand launches, businesses should:

    • Leverage short-form video (Reels, TikToks) for rapid audience growth
    • Plan 60–90 days in advance to capture early-bird shoppers
    • Blend value-driven content (e.g., holiday hacks, decor tips) with soft product placement
    • Encourage user-generated content and feature community submissions
    • Use clear CTAs and frictionless checkout funnels via mobile

    The Conclusion

    Cedar and Crimson’s first holiday season demonstrates how rapid social media growth can be translated into real sales through strategic, trend-based content creation. With minimal budget and the right creative tools, even new brands can dominate seasonal cycles.