Howdy Readers 🥰
In this newsletter, you’ll find:
🎧 Why Sound is Your Secret Weapon on TikTok
🎯 TikTok’s Guide to Sales in “Q5” — The Overlooked Post-Holiday Shopping Window
📊 How TV Advertising Boosts Website Traffic: Key Findings from VAB’s Report
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🎧 Why Sound is Your Secret Weapon on TikTok
TikTok isn’t just about visuals—88% of users say sound is essential to their experience. You're missing out if you’re still treating audio as an afterthought. Here’s how to make sound a powerful part of your content strategy and truly engage your audience.
1. Think Sound-First, Not Visual-First
Start with audio that captures the emotion you want to convey. Imagine the vibe you aim for upbeat, suspenseful, or nostalgic. Sound is 24% more likely to boost shares if it aligns with emotions. By letting sound guide your visuals, you create a richer experience from the outset.
Quick Case: Duolingo’s TikTok success isn’t just its visuals; it’s its perfect use of trending sounds that makes viewers stick around and share. Start with sound, not visuals.
3. Make Audio Your Brand’s Signature
Consistent sound cues can turn into brand signatures. Whether it’s a catchy jingle or a unique sound effect, sound can increase recall by 28% when used consistently. Consider crafting an audio identity that reflects your brand’s personality—an instant signal to viewers that it’s you.
Smart Insight: Tools like Neurons can help you analyze which assets evoke the most powerful responses in your audience, making sure your creatives don’t miss the mark saving you a lot while making you a lot more! Book a free session today & start improving your ads!
3. Use Captions & Voice to Make Audio Stick
Adding captions in sync with your sound is a proven way to boost engagement by 40%. It’s not just about readability; it’s about creating a rhythm. Sync key phrases with audio beats or emphasize words visually to amplify impact, making your content even more memorable.
Pro Tip: Dynamic text, timed to the beat, can increase recall by 25%. Let sound and text work together for maximum retention.
4. Experiment with Sound-Based A/B Testing
Test different sounds to see what resonates with your audience. For example, TikTok found that videos using custom audio tracks saw a 47% increase in ad recall compared to those with generic audio. Testing various audio elements, like upbeat vs. ambient music or voiceover styles, can reveal which sounds enhance engagement and conversion.
Case Study: PepsiCo used a sound-first approach on TikTok, experimenting with custom audio elements and voiceover variations in their campaign for the Bubly brand. By aligning sound with visual storytelling, they achieved a 14% lift in ad recall and a 7% increase in purchase intent, showing the value of tailored audio in driving impact.
In a world where sound matters, don’t leave it to chance. Make it a core part of your content strategy, and use platforms like Neurons to fine-tune audio that resonates. The 88% who say sound matters aren’t wrong—make audio your secret weapon for a memorable impact.
🎯 TikTok’s Guide to Sales in “Q5” — The Overlooked Post-Holiday Shopping Window
Insights from Social Media Today
TikTok has released a detailed guide to help marketers make the most of the “Q5” period, which spans the often-ignored days between Christmas and New Year’s. During this time, holiday shoppers are still in spending mode, actively seeking post-Christmas deals and New Year’s inspiration, creating an ideal opportunity for brands.
The Breakdown:
Tapping into Q5 Potential: TikTok views Q5 as a valuable moment for brands. The platform’s data shows that users are on the lookout for fresh trends, self-care products, and items to kickstart the new year. This period provides a chance for brands to target shoppers while they’re still browsing for deals and new products.
Insights from TikTok’s 13-Page Guide: The guide provides in-depth analysis on how users engage with TikTok during Q5, especially with a focus on shopping and lifestyle content. It encourages brands to align their messaging with seasonal shifts in consumer sentiment, particularly the increased focus on self-improvement and self-care post-holidays, and highlights the strong appeal of online shopping for Q5 audiences.
Campaign Tips for Q5: TikTok’s guide offers actionable strategies for crafting engaging Q5 campaigns, such as using ad formats that suit TikTok’s interactive nature and creating content tailored to the post-holiday audience’s mood. Practical tips include leveraging specific ad types, like shoppable videos and carousel ads, to capture attention and drive sales.
By treating Q5 as a distinct marketing phase, brands can better reach engaged, spending-ready audiences before the year ends. TikTok’s guide provides a clear path for capturing this post-holiday momentum, helping brands boost engagement and revenue during a unique shopping period.
📊 How TV Advertising Boosts Website Traffic: Key Findings from VAB’s Report
Insights from Marketing Dive
TV advertising remains a vital channel for driving online engagement, especially for brands new to the medium. The Video Advertising Bureau’s (VAB) latest report sheds light on how TV campaigns have a powerful impact on website traffic, showing substantial gains in online visitors for first-time advertisers.
The Breakdown:
1. Website Traffic Increase with TV Debut: VAB’s “Breaking Through” report analyzed data from 201 brands launching TV ads for the first time from 2020 to 2024. Among these brands, those tracking online engagement saw a 12% traffic increase in their debut month, which stabilized into a 20% monthly boost in unique visitors thereafter.
2. The Role of Budget and Brand Type: Investment level made a significant difference in traffic outcomes:
Up to $500K: Brands saw an 8% initial lift, leading to 20% sustained growth.
$2M-$5M: Campaigns in this range yielded a 9% bump during launch and 25% sustained growth.
$10M+: Major investments drove the highest results, with a 36% initial increase and sustained 42% monthly growth.
3. DTC Brands Reap Bigger Rewards: Direct-to-consumer brands saw the most significant impact, with an average of 622,000 additional unique users per month, far surpassing the general average increase of 387,000 visitors.
TV advertising can drive substantial online engagement, especially for new entrants. VAB’s findings emphasize the importance of tracking web traffic alongside TV campaigns to measure effectiveness. For brands looking to expand online reach, investing in TV ads can provide valuable mid-funnel results and help refine ad strategies.
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