The Millennial Marketer (May 2021)

MAY 2021 / ISSUE 01 / VOLUME 21

HELLO THERE, READER! We at Millennial Media Management are pleased to present the inaugural issue of The Millennial Marketer!

Our goal in publishing The Millennial Marketer is to arm you with the information and resources you need to reach and engage with people, especially when there is competition at every turn.

from the editor

As measures to fight Covid-19 continue to have an impact on businesses, many business leaders are unsure how to maintain demand for their products and services—let alone increase it. One thing is certain, though: those businesses who have decreased their commitment to brand awareness and customer service are struggling to survive; those who have increased that commitment are struggling to keep up with the demand.

Whether pairing with a knowledgeable digital media marketing company like Millennial Media Management or going it alone, we hope the information and advice in this issue of The Millennial will inspire new strategies and tactics to boost your business.

We hope you enjoy this first issue and look forward to communicating with you on a monthly basis moving forward!

Warm Regards, Paul Bauer EDITOR, THE MILLENNIAL MARKETER

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Your customers are out there, but are you reaching them? Social Media Marketing is essential for staying connected with your customers while attracting new ones. In 2021, consider Social Media Marketing as a cost-effective way of marketing your Small Business. Here are 7 compelling reasons why you should:

1. SOCIAL MEDIA IS A GREAT WAY OF PROMOTING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS OR BRAND. We all know how important Content Marketing is, not only in terms of SEO but in its use to attract new customers. Social Media, when paired with Content Marketing is an effective way to attract new customers to your business, attract new fans while helping you build authority in your industry.

2. SOCIAL MEDIA WILL DRIVE YOUR WEBSITE TRAFFIC. Being active on Social Media will always increase the number of traffic referrals your website receives and this plays an essential role in your sales funnel. Social Media is also used as an SEO ranking tool by search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing.

3. SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS YOU KEEP CUSTOMERS ENGAGED WITH YOU.

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Social Media is a great way of keeping your business or brand in the mind of your customers and followers. This means you can actively influence purchasing decisions and help foster customer loyalty as well as encourage repeat purchases. You can also share information on your business such as milestones, upcoming sales, tours, and promotions as well as industry news.

REASONS WHY

SOCIAL MEDIA IS GREAT

FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS OR BRAND

By: Lionel Mitchell Managing Director, Millennial Media Management

4. SOCIAL MEDIA DRIVES BRAND BUILDING & DIFFERENTIATION. Social Media makes it easy to improve brand awareness as well as build your brand’s Identity. You can effectively establish your brand’s personality and give your business a unique voice that people can relate to while making you stand out from your competitors.

5. SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS YOU MANAGE YOUR BUSINESS’ REPUTATION. Managing your reputation online is a critical part of any marketing strategy and Social Media provides you with a fast and effective way of doing this. Sensitive comments and complaints can be dealt with effectively. This instant feedback demonstrates high levels of customer service which can diffuse negativity and resolve any issues that your customer may have.

6. SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS YOU DELIVER BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE. Social Media is often the first port of call for many customers who have pre-sales or support related questions. Leaving them unanswered is unprofessional.

It is therefore important to monitor brand mentions and questions.

7. SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS INCREASE TRUST IN YOUR BUSINESS OR BRAND. With so many alternatives to choose from, customers are often overwhelmed and want an easy way to authenticate a business that they are dealing with for the first time. Seeing that you are active on social media helps to fill potential customers with trust, it signals that you care about your customers, and should anything go wrong, it will be easy to contact you.

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MILLENNIAL TECH UPDATES E-COMMERCE NATIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEM DEVELOPED FOR JAMAICAN SMALL VENDORS. The Government has partnered with the private sector to develop the Ecommerce National Delivery Solution (ENDS), which will enable business continuity during the coronavirus (COVID-19) curfew hours.

ENDS will allow any business or vendor to connect to and leverage the islandwide network of delivery solutions to have their goods transported safely and securely to clients.

Any compliant business, taxi or courier service provider, once approved to operate during curfew hours, will be able to utilise the ENDS platform.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who made the announcement during a COVID-19 digital briefing on Sunday (March 21), said the development of a model is far advanced, adding that limited testing of the service has commenced with the pilot is to be launched in Portmore by March 26.

“The Cabinet Sub-Committee has been working with the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica to develop a model through which the quick service industry can be allowed to continue for longer hours within the curfew. Businesses and delivery operators registered on the ENDS system will be able to operate after curfew until midnight,” he explained.

Mr. Holness, who emphasised that the system is intended to be fully inclusive and equitable. noted, “[it] will enable the smallest business operator, the vendor, the jerk chicken man, your favourite fish vendor to participate”. ““The Government is trying to be as creative and facilitating as possible to the continuation of our economy. This is one way, using and leveraging technology, [that] will enable businesses to continue, even during the pandemic,” the Prime Minister said.

Vendors who do not have websites will be able to sign up for free through e-commerce platforms, including ‘WeShop’ and those provided by banks.

ENDS is designed to ensure that the small vendors are included and not left out from making online sales during tightened curfew hours.

Additionally, ENDS will also enable consumers to order essential goods, such as food and medicine, after curfew hours, and ensure that vendors and critical businesses can remain in service.

Advertise with The Millennial Any questions or information on our rates, please email info@millennialmediamanagement.com or Call/WhatsApp us, (876) 595-4712

TRAVEL NEWS The existing protocols, which include the requirement for all travelers to present a negative coronavirus (COVID-19) test within three days before travel, will be extended until June 30. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, gave this update during a virtual press conference held on Sunday (March 21). Effective March 4, 2021, all travellers to Jamaica, including Jamaicans, must present a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen test result to check in for a flight to Jamaica. The test must be conducted within 72 hours prior to the date of travel.

PALACE AMUSEMENT FORCED TO CLOSE ITS REMAINING CINEMAS AMID SURGE IN COVID-19 CASES Movie company Palace Amusement has decided to close all its cinemas as a result of the surge in COVID-19 cases across the island.

Palace Amusement, which is Jamaica's lone cinema operator, says it took the decision to close its remaining cinemas, as good corporate citizens and given the latest Government restrictions placed on public gatherings.

This move is expected to weigh down heavily on the company's financials, where losses in 2020 totally wiped out the gains made in 2019 when Palace Amusement made a net profit of $70.36 million.

In its 2020 audited financial statements, Palace Amusement incurred losses of $50.54 million in the last quarter of 2020, relative to a net profit of $31.17 million recorded for the same quarter in 2019. In spite of the expected heavy losses from the move, Palace Amusement has advised the Jamaica Stock Exchange, where its shares are traded, of its decision to close CARIB 5, New Kingston Drive-in and Sunshine Palace.

Pointing out that it has been given permission to operate the drive-in after 6:00 pm, Palace Amusement highlighted the fact that “with the longer days the start time of the movies had to be pushed back and with the 8:00 pm curfew we cannot operate.”

ALL OTHER CINEMAS REMAIN CLOSED As previously advised, Palace Cineplex and Palace Multiplex remain closed. Palace Amusement suffered heavy losses of $99.61 million during its 2020 financial year, which ended on June 30, 2020.

SCOTIA READIES SERVICE FOR CUSTOMERS TO OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS ONLINE THE Scotiabank Group, through a raft of additional digital products which are expected to be rolled out during this year, has said that plans are being finalised to allow customers to electronically open bank accounts with the financial institution.

“Some of the additional features that will come in 2021 will be to allow our customers to open bank accounts online — in the first phase for existing customers who want to open another account and in the second phase for new customers who want to transact business with the bank and establish deposit accounts,” said Audrey Tugwell Henry, president and CEO of the Scotiabank Group during the company's annual general meeting held last Friday.