Wild And Free Media | Marketing Agency in Newcastle

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Posted October 19th, 2017 by Vesna Kirkovski & filed under branding.

In the myriad of marketing terms thrown around on the daily, logo is one that no doubt everyone is aware of. But aside from a nice-looking brand identity, how much do we all really know about what goes into a successful logo design? Well have no fear, today we’re going to break it down into one easy-to-follow formula below.

Individuality
If a logo is what people remember when they think of your brand, you need it to stand out from your competition. For this to happen, you need to consider the importance of individuality when it comes to creating a logo. Avoid generic templates and invest in an experienced graphic designer that can create a logo to best suit your brand voice.

And aside from considering and differentiating yourself from what is already out there, it’s important to use some imaginative thinking too. As David Airey, a graphic designer and creator of website Logo Design Love says, “The Mercedes logo isn’t a car. The Virgin Atlantic logo isn’t an airplane. The Apple logo isn’t a computer.” It’s all about creative thinking, over literal.

Know thy brand

To create a logo with some level of substance, which will in turn be memorable – and that’s the goal here, right? – it’s vital to have a good grasp on the brand. Its attributes, its audience, its positioning, its purpose and its point of difference. While design trends will play a part, it’s far more important for the logo to remain authentic to the brand and be built around its DNA.

Think about the meaning behind logos like Wikipedia. It’s an unfinished globe of puzzle pieces featuring glyphs from different writing systems, which harks back to the core of the brand’s ideology.

Colour crunch

Just like the philosophy behind the brand, colour also plays an important role and there’s much more to it than just choosing colours you or your boss likes, or that are currently doing the rounds at the latest World Design Summit. The table below gives you a quick overview on the thought-processes, associations and emotional responses behind various colours.

Logoytype vs. symbols

David Airey also says that a logo is made up of two elements; logotype (or wordmark) and a symbol. Some companies, like Ray-Ban, IBM and Coco-Cola, make the decision to stick entirely with logotype where others like McDonald’s, Facebook or Nike are more recognisable via their brand’s symbol.

To determine whether you should use a logotype or symbol depends largely on your business name. If it’s something quite original and unusual you may be able to get away with just a logotype. However, if it’s more common you may need a visual element for differentiation. One of the things to note about brand’s that predominantly use their symbol is that they are generally well established and backed by sizeable advertising budgets.

Simplicity + flexibility

Another component in the art of creating a good logo is getting the balance between simplicity and thought-provoking right. You want your logo to be interesting, but you don’t want someone to have to work too-hard to ‘get it’. A good example of a company that has nailed this is Amazon. The logo uses just the company’s name but refers to its wide inventory via the small arrow underneath pointing from A > Z.

Additionally, in today’s fragmented media world, where logos appear across multiple mediums, devices, apps and avatars, your logo design must be flexible enough to work in different formats, shapes and sizes across all.

The bigger picture

While a logo is important, it is only one component of the marketing mix. A well-designed logo cannot work effectively in isolation and isn’t enough to boost your brand and business on its own. Your logo needs to be part of a bigger brand strategy that comes from your overarching marketing strategy, which is aligned closely to your business goals. It’s all interconnected, like the deep recesses of the internet and your online searches that have you seeing ads for hiking boots on every webpage you visit, even though you only ever looked them up once. But that’s a different story, for a different day…

In the meantime, if you need help with your logo design, brand or marketing strategy, talk to someone who knows. Check out the logos we have designed below or get in touch with us via hey@wildandfree.com.au

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Posted October 5th, 2017 by Vesna Kirkovski & filed under Digital, Uncategorized.

In our last blog post we got you up to speed with the importance of having a professionally developed website that’s backed by a well thought out digital strategy. We also gave you an overview on a few relevant terms such as keywords, SEO and SEM, amongst others.

And now that you’re across what they mean, we want to explain in a little more detail how they come into play with your website and why it’s never been more important to have a strategy in place that covers these key areas.

Get to know SEO

SEO or as you now know, search engine optimisation, is about increasing visibility in search engine results organically. Keywords, which of course you also know, are the words that people use to search for your product or services. They’re an important factor in helping your SEO performance, but they’re not the only ones.

When it comes to your SEO strategy you also need to consider additional things such as the way other websites link back to your website and the way your site is structured in the backend. To have an SEO enhanced website, isn’t just a matter of loading your pages with relevant keywords, it’s also about creating a really great user experience as well.

A site with poor SEO performance can often translate to a business with poor performance and this is why it’s so important to have a good handle on SEO, or to work with a partner that does.

SEM simplified

SEM or Search Engine Marketing is about promoting a business using paid ads that appear in search engine results. Advertisers bid on keywords that users might enter into search engines, like Google or Bing, when trying to find a particular product or service online.

SEM gives advertisers the opportunity for their ads to appear alongside organic results for search queries. One of the greatest benefits of using SEM is that it provides advertisers with the chance to put their products and services in front of customers who are already interested.

Google Adwords is one of the most common platforms for advertising on search engines. SEM is paid on a cost-per-click basis, bidding against others on the same keyword. A live digital auction is run, whenever a search query is made. Ads are triggered when keyword are searched for with enough volume and advertisers.

SEO vs SEM

While both are designed to increase traffic to your site, the main difference between SEO and SEM is that SEO is designed to increase your ranking organically, i.e. without paying. For a further breakdown of their differences, check out the table below.

To determine if an SEO, SEM or combined approach is best for your business really comes down to your business goals, your budget and resources. If in doubt on which path is best for your business, why not talk to a specialist. Catch us at hey@wildandfreemedia.com.au

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Posted September 21st, 2017 by Vesna Kirkovski & filed under Digital.

Bounce rates. SEM. Keyword density.

If you’re already lost, no judgement from us. We’re here to sift through the definitions and acronyms so you don’t have to. And while we’re at it – in the first of our two-part blog special – we’ll also explain these terms and how they come into play when dealing with one of the greatest assets your business has today; your website.

So, let’s start at the start.

Your website is often the first impression anyone has of your business, so you want to make sure you get it right.

Your website should (at the very least) include:

a captivating brand story with a consistent brand voice
inspiring imagery
typography with impact
colours that flow
easy-to-navigate pages

And in terms of your blog and/or social media pages, these should include shareable content that educates and empowers your customers/clients.

With so much competition you might be asking yourself, how can you possibly stand out?

Well here’s a hint. People aren’t just focused solely on the product or service anymore. They want to learn more about you and your brand and will judge you (sorry, but it’s true), based on the image and voice you share with the world.

We want to give you and your brand the tools to differentiate yourself from your competitors, after all nothing screams unprofessional louder than a poorly designed website. At Wild and Free Media, we’re all about creating memorable experiences through branding and marketing – your website being a huge factor in this experience.

So now you’re across why you need a beautifully designed and professionally developed website, let’s take a look at all those tricky terms that will inevitably come with it.

Bounce rate: Refers to the number of visitors to your website who navigate away from the site after viewing only the landing page, without browsing any further. If you consistently have high bounce rates, you might want to review the content and layout of your website to find out why users aren’t staying longer.

Keyword: The words people use to search for your product or services. If you need a little help with this, have a look at Google’s Keyword Planner, which features keyword ideas and performance insights.

Keyword Density: How many times a keyword appears on your webpage or blog.

Reach: The number of people that see your posts, so the higher the better.

Responsive: A website that is able to be viewed properly across all devices. Users won’t waste time on a website they can’t navigate easily, so it’s important to ensure that your website works just as well on handheld devices as it does on a desktop.

SEM (Search Engine Marketing): All about increasing visibility in search engines by promoting your website, usually through paid advertising.

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation): Similar to above, it’s about making your search engine result relevant to a users’ search query, so that more people click the result when it is shown in search.

User: The people using your website, those looking at using your products/services – the people you’re targeting.

If you’re looking for a unique website that stands out from a crowd and encapsulates your brand story, avoid using generic website templates. Invest in professional web designers and developers, who will capture the essence of your brand story and portray your individual story and point of difference, to keep your business competitive.

And if you just so happen to be looking for a provider who can create your new website build – from design and development to visuals, brand story, content strategy, content creation and everything in between – we just so happen to know a pretty good bunch… drop us a line at hey@wildandfreemedia.com.au.

Posted September 7th, 2017 by Vesna Kirkovski & filed under branding, Communications, Marketing, Strategy.

In the wide world of marketing – which is, as we all know becoming increasingly fragmented by the day – it’s hard to know where to invest your time and energy. And without knowing the intricate needs of your business, we can’t tell you specifically where you need to turn your focus right now, but one thing we can tell you with absolute certainty is that branding is important. Always has been, always will be.

Done right, branding can change the whole perception of your business taking a quaint mum and dad setup to a legit professional player, which can translate to opening up whole new target market/s. Same goes when applied in reverse. It’s all about the positioning. So, without getting too heavy on the details, here’s a few tips to help build your branding strength, starting with your brand voice.

Describe your brand voice in three words

If your brand were a person, how would you describe their personality to someone? Narrowing this down to three words gives you a better understanding of how you want to communicate your brand voice to your audience. Brainstorm ideas with your team choosing only words you think validly encapsulate your brand. Make sure you’re not just choosing words that you think sound good, they have to authentically reflect your brand and business.

The cheat sheet below should be able to help get you started. It takes into consideration personality, language, tone and purpose. Once you’ve brainstormed ideas, narrow it down to three key words to describe your brand voice.

Another helpful brainstorming idea is “Always and Never”, listing how you want your brand voice to be presented. Here’s an example of what we mean:

Once you have a list of words, visit each one and ask yourself if it’s the most suitable word for the voice you want to present, or if there’s another word that describes the idea better.

Putting your brand voice into action

Sit down with your content creators and ensure they know how to put the brand voice into action through the content they’re making. Review your content and see if there’s anything that you think doesn’t fit your brand voice. Look through your website, social media channels and any other messages your brand is putting out into the world – is the messaging in-line with your brand voice? If not, how can you change the content to ensure it is?

Revisit this as your brand grows

As your brand grows, it’s only natural for your brand voice to adapt. Your brand voice should be fluid and always evolving. Revisit those three words on a yearly basis at least, to ensure it’s still the way you want your brand to be represented. Remember to review the content regularly to keep an eye on any content slipping through the cracks that doesn’t suit the voice you’ve created. And look out for inspiration from brands you admire, how has their brand voice evolved?

Get all communications on brand

Your website, business cards, Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/LinkedIn accounts, email signatures, media releases and basically any message your brand is putting out into the world needs to be consistent. All forms of communication should revolve around the brand voice and those three magical words.

So if you want to communicate across new channels, keep your audience engaged and connect with them in fresh new ways, revisiting your brand voice is crucial. Take these tips and brainstorming ideas and start finding your own brand voice.

And if you don’t have the time or resources in-house to take your brand to the next level, why not talk to a specialist like, say… us. We live and breathe all things branding, marketing and communications and know exactly how to elevate your brand, no matter where you are right now.

Drop us a line through www.wildandfree.com.au.

Posted February 14th, 2017 by Vesna Kirkovski & filed under Uncategorized.

Wild and Free Media is looking for a energetic and innovative Web Developer to join our vibrant team. The role is casual on a project-by-project basis and will be based in our office located in The Junction. We support flexible working conditions and, with the exception of client meetings and briefing sessions, are willing to negotiate a work-from-home agreement for the right candidate.

Our ideal candidate will have:

+ Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail

+ Be a ‘people person’ who is confident and has a positive personality

+ Good understanding of best coding practices (competent in HTML5, CSS, Javascript)

+ Strong knowledge of various platforms (WordPress, Drupal and E-Commerce sites.)

+ Competent with Adobe software suite.

+ Strong organisation and time management skills – must adhere to deadlines, multi-task and be able to prioritise

+ Ability to work both independently (with minimal supervision) and in a team environment

+ Ability to learn quickly and manage workloads in a cooperative and fast-paced environment

Your responsibilities will include:

+ Taking client briefs and acting on them confidently and professionally

+ Accounting for billable time and contributing to overall account budget management

+ Using your experience and knowledge to provide positive support to others in the team

+ Operating under the Wild and Free Media brand

If you think you’d be the perfect fit for our team please email your application letter outlining your experience and CV to hey@wildandfree.com.au or call Vesna Kirkovski on 0407 412 703.

Posted February 14th, 2017 by Vesna Kirkovski & filed under Uncategorized.

Wild and Free Media is looking for an enthusiastic and results-driven Digital Strategist to join our vibrant team. The role is casual on a project-by-project basis and will be based in our office located in The Junction. We support flexible working conditions and, with the exception of client meetings and briefing sessions, are willing to negotiate a work-from-home agreement for the right candidate.

Our ideal candidate will have:

+ Minimum 3 years experience as Digital Strategist, Business/Web Analyst, Business/Marketing Optimisation, or similar role

+ Demonstrated experience with creating and implementing full Digital Marketing strategies

+ A strong understanding of Google Analytics, SEM and SEO

+ Strong communication skills (both written and oral) with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail

+ Be a ‘people person’ who is confident and has a positive personality

+ Strong organisation and time management skills – must adhere to deadlines, multi-task and be able to prioritise

+ Ability to work both independently (with minimal supervision) and in a team environment

+ Ability to learn quickly and manage workloads in a cooperative and fast-paced environment

Your responsibilities will include:

+ Developing, presenting and managing integrated Digital Marketing strategies, proposals and presentations that delivers meaningful results to clients

+ Creating content across social media platforms, ensuring it’s on brand creatively and withholds correct tone of voice.

+ Taking client briefs and acting on them confidently and professionally

+ Accounting for billable time and contributing to overall account budget management

+ Extracting, interpreting, and effectively communicating data patterns and trending

+ Managing multiple, simultaneous projects with proven success coordinating cross departmentally to accomplish goals

+ Reading/writing HTML, CSS, jQuery, and JavaScript preferred

+ Using your experience and knowledge to provide positive support to others in the team

+ Operating under the Wild and Free Media brand

If you think you’d be the perfect fit for our team please email your application letter outlining your experience and CV to hey@wildandfree.com.au or call Vesna Kirkovski on 0407 412 703.

Posted February 9th, 2017 by Vesna Kirkovski & filed under Career, Public Relations.

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Wild and Free Media is looking for a well connected and experienced PR specialist to join our vibrant team. The role is part-time and will be based in our office located in The Junction. We support flexible working conditions and, with the exception of client meetings and briefing sessions, are willing to negotiate a work-from-home agreement for the right candidate. This role would suit someone who has experience working in the Newcastle area and is based locally.

Our ideal candidate will have:

+ Minimum 3 years experience in a PR agency environment

+ Demonstrated experience working with the media, ideally within the Newcastle area

+ Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail

+ Be a ‘people person’ who is confident and has a positive personality

+ Strong organisation and time management skills – must adhere to deadlines, multi-task and be able to prioritise

+ Ability to work both independently (with minimal supervision) and in a team environment

+ Ability to learn quickly and manage workloads in a cooperative and fast-paced environment

Your responsibilities will include:

+ Developing a PR strategy that delivers meaningful results to clients

+ Writing and editing a range of communication materials

+ Working with the media to drive interest in clients

+ Researching media angles and generating proactive content ideas for clients

+ Coordinating and managing media events for clients

+ Taking client briefs and acting on them confidently and professionally

+ Accounting for billable time and contributing to overall account budget management

+ Using your experience and knowledge to provide positive support to others in the team

+ Operating under the Wild and Free Media brand

If you think you’d be the perfect fit for our team please email your application letter outlining your experience and CV to hey@wildandfree.com.au or call Vesna Kirkovski on 0407 412 703.

Posted January 18th, 2017 by Vesna Kirkovski & filed under Retail.

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Junction Fair Shopping Centre has been revitalised to its former glory. The centre has undergone a welcomed rejuvenation to become the perfect balance of everyday conveniences and hidden gems just waiting to be discovered in Newcastle’s iconic suburb, The Junction.

In December 2014, Fortius Group purchased the centre for $32 million with plans to transform the “unloved and mismanaged” Junction Fair into a thriving community shopping hub. “It was a shopping centre that needed attention”, said Fortius Group Asset Manager Renaud Herington. “We wanted to show that The Junction Fair is a growing hub that this community and surrounding neighbourhoods deserve, combining convenience with a unique boutique experience”.

From one of a kind stores to boutique chic to those convenient everyday essentials, the community shopping hub now includes:

Sanbah Surf
12 Rounds Fitness
Harry’s Schnitzels
The Essential Ingredient
The Junction Hairdressers and Barber
Doughheads
Chemmart Pharmacy
The Pickled Pig Butcher
Easy Living Footwear
Sushi Koo
Louie & Jacks
Zeblu Women’s Fashion
Privvy Fashion
Buzz Junction
Coles/Liquorland
Honest Paper
Hunter Phones & Computer Doctor
Bakers Delight
Kids Get Active Yoga
Magic Care Massage

In collaboration with Fortius Group, Wild and Free Media proudly relaunched the rejuvenated Junction Fair with a recently held event on Saturday 12th November. The day was full of entertainment, live music, prizes and giveaways. The community support and attendance on the day was outstanding, with each retailer providing exciting incentives for customers on the day.

“It was a great day with a fantastic vibe from everyone that was there, you could really feel the community spirit lifting through the large attendance on the day” said Wild and Free’s managing director, Vesna Kirkovski.

With everything you need under one roof, Junction Fair now offers a vibrant and exciting range of new retailers, fresh food and contemporary dining options. The centre is open seven days a week, with late night shopping on Thursday. To find out more about the new and improved Junction Fair, check out facebook.com/junctionfair or visit www.junctionfair.com.au.

Posted December 12th, 2016 by Vesna Kirkovski & filed under Retail.

John and Leonie Whitaker

Newcastle’s leading independent jewellers, Whitakers is one of the longest standing jewellery stores in the Hunter. For over 110 years, the Whitakers legacy remains strong and continues to thrive as a niche market, specialising in bridal, custom design and fine jewellery.

John Whitaker, fourth generation jeweller, is dedicated to providing a personalised service for his customers, showcasing exquisite quality and craftsmanship. His enthusiasm for people and passion for the retail experience has become a standout in the family business. Today John’s vision, purpose and passion are what you could describe in diamond terms as flawless. “I fell in love with jewellery, and being a part of my clients special occasions and moments”, Whitaker said. “The excitement I get from my clients is infectious”. For John, the jewellery trade is a combination of the love stories people share, the relationships he forms and the beautiful pieces he creates.

Founded in 1903, John’s great grandfather, Reginald Wilfred Whitaker, established the family business in Muswellbrook and Maitland with his three sons. After many years and expansions to new locations, the business was passed onto John Whitaker Snr who later, in 1965, opened the family jewellers at the new Kotara Fair. “My father knew how to market jewellery, he was the only jeweller in town at that time”. Training as a salesperson in 1987, Whitaker soon realised his passion for the jewellery industry. With a strong focus on maintaining the Whitakers legacy, John was encouraged by his father to enhance his skills to ensure he had the latest and most highly regarded jewellery industry training worldwide. Completing his studies at the Gemological Institute of America in California – the number one diamond grading school in the world – John was soon qualified as an expert in his field.

After his father’s retirement in 2006, John and his wife Leonie opened their Darby Street store in Newcastle. To this day, John has designed rings for over 1000 couples, providing them with the ultimate Whitaker experience, where consumer education is still a hallmark. Whilst technology and online automaticity has challenged the solid Whitakers legacy, it has created an avenue for Whitakers to reframe the niche brand through embracing the new online market. We have re-positioned Whitakers, qualifying them as specialists, not only through John’s education, but his craftsmanship, skill and of course experience. With a fresh and contemporary approach, we embraced and engaged the new market with an online and social strategy and fast became the diamond standard of Newcastle.

Some say a diamond is forever, well it’s clear at Whitakers, it truly is.

Bespoke collection of Whitakers jewellery

Check out the Whitakers website following this link: http://whitakers.com.au

Posted May 20th, 2016 by Vesna Kirkovski & filed under Projects.

Wild & Free Media is excited to kick off our latest project with Stone Mason & Artist, Australia’s leading stonemasonry and building companies.

We have teamed up with Stone Mason & Artist to assist with the signage and banner wrapping of scaffolding as they undertake a two year restoration project of Newcastle City Hall. The scaffolding and banner wrap covers three sides of the hall, with photography taken from all sides to create a larger than life replica of City Hall. The project is an awesome initiative to beautify a worksite that would have otherwise been covered in scaffolding.

We are honoured to being working on a project for one of the most iconic buildings in Newcastle and playing a role in the revitalisation of our great city. The next stage of the installation process will be the artwork banner wraps so be sure to watch this space as we post updates on the work in progress.