The Goal

Market research is the first, and arguably the most imperative part of a successful marketing and business plan. First and foremost, It gives you the information that you need to find if a market exists for your brand. Secondarily, market research allows you to discover and narrow down who your target market is by using information from consumer behavior and economic trends. It includes a variety of goals that are geared toward getting the most information possible for your company, so that you can then effectively market your product or service. Developing a marketing position from this data is essential. The key is in discovering your target audience, then learning what tactics your audience responds to most. This is the best way to generate awareness around your brand.

When conducting market research, we look at everything from demographics and psychographics, to marketing habits, experience with the brand, and general attitudes. We want to gain a deep understanding of the target, their behaviors, their opinions, and their experiences. We want to develop a marketing plan that demonstrates that the brand provides a solution to a problem that that audience has a need for.

The Process

The marketing research process begins with defining this problem, developing a research plan, then getting started on gathering data. This research plan will determine what types of research may be most effective for that client, whether it be exploratory research, descriptive research, or predictive research. We may decide that it is necessary to gather information around customer satisfaction or maybe even market line expansions. This data can be obtained in a variety of ways, including primary and secondary research from surveys and interviews, focus groups, and/or general market research. The goal is to obtain as much qualitative and quantitative data as possible for the best possible outcome. Once we get the data, we sort through and analyze it to then develop a marketing strategy aimed at meeting the market’s needs. 

After developing a strategy we work closely with other departments within BrandHive to apply that strategy to things like brand identity, advertisements, public relations spots, and more. That is the making of a successful marketing journey! Don’t try to advertise and market your brand if you have not done market research. Invest your time and money in the process and receive the most return on your investment.

When Morris Zelkha decides to bring an ingredient to market, he goes all in. Case in point: When Zelkha founded lycopene-ingredients supplier LycoRed Ltd. (Be’er Sheva, Israel) decades ago, he started with what was then a lesser-known ingredient. By the time Zelkha left LycoRed as founder and CEO in 2014, LycoRed was arguably the industry’s best-known lycopene and carotenoids supplier, and lycopene had made a name for itself in the nutrition market. Now, Zelkha is doing the same for black seed oil (Nigella sativa). Just as he did for lycopene, Zelkha is teaching the market about how to identify a high-quality black seed ingredient. And he’s only just begun.

He says TriNutra’s business is growing 30% each year, so the company appears to be on its way. And if history has shown, if anyone can further an ingredient’s market, it’s Zelkha and now TriNutra.

“Personally,” he says, “I believe that black seed oil can have a market share similar to omega-3. Bringing awareness of the ingredient and educating on quality will help drive this. When looking at Amazon six years ago, there were only about 40 [black seed oil] brands, but today, there are more than 100. I see this as a good step towards growth—but know this is just the beginning.”

Read the full article HERE

Product Prevalence

As I opened my email this morning, I was bombarded with articles about two things:  cognitive health and immune health.   So many messages about products and branded ingredients, both paid native articles, as well as earned media, had filled my inbox with early morning deliveries.  I counted more than 23 items in just 3 industry publication newsletters alone.  And that doesn’t include any digital advertising or offers to register for webinars or sign-up for newsletter subscriptions!

This hit me hard.  After all, I work with a number of clients who’s products and ingredients are in both of these categories.  Cognitive health, often referred to as brain health or nootropics, and immune health, with its terms such as postbiotics, prebiotics, and microbiome, are so important no matter what the age of the consumer.

Advertising in the Space

Now the challenge becomes, with all of this noise coming at me, what does a formulator or manufacturer in the beverage and dietary trade feel like?  How can they make a decision on the best ingredient to include in their next winning formulation?  How will they be able to sell it to their B2B customer?

What about the health care practitioner?  How can they filter through all of the offers and recommendations for products that they should be sharing with their patients?  

And finally, the most important audience of all, how can a consumer know what product will help them solve a particular health challenge they may be facing?

All great questions, right?  What is the magic solution?  Here it is!  There is no “one right answer”.  There is a clear and deliberate path to take to determine what is right for YOUR product and ingredient.  And it begins, as Stephen Covey put it, with the end in mind.

The Solution

Too often, a client reaches out to us asking for implementation of a tactic, rather than focusing on the overall goal.  They saw a competitor doing something, a social media marketing campaign, placement of digital ads, or feature in a particular industry publication, and they too want to be “there”.  Some branding agencies or marketing strategy gurus might say – sure, I can put you “there”.  However, what did that accomplish?  Who knows?  The purpose in getting “there” is what is important.  And that is an important part of the discussion when you work with brandhive.

We start by understanding and helping our clients identify and define their growth strategy.  There could be multiple objectives in getting “there”.  These may include brand recognition or brand elevation depending on your company’s goals.

Whatever the solution may be, it is important to understand that where your competitor is at might not be your ideal goal. Or maybe that publication that you love is not where you should showcase your product for the most effective results. Your goal and purpose in the dense marketplace of cognitive and immune health should be carefully crafted and created based on extensive research and analysis, ultimately leading to what is going to make your brand stand out amongst the rest.

The Importance of a Brand’s Logo

More than any single piece of marketing communication you send out into the marketplace, the one most frequently seen is your brand’s logo. Have you ever given serious thought to what the logo’s design says about your company, your philosophy, your people, and your attitude?

Maybe the time has come to give that some deeper consideration. A New York Times article cites a new breed of logo design emerging in this new and challenging economic environment we live in. As business culture has become a huge focus of most companies, it is something that now needs to be considered a part of brand identity as well.

Rebranding

Many successful organizations are going through what we have traditionally referred to as a “rebrand”. This time, however, it is for a very different reason than it has been in the past. While historically a logo and brand style have been refreshed when considered stale, in modern times it could be driven by an attempt to reflect corporate culture. The world seems more interested in warmer, fuzzier, more accessible, and friendly looking logos. Non-threatening, reassuring, even playful brand identities. As the article puts it, “not emblems of distant behemoths, but faces of friends.”

The Evolution of Today’s Logos

Experts say that logos are becoming less official looking and more conversational. It isn’t just about saying ‘hey, look over here! We’re the best! Buy from us! We’re #1!” They’re more neighborly. More friendly. Today’s logos are more simple, unique, versatile, memorable, and inviting.

We live in an environment of increased transparency, and the Internet allows us a broad view of the inner workings, and perhaps more importantly, the infractions, of companies both large and small.

Warm and Friendly

So what constitutes a more warm and friendly logo? For starters, less intrusive or sharp, bold typefaces. Simplistic geometry. Increased use of softer more subtle graphic elements and more happy, bright colors. There is much more to consider in 2022 than there has been in the past.

Thirty years ago, companies thought about how their logo might look on a sign or a poster. Maybe a tradeshow booth, some flyers, and their website design. Now it includes digital marketing campaigns, blogs, video reels, texts, social media posts, app icons, and so much more. We recognize that the creation of a logo isn’t as easy as it used to be. During a branding strategy discussion recently for a client looking to bring their company product from Asia to North America, I had this very discussion about culture, and what the current branding might say to a western consumer. I had considerable concerns about how the ornate logo would appear on various mediums such as packaging design, infographics, sales sheets, brochures and other digital marketing campaigns. There are many more considerations in play than we used to imagine.

The Importance of Agency

So whether a business is looking to start a new brand, product line, or rebrand, it is more important than ever to work side-by-side with brand strategy professionals. Those who can support you with market research, competitor analysis, and brand strategy will give you the strongest advantage and go-to-market launch strategy.

Recently redesigned logos include Burger King, M&M Mars, Volvo, and many others. They may have spent many millions of dollars to do execute this process, but a great branding agency can help you with a tiny fraction of these big companies’ budgets, while still accomplishing what you need to have your brand reflecting who you are today.

When it comes to food, we are all familiar with the traditional three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Nowadays, however, the busy schedules of our everyday lives can mean most people tend to replace a traditional meal with snacks instead, which can be difficult for those who are focusing on becoming more health-conscious with what they consume. Those in the food industry are now posed with the challenge of using packaging to appeal to health-conscious consumers to stand out from the rest of the competition and increase their revenue. In order to formulate an effective healthy food packaging design, we must first dive into the root of what health-conscious consumers are searching for from packaging. Check out the following healthy food marketing ideas related to how consumers make their decisions through product packaging: 

Calories Count for Health-Conscious Consumers

Calories are all about the energy we consume to fuel our bodies every day. For those who are more aware of what they are eating each day, the need to keep track of calories that not only provide them with energy but supply healthy benefits as well is of utmost importance to their decision in the food store. If your brand offers single packaged products that come in a larger package, a clever healthy food marketing idea is to consider mentioning the calorie count per single package to give consumers the ability to track what they are eating without having to take extra steps to determine how many calories they actually consumed. By doing so, your brand will give consumers a better sense of their calorie intake, making it more convenient for consumers and increases the chances of buying your products again.

On-The-Go Packaging For The Win

As previously mentioned, busy schedules can take away from time that individuals have to eat a healthy and nutritious meal, making the demand for snack foods that are travel-friendly more prevalent. To be ahead of the game, contemplate a healthy food packaging design that allows consumers to eat something when they are on the go or have a quick moment in their day to snack. Packaging with lids that are easy to take off or packaging that is able to be resealed to enjoy later is extremely beneficial for those who have a jam-packed day and aren’t sure when they will have a moment for a quick bite. By doing this, your brand will have the chance to be chosen over other options and shows your understanding for health-conscious consumers who are constantly on the go.

Positive Promotion Packaging 

From all the choices a consumer can make to the limited space available on the packaging, using packaging to appeal to health-conscious consumers can be quite the task to do. Due to these restrictions, it’s important to make the most of what little space you have by using positive terminologies and benefits to your product that will jump out to customers almost instantaneously. Utilizing words like natural, organic, and gluten-free gives your products a positive connotation that will decrease the chance of health-conscious consumers overlooking your product altogether. Finding the right words to incorporate into your packaging design can also seem like a task in itself to do, but hiring the right health and wellness branding agency to help you craft your ideal packaging verbiage gets you one step closer to having a product that flies off the shelf. 

Overall, consumers are smart and definitely take product packaging into consideration when making choices on what to purchase. When it comes to having a surefire package design that will win over, turning to a professional health and wellness branding agency will assist you in attracting the health-conscious consumers you’ve been aiming for. To get started on achieving the optimal packaging design, contact us today. 

How many people do you know take supplements on a daily basis? Each year, the number of individuals who are regular supplement users increases, which poses the important question of how to market nutritional products effectively. As the compound annual growth rate for the nutritional supplement industry is projected to be 9.8% from now until 2027, utilizing optimal marketing strategies is crucial for your brand to thrive in a quickly growing market. The good news is that this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend more money on marketing tactics to surpass your competition. If you want to reach new heights in the nutritional supplement industry, take a look at the following marketing ideas for supplements to start adopting for your own brand: 

Be Unique Every Way Possible

In today’s market, there are thousands of supplement companies currently available that are fighting to win over consumers. With this in mind, it is essential that your brand does everything possible to ensure customers are drawn in and are looking at your products compared to your competitors. Discover what makes your brand stand out from the rest and use that knowledge as the foundation of your marketing efforts. From breaking down why your products are important to a customer’s everyday life to pulling real-life testimonials to generate brand authenticity, make it known to prospective customers why your products are just what they need in their lives and how it can greatly benefit them compared to others. 

Packaging With A Purpose

A product’s vessel is never chosen by random. When it comes to product packaging, your target audience must be the center of your decision-making process for choosing colors, fonts, tone of voice, and language use. In fact, 72% of American consumers are influenced by packaging designs when making purchase decisions, meaning your brand must create strategic packaging to attract legitimate business. For example, if your products are designed for individuals age 65 and up, you’ll want to ensure your products are easy to locate on the shelf and utilize large fonts, making your brand more recognizable among all the various options available. By keeping your customer’s demographic information in mind, you’ll be able to grab customer’s attention better and increase the probability of consumer purchases.

Be Consistently Trendy 

Industry trends are constantly evolving, which consistently changes how to market nutritional products successfully. By staying up to date with where your customers are looking, your brand displays both professionalism and authenticity that customers desire to see, making your products more well-known. For starters, your brand should be marketing online, as online sales in the dietary supplement industry have increased by 15% this year and will continue to rise. A great place to begin marketing online starts with your brand’s website. To stay trendy, make sure your company’s website is:

• Easy to navigate.
• Mobile-friendly.
• Aesthetically-pleasing. 

By doing so, you will be able to reel in prospective customers and make the process of purchasing your products more convenient. 

In addition to staying up to date with online marketing, another effective marketing idea for supplements revolves around having a strong social media presence. According to statistics, 45% of the current population uses social media, which should make social media a core asset to your marketing strategies. How you decide to market your brand and products through social media varies based on your target audience and which platform they are most likely on. Once you choose the right platforms for your brand, be sure to engage with customers and push out useful content that always has a call to action leading back to your website. You will want to post often to show your activity without blasting out too much that can bury useful content. 
The supplement industry will only grow as the years go by, meaning your brand’s marketing tactics must always be strategic and with a purpose to reap the most benefits. Whether you need guidance with being unique, upgrading your product’s packaging, or staying on top of industry trends, gaining insight from a professional dietary supplement marketing agency will set your brand up for ultimate success! If you’re ready to take your brand to the next level, contact BrandHive today.

When shopping for groceries, how often do you think people go for the organic section? Although the difference in prices between organic and non-organic foods may deter customers from shopping organic, studies show that 45 percent of Americans buy organic food regularly while 85 percent shop for organic food on the occasion. Organic food demands are on the constant rise, projected to become more popular among consumers every year. Finding the optimal target audience, however, poses a big challenge when it comes to healthy food advertising strategies. Luckily, there are certain organic food marketing strategies brands can adopt to increase their number of sales without having to break the bank to do so. Consider the following marketing tips for your organic brand that can help you perform more effectively over other competitors.

Incorporate Brand Benefits in Your Story 

While this may seem obvious, it’s important to have a solid story behind any brand to capture audience attention and increase sales. In fact, findings from Headstream report that 55 percent of customers who love a brand story will most likely buy their products in the future, making it essential to have a 5-star brand story. When crafting the story of your brand, take the time to mention the benefits your brand has over others while using words that are easier for customers to understand and digest. Making the assumption that everyone knows what it really means for a product to be organic can be detrimental to the success of your brand. Instead of using your story to define what these words mean, use this opportunity to focus on why your brand is beneficial to the lives of your customers.

Pinpoint The Optimal In-Store Location 

With all the food options that are available, finding the ideal location for your product can make or break brand sales. For instance, when people are out shopping for Thanksgiving, it will be more difficult and somewhat stressful to navigate the store, especially this year with social distancing guidelines. Marketing organic foods in areas of stores that are easily accessible give customers the chance to grab items they may need quicker rather than venturing through the crowds to get an item on their list. Not to mention, if customers try a brand out for the first time and love it, they will most likely buy from the same brand again now that they know where to find it!

Consider Implementing Brand Discounts

As mentioned earlier, a big reason why people tend to overlook shopping for organic foods is due to price. While prices for organic food reflect the legitimate cost of growing, most people would rather opt for cheaper alternatives. As part of your organic food marketing strategy, consider offering discounts to your customers to broaden the accessibility of your products. This will not only give your brand an edge over competitors but will increase the likelihood of consumers purchasing from your brand. Who wouldn’t love to shop organic with great discounts as a plus!

All in all, marketing organic brands can be quite a challenge. However, implementing healthy food advertising strategies that foster customer appreciation and showcases how great your brand truly is will make all the difference. If you require assistance to take your health and wellness brand to new heights, BrandHive is the expert healthy food marketing agency your brand needs! Get started with professional marketing strategies from us today and contact us now.

You may be asking yourself (especially if you are in the food and beverage industry), “what is the best way to market my product?” Nowadays, the food and beverage industry has been booming, taking to new platforms to expand consumer reach like never before. According to recent studies, revenue from the food and beverage industry projects an annual growth rate of 6.5%, resulting in an increased market volume of US$25,659 million by 2025. With numbers like these, utilizing trending forms of marketing can benefit brands in this realm exponentially. The question remains, however, which marketing strategy should food and beverage businesses begin adopting? We highly recommend considering video marketing for food and beverage brands to get the consumer traffic and sales that your brand so rightly deserves. If this form of food and beverage marketing is something you wish to start using, check out our top video marketing strategies for how to promote food brands in an effective way.

Superior Social Media Advertising

Did you know that 81% of businesses use video as a marketing tool? That’s a 63% increase compared to last year’s numbers. As the use of technology rises, we begin to see an abundance of individuals, specifically consumers, migrating online. Why not go where your customers are spending most of their time? Not only will you expand your marketing reach to more individuals but the ability to target your specific audience has become more manageable and easier to master. Video platforms such as Youtube is a great place to take your beverage marketing ideas, as Youtube is recognized as the second most popular website (following right behind Google). From recipe ideas to video content campaigns catered to a select demographic, social media advertising through video marketing will showcase your brand like never before. One important key factor to keep in mind for how to promote food brands successfully is grabbing viewer attention quickly as individuals tend to stick around for a handful of seconds before jumping to another video. 

User Involvement is Key

Consumers want to know a “face” connected to a brand. This “face” is really a personality behind the brand, allowing the relationship between brand and customer to be strong and built off loyalty. In fact, 54% of customers believe companies need to transform how they go about engagement. In order to connect more with your consumers, begin generating video marketing for your brand that focuses on audience engagement. Whether you start a campaign with a hashtag for people to share their own videos with your brand or create your video content around your audience’s personal preferences by asking their opinions, you’ll be able to tighten the customer engagement gap. The more you relate and connect with your customers, the more likely you will implement brand loyalty.  
Are you hungry for a professional food and beverage marketing agency that will take your brand to new heights? Satisfy your video marketing for food and beverage brands craving with the help of BrandHive! Contact us today to get started.

Most consumers are searching online for what they need. In fact, over 80% of shoppers research a product online before they even consider purchasing anything from a brand. Whatever the size of your organization, having an impactful website is an essential business tool to grow your brand. Not only does your website make your brand’s first impression, but it can also help build credibility, capture leads, attract new business, and drive your brand forward. Our marketing experts are sharing the benefits of having a website and how it can take your brand to new heights. 

Why Your Website Is Important 

An appealing and informative website is the center and backbone of your brand’s online presence. With such an extensive reach, you can use your website to advertise your brand through social media channels and pay-per-click advertising campaigns. While many small businesses do not have a large budget to spend on their website, focusing on a few key points when building and developing your website can set you apart from your competitors. 

Answer Important Questions

One of the many benefits of having a website is it’s a great place to answer important questions. 

Your website should be a hub of resources and information for your consumers. Most of the time, your audience would rather look online than call a business. Without a website, you could be missing out on potential customers. 

Build Credibility 

The importance of a good website for your business can help your brand build credibility. In today’s market, brands without a website are less credible. Having a mobile-friendly, attractive website can allow consumers to see what your brand is about. Not only can you showcase your products and services, but your website is also a great place to share your core values and brand mission. By helping your audience get to know your brand, you’re establishing trust. Once your brand is seen as trustworthy, you can begin to build long-lasting relationships with your customers. You can also use your website to share relevant, educational content, helping to establish your brand as an authoritative, reputable business in your industry. 

Capture Leads

Your website can show potential customers what sets you apart from the competition. Making your products or services available for consumers to browse or buy online is an easy way to convert leads into customers (and sales). Your website can help you reach more consumers, creating more opportunities to make a sale. When properly optimized, you can also improve your rankings in a search engine and bring in more qualified leads. 

Increase Exposure 

Chances are, most of your customers are online and if you’re not, you’re missing out! For continued growth and increased exposure, your brand must invest in a functional website that is SEO friendly. When your website is optimized, Google and other search engines can crawl each page on your website efficiently, interpret the content, and index it in their databases. This helps your brand appear to users who search for your company and you’ll have a better chance of appearing on the first page of a search result. 
The importance of a good website for your business will not only lead to more sales, but your brand will also see more growth. At BrandHive, when you partner with us, we want to see your brand flourish. We’re a website design agency that is passionate about developing websites for the natural marketplace. We promise to create a unified and unforgettable experience that helps bring your brand to life. Connect with our team today and learn how a well-designed website can help your brand.

Every year, thousands of new food products are brought to market and over 90% of them fail. Even businesses backed by big companies and well-known brands have more misses than hits. What causes these products to fail? Oftentimes, quality can be an issue and some products just don’t live up to consumers’ expectations. Other times, the timing of a new launch can doom a product from the start. Just the sight of certain foods is enough to stimulate someone’s appetite, but poor food packaging design can do the complete opposite. Ineffective design or dysfunctional packaging can make your brand seem distrustful and can negatively impact how people view your brand. 

The packaging, marketing, and advertising surrounding your new product launch are extremely important and all these elements benefit from good design. With the right packaging, your food brand can inform and entice while capturing consumers’ minds and emotions. From the initial product idea to conveying a visual and verbal message all the way to launch day, our team is sharing the importance of food packaging for food brands and how we can help. 

Benefits of Strong Packaging Design

A study conducted by Westrock found that packaging drives 36% of purchase decisions. While the primary function of packaging is to protect the food inside, the main importance of food packaging design is to attract consumers. The ideal design not only conveys what the brand is, but what the brand stands for. Having a strong brand identity combined with excellent packaging can help attract consumers and help to communicate information about your product clearly and concisely. You can also use food packaging to convey various business values or commitments to help you reach your target audience. Effective food packaging design can also: 

• Appeal to emotions 
• Display the products nutritional information, benefits, and uses
• Make your brand or logo instantly recognizable
• Make your product an impactful, personalized experience

What Consumers Look for In Great Food Packaging 

Regardless of where a consumer views your product (TV commercial, ad, in a grocery store, or a magazine), your packaging is oftentimes a consumers’ first impression with your brand. The best food packaging designs clearly make a statement but also are simple for your consumer to understand. You’ll need to offer attractive, functional, and informative packaging that showcases why consumers should be purchasing your product over others. Consumer satisfaction falls loosely into three key components including:  

• Functionality – like the ease of opening, easy to empty, resealability, easy identification, and storage. 
• Trust – like protection from tampering or contamination, the use of safe and sustainable materials, and transparency about ingredients.
• Aesthetics – like innovation, updated designs, color, shape, and size.

At BrandHive, we’ve been designing food packaging for over 20 years in the health and wellness industry. We take pride in creating food packaging designs that stand out on the shelf and leave no question in a buyer’s mind as to the product’s advantages. When you partner with our team, we can guarantee we will deliver sleek and fresh designs that completely encapsulate who you are as a brand. If you’re ready to get started on a project, contact us today.