Sometimes we impress ourselves.
Check out case studies of some of the work we have done to help our clients succeed as well as insider articles helping you know the latest trends in marketing.
Recent Case Studies
Case Study
The IOI Team Takes on the Northeast
Although the IOI team is small, we are very mighty. Our time in Philly and Atlantic City solidified that we are continuing to move in the right direction and that there are only more clients to partner with, more challenges we can overcome together, and more goals to crush. If there’s one thing IOI loves, it’s an excuse to get together and celebrate.
We kicked off the New Year in the best way we knew how – a team trip.
Are we surprised that the trip started out with an FAA system-wide outage, affecting every team member’s flight? While most were able to hop on a later flight, a handful of us hopped in the car and made the six-hour drive to Philadelphia. Talk about being committed to the cause!
Some hours and multiple Philly cheesesteaks later, the whole team was on the ground and ready to rock and roll. IOI kicked off the week at the U.S. Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia where we partnered with our Norwegian client, Spond, and States Soccer to host a happy hour for coaches and potential partners. It was a great opportunity to meet current and prospective clients for IOI and a chance to mingle with other entrepreneurs who share similar visions. Not only did we leave with some great new connections, but we also created lasting memories with our team.
The night wasn’t over yet – in fact, it was just beginning! Next up, a bus ride to Atlantic City to join our fellow Rhombus Services businesses – Pellucid Travel, Financial Wing LLC, BrandPoint Services, and Entrepreneurs United. Not only was this a special opportunity to spend time with our sister companies, but we were also able to celebrate with BrandPoint as they achieved an incredible milestone of $100 million in revenue as well as 20 years in business!
Throughout the week, IOI sat in on many of BrandPoint’s sessions highlighting their work divisions, the talented employees that comprise each of them, and the goals their business has set as they enter a new year. They even hosted a gala that celebrated individuals who have truly made a difference in their organization throughout the year. The opportunity to join internal conversations as they prepare for the future and celebrate all that has been accomplished was not lost on IOI.
These conversations sparked a fire as we moved into our smaller breakout session with the IOI team where we focused on individual goal-setting, key initiatives, annual goals, and core values. We identified areas where we as a team can seize the opportunity to be better and truly give our best to our clients. We also spent a lot of the time laughing, which seems to be a common theme when we are all in the same room.
Our time was bookended by guest speaker, Ted Ma. His words of wisdom focused on how to become the best version of yourself. He encouraged each of us to identify areas in our lives where we can step into our growth zones and welcome challenges that make us uncomfortable. Needless to say, we got a nice kick in the @ss.
If I had to sum up our time together I would say it was short but so sweet. If you were on the outside looking in, you would never know we are a completely remote team. Sitting in a room alongside people who share a common vision and goal fuels the passion inside of you.
Do you want to be part of the ride? Get in touch with our team and get ready to level up your business.
Case Study
Under Armour Flag Football Paid Media Campaign Hits Year-Long Target In One Month!
What do you get when you combine a passion for sports, an entrepreneurial spirit, and kids? Under Armour Flag Football Leagues. IOI Ventures has partnered with Under Armour’s Flag Football team to expand their footprint and grow the number of flag football leagues across the country.
The partnership encourages families to sign their children up to play, as well as generate leads for new league operators. Without league operators, Under Armour can not expand its program. Challenge accepted.
Goals:
IOI worked closely with the Under Armour Flag Football team to draw up a paid media campaign to drive leads for league operators. They expressed a goal to onboard 10 new league operators this year. With a rigorous vetting process and high turn-down rate, IOI was challenged with driving a significant number of qualified leads to try and yield just one league operator per month.
Strategy:
To achieve this goal, we knew that we needed to increase the volume and quality of the leads coming to their “Start A Flag Football League” landing page (a past IOI website project).
IOI’s account management team worked with Under Armour to settle on a budget and regional targets for league operators. The IOI paid media team then worked with the Account Manager on a detailed paid media campaign brief outlining the goals of the client, their target audiences, geographics, keywords, custom URLs for tracking, headlines and descriptions for context in the ads.
Additionally, IOI’s creative team worked with photo assets from the client to refresh the visual elements of the ads.
Results:
In just 31 days, IOI was able to generate 930 leads at a cost per lead of $7.04. Because of the close attention to detail around audience targeting and geo-fencing, the quality of the leads was confirmed when the client told us that they were onboarding 10 new league operators and had 5 more ready to onboard shortly thereafter.
As a result, Under Armour Flag Football moved their proverbial goalposts back a bit. Their new goal for the year is now 30 league operators – and we are confident that we’ll get them there.
Need help generating leads or revenue with paid media? Get in touch with our IOI team now and level up your digital marketing.
Case Study
Challenger Sports’ Redesigned Website Drives Record-Breaking Traffic, Registrations, and Revenue!
What is the first thing to make an impression on users when they visit a website? If you guessed the design, you would be right! Nearly 94% of first impressions are related to a website’s design and almost 48% of website visitors attribute website design to a business’s credibility.
Challenger Sports is an organization that is passionate about delivering high-quality soccer camps and learning experiences for youth soccer players and their families of all ages and ability levels. Although they had this vision for their business, their website was not designed in a way that made it easy for users to find and register for camps. They were experiencing an 80% drop in camp registrations due to poor user experience, inability to search and find a camp easily, and was not optimized for mobile devices.
Goals:
IOI worked closely with the Challenger Sports team to develop goals and a pathway to achieve them. Their first goal was to increase annual camp revenue to $7.9M with 45,000 registrants, which would be a 20% increase in growth year over year. They also wanted to reduce the high drop-off rate on the website.
Strategy:
To achieve these goals, we knew a new website and camp search experience would be crucial. IOI built a custom camp finder making it easier for users to search and register for upcoming camps. We also developed cohesive branding and messaging through the website as well as more calls to action that encourage users to contact Challenger Sports through the integration of HubSpot forms.
Aside from website updates, IOI developed a full marketing strategy with the goal of pushing soccer camp registrations. This included a $5,000 budget allocation to Google and Meta ads directing to the camp finder. This campaign also included four email blasts and four social media posts promoting the new website and camp finder, along with long-form content that lives on the site. We doubled down on all these efforts by adding a registration camp banner to all email blasts and Regional Director’s email signatures.
Results:
The Challenger Sports website and camp finder redesign launched at the end of January 2023 and recorded a 22% increase in camp registrations year-over-year in the first 45 days. It also created and collected 878 new contacts in HubSpot. From IOI’s marketing efforts alone, this strategy led to 1,258 camp registrations and $274,215 in revenue.
With the partnership between IOI Ventures and Challenger Sports, all initial goals for this campaign were met and exceeded. The updates to their website and camp finder pages have made the customer experience smoother and have led to more leads and registrations.
Are you looking to optimize your website and collect more leads? Get in touch with our IOI team now and take your website from good to GREAT!
Case Study
How a simple lead gen focused landing page improved our client’s ROI by 145%
As marketers, your website is the first thing we look at before we start any kind of marketing efforts. We dive into how it’s performing, how easy it is to navigate as a customer, and ultimately is it set up for success of the business. When we first started working with our client, Challenger Teamwear, about 4 months ago, we noticed right away we needed to create a landing page that not only was easier to navigate as a customer, but provided opportunities to contact them and capture the leads information. If not, any money or marketing efforts we push there would be money down the drain.
In an effort to show them how quickly and easily this can be done, we immediately went to work on building out a simple lead gen landing page focused on attracting and converting leads. Adding in multiple opportunities to contact and capture a lead’s information through Hubspot forms.
This is where the fun began. We started to show how effective a customer driven landing page, with Hubspot form integration and some key marketing pushes, helped increase $29,448.73 in sales over 4 months. In total, this added up to 145% ROI for our client.
The breakdown of what we did:
- Pushed $3k in paid dollars monthly to the new landing page
- Created and scheduled 4 email blasts monthly linking out to the landing page
- Created new social accounts (FB & IG), a content calendar each month, along with a linktree to link out to the new landing page
The end result after the first 4 months:
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- Total $12,000 in ad spend over 4 months
- 561 new leads
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- 33 new deals and 16 closed/won deals totaling in $29,448.73 worth of revenue
- Investment gain: $17,448.73
- Total of 145% ROI
The above ultimately catapulted them into building off what we started and increasing marketing efforts: More landing pages specific to each sport they offer, FULL Hubspot integration for marketing and sales as well as additional campaigns throughout holiday months to capitalize on sale opportunities.
Additional Campaign efforts included:
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- Year End Clearance Landing page with over 250 products from Under Armour & Adidas and a 2 email/social push over a one week period
- Over $2,900 in sales on the first day
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- Black Friday Spiritwear sale which included 2 emails/social to each Organization’s pages plus a digital flyer with QR code for the Organization to push out on their end. All over a one week period
- Over $2,000 in sales
And this is just the beginning! We are only 4 months into the relationship, and have no doubt that this will continue to improve and increase revenue for their company. Hello happy client!
If you are looking to improve your ROI, and don’t know where to start, we can help.
Recent Articles
IOI Insider
Client QA Session | St. John’s Northwestern Academies
At IOI Ventures we are committed to our clients’ success and helping small businesses win. We are goal driven, focused on details and always innovating new ways to work with our customers.
We could go on and on, but we think it’s better if you hear from one of our current clients, St. John’s Northwestern Academies, a boarding school in Wisconsin that has seen a 40 percent increase in enrollments and a 400 percent increase in social media reach since our partnership.
With that, we welcome Eric Sanchez, Director of Advancement at SJNA, one of the key decision makers and close partners in the success of the IOI and SJNA relationship.
Q: What challenges were SJNA facing that they needed to address with IOI’s help?
A: SJNA internal changes in recent years have led to the need to improve digital strategies. The vital partnership with IOI has immediately impacted multiple areas. By leveraging digital channels, like social media, HubSpot, and search engines, IOI has optimized the way our target audience can reach us and engage SJNA. They have also assisted in creating engaging content, optimizing the website, and using email campaigns to help us bridge our message with current and new audiences.
Q: What factors influenced your decision to side with IOI rather than a larger agency?
A: I have worked with a lot of large firms in the past. The relationship loses its personal touch, and you become just a number. Working with IOI and their team is the complete opposite. Personal attention and dedication are where they shine. We have formed a partnership, and Adam and Marisa have worked exceptionally with us.
Q: What immediate impacts did you notice from partnering with IOI?
A: IOI has made a strong impact with quick wins, and a strategic mindset that will lead towards SJNA’s long term success. For example, IOI and their team have immediately right sized/improved our digital and social media strategies, modernized our website, connected our core community of constituents, and introduced new users to our website and school.
Q: How satisfied were you with choosing IOI compared to previous agencies you may have worked with?
A: There is no comparison. IOI is a true partnership with an exceptional team of professionals. I could not be more enthused about working with them.
Q: What would you tell or recommend to a prospective business about your experience with IOI?
A: I highly recommend IOI for its outstanding customer service, knowledgeable team, and vision of partnership and success.
To learn more about how IOI Ventures can help you take your business to the next level, click here:
All Articles
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IOI Insider
Client QA Session | St. John’s Northwestern Academies
At IOI Ventures we are committed to our clients’ success and helping small businesses win. We are goal driven, focused on details and always innovating new ways to work with our customers.
We could go on and on, but we think it’s better if you hear from one of our current clients, St. John’s Northwestern Academies, a boarding school in Wisconsin that has seen a 40 percent increase in enrollments and a 400 percent increase in social media reach since our partnership.
With that, we welcome Eric Sanchez, Director of Advancement at SJNA, one of the key decision makers and close partners in the success of the IOI and SJNA relationship.
Q: What challenges were SJNA facing that they needed to address with IOI’s help?
A: SJNA internal changes in recent years have led to the need to improve digital strategies. The vital partnership with IOI has immediately impacted multiple areas. By leveraging digital channels, like social media, HubSpot, and search engines, IOI has optimized the way our target audience can reach us and engage SJNA. They have also assisted in creating engaging content, optimizing the website, and using email campaigns to help us bridge our message with current and new audiences.
Q: What factors influenced your decision to side with IOI rather than a larger agency?
A: I have worked with a lot of large firms in the past. The relationship loses its personal touch, and you become just a number. Working with IOI and their team is the complete opposite. Personal attention and dedication are where they shine. We have formed a partnership, and Adam and Marisa have worked exceptionally with us.
Q: What immediate impacts did you notice from partnering with IOI?
A: IOI has made a strong impact with quick wins, and a strategic mindset that will lead towards SJNA’s long term success. For example, IOI and their team have immediately right sized/improved our digital and social media strategies, modernized our website, connected our core community of constituents, and introduced new users to our website and school.
Q: How satisfied were you with choosing IOI compared to previous agencies you may have worked with?
A: There is no comparison. IOI is a true partnership with an exceptional team of professionals. I could not be more enthused about working with them.
Q: What would you tell or recommend to a prospective business about your experience with IOI?
A: I highly recommend IOI for its outstanding customer service, knowledgeable team, and vision of partnership and success.
To learn more about how IOI Ventures can help you take your business to the next level, click here:
IOI Insider
What Does Success Look Like
What Does Success Look Like
In the dynamic world of digital marketing, success is not a one-size-fits-all concept. At IOI Ventures, we understand that each client’s vision of success is unique, and our approach to achieving it is just as personalized. Our strategy, “What Does Success Look Like?”, is designed to align our marketing efforts with your specific business goals and objectives.
Understanding Client Goals:
Effective digital marketing starts with a clear understanding of our clients’ aspirations. Through in-depth discussions, we delve into what each business aims to achieve, allowing us to craft strategies that are not only cutting-edge but also perfectly aligned with individual visions.
Analyzing and Reporting on Analytics:
At the core of our strategy is a strong emphasis on data. Regular analysis and detailed reports keep us and our clients informed on the progress, facilitating adjustments to strategies as necessary. This approach ensures that every campaign is underpinned by robust data, optimizing outcomes.
Establishing Marketing KPIs:
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) serve as our navigational tools. Setting specific, measurable KPIs provides a framework for accountability and growth. From enhancing website traffic to boosting conversion rates and customer engagement, these KPIs keep our strategies focused and results-driven.
Additional Metrics for Gauging Progress:
Customer Engagement and Feedback:
- Understanding audience reactions and interactions offers valuable insights. We monitor social media activity, comments, shares, and direct feedback to better comprehend customer preferences and behaviors.
ROI Analysis:
- Evaluating the return on investment is pivotal. We assess the financial efficiency of our campaigns against the revenue they generate, ensuring our clients receive optimal value from their marketing investments.
Brand Awareness and Reach:
- Expanding brand visibility is a key metric. We track search engine rankings, brand mentions, and social media followers to measure the impact of our branding efforts.
Conversion Rates:
- A vital aspect of our strategy is turning visitors into customers. Focusing on conversion rates helps us refine our tactics for driving sales or specific actions.
Long-Term Client Relationships:
- At IOI Ventures, enduring client partnerships is a hallmark of our approach. Sustained collaborations are a sign of trust and satisfaction with our services, indicating mutual growth and achievement.
Conclusion:
IOI Ventures is more than a digital marketing agency; we are a strategic partner committed to realizing your business goals. Our approach goes beyond mere metrics, focusing on creating strategies that resonate with unique client objectives and leveraging informed decisions for continued growth and strong, lasting relationships.
What to learn more about how IOI Ventures can help your business grow? Connect with us here.
IOI Insider
Tapping into Trending Holiday Topics for Your Social Media Content
In the world of social media, staying current and engaging with your audience means tapping into trending holiday topics. Whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, or even National Donut Day, there’s always a holiday around the corner to provide fresh opportunities for content creation. Here are a handful of ways to make the most out of trending holiday topics to boost your social media presence:
Early Bird Gets the Worm
The first rule of capitalizing on trending holiday topics is to start planning your content well in advance. Keep a well-organized content calendar that highlights upcoming holidays and events relevant to your audience. This ensures you have time to plan and create content well in advance. Early engagement can build anticipation and excitement among your followers.
Know Your Audience
Understanding your audience’s preferences and interests is paramount. Different holidays resonate differently with various demographics. Make sure you research what holidays matter most to your followers, be inclusive, and align your content accordingly. You don’t want to ruffle feathers or have your account suspended.
Monitor Trends
Stay up-to-date with current trends and conversations surrounding the holiday. Follow relevant hashtags, join relevant social media groups, and pay attention to what influencers in your niche are doing. This will help you identify the trending topics, challenges, and conversations to engage with in your holiday-themed content.
Create Valuable and Relevant Content
Don’t just jump on the holiday bandwagon for the sake of it. Ensure your content provides value to your audience and is relevant to the holiday. If it’s Thanksgiving, offer cooking tips or share stories of gratitude. If it’s Halloween, create spooky DIY tutorials or share costume ideas. By providing valuable content, you’re more likely to engage and retain your audience.
Utilize User-Generated Content
Encourage your followers to contribute to your holiday content by sharing their experiences, stories, or creations related to the holiday. User-generated content not only boosts engagement but also creates a sense of community and trust around your brand. For example, you can run a Halloween-themed contest or challenge where your followers can submit their own spooky creations. Share and celebrate the best entries on your social media channels to build a sense of community.
Host Holiday-Themed Contests and Giveaways
Kickstart the holiday season with a jolt of excitement and festive engagement. Hosting contests or giveaways infused with holiday themes is a brilliant strategy to immerse your audience in the joyous spirit of the season!
Encourage your followers to take part in fun challenges or friendly competitions, all while dangling tempting holiday-themed prizes as delightful incentives. Whether it’s wickedly cool Halloween merchandise, generous discount codes, or the promise of exclusive content, these giveaways can work their magic and create buzz across your social media channels.
Be Visual and Creative
People are drawn to eye-catching visuals and creative content. Use high-quality images, videos, infographics, and other multimedia elements to make your holiday content stand out. Experiment with creative storytelling techniques and interactive content formats like polls, quizzes, and live streams to engage your audience.
Leverage Holiday Hashtags
Hashtags are your ticket to reaching a broader audience interested in the holiday. Research and use relevant holiday-themed hashtags in your posts to increase discoverability. Popular Halloween-related hashtags like #Halloween, #SpookySeason, or #TrickOrTreat can help expand your reach.
Stay Authentic
While it’s important to align your content with holiday themes, remember to stay true to your brand’s identity. Authenticity resonates with audiences. If your content feels forced or unrelated to your brand, it can turn off followers.
Tapping into trending holiday topics for your social media content is a dynamic and rewarding strategy. By planning ahead, understanding your audience, monitoring trends, creating valuable content, encouraging user-generated content, hosting contests, being creative, and using relevant hashtags, you can boost your engagement and keep your audience coming back for more. So, start planning your holiday-themed content and join the conversation on social media today! Not sure where to begin? Get in touch with our team here and we can help you out!
IOI Insider
From Athlete to Coach: How Sports Shaped My Career as a Marketing Account Manager
Life often takes unexpected turns, and in my case, the journey from being an athlete and coach to a Marketing Account Manager has been nothing short of transformative. While it might seem like sports and marketing are worlds apart, the skills and lessons I learned on the field have profoundly influenced my professional life. In my short five months on the job, I’ve already seen so many instances where my experiences as an athlete and coach have helped me excel in my role as a Marketing Account Manager.
Goal-Oriented Mindset
In the world of sports, setting and achieving goals is fundamental. Whether it’s running a faster mile, hitting a certain number of home runs, or improving your shot, athletes constantly strive for improvement. This goal-oriented mindset directly translates to the world of marketing, where setting and achieving objectives is equally essential. As an account manager, I’ve learned to set clear, measurable goals for my team and clients, just as I did as an athlete. This mindset has not only helped me stay focused but also ensured that my marketing campaigns have a clear direction and purpose.
Teamwork and Collaboration
Team sports teach invaluable lessons about teamwork and collaboration. As a former athlete, I understand the significance of working together to achieve a common goal. This experience has been particularly beneficial in my role as an account manager, where cross-functional collaboration is often key to success. Whether it’s coordinating with graphic designers, content creators, or data analysts, my background in sports has taught me how to communicate effectively and leverage the strengths of each team member to achieve optimal results.
Resilience and Adaptability
Sports can be physically and mentally demanding, requiring athletes to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to changing circumstances. This resilience and adaptability are valuable traits in the fast-paced world of marketing. In my career, I’ve faced unexpected challenges and shifts in marketing trends, but my background in sports has helped me remain composed, pivot when necessary, and find innovative solutions to problems.
Leadership Skills
As both an athlete and coach, I’ve had the opportunity to develop leadership skills. Whether I was leading my team on the field or guiding fellow athletes as a coach, I learned how to inspire, motivate, and mentor others. These leadership skills have been indispensable in my role as an account manager, where I provide guidance, direction, and support to team members in need.
Time Management and Discipline
Athletes are often required to balance rigorous training schedules, competitions, and academic commitments. This demands excellent time management and discipline. These skills have carried over into my marketing career, where juggling multiple projects, meeting deadlines, and staying organized are essential. My ability to manage time effectively and stay disciplined has greatly contributed to my success in the marketing industry.
The journey from being an athlete and coach to a marketing account manager may seem like a leap, but the skills and lessons learned in the world of sports have been invaluable in my professional life. The goal-oriented mindset, teamwork and collaboration, resilience and adaptability, leadership skills, and time management and discipline acquired through sports have all played a significant role in shaping me into a successful marketing professional. So, whether you’re on the field or in the office, remember that the skills you acquire in one arena can often be transferred to another, helping you excel in unexpected ways.
Looking for a career change like I did? Visit IOIVentures.com to check out available positions.
IOI Insider
The Journey from AthleteTrax System to HubSpot Payment Tool
In the fast-paced business world, staying up-to-date with the latest tools and technologies is not just a convenience; it’s a necessity! At IOI, we understand the importance of having a streamlined sales process for our clients. However, the journey to reach this point has been filled with challenges and learning experiences. Today, I want to share my experience transitioning from the AthleteTrax System to the HubSpot Payment tool and how it has revolutionized our client’s internal process.
The Old Way: AthleteTrax System
Before embracing HubSpot’s Payment tool, our client used AthleteTrax System for managing their Camp and Academy payments. While it served them well in some aspects, manually tracking payments in HubSpot became inconvenient and time-consuming for the sales team. Here are some of the challenges the sales team faced:
- Manual Entry: Entering the payment confirmation into HubSpot manually led to occasional errors and inconsistencies, consuming valuable time in corrections.
- Lack of Integration: Without seamless integration between payment tracking and other sales functions, coordination among different departments suffered.
- Limited Insight: Extracting insights and reports took a lot of work, hindering our ability to make quick, accurate, and informed decisions.
- Adaptability Issues: As our client’s business grew, the manual process became increasingly inefficient, and scaling their operations came with complications.
The Turning Point: HubSpot Payment Tool
The decision to switch was driven by our need for a more efficient, streamlined process. We saw immediate improvements. Here are a few:
- Automated Payment Processing: Payments are processed automatically once clients provide information, reducing errors and freeing time for their accounting team.
- Integrated Workflow: The Payment tool fully integrates with other HubSpot functionalities, ensuring smooth coordination across various departments.
- Real-time Reporting: With just a few clicks, we can now access detailed reports and insights, enabling us to make better-informed business decisions.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: The smooth and secure payment process has improved customer experience, building trust and loyalty.
- Ease of Scaling: The flexibility and efficiency of the HubSpot Payment tool has made scaling their operations a breeze.
A Brighter Future
Since implementing the HubSpot Payment tool, our client’s internal sales process has been transformed. Not only has it saved them time and reduced errors, but it has also empowered them with real-time reporting.
The decision to move from AthleteTrax System to HubSpot was not taken lightly. But looking back, it’s clear it was the right choice for our client’s company. Our client has streamlined payment processing and aligned it with their internal sales workflows.
In a competitive business environment, the tools you use can make or break your success. If your company is facing similar challenges, consider evaluating your current payment processing system. The HubSpot Payment tool has been a game-changer for our clients and could be for you too!
At IOI Ventures, we do not just love HubSpot’s Payment tool; we’re proud to be a HubSpot Gold Solutions Partner. This partnership allows us to leverage HubSpot’s cutting-edge technology for our internal processes and share our hands-on expertise with our clients.
By aligning ourselves with HubSpot’s vision, we’re committed to driving innovation and providing tailored solutions that enhance efficiency and growth. Whether you’re looking to simplify your payment processing or seeking end-to-end sales solutions, IOI Ventures is here to guide you every step of the way.
If you want to learn more about how HubSpot and HubSpot Payment Tools have empowered our client’s sales team, let IOI guide you and contact us!
IOI Insider
The Impact of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Internet Searches for Soccer in the United States
The FIFA Women’s World Cup has become an influential sporting event that goes beyond the boundaries of the soccer pitch. With its widespread popularity and exceptional talent on display, the tournament has left a lasting impact on the sport’s growth in the United States. Let’s look at how it has impacted internet searches.
- Surge in Search Volume – According to Google Trends data, searches related to soccer in the United States experienced a substantial increase during the FIFA Women’s World Cup compared to previous years. The tournament’s occurrence led to a sharp rise in search volume, indicating a heightened interest in soccer-related topics across the nation.
- Regional Interest – Analyzing search data by region reveals intriguing insights into the geographic impact of the Women’s World Cup. Soccer has traditionally been more popular in certain states, but the tournament managed to pique the interest of regions less associated with the sport. States like California, New York, and Texas, which typically exhibit a high interest in soccer, witnessed a surge in search activity during the Women’s World Cup. Moreover, states with lower soccer interest, such as Utah, Oregon, and Wisconsin, experienced significant increases in soccer-related searches during the tournament, showcasing the event’s nationwide appeal.
- Rising Interest in Women’s Soccer – The FIFA Women’s World Cup has undoubtedly contributed to raising awareness and interest in women’s soccer. Google search trends indicate a notable spike in queries related to women’s soccer during the tournament. People searched for information about the players, schedules, match results, and even women’s soccer leagues and events beyond the World Cup. This surge highlights a shift in perception, with more people recognizing and appreciating the talent and achievements of female athletes in the sport.
- Player Searches – Individual players became breakout stars during the Women’s World Cup, and their exceptional performances led to increased search interest. Players like Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Rose Lavelle saw a significant uptick in online searches during the tournament. Not only did fans seek information about their playing careers, but they also explored their off-field activities and advocacy efforts, further engaging with the sport and its personalities.
- Social Media Impact – Social media platforms played a vital role in driving internet searches related to the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Memorable moments, spectacular goals, and emotional celebrations spread like wildfire on social media, leading to higher search volumes as people sought more information and videos of these events. Additionally, hashtags related to the Women’s World Cup trended on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, encouraging fans to engage with the content and search for further soccer-related topics.
- Long-Term Impact on Youth Participation – One of the most significant impacts of the Women’s World Cup on internet searches is the potential long-term effect on youth soccer participation. As more children witnessed the excitement of the tournament and the achievements of their female role models, interest in playing soccer has likely grown. This interest might translate into more searches for local soccer clubs, training programs, and resources, as parents and children seek ways to get involved in the sport.
The statistics speak volumes about the FIFA Women’s World Cup’s impact on internet searches for soccer in the United States. The tournament has driven a surge in search volume, expanded interest in women’s soccer, and captivated the attention of regions less traditionally associated with the sport. Players have become household names, and social media has played a pivotal role in sparking curiosity and engagement. Moreover, the tournament’s influence may extend to long-term effects on youth participation, as a new generation of soccer enthusiasts emerges. With each Women’s World Cup, soccer’s presence and popularity in the United States continue to grow, solidifying the tournament’s status as a catalyst for change within the sporting landscape.
Want to capitalize on this increase in traffic? Talk to IOI about solutions for your team, club, or organization – including our SPECIAL OFFER on sports websites.
IOI Insider
Powering Up Your Performance: How We Used KPIs to Level up St. John’s Northwestern Academies’ Social Media
In the world of marketing, it’s no secret that there are a million acronyms that all seem equally important to remember. You’ve probably felt like you’re swimming in a hypothetical alphabet soup at times, but let us clear things up by telling you about one of the most important and influential acronyms and how IOI uses them to measure success for our clients.
KPI, or key performance indicator, is a type of performance measurement we use to evaluate the success of a campaign or specific project- in this case, social media. We use them to track the progress toward a specific marketing goal, understand the performance of social media posts, and make adjustments to achieve success.
We began managing all social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn) for St. John’s Northwestern Academies in April 2023. Prior to this, their onsite team managed the strategy, content planning, and posting across all channels.
We narrowed down the important KPIs that we wanted to focus on. This included post time and date, the format of the post, impressions (Instagram), reach, engagement, success rate, and follower growth.
SJNA primarily posted content as it came in throughout the week, but never considered the content’s format, the time of day, or calls to action. Our goal was to increase engagement and reach by using content that would perform well and drive traffic to the website.
Three things we implemented in April that contributed to continual platform growth over the course of four months included:
- Tailored the content to meet the needs of our followers: We shifted the type of content that was posted from individual photos to photo/video carousels and reels. This led to an increase in engagement from 14.95% in April to 36.52% in just one month.
- Posted during time windows when followers were most active: After recording our posting times for one month, we discovered the times garnering the most engagement were between 10-11 am and 4-6 pm. Although the engagement growth is slow, it continues to be steady, increasing by an average of 10 engagements month over month.
- Audited current hashtags and adjusted based on reach: All hashtags can’t be winners and many people will argue that they don’t serve a purpose at all, but we beg to differ! By tracking the engagement on each post and following the analytics, we were able to see which hashtags performed well and which hashtags were underperforming. Utilizing highly engaged hashtags in future copy gave us the opportunity to reach and engage with potential followers while promoting SJNA’s brand.
In the past four months, we have increased the following on SJNA’s Instagram by 18% and LinkedIn by almost 7%. The success rate of our posts across channels also increased from 4.19% to 4.88% in one month.
KPIs can seem overwhelming and it takes time to see true growth in the metrics. To determine which KPIs you should be measuring, evaluate your business goals and objectives to narrow down the analytics that matters most to your progress.
Get started on the right track today and have IOI help grow your business. Get in touch with our team to see how we can help you KO the competition!
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How to make your webinars more engaging and interactive
An engaging webinar not only increases participation among your audience but leads to a better outcome overall. To make your webinars more interactive and valuable for your audience, consider implementing the following strategies:
Set clear goals: Define the objectives of your webinar and clearly communicate them to your audience. This will help participants understand what to expect and stay engaged throughout the session.
Know your audience: Research and understand your target audience’s interests, needs, and preferences. Tailor your content and delivery to meet their expectations, addressing their pain points and providing practical solutions.
Interactive content: Incorporate interactive elements such as polls, surveys, quizzes, and Q&A sessions. Encourage participants to share their opinions, ask questions, and play an active part in the webinar. This involvement fosters engagement and creates a two-way conversation.
Visual aids and multimedia: Utilize visually appealing slides, images, videos, and graphs to enhance your content. Visual aids help reinforce key points, break up monotony, and make the webinar more visually stimulating.
Engage with storytelling: Incorporate storytelling techniques to make your content relatable and memorable. Narrate relevant anecdotes, real-life examples, or case studies that resonate with your audience. Stories evoke emotions, capture attention, and facilitate better retention of information.
Collaborative activities: Encourage group activities or breakout sessions where participants can collaborate and share ideas with each other. This fosters a sense of community and allows attendees to learn from their peers, enhancing the overall value of the webinar.
Use interactive tools: Leverage interactive tools such as whiteboards, annotation features, or live chat to promote engagement. These tools enable participants to actively participate, ask questions, and provide feedback in real-time.
Time management: Plan and manage your webinar’s timing effectively. Structure your content into digestible segments with breaks in between to prevent information overload. Respect participants’ time by starting and ending the webinar on time.
Follow-up and resources: Provide additional resources, handouts, or links to relevant materials after the webinar. Follow up with participants through email or social media, addressing any unanswered questions or concerns. This post-webinar engagement reinforces the value of the session and encourages future participation.
Remember to continuously seek feedback from your audience to improve the quality of your webinars. Analyze participation metrics, conduct surveys, and engage in post-webinar discussions to gather insights and refine your approach.
Implementing these strategies will not only keep your audience involved and engaged but will contribute to the overall success of your webinar. Eager to learn more, get in touch with our team here.
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Top 5 Reasons To Go With A Pro To Build Out and Optimize Your Website
In today’s digital age, having a well-designed and functional website is crucial for any business or individual looking to establish a strong online presence. While there are various DIY website builders available, hiring a professional web developer or designer can make a world of difference. These are the top five reasons why you should consider hiring a professional (cough, cough, like IOI) to build your website.
- Customized and Unique Design:
One of the main advantages of hiring a professional to build your website is the ability to have a customized and unique design. Professional web designers possess the knowledge and expertise to create visually appealing layouts that align with your brand identity. They can tailor the design to match your specific requirements, ensuring that your website stands out from the competition. With a distinctive design, you can create a memorable user experience that leaves a lasting impression on your visitors. - User Experience Optimization:
User experience (UX) plays a critical role in the success of any website. Professional web developers understand the principles of UX design and can create websites that are intuitive, easy to navigate, and user-friendly. They consider factors such as page load times, mobile responsiveness, and clear call-to-action buttons to enhance the overall experience for your site visitors. By providing a seamless and enjoyable browsing experience, you increase the chances of converting visitors into customers or clients. - Technical Expertise and Functionality:
Building a website involves more than just aesthetics. It requires technical expertise and knowledge of various programming languages, frameworks, and content management systems (CMS). Professional web developers possess the necessary skills to ensure that your website functions smoothly and efficiently. They can integrate advanced features and functionalities, such as e-commerce capabilities, database management, secure payment gateways, and interactive elements. A professional’s technical expertise ensures that your website is not only visually appealing but also fully functional. - Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
Having a beautiful website is pointless if it doesn’t rank well in search engine results. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a crucial aspect of building a website that drives organic traffic. Professional web developers have a deep understanding of SEO best practices and can optimize your website’s structure, code, and content to improve its visibility in search engines. They can implement proper meta tags, headings, alt tags, and ensure that your website loads quickly. By hiring a professional, you increase the chances of your website being discovered by potential customers or clients. - Time and Cost Efficiency:
While it may seem tempting to save money by building a website yourself or using a DIY website builder, it can quickly become time-consuming and costly. Professionals have the experience and efficiency to create a website more quickly and effectively. They are aware of potential roadblocks and can troubleshoot issues efficiently, saving you time and frustration. Moreover, investing in a professional website from the start can save you money in the long run by avoiding costly redesigns or fixes that may be required with a DIY approach.
Hiring a professional to build your website offers numerous benefits that extend beyond just appearance. From custom design to enhanced user experience, technical expertise, SEO optimization, and time efficiency, professionals bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to ensure that your website is a powerful tool for your business or personal brand. While there are costs associated with professional web development, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial investment. So, when it comes to your online presence, entrust the task to a professional to create a website that leaves a lasting impression and helps you achieve your goals.
IOI Ventures is currently running a website promotion for sports organizations. CLICK HERE for more information.