Black Friday isn’t just for big-box retailers and eCommerce giants. Professional services and small businesses absolutely can (and should!) get involved in BFCM — you just have to get a little creative with what you’re offering and how you promote it. Here’s how: 1. Package your services like products Create limited-time service bundles or discounted packages that feel “Black Friday-worthy.” Examples: Accountants: End-of-year tax check + business health review Photographers: Mini shoot sessions with a BFCM discount Consultants/Coaches: 3-session packages at 20% off Make it time-bound. Make it feel exclusive. Slap a countdown timer on it and boom — instant urgency. 2. Offer Giftable Options Turn your service into a gift someone can give. Gift vouchers for your service “Book now, use later” offers for the holidays or new year Group discounts (e.g. buy a branding session, get a free strategy call for a friend) People love buying experiences, not just things. 3. Run a ‘VIP-Only’ Promotion Instead of going wide, go deep. Offer an exclusive deal to your best clients, email list, or followers. E.g. “We don’t usually do discounts, but here’s 25% off our most popular service for 24 hours — just for our email fam.” It feels personal and builds loyalty. 4. Create Urgency Without Slashing Prices If you don’t want to discount heavily, add value instead: Bonus inclusions (free consultation, template, review session) Extended support Upgrade to premium service for the base price You still ride the BFCM wave, without undercutting your worth. 5. Lean into Social & Email People expect BFCM emails and posts — so don’t sit this one out! Build anticipation: “Coming soon…” Share sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes prep Use countdowns, urgency-based subject lines, and fun social reels This is your chance to remind people you exist and you’re offering something special. 6. Partner with Other Local Business Legends Join forces with complementary businesses to create a BFCM bundle. A beauty therapist + pilates studio “Glow & Flow” package A dog groomer + pet photographer special It increases reach and makes it more exciting for your customers. You don’t need a warehouse of TVs or a Shopify store to join BFCM. You just need a great offer, a smart angle, some creative execution (that’s where we come in!) and a way to get it in front of the right people (also where we come in!). Your service is valuable, BFCM is your excuse to shout about it. Loudly. Let’s start a conversation around what your brand really needs and get strategic together.

Thinking about integrating AI into your marketing mix but worried it’ll suck the soul out of your campaigns? Or maybe you’ve already tried a few tools but the content feels robotic? This blog is for you. Let’s face it: Using only AI for your marketing is like giving someone a chef’s knife and ingredients, then expecting a gourmet meal. You need a balance if you want content that connects, converts, and still feels human. Here’s how the team here at Hey mixes AI tools into our workflow, while keeping our human creativity alive and authentic: Use AI For The Grunt Work, Not The Heart AI is amazing for repetitive or time‑consuming tasks: automation, first drafts, research, or data crunching. But it can’t feel the brand vibe or write with empathy. We let AI do the heavy lifting so we can focus on the storytelling, strategy, and nuance that machines just can’t nail. Start With A Human-Led Creative Brief Every project begins with a human vision. We outline objectives, time frames, tone of voice, audience, and key messaging before AI enters the picture. AI can then generate variations, suggest angles, or draft copy for us to tweak - but it’s never the one deciding the strategy or putting together the finished product. Make Collaboration Tangible We use tools like ChatGPT for copy inspiration, Meta for Ad headlines & CTA options, and Canva’s AI features for basic enhancements our Graphic Designers could do with their eyes shut. But every output gets a human review and final magic touch - sometimes it’s a word change, or sometimes retouching a design manually. Keep Your Voice Authentic AI can mimic tone, but it can’t truly understand culture, context, or inside jokes. We preserve authenticity by adding human stories, examples, facts & brand personality after AI drafts the content. A blog, social post, or email can only convert best when the human touch is visible. Experiment, Measure, Adjust Some AI-generated ideas work brilliantly, some flop. Track performance like you would with human-created content. Test subject lines, captions, visuals, or post formats and iterate based on results. AI speeds up the testing process but humans still make the strategic calls. Encourage Creativity, Not Complacency The danger is relying too much on AI and letting creativity stagnate. The magic in our strategy or brainstorming sessions still comes from bouncing ideas off of one another. Our team shares ideas, inspirations & variations on our previous success stories that AI could never come up with. Then we can loop AI in to expand or refine further, and choose whether to take that further towards the finish line or not. Takeaway? AI & Human Creativity Are Best Friends, Not Rivals The sweet spot is clear: use AI to remove friction, free up time, and explore possibilities - but keep humans at the core. That’s how marketing feels authentic, sparks connection, and keeps campaigns interesting. Balance is everything, and the right mix of tools can make your team as efficient as possible, freeing up more time to do what they do best. Need a strategy & some training? We’ve got you! Let’s start a conversation around what your brand really needs and get strategic together.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) can be a goldmine… or a total flop…. Depending on how you play your cards. And while everyone’s focused on what to do, we’re flipping the script and diving into what not to do during the biggest sales weekend of the year. 1. Don't wait until last minute Your audience is already being bombarded with deals. If your emails and social posts are rushed or poorly timed, you’ll be lost in the noise. Plan early, schedule smart, and don’t wing it. The earlier you plan, the more room you have to test, tweak, and refine your campaigns before the big weekend. It also means you can avoid the stress of scrambling when things inevitably go wrong. A little organisation now saves you a whole lot of chaos later. 2. Avoid generic messaging “Big Sale! Don’t Miss Out!” 👀 Yawn. If your emails and captions sound like everyone else’s, they’ll be ignored like everyone else’s. Be specific, highlight value, and keep it on-brand. Your copy should sound like you, not a clearance bin. Think about what makes your brand irresistible and weave that into every message. Maybe it’s your playful personality, maybe it’s your quality guarantee, or maybe it’s your sense of community. Your unique angle is your secret weapon - use it to cut through the noise and speak directly to your audience. 3. Don't forget your mobile audience Over 60% of people shop on mobile during BFCM , if your email or landing page isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re basically asking them to bounce. That means buttons need to be thumb-friendly, text needs to be readable without zooming, and checkout flows should feel smooth. If your site takes forever to load or makes people pinch and swipe just to buy, you’ve already lost them. Be sure to test everything. 4. Don't spam your audience Yes, it’s a big sales moment, but more emails ≠ more sales. Be strategic with your send times, segment your lists, and respect the inbox. Same goes for social, don’t post for the sake of it. Instead, think quality over quantity. Craft messages that feel tailored and intentional, not like a bullhorn blasting the same message to everyone. A well-timed, relevant email is far more powerful than five forgettable ones. Respect earns attention, and attention turns into conversions. 5. Avoid unclear offers If your discount requires a math degree to figure out, it’s too complicated. Keep your offers clean, clear, and upfront. Bonus points if the deal feels too good to ignore. Clarity also builds trust. If shoppers feel like they’re jumping through hoops just to unlock a deal, they’ll head elsewhere. Remember KISS (keep it simple…. Silly!) 6. Don't go dark after the sale Engagement doesn’t end at checkout. Keep the momentum going with thank-you emails, review requests, or post-sale offers. Social media? Show off your community, share behind-the-scenes content, and ride that BFCM wave. Post-purchase communication is your best chance to turn one-time shoppers into loyal fans. Show gratitude, keep delivering value, and remind customers why they chose you in the first place. Final 2 cents... BFCM is about more than just blasting out deals, it’s about creating smart, intentional touchpoints that feel human and helpful. So skip the spray-and-pray, avoid the inbox assault, and keep it real. Need help cleaning up your strategy before the madness starts? Let’s talk!

Considering starting a Facebook group that aligns with your brand? Orrrr already got one that’s kind of flopping? This blog is for you. Let’s face it: slapping together a Facebook group and hoping people chat is like planting a tree and waiting for it to grow… in a box… indoors.

In Part 1, we covered why personal branding matters on LinkedIn and how to get your profile in tip top shape. Now, let’s talk content and how to actually show up in a way that builds trust, grows visibility and works with the algorithm (not against it).

LinkedIn has evolved far beyond an online resume platform. It’s the go-to platform for professional thought leadership, and it’s where 80% of B2B social media leads are born. Why? Because people come ready to consume professional content.

Whether you’re a fresh start‑up or a seasoned brand, aligning your marketing budget with strategy is like giving your business a high‑octane fuel injection or a strong triple-shot coffee! Here are three actionable and simple tips for setting your marketing budget up for success.

Let’s face it: your brand voice is your secret weapon. In a sea of sameness, it’s the thing people remember. Nail it, and you’ll build trust, drive recognition, and cut through the noise. Here’s how to do it—no fluff, just focused strategy. 

Let’s face the music, marketing can feel a little like throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks. But in 2025, it’s not enough to just do marketing. You need to know what’s working, what’s not, and where to double down. Stop scatter gunning and spreading your budget so wide and thin…. That’s where metrics come in. No, they’re not the sexiest part of the job, but they’re the secret sauce behind smart, strategic marketing decisions. Here are the key marketing metrics you actually need to track in 2025. No fluff, no filler. 1. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) Let’s start with the big one. CAC tells you how much it costs to get a new customer through the door. And with ad costs on the rise (againnn ), you need to know if your marketing dollars are working hard or hardly working. Formula: Total Marketing & Sales Costs ÷ Number of New Customers If your CAC is creeping up, it might be time to reassess your strategy or look at how well you’re retaining the customers you already have. 2. Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) It’s not just about getting customers, it’s about keeping them. CLV estimates how much revenue a customer will bring in over their lifetime. A healthy CLV shows you’re building real relationships, not just one-and-done transactions. Pro tip: You want your CLV to be at least 3x your CAC. If it’s not, there’s work to be done! 3. Return on Marketing Investment (ROMI) This one’s your bottom line. ROMI tells you whether your campaigns are actually generating profit, or just noise. Formula: (Revenue Attributed to Marketing – Marketing Spend) ÷ Marketing Spend The goal? A positive number that justifies your budget (and helps you fight for more next quarter). 4. Conversion Rates (CR) You can drive all the traffic in the world, but if no one’s converting, what’s the point? Track your CR across landing pages, email campaigns, ads, and forms. And in 2025, with AI-driven personalisation on the rise, optimising your CR is more important than ever. 5. Engagement Metrics Think likes, shares, saves, comments, time on page, scroll depth, the little signals that your audience is actually paying attention. These numbers won’t pay the bills or buy you a coffee, but they’ll tell you if your content is resonating. Whatever resonates… make more of it! The other stuff? Learn from it and move on. Spoiler: vanity metrics still don’t count. But meaningful engagement? That’s gold. 6. Attribution Data In 2025, the buyer journey is messier than ever. People touch multiple platforms, devices, and messages before making a decision. Tracking attribution (first-touch, last-touch, or multi-touch) gives you a clearer picture of what’s driving conversions, so you can invest where it counts. Wrapping It Up Metrics aren’t just numbers, they’re stories. They tell you what’s working, where to pivot, and how to grow with intention. And while the digital landscape will keep evolving, the need for clarity and accountability isn’t going anywhere. So, if you’re still tracking “likes” and calling it a day, 2025 is your year to level up. Let the numbers lead. Your future self will thank you.