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Finding an iconic brand or product name: how does one go about it? You could do as Adolf Dassler of Adidas did and base it on your name. Or you get an app to generate a suitable name like health & wellness brand Hims did. Or do as fruitarian Steve Jobs: he allegedly came up with his brand name after working in an apple orchard.
But if you want a brand name that will guarantee to capture your target audience's mind and heart, you’d better take a more tested approach, for example by engaging the experts at iO. We are ready to listen, dive into your DNA and draw up the right strategy and roadmap for your question.
How do you find the right brand name?
Brands are emotions. Or rather: they appeal to our emotions, not to our ratio. Seeing the Apple logo or hearing someone mention Oatly or Disney triggers a spontaneous emotional response in you: pride, happiness, and trust … . Thanks to the core values and personality traits a brand has appropriated through through-through and consistent communication, we attribute certain (positive) feelings to a name.
That is what your brand name should accomplish. It should reflect the identity of your company, product or service. But more than that: it should have the emotional markers you want your company’s identity to trigger in people. So start your quest for that legendary name with a thorough investigation of your DNA, as our researchers, strategists and copywriters can do for you.
Know who you are. First, we take a close look at your corporate identity. Together, we conduct an audit to determine what values, mission and unique advantages your brand conveys. We formulate an answer to what your right to exist is, and why you are relevant to your market.
Know who your target audience is. Are you a b2b service provider, or do you deliver to the consumer market? Do you appeal to people who want to try out your brand or product, or do you want to win over existing users once and for all? By clearly defining target groups and creating personas per target group (sub)segment, you know exactly who your brand or product name should appeal to.
Define your core values. Together, look at which of your brand attributes you best convey in your name. The name LEGO, for example, is derived from the Danish 'leg godt', meaning 'play well'. With it, founder Ole Kirk Christiansen wanted to convey that LEGO encourages children to use their imagination.
Audit your competition. Knowing who you are is one thing. Knowing who you are in relation to other players in your market really puts you firmly and distinctively in your brand shoes. Thanks to a strong analysis of the competitive landscape and the expectations of your target audience, we determine how your brand personality relates to the DNA of other players. And we also detect potential name conflicts. You really don't want your brand name to resemble your competitor's.
Brainstorm and create with copywriters. Now it's the copywriters' turn. They celebrate their creative reins and come up with a series of name proposals that best translate your chosen brand personality. From those proposals, create a shortlist of contenders.
Select and evaluate. From the first batch of proposals, select the most suitable brand names. We evaluate whether they convey your corporate identity and key brand characteristics. If necessary, our copywriters submit a second batch of names iterating on the ones you’ve . Of course, you can also put your contenders against a practical yardstick. Immediately check the availability of trademarks and domain names, and investigate whether the name is not already copyrighted and whether there are other legal objections. But you can also make other practical considerations. For instance, Jeff Bezos reportedly chose his brand name because it started with the letter ‘A’ and would therefore always appear at the top of alphabetical lists. The fact that the river of the same name is the largest in the world certainly played into his considerations: after all, it was and is Amazon's ambition to be the largest retailer in the world.
Test your brand name through market research
However you arrived at your shortlist, make sure you thoroughly test the proposals you’ve withheld before announcing the new name to the world or developing a logo. Name testing is an essential part of branding. We check how your customers respond to your new name. Through qualitative research and/or quantitative surveys, we test each nominated name for impression, attractiveness, recognition/clarity and how well it can be remembered.
Qualitative research methods. We present the nominated names one by one to focus groups or question respondents in individual interviews: do they perceive the name as positive, can they remember it easily and what associations does it evoke in them? But we also check how easily people can pronounce or spell the name. We also check what meaning or message respondents attribute to the brand name. This way, we discover whether a name matches the brand identity and whether it resonates with the target audience.
Quantitative testing methods. We survey your target audiences via online surveys or questionnaires and present them with several name options. We analyse the results and pour these into statistics. That way, we quantify which name options perform best. We also measure which impressions stick and which associations people spontaneously make. By asking the right questions, this (online) quantitative survey also allows us to find out whether a name might be confused with those of competitors or existing products or services.
Check the emotional value
A brand is first and foremost an emotion: it is what people feel about a product, service or organisation. No matter how rational we think we are and how consciously we think we make decisions, the opposite is true. On average, we make 35,000 decisions a day, 90% of which our brain makes on auto-pilot.
A trusted brand or well-chosen product name allows us to make our buying decisions from our autopilot or intuition in complete safety. That is why it is important to test whether a new brand or product name also resonates subconsciously and emotionally with your target audience.
To that end, we present respondents with a series of positive and negative emotional adjectives such as stimulating, predictable, fresh, subdued, complicated, and sterile ... Next we ask them to use these response words to describe how they experience the brand name under assessment and how (un)appealing they find a name.
By having them indicate the most appropriate and least appropriate adjectives within this list, we build up a series of emotional associations that a concept - in this case, the brand name - evokes in the respondents. We can also apply this emotional value to the visual representation (such as a logo), copy the concept and further style of elaboration in further design phases.
Check cultural connotations
Name tests are crucial to avoid blunders that cost you money as well as damage your brand reputation. Blundering with a brand or product name happens to even the biggest names. When carmaker Chevrolet introduced the Nova to the Latin American market in the 1960s, sales were slow. The reason? In Spanish, 'no va' literally means 'it doesn't drive'. Not exactly an attractive name for a car. Microsoft had also not done its homework properly. In 2010, it released a new smartphone for young people and christened it Kin. The product flopped, partly because of the name: 'Kin' means 'ban' in Hebrew and 'death' in Chinese. Oops!
So test your name proposal with each of your (sub)target groups, especially if they belong to different cultures and nationalities.
Coming up with a brand name that fits your corporate identity requires a thorough understanding of your corporate identity, your key brand attributes, your target audience and the competitive landscape. Want to create a brand name that resonates with your consumers and helps you build brand recognition in the market? Don't hesitate to contact us. Our experts are at your service.
![Elke Hubens copywriter iO](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fa.storyblok.com%2Ff%2F119964%2F1333x2000%2F049769abf4%2Felke-hubens-groen-2023.jpg%2Fm%2F640x640%2Fsmart&w=1920&q=75)
Elke Hubens
copywriter iOSenior copywriter with the iO content experts team, Elke Hubens is well-versed in most writing genres. With her creative, commercial, and journalistic pen, and her strategic insight, she connects the story of your target audience with that of your brand. Thus, she’ll help you make a difference with your customers.
![David Dockx](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fa.storyblok.com%2Ff%2F119964%2F1333x2000%2F952ce0fe6e%2Fdavid-dockx.jpg%2Fm%2F640x640%2Fsmart&w=1920&q=75)
David Dockx
UX strategist / service designer iOAs a researcher and strategist David helps organisations create meaningful digital experiences. He develops and validates services and products, focusing on the added value they bring to the target audience.
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Humans are not as rational as we think. To protect our brain from structural overload, we make a large part of our daily decisions 'on autopilot'. And by a large part I mean: more than 95%. Believe me, no matter how blue (DISC personality type) you are, this applies to everyone.Read moreBlog
Webcare: put your company in a good light with Random Acts of Kindness
Social media is the virtual landscape where people go to share, ask questions, and complain. Webcare offers companies the possibility to monitor online messages and provide service where necessary. But how can you give someone a pleasant surprise someone using webcare? And build positivity towards your brand at the same time? The answer: Random Acts of Kindness.Read moreBlog
DUO’s tick box: how the government uses behavioural principles
The government uses insights from behavioural science to guide its communication with citizens. This sometimes involves trial and error. DUO's 'tick box' is a well-known example. But first, let’s start with a bit of theory: the 'paradox of choice' briefly implies that we like choice, but don't like to choose. (Viewing tip: watch this TEDTalk by psychologist Barry Schwartz who coined this term). The more choices our brain has to process, the harder it becomes to choose. Sometimes it even leads to us making no choice at all. Anyone who has ever stood in front of the dessert shelf in a French Hypermarché can relate to this. There is even a scientific term for this phenomenon: choice paralysis.Read moreBlog
7 essential insights to help you determine your marketing budget for 2024
In the ever-changing world of marketing, it can be challenging for CMOs to determine the correct marketing budget. The economic landscape and technological advances in the marketing industry calls for a new approach to budgeting. In this article, Glenn Weuts - Head of Marketing Technology at iO, shares seven marketing budget insights, with recommendations for how to determine your budget for 2024.Read moreBlog
Content repurposing: get more out of your content
Content that performs well and generates lots of leads — every marketer's dream. But creating that kind of content is not easy. Not everything you put out is hit. And it doesn't have to be. As long as you know how to optimally use and reuse your best content. By relying on content repurposing, for instance.Read moreBlog
How do you add a podcast to your media mix?
Is a podcast one of the content assets in your campaign? It's easy. Exploit the podcast’s special qualities: a chance to go deeper.Read moreBlog
2024: the next step for analytics and tracking in a 'privacy first' world
You may not have noticed, but a lot has changed in terms of analytics and tracking over the past five years. This is partly because we've already grown accustomed to many changes, and partly because their impact has come very gradually. Half a decade ago, no one knew of the existence of a cookie banner, a year later everyone thought they could never get used to it, and today we don't know any better. We've made serious strides in terms of data regulation, and perhaps the biggest steps are yet to come in 2024.Read moreBlog
2023: a year in an era of change
Does the name Leonhard Huizinga still ring a bell for anyone? Once a popular Dutch writer, now forgotten. He made his debut in 1936 with the book 'De Gestroomlijnde Wereld'. Already a wanderer at a young age, Huizinga's book opened an unknown world to many readers. An exotic world, which seemed to be getting smaller and smaller, because it was more accessible by car, train, boat, and airplane. Faster, more comfortable and with more and more streamlining — quite literally. Curious, boundless, full of wonder. Not realising, as early as 1936, that over that same world lay the shadows of tomorrow.Read moreBlog
E-inclusion: how to leave no one behind digitally
There is a digital divide between the personas we use in marketing and the population. In Belgium, this gap is large: almost 50% of the population are considered to be digitally vulnerable. How do you deal with this as an organisation? And how do you ensure that your products and services do not exclude anyone digitally? This blog contains nine practical tips to help you on your way to digital inclusion.Read moreBlog
Your (company) podcast in the charts? Read on.
You’ve made a cool podcast, but it is completely overshadowed by podcasts made by the big media companies. How do you avoid your branded podcast online dying a slow death, ignored in its own lonely corner of the internet?Read moreBlog
The six digital and marketing trends for 2024
The rise of AI, shifts in the social media landscape, and the end of third-party data...2023 was, to say the least, a tumultuous year. But this year, marketers and their organizations are also facing significant challenges. Discover the six digital and marketing trends that will dominate 2024 and, most importantly, how you can successfully tackle them.Read moreBlog
Here’s how to write better with AI
As a writer, should you embrace or fear generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini? The former for sure, the latter perhaps too. In any case, they make you an offer you can't refuse. So, hoist these rambunctious AI sailors on board and put them to work, but above all remain the captain of your ship.Read moreBlog
Discover conversational AI search
Conversational search in the form of an AI chatbot lets your website visitors interact with your content, resulting in a better customer experience.Read moreDossier
Dossier: B2B - Turning B2B challenges into solutions
Read moreDossier
Dossier: Ready to pop on social media?
Read moreDossier
Dossier: The Opportunity Report
Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Steven Van Belleghem (iO)
Steven Van Belleghem (partner iO) talks about the three main advantages he sees in technology and digital transformation: faster than real-time service, hyper-personalisation, and the ultimate convenience.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Wies De Graeve (Amnesty International)
Amnesty International shines a light on issues that would otherwise remain in darkness. According to Wies De Graeve (Director Amnesty International) creativity is essential for this. It helps people see that there are solutions to the world's problems —and how they can help.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Dorien Gevers (Carglass)
The Carglass website is a crucial platform, but other channels — digital and non-digital — are also very important in the omnichannel approach. Giving a personalised experience to every customer, with content tailored to their stage in the customer journey. Dorien Gevers (Email marketer at Carglass) explains every stage.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Leslie Cottenje (CEO Hello Customer)
The decision to digitise has to start from the customer, not from an internal, business perspective. That's what Leslie Cottenje, CEO of Hello Customer thinks. Technology can help improve customer satisfaction, but the human factor has to be central. She tells you all about her vision in this video.Read moreVideo
Steven Van Belleghem: The cost of poor 'Customer Experience' is frequently underestimated.
Companies are unaware of the enormous the cost of bad customer experiences. Out-of-pocket costs such as customer service are being pushed up, at a time when it’s becoming more difficult and expensive to find new customers.And this is happening while the brand credibility is declining and there is erosion in terms of new business development. In the video below, Steven Van Belleghem calls for more investment in customer focus, as a driver for a successful 2024.Read moreVideo
Do you take social media seriously?
Social media as a marketing tool is often overlooked, despite their potential, they are frequently underutilised. Nevertheless, a strong social strategy and a brand-oriented focus are the keys to success on social media platforms.Read moreVideo
AI - The future is not what it used to be
Do you remember when ... the invention of the computer caused a seismic shift in the job market? People unwilling to work with computers were quickly replaced by people who were; and today everyone carries a laptop. Today the same thing is happening with AI. In this webinar, Rodger Werkhoven will share his passion for Artificial Intelligence and introduce you to OpenAI as a love brand.Read moreVideo
The Canon of Flanders: from Van Eyck’s brothers' Ghent Altarpiece to Rock Werchter.
From Van Eyck’s brothers' Ghent Altarpiece to Rock Werchter: the Canon of Flanders is finally here. The much-discussed list resulted in a bulky book of more than 300 pages and includes an overview of the Flemish language, culture, and history from the end of the last ice age to today. But there is also an online version: www.canonvanvlaanderen.be . iO developed this on behalf of the Commission Canon of Flanders, which received a mandate from the Flemish Government, Department of Education & Training.Read moreVideo
Primagaz & iO: a shared journey of growth and success
Discover the fruitful collaboration between Primagaz and iO in this 'Walk and Talk' video. In this video, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the collaborative dynamics between Primagaz and iO. We discuss how we dealt with challenges, how we exploited opportunities and what strategies we developed. We'll take you through our shared journey of growth and success, where trust and a commitment to excellence are central. This Walk and Talk is more than just a conversation - it is a celebration of a collaboration that has stood the test of time. It is a story of mutual growth, of learning and evolving, and of creating value for both organizations.Read moreVideo
Building brands; yes you can!
Social media extends way beyond performance and direct conversion. It's about building brands, building relationships with the target group and strategically distributing content on relevant platforms. Success requires belief in the power of social media and investment in knowledge building and daring to experiment.Read moreVideo
Who decides if your content has value?
It is sometimes difficult to estimate which content is valuable and which is not because of the influence of subjectivity and different opinions in your marketing team. Fortunately, that responsibility lies entirely with the consumer. All you have to do is create a lot of content that is in line with your organisation’s values.Read moreVideo
Who sees which content? The algorithm decides.
Less is more? Not when it comes to social media content. You need a lot of contact moments to get on the radar and stay there. Then the algorithm decides who sees which content.Read moreVideo
Banish content burnout
Sometimes content marketers suffer from a content burnout: they don't know what to post or how to come up with creative content. The drip model offers a solution: take a look at the 'low-hanging fruit' within your organisation, sector and above all: your target group environment. With social posts that you write from the perspective of your target group, you always deliver engaging content.Read moreVideo
Is Facebook passé? No way!
Many young people are on Snapchat and TikTok today. In spite of that, Facebook, with 70% active users, remains the largest social network in Flanders. Do you want to reach your audience? Then consider using Reels. Facebook can also deliver strong results for B2B marketing, especially in combination with LinkedIn.Read moreVideo
Does your brand have to be on TikTok?
TikTok offers unprecedented potential for organic reach, but also brings challenges: privacy issues, diverse content and users; and a powerful algorithm. Post multiple times a day and focus on native content instead of your own campaign materials.Read moreVideo
Which formats work on social media?
Since TikTok boosted vertical videos, they have dominated all platforms. Using reels strengthens the bond with your video first users and gives you more organic reach and improves your marketing results.Read moreVideo
Conversation management: truth, courage and action
Conversation management is a shift from webcare to webdare. Where in the past, brands mainly responded to negative experiences and complaints on their own channels, now you join conversations with your consumers on your own and other channels. This increases your visibility and positions you in the market.Read moreVideo
Social media marketing: tried and tested by Dewaele
Content strategist Sam talks to Vanessa Loose, marketing manager at Dewaele. For Belgium's largest independent estate agent, social media are incredibly important. With a healthy mix of trends and evergreen topics, they always stay on the radar as a life partner in living and business through social media.Read moreCase
How can you give a B2B brand the necessary boost to its brand image?
Debic-FrieslandCampina and iO, positioning a love brand through branding campaigns and storytellingLook at this client storyCase
How do you boost sales across diverse target audiences as a market leader in internal transport?
Find out more about how iO and Toyota Material Handling Belgium boosted online sales of compact warehouse trucks and improved the quality of lead generation.Look at this client storyCase
How do you build a global B2B platform tailored to foodservice professionals?
How to build a multi-site, multi-language, global B2B platform for lead generation and online branding - iOLook at this client storyCase
How a down-to-earth audit paves the way to the ideal digital tools?
With an efficient platform audit, our experts helped Ebema make the most appropriate choices.Look at this client storyCase
How can you turn a government instance into one of the country’s star employers?
The experts at iO made UWV an attractive employer thanks to this multi-channel employer branding campaign.Look at this client storyCase
How do you digitise 133.000 years of history?
In 60 historical windows, the Canon van Vlaanderen depicts Flemish culture - and we provided the interactive website.Look at this client storyCase
How do you make port jobs more appealing?
For Port of Antwerp-Bruges, we brought a brand-new job platform to the market with a creative, multimedia campaign. Read more.Look at this client storyCase
How does a smart vehicle configurator help for higher order value?
iO developed a website and UX-driven configurator for and with Suzuki Belgium. Read all about it in this case.Look at this client storyCase
Realising growth through marketing
How iO convinces travelers to choose Brussels Airport for their next trip. Discover the marketing campaigns.Look at this client storyCase
Transforming the passenger experience through innovation & service design
New technology, internet-of-things and proof-of-concepts. Find out how iO is introducing innovation at Brussels Airport.Look at this client storyCase
How we put Brussels Airport on the map with influencer marketing
iO takes Brussels Airport to new heights with influencer marketing. Read how we did it.Look at this client storyCase
How do you double your mobile conversion within 4 years?
What it takes to make booking as easy as possible for you? Discover the power of a strong management vision, a streamlined work process, and long-term, open, and transparent collaboration between Landal GreenParks and iO.Look at this client storyCase
How do you accelerate getting innovative lighting into the living rooms of 47 countries?
iO experts built a brand new D2C website with an advanced Adobe Experience Manager e-commerce platform for lighting specialists Signify. The result: happy users and satisfied teams. Read the full case here.Look at this client storyWhat we do
Understand your audience with market and consumer research
If you know your consumer, you can answer to their needs better. iO helps you with in-depth insights from market and consumer research.Read moreWhat we do
Research and audits, vital to strong organisations
Is your strategy based on a gut feeling or research and analysis? Our experts will lead the way.Read moreWhat we do
Nurture relationships with a strong CRM and loyalty strategy
Keep it personal with the proper tools. iO will help you build a strong CRM and loyalty strategy.Read moreWhat we do
A content strategy that fits your customer journey
From creation to curation, launch and analysis – your content processes always rely on a strong content strategy created by digital experts.Read moreWhat we do
A marketing strategy that works
With a strong marketing strategy, you will reach your business goals. Our experts are happy to guide you along the way.Read moreWhat we do
Convince customers and employees with your value proposition
Discover how organizations with a clear employee and customer value proposition (EVP & CVP) stand their ground. Our experts will be happy to help you.Read moreWhat we do
Get better results with a targeted communication strategy
Build a strong strategy for your business communication. iO experts will help you get your message to your target audience.Read moreWhat we do
Media & performance auditing: where is your marketing today?
From content to advertising and tracking tools: with media and performance audits, our experts will show you the next steps to take in the digital world.Read moreWhat we do
Conversational & community management: meeting your customer
Conversational & community management is our way of forging a direct connection between you and your client, through effective targeting and creativity. Find out how we can help you.Read moreWhat we do
Building strong platforms with UX & usability research
Adapt your platform to your users’ needs. Our experts will help you with UX & usability research.Read moreWhat we do
Radio and television ads, custom to your brand
Use radio and television ads to boost your sales and generate brand awareness. Find out how we can help you.Read moreWhat we do
iO is your UX writing partner for happier customers
UX writing removes friction in every step of the customer journey — resulting in satisfied customers.Read moreWhat we do
Hit the right chord with catchy copywriting and web editing
With strong copywriting and thoughtful web editing, you give substance to your brand story. Our experts are happy to help.Read moreWhat we do
Data management & data warehousing: go further with human insights
Bring order in the chaos of big data with data management & data warehousing. The iO experts will help you on your way.Read morePress
iO bolsters ambition with the arrival of Collin Seyger as new CFO
Read morePress
iO and Amnesty International make themselves heard for Write-them-VRIJdag
Read morePress
iO brings the Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ digital twin to life with AI
Read morePress
iO appoints Rachel Vermeulen as Managing Director of Campus Eindhoven
Read morePress
iO and M Leuven bring Flemish Master to life with AI tool
Blended agency iO gives history an extra dimension for visitors to M Leuven thanks to AI-driven web app.Read morePress
iO launches magical end-of-year campaign for Brussels Airport
Read morePress
Manna boosts brand awareness with a wink
Read morePress
iO welcomes Martine Lemans as Managing Director of Consultancy Division in the Netherlands
Read morePress
Lidl Belux selects blended agency iO as digital partner
Read morePress
iO helps companies tap into their innovation potential
Read morePress
NMBS picks iO as innovation partner and service design expert
Read morePress
Strategic boost for iO with two new senior hires
Read morePress
The KNHB and iO launch new adidas Dutch hockey team kits with an inspiring campaign
Read moreWebinar
Modern sales and marketing with HubSpot
The way customers make purchasing decisions is changing fast. Too fast, for many organisations. It's becoming increasingly difficult for entrepreneurs to adapt to this evolution. In this webinar, Steven Van Duyse (Senior Business Strategist at iO) explains how you can transform into a truly sales-focused organisation. By streamlining your sales and marketing teams, you prepare everyone for a new way of selling — in terms of data capture, contacting, and influencing.Read moreWebinar
Webinar: AI - The future is not what it used to be
Do you remember when ... the invention of the computer caused a seismic shift in the job market? People unwilling to work with computers were quickly replaced by people who were; and today everyone carries a laptop. Today the same thing is happening with AI. In this webinar, Rodger Werkhoven will share his passion for Artificial Intelligence and introduce you to OpenAI as a love brand.Read moreWebinar
Get more out of your marketing budget with Marketing Mix Modelling
We’ve all noticed that in the dynamic world of marketing data, traditional attribution models are less and less relevant. Changes in technology and legislation mean that we have to look for alternatives. Modelling of marketing data is playing an increasingly prominent role and is becoming more accessible to organisations. Marketing Mix Modelling offers you unique insights into channels that are increasingly difficult to predict in a cookieless world. Find out all about it in this webinar.Read moreWebinar
INBOUND 23 recap: a customer-centric approach in the age of AI
Curious about the latest developments in customer-oriented strategies, AI, digital transformation, leadership, and storytelling? Our iO colleagues Jolien Struyf and Evelyne Berden travelled to Boston to attend HubSpot's annual INBOUND conference and are sharing their highlights in a bite-sized webinar.Read moreWebinar
Ad Tech: Take your media strategy to the next level
Now that cookies are disappearing, the biggest challenge for everyone in marketing today lies in measuring and analyzing marketing efforts. Companies currently find themselves facing a bit of a dilemma: on one hand, they want a transparent view of the results of their investments, on the other hand, they know that they need to rely more on data to make their advertising more relevant and efficient.Read moreWebinar
Corporate Alt Delete - give your organisation an innovation boost
How do you keep your business dynamics fresh and boost the innovation potential and that pioneering mindset in your organisation? Corporate Alt Delete invites you to take a fresh look at your organisation and jointly rewrite your story. Corporate Alt Delete is a book, a workshop, a mindset, and now also a webinar.Read moreWebinar
What is the impact of AI on SEO?
Watch the webinar now.Read moreWebinar
From branding to brand experience: how to create a coherent brand experience
In today's crowded marketplace, consumers are faced with a multitude of options. It's vital that your brand not only stands out but is also seen as positive and consistent. Additionally, you must be able to adapt seamlessly to market changes, all while maintaining your credibility and authenticity. Are you interested in discovering how to achieve brand experience excellence? Watch the recording now.Read moreEvent
Customer Experience as a driver for growth
While many organisations want to be customer-centric, only a few succeed in building a brand that truly puts customers first. How do you too build a strong brand experience and a customer-centric organisation? How do you surprise, captivate, and bind your customers and make sure they are satisfied to choose you time after time? Get inspired on 30 September during ‘Customer Experience as a driver for growth’. Among other things, we will treat you to an indispensable keynote by CX expert and iO partner Steven Van Belleghem.Read moreEvent
Content Marketing & Web Editing Congress - People for content, content for people
Will everything soon be done by AI? And how will we still speak to each other's hearts? Spoiler: the human touch remains crucial. That's why this year's Content Marketing & Web Editing Congress revolves around humans. Thursday, November 14, 2024, we will gather more than 300 content professionals from all kinds of industries and organizations around the theme: people for content, content for people. Are you also interested in creating - with the help of AI – high quality content with and for people? Don’t miss out, get your ticket today. Get your ticket nowRead moreWebinar
Webinar | Will your organization be ready on 28th June 2025 for the EU's Digital Accessibility Law?
Will your organization be ready on 28th June 2025 for the EU's Digital Accessibility Law? Today, for your organization or business to thrive, a digital presence is essential. However, this online presence also brings about a growing need for digital accessibility. Moreover, the EU expects your organization to be digitally accessible by mid-2025. Discover why this is important and how to approach it during our webinar on 22nd August.Read moreWebinar
Webinar: discover how digitally mature your business really is (and what steps to take next)
As a CEO, managing director or marketing manager, you’re steering your ship towards the digital future. But here’s the challenge: how do you ensure you’re on the right course? Which aspects are thriving, and which ones need a boost? Register for our webinar and discover exactly how your company can move towards complete digital maturity.Read moreEvent
Content talks: 3 onmisbare contenttrends
Content is de brug tussen je bedrijf en je (toekomstige) klanten en ambassadeurs. Het is essentieel én... het is continu in verandering. De rol van contentmakers verandert door AI. Snackable video’s zijn here to stay, of toch niet? SEO verandert... Hoe blijf je bij? Wij maken het je makkelijk. Op 26 september brengen we je in één middag op de hoogte van de laatste trends en bieden we bovendien een één-op-één-sessie aan met onze contentexperts.Read moreWhitepaper
Event-triggered multichannel marketing
Event-triggered marketing, the process of identifying, prioritising, categorising, monitoring, optimising and executing, is the most effective exercise multichannel marketers can do to reach audiences at the right moment. In this whitepaper we take you through five quintessential steps for event-triggered multichannel marketing.Read moreWhitepaper
Get started with marketing automation
Marketing automation is an efficient way to identify anonymous online visitors and convert them into qualified leads. It automates repetitive marketing tasks, allowing you to focus on what’s important. In this white paper, we’ll guide you through the basics of this marketing tool.Read moreWhitepaper
5 easy steps towards improved webshop conversion
Conversion optimisation is a must-have, today more than ever - especially since the global wave of digitalisation following the COVID-19 pandemic took place. The same can be said of the (international) web shop competition, still increasing to this day. As a result, each (new) visitor has become a lot more valuable. This whitepaper shows you how to set up CRO in a data-driven, well-founded way - using the CRO cycle.Read moreWhitepaper
Get more out of your marketing budget
By using dashboards efficiently and automating your data analysis, better results are within your reach.Read moreWhitepaper
5 common challenges in life sciences marketing
Given its vast expertise in the digital sphere of the broader life sciences industry, iO has identified 5 critical - but all too common - pitfalls that prevent your company from using digital marketing as a true business accelerator.Read moreWhitepaper
All about inbound marketing with HubSpot
Which types of marketing are sure to serve your organisation well, instead of only making things harder? If you are consciously aiming for quality B2B leads, then inbound marketing makes up the proper course. In fact, this goes for digital marketing in general: approximately 90% of all B2B research is conducted via digital, online sources.Read moreWhitepaper
The e-commerce kick-start guide
The evolution in the e-commerce world moves at an incredible speed. That’s why the e-commerce issue becomes more and more complex, with new technologies, products and strategies to deploy. And companies have no choice but to try to keep up with this rapid evolution.Read moreWhitepaper
Sell & advertise on bol.com
Most of us have probably already ordered a product or two at bol.com. But the platform also offers merchants interesting opportunities to sell and advertise products, in Belgium and the Netherlands. In this white paper we will tell you more about the possibilities of the platform.Read moreWhitepaper
E-detailing in the life sciences
In this crowded and competitive environment amidst reduced budgets, pharmaceutical and life sciences companies must resort to new strategies to significantly improve the efficiency of their direct-to-physician marketing initiatives. As such, e-detailing came fully into effect.Read moreWhitepaper
Why you should use video and visual storytelling in your content approach
Visual storytelling and video hit the right notes with your target audience – using words, images, and sounds. With an approach of 'less selling, more telling' you transcend the product level and tell your audience a story. This makes visual storytelling an intuitive and attractive format to create authentic bonds with your customers, employees, or prospects.Read moreWhitepaper
A user-friendly self-service portal in 5 steps
Does your organisation spend a lot of time providing customers with support and service? Think about scheduling appointments, contract management, or changing customer data — exactly the kind of things you can digitalise in a self-service portal. Only, how do you go about it?Read moreWhitepaper
Why email marketing still works
Whether you’re a small business or a large multinational, it’s worth considering email marketing.Read moreWhitepaper
Digital tools: challenges and opportunities for insurers
Naturally, we consider digital to be the future. Do insurance buyers in Belgium and the Netherlands see it that way as well? Together with market research agency BUFFL we asked 1.500 insurance policyholders about their views on digitalisation in the world of insurance. The conclusion? A remarkable one, to say the least. Prepare to read all about in our exclusive 18-page industry paper, including interesting bits of context, nuance, and thorough explanations.Read moreWhitepaper
Digitalisation - the key to unlock B2B business growth
The digital revolution has profoundly changed the B2C market, and B2B soon followed. None of it happened overnight, by the way. In fact, the trend was initially slow to take off in the B2B sector. Today, digitalisation reached essential status in B2B for anyone wishing to stay ahead of the competition. Its secret? An omnichannel approach, the new standard for B2B sales.Today, B2B customers expect the same standards as B2C customers do in terms of access and service from self-service platforms and digital portals. They expect to find the right products, services or ecosystems across all stages of the customer journey. How do you manage B2C expectations in a B2B context?Read moreWhitepaper
The Opportunity Report: take advantage of the latest developments in strategy, marketing and technology
How do organisations stay ahead of the pack in a constantly evolving world? With a collection of expert insights in a single guide, to make the most out of new market trends, emerging technologies and upgraded industry standards. This Opportunity Report is created and curated by professionals across marketing, strategy, content, and technology, using their common vision on what will shape the world, the market or their field of expertise.Read moreWhitepaper
Get the most out of your social media marketing
Many companies use social media to reach their target audience. Too few companies use social media to engage their target audience. A shame really. Because engaging content is the key to success on social media.Read moreWhitepaper
Your channel mix only has value if you manage it effectively
To make your online business run smoothly, there are several aspects you can focus on. One of them is your channel mix. But how do you know if your mix is the right one? And do you stick to your initial choices or is it better to adjust your mix regularly? Channel management provides answers to these questions. Channel management involves monitoring and adjusting the entire channel mix of your business or client based on predetermined goals. You work on all aspects that ensure better results, at every stage of the funnel.Read moreWhitepaper
Sales, leads, goals: your guide to Performance Marketing
Performance marketing is a branch of marketing where you focus on results. Which results? How can you measure it and - more importantly - how do you achieve it? This is different for every organisation, but the potential of performance marketing to deliver results? That’s universal. The efficient combination of leads, sales and targets is crucial.Read moreWhitepaper
How to build an effective content marketing strategy
Producing content is a tactic everyone seems to rely on these days. Many organisations are creating content today — they have blogs, are active on social media, and might even publish their own magazine. But the underlying, supporting strategy? Something you rarely come across.Read moreWhitepaper
Digitise your trade union services for your sector
Trade unions play a crucial role when new technologies and trends emerge. But how do you ensure that your trade union keeps up with the expectations of your demanding customers, members, and users.Read moreWhitepaper
Successful digital transformation: 5 pitfalls you should avoid
Globally, only 30 percent of companies successfully implement digital transformation. This is because digital transformation touches every aspect of a business: from people and processes to infrastructure and customer relationships. The key to a successful transformation is to pay attention to all these aspects - but that doesn't always happen. In this white paper, we take you through five common pitfalls in digital transformation and give advice on how to avoid them.Read moreWhitepaper
Score on socials with the Social Benchmark Report 2023
When setting goals for social content campaigns, it's crucial to ensure they are achievable and have a tangible foundation. The iO Social Benchmark Report provides you with valuable insights into the world of social content performance, so that you can make data-driven choices to optimise your social content strategy.Read moreWhitepaper
6 best practices for successful business innovation
How will your organisation challenge the status quo? What role do you hold in a market where the lines between different domains are becoming less distinct? How are you going to shape a future-proof business model that ensures that you are still relevant the day after tomorrow? The challenges of innovation aren't so much centered around refining your existing business model, but about responding smartly to a dynamic market where the rules are constantly changing. Therefore, innovation within your company remains essential: it enables you to tap into new markets, address new target groups and develop new propositions. Unfortunately, not every form of innovation actually leads to improvement. Our white paper shares 6 best practices for successful business innovation so that innovation does not remain a buzzword but delivers tangible results.Read moreWhitepaper
The key insights from Corporate Klooien – Back to Tomorrow
If you were to start all over again tomorrow, would you end up where you are today? In the 2023 edition of Corporate Klooien, we worked with professionals from influential organisations to explore their ideal future scenarios. We examined how they can deliver value and determine the right priorities in their specific situations. We did this using our own Corporate Alt Delete method.Read moreWhitepaper
Corporate Alt Delete – Rewrite your organisation’s founding story
Corporate Alt Delete is a book that bridges the gap between two worlds within an organisation: Team Horizon, thinking in opportunities, and Team Business, focused on current results and business value. This book invites you to breathe new life into the old founding story of the organisation, enriching it with today's market knowledge and business capabilities. Why read Corporate Alt Delete?Read moreWhitepaper
Whitepaper: How to unburden your business with ‘first time right’ marketing execution
Ideally, as a (Digital) Marketing Manager, you focus on developing and executing your strategy to achieve your organisation's goals. But what if your strategic focus is constantly disrupted by operational issues?Read moreWhitepaper
Whitepaper: Creating exceptional customer journeys with a Digital Experience Platform
In markets that are saturated with options and with customers that are overloaded with choices, it's an exceptional customer experience set will set you apart. A Digital Experience Platform can help you accomplish this - and we'll tell you how.Read moreWhitepaper
5 insights from leaders in public communication
Effective communication between government and citizens is crucial in these rapidly-changing times. This whitepaper reveals five essential insights from some leading public communication professionals. Get inspired by these top leaders in the field and learn how to use branding techniques to powerfully communicate your story as a public organisation. After reading this whitepaper, you will knowRead moreBlog
How can you maximise the impact of SEO in your marketing strategy in 2024?
As we navigate through 2024, the seismic shifts in search engine algorithms and user preferences demand that marketers adapt swiftly. The emergence of new search engines alongside Google's evolving algorithms highlights the urgent need for a robust, adaptable SEO strategy. In this rapidly changing digital landscape, integrating SEO holistically into your marketing efforts from the outset isn't just beneficial; it's imperative for staying competitive and visible.Read moreBlog
Time to add TikTok to your marketing strategy?
When it comes to the history of platforms, none have become as popular as quickly as TikTok. What started as a dance app for teens is now a global phenomenon with an undeniable cultural impact. TikTok has revived the concept of brand love — but is TikTok a safe bet for organisations? And how does TikTok fit into a marketing strategy in 2023?Read moreBlog
Anchor your brand in your target group's culture with social media
The added value of social media is sometimes difficult for marketers to determine, apart from the results it has to offer the sales team. As a result, some tend to consider a 'must do', while it actually offers a wonderful way to gain a place in people's lives. The key is to identify your brand with the culture of your target audience, and for that, social works best. However, this requires a certain amount of courage from your brand.Read moreBlog
HubSpot announces new Sales Hub and CRM features at INBOUND 23
Elevate your sales journey and maximise data efficiency with HubSpot's Sales Hub 2.0 and Smart CRM.Read moreBlog
Opinion article: Will our marketing plans ever be free of the 'gamble'?
Summer is slowly changing into autumn, the annual cue for the opening of the "budget season." Time to fire up the roulette wheel; redistribute marketing investments on gut feel, driven by the resources provided by management. Or are you doing it differently this year?Read moreBlog
Digital transformation: 5 statements that point to potential problems
Digital transformation touches every aspect of a business: people, processes, infrastructure, and customer relationships. Most problems that arise during a transformation process often have their origins in one or more of these aspects. How can you be alert to this?Read moreBlog
Discover TikTok’s innovative advertising opportunities
iO's social advertising team visited TikTok HQ for the first Benelux agency workshop. TikTok is Gen-Z's search engine, and an exciting platform that’s constantly developing new features. We’ll be highlighting the most interesting insights and opportunities we learned from TikTok in this article.Read moreBlog
'Get a taste of AI' #2: Generative AI in practice - How to create business value from day 1
When you understand AI’s full potential you can use it purposefully. But how do you translate the versatile possibilities of AI into the specific context of your everyday business operations?Read moreBlog
How do you guarantee that innovation is successful in your organisation?
Exploring new markets, creating new revenue models, developing new products and solutions: there is consensus in most companies about the need for innovation. But guaranteeing the success of your innovation interventions is not a straightforward process. In this article we share 5 tips that you can use to increase the chances of your innovation process being successful.Read moreBlog
How to choose an appropriate data analytics platform?
A data analytics platform extracts data from websites and apps and processes it into actionable insights for your business operations. At the beginning of 2023, Google Analytics still had a market share of over 85% in our region and the choice was often an easy one. However, after a series of complaints and questions about its compatibility with GDPR legislation, Google Analytics is balancing on the edge of legality. Consequently, the following question arises: what should you pay attention to when choosing another data analysis platform?Read moreBlog
5 reasons your branded podcast won’t succeed
Two microphones, a recording device, a little jingle to top it off. Your branded podcast is ready to go viral, right? Not quite. Let’s discuss several pitfalls that come with creating a branded podcast, along with tips on how to avoid them.Read moreBlog
Get the latest updates from iO through our WhatsApp Channel
Yay! There's a new way to get bite-sized content and insights from iO. In the fall of 2023, Meta launched WhatsApp Channels in more than 150 countries - including ours.Read moreBlog
15 Reading, listening, and viewing tips for the holiday season (and Beyond)
The end of December is list time. My colleagues at iO invited me to fill the last square of 24till24 with an inspiring list. December 24 is the last day of work before the Christmas holidays for many. That magical time of the year when the professional merry-go-round comes to a complete standstill. It isn’t just the time for family celebrations, it’s also the perfect moment to curl up on the sofa with a good book, a podcast, or a film. So, get into my personal list of the very best viewing, reading, and listening tips. Slide into the holiday season and keep the boredom at bay. Enjoy!Read moreBlog
How Camp Amersfoort National Monument attracted 30% more visitors with a podcast campaign
With the podcast campaign The Missing SS Commander, iO and National Monument Camp Amersfoort succeeded in creating the branded podcast of 2023. Staggering download figures, rave reviews from listeners, an important contribution to Dutch war history and a 30% increase in visitors. Here are the important lessons we learned making the most celebrated Dutch branded podcast of 2023 in a long read.Read moreBlog
3 trends in content marketing for 2024
Users are becoming increasingly mobile: they're freely moving from channel to channel, looking for the content they want to consume. So keeping an eye on trends and taking full advantage of them is more important than ever. After all, trends offer a perfect opportunity to be creative. But what can we expect in 2024? In this blog, you'll discover three trends you can address to increase your impact with your target groups.Read moreBlog
‘Get a taste of AI’ #3: How vectors add flavour and value
Every new era requires new fuel, and the AI era is no exception. Simply collecting raw data is not enough to effectively utilise generative AI – you also need to process and interpret the data. The vector database bridges the gap between data and AI, enabling valuable output and optimal customer experiences. In this article in our ‘Get a taste of AI’ series, you will learn how vectors work and gain the tools to apply them in your daily practice. The term “vector” may not be familiar to the general public, but its impact certainly is. Vectors provide more accurate results and recommendations in search engines and recommendation engines, improving the user experience. They add context and relevance, making the difference between a positive and a negative experience. But how does this work exactly? And how can your organisation leverage vectors for AI?Read moreBlog
How to create an AI copywriting assistant with custom GPT
Is AI the big monster some make it out to be? The one waiting in line to take over our job of content marketeer? One thing’s for sure: artificial intelligence is no hype. It’s here to stay, and it’s up to us to deal with it. At iO, we’re always looking at new ways to create value. AI turns out not to be a solution, but rather a means to an end. In this blog post, we explain how we use an AI copy assistant to write large volumes of copy in a cost-effective way.Read moreBlog
Content marketing has become communication (and that’s bad news)
Does content marketing still serve a purpose in 2024? Patrick Severein (Head of Content and Strategist) raises some questions.Read moreBlog
Four steps toward a flawless customer experience: the Double Diamond model
Good customer experience – say, the positive feeling that occurs and sticks when people interact with your brand – starts with a strong strategy. It requires lots of guessing, thinking, and doubting. Not to mention: hours of deciding and designing how to make it happen. So, how do you develop a strategy tailored to your organisation and goals? At iO, we use the Double Diamond model. It’s our creative guide to thinking from a problem-solver perspective. From product design to UX and far beyond, the Double Diamond model helps solve complex issues efficiently. In this blog post, we shed some light on the model, its pillars, and its possibilities, so that you can start using it to create flawless customer experiences that stick.Read moreDossier
Dossier: Personalisation
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Dossier: SEO strategy
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Dossier: Challenger Stories
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End of year & Christmas campaigns
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Dossier: Discover the power of branded podcasts
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Dossier: successful innovation
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File: Maximize your marketing efforts with HubSpot
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Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs website, more accessible than ever before
How do we make our content accessible, so that every Belgian can find the information they need quickly and easily? The question came from the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs and the answer? That came from iO. The result: a website that focuses on accessibility and presents the most important information in a crystal clear way.Read moreVideo
Are you fed up with boring marketing too?
Our attention spans are shorter, we skip commercials, and we click from video to video all the time. When consumers are bombarded with an avalanche of content every day, how can your brand stand out? Ruth Nys explains how to do creative content marketing without falling into the same old boring marketing tactics trap. Expert:Ruth Nys, Strategy Director ContentRead moreVideo
Digitising a business: the most common mistakes and how to avoid them
How is it that only 30% of the companies are successful in adopting digital transformation? In large part because it affects every aspect of a business: people, processes, infrastructure, and customers. We walk you through the most common mistakes we see in digital transformation projects so you don’t have to make them yourself. Expert:Tom van Mierlo, Digital StrategistRead moreVideo
How to measure the value of innovations faster and more clearly
In 2024, you will be less likely to make long-term investments. ROI has become a more important factor in innovation compared to recent years. We share ways that will help you validate innovations faster and gain management’s support. Expert: Uilke Duinstra - Service Line Director Strategy at iORead moreVideo
Challenger Stories: How Wakuli is turning the coffee chain upside down
When Yorick Bruins lived in Tanzania, he saw a problem: there are too many unnecessary links in the coffee supply chain, preventing coffee farmers from getting a fair price for their beans. He founded Wakuli: an organisation that brings quality coffee from the farmer to the consumer — in the shortest possible chain.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Wild 'n Zilt targets a shortened North Sea chain
Hendrik Kramer is an Amsterdam-based fisherman and entrepreneur who wants to show that sustainable fishing pays off in the Netherlands. He does this by selling his fish directly to consumers with Wild 'n Zilt.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Willicroft makes ‘cheese’ from beans and pulses
Research shows that not many people have a positive perception of plant-based cheese. Brad Vanstone wants to change that with his brand Willicroft on Amsterdam's Spiegelgracht.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: BayaBaya guarantees sustainability without compromise
With BayaBaya, founders Dirk Taselaar and Leon Daggenvoorde aim to take the plastic bottle out of the bathroom. Founded in 2021, the brand sells powdered concentrate for body wash with natural, vegan ingredients. Combine that concentrate with tap water and pour it into the aluminium refill bottle, and you've done your part, too.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Hands Off wants to make plant-based chocolate the norm
Hands Off was founded in 2013 to turn the chocolate industry upside down. For example, founder Kitty Smeeten achieved a 42% CO2 reduction by replacing cow's milk with hazelnut praline.Read moreVideo
Video: Leaving no one behind digitally (David De Block)
In his talk at the 2023 BAM Marketing Congress, David De Block (Public Services Director at iO) talks about e-inclusion — or what it means to leave no one behind digitally.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Brandt & Levie turns the meat industry on its head
For Brandt & Levie, responsible production is not an afterthought, but the core business. The Amsterdam sausage maker produces animal-friendly meat according to its own recipe — exclusively from well-kept pigs. An impactful story about sustainability in an industry that sometimes struggles to find it.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Natuurhuisje protects local biodiversity
Natuurhuisje is not just a booking platform for holiday homes, it's a full-fledged climate company. Nature is at the heart of everything they do, and it's — in their own words — their responsibility to protect it. The booking platform is merely a means to that end. That's why Natuurhuisje donates part of its revenue back to local projects to improve biodiversity.Read moreCase
How do you communicate smarter and more efficiently with your customers?
Using SharpSpring, our experts developed a smart marketing automation strategy that led to a unified database with 360-degree customer profiles.Look at this client storyCase
How to ease the workload of your customer service using a chatbot?
Find out how iO supported MediaMarkt’s customer service and brought it to life with four different chatbots in 2022.Look at this client storyCase
How do you scale a lead gen strategy with affiliate marketing?
Successful affiliate marketing strategy generates leads and conversions. Want to know how we did it? Read our Philips case.Look at this client storyCase
How do you support expats moving around the world?
Gosselin, active in international relocations, wanted more leads to boost growth. Our experts helped to bolster their digital presence.Look at this client storyCase
How to optimise and increase the conversion rate in specific target audience groups?
Maximizing ROI: iO's Approach to Boosting Conversion Rate in Beobank's Campaigns. Read the full story here.Look at this client storyCase
How to manage a range of websites while meeting client expectations?
Enhancing Digital Content Management for D'Ieteren Automotive's Websites? Read the full story here;Look at this client storyCase
How do you convert festival- goers into active members of your community?
From Festival Wristbands to Online Accounts: Converting Festival-Goers with Effective Paid Media. Read the story here.Look at this client storyCase
How do you craft a captivating podcast journey for young train travelers?
Embark on a thrilling train adventure across the Netherlands with ‘Het Spoor Bijster’, a fuction podcast by the NS and iO.Look at this client storyCase
How do you optimise a colourful campaign with data?
Gaining insight into the customer journey in a data-driven way with journey miningLook at this client storyPage
WWVD: Download the presentations of Wednesday 29 March 2023!
The first day of the Webwinkel Vakdagen (WWVD) is over! Still want to reminisce? Download the presentations of the lightning talks here.Read morePage
WWVD: Download the presentations of Thursday 30 March 2023!
The first day of the Webwinkel Vakdagen (WWVD) is over! Still want to reminisce? Download the presentations of the lightning talks here.Read morePage
Give the Webwinkel Vakdagen (WWVD) a successful follow-up, together with iO!
As far as we are concerned, the Webwinkel Vakdagen (WWVD) was a great success! Did you think so too?Read more