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From school to labour market: Belgian statistics
Everything you should know about your Employer Value Proposition (EVP)
Personal and professional growth
Make room for the talent manager
Talent management in practice: iO
A strong employer brand makes the difference
To find, retain, challenge, and help grow the right talent, it pays to invest in your people. It’s also an investment in your organisation, with all the positive consequences that entails. Employer branding is a useful tool, one that our experts master down to the last detail. One of the ways that you can make the difference is with what you do every day in the workplace: showing your ambitious talents that there is no better place to shine than in your organisation.
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Infinite opportunities: Daan Simonis (Perfetti Van Melle)
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16 tips to make your marketing and digitisation budget for 2025 smarter
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Give your brand identity through your tone of voice
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A strong creative concept is always a good idea
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The need to stand out triggers the comeback of creativity
In these times of frantic digital transition, the importance of creativity in marketing communication might have gotten a little bit lost. This happens even when creativity and a sound creative concept are desperately needed to attract and hold the attention of your target group, to raise awareness, to mobilise, to improve your customer experience and to drive innovation. Fortunately, we see some positive signs that inspired, creative campaigns will soon be in the limelight again. In this blog we will identify these signs, we go deeper into what exactly creativity is, and we look at how you can create an environment where fickle creativity can thrive.Read moreBlog
Why good digital design matters
As we live in a society where ‘always-on’ is more than just a buzzword, brands can’t afford to bore people. People will only listen to you if you deliver a great experience, and as a brand you have to speak to their needs, their experiences and their humanity. You need to put yourself in their shoes: what do they love and hate? By doing so, you stand a better chance of getting them involved in your message and making them feel moved.Read moreBlog
How to bring emotion back into your branding
Technological progress can be replicated faster than ever. Because everyone is constantly testing and improving, it’s easy for brands to become the same and indistinguishable from one other in communication. Brand experiences are increasingly displaying 'sameness': automated and optimised, but lacking in real emotion. This puts pressure on maintaining brand relevance. How do you bring the emotion back into branding?Read moreBlog
Why brands should have an opinion
Nice toaster. But why do you work with an influencer who, along with being a breakfast guru, is also openly homophobic? What customers expect from brands has changed a lot in recent years. A great product with excellent service is no longer enough: now a brand has to have a meaningful connection to core values. As a brand, don’t just position yourself in the market, but also in society. How exactly do you do that?Read moreBlog
Don't write what you want to say, but what your target audience wants to hear
Texts on your website or social media are your way to convince your target group about your service or product. Are you using the same language as your target audience? If you’re not, your message will miss, and you run the risk that your text will be ignored. A waste of your time and effort, isn't it? Here’s our 6 tips to get your content the attention it deserves.Read moreBlog
How to create a brand voice that works
Many companies have carefully considered design standards and guidelines. Do's-and-don'ts for design language, colour codes, logos, and positioning are clear on paper. But what about your brand voice: does your way of speaking fit your brand? All too often, this turns out to be a mismatch when it’s just as important. Do you want to know how to make a success of your brand voice? Following our seven tips will help you on your way.Read moreBlog
Link building 101: Why it matters for SEO
The goal of link building, as a part of SEO is to increase visibility and the number of visitors to your website, by trying to obtain a higher position in (Google) search engines results. But how does link building contribute to your overarching SEO strategy? How do you implement qualitative link building? And why is it a good idea to outsource link building?Read moreBlog
Communicating with Generation Z: go pure, go authentic
'Tomorrow's story' made up the core of the tenth edition of the Content Marketing & Web Editing Congress organised by iO. Today's young adults, also known as Generation Z, play an important role in this story. But what is important to this generation and how do you tie them to your brand? Find out in this blog.Read moreBlog
5 effective tips to improve your employer branding online
Employer branding can be communicated through various channels, such as company websites, social media, employee benefits, and company culture. It is important for companies to focus on employer branding because it can have a significant impact on the success of the business.Read moreBlog
Do your followers know you? Keep it real on social media with User Generated Content
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The most common pitfalls in digitisation and how to avoid them
In the beginning of this year, we launched the Opportunity report 2023. A collection of visions and insights from our experts to help you get the most out of the new year. On the 9th of March during the Opportunity online live event we brought these insights live to an interested audience to speak and discuss how to ‘Accelerate your business in 2023’. In this article, we’ll share the key takeaways of the presentation of Digital Strategist Tom van Mierlo with you.Read moreBlog
6 Tips for creating a successful podcast for your brand
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How to measure the value of innovations faster and more clearly
Earlier this year, we launched the Opportunity Report: a collection of visions and insights from our experts to help you stay ahead in the new year. On 9 March, during our online event “Accelerating your business in 2023”, we brought these insights to life. One of the live sessions at this event was hosted by Uilke Duinstra (Service Line Director Strategy), who talked about ways to help businesses and organisations validate innovations faster and gain management’s support. In this article, we’ll share the key takeaways from Uilke’s session with you.Read moreBlog
Data & Intelligence: removing emotion from the boardroom
Data has been vital for some time now in demonstrating whether a marketing and sales strategy is a hit or a miss. However, the discussion is still dominated by gut feeling when analysing why strategies fail and what needs to be radically changed. By removing emotion from the boardroom, we raise marketing and sales efficiency. In the past, marketing strategies were based on what had already happened. Today, we have a high degree of predictability. Digital marketing has never been so close to certainty.Read moreBlog
Reputation is not just the responsibility of the communications department
In episode 5 of the Public Brands series: Iris Reshef from the NS (Dutch railways) and Suzanne Bijkersma from the Social Insurance Bank (SVB) discuss brand and reputation thinking in the public sector.Read moreBlog
How behavioural science can help marketers understand (and influence) their customers' behaviour
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
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
How a sophisticated content strategy can boost your business
Having a clear online content strategy is more important than ever before and that is no surprise. The pandemic accelerated the online presence of many brands and increased digital competition. Consumers love shopping online, and we are never far away from our smartphones — we use them to pay, to scan menus, and even to track our health.Read moreBlog
Verbal brand identity: find your own voice and make it heard
Your verbal brand identity is the set of linguistic expressions of your brand. It bundles the tone in which and style with which you communicate to all your target audiences through all mediums. Together with your visual brand expression, your verbal brand expression conveys who you are, what you stand for and what you can do for your customers. In this blog, we will explore your unique voice together.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
9 ways for your brand to win at Christmas
If you listen closely, you can already hear them. Christmas bells. Seriously. Christmas is coming! By the way, Christmas has already started for me. When I’m lying in my hammock in the South of France, I’m already thinking about Christmas trees, snow and beautifully laid tables. And, of course, I’m thinking about how to win at Christmas, traditionally the busiest commercial period of the year. But how do you make sure that your brand wins at Christmas? And how do you make sure you stand out from all the other Christmas campaigns?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
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
2023 Christmas commercials: mediocrity, craftsmanship, clichés and sometimes... brilliance
It’s that time again: It’s Christmas commercial season 2023. I’m ready for a wagonload of snow, candy, British stars, and tortured covers of familiar songs. And what did I get? Exactly that. I love it! A (completely objective) overview of the (mostly) British 2023 Christmas commercials. Brace yourself for Rick Astley, kisses, Ryan Reynolds, talking mittens, singing oven gloves, pink flamingos, John Travolta as Santa Claus and... a rediscovered hit from 1965. And... What did John Lewis do?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
How to craft a brand name or tagline in 5 minutes (and whether it's the right one)
Seriously, it's done in no time. And we're about to show you how. The question is: is this what you want? In this blog post, you'll read how we do it at iO, you'll find some tips and tricks to apply on your own work and you'll start to grasp the added value of the human factor.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
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
‘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
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
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 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 moreBlog
iOS 18 and RCS: a gamechanger for brands and marketers
With the recent launch of iOS 18, the messaging service Rich Communication Services, or RCS, is finally widely available. This can have a huge impact on how brands and marketers reach their customers. In this article, we dive deeper into the ins and outs of RCS and why at iO, we believe that it will provide better experiences.Read moreDossier
Dossier: B2B - Turning B2B challenges into solutions
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Dossier: Successful marketing budgets and plans
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Dossier: successful innovation
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Dossier: The Opportunity Report
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Infinite opportunities: Thierry Geerts (Google Belgium)
"Digitisation in Belgium is progressing rapidly, but not as fast as it could or I hoped it would," says Thierry Geerts, CEO Google Belgium. He wrote a book, Digitalis, about his vision on digitisation. He talks about how we can — and should — pick up the pace of digitisation.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Peter Van Hoecke (Van Hoecke)
According to Peter Van Hoecke (CEO Van Hoecke), the client is always central, especially — in digital transformation. By automating, accelerating, and rationalising processes, you help your clients save time — our most finite and valuable resource.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: Tim Colman (Proximus)
Creative concepts can elevate a campaign, says Tim Colman (Head of Digital Communication at Proximus). He talks about the importance of creativity at every stage of the customer journey.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Joaquin Zschuschen (KLM Health Services)
Digital transformation isn't just about technology — it’s also about people. Joaquin Zschuschen, Digital Manager at KLM Health Services, talks about customer satisfaction and personalisation.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Yannick de Bièvre (MediaMarkt)
MediaMarkt is an omnichannel retailer, and that is a very conscious choice. Digital and non-digital channels flow seamlessly into each other, according to Yannick de Bièvre (Head of Marketing BeLux).Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Steven De Deyne (Proximus)
"With digital transformation, you can deliver added value to your customers," says Steven De Deyne, Head of Media and Production Competence Center Proximus), it in this video.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Paul Smeets (Cadac)
You can't do partial digital transformation, says Paul Smeets (CTO Cadac). In this video, he tells you more about his vision on digitisation.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
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
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
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 to translate brand values into engaging stories?
iO created a content strategy for Audi that gives the brand values an emotional charge through storytelling.Look 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 launch a new brand in the mobility industry?
iO and AutoRepairGroup ‘we restore everything, even your smile’ – partnering to build brand awareness in the mobility sector.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 enhance the impact of the newsletter for a telecom giant?
Optimizing Content and Presentation: How iO Transformed Proximus' Newsletter Engagement. Read the case here.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 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 transform two telecom giants into one powerful brand?
Entopic/iO rewrote all content to a new tone of voice for the launch of the Odido brand and managed content migration from 2 websites to the new website. Want to know more? Find out in this case.Look at this client storyCase
How do you bring years of delicious creativity to life?
With creative always-on and ad hoc campaigns, our experts help Manna Sauzen grow into a leading Belgian brand.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
How can a network manager ensure we navigate the energy transition successfully?
Discover how awareness, behaviour change, and hyper-local personalization lead to cost efficiency and relevance at the right moment.Look at this client storyCase
How to deliver a consistent brand experience across 35 countries
How do you develop a digital and internationally deployable retailer concept that takes your customer experience to the next level?Look at this client storyCase
How to catch the attention of students who swipe away every ad?
Discover how Avans University of Applied Sciences and iO attracted over 20,000 new student choosers with creative, data-driven campaigns. Learn strategies that hold Gen Z's attention and create strong brand connections. Get inspired and discover how to entice your target audience.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
A creative blend of skills
Discover what iO does for airport & travelers: from branding to creative campaigns and content creation.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 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 story