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Ever since we entered our first lockdown in March 2020, we’ve all had to adjust to a new way of life.
Now more than a year on from the start of COVID-19, we can all switch to working from home at a moment’s notice whenever a lockdown period should come into effect.
Even in a post-pandemic future, it’s likely that hybrid models of remote work will continue to be part of our daily lives. A recent study from <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/whats-next-for-remote-work-an-analysis-of-2000-tasks-800-jobs-and-nine-countries">McKinsey Global Institute</a> found 20% of the workforce could work remotely three to five days per week and be equally effective as they would be in their regular office, long after we’ve all received the COVID jab.
But no matter whether it’s the global pandemic or personal preferences leading us to work from home on a more regular basis, there are challenges to overcome when working remotely.
While some personalities find the environment provides a productivity boost, others find it a struggle to remain focussed and motivated. Without a proper office space or clear work hours, it’s very easy to become distracted from work tasks.
At Distl, our team has made a seamless transition to working from home, with many team members opting to work remotely even during times of limited restrictions.
To support other businesses during lockdown, we’ve put together a list of our favourite tools and resources to help maintain a sense of normalcy when we’re all working from home.
<h2>Communications and Connections </h2>
It’s more important than ever to stay connected during lockdown periods. At Distl, we use a number of communication tools to ensure our team feels united even when physically apart.
<h3>Microsoft Teams Video Meetings</h3>
Video conferencing tool Zoom became one of the most popular apps for businesses to use while living and working in isolation. It offers an easy-to-use platform that’s effective for holding team and client meetings in a virtual space.
While Zoom was the go-to app in 2020, we’ve now made the shift to Microsoft Teams. As the video conferencing functionality on Teams is fully integrated with its messaging app as well as Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft OneDrive, it offers an ideal all-in-one solution.
Microsoft Teams has all the same capabilities as Zoom, minus the security concerns and pesky 40-minute time limit. It enables us to conduct our morning team huddles from home, ensuring we maintain our communications and ways of operating with minimal disruption.
<h3>Team Huddles</h3>
When we’re unable to see each other face to face, we hold our morning huddles over Microsoft Teams to build comradery. You can easily adapt the huddle format to whatever works for your business. At Distl, we use a series of questions to structure our huddles, giving each team member the opportunity to speak to the group.
We always start with a fun, get-to-know-you style question that changes week to week. Some past examples include –
<ul>
<li>What’s a technological advancement you’re looking forward to in the next 10 years?</li>
<li>What’s your most irrational fear?</li>
<li>What person living or dead would you love to have a conversation with and why?</li>
<li>What holiday destination are you most looking forward to visiting post-pandemic?</li>
</ul>
From there, each team member shares what they’re currently working on as well as their working capacity for the week.
<h3>Messaging</h3>
Microsoft Teams messenger app allows our team to strike up private conversations, group chats, project-based discussions and more. It also has the capability to create companywide and department-based channels for sharing important news and updates.
From seeking assistance to having casual conversations, Teams offers a flexible alternative to traditional email communication. With quirky, animated emojis and .gif functionality, it’s also a more engaging way for our team to exchange information in real-time.
<h2>Team Bonding </h2>
It can be difficult to bond as team when you’re not working in the same office each day. Social distancing can lead to loneliness and low morale, making it vital to undertake team bonding activities that don’t require face to face interactions.
<h3>Virtual Quizzes</h3>
You can still enjoy a trivia quiz even when you’re stuck inside. One of our favourite team bonding exercises during lockdown 1.0 was lunchtime quizzes. Each week a different staff member would organise a quiz filled with questions about the team, general knowledge, pop culture and more. By using a video conferencing tool, the entire team was able to participate from home.
<h3>Care Packages</h3>
During stressful and uncertain times, people need to feel valued and appreciated more than ever. Sending care packages is a lovely gesture that can provide comfort, lift spirits, and make it just a little bit easier to cope with isolated living.
Last year, we filled our care packages with mini chocolates and lollies, colourful stationery, and a personalised, hand-written card from our director David Metcalf.
<h3>File Sharing  </h3>
Even when you’re working in an office, you need to have an efficient, reliable and secure system that allows for the management of files and documents. With certain internal servers and system networks, it can be difficult to move to a working from home arrangement. To always have a fail-safe in place, your business should investigate adaptable solutions that can be accessed from anywhere.
<h4>OneDrive</h4>
Cloud storage options such as Microsoft OneDrive offer a practical solution when working from home. At Distl, we use OneDrive to ensure all our files are easily accessible from any location. It’s simple to use and enables multiple people to work on multiple files at once.
As all documents and files are available to all team members, there’s no need to worry if someone falls ill or is unreachable for any reason. It also enables our team to reduce our paper consumption, making our business more eco-friendly.
<h4>Google Docs</h4>
Google Docs is another cloud based, collaborative tool that allows you to share a document with colleagues without needing to be in the same room. It works in a similar way to Microsoft Office, enabling you to share files via a link and work together on one document.
<h4>Monday.com</h4>
When there are multiple projects that involve numerous team members with various responsibilities, it can be tricky to stay on top of everything and remain organised, especially when working remotely.
We have been utilising our project management tools more than ever since working from home more frequently. Our go-to is Monday.com. We use the Monday board system to plan our workflow, oversee projects and communicate internally. It has become the main hub that we use each day, allowing us to assign project leaders to jobs and individuals to specific tasks.
<h3>Ergonomic working arrangements </h3>
While it comes with added convenience and comfort, working from home can also lead to muscular issues and eye strain after slouching over a laptop all day in poor lighting.
As an employer, it’s so important to help your team members establish an ergonomic home office set up. At the start of last year’s extended lockdown, we sent out a questionnaire to our team to ensure everyone was working in a safe environment. We also gave our team members the opportunity to borrow equipment from the office, including spare monitors and chairs.
<h4>Want to know more? </h4>
If you’d like to discover more working from home solutions to support your team, check out Safe Work Australia’s general information and guidelines <a href="https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces/industry-information/general-industry-information/working-home">here</a>.

Working From Home Solutions

Good digital marketers will spend their career building up their technical knowledge. They will continually hone their skillset, developing the ability to interpret analytics, identify trends and uncover opportunities.
But there’s a lot more to digital marketing than just the metrics. It’s also about understanding people; learning how they behave online, what motivates their decisions, and how to influence their thinking.
After working in the industry for over a decade, our PPC specialist Steph Boito knows how to combine her analytical mindset with her empathetic nature to continuously improve her work.
“Sometimes there can be a perception that this role is all about numbers and data, however that’s just part of the role,” Steph explained.
“What drives that is working on a deep understanding of each client personality, making a symbiotic relationship between the data and the business”.
Hailing from London with Italian heritage, Steph has a passion for international languages and diverse cultural experiences.
She graduated in the UK with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Communications and Spanish, starting her career in a global digital marketing agency.
“I find myself at home amongst people of varied cultures and interests,” Steph said.
“I subscribe to the concept that new experiences are always welcome and apply that to my personal and professional life”.
Since coming to Perth and obtaining her Australian citizenship, Steph has been with Distl for the past three years.
“You never know who is going to walk through Distl&#8217;s door next and that excites me. I really enjoy going on a journey with our clients and achieving some really great results for them. The digital world moves so quickly, and I look forward to ensuring our clients are always at the forefront of the digital movement”.
Most recently, Steph has helped our clients Bambury and <a href="https://distl.com.au/works/adage-furniture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adage Furniture</a> achieve some strong results through a range of PPC campaigns.
From building and construction companies to engineering firms and health service providers, she applies her skillset to a diverse range of businesses.
Always a positive burst of energy who’s known for her British humour, Steph loves working within the supportive team culture at Distl.
“All the company values and the agency&#8217;s approach really resonate with me,” she said.
“I think having a good rapport and good communication with the team is essential in making me better at my role”.

Beyond the Data: Steph’s Approach to PPC

There are a lot of marketing buzz words that will come and go over time, but every so often we’ll come across an emerging trend with real staying power.
The latest one to make us sit up and pay attention is Customer Experience, or CX in its buzz word form.
CX isn’t a new concept, but what’s interesting about it is the way it is now being applied in modern day marketing.
As the name suggests, CX is the impression or perception your customers have of your brand throughout every stage of their journey with you.
There was a time when businesses would think of CX as simply having a few staff available to assist in-store customers, or positioning an eye-catching display in the front window, but this is no longer case.
CX is fast becoming one of the most important factors to consider in any marketing strategy. It’s all about finding ways to connect with your audience to stimulate emotion, generate action, and build trust in your brand.
Here at Distl, we’re always hungry to learn more about the latest industry trends. That’s why we recently attended the inaugural WAMA (WA Marketing Association) CX: Experience Matters Breakfast Panel.
Surrounded by Perth’s marketing community, our eyes and ears were glued to Peta Maddock (Water Corporation), Susie Davison (HBF) and Danielle Giles (SCITECH) for over an hour and a half as they shared their experiences and expert opinions on CX.
The insights (and delicious breakfast) left our team buzzing with ideas on how we can help businesses further improve their customer experiences.
Here are the key takeaways from the event that have given us food for thought on how we can provide our clients with even more value.
<h2>Know your customer by getting to know your customer</h2>
You can look at all the data and analytics your heart desires, but if you really want to understand the needs of your target market, you need to speak with (and work with) your customers.
One of the simplest yet most significant takeaways we gained from the panel discussion came from HBF’s head of customer experience Susie Davison.
As part of her onboarding for a previous marketing role in banking, she spent 6 months working at one of their branches in customer service.
Not only did Susie gain a deeper understanding of the day-to-day operations of the company, but she also had the opportunity to speak with customers on a level most executives never experience.
What she learned during that time was invaluable and she used her insights to roll out a slew of successful campaigns that made a meaningful impact on customer satisfaction.
<h2>Less 4Ps and more X</h2>
Customers have access to all the information they could ever need at the touch of a phone screen. For businesses, this signals a need to shift focus away from what is being communicated to how key messages should be conveyed.
As it’s all about the journey, not just the destination, the traditional marketing principle of the 4Ps (product, place, price, and promotion) is only one part of the equation. Brands also need to consider how they will attract their audience to their digital and/or brick and mortar stores, and how to create a space that will nurture CX throughout the entire customer journey.
<h3>CX should be part of everything you do</h3>
CX is not just about sales, marketing, or even communications. While each one of these will be strengthened by a good customer experience strategy, CX needs to be integrated into every part of a business.
During the event Q&amp;A, one audience member shared her frustration in her marketing role as she felt there were too many processes to deal with and hoops to jump through.
She later discovered that by incorporating CX strategies into every aspect of her role, she was also able to create better experiences for her colleagues and other key stakeholders in the business.
By applying CX internally, you’re empowering team members and stakeholders to interact with your business in a way that fosters a sense of community and encourages brand advocacy.
<h3>How we use CX</h3>
At Distl, CX is an important factor we consider when devising strategies for our clients as well as our own business.
We build strong relationships with our clients and take the time to understand their unique customer journeys, enabling us to facilitate positive customer experiences.
From developing user-friendly websites to distributing brand surveys via eDM campaigns, we seek to continually improve customer experiences for our clients.
<h4>Your CX strategy</h4>
While CX underpins everything we do at Distl, the next step is to develop a CX specific strategic that takes every aspect of your business into account.
Our in-house specialists can work closely with your team to help you gain further insight into your target market and identify ways to enhance your interactions with your customers, as well as your internal team members and key stakeholders.
If you’re interested in exploring CX further and seeing how it could be applied to your brand, get in touch with your account manager or <a href="https://distl.com.au/contact-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contact</a> us today.

CX: Why Customer Experience Matters

Defining your brand purpose is a critical first step, but the plan you put into action to fulfil your vision is what matters in the long run.  
We recently shared how we refined <a href="https://distl.com.au/insights/building-resilient-brands/">our purpose for building Australia’s most resilient brands</a>.  
Now it’s time to dig deeper and delve into how we do that. 
<h2>What does resilience look like? </h2>
A resilient business has the strength to weather any storm. 
It can adapt to any change in the business environment, whether it’s technology advancements, market shifts or a global pandemic.  
It requires a focus on generating equity growth that builds your bottom line and sets you up for future performance. 
In our <a href="https://equityfirst.distl.com.au/">e-book The Equity Equation</a>, our director David Metcalf explains how arbitrary business growth often provides bigger turnovers, but smaller financial and personal rewards.  
He demonstrates the need to shift focus away from growth for growth’s sake, because a bigger business isn’t always a more successful one.  
Instead, the goal should be to build growing equity. To build resilience.  
But what exactly is equity?   
Equity is value. Commercial. Intellectual. Financial. Emotional. It’s that elusive something that the best brands appear to conjure out of thin air, generating the critical mass and momentum that fuels success. 
We help our clients to build resilience by focussing on their brand &#8211; the most valuable part of any business. 
<h2>The four ingredients for building resilience  </h2>
<a href="https://distl.com.au/insights/what-is-the-difference-between-your-brand-and-branding/">Your brand isn’t just your logo</a>. It’s not your business name or product name. In fact, it isn’t any one thing.  
Your brand is everything. It’s the perception of your company, products and services. It’s how people think and feel about who you are as a business and what you do. It’s your reputation. And reputation is everything.   
That’s why your brand is so powerful. It can bring customers to your door or turn them away in droves. It can help you build industry partnerships, or it can fracture critical relationships. Ultimately, it can make or break your business.   
Investing in your brand is one of the wisest business decisions you can make. At Distl, we build resilient brands by using a game-changing combination of strategy, branding, web and marketing. All in-house. All seamlessly integrated. All generating invaluable brand equity.  
<h3>Strategy</h3>
Everything we do at Distl starts with <a href="https://distl.com.au/strategy/">strategy</a> and results in building tangible equity and value into your brand and business.  
We factor in your history, your present position and your vision for tomorrow, reconciling your culture and brand, your market, your competitors, your financial situation… every aspect of your branding and marketing.  
<h3>Branding</h3>
<a href="https://distl.com.au/branding/">Branding</a> is one way to build value-adding equity into your brand. It’s about crafting a brand identity that resonates with your audience and communicates who you are to ensure you are creating the right perception.  
We analyse your name, logo, tagline, messaging, colours, imagery, typography, photography and more to see what kind of picture you’re painting. Then, we strategically realign every aspect of your brand identity to ensure it’s telling the right story.  
<h3>Web</h3>
Your brand is only as good as your <a href="https://distl.com.au/web-design/">website</a>. In today’s digital age, your website is often the first touchpoint between you and your customers. It’s your first impression, and you need to make it count.  
Your website needs to showcase your brand, build trust and ultimately, convert. And that calls for our rare blend of branding, technology, design, UX, development, content and SEO. Every website we build is designed and developed around your strategic business goals and objectives.   
<h3>Marketing</h3>
We approach <a href="https://distl.com.au/marketing/">marketing</a> the same way we build brands – from the ground up. We look at the big picture, then optimise every aspect to ensure your branding and marketing are unique and, vitally, effective.  
From SEO, PPC and social media through to PR, video and out of home advertising, we consider every option, devising an integrated solution that’s tailored to your business. We recommend the best channels and approach to achieve your goals and maximise your return, continually measuring your results to enhance performance.   
<h3>Start generating invaluable brand equity  </h3>
If you want to build a resilient brand, you need to leverage strategy, branding, web and marketing.  
You could start by investing in one or two of these areas, but to achieve meaningful results in the long term, you need to go all-in and fully commit to all four.   
Whether you’re an existing client or completely new to Distl, we’re here to make sure you’re reaping the rewards of our four-pronged approach.   
<a href="https://distl.com.au/contact-us/">Get in touch with us today</a> to start your journey toward generating invaluable brand equity.

How we build resilient brands

Much like the internet itself, Google’s core search algorithm is constantly expanding and evolving. To keep in front of web design trends and user expectations, the criteria for ranking pages is constantly reviewed and updated. This helps make sure users continue to receive the most useful and usable search results possible. 
As part of this, major updates to Google’s core algorithm are released regularly (usually once a year). The next of these is due to commence in June, with a gradual roll out. Building on the standards established in previous releases, this update will further increase the importance of the user experience. It will also look at the key technical components that support accessibility and usability.  
Here we look at what Google’s 2021 core algorithm update will include, how it builds on previous releases, and how you can prepare for this change.  
<h2>What’s changing?  </h2>
Google are notoriously protective of how their search algorithm works. This extends to the planned update, with only high-level details having been made publicly available. As such, it’s impossible to know exactly what’s in Google’s 2021 core algorithm update until it’s fully released. 
That being said, the company has announced a few key components. 
 Specifically, they have advised that this year’s upgrade will be focused on what they are calling <a href="https://developers.google.com/search/docs/guides/page-experience">page experience.</a> As part of this, to achieve a top ranking, pages will now need to meet new performance criteria in relation to: 
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="24" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">How quickly the main page content loads </li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="24" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">How long the page takes to respond to user interactions (e.g. clicks or taps) </li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="24" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">How much content unexpectedly moves around (e.g. due to expandable in content ads) </li>
</ul>
Additionally, pages that perform very well against these criteria will be noted in search results with a visual indicator. Exactly what this will look like and how it will be applied have not been announced yet. 
According to Distl’s Technical SEO specialist Ryan Price this release has been designed to encourage people to invest time and resources into making the web better for the user. 
“It tells webmasters and business owners they can rank better by having a faster, more performant website, especially on mobile”, he said.  
<h2>How does this relate to previous updates? </h2>
In many ways, Google’s 2021 Core Algorithm Update is a logical extension of their previous releases. It’s further evidence of their championing of a “better web” and should help lift page design standards. It also further reinforces a set of minimum performance requirements that many sites are already meeting. 
For example, two previous algorithm updates focused on <a href="https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2014/08/https-as-ranking-signal">data encryption</a> and <a href="https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2015/04/rolling-out-mobile-friendly-update">mobile friendliness</a>. These created a solid base for Google’s focus on usability. They also established the framework for using ranking signals as a way to improve site standards. 
In Ryan’s opinion, all three of these changes have had a positive effect. 
“A mobile friendly, secure, and fast website is everything a user wants”, he said.  
“And, by dangling a carrot like ‘better rankings for sites that switch to https’, it encourages mass uptake”. 
<h2>What happens when these changes take effect? </h2>
While we can’t be certain exactly what these changes will practically mean, we expect the impact on most sites will be minimal. This is based on the fact that there was little ranking impact from previous algorithm updates. Even the “Mobilegeddon” release, which threatened to punish mobile un-friendly sites, did not significantly impact most sites. 
That being said, particularly poor performing sites (e.g. those that take longer than 10 seconds to load) could be penalised. However, such issues would have a major impact on site performance and conversion metrics. As such, complying with the new standards would be a win-win.  
Ryan believes that most people should see this update as more of an opportunity than a threat. 
“The new criteria will be part of over 200 ranking signals, so it’s likely most sites will have a lot of other positive signals which will negate any impact from this change”, he said. 
“And, would you improve your bounce rate by making it faster than 10 seconds? Most certainly yes!” 
“So, as long as this change is handled correctly, it should be a net positive”.  
<h2>What can you do to prepare?  </h2>
If you’re concerned about what Google’s 2021 core algorithm update will mean for you business, there are a few things you can do to prepare.  
Most importantly, you should look at the overall usability of your site. Simple things like compressing or resizing images and redirecting broken links can make a big difference. You should also look at the structure of your content and make sure it’s logical and clear. 
If there are more major issues with the usability of your site, you may need to consult an expert. This is because the solution could be quite technical and require a change to your website’s code. If this is the case, it may be easier (and cheaper!) to completely rebuild your site.  
If you’re a client with Distl, all of this will be looked after for you. According to Ryan, Distl has been preparing for this for at least the last four years.  
“We have in-house designers and UX specialists that design with usability and page experience in mind,” he said. 
“In 2016, we also changed our whole website offering to React websites to deliver the very best in speedy sites”. 
“Our Account Managers also regularly review site structures and content and optimise them for the best engagement and conversion rate”. 
<h2>Want to discuss this further? </h2>
We believe we’re well positioned to make the most of Google’s 2021 core algorithm update. If you’d like to discuss this further or want to arrange a review of your site’s usability, <a href="https://wp.distl.com.au/contact-us/">get in touch with us today</a>.

Preparing for Google’s 2021 Core Algorithm Update

If you have a Google Maps integration on your website, you may have been experiencing some issues lately.
Due to recent updates to <a href="https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/user-guide/pricing-changes/">Google and Billing changes</a>, you may notice that your Maps on your site are showing something like this<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3065" src="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.44.49-am-1-1024x560.png" alt="" width="1024" height="560" srcset="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.44.49-am-1-1024x560.png 1024w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.44.49-am-1-300x164.png 300w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.44.49-am-1-768x420.png 768w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.44.49-am-1-1536x839.png 1536w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.44.49-am-1.png 1636w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />.
&nbsp;
This can be resolved easily using the following steps:
Step 1 &#8211; Go to <a href="https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/?apis=maps%2Croutes%2Cplaces">https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/?apis=maps,routes,places</a> and check the Maps, Routes, and Places boxes.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3051" src="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.25.50-am-1024x673.png" alt="" width="1024" height="673" srcset="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.25.50-am-1024x673.png 1024w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.25.50-am-300x197.png 300w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.25.50-am-768x505.png 768w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.25.50-am.png 1185w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
Step 2 &#8211; Select or create a new project if none are available.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3052" src="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.27.31-am-1024x676.png" alt="" width="1024" height="676" srcset="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.27.31-am-1024x676.png 1024w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.27.31-am-300x198.png 300w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.27.31-am-768x507.png 768w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.27.31-am.png 1183w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
Step 3 &#8211; Enable billing.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3053" src="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.53.31-am-1024x676.png" alt="" width="1024" height="676" srcset="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.53.31-am-1024x676.png 1024w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.53.31-am-300x198.png 300w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.53.31-am-768x507.png 768w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.53.31-am.png 1185w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
Step 4 &#8211; Agree and fill in your billing details. You will not receive any charges as outline by Google below.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3054" src="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.55.37-am-1024x675.png" alt="" width="1024" height="675" srcset="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.55.37-am-1024x675.png 1024w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.55.37-am-300x198.png 300w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.55.37-am-768x506.png 768w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-9.55.37-am.png 1183w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
Step 5 &#8211; Enable Google Maps Platform.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3059" src="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.07.06-am-1-1024x673.png" alt="" width="1024" height="673" srcset="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.07.06-am-1-1024x673.png 1024w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.07.06-am-1-300x197.png 300w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.07.06-am-1-768x504.png 768w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.07.06-am-1.png 1186w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
Step 6 &#8211; Copy the API key.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3060" src="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.07.31-am-1-1-1024x673.png" alt="" width="1024" height="673" srcset="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.07.31-am-1-1-1024x673.png 1024w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.07.31-am-1-1-300x197.png 300w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.07.31-am-1-1-768x505.png 768w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.07.31-am-1-1.png 1182w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
Step 7 &#8211; In most cases, you will just need to send this API key to a developer to update on the site that is giving the error.
If you have the option to, you can update the google map API key in your CMS (WordPress) Plugin. eg.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3061" src="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.33.25-am-1.png" alt="" width="466" height="211" srcset="https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.33.25-am-1.png 466w, https://wp.distl.com.au/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-10.33.25-am-1-300x136.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />

Google Maps not loading correctly of late?

After several years of working with different businesses around town, Katie Hauth found herself growing restless.
In her core, she knew that something wasn’t quite right. While she loved developing brand and <a href="https://distl.com.au/strategy/content-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">content strategies</a>, she felt disconnected from the agency world.
At first, freelancing seemed like the answer. And then, she found Distl.
“I was finding that my values did not align with where I was working,” Katie explained, “I feel a really strong pull toward everything we stand for at Distl”.
Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Katie has called Perth home for 9 years, and has spent the past year and a half as an account manager and digital marketing specialist at Distl.
“I love diving in and getting to know my clients and their customers on a deeper level. Understanding what they’re looking for, how they are looking for it, and how to best connect with them so that we can formulate a strategy that captures those people from the beginning,” Katie said.
During her time so far at Distl, Katie has found her professional confidence has grown immensely. By working alongside people who show mutual respect and appreciation for each other, she’s felt far more comfortable putting forward her ideas and taking initiative.
Communicating openly and honestly with her clients and fellow team members is something Katie believes in wholeheartedly. Our empathy and transparency values resonate with her deeply, so much so that it trickles down into her career aspirations.
With a history in retail, eCommerce and marketing, customer experience is an area of great interest for Katie. She is passionate about finding ways to enhance those experiences for her clients’ businesses as well as our own business here at Distl.
Two of our recent projects that Katie has contributed to include the <a href="https://distl.com.au/works/loan-monster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Loan Monster</a> website and the <a href="https://distl.com.au/works/keys-dental/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keys Dental</a> rebrand. From <a href="https://distl.com.au/seo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEO</a> technical optimisation to creative photo shoots, Katie feels fortunate to be involved in so many different facets of our strategy, brand, web and marketing service areas.
“I love that no two days are the same, and that I have such a diverse range of businesses I get to work with. I really enjoy working with my clients and getting to know them”.
When she’s not bringing her ideas, passion and laughter to Distl, you’ll find Katie entertaining her rescue pup <a href="https://www.facebook.com/distldigital/photos/a.639997456049967/3645005838882432/">Biscuit,</a> headed to a spin class or hitting the town to get into something fun.

Katie finds her cultural fit at Distl

&nbsp;
Apple’s latest update iOS 14 has been causing waves in the digital marketing space. But what exactly is going to change, and how will it impact the future performance of your social media campaigns?
&nbsp;
<h2>What’s the deal with iOS 14? </h2>
In June 2020, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/22/apple-ios-14-ad-tracking/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple announced</a> a range of security and privacy updates that would be rolled out in iOS 14.
Under the new operating system, app developers would need to display the App Tracking Transparency (ATT) prompt, giving users the option to decline app tracking.
The new privacy feature would require apps to gain user permission before collecting and storing data for tracking purposes, giving users the ability to opt out of tracking on social media platforms.
While Android systems have always provided users with the option to decline app tracking, advertisers will now have less access to demographic information and behavioural data once the changes come into effect.
<h2>How will it impact social media advertising? </h2>
Social media enables advertisers to create and optimise campaigns for specific app or web-based conversion events &#8211; think enquiry form submissions, online purchases and so on.
Part of the reason why social media advertising (especially Facebook) is so powerful is because the algorithm uses tracking data to serve your ads to users who are most likely to convert.
There’s also a range of paid social features that are reliant on tracking data, including remarketing campaigns, interest targeting and Facebook lookalike audiences.
<h3>How does Facebook collect and use tracking data?</h3>
At the moment, businesses can enable the Facebook pixel to collect and share user data with the social media platform.
When a Facebook user visits a website with the pixel installed, the algorithm draws insights from their behaviour and groups them with other users based on their perceived interests.
For example, a user may be categorised as someone with an interest in beauty after visiting the websites of several online beauty retailers.
With an understanding of that user’s behaviour, Facebook will serve them ads that target an interest in beauty, regardless of whether that person has specified that interest on their profile.
<h3>What happens if a user opts out of tracking?</h3>
Opting out of behaviour tracking does not mean the user will no longer receive ads, only that the ads they are served will be less relevant to them.
For instance, let’s say a user is in the market for a new car and has been browsing online.
Once they opt out of tracking, they will no longer receive ads that are related to their prospective purchase.
If a dealership was advertising a promotional offer on social media, it would not be communicated to that user and they could potentially miss out on a great deal.
Another user could be shopping online and become distracted, leaving items in their cart without checking out.
If they have disabled app tracking, they may not be served with a remarketing message to remind them to complete their purchase.
<h3>How will your ads be affected? </h3>
There are two main changes most advertisers will likely experience.
<ol>
<li>A decrease in the available audience pool for ad targeting.</li>
<li>A decrease in the performance of any campaign designed to retarget users based on web activity.</li>
</ol>
<h4>What can you do to ensure your ads continue to perform?</h4>
Facebook have put together recommendations to help advertisers prepare for the roll-out of the new privacy feature.
Under their new <a href="https://developers.facebook.com/blog/post/2021/01/19/actions-partners-mobile-web-advertisers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aggregate Event Measurement</a> policy, they have put a series of actions together to help you ensure your ad account remains compliant.
As the policy only allows you to optimise ads for the highest value conversion event, it will help you to get the most out of your campaigns.
Despite a reduction in web-based retargeting, you can still capitalise on those who have engaged with your business on social media.
You can create custom audiences based on those who have recently interacted with your Facebook page or Instagram account.
While they may not have visited your website, these users have demonstrated an interest in your product or service and are still a valuable audience that should not be overlooked.
Once you’ve set up these custom audiences, you can then use them to create a lookalike pool of users to further expand your reach.
With a bit of nurturing and the correct messaging, you could find your next most valuable customer.
<h4>When is the change going to happen? </h4>
Since making the initial announcement, Apple launched iOS 14 in late 2020 without mandating the ATT prompt.
It is expected that it will come into effect in the coming months after app developers have had sufficient time to implement the new feature.
<h4>Prepare for the change today </h4>
Want to get on the front foot? We can work with you to create an effective <a href="https://distl.com.au/social/social-media-advertising/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paid social strategy</a>, ensuring your campaigns continue to deliver results in the short and long term.
No matter whether you’re an existing or prospective client, <a href="https://distl.com.au/contact-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">get in contact</a> with us today.

What does iOS 14 mean for social media advertising?

2020 ended on a high for us. After more than two decades in business, our two agencies became one. We distilled down all of our experiences, mixing the digital smarts of BirdBrain with the brand building world of Luminosity to create one, all-in-house agency.
Now that our new brand has launched and the dust has settled, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on the past and what the future might hold. While our rebrand enabled us to better integrate our services and streamline our operations, more importantly, it led us to refine our purpose.
In my experience, the best businesses are driven by a purpose that is greater than just survival. When a business focusses on products and services alone, the only way to compete is to continually find ways to be smarter, cheaper and faster. The problem is someone will inevitably come along who can do it better.
Our work is designed to help our clients discover and communicate who they are and why they exist. We’ve seen firsthand how a clearly articulated purpose can unite a team, provide strategic direction and drive long-term, sustainable results.
We’ve also experienced the consequences of straying from this path and losing sight of the bigger picture.
<h2>How we got here </h2>
My personal business journey began in 1995 when I started DiskBank, a CD and DVD manufacturing business. I was 24 years old, fresh out of uni and full of confidence. From day one, I was fixated on what I thought every business owner should be doing &#8211; growing their business.
For 10 years, the business experienced unfettered growth in revenue, staff and locations. As we expanded across the country, it seemed as though we were on an unstoppable growth trajectory, until the bottom fell out of the CD and DVD market.
What came next was a very difficult period where I was forced to make some tough decisions. As revenue plummeted, I began to close offices, liquidate equipment and let quality staff go. By solely focussing on growth, we had built an unsustainable business model that struggled to survive when the industry began to decline.
In the end, we managed to resuscitate DiskBank, adapting to the shift in the multimedia market and evolving part of the business into what would eventually become Distl. Not wanting to endure the same experience again, I adjusted my approach toward building a resilient business with the strength to weather any storm.
It was this change in mindset that led us to define our purpose and establish a vision that guides everything we do at Distl.
<h2>Defining our purpose </h2>
Over the years, I’ve discovered a passion for helping businesses achieve results in the short as well as long term. While leads, traffic and revenue are all important, building long term brand equity will ensure sustainable success over time.
Equity is value. Commercial. Intellectual. Financial. Emotional. It’s that elusive something that the best brands appear to conjure out of thin air, generating the critical mass and momentum that fuels success.
While business growth can be good, it’s equity growth that will build real financial worth and fortify your business. Understanding the true value of brand equity is what led us to define our purpose:
<blockquote>To build Australia’s most resilient brands.</blockquote>
Our four service areas, strategy, branding, web and marketing are the key components that are needed to build equity and build resilience. By providing fully integrated solutions that leverage each of these core areas, we are able to deliver short term results as well as long term success for our clients.
<h3>What does it all mean for you? </h3>
“As brands strive for differentiation, relevance and growth, a clear purpose brought to life in compelling ways is often the difference between success and failure,” &#8211; Afdhel Aziz.
Every aspect of our business is now aligned to our purpose, ensuring everything we do is designed to deliver real value to our clients.
If you’re an existing client and you would like to know more about how our approach impacts what we do for your business, get in touch with your account manager today.
For prospective clients, I welcome you to <a href="https://distl.com.au/contact-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contact me</a> to see how we can use strategy, branding, web and marketing to help you build a resilient brand.

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