Case
iO and JBC: joined forces
Belgian fashion chain JBC was looking for a strategic partner. That partner not only had to set up a smart advertising strategy, but also ensure that JBC's own team would eventually be able to manage that advertising in-house. Moreover, JBC also needed support in terms of SEO and live shopping. In other words: a task that was made for iO's blended teams.
Devising an optimal advertising and communication strategy in a rapidly digitising, competitive market.
Smart online advertising, custom live shopping, and strong SEO efforts.
JBC & iO
JBC is a Belgian apparel chain with fashion for the whole family. The chain is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation and is committed to sustainable fashion at a fair price. Founded in 1975, JBC grew into a chain with more than 120 outlets and 1,600 employees.
Our teams have been providing support to JBC in various areas for years. But we do more than just advise.
We also always look at the marketing and communication efforts through our critical eyes. This way, we reach the target group in an even more effective way by sharing the right message, on the right channel, and at the right time.
Facing the competition with smart advertising
As a player in a fiercely competitive market, JBC has to compete against giants like Zalando and Shein. That's why JBC consciously chooses to focus on other USPs (e.g. sustainability) or designs unique clothing lines (e.g. the collection with local stars Camille and Kim Van Oncen).
For JBC, the biggest challenge is to keep growing and competing in a world that is rapidly digitising. To impart as much knowledge as possible to their own teams, we work with JBC on a consultancy basis. We recommend certain strategies and optimisations to them, and their marketing team implements the adjustments.
We regularly combine our insights into their advertising channels with their analyses, e.g. of offline sales. We also blend insights from the different brands (JBC, CKS, and Mayerline) to help them learn from each other. For instance, it can be interesting to test one brand's way of targeting with another.
Some advertising results in 2022
JBC Live Shopping: capitalising on online trends for a better market position
In working with JBC, our experts do not only focus on advertising. We also help the brand position itself in a highly competitive market by capitalising on promising trends. In the case of e-commerce: live shopping.
During a livestream, a host displays items of clothing, which you can immediately add to your shopping basket and order — without leaving the livestream.
We helped JBC set up livestreams with an easy and reliable platform and a tie-in to the shopping basket. This way, JBC doesn't have to worry about the technical aspects of live shopping.
The result: increased conversion, a wider audience to appeal to, new customers, and a strengthened position in the Belgian fashion industry.
SEO as a foundation for online growth
And when it comes to search engine optimisation (SEO), our experts are also happy to help.
Keyword research, content audits, technical SEO, the creation of compelling content, constant optimisation, dashboarding - we covered it all.
Advice from our specialists?
Eli Ivens - Head of Media ServicesRelated articles
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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
Why you should start preparing your webshop for the holiday season now
After an extended period of online retail growth, both Belgian and Dutch consumers are finding their way back to physical shops. Online shopping is now an established part of the retail landscape, with the biggest platforms continuing to exert their dominance, seducing more and more consumers. As the holiday season comes around again, many retailers are wondering what this year has in store. Alongside Christmas, newer celebrations like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Singles Day are attracting more and more attention in Belgium and the Netherlands. What does this mean for local retailers? We have analysed the market impact of these changes for you.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
Bing: a new search engine gateway to your target audience
Google is the unequivocal search engine market leader (and probably will be for a while). However, when it comes to search queries, there’s a challenger to that monopoly: Bing by Microsoft. In the last few months, Bing made some significant strides, moving from 1 in 20 search queries to almost 1 in 5. That growing influence and Bing’s market share are some aspects you should leverage in your digital strategies. You can ignore 5% of your potential visitors, but ignoring 18% of the queries that lead to your business would probably have a significant impact on your business – and not in a good way.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
Why is always-on gaining ground over ad hoc campaigns?
In the marketing optimisation of larger iO clients - such as Brussels Airport and Lidl - we see a shift from ad hoc campaigns to always-on. There are a few logical explanations for this trend. And both the elimination of cookies and the focus on the customer experience (CX) have a lot to do with it.Read moreBlog
Marketing budget allocation for 2025: data driven or a roll of the dice?
For many marketers, allocating budgets for the year ahead is a real headache. Will you carry your budget over from last year – even though technology is evolving at lightning speed and the marketing world could look completely different tomorrow? Or will you follow your intuition and take a chance? Fortunately, data modelling exists allowing you to allocate your budget with the certainty that you are spending it in the right place, and at the right time.Read moreDossier
Dossier: Successful marketing budgets and plans
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24 insights for 2024
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Infinite opportunities: Daan Simonis (Perfetti Van Melle)
Creativity isn't just useful for building a strong campaign — it's essential. Daan Simonis (Global Media & Digital Marketing Director at Perfetti Van Melle) explains why this is the case and how a creative idea has a strong impact, especially on paid media platforms.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: 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 moreCase
How does personalisation lead to better marketing automation?
Using smart deployment of marketing automation platform Selligent, iO helps fashion brand Cassis/Paprika with an intelligent digital strategy.Look 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 promote the local furniture industry with a creative spin?
In the middle of the 2020 covid crisis, Fedustria and iO collaborated on a successful campaign, with a talking home taking the lead.Look at this client storyCase
How do you make your e-commerce platform the engine of your digital ecosystem?
We help High Demand Brands grow at times of digital transformation. Read on to find out exactly how we do that!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 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 strengthen your market position as a recruitment and staffing expert with a new brand?
YER is already big but aspired to double their presence in the world of recruitment and selection and secondment. iO helped them with creating a new brand, internal branding, external activation online and offline and bringing 3 websites into 1 site for all target groups.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 do you launch a completely new brand for a global leader in marine recreation?
Read how we worked with Brunswick to create a full branding and international go-to-market strategy to launch their latest brand Navan.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 to present a unified brand story for multiple companies within the same group?
How do you tell a clear online story that pulls traffic towards your website if you represent multiple businesses? Read the case and find out.Look at this client storyCase
Repositioning a meat brand in full transition
Discover how iO helped Imperial transform into a future-proof food brandLook 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
How do you create the best possible experience for Brussels Airport travellers?
Brussels Airport: In this case story, read how iO has become an extension of the airport.Look at this client storyCase
How does a leader in furniture hardware ensure GDPR compliance and cost efficiency for all their banners?
We ensured GDPR-compliant, cost-efficient cookie management for Van Hoecke's platforms using CookieHub. Read our success story.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 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 moreStack
Optimise your marketing with Google Marketing Platform | iO
Maximise your marketing potential with Google’s advertising and analysis platform and let iO help you: your Certified Google Marketing Platform Partner.Read moreStack
Reach your target audience better with Google Ads & our ad experts | iO
Ready to begin advertising in Google or optimise your current Google ads? iO is your Google Premier Partner. Find out how we can help you.Read moreStack
iO - Your commercetools partner for modern e-commerce
Boost your e-commerce approach and sales strategy with iO and commercetools.Read moreStack
iO & Criteo, powerful automated online advertising platform
At iO we work with Criteo: an advanced platform for digital advertising and targeted, data-driven campaigns. Find out more about what we can do for your organisation.Read moreStack
Meta Advertising – Facebook & Instagram
Our +150 digital advertising specialists know how to make platforms such as Facebook and Instagram an essential part of your media mix.Read moreIndustry
Retail
How does iO bridge the gap between your retail business and e-commerce? By creating personalised, scalable, flexible and innovative hybrid retail solutions that give shoppers the products they seek, when they want them.Read moreWhat we do
Scalable and cost-effective e-commerce strategies – iO
Thinking about expanding your e-commerce activities? Your partner in e-commerce strategy and implementation - iORead moreWhat we do
Content marketing, use the power of inbound
With successful content marketing at the core of your inbound marketing, there are only winners. Not least due to relevant content and higher conversion. Learn how we can help your business case.Read moreWhat we do
Digital marketing - maximise your results on every channel
Rely on the digital marketing knowledge and expertise of our iO experts, backed by strategy and crystal clear data.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
Affiliate Marketing Management & Optimization | Specialist in Affiliate Marketing
The affiliate marketing agency: iO. Our services include affiliate management, optimization, audit, and development. Our specialists offer expert advice and comprehensive services. Contact us today for a personal consultation.Read moreWhat we do
CLM and loyalty to reward regular customers
CLM and loyalty is a win-win situation: customers benefit from their loyalty and you get data flows and a smoothly running business.Read moreWhat we do
Boost your digital growth with e-commerce & transactional | iO
Our experts support your (first) steps in e-commerce with business, data and IT expertise. Get advice on the right platforms, marketplaces, integrations and payment systems.Read moreWhat we do
How digital marketplaces grant your brand increased visibility
Modern digital marketplaces are welcoming your audience, time for you to join the competition on that stage? iO has the expert advice to get you off to a right start.Read moreWhat we do
Convince your target group with smart UX/UI design
UX/UI design can make or break the success of your web platform, application or campaign. How do you make it work? Read on and find out.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
Content and assets by the right digital experts
Content is powerful in marketing and communication. Our experts have a knack for creating everything from television ads, copy, video & photography.Read moreWhat we do
Live video: An integral part of every successful digital event
Our video experts help you maximise interaction with your target audience through live streaming.Read moreWhat we do
Cloud, Data & Integration: technology fueling digital experiences
We make your IT, data and marketing infrastructure scalable. And integrate it with the right cloud partnerships and data setups.Read morePress
AI without measurable impact? Nothing more than an empty gimmick for your business
Read morePress
iO named the most customer-focused digital agency in the Netherlands
Read morePress
iO focuses on talent: Wouter Dolle becomes HR Director in the Netherlands
Read morePress
iO appoints Marco Merola as Managing Director on Campus Herentals
Read morePress
iO launches magical end-of-year campaign for Brussels Airport
Read morePress
Manna boosts brand awareness with a wink
Read moreWebinar
Navigating the iOS 17 update for marketers
Are you ready to navigate the ever-changing digital world and stay ahead of your competition? Join us for an exclusive webinar where we'll dive deep into the implications of the iOS 17 update for marketers like you.Read moreWebinar
How do you implement a first-party data strategy for e-commerce?
The death of the third-party cookie. For a moment, it seemed like the world would end. But fortunately, there are alternatives for marketers and their organisations, including first-party data. A thoughtful first-party data strategy can help you build close relationships with your customers, create value, and streamline your marketing activities.Read moreWebinar
E-inclusion: how to leave no one behind in the digital world
There’s a digital gap between our marketing personas and the real people we service. And that gap is significant: nearly 50% of the population is digitally vulnerable. How do you handle that as an organisation? And how do you make sure your products and services don’t exclude anyone from the digital world? Register for our webinar now and allow David De Block, Public Services Director at iO, to show you the “reason to believe”, so you can take action.Read moreWebinar
Webinar: Boost your online visibility and revenue with local search
Pretty much everyone has a smartphone these days, using navigation systems like Google Maps every day. Leveraging local search has never been this crucial to enhance online visibility and growth. Google reports that nearly half of all search queries on its platform (46%) have a local intent. You need to take advantage of that as a retailer. After all, you want potential customers to be able to find you, especially when you’re nearby. Sign up to join our exclusive webinar on local search to find out how to elevate your local presence.Read moreWebinar
Leveraging customer data in your marketing communications
With the ever-evolving laws and technology, reaching your target audience as a marketer is complex. In this webinar, we'll show you how to make the most of the customer data you already have. During the Dutch webinar on March 19, 2024, Evelyne Berden (Domain Lead Marketing Automation at iO Campus Herentals) explains how you can unlock customer data to take your marketing campaigns to the next level.Read moreWebinar
SEO & TikTok: the dynamic duo for digital success
From libraries to Google to TikTok...in just a few decades, our source of information has shifted to unexpected places. Today, a whopping 40% of young people use TikTok as their primary source of information. Did you know that this platform is increasingly focusing on its own search function? This makes TikTok SEO an essential part of your digital strategy.Read moreWebinar
What is the impact of AI on SEO?
Watch the webinar now.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: Increase your online impact with strategic SEO
Is your website not being properly found by relevant visitors? Is your SEO traffic not generating enough conversions? But do you think you already have an SEO-friendly website? Then it's time to switch from tactical to strategic SEO. Find out how during our webinar on 23 August.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
The 7 pitfalls of personalisation
Personalisation revolves around adapting the user experience based on the user segment. But setting up a good personalisation strategy is not as straightforward as it seems. We’ll show you 7 pitfalls of personalisation and how to avoid them in this whitepaper.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
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
Life Sciences and Marketing Automation
Once your organization has multichannel marketing intrinsically embedded into its vision and strategy, odds are that you will soon come to realize the benefits of owning a marketing automation platform. After all, you need a solid instrument to effectively execute your multichannel ambitions and deliver increased ROI at the same time.Read moreWhitepaper
More qualitative leads with inbound marketing
In the past, marketing often boiled down to spreading your message as loudly as possible. Today, there's a growing need for a targeted (inbound) strategy. Inbound marketing revolves around reaching the right people at the right time with the right message. Interested in mastering inbound marketing, or looking for actionable insights and tips to effectively apply it in your business? Our comprehensive whitepaper is the resource for you. Join us in exploring the world of inbound marketing and learn how it can significantly amplify your business's power. Download now and effortlessly begin transforming your approach to attract more high-quality leads.Read moreWhitepaper
Selecting and deploying the right marketing automation platform
Through marketing automation, organisations like yours can easily identify anonymous online visitors and convert them into qualified leads. It automates repetitive marketing tasks — effectively eliminating them from your daily operations — allowing you to focus on what matters.Read moreWhitepaper
Employer branding
Does it look as if your organisation is losing the war for talent? Does it start to seem like the right talents consistently prefer to join other companies? Today, unemployment rates in Belgium have hit an historic low (3%). This presents us with opportunities, as well as challenges. Less job seekers, more vacancies, increased competition in the war for talent.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 journey towards superior email deliverability
Every business that uses email marketing in its strategy to reach a target audience wants to get a spot in the target audience’s inbox. But spam has become such an overwhelming part of email traffic that it’s become more difficult to get past Internet Service Providers and Mailbox Providers. That’s why an email marketing strategy needs to focus on email deliverability.Read moreWhitepaper
Interactive video for the static marketer
Interactive content engages people with choices, questions, and options. That’s no different with interactive video — in stark contrast to traditional video, which is linear and forces the viewer to watch passively.Read moreWhitepaper
3 steps to build a successful B2B inbound marketing strategy
Shouldn’t the client be at the heart of every marketing campaign? When it comes to good inbound marketing, the same is clearly true for B2B marketing. Inbound marketing is an effective way to gather everything you need to build a successful campaign: the right, qualitative leads - collected in a way that does not disturb the user experience, using data that’s willingly shared. It’s a fitting approach, not only for acquiring new customers, but for turning them into enthusiastic brand ambassadors in the process.Read moreWhitepaper
Boost growth with digitalisation
Digital transformation may be a buzzword, but that’s because it’s happening right now. Digitalisation has gained momentum every part of society and it’s showing no sign of slowing down. Consumers have high expectations and now it’s for companies to anticipate their digital needs. iO has the expertise and experience your company needs for effective digital transformation. Digitalisation is a mindset that has an impact on the entire company, from business operations and internal processes to marketing and communication. Customer focused and with a clear vision. Do you want to know more about the benefits of digitalisation, and how to embed it into the DNA of your company? Our experts have bundled their insights and experiences into an inspiring ebook that will help you prepare your brand for tomorrow.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
The ultimate end-of-year guide (with checklist)
With cyber week (starting Friday, Nov. 29) and the end-of-year period upon us, there are some great opportunities ahead to give sales another boost, whether you're in B2C or B2B. With this guide and checklist of no less than 61 pages (!), we help you fine-tune your marketing, communication and advertising strategy so that you catch the eye of your target audience. With this guide & checklist, compiled by our +2000 experts from different departments, you'll roll out the digital red carpet for your customers in the year-end period. Download it now.Read moreWhitepaper
How to develop a first-party data strategy?
But how do you get started with a first-party data strategy? What do you pay attention to? Can you still rely on third-party data? And which stakeholders do you best involve in this 'new' phase? In this whitepaper, we help you out.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
Creativity – how to stand out in B2B communication
Creativity in B2B communication is an important way to engage and connect with your audience. The era of the pure sales pitch is long gone, and today B2B communication is also looking for new ways to add value in the long term. Creativity builds the bridge between story, feeling and individuality. And this translates into positive business results.Read moreWhitepaper
Win the battle for the consumer with marketing automation
In 2023, consumers’ expectations are higher than ever. They reject generic messages and communication. More so; they want to be put on a digital pedestal. To be personally addressed and only shown content that is relevant to them. In other words, they want companies and brands to give them an experience. And that experience has become just as important as a product or service.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
Get more insights into the effectiveness of media with Marketing Mix Modelling
Digital marketing offers enormous opportunities in the field of data-driven working. We often fail to take advantage of these opportunities. That's means you miss out on a lot of opportunities to maximise the impact of your budget.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
Download the all-in-one social media checklist
For many organisations, social media is still a Pandora's box. Yes, they are useful online channels, and yes, we might need to have a presence there. But how exactly do you tackle that? What do you need to take into account? This helpful social media checklist will take you a long way.Read moreWhitepaper
Employer branding insights - How to recruit talent in 2024?
A tight job market and a short attention span from your target audience, who are also bombarded with content on a daily basis. Does recruiting new talent sometimes feel like a lost battle to you? We believe it doesn't have to be! Break through your target audience's content overload: invest in in-depth content to reach them and strengthen your employer brand. How can you successfully recruit and retain new talent for your brand? Discover it in "From Employer Branding to Recruitment - Insights 2024".Read moreWhitepaper
Flawless content migrations
Do you want to rebrand your organisation? Is an acquisition or merger imminent? Or do you want to improve your customer experience, and does this require an organisational change? For these types of digital transformations, changing technology is often a challenging and crucial part for organisations of all sizes. Whether you need to upgrade the CMS system to a newer version, or you want to increase your innovation speed with a headless CMS, there is often one element that receives little attention: the content migration. Far too often, a content migration is nothing more than the last thing on the list, because it’s the technology that requires a lot of attention and budget, isn’t it? How complex can it be to lift and shift the content from the old system to the new?Read moreWhitepaper
Break silos between sales, marketing and operations with Hubspot
Anticipating customer needs is no longer enough; customers expect companies to truly enrich their lives. Breaking old silos and putting users at the centre is key to becoming an organisation that not only values customers, but puts them at the centre of every decision. After reading this white paper, you'll know: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 moreBlog
7 reasons you should choose Shopware 6 for e-commerce
Shopware 6 is a powerful and user-friendly e-commerce platform, where you can easily manage both your content and your commercial data. In this blog post, our Shopware expert Rune shares 7 reasons why he is so excited about the latest version of Shopware.Read moreBlog
Tokenisation and data interoperability: Digital drivers of tomorrow
At iO we use today’s insights to build the organisations of tomorrow. Lander Janssens and Kristof Bossuyt report on their visit to Web Summit 2022. They explain what tokenisation and data interoperability mean — and why organisations should switch their focus to it now.Read moreBlog
Balancing your budget between brand building and performance marketing has never been more important
In our work with clients we see that there’s an increasing focus on effective, goal-oriented marketing communications. Data dashboards that show ‘more conversions’ and ‘more sales’ at a glance are preferred when reporting to the boardroom. But this carries a risk too. It might be a good time for brand managers to ask themselves: are the most obvious tactics also the most impactful ones?Read moreBlog
Composable commerce: can it save traditional retailers?
In recent years, the gap in digital maturity between pure players (shops that solely operate online) and traditional retailers (that have a webshop and one or more brick-and-mortar shops) has grown. However, there is a solution for traditional retailers to close the gap. And that solution is composable commerce.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
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
What marketers can expect from the iOS 17 update
Apple released iOS 17 on September 18, 2023. That latest iOS version includes a next step in the privacy restrictions surrounding tracking in Safari. Apple is making a number of changes that will have an impact on the measurability of campaign performance. We’ve followed these developments closely and will put them in a broader perspective for you. What's happening, why is it happening, what does it mean for marketers, and what solutions should you consider?Read moreBlog
'Get a taste of AI' #1: Innovating with Large Language Models (LLM) as taste-maker
Anyone who has tried ChatGPT knows that we are at the dawn of a new era. A lot of businesses want to respond to these developments, but often still regard generative AI as a black box. The complexity and lack of transparency can lead to timidity and restraint, while AI as a technology offers a lot of unique opportunities and possibilities. Do you want your business to get ahead of the curve? Then you have to give AI a try: experiment, learn and apply. Experimentation is the only way to learn how and when AI can deliver value to your business operations.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
We analysed 97,474 Google Business Profiles and here's what we found
In 2020 we published "The 2020 Local SEO Benchmark Report". Our analysis of the state of local SEO in the Dutch retail sector. At the time, our conclusions were not too positive. About 75% of all business listings were incorrect or incomplete, less than 26% of retail chains had made a Google post, and only 8% answered reviews and customer questions. Now, three years later, we've mapped the state of local SEO again, but this time we’ve expanded the scope of our analysis covering 36 cities in the Netherlands and Belgium, divided into 14 different industries. In total, we collected and analysed data from nearly 100,000 business locations and over the last few months, we have analysed the results and are proud that we can now share the report and the most important findings. Let's dive into the key insights...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
With these new guidelines, Gmail will ensure a safer inbox in 2024
In February 2024, Google and Yahoo's new email guidelines will come into effect. These guidelines have to do with email deliverability and will be made mandatory by Google, unlike now. The guidelines will apply to all emails delivered to Gmail accounts — or, in other words, all emails to gmail.com email addresses and organisations using Google Suite as an email server. In this article, our email experts tell you everything you need to know about the new guidelines.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
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
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
Building trust in a cookieless era
We all know third-party cookies, a marketer's bread and butter, are leaving the building. The cookieless future was irrevocably set into motion when Google decided to remove them completely by 2024. This presents us with the unique challenge of tracking an audience that does not only demand an excellent experience but is increasingly privacy-conscious, too – quite paradoxical, we know. You’ve probably also heard that first-party data is the way to go. So, how can you turn leads into returning customers and, more importantly, how will you procure their data? We suggest a trust-first marketing approach that focuses on excellent content to establish a relationship with customers and users, making them more inclined to share their data with you.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
Google introduces Interaction to Next Paint as a new Core Web Vital
From March 12, we welcome a significant update in the world of web performance with the introduction of Interaction to Next Paint (INP) as part of the Core Web Vitals. But don't worry, you don’t have to be a web developer to understand: we’ll explain the importance of this update in plain language.Read moreBlog
3 valuable SEO insights from Friends of Search 2024
As an SEO specialist I had the opportunity to attend Friends of Search, a well-known SEO and SEA conference in Amsterdam. The event attracts at least 600 visitors annually and guarantees thought-provoking talks, an exciting award show, and a networking moment. I was immediately impressed by the international expertise presented by the other attendees during this eleventh edition, held on 21 March 2024. Discover 3 valuable SEO insights that stuck with me.Read moreBlog
Historical data export - Universal Analytics
Deadline for exporting Universal Analytics: 1st of July 2024 After the 1st of July 2024, it will no longer be possible to access data in Universal Analytics. Therefore, it’s essential to take timely action and export the data before that day. By exporting the data before the access is closed, you can gain valuable insights, store the data securely and take any further actions. It is wise not to do this at the last minute, as there may be obstacles, such as errors in extraction or technical challenges. To avoid potential problems, it is advisable to transfer the data in time to environment where it can be stored securely. That way, you can later use the data for further analysis or transformation purposes. By acting now, you can ensure that you don’t lose the valuable data and are well prepared for the future. So don't wait until the last minute - make sure you export the data from Universal Analytics before 1 July to a secure environment, where you can continue to use it.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
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
What is search intent? And why is it important for SEO?
When you look something up on the Internet, you always do so with a specific intention. Whether it's to gather information, compare products or actually make a purchase. Either way, you want to see results that match your intent as closely as possible. This intent - called search intent - is a crucial factor for both Google and marketers.Read moreBlog
The energy transition is enormous, how do you make it personal?
How do you explain the energy transition? iO and Enexis developed a permanent campaign with smart tech and several storylines.Read moreBlog
AI is changing how we search and it is time for brands to face this head-on
The impact of AI on search engine marketing and business models is huge. So start experimenting now, advises iO CEO Pieter Janssens.Read moreBlog
AI & E-commerce: 8 tips for navigating the changing SEO landscape
There is unrest in the SEO landscape, and it's no surprise given the rapid changes taking place. With the advent of AI, the future of SEO suddenly seems uncertain. The number one search engine is vigorously testing AI applications, reducing the need to click through to websites. This has serious implications for everyone whose traffic is partially dependent on Google, including e-commerce.Read moreDossier
Dossier: Brands & society
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Dossier: SEO strategy
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Dossier: E-commerce
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Dossier: Infinite Opportunities
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Dossier: Cookieless future
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Dossier: Video marketing
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Dossier: Marketplaces
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Dossier: Google Analytics 4
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Dossier: B2B - Turning B2B challenges into solutions
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Dossier: Marketing automation
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