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What is verbal brand identity?
Your verbal brand identity is formed by all your verbal building blocks, such as:
your brand name
your brand signature/slogan
your brand story
your brand message
your mission/vision/values
your manifesto
your tone of voice
your language
your brand-specific vocabulary
These verbal brand building blocks in turn serve as a touchstone for all your linguistic communication. Think web texts, mailings, newsletters, blogs, messages on social media, radio and TV spots, podcasts, advertisements, street posters and leaflets, but also your own voice when you talk to a (potential) customer or employee.
Consistent and recognisable
Your verbal brand identity should be coherent, consistent and recognisable during every contact moment with your target groups. That way, you cultivate an identity for your brand internally and an image around your brand externally. No strong brand without a clear verbal personality. Customers and employees expect that from you. They want to feel a clear direction. A brand that changes its ethos and voice at the drop of a hat is adrift and inspires distrust.
Don’t mimic your target audience
Your verbal identity should set you apart from your competitors. You sometimes hear that you should talk the way your target audience talks. I don't agree! An established, classic brand that suddenly starts churning out trendy words to appeal to a younger target group loses credibility. Moreover, "talk like your target group talks" means that competitors aiming at the same target groups cannot distinguish themselves from each other verbally, which is exactly the intention.
Instead of mimicking your target groups, look for a voice that coincides with your own character and personality. This is sincere, more pleasant for everyone and therefore easier to sustain. Of course, you want your voice to be clear and appealing to your target audience, but it does not have to coincide with theirs.
Find your own voice
In your quest to find your own voice, it makes sense to find out where your brand is on a few spectra, for instance through a workshop - which we are happy to organise for you. Popular spectra for this exercise are informal versus formal, funny versus serious, respectful versus witty and enthusiastic versus factual. The US Content Marketing Institute recommends summarising your brand voice in three words, e.g. 'casual', 'informative' and 'friendly'.
Sometimes witty, never gratuitous
Do you opt for a serious voice or a touch of humour? Playful words are tempting to stand out or elicit sympathy for your brand. Humour can also reduce stress and anxiety by releasing endorphins. A humorous brand voice has also been proven to increase your brand awareness and build trust. However, this only applies if the tone is in line with the rest of your brand personality and if your target audience is open to it. Certain jokes may be fun for one target group, while others may find them offensive.
A dime on its side, then. I do dare to advise that exaggerating in any direction is usually wrong. Gratuitous buffoonery becomes highly irritating, while dry seriousness turns into a tough bite. Find the right balance.
Not too friendly
Do you know what also causes brand damage? An overly friendly tone of voice! Nielsen-Norman studies have shown that this undermines the perception of trustworthiness and professionalism. In turn, a very witty, confident tone usually scores well when talking about your service, product or specialisation, but is less suitable for addressing your target audience. An overenthusiastic or uninhibitedly emotional tone is also likely to cause irritation. Another useful tip: never try to impose a certain feeling out of the blue, but first listen carefully and build on emotions that are already (dormant) present. Know that your tone has an impact on your target audience's emotions and that emotions in turn influence purchase intentions. People quickly forget exactly what you said or did, but rarely forget how you made them feel.
Beware of translations
Say your locally anchored business is doing well and you decide to internationalise. Totally great, but what about your carefully constructed verbal identity? Well, you will have to fine-tune it for each new market and language area. What comes across as funny and smart in the Netherlands may offend Germans. And at iO we know from experience that Flemish copy is often not quite ready for the Dutch market. Or vice versa, for that matter. Conclusion? Stay yourself abroad, but make sure you have a locally adapted version of yourself. Translating blindly is not a good idea.
Instead of mimicking your target groups, look for a voice that coincides with your own character and personality.
Jan Schuddinck, Copywriter
Document your verbal identity
Once you have defined your verbal brand identity, it is important to document it clearly as well. Merely defining it is not enough, because the tricky thing with words is that they mean different things to different people. Suppose you have defined your brand voice as 'spontaneous'. But what does spontaneous mean? User A may mean something different than user B by it, leading to problems like unnecessary rounds of revisions. So provide plenty of practical examples of how things should and should not be done. Solid documentation helps both (current and future) team members and external staff to quickly pick up the right tone.
Therefore, in addition to your mission, vision and values, don't forget to include your well-documented tone of voice in your brand guidelines. The same goes for a proper manifesto, which often gives a very useful idea of the verbal style you have in mind.
Don't overdo it though
If necessary, draw up a list of words that go well with your brand, but don't jump to rigid conclusions. For an accounting firm, I once wrote the cover text of a brochure with the header '8 pieces of advice for alert accountants' and the headline 'How to become the bookkeeper of the future'. Well, the firm replaced 'bookkeeper' in the headline with 'accountant' without my input. They preferred the - to me, at least - irritating repetition in the header/headline combination to the association with the word 'bookkeeper'. Just because accountancy is more than bookkeeping to them. Fodder for discussion, I don't judge. But you understand what I mean when I say you don't want to be too rigid with your vocabulary. Quite a few people assume that more expensive words come across as more professional. I dare to doubt that.
Don't brag using fancy words
Sometimes it is better to avoid certain words. Are you an outspoken luxury brand? Then do not describe yourself as 'premium', because it brings down your premium image. The same goes for 'trendy': those who proclaim that about themselves rarely are. Worse still: to inflict a quality or air on yourself in the vain hope of covering up the lack of it. Few cars got less applause in the 1990s than the Daihatsu Applause. And if possible, even fewer models proved less charismatic than the Mitsubishi Carisma.
Avoid labels
In any case, avoid meaningless labels like 'premium', 'qualitative', 'dynamic' or 'innovative'. Instead of ascribing such predicates to yourself, explain why you deserve them. Don't say "our service is excellent” but explain exactly what you do to serve your customers in the best possible way. Don't say you are concerned about the environment but explain what you do to reduce your carbon footprint. Also, avoid clichés. The duller an employer, the more often the word 'passion' will appear on the job page.
Unless you really claim them
Sometimes, however, claiming one specific term can pay off for your brand. For instance, Rik Van Stippent of the Dutch car polishing company Stipt Polish Point invariably calls cars that have undergone his intensive polishing treatment 'factory new' (‘fabrieksnieuw’ in Dutch) in his wildly popular YouTube videos. The expression 'factory new' works wonders for his verbal brand identity: he found his own voice and makes it heard frequently. Although it already turned against Van Stippent too. When images surfaced a while back of how he reduced his Lamborghini to scrap on the motorway with a skid, the ironic online comments were quite predictable: "That Lambo looks brand new again, Rik!" Perhaps a big dent in his ego, but not necessarily damaging to his brand.
Jan Schuddinck
Senior Creative Copywriter - iOAs an experienced conceptual copywriter, Jan is iO’s jack-of-all-copy-trades. From senior-level snappy taglines to ever-lasting elaborate blogs, Jan’s value comes from what he does best: taking in the complex and putting it in words your audience can really get behind.
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In episode 1 of the Public Brands series: Tom van Laarhoven (UWV) and Anke Heun (Belastingdienst) on brand thinking in the public sector.Read moreBlog
We don’t campaign with advertising, but with content
The Police and the CBS (Central Statistical Office). Two household names in the Netherlands. They’re established brands. How do you manage them? Mirjam Otten and Mike Ackermans on brand thinking in the public sector.Read moreBlog
Ter Apel is not a brand asset
The IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Two public organisations that are also brands. One is known to the general public, the other to a specific group. How do you manage them from a brand and communication perspective?Read moreBlog
Your organisation’s reputation is determined by your behaviour
In episode 4 of the Public Brands series: Jantien Eising from RDW (National Road Administration) and Maureen Wiersma from the CJIB (Central Judicial Collection Agency) on brand- and reputation thinking in the public sector.Read moreBlog
Webcare: put your company in a good light with Random Acts of Kindness
Social media is the virtual landscape where people go to share, ask questions, and complain. Webcare offers companies the possibility to monitor online messages and provide service where necessary. But how can you give someone a pleasant surprise someone using webcare? And build positivity towards your brand at the same time? The answer: Random Acts of Kindness.Read moreBlog
Content repurposing: get more out of your content
Content that performs well and generates lots of leads — every marketer's dream. But creating that kind of content is not easy. Not everything you put out is hit. And it doesn't have to be. As long as you know how to optimally use and reuse your best content. By relying on content repurposing, for instance.Read moreBlog
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
Our customers don't have a choice, so we take that obligation seriously
In episode 6 of the Public Brands series: Inge Rohde from CBR and Leonie van der Mark from AVROTROS talk about brand and reputation thinking in the public sector. Read the interview here or listen to the podcast.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
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
Here’s how to write better with AI
As a writer, should you embrace or fear generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini? The former for sure, the latter perhaps too. In any case, they make you an offer you can't refuse. So, hoist these rambunctious AI sailors on board and put them to work, but above all remain the captain of your ship.Read moreDossier
Dossier: Public Brands
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Are you fed up with boring marketing too?
Our attention spans are shorter, we skip commercials, and we click from video to video all the time. When consumers are bombarded with an avalanche of content every day, how can your brand stand out? Ruth Nys explains how to do creative content marketing without falling into the same old boring marketing tactics trap. Expert:Ruth Nys, Strategy Director ContentRead moreVideo
Steven Van Belleghem: The cost of poor 'Customer Experience' is frequently underestimated.
Companies are unaware of the enormous the cost of bad customer experiences. Out-of-pocket costs such as customer service are being pushed up, at a time when it’s becoming more difficult and expensive to find new customers.And this is happening while the brand credibility is declining and there is erosion in terms of new business development. In the video below, Steven Van Belleghem calls for more investment in customer focus, as a driver for a successful 2025.Read moreCase
How do you bring patients and their doctors closer together?
iO helped pharmaceutical company MSD create two awareness campaigns to improve communications between patients and their doctors. Discover this case.Look at this client storyCase
How can you give a B2B brand the necessary boost to its brand image?
Debic-FrieslandCampina and iO, positioning a love brand through branding campaigns and storytellingLook at this client storyCase
How do you bring a law firm to its full potential online and offline?
We helped full-service law firm Lydian rebrand, build a new website and set up an employer branding campaign. Read more about this case.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 to create a digital showcase for tomatoes?
iO developed a new brand experience website for Looye Kwekers with attractive content and a comprehensive content strategy.Look at this client storyCase
How do you spread the sustainable message of a European market leader?
Read more about our collaboration with Havep, the European leader in sustainably produced and environmentally responsible workwear.Look at this client storyCase
How do you generate attention for the silent engine behind the World Cup?
For Amnesty International, iO created a sharp creative concept ahead of the Qatar World Cup and brought it to the general public.Look at this client storyCase
How do you attract more volunteers with a dynamic recruitment campaign?
With this social campaign we got more people interested in signing up as a volunteer, so that De Kindertelefoon can continue to offer a listening ear 365 days a year.Look at this client storyCase
How do you start the conversation about inheritance and legacy?
Adopting a thoughtful strategy, our experts created relevant content about inheritance in the 'Erfgenamen' campaign.Look at this client storyCase
How do you launch a new brand in the mobility industry?
iO and AutoRepairGroup ‘we restore everything, even your smile’ – partnering to build brand awareness in the mobility sector.Look at this client storyCase
How do you support expats moving around the world?
Gosselin, active in international relocations, wanted more leads to boost growth. Our experts helped to bolster their digital presence.Look at this client storyCase
Finding and offering the right location to turn a special event into a favourite memory
Discover how iO made the websites and the personal admin portal of High Profile Locaties more manageable, findable and scalable. Read the case study.Look at this client storyCase
How do you accelerate getting innovative lighting into the living rooms of 47 countries?
iO experts built a brand new D2C website with an advanced Adobe Experience Manager e-commerce platform for lighting specialists Signify. The result: happy users and satisfied teams. Read the full case here.Look at this client storyWhat we do
Branding & marketing strategy: tell your brand story convincingly
Take control of your brand story with a sophisticated brand and marketing strategy. Power to the people, right? Get to know iO's take on things.Read moreWhat we do
Get better results with a targeted communication strategy
Build a strong strategy for your business communication. iO experts will help you get your message to your target audience.Read moreWhat we do
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
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
Conversational & community management: meeting your customer
Conversational & community management is our way of forging a direct connection between you and your client, through effective targeting and creativity. Find out how we can help you.Read moreWhat we do
Online games: a win-win situation
Add a little spice to your campaigns with interactive minigames. Excite your audience and collect valuable data!Read moreWhat we do
Better results on your online channels with our content audit
Analyze your web texts, images, and online channels for SEO, comprehensibility, structure, accessibility, and user focus.Read morePress
iO and Amnesty International make themselves heard for Write-them-VRIJdag
Read morePress
iO brings the Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ digital twin to life with AI
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iO named the most customer-focused digital agency in the Netherlands
Read morePress
iO and M Leuven bring Flemish Master to life with AI tool
Blended agency iO gives history an extra dimension for visitors to M Leuven thanks to AI-driven web app.Read morePress
iO launches magical end-of-year campaign for Brussels Airport
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4 out of 10 Belgians are digitally vulnerable
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Manna boosts brand awareness with a wink
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Lidl Belux selects blended agency iO as digital partner
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Amnesty International Vlaanderen and iO put a human face on hope with ‘the power of the people’
Read morePress
The KNHB and iO launch new adidas Dutch hockey team kits with an inspiring campaign
Read moreWebinar
Webinar: #tiktokmademebuyit? Meet Generation Z
Generation Z is one of the first generations to grow up in the digital world – have they already found their way to your brand? Flash forward to April 21st: iO Creative Director Clarck Masschelein’s webinar will take you on a tour of the world of Generation Z. Prepare to meet an entire generation of digital natives – we’ll teach you how to reach them through meaningful connections.Read moreWebinar
Webinar: AI - The future is not what it used to be
Do you remember when ... the invention of the computer caused a seismic shift in the job market? People unwilling to work with computers were quickly replaced by people who were; and today everyone carries a laptop. Today the same thing is happening with AI. In this webinar, Rodger Werkhoven will share his passion for Artificial Intelligence and introduce you to OpenAI as a love brand.Read moreWebinar
What is the impact of AI on SEO?
Watch the webinar now.Read moreWebinar
Webinar: elevate your brand: mastering the art of content strategy
How can you effectively utilize content to promote your brand? How can you ensure that your brand stands out with persuasive creations across the appropriate platforms? These questions will be answered in our complimentary webinar, where you'll gain insights on developing a content strategy that seamlessly aligns with your marketing channels and target audiences. Watch the recording below.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
Boost your conversion rate with UX research
Do you know when UX research can be useful? Here's a hint: it's not just when you're developing a new platform. Investing in UX research is also a good idea for existing websites and apps. After all, it gives you a better picture of your users and can lead to higher conversion.Read moreWhitepaper
How do you target the untargetable? Approaching Gen Z
Gen Z is known as the most inaccessible generation ever. For brands and their commercial messages, at least. Gen Z grew up in the digital world, and the average member of Gen Z has a strong radar for brands with misleading messages or brands that communicate inauthentically.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
Video content in your marketing mix: the definitive guide
Spoiler alert: video is at home in your marketing mix,ideally with its own unique approach – video marketing. Video stands out, you can do a lot with it and the information it carries sticks better. It doesn’t just grab your target group’s attention, it also has an inherent credibility. For these reasons and more, video offers endless possibilities and should be more than 'just' an element in your content marketing strategy.Read moreWhitepaper
The significance of data in digital marketing
Data help the marketeer implement digital marketing techniques in customer communication. But how do you use that data, exactly? And how can you enjoy the full force of data? In this whitepaper, we will show you how to optimise your customer and prospect communication through segmentation and personalisation. Moreover, we’ll show you how AI supports these processes.Read moreWhitepaper
The complete SEO guide
SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, is omnipresent and indispensable to the modern marketer. Because paid ads are fleeting, because you always want to findable, or because up to 80% of internet users don’t look beyond the first page of search results. This includes a wide range of factors, from your website structure to the content and links.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
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
How do you find and motivate talent in Belgium?
The battle for talent – in other words, valuable, talented, and motivated employees – is raging harder than ever before. And that's not surprising. For every organisation, the key to success lies with the right talent. Young and old, highly educated, and self-taught, native and immigrant. How do you get them on board? And how do you stop them from looking elsewhere? Instead of using recruitment as a means to attract talent that’s based on financial promises and incentives, in the long term it’s wise to have a sustainable approach that starts from within your own organisation. In this whitepaper we will analyse the importance of your employer value proposition and take you through the recruitment do's and don'ts. Peppered with facts, figures and statistics that are relevant to the Belgian jobs market, and concrete tips, tricks, and trends.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
Score on socials with the Social Benchmark Report 2023
When setting goals for social content campaigns, it's crucial to ensure they are achievable and have a tangible foundation. The iO Social Benchmark Report provides you with valuable insights into the world of social content performance, so that you can make data-driven choices to optimise your social content strategy.Read moreWhitepaper
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
Make ecommerce more personal and tangible using online configurators
Consumers are increasingly used to communication that is tailored to them. An ad for 30% discount on cat food after you searched for the best kibble is an example. But so is the online purchase process of those kibbles. After all, today we want an online purchase to feel just like its physical counterpart. Online configurators are a great way to replace the eager shop assistant.Read moreWhitepaper
5 insights from leaders in public communication
Effective communication between government and citizens is crucial in these rapidly-changing times. This whitepaper reveals five essential insights from some leading public communication professionals. Get inspired by these top leaders in the field and learn how to use branding techniques to powerfully communicate your story as a public organisation. After reading this whitepaper, you will knowRead moreWhitepaper
16 tips to make your marketing and digitisation budget for 2025 smarter
The 2024 summer holidays are behind us and it's time for organisations to set their budgets for 2025. And that is often a more difficult task than we would like to admit. We wouldn't be iO if we hadn't come up with anything to help you with that tedious task... Get 16 tips to make your marketing and digitisation budget for 2025 smarterRead moreBlog
Do your followers know you? Keep it real on social media with User Generated Content
Social media is a high-velocity train that is met with an increasing number of obstacles. Although social media is finally included in the marketing basics, there’s no simple manual for companies. Still, not unlike a complete marketing strategy, a robust social media strategy offers your brand or organisation many opportunities.Read moreBlog
Search engine marketing in 2023: key trends
What are the trends in search engine marketing in 2023? What should we look out for when machine learning takes over part of our work? We list three notable trends and provide some best practices.Read moreBlog
How to create successful co-creation strategies with influencers
Influencer marketing is becoming an increasingly important part of strong social media strategies. But how do you guarantee the success of your influencer campaigns? In this blog I will tell you how co-creation can make your influencer strategy go viral.Read moreBlog
Anchor your brand in your target group's culture with social media
The added value of social media is sometimes difficult for marketers to determine, apart from the results it has to offer the sales team. As a result, some tend to consider a 'must do', while it actually offers a wonderful way to gain a place in people's lives. The key is to identify your brand with the culture of your target audience, and for that, social works best. However, this requires a certain amount of courage from your brand.Read moreBlog
Discover TikTok’s innovative advertising opportunities
iO's social advertising team visited TikTok HQ for the first Benelux agency workshop. TikTok is Gen-Z's search engine, and an exciting platform that’s constantly developing new features. We’ll be highlighting the most interesting insights and opportunities we learned from TikTok in this article.Read moreBlog
Get 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
2024: the next step for analytics and tracking in a 'privacy first' world
You may not have noticed, but a lot has changed in terms of analytics and tracking over the past five years. This is partly because we've already grown accustomed to many changes, and partly because their impact has come very gradually. Half a decade ago, no one knew of the existence of a cookie banner, a year later everyone thought they could never get used to it, and today we don't know any better. We've made serious strides in terms of data regulation, and perhaps the biggest steps are yet to come in 2024.Read moreBlog
2023: a year in an era of change
Does the name Leonhard Huizinga still ring a bell for anyone? Once a popular Dutch writer, now forgotten. He made his debut in 1936 with the book 'De Gestroomlijnde Wereld'. Already a wanderer at a young age, Huizinga's book opened an unknown world to many readers. An exotic world, which seemed to be getting smaller and smaller, because it was more accessible by car, train, boat, and airplane. Faster, more comfortable and with more and more streamlining — quite literally. Curious, boundless, full of wonder. Not realising, as early as 1936, that over that same world lay the shadows of tomorrow.Read moreBlog
15 Reading, listening, and viewing tips for the holiday season (and Beyond)
The end of December is list time. My colleagues at iO invited me to fill the last square of 24till24 with an inspiring list. December 24 is the last day of work before the Christmas holidays for many. That magical time of the year when the professional merry-go-round comes to a complete standstill. It isn’t just the time for family celebrations, it’s also the perfect moment to curl up on the sofa with a good book, a podcast, or a film. So, get into my personal list of the very best viewing, reading, and listening tips. Slide into the holiday season and keep the boredom at bay. Enjoy!Read moreBlog
How Camp Amersfoort National Monument attracted 30% more visitors with a podcast campaign
With the podcast campaign The Missing SS Commander, iO and National Monument Camp Amersfoort succeeded in creating the branded podcast of 2023. Staggering download figures, rave reviews from listeners, an important contribution to Dutch war history and a 30% increase in visitors. Here are the important lessons we learned making the most celebrated Dutch branded podcast of 2023 in a long read.Read moreBlog
Why Google Consent Mode V2 is crucial to marketing in 2024
The marketing world keeps turning faster, with new updates or guidelines at every turn. It’s a world that forces businesses to change with it. A recent change by this organization includes, among other things, that Google Consent Mode must receive an update by March 2024 to enhance user privacy. Take the Digital Markets Act, for instance. This European legislative body regulates digital platforms by creating laws. A recent legislative change includes that Google Consent Mode is required to carry out an update by March 2024 at the latest to better protect users’ privacy.Read moreBlog
How to create an AI copywriting assistant with custom GPT
Is AI the big monster some make it out to be? The one waiting in line to take over our job of content marketeer? One thing’s for sure: artificial intelligence is no hype. It’s here to stay, and it’s up to us to deal with it. At iO, we’re always looking at new ways to create value. AI turns out not to be a solution, but rather a means to an end. In this blog post, we explain how we use an AI copy assistant to write large volumes of copy in a cost-effective way.Read moreBlog
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
iOS 18 and RCS: a gamechanger for brands and marketers
With the recent launch of iOS 18, the messaging service Rich Communication Services, or RCS, is finally widely available. This can have a huge impact on how brands and marketers reach their customers. In this article, we dive deeper into the ins and outs of RCS and why at iO, we believe that it will provide better experiences.Read moreBlog
Microcopy: small statements, huge impact
Did you know that the copy on a single button in your online shop can determine your conversion rate, even if it only contains one word? Few people think about this kind of microcopy, even though it can hugely impact the performance of your online platform or app. In this first blog post of our microcopy series, you will learn what microcopy is and why it matters.Read moreBlog
Give your brand an identity with your tone of voice
Your brand’s story may be great, but if you tell it in a way that puts everyone to sleep, you won’t leave a lasting impression. That’s why your brand needs an appealing and fitting tone of voice. In this blog post, you’ll learn why a tone of voice is important and how to outline one for your brand.Read moreBlog
Putting your brand on the map with an effective content strategy
There is a lot to consider when creating a content strategy. From determining your goals, and researching your target groups, to spotting content opportunities and measuring your results. How do you get started? And what should you consider? You'll find out in this blog.Read moreDossier
Dossier: Personalisation
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Dossier: SEO strategy
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Dossier: Challenger Stories
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Dossier: B2B - Turning B2B challenges into solutions
Read moreDossier
Dossier: Successful marketing budgets and plans
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Dossier: Holiday marketing: how to score as a brand with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas
Read moreDossier
Dossier: Discover the power of branded podcasts
Read moreDossier
Dossier: The Opportunity Report
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: Wies De Graeve (Amnesty International)
Amnesty International shines a light on issues that would otherwise remain in darkness. According to Wies De Graeve (Director Amnesty International) creativity is essential for this. It helps people see that there are solutions to the world's problems —and how they can help.Read moreVideo
Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs website, more accessible than ever before
How do we make our content accessible, so that every Belgian can find the information they need quickly and easily? The question came from the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs and the answer? That came from iO. The result: a website that focuses on accessibility and presents the most important information in a crystal clear way.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: BenBits wants to change the entire chewing gum market
BenBits is ambitious, and that's not a secret. The brand stands for plant-based chewing gum without plastic — the first in the Netherlands. But the ambitions don't stop there.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Tiny Library makes the baby market sustainable
Circular economy: it's not just a matter of using shared cars and collecting batteries. There is room for sustainable initiatives in the baby market too, and Tiny Library is here to prove it. The team works every day on the mission to make the baby market more sustainable — that's better for the world and for parents' wallets.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: We Are Eves helps put an end to fake beauty reviews
On average, people buy five products before they find the right beauty product for them. That's a problem. A problem that We Are Eves wants to eliminate from the world. It's a cosmetics platform with hundreds of thousands of honest product reviews, written by real people. In this video, Esther Leloux, Founder & CEO, tells you all about the platform.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: plant-based pioneer The Dutch Weed Burger
It's time to harness the primal power of Mother Ocean to end animal suffering and offer delicious food that regenerates itself — at least, if it's up to The Dutch Weed Burger. They stand for delicious, plant-based burgers made from seaweed, and in this video, Mark Kulsdom, Co-Founder & Managing Director, tells you all about it.Read moreVideo
AI - The future is not what it used to be
Do you remember when ... the invention of the computer caused a seismic shift in the job market? People unwilling to work with computers were quickly replaced by people who were; and today everyone carries a laptop. Today the same thing is happening with AI. In this webinar, Rodger Werkhoven will share his passion for Artificial Intelligence and introduce you to OpenAI as a love brand.Read moreVideo
The Canon of Flanders: from Van Eyck’s brothers' Ghent Altarpiece to Rock Werchter.
From Van Eyck’s brothers' Ghent Altarpiece to Rock Werchter: the Canon of Flanders is finally here. The much-discussed list resulted in a bulky book of more than 300 pages and includes an overview of the Flemish language, culture, and history from the end of the last ice age to today. But there is also an online version: www.canonvanvlaanderen.be . iO developed this on behalf of the Commission Canon of Flanders, which received a mandate from the Flemish Government, Department of Education & Training.Read moreVideo
Primagaz & iO: a shared journey of growth and success
Discover the fruitful collaboration between Primagaz and iO in this 'Walk and Talk' video. In this video, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the collaborative dynamics between Primagaz and iO. We discuss how we dealt with challenges, how we exploited opportunities and what strategies we developed. We'll take you through our shared journey of growth and success, where trust and a commitment to excellence are central. This Walk and Talk is more than just a conversation - it is a celebration of a collaboration that has stood the test of time. It is a story of mutual growth, of learning and evolving, and of creating value for both organizations.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: How Wakuli is turning the coffee chain upside down
When Yorick Bruins lived in Tanzania, he saw a problem: there are too many unnecessary links in the coffee supply chain, preventing coffee farmers from getting a fair price for their beans. He founded Wakuli: an organisation that brings quality coffee from the farmer to the consumer — in the shortest possible chain.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Wild 'n Zilt targets a shortened North Sea chain
Hendrik Kramer is an Amsterdam-based fisherman and entrepreneur who wants to show that sustainable fishing pays off in the Netherlands. He does this by selling his fish directly to consumers with Wild 'n Zilt.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Willicroft makes ‘cheese’ from beans and pulses
Research shows that not many people have a positive perception of plant-based cheese. Brad Vanstone wants to change that with his brand Willicroft on Amsterdam's Spiegelgracht.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: BayaBaya guarantees sustainability without compromise
With BayaBaya, founders Dirk Taselaar and Leon Daggenvoorde aim to take the plastic bottle out of the bathroom. Founded in 2021, the brand sells powdered concentrate for body wash with natural, vegan ingredients. Combine that concentrate with tap water and pour it into the aluminium refill bottle, and you've done your part, too.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Hands Off wants to make plant-based chocolate the norm
Hands Off was founded in 2013 to turn the chocolate industry upside down. For example, founder Kitty Smeeten achieved a 42% CO2 reduction by replacing cow's milk with hazelnut praline.Read moreVideo
Video: Leaving no one behind digitally (David De Block)
In his talk at the 2023 BAM Marketing Congress, David De Block (Public Services Director at iO) talks about e-inclusion — or what it means to leave no one behind digitally.Read moreCase
How can a revamped online store drive a 67% increase in orders?
Atos Medical Netherlands registers 67% more orders and 105% more unique visitors thanks to renewed and optimised B2C webshop with tailor-made functionalities.Look at this client storyCase
How to ease the workload of your customer service using a chatbot?
Find out how iO supported MediaMarkt’s customer service and brought it to life with four different chatbots in 2022.Look at this client storyCase
How do you build a global B2B platform tailored to foodservice professionals?
How to build a multi-site, multi-language, global B2B platform for lead generation and online branding - iOLook at this client storyCase
How do you empower SME entrepreneurs to experience the power of smart energy solutions?
The ‘More with Energy’ campaign aims to inspire entrepreneurs and provide them with tangible tools to make their business more sustainable.Look at this client storyCase
How does De Kindertelefoon enhance online reach through clever and creative utilization of TikTok?
For De Kindertelefoon we developed a channel and content strategy to reach kids and young people on TikTok.Look at this client storyCase
How to manage a range of websites while meeting client expectations?
Enhancing Digital Content Management for D'Ieteren Automotive's Websites? Read the full story here;Look at this client storyCase
How do you craft a captivating podcast journey for young train travelers?
Embark on a thrilling train adventure across the Netherlands with ‘Het Spoor Bijster’, a fuction podcast by the NS and iO.Look at this client storyCase
How to deliver a consistent brand experience across 35 countries
How do you develop a digital and internationally deployable retailer concept that takes your customer experience to the next level?Look at this client storyCase
How do you ensure a flawless guest experience at a renowned holiday park?
iO helped Landal Greenparks create a hospitality experience that seamlessly integrates top personal service with digital convenience. Discover the case.Look at this client storyCase
How do you double your mobile conversion within 4 years?
What it takes to make booking as easy as possible for you? Discover the power of a strong management vision, a streamlined work process, and long-term, open, and transparent collaboration between Landal GreenParks and iO.Look at this client storyPage
WWVD: Download the presentations of Wednesday 29 March 2023!
The first day of the Webwinkel Vakdagen (WWVD) is over! Still want to reminisce? Download the presentations of the lightning talks here.Read morePage
WWVD: Download the presentations of Thursday 30 March 2023!
The first day of the Webwinkel Vakdagen (WWVD) is over! Still want to reminisce? Download the presentations of the lightning talks here.Read morePage
Give the Webwinkel Vakdagen (WWVD) a successful follow-up, together with iO!
As far as we are concerned, the Webwinkel Vakdagen (WWVD) was a great success! Did you think so too?Read more