How to Market A Restaurant to Get More Customers

January 18, 2023 in Blog, Content Marketing, Franchise Marketing

How to Market A Restaurant to Get More Customers

A virtual tour is a digital representation of a physical location, allowing customers to explore a restaurant’s interior and exterior before even visiting in person. In today’s digital age, virtual tours have become an essential tool for restaurants looking to attract more customers and stand out in a competitive market. Here are some benefits of a restaurant getting a virtual tour:

How to Market A Restaurant to Get More Customers

How to Market A Restaurant to Get More Customers

Increased visibility: A virtual tour allows customers to explore a restaurant’s interior and exterior from the comfort of their own home. This can greatly increase the visibility of the restaurant and attract more customers.

Increased trust: A virtual tour can help to increase trust in a restaurant by allowing customers to see the restaurant’s interior and exterior before visiting. This can also help to reduce any uncertainty or doubts customers may have about visiting a new restaurant.

Better customer engagement: A virtual tour can help to engage customers by giving them a sense of the restaurant’s atmosphere and layout. This can also help to create a sense of familiarity and comfort, encouraging customers to visit in person.

Improved search rankings: Having a virtual tour on a restaurant’s website can also help to improve search rankings. Search engines like Google give priority to websites that have multimedia content, such as virtual tours.

Increased accessibility: A virtual tour can also make a restaurant more accessible to customers with mobility issues or disabilities. This can help to attract customers who may have previously been hesitant to visit a restaurant in person.

Better customer service: A virtual tour can also help to improve customer service by allowing customers to get a better sense of the restaurant’s layout before visiting. This can also help to reduce any confusion or frustration customers may have about finding their way around the restaurant.

Cost-effective marketing: A virtual tour can be a cost-effective marketing tool as it can be created once and used multiple times to attract customers. It can also be shared on social media platforms, email marketing campaigns and other forms of digital marketing to reach a wider audience.

Better customer retention: A virtual tour can also help to improve customer retention by encouraging customers to visit the restaurant again. Customers are more likely to visit a restaurant they have already seen through a virtual tour, as they already have a sense of the atmosphere and layout.

Better planning and preparation: A virtual tour can also help restaurant owners to plan and prepare for customer visits. By having a virtual tour, restaurant owners can identify areas that need improvement and make the necessary changes before customers arrive.

Better data collection: A virtual tour can also help restaurant owners to collect data on customer behavior. By tracking customer interactions with the virtual tour, restaurant owners can gain valuable insights into customer preferences and make informed decisions about menu offerings, decor, and other aspects of the restaurant.

Overall, a virtual tour can be a valuable tool for restaurants looking to attract more customers and stand out in a competitive market. A virtual tour can help to increase visibility, trust, customer engagement, accessibility, and customer retention while being cost-effective and providing useful insights. If you are a restaurant owner, consider investing in a virtual tour to give your customers the best experience possible and increase your business’s success.

How to Market A Restaurant to Get More Customers

How to Market A Restaurant to Get More Customers

Marketing a restaurant can be a challenging task, especially in today’s competitive market. However, with the right strategies in place, you can attract more customers and grow your business. Here are some tips on how to market your restaurant to get more customers:

Establish a strong online presence: In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for any business. Make sure your restaurant has a website that is easy to navigate and provides all the necessary information, such as menu, hours of operation, and contact information. Additionally, make sure your restaurant has a presence on popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and use them to connect with your customers and share updates about your restaurant.

Optimize for search engines: Many customers search for restaurants online, so it’s important to make sure your restaurant is easily found by potential customers. Optimize your website’s content with keywords related to your restaurant, such as “best Italian restaurant” or “top sushi spot” to help it rank higher in search results.

Offer discounts and promotions: Offering discounts and promotions is a great way to attract new customers and keep existing ones coming back. Consider offering a discount on your menu items, or a loyalty program where customers can earn rewards for frequent visits.

Leverage customer reviews: Positive customer reviews can be a powerful tool to attract new customers. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on popular review sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google. Make sure to respond to any negative reviews and address any issues promptly.

Host events: Hosting events such as live music nights, wine tastings, or cooking classes can be a great way to attract new customers and build a sense of community around your restaurant. Consider partnering with local businesses or organizations to host events that will appeal to a wider audience.

Leverage local partnerships: Partnering with local businesses or organizations can be a great way to get your restaurant in front of new customers. Consider offering discounts or deals to employees of nearby companies, or hosting events for local groups or organizations.

Utilize Email Marketing: Email marketing can be a great way to connect with your customers and keep them informed about your restaurant. Use an email marketing service to send out newsletters, special offers, and event information to your customers.

How to Market A Restaurant to Get More Customers

How to Market A Restaurant to Get More Customers

Use Influencer Marketing: Influencer marketing can be a great way to reach a wider audience and attract new customers. Consider working with local influencers or food bloggers to help promote your restaurant.

Create a referral program: A referral program can be a great way to attract new customers and reward existing ones. Consider offering a discount or a free meal to customers who refer friends or family to your restaurant.

Get involved in the community: Getting involved in the community can be a great way to build a positive reputation for your restaurant and attract new customers. Consider participating in local events or donating to charitable causes in your area.

By implementing these strategies, you can create a strong marketing plan that will help you attract more customers and grow your restaurant business. Remember to continually track and analyze your marketing efforts to see what’s working and what’s not, and adjust your strategy accordingly.

How to Market A Restaurant to Get More Customers

How to Market A Restaurant to Get More Customers

Digital marketing has become an essential tool for businesses of all kinds, and restaurants are no exception. In today’s digital age, customers rely heavily on online platforms to find and research new restaurants, and a strong digital presence can make or break a restaurant’s success. In this blog post, we’ll explore the various ways in which digital marketing can benefit a restaurant and why it’s so important for restaurant owners to invest in digital marketing strategies.

One of the most important benefits of digital marketing for restaurants is increased visibility. With the majority of consumers using online platforms to search for restaurants, it’s crucial for restaurants to have a strong online presence. A well-designed website, active social media accounts, and positive online reviews can all help to increase a restaurant’s visibility and attract new customers. Additionally, targeted digital advertising can reach specific demographics, such as people living within a certain radius of the restaurant or those with an interest in a specific type of cuisine.

Another important aspect of digital marketing for restaurants is the ability to build and maintain a loyal customer base. Social media platforms, in particular, provide a great opportunity for restaurants to connect with customers and create a sense of community. Restaurants can use social media to share information about new menu items, upcoming events, and special promotions, which can help to keep customers engaged and coming back for more. Additionally, social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow customers to share pictures of their meals, which can generate buzz and attract new customers.

Digital marketing also allows restaurants to gather valuable data about their customers. Platforms such as Google Analytics and Facebook Insights provide detailed information about website traffic, demographics, and customer behavior. This data can help restaurants to make informed decisions about their digital marketing strategies and fine-tune their approach to better target specific customer segments.

Online ordering and delivery services have become increasingly popular in recent years, and digital marketing can help restaurants to promote and capitalize on these services. By setting up an online ordering system and promoting it through digital channels, restaurants can reach new customers who may not have been inclined to dine in. Restaurants can also leverage online delivery platforms such as GrubHub and UberEats to reach a wider audience and increase sales.

Finally, digital marketing can help restaurants to increase their revenue. By utilizing digital marketing strategies such as email marketing and social media advertising, restaurants can drive more traffic to their website and generate more sales. Additionally, digital marketing can help restaurants to identify and target specific customer segments, which can lead to more effective and efficient marketing campaigns.

In conclusion, digital marketing is essential for the success of any restaurant. By increasing visibility, building and maintaining a loyal customer base, gathering valuable data, promoting online ordering and delivery services, and increasing revenue, digital marketing can help restaurants to thrive in today’s competitive market. Investing in digital marketing strategies can help restaurants to reach new customers, boost sales and grow their business.

 

How to Get More Leads with Direct Mail

September 11, 2022 in Blog, Content Marketing

How to Get More Leads with Direct Mail

Intro

Welcome to another Momentum 360 blog! If this is your first time with us, welcome abroad! We discuss everything virtual tours, photography and videography related! If you’re returning to read another weekly blog, we can’t thank you enough. It’s because of your loyal following that we’ve been able to keep writing these blogs and pump out as much content as possible, so thank you.

In this one, we’ll be discussing how to get more leads with direct mail. Direct mail? Isn’t that dead?

Not at all! In fact, since a lot of people have this preconceived notion that direct mail isn’t a good form of advertising, it makes it a direct opportunity to do something in your niche that no one is doing! If you do direct mail right, you can have an incredible ROI that will allow you to only invest more into this!

I recently took a trip to Costa Rica where we got to see Kevin Harrington, Daymond John, Jesse Iztler and many more speak on stage. One of my favorite presentations was this guy from New York who creates crazy ROIs for his clients using…you guessed it….direct mail. He said that if done correctly, is one of the most powerful and effective marketing tools on the planet. Very intrigued…I tried this out for myself, and I’ll be sharing my results.

There are 6 factors I’ll be outlining in this blog to ensure that your next direct mail campaign is successful:

  • Offer = Once you get their attention, how do you make them a deal they can’t refuse?
  • Design = How do they get their attention in the first place?
  • Software = How will you send out all of these postcards?
  • Niche = Who are you trying to serve? Who can you provide the most value to?
  • Outcome = What’s your objective? More leads? Sales? Brand Awareness?
  • Analytics = How can you track your success to do it better next time?

In the coming sections of this blog, I’ll describe in detail what we did for Momentum 360, and how you can get there yourself!

Offer

We’ve all seen the GodFather before. Remember when Don Corleone says he’ll make someone an offer they can’t refuse? This is what you need to do for your direct mail campaign!

Just so I set the stage properly, Momentum 360 does virtual tours for businesses across the USA. Our offer was simple: 25% more impressions to your website or a FULL REFUND within 1 month. Sounds like a great offer right? It gives them quite literally a fourth more website impressions than they had before, so there’s a much better chance of them actually converting more and getting new clients from this tour. On the flip side, it puts our feet in the fire so to speak, our feet being Momentum and our ability to guarantee an increase in impressions in just one month. It’s a win-win situation for the client. If the client gets 25% more impressions in a month, great! That’s what we said we would do. If they didn’t they’ll get a full refund, and still be able to keep the tour…and to be honest, they’ll probably still rack up that 25% increase in impressions in the following month or two.

This is what you need to do for your campaign. If your offer sucks, you won’t get any website visitors, let alone any calls or clicks.

To learn more about creating incredible offers, I highly recommend Alex Hormozi’s book “$100m Offers” where he goes through how to provide so much value in one offer, it would make saying no look very foolish. We’ve used this book as others have to create and execute on an incredible offer for our clients. This is a great step to getting to how to Get More Leads with Direct Mail.

Design

We’ve all gotten postcards in the mail in the form of advertisements, right? Do you remember one that really stuck out to you? No, right? Do you know why that is? It’s because the design sucks! In order to create something that’s going to convert, not only your offer has to be a grandslam, but so does your design! Take a look at what we were able to do for our postcard below:

There are a lot of goodies in here, let me break them all down:

Clear Offer = You can clearly see our offer of “25% more impressions in one month or full refund”, this gives the people you’re sending the postcard to an understanding of why they’re getting this in the first place.

Visible Website = We attached our website at the bottom of our graphic of me holding up this Matterport model to give people another CTA, if for some reason they don’t scan the QR code with their phone at first.

Stats to Back Up Our Claim = We also attached 3 key stats below our offer to bolster our claim and to have people understand that virtual tours actually work!

Eye Catching Design + Headline = Overall the postcard is sleek, very organized, and creates a sense of professionalism and that “wow” factor that makes people actually want to check out our stuff.

Clear Call to Action = The CTA that we want people to do is to take their phone, scan the QR code, and head to our landing page, where there is a video on our offer with a form + next steps on how to get started.

How to Get More Leads with Direct Mail

As you can see from this screenshot, the landing page has been viewed over 250+ times with a mobile device since we launched our campaign. The awesome news? We only sent 500 postcards, so that means we have a 50% conversion rate, which is incredible!

If you can replace your design in such a way that you can create that “wow” factor to allure your future customers to your CTA, then you’re on the right track to having an extremely successful direct mail campaign.

Software

So you have a grand slam offer, an incredible postcard design…but now you’re stuck again. How will you send out all these postcards? What’s the best software to use? We will discuss all of this.

To be honest, we at Momentum 360 have experimented with so many softwares for direct mail, and a lot of them suck. There were ones that were too expensive, didn’t offer solid features, etc. We just wanted something we can use that’s extremely easy to use, cheap, and has a lot of different features.

The software we came to use is called PostGrid. Post Grid has exactly what we need, and couldn’t be easier to use. We’re not exactly endorsing you to use Post Grid, we’re just telling you it’s the best direct mail software we’ve used so far. We’d recommend that you do your own research to see what would work best for your business model.

How to Get More Leads with Direct Mail

This is the main dashboard, where you can track an assortment of things. What I like about Post Grid is just how easy it is to upload contacts, postcards and to create your campaign. There is a test and live model bottom left of the screenshot, where you can test out certain aspects of your campaign, and then hit the “live mode” to create your order. There is also a weekly and monthly tracking system that show the reports of your direct mail spend, how many postcards you actually sent, all kinds of data that you’ll need to know.

Another nice thing about Post Grid is that you can start for $0/mo, you just have to pay for the shipping of each postcard, which is only $0.74/per postcard, up to 500 postcards per month.

Niche

This might already be defined with your business model, but if you’re not focusing on a specific niche, then you’re missing out! It’s so much better to be a master of one, rather than a jack of all trades. If you’re focusing on every single niche there is, you won’t be able to be known as an authority figure in a specific area..which means you won’t earn that many referrals or other business, because your work isn’t the best in that specific niche! It’s that simple.

For Momentum 360, we specialize in large commercial spaces in excess of 50,000+ square feet. With that being said, we could work with a school, health center, office building ,etc. So we do work with different niches, but we specialize in these larger spaces. It’s where Momentum 360 creates a better product than anyone else!

When we picked a niche for Momentum 360, we picked a niche that

  • We could charge a lot of money for
  • We could be the best in the business
  • We genuinely enjoy doing the work

If you can hit all three of these points, then you’ve created your niche! Not even for direct mail, but in general you’ll be able to create so much more value in the marketplace, and pretty soon you’ll be known as that authority figure for doing that specific thing, rather than being “just ok” in all of the niches. Like the saying goes, “sometimes less is more!” This is prevalent now more than ever. This is the next step to learning how to Get More Leads with Direct Mail!

Once you have your niche, you can create incredible designs and cool little features in your postcard or direct mail campaign that cater to that specific niche, rather than doing something that tries to please every niche.

Bottom line, the sooner you pick your niche and integrate it into your direct mail campaign, the better and higher return on investment you’ll receive.

Preferred Outcome

So, you have your software, your postcard designed to perfection, an offer to go with it, and your niche that you’re looking to target! But now, what’s your ideal objective? Obviously it’s to get more revenue, but is that what you should be targeting? Let me explain.

Once people have your postcard, do you want them to go to your website? Book a call? Subscribe to your YouTube channel? What’s going to be the easiest way to get more clients to sign up ASAP.

For brands like Fashion Nova, it’s a lot easier for them to have people follow their Instagram, so they can place an order online. For companies like Tesla, it’ll be easier for you to fill out an order form of the exact make and model you’re looking for. For Momentum 360, it’s easier for you to schedule a call with us to showcase what your ideal virtual tour looks like, so we can quote you appropriately and send you the next steps! Use this to learn how to Get More Leads with Direct Mail.

Starting to get it? Great! So what is your preferred outcome for your business? For Momentum 360, we put a QR code on our postcard which takes you to our “Offer” landing page, which you can see the design below. How to Get More Leads with Direct Mail!

How to Get More Leads with Direct Mail

How to Get More Leads with Direct Mail

As you can see, our offer is displayed again on our website, as well as the video to the right! Everything is carefully organized and in sync, so the customer doesn’t get confused, and knows exactly what to do to get started with us.

Find your preferred outcome so you can track it, and you’ll know where you stand for the next campaign. If you don’t have an objective you’re looking to complete, then you can’t measure your success, because you don’t have a target goal!

Analytics

This is single handedly the most important part of the blog! If you’ve made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back, we’re almost finished. So now you have everything you need to create and execute a successful direct mail campaign, and you need to finish everything off by tracking it properly!

Like we mentioned in the previous section before, if you don’t track your campaign, you can’t know whether or not you had success from it. You can’t tell definitively if you got any forms, calls, demos, etc from the campaign because you have zero tracking, which is a problem. Fortunately, we have the solution. To track your progress, you need to have a QR code via LinkTree or Google Analytics tag setup where you can see how many impressions, website visits were created from the direct campaign. After this, you need to have a landing page with a video like we have in the above section that you can track as well. Once you have this, you’re good to go! This is how to Get More Leads with Direct Mail!

Use all of these tips and tactics to ensure that the next direct mail campaign you have will be a successful one!

Massive Virtual Tours, A Guide.

August 18, 2022 in Blog, Content Marketing, Virtual Tours

An Introduction.

Capturing a massive virtual tour can be daunting. Some specialize in large virtual tours. Others might only get one or two a year. Either way, being ready is vital. You need to plan and organize. In this blog we will discuss just that. From must have equipment to post production strategies. We’ll even go over setting expectations. Lastly, we’ll talk about how to roll one big job into the next.

But first, a note on pricing. It is important you charge the right amount for the tour. Or, you get what you pay for. In reality, virtual tours will bring the institution six and seven figures in added revenue. If an institution isn’t ready to make the proper investment, then they simply aren’t ready for this kind of marking. Seeing as this is the trending future, it’s important for photographers to remind clients, they do ultimately get what they pay for.

So, here are the first top TEN considerations you need to make when capturing a large virtual tour.

 

Time on site.

When capturing large virtual tours, Here’s a question that will come up sooner, rather than later.

“How long is this going to take?”

World Wide Massive Virtual Tour

World Wide Massive Virtual Tour

And it’s a good question. It’s tempting to try to make the offer more attractive by citing a lower number. Let’s do the math. Depending on shooting conditions, one can capture 1,500-2,000sq ft/hour when using Matterport. If you are structuring your tour with 360 panos in a software like 3Dvista, then the space you can cover largely depends on the look and feel of the desired product.

In the end this is an important consideration. A large virtual tour is generally considered anything over 100,000 sq ft. So 100,000 divided by, at best, 2,000 equals 50, or 50 hours. 50 hours can be done in a week. Five, ten hour days. But this takes generous considerations. Ideal shooting conditions- and no breaks.

From an operations standpoint, that is a large consideration. Unless the space can be closed, people will be on the tour. Especially with Matterport, where post production options are wildly expensive or not possible.

For fast capturing and a lot more customization, lean towards 360 virtual tours and not 3D. Momentum has captured spaces as large as 1.1 Million interior Square Feet in 47 hours using 360 cameras and drones. This was using a single person team.

If time on site is a deal breaker, then consider subcontracting to save the deal. It’s better to have help than to be stuck with a frustrated customer.

Shooting methods and options.

Capturing Massive Virtual Tours

Snag a massive virtual tour for your portfolio!

Large virtual tours take time, as mentioned. But this can be largely controlled by the SOP used for the job. The client needs will dictate a lot here. Construction progress might demand 3D. A university might be squarely focused on marketing. HDR is the way to go there.

 

There are several assets you can use for large virtual tours. Drone 360 panoramas can be a real winner. Not only do they help navigate, but it is an impressive and unique way to view all of a space. Drone can be helpful when connecting buildings either way. 360 video is another thought. Being able to show the atmosphere of a space as it is, is the closest thing we have to taking someone to a space. Adding a few features like this into a tour can make it the crown jewel of the marketing department.

 

Massive Virtual Tour Equipment.

There is a gauntlet of options. You can spend between $300 and $20,000. You’re going to get a lot of opinions on 360 cameras. The Ricoh Theta Z1 is a fantastic option. At only $1,100, it’s a great choice. And, the price point is where it is ideal (demanded) that you carry a spare while on site.

A big camera for a big job

Make sure you have the right gear!

Regarding 3D cameras, Matterport is its own. You can get used Pro2 for $2,000 on up. Just make sure you send it to Matterfix.io for a tune up. We’re not endorsed, they’re literally the only operators in that space. And they have a UK location. In all transparency we have done business with them before, so at the very least I can say their service is great.

 

Virtual Tour Location Preparation.

Momentum 360 has a shoot prep guide. This helps set expectations. But for capturing large virtual tours, you are going to have added considerations. You need to think of some broader issues.

Getting a facility with hundreds of employees on the same page is hard. You need to strategize. Email blasts from HR leading up help. Also, posting signs in several spots. Letting people know they may need to clear the area, work from home, or suspend operations.

Scheduling goes a long way. Calculate how quickly you can work. Get the sizes of various spaces. Come up with a rough outline of what to expect. You can help keep things much more fluid.

Don’t forget other considerations. Making sure areas are tidy and clean. If places need to be staged, that is it done. Have groundskeeping or maintenance do spot fixes the day before. When capturing massive virtual tours, it’s a team effort. And not just you and the marketing department. Make sure to make yourself available for questions.

Point of contact orientation.

When capturing massive virtual tours, it’s important to have an orientation. Not with the entire facility, but with one or two key people with enough seniority to get things done in a reasonable manner. This can often best be done by shooting a prerecorded video, and distributing so people can watch when it works for them. Be available for emails and follow ups.

Learning about virtual tours

Learning about virtual tours

Often, a virtual/face to fact kick off meeting two to three weeks in advance is a good idea. You’ll want to go over exact details regarding execution. What can and cannot be fixed after the image has been captured. Now is a good time to review cancelation policies, and the added cost of needing to come back if an area needs to be recaptured for whatever reason.

With massive virtual tours, there will be errors. So it’s important to pass that off to your client to set expectations. We’re going to cover expectations more, next.

Expectations.

Setting expectations is important. There are so many moving pieces when making a massive virtual tour. You need to help your client understand the process. This can cover many areas. Like production, post production, and utilization.

Let the customer know that over hundreds or thousands of panos, there are going to be a few people on the tour- it is simply inevitable. When capturing a massive virtual tour, it’s a guarantee. Helping the customer understand this in advance will help. Also, reiterate murphy’s law. Anything that can go wrong, will. So it’s important to cover certain areas. What happens if the gear breaks down? Or there are storms? What about last minute work being done? And of people with the right keys not being where they need to be at the right time?

Massive virtual tours are a task all their own. It’s important you set the same distinction.

 

Massive Post Production Expectations.

 

Each editing style has its own timeline. Make sure you understand your workflow. Massive virtual tours take massive amounts of time to complete. Setting these expectations in advance with your client will go a long way in not only building trust, but making sure there is a good experience all around.

When it comes to utilization of massive virtual tours, here are some things to keep in mind. First, location. Get the virtual tour everywhere you can. From Google street view to your own home page. Don’t forget, QR codes can be a very easy way to distribute the tour on print or physical media.

Virtual Tour Execution.

It’s time. Appointment set, departments briefed. Your first massive virtual tour is before you. Let’s talk about the few steps before and the few steps that follow from this point. First off, you’re going to need proper sleep. Not just the night before, but try to get several good nights of sleep in a row, before your multi-day venture.

Don’t forget to check your gear. Put it through its paces, after updating firmware. Make sure you understand any new features (or bugs) before you get into the field. Massive virtual tours have little room for error. Make sure all maintenance has been completed, and all other auxiliary considerations are up to speed.

To keep timelines down, you might need to keep breaks down to a minimum. Make sure you have a strategy to generate or store power for use throughout the day. It’s also important, finally, to stay fueled and hydrated. It can be tempting to do things in a single shot. But making sure you get a chance to eat and drink water is very important.
Lastly, speak to your doctor. Some massive virtual tours can require tens or hundreds of hours on site. This is a massive physical undertaking for some. Make sure you have been cleared to engage in this level of physical activity. It seems simple, but 50 hours in, you’re going to wish you considered it.

Massive File Management.

It’s hard to over emphasize this. When shooting massive virtual tours, you need a file management plan. When the raw assets number in the thousands, you need to make sure you are staying on top of things. A really easy way to double your post production time is to not take this seriously.

File management comes in handy in two ways. First, it keeps you organized. Which is highly important when capturing a massive virtual tour. Secondly, it allows for spot quality control. You want to be able to catch onto things like file corruption way too early, so you can circle back with minimal interruption.

Conclusion.

 

Don’t let massive virtual tours scare you. If you’re in the industry long enough, you’ll get a chance to quote one. Don’t forget, don’t undersell the industry. Remember that you are bringing massive value to the table for the customer. Charge accordingly. Massive virtual tours come with a massive price tag, and there is no breakdown for size. That is a backwards model. Make sure you have a clear understanding of your time on site. Consider all the various shooting methods and options available to you. Make sure you have the right equipment, and enough of it as back up if needed. Make sure the location has been prepped. All practical precautions have been taken.

Make sure the onsite contacts have been briefed. They are key to ensuring the overall success. Make sure expectations have been managed, and are crystal clear. Have a defined understanding of your execution. From first step to last. And lastly, a comprehensive file management plan.

In the end, massive virtual tours are exciting, profitable, and doable! So don’t be intimidated and remember, charge what it’s worth.

 

How Much Does Video Animation Cost?

August 6, 2022 in Content Marketing, Photography, Videography

How Much Does Video Animation Cost?

Overview

Hey there, and welcome back to another Momentum 360 blog! In this one, we’ll be discussing the cost of video animation, and why you should totally hire us to take on your project!

If this is your first time with us, welcome aboard. We look forward to connecting with you on this first occasion and seeing you again soon. If you’re a previous reader from our blog, welcome back and thank you so much for your continued support! Remember, without you, we couldn’t possibly have the brand we do now.

So…video animation. It’s 2022 and it’s absolutely blowing up in popularity. You’re looking to hire a company to do this for you, as your company has absolutely no idea on how to do this for yourself, which is fine! You should be hiring a professional to do this for you, so you should focus on your business and keep growing it.

We’ll be discussing many different things to take into account when we quote video animation. All these different parts of the project are imperative to not only creating a great product, but making sure we deliver it on-time, exactly what you wanted, to have incredible results, long after we complete your video. So sit back, relax, maybe grab a snack, and let us show you all of the things that we take into account here at Momentum 360, when quoting video animation. Slainte!

How Much Does Video Animation Cost?

How Much Does Video Animation Cost?

Specs & Scope of Work

Before we discuss features, duration, etc, we need to establish what the video will be about. For Momentum 360, we work with many niches such as: healthcare, retail, commercial, education, and so on and so forth.

To create a consistent level of success, we need to be able to have a clear understanding of the work and expectations. For the sake of simplicity for this blog, let’s pretend that we’re making an animated video for a larger healthcare facility that wants to showcase their new surgeon table + instruments that just came off the patent table.

Now that we have an overview of what the video will be about, we’ll need to collect additional details of what exactly the surgeon table looks like, as well as the new instruments used for surgery. Once we have this, we’ll craft a storyboard to illustrate and show off the table + instruments in a way that has conviction, to showcase to patients or other partners of that specific hospital that they have the most up-to-date technology!

The price of the hospital’s video animation depends greatly on this scope of work. To make sure that you can have an incredible video and get a fast quote from our team, you need to have a storyboard and a clear vision on what exactly you want to showcase in your video. We will obviously be able to help you with this, but please understand that having a rough estimate of what exactly you want to feature will be imperative to giving you the fastest quote we can in order to start!

Equipment

I know this is more technical of a section, so don’t feel the need to understand everything we’re talking about. In this section, we’ll outline everything that Momentum 360 uses on a daily basis to create incredible animated videos!

3ds Max (Autodesk). This commercial animation software tool allows digital artists to produce 3D animations, including developing models and rendering them into 2D or 3D images.

After Effects (Adobe). Digital artists can use this commercial tool to add visual effects and motion graphics elements to film, TV, video, online content, presentations, and more.

Animate (Adobe). Users can create animations across multiple media, from cartoons and banner ads to interactive content for games, TV shows, academic content, and infographics.

Blender (The Blender Foundation). This free open source 3D graphics creation suite offers a comprehensive feature set to create animations, digital art, visual effects, 2D and 3D models, and more.

Cartoon Animator 4 (Reallusion). Digital artists across TV, film, web, and game development using this versatile animation tool can create 2D animation with 3D motion.

Character Animator (Adobe). Digital artists can use their own movements and expressions to create animated characters in real time.

Dragonframe (DZED Systems). The advanced image capture interface of this tool is popular among digital artists in the movie industry for stop motion animation, motion design, and visual effects.

FlipBook (DigiCel). Whether drawing with a stylus and tablet or using pen and paper, this animation software offers digital artists intuitive tools to create 2D animations.

Maya (Autodesk). This commercial software provides digital artists with a comprehensive platform and an extensive feature set, including modeling, simulation, and rendering, to create 3D computer animations.

Moho Pro 13 (Smith Micro). Formerly known as Anime Studio, this vector-based 2D animation software gives digital artists various tools to create animations and cartoons, including 2D and 3D characters.

Moovly (Moovly). The novice and expert can use this cloud-based software to create animated videos and videos with animated graphics for various applications, including marketing and training.

OpenToonz (Digital Video SpA). This software tool allows digital artists to create 2D animations. As open source software, it’s free to use, anyone can modify its source code, and it’s frequently updated.

Pencil2D. For digital designers interested in using traditional drawing techniques, this open source software allows users to create 2D cartoons using both bitmap and vector graphics.

PhotoMirage (Corel). Corel, the developer of the world’s first full-featured graphics suite, continues to build innovative tools. For example, PhotoMirage is an animation tool that enables users to combine still images with motion graphics.

Piskel. This free online editor allows digital artists to create animations reminiscent of the pixel art in video games created in the 1980s.

Powtoon (Powtoon).This cloud-based animation software for digital artists and amateurs alike in business, education, and other sectors allows users to create animated explainer videos, demos, and presentations.

Spine (Esoteric Software). For digital artists interested in gaming, this software offers users the tools to create 2D animation for games, as well as 3D effects.

Stop Motion Studio (Cateater). This software provides an intuitive interface. Its features include frame-by-frame editing to allow digital artists of all ages to create stop motion movies using a desktop or phone app.

Synfig Studio. Open source software such as Synfig Studio provides users with a host of features to create 2D vector-based animations, and it’s free to use.

Harmony 20 (Toon Boom). This popular 2D software tool includes end-to-end features to enable digital artists to create animations, from conception to final production.

TVPaint Animation (TVPaint Development). For animators who may want to draw on paper, this 2D software, based on bitmap technology, allows artists to create animations using traditional and digital methods.

This is a great comprehensive list of what we do to create incredible animated videos for your business!

Features

How Much Does Video Animation Cost?

How Much Does Video Animation Cost?

There’s a lot of different features that you can have in your animated video. It’s all about what works at the end of the day. Do you want smooth transitions? Slower transitions to illustrate certain points? This is extremely important! The biggest thing we can tell you here at Momentum 360 is to think of the customer and your end result. If you’re going to half ass the video, your customers will give you half assed appreciation. It’s that simple!

Example 1: Fast Transitions

This is perfect for hospitals that are looking to showcase their new equipment and create quick conversions to get people excited.

Example 2: Slow Transitions

This is good for investors who want to see how a new healthcare product or service operates.

Example 3: Text Illustrations

This is ideal for a hospital that needs to showcase a product with a lot of complex features.

Example 4: Catchy Hospital Song

This is ideal for showing off a hospital’s brand and how they operate.

Example 5: Voice Over

This is to showcase another product or service a hospital performs, only in verbal communication.

As you can see, all of these videos have a different style, and it’s imperative to see which one will work for you! The greater you know yourself as a brand, the better!

Turnaround

This depends on multiple factors. Like the previous section mentioned, if you have the certain video animation you want, coupled with an idea of features, this will allow the turnaround time to be complete in a very compelling time.

Since we’re not shooting anything persay and going off of animations to create a lot of the content, it’s a lot more time and effort than you would imagine. Especially in today’s day in age where people need things immediately and don’t have the patience to wait, we encourage other video producers to take their time when creating projects. Taking your time with certain projects ensures that people love the work, and that most likely the work will be good.

Like previously mentioned, when quoting our customers and trying to figure out a cost to video animation services, there are a lot of different factors that come into play with it. Here is a quick list of those factors that impact turnaround time:

  • Scope of work
  • Features
  • Budget
  • Communication
  • Experience
  • Duration

For Momentum 360, we’re able to finish video animation projects within a week. Normally it’s less than that, but we like to give ourselves a day or two for expectations. We’d much rather under promise and over deliver than the other way around!

Ideal Duration

How Much Does Video Animation Cost?

How Much Does Video Animation Cost?

For the cost of video animation projects, this greatly depends on one thing and one thing only: how long do you want this incredible animated video to be?

We give rough estimates over the phone when prospects call us, but it all depends on the duration. If you want an animated video that is 10+ minutes long, be prepared to have a pretty big budget! All of this stuff isn’t cheap, and you know that. So make sure that you have a good idea of how long you want the video to be.

We recommend that all videos are roughly between 3-5, ideally less. Like we mentioned before, people have very short attention spans! So it’s not out of the question to have a video that’s less than a couple minutes, or better yet a minute in general!

Pricing

Finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! We didn’t mean to tease you, it’s just we need to discuss the intangibles before we go into pricing. So for Momentum 360, this is what our pricing looks like. For each minute of animated video, we normally charge $1000.

This is due to the fact that we provide tremendous value per minute of video that we create, so it’s only natural that we charge this amount.

Next Steps

To hire Momentum 360, all you need to do is go to our website and fill out on of our forms. If you aren’t able to do that, you can always call our HQ line at 215-607-6482 or email us at info@momentumvirtualtours.com for a free quote. You’ll talk to the co-founder of Momentum 360, Sean Boyle for all your video animation cost manners!

Momentum 360 is a full-scale content marketing company, servicing all 50 states with over 1,500 photographers in the USA. We boast one of the highest rated services in the industry based on our fast communication and strong services.

 

Luxury Real Estate Marketing Company

June 3, 2022 in Blog, Content Marketing, Real Estate

 

Luxury Real Estate Marketing Company

Important marketing ideas for a luxury real estate marketing company

You may be aware that digital marketing changes every year, and the methods and techniques for promoting companies also change. So, it is important to adapt to these changes and use new strategy in order to stay competitive. It is important to look for a luxury real estate marketing company to market a different strategy. Luxury and premium category projects in the real estate industry demand certain unique techniques to distinguish. Because the real estate industry is largely managed, you can easily increase your brand’s reach and exposure by adding effective and current marketing methods into your strategy. The ideas will help you in learning about some amazing luxury real estate marketing ideas and strategies that will help you take your business to the next level. Here are some of the most effective luxury real estate marketing ideas to use in your campaign:

Identify and understand your target market

There are numerous factors to consider when analyzing your target market, ranging from which media channel they prefer, what magazines they read, what marketing messages they respond to, and their expectations of your product. The few things you need to watch out for are:

  • Younger buyers have considerably different demands and expectations than older affluent consumers.
  • Buyers from other countries are not the same as those from the current one. First-time purchasers may have different perspectives than seasoned buyers. Thus, cultural and language concerns must be considered and catered to.
  • From one group to the next, decision-makers will change. Some buyers work closely with their lawyer or accountant, while others go it alone.

Building your understanding of your target market is a continuous process that should begin far before your sales launch and continue to be adjusted as you progress through the sales cycle.

Create a website

In the recent trend, most people use the internet to search for products and services before purchasing. Creating a website for your real estate business can demonstrate what you have to offer to potential clients. You can also include listings on your website and update it regularly to keep visitors returning while searching for real estate. In addition, you can also add a few unique things to your website to make it stand out. Consider this mortgage calculator and other simple value additions for visitors.

Luxury Blog

Blogs are more information-based and can provide an overview of the current market situation. You can also write about individual houses you are selling, which gives a more casual view of luxury homes and is more genuine, making it more approachable to a wider audience.

You can take advantage of blogs. Luxury blogs can be used to increase the number of clicks on your website and increase the visibility of your real estate brand. You will attract more clients who can relate to you and respect what you are doing if you have a blog that reflects your personality. You can utilize blogs to boost your audience’s reliability and keep them light while exhibiting your personality and points of view.

Whitepapers and E-Books

Whitepapers and e-books can help you take your content to the next level by providing something unique to your audience. Whitepapers can help customers make accurate decisions. It is a way for you to send customers relevant information while generating leads. E-books can also help in the buying process.

Potential purchasers can use both mediums to help make decisions and evaluate their purchasing process. Because knowledgeable individuals in your field will edit whitepapers and e-books, they can boost your credibility.

Send personalized postcards for the season

Postcards are a great way to stay in touch with customers throughout the holidays. In contrast to internet marketing, direct mail is a more physical form of communication. Customers are more likely to take action if they see a postcard around the house more frequently. As a result, postcard marketing is twice as effective as digital marketing, with a conversion rate of 5.7 per cent. Direct mail is another low-cost real estate marketing technique. A luxury real estate marketing company will issue personalized holiday postcards.

Business Cards

You can try a well-made business card with a unique design because it will help your company stand out from the competitors. The business card should look professional and modern, reflecting the brand’s values and innovation because it represents both the agent and the company. This is also a good straightway to boost your business.

If you want to maintain consistency, use the same logo, font style, and theme colours. It would be excellent if these statistics could be linked to the marketing materials. When potential buyers see the brand and its colours, they are more likely to feel confident. They will remember your company and a certain real estate agent.

Share property video tours

Real estate marketers should include video content in their marketing strategies, as it is one of the most powerful marketing techniques. According to current statistics and expert predictions, video consumption has shifted dramatically over the years and will continue to use it in the future. Because of the popular usage of video by internet users, real estate marketers have a great opportunity to provide a full property tour video.

The property tour video should cover everything from the unit’s interior to the views and location. You can also highlight how the project’s luxurious and necessary facilities would improve the client’s lifestyle.

Use email marketing campaigns

You may build a way to collect email addresses and promote to those individuals by using a popular email marketing system and installing Lead Pages. Lead Pages allows you to create compelling landing pages so that you may collect email addresses to promote to afterwards.

Although it may appear confusing at first, email marketing is definitely the most profitable. Money is certainly on the list, but it must be done correctly, and the right people must first be attracted. Use your email marketing to add a lot of value over time consistently, and you will see how quickly the results rise.

Approach local radio and television stations

The real estate market is constantly covered by local radio and television media. Why not contact them and express your thoughts on the air? This does not require the use of a high-priced marketing firm. Using the internet, you may easily find nearby radio and television stations.

Send a letter or an email to the stations you frequently listen to. You may send them a video of yourself talking about real estate and presenting them with your ideas. It may be straightforward, but if you can get the attention of the proper reporters, it will be well worth it. Using a system, you can also identify yourself as a source in the real world.

Methods of marketing a luxury property

Luxury homes are not advertised in the same manner that ordinary homes are. Put it another way that you won’t just put a photo of your house on your realtor’s website and in the local real estate journal. Your home must be advertised to a very specific audience.

A seasoned luxury real estate marketing company will know where to promote your listing so that the correct people notice it. They can also employ marketing strategies not generally used to sell a standard home. They can create a professional video showing all your home’s features inside and outside. This video will highlight all of your home’s excellent features. It will be more appealing to potential customers as a result of this.

Event Hosting 

You can go the additional mile and host an event to achieve success and specific targets in your marketing strategy and gain extra popularity for your luxury projects. Although the approach of hosting an event is not new to the real estate industry, just a few marketers use it.

You can host an event with a theme, such as an art show, and a social reason, such as helping underprivileged people. You could get genuine consumers and bookings for your project at this event. You should use this excellent method while marketing your luxury real estate property.

Hire a professional copywriter

Why would not you employ a professional copywriter with experience in real estate or luxury house marketing? You hire a professional photographer, videographer, and stager, so why wouldn’t you hire a professional copywriter with experience in real estate or luxury home marketing? Copywriters are trained to write in a way that stimulates the proper emotion and provides soothing explanations, understanding the psychology of decision-making. They also have a broad and deep understanding of English, allowing them to turn even the most boring listing into an exciting story about the ideal property. A professional copywriter would write to your target customer as if they were talking with them directly.

Leverage traditional advertising media

While the real estate industry has not been exempt from the digital transition, some old-school marketing methods can still be useful in a real estate marketing strategy. For example, print advertisements and billboards can substantially boost real estate agent’s marketing efforts.

Partner with local businesses

Use your local connections to advertise listings and invite them to an open house event by partnering with clothing boutiques, home decor showrooms, and coffee cafes. Set up pop-up stores in different parts of the house as a novel method to encourage people to come to your open house. This enables potential buyers to look around each space, and you may work with local companies to determine what kind of discounts you can provide.

Property listing is a must

Property has become a vital marketing technique and an effective approach to attract potential clients in the real estate business. It is important to list your property on various reputable real estate platforms to ensure you do not lose out on any genuine and interested buyers.

Because people prefer more content and specifics when searching for real estate, including high-quality photographs, videos, and a lengthy description in a listing can result in more enquiries and leads.

Newspaper Listing

Although a lot of advertising is going digital, newspapers is still a great way to advertise your luxury real estate listings. You might be surprised to learn that some people still prefer to have their newspapers brought to their homes and read them while drinking coffee.

If you consider placing an ad in the newspaper, a full-page double spread is eye-catching and will attract readers’ attention. Coloured photos are preferred, but if you must use black and white photos, make sure they are of the best quality, clear, and crisp.

Create eye-catching infographics

Most of the people love visuals, which is why infographics have become so popular. Infographics are an excellent method to present essential data and statistics in a visually appealing style that people like browsing and sharing on social media.

Infographics like three primary reasons why real estate agents are better than for sale by owner illustrate why individuals should hire a real estate agent instead of trying to sell their homes independently. You can use infographics for your luxury real estate marketing company in your own blog posts.

Build a System for Referrals

Creating a referral system is one approach to boosting your online real estate marketing efforts. You could incorporate this into your email signature to make it more passive rather than active, but it does not hurt to just ask for a referral at first. After a few successful transactions, network with your consumers and ask them to suggest you to their friends.

You may also consider offering something in exchange for referrals. It may be a gift card, a home depot gift card, and something completely different. Whatever it is, you can come up with a unique method to pitch it to your customers and then make sure you treat everyone equally.

Final Thoughts

All of the above luxury real estate marketing ideas have been proven to help you promote your real estate business. Also, many successful real estate marketers have followed similar methods and adapted to market change and trends. Knowing about marketing campaigns, digital platforms, and tools is useful, but employing a real estate marketing company to handle all of your digital marketing needs is much better.

Hotel Digital Marketing Agency

June 2, 2022 in Blog, Content Marketing, Virtual Tours

What are the things to consider while choosing a Hotel Digital Marketing Agency? 

Nowadays, selecting a hotel digital marketing agency to collaborate with can be a difficult and intimidating undertaking. There are a lot of agencies out there with different specializations, and picking the correct one might mean the difference between blowing up your marketing budget and taking your company to the next level.

Hotel Digital Marketing

With the digital world expanding exponentially, there is no end to the number of rapidly growing digital marketing businesses in your area. Choosing a digital marketing agency can be tricky, with new ones popping up daily and each claiming to be the best at their job. Let’s discuss the things to consider while choosing a hotel digital marketing agency:

Reference 

A sales pitch may be tempting, but it will leave out crucial information you need to know before hiring a hotel digital marketing agency. Looking through the agency’s portfolio, asking for references, and speaking with the marketing agency’s clients are the greatest ways to figure out who you are working with.

They can tell you if the agency is responsive, easy to work with, and capable of consistently delivering the outcomes they claim. Get references from reliable persons and pin the agency which was referred by many people commonly.

Background & Age

Because Hotel Digital Marketing Agencies are constantly springing up, many will still be considered “new.” The age of the agency, as well as the backgrounds of its staff, are critical factors to examine. But many hotel owners forget to consider this factor and face the consequences later.

If this is the case, you should carefully analyze the background and experience of their key senior staff members, as well as how they may apply that knowledge to help your company reach its goals. If you find any bad background for their employees, avoid that agency and move to the next.

Hotel Digital Marketing Agency

Location  

As you will have to meet face to face at some time, you will need to think about the route. Although most things can be done over email or phone, there are instances when a face-to-face encounter is required. If you are headquartered in one place, and the agency is in a faraway place, someone will have to travel a great deal to make this partnership work.

That isn’t to suggest it won’t work, and it just could be more difficult than if the agency were 30 minutes away. To manage the digital marketing for your hotel, you should hire the agencies nearby and avoid the agencies out of the city.

Working culture 

It is a personal question for many, but it must be addressed. You would be assigned to the agency for a specific amount of time. Your working style and vibes must be compatible. You should research the agency’s working culture.

Your hotel range will grow better with them. Because you need to see if they support extracurricular activities, if meetings are formal and serious, and what the management style is like, among other things. These factors will influence how the team functions. You can expect good results from them if there is solid teamwork.

Pricing

Do you check the price of the Hotel Digital Marketing Agencies? How much of your marketing budget have you set aside? What is the maximum amount you can spend on marketing consultants? Never be careless with this factor, and as a hotel owner, you should spend time considering it.

Specialists suggest contacting an only some different digital marketing businesses to see which one best matches your budget. Request a quote or look at their published prices. However, keep in mind that cheap does not always imply quality. Low-cost agencies may lack the experience or abilities needed to get the desired results.

Hotel Digital Marketing Agency

Lists of services

Since each company’s objectives are different, what worked for your competition might not work for you? Hotel owners and business people must first establish which digital services they will require to fulfill your objectives. Make sure that they are skilled enough and can serve your requirements.

Choosing the best digital marketing services agency will also save time because you won’t have to go to another agency for future digital and tech demands. Check to see if the firm you are considering can design you the greatest website and is also on top of their SEO, paid marketing game, and social media.

Consultation 

A possible digital marketing agency must spend time learning about your hotel and its marketing requirements. They must offer you with a admiring consultation to assess your powers and shortcomings.

Additionally, they will provide you with their recommendations and costs from here. It is a critical phase in the procedure. Remember that just because a firm offers you a free consultation doesn’t mean you have to hire them. Consider the other factors properly and make the final decision.

Marketing Audit

Request an audit of your current marketing activity from the hotel marketing agency you are considering. This in-depth examination of your online presence and placement on all major search engines will give you a clear picture of your digital footprint.

The audit will give you a starting point to compare future marketing efforts to, and a reputable agency will present you with a list of adjustments they would make, allowing you to gauge their readiness to fulfill your marketing needs.

Hotel Digital Marketing Agency

Techniques

No agency will be completely transparent about their techniques because they don’t want to reveal their trade secrets but a good agency should be willing to share a few of their techniques related to the work they’re proposing for your company.

If a company offers you 300 article links, 1000 blog comments, and 500 directory submissions in exchange for link building, they might not be the right fit. And this is where you must concentrate. Are the methods they are describing applicable? Check that also.

Online presence 

Examining an agency’s social media profiles, blogs, and other online presences is one of the finest methods to determine how good they are at what they do. The quality of an agency’s internal work can indicate the level of service it can deliver.

Online presence is one of the best proofs for the hotel digital marketing agencies as the best one. You can bet that if they don’t have enough online power over their firm, they won’t have any over yours. As a result, consider how good they are compared to their competition.

Reporting

A good hotel marketing agency will provide detailed monthly reporting, showing you where you are in terms of online traffic, marketing effort, and ROI. Examine the reporting tools that the marketing agency advises utilizing.

The top hotel digital marketing agencies will use industry-standard tools like Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools instead of their proprietary reports, which may leave out essential attributes.

How do the hotel’s digital marketing agencies help you? 

You might ask why you should spend this much time and consider various things to appoint them. Because once you hire them, they will help you in multiple ways, and they are assured of the growth of your hotel. Here are the lists of benefits of having digital marketing agencies for your hotel:

  • Flexible and scalable solutions – Clients can use digital marketing agencies’ flexible resources. Depending on the client’s demands, they can scale the crew up or down. It enables a flexible team structure that can adapt to changing situations quickly and effectively.
  • Take Advantage of Expert Advice – The fact that it is their area of expertise is perhaps the most compelling argument to seek assistance from a hotel marketing company. It means they are not only marketing experts, but they have also applied their knowledge to the hotel sector.

Hotel Digital Marketing

  • Deadlines must be met on time – It is important to realize that achieving your business goals will be simple once you have a sound marketing strategy in place. It’s important to remember that a competent digital marketing agency can assist you with the development and planning stages of reaching out to the media.
  • Your concentration is always on progress – Having a digital agency as a partner allows you to concentrate on the most critical areas of your company’s growth. Sure, it involves incredible digital marketing, but you can reduce a lot of the burden when you have a team of trustworthy, accountable experts taking care of the details.
  • Taking Advantage of Content Marketing – High-quality content marketing is another area where hotel marketing agencies may shine and provide genuine value. Everything from email marketing campaigns to social media management to influencer marketing, video marketing, blogging, and copywriting falls under this category.

Wrapping it up:

Hopefully, now you have a clear idea of how to choose the hotel’s digital marketing agency by considering the given factors. Working with a company dedicated to your brand’s success is critical. When looking for the right digital marketing agency, it is a good idea to ask you a few questions.

However, you also want to know that you are working with someone who can offer exactly what you desire. Before putting together a bespoke solution proposal, the top agencies should take the time to learn about you, your organization, and your goals.