How do I become and remain successful?
As an entrepreneur, you probably ask yourself this question regularly, because continuity in return is essential. Of course, you understand that clear communication is important in this. But did you know that entrepreneurs can determine the success of their organization themselves by using communication intelligently?
9 steps
But how do you tackle that? No worries: Explose offers help with communication. We do this according to the explode model. A model that leads you to sustainable success in 9 steps. Together we go through these 9 clear steps, which are divided into the phases explore, expose, explode. An approach that has been successful since 2001. Curious? Then read on quickly…
Create your own success story
and tell the world.
In the exposing phase, we translate your story into an appealing and distinctive concept. We also create a corporate identity and all necessary communication tools. We help you implement both within your organization and beyond. Furthermore, we start by activating the market. Of course, we also pay attention to your staff and network. Feel the pride. Show yourself!
Knowledge is a prerequisite
for success.
Success does not come out of the blue. In our eyes, success starts with knowledge. That is why we invest a lot of our time in the exploration phase. We pay attention to your story and explore markets and target groups. We determine goals in advance and formulate a plan of action. Strategic and creative thinking also starts in this phase: the basis for the development of identity, message and concept.
Enthusiasm and
follow appreciation.
And then comes the applause. Sales figures rise and brand awareness grows. You see that attractive communication leads to success. In order to maintain that success, we analyze and evaluate the reach and effect of the communication expressions used in the explode phase. In this way, the explode model helps in 9 steps to sustainable success.
Your organization
The first step to success begins with knowledge about yourself. At Explose, we start by mapping the DNA of your organization. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the organization? What is the corporate culture like? Describe the services or products you offer. Tell us about your drive and much more.
The market
We want to find a good place in the market for your organization. So we research the communication of your competitors. We look at where the opportunities lie. That way we find the ideal place for your organization. Of course we make sure that this positioning matches your own DNA.
Your customers
Do you know your customers? Do you know your target groups? By mapping the journey that customers make, from start to finish, we know through which channels target groups can be reached. We write a plan of action in the field of communication. Lean & mean of course, because at Explose we do not like thick reports.
Your goals
Many entrepreneurs communicate without a clear plan. We know from experience that this will not work. You want to be able to measure success and that is only possible if the goals have been determined first. So describe your goals briefly and concisely. Maybe you only have a few goals for this year. That's fine too. Then we will use those as a starting point.
The strategy
Once the goals are clear, it is good to think about how these goals are going to be achieved. And within what time frame. In the past, strategic plans were often a ten-year plan, but nowadays more and more entrepreneurs are making a strategic plan for one to three years. This allows them to flexibly adjust in the rapidly changing world around us.
Plan of approach
Once the strategy has been determined, we proceed to determine the actions and communication tools. We draw up a plan of approach and divide the tasks. This way, everyone knows what is expected of him or her. We also discuss the available budgets and allocate them to the planned actions.
An identity
Explose develops a visual identity based on the previously collected information. Our team brainstorms and then designs a house style that seamlessly fits the DNA of the organization and gives a face to your brand. We develop a style guide that forms the basis for all future communication.
The right message
Explose develops a distinctive message. The message makes it clear to the market why your company or brand is the right choice for them. The message is the answer to the question your target group asks themselves: 'What's in it for me?'. It is the basis for your pay-off and all other future communication.
The concept
If you want to stand out in the market, it is important to translate your message into a creative concept. A strong concept makes clear what makes you special, ties in with your identity, sticks with the target group and therefore ensures that you stand out. We develop a concept in words and images. We later translate this concept into any desired form of online and offline communication.
Reach
In order to determine the success of communication, we have determined a zero point in advance and set ourselves a measurable goal. An important goal in communication is to increase your reach. So we are building an (online) community. The advantage of online communication is that the reach of your communication can be measured well.
Involvement and influence
After the phase of getting to know your brand or organization, the phase follows in which you want to increase the involvement of your audience. This can also be measured well via the online platforms you broadcast on. Is your message well received? How are your messages responded to? Measuring is knowing. Moreover, you can analyze the involvement of your audience and thus increase it time and time again.
Actions
Of course, you want communication to ultimately lead to action. Once the target group is familiar with the name or product and has even shown involvement, you can use targeted communication to entice your potential customers to make a purchase or take the first step towards this. Think of filling in an online quote request or subscribing to your newsletter. Analyse and stimulate, so that your customer's willingness to buy increases.
Result
After a good analysis of reach, involvement and actions, it is useful to collect and evaluate results. You take your zero measurement as a starting point and can then measure the progress of the set goals over time. Link the results to the specific communication you sent and then look for cause and coherence.
Cause
By zooming in on the results of the measurements, you can often find the cause of success. Or you can find the reason for the lack of success. We use this knowledge as a basis for the follow-up process. We build on successful communication and leave out what does not work. By evaluating, we work practically and purposefully.
Adjust
Are there differences between the achieved and desired results? First determine at campaign level whether goals have been achieved and what actions are needed to improve the results. In the 9th step of the explode model we then check whether the main goals have been achieved and whether we need to adjust the strategy and our plan of approach.
Your goals
After completing the first 8 steps of the explode model, you will have gained a lot of insight. Based on the new state of affairs and the knowledge gained, we set the goals for the coming period. Growth is often the starting point. Describe your adjusted goals briefly and concisely. Choose a clear number of goals. Better to achieve three goals than to miss ten.
The strategy
Once the new goals are clear, it is important to consider how you are going to achieve these goals. And within what time frame. As mentioned earlier, your strategy may well be a plan for one to three years. It is better to regularly adjust the strategy flexibly, so that you can respond well to the rapidly changing world around us.
Plan of approach
Now that the new goals and adjusted strategy are clear, you can determine new actions and communication tools for the coming period. You put the necessary actions and the tasks to be divided in your plan of approach. In this way, everyone knows what is expected of him or her. We also allocate the available budgets to the planned actions. In this way, the cycle continues and the explode model continues to offer you support in communication.
Corporate identity
Explose creates a unique house style for you. This is recorded in a style guide, which contains all the guidelines for the production of all types of communication media. The style guide also contains a number of designs for, for example, advertisements and websites. The style guide helps you achieve uniformity and recognisability in communication.
Content
Good content is essential for effective communication. We apply the rule 'Good content is authentic, relevant, distinctive, good for search engines, evidentiary, shareable and part of a plan'. And of course good content is well written or illustrated. Explose is particularly adept at the latter. Explose knows your story inside and out and effortlessly translates it into text and image.
Communication tools
After approval of the developed identity, message and concept, we proceed to realize the desired communication tools. We do not do this randomly, but based on the previously determined actions and required tools. The team
van Explose prepares you for entering the market. We follow our plan and together we achieve sustainable success.
Digital
After realization of the corporate identity, you will receive the desired digital templates, so that these can be implemented in your organization. We make (digital) business cards, presentations and e-mail signatures. Explose is also your partner for other wishes in the field of digital communication, both internal and external. You are ready to start.
Online
In recent decades, the role of online communication has become increasingly important. Explose realizes numerous online communication tools, with which you can start sending to the target groups. Of course we deliver a professional website, but your social media channels are also optimally set up to increase the reach. Set up campaigns or trigger target groups with promotional newsletters: Explose makes it all for you.
Offline
In addition to using online communication, offline communication is still an important way to make your company visible. Think of signing, a fleet of vehicles with your message, advertisements in trade magazines and a presence at trade fairs and events with impressive stands and POS material. Explose supplies communication tools from A to Z.
Market
After implementing all communication media, we will proceed to activating the market. According to plan, you will work the market with your message and distinctive communication. The aim of using the chosen communication is to reach new target groups and create brand awareness. In a later phase, brand preference and ultimately even loyalty will follow.
Staff
Just as important as activating the market is activating your own staff. No success without your people. Explose helps to activate employees by giving presentations and information. Moreover, the story we create for you gives you all the tools you need to convey your story clearly and convincingly.
Network
Partners such as suppliers, relations and existing customers also play an important role in the field of communication. Satisfied customers are your best ambassadors and close relationships can result in new potential assignments. Inform your network in a timely, attractive and clear manner about the new identity, website and plans, so that you also activate them and let them work for you.
Knowledge is a condition for success
Success doesn’t happen by chance. In our view, success begins with knowledge. That’s why we invest a significant amount of time in the Explore phase. We focus on your story, analyze markets and target audiences, and define clear objectives while formulating a strategic plan.
This phase also marks the beginning of strategic and creative thinking—the foundation for developing identity, messaging, and concept.