I think I have stumbled on a fantastic video that shows the right way small businesses should advertise on social media. 

I see a lot of Instagram vendors do all sorts of things in the name of marketing their products and services. They dance, shout and even act movies😪 and I wonder if there's a better way to advertise.

Guys, I legit saw an IG reel of a vendor shouting and accusing an invisible staff of stealing😬. I legit thought it was real. 

Anyways, back to the main gist. So I stumbled on this video on Instagram and now I have a clue .

While his mimic of President-elect Donald Trump is hilarious. I mean, the wig is wigging. I love the red tie and his hand movements. He also seems to know when to add DT's popular phase "Can you believe that?”.

It's no wonder why the video has 230,866 likes.

So I went through all his videos and here are some tips you should consider when marketing.

1. We ship worldwide: I understand not a lot of brands in Nigeria can do this effortlessly because of the peculiar nature of our ports, but I know that brands that indicate worldwide shipping tend to sell more than brands who don't offer this service. I would advise vendors to find ways to ship to and outside Africa in order to gain global clients.

2. Using trends: Tony, the owner created many Donald Trump mimic videos before the election. Tapping into pop culture and what's trending is a smart way to tell stories on social media.

3. Add emotion: If you check the comment section, you will see people saying they will order a sign just because of how hilarious the videos are. One person even commented about needing a sign for their bedroom.

What I find interesting is how relatable the comment section can be. I found myself wondering what type of sign I needed in my life. If not for the deplorable state of our ports, I should be sharing a image of my sign here. lol.

There's also a video where Tony the owner mentioned that LC signs is a family owned business. This fact connects people  emotionally to the brand.

4. State your value: Why would people patronize LC signs all the way in China , China 🇨🇳? 

•  No MOQ: This is a brilliant value proposition because most wholesalers insist on a certain Minimum Order Quantity (a specified number of stock a seller starts selling from. e.g 12 pieces and above) and small businesses just need 1 or 2 pieces. As a craftie (I love sewing clothes during my spare time), I probably might need to order a sign of my business name for future fashion shows or fairs, and so having a business who offers this value is amazing to me.
• Trendy signs: There are so many edgy designs of neon signs on his page. Honestly, a lot of his designs are very nice and uncommon especially in the Nigerian market. So if you order a sign, you are sure to stand out.
• Quality: In other videos on his page, Tony (the owner) educates his audience on bad neon signage (something about low-level). This is brilliant. Your page should not only sell, it should teach your audience how to use your products. I hope to see more videos on how to set up the signs, how to maintain them etc. 

Still on quality, he mentioned his signs are waterproof 💦. This is something his customers will be looking for. Don't just assume people know this fact. Always state the value your products bring.

• After sales service: Although he mentioned this in another video, I wonder how this will work especially because LC signs is located in China. How will I access after sales services in Lagos, Nigeria? Nevertheless, this is a great value proposition to add.

• Certified and tested: Tony mentioned that his products have CE and UL certifications. I checked online and this is what they mean.
  

In a world where manufacturers are blinded by profit, letting your customers know that your products are certified and safe is a great way to build trust in your brand.

Now back to the other points to note

4.  Link in bio: Tony always says there is a sales person waiting for you on their WhatsApp. Always add your website/ WhatsApp link to your social media pages. Instagram has an option to add numerous link on your bio. 

5. Call To Action (CTA): LC signs has two CTAs.

The first prompt is for you to click their WhatsApp business page link and speak with their standby sales person while the second CTA is to follow LC signs. You should always include a CTA in any marketing caption , video or image you create.

6. Indicate location: You have no doubt that LC signs is located in China. I mean that's the first thing he says "China, China🇨🇳 ". This way, your audience can decide if they want to patronize you or not.

7. Be innovative: Don’t be afraid to try out different things. If you check his IG timeline, he has done different forms of mimics: from a Spanish man, a Texan rancher, and a young black man. I guess the one that clicked with everyone is the Donald Trump mimics.

8. Be consistent: Tony’s videos follow a consistent script; funny, contains all the services he renders, all shot in the LC sign factory. Be consistent.

In conclusion, strive to be different and if you need pointers, don't forget to follow LC sign 😆