Here’s how we did it
Preparing for the future
Our strategy centred around providing insight and advice that was not only for temporary use, however would allow Specsavers to future-proof the “new normal”.
We developed a COVID-19 Care content hub designed to be customer friendly and easy to understand, with a view that this would be migrated into existing content at a later stage, for upcycling purposes. We were also able to identify key trends that would continue into the new normal and form part of the wider business strategy, namely the new in-store experience and the growing movement towards “telehealth” and RemoteCare services.
From the initial outbreak of COVID-19 towards exit planning, our research and insight provided validation on the communication decision being made by the business. Our end goal was to ensure that we were able to deliver fast and accurate insight that could be conveyed into content of different forms for the website, social media, and PR related to the content hub, as well as inform the Specsavers Customer Surveying Panel.
The assurance framework
To pinpoint key areas for content development we deployed our Assurance framework which is based off a four stage model called the OODA loop: Observe — we used trend analysis, customer insight tools, and desk research on a daily basis to identify any search key trends. Orient — we collated all insight into a collaboration repository, with any key insight discussed within a weekly report and call. Decide — within the weekly call, make a decision on the key parts of insight that will be taken forward. Act — agree on creative option for the content and on what platforms it could be used (website, YouTube, social media, PR).
From our research we were able make recommendations on the conversations which Specsavers should consider being a part of, as well as provide insight to partner agencies (such as social media and PR) in order to guide their own tactics.
Discover our full assurance framework here.
Tackling the “blue light” boom
One key insight gathered from our assurance report was the rapid increase in searches for “blue light glasses”. While there is no link between COVID-19 and blue light, searches for “blue light glasses” grew by 170 per cent from March 2020 to April 2020 due to the increase in people working from home. This said, the jury was still out on the effectiveness of blue light blocking glasses, with reliable scientific research finding no proven benefit of wearing them for your eye health.
Using our assurance insight, Curated were able to respond to this trending topic with a myth-busting piece around the effectiveness of blue light glasses. Working alongside clinical experts, we were able to inject Specsavers expertise within the blue light conversation — despite not even selling the glasses.
Within two months of going live, the article “Do blue light glasses really work?” now ranks in position one for “blue light glasses” — a keyword that averages 60,000 searches per month.
Recognising success
Curated’s process resulted in Specsavers creating genuinely useful and authoritative content which met the needs of customers at a difficult time. The goal of the project was not to drive booking appointments or revenue, but ensure that Specsavers empathised with customers and addressed their concerns, as well as providing a source of expertise for the whole of the UK and Ireland.
Our content resulted in a great amount of traction over the coronavirus lockdown period and even into the recovery stages of the pandemic. In particular, following search trend insight, we developed a piece of content around “How to stop glasses fogging up with a face mask”, and collaborated with Specsavers’ PR and social media teams on how this insight could inform wider channel activity. From July to August 2020, the piece saw huge organic success:
- Ranking position #1 on Google for “glasses fog” queries.
- Over 120,000 organic sessions (and growing) placing it within the top 10 best-performing organic pages onsite.
- Seventy pieces of PR coverage secured from our insight, including Hello! Magazine, iNews, and a feature on the BBC News homepage.
