The trio of letters are “WWW”.

Those letters were instantly synonymous with technological progress, and they allowed people to connect with each other all across the globe from the comfort of their homes, offices, Internet cafes and, nearly two decades later, anywhere at all with the conception of smartphones. It’s called the “World Wide Web” for a reason.

Brands have used “the Web” as their main marketing tool since it was first invented. In these modern times, Internet marketing remains the no.1 choice for companies looking for more exposure. TV, radio and printed press marketing remain as popular as ever, but these days brands that don’t utilise social media platforms and other apps are losing out.  

So, what makes a successful marketing campaign? The key point to stress is that marketing campaigns have one clear purpose: to interact, reach and engage with customers. The more people a campaign reaches, the greater the chance that a large number of people will take notice…and that usually means more sales. Of course, a marketing campaign doesn’t necessarily equate to sales; a government broadcast is a good example of a marketing campaign where the main purpose is to get a message across to a population rather than tempt customers. But it remains a campaign and is designed to reach people in just the same way as a commercial campaign.

Large budgets are put aside to come up with the perfect campaign. By “perfect” we mean “successful”, and they often have similar characteristics. The following all contribute to a profitable campaign:

·       Target audience (consumers) – knowing what the customer wants, and how to tempt them.

·       Simple – basic formats are usually the most effective.

·       Memorable – does a marketing campaign linger long in the memory? If so, it will be more valuable to a business than one that is instantly forgotten by the consumer.

·       Funny / eye-catching – humour can play a huge part in a successful campaign. Indeed, comedy has been utilised by companies for decades to achieve sales.

·       Subliminal messages – subtle, hidden messages in campaigns are used to persuade customers over a long time.

Models are used in various marketing campaigns because brands realise the value of real people appealing to…well, real people. Whilst gadgets, gimmicks and technology remain beneficial marketing ploys, frequently only models will do. And this is good news in the ever-changing commercial world: good news for you, us, and our clients!

Brands are constantly evolving. Their growth is dependent on increased revenue, and marketing campaigns are crucial in a brand’s expansion. As brands develop, so too do their revenue. More revenue equals more marketing budgets, put aside to increase brand awareness in a bid to secure more revenue…hence more growth. It’s a continuous cycle for a successful brand, and it’s a cycle that works.    

Through social media platforms and the Internet, marketing can be instantly effective around the globe. With just a few clicks here and a few “shares” there, the size of a brand’s audience can be amplified in a way that would have been incomprehensible three or four decades ago.

The Web may have changed the world in one way or another, but models can be a small part of that. To get involved, spend just a couple of minutes submitting your application to us or if you’re a brand looking for models to appear in your next online campaign speak to our bookings team!

https://www.modelsdirect.com/

If you’re thinking about unlocking something new for 2021 then you have come to the right place. We’ll let you in on how our simple application process works after you’ve hit that submit button. Let’s find out what the modelling potion is for the recipe for success. 

Step 1: Fill out our online application form

Access our homepage and fill in your details on the right-hand side of the page. Use the drop-down menu to select which age group, gender and whether your model is a human or a pet! Type your first and second name, select your date of birth, gender, email address, mobile number and country of residence. Next up, you will need to upload a recent headshot and full-body profile (taken no longer than 6 months ago). Both need to be taken against a plain background with nothing else being captured in the shot (no one else being accidentally snapped!)

Lastly, confirm that you are 18 or over, that you agree to the terms and conditions, and privacy policy set by Models Direct. Then all you have to do is press the ‘submit application’ button and away it will go. 

Step 2: Our registration team will be in touch 

Our registration team will then call you on receipt of your application to discuss it and qualify you over the phone. This is an essential part of the process so that we get to know you better. We like finding out about what interests you about the modelling industry, your aspirations, inspirations and motivations. It’s as easy as that!

Step 3: We select you when a client calls for your look 

Your application will then go through an inhouse assessment whenever one of our dedicated clients call for your look. Our team will decide whether an offer will be made based on your look, experience and demographics by undergoing a comprehensive model search. Models Direct is extremely thorough and ensures that all of our models get a fair chance to step forward and live their dream as a model. If you tick the boxes then you’ll be selected to cover an assignment and start your new career. 

Accelerate your modelling career

If you’re interested in following our simple 3-step recipe for applying as a model, go ahead and apply to us whenever you can. We are always a phone call or email away from giving you modelling advice, answering your questions or just having a good natter!  

You can also keep in the loop and get all the latest scoop with what’s happening at our modelling agency by subscribing to our blogs and following our social platforms.  

If there were ever a time to join our agency, it is now. 

There’s been enough coverage recently regarding restrictions, furloughs and lockdowns, with some companies being put “on hold”. However, the general consensus is that the world will be in a much better place come early 2021 – great news for everybody! Though it’s not expected that everything will return to normality anytime soon, “social bubbles” are still likely to be utilised – and this is where families can really stand out as models.

We’ll use one example where a company (client) regards families as gold dust for modelling assignments, and where a family is far more effective than an individual for advertising purposes. The sector we’ll choose is travel / holiday operators – i.e. tourism.

When tour operators wish to market their holidays, they’ll often choose a family. The location could be a sun-kissed beach or an alpine escape surrounded by lakes and mountains. Whatever the scenic background, families convey the perfect image for holidaymakers: a fun, happy, well-deserved break that will be remembered for years to come. In fact, we’ve supplied models for Heathrow Airport and Oliver’s Travels – one of the UK’s top travel companies specialising in villas, cottages, beach huts and chateaus in several of the most desirable countries in Europe and beyond.

But don’t just take our word for it – this is the feedback from Coral, mother of the lovely Golding family, who had the opportunity of filming with James Clancy and his crew at The Gate Films last year for an Oliver’s Travels brand campaign:

“We have just got back from the South of France where we filmed a commercial as a family for Oliver’s Travels. It was a truly amazing experience! We stayed in an unbelievable villa and saw some beautiful sights! Thank you so much Models Direct for getting us this job!! We absolutely loved it!”

And even better news – in 2021 the tourism industry might boom because more people will want to make up for 2020 – a lousy year by anyone’s standards! This means more advertising, and more opportunities for family models. This could be the case for some time to come!

Of course, there are other modelling examples where families excel – Christmas being an obvious one. Families portray a sincere, warm image, sothey rarely need to practice prior to modelling shoots (although choice of clothes is open to argument!). A family’s chemistry is never underrated by our clients, and this is one of the reasons why we have many happy families on our books.

Clients also regularly want to hear from diverse families. Whilst the “average” family with “2.4 children” is highly valued, the modelling world casts its net much wider, so many clients no longer simply want Mum, Dad and the children. Unique families have a story to tell, and the demand for remarkable families from all backgrounds is increasing week-by-week. Don’t be shy – if you’re a same-sex family or have exceptional children with unique qualities, we’d love to hear from you!

Our client list is diverse and customer-driven. We’ve supplied family models to the NSPCC, G Tech, Santander UK, Newbury Racecourse and Microsoft – to name but a few.

So there are plenty of reasons to “keep it in the family” for modelling assignments. To be considered as our next “model family”, please click on the link below. You’ll also find oodles of reviews from other families who have tasted success with us. We look forward to hearing from you – and your family.

We’ll leave you with a thorough review from Rebecca Friend, just to get your modelling juices flowing:

“Working as a modelling family is a mixture of excitement and apprehension. As any mum knows, if you’re going anywhere with your children you want them to be on their best behaviour.

This is no different on a photo shoot, so when three of your children are asked to stand up straight, smile, look continuously happy while taking direction from the photographer, it can be challenging!

Luckily, we work with Models Direct and have always been so well looked after, from lunches for the children, to overnight accommodation, to letting the children have fifteen minute’s timeout so they can chill, go on their iPad etc.

We have now had seven assignments, over £6,000 in modelling fees and I can’t believe how lucky we are – my son says it’s all down to his fantastic good looks!

When I first signed up to Models Direct I was a little sceptical, after hearing stories of people paying thousands of pounds for pictures to be done because the agency they had chosen had asked them to do so… then signing a three-year deal and not getting a single job. When I spoke to Molly for the first time from Models Direct she immediately put my mind at ease. She said she only needed photos that we had taken ourselves (nice, natural photos work the best), so the client could get a real feel for who we were and how we looked in front of a camera.

I told my children we’d be extremely lucky if we got just one job. Here we are several years later and now on our 8th job! We have managed to do so much with extra money that has come in from our job, just little things like being able to spoil the kids a little, to a weekend away for the family to now having our garden landscaped and having a hot tub fitted. My husband and I are so proud of our children. It’s hard work, but we haven’t looked back and look forward to the next seven assignments.”

And what better way of doing so than becoming a plus size model?

Body positivity is increasing among both male and female models – here at Models Direct we are passionate and proactive in promoting it and providing plus size models to our clients.

We take pleasure in representing men and women as they really are and want all our models to revel in their differences….

It’s been a long year already and, with lockdowns and periods of quarantine or self-isolation, many of us may well have gained a few pounds here and there.

Winter is also looming – a season where we don’t always get out and about as much as usual and perhaps also start to worry about being a little curvier.

But with more and more plus size models being called upon to feature in all sorts of advertising, this could be just the moment to stop worrying about your size and to put yourself forward just as you are.

Indeed, embracing your shape, feeling comfortable with your body and loving yourself for yourself is very much of the moment and there are so many role models out there to take a lead from.

Check out the likes of Tess Holliday and Jada Sezer, who have made a name for themselves in plus size modelling, and also taken the internet by a storm as social media influencers and heavy promoters of body confidence.

Then there are the many stunning plus size female actors who currently grace our screens, such as Queen Latifah, Melissa McCarthy and Rebel Wilson to name just a few.

Sensational plus size superstars with bags of confidence can also be found behind the mike – take your lead from curvy singers like Beth Ditto and Lizzo and be proud of who you are.

At Models Direct, our own plus size models are booked for an array of assignments, from swimwear to casual wear, and many have made a fabulous career from it.

Find out more about plus size modelling through Models Direct before deciding whether to give it a go yourself.

And, whatever you end up doing, be confident in your body and enjoy being who you really are.