Technology is changing at a rapid pace. You know that. So, don’t get stuck in a catch-up game. Stay ahead of the pack and use the new technology to your advantage. Take, for example, the use of smartphones. Right now, consumers are using their phones more and more.

According to a number of sources, (and just, you know, understanding the world around you) people are using their phones to access the web more and more.

Take a look at these stats:

… Continue Reading

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network, with over 120 million members and growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals.

In other words, LinkedIn is Facebook for business people.

Like its cool cousin Facebook, LinkedIn is growing at an astounding rate:

• LinkedIn counts executives from all 2011 Fortune 500 companies as members
• Its corporate hiring solutions are used by 75 of the Fortune 100 companies.
• More than 2 million companies have LinkedIn Company … Continue Reading
  
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The advent of social media as a way-of-life has created a new reality in marketing: word-of-mouth, peer based reviews, testimonials, and complaints now carry an unprecedented amount of weight.

All it takes is a quick stroll through Facebook, twitter, Google, Yelp, and countless other sites to see the staggering amount of content & conversation dedicated to brands.

In fact:

• 92% of buyers have more confidence in info found online than they do in anything from a salesclerk or other source
• 90% of online consumers trust recommendations from people they know; 70% trust … Continue Reading
  
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I will admit it.

I watch a lot of television.

No, really, A LOT.

And, as many of my family members and friends know, I am that (annoying) person who moans and groans after seeing certain spots. But instead of ranting and raving about bad ads, (copyranter and AdScam/The Horror! already do that incredibly well!) I want to do a series of “Spot-on Spots” – ads that are just standouts among the extremely professional term–“crap”.

First up – When Weird Works

We’ve all seen them, laughed at them, cringed while watching them, and … Continue Reading

Front and Back of 2nd Direct Mail Piece and E-mail

As an approved vendor for Motorola co-op advertising, Stream Companies works with radio dealers nationwide. Commenco Inc., an elite authorized Motorola service facility in the Kansas City metropolitan area, needed to promote its upcoming expo in a fresh and exciting way. Having worked with Stream Companies many times before, Commenco knew that Stream could jazz things up like no other advertising agency around. Stream used direct mail, print, an online landing page, e-mail and online video to … Continue Reading

Contrary to many people’s beliefs, there is more substance to the world of online videos than the following:

Online videos also have the ability to educate and inform consumers, and more importantly, they can motivate these consumers to work with your company.

People spend a considerable amount of time watching videos, probably more than they’d like to admit. According to Arbitron and Edison Research, the weekly audience for online video has tripled in the past five years. Research also showed that the typical respondent spends 3 hours … Continue Reading

Right now, we live in an age where things are constantly changing. We can’t go more than a year until our computers or cell phones are passé, and their technology is nearly obsolete. In the world of advertising design, things are just as much on the move.

So, let’s get down to the brass tacks – How do we stay on top of these constant changes, or better yet, ahead of them?

Two words: adapt and innovate.

“Old media” (TV, radio, print, direct mail, tradeshows, etc.), unlike our outdated iPhone 4s, are actually still relevant, very much so. The trick is to … Continue Reading

Facebook marketers were thrown into a tizzy last week by the suggestion that using 3rd party apps can be detrimental to your post’s EdgeRank.  If that sounds indecipherable, you are not alone.  There’s a lot to know when it comes to making your brand voice heard on Facebook.

Let’s look into the brouhaha more deeply.

Last week, EdgeRank Checker released a study outlining the influence of 3rd party application programming interfaces (“APIs”, more commonly referred to as “3rd Party Apps”) on Facebook engagement.  These apps are commonly used to schedule … Continue Reading

To create an effective, multidimensional campaign, there is one aspect of the campaign that is absolutely crucial: salesmanship.

Real face-to-face interactions with a company representative make all the difference. True salesmanship requires someone who not only knows the product inside and out, but above all, truly listens to the client and reacts in “real time.” It’s not just about the pitch — well-rehearsed, cookie-cutter answers and a snazzy PowerPoint presentation — it’s more than that.

Real salesmanship involves ongoing give-and-take conversations … Continue Reading

Promote, Promote, Promote – Compelling offers, unique selling propositions, seasonal sales, giveaways… the strength of your campaign (AND its success) starts with your promotion’s value as perceived by your target customers.  You know your customers.  What do they want to hear?

Hyper Target – Now that you’ve got an irresistible promotion, pinpoint your audience.  By hyper-targeting your customers, you’ll ensure that your message will be in front of the right buyers at the right time.  You’ll also ensure that will be none of your effort and or investment is wasted.

Diversify … Continue Reading