As social media becomes more popular across the US, companies have begun merging different social media facets into their marketing strategies. While some obvious choices of platforms, there are some that many people still question. As a social media user myself, I am aware of the ability to reach a magnitude of people--including potential clients. However, when I first hear of Twitter and the way it works, I was a little skeptical. How could it possibly be that effective when you can only write a message with limited characters?
What I failed to realize was that Twitter has over a million users that post over three million posts a day!!! Talk about reaching a magnitude of people. As people respond to different areas of their everyday life, they may include a company's name or theory for everyone to see. They may say good things or bad things--but wouldn't you want to know either way?
As word-of-mouth continues to grow and those consumers listening and entrusting others opinions on products/services grows as well, having a company name in a Twitter post is right where I would want it to be. Even a short message can be used as a promotion for a product or service, customer service, or even a place where a brand can become characterized.
In addition, because Twitter messages are seen by so many consumers, it is the perfect place to begin a buzz marketing or word-of-mouth marketing campaign for many start-ups or small businesses. Rather than spending a ton of money to get your business out there using traditional marketing strategies, a company could use outlets like Twitter to educate consumers and further develop their brand.
So before you question the magnitude to how much social media can help market your company, remember just how many people will see your company's name daily--good or bad!
Posted Friday, October 31, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
While writing my last blog about event marketing, I realized that barn that I keep my horses at is infamous for event marketing to their marketing strategy. Honey Tree Stables is located five minutes from Miami University in Oxford, OH. This means, that a majority of its clients come from the University itself. While this may seem beneficial to the business, it is extremely hard to capture and maintain services for these customers.
In order to gain customers, the owner, Sarah Oelerich, and several of her employees and clients, must ban together to come up with unique marketing strategies. Many of these ideas market her business through event marketing. For example, at the beginning of each school year, Sarah and Honey Tree Stables put on an open house. Rather than just having the barn open for clients and potential clients to walk through the facility, Sarah has a welcome back party with a band and game festivities. The band, the pool, and the games allows current and potential clients to interact with each other, for them to get to know Sarah and the other staff, and to have a great experience that will make them come back year after year. After the party, Honey Tree Stables put up pictures and video footage of the event on its website and invited clients to come and view them online.
Sarah also puts on a number of clinics throughout the year, both with her clients and the Miami Equestrian team. This allows the community and the internal community to get a taste of what Sarah does. She markets this through email marketing with the Miami Equestrian Team and the clients, posters throughout Oxford, and creating an experience during the event that makes the customers feel like they are at home.
Without these events, many of Sarah’s customers would not get to experience the culture and fun at Honey Tree Stables. Without these experiences, it would be hard for Sarah to maintain customers. Sarah and Honey Tree Stables do an amazing job at capturing their audiences through event marketing. Companies that have a hard target marketing to capture or those that have experiences that they want to sell, should try using event marketing. They should set up events that promote not only the services that they sell, but that capture the experience a customer has when using the services they offer. Similar to Honey Tree Stables, companies should hone in on a certain area they would like their customers to experience and then build their event marketing around that. They will see that event marketing does in fact capture customers and if done right, keeps them coming back for more.
In order to gain customers, the owner, Sarah Oelerich, and several of her employees and clients, must ban together to come up with unique marketing strategies. Many of these ideas market her business through event marketing. For example, at the beginning of each school year, Sarah and Honey Tree Stables put on an open house. Rather than just having the barn open for clients and potential clients to walk through the facility, Sarah has a welcome back party with a band and game festivities. The band, the pool, and the games allows current and potential clients to interact with each other, for them to get to know Sarah and the other staff, and to have a great experience that will make them come back year after year. After the party, Honey Tree Stables put up pictures and video footage of the event on its website and invited clients to come and view them online.
Sarah also puts on a number of clinics throughout the year, both with her clients and the Miami Equestrian team. This allows the community and the internal community to get a taste of what Sarah does. She markets this through email marketing with the Miami Equestrian Team and the clients, posters throughout Oxford, and creating an experience during the event that makes the customers feel like they are at home.
Without these events, many of Sarah’s customers would not get to experience the culture and fun at Honey Tree Stables. Without these experiences, it would be hard for Sarah to maintain customers. Sarah and Honey Tree Stables do an amazing job at capturing their audiences through event marketing. Companies that have a hard target marketing to capture or those that have experiences that they want to sell, should try using event marketing. They should set up events that promote not only the services that they sell, but that capture the experience a customer has when using the services they offer. Similar to Honey Tree Stables, companies should hone in on a certain area they would like their customers to experience and then build their event marketing around that. They will see that event marketing does in fact capture customers and if done right, keeps them coming back for more.
Posted Wednesday, October 29, 2008 by
brian lecount
I've posted before about tag clouds, word clouds or whatever you want to call them. I just think they are really cool for summarizing a large quantity of information and quickly displaying the main concept.
Here's Wordle's word cloud for the R.O. Why! Marketing main blog page.
It shows the primary concepts we're talking about on the blogs. I've seen these used for navigation on many Web 2.0 websites, and love that approach. There are plenty of creative uses for such a visual representation. Imagine it on the cover of the next proposal you send out, demonstrating the big ideas inside. How about the cover of your resume? The executive summary of your next marketing strategy and planning document. How about the bio page of your website, with a different cloud for each executive profiled.
I'm looking forward to the creative thought around this and sharing it with our clients. Have any great uses you've discovered? I'd be thrilled to hear about them. Please add them to this post in a comment!
We Have to Change Our Thinking
Here's Wordle's word cloud for the R.O. Why! Marketing main blog page.
It shows the primary concepts we're talking about on the blogs. I've seen these used for navigation on many Web 2.0 websites, and love that approach. There are plenty of creative uses for such a visual representation. Imagine it on the cover of the next proposal you send out, demonstrating the big ideas inside. How about the cover of your resume? The executive summary of your next marketing strategy and planning document. How about the bio page of your website, with a different cloud for each executive profiled.
I'm looking forward to the creative thought around this and sharing it with our clients. Have any great uses you've discovered? I'd be thrilled to hear about them. Please add them to this post in a comment!
Posted Wednesday, October 29, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
Event marketing is one of the fastest growing marketing strategies in the industry right now. Whether companies focus on upscale events, street teams, or in-store events, more and more consumers are becoming enthralled with the craze. While reading articles this past week, I found the following article that talks about the popularity of photographs in event marketing. Event Marketer magazine suggests that photo activation among consumers during events not only pleases customers by actively participating, but it allows them to continue engaging with the product post-event. Photographs taken at certain events, if done right, can help create a relationship among consumer and brand.
This past summer and early fall, several companies have focused on photography and the post-event engagement among consumers. Home Depot has teamed up with NASCAR and College Game Day to help co-sponsor fans getting their photographs taken behind NASCAR scenes and with football hot shots. By giving away a mystery amount gift card when the customer goes to the NASCAR or College Game Day site to get their picture, both companies are gaining customer loyalty.
Oscar Myer has been using its infamous Weinermobile to its advantage this summer. While most consumers see the weinermobile and whip out their cameras for a photo op, Oscar Myer thought that they would capitalize on consumer interaction and brand loyalty by bringing its mobile to a number of festivals, fairs, stores etc. They ran their new campaign advertisements and allowed consumers to "get in a picture with the weinermobile." These pictures were then put online in hopes that when fans came to retrieve their pictures they would stock up on other related products.
Event marketing is becoming more and more popular among companies as they get tired of traditional marketing strategies. Engagement with consumers at these events is also helping this marketing strategy take off and become popular among the numbers.
This past summer and early fall, several companies have focused on photography and the post-event engagement among consumers. Home Depot has teamed up with NASCAR and College Game Day to help co-sponsor fans getting their photographs taken behind NASCAR scenes and with football hot shots. By giving away a mystery amount gift card when the customer goes to the NASCAR or College Game Day site to get their picture, both companies are gaining customer loyalty.
Oscar Myer has been using its infamous Weinermobile to its advantage this summer. While most consumers see the weinermobile and whip out their cameras for a photo op, Oscar Myer thought that they would capitalize on consumer interaction and brand loyalty by bringing its mobile to a number of festivals, fairs, stores etc. They ran their new campaign advertisements and allowed consumers to "get in a picture with the weinermobile." These pictures were then put online in hopes that when fans came to retrieve their pictures they would stock up on other related products.
Event marketing is becoming more and more popular among companies as they get tired of traditional marketing strategies. Engagement with consumers at these events is also helping this marketing strategy take off and become popular among the numbers.
Posted Thursday, October 16, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
Last night I had the privilege of seeing Gary Kunath, founder and CEO of the Summit Group speak at Miami University. While Gary is like a father figure to me, it was extremely impressive and motivational to see him up in front of a large crowd.
Gary spoke about being marketable. About how experience and interaction among consumers is what is driving business these days. Rather than enticing people through advertisements and creating a brand through traditional marketing strategies, it is time for us to switch gears and build our brands based on experience.
For small business marketing, this is especially true. To gain the repeat customers you desire, it is important that companies create a strong in-store or online experience. By offering interactive marketing where consumers can not only see the product or service, but can use the product/service, or talk to the employees and other consumers, consumers tend to become brand loyal. In addition, having pages out there on MySpace and Facebook that allow consumers to engage actively in a company's interactive marketing, makes it easier for consumers to talk to one another about the product, trust one another about the benefits of the product, and it also allows them to be reminded each day that the product/service is out there and ready for them.
The same hold true with the employees within the business. The more they interact and have fun with those they can relate to their colleagues, the more loyal they become as well. So, as you begin to build your company's marketing strategy remember that is important to have fun, be yourself, and entertain the consumer through positive interaction and communication.
Gary spoke about being marketable. About how experience and interaction among consumers is what is driving business these days. Rather than enticing people through advertisements and creating a brand through traditional marketing strategies, it is time for us to switch gears and build our brands based on experience.
For small business marketing, this is especially true. To gain the repeat customers you desire, it is important that companies create a strong in-store or online experience. By offering interactive marketing where consumers can not only see the product or service, but can use the product/service, or talk to the employees and other consumers, consumers tend to become brand loyal. In addition, having pages out there on MySpace and Facebook that allow consumers to engage actively in a company's interactive marketing, makes it easier for consumers to talk to one another about the product, trust one another about the benefits of the product, and it also allows them to be reminded each day that the product/service is out there and ready for them.
The same hold true with the employees within the business. The more they interact and have fun with those they can relate to their colleagues, the more loyal they become as well. So, as you begin to build your company's marketing strategy remember that is important to have fun, be yourself, and entertain the consumer through positive interaction and communication.
Posted Thursday, October 16, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
I heard the other day that "marketing costs for small businesses are just not justifiable." Many businesses often think that marketing is not one of the more important costs within the business--small businesses especially. However, small business marketing is often what makes or breaks companies.
Small businesses should have a very cost effective marketing strategy. It should include email marketing, building a website, maintaining SEO, and blogging for sure. While in the office, I help a lot of mainstream businesses who can afford at least a good majority of the marketing services that we provide, there are companies and groups I deal with outside of work don't or may not want to devote as much money to their marketing as they should.
Since I am very involved in the horse world, I will use that market as an example. As the horse world continues to grow rapidly, it is important more than ever now that riding stables, show facilities, and trainers use marketing to their advantage. It is important to create websites and pages on MySpace and Facebook for them since their main target market is teenagers. Especially for those barns located near college towns and major universities, SEO and website enhancement are EXTREMELY important. High school students looking to ride after school often make sure that their university either has an equine program or has a riding facility near by. And how do they find that....the Internet of course!
So while people may think that marketing is not always worth the money put in, I'll tell you from a market that I never thought would make it online, it is! Marketing is important to all businesses--especially small businesses who think that they cannot afford it.
Small businesses should have a very cost effective marketing strategy. It should include email marketing, building a website, maintaining SEO, and blogging for sure. While in the office, I help a lot of mainstream businesses who can afford at least a good majority of the marketing services that we provide, there are companies and groups I deal with outside of work don't or may not want to devote as much money to their marketing as they should.
Since I am very involved in the horse world, I will use that market as an example. As the horse world continues to grow rapidly, it is important more than ever now that riding stables, show facilities, and trainers use marketing to their advantage. It is important to create websites and pages on MySpace and Facebook for them since their main target market is teenagers. Especially for those barns located near college towns and major universities, SEO and website enhancement are EXTREMELY important. High school students looking to ride after school often make sure that their university either has an equine program or has a riding facility near by. And how do they find that....the Internet of course!
So while people may think that marketing is not always worth the money put in, I'll tell you from a market that I never thought would make it online, it is! Marketing is important to all businesses--especially small businesses who think that they cannot afford it.
Posted Friday, October 3, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
In addition to a strong blog and website content, one of the leading small business marketing strategies is email marketing. Email can not only get pertinent information out to clients/customers, but it can be a personalized message to clients that make them feel like a large part of the company and its motives. While the information that goes into the email is important to get right, it is also important to get the design of the email correct so that it is aesthetically appealing and has easy usability. While building the template for a new client of ours, I began looking through articles that could give me email marketing tips about content and layout. I came across the following:
8 Email Marketing Tips
Email Marketing Tips, Tricks and Secrets
Just reading through these during the email marketing design phase helped me think about what was important to candidates and to the business writing the emails. Once I got into the mind set of what each party would like, it was a little easier to create the layout and content. Without searching through email marketing content, I felt as though I was just building emails and learning through trial and error what works and what doesn't. However, once I took the time to look through why email marketing was positive for companies and clients, and different email tips, email marketing became easier for me to understand.
8 Email Marketing Tips
Email Marketing Tips, Tricks and Secrets
Just reading through these during the email marketing design phase helped me think about what was important to candidates and to the business writing the emails. Once I got into the mind set of what each party would like, it was a little easier to create the layout and content. Without searching through email marketing content, I felt as though I was just building emails and learning through trial and error what works and what doesn't. However, once I took the time to look through why email marketing was positive for companies and clients, and different email tips, email marketing became easier for me to understand.
Posted Friday, October 3, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
Search Engine Optimization is becoming a vital part of small business marketing. In order to increase the amount of visits to a website each month, businesses must focus on making their websites the best they can and add enough new content that SEO becomes easy. While SEO seems relatively simple, there are a lot of different areas that business can focus on whether it be content, blogs, PPC, linking to other pages, etc.
After working at a small Cincinnati marketing firm for a month and a half now, I am starting to understand why each of the areas of SEO are important to small business marketing. Blogging for business is probably one of the most important SEO strategies that a company can implement. By having quality content on the main pages, blogging keeps the rest of the content fresh and up-to-date. Having this constant changing content, Google then recognizes this and puts the website higher on the search rankings. In addition, adding links within blogs to other sites will help drive referral visitors to your site.
There are several other SEO strategies that businesses can implement as well to help their website become higher in the search ranks. If you'd like more search engine optimization tips, contact us. Also, check out the following articles.
For a list of SEO tips: http://seoarticles4u.com/Tips_On_SEO_-_Search_Engine_Optimization_a4662.html
For SEO focus for Google:
http://seoarticles.seoforgoogle.com/local-search-engine-optimization.cfm
Frequently asked SEO questions:
http://www.rankforsales.com/seo-seven-most-often-asked-questions.html
After working at a small Cincinnati marketing firm for a month and a half now, I am starting to understand why each of the areas of SEO are important to small business marketing. Blogging for business is probably one of the most important SEO strategies that a company can implement. By having quality content on the main pages, blogging keeps the rest of the content fresh and up-to-date. Having this constant changing content, Google then recognizes this and puts the website higher on the search rankings. In addition, adding links within blogs to other sites will help drive referral visitors to your site.
There are several other SEO strategies that businesses can implement as well to help their website become higher in the search ranks. If you'd like more search engine optimization tips, contact us. Also, check out the following articles.
For a list of SEO tips: http://seoarticles4u.com/Tips_On_SEO_-_Search_Engine_Optimization_a4662.html
For SEO focus for Google:
http://seoarticles.seoforgoogle.com/local-search-engine-optimization.cfm
Frequently asked SEO questions:
http://www.rankforsales.com/seo-seven-most-often-asked-questions.html
Posted Friday, September 26, 2008 by
brian lecount
I just finished writing an article for one of our clients, Partner Finance, a local finance and accounting executive search firm. Entitled Staying Marketable in a Down Economy, the article proposes what finance and accounting professionals should do to weather this current storm, whether they're looking for a job right now or simply trying to stay in the one they have given the market turmoil.
Unfortunately, it's times like these that many realize the need for a personal marketing strategy. It's now that so many kick themselves for not doing what it takes to be prepared before the storm hit. Kind of like a company that spends nothing on a marketing strategy and execution plan until sales dry up, and then they wonder why the results don't come immediately.
Spend some time on your own brand development exercise. What makes you, well, you? Find your strengths. Then put them to work, and insulate yourself to market fluctuations.
The advice is suitable for just about anyone today. Check it out. I'd love your feedback.
Unfortunately, it's times like these that many realize the need for a personal marketing strategy. It's now that so many kick themselves for not doing what it takes to be prepared before the storm hit. Kind of like a company that spends nothing on a marketing strategy and execution plan until sales dry up, and then they wonder why the results don't come immediately.
Spend some time on your own brand development exercise. What makes you, well, you? Find your strengths. Then put them to work, and insulate yourself to market fluctuations.
The advice is suitable for just about anyone today. Check it out. I'd love your feedback.
Posted Thursday, September 25, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
After just over a month, I think I'm finally settling in. I've begun to learn enough of the marketing strategies to begin venturing out on my own now. Rather than having to be helped every other minute, I am finally feeling more confident in my abilities and the work that I am producing. In fact, even client phone calls are becoming less intimidating and more fun. I feel as though my learning curve is beginning to subside and I can finally use my learned marketing knowledge in my extra marketing activities outside of the office. I am able to apply concepts from the office to websites that I have created and now feel more confident in measuring the success they are producing. While I still have a lot to learn about small business marketing and different interactive marketing, email marketing, and event marketing strategies, I at least feel as though I am not in the dark as much when we do sit down with clients.
Phew! I thought this might have been a long, rough road, but the reality of the matter is, when you put your mind to it...I guess it is achievable.
Phew! I thought this might have been a long, rough road, but the reality of the matter is, when you put your mind to it...I guess it is achievable.
Posted Tuesday, September 23, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
This week, I have been working on researching B2B marketing strategies for one of our clients. Upon trying to find information, Brian directed me to a site called SlideShare. I had never used this site, let alone heard of this site, but was pretty amazed at the amount of content that was on the page. SlideShare is a site that allows users to upload slide presentations on just about any subject. The presentations, range in size and depth, but are great tools when trying to research certain subjects. I wish that I had known about this site while I was still in school because of the vast amount of information that you can find. I suggest you check it out!
Posted Friday, September 19, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
This weekend, Ike, that lovely hurricane that has caused so much tragedy and strife, hit the mid-west. While it seemed like just a rainy day for me at a horse show in Nashville, TN, the tri-state area was experiencing extreme winds and tornado-like weather. Power in homes in the Cincinnati area turned off and, for some, still has yet to come back on. Since this area has not experienced this in some time, you can only imagine how much the day-to-day activities were affected.
For me, our house remained with power, but my body did not. While the storm affected others' days, I got a sickness with enough power to lay me out. However, with the ability to work from home, this did not affect my work time (thankfully!).
In my last post, I discussed my liking toward the ability to work from home. This was proved yet again this week when I felt terrible and didn't have to go to the office, but still did not have to take a sick day either. While sipping on hot tea, taking prescriptions, and putting my feet up, I was able to accomplish a large load of work this week from my couch. I was able to continue learning more about my clients, how to work the mysteries of creative suite, and experience the lovely joys of VPN's.
I think more companies should seriously consider letting employees work from home for parts of the week. Rather than getting behind during times of long gas lines with little gas at the station or sick employees, companies could capitalize on work by allowing their employees to have some face time from home. After all, through all of this, Brian and I were able to have meetings twice a day and get a plethora of work accomplished while not in the same vicinity. If I had to guess, working virtually is going to grow in the future when people see all of the benefits it has for both employees and the business as a whole.
For me, our house remained with power, but my body did not. While the storm affected others' days, I got a sickness with enough power to lay me out. However, with the ability to work from home, this did not affect my work time (thankfully!).
In my last post, I discussed my liking toward the ability to work from home. This was proved yet again this week when I felt terrible and didn't have to go to the office, but still did not have to take a sick day either. While sipping on hot tea, taking prescriptions, and putting my feet up, I was able to accomplish a large load of work this week from my couch. I was able to continue learning more about my clients, how to work the mysteries of creative suite, and experience the lovely joys of VPN's.
I think more companies should seriously consider letting employees work from home for parts of the week. Rather than getting behind during times of long gas lines with little gas at the station or sick employees, companies could capitalize on work by allowing their employees to have some face time from home. After all, through all of this, Brian and I were able to have meetings twice a day and get a plethora of work accomplished while not in the same vicinity. If I had to guess, working virtually is going to grow in the future when people see all of the benefits it has for both employees and the business as a whole.
Posted Wednesday, September 17, 2008 by
brian lecount
One of our newest clients, KeenHire, has just launched a new software solution to aid hiring authorities, executive recruiters and search firms in conducting behavioral interviewing and selection that helps to dramatically reduce the negative impacts of a bad hire.
The release just hit the wires today. As someone focused on ROI marketing, I'm interested not only in measuring the marketing results of a campaign, but also in using that data to predict future performance. That's what the study of marketing analytics is all about - using what you know about the past to make more informed future decisions.
As an employer, I find it fascinating there are proven solutions and tools out there that help companies predict the future performance of a candidate before they are hired. I've always understood that a person's skills and experience are truly only part of the determination of whether someone is qualified for the job. However, by working with KeenHire, I've learned that the candidate's values, motivations, likely reactions to business scenarios, and ability to learn new skills - what many consider to be the most important hiring criteria - can actually be measured and predicted with a great degree of accuracy. Suddenly the concept of 'the right fit' takes on a whole new meaning.
So in the future if we interview you for a job with this Cincinnati marketing firm, don't be surprised if we spend less time on your resume and much more on figuring out who your favorite Little Rascals, Looney Tunes, Sponge Bob or Family Guy characters are.
In the words of the great Stewie Griffin:
"Come, ice cream. Come to my mouth. How dare you disobey me!"
The release just hit the wires today. As someone focused on ROI marketing, I'm interested not only in measuring the marketing results of a campaign, but also in using that data to predict future performance. That's what the study of marketing analytics is all about - using what you know about the past to make more informed future decisions.
As an employer, I find it fascinating there are proven solutions and tools out there that help companies predict the future performance of a candidate before they are hired. I've always understood that a person's skills and experience are truly only part of the determination of whether someone is qualified for the job. However, by working with KeenHire, I've learned that the candidate's values, motivations, likely reactions to business scenarios, and ability to learn new skills - what many consider to be the most important hiring criteria - can actually be measured and predicted with a great degree of accuracy. Suddenly the concept of 'the right fit' takes on a whole new meaning.
So in the future if we interview you for a job with this Cincinnati marketing firm, don't be surprised if we spend less time on your resume and much more on figuring out who your favorite Little Rascals, Looney Tunes, Sponge Bob or Family Guy characters are.
In the words of the great Stewie Griffin:
"Come, ice cream. Come to my mouth. How dare you disobey me!"
Posted Wednesday, September 10, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
A big debate over the virtual office is fought throughout the US everyday. Judging by my first day on the clock but out of the office...I think it could just work. While i still need to iron out some kinks in my VPN system and with different connection issues, I have been far more productive during my time today from my couch. Since I am a person who usually works well from a bed, couch, or comfortable chair, bringing work from the office home has allowed me to be more efficient and effective with my time. It has made me more relaxed and free thinking as well. Not to mentioned that for most recent college graduates, working from home is second nature. It is so similar to being able to do your homework when and where you want, that you do it far better. This idea of virtual offices can work, but obviously under certain circumstances. I mean...you actually have to work! And work has to be well done and on time. It may not be for everyone. I know some people like the office, but my brain and body like working relaxed from home!
Posted Tuesday, September 9, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
While getting ready to come to work this morning, I had the news on in the background and couldn't help but overhear a news story about a new interactive marketing strategy. Since most conventional marketing strategies are becoming obsolete and marketers are having to turn to new progressive measures, companies such as Reactrix are setting the bar high.
Reactrix has come up with an interactive display within malls and specific stores that allow consumers to participate in a number of video games. These displays are made up of a digital pad on the floor playing advertisements within a video-game realm. Rather than just playing advertisements that consumers often block-out, Reactrix is making their advertisements come to life. This interactive marketing not only grabs consumers' attention from afar, but is longer lasting among consumers as well. The more fun the game that the advertising is allowing consumers to play, the longer consumers remember the brand, and the more awareness that brand receives.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QzsQKULMbiU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QzsQKULMbiU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Interactive digital signage and interactive marketing does not stop there. The company GestureTek is using similar approaches among the gesture-based digital signage. Rather than only sharing advertisements through games on the floor, GestureTek is using table tops, wall mounts, and interactive decorations. They also branch out from the interactive games and provide consumers with interactive visual displays of all different effects. Click here for more information.
Due to the lessening popularity of traditional marketing strategies, more companies are going to be engaging in more consumer interactive advertisements and several other forms of interactive marketing. Companies that are already ahead of the ball like Reactrix and GestureTek, have definitely closed this gap of the future!
Reactrix has come up with an interactive display within malls and specific stores that allow consumers to participate in a number of video games. These displays are made up of a digital pad on the floor playing advertisements within a video-game realm. Rather than just playing advertisements that consumers often block-out, Reactrix is making their advertisements come to life. This interactive marketing not only grabs consumers' attention from afar, but is longer lasting among consumers as well. The more fun the game that the advertising is allowing consumers to play, the longer consumers remember the brand, and the more awareness that brand receives.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QzsQKULMbiU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QzsQKULMbiU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Interactive digital signage and interactive marketing does not stop there. The company GestureTek is using similar approaches among the gesture-based digital signage. Rather than only sharing advertisements through games on the floor, GestureTek is using table tops, wall mounts, and interactive decorations. They also branch out from the interactive games and provide consumers with interactive visual displays of all different effects. Click here for more information.
Due to the lessening popularity of traditional marketing strategies, more companies are going to be engaging in more consumer interactive advertisements and several other forms of interactive marketing. Companies that are already ahead of the ball like Reactrix and GestureTek, have definitely closed this gap of the future!
Posted Monday, September 8, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
When I entered Miami University as a Freshman, Facebook was just beginning on its journey. While it had a few people, they was extremely minimal and geared toward the starting college students. Just four years later, Facebook has seen a face lift--possibly even one on botox. Rather than just linking friends together to keep up with one another, it is now almost an online resume.
Good or bad?
I mean if you think about it, having a Facebook account allows you to put a lot of information about who you are, your interests, work experiences, and pictures to show the real you. People can tell a lot about a person based off the information they have posted, in addition to the type of stickers, wall posts, and applications they have plastered all over their profiles. In fact, at the Cincinnati AMA Digital Marketing Summit a few weeks ago, one of the presenters actually introduced himself to the crowd using his Facebook profile and a few pictures posted to it.
To think that these social tools that were originally built to keep friends linked, are now being overpopulated with business professionals and colleagues is extremely eery. Students must now block profiles from non-friends and assess information on their profile to assure themselves that the typical college lifestyle and accompanied behaviors does not get in the way of a job. I feel as though having professionals use Facebook to their advantage to learn more about candidates, or to even just look at potential employees, is probably not the best way to evaluate a person...even the brightest out there have probably unwound a time or two in college. In fact, if today's professionals had an account when they were in school, is it fair to assume that they would have had more reserved pages?
Good or bad?
I mean if you think about it, having a Facebook account allows you to put a lot of information about who you are, your interests, work experiences, and pictures to show the real you. People can tell a lot about a person based off the information they have posted, in addition to the type of stickers, wall posts, and applications they have plastered all over their profiles. In fact, at the Cincinnati AMA Digital Marketing Summit a few weeks ago, one of the presenters actually introduced himself to the crowd using his Facebook profile and a few pictures posted to it.
To think that these social tools that were originally built to keep friends linked, are now being overpopulated with business professionals and colleagues is extremely eery. Students must now block profiles from non-friends and assess information on their profile to assure themselves that the typical college lifestyle and accompanied behaviors does not get in the way of a job. I feel as though having professionals use Facebook to their advantage to learn more about candidates, or to even just look at potential employees, is probably not the best way to evaluate a person...even the brightest out there have probably unwound a time or two in college. In fact, if today's professionals had an account when they were in school, is it fair to assume that they would have had more reserved pages?
Posted Monday, September 8, 2008 by
brian lecount
Tim Manners had an interesting post last Thursday. Has your Cincinnati advertising agency or Cincinnati marketing firm become irrelevant? He thinks so, primarily because he says they've become too dependent on the advertising and not enough on the merits of the actual products and services themselves.
I see a lot of this - great ad campaigns that are well written, artfully designed, and oozing with carefully deliberated marketing strategy - and yet, they seem to talk over the consumer.
As Mr. Manners relates in his new book:
Relevant brands understand certain principles:
I see a lot of this - great ad campaigns that are well written, artfully designed, and oozing with carefully deliberated marketing strategy - and yet, they seem to talk over the consumer.
As Mr. Manners relates in his new book:
Relevant brands understand certain principles:
- Insight. Relevant brands care about what we actually do, not just what we think. (Side note: Here's a great company that helps you figure that out.)
- Innovation. Relevant brands know the difference between what's purely remarkable and what actually works.
- Investment. Relevant brands understand the imperative of sparing no expense when it comes to satisfying our needs.
- Design. Relevant brands live and breathe simplicity.
- Experience. Relevant brands realize that it's more important to touch us in real life than on television.
- Value. Relevant brands are more than worth every penny.
Posted Thursday, September 4, 2008 by
Kaitlyn Kurtz
After almost a month with R.O.Why! Marketing, it is time for the fire hose to be turned on. Rather than doing small tasks and fighting my way through piles of client information, it is now time for me to take the bull by the horns. From acquisition marketing plans to search engine optimization, from email marketing to blog reviews, from end of the month reports to clinging to my sanity, this week has seen it all. I never thought that a month into the work force after college I would have such an in-depth and educational work load. Rather than being just another person in a large corporation pushing paper, I can safely say, being part of a small team, certainly allows you to learn more and take on more responsibility. it certainly makes working in the Cincinnati marketing profession entertaining and on its toes.
Posted Friday, August 29, 2008 by
brian lecount
Yesterday I posted about the Digital Marketing Summit and provided a recap of my favorite talk of the day. So today I continue my quest and dive into Technorati. OK, so maybe I'm a little late to this part of the game.
It's all about weaving a web of networks, participating in conversations, and making sure that you're found when people are looking, right?
So the list continues:
I'm on Twitter
And here's the blog network
And Facebook
And now, Technorati.
What's next?
It's all about weaving a web of networks, participating in conversations, and making sure that you're found when people are looking, right?
So the list continues:
I'm on Twitter
And here's the blog network
And Facebook
And now, Technorati.
What's next?
Posted Friday, August 29, 2008 by
brian lecount
At R.O. Why! Marketing, we talk with a log of companies that want to get into blogging for business. As time goes on, I find that we have to do less convincing that blogging is important, and more time helping these firms understand just how simple blogging is.
We Have to Change Our Thinking
Writing for a business blog is not like writing an article, an email marketing newsletter, a press release, a brochure or a whitepaper. These types of writing are "institution-to-one" communications, and they often lack the voice of an individual. A blog on the other hand is communication from a real person. Bob, your CEO, Mary, your product development manager, your customer service representatives Mike, John and Nancy, or your HR director Jennifer. When real people write without disguising themselves, the soul of the company is exposed. Blogging for business allows the passions of your company to come forward and be expressed in an open environment, and when people write about what they are passionate about, most find it quite simple once they get started.
We need to retrain ourselves to make blogging for business a part of our everyday. Do it first thing in the morning before you check email. Make it your lunchtime download of what's filling your day. Scratch out a note on your PDA while you're on the bus and finish it when you return to the office. Once you get started, you'll find that your antennae go up, and you become much more aware of the things you can write about. In most cases, your blog posts won't take more than 10-15 minutes.
What inspired this post? I received an email from Chris Baggott, CEO of Compendium Blogware that led me to a website on 10 Ways to Find 10 Minutes to Write, and wanted to just ad a few of my own thoughts
. That's it. An email. it got me thinking, and this blog is the perfect place to share my perspectives.
. That's it. An email. it got me thinking, and this blog is the perfect place to share my perspectives.So, what are you thinking about right now that your audience could benefit from? Share it with them. You've got 10 minutes.
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