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KEEP IN TOUCH

Pinterest becomes a powerful marketing tool for brands

Apr18
2012
1 Comment Written by annaerickson

PinterestYou’ve probably heard about Pinterest and wondered if your business can benefit from it. You may have also thought, “Do I really need another social channel to manage?” Pinterest’s explosion in popularity makes it worth adding to most marketers’ consideration lists, right next to heavyweight mainstays like Facebook and Twitter. With over 12 million active users and over 16 million unique visitors a day, Pinterest has become the fifth largest social network in the world and the country’s 16th most visited website in just two short years. So what makes this virtual scrapbooking site so popular? READ MORE »

Posted in Graphic Design, Social Media, Website - Tagged branding, Facebook, GE, General Electric, marketing, Pinterest, social media, Twitter, UNICEF

Getting started in pay-per-click advertising

Mar05
2012
Leave a Comment Written by JimStoltzfus

Google Adwords visualNo matter what sort of business you run, chances are good  that your next customer or client is going to find you by searching online. Landscapers, dentists and advertising agencies alike need to have a web presence (websites, social media, etc.) that show up on search engines. A quick and surefire method to make sure that people find you is to use pay-per-click. READ MORE »

Posted in Advertising, B2B Marketing, SEO, Website - Tagged AdCenter, Advertising, Adwords, B2B, B2C, bidding, Bing, broad match, exact match, Google, Google Correlate, Insights for Search, keyword, marketing, marketing strategy, Microsoft, online advertising, paid search, Pay-Per-Click, phrase match, PPC, quality score, Search Engine Optimization, search engine results page, SERP, Yahoo

This time it’s personal.

Feb22
2012
Leave a Comment Written by JimStoltzfus

We all know social media, blogging, and other forms of content marketing hold great opportunities for companies to connect with clients and customers. The changing focus from outbound “bullhorn” marketing to engagement and conversation has been discussed many times.

Now that many companies have come to the conclusion that they need to share content to remain relevant, there is no shortage of well-meaning advice out there. Generic advice, especially in the marketing and communications (marcom) industry, flows so freely that much of it gets lost in the clutter. To break through and foster meaningful connections with readers, your company must say something fresh, something different. READ MORE »

Posted in B2B Marketing, Blogging, Copy Writing - Tagged Blogging, blogs, communication, corporate blog, Customer Interaction, customer service, identity, marcom, marketing, marketing strategy, Marketing Trends, personality, Writing

Is your business benefiting from the blogosphere?

Jan09
2012
1 Comment Written by donovanadv

Does your business already have a blog? Good! If not, we think it’s time.

Sure, there are already lots of blogs competing for attention… so many, in fact, that getting an accurate count isn’t really possible. But based on recent credible estimates, there are likely over one hundred million active blogs out there—and the number is growing every day.

Of these blogs, a substantially large chunk are written and maintained by companies. According to bigmouthmedia.com, “65% of businesses now operate an active blog.”

Still, only some of these business blogs are any good—which offers your business a chance to create a valuable point of distinction. READ MORE »

Posted in Advertising, B2B Marketing, Blogging, Branding, Copy Writing, Public Relations, Social Media, Website - Tagged Big Mouth Media, blog, Blogging, blogosphere, brand awareness, business blogs, crisis communications, HubSpot

Does your private school marketing pass the test?

Jan02
2012
Leave a Comment Written by donovanadv

There are many options for preschool through high school. For example, there are private school options, ranging from Montessori to Waldorf to Country Day to faith-based schools and more. Competing with these options are home schooling and for-profit ventures, plus more charter schools than ever. And, of course, there are public institutions.

The result is that when it comes time to market your private school, you need to keep in mind that conscientious and increasingly value-conscious parents are demanding hard evidence to prove that the cost of your school is justified. READ MORE »

Posted in Advertising, B2B Marketing, Blogging, Branding, Copy Writing, Graphic Design, Public Relations, Social Media, Website - Tagged Admission, Charter Schools, Country Day, Cyber School, education, enrollment, Home Schooling, Montessori, National Association of Independent Schools, private school, private school marketing, Public School, Waldorf

Does your urgent care center marketing need a checkup?

Dec26
2011
1 Comment Written by donovanadv

When a medical issue arises that needs immediate—but not emergency—attention, urgent care centers are now available. And they’re growing in popularity, particularly among working families with employer-provided health insurance.

According to Lucia F. Bruno, J.D., LL.M., M.B.A., there are “approximately 8,700 urgent care centers nationwide and an increased percentage throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.” According to a survey conducted by the Urgent Care Marketing Group, “an overwhelming majority of urgent care operators experienced an increase in patient counts for the first quarter of 2011.”

Our question is: Are you considering your points of distinction and communicating them effectively to attract new customers? Mull over the following questions… READ MORE »

Posted in Advertising, Branding, Graphic Design, Public Relations, Social Media, Website - Tagged billboards, cable tv, clinics, communication, Direct Mail, emergency attention, emergency room, health insurance, health plans, Healthcare, Hospitals, independent physicians, patients, Physicians News, pre-register, Urgent Care, Urgent Care Center, Urgent Care Marketing Group

Should companies say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas?

Dec19
2011
Leave a Comment Written by donovanadv

If you want to get people arguing over the eggnog, ask whether it’s more appropriate to say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas. Some people are pretty touchy about this topic.

While we were tempted to avoid this controversial issue completely, when it comes to companies and their marketing agencies, it can be an important decision. So instead of sticking our heads in the snow, we decided to offer our observations and insights.

Think it doesn’t matter which choice you make? Consider that entire talk shows and websites have devoted themselves to the debate and that certain groups monitor which companies explicitly state Merry Christmas and which choose an alternative. There have even been boycotts against companies such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Barnes & Noble because of their choice to use “Holiday” instead of “Christmas.”

Let’s start with current trends. READ MORE »

Posted in Advertising, Copy Writing, Public Relations - Tagged communications, Corporate communications, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas Happy Holidays debate, Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays, public relations, religious messages, season's greetings

For financial institutions, trust has to be earned

Dec12
2011
Leave a Comment Written by donovanadv

Sometimes blamed for the recession and jeered for their perceived bonus culture, financial institutions have become an easy target for customers, the media, and politicians. Let’s face it—even sterling reputations have been tarnished.

Trust is an essential part of the success of any organization. It’s what makes customers loyal and is crucial for strengthening and sustaining your brand. Perhaps it’s time to consider if your marketing communicates trust in the most persuasive way possible.

Instead of grumbling about perceptions, many financial institutions are picking themselves up, dusting themselves off, and addressing the issue of changing beliefs head on. Through bold communication, they are taking advantage of many consumers’ renewed emphasis on trust in their financial decisions. READ MORE »

Posted in Advertising, Branding, Public Relations, Social Media - Tagged banks, communications, Credit, Credit Card Terms, Credit Cards, Customer Interaction, customer loyalty, Customer Satisfaction, customer service, financial institutions, financial marketing, J.D. Powers and Associates, marketing materials, Pitney Bowes, social media, transparency, Trust

Client-agency relationships are the lifeblood of great marketing

Dec05
2011
1 Comment Written by donovanadv

Relationships permeate everything we do—in our personal lives and in our business lives. Good relationships give us strength and confidence and can propel us forward into great successes. Bad relationships, on the other hand, can drag us down.

The client-agency relationship is no different. Simply put, the best ones are true partnerships that result in exciting, enduring work. READ MORE »

Posted in Advertising, Branding, Social Media - Tagged Agency, American Association of Advertising Agencies, Client, client-agency relationship, Dr. Pepper, Exxon Mobil, Harley Davidson, marketing strategy, MetLife, partnerships, Relationships, Snapple

Working with a media planner and buyer can pay for itself

Nov26
2011
Leave a Comment Written by donovanadv

In addition to saving you money, media planners and buyers can also free you to concentrate on running your business.

Though sometimes overlooked, media planning and buying are core components of the ad world—and possibly a significant part of your marketing strategy. While tightly related, there is a difference between the two disciplines. Media planners select the media that best meet a client’s marketing goals, while media buyers negotiate the best media rates and actually purchase the media.

The best media planners and buyers constantly evaluate market conditions to choose the best mix of media, the best schedule, and the best strategy for your audience and goals—all while ensuring that you get the best value for your budget. READ MORE »

Posted in Advertising, B2B Marketing, Website - Tagged apps, cable, demographics, geographic, magazines, marketing, marketing strategy, Media, Media buyers, Media buying, media planners, Media planning, media rates, negotiatede rates, newspapers, online, print, psychographics, radio, satellite radio, TV, web radio, webcasts
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Recent Posts

  • Pinterest becomes a powerful marketing tool for brands
  • Getting started in pay-per-click advertising
  • This time it’s personal.
  • Is your business benefiting from the blogosphere?
  • Does your private school marketing pass the test?

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