Marketers recognize that tablet sales are steadily increasing, and this presents a huge opportunity for brands. The question becomes, how do you find a unique and relevant way to play on this device? It’s tempting to create an app, but there must be a concept that goes beyond simply repurposing a website or social media […]
We know celebrities can use their fame to sell movie tickets, albums and the brands they endorse, but the savvy among them have taken it a step further by creating entertainment destinations (Dollywood), restaurants (Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville) and even their own products (George Foreman Grill). Now a new breed of celebs are recognizing the opportunity […]
Brands of all sizes can benefit from showcasing specific employees as part of their marketing efforts. In a previous post I talked about ‘keeping it real’ as it relates to marketing copy. This seems to be even more of a challenge when a brand lacks personality. While some brands leverage mascots, hire celebrities (more on what […]
As marketers, we sometimes forget there are individuals behind the audience profiles, segments, demographics and other classifications we use for consumers. This can lead to marketing copy that’s out of touch and impersonal. In this day and age when brands engage with consumers through various channels, rather than hiding behind an 800 number, we need […]
This week a few of us from GY&K head West…..South by South West to be exact. South by Southwest (SXSW) is a conference in Austin, Texas that encompasses technology, music, film, fashion and more. As I said in my post last year, the SXSW event tagline sums it up – Tomorrow Happens Here. The tagline is a […]
A new image sharing platform has taken the web by storm and it’s time for marketers to pay attention. Pinterest (combining the words pin and interest) is a ‘virtual pinboard’ that lets users collect, organize, share and link back to the images they find on the web. While most ‘pins’ and ‘boards’ are public, the […]
Our TV viewing experience is on a collision course with the interwebs. Some of us already own internet enabled TVs, while others connect their TV through peripheral devices like AppleTVs, PS3s, DVD players, etc. Alternatively, we’re able to view TV programming online through sites like Hulu and apps from networks like HBO, ESPN and many […]
In keeping with the theme of our recent post about the unexpected, a construction site near our office has deployed some unconventional branding tactics that are worth reviewing. Our office, proudly located in “Live Free or Die” New Hampshire, sits across from a hotel and restaurant that have changed ownership several times. Everyone around town knows […]
A friend recently said that when it comes to rewarding customers, surprise leads to delight. I think he’s absolutely right, and I believe all brands should include a positive unexpected tactic in their marketing plan. That’s right, you have to plan for the unexpected, or at least develop a framework for how this can come […]
The marketing industry is changing on so many levels. Therefore, we’re always testing new ideas at the GY&K school house and measuring to see what works. There are tried and true principles that we rely on (30+ years in business means we’ve hopefully learned a lot!), but now more than ever we have to keep […]