2017 is fast-approaching. And while you’re probably knee-deep in how to finish 2016 strong, now is also the time to start planning for what’s to come. Today, as many as 85% of small and mid-size companies make the mistake of operating based only on a budget. Without a well-designed marketing plan, you fail to establish guidelines and proper direction, as well as run the risk of being unable to successfully identify key performance indicators (KPI’s). To ensure your business can hit the ground running January 1st, you need to be asking (and answering) three key questions:
Despite a changing landscape, evolving technology and the growing influence of digital and social channels, the formula for a great client-agency relationship goes back to the basics. It’s not enough to establish a relationship; a lasting partnership must be nurtured to foster growth and ensure longevity.
It’s no secret that streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video have altered the way we watch our movies and TV shows. The rapid adoption of these services over the past few years has caused many media and advertising analysts to proclaim that traditional network and cable television is dead. No longer are people tuning in week after week to catch up on their favorite characters, or sitting through a half dozen commercial breaks per hour to find out what happens next.
Brand identity. Many businesses treat it as little more than an afterthought, but a good identity — with a strong personality that customers love — is the foundation for longterm success. A strong brand will boost customer retention, increase purchase usage and can considerably lower your acquisition costs.
The Digital Age has brought no end of new marketing opportunities and new perspectives on advertising. However, it hasn’t spelled the end of traditional marketing tactics, and in fact some longstanding strategies are even more effective today. Direct mail is one of them.
We don’t blush when it comes to talking about money. Figuring out the optimum marketing budget for your business is important — it shouldn’t be a delicate conversation, it should be right out in the open. Clear communication about a budget helps set expectations for you and your marketing team, and is central to building an effective, goal-oriented marketing plan.
Some things never go out of style. Other things are out of date almost the second they’re out of the store. In order to be effective, today’s marketing and advertising often requires a combination of traditional (direct mail, billboards, radio/tv), as well as newer and emerging tactics (social selling, highly targeted audience segmentation, experiential marketing).
If you want your brand to get noticed on social media—and you should—you need to give your audience compelling content. Content that’s eyecatching, heartwarming, brain-scratching or otherwise unavoidably engaging.
For the first time Pantone has chosen two colors to represent the year, and 2016’s are Rose Quartz and Serenity.
Rose Quartz and Serenity
Or to those outside the design world, baby pink and baby blue. We’ve seen loud, vibrant colors for most of their selections, but this year sees pastel, silvery hues.
With North America’s biggest shopping period rapidly approaching, retailers and their marketers focus on demographies and how to best attract them. Millennials always seem to be at the forefront of these efforts as one of the most desirable consumer groups. Some research provided by Influenster gives us insight into their potential Black Friday behavior. Perhaps surprisingly, many plan to visit an actual store to participate in Black Friday festivities. Of the 93% of millennials that plan to shop over the holiday weekend, only 26% said they would be shopping more on Cyber Monday. The fact that many in this group are physically hitting the stores is also eye-opening considering their digital-heavy lifestyles.
