Viva’s Blog: Customers crave simplicity: Do you deliver?

Consumers today have more choices than ever and are bombarded by sophisticated solutions to their problems. However, no matter how advanced technology becomes, customers prefer simple solutions. According to the newly released Global Brand Simplicity Index study: Simplicity earns a premium: 64% of consumers are willing to pay more for simpler experiences. Simplicity builds loyalty: 69% of consumers are more likely to recommend a brand because it’s simple. HAPPY BELLY GETS IT Familiar with Happy Belly,…

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Aug 2017

By Laura SheridanBlog

Viva’s Blog: Why Snapstreak is a thing

No one likes losing things. Especially when you’ve worked on them every day for a year and a half. That’s how Gen Z’s (the iGeneration or Post-Millennials) feel about keeping their Snapstreaks alive. A Snapstreak is when you send snaps (videos and photos which self-destruct a few seconds after a person views them) back and forth with a friend for consecutive days. The longer you go without breaking the chain of communication, the longer the streak. To…

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Jun 2017

By Laura SheridanBlog

Viva’s Blog: Learn from Antonio Vazquez (Who?)

Antonio Vazquez is a guide for Spain’s Sevilla Bike Tour Company. While “guide” may be his title, he’s really a master marketer. Lesson #1 from Antonio: PASSION MATTERS You don’t have to be passionate about your product, service or company to market it, but it helps a lot. Just like you don’t have to love the game of basketball to be a good player, it is almost impossible to be a superstar without passion. Passion is the…

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Apr 2017

By Laura SheridanBlog

Viva’s Blog: 4 Brands Bet Big on the Super Bowl

Got $5 million? That’s what it took to buy a 30-second Super Bowl ad this year. That’s double the 2010 tab and 119 times the cost of an ad for the first Super Bowl in 1967. Careers can be defined by a Super Bowl performance, not just for players or halftime entertainers, but for actors, directors and brand managers responsible for the game’s much-anticipated commercials. Is it worth it? Marketers selling everything from water to websites attempt…

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Jan 2017

By Laura SheridanBlog

Viva’s Blog: 8 Marketing Mistakes to Avoid in 2017

Viva’s Blog: 8 Marketing Mistakes to Avoid in 2017 ‘Tis the season for resolutions. Which of these 8 marketing mistakes do you resolve to avoid in 2017? Mistake #1: Focusing on your product. It’s not about what you’re selling but rather the job you’re doing for your customers. Clayton M. Christensen, Harvard Business School Professor extraordinaire and author of multiple business best-sellers, believes that the secret to winning the innovation game is for executives to ask:…

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Dec 2016

By Laura SheridanBlog

Viva’s Blog: Why is Snap(chat) worth $25 billion?

It’s not just for kids. More than 100 million people view over 10 billion videos a day on Snap, known as “Snapchat” until a few weeks ago. Ad revenues are projected to reach $2 billion in 2018, up from $60 million in 2015. Why is Snap now valued at $25 billion and the most popular app among millennials? What can you learn from its success? 1. Focus on a narrow audience. You can learn a lot…

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Oct 2016

By Laura SheridanBlog

Viva’s Blog: Would YOU buy from YOU?

Savvy marketers understand that it’s not about what they’re selling, it’s about what their customers are buying. It’s about solving a customer’s problem and then clearly and succinctly explaining why your solution is different and better than any other. Today Amazon alone sells over 200 million products in the USA. Some are winners; plenty are losers. Consumers have more choices than ever before, so it’s imperative that it’s easy to buy from you. This concept applies to…

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Jun 2016

By Laura SheridanBlog

Viva’s Blog: Learn from Prince

The world is still reeling from the death of Prince Rogers Nelson, the multi-platinum-selling music producer, songwriter, musician, business mogul, and marketer who achieved wide fame for ‘1991’ and ‘Purple Rain’. Savvy marketers can learn a lot from Prince. Lesson #1: Be true to your brand. Prince didn’t just luck into a net worth of $300M and an iconic, highly emotional brand. He knew that everything from the people he surrounded himself with to his ruffled attire, bright colors, and…

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Apr 2016

By Laura SheridanBlog

Viva’s Blog: What color is your hammock?

Meditation hammocks. Sensory deprivation pods. These are the latest meditation practices gaining traction from coast to coast. Why are yoga studios and five-star spas like Miraval Resort in Arizona adding meditation hammocks and wellness centers offering sensory deprivation pods? What can marketers learn from them? Learning #1: Listen. Fitness studios converted yoga rooms into meditation centers because they listened to their members quip about stress and lack of “me time”. Their members didn’t ask, “Where are your hammocks?”…

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Mar 2016

By Laura SheridanBlog

Viva’s Blog: The real winner of the Super Bowl

Q: What costs $166,000 per second and can either catapult results or ruin you? A: A thirty-second commercial during this year’s Super Bowl. You’d think business executives who spend that much on airtime would nail making a winner ad. It’s not that easy. What does it take to make an effective ad? Below are some tips. Rate this year’s ads and pick the real game winner. #1: Don’t say it. Show it. Wix.com, the web-site company, launched its first Super…

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Feb 2016

By Laura SheridanBlog