Words matter. What are yours?

Words matter. People connect with a brand when it demonstrates empathy and offers a solution that meets their lifestyle. Brands use words and visuals to communicate. My crude stick figures preclude me from preaching about visuals! My love for and experience writing does enable me to provide tips for effective written communication :). Before I share fun examples of savvy marketing messages, here are tips to create effective messaging: 1. Write for a specific target audience. 2….

01

Nov 2023

By Laura SheridanBlog

Crain’s Cleveland Business Publishes Article by Laura Sheridan President of Viva La Brand: It’s time to revisit your social media strategy

Are you caught up in the social media frenzy? There’s pressure for businesses to post regularly on LinkedIn and other social media sites. You’re coached about the importance of maintaining awareness among customers and prospects, and building community, and social media can be a great solution. However, there’s no cruise control when it comes to social media. The marketing universe is frenetic. People’s interests and problems change. Those changes lead to a change in social…

02

Jun 2023

By Laura SheridanPress

Using ChatGPT for Your Marketing

ChatGPT has come up in conversations with clients who aren’t sure how to use the tool in their marketing. Here are tips on how to take advantage of this emerging technology that you can try for free. Not familiar with ChatGPT? ChatGPT is the hot artificial intelligence (AI) tool that’s attracting a lot of attention from investors, software companies, gamers, marketers, and pretty much everyone. Why? The technology allows you to have human-like conversations with…

16

May 2023

By Laura SheridanBlog

Your Super Bowl Ad Cheat Sheet

The big game is Sunday! This year’s Super Bowl is sure to be entertaining both on and off the field. The game is predicted to be a nail-biter. As of today, Philadelphia is a 1.5-point favorite to beat quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Off the field, there’ll be plenty of entertaining plays for the 100 million viewers. With a price tag of $7M for a 30-second TV spot, advertisers are focused on creating…

07

Feb 2023

By Laura SheridanBlog

1 Tip for Better Communication

I’m often asked by clients how to communicate news, good and bad, to employees, customers, and partners. The answer can be summarized in one sentence: be honest, and true to who you are. Two recent events are great examples of the power of being candid with your stakeholders. Real Life Example #1: The NFL When Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field a couple of weeks ago during Monday Night Football, National Football League executives…

19

Jan 2023

By Laura SheridanBlog

Year-End Marketing Checklist

Now’s a great time to reflect on the past 11 months and evaluate the impact of your marketing on your business results. Patterns may reveal themselves about your team or your clients. What worked and what didn’t? Here’s a checklist to help you evaluate your marketing’s effectiveness and plan for a successful 2023. MARKETING CHECKLIST #1: Marketing Team Do you have the right internal talent in the right positions to accomplish your goals for 2023? If…

30

Nov 2022

By Laura SheridanBlog

US Open: Why its marketing is a grand slam

I wasn’t planning on watching night after night of the US Open. Something about it lured me in. I wasn’t the only one. More than 2.7 million people were glued to their seats to witness Serena Williams’ victory over Danka Kovinic in her farewell tournament – up 279% from last year and the largest opening round audience since ESPN aired the tournament in 2009. Serena’s retirement and excellent marketing drove this massive rise in viewership. There…

07

Sep 2022

By Laura SheridanBlog

Featured in Crain’s Cleveland Business by Laura Sheridan, President of Viva La Brand: Five hacks to connect with your customers

Really understanding your customers is fundamental to realizing the greatest return on investment from your marketing and advertising. Here are five hacks to uncover insights that enable you to connect with them. Hack No. 1: Conduct primary customer research. You need to hear from your most loyal customers, your least loyal customers, your newest customers and your most profitable customers. Call them. Better yet, engage a third-party research firm to interview them. A third-party firm will…

15

May 2022

By Laura SheridanPress

4 tips for working with an Ad Agency

I started my career working at some of the best ad agencies in the world. Then I switched to the “client side” where I engaged numerous advertising, digital, and public relations agencies. I’ve learned a few things that enable me to help our clients hire the right agency, produce the best outcomes, and create long-lasting relationships. Unfortunately, many clients have come to Viva La Brand with stories of failed agency relationships. These failed relationships are stressful,…

30

Mar 2022

By Laura SheridanBlog

Your Super Bowl Ad Cheat Sheet

It’s 5 days until the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams faceoff in Los Angeles for Super Bowl LVI. This year, the NFL is giving Super Bowl attendees free NFTs that commemorate their tickets and serve as digital keepsakes. Also for the first time, there are five headliners for the Super Bowl halftime show – Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J Blige, and Kendrick Lamar. 37 total advertisers will go for the ring Thirty-seven advertisers…

08

Feb 2022

By Laura SheridanBlog