Viva’s Blog: 5 Marketing Tips (from Sunny)

Meet Sunny! Sunny, our first dog ever, arrived on the scene last week. As it turns out, puppies and marketing have a lot in common: both require research, a data-driven strategy, and disciplined execution of that strategy. Marketing Tip #1: Establish trust. Before you can ask a prospect to try your product, visit your website, register for a webinar or schedule a call, you must create trust. Trust is about keeping promises. Communicating openly. Keeping…

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May 2019

By Laura SheridanBlog

Uber files for IPO and delivers marketing lessons

Lesson #1: Use photos to connect emotionally. Before Uber shared its mission, business overview and approach in its S-1, the SEC filing signaling its intent to go public, it showcased lifestyle shots of real people using Uber’s platforms throughout their day. The photos emotionally connect the viewer with the brand. Involve the heart, and your message will have a greater impact. Lesson #2: Use data to tell your story. Those six numbers tell a huge…

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Apr 2019

By Laura SheridanBlog

decantU selects Viva La Brand as its Brand & Marketing Strategy Firm

Cleveland-based brand strategy firm is retained by decantU, the Wine & Wellness Experience firm. Viva La Brand, the Cleveland, Ohio-based brand strategy and ad agency search firm, has been selected to help lead the brand development and marketing strategy for decantU, the host of interactive wine & wellness experiences. decantU Founder, Meredith Griffin, started her career as a sports performance coach and college wellness instructor for Maricopa Community Colleges. With a passion for wine and…

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Jan 2019

By Laura SheridanPress

Viva’s Blog: 7 Marketing Reminders for 2019

[1 minute read] Start 2019 with a bang. Here’s how. #1: Conduct a brand audit. Do your marketing materials focus on what’s important to your customers or to you? #2: Deeply understand your 2018 marketing results What worked from a quantifiable standpoint AND is truly better for your customer? #3: Review your KPIs Are you monitoring the right metrics? Do they directly tie to improving your customer’s experience? #4: Review your budget What are your business goals for…

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Dec 2018

By Laura SheridanBlog

Crain’s Feature Article by Laura Sheridan: What do you call your customer?

Published in Crain’s Cleveland Business December 1, 2018 What do you call your customer? Ever wonder why Disney calls them “guests,” Costco calls them “members” and Ritz-Carlton calls them “ladies and gentlemen”? It’s not by accident or a casual decision. Most businesspeople know to use the same logo on every ad and marketing piece. Why should language be any different? Many companies fall short on keeping their words and messaging consistent when describing the experiences…

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Dec 2018

By Laura SheridanPress

Viva’s Blog: 2019 Marketing Planning Checklist

Kicking off your 2019 marketing planning? Here are 10 key considerations: #1: Identify the “job” you’re doing for your customers. If you don’t know, conduct research. Gather the data you’ll need to develop messaging, pick media types, and create content that’s relevant and valuable to your customer. Drafting a marketing plan without understanding your customer is like buying shoes for a friend without knowing their taste, size and plan for wearing the shoes. Clay Christensen,…

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Nov 2018

By Laura SheridanBlog

Viva La Brand Celebrates 11th Anniversary by Honoring Its Clients

Cleveland-based brand and marketing strategy powerhouse celebrates its 11th anniversary by reflecting on its growing list of purposeful clients. Viva La Brand, the Cleveland, Ohio-based marketing strategy and ad agency search firm, is starting its 12th year by reflecting on the work it has done with clients large and small across a huge variety of industries. “Kicking off our 12th year in business is a great time to salute our amazing clients who have enabled us…

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Sep 2018

By Laura SheridanPress

Viva’s Blog: When will the Browns win that 1st game?

“Victory Fridges” have been installed in 10 Cleveland-area bars. Using smart technology, they will simultaneously unlock when the team wins their first game. It’s a clever marketing stunt that benefits Bud Light, the Browns, local bars, and long-suffering Cleveland Browns fans. There’s a lot for savvy marketers to learn from Bud Light’s latest trick. Win #1: Involve your customer. Customer loyalty is key to sustaining a business. Consumers have so many options today that brands have to…

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Aug 2018

By Laura SheridanBlog

Your Marketing Questions – Answered

As published in the Summer 2018 issue of HaYidion: In my experience working with two-dozen Jewish day schools across North America to drive enrollment and improve retention, I’ve learned this: marketing a Jewish day school in 2018 is hard. You have multiple target audiences, from educators and administrators to board members, parents, alumni and students. You have a product that requires continuous improvement to stay competitive. You have limited time, talent and money. And you…

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Jun 2018

By Laura SheridanPress

Viva’s Blog: How’s your personal brand?

You manage your finances. You manage your business. What about your personal brand? What do Oprah, Richard Branson, Sheryl Sandburg and Ellen DeGeneres have in common? It’s not just wealth, millions of Twitter and Instagram followers, and countless endorsement deals, it’s also a mastery of personal branding. Personal branding isn’t just for the rich and famous. Everyone has a personal brand. As Tom Peters, management consulting guru and the inventor of the phrase “Personal Brand”…

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May 2018

By Laura SheridanBlog