When we bought our first house – a charming but nearly 100-year-old fixer-upper – we had no idea what we were getting into. We were blissfully naive, armed with big dreams and a can-do attitude. Thankfully, one of my early (and generous) bosses at Progressive Insurance agreed to delay my start date so I could tackle the endless DIY projects. I showed up for my first day at Progressive with paint in my hair…
Leah, my fearless little sidekick who is two, slept over Saturday night. She may be small, but she delivered big lessons. Who knew a toddler’s antics could serve as a crash course in marketing? Leah’s Lesson #1: Repetition + Consistency = Results Leah doesn’t just tell her dog Sunny Bunny to “sit” once. She repeats it — with purpose, with persistence — until it sticks. That’s how behavior changes. Same goes for marketing. Effective calls-to-action…
The Big Game is almost here! Super Bowl LIX sets the stage for a star-studded rematch – with history on the line. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are headed to the big game again and are aiming to become the first team to capture three straight Super Bowl titles. Off the field, there will be plenty of entertaining plays for the 113 million viewers. With a price tag of $7M for a…
Today, businesses and organizations increasingly turn to digital marketing firms to achieve that elusive first-page ranking and gain a competitive edge. Many of our clients tell us that digital marketing firm contracts are overly complicated and full of gobbledygook! The goal is to build a long-term relationship with a marketing partner. Start off on the right foot by using this primer to help you make sense of a digital marketing firm’s contract. Most digital marketing contracts include…
As the year draws to a close, your plate is likely overflowing. That’s why we crafted this concise end-of-year marketing checklist to make sure you kick off 2024 with confidence. This checklist is about the 3 P’s that are critical to your 2024 marketing strategy: People, Performance, and Partners. #1: PEOPLE. Your customers and employees are at the center of your success. Understanding your customer – their wants, needs, shopping and buying behaviors, and online habits…
Before you sign off on your 2024 marketing plan, pressure test it by checking to make sure it has your customer at the center. Your customer should be at the heart of what you do. Whether it’s signing a new business partnership, choosing keywords for an email newsletter, or building your product roadmap, your first step should be making sure the decision is good for your customer. That means you need to understand your customer. How…
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…
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…
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,…
We’re in the thick of the planning season. Here are eight tips to enhance your marketing plan. Tip #1: Know thy customer.It’s easy to post on social media. It’s hard to deeply understand your customers to ensure you’re posting where and what they care about. It’s easy to spend money on ads. It’s hard to create a value proposition that differentiates your brand in a relevant, compelling, and meaningful way. It all starts with understanding your…
