All Audiences…Not Created Equal
I recently redesigned a product’s packaging for a client of ours. It was not done to change their brand, to make their packaging prettier, or to increase their sales among their current consumer base. Instead, they were marketing to an entirely new audience with similar interests in their product offerings. As they soon realized, not […]
A Night With The Stars…And The Brands
Well, another Oscar season has ended. The red carpet has been rolled up, the awards have been handed out, and “Green Book” has officially been named best picture. This past Sunday night, Millions of people tuned in to see Mellissa McCarthy’s Rabbit covered dress and Gaga and Cooper preform “Shallow”. What they also saw, though, […]
The Future Of Broadcast TV, Maybe
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: TV is changing. Of course it is. As they say, “The only constant is change.” This change, though, goes beyond the usual headlines of how many subscribers cable and satellite companies are losing every quarter, to the very nature of how broadcast TV is delivered. Say hello to […]
Not Making A Call Is Still Making A Decision
Today, the whole world is lamenting the fate of the New Orleans Saints. They had the game in hand until a flabbergasting no-call by the officials on a play that was pass interference by anyone not Bird-Boxing themselves kept the Saints from a seat at SuperBowl 53. The paralysis experienced by the officials, unable to […]
The Best Audience To Target With Google ADs
Can you tell the difference between a Google Ad and an organic search result? Don’t be discouraged if you can’t. VARN recently conducted a survey in January of 2018 with 803 respondents. 57% of those surveyed could not recognize the difference. And it’s not just people over 55. 50% of consumers 18-34 couldn’t recognize […]
Greenwashing
Today, more and more companies seem to be making the push for more environmentally friendly products. From restaurants making the change from plastic to paper straws to finding different methods to conserve energy – it can seem like we are living in the green age. All these changes help the planet, but they also happen […]
The Happiest Campaign On Earth
Mickey Mouse – one of the most recognizable brand icons in the world is turning 90 this year! And that means Disney is throwing the biggest birthday party of the decade to celebrate – for a limited time only, of course! To celebrate, The Walt Disney Company launched a worldwide celebration honoring our favorite mouse. It started […]
Influencer Marketing: 7 Steps For A Successful Campaign
A successful influencer marketing strategy hinges on moving beyond vanity metrics to focus on audience alignment and authentic engagement. By following a structured 7-step approach ranging from defining the target audience for influencer marketing to utilizing advanced influencer marketing tools brands can bypass “fake” followers and secure a genuine ROI. In today’s digital economy, transparency […]
New Technology, Not Only For The Youngsters
As new technology arrives each day, it’s often assumed that the early adopters are the youth of the world. But when it comes to new voice technology such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa, the Baby Boomer generation and beyond have adopted these technologies as their own personal and work companion. A study conducted by […]
Customer Retention & The Struggle For Loyalty
Expectations are everything for a brand. Whatever product you output must at least meet or exceed your consumers’ wants and needs; after all, that’s why they chose you in the first place. You have to deliver, or else you’re done – they leave you for a competitor with a better product, and it’s over. Just […]
So, What’s The Deal With Influencer Marketing
Are you thinking of using an influencer for promoting your product? Recently, influencer marketing has rapidly gained popularity and taken the industry by storm. The days of iconic celebrities being the top choice of brands for promoting their products or services are fading. Nowadays, many brands are using regionalized influencers for marketing their products. Moreover, […]
Creative Logos & Their Hidden Images: Can You See It?
Hidden images in logos are deliberate design elements symbols or shapes tucked into negative space that represent a brand’s core values or services. These creative choices, like the FedEx arrow or the Amazon smile, act as powerful branding tools that increase memorability and connect with consumers on a subconscious level. Many ads and logos have […]
Coming Soon To An AD Near You: Virtual Reality
In the past few years, there has been a push in the entertainment industry towards incorporating virtual reality into mainstream media through video games, music videos, and online videos. Some companies, such as Google, Coca-Cola, and Infinity, have jumped on the bandwagon, releasing ads to take advantage of the format. With all the advances being […]
More Than Just A Poke War
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube, and others are thought to be no more than platforms to share photos, opinions, and to keep up your “poke-wars”. With billions of people across the world having accounts on some or all of these programs, social media is becoming a serious contender in the advertising, marketing, and branding […]
Advertising Mishaps: AD Campaign For Burgers Sparks Massive Uproar
Recently, IHOP (International House of Pancakes), launched an advertising campaign for their menu item, hamburgers. The 60-year-old company has never strayed from its tried and true brand of breakfast. Sure, the company has other non-breakfast menu items, but breakfast has always stayed in 1st place. Founded in 1958, the company has since opened more than […]
Why Representation Matters In Film, TV And Advertising
#Wakanda and #BlackPanther have been trending non-stop these past few months and for good reason. The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe smashed box office records with no sign of slowing down. I am not ashamed to admit that I saw it opening night and may even go pay to see it again. Why was this movie such […]
RunDisney: The Happiest Race On Earth
Walt Disney World – a vacation destination with many meanings to so many families. When most people think of Disney World, they automatically assume it’s a theme park for children, but it’s much more than that. It’s a world where parents and children can spend time as a family, where grandparents can take their grandkids, […]
It’s Just Elementary Advertising, My Dear Watson
If you wish to use your skills of deduction, you’ll soon discover that while traditional media (such as print, radio, and television) is still kicking, there’s also the devious digital side of advertising that’s been giving everyone some trouble lately (not unlike Moriarty). Besides pre-roll, SEO, SEM, online banners, email marketing, web development, and web […]
Standing Out In A Skippable World (Understanding In-Stream Video ADs)
Long gone are the days of using email as the primary means of online messaging or static display banners to catch consumer eyeballs. Now, multi-platform digital streaming and short-form video networks have completely taken over as the massive global hubs of human communication. From our Gen Z nephews streaming on mobile devices to our Silent […]
Attribution (Or Why Clients Think Certain Media Doesn’t Work)
When discussing media options with clients, we sometimes find a pre-disposed prejudice to specific mediums for what, nearly 100% of the time, are anecdotal reasons. For example, it could be they listen to Pandora, but not terrestrial radio, so they think nobody listens to radio. Or, it could be they don’t listen to Pandora, so […]
Super Bowl & Commercials: Who Won & Who Lost?
Amazon – Alexa Loses Her Voice https://youtu.be/J6-8DQALGt4The Super Bowl is a celebration of the greatness of our nation, of our ethos that values spirited competition, hard work, going big or going home and a respect for historical tradition. For the accompanying commercials to “fit” the Super Bowl, they need to fit the lexicon of this […]