tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1687137337366128132024-02-18T19:50:35.965-08:00Marketing Partners BuzzAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08864248239513986285noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168713733736612813.post-14461368669159095192015-10-08T12:08:00.001-07:002015-10-08T12:08:55.993-07:00Mascots, Mobile And Much Ado About Data At Advertising Week<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Takeaways From Advertising Week XII</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Advertising and marketing is changing at a rapid pace, with cross-screen digital and mobile the new formats churning the waves of disruption in an
industry built on print and television.</div>
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<br /></div>
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At <a href="http://www.advertisingweek.com/" target="_blank">Advertising Week XII</a>, which took over midtown Manhattan
the last week of September, 2015, the higher-ups in the industry used buzz
words and terms like “convergence,” “ad blocking,” “mobile first,” “cross-screen,”
“programmatic,” and “transparency” to describe the current and growing trends. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The four-day event featured panel discussions and workshops
led by some of the finest minds in advertising and marketing, as well as big
celebrity names, like Lester Holt and Chuck Todd from NBC, Fox’s Megyn Kelly,
funk legend Bootsy Collins, actor Titus Burgess, “Big Bird” portrayer Caroll
Spinney, NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick, and singer Gloria Estefan, among others.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sports marketing is on the rise, as many sports-themed panels,
like the one with Harvick and another with NBA star Ray Allen, proved. The
immediacy of sports and the high profile of its stars, especially on social
media, are what’s moving the needle. But the true stars of the week were those
who saw the marrying of technology with data and creativity as the best way to
lead trends in advertising.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; mso-bidi-font-family: Nunito-Light; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">“One thing that’s been a big evolution is that
there’s a lot more math. You have to have another set of capabilities with using
data and statistics,” said Gary Briggs, CMO at Facebook. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; mso-bidi-font-family: Nunito-Light; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">“We can’t lose the balance of the creativity. When
you put data and creativity together you can really create special things,”
said CMO Deirdre Bigley of Bloomberg.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Reaching people at a local level was also a big point of
discussion, with several panels looking to uncover how to connect with people at the right
moment on their devices wherever they are, on a personal level.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; mso-bidi-font-family: Nunito-Light; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">“It’s not just saying, ‘Here are listings of places
nearby,'” said Steven Rosenblatt, CRO of Foursquare. “It’s saying, ‘Here are
listings of places nearby that you’ll be interested in.’” But he pointed out
that any efforts to reach into someone’s device with local and location-based
services must benefit the user. “It has to be organic, it has to be creative,
it has to be relevant.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; mso-bidi-font-family: Nunito-Light; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">One of the most fun events during the week was the
induction of two new advertising mascots into the <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/victory-is-cheesy---chester-cheetah-inducted-into-madison-avenue-walk-of-fame-300151248.html" target="_blank">Madison Avenue Walk of Fame</a>.
A collection of life-sized mascots, from Smokey Bear to the M&Ms and Mr.
Peanut, took over the TV studio at the NASDAQ exchange in Times Square to ring
the final bell for the day before the winners were announced, making for a
surreal and hilarious photo op. Ultimately, the two mascots took their place on
the Walk of Fame – Chester Cheetah from Cheetos, and the Icee Bear. Two slogans
also made their way into the Walk of Fame as well – “Give a Hoot, Don’t
Pollute” by the Forest Service, and Gatorade’s “Is It In You?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; mso-bidi-font-family: Nunito-Light; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileyvN0mzz99csIwSnBJq9-ulHUY4RwghsHMXKPqCVyDmgWAZCNAtmVWATBCAtrlhJfiTn5mrQislcAI62fIGiLl2QL6ZUSGjD3qrqMHPNj8La6i6YDWzmL5LvzDfr4u9hsW1cqdHGBqdQ/s1600/Mascots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileyvN0mzz99csIwSnBJq9-ulHUY4RwghsHMXKPqCVyDmgWAZCNAtmVWATBCAtrlhJfiTn5mrQislcAI62fIGiLl2QL6ZUSGjD3qrqMHPNj8La6i6YDWzmL5LvzDfr4u9hsW1cqdHGBqdQ/s640/Mascots.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Advertising mascot icons ring the final bell at NASDAQ.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; mso-bidi-font-family: Nunito-Light; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202020; mso-bidi-font-family: Nunito-Light; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">A big takeaway from the week was that the
conversation is increasingly being led by the consumer and the user experience.
Social media is driving immediate conversations between marketers and
consumers, and that split-second feedback is driving innovation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; mso-bidi-font-family: Nunito-Light; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Sarah Personette, VP of Global Business Marketing
at Facebook, summed up the new vision for advertising’s future with a positive
outlook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; mso-bidi-font-family: Nunito-Light; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">“It’s the golden age of advertising because we can
marry so much of the story and deliver it to the right person.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; mso-bidi-font-family: Nunito-Light; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Nobody knows exactly where advertising and
marketing will go in the next few years and what technology will move the
needle, but the minds at Advertising Week XII are the ones leading the way. Read more about the happenings during Advertising Week at the <a href="http://www.awxiihub.com/" target="_blank">LinkedIn Hub blog</a>.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08864248239513986285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168713733736612813.post-39685044544225756212015-08-26T11:27:00.000-07:002015-10-08T12:10:11.356-07:00How Should You Pay For College? Smartly.<div class="MsoNormal">
College costs have risen over the decades. Bloomberg
reported that costs rose 500% between 1985 and 2013. As such, paying for school
has become a big concern for parents and students alike, since many students
are graduating saddled with mounds of debt. The Institute for College Access
and Success reported that the average for 2014 grads was nearly $30,000.</div>
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<br /></div>
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A recent Gallup poll noted that seven of ten parents said
they were worried about the issue and that paying for school is a top money
concern. So, how you borrow to pay for school has never been more important.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
The same Gallup poll found that 73% of parents <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">turn to their
financial institution to help them through major life events. </span>Many
credit unions are doing their part by offering fair-value private student
lending, along with financial wellness programs. This helps members choose what
kind of funding is right for them and how they can maximize their dollars. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
One thing
every student should do before selecting funding options is to fill out a Free
Application for <a href="https://fafsa.ed.gov/" target="_blank">Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)</a>. Filling out that application and sending it in as soon as possible
will leave you open to more forms of funding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Here is a short primer on student loans and how credit
unions are working to help students and families cover the costs of college.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Types Of Student
Loans<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grants and
Scholarships<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The best way to get money for higher education is to get it
for free. Scholarships can be given by schools, businesses, community groups
and other organizations, and usually an application process is involved. You
can earn scholarships for academics, extracurricular activities, sports,
volunteering and other factors.</div>
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Grants are based on need, meaning your ability to pay, and
are given by the federal government, local governments or private and
non-profit organizations.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Find out about grants and scholarships available <a href="https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.scholarshipsandgrants.us/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Federal Loans<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Federal student loans are the main source of funding for
many students, and Federal Direct loans are usually the least expensive option.
You must repay these loans with interest. Find out more about Federal Student
Loans <a href="https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Work-Study Programs<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Federal work-study programs provide part-time jobs for
students to help them pay for college.</div>
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Find out more about work-study programs <a href="https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/work-study" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Private Student Loans
<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These loans mostly come from your financial institution,
like a credit union. They provide a low-rate loan to cover educational
expenses. Many parents and students use these loans to cover what scholarships
and Federal loans do not. Credit scores are often checked for these types of
loans, meaning students may need a co-borrower. Make sure to check rates to get
the lowest one possible with the best repayment terms to make things
affordable. Oftentimes credit unions will have the lowest rates, and with
partners like Credit Union Student Choice, you’ll be able to make an informed decision.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Credit Union Student
Choice<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Credit Union Student Choice is a credit union service organization
(CUSO) that partners with credit unions to offer a comprehensive solution that
helps them deliver fair-value private education loans and corresponding
financial education to students and families, including navigating the various
obstacles of attending college.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
The program is supported across multiple channels,
including helpful seminars at partner credit unions and local high schools and
colleges. An online financial wellness platform helps students and their
families make effective personal finance, student loan, and career decisions.
This platform, featuring financial literacy tools for college students and
recent graduates, helps before, during and after the college years, providing
resources and information on schools, career paths, budgeting and workplace
expectations. There’s even an interactive job bank to help graduates find
employment in cities across the country.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For more information, visit <a href="http://www.studentchoice.org/" target="_blank">here</a><span style="color: blue;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Whatever choice you make for funding your education,
you’ll be more prepared to pay knowing that there are multiple options
available to you.<span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08864248239513986285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168713733736612813.post-35042185225401294922015-06-25T05:59:00.000-07:002015-06-25T06:01:47.735-07:00All Good Marketing Tells a Story – Part 2 (of 3)<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tap Into Your Roots To Tell Stories That Make a Deeper Connection <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Telling your company’s unique story
gives it a chance to stand out from the pack. The problem many companies run
into is the fear factor. They are afraid to be different or open up, lest they stand
out or receive negative feedback. Or they’re afraid that their story is not
interesting. So, rather than digging into their roots they stick with clichéd
marketing speak that sounds exactly like all the other bland sameness out there.
Why do you think you hear so many businesses offering that they’re a “one-stop
shop” that is “family owned and operated” and “goes the extra mile”? You’ve
heard all those phrases before and they now probably wash over you like a lukewarm
cup of water with a side of milquetoast. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Using common clichés and bland
phrases don’t enhance your brand. Instead, they cast you amongst the masses,
hiding your real story. Start by thinking of different ways to say those tired
phrases. Instead of being “family owned and operated” tell people that you’ve
been “vested in success for generations.” Instead of being open “24-hours” tell
people you’re “ready anytime you need us.” Little things like this can help you
open up to your real story and make that consumer connection.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Consumers want a reason to connect with your brand<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Developing a deeper relationship
with your consumers means taking chances. It means being more transparent and giving
telling details about your company, even if it may feel uncomfortable or you
fear the unknown.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I once helped craft such a story
for a local staffing agency in the Pacific Northwest. The agency had dated
marketing materials that made them look like every other small company that
launched in the ’80s, and it showed in their outdated logo and website and a
color palette of teals and yellows that looked beyond tired. Plus, the language
they used was very “safe” – it was corporate, cold and didn’t have the
personality of its owner, which was odd because the owner was a community icon
and champion of local charities. Convincing them to tie the staffing brand to
the owner’s positive image and personality, and highlighting the things that he
had done to build the business and his community, brought positive recognition
to the company and led to a larger and more loyal customer base over the next
year. We updated their website to include the owner’s community stature,
spruced up the colors and fonts, and brought the owner’s story to the forefront
to create a greater connection to the community of employers and employees that
would use their services.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Lying or being vague about your
company can only lead to difficulty down the road. Just look at nearly every
sports scandal currently being investigated. Being proactively transparent can help
improve a company’s image. Look at a company like Buffer, a social media
scheduling and analytics company that grew from humble beginnings in 2010 and
now serves over 2 million. In 2013 they posted a blog that spoke to one of their
founding philosophies – <a href="https://open.bufferapp.com/introducing-open-salaries-at-buffer-including-our-transparent-formula-and-all-individual-salaries/" target="_blank">“Default to Transparency”</a>.
The blog openly talked about their revenues and the salaries of Buffer
employees, with the thinking that “transparency breeds trust.” The blog led to hundreds
of comments, many positive, and raised the profile and revenues of the company.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Even companies as big as Chipotle
and McDonald’s have benefitted from telling stories that resonated. Chipotle
recently made a positive PR move in its pledge to cook with only non-GMO
ingredients, and McDonald’s put up a site called <a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/content/us/en/your_questions/our_food.html" target="_blank">“Our Food, Your Questions”</a> to
get in front of their own food ingredients narrative. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
While you may not have the budget
of those bigger companies, you can still tell your story inexpensively in many
ways – through social media, your website, press releases – to help build that
trust early on. The path to success changes for every business, but telling
your story helps get you noticed. So hone your message, talk with a marketing,
PR or advertising professional and build that story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Up
Next: How to Craft Your Company’s Story<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08864248239513986285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168713733736612813.post-91001938895439647642015-06-09T09:14:00.003-07:002015-06-25T06:02:24.906-07:00The Switch To Smart Cards Is Coming Soon<div class="MsoNormal">
The official switch-over to the EMV smart chip card is
coming. With an October 1, 2015 deadline looming for retailers, credit unions
and banks, now is the time to inform cardholders and future cardholders about
the benefits of these smart chip cards.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Lowdown On Smart
Cards<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Credit union members around the country will soon be able to
use their credit and debit cards in stores with a new layer of protection
against fraud in the form of a small microchip embedded in the card. The chip
is designed to communicate with specially outfitted card reader terminals used
at the point of sale that will authorize each sale based on various PIN and
data verification processes. This effort to improve payment technology has been
years in the making and has been shown to deter most forms of theft and fraud.
It has been used in Europe for years – EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard and
Visa – and it has been successful in the countries where it has been
implemented.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>How It Works</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The card – which looks similar to your old credit card but
with a distinctive metallic square embedded in its face – is equipped with a
small micro processing chip that stores individual data and more, including the
card number. Unlike the old magnetic card strips, the information contained
within the chip, accessed only by the special processing terminal, uses dynamic
data authentication, encryption, and often PIN verification to protect against
counterfeit, lost or stolen cards. It is nearly impossible to duplicate, and it
protects against “skimming” machines, which fraudsters use to scan information
from magnetic strips. This advanced <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Cardholder verification helps ensure
that the person attempting to make the transaction is the person to whom the
card belongs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Are You Ready For The
Switch?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By October 1, 2015, most major retailers and financial
institutions should have switched to these new smart cards, issuing new VISA<sup>®</sup>
and MasterCard<sup>®</sup> credit cards to all current cardholders and those
signing up for new cards. While some smaller retailers are not ready for the
change, most will have changed over, so updating systems and educating
cardholders is key to a smooth transition.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Make Your Transition
To Chip Cards A Smooth One<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, during the slower months of summer, is a great time for
credit unions to put together a targeted campaign to educate members about the
importance of having a card that protects them more at the point of purchase
and be ready for a fall roll-out. MPI has the tools credit unions need – print,
eMarketing, multi-channel distribution – to help you reach as many people as
possible with your chip card transition. Maximize your opportunities with
creative content and deliverables. Call us at 888-641-1215 or email us now.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDdQnTfPpMI9DRA3pFI8DrYy0s6qVU3YjEYaIwqfvlgzl62TnUYs-Stc1ZttARojt7umD7V5ebdNNIrIZP9Up3qzmI-KPtQeywL7jL4lPBO4CqWGq4UKCEUFBjJkhu-kxqsrRrVNEFLaN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-09+at+12.12.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDdQnTfPpMI9DRA3pFI8DrYy0s6qVU3YjEYaIwqfvlgzl62TnUYs-Stc1ZttARojt7umD7V5ebdNNIrIZP9Up3qzmI-KPtQeywL7jL4lPBO4CqWGq4UKCEUFBjJkhu-kxqsrRrVNEFLaN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-09+at+12.12.43+PM.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">Learn more about the
advantages of EMV cards </span><a href="http://www.marketingpartners.com/about/latest-buzz/emv-chip-advantages/" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08864248239513986285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168713733736612813.post-78640535723401078232015-04-14T10:40:00.001-07:002015-04-14T10:51:01.345-07:0010 Tips For Hosting A Successful Home Buying Seminar<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A broker in central California has been holding first-time
home buyer seminars since 2003. The seminars are designed to relieve the
apprehension renters may feel as they get ready to jump into the marketplace
for the first time. She uses a pressure-free setting to educate attendees on
every step of the buying process, start to finish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The result: She generates 25 to 30 percent of her business
directly from the seminars, which on average draw 15 to 20 people. Some clients
are recommended to her from friends and relatives who attended the seminars,
she says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“If you’re looking to build a business relationship with
the community, holding a seminar is worth it,” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hosting a home buying seminar is about providing sound and
truthful information and developing trust. Many times, potential home buyers
haven’t taken the first step and have no idea what is in store. The job of your
seminar is to put them at ease by giving them the best information about what
the process is and answering their questions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, how do you prepare and plan for your home buying
seminar? Here are ten tips that may help get you started.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1.</b> <b>Strategize! Decide what type of seminar you want
to host: </b>First Home Buyers, Refinance, General Home Buyers, Retirement
Pay-down; and choose a partner like real estate professionals or other
specialists.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">First decide the goal that will
determine what a <i>successful</i> Home Buying Seminar looks like, besides just
getting bodies through the door to snatch up your snacks and free pens. This
will help you target an audience and increase the chances of attracting
qualified leads. </span>Potential customers usually needing the most help
are first time home buyers. However, those who haven’t bought for a while,
those who want to refinance and those who want to pay their houses down before
retirement offer other opportunities for more niche seminars. Decide how much
to cover and be succinct, since you don’t want the seminar to last longer than
the attention span of your attendees.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Send out invitations, gather materials and start
promoting your seminar.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Work
with your marketing team or agency to put together smart online and printed
materials to send out to potential seminar attendees, both within your
membership and outside of it. Then promote your seminar in branch with posters
and handouts, online with your website and on social media with your Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and other platforms. Use your email list for
invitations and promos.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Incentivize!</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Offer
gift cards or a drawing for a prize for those attending. Offer breakfast, lunch
or snacks, depending on what time and day you choose for your seminar. Little
things that don’t cost a lot can draw in more curious people, who may turn into
customers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Give them honest information.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Not
everyone will qualify, but helping everyone understand what’s in store will let
potential buyers know what they’re in for. Let people know that a lot goes into
how much house they can afford and what they have to do to qualify. Let them
know the advantages and disadvantages of home ownership, what their credit
score has to do with their potential loan amount, and what a home truly costs
over the length of the mortgage. Transparency throughout the process will
create trust.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Help them find a realtor.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> While
this is not a must, having a short list of reliable and trustworthy realtors to
recommend is a good idea. Having a realtor at your seminar to answer questions
can also help inform your audience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6.<span style="font-size: small;"> Guide them
to buy based on reality rather than emotion.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>In
other words, inform them not to buy a house based on how much they love it. The
seminar is there to help them sort through the particulars of the home buying
process and separate emotion from fact. Most homeowners make decisions based on
their love of a particular house. Your seminar should help them look at the
property with a more critical eye so they don’t end up with a money pit.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Make sure they know that getting pre-approved is
hugely important.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This
isn’t the same as being prequalified, although some people use the terms
interchangeably. Being pre-approved gives them a realistic number to use while
house shopping and can also give an edge if multiple people are placing offers
on the same property. However, make sure they are realistic about what they can
actually afford versus what their bank-approved limit is, which could stretch their
finances.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Describe all the benefits of buying a home.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> There
are many benefits of home ownership, aside from just having a place to call
home and raise a family. Have materials ready that accent things like equity,
property values, independence and tax benefits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Make sure they know their financing choices and
acquaint them with all the requisite home buying documents.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> First-time
home buyer breaks, refinancing, rate vs. term and other financing options
should be covered. Also, have all the forms they will need to apply for
financing and what they will need to fill out when they decide to get
pre-approved and buy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. Have
a loan specialist there to start the pre-approval process on the spot.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Don’t
pressure anyone, but let them know that there are loan specialists they can
talk with right there for more information and to get pre-approved. Catch them
when they are informed and excited to begin the home buying process. Often,
buyers are preoccupied with finding the home of their dreams and may not have
given any thought to a decision about working with a mortgage specialist. They’re
busy thinking about houses, so it’s partly the job of the seminar to get them
on track financially, so they know how much house they can afford so they can
shop smarter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are many things to consider when hosting a home buying
seminar, but this should give any credit union, financial institution or other
potential hosts a head start on making it all work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To find out more about setting up successful home buying seminars, contact <a href="http://www.marketingpartners.com/" target="_blank">MPI. </a></span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08864248239513986285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168713733736612813.post-16256000484865557722014-10-07T04:00:00.000-07:002014-10-07T04:00:01.598-07:00Digital Media Immersion For A Day<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">By Tracey Wells<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">In today’s marketing environment, <b>digital reigns king</b>. That’s one key thing I learned attending the
first <b>Baltimore Digital Summit</b> (#bds1) in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Sept. 30.
Held in conjunction with Baltimore Ad Week, the audience was a mix of
advertisers - creative types and executives - entrepreneurs and digital media
enthusiasts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">We learned that digital’s growth rate eclipses all other channels
with seemingly no end in sight. This combination creates a web of decisions in
the best use of digital media for your brand’s success. It was one of many
strong points made during this informative and inspirational seminar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Here’s what You NEED to Know:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">1. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Social Media is not a PR
platform.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Please don’t mistake social media with a channel to brag about your
brand. People do not want to listen to you promote your own awesomeness on
social channels. The primary goal of social media is engagement. Finding a
connection with your customers is the holy grail of digital media. Revenue is a
secondary goal, followed by the growth or adoption of new fans. Use social to build
your brand, not flaunt it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">2. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Content is key.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Compelling content remains important in digital media, much like in
all marketing channels. Your audience is distracted by media clutter. Be
unique. Compelling information doesn't always need to push a positive angle,
though, so long as it engages. Consider this “baby” campaign from Durex: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xEoqWuN1_8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xEoqWuN1_8</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">3. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Don’t SPAM the media.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">If you are using the press to spread your message, digital media
experts like Mario Armstrong (@marioarmstrong) and Roger Mecca (@rogrmecca)
advise to engage in one-to-one contact. Don’t SPAM the media using email or
Twitter. Send an individual message using a single channel, otherwise it just
feels like stalking, or worse, impersonal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">4. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Put your content where
your audience is.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Research and understand your customer: Where are they? What are they
saying? Be there to solve their problems and deliver a solution where they are,
not where you think they should be. Are they using mobile or desktop
applications? Content marketing is more about content discovery than search.
For example, a search for low rate credit cards could lead to content about a
debt consolidation loan, providing additional helpful information for the
searcher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">5. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Take calculated risks.
Don’t be afraid to fail.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“Fail forward” was the one quote that resonated the most from the
summit. If you are taking a calculated risk and fail, then you are failing
forward. Be prepared to take risks, make mistakes and learn from them. Henry
Ford did not create the first automobile without risk and failure, but where
would we be without his fortitude? A recent risk taker that took off is
Tessemae’s Salad Dressing, a family company whose founder left a steady employee
benefits representative job to start a company and is now making millions
selling salad dressing. Honestly, I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t listened to
the story first hand. Learn more here <a href="http://www.tessemaes.com/pages/about-us">http://www.tessemaes.com/pages/about-us</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">6. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Engage. Connect.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Let your customers tell their story. This allows them to engage with
your brand and connects you to the community. While the customer story is the
body of the content, your business is the halo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">There is no one-size-fits-all for social media. Each brand will find
a few channels that work best to deliver their message. Within each channel, brands
must deliver in an appropriate voice for that channel’s identity. In other
words, Twitter will have a different voice than LinkedIn or Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Listen to your customers, whether through your own research or
listening services like Adobe Social. Find your influencers and join the
conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Certain concepts that shape all aspects of marketing also hold true
in digital media, while others may sound like a foreign language when heard the
first time around. Digital media has turned marketing on its head, and
continues to spin it to places that excite and challenge even the most seasoned
professionals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Reading List <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Top Dogs</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> by Po Bronson and
Ashley Merryman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">The Startup
Playbook</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> by David Kidder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Apps & Resources to Check Out<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Glide <a href="http://www.glide.me/">http://www.glide.me</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Xero <a href="https://www.xero.com/us/">https://www.xero.com/us/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://ban.jo/">ban.jo</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">HARO <a href="http://helpareporterout.com/">http://helpareporterout.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08864248239513986285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168713733736612813.post-51642701730770404572014-09-03T07:21:00.002-07:002014-09-03T07:21:57.838-07:00All Good Marketing Tells A Story<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">All Good Marketing
Tells a Story – Part 1 (of 3)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<i>By Kyle O'Brien</i></div>
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The phrase “every person has a
story” applies equally to business. Every company, business and corporation
started somewhere, and their stories – their origin and history, the passion and
motivation of the people involved, and the reason for their continued success –
beg to be told. Each business is unique, and whether it’s a century-old corporation
or a year-new upstart, it has a tale to tell.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The problem some companies have is
that they haven’t yet told their story, perhaps because they don’t see it as
important, or they don’t know how to put what they are all about into words and
images that fit today’s methods of communication. To consumers, yours is just
another business trying to get their money. Creating the “why” of the business,
the unique selling or marketing proposition, then getting that proposition
heard is what leads someone to buy. It makes them care.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Businesses need marketing in some
form to help them tell their tales. Successful companies bond
emotionally with their customer base. This dramatically increases their chances
for brand loyalty and for long-term success, and that happens when they hone
their ability to tell meaningful stories about their businesses.</div>
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<b>From Retailer To Storyteller</b></div>
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An example I was proud to be
involved with was a radio-based campaign for a local outdoor goods retailer in
Portland, Oregon. The store was already popular, and the two owners had their names
and faces on the side of the building and in their printed and online sale ads.
Their business appealed to the independent and outdoor-minded people of the
city, but they hadn’t really reached beyond their core customer base, and they
had never really told the story of why they originally got into the outdoor
retail business. </div>
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After sitting down with the two in
a meeting, I found they were natural storytellers, and funny as heck to boot.
So, I put them in front of the microphones at our radio studios, asked them
questions and just let them go for over an hour. What came out of it was a
wealth of engaging stories – they were friends since boyhood and had numerous,
and often hilarious, outdoor adventures growing up, ranging from comically
overturned kayaks to epic motocross trips – which we edited into 60-second
commercials that aired on the indie rock station. The campaign, which also
included banners and streaming ads on the radio station’s website, not only helped
tell their unique story but also entertained in the process. The campaign
continued for a year, kept fresh by rotating in new stories every other month,
and it led to a widening of the store’s customer base with an increase in brand
recognition, and ultimately sales. Letting the public into the owners’ personal
world through smart storytelling helped bring them closer to their customers,
which broadened their appeal and cemented brand loyalty. The listeners of the
radio station felt they were learning intimate details about a local business
rather than being sold to, which empowered them to shop at the store with
confidence.</div>
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When stories like these are told,
businesses and marketers win. But businesses need to open themselves up to the
storytelling process. They have to understand that people want to know more
about them and that this sort of transparency and detail can lead to greater
brand loyalty.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>See the next chapter of this blog
for more about telling stories that make a deeper connection and how to create
your story in elevator pitch form.</i></div>
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<i>Visit <a href="http://www.marketingpartners.com/">www.marketingpartners.com</a>.</i></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08864248239513986285noreply@blogger.com0