Read about some of the lessons we learned from the marketing world in 2020 from what Catie sees as the top 6 campaigns in her eyes.
Andy Finds Inspiration In the Bravery of 2020 Marketing
When it comes to the reflexive and responsive nature of marketing reacting to real world incidents, 2020 was like no other. Andy dives in to give us his perspective on some of the year’s advertising highlights.
What Did 2020 Inspire In You?
We can all agree that 2020 has been a tumultuous year, but it certainly wasn’t without some inspiration to brighten our days. Here are some that we thought brought some much needed good vibes at an opportune time.
We Witnessed the Ad World Step Up In 2020
The ad world was flipped on its head in 2020 as brands and agencies considered how to react. While it got off to an interesting start, in the end, several stepped up to the plate to deliver some powerful messaging. Here are a few of Blake’s favorites.
2020 Amplified the Need for Marketing (And We Were Ready)
Major brands weren’t the only ones forced to pivot in 2020. We also saw our own clients step up this year, and we were ready to help. See how some of our clients stepped up this year.
Lessons Our Clients Learned That Lead to Results
Don’t let one bad marketing experience shape your perception of the potential marketing can have for your business. Here are three lessons our clients have learned from working with us and what you should expect from a marketing strategy that works.
How to Break Down Your Marketing Budget for the Rest of 2020
We know you might not want to, but every once in a while, it’s a good idea to rethink your marketing budget. Here’s some tips on how you can rethink your marketing budget to make the most out of your marketing dollars for the rest of 2020.
20 Marketing Tactics in Just 120 Seconds to Try Today
While it can’t replace a true strategy or campaign, we put together a list of 20 marketing tactics you can do today in just two minutes. They might seem small, but these simple measures can still make an impact on your business.
In Their Own Words: Quotes from our Clients
In business, feedback is a vital tool in evaluating the impact you make for your customers. We asked some of our customers what their experience was like after partnering with us to pursue their marketing goals.
Read in their own words what some of our clients had to say about working with Innovations.
10 Ways to Show Up For Your Customers During COVID-19
Some big names are making big waves online (and in two stores).
Every single business is facing challenges because of COVID-19. Some are hit harder than others, but it’s impacting every business owner across the country whether for good or bad, it’s causing a big shift in everyone’s thinking.
Keeping Your Customers Informed: Communication Is Key
At a time like this, knowing what to do next can feel like a daunting task if you’re a business owner. It’s also becoming increasingly difficult for employees as it’s impacted everyone’s work lives to some degree.
Cause Marketing That's Making a Difference in Kentucky
Shop Local Kentucky goes above and beyond with their cause marketing to bring awareness to Kentucky causes and missions. In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, Tristen talks about one of her favorite small businesses and how they give back to their community and Kentucky as a whole.
An Interesting Concept this Holiday Season: Offline Shopping
Bed Bath & Beyond introduces us to a novel idea this shopping season: Offline Shopping! Check out their spot and dive into the details of retail sales vs. online sales over the past decade, and what that means for brick and mortar stores.
Marketing Introduced Us
Catie explores how a simple search for a budgeting app turned into a marketing courtship that ended up being an unlikely love story.
The Changing Landscape of Online Toy Sales
Toys R Us is back just in time for the holidays with an unlikely partnership, to boot. Now, Walmart is moving to capitalize on the evolution of toy shopping too. The risks these brands are taking to get the attention of your kids this Christmas.
The Innovations Team as Halloween Costumes
In the spirit of the spooky season, Nick re-imagines everyone on the Innovations team with the costume that best fits their personality. There are also pictures.
Marketing: Gimmick or Game Changer?
Do you think of marketing as a gimmick, or game changer? While the answer should be obvious, there are reasons that some might respond otherwise. See if you can tell what the problem might be.
Walgreens Takes on Social Responsibility
Walgreens takes on social responsibility with a stark campaign aimed to get people to be proactive regarding skin health. Here’s how they did it.
Wendy's Spicy Nuggets Are Back
Chance the Rapper took to Twitter this summer to try and get Wendy’s Spicy Nuggets back on the menu. Well, they’re here.
3 Automatic Responses You Will Hear When Your Brand Name Is Mentioned
When you think of your favorite, or least favorite companies, you probably aren’t thinking of their name, logo or the last ad you saw. Instead, it’s likely one of these three responses.
Busch Beer Wants To Save Our National Forests
Busch Beer announced a leap into cause marketing in a move that probably surprised everyone on the planet. They are looking to help save our National Forests with a social scavenger hunt for their pop-up shop.
Eggo Hops On The Stranger Things Bandwagon
Eggo is the latest brand to try and ride the Stranger Things hype to boost sales of their classic frozen waffle, an unlikely star of the first two seasons.
Coca-Cola Enters the Upside Down
New Coke, the famous 80’s flop from Coca-Cola, is making a comeback for Stranger Things Season 3.
Spicy Chicken Nuggets are Coming Back to Wendy's Thanks to Chance the Rapper
All is right again in the world of fast food thanks to hero Chance the Rapper and a timely tweet. Read about this unlikely story of a brand, a celebrity, and social media working together for the greater good.
When Brands Go On the Attack
Nobody is safe from the savagery of Wendy’s Twitter account, as individuals and brands alike learn the hard way that if you’re going to go after the fast food chain, you better not miss.
Dr. Brandt and the Rise of the Insta-Sale
How social media “stories” opened up a new avenue for marketing, and more specifically, direct sales.
Gillette Latest Company To Take Social Stance Through Marketing
If you’ve taken a peak at the worldwide web recently, you’ve probably gotten a glimpse of the RAAAAAGE that’s been bubbling up around the latest – and most controversial – Gillette commercial.
Build A Marketing Plan That Makes Sense
“Where do I start?!” We are well into the new year, but this question stops many from developing their annual marketing plan.
There are very important questions to tackle before you put your plan into motion:
Burger King Tell Customers "Go To McDonald's"????
Burger King launched a bold new campaign to promote its app by taking an unprovoked shot at one of their chief competitors. In the bewildering campaign, they offered the public a coupon for their signature sandwich, the Whopper, for just one penny.
When Should You Rebrand?
Whenever a big name company rolls out a rebrand it’s kind of like Christmas for us. We love to break it down, pick it apart and debate internally about their process and if we think it was a good idea or not.
What Does Your Brand Voice Sound Like?
When your brand speaks, what does it sound like? Is it a man, or a woman? Millennial, or a boomer? Do they speak in proper English, or do they use a little slang? Does it sound like a hurried text message? Or, a well thought-out statement?
What was Nike Thinking?
What was Nike thinking? Their latest campaign kickoff raised a lot of eyebrows and instantly sparked a heated debate launching the 30th anniversary of their “Just Do It” campaign.
Just for Fun: Marketers Talk Comics
Some of the most recognizable brands in pop culture today are ripped straight from the pages of comic books. Show anyone around the world the logo for Superman, Batman, or Spider-Man, and odds are, they can tell you who it belongs to in a heartbeat.
Signs of an Outdated Website
Just because your website was great five years ago – or even a year ago – doesn’t mean it still is. More often than not now, your website – not your physical place of business – forms your customer’s first impression of you.
You Don’t Want to be a “Me Too” Brand. So, What is That?
A “me too” brand is one that looks, sounds, and makes promises just like their competitors. Every business tries to outshine their competition, but just saying all the same things but louder doesn’t work.
Getting to the Top of Google
When a potential customer is looking for the good or service you sell, you want them to find you before your competition, right? You probably know that more people are turning to the internet to search for goods and services, which is why you have a website.
How To Find Your True Brand Story
Telling the story of your company sounds easy, but many fail at doing it right.
One of the first questions you need to ask as a business is: Are you telling your story or are you just alluding to it?
Prime Real Estate
Advertising and sports have a long and complicated history. What was at one time a simple exercise of buying commercial time during a televised event, has grown into a multi-billion-dollar spending practice for companies every year.
Marketing Without Diagnosis = Malpractice
A marketing agency should have a blend of tactics to use.
A marketing agency should hit the target audience.
A marketing agency should have a process and invite you to participate in it.
5 Breweries with Brilliant Visual Branding
In a state that is dominated by bourbon, the craft beer industry is booming in Kentucky. There are currently 50 active licenses for breweries in the state. Good beer can only take a business so far. Breweries need to be successful in marketing, especially with their creative, visual branding.
Why Your Logo is not Your Brand
You have a brand. It’s not your logo. It’s not the name of your business. But it does involve almost every piece of your business. When most people hear the term “brand,” they think of popular companies with recognizable names and logos such Nike, Apple, Coca-Cola or Google, but your brand goes deeper than that.
Sales-Driven vs. Marketing-Driven Companies
Which Approach is Best for your Business? As a business owner or key decision maker, there are several choices you’ll be required to make. When it comes to looking toward the future and creating a plan for business growth, there’s two types of basic approaches you can take.
Life Imitates Art, Imitating Life
Where the line between what is and isn’t real on TV, the internet, and especially in advertising, has been blurred beyond recognition, we’ve finally come full circle. It’s hard to believe that it took this long for such an occurrence to take place. But low and behold, it finally has.
Why You Need to be Posting on LinkedIn
As we continue to explore the many different ways you can get to know your audience with our ongoing series “Getting to Know Your Audience,” (clever, we know) let’s take this opportunity to tackle an often underused social media outlet: LinkedIn.
Two Most Important Marketing Questions
So, as the new year begins, here’s some quick marketing tips from Innovations Branding House to you! There are two main questions you should ask as the new year begins. Are you ready? Here they are: Have you built a marketing foundation? What’s next? These two questions
5 Tips on How to Create Top of Mind Awareness for Your Brand
Let’s imagine that you’re back in school, and it’s time to take a pop quiz! Scary, right? Don’t worry; there are no right or wrong answers here. You’re guaranteed to get an “A” for effort. Are you ready? Name a soft drink. Name a car make.
The Women Who Inspire Us
It’s International Women’s Day and so today the ladies of Innovations are celebrating and reflecting on those who have inspired us. Those who have encouraged us to live better and be better for another generation. We are the career women the generations before us dreamed to be.
5 Important Tips for Creating an Effective Video Commercial
We’ve all seen the typical local television commercial. Many of these 30 second advertisements are hired out by local news stations or media services featuring a business owner presenting the benefits they offer or the recent specials available. But, one of the mistakes these types of commercials make is that they speak at the audience instead of engaging their audience where they are.