How Will Technology Affect Marketing to a Younger Generation?
Published June 17, 2013 | 
Image courtesy of oxtopus’s photostream
Over the weekend, I saw a commercial where children were sitting around talking about how much they love to read. Instead of showing them flipping through the pages of an actual book, however, they were holding up Kindles! With recent studies showing that more toddlers can play a computer game (58%) than ride a bike, it’s time to face the fact that children growing up in our high-tech world are going to experience everything in a much different way than I and many other generations have. The Kindle commercial got me thinking – what does all of this mean for marketers?
The facts below illustrate key findings and how the information can be translated in a way that may help marketers to target younger generations as they come of age in this new, technology-centered world. Continue reading
Summer Holidays: The Perfect Time for Super Sales
Published June 14, 2013 | 
Image courtesy of the UMF’s photostream
I don’t love to shop. I’m not a fan of crowds, grow impatient standing in line and struggle with deciding what items are worth purchasing and those I can do without. However, I do love a good sale, and when the price is right, my shopping anxiety goes out the window. I’ll jump in the car right away to get a good deal. Some may call it cheap but, I call it being a wise consumer.
With that said, the summer months are some of my favorite for shopping and sprucing up my house and wardrobe. While holidays such as Christmas or Boxing Day do bring about reduced prices, summer holidays can be an even better time to hit the stores. Think about it: how often do you hear on TV or read in the newspaper that a store is having a Memorial Day or Independence Day sale, or if in Canada, a Victoria Day sale? Chances are, since the unofficial summer season started last month, you’ve heard of at least one company that is reducing prices and encouraging consumers to take advantage of their super sales. Continue reading
Your Body Language Says More Than You Think
Published June 12, 2013 | 
Photo credit: Wikipedia
Your body language says more than you think. If you’ve ever wondered how you are perceived by acquaintances, coworkers, or your customers, you aren’t alone, and rightfully so. Think about how you walk, the way you sit, if you’re comfortable making eye contact, and how you shake hands. Does your walking style display confidence or does it make you look lazy? How about the way you shake hands – do you go in for a firm hand shake or do you do the fingertip shake? A nice solid hand shake says a lot about your personality. The fingertip shake doesn’t exude confidence. It’s passive. Make a point to give firm, confident handshakes when meeting new folks. The image to the left is a great example of a quality handshake. And how about eye contact. That’s a tricky one to deal with when in a business meeting, or casually talking to your neighbor. How much is too much? If making eye contact makes you uncomfortable you may want to develop a strategy so things don’t get awkward.
Take a moment to read through this infographic. At the very least it’s a great starting point for you to gain some self-awareness. Enjoy! Continue reading
Is Print Dying? Not So Fast.
Published June 10, 2013 | 
Photo credit: ecokarenlee
Working at a print and promotional company for almost a year now, I utilize both mediums, and also use social media to support campaigns that I’m working on. But is print dying? This question has been a common topic around the marketing world since the internet and social media adoption has increased, and quickly seems to be taking over. Many businesses have changed their marketing to the web mainly because it is cost effective. Regardless, print is still powerful and a necessary component for businesses throughout the world.
Newspapers – Even though some newspaper companies are closing due to technological advancements and availability, some people still prefer to have something tangible compared to pulling it up on the internet. They are portable thanks to laptops, tablets or e-readers, and if you want to read one in the car, you can. But remember, battery life can only last so long. Continue reading
One Password to Rule Them All
Published June 7, 2013 | 
Photo credit: Wikipedia
Are you often saying to yourself “Oh snap, what was my password again?” If you’re like me, and you have a lot of logins, remembering which usernames and passwords you used on each site can prove to be mentally exhausting, and you may be constantly resetting passwords, or clicking the ‘forgot username and password option.’ The good news for you is there’s a solution!
No, it’s not setting all your passwords to ‘password’ or ‘taco’, it’s Keyring Free – a (you guessed it) free app from the folks at House Intellect, and available for download on the Google Play store.
This neat app, which also has a desktop version available, lets you set a master key – the ‘one password to rule them all’ which locks the app. Once you unlock it, it’s pretty straightforward – add a new item, input the site (or a cryptic reminder), your username, and your password. There’s also quick buttons to copy and paste, so if you always use ‘FordTrucks’ as your username, you don’t have to constantly type it out. Then, just kick back, and forget which site required you to toss that exclamation point at the end of your password – you don’t need to remember anymore. Continue reading
Everyone wants Progress. No one wants Change.
Published June 5, 2013 | 
Photo credit: NS Newsflash
Beyond the basic be respectful and well behaved, there were two rules in my house growing up that were completely nonnegotiable.
1. Do not use sidewalk chalk in the front yard
2. Do not touch the newspaper before dad
Fortunately for me and my two siblings, the back driveway was a lot bigger than the front sidewalk so #1 was not really a problem. In regards to #2, my dad wakes up earlier than most farmers so that did not tend to get us in too much trouble either. For as long as I can remember, my dad would read The Plain Dealer each morning, seven days a week. The Plain Dealer is Ohio’s largest newspaper. He has a meticulous system (that’s the accountant shining through!) and when he is done, the paper actually looks more precise and crisp than before he started. Continue reading
Wedding Invitations Made Simple
Published June 3, 2013 | 
Photo credit: Wikipedia
You’ve got the groom, the dress, cake, flowers—you’re set! Wrong. There’s a small detail that comes between all of the magic of planning and getting your friends and family all in one place for the big day. Invitations! It sounds so simple but it was one of the most tedious tasks that I handled during my entire engagement.
Before consulting with a printed products specialist, I went straight to Pinterest and added more than 100 links to my wedding invitations board. If you are unfamiliar with Pinterest, it is a virtual “cork board” of links to everything from cute animals to party planning tips. There I sat with too many options for calligraphy, colors, fonts, glitter… but no firm grasp on reality.
I decided on a few options that included gold foil and letter press. I asked around to those who work closely with printers and the general consensus was how impossible satisfying these two elements would be with my champagne taste and beer budget. I ignored the advice of my peers and sent a few quote requests for 175 invitations, including the flat invitation, RSVP card, reception information, and three sets of envelopes. Wait, we need three sets of envelopes? When I received emails back, I was confident that paper could never be as much as I was warned it could be. Boy was I wrong! My quotes ended up being more than I paid for my wedding dress! Continue reading
The Power of Endorsements. A LinkedIn Case Study.
Published May 31, 2013 | 
Image courtesy of El Fabianaco’s photostream
I started getting more active on LinkedIn a while back, and began adding all my former and current colleagues as connections. I’d occasionally endorse someone here and there, and I noticed a few of them endorsed me back – and a case study was born. I contemplated if there was any correlation to endorsing someone and them endorsing you. I asked myself, does reciprocity exist on LinkedIn? To find the answer, I spent two weeks endorsing friends, former co-workers, and even quite a few members of my own Marketing team – and the results were shocking.
Keep in mind, this is a small sampling of my experience – it is not an ‘end all, be all’. The size of your network (as well as the quality) may alter your experience.
To make things fair, I did not endorse anyone that had endorsed me previously, and I made sure that I actually agreed with my endorsements, meaning I didn’t just endorse someone just for the case of the study. I also endorsed no more than six people per business day, and waited a few weeks after my last endorsement, to account for those that only check LinkedIn sporadically. Continue reading
Make Print Work for You!
Published May 29, 2013 | 
Image courtesy of FixtheFocus’ photostream
There are hidden marketing opportunities everywhere – even in your everyday print pieces. Dean Manzetti, Proforma’s Director of Business Development Training and a 30-year industry veteran, has built his career on identifying ways to improve the performance of print material and helping businesses get the most out of every product they order.
“A lot of companies have products they order all the time, and they don’t see they’re missing out on open advertising space,” said Manzetti. “There’s usually no or just a little extra cost to add a logo or a message, so you can increase brand awareness for free.” Continue reading
Do Printed Resumes Still Have a Place in 2013?
Published May 27, 2013 | 
Image courtesy of resume builder’s photostream
Technology has changed the way people apply for jobs. In the not so distant past, if you were looking for work, you would send a resume through the mail or hand deliver it to an employer. Now you can sit at home and email a resume or apply electronically through a website. You can even apply for a job from your cell phone! Are paper resumes still relevant today?
The short answer is yes. While the application process is mostly electronic, most employers still prefer candidates to arrive at interviews with resumes in hand. Although I will probably do an internet search on the candidate, I like to write notes on the paper resume during interviews and check for any grammatical errors – which can be a sign that a person isn’t attentive to details. I also find it easier to concentrate with a paper resume rather than an electronic resume. Continue reading
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