Celebrating Pride has become synonymous with the month of June. From parades to flags and apparel, many are content to visibly and vocally display their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Yet, there are dissenters. The political frenzy around this community has been divisive, resulting in brands that feel pressured to participate in Pride for fear…
From touching college TV spots to “rebellious” car commercials, ads targeting Hispanics, the largest ethnic minority in the US, tend to be colorful, energetic, and bilingual. Bilingual advertising has become more prevalent in recent years, driven by several theories. One of the most common suggests[1] that marketing firms aim to reach two very specific groups:…
For many companies and nonprofits, 2020 was a challenging year. Revenue was down, and tension was up. But as we entered the fourth quarter, it became abundantly clear that a rebound was on the horizon. Brands needed to be ready for it. Savvy organizations set in motion plans to improve their visibility to attract new…
Spanglish, a hybrid of English and Spanish, is widely spoken across the U.S. and prominent in bilingual communities. This term can be traced back to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 and the Gadsden Purchase of 1853. Mexico’s northern lands claimed by the U.S. eventually became today’s Arizona, California, New Mexico, and others. The…
Influencer marketing is one of the fastest-growing digital marketing channels today, nearly tripling in value in recent years to an estimated $9.7 billion. Brands are shifting, when possible, from traditional advertising to social media star power to reach and engage diverse consumers on their turf. And so far, it’s working. For every dollar spent on…
National Hispanic Heritage Month is in full swing. This month-long celebration highlights the contributions and accomplishments of U.S. Hispanics and, for marketers, presents an opportunity to connect with this thriving demographic. Brands have become increasingly aware that Hispanics are not a monolith. Factors such as country of origin, language, and acculturation weave a brilliant tapestry….
Cultural research is the foundation of effective marketing campaigns. Yet, some marketers fail to delve deep into the data to uncover meaningful insights. Others undervalue culture, in general, and write it off as too hard to measure. Big mistake, and here’s why. If you use language to communicate your marketing message, and language is the…
Market forecasts suggest the “digital diaspora” of COVID-19 is here to stay, at least in part, as consumers scrap their old routines in exchange for the digital amenities they enjoyed during quarantine. For some consumers, having discovered how to do more online has changed their appetite for in-person experiences altogether. But for others, especially those…
The trifecta of health, wealth, and racial inequality has gripped the heart of the country over the past few months. The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities within businesses and disparities in lending practices, healthcare, and employment opportunities. The brutal use of lethal force against Rayshard Brooks, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many…
The devastating effects of COVID-19 can be felt far and wide as families and businesses contend with not only the loss of life but the financial strain of a shuttered economy. So what does this mean for companies and brands? Your first instinct may be to hunker down and drop what you deem “non-essential.” But…
Do you remember when businesses operated with multi-line phone consoles and fax machines, and assistants took messages on pink note pads? Although there were resources back in the day, the internet transformed the way we did business and continues to do so today. From smartphones with processors more powerful than those onboard NASA’s Apollo 11…
Women mistrust advertising today. And why not? Bloomingdale’s issued an apology for a 2015 catalog ad that many saw as encouraging date rape. In the ad, a man is seen staring at a beautiful woman who is looking in the opposite direction and includes the caption, “Spike Your Best Friend’s Egg Nog When They’re Not Looking.”…