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:…
Hispanics are the largest minority group in the U.S. and far from a monolith. Hailing from over 20 countries of origin, U.S. Hispanics represent a rich tapestry of culture and diversity, not to mention over a trillion dollars in purchasing power. As the population of U.S. born Hispanics continues to grow, we see a shift…
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…
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…
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…
Hashtags are one of the most effective ways to expand your reach and grow engagement on social media. Yet despite being so commonly used, many small business owners and social media beginners don’t understand how to leverage them in their content strategy. What Are Hashtags? Known as the pound sign in a former life,…
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.”…
The customer may not always be right, but the customer is certainly at the center of a brand that is top of mind. And the way these brands pull that off is by delivering exceptional customer experiences that go beyond the 800 number and help enrich the lives of their customers. Sounds like a tall…
Newsflash: Your ‘About Us’ page on your website isn’t really about you. No, I’m being serious. I know what you’re thinking: “How can that be true? After all, the name of the page says that it is, you know, about us.” I get it. When we put together an About page that only details historical…
By now, you have a pretty good idea of how your marketing fared this year. You either pulled off a total win, came in about average, or completely lost the battle. And if the latter is you, don’t be too tough on yourself. Finding your way around the marketing landscape can be a little like…