One of the best ways to learn something new is to read a book about it. Most of us at Market Mentors have been inspired in our careers, or have learned how to do what we do even better, thanks to books we’ve read. Here are some of our favorites, in no particular order:
Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you’re doing but nobody else does. – Stuart H. Britt All too often, businesses adopt the belief that “if you build it, they will come.” The truth is, all products and services, no matter how good, will go unused if no one knows about them. Don’t be the best-kept secret. An advertising plan, no matter the scale, will increase awareness of your brand, and... Read More
Confidence is good. Giving it your all to get the desired end result is admirable. Who needs a professional when you can do it yourself? Well in the case of the desired cake image above, it may have been best left in the hands of the professional.
Got a claim? Be sure to back it up! One of my favorite scenes in the movie “Elf” is the one in the coffee shop. World’s best cup of coffee! Wow! This scene is hilarious, but it illustrates a trap that is all too common in advertising. While your parents may believe you are the best, the rest of us need proof.
National Do Something Nice Day (NDSND) is on October 5th this year. It is exactly what it sounds like, a mandatory day to do at least one nice thing for someone else. You think, “that isn’t hard” but for some people it is and they need a nationally known day to do something kind for someone else. For those of us that do nice things on a daily basis, this is a reminder to go the extra mile.
One of the most powerful sales tools marketing can provide is a case study. While case studies can take many forms, from feature articles to testimonial ads and videos, they are one of the most valued marketing investments. Maybe you’re interested in supporting your sales team but you don’t know exactly what a case study is, or perhaps you just need the right pitch to make sure your business earmarks part of the marketing budget to develop your story.
As a “full-service” marketing agency, Market Mentors provides a variety of services including advertising, branding, media buying, graphic design, public relations and event planning. Although many of our clients work with us for just a few of our services, we strive to deliver the best results by providing “added value.” Added value is another impression we can create for our client to let them know “we’re here for you”. In addition, this little “something extra” is a great way for our clients to try a service that they may not have considered before, to strengthen their campaigns.
Did you receive a “Thank You” card from Florida, recently? That’s the real estate market from that sunny perch, expressing gratitude for a New England winter so bitterly cold and so long that it blew new life into real estate sales. On those frigid days when the weather dominated water cooler conversation, can you recall passing by someone on your commute who was woefully underdressed for the conditions? It seems likely that there were plenty of people. The good news... Read More
Take a moment to watch one of these TV spots or two (they’re pretty entertaining; you might find yourself watching all three). What makes these ads so great? Hefty took a risk. While it can be intimidating to bring a creative, “out-of-the-box” idea to a board of directors, a safe approach doesn’t always make an impact. In this party mom campaign, skeptics would say that Hefty ran the risk of alienating some more traditional consumers. However, by... Read More
In today’s environment, budgets are limited, and companies are being forced to do a lot more with a lot less. This is very evident in the world of advertising. Often, the best advertising campaign can be lost with an ineffective media buy. Intelligent media buying prevents the ‘throw it at the wall and see if it sticks’ trap that many businesses fall into. In a small market like Springfield, it’s unusual to have four major TV network (ABC, NBC, CBS... Read More
As a new mom, I’ve learned that there are a myriad of worries that plague parents with regard to the well-being of their children. Among those worries: How do I keep my son/daughter safe while still giving them a chance to have the same carefree — and fun! — childhood that I had? For those parents looking for ways to keep kids safe while providing entertainment and education to children, there were an abundance of resources available at the 6th Annual Kids... Read More
Okay you got me. I missed the Excel spreadsheets too much. We just have an inseparable bond you wouldn’t understand. I couldn’t bear to stay away for much longer, so here I am back for another summer interning at Market Mentors. It’s been a long school year, filled with late nights, scribbled lecture notes, and enough caffeine to outlast the Energizer Bunny, but it’s over and now… I’m baaaack! Let’s take a quick stroll down memory lane, shall we? This... Read More
The world cup is in full swing and full of excitement. Surprising comebacks, inspiring underdog performances, and of course, the usual suspects. As the popularity of soccer in America grows so does our understanding of how the game is played, what it takes to win and what makes a remarkable team. In this way, advertising and the World Cup have a lot in common. The World Cup is a collection of the finest teams in the world all vying for... Read More
It’s fair to say that most companies are not shelling out the big bucks for custom photography every time they need a new flyer or print ad, which leaves them (or their marketing agencies) to purchase stock photography. There are two types of stock photography to choose from: rights-managed and royalty-free. A rights-managed photo is highly controlled by the stock house and licensed out on a very tight leash, so that anyone buying the use of that photo knows that... Read More
Who do you do turn to for advice these days? Your friends? Your therapist? Your wise and experienced 95-year-old grandmother? Should I keep guessing? I’m willing to bet that 9 times out of ten you consult a search engine like Google first. A question comes up, so you access Google via your smartphone, iPad or device of your preference, and upon typing in the topic of your interest, you are instantly shown a list of possible sources to explore for... Read More
