Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday conceived by American Express Corporation as a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday as a means to stimulate local economies, initiatives and organizations. We hope to give you some food for thought before you make that online or big box store purchase.
At Market Mentors, we know the value of a worthy cause. Beyond the feel-good factor, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an excellent way to build teamwork, enhance employee engagement, support your community, engage your customers—and yes, even provide benefit from positive public relations.
As the region’s largest and most trusted full-service advertising, marketing and public relations agency, we are thrilled to have again been named one of the 2017 Super 60 winners by the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce.
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.
Freshly armed with a marketing degree, but desperately trying to avoid returning home to live with mom and dad, I jumped at the opportunity to take a sales gig. While it wasn’t directly related to marketing it was very rewarding, sometimes frustrating and surprisingly educational. Fast forward eight years, and I finally get to put my marketing cap on full-time here at Market Mentors. I still have a “new biz” role here, so I thought I would bring a little bit of my perspective to the table.
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
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
Content marketing. Chances are you’ve heard this relatively new buzzword at some point during your brand marketing discussions over the last few years. However, while the term was coined fairly recently — its inception dates back to 2007 – the idea behind it is steeped in marketing history. For years, marketers have been utilizing storytelling techniques in order to develop a brand identity and sell products. With the digital landscape constantly evolving as technology changes and as more and more... 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
Click on the infographic to view it larger. Infographic from PowerFormula for Linkedin Success
