You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘AMA Member Blog Posts’ category.
by Meghan Ray Virro
As marketing professionals, we embrace rapid change and innovation. In our profession, constant evolution is essential to success. Without change we get bored, restless and stuck. If we’re changing that means we’re growing, moving forward and evolving – all positive indicators. If change feels so great to us marketing types then we can certainly convince others to love it, right?
For the majority of the population, change provokes anxiety instead of enthusiasm and excitement. What’s a marketer to do when you work with a client who is not interested in change to the detriment of their brand and/or business goals?
(As a point of clarification, I am talking about change that is meaningful, thoughtful and reflects positive growth in your company or brand. Changing for the sake of change is not always the best course of action.)
In some recent brainstorming sessions with a client it became very clear that this business owner was really uncomfortable with change. The company’s seasonal promotional materials had not been changed since the days of New Coke (and no, this is not a nostalgic brand that can afford to do this). The company logo was nowhere to be found on the piece, there was no “call to action” and by today’s design standards the piece looked completely outdated and unprofessional. This small example was the tip of the iceberg. Read the rest of this entry »
How many of you remember Carmen Sandiego? If not, I’m sure the classic theme song will help refresh your memory. Currently, with today’s geo-location based platforms, there’s a different theme song playing, for you and your friends. Where in the world is ________?
The digital space is changing for businesses, as it’s necessary to be up to date with the latest/greatest marketing trends to attract new customers and maintain existing relationships. We now have to be search engine optimized, social media optimized, and now with the growing trend of geo-location marketing, geographically optimized. Read the rest of this entry »
This is one of the first years in a while where the actual Super Bowl game was better than the commercials. Yes, I said it. With advertising reports boasting spends upwards of $3.4 million per 30-second spot (WHAT!!!), I expected a whole lot more than lounging polar bears, body painting, Deion Sanders (TWICE), Ferris Bueller, Jerry Seinfeld, vampires, and a dog on a treadmill. And for those of you that don’t know, I’m a Redskins fan. I bleed burgundy and gold. And in a year where I had little to root for, I was really rooting for a quarterback sneak in this year’s commercials. I was sadly disappointed.
Let’s start with the first quarter commercials. Read the rest of this entry »
by Ed Weiss
… Does a painter paint? Talk among yourselves.
Every blog in my Branding series discusses how branding is a process and not a quick fix. My advice to readers is to have a core principle at the heart of their message and the way they conduct their business. OK, so you get it. Now, how do you make it work? Enter, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), one of the keys for getting your message to your target audience.
Defining IMC:
Part one – You need to have graphic consistency throughout every communication emanating from your organization. This includes your print materials, ads, stationery, business cards, blog site, Twitter or Flickr page, trade show displays, and anything bearing your company name.
Part two – You need to have message consistency throughout every communication emanating from your organization. While I could have combined parts one and two I needed to put emphasis on each part because of their extreme importance to your branding effort. Everything you send has to reinforce your core message. Even when you send an email, your signature block needs to include your brand message (e.g. Where business is taught with humanity in mind).
Part three – Why is the integration portion of communication so important? In my lengthy career as a marketer I focused on making everything I produced for my company fit together. I wanted every message I sent to look as though it came from my company. My goal was based on the classic theorem that repetition was the best way to imprint your name in the minds of people who saw your message. The consistency across all media produced repetition of our message. Read the rest of this entry »
Congratulations Debbie Wright! You are AMA Baltimore’s January 2012 Volunteer of the Month. This is our time to share your amazing contributions to our chapter with the world!
Debbie is one of our longest standing members, as she joined the Baltimore chapter in 1983 (sheesh, she was practically in diapers). Her loyalty and commitment shines through as she serves on the membership committee. Each month, Debbie is responsible for membership retention and engagement, and judging by our solid and growing membership numbers, she does an excellent job. In addition, she manages the Marketing Career Network job database for AMA Baltimore.
In her spare time, Debbie is a marketing manager for FedChoice Federal Credit Union managing events, advertising efforts, and marketing materials to prospects and customers. On top of it ALL, she finds time to help her daughter select a college and enjoy Katy Perry concerts with her husband (no, we’re not kidding, she is a very avid Katy Perry fan).
Debbie – thank you for everything you do for this chapter and we all look forward to continued success.
____
Are you jealous of Debbie? Do you want to volunteer? Don’t be shy – there’s always something for you to do. For volunteer opportunities, please send an email to our President Rob Macdonald at rob@amabaltimore.org.
By: AMA Member Arsham Mirshah
The 5 Golden Rules of Networking… AND Social Media!
What do Social Media and Networking have in common? It might be obvious, but they both depend heavily on your ability to deal with people (or be social).
PS: Have you read How To Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie? – Highly recommended if you’re a human.
OK – so you want to engage in social media or you want to be a successful networker to make connections, develop business, improve customer service, and at the end of the day, make more money.
I understand.
Use these 5 golden rules of Networking / Social Media ONLY if you want to be successful… Read the rest of this entry »
Happy New Year fellow Baltimoreans! The Baltimore AMA has come back from the holiday with more energy than ever! We’ve got a few great events lined up for January and February that you simply can’t miss. See below and mark your calendar to soak in some awesome content.
Jan 27th 7:30-9AM: Non-profit Marketing Special Interest Group – Clipper Mill, Baltimore
Running a business in today’s economy has plenty of challenges, of which non-profits are no exception. Nonprofits have unique advantages but face many challenges that traditional business organizations do not.
Marketing with limited resources is one of the biggest challenges of non-profits in the country. In this roundtable discussion, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Maryland are your hosts to share your marketing magic tips and best practices for maximizing budgets and resources.
Click here to learn more and register now for the Non-Profit Marketing SIG meeting.
Jan 31st 7:30-9AM: Marketing Technology Special Interest Group – Morton’s The Steakhouse
Joe Zuccaro, CEO of Allinio, will review the different marking automation platforms used in lead management. From setting up a lead management process to implementing a lead scoring system, Joe will provide a framework for marketing to the sales funnel.
Click here to learn more and register now for the Marketing Technology SIG meeting.
Feb 8th 7:30-9AM: Creating a Content Marketing Strategy – Morton’s The Steakhouse
Join AMA’s own Katie Roberts in a content marketing strategy session where you will learn how to understand your target audiences, build a content calendar, establish baseline metrics, and more leveraging integrated social media platforms. This is a hot topic, so be sure to sign up early.
Click here to learn more and register now for the Content Creation Marketing Strategy
AWESOME PARTNER EVENT: BBJ Presents: BIZ BUZZ AWARDS
Feb 9, 2012 at Leinenkugal & Luckies
The BBJ’s inaugural Biz Buzz Awards will recognize Greater Baltimore’s best in social media. The BBJ will award the companies, bloggers, vloggers, and Tweeters who most successfully and creatively used their mediums to generate business and interest in their products.
Click here for details and registration info!
See you at your next AMA Baltimore event!
You have to sell free stuff just like paid stuff because potential customers are savvier than ever. They have choices and know there are tons of freebies available. Small businesses offer freebies as a way to try before you buy. Include these seven ways to sell your free offer as part of your marketing plan.
Photo courtesy: flickr by bstabler
On a recent trip to Costco I noticed how they promote their free food samples. Instead of simply leaving them out for you to pick up as you pass by shopping; they have a live person available. While you taste, this person will make sure the item is the right temperature, explain what’s in it or how to prepare it and how much it cost helps. As an added bonus in case you love the sample so much you want to purchase at that very moment they have the product conveniently available. You won’t have to search the store for the product because it will be stacked in front of you right near the sample display. PERFECT!
So, why does Costco market their free stuff this way?
Simply because you have to sell free stuff just like paid stuff. Read the rest of this entry »
By Nigel Assam
Any sailor will know that before you tack, you’ve got to pick an object on land, prepare your crew (Ready to tack?) and then announce (Tacking!) immediately before acting.
When companies or organizations want to change their marketing tactics, they often don’t pick a goal to keep them on track and successfully guide them in their new course. Everybody wants to go to the next level and sail past the competition, but they often don’t sit down and decide the course. With so many options, how do marketers decide the best course? It’s important to first ask yourself, “Where do I want to go? How do I want to get there?” Read the rest of this entry »
marcidevries
Dov Hoffman
Amy Garland
Jennifer Glass
Megan Campbell
Katie Roberts
