Ad Industry Goes to Washington
Advertising costs may be seen as new source of tax revenue
On April 17, the American Advertising Federation (AAF) hosted a conference called Advocacy & Action: Advertising Day On The Hill in Washington, DC. AAF invited members from chapters across the United States to attend, with the goal of welcoming at least one representative from all 50 states. I was selected by my Ad Club Chapter [...]
The Free Ride is Over for Brands on Facebook
Facebook Brand Pages Compete for Share of News Feed
For quite a while, brands have enjoyed building a free platform on Facebook. With a user base of 950 million people, how could you go wrong? Everyone from teens to great grandmas were logging in, posting photos, liking pages and playing Farmville. But if you’ve been using the channel as long as I have—since you were required [...]
Facebook Announces New Advertising Features
Small step in the right direction, but leap needed soon
Facebook announced last week that it would begin testing a program for brands to target users who haven’t liked the brand’s page yet, within the user’s news feed. Currently, that premium space is reserved for brands the user has already liked. Early screenshots show the ad clearly labeled as “sponsored,” with a large “Like Page” [...]
Familiar questions? Indeed. I’m sure they’re being tossed around in a conference room near you. Marketers in every industry are debating the use of these little black and white barcodes in advertising of all types. Short for “Quick Response,” QR codes are appearing in print, outdoor, TV and more. Smartphone users can scan the codes [...]
Fahlgren Advertising Wins Best of Show at ADDYs
Blend of traditional and new media key to advertising success
“This Best of Show award reminds us that TV continues to be a powerful medium for connecting with target audiences. Traditional advertising is not dead; it’s not an either/or. It’s about the art and science of selecting the right mix of channels to run great, engaging creative that connects and engages your target audience,” said [...]
There is no denying that what was once called the traditional media landscape is fast becoming an antiquated term. Most discussions surrounding the changes with media inevitably make their way back to something related to digital applications and technology. Our view is that technology has morphed from an additional vehicle to a great enabler and [...]
Austin: 2009 HOW Design Conference
Co-authored by Kyle Younkman and Nathan Shipp Each year HOW, a publication specializing in design, holds a design conference featuring a wide range of sessions including creativity, design principles, business, career, technology and production, in an effort to inspire and inform designers of all levels. This year, the conference was held in Austin, Texas and Fahlgren was kind enough to send Wendy Jenkins, Kyle Younkman and Nathan Shipp to experience everything that HOW and Austin had to offer. Austin: The Experience While we were lucky enough to visit Austin during a record heat wave, the average day being about 105 degrees, that didn't stop us from getting out and exploring. Plus, due to Kyle's uncanny ability to strike up conversations with absolute strangers, we were able to learn a lot about what to see, what to eat and where NOT to go. According to our cab driver who picked us up at the airport, Austin has "everything," well except for line dancing. He may have been onto something. We experienced everything from cupcakes out of an airstream trailer to a mass exodus of bats from under a bridge. And then there was HOW... Austin: The Conference The official conference began with a networking event. Everyone received a belt buckle with 10 descriptions written on it and you had to find people who fit each of those descriptions to sign your card. This is where Nathan became VERY popular as he was the guy "getting married this summer." The opening keynote, Progress vs. Novelty, touched on some interesting points regarding consumer behavior and the intersections between culture and commerce. Robert Walker, a columnist from the New York Times Magazine discussed how good design can elevate the value for the consumer, partner and client. People want to display and share things that are well designed. At the same time, we need to stop targeting the same market of consumers, because they are running out of space to display these things. We need to consider the groups we haven't spoken to, different age groups, income levels, regions, etc. We also need to listen to the consumer - consumers have more vehicles to express their opinions on products, facebook, twitter, etc - and not just simply react. Out of the sessions, we each picked our favorite that were both the most memorable and beneficial to share: (more...)
In case you missed it, you might want to check out the April 13 issue of ADWEEK and April 27 issue of PRWeek, both include their annual agency rankings. Fahlgren Advertising moved up the ranks from 99 to 91, while Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations jumped 10 spots from 80 to 70. Both lists are based on revenue.
What’s your brand story?
I'd like to welcome Alden Schutte to our blog as a guest author. Alden is a brand strategist with Fahlgren's healthcare group and brings a wealth of experience to our agency. For more than 35 years, his belief in the power of simple, meaningful brand stories has meant big results for his many clients. What's your brand story?
By Alden Schutte Over the years we’ve asked that question to executives of all types of brands – including companies and organizations – and what continues to surprise us is the inability of most to easily deliver a succinct answer. One of the most basic ways we make sense of our lives, our world and [...]