Does your PR Agency Know How to Connect?
May 15, 2013 - Posted by Stephanie Graves
“We need more people talking about us!” As a CMO, or PR director, how many times has someone at the top come to you and said those exact words? Did you immediately start to feel the heat? When an organization decides it needs PR representation or that their current PR strategy needs an overhaul, it usually starts with a desire to create more buzz. And many times, this desire is motivated by a positive article in the local news about a competitor, or a look at another company’s thousands of seemingly engaged Twitter followers eagerly and happily interacting with their brand online. THE GOAL Simply creating buzz should not be the end goal for ramping up PR efforts. In the past, the end goal of public relations for brands may have been limited to raising brand awareness, but as the digital age has caused a major shift in how we… read more
Marketing Zen is looking for super awesome interns
May 11, 2013 - Posted by Stephanie Graves
The Marketing Zen Group, an award-winning digital marketing and PR company based in Dallas, is looking for talented go-getters interested in gaining valuable, first-hand experience working with a top digital agency. Check out our full list of available internships below to learn more. And if you’re not sure which one would be a fit, send us your resume along with a cover letter telling us why you’d be a great addition to our team. Our internships are unpaid, but highly-competitive and can be used for college credit. And we’re more than happy to provide letters of recommendations for your good work upon completion. And did we mention our internships are virtual? You’ll work from home….in your PJs if you’d like! Content Writer & Community Engagement Intern (SEO Dept.) Are you a creative, resourceful, error-free writer? Are you able to work with a steep learning curve and take independent initiative? Are… read more
What you need to know now about the future of digital marketing
May 7, 2013 - Posted by Stephanie Graves
A recent industry forecast by global management consulting firm McKinsey and Company aptly points out that “Digital marketing is about to reach more challenging territory”. The basis for this assertion is not surprising. Consumers are in power. Our current digital age places them squarely in the driver’s seat when it comes to how they receive marketing messages. Taking that a step further, we are barreling toward a place where consumers are not only determining “how” messages are received, but “what” messages they’ll receive. We’re talking about on-demand marketing that in the words of McKinsey and Company’s London director, Peter Dahlström, “cuts through the noise with pinpoint delivery.” As digital technology advances, and smarter, more sophisticated devices are at the finger tips of the average consumer, McKinsey and Company predicts four areas of demand that marketers will need to satisfy: Now: Consumers will want to interact anywhere at any time. Can… read more
Where is the Line Between Edgy and Offensive Content?
November 2, 2012 - Posted by Amanda Norris
To succeed with social media and online marketing, brands must find their voice. This process involves balancing the level of professionalism that is expected of their company with a social, relatable tone that helps followers engage with the brand. While this balance will be different for every company, the casual nature of social media and increasing corporate comfort with online marketing is leading more brands to leave their reserved comfort zone and embrace humor, relevancy, and even a bit of an edge in their online voice. For the most part, this trend has lead to more engaged and relatable social media marketing, increased interaction, and campaigns that are innovative and entertaining. A number of brands have capitalized on embracing this type of personality, from pizza companies known for goofy and whimsical Twitter interactions to professional sports teams who take to social media sites to good-naturedly “trash talk” other teams with… read more
Overhaul Your Email Marketing Campaign This Fall
September 13, 2012 - Posted by Rilee Chastain
Tips for bringing a fresh new look to email marketing during autumn. Fall is often thought of as a season for change. Each September, kids across the country head back to school for a fresh new year, while adults celebrate the change in the season with a new wardrobe, a new job or even a new set of goals for the rest of the year. However, we as individuals are not the only ones who make important seasonal changes each September. Fall is also one of the most popular times of the year that businesses overhaul their own brands and marketing efforts. One particular area of marketing that company’s should edit and refresh often is their email marketing campaign. Your readers may be getting bored of seeing your content or business updates in the same boring template week after week. However, by freshening up your email campaign this fall, you… read more
Effective Email Marketing Strategies That Really Work
July 10, 2012 - Posted by Amanda Norris
Though it might not have the buzz and excitement of newer online marketing methods, email marketing is still an incredibly effective way to get your message out in front of your customers and prospects – if it’s done correctly. Here are some tips that can help you develop an effective email marketing plan. Pique Interest With a Compelling Subject Line Studies show that, on average, only about 20% of email messages are even opened. Your goal is to make sure as many of your customers as possible open and read your email – and a great subject line is what will make all the difference. A strong, compelling subject line will succinctly set up a promise that lets your readers know what valuable information and answers await them. Make sure to steer clear of words that come across as spammy or clichéd, and keep an eye on your length –… read more
Why Your Email Marketing Campaign Isn’t Working
January 17, 2012 - Posted by Shama Kabani
So you started an email marketing campaign and then…nothing. You’re not sure what you’re doing wrong, but it’s definitely not working. First, make sure none of the following apply to you: You’re sending too many messages. It’s not even noon, and I’ve already received about 20 emails – and that’s without taking my work account into consideration. For many people, that number may even seem low. The point is this: people send and receive a whole lot of email. Only a very small percentage of that constant wave of emails should be from you. Be helpful, not annoying. YOU ARE SHOUTING AT PEOPLE. This should go without saying but…seriously, don’t ever do this. Not only are you practicing poor Internet etiquette, but you’re probably also being filtered into everyone’s spam folders. You’re not offering anything useful. People handed over their email addresses to you with the idea that they would… read more
Why you must start with a WELL-ENGAGING, WELL-CONVERTING WEBSITE – Part 1 of 2
April 26, 2011 - Posted by Stephanie Cross
So many times, we have clients who want to jump into social media, which is great because social media marketing definitely works. BUT…there are a few components you have to have in place before diving in head first. The very FIRST PRIORITY and MOST IMPORTANT TOOL in your toolbox when marketing online is your website. Just “having” a website is not good enough. You must have a well-engaging, well-converting website. You have to remember that when it all boils down to it, one of the main reasons we market on various online networks is to DRIVE TRAFFIC TO OUR WEBSITE. So it is imperative that when people get there, that the site engages them to convert in some form or fashion. We don’t want all of our efforts in driving people to our website to result in them just hitting the back button. What good does that do? Let’s first… read more