It is a Wonderful Time of Year

Sweet And Retro Christmas Card

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Welcome to the Future: The Mobile Future

The decision of where to place your marketing message used to be a no-brainer. Your choices included broadcast, print or in store media placements. It was simple and the media was simple. As the use of the “world-wide-web” became mainstream, online advertising was born. Marketers were able to add banner ads, email marketing campaigns and more to their arsenal of media options. Then just as marketers became comfortable with the options in online advertising, we have seen the emergence of Social Media and Mobile Marketing. And these platforms are evolving at pace never seen before.

It is more important then ever to understand your target audience and where they are spending their time consuming media. It is becoming more and more about the user experience everyday.

First Changes
Mobile marketing in its simplest form appears as SMS messaging: the user sends a text message to a short code and receives a pre-programmed response from the advertiser. Advertisers have seen the marketing benefits of Mobile Marketing at the point-of-sale influencing purchasing decisions, building consumer relationships, and providing increased consumer intelligence. It is pretty obvious why technology is evolving at such a rapid pace.

Evolution
Already, Mobile Marketing has evolved from standard SMS messaging techniques to Image Recognition technology. We are also quickly seeing the potential of Augmented Reality in the consumer experience. Take for instance Stella Artois’ Le Bar Guide, where using augmented reality allows a mobile application to overlay the profile of bars surrounding your current location. The recent launch of Apple’s iPad has even further exposed potential Mobile Marketing and its effects on how we look at the very definition of “mobile”, and how advertisers choose to spend marketing dollars. Time, Inc. recently released this video demonstration of how tablets are changing their advertising model.

Mix It Up
And while the world of marketing is ever changing, traditional methods still have a place (Apple’s iPad is advertised on the back cover of my latest issue of National Geographic, after all). Traditional marketing still has relevancy, but it might sit next to some new, technologically savvy neighbors in your annual marketing plan. Proper use and integration of new technologies with older ones will be the key to success.

This post was originally published on Deep Ad Thoughts by The Cyphers Agency.

The Evolving Role of the CMO

I don’t need to lecture you on the changes that have taken place in the way we market since the start of the economic downturn. No, you have studied, talked about and pondered those changes at nauseam. You get that your options have changed. (And hopefully you know we would love to assist you in figuring out which options will best help you reach your goals.)

Times are A’changing

What I do want to talk about is how the role of the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Marketing Manager, Coordinator and Associate has changed. Previously, in plentiful times the objectives for marketing included producing qualified leads for acquisition, communicating with the current customer for retention and establishing and maintaining brand recognition among the masses. Delivery fell on the shoulders of operations, while sales was responsible for the hard numbers. If marketing was producing the leads, their job was done. Well, I hate to break it to you, but those days are gone.

The Future is Now

As a marketer in today’s new world, you need to be a businessperson first and a marketer second. Understanding and working in the business from an operations and financial side is imperative for the survival and success of any marketing plan. While “soft” metrics like brand awareness are just as important as they have ever been, they don’t carry the clout in the board room that profitability and ROI metrics do. Marketers are working alongside operations to respond timely to consumer feedback, all the while, following the sales pipeline further than ever before.

The Value of Marketing

These changes can be a real positive within a company and your career. Yes, marketing is now even more accountable for the overall performance of your company. But with accountability also comes the opportunity to prove the value marketing brings to the table. Not to mention, the walls that are being broken down between departments.

So I leave you with this to think about — How has the role of marketing within your four walls changed? Have you and your team adjusted accordingly?

This post was originally published on Deep Ad Thoughts by The Cyphers Agency.

Holiday Greetings from Us

As we approach the Holiday Season (Well I guess it is here), I look back over the last 12 months. And BOY have we accomplished many things to be proud of. Which, gets me thinking...I need to step it up with this years holiday card. Typically, we purchase our holiday card from the American Humane Society. This year however, we have a FAMILY to share. Not that ours wasn't family before, but now we are three. A generic card just will not do.

Luckily for us, Shutterfly is running a free holiday card promotion this year. Now we just need to decide do we go with a super cool Story Card? Or to we keep it simple with a Photo Card? Each has its benefits. This year was a BIG year so we could tell the story with a Story Card; or we could choose a favorite picture that everyone will be able to keep forever. Decisions, Decisions?

What do you think?

Acorn Squash, I own you.

I finished my first batch of Acorn Squash puree today, and I'm feeling pretty invincible.


As far as eating habits go, it is important to me that I start her off right. I know it is unrealistic to think I will be able to serve her every meal made and cooked at home. But I want to provide her with an appreciation for home cooked food, even if she doesn't get it everyday.

I know she won't appreciate it now. But just maybe, in 28 years she will want to provide her own child with a meal made of love and care, because her Mom made sure she had. Just like my Mom made sure I had.

So today, my babycook and I conquered the Acorn Squash (and some Avocado). Later this week will be the Pumpkin. She won't taste it for another couple of months, but I am now ready when she is.

I'm learning

She is new and for that matter so am I. A new mom, that is. We are learning. Her about this new found world she is now apart of. Me, I'm learning how much I didn't know before. I didn't know what it was like to really be willing to take a bullet for someone. I didn't know what it was like to be truly tired. I didn't know what it was like to be drained (literally). I didn't know what I was capable of. I didn't know what it was like to be a Mom.

All things, I thought I knew. All things, I've quickly learned I didn't have a clue about.

We are learning. Together, we are learning something new everyday.