Viral videos grab valuable attention.

Published by Andrew on July 14, 2010 in Strategy and Viral Marketing. 0 Comments

In the blog entry previous to this one, Alan discussed how to aid marketing efforts with attractive, creative vehicle wraps. This article also touches on vehicle modification, but in a considerably different light.

Recently, a client decided to pull a legendary prank on an employee. The employee was told his company car needed to be detailed prior to the impending end of its lease.

The car, instead, was turned into an ice cream cruiser, complete with decals, cool treats and even music. Music that couldn’t be turned off. That’s right, popular tunes like “It’s a Small World After All,” because the music player had been wired into the car’s fan motor, became ubiquitous staples of our good friend Colin’s commute.

If you’re so inclined, you may enjoy the video links at the end of this entry to fully appreciate the automotive transformation that took place.

At this point, you may be wondering how this anecdote relates to marketing or why you’re reading it on our blog. The answer to that question can be summed up with one key term: viral marketing.

We’ve all seen a video on the internet that was hilarious, violent, inappropriate and/or irresistible for any variety of other reasons. These videos spread (like viruses) through online media such as email, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and others. One person tells his friends, those friends tell their friends and the cycle continues. It should be noted that putting just any old video on YouTube won’t get the job done. The video has to be memorable, and preferably so over the top that people can’t get it out of their heads.

In the case of our client (whose stores are in the Kansas City market), the prank was featured with a video on the Kansas City Star’s website. A local TV news outlet then came calling, wanting to do its own piece about the ice cream mobile. The prank’s attention grabbing culminated with national play on CNN’s “Morning Express with Robin Meade.”

In today’s cluttered world, it’s become more important than ever to stand out from everyone else. Will videos of spectacular pranks replace traditional marketing methods like television, radio and print advertising? No. Will our client sell more furniture based on funny videos? Maybe. But the extra attention sure can’t hurt.

The Star—KansasCity.com Video
KCTV 5 News Article with Video

Start your engines.

Published by Alan on June 26, 2010 in Branding, Design, Leadership and Strategy. 0 Comments

In an uncertain economy many businesses let their advertising efforts idle while waiting for the green flag to drop. I hate to say if that’s you, your competition has already passed you by. While you’ve saved gas others are revving up and getting their message in front of your audience, lap after lap.

Effective advertising doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does need to be consistent to build brand awareness. Explore ways to keep your message in front of your audience. Break through the clutter and tell your story in a way that is unique. Nearly everyone’s marketing budget is holding level or even decreasing to combat these financial times, so spend smart! Think outside the box and search for co-op dollar opportunities as we did for one of our clients.

Wichita Roofing & Remodeling is taking its new customer service program to the streets, literally. We designed a vehicle wrap for the marketing director’s car that would represent three different market areas—and more importantly strategically and effectively use their resources.

Today, the company name is reaching thousands of people daily as the director travels to meet one on one with insurance agents across the state. It’s not often you see a “Nascar” traveling down the Kansas turnpike. Is wrapping a vehicle original? No. But choosing an image of the number one spectator sport in America to carry your message across unexpected terrain is. It’s a conversation starter and it creates a memorable impression. And the best part is some of the client’s vendors are “car sponsors.” Their sponsorship dollars are helping pay for the vehicle wrap while our client’s message speeds across the state.

Get in the driver’s seat. The race is on! What are you doing to reach the checkered flag before your competition?

Growth spurt.

Published by Jo on June 4, 2010 in Design. 0 Comments

My son just completed kindergarten. In the span of one year, he has grown from a barely turned 5-year-old whose writing was just legible and drawings were basic stick figures to a determined child whose handwriting is better than most adults and drawings are detailed images of spaceships and ninjas. He used his determination and curiosity to make a change to grow and learn. For those of you who work in a creative job field, it is just as necessary to make changes in your creative processes. To grow and learn every day just as my son did. The challenge may be exploring new tutorials on design programs and technology. Reading up on current trends. Attending workshops on improving your work process. Becoming engaged with others in our field. Use your curiosity and dive in. Try getting down to your roots. Why are you are in this field? What was the spark that made you want to be creative? Being an artist, I keep open minded about everything. From technology, music, art, reading, human relationships. It is the fuel that keeps me creative. It is not an easy task. There will be days when you will not want to get out of your comfort zone. But for those of you who seek the challenge, take a step. Let’s see what a year will bring to you.

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
—Ferris Bueller

Eyes wide open.

Published by Alex on May 24, 2010 in Teamwork. 0 Comments

Opened Eye

As long as I can remember I’ve been in and out of my parents’ offices on a weekly to daily basis. Part of everyday life, from dinner table conversations to talk of me going into the family business, it’s been in my blood for quite some time. It wasn’t until last week, starting as an intern, that I really started to understand the work of the Strategy Group.

Not only was the first week nerve-racking it was a week of enlightenment. Let’s get one thing straight: my mom used to call me to ask how to turn the TV on, now she is sitting in my office showing me how to navigate the servers. Let’s just say I felt like I dropped down a peg or two.

At a young age I saw team members coming and going and work being done and never understood the system behind it. I always thought that mom or dad just told them what to do, they did it, and it was done. I was wrong. As I learned the trafficking system here I got a brand new understanding of how things get done, and it definitely isn’t dad or mom issuing commands. Teamwork is huge here and it’s actually one of the coolest things to see in motion. One job could be worked on by several people until it’s complete; it’s this kind of teamwork that goes unseen in the finished product.

It’s hard starting at square one at a place I thought I knew so well. My eyes are open to this new world, and I’m doing everything I can to embrace it.

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