Get Your Family Tree Search in Gear
October 4, 2020 10:03 pm Leave your thoughtsIt’s a heady thing, looking over my family tree. All of those Samuels, James and Graces lead to me. When... View Article
Author Archives for Sarah Cavill
Best Sites for Planning Your Super Bowl Party
October 4, 2020 9:51 pm Leave your thoughtsSuper Bowl XLVII will be played this Sunday, February 3rd, and even if you aren’t a football fan (go Ravens!),... View Article
How to baby-proof your home theater
October 4, 2020 9:49 pm Leave your thoughtsWe’ve all heard it: The clatter of the remote control hitting the hard wood floor. The grind of the disc... View Article
These Harry Potter apps will cast a spell
October 4, 2020 9:44 pm Leave your thoughtsThis is the end, my Muggle friends. With the release of the final film, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part... View Article
How Innovative Nonprofit Marketing Can Be Committed To Diversity & Inclusion
June 5, 2020 9:58 pm Leave your thoughtsIn the wake of nationwide protests demanding justice and equal rights for black communities in America, many concerned citizens were... View Article
Audi x Avengers: A Lasting Relationship In Effective Content Marketing
May 6, 2019 11:06 pm Leave your thoughtsEndgame has already grossed more than $2 billion and is currently the second highest grossing film of all time. In 11 years, Marvel Studios, beginning with Ironman, has made $20 billion (and counting) and forged many lucrative and inventive brand partnerships along the way, including a long relationship with Audi. The car company’s latest collaboration with Captain [...]
Subscription Audiences Vary Across Subscription Niches
May 2, 2019 6:10 pm Leave your thoughtsSubscription Services Appeal To A Variety Of Consumers The rise of subscription services is the commerce and retail story of the last decade. The alignment of subscriptions with the growth of digital, streaming services and influencer-inspired shopping habits has magnified the profile of subscription options. Across many platforms and revenue streams, subscriptions are being positioned [...]
Universal Orlando Grows Harry Potter Partnership With New Roller Coaster
April 30, 2019 7:31 pm Leave your thoughtsHagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure will open June 2019 within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ― Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park. The ride is an homage to Hagrid, gamekeeper of magical creatures and Harry Potter’s beloved mentor, and marks the continuation of Universal Orlando’s successful strategic partnership with the Harry Potter [...]
Data Appends Inform Lead Generation Optimizations For Efficient Campaigns
April 26, 2019 7:31 pm Leave your thoughtsThe hallmark of success in lead generation is the ability to draw highly optimized leads that result in conversions. Continuous performance enhancements and adjustments made throughout the lead generation process – from CTA to conversion – are pivotal to successful campaigns for digital brand marketers. Here are several data-based optimization opportunities and targeting strategies that [...]
Tiger x Nike: A Partnership That Has Stood The Test Of Time
April 25, 2019 7:31 pm Leave your thoughtsMoments after Tiger Woods won the Masters, his first major tournament win in 11 years, Nike released, “Same Dream.” The commercial, which aired on Nike’s social channels, featured Woods throughout his career and celebrated his latest victory. A victory that was both unlikely, given Woods’ personal and physical issues since 2009, and the most natural [...]
Canoo Launches Into Automotive Via Subscription
April 24, 2019 7:35 pm Leave your thoughtsCanoo, formerly known as EVelozcity, announced they will be offering their four new models of electric vehicles only by subscription. Similar to existing car subscription services that bundle insurance, service and roadside assistance, Canoo plans to cover all of it when their innovative vehicles roll off the factory floor in 2021. Canoo Will Release Their [...]
Many Brands Offer Eco-Friendly Options To Meet Consumer Demand
April 22, 2019 7:34 pm Leave your thoughtsHappy Earth Day! Started as a “national teach-in on the environment” in 1970, Earth Day has since become a time to show respect for the planet, and recently a time to express concerns about climate change and other environmental issues. Of particular concern to today’s consumers is excess packaging and post-consumer waste. From 2014 to [...]
Digital Fundraising: How Obama Mapped A Course For Future Candidates
April 19, 2019 7:34 pm Leave your thoughtsThe U.S. is still nine months away from the Iowa caucuses and 19 months away from the general election, yet 21 candidates have already declared their intention to seek the presidency in 2020. How the candidates use digital and social tools in their campaigns, particularly in early mobilizing and fundraising efforts, is likely to have [...]
Google & McClatchy Form A Partnership That May Benefit Digital Marketers
April 18, 2019 7:36 pm Leave your thoughtsThe Google News Initiative (GNI) is celebrating its first anniversary supporting quality journalism and helping combat fake news. To mark the occasion GNI is launching the Local Experiments Project, which will potentially fund dozens of digital news sites from smaller cities in the U.S and globally. The first effort is The Compass Experiment, a partnership [...]
MLB Subscriptions & Memberships Attract A New Kind Of Baseball Fan
April 17, 2019 7:35 pm Leave your thoughtsIn the 2018 MLB season, 13 major league baseball teams saw attendance increases despite a difficult season of lousy spring weather and the most postponements since 1989. However, overall MLB attendance was down and ticket revenue suffered. Like many corporations, major league baseball is trying to understand new consumer trends, particularly those influenced by Millennials [...]
Boise State Subscription: A Lesson In Innovation And Positioning
April 12, 2019 7:37 pm Leave your thoughtsAcross the U.S. there are more than 16 million students enrolled in undergraduate programs, which is an increase of 28% since 2000. Enthusiasm for higher education is expected to scale, however the expense of college remains a top concern for parents and students. Being able to afford college can be an integral factor in enrollment [...]
Optimized Search & Micro-Moments Strategies For Lawn Care Brands
April 12, 2019 7:36 pm Leave your thoughtsSpring is finally here and the good weather brings to mind home renovation projects, annual maintenance and, especially, lawn care and landscaping. In 2017, 2.8 million households spent an average of $2,497 to spruce up their lawns. Lawn care and landscaping are also among the most valuable curb appeal improvements homeowners can make for resale. [...]
Charles Schwab Switches To A Subscription-Based Payment Model For Financial Clients
April 10, 2019 7:37 pm Leave your thoughtsAnother industry is moving to a subscription-based payment model. In a move industry insiders are speculating may be a game-changer, Charles Schwab implemented a subscription service for its financial planning customers. “Cost and complexity are two of the biggest roadblocks to accessing financial planning, and our goal is to break down those barriers,” said Cynthia Loh, [...]
Fitbit Prepares To Launch A New Rewards Program And Provide More Personalized Wellness Support
April 9, 2019 7:38 pm Leave your thoughtsAs Fitbit finalizes the launch of four new products, the wearables brand is testing out a rewards program. Though a beta program at this stage, Fitbit plans to incorporate a rewards program into their paid premium service later this year. The new Fitbit products and rewards program align with a broader plan by Fitbit to offer [...]
Google Ad Grants Are One Of Several Digital Marketing Options For Generating Interest In Nonprofits
April 5, 2019 7:38 pm Leave your thoughtsGoogle Ad Grants are an online advertising solution for nonprofits, which provide up to $10,000 per month of in-kind advertising to approved and qualified nonprofits. There are more than 370,000 philanthropic non-profits in the U.S., many of which need financial support, volunteers and awareness to function and succeed. Understanding how Google Ad Grants works to [...]
Warner Bros. Partners With Snapchat For Voice-Activated AR Lenses Promoting DC Comics Superhero Movie Shazam!
April 4, 2019 7:38 pm Leave your thoughtsShazam!, the latest release from Warner Bros. and the DC Comics Extended Universe (DCEU), opens April 5th. As with most superhero movies, Shazam! arrives with much anticipation and promotion. Warner Bros. And Snapchat Partner For A First-Ever AR Experience Shazam! is the story of a disgruntled teenage boy who can summon superhero skills by saying [...]
Hilton Leverages Their History And Cause Marketing To Celebrate Hilton Employees
March 29, 2019 7:40 pm Leave your thoughtsIt’s been 50 years since John Lennon and Yoko Ono used their honeymoon as a protest. The famous duo’s Bed-In for Peace at Hilton hotels in Amsterdam and Montreal aimed to bring attention to the escalating war in Vietnam. As Hilton nears its 100th anniversary, they are leveraging John and Yoko’s moment for a content [...]
Beer Wars Update: The Corn Wars Continue And Peroni Makes Moves With A New Ad Campaign
March 29, 2019 7:39 pm Leave your thoughtsHappy New Beer's Eve! In honor of this auspicious holiday celebrating the end of prohibition, we honor beers and the clever advertising campaigns that keep us comfortably in the cups. The corn wars of Super Bowl LIII served as a reminder that advertising beer wars are a thing. Miller Lite and Bud Lite continue to [...]
Buffalo Wild Wings Introduces The Jewel Stool To Celebrate March Madness… And More
March 28, 2019 7:39 pm Leave your thoughtsTo everything there is a season — including vasectomies. And not so coincidentally the season of snipping coincides with March Madness when corporate losses ring in at $4 billion due to unproductive workers. “41% more vasectomies [were performed] on the Friday of the first week of 2016 March Madness than on a typical Friday,” according [...]
From Fashion To Funko Pop! Captain Marvel Merchandise Offers Something For Every Fan And Collector
March 26, 2019 7:40 pm Leave your thoughtsCaptain Marvel, the latest release from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has already grossed more than $900 million worldwide, illustrating that moviegoers are still excited for comic book movies and aren’t put off by a woman superhero at the helm. Unlike The Avengers or DC Comics’ famous duo of Batman and Superman, Captain Marvel (aka [...]
Strategic Partnerships: The Saucony x Dunkin’ Running Shoe Is A Fun, Targeted Product For Runners And New Englanders
March 25, 2019 7:41 pm Leave your thoughtsThe Boston Marathon is just weeks away, but there’s still time to get your Dunkin’ themed sneakers! For the second year in a row, Dunkin’ and Saucony have teamed up to release a novelty sneaker sporting the Dunkin’ colors in a classic running shoe package. New Englanders Love Their Dunkin,’ Making The Saucony x Dunkin’ [...]
Women Consumers: Key Factors Marketers Need To Know To Effectively Target This Powerful Demographic
March 22, 2019 7:41 pm Leave your thoughtsWomen consumers are a powerful demographic. However, ascertaining a full picture of how women spend their money can be complex, because despite certain shared interests, women aren’t monolithic. “While it’s important not to stereotype women... there are some common threads between the female audience,” said Dhanusha Sivajee, the EVP of Editorial and Marketing at XO [...]
529 College Savings Plans Partners With Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
March 21, 2019 7:41 pm Leave your thoughtsIt’s never too early to start saving for your children’s college education. It may seem very far away when the kids still need a stool to reach the sink, but smart planning can make a difference in the long run. 529 College Savings Plans has struck up a sponsorship deal with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, a cartoon [...]
The Comic Universes Are Offering Fans Exclusive Merchandise Through Subscription Boxes
March 19, 2019 7:42 pm Leave your thoughtsWith the upcoming release of DC Comics’ Shazam movie in April and three more high-profile DC films in production, DC is holding its own against the Marvel juggernaut — particularly in the wake of Wonder Woman grossing more than 800 million worldwide. Like all things pop culture, the comic fandom has strong feelings about pretty [...]
Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? Look On Google Earth
March 18, 2019 7:42 pm Leave your thoughtsSince its debut on PBS in 1991, the Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego (WITWICS) gameshow for tweens has enjoyed a loyal following. Even after going off the air in 1996, many viewers of a certain age still fondly remember the catchy theme song, and hopefully some of the geographical facts WITWICS was trying [...]
Marketers Celebrate The Anniversaries Of Iconic Brands That Tap Into Generation X Nostalgia
March 15, 2019 7:42 pm Leave your thoughtsMarketers and the media talk a lot about Millennials. What they buy, eat, feel — even what they “ruin.” But what about Generation X? After a recent CBS news story neglected to mention Generation X when discussing generations, Xers took notice. Granted, they took notice in a sarcastic, toss-out-a-reference-to-Nirvana kind of way, but what do [...]
Post Babies R Us Registries: Streamlined And Creative Alternatives
March 13, 2019 7:43 pm Leave your thoughtsWhen you’re about to have a baby, it can seem everyone is full of advice on what to do, how to feel and especially what to buy for baby and the nursery. For more than 20 years, Babies R Us (BRU) was one of the most popular retailers for clothes, car seats, furniture and baby [...]
Subscription Box News: Period Boxes Capture The Attention Of Women Consumers
March 12, 2019 7:43 pm Leave your thoughtsIt’s been well-documented that direct-to-consumer (DTC) and subscription services are changing the way consumers shop. Businesses from car companies to toy manufacturers are angling for innovative ways to tap into the growing subscription sales model. A significant chapter in the DTC story is the rise of subscription boxes, and one of the success stories in [...]
Liberty Mutual Insurance Releases A Series Of Commercials Featuring New Mascot LiMu The Emu
March 11, 2019 7:43 pm Leave your thoughtsThe AFLAC duck. The Geico gecko. And now the Liberty Mutual emu. In a series of buddy-cop inspired commercials, LiMu the Emu and his human sidekick Doug are on a mission to educate consumers on Liberty Mutual’s customized insurance plans. Customer interactions can be tricky when you’re an unwieldy, small-brained bird, so hilarity ensues. “We [...]
Marketing With Babies And Puppies Makes Consumers Say Awwww
March 8, 2019 7:44 pm Leave your thoughtsIt’s no secret that animal videos are the engine that drives the internet. Every day another cat, dog or chimp does something sweet or funny, and the world swoons and shares. Babies, too, deliver a positive reaction. It seems people can’t get enough cuteness. Recently, videos of dogs rejecting vegetables and babies getting cheese slices [...]
Hidden Valley Ranch Creates Funny Commercials Aimed At Their Superfans
March 7, 2019 7:44 pm Leave your thoughtsTo some, Hidden Valley Ranch (HVR) is a delightful dip for veggies or a pleasing dressing for salad. For others, it is a lifestyle. A mission to never waste a drop, or let a party pass without a ranch infusion. To that end, Hidden Valley Ranch recently worked with comic actor and director Zach Braff [...]
The Top 5 Car Models In The U.S. Create Marketing Campaigns Boasting Technology And Reliability
March 7, 2019 7:44 pm Leave your thoughtsFor the recent DMS report, DMS Auto Insights: Top Car Makes & Models On The Road In The U.S. In 2018, we analyzed the consumer data identifying makes and models dominating the car industry. A closer look at the marketing campaigns aligned with the top five models, all sedans except the Ford F-150, illustrates car [...]
The Iconic Cadbury Cream Egg Is Hiding In The Ads Of Other Brands For A Multi-Channel Easter Promotion
March 5, 2019 7:44 pm Leave your thoughtsConsumers take their Cadbury Creme Eggs very seriously. In 2014, competitive eater Miki Sudo ate 50 creme eggs in six minutes and 15 seconds. In 2015, Cadbury changed the recipe of their famous eggs, leading to complaints and petitions. Creme eggs are not to be trifled with. These popular, gooey confections are only offered January [...]
Inbound Calls Are Beneficial To Education Marketers For Generating Leads And Conversions
March 1, 2019 7:47 pm Leave your thoughtsInbound calls can be a high-converting channel for education marketers because of the efficiency with which this product connects interested, prospective students to admissions representatives. An inbound call can be generated from a number of channels, including organic and paid search, display, email and SMS, all of which ultimately connect prospective students with admissions representatives. [...]
Tech-Based Toys, Outdoor Fun, Unboxing And Captain Marvel Revealed As Trends For Toys In 2019
February 28, 2019 7:45 pm Leave your thoughtsClimbing, unboxing, slime-ing — toy trends for 2019 have something for every kind of kid. The Toy Association recently held their 116th North American Toy Fair in New York and shared their predictions for which toy trends they think will be winners with kids in the coming year. Encompassing a number of fun ideas, themes [...]
The Spending And Digital Habits Of Black Consumers Present Opportunities For Marketers
February 27, 2019 7:45 pm Leave your thoughtsAfrican Americans are continuing to emerge as powerful consumers and creators. The borderless digital age has allowed for explosive creative growth and buying power within the black community. As social consciousness increases and African American influencers grow in prominence, black consumers and creators are poised for a massive increase in buying power — both on [...]
Oscar Commercials Celebrate The Efforts Of Creatives, Athletes And Behind-The-Scenes Talent
February 26, 2019 7:47 pm Leave your thoughtsAnother year, another exciting night of Academy Award surprises, disappointments and “I knew that would happen” moments. Many agree the year’s most watched awards show moved swiftly, embraced its newfound diversity and, with a few notable exceptions, steered clear of enraging the Twitterverse. The commercials that aired during this year’s Oscar telecast also celebrated artistry, [...]
Education News: Update On International Enrollments At U.S. Graduate Schools
February 22, 2019 7:48 pm Leave your thoughtsFirst-time graduate enrollments for international students at U.S higher education institutions fell 3.7%, between fall 2016 and fall 2017, according to the 2018 CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees (GE&D). While this is happening across all higher education levels, declining enrollments are a particular issue for graduate schools, and the trend is impacting some [...]
Insurance Bundling Is A Winning Approach For Customers And Marketers
February 21, 2019 7:48 pm Leave your thoughtsAs convenience increasingly becomes a driving factor behind so many decisions consumers make, bundled insurance services – a one-stop shop for all your insurance needs – are also gaining traction. Bundled services, often likened to a McDonald’s Value Meal, allow insurance companies to put all your insurance coverage in one package, generally for a reduced [...]
Understanding Who Works In The Growing Gig Economy
February 20, 2019 7:48 pm Leave your thoughtsThe gig economy is not a homogeneous group. Income and generational differences may impact how workers perceive and implement the gig economy and the career choices they make. Gender, geography and education also play a part in the development of the gig economy and job growth in certain sectors. As the gig economy grows, the [...]
Prediction: Enrollment Gains In 2019
February 15, 2019 7:49 pm Leave your thoughtsThe findings of the University Business (UB) Outlook on 2019: Access and Enrollment generally echoed the concerns among colleges nationwide. Namely, that enrollments are not scaling at a satisfactory rate, and that administrators and faculty are finding it necessary to do more with less resources at some higher education institutions. The 204 retention and enrollment [...]
Amazon Begins Data-Based CPG Sampling: Just The Facts
February 13, 2019 7:49 pm Leave your thoughtsAmazon introduced a targeted product sampling program which offers a number of benefits to the ecommerce megastore, including scaling subscribers and increasing the profile of some of their brands. The sampling program relies heavily on the consumer shopping data Amazon collects, creating opportunities for additional advertising revenue while ringing some cautionary bells for consumers and [...]
Fun And Flirty Jewelry Store Marketing Campaigns For Valentine’s Day
February 13, 2019 7:49 pm Leave your thoughtsAmericans spend more than $19 billion a year on Valentine’s Day, and 20% of that is on jewelry. Jewelry stores wanting to capture their share of the holiday revenue often create Valentine’s Day specific jewelry lines. Marketing campaigns built around these specialty pieces – and the year-round jewelry that happens to also sell well on [...]