Marketing in the Blink of an Eye

It’s the two-second rule. In the first few seconds of looking at a billboard, web banner or magazine ad, most consumers have already formed an opinion. Malcolm Gladwell explores this phenomenon in his best-selling book Blink. He calls this the “decisive glance.” Cops do it, art dealers do it and so do you. Today, it seems, marketing is more like speed-dating than going steady. Consumers are moving at a breakneck speed. They are juggling smart phones, steering wheels and piping-hot cappuccinos. Our TV sets have remote controls and DVR. You have to be ready to grab the viewer in exactly an instant. At Agency Creative, we know how to make brands stand out. We make sure that your message is translated into a quick, powerful impression that customers can consume in a quick slurp or a full-throated gobble. It’s what we do. And we would like to do it for you. This second. Contact us at info@agencycreative.com.

Understand the Gen Y Audience

There is a buzzing “Buzz Word” in the workplace; Gen Y. Companies want to know who they are, what’s so special about them, and how they market to them?

Who is Gen Y?
Generation Y are also known as Millennial or Echo Boomers. Their birthdates range from late 70s to early 90s and there are over 75 million living in the US. Raised by Baby Boomers, they were brought up to believe they can do anything and be anything they want.

Everything about Gen Y has been shaped by opportunity and destruction. Technology has given them the greatest opportunity for advancement, while every year their lives are shaped by a worldly disaster. From the Gulf War, Columbine Shooting, 9-11, Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina to Desert Storm in Afghanistan, Gen Y has been affected. Yet, they are striving to be the most optimistic and creative generation.

What is so special about Gen Y?
Gen Y is the fastest growing segment in the workforce today. They have high expectations not only of themselves, but of their co-workers and boss. They are hard workers, but a generation of multi-taskers, who can be working on a project, talking on the phone, updating their Twitter, Blog and their Facebook all at the same time.

Gen Y lives by a work-life balance, which isn’t just a trend, but their mantra. They aren’t looking for just a JOB, they are looking for JOY. It’s important to them to have joy while on the job. More than half of Gen Y workers prefer a job with volunteer opportunities, according to the Deloitte Survey. A place of work that donates, has a significant cause, or has a volunteer program is more likely to have Gen Y happiness than no Gen Y at all.

How do I market to Gen Y?
The Gen Y community has grown up learning, “Don’t trust advertisers.” Less than half get their information and news from television or radio – both traditional media forms of advertising. Most of the Gen Y community gets their information and news from one another. They text, IM, watch YouTube of each other, Twitter and they Google everything. They speak to each other about their likes and dislikes then blog about it at the end of the day.

There are 6 major rules to consider when marketing to Gen Y.
1. Create a good quality product
2. Provide it at a good value
3. Have fast service
4. Allow them to have an “experience”
5. Make sure it’s hip
6. Most importantly, be authentic

Authenticity is the most important rule when marketing to the Gen Y community. To earn their respect and get them talking to their friends about your product or brand, you have to be authentic. They know real when they see it.

A couple of important things to remember when learning about Gen Y and how to market to them is: listen, hang out, experience their life on their terms and most importantly respect them. They are the most transparent generation to date and Social Networking is the key to successful marketing with Gen Y.

Facebook and Twitter are two of the most popular social networking sites to immediately get connected to the Gen Y audience. Check out Agency Creative’s Facebook and Twitter to begin your connection:

http://www.facebok.com/AgencyCreative
http://twitter.com/AgencyCreative

The Twittering/Facebooking of America

I'm paid to be clever. That's how I feed my family. So why squander my wit on Twitter? Why give up the groceries for free on Facebook? I do it to stay connected with old friends. So a guy I haven't seen in five years--who now lives in Ohio--can tell me I made him laugh. But the pressure is incredible. Artie Megibben is... what? I can't just say, "I'm ordering a coffee at Starbucks." After all, I'm a Creative Director. I have to say something cute. Right? And so I do. But I don't get a nickel for it--just friends who I make smile.

Of course, there are other reasons some one might send a tweet or update a Facebook wall. It can actually improve the organic rankings of your company's Web site. How awesome is that? I know! You see, we have special knowledge of cool stuff like that at Agency Creative. We are into Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and Web 2.0. We know how to raise your rankings with Google and Yahoo. We know how to sneak hardworking keywords into your Web content and how to streamline your nav menu to make it more intuitive. It's sort of secret Ninja knowledge that we would love to share with you face-to-face. Or Facebook-to-Facebook. Whatever works for you. Now, excuse me while I think of something clever to tweet.

3 Must-Have Tools for Performing Effective Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization, also known as SEO, is the process of doing everything you can to make sure your Web site ranks well organically on search engines in hopes of efficiently capturing site traffic among qualified online users.

We have taken the three most important tools related to SEO and compiled a short and powerful list for anyone who is interested in SEO.

1. Google’s Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide

The Google guide won’t teach you how to trick Google into ranking your Web site first, but it will tell you the do’s and don’ts when it comes to optimizing your site for Google.

Google’s Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide (PDF Download)

2. Web Site Grader

This toolbar lets you check page rank, domain age, Meta data, links on social bookmaking sites and many more tools.

Web Site Grader

3. Search Engine Ranking Tool

Mikes-Marketing-Tools.com published this free tool to quickly and easily check the rankings for a key phrase with a domain name across multiple search engines in seconds.

Free Search Engine Rankings Check in Seconds

These tools are a great start for building a Web site that utilizes Search Engine Optimization, but that is only half of the work. The other half of the work is knowing how to properly construct a Web site using relevant keywords, Meta data, content, and link building. When developing content it is important to be strategic if you want your Web site to be search engine friendly.

Tyler Technologies Partners Up With Agency Creative

We are happy to announce that we have just been named agency of record for Plano-based Tyler Technologies. Tyler Technologies is a publicly traded company that provides software & services to more than 7,000 local government offices throughout all 50 states, the US Virgin Islands, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom.

“Agency Creative clearly demonstrated their experience, strong creative and keen strategic branding insights. They fully understood the daunting scope of our needs and our unique opportunity to grow this brand. Add to that instant sense of chemistry, and we knew we had found true marketing partners,” confided Samantha Crosby, Senior Director of Marketing, Tyler Technologies.

“Agency Creative is thrilled to be part of the Tyler Technologies team,” said Agency Creative President, Mark Wyatt. “We look forward to advancing the power of this already significant brand.”

Agency Creative is a full-service strategic branding agency that specializes in helping companies deal with the challenges and obstacles that are associated with brand transition. If your brand is in transition, call us at 972.488.1660. It’s what we do.

Agency Creative launches new branding campaign for Allied Affiliated Funding

Allied Affiliated Funding, formerly known as Allied Capital Partners, is a nationwide leader in commercial finance specializing in accounts receivable factoring - also known as invoice factoring. Allied selected us in late 2008 as their agency of record.

"The Agency Creative team has been an absolute delight to work with on the re-branding of our company. Their professionalism, strategic guidance, creativity and keen attention to detail is refreshing. I have been very pleased with the exceptional work and service we have received, and I am glad to have found such a reliable and innovative agency partner," stated Karen Tramel, Director of Marketing.

On April 21, we launched the Allied's new strategic brand positioning and branding campaign. Read the full story and see the creative.

Smart Marketing During Lean Times

Our current economic environment has many clients pulling back their advertising budgets. So knowing where to place the advertising dollars when times are lean is extremely critical. One of the most effective and least costly marketing tools is search engine marketing (SEM). Of course, it performs better when your web site is optimized with relevant content, keywords, meta data, etc. Our clients typically obtain 35 to 50 percent more leads/success through their SEM program over other individual tactics within their marketing mix. To top it off, it is easy to track and identify the ROI. There are no guarantees in garnering the top organic listing(s), but an online pay-per-click ad campaign will provide first-page exposure while increasing organic listings. Some industries perform much better than others, so I recommend at least a three-month SEM program to see if it can be a top perfomer for your company.