TRUE Branding and Building a Stronger Association

By on   /   Blog, Brand Marketing, Branding, Case Studies, Education and Training, Marketing, SPOKE News, Strategy  
public speaking branding andrew b clark

We had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with the members of the Iowa Society of Association Executives (ISAE) this week, discussing branding and building a stronger association community through our TRUE Branding process. The afternoon breakout session covered the concepts of brand and branding as it applies to marketing communications as well as how the TRUE Branding process can facilitate stronger, more targeted brand marketing and communications for associations, their boards, and the members they serve. The group was highly motivated to take in the action items provided in the presentation. With little encouragement (some strategically timed bribes –

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Businesses Stand Out Through Strategic Communications

By on   /   Blog, Brand Marketing, Branding, Marketing, Strategy  
strategig marketing communications

Well, thank you, Captain Obvious. Who would think otherwise? But did you catch the “Strategic” part? While the headline seems overly apparent, we’ve witnessed time and time again businesses from solo entrepreneurs to mega-conglomerate Fortune 500s miss the mark when truly strategic communications would have helped. Whether they miss an opportunity to speak up on a business-relevant event or their news feed is so full the brand focus and target of the message is lost, businesses need to make sure communications strategies are in place at all times. Much of this falls under Brand Communications and Public Relations Strategies. What

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The Basics: A Content Marketing Strategy Checklist

By on   /   Blog, Education and Training, Interactive Media, Marketing, Strategy  
content marketing strategy checklist

Would you expect to walk into an interview without prepared questions? What about teaching a class – wouldn’t you expect the instructor to have a lesson plan? Then why do so many companies embark on content marketing without a strategy? We see it all the time. “We have a newsletter. We send it out every quarter.” Nothing more… No targeted information… No actionable items… No measurement… No strategy? And generally, that’s the extent of it. How do people do business like that?!? Your content marketing HAS to come with a strategy. If there isn’t thought behind the effort what is

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The Value of Email Marketing

By on   /   Blog, Brand Marketing, Case Studies, Education and Training, Interactive Media, Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, SPOKE News, Strategy  
finding value in email marketing

Email marketing, for some, remains a mystery. From list procurement to communications strategies to drop schedules and more, the intricacies that go into an effective email marketing campaign make the channel somewhat difficult to grasp, let alone manage. But if done properly, and with purpose, an email campaign can not only raise brand awareness within your target audience, but increase actions that benefit your bottom line – whether that means taking action on a goal or mission, or clicking through to purchase a product or schedule a service. We recently sat in with a local marketing communications class where the

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Your Product Photography Deserves More Than The Instagram Treatment

By on   /   Blog, Brand Marketing, Branding, Education and Training, Social Media, Spoke Portfolio, Strategy  
photographer in des moines

We get it. An iPhone and Instagram is a heck of a lot quicker and cheaper than hiring a professional photographer and studio to handle your product shots. With today’s digital devices, resolutions are reaching and, in some cases, surpassing traditional print demands. On more advanced devices, internal photo settings can simulate depth of field effects or even stacked focus. Heck, pop a shot, open Instagram, and add a funky frame or over saturate it a bit and “Voila!” ART! Why pay for “professional” photography when the intern or office manager can zip out 20 to 30 new product shots

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Content Marketing Drives More Than Your Blog

By on   /   Blog, Brand Marketing, Branding, Education and Training, Marketing, Strategy  
content marketing drives more than your blog

Content Marketing? Blogging? Digital PR? Journaling? E-News? We’ve heard a number of terms for it, but whatever you call it, it’s important. Content Marketing (what we call it here at SPOKE) is a strategy that should be present in every aspect of your marketing plan. It builds brand narrative and reinforces market knowledge and authority all while being infinitely packageable and a valuable source of sales support. Bring Clients Closer By Building Your Brand Narrative: Brands need to communicate. It should be core to their nature. By telling stories (Content Marketing) Brands increase the ability to connect to their target audience

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Do You Have Clear Video Marketing Strategies?

By on   /   Blog, Education and Training, Interactive Media, Marketing, Strategy, Video Marketing  
video marketing company des moines iowa

Video Marketing is becoming more prevalent every day. Whether it’s streaming Facebook live videos or higher-end produced pieces, it’s become such a valuable tool that companies looking for better engagement, better brand representation and clear, concise messaging are jumping into the video marketing game. For over a decade, the SPOKE team has been producing videos for our clients. Added to an effective content marketing plan, video offers the end users, the client’s target audience, a strong connection with imagery, messaging, and branding in a sweet, entertaining, encapsulated package. Here are a couple samples from recent projects SPOKE produced for client video

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How Leaders Can Mitigate “That’s Not My Job”

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thats not my job service industry management

“That’s not my job” Where did that phrase even come from? Now, I may be a “man of a certain age,” but when a company is building a customer-centric workforce, the words “That’s not my job” should NEVER cross a team member’s lips. Is this a by-product of downsizing? Corporate America has lost its sense of loyalty to its employees, forcing a loss of loyalty and pride of job from its employees.  Workers are carried along on the wave of “each man for himself”, afraid to extend a hand for fear of having it bitten. Whatever happened to the “One

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VIDEO: Local Search Optimization and What to Do About “Hawk”

By on   /   Blog, Education and Training, Industry News, SEO, Strategy  
local search listings google

The recent release of Google’s Algorithm update, “Hawk,” has raised some questions about the best practices for local search optimization. Businesses need to make sure they are properly optimizing their web sites for local search. With Hawk, a basic correction for 2016’s Possum changes, business can take advantage of local search optimization strategies. The video below goes through some of the high-points of the recent update as well as offers a handful of local search optimization and organic search optimization tips and best practices. If you’re properly maintaining your Web site with good, on-site content, utilization of best practices for

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Good SEO and Our Godly Misconception of “Time”

By on   /   Blog, Education and Training, Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Strategy  

You want what? In less than a week? Give me a break!” — God. Alternate title: “An Act of God Can’t Get You To The 1st Page of Google Any Quicker.” Okay, duck and watch out for stray lightening bolts…  Here we go. I blame God… yes, GOD for the misconceptions of time so prevalent in the business word today. Seriously, stay with me here… If God can create the Earth, the wind and sun, the plants and animals, and all we see, feel, and touch in 6 short days, why can’t your marketing team do something about getting you

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