Twistlab Marketing is an award-winning marketing agency based out of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Difficult Client Or Campaign? How To Motivate Your Employees To Reach The Finish Line

December 27th 2017

Every business, regardless of industry, is going to face challenges that impact its team members. When that challenge happens to be a difficult client or campaign, it can really take a toll on employee morale. Working day in and day out with an aggressive or overly demanding client, or a campaign that's just not producing the desired results, might make your team feel helpless and hopeless, which could even lead to some turnover.

The 'Write' Stuff: 16 Agency Pros Share Their Best Piece Of Writing Advice

December 22nd 2017

The written word is a powerful tool. A well-written piece of content can educate, influence and build a sense of trust and connection. Poor writing, on the other hand, can alienate readers and destroy all credibility.

Building A Personal Brand? 16 Simple Tips For Today's Executives

December 21st 2017

One of the most important activities any agency can engage in is branding. And we're not just talking about developing and promoting a corporate brand, but also establishing your own personal brand, positioning yourself as a credible industry expert and thought leader.

12 Most Memorable Marketing Campaigns Of 2017

December 14th 2017

Throughout the years, there have been several moments when a brand has successfully captured the hearts and minds of consumers worldwide with a smart campaign or a significant gesture. Product brands such as Starbucks PSL did their due diligence on social media by birthing an identity that today needs no introduction, according to a report by Mediapost. Nowadays, you can’t enter the fall without hearing, seeing, and definitely tasting PSL in some form or another.

15 Effective Ways To Beat Burnout In The Workplace

November 30th 2017

Burnout can get the best of employees and cause them to become dissatisfied with their jobs. In some instances, according to the Association for Physiological Science, it can even cause some people to quit their positions and leave their place of employment altogether. The Association classifies burnout into three categories, each with own coping strategies: burnout from boredom, overload burnout, and worn-out burnout.

Getting Into Influencer Marketing? 15 Important Things To Know About The New FTC Guidelines

November 29th 2017

In September 2017, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) experienced a historic first: The commission settled charges against individual social media influencers regarding disclosure practices for brand sponsorships and affiliations.

Is The Business Card Dead? 16 Experts Share Their Thoughts

November 27st 2017

Back before the days of LinkedIn and smartphones, business cards were the only way to exchange information at a networking event. Aside from its practical purpose, the business card has also provided a way to show off your style — from the font and color scheme to the paper stock.

17 Smart Strategies For Young Brands To Tell Their Story

November 21st 2017

One of the most important activities for a startup to engage in is branding. Developing a strong voice and presence that potential customers can associate with your company is critical to earning their trust – and therefore, their business.

How To Improve Your Marketing Emails And Drive Consumers To Your Website

November 18th 2017

Email marketing is the quintessential way to reach consumers. But with just seconds to garner their attention, it is imperative that you create an email that's impactful, readable and eye-catching. From savvy subject links to eye-popping content that persuades them to buy from you, emails can be a valuable tool in a marketer’s toolbox.

13 Ways Augmented Reality Technology Can Work To Your Advantage

November 16th 2017

With the introduction of the new iPhone and advancements made in augmented reality (AR), the way users consume content is changing. From interlaying sports stats during a baseball game to greatly enhancing video game playing, AR offers a world of possibilities for users and businesses alike.

13 Ways Your E-Commerce Site Can Have A Very Happy Holiday

November 14th 2017

The holiday season is highly profitable for retail businesses, and online purchases are a growing part of that trend: According to census data, e-commerce purchases grew 14.2% year over year in 2016.

Experts Chime In On 14 Industry Misconceptions

November 13th 2017

When people see professional results, they don't always see the work, training, and hours that came before.

These 13 Common SEO Myths Are More Fiction Than Fact

November 9rd 2017

Search engine optimization is constantly changing as search sites update to improve how data is displayed, leaving marketers in a state of constant adaptation.

Four Steps To Avoiding An Online Identity Crisis

November 7rd 2017

After talking to hundreds of business owners, I couldn’t comprehend why they stated that an online presence wouldn’t help their business, but it kept popping up. I noticed a recurring theme: It’s easy to get excited about where you want to be, but it’s easier to get discouraged when you hit your first obstacle.

11 Considerations Your Brand Should Weigh Before Developing An App

November 7rd 2017

As more people tap into their phones for day-to-day computing needs, apps offer an attractive way to drive brand awareness, gather data and improve sales. A well-designed business app can draw in users and help guide them to the products or services that solve problems.

12 Critical Attributes You Should Seek When Hiring

November 3rd 2017

The hiring process can be long and costly, involving months of job postings on numerous sites, talking with recruiters and going through far too many resumes. The technical aspects — such as their years of experience or skill sets — are easy enough to define. But what about the less obvious aspects, such as attitude or personal approaches to problems?

Want To Create Real Brand Advocates? Try These 17 Strategies

November 2nd 2017

Word-of-mouth has always been one of the most powerful marketing tools around. When employees and customers actively promote your brand, the individuals in their social circles receive first-hand information from real people they know and trust. It creates a degree of authenticity that simply can't be achieved through other "hard sell" or paid marketing tactics. In fact, according to research by Nielsen, 92% of consumers trust brand advocates over other forms of advertising.

15 Essential Digital-Focused Roles Your Company Will Need to Fill

October 27th 2017

It's a bit of an understatement to say that technology has revolutionized every facet of the business world. One of the most important byproducts of the digital age is a rapidly changing job market. Though technology has made certain occupations all but obsolete, it has also created a wealth of new career paths that didn't even exist a decade ago.

18 Steps To Take Before You Launch A Product Or Service

October 24th 2017

Have an idea for a new product or service? It's easy to get ahead of yourself, envisioning all the sales, recognition and success that will stem from your offering. But like any other business initiative, a product launch takes time and careful planning – rushing to market without having your ducks in a row is a recipe for disaster.

How To Produce Quality Content With Limited Resources And Time

October 23rd 2017

In today’s digital world, content is king. There is significant value placed on the amount and quality of the content that a marketer produces in any given day, week or month. For many content marketers, there is major concern over the ability to produce enough and the kind of content that is demanded by customers because resources are lacking, according to a report by Curata.

Three Things For Brands To Consider When Targeting Millennials

October 19th 2017

Established brands and organizations have been trying to adapt their advertising strategies to appeal to millennials for years. Desperate for a solution, many businesses rush into traps following the temptation to win over this market. Failing to be inclusive, compromising authenticity and over-generalizing when addressing millennials often backfires.

15 Essentials To Consider When Employing Video Marketing

October 19th 2017

More and more businesses are turning to video to promote their brands, as well as their products and services. Companies are becoming more business savvy about the value of video, with 85% of them employing staff and resources to produce their own video content internally, according to a report by Hubspot.

13 Tips For Effectively Marketing To Youths On Snapchat And Instagram

October 18th 2017

Social media giant Facebook may be taking a backseat with the 12-to-17-year-olds, as a report from eMarketer indicates a 3.4% drop in this age group. Replacing the social media mainstay is the use of Snapchat and Instagram, platforms which are expected to see a surge in this demographic as a result.

Did Your Brand Go Viral? 15 Ways To Keep The Momentum Going

October 16th 2017

In the age of internet fame, every brand hopes that their content will get seen and shared by the right people and "go viral." But there's no magic formula for going viral – you simply have to keep experimenting and trying new things to see what audiences respond to.

13 Important Elements To Include When Designing A Website

October 13th 2017

One of the most critical components of a brand's online presence is its website. But it's no longer enough just to have a website – layout, design and user experience play a huge role in the way potential and current customers perceive a company. In fact, according to HubSpot, customers will stop engaging with a website if images don't load quickly or properly, if the content and layout are unattractive, or if there's no contact information.

Is Newspaper Advertising Worth The ROI?

September 21st 2017

The death of the newspaper industry hasn’t occurred as predicted. In actuality, it has picked up steam, with nearly 70% of the population reading newspapers on the regular, according to Nielsen research. While this is certainly good news for publishers, it hasn’t been the rise in revenue the publishing industry was banking on. Ad revenue hasn’t met the circulation surge, as reported by Pew Research Center, leaving many publishers scratching their heads.

How To Be Authentic And Turn Around Your Brand In The Face Of Crisis

September 18th 2017

Even the best-laid plans can come to a crashing halt when a PR crisis rolls into town. Customers can be fickle and take a successful brand to the dust if they aren’t authentic in their offering. Struggling sales, changes in formula or even a name they can’t relate to can make customers turn up their noses and walk away.

Five Questions To Ask About Your Social Media Audience

August 21st 2017

Imagine the best possible cut of steak served with a medley of roasted vegetables. Who wouldn’t jump on the opportunity to indulge, right? It’s so easy to say that your target market is everyone, but that’s simply not realistic. On the most basic level, you can exclude vegetarians and vegans from your market. Digging deeper, considering that a good cut of steak at wholesale averages at $18.99/lb., you can exclude people with tighter budgets.

A Simplified, Four-Step Approach To Instructional Design

August 7th 2017

My passion for teaching stems from my love for marketing and communication, as I have found that building a curriculum is just like creating a marketing campaign. In both cases, you gather research, develop the best possible product, and assess the results while always keeping your target market in mind to maximize your chances of success.

15 Martech Innovations That Are Changing The Face Of Marketing

August 7th 2017

From email marketing to automation, data analytics and innovative uses of artificial intelligence, marketing technologies are helping brands become stronger by engaging and communicating with their target audience on a whole new level.

13 Tips To Build Off-Page SEO And Boost Your Brand's Visibility

July 26th 2017

Even if we live in an age of enhanced interconnectivity where an online presence is crucial to a business’s success, many organizations are still far behind when it comes to using the internet in their favor. Nearly half of all small businesses don’t even have a website, according to Clutch research, and those that do fail to optimize it properly for a mobile audience.

Nine Ways Brands Can Creatively Use Data

July 12th 2017

As users interact more with a company or brand, their purchasing habits and interests become more apparent. This is particularly true as artificial intelligence makes gains in the ability to sift through raw data in order to create larger pictures. This growing data footprint offers brands a chance to engage with users, drawing more interest not only from people who have purchased before but from the general public, in the form of shared infographics or videos.

15 Simple Tips For Improving Local SEO

July 11th 2017

s While global search engine optimization is important, the importance of local SEO can't be ignored. According to one source, 50% of consumers who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit a store that same day. And if your business's visibility is not ranking highly in your area, your brick and mortar location could be losing out to competitors.

Addressing A Common Inbound Marketing Challenge: 12 Tips For Generating More Traffic And Leads

July 7th 2017

s Generating traffic and quality leads are high priorities for many companies. Unfortunately, generating traffic and leads are also a serious challenge for a majority of marketers. According to Hubspot's State of Inbound 2017 report, 63% of those surveyed reported this as their biggest marketing challenge this year.

Rebranding Or Building A New Brand? Don't Overlook These 12 Important Details

July 5th 2017

s Whether you're starting a new company or overhauling the image of an existing one, building a brand is a big undertaking with extremely high stakes. Getting your brand wrong as a startup means failing to resonate with your target audience. Messing up a rebranding effort could mean alienating and ultimately losing your loyal customer base.

Want To Use 360-Degree Photo And Video? 11 Things To Consider

June 28th 2017

As the popularity of immersive virtual reality experiences continues to grow, more and more platforms now offer the ability to create and publish 360-degree photos and videos. Consumers are increasingly exploring and using this media format, and brands might think now is the perfect time to get in on the ground floor.

10 Ways Google Chrome's Proposed Ad Blocker Could Impact Advertisers

June 27th 2017

Google's announcement about adding a built-in ad blocker to Chrome presents an opportunity to advertisers. Aggressive advertising, such as pop-ups or auto-playing videos, have annoyed website visitors for nearly as long as they've been in existence. While such advertisements can be used to success, they can also drive away traffic and damage user impressions of a company or product.

Cut Through The Noise: 12 Tips For Determining The Best Channel To Share Your News

June 26th 2017

As channels for sharing important information, influencers, journalists and social media all offer their own advantages. But blasting the same message to the widest possible number of recipients is counterproductive. Journalists and influencers are routinely contacted by firms, and not all consumers are the right audience for every piece of news. After all, no matter how important the information may seem to insiders and people within a company, not everyone will care about every development. Blast the same message too often and you may find users blocking you on social media or your emails to publications or influencers being filtered directly to the trash.

15 Ways To Increase Engagement Without Being Too Self-Promotional

June 19th 2017

As a business owner, you are surely aware of the value and importance of engaging with your audience if you want to become and stay relevant in today’s competitive online space.

Nine Questions To Ask Before Hiring A New Agency

June 16th 2017

You've had some good meetings with representatives from a new agency. The team members they've sent seem sharp, personable and ready to have you sign on the dotted line. But committing to an agency – whether you're transitioning to a new agency or this is your first time working with one – is a big deal.

As Demand For Video Rises, Don't Forget To Be Authentic

June 14th 2017

Consumer demand is rising for video content: At least 43% want to see more than they're seeing now, according to research done by Hubspot. But poor marketing can turn people away. One danger is that over-produced or overly slick videos can leave potential clients or customers feeling talked at, rather than to. This can lead viewers to feel disconnected from the content and can create the perception that the presentation is inauthentic. Other troubles include videos that focus purely on the hard sale; while these can work, they can also create a sense of "you want something" rather than "you're providing me with something to value" – a significant difference in perception.

11 Creative Uses Of Augmented Reality In Marketing And Advertising

June 13th 2017

Augmented reality is quickly becoming one of the hottest trends in the marketing and advertising industries, recognized as an innovative and creative way of connecting with customers and increasing engagement. The technology has significantly grown in popularity over the last few years, and the AR market is expected to continue this trend; it's projected to reach $117.4 billion by 2022, as indicated by Markets and Markets research.

What Do Copycat 'Stories' Features Mean For The Future Of Social Platforms?

June 12th 2017

On a popular social media platform, you can share photos and videos with your followers that will automatically disappear after 24 hours. Which one is it?

Creating A User Persona? Do These 15 Things First

June 12th 2017

Every business has a target audience that it hopes will buy its product or service. Rather than create marketing campaigns for an unknown quantity of nameless, faceless "consumers," many companies try to create user personas – clearly defined individual personality types based on real demographic and behavioral information about their target customers. After all, isn't it easier to have a one-on-one conversation with a person you know than get up and give a presentation to a crowd of strangers?

Marketing Funnel: Take It One Step At A Time

June 8th 2017

Have you ever given a friend advice before they were ready to hear it? Chances are, it wasn’t received well. Relationships with your clients aren’t that different. If you team up with a creative marketing company to build an integrated marketing communications strategy that is specific to the stage of the funnel that your customer is in, it will help you to build a lasting relationship with them. In other words, your ideal customer may be ready to consider your proposal – but only after you earn their trust. In order to do this, you need to respect their boundaries.

15 Mistakes To Avoid When Naming Your Business

June 8th 2017

What's in a name? A lot, as it turns out – especially when it comes to naming your business. Choosing your company's moniker is one of the most important decisions you'll make when you start a new business, as it sets the tone for all your future branding initiatives. For better or for worse, your creative business name helps create a first impression with potential customers and investors, so it's not a decision that should be taken lightly.

15 Content Marketing Strategies To Make Your Blog Less 'Salesy'

June 7th 2017

For years, creative marketing agency experts have been living by the phrase, "content is king." This is more important than ever nowadays, as new channels for creating, curating, sharing and interacting with content continue to emerge.

15 Ways To Keep Your Remote Staff Efficient And Productive

June 6th 2017

Remote working arrangements are becoming increasingly common in advertising agencies as well as across various fields and industries as businesses look for ways to become more flexible and efficient. According to recent research by employee engagement platform TINYpulse, remote work has a very positive impact on employee productivity, happiness, satisfaction, as well as on their communication with management. Additionally, telecommute jobs can help a business maintain flexibility and cut costs by limiting the need for expensive office spaces or supplies.

15 Ways To Better Educate And Market To Potential Customers

June 5th 2017

Creating engagement requires more than a flashy video or a solid homepage, especially when it comes to content marketing. It requires both time and effort to establish interest or an emotional connection between the potential customer and the brand.

10 Ways Personalization Helps You Better Market To Potential Clients

June 1st 2017

Personalization is a growing trend in online marketing: Details about what city a computer is located in or whether a visitor has come to a site before can help guide what message should be displayed on a page or sent to an email address. After all, a person in Wisconsin isn't likely to be interested in barbecue deals from a shop in Tennessee, nor does everyone want a bookbinding kit, even if it is a deal of the day.

Virtual Reality -- The Future Of Media Or Just A Passing Trend?

May 30th 2017

After the splash made by the arrival of virtual reality headsets a couple of years ago, VR has drawn a lot of attention. The features of the systems seem limitless and there's strong interest from people across industries.

How Podcasts Can Lead To Better Connections With Your Audience

May 27th 2017

Podcast marketing is one of the most underutilized and unknown forms of marketing, yet ironically, podcasts are what customers have been gravitating towards and asking for over the past few years. Edison Research reports that approximately 21% of Americans listened to podcasts on a monthly basis in 2016.

Mistakes Happen: Eight Tips For PR Crisis Control When A Brand's Reputation Is At Stake

May 25th 2017

Earlier this spring, during the 2017 Academy Awards, the wrong name was read for Best Picture recipient. This mistake generated a lot of headlines, and while it wasn't the first error made during the show's live broadcast, it was the first one in quite some time. After the event, PwC stepped forward and took responsibility for the error. How should companies deal with a potentially brand-damaging public relations event, such as this one and others that can tarnish long-built reputations? Below, eight Forbes Agency Council members talk about how they handle crisis control.

10 Questions To Ask Before Deciding To Rebrand Your Company

May 23rd 2017

Rebranding a company or organization is a big endeavor: You have to weigh what image you're trying to convey and who's likely to respond well to it. This means a lot of meetings to discuss things like graphic elements, typography and messaging; the wrong use of any element can hamper, or even end, customer engagement.

11 Ways To Make Your Marketing Emails Stand Out In A Cluttered Inbox

May 22nd 2017

Sending out emails about products or services and actually get recipients to open them can be difficult. Basic filters hide unsolicited emails and even those that get through tend to be ignored by users, who are less likely to jump on random messages offering products or services they're not deeply invested in.

12 Ways To Improve Communications Between Your Agency And Your Clients

March 18th 2017

Making sure everyone is on the same page and aware of the same issues or developments requires more than haphazardly sent memos. It requires organization and commitment from both your team and the client you are supporting. You need to know what services the client needs and what their expectations are, as well as what they think of current progress. They need to understand what your team is developing for them, what the timeline looks like, and why some options were chosen while others were avoided.

15 Ways Artificial Intelligence And Automation Can Help Us Get Better At Work

May 17th 2017

Even if we are not always aware of it, artificial intelligence is already a big part of our lives, having a major impact on how we live and how we work. From customer service applications to voice-powered assistants such as Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa, there are several examples of AI and automation tools in use today.

15 Social Media Management Tools That Can Help Your Business Thrive

May 15th 2017

In today’s world, social media is one of the best ways for your business to stand out in its field and to reach a wider audience. Having an active presence on all major social networks, from Facebook to LinkedIn and beyond, is a necessity for any brand that wants to become an industry leader while engaging with its potential and current customers in new ways.

11 Ideas For Starting To Build Your Brand's Social Media Presence

May 8th 2017

With most Americans on social media (79% of adults use Facebook), neglecting to establish social media accounts for your business can be a detriment to your business. On social media sites, business owners can connect with prospective customers, discuss items of interest and build awareness of company products or goals. And the basic costs for doing so are relatively low.

Building Brand Loyalty Requires Strong Customer Service Skills And Fan Involvement

May 3rd 2017

Even if you're getting out the word about your company or brand, what you're saying may not resonate with your customers. Clients can be perfectly happy with the services you provide, but if they do not feel engaged — or remember why they connected with you in the first place — they may not stay. This costs not only revenue but time: If customers leave for competitors, then you need to not only make up the lost income, you need to cover the expenses related to drawing in new potential customers.

Eight Ways To Freshen Your Brand's Look -- Without Rebranding

May 2nd 2017

The longer you look at your graphics and website, the more you may see the seams and joints: Places where color choices could have been better or stylish fonts that may be looking a little dated now. You know that a full rebranding isn't needed yet, but you want to improve how your brand looks. So how can you do it? How much should you tinker with your visual style and elements? Would it be better for you to focus on updating the content featured on your site or in your social media?

11 Recent Changes Impacting SEO

April 28th 2017

Search engine optimization can be seen as a running battle between website design and search engine companies. Sites constantly seek edges to gain (or keep) their first-page rankings, while search engines want to refine what they promote, in order to improve results for searchers.

Nine Ideas To Surprise And Delight Your Clients

April 27th 2017

There is an old adage: Under promise and over deliver. The idea, introduced by Tom Peters in 1987, has been a truism for decades: Companies have found great success while striving to offer improved versions of services or products in order to retain or attract customers.

Seven Must-Attend Conferences To Learn About Industry Changes And Innovation

April 26th 2017

Conferences are an excellent chance to meet and network with others in your industry, as well as opportunities to pick up new techniques and ideas. Good speakers provide guidance, sharing stories of challenges they've overcome or highlighting future developments. Discovering what may lie ahead in your field gives you time to prepare, as well as take advantage of the opportunities that the change brings. If search engine optimization is about to change, and you're not ready, you could find yourself losing your place on front pages. If everyone swaps to AI to handle routine tasks, you may find yourself struggling to keep up while using older workflows. Alternately, if conference speakers start making compelling arguments that a particular technology is more fad than function, swapping to the tech while others avoid it can cost you in time, customers and resources.

What Does Your Online Presence Say About You? 15 Ways To Build Your Personal Brand

April 16th 2017

Creating an image online is hard work. It requires forethought into what message you want to convey, as well as the writing and technical skills to create the image you're imagining. The rewards, though, are worth it: A brand offers a chance to display your skills, draw in public interest and establish a strong marketing engine. So how can you get started?

12 Ways Small Businesses Can Improve Their Social Media Presence

April 7th 2017

Social media provides a powerful tool for outreach: Companies can share stories, talk about events or offers, or discuss services or solutions with interested customers or potential clients. But not every small business has set aside the time and money to establish an online strategy or presence.

15 Ways Your Company Can Salvage Its Reputation During A Crisis

April 3rd 2017

Rumors have been spreading about your company. Perhaps a product has flaws that should have been found before they were shipped, some of the people working for the company are facing ugly rumors or accusations, or your company simply made an error in judgment. Regardless, the brand's reputation has taken a hit and has the potential to spiral into a long-term issue, given enough time.

Write Content That People Want To Read: 14 Tips For Building A Better Blog

March 16th 2017

Blogging can provide a serious boost to companies or groups wanting to garner meaningful traffic. According to HubSpot, companies that published at least 16 posts a month received 3.5 times the traffic of blogs that published four or fewer posts a month. When done well, blogs offer a chance to show expertise, provide another path to get people interested in a service or product, and can help increase SEO by drawing in visitors.

Think Beyond Millennials: 12 Ways Your Brand Can Engage Gen Z

March 24th 2017

According to a Barkley and FutureCast survey, members of Gen Z have very different expectations for interacting with or embracing brands than millennials. Gen Z — teens between 15 and 19 — have grown up in a fully connected world, one that lets them interact with advertising, potentially before a very wide audience. As a result, an ill-timed post or false note could deal a serious blow to an ad campaign.

Seven Steps To A Better Integrated Marketing Communications Strategy

March 16th 2017

It's a question that's been asked many times: If all of your friends jumped off of a bridge would you? From major corporations to small businesses, jumping on a new trend without consideration for the integrated marketing communications (IMC) strategy is a common occurrence. Each time this happens, I have a very difficult time not quoting my parents.

11 Ways To Improve SEO In 2017

March 2nd 2017

The best methods to perform search engine optimization, important for keeping a business easily accessible to the right searches, are constantly changing. This leaves companies trying to discover and adapt to the new rules almost as quickly as the search engines change them.

12 Ways You Can Engage Live Video Viewers

March 1st 2017

Live video is quickly gaining popularity, both among users and brands. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, for example, recently said the company has a "video-first" strategy and that users last year watched 8 billion videos a day. As live video is still developing, however, there are a lot of questions on how to best use it when marketing or generating awareness.

Seven Ways AI Can Help You Better Connect With Potential Customers

February 24th 2017

As artificial intelligence continues to develop, it becomes easier to turn large quantities of seemingly unrelated data into trends and analyses that can help a business grow. But how do you best use this resource for marketing? Should you use chat bots to direct consumers to a solution or product, or use AI predictions to filter ads to specific consumers? And what about customer engagement and satisfaction?

Three Keys To Better Social Media Engagement

February 22nd 2017

In a world that's heavily polluted with information, it's easy for business owners to get overwhelmed with social media expectations. We all know that social media is necessary for business success, but do we know why? In a study from Simply Measured, 60% of social marketers report measuring ROI as a top challenge. How, then, do we convince our CFOs to continue to invest in these channels?

11 Ways To Align Freelancers With Your Agency's Goals

February 13th 2017

Your team has brought in one or more freelancers in order to help ease the workload. This can be good news, especially if everyone is on the same page on what needs to be done. However, outside staff may not have a full grasp of your company's philosophies or processes, which can lead to deliverables that are sub par or not as envisioned.

Thinking Of Using A Publicity Stunt For Your Brand? How To Go Just Far Enough

January 31st 2017

Publicity stunts can increase the visibility of a company or product, for good or ill. While there have been some notable failures, there have also been plenty of events that have improved a company's standing, such as when Cards Against Humanity raised money to dig a massive hole this last Black Friday.

14 Ways You Can Use Google Analytics To Improve Your Website

January 30th 2017

Tracking the strength of website design has come a long way from the era of “under construction” animated gifs and text files on URL references. With the advent of tools such as Google Analytics, it is now possible to track how a visitor came across your site, including from offline or internet of things sources, as well as how long visitors stayed, and what kind of content or keywords kept them there.

The Real Value Of Super Bowl Ads: Agency Executives Weigh In

January 27th 2017

With about 111.9 million viewers last year alone, the Super Bowl is one of the most watched events annually. But with NFL viewership down this season and a changing advertising landscape, are Super Bowl ads as valuable as they once were?

Nine Ways To Find The Best Clients For Your Agency

January 26th 2017

A key to successful client-agency relationships is identifying the right clients from the start; clients should be selective about the agency that is the right fit for them, just as agencies should ensure they can provide and work well with potential clients. From building perfect client profiles to ensuring they fully believe in a potential client's brand or product, nine Forbes Agency Council members share how to better identify the best fits for your agency.

10 Unique Ways To Generate New Leads

January 23rd 2017

Acquiring clients and generating new leads is vital to an agency's growth and stability. While referrals are always a strong way to earn new business, agency executives also incorporate other strategies into their lead generation, whether that's appearances on popular TV shows or pro-bono services. Below, 10 Forbes Agency Council members share how they've creatively and successfully generated new leads.

Eight Ways To Make Sure Clients Pay You In A Timely Manner

January 20th 2017

While this is not how most agency employees would choose to spend their time, some have to spend extraneous time ensuring clients pay, as executives have said that it's becoming more difficult for their advertising agencies to get paid. Whether it's a client's confusion about advertising concepts, poor client-agency relationships or other factors, agencies need to ensure they're paid promptly so they can continue providing results. Below, eight Forbes Agency Council members advise how agencies can create compensation models to ensure clients pay in a timely manner.

10 Tips For Maintaining Unity When Your Team Is Working Remotely

January 19th 2017

With advances in technology, it's no longer necessary for employees to all be in the same office every single day. According to a 2015 Gallup survey, 37% of workers have telecommuted and a majority of telecommuting employees report they're just as productive as other employees. But with a reduction of face-to-face time with coworkers, there is potential for company unity and culture to take a hit. Below, 10 Forbes Agency Council members share how companies can communicate well and maintain a sense of unity as employees work remotely.

Boost Consumer Loyalty Using Branded Content

December 14th 2016

It’s not always about you. We learned this lesson as kids, but have we learned it as marketers? Lay off the blatant brand promotions and consider this: Consumers know when you’re trying to sell them something and quickly disengage the moment they realize it. In 17 years of practicing advertising and marketing, I have seen very few exceptions to this rule.