Savant Stories

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2510

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 19:42:53 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

Soak up every drop of marketing wisdom from an inspired collection of online resources, podcasts and articles in one convenient spot. Curated for knowledge seekers, access these marketing nuggets anywhere, anytime.

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Campaign By Advertising Savants

When the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens set out to reintroduce itself as the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Advertising Savants helped bring its renewed identity — and purpose — to life.

Few places bring together the ability to engage with wildlife among lush and vibrant landscaping like the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

The agency developed the new name, logo/brand identity, and an integrated brand campaign that highlights this unique dual experience while showcasing their deep commitment to conservation.

From connected TV and streaming audio to social, digital banners, and out-of-home, every creative element captures the wonder of discovery and the joy of connection with the natural world.

Supported by a comprehensive brand style guide and vibrant visual toolkit, the rebrand and dynamic campaign celebrate the connection between animals, nature, and humans to deliver a cohesive, enduring message: For animals. For plants. Forever.

Watch TV Spot

"Honda: Ride Your Way"

By Y&R Agency, São Paulo Brazil

PLAY

Can you spot the fake headline?

Click to find out.

Woman Arrested With Bag Labeled 'Definitely Not A Bag Full Of Drugs'

KFC Launches Fried Chicken-Flavored Toothpaste

World's First Hot Dog ATM Opens In Malaysia

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2507

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 18:25:09 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

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LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital

Websites By Advertising Savants

We recently launched a suite of three brand-new websites for Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, including their main hospital site, foundation site, and blog.

Each site was built from the ground up to deliver a modern user experience, improve accessibility, and better tell the powerful story of Ranken Jordan and the children in their care.

Explore the new sites to learn more:

RankenJordan.org

RankenJordanFoundation.org

CareBeyondTheBedside.org

"Heinz: It Has To Be"

By Wieden+Kennedy London

PLAY

Brainteaser

I live between the lines but I’m never written.

I sell without speaking and shine without glisten.

You’ll find me in logos, in taglines, in flair—

I’m not always seen, but I’m always there.

What am I?

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2504

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:00:01 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

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Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

Digital Campaign By Advertising Savants

To promote Frozen In Time: An Ice Age Adventure , a new special attraction at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, we leveraged our deep expertise in audience engagement for zoos and attractions.

To ensure maximum impact and cost-efficiency, we executed a strategic media mix that included digital outdoor, broadcast radio, streaming audio, paid social, paid search and digital display — all designed to drive awareness and boost ticket sales.

See More Attractions Work

"Pantone: Rain Edition (Splash of Colour)

By Creatives Giuliano Lo Re and Matteo Gallinelli

REMEMBER

YouTube turns 20 years old this year and has grown from shaky videos to a powerhouse platform in the blink of an eye. So in the spirit of pure entertainment, we couldn't help but look back on the video that started it all. A guy at the zoo. Having created several notable zoo and attractions campaigns over the past 30 years, we're still proving that unforgettable moments at attractions are worth sharing — we just make them look a whole lot better.

LISTEN

Best known for his appearance on Shark Tank, Daniel Lubetzky, the founder of Kind Snacks, is focusing on expanding his Builders Movement these days. This initiative aims to bring together “builders” from around the world to help replace extremism with practical problem-solving. Lubetzky is trying to counter the political polarization that is taking over our culture and discourse and build better communities by promoting compromise and efforts to find common ground among people who disagree. We need a little more connectors in our world today, so we're here for it!

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2503

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 05:07:58 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Bringing Attractions To Life For Over 30 Years

Campaigns By Advertising Savants

For over three decades, we’ve had the privilege of helping a myriad of attractions captivate audiences and grow their brands through engaging creative and integrated marketing campaigns.

From long-standing campaigns for the Saint Louis Zoo to more recent work for Reid Park Zoo and Missouri Botanical Garden , we’ve built a reputation for turning these attractions into must-visit destinations.

Our portfolio spans everything from zoos and botanical gardens to dinner trains, wineries and casinos. Whether you’re looking to boost attendance, promote a special exhibit, or refresh your brand positioning, we know how to craft the perfect invitation for a one-of-a-kind visitor experience.

See More Of Our Attractions Work

"Builds Strong Teeth"

By Ogilvy & Mather

THINK

Brain teasers make us happy, and this one is tricky. Put your brain power to the test and see if you can solve it.

What unique feature do the following words share?

FRIEND

FEAST

THERE

THOROUGH

FLIGHT

WONDERFUL

RESIGN

ENDURING

PEST

COVERT

The Secret Sauce Behind Great Brands

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 15:28:23 GMT

Why Your Brand Strategy Matters More Than Ever

In a crowded marketplace, having a strong brand isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. A clear and well-thought-out brand strategy gives businesses the tools they need to stand out, connect with their audience, and grow. Let’s break down three key pieces of brand strategy and why they’re game-changers for any company looking to make an impact.

Discovering Your Core Purpose

Kevin Reardon, Principal of Advertising Savants says, “Every great brand starts with a "why." Your core purpose is more than just making money—it’s the heart and soul of your business. It’s your existential reason for being.” Why do you exist? What problem are you solving? And why does it matter?

When you define and embrace your core purpose, you can align everything your business does—your values, your messaging, and even your products—with that deeper meaning. This creates a genuine connection with your audience. Customers don’t just want a product; they want to believe in something bigger.

“Every great brand starts with a "why." Your core purpose is more than just making money—it’s the heart and soul of your business. It’s your existential reason for being.”

— Kevin Reardon, Principal

Take Patagonia , for example. Their core purpose revolves around environmental activism and sustainability. From producing eco-friendly outdoor gear to encouraging customers to repair, not replace, their products, every move they make reflects their mission. Customers trust Patagonia not just for quality gear but because they share their values.

Or consider Nike , whose purpose—"to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world"—resonates with people far beyond sports. Their campaigns, like the iconic "Just Do It," inspire individuals to push their limits, making the brand synonymous with motivation and empowerment.

When your purpose shines through, you inspire loyalty, build credibility, and make a lasting impact.

Building a Strong Organizational Structure

Let’s talk about how you organize your brand (or brands). This has a major impact on your brand architecture—how your brands, sub-brands, or products fit together. Whether you use one umbrella brand or have a lineup of distinct names, the goal is always the same: make it easy for customers to understand who you are and what you offer

Think about Apple . Their brand hierarchy is clean and cohesive. Under the Apple umbrella, you have distinct product lines—Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch—that all seamlessly connect to the overarching brand identity of simplicity, innovation, and elegance. This approach strengthens Apple’s image while giving each product line room to shine.

Now contrast that with Procter & Gamble (P&G), a company known for its "house of brands" strategy. P&G owns dozens of household names like Tide, Pampers, and Gillette, each with its own identity and messaging tailored to specific audiences. Despite being separate brands, they all benefit from P&G’s reputation for quality and trust.

A good brand architecture helps avoid confusion, strengthens your identity, and boosts your ability to expand into new markets or launch new products. It’s a strategic foundation that supports everything else you do.

"Marketing is about values." In this legendary 1997 speech, Steve Jobs unveils the philosophy behind Apple’s Think Different campaign, proving that great brands stand for something bigger. Take four minutes to watch one of the best lessons in branding ever delivered.

Finding Your Unique Spot: Brand Positioning

Your brand positioning is where you set yourself apart from competitors. It’s about identifying what makes you unique and crafting a message that sticks with your audience.

To get there, you need to dig deep into what your customers want, what they struggle with, and how your brand solves those problems better than anyone else.

Take Tesla , for example. They’ve positioned themselves not just as an electric car manufacturer but as a leader in innovation and sustainability. Tesla’s cutting-edge technology, sleek design, and commitment to a clean-energy future make them stand out in the automotive industry. Their positioning attracts not just car buyers but also tech enthusiasts and eco-conscious consumers.

Another great example is Starbucks . They’ve positioned themselves as more than just a coffee shop. By creating a "third place" between home and work, Starbucks focuses on offering a cozy, welcoming environment where customers feel at home. This, combined with personalized experiences (like writing your name on the cup), makes their brand memorable and unique.

Strong positioning helps your brand stand out in a noisy market. It’s what ensures people remember you when they’re making decisions. In the end, it’s not just about being seen; it’s about being chosen.

Wrapping It Up

A well-defined brand strategy is more than a business buzzword—it’s the key to thriving in today’s competitive world. By clarifying your core purpose, organizing your brand architecture, and positioning yourself effectively, you’re setting up your business for long-term success.

When your brand feels authentic and speaks directly to your audience, you don’t just create customers—you create fans. And in today’s ever-changing market, that’s what makes all the difference.

At Advertising Savants, we’ve spent over 30 years helping brands craft powerful strategies that drive connection, loyalty, and growth. Whether you’re building your brand from the ground up or refining an existing strategy, our expertise ensures that your brand resonates with the right audience and stands the test of time.

Ready to take your brand to the next level? Let’s start a conversation about how we can help.

By clarifying your core purpose, organizing your brand architecture, and positioning yourself effectively, you’re setting up your business for long-term success.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2502

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 22:01:42 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

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Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

KB!CE

Campaign By Advertising Savants

We're over here just dreaming of summer.

Feel free to join us and take a look back at one of our coolest campaigns for KB !ce — the nugget ice maker of nugget ice makers.

Our mission was clear: build brand awareness, carve out a unique market position, and ultimately drive traffic to the website to boost sales — and we were ready to deliver.

To bring the brand to life, we infused the creative with whimsical wordplay and vibrant visuals, all wrapped in a cool, laid-back aesthetic. The launch strategy was fully digital, leveraging lifestyle-driven video, Facebook, Instagram, Google Shopping, banner ads and paid search to make a lasting impact.

See The Full KB!CE Campaign

"Signs"

By DDB Agency, Athens

LISTEN

Live from New York, it's SATURDAY NIGHT! In honor of the 50th anniversary of the longest running sketch comedy show on television, we invite you to take a deep-dive into the history and lore of Saturday Night Live . Discover how it all started, including a recap of Lorne Michaels’ career and how he’s been able to turn SNL into a cultural institution while keeping up with the changing media landscape.

Transforming Attractions into Must-Visit Destinations

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 17:29:35 GMT

Turning an attraction into a must-visit destination doesn’t happen by chance.

It takes thoughtful strategy, consistent messaging, and a brand personality that truly resonates. Zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens are uniquely positioned to create memorable experiences, but the challenge is ensuring that your audience knows what makes you special and why they should visit.

At Advertising Savants, we’ve had the privilege of working with world-class institutions like the Saint Louis Zoo , Reid Park Zoo , and Missouri Botanical Garden . Through creative advertising and strategic media planning , we’ve helped these attractions not only stand out but also deepen their connection with their audiences. Here’s how you can do the same.

Laying the Groundwork with a Strong Media Strategy

To make an impact, your media strategy needs to be targeted, intentional, and as unique as your attraction. The first step is understanding your audience. Families with young children might discover your message on Facebook or Google, while members and donors could be reached through direct mail or industry publications. Your goal is to meet them where they are.

Balancing digital and traditional media is key.

Digital platforms, like social media and programmatic ads, are powerful tools for creating real-time engagement, especially for promoting seasonal events or temporary exhibits. Traditional media, on the other hand, offers a sense of credibility and community connection. For example, outdoor boards or radio ads are especially effective for engaging local audiences who might not be actively searching for a new outing but will respond to a timely invitation.

One of the most concrete examples is the work we did for Missouri Botanical Garden’s campaign for "Chihuly in the Garden ." Melissa Hartrich, Account Director at Advertising Savants mentions that, “By combining stunning visuals in print, outdoor and digital ads with targeted messaging on social media, the integrated campaign appealed to a wide range of audiences, from art lovers to families. It was strategic, creative, and impossible to ignore. And it shattered attendance and revenue goals.”

“By combining stunning visuals in print, outdoor and digital ads with targeted messaging on social media, the integrated campaign appealed to a wide range of audiences, from art lovers to families.

It was strategic, creative, and impossible to ignore. And it shattered attendance and revenue goals.”

— Melissa Hartrich, Account Director

Consistency: The Backbone of a Strong Brand

Consistency doesn’t mean repeating the same campaign every year; it means ensuring that every message you put out reflects your brand’s purpose and position. A clear brand strategy acts as the glue that holds all your marketing efforts together.

When your brand positioning is well-defined, you can build creative campaigns that evolve year to year while still feeling cohesive. For example, our long-standing campaign for the Saint Louis Zoo, "Can You Come Out & Play?" allowed for flexibility in their annual visitor marketing. Whether they were promoting seasonal events, new exhibits, or membership drives, the messaging always tied back to the core idea of the Zoo as a playful, family-friendly destination.

Consistency doesn’t mean repeating the same campaign every year; it means ensuring that every message you put out reflects your brand’s purpose and position .

Kevin Reardon, from Advertising Savants explains, “Our 30-year commitment to this strategy allowed us to turn the Saint Louis Zoo into a regional juggernaut of a tourist destination.”

The same holds true for the Missouri Botanical Garden , where campaigns consistently emphasize its dual role as a conservation leader and a place of beauty and discovery. This foundation allows creative freedom—like promoting events such as Chihuly at the Garden or Garden Glow —without ever straying from the overarching brand purpose.

When your marketing hangs together across years and campaigns, you’re not just building awareness; you’re building trust and long-term loyalty. Audiences know what your attraction stands for and what kind of experience they can expect, making them more likely to return again and again.

The Importance of Brand Personality

Your brand personality is what sets you apart. It’s the voice, tone, and character that make your attraction memorable. Are you fun and playful? Sophisticated and serene? Mission-driven and inspiring? Whatever your personality, it needs to come through loud and clear in your advertising.

We saw this firsthand with Reid Park Zoo’s campaign for their new sloth exhibit. By leaning into the sloth’s quirky, slow-moving charm, the campaign used humor to engage audiences across social media, email, and local advertising. The result wasn’t just increased foot traffic—it’s a connection with the community that lasts far beyond the exhibit’s opening.

The Director of Marketing at the Reid Park Zoo reported that “The sloth campaign in August – typically one of our slowest months of the year due to the oppressive heat – increased August and September attendance. We’ve gained visibility with increases in our web traffic, people tuning in to see our animal cams and we saw increased engagement among our social media campaigns.”

For zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens, personality is often tied closely to mission. Audiences aren’t just visiting to be entertained; they’re connecting with something larger—whether that’s conservation efforts, education, or the celebration of nature. Bringing this mission into your campaigns builds emotional resonance, which is the key to lasting impact.

“The sloth campaign in August – typically one of our slowest months of the year due to the oppressive heat – increased August and September attendance. We’ve gained visibility with increases in our web traffic, people tuning in to see our animal cams and we saw increased engagement among our social media campaigns.”

— Director of Marketing, Reid Park Zoo

Why Creative Advertising Matters

Creative advertising is the spark that transforms your attraction from “just another place to visit” into a destination people can’t stop talking about. It’s more than a tool for promotion—it’s how you tell your story in a way that captivates your audience and motivates them to take action.

Think about the most successful advertising campaigns: they don’t just promote an event or product; they create a feeling. A well-crafted ad campaign can make families imagine the joy of watching their children feed a giraffe, inspire donors to feel pride in contributing to conservation or help couples picture a magical date night under twinkling lights.

At Advertising Savants, we’ve seen how creative campaigns can change the game. For the Saint Louis Zoo, ads that paired whimsical messaging with bold visuals helped cement the Zoo as a beloved family tradition for generations. For the Missouri Botanical Garden, campaigns featuring stunning photography and emotive headlines captured the Garden’s sense of wonder and purpose, making it a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists.

Creative advertising also allows you to stand out in a crowded market. In today’s world, where audiences are inundated with content, it’s not enough to simply inform them about an event or attraction. You need to grab their attention and give them a reason to care. That means using bold visuals, compelling stories, and innovative ideas to create ads that don’t just inform—they inspire.

This approach isn’t just about boosting attendance. It’s about building your brand for the long haul, turning visitors into advocates and attractions into icons. When your advertising is memorable and emotionally engaging, you’re not just driving short-term ticket sales—you’re creating lifelong fans who want to return year after year.

Let’s Transform Your Attraction

With more than 30 years of experience working with zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens, Advertising Savants knows how to help attractions shine. From defining a succinct brand platform to developing strategic media plans and crafting unforgettable creative campaigns that bring out the personality of the brand, we’re here to help your organization grow and thrive.

Ready to transform your attraction into a must-visit destination? Let’s start a conversation !

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2412

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 02:13:05 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

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Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Reid Park Zoo

Campaign By Advertising Savants

Learning is definitely more fun when it’s combined with play and laughter.

That’s the goal of World of Play at Reid Park Zoo. The new nature playground is designed to engage the senses and stimulate the imagination as kids explore continental biodiversity through interactive play.

Inspired by Indiana Jones and his rollicking escapades, we tapped into this action-seeking mentality to bring the exhibit to life.

Television, print, out-of-home and digital evoke the spirit of adventure that awaits at World of Play.

See More Reid Park Zoo Work

"Hellmann's Christmas"

By Ogilvy Agency

London, England

PLAY

Classic Christmas songs are some of the most covered tracks in all of music. Given the name of the famous Christmas song, can you name the artist or band who has the most popular recording according to Billboard?

Let's give it a try, shall we?

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

White Christmas

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town

Jingle Bells

Santa Baby

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2411

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:44:13 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

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Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Missouri Botanical Garden

Campaign By Advertising Savants

The St. Louis area puts on some spectacular holiday light displays, but few can match the lush setting of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Illuminated and interactive light displays combined with festive food, drink and specially-themed attractions transform the Garden into an enchanted walk-through wonderland amidst nature’s backdrop.

Combining outdoor, tv, radio, radio streaming banners, print, digital banners and paid social, our campaign features a simple, yet modern, call-to-action as the invitation to experience the holiday magic of the Garden Glow.

See More Savant Work

"Holiday"

By Rapp Agency

Toronto, Canada

SCROLL

Binge scrolling may not be the savviest use of your time, but it pays off when you stumble upon marketing nuggets like this one. Who to target and what they value is a staple to successful campaigns no matter what you're selling.

Is Gen Z The Best Audience To Target As A Marketer?

SHOULDER SEASON MARKETING FOR ATTRACTIONS

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 18:36:14 GMT

Maximizing Attendance: The Power of Creative Marketing for Seasonal Attractions

For attractions like zoos, botanical gardens, and other seasonal venues, maintaining a steady stream of visitors year-round can be a challenge. Peaks in attendance during the summer months often give way to quieter times during the shoulder and off-peak seasons, impacting revenue, staffing, and overall operations. However, with a strategic marketing approach, it’s possible to not only mitigate these fluctuations but also turn them into opportunities for growth.

At Advertising Savants, we believe that the key to thriving through these seasonal changes lies in a combination of data-driven insights, targeted campaigns, and creative engagement strategies. Let’s explore how marketing can help your attraction remain vibrant throughout the year.

Understanding Seasonality in Attractions

Every attraction experiences its own unique ebb and flow of visitors throughout the year. Peak seasons—typically summer and major holidays—are marked by high foot traffic and robust revenue. Conversely, the off-peak and shoulder seasons can be quieter, leaving many attractions grappling with how to maintain momentum.

According to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), U.S. zoos and aquariums alone see over 183 million visitors annually, with the majority of this attendance concentrated during the summer months. This seasonality can lead to a significant revenue dip during off-peak times, often as much as a 40% decrease in some regions.

These fluctuations are not just a challenge for revenue; they can also affect staffing, maintenance, and overall visitor experience. This is why it’s essential to have a plan that not only drives attendance during these slower periods but also leverages them as an opportunity to offer something special.

Crafting a Year-Round Marketing Strategy

A successful marketing strategy starts with understanding your audience and using data to predict when and how they engage with your attraction. By analyzing past visitor data, you can identify trends and craft targeted campaigns that speak directly to the needs and interests of different segments, whether they’re families, tourists, or local residents.

For example, a study by the Travel Industry Association of America found that families with children are more likely to visit zoos and botanical gardens during school breaks and holidays. Knowing this, you can tailor your shoulder season marketing efforts to appeal to families seeking weekend getaways or educational experiences outside the summer rush.

Balancing Internal Efforts with Agency-Driven Campaigns

While many of these strategies—such as weekend events, membership drives, and social media engagement—can be handled by your internal team on smaller marketing budgets, it’s important to differentiate these from larger, more impactful campaigns. These smaller efforts are essential for keeping your audience engaged throughout the year, especially during the quieter months.

However, for those big "tent pole" moments—such as the launch of a major new exhibit, a seasonal festival, or a significant anniversary celebration—partnering with a specialized agency like Advertising Savants can elevate your marketing efforts to the next level. These tent pole campaigns are where the focus shifts from routine engagement to creating a buzz that resonates on a much larger scale.

For example, the launch of a new exhibit or a high-profile event might require a comprehensive marketing strategy that includes media buying , public relations, influencer partnerships, and large-scale digital campaigns. These are opportunities where your agency can bring in its expertise to create a multi-channel approach that ensures maximum reach and impact.

The Importance of Creative and Message Strategy

In addition to strategic planning, the creative direction and messaging of your campaigns are critical to their success. The right creative strategy not only captures attention but also tells a story that resonates with your audience, making your attraction memorable and driving action.

A well-crafted message strategy should be consistent across all channels and touchpoints, ensuring that every interaction with your brand reinforces the core message. Whether it’s promoting a new exhibit or encouraging off-season visits, the tone, visuals, and messaging should align to create a cohesive brand experience.

To achieve this, it’s essential to solidify a strong partnership with the agency responsible for your larger campaigns. Working closely with an agency ensures that your creative and messaging remain seamless across all platforms, maintaining a consistent voice and brand identity . This alignment is particularly important when transitioning from smaller, internally managed marketing efforts to large-scale, high-impact campaigns.

At Advertising Savants, we’ve been helping attractions maintain this seamless voice and brand identity for more than 30 years. Our expertise in creative strategy and messaging, combined with our deep understanding of the attractions industry , allows us to craft campaigns that not only stand out but also resonate deeply with your audience.

For example, during the off-peak season, messaging might focus on the exclusivity of visiting when crowds are smaller, offering a more intimate and relaxed experience. Conversely, during peak times, the messaging might emphasize excitement, special events, and the vibrant atmosphere. Tailoring your creative and message strategy to fit the season and audience is key to making your campaigns more effective.

Incorporating strong visuals, engaging storytelling, and a clear call to action can turn a simple marketing message into an unforgettable experience that compels visitors to act—whether that’s purchasing tickets, signing up for a membership, or attending a special event.

For instance, we helped one of our Zoo clients boost fall shoulder season attendance by 24% using the very strategies outlined in this article. The key to such success lies in consistency and commitment: year-round marketing that highlights the messages and events your core audience loves, supported by fresh content and a targeted media push. This approach builds the critical mass of exposure needed to continually drive engagement and attendance.

Enhancing the Visitor Experience to Encourage Repeat Visits

One of the best ways to ensure steady attendance is by encouraging repeat visits. Membership and loyalty programs are excellent tools for building a dedicated visitor base. According to the American Public Gardens Association (APGA), members are three times more likely to visit a botanical garden multiple times a year than non-members. Offering exclusive benefits or discounts for members during the off-season can incentivize them to return more often.

Additionally, organizing special events or themed weekends can give visitors a reason to come back, even during the shoulder season. Whether it’s a winter lights display at the botanical garden or a behind-the-scenes tour at the zoo, creating unique experiences that aren’t available during peak times can make your attraction a must-visit year-round.

Measuring Success and Adjusting Strategies

Finally, it’s essential to measure the success of your marketing efforts. Tracking key metrics such as attendance numbers, revenue, and online engagement can provide valuable insights into what’s working and where there’s room for improvement.

Marketing is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. It’s important to continuously revisit and refine your strategies based on performance data and evolving visitor preferences. By staying agile and responsive, you can ensure that your attraction remains a popular destination, no matter the season.

Conclusion

In today’s competitive landscape, attractions must do more than simply open their doors and wait for visitors to arrive. A well-crafted marketing strategy can help your zoo, botanical garden, or seasonal venue not only survive but thrive during the shoulder and off-peak seasons. By leveraging data, targeting key audience segments, and creating unique experiences, you can drive attendance year-round and ensure a steady stream of delighted visitors.

Whether it’s smaller, day-to-day marketing efforts handled by your internal team or larger, high-impact campaigns that require agency expertise, the key is to balance both to create a comprehensive strategy. At the heart of that strategy should be a strong creative and message direction that speaks directly to your audience.

At Advertising Savants, we’re here to help you craft and execute marketing strategies that work for your unique needs. Let’s work together to turn your seasonal challenges into opportunities for growth.

Check Out Some of Our Attractions Work

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2410

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 17:45:09 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Whip It Goods

Digital Campaign By Advertising Savants

Announcing a new store front is always a fun challenge. Utilizing a strong digital push alongside strong word of mouth, we created a simple, yet effective campaign to whip up some buzz around Whip It Goods.

Successfully increasing awareness over a two month time period, Whip It Goods saw an uptick in web traffic and online sales.

See More Savant Work

"We wish you a scary Halloween"

By Buzz in a Box

Brussels, Belgium

INSPIRE

As creators, it's easy to let ego get in the way, especially within the advertising industry. The more we leverage diverse perspectives and skills, the more innovative and creative the results become. At the end of the day, embrace collaboration. It will win out with impact and authenticity.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2409

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 21:38:44 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

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LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

MotoMart

Website By Advertising Savants

MotoMart, a family-owned convenience store chain, sought to initiate a website overhaul for its 75+ locations throughout the Midwest. The agency was tasked with designing a site that authentically represented the MotoMart brand, emphasizing its fun and friendly atmosphere, while catering to various stakeholders, including customers, employees and potential business partners and operators.

With a focus on boosting SEO results, streamlining fuel card signups, providing an access point for customer feedback/inquiries and encouraging jobs applications, the revamped site also aligned with MotoMart’s future plans for mobile app development, loyalty programs and online merchandising. The completed project delivers an engaging, user-friendly website that enhances brand visibility and provides improved access to local store features and promotions. The new site also serves as a principal guidepost for the company’s three-year growth roadmap.

Explore Full Website

"Steak"

By Leo Burnett

Paris, France

LISTEN

The man behind the humor of the "The Onion", Scott Dikkers, dishes on how he created his wildly successful brand and why humor should be at the core of everything.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2408

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:55:14 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Financial Coaching

Campaign By Advertising Savants

The Paris Olympics set the stage for a number of ad campaigns launched across the globe. JBL Financial Services was right in the mix. Playing off of their 'Retirement Coach' moniker, we presented their team as financial planning experts who wouldn't fumble the ball—securing it for people to walk into retirement stress-free.

Using a blend of digital media, streaming and broadcast television, JBL Financial Services made their mark alongside influencer athletes and national brands proving to all that coaching, even in retirement, really does matter.

View the Full Television Spot

"Back To School"

By The HUB Advertising

Cairo, Egypt

LAUGH

School days are here and it's time to look back on some of the funnier Back to School commercials to ever grace our T.V. screens. So, pull up a desk and let's laugh out loud.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2407

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 17:12:37 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Award Winning Creativity

Campaign By Advertising Savants

Chihuly in the Garden 2023 was a grand display of the world-renowned artist's colorful art installations designed to enhance the natural beauty of the Missouri Botanical Garden, especially at night.

Given our extensive attractions portfolio, the Missouri Botanical Garden tapped Advertising Savants to develop an integrated creative campaign to inspire new audiences to visit the Garden and experience this awe-inspiring exhibit.

Featuring Chihuly’s work as the centerpiece, the campaign elements collectively capture the magic at the intersection of art and nature.

Solid strategy and great creative makes for one dynamic campaign and we're proud to call it ours – with or without the awards.

View the Full Chihuly Campaign

"SOFTENS EVEN THE TOUGHEST"

By Ogilvy & Mather

Johannesburg

IMPROVE

As lifelong learners around here, we believe in improving your mind by increasing the amount of useless trivia you can hold inside your brain. We're here to help you accomplish that with a bunch of random facts about summer, travel and vacay. Now's your chance to become the best trivia player at the table.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2406

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 15:59:35 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

The StoneBridge Way

Campaign By Advertising Savants

Family-owned and operated, StoneBridge Senior Living is a growing company that required a re-assessment of its brand identity and strategies to increase market visibility while continuing to maintain its family-friendly heritage. We recognized the impact of the personalized care at StoneBridge – care that allows its staff to get to know the individual. And the more you know about the individual, the more you convey that it’s a privilege to care for people as they age.

Our latest campaign included a perfectly blended message of compassionate care that positions StoneBridge as a well established senior living community within the industry while also highlighting their positive reputation.

View the Full Campaign

"FATHER'S DAY"

By Medina Turgul DDB Istanbul, Turkey

LISTEN

“Playing it safe isn’t really a strategy for creative. … Every once in a while, you will have a screw-up. But I’d rather have one of those a year … than everything at a just-playing-it-safe level.” Having cut our teeth as a creative agency, these words from the VP of Marketing for Uber lets us know that it's still fashionable to take creative risks.

Catch the full conversation below and continue leveling up those creative ideas!

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2405

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 16:00:57 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Jules Estate Buyers

Design By Advertising Savants

Jules Estate Buyers is a unique company dealing in the expert evaluation and purchase of fine jewelry and other estate valuables. Our team is responsible for the design and creation of the campaign that promotes their Great Estate Buying Events held across the country.

Thoughtfully created to both reflect and embody the essence of an experienced estate buyer, the sophisticated ad designs are meant to not only grab your attention but pique your curiosity in the estate buying category and its financial benefits.

Customized for each host jeweler, these eye-catching digital ads are designed to demonstrate the expertise, knowledge and integrity of the Jules brand while inspiring potential sellers to check out a nearby buying event.

"ROLLING STONE"

By DLV BBDO Milan, Italy

READ

Savants are avid readers. We read because we're curious, always looking for creative inspiration and sometimes simply for guilty pleasure. No matter the reason, we love sharing the good stuff. Here are some titles that team members highly recommend or are reading currently.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2404

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Mon, 06 May 2024 15:40:36 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Regional Award Winner

Campaign By Advertising Savants

The thoughtful strategy and resulting creative ideas our team put into the Missouri Botanical Garden Chihuly At The Garden campaign yielded both results and recognition.

Given our extensive attractions portfolio, the Missouri Botanical Garden tapped Advertising Savants to develop a multimedia creative campaign to inspire new audiences to visit the Garden and experience the awe-inspiring Chihuly exhibit.

Using Chihuly’s work as the focal point, the campaign elements collectively capture the magic at the intersection of art and nature.

This cross-platform, integrated campaign was recognized with a Silver Addy Award from the St. Louis American Advertising Federation and was also named a Judges' Citation Winner by the regional board for the American Advertising Federation.

See Full Chihuly Campaign

"FEDEX: CHINA - AUSTRALIA "

By DDB Brazil

PLAY

Thinkers, inventors and humanitarians. Each has contributed to our world in a profound way, so the best way we can celebrate their contributions is by memorializing their names in a Wordoku Puzzle. Exercise your brain muscles with these quick word puzzles. Who knows? They might inspire you to come up with the next big light bulb idea.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2402

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:00:34 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

On A Personal Note

With Advertising Savants

Sometimes growth is good, and sometimes it's a game-changer. It's an honor to highlight and welcome our newest Savant and Media Director, Ashley Pfannebecker.

Ashley landed in media by chance and was immediately hooked. The complex and ever-changing world of media satisfies her insatiable desire to learn and make connections. In the past several years, Ashley has applied her media savvy to create and execute media campaigns for clients of all sizes across a range of industries, from global welding suppliers to local grocers.

Her extensive knowledge of traditional media and passion for understanding what makes people tick drives her approach.

Being an individual who enjoys making connections, especially within a world where connection often seems to be a lost art, Ashley is a breath of fresh air.

"Enjoy Responsibly.

Phones Down, Please"

By Guinness

LISTEN

Living in a world with Generative AI has become as normal as living in a world with cell phones. Everyone is getting on board. But as is always the case with fast-paced technology, there are pitfalls. The latest? Copyright issues. Listen in to hear the perspective of industry leaders and how they feel about the future of AI moving forward.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2401

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 21:03:06 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Peyton Manning Children's Hospital

By Advertising Savants

Our childlike hearts were overjoyed to take on this campaign for Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis.

The campaign features football great and hospital namesake Peyton Manning and demonstrates the integrated and dedicated approach to compassionate, personalized care that is unique to the children’s hospital and the Ascension brand.

Manning, still a kid at heart, finds himself engaged in the hospital’s kid-friendly details in these playful, lighthearted vignettes.

Our campaign included a variety of :60, :30 and :15 television spots as well as print, outdoor and social applications.

See Full Peyton Manning Children's Hospital Campaign

"Nilkamal Plastic Chairs "

By Makani, India

READ

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2312

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 20:02:53 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

World of Play

By Advertising Savants

Learning is definitely more fun when it’s combined with play and laughter. That’s the goal of World of Play at Reid Park Zoo.

The new nature playground is designed to engage the senses and stimulate the imagination as kids explore continental biodiversity through interactive play.

To bring the exhibit to life, our campaign was inspired by Indiana Jones and his rollicking escapades. Television, print, out-of-home and digital evoke the spirit of adventure that awaits at World of Play.

Watch World of Play TV Spot

"Christmas Silhouette "

By Publicis Groupe, France

Merry Christmas from Ad Savants

PLAY

How well do you know your Christmas trivia? Let's find out!

Q . What is the highest grossing Christmas movie of all time?

Q. What is the most recorded Christmas song?

Q. What is the best-selling Christmas song?

Q. Who popularized the Christmas tree tradition?

Q. How many ghosts appear in A Christmas Carol ?

Q. When and where were Christmas cards first sold?

Q. What ad campaign popularized Santa's red suit?

Q. What do people traditionally place at the top of Christmas trees?

Q. How many characters did Tom Hanks play in The Polar Express?

Q. From what country does Krampus originate ?

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2311

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 18:14:31 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Garden Glow 2023

By Advertising Savants

There is no shortage of holiday light displays throughout the St. Louis area, but few can match the setting of the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Illuminated and interactive light displays combined with festive food, drink and specially-themed attractions transform the Garden into an enchanted walk-through wonderland amidst nature’s backdrop.

Using a combination of outdoor, tv, radio, radio streaming banners, print, digital banners and paid social, the campaign features a simple, yet modern, call-to-action as the invitation to experience the holiday magic of the Garden Glow.

Watch Garden Glow TV Spot

"See Whatever You

Want To See"

By Leo Burnett, France

THINK

One should always be learning. This is a given, but it's even more true for the world of digital marketing where things change so fast day to day. Last month, the advertising world collided in New York for Advertising Week – uniting business and culture on a grand stage. This event was suitable whether you wanted to gain knowledge within your current role or give your career a boost by learning the latest digital and marketing techniques. Here are a few key voices heard at NYC AdWeek and some of their interesting takes on the new world of AI.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2310

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 21:46:54 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

On A Personal Note

With Advertising Savants

We don't do it for the awards, but it's pretty cool when your work is recognized with an EMMY.

Our tv spot for Dinoroarus, which we created for the Saint Louis Zoo , was selected as the winner in the COMMERCIAL - SINGLE SPOT category among many talented entrants. Our team is beyond proud!

Thanks Mid-America EMMY Awards/NATAS for recognizing our hard work and continued commitment to excellence in advertising.

The Team

Senior Creative Director - David Smith

Creative Director - Tia Liston

Account Director - Melissa Hartrich

Senior Project Manager - Karen Boes-DeCampi

Principal - Kevin Reardon

Production - 90 Degrees West

Director - Jason Stamp

See the Dinoroar us tv spot

"Sharper Than You Think"

By KNSK, Germany

PLAY

One of the fun elements of a great brand is the tagline. Created to help consumers recall a brand and set itself apart in the marketplace, taglines help solidify brand identity in an artful way. The following taglines belong to major brands across the world. How many can you successfully identify?

"The Happiest Place On Earth"
"Life's Messy, Clean It Up"
"Leave The Driving To Us"
"Betcha Can't Eat Just One"
"Believe In Your Smellf"

6. "The Taste Of A New Generation"

7. "A Passion For The Road"

8. "Get Your Own Box"

9. "The Best A Man Can Get"

10. "When You Care Enough To Send The Very Best"

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2309

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 16:38:37 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Sloths

Full Campaign by Advertising Savants

When a new sloth exhibit opened at Reid Park Zoo in August 2023, we were tasked with generating allure for this chill, laid-back mammal and its new habitat.

Turns out sloths are actually quite interesting, from their unique physical features to their upside down hang time. With a touch of charm and humor, the creative approach pokes some lighthearted fun at the species and their human counterparts.

See Reid Park Zoo's Sloths Campaign

"Staedtler: Where it all begins"

By Leo Burnett, Hong Kong

LISTEN

Now that AI has established itself in our culture in a major way, it's time to start thinking more about our relationship with AI tools and how they can help enhance not only our work lives, but our personal lives as well. Will creativity and AI go together like PB&J? Only time will tell. In the meantime, keep exploring.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2308

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 19:26:04 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eye full of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Distinctive By Nature

Full Campaign by Advertising Savants

With such a wide variety of materials and colors to choose from, this Unique Stone campaign was an art director's dream.

In a category driven by commodities, Unique Stone might seem anything but unique. Why buy home surface materials direct when you can easily access any number of kitchen and bath retailers?

We were tasked with increasing direct-to-consumer business in a category dominated by trade referrals, so we leveraged a strategic insight—Unique Stone is able to fulfill a personal vision with "unique" natural stone and other surfaces.

To deliver on this promise and demonstrate its vast gallery, we served up the perfect Unique Stone complement to the consumer's imagination.

See the Unique Stone Campaign

"Nivea Night"

By TBWANEBOKO, Netherlands

THINK

Exercise your creative thinking and problem solving muscles with these visual puzzles. Each puzzle below communicates a phrase or a message using only words. Because we're good sports, we'll give you the first one.

Now, it's your turn to attempt to solve each puzzle. Happy solving, ya brainiacs!

Safety in numbers

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2307

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 15:07:17 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

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Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eye full of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

KB!CE

Full Campaign by Advertising Savants

Summer calls for swimming pools and chilled drinks filled to the brim with ice. Not just any ice. Nugget ice!

Taking on KB !ce was such a fun project. Tasked with generating awareness, developing a distinct brand positioning and ultimately driving consumers to the website for purchase, we were up to the challenge.

Unlike scoopable nugget ice makers, KB!ce has a unique self-dispensing feature that puts it in a class by itself. It was this feature that became the basis for the brand positioning strategy and the new brand identity and tagline.

To make the creative pop, we used fun word play and colorful imagery with a cool, mellow vibe. The resulting marketing launch was exclusively digital, using a combination of lifestyle-oriented video, Facebook, Instagram, Google Shopping, banner ads and paid search.

See the KB !ce campaign

"Kielo Travel: Dreaming of a Holiday?"

By New Moment, New Ideas Company Y&R

Take advantage of summer before it's gone.

LISTEN

Cranium cram session in progress...

Whether or not you're happy about the new changeover from Universal Analytics to Google's new GA4, it's here to stay. Discover what's changed and how to take advantage of the new data platform.

Happy listening!

PLAY

The following brain teaser aims to stimulate the connections or associations between words in your temporal lobe. Below, you will see pairs of words, and your goal is to find a third word that is connected or associated with both of these two words.

We'll give you the first one so you can see how it works. Good luck!

1. LOCK — PIANO (KEY)

2. SHIP — CARD

3. TREE — CAR

4. SCHOOL — EYE

5. PILLOW — COURT

6. RIVER — MONEY

7. BED — PAPER

8. ARMY — WATER

9. TENNIS — NOISE

10. EGYPTIAN — MOTHER

11. SMOKER — PLUMBER

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2306

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 19:15:28 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eye full of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Delta Dental

Full Campaign by Advertising Savants

Delta Dental of Missouri is part of the largest dental health plan system in the United States. Research revealed that consumers weren’t making the connection that good oral health also leads to good overall health. By positioning Delta Dental as the dental benefits leader, we focused our communications on how good oral health is vital to a healthy body.

We chose to make a green toothbrush the centerpiece of the campaign and a metaphor for prevention and trust in the Delta Dental brand. The campaign was recognized with a Gold David Ogilvy Award by The Advertising Research Foundation.

See the Delta Dental campaign

"Better with Pepsi"

By DDB

The best troll of all time. Pepsi decided to highlight their logo within the logos of the fast food places who only peddle their competitor. Through the art of origami, this viral and iconic campaign was born. And we're lovin' it.

LISTEN

How about a brain break?

The ultimate brain break, sleep, is the the subject of the podcast "Drifting Off" with comedian Joe Pera. It's the nightcap you never knew you needed. Joe's gentle, dry voice will make you laugh and soothe your soul like the chicken soup your mom used to make.

Happy drifting!

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2305

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 17:12:04 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eye full of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Chihuly In The Garden 2023

Social & banner ads by Advertising Savants

This summer, the Missouri Botanical Garden is growing something amazing. We're super excited to be the agency behind the new "Chihuly in the Garden 2023" ad campaign, support a cherished St. Louis landmark and see Chihuly's stunning art installations in full bloom.

See more Chihuly in the Garden

"Absolut Summer"

By TBWA

PLAY

Can you crack this brain teaser and unleash your inner savant!?

Forrest left home running. He ran a ways and then turned left, ran the same distance and turned left again, ran the same distance and turned left again. When he got home, there were two masked men. Who were they?

See The Answer

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2304

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Tue, 02 May 2023 20:35:18 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eye full of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Reid Park Zoo

Campaign by Advertising Savants

At its core, The Reid Park Zoo is a conservation organization – deeply rooted in its mission of saving and sustaining wildlife around the globe. Located in Tucson, AZ, the zoological park reached out for expert guidance to create a blended brand message to connect the engaging visitor experience with its conservation purpose.

Drawing inspiration from the “butterfly effect,” the creative demonstrates how small visitor experiences can have a significant and meaningful impact on the future of wildlife.

See the new Reid Park Zoo Campaign

"Happy Mother's Day"

By Chanel

SCOOP

This quick marketing tip is easy to digest and simple to apply.

CLEVER HUMOR BOOSTS YOUR BRAND

On its most basic level, humor connects us and grabs our attention. So it's no surprise that using specific doses of clever and witty humor in advertising can clearly work to your brand's advantage.

Humor evokes laughter and increases feelings of warmth and competence, making consumers more likely to engage with your brand. One modern take on the use of humor is the creative application of your brand's voice through social channels.

Think Wendy's Twitter. Their brand of humor has some bite, and faithful followers loo k forward to what they're gonna say next. Their account makes us laugh and we often wish we were the ones delivering the one-liners. Through that social channel alone, they've connected with the public on an emotional level making a positive and lasting impression. And that is every brand's goal.

LISTEN

How about a brain break?

Break up your day with this interesting and lighthearted podcast from a few of our favorite stars. Hear this talented trio interview Steve Carell about taking on new projects and seeing the unknown as a challenge. Listen as they talk about upping your game and doing things that scare you. As marketers, we can relate. The challenges of rising to the occasion give us the opportunity to unleash more creativity and hard work when we step out of our comfort zone. Trusting our instincts and embracing the nervousness of a new project often leads to growth and inspiring work. Just remember courage lives on the other side of trying. Give it a shot.

Bonus: Discover Steve Carell's DJ name in college and how much of the original "Office" he watched before auditioning.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2303

crystal@adsavants.com (Crystal Doyle) — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 16:22:03 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eyeful of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

Andy's Seasoning

Full campaign by Advertising Savants

You bring the fish. We'll bring the flavor. Let us introduce you to the best fish breading this side of the Mississippi.

Andy's Seasoning makes crunchy, flavorful breadings and batters perfect for any occasion. Our exclusively digital campaign created online buzz around Andy's savory product line during just the right season — Lent.

With so many people enjoying fish fries this spring, we used targeted social, native and banner advertising featuring mouthwatering food pics and recipes to grow Andy's social presence and drive sales.

To make it easy for customers to purchase Andy's online, we created a custom landing page designed with just the right amount of seasoned savvy.

Learn more about the Andy's digital campaign

"Have a break. Have a Kit Kat."

Spec Ad By Sam Hennig

PLAY

Flex your mental muscles with these fun trivia questions.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2302

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 21:42:26 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Want to see some cool stuff? You're in the right place! Each time you're here, you'll get an eye full of some work we're proud of plus a visual snack we're kinda sweet on.

The Power of Peace of Mind.

Social & banner ads by Advertising Savants

When weather-related emergencies arise, Energizer wants you to be prepared. So, AdSavants was tasked with promoting three portable Energizer lights available on Amazon.

The goal was to reach high-value individuals who were already in a shopping mindset, which made digital an ideal medium.

Our creative depicted the calm and peace of mind that comes with proper weather preparedness. With a little help from the bunny, Energizer portable lights ensure that — no matter the weather — life can go on without interruption.

Check out our Energizer Lights campaign

"Lights On"

Outdoor poster by Leo Burnett for McDonalds

PLAY

Can You Spot The Fake Headline?

Click to find out.

Hiker lost on mountain for 24 hours ignored calls from rescuers because he didn't recognize phone number

Woman murders roommate for sending too many Candy Crush requests

McDonalds robber demands chicken nuggets, has to accept breakfast food because it was still too early

Creating A Master Brand: The 3-Step Checklist Every Business Owner Needs

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 16:45:00 GMT

We know running a business is a lot of work. That’s no secret. But layering on an expansion into multiple locations creates an entirely new set of challenges, including operations, finances, staffing and maybe even inventory. And, on top of that, there’s marketing. Perhaps there’s a name change happening, or you might be entering a new market. These things add up quickly, right?

Now, here’s a question for you. How do you make sure your brand’s foundation is solid enough to cascade throughout all your locations? Simple: time, intentional thought, and a solid master brand strategy that serves as an umbrella under which everything else resides.

So , where do you start? Take a look at our simple 3 step checklist created specifically for business owners looking to do exactly that.

The Checklist Every Business Owner Needs To Create A Master Brand For Their Business

Our agency has extensive experience helping businesses not only build their brands from scratch, but also grow their existing brands. We help ensure consistency and cohesion throughout every aspect of the company to solidify your position in the market.

The number of moving parts that go into this process can seem overwhelming. To help, we consolidated our thoughts into this handy checklist to help make it easier to get started.

Do Your Homework

Before beginning the task of creating a master brand to utilize across multiple locations, you’ll need a deep and comprehensive understanding of your brand itself. This means research, research, and more research.

We’re talking a full immersion into the current state of consumer and key stakeholder perceptions, current marketing endeavors, product/service offerings and more.

Here are some guiding questions you can ask to help:

How do consumers currently discover our brand?
How would they describe our products/services to a friend?
When someone thinks of our brand, what comes to mind?
If someone had to describe our brand in three words, what would those be?
How do perceptions of our brand vary based on geographic location?
What type of marketing is currently being used?
Are there multiple names/logos/colors being utilized?
What is the core message of the brand? Is this consistent with language across each business?

Taking the time to thoroughly answer these questions will help you know and understand if your brand is in alignment with who your consumers are. Which, in turn, will help you figure out where best to reach them and what message should be delivered.

Develop & Distribute Your Brand Identity

This doesn’t mean starting from scratch, but you should revisit what your brand identity looks like and how it aligns with your purpose, messaging, products/services and everything in between. Does this mean there could be a need to have a logo redesigned? Possibly. It depends on where you’re starting from, but the key is consistency and alignment with the identity of the business.

We recommend a complete standardization of all logos and signage. As an example, we’ve created master logos for several of our clients which allow space for the addition of location names where needed. This creates a cohesive look and feel, no matter where you are in the brand’s region. This format is not only key to locations being uniform, but also helps support your master brand.

Throughout Step 1, you may discover inconsistencies in how your brand is being represented. When we do these exercises with our clients, we often discover different colors, logos and designs on flyers, brochures, etc. Plus, there are often multiple people writing their own (sometimes off-brand) messaging on items being sent out to consumers.

Remember, the goal is a consistent tone, voice and look for the master brand.

So, this presents an opportunity to introduce brand templates and guidelines, which will arm your employees with the tools they need to successfully represent your brand. In our experience, employees welcome these tools with open arms! It helps them be more efficient in their work, and that’s a win for everybody involved.

Review...Again and Again

So, now you’ve done the tough part. Once your brand has a solid foundation, a great identity, and all your employees are speaking the same language, you simply need to create intentional check-ins to make sure things continue to run smoothly.

It’s an ongoing process, but one that will ensure success. And, if you’re only operating a single location right now, save this checklist. You’ll appreciate it if you ever decide to make an acquisition or expand into new locations.

In the meantime, we’re here to help answer any questions that could pop up, and we’d love to be a resource for you. Helping businesses find solutions is our business. So, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to meet you.

SAVANT SOUP: DECEMBER

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 18:24:49 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from December 2022.

Hitting Rewind

People say it's never good to look back, but sometimes it's necessary to see just how far you've come. Here's to reflecting on some of our work over the years, with the expectation of the best being yet to come.

St. Anthony's Medical Center

Caring for generations. A headline, and an impactful statement, that became the centerpiece of the St. Anthony's Medical Center campaign. It's a truth that clearly reflected the deep connection between the 140-year-old hospital and the south St. Louis County community.

We delivered this single-minded message in a variety of media, reminding everyone of the long-lasting power of this generational brand.

View Full Campaign

SAVANT SPOTLIGHT

Snack Attack

If there's one thing in the world that brings people together, it's food. And not just any food. Snacks.

Now, everyone is not necessarily going to agree on which snacks are the best – but the institution of snacking? Absolutely.

So, we decided to shed some light on our Savant squad and their favorite go-to snacks. We'll let you decide who you could sit next to at the movies.

Kevin's Fave: Does the fruit in an Old Fashion count?

Just for fun, maybe give this a try for dinner soon!

Is Digital Advertising Heading For A Cliff? Here's How Branding Can Play the Hero.

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 17:26:27 GMT

Is digital advertising in jeopardy? The results of recent reports seem to imply this is the case. And, when digital powerhouses like Google and Meta report less than projected earnings, the industry tends to pay attention. So, where are things going wrong for the once stable pay-per-click business? The villainous and looming economic recession is an obvious factor, along with the weakening of e-commerce’s influence over consumer dollars.

The effects? A higher customer acquisition cost within B2B and B2C. How much higher? Try roughly 60% over the past five years . Ouch. Where’s the bat signal when we need it? The days of digital advertising are no longer cheap, but on a side note, customers acquired through video and podcasts are cheaper—making those channels a more efficient way to advertise. If you’re in the digital video and podcast game, we recommend you keep going. If you’re not, now’s the time to get a slice of that content pie and be smarter with your business dollars.

How One Business Is Having Big Success Leaning On Their Brand In The Digital Space

Everyone is out to fight the bad guy, but there’s one business who is exceeding head and shoulders above the rest. Airbnb. Are we really surprised? This business has done an exceptional job the past few years of establishing their brand across all platforms, while racking up loyal customers along the way. And, although they’ve recently paved the way for success by moving away from performance marketing models, they were hardly the first. Deciding to invest in a brand marketing and public relations has not only paid off for Airbnb, but has allowed them to save 28% of their marketing expenses from the previous year.

Airbnb isn’t thinking of marketing as a way to “buy” customers because more than 90% of the traffic to its platform arrives directly, unaided by search advertising. - CEO Brian Chesky

In other words, seeing how poorly the economy is performing, including a drop off in the pay-per-click space, the digital advertising industry has never been more in need of a hero. That hero? You guessed it. Branding.

As an agency who specializes in brand building , we’re here to provide some value on how branding can help your business thrive over time.

Branding Can Save The Day

Brands are living things. They’re noticeably alive, and we interact with them on a daily basis. We are witness to their social swag, presence and personality. The more active brands are, the more communication consumers see on the surface. But visibility doesn’t necessarily equate to stability. We’ve all heard the story of the Three Little Pigs, right? Each house was built with different materials, but only one withstood the villain—the house that was more sound and sturdy. (This is where brand strategy puts on a cape, and enters the chat.)

Building A Successful Brand Through Sound Strategy

When you’re building a brand, a solid foundation is critical. Think of this as your brand’s roots. A solid landing place for everything to be built on over time. A place that is conducive to healthy growth. Not exponential growth, necessarily. But steady growth.

This starts with discovering a core purpose and answering some very intentional questions:

Why does the world need your brand?
What difference is your brand making for people in their everyday lives?
How are people’s lives changed due to coming in contact with your brand?

These questions provide crucial information for positioning your brand in the marketplace. Which is key for determining the piece of the market you wish to own.

Nurtured by research, and delivered by smart creative development , this strategy will help your brand grow into a force people will want to invite into their lives, and to share with others. Now, that’s the type of hero every marketer can get behind.

If you’re ready to help your brand put down roots and grow, we’d love for you to get in touch with us, and let us help you cultivate a strategy.

SAVANT SOUP: NOVEMBER

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 21:09:01 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from November 2022.

Hitting Rewind

Taylor Morley Homes

More than likely, family and friends will be visiting your home sometime during the holiday season – a home that's been defined by some of life's little, and most memorable, moments. That's the key to this campaign for Taylor Morley Homes.

During the housing boom of the early 2000s, Taylor Morley was looking to set itself apart as the premiere home builder in the St. Louis area. They were already the largest, and they also wanted to be distinguished as the finest.

Taking a leadership position, our award-winning print campaign told powerful stories of impactful moments that happen in the seemingly most mundane places in the home. Proving that life, and a truly wonderful home, is in the details.

View Full Campaign

SAVANT SPOTLIGHT

Snack Attack

If there's one thing in the world that brings people together, it's food. And not just any food. Snacks.

Now, everyone is not necessarily going to agree on which snacks are the best – but the institution of snacking? Absolutely.

So, we decided to shed some light on our Savant squad and their favorite go-to snacks. We'll let you decide who you could sit next to at the movies.

Mary's Fave: Pretzels or Nuts

Just for fun, maybe give this a try for dinner soon!

SAVANT SOUP: OCTOBER

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 19:22:24 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from October 2022.

Hitting Rewind

Delta Dental

When we look back on our "Good Health Starts Here" campaign for Delta Dental, we can't help but smile.

Delta Dental wanted consumers to make the strong connection between good oral health and good overall health. Enter Ad Savants.

Through exceptional research and the resulting insights – for which our team won a Gold David Ogilvy Award – a simple green toothbrush symbolized the Delta Dental brand and the important role of preventative dental health in this :30 spot.

View Delta Dental TV Spot

SAVANT SPOTLIGHT

Snack Attack

If there's one thing in the world that brings people together, it's food. And not just any food. Snacks.

Now, everyone is not necessarily going to agree on which snacks are the best – but the institution of snacking? Absolutely.

So, we decided to shed some light on our Savant squad and their favorite go-to snacks. We'll let you decide who you could sit next to at the movies.

Tia's Fave: Chocolate. Chocolate. Chocolate.

Just for fun, maybe give this a try for dinner soon!

SAVANT SOUP: SEPTEMBER

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 20:01:01 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from September 2022.

30TH THROWBACK

See more on our 30th Anniversary celebration page .

30th Throwback

ScholarShop

What do you get when you combine ultra high-end fashion photography with tongue-in-cheek headlines?

Our fashionably creative campaign for the upscale retail boutique, ScholarShop.

We were asked to help boost retail sales of the non-profit and were honored to work alongside a client with the noble cause of financially supporting area students in need.

After discovering the target audience was highly motivated by treasure hunting – finding exclusive designer items at budget prices – we tapped into a messaging strategy that melded the two ideas into one.

With our help, they upped their sales by 35% while gaining a new customer base over our decade-long relationship. Talk about fashion forward.

See More Schol arShop Work

SAVANT SPOTLIGHT

Snack Attack

If there's one thing in the world that brings people together, it's food. And not just any food. Snacks.

Now, everyone is not necessarily going to agree on which snacks are the best – but the institution of snacking? We can all agree that's a winner.

So, we decided to shed some light on our Savant squad and their favorite go-to snacks. We'll let you decide who you could sit next to at the movies.

Amanda's Fave: Kit Kats.....toss em' in the freezer and you've got the best snack ever!

Just for fun, maybe give this a try for dinner soon!

SAVANT SOUP: AUGUST

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 00:54:02 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from August 2022.

30TH THROWBACK

See more on our 30th Anniversary celebration page .

SAVANT SPOTLIGHT

Snack Attack

If there's one thing in the world that brings people together, it's food. And not just any food. Snacks.

Now, everyone is not necessarily going to agree on which snacks are the best – but the institution of snacking? We can all agree that's a winner.

So, we decided to shed some light on our Savant squad and their favorite go-to snacks. We'll let you decide who you could sit next to at the movies.

Karen's Fave: Dark chocolate covered almonds....mmmmm.

Just for fun, maybe give this a try for dinner soon!

SAVANT SOUP: JULY

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 19:07:11 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from July 2022.

30TH THROWBACK

See more on our 30th Anniversary celebration page .

SAVANT HIGHLIGHT

Crystal Doyle

Give a big Texas howdy to Crystal. No, she's actually not from Texas, but she is a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. A true storyteller at heart, she provides thoughtful and imaginative copy and content to support our clients and their brands through digital and social media. She is also experienced with video production and editing, providing added capabilities and function to our digital and creative teams.

Crystal's passion for sports is evident through her love for the Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Cardinals and Mizzou Tigers. Toss in some classic movies, an episode of 30 Rock or The Office with some pizza and an ice cold beer, and Crystal is in her happy place.

Family is everything to this busy mom. Her three rowdy boys keep her and her husband Sherman on their toes.

Crystal, thanks for doing what you do!

Just for fun, maybe give this a try for dinner soon!

SAVANT SOUP: JUNE

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 16:03:51 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from June 2022.

30TH THROWBACK

See more on our 30th Anniversary celebration page .

SAVANT HIGHLIGHT

Kevin Reardon

Say hello to Kevin, the guy who started it all.

As the Founder/CEO of Advertising Savants, Kevin's priority is to lead and inspire a happy group of employees into the creative wilderness and come out on the other side with big ideas that connect brands to people.

His passion has always been to elevate brands through a purpose-driven approach to strategy and creative expression. According to Kevin, "If we've made you feel something, we've accomplished what we set out to do. We ultimately seek to change your life for the better."

Sticking to this philosophy has helped Advertising Savants create award-winning work for a variety of brands in numerous categories for over 30 years. There's no doubt the agency's commitment to excellence is inspired by Kevin's vision and his positive, easygoing leadership style.

Kevin's sense of humor, love of the St. Louis Blues, poetry and almost any outdoor activity – whether it's golf, fishing, hiking or biking – make him a true connoisseur of creativity, fun and adventure.

Today we raise a glass to our fearless leader. Cheers!

Just for fun, maybe give this a try for dinner soon!

Five Factors To Consider When Starting SMS Marketing For Your Business

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 15:15:00 GMT

Text message marketing (SMS) can be one of the most effective ways for today’s top nonprofit organizations to reach out to their customers and supporters. Studies show that subscribers who receive text messages from organizations they support open those messages 99% of the time , typically within three minutes of receiving. As an organization, however, you’ll need to consider and plan for many other factors that come into play with this communication channel. This document provides a short overview of some of these factors, and what you can expect when starting a SMS channel.

Here are five considerations on how organizations can be the most effective when starting a SMS channel:

Integration Into Your Tech Stack & Existing Databases

To begin, your organization will want to explore and select a text message marketing software provider. Research and selection of your provider is very important, as the technology they’ll provide will drive your SMS campaigns.

You’ll want to ensure the selected provider offers security, enterprise options for large lists, speed, A2P vs. P2P options, time zone considerations, customer service/support and the ability to interface or integrate with existing databases. The provider should be your organization’s guiding light in all aspects of your SMS endeavor.

Permission-Based Compliance

Your contacts, leads, customers, employees, etc. must give consent to allow you to send them messages. They must also be able to opt-out of receiving messages at any time. It's important to note that an opt-in for your email list does NOT constitute an opt-in for your SMS list.

Getting permission is required by law and is detailed in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). It’s likely that securing legal counsel would be beneficial to ensure all pertinent marketing employees are up to speed on what is and isn’t allowed.

SMS Donations

There are a variety of text-to-give/text-to-donate/text-to-pledge platforms that allow businesses and nonprofits to collect donations via pledge, mobile webform or directly through their mobile bill.

If incorporated into the organization’s SMS strategy, donation options should be discussed upfront with any potential SMS providers.

SMS Marketing

SMS is typically not an independent marketing channel. Rather, it works best when used in conjunction with other channels, including your website, email and social media. With only 160 characters, it's important that the user has an opportunity to click to learn more via additional channels aligned with SMS to support one another.

In addition, successful SMS campaigns are well planned, long-term strategic initiatives based upon a distinct set of predetermined goals. It is essential to have a strategic plan from the beginning that clearly defines your goals. Whether your intent is to send promotions/coupons, build loyalty with brand advocates, manage sweepstakes/contests/giveaways, drive revenue or a combination of any of these, it’s important to understand the business and marketing goals for this channel.

You will also want to have a thorough understanding of the customer journey to ensure the messages are relevant, not intrusive and provide value to the recipient.

SMS Customer Service

Two-way messages are inevitable, meaning it's important to develop a full understanding of outbound and inbound messaging. Even if you try to manage expectations or write ‘DO NOT RESPOND,’ there will likely still be inbound messages. Systems and protocols will need to be put in place to respond to (and route) inbound messages appropriately.

Likewise, customers are more likely to stay subscribed to SMS messages when they see real value in the messages you send. So, if you’re planning to incorporate text messaging into your marketing plan, it’s a good idea to also include SMS customer service.

With the proper operational structure and training, real value can be provided with two-way messaging options such as:

General customer service questions (hours, services, prices, directions, etc.)
Shipping, delivery and tracking updates for online orders
Important/relevant notifications and alerts
Generating feedback and opinions

Other Things To Consider

If your customers are subscribed to your email newsletter and already follow you on social media, why should they opt in to your SMS updates as well?
Long Code (Landline) vs. Short Code
Staff training (marketing, customer service and other staff members)
On-site signage implications
Define a rollout plan (start with employees, then e-comm customers, etc.)
Editorial calendars that take into account the various stakeholders such as employees, volunteers, members, general public, etc.
Internal capacity to design, deliver and maintain the channel, including technological, content and administrative components
Defining a content creation ‘process’ allowing for flexibility when timelines are ‘squeezed’ due to the need to share information in an emergency

Timelines

Look at the scope of your current or upcoming projects, and explore the following possibilities:

Work with existing software providers to expand their scope and include SMS. Many email providers, database providers and other software companies have SMS built into their systems. The capabilities of these providers could be reviewed in order to consider them as a potential SMS provider. They may or may not have the breadth of features you desire, but would likely be able to set up a system fairly quickly.
Submit an RFP and review potential software partners based on their submitted proposals. These providers would likely be able to provide a solution more catered to your needs/requests.

In closing, there could be tremendous value in opening an SMS channel for your organization. In order to position it for success, a large amount of upfront assessing, planning and training must take place. Preparation and time allowed for ongoing maintenance and support is also an essential component of development.

If you have any questions or would like Advertising Savants to help in this endeavor in any way, please feel free to reach out at any time. We are more than happy to continue the conversation and assist with your SMS research and development moving forward.

The Next Great Advertising City? Don't Sleep On St. Louis.

Tue, 31 May 2022 18:00:00 GMT

New York, Chicago and Los Angeles have long been considered the heavyweights in the ad agency business, but every so often another U.S. city rises up and claims a seat at the table. Portland, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Richmond have all had their day in the sun. Which got us wondering, which city could become the next hotbed of advertising?

Here are just a few reasons we think our city has the potential to become the next great Gateway to Creativity:

Entrepreneurial Energy

Over the past few years, St. Louis has been ranked as a top city for startups by publications as diverse as Forbes, Popular Mechanics and The Business Journals . Accelerators, incubators and innovation hubs now dot our entire metropolitan landscape.

Creative Vibes

The art, music and dining scene here continues to grow and impress. The city lays claim to countless new and historic music venues, and dozens of new galleries have popped up recently – all perfect companions to the world-renowned St. Louis Art Museum. St. Louis also recently cracked the top 15 food destinations in America by Eater.com.

Midwestern In The Best Way

In an industry famous for big egos, doing business with a St. Louis shop can be like a breath of fresh air. Just don’t mistake our neighborliness for a lack of killer instinct. Agencies here are filled with brilliant strategists and wildly passionate creatives. We just happen to be nice people.

A Front & Center Seat

Given our central location, St. Louisans are very much in touch with middle America. Yet, with so many recent transplants, we equally understand urban and coastal mindsets. Our city is like a microcosm of the entire county. Oh, and did we mention you can fly anywhere in the US in under three hours?

Backbone Of Higher Learning

With 19 universities and colleges, St. Louis has a rich history of providing world-class higher education, and is home to thousands of students. From Washington University to St. Louis University, our city is brimming with young talent, many of them launching their careers at St. Louis-based agencies, media companies and content creators.

Smart With Money

We may have saved the best for last. One of the most important criteria for young people when choosing a new city to call home is affordability. And we shine brightly in this regard. Always listed among the most affordable US cities, St. Louis is attracting young creative professionals and seasoned marketing minds alike.

What would you add? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Our leadership team is always easily accessible and would be happy to discuss any of your current or future marketing needs.

SAVANT SOUP: MAY

Wed, 25 May 2022 16:02:51 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from May 2022.

30TH THROWBACK

See more on our 30th Anniversary celebration page .

SAVANT HIGHLIGHT

Karen Boes-Decampi

Today we're celebrating our resident Field General – the agency's Senior Project Manager, Karen!

She keeps our agency train moving at all times, ensuring we're on schedule and on budget to best serve our clients.

Her impressive depth of knowledge in production has been cultivated over the course of 25 years working with clients such as Jack Daniels, CPI, Ascension and the Saint Louis Zoo.

She's got the command and organization it takes to make our office run like clockwork, day in and day out.

When she's not working, she's spending time with the family and enjoying some of her passions like hiking, discovering the latest dinner hot spots or traveling.

Karen, we don't know what we'd do without you!

Just for fun, maybe give this a try for dinner soon!

SAVANT SOUP: APRIL

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 21:08:54 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from April 2022.

30TH THROWBACK

See more on our 30th Anniversary celebration page .

SAVANT HIGHLIGHT

Amanda Kinder

Say a big 'How you doin?' to our Director of Digital Strategy and resident 'Friends Fanatic' Amanda Kinder!

Amanda is the agency's main digital hub. An innovative thinker, she designs plans and identifies solutions that bring brands to life and break through in the digital jungle. Her graphic design degree served her well early in her career until her role began to grow and shift along with her knowledge and experience in all things digital.

She's worked on the local level in the chiropractic and dental categories, but also has served as the lead Digital Strategist for larger brands including the Saint Louis Zoo, Fontbonne University and Boy Scouts of America.

After work, you can catch Amanda hanging with the family or attending any number of her kids' sporting events. You might even spot her sippin' on a Whiskey and Coke after a long day. We'll cheers to that and to Amanda being a key member of our agency team!

Just for fun, maybe give this a try for dinner soon!

SAVANT SOUP: MARCH

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 17:09:02 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from March 2022.

30TH THROWBACK

See more on our 30th Anniversary celebration page .

SAVANT HIGHLIGHT

David Smith

Say a big hello to our Senior Creative Director, David. This thoughtful and insightful guy oversees creative development for our entire client roster, most recently applying his talents to the healthcare, attractions, senior living and nonprofit categories.

Having worked in several major creative markets – from Austin to LA to Dallas – David will rise to any creative challenge and always brings fresh thinking to the table.

With award-winning campaigns for major brands including Honda and Southwest Airlines under his belt, we're fortunate to have David leading our creative team.

To our classic film connoisseur we say, "Here's looking at you, kid."

Just for fun, maybe give this a try for dinner soon!

SAVANT SOUP: FEBRUARY

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 21:09:36 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from February 2022.

30TH THROWBACK

See more on our 30th Anniversary celebration page .

SAVANT HIGHLIGHT

Mary Klobe

There's something about Mary! As the agency's CFO, Mary keeps the agency running smoothly and efficiently with a heavy dose of warmth, compassion, wisdom and humor.

Her in-depth financial experience working with the American Red Cross and various advertising/marketing agencies, including 20 years with AdSavants, makes her an invaluable asset to our team. We simply don't know what we'd do without her.

Mary loves traveling (especially to Disney World), snuggling with her grandkids and spending time with family and friends.

Just for fun, maybe give this a try for dinner soon!

4 Ways Brands Can Support Consumers & Their Mental Wellness

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 19:35:41 GMT

Over the past few years, more and more people have bravely opened up on the topic of mental health, making it part of everyday conversations and erasing any taboo associations. This shift in focus has thrust personal wellness into the spotlight like never before. So, how should brands respond to this changing landscape of mental and emotional awareness?

Our observations tell us that given the uncertainty our world has experienced these past two years, almost all brands have an opportunity to help – or at minimum to communicate – with people on a more personal level. With one caveat: outreach should always be authentic, or people will cry ‘gimmick’ faster than you can say ‘mindfulness’.

With years of experience in both the health care and wellness categories, we strive to help the brands we represent deliver useful, actionable messaging at the most personal level possible. And when the integrity of a brand’s mission is pure, the responses and results will follow.

Here are 4 suggestions for how we believe a brand can most effectively speak with consumers in this new, more open atmosphere:

Be Honest

Transparency among brands trying to be helpful is a must.

Be Empathetic

Show people you understand, and care about their concerns.

Be Purposeful

A clear commitment to a cause that aligns with a brand’s DNA demonstrates authenticity.

Be Supportive

True encouragement goes a long way with people, and can capture loyalty in the long run.

What would you add to this list? As always, we welcome your feedback, and would love to hear from you. Our leadership team is always easy to reach and eager to discuss any of your current or future marketing needs.

SAVANT SOUP: JANUARY

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 21:06:44 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from January 2022.

30TH ANNIVERSARY THROWBACK

See more on our 30th Anniversary celebration page .

SAVANT HIGHLIGHT

Melissa Hartrich

Melissa is an agency Account Director who possesses the keen ability to strike the perfect balance between the big picture and small, nuanced details. Whether it's helping our clients reach their marketing goals, juggling deadlines or handling the finer points of production, she makes it all look effortless.

A strong team player with a quick wit, we'll toast to Melissa with a pina colada in hand.

Spice up chili night

SAVANT SOUP: DECEMBER 2021

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 22:00:00 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from December 2021.

30TH ANNIVERSARY THROWBACK

See more on our 30th Anniversary page .

SAVANT HIGHLIGHT

Tia Liston

Say hey to our Creative Director, Tia!

Tia helps guide our creative teams and lends her talents and artistic eye to ensure the agency's work is of the highest caliber.

Her award-winning body of work includes campaigns for the Saint Louis Zoo, Ascension Health, Mitsubishi Electronics, Delta Dental and Volvo.

The only thing she loves more than working with clients is a Chicago dog, hold the ketchup.

This time of year, when everything seems to shine a little more, our Creative Director is no exception.

SOUP'S ON

SAVANT SOUP: NOVEMBER 2021

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:18:23 GMT

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news from November 2021.

30TH THROWBACK

See more on our 30th Anniversary celebration page .

SAVANT HIGHLIGHT

Roxane Hewitt

Oh hey, it's Roxane! As part of our account service team and a wearer of many hats, she's kinda like our Swiss Army knife.

Roxane, assists with strategic planning, oversees internal agency operations, is a master at proofreading and editing not to mention a talented and creative writer. Her well-rounded skills make her a secret weapon that ensures we're providing the best service to our clients at all times. So yeah, we got that going for us.

Did we mention Roxane was our agency's FIRST employee. Not to put a date on her or anything, but she's a special part of what we do around here.

Thanks for being awesome, Roxane! ��

Just for fun, maybe give this a try for dinner soon!

Top 12 Reasons Why Traditional Ads Still Hold Value

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:10:20 GMT

Newsflash: The digital age isn’t going anywhere. But, are we all so high in the digital stratosphere that we’re forgetting about the power of traditional channels?

If you’re thinking that might be the case, we’d love to help shed a little light on some traditional yet valuable tactics that could help raise your awareness, improve your brand image, and catapult your latest campaign.

Reasons to revisit traditional marketing

To Educate a Target Audience
To Target Niche Groups
To Offer a Tangible Experience
To Boost Exposure
To Provide Time for Consumer Consumption
To Interact with an Older Audience
To Reach Hyperlocal Audiences
To Stand Out
To Capitalize on Specific Announcements
To Share Your Story in a Unique Way
To Create Name Awareness
To Utilize Blended Marketing

Be intentional with your marketing and advertising

With a clear set of branding objectives, along with multiple campaigns to help you reach them, you’ll have an arsenal of marketing tools to get the job done.

The lesson: Don’t overlook specific channels just because they don’t scream sexy. Being sexy isn’t the mission, unless it is. But, being effective is always the goal.

Looking to balance your marketing efforts? Learn more about our approach to media planning and buying.

Pantone's 2021 Color of the Year

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 00:41:09 GMT

Just like Crayola created the standards of color when we were kids, Pantone creates the standards of color in the professional creative world. This year's Pantone Color of the Year is actually two colors, with good reason.

As designers, we take the psychology of what a color makes us feel, combine them with other colors, and we create a graphic or image that conveys feelings. Colors are such a powerful, sometimes sneaky way to make a viewer feel something specific. It's all a very intentional combination of decisions by the designer.

What's in a color?

Rolling into 2021 each person in this world has their sights set on something brighter. It's a key part of being human. Hanging on the idea that things are going to be better. Get better. What better color to select than Illuminating? It strikes a pure and chipper note with the eye that resonates with the mind, body and soul. Just like the action of the sun, this color ushers in feelings of warmth to everyone who sees it.

That leaves us with Ultimate Gray. The color of a sturdy rock, made to withstand time and weather. This ushers in a feeling of steadiness and a deep sense of composure. A sense that things are being held together. Unshakeable. This is exactly what people need coming off of a swirling year of chaos.

How Pantone selects their colors

Pantone doesn't just pull these colors out of a hat. They are strategically selected by the Pantone Color Institute based on trends and influencers across industries around the world. The two colors selected are the perfect blend to showcase how different elements can come together to support each other.

The Pantone Color Institute is responsible for creating global color trends and they partner with major brands to help them use specific colors in their design. The right color is powerful and has the ability to evoke emotion, so having the job of selecting the most influential colors of the year is a pretty big deal.

So, take these colors and use them. Play with them. Get inspired by them. Pantone selected them for a reason.

Their mission is to help do good by inspiring people with color. So the color experts at Pantone did just that this year. They combined two colors to convey a message of hope and resilience. And that's a message we can get behind.

Ten Things To Look For In A New Ad Agency

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 18:41:27 GMT

If your company believes in the power of advertising, there will inevitably come a time when you’ll be making the critical decision of choosing an ad agency partner . It might happen when you launch, it could occur when you decide you’ve outgrown your in-house capabilities, or there may simply come a day when you feel like you’re not getting what you need from your current shop.

While evaluating different agencies can be a daunting challenge, here are a few qualities you’re going to want to keep at the top of your checklist in order to ensure a successful partnership.

Strategy, strategy, strategy.

Would you buy a car without tires? A tree without roots? Frankly, it’s impossible to understate how important a strategic foundation is to your marketing. After all, strategy is always the force that ignites brilliant, effective creative work. So, make certain the agency you select not only emphasizes brand strategy , but has a track record of delivering fresh, category-busting insights.

Thinking beyond the traditional.

Advertising has gone through a technological renaissance over the past couple of decades. Some agencies have kept pace. Others... not so much. You’ll want to be certain you’re teaming up with a group that can create brilliant social, ambient, contextual, and influencer campaigns as easily as a clever television spot.

Access to the top.

The leadership team at any given agency is typically composed of folks with a depth of experience, keen knowledge of the industry, and plenty of charisma. However, they are often as difficult to access as a bank vault. Make sure the leaders of your new agency are still active in the business - and will be active in yours. Every day.

Maturity or youthfulness? Yes.

The best shops are blended like a fine espresso roast. In this case, a perfect concoction of mature wisdom and youthful exuberance. It’s a magical formula for creative work that’s smart, focused, and right on trend.

One size doesn’t fit all.

Big clients don’t always need big agencies. And small clients can sometimes find the perfect team to manage their business at a larger shop. The key is making sure you meet the exact people who will be working on your business. Sometimes agencies (usually large ones) have “pitch teams” that you’ll never see again once you hire the shop.

There are no agency Yelp reviews.

Which means one of the best ways to evaluate an agency is to examine their client roster. Have their clients been with them a long time? Have those clients been successful at growing their business? And, is the prospective agency inviting you to connect and interview their current clients? If the answer is yes to those three questions, it’s a very good sign.

A staff with staying power.

It’s impressive when clients stick around. But, it’s equally important that agency employees are in it for the long haul. Especially in an industry as fickle as advertising. It means the associates believe in the agency’s mission, enjoy coming to work, and will be excited about helping yet another new client succeed.

Build on a stable foundation.

Choosing a new agency is a bit like merging with another company. You will be sharing critical information, and your success will, to a degree, depend on each other. So, make sure your new partner has been around awhile, and is financially stable.

Common knowledge.

If your industry is highly specialized (e.g. health care, financial, senior living), it makes sense for you to team up with an agency with prior experience in your category, provided there is no competitive overlap. The agency’s learning curve will be significantly less steep, and you’ll be able to tap into previous knowledge the agency has gained by helping clients in your sector succeed.

A lesson in chemistry.

At the end of the day, this is probably the most critical element to evaluate. Do you enjoy spending time with these folks? (You’re going to be doing a lot of that). Do you trust them? (You’re going to be sharing proprietary information). Do you share their values and admire their culture? (If so, you may just have met your perfect match).

As always, we welcome your feedback and additional thoughts, and would love to hear from you. Our leadership team is always easy to reach and eager to discuss your business.

A Peek Into The Lives Of Caregivers and Senior Living Residents

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 14:23:00 GMT

Earlier this year, when the AdSavants team was tasked with creating a new campaign for StoneBridge Senior Living, we knew from the beginning we were working on something special.

Our team was allowed the opportunity to look into the lives of caregivers and residents to see everything it takes to make StoneBridge such an incredible place.

So, as you watch this television spot, overview video and employee testimonial video, we hope you’ll remember to thank caregivers, nurses, and essential workers everywhere.

The post A Peek Into The Lives Of Caregivers and Senior Living Residents appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

In every problem lies an opportunity – Making prairie dogs and penguins internet stars

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 14:31:00 GMT

When the Coronavirus turned the world upside down in the early days of 2020, the Saint Louis Zoo quickly did the right thing and closed the park to visitors. But, as the gates closed, the camera lenses opened. The Zoo significantly increased their daily social content and launched the #BringTheStLZooToYou hashtag.

It was our job to get the word out and communicate a couple of important facts. The animals would still be receiving great care. And, incredibly fun content – including entertaining videos – would be available on all of the Zoo’s social media platforms.

Enter the charm and personality of the prairie dogs and penguins who call the Saint Louis Zoo home. Not only does their banter reassure viewers they are receiving world-class care, but they delight in the idea of, in their words, “going virtual”.

This whimsical campaign helped St. Louis residents stay connected to their favorite animals, and helped the Zoo continue to play an important role in the education and entertainment of the city. Check out the campaign and see all the amazing content at stlzoo.org or on your favorite social channel with #BringTheStLZooToYou

Advertising During Times Of Uncertainty

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 17:16:00 GMT

In an unprecedented business environment like the one we’re currently experiencing, it’s critically important for brands to be calm, measured, and empathetic in everything they do. To help you with some of the issues you may be grappling with, we’ve pulled together these helpful articles and essays about advertising during a crisis.

1. Purpose At Work: How Brands Lead With Their Purpose To Combat The Coronavirus

This Forbes article explores the importance of having a deeply rooted brand purpose that aligns with every aspect of your business (not just your marketing). The author offers five lessons that brands should pay attention to during these times. ( Link )

2. When A Recession Comes, Don’t Stop Advertising

Written in 2019, this Forbes article digs into the aftermath of the 2008 recession and highlights various brands that benefitted by maintaining their ad budgets during economic downturns. ( Link )

3. CERC Psychology of a Crisis

This downloadable PDF from the CDC explains the psychology of how people take in information, process information and act on information in crisis situations. When crafting communication to stakeholders, we highly recommend brands keep these things in mind. ( Link )

4. How to Market in a Recession

Back in 2008, Harvard Business Review posted this article which highlights eight factors that brands should keep in mind when adjusting or making their upcoming marketing plans. Number eight is one of our favorites. ( Link )

5. How to Survive a Brand Quarantine During Coronavirus

AdWeek takes a look at how today’s challenges are going to separate the professional marketers from the amateurs. They highlight how important it is to have the right people in your corner, because “strategy means knowing when to stay silent just as much as it means knowing what to post and when.” ( Link )

So, let’s work smart. Let’s work together. And, let’s help the brands we represent remain strong, ensuring they are ready for the much more positive days that lie ahead.

4 Advertising Resolutions For The New Year

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 09:56:00 GMT

Now that the decorations are down and the last of the holiday treats have been devoured, it’s a great time to take a look at what you hope to achieve with your advertising in the coming year, and perhaps make some promises to yourself about how to keep this year’s advertising resolutions.

In that spirit, we offer a few thought starters to consider as you navigate the increasingly complex world of marketing.

Advertising Resolution 1: Get Healthy

In advertising, the equivalent of diet and exercise is media and message. So, how balanced is your media plan? These days, it’s tempting to go for low-cost options that promise great results, but sometimes those approaches end up being the equivalent of empty calories. Instead, try taking a media-agnostic approach to media planning, which ensures you’ll reach your best prospects at the perfect time, in the ideal place.

How active is your messaging? A great way to start your new year is to engage your core. As in, your core purpose. Every brand has one. It’s the essence of what truly makes your brand different, and what drives you to be your best. It’s also a highly accurate and actionable roadmap to your positioning, communication and culture.

Advertising Resolution 2: Get Your (Data) House In Order

A new year is a perfect time to clean out and update your data systems with best-in-class resources. Make sure your pixels are firing and your goals are mapped correctly in Google Analytics or other online attribution platforms. Analyze your email marketing to scrub your list of unengaged users or utilize an email validation service to help reduce bounce rates. (Bonus: here’s some email design inspiration , too!)

Today, there are so many amazing tools to assist with your measurement, metrics and analytics programs. Make sure you’re taking full advantage of all that’s available. Because your competitors probably are.

Advertising Resolution 3: Build Stronger Relationships

One way to find out what makes your brand special is to talk to your loyalists. Every day. Creating a loyalty program might just be the perfect way to enhance those relationships. Your customers will benefit from special rewards, incentives or advice. And, you’ll gain a better understanding of who loves your brand, giving you inside information as you consider messaging and critical decisions like brand extensions.

Advertising Resolution 4: Try Something Different

This year, why not take a small portion of your marketing budget and employ it toward a new channel or new method of engaging with your target audience?

Today’s marketing landscape is awash in new and provocative ideas, techniques, technology and media. The latest Martech supergraphic from Scott Brinker has created this somewhat scary visual of 7,040 solutions that are now available for marketers. So even when you think you’ve tried everything, there’s a pretty good chance that you haven’t. Take a risk. You’ll never know until you go!

What resolutions are you making to create a more productive 2020?

We’d love to hear from you, so please reach out and share your thoughts. And Happy 2020 from your friends at Advertising Savants!

P.S. We were recently listed as a top ad agency in St. Louis . Be sure to check out the list!

2019 Christmas Greeting from Advertising Savants

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 19:26:00 GMT

What’s your Christmas tradition?

Amanda N. – I still continue this tradition. We do one Christmas gift at a time, so not everybody opens them all at once.

Mary K. – We usually put a tree up in almost every room, so I know it’s a little crazy, but that’s what we do. We’ve done it since the kids were little, and the kids each had their own tree. Now we do it for the grandkids.

Tia – Well, mostly the traditions center around food, so ravioli, homemade ravioli is the big thing in our family.

Katie – We usually play games, like board games, during Christmas day. Monopoly is a big favorite. Sometimes it takes too long, and then we get bored, and wanna play a different game.

Melissa – When Santa comes, I got downstairs, and we start the video camera, and capture the kids. Even though they’re old, and don’t necessarily believe, they still believe in the spirit, so we do the tradition of capturing them coming down the stairs, and to their gifts.

What’s your favorite holiday treat?

Amanda K. – I drink a lot of Baileys over ice, just straight.

Melissa – My grandmother and I have a tradition that we drink Baileys after dinner Christmas Eve together. So, it doesn’t matter how full you are, how much you’ve eaten or had to drink, you have a Baileys with grandma, and that’s how you wrap up Christmas Eve.

Tim – I definitely like chocolate chip cookies, and I usually eat too many during the holidays. And really, any type of desserts, I’m a big fan of during the holidays.

Tia – Baileys, we make homemade Baileys in our family. That’s become quite a tradition over the last several years, and I’ll be bringing some of that to the office.

What’s your favorite Christmas song?

Amand N. – My favorite is probably “Oh Holy Night”.

Tim – You know what? There’s actually, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani came out with a new song, I think it was last year. And of course I can’t think of the name of it. It is, I can’t remember.

Mary – “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, it was really special to my dad. But I do like, probably no one else would know this song, “Christmas Is” by Percy Faith, it’s just very soothing. I like that and “Silent Night”.

Amanda K. – Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas” is of course a staple. I think it’s the 25th anniversary of it this year, I heard that the other day, which is crazy, it makes me feel really old, but you can’t turn that song off when it comes on.

Tia – There’s a couple songs by Enya that I really like on the album called “Winter Night”.

Tim – Oh, I know what it’s called. It’s called “You Make It Feel Like Christmas”.

Are you a grinch or an elf?

Amanda K. – I’m definitely not a Grinch. I don’t know that I’m as far as an elf, like a “crazy about Christmas” person, I’m somewhere in the middle.

Katie – I feel like an elf. I don’t know, I feel like if I start doing Christmas stuff too early, then I would turn into a Grinch.

Amanda N. – An elf, I’m an elf, we know this . We all know I’m an elf .

Tim – I would say definitely an elf.

Melissa – Oh, total elf, total elf, yeah. I love, I love the giving part of it. I get excited to see the kids get excited, I get excited to share with my friends. I love the lights, first thing in the morning, I’ve got the tree turned on, I’ve got the candles burning. I love all that stuff. Total elf.

Mary – An elf.

– [Angela] It sounds like you’re an elf .

Mary – An elf, oh yeah.

– [Angela] I think James and I are the only Grinches here. Really?

– Yes.

– Oh my gosh!

Tia – I love you all . I love working with all of you. We had a great year, and I look forward to next year.

Melissa – Merry Christmas, everybody, and here’s to a great 2020!

What We’re Thankful For This Year

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 17:14:00 GMT

As we head into the Thanksgiving weekend, we took a pause and asked some of the Savants about what they’re thankful for and how they’ll be spending the holiday. Check out what they had to say!

What is your family Thanksgiving Tradition?

Amanda: My dad’s side has decided to do Black Friday, since our maiden name, my maiden name is Black, we have our Thanksgiving on the Friday after, every year.

Kevin: I love, during the day, lighting a fire in the fire pit and hangin’ out by the fire, throwin’ the football in the backyard.

Katie: A lot of people, it seems like, have Thanksgiving the afternoon, like two o’clock, three o’clock, we always have ours at seven o’clock, we always just do a dinner thing, and I never thought that was weird until one day, I asked someone, and they were like “You eat at seven? “We eat at one.” And I was like “What? “That sounds weird.”

Angela: Well, my husband works in academia, so he knows lots of students who are here, so sometimes students can’t go home, or aren’t going home, and so we’ve invited all of those left-overs to come over to our house and enjoy sort of a potluck-style Thanksgiving.

What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

Kevin: Pumpkin pie.

Katie: Love pie.

Tia: Gotta have the cranberry salad.

James: I like pie.

Angela: Pie.

Karen: Always turkey.

Melissa: The skin on turkey.

Amanda: Probably pumpkin pie.

Kevin: But I love the whole process, I like the process of baking the turkey, slicing the turkey, having a few cocktails while I slice the turkey.

Angela: Mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, I am one of those people that puts everything on a plate, or in a bowl, and just puts gravy over everything, and tries, I try to eat lots of little, get everything on one fork.

Karen: Of course, pecan pie.

Amanda: Apple pie.

Katie: Pumpkin pie.

Kevin: I’m a pie person in general.

Amanda: Any of the pies.

What are you thankful for this year?

Kevin: What I love most is taking a pause, and giving thanks for all of our blessings in life.

Tia: I’m thankful for my framily

James: My wife, my dog, kinda my cat.

Katie: I’m thankful that I, this is gonna sound kinda awful, that I moved out of my parent’s house.

Melissa: Sunrises, sunsets, I try to, every day, find something really simple to be thankful for.

Karen: Family.

Amanda: I’m thankful for my friends and my family, I’m thankful for my garage on cold mornings, and the seat warmers in my car.

Melissa: My dog, and my two cats, and my husband, so my family, and making new friends.

Navigating the changing CBD marketplace

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 16:22:00 GMT

Navigating the changing CBD marketplace

Now that the cannabis industry is growing in the United States, it’s a good time to learn how to navigate the rapidly changing marketplace. CBD, or cannabidiol, is the second most common active ingredient in cannabis. Different from THC (the component that makes cartoons fun), CBD can help treat a variety of illnesses without the “high” feeling. Today, CBD is the most available form of marijuana in the United States, and all 50 states have some sort of regulated legal cannabidiol.

So what does this mean for marketers? Well, there are state by state changes that impact the market daily. To keep your business ahead of the growing competition, It’s a good idea to develop an action plan that puts you in front of your audience with information that’s transparent and easy to digest.

The CBD business is complicated and rapidly changing. So, how can you manage day-to-day operations and effectively market your CBD business? It’s cumbersome. But, that’s why we wrote this blog to give you some initial thoughts.

Own Your Own Marketplace

Brand positioning is everything. A website that accurately represents your brand can be the first introduction to potential new customers. Also, you’ll want a solid digital marketing and SEO strategy and the use of paid marketing channels like search, email, and social media, as part of the media mix.

Legal Status

It’s time to once again break out the hemp necklace you wore in high school. Hemp and hemp-related products are no longer considered a controlled substance, and no longer regulated by the DEA. Now, individual states and the FDA control the sale and distribution of hemp-based products.

What is Allowed?

All parts of the naturally occurring CBD products and naturally occurring hemp-food or supplement products are allowed to be marketed.

What Is Not Allowed

Anything that comes across as unnatural is prohibited by marketers. For example, marketers can’t promote CBD – infused edibles, vape products, or unsubstantiated therapeutic claims. So, even though CBD has been shown to help a variety of symptoms, you can’t claim your CBD infused product will help treat any ailment.

Do’s and Dont’s

Not a shock to anyone, but you can only market CBD products to people 18 years of age or older. And, for the time being, most social media sites, including Facebook and Instagram, have put a discretionary ban on the marketing of CBD products. So, instead, devise an SEO plan, email marketing strategy, influencer campaigns, and native marketing campaigns to engage potential audiences.

Marketing a highly regulated, continually changing industry can be tricky. But, it’s ultimately your responsibility as a marketer to adhere to regulations at the same time you grow in this exciting new industry. Let us know what you think. How else can you navigate the growing cannabis industry?

With experience in cannabis and other related industries, AdSavants understands the unique challenges associated with them. So, please feel free to reach out . We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to help your business navigate this exciting new industry.

Be sure to check out some of the work we did for the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association and the Missouri Hemp Trade Association .

6 Tips For Optimal Online Presence Optimization

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 19:30:00 GMT

6 Tips For Optimal Online Presence Optimization

Do sentences containing the words “online presence optimization and search engine optimization” stress you out? At some point, all of us have been in a conference room and heard these words used in succession and immediately thought, “huh?” If you’ve ever been in such a position, you’ve come to the right place.

At first glance, Online Presence Optimization (OPO) seems like a term created to intimidate the good folk of the marketing industry, but it’s actually the key to building awareness of your brand or business. OPO is the process of making your brand (not just website) visible to your customers in the places they’re the most active online.

Enhancing your brand’s presence online is a lot like the game of golf. You can’t pick up a set of clubs and kick-it on tour with the pros your first time on a course. You have to put in the work to be successful.

Optimizing your brand’s web presence involves a variety of moving parts, and requires constant ongoing work. Online Presence Optimization depends on search engine optimization, social optimization, blogging, paid advertising, and reputation management. These components are vital to creating an optimal presence. Here are some tips to grow your Online Presence Optimization and make your brand or business pop online.

SEO.

While it’s no longer the only key in generating online visibility, SEO is the OG in the online presence optimization game. Your brand should still exploit all opportunities with SEO by actively looking for opportunities to get inbound links to your site. And, it’s critical that your website performs optimally on desktop and mobile, from a technical and keyword perspective.

Update Your Info.

There are hundreds of business directories across the web, like Google, Yelp, Facebook, and many others that often have misinformation and duplicate listing of your business. So, make sure your information is correct across all major directories, and boost your brand’s search discoverability using your business name and core keywords.

Does your directory health hold up? Check your online business information with help from our listings scan . See how your critical location data appears across multiple search engines and directories.

Make Great Content.

It’s 2019, and content is king. Try to actively publish fresh, dynamic content across multiple platforms to grow your brand or business. BuzzFeed didn’t become BuzzFeed just by posting blogs about dating and the hottest new restaurants. Adding news and business updates regularly are favorable for both consumers and search engines. Also, explore different multimedia opportunities like video content and podcasts. A couple of great resources on this subject are HubSpots’s Content Marketing Guide and the official Content marketing institute .

Are You On the Gram?

Social media is one of the most important aspects of growing your brand or business. It’s essential to make sure your social media profiles are not collecting digital dust. Managing your social media accounts takes persistent outreach, consistent posts, audience interaction, and brilliant content #callback. Allow consumers to engage with your brand. Search engines look for social signals like shares, likes, and social mentions when using search algorithms.

Pay To Play.

Though it may seem like a shortcut to building a successful brand, paid advertising is a fast and effective way to drive traffic to your website and boost your online presence. Still vital to the process, display and social ads are suitable for awareness building and customer journey, whereas paid search mirrors the intent of the consumer. Your paid search can also complement your SEO efforts. Combining SEO and paid search is a lucrative way to bring more qualified traffic with high conversion potential to your website.

Be A Brand of The People.

Your online reputation matters to consumers looking for businesses. So, it’s essential to keep a positive image in the eye of the consumer. Monitor your business mentions online across a variety of sites, and respond to reviews of your business on sites like Google, Facebook, and Yelp. Reply to all reviews (good or bad), and encourage happy customers to leave reviews and testimonials of your business to boost the online visibility of what your customers have to say.

Online Presence Optimization is the key to discoverability and growing your brand or business presence online.

So, next time your sitting in a conference room talking about online presence optimization, feel free to drop some sweet brand-building knowledge on your co-workers.

What are some other ways you’ve used to enhance your online presence? Feel free to reach out and tell us what you think .

Marketing to the Modern Father

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 20:12:00 GMT

Marketing to Dads

Father’s day is almost here. Which means it’s time to turn on the TV, kick back and watch non stop dad-fomercials about golf, grilling, and the impressive 360 zero-turn lawn mower. Marketing to dads was once like this, but today’s dads are much different from generations past.

Today, more women are taking on greater responsibilities at work while men are taking on more responsibilities at home. Fathers today are much more likely to be involved in child care and family purchasing decisions.

Marketing and advertising content gives you an opportunity to reflect on this expanding role in childcare. Dads today have significant responsibilities beyond the traditional bread-winning, fishing enthusiasts we might remember. Here are a few ways marketers can reach out to fathers with content that’s relevant and reflects the personalities of all types of parents.

Young Dads, Old Dads, Sports Dads, Nerd Dads

Try to appeal to different parenting styles. For example, some dads like to play catch with their kids, and some prefer to take down hoards of zombies on their favorite gaming system. Whatever the parenting style may be, it’s vital to gain customer insights that will enable you to deliver more relevant content to your audience.

Dad Imagery

We like to joke about the traditional dad that loves to spend his downtime mowing and fishing. Those dads still exist, but so do the dads that shop, cook, and pick the kids up from soccer practice. So be authentic with imagery, don’t assume you’re only talking to moms when you’re marketing to millennial parents.

Dad Content

More than half of all fathers today say there’s not enough dad-focused content online, and 69% wish there was more parenting content available for dads online. Seven in ten millennial dads tend to seek out parenting information directly from their smartphone, and dad needs a little help from time to time. So, introduce content that’s easily accessible and relevant to all types of fathers.

Parental marketing is continuously changing. Do your research, and dig deep to understand this ever-changing audience. Here are a few examples of companies showing fathers prominently in child care settings, and developing engaging content that speaks to them.

What do you think? Are marketers accurately representing modern parents? Feel free to reach out . We welcome your thoughts and always appreciate new information.

Tactics For Better Memory Care Marketing

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 20:34:00 GMT

Tactics For Better Memory Care Marketing

If you play any type of role in the memory care marketing space, you probably already know that people 65 and older are expected to outnumber children by the year 2030 for the first time in U.S. history.

It’s not a secret our senior population is growing due to innovations in healthcare and the aging Baby Boomers. But with this fact comes the growing population of seniors with signs of Dementia and Alzheimers.

Finding safe and adequately equipped homes for memory care patients can be a touchy subject, and families usually don’t like to think about such a change until a critical incident occurs. Too often, seniors with dementia still live in longtime homes with family members and use the “wait and see approach.”

Choosing a memory care facility for a loved one can be an extremely emotional decision. But, through strategic marketing and education, we can make the process easier for future generations. Here are five tactics marketers can use for more effective memory care marketing.

Let people know

How can you be the first name people think of when they think of memory care? It starts with awareness. Reach out through TV, radio, and outdoor. Remember, Grandma and Grandpa use social media, too. So, be sure that creating engaging content for Facebook and Instagram is part of your memory care marketing strategy.

Most importantly, families aren’t going to consider your memory care facility if they don’t know you offer memory care. Obvious, right? You’d be surprised how many facilities leave out that tiny piece of information.

Be an EXPERT

Starting a blog or video series advising family members and caregivers on memory care is an excellent way to educate your community. (Remember that engaging social media content we were just talking about?) It’s essential that your memory care marketing grounds your facility as the industry standard in your area.

Pictures, pictures, pictures

Visuals are important. Memory care patients are often still very independent, so they tend to ‘look different’ than the typical senior living patient. So, pay attention to photography and make sure visuals resonate with how family members view their loved ones.

It’s about the care, not the where

Choosing a facility for a loved one is an emotional consideration, not a real estate decision. Research has shown families place a high value on facilities that display patience, attentiveness, flexibility, and compassion for their loved ones. So, try not to create a sweet new apartment for Grandpa that looks like a college bachelor pad.

Go beyond the marketing

Put in the work to make customer service better. The marketing of your facility and customer experience should be cohesive. Addressing emotion-based needs in your marketing will drive interest, and it should continue throughout on-site visits and day-to-day care.

Through better practices, you can educate families and communities about adequate memory care, ensuring our growing senior populations are safe and cared for with compassion.

How else can agencies improve memory care marketing standards? Feel free to reach out and tell us what you think!

Marketing To Millennial Moms

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Sat, 11 May 2019 08:15:00 GMT

Millennials Are Parents?!

Moms rank among the top groups of consumers with the highest buying power. Plain and simple: They make the purchase decisions and are a lucrative target market. But, if “moms 25–54” have been your primary target audience, you’ve probably been noticing a shift over the past few years. You must shift as well, and embrace the power of marketing to millennial moms.

As the millennial generation continues to age, they are now primed for parenthood. There are so many studies and opinions that have been drawn about millennials; but, how does that change once they become moms and dads? What strategies and tactics do you need in order to garner loyalty from this demographic?

One thing is for sure: The old marketing tactics alone , won’t work. So what is the best marketing mix to utilize when marketing to millennial moms? There are so many ways to answer that question. We’ll explore some approaches below.

Invest in Blogs and Social Media

Did you know that millennials are 247% more likely to be influenced by social media and blogs? So, if you want to attract the attention of this skeptical group, you will need to understand how millennial moms consume media and invest in blogs and social media.

There are a variety of ways to do that. Of course, brands, nowadays, are essentially publishers. They have to be subject-matter experts and content creators. So maintaining a consistent stream of content is important when marketing to millennial moms.

But what if you don’t have the resources to execute?

Agency partners are a good place to start. Whether it’s finding efficient ways to create content, or partnering with influencers who are already creating content that is relevant to your brand, agencies can help connect the dots and ensure success when marketing to millennial moms.

Connect with Their Interests

Millennial moms want to feel like your brand was created with their interest (not their wallet) in mind. For this reason, your marketing strategy needs to connect with the problems, hopes and interests of today’s moms. Simply put, make sure your campaigns appeal to their values.

Purpose-based marketing is one of our specialties and something we’ve been doing for years. When you can connect consumers to something ‘bigger than themselves,’ it’s a win all the way around.

One of our favorite case-studies in this realm is the breadth of work that we’ve created for the Saint Louis Zoo. Without going too deep into the weeds, over the past 20+ years, we’ve been able to strike a balance between the Zoo’s conservation efforts and visitor marketing, to connect moms to the deeper mission of conservation. (Check out some of our work here.)

As a result, attendance continues to grow, year over year. And the impact that the Zoo is able to have on the world grows as well. We could talk for days on this matter, so reach out if you’d like to hear more.

Invest in Video Marketing

When marketing to millennial moms, video is no longer optional. If you want to attract the attention of millennial moms, it is vital that you invest in video marketing. That doesn’t mean you have to set aside a seven-figure production budget and have a big media budget to go along with it. It simply means quality video content, delivered on a consistent basis.

What do we mean by quality? Quality content. A good HD camera, lighting and microphone is a nominal investment these days and a must for good ‘technical’ video. But, in addition, we recommend you really put a focus on the idea.

Aim to create content that your audience will fall in love with. Provide solutions. Educate. Entertain. Go behind the scenes. Connect them to your brand.

Think Mobile and Local (Even if You’re Not)

Millennials are the first generation to truly be “mobile first” and have the highest rate of ownership of smartphones of all generations. And as they’re becoming parents, their time is more valuable than ever before. Make your way into the lives of millennial moms by keeping your messages short and to the point. Plus, make sure it all looks great on a smartphone.

And, in the world of “everybody is selling something,” there’s something refreshing about a brand that takes a more personalized approach. Dig deeper than you normally would to ensure that your millennial mom audience knows that you care about them, and their community.

Need Help Marketing to Millennial Moms?

Navigating this space can be challenging, we know. How does this all translate to the real world?

Should I be on SnapChat? Is Facebook still relevant? What about traditional channels like TV, radio and outdoor? How should I allocate my budget? What should my message be on each channel?

Marketing to millennial moms entails a lot.

But with every new bright and shiny object, there’s a foundation that must be built. Build. That. First.

And as always, if we can help, let’s find some time to chat. Building the foundation that brands need is where we shine. We have a unique ability to clear the clutter and define a clear path forward, based on your goals, intensive research and strong, solid strategy.

3 Tips Hospitals and Senior Living Facilities Can Use to Attract Nursing Talent

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Fri, 03 May 2019 08:15:00 GMT

Nurse retention and recruitment programs are important for hospitals and senior living facilities.

High turnover means more invested in training. Plus, without a good staff of nurses, treatment and care for your patients will suffer. And in the world we live in today, a bad experience at a hospital or senior living facility can spread rapidly and have a major impact on consumer perceptions.

Brand perception has a very obvious link to how many patients choose to be treated by you, but there is another important aspect: opinions about your brand will affect the retention and quality of incoming nurses to your organization.

Below are a few tips which senior living and hospital marketing professionals should consider regarding nurse recruitment:

1. Be The Good: Effectively Communicate Your Why

People today want to work for companies that do good things for people. If your hospital or senior living facility doesn’t have a brand platform with a foundation based on the good you’re doing in the community, you’re missing the mark. The solution isn’t ‘attend more job fairs.’ It’s ‘build a strong, strategic marketing plan with the goal of increasing perception of your brand.’

A research project by Corporate Reputation Magazine surveyed more than 1,000 unemployed job seekers. They were asked about whether they would accept a job with a company that had a bad reputation. As a result, of those who responded, 86% of women and 67% of men stated they would not join a company with a bad reputation. Don’t be that company. Be the good.

2. Make Your Nurses Your Biggest Cheerleaders

Your nurses and staff have more influence than you realize. Word of mouth is a vital component of your senior living or hospital brand reputation.

Many nurses in your area have trained or worked together at another facility and therefore have formed a trusted community and value each other’s opinions. This especially applies when it comes to options of future employment. If your current nurses aren’t talking positively about your hospital or senior living organization, it can harm your reputation with potential nurses—not to mention with potential patients.

Build a culture of empowerment. Ensure there is a sufficient amount of clarity, vision and recognition provided by leadership. Consequently, it’s amazing how full your bucket can become when you focus on eliminating the leaks.

3. Tell Your Nursing Stories

Nurses tend to choose that career based on a sense of purpose, hence they’re having an impact on their community, one patient at a time. It’s oftentimes a thankless position with long hours, stressful situations and average compensation. And, they know this.

That’s why, when choosing a place of employment, many nurses are simply looking for workplace satisfaction. Likewise, they want to know that their senior living or hospital system has a commitment to both its patients and employees. So show them.

Tell stories of nurses having an impact on patients and the organization as a whole. And, on top of that, give potential employees a peek into what it’s like to work for your hospital. Encourage nurses to connect with your hospital, or senior living organization, in a meaningful, emotional and actionable way.

Conclusion

There are so many different approaches to nurse recruitment and these, certainly, are just a few thought starters. But most noteworthy is that strong recruitment requires a strong brand.

From completely overhauling a brand, to slight tweaks that enhance a recruitment campaign, we’ve worked with countless hospitals and senior living facilities over the years. And, as a result, strengthened their nurse recruitment programs.

If you’re in the midst of finding a solution to better nurse recruitment, feel free to reach out and let us know if you’d like to pick our brains! We’d love to talk!

Buying Authentic

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 20:58:00 GMT

There is a new(ish) trend in marketing that is appealing to young generations. Millennials and Gen Xers are in an existential search for all things “authentic.” While quality is still an important brand attribute, it is no longer the driving factor when it comes to making a purchase. These consumers are putting their trust in brands tugging at their heartstrings by way of charitable giving.

It started with brands like Toms and Warby Parker who didn’t just provide affordable and stylish apparel, but also connected emotionally by donating a pair of shoes or glasses with every purchase. Not only do Millennials want to avoid being labeled “posers,” but they want to feel good by supporting charitable businesses with their buying power.

According to Toluna, a consumer insights company, millennials and Gen Xers are more likely than boomers to be skeptical of brands supporting causes. However, they’re also more inclined to seek out brands that align with causes. They’re more likely, even, to pay more for products and sacrifice quality if it means their purchase goes to support a cause they believe in.

These 20–40 year-old consumers aren’t as gullible as one might think, however. They don’t just buy from businesses who claim to support a cause. The company’s support has to be authentic. There has to be a reason behind the support. Millennials are passionate about specific causes and helping people, which is why they want concrete evidence that their giving has an impact.

“Supporting a cause is no longer a choice for brands,” AdWeek’s Kinjil Mathur wrote. “But remember, it must be an authentic effort.”

For more Millennial consumer trends, check out this Forbes article .

The post Buying Authentic appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

Stepping out of the comfort zone

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 22:15:00 GMT

Every New Year, in the name of self-improvement, I challenge myself to attempt one new activity or project. Over the years, this quest has lead me to figure drawing, a cooking class, pilates, and a host of other worthwhile endeavors.

This year, I’ve decided to hone a new skill which might also benefit my professional life (not that whipping up a yummy snack doesn’t bring smiles to the faces of my coworkers).

Time to try new things

While hearing a speaker at an account management conference talk about the benefits of improvisation for presentations and public speaking, I carefully placed the idea in my memory bank. You see, it’s been about two years since I heard this advice, so obviously it’s taken me a little time to warm up to this suggestion.

But, I made the leap in January, and now I regularly find myself “on stage” with a group of folks ranging from stand-up comics to new-to-towners to wannabe performers. And then there’s ME – an Account Manager at an ad agency.

Here's what I learned and how it can help when presenting to clients

Well, improvisation is the art of creating scenes and stories out of given suggestions. While I’m only a few classes in, I’m proud to report I’ve already broken through the “gosh, that would sound really stupid to say in this scene” phase, along with the fear of pretending to look out a window and saying the first thing that pops into my head.

In improv, it’s all about focusing on what’s happening here and now. It’s about adding something to what your partner is saying in order to continue the flow of a scene. It’s about listening, body language, effective communication, and signals of affirmation which contribute to an ongoing conversation.

Truth is, all of these skills help in almost any business situation, from a branding presentation to a new business lunch, as well as in day-to-day life. In other words, a little spontaneity can go a long way.

If you’re interested in learning more about the link between improvisation and business success, check out this article .

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Retail isn’t dead, just needed some FRESHening up.

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 16:16:00 GMT

Despite ever-growing online retail buying, some businesses just won’t quit. It’s more than just agreeing to build a beautiful website in addition to the storefront. Sure, a nice site will attract those buyers who left the physical world of shopping for the comfort of buying from the couch, and, in my case, in my pjs. However, businesses like Target and Best Buy haven’t given up on a large set of customers—the shopper who wants to feel a new product in their hands and know it’s the right decision before they buy.

Target recently reinvented their store layout and design, keeping the customer’s experience in mind. Instead of accepting that an in-person shopping model is just defunct now, they’re offering a store that consumers will actually want to walk into.

Instead of accepting defeat, they did some FRESH THINKING.

You probably know that AdSavants is all about that FRESH THINKING. (We can’t stop and we won’t stop.) That’s why we respect Target’s mission to improve the customer experience and how they’re keeping in-store shoppers. They’ve changed the game by adding two entrances—one “Ease” entrance for customers who want to make a quick trip for online pickup or grab groceries, and one full entrance for the casual shopper who wants to look around. There’s even a drive-up parking area to pick up online purchases, so you don’t even need to leave the car. (You mean I can keep listening to my favorite podcast and not have to navigate carts and slow-walkers?!)

There are so many other features to the store. I encourage you to explore more here .

AdWeek made a beautiful infographic of the new store layouts:

Another retailer determined to use FRESH THINKING to enhance in-person sales is Best Buy. Yep, they’re still around. Yep, even after Amazon overtook the tech market. Every time I see a Best Buy, I think, people still go there ? Well, it turns out, people want to explore their electronics before they spend hundreds of dollars. Even if free shipping is in the mix.

According to AdWeek’s Come Back Brands article, Best Buy isn’t what it used to be. They enhanced staff training and visibility. It’s no longer just a large warehouse where you can’t find anyone to help you among the rows and rows of CDs and DVDs. With displays that showcase new tech from partners like Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft, you can adventure through electronics, instead of purely relying on online reviews. Moreover, Best Buy price-matched Amazon, and upped their shipping game.

These are the brands that can compete year-round, not just during the holiday season. The next time you’re out and you ask yourself how a company is still in business, maybe go inside and see what new innovations have been created to keep up with what you want as a consumer. It’s with teams of FRESH THINKERS that brands stay successful.

The post Retail isn’t dead, just needed some FRESHening up. appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

Gratitude

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 15:17:00 GMT

As part of our agency recognition of Thanksgiving, it was proposed by one of the Savants that each of us write down three things for which we’re thankful. As I perused the list, I was struck by a couple of things: first, family was mentioned by each and every person; second, there was little reference to material things, except for street tacos, football, Uggs and good books; third, every-thing coalesced around people, food, experiences, music, good health and many of the basic things we need for subsistence and a fulfilling human experience.

The holidays are a favorite of time year for me for a number of reasons, most notably as a chance to recognize the things for which we’re grateful, but also as an opportunity to overtly share our gratitude with others. As we begin to wind down the year with appreciation for our good fortune, I am inspired by this quote by JFK, reminding us that the greatest gift we can give ourselves is to let gratitude light up our path each and every day, and in so doing enrich the lives of others.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

–John F. Kennedy

The post Gratitude appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

Small Agencies Are Small Wonders

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 20:25:00 GMT

Throughout my entire career I’ve worked at large advertising agencies. Agencies housed in big buildings with big conference rooms which were, regrettably, often filled with big egos. So, coming to a shop of a dozen or so associates I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Now, after a bit of time in my new environment, I’ve come to understand and embrace the characteristics and differences of today’s modern small shop. Let’s start with what matters most.

People.

At a small shop, you get to know everyone. Every. Single. Person. You know their names, their job functions, their musical tastes, their lunch preferences, even the names of their children and pets. And guess what? When people really know each other, they learn to trust each other. At AdSavants, everyone has everyone else’s back. Which means our clients know their projects are going to get done on time and on budget – come hell or high water – with the power of the entire agency team. There’s a good word for that: Flexibility.

Flexibility.

In an industry filled with specialists, small agencies are the natural habitat of multitaskers. Account Directors learn to take killer photographs. Copywriters help develop key strategic insights. Art Directors cover recording sessions. This approach not only provides everyone with a wider view of the advertising business as a whole, it makes us all eminently more valuable. Just ask our Office Manager, Roxanne, who once starred in one of our radio spots. This get it done attitude means we make every minute and every dollar count, which leads me to my next point.

Efficiency.

For brands looking to get the absolute most out of a marketing budget, it’s hard to imagine a more cost-effective way to do business than with a small agency. We’re not saddled with tremendous overhead, so we can be very competitive with our bids when we really want a client or project. With a lean and hungry staff, our turnaround times are fast. And, due to the very nature of small business, our clients have our undivided attention every day of the week. For them, speaking with someone at the agency who can immediately make things happen is as easy as picking up the phone.

Culture.

Beyond our awesome family vibe, we enjoy a culture that’s all about collaboration. Truth is, it’s easier to collaborate with various disciplines when you see them every morning in the kitchen. At AdSavants, sharing ideas happens organically. And when that happens, our creative product wins. And when that happens, our clients win. And when that happens, we throw a party. Yeah, that’s one of the biggest differences of all. Small agencies still know how to have fun.

The post Small Wonder appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

The Secrets to a Happy Home, Better Health and a More Productive Life

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 21:01:00 GMT

The three big mysteries of the universe. Even the most enlightened minds among us have pondered these riddles since the beginning of time. Had those venerable sages stopped for a moment and cast their gaze to the third floor of a historical building at the corner of 21 ^st St. and Locust, the answers were staring them right in the face.

We’re Advertising Savants. And we’ve been here all along. This is the only place where you’ll find Fresh Thinking for Brands That Enhance Home, Health, and yes, even Life itself.

It’s a fact. We aspire to make the lives of consumers better. That’s why we enjoy our work. But what Ad Savants does is much more than just developing new creative concepts or marketing campaigns. Whether we’re reaching out to people looking to renovate their kitchens, visit the Zoo, add to their wardrobes, improve their health, get a better education or experience enriching leisure activities—we connect them, in a remarkably moving way, with the brands we support. It’s the big reason we roll out of bed in the morning.

And the minute our feet hit the floor, a process we call “Fresh Thinking” kicks in. What’s “Fresh Thinking” you ask? Well, the answer is different for every client. It can be a unique approach to a marketing plan for natural stone home surfaces. An out-of-the-box digital strategy for a national health system—or a breakthrough creative campaign for a local attraction.

That’s what we do. For more than 25 years we’ve shared our “Fresh Thinking” with clients and their brands that make a difference in the world. With great success.

So, stop searching for those elusive answers. Success is no secret. Just look in the direction of our modest Midtown address—where you’ll discover a world of amazing Savants who can impart their profound wisdom, revealing the path to a happier home, improved health and a better life.

Check out some of our work here .

The post The Secrets to a Happy Home, Better Health and a More Productive Life appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

Inspiration for Fresh Thinking

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 21:00:00 GMT

In a creative field like advertising, inspiration is vital to the development of fresh thinking .

What inspires one person may be different for another, which is why self-reflection of what motivates and sparks creativity is essential.

As a constant resource for our clients, I look for ways to keep myself inspired throughout the day. By doing this, I am able to offer our clients a new perspective and ensure it pairs well with what they are trying to accomplish. My inspiration starts every Monday morning. I select a quote that evokes a clear mind and encourages productivity. Then, each morning for that entire week, I re-read the quote to reboot my mindset before starting the day. One quote every week for 52 weeks. I find it to be soothing and reassuring as each workday brings new challenges and opportunities.

Now that 2017 has come to a close, I began this activity once again in 2018. However, it is always good to reflect on the great motivators from the previous year to inform the next. Here are a few of the quotes that offered me optimism, and hopefully they will do the same for you.

Let 2018 be a year of progression and an abundant amount of fresh thinking .

-Courtney

The post Inspiration for Fresh Thinking appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

What IS a Project Manager?

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 20:57:00 GMT

Project Manager. It’s such a generic term. Judging from the all the construction mailings I receive every day, that expression encompasses a lot more than guiding projects through an ad agency. We all have common goals of keeping a project on its timeline, on budget and flawless—however, for this post I can really only speak from my experience as an agency project manager.

Defining the Role of Project Manager

Not long ago, there were many different titles such as production manager, traffic manager, producer, (the list goes on and on) that defined the roles much more narrowly. That’s not the case today. A Project Manager must wear a lot of hats, and perform many functions. That’s the exciting part. You just never know what assignment you’ll be called on to handle on that specific day.

During my 29 years in this business, I’ve overseen a wide range and styles of projects. Anywhere from the production of annual location photo shoots—for up to ten weeks each year—to the printing and supervision of a client’s business cards. The details of each project are important and it’s key to have a cohesive team that realizes that.

Project Manager or Wizard of Oz?

The role of Project Manager is to be the integral part in developing a common goal in creating excellent work—allowing the client to reach their business goals. For one to be involved in the production side of an agency, you must be willing to play the part of the “man (or woman) behind the curtain”.

Details are essential in making the project run smoothly with a positive result. Yet, so often in this business, “no news is good news”. An aptitude for numbers, an enthusiasm for the creative process and a tenacity to carry the finished product to delivery is essential for anyone performing the role. It can be fun, exciting and fulfilling. And it’s definitely a new adventure everyday.

Not as crazy as going to Oz, but maybe.

The post What IS a Project Manager? appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

Market Research and Fresh Thinking, a Perfect Combination

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 20:55:00 GMT

We are an advertising agency—not a medical lab…why would we conduct research?

A brand is a living thing, an energy composed of thoughts and feelings that are called to mind when you think about a business. At Advertising Savants, our proven process to develop a brand includes defining a core purpose—or the difference a brand is meant to make in the world. How do we go about determining such positioning? We start with market research .

Getting to know you … Getting to know all about you

The first step in our process is immersive in nature. It’s one of my favorite aspects of our business; a real courtship, if you will, where we get to know the nuances of a business. There’s nothing more exciting to me than that time frame between “let’s work together” and “now presenting: your company’s brand strategy.” That period most often contains a deep market research phase.

Case in point, a new client came to us a few years ago from a category we had no prior experience in. We jumped in headfirst in all six of their markets, conducting what turned out to be a two-month whirlwind of interviews—gaining insight through conversations with staff, consumers and the trade alike.

Internal interviews with the staff gave us a firsthand look into the heart of the company—the people that keep operations running and are at the forefront of interaction with customers.
Consumer insights garnered an interesting aspect into what makes them tick—why a customer may purchase our client’s product, or what may cause them not to.
Meetings with the trade gave us an in-depth look at the workings of the industry—the nuts and bolts, trends and new knowledge of industry advancements.

Given the fact that each of these groups lent themselves to a very different set of insights, it was quite necessary to conduct this far-reaching research phase to allow us to develop the most effective positioning possible. And in the end, we created a vision for the company, an image for the public and successfully brought the brand to life.

Types of Market Research

If you’re wondering about how to conduct market research, one of the first things you need to determine is exactly which types are going to be best suited for your brand. Depending upon the objectives we’re trying to accomplish, we typically start with a combination of 4 different types of market research.

Brand research

Brand research allows you to gain a better understanding of the perspectives and thoughts that various stakeholders and consumers have about your brand. This type of market research explores things like brand loyalty, brand perception, brand positioning, brand value and brand identity.

Customer research

The aim of this research is to know your customer inside out, and continuously learn about how they interact with the company. This includes what makes customers happy, why they stay loyal and what behaviors and characteristics they all have in common. Oftentimes some of our initial customer research involves simply their location — helping define which geographic areas you are winning and which have room for opportunity.

Competitive research

This type of market research is to discover ways to make your business stand out from others and planning for the future. Understanding a competitor’s strengths and weaknesses can be an invaluable tool.

Product research

When conducting product research, whether for a future product or an existing one, you want to gather information about how people are using your product (or similar products) and what their attitudes are about it. By going through this market research process, brands are able to guage customer satisfaction and begin identifying area for improvement and/or competitive edge.

Research Methods

Some paid and free market research reports and insights can sometimes be found online, which can be super helpful in learning about industry perceptions. But we strongly suggest you dig in a bit deeper and look at your business individually. There are so many tools available nowadays, including things like SurveyMonkey and Userlytics that allow brands to employ a variety of research methods, including:

Qualitative market research
Quantitative market research
Primary market research
Secondary market research

The importance of market research

To help you appropriately identify and position yourself, you need to understand where you stand in the marketplace and in relation to your competitors. Doing so enables you to carve out a niche for your brand—and do something original that will connect with your current and future customers.

Plus, today’s consumers expect brands to understand them and the problems they’re trying to solve.

As you can see, if your brand is in need of some fresh ideas, the best place to start is with market research. We’ve been generating strong, award-winning creative ideas for more than 30 years…and they all start with the same thing: market research . It just works. Reach out if you’d like to learn more about our process.

Hey Siri, What’s a Bot?

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 20:47:00 GMT

A couple of weeks ago, the AdSavants team packed up our laptops and headed to SMCSTL’s 2017 Social Summit. We spent the day sipping coffee and digging into what’s new in the world of social. We listened to talks on case studies, best practices and developing platforms to create employee advocacy, but what really caught my attention was the conversation on messenger bots. So, I thought I’d share a little of what we learned and why we’re excited about it as a new tool.

So, what's a bot?

“A bot is an application that performs an automated task, such as setting an alarm, telling you the weather or searching online” ¹ . Siri, Alexa, and Cortana are the more famous bots, specifically chatbots, that can hold a conversation with you and help you accomplish a task. You might also be thinking about the chatbots that you typically interact with online in a service environment. But what I’m really jazzed about are messenger bots.

Where can you find messenger bots?

Messenger bots can be found in any of the following messenger apps:

Messenger apps now allow users to interact with third-party services within the platform ² . You can find plenty of bots in an app store, but what makes messenger bots special is you don’t have to download anything or leave the platform. Meaning the experience is seamless and won’t clog up space on your phone. Messenger bots use conversation to bring a product or service into a messaging app you already use ² .

Messenger bots are handy because beyond carrying on a conversation, they can also conduct transactions and manage workflows ² . What does that mean for you? Right now, you could buy a good or service via Facebook Messenger—i.e. shop, order food or request an Uber. You could curate a feed of news content that you enjoy, get a notification if your flight is delayed or car needs servicing, or even bank and monitor your finances all in your favorite messenger app ² .

Most folks are already doing this stuff online or via apps, so what’s the benefit of doing it in a messenger app using bots? According to Matt Schlicht, Founder & Editor, Chatbots Magazine, “…messaging apps are growing faster than social networks” ³ .

People are already spending 80–90% of their time in just five apps, and most of these are messenger apps ³ . So users are already there, but why would they use a bot? Bots de-clutter the mobile experience and update us when we need to know something or respond, but are otherwise invisible ² . Bots update themselves automatically and don’t take up space on our phones; they can even manage other bots by creating hierarchies that prevent you from being overwhelmed ² .

Ok, so bots are nifty, but why should brands get excited?

From a customer service perspective, younger generations prefer interacting with bots instead of people, and not having to wait on the phone during business hours ⁴ . Messenger bots get 15x more engagement and 73% of customers prefer it over email or phone support for customer service ⁵ . Messenger apps are also where the elusive millennials and gen Z are spending most of their time ⁴ .

Even more compelling, these messaging apps want to bring brands and users together, and are offering even more personal data as an incentive to brands ⁴ . With Facebook Messenger, once a brand has established contact with a consumer, Facebook allows the brand to send them targeted messages directly within the app ⁵ .

Because bots learn from the data they receive, and the messenger apps provide, they deliver the personalized experience users are looking for ⁴ . Since Facebook Messenger’s launch, a little over a year ago, their bots have evolved to offer rich media experiences using images, videos and carousel slide shows—all within the app ⁶ . This means as users consolidate their apps, and stop downloading and using new ones, brands can let go of creating, promoting, and updating costly apps.

This opens up space for smaller businesses with smaller budgets, as bots live on servers, not the user’s phone, which makes them cheaper to create and easier to update ⁶ . While apps won’t completely go away, the bot environment will likely convert apps that aren’t in the user’s top five ⁶ .

So what’s next?

If you haven’t interacted with a messenger bot before, pull open your Facebook Messenger app, scroll down, click the discover icon and start exploring for yourself. The messenger app environment in the U.S. is fairly young, still evolving and wide open for innovation ⁶ . The fact that messenger bots are cheaper than apps, exist in a less cluttered environment, and speak to a hard to reach target audience is exciting news for brands. We’ll be keeping our eye on Facebook Messenger to see what new features roll out. In the meantime, raise your hand if you want to build a bot!

Sources

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Hold Onto Your Lederhosen

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 20:35:00 GMT

Otters? Lederhosen? Polkas? Root beer kegs? The Zoo? How in the world do all these fit together? What could they possibly have in common? And why?

Well, for answers to those questions and more, we need to set the Wayback Machine to the late 20 ^th century — 1999 to be exact. Destination: The Advertising Savants conference room. Frank Oros and I were given an assignment to create an ad for “Ottertoberfest”, a fun, family-friendly October event at the Saint Louis Zoo—featuring (you guessed it) otters.

In typical fashion, we’d spent a day or two banging our heads against this problem, watching precious time dwindle away as the deadline loomed closer.

It was around “Late Thirty PM” when the coffee took hold and delirium set in. I mumbled wearily, “C’mon man, we have to nail this ad by morning.”

To which Frank moaned in an odd German accent, “Oh Villy, mine belly hurt.”

Curiously, I responded in my own weird dialect, “Schnitzel, don’t be such a big bucket uf sauerkraut.” At that moment, right there in that room, Villy & Schnitzel were born. Lederhosen-clad German otters with a love of oom-pah pah bands and root beer. Taking on lives of their own, those two stepped in and finished the ad for us that night. (Well, at least that’s how I remember it.)

For weeks, even months, those critters dwelled in our heads — always sneaking into conversations at the most inopportune moments. They became part of Frank and myself, much as they did late that night in the conference room. There were even discussions about producing radio commercials with the peculiar, outspoken pair. But alas, there wasn’t a budget for that type of project at the time.

Wait! Did I say time?! Why, yes I did. We still have the time machine available to whisk us back to 2012. It seems that over the years, “Ottertoberfest” had grown in popularity and so did its advertising budget.

Wunderbar! We’re talking a reunion bigger than Simon and Garfunkel in Central Park. Villy & Schnitzel would yodel together again. Not only in print — but now in two radio spots, for the beloved October celebration at the Saint Louis Zoo.

Fast forward. Time machine. Remember?
I immediately got down to work on scripts.
Frank and I channeled our Bavarian alter egos.
Then, Villy & Schnitzel took it from there.
The rest, they say, is history.
It’s all true. I swear. I was there.

The post Hold Onto Your Lederhosen appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

Capturing the Moment through Digital Video

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 20:13:00 GMT

Digital video continues to grow in popularity and can provide an interesting, visual and cost-effective way to meet client goals. As the need increases for efficient and effective videos, our team continues to build our capabilities to better support our clients.

Digital videos allow a clients’ message to reach their audience where they already are—social media. These social platforms allow users to gather quick information through short and enticing videos.

The digital videos we developed for the Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America are great examples of the benefit digital videos can have on a client’s business. We created three videos, each focusing on a specific summer camp offered by the Council, to use for camp recruitment. We gathered footage at each camp based on a previously determined framework, with the flexibility to capture the camp activities that were already happening, as opposed to staging events.

This unscripted approach allowed us to truly capture the boys’ personalities and the fun they have at camp. Their thoughts were their own, their smiles genuine and their friendships were real. Our team was just there to capture it as it happened.

Digital video was such a successful tactic for the Boy Scouts in 2016 that we returned to the camps this year to develop two more videos: one that can be used as a recruitment tool for summer camps and one to recruit new Scouts.

The videos are used on the Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America social media channels, website and are also distributed to council leaders to share at recruitment nights. Digital video really gave us the opportunity to show the fun Scouts have as well as the learning and growth that each boy experiences.

The post Capturing the Moment through Digital Video appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

A Day in the Life of a Digital Marketer

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:05:00 GMT

Hi, I’m Andrea. Let me introduce myself as the Digital Manager here at Advertising Savants.

As a digital marketer, I frequently find myself playing many different roles throughout any given day. When asked what I “actually” do all day, I usually find it hard to explain since there are so many different components to my job.

The simplest way I can explain it is that I wear a ton of different "hats", and no two days are exactly the same.

Overall my job requires a lot of communicating, organizing and multitasking. And even though it sometimes requires me to switch gears at the drop of a hat, that's part of what makes my job so interesting and exciting.

Welcome to the world of a digital marketer!

The post A Day in the Life of a Digital Marketer appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

Healthcare Marketing Trends—2017 Midyear Review

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 20:01:00 GMT

It’s difficult to write a blog on trends these days. By the time you publish, they are almost yesterday’s news. But we have a few here we believe aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. And if you aren’t already acting on them, you’re missing out on opportunities to engage and build relationships with your consumers.

Doctors are having less influence on healthcare decisions.

Since the Affordable Care Act, the number of individuals purchasing coverage has been increasing. Unfortunately, insurance premiums are continuing to rise as well, driving consumers to take a more active role in their healthcare decisions. In a study by PEW Research Center, 72% of internet users search online for health information. ¹ Today’s healthcare consumer is savvy and shopping around. So, while marketing to doctors still matters, advertising budgets are making a bigger shift towards consumers as primary targets.

Traditional digital display advertising is declining.

Expect to see healthcare websites, previously driven by banner ads, adopting new content and ad models that perform better for mobile. According to Zenith Media, mobile advertising is predicted to grow 29% a year in 2017 and 2018, surpassing traditional display as the top advertising medium. All is not lost for desktop though. While banner ads will decline by 3.1% this year, social media and video are projected to grow at a whopping 20.1% a year, over the next three. ²

Native ads are on the rise .

As more sophisticated methods for blocking ads are popping up every day, marketers are looking for other ways to engage consumers on their terms. Because native ads are written and formatted to blend into a website’s original content, consumers are more open to receiving them. Think of them as digital advertorials. In research conducted by IPG & Sharethrough, users viewed native ads 53% more than display ads and spent almost as much time with them as they did with the site’s other content. ³ Forbes also believes native ads will drive 74% of ad revenue by 2021. ⁴

A greater emphasis is being placed on experiential marketing.

Millennials want authentic interactive experiences with brands. According to Smart Business , experiential marketing “provides a platform and solution that allows healthcare organizations to connect with consumers face-to-face and engage with them over a long period of time.” ⁵ In the next few years, expect to see an explosion of campaigns combining interactive tactics such as events, interactive displays, contests, promotions, social media, virtual and augmented reality.

Hospital systems are re-branding themselves.

As hospital mergers continue, healthcare systems both big and small are spending more to differentiate themselves from one another, leveraging affiliations, expanded services and a focus on overall wellness. According to Kantar Media, healthcare spending increased 20% between 2011 and 2014. ⁶

Need help staying ahead of health marketing trends? Advertising Savants is an idea-driven agency specializing in the areas of home, health and life. For over 25 years, we have built a reputation for creating great work based on solid strategies for brands that help people live better. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your brand feel better.

Sources

The post Healthcare Marketing Trends—2017 Midyear Review appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

An Account Manager’s Brain

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 19:59:00 GMT

Account managers and SpongeBob SquarePants have the same brain. Believe it or not, we all have a little bit of SpongeBob in us—especially account managers. As we process information, our brains organize and store it in a similar way.

Have you ever seen the episode of SpongeBob where replicas of SpongeBob work day in and day out to sort information in his brain and store it in the proper filing cabinet? When Squidward asks SpongeBob to forget everything that doesn’t pertain to fine dining, SpongeBob goes into his brain, a mini version of an office, and literally shreds and disposes of all information not related to fine dining. Account managers have the same structure: filing cabinets upon filing cabinets of information that we gain from working on our clients’ businesses.

As a liaison between client and agency, we work to gain the most insight from our clients to provide our team the opportunity to exceed in their deliverables. In order to do this, we must constantly mentally file away details about projects and campaigns to serve as a reference for future work. This way, we can share this past knowledge with both our clients and our team and serve as forward-thinkers and valuable resources.

Each account manager organizes his or her file system differently. This is because even though we all share similar skillsets, we all work with different clients who have individualized needs based on their business. Our clients shape our filing system. Pretty crazy, huh? Our client-based filing system is what allows us to meet our clients’ needs, to the best of our ability, every day.

So thank you creators of SpongeBob, for illustrating the extensive, yet organized system that every account manager’s brain consists of. Each day we determine what needs to be retained (fine dining) and the other items that we will be ok without (everything else). It is a great depiction of how we bring forward the smallest, yet highly important, details that could be the key to the efficiency and accuracy in our daily communication with our clients.

The post An Account Manager’s Brain appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

Reaching the Right Customers: How You Can Make Influencer Marketing Work for You

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 19:55:00 GMT

Influencer Marketing. It’s one of the hot new buzzwords floating around the advertising industry today, waiting for brands everywhere to glom on to it. Rightfully so, it may seem, because of the brand credibility it creates within the consumer, its scalability and the potential ROI benefits. But what is it really? And is it right for you?

Simply put, influencer marketing is the concept of advertising your products and services to key individuals who have an influence over the things other people buy or use. The goal, ultimately, is to avoid much of the skepticism directed at more traditional marketing methods and reach your target customer indirectly through influential people they trust.

So, how does influencer marketing work?

That depends on the goal of your campaign, and the rest of the process all stems from that first step. We've put together a guide to help you get started. Remember, all good things take time, and don't be afraid to see how effective this marketing style can be.

Moral of the story is that influencer marketing, while admittedly less “controllable” than more traditional forms of marketing, has huge potential to reach consumers you may not otherwise reach. Influencers, by nature, have the ability to sway their followers simply by recommending products and services they use themselves.

So next time you’re looking for a way to reach your customers more organically and at scale, consider conducting an influencer marketing campaign. Done correctly, you may just find your small, local brand to be the next big thing.

Sources: AdWeek , Forbes , KissMetrics , Marketing-Schools , TapInfluence

The post Reaching the Right Customers: How You Can Make Influencer Marketing Work for You appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

You’re gonna need a bigger boat…

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 19:54:00 GMT

A little #TBT to the Shark campaign for the Saint Louis Zoo.

Some years ago we were charged with introducing St. Louis to sharks when they joined the stingrays at the Saint Louis Zoo’s Caribbean Cove. The most exciting part about the exhibit was you could actually put your hand in a pool with fish that you generally avoid. You know, things that can sting or bite.

Side note: Did you know sharks and stingrays are cousins? They are both made entirely of cartilage—not a bone in their body. Even their teeth are big, modified scales. Proof that the spineless are indeed the scariest.

So with a playful pep in our step, we set out to invite people to overcome their fears and pet these elasmobranchs.

Creatively we did this through a prankster grandpa, some grandkids and a story—in the TV spot “Shark Tales.”

Want to know more about sharks? Head to Shark School on the Saint Louis Zoo’s website .

The post You’re gonna need a bigger boat… appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

How A Rock Solid Video Content Strategy Drove Big Results For A Local Brand

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:50:00 GMT

At Advertising Savants, we communicate through multiple channels for our clients and we understand that creating valuable content is imperative. One aspect of our marketing efforts includes video blogs, or vlogs, that are concepted, shot and produced by our in-house video group. The capabilities of our nimble, run-and-gun team allows for a real-time look into a brand with a slice-of-life style. I’d like to share with you the success we’ve had with one client in particular.

Rock solid vision

Unique Stone Concepts is the preeminent wholesale distributor of natural stone and quartz products in the Midwest. Their mission of providing the highest level of customer service along with best possible selection of materials is very strong and we wanted to share it with consumers in unique ways. One way we have been able to achieve this is through vlogging.

The consumer purchase of stone is an individual and highly personal decision, so gaining trust and loyalty amongst customers while they are in the development stage of their project is important. Vlogging allows customers to personally connect to the Unique Stone Concepts brand because the people that make up the brand–the stone gurus–are featured. The vlogs showcase the people of Unique Stone Concepts as thought leaders and experts in the industry.

The making of a vlog is not set in stone

Vlog topics are determined monthly and while we are always prepared with a loose script, we find once we hit the editing suite we tend to be drawn to the charm and warmth captured in the natural personalities of the stone experts that exude as the cameras are rolling. It is always fun to see various personalities play out and shine on video–some of our best footage has been captured this way.

Leave no stone un-filmed

One objective of creating these vlogs is to show breadth in the variety of topics we
cover and to make sure they are of interest to fabricators, designers and consumers alike.

One of my favorite videos to date is “ Our Customer Experience ” which offers a start-to-finish look into the consumer experience from the selection process to fabrication, installation and completion. A brand new video in this series highlights the amazing connection a customer had with one of the in-house designers and really showcases the customer service aspect of the Unique Stone mission.

The “ Monthly Exotic ” series features an exotic stone and highlights Unique Stone Concepts ever-changing and extensive inventory. Also discussed are surface uses and reasons why a particular stone is unique.

We’ve also created an “ Ask the Experts ” series where the in-house stone virtuosos answer questions about uses, durability, trends and more.

Solid results

Our vlogs have garnered very positive results for Unique Stone’s presence. We continue to see web traffic increase monthly and engagement is tracking well. Developing topical and entertaining content has been a key to creating their successful brand image.

The post Our Cameras are Rolling on Stone appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

Summer Like a Savant: What We’re Reading

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:49:00 GMT

The problem: it’s summer and you’re planning to burn up that PTO someplace warm. Will you while it away on a beach or hop on a plane and travel someplace insta-worthy? Either way, you’ve got downtime, and chances are, no wifi. How to occupy the time? The perfect summer read of course!

We’ve got you covered. Check out what the AdSavants team is reading this summer to escape, be inspired or learn, and (bonus!) get to know us a little better through the pages we’re turning this summer.

Andrea

“I usually read fiction because it’s entertaining, helps me unwind and stretches my imagination. This is usually a mixture of both realistic fiction as well as mystical/dystopian fiction. Usually my strategy is just to wander into the library and pick up whatever looks interesting. I also rely on Goodreads and friend recommendations.”
Recommends: Tunnel Vision , by Susan Adrian or Thirteen Reasons Why , by Jay Asher

Ashley

“This book was recommended to me as a light summer read. I already have it packed for the beach! With reviews like: “Once in a great while, a character like Arthur Pepper comes along and quietly steals your heart. Arthur might make you cry—but he’ll also make you laugh, think and feel grateful that you came along on his fantastical journey,” how could I not want to give it a read?”

Recommend: The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper , by Phaedra Patrick

Courtney

“My favorite book, which I would totally read again, is Message in a Bottle, by Nicholas Sparks. It of course, being a Nicholas Sparks novel, is a romance. However, it really dives into how everything happens for a reason. That people meet at the time that they are destined to and that love can be found once more.”

Recommend: Message in a Bottle , by Nicholas Sparks

Kevin

“ Radical Candor is about being a better leader; as a person always in search of how to inspire creative people, I’ve heard this is a good read . . . I’ve recently watched a few Vikings shows and have become intrigued about separating fact from fiction as it relates to their history. This book was given to me as a gift and I look forward to diving into it this summer.”

Recommends: Radical Candor , by Kim Scott and The Age of the Vikings , by Anders Winroth

Lizzy

“I love fiction, fantasy, and poetry. I’m also a firm believer in reading multiple things at once—I usually like to read something that challenges me, inspires me, and helps me escape. Here’s what I’m juggling right now: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is a novel that reads like a series of short stories that build a larger narrative that transcends time and history. I love her style, and that I’m learning Ghanaian history and U.S. history at the same time! Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur is a book of the loveliest and most heartbreaking poems. I read a couple a night for magical dreams. I’m a huge fan of Neil Gaiman and a big mythology nerd, the combination couldn’t be more perfect in Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology . Each chapter is short and makes for great travel reading if you get interrupted.”

Recommends: Homegoing , by Yaa Gyasi, Milk and Honey , by Rupi Kaur, and Norse Mythology , by Neil Gaiman

Mary

“ Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet, by Jamie Ford is a recommend. I did not know a lot about the Japanese American internment during World War Two. It became especially relevant to me since this happened to our future daughter-in-law’s grandfather (although he lived in California and was sent to Las Vegas).”

Recommend: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet , by Jamie Ford

Melissa

“The book starts out with a woman finding a letter tucked away in her attic. It’s addressed in her husband’s handwriting and says “For my wife, Cecilia Fitzpatrick…To be opened only in the event of my death”. The thing is, he is alive and well, and away on a business trip. Cecilia is left to try to analyze what this cryptic message might be about. Chapter by chapter, new characters are introduced and you start to learn they are intertwined with each other in a very interesting way. The author has a humorous, if not a bit sarcastic, style that lends itself well to the nature of this mystery. Very well done. A definite page turner.”

Recommend: The Husband’s Secret , by Liane Moriarty

Roxane

“I am still trying to get to Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn because it takes place in our home state of Missouri and I’ve heard it’s a phenomenal mystery and page-turner! With three kids and a house full of “stuff,” I desperately need to read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo.”

Recommends: The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up , by Marie Kondo

The post Summer Like a Savant: What We’re Reading appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

Advertising Savants wins a 2017 Aster Award for Excellence in Healthcare Advertising and Marketing.

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 21:31:00 GMT

Yay team!

Time to make room on the shelf at Advertising Savants’ headquarters for another trophy. Our recent ad campaign for St. Anthony’s Medical Center has been recognized as a Judge’s Choice award winner in the 2017 Aster Awards .

The Aster Awards is an exclusive competition honoring the nation’s most talented healthcare marketing professionals for excellence in advertising.

Winner in the Total Advertising Campaign category—St. Anthony’s “Caring for Generations” campaign, utilized a unique combination of advertising mediums to refresh the brand and effectively communicate the client’s “experts in family health for over 140 years” message.

Campaign elements included traditional mediums–television, radio, print, outdoor and mall signage as well as digital video, banners and the newly introduced Facebook Canvas application.

See several examples of the winning work here:

• SAMC Generations :30

• SAMC Joe :30

• SAMC Caring For/Physicians :30

• SAMC Caring For/Heart :30

Congratulations to all AdSavants and associates who participated in creating this Aster Award-winning work.

In addition, we’re also proud to announce that Design Rush has listed us amongst other elite agencies as a top Digital Marketing Agency . Our team continues to do big things!

The post Advertising Savants wins a 2017 Aster Award for Excellence in Healthcare Advertising and Marketing. appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

What’s in A Name?

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 21:31:00 GMT

Save-ents? Suh-vants? Suh-vonts? In case you’re wondering, it’s the last one.

“ Savants ,” actually. We know it’s hard to pronounce and even harder to spell, but have no fear: AdSavants is here to help! But what’s a savant and why do we call ourselves that?

According to our friends over at Merriam-Webster, a savant is “a person of profound or extensive learning; especially : one with detailed knowledge in a specialized field.” That’s a pretty accurate description of who we are, if we do say so ourselves. So what’s in a name?

“ Advertising Savants ” represents a team of passionate individuals who each have specialized knowledge in the field of advertising. From strategic planning and management to creative concepting and execution, we like to think of ourselves as a one-stop shop. We love what we do and we’re constantly inspired to push the boundaries of advertising through what we call fresh thinking . So how do we do it?

Every day, our small but mighty team works hard to create campaigns that connect brands with consumers who value what they have to offer. Sounds simple, right? But for us, it’s so much more than that. It’s about enriching lives by connecting people in an emotional and meaningful way to the brands we serve. Still with me?

All in all, this Agency knows how to pack a punch when it comes to campaign strategy and creative execution. We consider ourselves to have BIG agency smarts with a small agency spirit . Without our team of specialized advertising experts, we wouldn’t have spent over 25 years creating and serving our community through meaningful work. And that’s why we call ourselves AdSavants—so now you know!

The post What’s in A Name? appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

Congratulations to the Saint Louis Zoo

adsavants@gmail.com (Amanda Kinder) — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 21:30:00 GMT

Time for some #ThrowBackThursday!

In September 2016, The Saint Louis Zoo was voted America’sTopFree Attraction . As if that wasn’t enough, another poll by USA Today just recognized them as the Best Zoo in the U.S .

A panel of experts partnered with USA Today to pick the initial 20 nominees. All of the nominees were AZA accredited zoos, meaning they meet the highest standards in animal care, provide a fun and educational family experience and dedicate funds to scientific research, conservation and education programs.

Voters then determined the top 10 winners—the Saint Louis Zoo being number one. I guess that means that not only is our Zoo amazing, but our city also knows how to step it up!

The post Congratulations to the Saint Louis Zoo appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

We’re Back!

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 14:47:00 GMT

Well hello there! Fancy seeing you here! Welcome to the new and improved Advertising Savants blog page. It’s been awhile since the last time we talked and a lot has changed. We are officially a 13 person shop and we recently turned the big 2-5. And like all responsible adults, we celebrated in Florida with a drink in our hands. To be honest, the real reason we’re back on social media is to make our moms happy (hey Mom). But seriously, we want to let you know what we’ve been up to and keep you posted on what’s to come.

We recently added two new members to the AdSavants team. Meet Crystal: She joined AdSavants in January 2016 as our storyteller. Crystal is a writer and develops video content for clients like Unique Stone and Boy Scouts. Outside of work, she is a mother of three fantastic boys named Crosby and Nash and Topper (yes, we’re serious and no, there is no relation to the famous duo). Next up is Andrea, she joined AdSavants in February 2016. Andrea works as our digital manager. Fun fact about Andrea: She could eat chicken tenders, pizza and/or pancakes for every meal and be perfectly satisfied (and fat).

In 2016 we added some great folks to our team, but we also did a lot of awesome work for clients old and new. Some of the highlights: integrated Saint Louis Zoo campaigns, St. Anthony’s Medical Center campaigns, a ScholarShop campaign, Casino Queen promotional marketing, Unique Stone website and social campaign, Bacterioscan website and collateral, Hautly Cheese social campaign and Victory shampoo website and digital campaign. Just to name a few.

But we’re not all work, work, work here at AdSavants. We play hard too. Adventures like a zipline tour and a day at the wineries keep the creative juices flowing. We also celebrated a few big employee anniversaries: happy 15 Mary and happy five Ray! Lastly, we took the whole crew down to South Florida for a week to celebrate the Agency’s 25th anniversary and dream up big plans for 2017.

So that’s just a little recap of what we’ve been up to. Stay tuned to this swanky new blog and be up-to-date on all things AdSavants. We’ll keep you informed on the big projects we have going on, team trips and what conferences we are attending. Check back every week for more great articles. Also, tune in to our other social media channels, won’t you?

The post We’re Back! appeared first on Advertising Savants | St. Louis Ad Agency | Award Winning Creative Agency .

Savant Stories

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2510

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens

PLAY

Can you spot the fake headline?

Woman Arrested With Bag Labeled 'Definitely Not A Bag Full Of Drugs'

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2507

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital

PLAY

Brainteaser

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2504

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

REMEMBER

LISTEN

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2503

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Bringing Attractions To Life For Over 30 Years

THINK

The Secret Sauce Behind Great Brands

Why Your Brand Strategy Matters More Than Ever

Discovering Your Core Purpose

“Every great brand starts with a "why." Your core purpose is more than just making money—it’s the heart and soul of your business. It’s your existential reason for being.”

— Kevin Reardon, Principal

Building a Strong Organizational Structure

Finding Your Unique Spot: Brand Positioning

Wrapping It Up

By clarifying your core purpose, organizing your brand architecture, and positioning yourself effectively, you’re setting up your business for long-term success.

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2502

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

KB!CE

LISTEN

Transforming Attractions into Must-Visit Destinations

Turning an attraction into a must-visit destination doesn’t happen by chance.

Laying the Groundwork with a Strong Media Strategy

Balancing digital and traditional media is key.

“By combining stunning visuals in print, outdoor and digital ads with targeted messaging on social media, the integrated campaign appealed to a wide range of audiences, from art lovers to families.

It was strategic, creative, and impossible to ignore. And it shattered attendance and revenue goals.”

— Melissa Hartrich, Account Director

Consistency: The Backbone of a Strong Brand

Consistency doesn’t mean repeating the same campaign every year; it means ensuring that every message you put out reflects your brand’s purpose and position .

The Importance of Brand Personality

— Director of Marketing, Reid Park Zoo

Why Creative Advertising Matters

Let’s Transform Your Attraction

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2412

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Reid Park Zoo

PLAY

SAVANT SOUP: ISSUE 2411

A hearty helping of hot and fresh advertising insights, tech trends and agency news.

LEARN

LOOK

Missouri Botanical Garden

SCROLL

Is Gen Z The Best Audience To Target As A Marketer?

SHOULDER SEASON MARKETING FOR ATTRACTIONS

Maximizing Attendance: The Power of Creative Marketing for Seasonal Attractions ﻿

Understanding Seasonality in Attractions

Crafting a Year-Round Marketing Strategy

Balancing Internal Efforts with Agency-Driven Campaigns

The Importance of Creative and Message Strategy

Enhancing the Visitor Experience to Encourage Repeat Visits

Measuring Success and Adjusting Strategies

Conclusion

Check Out Some of Our Attractions Work

Maximizing Attendance: The Power of Creative Marketing for Seasonal Attractions