Blog

Scrolling through Amazon or strolling down an actual aisle— packaging design affects our purchasing decisions. Packaging isn’t just a vehicle that gets products safely from store to home, it’s part of the product experience. And thoughtful packaging is one more creative way to tell your brand’s story. But it’s not just about attention-grabbing design. It’s about designing an experience that aligns with your audience’s values. These days that means minimal waste, sustainability, and creative engagement. The all-encompassing world of packaging design First, what do we mean by packaging design? It’s a big term that encompasses many different levels of decision-making. […]

Parler’s recent shutdown shows how much free speech protections are in the hands of technology. On January 9, Apple and Google removed Parler from the App Store and Android’s Marketplace. This move prevented new users from downloading the app. The following day, Amazon Web Services dropped Parler. A move that effectively disconnected the brand from the internet

We’ve all seen it by now. The slowly panning, wide-angle shot of empty streets and playgrounds. The tremulous, somber piano notes. And the word “unprecedented,” repeated ad nauseum. And we do mean “ad” in the most literal sense of the word. In a rush to strike the right empathetic tone, brands both big and small, national and local, fell into the trap of one-note ad campaigns. And who can blame them? When the pandemic hit, digital marketing agencies worldwide scrambled to pivot their messaging and keep their clients’ ad campaigns relevant.  So, yeah. 2020 had a definite vibe all its […]

If you’ve ever gotten a new pet, then you’ve likely experienced personalized marketing firsthand. From the moment that new dog, cat, or hamster enters your home, somehow, the algorithm has you pegged.  Suddenly, your social media feeds are flooded with ads for ergonomic water bowls, fluffy beds, and gourmet kibbles for your four-legged friend. You discover that puppy bow ties are a whole, thriving industry. Amazon knows you need a cat tower in every room of the house (and offers targeted discounts to make sure you get them).  And it’s not just the pet-specific brands that are going to pick […]

Imagine if life came with a script and stage directions. They could help you navigate social situations, guide you through difficult conversations, and even help you make big life announcements! While that’s sadly not available, you can create clear brand guidelines to keep your brand consistent, differentiate it from competitors, and guide your editorial and visual brand identities. And a marketing agency can help make it happen.    What’s the deal with brand guidelines anyway? Brand guidelines are internal documents or decks that companies can use to decide their brand’s overall direction. These guidelines help to inform visual and editorial […]

Pinterest: the dark horse of social media. In its 10-year history, the online platform has amassed over 442 million active users—and the highest percentage of female users of any social media site.  Plot twist: Pinterest isn’t just a social media site where women go to find DIY inspiration, InstaPot recipes, and fresh ideas. It’s a behemoth of a search engine that uses an intelligent algorithm to serve up relevant information to the right people at the right time. Take Denver-based startup Artifact Uprising, for example. All it took was one viral pin to generate over 48 thousand organic website clicks […]

It’s that time of year again. Mariah Carey has climbed out of 1994 and back into the Top 40. You can’t get away from the sound of jingling bells, and everything on the menu comes with a side of “Christmas Cheer.” Whether you love it or loathe it, there’s no denying that the holiday season will impact your brand’s end-of-year performance. But after a fraught year—hello pandemic, politics, murder hornets, and more—your holiday marketing strategy is either the last thing on your mind or just one more potential pitfall you’d rather avoid. But we don’t recommend putting your head in […]

“Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form.” — Jean-Luc Godard Back in 2015, the Harvard Business Review, predicted data-driven storytelling would be the next big trend in content marketing. And they weren’t talking about binary code short stories or the Matrix’s digital rain. The reality of data-driven storytelling is much more routine (and much more exciting) than that. It’s a way of looking at the world and translating facts into emotions that inspire brand love.  What is data-driven storytelling?  Which would you prefer to read: endless columns of data or a story about that data’s real-world impact? If […]