While TV and print budgets continue to decrease year after year, out-of-home budgets continue to grow with an estimated $29 billion for global out-of-home ad revenue in 2017. It’s projected to reach $33 billion by 2021, reported by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America and MAGNA Intelligence Study. So how is it that the oldest form of advertising is still growing year after year? The answer is technology and data.

In a world where consumers have virtually all of the control over retail purchases, they still make their choices based on brands. They know what they’re getting — whether it’s quality, price or street cred. There’s something that they value, so they choose the brand that delivers it. Those companies who have the most well-positioned brands are the easiest for consumers to choose from. But, what makes up a strong brand? These are the top five factors:

On its surface, LinkedIn is often thought of as a tool for professionals to connect to further their personal careers. However, I imagine if you’re reading this blog, you know it can be a powerful tool to execute a successful B2B marketing strategy. 

Have you ever purchased a pair of Toms shoes? Or Warby Parker glasses? Remember when the Honey Nut Cheerios bee disappeared from cereal boxes? Or that one time you were waiting in line at Walgreens and you noticed a large poster of Ben Stiller wearing a red clown nose behind the register?

Social media can be a game of cat and mouse. Just when we think we have a particular platform and demographic pegged, something new comes along and changes the game. Using social in your overall marketing strategy can come down to a couple of questions.

To hear Jeff Bowman tell it, he’s got wayyyy too many hobbies. Turns out he just has wayyyy too many talents for a man his age, a modern-day Jeff-of-all-trades.

Developing a marketing plan with data rather than intuition allows you to learn more about your target audience, understand what content and resources are driving these visitors through your website, and identify how to continue earning business from this audience.  The most widely used tool across all websites to gain this data is Google Analytics.  Google Analytics allows you to measure the right metrics, according to your business, and use these metrics to form future marketing strategies, objectives, and tactics.

Remember the adorable scene in Finding Nemo where Nemo and his dad nestle into their sea anemone homes for safety? It reveals a biological interaction between two organisms living in close physical association, referred to as symbiosis.

Advice: Listen to the experts.

I guarantee that no marketing firm or advertising agency recommended this logo to the Best Western decision-makers.

The End.

A call to action (CTA) is crucial in pulling users down the funnel toward a conversion. CTAs often take the form of big, flashy buttons on campaign landing pages, urging users to submit a form or take advantage of an offer.

Testimonial videos are best utilized when the viewer will likely be moved to action by hearing from a person that he or she considers a peer or a role model (the sentiment being either “I am like that person, so I should behave as he does” or “I want to be like that person, so I should do what she does.”) Testimonials have been utilized as a marketing tactic for many decades for one simple reason: They work. There are many ways to execute a testimonial video; here are two of my favorites.

You did your research, planned and strategized every aspect of your marketing campaign and successfully hit your carefully articulated goals. What’s next? Closing the loop with a strong report, the most integral piece of the marketing circle.