October 17, 2012 in PR Agencies, Public Relations by Clay Zeigler
IDEA GROVE NEWS: Recognition from PR News

Scott-mugIdea Grove President Scott Baradell is among the national finalists under consideration by PR News to be named a PR Professional of the Year. Winners of the PR News PR People Awards will be announced Nov. 29 at the National Press Club in Washington. PR Professionals of the Year will be named in Agency, Corporate and Nonprofit categories. Scott is one of eight finalists for the Agency award.

PR News’ PR People Awards competition is intended to showcase talent, innovation and passion on the part of professionals who are “making communications matter.” Focused on the accomplishments of the preceding year, the Agency PR Professional of the Year competition recognizes growth in client base, expanding scope of offerings, and winning campaigns undertaken on clients’ behalf.

Congratulations, Scott. And congratulations, Idea Grove.

 
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September 26, 2012 in Content Marketing, Marketing by Jill Diedrich
ADVICE: 5 Tenets of Content Marketing

Five Tenets of Content MarketingContent marketing has become the clear choice of companies wanting to build awareness, enhance engagement and increase conversions online. And while every company has a different story to tell, the basic tenets of content marketing remain the same.

Some of these ideas may seem elementary right up until the time you fail to integrate them into your marketing and public relations strategy. Taken together they can become a real starting point for a plan that accomplishes your goals.

1. Know Your Audience

Knowing your audience goes beyond just realizing who your audience is — you have to get inside their heads and find out what their interests are and what they want to learn more about. Ask yourself — and better yet ask your audience: What are their concerns and pain points? What are these people talking about on a day-to-day basis and how are they talking about it?

Continue Reading

 
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July 9, 2012 in Content Marketing, Marketing by Lizzie Cernik
ADVICE: Great Content is Often Right There in Front of You

Editor’s note: Lizzie Cernik is an occasional contributor to Media Orchard.

In the future, advertising will be like sex: Only losers will pay for it. And as the face of advertising continues to change, brands are in the same situation. With the right approach to content marketing, you can persuade customers to “get naked” with your brand just because they want to.

But content marketing isn’t easy. In a world obsessed with viral videos and the next big thing, your copy needs to stay fresh and relevant to avoid falling by the wayside. Even the most popular bloggers find themselves struggling for good content on occasion, which is where ‘repurposing’ comes in.

We’re always told that recycling saves the environment, so isn’t about time we started reusing our best ideas? A well-researched, well-articulated blog post, video or podcast takes longer to produce than Kim Kardashian’s make-up, so why shouldn’t you use it again?

If your company’s been on the Web for more than a few months, there’s a good chance you’ve already built up a considerable bulk of content. A quick glance at Google Analytics will tell you what the most popular posts were, enabling you to re-create and remarket the very best elements of your content. Here are three ways to make sure you do it right: Continue Reading

 
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June 28, 2012 in Content Marketing, Marketing, Media Orchard by Lizzie Cernik
ADVICE: The Secret to Online Presence Is Being a Great Date

Editor’s note: Lizzie Cernik is a friend of Media Orchard whose lifestyle blog, Baggage Magazine, is focused on “holidays, heels and cocktails.”

We’ve all seen that bikini-clad glamazon on the beach. She’s sexy and toned with the raisin-a-day washboard stomach that makes men drool. The message is clear: If you’ve got it, flaunt it.

But for brands, the prospect of putting it all out there can be intimidating, especially online. It’s easy to see why — one little slip of her teeny bikini and our beach goddess is revealing far more than she intended.

So what’s the secret to revealing enough about your brand online to be enticing without revealing too much? It’s simple: Be a great date.

Think about being on a date. You want the other person to get to know you, but you want to make sure you’re revealing the right information. There are certain things you don’t share on a date, and others you might want to save until you’re married.

Coyly confess to your date that you’re a little scared of the dark and he’ll think you’re sweet and vulnerable. Tell him the story of that time you contracted an unusual gynecological disorder and you can expect a text that says, “I’m busy forever.”

Know your audience, accept some risk

In brand awareness, transparency and vulnerability can go a long way. Customers don’t want a painted picture of perfection, especially when they know it’s not real. They want to see the genuine article, warts and all. But how do you make sure your brand doesn’t suffer a serious wardrobe malfunction in the public eye?

First, know your audience. It doesn’t matter whether your company is three months or 50 years old, market research is essential. Your customers are your brand’s community; they need to be understood and, more importantly, heard.  If you’ve had a fantastic new idea but your audience isn’t feeling it, don’t push it. Continue Reading

 
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June 19, 2012 in Content Marketing, Marketing, Social Media Marketing by Clay Zeigler
IDEA GROVE NEWS: New Video Hits the Highlights for Idea Grove


Nothing starts a relationship off right like a proper introduction. Now visitors to IdeaGrove.com have that thanks to a new home-page video highlighting our capabilities.

To do it, we called on our friend Amy Schmittauer, a social media consultant with a lively video presence. Amy loves the camera, as a subject and as a marketing tool. Video blog posts are a key element of her business, based in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

So, check it out — and let us know what you think in the comments.

 
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