This objective is to provide the consumer with an advertisement that is also entertaining so the viewer will not get bored. Advertainment can be a challenge but can be rewarding to the company who accomplishes it.

If you look back to the 2013 Super Bowl commercials, you can easily identify commercials that were funny or very memorable.

Budweiser’s The Clydesdales: “Brotherhood” – This commercial was not a gut buster but it defiantly was entertaining. To watch the life of a farmer and a Clydesdale as they grow up together and than to see the connection three years later when the horse and former owner reconnected was a tearjerker. This was very entertaining to watch a company leverage the emotional connection between an animal and a human.

Best Buy Amy Poehler ad – We all remember Amy Poehler for her performances in SNL. Best Buy really scored big when they filmed her in a comedic commercial that showed her walking through the whole store asking questions about different products. It not only showed the variety of products Best Buy carries, but also portrays the employees as very knowledgeable to even the most interesting of customers.

Red Bull Stratos Space Jump – The great thing about this advertainment is that it was live. When Red Bull decided to film Felix Baumgartner jumping 127,900 feet from space and successfully landing on his feet that may have been their most successful campaign. Everyone will remember that Red Bull was the company who filmed a live sky dive from space.

These companies are very successful in advertising to their audience and by adding an entertainment factor that captures the viewer’s attention. Be creative with your ideas and think outside the box. If it doesn’t reach your stakeholders in a relevant or comedic way, it most likely will not be effective. The creative team at Baker Creative can help your company stand out in a crowded competitive industry to drive brand awareness and sales. 

Baker Creative wants to take you into each platform and give you an overview and why you should start signing up.

Facebook – Ah, the media king of them all. What is not to love? You can engage, share photos and videos, create events, post on other companies page, learn about special offers, create private groups and basically know everything that is going on in the world.  With daily users reaching around 665 million, Facebook is everywhere. This is a great place to promote a company or a brand. If you are brave, you can also promote yourself, but you have to think about how a personal post will portray you.

Twitter – This platform is a little simpler to use but lacks some of the sparkle Facebook offers. Most companies and brands will post news about them, relevant to them or relevant to their followers. Hash tags (#) are most important in this social media world. Hash tags will connect you to millions of people around the world. Tweet something and include #NFL and anyone who searches #NFL will most likely see your tweet. Twitter is a platform to stay inform and connected. It also allows you to retweet your favorite tweets and post pictures.

LinkedIn – This is a professional platform. People who are executives, companies, students, and job searchers are involved with this platform. LinkedIn is where you showcase your professional accomplishments and resume. Companies connect employees and can show what their company is about. This is a great platform to search for jobs as well.

YouTube – Home of the video stars. YouTube engages people who are more visual and can also display videos in a matter of seconds. Although you can comment on videos that are posted, that is about all the engagement you can do. YouTube is also the central channel for news clippings you may have missed on TV. Plus, the funnier and more entertaining the video, the more popular it is.

Pinterest – Fairly new to the social media world, Pinterest has definitely made its spot with the royalty social media. Pinterest is where you show your creative side. With unlimited board options, you can name each board to your interest. For example, treats in the kitchens or home improvement. Brands use this platform to display what they stand for and products they have. You are able to comment on pins but this platform is not for engagement.

Trying to decide which platform would be right for your business? Contact Baker Creative for more information 614-836-3845.

Time: Think about your goals and the mission of the business. You need to write out what will be the purpose of your brand and what it can offer customers and clients. If you find that you are offering the same thing as four other companies around your area, you may need to rethink the purpose. Now you may be saying that there are five different coffee shops within 10 miles of my house and they all sell coffee, but do they really? Off the top of my head I know Starbucks has a Java Chip Frappuccino and Caribou Coffee has a Turtle Mocha and the tastes are completely different. I also know Starbucks is known for their recycling and energy conservation values. Two coffee shops but two different brands.

Investors: You may need a couple of key people or companies to invest money to your start-up or expansion. Do they get a say in decisions, who to hire, a percentage of the revenue? If you are going for investors, you should have a well organized and thought out strategy to build confidence in your brand. It’s more than being passionate about an idea. You need a clear, concise roadmap. Illustrating clear benefits and payoffs is key to your success for their buy in. If you want success, present to a businessperson and have them brainstorm potential questions investors would ask so you are not surprised with questions you don’t know the answer to.

Money: This is an obvious point, but think about everything you will need and how much you will need within the first year of your plan. Personalized envelopes, printer ink, paper, stamps, computers, desks, business cards, computer programs and folders. These are just organizing tools to start with. Calculate what expenses will be needed to keep running and if you will have extra money for business emergencies that may or may not happen.

There are many other factors to expanding and growing your business. Baker Creative has the experience. Let’s talk.

The same goes with business. Trying to set up a strategy the day before (or even a month before) the launch could be corporate suicide. Not sure where to start on your strategy? Here are three tips on where to begin:

1. Business concept – What is your business? Or how do you want it to grow? (If you are going that route) What is the product and whom are you marketing to? What will be the point of the business and why will it be an advantage against competitors? It is very important to get this on paper and keep it short and to the point.
2. Financial – This may be obvious, but point out sales, profits, cash flow and ROI (return on investment). Money is very important in a business and knowing where money will go is a must.
3. Business positioning – Basic information about the company including legal forms, owner and key personnel info, and the mission statement of the company. This basic information will be good to have on hand when it is needed.

The creative element will be incorporated in everything you do. If you are opening up a coffee shop you have to think “what makes mine different and why will customers choose me?” Research is important. Check out competitors and visit them as a customer. Creativity is very important in our evolving world. Younger generations need to be entertained and the public expects things to be designed/presented in a professional manner.

There are many more steps to ensure that your solid strategy and creative element is your number one priority. If you have further questions, please contact Baker Creative or leave a comment.

According to the IRI, baby boomers confidence in retirement has decreased 7% in the past two years. Baby boomers have come across expenses they were not aware they would have. Increasing medical bills and college tuition from their children has become a roadblock from the goal of retiring. For some though, retirement is boring and the love for the corporate world is creating an issue for younger generations.

What does this mean for baby boomers and generation y?

Baby boomers may have to push back their retirement 10 years, which could cause issues with generation y to get jobs they went to college for. This could cause businesses to suffer. With the emerging world of technology and moving into the digital age, baby boomers are not as educated on the technology side as generation y is.

Businesses that cater to the retired could also suffer. Retired communities, golf courses, leisure vacation spots are all targeting the baby boomers to sell their product. If there is less of an audience to sell to, it could result in these businesses taking a financial short fall.

Generation y is seeing the impact of this issue as well. Graduating from college is getting pushed further back because there are no jobs to go to. These younger adults are settling for retail jobs and restaurant jobs while waiting for their job in the field they studied for to open up. This could set them back to excel up the corporate ladder. For example, after five years of searching for a career, a recent college grad will enter in an entry-level job that does not pay as much as they need at their age. This will make it hard for them to pay off loans, buy a house, start a family or invest in a new car. This trickle down effect will most likely delay their retirement due to a late start in their careers.

It is understood that some baby boomers do not have a choice on whether they consider retiring or not. For those who love the corporate world, consider retirement or at least take a generation y worker under your wing to pass on your knowledge and legacy. They can learn a lot more from you on the job in comparison to what they might have in college.

1. The review sites aren’t buzzing with good vibes. Smart business plans include knowing where you stand on the review sites. Believe it or not people and customers will get on popular review sites to review you or read about you. If a customer has a bad experience and the issue is not solved, they will be more likely to tell their story on a review site rather than social media. Now if you only have one or two bad reviews, that is normal and people will have their opinions. If bad reviews are coming every other month, that is something to look in to.
2. Complaints within the company are becoming more frequent. A good example of this would be a restaurant owner talking to customers because their experience was poor. The complaints could be about service, atmosphere or the product. When the complaints become regular that is when the business owner should evaluate their establishment.
3. People are getting offended with the company’s social media. When companies decide to utilize social networking in the business plan, it is important to do research and figure out how you want to portray yourself online. Even though you may be into politics and have strong personal beliefs, this would not be the place to express that.  Your customers could range from all types of people and insulting someone by talking about religion does not look good on your business. It sends a message that your customer’s feelings are not important. A good example of this is when a representative from Chick-Fil-A said negative comments against homosexuals. Again, people have the right to their opinion but when it reflects a company that serves all types of customers, these comments can have a negative view on the company.

If your company recognizes these problems, it may be in your best interest to hire a PR professional to strategize a plan and help you through whatever your crisis may be.

Why social media bios matter

Please comment below or contact us at baker-creative.com for any feedback.

If a Gen Y feels bored or that they don’t matter, their work ethic will deteriorate. In an economy like this, we think, “how can they be picky?” With most of their qualifications, many companies will be eager to hire the new mind of a Gen Y.

How can a company be flexible to train Generation Y to be great future leaders?

1. Find out what their needs and expectations are – Ask what they expect from you, the boss, the team, what their roles are and what they aspire to in their career. If you show you care, they will open up and tell you.
2. Include them in decision making – we are not saying let them sit in on a board meeting, but asking them their opinion or suggestions on something that is valuable to the department will have them take pride in what they do.
3. Add a small team to a project instead of one person – when Gen Y’s work together they can be productive. Letting them talk through things and collide ideas can really add value to a project.
4. Give them praise and encouragement – Tell them they are doing a good job and support their ideas. Even though some ideas may not be the best, talking through those ideas instead of ignoring them can really boost their work ethic and self-esteem.
5. Do not choose the bossy path – Barking orders and telling them how to do something will not make their work get done any faster. Make suggestions and be open to them if they have questions.

These are some simple recommendations to starting a Gen Y on the right path. Older generations have knowledge that can be valuable to Gen Y and help them grow as professionals. For more information of generational research please contact Baker Creative at baker-creative.com.

Some companies depend solely on luck when working on a marketing plan but in most cases, luck won’t get you by. Since St. Patrick’s Day just passed, we thought it would be beneficial to share tips on how to avoid bad marketing. Here are some tips on what not to do with your marketing strategy:

Do not get distracted by the sparkle. When you are new to marketing or changing your marketing plan, do not get side tracked by flashy websites and the “famous” agencies. Sparkly things can blind you to what you really need and want for you company. Do your research and figure out if your goals could be met by an agency.

No, your audience is not everyone. There is not one product or one service that everyone needs. A lactose-intolerant will never have a need to visit an ice cream shop or a person who does not want children will not need to be sold baby products. Some companies believe that if everyone is not targeted they will be missing some key customers. Instead focus on a certain group and make them your key target.

Be a leader, not a follower. As business owners, we all have business heroes to aspire to.  But following their every move could be devastating to your business. Think, if you like a big name in your field, there is a chance others follow them too. If other business people notice that all you do is copycat a big player, they might stray away from looking at your services due to the fact you are not authentic. Be your own person.

Seeking approval from everyone and their mom is a big no.  Ask yourself what are some things your whole family agrees on? The best car in the world? Or the best actor in Hollywood? Most likely, all your family members have different opinions. Same goes with you committee. They all have their own opinions and the fewer people you involved in the marketing strategy the better. Customers do not want to buy in to a company that seems to have many mixed messages.

Do not starve your budget to keep your business skinny. If you are trying to market by spending little money, your company can suffer. Every company, especially start up companies, need to get their message out. Paying for a professional may be the best solution. Do it yourself marketing can be very difficult and time consuming and should have an experienced agency leading you to a most successful launch.

Keep your towel instead of throwing it in. Your plans could be well thought out and constructed, but if there is no action on those plans, money and time has just been wasted. There are many companies who do not follow through on the marketing plan because of fear of the unknown and taking that leap off the edge. Remember this, you may fail but with failing come growth and learning and that only results in being closer to success.

Check out baker-creative.com for more information on a marketing agency.

For many years, the Internet and social media have been given a bad reputation.  It is known for spreading vulgar pictures, false rumors and stealing identity capabilities.  Social media has been a big hit in the news generating stories about rape, political scandal and celebrity bashing.  Most adults are trying to stray their children away from being sucked into this digital world they spend several hours a day in.

What most people are unaware of is how effective social media can be when it comes to spreading awareness about a serious topic. Many non-profit organizations have fan pages that contain information on how to donate, become involved and get educated on a topic. Other social media pages can promote topics, like anti-bullying or pro-life. People can “like” and “share” these pages to educate their friends on subjects they might have a personal connection.

Here are three social media pages that we believe have a really good message and make a difference:

Bully – Bully is a Facebook page that promotes The Bully Project, a documentary following five kids for one school year to see how students, schools and parents deal with bullying.  This is a very touching site that shares emotional stories and pictures about kids who have dealt with bullying or who stand up to bullies. Just by looking at this page, you know the goal is to educate and prevent further bullying in America.

The Lazy Pit Bull – This site is a dog activist site that promotes the breed of pit bulls. This page contains stories, facts and blog posts about this misunderstood breed. One great thing about this page is that Christina Berry, who is the creator, believes that networking can save animals’ lives and has pictures and stories to prove it.  Every day there is a posting about a dog who is on “the list” to be terminated at a shelter. She encourages others to share this dog on their wall in hopes it will reach someone who will save that life.  When an animal is saved, she makes sure to update her followers.

Operation Blessing International – Operation Blessing is a humanitarian organization that provides disaster relief, hunger relief, clean water, medical aid and orphan care to poverty stricken countries around the world.  This organization is faith based that educates about poverty, shares heart-warming stories and donates time and money to help those less fortunate. This social media page is a great example of how people connect all over the world to help others.

These pages are only a few examples of how social media is connecting people and changing the world for the better.  Today’s youth can learn from these stories of how good deeds of one person can turn into a better life for someone else. If kids were taught that sharing a photo of a dog or taking a pledge against bullying can change the life for someone, they will learn the value of staying connected.

For more information on these organizations:

The Lazy Pit Bull

Bully

Operation Blessing International