Forgive me, but I’m feeling a bit nostalgic. Maybe it’s the fact that we celebrate 10 years in business as Reuben Rink in the coming year. Or maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been working to clear out our agency storage area of 23 years of ‘stuff’ accumulated as both The Bloom Agency and Reuben Rink. Regardless, I’ve been thinking about days gone by and the earlier years of my career.
Insights
As technology continues to shape the landscape of marketing, its potential to drive positive change becomes increasingly apparent. Visual effects (VFX) and artificial intelligence (AI) have emerged as powerful tools that not only captivate audiences but can also communicate meaningful messages.
In recent years, the ever-evolving landscape of advertising has witnessed a considerable shift towards digital platforms, and one particular medium has been gaining significant recent popularity: podcasts. This audio-based medium has not only captivated the attention of millions of listeners worldwide as a source of entertainment and education, but it has emerged as a proven, effective marketing platform for companies to connect with their target audiences in unique ways.
Captivating an audience through social media channels is becoming increasingly essential, and even harder to navigate as channels evolve. While creating social media content is a well-established marketing strategy, the popularity of including influencer marketing is rising. Influencer marketing has grown to become a $16.4 billion industry, with 67.9% of US marketers planning to participate in influencer marketing campaigns this year.
In 2023, the CDC found that one in four Americans live with a disability. Globally, this equates to 15% of the population, with this number expected to double by 2050. Notably the largest minority population in the world, this group is still often overlooked by marketers, designers, and web developers across the communication sector.
We would be forced to turn in our advertising credentials if we didn’t give you our “expert” take on ads from Sunday night’s big game. However, as much as we love this business and digging into the merits and shortcomings of each commercial, we have chosen to give you our picks, not of the best or worst spots, but the commercials that simply made us stop gnawing on chicken wings for a moment to turn to the TV and then to each other and say, “what the heck was that?!”
Seemingly on a weekly basis, a wave of fandom rises for the next stream-worthy show: Ted Lasso, Stranger Things, The Rings of Power, Yellowstone. Accolades abound for powerhouse streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and even newcomers like Paramount Plus and Peacock. Countless headlines publicize that streaming viewership has outpaced cable television for the first time. While data supports this theory, it begs the question: is linear television advertising worth abandoning entirely?
When your goals include reaching more people, it can be tempting to push your message out via every channel available. But when it comes to social media, it pays to be more selective. By targeting your audiences where and when they’re already scrolling, you can increase returns on your investments and generate higher quality engagement that drives your brand forward.
Not sure which social media platforms will work best for you? Wondering when to post on each account to maximize your reach? We’ve done the legwork for you – check out our roundup of optimal days and times to post, plus an overview of each social network’s top audiences, to get started.
Ready to build your marketing budget but not sure where to start? Establishing a strong marketing strategy that boosts your brand and propels your business starts by synchronizing your goals with your marketing budget. Check out our tips to help kickstart this process.
As designers, we’re always challenged to select imagery that effectively connects a brand with its audience. As part of fostering meaningful relationships with that audience, it’s important to remember that brand trust and authenticity go hand-in-hand. And a big part of this conversation today surrounds inclusivity.