Category: Marketing

Planning How Your Business Communicates with Your Target Markets

Entrepreneurs know that a business plan is critical for funding. Marketers know that marketing plans are key to management and success. Sales pros have a plan to approach target markets, they wouldn’t dream of selling without it. But what about communications? Yeah, we’ve got a plan for that. With every dollar critical, it would be irresponsible to not have something in place.

Developing a strategic communications plan is one of the client services Ideahaus has provided for more than 20 years. Although each plan has been unique, patterns and process have revealed themselves. With feedback from CEOs, VPs, marketing directors, entrepreneurs, sales professionals – and you – we continue to improve our process to what you see today.

A couple caveats from the podium: First, this only works if you follow the process. Improvising along the way voids my warranty that this will deliver a comprehensive, efficient and strategic plan. Second, you only get…

I am stylin’ | A Case Study on Content Marketing

Watch the Slidecast (PPT+MP3): By now, most businesses have built a basic social media platform – a collection of social media sites and services that serve as the foundation for their social media communications.

But most have not realized that “join the conversation” does not mean “tell me about your products and services”.

It means there is a current conversation in progress and you’re welcome to participate – just like in a synchronous real world conversation between different people. The same assumptions most would make from this situation on what is acceptable and what is not acceptable is all too often overlooked my marketing and sales professionals. Bad manners, blatant intrusions and inappropriate language are not acceptable in the classroom, or in a restaurant, or in a place of business and it surely is not acceptable in social media…

Creating Convergence Between Sales & Marketing Using Social Media

There is a moment in every business where marketing hands off to sales. Planned or not, marketing has created an opportunity, and sales is getting its chance to create a customer. At least, that’s what’s supposed to happen. Did marketing create enough interest? Can sales create enough curiosity and trust? Did marketing create enough interest? Can sales create enough curiosity and trust? Did they both do their part in getting the prospect to “tell me more?”

Marketing and Sales have both looked to social media for their own rewards, but so far, most have been unable to make it happen. The big question remains: How can marketing and sale utilize social media for their mutual benefit?

In this presentation: Marketing Strategy: A review of best practices, and practical examples of how business is using social media for marketing. Sales Process and Content: Applying the sales process, and techniques for creating interest and curiosity in prospects. Convergence: (What it looks like, How it works): A demonstration of…

Satellite Marketing: An Intro to the Process

Satellite Marketing is a communications strategy designed to connect an organization with its target markets via social media sites and services. These social media sites and services act as marketing sub-stations, or “satellites”.

Satellites are used in addition to, or in place of, traditional media, such as print, radio, television, direct and outdoor advertising. The goal is to expand the reach of the organization and enhance the results by creating relationships.

Satellites offer smaller, faster, dynamic communications opportunities, engaging prospects where they already exist. Social media is among the fastest growing forms of communication today (site reference), with users connecting online for both personal and professional purposes.

Satellites are configured with strategically placed (and re-purposed) communications content from existing brochures, advertisements, web sites, public relations, branding, design, multimedia and events on social media sites…

Making Sex Look Cool

In the world of nightclubs, getting different cultural factions to party together is about as difficult as bringing the Serbs and the Croats to the same table. Pittsburgh has its share of black clubs, gay clubs, and big hair clubs and sports bars, but night spots where elements of these different lifestyles come together are few and far between.

For the past seven years, Metropol in the Strip District has been our best shot at achieving a progressive urban mix. For almost a decade the venue has held up well, doing its part to keep what there is of a dance scene in this city simmering. Recently, however, Metropol owner Robin Fernandez decided it was time to raise the heat. In an effort to generate some new excitement and take Metropol back to the edge of what’s happening nationally in the club culture, he initiated the idea of “Sex and Violet’s,” and hired the South Side-based team of Ideahaus to carry the concept through…