blog - Marketicity

The Comfort and Nostalgia of Holidays

December 10, 2024/in News /by Marketicity

It’s common to pick on the holiday season for being too commercial, but we here at Marketicity say bring on all the tradition and nostalgia. We’re here for it! In a world that seems to shift around significantly every other hour, the regularity of these last few weeks of the year are a kind of familiar drumbeat we always look forward to hearing.

The world of marketing is often fast paced, changing constantly, and flooded with a fair bit of cynicism. The opportunity to slow down a little bit and enjoy the reason any of us are in this field in the first place is always a welcome respite at the end of the year.

So to all of our clients, our friends, and our family, we wish you a truly special holiday season. We hope it is full of joy, peace, and lots of meaningful time with loved ones. We hope you eat too much good food, argue about whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie, and have a moment to press pause on the pace of life for a time. We all know January will be here soon enough with all the demands that 2025 will bring. But until then, please enjoy this time of year and all the traditions that go along with it.

To all of those we worked with this past year, we thank you for sharing your stories and your lives with us. Coming into work is easy when we get to work alongside such wonderful people every day. We wish you the best this season and look forward to working with you again next year.

Marketicity is a marketing services firm whose team members have delivered successful campaigns and have been Moving Brands Forward for some of the best-known brands in their categories – both locally, regionally and nationally. We’re proud of our work but even more proud that our clients are proud of the work produced for their brands. Want to learn more about how we can help you “move your brand forward”? Simply give us a call or visit our Contact Us page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thanksgiving

November 12, 2024/in News /by Marketicity

One of the things we love about the work we get to do here at Marketicity is how often we have the opportunity to work with family-owned businesses and companies that have had a place in the community for decades.

So often in marketing you are looking towards something that’s new and exciting or something that’s different than all the other things that have come before it. And while there is certainly an important time and place for that, there is also something extremely comforting in the people, traditions, and values that have endured throughout the generations.

While things seem like they are always in a pattern of becoming more complex, it is refreshing to be reminded of the things that are simple and foundational. It’s why we love celebrating Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season. The tradition and nostalgia of it are also helpful signposts to some of the things that matter the most: community, gratitude, and recognizing what we have been blessed with.

Here at Marketicity we have been blessed with so many wonderful clients, partners, and friends over the years. You make our work interesting and fun, and most importantly, you make it matter.

So we hope that you have a peaceful and meaningful Thanksgiving holiday. We hope you are able to slow down from the constant churn of daily work, maybe even set that social media aside for a bit (it will be there when you return) and enjoy the parts of life that are truly and enduringly important.

Marketicity is a marketing services firm whose team members have delivered successful campaigns and have been Moving Brands Forward for some of the best-known brands in their categories – both locally, regionally and nationally. We’re proud of our work but even more proud that our clients are proud of the work produced for their brands. Want to learn more about how we can help you “move your brand forward”? Simply give us a call or visit our Contact Us page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Holiday social media campaigns Marketicity moving brands forward

Marketing Campaigns and Holiday Social Media

October 15, 2024/in News /by Marketicity

Whether you feel ready for it or not, we have officially entered the time of year where holidays are going to hit back-to-back and we will see nothing but recurring ads for the biggest sales day of the year, once a week, for three months, including holiday social media campaigns. This is either an exciting opportunity or a sprint you’re not looking forward to running. Or possibly it’s both.

In any case, it does present a series of possible marketing opportunities. Depending on your business or organization, talking about cheaper prices or great holiday deals may not be an option, but the holidays do provide a number of other possibilities.

Here at Marketicity, we have often worked with long-running companies and family-owned businesses and places that mean a lot more to the community than a simple service offered. The stories behind these businesses are often rich and frequently very meaningful. These stories can drive engaging and memorable social media campaigns, and depending on the nature of the company, may carry a strong impact during a time of year when people are thinking regularly of family, home, and being connected.

And naturally, this is a time when companies may have the chance to be humorous, wistful, or nostalgic, something that might be harder to work in at other times throughout the year. The point is, just because you may not have a product to sell, doesn’t mean you can’t participate in all the holiday hype. And of course, if you do have a product to sell, all the above options are ways to get that messaging out there as well. Use the time to break from the mold, try something different, or explore a creative idea that hasn’t yet had a home. You never know when something might stick.

Marketicity is a marketing services firm whose team members have delivered successful campaigns and have been Moving Brands Forward for some of the best-known brands in their categories – both locally, regionally and nationally. We’re proud of our work but even more proud that our clients are proud of the work produced for their brands. Want to learn more about how we can help you “move your brand forward”? Simply give us a call or visit our Contact Us page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Planning for 2025

September 10, 2024/in News /by Marketicity

For those of us born in the 1900s, “Planning for 2025” sounds like it should be something out of a science fiction book. Amazingly enough, however, what it actually means is that in four months it will be the year 2025 and we will have a whole new calendar of events, programs, campaigns, and strategies to run. And we all know that if we’re not thinking about those things now, those four months are going to go by very quickly.

We’re all used to the idea of Spring Cleaning, but we think there needs to be an equally important Fall Stock-Taking (we’re still working on the name). We know how easy it is to get into the flow of the year and never slow down to look at what you’ve accomplished, how far along you’ve come, how expectations have or haven’t been met, etc.

The unfortunate, but very real truth is that if you do need to pivot, start something new, or sunset something old, it might take you three or four months to evaluate the year to date, adjust, and implement. And 2025 is a whole lot closer than it seemed like it would be just a month ago.

So we encourage you to carve out some time this month to take stock of your brand or your campaigns and strategies and do some planning ahead. Or at least thinking ahead. We all know how stubborn creative challenges can be and procrastination proficiency might be effective at times, but it’s certainly not the best way. And if you do run into any roadblocks, let us know. Sometimes all you need is someone with an outside perspective who hasn’t been sitting with the problem for an extended period of time.

So here’s to being proactive, and to a great 2025. And just think, we’re only 37 years away from when The Jetsons was supposed to take place!

Marketicity is a marketing services firm whose team members have delivered successful campaigns and have been Moving Brands Forward for some of the best-known brands in their categories – both locally, regionally and nationally. We’re proud of our work but even more proud that our clients are proud of the work produced for their brands. Want to learn more about how we can help you “move your brand forward”? Simply give us a call or visit our Contact Us page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Employee Profile: Gary Most – President

August 13, 2024/in News /by Marketicity

We have enjoyed the opportunity to highlight some of our Marketicity staff during our employee profile series, and this month we are excited to turn the spotlight onto our very own, Gary Most.

Gary graduated from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville with a degree in Communications and a minor in Business, and has spent most of his career marketing for businesses in various verticals including: Tech/Telco, Agriculture, Spirits, Beer, Consumer Packaged Goods, Banking, Construction, Sports Cars & Memorabilia, Government and numerous others.

While many of these clients have regional, national and even international footprints, the client’s that he has some of his greatest appreciation for are those that have a “family” ownership, focus or family feel to them.

Over the years Gary has worked to concept, develop and implement successful marketing programs for over 100 brands. But more than any list of clients could provide, Gary’s approach all these years has been the simple, yet profound philosophy, “Make client interactions with him the absolute best part of their day.” He calls it his 95/5 rule.

He simply feels that most of his clients are in their rolls because the LOVE, strategy & marketing however, they spend 95% of their time on necessary, yet mundane topics like meetings, sales, research, personnel issues, manufacturing, and a host of other daily topics. Thus, the time they get to spend on actual “strategy & marketing” ends up being only about 5% of their work week. That, is where he gets the drive to make that time the most fun, productive and energetic time they spend at work.

Over the past 30 years, he has never shied away from embracing companys (both large and small) with a big story to tell.

What types of projects do you work on for Marketicity clients?

Whether it is developing a new/updated strategy or positioning or finding new creative solutions to reach our clients customers and move them to action through DM, Print, SEO, Website Development, etc.; it is not as much about the tactic for me as much as bringing the strategy behind the tactic to life!

What are your favorite projects to work on? What gets you excited?

What gets me excited is helping clients. It doesn’t matter if the project is large or small. They all deserve the same amount of focus and effort because you never know the reach and impact they may have. I love working with a vast and diverse set of clients in numerous categories. There are learnings from each that can help inform solution development in others.

Is there a client challenge that you successfully overcame that stands out in your mind/are particularly proud of? What is it?

There are a LOT of projects that I’m super proud of. Each and every one I’ve worked on is like one of my kids… I can literally talk about them for a looooong time. We may need a long-format podcast to talk specifics.

What hobbies do you have outside of work?

Family and friends. Spending time with my wife Angela, son Philip, daughter Olivia, and miniature dachshund Macy is invaluable! Same for spending time with friends whether out for dinner or a trip out of town. After spending so much time looking at the corner walls and computer monitors in my office… the chance to get outside is a great way to reset, decompress, clear the mind and think. Also, donuts. Eating them… not making them. I love visiting mom and pop donut shops both locally and when traveling.

What do you like most about what you do?

Doing great work for great clients and solving their marketing challenges. Marketicity would not be as strong as it is without the incredible team that we work with, from our internal team to the outside partners we work with (I hate the term ‘vendor’). I love working with people who see how they can be a positive part of solving client challenges!

Marketicity is a marketing services firm whose team members have delivered successful campaigns and have been Moving Brands Forward for some of the best-known brands in their categories – both locally, regionally and nationally. We’re proud of our work but even more proud that our clients are proud of the work produced for their brands. Want to learn more about how we can help you “move your brand forward”? Simply give us a call or visit our Contact Us page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Marketicity marketing family-owned businesses Moving brands forward

Working With Multi-Generational, Family-Owned Businesses

July 16, 2024/in News /by Marketicity

In the world of marketing, it’s very easy to be drawn to the idea of a startup instead of marketing family-owned businesses that have been around for generations. And it’s not hard to figure out why. Marketing is a pretty great analogue to the world of business. There will always be new ideas, new companies, new trends, the next great brand, the next great product, the next great innovation in storytelling, and so on. There will be ideas that catch hold, expand, and explode before you even know what happened. It’s all very exciting and certainly hard to look away.

And then, when a new company swoops in and promises to revolutionize the way we do something, it can be a lot of fun to get swept up in the process. The same is true of social media trends and advertising opportunities. We love to hear about the marketing campaign that was put together with $400 and a little duct tape and then blew up on YouTube for 20 million views. These things are fun, but sometimes that’s all they are.

So, we certainly understand the stars-in-eyes reaction to a promising startup, we have actually found a significant amount of satisfaction and fulfillment comes from working on the opposite end of that spectrum. Over the years here at Marketicity, we have had the opportunity to work with multiple, multi-generational, longstanding, family-owned businesses and it has been one of our greatest joys as a company. Harrisonville Telephone Company, for instance, has been around for 128 years. Wightman Pharmacy, 127 years. Crown Linen, 133 years. International Ingredient Corporation, 58 years.

When you work with businesses like this, you’re not hoping to capture some flash-in-the-pan zeitgeist, but instead you’re telling the legacy of something that has endured. You’re telling the story of a family that has remained a family, fathers that have passed something on to their sons, values that still exist because they were given through a grandmother. It might not be flashy, but it is beautifully and unmistakably human. It speaks to something in all of us, some memory, some desire, some loss, or some great joy.

And after almost three decades of doing this, we couldn’t imagine a better kind of story to tell.

Marketicity is a marketing services firm whose team members have delivered successful campaigns and have been Moving Brands Forward for some of the best-known brands in their categories – both locally, regionally and nationally. We’re proud of our work but even more proud that our clients are proud of the work produced for their brands. Want to learn more about how we can help you “move your brand forward”? Simply give us a call or visit our Contact Us page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Marketicity branding marketing local brands

Working With “Local” Brands

June 11, 2024/in News /by Marketicity

In the world of marketing, it’s easy to get stuck on the idea of the big fish. And we get it, working on a campaign that will be seen by millions of people is a resume-worthy achievement that anyone would be proud to display. However, over the years at Marketicity, we’ve learned that you can miss out on something extremely satisfying and meaningful if you’re only ever big-fish hunting and not working with local brands.

Perhaps no client speaks to this better than our work with Wightman Pharmacy. This local pharmacy in Waterloo, IL is not a big nationally recognized name, but what it does have can’t be manufactured no matter how much money you throw at it.

Wightman Pharmacy is a fourth-generation family-owned pharmacy that has been around for 128 years. We have been fortunate enough to work with them on their social media outreach and presence for quite some time, and as such, we get to witness the true power of this incredible brand’s history firsthand. When you work local, you really have to understand the community you’re speaking to. It will be immediately obvious to everyone if the message is off target. As we spent time learning more about the strength, dependability, commitment to personal service and customers Wightman Pharmacy, we also explored options for leveraging the other “local” businesses that neighbor the pharmacy. Whether physically “neighboring” Wightman Pharmacy in the downtown Waterloo area, the businesses that sit on the town square or those that sit a little further off of this picturesque location.

So we began a social media campaign that features not only “business neighbors” but also our customers who are “neighbors”. Posts that feature our “business neighbors” help to place a focus on other locally owned businesses, and the fantastic opportunities to shop, dine and do business right here in our surrounding area. We are blessed to live and work in a wonderful community with countless businesses that have helped to make out town the exceptional place it is to live. This is great way to help promote and say “thank you” to them.

As far as our “customers who are neighbors”, we have been fortunate to provide our services for four generations … and many of our customers families have been coming to us for that entire time. So, when we get a wonderful review online, we like to share those experiences too!

The social media campaign is rounded out with other posts that feature information, products and important messages. Our goal is to cement Wightman Pharmacy, as a place where you are known, cared about and can receive exceptional personal care.

By focusing on this strategy, the Wightman online presence is strengthened and the reputation of an already strong brand of nearly 130 years continues to grow. And, that’s marketing you can’t buy.

Marketicity the importance of seo search engine optimization

The Importance of SEO: What Marketicity Can Do for You

May 14, 2024/in News /by Marketicity

Not too many years ago, you couldn’t go three clicks into any marketing website without finding tips, best practices, or think pieces on the importance of SEO. And while newer phrases and trends might be gobbling up some of the limelight, the reality is that SEO hasn’t gone anywhere and remains as important today as it ever has.

And while most marketers have probably despaired of the “algorithm” more than once, a little know-how and strategy can still produce steady and predictable results in the world of SEO. For Marketicity, this has proven most true with two of our clients: Harrisonville Telephone Company (HTC) and FS Construction Services. We have worked with both of these clients for many years, from website creation and redesigns to social media management and ad campaigns. While this kind of longevity and familiarity isn’t necessary for successful SEO, it certainly does help. We have been able to thread consistent messages, tags, ideas, and keywords through so much of HTC and FS Construction’s digital output over the years that the brands have developed a high degree of consistency and visibility that makes them friendly to search engines.

As we are fond of saying, the best marketing is always a multi-pronged approach. A strong approach to SEO is one of the most useful prongs you have at your disposal. If you reach out to Marketicity for help on your SEO, whether or not you’ve worked with us before, we will help you find the most organic ways to increase your web presence.

Marketicity is a marketing services firm whose team members have delivered successful campaigns and have been Moving Brands Forward for some of the best-known brands in their categories – both locally, regionally and nationally. We’re proud of our work but even more proud that our clients are proud of the work produced for their brands. Want to learn more about how we can help you “move your brand forward”? Simply give us a call or visit our Contact Us page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Employee Spotlight: Angela Most – Rounding Out Marketicity’s Capabilities

April 16, 2024/in News /by Marketicity

We are excited to continue our employee spotlight series this month with our one-of-a-kind Business Manager Angela Most. And when we say one-of-a-kind, we mean it, as she truly adds to Marketicity’s capabilities. Angela got her BSBA from Washington University and her MBA from St. Louis University. While earning her MBA, Angela began a career at Boeing that spanned 25 years. Her time with Boeing included US Navy business development, international business development, and 15 years in Community Relations managing multi-million dollar charitable giving programs across multiple Boeing sites.

So when we say that Angela is the financial engine of Marketicity, we really mean it. We sat down with her recently for a brief Q&A. We hope you enjoy getting to know Angela a little bit more.

What types of projects do you work on for Marketicity clients?

Due to my financial education and unique work experience, I stay in familiar territory and handle the overall financial and office management duties, in addition to posting blogs for clients and special projects as needed.

What are your favorite projects to work on. What gets you excited?

I enjoy keeping track of the finances, and every month when Quickbook balances, I get excited!

Is there a client challenge that you successfully overcame that stands out in your mind or are particularly proud of?

Not related to a client, but overall, my personal adjustment from working at Boeing (a large, structured environment in which I thrived) to working for a smaller company was quite a challenge. And of course, taking the leap with Gary to purchase and run Marketicity is a challenge of which I’m proud of every day!

What hobbies do you have outside of work?

Until a couple of years ago, my hobbies revolved around our children. Since they are grown and flown, I’m having fun spending more time on my hobbies including travelling, singing, reading, exercising, visiting our children, and having fun with friends.

What do you like most about what you do?

The flexibility and independence of being a business owner. And being able to work in my pajamas if I want to!

Marketicity is a marketing services firm whose team members have delivered successful campaigns and have been Moving Brands Forward for some of the best-known brands in their categories – both locally, regionally and nationally. We’re proud of our work but even more proud that our clients are proud of the work produced for their brands. Want to learn more about how we can help you “move your brand forward”? Simply give us a call or visit our Contact Us page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Case Study: International Ingredient Corporation (IIC) Marketing Hook

March 12, 2024/in News /by Marketicity

One of the great things about being in our line of work is that we get to meet a lot of interesting people and work with a number of fascinating companies and organizations. As a marketer, you’re constantly looking for a marketing hook, something unique that separates this business or this product from another one. One of the pleasures we have found in working with so many of our clients is that we often face the delightful conundrum of having to choose which hook to use first.

This was the case when working with International Ingredient Corporation. IIC is dedicated to animal and pet food nutrition through the development of specialty feed ingredients. These ingredients go into a broad range of products for companion animals, dairy & veal calves, dairy cattle, equine and even aquaculture and bees. Although their biggest category is manufacturing the ingredients that go to the producers of swine feed.

One of the most interesting things about IIC is the efficient and admirable approach they have taken to sourcing their ingredients. Raw materials and finished products are carefully analyzed as part of their rigid quality control program with full traceability at every phase. They upcycle it, clean it, dry it, refine it, and utilize that for their end products. Not only do they use products like bacon, cheese, mild proteins, fats & oils and, they even repurpose broken candy. Part of their process is to extract the natural sugars which are then refined to be an additive for various animal feed brands. The ultimate objective is to help brands deliver high quality animal feed with increased palatability. Plus, this ensures that valuable resources don’t go to waste or into a landfill.

Needless to say, they have a great story to tell. Initially we were tasked to provide them with an updated look to their 50-year-old logo. We worked closely with their senior management team to create clean, contemporary representation to their logo that is now used across all of the companies branding. This initial project then led to a totally redesigned website in 2021 to give them a better showcase for their work and products.

Most recently, we had the joy of getting to tell some of the story behind IIC and created a series of videos featuring their employees. The company overview video as well as a series of vignettes, placed a spotlight on the Ph.D.’s, researchers and dedicated team members. This was a great way for the spirit and familial atmosphere of the company to be front and center. Not only is their work unique and inspiring, the people who do that work every day are just as unique and inspiring themselves.

Marketicity is a marketing services firm whose team members have delivered successful campaigns and have been Moving Brands Forward for some of the best-known brands in their categories – both locally, regionally and nationally. We’re proud of our work but even more proud that our clients are proud of the work produced for their brands. Want to learn more about how we can help you “move your brand forward”? Simply give us a call or visit our Contact Us page. We look forward to hearing from you.