blog - Page 4 of 6 - Marketicity

Social Media Spotlight: Keeping a 40-Year Old Construction Company Fresh

March 16, 2021/in News /by Marketicity

At Marketicity we understand that marketing is far from a one-size-fits-all operation. It’s nuanced, specific, and often a bit of a moving target. Which is why we believe it’s so important to have a personal touch with our clients. Each client is different, each client base is different, and rarely do we find that one single approach works. The person who’s looking at the website may be different than the person who’s looking at social media or reading a company’s newsletter. Some content plays better on one platform than another, and so on.

Which is why we always take a measured and multi-faceted approach to our marketing strategies. This is perhaps most apparent with our work for FS Construction Services, a construction, equipment, and service provider in southern Illinois that focuses on agriculture. FS Construction Services has been in business for over 40 years, so they’ve lived through the seismic shift that the internet and social media caused in the marketing world. As they have adjusted to the ever-changing landscape of marketing in an increasingly digital age, we have been able to come alongside them and help develop a many-pronged approach to their outreach efforts.

With FS Construction Services, our plan has been to create effective, dependable means of communication through a variety of platforms including: monthly blog posts, a website redesign and ongoing site maintenance, a Facebook page, an end-of-month newsletter, as well as ongoing SEO work.

The FS Construction Services blog has been a good way to provide readers some insight into who they are and the kinds of work they do. However, we know that in order to find the blog, you’d most likely need to be on the website first, so rather than just sending that content out into the ether and hoping for the best, we also take those articles and add them to the rotation of regular Facebook posts, expanding their reach and potential client-base. Instead of simply pasting a link into a Facebook post and calling it good, we have instead optimized the posts to prioritize good pictures, short descriptions, and interesting titles, knowing that a social media post is a vastly different platform than a blog and you have a short time to actually capture someone’s attention.

Despite the allure of going viral, we know that there is no silver bullet in marketing. However, steady, fresh content, adapted specifically for each platform, can go a long way towards elevating a brand, even in the temperamental world of social media.

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.

Proud of Our Regional and National Client Base

February 16, 2021/in News /by Marketicity

Marketicity is proudly located in Waterloo, Illinois, a suburb of St. Louis located just 20 minutes from the downtown landmarks of St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium and the Enterprise Center, home of the 2019 Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues. Much like we love our hometown teams we love our “hometown” clients but our reach travels further. This blog focuses on our national client base located in our “backyard” or slightly further way. Here are some highlights from our many years’ worth of hard work helping Move Their Brands Forward!

National Corn Growers Association
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), located in Chesterfield, Missouri represents the interests of more than 300,000 growers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 50 affiliated state organizations work together to create and increase opportunities for corn growers.

Marketicity provides coordination and public relations support for NCGA’s premier grower participation program – the National Corn Yield Contest. The NCYC annual contest sees grower involvement from nearly all 50 states and challenges farmers to produce the most bushels of corn per acre across nine different categories. Helping to promote the incredible successes and achievements of farmers from coast to coast by sharing their stories with hundreds of local and regional radio, TV and print publications is a highly detailed and immensely rewarding undertaking.

Sazerac
Our planning, branding, and strategic development skills in the spirits category extends back 20+ years. In that time we have worked on some of the biggest brands in their categories and helped launch or grow numerous others. Proving distance is never an inhibitor to helping clients solve their marketing challenges, we work closely with this client who is based out of Chicago while the company maintains locations across the globe.

The current portfolio of brands that Marketicity supports, through our relationship with Senior Brand lead, is for the Cordials, Liqueurs and Brandy category. There are so many facets and nuances to keep in mind that orchestrating and executing these programs is incredibly challenging but also allows for unique thinking and solution development. From traditional marketing elements to websites, social media, videos and sales materials, our team provides vast resources for this great client in so many areas.

National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center
The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center, also known NCERC, has been a trusted partner for more than four years. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, on the campus of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE), NCERC is a leading research center generating over $4B of commercialized results for private industry, startup companies, government entities and trade organizations. What was once a research center solely focused on the ethanol category, this industry leader’s capabilities now extend further than ever in the research, development and commercialization for feed agnostic research.

Originally brought together through the need to develop a single trade show presence, the partnership with NCERC has expanded to include research, branding, positioning, collateral materials, a new online presence, displays, video storytelling and more. Our team works hand-in-hand with key members of the client team including the executive director, business development director, nationally renowned research team members, project managers and plant personnel. All for the purpose of helping to position the center for growth in the burgeoning field of research and green energy commercialization.

Marketicity is proud of our deep roots supporting local clients but it does not stop there. Our aim is to provide marketing support, depth, and horsepower to any companies that may have an internal marketing department but require help in bringing strategic marketing programs to fruition. We help in “Moving Brands Forward” – no matter their location.

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.

It’s Not Too Late to Plan for Year 2021!

January 19, 2021/in News /by Marketicity

The year is still young, so do not believe that it is too late to plan, to improve, or to reinvent yourself! 2020 is definitely going down in history, but not as a year that we want to remember. The only way to go from here is up, so take the time to reflect, rebuild, something in your life, or possibly start something anew.

So many promises are made at the beginning of the year, whether they are to ourselves or others, but rarely are they kept. An easy way to counter this is to write it down; commit it to memory, so it never escapes and serves as a constant motivation and reminder for growth. Monthly, weekly, and even daily check-ups can help you to reach those goals that you promised to reach.

Plans and promises for the new year do not just stop at the personal level but carry on into the business world, too. Last year may have been tough for your business, but even that can be ameliorated. Scan statements and papers from your business to find where it is lacking, look for the cracks, and then fill them in. This is easier said than done, but necessary for your plan!

Outline the next steps, plan for the unexpected. Worlds’ and years’ worth of information lay at your fingertips, all that it takes is the will to press them, to inquire, to learn, and, eventually, to grow.

Beginning or expanding your business can be tough, but Marketicity is here to help. After all, a push for your marketing may be all your business needs to expand and grow. Marketicity can help your business reach the place you have always wanted.

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.

Happy Holidays from the Marketicity Team!

December 15, 2020/in Uncategorized /by Marketicity

Christmas is only ten days away! The team here, at Marketicity, wishes you all happy holidays. However or whatever you celebrate this month, relax and have a good time. Maybe this is the season you finally reconnect with that distant cousin, a friend whom you have not seen in a while, or a sibling you rarely talk to. Take advantage of the good cheer and time off to enjoy yourselves. If traveling somewhere are your plans, fly or drive safe.

Our team is spending their holidays with their families. Hot cocoa and warm blankets are in store for our employees, and maybe a heartwarming movie or two. If it does happen to snow, it is guarantied that at least one snowman will be built.

It is obvious that 2020 has not been the best year, but do not let that stop you. This tough year has made an impact on clients and companies alike, and now there is finally a time to forget this year’s hardships and just focus on laughing with family and friends. 2021 is right around the corner and it has the potential to be the amazing year that 2020 never was, so start the new year off right, surrounded by those you love most. We not only wish you all a safe travel and happy holidays, but your family as well.

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.

Your Brand: How We Can Help

November 10, 2020/in News /by Marketicity

In our last blog, we discussed how the foundation of every brand is the essence of what that brand is and WHY it is. A brand’s essence becomes the basis for all of its marketing strategies. Companies that follow a clear strategy based on their essence will have powerful branding messaging that lasts for years or even decades, depending on the brand.

We can help define your brand’s essence.
Brands need not be huge in order to harness the power of great branding. All a product needs to develop a brand is itself, the product, and a desired consumer. A brand’s essence becomes the strategic center for all future branded messaging for all marketing materials. It is the map that provides direction and focus for all consumer touch points.

In addition to the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center mentioned in the previous blog, Marketicity has had the opportunity to find the brand essence and create strong messaging for several companies in a variety of fields, here are a few for examples:
• Sierra Marine
• Bankhead
• Vervocity
• Marketicity
• HTC

How can you ensure that your company maintains its branding focus?
When completing a branding project on behalf of a client, the team at Marketicity provides the tools required to help you stay “on course”. We create and deliver a “playbook”. It is the compass for the brand and includes both digital and physical assets. It includes items such as:
• The complete and detailed brand pyramid (we’ll cover this in a separate blog)
• The thorough SWOT analysis
• Brand “Mood Boards” and Customer “Personas”
• A “Brand Standards Guide” (e.g. logo use, fonts, leading, white space management, copywriting style, brand PMS colors, etc.)
• Ad, Presentation and PR Release templates
• Add more…

Ok, I’m interested. What’s the next steps?
Contact us! We’re happy to sit down, discuss the process, answer questions and most importantly, listen. We listen carefully and ask questions so that we clearly understand the current lay of the land in your product’s world. The majority of our branding projects generally begin at one of the following starting points.
• Branding from scratch. Build it from the ground up.
• Re-Branding. This is putting a new face on an already established brand.
• Brand Validation. The idea that a brand may believe it knows what it is… but needs fresh eyes and IDEAS on it to confirm.

At Marketicity, we are all about Moving Brands Forward. If you have doubts as to if yours is positioned properly, let’s connect and see if we can help you Move Your Brand Forward.

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.

The Power of Branding

October 20, 2020/in News, Uncategorized /by Marketicity

At the foundation of every brand is the essence of what that brand is and perhaps more importantly WHY it is. A brand’s essence, or DNA as some call it, is the basis for any and all of its marketing strategies. Companies that follow a clearly mapped out structure of what a brand is (and equally important, what a brand is not) will create superior messaging that can live on for years, or even decades.

Let’s take a quick peek at brands that have consistently done it right. Everyone knows exactly what these brands stand for at their core.
• Harley Davidson
• Coca Cola
• Corona Extra
• McDonald’s

But brands need not be huge in order to understand and harness the power of great branding. In fact, all of the above examples began with a product that was marketed to a desired consumer. Yet with a strong and consistent voice that clearly resonated with consumers, each became giants in their respective categories.

Branding is at the very essence of WHY a brand exists.
What is a Brand’s Essence? Brand Essence is the single intangible attribute that differentiates your brand from competitive brands as perceived by the audience.

Brands must do everything in their power to avoid confusion as to what a brand is or stands for. The absence of a brand essence will allow consumers to set the understanding of who you “are” and how it wants to be viewed.

A properly positioned brand essence does more than help solidify a brand position. It provides a strategic epicenter for all future branded messaging (story telling) for all marketing materials. It is a “roadmap” that provides direction and focus for all consumer touch points.

For example, recently Marketicity worked with the National Corn and Ethanol Research Center to find their brand essence. They extended the positioning of their brand essence through the development of key marketing support materials to promote this one-of-a-kind research facility.

At Marketicity, we are all about Moving Brands Forward. If you have doubts as to if your brand is positioned properly, read more next month to learn how we can help you Move Your Brand Forward. Or better yet, contact us today!

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.

Meet Marketicity’s Strategic Duo

September 8, 2020/in News /by Marketicity

Gary Most and Todd McGowan make up Marketicity’s strategic duo. In the company, their titles are President and Director of Strategy and Branding. They have worked together for almost 20 years.

Gary was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Today, he lives in Waterloo, Illinois with his family and dog, Macy. During his free time, he likes to walk and ride his bike, sometimes with his dog. Gary enjoys spending time with his family, and taking care of his yard and his car.

In 2012, Gary began to work for Marketicity, at the Columbia office. Three years later, in 2015, he bought the company and the location of the office moved to Waterloo. Currently, he is the president of the company and works hard every day of the week to meet his clients’ needs and finish projects.

Todd is from Arkansas, but now lives in Chesterfield, Missouri. He frequently rides his motorcycle, and loves to read. When he has no work to do, Todd also enjoys spending time with his wife, Lea, and his four kids.

He began working with Marketicity in 2017, as a strategist. In addition to strategy he helps pitch new business to possible clients. Every now and then, he assists Marketicity with graphic design and copywriting. Todd is a valued partner, and an important part of the company.

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’s Creative Team

August 18, 2020/in News, Uncategorized /by Marketicity

Marketicity’s creative team is composed of two hard working women: Jennie Keeley-Jacobs, the Creative Director and Carly Antor, the Art Director/Web Strategist.

Jennie is originally from Colfax, Illinois. It is about two and a half hours southwest of Chicago. Now, she resides in Columbia, Illinois, with her family which consists of her husband, five kids, and her beagle-mix, Trixie. She began to work for Marketicity in 2014. Jennie walked into the office, when it was located in Columbia, and simply introduced herself. She formed connections and landed herself a job.

Currently, her position is the Creative Director. This means she is responsible for layouts and designs, and will occasionally oversee projects. As a graphic designer, she uses photography, illustrations, and more, to visually communicate with clients and their customers.

Carly’s hometown is St. Louis, Missouri. Now, she lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, two huskies and two cats. She likes to run on trails and even participates in triathlons when she can. In her free time, she loves to read, cook, and take her dogs on hikes. Carly and Adam, her husband, like to make homemade pizzas and chocolate chip cookies.

In 2017, she began her work with us here at Marketicity. Carly is our Art Director/Web Strategist. She designs, programs and troubleshoots websites. Sometimes she helps out Jennie when she needs assistance on graphic designs.

That’s our creative team!

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.

At Home Parents

July 21, 2020/in News /by Marketicity

Most kids grow up with one or both parents who work in offices, where they have to travel to arrive on time to their jobs. However, for over five years both of my parents have been working at home, for Marketicity. I do not find it annoying, in fact, I am grateful for it, and even more so when I could not drive myself to places I needed or to attend an after school event.

Every once in a while, they do leave the house. More often than not it is my dad, going to a meeting. He has been across the country working with clients, but is not gone longer than five days at a time. There are few downsides to my parents owning a small business and working from home, and that is one of them.

Another small drawback of my parents working from within the house, is that when I have friends over, sometimes we have to be quiet. We are not that loud to begin with, but it does become bothersome to have the subtitles on the TV for a long amount of time. If there are people over, we usually choose to stay downstairs, where my dad’s office is located, so he simply shuts his door to minimize noise. If he is on a phone call, we stay upstairs, but keep the volume low because my mom’s office is nearby.

The company has had some interns, and I have been able to meet some pretty interesting people, mainly from surrounding towns. My parents work with others, so it is not just them tackling all of the work. The people they work with are nice and outgoing, and they do not just have business relationships but they are friends as well, and it is always fun to work with friends.

Even I get to help out sometimes, like this blog post. I provide assistance with anything from setting up products for meetings and the occasional photoshoot to editing blog posts to helping to set up for fairs.

I know it is not usual to have both parents working from home while owning a small business, but I enjoy it. They are both home more often than not and I get to see them everyday, even if they do travel every once in a while.

About Me: I am Olivia Most, and I recently began helping my parents out with Marketicity. This fall I will be a junior in high school, and I enjoy writing, reading and swimming in my free time.

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.

We Love to Give Back Locally

June 30, 2020/in News, Uncategorized /by Marketicity

One of the many things we love about living and working where we do, is constantly supporting local business owners, their businesses and supporting local organizations. Simply put, we love to give back locally!

It is safe to say that these wonderful businesses truly are the foundation on which our community was built and they, along with their employees and dedication to our area, make them the backbone of our community. They sponsor our kids’ sports leagues, back local charitable organizations, support our schools, and make it possible to have such wonderful events like the Monroe County Fair, Red Bud Fireman’s Picnic, Columbia Days, and numerous other family focused events. However they do so much more than that. They care. It’s definitely safe to say that when enough small businesses come together to make small contributions, it can make a huge impact.

At Marketicity, we feel very fortunate to be part of such an engaging, mindful, and growing community. Yet we also know that it takes the talents of so many unsung who set the example and donate their time and talent to sustain it. While no one can support every event, we do our best to maintain a focus to support local charities by sponsoring golf tournaments, donating time & talents to area causes and participate in various fundraising events. In addition to these, our team member enjoy taking part in Monroe County Coalition for Drug Free Communities, Monroe County startUP, civic organizations, various school programs and more which focus on creating brighter futures for communities and our youth.

Our company is always dedicated to moving local brands forward, and as residents of small towns, we’re dedicated to moving our communities forward. We want to thank all the local businesses who struggle each day to provide the best possible “local” dining and shopping options, the teachers who encourage our students and stretch their learning, the civic organizations who sole purpose it is to support area youth and local programs and the countless others who quietly go about supporting our local communities.

Think small local businesses don’t make a difference? The next time you attend a local fundraiser, bingo, trivia night, youth sporting event, etc; I encourage you to take a look at those who have dedicated the resources to support those events. I guarantee you; it is a local business! You won’t see a “___ insert national out of town business name here __” anywhere.

So, when we’re presented with options, we love to “keep it local”, give back and support the local businesses that support our area, as often as possible.

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.