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Noisy Trumpet Announces New Client Promesa Academy

Noisy Trumpet is excited to announce our new client, Promesa Academy! Promesa Academy is San Antonio’s newest K-5 public charter school opening in August 2020. Their mission is to foster and nurture students’ sense of wonder and hope by building a space where they are loved, respected, and nurtured. Noisy Trumpet is aiding their mission through digital marketing services including the creation and development of a Facebook ad campaign. The campaign encourages parents primarily within the Westside community zip code of 78207 to enroll their children for the 2020-21 academic school year. Noisy Trumpet is humbled and honored to join them in their promise to provide students with educational quality and equity. Teams on both sides of the partnership share a mutual regard for children and their educational success.

Promesa Academy also has virtual learning experiences to support families and children who are seeking ways to connect and continue learning during these challenging times. To learn more about Promesa Academy and the resources they provide, please visit PromesaAcademy.org.

Is your organization in need of a digital advertising campaign? Our data-driven digital marketing campaigns work to achieve your goals. Contact us today. We’re just one call,
like, follow, retweet, and DM away!

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Blog Industry Trends Public Relations Social Media

How to Navigate COVID-19’s Media Shift

The spread of COVID-19 is having a major impact across all industries in San Antonio and across the globe. While we have not experienced a crisis exactly like the coronavirus in recent history, we have persevered through other crises that led to heightened levels of anxiety.

Noisy Trumpet understands the situation companies are in during these unprecedented, uncertain times. The marketplace has changed dramatically and consumer behaviors are evolving. During this crisis, Noisy Trumpet is helping clients navigate the changing marketplace and continue to connect with their target audiences through a variety of digital marketing and PR tactics so that they can continue to thrive despite “the new normal.”

Consumer Behaviors and Media is Shifting; Your Marketing Strategy Should Too

With much of the workforce now working from home, there have been major changes in media consumption habits. People are spending more time on digital channels than ever before. These changes include:

  • A 200% increase in Connected TV (CTV) consumption since March 1st, 2020.
  • 80% of consumers say they consume more content since the outbreak.
  • 60% of consumers who are staying indoors are also watching films, news, and general programming via connected devices.
  • Audiences at home are consuming media at a 60% higher rate.
  • 44% of consumers say they are spending longer time on social media.
  • There has been an 18% increase in total ad call volume compared to March 2019.
  • Email open rates have risen by up to 25% week-on-week in retail.
  • CTV news viewership has increased nearly 50% since the outbreak began.

This change in media consumption presents a unique opportunity to tap into digital marketing and PR tactics while users’ attention is captured. From PR campaigns and content creation to social media and digital advertising, Noisy Trumpet specializes in creating powerful marketing solutions that drive results for our clients. We are monitoring these changing trends to help our clients create a road map to success.

To help your company navigate through these challenging times, below are five tips to incorporate into your marketing strategy in light of  COVID-19.

1. Stay Positive

For many of us, this is a time of unease with the coronavirus and news changing rapidly. It is important to stay positive, not just for your own wellbeing but also for your brand. Brands who continue to be a resource and produce positive content are able to cultivate loyal customers. This crisis will end, and when it does, it is important that consumers see your brand as one that was present and supportive during the difficult times. Be honest and genuine in your communication. Highlight your community presence – more than ever consumers want to purchase from philanthropic companies who are giving back to their communities.

Noisy Trumpet supports the San Antonio Food Bank

2. Keep your Brand Presence

Some companies may feel the pull of economic pressures and decide to cut their marketing and communications budgets. This is unfortunate since now more than ever, audiences are house-bound and consuming media at rapid rates. Even if you have to pivot your messaging from earlier plans, keep up your brand presence across all channels and mediums.

Influencer Marketing Hub surveyed 35,000 consumers about their views on brands advertising through the COVID-19 crisis. Only 8% thought brands should stop advertising. However, your messaging should pivot with the changing times. Re-brand materials with a softer, more positive message that shows your connection to the community. 75% of consumers think brands should inform people of what they’re doing, but keep in mind 74% think companies should not exploit the situation. Use this time to strengthen brand awareness by providing your community with online resources and content. Ignite genuine conversations with your consumers. We’re seeing clients support their consumers by sending personalized video messages, providing at-home workouts, and much more – even if it doesn’t contribute to the bottom line right now. When this time is over, consumers will remember the brands that sustained communication and showed empathy during this difficult time.

Noisy Trumpet assists SA YES in providing resources for at-home learning

3. Think Outside the Box

Social behaviors have changed and right now that is ok. Because large gatherings and special events are not possible, we have seen cancelations of major events such as South by Southwest, nonprofit galas, and even the postponing of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. These cancelations can be devastating to the organizers and attendees alike. We encourage organizers to think outside the box and find ways to keep your audience connected. If customers can’t come to you, bring your service or product to them digitally. Rely on digital marketing to help create an online alternative that will engage your customer base and keep your company on the forefront. This could include tactics like leaning more heavily on e-commerce storefronts and virtual events.

During this crisis, Noisy Trumpet has been able to help one of our nonprofit clients shift from a 1,000-guest gala to an online auction. The nonprofit depends on donations raised at their annual event to support their operating budget for the rest of the year. Through digital marketing, Noisy Trumpet was able to promote the online auction and secure over 90% of the donations they typically receive at their in-person event – at significantly less cost to them. 

Noisy Trumpet helped transition San Antonio Sport’s Hall of Fame Tribute to an Online Mega Auction

4. Email and Post it – Engage your Audience

The cadence of consumer lives has changed. In the past, digital research could tell you the best days and times to send certain correspondence. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, consumers’ days are not as scheduled – people are checking emails and social media accounts at all hours of the day. We encourage companies to continue sending e-blasts and keep customers engaged. People have more time on their hands right now and email open rates have increased up to 25%, with daily email open rates generally increasing by 5-10% each week.

Social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have seen a rise in usage as well. People are using social media to help them stay connected with family and friends, get news updates, and consume entertainment. Viewership is at an all-time high and yet, according to Influencer Marketing Hub, 74% of brands are posting less on their company’s social accounts. Don’t hesitate to engage your audience on social media! Post relevant information, use video and make it personal. Involve your audience in polls, highlight the best local take-out, or ways you are paying it forward.

Now more than ever, your audience wants to see that we are all living a shared experience. They have the time to read your emails and content so email and post it.

Noisy Trumpet supports Olympia Hills Golf & Event Center’s Family Meals To-Go

5. Now is the Time

If your company has not yet taken the leap into the digital field, now is the time.

Audience and attention rates are at an all-time high. Time online – including online shopping – is increasing. Now is the time to help users find your products and services and to choose your company over competitors by getting your name out there. But you can’t do that if your social presence is lacking or your website is hard to find, outdated, or nonexistent.

If you have a digital presence, now is the time to step up your marketing efforts.

Remind consumers why your product and services are still relevant and needed. Even though times are constantly changing, your business is still important and your customers are restless at home. Keep up your SEO strategy by continuing to post relevant content. When normalcy resumes you want to make sure you are still at the top of Google’s SERPs. Take it a step further and do an SEO audit to make sure your strategy is still applicable.

Talk to your agency about expanding to newer advertising options like Connected TV (CTV) and Over-the-Top (OTT). CTV and OTT provide users a different way to watch TV across multiple types of screens with no cable or satellite subscription required (like Apple TV, Roku etc.). Currently, consumers are seeking digital entertainment options and streaming services. From March 16th through the 22nd, viewers spent about 40% more time streaming both ad-supported and subscription TV compared to the previous week, according to data from Vizio Inc. CTV and OTT are able to align your brand with a highly engaged audience based on their consumption habits.

We’re Here to Help

Changes in media consumption can be daunting for all businesses. Regardless of how your company has been affected, you may have questions or need support. Noisy Trumpet has always been a community first agency and we are here to help you navigate these new media trends and help your company bounce back. Please email us at fran.yanity@noisytrumpet.com or call 210-582-0505.

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Advertising Blog Industry Trends Social Media Web

Marketing in the Digital Age

cell phone and desktop banner

The way we market changes with society and advances in technology. The question is always –
how can we promote products and services? While the last 10 years have brought the greatest technological growth
along with digital marketing campaigns, it’s important to note that traditional mediums, such as television, radio,
print and out-of-home, are still powerful. Your overall marketing strategy should take an integrated approach and
include a combination of traditional and digital elements to reach consumers more effectively. However, as online
marketing continues to grow, it’s important to tap into new media forms. Our Founder and CEO Fran Yanity had the
opportunity to touch on and discuss many aspects of digital marketing with Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) college
students. We’ve gathered some major takeaways from her presentation to help you understand the importance of digital
marketing.

Digital Channels

Whether you have a $500 or $10,000 monthly advertising budget, you want to get the biggest
bang for your buck. Choosing the right marketing channels will help maximize your return on investment (ROI) and
reach your goals. Some of the most effective marketing channels in 2020 include:

  • Pay-per-Click (PPC) Advertising – Google Search ads will
    help you connect with users who are searching for products and services that you provide right at the moment
    they are looking.
  • Social Media – Social connection offers valuable community
    building opportunities; however, it is important to choose the right platforms that make sense for your
    brand and customers.
  • Website – Your website may, in fact, be the most important of
    all channels. It should offer a good first impression and clearly represent your business, so users are able
    to find what they are looking for when they are looking.
  • Content Marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) –
    Content marketing and solid SEO helps demonstrate your authority and expertise through high-quality content,
    thus helping you reach your target audience with information they need and want.

Although there are other marketing channels that are successful, those mentioned above have
proven to be some of the best and most cost-effective.

Process for Digital Marketing

In order for a marketing campaign to be successful, it is important to have a clear goal in
mind. What do you expect from your marketing campaign? Identifying your key performance indicators (KPIs) and
measurable metrics is essential. This, as well as understanding your audience, will help you start to build your
campaign strategy.

Not all social media and marketing channels are suitable for every campaign, so it’s
important to take a step back and think about what would be most effective for what you are trying to achieve. Look
at all possible channels and tie it back to your end goal. It’s OK not to run a campaign on multiple channels
especially if the budget is small. However, it is important to remember that if you do use a multi-channel approach,
you should tailor your content to fit within the platform.

Before launching any digital marketing campaign, it’s necessary to have somewhere users can
go after they click or see an ad. Most times, you would direct people to your website but it is important that users
go to a landing page that grabs their attention and compels them to take action. The landing page and your website
should have the appropriate pixels and tracking codes in place (like Google Analytics) to ensure accurate tracking
of page performance, conversions and attributions.

Without proper planning and measurement, your marketing campaign might not be successful.
Optimizations need to take place throughout the campaign as you learn more about your audience and what is
performing best to ensure that budget is allocated where it drives action. Marketing campaigns are extremely
valuable when you go through the process and make sure you set up everything accordingly.

Digital Trends in a Changing Landscape

Over the last couple of years, marketers have seen an increase in the amount of advertising
done programmatically. One of our
previous blogs discusses why the automated buying and selling of online advertising has seen a boom – included in this mix are
connected TV (CTV) and over-the-top (OTT) networks. In 2019, the number of smart TV’s and OTT devices in
households exceeded 1 billion. This will probably continue to grow over the next few years so it should be considered as part of your overall
marketing strategy.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
will play a huge role in mobile advertising, moving forward. These trends have already started to emerge in
advertising campaigns, specifically with games (like “Pokemon Go”) because it offers an immersive and entertaining
experience. It allows marketers to reach consumers in new ways.

Getting your message across and influencing consumers to purchase a product or service can
be challenging if you don’t define your audience. Marketers utilize information that is collected from various
tracking mechanisms to help fine-tune and deliver a digital campaign to the right people. The collection
of data is important to ensure that the content is more engaging and
efficient. It comes from many sources including smartphones, cameras, apps, websites you visit etc. Data
collecting techniques continue to change as have regulations to ensure privacy, but at the same time give
marketers the tools they need to gain insights about their target demographics.

Looking for an agency that can deliver an impactful and successful campaign? Contact us today.
We’re just one call, like, follow, retweet and DM away!

Categories
Advertising Blog

Email Campaigns Are Far From Over

Let’s be honest. Most of us suffer from inbox overload, and filing through dozens of unwanted emails is just added stress. Nearly 105 billion emails are sent each day and this number is expected to reach 246 billion before 2020. For some, email campaigns are great at providing information directly to the consumer. However, for those sending multiple emails a day, it can easily get sent to spam. Here are some tips on how to receive and retain the attention your emails need to survive an inbox purge.

Only send important emails

Newsletters are no longer making the cut. No matter how interesting the subject line may be, studies show daily newsletters have the lowest read rate among campaign types and contribute to faster unsubscribing rates. Send emails twice a week, at most, to avoid pestering readers. Keep them interested by showing them what has changed since the last email. If emails include new information about the company or a new promotion, people will engage with the content more.

Keep it short and simple

Long emails filled with clutter will guarantee your email a spot in the consumer trash bin. Since simple structure gets the most clicks, always use clean lines and sharp images make emails more appealing. Write out short, well-defined, pieces to engage your audience. Don’t make anything long or confusing for them. Insert multiple links in your email directing readers to your site; this will keep their attention on your company. Most importantly, make all emails optimized for mobile devices. 72.9% of 18-24 year olds use their phones to check email; therefore, it’s essential to keep emails formatted for mobile users.

Make it personal

Emails with personalized data get the most interaction. Instead of writing “dear subscriber” try using the reader’s name. Personal emails like birthday promotions, post-purchase feedback, and welcome messages receive more attention than any other type of email campaign. Narrow down the general clutter in emails by sending recommendations based off the reader’s past interests. This will give the consumer a greater reason to read your emails.

Most importantly, know who your readers are and what made them originally interested in your company. Keep all emails closely related to each other and experimentation at a minimum. Ask yourself if the emails you send are worth reading; if you don’t want to read them, you can’t expect others to either. By incorporating these methods into your email marketing campaign, your emails are sure to be hit with the audience you’ve worked so hard to build.

Categories
Advertising Blog Industry Trends

Super Bowl LII: Traditional vs. Digital Marketing

As the Super Bowl approaches, there is no shortage of talk anticipating this year’s ads. More than 40% of American households are expected to tune in! It’s no secret the market for ad time is extremely competitive during this period of highly engaged viewers. However, with last year’s ads priced at nearly $5 million for a 30-second slot, some companies are beginning to wonder if the benefits are worth the price. Will marketers begin implementing a heavier presence in the digital realm as a result of increased traditional media competition during the Super Bowl hype?

Traditional Media

Our sister agency, The PM Group, has been handling media advertising for decades and has noticed digital trends. However, despite digital’s evolution, traditional media still reigns – for companies willing to pitch in that extra dime. A recent study published by the INFORMS Marketing Science journal finds revenue increases substantially for Super Bowl advertisers. MarketWatch estimates that a full hour of the Super Bowl broadcast is advertisements, meaning they are collectively viewed more than 136 million hours, just by the end of the game. When researchers studied the sales trends for beverage companies over the course of 5 years, researchers found that heavy sports advertisers, like Budweiser, had nearly a 5% increase in sales before and after major sporting events had aired (such as March Madness and the Super Bowl).

Social Media

We know traditional media isn’t going anywhere, but how are new digital practices affecting the playing field? Researchers suggest social media may have a bigger influence when it comes to extending the shelf life of big game ads. Forbes magazine calculated that nearly 5.7 million original posts were made online within 1 hour of last year’s Super Bowl. This produced nearly 40 billion impressions while paid social impressions had a total of 5.4 billion and TV ads had 11 billion. Consecutively, the hashtags #SB, #SB51, and #Superbowl2017 compiled over 86 billion impressions by the end of the game, which consisted of 11.9 million posts. For advertisers, social media is key when top Super Bowl ad lists are generated by companies. Last year consumers spent a record 350,000 combined hours watching Super Bowl 51 ads on YouTube. Oreos is most famously known for this type of marketing campaign, after tweeting about the infamous blackout of Super Bowl XLVII. Social media during major events gives marketers a platform to experiment with while still accomplishing their goals as a brand.

Digital Media  

Although the cost of social media marketing is dramatically different than the price of TV spots, digital advertising brings a different element of value to the plate. The efficiency that digital ads provide when targeting consumers has many marketers turning to the digital playing field. Marketers can now pay to advertise to a specific subgroup within the Super Bowl audience, rather than the game’s entire viewership. Digital ads on a 30-second national spot will cost you $700,000 while the same national spot in broadcast will be around $5 million. Marketers are even able to customize multiple campaigns on various digital platforms, utilizing creative specific to the market, rather than air just one 30 second TV spot. Smaller budgets, audience customization and overall efficiency creates a better experience not only for the user, but the consumer as well.

So while traditional TV spots are booming, for now, expect to see digital presence skyrocket in the following years with brands’ Super Bowl campaigns. The digital space provides an affordable outlet to take advantage of trending campaigns surrounding major events, such as the Super Bowl. Differentiating between traditional and modern marketing strategies is key to realizing the value that lies in each. Especially as our world becomes more connected, integrating newer digital technologies into our tried-and-true marketing tactics will only allow for a more successful, holistic approach.

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Advertising Blog Public Relations

The Top Marketing & PR Campaigns of 2017

As we look back, 2017 consisted of many powerful marketing and PR campaigns – ones that have helped grow brands by touching on universal truths that resonate with their audiences. As marketers, it’s no surprise we admire when a campaign hits the mark. Let’s take a look at some of our favorites of the year.

 

Force of Nature

Combining nature and female empowerment in retail was not something on consumers’ radar in 2017. But, when outdoor company REI dropped Force of Nature, people were pleasantly surprised by the amazing storytelling campaign about a woman’s place in the wild.

Dilly Dilly!

Whose power, creativity and humor has the whole nation shouting “DILLY DILLY”? Bud Light, that’s who. This newly prominent catchphrase caught like wildfire and is worth admiring. In fact, this campaign was successful enough to present a sequel ad. Bud Light even went as far as sending a cease-and-desist scroll via town crier to a Minneapolis brewing company to protect their campaign’s individuality.

Strange Mode

Experiential marketing has been on the rise in recent years as marketers realize the importance of audience involvement. However, Lyft’s partnership with Netflix took it to another level — a “stranger” one. In partnership with the hit series Stranger Things, Lyft users got a chance to visit the Upside Down on the day of Stanger Things’ season premiere.

Fearless Girl

One of 2017’s most well-known campaigns was surprisingly the brainchild of a financial firm. State Street Global Advisers placed a bronze statue of a girl in power pose standing in front of the iconic Wall Street bull. The firm’s goal was to advocate for more female leadership – as a result of this creative statement, brought an incredible amount of brand awareness to the firm.

While the average consumer remembers the campaigns that made them laugh or cry, it is our due diligence as marketers to analyze what made these campaigns work so well. At Noisy Trumpet, we break down what brands have done right or wrong to help us become better at what we love doing.

 

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Advertising Blog Public Relations Social Media

Understanding Influencer Marketing

From YouTube stars to lifestyle bloggers, influencer marketing has emerged from the social media landscape as a new opportunity for marketers.

The buzziest of buzzwords at the moment, influencer marketing has gained traction for becoming an effective campaign strategy. In fact, a study suggested that 60% of marketers were increasing their influencer marketing budgets. However, like most trends, it is too easy to contextualize what something is and its effects without knowing the facts. Here, we help you gain a rational understanding of this up and coming trend.

Influencers vs. Celebrities

So, what exactly is influencer marketing? Deriving a definition from itself, influencer marketing is a strategy that uses influential people to successfully persuade people to use a good or service.

Simple enough. But what differentiates this marketing model from celebrity endorsements? They, too, are influential people who are often used to persuade audiences. To get a better understanding of social influencers, let’s look at key differences between them and celebrities

  • Influencers have their own niche audience; celebrities attract mass appeal
  • Influencers use social channels to produce content; celebrities use traditional channels
  • Influencers produce their own content; celebrities are a small part of content produced

These differences suggest influencers have a stronger connection with their audience than their celebrity predecessors. This is the key opportunity for marketers – leveraging influencers to tap into their personally invested audience. For this reason, there are many benefits that influencers bring to any campaign.

The Benefits

The most recognizable value of using influencers is also the most basic: people like them. This is a notable element for marketers because people have higher rates of attention and are more likely to be persuaded by people they like. Yes, this may seem intuitive, but it is also based in psychology. The most common of Cialdini’s persuasive principles is liking and it’s one of the reasons that celebrity endorsements have worked so well in the past. However, as the digital world flourishes, influencers may supersede celebrity endorsers.

Influencers are also highly specialized having become an authority in a particular niche. As a result, they receive greater engagement and are perceived as highly credible (another Cialdini principle). People go to them to meet a very specific need. Thus, marketers can access a highly engaged audience via the trust established by the influencers credibility. This ultimately leads to a better ROI. In fact, Adweek suggests 40% of respondents purchased something they saw promoted by an influencer through a variety of channels.

One overlooked benefit is that influencers help break down the traditional communication structure of advertising. Rather than typical one-way communication, partnering with influencers allows marketers to establish a dialogue with their target audience in the comments of social platforms. In addition, using influencers adds personality, tone and character to a brand. These elements are created organically by using a real-life person rather than fabricating it through a collection of tactics that can feel off-putting and artificial.

Precautions

With everything in marketing, it is important to reflect on the unintended consequences of whatever strategy your business is employing. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what to look out for with influencer marketing.

Like celebrity endorsements, placing your trust in a public figure can be unnerving. Even a celebrity is just a human, and humans make mistakes. As a result, your brand’s image can suffer greatly if an influencer makes even the most minuscule of mistakes. We’ve all seen how unforgiving the internet can be if a mishap does occur.

Another precaution to be aware of is selecting the correct influencer to promote your product. Yes, there are many. No, the one with the most followers isn’t always the best idea. According to research by Hitwise, a campaign’s success must be, “guided by the interests of both the influencer and target audience.” There must be a harmonious connection between influencer and a brand’s target audience, one that extends beyond demographics.

Understanding how to use social influencers can be a daunting task. Done correctly, it can be a valuable strategy to building your brand. As marketers, we understand the nuances in differing strategies, and with our assistance, we can use our expertise to help meet your business goals. Contact or get social with us!