OK, I’ll admit it, my office is usually on the messy side. I wouldn’t go as far (and you shouldn’t either) to call me a “Hoarder,” but I’ve definitely acquired my fair share of chotchkies and client memorabilia during my client services career. While some may look at my collection as junk, each item (or at least most of them) has a story to tell.

1. Briefcase Business Card Holder: My Aunt Joann gave me the world’s smalls briefcase as a college graduation gift, and it’s been with me ever since. It’s proven to be a great conversation piece.

2. Kenny: “Oh My God, They Killed Kenny” is an iconic line from the Comedy Central animated series South Park, which was one of my favorite shows in college. I also had my first internship at Comedy Central in New York. It was there I found my passion for public relations and marketing. The first official press release I ever wrote was for a series of network interstitials featuring a (I can’t remember her name) Canadian comedian.

3. Good Neigh-Bear: State Farm was one of the first national clients I worked on in Chicago. My furry friend is just one of the many client “gifts” I still carry with me. If any one is in need of branded magnets, I have plenty.

4. Squeezable Coors Light Cans: One of the most exciting days of my early professional career, was when I was told I was going to work on the Coors Brewing Company account. Before becoming a craft beer snob (of sorts), Coors Light was actually my beer of choice. One of my favorite experiences working on the account was when I got a behind the scenes tour of the Coors Brewery in Golden, Co. Drinking two-second old beer was quite an experience for this beer lover.

5. The Singing Bass Plaque: No story there. Someone put it in my office during my first week at Willow, and I haven’t had the energy to toss it or will it to one of Willow’s newer team members.

6. Trade Show Name Badges: During the past nine years, I’ve attended countless trade shows and conferences spanning dozens of industries. I reviewed specs for new roller coaster designs at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, learned the ins and outs of trucking at the Mid-America Truck Show and attended Fraternity gatherings for national women’s organizations where I’ve been one of (less than) five men in sea of women. I’ve done my best to hold onto all my name badges in order to keep track of where I’ve been. Luckily, when I started at Willow, I received a man’s bust as a welcome gift, which has provided be an ideal location to hold and display my name badges. Sure he has neck pain, but he gets by.

My collecting has slowed down in recent years, but I doubt it will ever stop. Trust me, I’ve tried.

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Missed any of our posts this week? Be sure to check out the Weekly Wrap Up below for our industry insight and brain power.

Marketing 101: QR Codes Here, QR Codes There, QR Codes are Everywhere!
Let’s Chat: What Web Browser Do You Use and Why?
In Marketing News: Throw It Against the Wall and See What Sticks
Pin Busters: Who’s Up For a Challenge?

We have done a couple of successful “Pin Busters” in the past and would like to see if YOU can do the same! Everyone needs a little break from work or a fun weekend project, right?

Creative Outlets

Marketing Firms Use Hot Glue Guns, Too

Postitive Affirmations...All Framed Up

We are challenging you to bust the same Pins we have busted and to then send us pictures of your finished product. Are you up for the pinning challenge?

Now, we know it’s not fair to challenge you, without expecting you to challenge us back – so bring it on! If you have a Pin you would like to see us bust, send it our way. We’ll bust it, document it and blog about it so you can see just how creative we really are. I mean, we did make our own scarves.

Ready… Set… Bust a Pin!

Deciding what web browser to use on a daily basis is a very important life decision. Marketing professionals are always plugged in to the internet and I’m curious to see which web browser our readers use the most. Which do you prefer? Why?

Here’s what I do:

Work: Safari > I enjoy the look of the  ”Top Sites” feature and it was the first browser to embrace HTML5, which is a language that designers use for web layouts. Safari can support media rich sites without plug-ins.

Home: Firefox > I’ve built out a complex system of tabs in the bookmark toolbar. My tabs include: e-mail, social media, news, finance, and “cool stuff” among others. I also take advantage of the Add-ons and themes. My latest theme is Noia Fox, which gives my Firefox experience more icons and color.

1st Alternate: Google Chrome > I’ve had Chrome downloaded and rarely use it. It’s my second fiddle if I have the need for it. I know a lot of people really like Chrome. Here is a link to an article that highlights five reasons Chrome should be your primary browser.

This might sound like an unorganized way to approach your marketing efforts but for people like Scott Wise, Scotty’s Brewhouse owner and social media guru, it’s a common practice. Obviously, it’s not going to be as easy and simple as it sounds.

Recently at the Indiana Innovation Awards kick-off event, I was privileged to be able to sit and listen to one of Indiana’s own discuss innovation and how it doesn’t necessarily pertain to new gadgets and gizmos. Wise showed how he transformed a locally-owned restaurant/bar into a “must visit” in Indiana using social media platforms. Innovation can be defined as taking something that currently exists and simplifying it. It’s great to see how someone can take a basic concept like customer service and flip it upside down with innovative marketing efforts.

Utilizing Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and QR Codes, Scotty’s provides every visitor an opportunity to share their experience and receive coupons in real-time. This isn’t a new concept, but Wise takes it a step further by personally handling any issues. This innovative way of utilizing social media for customer service and advertising shows how throwing it against the wall can be worthwhile.

How many have heard the statement, “social media is the free platform for advertising?” Anyone who knows anything about social media knows that it takes time and effort to create anything of substantial significance. Wise may have started his social media empire using Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter, but have you heard of a thing called MySpace? This was Scott’s original platform that was the inspiration for his efforts today. The reason that he has been successful is the fact that he’s transparent to the end-users of his product. That is the invaluable advantage of using social media. The key is to realize that this is a conversation platform, and people aren’t going to want to interact to someone that doesn’t hold a conversation.

Who’s to say what’s next? Pinterest? Flickr? Google+? Wise believes you need to put yourself out there and listen. It’s not about how loud you say something, but more about, what you say.  So, you’re not ready for social media? I think getting out there and listening is the key to know where to throw your message.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com

Recently Willow Marketing assisted a show choir apparel client with a marketing initiative that for years has been resolved with two issues of (expensive) print catalogs. This year, Willow recommended an alternative. A direct mail poster with a QR code that would drive traffic to an online catalog for one of the issues. This is a good example of an appropriate use for QR codes.

QR codes should not just be stuck on collateral materials, but rather purposefully planned and executed. According to Mashable, here are three things to keep in mind when evaluating if a QR code makes sense for your marketing campaign:

1. Define your purpose for using a QR code

• Is the purpose to provide an instructional video, a photo catalog of products, contact information or product suggestions?
• Or are you looking to incentivize customers through coupons and loyalty rewards?
• What is the advertiser hoping to garner – an email address, social media engagement, a phone call?
• Are you seeking to provide information about a single product or about the entire brand line?

The clearer you are about the purpose of your campaign, the easier it will be to determine whether your goals have been achieved.

2. Call on your target audience
Now that you have defined your purpose, develop a customer call to action. The brief text sitting next to your QR code should be the world’s shortest elevator pitch and tell your audience exactly what to expect from the QR code.

3. Check the stats
Did you receive more hits to your website, more followers on Twitter or Facebook? Keep in mind the ultimate goal of the QR code is to drive results.

What are your thoughts on QR codes? Will they reach widespread consumer usage or are they destined to be a quirky tactic for promotional campaigns?