Do your customers trust you? Do you understand their ever-changing wants and needs? These are tough questions. And, if you’re not sure, is it time to re-evaluate your brand strategy? We live in a time where the customer has more power than ever, and in a time when their lives are changing rapidly, even impacting their daily routines.

There are many different types of digital ads, each designed to help advertisers achieve specific goals. Some lead users to a website, others encourage immediate purchases, and most are strategically served based on a user’s profile, interests, or demographics. Digital advertising is highly valued because it enables brands to precisely target customers and influence purchase decisions when it matters most. According to Basis Technologies' media trends report released January 2025, digital advertising will account for over 80% of total ad spend in the U.S. in 2025, making it the dominant force in marketing strategies.

What was the last restaurant you visited? Think about the experience… your initial impressions and feelings. What made you go there? Maybe it was the atmosphere, the menu selection or that first big bite. What comes immediately to mind… good, bad, or maybe just… meh? How do those impressions fit with what you think of the BRAND? Or, did you think about the brand at all?

Creative people sometimes cringe at the “data” word. All we hear in marketing circles these days is data this, data that. But it’s much more than just a trendy marketing buzzword. It’s the foundational building block we use to create bigger, bolder, more effective ideas.

When people hear audio branding, they most often think of jingles – those magical musical earworms that burrow into your brain and never leave. It’s no wonder. Brand jingles have been around since the early days of advertising. One of the earliest on record was created in 1926 when a barbershop quartet sang the praises of Wheaties cereal on the radio.

Technology continues to introduce more and more ways for us to communicate and stay connected and Discord is just another example of that. Discord is a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and instant messaging social platform where users have the ability to send private messages to friends or join “servers”.

From AI bots to AI generated menu items…restaurants are racing to incorporate AI into their operations to improve their bottom line and create a more enjoyable and memorable dining experience for their guests. More than just a buzzword, AI is shaping up to make big changes in the restaurant space…today, and in the future.

While the oldest Gen Z member may only be about twenty-five, this young group is wise beyond their years and a force to be reckoned with. They are determined not to repeat the mistakes of older generations, even in the face of Covid.

Like many brands, you might be wondering if you should establish a presence on TikTok. After all, the video app has 100 million monthly active users in the U.S., and over 1 billion worldwide. But starting an account on a new platform requires time, resources, and money. Fortunately, TikTok has an advertising format that doesn’t require an organic profile!

As far as full-service marketing agency owners go, I know my path has not been a typical one. Most agency owners tend to come from the creative or account service disciplines. I came into this industry through the media side. Pouring over research, creating media plans, negotiating buys, arguing over audience statistics.