Mid-Missouri Marketing Resource Blog

Originally published 02-03-2020. Updated as of 01-14-2021.

Don't be distracted by the bright lights, the seventh inning stretch, or the superb athleticism. There may not be anything quite like the top teams in the MLB, but that doesn't mean they're not a bustling, successful business you can learn a lot from. Your actual business may not have a lot in common with a professional sports team, like the St. Louis Cardinals, but you shouldn't be surprised to learn that your marketing strategy and needs reflects theirs. (Or at least, it should.)

In today's post, we'll discuss what the Cardinals have in common with your marketing and what you can learn from them.

Originally published 10-12-2015. Updated 12-03-2020.

“Lose an average of 30 pounds without dieting or exercise!” While most reasonable people may know that claims like this are bogus, and there is no “magic pill” to battle the bulge, many Americans fall for these deceptive and unsubstantiated claims day after day making it the #4 no-no in our 12-part series on causes of advertising failure.

In this article we’re going to outline reasons why making unsubstantiated claims is false advertising which is not only illegal, it’s harmful to your credibility, creates a bad reputation for your brand, and leads to a significant loss in customer loyalty.

Originally published 03-02-2018. Updated 10-06-2020.

Instagram just turned 10 today, so we thought it would only be right to celebrate by sharing some of the benefits of utilizing the platform!

These days, consumers tend to judge a business’ credibility based on their presence on (or absence from) social media. But which social platforms are truly worth the time and the effort that it takes to be successful?

Chipotle started something. In 1993, the first Chipotle restaurant opened in Denver, CO and gave diners something new. It wasn’t quite fast food, but it was fast. It wasn't quite a buffet, but you got to choose what foods to put on your plate. It wasn’t quite a formal sit-down restaurant, but the food was higher quality than a #1 cheeseburger &  fries combo from a drive-thru. Chipotle launched a fast-casual restaurant concept around personalized dining. And patrons loved it. They gave diners a choice and allowed them to personalize their experience. Since then, that concept has revolutionized more than just the restaurant industry.

Marketing automation is a valuable asset to add to your overall marketing strategy. Using a marketing automation software platform, you are able to streamline your work processes, build strong customer leads, and become more efficient with your time spent on marketing overall. When you are working hard at nurturing leads and trying to increase revenue, it's important to consider the numerous benefits of marketing automation.

McDonalds is one of the most easily recognized, well-known brands in the world. If fact, you would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t at least heard of McDonalds and most have visited a franchise more than a few times. They maintain their immense reputation for stellar recognition and brand awareness through consistent branding, advertising and being willing to adapt to an ever-changing marketplace. Here’s some marketing lessons we call learn from McDonalds, one of the best in the business at knowing and employing relevant, effective marketing practices:

Your advertising is a precious commodity. There’s limited space or time to tell your story, so the challenge is to use it wisely. Your story is what creates your brand. It’s what people will remember. Good advertising gives consumers a message that will stick and only includes information that is relevant. However, in our expert opinion...we find that old habits die hard. Certain bits of information are no longer germane and may be costing you valuable air time. Here is Director of Sales Carrie Berkbuegler in this video discussing 5 topics, commonly included in traditional advertising, that nobody cares about anymore.

Top-40 music continues to vibe with not just the young in age, but also the young at heart. Listeners to the format are like the music they adore - active, trendy, vibrant, youthful and engaged. They also happen to have money...and a desire to spend it. These young yuppies are buying everything from food and clothes to homes and cars - a far cry from the stereotypical teenage listener trying to finish homework so he/she can play video games. If you haven't considered Top-40 as an audience worthy of your business, you're missing out.  Here's why. 

Consistency builds trust. Why? Because you teach people that they can depend on you, that you'll be there every time they need you. You become familiar.  Familiar becomes safe. And we trust "safe" - especially now. So consistency is the golden rule when it comes to marketing. Wouldn't you think that McDonald's and Ford and M&M's would lay off the advertising for a while?  Especially when it's fairly safe to assume we all know what they are and where to find them?  Yet they don't.  In fact, they wouldn't dream of stopping. Why? Because they understand that consistency is simply THAT important. Here's why.

Systems offer stability. They provide your business with a set of actions and goals that are both understandable and attainable. Attempting to successfully market a business without a well-outlined system in place is a recipe for disaster. That's why, at Zimmer, we highly recommend a marketing method that is proven to produce results time and time again: The BrandsKamp System.