Villing General Articles
Timeless Tips for a Successful Trade Show
Lori Headley (April 26, 2012)
Over many years of working trade shows as a brand manager and assisting clients with their show plans, I have identified a few key factors that are crucial to maximizing your return on this investment.
Don't Communicate Like a Toddler
Nathan DeSelm (April 10, 2012)
My daughter is a little over 17 months old and she's already making the same communication mistakes that I see in the business and marketing world. Of course, she has a better excuse.
Rambling Reckonings
Thom Villing (April 4, 2012)
Thom Villing shares some quick thoughts on everything from college basketball to Buzz Lightyear.
Journalism 2012 Motto: Sensations Sells (or Who Cares About the Facts)
Jeannine Villing (March 23, 2012)
What in the world has happened to honest, fact-based reporting of new stories? And, maybe more importantly, what has happened to taking the time to do something right the first time?
How to Succeed in Business Presentations: Accounting for Individual Communication Styles
Lori Headley (March 19, 2012)
Even the best ideas with thoughtful strategy and awesome creative executions can go down in flames if not presented properly.
MSRP? More Like Manufacturer's Suggested Ripoff Price!
Nathan DeSelm (February 16, 2012)
Maybe there was a time when the manufacturer's suggested retail price meant something. Those days are gone because aggressive marketers have traded long-term credibility for short-term "monkey business."
A Giant Boost for All
Scott Tingwald (February 8, 2012)
The city of Indianapolis proved to be just as big a winner as the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI. But who else benefitted from Super Week in Indy?
The Fallacy of the Funnel: Revisiting Conventional Marketing Wisdom
Thom Villing (January 13, 2012)
The marketing funnel has been as sacred as the four P's of marketing for a century. But now some of the industry's foremost thought leaders are starting to question its relevance.
Holiday Lessons for the Workplace
Lori Headley (January 9, 2012)
Lori discusses the parallels between her plans to improve next year's holiday season and her approach to providing excellent client service in 2012.
Doing Well By Doing Good Revisited: The New Generation of Socially Minded Businesses
Thom Villing (November 23, 2011)
This week, as we are reminded of how much we, as a society, have to be thankful for, we’re also reminded of the importance of being good citizens of the world community.
Back To The Future: Reminders from the Next Generation of Marketers
Lori Headley (November 18, 2011)
Keeping a connection with students is a great way to keep your finger on one of the pulse points of the future of marketing and advertising - our future colleagues.
Vampires vs. Zombies: The Importance of Targeted Marketing
Lori Headley (October 17, 2011)
In the spirit of Halloween, Lori explains how a battle between two factions of the undead provides valuable insights into marketing with a limited budget.
The Genius of Steve Jobs: Understanding Marketing's 4 P's
Thom Villing (October 10, 2011)
According to Thom Villing, the attribute that set Steve Jobs apart was his innate sense of all facets of effective marketing - each of the four P's.
The More Things Change, The More Things...Change
Thom Villing (September 6, 2011)
At times, the way the marketing profession is changing can be a bit scary. I'll admit. Sometimes technology makes me want to run for cover.
What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
Jessica Curtis (September 2, 2011)
Our most recent public relations intern explains how her time at Villing & Company gave her more insight into that commonly asked question.
Because the First Word in Cause Marketing is the "Cause"
Thom Villing (July 21, 2011)
I have always been a strong proponent of cause marketing and believe it to be a potentially powerful cog in the marketing mix. I still believe that but there is one big IF.
Marketing Muse-Ings: Men Don't Respond To Paid Media (As Much As Women)
Thom Villing (June 24, 2011)
I have a love/hate relationship with research. I love what it can tell us to make us more effective marketers. I hate dealing with a bunch of dry statistics.
Marketing Muse-ings
Thom Villing (May 23, 2011)
As a departure from my usual blogstyle and presented in digest(ible) form, here are some totally random items for your consideration.
The Intern Experience: Grunt Work or Real Work?
Meghan Lehr (May 11, 2011)
Sure, most interns claim they've had a good experience. But have they really been thrown into the mix of the agency during their experience?
2 Fast, 2 Furious: Coverage of bin Laden Death Highlights Need to Slow Down and Proof
Scott Tingwald (May 5, 2011)
If the recent media coverage teaches us anything, it's that we need to take a minute to read what we've written - if not have someone else proofread it for us.
Millennials Are Cool, Too
Thom Villing (April 25, 2011)
Much has been written about the good and bad characteristics of the Millennial Generation, but a recent student awards luncheon made me optimistic about the future of the marketing profession.
Dealing with Disaster: How to Plan for the Worst Case Scenario, in Business and Life
Nathan DeSelm (April 19, 2011)
A couple weeks ago, our website server crashed. This harrowing experience clarified a couple important things that are not only relevant to this situation, but also to the other disasters in life.
When Did I Fall Asleep and Baby Boomers Become Hip?
Thom Villing (April 13, 2011)
What can marketers learn from the recent fascination with hip Baby Boomers, which is most noticeable in the recent string of Saturday Night Live guests in their 50s and 60s?
Are You an App-aholic or Are You App-athetic?
Thom Villing (April 1, 2011)
While it would be easy to get annoyed by all the talk about an app for this and an app for that, many apps are impressive marketing tools. After all, good marketing begins with the customer experience.
"That Ain't Me!" - The Customer is Not Always Right
Brad Rosier (February 21, 2011)
During the summers I worked at an amusement park as a caricature artist, I learned a valuable business lesson: educating your customer can sometimes mean the difference between success and failure.
Changing Lanes on the Marketing Autobahn: Drive Carefully in 2011
Thom Villing (January 5, 2011)
The more things change, the more they stay the same. You've heard that expression many times. It's an apt prediction about marketing in 2011. The big difference will be the speed of that change.
Our Staff Bids Farewell to 2010, the Year of…
(December 31, 2010)
As the year comes to a close, find out what our staff thinks has had the biggest impact on marketing in 2010.
Dewey Decimal's Digital Destiny: The Fate of Brick and Mortar Bookstores
Brad Rosier (December 27, 2010)
A few years back, libraries and bookstores might have seemed immune to the digital revolution, but with the recent ubiquity of handheld ebook readers, I’m wondering if they too will eventually be no more.
Great Scott! Predicting Tomorrow's Marketing World Minus the DeLorean
Brad Rosier (December 3, 2010)
Determining how the market will change and what marketing tools will work in the future is at the forefront of the marketing mind. It's fun to imagine tomorrow, but let's face it, we're usually wrong.
Deep and Simple: Mr. Rogers Applied to Marketing
Brad Rosier (October 22, 2010)
Brad shares Mr. Rogers' philosophy concerning TV content and how it can be applied to marketing.
Clothespin Babies: How Demos and Trial Experiences Can Reduce Your Customers' Perceived Risk
Nathan DeSelm (October 6, 2010)
Trying something new can be scary. By offering small, low-risk demos and trial experiences to your prospects, it's more likely they will become customers.
Death of a Video Salesman, Birth of a New One
Brad Rosier (September 20, 2010)
You don't have to drive far to find at least one gutted Blockbuster with the familiar faded outline of their logo as the only hard evidence of the previous inhabitants. What went wrong?
Point/Counterpoint: Are Local Marketing Clubs Doomed?
Nathan DeSelm & Thom Villing (September 10, 2010)
With online educational opportunities exploding and professional networking increasingly happening online, is there any place for local marketing clubs with their traditional meet-and-greet luncheons?
Make or Break Your Company with Customer Experiences - The Choice is Yours
Lesley Langfeldt (May 24, 2010)
Great experiences are expected by every customer who walks through your door. Failing to provide that could be detrimental to your marketing and your business.
Route 66 as a Metaphor for the Agency Business
Thom Villing (May 19, 2010)
The agency business is changing. It is tempting to wax nostalgic and yearn for the thrilling days of yesteryear. But I think that may be missing the point.
Three Ways Gaming Culture Can Impact Your Marketing Plan
Nathan DeSelm (April 7, 2010)
Video gaming has a massive influence on your target market. This article explains three ways that marketers can use this knowledge to help promote their business and products.
If It's Worth Writing, It's Worth Proofing
Lesley Langfeldt (April 2, 2010)
I understand the conversations taking place online are supposed to be more conversational in nature, but does that also mean we don't need to proofread anymore?
We Don't Need No Stinkin' Strategy
Thom Villing (March 24, 2010)
Creating tactics in response to a specific need or opportunity is easy. Creating a well-conceived strategy before developing tactical approaches... not so much.
Gaming Should Be On Your Marketing Radar
Nathan DeSelm (March 10, 2010)
I recently attended a marketing strategy meeting for a Fortune 500 company targeting consumers under 30. The biggest take-away: video games are mainstream and can't be ignored in your marketing efforts.
The Experience of Gaining Experience: Observations from an Agency Intern
Leslie Youngdahl (March 3, 2010)
"You just need more experience." After hearing that, I took it upon myself to get just what it is they thought I was lacking.
Marketing Resources for the Lifelong Marketing Student
Lesley Langfeldt (February 23, 2010)
Here is a list of educational resources for the marketing professional. It is now more important than ever to keep up-to-date on industry happenings.
Drive-thru Anticipation: New Heinz Ketchup Packet Creates Fresh Buzz for an Old Product
Andy Fuller (February 18, 2010)
For over 40 years, the design of the Heinz ketchup packet has remained unchanged...until now.
When It Comes To Holiday Traditions, Baby Boomers Aren't So Different Than Their Own Babies.
Thom Villing (December 29, 2009)
In light of the holiday season, as well as our recent discussions in this space about generational issues, I thought I’d share with you some interesting statistics I recently came across.
Don't Fail to Plan Your Marketing Efforts. Seven Steps to Help You Plan... to Succeed.
Thom Villing (October 14, 2009)
As we approach the end of a year that many people would just as soon forget, it may be a good time to remember to work on your marketing plans for 2010.
At 30,000 Feet, Timing is Everything
Nathan DeSelm (August 24, 2009)
I recently traveled to Europe for vacation, which obviously required several very long flights. During that time, I learned a little something about timing your marketing efforts.
The Importance of Customer Satisfaction
Lesley Langfeldt (August 19, 2009)
While shopping one day, a store manager refused to accept a purchase I wanted to return and ended up with one angry customer. In the end, was it worth it? Definitely not.
Observations On Working Remotely as a Digital Artist
Brad Rosier (August 14, 2009)
For the last year, I've been working full time for Villing & Company from home. Overall, the experience has been surprisingly positive...for the most part.
Slow Down and Appreciate Life
Mathew Siecker (July 24, 2009)
People mention every day how fast time goes and how there is just never enough time. However, if you learn to slow down and appreciate the little things, it may just help you connect with your target audience.
Phoning It In
Scott Tingwald (July 17, 2009)
A recent Internet and e-mail outage at our office on Monday due to a weekend storm took me back to the 1990s. You don't realize how much communication is by e-mail until you don't have it.
The Day the Newspaper Died: Implications of "paper"-less journalism
Jeannine Villing (March 31, 2009)
I’m worried. As more and more of our newspapers disappear altogether or move to digital versions only, I have started having real concerns about the impact on our society.
History has proven that companies which continue marketing during a recession are usually rewarded by increased market share that translates to increased sales and profitability when the economy recovers.
March Marketing: When it comes to the four Ps of marketing, March Madness is the ultimate slam dunk.
Thom Villing (March 16, 2009)
Just for the heck of it, let's apply the classic four Ps to a marketing analysis of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Look, Mom, I'm Going to be in a Commercial?!?
Samantha Marra (February 16, 2009)
I haven’t even been at Villing & Company a month and some exciting things have already happened. My name is Sammy and I am an intern here at Villing & Company.
Keeping the Relationship Alive
Scott Tingwald (August 21, 2008)
In our increasingly disposable society, learn why the client/agency relationship is as important as ever.
No Good Deed...
Thom Villing (April 29, 2008)
A headline in the Wall Street Journal asks “Does Being Ethical Pay?” It’s a good question, but is it the right one?
Budgeting for Business
Thom Villing (February 15, 2008)
How do you set a marketing budget? Most organizations, it seems, use what the textbooks call the "arbitrary and affordable" model. Some match their competitors. But maybe there's a better way.
2007 - The Year of the Bride
(February 6, 2008)
We call it the year of the bride here at Villing & Company. Four twenty-something staffers entered into the world of wedded bliss in 2007. Imagine what Jeannine and Thom Villing thought – FOUR WEDDINGS and FOUR HONEYMOONS!
A Recession-proof Investment Tip: Focused Audience Research
Scott Tingwald (January 31, 2008)
I have to admit, it is so refreshing when a client is willing to commit time and resources to a quantitative research study prior to launching a marketing initiative for their company – whether it’s an image campaign or the launch of a new product.
Talking Ourselves Out of a Recession
Thom Villing (January 17, 2008)
I’m no economist. Far from it. But I have a theory about recessions. Most of the time we talk ourselves into them — usually with an ample amount of help from the news media.
Learning What It's Really All About: A marketing intern's perspective
Sloan Smith (August 3, 2007)
My experience as a marketing intern and the marketing concepts that you just don't learn in school.