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The following 137 articles were tagged as "general".

• BMW Emotional Branding: For Long-Term Customer Loyalty
  In today’s world the most successful brands maximize their customer loyalty through emotional branding.July 11, 2019 Read More
• Who’s the new kid?
  Villing & Company summer intern, MacKenzie Mason, shares about what the intern experience is like.July 09, 2019 Read More
• Bullet Points Aren’t Always Silver: The Contrarian Strikes Again
  From my experience, it’s rather difficult to be human, personable and engage in genuine relationship building with a series of bullet points and a formulaic approach to formatting.January 04, 2018 Read More
• More Than a "Fee"ling: The Power of the Client/Agency Relationship
  What exactly is the value of an idea?December 08, 2017 Read More
• A New Marketing Anthem For A New Year: The Times, They are A-changin’
  As we close out 2016, it might be a good time to take some of the most famous lyrics of Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan to heart. “The times, indeed, are a-changin’”.December 22, 2016 Read More
• Q&A with Director of Account Planning Diane Doyne
  As part of our month-long focus on planning for success, we sat down with Villing & Co. director of account planning, Diane Doyne, to discuss the planning process.September 27, 2016 Read More
• Unlocking the Power of Your First 10 Minutes in the Office
  This practice won’t take up much of your time, but it might have a huge impact.September 23, 2016 Read More
• The ROI on risk-taking
  Marketers would do well to remember the classic investor mantra that the greater the risk, the greater the potential reward.June 14, 2016 Read More
• March 1, 1982: A day that will live in alacrity
  What was it like to open a new agency in 1982?March 01, 2016 Read More
• Resolutions are great, but don't forget the fundamentals
  A new year is all about fresh starts and new ideas and attitudes. Spring training is based on remembering how to execute the fundamentals. I believe both are timely themes for marketing professionals as well.January 26, 2016 Read More
• The Misunderstood Millennials
  If you automatically associate Millennials with social media obsession, you may be driven to adopt every social media channel you can find. However, that might just be a mistake.December 15, 2015 Read More
• How Can Two Colors Both Be the 2016 "Color of the Year"?
  For 2016, Pantone has doubled down on its bet as to the colors of our lives in the coming year. They are giving us not one, but two “Colors of the Year.”December 11, 2015 Read More
• Creating Marketing Messages that Inspire
  Effective marketing should speak to the target audience in ways that are relatable to their interests, make an emotional connection and, in most cases provide a level of enjoyment. November 30, 2015 Read More
• The Two Most Powerful Words in Marketing
  The more I observe this profession, the more convinced I am that the simple act of saying “Thank You” is an incredibly powerful way to earn the loyalty of customers, industry partners and other stakeholders, far surpassing any clever turn of phrase or whiz bang new marketing fad. November 25, 2015 Read More
• What is the ROI on Obsessing About ROI?
  It’s been said that marketing is both an art and a science. The science part can be measured and acted upon. But the art component requires a less empirical approach. November 09, 2015 Read More
• Dueling Audiences: How to Cope When Your Stakeholders Have Conflicting Demands
  Sometimes members of your audience and stakeholders may have dramatically different opinions about your products and services. It can be difficult to please everyone.October 20, 2015 Read More
• Why an Expert on YouTube is a Better Endorser than Your Favorite Celebrity
  Trust is such a key factor in making a purchasing decision. In the past, people often trusted celebrities and their opinions very highly. Now, that may be dwindling.October 13, 2015 Read More
• Everything Old is New Again: Marketing Trends & Buzzwords
  When you think about it, many of the hot topics in contemporary marketing are essentially reformulations or repackaging of earlier methodologies. September 24, 2015 Read More
• Is the PURL a Marketing Gem Worth Exploring?
  It’s been said that the most pleasing thing that a human can hear is the sound of their own name. Incorporating a PURL into your direct mail campaign may very well increase your response rate and impress your customers. July 10, 2015 Read More
• Adobe Taking Their Marketing Cues from the Cable Company
  As Adobe begins dramatic price increases for their software subscriptions, you have to wonder: did their audience research indicate that people love their cable company?May 06, 2015 Read More
• Thom Villing Talks About Cause Marketing on Economic Outlook
  Thom Villing joins the panelists at WNIT-TV's "Economic Outlook" to discuss cause marketing.March 27, 2015 Read More
• Is Networking Making a Comeback?
  This may be personal happenstance rather than any kind of documentable trend, but I get the sense that networking is making a bit of a comeback. Personally I believe that is a good thing.March 04, 2015 Read More
• Marketing Freeconomics
  Is the the consumer the ultimate winner in this game of freeconomics?February 26, 2015 Read More
• The Future of the Marketing Agency/Client Relationship
  I'd like to address what I perceive to be the appropriate role of today's agency. Our collective value proposition, if you will.February 06, 2015 Read More
• The Five Qualities of a Great Project Manager
  As anyone at an agency will tell you, a great project manager can mean the difference between a successful, enjoyable project and an unmitigated disaster.January 21, 2015 Read More
• Conference Room Revelations
  Major changes in direction after the creative has been presented can be frustrating, but often the end result is worth it.December 02, 2014 Read More
• Quoth the Maven Nevermore: Ten Terrifying Tales of Marketing Mayhem
  All Hallows Eve seems a grotesquely appropriate day to reflect on the haunting tales of misguided marketing mad men.October 31, 2014 Read More
• When Did Talking Go Out of Style?
  As part of my public relations classes and training, it was impressed upon me that face-to-face or at least voice-to-voice communication was a critical part of building good relationships. October 29, 2014 Read More
• How To Take and Edit Web Screenshots From Any Browser
  When trying to communicate with your team about your website, it can sometimes be difficult or cumbersome to describe your comments with words alone. October 23, 2014 Read More
• My Personal PR Path
  Our summer intern, Danielle Faczan, writes about how her PR learning experiences at Villing & Company.September 15, 2014 Read More
• How Are You Creating, Remembering or Storing Your Passwords?
  Here are some helpful tips and services that can help keep your accounts out of the wrong hands.August 06, 2014 Read More
• Summer Reading List
  Keeping a cache of books to read can pay off for your boredom.July 25, 2014 Read More
• Be Wary of the RFP Quota
  Not all RFPs are worth pursuing. Sometimes it's important to ask some qualifying questions to make sure it's worth the time.July 11, 2014 Read More
• To Blog or Not To Blog, That Is The Question
  Like many bloggers, I occasionally wonder if anyone is really reading my blog posts or if they are just falling into some black hole in cyberspace.June 26, 2014 Read More
• The ABCs of NFC (Near Field Communication)
  NFC has been getting more attention by the media after becoming a technology for mobile payments and creative marketing. How can you utilize it work for you?June 04, 2014 Read More
• What Say You?
  It's said "the devil can quote scripture for his own purpose." Maybe the same is true for measuring marketing effectiveness. You be the judge.May 20, 2014 Read More
• Should I Be Here? - The Art of Interning
  Trying to find a vocational interest is no simple task. But our winter intern boasts a secret weapon in his pursuit of a career.April 30, 2014 Read More
• Tale of Two "List" Sites: Customer Service Done Well and Not So Well
  Thousands of positive impressions can be made with effective customer relationship management. Thousands of negative impressions can likewise be made with poor customer relationship management.April 09, 2014 Read More
• Advertising Age Releases 2014 Marketing Fact Pack
  Advertising Age recently released their 2014 Marketing Fact Pack, which contains a lot of useful statistics and information for marketers. March 26, 2014 Read More
• A Tale of Two States: IN v MI Tourism
  When it comes to marketing tourism, Indiana and Michigan represent the ultimate tale of two states. One state consistently gets it right. The other has never figured it out.March 10, 2014 Read More
• Invention and Reinvention: How the Agency Business Has Changed!
  I just had a chance to review Ad Age magazine’s annual Agency of the Year issue. If ever there were a poster child for an industry’s evolution, it is this issue.February 27, 2014 Read More
• The Risky Gamble of Deep Discounts
  It's important to be careful when chasing after customers with discounts. It's easy to accidentally lower the value of your product.January 15, 2014 Read More
• When It's Awesome Not to Trademark Your Awesome Catchphrase
  Keeping genuine quality and likeness behind your brand.January 01, 2014 Read More
• Tis the Season to Be Ten
  As marketers it's fun to see what new gadgets are hot this holiday season as toy companies appeal to children's creativity and imagination. Here are a few we like.December 16, 2013 Read More
• I'm Thankful for Ronald McDonald House Charities
  I've been aware of RMHC for years, since they are one of our pro bono clients. But in the last year their work impacted my family personally.December 03, 2013 Read More
• Life Lessons Outside the Classroom
  Our fall intern discusses how she took the skills and techniques she's been learning the past three-and-a-half years and applied them to real business situations.November 27, 2013 Read More
• Marketing Horror Stories
  Today is Halloween. So this seems an appropriate time to share our ghoulish views of the all-time scariest episodes in recent marketing historyOctober 31, 2013 Read More
• Millennial Marketing Mayhem
  By the way some marketers make it sound, our generation came as a total surprise to society. We've been around since the 80s. Did you really not see us coming? October 08, 2013 Read More
• Modern Digital Marketing: Harmless Promotion or Home Invasion?
  Technology brands are always competing to offer the latest and greatest. But will marketers begin to feel push back as the average American realizes how much access he or she is granting?October 02, 2013 Read More
• Five Amusing (Or Not So) Musings About Contemporary Marketing Communications
  As another departure from my usual article style and presented in digest(ible) form, here are some totally random items for your consideration.September 17, 2013 Read More
• An Admittedly Self-Serving Guide to Better RFPs
  Like most agencies, we get a fair amount of RFPs (Requests for Proposal). Some are short and to the point. Some, well, not so much. Here is my blatantly self-serving set of guidelines for anyone issuing an RFP.August 19, 2013 Read More
• Video Terminology Basics 101, Part 5 - Footage
  Video jargon can be difficult to understand for an outsider. In this article, we explain what is meant by footage.August 06, 2013 Read More
• Video Terminology Basics 101, Part 4 - Aspect Ratio
  Video jargon can be difficult to understand for an outsider. In this article, we explain what is meant by aspect ratio.July 22, 2013 Read More
• Video Terminology Basics 101, Part 3 - Compression
  Video compression, like most basic video terminology, can seem a little confusing at first. In this article, we explain what it means and how it's used by video editors.June 14, 2013 Read More
• What Do Millennials Know That The Rest Of Us Don't?
  One might suspect there would be discrepancies between the views people have about themselves and those others have about them, but a recent study suggests there’s a significant difference for Millennials.June 10, 2013 Read More
• Business Ethics: Where Should We Draw The Line in Exploiting Customer Ignorance?
  Some businesses have products and services that are confusing or difficult to understand. How can we make sure that we are ethical when selling these products?May 17, 2013 Read More
• Five Impediments to Effective IMC
  Integrated marketing communication often becomes like Mark Twain's quote about the weather.  Everyone talks about it, but no one does anything about it.May 14, 2013 Read More
• Video Terminology Basics 101, Part 2 - Resolution
  Video jargon can be difficult to understand for an outsider. In this article, we explain what is meant by video resolution.April 30, 2013 Read More
• Meet Villing & Company: An ode using 50 Beatles' song titles
  As a bit of a change of pace, one of our most recent interns wrote this creative piece describing her internship experience.April 19, 2013 Read More
• Video Terminology Basics 101, Part 1 - The Language of Video
  Every discipline has proprietary jargon that can sound like a foreign language to outsiders. Video is no different. This article is the first in a series aimed at explaining the terms and concepts.April 12, 2013 Read More
• What Walter Cronkite's Predictions Can Teach Us
  In a 1967 episode of CBS' "the 21st Century," Walter Cronkite shows us what the home of the future might look like. What can we learn today?March 25, 2013 Read More
• Time Flies!
  One of our winter interns reflects on her time working at the agency and what she has learned through the experience.March 12, 2013 Read More
• Customer Service is the New ________
  Why all this sudden fascination with customer service? Really, hasn't the mantra "the customer is always right" been with us since the dawn of retailing civilization? So why is customer service so topical now?March 06, 2013 Read More
• Spoiler Alert: Time-shifted Content Will Change Product Sales and Service Strategies
  The advantage of the NetFlix business model is both its immediacy as well as its timelessness. With some intentional planning, you can take advantage of these same strategies for your business today.February 25, 2013 Read More
• ALERT! REMINDER! REPEAT! How Can We Get Anything Done These Days?
  How many alerts or texts or calls can one digest before the anxiety drives you to the brink?February 20, 2013 Read More
• The PC Still Dominates, But Alternative Devices Are Growing Fast
  With each passing year, consumers are spending more time with media. According to Nielsen's 2012 U.S. Consumer Report, consumers are using more devices to access media than ever before.January 31, 2013 Read More
• Almost Half of Marketers to Boost Budgets This Year
  This is the verbatim headline from a newsletter that just came across Thom's desk. It was referring specifically to B2B marketers, but I'm sure B2C brands are feeling upbeat as well.January 25, 2013 Read More
• Online Privacy, Tracking, Cookies and Other Tasty Treats
  There have been a lot of high-profile, privacy-related issues in the press recently. Our interactive director explains what should concern you and what's overblown.January 16, 2013 Read More
• It's About Time! Or Is It? Why It Makes More Sense to Pay for Solutions than Hours.
  In the current climate of increased concern for accountability and return on investment, wouldn't it make more sense to pay for value received rather than hours incurred?December 20, 2012 Read More
• 3 Tips to Prepare for 2013 (Just in Case the Mayans are Wrong)
  Most marketers or managers probably have an end-of-year process in place, but here are some tips on three of the most helpful questions to ask yourself.November 23, 2012 Read More
• What Windows 8 Means for Marketers
  Late last month, Microsoft released a new version of Windows that represents the most significant change in the operating system since its inception. Here are the biggest take-aways for marketing professionals.November 13, 2012 Read More
• Sometimes It's Better to Slip into Something a Little More Uncomfortable
  Human nature, especially in this business, tends to foster taking a nice, safe, middle-of-the-road position. But think about it. In this high speed world, is the middle of the road really the safest place to be?November 07, 2012 Read More
• Does Your Client Service Stand Out in the Crowd?
  When a customer service experience jumps out at you as uniquely superior, it really drives home how much of a difference excellent customer service can make.September 05, 2012 Read More
• A Letter to my Fellow Undergrads
  One of our marketing interns writes an open letter to other undergraduate students, explaining the value of internships and how to best prepare to enter the workforce.August 03, 2012 Read More
• Stop the Madness!
  Experts say that our heavy use of electronic devices is rewiring our brains. Is there any hope? Or are we all destined to be lobotomized by our smartphones?July 24, 2012 Read More
• Customer Face Time: Are You Ready?
  One-on-one interviews are uniquely suited to capturing additional insights, provided you're willing to truly listen to what the customer has to say, both the words and the nuances.June 12, 2012 Read More
• Timelessness in Marketing: Does It Matter?
  Timelessness is a term we see a lot in almost any field that deals with content creation. But, is it actually important to create marketing messages that are timeless?May 30, 2012 Read More
• Timeless Tips for a Successful Trade Show
  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.April 26, 2012 Read More
• Don't Communicate Like a Toddler
  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.April 10, 2012 Read More
• Rambling Reckonings
  Thom Villing shares some quick thoughts on everything from college basketball to Buzz Lightyear.April 04, 2012 Read More
• Journalism 2012 Motto: Sensations Sells (or Who Cares About the Facts)
  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?March 23, 2012 Read More
• How to Succeed in Business Presentations: Accounting for Individual Communication Styles
  Even the best ideas with thoughtful strategy and awesome creative executions can go down in flames if not presented properly.March 19, 2012 Read More
• MSRP? More Like Manufacturer's Suggested Ripoff Price!
  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."February 16, 2012 Read More
• A Giant Boost for All
  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?February 08, 2012 Read More
• The Fallacy of the Funnel: Revisiting Conventional Marketing Wisdom
  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.January 13, 2012 Read More
• Holiday Lessons for the Workplace
  Lori discusses the parallels between her plans to improve next year's holiday season and her approach to providing excellent client service in 2012.January 09, 2012 Read More
• Doing Well By Doing Good Revisited: The New Generation of Socially Minded Businesses
  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.November 23, 2011 Read More
• Back To The Future: Reminders from the Next Generation of Marketers
  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.November 18, 2011 Read More
• Vampires vs. Zombies: The Importance of Targeted Marketing
  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.October 17, 2011 Read More
• The Genius of Steve Jobs: Understanding Marketing's 4 P's
  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.October 10, 2011 Read More
• The More Things Change, The More Things...Change
  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.September 06, 2011 Read More
• What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
  Our most recent public relations intern explains how her time at Villing & Company gave her more insight into that commonly asked question.September 02, 2011 Read More
• Because the First Word in Cause Marketing is the "Cause"
  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.July 21, 2011 Read More
• Marketing Muse-Ings: Men Don't Respond To Paid Media (As Much As Women)
  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. June 24, 2011 Read More
• Marketing Muse-ings
  As a departure from my usual blogstyle and presented in digest(ible) form, here are some totally random items for your consideration.May 23, 2011 Read More
• The Intern Experience: Grunt Work or Real Work?
  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?May 11, 2011 Read More
• 2 Fast, 2 Furious: Coverage of bin Laden Death Highlights Need to Slow Down and Proof
  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.May 05, 2011 Read More
• Millennials Are Cool, Too
  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.April 25, 2011 Read More
• Dealing with Disaster: How to Plan for the Worst Case Scenario, in Business and Life
  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.April 19, 2011 Read More
• When Did I Fall Asleep and Baby Boomers Become Hip?
  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?April 13, 2011 Read More
• Are You an App-aholic or Are You App-athetic?
  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. April 01, 2011 Read More
• "That Ain't Me!" - The Customer is Not Always Right
  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.February 21, 2011 Read More
• Changing Lanes on the Marketing Autobahn: Drive Carefully in 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.January 05, 2011 Read More
• Our Staff Bids Farewell to 2010, the Year of…
  As the year comes to a close, find out what our staff thinks has had the biggest impact on marketing in 2010.December 31, 2010 Read More
• Dewey Decimal's Digital Destiny: The Fate of Brick and Mortar Bookstores
  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.December 27, 2010 Read More
• Great Scott! Predicting Tomorrow's Marketing World Minus the DeLorean
  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.December 03, 2010 Read More
• Deep and Simple: Mr. Rogers Applied to Marketing
  Brad shares Mr. Rogers' philosophy concerning TV content and how it can be applied to marketing.October 22, 2010 Read More
• Clothespin Babies: How Demos and Trial Experiences Can Reduce Your Customers' Perceived Risk
  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.October 06, 2010 Read More
• Death of a Video Salesman, Birth of a New One
  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?September 20, 2010 Read More
• Point/Counterpoint: Are Local Marketing Clubs Doomed?
  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?September 10, 2010 Read More
• Make or Break Your Company with Customer Experiences - The Choice is Yours
  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.May 24, 2010 Read More
• Route 66 as a Metaphor for the Agency Business
  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.May 19, 2010 Read More
• Three Ways Gaming Culture Can Impact Your Marketing Plan
  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.April 07, 2010 Read More
• If It's Worth Writing, It's Worth Proofing
  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?April 02, 2010 Read More
• We Don't Need No Stinkin' Strategy
  Creating tactics in response to a specific need or opportunity is easy. Creating a well-conceived strategy before developing tactical approaches... not so much.March 24, 2010 Read More
• Gaming Should Be On Your Marketing Radar
  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.March 10, 2010 Read More
• The Experience of Gaining Experience: Observations from an Agency Intern
  "You just need more experience." After hearing that, I took it upon myself to get just what it is they thought I was lacking.March 03, 2010 Read More
• Marketing Resources for the Lifelong Marketing Student
  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.February 23, 2010 Read More
• Drive-thru Anticipation: New Heinz Ketchup Packet Creates Fresh Buzz for an Old Product
  For over 40 years, the design of the Heinz ketchup packet has remained unchanged...until now.February 18, 2010 Read More
• When It Comes To Holiday Traditions, Baby Boomers Aren't So Different Than Their Own Babies.
  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.December 29, 2009 Read More
• Don't Fail to Plan Your Marketing Efforts. Seven Steps to Help You Plan... to Succeed.
  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.October 14, 2009 Read More
• At 30,000 Feet, Timing is Everything
  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.August 24, 2009 Read More
• The Importance of Customer Satisfaction
  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.August 19, 2009 Read More
• Observations On Working Remotely as a Digital Artist
  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.August 14, 2009 Read More
• Slow Down and Appreciate Life
  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.July 24, 2009 Read More
• Phoning It In
  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.July 17, 2009 Read More
• The Day the Newspaper Died: Implications of "paper"-less journalism
  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.March 31, 2009 Read More
• Catch the Wave: When a recovery comes, and it will, the companies that made smart marketing decision
  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 27, 2009 Read More
• March Marketing: When it comes to the four Ps of marketing, March Madness is the ultimate slam dunk.
  Just for the heck of it, let's apply the classic four Ps to a marketing analysis of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.March 16, 2009 Read More
• Look, Mom, I'm Going to be in a Commercial?!?
  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.February 16, 2009 Read More
• Keeping the Relationship Alive
  In our increasingly disposable society, learn why the client/agency relationship is as important as ever.August 21, 2008 Read More
• No Good Deed...
  A headline in the Wall Street Journal asks “Does Being Ethical Pay?” It’s a good question, but is it the right one?April 29, 2008 Read More
• Budgeting for Business
  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.February 15, 2008 Read More
• 2007 - The Year of the Bride
  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!February 06, 2008 Read More
• A Recession-proof Investment Tip: Focused Audience Research
  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.January 31, 2008 Read More
• Talking Ourselves Out of a Recession
  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.January 17, 2008 Read More
• Learning What It's Really All About: A marketing intern's perspective
  My experience as a marketing intern and the marketing concepts that you just don't learn in school.November 30, -0001 Read More