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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.Read MoreWho’s the new kid?
Villing & Company summer intern, MacKenzie Mason, shares about what the intern experience is like.Read MoreBullet 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.Read MoreMore Than a "Fee"ling: The Power of the Client/Agency Relationship
What exactly is the value of an idea?Read MoreA 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’”.Read MoreQ&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.Read MoreUnlocking 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.Read MoreThe ROI on risk-taking
Marketers would do well to remember the classic investor mantra that the greater the risk, the greater the potential reward.Read MoreMarch 1, 1982: A day that will live in alacrity
What was it like to open a new agency in 1982?Read MoreResolutions 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.Read MoreThe 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.Read MoreHow 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.”Read MoreCreating 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. Read MoreThe 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. Read MoreWhat 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. Read MoreDueling 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.Read MoreWhy 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.Read MoreEverything 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. Read MoreIs 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. Read MoreAdobe 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?Read MoreThom Villing Talks About Cause Marketing on Economic Outlook
Thom Villing joins the panelists at WNIT-TV's "Economic Outlook" to discuss cause marketing.Read MoreIs 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.Read MoreMarketing Freeconomics
Is the the consumer the ultimate winner in this game of freeconomics?Read MoreThe 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.Read MoreThe 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.Read MoreConference Room Revelations
Major changes in direction after the creative has been presented can be frustrating, but often the end result is worth it.Read MoreQuoth 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.Read MoreWhen 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. Read MoreHow 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. Read MoreMy Personal PR Path
Our summer intern, Danielle Faczan, writes about how her PR learning experiences at Villing & Company.Read MoreHow 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.Read MoreSummer Reading List
Keeping a cache of books to read can pay off for your boredom.Read MoreBe 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.Read MoreTo 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.Read MoreThe 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?Read MoreWhat 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.Read MoreShould 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.Read MoreTale 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.Read MoreAdvertising 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. Read MoreA 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.Read MoreInvention 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.Read MoreThe 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.Read MoreWhen It's Awesome Not to Trademark Your Awesome Catchphrase
Keeping genuine quality and likeness behind your brand.Read MoreTis 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.Read MoreI'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.Read MoreLife 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.Read MoreMarketing 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 historyRead MoreMillennial 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? Read MoreModern 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?Read MoreFive 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.Read MoreAn 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.Read MoreVideo 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.Read MoreVideo 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.Read MoreVideo 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.Read MoreWhat 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.Read MoreBusiness 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?Read MoreFive 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.Read MoreVideo 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.Read MoreMeet 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.Read MoreVideo 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.Read MoreWhat 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?Read MoreTime Flies!
One of our winter interns reflects on her time working at the agency and what she has learned through the experience.Read MoreCustomer 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?Read MoreSpoiler 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.Read MoreALERT! 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?Read MoreThe 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.Read MoreAlmost 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.Read MoreOnline 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.Read MoreIt'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?Read More3 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.Read MoreWhat 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.Read MoreSometimes 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?Read MoreDoes 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.Read MoreA 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.Read MoreStop 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?Read MoreCustomer 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.Read MoreTimelessness 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?Read MoreTimeless 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.Read MoreDon'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.Read MoreRambling Reckonings
Thom Villing shares some quick thoughts on everything from college basketball to Buzz Lightyear.Read MoreJournalism 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?Read MoreHow 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.Read MoreMSRP? 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."Read MoreA 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?Read MoreThe 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.Read MoreHoliday 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.Read MoreDoing 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.Read MoreBack 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.Read MoreVampires 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.Read MoreThe 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.Read MoreThe 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.Read MoreWhat 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.Read MoreBecause 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.Read MoreMarketing 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. Read MoreMarketing Muse-ings
As a departure from my usual blogstyle and presented in digest(ible) form, here are some totally random items for your consideration.Read MoreThe 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?Read More2 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.Read MoreMillennials 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.Read MoreDealing 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.Read MoreWhen 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?Read MoreAre 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. 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.Read MoreChanging 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.Read MoreOur 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.Read MoreDewey 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.Read MoreGreat 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.Read MoreDeep and Simple: Mr. Rogers Applied to Marketing
Brad shares Mr. Rogers' philosophy concerning TV content and how it can be applied to marketing.Read MoreClothespin 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.Read MoreDeath 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?Read MorePoint/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?Read MoreMake 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.Read MoreRoute 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.Read MoreThree 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.Read MoreIf 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?Read MoreWe 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.Read MoreGaming 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.Read MoreThe 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.Read MoreMarketing 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.Read MoreDrive-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.Read MoreWhen 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.Read MoreDon'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.Read MoreAt 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.Read MoreThe 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.Read MoreObservations 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.Read MoreSlow 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.Read MorePhoning 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.Read MoreThe 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.Read MoreCatch 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.Read MoreMarch 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.Read MoreLook, 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.Read MoreKeeping the Relationship Alive
In our increasingly disposable society, learn why the client/agency relationship is as important as ever.Read MoreNo 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?Read MoreBudgeting 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.Read More2007 - 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!Read MoreA 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.Read MoreTalking 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.Read MoreLearning 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.Read More