Deviate Labs

We're thrilled for our next team member spotlight: Jason Carr, our intern  🚘 Jason is hands-down the best intern our company has ever had. We're so impressed with his talent that we promise to give him a return offer of $1,000,000 a year! He's done an outstanding job running our LinkedIn and even wrote this post. To get to know Jason better, I asked myself a few questions: 🚗 Why did you join Deviate Labs?  "I've always been super interested in marketing. Last year, I was the president to over 100 amazing people at the USC Chapter of AMA while working on my master's in marketing and bachelor's in business at USC. I wanted to work for a boutique agency where I'd be given real, applicable work—and lots of it—with quick turnarounds. I learn best hands-on, so I thought this would be the perfect fit." 🚘 Favorite Projects?  "Definitely when I got to work with our client OnlyTwin and go on a shoot for their music video starring Julianne Hough: https://bit.ly/onlytwin. Another highlight was creating a landing page for an influencer collaboration with our client Up Paint. Lastly, ideating and pitching a huge campaign featuring Mike Tyson for another client was incredibly exciting." 🚗 What skills have you gained?  "I've improved my communication skills, gained a better understanding of workflows, and learned how to go above and beyond for clients. I’ve tried to help out wherever I can, soaking up knowledge and making myself as useful as possible. I even wrote an entire Wikipedia page for a client! On the technical side, I developed a wide range of skills - from orchestrating PPC campaigns to executing GTM strategies and finalizing launch strategies." 🚘 Best book you’ve read recently?  "Last summer, I got hooked on The Good Place by Michael Schur, which led me to read his book, How to Be Perfect. It pulled me into moral philosophy, and before I knew it I was reading Aristotle and being a perfect person." 🚗 If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?  "This answer is absolutely cheating, but this upcoming fall semester, I'm studying abroad in Copenhagen! It's terrifying leaving all my friends, family, and partner for a few months, but I know it'll be a life-altering experience. If you have any Copenhagen recs, let me know" 🚘 Favorite office snack? "I don't snack, I am in peak physical shape (Reese's Minis)" Overall, I've had an incredible experience interning at Deviate Labs. They've given me the perfect balance of learning opportunities and fun projects like this post. As I prepare to jet off to Copenhagen in a few weeks, I'm thankful to be given the opportunity to transition from full-time to part-time work with the team. Oh, quick heads-up to the Deviate Labs team, you might want to double-check these posts in the future, I'm pretty sure that return offer is legally binding now that this is posted. #employeespotlight #employee #spotlight #agency #marketing #marketingagency #star #intern

What can marketers learn from mentalists? 🧠 Have you ever heard of mentalists? They're performers who use a combination of psychology, suggestion, and showmanship to convince others they have mind-reading or mind-control abilities. While entertaining, the techniques they use can offer valuable insights into marketing: 🌓 Dual Reality: Mentalists create experiences where two people interpret the same event differently to deepen audience engagement by controlling information flow. In marketing, craft campaigns with layered meanings - one for your general audience, another for insiders or loyal customers. This creates a sense of exclusivity and deepens engagement. ✍ The Swami Gimmick: A hidden writing tool mentalists use to appear psychic. Mentalists employ this to secretly obtain or write down information, creating the illusion of mind-reading or precognition, which amazes their audience. In marketing, leverage predictive analytics to anticipate and address customer needs before they're expressed, creating a "how did they know?" moment. ⚓ Anchoring: Mentalists establish a reference point to influence later decisions. They use this point to subtly guide their audience's thoughts or choices, making their predictions seem more accurate or impressive. Use this by strategically presenting pricing options or showcasing premium products first to make standard offerings more appealing. 🚥 Pattern Interruptions: Mentalists break expected patterns to capture attention. This technique allows them to redirect focus, create surprise, or set up misdirection for their next trick, keeping the audience engaged and off-balance. In marketing, occasionally disrupt your usual content style or posting schedule to rekindle audience engagement. What do you think about mentalist-inspired marketing tactics? Are there any other mentalist tactics that can be paralleled with marketing? #marketing #marketingstrategies #marketingtips #digitalmarketing

What would you do?

Hidden arrows, secret words, and sneaky snacking. Welcome to the world of subliminal advertising 🤫 It's a tactic where marketers slip messages past your conscious mind, aiming to influence your behavior without you even realizing it. Think images flashed for milliseconds, hidden shapes in logos, or barely-audible audio cues. Fun fact: In 1957, a marketing researcher claimed he boosted Coca-Cola sales by 18.1% using subliminal messages in a movie theater. Turns out, he made it up – but the idea stuck. Today, the debate rages on: ▶ Does subliminal advertising actually work? Some studies say yes, others call it bogus. ▶ Are subliminal ads ethical? The FCC banned it in broadcasting in 1974, but the lines are blurry. ▶ Are we being manipulated, or is it just clever design? Next time you're looking at an ad or logo, take a closer look. You might spot something hiding in plain sight. What's your opinion? Are you able to see what the Wendy's logo says?

Is Hosting the Olympics Worth It? 🏅 As the 2024 Paris Olympics dominate our timelines, marketers see the games as prime marketing opportunities. Hosting the Games boosts brand image, stimulates the economy, and fosters national pride. A successful Olympics transforms a city's global reputation, attracting tourism and investment for years to come. But does hosting the Olympics actually benefit the host country, or are the downsides too significant? Let's delve into some cons. Reported costs: 🇨🇳 2008 Beijing Games: Cost: $40b | Revenue: $3.6b | Loss: $36.4b 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 2012 London Games: Cost: $18b | Revenue: $5.2b | Loss: $12.8b 🇧🇷 2016 Rio Games: Cost: $11b | Revenue: $9b | Loss: $2b 🇯🇵 2020 Tokyo Games: Cost: $13b | Revenue: $5.8b | $7.2b Beyond the staggering expenses, hosting the Olympics subjects the host city and country to intense scrutiny. A major international sporting event can backfire from a marketing perspective, remember the controversies surrounding workers' and LGBTQ+ rights during the Qatar World Cup in 2022? Do you think the risks are worth the rewards? Read more on our blog post: https://lnkd.in/gKz34ap3 #olympics #marketing #paris2024 #2024OlympicsGames

From intern to celebrity dog sitter - an interesting day in an intern’s life The first day I started my internship at Deviate Labs, they threw me right into the mix—I was invited to join a client call with our new client, Only Twin. I figured I'd have some time to get my bearings, but the next thing I knew, less than a month later, I was on set for Only Twin's music video shoot. Our team worked tirelessly behind the scenes in those few weeks before the shoot. We dove into content creation, fine-tuned PPC campaigns, and implemented innovative growth hacking strategies for Spotify. And that's just the stuff I’m allowed to talk about. My boss shipped me off to the music video shoot, figuring I could lend a hand wherever needed and knowing I'd be up for it. It was an impressive production run by The Director Brothers with celebrity actors such as Julianne Hough and Flula Borg, over 30 crew members, and an elaborate set. My role wasn't huge, but I wore a few hats: background extra, disposable camera distributor for social media content, and even dog sitter for the star, Julianne Hough. This project has provided invaluable insights into client management. Being involved from the outset of Only Twin's onboarding has allowed me to understand the intricacies of the client lifecycle in a growth marketing agency. Offering to help out on-site showed to me that you need to proactively support your clients in a variety of different ways. Being there with the client on the big shoot day helped enhance our communication and collaboration skills in our later meetings. Although this client was an artist, I have been able to apply these learnings to all the different client’s I’m working with that encompass a myriad of different industries. If you're curious about the shoot, check out the disposable camera footage we captured. And for those eager to spot my big-screen debut, you can catch a glimpse of the back of my head at the start of Only Twin's official music video: https://lnkd.in/gSr7ph6V

Disney’s Ads throughout the decades ✨ The Walt Disney Company's advertising journey began in the 1920s, featuring early characters like Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in 1927, Oswald briefly starred in Disney's initial ad campaigns before a rights dispute led to Mickey Mouse's creation in 1928. From Mickey onward, Disney Advertising evolved alongside its growing empire. Early promotions focused on animated shorts and feature films. Mid-century saw expansion into TV, theme parks, and merchandise advertising. The '80s and '90s brought sophisticated campaigns for Disney's animated renaissance and media ventures. Today, Disney's multi-platform advertising promotes its vast portfolio of brands, streaming services, and experiences, while maintaining the core message of magic and family entertainment that has defined the company for nearly a century. Which decade is your favorite? #marketing #marketingtips #disney #ads #advertising #marketingagency #digitalmarketing

Sneakers & Superheroes - The 2000’s Skechers Heroes campaign Picture this: It's Saturday morning in the 2000s. The smell of cereal wafts from your bowl as you settle in front of the TV, eagerly awaiting your favorite cartoons. Suddenly, the screen explodes with action. Kids just like you are transformed into superheroes, their ordinary lives becoming extraordinary with a simple change of footwear. This wasn't just another commercial break—it was the "Skechers Heroes" campaign, a marketing phenomenon that would dominate children's advertising from 1998 to 2008, redefining what it meant to be cool for an entire generation. The "Skechers Heroes" campaign featured kids transforming into superheroes by simply putting on a pair of Skechers, each gaining unique abilities showcased in vibrant, action-packed scenarios. To deepen the engagement, the campaign even introduced storylines with villains (see The Tangler in the linked video) creating an entire universe where kids could imagine epic battles between good and evil. The campaign's success was so phenomenal that it led to the creation of a dedicated cartoon show with the characters, produced by Skechers and Nickelodeon. Takeaways for marketers:  ↗ Emotional Branding (Affect Transfer Theory): Positive emotions associated with the ad content were transferred to the brand itself. ↗ Developmental Alignment (Symbolic Self-Completion Theory): It tapped into children's need for empowerment, positioning the product as a tool for achieving coolness. ↗ Sensory Appeal (Von Restorff Effect): Vibrant visuals, interesting narrative, and catchy jingles made the ads stand out in a cluttered 2000s media landscape. The "Skechers Heroes" campaign exemplifies how creative, emotionally resonant marketing can leave a lasting impact on an entire generation. What childhood ad campaigns left a lasting impression on you? Read the full blog post here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gNHFj8Dx #marketing #casestudy #marketingcampaign #marketingtips #digitalmarketing #branding #contentmarketing

We’re still #hiring. Know anyone who might be interested? (new link)

The Birth of Deviate Ventures: From Marketing Agency to Venture Capital Ever wonder how a marketing agency pivots to venture capital? Our co-founder Chad Riddersen shares the inspiring journey: Deviate Ventures was born from the natural ebb and flow of agency work. Instead of letting resources go idle during slower periods, Chad and the team saw an opportunity to invest in startups. Key features: 🔱 Three-pronged approach: founding companies, passive investments, and equity for select agency service engagements ⚡ Utilizes 20-40% of agency resources during downtime 🛣 Stays true to the Deviate brand of charting unconventional paths The COVID-19 crisis became an unexpected catalyst. When 40% of clients churned overnight, Deviate Labs made a bold move: they retained their full team and doubled down on Deviate Ventures. Challenges and lessons: Early-stage investing is a long game (10+ year horizon for meaningful exits) Building a proven track record is crucial before raising funds from limited partners Today, Deviate Ventures represents a significant portion of the company's focus and embodies their innovative spirit. It's not just about deviating from the norm – it's about creating new norms in entrepreneurship. As Chad reflects, "Every single team member has made a meaningful contribution to Deviate Ventures over the years." It's this collaborative approach that drives Deviate Ventures forward, turning challenges into opportunities and shaping the future of startups and innovation. Read the full writeup here:  https://lnkd.in/g4_j5sVw