Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity’s Post

Reflecting on my journey, I vividly recall the initial nerves when I first featured on a TopStar program to discuss various aspects of our business. The shaky start was a testament to the learning curve, but over time, I've gained confidence and a deep understanding of the significance of integrating marketing and public relations. Embracing these disciplines synergistically has not only refined my approach but also heightened the impact of our business outreach. Here's to continuous growth and the invaluable lessons that come with embracing new challenges. #Marketing #PublicRelations #BusinessJourney

Hey everyone, it's been a while! We've been busy leveling up, and guess what? We're now serving national and i n t e r n a t i o n a l brands. 🎉 If you’re new here, we wanted to introduce ourselves… buckle up.  We're all about conscious collaboration. We want to partner with brands who know what they want and are ready to take action. If you're struggling for direction or need someone to push you further, we're your crew.   But if you're just looking for a pat on the back, we might not be the best fit. We're not your average marketing & PR agency. 🙅 We believe in strategic authenticity and driving real results with modern, digital-first approaches. 👍 We're not afraid to say "no" if the vision doesn't align with the strategy. We say "yes" to transformation – the kind that gets you where you want to be. When it comes to our approach it’s as simple as this: keep your friends close... but your marketing team even closer. Learn more about our team here:

Whenever I run my Creative Strategy Framework sessions, there's always one question that pops up during the Q&A: "Do you have any tips for better collaboration with my creative team? They think they're fine without a strategy." It's disheartening that even as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Planning Guide—the pioneering framework for advertising/creative strategy—we still struggle to instill its value within our teams. My response to this tough question often begins with another question: Does your top management value strategy? Does your CCO appreciate the importance of a solid creative strategy? If not, remember the old saying: a fish rots from the head down. Second, have you shared case studies and examples to demonstrate the impact of a solid creative strategy on creative work? Often, people—regardless of their roles—fear that the strategy will affect their work in the wrong way, or that they will have to follow some guidelines that limit their creativity. This fear usually stems from past bad experiences or an inflated ego. Have a conversation. Listen and understand their experience with strategy. Maybe they've never seen a good strategy in action and this is your chance to shine. Or maybe they have other internal obstacles. Either way, work on a solution. If some remain stubborn, accept it. Personally, I recommend focusing on a higher truth beyond the noise, emotions (both yours and others'), and stress that come with the job. And always keep in mind - we are all here for one purpose: to make our clients more successful than before they met us. Personal experience? When I joined my first creative agency over a decade ago, someone pulled my portrait from my Facebook account and put it on a Playboy mockup, posting prints all over the office. Embarrassing? Definitely. But they had their fun, and eventually, we ended up having a real conversation. I listened to their needs and boundaries, and together, we found common ground. Here I wrote something about this topic some time ago: https://lnkd.in/dJEUkWSV #strategy #collaboration #teamwork #collective #groupthinking #creatives

This is a failure in communication to zoo guests. I'm not sure if they are using the sign to advertise sponsors or if Aldi is in fact, the main event. (Seen at the Columbus, Ohio Zoo) I assumed the pavilion was a place for guests to see special zoo shows. But with a quick Google search, the answer becomes clear. The pavilion is rented out for corporate parties and conferences. I'm still perplexed at how this is communicated. It shows how often our assumptions are wrong. Ask questions. Think critically. Ask more questions. Assumptions in communication are often the root cause of conflict. I know this because I've assumed and felt conflict where it didn't need to exist. I still assume things. But now I ask a lot more questions. #curiosity #perspective #communication #growthmindset #lifelonglearning

Main takeaway here: top-of-funnel is shifting to social, away from legacy SEO methods. With AI making it easy to mass produce content (especially text posts/articles), people are turning more to influencers/curators and short-form video. TikTok/Reels search is becoming the go-to place for some over Google search. If you've seen a drop in your search campaigns, check how the same keywords are performing on TikTok and Meta. Comment below if you're wondering how to do that.

"We are an industry of almost limitless talent and ambition. Can you imagine if we all directed that at businesses that were actually good for the world or the people in it? Can you imagine if we all actually gave a real shit about the brands we worked on?" A honest, refreshing and inspiring read by Andy Pearson!

In this week's Quote of The Week in The Drum, our Executive Experience Strategy Director, Sara Chapman, shares her thoughts on 'how to stay ahead of the pack in adland'.   Sara explains how we "Embrace the new. Experiment boldly. Partner with those ahead of us. While these are not official principles, they sum up how we approach staying up to date with the latest in tech."    Read more below 👇 https://lnkd.in/gVgPdjsS

I was asked to reflect on my NYU Gallatin journey recently, and how it allowed me to take an interdisciplinary approach to social impact strategy and marketing. Spoiler: it was great! If you're interested in the social impact marketing offerings at New York University, check out Jean Railla's work and curricula on the advertising side of things, as well as the Social Impact Core at NYU Stern School of Business. #socialimpactadvertising #socialimpact #nyu #nyugallatin

At Grants Plus, we’re about making it easier for you to accomplish more good through strategic collaboration and reliable guidance. Check out this short video for a quick snapshot of not only WHAT we do, but WHY we do it.

Who else wants to lead a sustainable organization that can withstand changes in politics and algorithms? 🙋♀️ Then there's something you should know about December. A lot of campaigns and organizations have hit PAUSE on intentional growth. Most leaders are still solidifying plans for the year ahead and calculating their budgets. They're maintaining, not investing in the long-term. ✨ That means there's a huge opportunity for leaders and communicators who ALREADY KNOW they need to grow their movement in 2024. ✨ If you've been dreaming of expanding your audience, launching a fresh grassroots fundraising strategy, or engaging with purpose on a new social media platform, this is the time to get going. ➡️ If you can't afford to waste any of this valuable time, message me, and we'll get on the phone ASAP to get a strategy in place.