2020 SPARK! Award Winners

Thank you to everyone who submitted their outstanding work for our annual awards. This year, 110 exceptional entries were submitted in 21 categories reflecting the creativity and skillful execution of the applicants. Congratulations to our 2020 winners… 

Best Branding
Solvent Networks Branding – Chernoff Newman 

Best Corporate Blog
Tasting Notes – Charleston Wine + Food

Best Book Cover
G is for Gibbes: A Museum ABC Book – Banks Creative 

Best Collateral
PlanSource: Product Book – PlanSource

 Best Content Marketing
Cooper River Bridge Run | Mustache For Julian – Momentum Marketing 

Best Digital Ad
Stop Soldier Suicide Digital Ads – Push Digital

Best Direct Mail
Poe Group Advisors Direct Mailing – Trio Solutions

Best e-Newsletter
From the Kitchen – Charleston Wine + Food 

Best Event Marketing
48th Annual Charleston Scottish Games – Stingray Branding

 Best Fundraising Campaign
South Carolina Aquarium’s 2019 Gala – SC Aquarium

Best Social Media Presence
Stop Soldier Suicide Instagram Stories – Push Digital 

Best Use of Influencer Marketing
SpiiderGriip Influencer Campaign – The Brandon Agency

Best Illustration
G is for Gibbes: A Museum ABC Book – Banks Creative

Best Logo Design
Winyah Bay Brewing Company Logo – The Brandon Agency 

Best Non-Traditional Marketing
DAODAS Just Plain Killers Ambient – Chernoff Newman 

Best Outdoor Signage
DAODAS Underage Drinking – Chernoff Newman

Best Print Ad
Mex 1 Day of the Dead Print Ads – Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

Best Commercial Photography
Chosen Women’s Conference Victory Shoot: Seacoast Church – Seacoast Church 

Best Social Media Campaign
Stop Soldier Suicide Engagement Campaign – Push Digital 

Best Promotional Video
Lip Sync For Lungs – Motion Filmworks 

Best Website
GlideStep – Perfect Pitch Concepts

The Giving Award
TRIO Solutions

Volunteer of the Year
Mike Compton

Marketer of the Year
Alan Thompson

 

2020 SPARK! Awards Finalists

The results are in! This year, 110 exceptional entries were submitted in 21 categories reflecting the creativity and skillful execution of the applicants. Do you see your entries among the finalists? The Giving Award, Marketer of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year have been chosen and will be announced at the awards event.*

With so much spectacular work, choosing the winners was not easy. Entries were judged by the board of directors of the AMA Reno-Tahoe, AMA Triangle, and AMA Charlotte chapters. The top 3 entries were selected as finalists in each category. In the case of tied scores, up to 5 finalists were selected. We thank all of our judges for their time and assistance to make the 2020 Spark! Awards a success.

*After months of discussion and planning, we are hosting the Spark! Awards virtually on August 20th. Find out more information here. 

 

Best Branding

Seacoast Music – Seacoast Church

Solvent Networks Branding – Chernoff Newman

“Our Mighty Citadel” – The Citadel

 

Best Corporate Blog

South Carolina Aquarium Blog – SC Aquarium

Omatic Software Blog – Katie Biondo

Tasting Notes – Charleston Wine + Food

Wild Dunes Resort Blog – Wild Dunes Resort

 

Best Book Cover

The United States of Opioids: A Prescription For Liberating A Nation In Pain – Advantage Media Group

Say Grace: How the Restaurant Business Saved My Life – Advantage Media Group

Monkey Money Mind: How To Stop Monkeying Around With Your Money – Advantage Media Group

G is for Gibbes: A Museum ABC Book – Banks Creative

 

Best Collateral

SC Ports Annual Report – Chernoff Newman

PlanSource: Mastering the Art of Benefits – PlanSource

PlanSource: Product Book – PlanSource

Seacoast Magazine – Seacoast Church

 

Best Content Marketing

Feature Stories for “Our Mighty Citadel” – The Citadel

SCEC NoExcuseSC Campaign – Chernoff Newman

PlanSource: Workplace Wellness – PlanSource

Cooper River Bridge Run | Mustache For Julian – Momentum Marketing

 

Best Digital Ad

Stop Soldier Suicide Digital Ads – Push Digital

Palmetto Moon: Cyber Monday Madness – Momentum Marketing

 

Best Direct Mail

Real Trends Top 250 Direct Mail Campaign – BoomTown

Poe Group Advisors Direct Mailing – Trio Solutions

Wild Dunes Golf – Wild Dunes Resorts

 

Best e-Newsletter

Meals on Wheels Summerville – Nelson Strategic Marketing

South Carolina Aquarium’s Conservation Matters – SC Aquarium

From the Kitchen – Charleston Wine + Food 

 

Best Event Marketing

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina Rail Jam – Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

PlanSource Eclipse: Conference Event Marketing – PlanSource

SC Department of Ag 2019 SEWE – Chernoff Newman

48th Annual Charleston Scottish Games – Stingray Branding

 

Best Fundraising Campaign

South Carolina Aquarium’s 2019 Gala – SC Aquarium

 

Best Social Media Presence

Sweetgrass Plastic Surgery – Momentum Marketing

SafeShowings Social Media – Nelson Strategic Marketing

Charleston Wine + Food Instagram – Charleston Wine + Food

Stop Soldier Suicide Instagram Stories – Push Digital

 

Best Use of Influencer Marketing

SpiiderGriip Influencer Campaign – The Brandon Agency

 

Best Illustration

South Carolina Aquarium Shark Week – SC Aquarium

Cooper River Bridge Run | Mustache For Julian – Momentum Marketing

G is for Gibbes: A Museum ABC Book – Banks Creative

 

Best Logo Design

Coastal Community Foundation’s New Logo – Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina

Hotel Anthem Logo – Chernoff Newman

Winyah Bay Brewing Company Logo – The Brandon Agency

Hibben Preschool Logo – Banks Creative

 

Best Non-Traditional Marketing

DAODAS Just Plain Killers Ambient – Chernoff Newman

Charleston Int’l Airport Baggage Claim Art – SC Aquarium

Tasting Notes Live! – Charleston Wine + Food

 

Best Outdoor Signage

Fetter is Here – Trio Solutions

DAODAS Underage Drinking – Chernoff Newman

Black Refractions: Highlights from the Studio Museum in Harlem – Banks Creative

 

Best Print Ad

Mex 1 Day of the Dead Print Ads – Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

Reasons to Visit Campaign – SC Aquarium

Dermatology and Laser Center Glow Night Event – Push Digital

  

Best Commercial Photography

Chosen Women’s Conference Victory Shoot: Seacoast Church – Seacoast Church

 

Best Social Media Campaign

Library Card Signup Month – Charleston County Public Library

ECCO Brand Awareness – Trio Solutions

CHS British Airways Takes Off – Chernoff Newman

Stop Soldier Suicide Engagement Campaign – Push Digital

 

Best Promotional Video

BoomTown’s Unite 2019 Promo Video – BoomTown

Success Assurance, by BoomTown – BoomTown

PlanSource: Mastering the Art of Benefits – PlanSource

We Are Sizzle – Charleston Wine + Food

Lip Sync For Lungs – Motion Filmworks

 

Best Website

GlideStep – Perfect Pitch Concepts

Nuthouse Website – Chernoff Newman

Farm to School Website – Chernoff Newman

Steve Palmer Personal Brand Website – Advantage|ForbesBooks

Charleston Scottish Games – Stingray Branding

2019 SPARK! Award Winners

Thank you to everyone who submitted their outstanding work for this year’s awards. We had a record-breaking number of entries and numerous ties. Congratulations to our 2019 winners…

Best Branding
Eclipse Branding, PlanSource

Best Corporate Blog
Omatic Software Blog, Omatic Software

Best Book Cover
“Eat Yourself Sick,” Advantage Media Group | ForbesBooks

Best Collateral
Experience Our Story, Charleston Wine + Food

Best Content Marketing
SC Department of Agriculture: Know Your Roots Video, Chernoff Newman

Best Digital Ad
SC Ports Authority Banner, Chernoff Newman

Best Direct Mail
SC Dept of Agriculture: Chicken Book, Chernoff Newman

Best e-Newsletter
South Carolina Aquarium: Sea Turtle Care Center Newsletters, South Carolina Aquarium

Best Event Marketing
2019 Charleston Wine + Food Festival, Charleston Wine + Food

Best Fundraising Campaign
Save the Pelicans, Banks Creative

Best Social Media Presence
Charleston Wine + Food Instagram, Charleston Wine + Food

Best Corporate Identity Package
Kyle Carpenter Brand Identity, Chernoff Newman

Best Use of Influencer Marketing
#froggtoggsprostaff, The Brandon Agency

Best Illustration
Festival Napa Valley, Banks Creative

Best Logo Design
Saw Moon Design, George Stevens

Best Non-Traditional Marketing
Just Plain Killers Dispensary, Chernoff Newman

Best Outdoor Signage
SC Ports Authority Volvo Creative, Chernoff Newman

Best Print Ad
Insiders Forum: New Year. Improved Forum., Advantage Media Group | ForbesBooks

Best Commercial Photography
Drive Himalaya Worldwide 2018 Marketing Campaign, Foxworthy Studios, Inc.

Best Social Media Campaign
SC Dept of Agriculture: Fresh on the Menu, Chernoff Newman

Best Promotional Video
“Where’s the Love?” Seacoast Church

Best Website
Charleston County Economic Development, Charleston County Economic Development

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Charlotte Woodward

THE GIVING AWARD
Katie Biondo

MARKETER OF THE YEAR
Holly Fisher

2018 SPARK! Award Winners

Thank you to everyone who submitted their best work for this year’s awards. We had a record-breaking number of entries and encourage you to apply again. Congratulations to our 2018 winners…

Best Print Ad
The Brandon Agency

Best Copywriting
South Carolina Aquarium

Best Website
Shannon Caulk Designs

Best Commercial Photography
Obviouslee Marketing

Best Illustration
Timothy Banks

Best Direct Mail
Blackbaud

Best Collateral
Charleston Wine + Food

Best Corporate Identity
Obviouslee Marketing

Best Promotional Video
Charleston Wine + Food

Best Outdoor Signage
Chernoff Newman

Best Corporate Blog
Black Book Marketing

Best Book Cover
Advantage|ForbesBooks

Best Logo
Obviouslee Marketing

Best Event Marketing
Fisher Creative LLC

Best Social Media Campaign
Chernoff Newman

Best Non-Traditional Marketing
Lowcountry Local First

Best Public Relations
Fisher Creative LLC

Best Branding
Obviouslee Marketing

Best Rebranding
Chernoff Newman

Best Facebook Presence
Chernoff Newman

Best Twitter Presence
Fisher Creative LLC

Best Instagram Presence
Charleston Wine + Food

Giving Award
Trio Solutions Inc.

Volunteer of the Year
Courtney Little

Marketer of the Year
Colleen Troy

2018 SPARK! Awards Finalists

Are you ready to earn your star on Charleston’s marketing walk of fame?

The results are in! This year, 158 exceptional entries were submitted. Do you see your entries among the finalists?

Entries were judged by the board of directors of AMA Reno-Tahoe with assistance from Stewart Law, past president of AMA Oklahoma City. The top 3 entries were selected as finalists in each category. In the case of tied scores, up to 5 finalists were selected. Marketer of the Year nominations were judged by a select committee of AMA Charleston’s past chapter leaders. We thank all of our judges for their time and assistance to make the Spark! Awards a success.

Join us on the red carpet at the 2018 Spark! Awards on March 8 at Harborside East. You’ll see the work of the Lowcountry’s best and brightest marketers on the silver screen. Mix and mingle with Charleston’s creative moguls and starlets, and find out who will take home this year’s Spark! Awards. The theme is Old Hollywood, and special prizes will be given to the best-dressed attendees – so turn up the glamour and get ready for a star-studded night!

Get your tickets at sparkawards.eventbrite.com.

 

Best Print Ad

Brays Island Plantation, Rawle Murdy

Certified SC Grown “Fresh on the Menu,” Chernoff Newman

Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches “Uncommon Character,” The Brandon Agency

 

Best Copywriting

Advantage Magazine Spring 2017, Advantage|ForbesBooks

Island Magazine “Sea Turtle Hospital: A New Chapter,” South Carolina Aquarium

“Where…” Campaign Print Ads, Town of Mount Pleasant

 

Best Website

Island Coastal Lager, Obviouslee Marketing

Medal of Honor Museum, Chernoff Newman

Redux Yoga, Shannon Caulk Designs

 

Best Commercial Photography

frogg toggs, The Brandon Agency

Island Coastal Lager, Obviouslee Marketing

Lowcountry Pet Specialties “Outdoor Lifestyle Creative,” Andy H Photo

 

Best Illustration

Frothy Beard Brewery, Tami Boyce Design

Italian Spot Illustrations, Andrew Barton Design

YALLFest, Timothy Banks

 

Best Direct Mail

Catesby Campaign, The Gibbes Museum of Art

Hatman New Year’s Mailer, Andrew Barton Design

Inc. 5000 Illustrations, Advantage|ForbesBooks

npNEXT Invitation, Blackbaud

Where else but Charleston?, Charleston Wine + Food

 

Best Collateral

Authority Summit Program, Advantage|ForbesBooks

Balsam Mountain Preserve, Rawle Murdy

Charleston Allergy & Asthma, Trio Solutions Inc.

Gibbes Street Party: Food is Art, The Gibbes Museum of Art

Where else but Charleston?, Charleston Wine + Food

 

Best Corporate Identity

Charleston Parks Conservancy, Obviouslee Marketing

The Guild, Obviouslee Marketing

Nirenblatt Orthodontics, Andrew Barton Design

 

Best Promotional Video

Charleston Wine + Food Festival, Charleston Wine + Food

Island Coastal Lager, Obviouslee Marketing

Terminix “Customer Stories: Cockroach,” Rawle Murdy

 

Best Outdoor Signage

Sea Turtle Care Center, South Carolina Aquarium

Piggly Wiggly, Chernoff Newman

Charleston Airport Wall Wrap, Chernoff Newman

 

Best Corporate Blog

AdvantageFamily.com Blog, Advantage|ForbesBooks

Luxury Simplifed Retreats, Luxury Simplified

Mount Pleasantries, Town of Mount Pleasant

Take Maggie’s Word for It, Black Book Marketing

 

Best Book Cover

Finding the Heart in Art, Advantage\ForbesBooks

Hope in the Darkness, Advantage\ForbesBooks

Interrupted Entrepreneurship, Advantage\ForbesBooks

 

Best Logo

Betty Carlton Kitchens, Katie Biondo

iParent, Andrew Barton Design

The Shay, Obviouslee Marketing

 

Best Event Marketing

Charleston Beer Garden, Fisher Creative LLC

Redux Yoga Eclipse Party, Shannon Caulk Designs

Volvo Car Open, Obviouslee Marketing

 

Best Social Media Campaign

Certified SC Grown “SEWE Social Countdown,” Chernoff Newman

Dewees Real Estate, Lovingood Media

The Unfair Advantage, Advantage\ForbesBooks

 

Best Non-Traditional Marketing

#LoveALocal, Lowcountry Local First

Dumas & Sons 100th Anniversary, Obviouslee Marketing

NYC Media Biscuit Class, Charleston Wine + Food

 

Best Public Relations

Charleston Wine + Food, Charleston Wine + Food

Dave & Buster’s Grand Opening, The Brandon Agency

Here, There and Everywhere with Parker Bear, Fisher Creative LLC

Scotty’s Ride for Water, Touchpoint Communications

 

Best Branding

Certified SC Grown “Roots,” Chernoff Newman

Island Coastal Lager, Obviouslee Marketing

Palmetto Brand Week, Palmetto

USC Health Sciences “Degrees of Health,” Chernoff Newman

 

Best Rebranding

Blackbaud Visual Rebrand, Blackbaud

South Carolina Ports “Seeing is Believing,” Chernoff Newman

Together SC, Trio Solutions Inc.

 

Best Facebook Presence

Charleston International Airport, Chernoff Newman

The Footlight Players, Fisher Creative LLC

Lowcountry AIDS Services, Fisher Creative LLC

 

Best Twitter Presence

The Footlight Players, Fisher Creative LLC

Lowcountry AIDS Services, Fisher Creative LLC

 

Best Instagram Presence

Charleston Wine + Food, Charleston Wine + Food

South Carolina Aquarium, South Carolina Aquarium

Southeastern Wildlife Expo, Obviouslee Marketing

 

The Giving Award

CreateAthon, Trio Solutions Inc.

Junior League of Charleston, Katie Biondo

 

Chapter Volunteer of the Year

Courtney Little

Charlotte Woodward

Amanda Culver Wynns

 

Marketer of the Year

Jenny Dennis, Trio Solutions Inc.

Colleen Troy, Touchpoint Communications

Chris Zoeller, The Post & Courier

 

AMA Charleston Announces Spark! Giving Award

The American Marketing Association, Charleston Chapter (AMA Charleston) is pleased to announce a new category in this year’s Spark! Awards, recognizing the outstanding creative achievements of Charleston area marketers. The Giving Award will commend the work of an individual or company based in the tri-county area that has donated a marketing service(s) to a nonprofit organization.

In addition to The Giving Award, AMA Charleston’s Spark! Awards include a wide variety of categories intended to recognize the outstanding work of area creatives and marketers, including categories for individual projects, overall marketing campaigns, and social media channels. Additionally, the winner of Charleston’s most prestigious marketing award, Marketer of the Year, is announced at the Spark! Awards gala.

Maggie Mills, president-elect of AMA Charleston, explains the motivation for this new award. “We wanted to showcase the kindness and generosity of our creative community. So many people generously give of their time with no reward other than the contentment of a kind heart. It’s time to recognize this special type of philanthropy.”

Entries may be submitted until January 31 at charlestonama.org/spark. See the website for more details. AMA Charleston encourages nonprofit organizations to nominate donors of marketing services. Individuals and companies may also apply on their own behalf. Submission fees are waived for this special award category.

In conjunction with the launch of The Giving Award, a new sponsorship opportunity is available for any person or company who would like to support The Giving Award. Contact Amanda Culver Wynns for details (Amanda@charlestonama.org).

The Spark! Awards gala is being held March 8 at Harborside East and is open to the public. For tickets, go to sparkawards.eventbrite.com.

Get Elevator Pitch Ready

With the Southern C Summit fast approaching, it might be helpful to review your elevator pitch since there will be many opportunities for networking. In my work at the William and Mary Mason School of Business MBA program, one of our focuses is getting the students to answer that initial question in one sentence. You might be thinking to yourself, “That’s impossible!”  With a little bit of practice and using the tips below, you will be prepared to make a lasting impression.

Let’s make a few things clear up front; the answer to “what do you do?” is not your job title. If you have read some of my past articles, you might have a head start if you have already discovered your Why, How and What. The answers to these branding questions apply to your personal brand as much as your business brand. If you want someone to be interested in you, you must be relatable, authentic, energetic, clear, concise and most importantly, leave them wanting more. That’s a lot to swallow, so let’s break it down.

In a networking environment, the best way to start a conversation is to ask someone “what do you do?” Keep in mind, that even as you wait to answer back, it is important to be truly engaged and interested in what the other person has to say in order to set the tone for an authentic exchange.

When the tables turn and they ask you what you do, be prepared with one dynamic sentence or compelling statement.

  1. Be clear and concise: Instead of saying “I am a Account Manager” say “I am in business development in the accessory market where I help match clients with the products they need”. As in the case study of one of my Artist clients, she now says, “I create lasting memories for clients through my medium of texture, color and fabrics”. Both of these options help the receiver visualize what you do.
  2. Be prepared to back up your statement with an example: The next question usually is “Can you give me an example of what you do?” If you are prepared with what I call “short stories” of your accomplishments, this step will be easy. You do not need to recite your resume. Practice by writing down some of your major accomplishments in a concise manner, being specific on why and having an example of what you do. And remember, it is all about the benefit sell. If you have been listening to the person asking the question, you will be able to relate your experiences and examples to their area of interest. For instance, if you are in Business Development, talk about how you were successful in matching clients with appropriate products and how they were happy with the results. Or, in the case of the Artist, she could talk about how she created a pillow out of a fond memory that created a heirloom for an family.
  3. Practice: If you practice, the answers to these questions will role off your tongue in a relatable, authentic, energetic, clear and concise manner. Try it out on friends and family before you come to the Summit and get feedback.
  4. Leave them wanting more and know how to follow-up: The Summit is all about connecting, collaborating and creating. Know your industry and try to leave your audience with an interesting fact. It could be a new trend, or something you read about their industry. If you have your audience asking questions and wanting more, then you need to have a follow up strategy. Suggest connecting through the Summit app, or set a time to catch up for coffee during the Summit. Even better, follow-up after the summit with a handwritten thank you note.

Practice makes perfect as they say. Be ready and be interesting as you arrive at the Summit. There are many new friends and lasting relationships to be made, both personally and professionally, if you are an engaged listener and prepared with your story.

Written by Louise Pritchard for The Southern C Blog.

 

 

Louise Pritchard is an experienced professional with progressive leadership roles and a successful track record in cross-industry strategic market development, relationship management and business problem solving Ms Pritchard brings her creative problem solving and critical thinking approach to each client. Her passion and drive is evident in helping each client to discover the “ah-ha” moment when new ideas and strategies transform their brand strengths into results for their company, Ms. Pritchard founded Pritchard Volk Consulting, LLC, in 2001 after nearly 30 years in the business arena. Her experiences with FORTUNE Magazine, as Southeast Division Manager, Director of Marketing of Holiday Inn Worldwide, Director of Marketing of Egleston Childrens Hospital and other high level marketing positions helped her form the philosophy and process for her consulting business. She is also an Executive Partner at the Mason School of Business, College of Williams and Mary MBA program.

She is a Auburn University graduate and an avid SEC football fan. With four grown daughters pursuing their careers in various part of the country, she and her husband enjoy their off time visiting them in Charlotte, Savannah, Atlanta and LA.

Charleston Listens With Silence

Silence is a powerful tool that can enhance our listening abilities. Many of us, though, are uncomfortable with silence entering our conversation. This awkward feeling compels us to jump in with a story to match theirs or a witty comment to bring a laugh, especially if the topic is emotional. Rarely, do we sit with the silence that passes between us.

I saw a friend at the grocery store. She was having a difficult day. She started to vent. I wanted to add my story. Then I remembered. Silence. I put my finger over my mouth to remind myself to keep it closed. I listened. I said “Wow, that sounds tough. Tell me more about that”. I became her sounding board. She paused and I was tempted to interject. Then, I recalled my finger over my mouth. I waited. It seemed like forever. I thought that at any minute she would look at me and say, “What?” But she didn’t. She continued her train of thought with a deeper clarity. When she said goodbye, she thanked me for my wonderful advice. I chuckled since I had given her zero advice. I gave her more important gifts: my ear and my time.

Combining silence with other components of reflective listening can build connection and trust. The five components are 1) attending behaviors, 2) acknowledgements, 3) door openers, 4) silence, and 5) reflectively responding. The first three components are discussed in previous columns of the Moultrie News. Not all of these ingredients are necessary in every dialogue, but each conversation needs to be wrapped with empathy to have the maximum effect.

This compassionate silence is not the cold shoulder or punishment. It is the exact opposite. It is walking beside the other through their trials and joys, putting ourselves in their place long enough to imagine what it’s like to be them. It invites the speaker to go deeper with their thoughts, pain, excitement, etc. without us redirecting the conversation. It is stilling our minds as well as our voice. One way to quiet your thoughts is to imagine your mind as a white board and practice wiping it when you begin a conversation.

Silence and reflectively listening can be highly effective when someone is upset with you and needs to vent. This is a real challenge, for many times we feel attacked and want to retaliate. If we do not take the first 15 minutes of the conversation personally, the speaker’s emotional level will return to equilibrium and their logic will be restored. Then, and only then, can a productive discussion occur.

I invite you to practice silence this week and see what happens. Some people, myself included, find silence extremely difficult. For months, silence was the only skill I worked on because I knew that being quiet was hard for me. I purposefully refrained from taking ownership of the conversation so others could be heard. I gave people space to solve their own problems in my presence.

If you catch yourself forgetting your homeworking, lightly cover your mouth with your finger to remind yourself of the gift you are giving by being a sounding board. It will be hard not to tell someone what to do, but worth it, when you participate in their growth. Finally, wrap all communication with empathy.

 

 

Julie Chapman is a facilitator for a community based communication skills training class, which is offered for free by a nonprofit, Our Community Listens. The content was developed by Barry-Wehmiller University; a leadership training facility for Barry-Wehmiller, Inc. Charleston is one of five communities in the U.S. that is piloting the life-changing curriculum to see if employing new skills can change communities. Contact Leigh Ann Garrett for information regarding upcoming classes: Charleston@OurCommunityListens.org

Managing Your Corporate Blog Marathon

For those of us in marketing who sigh and mumble under our breath, “if only I had MORE hours in a day I definitely would pay MORE attention to our company blog” – we secretly already know there just aren’t enough hours in the day. I believe the super successful lifestyle bloggers can attest that “blogging,” and actually doing it really well, is indeed a full-time job. That’s right, it takes a lot more time than you actually have to create and maintain the kind of blog you’d like – one that catapults your company to the top of the SEO heap and garners thousands and THOUSANDS of followers.

But, this doesn’t mean that you should just become discouraged. This is about celebrating the things you are doing right, and offering a couple of “tick boxes” that could easily help you up your blog game. And, if you already HAVE a corporate blog … well then you’ve already checked box #1!

Start a blog. Adding a blog to your company website is a no-brainer. After all, a blog is the easiest way to establish yourself as a “thought leader in your industry” – and isn’t that the goal? Be perceived by an expert at what you do + share knowledge = phone rings and clients call.

  • So, if it was as easy as that – then we actually would turn our blog writing INTO our full-time job. But, after you have established your blog, it’s what you do with it next that matters. You have to SHARE it out.
  • This just might be the easiest part. Is your company active on social media? Share it there. Post it to twitter, facebook, Google+, Linkedin. Post it when it’s new – this is the equivalent of “shouting it from the rooftops.” But hey, you clearly have expertise in your field, you spent the time writing it, and don’t you want someone besides your mom to read it? Send it out via email to your clients and followers. Add it to your company e-newsletter. There is NO limit to the places you can and should share out your blog.
  • Offer it up for inbound links. If you think your blog would be helpful as content that other like-minded businesses or vendor partners could benefit from, send it to them and invite them to link to it in their blogs or share it on their social media platforms. This is the “more the merrier” approach – and good relevant content can benefit others in their content goals.
  • Be consistent. When I get asked, “how often should I be blogging?” I always say, “there’s no right or wrong answer here.” Since Google’s algorithms reward you in search for MORE content pages on your site, you should shoot for more. A lot more. But if you are blogging only 1x per week, that’s totally fine. But that means, DO that – blog 1x per week. Don’t skip. Be consistent. Allow your followers to learn that they can expect that at least once a week, they are going to receive a big ole’ dose of really good, really relevant and fairly entertaining content from you – delivered straight to their inbox.

These tips are really just the basics, but if you apply any of them, you already might be doing more than the next guy. Managing your corporate blog is definitely a marathon, not a sprint – so don’t be too hard on yourself.

Written by Mary Moore.

So You Want to Start a Blog

You’ve decided to create a blog, or maybe you already started one, but you’re not quite sure how to get people to pay attention to it. Most bloggers struggle with getting their content in front of as many eyes as possible. So, how exactly do you get people to pay attention to your blog?

Although I’ve learned a lot about blogging over the years, I’m sad to say there is no easy answer. There is no special sauce when it comes to blogging.

What works for one type of website, will never work for another. In terms of audiences, certain industries can only reach so far regardless of what they do, while there is no ceiling for others. Plus, we are all at the mercy of many uncontrollable components. The fads, tastes, attention spans, and technology in our ever-evolving culture make many of the so-called “tips and tricks” obsolete or inconsequential in the blink of an eye.

This isn’t to say that everything comes down to dumb luck, or that there’s nothing you can do to gain a bigger or more consistent following. Although dedication, hard work, and the ability to evolve are incredibly important, I’ve found that the following simple guidelines can help bring your blog to the next level, regardless of industry, scope, or focus.

  1. Write for yourself – This has been my number one guiding principal when I’ve done any type of writing project. You absolutely need to know who your audience is and listen to their feedback, but don’t forget that you are  also part of that group. You have tastes, preferences, likes, dislikes, and opinions too. So, think – are you creating something you would like to read? Would you be entertained by what you are posting? Write for yourself first and foremost. If you like what you are writing/creating, it will likely be reflected in the end result. I’ve found that audiences like when bloggers are genuine and it’s clear the writer loves what they are doing. If you like what you created, chances are many others will too. You can always edit and fine tune after, so write for yourself first.
  2. Interact with your audience – You need to be more than a brand. Social media and the internet are meant to be social. People like when their comments or questions elicit a response. It shows you value them. It can add another level of entertainment for the viewer and usually results in repeat visits. Interacting can add a human element to your avatar or logo and people will be more likely to support you. You’d be surprised how a simple “Thanks for commenting” can earn you a fan for life. Interacting with also helps you better understand your audience, which can be invaluable as you move forward.
  3. Be consistent – Audiences dislike blogs and brands that disappear for long periods of time or stray from what they believe their content should be. There are so many other blogs and different types of entertainment out there and your followers can quickly forget about you or move on. However, if you keep putting out content, you’ll stay in their rotation. It’s up to you to decide how often you should post. Some blogs are not suited for constant updates, so don’t think you have to post every single day. Decide what’s appropriate for your brand and stick to it.
    Consistency also relates to what you are posting. If you have a food blog, your followers probably don’t want to read your political opinions. If you run a blog about your corporation and the goings-on within your industry, your audience likely isn’t foaming at the mouth to know about your last Tinder date. It’s ok to try new things, but it’s likely not a good move to stray too far from what your audience likes. 
  4. Content is still, and always will be, king – Flashy websites with beautiful photos and cool features are obviously awesome, but if they are not bringing anything of value to the audience, they won’t be coming back. Believe it or not, it’s perfectly fine to start out with a humble-looking blog. Make it easy to understand, simple to navigate, and full of useful or entertaining content. There is always time to upgrade your site’s capabilities and improve its aesthetics, but if the content isn’t worthwhile, people won’t be returning regardless of how pretty your blog looks.

There is certainly a lot of good advice out there, but I’ve found that the guidelines mentioned above are valuable regardless of what stage your blog is at. From there, each brand will require much more specific advice, but I believe these will get you started on the right foot and will help you to remain relevant as your journey continues.

Written by Christian Senger.