Marketing – Page 4 – universal positive

Sharing Secrets: Prioritize, Maximize, and Rise, Through Science

March 11, 2024August 26, 2016 by Roger Darnell

Hard pressed for time? Me, too. Maybe that’s the reason why it seems to be getting harder and harder to be productive. Working in the Creative Industry as I do, too often, each nudge forward is met with two new delays. Making progress is definitely possible, but the battle to be successful is constant, even for those of us who are adept at being agile and persevering at scale.

By and large, my clients create premium content… which is mostly audiovisual data of the highest caliber. Luckily for us, the market for this premier subject matter is on the rise in countless ways. For me in my role as a press agent – which spans strategic marketing, writing, artistic development of premium audiovisual content, cross-channel marketing leadership, media relations and customer service expertise – even despite abundant complications, the means of marketing are becoming more refined.

To help us all focus and succeed in the time we have to work with, here are five innovative Creative Industry ideas aimed at optimizing our energy and efficiency.

Feature documentary “Kickstarted” ready for World Premiere

March 11, 2024February 15, 2016 by Roger Darnell

So far in history, there is only one feature-length motion picture executive-produced by yours truly. Twenty-six years after graduating from film school, I’m very proud to have earned Co-Executive Producer credit on this highly intelligent feature documentary. First screened at the 2016 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana and the American Documentary Film Festival in Palm Springs, “Kickstarted” was lovingly co-directed by my friends Jason Cooper and Jay Armitage. I’m guessing that my unique contributions may be characteristic of many EP credits.

Essentially, Jason and Jay engaged me during the film’s Kickstarter campaign to help them generate more press coverage, and happily, that worked out well. The film was ultimately funded thanks to many factors; chief among them were the resourcefulness, skills and determination of the directors, as well as producers including Kim Sherrell, Chris Gartin, JP McMahon and Tristan Drew. It’s a badge of honor to have contributed.

Our common fascination with uncommon videos

May 10, 2024January 12, 2016 by Roger Darnell

I firmly believe that life is as different as all of the organisms that experience it, and even if we’re just talking about humans, that is an infinite amount of diversity. What’s important or interesting to me may be the last thing in the world you want to think about. Still, when you find a piece of video content that has made it onto one of YouTube’s “Most Viral” charts, there’s a pretty good chance that most people will want to watch it.

As you probably know, YouTube released its latest news about these charts about a month ago. The news and accompanying videos were subsequently splashed in feature stories in these media outlets, to name but a few.

What’s the impact of winning a Cannes Lion?

May 10, 2024June 26, 2015 by Roger Darnell

Happy Friday, friends! I hope your work week is wrapping up nicely and that you’ll soon be able to enjoy some well-earned downtime, like a lot of people have been doing all week in Cannes (kidding, of course). Before ending this week, I wanted to share this video I’m embedding here from experience design agency Freestate, and a few more comments about the significance of winning a Cannes Lion award.

As you can hear first-hand from FreeState’s creative director Adam Scott in this video directed by Ilan Metev, FreeState won a Gold Design Lion at Cannes in 2013 after designing the world’s largest kinetic sculptures for Blackpool’s promenade. Under the heading of “Why Winning a Lion Matters – An Agency’s View,” Mr. Scott enlightens us while pedaling his bike around the city: “Sometimes it’s hard to find your way, and especially hard given it’s so darn crowded out here…. How do you stand out,” he asks.

And about the results of winning Cannes Lion Gold, he continues: “I would say people are far more interested in our approach, and that has to be a good thing. And well, if it can happen to us then it can certainly happen to you.”

Isn’t that lovely? Also, to me, it’s a perfect summation to what it means to win a Cannes Lion.

Meanwhile, the image I’m providing here offers a newer angle into this discussion. Taken hours ago

Case Study: Changing Stares

May 10, 2024May 12, 2015 by Roger Darnell

Last Updated May 13, 2015: Scott Darnell Wins Top Mobility Industry Engineering Award, Brings Custom Mobility Solutions to Market

Creative and Communications Campaign Designed and Executed by The Darnell Works Agency Supports Growth For Ambitious Entrepreneur
See also: WEBSITE

Adaptive mobility expert Scott Darnell is a consultant and developer of innovative solutions for wheelchair users.

Executive Summary
In 2003, DWA began its role as the creative and communications agency of record for Changing Stares, Inc., a privately held start-up focused on creating important new mobility options for wheelchair users. With Scott Darnell (brother to DWA principal Roger Darnell) unveiling his first product at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, DWA took responsibility for all facets of brand communications for the company’s successful launch. In 2009, Scott was invited to attend the annual conference for the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association, where Adaptive Driving Alliance leaders presented him with their New Technology Award for innovation in engineering and technology for the physically challenged. As the venture has progressed, it has tapped DWA’s expertise to cost-effectively advance essential facets of its business, including sales and customer service. Thanks to Scott’s perseverance and DWA’s ongoing support, CSI has earned vital media exposure and consistently expanded dialogues with industry experts and customers through adept communications that include dynamic use of social media.

Sharing secrets: Venture capitalist Charlie O’Donnell

March 21, 2024February 23, 2015 by Roger Darnell

I love finding people who are so successful in business that I learn great deals and become inspired just by reading their blogs and following them on social media. A few years ago when I was getting up-to-speed for a new client based in Brooklyn, I learned about venture capitalist Charlie O’Donnell, who founded the seed-stage investment firm Brooklyn Bridge Ventures in 2012. I’ve been doing my best to keep up with Charlie ever since! Here’s an introduction to his background from his personal This Is Going to be Big blog, where he’s been writing about sales, hiring, the venture business, startup communities and New York in his very straightforward, no-BS style for over 10 years.

Charlie is a partner at Brooklyn Bridge Ventures working on very early stage investments in the Greater Brooklyn area, which also includes Manhattan and the other boroughs of New York City. He was previously with First Round Capital, where he sourced the firm’s investments in GroupMe (sold to Skype), Backupify, chloe + isabel, Refinery29, Docracy, Singleplatform, and Salescrunch.

Read moreSharing secrets: Venture capitalist Charlie O’Donnell

Sharing secrets: Scion Motivate’s “Visual Identity” panel

May 10, 2024August 25, 2014 by Roger Darnell

I have written in the past about the serious 2013 campaign automotive brand Scion launched to help motivated young professionals scale their careers upward. Those multifaceted efforts included a series of brand films where they convened very bright and successful creative industry achievers to provide spot-on insights about key business imperatives. You can see for yourself that what they created packages the real, proven stuff. In the 10-minute episode embedded above, in order of appearance, you get to meet Justin Thomas Kay of Doubleday & Cartwright, Joshua Prince aka Dust La Rock of Fool’s Gold Records, Cody Hudson of Struggle Inc. and Longman & Eagle, and artist Kenton Parker… and hear their candid responses to these questions:

Marketing Innovation: Under Armour

March 21, 2024July 28, 2014 by Roger Darnell

On July 17, top executives from the world’s major sports marketing companies gathered in New York City to honor the best in sports advertising, design and communications at the first-ever Clio Sports Awards. That night, Steve Battista proudly accepted the Brand Innovation Award on behalf of Under Armour, where he serves as senior VP brand creative. Behind the scenes, I know that many of the companies and talents I have had the privilege to work with are also celebrating this monumental win. For example, global creative agency ATTIK provided key support for Under Armour’s launch of Armour39 (wearable tech that helps you track your workout intensity), as did creative production company Shilo… which also produced many of the epic brand films (including the one above) that have made Under Armour’s YouTube Channel must-see TV for serious athletes.

A story by Austin Siegemund-Broka for The Hollywood Reporter chronicles the brand’s growing success, and offers this insight

Read moreMarketing Innovation: Under Armour

Flavor’s on the rise at Cutters Studios…

May 9, 2024June 5, 2014 by Roger Darnell

It’s been almost 10 months since Cutters Studios rebranded its design and VFX division, which since 1997 had built a solid reputation in Chicago as Sol Design FX. With the addition of executive creative director Brad Tucker and executive producer Darren Jaffe, last August the company opened-up shop in Santa Monica and began life with a new name: Flavor.

At the time, Cutters Studios president and CEO Tim McGuire shared these insights: “Something new and exciting is happening in the design industry and it’s time to refocus our talent and effort to make a statement. Brad and Darren are true leaders in motion design known throughout the industry. They will work closely with all of the Cutters Studios locations.”

Read moreFlavor’s on the rise at Cutters Studios…

Sharing secrets: Know your audience!

March 21, 2024May 15, 2014 by Roger Darnell

When trying to communicate with someone, it is vitally important to understand who that person is, whether or not they speak your language, their age, where they live… and also, factors like what’s on their mind right now, and where they are physically. The point of this article is to emphasize that communication – and marketing – is usually a waste of time if the particulars of the human beings comprising the audience are not taken into account. Personally, I’m shocked at how often people fail to address this mission-critical first step, explained so effectively by Seth Godin in the video presented here.

Effective communicators like Mr. Godin begin their programs by assessing their target audiences, exploring the relevant demographics and/or psychographics, and analyzing data. Indeed, the information we exude into the world is measured and used… whether we know it or not.