It all started with FAQs. At some point among the collective genius of Web site designers and strategic thinkers in many organizations, someone said, “Hey, why don’t we take the questions we get asked most and out the answers on our website.” It was more than an “ah huh!” moment, …
We were on the campus of The Ohio State University. My friend Billy was invited to the campus by a recruiter. Several of us, his teammates went along for fun. “Wow, look at that.” said Billy. The heads of five male high school seniors turned to see a vision. A …
Creative people, myself included, are offended easily and often. Whether it’s a design, a strategy, a video concept or a tagline, if I present it and you don’t like it, my first thought is, “You must be an idiot.” I can’t be wrong about how amazing my creative idea is, …
Taglines can be quite effective for your company or non-profit. They help you stand out from competitors. Often they are more memorable than the brand’s name but they can increase brand awareness and recognition. Taglines position you, helping the audience understand how or what they should think about your organization …
Many service businesses, especially NEW, and unique SERVICE businesses, have trouble branding and positioning themselves. If the target market doesn’t understand what your business does or offers, it’s a real challenge to grow. Take marketing, for example. Ask 10 people to define or describe “professional marketing services,” and you’ll get …
Are you tired of hearing, reading and seeing political attacks between politicians? Does it seem like it’s getting worse? It’s not. Insults and personal attacks have always been a part of American politics. George Washington, considered the father of our country, was attacked so viciously in some newspapers – with …
The song “Brandy,” by the rock group Looking Glass, was the hit #1 at the time. I was in my first (and only) year of college and also working in the produce department of a local grocery store. My major was Marketing, and I was inspired, so I started conducting …
No one wants to pay more taxes, right? Yet many people voluntarily pay more taxes — by voting for tax levies. In Ohio, you can fund levies by adding to real estate taxes or increasing sales taxes on retail purchases. Levies can be temporary taxes that expire in 4 or …
In theory, marketing your product, service or non-profit should be easy. You really have only two components on which to focus — and no, they are not plain or peanut. The M and Ms of marketing are Message and Media. Finding the right combination of message and media is not …
Farris Marketing is proud to be a part of developing community engagement campaigns for our clients, including the Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA). This April marked the third year of putting on the Give Local Small Business a Lift campaign and kick-off event. This year’s campaign proved to be the …
Do you believe your company’s product is better than your competitor’s product? If so, do yourself a favor and don’t say that in your marketing. Woah, relax! Don’t get your blood pressure up. Indignation will only lead to an increase in your health insurance rates, not your sales. Your belief …
In 2003, a Harvard freshman named Mark Zuckerberg became a campus celebrity by creating FaceMash, a website that students could use to vote on which of two randomly selected Harvard women was more attractive. Not surprisingly, it quickly ran afoul of both the administration and several women’s groups. Still, the …
LIMITED TIME OFFER! Interactive Online Survey with development processing and tabulation of up to 100 surveys for just $399. What’s Included— 30-day campaign Weekly reports Eight questions with up to five multiple-choice answers each using our template or creating your own Area for comments Respondent background (name, gender, age, location, …
Guess what? “Hollywood’s Exotic Secret for Weight Loss” is no longer a secret. According to an article by Slimming Research Group News, there is a substance that reduces your belly, arm and back fat while you sleep! This “life-changing” substance is found in a product called Puravive. All you have …
Imagine you finally saved up enough money to start your own small business. You spend 12-15 hours a day getting your shop ready to open. Your grand opening is exciting as friends and family stop by to see your shop. Some curious folks pop in and become customers and they …
Thrive Mahoning Valley won a $4,000 social media campaign donated by Farris Marketing subsidy BOP SOCIAL. BOP donated the campaign for the drawing held during WRTA’s Holiday Lights campaign kickoff event. Holiday Lights honors local non-profit organizations. PHOTO: Farris Marketing CEO George Farris (right) presents the ceremonial check to Chris …
Change is difficult. Behavioral experts say it’s very natural to resist change — which may be why we drive the same way to work every day, eat at the same restaurants, and choose the same brands even when we have more choices. It may even explain why, to my wife’s …
Shaun Vaughan, ace animation and graphic artist at Farris Marketing is a gamer. And when he wins, so do kids at Akron Children’s Hospital. Shaun and his gamer team, Pixel Damage have just passed the $100,000 milestone over the last decade to benefit their respective, local, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. …
“Simple solutions seldom are.” said philosopher Alfred Whitehead. But that quote hasn’t stopped us from searching for simple solutions to complex problems. Small business owners are especially susceptible to the promise of a simple solution to any of the many problems that strain their limited time, talent and resources. The …
Is Santa Claus real? Bringing lots of toys to girls and boys certainly is certainly real, even if process is handled by marketers, manufacturers and retailers instead of a guy in a red suit. And two recent comebacks — an long-time marketing tradition and a much-loved retailer — have sparked …
A few decades ago, I was the co-founder of what was called an “advertising agency.” TV was the largest part of media budgets of clients who sold consumer goods and services. The budget was typically divided among three TV networks. (There were only three broadcast networks at the time.) We …
A few months after I got married, I was in the grocery store, shopping from a list my wife gave me. I saw that sanitary napkins was one of the items on the list. Suddenly I felt anxious. I knew it was silly — I’ve skydived, drag-raced, and done all …
Deciding on whether you should change your brand name should not be as difficult as some businesses make it. If your company or product name (A) no longer appeals to the market you seek or (B) your product line is changing substantially, (C) you should probably change, pivot, realign — …
Not long after I mentioned artificial intelligence in a previous column, I received an email from a reader, “Before I started using AI, I thought it might be dangerous. Now, I just don’t think about it.” I have the same attitude. As Mad Magazine mascot Alfred E Newman says, “What, …
Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are modern media moguls— make that social media moguls. Zuckerberg is more of a true social media mogul, whereas Musk is probably more of a tech, space, solar energy, tunnel-drilling, electric car and social media mogul. Musk owns one social media platform — Twitter. Zuckerberg’s Meta …
How do brands recover after serious service or social mistakes create PR disasters? All brands, whether they represent companies, products, or services, have one thing in common — people. People create the brands, run the companies, make the products, and supply the services. And people make mistakes. Eventually brands, like …
Have you ever been on vacation or a business trip and spotted someone you recognized? Sometimes it’s hard to believe it’s really the person you know because they seem so out of place. I had that same experience while watching the Denver Nuggets crush the Lakers in a NBA playoff …
If you were starting a business right now, what type would it be? Would you choose a business that’s web-based — maybe a cool app or something that sells unique products online? And hey, if you’re going to invest in your own business, you want it to be a business …
Did you ever invite friends to your house but forget to check with your spouse? Maybe you were going to watch the big game or play some corn-hole in the back yard or ping-pong on the table in the basement. “What are you doing for food?” your smarter half asks. …
“How did those idiots land a such a huge contract from XYZ?” you ask yourself. “Those idiots” are your competitors, of course. Since you asked yourself the question, you might as well answer it. “I’ll bet they have an uncle who is a big shot at XYZ.” But according to …
What do you say when your child complains about their math homework and asks, “When will I ever need to know what 2,247.67 divided by 96.7 equals — when will I ever use that?” You probably say something like, “You won’t need to know that exact answer, but it’s helpful …
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet.” So declares Juliet in Shakespeare’s classic story of Romeo and Juliet. Juliet seems to argue that it does not matter that Romeo’s family name is Montague — the hated rivals of her …
“Be careful what you wish for. “ Have you heard that one before? Sure you have. If you owned or handled the marketing a small business in the 80’s or 90’s, I’ll bet you wished for a new type of media. You wished you could reach your market someway that …
You’re watching the game alone at home while your spouse is shopping, and your kids are with friends. Ten minutes into the first quarter, your pizza is delivered. As you sit down and lift that first slice to your mouth, as a time out is called. A commercial for a …
What’s your favorite part Thanksgiving? Is it getting together with your extended family, the non-stop NFL games? Is it the the turkey and mashed potatoes? PUMPKIN PREVAILS One Thanksgiving dessert is on top of almost everyone’s favorites lists. Pumpkin pie is more like a holiday obsession than a holiday tradition. …
Has it been tough to market your business? Maybe you’re in accounting or wealth management, real estate or medical services. Perhaps you own a restaurant, hair salon or car dealership. Sometimes it’s tough to find the right message. But what if you owned a service or product not most people …