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2015 WNY ADDYs

It was a rewarding night for the nearly 400 people who gathered at the Tralf in downtown Buffalo for the annual WNY ADDY Awards Show on Friday, March 6. The theme for the show, “See, the ADDYs are Rewarding,” was created by Buffalo agency The Martin Group and was brought to life through an array of performances throughout the night — everything from a magician, to a violinist, to roller girls handing out free ice cream. And of course, the most important rewards were handed out to those individuals and teams who won silver or gold ADDYs and special awards.

More than 375 entries were received, and the big winner of the night was Gelia, picking up the best of show award for their Queen City Roller Girls 2015 season teaser campaign. Watch our awesome judges from Baltimore, Washington D.C. and New York City decide on their choice in this video:

The full list of winners had Gelia at the top as they were awarded the most ADDYs of the night, taking home 38 awards (13 gold and 25 silver). Crowley Webb received a total of 21 awards (three gold and 18 sliver), Block Club was honored with 11 awards (eight gold and three silver), White Bicycle took away seven awards (five gold and two silver), and dPost secured six awards (four gold and two silver). Other award winners include:

  • The Martin Group (one gold and eight silver)
  • Paget Films (one gold and three silver)
  • Quinlan (one gold and one silver)
  • Karn Creative, Inc. (one gold)
  • Luminus Media, LLC (one gold)
  • Villa Maria College (one gold)
  • Cumbo, Inc. (four silver)
  • B McCrone Photography & Design (two silver)
  • SKM Group (two silver)
  • Cenergy (one silver)
  • Eric Mower + Associates (one silver)
  • Hadley Exhibits (one silver)
  • JCharlier Communication Design (one silver)
  • Manzella Marketing Group (one silver)
  • OtherWisz Creative Corporation (one silver)
  • Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity (one silver)
  • Propellerhead Media (one silver)
  • Riveter Design (one silver)
  • State University of New York at Fredonia (one silver)
  • Telesco Creative Group (one silver)
  • Visit Buffalo Niagara (one silver)

These winning entries wouldn’t be possible without the talented individuals behind them. In addition to the gold and silver awards, this year’s Special ADDY awards were also handed out. The 2015 winners include:

Tod Martin, The Martin Group – David I. Levy Communicator of the Year Award

This award was created to recognize outstanding achievement and service in the communications industry.

Kathy Kastan, Gelia – Alex Osborn Award for Creativity

Named in honor of Alex Osborn of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn fame, this award recognizes individuals who, through outstanding creative achievements, have left an indelible mark on the Western New York creative community.

Independent Health Marketing Department – The Odysseus Award

The Odysseus Award was established in 2011 by the Advertising Club of Buffalo to honor a client in the Western New York market (individual or group/department) who has used the discipline of strategic marketing and advertising in an extraordinary way.

Jason Yates, Gelia – Joe Crowley Award for Service

This award recognizes not only hard work, but also outstanding achievement in furthering the activities and interests of the club.

Adina Pera, Crowley Webb – Future Star Award

This award honors an outstanding young professional in the marketing and advertising field who has demonstrated great potential in his or her early years in the industry.

The Xpedx creative use of paper award went to White Bicycle for the Andrea Nardello “Echo” CD Package. And the Best Showbook ad went to OtherWisz Creative Corporation.

College students were also included in the action. Taking home the student best of show award was Lisa Hinterberger of SUNY Fredonia for her Code Letterforms. Chad Hornberger from SUNY Buffalo State College also received two gold awards. Students each taking home one gold award included:

  • Tylandt A. Doyle, St. Bonaventure University
  • Maribel Avila, Alison Dyer, Kayleigh Forger, Lisa Hinterberger, Athena Kolokotronis, Anne Leue, Jon Mc Cray, Jessica Wilcox; State University of New York at Fredonia
  • Lucy Norton, Villa Maria College

Student silver award winners include:

  • Carl Hunley Jr., Villa Maria College
  • Emma Zaremba, St. Bonaventure University
  • Kerri Linsenbigler, St. Bonaventure University
  • Rachel Rising, Villa Maria College
  • Joe Carney, Villa Maria College
  • Samantha Lonczak, Villa Maria college

A thank you once again goes out to Kristen Cronyn, this year’s show chair for her leadership, commitment and hard work to make this show possible. Also, thanks to Sarah Dipofi and Christie Witt-Berardi for leading the effort on behalf of the Martin Group team. And finally, thank you to all the volunteers who chipped in along the way. We couldn’t have done it without this great support!

To see all of this year’s winners, check out the ADDY showbook below!
2015 ADDY SHOWBOOK

ADDYS Events

Preview Night 2015

On, Thursday, February 12, we hosted the ADDYs Preview Night for the second straight year. Over 70 people attended this event at dig Buffalo to view all the work submitted for this year’s show. Print ads, logos, TV commercials, web sites, mailers, posters and more made up the nearly 375 entries received. Thank you to Kristen Cronyn and the Ad Club Board for all their work to bring this event together and make it a success.

Wondering who won? Well, join us on Friday, March 6 at the Tralf to find out who took home gold and silver! Tickets are still available.

In the meantime, enjoy these photos from Preview Night 2015.

Blog Industry Updates

Board Members Weigh In on Super Bowl Ads

Unfortunately we couldn’t have Uberbowl this year, so we did the next best thing, asked some of our board members for their favorite and least favorite spots.

Christie Witt Berardi, The Martin Group

My favorite commercial was the BMW i3, “Newfangled Idea.” It might be because of my background in TV news, but the idea of reuniting Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel is journalistic nostalgic gold. This commercial is also proof that our society had no idea how life changing the internet would be for our culture.

 

Katie Briggs, Crowley Webb

Best:
Kia Sorento “The Perfect Getaway Vehicle” – This spot was simple and well executed. It told an entertaining story using both humor and action, all while keeping the actual product at the forefront.

Worst:
Nationwide’s “Boy Who Couldn’t Grow Up” – I respect that they were going for shock value with this spot, but it was the wrong platform. It sucked the air out of the room and left everyone feeling depressed… Not what you want when you’re hosting a party. Yes, we’re all talking about it days later, but it didn’t sit right with me.

 

Erin Doherty, SKM Group

Favorite:
Doritos “Middle Seat” – We’ve all been in that position before and some of us have probably pulled a few of those tricks to avoid someone taking the seat next to us. I thought it was lighthearted, relatable and simple yet funny.

Least Favorite:
Priceline “Know a Guy” – This spot seemed like all of the other Priceline commercials I’ve seen. There wasn’t anything unique about it and I was ready for the next spot before it even ended. I think it’s time Priceline revisits their approach.

 

Dan Nesselbush, EcoStar LLC

Best:
“Clash of Clans: Revenge”
I want to be entertained during a game when I have no rooting interest in a team. The “Clash of Clans: Revenge” spot was a winner for me. The contrast from the colorful animations of the game to Liam Neeson in a dreary coffee shop grabbed my attention immediately. His intense monologue over something as trivial as a video game while waiting for his scone in a small coffee shop gave the spot the right amount of ridiculousness.  What began as “I’ve seen this game commercial before” turned into an ad where I wanted to hear what Neeson was saying. Clash of Clans scored bonus points for their investment as Neeson not only entertained, but he was on topic about the actual product being advertised the whole time.

Worst:
“Jublia: Tackle It”
Terrible. I’m at a party with a bunch people eating food and you give me a CGI toe wearing a helmet “tackling” foot fungus? All I can say is I wish I had Jublia’s marketing budget.

 

Frank Conjerti, Quinlan

Favorite – Loctite Glue
The “uncomfortably weird” humor style has become pretty popular with Old Spice and other big brands, and I think Loctite nailed it.  Plus, they were able to show exactly and efficiently what their product was and how it worked. The weirdness helped them stand out against all the other brands that seemed to be trying to hard. Fanny packs plus mom jeans always equals a winner in my book.

Least Favorite – Mercedes Benz “Fable”
I appreciate how hard Mercedes tried to generate interest in their “Tortoise vs. Hair” campaign. After all, they forced Jerry Rice into teaser spots building up to the Super Bowl.  The spot itself, although beautifully produced, was entirely predictable. We all know the fable, and Mercedes is “sponsoring” the race…who didn’t see this one coming?

 

Sarah DiPofi, The Martin Group

My favorite Super Bowl ad was Mountain Dew’s Kickstart. I laughed out loud watching it. For anyone unfamiliar with it – these three friends are sitting in a basement and drink a Kickstart. They start dancing, and as they start dancing, objects in the basement start to dance as well. A hanging deer head comes out of the wall and dances, the dog is dancing, a coat hanger is dancing. I thought it was funny seeing these inanimate objects dance and was just an overall entertaining ad. I thought a lot of the ads were somewhat serious, and this was a fun one that brought humor into the mix.

 

Scott Bartels, HSBC

Favorite – Doritos Airplane
Everyone can relate to sitting on an airplane, watching each person walk down that aisle to see who will claim the dreaded middle seat. This ad had the humor that a Super Bowl spot should have, a little suspense as to what the ad was for and the right brand presence.

Worst – T-Mobile Kim Kardashian

People are sick of Kim Kardashian at this point, aren’t they?  She just over powers this commercial that it distracts from the main message, a key one that sets T-Mobile apart from their competitors. Plus, if that was supposed to be humor, it didn’t work.

 

Brita d’Agostino, Daemen College

Favorite: P&G Always: Like a Girl
Even though I know this commercial is just here to sell me a product, the overall message of female empowerment engaged me on an emotional level. Advertisers know that women are a huge part of the consumer market. Yeah we are powerful!

Least Favorite: Weight Watchers: All You Can Eat
Yes processed, fatty, sugary food is addictive. But after viewing this commercial, dieting was the last thing I wanted to do. Pass the doughnuts please.

 

Corey Crossman, The Mac Groups

Favorite Spot:
My favorite spot was probably the BMW ad, “Newfangled Idea,” featuring Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel. I thought the creative concept behind it was exceptional, and it was one of the few spots that both entertained me and drew my attention to the product. On a night when too many ads turned me off with pandering attitudes and forced emotional appeal, this was a breath of fresh air, right down to Katie Couric talking about twerking.

Least Favorite:
Make a feature film, travel across the world, build a giant house, give all your employees paid vacations to anywhere, buy 10 Lamborghinis… or throw it all away in 15 seconds at the Super Bowl. Mobile gaming app Heroes Charge decided to go with the ‘throw it all away’ option.

As a Buffalo marketer frequently working on limited budgets, this kind of stuff drives me crazy. Heroes Charge threw $2 million out the window to air a total flop of an ad that got blown away by the better creative and bigger names brought to the table by competitors Game of War and Clash of Clans. You probably didn’t even remember this ad until I brought it up just now, and I’m guessing the rest of America didn’t either. The only thing worse than being remembered for how bad your ad was is not being remembered at all, so this is my big loser of the night.

 

 Kelsey Hanks

Favorite:
Budweiser – Bond of Clydesdale and Pup
I’m a sucker for peculiar animal friendships and as I knew it would, this spot yanked at my heartstrings. Without a beer in sight, Budweiser’s heavy reliance on pathos resonates with viewers in a nearly nostalgic sense. Budweiser’s varied content – both emotional and comedic – keeps consumers not only entertained, but also loyal to the classic brand.

Least Favorite:
T-Mobile – Help Save the Data
The grimace I made during this spot could not have been what T-Mobile was going for. The use of Kim Kardashian seems to discredit the company; a prominent celebrity, her fame is now mostly due to mockery. Which of course, was the aim of the ad – but I don’t think it worked. Kim K in combination with the faux “help this cause” style confused the messaging and if anything, reminded phone users that they don’t need more data.

 

Shannon Brady

Least Favorite:
I would have to say the Loctite glue would be my least favorite commercial. The commercial made no sense and was confusing. I felt having a random group of people dancing and singing to a song about glue did not help advertise the product nor was it relevant.

Favorite:
My favorite commercial was P&G Always – Like a girl. I felt that this commercial was relatable and relevant to how girls and women as well as boys and men perceive the ‘like a girl’ stereotype. I also believe it is an eye opener for women as well as men everywhere to rethink using the term ‘like a girl’. 

 

Tim Marren, SKM Group

Favorite: Dove Men
I’m an easy target for spots that feature dads and kids. With a daughter of my own and another on the way, the emotional aspect of this ad featuring the children calling for “daddy”… I was done. Luckily I saw this spot before the game, so I wasn’t an emotional wreck when I saw it again Sunday.

Didn’t Like: Nissan
I guess I shouldn’t say I’m an easy target for all spots with dads and kids… I’m an easy target for dads, with kids, and a positive message. I don’t exactly think that’s what Nissan accomplished with its dad spot. The idea that a dad, missing through all of his son’s early years cause he’s a race car drive, only to appear at his high school one day driving a cool new Nissan and all of a sudden things are hunky-dory…no thanks.

 

Matt Low, Crowley Webb

My favorite spot of the night was Snickers’ latest installment. Come on, it had Machete. Slamming an axe into a coffee table. In the Brady Bunch’s living room. And Mr. Pink! This is by far the most fun execution of the “You’re not you when you’re hungry” to date.

The worst spot of the night – and quite possibly the most awful television commercial of all time – was T-Mobile’s failed attempt at humor featuring that self-absorbed, talentless, soulless, pathetic excuse for a human being who will remain nameless. Anything in opposition to eradicating her from our collective psyche is utterly reprehensible.

 

We want to hear from you as well, share your thoughts on the board’s opinions or what stood out for you while watching the Big Game.

Blog Events

Happy New Year, From Your Ad Club Board

Thank you to all who attended our first, and potentially annual, holiday bowling tournament! 11 teams donated 257 pounds of food and $100 in grocery store gift cards to the Food Bank of WNY. A special thank you to Quinlan & Company for sponsoring the event and Kenmore Lanes for hosting.

Throughout the year, Ad Club offers content-driven programming in order to make your membership valuable. But every once in a while, it’s important for us to strengthen the unity of the club by getting to know our members… And what’s a better way to do that than by giving back and indulging in some healthy competition? We hope you met a few board members, spoke with someone new, or bonded with your coworkers over their impressive performances at the lanes. Congratulations to Bob Henry from clevermethod, who earned the tournament’s individual high score with an impressive 220 points!

For those of us who didn’t score anywhere near 220, we made up for it in enthusiasm. Have you seen the team photos?

So again, happy new year from the Ad Club board. We look forward to continuing to be your professional resource and hope you’ll attend our upcoming events in 2015: UberBowl, The ADDYs and AdLabs. Thank you for your membership – without our members, we are nothing.

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Do you have event ideas for the Ad Club? Do you have feedback on the holiday bowling tournament? Contact Kelsey Hanks to submit comments.

AdWeek

Ad Week 2014 – Beer, Film & Design

Trio_Image_Display
We kicked off Ad Week 2014 the only way we knew how: with an AdLab all about marketing in the Buffalo beer scene. The event was held on Tuesday night in front of a full crowd at Buffalo Iron Works, where our rock star panel included Nathan Arnone from Southern Tier Brewing Company, Ethan Cox from Community Beer Works, Tom McManus from KegWorks, and our moderator, Matt Davison from WNY Craft Beer Magazine.

Attendees listened and learned as the big names in local brewing shared stories, thoughts and insights from each of their unique perspectives. The colorful conversation ranged from the panel’s favorite beer ads to each of their individual approaches to marketing their products.

Our biggest takeaways:
• In a crowded marketplace, smaller brands can set themselves apart with personality and character
• The most important part of marketing is to start by building a great product
• To really connect with your customers, you need to speak their language
• And of course, everything seems a lot easier when the product you’re selling is beer

For our next event, we hosted a screening of the film Sign Painters at the Screening Room in Amherst. The film celebrates the history of hand painted signs, dating back 150 years.

From Los Angeles, CA to Syracuse, NY to Austin, TX, the film showcased sign painters of all skill levels and ages. It was once a thriving industry, most businesses had hand painted signs on their buildings and windows. That is until vinyl signs showed up. The industry shifted to a quicker, cheaper option. Lost was the quality, lasting impact of a hand painted sign.

While they say it is tougher to make a living now as a sign painter, they aren’t giving up on this art. Their knowledge and skills are being passed to a younger generation, teaching them the fine points of painting a sign.

Ad Week 2014 went out with a bang on Thursday as we were fortunate enough to hear from Pentagram designer, Jesse Reed from the design firm’s Manhattan office. Held downtown at The 9th Ward, Jesse’s presentation was jam-packed with examples of his work, photos, advice and humor.

A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Jesse started designing as a teenager and later graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s School of Design, earning his Bachelor’s of Science in Design. He went on to work for MoMA as a junior designer and after placing first at an AIGA National Conference in 2011, he was hired as a designer by Michael Bierut, a partner a Pentagram.

With a long list of clients such as Bobby Flay, Saks Fifth Avenue, Penguin Press and the NYC Department of Transportation, Jesse’s work is seen every day by millions. Impressive, right?

Jesse concluded his presentation by sharing some simple yet important advice…
• Meet deadlines
• Be on-time
• Work with people you like
• Do things you may fail at
• Make everything up
• Be obsessed

Whether you’re a designer, writer or dog walker, do each of these and do them often.

Ad Week 2014 was a big success filled with insight, tips and a few cocktails. Big thanks to our panelists, moderator, hosts, guest speaker and attendees. You guys made each event a success and we appreciate the love.

Blog Board

Message from the President

Ad Club 2014-1261
As this is my first blog post as new President of the Advertising Club of Buffalo, I thought I would introduce myself and provide some insight into the club’s plans for 2014-15. I want to start with saying how honored and excited I am to have this opportunity to lead the club. We are coming off of another successful year in 2013-14, membership continues to be strong and the club is financially stable.

My Background
As a SUNY Geneseo graduate, I stayed in Buffalo after college to pursue my career in marketing. Ten years later, I am fortunate to still be here as this city has great new energy and positive attitude that we haven’t seen in a long time. My experience is on both the agency side, as an Account Executive, and currently on the corporate side focusing in the digital area. This has given me a great perspective on how the club can serve both agencies and non-agency professionals in the local advertising industry.

I joined the board back in 2011 and during the first three years, I served in the Treasurer position. As I have met so many great, hardworking people, it was an easy decision to move into this new role.

This Year
We have another strong group of board members this year who are already focused on achieving our goals for the year.  We look to continue our strong membership and add new members (reminder – accepting new memberships and renewals right now!).  We aim to increase our work with students by visiting classrooms and getting them more engaged in events, especially ADDY submissions.  Also, we want to focus more on networking at our events, encouraging everyone to meet the board, meet new people as this is one of the great benefits of being part of the club.

The year got off to a great start already with another successful Big Tip Off event in August to raise money for our annual scholarships. I am always amazed at the commitment our local agencies make to the club. Without their support, we wouldn’t be as successful as we have been.

Our AdLab series returns this Tuesday with a panel that represents all the major sports programs in the area to discuss a topic that can benefit everyone in the industry, brand management and PR in the social media age.

October brings us Ad Week, from October 21 to 23, we have three events planned, starting with an AdLab topic that focuses on something most will enjoy, beer! We will also be screening the film SignPainters on October 22. The week concludes with a guest speaker, Jesse Reed from Pentagram on October 23. Stay tuned to our web site and social media for full details very soon.

And believe it or not, ADDYs planning is already underway.  The club is excited to have the Martin Group leading the creative design for this year’s show.

We love to hear feedback from members, even if you aren’t on the board, you can contribute to committees and planning events. If you have ideas, questions or want to chat, I can easily be reached through email on Twitter at @sbartels47 or on LinkedIn.

I look forward to continuing to meet new people at our events and thank our members for their continued support of the Advertising Club.

~Scott Bartels, President

P.S. Check back regularly as we’ll soon unveil our newly designed, easier to use website!

Blog

Meet Our Newbies

As sad as we were to say goodbye to our exiting board members this past June, we were also very excited to welcome the folks who will be replacing them.  In an effort to get to know them better, I had the opportunity to ask each of them a few questions about the club and their personal and professional lives. Check out what they had to say.

shannon

Name: Shannon Brady

Company: First Investors Corporation

Title: Event Coordinator/Assistant

How did you hear about Ad Club?  My sister introduced me to Ad Club. She is a student at Villa Maria and was introduced through her teacher.

What are you most looking forward to as a board member?  Being able to contribute and give back to the Buffalo community. I love planning and executing events and I look forward to meeting and helping different people in our community.

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?  I wanted to be a Marine Biologist and live in Hawaii.

 jeanne

Name: Jeanne Dunkle

Company: Field 2 Design

Title: Sole Proprietor

 What are you most looking forward to as a board member?  Helping to strengthen the bond between individuals involved in the local advertising community so we all become more comfortable sharing our knowledge with each other and helping each other grow.

If your best friend had to describe you in three words, what would they be? Engaging, happy, friendly

What is something most people don’t know about you? I have an MFA in Printmaking. I am a painter, printmaker and photographer.

 brittney

 Name: Brittney Sikora

Company: White Bicycle

Title: Designer

# of years in Ad Club: 3 years

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Hmm tough choice, probably Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie… favorite band ever!

If your best friend had to describe you in three words, what would they be?  According to my best friend… “ An optimistic, creative, music buff who’s obsessed with anything fall related especially the cider mill.”

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? An Archaeologist!

leah

Name: Leah Alles

Company:‎ Villa Maria College

Title: Student liaison

What are you most looking forward to as a board member? ‎ Becoming a bigger part of the Buffalo marketing community

If your best friend had to describe you in three words, what would they be? Determined, outgoing, sarcastic

What is something most people don’t know about you? I love reading about serial killers.

dan

Name:  Dan Nesselbush

Company: EcoStar LLC

Title: Marketing Manager

# of years in Ad Club: 2

What are you most looking forward to as a board member?  I’m looking forward to helping the club continue to grow and serve as the top resource for the business community when it comes to advertising, marketing and public relations talent in our region.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?  Ask me at the next Ad Club event – use this as a question as an ice breaker if we haven’t met before!

If your best friend had to describe you in three words, what would they be?  Smart. Loyal. Humorous.

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?  As a kid I wanted to be a firefighter. Cool trucks and spraying things with a hose seemed like a fun way to earn a living. I reconsidered that path when I realized how close you actually get to the smoke and flames.

brita

Name: Brita d’Agostino

Company: Daemen College

Title: Assistant Professor of Graphic Design

How did you hear about Ad Club? I heard about the Ad Club from my colleague and director of the Graphic Design Program at Daemen College, Professor Kevin Kegler.

What are you most looking forward to as a board member?  As a more recent resident of Buffalo (I moved here last year from San Francisco), I am looking forward to being more involved with the professional community of communications professionals in WNY. As a professor on the board, I look forward to helping students in the area make valuable connections to professionals in the community and grow their knowledge and skills through engaging programs at the Ad Club.

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?  An artist, scientist, or gymnast. However, since I can’t do even do a cartwheel the gymnast idea was out pretty early on.

What is something most people don’t know about you?  I love Korean food.

corey

Name: Corey Crossman

Company: The Mac Groups

Title: Director of Digital Marketing

# of years in Ad Club: 2

How did you hear about Ad Club?  I sort of found the Ad Club on my own, but my coworkers are the ones who really encouraged me to come to events and get involved.

What are you most looking forward to as a board member?  I’m really excited to help improve the advertising community in Buffalo.

If your best friend had to describe you in three words, what would they be?  “My best friend.”

What is something most people don’t know about you?  I’m learning photography in my spare time between hockey games and episodes of Game of Thrones.

 

Now that you’ve met our new members, feel free to introduce yourself at any of our upcoming events.  We have quite a few of them scheduled this year, so you will have plenty of opportunities to sip a cocktail, shake hands and learn more about these talented people.

Advice Social Media

Insta-yes or Insta-no?

Instagram, one of the fastest growing social networks, is used by brands for sharing images and short videos of people, events, places, etc.  According to Forbes.com, within the last year, 55 percent more brands are using Instagram than just one year ago, accounting for its 150 million users worldwide.

While it may be one of the most popular social platforms, it may not make sense for all companies. Below are a few things to consider before creating an account for your brand.

1.) Mobile-Only
Unlike other social media platforms, Instagram is a mobile-only app as it requires users to upload their videos and photos from their mobile device vs. their desktop.  While the platform does have an online presence, it functions much differently and only allows users to view content rather than share it. If your target market is primarily a desktop-using bunch, consider focusing your efforts on other platforms that are more likely to reach your followers.

2.) Industry
What type of business or organization do you operate? Are you selling a tangible product that you can showcase with pictures?  Do you provide a service that allows you to provide before or after photos?  Are you a non-profit who wants to create awareness for a particular cause?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Instagram is a great channel for you to reach people who already have interest in your brand.

Typically, image-focused companies, such as clothing and fashion, makeup, fitness centers, restaurants, etc. use Instagram as a way to generate buzz among their followers.  Posting pictures of the latest trend, new creation or the most popular dessert on the menu will get followers excited and interested in what else you have to offer.

3.) Demographics
Instagram users are primarily 18 to 29 years old, so it is important to consider who your target is before you devote the time and energy to maintain an account.  For example, nation-wide retailer, Free People, has over 1.3 million Instagram followers, most of whom appear to be young women between those ages.  Their posts include pictures of inventory, trends and feel-good images that resonate with their young audience.

Industries that are geared toward an older demographic such as insurance or retirement planning may be better served on platforms that skew older, such as Facebook.

4.) Exclusivity
Instagram also gives followers a behind-the-scenes look at your brand’s products and services, making them feel like they’re getting an exclusive preview before the rest of the world.  These posts add value and encourage followers to beingpart of your social following. If your business or organization is highly regulated and doesn’t allow for much freedom in terms of posts, you may want to consider exploring other social platforms as they may be more conducive to your brand.

5.) Frequency
As with most social media platforms, the more you post, the more likely you are to generate followers.  Posting a combination of videos and images 3-4 times per week will keep followers engaged with your content.  If you feel as though maintaining an active account will be a challenge for your team, you may want to reconsider adding Instagram to your social media mix.

Also, keep in mind that engagement among followers in this platform is higher as content is not limited.  Unlike Facebook, there isn’t an algorithm (yet) that analyzes the posts the platform thinks you want to see, so users see all content regardless of their Instagram habits. If you post it, your followers will see it.

If you’re still not sure whether or not Instagram makes sense for your business, feel free to get in touch at erinkdoherty@gmail.com.

Happy grammin’.

Advice Blog

Let’s Get a Job

On the hunt for a new gig?  Whether you’re a recent college grad (congrats!) or a seasoned vet who is ready to change things up, we have advice on how to prepare for and nail your next interview. Check out the research, resume and etiquette tips below and best of luck in your search!

Before the Interview:

Google yourself  – Have you done that lately? You may want to ensure that all inappropriate selfies, memes, tweets, photos of late nights at the bar, drug paraphernalia, etc. are removed or ridiculously private. If an employer can see this, they may make a snap judgment before even considering you for the role.

Executive tip – If you’d feel embarrassed showing a post to your boss, a cop, or your grandmother – delete it, or better yet, don’t share it.

Get connected – LinkedIn.com is a great way to connect with professionals, as well as recruiters. Update your profile with your latest resume, request recommendations and join groups of interest. Make sure to include keywords that describe your skill set, as many recruiters use LinkedIn to search for potential candidates. Also, look for networking opportunities through clubs or affiliations in your area.

Executive tip – Add a link to your LinkedIn Profile at the top of your resume alongside your contact information.

Do your research and come prepared – Read up on the company and buy/download/understand whatever it is they do or sell. Your findings may come in handy and be either a conversation starter or enhance an answer to a question. Also, try to connect with a current employee (possibly via LinkedIn) to get a feel for the culture, atmosphere and day-to-day responsibilities.

Executive tip – Come to the interview with a recommendation of how you would improve their business/product/process, etc. For example, if the company is hiring you as a marketing manager, provide constructive feedback on the marketing they have today. It shows that you are familiar with what they are doing and are ready to take them to the next level.

Tailor your resume – Sending the same cookie-cutter resume to multiple places is not going to get you noticed, especially if you are submitting it to a system that uses a keyword search to determine if the resume best matches the job description. Be sure that your resume specifically reflects the skill set and position you are trying to obtain.

Executive tipRead through the postings and relate your past experiences to each task by using similar keywords. For example, if the job posting you’re qualified for reads, “Relevant or related experience in website programming,” be sure to use the words “Website Programming” when explaining your skill set, instead of “Development.”

During the Interview:

Dress the part – During the research process, you should have gotten a feel for how conservative or informal a company may be. It’s always recommended to wear professional attire, such as a suit or blazer. Even if you know that employees of that organization dress casually, dress formally for the interview (unless you are specifically told otherwise by the employer). The interview is a professional meeting and first impressions are important.

Executive tip – Minimal makeup, jewelry, covering tattoos, etc. always helps limit distractions and judgment.

Be honest, personable and confident – You may have the best resume in the world and a 4.0 GPA, but if you can’t look the interviewer in the eye, or connect with them on a personal level, you are losing half the battle. Most interviewers are thinking, “Will this person vibe with my team? Do they fit with our culture? Can I spend 8 hours a day with them?” Be sure to maintain eye contact, smile and answer questions as candidly as possible.

Executive tip – Be friendly to the person sitting at the front desk. Sometimes the interviewer will ask them what their thoughts/first impressions are.

Ask the right questions – Aside from salary and benefit questions, be sure to ask the interviewer to walk you through a “day in the life” at their company. You want to be sure that you fully understand the roles and responsibilities associated with the position you’re applying for.

Executive tip – Prepare questions ahead of time. Also, the nuances of a position such as long work hours, personality conflicts, hidden issues etc. will likely not be disclosed up front, so don’t be afraid to ask if you feel you aren’t getting enough information.

After the Interview:

Follow up – Be sure to thank the interviewers (all of them if there are multiple). Either ask the HR rep for specific contact information or at the end of the interviews, ask for each person’s business card.  Also, if you don’t hear anything, don’t be afraid to follow up and ask what the status is on the position.

Executive tip – In this day in age, an email thank you is usually sufficient, but it’s always nice to go the extra mile and send something hand-written.

If it doesn’t work out, let it go –Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get the first job you interview for. Competition within the job market is high and you’re not going to get an offer every time.  Don’t panic.  Refocus your efforts and learn from your experience.

Executive tip – If you don’t hear a response at all from the organization, try reapplying a few months later. Sometimes timing plays a role in the hiring process.

To see if there are any jobs available in your field of interest, check out our job board at advertisingclubofbuffalo.com//jobs now.

Best of luck!

Board

Ad Club Chat: Two Executive Board Members Spill the Beans

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Kim Pentheros (Secretary) and Charlie Fashana (President) are moving on after their four and three years serving on the board.

I had the opportunity to sit down with them and discuss their time on the board, along with what goes into being an effective board member. Both agreed that transitioning away from their board positions will be bittersweet, even a bit surreal, after being part of a close group that oversaw the Advertising Club of Buffalo flourish for the past few years.

How did you first become a part of Ad Club? Where did you hear about it?

Kim: I heard about the Ad Club as a student at Daemen College, and decided to nominate myself for board membership as a way to give back to the organization that I attribute helping me get a start in my career.

Charlie: As with everything, I was introduced to the Ad Club through my wife Karen, while working in HSBC’s marketing department. While out of my comfort zone, I felt that a corporate perspective could take the club in a new direction.

What is your fondest memory or favorite Ad Club event as of today?

Kim: Oh, that would definitely be our first Big Tip-off event. Everyone was really excited because it was a brand new event, and there were so many different agencies and companies involved in it for friendly competition. Generally speaking, seeing new faces at club events reminds us that we’re doing something right. Whether it’s through word of mouth or social media, it’s awesome to see new people coming out to improve what they do, network, or learn new things. Or with the Big Tip-Off, just to have fun with friends and colleagues while raising money for our scholarship fun, and meeting new people along the way.

Charlie: On an internal level it’s the meetings and feeling like we’re making shit happen. It’s exciting knowing that you’re a part of something. And events like the Big Tip-Off are very social. It’s a different type of competition than the ADDYs – there’s no judging – it’s people being enthusiastic about what they do. And it’s a great fundraiser. It’s a good example of what the marketing community is: tight-knit, close, everyone knows each other for the most part. And we take pride in what we do. But hands down, my two best event memories would be Seth Godin, and hosting the District 2 Leadership Conference in Buffalo.

Do you have any fun stories, maybe of discussions that went from regular conversation into a potential event for the club?

Kim: Well, that’s exactly how our AdLab series started. A few other board members and I were having an informal brainstorming session on creating educational programming outside of what we currently did. That thought turned into what’s now our most regular and successful program.

Charlie: In meetings, we always try to focus on specific things and problem solve to make them even better. We take a pragmatic approach, analyzing what works and what doesn’t to enhance programs like Überbowl, the Big Tip-Off, and AdLabs. A lot of times we modified these programs while we were still there and the details were fresh.

What kinds of qualities are expected in board members?

Kim: Enthusiasm to work with people you normally wouldn’t, like students, professors, and people from different businesses. Communication is important too. A board member should recognize (and not be afraid of) what it takes to meet a goal and plan for it, while also contributing creative ideas and opinions.

Charlie: You need to manage your own time, multi-task, be confident; don’t be afraid of coming forward with ideas. We don’t want “yes people,” we want people that give creative opinions and effectively communicate to spark new ideas. You’ll never know if you don’t speak up.

What advice would you give to those thinking of stepping up into a board position role?

Kim: My advice would be to speak up as much as possible and not be afraid to collaborate with new people. Never regret a voiced idea. One-off ideas may spark creativity in others, turning into something more. An idea might be too expensive or there might not be enough time that year, but the idea might be doable further down the road.

Charlie: Be ready to work! It’s not an advisory board, and we are responsible for a lot of high profile events. Everyone’s committed to that level of work. And on top of that, board members are responsible for creating events to enrich the community. It’s all about living up to that responsibility.

If I’ve learned anything from talking with Kim and Charlie, it’s that the Advertising Club of Buffalo, especially for board members, provides the perfect opportunity to build lasting relationships outside of the office. Obviously, volunteering time to be a part of the WNY advertising and marketing community is what you sign up for, but at the same time it’s also about the people you meet along the way. New faces (and ideas) get people talking, listening, and collaborating more often, and at a broader range.

With that in mind, there’s no question it’s an interesting time for those involved with the Advertising Club of Buffalo. Even though it’s sad to see Kim and Charlie go, it also leaves us excited to see how new changes will help the Club evolve and grow from here.

 

Amy Robb is a recent graduate from Buffalo State College, as a part of the Writing Program. She is currently interning at Gelia Advertising for copywriting.