“The marketing industry has been evolving and growing at an incredible pace, moving progressively toward online and digital platforms which increases the importance of offering a full-capacity of the Internet interactive media landscape services to our clients,” said Robin D. Cook, president of Marketing with a Flair.

Today’s announcement represents Marketing with a Flair’s continued efforts to provide performance-focused, solution-driven services to clients and will help to maximize the agency’s digital marketing opportunities for all. Furthermore, this acquisition will strengthen relationships while maximizing the return on investment for clients. Enhancing Marketing with a Flair’s marketing platforms and services beyond its current capabilities will streamline efficiencies and effectiveness, thereby achieving economies of scale and passing the cost-savings for media buying, printing and other related services on to clients.

To ensure a seamless and transparent transition as well as a demonstration of continued commitment to clients, Marketing with a Flair has extended offers to the in-house Innoiva staff and will be adding additional positions.

“Combining the talent, technology, capabilities and service expertise of these two agencies will enhance team productivities and processes, while improving operational efficiencies,” said Cook. “Expanding our company is also our contribution to help stimulate the Valley economy and add jobs.”

Andrea Norman, Innovia president, has decided to pursue her dream of supporting a Valley non-profit agency, which will allow her to spend more time preparing her teenage children for college and adulthood.

The acquisition is the next step in allowing Marketing with a Flair to provide increased depth in building and supporting next generation marketing and advertising solutions in environments such as cross media planning, video-on-demand, campaign management and interactive solutions.

“The winning combination of merging our client base, including our new publicity retainer contract with an International firm, allows us to focus on our core competencies and be more flexible and more competitive,” added Cook.

Innovia clients will gain access and benefit from an award-winning agency for publicity, creative services and advertising with strategic targeting capabilities.

About Marketing with a Flair
Marketing with a Flair is an award-winning marketing communications firm specializing in providing corporate communication functions for businesses that do not have the resources in-house and for corporations whose in-house resources are currently overtaxed or require supplemental support. The firm provides services for a vast array of clients in several industries including franchise groups, health care, retail, finance, service, hospitality and non-profit. The Marketing with a Flair team is led by president and CEO, Robin D. Cook, who has more than 30 years of experience in marketing. She is the author of “Unlocking the Power of Publicity,” a book that explains how to put the media to work for business owners in order to gain the essential attention needed to promote their causes, products and services. For more information about Marketing with a Flair call 602-374-4923 or visit the website at www.MarketingWithaFlair.com.

PEORIA, Ariz. (March 15, 2011) – Marketing with a Flair – a full-service communications agency offering marketing, advertising, public relations and strategic planning – celebrates its 12 year anniversary , No. 1 position in Ranking Arizona for advertising agencies - small firm, and business growth with new digs in Peoria.

This is the sixth consecutive year Marketing with a Flair has found itself in the top seat among ad agencies in Phoenix with seven staff or fewer. Marketing with a Flair also received recognition for its public relations department with forth place rankings.  

After being a part of the Glendale business community for over a decade, Marketing with a Flair has found a new home in Peoria at 20470 N. Lake Pleasant Rd., Suite 107.

“With today’s technologies, such as video conferencing, and our rapidly growing social media project base, this physical move will not have direct client impact,” said Marketing with a Flair President and CEO Robin D. Cook. “The staff, however, is excited about the newer building and office amenities.”

Among other developments at Marketing with a Flair, the agency has added several new clients to its roster including the Peoria Diamond Club, Pee Whiz, 100 Club of Arizona and Aire Serv of East-Central Missouri.

“We are extremely honored that our agency has attracted several new clients locally and across the nation,” said Cook. “The confidence they place in Marketing with a Flair is due to our team’s ability to provide integrated solutions while determining the proper strategy that yields measurable results within today’s challenging budgets.”

Prior to the move, Megan Homan, who has been with Marketing with a Flair for just over a year, was promoted to senior communications specialist. Homan’s duties include account management, publicity and copywriting.

About Marketing with a Flair

Marketing with a Flair is an award-wining marketing communications firm specializing in providing corporate communication functions for businesses that do not have the resources in-house and for corporations whose in-house resources are currently overtaxed or require supplemental support. The firm works for a vast array of clients in several industries including health care, retail, finance, service, hospitality and non-profit. The Marketing with a Flair team is led by president and CEO, Robin D. Cook, who has more than 30 years of experience in marketing. She is the author of “Unlocking the Power of Publicity,”a book that explains how to put the media to work for business owners in order to gain the essential attention needed to promote their causes, products and services. For more information about Marketing with a Flair call 602-374-4923 or visit the website at MarketingWithaFlair.com. 

# # #

So exactly what resources did this popular coffeehouse use to conquer the social web?

1. Twitter- As well as being one of the top 25 most visited websites out there, tweets from this site can also be received by mobile devices, allowing you to contact some of your constituents, wherever they are, with your important message. Starbucks engages with customers on this platform by answering questions, retweeting and posting “micro blogs” about daily happenings inside the company.

2. Facebook- This site is more of a profile-based social networking tool. Starbucks interacts with customers on this site by having conversations through comments, as well as inviting people to events. It also uploads content such as videos, blog posts and photos.

3. YouTube- On this website where you can “broadcast yourself”, Starbucks uploads videos of commercials, informational coffee videos, charity work videos and videos about the origin of the company. Consider it a visual “getting to know you” for your company.

4. Create your own Social Media Site- Starbucks created My Starbucks Idea, which is a place for open discussions about their company, allowing customers to share their ideas, vote on other ideas, and rapidly check out product results.

5. Blogging- Keep your customers in the loop! Starbucks has a blog titled “Ideas in Action” which updates readers on new products that are in the brainstorming stage, as well as the dates that upcoming products are going to be available.

In the same way that Starbucks communicates with many of its customers (current and potential), your company can too! Pay attention to corporations, like this one, that use social networking tools effectively. Identifying a specific social media strategy and policy is a critical component in marketing these days, and it will help your company dominate in the social networking domain. Moral of the story: Get Social!      

Starbucks article source: http://thenextweb.com/2010/01/11/starbucks-formula-social-media-success/

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Granted, no team can function without discipline and ground rules. Things would collapse in chaos if everyone spent their work day aimlessly reinventing everything. The bad news is that over time, this kind of regimentation squashes the creativity companies need to grow and stay competitive. The good news is that it’s possible make room for creativity in a set of balanced business practices. If you want a fun and thought-provoking read on this subject, check out Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon MacKenzie.

How can you get more creativity out of your staff? People need to know that their input is valued and rewarded. How many of these killer phrases do you hear on a daily basis? “We tried that once and…” Or, “The problem is…” Or, “The reason that won’t work…” These little devils and their legion of cranky relatives are guaranteed to shut down the flow of profitable ideas into your business. The trick is learning to keep the internal editor from kicking in too early in the creative process. Try setting aside a time and place where it’s okay to capture spontaneous, half-baked thoughts without judging them. Let everyone’s minds wander on the possibilities first. The “editor” can sort and evaluate them later in a separate setting.

Yes, some ideas might sound wacky at first, but if you make a habit of allowing them to surface, they’ll inevitably reveal the seeds of a major new competitive edge. Remember how it felt to be picked for a school team or get accolades for that science project? Imagine what could happen at work if your whole staff felt that way. Making “what if” an official and protected part of your company culture can pay big dividends in productivity and profitability.

Part of the secret to getting publicity is remembering that reporters are people too. They have editors to please and a valuable, hard-won audience that demands fresh, interesting and useful content. The more you understand what media professionals are looking for when they’re trying to beat a deadline, the more attention you’ll get for your product or service. Here are a few key points to keep in mind:

Ask yourself “so what?” People don’t buy drills because they need drills. They buy them because they need HOLES! Your offering may be the next big thing, but if you can’t explain it in terms that matter most to the end user, your message is nothing but noise. Make the story more about the audience than your product by focusing on the key feature or benefit that would matter most to them.

Say it, don’t spray it. Whether it’s a reader or a reporter, you only have seconds to grab their attention. When you get a chance to speak up, don’t blow it by reciting pages of boring specs and formulas. Use a mirror to rehearse a few short interview points that focus on what your offering does to improve the recipient’s life in some practical way.

Get socially networked. Social media isn’t just for hackers and slackers anymore. Major brands from Southwest Airlines to Starbucks use social networking tools like twitter to make personal, two-way connections with their audience. You can learn to give your business an impressive digital presence without spending a fortune.

People who master these secrets gain thousands of dollars worth of free media exposure and you can too. If you want learn how to get noticed and not deleted, Unlocking the Power of Publicity by Robin D. Cook is the guide you’ve been looking for. In a practical, step-by-step language, Robin teaches you how to find the newsworthy part of your story and get reporters interested in what you have to say. People are out there waiting for your message and Unlocking the Power of Publicity will help you reach them with great publicity. Available online today from Wheatmark Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Many people have assumptions about how to properly gain publicity for their business, but a lot of these assumptions can be misleading or mistaken! Here are 5 of the top myths set straight to help you and your business succeed in the world of publicity.

Myth #1: The more people you send a press release to, the better your chance of having your story picked up.

Narrow it down! You need to think about specific demographics that you are targeting, and then tailor your release to those specific people/places. According to Australian Anthill Magazine, “Simply sending a general release to all and sundry doesn’t always work.” A customized, more focused press release that speaks directly to your target audience is more likely to get the reporter’s attention and encourage them to write about your topic.

Myth #2: Drafting a press release is your first step to gaining publicity.

It’s all about seeking publicity proactively and in various ways. Although press releases are still tried and true methods for gaining publicity, it’s better to start with “figuring out what your objectives are for your business, organization, or yourself if you’re working on a project or endeavor, as well as the goals for the media coverage and/or web presence,” according to PRandPublicity.com. Once you’ve crafted a publicity plan, decide what type of method you will use to distribute your message. For example, would it be better to post your message on a social network? Or maybe a quick email to a reporter about the topic is the first step you take before writing a press release. Think about your goals and different options and draft a plan.

Myth #3: Sales will always increase as a result of great publicity.

Great publicity will create awareness and can even make the phone ring, but it will ultimately be up to you and your staff to turn those calls of interest into sales and, finally, recurring clients.

Myth #4: Well crafted stories are guaranteed to be published.

Yes, it helps to have a good story, and this will increase your likelihood of being published, but there are certain things—breaking news, loss of staff, and other anomalies—that can contribute to the story being lost or forgotten. Also, there may be a multitude of other “great stories,” and not all of them will always be published.

Myth #5: If you do not have contacts, particularly reporter contacts, then you will not be successful.  

Success is all about networking and making the most of relationships that already exist. Evan Carmichael puts it beautifully as he writes that, as in most things, “the quality of your approach and what you have to say is more important than how many people you include in your mailout.”

Essentially, get yourself in there and become a part of your publicity work! Make the most of your circumstances, put effort into your projects, stay focused and pin-point exactly what you want, and you can be successful.

1. Start in the most obvious place: President and founder of Engage Selling Solutions Colleen Francis suggests focusing on existing relationships when looking for potential business. “Start by looking at your current customer sales database. You might be surprised by who you know! All too often, this step is skipped by companies who are hungry for new business,” says Francis. So, pull out the old business cards, start calling and emailing contacts that you haven’t done business with or talked to in a while. Your networks are the first place to start when seeking to boost sales.

2. Stick to the tried and true: Make cold calls, network and follow up. Listen closely to what your potential customers’ needs are. Make sure you are aware that you are really selling yourself – not the product or service. Sell results and solutions and never sell on price. There’s a reason these methods have been around for ages. They work. Globally recognized business coach, mentor, author and consultant - Jonathan Farrington has written a great article on The Twelve Golden Principles Of Selling that outlines this idea.

3. Don’t stop marketing efforts: In his article about how brands thrived during the Great Depression, Partner in Altus Alliance Dave Chase explains how important branding and, furthermore, marketing is during a recession. Popular companies like Procter & Gamble, Chevrolet and Camel cigarettes not only survived during The Depression, but flourished. Their refusal to cut back on marketing efforts is one of the reasons they were able to prosper.

4. Offer assistance rather than a product: Potential customers may not have the budget for what you are selling, so instead offer them advice or help by asking, “What can I do for you right now?” By being a resource to them now, you will create a memorable impression that they will remember when looking for your product or service in the future.

5. Fulfill a need: Every day, I hear that people aren’t buying anything right now. Well, that just can’t be true. Renowned speaker, trainer, consultant, and entrepreneur – Tim Wackel writes that sales reps should stop blaming the economy. “Companies still have to buy goods and services no matter what the economy is doing. They may buy different, they may buy less, but they still have to buy,” writes Wackel.