Innova has played a role as a value-added resource ever since we first opened our doors in 1998. Our goal was to offer affordable creative solutions to complement the print and production capabilities of our sister company, Sigler Printing.
Innova is a part of Sigler Companies, which offers end-to-end creative, production and distribution services. We have 3 locations in Iowa and work with clients worldwide.
We bring depth, experience and passion to the office every day. But with the nature of advertising, you don’t always get to enjoy the back story. Now’s your chance to see behind the curtain.
We’re readers and musicians. We’re dog lovers and cat fanciers. We’re motorcyclists and bicyclists. We’re community volunteers and world travelers. We’re the people of Innova. Learn what makes us tick by checking out our stories above.
Innova is a creative team you can call your own. Designers immersed in your brand. Copywriters fluent in your tone. Marketing and PR strategists with your best interests in mind. Plus, account executives and project managers who ensure we all play nicely together.
Economies change. Mediums evolve. Goals remain the same. You still need to promote your business, sell your product and reach your people. But we understand that it’s not about doing more with fewer resources, it’s about doing more with better resources.
If you don’t see it here, ask. We’ll find a way.
But if we can make it cool? That’s where it gets fun for us – and powerful for you. People remember you better. People like you more.
Over the years, we’ve created award-winning, results-yielding advertising, from posters and billboards to websites and newsletters. Our inspiration takes many forms, as you can see from our samples above.
To add your name to our portfolio of great work, please contact us.
It’s a team-oriented atmosphere that puts a unique spin on the traditional advertising agency.
We take pride in producing great work. We also believe strongly in integrity, dedication, professionalism and positive behavior. Our mission: To be the most competitive communication and marketing company in the United States by creating a culture that motivates and cares for our people, and serves our customers with passion.
Check for current job opportunities to the right.
We have 3 locations in Iowa and create great work for clients across the nation. Give us a call or email us info@sigler.com for more information.
Ames Office
304 Main Street
Ames, IA 50010
515.232.5373
Get Directions
Des Moines Office
516 3rd Street
Suite 200
Des Moines, IA 50309
515.697.7200
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Principal Office
711 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50392
515.362.2582
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Innova expert to share Latino perspective on cycling at community planning and advocacy conference.
DES MOINES, Iowa, January 26, 2010 – Nannette Rodríguez, Director of Hispanic Marketing for Innova Ideas & Services, will be a featured presenter at the 2010 Iowa Bicycle Summit at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 30, at Hy-Vee Hall.
Rodríguez will speak on Latinos and their relationship with the bicycle. Her presentation, "A Latino Perspective on Cycling: Beyond Transportation," will offer attendees a real portrait of the Hispanic cyclist in America, an exploration of the cultural reasons that make for cycling's reality within this demographic and how to reach out to this population in our community.
Rodríguez brings a unique perspective to the Iowa Bicycle Summit. Born in Puerto Rico, Rodríguez is no stranger to BMX, road and a little mountain biking, and has experienced firsthand the contrasts between being a cyclist in Latin America versus the United States. An Iowa resident since 1996, Rodríguez is also an active member of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition and orchestrated a partnership to launch "Another Way to Roll" – a T-shirt designed to raise funds for the Iowa Bicycling Coalition. The T-shirt is part of the "Greater Than Goods" collection – a fundraising apparel movement and online store created by Sigler Companies.
The 2010 Iowa Bicycle Summit is presented by the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, the state's largest bicycling advocacy group. The Coalition works to educate and build partnerships to establish safe and enjoyable bicycle transportation and recreation networks throughout Iowa.
The Summit will offer best practices in bicycle advocacy and community building education, and will feature 20 speakers presenting a variety of topics including: bicycle facility design innovations, safe routes to school successes, bike safety, new marketing ideas for cycling and "Ride Right," a safe practices series closely aligned with RAGBRAI, Iowa's premier bicycling event.
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About Innova
Innova Ideas & Services is one of Iowa's top marketing and creative services agencies in number of employees and earnings. With offices in Des Moines and Ames, Innova provides strategic marketing, public relations, graphic design, Web design, copywriting and event management. Innova's clients cross the nation and virtually all business sectors, including education, finance, health care, manufacturing and not-for-profit organizations. Additional information is available at www.innovaideasandservices.com.
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CONTACT
Scott Stuart
Innova Ideas & Services
515.697.7226
scott.stuart@sigler.com
We’re gathering up the great campaigns, important events, funny videos, useful tools and random stuff that catches our attention. Here are some of the coolest finds for the week, in no particular order…
You want handy? Check out www.typetester.org. It’s a great tool for any web designers out there, whether your sites are professional or personal. Typetester allows you to do side-by-side comparisons of 3 different sets of screen type, using the exact same sample copy. You can also fiddle with size, leading, color, decoration and more. Compare typefaces. Contrast styles. Kick the tires. Test drive your site content before you design it.
Des Moines, IOWA, March 9, 2010 – Innova Ideas & Services was recently awarded a total of six ADDY® Awards in a competition recognizing advertising excellence. One entry was awarded a Best of Class selection.
The ADDYs, presented by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) of Des Moines, honor central Iowa's most creative advertising and marketing work. The competition generally receives more than 300 entries in a variety of categories covering printed work, interactive media, self-promotion and more. Submissions are judged by peers across the U.S. For more information, visit: www.aafdsm.com.
Gold ADDY Awards received by Innova are as follows:
Silver ADDY Awards are:
"We are excited to have the work created by our talented colleagues recognized by our peers," said Sigler Companies president Beth Cross. "We're even more proud that Sigler Companies had the opportunity to work with the AAF of Des Moines to create and produce all the promotional materials for this year's award entry process and event."
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About Innova
Innova Ideas & Services is one of Iowa's top marketing and creative services agencies in number of employees
and in earnings. With offices in Des Moines and Ames, Innova provides strategic marketing, public relations, graphic
design, Web design, copywriting and event management. Innova's clients cross the nation and virtually all business
sectors, including education, finance, health care, manufacturing and not-for-profit organizations. Additional
information is available at www.innovaideasandservices.com.
About Sigler Companies
Sigler Companies is the parent company of Innova Ideas & Services – a creative services agency with offices in Des Moines and Ames; Sigler Printing – a premier printing and production house; and Signify Promotions – an apparel and promotions business. Sigler Companies, a privately held company, holds FSC and SFI certifications, along with a MasterPrinter designation. The company's mission is "to be the most competitive communication and marketing company in the United States by creating a culture that motivates and cares for our people, and serves our customers with passion." Additional information is available at www.siglercompanies.com.
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DES MOINES, Iowa, January 26, 2010 – Nannette Rodríguez, Director of Hispanic Marketing for Innova Ideas & Services, will be a featured presenter at the 2010 Iowa Bicycle Summit at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 30, at Hy-Vee Hall.
Rodríguez will speak on Latinos and their relationship with the bicycle. Her presentation, "A Latino Perspective on Cycling: Beyond Transportation," will offer attendees a real portrait of the Hispanic cyclist in America, an exploration of the cultural reasons that make for cycling's reality within this demographic and how to reach out to this population in our community.
Rodríguez brings a unique perspective to the Iowa Bicycle Summit. Born in Puerto Rico, Rodríguez is no stranger to BMX, road and a little mountain biking, and has experienced firsthand the contrasts between being a cyclist in Latin America versus the United States. An Iowa resident since 1996, Rodríguez is also an active member of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition and orchestrated a partnership to launch "Another Way to Roll" – a T-shirt designed to raise funds for the Iowa Bicycling Coalition. The T-shirt is part of the "Greater Than Goods" collection – a fundraising apparel movement and online store created by Sigler Companies.
The 2010 Iowa Bicycle Summit is presented by the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, the state's largest bicycling advocacy group. The Coalition works to educate and build partnerships to establish safe and enjoyable bicycle transportation and recreation networks throughout Iowa.
The Summit will offer best practices in bicycle advocacy and community building education, and will feature 20 speakers presenting a variety of topics including: bicycle facility design innovations, safe routes to school successes, bike safety, new marketing ideas for cycling and "Ride Right," a safe practices series closely aligned with RAGBRAI, Iowa's premier bicycling event.
###
About Innova
Innova Ideas & Services is one of Iowa's top marketing and creative services agencies in number of employees
and earnings. With offices in Des Moines and Ames, Innova provides strategic marketing, public relations, graphic
design, Web design, copywriting and event management. Innova's clients cross the nation and virtually all business
sectors, including education, finance, health care, manufacturing and not-for-profit organizations. Additional
information is available at www.innovaideasandservices.com.
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During their transition from affiliation with a large financial group to their own shop, Marrs was concerned their clients would lose trust. They sought a quick, seamless transition and a new brand to express their experience in wealth management for high-end clients. Innova developed the Marrs logo and built their brand through a distinct color palette on stationery and other collateral. A brand standards guide was developed to protect Marrs’ new brand at its onset.
Jolly Holiday Lights is a light display event which raises money for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa. Innova’s partnership with JHL focuses on increasing sponsorships, encouraging visitors to the display and strengthening the connection between the event and the cause. Innova’ branding efforts include the JHL logo design. In addition, each year Innova designs, assembles and helps distribute marketing kits to solicit sponsors, and designs and produces branded apparel and merchandise sold at JHL. During Innova’s involvement, event traffic increased approximately 13% and net income by 37.5%, helping raise JHL to Iowa’s largest single-source fundraising event.
Innova was asked by a Fortune 500 company to develop a custom online ordering and fulfillment solution, and integrate the site with a database of over 30,000 users with unique product offerings. The resulting online fulfillment system enhanced the client’s old system as follows: auto-populated user data to reduce end-user time on the site; filtered products available to each person based on pre-determined criteria; limited the amount of free marketing items users could order based on current business with company; and expanded product listing of the site.
Sigler Companies Website Privacy Statement
This document was last updated on October 19, 2007.
1. Acknowledgement and acceptance of terms
Sigler Companies is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Statement sets forth our current privacy practices with regard to the information we collect when you or your computer interact with our website. By accessing www.innovaideasandservices.com, you acknowledge and fully understand Sigler Companies’ Privacy Statement and freely consent to the information collection and use practices described in this Website Privacy Statement.
2. Participating Merchant Policies
Related services and offerings with links from this website, including vendor sites, have their own privacy statements that can be viewed by clicking on the corresponding links within each respective website. Online merchants and others who participate in Sigler Companies services are encouraged to participate in industry privacy initiatives and to take a responsible attitude towards consumer privacy. However, since we do not have direct control over the policies or practices of participating merchants and other third parties, we are not responsible for the privacy practices or contents of those sites. We recommend and encourage that you always review the privacy policies of merchants and other third parties before you provide any personal information or complete any transaction with such parties.
3. Information We Collect and How We Use It
Sigler Companies collects certain information from and about its users three ways: directly from our Web Server logs, the user, and with Cookies.
a. Web Server Logs
When you visit our website, we may track information to administer the site and analyze its usage. Examples of information we may track include:
b. Use of Cookies
Sigler Companies may use cookies to personalize or enhance your user experience. A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your hard disk by a web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by a Web Server in the domain that issued the cookie to you.
One of the primary purposes of cookies is to provide a convenience feature to save you time. For example, if you personalize a web page, or navigate within a site, a cookie helps the site to recall your specific information on subsequent visits. Hence, this simplifies the process of delivering relevant content and eases site navigation by providing and saving your preferences and login information as well as providing personalized functionality.
Sigler Companies reserves the right to share aggregated site statistics with partner companies, but does not allow other companies to place cookies on our website unless there is a temporary, overriding customer value (such as merging into [Insert Name of Company].com, a site that relies on third-party cookies).
You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies. If you reject cookies by changing your browser settings, then be aware that this may disable some of the functionality on our website.
c. Personal Information Users
Visitors to our website can register to purchase services. When you register, we will request some personal information such as name, address, email, telephone number or facsimile number, account number and other relevant information. If you are purchasing a service, we will request financial information. Any financial information we collect is used only to bill you for the services you purchased. If you purchase by credit card, this information may be forwarded to your credit card provider. For other types of registrations, we will ask for the relevant information. You may also be asked to disclose personal information to us so that we can provide assistance and information to you. For example, such data may be warranted in order to provide online technical support and troubleshooting.
We will not disclose personally identifiable information we collect from you to third parties without your permission except to the extent necessary including:
4. Use of Web Beacons or GIF files
Sigler Companies web pages may contain electronic images known as web beacons – sometimes also called single-pixel gifs – that allow Sigler Companies to count users who have visited those pages and to deliver co-branded services. Sigler Companies may include web beacons in promotional e-mail messages or newsletters in order to determine whether messages have been opened and acted upon.
Some of these web beacons may be placed by third party service providers to help determine the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns or email communications. These web beacons may be used by these service providers to place a persistent cookie on your computer. This allows the service provider to recognize your computer each time you visit certain pages or emails and compile anonymous information in relation to those page views, which in turn enables us and our service providers to learn which advertisements and emails bring you to our website and how you use the site. Sigler Companies prohibits web beacons from being used to collect or access your personal information.
5. Accessing Web Account Information
We will provide you with the means to ensure that personally identifiable information in your web account file is correct and current. You may review this information by contacting us.
6. Changes to this Statement
Sigler Companies has the discretion to occasionally update this privacy statement. When we do, we will also revise the “updated” date at the top of this Privacy page. We encourage you to periodically review this privacy statement to stay informed about how we are helping to protect the personal information we collect. Your continued use of the service constitutes your agreement to this privacy statement and any updates.
7. Contacting Us
If you have questions regarding our Privacy Statement, its implementation, failure to adhere to this Privacy Statement and/or our general practices, please contact us:
Sigler Companies
3100 South Riverside Dr.
Ames, Iowa 50010
P. 866.376.0729
Sigler Companies will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly respond and resolve any problem or question.
To establish Burgie’s storefronts as preferred destinations and promote their packaged coffees and teas to connoisseurs and the general public alike, Innova developed a new logo and tagline; an updated color palette; and positioning statement. Innova wrote collateral material to tell the Burgie’s story and applied the brand elements to elements such as external and internal signage, bags, labels, aprons, t-shirts and other apparel.
KU came to Innova seeking assistance in developing a brand image for their fraternity and sorority community. Innova developed pieces for the admissions office to use in recruitment via print and multimedia. To meet KU’s request for images usable for up to five years, Innova created a unisex design that allowed the dominant color to be easily changed from year to year. We also designed images and colors to work in motion on any multimedia representation.
Developed exclusively for formal recruitment, Innova’s Campus Director software is the smart way to simplify recruiting. The online solution allows colleges and universities to manage fees, schedule events, send invites, complete bid-matching and more – all from a single secure source. Campus Director offers everything needed to manage recruitment easily and affordably.
We’re gathering up the great campaigns, important events, funny videos, useful tools and random stuff that catches our attention. Here are some of the coolest finds for the week, in no particular order…
1. iPad Ad It's begun. If you caught the Oscars a couple Sundays ago, you likely saw the first TV spot for the latest Apple "i" candy, the iPad. Even though Apple's tablet announcement met with mixed reviews, odds are millions will still be fighting to be one of the first to get their fingerprints all over it.The commercial showed the iPad almost exclusively for what it is - a media delivery device, rather than productivity tool - seamlessly gliding from e-book to web browser to movie viewer. The :30-second spot ends with the April 3 release date. Mark your calendars, empty your piggy banks.Side note: Glad to see the latest twist on iPhone ads - it's a smart move speaking to real-world situations, such as family travel or being put on-hold. It's no longer about exclusivity, it's about everyday utility, repositioning the iPhone from luxury to necessity.
2. Google Fiber to Des Moines Who doesn't want blazing speed broadband? Ever since Google issued an open RFI to implement its experimental fiber network with lightning quick data transfers (up to 1 gig/sec!), cities everywhere have been clamoring to be one of the test communities, some even changing their names to court the good folks at Google. The people behind DSMfiber are leading the charge and pleading the case for Des Moines. Join the cause and keep Des Moines on the cutting edge.
3. New Zappos Ads Check out Zappo's new ad, featuring real customer service calls re-enacted by puppet versions of their employees and customers. But it's more than just a fun twist - it's taking strong advantage of today's employee-centric shift. It's a little advertising, a little PR and even a little recruiting, all with a :30-second spot and some felt.
4. Pepsi Refresh Everything ProjectPepsi is going to donate millions of dollars to good causes, but they want your help in deciding which ones are the most worthy. Building a community center in Des Moines? Providing iPod Touches to help a science class? Turning an empty storefront into an art display for the Octagon Center in Ames? Visit the site and search for your favorite cause or city.
5. Logorama This French import won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. "Logorama" brings more than 2,500 logos to life in a story of big-city adventure (including a gun-toting Ronald McDonald). Check out the opening to the 17-minute film at http://www.logorama-themovie.com. If you dig around the dark, seedy corners of the Internet, you can also find the full version. (Not that we're condoning illegal downloading!)
Have a suggestion? Email us your finds and we’ll try to include them in the next edition.
DES MOINES, Iowa, May 13, 2009 – Nannette Rodríguez, Director of Hispanic Marketing for Innova Ideas & Services, will be a featured presenter at the 13th Annual Hispanic Marketing Midwest Conference on June 17 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.
Rodríguez will present a perspective on Hispanic social media networks. Her presentation, "Hispanic Social Networks: Welcome to Web 3.5," will offer attendees an overview of the differences between mainstream and Hispanic-focused social networks, why they're needed, and how marketers can benefit by becoming instrument rated.
Rodríguez shares the stage with Carl Kravetz, publisher of VidaySalud.com and president of Cultural Asset Management Inc. of Santa Monica, Calif.; David Morse, president of New American Dimensions of Los Angeles; Josè; Villa, president of Sensis Agency of Los Angeles; and Martha de la Torre, president and CEO of El Clasificado of Norwalk, Calif.
U.S. Hispanic buying power is expected to top $1 trillion in 2009. The Hispanic Marketing Midwest Conference is the region's premier gathering of Hispanic marketing experts showcasing proven ways to build brands in our nation's Hispanic economy. Conference attendees will leave with information, strategies and proven techniques to help reach U.S. Hispanic consumers.
Innova offers marketing and advertising expertise targeted specifically to the growing Hispanic market. As Innova's Director of Hispanic Marketing, Rodríguez oversees brand strategy, positioning and campaign adaptation for Hispanic-targeted projects.
The 13th Annual Hispanic Marketing Midwest Conference is presented by Aguilar Productions, a St. Paul-based production company focused on U.S. multicultural markets. Aguilar Productions produces conferences, seminars, workshops and special events targeting the Hispanic, Asian-American, African-American, Emerging African and LGBT markets.
About Innova
Innova Ideas & Services is one of Iowa's top marketing and creative services agencies in number of employees and earnings. With offices in Des Moines and Ames, Innova provides strategic marketing, public relations, graphic design, Web design, copywriting and event management. Innova's clients cross the nation and virtually all business sectors, including education, finance, health care, manufacturing and not-for-profit organizations. Additional information is available at www.innovaideasandservices.com.
About Sigler Companies
Sigler Companies is the parent company of Innova Ideas & Services, a creative services agency with offices in Des Moines and Ames, Iowa; Sigler Printing, a premier printing and production house; and Signify Promotions, an apparel and promotions business. Sigler Companies, a privately held company, holds FSC and SFI certifications, along with a MasterPrinter designation. The company's mission is "to be the most competitive communication and marketing company in the United States by creating a culture that motivates and cares for our people, and serves our customers with passion." Additional information is available at www.siglercompanies.com.
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AMES, Iowa, March 3, 2009 – For a third straight year, Sigler Companies has received the Recycling Excellence Award from Mid-America Recycling Co., Des Moines, Iowa.
Sigler, composed of Sigler Printing and branded-apparel business Signify Promotions plus creative-services agency Innova Ideas & Services, was cited for its collection of more than 980 tons of recyclable material in 2008.
The honor builds on similar efforts in 2006 and 2007, and brings the total amount of recycled material to more than 2,550 tons over the three-year stretch. Sigler Companies president Beth Cross believes the award is representative of the organization's commitment to the environment.
"We've worked hard to positively impact the environment," Cross said. "We sincerely thank Mid-America Recycling for recognizing our efforts in recycling. The credit for this award also goes to our co-workers who are passionate about initiating and supporting our company's environmental programs."
Sigler Companies’ 2008 efforts are equivalent to the following resource conservation:
Sigler Companies has established itself as a green printer through certification with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Other green printing practices include concentric printing, a revolutionary technology that uses 25 percent to 35 percent less ink than the traditional printing process, and adoption of inks free of volatile organic compounds (known as no-VOC or VOC-free inks). Offices throughout Sigler Companies have also taken energy and water conservation steps to help minimize the impact on the environment.
Employees have led the charge for green initiatives by forming the Sigler Companies Green Committee more than a year ago. The group researches and provides guidance on best practices, in addition to sending out weekly tips electronically to help co-workers easily take eco-friendly steps at work and home. The group will continue to work to make changes throughout the company on a continually broader scale.
"We're proud of the progress we've made with our recycling and green programs," Cross said. "We look forward to meeting the challenge of continually reducing our impact on the environment."
About Sigler Companies
Sigler Companies is the parent company of Innova Ideas & Services, a creative services agency with offices in Des Moines and Ames, Iowa; Sigler Printing, a premier printing and production house; and Signify Promotions, an apparel and promotions business. Sigler Companies was founded in Ames in 1958 as Sigler Printing. In its 50-year history, the company has continued to expand its capabilities, and currently offers clients across the United States an end-to-end solution of creative services, printing and promotions. Sigler Companies is privately held. Additional information is available at www.siglercompanies.com.
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Ames, IOWA, April 21, 2010 – For the fourth consecutive year, Sigler Companies has been recognized by Greenstar for the companies’ 2009 recycling efforts.
The 2009 recycling results include 768 total tons, 764 tons of which were paper recycling; the equivalent of 2,979 metric tons of carbon dioxide. This year's figures bring the four-year total to more than 3,300 tons of recycled material by the company.
“I believe this award, and other similar awards we’ve received over the past few years, are evidence of the positive steps our company is taking to be a good environmental steward,” said Beth Cross, president of Sigler Companies.
According to Greenstar, Sigler Companies’ 2009 recycling efforts are equivalent to:
Sigler Companies has established itself as a green printer through certification with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Other green printing practices include concentric printing, a revolutionary technology that uses 25-35 percent less ink than the traditional printing process, and adoption of inks free of volatile organic compounds (known as no-VOC or VOC-free inks). Offices throughout Sigler Companies have also taken energy and water conservation steps to help minimize their impact on the environment.
Employees have led the charge for green initiatives by forming the Sigler Companies Green Committee. The group researches and provides guidance on best practices in the workplace. As a committee, they work to make changes throughout the company on a continually broader scale. In addition, they send out weekly tips via electronic methods to help co-workers easily take eco-friendly steps at home.
“Every person in our company is making the effort to protect our environment,” Cross said. “It is rewarding to see what a difference we all can make.”
According to their website, Greenstar North America acquired Mid America Recycling Company, one of the nation's fastest growing and largest private recycling companies, in October 2007. See www.greenstar-na.com.
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About Sigler Companies
Sigler Companies is the parent company of Innova – a creative services agency with offices in Des Moines and Ames; Sigler – a premier printing and production house; and Signify – an apparel and promotions business. Sigler Companies, a privately held company, holds FSC and SFI certifications. The company’s mission is “to be the most competitive communication and marketing company in the United States by creating a culture that motivates and cares for our people, and serves our customers with passion.” Additional information is available at www.siglercompanies.com.
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According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, not surprisingly, small businesses are starting to embrace social media more and more:
Last year, social-media adoption by businesses with fewer than 100 employees doubled to 24% from 12%, says a survey released in January of 2,000 U.S. entrepreneurs from the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business and Network Solutions LLC, a Web-services provider in Herndon, Va.
Just because its adoption is on the rise, does that mean social media is right for small businesses? I say that depends on where your customers are. Start with some simple searches to get a feel for where conversations are happening.
A good place to start is setting up alerts through Google or Socialmention.com. Take some time to simply track where the conversation is coming from. Evaluate the tone of the conversations. Are there opportunities for you to contribute, by adding a comment on a blog post or responding to a tweet? Do you see a need for more content or insight from your own blog?
Sometimes people see Twitter and Facebook as massive sites that only large retail corporations with resources can benefit from. When you take a closer look, you see that it’s all in how you use these sites.
As a small business, you probably don’t need to speak to the millions of people on Twitter. You are looking for the thousands or just the few hundreds that may be interested in your product or service. Twitter is what you make of it - you only need to follow the people that matter to your business and hopefully they follow you back and then, voila…you’ve just created your own "twittersphere." Now you just need to spend time getting to know these people and understanding how you can add value to the conversation. (I guarantee you it’s not by sending links to your website 8 times a day.)
You can use a similar strategy with Facebook. Find the people that care about your brand and build a Facebook Page for those people. Target them with ads, provide useful, fun content and get them sharing your page through their social actions (i.e., Jenny commented on a picture on your site, it shows up on her profile and lists in her news feed to her friends).
More to the point, find out where your audience is. Perhaps the best place to speak to them is within a niche network on Ning, where like-minded people discuss specific topics. For example, you could find a group of people supporting autism research or people passionate about skydiving.
Maybe your audience would enjoy seeing videos of your product in use and YouTube makes sense. Perhaps your customers would thrive on earning discounts from checking in through Foursquare. It could be that your customers are looking for specific product scenarios that could be demonstrated on your blog. Or maybe they just want to download your most recent consulting presentation from Slideshare.
With many small businesses, one person may be handling all the marketing or maybe an owner is trying to juggle sales, marketing, accounting and HR all at once. This is where time-management and careful use of resources becomes critical. Utilize tools like Hootsuite, Tweetdeck or simply put an egg-timer on your desk and give yourself 45 minutes in the morning and afternoon to work on your social media presence.
Think of it like this… if you treat social media interactions like you are having a face-to-face conversation with one of your customers, you can’t really go wrong. You just need to find out where they are so you can initiate that conversation in the first place.
~ Nicole, Senior Marketing Strategist
The "Mac vs. PC" campaign just keeps on going. You can hardly watch prime time TV without coming across one of these ads, the most recent of which features a guest appearance by Patrick Warburton as a top-of-the-line PC. Launched in 2006 and charming to a fault, the spots all come together to discuss the finer points of Macs while poking fun at PC’s. Pretty fun when they first aired, but the time to pull the plug may be upon us.
The original premise was brilliant: attack ads painted with softer brushstrokes. (You can practically hear “Why Can’t We Be Friends” playing in the background.) It doesn’t hurt that Mac is played to perfection by Justin Long – an actor too clean cut to be full-on slacker, too down-to-earth to be a true leading man.
Let’s face it, though – the reason we keep watching is because of PC. Portrayed by Bill Gates body-double John Hodgman, PC is the nerdish counterpart who tries too hard. But you know what? As the campaign has gone on, he’s become the more dynamic character. He’s different each time. He kind of grows on you.
Admit it, one day you want Wile E. Coyote to catch Roadrunner. Even though it’s the same cartoon over and over again, you watch to see what kind of Acme jetpack or catapult he’s going to put together next. Similarly, as Seinfeld seasons began to add up, social misfits Kramer and George Costanza ate up more screen than leading man Jerry Seinfeld.
While creating secondary characters may be great for the longevity of your TV show, it doesn’t always work for commercials – especially when that popular co-star is the embodiment of your direct competitor.
You can’t help but be intrigued by PC. You can relate to PC, maybe even sympathize with PC. That’s the trouble with humanizing products – you start to draw emotions, some of which may spill unintentionally over to your competitor. And when that competitor starts to take over the spotlight in your own ads, it’s time to pull back.
(Of course, Microsoft didn’t necessarily do itself any favors, though, bullying back with its price point campaign calling out Macs. Not necessarily hitting below the belt, but definitely aiming for the wallet.)
Everyone knows how fast, easy and all-out awesome you are, Apple. But it’s time to prove it in a new way. It’s been a few years now. Let Long go back to starring in fun but harmless teen romps and romantic comedies and Hodgman go back to, well, whatever else it is that he does these days.
Put on a fresh pot of coffee, book the conference room and start concepting, TBWA. We look forward to what’s next.
- Corey, Assistant Director of Copywriting
Innova Ideas & Services, a premier marketing and creative services agency under the umbrella of Sigler Companies, is seeking an experienced IT/Web Developer for our Ames office. Must be organized with good time management skills, and have the ability to work well under pressure and handle multiple deadlines simultaneously.
Bachelors degree in Computer Science, MIS or Computer Engineering with at least one year of hands-on experience in Web development and database development; or an Associates degree in Computer Programming and equivalent experience; or three or more years of solid, hands-on experience in Web development and database development.
Submit resume to:
HR Manager - Sigler Companies
3100 South Riverside Drive
Ames, IA 50010
hr@sigler.com
We’re gathering up the great campaigns, important events, funny videos, useful tools and random stuff that catches our attention. Here are some of the coolest finds from the last couple of weeks, in no particular order…
1. UNI Upsets Kansas. Really, this could be any one of this year's NCAA Tournament upsets: Ohio over Georgetown, Murray State over Vandy, St. Mary's to the Sweet 16, even Butler, a 5-seed, making it to the championship game.
But we've got to give the Iowa love to the UNI Panthers. Hawkeyes, Cyclones, even conference rival Bulldogs were pulling for the purple and gold. Mexican restaurant chain Panchero's got into the act, with purple tortillas in the Cedar Falls area. Everyone learned how to spell Ali Farokhmanesh's name. Heck, he was a trending topic on Twitter and even made the Sports Illustrated cover! Bravo, UNI, bravo - thank you for bringing some Iowa pride to one of the most exciting NCAA Tournaments ever.
Side effect of the madness: UNI and K-State shirt sales exploded on our collegiate apparel site, Signify U. (We saw a LOT of UNI buyers coming from Kansas and Missouri. Gotta love those Wildcat and Tiger fans sticking it to their rivals.)
2. Reese's NCAA Tournament Ads. Okay, so maybe it's just because the writer of this post (Corey J. of @heycoreyj) is partial to a good peanut butter cup, but Reese's showed how you can successfully take a brand and apply it to a seemingly unassociated event. The spots built on Reese's current campaign, but showed some basketball smarts. Tweaking the orange background into the hardwood. Matching up peanut butter and chocolate in a bracket-style showdown. It all worked together to sweet perfection. Check out all the commercials at the Reese's website.
3. Iowa State Fair Grandstand Lineup. The Iowa State Fair gave us a sneak peek of the shows coming to the Grandstand this summer, and they didn't disappoint. Kudos to the State Fair for pulling in such big names from all different genres: strong country acts in Keith Urban, Sugarland and Darius Rucker; comedian Jeff Dunham; classic rockers Pat Benatar and REO Speedwagon; and the always popular Sheryl Crow and Colbie Caillat. Hear samples and view the complete schedule at the State Fair website.
4. Subway Breakfasts. Everyone's doing breakfast these days, and traditional sandwich hut Subway is no exception. Just trade out roast beef for sausage patties and bacon, add a little egg and voila! Breakfast. Sure, we're biased because there's a Subway just a block away from our Ames location, but good for them for taking a chance and challenging people's expectations.
5. Kotex Ad Spoofs Tampon Spots. Kotex takes umbrage with tampon commercials in their latest campaign. Using an honest, refreshing approach, the spots take on the traditional scenes of feminine product advertising - beaches, blue liquid, even twirling. Finally, a tampon commercial that proves there is truth in advertising. It doesn't need to bring sunrises - it just needs to work.
Have a suggestion? Email us your finds and we’ll try to include them in the next edition.
We just launched our latest Sigler Companies 13-month calendar for 2010-2011. If you weren't one of the lucky ones to receive our calendar - or want to relive the experience from the comfort of your electronic devices - have we got a treat for you!
You can now download the April design for your desktop or your cellphone! Download from the options below:
Computer Wallpaper (1680x1050)
Cellphone Wallpaper (Vertical)
Cellphone Wallpaper (Horizontal)
P.S. Our theme for this year's calendar was "Redefining" - so look for a twist on common industry terms with each month's design!
So you’ve spent all this money developing a kick-ass website, optimized for search engines and oozing with well-distributed keywords. But where is the ROI? Who is looking at it? Better yet, what kind of conversions are you creating?
Your customer’s search habits are evolving. The way they find you is changing. Take a minute to look at all the possible ways a visitor might locate your website.
One of the key things to keep in mind is what your social presence looks like. Do you have well-developed social profiles that engage your customers and prospects and encourage them to dig deeper, conveniently by leading back to your website?
From an updated content standpoint, have you created blog posts or developed white papers that would add value to a customer relationship, draw them further into your site and keep them coming back?
Don’t forget some of the more traditional tactics to drive traffic. A 2009 study from IProspect indicated that nearly 40% of online purchases are still influenced by an offline channel. In the study, participants were asked what prompted them to search online for a particular company, product, service or slogan. The results were:
The key takeaway here is to thoroughly examine ALL channels and develop a truly integrated marketing strategy. Go beyond search engine optimization, but use the same sensibilities - relevant content, frequent updates and that all-important lead back to your URL. Your website and your budget will thank you.
~Nicole, Senior Marketing Strategist
We recently sent out our latest Sigler Companies 13-month calendar for 2010-2011. If you weren't one of the lucky ones to receive our calendar - or want to relive the experience from the comfort of your electronic devices - have we got a treat for you!
You can now download the May design for your computer or your cellphone! Download from the options below:
Computer Wallpaper (1680x1050)
Cellphone Wallpaper (Vertical)
Cellphone Wallpaper (Horizontal)
P.S. Our theme for this year's calendar was "Redefining" - so look for a twist on common industry terms with each month's design!
1. Big Omaha. A stellar event brought big names in innovation, entrepreneurship and social media to the Midwest. (And for once, it wasn't Chicago or Minneapolis.) Innova sent a group of our coworkers to the Big Omaha event to rub elbows with Internet superstars like Tony Hsieh (Zappos CEO), Dennis Crowley (founder of foursquare) and Gary Vaynerchuck (Wine Library). Our gang returned inspired, motivated and slightly more proficient in the running man! More on that in a post coming later this week...
2. Square. Speaking of entrepreneurs…thanks to Square, now ANYONE can have a business that accepts credit card payments. All you need is a phone! (Android or iPhone, that is.) It even has a built-in loyalty program that can send the merchant customized notifications based on repeat business. This is something many small businesses could use, as a recent report shows that of the 30 million businesses in the U.S. with under $100k in revenue, only 6 million accept credit cards. Read more on Square…
3. Small to Big Business Forum. The Greater Des Moines Partnership hosted the Small to Big Business Forum on May 11. The forum is a roundtable, round-robin event held every year to help facilitate business-to-business networking. Participants have the opportunity to meet with representatives from Aviva USA, Bankers Trust, Bridgestone, Des Moines University, Des Moines Water Works, Marsh, Pioneer, Prairie Meadows, The Principal Financial Group, Wells Fargo and Polk County. Each participant gets a chance to share information about their company and the products and services they provide.
Our very own Tyler Koontz, Account Executive, attended the event. This is what he had to say: “Some walked away with a better idea of where they stand as a business and what steps they need to take in order to fully take advantage of these types of networking events. I think if someone is truly wanting to network, having an event where people use minglesticks would be a great advantage!”
4. Des Moines Egotist. Last week marked the launch of the Des Moines Egotist, a site that “serves up news on design, advertising and other creative resources to the Iowa advertising community.” The Des Moines Egotist is part of a larger network that started in Denver and now includes San Francisco, Salt Lake City, St. Louis and Des Moines. You may be wondering what Des Moines did to deserve such an awesome new resource. According to the site, it's “[b]ecause we believe Des Moines could be the next Mecca of creativity. It just doesn’t know it yet.” We look forward to the challenge!
5. ARTCRANK. Dubbed as a "poster show for bike people," ARTCRANK rolled into Des Moines 2 weeks ago. Opening night was packed, with bike and art enthusiasts forming a line out the door and around the corner, all waiting to see bike-inspired artwork from a number of local artists (including designers from Innova and Sigler Companies as well as other area agencies). The show ends on May 29, so there's still time to check out all the posters - and even make a purchase which will benefit the Des Moines Bike Collective - at the Instinct Gallery in downtown Des Moines.
IABC of Iowa handed out their annual Bronze Quill awards at a ceremony in downtown Des Moines on May 5. The Bronze Quills recognize the best combination of creative, strategic and well executed work in the communications field. And once again, Innova was fortunate enough to come away with a few of the awards!
Congratulations to everyone who brought home awards that night. We were in good company!
Find a list of all the award winners here.
We’re gathering up campaigns, events, videos, tools and random stuff that catches our attention. Here are some of the coolest finds from the last couple of weeks, in order of typing convenience…
1. Target's "LOST" Ads. Target rewarded LOST fans last Sunday with a 3-part ad series that paid homage to the show. Smoke monster crashing your campsite? Pick up a smoke detector at your local Target. Wreck your keyboard entering the numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 & 42 over and over again? They've got a replacement for you. Chasing down a wild boar? Hey, guess who has 99-cent bottles of BBQ sauce. Smart stuff, and LOST fans noticed.
2. Market Day. Looking for a different kind of shopping experience? Check out Des Moines' Market Day. Held once a month, Market Day is a chance for people to browse and buy original creations made by local artists and crafters. According to the Market Day website, the spirit of the event is "arts festival meets bohemian garage sale." From vintage clothing to restored furniture to handmade books, there's something for everyone. Tomorrow marks the first Market Day of the season.
3. Art & Copy Streaming on Netflix. Can't wait for the new season of Mad Men to get your advertising fix? Netflix subscribers can now instantly watch the advertising film Art & Copy. Stream it on your computer, hook your laptop up to your TV or even watch it via the Wii. Heck, add Helvetica to your instant queue for a creative movie marathon. Pop some corn, get inspired.
4. Star Wars Art. Check out these Star Wars-inspired prints from artist James Hance. Who couldn't use a painting of Ewoks playing poker on their wall? Or Cary Grant running from a tie fighter, in a scene straight out of North by Northwest? Or a homeless stormtrooper? Or Princess Leia as the Mona Lisa? File under irrelevant but fun.
5. Stanley Steemer Ads. Yes, the new Nike soccer ad is magnificent. No surprises there. However, what’s got us all fired up lately is the new Stanley Steemer campaign by Young & Laramore in Indianapolis. They reinvented Stanley Steemer without changing their core identity: a big yellow van comes to your house to clean. However, they've reinforced their value proposition with humor and somehow managed to make themselves seem modern, despite using the same old logo and a vintage jingle. You can watch a sample spot below - you can check out the rest at Stanley Steemer's YouTube channel.
The daily grind of an advertising professional can lead to writer's block, designer's elbow, account exec's ennui and countless other maladies. Sometimes we all need a little more inspiration. This is one of the motivational tools hanging up at our offices. Enjoy!
We're a big believer in worthwhile work, and we also understand some of our best hours aren't the billable kind. This month, we enjoyed another opportunity to make just such an impact outside the office.
A group of folks from Innova and other Sigler Companies locations spent a day in late July helping out at the Ronald McDonald House of Des Moines.
The Ronald McDonald House offers a friendly place for families to stay while their children are being treated at area hospitals. The goal is to provide a safe haven for much-needed sleep, meals, laundry and relaxation during stressful times. With such a worthy cause, we decided it would be nice to provide a little relief for their staff as well.
Our crew donated several boxes and a couple coolers full of much-needed supplies, from paper towels to canned goods. Then they rolled up their sleeves to help out around the facility. From yard work to house cleaning, it was a day full of doing good where it was needed most.
You can get involved too! Visit the Ronald McDonald House of Des Moines' website for more information on how you can volunteer.
You can find more photos on the Sigler Companies Facebook Page.
Recently, an elite team of Innova-ites hit the road for Big Omaha in our company mini-van. It was a journey westward to hear from some of the biggest names and innovators in social media and modern business culture. Here's what our team took away from the event...
ON INNOVATION...
Sean Conlin, Senior Interactive Media Designer: "First of all, that was the most iPads I have seen in a room – ever. But the part that I dug the most was Jason Fried from 37signals. He talked about how less is more – with design, functionality, proposals, etc. He mentioned that being lazy isn’t such a bad thing – it allows you to focus on the basics. It was also interesting to hear the history of Foursquare. It’s based on game mechanics, and is only about 10% done."
ON BRANDING...
Brian Weber, Senior Copywriter: "My biggest takeaway: Successful brands are maintained over time only when you align business values with branding. Otherwise you’re just faking it and customers will soon realize you’re not who you pretend to be."
James LeMosy, Interactive Media Designer: "The more transparent a company is with employees and customers, the better."
ON CUSTOMER SERVICE...
SC: "It's about scaling one-to-one relationships. Gary V. talked about this and Tony H. from Zappos hit on it too. Zappos prefers that a customer calls their call center when they need something. It builds a stronger relationship and better return customers."
JL: "You have to find ways to have scalable, one-to-one communication with customers, via Twitter, Facebook, email, phone, etc. It’s not what you sell, but how you sell it. The actual product isn’t as important as the customer experience."
SC: "Zappos has an interesting rule for their call center – 'be yourself' and basically use common sense. They don’t have scripts. They want their employees to talk to customers the way they would talk to anyone else."
ON EARNED MEDIA...
SC: "They talked a lot about how to get the 'buzz.' I hate that word and fortunately they didn’t really use it, but it’s what they were talking about. It goes back to the one-to one relationships. Word of mouth = earned media."
ON THE CONFERENCE ITSELF...
Dayne Corwin, Senior Designer: "After hearing the story of his beginnings as a pizza maker, Tony Hsieh illustrated his path to creating the customer service icon Zappos.com. From charity:water founder Scott Harrison’s tear-jerking presentation to foul-mouthed Gary Vaynerchuk’s energetic performance, Big Omaha kept the presentations interesting and lively."
Mollie Batten, Marketing Strategist: "My key takeaway is how motivated and moved all of the speakers have made me. I've never come away from a conference that excited. The last conference I was at was on a single topic, and I walked away from it even more confused and overwhelmed. Everything about Big Omaha was invigorating, from the venue to the speakers, even the amount of time each speaker had. Almost every presenter touched on something that I could relate to. It got me thinking about what things I could bring back to make some positive changes."
DC: "The format of the entire conference was refreshing. You didn’t need to choose one speaker over another, they were all in one room presenting in a consecutive format. The energy and inspiration that flowed in the Kaneko was astounding. It's great to be able to experience something so forward-thinking and innovative."
Check out the latest design from our Sigler Companies 13-month calendar for 2010-2011. If you weren't one of the lucky ones to receive a printed calendar - or want to relive the experience from the comfort of your electronic devices - here's your chance.
You can now get the June design for your computer or your cellphone! Download from the options below:
Computer Wallpaper (1680x1050)
Cellphone Wallpaper (Vertical)
Cellphone Wallpaper (Horizontal)
P.S. Our theme for this year's calendar was "Redefining" - so look for a twist on common industry terms with each month's design!
Innova's very own Nannette Rodriguez was featured in this week's special 5-year anniversary edition of the DM Juice.
The local publication revisited their 5 favorite people from the last 5 years. And our favorite Director of Hispanic Marketing and Senior Marketing & Public Relations Strategist (and triathlete and young professional...the list goes on) was one of them!
The mag is out on newsstands now. You can pick up a free copy, or you can also check out the story on Nannette on the DM Juice website.
Nannette Rodriguez appears on a September 2005 cover of the DM Juice.
With each "Top 5 Finds" blog, we gather up the latest campaigns, events, videos, tools and random stuff that catches our attention. Here are some of the coolest finds from the last couple of weeks, in no particular order…
1. Adidas Star Wars Cantina Scene. World Cup fever brought out David Beckham, Snoop Dogg, Daft Punk, Noel Gallagher and other guest stars for a 2-minute clip sponsored by Adidas that re-imagined a scene from Star Wars with a soccer vibe. It includes one exchange between Beckham and Greedo, who tries to convince the soccer celeb to play for Jabba's team. Beckham looks slightly more pleased to hear this than he did after witnessing a botched save-turned-goal by the USA in the opening round World Cup match against heavily favored England.
2. Stella Artois's "Up There" Video. Beermaker Stella Artois not only commissioned 20'x50' building artwork of scenes capturing the perfect pour, they caught it all on breathtaking video. The mini-documentary "Up There" featured beautiful storytelling on the dying art of hand-painting on skyscrapers. While others are pioneering so-called "breakthroughs" like the scented billboard, there's still room for well-crafted, iconic advertising against a big city skyline. (Special thanks to a fan who shared this with us on the Innova Facebook Page!)
3. Mobile Loaves & Fishes' "I Am Here" Campaign. Sometimes it all comes together, as was the case with this campaign to fight homelessness from non-profit Mobile Loaves & Fishes. Combining mobile marketing (text message donations), social media (Twitter, video sharing), traditional advertising (though literally putting a homeless man on a billboard could hardly be considered traditional) and PR, the effort went literally above and way beyond what a normal PSA could accomplish. Initial goals have been reached, and the wave of awareness is still creating ripples in the form of donations and volunteering.
4. Sprint "Firsts" Ad. The arms race for 4G has started, and Sprint is the first one out of the gate with the EVO phone from HTC. They've marked the occasion with this dramatic :30-second spot of domino effects. Enjoy.
5. Principal Charity Classic. The Champions Tour kicked off June with its annual stop in Iowa. The Principal Charity Classic is a great event for Iowa, and an even better one for Innova, apparently. First, account executive Justin Leonard hit a hole in one. Then, his team finished first in the Thursday Pro-Am. (Of course, the most important thing is actually that the Principal Charity Classic has raised $1.7 million for over the last 3 years for children's charities in Iowa.)
Introducing Sigler on Main!
Sigler on Main is our latest venture: a retail storefront on the main floor of Innova's office building in Ames. For the last few weeks, we've been hard at work tearing up carpeting, painting ceilings, rearranging furniture, installing lighting, finding the perfect in-store music mix and folding shirt after shirt after shirt. Now the time has arrived.
Sigler on Main will carry Iowa State, Iowa and UNI apparel for all you Cyclones, Hawkeyes and Panthers out there. Cheer on your favorite team with T-shirts, hoodies, polos, sweaters and hats on a wide variety of clothing brands, including Tailgate, Tommy Hilfiger and - coming soon - Nike.
We've also added cause apparel to the mix. You can find Fight Like a Girl merchandise, which helps raise awareness for breast cancer, and browse the wide variety of cause shirts from our friends at Greater Than Goods. Proceeds from each purchase go to help non-profit organizations, such as animal shelters, disaster relief efforts and more.
If you're in the central Iowa area, we invite you to stop by! We're at 304 Main Street in downtown Ames. Hours are 10-6 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10-8 on Thursday and 10-5 on Saturday. Plus, if you need even more motivation to stop in, a cupcake shop is opening next door in just a couple weeks!
Finally we can take down our "Bless This Mess" sign and share some photos with you below. For more information and pics, you can always visit Sigler on Main on Facebook.
P.S. Don't worry - Innova is still the headquarters for all your creative, marketing and advertising needs. We've just added a little more color to our lobby. Feel free to do a little window shopping before your next meeting! :)
DES MOINES, Iowa, June 10, 2010 – Nannette Rodríguez, Director of Hispanic Marketing for Innova Ideas & Services, will be a featured presenter at the 14th Annual Hispanic Marketing Midwest Conference on June 16 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre, St. Paul, Minn.
Rodríguez will present an overview of available tools and what’s next in social media as it relates to Hispanic consumers. Her presentation, “What’s Next in Hispanic Social Networks – Mergers, Features and ROI,” will offer attendees a primer on how social media can help brands leverage customer communications, brand exposure, website traffic and brand SEO. This fact-filled presentation will sort through popular and emerging social media channels, provide paths toward achieving ROI for brands and offer realistic applications for the Latino market.
Rodríguez shares center stage with Dolores Kunda, president and CEO of Lápiz of Chicago; Martin Cerda, research director for Encuesta, Inc. of Miami; Jim Legg, executive vice president of client services for The San José Group of Chicago; Carlos García, president and CEO of García Research Associates of Burbank, Calif.; and David Kristal, CEO of Augeo Affinity Marketing of St. Paul, Minn.
As Director of Hispanic Marketing, Rodríguez is responsible for identifying opportunities and developing strategies for one of the fastest-growing demographics in the U.S. Beth Cross, President of Innova Ideas & Services, said “Nannette has proven time and again to have a rich understanding of the unique needs of the Hispanic consumer. Her experience and insight have helped put Innova at the forefront of the industry, especially in terms of multicultural marketing.”
U.S. Hispanic buying power is expected to top $1.2 trillion in 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Hispanic Marketing Midwest Conference is the region’s premier gathering of Hispanic marketing experts. By showcasing proven ways to build brands in our nation’s Hispanic economy, conference organizers promise attendees will leave with information, strategies and proven techniques to help reach U.S. Hispanic consumers.
The 14th Annual Hispanic Marketing Midwest Conference is presented by Aguilar Productions, a St. Paul-based production company focused on U.S. multicultural markets. Aguilar Productions produces conferences, seminars, workshops and special events targeting the Hispanic, Asian-American, African-American, Emerging African and LGBT markets.
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About Innova
Innova Ideas & Services is one of Iowa’s top marketing and creative services agencies in number of employees and earnings. With offices in Des Moines and Ames, Innova provides strategic marketing, public relations, graphic design, Web design, copywriting and event management. Innova’s clients cross the nation and virtually all business sectors, including education, finance, health care, manufacturing and not-for-profit organizations. Additional information is available at www.innovaideasandservices.com.
CONTACT:
Scott Stuart
515.697.7226
scott.stuart@sigler.com
www.innovaideasandservices.com
Ever wonder what keeps advertising execs and creatives going strong all afternoon? It's not energy drinks. It's not green tea. It's certainly not fresh air. Yep...it's squeeze cheese and crackers.
Central Iowa Shelter & Services is a Des Moines organization which serves the area's homeless population by providing a nondenominational shelter for our community. Aside from offering beds and showers to those in need, Central Iowa Shelter & Services also serves 3 meals a day at no charge.
Innova's Des Moines office wanted to get involved. Chase Ruzek, Nicole Torstenson, Susie Jones and Susan Hatten (pictured below, from l to r) recently rolled up their sleeves over their own lunch break to dish out a few meals for those who need it most.
We discovered Central Iowa Shelter & Services provides more than 200 lunch meals a day, relying heavily on food donations to make this happen. The organization is constantly looking for new groups of volunteers to serve a meal, and it's safe to say we'll be back!
If you are interested in volunteering or providing food, please email Central Iowa Shelter & Services Executive Director Tony Timm. A little help will go a long way!
Advance warning: This was written by a copywriter (probably obvious by the title). But this copywriter has seen his worlds collide, as countless designer co-workers approach him for help with converting designs into Microsoft-friendly formats. This is his story…(Cue the Law & Order sound.)
Microsoft Word. It’s the program you love to hate, but it’s also one you can’t live without. Despite the growth of OpenOffice and other would-be Word-killers, the Microsoft Office staple is still the standard in word processing applications.
But it’s also useful as a layout program. (Yes, I said it.) Here’s why…
Staffs are smaller. Budgets are tighter. Speed is of the essence. We’re finding a lot more clients are looking for Word templates they can use to send out spot communications, something still branded but easy to implement themselves.
With digital breakthroughs and shrinking budgets, you just don’t see businesses keeping a lot of basestock around anymore. It’s simply faster, easier and cheaper to shoot an email with a PDF attachment than it is to print out on a color copier and physically mail it.
You’re also not going to find very many offices (without in-house designers) with people who are proficient in layout programs and willing to invest in Adobe Creative Suite. What they do know how to use, however, is Microsoft Word.
With just a little training, you can have clients efficiently using Word templates in no time, without sacrificing the brand standards you worked to put in place. You can protect placeholder graphics in the header and footer. You can set up styles to create consistency with headlines, subheads, pull quotes and body copy. You can adjust everything from margins to leading to character spacing. Ultimately, you can make your clients happier by making your layout design portable.
Sure, you wouldn’t want to use Microsoft Word for a catalog or annual report. But for repeat communication vehicles – such as letterhead, memos or even brief newsletters – Word will do.
Sometimes you have to hand over the keys. Microsoft Word templates are a way to satisfy your client’s needs and still keep your integrity intact.
Designers, you can actually benefit from spending a little quality time with Microsoft Word. It may feel dirty at first, but it will be worth it. You’ll be more marketable within the industry and more useful to your clients.
Feel free to share your (relatively clean) comments or experiences with Word. Copywriters love to read.
With each "Top 5 Finds" blog, we gather up the latest campaigns, events, videos, tools and random stuff that catches our attention. Here is a special Fourth of July edition inspired (mostly) by events surrounding last week's holiday festivities…
1. 80/35 Music Festival. The third year for the Des Moines music festival once again proved that Iowa can rock with the best of 'em. This year's 80/35 festival featured indie rock headliners Spoon and Modest Mouse, as well as supporting acts and side stages filled with up-and-comers from all music genres. Even a little rain - ok, a LOT of rain at some moments - didn't dampen the spirits on Sunday. The event was also a cross-promotional paradise. Kum & Go got people in stores with ticket giveaways, integrating Twitter and Foursquare. Pearl Vodka gave away VIP tickets through photo tagging on Facebook. Olde Main pushed people toward their product, giving away tickets in a mystery 6-pack. Oh, and did we mention the giant bird walking around the festival grounds for Avoid the Stork? (No, he wasn't just there to see Yo La Tengo.)
2. Dodge Challenger "Freedom" Commercial. George Washington taking on the British in a super-charged Dodge Challenger? Yessss! Dodge takes liberties with American history in a patriotic number launched just in time for Independence Day. Check out the 60-second version of the spot below.
3. Dr Pepper Made with Real Sugar. The soft drink brand that proudly touts its 23 flavors has added real sugar to the mix in honor of its 125th anniversary. The "Dublin Dr Pepper" has been available in limited areas for a while now, but last weekend the soft drink began rolling out its real sugar recipe nationwide. Added bonus: Ever since we started a grass-roots movement for adding Dr Pepper to our breakroom on Innova's Facebook page, the machine has been the hotspot of the office. Soon we'll be able to say our ideas are made with real sugar.
4. Foursquare Turns 1 Million. The last week of June was a historic one for the location-based social game, as it reached 1 million check-ins for the first time. Then there was the news of a $20 million investment. Plus, they just went over 2 million users. That made for a HUGE month in the Foursquare world. It's all evidence that Foursquare isn't going away any time soon. (AND they haven't even been on Oprah yet.)
5. Ford Fiesta TV Ads. Ford is promoting the American return of the Fiesta with a lively new television campaign. The spots are beautifully choreographed, allowing the city to do the selling. Who needs titles, when you can have umbrella-spinning unicyclists, skydivers and passersby do it for you? Check out the first of the new spots below.
Check out the latest design from our Sigler Companies calendar! Now you can enjoy a parade of design-minded robots all month long from the comfort of your computer or cellphone. (It's hard to get real robots to act so civil. Believe us, we tried. Usually it ends up in world domination.)
Download from the options below:
Computer Wallpaper (1680x1050)
Cellphone Wallpaper (Vertical)
Cellphone Wallpaper (Horizontal)
P.S. Our theme for this year's calendar was "Redefining" - so look for a twist on common industry terms with each month's design!
Check out the latest design from our Sigler Companies calendar. This month's word: Bounce!
Now you can put a little "bounce" on your desktop or cellphone with this sweet game of jacks. (Does anyone play jacks anymore? No? Well then consider this a collector's item - download it to keep the tradition alive!)
Download from the options below:
Computer Wallpaper (1680x1050)
Cellphone Wallpaper (Vertical)
Cellphone Wallpaper (Horizontal)
P.S. Our theme for this year's calendar was "Redefining" - so look for a twist on common industry terms with each month's design!
Ever wonder how that T-shirt you're wearing came to be? Check out this short clip and photos from the screenprinting process at Signify Apparel & Merchandise.
It features a special guest appearance by the Japanese Logo T-shirt for our friends at Foursquare!
The inks used during screenprinting.
Freshly inked.
A Foursquare Japanese Logo T-shirt, hot off the presses.
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