Greetings!
Welcome to our December, 2020 issue of Key Notes - Marketing Keys' monthly newsletter! This is our year end special edition newsletter. Hope you are enjoying the holiday season! By now, you are working on wrapping up the year and/or working on next year's plans! Key Notes is an informative, quick read newsletter to get you caught up on all things media and marketing. Our goal is for you to be informed and entertained with the latest media and marketing happenings quickly and efficiently.
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What will 2021 look like?
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One thing we know for sure is that Covid-19 will still be around in 2021. Covid-19 has been the most recent driver of growth in the digital world. Every disruption brought on by Covid-19 has created a push toward digital. Retail has gone from shops to computer screens. Restaurant delivery has gone to curbside pick-up and contactless for safety.
For most companies, this time of year is prime planning time for the upcoming year. This year is a bit more difficult, as we are predicting the future during a global pandemic.
One prediction for 2021 is that business will continue to go digital and retail stores will continue to change. Retail may actually shrink in terms of individual footprint, and stores will become ‘way stations’ for exchanges and appointment shopping. Similar to how Tesla uses its stores to feature their cars, while sending you online to buy. The retail business is going to be the extension of a digital-centric customer experience rather than the other way around.
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Did our predictions for 2020 ring true?
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Looking back at the start of this year, we could have never predicted everything that occurred. But one thing that marketers did predict was the importance of content marketing. Companies that are investing a higher share of their marketing budget in content marketing are seeing true results that come with it. Strong emails, video marketing, influencer and consumer-led content are all forms of content that is thriving in 2020.
Customization and personalization are a key content marketing strategy that is no longer optional. It’s required. Between the data we have at our fingertips and the marketing automation capabilities that allow for personalization, both email marketing and targeted advertising can now take massive leaps forward in discovering stronger ROI.
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TV thriving during pandemic
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TV isn’t dead. It’s just expanding with the addition of OTT and CTV. The average time spent by consumers with subscription OTT video content will rise by 23% this year, due to stay-at-home orders and an increase in available content, according to eMarketer analysis.
As TV continues to evolve, the future of reaching audiences will be about adaptability. It’s about being strategic and using precise measurements that will help in reaching audiences.
In a year where news has been the center of every conversation, broadcast television is regaining its importance to people. Brands had to find a way to effectively break through the noise while being sensitive to the moment. According to a TVB report, TV viewership increased an average of 36% year-over-year between March and July. As broadcast proved to be a lifeline for consumers, brands had to find authentic ways to connect with viewers.
One thing is guaranteed; measurement is key for advertisers who aim to understand campaign performance across the television spectrum. As streaming and other forms of digital video hit the market, brands have to make sure they’re building media plans around the latest information.
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Your choice is now 'My Choice'
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UPS delivery notice slips might be a thing of the past, as the delivery service launches 'My Choice,' a program that gives consumers more visibility on when packages will be delivered.
UPS My Choice is meant to increase the likelihood of a successful delivery on the first attempt. Consumers that sign up for the program will receive phone, email or text alerts notifying them a day in advance of a package delivery and providing a four-hour window. When those alerts are received, consumers can electronically authorize release of packages receiving a signature or reschedule the delivery for a later date. For $5, the package can be rerouted to another address or the nearest UPS Store. A $40 annual fee gets consumers all of those benefits, along with a delivery calendar showing the status of deliveries, the option to select a two-hour window and the ability to provide instructions to drivers about where to leave packages.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect as UPS is hoping to grab consumers in advance of the holiday season, when it ships over 440 million packages. It expects demand for the program will grow along with growth in e-commerce. Online sales reached $32.6 billion last year, up 12% from the prior year, with Cyber Monday sales exceeding $1 billion for the first time.
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Shoppers 'keyed' in on this Black Friday
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For over five decades, Black Friday has been known as an American capitalist tradition. Black Friday is also known to bring out the worst in shoppers, as they push and shove their way through stores in search of deals. But the rise of online shopping over the years and the current pandemic might bring an end to the early wake ups, long lines and crowded stores.
This Black Friday, foot traffic in U.S. stores plunged by 52%, according to Bloomberg News. Meanwhile, U.S. retailers pulled in a record $12.8 billion in online revenue on Black Friday, according to Salesforce, representing 23% growth over last year. Black Friday has been fading for years now and 2020 has simply given it the push it needed. This year, big retailers like Target featured ongoing deals all through out November. Other stores like Lowe’s, Gap and Home Depot are having longer-lasting deals.
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Here is a recent highlight from Marketing Keys' blog page. Please start following our blogs and let us know what you think.
Get the latest insight here!
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Get help from 'The Mouse'!
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It all started with an idea. I wanted to create a company in which a veteran of the media world can provide a tremendous service. A solution where I can provide inside information on media planning and media buying to the degree that you can't get anywhere else. We targeted Presidents, Regional Managers, Marketing Directors, CMOs etc. of small and mid-sized businesses. We then went to market with our 'key' differentiator and mission.The company has grown from 2 clients in 2010 to presently close to 2 dozen.
Entering our 14th year, Marketing Keys brings peace of mind to businesses having a former Disney/ABC executive with 25 plus years of strategic media planning, buying and selling on your side. To find out if we can help build on the results that you had started, please reach out to us at [email protected].
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It feels great to get 'carded'!
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Holiday shopping has never been easier! Pick up some Hooters gift cards for your loved ones...and some wings for yourself while you're here. When you buy a $25 Gift Card, get $5 in Santa Bucks FREE! Go to originalhooters.com to find the closest Hooters by you!
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It's not too late to get your tickets for Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo!
ZooLights, presented By ComEd and Invesco QQQ, is a one-of-a-kind, festive holiday experience that offers a merry, family-oriented tradition in the heart of the city. ZooLights will feature hundreds of luminous displays and incredible seasonal activities, all under the glow of millions of illuminated lights.
To make it safe with proper social distancing, your experience will become even more intimate, as the Zoo will be at reduced capacity. This may be the biggest benefit of them all.
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Are you Socially Challenged?
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If you are one of the thousands of companies that are challenged to post relevant content daily on your Social Media platforms, Marketing Keys can help!
As a Social Media partner of ours, you will have our Social Media expert managing and strategizing daily on your sites. We will also coordinate all communication so there are no surprises while all of your initiatives are scheduled accordingly.
For more information, please contact Marketing Keys at (312) 291-4630 or you can email us at [email protected].
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Fill up your Lead Generation funnel!
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In the days of Mad Men, creativity was everything. The goal was for a brand to be the most creative creating a tag line to resonate with the audience. Now, creativity takes a back seat to targeting through data and reaching your target synergistically through multiple mediums with an integrated marketing campaign. Therefore, your branding would look and feel the same and reach your audience whether they are online or using traditional media like radio, television, out of home, direct mail etc. The goal is for your messaging to reach your target on multiple mediums eventually converting these prospects into sales. Need help navigating this new frontier? We would love to help with the process.
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