Greetings!

Welcome to the February, 2023 issue of Key Notes - Marketing Keys' monthly newsletter! January just flew by, didn't it? In this issue, we preview the stars you will be seeing in this year's Super Bowl ads on Sunday. We hope everyone's year is getting off to a great start! 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. 
IS ONE OF THESE SUPER BOWL MVP?
Super Bowl LVII will take place this Sunday, February 12 featuring the Philadelphia Eagles against the Kansas City Chiefs from Glendale, Arizona. While upwards of 73,000 people will be watching from the stands, more than 100 million viewers are expected to watch this year's event from a screen of their choice. With such a massive cultural event, it’s no surprise that it’s a star-studded event. Aside from the players on the field, here are a few to look out for this Sunday during the breaks from live action. 

Hellman’s: Pete Davidson, Brie Larson, and Jon Hamm
PopCorners: Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston
Pringles: Meghan Trainor
FICO: John Cena
Remy Martin: Serena Williams
Squarespace: Adam Driver
Crown Royal: Dave Grohl
Doritos: Missy Elliot and Jack Harlow
Bud Light: Miles Teller and Kaleigh Sperry
Heineken: Paul Rudd
Pepsi Zero: Ben Stiller and Steve Martin
Rakuten: Alicia Silverstone
M&Ms: Maya Rudolph
Oikos: Deion Sanders
Booking.com: Melissa McCarthy
Budweiser: Kevin Bacon
Busch Light: Sarah McLachlan
Planters: Jeff Ross
IS YOUR BRAND TARGETING GEN Z?
It may not be easy reaching Gen Z. They generally like to tune out ads and do their own research on their terms. However, if you can effectively reach them, you have a great opportunity for your brand to go viral.

According to Ad Age-Harris Poll Gen Z brand tracker, here are some of the brands that gained the most attention from Gen Z most recently.

1) Aldi
As news spread of higher Thanksgiving meal prices, Aldi gained valuable PR in November by announcing it would slash Turkey Day food prices to “match 2019 prices.”

2) WNBA
The WNBA made headlines related to coverage of how Brittney Griner, the All-Star center for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained in February 2022 in Russia for allegedly carrying cannabis oil in her luggage. Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison in August but has since been released in a prisoner exchange.

Various Electric Vehicles

Automakers accounted for five of the top 20 brands in the poll—BMW (fourth); Volvo (fifth); Subaru (seventh); Cadillac (17th); and Mini (19th). This is primarily due to the popularity of electric vehicles amongst the younger generation. 

Alcoholic Beverage Brands

Several alcoholic beverage brands got Gen Z’s attention last quarter, including High Noon Hard Seltzer and two vodka brands, New Amsterdam and Pinnacle Vodka. Canned cocktails saw a surge in popularity last summer, particularly with millennials and Gen Z due to the convenience of a pre-mixed drink. 
WILL TWITTER BE SILENCED SUNDAY?
Historically, Twitter has been at the center of real-time conversations during the Big Game. This year, that is not the case. In fact, Twitter is having trouble convincing advertisers to buy ads for the game. Since the World Cup in December, Twitter has offered to match advertisers’ ad spend, up to $250,000, according to advertising leaders, meaning the brands would get double the views. The ad discount is a sign of the struggles that Twitter has been having since Elon Musk bought the company in October.

Advertisers are hesitant about Twitter right now when in the past they would be preparing to use the platform to engage with consumers and other brands on Super Bowl Sunday. Brands will still be on Twitter, but many of the strategists behind the campaigns said they are looking at other platforms too, including TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat, and YouTube. 

This is unfortunate to consumers and brands, equally. According to a creative agency executive, “Twitter is just the most real-time and easiest place for consumers to post. It's where brands go to understand what consumers are saying.”
ARE WE IN A 'TECH WRECK'?
You may have heard about all the recent layoffs in the technology area. This is mainly due to the over staffing during covid from many of these companies. Dell is the latest to announce layoffs.

Technology is also expected to take a hit with retail sales.
According to the Consumer Technology Association, retail revenues of technology products in the U.S. will fall to $485 billion this year, compared to $497 billion last year. This means sales of laptops, LCD TVs, tablets, smartphones and gaming consoles are all expected to be muted.

It’s not all bad though. Here’s where the Consumer Technology Association predicts growth this year:

  1. Technology services, including gaming, video, audio and apps, are expected to notch their fifth straight year of growth, creating $151 billion in sales.
  2. Automotive technology, with factory-installed tech forecast to grow by 4% to $15.5 billion.
  3. Health and fitness technology, including fitness subscription services, digital therapeutics and recently approved over-the-counter hearing aids.
ARE YOUR EMAILS GETTING OPENED?
Email marketing is considered a “must” for most brands. Why? Because 99% of email users check their email every day. Some users check their mail as much as 20 times a day. What makes this is even better is that 61% of consumers prefer to be contacted by brands through email. 

Knowing this, how can you increase your email engagement? According to Persado, a generative AI company, there are certain words that drive the highest email engagement. Persado says that customers engage most when messages promised something tangible and least with language that focused on a negative emotion

The firm analyzed 21.6 billion emails, comprising 8.6 billion permutations, sent between January 1-December 15, 2022. It found: 

Top-performing words: 

1.     Announcement
2.     re: 
3.     dropped
4.     scored
5.     confirmed 

Least-performing words:

1.     don’t 
2.     chance 
3.     save
4.     miss 
5.     great

As you prepare your next eblast, keep these words in mind.
BLOG OF THE MONTH
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!
Get help from 'The Mouse'!
Whether you've been at your job for 1 year or for 20 years, the pressure to produce and come up with the right strategies to reach your target audience is always there.

Did you hear that the average consumer today is exposed to 10,000 plus promotional messages a day?
Recently, Google put out a study that determined to even exist in a consumer’s mind, a brand needs to make
22 impressions a month digitally with that consumer. Therefore, you really need to make sure you have enough
frequency with your campaigns to get through the clutter in your target’s mind.
 
I am a 12 year former Disney executive who has discovered the secret sauce on how brands can cut through the clutter and reach their target. Like Disney, Marketing Keys cultivates, values, and encourages creativity, collaboration, and creativity from everyone. 

By teaming up with us, we make the process enjoyable.

During my years working for various media companies, it seemed that if a company was not represented by a firm or by a media planner/buyer, then that company was at a disadvantage. Marketing Keys was formed in July, 2007 to more than level the negotiation playing field between advertisers and media companies. We enabled advertisers to have a major leg up in the process.

By leveraging our media experience, our relationships along with cutting edge ideas, we have been able to help generate an incremental 30-35% more in leads and/or conversions for our clients through our programs.

We started Marketing Keys with a simple mission. Help Presidents, CEOs', Marketing Directors, CMOs, Regional Managers and others create the most well thought out, efficient and effective media campaigns.

We may not be perfect. But we will listen to you and always be committed to you. We strive to run our business with passion and humility all with the utmost integrity.

We look forward to empowering you to do your best work.

Until next month,

Roger Keys
Founder and CEO
Marketing Keys

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Taking a 'Swing' at Inventions!
In late January, I made a bucket list trip to Orlando for The PGA Merchandise Show. The PGA Show brings together PGA Pros and industry leaders to network and test the newest products, programs, and ideas to inspire innovation, create solutions, and build business and passion for the game.

As if testing the latest golf equipment wasn't cool enough from the largest manufacturers in the game to upstart companies like Indi Golf and Makefield Putters, I was also inspired to see, hear and witness some of the most creative inventions by entrepreneurs - young and old - in the golf industry. Their objective is to make the game even more fun and enjoyable to the masses with the ultimate goal of growing the game.

Here are some of my favorite inventions from the show:

1) Top Knot Premium Golf Hats
I am not a woman but I discovered this to be a problem with my 15 year old daughter, who is an avid golfer. She has always had an issue with golf hats. Being a male, I never really thought there was an issue - but there is definitely a need for a solution. Enter Top Knot Inc. As Top Knot says, 'Top Knot was designed specifically for women. We wanted women to have the option to wear their hair high on their head (a style so inherent) in a baseball cap. Whether for fashion or function, we felt it was time a cap existed to accommodate a female’s needs.'

So they made it. Hats off to Top Knot!

2) Kid Caddie
At first glance, I just laughed. I thought to myself, 'You are not serious, right?' Ben from Kid Caddie invented a patent pending club carrier that attaches to the back of your baby stroller. The carrier holds 14 golf clubs, tees, balls, a golf towel and all the necessities without the inconvenience of carrying a golf bag or the cost of a golf cart. Their mission is to help parents with young kids (still in strollers) to spend time together on the golf course. Trade time on the couch for time on the course with your little one! Load the stroller up with snacks and head out to share your love of the game and make lasting memories. This would give Mom a much needed break from the baby and give her some alone time (unless Mom is a golfer too!), Word of caution. Ben recommends a maximum of 9 holes. After that, your baby/toddler may be losing focus!

3) Caliber Golf
Remember the movie 'Happy Gilmore?' In that movie, Adam Sandler (Happy) putts with a hockey stick after striking out putting with a more conventional putter. Well, Wisconsin based Caliber Golf took that concept and perfected it. They created a carbon-fiber, hockey-stick-shaft putting system. The Caliber Golf putting solution costs $250 and will be available at calibergolf.com starting May 15th. The golfer must provide the putter head. The flattish, carbon-fiber, rectangular-shaped shaft helps with aim and stroke execution. It is ideal for those with the yips who can’t make short putts—just split the grip, slide one hand low on the shaft like a hockey player about to fire a slapshot and shoot/stroke. Oh, and by the way. The owners of Caliber Golf are all hockey players who were never able to putt the conventional way.

There were so many more cool products/inventions that I wish I had the space to promote them.

I came away from this show realizing that the golf industry is alive and well. However, I was even more impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit on display.

Kudos to all the inventors out there!
Truly...A Super Sunday!!!
Do you ever wonder what you, your family and guests would love to snack on while watching the Big Game? Order Hooters to go including their mouth watering wings and delicious curly fries. Plus, get a 20% off Hooters coupon by picking up your order for the Big Game before 3pm on Sunday. It is one of Hooters' biggest days of the year, so please plan accordingly. To place your order, Click Here! Game on!
When is Val's Day funny?!
Naturally, you wouldn't want to laugh 'at' your Valentine this year. However, nothing is better than laughing 'with' your Valentine! Make this Valentine's Day extra special, as LOVE and LAUGHTER will be in the air at Klein Creek Golf Club this Saturday! Don't miss out on this incredible night to laugh at (3) hysterical comics, listen to live music and have a fabulous four-course dinner at Klein Creek in Winfield.
Are you Socially Challenged?
During my 15 years as a business owner, I have discovered there are many companies out there that are challenged with the task of managing their social media.

It may be that they are confused over the platforms that they should use, the content they should post, how to boost that content and/or the time or lack thereof that goes into managing their social media platforms. 
 
As a Social Media partner of ours, our Social Media expert will manage and strategize 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) 375-5007 or you can email us HERE!
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Fill up your lead funnel!
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.

Find out how Marketing Keys can help generate (on average) an incremental 30-35% more in leads and/or conversions through our system.

For more details, Contact us here!
We are Social!