Big
Thinking

It's easy for a marketing director to fire an agency. It can be tempting to throw in the towel when you have your differences. But there are lessons to be learned and benefits to gain from successful long-term agency/client relationship.

More than likely, you're one of the millions of people who receive a daily Groupon email full of smokin' hot deals and discounts. From an advertising perspective - are social buying sites like Groupon or Living Social really worth it?

MindFire recently launched the MindFire Volunteer Department - a community outreach program that provides support for employees to donate time and effort to local non-profit organizations.

The hot topic among many marketers these days are QR codes, or quick response codes. In a relatively short time span, they've leapt onto the marketing scene and, as recent stats suggest, they're starting to catch on.

As a small business owner, it can be hard to decide how to prioritize your efforts when it comes to branding and marketing. Much of your time and energy is focused on your product or service, your cash flow, and where you will find your next customer.

Chances are you've probably heard that Facebook recently underwent another Facelift. And while some of the previous modifying, updating and sculpting over at Facebook have gone undetected, this change has turned more than just a few heads.

Remember me? Its me, your brand. The two of us used to be very close. I was the only thing you would think about all day. You used to focus all your attention on me. And we'd talk all the time.

The Kent State Folk Festival created a small ripple in the advertising world late last year when it released its print campaign to promote the annual event. Ads featured headlines like, "Let your memory download the music for a change."

Facebook now has more than 500 million active users. Five hundred million! That's a 5, with eight zeros behind it. And that's not all. Of the 500 million active users, 50 percent log on to Facebook in any given day.

Chances are the cell phone that's burning a hole in your pocket at this very moment is a smartphone. If that's the case, you're one of the growing number of people worldwide who own a Blackberry, iPhone, HTC or Droid.

When banner ads were first introduced by Global Network Navigator in 1993, few people understood the impact this would have on the advertising industry. To sum things up - it was a preeeeetty big deal. Think wildfire on a desiccated prairie.

A strong brand is important if you're selling products or services. It's even more important if you're selling a mission. Every non-profit has a brand. It's the emotional connection you have with your audience. It's your story and how you tell it.