A Bigger, Better Chicago Tribune

On March 27th, I Imagine Studio attended the Crain Lecture: A Bigger, Better Chicago Tribune at Northwestern University. Gerould Kerm, the Editor and Senior President of the Chicago Tribune Media Group, and Phil Niccolls, the Senior Director of Consumer Marketing, shared their experience operating in a changing media environment. As most of you may know, the Tribune is bouncing back from filing bankruptcy, but their approach has been different than most – they expanded.

The Zero Moment of Truth

These days, with the advent of the Internet and social media, consumers have access to endless amounts of information. As a result, a shift has occurred in the mental model of marketing: the ZMOT has arrived.

New Trends at Natural Products West Expo 2011

I Imagine Studio attended the Natural Products West Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center in California during a warm weekend in March. There were hundreds upon hundreds of companies there displaying their products. Taste testing food and beverage products and sampling beauty products was a great way to learn more about a company and their product. There were also a great number of samples available to take home to try. There were a lot of great new products that we were able to try, and here are some of our favorites:

Marketing Highlights 2011

With the start of the New Year just under our belt, it is impossible not to imagine what 2011 is going to bring. After coming across hundreds of blogs and articles predicting what 2011 will bring, we thought, why not combine what we have found, mix in a little bit of our own opinions, and boom- a quick update on what’s in store.

I Imagine Studio and Rotary International Have Teamed up to Help Kick Polio out of Africa

Global Communications Campaign Helps Kick Polio out of Africa. A VirtualSoccer Ball Created by I Imagine Studio To Be Signed by Thousands, Then Passed to Friends Worldwide In Lead-Up to 2010 FIFA World Cup.

To support Rotary’s campaign to eradicate the disease, I Imagine Studio has created an interactive, strategic viral communications initiative that allows anyone to sign a symbolic virtual soccer ball online. At www.kickpoliooutofafrica.org, individuals can learn more about Rotary’s polio eradication efforts in Africa, make a donation, autograph the digital ball, and then see their signatures and comments alongside those of world leaders. Rotary’s “Kick Polio Out of Africa” program was launched earlier this year in Cape Town, South Africa, one of the host cities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The effort began with the kicking of a real soccer ball that was signed by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, a polio survivor.

The Online World of Pee-Wee Herman by I Imagine Studio

EVANSTON, IL – I Imagine Studio is excited to announce the launch of www.peewee.com. This brand-new, energetic Web site has been introduced in a timely manner to promote a new show by Pee-wee Herman, set to open in Los Angeles on Jan.12, 2010. The show will mark the beginning of what creator Paul Reubens hopes will be a great comeback for Pee-wee.
The fully-interactive Web site is catching much attention for its colorful design, cheerful holiday music, and outstanding list of rich media features. Visitors to the site can buy tickets to the show, register to become one of Pee-wee’s “pen pals” and get a chance to win tickets, and also purchase DVDs of The Pee-wee Herman Show, Pee-wee’s Christmas Special, and Pee-wee’s Playhouse boxed set.

Integrated Strategy is Key to Success in Social Media Realm

With the diversity and seeming omnipresence of free social media platforms, some firms may be tempted to jump headfirst into social media without a clear strategy.  According to senior analysts at eMarketer, this would be a costly mistake.

According to Paul Verna, an eMarketer senior analyst, “The low cost of social media can lull marketers into improvising solutions.” But marketers must take into account the amount of time and resources spent managing and executing social media campaigns, as well as creating the quality and quantity of content necessary for success.  While there may not be any explicit costs for joining social media networks, there’s no such thing as a free social media campaign.  Since money-both costs and potential earnings-are at stake, it’s clear that marketers need a though-out plan.