Add Enthusiasm and Passion to Generate Powerful Marketing Campaigns
When Angus King was governor of Maine, he told me that he thought he and I were among the most enthusiastic residents of the state.
He said, “You don’t have to be the smartest person, but if you are the most enthusiastic person, it will carry you a long way.”
Hmm…now that I think of it, I am not sure that was such a compliment since he might have meant I had more enthusiasm than intelligence. But knowing Angus, I think he meant that he valued my sense of enthusiasm about public relations and marketing.
I am currently reading a new book by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer called “Excuses Begone!” about how to hyper-charge your life to give it meaning and fulfillment. Dyer describes passion as the secret sauce, which, when added to your work, can take ordinary projects and turn them into fabulously successful projects.
He’s not talking about the kind of passion you feel when you fall in love for the first time, although I believe the same chemistry may be involved. He’s talking about connecting deeply and intensely with the people, the purpose and the messages you are communicating. It’s like falling in love with your work and infusing it with the same kind of adulation you feel for the people you love most in this world.
I’ve always felt that enthusiasm and passion are necessary for success in any marketing campaign or program.
For example, if you’re pitching a story to a journalist, you have to tell it in such a compelling way that he or she will want to retell it to their audience.
If you’re creating an ad or a brochure for a client, you need to embrace the essence of what you’re communicating to make sure it connects in a laser-like way with the intended audience.
Can’t Stand Writing? Then You’ll Want to Read This.
Maine is and has always been a destination for creative people.
Artists like Andrew Wyeth and Winslow Homer, writers like Edna St. Vincent Millay and Harriet Beecher Stowe, and musicians like Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary fame have lived and made their art here. Even modern-day celebs such as John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and Kurt Russell spend their vacation time here.
These are just a few of the names of people who have found Maine’s beautiful landscape to be an inspiration for their creativity.
As valuable as new ideas are to creativity, basic skills like good writing also play an integral role to a work’s success. NMC Integrated Marketing Communications Strategist Jennifer Boes shares today’s Witty Wisdom about the value of good writing
I hope this piece inspires you as much as it does me to take your writing to new heights.
Two NMCsmbc Participants Won L.L. Bean Boots!
Our NMC Social Media Boot Camp on Wednesday, April 4, was a success! There were over 30 Maine businesses and organizations present, eager to learn techniques and tips to enhance their social media presence.
Along with a 20-page social media guidebook with highlights of the information shared in the presentations, and the opportunity to interact with social media experts and network with other organization and business leaders, boot camp participants were eligible to win a pair of commemorative L.L. Bean boots.
We are happy to announce that Betty Bell and Lloyd Griscom each were this boot camp’s lucky winners of the L.L. Bean boots!
NMC Account Executive Greg Glynn presents boot camp participant Lloyd Griscom with the desired L.L. Bean commemorative boots after the advanced session.
Thank you to L.L. Bean for donating the boots, and thank you to all of our great participants for attending the sessions.
The energy was high and the tweeting and posting were constant!
Our next Social Media Boot Camp is Wednesday, September 26, in Augusta. Visit bootcamp.marshallpr.com for more information on our sessions.
"We have Band-Aids up here in case anyone is typing so fast today they get a blister!" NMC Account Exec Greg Glynn
NMC Account Exec Returns to the Mic for Social Media Boot Camp Ads
Nancy Marshall Communications will be hosting another Social Media Boot Camp on April 4 in Augusta. We have used an array of advertising tactics, from news releases and Facebook events, to building a microsite specifically for the interactive workshops.
When it was time to produce a commercial for local radio stations, we didn’t have to look far; NMC Account Executive Greg Glynn is used to being behind the mic.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Quinnipiac University in 2004, Greg was the radio voice for the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League for five years.
When NMC began advertising the boot camp, Greg was happy to dust off the mic and record our radio spot.
Click below to listen to the new Social Media Boot Camp ad!
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If you’re curious if Greg is still involved in sports broadcasting, the answer is yes.
Earlier this month, Greg called the Maine High School Hockey Championships for DVM Sports.
Click here to watch the highlight video!
Travel and Explore Internationally, Cook and Eat Locally
Our Maine Maven today is Kathy Bechtel, culinary director of Italiaoutdoors, local chef, and TV show host.
After a career as a telecommunications engineer, Kathy retired and enrolled in culinary school. She graduated at the top of her class in 2004. Since then, she has worn many cooking hats, including leading cooking classes, catering, and as a personal chef.
Early in 2010, Vernon McClure approached Kathy about joining efforts to offer unique active culinary and wine tours in Italy. Kathy pairs a passion for sharing the amazing foods and wines in regions of Italy with her position at Italiaoutdoors.
Kathy complements Vernon’s expertise in recreational programming with an equally strong food and wine program. Their goal is to introduce guests to the incredible diversity of the regional cuisines and local wines they experience first hand each visit to Italy.
Kathy currently divides her time in the US between Newburyport, MA and Sugarloaf, ME. She works full-time as a ski instructor during the winters at Sugarloaf, and enjoys hiking, biking, and golfing in the warmer months. When not in the kitchen, outside is where you’ll find Kathy.
Search Engine Optimization is an Investment in Marketing Success
Nancy Marshall Communications is part of a national alliance of agencies known as the Alliance of Marketing Communications Agencies. One of our partner agencies is Parlee Stumpf of Doylestown, PA.
Todd Parlee wrote this article on SEO and agreed ever so graciously to allow me to share his article on my blog. As Todd points out in this article, whatever efforts you put into search will come back to you many fold, so it is a good idea to make sure your website is optimized for the search engine spiders, those little critters that crawl through it every so often looking for those coveted key words.
By Todd Parlee, from the Parlee Stumpf e-newsletter
I am constantly reminded of the beauty of “Search.” This week a prospective client approached us. After getting various details from them I asked the all-important question, “How did you hear about us?” Once again the reply, “I found your website using Google search.” That’s music to my ears. It should be music to your ears as well, dear reader.
Needless to say, we walk the walk. We have implemented the same Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Programs on our site as we do for our clients. Countless times we have proven that our SEO programs not only work for us but our clients too.
Developing Personas to Help with Targeting
Happy Wednesday! During my workshop at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, I spoke about creating personas to better target your markets. This is a fun exercise and I encourage you to do it.
Break down your customers or guests into three or four categories. Then create a fictitious person or couple to represent each customer group.
For example, if you own a seaside resort in Maine, you might have the following personas:
1. Eleanor and Harry: They come from Marblehead, Massachusetts and they used to own a Hinckley Yacht. They now live in a retirement community for active adults.
Since they can’t manage their yacht on their own anymore, they sold it, but they still like to look at sailboats as they cruise by the lawn of your resort.
They drive a Mercedes Benz and they are enjoying a comfortable retirement. Harry worked as a physician and Eleanor was a stay-at-home mom who took care of their four children who are all married now and have two children each of their own.
They read Smithsonian Magazine and listen to National Public Radio.
Nationally Known Chef Encourages Sustainability and Local Ingredients
Happy Monday! Many of you either already know of today’s Maine Maven or have at least eaten her food. Originally from Long Island, Chef Melissa Kelly is the executive chef and proprietor of the well-known Rockland based restuarant Primo.
According to Food is Life, the online magazine of The Culinary Institute of America, Melissa started cooking in her Italian grandmother’s kitchen, instilling in her a lasting love of Mediterranean accented foods.
Melissa graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY, in ’88 at the very top of her class.
Melissa’s resume includes chic restaurants from around the US and the world. Food is Life shared that Melissa “was named one of the upcoming chefs of the 90′s by Food & Wine magazine,” and that “Nation’s Restaurant News, Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Chocolatier, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Travel and Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Town & Country, and New York Magazine, among others, have all recognized her culinary talents.”
Pairing her culinary abilities with a passion for using local resources, Melissa has developed a “Full Circle Kitchen,” using produce and animals that were harvested and grown on Primo’s property in Rockland. What is not grown at Primo is from the surrounding community or other sustainable farms. Read more about Primo and their sustainability initiatives here: primorestaurant.com/story.
Are You Pinterested?
Happy Wednesday! NMC Account Coordinator Whitney Moreau shares today’s Witty Wisdom about a visually based social network that has everyone sharing:
Every day it seems like we are inundated with the constantly-morphing world of social media. While I keep up with the latest hype and social babble as a part of my career in PR, in my personal life I stick to the “basics” and primarily use Facebook.
Until recently. What is this new wave of social media that has me hooked while I could be dwindling my internet surfing time elsewhere, you ask? Pinterest.
Described as a social catalog and online pinboard, Pinterest is a collection of powerful visual stimuli. From the time you visit the homepage until the time you reluctantly leave, you will see vibrant images ranging from lavish bedrooms with cathedral ceilings to crocheted winter hat patterns for tiny tots.
View the “pins” displayed randomly or search by category. My favorites? Do-It-Yourself & Crafts, Food & Drink, Home Décor andWeddings & Events.
If you’re “pinterested,” request an invite. A few days later you will receive a link allowing you to set up an account, start your own “boards” arranged by chosen categories and start pinning your likes, inspirations, ideas and motivations.
Despite common belief this social site emerged recently, Pinterest was created in December of 2009 and as of late has taken off and become much more than just an eye-popping phenomenon.
Maine Based Nonprofit Drives Social Change through Empowering Young Women
Happy Monday! Today’s Maine Maven is well known around the state for her leadership and incredible work with young women. Megan Williams is the president of Hardy Girls Healthy Women, a national, research-based non-profit empowering girls with knowledge, critical thinking skills, and a platform to drive social change.
A graduate of Colby College, Megan was hired in 2005 as Hardy Girls Healthy Women’s first staff member. During her time with Hardy Girls, Megan has created the Girls Advisory Board – an adult-youth partnership model designed to give girls leadership experience and an equal voice in programming decisions.
Megan launched the Training Institute – a national initiative for adults who want to integrate Hardy Girls’ strength-based approach to working with girls into their work, and she transformed HGHW from a volunteer-run, Maine-based organization into a national brand, widely respected for its girl-powered social change approach.
Megan was included on MaineToday Media’s 2011 40 Under 40 List – a list of Maine’s most accomplished young leaders, recognized for their commitment to leadership, professional excellence and their communities; Mainebiz’s 2009 Next List – a group of 10 emerging leaders recognized for shaping the future of Maine’s economy.
Also, in 2010, Megan was awarded the first ever Open Door Award from the Frances Perkins Center, an award given to a woman under 30 who has demonstrated exceptional leadership.
Additionally, under her leadership, Hardy Girls was awarded the 2010 Governor’s Award for Nonprofit Excellence for achieving significant results by combining ingenuity with sound management practices and principles.
Megan serves on the steering committee for KV Connect, a networking group for young professionals. She is a vice-chair of the MaineShare Board of Directors, an organization that provides support to nonprofits doing progressive social justice and root cause work, and a board member for the Maine Association of Nonprofits, a membership organization advancing and strengthening Maine’s nonprofit sector.
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