• Practicing Safe Social

    April 14, 2014

    A few weeks ago, I unearthed an old presentation I made to clients and company presidents in 2009. The goal of the presentation was to explain the importance Web 2.0 and to convince them to take the plunge. Although the information was well received, there were no takers. For years, TTI North …

    Read Moreright arrow

  • Why Brands Should Leverage Content

    April 09, 2014

    It’s crowded out there. As marketers, we’ve watched the digital landscape become increasingly cluttered and competitive over the past decade, making it more and more difficult for brands to introduce themselves to new target audiences and/or encourage loyalty from current customers.

    Content is the …

    Read Moreright arrow

  • The Benefits of Independent Digital-Media Trading

    April 07, 2014

    New developments in programmatic trading over the last few years offer in-house agencies advanced insights about audiences, allowing greater transparency into how much is being spent (to what effect) and where, as well as breakthroughs in media efficiency. Yet, most in-house agencies are missing …

    Read Moreright arrow

  • Are We There Yet?

    March 31, 2014

    The digital journey for most in-house agencies has been a dizzying one, to say the least. At last year’s IHAF Huddle discussion group series, the topic of digital and social media came up often throughout our five-city tour. On the one hand, the journey can be exhilarating as we embark on new ways …

    Read Moreright arrow

  • Habitat Builds a Brand

    March 24, 2014

    A dozen folks stand side by side and lift a framed wall upright, while others around them scramble to nail it in place. Volunteers give their time, energy and resources to build alongside a family who needs a hand up, not a handout. For many, that picture defines the work of Habitat for Humanity. …

    Read Moreright arrow

  • What Makes a Strong Brand?

    March 17, 2014

    The term “brand” has been used to describe everything from company logos to corporate gestalt. In fact, brand is an amalgamation of things including the name or symbol used to identify your company, products and services, the essence and values of your company as well as the assets and liabilities …

    Read Moreright arrow

  • Brand. It’s All Global, Isn’t It?

    March 03, 2014

    Brand is such a far reaching term, and its meaning has evolved dramatically over the past decades. Years ago, brand most likely referred to the logo or identifier a company used to distinguish itself in the marketplace, plain and simple. But when consumers began seeing more brands in more marketing …

    Read Moreright arrow

  • Leading Your Team to Greatness

    December 11, 2013

    Whether you lead the creative, account, production or entire internal agency team, helping your group be recognized, valued and positioned for success within your organization takes focused initiative. It takes more than just putting out good work to get your team in the limelight.

    To lead your …

    Read Moreright arrow

  • Meet a Member: Wade Franks

    December 09, 2013

    Wade Franks leads Torque Creative—the 62-person internal agency at TTI Group, an international company that designs, manufactures and markets power tools and household appliances for brands ranging from Ryobi and Craftsman to Hoover and Oreck. Torque Creative was recently honored as a finalist for 2 …

    Read Moreright arrow

  • Say Something Stupid

    December 02, 2013

    After 15 years of launching and leading companies in and around the creative space, I’ve learned a few things that are pretty unintuitive. For example, start-ups need less money, not more—they only go and spend it. And don’t rely on “experts”—they often only know how (or want) to do their one …

    Read Moreright arrow