A collection of digital marketing links on strategy, content and audience development along and two ads worth checking out. Product > Strategy > Business Model – A strong case for figuring out the business model after determining the right fit for your product and services in the market by venture capitalist Fred Wilson. “So my advice is not to rush into business model without first finding product market fit and then taking the time to lock down on a crisp, clear, and smart strategy for your business. From there business model will flow quite naturally and you will be on… (continue reading)

Do you realize as a stakeholder in a small or medium sized business that creating quality and compelling content can lead to more sales? I hope to convince you that it will, and it’s important to look toward a competent content marketing agency like Fusionfarm for help. The truth is that small and medium size businesses are in a position to provide high quality content to customers and prospects. The challenge is finding someone within an organization with interest in creating and curating that useful and essential content to grow the business. Creating quality content is a serious commitment and… (continue reading)

When Junge Automotive Group, a car dealership in Cedar Rapids and Center Point, asked Fusionfarm to develop an television advertising campaign that would be new and unlike any other, we had to be painfully honest if we were to undercover a message that would cut through the white noise of the competition. After some deep research into Junge Automotive Group’s history, sales techniques and culture we came up with a decidedly un-car dealership approach. No jingle, no balloons, no whizz-bang starbursts. Just real people you genuinely like and relate to and, most importantly, can trust. The videos below are what… (continue reading)

Ah, the holidays – maxed out credit cards, the uncomfortable far-too-long kiss under the mistletoe with your creepy uncle Preston (come on, we all have one) and those energy bills – BAH HUMBUG! Well Scrooge-it-no-more you guys, we have a little piece of holiday candy that will put a festive twinkle back in your eye AND teach you how to save some money on your electric bills at the same time. Each year Alliant Energy, as part of their consumer advocacy program, promotes a message of holiday energy saving and safety. And although the list is informative, it’s hardly an… (continue reading)

So what is “Fusionfarm” anyway? Whenever I wear one of my new shirts with the super-cool logo on it, this question comes up frequently. (As a side note, my closet is ever expanding with “logo-wear” as it’s faster to get ready in the morning throwing on a golf shirt than trying to remember how to tie a double Windsor without looking like Tommy Boy). The answer to the question can be a lengthy one, but the concise version is: It’s an evolution. That’s an answer? Well, sort of. Here’s the longer version: Before we had the name, we knew that our local media company,… (continue reading)

Larry and Marge, 56 and 52 respectively, were high school sweethearts and married right after graduation. They live in an upper middle class cul-de-sac suburb, drive a gray SUV and cherish their Golden Lab, Champ. They have oatmeal, plain, every day for breakfast and power walk every Saturday morning. Marge loves to garden but only grows Hydrangeas – the blue ones – “Why rock the boat?” she asks. Larry has a bit of a penchant for American Idol and anything made with Velveeta. Is this all sounding a little bit like a rut to you? Yeah, that’s what we thought… (continue reading)

Take a look around you. What do you see? Is a book, newspaper or magazine lying around? Perhaps you see a package of food or a can of soda? It’s easy to forget that everything around you was created with design in mind and is the work of a creative designer. The items lying around your home or office were created by someone who took the time to think about every detail of form and function, readability and image. (Well…hopefully they did.) We are surrounded by design. As designers we are trained to look at the composition in everything around… (continue reading)

The Banner Ad Challenge: How do you rent a pair of eyeballs for more than, say…..5 seconds? In this Attention Deficit Disorder age it has become quite a challenge for banner ads to grab attention – and get clicked. Making an effective online banner ad that catches a searcher’s attention takes creativity and experience. Internet users tend to scan websites quickly. Remember, they are searching online for pre-determined, desired content. Banner advertisements are not top-of-mind. (Don’t worry though, when done correctly, online banners are a very effective way to reach people and drive them to your company’s website, social media… (continue reading)

We Fusionites are a humble bunch, but even we get a little flush with ourselves when the occasion warrants – did somebody say “awards”? Fusionfarm is proud to announce receiving 6 American Graphic Design Awards from Graphic Design USA. This annual national competition is in its fourth decade and honors outstanding new work in 23 categories from print and broadcast to digital and interactive design. The 2012 competition saw over 8,000 entries with only 1,000 of those receiving awards, 6 of which belong to Fusionfarm. Pretty cool, huh? The breakdown looks like this: Web Design Fusionfarm.com – case study Addys2011.com… (continue reading)

“Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read.”    — Leo Burnett You’re the client. Your advertising agency – let’s say it’s Fusionfarm — designed an ad. It sits before you, in all its glory, filling your screen. It’s colorful. It’s informative. It’s easy to read. It has a clear message in its content (see my previous blog post). You think it needs a little extra something. You start to type out a design change… Stop. The process has worked up ‘til this point, right? You got in touch with your local… (continue reading)