These die-cut maps we created for several Ritz-Carlton hotels have been pretty popular! Here’s a quick look at what makes these items such a memorable marketing tool.
One of the latest trends in hotel marketing is trying to figure out how to attract millennials. But what about the generation after that?
Well, we had a couple of 10-year-olds in our office the other day (courtesy of McConnell Marketing co-owner Katie Swain) and just couldn’t help but pick their brains about hotel marketing. While we can’t guarantee that their answers are good market research, they are definitely entertaining!
What is marketing?
Olivia: Designing for hotels and gardens.
Calvin: Designing for hotels.
Admittedly we have been slacking a bit on the “garden” portion of our client list.
What is a hotel brand?
Olivia: The name of a hotel.
Calvin: The name of it.
Definitely part of it, not bad!
What is an independent hotel?
Olivia: ?
Calvin: A hotel with no sponsors.
Describe your last hotel stay.
Olivia: I don’t understand.
Calvin: It was the worst. The service was bad and somebody stole our trfoom? (not a typo, we just couldn’t deciper Calvin’s handwriting)
Cleary hotels need to address this problem of trfoom stealing!
Have you ever had a bad hotel experience? Tell us about it.
Olivia: Yes. With Mamaw.
Calvin: Yes at the Embassy Suites.
Sorry Embassy Suites!
What is your favorite thing about staying at a hotel?
Olivia: I get the pull out bed.
Calvin: They have comfy beds.
Take note hoteliers, beds are the key to the 10-year-old demo.
Do you have a favorite hotel? If so, which one?
Olivia: The Mandarin.
Calvin: Luma hotel.
Great job New York luxury hotels, you’ve made an impression on these youngsters.
What does McConnell Marketing do?
Olivia: Design.
Calvin: It markets hotels.
Fair enough.
What is the best thing about coming to the office?
Olivia: We get to stay in the special room.
Calvin: Everybody is nice.
We’re officially rebranding our meeting room to “special room.”
Most importantly, how cool is your mom???
Olivia: Cool!
Calvin: Off the charts!
Savor this moment Katie!
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One of the key messages from DOYO Live’s keynote speaker was that today’s business professional has an attention span comparable to a goldfish.
We know that sounds bad, but it’s just an adaptation to the overwhelming amount of information we’re given every day. Today’s digital marketer has to cut the fluff and get to the point!
So with that in mind, here’s a super-scannable look at our favorite people and presentations from DOYO Live 2017:
Debra Jasper – Mindset Digital (Keynote Speaker)
- Don’t write long emails, they won’t get read
- Use more slides in your presentations but less words per slide
- Pick a happier LinkedIn profile photo
- Use Readable.io to see how easy your content is to read (this blog scored an A)
Dennis Schiraldi – DOYO Live
- Turn video content into blog content instead of vice versa
Jim Komara – PALO Creative “Be the Big Dot: Local Search Results”
- NAP- make sure your company’s name, address and phone number are the same across all its various listings or get penalized by Google
- Use “My Google Business” to your advantage
- Get external links back to your page for better ranking
Jeff Leo Herrmann – Madison, Michigan & Market “How to Grow your Own(ed) Media Platform”
- Every company is a media company
- Publish content consistently
- Don’t forget your call to action
Lisa Arledge Powell – Mediasource “Content Marketing Strategies that Drive Exposure and Sales”
- Use brand journalism: discover/creating news content on behalf of a brand (instead of just blogging)
- Tell not sell! Focus on the audience rather than customers in terms of content creation
Marisa Sergi – RedHead Wines “Guerilla Marketing 101: Creating Buzz for Your Brand!”
- Be authentic
- Strategically place product/logos that are in eye-catching locations rather than where they are expected
- Create buzz in new markets before product release
Jamie Jamison – ala Jamie “Style Your Instagram & Connect for Success”
- Make sure your account has a cohesive look
- Connect with brand influencers
- Geotag when you post about a sample/product
- Share behind the scenes content (video or pic)
Brian Blasko – Keynote Speaker #2
- We can change and motivate people!
- Don’t avoid grumpy coworkers, brighten their day with some humor
- Lead by example
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Among the foliage and winding paths of Mill Creek Park a strange sound could be heard this past Sunday. A rumble, not unlike a team of horses, was getting closer to water stand #4. Finally, through the trees we could just make out their forms – the runners. Over 1,200 of them descended on Youngstown for the first annual Youngstown Marathon and McConnell Marketing was right in the thick of it.
Runners in Residence
Can’t miss Steve with his wave and bright yellow shirt!
Katie getting back in the groove after a water break
Our office had both volunteers and runners that participated during the day. Steve has been running since high school and continued after college to stay in shape. Inspired by the camaraderie of the local running community, Steve puts mile after mile behind him to relax and relieve stress . He cites the camaraderie of the running community in the area as his inspiration to keep going. When not listening to podcasts, he likes the sounds of the Foo Fighters, Imagine Dragons, and Fitz and the Tantrums. Katie is our other runner in residence. She completed her first half marathon in 2011 and has continued to run since. She likes to unplug, recharge and re-center. Plus it helps to get the creative juices flowing. Feeling good physically and mentally is her inspiration to keep running.
Water Station #4
The best water table at the marathon!
Other McConnell associates couldn’t let Steve and Katie have all the fun! The rest of our team along with some friends and family converged at the East Golf Hike & Bike Trail to pass out water to thirsty half and full-marathon runners. With over a thousand cups to fill and pass out we were busy. Singing, dancing, and a steady stream of jokes kept us going throughout the day. Runners took notice and complimented our fun and organized water station. “Free water here!”
Young in Youngstown
Runners from all over North America came to the Mahoning Valley
Being from the area and attending Youngstown State University, I’ve been going to Mill Creek Park my entire life but I’ve never seen so much activity at one time before. I have seen the city go through many changes, and the Youngstown Marathon is certainly a welcome addition. Runners from as far away as Ontario, Canada and Nashville, Tennessee participated in the race and it was fun to help welcome and support these visitors!
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McConnell Marketing knows how to have summer fun. Wonder what we do when we’re not making killer marketing pieces?
Kickin’ It at Kickball
Two members of our graphic design team, Allie and Alexa participate in a weekly adult kickball league. Their team captain is actually the husband of one of McConnell Marketing’s owners Megan. Megan, ever the supportive wife, is a big fan and avid spectator. Speaking of fans, their league actually has a “Fan Appreciation Night” which means that they either take kickball way too seriously or not seriously enough.
It’s in the Hole!
Fore! Our Director of Business Development, Steve, spends Tuesday nights golfing in a league with his dad at Salem Hills. Sound familiar? It was a featured golf course in a guide we designed for the Mahoning County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, which you can see here.
The Joys of Parenting
A parent’s work is never done, but who says you can’t have fun in the process? Katie, McConnell Marketing’s other owner keeps busy hiking, swimming and traveling with her husband and 9-year-old twins Calvin and Olivia.
Between baseball, swim team, kayaking, snorkeling and any other activities that come up this summer she’ll certainly have her hands full!
Honored to Have You
Our summer intern Megan is a counselor each year at YSU’s Summer Honors Institute, a weeklong summer camp for high achieving high school students. Basically, the students get a taste of what college life is like by taking classes from college professors, staying dorms and meeting new people.
Megan says being a counselor is very rewarding and she loves seeing how students develop as people from the beginning of the week to the end! She even made a video for the event, check it out!
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