When a client asks, “What’s the ROI of [insert ad channel here]?” what they’re really asking is, “Which magic button can I press to make results appear?”

We get it. Attribution is intoxicating. ROAS feels like truth. And with the rise of AI-powered buying tools, real-time dashboards, and third-party data integrations, it’s never been easier to see results. 

But here’s the kicker: the numbers you can track are only part of the story. The rest? That’s where we come in.

Our Approach

At Yalo, our media team is built differently, with the knowledge that data is a critical tool, but it’s not the whole tool belt. 

We’re full-funnel, full-service, and fully fluent in the nuances of both digital and traditional channels. And yes, when to trust ROAS metrics, and when to be a healthy skeptic. From CTV and podcasts to SEM, print, programmatic, and beyond—we’re not here to rack up views, we’re here to make them count.

How? We use in-platform and third-party AI tools not just to chase efficiency, but to ensure impact. 

Whether it’s uploading a CRM list through LiveRamp, creating historical geotargeting audiences via third-party partners, or running brand lift studies across healthcare or general market categories, we’re not guessing—we’re pinpointing.

The Planning Process

Our planning process is powered by research partners like MRI Simmons and Comscore. 

Our buying is enriched with purchase-level data from credit bureaus and intent signals. And our reporting? Custom dashboards that are live, accessible, and actually usable, so clients aren’t stuck staring at a spreadsheet asking ‘so what?’

Get Creative

But tech alone won’t win the war.

You still need great creative. An integrated media mix. A message that lands. And yes, that includes a team that understands your business well enough to challenge your assumptions.

While it’s tempting to chase short-term wins with last-click logic, the truth is: 91% of people who buy your product saw your ads and didn’t click them (Nielsen). 80% bounce between devices before purchase. And 40% use more than one screen to complete a transaction (eMarketer).

So, what’s the ROI of that?

Truth is, the most impactful plans don’t just ask, “What channel will convert?” They ask:

• Where does your audience live, scroll, shop, or tune out?
  
• What will they remember tomorrow?
  
• What combination of message, medium, and moment creates action?
  

That’s what we do.

The Yalo Difference

Our tribe connects the dots between strategy, storytelling, and sales. Between the art and the algorithm. Between “what you’re doing” and “why it’s working.”

There’s no magic button. Just media done right. And that’s the Yalo way.

“Authenticity” is a popular buzzword in marketing, but what does it really mean? While it may sound simple, how can you genuinely connect with your audience and stand out in today’s crowded digital landscape? Here are five key strategies to help your brand show up authentically and make a real impact.

1. Develop Your True Brand Voice

Your brand voice is basically your personality in text form—like your digital clone, but with fewer awkward pauses. It’s how your audience spots you in the crowd and decides whether or not they want to get to know you more. So, it’s important to figure out what really defines you. Are you the witty, bold friend who always gets the last word? Or the compassionate, empowering cheerleader everyone secretly wants to be? Whatever it is, own it—loudly and proudly. Bonus tip: Pretend your brand is a person. Give them a name, a wardrobe, hopes, dreams, and a favorite coffee order. Suddenly, your brand is more than just a pretty face, but a real person your audience can connect to.

Authenticity starts with staying true to your voice, not mimicking what works for someone else. This often means using conversational language, talking to your audience like a friend or trusted confidant, and developing content that you actually care about. When you speak from a place of honesty and alignment, your audience will feel it—and trust you for it. 

2. Let Your Audience Take a Peek Behind the Curtain

People want to know the story behind your brand. When you share more about your brand story you’re personalizing your organization and giving your audience a chance to relate to you on a personal level rather than just seeing your brand as an organization. In fact, Researchers at the London School of Business found that people retain just 5% to 10% of information when it’s presented as statistics alone. However, when the same information is shared through a story, retention jumps to 65% to 70%. 

Start asking yourself some questions to help develop your story: 

• Why do you do what you do? 
• What values drive your decisions?

Share your journey, your triumphs, and even your challenges. Vulnerability fosters connection, and showing your humanity makes your brand relatable. By opening up about your mission and beliefs, you invite your audience into your world and give them a reason to root for you – and trust you.

3. Don’t Make Every Piece of Content a Sales Pitch

Nothing feels more inauthentic than being bombarded with constant sales messages. While, of course, you want your audience to use your services, no one likes feeling they’re being used just for a sale. Remember: people engage with brands for inspiration, education, and entertainment—not just transactions. Focus on creating content that adds value. Share tips, tell stories, spark conversations, and show your personality. By shifting away from a sales-first mentality, you’ll build trust and loyalty that naturally leads to conversions.

4. Showcase User-Generated Content

There’s no better way to demonstrate authenticity than letting your audience speak for you. Your audience will truly trust your impact when they see others demonstrating how they’ve loved your service rather than just taking your word for it. 

User-generated content (UGC) highlights real experiences from real people. Whether it’s reviews, photos, or social media shoutouts, UGC builds credibility and community. Celebrate your customers by featuring their stories and successes. This not only showcases your impact but also reinforces the idea that your brand is about people, not just products.

5. Don’t Worry About Perfection

In a world of filters and curated feeds, imperfection is refreshing. This of course doesn’t mean you should be sloppy, it just means you can let your guard down a bit and not worry about being too polished. Your audience doesn’t expect you to be flawless—they expect you to be real. 

Share the behind-the-scenes moments, the outtakes, and the imperfect realities of running your business. Use language that isn’t purely corporate and speak to people like… people! Polished content has its place, but authenticity thrives in the unfiltered. By embracing your imperfections, you give your audience permission to do the same.

Authenticity is about showing up as you are and trusting that your audience will connect with the real you. By developing your true brand voice, sharing your story, prioritizing meaningful content, showcasing your community, and embracing imperfection, you’ll create a brand that not only stands out but also builds relationships that last. 

Spring is finally here, and just like nature is coming alive with vibrant colors and new growth, it’s time for your business to blossom on social media. There’s no better time to refresh your social media strategy and watch your online presence flourish. 

1. Plant Seeds of Engagement

Just like planting seeds in a garden, cultivating engagement on social media requires patience and nurturing. Use this springtime energy to sow the seeds of interaction with your audience. Ask questions, run polls, and encourage user-generated content. With people feeling more lively and engaged during this season, you’re bound to see your social media interactions bloom!

2. Embrace Fresh Content Ideas

Spring brings a sense of renewal and creativity. Take advantage of this by sprucing up your content strategy with fresh ideas. Showcase your products or services in a spring-themed photoshoot. Share tips and tricks relevant to the season. Whether it’s spring cleaning tips for homeowners or outdoor activity ideas for families, tailor your content to resonate with the spirit of the season.

3. Let Your Brand Blossom

Spring is all about growth and transformation, making it the perfect time to let your brand personality shine. Show the human side of your business by sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses, introducing your team members, or even sharing stories about your company’s journey. Authenticity and relatability are the fertilizer for building strong connections with your audience.

4. Tap into Spring Events and Holidays

Springtime brings with it a plethora of events and holidays, from Easter and Mother’s Day to Earth Day and the start of baseball season. Use these occasions as opportunities to engage with your audience. Share relevant content, run special promotions, or host themed events to connect with your followers and drive traffic to your business.

5. Sprout New Connections

Spring is a time of growth, and that includes expanding your network on social media. Take this opportunity to connect with other businesses, influencers, and potential collaborators in your industry. Engage with their content, participate in relevant conversations, and explore opportunities for partnerships that can help your business blossom.

6. Collaborate and Cross-Pollinate

Just like flowers benefit from cross-pollination, businesses can thrive by collaborating with others in their industry or community. Partner with influencers or complementary businesses for joint promotions or giveaways. Engage in conversations with fellow entrepreneurs and share each other’s content. By working together, you can reach new audiences and foster a sense of community online.

7. Weed Out What’s Not Working

Not every seed you plant will sprout, and not every social media strategy will yield results. Use this season of renewal to evaluate what’s working and what’s not. Weed out any tactics or platforms that aren’t delivering the desired outcomes and focus your efforts on those that show promise. By pruning away the dead weight, you’ll create space for new growth and success.

Spring is a season of growth, renewal, and endless possibilities – and your business’s social media presence should reflect that. By embracing the spirit of the season, tapping into seasonal events, refreshing your visuals, engaging with your community, and cultivating new connections, you can watch your online presence bloom and your business thrive. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to spring into action and harness the power of social media – let Yalo help you grow your business this season!

If you were an 80’s kid, you may have missed the birth of Hip Hop in the 70’s because you were too young, but you didn’t miss out on the RISE of Hip Hop, and its Golden Era of the 80’s. The world was exposed to a mind-bending, rapidly-expanding genre of music and culture emerging from the urban core of New York City.  New York City was already the mecca for basketball (Madison Square Garden and Rucker Park). But now there was a new soundtrack accompanying the sport of basketball and its athletes. Hip Hop was an amazing confluence of style, art, dance, music, storytelling, and lyricism. Put it in the blender and out came this vivid, vibrant, and powerful new culture. It was exciting. It was fresh (and yes it was ‘fresh’). It was ‘off-the-grid’, especially for the rest of America, especially suburban and rural America. The beats and scratching, the stories, the sneakers and track suites, the graffiti, and breakdancing gave kids like me in suburban Ohio a new canvas to imagine the world upon.

I remember hearing Hip Hop for the first time. It was 1984 and rap was exploding, I just didn’t know it yet. My friend and neighbor from across the street ran over to my house on a Saturday night and dragged me to his house. His stereo was on, and he had somehow picked up an FM station from Detroit that night. It was the Saturday Night Mix Party. They were playing a mash up of rap tunes from NYC. The sounds and voices we heard blew our minds, literally. This new fantastic thing was so far off the grid of what we usually heard and what we knew. We started recording it every Saturday night on his double tape deck, with 2 double-sided Maxell 90-minute tapes (that is 6 hours of music!), front to back, the entire show. We would listen to those tapes all week, wearing them out. We couldn’t get enough. We loved every beat, rap, rhyme, story we heard. It became a weekly ritual for a long time. We got indoctrinated to Kurtis Blow, Whodini, The Fat Boys, Whistle, The Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and of course Run DMC that year in 1984. Somehow, I was able to convince my parents (I was 14 at the time) to let my buddy (he was 16) drive us to Cleveland for the Fresh Fest II. It was the congregation of the biggest rap acts at the time. It was to be my first concert ever. That night we witnessed Matronix, Kurtis Blow, The Fat Boys, Whodini, and Run DMC. I smelled weed for the first time. I had my first ever concert tee snatched right out of my hand. And I loved every second of it. I am sure we looked like 2 fish out of water (2 ‘burb kids – 1 white, 1 Asian) in a sea of black folks, but we rapped and danced right along with everyone else because we knew every lyric. 

I jumped in with both feet into the Hip Hop culture. Boom box, check. Adidas sneakers, check. Track suits (and eventually Starter jackets), check. Gold chain, check (still wear it every day). Turntable, check. Stacks of 12 inch vinyl singles, check. Heavy bass, check. The only thing I didn’t buy was the Kangol hat because I couldn’t pull it off. We took weekly trips to the local record shop to get the latest records, hot off the streets of NYC. More records, more tapes. I am proud to say that I still have all of my original rap vinyls from the 80’s. Public Enemy’s eponymous first album, literally one of the greatest recordings of all time. Run DMC’s first 3 albums. Multiple Fat Boys’ 12 inches. The Beastie Boys first album. N.W.A’s first EP (before they even had a full album). To name a few, and keepers for sure. 

Since the 70’s, Hip Hop has exploded. The music, the art, the fashion, and the culture; Hip Hop is now global. Over the 50 years of Hip Hop, the new artists have continued to push the boundaries every year, continuing to tell their stories, expanding the art form. We have many Hip Hop fans in our Yalo Tribe. One is even a lyricist himself (in his spare time).  Here are a few of the Tribe’s favorites in no particular order:

Arrested Development, LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, 3rd Bass, Drake, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (shout out to the 216!), Wu-Tang Clan, Fugees, Dr Dre, Lil Wayne, 2Chainz, Pharcyde, Ice-T, Ice Cube, Aesop Rock, Jurassic 5, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Killer Mike, Childish Gambino, Royce da 5’9”, J Cole, TI, Mos Def, Planet Asia, Nipsy Hustle, 50 Cent, Snoop, Biggie, Tupac, EPMD, Jay-Z, OutKast, Eminem, Ludacris (the 404!), Missy Elliott, Eric B & Rakim, De La Soul and of course A Tribe Called Quest

My musical tastes have expanded over the years, but Hip Hop will always be my first true music love. Hip Hop launched me on a lifelong journey with music. It ignited a passion within me for music and for culture, of all genres. My playlists now include reggae, classic rock, punk, grunge, R&B, Prince (yes Prince is his own genre – that’s whole other blog to be written), Delta blues, alternative, metal, oldies, Americana, Yacht rock, and even certain types of country (think more Wilco). Hip Hop did that for me. 

Most importantly, Hip Hop taught me to be my own person, to be an individual, to be myself, during the coming-of-age point in my life, in a town that only listed to Led Zeppelin. And for that, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Hip Hip. If DJ Kool Herc and his sister didn’t throw that party on August 11^th in 1973 (known as the official birthdate of Hip Hop), who knows how I would have turned out or what I would be? I thank you, DJ Kool Herc, for putting me on this path. Thank you for creating a whole new culture with just a couple of speakers, a turntable and some records.

What did Hip Hop teach you? We’re all ears and would love to hear. Drop us a line and let us know. While we’re at it, we’d love to help you with your brand as well. That’s what we do as our day job. See our creative services here.

The holidays pose financial stress and hardship for families in ISDD‘s Project GRANDD (Grandparents Raising and Nurturing Dependents with Disabilities). Grandparents never imagined they would be raising children again, let alone children with disabilities who often have special needs.

Grandparents are thrust into this role unexpectedly, usually due to some traumatic event. Often the children have experienced neglect or abuse. Overnight, grandparents have to find a way to cope with the expenses of raising a child – especially one with health conditions – all on a fixed income. Just providing the necessities can take everything they have. 

The Project GRANDD Adopt-a-Family Program lightens the load for vulnerable families at Christmas. With your help, they provide necessities like food and clothing as well as toys for the children and something nice for the grandparents – because they are always putting themselves last. We want them to know that they are cared about too.

2022 has been a particularly difficult year for many families – please join Yalo in supporting these families in need. You can also make a donation straight to ISDD that they can use throughout the year, or get involved with them in other ways too. Thank YOU for helping to make then Season brighter for those with deeper needs!

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If it’s not on your Instagram or Facebook, did it really even happen? Social posts and pics are ramping up for the holidays. We’ll all have more time to browse. And, with vacations and family time crammed into the upcoming week—we’ll also have access to a lot more content.

But before you snap and share, think about your thanksgiving theme. Is it food-focused, family-centric, or maybe you’re just plain #blessed. Whatever you decide, we believe it’s best to choose your theme and stick with it. After all, your posts are your personal brand.

If you need a nudge to get things started with that brand strategy in mind, click this link from Good Housekeeping to borrow some smart ideas. If your business needs the same kind of help, Yalo is here for you! Check-out our many creative marketing services available, and scroll down below to contact us and get a conversation started.

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You know how much fun it is to dress up for Halloween. You can be anything your imagination can create, whether it’s a princess, superhero, zombie or whatever else you want to be! But what if your brand was a Halloween costume?

When you think of your brand, what comes to mind? A logo? A slogan? A color scheme?

What if we took your brand and turned it into a Halloween costume? What would that be like? Would it look the same as what you’re imagining now, or would it be something different entirely?

A brand is so much more than just a logo or a tagline. It has personality and soul, and people respond to this when they recognize their own values in yours. This is why brands are so important; they create meaning for us by connecting us with the feelings and ideas they evoke in us (and hopefully not just at Halloween).

When you dress up for Halloween, think about the elements that you choose to make up your costume. These elements help others understand who you are (or who you want to be seen as) — whether it’s a zombie, pirate, vampire, or whatever it may be.

The costume analogy can help you really hone in on the key elements of your brand marketing strategy – and ultimately how you want to show up in the marketplace. It’s a good way to think about your brand as a whole, but it also gives you an opportunity to identify your strengths, weaknesses and opportunities.

Start by identifying the elements of your brand costume. You don’t have to overthink this part. Just jot down the first pieces that come to mind (don’t worry about quality or order just yet). Think about all of the ways you communicate with others – even those outside of your industry – this includes things like your website, brochures, email signature, social media profiles and more.

Next, consider how each one builds upon or supports another aspect of your brand identity and what it communicates about who you are or what values matter most to you as a person and professional?

Your brand is what you want it to be. It’s a costume that you can change or create, depending on your mood and the occasion. Think about how your brand would dress up for Halloween, and maybe use that as inspiration!

Remember that you’re in charge of how people perceive your brand—and all they need is an image or experience to form their opinion of it. Keep this in mind when designing new products, or launching new campaigns. 

Don’t forget to share your costume ideas with us on Facebook or tag us on Instagram! 

And if this exercise in creative thinking has your brain working overtime, consider contacting Yalo for some expertise with your brand marketing strategy. We’d love to dress you up for success in the marketplace!

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The end of summer marks a transition into the fall season, and it’s an important time to consider the changes that come with it. In marketing, this means considering how your brand can stay relevant during such a busy time of year—and whether or not your strategy needs updating.

With that in mind, here are some top trends we expect will dominate marketing conversations as August begins.

Adapting Media Mixes To Changing Consumer Habits

In addition to demanding the content they want, where they want it, and when they want it, consumers also expect that content to be interconnected. That’s where we start to see cohesion become critical across media platforms, and media start to blend into other sectors. Adjust your media mix to adapt to massively changing consumer habits. 

Personalizing Branding According to Customer Behaviors

If brands want to stay ahead of the curve, they need to get on the personalization train. The surge in online interactions since the onset of the pandemic escalated expectations—giving consumers more exposure to the personalization practices of e-commerce leaders and raising the bar for everyone else. From web to mobile and in-person interactions, consumers now view personalization as the default standard for engagement. 

Aligning Brand Practices With Consumers’ Values

Today’s discerning customers have high expectations from the brands they choose to associate with and they are actively making choices based on brands’ alignment with their personal values. A purpose, rather than a promise, moves consumers to align themselves with a brand.

Telling Micro Stories

With TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, everyone’s attention span is getting shorter and shorter. We need to be able to hook people in the first three seconds – helping people understand the story by fixing down its key turning points. This is the approach screenwriters have been using for decades, and it works very well. 

Exploring The New Frontier Of The Metaverse

The Metaverse and Web3 are the future of the internet. This multifaceted extension of our physical reality, where gaming, social networks, unconventional presences and crypto converge to create new avenues is creating new opportunities for businesses with a curious digital mindset. 

We know there are many different marketing strategies to choose from and we want to help you find what works best for your business. By understanding what your audience wants and how they consume content, we can ensure that your brand will grow successfully. Yalo knows brands, and we work tirelessly to build marketing campaigns that help our clients to rock in their perspective industries.

Want to find out what we can do for your brand? Let’s have an intro conversation and then take over the world together. Contact us at the bottom of this page, or via our simple online form. Don’t forget to sign-up for our emails directly below – you wouldn’t want to miss our consultative and cultural commentaries on Pop Culture, would you?

Everyone is inundated with and providing ever growing quantities of structured and unstructured data. The opportunity is getting relevant information from this tsunami data. Information yielding resulting in strategies that create operational improvements, increase business value and a sustainable competitive advantage. Sentiment analysis identifies opportunities across industries.

At Yalo we have created a thoughtful method to sentiment analysis for our social media messaging. This has supported achieving the following analytics’ metrics performance:

• Linkedin followers have increased 125% in 12 months
• 40% increase in impressions
• Engagement rate yielding a 30% increase in website traffic year-over-year
• 7X daily traffic improvement

A  sentiment analysis engine and a lexicon modeled for our industry enabled managing our social messaging at the word level. Yielding the following sentiment analysis results:

• Virtual elimination of negative sentiment scores for our social media posts
• Average positive score for posts increased by 20%
• Maximum score on a post increased by over 40%
• Positive sentiment word choice is approaching 75%

The bottom line, Words Make the Difference. 

How much social media success (contacts to customer) attributed to skill, chance and/or environment elements beyond our control, is difficult to measure. Thoughtful application of sentiment analysis in creating content, supports influencing, driving a share of the outcome. But our experience indicates that sentiment analysis:

• Increased the quantity of social media traffic and its speed through the social media channels
• Used in addition to environment factors improves the predictability of social media diffusions
• Increased positive content increases social media acceptance and diffusion

Other Industries – Sentiment Analysis and Social Media

Banking – Analysis of social media campaigns to understand the meaning of comments for improving customer acquisition and identification and prioritization of causes of customer churn. Improved and extend equity investing research considering more unstructured resources (research data, news media, social media) for more companies in more markets. Unstructured data analysis provides insights on specific bonds or commercial paper and establish correlations between news events and securities performance in credit markets.

Healthcare – Locating disfunctions and gaps through analyzing patient feedback, surveys, and social media. Improving communications between providers and patients. It identifies patients’ challenges when interacting with providers and structures a scoring mechanism for departmental performance.

Consumer Brands – Collecting online and offline unstructured data to determine what people are saying about you.

“Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room.”

                                                                        Jeff Bezos

Monitoring and maintaining your brand requires careful use of key words in messaging, showing your customers that you care by asking and actin on feedback and keeping your messaging evergreen.

Sentiment Analysis Insights

The sentiment analysis insights are consistent across industries. The value is in bringing appropriate rate of change in reimagining business. Every industry should apply sentiment analysis for strategic measures relevant for their business for:

• Improving competitive position
• Aligning marketing messaging and campaigns to the voice of the customer
• Building new customer relationships
• Managing customer churn
• Improving product and services sales
• Reducing customer service costs
• Improving customer profitability

Sentiment Analysis Benefit Streams

Monitoring the strategics measures generates benefits in four significant areas:

• Product Insights
• Market Trends
• Competitive Analysis
• Brand Perception

How can Yalo help you achieve success in these areas by applying our proven social media best practices?Allow us to show you first-hand! Contact us at the very bottom of this page to get started, or use our easy form and then we’ll contact you. While you’re here, drop us your email address directly below and we’ll send you more informative and marketing-based blog posts to keep you in-the-know and firmly standing on the leading edge of the marketing world. It’s what we do!

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On St. Patrick’s Day, “Everybody’s Irish” and it’s sure to attract an online crowd! Here are 7 lucky branding & marketing campaigns that are striking gold!

Friendliest Day Of The Year

It would have been impossible to start this post off without a nod to Guinness, a brand that goes hand-in-hand with St. Patrick’s Day. With the creation of an interactive infographic, Guinness championed friends and families coming together and making St. Patrick’s Day “the friendliest day of the year”. To top things off, they entered the book of world records for successfully creating the friendliest day of the year. Selling pints is one thing; creating folklore, a feeling of community, and a lasting reputation for your brand is invaluable.

Getting Shamrocked

Get ready to get ShamRocked at Hard Rock Cafe this St. Paddy’s Day!

The pot of gold at the end of this rainbow is the all-new St. Paddy’s Shake, an Instagram-worthy shake that combines Absolut^® Vanilla vodka, creamy vanilla ice cream, Oreo^® cookies, a touch of mint and homemade white chocolate whipped cream before being topped with rainbow candy ribbons and gold star sprinkles.

In addition to the St. Paddy’s Shake, those looking to sink their teeth into gold can order the Guinness^® & Bacon Jam Cheeseburger, a half-pound burger topped with Jameson^® bacon jam and Guinness^® cheese sauce, crisp lettuce and vine-ripened tomato, served on a toasted bun with a side of seasoned fries.

Beer. Doughnuts.

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, fans of Krispy Kreme can get a free O’riginal Glazed Doughnut — i.e., a green-dyed glazed doughnut — just by dressing up in green and showing up at a participating shop. Guests can redeem one doughnut each on March 16 and 17, no purchase necessary.

Not content with just one doughnut? Krispy Kreme is currently also offering its St. Patrick’s Day Collection, which includes four different St. Paddy’s-themed doughnuts decorated with rainbows, shamrocks, and the perpetually wide-eyed face of a bearded leprechaun.

Make It A Double

This Saint Patrick’s Day, Jameson Irish Whiskey will pay whiskey loving imbibers to make it a double — a double holiday, that is. After two years of St. Patrick’s Day cancellations, Jameson is encouraging fans to make up for lost time and celebrate on both the 17th and the 18th in 2022. To incentivize them, Jameson will award thousands who take the two-day pledge with cash and a full Irish breakfast through UberEats to help fuel the fun—responsibly, of course—for 48 hours.

McMagic

A brand knows it has found a pot of gold when it creates organic hype around a product. McDonald’s has the financial muscle to flex it with the best of them when it comes to marketing, but all it took was a St. Patrick’s Day themed milkshake to send the internet into a frenzy.

Every year McDonald’s releases its Shamrock Shake in the month leading up to St. Patrick’s Day. The shake is essentially a mint chocolate chip milkshake, but adding the Irish-theme creates an aura around it—and people want to get their hands on the shake.

Puzzle Me This

Wordle be damned…here comes SEMrush. They came at St Paddy’s Day creatively, choosing to create a crossword puzzle challenge for followers to win Irish-themed wares. 

With their key audience consisting of marketers and small businesses that want to build their reputation online, the challenge of a crossword struck a chord and grabbed the attention of their 100,00-plus social following.  

The Guinness gift set prize was an extra incentive to get people on board, in what was already a clever marketing ploy. That people still hold the campaign in such high esteem two years after its initial conception goes to show how marketing efforts around big events can create longevity.

Imbibe And Stay Alive

Although alcohol is an expected offering on this of all days, it isn’t the only voice out there. There’s also a voice of reason running about, reminding everyone of the importance of having designated drivers – and that’s the folks at the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. This year, their Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving campaign seeks to keep parade and party goers safe. 

Ready to try your luck at an innovative marketing campaign? We write the book on them every day. Let’s have a beer and create something memorable! Reach out to Yalo below to get started with your own luck o’ the Irish.

It was great watching the Foo Fighters concert on my couch in VR Sunday night after the big game! While there were a few glitches getting into the event, users were treated to a front row concert experience with the ability to interact with others watching the show. I decided to mute other attendees to focus on the music, but could see that being fun, especially if a group of friends were also there. The setting reminded me of the first time I saw Foo Fighters live at the Masquerade in Atlanta, GA when they first started touring in the 90s, minus the moshing.

This particular show was filmed in 180 degrees versus 360, which means half of the venue was streaming video and the other was filled with a 3D venue environment that one could move around in and move up-and-down between balconies to get the best view. There were also several cameras setup, so the viewpoint of the band would change throughout the show to keep it interesting for viewers.

The video played back well and the sound was great. Dave Grohl and team rocked out a 45 minute set, which was above-and-beyond for a free concert!

Not only featured in Meta’s Horizon Venues in the Quest 2 VR headset, the concert was also live streamed on Facebook and Instagram. This is a great strategy as the VR user base grows to reach the greatest number of fans.

Overall, had a great time and am looking forward to more immersive concerts from the comfort of home.

Didn’t make the show? Not to worry—you’ll be able to catch the replay over the next month via an Always On room in Venues or on Oculus TV.

Interested in learning more about how you can leverage the Metaverse, and all things AR/VR? We can help! Yalo offers virtual reality design and implementation services as part of our marketing and branding expertise in Atlanta, Cleveland and across America. Reach us below and let’s talk about how to get your VR campaign rock and rolling.

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Wow, where did 2021 go! It seems like only yesterday we were navigating how to celebrate the holidays in the middle of a pandemic. As we are reflecting on lessons learned, life lived, laughs earned, we were struck by a few key pop-culture moments that brands can learn from to drive business and loyalty, as well as set a course for continued growth. 

Remix and Remaster to Deepen Loyalty 

Is there anyone on the planet that has not heard at least one new version of an old Taylor Swift song in the past few months. Like her or loather her, she is a genius at reinventing her songs in new and relevant ways to connect with a new generation of listeners and reinvigorate her base. I am sure you watched the 10-minute version of All To Well – and felt a little bad for Jake G. 

Brands need to follow her lead in being brave enough to look at core brand attributes (logo, mission, value proposition) and reinvent to engage with today’s audiences. Brands also can go back to the proverbial well, dust off some memorable campaigns or products for today’s audiences. Just remember, nostalgia doesn’t mean old. 

Expect Unexpected Partnerships to Gain New Customers

If you missed it, Megan Thee Stallion had a partnership with Popeye’s and Little Nas X is Taco Bell’s Chief Impact Officer. Megan’s unexpected partnership was more than a limited menu item; it included “Hottie Sauce,” branded merchandise, and a six-figure donation from the QSR chain to a local Houston Charity that the singer is passionate about. Are you asking yourself why artists at the apex of their success would partner with a QSR chain. It simple – every brand and every artist, athlete, musician are new reciprocal awareness channels when executed correctly. Both brand and individual celebrity raises chatter, drives awareness, and increases sales with unconventional partnerships.  

Brands can grow their sales and reputation by exploring new partnerships that align with a key prospect group. BUT, these new celebrity partnerships have to be executed in fresh, organic ways. Consumers are craving authenticity from brand partnerships rather than a celebrity showing up in a commercial or a product being featured in a movie or video. 

Experiences Matter to New and Loyal Customers 

We really hope no one got fired for this. But let’s be honest, the 2021 Channel Advent Calendar, albeit well intentioned, was a fail on a global scale. Stickers? Really Channel. (PS – We’re still trying to find the mythical Prada Advent Calendar – any leads would be appreciated. ????)

We won’t belabor the reasons why some promotional activities backfire, but we will point out that experiences with a brand still matter. And for the folks in the back row that did not hear, we will say it one more time –Experiences. Still. Matter. And we could argue that brand experiences matter more now that in the recent past. 

Brands must think through, update, and challenge themselves on the experiences they are providing. Big and small. Experiences from unboxing to behind-the-scenes to once-in-a-lifetime getaways are currency in todays digital world. 

The Story Still Matters to Customers (and media) and So Does the Channel 

Free Britney. Simone Biles. Richard Branson. We are sure each one of these names brings a story flooding back into your mind. We all can remember where we were when we first heard at least one update on each. And we could have named many other stories that would illicit the same response. Why? Because each of these individuals shared their honest, true, transparent and organic story. On their terms. When they wanted.  And by doing so, each embraced by the public. 

What can brands learn? Tell their stories honestly and allow consumers to become part of the story. Brands have one of the biggest stages – their social media accounts – to tell their layered brand story how and when they choose. One sizes does not fit all in today’s multi-channel, multi-audience world.

What were your favorite moments in film, art, music, and sports this year? Share them with us on Facebook – we’d like to read your memories.

Want to make something commercial and creative at the same time that causes your business brand to stand-out from the masses? Yalo can help you out – it’s what we’re here for 365 days a year. Please reach-out to us below!

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It’s the lazy, hazy, dog days of summer. People go on vacation, business slows down, and you take a moment to catch your breath especially after the year we’ve all had.

Many businesses are doggy paddling through this seasonal lull. So we came up with a few marketing & communications suggestions to make the best of the pause.

Update or Create a Content Calendar

Use the Summer months to create a Content Calendar for the remainder of the year. Your calendar may be organized on a weekly, monthly, or on a six-month basis, depending on your marketing needs. The main benefit from having a content calendar is that planning ahead saves you time, energy, and money in the long run. 

When planning your content calendar, you need to:

1. Identify content that reinforces your message house
2. Identify relevant and timely topics that are directly related to your company’s messaging goals
3. Assign specific topics to specific months over the coming year for greater impact

Next, establish the type of content you want to publish. This may include:

Then – schedule, schedule, schedule!

Clean-Up Your Marketing Database 

This is not a fun or glamorous project, but it’s one of the most important and most frequently overlooked aspects of an effective marketing communication strategy. The slower pace of business in Summer provides a great opportunity to clean up / improve your database of clients, prospects and referral sources.

The most obvious groups of contacts that you need to get rid of are your unsubscribes and bounced emails. You should take a look at engagement metrics to decide whether bounced emails deserve to stay within your database. There are many reasons for emails to bounce: mistyped emails, bogus emails, very strict spam filters, etc. Each of those reasons requires a different solution. 

Lastly, you have to identify and merge duplicate contacts within your database. People don’t like to be targeted twice for the same offer, so merging duplicates will help improve the experience of your prospects through the nurturing process. 

Doggone it.. now you are on your way!

If you need support creating a Message House, Marketing Calendar, or building an effective Email Campaign, be sure to reach out to the Tribe at Yalo. We’ll help you to make this time a pause that refreshes.

4 Quick Tips to increase your #BrandEngagement on Instagram

1. Pay Attention To Your Color Palette

Taking the time to create an engaging Instagram feed aesthetic is one of the most effective ways to persuade someone to follow your business’ Instagram account. From bright colors, single color, to black and white, use a strategic brand color palette to create a distinct style. See how Yalo uses color to tell a story and create interest:

Color can you make your Instagram content feel aligned with your overall aesthetic and brand.

2. Stay Consistent With Fonts

Font selection is as important as image selection for text overlays on photos and videos. If text plays a key role in your Instagram content, it’s important to also think about the font you’re using and how it relates to the fonts used on your website or other marketing materials. Pick a font family that has multiple font weights (i.e. light, regular, semibold, and bold) this is critical for building a clear text hierarchy. Yalo uses the Muller font family:

3. Make The Most Of Your Captions

Captions are a chance to enhance your content further and there are plenty of ways brands use them. Some choose to treat captions as a place for sharing stories and micro-blogging. Others use them to add a short, snappy headline to a post. Still others use captions to ask questions and encourage replies. The possibilities are endless. What’s important is to ensure the copy is aligned with your brand. What’s more, captions are a huge opportunity to build a stronger relationship with your audience.

Good to know: Instagram captions are limited to 2,200 characters, and after three lines of text they become truncated with an ellipsis.

4. Leverage Hashtags

Incorporating trending and relevant hashtags in your social media posts helps you to expand your reach, increase your post engagement, and enhance your brand image. However, it’s imperative to use brand-relevant hashtags to reap great results. You can use tools like Best-Hashtags and iQHashtags to create hashtag strategies, learn organic growth techniques, and build an engaged community.

Good to know: You can use up to 30 Hashtags per post.

If you like these easy strategies and want to know more about leveraging Instagram and other social media platforms for the benefit of your brand, we should have a conversation. Get it started by reaching-out to us here!

The new year is an opportunity to take a new perspective on who you want to be in 2021. Your career path, your personal life, and how you want to spend the next 12 months. We pulled some of our go-to tools and tips together to give you a running start.

Calendar Club & Coaching

If you are ready to get things done, one of our recs is The Big A## Calendar Club. Whether you are C-suite or just getting started, a weekend warrior, or a seasoned adventurer, this program preps you to dominate the next 365 days. The 12-month journey of personal and professional growth covers best practices in business, parenting, and wellness.

Content Scheduling Tools

We all know how vital it is to have a presence on social media. But it can be challenging to keep up appearances without dedicating a sizeable percentage of your time and attention. Planning is key and scheduling is critical. With a social media scheduling tool, you can operate your accounts efficiently and effectively with these five resources.

• Planoly

A visual planning and marketing solution for brands and influencers on Instagram, it allows you to create a cohesive Instagram feed and manage multiple social accounts simultaneously. Through a calendar and grid system, you can quickly see where you are getting the most uptake and interaction for your posts, which images are and aren’t working, and even optimal days/times for your audience.

• Sprout Social

We’re all about one-stop shopping. This all-in-one tool allows you to schedule and post across multiple networks. You can also set up varying user-level permissions for different members of your team. Marketing managers, writers and everyone in between can contribute and collaborate in real-time to your social media calendar.

• Hootsuite

Hootsuite supports a wide range of platforms, including personal accounts, business pages, and other types of social activity. You can create posts yourself for current publishing or select existing posts to post in the future.

• Buffer

Customization is key in marketing, but making users feel like you created content just for them doesn’t have to be time consuming. Buffer allows you to customize messages for each social network. Their mobile app and web browser extension make it easy to add links, titles, and images quickly to your scheduled social posts.

• Later

Later lets you post to a variety of social networks, but its main emphasis is on Instagram. Unlike many other posting and scheduling tools, you begin a post with an image, rather than its text. Once the image is uploaded you can create the accompanying caption.

Clarity

Leaders today have a vision for tomorrow. That vision is clear, achievable, motivating, and exciting.

People can be genuinely inspired if their organization has a compelling vision and a clear, worthwhile mission. These can come to life in well-crafted mission and vision statements.

The following are our resourcing picks to help clarify your mission and vision for 2021.

How To Develop Your Personal Mission Statement

This hard-hitting read helps you set and lead your life according to your deepest priorities. It helps focus your long-term vision, so you don’t get lost in the short-term fires of the day. For those who work with creative teams, it provides insight into influencing good in others.

Start with Why

Any parent of small children has gone through the “why” stage.  But good news, it’s actually a leadership trait! START WITH WHY shows that the leaders who’ve had the greatest influence in the world all think, act, and communicate the same way. This book provides a framework for how organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.

Vivid Vision

We don’t use the word “revolutionary” lightly, but that’s how one team member described this book. It helps owners, CEOs, and senior managers create inspirational, detailed, and actionable three-year mission statements for their companies. It’s easy-to-follow from brainstorming to sharing the ideas to using the document to drive progress in the years to come.

We don’t need a survey to tell us that everyone reading this blog is ready for a fresh start. Success takes vision and planning—but the tools make it easy. We wish you much success mapping out your next 12 months with adventure, goals and experiences. Let us know how you are doing and be sure to share those incredible milestones along the way on your favorite social media platform as well as individually with the people in your life whom you can encourage! As an experiential marketing agency, we have found that transformative experiences are all around us and that your peers and audience can be moved just like you by the adventures and accomplishments in your life.

Want to talk shop with Yalo? We’re all ears. Contact us here.

As sports fans, we couldn’t be more excited that our favorite teams and athletes are getting back into the game. As it turns out though we aren’t the only ones excited. In a recent article published by AdAge, a new kind of sports fan is emerging on Twitter and starting to embrace the return of sports like never before.

Here’s to an exciting albeit uncertain season!

Yalo, the experiential marketing agency in Atlanta, hits the streets to check out popular music fests in downtown Atlanta that will rock your world! 

Spring is here in Atlanta, Georgia, which means the start of weekends filled with fun activities, festivals, flea markets, camping, parties and concerts suited for all types and ages of people! Atlanta is especially known for having grand music festivals that feature great local musicians as well as national headliners playing in a wide variety of musical styles. These cultural gatherings also present hometown art and cuisine. Thanks to this blog post, you can sample four great festivals ahead of time and decide if you’d like to partake yourself. (HINT – you’ll want to do so!) Get ready for four MUST-EXPERIENCE music festivals in groovy downtown Atlanta! 

1. Atlanta Blues Fest. The Atlanta Blues Scene was a tremendous influence on blues music and culture in the South, reigning supreme in the 1920s and 30s but still continuing today. The Atlanta Blues Fest keeps that spirit alive annually. One of the premier blues events in the South and involving local blues musicians and some famous blues greats, this live concert usually happens in April every year, barring unforeseen cancellations. Expect excellent music, brotherly and sisterly love, tasty concessions, and good drinks! 

2. SweetWater 420 Fest. SweetWater 420 Fest is all about the experience, so you know that Yalo will be there! This festival, presented by SweetWater Brewery, normally takes place around the time of Earth Day each year and is an environmental celebration with an eco- friendly focus. It takes place in Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta – a thrilling and gorgeous site in and of itself and the world’s gathering spot during the Summer Olympics of 1996. The event features live music, comedy, art, food, and Planet 420. Planet 420 is an eco-village area where attendees can learn how to be eco-friendly in their daily lives and become more sustainable in all that they do. It’s a great addition to a really fun festival and folks enjoy learning How-Tos and Whys of a greener lifestyle. Besides many “woke” and “enlightened” performers, there’s also the amazing beer created by SweetWater Brewery to enjoy! 

3. Shaky Knees Music Festival. The Shaky Knees Music Festival is an annual indie rock/indie folk/country/alternative rock concert event featuring more than 60 bands including national, regional, and local favorites. Past participants to this smorgasbord of sonorous sounds include Modest Mouse, The Lumineers, Wilco, Cage the Elephant, Neutral Milk Hotel, Florence and the Machine, Explosions in the Sky … you get the idea! The festival takes place at Central Park in Atlanta – the perfect location to see views of the skyline and explore the best downtown bars and restaurants afterward. The Shaky Knees Festival is truly about the experience. There will be food trucks with all types of food, fun photo booths, official festival merch, and screen prints of your favorite bands, as well as lounges and unique viewing spots. Who could ask for more, right? 

4. Atlanta Jazz Festival. Bring your family downtown to Piedmont Park on Memorial Day weekend each year to the annual Atlanta Jazz Festival – one of the country’s largest and FREE Jazz festivals and such a great time. The festival showcases local and national jazz greats, a neighborhood jazz series, a youth jazz band competition, a kids zone, and many other family-friendly activities. Enjoy the park while checking out some of the city’s finest arts and crafts, food and drinks, and of course, merchandise! Maybe you’ll even get the opportunity to meet a great like John McLaughlin! 

There are of course other excellent musical events throughout the year in Atlanta, as well as art, food, drama and athletic experiences too. We could tell you about every one of them but we think it’s better for YOU to come and find out for yourself. Experiences are better than second-hand information, we’ve found – and our team at Yalo knows a few things about such matters. The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau is also an excellent resource for all-things Atlanta. 

While you’re visiting Atlanta and soaking up the sights, sounds, and vibes, perhaps you’d like to consider doing business with one of the rockingest creative agencies in Atlanta? That’s us – Yalo. We’d love to meet you – get the gig started by contacting us here.

As a video marketing agency in Atlanta, Georgia, we love to hone our skills both in and outside the office. So with camera in tow, we captured five of our fav must-see places for filmmakers, photographers, artists and tourists.  

If you haven’t swung by in a bit, Atlanta is a living city full of hip, unique, visually vibrant stops. It’s one of many reasons Hollywood made it a movie shoot destination. Ant Man, Baby Driver, Tyler Perry’s Madea movies are just a few filmed right here. With this Big Screen lens in mind, here is our list of top visual hits to inspire creativity.  

1. Georgia Aquarium. The Georgia Aquarium is one of the largest in the world. Featuring eight exhibits that house thousands of different animals and aquatic life. Capture live interactions at the Ocean Voyager exhibit where people can swim with whale sharks and manta rays. The Cold Ocean Waters gives you a front row seat to the coldest living ocean animals, including sea otters, penguins, harbor seals, and beluga whales. Here’s a preview of the cool hues and camera models you’ll see.   

2. Jackson Street Bridge. Unless you’re living in a post-apocalyptic world, you’ve seen an episode of “The Walking Dead.” The TV series, now in its 10^th season, features the Jackson Street Bridge in its first promotional poster. A prominent part of Atlanta’s downtown skyline, you can visit this iconic locale to become one with the dead via Atlanta Movie Tours’ Big Zombie Tours. 

3. Fox Theatre. One of the most beloved historic Atlanta landmarks is the Fox Theatre. This premiere venue for live entertainment houses approximately 300 shows per year. Take in Broadway, comedy, rock concerts and more. The Dancing with the Stars Live Tour will also be held there this year along with classy Motown legend, Miss Diana Ross. Built in the 1920s as a Shriner Mosque, this architectural apex has domes, minarets, and a faux Arabian sky with stars.  

4. Atlanta Marriott Marquis. If you’re a film buff, you can’t bypass the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Designed by neo-futuristic architect John Portman in 1985, this hotel was built just recently. Known for having the largest atrium in the world, this Marriott became a filming destination for multiple movies, including “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” “Flight,” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Just imagine what a shutterbug or videographer with a creative eye might be able to do in its environs. We personally envision a remake of Metropolis, ourselves. Several members of the Yalo team are vying for the position of Fritz Lang. 

5. Old Fourth Ward and the Atlanta Beltline. Some inspiration kind of creeps up on you. Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward and the Atlanta Beltline neighborhoods nip at your creative side. These hip, colorful residential areas have the best street art around. A bit of a secret with the locals (and maybe Banksy too), we’ll tell you how to get there.  Follow the Eastside Beltline Trail and you’ll encounter life-size murals and graffiti that unveil the vibrant passion of what Atlanta means to its local peeps. The upside-down alligator by muralist ROA and the Tiny Doors along the trail too are definitely something to see now, not later (gator).  

We feel lucky to have these sites at our creative fingertips for video projects, photo shoots and more. See how these visual vistas have inspired our ideas for clients. Did we miss one of your fav Atlanta locales? Give us a shout so we can add it to the list!  

And The Winner Is…

Our ‘Get Plugged In ATX 2017’ sponsors, HTC VIVE, ASUS and Skullcandy, allowed us to give away an entire VR starter kit to one lucky winner. The contest was easy enough, all you had to do was come rock out at our amazing event during SXSW week and drop your business card to be entered to win. This year Yalo was on a mission to introduce VR technology to as many people as possible. 

Thanks to our amazing setup crew, led by Mr. Niraj Velummylym, we had three HTC VIVE demo stations running Google’s Tilt Brush program throughout the event; all powered by the ASUS VivoPC X. The VR demos were a huge hit! Most of our guests were left scrambling for their business cards in an attempt to try and win this amazing system. In the end though, it was Tracy Cocquyt-McKernan of Two Brown Dogs Realty who came away with the big prize. Our Yalo tribe was pumped to deliver this VR system to our contest winner, little did we know there would be an even bigger winner in this story.

Tracy quickly informed our team that she and her husband decided they would like to donate the VR system to the Hembree Springs Elementary School STEM lab. The lab was in need of additional equipment and Tracy & John felt this was a perfect opportunity to give back. Teacher, Jenny Soberanis and Principal, Laurie Woodruff, were both thrilled to learn about the generous donation. Jenny says that she is very excited to start planning the curriculum around the new VR system and has already envisioned the possibilities of a multiple headset environment.  

The Hembree Springs STEM lab already featured some pretty cool tech, including codable Spheros, a Dremel 3D printer and programable Cubelets, but judging by the student reactions, I think it’s safe to say that the VIVE/ASUS/Skullcandy VR system is the new rock star of this classroom! VR in school settings will become a more common occurrence in the coming years, especially as hardware prices continue to drop and the content library continues to grow. This technology offers so many possibilities, but when it comes to education, this is a true game changer! VR is introducing a fundamentally new way for students to interact and learn in the classroom. 

Our Yalo tribe couldn’t have been more pleased with this ending. The goal was to introduce VR technology to as many people as possible, and thanks to Tracy & John, as well as all our sponsors, we were able to accomplish this in a truly impactful way. 

Hembree Springs Elementary, you have been Yalofied!

With Father’s Day just around the corner, now is the time to think of the man that stood tall in your life from day one and the childen who look up to that man. We consulted our resident experts at Yalo about what it means to be a good dad and what they hope their children learn as they grow up. 

“Being a good father is my top priority”, says Eric Cantini.  “Each day, I hope that my children see me working hard to provide for them, while maintaining a positive attitude about life. I do my best to set a good example, so they learn to work hard to achieve their goals, and to treat people with respect along the way.” Those are some good looking Clevelanders!

The dad we refer to as Big Dawg, Lance Shoulders, hopes to teach his kids these important lessons about:

• Communication: whether it is social, or providing instructions – communicating early, and simply is one of the key ingredients to getting things done right. People cannot read minds. This communication message also goes for messages that are not always easy to deliver – do not delay.
• The Customer: whether you are a services or product business – but specifically services. The Customer is key – this might mean making sacrifices late a night or weekends, but it also important for them to know the customer comes first at work, family comes first in life. Those smiles, though!

Huff Daddy, Arnold Huffman, says “I constantly encourage my kids to do the same things that are important in my everyday life (both work and personal). And that is listen, pay attention, and focus…in everything they do. This reinforces good behaviors such as being present, learning new things, recognizing when you are being nice to others or not, making good decisions, and thinking ahead. If they can do that, I believe they will lead rich, exciting, positive lives. A crazy crew on a crazy ride fo sho!

And we’re saving the best for last. Our other Cleveland dad, Brian Miller, wants his kids to learn to follow their passions in life and make the most of every opportunity. Well said friend, well said!

And of course, we have a playlist for that. As you celebrate your father or being a father here are some daddy-related cuts to let ring this Sunday. Happy Fathers Day from our tribe to yours.