Generated by All in One SEO Pro v5.0.1.1, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # AFFIRM Agency Full-service marketing firm in Milwaukee & Madison, Wisconsin ## Posts ### [Blog](https://affirmagency.com/blog/) **Published:** April 24, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency --- ### [Why SEO Still Matters in an AI-Driven Search Landscape](https://affirmagency.com/why-seo-still-matters-in-an-ai-driven-search-landscape/) **Published:** August 31, 2026 **Author:** Anna Dahl **Content:** As artificial intelligence (AI) changes how people find information online, businesses need to think beyond traditional SEO. Search visibility still depends on strong fundamentals, but it also requires content that is clear, credible, and easy for both people and search systems to understand. While AI-powered search experiences are changing how answers are presented, SEO remains essential for helping your content stay discoverable. ## **Make Your Content Easy to Find and Reference** AI-generated search features often draw from well-structured content, making clarity and organization more important than ever. This means it’s important to format website and social content clearly and in a way that’s descriptive. This includes well written headings, bullet points, and simple page structure so key information is easier to scan, understand, and reference. ## **Make Your Content a Trusted Source** AI search systems tend to favor content that appears credible, consistent, and supported by reliable sources. - [Demonstrate E-E-A-T:](https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/optimize-content-for-ai-search#:~:text=strengthen%20trust%20signals.-,Prioritize%20E%2DE%2DA%2DT,-You%20also%20need) show experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness through accurate information, clear sourcing, and content that reflects real knowledge of your subject. - Cover topics deeply: move beyond individual keywords by creating connected content that answers related questions and addresses the full subject area. ## **Strengthen Your Brand Signals** Search engines and AI tools use signals from across the web to better understand brands, people, and topics. That’s why it’s recommended to: - Keep information consistent. Make sure your business name, address, phone number, and core brand details are aligned across directories, listings, and social profiles. - Monitor your visibility. Review how your brand appears in platforms such as [ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com/), [Perplexity](https://chatgpt.com/), and Google search features, then look for opportunities to strengthen your presence on credible third-party sites. ## **Use AI to Support Your SEO** AI can support the SEO process when used thoughtfully. It can help with research, organization, and analysis, but human review remains essential for accuracy, strategy, and brand voice. - Keyword and intent research: Use AI tools to identify common customer questions, analyze search intent, and spot content opportunities your audience may be looking for. - Content auditing: Use AI tools to help identify topical gaps, surface outdated information, and suggest ways to improve internal linking and content structure. ## **Create Helpful & Trustworthy Content** No matter how search technology evolves, strong content still starts with usefulness. Content that is accurate, current, and easy to navigate is more likely to support both traditional search visibility and AI-driven discovery. - [Keep content fresh:](https://searchengineland.com/guide/what-is-ai-seo#:~:text=7.%20Regularly%20refresh%20and%20refine%20existing%20content) review key service pages and blog posts regularly so information stays accurate, relevant, and aligned with current customer needs. - [Add FAQs where they make sense](https://www.semrush.com/blog/ai-seo/): frequently asked questions can help address search intent directly, capture common customer concerns, and create opportunities for your content to appear in more conversational search experiences. As AI continues to influence how people discover information online, businesses that invest in clear, useful, and credible content will be better positioned to stay visible. SEO is still foundational, but it now works alongside trust signals, content quality, and user-focused website experiences. That’s why AFFIRM Agency continues to follow emerging AI and search trends so we can help clients adapt their digital strategies with confidence. Whether that means strengthening SEO, refining website content, or supporting broader visibility through [public relations](https://affirmagency.com/top-reasons-why-public-relations-is-more-crucial-than-ever-in-the-age-of-ai/), we focus on helping brands stay relevant in a changing media landscape. [Get in touch with us today](https://affirmagency.com/contact/) and we’ll discuss a strategy to take your SEO and digital marketing strategies to the next level. **Categories:** AI, Blog, SEO --- ### [Why Digital Accessibility Matters: What Organizations Need to Know About ADA Compliance](https://affirmagency.com/why-digital-accessibility-matters-what-organizations-need-to-know-about-ada-compliance/) **Published:** August 20, 2026 **Author:** Anna Dahl **Content:** According to the Centers for Disease Control, [more than 1 in 4 adults in the United States live with some kind of disability](https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/disability-impacts-all-of-us-infographic.html). In many cases, this will impact how they access digital content. Making digital content accessible, whether it’s digital ads, websites, social media posts, or something else, is important in ensuring equal access to information and opportunities. If you’re a government agency, nonprofit organization, health care provider, educational institution or private business, ensuring that your digital content is accessible is the expectation in the current day and age. In fact, state and local governments with a total population of 50,000 or more will be required to meet [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA](https://www.dpi.nc.gov/about-dpi/technology-services/digital-accessibility/wcag-21-level-aa) by April of 2027. While the primary focus may be on websites, accessibility touches nearly every aspect of the way people communicate or receive services and information. ## **What Is Digital Accessibility?** Digital accessibility refers to the practice of designing and creating online content that can be accessed and used by people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. This includes the use of: - Screen readers - Keyboard navigation instead of a mouse - Voice recognition software - Captions and transcripts - Magnification tools - Other assistive technologies The goal is simple. Ensuring that everyone can access information, complete tasks and engage with content regardless of ability. ## **Accessibility Goes Beyond Websites** When organizations think about ADA compliance, they often focus on their website. While websites are an important component, accessibility extends much further. Organizations should also consider: - Use of plain language for copy and content - Social media posts and graphics - Videos and multimedia content - PDFs and downloadable documents - Email newsletters - Online forms and applications - Presentations and reports - Mobile applications A website may meet accessibility standards, but if a PDF cannot be read by a screen reader or a video lacks captions, barriers still exist for some users. ## **Why Accessibility Is Becoming More Important** Recent updates to federal accessibility requirements and increasing attention to digital inclusion have prompted many organizations to evaluate how well their online communications serve all users. Accessibility is also closely tied to user experience. Features such as clear navigation, descriptive headings, readable fonts and properly structured content often make digital experiences easier for everyone, not just those with disabilities. ## **Common Areas Organizations Overlook** Many accessibility issues are unintentional and can often be addressed through thoughtful planning and content development. Some of the most common challenges include: - Images without alternative text - Videos without captions - Poor color contrast - Documents that are not screen-reader compatible - Forms that cannot be completed using a keyboard - Complex or unclear navigation - Content that relies solely on color to convey information - Identifying these issues early can save time and resources while creating a better experience for users. ## **Accessibility Benefits Everyone** While compliance is an important consideration, accessibility offers broader benefits as well. Accessible content can: - Improve overall user experience - Increase audience reach - Enhance customer and community engagement - Improve search engine optimization (SEO) - Strengthen trust and credibility - Demonstrate a commitment to inclusion In many cases, accessibility improvements make information easier to understand and use for all audiences, regardless of ability. ## **Building Accessibility into Communications** The most effective approach to accessibility is to make it a part of the planning process rather than treating it as a final review step. When accessibility is considered from the beginning, organizations are better positioned to serve their audiences and meet evolving expectations. AFFIRM Agency’s digital experts are well versed with incorporating accessibility standards across digital platforms, and we can help you with bringing your marketing materials and communications into the current day. Start the conversation by reaching out to us through [our website](https://affirmagency.com/contact/). **Categories:** Accessibility, Blog --- ### [Reels vs. TikTok: Which Platform Works Best for Your Marketing Needs?](https://affirmagency.com/reels-vs-tiktok-which-platform-works-best-for-your-marketing-needs/) **Published:** February 25, 2026 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** After TikTok’s monumental takeover in 2019, platforms like Meta and YouTube have adapted to push short-form, scrollable video content feeds. Hosted on both Facebook and Instagram, Reels have quickly become a the most popular content format on platform, leading to a shift in content strategy for creators looking to make an impact on social media. When it comes to using short-form video on social media, Reels and TikTok videos each have advantages you should consider when deciding which platforms to use. ## **What Can My Business Get from Reels?** Reels give your business an efficient, high-impact way to increase visibility and stay competitive in a video-first social landscape. Inside Meta Business Suite, scheduling, boosting, and analytics all live in one place, making it easy to publish to both Facebook and Instagram at the same time while still customizing messaging for each platform. Beyond convenience, Reels are one of the strongest formats for organic reach. Short-form video is prioritized in feeds, meaning your content has a higher likelihood of being discovered by new audiences on Meta platforms. ## **What Can My Business Get from TikTok?** TikTok’s ultra-personalized algorithm excels at putting content in front of users who are most likely to engage, if your video captures attention quickly enough to earn that distribution. Like Instagram, TikTok offers in-platform shopping, but TikTok Shop is more deeply integrated into the user experience. Direct product links within videos and a personalized shopping tab make it easy for users to browse and purchase without leaving the app, making it especially strong for B2C brands. Businesses should stay aware of TikTok’s ongoing legal scrutiny in the U.S. Following concerns around data security and ownership, the platform has been required to transition U.S. operations to American investors, with Oracle set to manage U.S. data starting January 2026. As the situation evolves, brands should monitor how regulatory developments could impact users and advertising opportunities. ## **Using Reels and TikTok for Marketing** Both platforms feature personalized content for viewers, but just getting on feeds is half the battle. With short-form video, viewers are looking for a lot of quick and consecutive serotonin boosts, which ends up with users rapidly scrolling past anything that doesn’t grab their attention within a couple of seconds. Users on both Reels and TikTok need to be incentivized to stay within seconds, whether that’s with information or entertainment. If your company doesn’t have the means to prioritize both, consider your target audience and the demographics of each platform and choose which aligns better. With both platforms boasting billions of users, a test period of both platforms will give you better insights into which one work best for you and your brand. Social media platforms are constantly changing and understanding each one can be overwhelming. AFFIRM and our dedicated social media team can help you develop a social media plan with strategies tailored to your business’s goals. Contact us at to get started. **Categories:** Facebook, Instagram, Social Media, TikTok --- ### [AFFIRM’s Top Super Bowl Ads of 2026](https://affirmagency.com/affirms-top-super-bowl-ads-of-2026/) **Published:** February 11, 2026 **Author:** Delaney Carlson **Content:** Drawing in over 100 million viewers each year, the Super Bowl isn’t just the biggest football game of the year. It’s also the biggest day of the year for advertisers. With spots going for millions of dollars, the ads are a huge draw for many people. Though none of our favorite teams played in the big game, we paid special attention to the ads, and these are the ones we felt came out on top. ## **Pepsi: The Choice** Directed by Taika Waititi, this ad rips on Coca-Cola by using their polar bear mascot and having him choose Pepsi in a blind taste testing. We see the polar bear experiencing an existential crisis until another polar bear brings him a Pepsi and they attend a concert together, playing off the Coldplay show scandal with then Astronomer CEO. It’s always fun when big companies get a little provocative with coming at competitors, and Pepsi did this in a way that was fun and lighthearted with this ad. Online comments show that viewers enjoyed the return of the cola polar bear after Coke ditched him for AI generated holiday commercials. Watch the full spot [here](https://youtu.be/pPHI2zNf_ww?si=Pn3wzqnwdnzItOZC). ## **Budweiser: American Icons** Continuing with the renowned Clydesdale Horse spot, Budweiser brought back their much-loved mascot in 2026. This year they’re celebrating 150 years of Budweiser and 250 years of the United States by watching a horse and eagle pairing grow up and learn to fly together, all set to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.” What’s more patriotic than that? Patriotism and cute animal pairings are always a winning combination for one of America’s biggest television events, and that shows as this spot is [ranked #1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ad-meter/2026/02/09/budweiser-super-bowl-ad-meter-best-commercial-2026/88535814007/) by consumers in [USA TODAY’s 2026 ad meter](https://admeter.usatoday.com/story/sports/ad-meter/2025/12/05/super-bowl-commercial-faqs-2026-usa-today-ad-meter/87629200007/). Watch the full spot [here](https://youtu.be/a_mh-v02-Tw?si=C1_n4PZ6VA0QbDU1). ## **Good Will Dunkin’** A nostalgia fueled parody, Dunkin’s spot was a cameo-filled 90’s throwback. Featuring sitcom stars like Jennifer Aniston, Jaleel Whtie, Jason Alexander, and Alfonso Ribiero all reprising their most iconic roles, Dunkin had Boston icon and returning spokesperson Ben Affleck staring in the “much better version of Good Will Hunting,” as Will Hunting himself. This ad got viewers excited to see these actors back in the roles we know them for in a crossover style sitcom set in a Dunkin’ store. We also got to see Aniston introduce her “new boyfriend,” Tom Brady, to her real-life ex, adding in a football spin and another layer of pop culture refence. Comedic commercials with celebrity cameos tend to be a hit with audiences, and this one is no different. Watch the full Good Will Dunkin’ pilot [here](https://youtu.be/x3wI8j-z3Iw?si=bN-dPTLDzd6ZLpyE). ## **Everybody Coinbase** Skipping the celebrity cameos and expensive visuals, Coinbase continued the nostalgia trend by opting for a simple looking, 90’s karaoke-inspired spot featuring “Everybody” by Backstreet Boys. They cashed in on viewing parties and decided to create a fun moment for people watching with friends and family. The choice to only mention the brand name at the end, incorporated in the song at that, made viewers forget they were watching an ad, creating a lasting impression that worked well for the crypto company, an industry that can be divisive among audiences. Sing along with Coinbase [here](https://youtu.be/ox__f7ZdFyM?si=XhiTZJC56N63EX10)**.** ## **Chipotle and Kraft: No Ad Is the New Best Ad** Some companies moved away from expensive television spots and went for social media-exclusive campaigns. Kraft had their current celebrity spokesperson, John Mulaney, live react to every ad on [X](https://x.com/kraftmacncheese) by listing reasons Kraft Mac & Cheese is better than each advertiser. Another example of this is [Chipotle giving away $1 Million in food](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUf9-YVFGTz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) on Instagram. They poked fun at AI and emphasized their “real ingredients” by having their audiences engage with their Instagram as the first AI generated commercial aired after halftime. Fans were required to watch an Instagram reel to find a code on their that provided number for a chance to receive a free burrito. This prioritized social media interaction and gave viewers a real reason engage with the fast-food chain. Skipping a notoriously expensive T.V. placement also signals to audiences that the company wants to use their money directly on the consumer, rather than a highly produced commercial. This makes us wonder, could this be the future of Super Bowl promotions? **Categories:** Blog, Super Bowl --- ### [How to Deal With Negative Comments On Social Media](https://affirmagency.com/how-to-deal-with-negative-comments-on-social-media/) **Published:** November 4, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** As a consumer and a young PR pro, I feel as though I’m always conscious of what I post and how much I post to my social media networks. Should I share this? Is this appropriate? Did I write too much? But I’m not sure most people see both sides of the coin. Social media allows everyone to have a voice…and many times that voice isn’t always a positive one. Negative comments are almost inevitable and learning how to deal with them can play a significant role in how you are perceived as an organization. Here are tips on what to do (and what NOT to do) when your brand encounters negative feedback on social media. - **Understand the situation.** It’s easy to get defensive when someone is critical of your brand or service. Make the effort to understand where the consumer is coming from, how you can help them, and how you can potentially improve your brand based on this feedback. - **Respond in a timely manner.** The people who are posting their negative experiences are more than likely expecting to hear from you. Be sure to connect, acknowledge the issue, and apologize as timely as possible. A lack of response only creates an opportunity for negativity to escalate. - **Take it offline.** As you respond to negative comments, follow up by providing additional resources. A phone number or email address that someone can contact takes the situation offline while also helping to solve the problem. - **DON’T delete comments.** Being transparent is so important, especially in a time where comments can be seen and screenshotted by everyone. Deleting comments only makes the situation more detrimental to your brand. Social media is meant to be SOCIAL. If you’re on it, your audience will also be there. Make sure you’re aware of what is being said about your brand and mindful of how you respond, even if it’s negative. If you’re looking for a social strategy, we’re happy to help! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, negative comments, Social Media, transparency --- ### [Advertising and PR: The Same but Different](https://affirmagency.com/advertising-and-pr-the-same-but-different/) **Published:** November 18, 2016 **Author:** Laura Monagle **Content:** Advertising and Public Relations are commonly mistaken to be same thing. While they both definitely fall under the same umbrella when it comes to developing brand awareness, there are key differences that distinguish the two. Advertising communicates what your brand has to offer via TV, radio, billboards, online banners, print media, and other media outlets. You are in control of the visuals and the messages your target audiences encounter. Placement in various media outlets is guaranteed because it is paid for, which helps to build exposure for your brand. PR is almost the complete opposite of that. PR is commonly referred to as “earned media.” Rather than paying for placement, the goal is to communicate why a product or service is important by sharing stories with the media. While placement isn’t always guaranteed, the process of sharing stories helps build credibility and develop a relationship with the public. Forbes contributor, Robert Wynne says there’s an old saying that goes: “advertising is what you pay for, publicity is what you pray for.” Ain’t that the truth! If you’d like to implement a strategy for your brand in 2017, we’d love to help. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, Branding, PR, Public Relations --- ### [Two Truths and an Alternative Fact about PR](https://affirmagency.com/two-truths-and-an-alternative-fact-about-pr/) **Published:** February 22, 2017 **Author:** Laura Monagle **Content:** The idea of “alternative facts” and “fake news” has been circulating social media and news outlets since Donald Trump took office. All politics aside, these terms have started the conversation of whether or not truthful information is being reported in the media, which also plays a significant role in PR. Here are two truths and an alternative fact about the PR industry. **ALTERNATIVE FACT:** PR is all about the “spin.” You don’t always have to tell the truth as long as you can get people to believe your message. **TRUTH:** As mentioned in a previous [blog](https://affirmagency.com/advertising-and-pr-the-same-but-different/#.WLSBIW8rJhE), PR is commonly known as “earned media.” The goal is to communicate why a product, service, or issue is important by sharing it with the media. While placement in news outlets are not always guaranteed, the process of sharing stories helps to build credibility and develop a relationship with the public. **TRUTH:** The relationships a PR professional has with a client and with the media are built on trust. Trust is founded in the ability to effectively communicate accurate information. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is the nation’s largest communication association with standards of ethical behavior outlined for its 22,000+ members in the [Code of Ethics](https://apps.prsa.org/AboutPRSA/Ethics/CodeEnglish/). According to PRSA, the document is designed to anticipate and accommodate, by precedent, the ethical challenges that may arise. At AFFIRM, our purpose is to effectively communicate to people how they can make their lives better. It’s our mission to help clients achieve their most ambitious goals through advertising, marketing, and public relations campaigns that enhance brand awareness, improve sales, and foster growth. If you’re looking to develop campaigns for your brand, we would love to help! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** alternative facts, Code of Ethics, earned media, effective communication, fake news, media, news, PR, PRSA, truth --- ### [Spring Holidays for Your Social Media Calendar](https://affirmagency.com/spring-holidays-for-your-social-media-calendar/) **Published:** March 6, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** There’s always something to celebrate. Over the past couple of years “national” holidays have become rather popular on social media. Several brands have used these opportunities to create new content and engage with their target audiences. Here are hashtagable holidays for you to consider adding to your social calendar. March 23 – #NationalPuppyDay March 30 – #NationalDoctorsDay April 7- #NationalBeerDay April 10 – #NationalSiblingsDay April 11 – #NationalPetDay April 20 – #NationalLookAlikeDay April 22 – #EarthDay May 2 – #ThankATeacher May 4 – #StarWarsDay, #Maythe4thBeWithYou May 5 – #CincodeMayo May 6 – #NursesDay May 24 – #NationalScavengerHuntDay June 2 – #NationalDonutDay June 8 – #NationalBestFriendsDay June 21 – #NationalSelfieDay Looking to launch your own social media holiday campaign? We’d love to help you get started! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [3 Things to Learn from March Madness](https://affirmagency.com/3-things-to-learn-from-march-madness/) **Published:** March 21, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** The 2017 NCAA Tournament is underway! Also known as March Madness, the tournament has become one of the most popular sporting events in the U.S. Here are 3 things to learn from March Madness to help develop your next marketing campaign. - **It’s in the name –** Every March, athletes, avid basketball fans, and your average consumer alike can remember terms like “March Madness,” “Sweet Sixteen,” “Elite Eight,” “Final Four,” knowing that the language in itself refers to the tournament. Brand your campaign with a name that stands out and is easy to remember. - **Generating content –** From its website to mobile apps, news outlets, and social media platforms, content for March Madness is just about everywhere. Various content that tailor to different media outlets helps to increase brand visibility and awareness while reaching specific audiences. - **Community engagement** – Did you fill out a bracket? Quite a few people do! Not only do brackets allow for people to connect with the brand itself but it also helps to start a conversation among others. Consider interactive content, contests and games, or a call to action to engage your target audiences. We’d love to help you with your next marketing campaign (even after March Madness). Connect with us to get started! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Be seen, be heard. Use keywords.](https://affirmagency.com/be-seen-be-heard-use-keywords/) **Published:** March 20, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Simply put, keywords are the words, terms, and phrases people type into Google to find your content. However, as we all know, it is much more complicated than that. What if I search “advertising agency” and AFFIRM doesn’t show up? How do we compete against all the other advertising agencies with the same keywords? You have a better chance of getting your content and material found if you include keywords that are already being searched and are also relevant to your website. There are different levels of keywords your business needs to be aware of. Head keywords are more broad and general whereas long-tail keywords are much more specific to your industry, content goal, and even location. For example, a broad keyword for AFFIRM would be “advertising agency” but a long-tail keyword would be “Pewaukee transit advertising firm,” which is much more specific to AFFIRM’s skills sets and location. Keywords and SEO (search engine optimization) are directly linked. First, you should create a list of both head and long-tail keywords for your company to use. Additionally, this list should be revisited every couple of months and reevaluated as the competition for keywords changes. As competition changes, so should your keywords to keep you top of your consumers’ mind. The biggest mistake you can make is only conducting SEO keyword research once. You should be using your keywords throughout your company’s website, both seen and unseen. Keywords should be tucked into the tags of your URL, the H1 tag of the page, the meta description and alt attributes of images, and of course, within the title and body of all content. “Using your keywords in these areas is the most basic way to target content to searches… it is essential to SEO.” **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Communication, google, keywords, marketing, seo --- ### [The Art of Managing Client Expectations](https://affirmagency.com/the-art-of-managing-client-expectations/) **Published:** November 6, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** More often than not your new client will already have preconceived notions and expectations of how things *should* be even before working with you, which is why managing expectations is so important in developing healthy client/vendor relationships. From daily observations to experiences of my own, here are tips on how to manage client expectations. 1. **Identify client goals –** What does your client want to achieve? When do they want to achieve these goals? Are these goals realistic within the timeframe that you’ll be working on the project? Will you be able to deliver on each account? Ask these types of questions (and any other questions you may have) in the very early stages to help you identify what it is your client is looking for. It also gives your client the opportunity to ask you questions. 2. **Fill in the details in writing –** Agreeing on strategies, tactics, and timelines is key to understanding what success is and how it should be measured. This should be written in a document that details the program or campaign, how much time will be spent on each project, and how the budget will be used. In the midst of busyness, it can also be difficult to remember what was promised to be delivered by both parties. Having everything written down in detail helps to remind you and your client of what you agreed to accomplish. 3. **Communicate –** Whether it’s a weekly call, a monthly report, a quick email, or even a meeting in person, be active in communicating with your client – good news or bad news. Open and honest communication helps to build credibility and establish trust. Regular check-ins also open the dialogue for your client to share their thoughts and questions with you. 4. **Share your expertise! –** Your client is working with you for your expertise! It’s okay to not always be the “yes man or woman” to their every request (which is something I’m still learning). Share your expertise and knowledge of your industry and give feedback to help your client better understand how to reach their goals. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** client, client management, client relationships, client satisfaction, managing expectations, relationships, vendor --- ### [2018 Winter Olympics takes the Gold when it comes to Ratings](https://affirmagency.com/2018-winter-olympics-takes-the-gold-when-it-comes-to-ratings/) **Published:** February 19, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** The United States loves the 2018 Winter Olympics more than initially projected, with more people cheering on and watching their favorite winter sport and athletes every night from the comfort of their own home. This not only proves the Olympics are a great unifying event for our country but, also shows the winter games have been THE PLACE to reach pretty much any consumer in the country in the past couple of weeks. Currently, the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics primetime are averaging 24 million viewers a day across all platforms – broadcast, cable, and streaming – and 22 million viewers on NBC alone. Overall, digital consumption of all events including daytime [has surpassed](https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/tv-ratings-2018-winter-olympics-second-monday-1202704815/) the Sochi Winter Games in 2014. According to [NBC Broadcasting and Sports chairman Mark Lazarus](https://www.adweek.com/tv-video/the-winter-olympics-exceeds-nbc-sports-ratings-guarantees-freeing-up-more-ad-inventory-to-sell/), so far “this turned out to be the most consumed Winter Games in history.” Today’s viewers are not only interested in specific events but will watch any and all events happening at any given time. This has opened a whole new door for advertisers. Companies who put a significant amount of money behind their advertisements early in the Winter Games are already seeing a huge return on the investment. The estimated final national ad sales for the 2018 winter games is projected to be close to, but not top, $1 billion. However, due to the high cost of sponsorship deals and the disappointing ratings in 2016, many companies[ ended their sponsorship contracts](https://money.cnn.com/2018/02/17/news/companies/olympic-sponsors-mcdonalds-budweiser/index.html) with the Olympics including McDonald’s, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Visa, and Hilton. Looks like they are missing out. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, Branding, entertainment, McDonald's, media, primetime, Pyeongchang 2018, ratings, sponsorship, viewership, Winter Olympics --- ### [Will the Amazon Echo and Google Home be the future of advertising?](https://affirmagency.com/is-the-amazon-echo-and-google-home-the-future-of-advertising/) **Published:** October 11, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Soon after the Amazon Echo and Google Home were launched to market, the question of the ability to advertise on the smart speakers quickly arose and so did consumer interest. The desire for these smart home devices is not going anywhere; in fact, it is only getting larger. According to [Media Post](https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/325804/100-million-smart-speakers-to-ship-this-year-idc.html), the smart home device market will continue to grow another 31% this year, projecting the shipping quantity to reach well over 644 million this year and 1.3 billion in 2022. Smart speakers such as Amazon Echo and Google Home are the fastest growing type of device, accounting for 100 million units this year and 231 million projected by 2022, growing 39% annually. As an advertiser, this is a gold mine. This is a perfect way to deliver a message to your target market. It’s new, fresh, and they won’t be expecting it, or better yet, they won’t even realize they are being served an ad! But how? Although neither Amazon or Google have begun serving ads on their smart speakers, there is a lot of speculation as to how it will be done as both companies have started testing different approaches. ### 1. Promoted Search Results Companies would pay to prioritize their products when a user searched for an item by asking a question or announcing a need. This would allow the ad to be very effective because unlike other forms of advertising, only the top answers or suggestions or ads would be served to the user, according to [Business Insider.](https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-exploring-ad-options-echo-alexa-2018-1) ### 2. Targeted Searches Based on Past Shopping Behavior This method, according to [CNBC,](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/02/amazon-alexa-is-opening-up-to-more-sponsored-product-ads.htm) involves both Amazon and Google prioritizing user experience by accessing all known information about the user to serve them the best and most relatable ads possible, most likely based off recent internet activity. ### 3. Sponsored Ads Within According to [Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/16/google-home-is-playing-ads-for-beauty-and-the-beast/), Both Amazon and Google’s smart speakers have features that will tell users about their day, the weather, and topline news. Placing a sponsored ad during this time, if done well, will reach the right audience similar to a native online ad. ### 4. Combining Traditional Media with Smart Speakers Companies will roll out a traditional media campaign, either print or digital, however the call to action will be specific to smart home speakers. According to [Digiday](https://digiday.com/social/diageo-using-amazon-echo-google-home/), Diageo has already pursued this with the print ad call to action instructing people to ask their smart homes to “*send me a sample*” of vegan Bailey’s Almande. For Marketers, the question is not necessarily how but when to advertise on smart home devices? For users, the concern rests with how much of their private information is being used and sold to companies from smart speakers that listen to their day-to-day lives. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** consumer targeting, google home, marketing, research, smart speakers, sponsored ads, target audience, Technology --- ### [Should Your Business Be Posting on X?](https://affirmagency.com/should-your-business-be-posting-on-x/) **Published:** January 31, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** **How X can help you reach your target audience and customers** Think of your website as the face of your business, and social media as your voice…if you put it into perspective in this way, it is easy to see why it’s important to generate content on social media to help drive your business. But where to start with social media content creation? How about one of the most utilized social networks for business… by learning more about the dos and don’ts of navigating X! **Do: Make sure you’re always ‘home’** X is a way to have your business “always open,” whenever a customer has a question or comment, X is a direct line to your customer service whether it’s 10pm or 5am. Obviously, you’re probably not going to be engaging with customers at midnight, but that doesn’t mean those tweets directed to your company should go unanswered. Hop on X daily and engage with customers. Which leads us to our next tip… **Do: Engage. Educate. Sell.** You’re a business, and at the end of the day you need to sell. Whether you’re selling a product or a service, you rely on making a sale to make a profit. While consumers understand that you’re in the business of selling your business, don’t make it your number one priority. X is for *engagement* and *education*, having conversations, networking, and making relationships with your followers. Educating your audience is just as important as being responsive to inquiries. Show them why you’re the best, why your company stands out from the competition, or maybe even why they would ever need your service to begin with – without being too sales-focused. Give your followers (and potential customers) insight into the business, prove that you’re a leader and up on the latest trends in your industry. And finally, after you’ve successfully educated and engaged with your followers, you get to sell. Let your followers know about your offerings, so even if they are not in the position to make a purchase, you’ll be on the top of their mind when they do need you! Think of your X priorities as: 1. Engaging with followers and customers/businesses 2. Educating your followers and customers about your industry 3. Selling your product or service to your followers and customers **Don’t: Think that X is dead** X is still heavily used by people. The issue is, organic reach of X isn’t always as high as other platforms like Facebook and Instagram, but don’t let that get you down. People go to X for news and brand updates, unlike Facebook and Instagram where people are more apt to comment on somebody’s personal posts. This gives companies the ability to control their own narrative. What’s your business’s social media voice? Informative, funny or even snarky (think @Wendy’s), potential consumers want to follow interesting, entertaining accounts to hear what’s going on in your world with your brand. Take advantage of that! **Don’t: Create an X account if you don’t have time to post** “This year we’re going to get on social media,” said nearly every business ever. Yes, social media is extremely important, and you’ve heard that you should be on X, but if you don’t have the time to post, it hurts more than it helps. Imagine you see a new coffee shop on your street and you get so excited! The coffee shop is shiny and new, it promises to deliver the freshest roast, a welcoming atmosphere and the most skilled baristas. And then it’s never open. Literally, you walk by it **every day** and the lights are on, but it’s not serving customers. Eventually, you stop looking into the windows and walk by, rendering this coffee shop useless. This is your X account; you have one and it started out with a few great articles and news pieces from your company and next thing you know you’ve been silent for 2 years. If someone wants to follow your brand, it’s because they want to hear from you, and the only way people are going to find, follow, and engage with you is if you post. You control your success. If you do it, do it well. **You’re onboard with X! Now what?** Need help with X or in determining your social media strategy? AFFIRM would love to assist! Our social media team has experience running campaigns for a wide variety of organizations. No matter the industry, social media should be used to reach your audience and provide value in ways that matter to them. Whether you’re just starting your social media presence, or looking to improve on an already sizable following, we’ll make sure social media is a strength, not an afterthought. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, educate, engage, marketing, Social Media, tweet, twitter --- ### [How to Write Effective Photo Captions on Social Media](https://affirmagency.com/how-to-write-effective-photo-captions-on-social-media/) **Published:** February 3, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** In a world where approximately 52 million photos are shared daily on Instagram, a well-written caption can make all the difference in driving engagement. Let’s be honest, captioning is the hardest part of uploading a photo. After much reading and research, here are some of the best tips to help you master the art of captioning Instagram photos (and other photos for social media). - **Know your audience –**Will they understand a specific reference? Will the tone resonate with them? Are emojis appropriate? As with any other marketing strategy, knowing your target audience helps you to tailor your message. - **Provide context –** What’s happening in the photo? What story are you trying to tell? What’s the connection to your brand? Captions should enhance your photo. Providing context allows you to have complete control over the type of message you want to send. Don’t let your audience question what it is your sharing or why you’re sharing it. - **Important info first** – With shorter attention spans, useful and/or engaging info should come first! While Instagram does allow 2,200 characters, captions are cut off after a few lines of text. - **Ask a question –** Social media is meant to be social. Post a question in your caption to start a conversation to help drive engagement from followers. - **Include a call to action** – Asking your audience to “double tap (like),” “tag a friend,” or check out the “link in our bio” allows for interaction and engagement. All you have to do is ask. - **Use hashtags and emojis wisely –** Hashtags and emojis can be used to leverage engagement but make sure not to overdo it. Many social media marketers [recommend](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/instagram-caption-ideas/) using a max of two hashtags per post. Of course, hashtags and emojis should be relevant to your post. - **Be consistent –** Consistency in how you present your information helps with developing a tone of voice. Are your captions more humorous or more serious? Captions should embody your brand while also reaching your target audience. If you’re looking for a social strategy or any additional support with captions, we’d love to help! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Branding, Engagement, Instagram, Photo Captions, Social Media --- ### [Top Reasons Why Public Relations Is More Crucial Than Ever in the Age of AI](https://affirmagency.com/top-reasons-why-public-relations-is-more-crucial-than-ever-in-the-age-of-ai/) **Published:** August 26, 2025 **Author:** Laura Monagle **Content:** AI is changing marketing at lightning speed, streamlining content creation, automating workflows, and crunching data like never before. But while AI agents can handle efficiency, there’s a human-powered tool becoming even more vital: public relations. In today’s noisy, AI-saturated world, PR is more than press releases. It’s how brands build trust, spark meaningful conversations, and stay credible. Here are four reasons why PR deserves a lead role in your marketing strategy, along with real-world examples. ## Trust Is Everything and PR Builds It AI may be artificial, but your brand can’t be. In a digital landscape filled with deepfakes and misinformation, authenticity cuts through. PR helps your brand show up as real, human, and trustworthy. Consumers crave connection. PR earns credibility in a way ads never can through third-party validation, honest storytelling, and strategic media visibility. Case in point: YouTube giant MrBeast ditched AI-generated thumbnails after noticing his fans stopped clicking. They sensed something was off. When he went back to human-made creative, performance bounced back. Authenticity rules. ## AI Can Generate Content, But PR Gives It Purpose AI can pump out blog posts, social content, and even campaign taglines. But unless there’s a strategy behind the story, it’s just noise. That’s where PR comes in. PR pros know how to build narratives with real, lasting impact. We create context, emotional connection, and relevance, turning content into conversation. Remember Dove’s “Self-Esteem Project”? It didn’t go viral because of a clever tagline. It worked because it started a real dialogue, backed by experts, data, and advocacy. That story was carried across earned media, events, and influencer partnerships. ## Reputation Moves in Real Time and PR Is Your Response Team With AI-powered monitoring tools, we can now track brand mentions 24/7. But spotting a problem is only step one. Responding with speed and empathy is where PR shines. When Southwest Airlines faced its holiday travel meltdown in 2023, basic talking points didn’t cut it. Their leadership had to show up: on video, in interviews, in real time. That’s crisis communications 101: A human voice, clear accountability, and forward-looking messaging. PR helps brands navigate tough moments without sounding like a chatbot. ## PR Makes You More Searchable People aren’t just Googling keywords anymore, they’re asking questions. The answers are being pulled from podcasts, news articles, interviews, and thought leadership. That’s where PR makes your brand searchable in the new AI age. It’s not just about keywords. It’s about showing up in multiple channels and telling a story. When Adobe launched its AI tool Firefly, they didn’t stop at a press release. They booked podcast interviews, secured articles in *Fast Company*, and supported YouTube creators to explain the ethics behind their tech. That’s the kind of visibility AI search engines love—and people trust. In a world flooded with content, what sets your brand apart won’t be faster output. It’ll be emotional relevance, credibility, and clarity. That’s the power of PR. **Categories:** AI, Blog, Public Relations --- ### [On the Right Track: How Amtrak Hiawatha Helped Define Transit Marketing, and AFFIRM’s Place in It](https://affirmagency.com/on-the-right-track-how-amtrak-hiawatha-helped-define-transit-marketing-and-affirms-place-in-it/) **Published:** September 18, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** The Amtrak Hiawatha service, connecting Milwaukee and Chicago, represents more than just a successful passenger rail line. The Hiawatha illustrates how effective transit marketing can shape public perception, drive ridership, and redefine how communities view mobility. Its story, beginning in 1935 with the Milwaukee Road’s introduction of the Hiawatha luxury streamliner, is also a story about the evolution of marketing in public transportation. When Amtrak assumed operation in 1971, Hiawatha carried forward a legacy of branding that was once revolutionary: sleek names, bold design, and passenger experiences positioned as modern and aspirational. But by the early 2000s, the service needed a contemporary identity that could speak to travelers in new ways. That’s when AFFIRM Agency entered the picture. In 2004, Amtrak selected AFFIRM to refresh the Hiawatha brand, a project that not only revitalized the line but also launched AFFIRM’s transit marketing journey. What began as one campaign became a milestone in the history of transit communications—bridging classic branding with social and behavioral marketing strategies. [![WisDOT-AmtrakHiawatha-Collage](https://affirmagency.com/assets/WisDOT-AmtrakHiawatha-Collage-1024x576.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/WisDOT-AmtrakHiawatha-Collage.jpg)## **Marketing Innovation on the Rails** Historically, transit marketing focused on functional details: schedules, fares, and routes. The Hiawatha project helped prove that marketing could do much more. It could create emotional connections, strengthen loyalty, and present transit as a smart, stress-free, environmentally friendly alternative to driving. AFFIRM modernized the brand with a new logo, tagline, creative assets, and a multi-market media plan. Crucially, the launch of [AmtrakHiawatha.com](https://www.amtrakhiawatha.com/amtrak/index.php) drew more than 26,000 monthly visitors, showing how digital platforms could play a central role in ridership growth. The results spoke volumes: - Ridership increased 71% between 2004 and 2014 (from 470,000 to more than 800,000 annually). - Ticket revenue nearly doubled, rising 97% in the same period. These gains demonstrated that when effective marketing pairs with reliable service, transit systems can thrive, an insight that has since influenced campaigns nationwide. Over time, strategies expanded to include: - Partnerships with sports teams and cultural institutions - Promotions tied to leisure travel - Targeted outreach to rider segments such as students, commuters, and families - Data-driven digital advertising and social media engagement. AFFIRM’s work with Amtrak placed the agency at the forefront of this evolution, shaping strategies that would then be applied to transit systems across the country. ## **Why Transit Marketing Matters** Marketing ensures that riders not only know about their options but also see the personal and community benefits: - Safety: Ten times safer per mile than driving - Affordability: Families can save over $13,000 annually by reducing car ownership - Sustainability: Lower congestion and emissions, stronger communities Campaigns like Hiawatha’s succeed because they align these benefits with the diverse motivations of travelers—whether it’s saving time, cutting costs, reducing stress, or supporting greener choices. ## **A Lasting Legacy** The Amtrak Hiawatha campaign is remembered not just for its impact on one rail line, but for how it helped establish best practices in modern transit marketing. For AFFIRM, this was the starting point of a decades-long journey in transit marketing, proving that over time, a well-crafted message can drive behavioral change that consistently grows ridership. **Categories:** AFFIRM work --- ### [AFFIRM's Tips for Running a Successful Paid TikTok Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/affirms-tips-for-running-a-successful-paid-tiktok-campaign/) **Published:** July 2, 2025 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** Are you thinking about taking your business to TikTok? With over a billion active users and unmatched engagement, TikTok is one of the most powerful platforms for paid media if you know how to use of it right AND if your business or organization is permitted to make use it. In this blog, the AFFIRM team breaks down our top tips for running a successful paid TikTok campaign, from setting the right goals to budgeting effectively and creating content that converts. Read on before you push that “promote” button! ## **Select the Right Goal** Before you launch your campaign, make sure you’ve selected the right goal. This will create the foundation for how your ads will be optimized and measured. TikTok Ads Manager offers several goal optimizations including: - Reach: Maximize the number of people seeing your ad - Video Views: People most likely to watch your video - Website Traffic: People likely to click your ad to visit your landing page - App Installs: People likely to download your app - Conversions: People most likely to complete a specific action (i.e., purchase, sign-up, etc.) - Lead Generation: In-app form submissions. Allows contact info to be collected without leaving the app. - Engagement: People who may like, comment, or share your ad Your choice should align with your overall marketing strategy. For example, if you’re looking to boost awareness, go with reach or video views. If you’re focused on driving action, opt for conversions or lead gen. Defining your goal upfront helps TikTok’s algorithm serve your ad to the people most likely to take that action, ultimately giving you better data to evaluate performance. ## **Set an Appropriate Budget** The bottom line: Setting the right budget can make or break your TikTok campaign. TikTok requires a [minimum daily spend of $50](https://ads.tiktok.com/help/article/budget-and-bidding-faq), so it’s important to plan accordingly from the start. Consider your campaign goals and allocate enough budget to give the algorithm room to learn and optimize. A larger budget allows for more reach and faster performance insights, but even smaller businesses can find success with smart targeting and compelling creativity. Just make sure your budget supports meaningful delivery! ## **Optimize Your Video Creative** On TikTok, creative is everything. Users scroll fast, so your video needs to grab attention within the first few seconds. That means vertical video, bold visuals, and messaging that gets to the point quickly. TikTok audiences respond best to content that feels organic, not overly produced, so make sure your video is authentic to your business’s voice and style. Use captions to reinforce your message, include a clear call-to-action, and test different versions to see what resonates. Optimizing your video creative isn’t just about making it look good; it’s about making it work hard for your campaign goals. ## **Make Real-Time Optimizations** TikTok’s algorithm moves fast and so should your optimizations. Once your campaign is live, don’t just set it and forget it. Monitor performance daily and be ready to adjust in real time. You may want to tweak your targeting, or maybe it’s updating your creative. Remember, small changes can make a big difference. Use TikTok Ads Manager’s data to spot trends like drop-offs in engagement or strong CTRs early on so you can optimize accordingly. Staying agile ensures your campaign stays efficient, effective, and in sync with your audience’s behavior! Getting started with paid TikTok and other paid social advertising can be overwhelming at first. We’re here to help you out! AFFIRM can set you and your business up for success by developing a tailored paid social strategy. Reach out to us at and we’ll work with you to help you meet your goals. **Categories:** Blog, Social Media, TikTok --- ### [AFFIRM's Guide to 2025 AI Tools](https://affirmagency.com/affirms-guide-to-2025-ai-tools/) **Published:** May 5, 2025 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** Like it or not, AI is here to stay. [Digital Marketing Institute](https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/10-eye-opening-ai-marketing-stats-in-2025) reports that 43% of marketing pros automate repetitive tasks and processes using AI software. This is point and proof that AI tools have the power and potential to improve workplace efficiency, especially in the world of marketing and advertising. As a result, more and more AI tools continue to pop up seemingly every day, and it can be tough to keep up. Here are some of the AI tools that we find the most intriguing at AFFIRM Agency as marketing and advertising professionals. ## **ChatGPT** In 2025, one AI tool making significant waves in the marketing and advertising sectors is ChatGPT, developed by [OpenAI](https://openai.com/). ChatGPT has an advanced language model that provides a way for marketers and advertisers to generate dynamic, context-aware content in real-time. ChatGPT can assist with brainstorming content topics, crafting engaging starter ad copy, and even developing content strategies based on trending topics and SEO insights. As AI continues to evolve, tools like ChatGPT underscore the transformative impact these technologies can have on the way we work. ## **Gamma** [Gamma](https://gamma.app/) is another groundbreaking AI tool reshaping the marketing and advertising landscape. Designed to analyze consumer behavior through advanced data analytics, Gamma provides marketers with deep insights into customer preferences. This powerful tool uses machine learning algorithms to predict trends and optimize marketing campaigns, ensuring that businesses can tailor strategies to meet the evolving demands of their target audience. By integrating real-time data processing, Gamma helps businesses launch highly targeted ads that not only reach the right people at the right time but also resonate on a personal level. Its ability to swiftly adapt to changing market conditions and consumer feedback makes it a good tool for businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve. ## **Grammarly** Another great AI tool for those aiming to sharpen their communication and enhance their business’s voice is [Grammarly](https://www.grammarly.com/). As a sophisticated writing assistant, Grammarly goes beyond basic spell-checking by offering advanced grammar, tone, and style suggestions tailored to the context of each piece of content. This tool is helpful for crafting error-free, persuasive, and audience-appropriate messaging. Whether it’s drafting compelling ad copy, engaging social media posts, or articulate business proposals, Grammarly helps improve communications to be more polished and professional. Grammarly is also integrated with many existing tools, including social media management and listening tools like [Hootsuite](http://hootsuite.com/)! ## **Jasper** [Jasper](https://www.jasper.ai/) recently emerged as a powerhouse AI tool for 2025. Renowned for its advanced content generation capabilities, Jasper assists brands in creating high-quality, engaging content at scale. This includes drafting blog posts and designing compelling ad copy for email campaigns or social media content. Its ability to generate diverse content styles and tones tailored to specific audience segments helps businesses fine-tune their messaging to resonate with consumers. Jasper also streamlines the content creation process, enabling you to produce more content in less time, thus significantly boosting productivity. It’s important to note that although AI tools present enormous opportunity for streamlining operations and efficiency, it can’t replace human ingenuity when it comes to tailoring content and creating marketing strategies. We recommend trying some of these tools if you’re struggling to keep up with creating your content, but when you’re ready, [contact the AFFIRM Agency experts](https://affirmagency.com/contact/) for help with creating personal, dynamic content that makes an impact! **Categories:** AI, ChatGPT, Gamma, Grammarly, Jasper --- ### [Celebrating 40 Years of Positively Engaging Marketing](https://affirmagency.com/celebrating-40-years-of-positively-engaging-marketing/) **Published:** March 12, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** In 2025, we proudly celebrate 40 years of AFFIRM Agency—a journey filled with creativity, innovation, and a deep commitment to making a positive difference. What began in 1985 with founder Jim Staples leaving his job as an ad sales rep at the old Milwaukee Journal and starting an agency known as Staples Marketing with one client, Amato Oldsmobile, has transformed into AFFIRM, a full-service advertising agency known for our specialization in behavior change marketing and our dedication to serving clients across several industries, including transportation, government, manufacturing, retail, automotive, health care, and higher education. ## **A Brief Look Back** [![Staples Marketing logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/staples-marketing-logo1.png)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/staples-marketing-logo1.png)Staples Marketing started with a vision: to help clients communicate effectively and make meaningful connections. Over the years, our agency grew in size, scope, and reputation, evolving with the times to embrace new technologies and marketing strategies. From traditional print and broadcast campaigns to digital and social media initiatives, AFFIRM has continuously adapted to deliver results-driven marketing solutions. And winning dozens of advertising industry awards along the way! [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/affirm-core-values.avif)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/affirm-core-values.avif)In 2015, under the leadership of current owner Danny Mager, we rebranded as AFFIRM, reflecting a renewed purpose: to empower clients by following our Core Values to be Always RESPONSIVE, Persuasively CREATIVE, Extremely RELIABLE, Amazingly RESOURCEFUL, Openly COLLABORATIVE, Exceptionally AGILE, Absolutely POSITIVE, and Always FUN to work with. We leaned into behavior change marketing—communicating to people how they can make their lives better—solidifying our role as a trusted marketing partner for public sector organizations, nonprofits, and private sector clients alike. ## **Introducing our 40th Anniversary Logo** [![AFFIRM 40th Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/affirm-40th-logo-2.png)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/affirm-40th-logo-2.png) Since the average lifespan of an independently owned small advertising agency in the United States is typically around 5 to 10 years, we’re celebrating our milestone 40th anniversary by unveiling our special AFFIRM Agency 40th anniversary logo. This limited-time design blends the iconic AFFIRM branding with a celebratory twist, symbolizing our growth, resilience, and forward-thinking approach. The logo will be featured on our website, social media, email signatures, and select marketing materials throughout the year, serving as a visual reminder of our agency’s legacy and the bright future ahead. ## **Thank You for 40 *Absolutely Positive* Years** We couldn’t have reached our “middle-age” as an agency without the support of our incredible clients, partners, and team members. As we look ahead, our commitment remains unwavering: to create campaigns that inspire, change behaviors for the better, and leave a lasting impact on the clients we serve. Here’s to the next 40 years of innovation, creativity, and success! Stay tuned for special events, projects, and reflections throughout our anniversary year. Follow us on social media to join the celebration and share your memories with us using #AFFIRM40. **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Measuring your PR: what is relevant to you?](https://affirmagency.com/measuring-your-pr-what-is-relevant-to-you/) **Published:** July 3, 2012 **Author:** Laura Monagle **Content:** > “I spend alot of time tracking all of our media mentions, but no one ever really looks at this stuff.” That’s a common feeling among our clients. We all want measurement, but it’s hard to decide what data is relevant. There’s a great deal of activity on a global basis in the PR world regarding standardization of PR and media relations measures. I am completely in support of these efforts. However, like all measurement, the most important data points are those that relevant. And the definition of relevant is in the eye of the beholder. So, where do you even start? Here are some initial suggestions: ### **Decide what is relevant and useful to you.** Are you in a controversial industry, a crisis or volatile episode in your company’s history? Then positive, negative or neutral tone in coverage is important to you. Are there certain keywords and key messages you want covered that support your other marketing & advertising efforts? Then track and measure those. Are you trying to forge relationships with new journalists or outlets? Then measure how many of those have begun to cover your organization or call you for comment. ### **Decide what is relevant and useful to the people to whom you report.** Let’s be honest. The CEO or CFO might not appreciate the same measures as a PR pro. So finding out what’s valuable to that person is just as important as what you and I want to know. If it’s garnering more mentions than the biggest competitor, track it and report it. If it’s a huge binder full of clips that makes him or her happy, make it happen. Once you have their interest and attention by meeting their expectations, only then can you begin to get a CEO excited about other ways your coverage is meaningful. ### **The more you can track your efforts directly to bottom line results, the better.** This is the hardest one of all, but it’s the PR jackpot. Do orders for a particular product increase during the time your story or release on that product hits the media? Did you receive a call or e-mail from a potential client who specficially mentioned your article in the business news? Do you notice that you have more leads and referrals coming in from people who said they heard about you from a news story? Make sure you’re trying to capture this information as part of the sales process, and you’ll enjoy the truest measure of success. Remember that the data you’re collecting should be helping you decide how and where to focus your PR energy. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, Public Relations --- ### [Are system fonts making a comeback?](https://affirmagency.com/are-system-fonts-making-a-comeback/) **Published:** October 3, 2016 **Author:** Mark Skowron **Content:** Ten years ago, web designers created sites using system fonts. For example, let’s say a designer chose Arial as their main font. In this case, they knew that Arial comes standard on Windows and Mac OS, so the website would look the similar on both operating systems. However, if they chose a font that wasn’t a default operating system font, they could run the risk of having the site display differently – as the font would be missing and automatically switched for another. Designers were limited to which fonts they could use, as Windows and Mac only shared about 8 fonts. A few years later, designers started experimenting with Font Face, a handy method for embedding custom fonts. All of a sudden, the web became much more creative. Beautiful fonts could be used anywhere, and designers weren’t limited to 8 fonts. However, a major drawback to this method was file size and server calls. Embedding fonts meant asking each user to download a unique font when they visited the site. This meant more data being loaded, and more calls to the server to get that data. For some, the reward was worth the risk – a slightly slower load time but a more unique design. Today, some 60% of all websites are embedding fonts this way. But as trends usually go, things are starting to come back to system fonts again. This [article](https://css-tricks.com/system-fonts-svg/) explains it in depth even more. What do you think? Will system fonts make a complete comeback? Or will font embedding continue to be the norm? **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** css, fonts, web design --- ### [AFFIRM's Top Super Bowl Ads of 2023](https://affirmagency.com/affirms-top-super-bowl-ads-of-2023/) **Published:** February 22, 2023 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** The Super Bowl is routinely watched by over [100 million viewers](https://www.statista.com/topics/8999/super-bowl-advertising-in-the-us/#topicOverview) every year, and many people tune in specifically for the ads. At AFFIRM Agency, we’re not afraid to admit that the only thing we enjoy more than watching the big game itself are the advertisements! This year we saw some exciting celebrity cameos and innovative ideas that caught our attention, and as is tradition, we wanted to share a few ads with you that we felt stood out among the rest. Here are AFFIRM’s top Super Bowl ads of 2023! ## **Pop Corners: Breaking Bad** Pop Corners reunited the legendary duo of Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul to reprise their characters from the TV show ‘Breaking Bad.’ The ad shows Cranston and Paul reenacting recognizable scenes from the show, only they’ve (thankfully) swapped out meth for Pop Corners chips. We even see a cameo from fan favorite villain Tuco Salamanca, played by actor Raymond Cruz. Breaking Bad’s last episode received a whopping [10.3 million in viewership](https://www.sj-r.com/story/business/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-finale-crushes/36606317007/), a record at the time in 2013, and it’s a smart move to bring back a show people are nostalgic about to advertise a product. This ad also helps elevate visibility for a brand that may be overshadowed by other larger players in the space like Doritos. *Watch the full Pop Corners: Breaking Bad spot* [*here*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMlemd6U24Y) ## **Tubi: Interface Interruption** Tubi took a play out of [Coinbase’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ9pNQrz0fA) playbook from last year with their creative, disruptive ad. This ad tricked people into thinking somebody in their household was sitting on the remote by opening a fake TV menu and switching the interface to Tubi. Like the Coinbase ad from last year, this ad was simple in concept, yet different enough to catch the attention of viewers and start online discussion. This is the mark of effective advertising, and Tubi was successful at making an impression. *Watch the full Tubi: Interface Interruption spot* [*here*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73p4lL1iq7w&t=1s) ## **Pepsi: Great Acting or Great Taste?** Like in years past, Pepsi used a popular celebrity to act as a spokesperson for their brand in their Super Bowl ad. Ben Stiller shows off his acting skills in different scenes including an alien fight, a proposal, and a sci-fi scene. He also reprises his character from the movie ‘Zoolander’ at the end for an element of nostalgia. This ad is interesting because Stiller states at the beginning that his job as an actor is getting people to believe what he’s doing is real, and when he drinks a sip of Pepsi at the end, he questions the audience asking them if they thought he really enjoyed it. Pepsi allows Ben Stiller to present an unfiltered version of himself in the ad, something that will likely resonate better in an age where audiences place importance on authenticity in advertising. *Watch the full Pepsi: Great Acting or Great Taste? spot* [*here*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok38Xuc5UTE) ## **Heineken 0.0: Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania – Now You Can, Before Saving the Day!** Let’s be honest – Non-alcoholic beer can be a tough sell to those who enjoy drinking. However, Heineken subverts this challenge effectively with an ad featuring Paul Rudd as Ant Man in the popular Marvel movie franchise. They make the point that you can choose Heineken 0.0 any time, even before work, since it’s alcohol-free. Making a strong point using an actor people love in one of his most notable roles was a smart way for Heineken to get real with people about the benefits of non-alcoholic beer they may not immediately think about. *Watch the full Pepsi: Great Acting or Great Taste? spot* [*here*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok38Xuc5UTE) ## **Wisconsin DHS: Here to Support You** We may be a little biased on this one, but we do believe that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline ad from Wisconsin Department of Health Services was one of the best ads that ran during the Super Bowl. This ad ran in all Wisconsin markets to spread awareness about 988 and let people know that the service allows them to call, text, or chat 24/7 to speak with trained lifeline counselors. As a relatively new service, an ad during the Super Bowl brings more visibility to 988 and provides valuable education that could save someone’s life. For this reason, we had to include this as one of our favorite 2023 Super Bowl ads. *Watch the full Wisconsin DHS: Here to Support You spot* [*here*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s20Duifvic) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, Government, Heineken, Pepsi, Pop Corners, Super Bowl --- ### [How to Grow an Email Marketing Subscriber List](https://affirmagency.com/how-to-grow-an-email-marketing-subscriber-list/) **Published:** December 18, 2024 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** In the digital age, a growing email marketing subscriber list is one of the most valuable assets a business can have. It’s a direct line to your audience that gives you the opportunity to nurture relationships and build brand loyalty with current and prospective customers. Growing your subscriber list will take more than just adding a sign-up form to your website though. It requires strategic thinking, a value-first approach, and a little creativity. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to expand your existing audience, the AFFIRM Agency experts are here with tips to help you with growing your email subscriber list. ## **Tip #1: Develop Engaging Email Content** How many brand emails do you delete from your inbox each month? It can be hard to break through the noise with so many businesses utilizing email marketing but creating value-driven, informative content will help you keep the subscribers you have and attract new ones. For example, you can implement subscriber-only tips or insights in your email newsletters or promote giveaways or contests to subscribers. Writing email copy can be a tedious process month over month, so don’t forget to utilize [AI tools](https://blog.hootsuite.com/ai-copywriting/) for help as you’re creating your first drafts! ## **Tip #2: Optimize Your Website** Converting website visitors to email subscribers is an excellent way to grow your subscriber list, but you’ll have to optimize your website first. Make sure to use clear call-to-actions throughout your site to encourage people to sign up and consider adding a pop-up when people enter your site. You should also embed sign up forms everywhere on your website including in the header and footer, sidebar widgets, and at the end of blog posts. ## **Tip #3: Leverage Social Media** Your social media channels are the perfect place to promote your email newsletters and gain subscribers. People who opt-in to follow you on social media are also likely to subscribe to your email list. Share snippets of your email content and encourage followers to subscribe for more. You can also run ads on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to an audience of people already following your page that drive traffic to a signup landing page. If you share info about your email newsletter on stories, be sure to add a “Swipe Up” link or include a signup link in your bio. ## **Tip #4: Engage Offline** Don’t forget to take advantage of in-person moments to grow your email subscriber list. Use events, trade shows, and conferences as an opportunity to forge personal connections with people to keep them engaged with email content you send them in the future. Include sign up URLs and QR codes on marketing materials to make it easy for people to sign up for your email newsletters in person. Using offline strategies will help build loyalty and engagement with future email sends. AFFIRM Agency can help your business achieve success by helping you develop an email marketing subscriber list to reach your audience. Reach out to us at and we’ll work with you to create a strategy tailored to your organization’s goals. **Categories:** Blog --- ### [How to Create Engaging Instagram Reels](https://affirmagency.com/how-to-create-engaging-instagram-reels/) **Published:** October 16, 2024 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** By now it should be no secret that Reels are the most popular content format on Instagram, allowing users to create short, captivating videos with the ability to reach audiences of followers and non-followers. Originally introduced as a response to the growing trend of short-form video content, Reels offer a dynamic way to express creativity, share stories, and engage with followers. Whether you’re new to Reels or looking to enhance your video content, there are some key steps you can take to set yourself up for success. ## **Why are Instagram reels important?** The organic reach of static Instagram posts has declined in recent years. This is due in part to increased paid advertising on the platform, but mostly it’s because the static image format is less engaging. It’s important to focus on creating content that’s interesting and gets engagement quickly to win with Instagram’s algorithm. A [Socialinsider](https://www.socialinsider.io/blog/instagram-benchmarks/) study recently found that Reels see an average reach rate of 30.81%. That’s double the reach rate of other content formats, including static images! Reels are also still the most engaged with content format on Instagram. For these reasons alone, it’s worth it for any business to experiment with Reels. ## **Tip #1: Hook viewers in the first few seconds** According to [Social Mention](https://www.socialmention.com/best-length-for-instagram-reels/), the ideal length for an Instagram Reel is between 7-15 seconds long. That means you’re going to want to get the attention of the viewer right off the bat, ideally within the first three seconds for optimal retention. Though it’s easier said than done, by creating a compelling visual, interesting statement, or unexpected moment, you’ll be able to create a video that sticks with people and gets engagement on Instagram. ## **Tip #2: Tap into current sounds, music, and trends** Have you ever heard of [Huh Cat](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVWeRnStdSA)? Does the [clip of Pedro Pascal smiling](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvknvOyy9hg) from the movie “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” ever pass across your Instagram feed? One of the best ways to create a winning reel is by capitalizing on trending templates or meme formats in your own Reels. Using a popular trend correctly in a Reel is something your audience will notice and reward with engagement. You may also want to try using popular sounds or music in your Reels. Using music makes Reels more engaging and could be your ticket to success. ## **Tip #3: Show personality** This is an important tip for all aspects of your business’s social media, especially with Reels. Short form video can be used in many ways to show the personality of your business, including the unique culture and sense of humor of the people who work there. Reels can also be used to show your expertise in the industry you’re operating in. Showing personality in the Reels you create is what will attract new people to your content and new followers to your page! ## **Tip #4: Post consistently** Part of the challenge with Instagram Reels is posting them consistently. It’s recommended to post Reels a few times a month to ensure your page keeps up traction with Instagram’s algorithm. This will also help you get a sense of what your audience likes and what they don’t, which will help you when you’re deciding what formats and templates to use for your Reels. ## **Tip #5: Emphasize Aesthetics** As you consume more Instagram Reels, you’ll notice shared traits between Reels that are getting high engagement. The proper aspect ratio for Reels is 9:16 and conforming to this sizing when posting will ensure that you are able to achieve maximum delivery with your post. You’re also only able to [boost your Instagram Reel](https://help.instagram.com/570215404599013) for additional results if it is in a 9:16 aspect ratio, so be sure to keep this in mind. Successful Instagram Reels may also include well-timed edits between clips and music that is edited in to fit the video. There are plenty of free, easy-to-use apps, including [CapCut](https://www.capcut.com/tools/desktop-video-editor?utm_medium=sem&utm_source=googleadwords_int&pid=359289&af_c_id=21157337217&adset_id=162157605753&ad_id=697948663363&placement=&keyword_name=capcut&targetid=kwd-1406970026529&matchtype=e&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyL24BhCtARIsALo0fSBhG8bZne20K2ZHtoBBGAXmnVehgjNJLc5c9M_PADf5wCMDfNRyRLwaAlEHEALw_wcB), that you can use to edit your videos for Reels. Like any social media marketing tactic, getting it right with Instagram Reels takes time, patience, and a good understanding of current trends. AFFIRM Agency is experienced in using Instagram Reels to grow Instagram audiences and engagement for businesses. [Reach out to us](https://affirmagency.com/contact/) and we can work with you to put together a Reels strategy that’s right for you. **Categories:** Blog --- ### [How to Use Personalized Marketing to Improve your Audience's Experience](https://affirmagency.com/how-to-use-personalized-marketing-to-improve-your-audiences-experience/) **Published:** September 11, 2024 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** Creating marketing that is personal and relevant for your audience is essential for success in 2024. To create true personalized marketing, you’ll have to gain a better understanding of who your audience is and what they care about. From there you’ll have the information you need to build marketing messages that are effective. From choosing the right channels, to optimizing your content strategy, the AFFIRM Agency experts are here to help you. ## **What is personalized marketing?** When we refer to personalized marketing, we’re talking about crafting strategies informed by data to connect with target audiences and existing customers. So, developing a personalized marketing strategy should be heavily based on marketing research done via methods like surveys and data collection from social listening platforms like [Hootsuite](https://www.hootsuite.com/). By coming to understand the audience you want to reach, including when they’re active online, what they’re interested in, and what motivates them, you’ll have a framework for creating your strategy. ## **Tip #1: Define your audience** When you’re getting started with developing your marketing strategy, consider who you’re trying to reach. This is something you’ll need to clarify before crafting your message. Once you know who your audience is, you can curate marketing to resonate with specific groups, addressing their unique desires and interests. For example, AFFIRM serves several Transportation Demand Management (TDM) clients seeking to change the behavior of single-occupancy vehicle commuters. For these clients, we create messages and imagery that highlights the unique benefits the audience receives when they choose alternative modes of transportation like carpools, vanpools, and riding transit. Since our TDM clients are all over the country, we also consider unique geographic or cultural aspects to make messaging more personalized. For example, [check out these ads we did for GWRideConnect, located in the George Washington Region of Virginia.](https://affirmagency.sharepoint.com/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2FShared%20Documents%2FClients%2FCLIENTS%20%2D%20ACTIVE%2FGWRideConnect%2F2024%20%2D%202025%2F24%2DGWRC%2D010%20ACT%20Chesapeake%20Chapter%20Award%20Submission%2FFINAL%2F2024%20ACT%20Chesapeake%20Award%20Nomination%5FGWRideConnect%5FCreative%2Epdf&parent=%2FShared%20Documents%2FClients%2FCLIENTS%20%2D%20ACTIVE%2FGWRideConnect%2F2024%20%2D%202025%2F24%2DGWRC%2D010%20ACT%20Chesapeake%20Chapter%20Award%20Submission%2FFINAL&p=true&ct=1725028530956&or=Teams%2DHL&ga=1&LOF=1) Taking the time to get to know your audience will make it easier to create marketing materials that earn results. ## **Tip #2: Choose the right channel for your audience** Choosing the right channels for your marketing, especially when you’re new to developing an intentional, personalized approach, can be challenging. We recommend getting started by conducting an audit of what others in your industry are doing, including what’s working well and what isn’t. If you’ve been engaging in marketing activities, consider what results you’re currently seeing. What does reach of your promotions look like, and if you have access to this data, what is the makeup of your audience from a location and demographic standpoint? What type of feedback or engagement are you getting? Answering these questions will help you determine if what you’re doing is working and will help you figure out what to do to get the results you want. ## **Tip #3: Form a relationship with your audience** [Did you know that answering a question or complaint on social media can increase customer advocacy by 25%?](https://everyonesocial.com/blog/social-listening-statistics/#:~:text=Half%20of%20worldwide%20marketers%20have,GlobalWebIndex)) A massively important aspect of personalizing marketing is to make your audience feel like their individual voice matters. Put together talking points for answering audience questions over phone or on social media. Share updates through your website and on social media. If you’re running a campaign that your target audience doesn’t respond to well, utilize this feedback to make updates to optimize your messaging and materials for better response. Your audience will notice if you go the extra mile to make them feel heard and will reward you with brand loyalty. AFFIRM Agency can help your business achieve success by helping you develop a personalized marketing strategy to engage your audience. Reach out to us at and we’ll work with you to create a strategy tailored to your organization’s goals. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, Communication, marketing --- ### [Want to Effect Change for the Better? Consider Social Marketing](https://affirmagency.com/want-to-effect-change-for-the-better-consider-social-marketing/) **Published:** June 24, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Have you ever wanted to exercise more? Stop smoking? Get your teenager to wear a seat belt in the car? Chances are, at one time or another we all have wanted to change behavior for the betterment of ourselves, our family or our society. There is an entire type of marketing devoted to affecting that type of behavioral change – it’s called social marketing. Social marketing (not to be confused with *social media* marketing!) uses traditional and digital marketing techniques to educate people in order to drive behavioral change. The goal of this type of marketing is to raise awareness surrounding a certain cause or problem in order to change the behavior instead of to sell a product or service. Social marketing is a strategy commonly used in public health and safety, in particular. These are some classic social marketing campaigns: ![This Is Your Brain On Drugs Social Marketing Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/assets/your-brain-on-drugs-affirm-agency-1024x546.png)This Is Your Brain on Drugs was a large-scale US anti-narcotics campaign by Partnership for a Drug-Free America launched in 1987. Image Source: ![Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires Social Marketing Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/assets/smokey-the-bear-forest-fires-affirm-agency-1024x546.png)The Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention campaign is the longest-running public service advertising campaign in U.S. history, educating generations of Americans about their role in preventing wildfires. Image Source: ![Dose of Reality Social Marketing Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dose-of-reality-wisconsin-affirm-agency-1024x546.png)AFFIRM was hired by the Wisconsin Departments of Justice and Health Services to research, plan, produce and execute a statewide Prescription Opiate Abuse Prevention, Education, and Awareness Campaign.AFFIRM specializes in creating memorable, attention grabbing social marketing campaigns. The DOSE OF REALITY graphic above is from the Wisconsin Prescription Opiate Abuse Awareness and Prevention Campaign we created in conjunction with the Wisconsin Departments of Justice and Health Services. In addition to running in Wisconsin, this campaign has been adopted for use in seven other states and has contributed to positive change in attitudes and behaviors since it launched in 2015. AFFIRM has worked alongside State, County, and Municipal public health, transit and transportation, public works, law enforcement, natural resources and environmental organizations to seek behavioral change for issues as varied as substance abuse prevention, water conservation, air quality improvement, motorcycle safety, seat belt usage, impaired driving prevention, distracted driving reduction, increase recycling, employee benefits enrollment, wellness programs and more. ## So, how do you approach a social marketing campaign? - Step 1: Identify/quantify the issue or challenge – define the desired change in behavior and how it will be measured - Step 2: Define the target audience/influencers; those most at risk of taking part in the behavior and the people with influence over them - Step 3: Identify/qualify the obstacles to making the change in behavior among the target audience - Step 4: Create messaging that addresses those obstacles/offers a path to the desired behavior - Step 5: Consistently get the message in front of the target audience(s) via strategic marketing, education and outreach - Step 6: Measure campaign effectiveness – NOTE: With behavior change efforts, this often happens over the course of years, not months! The importance of social marketing has never been higher – getting the public to understand the risks of COVID-19 and what they can do to stop its spread is just one example of that. However, this approach is something that can be used by businesses as well, for wellness or safety programs. We’ll get into more detail about each of these steps in our series of blogs on Social Marketing over the next few months. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing --- ### [Laying the Groundwork for Long-Term Remote Success](https://affirmagency.com/laying-the-groundwork-for-long-term-remote-success/) **Published:** April 1, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** It seemed like a novelty just a few weeks ago, the idea of working from home, especially if you’re new to the concept. With the fluid Coronavirus situation and the government’s recommendation to stay at home, it looks like working remotely will continue to be a reality for at least another month, perhaps longer. Deciding where to create an office environment can be difficult. Some have chosen a corner of a room, kitchen nook, or even an extra bedroom, but for many of us, our set up has been patchwork and not optimum. While most of us are chugging along, checking off our to-do lists, we may also realize that there are ways we can be more productive. How do we create a long-term work-from-home situation where we can be most productive? The following are tips that our fellow AFFIRMIANS are learning along the way: ## **Be a Squeaky Wheel** Keep the conversation going. Communication is key, especially when working from home. At the office, we have the kitchen and coffee areas where we can casually have an ongoing conversation. The relationships you were building at the office can’t happen as easily working from home. At AFFIRM, we use [Microsoft Teams](https://products.office.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software?&ef_id=Cj0KCQjwsYb0BRCOARIsAHbLPhFppD0EJ-6LTk2vq2N96ahGzYV1zS5wj27p9b2NOO5jSPvXC1-NS48aAnk7EALw_wcB:G:s&OCID=AID2000955_SEM_Cj0KCQjwsYb0BRCOARIsAHbLPhFppD0EJ-6LTk2vq2N96ahGzYV1zS5wj27p9b2NOO5jSPvXC1-NS48aAnk7EALw_wcB:G:s&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsYb0BRCOARIsAHbLPhFppD0EJ-6LTk2vq2N96ahGzYV1zS5wj27p9b2NOO5jSPvXC1-NS48aAnk7EALw_wcB) to chat with each other, ask questions, collaborate on ideas, or just check in. Chats like [SLACK](https://slack.com/lp/three?utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=d_ppc_google_us_en_brand-hv-exp-messaging&utm_term=slack&campaign=88216180-CEBA-40C3-8F92-4AC1F052DAB4&ds_rl=1249094&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsYb0BRCOARIsAHbLPhEscR1e2162evJS8CPzEn3ho7qhFLQbT0D638Er6i3oTkTW8tGizNkaAq9XEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) or [Google ](https://gsuite.google.com/products/meet/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=na-US-all-en-dr-bkws-all-all-trial-e-dr-1008072&utm_content=text-ad-none-any-DEV_c-CRE_426841562538-ADGP_Hybrid%20%7C%20AW%20SEM%20%7C%20BKWS%20~%20EXA%20%2F%2F%20Hangouts%20%5B1:1%5D%20Google%20Hangouts-KWID_43700015211414153-kwd-362516399437&utm_term=KW_google%20hangouts-ST_google%20hangouts&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsYb0BRCOARIsAHbLPhEQU2TT-xC7lazMYwVrvFz4ltPvXdJG7JhIHY8iqEN9PXOpTOymlIMaApXFEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)[Hangouts](https://gsuite.google.com/products/meet/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=na-US-all-en-dr-bkws-all-all-trial-e-dr-1008072&utm_content=text-ad-none-any-DEV_c-CRE_426841562538-ADGP_Hybrid%20%7C%20AW%20SEM%20%7C%20BKWS%20~%20EXA%20%2F%2F%20Hangouts%20%5B1:1%5D%20Google%20Hangouts-KWID_43700015211414153-kwd-362516399437&utm_term=KW_google%20hangouts-ST_google%20hangouts&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsYb0BRCOARIsAHbLPhEQU2TT-xC7lazMYwVrvFz4ltPvXdJG7JhIHY8iqEN9PXOpTOymlIMaApXFEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) are also effective ways to stay on each other’s radar. ## **Build a Roadmap** Configure your workspace setup. Look around your home or apartment and decide where you can be the most productive. A couple of weeks ago, you might have grabbed a nook off the kitchen area, deciding it worked for the time being but, over time, it might not be the best space. If needed, rethink your environment, so you are set up for success. For example, an office set up in a bedroom doesn’t always sound ideal, but if it offers the space and is in a quieter area of your house, then go ahead and set it up! ## **Rethink your equipment’s bells and whistles** Initially, many of us may have put together a mixed bag of monitors, cables, and any flat surface we could find, MacGyvering it, finding the best way to work with the items we had on hand. Instead, try to mimic your office environment as much as possible. Even if it is set up on a kitchen table, the architecture of your workstation should be the same as the office. If you sit at a desk at your office, you should sit at a desk at home. Many people don’t have an actual desk at home but a dining room table, an old card table, or a [6-foot table](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Cosco-29-6-in-x-72-in-Rectangle-Resin-Black-Folding-Table/1000638149?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-dcr-_-google-_-lia-_--_-foldingfurniture-_-1000638149-_-0&store_code=2309&placeholder=null&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI043Vq9jC6AIVEITICh2s7wXeEAQYASABEgIJovD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds), where you can spread out, will also work. Many employers will lend you home office equipment, especially during an emergency. However, buying an extra monitor, even without the stay-at-home order, is a good idea for long-term use. A couple of AFFIRMIANS [use this 24” curved monitor](https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LC24F390FHNXZA-24-inch-Monitor-FreeSync/dp/B01CX26WPY). It’s a great monitor for anyone who looks at a computer screen for an extended period featuring a bright display, vivid color, and ease of use. **Stay in the Same Lane.** In other words, be consistent. Just like you started your day at the office at the same time every day, do the same in your home environment. If you use part of your morning for calls to clients, stick with that schedule. Even though the atmosphere you’re working in may be more relaxed, you’re still on somebody’s payroll. Keep calendars updated and use a project management tool like [Workamajig](https://contact.workamajig.com/ppc-project-management-software/?ads_adid=86299450063&ads_cmpid=1016821156&ads_creative=408611228562&ads_matchtype=e&ads_network=g&ads_targetid=kwd-296749539599&ttv=2&utm_campaign=Google%20-%20Brand%20-%20US&utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=adwords&utm_term=workamajig&utm_device=c&campaign=Brand_-_US&campaign_detail=workamajig&campaign_keyword=workamajig&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsYb0BRCOARIsAHbLPhEW4tr-NMn5vlWP0yyA_b1qJs5VlPgn86kS3DK1E5m0jjOHYwtJG60aAgN_EALw_wcB), [Basecamp](https://basecamp.com/), or [Asana](https://asana.com/premium?utm_campaign=Brand--NAMER--EN--Core--Desktop--Exact&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pd_cpc_br&utm_content=409718490665&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsYb0BRCOARIsAHbLPhGB5iqCp3cIbS1vkh9hrowUQh-PeB5s5vhGRoq6m8W-R-ap2fjoux4aAsbhEALw_wcB) to stay on task. AFFIRM works with several transportation demand management clients whose mission is to help people find alternatives to driving to work alone in order to reduce traffic and improve air quality. Working remotely and telecommuting have always been part of their mission, along with carpooling, vanpooling, biking, walking, and using transit. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telecommuting has moved up to their top priority as it should for all us. In fact, once the virus is over, people might find that working remotely better suits their lifestyle and they’ll continue to do it, helping the environment out at the same time! If you have any questions about remote working or need any marketing support during this time, please email . **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, Remote Work --- ### [Social Marketing – Part Five: Key Messages](https://affirmagency.com/social-marketing-part-five-key-messages/) **Published:** November 25, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** With multiple societal issues facing our country right now, the ability to create memorable campaigns that influence and help to positively change people’s behavior is more important now than ever. Over the past weeks, we have taken a deep dive into the first three steps of AFFIRM’s time-tested social marketing process. This post will cover the next step: ## **Create messaging that addresses any obstacles and offers a path to the desired behavior(s)** Once you’ve done your research and identified your target audiences, you’ll have a good understanding of how to approach them with messaging that will be relevant and effective. **Key messages** are a collection of statements or “takeaways” that tell your audience what they need to know to change their behavior(s). Some key messages provide information while others persuade the audience to act. The most effective key messages originate from your primary and secondary research. It’s important that your campaign messages highlight your target audience’s unique traits and address the specific barriers they face. At least one of your key messages must be a clear **call-to-action**: a statement, often beginning with a verb, that tells the audience the exact action they should take to solve the problem. Sometimes the call-to-action will also serve as the campaign tagline, as it does in the Wisconsin Department of Transportation traffic safety campaigns we implement: DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER and CLICK IT OR TICKET. For the Wisconsin Department of Justice DOSE OF REALITY Prescription Painkiller Abuse Awareness and Prevention Campaign, we developed messaging not just for our key audience (young people 12-25), but also for their influencers, including parents, friends, teachers, and coaches. We tailored each set of messages to each audience’s characteristics and unique barriers. For example, here are some of our key messages for parents: - More than 70% of people who abuse prescription painkillers get them through friends or relatives. **(EDUCATION)** - In recent years, the rate of prescription painkiller overdoses has increased 260% among Wisconsin’s young people ages 12-25 **(EDUCATION)** - It’s important to understand the signs of opioid addiction **(PERSUASION)** - Lock up your medication and safely dispose of unused/unwanted prescription pills **(CALL-TO-ACTION)** Keep in mind that, for social marketing campaigns, *how* you deliver your messages is just as important as *what* your messages say. In other words, get creative! Your campaign materials should grab your key audience’s attention, convey the stakes of the situation, and emphasize your call-to-action. It’s also important to consider *who* will deliver your key messages. Many campaigns feature members of the target audience to encourage the desired behavior change. However, if your target audience faces an apathy or negative affect barrier, consider asking a celebrity or community leader to deliver your message. Your audience is more likely to listen and accept your key messages if they come from someone they admire. In our Wisconsin Department of Transportation ZERO IN WISCONSIN – CLICK IT OR TICKET Campaign, we reached out to legendary Green Bay wide receiver Donald Driver to be our spokesperson. We knew he had a strong influence over our target audience of young men, ages 18-34. Driver’s special ability to reach and win over our target audience helped our campaign to achieve measurable increases in seat belt usage across Wisconsin. Once you have developed your key messages, it’s time to share them with your target audience. Read our next blog post for our best tips on distribution, education, and outreach. If you would like to see a social marketing campaign in action, follow AFFIRM on social media for a look at our latest campaign, Let’s Beat COVID-19 Wisconsin Style. And, as always, [contact us](https://affirmagency.com/contact/) if you need help with your marketing needs! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, Social Media, Wisconsin DOT --- ### [Should My Company Start a Blog? Your Guide to Content Marketing](https://affirmagency.com/should-my-company-start-a-blog-your-guide-to-content-marketing/) **Published:** January 7, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** If you’ve made it to this section on the AFFIRM website, you’ve probably noticed that we enjoy blogging, but you might be wondering if a blog is right for your company. The short answer: yes! Blogs are a popular and effective form of **content marketing.** In this post, we’ll define content marketing and explain why you should have a content marketing strategy. ## **What is Content Marketing?** Content marketing is a marketing technique that builds relationships between an organization and its customers by providing valuable, high-quality content. Blogs, videos, infographics, podcasts, social media, and e-books are all forms of content marketing. Unlike advertising, content marketing is **not explicitly promotional**. It provides educational and/or entertainment value beyond your product or service itself. *If it’s not promoting your product, why should you care?* Like we said above, content marketing is all about building relationships. Your content makes your customers see you as valuable. And when customers see that value, sales go up. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of content marketing. ## **Why Should You Have A Content Marketing Strategy?** Here’s just a few ways content marketing can support your business goals: ### **Content Marketing Establishes Thought Leadership** Whether you run a Fortune 500 company, a B2B small business, or an Etsy shop, you are an EXPERT at what you do. People trust your company for a quality product or service, and you can deliver. Content marketing showcases your unique expertise, otherwise known as “thought leadership.” Your content establishes your company as a credible and leading resource in the eyes of your current and potential customers. For example, we at AFFIRM are experts in all things marketing and communications. We use the content in our blogs to show people that we understand the qualities of a good marketing campaign, and this helps us build relationships with new customers. Case in point? Our blog on [Visual Note-Taking](https://affirmagency.com/visual-note-taking/) helped us secure several projects and new inquiries. ### **Content Marketing Expands Your Reach** Content can help your business reach new customers beyond your physical location. Let’s use our AFFIRM blogs as an example. Content can boost your **Search Engine Optimization (SEO).** When someone types something in the search bar, the search engine will “read” every website and try to find the best websites for that search. If you have a blog, e-book or another form of content marketing, you increase the number of your company’s key words on your website and make yourself more visible to potential customers. AFFIRM writes many blogs about social marketing, one of our fields of expertise. When someone types “social marketing” in the search bar, our website is more likely to be in the results because our blogs use those keywords. As a result, our blogs reach people from all around the world. Yes, *around the world*. Our two-part blog series on Grammar has enjoyed visits from China, France, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, and many more! Your content can also help you engage and build a following on social media. People go on social media for connection, information, and entertainment. You can provide all that and more with relevant, high-quality content. Content marketing can also support your public relations efforts. Due to the decreasing number of staff journalists, especially in trade publications and local news, media outlets welcome well-made content from businesses. Turn your blog post into a bylined article and pitch it to a relevant publication, and you might be able to reach a new group of potential customers. ### **Content Marketing Shows Personality** People buy from people, not brands. Your ability to create long-lasting, friendly relationships between you and your customers is crucial to your business’ success, especially if you run a B2B organization and/or provide a service. Customers want to know not only what you can do, but who you are. We find that some of our clients’ most popular social media posts focus on employees, not the company itself. People love seeing themed office parties, learning about employees’ hobbies outside of work, and reading about how companies first began. This more personal form of content marketing does not, and should not, make up your entire content strategy, but try to add a personal touch to some of your content. You’ll be surprised at the results. ### **Content Marketing Can Save Money** Unlike advertising, you don’t have to pay to distribute your content marketing (although paid amplification can certainly support your content marketing efforts). Your content can live on your website, newsletters, and social media pages, and still attract potential customers. This makes content marketing a relatively inexpensive form of marketing communications. However, while content marketing can save money, it might cost you time. If you want to see real results, you need time to strategize and develop high-quality content. Your content will not be successful if it is poorly made and/or does not align with your marketing goals. And that’s where we at AFFIRM can help. We work with you to develop a content marketing strategy that achieves your business goals. We can help you create videos, infographics, articles, blogs and more that can create real results. Contact us to get started. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, blog, marketing --- ### [The rapid rise of TikTok as a social media platform and how to utilize its growing popularity for your business](https://affirmagency.com/the-rapid-rise-of-tiktok-as-a-social-media-platform-and-how-to-utilize-its-growing-popularity-for-your-business/) **Published:** July 9, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** A heavyweight contender has entered the social media game, and it is set to be one of the biggest players yet. TikTok is a video-sharing app that allows users to create and share short videos on any subject. These videos typically include trending challenges, dance videos, and comedy videos, providing a very broad scope for video creation. It has now amassed over 700 million users and 2 billion downloads making it the fastest growing app in the world. But how did it rise to popularity so quickly? TikTok uses a brand-new type of algorithm unlike anything used on other social platforms. It creates a constant flow of videos on your “for you” page based on different factors such as location, language preferences, what type of device you are using, what type of hashtags you are clicking on, other videos you have interacted with, etc. Each of these factors are **individually weighted by TikTok’s algorithm system**, creating a completely unique flow of videos specifically targeted towards that user’s preferences. No two users will have the exact same “for you” page, which can keep users engaged for hours at a time. [](https://www.youtube.com/embed/3TdPBB9Z_cs?feature=oembed) The app started out with a majority younger audience, but quickly turned into a platform for users of all ages. [25% of users are ages 19 and under, 44% of users are ages 20-39, and 31% of users are 40 and older](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1095186/tiktok-us-users-age/). With current demographic growth trends, TikTok has fantastic potential to be a valuable marketing channel for all kinds of businesses. Here are some tips on how to utilize TikTok’s growing popularity to promote your business: - **Do your research on current trends, similar accounts, and how the app works.** TikTok is a very fun, engaging app. Think to yourself, what aspects of my business can I relate to this app? How can I integrate my business into this type of content? - The MLB uses a trending sound to integrate their content into a [popular styled video](https://www.tiktok.com/@mlb/video/6952571066745163013?lang=en&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6966276830731470341)[.](https://www.tiktok.com/@mlb/video/6952571066745163013?lang=en&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6966276830731470341) - **Create fun, original content.** Now that you know how the app works, take advantage of trending challenges and sounds to generate engaging content. Try starting a hashtag challenge to drive user interaction and engagement. - Target created the infamous [“Target Challenge”](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/targetchallenge?lang=en) that went viral and accumulated over 439 million views. For the challenge, each person in a pair buys a bunch of items for the other based on certain parameters. They do a surprise swap and see who knows each other better. - **Consider influencer marketing.** Nowadays, most people are opposed to anything that may look like a traditional ad. When you use influencer marketing instead, it tends to resonate better with consumers, therefore creating a more personal connection. You can recruit influencers who match your brand to complete the challenges, show off your product, and reach your intended target market in a new way. - The chip brand Taki partnered with influencer Charli D’amelio to promote their Fuego Takis. [The video](https://www.tiktok.com/@charlidamelio/video/6964810925803130118?lang=en&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6966276830731470341) has 37.8 million views and 5.2 million likes. TikTok is a rapidly growing social media platform with high engagement rates. It has become very influential in the current social media climate and is expected to triple in size over the next few years. If your business is looking for a new way to expand your social presence, TikTok may be able to provide you with opportunities to expand your brand awareness in a unique way that no other social platform can. Ask us how! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, Social Media, TikTok --- ### [How COVID-19 Changed How We Use Social Media To Reach Intended Audiences During Unintended Times](https://affirmagency.com/how-covid-19-changed-how-we-use-social-media-to-reach-intended-audiences-during-unintended-times/) **Published:** August 11, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect all of us in various ways. One thing we learned quickly was that in order to be together safely again, we had to be apart in the meantime. Many turned to social media as their main way of communicating and staying connected with friends and family. Currently, there are [3.78 billion social media users around the world](https://www.statista.com/statistics/278414/number-of-worldwide-social-network-users/), a 5% increase from last year. New and old platforms saw incredible growth rates, such as [TikTok ](https://affirmagency.com/the-rapid-rise-of-tiktok-as-a-social-media-platform-and-how-to-utilize-its-growing-popularity-for-your-business/)and Facebook, creating new spaces for all of us to get through these strange times together. But throughout the pandemic, there was a shift in morale as social users quickly began to realize that COVID-19 was going to be around for a lot longer than initially expected. This shift sparked more conversations about the ‘real’ side of social media and **the shared struggles of real people dealing with the pandemic in their own ways.** This **authenticity of users** has become a key aspect of social media in 2021. The less put together, “real” side of people has become more appealing than the previously perfect, polished influencer image. [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Covid-Social-Media-Blog-Image-2.png)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Covid-Social-Media-Blog-Image-2.png)[Influencer and brand ambassador Ashley Iaconetti ](https://www.instagram.com/p/CKu4doEg7HO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link) Having a line of open, honest communication between influencers and brands and their audiences during a time when face-to-face interaction is reduced has become more important to consumers than the latest deals or newest products. Consumers’ needs are ever evolving and they don’t want brands that are constantly pushing the sale or the latest special. Our advice? **Decrease sales focus, increase open communication.** We currently have a unique opportunity to create a new normal in the social media world that gives businesses a chance to connect with their customers on a deeper level than ever before, generating more meaningful connections and brand loyalty. Social media can be a great marketing tool if you understand how to evolve it to reach intended audiences during unintended economic/social times. If you need help adapting your social media marketing strategy to this new reality, the experts at AFFIRM can help! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, influencer, marketing --- ### [AFFIRM Guide to 2021 Marketing Buzzwords](https://affirmagency.com/affirm-guide-to-2021-marketing-buzzwords/) **Published:** September 2, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** 2020 was a year for the books, where the COVID-19 pandemic changed many aspects of our daily lives. From increasing our online presence to [changes in how we use social media](https://affirmagency.com/how-covid-19-changed-how-we-use-social-media-to-reach-intended-audiences-during-unintended-times/) and how products are promoted, marketers have had to change and adapt with the ever- evolving needs of their customers. But as 2021 counts down its remaining months still stuck in the pandemic, we continue to see how the marketing industry continues to evolve in our new reality. Therefore, we put together a list of the 2021 most popular marketing buzzwords (so far) that you may have encountered as either a marketer or consumer. ## **Growth Hacking** Growth Hacking involves a cross-disciplinary set of marketing skills that uses minimal resources and **cost-effective digital marketing strategies** to help grow a product or service at a faster rate. Its focus is short-term and aims to gain exposure as fast as possible for little to no money. [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Buzzwords-Blog-Image1.png)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Buzzwords-Blog-Image1.png) For example, Airbnb created a feature where hosts could post their listings to Craigslist with one simple click. This provided them immediate access to a huge market of users that were looking for cheap, alternate housing accommodations. ## **Humaning** Humaning is a consumer-centric approach to marketing that creates real, human connections with purpose. The focus is not direct marketing to consumers but **creating connections with humans that in turn create sales**. This term describes a type of integrated marketing approach that has been around for years, but this buzzword provides a new way to describe the marketing of personal relationships with the consumer. ## **Snackable Content** This term describes all “easy to consume” content. This includes any sort of video, text, images, etc. that is brief, entertaining, and effective. Snackable content provides the ability to spread your message quickly and efficiently, making it more likely to be shared on social media. [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Buzzword-Blog-Image-2.png)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Buzzword-Blog-Image-2.png) This infographic made by Manoj Naduvath on LinkedIn, shows a good example of snackable content. It also tells us why this straightforward style of content can be important for your business to stand out, keeping in mind the vast amount of information consumers take in daily. Making it an easily digestible “snack” is key! ## **Contextual Marketing** Contextual marketing is the practice of using data to create targeted ads for specific customers. Have you ever noticed when you search for something on Google, you get a Facebook Ad for that same product an hour later? Marketers don’t look at your search history alone, they look at *why* you’re searching for these things. This also includes things such as location, language, and preferred apps. ## **Machine Learning** Machine learning is the process of using computer algorithms to process data and predict future outcomes. According to Amazon, [nearly 35% of its sales comes from their personalized recommendations derived from machine learning.](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/how-retailers-can-keep-up-with-consumers) Although this style of data analysis has been around for a while and is used in almost every industry, be sure to keep an eye out for this newly coined phrase to describe big data analysis. ## **Geofencing** Geofencing is a location-based service that is used when the consumer goes in or out of a set boundary (or geofence). With this technique, you can use GPS technology to send texts, emails, or notifications to audiences when their mobile devices are in a specific area. [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Buzzword-Blog-Image-3.png)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Buzzword-Blog-Image-3.png) Geofencing allows marketers to send targeted messages to users at the exact time they are most likely to use them. [71% of consumers prefer personalized ads](https://www.marketingdive.com/news/study-71-of-consumers-prefer-personalized-ads/418831/)[,](https://www.marketingdive.com/news/study-71-of-consumers-prefer-personalized-ads/418831/) making Geofencing an incredibly accurate and cost-effective tool. Although some of these buzzwords are simply rebranding marketing strategies that have been around for years, others are brand new terms that you may have never heard before. Either way, be sure to keep them top of mind as the world continues to adjust and evolve how to effectively reach the right audiences for a specific product or service. Get the most out of your marketing efforts by contacting our experienced team of marketing and advertising professionals. To learn more about all AFFIRM’s agency services, please email us at . **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Buzzwords, marketing --- ### [AFFIRM’s Social Media Predictions for 2022](https://affirmagency.com/affirms-social-media-predictions-for-2022/) **Published:** October 14, 2021 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** The unprecedented events of the past two years have contributed to an increase in social media usage and activity. More people than ever before are sharing photos, videos, and animated content on social media, and this includes interacting and engaging with their favorite brands’ pages. AFFIRM has compiled our predictions for social media in 2022 based on current social media trends that marketers should take note of as 2021 comes to an end. ## **Users will begin exploring other social media platforms** In 2021, Facebook remained the most popular social media platform, followed closely by YouTube. According to [Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly-active-facebook-users-worldwide/), Facebook has roughly 2.89 billion active users, making it the most widely used social media platform, but this may not be the case forever. Platform outages and past security issues have left some users disgruntled, and avid social media users are beginning to adopt and invest time in new social media platforms that they did not previously use. Social media marketers can stay ahead of the game by testing out content on different platforms to see how it performs with their audiences. ## **Short-form video content will become more popular across platforms** The growth of TikTok’s userbase in the past three years has had a massive impact on the way we consume content online. [Wallaroo](https://wallaroomedia.com/blog/social-media/tiktok-statistics/) reports that the app has over one billion active monthly users as of 2021, and competitors Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter all have jumped on the short-form video content bandwagon by launching Reels. It should come as no surprise that short-form video content will continue to become increasingly popular across social media platforms in 2022. Brands have a good chance of reaching new audiences on social media by incorporating short-form video content into their social media strategy. According to [Hubspot](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/short-form-video-trends), a video is considered “short-form” if it is up to 2 minutes and 30 seconds in length. We recommend keeping videos between 1 minute and 1 minute and 30 seconds for short-form content if possible. Keeping videos short increases the chance of users sticking around to view more of the message before moving on to something else. ## **Stories will become a bigger part of social media content strategies** Research on social media trends shows that millions of users are taking to Facebook and Instagram stories to share photos and videos about the things that they are interested in and care about. Stories is an engaging medium because it is ephemeral, meaning that it is only available for a short period of time, and this prompts users to check pages they follow for updates more often to avoid missing out. Stories also give brands an opportunity to test what types of content works best with their audience without the content remaining on their page and is why many marketers are including stories into their approach to social media marketing. As of 2021, 4 million businesses use Instagram Stories ads monthly ([Instagram](https://business.instagram.com/a/stories)), and this will only grow in 2022. Incorporating stories into your social media strategy will boost the performance of your content and will help keep your audience engaged. ## **Optimizing for mobile will become increasingly important** In 2020 and 2021, [Datareportal](https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2021-global-overview-report) found that people spent most of their time on their phone using mobile apps – as much as 92%. This means it is very important to make sure that content is optimized for the mobile experience when creating social media content. People will continue accessing social media apps on their phone in higher volume as we move into next year, and it is important to take the time to evaluate what content performs best on mobile when developing a social media strategy to ensure the best results. Be sure to always check that images and video content for posts have been optimized for the social media platform you are posting on before posting. ## **Gen Z will play a large part in how social media campaigns perform** Did you know that Gen Z is one of the biggest drivers of video content on social media? In fact, [YPulse](https://www.ypulse.com/article/2021/02/22/gen-z-millennials-use-social-media-differently-heres-x-charts-that-show-how/) reports that 65% of Gen Z consumers say they use social media to find entertaining content and 61% say they are specifically interested in watching more video content. Crafting messages that appeal to Gen Z is one way to improve the performance of social media content in 2022. According to [Trifecta Research](https://trifectaresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Generation-Z-Sample-Trifecta-Research-Deliverable.pdf), marketers can relate to Gen Z on social media by grabbing their attention quickly, making content brief and entertaining, considering whether the content is shareable, and embedding diversity. ## **User-generated content will be utilized more often** Part of what makes social media marketing so effective is that it provides a way for brands to reach users in a way that is more casual. Many brands in 2021 are beginning to adopt user-generated content as part of their social media strategies and initiatives to encourage sharing and engagement. Since this is the case, we expect that more social media marketers will begin to experiment with adding user-generated content into their social media content mix. User-generated content is a great strategy if you are developing a brand awareness campaign on social with the goal being to get users to visit your website to learn more. [Exploding Topics](https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/8-social-media-marketing-trends-and-predictions-for-2022-and-beyond-infogr/606424/) reports that brands that incorporate UGC have a 20% increase in return visitors and a 90% increase in time that consumers spend on their websites. Content developed by other users is engaging, and giving your audience an opportunity to be a part of building your brand will only make it stronger. Even though social media platforms and approaches will vary from business to business it is still important to have a social media strategy. Developing an informed social media strategy ensures that your marketing efforts are being noticed and remembered by the audiences you are trying to reach rather than being lost in the void. AFFIRM is here to help you maximize the effectiveness of your social media marketing efforts with our team of digital specialists. To learn more about how we can help you with your social media content and strategy, please email us at . **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, Social Media --- ### [10 Tips for Improving Your Resume as a Marketer](https://affirmagency.com/10-tips-for-improving-your-resume-as-a-marketer/) **Published:** October 22, 2021 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** So, you’re looking to begin your career in marketing, and you’re likely wondering what you should do to put yourself in the best position to get your first job. The marketing and advertising industry is fast-paced and constantly evolving, and anything that you can do to stay ahead of the curve will work to your advantage. One way you can do this is by developing a resume that is strongly written, well-organized and aesthetically pleasing. We have provided you with 10 tips to follow if you’re updating your resume or writing a new one that will help you as you search for your dream job. ## **Treat your resume like a marketing document** Most people don’t think about resumes this way, but a resume is a tool that you use to promote yourself to a hiring manager. Thinking about your resume as a document that markets you as the candidate will inform how you communicate about your experience, education, and achievements. Consider providing an opening statement with general information about your background to give hiring managers a quick snapshot of who you are before they review the rest of the document. *Example* *I am a marketing and communications professional with three years of experience in copywriting, social media management, and Google AdWords.* This opening statement is strong because it gives a condensed view of the candidate’s experience and skills. It pays to make sure that everyone who is looking at your resume, including people that don’t have time to read the full document, can get an overview of what sets you apart from other candidates without having to read all the information provided. ## **Use relevant keywords Hiring managers look for relevant industry keywords when they are evaluating whether you have the right experience for a position. As an example, if you’re looking for a position involving content development, SEO, or social media you may want to include some of the keywords listed below when writing about your work experience. *Blog writing, Content, Content marketing, Copywriting, Data, Data analysis, Digital marketing, Email marketing, Facebook, Google Ads, Instagram, Microsoft Office, Return on Investment (ROI), Search, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social media* Depending on what type of position in marketing and advertising you are going for you’ll want to include different keywords. For example, below are keywords you should consider including in your resume if you are looking for a role in the creative development side of the industry. *Advertising strategy, Art direction, Logo design, Adobe products, Creative design, Digital, Illustration, Editing, Graphic design, Photographer, Banner ads, Website design, Marketing collateral, User interface design, Videography* Before you apply, we recommend that you research the position online and become familiar with relevant industry keywords and sample interview questions for that position to get a sense of what skills and experience may be expected. Being prepared will only strengthen your chances of landing the job. ## **Always put the most important information first Order your most recent positions towards the top of the page and bullet out 4-5 of the most important aspects of each position. Contrary to popular belief, most resumes in 2021 are usually longer than a single page. According to [Zety](https://zety.com/blog/resume-statistics), the average resume is 489 words long, with 380 words being roughly the single page cutoff point. This is not to say that resumes should not be concise. Keeping your resume streamlined will make the document more digestible for the employer. Make a point to call out experience that is specifically relevant to the position that you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a position as a graphic designer, make sure that you are listing out all the programs that you are proficient in using under one of your job positions or in a dedicated skills section. ## **Only include recent positions It’s important to be selective of what positions you include in your resume. Try to include no more than 3-4 of the most relevant positions you have held as you are starting in your career. Less is often more when it comes to resume writing, and you want to make sure that you are keeping it concise to avoid losing important details. ## **Call attention to your important achievements Include any important awards or scholarships to make yourself stand out. List any relevant internships or club experience, like PRSSA or advertising club, that is relevant to the position you are applying to. According to [Glassdoor](https://www.glassdoor.com/employers/blog/50-hr-recruiting-stats-make-think/), employers receive on average 250 resumes for every corporate job posting, so anything you can do to stand out from the rest of the crowd will help. ## **Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date [Did you know that over 40 million people use LinkedIn to search for jobs every week](https://blog.hootsuite.com/linkedin-statistics-business/)? Having a presence on LinkedIn is something you can do to strengthen your chances of finding the right marketing opportunity for you. Your LinkedIn profile link is something that should be included with your resume, and we recommend that you update your LinkedIn page as often as needed. Please note that a LinkedIn profile should not replace a good resume. A LinkedIn profile should be included as a support piece that complements a resume. By having a strong LinkedIn profile, you’ll put yourself in a good position if the employer wants to know more about you. ## **Go with a graphical approach It doesn’t matter if you are applying for a job as a designer or assistant account executive, having a polished, well-designed resume will always help you out when searching for a job in marketing and advertising. We recommend using a resume builder like [Canva](https://www.canva.com/tools/resume-maker-v1/?utm_source=google_sem&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=REV_US_EN_CanvaPro_Resume_EM&utm_term=REV_US_EN_CanvaPro_Resume%20Templates_EM&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1NGNmbOn8wIVMXxvBB2KGQSYEAAYASAAEgIjVPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds), especially if you don’t have experience using Adobe products. Canva’s resume builder allows you to make changes to the design of your resume as needed and includes hundreds of designer made templates that you can use so that your resume looks its best. [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Resume-Blog.png)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Resume-Blog.png) ## **Include an online portfolio link An online portfolio is a website that you create using an online website builder tool that displays past projects you want to highlight to employers. You can include social media content calendars, media placements, design samples, blog posts, and more on the website, and this will make it easy for employers to view samples of your past work without having to ask you for them. You can easily create an online portfolio website for free using [Wix](https://www.wix.com/html5us/pro-website-wp?utm_source=google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu6L-ttup8wIVqmxvBB2yxQO6EAAYAiAAEgJLjfD_BwE&utm_campaign=1028047119%5E50069854305&experiment_id=wordpress+free%5Ee%5E243103342714%5E&utm_medium=cpc) or [WordPress](https://wordpress.com/free/?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=google_wpcom_search_brand_desktop_us_en&utm_medium=paid_search&keyword=free%20wordpress&creative=357508620406&campaignid=998785131&adgroupid=53026925687&matchtype=e&device=c&network=g&targetid=aud-1247937710782:kwd-1989503889&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu6L-ttup8wIVqmxvBB2yxQO6EAAYAyAAEgJ33vD_BwE). Make sure to include the link to your online portfolio along with the rest of the links (like your LinkedIn page) that you plan to include with your resume. ## **Consider writing a cover letter Not every marketing job that you apply for is going to request a cover letter from you but consider writing one if there are reasons that you feel you would be better than any other candidate for the position. A cover letter should be between one and two pages long and include education, past work experience, and a testimonial letting the employer know why your unique experience makes you the best fit for the position. ## **Check your work over Spelling or grammar mistakes in your resume is something that can cost you a job. Marketing jobs require you to be detail-oriented when you are crafting and distributing messages to audiences, and you need to make sure that your applicant portfolio is spotless to show the employer that you can produce good quality work for clients. If you have any questions about resume building or getting started in your career in marketing, please reach out to . **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, Resume --- ### [The Concept of Social Listening and Why You Should be Aware of It](https://affirmagency.com/the-concept-of-social-listening-and-why-you-should-be-aware-of-it/) **Published:** November 5, 2021 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** Chances are you’ve heard the term social listening tossed around if you’re in marketing. Although the term isn’t brand new; it isn’t one that all marketers fully grasp. Understanding what social listening is and how to apply it to win for brands is what separates competent marketers from great marketers, and it’s important now more than ever to incorporate it into your brand’s strategy. Put simply, social listening is the process of analyzing conversations and trends happening around your brand online. This also includes being aware of conversations happening around brands operating in the same space as you and understanding trends in your industry. Social listening can help you improve on pre-existing content strategies, inform future content creation, and can even spark new ideas for future campaigns. Social listening can also help you identify key influencers in your industry. Social listening is often confused with social monitoring. Social monitoring refers to tracking and responding to messages that are received by a brand online. Monitoring is an important part of the social media management process, but it deals with the **what** as far as what people are talking about, whereas social listening speaks to the **why**. Social listening involves discerning trends in the conversations happening around a brand and then using that information to create experiences that are meaningful for an audience. For example, Eggo waffles recently ran a multi-channel campaign where they used a “L’Eggometer” on social media to measure the stress of parents helping their kids get ready for school in the morning ([Marketing Dive](https://www.marketingdive.com/news/eggo-measures-parent-stress-in-mornings-with-leggometer/596427/)). Eggo learned through studying conversations on social media that the morning after daylight saving is one of the highest-pressure mornings for parents. Eggo used this information to time a giveaway when daylight saving time began to ensure that the promotion was coming at a time when it would be most impactful for their target audience. [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Picture1.png)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Picture1.png) Social listening is important for a few reasons. Engaging in active social listening and finding trends in the conversations that people are having about your brand helps provide a benchmark among competitors. Understanding the sentiment people carry towards your brand and others operating in the same space helps you as the marketer develop strategies to elevate and improve the brand’s standing in the industry. Social listening can also help you evaluate how audiences are responding to a campaign and inform whether changes need to be made to increase the overall effectiveness. Paying close attention to campaign performance is key for ensuring that nothing goes off the rails. Social listening also helps marketers understand how to best engage with customers and how to respond in times of crisis. A great example of effective social listening can be found in the crisis communication situation Nike was faced with when a shoe malfunction caused Zion Williamson, a star basketball player at Duke University, to injure his knee on the court ([Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/shephyken/2019/02/22/nike-a-real-time-lesson-in-crisis-management/?sh=206d42542206)). People took to social media to blame Nike for the incident, and many speculated about the shoe being tampered with. Rather than trying to deflect blame, Nike responded the day after the incident occurred to apologize and wish Williamson a speedy recovery, which showed action and ownership. As a result, they were able to rise above the crisis, which wouldn’t have been possible without careful consideration of their online audiences’ perceptions of what happened and a good understanding of their concerns. Now that you have a better idea of what social listening is – It’s time to get started. You should begin with monitoring your brand name and handles. Make sure to do a social media deep dive to find keywords associated with your brand so that you can begin monitoring those as well. You should also monitor your company and competitors’ companies, as well as relevant campaign names, hashtags, and keywords. When you’re listening, be sure to keep an eye out for disruptive conversations happening. Disruptive conversations, especially those negative in nature that could impact your brand, are important to catch early on so you can develop a plan to get ahead of them. Take note of what people are talking about, including what they are saying about competitors, and start thinking about the aspects of your brand that you could highlight online to improve your overall industry standing. Identify who the influencers in your industry are and start thinking about how you could form a future partnership with them. Showing your audience that you are in touch with the voices in the community that matter to them will help attract new fans and retain current ones. Social listening takes time to master but it has a huge impact on the perceptions of your brand online. As you are getting started, be sure that you are listening and checking in on feeds for all the social media platforms that you are active on daily, as well as monitoring news online to ensure that you are catching any positive or negative press around your brand early. Make sure to take of note of what your competitors are doing and think of ways that you could incorporate similar strategies for your brand. Always remember to act and respond to customers online in a timely and thoughtful manner. Showing followers that you care keeps them engaged with your brand. Social listening is important for every brand regardless of whether they have a large social media presence. Being unaware of what online communities are saying about your brand makes it challenging to engage with them effectively, and it has the potential to lead to crisis communications situations down the road. AFFIRM’s team of digital marketing professionals is experienced with using social listening software to monitor and listen to online conversations to keep audiences satisfied and create innovative campaigns that engage them. Please reach out to us at if you need help getting started with social listening. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, marketing, Social Media --- ### [Why It’s Important to Have a Crisis Communications Plan](https://affirmagency.com/why-its-important-to-have-a-crisis-communications-plan/) **Published:** November 18, 2021 **Author:** Laura Monagle **Content:** Imagine that it’s after business hours and you’re asleep in bed. Suddenly, your phone begins to ring and when you answer it, your employee informs you that some flooding has caused your company to suffer losses. The media is at your offices and onsite employees are talking with them. If you think it can’t happen to you, think again. Any business large or small can be affected by a financial issue, fraud, harassment, an accident, cyberattack, customer service concern or any other form of crisis. When a crisis happens, having a plan to effectively communicate with clients and customers, employees and the media will help ensure you can recover efficiently and without impacting relationships with your key stakeholders. How do you build a crisis communications plan? First, you identify all the most likely types of crises that could affect your business. This includes crises that are financial, natural, organizational, or technological in nature. You will need to outline all the stakeholders that would be impacted by each crisis like first responders, clients, customers, employees, family members, media, the community, any regulatory or government officials and of course, all social media audiences. Your plan should include an established communications “tree” with significant contact names, phone numbers, email addresses, and social media accounts. Define your crisis team and their roles and responsibilities; then identify the person who will serve as the company spokesperson when a crisis occurs. With the crisis scenarios you have included in your plan you will draft statements, key messages, talking points, and social media posts that can be used immediately in the event of a crisis. From there, you’ll need to train everyone who needs to be familiar with your plans and then revisit and update these plans regularly and when necessary. Developing a communications plan can be valuable in other ways. A great plan also helps determine how teams are structured, leads to materials being proactively created and lessens the amount of time it takes to respond if a crisis occurs, protects the well-being of the company and employees, and can even improve your standing with your key stakeholders and audiences when implemented properly. For example, Cottonelle delivered a message to ease consumer concerns and discourage panic buying in response to people hoarding product during the pandemic. The brand encouraged people to “Stock up on generosity” and launched a campaign called [\#ShareASquare](https://www.ama.org/marketing-news/cottonelle-helps-consumers-roll-with-covid-19-challenges/) (AMA), which involved a partnership with and $100,000 donation to United Way. This was a great way for Cottonelle to address consumers’ concerns and take accountability at a time when the public was feeling most vulnerable. For businesses large or small, developing a crisis communications plan will prepare you for anything you may be faced with in the future, and it can even create opportunities for your company down the road. Our experienced team of PR and crisis management professionals can assist you with developing a robust crisis communications plan that makes the most impact if or when it needs to be implemented. Please reach out to us at . **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, crisis communications, marketing, PR, Public Relations --- ### [How to Evaluate if an Influencer is Right for Your Brand](https://affirmagency.com/how-to-evaluate-if-an-influencer-is-right-for-your-brand/) **Published:** December 13, 2021 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** Influencer marketing first began to rise to prominence around 2010, and it has only continued to grow in popularity in the years since. According to [Shopify](https://www.shopify.com/blog/influencer-marketing-statistics), 63% of marketers intend to increase their influencer marketing budget in 2022 with only 5% intending to decrease it. Though it’s clear that businesses are finding success partnering with influencers to get the word out about their products and services to audiences online ­– It’s important to carefully consider which influencers to partner with before reaching out to begin planning a program. Evaluating prospective influencers should include several checks that marketers new to planning influencer marketing programs might not think to implement ahead of time. We’ve outlined four categories that should be included in your initial auditing process if you’re interested in planning your first influencer program. It is important to note that influencer programs make the most sense for businesses that have researched and identified a relevant, active online community that they would like to engage through influencer marketing. This is a very important step to take before taking the actions described below. ## **Portfolio & social media content** Ensure that the influencers you’re considering have a portfolio that demonstrates they can win for your brand. This will help you determine their relevance for a partnership. Ask yourself the following questions: - Has this influencer worked with other brands in the same space as you? For example, a manufacturing company selling industrial tools wouldn’t want to partner with an influencer that primarily partners with fashion brands. - Does the visual style of the content on their social media pages and blog match up with your brand? Ask your influencer to provide a portfolio sheet with details on blog site UMV, audience demographics, and past partnerships (most will have this on hand for you). - Does the influencer’s social media content align with your brand? Be sure to check their social media pages yourself too to see what their content is typically like. You’ll want to make sure that the general messaging the influencer uses in post captions aligns with your brand and ensure that the influencer is tagging their partners in posts. Looking into these aspects of an influencers content mix ahead of time will help you envision what a partnership with them might look like. ## **Followers & engagement** There are different levels of influencer status that you should consider as you are planning your influencer program. Though getting someone like Kourtney Kardashian will lead to mammoth amounts of brand exposure, a partnership with a mega influencer won’t be possible, or even relevant, for many businesses. Typically, most small to mid-sized businesses will form partnerships with macro, micro, or nano influencers ([iconosquare](https://blog.iconosquare.com/guide-to-social-media-influencers/)): - Macro influencer: 100,00 – 1 million social media followers - Micro influencer: 10,000 – 100,000 social media followers - Nano influencer: Less than 10,000 followers You’ll also want to make sure that prospective influencers have an engaged follower-base. When you’re checking social media pages, take note of the average likes the influencer is receiving from post to post, as well how many comments they are getting. Be sure to watch out for negative sentiment in comments and the frequency that negative comments are popping up. Start thinking about whether the users you’re seeing interacting with the influencer’s pages are people you could see engaging with your brand. ## **Authenticity** Followers and overall engagement online are of course very important when you’re considering the possible success of an influencer program, but you’ll also want to consider the authenticity the influencer brings to the table before making a choice. There are several different types of software for checking influencer authenticity, one of the best being [Klear](https://klear.com/). Watch out for influencers where you notice a disconnect between the number of social media followers that they have and their levels of fan engagement. Social media followers can be bought in bulk online, and it’s important to partner with legitimate influencers with engaged fanbases to avoid potential damage to your brand. ## **Compensation** There are several ways influencers are typically compensated for their work. It’s most common to pay influencers a flat rate for each post that they make, but certain companies may choose to pay influencers in product. The influencer’s level of expertise in their area is something that will also factor into the overall price it costs for them to post and create content around your brand. Establishing how many posts you would like your chosen influencer to make and a maximum budget you can allocate towards their program will help you determine how to structure the program when it comes time to reach out to the influencer and start planning. Influencer programs require thoughtful research and careful planning to pull off, but the rewards of a well-executed influencer partnership make it more than worth it. Are you looking to join the pack and start planning out an influencer marketing program? Our PR and social media experts at AFFIRM can work with you to make sure that your budget is spent in a way that is meaningful and impactful for your brand. Please reach out to us at if you’re interested in a consultation. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, influencer, marketing, Social Media --- ### [What to Do if Your Brand Accidentally Goes Viral](https://affirmagency.com/what-to-do-if-your-brand-accidentally-goes-viral/) **Published:** January 14, 2022 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** Sometimes it can be hard to predict when a campaign is going to go viral. One of the best examples of this is the ALS Association’s “[Ice Bucket Challenge](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/07/03/ice-bucket-challenge-5-things-you-should-know/448006001/)”. The campaign was created to promote awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, and encourage donations for research. The ALS Association never predicted that the campaign would attract over 17 million participants, including celebrities like LeBron James, Ben Stiller, and Oprah, and the campaign led to boosted annual funding for the organization. When your brand goes viral it’s very important to act quickly. Having a clear plan of attack in place ahead of time will help as you are controlling the flow of traffic to your website and social pages to prolong the viral moment or minimize damage. We’ve compiled our tips to help you develop a proactive plan for handling a viral moment when you’re not expecting one to occur. ## **Activate a clear call to action (CTA)** Without a clear call to action (CTA), or prompt that tells the user to take some specified action, new followers won’t know how to best engage with you. A call to action can include creating a pop-up website for users to share their information, sharing social media posts and responses, asking questions, encouraging education about the viral content in question, and more. Reaching people while you’re going viral, regardless of whether it is help or harming your brand, will ensure that you are in a good position to address what is happening while it is fresh in everyone’s mind. ## **Respond to people engaging with content online** As the original creator of the message, it’s important to follow up with fans or address concerns when your campaign is going viral. Make sure to engage with people online and have a clear plan established for social media community management to make sure that followers are being responded to in a timely, on-brand manner. You may remember the [PepsiCo ad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwvAgDCOdU4) with Kendall Jenner featuring imagery from the Black Lives Matter movement that landed them in hot water in 2017. The ad was widely condemned by the public for trivializing the Black Lives Matter movement and led to the lowest brand perception PepsiCo had seen in nine years. However, by apologizing for the ad and promptly pulling it, as well as responding to people on Twitter (where the lion’s share of criticism was coming from), PepsiCo was eventually able to recover from going viral for the wrong reasons. ## **Determine why users wanted to engage with your content** Sometimes it can be tough to figure out what makes people tick but doing your research to get to the bottom of why your campaign went viral is essential whenever you go viral. For example, [IHOP’s identity crisis campaign](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/07/ihops-fake-name-change-helped-it-sell-4-times-more-burgers.html) where they changed their name to “IHOB”, or “International House of Burgers”, seemed to be a failure at first when people online made fun of the campaign, but over time, IHOP realized that leaning into it was helping improve brand retention and foot traffic to restaurants in the long run. Pay close attention to what people are saying while your brand or campaign is going viral, and consistently evaluate performance and trends to zero in on what people are responding to and what they are having issues with. ## **Have a plan for what comes next** Using your research and everything you learned during your viral moment will help prepare you for next time. Evaluate what worked well for controlling traffic and take notes of any vulnerabilities that came to the surface as your brand took spotlight. Every online viral moment is different and it’s important to learn from each one to make sure that you are improving the effectiveness of your approach each time. We can help you create a detailed approach for navigating a viral moment and work with you as a partner to make sure that you get the best results. Get in touch with us at and let’s talk about how we can help! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, Communication, marketing, Social Media --- ### [AFFIRM’S Guide to Writing an Effective Call-to-Action](https://affirmagency.com/affirms-guide-to-writing-an-effective-call-to-action/) **Published:** February 4, 2022 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** From Netflix’s new subscriber call-to-action, “Join Free for a Month,” to Uber’s “Start Riding with Uber,” marketing call-to-action (CTA) statements clearly define the next step a customer needs to take to engage with a brand. CTA statements may seem simple on the surface but the most successful ones are carefully worded to consider the intended audience’s desires, interests, habits, and potential obstacles, all to make it easy for them to do what the marketer asks them to. This is no easy feat – And we’re here to help you if you’re struggling to write the perfect call-to-action to get your audience to engage. ## **Use Persuasive, Concise Language** Keeping things concise and persuasive is key for breaking through the noise. It’s important to persuade people to follow your CTA in as few words as possible to make it easy for them to take the recommended action. One trick that copywriters use is building an incentive into a call-to-action statement. For example, if you are marketing a new piece of equipment available for rental through your business, you can incentivize potential customers to use the product and eventually opt in by giving them a CTA like the following: - Get your first month free when you rent in the next 30 days! - Save 15% when you rent this month! Creating an incentive entices the audience to to do what you’re asking and creates a sense of urgency. Plus, in the case of the rental example, once the audience opts in to renting the product from you, they’re more likely to keep using it because of the initial positive experience. A little persuasion can go a long way towards creating a successful call-to-action statement. ## **Use Words that Inspire Enthusiasm** Would you click on an ad to learn more if you didn’t feel inspired to do so? Chances are you wouldn’t, and the same goes for any audience. Researching your audience to find out more about what they care about will have a huge impact on whether the CTA you write will be successful. As an example, we created a strategic campaign for AFFIRM client [Henry Vilas Zoo](https://www.henryvilaszoo.gov/ "Henry Vilas Zoo") with the following goals: - Inspire people to return to the zoo after closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic - Inspire people to support the zoo financially through donations. We used a several different call-to-action statements that fed into the strategic messaging of the campaign and the actions we wanted our audience to take. Paired with images featuring the adorable animals of the zoo it made for a very persuasive combo. Some of the CTA statements included: - The zoo needs help taking care of itself and its animal residents - Learn more about the re-opening and how you can help: www.henryvilaszoo.gov - Please revisit and help us reopen By appealing to the hearts of zoo-goers and creating a sense of urgency around supporting the animals that call the zoo home, we were able to create a powerful call-to-action that made for a successful campaign. Be sure to always keep in mind the audience you are going for and what will inspire them to rally around your business. ## **Keep it Low Risk for Your Audience** Your CTA will work better when it requires a low level of initial commitment from your audience. Let’s think about the equipment rental example from earlier. One way you could frame the call-to-action so it’s lower risk could be: - Get your first month free when you rent in the next 30 days! Cancel your subscription at any time. By adding this secondary call-to-action, you let your audience know that there is no risk and no commitment expected when they sign up. Try to anticipate what your audience’s fears may be about taking your proposed CTA before putting it out into the world and create a secondary call-to-action to let them know that there is no reason not to engage. ## **Make it Easy to Take the Next Action** Whether it’s entering an email address or clicking to view more information about a product, service, or program on your website, the next step your audience needs to take should be easy to ensure that they don’t back out. The easier your call-to-action is to understand and act on will help decide whether it is successful. For example, you could use the following CTA’s for email signups: - Enter your email to gain access today - Enter your email for exclusive access These call-to-action statements are easy to understand for people scrolling by online and use incentives to get them to take the desired action. We encourage you to get creative when writing your call-to-action, but to never forget that the goal is to leave nothing standing in the way of the audience taking the action you want them to. Writing a call-to-action may seem easy, but without a strategic approach to developing one, you may find the performance of your marketing effort to be less than successful. Are you planning your next strategic campaign and looking to maximize your results? We have a full team of marketing experts at AFFIRM who know what it takes to create inspiring call-to-action statements that inspire audiences to change their behaviors. Please contact AFFIRM President Danny Mager at to get in touch and start the conversation about how we can support your upcoming efforts. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Call-to-Action, marketing --- ### [AFFIRM’s Top Super Bowl Ads of 2022](https://affirmagency.com/affirms-top-super-bowl-ads-of-2022/) **Published:** February 15, 2022 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** When it comes to watching the big game each year, we come for the game and stay for the advertisements! According to [The Sporting News](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/super-bowl-commercials-cost-2022/v9ytfqzx74pjrcdvxyhevlzd), a 30 second spot during Super Bowl LVI cost around $6,500,000, which was $1,000,000 more than last year. This showed in the advertisements that ran, and same as years past, there was no shortage of celebrity cameos, cutting edge graphics/animation, and innovative ideas we’ve never seen before. Without further ado, here are our top picks from this year’s Super Bowl ads! ## **Coinbase: Win $3 Million – Bitcoin** One of the simplest ads to run this year from Coinbase may be the ad that made the biggest impact on viewers. The 60 second spot featured a color changing QR code bouncing around the screen in 90’s screensaver fashion, requiring users to scan the code with their phones to be taken to the sign-up page for Bitcoin and an incentive, “Win $3 million in prizes!” Cryptocurrency is becoming more and more popular, but it is still in the early stages of adoption. Running a disruptive, unconventional ad like this was a genius way to get viewers curious enough about crypto to opt in, and interest in the ad was so high that it led to Coinbase’s site crashing as viewers clamored to learn more – We think that says it all. *Watch the full Coinbase: Win $3 Million – Bitcoin spot* [*here*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zLsUhOCqyU)*.* ## **Toyota – Start Your Impossible** This spot from Toyota pulled at the heart strings with the story of Canadian brothers Brian and Robert McKeever who became teammates in the Paralympic Games and accomplished the feat of winning 10 gold medals in cross country skiing. Brian McKeever suffers from stargardt macular degeneration, an eye disease with no cure, and the spot itself features POV shots from Brian’s to put viewers in his shoes and show how his vision is gradually deteriorating. Pulling at viewer’s empathetic side with the POV shots and build up, and then revealing how the brothers overcame the disease to become champions at the end was emotionally compelling, thus likely to help improve positive sentiment around the brand. *Watch the full Toyota: Start Your Impossible spot* [*here*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3pbC74bf8E)*.* ## **Chevrolet: The First-Ever All-Electric Chevy Silverado – New Generation (The Sopranos)** Rebooting a classic introduction sequence from one of the most popular HBO shows of all time is the direction Chevrolet decided to take for their Super Bowl ad. Chevrolet paid attention to the details with their recreation “The Sopranos” introduction and included many of the shots from the original show. As Don Draper once said, “Nostalgia – It’s delicate, but potent,” and that was the exact idea that powered Chevy’s spot this year. We enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane while watching this one and agree that the ad was indeed potent and effective. *Watch the full The First-Ever All-Electric Chevy Silverado – New Generation (The Sopranos) spot* [*here*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bZYqFsU72Y) ## **E\*TRADE: Baby “Off the Grid”** The financial advice-toting E\*Trade babies are back! This short 30 second spot featured the E\*Trade baby going off the grid and coming back to save younger generations with financial advice they’ve been deprived of in his absence. The result is a fun ad that calls back to the golden era of E\*Trade’s advertising, and includes cute babies to make viewers laugh. We felt the humorous and nostalgic concept of the ad hit the mark. *Watch the full E\*TRADE: Baby “Off the Grid” spot* [*here*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XTdIxmY5UI) ## **Meta Quest: Old Friends. New Fun** Opening with the classic song “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by the Simple Minds, Meta Quest’s ad focuses on the story of “Questy’s” animatronic dog after the closure of the fictional restaurant he came from. Showing the hard times that the dog goes through during the ad creates an emotional appeal to draw viewers in, and then resolves this when the dog and his friends triumphantly return to “Questy’s” in the Metaverse at the end of the spot. We liked the dystopian theme of this ad and thought that Meta Quest was able to do a good job of breaking through the noise with an ad that was unconventionally wacky and interesting. *Watch the full Old Friends. New Fun spot* [*here*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcmAlpIp3oM) ## **Marvel Studios: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Madness** Marvel fans everywhere rejoiced at the action-packed new promo for the upcoming movie, “Docot Strange in the Multiverse Madness.” Coming off the sixth-highest grossing movie in history, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” Marvel fans knew to expect a promo for the next Dr. Strange movie during the Super Bowl. This condensed trailer is every bit as exciting as fans would have expected and includes a call-to-action at the end to watch the full trailer online, something we felt was a nice touch. *Watch the full Marvel Studios: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Madness* [*here*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aoy1cHOUaSs) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Chevrolet, Coinbase, E*TRADE, marketing, Marvel Studios, Meta Quest, Super Bowl, Toyota --- ### [Part 1: How to Increase Your Social Media Engagement in 2022](https://affirmagency.com/part-1-how-to-increase-your-social-media-engagement-in-2022/) **Published:** March 22, 2022 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** Social media marketing allows you to build relationships by providing an interactive way for current and prospective fans to engage. However, social media audiences continue to grow rapidly each year, making competition to reach new, and even current fans, fiercer than ever. For reference, Facebook has [2.41 billion monthly active users in 2022](https://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/6128/the-ultimate-list-100-facebook-statistics-infographics.aspx), a 12% increase year over year, and over [424 social media users](https://datareportal.com/social-media-users#:~:text=Kepios%20analysis%20shows%20that%20there,of%20the%20total%20global%20population.) have joined social media platforms as a whole in the past 12 months! So, how do you break through the noise and inspire engagement from people on social media in 2022? First things first, you need to gain a good understanding of the social media landscape as it relates to your industry and brand. Our social media experts break it down with important tips to help get you started. ## **Develop a social media strategy** In 2022, it’s important to think strategically about what you’re posting if you want people to engage. This involves creating a well-rounded social media strategy that includes your goals for each platform, target audience, content buckets, paid campaigns, and more. Most modern social media strategies include a mix of organic posting, boosted content, and paid ad placements to maximize engagement and attract new fans. Growing your social media following is an important step to grow your engagement, and that’s why most marketers recommend integrating a paid component to your social media strategy. In fact, usage of Facebook ads is expected to surge [15.5% year-over-year](https://www.emarketer.com/content/facebook-advertising-2021) in 2022 for this reason! ## **Analyze competitor social media activity** It’s a good idea to keep tabs on your competitors on social media to see what is and isn’t working for them. Perform a social media audit for each platform your competitors are active on and pay close attention to what topics they post about, how often they’re posting, what their engagement levels are, types of media they post (i.e., links, still images, videos, etc.), and whether they’re utilizing paid advertising options. On Facebook, you can check to see if your competitors’ are running ads by accessing the [Ads Library](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=all&ad_type=all&country=US&media_type=all). Evaluating your competitors’ social media approach and engagement will help as you refine your own social media strategy and increase engagement in the long run. ## **Monitor what your audience is talking about online** Social listening is all about keeping your finger on the pulse with what is important to the social audiences you’re trying to reach. You can learn a lot about your social media audiences by paying attention to what people are commenting on your social posts. If you notice there are topics that are consistently coming up, consider addressing this topic with your audiences in your social media posts, and consider running paid advertisements around the topic to spur more engagement. Social media is a two-way street, and if you show people that you care about the things that they do, you can expect them to reward you with more engagement. Developing a social media plan and strategy built on thoughtful research and strategic thinking is the best way to increase your social media engagement in a lasting way. Our staff has experience in social monitoring, social listening, strategic development, content strategy, and more to help you make an impact with social media. Stay tuned for part two of this series for more helpful tips to increase social media engagement, and please reach out to us at to learn more about how we can help you achieve your goals this year! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, Social Media --- ### [Part 2: How to Increase Your Social Media Engagement in 2022](https://affirmagency.com/part-2-how-to-increase-your-social-media-engagement-in-2022/) **Published:** April 7, 2022 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** Did you know the average social media user sees [36 ads a day](https://www.gradschools.com/degree-guide/how-many-ads-do-you-see-each-day#:~:text=Social%20Media,-As%20social%20media&text=Now%2C%20the%20average%20Facebook%20user,10%20of%20them%20a%20month.)? It can be hard to reach people on social media when they are seeing so much content daily, and that’s why it’s important to continuously evaluate your social media approach and strategies to make sure that they are evolving along with the tastes and sensibilities of the people you’re trying to reach. This involves monitoring all social media efforts closely to understand what is making an impact with people, and then optimizing your content to focus on what is helping your brand win on social. We have tips for you to consider once you have an initial social media strategy developed to help you keep things headed in the right direction! ## **Keep an eye on shares and retweets** Shares and retweets are an important indicator that your social media strategy is working effectively. Keep an eye on different content buckets that inspire organic sharing among your social media followers and start thinking about how you can tailor monthly posting to best fit the interests of your followers. We recommend engaging with people in your network to let them know when you are posting or making announcements on social media to help get organic sharing started. The more times your content is shared, the larger your reach and the more favorably your content is scored by Facebook’s algorithm, so anything you can do to get things started will work in your favor! ## **Track your social media page growth** Being aware of your total followers on social media, as well as how this is changing based on content you post and ads you run, will help you optimize content for your audiences. For example, if you notice that you’re receiving more followers when running paid ads around a certain topic, you’ll want to consider running similar paid ads in the future. Boosting posts on Facebook and LinkedIn allows you to place sponsored content in the social media feeds of others that appears the same as regular, organic post, and this can be a great way to reach new users that may follow your page, if they are set up correctly. Ideally, you’ll want a dedicated organic social strategy and paid social strategy, involving paid ads and boosted posts, to maximize your reach and keep people engaged. This includes creating cost parameters to ensure that you spend efficiently within your defined limits. ## **Perform monthly analyses of social media engagement** Taking the time to analyze the performance of your social media content and discern trends will increase the effectiveness of your social media marketing overall. Try testing different content topics on each of your active social media platforms, and make sure to take note if you notice different content types like video or certain images performing better with your social audiences. This will help you learn what is working best month-over-month and inform future social media strategies and tactics you implement with your audience. Monitoring and optimizing social media content is a crucial step to take with your social media marketing, and it requires a dedicated, detailed approach to ensure that you’re moving the needle in the right direction. Our team of experts can help you research your social media audiences to create targeted, meaningful content that inspires current fans to engage and new people to follow for more. Ready to get started? Reach out to us at to learn how we can help you! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, Social Media --- ### [AFFIRM’s Guide to Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising (Part 1)](https://affirmagency.com/part-1-affirms-guide-to-pay-per-click-advertising/) **Published:** June 20, 2022 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising, an internet search engine advertising model used to drive traffic to websites, has become an essential tool for generating new leads, reengaging existing customers, and spreading brand awareness for businesses. There are several methods of PPC advertising on Google. Three of the most popular options include **display, search,** and **video**. Each have their own benefits and unique placement options that you should consider before implementing a PPC campaign. You’ve probably seen display ads like the example below while using Google to search for things. Display ads are placed on Google partner sites like Walmart or Target and can be targeted using relevant keywords, audience groups, locations, and demographics, including age and gender. The primary benefit of running display ads is that they allow you to reach people that have expressed interest in your products or services in the past while online. [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Picture1-1.png)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Picture1-1.png)Google’s search network option is a great way to reach people that are actively searching for you. Google search ads appear as an “Ad” webpage near the top of the search results the moment a person searches for your product or service. The main difference between a display and search ad is that search ads lack the visual component of a display ad. If the content of your ad is reliant on a visual like an image or video, you’ll want to consider running a display or video campaign instead. However, if this isn’t the case, search ads are a highly enticing and effective format for reaching people that are actively interested in your business. Below is an example of a search ad. [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Picture2.png)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Picture2.png)Video campaigns are another popular option for Google advertisers. Google video advertisements are usually hosted on YouTube, meaning the ad is created from a previously posted YouTube video, and can be created in a variety of different campaign formats. The most common and effective campaign formats are **skippable in-stream** and **non-skippable in-stream** ads. These video ads are shown before, during, or at the end of a normal YouTube video. As you probably already guessed, the only difference between the two is the ability to skip the ad. With over 240 million people using YouTube every day ([Statista](https://www.statista.com/topics/2019/youtube/#:~:text=At%20the%20beginning%20of%202022,on%20the%20popular%20video%20platform.)), advertising on this platform via Google video campaigns gives you a very good chance that you’ll reach both new and existing customers. Video campaigns are also usually the most engaging and high performing forms of PPC advertising, making them worth considering for your business. Every business in search of new leads should utilize Google Ads and PPC advertising. Whether the goal is to find new customers, reinforce branding ideals, or generate awareness, PPC advertising is a very effective way to reach people online. AFFIRM’s digital marketing experts are here to help you set up and run PPC programs that help you meet your goals and business objectives. Keep an eye out for our upcoming series of blogs diving deep on the different Google advertising options available and get in touch with us at to start planning. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing --- ### [What is SEO and Why Does it Matter?](https://affirmagency.com/what-is-seo-and-why-does-it-matter/) **Published:** September 21, 2022 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** When you enter a search query into Google, what pages are you most likely to check out when you hit enter? For most people, the answer to this question is the web pages that appear on the first page of the search results. According to [Backlink](https://backlinko.com/google-ctr-stats), the top spot on a Google search receives 32% of all clicks for that search across the board. This means that vying for the top spot is well worth the time for any business, and this can be done by developing an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. We’ve broken down the key components of SEO for you, including what it is and why it’s important, to help you as you consider making updates to improve the impact of your website. ## **What is SEO?** Broadly defined, SEO refers to a set of practices and strategies that work together to improve the appearance and positioning of websites in a search engine’s organic results. Organic search is the main way that most people searching online find content, making an effective SEO strategy crucial to establish your business as trustworthy. It’s important to continually reevaluate your website and find areas for improvement to remain competitive with other businesses in your industry that are also competing for top spots on the search engine results page. ## **How Does SEO Help Your Web Traffic?** Search engines use crawlers to gather information about page content for websites. When a user enters a query into search engines like Google and Bing, the search engine pulls together a list of pages that it flags as most relevant and accurate based on information that crawlers have added to the search engine algorithms. There are many factors that impact this process including factors like domain age, keyword in your domain, domain history, and so forth, as well as page-level factors like work count rankings and content length. By keeping SEO best practices in mind as you create content for your website, you’re more likely to gain favorable keyword rankings. ## **What are the most important elements of SEO marketing?** Ranking factors are defined as criteria that Google and other search engines use to rank websites and determine positioning in the search engine results pages. SEO marketing can become frustrating for the inexperienced since factors that contribute to page ranking are constantly changing and evolving. In fact, Google has confirmed that it uses hundreds of different factors to determine site rankings! Below are some of the most important search ranking factors according to [Search Engine Journal](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/): [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Search-Engine-Journal-Ranking-Factors-1024x538.jpeg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Search-Engine-Journal-Ranking-Factors.jpeg)## **How to create SEO content that works** Now that you have a good understanding of what SEO is and how it can help with your brand awareness, we have tips to keep in mind as you update your web pages to be SEO-friendly. Keep in mind, the factors that Google and other search engines use to score and rank content are complex, so these are just a few things to focus on as you’re getting started. - **Keywords**: Include specific keywords in your content that you know audience members are searching for. For example, if you were writing a blog post about public transportation options, you might include keywords like “active transport” or “public transport” in the body copy of the post for crawlers to pick up on. - **Content relevance**: Publishing content towards your angle and what you do will positively impact your site visibility. As an advertising agency, we post content relevant to the disciplines we’re skilled in, including media buying, social media, digital marketing, and of course, SEO. - **Off-Page SEO**: Populating your content with links will help increase your site ranking and visibility with people online. This is an easy way to improve the performance of your website and content. - **Search Engine Marketing**: Paid efforts like native ads, social media ads, pay-per-click (PPC), and more all help with SEO. Read about PPC in the first part of our recent [blog series](https://affirmagency.com/part-1-affirms-guide-to-pay-per-click-advertising/). Our digital marketing experts can help provide counsel as you’re making SEO updates to your webpage and provide suggestions on how you can improve your site ranking. Email us at and let’s discuss how we can partner with you! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, seo --- ### [Which PPC Approach is Right for You (Part 2)](https://affirmagency.com/part-2-which-ppc-approach-is-right-for-you/) **Published:** September 23, 2022 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Finding leads and converting them into customers is essential for the health of any business. Though this is no easy task, it can be done with an effective approach to pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. In the first part of this series, we discussed how PPC works, including the different types of ads and how they’re served to prospects. This time around, we’ll discuss different PPC approaches, with information and suggestions to guide you for your next campaign. As a reminder, there are three main PPC options you can choose from. These include search, display, and video campaigns that can targeted to the specific audience you want to reach. If you need a refresher on these campaign types, including how they work and the types of ads you can run with them, check out the [first part](https://affirmagency.com/part-1-affirms-guide-to-pay-per-click-advertising/) of this blog series. ## **Search Campaigns** Search campaigns are the best option when you’re looking to showcase your ad at the exact point a Google search is made. They appear near the top of the results page for a search query above all other organic results, improving your pages visibility for those keywords. Search ads are effective because they put your web page in the right place, at the right time. They can also be used to generate awareness about almost any type of company. Consider using search ads if your goal is to find new customers, re-establish contact and consideration with a former lead, or generate a conversion at the prospect’s initial point of consideration. ## **Display Campaigns** Display ads feature an eye-catching image and key messaging around the product or service being advertised. Instead of reaching prospects right at the point of search, display ads are served while prospects are browsing other websites. This works well when the intent is to catch the attention of prospects when they aren’t expecting it with a visual ad. For example, you could use display ads to market a fashion brand by showcasing the visual appeal of the products to a relevant targeted audience. If your goal is to generate awareness with new prospects by catching them while they’re browsing, then display ads are the right option for you. ## **Video Campaigns** Video campaigns utilize YouTube as a hosting platform. [Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/469152/number-youtube-viewers-united-states/) expects the total number of YouTube users in the United States to hit 210 million in 2022, so if you’re looking to broadcast to a large audience, YouTube ads are a perfect option. YouTube ads are equally as customizable as search and display in terms of available demographic and keyword targeting options, but they provide an opportunity to reach people with engaging video ads. This is useful for a wide range of businesses. Our digital marketing experts can work with you to develop a customized strategy, including optimized targeting, to ensure that the budget for your next campaign is spent efficiently and effectively. Reach out to us at to get started! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, ppc --- ### [How to Maximize Your Email Marketing Effectiveness (Part 1)](https://affirmagency.com/how-to-maximize-your-email-marketing-effectiveness-part-1/) **Published:** November 11, 2022 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** You may not consider email an important marketing channel in 2022 with so many other options available, but email is absolutely a channel you should be using for your business. According to [HubSpot](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/email-marketing-stats#highlight), 77% of marketers have seen an increase in email engagement over the last 12 months and 37% of brands are increasing their email budget in the future. Email marketing is very effective when executed properly, however, there are pitfalls marketers fall into when deploying emails that can lead to messages being marked as spam, receiving low engagement, or even not being delivered at all. We have some tips to help you as you refine your email marketing efforts for the future. ## **Include a clear and focused call to action** It’s crucial to give people that receive your email a call to action (CTA) to latch onto – And that call to action should be to visit your landing page. If a person receives your email but doesn’t explore further to view offerings on your website, it’s doubtful they’ll convert into a future customer. Avoid cluttering your email sends with multiple calls to action as this will distract the people reading your emails and potentially hurt your overall engagement. Keeping things clear and concise will ensure that the emails you send reach customers and convert leads. ## **Segment your email lists** Different types of emails may require different messaging to get users to click on to your landing page. For example, if you were running an email marketing campaign welcoming new customers with initial information, you wouldn’t want to send these emails to long time customers. For that reason, we strongly recommend that you segment your email marketing lists based on the different campaigns you plan to run. There are endless ways you can do this, from demographics, to engagement, to the source that led the person to your email list. ## **Optimize emails for mobile** In a 2021 study from Litmus, they found that 41.6% of email opens came from mobile, followed by webmail opens at 40.6%, and desktop opens at only 16.2%. Therefore, it’s crucial to make sure that your email sends are optimized for mobile. Be sure to check out the mobile preview before sending out your email to check and make sure that all text can be read without having to pan over, ensure your links work, and that all fonts, colors, and sizes can be easily viewed in a mobile format. Do you need help optimizing your next email send? Our digital marketing experts can help put you on the right track. Reach out to us at to get started and keep an eye out for part 2 in this series! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing --- ### [How to Maximize Your Email Marketing Effectiveness (Part 2)](https://affirmagency.com/how-to-maximize-your-email-marketing-effectiveness-part-2/) **Published:** November 11, 2022 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** Though email marketing may seem antiquated, if you approach it with a strategic mindset, you can make an impact and reach customers for your business. In the [first part](https://affirmagency.com/how-to-maximize-your-email-marketing-effectiveness-part-1/) of this series, we covered a few tips and tricks to employ to help improve engagement for your email sends. Now, we’re back with even more tips to help you get the most out of your email marketing efforts! ## **Give emails a personal touch** Knowing your audience is marketing 101. If you aren’t reaching the right people with your lists and targeting, you’re not going to see a high conversion rate from your email send. Below are some questions that you should be asking yourself before sending out your email: - Do the offers and information within speak to the customer you’re trying to reach? - Does the communication remain consistent with your other marketing materials? - Is the copy in the subject line personable and inviting? Don’t put time and energy into emails for an audience that won’t receive them well. Taking the time to put yourself in the customer’s shoes as you design your email sends will help increase your engagement. ## **Find the right email sending time** [Hubspot](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/best-time-to-send-email) asserts that the best time to send marketing emails is between 9 A.M. to 12 P.M. and 12 P.M. to 3 P.M. However, the best time to send an email will depend on who you’re sending your emails to and what kind of business you have. We recommend testing a few different times and days, and then monitoring engagement levels to see when your emails are getting the most engagement. Doing so will help you reach more users, ultimately improving your engagement for the future. ## **Include social media profile links** It’s important to give people opportunities to engage with your email that don’t distract from the call to action. An easy way you can do this is by adding links to your social pages at the bottom of the email. Users who are motivated to click on your landing page are likely to explore other ways to engage with your brand/products and adding social links to your email gives them an easy way to reach your different channels. We have you covered if you need help optimizing your next email send. Reach out to us at and our digital marketing experts will be happy to assist you! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing --- ### [Four Key Content Marketing Trends for 2023](https://affirmagency.com/four-key-content-marketing-trends-for-2023/) **Published:** June 22, 2023 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** Content marketing is a familiar strategy, one that’s paramount in building long-lasting relationships with your audience. With new marketing channels like social media offering exciting ways to expand your content marketing strategy and reach new people, there is so much opportunity to be found in 2023. So, you’re likely asking yourself, what are the top content marketing trends to look out for this year? The experts at AFFIRM Agency are here with the top four to pay attention to! ## **Emphasis on Disruption** Have you heard the term “disruptive marketing” getting tossed around? According to [Insightly](https://www.insightly.com/blog/disruptive-marketing/), disruptive marketing is a strategy that uses experimental tactics to test the status quo. Simply put, disruptive marketing uses never tried ideas to break through the noise and capture the attention of your audience. Remember [Coinbase’s 2022 Super Bowl ad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAao7EmXXc0)? This is a great example of modern, disruptive marketing, and you can expect to see a lot more of it throughout the rest of 2023. ## **Use Social Media to Reach Gen Z** This trend isn’t exactly new, but it’s no secret that a good way to reach Gen Z is through social media platforms. A new report from [Hubspot](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-each-generation-shops-differently?hubs_content=blog.hubspot.com%2Fmarketing%2Fstate-of-content-marketing-infographic&hubs_content-cta=28%25%20of%20Gen%20Z%20consumers) found that 28% of Gen Z bought a product through a social media app. Even if you’re selling an idea instead of a product, younger consumers are open to listening to advertisers in a casual format. Moving forward this year, implementing organic and paid social strategies is a good way to show a younger audience your bold new ideas. ## **Capitalize on Short Attention Spans with Short-Form Video** If you’ve been paying attention at all to the rise of TikTok, you know that using short-form video content across platforms is a good idea to reach your audience. In fact, many social platforms including Facebook and Instagram are adopting TikTok’s format for displaying short-form videos to people to capitalize on the trend! [Google](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2382886?hl=en#:~:text=Shortform%20videos%20are%20under%2010,or%20longform%20videos%2C%20or%20both') describes short-form video content as being under 10 minutes, so we recommend keeping your videos under this length if you want to make an impact. ## **Content that is Funny and Relatable is More Important Now than Ever** [Sprout Social](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-statistics/) states that brands can expect to see better results from content that’s primarily entertaining and/or funny. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. People are pelted with marketing and advertising messages constantly throughout the day, and something that makes you laugh is something that will stick. It could even lead to a new fan in the future. We recommend giving funny content a shot if you’re looking to leave a lasting impression this year! Interested in developing a content marketing strategy to help you win on multiple platforms, but feeling lost on how to go about it? Partner with the AFFIRM Agency experts to find strategies and tactics that are just right for you and your business. Reach out to us at and our team will be in touch. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, marketing, Short-Form Video, Social Media --- ### [AFFIRM's Social Media Predictions for 2024](https://affirmagency.com/affirms-social-media-predictions-for-2024/) **Published:** February 19, 2024 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** Most brands and companies have widely embraced social media as a key area of focus for their plans and strategies in 2024, and it’s important to stay ahead of the curve to get the most return from social media marketing efforts. This means being in the know about changes in the world of social media, from the content itself, to AI moderation, paid capabilities, and more. The experts of AFFIRM Agency compiled the most important current social media marketing trends for you to consider as you refine your social media plan in 2024. ## **Artificial Intelligence (AI)** AI has become a much bigger part of the social media world than anyone could have anticipated two years ago. From ad content moderation to support with copywriting, AI is a powerful tool that can save social marketers time and energy. AI is only set to grow in importance in 2024, as Google President Sean Downey told [HubSpot](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/marketing-predictions-experts?hubs_content=blog.hubspot.com%2Fmarketing%2Fhubspot-blog-marketing-industry-trends-report&hubs_content-cta=post), “In 2024, the biggest marketing trends will center around the possibilities of AI.” AI will continue to serve as an effective assistant for brainstorming ideas, writing copy, and generating images, and 63% of marketers surveyed by [HubSpot](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/hubspot-blog-marketing-industry-trends-report#:~:text=Social%20media%20apps%20could%20drive,with%20Instagram%20for%20highest%20ROI.) agree that most content in the upcoming year will be created at least in part with the help of generative AI. However, while 81% of advertisers that use AI say it has had a positive impact on their work, 42% of consumers are apprehensive about using it in some situations, especially with social media replies, according to the [Sprout Social Index](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/data/index-2023/?viewer=true?email=click&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=GuideTrigger&mkt_tok=NTAxLVBUVy05MzgAAAGQlCx1FCuLhqIvZxXAd_SOICly0nlk3-KURHuHb20L_gF181TSjFLk7grXFSIINB42hnJF0Va8LQhRHNV9CeE5y7D3TtgblAAFlMLEj6maOCnX). Balance is the key when it comes to utilizing AI to fine-tune your social marketing operations while maintaining consumer trust. ## **Authenticity** Stemming from concerns over AI, it’s more important this year than ever for brands to maintain a non-automated, human identity. Consumers are already on the lookout for content that feels, sounds, or looks AI-generated and are much less likely to engage with or trust brands that they perceive as inauthentic. In 2024, it’s essential for social media marketers to combine promotional content with direct interaction to boost confidence and engagement. Replying to comments and direct messages across platforms gives consumers a human voice to rely on. According to the [Sprout Index](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/data/index-2023/?viewer=true?email=click&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=GuideTrigger&mkt_tok=NTAxLVBUVy05MzgAAAGQlCx1FCuLhqIvZxXAd_SOICly0nlk3-KURHuHb20L_gF181TSjFLk7grXFSIINB42hnJF0Va8LQhRHNV9CeE5y7D3TtgblAAFlMLEj6maOCnX), 76% of users notice and appreciate when companies prioritize customer support. ## **Short-Form Video** You guessed it: Short-form video content will continue to be essential to successful social marketing in 2024. As in previous years, mastering short-form video is the most effective way to increase a brand’s standing with younger generations. With increasing usage in Facebook Reels, short-form video is now becoming popular with older generations as well. [HubSpot](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/hubspot-blog-marketing-industry-trends-report#:~:text=Social%20media%20apps%20could%20drive,with%20Instagram%20for%20highest%20ROI.) identifies short-form video as the #1 social content marketing format overall, and 56% of advertisers are already using short-form video to increase their reach and engagement on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. By tailoring visual content to be snappy, attention-grabbing, and informative, companies can showcase their personality on social media. Need assistance strategizing your social marketing in 2024? The AFFIRM Agency experts can work with you to ensure your business goals are being met. Contact us at and our team will be in touch! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, Short-Form Video, Social Media, Technology --- ### [How AI is Changing the Marketing and Advertising Industry](https://affirmagency.com/how-ai-is-changing-the-marketing-and-advertising-industry/) **Published:** March 12, 2024 **Author:** Sophie Mager **Content:** At this point, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the marketing and advertising industry. These transformative technologies have been widely discussed over the past two years, both in a positive light, and other times in a not so positive light. Like it or not, from data analytics to customer engagement, AI is reshaping the landscape of marketing and advertising, offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation and efficiency. If you have not experimented with these tools yet, we’re here to help you learn how they work before you get started. ## **Data-Driven Decision Making** AI empowers marketing and advertising professionals to make informed decisions through data analysis. Machine learning algorithms can process vast amounts of data at incredible speeds, identifying patterns and trends that humans might miss. This data-driven approach enables businesses to create targeted campaigns, optimize strategies, and enhance overall marketing effectiveness. ## **Personalized Customer Experience** AI enables the creation of highly personalized and tailored customer experience. By analyzing customer behavior and preferences, AI algorithms can deliver targeted content, recommendations, and advertisements. Personalization increases customer engagement and fosters brand loyalty, ultimately leading to better conversion rates for digital campaigns. AI-powered chatbots also provide real-time interactions, offering customers instant support and information. ## **Programmatic Advertising** Programmatic advertising, fueled by AI, has revolutionized the way ads are bought and placed. AI algorithms automate the process of buying and optimizing digital ad placements in real-time. This not only increases the efficiency of ad campaigns but also allows for more precise targeting to ensure advertisements reach the target audience at the right time, maximizing the return on investment. ## **Predictive Analytics** AI-driven predictive analytics are changing the game for marketers by forecasting future trends and customer behavior. By analyzing historical data, AI algorithms can predict which marketing strategies are likely to be the most effective in the future. This foresight allows marketers to proactively adjust their campaigns, staying ahead of trends and gaining a competitive edge. ## **Content Creation and Organization** AI’s role in content creation and optimization is growing. Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms can generate human-like content, and AI tools can analyze user engagement data to optimize content for maximum impact. This saves time in copywriting and ensures that marketing content resonates with the target audience. Though AI will never be able to replace the human touch in writing effective marketing content, it is a helpful tool for marketers to take advantage of. ## **Fraud Prevention** AI is instrumental in combating fraudulent activities in the advertising industry. Ad fraud, such as [click fraud](https://www.bigcommerce.com/glossary/click-fraud/), can significantly impact campaign performance and budgets. AI algorithms can detect irregular patterns and behaviors, identifying and preventing fraudulent activities, thereby safeguarding the integrity of advertising campaigns. As AI continues to advance, its impact on the industry will only continue to increase. Embracing AI technologies helps streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and achieve a competitive advantage against those not using AI. AI is not just changing the game; it’s redefining how we approach marketing and advertising. At AFFIRM Agency, we understand how to pair human creativity and AI capabilities to create innovative, award winning campaigns for clients. [Contact us](https://affirmagency.com/contact/) today to get started! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Customer Experience, Data Analytics, Fraud Prevention, marketing, Technology --- ### [AFFIRM'S Top Marketing Strategies for Small Local Businesses](https://affirmagency.com/affirms-top-marketing-strategies-for-small-local-businesses/) **Published:** June 12, 2024 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** It doesn’t matter whether you’re just getting started building a marketing strategy for your business or if you’re working on mastering your marketing, we can help you! As the heartbeat of communities, small businesses thrive on local connections and engagements. From leveraging the power of community events to harnessing the potential of SEO, our tips can elevate your brand’s presence and resonance within your immediate surroundings. So, here are some of AFFIRM’s top local marketing strategies: ## **\#1: Optimize your Website for SEO** Here’s a statistic for you: In 2022, organic clicks accounted for [45.1% of all search results clicks](https://www.semrush.com/blog/seo-basics/). What this means is that users are much more likely to trust organic search results than results coming from paid or alternate sources, and the best way to increase your chances of showing up in organic search results is by improving your website’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Improving SEO includes tactics such as using location-specific keywords, creating a verified Google My Business listing, and formatting webpages based on Google best practices. ## **\#2: Engage with Local Media Outlets** Local social media, online, and other media outlets typically have a loyal fanbase, and in some cases, may be more cost effective to fit the budget of a local business. They also cater to specific geographic areas that may fit within a local business’s niche service area. Reaching out to local online influencers, websites, newspapers, magazines, and radio stations for coverage or advertising opportunities is a strategy we recommend for local businesses. AFFIRM’s team of traditional and digital media strategists can help you connect with appropriate media partners to find opportunities that meet your goals, while staying within your budget parameters. ## **\#3: Engage with Local Influencers** Gaining the trust of your target audiences will determine whether your marketing campaign is successful. That’s why more marketers are starting to embrace influencer marketing as a strategy. In fact, 60% of respondents to [Influencer Marketing Hub’s recent survey](https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics#:~:text=With%20effective%20optimization%2C%20pay%2Dper,ROI%20(Wordstream%2C%202023).) say they plan to increase influencer marketing spend in 2024. Local businesses should look at nano and micro influencers with close ties to their audiences. For example, AFFIRM worked with local influencer Sam “Gridlock Sam” Schwartz, a trusted NYC area transportation advocate, to help advance reach and retention of the Long Island Rail Road’s Transit Solutions message and mission. ## **\#4: Leverage Paid Social Media** Did you know that paid social media ads account for [28.8% of all digital advertising spend](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-statistics/)? With such a high saturation of paid social media ads in 2024, organic reach just isn’t what it used to be, and it can even be difficult to reach people who already follow your page organically. That’s why we recommend local businesses consider dipping their toes in the water with paid social media advertising. From doing one off boosted posts to building short campaigns, there are plenty of ways to use paid social to your advantage that won’t break the budget. There are also many objectives to choose from to help you accomplish your business goals. ## **\#5: Sponsor Local Events** Engaging with other local organizations and sponsoring relevant events is a great strategy for increasing brand visibility and awareness among your target audience. It also gives business owners a chance to interact with prospective customers directly to build relationships and goodwill on a personal level. By associating your brand with a well-regarded local event, you benefit from the event’s positive reputation and enhance your own brand image. If you need help developing a marketing strategy tailored to you, consider partnering with AFFIRM to find the strategies and tactics that are just right for you. Reach out to us at and our team will be in touch. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, Influencers, marketing, Social Media --- ### [5 Tips to Help You Become a More Data Driven Marketer](https://affirmagency.com/5-tips-to-help-you-become-a-more-data-driven-marketer/) **Published:** September 29, 2023 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** Data driven marketing is a strategy that focuses on collecting information on data and trends to drive marketing decisions. This strategy helps marketers reach the target audiences they want by incorporating the needs, desires, and behaviors of the target audience into the marketing strategy. Using audience data to build a marketing strategy also increases budget efficiency and improves overall campaign performance. If you’re feeling lost on where to get started; the experts at AFFIRM Agency have some helpful tips to help you become a data driven marketer. ## **Tip #1: Conduct research on your audience** Without accurate audience data, it’s impossible to be a data driven marketer. Learning about your target audience starts with conducting comprehensive research. Explore websites like Google Analytics to find out about audience behaviors, including what they care about. You can also glean information from monitoring the analytics of the social media platforms you’re active on to find information about your audience. AFFIRM Agency’s media and social media teams use marketing research and social media listening software to learn and collect data on audiences to help clients build targeted campaigns. ## **Tip #2: Set goals and objectives for campaigns** Setting goals and objectives before starting a campaign is a crucial step in becoming a data driven marketer. Having a plan for how you will measure campaign success will ensure that you are able to evaluate ROI after the campaign completes. It’s also good practice to set performance benchmarks for your campaign to help you determine if a campaign is successful or not. Depending on your budget range for a particular campaign, you may want to consider different goals in the future. The AFFIRM experts can help advise you on how to set realistic goals for campaigns. ## **Tip #3: Personalize your campaigns** Once you get to know your audience you’ll be able to find opportunities to personalize your campaigns. According to Slideshare, 80% of consumers are more likely to buy from a company that provides a tailored experience. The same logic applies regardless of what your campaign objective is. Your audience wants to feel like you understand their likes and dislikes, and letting data drive the decisions you make will show your audience that you do understand. Use the data you’ve gathered to inform the content of your marketing message from the top down. ## **Tip #4: Retarget the people you reach with your campaigns** Retargeting digital and social media campaigns allows you to deliver ads to people that have already shown interest in your products and services. Tools like Google Adwords, Meta Ads Manager, and LinkedIn Campaign Manager give you the opportunity to build highly targeted lists of individuals who are most likely to take the desired campaign action. Retargeting also helps you stay in touch with people who are most engaged with your business. ## **Tip #5: Monitor campaign performance and ROI** Here’s where goal setting is very useful. When you conclude your campaign, look at the performance analytics to see how they match up with the initial goals you set. Did you exceed or miss your goals? If you missed your goals, then you may not be using the right strategies and tactics to reach your audience. At AFFIRM Agency, tracking performance against initial campaign goals is how evaluate successes and areas for improvement for campaigns. Do you need help getting started with measuring the effectiveness of your marketing efforts? Partner with the AFFIRM Agency experts to find strategies and tactics that are just right for you and your business. Reach out to us at and our team will be in touch. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Analytics, data, marketing --- ### [10 Tips to Help Your Business Stand Out on Instagram](https://affirmagency.com/10-tips-to-help-your-business-stand-out-on-instagram/) **Published:** November 30, 2023 **Author:** Matt Froelich **Content:** With 2 billion active monthly users, Instagram is the [world’s third most-used social media platform in 2023](https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/). Instagram’s growing popularity is difficult to ignore, and given the fact that nearly [85% of Instagram’s total audience is under 45,](https://www.statista.com/statistics/325587/instagram-global-age-group/#:~:text=As%20of%20January%202023%2C%20almost,to%2044%20year%20age%20group.) it’s a critical platform for reaching youths and adults. However, success on Instagram is determined by how well you can gain and retain followers, as well as get them to engage with your updates. Standing out amongst the crowd is possible, and there are things you can do to help grow your business’s Instagram account. Here are some tips to get you started: ## **Tip #1: Create a well-rounded content strategy** If you’re just getting started with regularly using Instagram for your business, take some time to develop content pillars around what your customers care about. Tailoring your content mix to the people who follow you will help increase your engagement. Even if you’ve been using Instagram for awhile now, it’s still worth taking a step back to consider the relevance of your content to the people who follow you. ## **Tip #2: Develop a healthy posting cadence** Posting content regularly and thoughtfully is important in developing a follower base on Instagram. We recommend posting at the very least twice a week, or around 8-10 times a month, but increasing your posting cadence to include more relevant and timely updates about your business will make a difference in the development of your page. ## **Tip #3: Optimize graphics for Instagram** Instagram is a platform heavily based around visuals, and you should use high quality images when creating graphics to improve the credibility of your business on the platform. Make sure that your image file size is no less than 1080×1080 pixels when uploading and be careful that no important elements are being cropped out of your graphic when you post. When posting multiple images, use images with identical sizing to avoid unwanted cropping. ## **Tip #4: Select relevant hashtags** Making your posts more discoverable is an important step in growing your Instagram page. Take a look at the hashtags that other people in your industry use, and create your own hashtags to populate with your posts. This will make it easier for people to discover your profile. ## **Tip #5: Take advantage of Instagram Stories and Reels** Did you know that [500 million people can be reached with ads placed on Instagram Stories](https://business.instagram.com/instagram-stories)? We recommend optimizing organic and paid content for Instagram Stories and Reels. Obsession with short-form video was fueled by TikTok then copied by Instagram, and now, Meta claims that Instagram Reels are the most popular content format for sharing via DMs. This makes Reels important for growing your business’s Instagram page. ## **Tip #6: Complete your bio** Your Instagram bio is the place to give current and prospective followers condensed information about your business. You can also show off your business’s personality in your bio. Be sure to include a link to your website, and if you would like to showcase multiple links, start a [Linktree](https://linktr.ee/) rather than posting un-clickable links in the copy of your posts. ## **Tip #7: Follow other similar accounts** Social media is all about sharing the love. One of the best ways to grow followers and engagement on Instagram when you’re starting out is to follow other businesses and people in your network. This is a low effort and free way to grow your page, but you should be careful about following accounts too quickly. This activity can be flagged as spam/harassment by Meta and lead to restrictions being placed on your account in certain cases. ## **Tip #8: Cross-post on other social media channels** Posting Instagram content on different social media channels helps promote awareness of your Instagram account other places where people follow you. If you have a Facebook page, you can [connect your Facebook and Instagram accounts](https://help.instagram.com/192857082456744) to allow for easy cross-posting. Just make sure you’re tailoring your message for relevance on each platform you post to. ## **Tip #9: Leverage partnerships with industry influencers** Using influencers in your industry to increase your reach is a great way to grow your page. You can create joint posts with influencers when you have an official partnership with them. To find other people in your industry to partner with, simply search through Instagram’s database of hashtags for inspiration. ## **Tip #10: Invest in Paid Instagram Boosts** Paid boosts on Instagram are a relatively inexpensive and easy way to increase the reach of your posts and following of your page. Posts can be optimized for Profile Visits, Website Visits, or Increased Messages. We recommend boosting for Profile Visits to increase followers and engagement. Our social media team can provide consultation on paid social strategies to help you determine the best moves for your business. Do you need help optimizing your business’s Instagram page for better success? Partner with the AFFIRM Agency experts to receive advice and strategies designed around your goals. Reach out to us at and our team will be in touch. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Instagram, marketing, Social Media --- ### [Collaborate and Learn!](https://affirmagency.com/collaborate-and-learn/) **Published:** December 18, 2014 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** [![Openly Collaborative Icon](https://affirmagency.com/assets/openly-collaborative-icon.png?w=300)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/openly-collaborative-icon.png) One of our Core Values is that we are OPENLY COLLABORATIVE. It’s a great way to be. We work well as a team, both with our coworkers and with our clients, and it leads to the best results for everyone. To get a better understanding of this particular Core Value, I did some research on the notion of collaboration. While an excellent finished product is what our team always strives to create, by collaborating the way we do we are actually creating other positive results, as well! We pride ourselves on having a well-seasoned staff of media professionals, but in everything we do we are still always learning and always developing our skills. The concept of collaborative learning is one that you’ll find in hundreds of scholarly journal articles, and while the findings might vary a little, most studies show similar benefits related to learning as a team. Collaborative learning promotes better social interaction and overall communication between people. It creates an appreciation for other points of view, other talents and other learning styles. Critical thinking, positivity, diversity, responsibility, exploration and support are all positive side effects of collaboration. Taking a step back, one could say that OPENLY COLLABORATIVE is at the core of our Core Values. What I mean is, by being collaborative within our team and with our clients, we are constantly developing our inclinations to be ALWAYS RESPONSIVE, EXTREMELY RELIABLE, AMAZINGLY RESOURCEFUL, EXCEPTIONALLY ADAPTABLE, ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE and INSPIRED FUN. It helps those we work with to live out those values, as well. If you’re interested in collaborating on a project or campaign for the coming year, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re always interested in partnering with new people and developing new ideas! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Core Values --- ### [Reliability Is Gold (Or Even Platinum)](https://affirmagency.com/reliability-is-gold-or-even-platinum/) **Published:** April 30, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** *Extremely Reliable* is one of our Core Values. We’ll always be there for our clients, and we’re always ready to provide great service, regardless of what the situation requires. Here’s an example of another group that subscribed to the same ideal. In the mid-1960s, a group of session musicians quickly rose to prominence (as much as a backing band can) for their work at FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, or “The Swampers”, had a distinctive sound, a solid work ethic, and the ability to provide an impressive foundation for a wide variety of music styles. The Swampers established themselves playing on R&B hits like: – “When A Man Loves A Woman” by Percy Sledge – “Mustang Sally” by Wilson Pickett – “Tell Mama” by Etta James – “I’ll Take You There” by The Staple Singers – Most of the Aretha Franklin songs you know. But they were recruited to back artists of all sorts of musical styles, including Willie Nelson, Jimmy Cliff, Joe Cocker, Cher, and many others. All told, this group was the backing band on over 75 gold or platinum records. That’s a lot. You don’t achieve that level of success in such a wide range of styles without serious levels of ability and professionalism, and a strong desire to get some great things done. That’s what I call *extremely reliable*. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Core Values --- ### [Driving the Seat Belt Safety Message in WI](https://affirmagency.com/driving-the-seat-belt-safety-message-in-wi/) **Published:** May 16, 2014 **Author:** Danny Mager **Content:** [![DOT1crop](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dot1crop.jpg?w=300)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dot1crop.jpg) We have been fortunate to be able to work with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on its annual CLICK IT OR TICKET campaign since 2006. In some ways, it’s amazing to me that in this day and age, we still have to make a concerted effort to get people to do something that should be a no-brainer. Bottom line is; you wear your seat belt, you have a much greater chance of surviving a car crash. This is incontestable fact. However, for a variety of reasons; peer pressure, laziness, misguided libertarianism or just simply forgetting, too many people in Wisconsin are still not buckling up. Things are looking up, though. In fact, since the state implemented its primary seat belt law four years ago, seat belt usage has increased by almost 10%, currently standing at 83%. This still trails the national average of 86%, as well as neighboring states such as Illinois and Michigan, which see levels in the mid-90% bracket. That’s why we’re happy that future Hall of Famer Donald Driver has been on board as our seat belt safety person for the past four years and just helped us kick off the 2014 campaign with a news conference in Madison. Driver, who by the way has the perfect last name for a highway safety campaign spokesperson, gets emotional when he talks about how he was personally impacted by the issue when a good friend of his who was not wearing her seat belt was killed in a car crash that she might have survived had she been belted. By teaming up with WisDOT, Driver gives us an excellent chance to reach the 18-34 year old male segment of the population that is most prone to not buckling up. After all, if they won’t listen to one of their all-time football heroes, who will they listen to? Late Monday afternoon, Donald posted his annual CLICK IT OR TICKET message to his Facebook page, reminding his “friends” that they could enter to win an autographed football from him if they click through and take the Driver Safety Quiz on WisDOT’s ZERO IN WISCONSIN campaign web site. In just four days, nearly 5,000 people have done this, an incredible amount of direct engagement with many of the people we need to reach most with the campaign. So, if anyone reading this post knows a friend or loved one who, for whatever reason, doesn’t wear their seat belt; please remind them to do what Donald Driver does; CLICK IT OR TICKET! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Awards Are Nice, But Entering is Even Better](https://affirmagency.com/awards-are-nice-but-entering-is-even-better/) **Published:** July 3, 2014 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** [![Choose-Your-Ride-001-cropped](https://affirmagency.com/assets/choose-your-ride-001-cropped.jpg?w=600)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/choose-your-ride-001-cropped.jpg)We recently won an American Advertising Federation award (formerly known as the ADDYs) at the national level for a project for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). We were the only Wisconsin agency to win at that level, for the work we did to help support WisDOT’s highway traffic safety campaign with the Choose Your Ride vehicle pictured above. We very often enter our work into industry awards competitions. So, very nice for us, but why devote the time and resources necessary to put together an entry? We have discovered some very good reasons to put our work out there for judging amongst our peers. Here are some thoughts about why you might consider looking into entering a reputable awards program in your industry: 1\. **How are we doing?** It’s nice to see how your work stacks up with others in your industry. Judges comments can be very insightful. 2\. **What was the journey?** Putting together the entry itself puts the work into perspective: What were the objectives? What was our process? Did the results meet or exceed the objectives? The journey is sometimes MORE or AS important as the results. 3\. **What are other people doing?** Whether you win or not, you will learn about new ideas, strategies, tactics that could be applicable to you or your customers. Or, could spark a completely innovative new product or service. 4\. **Yay, team!** Everyone likes to get a certificate, medal or trophy. It’s a great way to build team and morale among employees. 5\. **Yay, clients!** Clients/customers tend to like it when the work you did with them wins an award. It builds trust with all customers when they know that their vendor partner is an award winner. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** ADDYS, AFFIRM --- ### [Social Marketing – Part Four: What Stops People from Making a Change?](https://affirmagency.com/social-marketing-part-four-what-stops-people-from-making-a-change/) **Published:** September 24, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** You have [defined your problem](https://affirmagency.com/social-marketing-part-two-defining-the-issue-and-awareness/). You have [identified your target audience](https://affirmagency.com/social-marketing-part-three-defining-audience-and-influencers/) and the people who influence them. Now what? Before you develop your key messages and creative materials, you must understand what keeps your audience from making a change. This blog will cover step three in the social marketing process: **Identify/qualify the obstacles to making the change in behavior among the target audience** You selected your target audience because they are more likely to engage in a negative behavior and/or not engage in a positive behavior. In this blog on the social marketing process, we pinpoint the audience’s **obstacles**: the specific factors that prevent them changing their behavior. As in the previous steps of social marketing, identifying the barriers and obstacles usually requires primary and secondary research. In many cases, the target audience faces an awareness obstacle. They don’t change their behavior because they don’t know that a problem exists and/or how the problem affects them. We addressed an awareness barrier in our State of Wisconsin [DOSE OF REALITY](https://doseofrealitywi.gov/) Opioid Abuse Prevention Campaign with our parent and educator audience. Many did not know that opioid abuse among teenagers had increased in recent years. As a result, they could not look for signs of drug abuse and practice safe storage and disposal of their medications. Other times, an audience knows about the problem but faces a specific practical challenge. This was the case in our [RECYCLE FOR GOOD](https://city.milwaukee.gov/recycles) Campaign to Increase Recycling in the City of Milwaukee. Through our primary research, we found that although our key audience supported recycling, they did not know which items to recycle and when their recycling cart needed to be put out for pick up. This led to the Milwaukee Department of Public Works instituting a more regular and frequent schedule for recycling pick-up. Occasionally, apathy or a negative emotional response can prevent an audience from changing their behaviors. This obstacle calls for a much different messaging strategy than an awareness or practical obstacle. For example, with the COVID-19 pandemic, positive actions that can be taken to help keep people from getting or spreading the virus have been associated with initiatives not directly related to the public health actions. That’s why AFFIRM’s approach to this issue attempts to remove that noise and focus on the things that bring people together in Wisconsin through our [“Let’s Beat COVID-19 Wisconsin Style”](https://beatcovidwi.com/) Campaign. It’s important to fully understand your target audience’s point-of-view. If you cannot identify and address the barriers they face in taking the desired action(s), your social marketing campaign will not be successful. Once you have identified obstacles, you can move on to the next phase in the social marketing process, which we will discuss in our next installment of our Social Marketing blog series. We hope that the tips in these blogs can help you create memorable campaigns that inspire positive change in your community. If you want to see a social marketing campaign in action, check out our new campaign, **Let’s Beat COVID-19 Wisconsin Style** on AFFIRM’s social media or website. And as always, if you need assistance developing your social marketing strategy, the experts at AFFIRM can help! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, marketing --- ### [Social Marketing – Part Three: Defining Audience and Influencers](https://affirmagency.com/social-marketing-part-three-defining-audience-and-influencers/) **Published:** August 31, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** In the COVID-19 era, small actions like wearing a mask and maintaining distance can save lives. Social marketing strategies can help governments encourage the public to make these small but powerful behavior changes. In our previous blog posts, we introduced the [social marketing process](https://affirmagency.com/want-to-effect-change-for-the-better-consider-social-marketing/) and discussed [its first step](https://affirmagency.com/social-marketing-part-two-defining-the-issue-and-awareness/). In this post, we will break down the second step in the social marketing process: **Define the target audience/influencers; those most at risk of taking part in the behavior and the people with influence over them** When performing your situational analysis, you will probably find that a particular demographic group (age, gender, location, etc.) is more likely than others to participate in a harmful behavior. This group will form your campaign’s **target audience**: the people your campaign will reach and persuade**.** For example, in our situation research for the DOSE OF REALITY opioid abuse prevention campaign, we found that young people ages 12-25 were most at risk of abusing prescription painkillers, so we geared our campaign toward young people as our primary target audience. A successful social marketing campaign depends on a strong understanding of the target audience. Without it, you cannot develop messaging that motivates the audience to change behavior(s). As in the first step in the social marketing process, knowing your audience starts with primary and secondary research. Secondary research, like state data and academic journal articles, can help you identify the people most at risk of participating in the harmful behavior, along with demographic, geographic and behavioral information. Research can also give you a stronger sense of your target audience’s habits, including their most used social media platforms, favorite TV shows, and other interests. Secondary research can give you general insights about your target audience, but you need to conduct primary research to fully understand the relationship between your audience and the problem. Primary research helps you determine *why* your target audience participates in the harmful behavior and *how* they feel about the issue. Focus groups and interviews are a particularly effective form of audience primary research because they allow you to “dig deeper” into a certain attitude or characteristics. If an interview subject says something that piques your interest, you can ask a follow-up question such as “why do you feel that way?” or “can you tell me more?” Your focus group or interview insights help you identify your audience’s key motivators and barriers, which we will discuss in our next blog on step three in the social marketing process. Along with your target audience, you need to define your campaign’s **influencers**: the people who have power, or influence, over the target audience. In other marketing campaigns, the term “influencer” typically refers to celebrities or popular social media personalities. However, since social marketing campaigns encourage its audience to change behavior instead of to buy a product, family members, friends, teachers, doctors, community leaders, employers, and coworkers can all be influencers. Influencers often motivate your target audience better than any public service announcement or billboard. They add power and personal meaning to your campaign’s key messages. Therefore, you need to research your influencer audience almost as much as your target audience. When you identify and understand your influencers, your campaign can effectively address their concerns, give them relevant information, and motivate them to get involved. Our DOSE OF REALITY opioid-prevention campaign targeted young people ages 12-25, but we knew that our campaign would not be effective without reaching their influencers. We researched and developed materials for parents, siblings, friends, coaches, educators and business leaders. These audiences became key players in our campaign and in the fight against opioid abuse in Wisconsin. By taking the steps outlined in these Social Marketing blogs, you can develop a campaign to address an issue that’s impacting society and spark positive change in your community. Follow us on social media or check out the [website](https://beatcovidwi.com) for a look at our newest social marketing campaign, **Let’s Beat COVID-19 Wisconsin Style**. And as always, if you need help developing your social marketing strategy, the experts at AFFIRM can help! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** marketing --- ### [Social Marketing – Part Two: Defining the Issue and Awareness](https://affirmagency.com/social-marketing-part-two-defining-the-issue-and-awareness/) **Published:** July 30, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** In an era when persuading people to follow important guidelines or take simple actions can save lives, social marketing plays a crucial role in getting that information to the public. We’ve shared what Social Marketing is, and why it’s an effective approach to inspiring desired behavioral change. In this post, we start to break down each step in the process. The first step we embark on for a client’s social marketing program is to identify and quantify the issue or challenge. **Identify/quantify the issue or challenge – define the desired change in behavior and how it will be measured** Social marketing campaigns address a problem by encouraging positive behavior changes. Before developing your campaign’s creative idea, buying media, or writing social media posts, you must fully understand the issue your campaign will address and the behavior change(s) needed to solve it. Marketing professionals often call this step “Situation Analysis” because it breaks down all the factors at play in a certain problem or situation. Begin by using secondary research to fully understand the issue. News articles, academic journals, and public data can give you a better sense of the problem and potential solutions. For example, in developing the City of Milwaukee’s RECYCLE FOR GOOD Campaign to Increase Recycling, we first looked at secondary resources, such as reporting and data from the recycling vendor and patterns of recycling. Then, we conducted primary research using focus groups and surveys to determine attitudes toward recycling, knowledge of what can be recycled, and how to recycle. What we discovered is that the majority of people in the City were in favor of recycling, but not all of them were recycling because: - They weren’t sure of what items could or couldn’t be recycled - There weren’t aware of the recycling schedule: i.e., when their recycling cart needed to be put out for pick up - Some households didn’t have carts; they had smaller bins which weren’t large enough to recycle more items - They weren’t aware of how much revenue the City could earn by recycling, which supports other public services and resources What we learned helped us to determine which areas of the City needed more education and outreach, how to revise the pick-up schedule to make it easier to recycle, and what types of messaging to focus on in order to increase recycling. A focused strategy is necessary to use budget and resources wisely. You should also understand the TYPE of problem your campaign will address, as this will inform the strategies in your social marketing campaign. Are people even *aware* of the problem? If not, your campaign should strive to inform as many key audience members as possible that the problem exists and needs to be addressed. Do people *care* about the problem? If not, develop messaging that changes attitudes and opinions. If people know and care about the issue, but have not done anything to solve it, your campaign should focus on turning apathy to action. Typically, social marketing campaigns will address all three types – awareness, attitude, action – at some point in its plan. However, it is helpful to note which type needs the most attention and resources. You cannot expect someone to act on an issue if they are not aware of it. For example, when the opioid abuse epidemic began to spike across the country, AFFIRM worked with the Wisconsin Department of Justice to develop a social marketing campaign to build awareness and start prevention measures in the state. Through secondary and primary research done during the situation analysis, we found that in Wisconsin, people were unaware that opioid abuse was a problem, primarily because of attitudes that opioids are prescribed by medical professionals, and deemed to be “safe”. So, our campaign goals needed to include a plan to reach the entire state to raise awareness of the dangers of opioid addiction as well as to ensure that people were aware that opioids are highly addictive drugs and may not be safe even if prescribed by a doctor. It’s important to be as specific as possible when defining your problem. For example, your problem is not “a lot of people abuse prescription opioids in Wisconsin,” but rather “Wisconsin experienced a 260% increase in opioid overdose deaths.” By making your problem and solution specific and measurable, you can develop your campaign **objectives:** the steps your campaign will follow to solve the problem. Identifying the issue, the challenge and the awareness leads to the next step in the process: identifying the target audience. Just like traditional consumer marketing, social marketing messages should be targeted to the people most in need of hearing them. In the case of the opioid campaign, research showed that young people are most susceptible to not only using opioids, but then turning to heroin and other street drugs when their supply of prescription painkillers is cut off. Therefore, the primary target of the campaign, branded DOSE OF REALITY, was 12-25 year olds. The challenge then becomes how to consistently reach this target audience with enough consistency using media channels they’re accessing in order to be effective. By taking the steps outlined in these Social Marketing blogs, you can develop a campaign to address an issue that’s impacting society and spark positive change in your community. Need help developing your strategy or choosing the right behavior change approach, [let us know!](https://affirmagency.com/contact/) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, marketing --- ### [Advice to Summer Marketing Interns](https://affirmagency.com/advice-to-summer-marketing-interns/) **Published:** August 30, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Congratulations! You’ve landed your first internship at a marketing/PR/advertising firm. Now what? I’ve been an intern at AFFIRM for roughly 3 months, and I’ve learned A LOT (too much for one blog post). Before I return to school, I want to give a few pieces of advice to future summer marketing interns: #### 1. Set Intentions When it comes to learning and development, I like setting intentions instead of goals. “Goals” are about the thing you want to achieve, while “intentions” focus on the person you want to be. For example, you might set the goal to “write as many blog posts as possible,” but what you really want (your intention) is to become a stronger writer. In that spirit, think about the person you want to be at the end of your internship. Do you want to have more industry knowledge? Do you want stronger self-awareness? Having clear intentions will keep you motivated and focused as you move through the summer. #### 2. Try Everything As a public relations student at a full-service marketing agency, I got some assignments that expanded outside my area of study. I did some traditional PR work, like writing press releases and researching media contacts, but I also worked on copywriting and social media projects. It can be daunting to try new things, but that’s what an internship is all about! You can’t expect yourself to learn and grow as a young professional if you don’t step out of your comfort zone. I truly loved my non-PR work! It’s fun to try new things and challenge yourself. More importantly, I know that those new experiences made me a stronger marketing professional. #### 3. Don’t Forget Your Notebook There are quite a few reasons why your notebook and pen should be glued to your hand. Here’s three: 1. Someone could have a job for you, and you WILL forget about it if it’s not written down somewhere. 2. Detailed notes are an important part of good client communication. 3. Your supervisors and coworkers will give you lessons, advice, and examples of proper workplace and industry practices. Don’t forget them – jot them down! #### 4. Don’t Be Afraid This is perhaps my biggest piece of advice. Internships can be intimidating; you’re in a new environment doing new things for real clients with real consequences. As a type-A perfectionist, I was scared of the unknown and I was even more scared of making mistakes. DO NOT let those fears define your internship. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to mess up. You’re human; you WILL make mistakes (so stay humble). After all, the point of an internship is to learn, and learning sometimes involves screwing up- but you have the safety net of the people around you who are watching for this and can help you work through it. So, to future marketing interns: learn, make mistakes, try new things, speak up, grow, and don’t forget to be grateful! And to non-interns who have marketing concerns: I’m sure you’ll love working with the AFFIRM team as much as I did. [Contact ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/)us to get started. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, client communication, content, goals, intern, marketing, pr intern, Public Relations, researching, Social Media --- ### [Treat Your Ears with our Favorite Marketing Podcasts](https://affirmagency.com/treat-your-ears-with-our-favorite-marketing-podcasts/) **Published:** February 28, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** The golden age of podcasts is here and we at AFFIRM can’t get enough! With podcasts, you get all the expertise of a book or blog post, but you can listen in the car, at the office, or even while doing your dishes. Looking for a good marketing podcast? Here’s our top picks: ### ***1. Copyblogger FM*** Keep up with the latest trends and best practices in content marketing with *Copyblogger FM*. Host Sonia Simone and her experienced team will help you navigate our content-heavy marketing landscape with useful tips on blogging, email marketing, copywriting and more. ### ***2. Marketing over Coffee*** If you’re looking for a simple, overarching marketing podcast, this one is for you! In weekly, 20-minute episodes, hosts John Wall and Christopher Penn discuss new and old marketing tricks – all at a local coffee shop! ### ***3. This Old Marketing*** This bi-weekly podcast is hosted by well-known content marketing experts Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose explores the latest in marketing trends. Pulizzi and Rose discuss how businesses can use the latest content trends to attract and retain their customers. Less than 60 minutes and always entertaining! ### ***4. Yeah, That’s Probably an Ad*** Want marketing insights without feeling like you’re in a lecture hall? Try Adweek’s *Yeah, That’s Probably an Ad*. Each week, the Adweek editors discuss trends in advertising, branding, and popular culture, from the best creative agencies in the world to the Nitro Cold Brew craze. ### ***5. Social Media Marketing Podcast*** Step up your company’s social media game with this podcast from Michael Stelzner of the Social Media Examiner. With 45-minute episodes each week, *Social Media Marketing* will give you the tools to engage your target audience online! We hope you give one or all of these podcasts a listen! Are there any ones we’re missing? Let us know in the comments below! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, marketing, podcasts, Social Media --- ### [8 Best Practices to Holding a Virtual Meeting](https://affirmagency.com/8-best-practices-to-holding-a-virtual-meeting/) **Published:** April 6, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** With working from home becoming more common because of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies are struggling to find a consistent way to exchange ideas and keep their employees up to date and engaged. Virtual meetings have been around for years, but it was not until recent weeks that businesses have had to dig deep and come up with effective best practices for holding virtual meetings. Running a productive virtual meeting, complicated by a lack of physical presence, is not as simple as it appears. At AFFIRM, through trial and error, we’ve found the following tips to be helpful. 1. **Use invites with a notification system.** Make it a habit to send out meeting invitations well in advance of the gathering, ensuring everyone confirms whether they are attending or not. Notification systems are useful for workers because it is easy to become sidetracked with a project and forget about a meeting. 2. **Send out an agenda beforehand.** The more information co-workers have ahead of time, the more engaged they will feel. Agendas have a focal point, and if meeting-goers know the content, they are more likely to be plugged in, coming up with answers to anticipated questions. 3. **Set webcams to eye level.** Most people use laptops on a desk while working and keep the computer on the same surface during a meeting. This results in a webcam positioned at an awkward level, with the camera tilted up, resulting in an unflattering image. Make sure your webcam is at eye level, so your image will look more natural. One way to solve this is to simply place your laptop on a box. 4. **Mute it.** When joining a meeting, remember to hit the mute button and keep it on mute when you’re not talking. Muting can also act as an indicator. If all meeting-goers do this, then coming off mute is a sign that you want to speak. If your software allows it, change your settings so that you join all calls on mute. You don’t want to announce your presence with a noisy background or barking dog if you forget to mute. 5. **Use an icebreaker.** Not everybody is a fan of this, as it takes up extra time at the beginning of the meeting. However, it is essential to reinforce interpersonal relationships when people may feel isolated. It is also vital to know that co-workers know you value their personal lives in this chaotic time, so a type of “check-in” is a helpful way to keep everybody involved. 6. **Minimize presentations.** If you’ve ever sat through a lengthy presentation at a face-to-face meeting, you know how long and sometimes painful they can feel. Long presentations at virtual conferences can be worse. It is best if meetings are discussions. Background information should be provided to meeting participants beforehand. 7. **Have a focal point.** Every meeting should have a goal with a clearly defined objective. Remember, you are taking up somebody’s valuable time. Keep the discussion based on the key topics, keeping in mind the bigger picture of the meeting’s goal. For example, if an answer can be found through a simple Google search, do not put that topic on the agenda. 8. **Ask for real-time feedback.** It can be difficult to read visual cues and body language in a virtual meeting. Use a phone-based app like [Poll Everywhere](https://www.polleverywhere.com/). Participants will need specific instructions, but as the group learns, this may turn out to be a valuable tool. While we don’t know the exact time frame, there will come a day when COVID-19 is behind us. However, virtual meetings and remote working are here for the long term. Use these principles for your next Teams, Skype, or Zoom meeting, and you will help put best practices in place for the future. If you need assistance with setting up virtual meetings or any other marketing need during this challenging time, please email us at . We will be here, Always Responsive, Extremely Reliable and Absolutely Positive! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** client communication, communciation, Communication, remote working, virtual meetings, working from home --- ### [SUPER BOWL FUN FACTS](https://affirmagency.com/super-bowl-fun-facts/) **Published:** February 4, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Whether you tune into the Super Bowl simply to watch the big game or because you want to see the most anticipated ads of the year, the Super Bowl continues to be one of the most watched television events. *Check out some surprising statistics from 2019’s Super Bowl ads:* - Last year’s Super Bowl advertisements brought in $336 million, which doesn’t include pre and post-game ads. - Super Bowl LIII had [2 million](https://www.businessinsider.com/super-bowl-ratings-hit-a-10-year-low-down-5-percent-2019-2) viewers, which is the lowest it has been since 2008. - Across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, there were [3 million](https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/article/2019/super-bowl-liii-draws-98-2-million-tv-viewers-32-3-million-social-media-interactions/) interactions on social media about the Super Bowl last year. - Last year, Stella Artois “Change Up the Usual” had more than 48 million views, making it the most viewed of the year. The commercial featured Sarah Jessica Parker and Jeff Bridges. *Some fun facts you may not have known about Super Bowl ads:* - It costs around [$5.6 million](https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2020/01/27/super-bowl-liv-fun-facts/#4c01594a718e) for a 30-second spot in the Super Bowl. That’s more than $186,600 per second - The cost of a commercial played during the game can vary depending on when it is broadcasted - There are about 45 minutes of commercials played during the Super Bowl - In 1967, the year of the first Super Bowl, it only costed [$40,000](https://play.howstuffworks.com/quiz/super-bowl-commercial-quiz) for a commercial to run during the game [Check out ](https://hypebeast.com/2020/2/best-super-bowl-liv-54-commercials-ads)some of the best commercials from Super Bowl LIV! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Super Bowl, super bowl ads --- ### [Stay Warm with these 5 Digital Marketing Reads](https://affirmagency.com/stay-warm-with-these-5-digital-marketing-reads/) **Published:** January 23, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** As the weather gets colder, who doesn’t love curling up with a good book? Take some time to improve your digital marketing strategy with these 5 reads: 1. ***Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World*** **by Gary Vaynerchuk** It seems like every company is on social media – and rightly so. It is a great way to understand and connect with your customers. However, with so much competing for your audience’s attention, how can your company stand out? In *Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook*, social media expert Gary Vaynerchuck shares how you can boost engagement and turn impressions into sales. Struggling with your social media strategy? Give this book a read. 2. ***Digital Marketers Sound Off*** **by Matt Chiera** If you want short and sweet nuggets of digital marketing wisdom, this book is for you! It has advice, strategies and predictions from 101 marketing leaders. You’ll learn everything from the basics of S.E.O. to the biggest digital marketing mistakes. Whether you’re new to marketing or a seasoned digital marketing veteran, there’s something to learn from this book. 3. ***The Power of Visual Storytelling: How to Use Visuals, Videos, and Social Media to Market Your Brand*** **by Ekaterina Walter and Jessica Gioglio** A picture’s worth a thousand words, and a video is worth even more! *The Power of Visual Storytelling* teaches you how to visually engage your target audience. You’ll even see examples from some of the world’s most successful companies. Stimulate your creative side with this read! 4. ***Hacking Growth: How Today’s Fastest-Growing Companies Drive Breakout Success* by Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown** This book is all about “Growth Hacking,” a new approach to marketing that involves using digital marketing strategies (social media, targeted advertising, viral marketing) to attract as many customers as possible in a short amount of time. While “Growth Hacking” is primarily used by startup companies with a low budget, everybody can learn something from this innovative marketing method. 5. ***The New Rules of Marketing & PR: How to Use Social Media, Online Video, Mobile Application, Blogs, Newsjacking, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly (6th Edition)* by David Meerman Scott** Technology is rapidly changing the marketing and public relations industry, and marketing professionals must learn to adapt to new developments and even anticipate future ones. The *New Rules of Marketing & PR* teaches readers how to do just that. Get easy-to-understand answers to all your digital marketing questions in this book. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, Digital, digital strategy, Engagement, marketing, PR, seo, Social Media --- ### [The Importance of Research in Marketing](https://affirmagency.com/the-importance-of-research-in-marketing/) **Published:** December 2, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** If you’ve visited our AFFIRM Agency Process page on our website, you know that we’ve used our proprietary SMART process to develop effective marketing campaigns since 2004. Let’s review the 5 steps that make up this process: **S**ituation Analysis **M**arketing Strategies **A**pplication & Execution **R**eview and Refine **T**otal Success In this blog post, we are going to discuss the “S” phase of the SMART process: Situation Analysis. In this phase, we delve into our clients’ challenges, goals, competitors and target audiences using a mix of primary and secondary research. Why the emphasis on research? Because it provides critical information that will guide us in developing our overall marketing plan, creative deliverables and media strategy. Research provides benchmarks from which our efforts will be measured in attaining our clients’ marketing goals! What do we hope to find out during the Situation Analysis? - A thorough understanding of a client’s industry, what the market thinks of our client and an understanding of the competitive challenges they face that will help us set attainable goals for providing a **benchmark** of awareness or sales from which our efforts will be judged. This research is sometimes available from secondary sources, but during this step we may also identify the need to go to the market and do **qualitative research** such as focus groups to see if we can get more insight into **how** our audience feels and then follow up with **quantitative research** using tactics like online/ email/phone surveys to measure how common these perceptions may be and to help identify specific steps we might take to change these perceptions. - An understanding of our client’s customers or target audience – who they are, what resonates with them, why they make buying decisions, what path they take to those decisions, and of course, how to best communicate with them efficiently and effectively. Much of this information is available from published sources or services like Scarborough that we subscribe to, but we may also add questions to quantitative research that we are doing to gain more market specific insight into our audience’s buying and media behavior. - Insight into the development of our creative strategy – once we understand the market and the audience – we need to develop creative messaging and materials that will resonate with them and encourage them to take the desired action. For this step, we may also recommend a mix of qualitative and quantitative primary research to test different messages and creative concepts to see which will be more effective in engaging our audience. Finally, throughout the effort and upon completion of a campaign, we need to do research to see if we’ve been successful in meeting its goals and objectives – how has our campaign moved the needle in terms of increased sales, modified behaviors, social media feedback, website visits, and other actions that were part of our client’s campaign goals. A thorough Situation Analysis including primary and secondary research is a necessary first step in understanding our client’s reality in order to begin the development of a strategic marketing plan or campaign. Interested to see how this might work for you? Contact us for more information at or call 262-650-9900! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, audience, interviews, marketing, messaging, objectives, research, surveys, targeting --- ### [What U.S. Women’s Soccer Can Teach Us About Cause Marketing](https://affirmagency.com/what-u-s-womens-soccer-can-teach-us-about-cause-marketing/) **Published:** August 13, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** In July, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team defended their title as the world’s best women’s soccer team in the 2019 FIFA World Cup tournament. Their victory on the global stage is a source of pride for the United States and the women’s soccer community. Despite their continuous success, the women of U.S. Soccer still fight for respect off the field. As discovered by the Washington Post, the U.S. Soccer Federation pays the women’s team about 11% less than it pays its male soccer players [(source](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/07/08/are-us-womens-soccer-players-really-earning-less-than-men/?utm_term=.0ed1391fecf0)). Earlier this year, the women’s team sued the U.S. Soccer Federation over this pay gap. This lawsuit, along with the World Cup victory, sparked a nationwide conversation about unequal compensation and gender discrimination. Many Americans, soccer fans and otherwise, voiced their frustration on this issue. Enter two brands: Adidas and LUNA Bar. In March, athletic-wear company Adidas announced that it would be paying its sponsored athletes on the women’s national team the same performance bonus payout that it pays male champions ([source](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-usa-adidas/adidas-to-pay-equal-bonuses-for-womens-soccer-world-cup-winners-idUSKBN1QQ09S)). Just a few weeks later, LUNA Bar, a brand of Clif Bar & Company, announced that they would be donating over $700,000 to the U.S Women’s National Soccer Team, enough to close the pay gap between the women’s and men’s teams ([source](https://www.clifbar.com/press-room/press-releases/luna-r-bar-moves-u-s-women-s-national-soccer-team-one-step-closer-to-equal-pay)). These actions garnered Adidas and LUNA significant press coverage and social media buzz. Sports enthusiasts and advocates alike praised the two companies for standing with the female athletes. It can be safe to say that these companies’ campaigns were successful. Here’s what we can learn: #### **It’s important to take a stand…** In 2019, the relationship between a consumer and a brand is more important than ever. People don’t just want brands they can trust, but brands that they can believe in. Cause marketing aligns the brand’s values with the consumer’s values. #### **BUT pick the right cause.** Adidas and LUNA Bar did not choose to support the women’s soccer team randomly. Adidas, a fitness product brand, and LUNA Bar, a health food brand, both have a long history of supporting athletics. LUNA also has supported women’s causes in the past. If you want your business to associate with a particular initiative, you should have a clear reason WHY – something that goes past increasing sales. Consumers want social responsibility, but they also want authenticity. If you choose an issue that doesn’t track with your brand, you run the risk of appearing manufactured and/or insensitive. The case of the U.S. Women’s Soccer team is a great example of how brands can “join the conversation” and engage their customers. If you have marketing concerns, AFFIRM is here to help! [Contact ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/)us for more info. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Adidas advertising, Advertising, LUNA bar, marketing --- ### [What You Need to Know about the Changing Media Landscape](https://affirmagency.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-changing-media-landscape/) **Published:** September 24, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Your organization is about to launch a new product or initiative, and you’re ready to share your news with the world! STOP. Before you reach out to any media outlet, journalist or editor, you need to understand the changes that have impacted the media landscape. Here’s what you need to know: #### There are fewer journalists. Due to the decline of advertising and subscription revenue in the digital age, media outlets have reduced their newsroom staff. In 2008, American news outlets employed around 70,000 journalists. Today, that number is roughly 37,000. Now, journalists have twice as much work to do in a very short timeframe, so don’t expect them to go the extra mile for you. If you want them to cover your story, you have to be patient, prompt, and available. #### Short attention spans abound! Social media inundates users with hundreds of stories, photos, and videos every day. To get their readers’ attention, journalists need stories that cut through the noise. That means your organization’s news has to be…newsworthy! Ask yourself, *why would this reporter and his or her readers care?* If you cannot answer that question, you might not be ready to contact media. #### Segmented Media In efforts to attract subscribers, many media outlets have transitioned from general content to targeted content for a specific location, industry, age group, gender, life stage, income level, political affiliation, and/or race. Before you pitch a story, make sure it aligns with the journalist’s beat(s) and the publication’s target audience. Editors and reporters respond to people who do their homework. #### It’s not just words anymore. The days of long, wordy news stories with no pictures are long gone. Today, media outlets are looking to engage their readers in a variety of methods. For instance, *The New York Times* not only publishes a daily paper, but a weekday podcast (“The Daily”) and weekly television show (“The Weekly”). When reaching out to journalists, think of how your story could be told through multiple mediums. Have pictures, audio, and/or videos ready! #### Don’t forget about bloggers. Years ago, blogs were no more than weekend hobbies. Today, bloggers play a vital role in the media landscape. They have vibrant personalities and notable expertise, not to mention loyal followings that rival some traditional publications. The takeaway? Sometimes a blogger is the best person to tell your story. Consider pitching them instead of a traditional news outlet. The reality is that the media landscape has changed dramatically in recent years and it will continue to evolve. However, as long as you understand and stay ahead of these changes, you can build relationships with journalists and use media to tell your story and further your business goals. If you need help in navigating the constantly-changing media landscape with your public relations efforts, AFFIRM is here to help! Please [contact ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/)us for more information. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Digital, media, media landscape, media strategy, news, Public Relations, Social Media --- ### [Why We Love Local Press (and You Should Too)](https://affirmagency.com/why-we-love-local-press-and-you-should-too/) **Published:** September 4, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** When planning their Public Relations strategy, leaders often express interest in national coverage, like *60 Minutes* or *The New York Times*. National press attention can benefit any organization, but we shouldn’t forget the power of local media coverage. Here’s why we love local press and you should, too! #### **People pay attention to local press.** While news viewership is declining overall, local news remains significantly more popular than national media. According to the [Pew Research Center](https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/01/05/fewer-americans-rely-on-tv-news-what-type-they-watch-varies-by-who-they-are/), roughly 37% of Americans regularly watch their local TV news, while only 27% watch network TV news and 28% watch cable news. Don’t write off local media coverage just because it’s confined to one area. You can still reach a lot of people with local press. #### **People trust local press.** Trust is one of the most important aspects of public relations. If people don’t trust the outlet or publication sharing your news, you won’t see results. Luckily, Americans across the political spectrum trust local press. As reported by the [Poynter Journalism Institute](https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2018/finally-some-good-news-trust-in-news-is-up-especially-for-local-media/), 76% of Americans have “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust in their local TV news, and 73% have confidence in their local newspapers. This level of trust is much higher than that of national network news (55%), national newspapers (59%), and online-only news outlets (47%). Simply put, people see local journalists as *credible*and *reliable*. They can give your message the legitimacy it needs. #### **You can connect with local press.** Any seasoned public relations professional will tell you that the key to getting good press coverage is building relationships. Journalists like working with people and companies they know and trust. However, it’s hard to build a relationship with a national journalist or TV producer if you work for a smaller organization. Your local journalists are different – it’s easier to start a conversation or even grab coffee with a reporter in your city. If you don’t know your local journalists, reach out! Tell them who you are and what your company does. You can also read and comment on their stories. Start a relationship with them and they might cover your story in the future! In short, national press attention is great, but depending on your business goals, local news coverage can be just as, if not more, effective. People watch and trust local news much more than national outlets. Additionally, with local journalists, you have a better chance of building long-lasting mutually beneficial relationships. The next time you have news, don’t forget to consider local media in you PR strategy, and as always, AFFIRM is here to help! [Contact ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/)us if you’d like assistance getting the word out about your business. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** journalists, local news, media, media coverage, news, PR, press, Public Relations, relationships, reputation management, strategy --- ### [Go Back to School with These 5 Marketing Classics](https://affirmagency.com/go-back-to-school-with-these-5-marketing-classics/) **Published:** August 21, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** School is almost back in session! While some of you haven’t been inside a school in years, you’re never too old to learn or dive into a good book. So, as students read *Pride and Prejudice* and *Catcher in the Rye* this fall, you can use this time to catch up on some marketing classics! Enjoy this short list of some of our favorite marketing and advertising reads: #### 1. ***Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion* by Robert Cialdini** Have you ever wondered why and how marketing works? Look no further than *Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion*. Backed by years of research, Dr. Robert Cialdini explains why people say “yes” and how to persuade your customers to buy. If you’re a marketing professional or business leader, this book will help you achieve your goals. #### 2. ***The Boron Letters* by Gary C. Halbert** Gary Halbert is widely recognized as history’s greatest copywriter. However, his collection of letters (written in 1984 and published in 2013) covers far more than copywriting. *The Boron Letters* gives readers practical advice on how to engage customers, as well as how to navigate life’s challenges. This helpful and deeply personal book is a must-read! #### 3. ***How to Win Friends and Influence People* by Dale Carnegie** Even in the digital age, relationships and interpersonal communication remain a crucial part of successful marketing and entrepreneurship. *How to Win Friends and Influence People* continues to be the authoritative source on these topics and more. This book will not only make you a better marketer, but a better leader, employee, and friend. #### 4. ***Ogilvy on Advertising* by David Oglivy** Many people consider *Ogilvy on Advertising*the bible of the advertising industry, and for good reason – David Oglivy started one of the most successful advertising agencies in the world. His book will give you a crash course on all things advertising, from research to copywriting to choosing the right agency. #### 5. ***Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind* by Al Ries and Jack Trout** In *Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind*, advertising experts Al Ries and Jack Trout share how you can create a distinct, memorable brand that customers will notice! This book is great for any organization looking to attract new customers. At AFFIRM, we believe that learning never stops no matter what age you are or where you’re at in your career. Whether you’re a marketing veteran or just starting out, these classics will help you understand the industry, develop a strategy, and provide insights on becoming a better marketer. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, Branding, content, marketing --- ### [Your Guide to Influencer Marketing](https://affirmagency.com/your-guide-to-influencer-marketing/) **Published:** July 16, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** “Influencer” has been a buzz term in the marketing industry lately. But what exactly is an influencer, and how can they help your business? We’ve answered all your questions here! **Question**: What is an influencer? **Answer**: An influencer is a person who has the ability to “influence” consumer purchase decisions. This ability is usually established through online channels such as social media or blogs. Many companies employ influencers in their digital marketing strategy. **Question**: What’s the difference between an influencer and a celebrity? **Answer**: A celebrity is almost always an influencer, but an influencer doesn’t have to be a celebrity. Celebrities work in just a handful of industries like music, film, television, fashion, and athletics. As a result, they can reach and influence a lot of people through social media. However, influencers can work in any industry! While celebrities enjoy large-scale social media followings, non-celebrity influencers often have a smaller, niche online following – targeting a specific age group, location, profession, or interest. **Question**: How can I create an effective influencer marketing campaign? **Answer:** Here are some tips for successful influencer marketing: 1. **Know your marketing goals.** What do you want to gain from an influencer marketing campaign? Make sure you have clear, attainable goals, and understand how an influencer can help you achieve them. 2. **Pick. The. Right. Influencer.** This is KEY! If you want to see results, you need to choose an influencer who aligns with your brand and your marketing goals. Spend some time getting to know your potential influencer and their followers. Make sure your influencer is the best person to represent your brand. 3. **Make your expectations clear.** Allow your influencer to express themselves authentically, but also communicate your expectations for your campaign. If you picked the right influencer, they will be more than willing to make your key messages clear. 4. **Don’t forget to disclose!** Remember: it’s ILLEGAL for an influencer to represent a product without disclosing compensation. Make sure your influencer makes it clear that their post is an advertisement. Good luck with your influencer marketing campaign! If you have marketing concerns, AFFIRM is here to help! Contact us for more information. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, Branding, Digital, digital strategy, goals, influencer, marketing, Social Media --- ### [Fun in the Sun – Marketing Opportunities in the Summer](https://affirmagency.com/fun-in-the-sun-marketing-opportunities-in-the-summer/) **Published:** July 10, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Summer is (finally) here! It’s time for street festivals, outdoor concerts, farmers markets, and some new opportunities to market your business! This summer, consider taking part in events in your local community. They are wonderful opportunities to engage a large number of potential customers in a short amount of time. Here are three tips to make your summer experiential marketing a success: **1. Choose your summer event wisely** You have limited time and resources, so make sure you choose an event that supports your marketing objectives. Do you want to reach parents and families? Try a festival or farmers market. Do you want to attract adults? Go to a concert or art fair. Are you a B2B company? Skip the outdoor events and opt for expos and conventions. No matter your business goals, make sure you pick the event where you can best engage your target consumers. **2. Draw them in** There’s a lot of fun displays and activities competing for your customers’ attention at summer events. Give them a reason to stop by your table by creating an experience they’ll remember. Try offering free items or food. Organize a raffle or give away coupons. Or maybe some fun decorations will do the trick. Keep it interesting and people will notice! **3. Engage** When people do stop by your table, don’t just stand there—talk to them! Ask them how they are enjoying the event and tell them about your business or product. Think about your takeaway—*what do you want them to know about your organization?* If you are not going to work the event, pick staff members who have strong social skills, energy, positivity, and a strong knowledge of your company’s vision. Use these three tips and your summer event marketing will make a splash! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, event planning, marketing --- ### [CREATING A SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU – PART 4 (LINKEDIN)](https://affirmagency.com/creating-a-social-media-strategy-thats-right-for-you-part-4-linkedin/) **Published:** June 26, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** We’re back with our last installment of our social media marketing deep dive! If you have followed along through Parts [1](https://affirmagency.com/2019/03/20/creating-a-social-media-strategy-thats-right-for-you-part-1/), [2](https://affirmagency.com/2019/04/24/creating-a-social-media-strategy-thats-right-for-you-part-2-facebook/), and [3](https://affirmagency.com/2019/05/30/creating-a-social-media-strategy-thats-right-for-you-part-3-instagram/), you are well on your way to becoming a social media maven. Now that you’ve got your hashtags down and your engagement up, we are going to tackle one last platform: LinkedIn. Don’t make the mistake of brushing LinkedIn off as a networking or job-seeking website. As a business owner, it’s the sphere you probably want to be in, especially if you’re B2B. In fact, it’s the perfect network to get your business in front of other business owners and potential customers, resulting in new connections and lead generation. Remember, each platform is known for its own specific audience. LinkedIn is no different, except for the advantage [that 62% of business owners report](https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2015/01/2015-state-of-marketing.html) using the platform. In other words, it’s a game changer. When you sign up for LinkedIn, you will want to create a fully-fleshed out company page, complete with relevant and up-to-date information. Some people prefer to create a C-Suite level personal page over a business page, deeming one person the “face” of the business to keep communications more humanized. There are pros and cons to both, and you can choose what you believe will best suit your business. However, it is typically best practice for your organization to have its own company page so employees can link their page to yours within their job descriptions. Whichever you decide, make sure the profile is complete. According to [Hootsuite](https://blog.hootsuite.com/linkedin-for-business/), “…completed Company Pages generally receive twice as many visitors than those with incomplete pages. And organizations that post at least monthly generally gain followers six times faster than those that don’t.” The content you publish here should be aimed towards business professionals, keeping in mind to keep content polished but not stuffy and ultra-formal. It is still a social network, after all, just not nearly as casual as Instagram. The best way to grow your audience is by showing up consistently. This is a great place to demonstrate your expertise by writing articles and white papers, sharing industry-related news, and interacting with others. [LinkedIn](https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/linkedin-pages/best-practices)says that companies that post weekly see a 2x lift in engagement with their content. You will want to keep your content fresh by including images and video whenever possible. LinkedIn does suggest adding links as well, but it has been shown that outside links that take people off the platform tend to get less reach, so publish directly to the platform when you can. Posts are optimized for SEO, so you will want to add keyword-rich descriptions to your posts as well. You can even target your posts to a specific audience. Like other platforms we have reviewed in this series, LinkedIn has its preferred posting times. Recent [research](https://www.falcon.io/insights-hub/topics/social-media-management/best-time-to-post-on-social-media-2018/)suggests the best time to post on LinkedIn is 8 am, 12pm, and 5-6pm. Most users seem to engage with LinkedIn during their commutes or work breaks. The best days to post are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with Tuesday generating the most clicks and shares. Therefore, try to avoid scheduling at the beginning and end of the week. There you have it! Now you should be equipped with multiple tools you can use to build brand recognition, ignite excitement about your business, and make the most of your social media strategy. If you have questions or would like assistance in crafting your social approach, feel free to [contact](https://affirmagency.com/contact/) us! We can work together to take your social media presence to the next level. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** linkedin, linkedin for business, linkedin strategy, Social Media --- ### [Creating A Social Media Strategy That’s Right For YOU – Part 3 (Instagram)](https://affirmagency.com/creating-a-social-media-strategy-thats-right-for-you-part-3-instagram/) **Published:** May 30, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Congratulations on reaching Part 3 of our social media marketing deep dive! Now that you’re a Facebook whiz, we’re going to jump into all things Instagram. If you missed Part 2, you can catch up [here](https://affirmagency.com/2019/04/24/creating-a-social-media-strategy-thats-right-for-you-part-2-facebook/). Instagram is a social network made for sharing photos and videos. Although it attracts a wide audience of all ages, the users are primarily millennials, so you can approach it in a slightly different way than you would approach Facebook. It’s also image focused with an emphasis on aesthetics, so this is not the place for wordy, long-form content. Because it is such a creative space, you might consider publishing lighter content with a casual tone. An emoji or two is a-ok for Instagram. It’s also mainly for mobile use, meaning you will want to download the app, whereas Facebook can be easily accessed on a desktop. In this space, the photo is the star. Think about what you can visually showcase. Obviously, a clothing company may publish photos of the clothing, or a restaurant may post images of their favorite dishes. But this is also a chance to interact with your audience and give a behind-the-scenes look at your daily operations. Show photos of a company outing, a happy customer, your employees at work, a peek into office life, etc. The possibilities are endless. On Instagram, your presence is more about the big picture, your brand, than your products. As with most social media platforms, you want to make meaningful connections. Follow and interact with other accounts. After all, you don’t live in a bubble. How can you expect anyone to be interested in what you have to offer when you’re not interacting with anyone else? However, make sure you stay exclusive in who you follow, and only follow accounts that make sense. If your followers/following ratio is way off, the algorithm may dock you and view your account as spam. Speaking of the algorithm, there are a few tips you can follow to expand your reach. At one point, Instagram showed posts in a purely chronological order, but that is no longer the case. Like other platforms, it now ranks posts based on various factors. Again, the more engagement a post gets, the more likely it is that the reach will increase, consequently getting pushed out to more people. Average engagement for Instagram is between 5 and 8%. You can check yours for free at Triberr.com. To drive engagement, you can follow a few guidelines. For one, you should refrain from adding links to your photos because it may lessen the photo’s reach. This is because Instagram, like Facebook, does not want people to leave their platform. It is acceptable, however, to use comment and tag-baiting, which involves encouraging your followers to take a certain action, like comment an emoji, tag a friend, etc. Facebook hates this and will lessen your reach, but Instagram lets this fly. So feel free to ask your followers what their favorite taco joint is on #TacoTuesday or tag a friend who would like your image. Another feature you can take advantage of to increase engagement is the filter feature. Instagram offers multiple filters you can put over your photos that will slightly change the look, and it has been shown that filtered photos perform better than non-filtered photos. Also make sure you are including relevant hashtags in your captions! You don’t need to go overboard, but 6-10 is okay. Hashtags make it easy for users to find you. If you want, you can even put a hashtag in your bio. Instagram Stories have also blown up as of late. These are images you post that expire after 24 hours, and it’s a great way to engage with your audience. You can add a poll or vote stickers, gifs, hashtags, ask questions, mention other accounts, tag locations, and more. You can also see each person who views your story, giving insight into your audience. Lastly, timing is everything. You want to post when your audience is online so you can check your insights on Instagram to tailor it to your own business. But if you’re looking for a general guideline, recent [research](https://www.falcon.io/insights-hub/topics/social-media-management/best-time-to-post-on-social-media-2018/)suggests that 11-1pm and 5pm are the best times to post while Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays have proven to be best days to post. 2 am is also a great time to catch those late-night scrollers. Think about it- people check their social during lunch hours and when they get off work. Makes sense, right? Don’t be afraid to experiment! Instagram is playful, refreshing, and creative- that’s what people love about it! This is your opportunity to show all your colors and have some fun. After all, isn’t that what social media is really for? **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** instagram for business, instagram likes, instagram strategy, Social Media --- ### [Creating A Social Media Strategy That’s Right For YOU – Part 2 (Facebook)](https://affirmagency.com/creating-a-social-media-strategy-thats-right-for-you-part-2-facebook/) **Published:** April 24, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Welcome back to our social media marketing deep dive! If you missed Part 1, be sure to check it out [here](https://affirmagency.com/2019/03/20/creating-a-social-media-strategy-thats-right-for-you-part-1/), as Part 2 will be building on what you learned in the last blog and focusing on the social media platform that started it all: Facebook. Love it or hate it, your business can almost always benefit from establishing a presence on Facebook. It is the most widely-used platform in the world, with more than [two billion people](https://buffer.com/library/social-media-sites) using it every month (almost a third of the world’s population) and over 65 million businesses using Facebook pages. You should be one of those 65 million. Once you have created your own Facebook business page, you can control what, when, and how you post. We already discussed the need for creating good content, but once you have your content, how do you make sure that it is seen, much less seen by the right people? You need to be aware of Facebook’s algorithm- or, the process that ranks your posts in a user’s News Feed based on how likely that user will have a positive reaction. And of course, you want to rank at the top. The fact of the matter is, Facebook’s algorithm is changing all the time. We recommend using the Insights tab on your Business Page to view your posts’ analytics; this will show you important stats like Post Reach (the number of people your post has reached), Post Engagements (the number of times people have engaged with your posts through likes, comments, shares, etc.), and other valuable insights so you can gauge how your content is resonating with people. The higher the reach and engagements, the more successful you can consider your posts. While most social media platforms are now “pay to play” platforms, meaning the more money you put behind your strategy the more visibility you will get, we can provide you with some knowledge and tips to help boost your organic ranking. The first five minutes from when you publish your post is the most crucial according to the algorithm. If you get a lot of likes and engagement during this time period, Facebook will recognize that post as being relevant and important to users, therefore it will push it out to more users, increasing its reach. Certain days and times also get more engagement than others, and it can be helpful to keep this in mind. While the best way to determine your optimal posting time is to review your own analytics and see when your particular audience is online, there are some general guidelines. Recent [research suggest](https://www.falcon.io/insights-hub/topics/social-media-management/best-time-to-post-on-social-media-2018/)s that the best time to post on Facebook is between 12pm – 4pm, and the best days to post are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Currently, Facebook Live gets the most reach of all posts, most likely because it is a newer feature and Facebook wants their users to utilize it. If you can find a relevant way for your business to work it into your strategy, you may see some benefit from it. Another thing that most people don’t realize is that adding links to posts tends to lessen your reach. This is because Facebook prefers to keep users on **their** platform, and a post link will take them off their site and onto another. However, that isn’t to say that you should never include links. For example, a wedding planning company may want to post a link to an article about local venues because they know this content is relevant and useful to their audience. If they post this article and lots of people engage with it, Facebook’s algorithm will not automatically lessen the reach solely because it’s a link. It understands that people are seeing this link and reacting to it, marking it as important and overriding how it would typically rank a link post. So, don’t be afraid to include links if you think the content is valuable! Lastly, you always have the option of boosting your posts in which you’re essentially paying for more visibility. You can choose to push the post to people who like your page and their friends or people you choose through targeting. The latter will allow you to select the location, age, gender, and interests of those you wish to reach. It is a simpler way to target than diving into the actual Ads Manager which can be overwhelming for beginners. As long as Facebook is around, it will continue to change and evolve, and marketers will always be on its tail to make sense of its newest features and mechanics. Take everything with a grain of salt and remember: the most important thing is that you put out thoughtful, engaging content. The rest will follow. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** facebook algorithm, Facebook Pages, facebook strategy, marketing, Social Media --- ### [Creating A Social Media Strategy That’s Right For YOU – Part 1](https://affirmagency.com/creating-a-social-media-strategy-thats-right-for-you-part-1/) **Published:** March 20, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Think your business shouldn’t be on social media? Think again. According to the Nielsen Global Online Consumer Survey, 93% of buying decisions are influenced by social media! Deciding to stay out of the social conversation is doing you *and* your consumers a disservice. If diving headfirst into the world of likes and hashtags seems daunting, never fear: our blog series will help you go from amateur to social media guru. Part 1 will take you through a general overview, and the following Parts will deep dive into specific channels and provide tips on how to best utilize them. First things first: don’t bite off more than you can chew. It can be tempting to sign up for all the social media platforms you come across, but after trying to manage them, you may find yourself overwhelmed. Instead, pick one or two channels to focus on and work on making those as robust as possible. With social media, **consistency is key.** If you cannot keep up with relevant, interesting content on all your channels, it is best to only have the ones you can manage. Showing up sporadically hurts your credibility. Also, not every channel is right for every business. For example, it makes sense for a wedding planning company to have a Pinterest, but for a construction company, it may be irrelevant. However, just about every business can benefit from having a Facebook page. Facebook is so widely used and has an all-encompassing audience that it can be relevant for pretty much any company. **Evaluate social media channels and decide what is right for your business.** So you’ve picked out your channels and set up the platform. Now what? How do you decide what to post? Turns out, social media is more about your audience and less about you. A good rule of thumb is that your content should be 80% education and entertainment, and 20% direct ask. **Use social media to provide value to your consumers, not to just push a product**. Social media should be used to position you as an expert in your industry. What does your audience need? How can you help them become less stressed, more efficient, happier, etc.? Provide content that appeals to your audience. A wedding planner for example, may post a blog that shows different wedding themes, a video showing off a specific venue, or a post about cost-saving tips. You want to provide value without being pushy about selling your company. Social media is also relatively casual! You are building a relationship with your audience. **Use relationship language rather than business jargon**. You should be a welcoming, reliable resource as you interact with your audience, so you don’t want to come across too stuffy. Social media is also a great way to speak directly to your consumers, responding to their comments and concerns. After you create compelling content, you can **repackage and repurpose** that content on other channels. If you have two channels, say Facebook and LinkedIn, you do not want to regurgitate the exact same photo with the same caption on each. If the same person follows you on both platforms and liked the post on Facebook, why would he/she like it on LinkedIn as well? You’ll want to tailor your content to the specific platform, evaluating the type of audience on each, and then tweaking the content to fit. For example, you can post the same article but make a different observation and switch up the caption. This keeps the content complementary and fresh. Now that you know the basics, you’re well on your way to creating a dynamic and compelling social media presence for your business. Keep an eye out for Part 2 of our series where we will explore Facebook and its offerings. Is all this fascinating but you’d still like an extra hand in setting up and managing social for your business? AFFIRM can help! [Contact us](https://affirmagency.com/contact/) to find out how we can assist. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, content, Facebook, Instagram, marketing, Social Media, twitter --- ### [A FIX FOR THE CONTENT CONUNDRUM.](https://affirmagency.com/a-fix-for-the-content-conundrum/) **Published:** February 27, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Recently, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend an industry conference on content marketing strategy given by Robert Rose, a noted authority on the subject and current Chief Strategy Officer of The Content Advisory. It was intriguing to hear his insights and in-depth analysis on the many facets of content marketing and the lengths to which he’s taken the subject. According to the Content Marketing Institute and The Content Advisory group that Robert is part of, content marketing is defined as: *“… a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.”* While there are virtually hundreds of different kinds of content, they generally fall into the following categories which include: **Blogging, Longform Content, Case Studies, White Papers, eBooks, Infographics, Checklists, Video, Interviews, Social Media Posts, GIFs and Memes.** During Robert’s talk, I was encouraged to hear him speak about our role as marketers and the ability we have to increase the value of content with our clients in order to improve how they build and grow their audiences. Sitting in our weekly digital team or account planning meetings, or when talking with clients, I’m reminded of the challenges we face in creating more strategic content when the need to fill the content pipeline across all sales and marketing efforts is never-ending. This is especially true considering the constantly growing number of media channels and online platforms. For most small-to-medium sized businesses, this “Content Conundrum” as I like to call it, can be extremely difficult given the demand as well as the variety of content needs. Most often, content is being created by a single person within a smaller organization or an internal staff that can’t possibly address every type of need. Even those companies who work with an outside agency are often focused on the next project or campaign from a content standpoint instead of taking a more wholistic approach. Having the ability to take a strategic approach to content by creating a master plan of sorts for an overall content marketing strategy can be the difference between simply writing another blog or case study to laying the foundation for an overall content marketing strategy plan that touches every facet of your organization. In the best-case scenario, the plan addresses all the different types of media while working to build trust with your audiences and supporting your company’s purpose. As you can imagine, this is not something that happens quickly or easily, but with the right roadmap it makes every piece of content better. In Robert’s talk, he shared a lot about “Roadmaps” and I’d be glad to provide you with the details so you don’t have to spend 2 days in a workshop! Here are some notes on key areas that Robert touched on in his presentation. There’s a lot more to these but they’ll provide you with an idea on what he’s advocating. - The Content Planning Framework consists of 5 areas including: - RESOURCES: Model & Team - PURPOSE: Goals & Focus - AUDIENCE: Personas & Story - FRAME: Governance & Process - VALUE: Monetize & Measure - Historically, media companies as far back as the 19th century drove marketing messages and, in many cases, the focus was on advertising versus actual news - Today, media companies are looking a lot like agencies, and product companies are looking a lot more like media companies - While large businesses drive much of the media, niche audiences are viable business models - We are all in the audience business - The classic marketing or advertising model builds a process to filter the most likely customers in time, whereas the content marketing model makes markets and places the emphasis on value and the growth of audiences as business assets - A client’s Content Marketing model can be identified as one of four business models that can help determine future goals, plans and expansion. These include: - THE PERFORMER; Content-as-a-Department Marketing Strategy - THE PLATFORM; Content-as-a-Business Business Model - THE PLAYER; Content-as-a-Contributor Marketing Tactic - THE PROCESSOR; Content-as-a-Service Business Strategy - A Content Marketing Plan should consist of the Content Purpose, Audience Investment, and an Operational Roadmap - Ultimately, we need to know where we want to add value to the audience journey. Is it at the Discover, Learn, Try, Transaction, Use, Adopt, or Return stage or experiences? - Getting to the purpose of your content has everything to do with trust, whether it involves earning trust (Subscribe), evolving trust (Win), or deepening trust (Grow) - Define audience personas using the 5 steps involving Detail, Discover, Decide, Differ, and Design to create meaningful and relevant stories As you can tell, Robert’s expertise and background in content marketing runs deep and it’s reflected in the fact that he’s often asked to speak at industry events on top of serving his own clients. When it comes to content creation at AFFIRM, we have our own methods of developing strategic content for ourselves and our clients with the focus on being relevant and engaging. We may not use all the methods that Robert speaks of, but after hearing his talk, we’re taking a fresh look at how we can integrate his principles into our process in the months ahead. At the moment, and from purely a messaging standpoint, I’ve always considered us as an agency that’s bent on delivering the **Right Message** to the **Right Audience** and using the **Right Media**. Of course, this isn’t the traditional Three R’s of marketing – Reach, Repetition, and Relevance, but they’ve served us well for the past 30 plus years and wherever we go from here, our content will only get better. To learn more about Robert Rose and his insights on Content Marketing Strategy, visit: or contact Steve Stocker, Principal – Chief Creative Officer at AFFIRM. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Don’t Hate the Bounce Rate](https://affirmagency.com/dont-hate-the-bounce-rate/) **Published:** November 21, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** There are so many different metrics in Google Analytics; deciphering what they all mean can be a challenge even to those with extensive knowledge of SEO. What most people take away from their Google Analytics is that high impressions, clicks, time on site, and page views are good, while a high bounce rate is bad. Let’s slow down for a second and look under the hood to see just how bounce rate is calculated, and discuss how a high bounce rate may not, in fact, be the worst number you see in your dashboard. Google states that they do not take Google Analytics metrics into account in their ranking algorithm, and that those metrics do not affect your websites SERP placement. Google’s definition of bounce rate is “single-page sessions divided by all sessions, or the percentage of all sessions on your site in which users viewed only a single page and triggered only a single request to the Analytics server.” It helps to visualize Google as the business that it is. Google’s customers are you, the user searching online, and their product is the web page results. Like any business, Google wants their customers to be satisfied so they keep coming back. Therefore, it is their ultimate goal to serve you the most precise and accurate websites when you are looking on their search engine. For example, if I am looking for “tacos near me” and the first 10 websites I’m shown are for sushi restaurants, I am going to get frustrated and take my business elsewhere, say Bing or Yahoo. Google stays the #1 search engine because it provides users with exactly what Google thinks they want, and even suggests what the user wants prior to the completed thought. [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/affirm_blog_bounce-rate_google-chart.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/affirm_blog_bounce-rate_google-chart.jpg) But how does Google DO that? Well, by crawling every website that exists and ranking it based upon many different factors: relevant keywords, quick loading speed, up-to-date content, metadescriptions, video content, and design elements just to name a few. Ultimately, when your site is crawled by Google, it is put into the algorithm that aligns with relevant terms users are searching for. If your site is the best match for that search term, up the SERP you go! While companies cannot pay to increase their organic listings, there are many ongoing SEO updates that can be made to your website to ensure that when Google crawls are recrawls your site, it is in the best shape to earn a top position. With bounce rate being the number of times people leave a webpage without taking an action or engaging with the page divided by the number of visitors to that page, intuitively that would mean everyone bouncing off your page was dissatisfied or didn’t find what they were looking for (and we know now that Google frowns upon that). However, there are some cases where going to a page and leaving is not a negative, but in fact exactly what that page was made for! For example, if I am looking for tacos and Google provides me a list of restaurants on the SERP, I choose the one that I want and I click onto their page. Any great website would have the contact information front and center for me to access to take an additional step. In this case, the purpose of me looking for tacos near me is so I can call the restaurant and place a to-go order. I don’t need to dig around on the site or go through several pages to find that information. I landed on the home page, I saw the phone number, and I placed the call. By exiting off the page after I found what I needed, my session would be considered a bounce, when in all actuality, it was a conversion. On the other hand, if a website’s page is in need of some updates, we can use the bounce rate we see in Google Analytics to provide us with more insight as to where and why people are leaving the website. If the majority of a website’s pages have a generally low bounce rate, but one page stands out as the place where most people bounce off, that could be telling us that pages needs some updates or reconfiguration. Keep in mind that bounce rate is computed when web surfers land on that precise page from an external source (i.e. Facebook, Google, Bing) and not calculated when the user clicks an internal link within the website. So what is a ‘good’ bounce rate? According to [Google Benchmarks Data](https://www.digishuffle.com/blogs/bounce-rate-benchmarks/), it’s all over the board depending upon the industry. See the table below to view the wide range of healthy bounce rates. If you are in the News Industry and your website has a bounce rate of 55%, that’s great! If you are in the Automotive Industry, not so much. Keeping in mind the industry benchmarks can give you a better understanding as to how you rate versus your competitors. [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/affirm-blob-bounce-rate-table.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/affirm-blob-bounce-rate-table.jpg) Ultimately, understanding and staying on top of your websites analytics is key to ensuring consistent top performance. Unfortunately, SEO is not a “set it and forget it” tactic that can be done once and never looked at again. Keeping an eye on your page’s conversions, impressions, click-throughs, bounce rates, sessions, page views, and more shows you where and what your visitors are doing on your site. With that knowledge, you can tailor your site and your digital marketing efforts to exactly what your visitors want, just like Google does for our search intentions (which we at AFFIRM can help with)! In conclusion, the top three takeaways are: - Bounce rates tell us a lot about if your website is giving the user the information they are looking for, use these analytics to make changes. - Based upon industry specific benchmarks and the purpose of your webpage, high bounce rates are not necessarily always a bad thing. - SEO needs to be monitored long term with consistency, the functionality of your website is just as important as its content. With that being said, now that you have read the blog and soaked up some SEO knowledge, feel free to bounce off to another site. Our work here is done. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** bounce rate, click-through, google analytics, keywords, marketing, page views, search engine optimization --- ### [Top 5 Reasons to Redesign Your Website](https://affirmagency.com/top-5-reasons-to-redesign-your-website/) **Published:** September 26, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** If you’re like most small or medium-sized businesses, starting a website redesign can feel like a monumental task. Fortunately, there are many resources available online; from self-help articles, seminars, and tutorials to experienced digital agencies that specialize in website design and development. At AFFIRM, we’re continually working with both new and existing clients on ways to improve their online marketing efforts, and a week doesn’t go by when we’re not in the middle of a website redesign project. Interestingly, most companies tend to fine-tune specific areas of their website, without stepping back to develop a comprehensive website strategy based on defined goals and objectives. We help our clients take a macro view of their website, and create a detailed plan prior to execution — which can pay major dividends in the long run. If your company has an outdated website or if you’re unsure if you need a redesign, here is an overview of the top 5 reasons you should consider a website redesign. It’s worth mentioning that these apply to businesses of all sizes and types but ring true especially for small-to-medium sized B2B companies. ### 1. Are you committed to updating your website’s design and content? Generally speaking, if you haven’t redesigned your website in the past 3 years, or if your content isn’t being updated on a regular basis, it goes without saying that you’re ready to make a change. With the ease and efficiency of available website platforms, and the abundance of resources, there’s no reason to hold off on a website redesign. The most important decisions to make are committing to move forward, allocating the necessary time and funds, and finding the right resource to help you through a process that fits your needs and budget. ### 2. Are you making the best first impression? This may seem obvious, but if your website appears visually outdated or is structured poorly, how can you expect to convince audiences that you have your act together or are staying current? Your website may be the first time someone encounters your company. If it’s not reflecting your brand, your position in the market, or highlighting your products and services in ways that are positive, then a redesign is overdue. How does your website look on a mobile device? Studies show that more than 50% of internet traffic today is on a mobile device so if your website isn’t optimized for mobile, it’s already at a major disadvantage. A redesign that focuses on simplicity, cross-device compatibility, and overall consistency, will help visitors avoid confusion and hopefully lead to more business for you. ### 3. Is your content really king? While the overall look and feel might attract someone to your website, the key still lies in your content. Content and messaging that’s well-crafted, relevant, and informative can help generate brand awareness. Really great content with rich data and visuals will help attract visitors and convert them at each stage of the buyers’ journey by using keywords and search phrases designed to provide relevant information about your products and/or services. The key here is using phrases that your buyers are already thinking about and words they’re familiar with – and more importantly, increase their engagement with your website. This leads to making use of all types of content, from repurposed white papers and demo videos, to case studies and blogs, that will fill the pipeline for months and can boost organic search engine traffic. ### 4. How easy is your website to navigate? Is your current site difficult or easy to navigate? Can visitors easily and quickly submit information or download content? Chances are, your current site isn’t leading your customers down the right path. That is, if there’s a path at all. A website redesign offers the opportunity to improve your site structure and the way a user browses through each section to find relevant content. If your current website isn’t making use of breadcrumbs, page headers and titles, active menu styles, success pages, or other devices to tell your buyers where they are, then it may be time to improve their experience. ### 5. What kind of impact is your website making? Are you measuring the effectiveness of your website by monitoring visitor activity, page visits, bounce rates, and referral traffic? If not, you should be. If your website isn’t having much of an impact on leads, then a website redesign is the perfect time to start using measuring tools, such as Google Analytics. Adding ways to drive leads with primary and secondary calls-to-action, offering buyers the ability to engage with interactive devices (like cost calculators, surveys, or e-newsletters) are just a few of the ways of measuring the effectiveness of your website. Keeping visitors on your site is also important. This can be accomplished by creating internal links from page to page, and creating a flow that drives visitors toward an intended outcome or goal. If visitors don’t know where to go, or aren’t guided, they’re likely to leave. #### Other considerations to get you started. The areas above are some of the most important reasons for redesigning your website. However, there are a few other things to consider in the decision-making process. For instance, if your current website hosting provider doesn’t provide a safe and secure hosting environment — or if you don’t have safeguards in place for ongoing software updates or email security — then a website redesign can be part of an overall upgrade. Or if your current website platform doesn’t have a robust content management system to allow for flexibility in making changes or additions easily, then it’s time to make a change. Lastly, does your current website integrate with your CRM? Data your website captures becomes much more accessible and manageable when linked with external software, such as Salesforce. While the subject of integrated third-party CRM software is a topic for another blog, it is extremely important for B2B lead generation and sales efforts so if your website doesn’t allow for it, then what’s stopping you from an upgrade? If any of these reasons apply to your website, the sooner you get started the better! [Contact us](https://affirmagency.com/contact/) to learn how we can help you get your website back on track. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, content, crm, marketing, seo, website, website design, website redesign --- ### [Don't Fake It, You Won't Make It](https://affirmagency.com/dont-fake-it-you-wont-make-it/) **Published:** September 10, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** As we’ve discussed before, [consistency is key](https://affirmagency.com/even-with-social-consistency-is-key/) when it comes to social. This includes strategizing your brands’ voice and how you relate to your audience. For many brands it may be tempting to try to capture the attention of teenagers by trying to relate and using popular memes and common slang. However, sometimes this is not the best strategy and the execution is lackluster. As evidenced by this board on[ Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/FellowKids/), often when is attempted, it can fall short and come across embarrassing and forced. Not only can a failed attempt at a meme fall short with the target audience, but also those older than the teenage target audience, as they could feel alienated and confused. Take this [Tweet](https://twitter.com/ChexMix/status/905881139591643136) for example, where Chex Mix wanted to spark a debate about their product using a common meme. This could have seemed innocent enough, and a good strategy to increase engagement, but to some of their audience it appeared strained, and “killed” the meme. On the other hand, though, sometimes a younger audience may find this appealing and enjoy a brand showing some personality, especially on Twitter. A popular example of this is the twitter account for Wendy’s, especially when directly interacting with competition like[ McDonald’s](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/03/07/wendys-brings-beef-rips-into-mcdonalds-over-its-fresh-beef-quarter-pounders/402584002/). This strategy works because Wendy’s brand has become known for sometimes aggressively interacting with other fast food brands and Twitter critics. A sassier social media approach is also integrated with the voice of their brand across other mediums. In general, try to stick to what is genuine and aligned with your brand’s established personality. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Branding, consumer targeting, consumers, marketing, reddit, Social Media, twitter --- ### [Advice to Advertising Agency Interns](https://affirmagency.com/advice-to-advertising-agency-interns/) **Published:** August 29, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Throughout my 12 weeks as a Digital Marketing Intern at Affirm, without avoiding the clichés, I have learned countless valuable life lessons I will take with me throughout my career. My time here has given me the opportunity to get the coveted hands-on agency experience from nearly every department and advertising insights every student longs for. Here is what I have learned throughout my internship experience: **Be observant** Look around you and take cues. How other people are reacting, what notes to take when, what the protocol is, how people interact, what the expectations are, who speaks, what a client is *actually* asking, what your supervisor wants, and so much more. Keeping your eyes peeled and noticing even the smallest detail can make a difference later. On top of that, what you do observe and may need for later, write down! **Never turn down an opportunity to learn** Anytime an opportunity is presented to you to try out a new skill, work in a different discipline, work on a new project, go to an event, help out on a production set, go to meetings, etc., take it! It can only be to your advantage, and after all, you are there to learn. Turning down a chance to master a new skill will only hurt you, so try your best to keep an open mind. The caveat to this advice, however, is to know your workload limitations. Figure out what you are capable of achieving within a certain time limit, and communicate that to your supervisors – they will understand. **Be prepared at all times** Not being prepared for a meeting or call may make you or your team look careless. An easy remedy to this is to think ahead for what you may need in a situation, and come prepared with it. If a supervisor tells you they have a task for you, have a notepad and a pen on hand. When going to a weekly meeting, bring the notes from the week before. It’s better to over-prepare rather than under-prepare. **Don’t be afraid to ask (or suggest)** Let your voice be heard! If you have a question or need clarification about an assignment, don’t hesitate to ask at an appropriate time and place. Ask to get any doubts cleared up before a misstep is made. Plus, when you’ve been in the mix for a while, it can be easy for coworkers to assume you already know everything, so speak up! Also, you were hired for a reason, so your supervisors and coworkers should trust your knowledge and skills. When you have a suggestion for copy, a pitch, or feedback you think will help, give it! The worst someone can say is, “thank you for your suggestion, but we’re going to go in a different direction.” **Set goals for yourself** Although this was technically mandatory for me, it helped me think through what I wanted to achieve by the end of the summer. Keeping yourself focused on your intentions for your time at the internship will center your attention and tasks. When you set out to achieve your goals and accomplish them, you will be able to look back and recognize what you’ve learned throughout your internship experience. **It’s okay to make mistakes** This has to be the toughest. Yes, it is okay to make mistakes. But, the most crucial part is that you learn from them so you can be a more improved person and employee. Also, chances are that your superiors and supervisor are aware that you are an intern, so they should be there to catch mistakes before anything may go to a client or vendor. **Log your time** Since clients are billed by how much time is spent on their work, everyone is responsible for logging how much time they spent on what project and client. Annoying, yes, but necessary, so just do it. Everyday. It’s inevitable. Log. Your. Time. Overall, gaining exposure to the advertising industry through an internship is a valuable experience, so soak up all the knowledge and lessons you can and also don’t forget to have some #InspiredFun! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, goals, intern, marketing --- ### [Fear and Facts in Advertising](https://affirmagency.com/fear-and-facts-in-advertising/) **Published:** August 24, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Most of us remember the DARE campaign (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), an anti-drug program in schools that encouraged students to “just say no” to marijuana, alcohol, other drugs, and peer pressure. More memorable, however, was its [failure to significantly reduce drug use](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0022427894031001001), as evidenced by the young adults who ironically wear its logo plastered across their t-shirts in jest. So where did the campaign go wrong, and how can your behavior change campaign avoid the same pitfalls? How does one accurately state the risks of an action without alienating your audience? Scare tactics in advertising are nothing new. Take, for example, the well-known “[This is your brain on drugs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FtNm9CgA6U)” campaign that compares your noggin to a broken, sizzling egg in order to scare kids away from drug use. Scientists refer to scare tactics as “fear appeals” and the successfulness depends upon other factors. In the case of the DARE program, the dangers were exaggerated and because of this, they lost credibility with their target audience. Another problem with fearmongering is that it can come off condescending and finger-wagging. Without all considerations, it’s easy to make something that’s supposed to be scary turn out cheesy. The last thing you want to do is have people rolling their eyes at your campaign and not take it seriously because it exaggerates. On the other hand, you don’t want to sugarcoat the truth. For example, when working on the [Know Meth campaign](https://knowmethwi.org/), we need to make sure we are informing people about the deadly consequences without coming across preachy. While the devastating effects of methamphetamine are certainly terrifying, most people have been repeatedly hit over the head with this realization by ad campaigns. The important thing is to take an education stance and provide people with facts, information, and resources that can help. This is an example of efficacy, which scientist have found is the most effective way to use fear. Audiences need to believe they have the power to change their circumstances. In other words, they need to have an “out”- you can’t just leave them thinking the situation is hopeless. People will want to reduce the emotional distress your campaign caused them, which they can do either by suppressing their fear through [reactance, denial, or defensive avoidance, or by taking action](https://www.fastcompany.com/3017541/beyond-this-is-your-brain-on-drugs-4-ways-that-scare-campaigns-can-change-bad-habits). A thoroughly thought-out campaign will teach them how to do the latter. In the end, different appeals work for different people. Instead of trying the “scared straight” approach, provide your audience with realistic information and resources to help them make better choices, and watch the positive results start to roll in. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** DARE, drug use, fear appeals, know meth, scare tactics --- ### [The Case for Cause Marketing](https://affirmagency.com/the-case-for-cause-marketing/) **Published:** August 13, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** In a live [filmed stunt](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rtHmSfYDbs), Burger King filmed a social experiment in a restaurant highlighting the issue of the Pink Tax, or in this spot, the Chick Tax. Female customers in the restaurant were charged significantly more for the exact same item than their male counterparts. The commercial truly highlights how companies in the 21st century strive to be known for advocating for change. When the female customers objected to the difference in price, the restaurant employee explains the upcharge is due to the item being packaged in a cute pink box, as the chicken illustrated has a bow and eyelashes. After the jig was up, Burger King employees made the comparison of women shopping at the drug store and not thinking twice about shelling out more for their razors or deodorant. The fast food giant partnered with [Ax the Pink Tax](https://axthepinktax.com/) to show the disparity in how much everyday items for women are marked up. Not only is the Pink Tax a notable issue by itself for marketers to pay attention to, but also noting the power of cause marketing. In 2017, Burger King used a similar tactic to draw attention to bullying, partnering with NoBully.org. Utilizing a social experiment-like commercial to publicize important causes reflects today’s attitude of corporate responsibility. Today’s audiences want to hear about how a company is bettering society, not just how they want people to buy their product or service. According to [Cause Good](https://causegood.com/blog/cause-marketing-statistics/), when a customer is choosing between two brands which are equal in quality and price, nine out of ten shoppers are likely to switch to a “cause branded” product. Not only should companies be making efforts to integrate a cause marketing strategy for the benefit of business and profitability, but also because they have the power to make a difference in communities. Burger King’s impactful and thought-provoking campaign illustrates how impertinent it is for brands to look for opportunities to show their human side. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, burger king, marketing, pink tax --- ### [The 23 Digital Marketing Terms You Need to Know](https://affirmagency.com/the-23-digital-marketing-terms-you-need-to-know/) **Published:** July 16, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** If you’ve taken any steps into the world of Digital Marketing, you’re probably aware that there’s a lot to know, especially when it comes to all the specific terminology. Whether you’re optimizing keywords to boost SEO results or kicking off a PPC campaign, Digital Marketing is a wide umbrella that covers a lot of ground. So, to help you navigate the ever-expanding digital realm, we’ve created the following glossary of must-know terms. **Actions** – Specific customer action defined as valuable, occurring along the sales funnel **Average Position** – What position the ad is showing on the search engine results page, on average **Average Session Duration** – Average length of a session **Bounce Rate** – The percentage of visits which a person leaves your website from the landing page without browsing any further **Conversion** – A specific customer action defined as valuable, such as a phone call or a purchase **Conversion Rate** – Percentage of visitors to a website that complete a desired goal (conversion) out of the total number of visitors **CPA** – Cost Per Action – Cost paid for a specific action (click, form submit, sale, etc.) **CPCV** – Cost Per Completed View – Cost paid every time a video ad runs through to completion or cost divided by competed views **CPM** – Price of 1000 ad impressions **CPV** – Cost per view for a video ad **CTR** – Click Through Rate – Clicks the ad received divided by how many times it was shown **Impressions** – How many times the ads were shown on a search result page. Theoretically, this is how many times the ad has been shown to users **In-View-Rate** – Number of impressions where at least 50% of an ad was in-view for at least one continuous second expressed as a percentage **Keywords** – Word or phrase when typed into google, produces results on search engine results page **New Users** – Number of first-time users **Pages per Session** – Average number of pages viewed during a session **Pageviews** – Total number of pages viewed. Repeated views of a single page are counted **PPC or CPC**– Pay Per Click or Cost Per Click – Internet advertising model used to direct traffic to websites, where an advertiser pays when their ad is clicked on **SEM** – Search Engine Marketing – Form of internet marketing that involves promoting websites by increasing their visibility on the SERP primarily through paid advertising; SEM also may incorporate SEO and PPC-specific techniques **SEO** – Search Engine Optimization – Maximizing the number of visitors to a particular website by ensuring that the site appears high on the list of results returned by the search engine. SEO focuses on using good content and strategically using keywords on a website; SEO is also referred to as “organic” results because it doesn’t rely on advertisers paying to get users to click on ads (like PPC or CPC) **SERP** – Search Engine Results Page – The page that is displayed after searching for a term or phrase; the goal is to be on the first SERP page to increase visibility **Session** – Group of interactions one user takes within a given time frame on your website – whatever a user does on your website (browses pages, downloads resources) before they leave equals one session **View Rate** – The number of paid views of a video divided by the total impressions Getting to know these terms is a good start but to get the most out of your Digital Marketing efforts, that’s where we come in. Our Digital Marketing Team is well equipped to help by providing service in a number of areas suited to your business needs and budget. Contact Lisa Harrington, Directer of Digital Strategy, to find out more at lharrington@affirmagency.com or fill out the contact form [HERE](https://affirmagency.com/contact/). **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** cpc, Digital, fyi, marketing, ppc, SEM, seo --- ### [Facebook Live, Trend or Tremendous?](https://affirmagency.com/facebook-live-trend-or-tremendous/) **Published:** March 27, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** One of the biggest trends in content marketing in 2016 was video and this trend will continue to rise in 2017. If you think about it, video is absolutely everywhere online: from live streaming to social media, articles, ads and these modes will only continue to grow in the years to come. Global giant Facebook recognized this trend and staying ahead of the curve launched Facebook Live in 2015, which is now available on all Pages and profiles on Facebook for iOS, Android, and the Facebook Mentions app. **So, what is so cool and beneficial about Facebook Live?** It gives anyone the chance to share live video stories, awareness campaigns, events, even products with your followers and friends in real time. One of the coolest elements of Facebook live is the interaction with real people in real-time. Facebook Live allows followers and friends to make comments while the presenter is speaking which helps to shape the discussion, flow, and overall feel of the live event. This type of personal interaction is unparalleled in any form of advertising. The other major benefit is that you don’t have to spend hours on editing and creating fancy videos, you only need a phone, a Facebook account and a good topic for your live story to reach your audience. **Here are some ideas for your first Facebook Live session:** – Hold a Q&A on issues or topics your followers are interested with or need help with. – Explain, inspire and share with your audience a little bit of your mastery through live tutorials and workshops – Give your followers an exclusive look into your brand by going behind the scenes – Show a Demo – Interview an interesting friend or colleague – Livestream an event. Keep in mind that your live broadcast can last up to 4 hours. – Launch a themed video series, like TV shows that would appear regularly on a set date and time. Video is taking over the web, it is not a trend, so jump on the band wagon! Reach out to us at AFFIRM to plan your next Facebook Live event. Source: **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, Facebook Live, Social Media --- ### [Proofreading 101](https://affirmagency.com/proofreading-101/) **Published:** March 30, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** There are many things that change when you transition from school life to big kid life aka the “real world.” Proofreading is **not** one of them. Errors in your work not only look sloppy, they can also cost you big time. Plus, in the era of autocorrect, it’s more important today than ever to ensure you’re proofing your work. Whether reviewing your own work or someone else’s, here are a few reminders for careful proofreading. 1. **Take your time** – When proofing, concentration is key to ensure you catch any/all mistakes. Be sure to block off enough uninterrupted time in your schedule and leave enough time in your project timeline for edits. Reading, rereading, making corrections, asking questions – even the smallest proofreading jobs can, and should, take time. 1. **List it** – This one is especially important if you’re looking over someone else’s work. Are there certain words they tend to misspell or grammatical errors they tend to make? Are there proper nouns that should be spelled and punctuated a specific way? Is there a tagline that should always be phrased a certain way? When in doubt, ask about it. 1. **Triple H** – Let’s take it back to 2nd grade for a minute: - Homonyms: one word with multiple meanings (fair/fair, beat/beat, bear/bear) - Homophones: words that sound the same, but have different meanings (ate/eight, band/banned, ant/aunt, to/too/two, there/their/they’re) - Homographs: same spelling, different pronunciations and meanings (bass/bass, close/close, bow/bow) 4. **Check numbers** – The difference between $10,000 and $100,000 is A LOT! The same goes for “million” versus “billion.” So double-check any and all numbers written both alphabetically and numerically. 4. **Print it** – When you’re constantly staring at a screen, your eyes could get strained and exhausted. If this applies to you, printing out your work can make a world of a difference. Plus, you can hand write your edits, usually making them easier to see (especially if you use the ever-dreaded red pen). 4. **Apostrophes** – I blame autocorrect for the rising amount of apostrophe abuse. Your device doesn’t know exactly what you’ll type next so it takes its best guess, which I’ve found to be accurate only about 50% of the time. So double-check (and know the difference) between its’/it’s, Fridays/Friday’s, etc. If all else fails, pass it on to another set of proof-savvy eyes for review. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, edit, errors, grammar, marketing, proofreading, spelling, writing --- ### [The Spirit of Collaboration](https://affirmagency.com/the-spirit-of-collaboration/) **Published:** April 10, 2017 **Author:** Danny Mager **Content:** One of AFFIRM’s primary Core Values is to be Openly Collaborative. We recently lived this value to the fullest by managing the collaborative effort of our most important public sector clients, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), on a Drugged Driving advertising campaign. Drugged driving, which is largely made up of people dangerously operating their vehicles while on prescription opioid painkillers, is becoming more and more of a problem on Wisconsin roadways. This new safety issue fit right into two of the campaigns we’re executing on behalf of the state agencies, WisDOT’s ZERO IN WISCONSIN Highway Safety Campaign and DOJ’s DOSE OF REALITY Prevent Prescription Painkiller Abuse Campaign. AFFIRM presented the collaborative, joint effort to both agencies in early 2016. Both were extremely receptive but wanted to see a creative concept first that sufficiently addressed the issue and could be done within each agency’s budget parameters. AFFIRM developed ONE AND THE SAME, an innovative approach that equated drugged driving with drunk driving by using alcohol-related imagery while addressing prescription painkillers. The [end result](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrtL_SlloOc) recently won a Gold ADDY Award at the annual American Advertising Federation – Southeastern Wisconsin awards ceremony. Both DOJ and WisDOT now have beautiful glass ADDY trophies as a constant reminder to how the spirit of collaboration can work, especially for a good cause! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Awards, collaboration, collaborative, Danny Mager, drugged driving, marketing --- ### [More Than a Phone Call - MEET Your Clients!](https://affirmagency.com/more-than-a-phone-call-meet-your-clients/) **Published:** April 10, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** In today’s ever-evolving world of technology, it becomes easy to rely on emails, phone calls, Skype meetings, screen-sharing services, and even texts when communicating with clients. They’re the fastest ways to exchange information and ideas so why not, right? Weeeeelll… yes. BUT, by focusing on how quickly you can get through your agenda items, you’ll overlook and undermine the importance of building a strong connection with your clients. WHY? 1. **Put a face to their name.** And vice versa! So many people work closely with others they’ve never (or only briefly) met. Meeting in person can give both you and your client the opportunity to truly get to know each other. 2. **Small talk is important.** It allows you to have a true, candid conversation with your client. In-person meetings will encourage more small talk than a quick phone call, resulting in a stronger, more trustworthy working relationship. 3. **Inflection and expression.** Emails and, believe it or not, phone calls, can often result in misinterpretation while face-to-face meetings provide the best opportunity to fully communicate what both you and your client want to say – no “beating around the bush” here! HOW OFTEN? The frequency of in-person meetings depends on the distance between you and your client. But, in general, these are some guidelines to follow: **Down the street:** Depending on how active the client is, meet every 1-2 weeks **Within 50 miles:** 1-2 times per month **Within 100 miles:** Every other month **Over 100 miles:** Every (or every other) quarter **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, clients, face-to-face, in-person meetings, marketing --- ### [Handling Crisis Communication](https://affirmagency.com/handling-crisis-communication/) **Published:** April 11, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** We’ve seen it happen a little too often over the past couple of weeks, from Pepsi, to Nivea, and United Airlines, every organization is vulnerable to crises. According to the Institute for Public Relations a [crisis](https://www.instituteforpr.org/crisis-management-and-communications/) is defined as, “a significant threat to operations that can have negative consequences if not handled properly.” Here are tips on how to handle a crisis within an organization. - **Plan for a crisis –** What is your organization most vulnerable to? How would you respond in that situation? Who/which team would handle the crisis? Who would address the media? Consider asking these questions in order to plan ahead. - **Timeliness matters –** According to Debra B. Davenport at Purdue University, acknowledging the situation as soon as possible helps you to minimize speculation and rumors, especially in a time where backlash and criticism take place online. - **Be transparent** – Trust is built on the ability to effectively communicate accurate information. Be honest with your target audience, admit fault and apologize even in times of crises. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** apology, crisis communications, PR, responsive, timeliness, transparency --- ### [Professional Writing Matters](https://affirmagency.com/professional-writing-matters/) **Published:** April 19, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Hiring a professional writer has many benefits for you and your business. Not only will it save you time, money, and a headache if you’re a non-writer, it will improve your business and brand presence across the board. I know, you’re thinking I might be biased, and I am. For good reason. Hear me out: **We know how to stay objective.** You know your business better than anyone, which is a good thing, you should! But from that position, it can be hard to see outside of it. Your customers don’t need to know all that you know. A professional writer will know how to speak about your business from an objective point of view, and what and how to communicate to your customers for best results. **We’re trained to write.** Like you, we have a forte, and like you, we’ve been trained in that forte. We know how to do it in a time-efficient manner. We don’t want to change what you’re trying to say, we want to make it even better…we’re experienced in many different topics, and know how to get up to speed quickly on new topics. We take pride in it and we enjoy it. (Most times,) we can even make the most mundane things sound fun and exciting. So you stick to your forte, we’ll stick to ours, and together we’ll make magic happen. **We strategize.** You probably already know that when it comes to selling your business, strategy is extremely important. Advertising and marketing both require strategy (at least the good stuff does) for any successful campaign. Plus, strategy means all the pieces of your project or campaign feel like they go together. Whether it’s SEO website copy or a catchy in-store flier, keeping all aspects of your brand cohesive makes a great difference. If I haven’t convinced you yet that professional writing matters in business, check out some of our latest work or contact AFFIRM to learn more! (262) 650-9900 **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, Communication, content, marketing, professional writing, writing --- ### [Influencer Marketing vs. Celebrity Endorsements](https://affirmagency.com/influencer-marketing-vs-celebrity-endorsements/) **Published:** April 20, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** The concept of influencer marketing and celebrity endorsements are often used interchangeably. While there are overlapping strategies between the two, there are also key differences that distinguish one from the other. We’ve seen brands use celebrities to promote their products for years. From Michael Jordan and Hanes, Ashton Kutcher with Nikon Cameras, and Beyoncé and Pepsi, celebrity endorsements have been used as a marketing and advertising strategy time and time again. Celebrity endorsements attribute a celebrity to a brand or product with the strategy that the association will make a consumer want to buy the product. According to an article on [Convince and Convert](https://www.convinceandconvert.com/digital-marketing/influence-marketing-differs-from-celebrity-endorsement/), the message is meant to be seen and heard but not interacted with. The goal is to reach as many people as possible. Influencers don’t necessarily have to be celebrities but they do have an online following in a niche community. Think mommy blogs, YouTube beauty gurus, and online gamers. These people are “specialists” and can speak to a particular subject while also engaging with their audience on social media. Digital Strategist Joe Brown [notes](https://digitalmarketing.temple.edu/jbrown/2016/10/28/influence-marketing-vs-celebrity-endorsement-what-is-the-difference/) that in an influencer approach, the brand turns over the control of the message. Influence marketing allows the influencer to create the message that they want to share about the brand or product. Not only does this create a sense of authenticity, but it also helps to reach that specific target audience. Interested to know which is best for your campaign? We’d love to help you get started. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, Branding, celebrity endorsements, influence, marketing --- ### [Satisfied With Your Agency’s Performance?](https://affirmagency.com/satisfied-with-your-agencys-performance/) **Published:** April 24, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** If you’re not asking that question on a regular basis, then maybe you should be. At AFFIRM, we recently initiated a client survey as a follow-up on projects to make sure we’re meeting our clients’ needs in a number of areas. This covers everything from whether we met the project objectives, to delivering the project on-time, and on-budget. Client or customer satisfaction surveys have been around forever and you probably have completed your share. I recall being at my first agency years ago where we would arrange to have the owner, who usually wasn’t involved in the day-to-day work, call the client to run through a list of questions. Today, with the ease of setting up an online survey, phone calls aren’t needed and they also help to keep the responses honest and more accurate. That said, nothing can take the place of meeting face-to-face with a client once or twice throughout the year to discuss overall performance. Consider it an annual review for your agency, and if you haven’t met with them (or us), then maybe it’s time you get it on your calendars. I recently took a vacation to a resort area and am always astounded by the level of customer service in the hospitality industry, including the time before and after the trip. Between multiple emails, text messages and phone calls, the company was doing everything to ensure that every aspect of our trip met or exceeded our expectations. Even in the few instances when they fell short, they were responsive and tried to make accommodations to overcome the issue. Granted, businesses in the hospitality industry have a lot to lose if they get even one unhappy or outspoken customer given the speed at which a bad review can travel on [TripAdvisor](https://www.tripadvisor.com/). Based on client responses from the marketing and advertising industry, we know that while being on-budget and on-time are important, most clients say that the three qualities considered extremely important to agency performance are: understanding the client’s business objectives, being aligned with those objectives, and constantly thinking about the client’s needs. Of course, it can be almost as important to provide clients with new ideas to grow business, solutions that are measurable, as well a clear understanding of how digital and social media will impact their business. At AFFIRM, we know that as expectations of agency performance continue to change, we’ll make sure we’re keeping track of our efforts with clients so they can be satisfied, get more out of us, and keep coming back. Want to learn more about being a satisfied client? Contact Steve Stocker, AFFIRM Principal – Creative Director, at[ sstocker@affirmagency.com](mailto:sstocker@affirmagency.com) or call 262-650-9900. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, client satisfaction, client survey, meeting client needs --- ### [How to Stay Active at Work](https://affirmagency.com/how-to-stay-active-at-work/) **Published:** May 1, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** “AHH! Summer is almost here!” – Me every single morning when it’s nearly light outside before my 6am workout. Seriously, it’s amazing and I’m almost positive everyone is as excited as I am for sunshine, barbeques, and all the outdoor activities you can imagine; after all, suns out, guns out, right?! While summer is (in my opinion) the best season to stay active, what happens when you’re stir crazy at the office? Here are a few of my tried and trues: - Use your breaks as walking time! I try to get in a quick mile every day after lunch. - Go to the faaaaaaaaar away restroom. Ours is upstairs so steps + stairs = win/win! - Work at a standing desk. You’d be surprised by how active you’re inclined to be when you’re already standing. - Walk, don’t call or email. Talking to your coworkers face-to-face is better anyway! - Stretch at your desk. Your muscles will thank you later. - Start a challenge! Can you get more steps or active minutes in a week than your coworkers? After all, a little competition never hurt anyone. 🙂 Good luck! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, fitness, marketing, staying active at work --- ### [Helpful Writing Resources](https://affirmagency.com/helpful-writing-resources/) **Published:** May 2, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** As a writer, I’m always checking, double-checking, and triple-checking my work. While most grammatical knowledge is innate by now, I still periodically find myself second guessing. Google is such a magical thing. You can type in any question about anything and get an answer, even when it comes to writing! Technology, man. For those times when you’re questioning your commas or just want to be up to the latest standards, here are a few of my go-to resources: [**Grammar Girl**](https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar) –When you Google something grammar-related, 9 times out of 10 at least one Grammar Girl link will pop up. From figures of speech to the latest gender-neutral pronoun, this is a loaded one-stop-shop that’s guaranteed to answer your question. **[OWL – Purdue Online Writing Lab ](https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/5/)–** This is a great resource for pristine grammar. From the basics you learned in school to APA and MLA guides, this is a great spot to quickly brush up on your skills. **[Grammarly](https://www.grammarly.com/) –** A [blog](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/), an [e-handbook](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/category/handbook/), and a Google Chrome extension (free on their site) to correct work as you go, Grammarly is the ultimate grammar resource triple threat. Not to mention, their blogs are insightful AND entertaining! Happy writing! \[icon name=”smile-o” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, Communication, content, writing --- ### [Is Traditional Marketing Still Relevant?](https://affirmagency.com/is-traditional-marketing-still-relevant/) **Published:** May 5, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** In short, the answer is yes. With today’s technology, we’re often quick to assume that online ads are the *only* way to reach people. But there’s still value in radio and TV commercials, print and newspaper ads, billboards, and mail. Here are three reasons why implementing marketing strategies via traditional media *can* work for your brand: - **It’s accessible –** Consumers still pass by billboards, turn on the radio in the car, receive mail, and watch TV (Nielson ratings are still a thing)! Traditional media can be easily accessed by almost everyone and help increase brand awareness. - **Reaches target audience –** For those who rely on traditional media – such as the older generations – radio ads, TV commercials and mail flyers are the most effective way to reach them. Traditional marketing can also reach a local audience in a specific geographic area. - **Credibility –** In a time where we have to filter through #fakenews, traditional media outlets are seen as trusted sources. Information shared by newspapers, magazines (not tabloids), and radio stations is considered to be credible. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, marketing, news, radio, traditional media, TV --- ### [Digital Budgets](https://affirmagency.com/digital-budgets/) **Published:** May 15, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Many advertisers are including online tactics in their media programs these days. Whether using display, social or search, they know that most people nowadays spend at least some of their time online, and with the improved targeting and buying platforms, you have the opportunity to reach an engaged audience. What isn’t as quickly known is how much to allocate to this tactic. With CPMs starting at around $6.00 for a programmatic buy, it looks like an inexpensive way to advertise. It’s certainly less expensive than a television campaign, for example, and it’s arguably more targeted, but is it really as inexpensive as you think? How do you determine an effective budget? To determine budget, you have to go back to Marketing 101 and answer the following: **What is your objective?** Is it to generate awareness? Drive a response such as to increase sales or drive site traffic? Launch a new product? Each of those objectives would require a different level of frequency ranging from 10 – 20x. As with traditional advertising tactics, digital require multiple exposures to a message before the user may take action. **Who’s your target?** How engaged are they with your product? The more targeted your audience, the more it may cost to reach them. Each targeting layer adds a bit to the overall pricing. **How active are your competitors?** What are they doing online? You may need a higher frequency to offset their activity. Once you’ve determined answers to these basic questions, you can more accurately develop a budget. For example, if your universe is 245,000 within a given geography and you want to get them to take action, you will need to reach the audience around 18 times, which is the target frequency for a direct response campaign. For that you may need to purchase 4.4 million advertising impressions a month. At an average CPM of $6 your monthly budget should be $26,400. Maybe not the $5,000 – $10,000 you may have envisioned. Most are surprised at that amount, but shouldn’t be. The basic principles of media buying apply across all tactics – digital is no exception. **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Summer Holidays for Your Social Media Calendar](https://affirmagency.com/summer-holidays-for-your-social-media-calendar/) **Published:** May 23, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** It’s (basically) summer and there’s always something to celebrate! Check out the latest edition of hashtagable holidays to add to your social media calendar. June 2 – #NationalDonutDay June 8- #NationalBestFriendsDay June 21 – #NationalSelfieDay June 23 – #TakeYourDogToWorkDay June 27 – #NationalSunglassesDay June 30 – Social Media Day #SMDay July 4 – #IndependenceDay #July4 July 7 – #WorldChocolateDay July 17 – #WorldEmojiDay July 30 – International Day of Friendship #DayOfFriendship August 9 – #NationalBookLoversDay August 10 – National #LazyDay August 12 – International #YouthDay August 15 – #NationalRelaxationDay August 16 – #NationalTellAJokeDay August 19 – #WorldPhotoDay Thinking of launching your own social media holiday campaign? We’d love to help! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Branding, Facebook, Hashtags, National Holidays, Social Media, summer, twitter --- ### [Maximize Your Social Media Engagement](https://affirmagency.com/maximize-your-social-media-engagement/) **Published:** June 1, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Social media is the ever-growing, ever-changing (friendly and often helpful) beast. With so many different platforms, and new technology always on the horizon, how do you ensure you’re getting the most out of your posts? How do you effectively engage with your designated audience? Here are some general tips for posting for max engagement: - **Stay Active –** Staying active on social media you plan to use is crucial. To best reach your audience, you need to know how it all works, what is/isn’t working, and what’s upcoming. Facebook, for instance, is constantly changing up its algorithm, meaning the content displayed in users’ newsfeeds is constantly changing. This week might be live video, next week might be the new Facebook job posting feature. The only way to know what’s out there is to be out there exploring for yourself. - **Follow Industry Leaders** – Following major companies and pros in your industry is a great secret weapon for content direction. They’ll already have done all the research on what is/isn’t working, and they’ll know what’s driving this week’s engagement, so keep an eye on them. Plus, following the top dogs will up your chances of interacting with those leaders, which can greatly further your reach and engagement opportunities. - **Keep it Short and Sweet** – The posts that tend to get the most engagement are videos, images, and SHORT FORM text posts (that’s 50 or fewer characters, according to Sprout Social). Period. End of story. - **Use What’s Worked in the Past** – It’s so, so important to pay attention to what has worked for you, and what hasn’t. Make note, keep a chart, and/or use analytics tools. ***This is the best way to figure out the tried-and-true that works, and that will work, for you**.* Most social media platforms have integrated analytics right into their user tools. And if they haven’t gotten that far, or you want one place that will cover all in one spot, there are programs that will analyze for you (check out Sprout Social, Hootsuite, or Buffer). Contact us to kickstart your social media campaign! (262) 650-9900 **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, Communication, Facebook, linkedin, marketing, maximize engagement, Social Media, twitter --- ### [Best Times to Post on Social Media](https://affirmagency.com/best-times-to-post-on-social-media/) **Published:** June 9, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** \#MCM #FBF #TBT #WCW – it seems like there’s a designated day to post anything and everything on social media these days. But when is the right time? When will you get the most views, likes, comments, overall engagement? The answer: there is no right answer, there is no right time, it’s different for all of us, and it varies per social medium. However, especially as a business, there *are* some times that are *better* than others to interact with social audiences. Because of standard business hours, you have more narrow windows of interaction time, which can actually make things *easier*. To get some tips on maximizing your engagement, [check out this post.](https://affirmagency.com/maximize-your-social-media-engagement/#.WUwNJusrK70) According to Sprout Social, below are the post optimal times for posting per medium: **FACEBOOK** **Strongest days to post:** Wednesday–Sunday **Best day to post:** Thursday **Most active time of the week:** Thursdays at 1pm **It’s pretty much always safe:** Any day of the week from 9am-3pm **Avoid/least optimal times:** Early mornings and late nights **TWITTER** **Strongest days to post:** Monday-Thursday **Best day to post:** Thursday **Most active time of the week:** Thursdays at noon **It’s pretty much always safe:** Any weekday between noon and 3pm **Avoid/least optimal times:** Early mornings and late nights **INSTAGRAM** **Strongest days to post:** Monday-Friday **Best day to post:** Monday **It’s pretty much always safe:** Monday-Thursday nearly any time (except 3pm) **Avoid/least optimal times:** 3pm each day **LINKEDIN** **Strongest days to post:** Tuesday-Thursday **Most active time of the week:** Noon and 5pm Tuesday-Thursday **It’s pretty much always safe:** Any weekday between 8am-5pm **Avoid/least optimal times:** Weekends \*\*All of this is not to be said without noting that, like campaigns for any other media, it’s important to have a strategy behind your posts. For a strategic social media campaign, give us a shout: (262) 650-9900.\*\* **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, Social Media --- ### [4 Tips for Planning Your Next Event](https://affirmagency.com/4-tips-for-planning-your-next-event/) **Published:** June 15, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Successful events take more than just implementation. They require coordination, communication, and plenty of time! Here are four tips to help you get started with the event planning process for your organization: - **Create a strategy –** Start by understanding the big picture. What’s the goal of your event? Who are you trying to reach? What messages resonates with that audience? How do you want to measure success? Having a vision in mind helps to determine the necessary steps to get there. - **Know your limits –** While the overarching goal is to create a great event, it’s also important to know what’s most realistic for you and your organization. What’s your budget? Will there be enough time to get things done? Make a list and prioritize what you’ll need. - **Know the details** – Events are all about the little details! From the venue, to the program, food and drinks, light and sound, and small giveaway items…all of it matters. Be sure to set expectations for those involved and communicate with your partners and vendors to ensure nothing is being overlooked. - **Invite! –** Inviting guests is the most important part of the planning process. Give potential attendees a reason to go and consider the best way to bring about awareness. Is a Facebook event necessary? An official hashtag? Sending a mailer invitation? Make these decisions in advance as you’ll want enough time to get the word out! Have an event coming up? We’d love to help you plan (for success \[icon name=”smile-o” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\]). **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Communication, event planning, invitation, marketing, messaging, strategy, target audience --- ### [My Digital Vacation](https://affirmagency.com/my-digital-vacation/) **Published:** July 1, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** I’ve been in the advertising and marketing business since the late 1980’s. In that time, I’ve seen a sea change in the marketing landscape, going from when the newspaper and radio dominated the local advertising scene, to the digital world of today. This hasn’t only impacted my professional life, where I’ve had to be sure to keep the agency on track with the changing times, making sure our digital creative and media buying skills are constantly evolving. But, it has also had a tremendous impact on my personal life. Case in point is a recent short vacation I took to Chicago. Now, anyone who has ever driven in Chicago knows that it’s a nightmare of traffic jams and road construction. People may disagree with me, but I say Chicago has the worst traffic in the country. At least in LA the weather is usually nice when you’re parked on the freeway! I was determined to not have to deal with the hassle of both driving and parking in Chicago for my trip. So, first I booked a roundtrip train ticket from Milwaukee to Chicago on the Amtrak Hiawatha using the AMTRAK mobile app on my iPhone. With the electronic ticket on my phone, I didn’t have to worry about printing anything out. Next, I found an inexpensive weekend rate parking space right in the downtown Milwaukee Amtrak Station parking lot using the SPOT HERO app. 90 traffic-free minutes later as the Hiawatha rolled into Chicago Union Station, I got on the UBER app and ordered an Uber Black ride to pick me and my over-packed suitcase up to take us to the 5-bedroom apartment a block from Wrigley Field that I booked using the AIRBNB app months earlier. Once I arrived, I was excited to learn more about the food and drink establishments in the neighborhood, so I got on the YELP app, identified a few that looked promising, and immediately ordered a meal to go since I hadn’t had lunch yet. Everything went off without a hitch and I was feeling really proud of myself. Here I was, someone who had recently aged out of the prime demo that advertisers drool after, acting like a 27-year old in his targeted demographic prime! Ah, but nothing is perfect, even in this brave, new digital world. Upon my return to Milwaukee on Sunday, I found a good, old-fashioned paper parking ticket stuck behind my front left windshield wiper. It seems that SPOT HERO doesn’t really have access to the Amtrak Station parking lot despite its representations! Now, I have to figure out how to get them to credit me back the $27 ticket cost. Maybe I’ll write them a letter…. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Communication, Digital, media, mobile friendly, smart phone, Social Media, Technology, travel --- ### [Schedule Facebook Posts for Later](https://affirmagency.com/schedule-facebook-posts-for-later/) **Published:** July 6, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Recently, I had almost the exact same conversation with two different people. Both times, it went something like this: PERSON: \*sigh\* I need to dedicate way more time to my business’s social media. Too bad I don’t *have* the time… ME: Did you know you can schedule your posts for a later time/date? PERSON: ??????????????? ME: It’s true! Facebook Pages allows you to schedule posts in advance. Meaning you can get your week or even month’s worth of posts set up in a matter of minutes, and never think about it again! PERSON: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you weren’t already aware, Facebook Pages makes it so easy to create a post and schedule it to publish in the future. The first step: make sure your organization/business is set up as a Facebook PAGE (see[ this blog if you’re confused on pages vs Pages](https://affirmagency.com/1786-2/#.WXJZE4QrK70)). The next steps [go like this](https://www.facebook.com/help/389849807718635): **Schedule a Post** To schedule a post: 1. Start creating your post at the top of your Page’s Timeline 2. Click ![](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/assets/?revision=157675788111303&name=pages-postdropdown-shared&density=1) next to **Publish** and select **Schedule** 3. Below **Publication**, select the date and time when you want the post to publish 4. Click **Schedule** VOILA! It’s THAT easy! If you’re looking for a way to schedule multiple social media platforms at once, check out the also easy-to-use applications [Buffer](https://buffer.com/) or [Hootsuite](https://hootsuite.com/). If you’re looking for great social media strategy and management, give us a shout to get started! (262) 650-9900 **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, Facebook, marketing, Social Media --- ### [How to Write an Effective News Release](https://affirmagency.com/how-to-write-an-effective-news-release/) **Published:** July 12, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Over the past couple of years, industry watchers have predicted the “demise of the news release.” Well…it’s not true and may not be for a while as I still find myself drafting press releases and pitching the media with this “traditional” PR tactic. Check out these tips on how to craft an effective release: - **Think like a journalist** – Before you start the writing process, ask yourself, why is this information newsworthy? Why should people care? - **Headlines matter** – Headlines are the most crucial part of a news release as it’s the first thing journalists see in their email inbox and on newswire services, which determines whether or not they even click to open it. A strong headline is both compelling and concise. If you’re also looking to reach an audience online, headlines shouldn’t exceed 120 characters for tweeting and retweeting purposes. - **Important info first**–In drafting a news release you want to address who, what, where, when, and why in your first sentence. Journalists typically look to answer these questions when they report on a story. A news release can be easily overlooked if they have to search for this information. - **Quote key people** – Quotes are often used in a news release to provide insight and opinions from key people within an organization (not jargon or additional information). Quotes are normally used word for word when journalists run the story and help to identify those that can speak on the topic for additional interviews. - **Keep it short and sweet** – News releases should not exceed one page and shouldn’t even fill up an entire page. Be sure to get what’s newsworthy out to the press. (They’ll contact you if there are any questions)! If you’re looking for any PR support, we’re here to help! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** headlines, journalists, news, news cycle, press release, Public Relations, reporters --- ### [Visual Note-Taking](https://affirmagency.com/visual-note-taking/) **Published:** August 2, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Recently, at the 2017 HOW Design Conference, an illustrator named Mike Rohde led a workshop called “Sketchnotes.” This is not just doodling, but it can also be used as a way to make more memorable shorthand notes that keep you interested, spark memory and retention, and are just plain fun! When you mesh words and images together, it can become a powerful and helpful tool in communicating and remembering information and ideas. It forces the note-taker to become an active listener. Turning the key points into an analysis and interpretation of the information rather than simply taking word for word, verbatim notes. In distilling the information, the notes become that much more valuable. To add even more legitimacy, the whole idea of “Sketchnotes” is actually rooted in a physiological Dual-Coding Theory. Developed by Allan Paivio, who theorized that cognition and processing of verbal and non-verbal information could be divided into separate but related systems. His idea was, what if our brains have different components or systems that process words differently from images that represent the same word? A spoken word can trigger a thought of something nonverbal … and vice versa! Interesting idea! **Tips for making your own Sketchnotes:** - Hone in on key ideas and “draw” your own conclusions - Interpret what you hear, and represent it using images or icons instead of writing word for word notes I have a feeling my notes are about to become much more interesting! ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Tuesday_RohdeMike_HOW-Sketchnote-Masterclass_Page_12-300x225.jpg) ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Tuesday_RohdeMike_HOW-Sketchnote-Masterclass_Page_13-300x225.jpg) ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Tuesday_RohdeMike_HOW-Sketchnote-Masterclass_Page_14-300x225.jpg) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Communication, inspiration, marketing, mental notes, visual, visual notes, visual notetaking, writing --- ### [How to Master Instagram's Algorithm](https://affirmagency.com/mastering-instagrams-algorithm/) **Published:** August 7, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Remember the good ol’ days of chronological Instagram feeds? \*Sigh\* good times. In 2016, Instagram updated their algorithm making it a little harder to get your post seen when/where you need it to be seen. BUT, not all hope is lost – that doesn’t mean your content *won’t* be seen, it just means you’ll have to take a few extra steps if you want to be seen. And, you may even gain some even more relevant followers in the process! Here are some tips to ensure your posts will reach your ideal audience: 1. **TIMING** Anyone who has posted on Instagram will know this is tried and true, no matter the current algorithm. Posting at 6am when your target audience sleeps until noon is a surefire way to miss the likes. Pay attention to when your audience is online and active – when are they posting and liking? And how often? *Also, take note of industry leaders’ habits – this is key!* [More on timing here](https://affirmagency.com/best-times-to-post-on-social-media/#.WZxsFD59670). 2. **ENGAGEMENT** The more likes, comments, shares your post gets, the higher it’ll appear in users’ feeds. Liking others’ posts, commenting, and liking comments will also work in your favor. Bonus points for tons of engagement activity within the first hour you post! Which leads us to the next point: 3. **CONTENT** DO NOT POST CONTENT THAT WON’T APPEAL TO YOUR AUDIENCE! Unrelatable content = fewer likes. Post something you *know* your audience will be likely to engage with. Fewer posts with great content are better than tons of low-quality posts. Additionally, if users are engaging with other posts/accounts like yours, posting similar content is a great way to get into more feeds. 4. **HASHTAGS** Hashtags are a quick and easy way to find new followers and connect with various communities. Here are some tips on hashtag best practices [straight from Instagram](https://blog.instagram.com/post/17674993957/instagram-tips-using-hashtags): 1. **Be Specific:** Their example uses a photo of a VW van and suggests using #vwvan instead of just #van so that other VW lovers can easily find it without having to go through other brands. 2. **Be Relevant:** While it may be tempting to use a more generic hashtag that has over 1,000,000 tags, it’s not the best way to connect with those you’re targeting. This helps to find and keep followers who’ll continue to engage with you over time. 3. **Be Observant:** Pay close attention to what other users with your same tags are doing. You may find new relevant hashtags along the way. 5. **VIEWING TIME** The longer users linger on your post, the more likely it’ll be shown to other users. The recently new slideshow feature is great for this because it encourages users to scroll through multiple pictures/videos in a single post. Video and Boomerang posts are also helpful here. 6. **SEARCH FACTOR** Likes aren’t the only way to engage. When you search for an account, Instagram knows you may be interested in seeing more of their content, and other similar content. Instagram also tracks direct message shares…all the more reason to keep creating relevant and interesting content! For more on social media strategy for your brand, give us a shout! (262) 650-9900 Engage with us on Instagram [@affirmagency](https://www.instagram.com/affirmagency/)! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, algorithm, Branding, Communication, content, Instagram, instagram for business, instagram likes, marketing, Social Media, writing --- ### [Native Advertising: Marketing Beyond the Naked Eye](https://affirmagency.com/native-advertising-marketing-beyond-the-naked-eye/) **Published:** September 1, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Recently, while swiping through one of my favorite apps, I stumbled upon a page that was unlike the others—instead of a personal profile for a local professional, it was a recruitment ad for a nearby company. Swipe left to skip the ad, swipe right to learn more details on the company and available job openings. Impressed by the unique marketing technique, I swiped right to find out more information and was brought to the company’s website for job listings. Welcome to the modern world of advertising—where we are being marketed to without even realizing it. This is just one example of how the marketing technique deemed “Native Advertising” is growing popularity in our endlessly evolving, tech-focused advertising world. “Native Advertising” is a paid media tactic that focuses on both the form and function of the user ad experience. These types of ads match the design of the app or webpage they are found on, and they look and feel like natural content from the site—often making them harder to spot as a paid advertisement. Native ads also match the function of the native user experience, closely matching the function of the platform itself so it seems less like an advertisement and more like a uniquely-targeted, interactive experience. While I typically find the proliferation of advertisements in social media to be somewhat annoying, I was impressed by this app’s refreshing use of advertising with a more “organic” content look and geo-targeting capabilities to better reach individuals in their target market. Additionally, connecting 20-somethings with job opportunities through relevant advertisements that are as “fun” as they are functional seems to be a huge development in how young people are recruited for jobs—especially right out of college. **Why use native advertising?** - Native advertising has been reported to reach 25% consumers than standard banner advertising - 97% of mobile media buyers report that native ads are very effective at achieving branding goals - Native ads registered an 18% higher lift in purchase intent than traditional banner ads So, next time you are scrolling through your favorite app, take a minute to notice where advertisements are placed. You may find that it’s harder to tell that difference between organic content and paid content than you think. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, blog, marketing, Social Media, swipe, Technology --- ### [Pedestrian Safety is a Two-Way Street](https://affirmagency.com/pedestrian-safety-is-a-two-way-street/) **Published:** October 3, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** As a recent college grad, I am no stranger to the chaos that ensues on the streets and crosswalks surrounding a busy campus or metropolitan area. Drivers are speeding to reach their destination on time, abruptly stopping to find parking, and screeching through yellow lights to make it across before the light turns red. Pedestrians are ambling along with their headphones blasting, traveling in mobs of people with cellphones inches from their faces as they walk blindly through intersections with no indication of the harried traffic surrounding them. Pedestrian safety should *always* be a priority; especially while traveling through busy cities and areas with a high volume of foot traffic. Sadly, studies show that pedestrian fatalities in Wisconsin range between [50 to 65 deaths per year](https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/safety/education/pedestrian/injuries.aspx). Within four years of college, I had seen at least 8 traffic accidents, 2 bikers and multiple pedestrians get hit by cars near campus—you may have had similar and equally as jolting experiences charred into your memory. So why can’t everyone learn? With the overwhelming proliferation of technology everywhere around us, it often feels as though we need to be “always connected”. As a result, distracted driving has become even more prevalent, and dangerous, as drivers and pedestrians have their eyes on their cellphones and other connected devices instead of on the roadways. It is important to remember that both drivers *and* pedestrians are responsible for paying attention to their surroundings and being cautious as they travel from one place to the next. Never assume that a car or pedestrians see you. Stay alert to your surroundings and traffic signals, and slow down while passing through intersections—even if you think you have the right-away. [26% of pedestrian crashes occur while crossing the street](https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/safety/education/pedestrian/injuries.aspx) mid-block; so be sure to always use the crosswalk when crossing the street. Next time you glance at your phone while operating a vehicle or while walking across a street, ask yourself: Is answering that text worth risking a life? For more information on pedestrian safety, visit [witrafficsafety.org](https://witrafficsafety.org/) and learn how to do your part in upholding Wisconsin’s ZERO VISION: Any preventable traffic death is one too many. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, crosswalk, pedestrian, safety, traffic, transportation, wisconsin, ZIW --- ### [Apple's New Feature Fights Distracted Driving](https://affirmagency.com/apples-new-feature-helps-to-prevent-distracted-driving/) **Published:** October 6, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** You’re driving, your phone buzzes, you see it’s a text and you reach down for it… even though you’re going 70+ MPH down the freeway, coffee in hand. We all have cell phones, we’ve all done it, and although we know it’s dangerous, it’s hard not to – I know! But paying attention to anything but the road while driving is considered a distraction. In 2017, it’s not just road hazards or traffic conditions that lead to dangerous driving. According to the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/index.html), approximately **9 people are killed and more than 1,000 are injured** **daily** in the U.S. in crashes reportedly caused by distracted drivers. For motorists, a distraction can mean many more things than just texting and driving. In fact, there are three major types of distraction: 1. **VISUAL** – taking your eyes off the road 2. **MANUAL** – taking your hands off the wheel 3. **COGNITIVE** – taking your mind off driving Many everyday distractions fall under at least one of the above categories. With the recent iOS 11 launch, it appears Apple and Android have finally woken up to these dangerous facts. While you’re able to download an app to prevent incoming and outgoing messages, you no longer need to. As of September 2017, Apple has integrated optional DO NOT DISTURB features specifically for when users are driving. When enabled, the Do Not Disturb While Driving feature will automatically turn on when it senses the acceleration of a vehicle, and you can even opt to have it auto-enable whenever it connects to your car’s Bluetooth. The safety feature will mute calls, texts, and other notifications, but not block them completely. When a friend tries to text you with the feature on, they’ll get the following message: “I’m driving with Do Not Disturb While Driving turned on. I’ll see your message when I get where I’m going. (I’m not receiving notifications. If this is urgent, reply “urgent” to send a notification through with your original message.)” Of course, the features are all customizable; learn more about how to use and customize them [here](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208090)**.** Social media and texting make it so easy to multitask, tricking our brains into thinking we can do it all at once. The reality is, we can’t. The Do Not Disturb While Driving feature is one small step that can help avoid causing a crash or worse, death. If we all take small steps such as this towards safety, we can achieve zero deaths on our roadways. Take a look some of our Distracted Driving TV ads: **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** motorists, text, Texting, texting and driving, transportation --- ### [Search Engine Optimization in a Nutshell](https://affirmagency.com/search-engine-optimization-in-a-nutshell/) **Published:** November 11, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** SEO: everyone is talking about it, and you should be too. **What is SEO?** In short, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it does exactly what it says – optimizes your website so that it gets maximum exposure in search engine results, without having to pay for it. **Why does SEO matter?** Optimizing your site will not only get you ranked higher in searches, it will essentially lead to more site traffic, and potential clients finding your site for the RIGHT reasons. In other words, much more potential business from people who are actually in need of your information/services. **How does SEO work?** By growing your visibility in non-paid (organic) search results, you’re not only increasing traffic, but you’re making things easier for the user. That is, SEO isn’t just about building websites for search engines, it’s actually about making your site better for humans. Search engine algorithms are constantly changing in attempts to mimic human behavior so that they can churn out the results you’re really looking for. **Where to start the SEO process?** Both humans and search engines want content they can trust. And, in the ever-changing SEO world, there’s always something new to learn. There are many great resources out there to get you started on the right SEO track. **Moz** is one of the industry leaders when it comes to SEO. Start with their Beginners Guide to SEO: **Lynda.com** is a great place to learn all sorts of things, including SEO. Check out this SEO Foundations course: If you’re curious about your website, give us a call, we’d be glad to get the SEO conversation started (262) 650-9900. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Communication, Lynda.com, marketing, Moz, nutshell, organic search, search engine optimization, seo, Web --- ### [Ideas to Keep Your Content Fresh](https://affirmagency.com/ideas-to-keep-your-content-fresh/) **Published:** January 8, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** “How do you keep content fresh for social media, web, blogs, etc.?” is a question we’ve heard quite a few times. The answer is – there’s no singular answer! But there are a ton of small but mighty helpful answers…some that you might even be doing already. 1. **Provide Answers** – It might seem boring, but the truth is if one person has asked a question, chances are many more have Googled that same question – (meaning answering it could be your key to increased traffic!) so go ahead and provide an answer! Have your team come up with a list of FAQs they’ve received in the past, and you’ll have a whole treasure trove of fresh content options. (Case in point: this post!) 2. **Go BTS** – Give outsiders an inside look at what you do, whether it’s a photo in your workspace, a boomerang from your company outing, or a quick how-to. If you check out our Instagram page [@affirmagency](https://www.instagram.com/affirmagency/), you’ll see that we create a lot of posts about what’s happening around the office. This provides another incentive for people to follow us somewhere other than our website, Facebook, ads, etc. It’s a great way to show that at the end of the day, we’re just real people doing what we love. 3. **What’s Working? What’s not?** – With any social media or web outlet nowadays, there are generally built-in analytics, or easily accessible apps, that make it easy to see how your posts and content have been performing. Use these tools! They provide insight into when and where people are spending their time. 4. **Share Other Relative Content** – I know I have shared this before, but it’s really key to pay attention to what’s happening in your industry…specifically, what your industry leaders are up to. Take note of what and how often they’re sharing content, and follow suit. 5. **Do a Series** – Whether it’s weekly, monthly, or possibly daily, a series is a great way to keep audiences engaged and coming back for more. For example, we recently completed a #throwback series where we would ask people to guess the baby/old photo of an employee. Linking to a popular hashtag means bonus reach! 6. **Do a Poll, Contest, or Giveaway** – Simply asking people to answer a question, take a poll, tag a friend, click “like” if they relate, are great ways to get your audience engaged. If you decide on a giveaway, be sure to clearly state terms and conditions…and actually follow through with giving that stuff away. 7. **When in Doubt, Meme it Out**! – Nothing says “we’re fun!” like a custom meme. If you think your audience would react well to some fun and humorous content, a meme might be just the way to go. Grab one that’s relevant and pair it with a snappy caption, or create your own (in good taste, of course)! The next time you need to come up with content that will leave your audience wanting more, try one of these ideas. If you’re in need of engaging content, give us a shout! We’ll be glad to help you get to Positively Engaging Marketing. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, Communication, content, Facebook, FAQ, Instagram, Social Media, writing --- ### [The Best (and Worst) Commercials of Super Bowl 2018](https://affirmagency.com/the-best-and-worst-commercials-of-super-bowl-2018/) **Published:** February 12, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events of the year for those of us in the United States, and it’s easy to see why; it’s hard not to love anything that combines football, beer, and over-the-top musical entertainment. But for us advertising people, it’s the commercials that get our blood pumping. According to Sports Illustrated writer [Richard Deitsch](https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/01/11/super-bowl-lii-ad-cost), a 30 second commercial costs about 5 million dollars to be played during the Super Bowl game. With that much money on the line, companies bring out the big guns, each trying to outdo each other for the funniest, most emotional, most outlandish, or most memorable commercial. Take a look at some of our favorite commercials from the 2018 Super Bowl. ### **Who Got It Right** **Alexa Loses Her Voice** Innovative and comical, Alexa comes in as my personal favorite commercial of the Super Bowl. It took fresh but recognizable celebrities, combined it with humor, and won the day. Who wouldn’t want Gordon Ramsey’s insults to stream through your home? **It’s a Tide Ad** We love brands that are able to poke some fun at themselves like Tide did in this outrageous ad. What is up with those abstract perfume commercials, anyway? It took all those commercial clichés and turned them on their heads. Laundry detergent has never been so amusing. **Budweiser “Stand By You” Campaign** Budweiser hit us hard in the feels with this socially aware ad. The commercial shows Budweiser’s efforts to send clean drinking water around the country in response to the natural disasters that shook United States’ communities. According to Budweiser, they have helped provide more than[ 7.3 million gallons of water to cities in need](https://www.budweiser.com/en/stand-by-you.html) and intend on expanding their Water Donation Program in 2018. With “Stand By Me” playing in the background, this heartwarming ad won’t be easily forgotten. **Doritos Blaze #SpitFire and Mountain Dew #IceCold** Morgan Freeman and Peter Dinklage in an epic rap battle with a possible nod to Game of Thrones “A Song of Ice and Fire”? Sign me up. It doesn’t necessarily make all that much sense (like where does the Morgan Freeman casting come from? Wouldn’t a White Walker character be more fitting?) but boy is it entertaining. **Coke “The Wonder of Us”** We recently published a blog post about how it is becoming [increasingly important for brands to be inclusive](https://affirmagency.com/embracing-the-lgbtq-community-within-your-companys-advertising-tactics/#.WoSqsqinGUk), and Coke is definitely not missing the mark. Their commercial features a poem explaining that Coke is for everyone, and received positive feedback from audiences about their nod to gender neutrality. It is not a far cry from Coke’s 2017 ad “[America the Beautiful](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JchALYBVEGw)” that celebrated racial diversity. ### **Who Missed The Mark** **Jeep Wrangler “Anti Manifesto”** At first glance, the Jeep Wrangler ad is a hit: it’s a compelling shot with stellar production quality and dismisses the need for tons of copy. It’s a simple take of a Jeep trekking through water, showing the strength and capabilities of the vehicle. In short, it shows a Jeep doing what a Jeep does best: drive. That is what the company argues, anyway. However, the implications of the ad are somewhat controversial. Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited, [calls out Jeep Wrangler for being environmentally irresponsible](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2018/02/14/trout-unlimited-denounces-ad-jeep-romping-through-river/337668002/). “They drove right up the middle of the stream, they effectively reamed the stream and glorified it,” Wood said. “It is about the worst thing you can do to a stream.” According to Wood, such activity is disruptive to wildlife and disturbs sediments and breeding patterns. To be fair, there is a small disclaimer on the ad that it was shot in man-made water, but Wood still publicly denounces the commercial and argues it glorifies the activity. It just goes to show that even the best ad can be a miss if one fails to analyze the consequences. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, Super Bowl, super bowl ads, super bowl commercials --- ### [Even with Social, Consistency is Key](https://affirmagency.com/even-with-social-consistency-is-key/) **Published:** March 12, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Whether it’s about content, sales, or customer relations, social media has quickly become a large part of any brand’s online presence and digital strategy. Why? It’s a great way to quickly and efficiently build your brand as well as target your desired audience. But how do you keep a consistent voice across all platforms? And, there are so many platforms, where do you even start? How do you stay afloat? How do you beat your competitors vying for the same sets of fast-moving consumer eyes? Not to mention, messages can be seen and heard in an instant – and spread just as fast. On the other end of the spectrum, how often is too often to post? How much content is too MUCH content? The thing is, even with social, consistency is key. Here are a few tips to be sure you’re social is on the right track. - **Be in the right place(s)**. There are SO many social media platforms available, but that doesn’t mean every single one is right for you. First, find out where your target demographic spends their time. Then, take a look at where your industry competitors and industry leaders tend to be, and take note. - **Be visual.** This is key: all of your brand identity elements should remain in line with your brand no matter the platform. Use the same logo, same colors, and same filters to ensure your brand is recognizable as the same brand, no matter where you might reach them. - **Be speaking the same language.** As you’re working on a social strategy, keep with the same tone in messaging across the board. Make sure the values you live out in the office are extending through your social media content with the same voice and manner. To help establish content consistency, create a monthly content calendar so you can really lay out what it is your posting and when. This is a great way to help avoid overposting about a given topic or overposting in general. Plus, after a couple of months of solid content planning, you can take a look at your analytics and really see what your audience responds to most. - **Be starting conversations.** ENGAGE! ENGAGE! ENGAGE! The more you engage with your followers, the more loyal they will become and the more you will essentially gain. Respond to comments and messages, follow brands and people that fall within your target demographic. Pay attention to the proper hashtags (again – check out industry leaders). And take note as you move forward so you can see where the traction is gaining. - **Be focused.** When a company starts on social media, there are so many desired goals: gaining followers, getting sales, getting signups, getting website hits, and the list goes on. If you find yourself drowning, take a step back. Refocus and remember that the #1 primary focus of social media should remain simply on **brand awareness**. Remember you are there to gain a presence in the digital world as an extension of the rest of your brand…which is already established! With just a little bit of planning ahead, you can be sure your social strategy is on the right track and your brand remains YOUR brand. Not to mention, you’re apt to build some great connections along the way! Is your brand on social media? Let’s be friends! **[>>\[icon name=”facebook-official” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\]<<](https://www.facebook.com/affirmagency/)** [**>>\[icon name=”instagram” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\]<<** ](https://www.instagram.com/affirmagency/) [**>>\[icon name=”twitter-square” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\]<<**](https://twitter.com/AffirmAgency) [**>>\[icon name=”linkedin-square” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\]<<**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/affirm-agency/) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, consistency, content, marketing, Social Media --- ### [The #MeToo Movement Hits Advertising](https://affirmagency.com/the-metoo-movement-hits-advertising/) **Published:** April 3, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** The Time’s Up movement took Hollywood by storm when sexual misconduct allegations of Harvey Weinstein and other well-known figures came to light. It sparked a viral sensation, spotlighting the systemic problem of sexual harassment and assault against women, particularly in the workplace. Both celebrities and everyday women used the hashtag #MeToo on social media to share stories of sexual violence to “[ …de-stigmatize survivors by highlighting the breadth and impact sexual violence has on thousands of women](https://metoomvmt.org/).” Hence, Time’s Up was born, a letter of solidarity that fueled a movement, claiming “the clock has run out on sexual assault, harassment and inequality in the workplace.” Celebrities wore pins, roses, and black attire to express their support, and Time Magazine even named “Silence Breakers” as Person of the Year in response to campaign. Now, the spotlight has turned to advertising. [180 female agency leaders](https://www.adweek.com/agencies/180-female-agency-leaders-launch-times-up-advertising-to-address-the-industrys-metoo-problem/) recently launched [Time’s Up Advertising ](https://timesupadvertising.com/)in response to the silent taboo of sexual harassment in the ad world**.** While advertising has come a long way since the Mad Men days when it comes to treatment of women, no industry is left completely untouched. In fact, according to a[ 2016 study](https://www.marketingdive.com/news/study-over-50-of-women-in-ad-industry-have-faced-sexual-harassment/424331) conducted by A4, more than half of women in advertising have experienced sexual harassment at least once, and 42% said gender discrimination kept them from decision-making roles in the industry. Former ad industry exec Cindy Gallop argues that advertising, in particular, is a culprit of systemic sexual violence, [claiming](https://adage.com/article/agency-news/cindy-gallop-3-conference/311173/), “The biggest issue facing our industry today is not diversity — it’s sexual harassment, which prevents gender equality and diversity from happening. RAINN, David Schwimmer, Sigal Avin, and the Ad Council joined the national conversation by producing PSAs with the title #ThatsHarrassment, shedding more light on workplace sexual misconduct. Time’s Up Advertising intends to start a dialogue about these issues, as well as drive new policies that foster safe, inclusive professional environments. Here at AFFIRM Agency, we are proud to implement the [BY YOUR SIDE](https://byyoursidewi.org/) campaign on behalf of the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA), offering support for sexual assault survivors in Wisconsin. If you or a loved one would like support, resources, or information related to sexual violence, please visit or call [1-800-446-6564](tel:+18005555555) to connect with the WI Department of Justice Office of Crime Victim Services. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, By Your Side, sexual assault, sexual assault survivors --- ### [#Help](https://affirmagency.com/help/) **Published:** April 12, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Remember a few years back when this symbol # was just a pound sign? Good times. Nowadays, you can’t log on to any social media platform without seeing one attached to a word or phrase. What started as a metadata tool is now a device that connects users around the world with a certain topic or theme. The hashtag grew so wildly popular in recent years that it became a Jimmy Fallon skit, featuring (my love) Justin Timberlake: Aside from all of the fun, the hashtag is actually a super useful tool…when used correctly. It can be a way to engage with new potential customers or to simply learn/see more about a topic you’re interested in and how others are applying it. The more targeted your hashtags become, the better chance you have at true engagement. Here are a few tips to ensure you’re getting the most out of your #hashtag use. 1. **Be Specific** – This means that each social media platform is slightly different, and you must cater to each in different ways. On that note, it’s also important to get specific if you’re looking to target a certain audience. For instance, if you’re in the car sales industry, you could use #cars, resulting in all kinds of posts about cars (31,618,579 on Instagram right now). But, if you want to target users interested in buying or selling cars, you might use #carsales (only 167,129 on Instagram right now) to reach those specifically interested people and more likely earn some engagement. 2. **Keep it Short and Familiar** – While it might seem fun to completely invent your own hashtag to use, remember that if it is too long, no one will want to type it in to search or use it. Additionally, if it’s a made-up word or phrase with little to no usage, and not meant for a campaign, it is essentially pointless because it won’t be something people will look for or know to use. However, if you do come up with a brand-specific or campaign-specific hashtag, make sure to spread the word and encourage use. (Think recently – #MeToo #TakeAKnee #WomensMarch #BlackLivesMatter.) 3. **Only Hashtag as Needed** – Simply put, don’t hashtag every word or every phrase or every number. Hashtag what you want to be found for, or associated with. Don’t hashtag just to hashtag and get involved, or your content will just get lost. Hashtag to join the discussion and make your point heard. (Pro tip: Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post and no more, so hashtag accordingly!) Remember – the hashtag is a tool available to make your awesome content visible and more easily discovered to a vast audience. To see how we’re engaging via hashtags in different ways, check out our Instagram [@affirmagency](https://instagram.com/affirmagency)! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** content, Facebook, hashtag, Instagram, Social Media, twitter --- ### [Spring Cleaning For Your Brand](https://affirmagency.com/spring-cleaning-for-your-brand/) **Published:** May 8, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** The birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and the snow is (hopefully) gone for good, which can only mean one thing: spring is here. Most people rush to purge their closets and scrub their floors, but did you ever stop to think that your brand could use some spring cleaning as well? After all, brands are dynamic and so is advertising around that brand. In order to keep up with the changing times, it’s important to give your brand a yearly once-over. It’s the equivalent to opening your windows after a long winter and letting the fresh air in. To reinvigorate your brand for spring, be mindful of the following suggestions. **Consider your offerings.** Where are you falling behind? What are your competitors doing that you are not? It’s a great idea to reevaluate industry trends and changing markets. Does everyone else have a strong digital presence but you’ve got basic HTML and CSS? It may be time to hire a web designer. On the other hand, are there services you offer that don’t seem to have much benefit? It’s easy to get stuck in a certain way of doing things because it’s comfortable, not necessarily worthwhile. It may be time to cut the fat and invest in new ideas. **Check behind the scenes.** We’ve touted before the[ importance of keywords](https://affirmagency.com/be-seen-be-heard-use-keywords/#.WvC7b4gvyUk) for searchability, and these assets are not set-it-and-forget-it. Spring is the perfect time to update your keywords to make sure you are on top of your consumers’ minds. Likewise, consider doing a website audit to make sure your digital presence is in tip-top shape. Website audits evaluate your content for broken links, page errors, site speed, and more. Fixing any issues helps you stay visible and relevant. **Get #social**. Are there any updates you can make to your social presence? Perhaps you’ve been putting off updating your bios or adding photos from that super awesome project you completed. Social media is an extension of your brand and it’s how consumers stay up-to-date with what you’re doing, so don’t leave them in the dark! Maybe you’ve been slacking off on your LinkedIn, or your Twitter header doesn’t reflect your brand. Update your social media to be cohesive with your brand, and don’t forget to find ways to interact and engage with your audience. **Revisit your goals.** Here at AFFIRM, we declare KPIs (key performance indicators) and priorities each quarter. Basically, we evaluate what is important to our business and create measurable goals to track our progress. Spring is a great time to take a hard look at where you currently are and where you would like to be. If it is necessary, tweak old goals to fit your new ones and decide what your goals are going forward. And while goals are important, the most crucial part is to map out concrete steps on how you are going to reach them. Want to be an SEO master? Maybe one of your steps is to look into online courses, and another is to attend a digital conference. The possibilities are endless, and the great thing about goals is that you can start or revise any time. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, keywords, kpis, marketing, seo, Social Media, spring cleaning --- ### [What to do with data?](https://affirmagency.com/what-to-do-with-data/) **Published:** June 15, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Earlier this year, news broke that the profiling company Cambridge Analytica used data of over 50 million Facebook users in a now-infamous compromise. Unethical to say the least, the use of personal information influences how the public thinks about online advertising. Data was collected from Facebook users’ profiles, with information about their identity, “likes”, and friend networks. The catch is that this data was collected with only a small portion of user’s permission. The kind of private data the firm collected was based on basic demographics, such as gender, age, or location. However, the information also included specific personality traits, such as belief in astrology, level of concern about the environment, or an interest in guns and shooting. This specific data was then reportedly used to influence online behavior and beliefs, to fuel an already-existing fire. After the data breach was reported across the world, Cambridge Analytica faced public backlash. Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg was even called into a hearing in front of the United States Congress, answering extensive questions about data privacy and Facebook’s obligation to users. This public response to data abuse is not to be ignored, especially for online advertisers. This scandal just goes to show that ends do not justify means, marketers included. Online advertising is like any other industry, where ethics and repercussions must be considered and defined when making any decision. Those conducting marketing using possibly sensitive data should take a step back, analyze their current data collection approach, and how responsibly they attain information to target the correct audience. Should any shady practices be found, advertisers should definitely consider modifying their methods. Upholding data standards internally during a time when there is little to no external regulation in the United States not only keeps individual advertising organizations to a higher standard, but also sets the bar for advertising and marketing as a whole, which benefits all. Further, transparency in data collection is also a must. Originally, Cambridge Analytica claimed their questionnaires were used for “educational purposes only”, another reason they received so much outrage. Therefore, whenever collecting information from anyone for marketing purposes, stating so will certainly keep any doubts at bay. Upholding ethics and displaying transparency is only the beginning in wading through the muddy waters of online advertising and data collection, but it is certainly an honest start. Note: Some information taken from [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/17/us/politics/cambridge-analytica-trump-campaign.html) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Cambridge Analytica, data, Facebook, marketing, privacy --- ### [Privacy in the Digital Age](https://affirmagency.com/privacy-in-the-digital-age/) **Published:** July 3, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** In the wake of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica’s [data compromise](https://affirmagency.com/what-to-do-with-data/#.WzuCfNVKiM8), as well as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you may have noticed a flood of updated privacy policies surging your inbox or notifications popping up whenever you open an app or website. Countries in the E.U. are now subject to the new G.D.P.R., which is based on the ideas that companies should ask for permission to collect users’ data and they should only be collecting the information necessary to perform the service they provide. These ethos’ main concerns are on the behalf of consumers and their privacy, in a world where data privacy laws were almost nonexistent. Though these laws were in place for countries in the E.U., because so many companies are global, users in the United States and across the world are now under these privacy protections as well. But, as digital advertisers use data about users’ online habits to deliver relevant and engaging ads, one may view these policies as bad news for marketers or those trying to reach a specific audience. However, concerns for privacy and increased regulation spell only good consequences for everyone. Brands, companies, agencies – everyone should be reassured by this news, as privacy makes consumers happy, which is, after all, a main objective. Consumers are the foundation of marketing. Therefore, transparency and trust are all aspects that marketers should strive for in gaining consumer trust. You also may have seen a few advertisements on Facebook or television coming from Facebook itself. These spots remind us that “We Came Here for the Friends,” a campaign to show that the social media magnet is increasing its efforts to eradicate “fake news’, spam accounts, and clickbait. The ads also reassure that the company is trying its best to protect users’ privacy. Yes, we all want to reach the perfect audience at the perfect time in the perfect place, which does require some crucial information to make that happen. But making that happen should never be at the cost of invading privacy or turning off audiences. Editors Note: Some Information courtesy of[ Popular Science](https://www.popsci.com/gdpr-privacy-policy-update-notices#page-2) and [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/technology/personaltech/what-you-should-look-for-europe-data-law.html) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Cambridge Analytica, Communication, consumers, data, data privacy, Facebook, marketing, privacy --- ### [4 Tips for Building & Maintaining Strong Client Relationships](https://affirmagency.com/4-tips-for-building-maintaining-strong-client-relationships/) **Published:** March 14, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** One of the most important aspects of being an account executive is fostering and maintaining client relationships. At AFFIRM, we work hard to make our clients feel respected, comfortable, and confident in our team. As a result, some of our clients have been with us for over 10 years. Here are a few tips for building and maintaining strong client relationships: 1. **Do your research.** To a certain extent, their business is your business. Take an hour or two to fully dive into their company, learn about their mission and vision, and make yourself comfortable with their operations. That way, you’ll be able to provide more sound advice when it comes to your work for them. 2. **Communicate.** Responsiveness is one of the, if not THE, most important tip. Be sure emails aren’t left unread and voicemails aren’t unreturned. The respect you give your clients will be the respect you receive back from them. 3. **Stay positive.** When there are bumps in the road, maintain a positive outlook. If you’re confident in your ability to fix the problem, your client will be too. 4. **Be honest.** Better known as “Be yourself.” Just like any other relationship, a client relationship will be strongest when you’re true to who you are. Take the time to get to know your client on a personal level and you’ll be able to better communicate, understand each other, and work through the good and bad. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, client relationships, marketing --- ### [12 Ways to Stay Motivated ALL Week Long](https://affirmagency.com/12-ways-to-stay-motivated-all-week-long/) **Published:** February 20, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Do you ever feel like the week is taking FOREVER? Or that you can’t seem to get yourself in the work groove? Here are a few tips to help you stay motivated all week (and maybe even month!) long: 1. **Do your biggest projects first.** The sense of accomplishment you’ll feel will fuel your motivation to finish the smaller, less taxing items on your to-do list. 2. **Set deadlines** for yourself. Even if they’re earlier than they should be, these self-deadlines (self-lines as I like to call them) will keep you focused and help you better manage your time. 3. **Breathe.** Take a minute or two every few hours (I try for every 3 hours) to simply breathe. These little meditation sessions can re-set your brain. 4. **Exercise!** I’m a big believer in mind-body health. A quick workout in the morning or at lunch (walking is great for you!) can jump-start your brain and keep you focused for the rest of the day. 5. **Challenge yourself.** Batman was motivated by the challenge to save Gotham from adversity; Superman was motivated by the challenge to overcome the many enemies in Metropolis; you get the idea. If you don’t push yourself or challenge your mind, you’ll bore easily and remain unmotivated. 6. **Take a break.** Similar to #3, taking a short break every so often can serve as a “power nap” that’ll get you ready to take on your next project. 7. **Be realistic**. Goals are great but be sure you’re not setting them so high that they’re impossible to reach. Frequently meeting small, realistic goals will keep you looking forward. 8. **Dress the part.** Seriously! I find it much easier to stay motivated when I’m dressed more professionally or, at least, not in sweats. 9. **Read quotes.** Sometimes, simply reading a motivational quote is enough to get you through a tough day. Print one out and keep in on your desk, tape it to the wall, or (if you’re like me) go to hobby lobby and find an adorable frame. P.S. If you’re looking for a good quote, check out our #MotivationMonday posts on social media! 10. **Work together.** Working alongside coworkers will encourage you to meet deadlines sooner, work faster, and deliver better results. 11. **Listen to music.** Whether you listen consistently or take short listening breaks every hour or two, music can help keep you upbeat and focused. (Note: Lyric-less songs are often less distracting! My go-to is Five Silent Miles by American Football.) 12. **Accept failure.** Don’t let a little bump in the road keep you sidelined. Analyze what went wrong, learn from it, and move on. You can do it! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** focusing, motivation --- ### [Why Advertising Awards DO Matter](https://affirmagency.com/1931-2/) **Published:** February 21, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** With winter still hanging over our heads, there’s a little ray of sunshine in the form of another season – bright, shiny awards season! A-list stars and other professionals around the globe get all dazzled up as red carpets are rolled out at the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, Billboards, Tonys, and of course, various advertising industry awards. If you recall Danny’s blog from last March, [*Why We Still Enter the ADDY Awards*](https://affirmagency.com/why-we-still-enter-the-addy-awards/#.WK35pm8rK70), he gave some great insight into why AFFIRM still actively participates in the annual American Advertising Federation (AAF) local Madison ADDY Awards: > “1. Clients appreciate the recognition that their campaigns receive and it’s positive reinforcement to them for their efforts, and 2. Winning awards is great for staff morale, especially for younger creative and account staff who worked long, hard hours to plan, produce and execute a project or campaign.” Here are a few more reasons why awards truly do matter: 1\. **Free advertising** – whether you win or you’re shortlisted, your name/agency/client/work will gain attention and brand awareness, and maybe even some new business. 2\. **Benchmarking** – While this could be done without an awards entry, it’s a great way to see where you are among your competitors. Check out their work, get some inspiration, see your business from a new point of view – it’s a great way to grow (personally + professionally) and find new ways to stand out among the rest. 3\. **Continuity** – Winning doesn’t stop when you win! You’ll not only gain recognition and a pretty award to add to your shelves, you’ll have something to build off of in the future – merit for gaining new business, new talent, new projects from current clients, and likely more awards. 4\. **Momentum** – The ad industry is one that’s fast-paced, and awards adapt to reflect such. It’s a great way to stay on top of your game (again, personally + professionally) knowing next year’s awards are always looming. 5\. **Community** – Winning awards will naturally build up your agency’s sense of community – after all, a winning campaign tends to be a reflection of great teamwork. You’ll also get a chance to mix, mingle, and network with other like-minded people when you attend an awards event, from interns to industry leaders. Interested in creating an award-worthy campaign? Give us a call (262) 650-9900. And stay tuned for our awards results in the coming weeks! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** ADDYS, Advertising, AFFIRM, Awards, Branding, coworkers, Madison, WI, winning, wisconsin --- ### [5 ways to avoid conflict when communicating](https://affirmagency.com/5-ways-to-avoid-conflict-when-communicating/) **Published:** February 1, 2017 **Author:** Mark Skowron **Content:** ### First, a quick story. I recall a situation recently where I was trying to help someone walk through a difficult task. I was doing this remotely – sending instructions via email – to someone in a different state. Unfortunately, my instructions were misinterpreted. This person spent many frustrating hours trying to find a solution to the problem before finally reaching back out to me for clarification and help. I walked them through as much as I could, while troubleshooting the issue from every possible angle. However, we weren’t able to make much progress. The next day, seemingly out of nowhere, this person sent me an email stating they were extremely frustrated and were ready to completely give up altogether. There was also language in the email hinting that I was to blame. At first, I took offense to this. My instinct was to respond hastily and defend myself. After thinking about it for a minute or two, I took a deep breath and decided to respond as professionally as possible. I offered to help, using a sincere and positive tone. My offer was accepted, and we began working on the problem again. After trying a few options, we still didn’t get very far. I suggested calling a third party to provide some additional help. With their assistance, the problem was solved. Any notion of previous frustration was forgotten about and all was right in the world again. #### Here are 5 things that happened in this situation to help me avoid conflict. Maybe some of these will help you with your next communication crisis. 1. **Take a breath.** If you can’t say anything nice, take time to walk away from your computer. Maybe go for a walk. Get a drink of water. Talk it over with a coworker. If you take time to think about what you’re going to say, you might avoid of shooting off an emotional response that you may regret later. 2. **Remain professional.** You’re a representative of your organization. You ultimately have control over how you’re perceived to others. A simple act of good customer service will change the way you’re remembered, long after a conflict passes. 3. **Remain positive.** Even if you can’t solve the problem, choose to use words that offer support and encouragement. Offer to help in any way possible, and remain upbeat and positive. 4. **Pick up the phone.** Your words and your tone can be easily misconstrued when using email alone. A phone call might be all that’s needed to set things straight. 5. **Ask for help.** Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t have the answer. You might save time (and money) by going straight to someone who can help; rather than spinning your wheels. In this case, going to a third party for help quickly resolved our issue. How about you? What methods do you use to avoid conflict? **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Communication, problem solving --- ### [Absolutely Positive(ly Engaging Marketing)](https://affirmagency.com/absolutely-positively-engaging-marketing/) **Published:** January 30, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Welcome back to my Core Value blog! As you know, this blog series is dedicated to further explaining our Core Values – 8 characteristics our agency team strives to live through relationships with our clients and each other. Lately, we’ve placed a large focus on being Absolutely Positive: *“Being positive means staying focused and upbeat. We’re passionate about what we do and have confidence that our collective efforts WILL result in achieving success with those we partner with. There is a silver lining and we will find it.”* (affirmagency.com) On any given day, the atmosphere that fills our office is Absolutely Positive. Whether we’re meeting with a client, brainstorming new campaign concepts, discussing the most effective media mix and calendar for the newest paid media campaign, working through difficulties, team bonding over a wholesome game of Cards Against Humanity, or simply chatting in between meetings, everyone acts as a positive, yet different, addition to our team. We’re all passionate about our industry and the success of our collaborations with clients. We want the work we produce to make a difference in our clients’ audiences’ lives. We want our messages to make people inspired, feel good, and ultimately, see the positive impact our clients have on their lives. That’s why we chose our tagline – *Positively Engaging Marketing* – to best represent what we do. We enjoy who we work with and, even more so, who we work for, which makes it easy to stay positive in every situation. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Core Values, marketing --- ### [Just Call Us Chameleons. The AFFIRM Chameleons.](https://affirmagency.com/just-call-us-chameleons-the-affirm-chameleons/) **Published:** January 19, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Welcome back to my Core Values blog and the first installment of 2017! With the new year off to a great start, it seems only fitting to focus on one of my favorite AFFIRM Core Values – Exceptionally Adaptable: *“Being adaptable means having the ability to assess a situation quickly and find effective solutions. Even in unfamiliar surroundings. How do we do it? We’re quick learners and the process and principles we use are applicable to any business.”* ([www.affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com)) As with many other industries, a new year at AFFIRM means revisiting our clients’ goals and marketing plans for the next twelve months. We analyze which tactics and messaging worked the previous year, which were successful, and which we should explore more throughout the new year. Ultimately, we adapt our old plans to develop more effective campaigns each year. But, we don’t just do this at year end (or year beginning). Throughout the year, we consistently review our clients’ campaigns and adjust them as necessary so they are as effective as possible (after all, “Review & Refine” is part of our SMART Process!). If one tactic isn’t achieving as impressive results as others, we adjust it. If one message isn’t resonating with audiences as well as others, we update it. If budgets change, we adapt to them. If a client wants to introduce a new medium into their marketing mix, we explore it. That’s why clients keep coming back to us. We learn, work, and make changes quickly so that no matter the client or campaign, goals are exceeded. Every time. Next time you’re looking for a change, give us a call. I’m sure we’ll be able to adapt to your needs and get your campaign moving in no time. 🙂 **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Core Values, marketing --- ### [Getting Media Coverage During a Slow News Cycle](https://affirmagency.com/getting-media-coverage-during-a-slow-news-cycle/) **Published:** December 8, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** While everyone is busy with holiday preparations, budgeting for 2017, end of year reports and spreadsheets, don’t forget that December is a great month to offer story ideas and content in order to get some earned media. Generally, December is a slower news month, and our reporter and journalist friends may be more open to news and content that they might not consider when there is more breaking news to be had. That doesn’t mean you should ignore best PR practices, however. You still need to offer something newsworthy, relevant and interesting. December is a great month to offer the following types of content: **Tips and Trends:** these are usually tips, how-to’s, guidance from your industry that are always relevant, or are always important to remember. Examples: *Five Easy Ways to Incorporate Wellness into Your Benefits*; *How to Plan for ADA Compliance on Your Website*; *How Internal Communications Impacts Sales Success* **End of Year or Beginning of Next Year stories:** what are helpful hints for readers/listeners/viewers as the current year winds down or the new one begins? Examples: *Five Tax Implications for Your Business in 2017*; *Make a Marketing a Priority for the New Year – Here’s How*; *Wrap Up Your Year With An Annual Report* **Lists:** every department at every outlet seems to put together their top ten lists; try putting together one of your own for your industry and send them to your trade media outlets. Examples: *Top 10 New Materials in Auto Manufacturing; Top 10 Safety Regulations to Watch; Five Predictions in Health Care That Did Not Happen in 2016* Make sure you are sending your ideas to the right media contact, and give them a few days to respond before you call or email again to check in. More tips for building relationships with reporters will be coming to this blog soon! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** earned media, journalist, news cycle, PR, Public Relations, reporter --- ### [Two Thumbs Up for Emojis](https://affirmagency.com/two-thumbs-up-for-emojis/) **Published:** January 9, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** The other day, someone sent me a detailed text about when and where to meet for pizza…primarily using emojis. I use emojis ALL the time and so do most of the people I communicate with – parents, grandparents, kids, and millennials alike. Emojis add a fun element to texts, social media, and more. If you think about it, they’re super efficient. \[icon name=”thumbs-o-up” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] Emojis are more than just symbols for fun…they’re truly a universal language! And they’re evolving already. Apple users eagerly anticipate the arrival of new emojis with iOS updates (most recently the avocado, bacon, and croissant additions omg) and celebrities like the Kardashians have created emojis of themselves for people to download. When I received that emoji-filed text about pizza, it got me thinking…as a writer, could there come a day when my job is obsolete because people will regress back to hieroglyphics/communicate in all emojis? Or would my job just evolve into emoji copywriting?! Hmm…! If you’ve ever thought about incorporating emojis in a campaign, here are some solid emoji tips from some [Forbes Agency Council ](https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2016/12/15/eight-ways-to-successfully-use-emojis-in-advertising-campaigns/#7b19180d2a04)members. 1. **Make Them Relevant.** AKA use them correctly. Is your audience using them? Do they fit with the brand? Do they flow with the feel of the campaign? Even with fun content, be sure they make sense. 2. **Enhance Social And Email Marketing Campaigns.** Emojis have a huge appeal because they trigger emotions in our brains! Emojis can be a great way to engage users with all the feels. 3. **Look to Influencer Bios/Posts for Emoji Tips.** Look through social media posts of the demographic you’re targeting. See where and how they’re using emojis to get a feel for the best ways to connect without overdoing it. 4. **Leverage Social Intelligence.** There are some social intelligence tools that allow brands to figure out most commonly used emojis, some even down to very targeted segments. Using these kinds of tools make campaign emoji use fool proof. 5. **Be Creative And Have Fun With It.** For example, anyone remember Dominos using emojis for customers to order pizza via Twitter? If emojis fit in your campaign, get creative with them! The more creative your emoji use, the more apt your brand is to stick in brains. 6. **Don’t Force It.** Using emojis just to use them could potentially take away from your message or turn audiences off from your brand. “Using emojis for the sake of using them is far less effective than using them to help tell a story, highlight something fun, or connect with your audience.” 7. **Use Them As a Universal Language.** The article likens emojis to music, in the sense that they both work as universal languages. People can relate instantly and emojis can have strong memory triggers since images can “easily cross boundaries as pictures can carry more weight that text itself.” 8. **Do Not Leave Room For Interpretation.** Like #2, emojis are a great tool to engage deeper with an audience who uses them. But, be sure to use the proper emoji to convey your point and be sure the emoji is a clear representation of what you’re trying to say. For your emoji or other campaign needs, give us a \[icon name=”volume-control-phone” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\]! We’ll be 🙂 to help. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, Communication, content, emojis, marketing, Social Media --- ### [New Year, New Beginnings](https://affirmagency.com/new-year-new-beginnings/) **Published:** January 4, 2017 **Author:** Amy Opad **Content:** If you’re anything like me, you’re a little skeptical about making New Year’s resolutions. I prefer to set goals throughout the year and change them as time goes on. Some people do the same, but most view the New Year as the best time to restart pursuing their goals and realign their priorities. While most people’s New Year’s resolutions are personal goals, it’s just as important to set new professional goals and priorities. These new goals can be individual or company-wide. If you’re lucky, your company will establish New Year’s resolutions that align with your individual goals so you can actively work toward both simultaneously. For employees to stay motivated, rejuvenated, and focused on common goals, it’s important for agencies to “reset” and make resolutions each New Year. Need some ideas for your own agency resolutions? Here are a few to get you started: - Improve internal processes - Obtain X number of new clients in the year - Win X% of new business proposals throughout the year - Participate in a company team building activity each quarter - Improve client retention rate by X% - Revisit old goals – Have they been met? Happy New Year and good luck in 2017! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Marketing Trends to Know in 2017](https://affirmagency.com/marketing-trends-to-know-for-2017/) **Published:** December 21, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** 2016 was a big year for digital, social, and mobile marketing, but 2017 is said to be even bigger. With 2016 on the way out and a fresh-faced 2017 on the way in, marketing trend predictions say we’ve got a lot to look forward to. Here are the biggest 2017 marketing trends on the horizon: **CHATBOTS AND CONVERSATIONAL MARKETING** Platforms that use chat such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Google, Microsoft Skype, Twitter DM, Kik, and Slack have grown wildly popular due to private messaging. That is, not everyone wants to communicate publicly anymore, but they still want to communicate instantly. Platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram have added direct message features for the same reasons; people can instantly communicate, reach virtually anybody anywhere, and get quick information, answers, and troubleshooting help via chat features/chatbots. The chat scene and chat-based marketing are anticipated to further evolve in 2017 through what are called “conversational experiences.” “These conversational experiences will bring together past revolutions in ecommerce and text services while highlighting the potential of artificial intelligence,” according to [Adweek](https://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/6-digital-trends-2017-will-redefine-influence-and-interaction-marketers-175143)’s Kevin King. **MORE MOBILE** Has your brand gone mobile? If not, it needs to. According to [eMarketer](https://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/6-digital-trends-2017-will-redefine-influence-and-interaction-marketers-175143), “2017 is predicted to mark a major milestone for digital advertising—for the first time, digital spending will surpass that of TV.” That’s huge. As mentioned above, online leaders such as Google are constantly finding better and faster ways to optimize user experiences on the go, literally landing ads in the palms of peoples’ hands. And where one goes, others will follow, “…in 2017, we’re going to see old dogs with new tricks in areas such as content mixed with new dogs who want to change the game all together.” This means there will be more opportunities, and more reasons, than ever to mobilize your brand in 2017. **VIDEO IS STILL KING!** 2016 saw the rise of video in Periscope, Snapchat filters, and of course, Facebook Live. Live video continues to grow in popularity, perhaps due to the authenticity factor; you get an uninhibited view into someone else’s world with the click (or swipe) of a button. Imagine the possibilities! From live video to video ads, here are some of [Forbes’](https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2016/12/19/six-video-advertising-trends-that-will-dominate-2017/#4f3a157447a4) key video advertising trends expected to take over in 2017: - **“The future of Video Advertising is Social”** – Because social media is where your consumers are! Plus, “Social video ads are particularly popular among marketers looking to expand brand awareness, as video is a highly engaging format that creates an emotional connection with the viewer and is frequently shared.” - **“Mobile Will Create More Opportunities”** – With more and more available platforms and mobile options, the opportunities to engage with customers and broader (or more targeted!) audiences are exponentially growing. In fact, four times as many consumers prefer (and take time to watch) digestible video content over text. - **“Brands Will Communicate Via Video”** – Many recent articles have discussed the effectiveness of e-newsletters, especially those with video embedded. “Newsletters with embedded videos have high open and click-through rates, and videos can be used to build consumer relationships through creative brand storytelling.” - **“Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Will Become Mainstream”** – Since the wild success of Pokemon Go, consumers are itching to get their hands on more augmented reality experiences. 360-degree videos are becoming more and more popular, and are expected to be considered the norm by the end of 2017. - **“Video Ad Lengths Will Vary By Platform”** – Though 2016 saw the demise of Vine (a micro-video platform with videos no longer than six seconds), there was also a lot of experimenting with different video lengths. “In 2017, advertisers will need to avoid a one-size-fits-all policy, gauging ad length by platform audience. They will also need to consider what they hope to achieve with the video ad. Do they want to inform or entertain? Are they introducing a new product or reminding consumers of an established brand? These factors will all impact ad length.” While this is all so exciting and gives us a TON to look forward to, we cannot forget that it all requires effective planning and strategy. When you’re ready to plan and strategize for your brand for 2017, we’ll be ready and waiting! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, Communication, marketing, predictions, Social Media, trending, video --- ### [New Year, Same AFFIRM. We’re Still Openly Collaborative.](https://affirmagency.com/new-year-same-affirm-were-still-openly-collaborative/) **Published:** January 3, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Happy New Year! Welcome to 2017’s first installment of my Core Value blog! As we start this year, our agency’s resolution is to continue to live our Core Values with all clients, especially Openly Collaborative: *“Being collaborative means every idea is entertained. Every voice is heard. Our clients are our partners with whom we embark on a journey to overcome their challenges. When we win, we win together.”* ([www.affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com)) As I’ve mentioned, each of our clients is different. Some like to be actively involved in their marketing and advertising while others prefer to take the role of observers. Either way, we make sure to ask for, listen to, and consider each of their thoughts, opinions, and suggestions when developing their advertising campaigns and completing their projects. We want clients to know their opinions matter and that while we are the “experts,” we want to be sure they are comfortable with the end product. If a client wants to advertising via a certain medium, we will do the necessary research to determine the effectiveness of that medium in reaching their target audience. If a request is made to change the direction of our artwork, we listen to the client’s feedback to be sure the final files are in the scope of their requests. We often say our team at AFFIRM is an extension of each of our clients’ marketing and advertising teams. We always have your best interest in mind and will work with you to plan and execute the best materials and campaigns possible to meet, and exceed, your goals. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, collaboration, collaborative, Core Values, marketing --- ### [Nothing's Impossible When You're Amazingly Resourceful](https://affirmagency.com/nothings-impossible-when-youre-amazingly-resourceful/) **Published:** December 20, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Have you ever found yourself stuck in a situation and unsure how’d you ever fix it? I know I have. But, it’s important to always be prepared for the unknown and confident that you can overcome any challenge that comes your way. At AFFIRM, we like to call that being Amazingly Resourceful: *“Being resourceful means we’re creative, savvy, and able to figure out how to get things done in the face of many challenges. When situations appear next to impossible, we find a way.”* ([www.affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com)) One of the amazing things about our clientele is that each is different. While we specialize in transit-related and social marketing, each client comes with its own quirks, needs, and goals. We take pride in identifying the best way to acknowledge every client’s needs and accomplish their goals, even when they seem near impossible. We develop campaigns that make use of the most relevant resources and tactics to reach the correct audiences and maximize ROI. If ever we run into an issue, we take a step back to determine the best, most efficient and resourceful way to solve the problem and prevent similar challenges in the future. That’s why we have retained clients for over a decade. That’s why we can confidently promise your campaigns will be effective. And that’s why Amazingly Resourceful is one of our Core Values. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Core Values, marketing, resourceful --- ### [We're Not Just Reliable... We're Extremely Reliable](https://affirmagency.com/were-not-just-reliable-were-extremely-reliable/) **Published:** December 5, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Welcome back to my Core Value blog! With the winter months in full swing and everyone crossing their fingers for their cars to start, heaters to work, and flights home to be on time, it only seems fitting to discuss yet another important AFFIRM Core Value – Extremely Reliable: *“Being reliable means being there when our clients need us. Who are your most trusted friends? Those who have your back and don’t leave at the first sign of trouble. We’re there for our clients and for each other. With no drama.”* ([www.affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com)) Anyone who has ever been a client of any kind knows the importance of reliability. Who wants a doctor who only correctly diagnoses *half* the time? Or an accountant who *sometimes* finishes your taxes before April 15? Or a repair man who returns your calls only when it’s convenient for *him*? That’s right, NOBODY. We understand people and organizations need questions answered quickly and problems solved completely. That’s why we promise to work hard so our clients don’t need to worry, no matter how big or small their account is. Our media department doesn’t just place buys on a whim; they spend time researching each clients’ target audiences and the best ways to reach them before developing the most strategic, cost effective plans possible. Our creative staff doesn’t try to crank out projects as fast as possible; they ask questions to fully understand each client’s needs and audiences before developing deliverables that will catch the eyes of and resonate with viewers. And, amidst it all, our account staff doesn’t sit back and see where the wind blows; we stay actively involved in every stage of each client project to be sure everything is completed on time and on budget. We know clients rely on us to achieve their most ambitious goals through advertising, marketing, and public relations campaigns that enhance brand awareness, improve sales, and foster growth. So, don’t worry. We promise to be Extremely Reliable. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Core Values, marketing, reliable --- ### [We're Compelling... Compellingly Creative](https://affirmagency.com/is-your-agency-compellingly-creative/) **Published:** November 22, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Earlier this month, I posted a blog about one of our Core Values – Always Responsive. After thinking about it, I realized while many of our clients (current and prospective) know about our Core Values, it may be helpful to explain each and why they made the cut to the Elite Eight (seriously, corny jokes never get old). So, for the second installment of this Core Value blog, let’s focus on Compellingly Creative. Again, from our site ([www.affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com)): *Being creative means we always strive for ideas that drive engagement. Whether it’s making people laugh, cry, think, or buy – our work calls for action and changes behavior, leading to positive outcomes. That’s what moves us.* Obviously, a large part of what makes our work so Compellingly Creative is our creative department. They’re a very SMERT group (Steve, Mark, Emma, Ryan, Traci… hehe). But seriously, they are incredible and capable of executing on every task imaginable. But, our agency’s creativity doesn’t end with SMERT. Our account service, media, and accounting teams work hard to plan and maintain advertising campaigns that creatively and effectively meet our clients’ goals and reach the right target audiences. And, in the event an issue arises, we work to solve the problem in a creative, cost-effective manner. Ultimately, each person at our agency brings talent, experience, and their own creativity to the table which allows us to provide clients with quality, compelling work that resonates with the right people. That’s what moves us. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, compelling, compellingly creative, Core Values, creativity, marketing --- ### [Facebook page or Facebook Page?](https://affirmagency.com/1786-2/) **Published:** November 16, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** In the past month, I’ve come across two separate businesses with Facebook pages…which is normally great, but these guys are doing it all wrong. They have standard profiles; in other words, you have to add them as a friend in order to see their information. If you frequent Facebook, you probably know by now that there are different kinds of pages: 1. Friend profiles – those which you have to physically add, and then they have to accept you, in order for the two of you to be able to see each other’s pages and posts. 2. Pages – those which are public pages that anyone can see. You have the option to ‘like’ their Page, and there’s no accepting needed on their end. Whether you’re a business/place, company/organization/institution, brand/product, artist/band/public figure, a form of entertainment, or a cause/community, you’d better be using #2. Upon setting up a Page, you choose one of the above categories that suits you. Then, Facebook swiftly guides you through a setup process, collecting detailed information about you/your organization, such as your hours, location, contact info, and other biz basics, plus essential details like parking and price range. Facebook Pages also comes with a whole dashboard that allows you to check on your analytics; see where your ‘likes’ are coming from, message back and forth with clients, connect with other businesses, and even set posts for a later date. AND let’s not forget the Pages smartphone app, making it easy for you to manage your page from anywhere at any time. The best part: it’s all extremely user-friendly. By utilizing Facebook Pages, you’ll not only connect with your clients and employees, you’ll also have a way to reach potential *new* clients and employees. Think about it – when you want to know something about a company, what’s the first thing you do? Google them. See if they have a website. Stalk their social media. Get a feel for who they are. Deborah Budd of [Second Wind](https://www.secondwindonline.com/new-business-social-tools-may-crack-open-doors) writes, > “Social media is a great tool for helping new business prospects understand who you are and what working with you might be like. They can get a sense for your agency culture; note which organizations you support or participate in; how active agency leaders are in business associations; and which industries or categories you work in. Yes, your website may share many of those features, but social media is now an expected part of agency outreach. If you’re not making time to do social outreach for your own business, you can’t expect prospects, or clients, to believe you when you claim to have social expertise.” Budd also suggests that by using Facebook and other social media: “You get the greatest benefit from any tool by using it correctly.” “Get a sense for how prospects are using social channels.” “Share your own content—and other’s—you think may be valuable.” While Facebook Pages is something I know you could handle all on your own, don’t hesitate to reach out to AFFIRM for your company’s social media needs. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, Facebook, Facebook Pages, marketing, Social Media --- ### [We're Always Responsive, We Promise.](https://affirmagency.com/were-always-responsive-we-promise/) **Published:** November 8, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Unless you’re living under a rock or haven’t visited our website or Facebook page (Ahem… [facebook.com/affirmagency](https://www.facebook.com/affirmagency)), you know we pride ourselves on truly living our Core Values; not only in our relationships with clients, but with each other as well. One of our most discussed Values is Always Responsive. According to our website (Ahem… [affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com)): *Being responsive means we treat you like our top priority. We get back to you right away. We answer your questions. We anticipate your needs before you have them. Every time.* In many ways, we’re all consumers and clients. So, it’s easy to understand the importance of responsiveness; nobody likes waiting for hours and hours to hear back from a doctor, banker, airline, lawyer, (in my case) online shopping support assistant – anyone! That’s why we work hard to be there when you need us and, sometimes, even when you don’t. We know what it’s like to have an important question unanswered and don’t want our clients to experience that with us. But, to be sure we can be there for clients, we need to first be there for each other. They say “it takes a village,” and our mini 16-person village works hard to ensure all questions are answered and tasks are completed in a timely manner. Emails aren’t left to rot in an “Unread” folder and calls don’t roll to voicemail. So, I guess all I really have to say is: Dear Coworkers, You’re awesome. Thanks for all you do, Me **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, coworkers, marketing, responsiveness --- ### ["Chance Favors the Prepared Mind"](https://affirmagency.com/chance-favors-the-prepared-mind/) **Published:** November 1, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Among my ad mentors is Luke Sullivan’s book, [*Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This*](https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?url=search-alias=digital-text&field-keywords=Hey+Whipple,+Squeeze+this,+Luke+Sullivan&rh=n:133140011,k:Hey+Whipple\c+Squeeze+this\c+Luke+Sullivan&linkCode=sl2&tag=thenextwave-20&linkId=CZVFPQHSAFPPBQDC), a rite of passage for anyone entering the ad field*.* I keep a copy at my desk and often find myself paging through, pulling out seemingly new tidbits of wisdom each time, and today I’m sharing some with you. Background research: it’s just as important as the work you produce. Why, you ask? Because you can’t produce top-shelf work if you don’t know what it is that you’re advertising. So, no matter your position, here are some *Hey, Whipple* tips you can utilize to gain more insight before your next campaign. **“Get to know your client’s business as well as you can.”** How is it made? Where does it come from? Are there past brochures or other materials you can skim through or download? Can you tour the factory or facility? You just never know what product information will jump out and be helpful and relevant to your campaign, until you take the time to go through it all. “There are no shortcuts. Know the client. Know their product. Know their market. It will pay off… *Chance favors the prepared mind*.” **“On the other hand, there’s value in staying stupid.”** Keeping some distance can sometimes make for fresher thinking. In other words, if you and the client are always thinking on the same plane and always seeing things from the same POV, “fresh” can be hard to come by. **“Get to know the client’s customers as well as you can.”** Who are you talking to? How will it make them feel? *Will* it make them feel? That is, after all, the goal. Read up, even interview, and become as well-versed from the customer side as possible. **“Make sure what you have to say matters.”** Somehow, to someone, somewhere, the message has to matter. It has to be relevant enough to stick in someone’s brain, or what good is all the work you’re putting in? **“Read the publications your ads will be in.”** Not everything you work on will be in the publications you follow or on the websites you frequent. Thus, grab a copy of whatever it is, and see what kind of articles are in there, find out who the audience is and what they think/feel. Then figure out how your client will fit and what you can do to help make it happen. **“Read the awards books.”** When I was a kid, I loved paging through my dad’s awards books…bright and shiny pages with bright and shiny ideas. I could always find inspiration in one of those things, even before I really knew what I was looking at. So even if you can’t attend every awards show, try to get your hands on a couple of the books. You’ll get a taste for what others are doing out there, and you’ll probably find some inspiration too. **“Look at the competitors’ advertising.”** Like the last point, it’s important to keep an eye on your competition for so many reasons. Sullivan says it best, “Learn the visual clichés. Visit their websites. Watch their commercials. Creep through the woods, part the branches, and study the ground your competitors occupy. What is their strategy? What is their look? Those schmucks. They don’t know what’s coming.” I didn’t include every point covered in the chapter, because there are a lot. However, they’re all good, so I suggest grabbing a copy of this book, or at least revisiting these pointers the next time you’re embarking on a fresh campaign. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, background information, Communication, content, research, Social Media, writing --- ### [When Less is Actually More](https://affirmagency.com/when-less-is-actually-more/) **Published:** September 1, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** They say copywriting is something that can’t be taught in school. I mostly agree. I went to UW-Milwaukee where they offered zero specific copywriting courses, so I fulfilled my advertising degree curricula and threw some writing courses in for insurance. I couldn’t wait to get out of school and into the workforce to do some *real* hands-on learning. Senior year, I had a class about ad campaigns where projects consisted of mock campaigns for retail, nonprofit, and service industries. Thankfully, I had a wonderful professor who was a vet in the ad world, filled with oodles of helpful tips and information…including concise copywriting. I learned a *lot* that semester. It’s true, less is actually more in the copywriting world. There are two morals to this story: 1. **Copywriting = concision to the max.** Pro copywriter or not, I know, it’s not easy to spend hours on a blurb you think is soooo perfect only to see it chopped beyond recognition. Think like this, “Would I take the time to read and understand this if I were in the consumer’s shoes?” The usual answer is HECK. NO. *People need content that is simple and direct.* So, my friends, chop that blurb! Research the product more to become better versed. Cut the cord to run-on sentences and unnecessary descriptor words. The sooner you learn to do so, the better your writing skills will be. Promise. 2. **When you think you’re done learning, you’re not.** There’s always a way to polish your skills, or grow new ones! Keep your mind open and your wording short. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Communication, content, learning, writing --- ### [Info, Graphic-Style](https://affirmagency.com/1604-2/) **Published:** October 14, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** The other day, I was Googling “when to take vitamins” (just bear with my nerdiness here for a min.), when Google politely suggested “when to take vitamins *infographic*”. Of course I clicked on it! “There’s an infographic for everything!” I exclaimed in my head, as I fell down Google’s infographic rabbit hole. Where did they come from? When did they blow up? Why do they just make so much *sense*? People LOVE infographics, and you can find them on just about any topic. The modern day infographic, the kind you see all over Pinterest, came in to “digital vogue” around 2008-09. What makes them so magnetizing? Simply put, they take useful information and visualize it. As [this Forbe’s article](https://www.forbes.com/sites/rosscrooks/2014/01/14/are-infographics-still-effective/#1e21cb4f1532) said, “While not appropriate or useful for all types of content, infographics can add valuable context to existing stories by using visuals to show relationships in data, anatomy, hierarchy, chronology, and geography. The written word simply does not afford us immediate clarity in these areas.” See [exhibit A. ](https://www.business2community.com/infographics/infographics-essential-content-marketing-infographic-01216242#lrGslfvvur7uHXfM.97) [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/infog-e1430325778734.jpg.jpg)](https://www.business2community.com/infographics/infographics-essential-content-marketing-infographic-01216242#lrGslfvvur7uHXfM.97) However, no matter how visually pleasing, we can’t forget about the ever-important content aspect. “Without compelling content, you are left chasing novelty from one trend to another. While this can be effective from time to time, it is ultimately a losing battle. Brands and marketers should stop talking about what’s next, and focus instead on what makes all content good. The result, regardless of format, will provide value long after the buzz has worn off.” Infographics may still get me every time, but at least I come out the other side having retained some knowledge. Next time you just want a summary, or need to understand a topic quickly, add “infographic” to the end of your search and watch the magic happen. You might even get some inspiration, and have clients who will thank you for it. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, content, Graphic Design, infographic, marketing, viral, visual --- ### [Brainstorming!](https://affirmagency.com/brainstorming/) **Published:** October 3, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Brainstorm: an ancient word, which means, “to storm the brain”……….or something like that. Brainstorming done right can be a very useful tool for ideation. Whether you’re ‘storming alone or with a group, here are a few tips for your next session: **Why brainstorm?** 1. **NEW ideas!** It’s like that old saying, humans are like snowflakes…none of us are exactly the same (but we’re all COOL!). Haha…but seriously. Everyone will bring something different to the table, and it’s fun to bounce ideas off each other and see where things go. 2. **Grow existing ideas.** You might have an idea that’s not fully developed, or you’re not sure where to take it. Sharing the idea with someone else can offer a new perspective, allowing ideas to turn into more developed concepts, and grow big and strong! 3. **Big ideas.** As soon as the fountain of ideas starts flowing, people get excited and start thinking outside of the box. You may not always be able to execute on big ideas to the full extent (depending on client/timing/budget), but even if you get to execute on a smaller-scale version, it’s exciting and something original! 4. **Eureka!** Ever have an idea that you’re just kind of stuck on? Waiting for that aha! moment to pop into your brain? Brainstorming can help you break through blocks. For me, a visual brainstorm is extremely helpful in these cases. **How to brainstorm?** 1. **First and foremost:** when brainstorming alone, or sharing ideas you’ve generated with others, GO IN WITH AN OPEN MIND. I can’t stress this enough. Everyone comes up with ideas that they feel are great, and whether they’re totally applicable or not, give them a chance. Which brings me to my next point… 2. **Open your ears and listen.** Like, really listen…listen to understand, because you never know where someone else’s ideas will take yours! 3. **No ideas are stupid ideas** when you’re brainstorming. Blurt them out, write them down, or throw them in your pocket for a later date…you might be able to use one in the future for something else! 4. **In the end, be realistic.** Ideas are great, but a final product needs backup. At this point, you’ll probably already have a project plan and/or budget in place, so stay within your means. May many ideas storm your brain in the days to come! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, brainstorming, Communication, ideation, writing --- ### [A Millennial, on Millennials](https://affirmagency.com/a-millennial-on-millennials/) **Published:** September 20, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** “How the Best and Brightest Millennials Live, Shop and Dream” –[Adweek](https://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/infographic-how-best-and-brightest-millennials-live-shop-and-dream-170684) “How Millennials Consume TV Depends on Which Stage of Life They’re in” –[Adweek](https://www.adweek.com/news/television/how-millennials-consume-tv-depends-which-stage-life-theyre-170393) “What Millennial Women Value Most in Terms of Work, Money and More” –[Adweek](https://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/infographic-what-millennial-women-value-most-terms-work-money-and-more-173340) The subhead of that last one reads, “Brands need to know they’re not all the same,” and ain’t that the truth! I’m fascinated by the fascination with millennials. Fast food restaurants are revamping their images. Hotels are adding budget lines to compete with Airbnb. Netflix, Hulu, and HBOGo are replacing cable. Companies, schools, churches, parents, teachers, and especially advertisers all want to be inside the head of millennials, and they should be. Millennials will make up over 75% of the global workforce by [2025](https://adage.com/article/agency-viewpoint/m-word-i-hire-millennials/303292/). That’s like, less than a decade away! But what you all need to know is we millennials are people just like you. And just like you, we’re all individual people who were baptized into Millennialism *simply by being born* between 1982 and 2004. Do you really want to know the secret to targeting millennials? Do ya? It’s NOT stereotyping (because we’re not all tech-savvy, and we’re not all entitled, and we won’t all cause the house/car economic downfall). It’s a little thing we like to call *communication*. Highly recommend it. **Talk to us.** If you have millennial children in your family, talk to them. If you have millennials in your office, get their opinions. Heck, use a focus group. They’re still a (relevant and helpful) thing. I challenge you to really open your mind to hear out what your millennials have to say; if nothing else, you’ll gain a new way of thinking and no one can have too many of those. **Go where we are.** New hip coffee shop just opened up the street? Go hang out there while you work. Are you on social media? You need to be. Doing some interactive fieldwork, online and off, you can easily get an inside look at the Millennial lifestyle from the latest lingo being used to morals and values. **Put some trust in us.** We’ve been exposed to a LOT in our short lives so far and it only continues to expand (shout out to the Internet, you the real MVP). Yeah, we make mistakes, and we learn from them (or we Google them to avoid them). You may have us beat on Earth years, but look who we get to learn from…wise ol’ you! Just like you learned from the generation before. We’re individuals with brains and hearts and motivation and skills (and iPhones). As I mention the above articles with a giggle, I also do so with love because they’re great reads full of valuable info. Here’s the closing excerpt from a particularly spot-on AdvertisingAge article titled, “[The ‘M’ Word: Why I Don’t Hire Millennials](https://adage.com/article/agency-viewpoint/m-word-i-hire-millennials/303292/)” (go read it): > “Every generation has something to offer. The need for clear thinking, good creative ideas and strong people skills remains constant, especially when technology is at its most disruptive. > > So even if you’re of an older generation, don’t underestimate your own experience. > > Meet others with openness and respect, and they’re more likely to do the same. Believing in your own value, unique skills, voice and knowledge — while remaining humble and open to what you don’t know — is a powerful way to stay relevant for generations to come.” -Martha Hiefield \*AFFIRM millennial fun fact: millennials make up 40% of our staff!\* **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Communication, millennials, Social Media --- ### [The Emmy Awards](https://affirmagency.com/the-emmy-awards/) **Published:** September 22, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** [On the Eve of a New Broadcast Season, Emmys Ratings Drop to a Record Low](https://click.crainemail.com/?qs=0955bf0d79639d3084b831a02d1a5b9842a2475b6c3dcd4585159db67840914304717313a3100c2c) That was Monday’s headline almost everywhere. Here’s my theory. The Emmys honor excellence in TV. This year’s nominees include: *Game of Thrones* (HBO), *Veep* (HBO), *Transparent* (Amazon), *Masters of Sex, Shameless & Homeland* (Showtime), *House of Cards, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Grace & Frankie* (Netflix) and network programs *Modern Family, Black-ish, Mom, The Good Wife.* An impressive list, but very few shows or performers from traditional networks were deemed worthy of receiving a nomination. Want to know why no one is watching? According to Nielsen’s most recent estimate, there are 118.4 million TV homes in the US. This includes homes that subscribe to cable, satellite, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and any of the other services out there. About 71 million homes subscribe to cable or satellite, Netflix’s subscriber base in the US is estimated at 47 million, Amazon Prime boasts 54 million subscribers and Hulu has 12 million subscribers. See where I’m going? While households may subscribe to more than one service, not one has the household coverage of the traditional networks. And, therein lies the problem with the Emmys. They are honoring well produced, scripted and acted programs that a small percentage of America have access to – no wonder interest in the Emmys is falling off! The people who watch the Emmys are Middle America, 45+ and those that subscribe to Netflix are 18-44. Don’t assume that the 18-44 year old will watch the show; they’re going to catch up on winners, if they care, via Twitter or Facebook and don’t expect your traditional TV audience to care if *House of Cards* wins. They want to know if *The Big Bang Theory* wins. And they very well are part of the households that don’t subscribe to Netflix! Know your audience people! TV programs, like advertising messages, are targeted to certain audiences and when the content appeals to only a small portion of the audience, engagement or in this case, viewership, is going to decline. Again, know your audience. Know who you are trying to reach, craft the message that will engage that audience and find the best tactic to reach that audience and you will have great ratings! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Advertising During a Political Year](https://affirmagency.com/advertising-during-a-political-year/) **Published:** September 2, 2016 **Author:** Amy Opad **Content:** With the looming presidential election this November, advertising agencies are feeling the pressure to secure ad space for clients. During election years, presidential candidates flood advertising media with ads, causing ad space demand and price to skyrocket. For this reason, it’s crucial for agencies to plan and strategize with their clients. Many ads, especially those on TV, get bumped during election season and are replaced with political ads. So, agencies must strategically place media to be sure clients’ messages are seen and heard. This is particularly important in “battleground states” where candidates trying to win over constituents and therefore dedicate a large amount of campaign funds to advertising. Here are a few tips to ensure your ads are seen and heard during an election year: - **Decide early.** The sooner a strategy is determined and media is approved and placed, the better. Early placement leads to lower rates and will decrease the chances of ads being bumped. - **Devise a Plan B.** Agencies should plan and strategize an alternate plan should political media prevent their chosen plan from being fully executed. - **Be creative.** During an election year, the public is bombarded with a TON of media, so it’s important your messaging is extremely memorable and eye-catching. If you’re hoping to advertise yet this year, we’re happy to help. Our media team is some of the Midwest’s best and will work to be sure your message effectively reaches your audiences. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, election year --- ### [Easy Answers Are Better](https://affirmagency.com/easy-answers-are-better/) **Published:** September 6, 2016 **Author:** Danny Mager **Content:** Recently, my business credit card number was compromised and someone used it to go on a bit of a shopping spree at Walmart and Target stores in the Kenosha area. This is not the first time my business credit card account has been tampered with and it’s incredibly inconvenient when it happens. First, the bank immediately cancels the card and sends you a new one. This means that all the online accounts I have containing my business credit card number, sites like domain registrars and airlines, have to be updated. Also, items that are on auto renew now won’t auto renew until I get the notice that the old credit card number didn’t go through. The truly ridiculous thing is that my bank has the answer to this problem; issue business credit cards with smart chips in them so that perpetrators can’t produce counterfeit cards using a stolen number. It’s my understanding that chip card numbers don’t work without the chip. So, even though it’s incredible that national chains like Walmart and Target still don’t require photo ID when someone is charging, say, more than $500 to a card, this becomes less of a pain because the chip does their job for them. I’ve asked our company bank to issue all members of our staff who have business credit cards to change them out with chip cards. You’d think it would be easy. It’s not. Apparently, chip cards are only available if you open up an entirely new credit card account. This means losing all of the rewards points we’ve accumulated on the main account, as well as filling out a bunch of new paperwork. As a customer who’s been victimized by shoddy security from the bank and retailers, I shouldn’t have to do more work to correct the problem. I want an Easy Answer. And the Easy Answer is to swap out all of the existing cards with new, improved chip versions. I try to always provide Easy Answers to my clients. And I’m looking for a bank that will as well. P.S. Through deductive thinking, I’m pretty sure I know where my credit card number was compromised. It’s only happened to me twice and BOTH times were after I stayed at a certain hotel in downtown Milwaukee. Once was with my personal credit card, the second with my business. So, even though I can’t prove it, my gut tells me I’m right and I will never stay there again even though it’s part of the group of hotels I stay at whenever I travel. **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Hunting = Marketing](https://affirmagency.com/hunting-marketing/) **Published:** August 17, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** I was asked if there are any parallels I could draw between my hobbies and my job. I thought about it for a while, and suddenly it clicked: I like to hunt and harvest animals for food. Putting yourself in a position to harvest an animal requires an epic amount of preparation. Yet even once in position, you still need to execute the shot or all that preparation will have gone to waste. I’ve had situations where a client opts out of much of the preparation we recommend, like research or development of a marketing plan, and chooses to jump straight into creative. I’ve also had clients who do the research, but never put it to use. Either way, there’s a real chance they’re not going to achieve their objective and all that time and money is wasted. An old friend once put it this way: any hunter can walk into the woods with a bow and arrow and stand a 50/50 chance of harvesting a deer. But every little thing he does in preparation, like tuning his equipment, practicing, going into the woods to scout, holding off on drinking that cup of coffee while on stand…every little thing he does to prepare for the moment of truth will increase his odds by 5%. Even if you can only afford to do three little things, you’ve already increased your odds by 30%. In marketing as in hunting, preparation is critical. **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Calling All Multitaskers!](https://affirmagency.com/calling-all-multitaskers/) **Published:** August 11, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Multitasking. I’m guilty of it, and I’m sure you have been too. I even feel guilty saying “guilty” because for so long, I thought multitasking = being productive! I was so wrong. **THE BRAIN IS NOT MADE TO MULTITASK.** Studies have shown that multitasking, that is, switching between multiple tasks at once, overloads your brain which can lead to chronic stress and depression, cause social anxiety, and even lower your IQ and damage your brain *permanently*! Try to focus on reading these factoids without distraction: - **Just because you do it all the time, doesn’t mean you’re good at it.** It’s actually the opposite. Multitasking lowers your cognitive abilities, meaning you’ll perform poorly even when you’re monotasking. “People who multitask all the time can’t filter out irrelevancy. They can’t manage a working memory. They’re chronically distracted.” Check out [work by Clifford Nass](https://business.time.com/2013/04/17/dont-multitask-your-brain-will-thank-you/) if you’re interested in learning [more](https://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182861382/the-myth-of-multitasking). - **You’re lowering the quality of your work.** Multitasking initiates cortisol production, the stress hormone, making it even harder for you to think clearly. It reduces the rate at which you work, because with so much going on, you’re not working as efficiently, leaving more room for error. - **You’re creating bad brain habits.** Do you ever multitask your way through the day, then come 5pm you feel like you’ve completed nothing at all? Switching between tasks confuses the brain. Each time you complete even a teeny task, like sending an email, your brain releases its reward hormone dopamine. “Our brains [love that dopamine](https://www.inc.com/larry-kim/why-multi-tasking-is-killing-your-brain.html), and so we’re encouraged to keep switching between small mini-tasks that give us instant gratification. This creates a dangerous feedback loop that makes us *feel* like we’re accomplishing a ton, when we’re really not doing much at all…” Which, in turn, can lead to other problems such as chronic stress. (I’m stressed just thinking about the fact that there’s such a thing as chronic stress.) - **You’re better off smoking.** Well, in a sense. [Studies](https://www.forbes.com/sites/vanessaloder/2014/06/11/why-multi-tasking-is-worse-than-marijuana-for-your-iq/#1d1370664e51) have found that multitasking with electronic media results in a lower IQ than losing a night’s sleep OR smoking marijuana! Wow. The good news for you multitask-aholics is that there are many ways to improve your focus. I recently started a simple introductory chunking method when working on tasks: - Set a timer for 20 minutes and focus WITH NO DISTRACTION (yes, that means NO phone, email, Facebook, or anything that demands attention) - Take a break for 2 minutes – get up, stretch, move around, grab a drink - Repeat! Try to repeat the cycle for at least an hour, and be sure to break for 10-15 minutes when you’re finished. It’s amazing what you can get done when you seriously focus on focusing! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, business, Communication --- ### [5 Reasons to Launch a Google AdWords Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/5-reasons-your-company-should-invest-in-google-adwords/) **Published:** July 11, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** I may not be a media expert (Cathy and Roe have us covered in that department!), but I do know if you’re advertising, one of the best places to start is the Internet. Why? Because everyone’s on it (especially teens and Millennials)! Google, which has 1.17 billion users, has taken full advantage of this by providing a service for people to advertise on its search results pages – Google AdWords. That’s right – your ad can be served on a platform that **serves over 1 billion people!** Not yet convinced that Google AdWords is right for you? Here are a few reasons why you should reconsider: 1. It’s **extremely customizable**. While there are a few copy restrictions in terms of content (No ALL CAPS or excessive punctuation!!!!) and length, your AdWords ads are entirely customizable and flexible. In addition to the main text, you can include Ad Extensions that allow your ads to include product images, contact information, and site links, among others. 2. It’s **easily measurable**. Your account will be updated every time one of your ads is served, giving you the most up-to-date, accurate information whenever you log in to your account. 3. It is **effective for all budgets**. If you don’t have a huge budget, some advertising tactics won’t be worthwhile or effective. With AdWords, you can manually set bids for each keyword as well as a monthly budget that will never be exceeded. 4. It’s **faster than SEO**. Although SEO is an essential part of most every website and online campaign, it can take a while (sometimes months) to produce noticeable results. Once you launch an AdWords campaign, your ads will immediately begin showing, giving instantaneous results. 5. It has **vast reach**. If anyone, anywhere, anytime has a question they need answered, what do they do? “Google it!” Like I said, Google has over 1.17 billion users, giving you the opportunity to reach a MASSIVE audience (that doesn’t include the hundreds of Google Search Partner sites)! If you’re interested in launching a Google AdWords campaign, let us know! We’re happy to help. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Google AdWords, marketing, SEM --- ### [Writing vs. Writing for the Web](https://affirmagency.com/writing-vs-writing-for-the-web/) **Published:** July 25, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Last week, I attended a seminar at [Northwoods Web Solutions](https://www.northwoodsoft.com/Northwoods.htm) on [Writing for the Web](https://learnatnorthwoods.com/main.htm) that was full of up-to-date info and helpful tips, plus it was a great refresher course for stuff I haven’t studied in a few (gasp!) years. In short, I can tell you there *are* definite differences in writing vs. writing for web, not only for SEO purposes but for basic consumer and conversion purposes too. Regardless of the site or what it’s used for, it all comes down to **content**. Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind when writing for the web: - **Put your most important information first**. It’s been proven that when it comes to reading on the web, people generally *scan*, they don’t *read* word-for-word. It’s also been proven that when people scan a webpage, they scan in the [shape of an “F”](https://thenextweb.com/dd/2015/04/10/how-to-design-websites-that-mirror-how-our-eyes-work/#gref). Thus, your most important information should come simply and obviously before anything else. - **People don’t want to work for what they’re looking for.** Think of it this way: YOU are the consumer (because we all are). Think of your favorite website to visit/use. Now ask yourself some questions: *What* are you going to the site for? Can you *easily* get to whatever information you’re there for? Hmm! (Don’t forget a useful and visible site search bar!) - **“Feed” people your information in small doses.** You have a lot to say on your site. And you can! But keep in mind that people don’t have the time. You have to give your page some organization: informative headers, bulleted lists, bolding where it matters, small paragraphs, and enough “white” space between everything. - **No “marketing mush”!** This is the term they used at Northwoods for overly exuberant adjective-filled jargon. It’s one thing to write good, creative copy, but it’s another to throw too many descriptors in to make it look and sound shiny. You’re better to err on the safer and smarter sides and use industry-specific language. After all, you’re trying to engage consumers of this product/place/service, right? \*Insert shameless plug for the fact that AFFIRM knows web content, and you should consider us when you have a need for generating websites/web content! info@affirmagency.com\* **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, content, marketing, seo, writing for the web --- ### [Reconnecting with Old Friends is Good For You and, Sometimes, Good for Business!](https://affirmagency.com/reconnecting-with-old-friends-is-good-for-you-and-sometimes-good-for-business/) **Published:** July 19, 2016 **Author:** Danny Mager **Content:** One of the many benefits of Facebook is that it offers the opportunity for reconnections with old friends under the right circumstances. For me, those circumstances are often business opportunities that require me to travel to cities where old friends happen to live. Twice in the past three months, I’ve messaged these friends through Facebook, letting them know when I’d be traveling and wondering if they’d like to get together to reconnect. Happily, both situations led to fun get-togethers at cool locations in their cities and one resulted in an active business partnership on a campaign AFFIRM was conducting. This was never the plan and, like things should be among friends, happened organically with no pressure. I’ve truly enjoyed being able to reconnect with great people and will continue to always check to see if my social media contacts can lead to renewed interactions with old friends whenever my job takes me to a market I haven’t been to before! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Danny Mager, Facebook, marketing, Social Media --- ### [I Forgot What I Was Gonna Call This One...](https://affirmagency.com/i-forgot-what-i-was-gonna-call-this-one/) **Published:** July 15, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** According to[ Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writer%27s_block), **Writer’s block** is “a condition, primarily associated with writing, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown. The condition ranges in difficulty from coming up with original ideas to being unable to produce a work for years. Throughout history, writer’s block has been a documented problem.” I know…it sounds a lot like a #firstworldproblem, but anyone who is/has been a writer knows that it is very real and intensely dreaded! The good news is that there are ways to get through a block, or maybe even avoid one altogether. Here are some of my tried-and-trues: - **Press play.** Music has been known to improve lots of things in life, including productivity and creative inspiration. [Some swear](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/06/02/this-is-the-kind-of-music-you-should-listen-to-at-work/) by listening to it *while* you work and [some say](https://www.businessinsider.com/10-minute-trick-to-boost-your-productivity-2016-1) you should listen to it *before* you work. Either way, I suggest checking out the “focus,” “chill,” or “mood” genres/moods on Spotify to get you in the groove (or anything similar on your music service of choice). - **Skip it (not the 90’s toy…unless you have one handy, then see #5).** Skip a section or topic that’s giving you trouble; you may find it’s easier to come back to later on after you’ve filled in all other possible sections. You may even discover a better way to go about the trouble area when you return! - **Caffeeeeeine.** It’s the magical elixir from the heavens when it comes to being creatively productive. Sometimes, it helps to shed light on new ideas you hadn’t gotten to yet. I find it best to start focusing before it kicks in to be sure I’m on track when it does. Have a cup of coffee, sip some green or black tea, and get to work! \*If caffeine isn’t your thing, water can work just as well…chug a cool glass to get those brain juices flowing!\* - **Get inspired.** Has someone else written on the same topic before? Chances are, yes, and you should check it out. It can be super helpful to get inspired by similar work. It can also be the nice kick of motivation you need to do come up with your best stuff yet! - **Move it.** Are you working in an environment that fosters your creativity? Or just the opposite? If your brain works like mine, sitting somewhere stagnant can stifle creativity, making it hard to get over a hump. I know you may not have the option to just leave work at will, so at the very least, take your brain out for a mental jog. Get up, walk around, stretch, talk to a neighbor, call your mom, watch a funny viral video, bust out that Skip-it, or close your eyes and meditate for a few minutes. Find what works for you! - **Check it off.** To-do lists are little lifesavers. If you feel like your brain is overflowing with info, jot down a list of all the things you need get done (and make a separate list for things that *aren’t* work-related). This will help you to clear your thoughts, organize, and, key word, *prioritize!* With a visual in front of you, it can be easier to figure out your next move, leaving your brain ready to take on whatever is next. Next time you’ve got a block, try one (or all) of these out and watch the creative magic flow. Now, adding to my to-do list: buy a Skip-it. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Communication, content, music, writing --- ### [Branding Basics – 12 Things You Should Know](https://affirmagency.com/branding-basics-12-things-you-should-know/) **Published:** June 13, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Like a lot of agencies, a week doesn’t go by when we’re not involved with, or discussing, some type of branding initiative with clients or a prospective new client. We may not be a dedicated branding or design firm, but year after year, organizations look to us for these assignments because of our collective branding experience, our proven process, and the fact that we work collaboratively in helping them to evolve or create their brand. For all the press that national rebranding efforts in recent years have garnered for companies like Verizon and Google, or those closer to home like the NBA Milwaukee Bucks or Colectivo Coffee Roasters, there are hundreds of other organizations that can benefit from working with an agency who can help them throughout the branding process without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars. Given the number of agencies that work in the area of branding, along with specialized design firms and freelancers, I can’t understand why some companies look at taking shortcuts for something that’s so vital to the success of their organization. I’ve seen several businesses recently take a short-sided approach and wonder what the long-term impact will be on the success of their organization or what it may do in eroding brand equity. Instead of dwelling on the “what ifs,” I’d like to focus on the basics for those of you who are considering a branding initiative. Most marketers know that a brand is more than a logo and a tagline, but the single most important aspect is creating a brand strategy that will lay the foundation for development of a successful brand. The following is a topline on the 12 key components of a comprehensive brand strategy that will keep your company, product, or program thriving for years to come! 1. **Purpose** – Why does your business exist, and what makes the people within your organization get up every morning and do what they do? 2. **Insights** – Do you know what your audiences think about you or your competition? And you do you know the best way to reach your audiences? 3. **Personas** – Once you know what your audiences think, can you establish profiles for each of your buyers and define the best way to reach, engage, and meet their needs? 4. **Involvement** – How can you involve your employees throughout the process from getting their insights to helping them live the brand once it’s launched? 5. **Competition** – Who are your key competitors and what can you learn from what they’re doing? 6. **Position** – What is the single most important thing that differentiates you in the minds of your audiences? 7. **Messaging** – What’s your story and what are the key messages you’re telling to your audiences? 8. **Consistency** – Is your messaging cohesive and does everything you’re doing work together each and every time? 9. **Flexibility** – While consistency is important, will your brand be flexible to work across different mediums or programs in order to appeal to different audiences? 10. **Personality** – What style or emotion is your business conveying? Is it buttoned-up and conservative or fun-loving and creative? 11. **Elements** – What are you going to need to establish consistent use of the brand to internal and external audiences including style guides for graphics, imagery as well as your brand voice? 12. **Plan** – Are you going to launch the brand quickly across all mediums, or phase it in overtime due to budget constraints? And what’s the plan for launching the brand to employees as well as customers? Of course, this is just the beginning. There’s a lot more to each of these components that we’d be glad to share the next time you’re considering a branding initiative. Give us a call at 262-650-9900 or contact AFFIRM Principal – Creative Director, Steve Stocker at to learn how we can help. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Branding, Positioning --- ### [Fleeting Inspiration](https://affirmagency.com/fleeting-inspiration/) **Published:** May 10, 2016 **Author:** Danny Mager **Content:** For no more than one week per year, the two crabapple trees outside my office bloom spectacularly. For the other 51 weeks, they’re either skeletal shrubs with dead fruit that even the birds won’t eat or unkempt looking green trees that mix in with the rest of the foliage. But around this time in May, they’re flowering firecrackers. As you can see in the photo, their petals are snow white and they smell sweetly fragrant. On the precious days they’re in bloom, I like to keep my blinds open all day even if that means being blinded by the afternoon sun in my western facing office. These trees inspire me in different ways. I find that looking at them helps me to be more creative in my work conceiving and writing advertising. Maybe it’s their zen beauty. They’re also a sign that summer can’t be too far away, which in Wisconsin means a few weeks of beautiful weather (hopefully!). But, by the time summer is officially here, these trees will have shed their spring jewelry for a more mundane appearance. And that’s why I never take this one week of blooming beauty for granted! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Danny Mager, inspiration, marketing, summer --- ### [Who's Watching What?](https://affirmagency.com/whos-watching-what/) **Published:** April 29, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** As we look back through the evolution of media, it was predicted that each new one would kill off the other…when television came into being, everyone predicted radio would die. Cable television was going to replace television, streaming radio was going to replace terrestrial radio and online video – yep, it’s going to replace television. And let’s not forget newspapers are dead. To paraphrase Mark Twain, “the reports of (fill in appropriate media tactic here) death have been greatly exaggerated.” There is no doubt that the media landscape is changing and each form has its adherents. But nothing is that simple. Boomers surf the net while watching TV, they listen to Pandora, catch up on news via Twitter just like Millennials who do watch live TV and listen to terrestrial radio when in their cars. And everyone is exposed to Outdoor advertising! The biggest challenge we face in media is figuring out how to reach our consumer in light of this proliferation and the answer is we have to consider each and every type of media. We have to recognize that each audience segment engages with media in slightly different ways and have to provide an integrated approach in which to reach these audiences. We don’t know which one tactic is going to lead them to our desired goal, we do know that they’ll be consuming multiple media tactics and we need to figure out is the right combination of these to get as many of our targets as we can to get them there. A good media person is always on the look-out for the next big trend while keeping grounded in the present. Innovation, integration and ingenuity are the principles of media today. If you can find that in your plan – it’s a good one. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM, marketing, media planning --- ### [Grammar! Part One](https://affirmagency.com/grammar-part-one/) **Published:** March 18, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Welcome to part one of our first-ever grammar blog series! Over the upcoming weeks, we’ll help to finesse your writing and improve your communication, simply by reminding you about some basic grammar rules. We promise it won’t be as grueling as those grade school grammar tests, so stay tuned! For a grammar-lover like me, and maybe you, growing up in the Internet era has been both a blessing and a curse. We’re pro-multitaskers, we’re speed-typers, and we have access to any and all information at our fingertips. Literally. But ever since the rise of social media, blogs, texting, and autocorrect, it’s like grammar hardly serves a purpose anymore. When it comes to basic communication nowadays, though, everything is digital; emails and texts fly all day long between people of all professions. Would it make a difference in communication if everyone said, “let me know” instead of, “let myself know”? Not at all. Should it? Yes! Not only is good grammar a good business practice, but no matter who or what you work for, you are a representation of that entity. Wouldn’t you want to exude the very best impression possible? Forbes writer Susan Adams points out that many employers still look at grammar in the work of their employees. “…poor grammar shows a kind of sloppiness. \[Employers\] want to hire people who pay attention to detail.” She goes on to point out that grammar, both spoken and written, demonstrates your levels of organization, intelligence, thoughtfulness, *and* respect! ([Forbes.com](https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/07/20/why-grammar-counts-at-work/#78a30eea4431)) For the purpose of this blog, I created a grammar survey (#nerd) to test the skills of Facebook friends. There are 10 questions, each tackling a common grammatical error we all encounter frequently. In each grammar blog post, we’ll cover a few of those questions, and offer tips to keep you on top of your grammatically correct game. We’ll start out lightly…scroll down to see the first couple of topics! **QUESTION 1** **How do you feel about grammar?** \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] I’m so frustrated. Some days I can’t stand to be on social media at all. To/too/two…it’s not that hard, people! \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] I try sometimes, but I’m not held accountable for grammar mistakes, so it doesn’t really matter. \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] Thank heavens for autocorrect! It corrects my grammar for me, right? \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] What’s grammar? Didn’t care when I learned it, don’t care now, never will. **SURVEY SAYS**: A – 66% B – 25% C – 9% D – 0% (phew) **ANSWER**: This one was just for opinions. **PRO TIP:** Beware when writing those last-minute work emails on your iPhone…most autocorrect features do NOT correct grammar, aside from adding some apostrophes here and there. **QUESTION 2** \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] We should go get bloody’s on Sunday. \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] I love Mondays. \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] Thats Bobs’ dog. \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] none of the above **SURVEY SAYS:** A – 16% B – 68% C – 5% D – 11% **ANSWER:** The correct choice would be B. The high percentage of those who answered A is no surprise, as this is one of the most common errors. I’ve seen it all over social media feeds, and even on signs and in other public places! **PRO TIP:** You do NOT need an apostrophe to make a word plural. Is the word a contraction (let’s = let us; we’ve = we have)? Then use an apostrophe. Is the word a possessive noun, meaning something belongs to someone/thing (Bob’s dog = the dog belongs to Bob; car’s windshield = the windshield that belongs to the car)? Then use an apostrophe. If you’re talking about all of the (plural) bloodies you’ll have on Sunday, **no apostrophe is needed!** The same applies to days of the week…you don’t love *Monday’s,* unless you love something that belongs to Monday (like Monday’s vibe). You love *Mondays*! Plural…all the Mondays! Simple, right? So, we should go get bloodies on Sunday! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Communication, content, email, grammar, text, writing --- ### [Grammar! Part Two](https://affirmagency.com/grammar-part-two/) **Published:** April 15, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Welcome to Part II of our grammar blog series! Continuing from last time, I’ll go over a few more questions from my #nerdy grammar survey. The first question of Part II covers homophones. In case you need a refresher, a homophone is a word that’s pronounced the same way as another word, but has a different meaning, and often spelling. I can still hear the sing-songy voice of my second grade teacher as we repeated after her, “I sound the same, but I don’t mean the same!” Homophones are easily missed by spellcheck and autocorrect, so check out [THIS LINK](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/25-homophones-that-most-spell-checkers-wont-catch/) of often-mistaken homophones from Grammarly’s blog (yes, grammar blogs are a very real thing), and keep them in your brain for next time you write. **QUESTION 3** **Select the sentence you think is correct:** \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] They’re going to love going there — I heard their food is the best! \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] Their going to love going there — I heard they’re food is the best! \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] There going to love going they’re — I heard their food is the best! **SURVEY SAYS:** A – 100%! Amazing. All correct. **PRO TIP:** **“They’re”** = they are (a contraction) **“There”** = refers to a place (*over there*; *I love it there*), OR used with a “to be” verb (*there is*, *there are*, etc.) **“Their”** = indicates possession (*their dog*…the dog that belongs to them) **QUESTION 4** **Fill in the blank: Rats! We should \_\_\_\_\_\_ gone to that game!** \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] of \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] have \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] if **SURVEY SAYS:** B – 100%! All correct again…so proud. **PRO TIP:** If you can’t remember, just think should/would contractions…should’ve = should *have,* would’ve = would *have*. **QUESTION 5** **Select the sentence you think is correct:** \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] If you’d like to attend the dinner, please let Bob or myself know. \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] If you’d like to attend the dinner, please let myself or Bob know. \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] If you’d like to attend the dinner, please let Bob or me know. \[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed\_class=””\] If you’d like to attend the dinner, please let I or Bob know. **SURVEY SAYS:** A – 41% B – 14% C – 43% D – 2% **ANSWER:** C! **PRO TIP:** Think of it this way: eliminate the whole sentence, including Bob, except the “let \_\_\_\_ know” part. Which fits? Let *myself* know? No. Let *me* know? Yes. “Myself” should generally be used in conjunction with ***I****.* (I bought myself a dog. I didn’t want to wait, so I did it myself.) And remember…always put the other person before yourself! That’s it for Part II! Stay tuned for Part III, guaranteed more grammar goodness! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Business Travel Tips (or what I've noticed lately on a lot of recent flights)](https://affirmagency.com/business-travel-tips-or-what-ive-noticed-lately-on-a-lot-of-recent-flights/) **Published:** March 24, 2016 **Author:** Danny Mager **Content:** Over the past few months, I’ve been traveling a lot more on business than I have in a while. New York. LA. New Orleans. Cincinnati. Sacramento. Orlando. During the course of these flights, I’ve noticed a few travelers doing some things that can best be described as thoughtless to their fellow passengers. So, in the interest of living up to our company purpose of helping people to make their lives better, here are a few helpful travel tips: 1\. On the way to the airport, **do not drive in the left, or passing, lane if you are not passing**. Too many drivers drive too slowly in the left lane, forcing other cars to pass dangerously on the right. I read recently that some states are starting to ticket these drivers for clogging up the works. So, remember what your stern driver’s ed instructor told you; Help keep traffic flowing and only use the left lane to pass! 2\. Today’s planes are smaller than the past. So small, in fact, that your legal carry-on bag won’t even fit in the overhead compartment on some flights, forcing you to “gate check” them on the jetway before getting on the plane. This creates a bit of a cluster upon arrival at your destination airport, especially for people who have to wait for their gate-checked bag and then make a connecting flight. Don’t act like an angry mob when the elevator door opens and the gate-checked bags show up (I know this is hard, since sometimes the airlines take an inexplicably long time to get these bags the few yards from plane to jetway…). **Line up in an orderly fashion in the jetway and, one by one, approach the elevator door and carefully remove your bag.** Those bags are piled in there like a house of cards and one careless move can cause an avalanche of Samsonite! 3\. Speaking of small planes, you know what else is in short supply on them? Fresh air. So, when you bring a tuna fish & carmelized onion taco on board, everyone from the Captain to the guy sitting next to the restroom in back is going to get a noseful. Now, tuna fish and onions might be your idea of a delicious snack (under different circumstances, I’d agree), but in an environment with no fresh air, periodic turbulence, and a tiny bathroom, it’s somewhat inconsiderate. **Please; no stinky food on board!** 4\. When boarding the plane, remember that, in most cases, there are dozens of other people waiting to get on board. So, please don’t dawdle. **Get on, store your stuff, and sit down.** I’ve seen a number of flyers recently who seemed completely oblivious to all the other people behind them waiting to get to their seats. I know this a pet peeve of flight attendants and I can see why. 5\. Even if you’ve been drinking, as a group on a recent flight back to Milwaukee I was on obviously was, you need to remember that the rest of the passengers don’t want to hear your conversation. Especially if the main topic of discussion between you and your friends is how much you’ve been drinking. **If you need to speak at all, talk in a hushed tone so your fellow passengers can work, nap, read,** and otherwise not have to share in the intoxicating details of your life! 6\. Finally, **get TSA-Precheck**. Even if you only fly a couple of times a year, skirting by long security lines as you cruise down the TSA-Pre lane is a real rush. No more long waits. No more taking your shoes off. No more removing your laptop from your bag. The time savings and peace of mind are worth every penny of the $85 or so fee. Before every flight, someone in the TSA-Pre line always comments, “Best investment I ever made.” It’s definitely up there! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [6 Tips for Effective Social Media Campaigns](https://affirmagency.com/6-tips-for-effective-social-media-campaigns/) **Published:** April 13, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Having an eclectic media mix is an important aspect of ALL advertising campaigns. The more media used to promote a message, the higher likelihood of reaching a larger audience and making a stronger, more lasting impact. Your message won’t just be seen on TV (which some people may not watch often enough to be affected), it will be seen and heard on the radio, online, and outdoors. This provides more opportunity for your brand, product, or idea to be interacted with, leading to higher penetration among the audience. This concept of a media mix is also true for social media. It’s important to remember that social media is a group of platforms through which ads can be seen and heard. You may reach a few people with a post on Facebook, but will truly garner interest with posts on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and/or YouTube as well. Here are 6 tips for implementing a successful social media campaign: 1. **Differentiate.** Make sure you’re cognizant of 2 very important differences. First, know the difference between quality and quantity. An active profile is certainly important, but being overactive may be detrimental over the long-term. Once you have followers, you want to keep them. Posting too often (or too infrequently), will generate annoyance in your audience and lead to fewer followers. Second, differentiate between platforms when it comes to posting. For example, be conscientious of that fact that 5 posts on Twitter per day may be acceptable, but 5 on LinkedIn is *way* too many. In general, follow these posting rules: - Facebook: 1-2 per day - Twitter: 1-7 per day - Instagram: 3-7 per week - LinkedIn: 1-2 per week 2. **Condense.** We all know what it’s like to be passionate about a subject; we can go on and on for hours and never get bored. But, that may not be the case for someone else (For example, maybe you love March Madness. Your friends might enjoy watching a few games, but lose interest when you start explaining the strategy behind each of your 17 brackets). Keep posts short enough so your audience wants to stay connected and read your content. There’s a reason Twitter only allows 140 characters! 3. **Hashtags.** Hashtags have become an increasingly vital part of social media. When a person includes a hashtag on a post, their content is placed in a feed with other posts that use the hashtag. Then, people can search that hashtag and find all the relevant posts in one place. Ultimately, hashtags provide yet another way to reach your audience and are a great benefit to not only your social media strategy, but your inbound strategy (stay tuned for my next post!) as well. So, please, please, please, #UseThem. 4. **Plan.** Make sure you have a plan. I don’t mean a “New Year, New Me!!” plan that withers away after 5 weeks, but one that can last and act as the foundation for your posting schedule. I use Excel to generate a color-coded matrix with posts for each quarter. This way, all posts, including copy, character count, related images or links, are all in one document and can be easily accessed when posting (or for reference later!). 5. **Prepare.** By this, I mean prepare your content to be posted ahead of time, rather than manually posting each item the moment you want it to be sent. There are plenty of platforms that allow you to schedule your posts and will send them out to whichever platform at whatever time you dictate – HootSuite and Buffer are a few. This way, you can prep an entire week (or more!) of posts at a time and not worry about logging on to each medium to post. Added bonus: by choosing the exact times posts are sent, you can be sure your target audience is seeing your content by posting it during the most active times of day – in general, this is mid-late afternoon. 6. **Engage.** Posts alone won’t generate followers and interest. Yes, an active profile is a sign of legitimacy, but simply posting with the hope of instantly getting 1,500 followers won’t work. You will need to interact with similar organizations’ profiles; following the account or sharing, commenting on, and reacting to another organization’s posts will likely result in a follow, share, comment, or reaction back. Then, their followers will be exposed to your profile or message. That is how you will garner a larger following. Just remember, it’s all about reciprocity. If you are interested in developing a social media campaign, standalone or part of a larger marketing plan, let us know! We’ll be happy to guide you along the way! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Facebook, Instagram, linkedin, marketing, Social Media, twitter, youtube --- ### [Thinking of Rebranding? 7 Questions to Ask Yourself.](https://affirmagency.com/thinking-of-rebranding-7-reasons-you-may-be-ready/) **Published:** March 10, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** When was the last time you took a close look at your company’s or organization’s brand? Not just your logo, but asked yourself the hard questions, such as whether it aligns with your current position in the market or is still relevant to your target audience? Maybe it’s simply become outdated, but whatever stage your business is in, making the decision to rebrand should be considered when it starts doing more harm than good. As you might imagine, there’s a ton of information available on how or when to rebrand, and most business owners, CMO’s, and marketing managers know the cost for creating an updated brand can pale in comparison to the costs for implementation. Aside from the cost implications, a rebranding effort should be looked at as more than just a new logo or color scheme, which are tactical elements, but as an investment. Deep down, it’s a way to reenergize a company in a way that can help influence everything from sales to operations, in addition to a company’s culture. Internally, it can influence hiring and recruiting and on the outside, it can affect the way a company is looked at by existing and prospective customers. It’s easy to see that a rebranding effort is, in fact, an investment that makes a business stronger by engaging employees and customers in more meaningful ways. This, in turn, leads to being more profitable or sustainable. If you’ve entertained the thought of gauging the status of your brand and its impact on your bottom line, consider the following: **1. Is your logo dated?** Sure, we’re talking about just your logo, but this has to do with if it’s still as relevant today as it was 10 or 20 years ago. More likely, your organization, your products, and your services have changed and so have your markets. Brand equity is important but as companies evolve, so should fonts and color schemes. **2. Does your brand align with what you’re offering?** If your business once focused on a specific product category but is no longer serving that market, will it clearly support the new offerings? **3. Are you looking to grow?** As important as it is for you to have a brand that supports your position in the market, it also needs to allow room for growth. If you once served markets in the Midwest but now offer products across multiple categories throughout North America, will your brand stand-up? **4. Does it separate you from others?** Differentiation is the name of the game, and it doesn’t do you any good if your name is similar to a competitor’s or another company in a different category. The same holds true for names or brands that aren’t memorable. **5. Does it appeal to your target audience?** This almost goes without saying, but if your company is targeting young people, and the branding looks like it’s meant for seniors, then it’s time clearly time for change. **6. Is your brand tired?** This may be difficult to accept, but if a brand started out boring, rebranding can give a business new life by engaging employees, while keeping existing customers and gaining new ones. **7. Is it a part of your culture?** Is your brand staying top-of-mind with your employees, and does everyone support your vision, mission, and values? Simply put, this means your brand should be reflected and supported internally. If these questions have you thinking that it might be time for your business or organization to consider a rebrand, then it probably is. If not, you’re in a good place. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, marketing --- ### [Is Remote Work Right For Your Company?](https://affirmagency.com/is-remote-work-right-for-your-company/) **Published:** April 11, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** When most people think of the benefits of remote work, they tend to equate them with the employees, not the employers. And while there are certainly numerous advantages of telecommuting for your staff, as it turns out, having a remote workforce will greatly benefit you as the employer, too. Recent studies have supported the idea that working from home – for the right people – can increase productivity, decrease stress, absenteeism, and increase general overall happiness and enthusiasm towards the job. Research also suggests companies that encourage and support a work-from-home protocol actually save money in the long run; an added bonus on the employer side. **So what are some of the definitive benefits for supporting Remote Workers?** ##### 1: Remote workers are less stressed Remote working can empower staff and provide a less stressful environment in the office and the workplace. ##### 2: Remote workers are well connected New business trends like [remote administration](https://www.techrepublic.com/article/pro-tip-install-and-configure-apple-remote-desktop/), [cloud-based project management](https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/it-consultant/five-project-management-trends-to-watch-in-2014/), [video conferencing](https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-google-hangouts-are-getting-serious-about-business-users-with-new-features/), [chat programs](https://hipchat.com/), and [BYOD](https://www.techproresearch.com/article/research-byod-booming-with-74-using-or-planning-to-use/) are extending the effectiveness of remote work. ##### 3: Remote workers cost less Encouraging different ways of working allows companies to reduce their rent, property costs, and overhead. ##### 4: Absenteeism is good Not in the AWOL sense, but the ability to work remotely eliminates the necessity for ‘presenteeism’ — being in the office as much as possible can be a road block to a healthy work/life balance. ##### 5: Your staff will be more productive. If you let an employee work from home, he’s sure to slack all day and miss his deadlines, right? Wrong. Studies have shown that a [telecommuting staff is more productive](https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/new-study-increase-productivity-by-working-from-home/) than in-office workers. Chalk it up to not having chatty coworkers and more time to focus on work for just some of the reasons why they’re more productive ##### 6: Companies benefit from happier remote employees Try squeezing a de-stressing lunchtime doze into your office day. That’s right; it’s impossible. “It’s about working with the grain of people’s lives,” said Jonathan Swan, policy and research officer for [Working Families](https://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/), a charity specializing in work/life balance. ##### 7: Remote workers are more engaged and in turn more loyal When you give your employees the ability to customize their schedule so that they can better balance their professional life and their personal life, an interesting thing happens: they become grateful. In turn, their gratitude manifests itself in the form of loyalty towards the company which creates greater productivity and decreased turnover, which, as any employer knows, is a great cost savings. ##### 8: Remote venues can be better than the office Flexible working isn’t just at home — there may be somewhere near home with better facilities like coffee shops, libraries, and even office spaces for rent, ie: Regus. ##### 9: Commuting is bad for you Commuters have lower life satisfaction, a lower sense that their daily activities are worthwhile, lower levels of happiness and higher anxiety on average than non- commuters which can directly reflect on job performance and attitude towards work. #### Working remotely is not just a trend but a revolution. The remote work revolution has been rumbling across industries for years now, and it isn’t over yet. Flexible working is a done deal, but remote working continues to spread. Andy Lake, editor of flexible work resource [Flexibility](https://www.flexibility.co.uk/), said [Department for Business](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-skills) surveys showed that more than 90% of companies offered flexible working of some kind, but that this was mostly flexible hours and part-time working rather than telecommuting. Expect more staff to disappear from the old cube farm as more staff [convince their bosses to let them work from home](https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-ways-to-convince-your-boss-to-let-you-work-from-home/). Sources: **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AFFIRM --- ### [The Importance of a Good Pitch](https://affirmagency.com/the-importance-of-a-good-pitch/) **Published:** April 4, 2016 **Author:** Amy Opad **Content:** Pitching is crucial for business growth and success, especially in marketing and advertising. Professionals in our industry become accustomed to presenting their agency background and strengths, as well as campaign ideas and concepts to both potential and existing clients. Without doing so, our work as agencies would cease to exist. That’s why it’s important to put the best effort possible into every aspect of every pitch. Yes, every aspect, even the little things. Here are some points you’ll want to make sure of before your pitch: - All content is relevant, accurate, and up-to-date - Every suggestion is backed up with reasoning and explanation - Recommendations are made with both the target audience(s) of the campaign and the client’s interests in mind - Content is (at least initially) presented in an unbiased manner - PROOF, PROOF, PROOF. Notice that last bullet point? Many advertising teams stress the first few, but scramble at the last minute, leaving little to no time to proof their presentation documents. For example, in 2013, athletic wear powerhouse Nike pitched to a then-unpopular Stephen Curry as a potential spokesperson for the brand. Unfortunately for Nike, they did little to prepare for the presentation and did not take it seriously. Not only was an infamous Nike powerbroker absent at the meeting, Nike mispronounced Steph Curry’s name when the meeting began! That’s not all. A PowerPoint slide in the deck featured Kevin Durant’s name rather than Steph Curry’s. Game over, Nike. Years later, Curry is a massive success and, much to Nike’s dismay, rocks his Under Armour Curry 2 sneakers on the court. This is great example of how important it is to do ample research and preparation for every meeting and presentation, no matter the size of the account. The seemingly “small” loss in 2013 has turned into a mistake worth millions for Nike and has led to a tarnished reputation. So, do your homework – all of it. You never know what the teacher will grade. **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, presentations --- ### [The Power of Peers](https://affirmagency.com/the-power-of-peers/) **Published:** March 8, 2016 **Author:** Danny Mager **Content:** I just returned from my bi-annual Agency Management Institute (AMI) conference in New Orleans. AMI is an organization that is a resource to advertising agencies in many ways. It provides seminars on everything from account service to agency operations. It also puts together peer groups of non-competing agency owners from all over the country. I’ve been a member of an AMI group for just over a year now. This means that every six months, I get to go to a different nice location (so far it’s been San Diego, San Francisco, and New Orleans) and meet with other agency owners from markets as diverse as Albuquerque, San Francisco, Chicago, and Philadelphia to discuss our industry and some of its opportunities and challenges. They say that whenever you attend a conference, it’s good to come out of it with at least one good idea. Well, I just came back from New Orleans with at least half a dozen! So, whatever industry you might be in, I highly recommend participating in any peer groups that might be available to you. It’s enlightening to meet with people who are facing the SAME issues you are and getting their take on things. **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Staples Marketing will change its name to AFFIRM as of July 1, 2015!](https://affirmagency.com/staples-marketing-will-change-its-name-to-affirm-as-of-july-1-2015/) **Published:** June 12, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** We’ve been talking a little about the process we’ve undertaken in the past year or so to better define who we are at our agency; our purpose, mission, core values and the kind of work that inspires us and our clients. The end result of interviews, surveys, feedback and input from our staff, our clients, our vendor partners, colleagues, friends and family is a new name: AFFIRM. We will be the same company with the same staff at the same location, but our new name better reflects the positively engaging marketing we do. We’ll write more about it in the coming weeks leading up to July 1, but in the meantime, see our [news release](https://www.staplesmarketing.com/affirm-release) about the name change. **Categories:** Blog --- ## Pages ### [Home](https://affirmagency.com/) **Published:** February 11, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # positively engaging marketing [ See our Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/) Watch the Reel ## We create marketing solutions that change the way people think, feel, and act. ### Cleanworx™ Launching a first-of-its-kind new value brand and product offering, we provided research, logo creation, tagline development, brand exploration, and full marketing support. [ See the Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/cleanworx/) [Cleanworx](https://affirmagency.com/work/cleanworx/) [Dane County Regional Airport](https://affirmagency.com/work/dane-county-regional-airport/)### Dane County Regional Airport We worked to urge travelers to not waste time and money driving to a faraway airport when they could be upgrading their overall travel experience by flying local. [ See the Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/dane-county-regional-airport/)### Hultafors Tools Raising brand awareness in North America as well as helping to support the launch of a brand new product line, we created the North American brand, in-use product imagery and video, a revised trade show booth and more. [ See the Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/hultafors/) [Hultafors](https://affirmagency.com/work/hultafors/) [Wisconsin Department of Health Services](https://affirmagency.com/work/dhs-988/)### Wisconsin Department of Health Services Raising awareness of the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in Wisconsin, and reducing the stigma of seeking help with mental health through inclusive messaging. [ See the Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/dhs-988)## We exist to help clients achieve their most ambitious goals, enhance brand awareness, change behaviors, improve sales, and foster growth. Located conveniently between [Milwaukee](https://affirmagency.com/milwaukee/) and [Madison](https://affirmagency.com/madison/), AFFIRM Agency serves Southern Wisconsin and the surrounding area with award-winning advertising and marketing services. [ About AFFIRM ](https://affirmagency.com/about/) [ ![#image_title](https://affirmagency.com/assets/affirm-40th-logo-icon-1.png "affirm-40th-logo-icon") ](https://affirmagency.com/celebrating-40-years-of-positively-engaging-marketing/) ## Celebrating 40 Years This year, we proudly celebrate 40 years of AFFIRM Agency – a journey filled with creativity, innovation, and a deep commitment to making a positive difference. [ Celebrate with Us ](https://affirmagency.com/celebrating-40-years-of-positively-engaging-marketing/)## From the Blog ## Latest News ## What our clients are saying ![dcra-log](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-logo-rev.png) “Dane County Regional Airport has contracted with AFFIRM as its agency of record since 2012. In this time, we have collaborated on the development of multiple award-winning creative campaigns that have helped the airport build top-of-mind brand awareness and generate all-time high passenger traffic in recent years.” *Dane County Regional Airport, Madison, WI* ![metro-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-logo-rev.png) “AFFIRM has been the contracted agency of record performing all branding, marketing, graphic design and media buying for METRO Bus Service in Cincinnati since 2016. Their efforts include campaigns to introduce new services that have helped METRO reach new audiences and increase its brand recognition in recent years. I highly recommend AFFIRM for its strategic and creative marketing capabilities!” *METRO Bus, Cincinnati, OH* ![wcc-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wcc-logo-rev.png) “AFFIRM recently worked with us on the renaming, branding, and website update that transitioned the Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Program into the Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative. We have been incredibly pleased with the high quality of AFFIRM’s work, as well as the professionalism and dedication of AFFIRM’s staff. We strongly recommend their services, and we look forward to working with them in the future to meet our marketing, branding, and website development needs.” *Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative, Madison, WI* ![barrymore-logo-wt](https://affirmagency.com/assets/barrymore-logo-wt.png) “AFFIRM has helped us in many ways. They did a fantastic job developing a new brand identity and website for the Barrymore Theatre to help us compete better in the market. The BOTTOM-TO-TOP Chair-ity Appeal fundraising campaign they developed helped the theatre to raise enough money to replace all of its aging seats. AFFIRM also works with us on all the marketing materials for the annual AtwoodFest street festival, and has helped us to achieve record-levels of attendance and fundraising over the years.” *Barrymore Theatre, Madison, WI* ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metra-logo-1.png) “AFFIRM worked as an extension of staff to our marketing department for three plus years. They are responsive and very much in-tune to our unique marketing challenges. They provide a strong, experienced staff who worked collaboratively with Metra to champion targeted programs. Individual programs were all supported by a variety of design options. All of our initiatives with AFFIRM were well thought-out and provided tangible results. Also, their hourly rates for projects, and their media buying skills were efficient and provided good value.” *Metra Rail, Chicago, IL* ## [ Recent Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/ "Recent Work") [ View Portfolio ](https://affirmagency.com/work/)## [ Project Idea in Mind? ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/ "Project Idea in Mind?") [ Let’s do it! ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/)## [ Meet the Team ](https://affirmagency.com/people/ "Meet the Team") [ Our Staff ](https://affirmagency.com/people/)## Your Brand Deserves Better. Let’s talk! Contact us for a FREE 30-minute consultation for your marketing needs! Learn how we can deliver results for your organization. No matter where you’re at in the decision-making process, AFFIRM can help take you the rest of the way. [ Schedule a Call ](https://affirmagency.com/new-business/) ![Danny Mager](https://affirmagency.com/assets/danny-mager-1-1.jpg "danny-mager-1") --- ### [Work](https://affirmagency.com/work/) **Published:** February 11, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Our Work ## Engaging Ideas. Driven by Results. Our work is as diverse as our clients. From non-profits and family-run businesses to government, regional manufacturers, and Fortune 500’s, we create marketing solutions that change the way people think, feel, and act. We also specialize in [transportation marketing](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/). View our awards [here](https://affirmagency.com/awards-and-recognition/). Filter Work: - [All](#) - [Branding](#) - [Digital](#) - [Print](#) - [Public Relations](#) - [Social Media](#) - [Video](#) - [Website](#) [ ![Sun Prairie Bike Map featured](https://affirmagency.com/assets/bike-map-featured.jpg) ### City of Sun Prairie ](https://affirmagency.com/work/city-of-sun-prairie/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-featured-1.jpg) ### SORTA Metro ](https://affirmagency.com/work/sorta-metro/) [ ![DHS 988](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-featured-1.jpg) ### DHS 988 ](https://affirmagency.com/work/dhs-988/) [ ![Cleanworx](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cleanworx-featured.jpg) ### Cleanworx ](https://affirmagency.com/work/cleanworx/) [ ![Henry Vilas Zoo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-featured.jpg) ### Henry Vilas Zoo ](https://affirmagency.com/work/henry-vilas-zoo/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-upgrade-featured-1.jpg) ### Dane County Regional Airport ](https://affirmagency.com/work/dane-county-regional-airport/) [ ![GW Ride Connect](https://affirmagency.com/assets/gwrc-featured.jpg) ### GWRideConnect ](https://affirmagency.com/work/gwrideconnect/) [ ![Urban Forestry Fund](https://affirmagency.com/assets/urban-forestry-featured.gif) ### Milwaukee Urban Forestry Fund ](https://affirmagency.com/work/milwaukee-urban-forestry-fund/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/portis-featured-jpg.avif) ### Wisconsin DOT Control Your Drive ](https://affirmagency.com/work/wisconsin-dot-control-your-drive/) [ ![Hultafors](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-featured-jpg.avif) ### Hultafors ](https://affirmagency.com/work/hultafors/) [ ![HammerHead Trenchless](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hammerhead-trenchless-featured-jpg.avif) ### HammerHead Trenchless ](https://affirmagency.com/work/hammerhead-trenchless/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/zero-in-wisconsin-featured-jpg.avif) ### Zero in Wisconsin ](https://affirmagency.com/work/zero-in-wisconsin-website/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/briggs-featured-jpg.avif) ### Briggs & Stratton ](https://affirmagency.com/work/briggs-and-stratton/) [ ![teklynx](https://affirmagency.com/assets/teklynx-featured.jpg) ### Teklynx ](https://affirmagency.com/work/teklynx/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/borth-wilson-featured-jpg.avif) ### Borth Wilson ](https://affirmagency.com/work/borth-wilson/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/fatherhood-fire-featured-1-jpg.avif) ### Fatherhood FIRE MKE ](https://affirmagency.com/work/fatherhood-fire-mke/) [ ![suffolk-stop-dwi-app-featured](https://affirmagency.com/assets/suffolk-stop-dwi-app-featured-jpg.avif) ### STOP DWI New York ](https://affirmagency.com/work/stop-dwi-new-york/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/allmand-featured-1-jpg.avif) ### Allmand ](https://affirmagency.com/work/allmand/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/mke-habitat-featured-jpg.avif) ### Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity ](https://affirmagency.com/work/milwaukee-habitat-for-humanity/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/american-bolt-featured-jpg.avif) ### American Bolt Corporation ](https://affirmagency.com/work/american-bolt-corporation/) [ ![dor thumb](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dor-thumb-jpg.avif) ### Wisconsin DOJ Dose of Reality ](https://affirmagency.com/work/wisconsin-doj-dose-of-reality/) [ ![driver-safety-featured](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-safety-featured-jpg.avif) ### Wisconsin DOT Click It Or Ticket ](https://affirmagency.com/work/wisconsin-dot-ciot/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/atwood-thumbnail.gif) ### AtwoodFest ](https://affirmagency.com/work/atwoodfest/) [ ![wisconsin-cancer-collaborative-featured](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wisconsin-cancer-collaborative-featured-jpg.avif) ### Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative ](https://affirmagency.com/work/wisconsin-cancer-collaborative/) [ ![ManpowerGroup](https://affirmagency.com/assets/manpower-featured.jpg) ### ManpowerGroup ](https://affirmagency.com/work/manpowergroup/) ![AFFIRMATION](https://affirmagency.com/assets/affirmation-animated-2.gif "affirmation-animated-2") ### Connect with us. Sign up for our newsletter! We send a digestible email every couple months featuring industry trends, marketing strategies and solutions, updates on our latest work, staff achievements and more. We value your privacy, and you may opt out at any time. - Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. - Sign Up\* - Submit ## Your Brand Deserves Better. Let’s talk! Contact us for a FREE 30-minute consultation for your marketing needs! Learn how we can deliver results for your organization. No matter where you’re at in the decision-making process, AFFIRM can help take you the rest of the way. [ Schedule a Call ](https://affirmagency.com/new-business/) ![Danny Mager](https://affirmagency.com/assets/danny-mager-1-1.jpg "danny-mager-1") --- ### [AI in Marketing](https://affirmagency.com/ai/) **Published:** June 8, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Responsible AI in Practice Our approach to artificial intelligence, how we incorporate it into our work, and the standards we hold ourselves accountable to every day. ## Smarter marketing, guided by integrity Artificial intelligence is transforming the way businesses communicate, create, and grow. We recognize both the opportunities and the questions that come with this technology, which is why we’ve taken a thoughtful, responsible approach to its use. As a full-service advertising agency, we leverage AI when it adds value to our clients’ campaigns-helping us uncover insights, improve efficiency, enhance creativity, and optimize performance. Used strategically, AI can support smarter targeting, stronger marketing outcomes, and greater cost-effectiveness. But AI is only a tool. The ideas, strategy, judgment, and accountability behind our work remain firmly human. Every use of AI is guided by our commitment to ethical practices, client goals, and delivering meaningful results. ## Our AI Philosophy: ### Human-led, AI-assisted 1. Humans remain accountable for all decisions and actions, even when AI is used. 2. AI should **assist** human judgment and creativity, not **replace** them. 3. We recognize that human experience, emotion, imagination, and creativity are irreplaceable. ![Creative Icon](https://affirmagency.com/assets/icon-creative.svg "icon-creative") ![Privacy Icon](https://affirmagency.com/assets/icon-privacy.svg "icon-privacy") ### Private and confidential 1. We do not input confidential information, including our own IP or client information, into public or open AI systems. 2. We apply appropriate safeguards and access controls when using AI tools. ### Responsible and transparent 1. We evaluate AI adoption thoughtfully across our workflows, products, and culture. 2. We are transparent about our use of AI and communicate it in ways that maintain trust with clients, audiences, and stakeholders. 3. We will not knowingly use generative AI to deceive, spread false information, or create misleading content for financial gain. ![icon-responsibility](https://affirmagency.com/assets/icon-responsibility.svg "icon-responsibility") ![Privacy Icon](https://affirmagency.com/assets/icon-privacy.svg "icon-privacy") ### Learning, careers, and shared knowledge 1. We invest in ongoing education about AI’s capabilities, limitations, risks, and best-use cases. 2. We support upskilling and reskilling so AI expands opportunities for creative and knowledge professionals rather than diminishing them. 3. We share our AI processes, policies, research, and lessons learned when doing so does not expose client or company IP. ### Sustainability and aligned partnerships 1. We consider the environmental impact of AI infrastructure and operations and strive for efficient, sustainable use. 2. We seek to partner with organizations and people who share these principles. ![Creative Icon](https://affirmagency.com/assets/icon-creative.svg "icon-creative") ## How AFFIRM Agency Uses AI At AFFIRM Agency, we embrace artificial intelligence as a tool that enhances-not replaces-the expertise of our creative, strategic, and marketing teams. We continuously evaluate emerging AI technologies to improve efficiency, uncover deeper insights, and help our clients achieve stronger results while maintaining the human creativity and strategic thinking that define our work. Today, AI supports our team in a variety of ways, including: ## Creative Development Supporting creative brainstorming, campaign ideation, concept visualization, storyboards, and early-stage design exploration. ## Research & Strategic Insights Accelerating market research, audience analysis, trend identification, competitive intelligence, and information gathering to inform marketing strategy. ## Content & Production Support Assisting with copywriting, content outlining, image generation, and audio enhancement to improve the efficiency of creative production. ## Research & Strategic Insights Accelerating market research, audience analysis, trend identification, competitive intelligence, and information gathering to inform marketing strategy. ## As AI continues to evolve, AFFIRM Agency remains committed to using these technologies responsibly, transparently, and in ways that deliver greater value for our clients. ##### Let’s Talk ## Questions about our use of AI? We’re always happy to discuss how AI fits into our creative process and how we ensure every project benefits from the right balance of technology and human expertise. [ Contact Us ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/) --- ### [About](https://affirmagency.com/about/) **Published:** February 11, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## About Us ##### \[we’re all about\] ## Positively Engaging Marketing We’re a full-service advertising and marketing agency based near [Milwaukee](https://affirmagency.com/milwaukee/ "https://affirmagency.com/milwaukee/") in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. With a satellite location in [Madison](https://affirmagency.com/madison/ "https://affirmagency.com/madison/"), Wisconsin, we serve the entire State of Wisconsin as well as markets throughout the United States. Our broad range of digital and traditional marketing services help us meet and exceed our clients’ needs daily. Learn more about our core values below, and get a feel for our work with our latest video reel. Watch ## Our Core Values At AFFIRM, our core values form the foundation of everything we do, and set us apart from other agencies. We treat you as our top priority. We strive to be always responsive by replying promptly via phone, text, or e-mail, and try to anticipate your needs before you even have them. Every time. We generate compellingly creative ideas that capture imagination and drive engagement. Our award-winning creative team fuses strong messages with innovative design to change behaviors, increase sales, and build brands. We find amazingly resourceful ways to get things done in the face of any challenge. We’re street-smart, savvy, and find solutions even when the situation seems next to impossible. Just watch us. We are openly collaborative with our clients to gain insight into their industries and issues, so every idea can be entertained, and all solutions can be considered. Our clients are our partners, and we embark upon a journey together to arrive at a positive outcome. Our job is to be absolutely positive and stay upbeat, focused and committed no matter what challenges arise. We’re passionate about what we do and have confidence that our collective efforts WILL result in measurable success for our clients and ourselves. Being exceptionally adaptable means having the ability to assess a situation quickly and find effective solutions. Even in unfamiliar surroundings. How do we do it? We’re quick learners and our proprietary SMART marketing process is applicable to any industry or organization. ## Our Process Our SMART process helps us develop cost-effective campaigns that break through and deliver results for clients across all business sectors. Every client has different goals and objectives, you’re looking to engage audiences in ways that achieve measurable results. ![smart process logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/smart-process-logo.png "smart process logo") ### Situation Analysis We immerse ourselves in our clients’ business to understand the challenges, goals, and objectives. Always involving research. ### Marketing Strategies We develop a strategic plan that clearly outlines how the program will reach the target audiences and achieve the desired outcomes. ### Application & Execution We create multiple forms of content, then design and produce all campaign tactics for use across various media platforms. ### Review & Refine While the campaign is in progress, we regularly analyze data and track performance in order to make necessary refinements or adjustments to the plan. ### Total Success We measure and evaluate to meet and exceed program goals. We also look beyond the metrics to achieve Total Success in the areas of client service, accountability, and cost-efficiency. ## Our Clients We work with a diverse group of clients, ranging from B2B and B2C companies to large public sector and non-profit organizations. So, whether we’re educating people on why they need to wear seat belts or helping to sell new cars, we act as an extension of our clients’ marketing departments, developing long-term, trusting relationships that far exceed the average client-agency relationship. ![amato-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/amato-logo.gif "amato-logo") ![barrymore-theatre](https://affirmagency.com/assets/barrymore-theatre.gif "barrymore-theatre") ![bhcg-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/bhcg-logo-1.gif "bhcg-logo") ![Borth Wilson](https://affirmagency.com/assets/borth-wilson-logo.png "borth-wilson-logo") ![Excel Home Improvement](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-excel-home-improvement.png "logo-excel-home-improvement") ![CIRTA Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-cirta.png "logo-cirta") ![dcra-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-logo.gif "dcra-logo") ![Embark Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-embark.png "logo-embark") ![GW Ride Connect Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/gwrideconnect-logo-png.avif "gwrideconnect-logo") ![Hammerhead Trenchless logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hammerhead-trenchless-logo.png "hammerhead-trenchless-logo") ![Janesville Transit Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/janesville-transit-png.avif "janesville-transit") ![Levin Ginsburg Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/levin-ginsburg-logo-png.avif "levin-ginsburg-logo") ![City of Joplin](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-joplin.png "logo-joplin") ![long-island-railroad-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/long-island-railroad-logo.gif "long-island-railroad-logo") [ ![Wisconsin Association Health Plans logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-wisconsin-association-health-plans.png "logo-wisconsin-association-health-plans") ](https://bhcgwi.org/) ![Group Health Cooperative](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-group-health-cooperative.png "logo-group-health-cooperative") ![Madison Mallards](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-madison-mallards.png "logo-madison-mallards") ![Northeast Wisconsin Technical College](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-northeast-wi-tech-college.png "logo-northeast-wi-tech-college") ![Valley Transit](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-valley-transit.png "logo-valley-transit") ![WRMCA logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wrmca-logo.png "wrmca-logo") ![Festa Italiana](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-festa-italiana.png "logo-festa-italiana") ![Logo Sun Prairie](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-sun-prairie.png "logo-sun-prairie") ![Greater Portland Metro](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-greater-portland-metro.png "logo-greater-portland-metro") ![Walworth County Connect](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-walworth-county-connect.png "logo-walworth-county-connect") ![Auxiant](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-auxiant.png "logo-auxiant") [ ![ONE Transit Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-one-transit.png "logo-one-transit") ](https://bhcgwi.org/) ![Sani-Matic Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/sanimatic-logo-png.avif "sanimatic-logo") [ ![wi-dhs-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wi-dhs-logo.png "wi-dhs-logo") ](https://bhcgwi.org/) ![WisDOJ logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wisdoj-logo-png.avif "wisdoj-logo") ![wisconsin-dot-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wisconsin-dot-logo.gif "wisconsin-dot-logo") ##### \[not to brag, but…\] ## Our work speaks for itself Sure, we’ve won our fair share of awards along the way. However, these awards aren’t just for us. They’re for our clients. We’re lucky to work with people that let us push the limits on creative. When we win, we win together! [ View Awards ](https://affirmagency.com/awards-and-recognition/)## Proud members of [ ![logo-ami-agency-management-institute](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-ami-agency-management-institute.gif "logo-ami-agency-management-institute") ](https://agencymanagementinstitute.com/) [ ![AMA Member](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ama-member-logo.png "ama-member-logo") ](https://www.ama.org/) [ ![American Advertising Federation Madison](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-aaf-madison-jpg.avif "logo-aaf-madison") ](https://aafmadison.org/) [ ![ANA Business Marketing Milwaukee](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-ana-business-marketing.gif "logo-ana-business-marketing") ](https://bma-milwaukee.org/) [ ![Second Wind Network](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-second-wind.gif "logo-second-wind") ](https://www.secondwindonline.com/) [ ![United Adworkers](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-united-adworkers.gif "logo-united-adworkers") ](https://adworkers.com/) [ ![logo-mmac](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-mmac.gif "logo-mmac") ](https://www.mmac.org/) [ ![PRSA Wisconsin](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-prsa.gif "logo-prsa") ](https://www.prsawis.org/) [ ![Pewaukee Chamber of Commerce](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-pewaukee-chamber.gif "logo-pewaukee-chamber") ](https://www.pewaukeechamber.org/) [ ![Waukesha County Business Alliance](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-waukesha-county-business-alliance.gif "logo-waukesha-county-business-alliance") ](https://www.waukesha.org/) [ ![aci-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/aci-logo.gif "aci-logo") ](https://airportscouncil.org/) [ ![APTA Member](https://affirmagency.com/assets/apta-logo.png "apta-logo") ](https://www.apta.com/) ![AFFIRMATION](https://affirmagency.com/assets/affirmation-animated-2.gif "affirmation-animated-2") ### Connect with us. Sign up for our newsletter! We send a digestible email every couple months featuring industry trends, marketing strategies and solutions, updates on our latest work, staff achievements and more. We value your privacy, and you may opt out at any time. - Instagram This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. - Sign Up\* - Submit ## [ Recent Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/ "Recent Work") [ View Portfolio ](https://affirmagency.com/work/)## [ Project Idea in Mind? ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/ "Project Idea in Mind?") [ Let’s do it! ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/)## [ Meet the Team ](https://affirmagency.com/people/ "Meet the Team") [ Our Staff ](https://affirmagency.com/people/)## Your Brand Deserves Better. Let’s talk! Contact us for a FREE 30-minute consultation for your marketing needs! Learn how we can deliver results for your organization. No matter where you’re at in the decision-making process, AFFIRM can help take you the rest of the way. [ Schedule a Call ](https://affirmagency.com/new-business/) ![Danny Mager](https://affirmagency.com/assets/danny-mager-1-1.jpg "danny-mager-1") --- ### [People](https://affirmagency.com/people/) **Published:** February 11, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Our People We succeed through the efforts and talents of our people, who bring a wealth of experience and skill from a variety of backgrounds; digital, design, media, public relations, and more. Whether it’s helping to reach new audiences, increase sales, or change behaviors, our team does whatever it takes to deliver integrated marketing solutions that exceed our clients’ expectations. [Contact us today](https://affirmagency.com/contact/) to get started on your next project! ## Meet the Team ![Danny Mager](https://affirmagency.com/assets/danny-mager-jpg.avif "danny-mager") ### Danny Mager Principal – President learn more ### Danny Mager #### President ##### What I like most about my job: I like collaborating with clients to help them achieve their goals and overcome challenges they face. ##### When I’m not at work: I love doing stuff with my family. I still play ultimate Frisbee and love going to see live music. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Working closely with clients to come up with solutions that will benefit them, their customers or whoever is going to be using their product or service. Everybody wins; the customer and the client. ##### Connect with Danny [](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-mager-1012358/) [](mailto:dmager@affirmagency.com) ![amy-opad](https://affirmagency.com/assets/amy-opad-2.jpg "amy-opad") ### Amy Opad Director of Account Services learn more ### Amy Opad #### Director of Account Services ##### What I like most about my job: I like working with diverse clients. That plays a big role in what I like. It’s rewarding to work on so many accounts with different people. ##### When I’m not at work: I’m shopping and going out to eat. I also love, love, love sports. I’m a big college basketball and football fan.’ ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: It means working with clients to find creative answers and solutions to successfully communicate their message. ![Laura Monagle](https://affirmagency.com/assets/laura2.jpg "laura2") ### Laura Monagle Vice President Client Services & Public Relations learn more ### Laura Monagle #### Vice President – Client Services & Public Relations ##### What I like most about my job: I really enjoy helping people open up and engage in two-way conversation. Truly listening and communicating is extremely important to get the message out and is my favorite thing to do. ##### When I’m not at work: I am making sure my whole family is together, having fun and staying busy. If I have just a little time for myself, you’ll find me in one of the theatre companies in town – on stage. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Building and growing a relationship between the messenger and the target audience that is mutually beneficial. ![Ryan Quade](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ryan2-1.jpg "ryan2") ### Ryan Quade Creative Director Learn More ### Ryan Quade #### Creative Director ##### What I like most about my job: Creatively solving problems with a like-minded team and in turn successfully building trust with clients and stakeholders alike. To me it’s all about the people! ##### When I’m not at work: I’m a new experience junky. Whether it’s tasting a new beer, trying a new restaurant, traveling to a new part of the world, or doing something I’ve never done before. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Creating work that one can be proud of and communicating a message that helps improve the well-being of others. ![Taylor Brazell](https://affirmagency.com/assets/taylor.jpg "taylor") ### Taylor Brazell Senior Account Executive learn more ### Taylor Brazell #### Senior Account Executive ##### What I like most about my job: Getting to solve unique client challenges across different industries- the constant variety keeps every day interesting. ##### When I’m not at work Outside of work, I love catching the latest movies, trying new restaurants with friends, spending time with my family and traveling. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Delivering the kind of strategy, branding, and messaging that both my clients and I can be proud and excited about. ![Christina Curtin](https://affirmagency.com/assets/christina-1.jpg "christina") ### Christina Galke Media Director learn more ### Christina Galke #### Associate Media Director ##### What I like most about my job: I really enjoy the variety of the work we do here at AFFIRM. Every day brings something new from market research to putting together strong media plans to achieve the goals of our clients. ##### When I’m not at work: I enjoy spending time at home trying new recipes I find online. When I’m not at home you can usually find me outside in nature either camping, hiking, or fishing. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Working collaboratively with clients to put together well-thought-out media plans to best further the client’s campaign goals in the most efficient way possible. ![Katie](https://affirmagency.com/assets/katie-k-jpg.avif "katie-k") ### Katie Kadlcek Associate Media Director learn more ### Katie Kadlcek #### Associate Media Director ##### What I like most about my job: When a media plan and buy come together. I love puzzles, and to me, media planning and buying is like building a puzzle. It carefully involves fitting together different media pieces to create a complete plan to effectively reach a target market. It’s all about precision, creativity, and seeing how everything connects. ##### When I’m not at work: My favorite thing to do is travel with my family. We have a goal of visiting all 50 states and we have just 10 states left to see! I also love reading, working in my yard, and cheering my kids on at their sports. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Building a bridge between our client and their target audience by creating meaningful campaigns and finding the right way to share our clients’ message. ![Mark Skowron](https://affirmagency.com/assets/markskowron-jpg.avif "markskowron") ### Mark Skowron Senior Digital Designer learn more ### Mark Skowron #### Senior Digital Designer ##### What I like most about my job: Every day there’s something new to learn or something that I can help our clients with to achieve the most user-friendly digital solution. ##### When I’m not at work I’m spending time with my wife and two boys, boating, fishing, golfing, downhill skiing or anything outdoors. I also love projects where I’m building things with my hands. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: You’re getting our best, most upbeat, fun, and creative work. When we deliver the final product to our customers, we go out of our way to make sure our clients are happy. ![Paula Strandberg](https://affirmagency.com/assets/paula2.jpg "paula2") ### Paula Strandberg Accounting Manager learn more ### Paula Strandberg #### Accounting Manager ##### What I like most about my job: I like the opportunity to support my coworkers in serving our clients in a timely and cost-effective way. ##### When I’m not at work: I find myself in the kitchen making my family’s favorite meals. I also enjoy doing anything outdoors- gardening, hiking, bicycling or playing a competitive game of pickleball! ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Listening to our clients’ needs and exceeding their expectations. ![Lynnea Markovich](https://affirmagency.com/assets/lynnea-m.jpg "lynnea-m") ### Lynnea Markovich Senior Graphic Designer learn more ### Lynnea Markovich #### Senior Graphic Designer ##### What I like most about my job: The variety of work and the collaboration with my peers. ##### When I’m not at work: You can find me near the water. Boating, swimming, or scuba diving are some of my favorite activities. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: That we are providing the best solutions to our clients. ![Morgan Sumter](https://affirmagency.com/assets/morgan-web.jpg "morgan-web") ### Morgan Sumter Graphic Designer learn more ### Morgan Sumter #### Graphic Designer ##### What I like most about my job: I love helping our clients visualize ideas. Being able to create the ‘Wow’ factor that ties their vision together with a neat bow is one of the best feelings! ##### When I’m not at work: In the summer, you can find me chilling by the pool or by the campfire! In the fall and winter, though, I reserve Sundays for Packers games and homemade hors d’oeuvres. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Encompassing constructive collaboration when it comes to us, our clients, and the relationships our clients want to share with the community-we as AFFIRM need to continue being trailblazers, paving the way for creative and impactful projects! ![Matt Froelich](https://affirmagency.com/assets/matt.jpg "matt") ### Matt Froelich Social Media Manager learn more ### Matt Froelich #### Social Media Manager ##### What I like most about my job: I enjoy learning about clients and using my knowledge to create content that is engaging for their audiences. It’s a fun challenge that keeps me on my toes! ##### When I’m not at work: I’m spending time with my friends and family, playing electric guitar, exercising, and collecting vinyl. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Taking the best attributes of a product or service and embedding them in content tailored to the people you’re trying to reach. It’s important to always consider who the audience is and what they care about when you’re writing. ![Anna Dahl](https://affirmagency.com/assets/anna.jpg "anna") ### Anna Dahl Account Coordinator learn more ### Anna Dahl #### Account Coordinator ##### What I like most about my job: I like collaborating with teammates who are creative and passionate. I also like assisting with clients and bringing out of the box ideas to the team. ##### When I’m not at work: I enjoy spending time with family and watching sports. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Working with clients to come up with creative ideas that exceed their expectations. ![Molly Barnes](https://affirmagency.com/assets/molly.jpg "molly") ### Molly Barnes RFP Manager / Proposal Writer learn more ### Molly Barnes #### RFP Manager / Proposal Manager ##### What I like most about my job: I enjoy writing, compelling storytelling, connecting people to the services they need to thrive, and solving puzzles, so proposal writing is a natural fit for my career and interests. ##### When I’m not at work: I love spending time with my family, reading, going to the theatre, watching Packers games, and traveling to new places. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Telling the stories of brands is a compelling way that positively impacts people’s lives. ![Shannon Zimmerman](https://affirmagency.com/assets/shannon-web.jpg "shannon-web") ### Shannon Zimmerman Traffic Manager learn more ### Shannon Zimmerman #### Traffic Manager ##### What I like most about my job: I love working with an empowered team working seamlessly towards the same goal. My passion is finding efficiencies to increase productivity. ##### When I’m not at work: I’m covered in dog hair! To date, I’ve welcomed 28 beautiful rescue canines into my home and helped them find adoptive families. (And I only kept 2 for myself!) I also enjoy supporting my family in their passions and love all things Halloween! ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Putting egos aside and treating clients and partners like family. Creating successful campaigns that drive business and awareness, and leave us feeling proud and clients happy is the ultimate goal. ![Jake Johnson](https://affirmagency.com/assets/jake-johnson.jpg "jake-johnson") ### Jake Johnson Graphic & Digital Designer learn more ### Jake Johnson #### Graphic & Digital Designer ##### What I like most about my job: I love the challenge of taking a complex concept and turning it into high-impact visuals. There is nothing better than seeing a design come to life across different platforms and watching it resonate with an audience. ##### When I’m not at work: I am spending time with my Goldendoodle, hanging with friends and family, catching the latest sports game, or keeping up with the latest in tech and gaming. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Collaborating to deliver creative solutions that are as functional as they are visually striking for our clients. ![Delaney Carlson](https://affirmagency.com/assets/delaney-carlson.jpg "delaney-carlson") ### Delaney Carlson Social Media Coordinator learn more ### Delaney Carlson #### Social Media Coordinator ##### What I like most about my job: I love learning, so it’s been really fun to research a variety of industries and organizations. It’s exciting that I get to apply that new knowledge to my existing skills in writing and social media. ##### When I’m not at work: I enjoy collaging with recycled materials and winding down with some solitaire or a puzzle. ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Taking knowledge of a specific platform or medium and making those platforms work for a certain business and their desired audience. ![Sophie Mager](https://affirmagency.com/assets/sophie-mager-1.jpg "sophie-mager") ### Sophie Mager Copywriter learn more ### Sophie Mager #### Copywriter ##### What I like most about my job: I love the work we do to boost fantastic local businesses through storytelling. ##### When I’m not at work: You’ll find me curled up with a book, going for a hike in a forest, or spending quality time with my friends and family! ##### To me, Positively Engaging Marketing means: Collaboration driven by human connection, while having fun! ## Your Brand Deserves Better. Let’s talk! Contact us for a FREE 30-minute consultation for your marketing needs! Learn how we can deliver results for your organization. No matter where you’re at in the decision-making process, AFFIRM can help take you the rest of the way. [ Schedule a Call ](https://affirmagency.com/new-business/) ![Danny Mager](https://affirmagency.com/assets/danny-mager-1-1.jpg "danny-mager-1") --- ### [Terms of Use](https://affirmagency.com/terms/) **Published:** June 12, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Terms of Use **Last Updated: June 2026** Welcome to the AFFIRM Agency website. By accessing or using this website, you agree to these Terms of Use. If you do not agree with these terms, please do not use this website. ## Website Use This website is provided for informational purposes regarding AFFIRM Agency and its services. You agree to use this website only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not interfere with the operation of the website or the use of the website by others. ## Intellectual Property All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, images, videos, designs, reports, and other materials, is the property of AFFIRM Agency or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. No content may be copied, reproduced, distributed, modified, or used without prior written permission from AFFIRM Agency. ## User Submissions Any information submitted through contact forms or other website features must be accurate and lawful. By submitting information, you grant AFFIRM the right to use that information to respond to your inquiry and provide requested services. ## No Professional Advice Information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, marketing, advertising, or other professional advice. ## Third-Party Websites This website may contain links to third-party websites. AFFIRM does not control and is not responsible for the content, policies, or practices of any third-party website. ## Disclaimer of Warranties This website is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. AFFIRM makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or availability of the website or its content. ## Limitation of Liability To the fullest extent permitted by law, AFFIRM Agency shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from or related to the use of this website. ## Indemnification You agree to indemnify and hold harmless AFFIRM Agency, its employees, officers, contractors, and affiliates from any claims, damages, or expenses resulting from your use of the website or violation of these Terms of Use. ## Changes to the Website AFFIRM reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any portion of the website at any time without notice. ## Changes to These Terms AFFIRM may revise these Terms of Use at any time. Updated versions will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. ## Governing Law These Terms of Use shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. ## Contact Information Questions regarding these Terms of Use may be directed to: AFFIRM Agency N28W23050 Roundy Dr., Suite 100 Pewaukee, WI 53072 Phone: (262) 650-9900 Email: [info@affirmagency.com](mailto:info@affirmagency.com "mailto:info@affirmagency.com") --- ### [Privacy Policy](https://affirmagency.com/privacy-policy/) **Published:** March 10, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Privacy Policy **Last Updated: June 2026** AFFIRM Agency (“AFFIRM,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you visit our website. ## Information We Collect ### Information You Voluntarily Provide We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including: - Name - Company name - Email address - Phone number - Mailing address - Information submitted through contact forms, proposal requests, newsletter sign-ups, or other website forms ### Information Collected Automatically When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information, including: - IP address - Browser type and version - Device information - Pages visited - Time spent on the website - Referral sources - Website interaction data This information may be collected through cookies, analytics tools, and similar technologies. ## How We Use Your Information We may use collected information to: - Respond to inquiries and requests - Provide information about our services - Deliver newsletters or marketing communications - Improve website performance and user experience - Analyze website traffic and trends - Maintain website security - Comply with legal obligations ## Cookies and Tracking Technologies Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience and gather website analytics. Users may configure their browser settings to refuse cookies; however, some website functionality may be affected. ## Third-Party Services We may use trusted third-party services, including but not limited to: - Google Analytics - Google Ads - Meta (Facebook and Instagram) advertising tools - LinkedIn advertising tools - Email marketing platforms - Website hosting providers These third parties may collect information in accordance with their own privacy policies. ## Information Sharing AFFIRM does not sell personal information. We may share information with service providers who assist us in operating our website or conducting business activities. We may also disclose information when required by law or to protect our legal rights. ## Data Retention We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy or as required by applicable law. ## GDPR Rights for European Visitors If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you may have the right to: - Access your personal data - Correct inaccurate personal data - Request deletion of personal data - Restrict or object to processing - Request data portability - Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent To exercise these rights, contact us using the information below. ## California Privacy Rights California residents may have additional privacy rights under applicable California privacy laws. Requests regarding personal information may be submitted using the contact information below. ## Data Security We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information. However, no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure. ## Third-Party Links Our website may contain links to external websites. AFFIRM is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites. ## Children’s Privacy Our website is not directed toward children under 13 years of age, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. ## Changes to This Policy We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. ## Contact Information If you have questions regarding this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact: AFFIRM Agency N28W23050 Roundy Dr., Suite 100 Pewaukee, WI 53072 Phone: (262) 650-9900 Email: [info@affirmagency.com](mailto:info@affirmagency.com "mailto:info@affirmagency.com") --- ### [Account Coordinator](https://affirmagency.com/careers/account-coordinator/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Account Coordinator ## This position has been filled. Thank you for your interest. Check back soon for future openings. [ Back to Careers ](https://affirmagency.com/careers/)## [ Recent Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/ "Recent Work") [ View Portfolio ](https://affirmagency.com/work/)## [ Project Idea in Mind? ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/ "Project Idea in Mind?") [ Let’s do it! ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/)## [ Meet the Team ](https://affirmagency.com/people/ "Meet the Team") [ We’re Nice People ](https://affirmagency.com/people/) --- ### [Part-Time Graphic Designer Internship](https://affirmagency.com/careers/part-time-graphic-designer-internship/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Part-Time Graphic Designer Internship ## This position has been filled. Thank you for your interest. Check back soon for future openings. [ Back to Careers ](https://affirmagency.com/careers/)## [ Recent Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/ "Recent Work") [ View Portfolio ](https://affirmagency.com/work/)## [ Project Idea in Mind? ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/ "Project Idea in Mind?") [ Let’s do it! ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/)## [ Meet the Team ](https://affirmagency.com/people/ "Meet the Team") [ Our Staff ](https://affirmagency.com/people/) --- ### [Senior Account Executive](https://affirmagency.com/careers/senior-account-executive/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Senior Account Executive ## This position has been filled. Thank you for your interest. Check back soon for future openings. [ Back to Careers ](https://affirmagency.com/careers/)## [ Recent Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/ "Recent Work") [ View Portfolio ](https://affirmagency.com/work/)## [ Project Idea in Mind? ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/ "Project Idea in Mind?") [ Let’s do it! ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/)## [ Meet the Team ](https://affirmagency.com/people/ "Meet the Team") [ We’re Nice People ](https://affirmagency.com/people/) --- ### [Careers](https://affirmagency.com/careers/) **Published:** July 11, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Careers ## Are you a cool person who likes to get sh\*t done? We’re currently not hiring for any new positions at the moment, but check back again in the future! We’re always on the lookout for team members who reflect our core values: Always Responsive, Compellingly Creative, Amazingly Resourceful, Openly Collaborative, and Absolutely Positive. ![Careers at AFFIRM](https://affirmagency.com/assets/careers-affirm-2.jpg "careers-affirm") ## General Application Do you have a skill you could bring to the table? We’re all ears! Even though we’re not hiring at the moment, we still want to hear from you. Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Your Name(Required) First Last Email(Required) Phone Portfolio URL Position of Interest(Required)General Application Cover LetterAccepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, Max. file size: 50 MB. RésuméAccepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, Max. file size: 50 MB. Your Message(Required) Submit ## [ Recent Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/ "Recent Work") [ View Portfolio ](https://affirmagency.com/work/)## [ Project Idea in Mind? ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/ "Project Idea in Mind?") [ Let’s do it! ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/)## [ Meet the Team ](https://affirmagency.com/people/ "Meet the Team") [ Our Staff ](https://affirmagency.com/people/)## Your Brand Deserves Better. Let’s talk! Contact us for a FREE 30-minute consultation for your marketing needs! Learn how we can deliver results for your organization. No matter where you’re at in the decision-making process, AFFIRM can help take you the rest of the way. [ Schedule a Call ](https://affirmagency.com/new-business/) ![Danny Mager](https://affirmagency.com/assets/danny-mager-1-1.jpg "danny-mager-1") --- ### [Thank You](https://affirmagency.com/thank-you/) **Published:** September 14, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Thank You ## Your message has been received. We value the chance to talk to you about your marketing goals or project needs. We’ll get back to you as quickly as possible. ### Connect with us. Sign up for our newsletter! We send a short, digestible email once a month. We value your privacy, and you may opt out at any time. - X/Twitter This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. - Sign Up\* - Submit --- ### [Services](https://affirmagency.com/services/) **Published:** July 17, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Our Services ##### \[big ideas. we’ve got them.\] ## Advertising From creative conception to full-fleshed integrated campaigns, we know what it takes to grab your target audience’s attention and keep them engaged. Our creative team specializes in design, copywriting, print, TV, video, out-of-home, radio, digital, web, social media, and most importantly, how to ensure all parts and pieces work together and enhance one another. - Cinema Advertising - Digital Advertising - Out-of-Home Advertising - Print Advertising - Radio Advertising - Television Advertising ##### \[more than just logos\] ## Branding Your brand is so much more than just a logo. It’s a first impression. It’s your rich history. It’s who you are and what you stand for as a company. From logo design to marketing collateral, creating brand standards to the perfect tagline, we know the importance of defining and strengthening your brand to ensure it all works together to tell the story of *you*. - Brand Development - Identity Development - Naming Development - Strategic Development ##### \[it’s all about strategy\] ## Digital Digital marketing has come so far in recent years. So has the [strategy](https://affirmagency.com/about/digital-services/) behind it. Our Digital Team specializes in maximum reach and proven results through SEO, SEM, PPC, web development and optimization, online advertising, social media, and more. We work with you to find the perfect digital assets that suit your needs, and that align and collaborate with your other marketing efforts. - Banner Ads - CMS Set-up and Maintenance - Digital Design and Production - Email Campaigns - Google AdWords - Mobile App Development - Mobile Text Messaging Campaigns - SEO - Social Media - Website Development and Production - Website Hosting ##### \[reputation is key\] ## Public Relations Whether it’s media relations, event planning, or content creation, our PR team knows how to help your brand sparkle and shine. We take a strategic, integrated approach to help overcome challenges, find new opportunities, and advise on the best ways to achieve your reputation management goals. - Content Development - Event Planning and Promotions - Feature Story Development - Media Relations - Strategy and Planning - Crisis Communications - Education and Outreach - Employee/Internal Communications ##### \[be seen everywhere\] ## Media Buying It’s rare to find a small agency with a full-time media department… but here we are. Our in-house team has decades of media buying experience, from outdoor display to broadcast TV, online advertising to Hulu and Spotify, and everything in between. We do our research and craft customizable media plans accordingly, then continually optimize to target just the right audience. - Local, Regional, and National - Media Planning and Buying - Traditional, Direct, and Digital ## Tell Us What You’re Working On. Let’s start shaping your next project and explore what’s possible together. Share a few details in the form and we’ll follow up with ideas and next steps. - LinkedIn This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. - Name\* First Last - Email\* - Phone\* - Message\* - Send --- ### [Contact](https://affirmagency.com/contact/) **Published:** February 11, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Contact Us ## Let’s get started. We’re excited to hear from you. Complete the form below to receive an instant budget and timeline. [We don’t sell or share your information with third-parties.](/privacy-policy/) - X/Twitter This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. - Name\* First Last - Email\* - Phone\* - Message\* - Send ### Call us Danny Mager Phone: (262) 650-9900 ### Locations ### Pewaukee *Main Office* [N28W23050 Roundy Dr. Pewaukee, WI 53072](https://goo.gl/maps/vxmyxZgfysu) Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. [ About Location ](https://affirmagency.com/milwaukee/)### Madison *Satellite Office* 510 Walton Pl. Madison, WI 53704 [ About Location ](https://affirmagency.com/madison/) ![AFFIRMATION](https://affirmagency.com/assets/affirmation-animated-2.gif "affirmation-animated-2") ### Sign up for our newsletter! We send a digestible email every couple months featuring industry trends, marketing strategies and solutions, updates on our latest work, staff achievements and more. We value your privacy, and you may opt out at any time. - Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. - Sign Up\* - Submit --- ### [Holiday Gift](https://affirmagency.com/gift/) **Published:** December 17, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ![Holiday Animation 2025](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Holiday-Animation-2025-1.gif "Holiday-Animation-2025")**We truly appreciate you and value the opportunity to work together. In gratitude, we invite you to choose a gift from the list below.** **Please make your selection by January 9th, 2026.** Please choose one:(Required) $50 donation to a charity of my choice $50 Amazon gift card $25 Amazon gift card (public sector clients) Super! What charity may we donate to on your behalf?(Required) Charity website (if available) Your Name First Last Your Email Submit --- ### [Madison Advertising Agency](https://affirmagency.com/madison/) **Published:** April 12, 2024 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Madison Wisconsin Marketing Agency ## Looking for marketing and advertising in the Madison and Dane County, Wisconsin area? We’re here to help you! AFFIRM is an advertising and marketing agency with a full range of services to exceed your organization’s marketing goals and objectives. Our agency is made up of a dedicated team of professionals, each specializing in their respective areas to deliver comprehensive solutions to our Madison, Dane County, and South-Central Wisconsin clients. In fact, many members of our team, including our agency president and creative director, are long-time Madison residents and AFFIRM is a certified local vendor with the City of Madison and Dane County. [ Let’s get your project started! ](https://affirmagency.com/work/)or call us at [262.650.9900](tel:+2626509900) ## Our Madison roots run deep. AFFIRM Agency owner Danny Mager has been a Madison resident for more than 40 years. In that time, he has worked his way up from being a marketing intern with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to an ad agency owner by prioritizing client service and strategic creative solutions. That’s why AFFIRM works as an extension of our clients’ marketing departments for such well-known Madison and South-Central Wisconsin entities as the Barrymore Theatre, Dane County Regional Airport, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, Henry Vilas Zoo, Janesville Transit System, KMA Accountants & Advisors, Pines Bach Attorneys-at-Law, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Wisconsin Department of Justice, and Wisconsin Department of Transportation. ![Dane County Regional Airport](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-logo.png) ![University of Wisconsin Madison](https://affirmagency.com/assets/uwmadison.png) ![Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ghc-logo.png) ![WIS DOT logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wis-dot-logo.png) ![DHS logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wdhs-logo-png.avif) ![KMA](https://affirmagency.com/assets/kma-logo-1.png) ![Pines Bach logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/pinesbach.png) ![Henry Vilas Zoo logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hvz-logo.png) ![Barrymore Theatre logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/barrymore-theatre-png.avif) ![Pines Bach attorneys in Madison](https://affirmagency.com/assets/pines-bach-website-1.jpg "pines-bach-website") ![Henry Vilas Zoo Madison billboard](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-madison.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-madison") ![Dane County Regional Airport](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-upgrade-campaign.jpg "dcra-upgrade-campaign") ![Atwoodfest Madison Poster](https://affirmagency.com/assets/atwoodfest-poster.jpg "atwoodfest-poster") ![988 social media](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-social.jpg "988-social") ![Zero in Wisconsin Website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ziw-website-1.jpg "ziw-website")## We’re active in the industry. We stay on top of all the latest marketing trends locally and nationally. We belong to the American Advertising Federation – Madison chapter and American Marketing Association – Madison. ![AMA Madison](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ama-madison.png "ama-madison") ![AAF Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/aaf-logo.png "aaf-logo")## Services focused on results. We’re problem-solvers, behavior-change marketers, and message-crafters focused on ensuring a consistent quality to all deliverables. From logos and taglines to print collateral and websites, we have received numerous awards and recognition within our industry, and more importantly, deliver measurable results for our clients. ### [Advertising](https://affirmagency.com/services#advertising) - Digital - Direct Mail - Email, - Mobile - Over-the-Top - Out-of-Home - Print - Radio - Television ### [Branding](https://affirmagency.com/services#branding) - Design - Identity - Naming - Strategic Development ### Creative Services - Copywriting - Graphic Design & Layout - Photography - Print Design & Production - Radio, Video, Trade Show Design ### [Media Buying](https://affirmagency.com/services#media) - Planning and Buying - Local - Regional & National - Traditional - Direct - Digital ### [Digital Marketing](https://affirmagency.com/services#digital) - Banner Ads - CMS Set-up and Maintenance - Digital Design and Production - Email Campaigns - Google AdWords - Mobile App Development - Mobile Text Messaging Campaigns - SEO - Social Media - Website Development and Production - Website Hosting ### [Public Relations](https://affirmagency.com/services#pr) - Content Development - Event Planning & Promotions - Feature Story Development - Media Relations - Planning - Strategy ## Ready to connect? Are you looking for a local agency who can partner with you to deliver the kind of results you’re after, right here in Madison? Look no further than AFFIRM. Please complete the form or reach out directly at (262) 650-9900. - Company This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. - Name\* First Name Last Name - Email\* - Phone\* - Message\* - Send ## [ Recent Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/ "Recent Work") [ View Portfolio ](https://affirmagency.com/work/)## [ Project Idea in Mind? ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/ "Project Idea in Mind?") [ Let’s do it! ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/)## [ Meet the Team ](https://affirmagency.com/people/ "Meet the Team") [ Our Staff ](https://affirmagency.com/people/) --- ### [New Business](https://affirmagency.com/new-business/) **Published:** November 11, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Let’s Connect. ![Danny Mager](https://affirmagency.com/assets/danny-mager-1.jpg "danny-mager-1") Hi, I’m Danny Mager, President of AFFIRM. If you’re looking for a results-driven marketing agency that understands how to connect strategy with impact, we’d love to learn more and explore how we can elevate your brand. ### Your Brand Deserves Better. Let’s talk! Please complete the form to schedule a 30-minute free consultation. Instagram This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Name(Required) First Last Job Title / Role(Required) Company Name(Required) Number of Employees(Required) Email(Required) Phone(Required) Please select an industry.(Required) Arts and Entertainment Construction and Manufacturing Government Higher Education Professional Services Public Health Transportation Other Tell us a little about your marketing goals:(Required) What services are you interested in?(Required)Check all that apply. Advertising Branding Design and Production Media Buying Public Relations Social Media Management Website Design and Hosting Where are you located?(Required) AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahU.S. Virgin IslandsVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific State Submit --- ### [Success](https://affirmagency.com/success/) **Published:** November 11, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Thank You ## Schedule Your Consultation! Thank you for your interest in AFFIRM! We’re excited to learn more. Make sure you schedule your FREE 30-minute call with Agency owner, Danny Mager. [ Schedule now ](https://calendly.com/dmager-affirmagency) --- ### [Transportation](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/) **Published:** September 20, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Transportation Marketing ## Whether it’s for commercial airports, mass transit systems, TDM’s or traffic safety campaigns, we know transportation marketing. When it comes to changing people’s behaviors, for example getting them out of their cars and into a carpool, bus, or train, we create strategic social marketing campaigns that produce measurable results for our clients. Over the past 15 years, AFFIRM has successfully implemented dozens of transportation focused marketing campaigns for airports, transit systems, TDM’s, and other public sector agencies all around the country. Hop on board and check out some of our award-winning work below. [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transit-solutions-featured.jpg) ### Transit Solutions ](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/transit-solutions/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/rta-featured.jpg) ### RTA Transit Benefit Fare Program ](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/rta-transit-benefit-fare-program/) [ ![GW Ride Connect](https://affirmagency.com/assets/gwrc-featured.jpg) ### GWRideConnect ](https://affirmagency.com/work/gwrideconnect/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/portis-featured-jpg.avif) ### Wisconsin DOT Control Your Drive ](https://affirmagency.com/work/wisconsin-dot-control-your-drive/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/zero-in-wisconsin-featured-jpg.avif) ### Zero in Wisconsin ](https://affirmagency.com/work/zero-in-wisconsin-website/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-featured-jpg.avif) ### Riding Is Believing ](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/riding-is-believing/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/indistractible-featured-jpg.avif) ### Indistractible ](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/indistractible/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/flylocal-featured-1-jpg.avif) ### Fly Local Campaigns ](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/fly-local/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cfdi-featured-jpg.avif) ### Car Free Day Indy ](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/car-free-day-indy/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/amtrak-hiawatha-featured-1-jpg.avif) ### Time Well Spent ](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/time-well-spent/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ciot-featured-jpg.avif) ### Click It or Ticket ](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/click-it-or-ticket/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/suffolk-featured-jpg.avif) ### New York STOP-DWI ](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/suffolk-stop-dwi/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/daredevils-featured-jpg.avif) ### Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over ](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/daredevils-dare-not/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metra-featured-jpg.avif) ### Summer Fun ](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/summer-fun/) [ ![driver-safety-featured](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-safety-featured-jpg.avif) ### Wisconsin DOT Click It Or Ticket ](https://affirmagency.com/work/wisconsin-dot-ciot/) --- ### [Milwaukee Advertising Agency](https://affirmagency.com/milwaukee/) **Published:** June 18, 2024 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Your Milwaukee marketing and advertising agency. Located in suburban Pewaukee, Wisconsin, our Milwaukee area roots run deep. We’re a full-service advertising and marketing agency with a dedicated team you can trust. We specialize in the planning, creation, execution, implementation, and measurement of marketing programs, including branding, website development [and more](https://affirmagency.com/milwaukee/#services "https://affirmagency.com/milwaukee/#services"). We’re proud of the legacy we built over the years, and our mission remains consistent – to help you achieve your most ambitious goals through campaigns or programs that enhance brand awareness, improve sales, create behavior change, and foster growth. [ Email Us ](https://affirmagency.com/work/)## We were founded by a Milwaukee Journal ad man in 1985. When agency founder Jim Staples left his ad sales job at the old Milwaukee Journal with one client, Amato Oldsmobile, to start his own agency in 1985, he had no idea that almost 40 years later, the agency would still be thriving as AFFIRM and the now much larger Amato Automotive Group would still be an active client! This longevity is a tribute to the core values of responsiveness and collaboration that first Jim, and now agency owner Danny Mager and his team share with their clients. Headquartered in a 5300 square foot office condo in suburban Pewaukee, Wisconsin, AFFIRM works with a diverse roster of Milwaukee area clients in addition to Amato, including the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works, Milwaukee County Department of Child Support Services, Briggs & Stratton, Habitat for Humanity, Borth Wilson Plumbing & Bathroom Remodeling, American Bolt Corporation, Fireside Dinner Theatre, HammerHead Trenchless, Walcheske & Luzi Attorneys at Law, and the Business Health Care Group. If your business in located in Southeast Wisconsin, we can help you reach your target audiences with positively engaging marketing! ![Milwaukee Urban Forestry Fund Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/milwaukee-urban-forestry-fund-logo.gif) ![Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/milwaukee-habitat-for-humanity-logo-png.avif) ![Briggs and Stratton Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/briggs-and-stratton-logo-png.avif) ![Allmand Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/allmand-lighting-logo-png.avif) ![Hultafors logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-logo-png.avif) ![Wisconsin Center District logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wisconsin-center-district-logo-png.avif) ![Borth Wilson Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/borth-wilson-logo-1-png.avif) ![American Bolt Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/american-bolt-logo-png.avif) ![Milwaukee County Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/milwaukee-county-png.avif) ![BHCG logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/bhcg-logo-png.avif) ![Amato logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/amato-auto-logo-png.avif) ![City of Milwaukee Public Works Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/city-of-mke-dept-public-works-logo-png.avif) ![Briggs and Stratton Generators Sell Sheet](https://affirmagency.com/assets/briggs-stratton-generators-sell-sheet-jpg.avif "briggs-stratton-generators-sell-sheet") ![Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity Website Design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/milwaukee-habitat-website-1-jpg.avif "milwaukee-habitat-website") ![Allmand Sell Sheet](https://affirmagency.com/assets/allmand-sell-sheet-jpg.avif "allmand-sell-sheet") ![Hultafors Brand Book](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-brand-book-1-jpg.avif "hultafors-brand-book") ![Milwaukee Urban Forestry Fund branding](https://affirmagency.com/assets/milwaukee-urban-forestry-fund-logo-jpg.avif "milwaukee-urban-forestry-fund-logo") ![Wisconsin Center District Brochure](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wisconsin-center-district-brochure-jpg.avif "wisconsin-center-district-brochure")## Services focused on results. It would be difficult to find an agency in Wisconsin with as much experience in developing campaigns that increase brand awareness for a diverse group of consumer, B2B, non-profits and/or governmental agencies, as AFFIRM. Our ability to quickly understand different markets gives us a unique ability to engage audiences of all types with clients that value speed, efficiency and return on investment. ### Advertising - Digital - Direct Mail - Email, - Mobile - Over-the-Top - Out-of-Home - Print - Radio - Television ### Branding - Design - Identity - Naming - Strategic Development ### Creative Services - Copywriting - Graphic Design & Layout - Photography - Print Design & Production - Radio, Video, Trade Show Design ### Media Buying - Planning and Buying - Local - Regional & National - Traditional - Direct - Digital ### Digital Marketing - Banner Ads - CMS Set-up and Maintenance - Digital Design and Production - Email Campaigns - Google AdWords - Mobile App Development - Mobile Text Messaging Campaigns - SEO - Social Media - Website Development and Production - Website Hosting ### Public Relations - Content Development - Event Planning & Promotions - Feature Story Development - Media Relations - Planning - Strategy ## Ready to connect? Are you looking for a local agency who can partner with you to deliver the kind of results you’re after, right here in Milwaukee? Look no further than AFFIRM. Please complete the form or reach out directly at (262) 650-9900. - Company This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. - Name\* First Name Last Name - Email\* - Phone\* - Message\* - Send ## [ Recent Work ](https://affirmagency.com/work/ "Recent Work") [ View Portfolio ](https://affirmagency.com/work/)## [ Project Idea in Mind? ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/ "Project Idea in Mind?") [ Let’s do it! ](https://affirmagency.com/contact/)## [ Meet the Team ](https://affirmagency.com/people/ "Meet the Team") [ Our Staff ](https://affirmagency.com/people/) --- ### [Awards and Recognition](https://affirmagency.com/awards-and-recognition/) **Published:** March 14, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Awards & Recognition Every year, we take a close look at our work to select projects with that extra something before deciding which ones will make the cut and be entered in an awards competition. We’re lucky to have clients that let us push the limits on creative, and the team to make it happen. We know that our involvement in these competitions builds a stronger relationship with clients, and gives our team some well-deserved kudos for a winning performance! [ Addys ](#) [ BMA/BELL ](#) [ TELLY ](#) [ WAVE ](#) Addys ### 2023 **Gold Award** – AtwoodFest *2023 T-Shirt Design* **Gold Award** – Dane County Regional Airport *Upgrade Your Travel Experience* Integrated Media Campaign **Gold Award** – Dane County Regional Airport *Construction Wall Design* **Silver Award** – Wisconsin Department of Transportation *Control Your Drive* TV Spot **Silver Award** – Dane County Regional Airport *Upgrade Your Travel Experience* Outdoor Advertising< **Silver Award** – Henry Vilas Zoo *Brewlights* Event Branding **Silver Award** – Henry Vilas Zoo *Donor Campaign Design* **Silver Award** – Henry Vilas Zoo *Giving Tuesday* Outdoor Advertising **Silver Award** – Henry Vilas Zoo *Holiday Donation Campaign* **Silver Award** – Mental Health America of Central Carolinas *My Mental Health Matters* Public Service Campaign **Silver Award** – Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority-Metro *NAACP Bus Wrap Design* **Brass Award** – AtwoodFest *2023 Poster Design* **Brass Award** – Butler County (Ohio) Regional Transit Authority *CincyLink Branded Bus Wrap* **Brass Award** – Butler County (Ohio) Regional Transit Authority *CincyLink Logo Design* **Brass Award** – Wisconsin Department of Health Services *988 Lifeline Campaign* **Brass Award** – Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority-Metro *Get Up & Go Metro Campaign* ### 2022 **Gold Award** – Wisconsin Department of Transportation: *Bobby Portis CONTROL YOUR DRIVE* Integrated Media Public Service Campaign **Gold Award** – GO BLOOMINGTON! *Program Launch* Integrated Media Public Service Campaign **Gold Award** – GO BLOOMINGTON! *[TDM Program Website](https://gobloomington.org/)* Public Service Online/Interactive **Silver Award** – Wisconsin Department of Transportation *[Bobby Portis CONTROL YOUR DRIVE](https://youtu.be/yW2j2jc3-mg)* Public Service Television | Film, Video & Sound **Silver Award** – Wisconsin Department of Transportation *[Donald Driver CLICK IT OR TICKET](https://youtu.be/rMxZxhLCyz8)* Public Service Television | Film, Video & Sound **Silver Award** – Henry Vilas Zoo *GIVING TUESDAY Digital Outdoor* Out-Of-Home | Corporate Social Responsibility **Silver Award** – Dane County Regional Airport *FLY LOCAL Wrapped Bus* Wrapped Bus **Brass Award** – Milwaukee Urban Forestry Fund *Logo & Material* Public Service Collateral | Brand Elements **Brass Award** – Dane County Regional Airport *FORWARD MADISON Scoreboard Ad* Out-Of-Home | Large Venue **Brass Award** – HammerHead Trenchless *[2022 Trade Show Exhibit](https://affirmagency.com/work/hammerhead-trenchless/)* Out-Of-Home | Installations **Brass Award** – Hultafors Tools *[Brand Book](https://affirmagency.com/work/hultafors/)* Sales Promotion | Sales Kit or Product Information Sheets **Brass Award** – Hultafors Tools *[Trade Show Exhibit](https://affirmagency.com/work/hultafors/)* Out-Of-Home | Installations **Brass Award** – Hultafors Tools *[Catalog](https://affirmagency.com/work/hultafors/)* Product Sales Promotion **Brass Award** – Levin Ginsburg Attorneys *[Website](https://levinginsburg.com/)* Online/Interactive Website | Consumer **Brass Award** – METRO Bus Cincinnati *High Gas Price Campaign* Integrated Advertising Campaign **Brass Award** – Wisconsin Department of Transportation *[SLOW DOWN Work Zone Safety](https://youtu.be/awXuql1ekVs)* Public Service Television | Film, Video & Sound ### 2021 **Gold Award** – Wisconsin Department of Transportation: [*WisDOT Distracted Driving Campaign | Indistractible*](https://youtu.be/5oPhLWP5Ids) Film & Video | Animation, Special Effects or Motion Graphics **Silver Award** – Wisconsin Department of Transportation: [*WisDOT Distracted Driving Campaign*](https://youtu.be/5oPhLWP5Ids) Film, Video & Sound **Silver Award** – Laura’s Gourmet Granola: [*Sales Kit*](https://affirmagency.com/work/lauras-gourmet-granola/) Product or Service Sales Promotion | Sales Kit or Product Information Sheets **Silver Award** – Wisconsin Department of Health Services: *WI DHS LET’S BEAT COVID-19 WI STYLE* Misplaced Star ### 2020 **Gold Award** – Wisconsin Department of Transportation: *[WisDOT Donald Driver Safety Quiz](https://driversafetyquiz.com/)* **Silver Award** – AtwoodFest *[2019 Poster](https://affirmagency.com/work/atwoodfest/)* **Silver Award** – Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity *[Rita’s Story](https://youtu.be/PpkFJ8vr3QE)* **Silver Award** – AFFIRM Self Promotion: *Holiday Letters* ### 2019 **Gold Award** – Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault: [*By Your Side*](https://affirmagency.com/work/wcasa-by-your-side/) Integrated Media Public Service Campaign **Gold Award** – Dane County Regional Airport: [*Fly Local*](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-type/fly-local) Integrated Branded Content Campaign ### 2017 **Gold Award** – AFFIRM Self Promotion: [*Holiday Mannequin Challenge Video*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBYcXjcklYY) Industry Self-Promotion **Gold Award** – Wisconsin DOJ: *Drugged Driving Wisconsin DOT/DOJ* PSA **Gold Award** – Wisconsin DOT: *One and the Same* Drugged Driving Public Service Television **Gold Award** – METRO Bus Cincinnati: [Guerilla Marketing](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-type/metro-61616/) Campaign **Gold Award** – Pines Bach LLP: Integrated [Brand Identity](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-type/pines-bach/) Campaign BMA/BELL ### 2018 **Excellence Award** – Dane County Regional Airport: [*Fly Local*](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-type/fly-local) Integrated Marketing Communications Program **Excellence Award** – Unison Credit Union: [Stunt Double](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-type/unison-credit-union/) Video, Short Form/Commercial **Excellence Award** – Wisconsin Center District: [Product/Capabilities Brochure](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-type/wisconsin-center-district/) Promotional Kit ### 2017 **Best of Show** – Wisconsin DOJ: [*Dose of Reality*](https://doseofrealitywi.gov/) Campaign **Best Campaign** – Wisconsin DOJ:[*Dose of Reality*](https://doseofrealitywi.gov/) Campaign ### 2010 **Best of Services Performed** – Wisconsin DOT: Non-profit Organizations TELLY ### 2018 **Best Social Responsibility Campaign** – Serve Wisconsin: AmeriCorps [STAND UP, STEP UP](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYbFQ7tdZIY) Branded Content ### 2016 **Winner** – Wisconsin DOT: [*Driver Surprise*](https://youtu.be/uILRvi_36ug) TV Commercials **Silver Award** – Wisconsin DOT: [*Driver Surprise*](https://youtu.be/_wcNnLhhFLs) TV Commercial **Bronze Award** – DCRA: *WHO KNEW?!* TV Commercial **Bronze Award** – Wisconsin DOJ: [*Dose of Reality*](https://youtu.be/xMcm0NdkAF8) TV Commercial WAVE ### 2021 **WAVE Award** – UWGB: *[Never Stop Learning](https://affirmagency.com/work/uwgb/)* Branding & Corporate Image **WAVE Award** – Window Select: *[Animated BOGO TV Commercial](https://affirmagency.com/work/window-select/)* Broadcast Commercials **WAVE Award** – Window Select: *[Animated BOGO TV Commercial](https://affirmagency.com/work/window-select/)* Graphics & Animation **WAVE Award** – Wisconsin DOT: *[Donald Driver – Click It Or Ticket!](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/click-it-or-ticket/)* Broadcast Commercials **WAVE Award** – Wisconsin DOT: *[Donald Driver – Click It Or Ticket!](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/click-it-or-ticket/)* Graphics & Animation ### 2017 **WAVE Award** – Unison Credit Union: *[Stunt Double](https://youtu.be/mcVTssWy7Cs)* Broadcast Commercial **Judge’s Choice and WAVE Award** – Wisconsin DOJ / DOT: *[Drugged Driving: One and the Same](https://youtu.be/xrtL_SlloOc)* Audio and Sound Design and Broadcast Commercials **WAVE Award** – Wisconsin DOT: [*Bad Date*](https://youtu.be/YzWI8IJ7NS4) *Rear Passenger Safety* Broadcast Commercial --- ### [UW](https://affirmagency.com/uw/) **Published:** February 22, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ![University of Wisconsin Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/uw-logo.png "uw-logo")## Brand Strategy, Marketing Services, Web Development, Photography & Videography Services [ ![Driver Featured](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-featured-jpg.avif) ### Click It or Ticket ](https://affirmagency.com/uw/click-it-or-ticket/) [ ![Payroll Plus](https://affirmagency.com/assets/payroll-plus-featured-jpg.avif) ### Payroll Plus ](https://affirmagency.com/uw/payroll-plus/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/mha-featured-jpg.avif) ### My Mental Health Matters ](https://affirmagency.com/uw/my-mental-health-matters/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transport-yourself-featured-jpg.avif) ### Transport Yourself ](https://affirmagency.com/uw/transport-yourself/) [ ![DCRA Ready for Takeoff Featured](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-ready-for-takeoff-featured-jpg.avif) ### Ready for Takeoff ](https://affirmagency.com/uw/ready-for-takeoff/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/summit-express-featured-jpg.avif) ### Metro Summit Express ](https://affirmagency.com/uw/metro-summit-express/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-featured-jpg.avif) ### 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline ](https://affirmagency.com/uw/988-suicide-crisis-lifeline/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-riding-is-believing-featured-jpg.avif) ### Metro RIDING IS BELIEVING ](https://affirmagency.com/uw/metro-riding-is-believing/) [ ![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/go-bloomington-featured-jpg.avif) ### Go Bloomington ](https://affirmagency.com/uw/go-bloomington/) --- ### [Thank You](https://affirmagency.com/gift-thank-you/) **Published:** December 17, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Thank you! We’ll send your gift shortly! Have a wonderful holiday season and a safe and Happy New Year! --- ### [Digital Services](https://affirmagency.com/digital-services/) **Published:** August 10, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Digital Marketing ## Helping you navigate the digital world We build a custom, ongoing digital marketing plan to meet your specific goals, allowing you to reach target audiences in ways that will resonate with them. We offer Pay-Per-Click (PPC), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), reputation management, social media implementation and more. Through research of your business, competitors, and industry, we’ll develop a customized strategy. We monitor your program’s performance in real time, making changes at the right time for the best results. ## Reporting #### We continually improve and optimize your digital program through regular evaluation and monitoring of analytics. The science of digital makes it the most transparent form of marketing available. We provide customizable reporting so you know what we’re doing, and more importantly, why we’re doing it. Topline metrics make it easy to evaluate performance and results while more in-depth analysis can provide insights as to why something is happening. ## Reputation Management #### Any brand can benefit from consistency across all platforms. As more and more methods of digitally reaching your audience appear, a holistic view of your organization needs to be maintained in order to promote and grow your brand. That’s why we focus on aligning all of your digital marketing efforts to effectively resonate with your audience. Whether it’s managing your Google My Business listing or responding to industry specific reviews, keeping your company in good standing with its audience is our priority. ![Hello](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hello.png "hello")## Search Engine Optimization #### Be found for all the right reasons and rank higher in searches than ever before. Search Engine Optimization can be confusing, which is why our clients value our ability to help them increase their search visibility, rankings, and overall website functionality. Through an initial website audit, we find technical fixes that may be impeding your website’s organic performance. After addressing these issues, we help facilitate content creation to increase organic rankings for specific keywords or concepts. SEO involves many moving parts, and we’re here to make sure all those parts work in unison to benefit your company. ## Social Media #### We create data-driven content, targeting the right audience. Our in-house social media team has experience running campaigns for a wide variety of organizations. No matter the industry, social media should be used to reach your audience and provide value in ways that matter to them. We know that for you, continually thinking of content to use and post to your social media can be a daunting task. That’s why we’re excited to help alleviate that stress with strategically planned monthly content calendars. Whether you’re just starting your social media presence, or looking to improve on an already sizable following, we’ll make sure social media is a strength, not an afterthought. ![Social Icons](https://affirmagency.com/assets/social-icons.png "social-icons")## Pay-Per-Click Campaigns #### Increase your bottom line through ROI-focused strategies and ongoing optimization. Pay-Per-Click campaigns provide a highly flexible way to make an immediate impact with your target audience. Whether you’re looking to push a specific product, generate brand awareness, or anything in between, we can utilize PPC to achieve your goals. With staff dedicated to monitoring your PPC daily, we can adjust the program in real time to capture opportunities as they arise. When done correctly, PPC can make an impact with a limited budget due to its specific targeting abilities. We don’t waste time or money trying to reach low quality leads or users out of your target audience. Instead, we focus on getting the most out of your budget and reaching individuals most likely to take the desired course of action. ### Want to learn more? We’re excited to show what we can do for you! Contact us using the form below. Or call us at (262) 650-9900. - Facebook This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. - Name\* First Last - Email\* - How may we help you?\* - Submit --- ## News ### [AFFIRM Supports Statewide 988 Awareness Campaign in Recognition of 988 Day](https://affirmagency.com/news/statewide-988-awareness-campaign-988-day/) **Published:** September 8, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** September 8, 2026 marks 988 Day, a national day of action dedicated to raising awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and ensuring more people know that support is available whenever they need it. In Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is recognizing 988 Day as part of its ongoing efforts to increase awareness and understanding of the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline. This year’s theme, “988 Reasons: Your Reason is Reason Enough,” reinforces an important message: You don’t have to be in crisis to reach out for support. AFFIRM is proud to participate in bringing the message to people across Wisconsin through a comprehensive statewide marketing campaign designed to make 988 more visible, familiar and accessible. The campaign uses a multifaceted strategy to reach Wisconsinites where they live, work, travel and spend their time. In addition to paid media across a variety of channels, the effort includes high-profile partnerships with some of Wisconsin’s most recognized sports organizations, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers and Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA). Together, these partnerships provide opportunities to introduce and reinforce 988 with diverse audiences throughout the state and help make the three-digit number as recognizable as possible. “Getting the 988 message in front of people throughout Wisconsin is incredibly important because you never know when someone may need support, or when they may need to help a friend or loved one find it,” said Danny Mager, President of AFFIRM Agency. “We’re extremely proud to work on an effort that has the potential to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. By combining statewide paid media with partnerships that connect with Wisconsinites in places and through organizations they know and trust, we can help more people remember that support is always just three numbers away.” The 988 Wisconsin Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week for people experiencing mental health, substance use or emotional concerns. Wisconsinites can call or text 988 or chat online to connect with a trained counselor. For AFFIRM, the campaign reflects the agency’s continued commitment to using strategic, behavior-change marketing to connect people with information and resources that can positively impact individuals, families and communities across Wisconsin.**Need support? Call or text 988 or visit [988Wisconsin.org](http://988Wisconsin.org) to learn more.** *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Launches New Website for Ace & Sons Insulation](https://affirmagency.com/news/new-website-for-ace-sons/) **Published:** September 3, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis.) AFFIRM Agency, a full-service marketing and communications firm based in Wisconsin, designed and developed a new website for Ace & Sons Insulation, a Southeast Michigan insulation company with more than 40 years’ experience. The new site connects Ace & Sons to its parent company, Excel Home Improvement, features revised branding, streamlines the user experience, and supports marketing efforts. AFFIRM began working with for both Excel Home Improvement and Ace & Sons Insulation in fall 2025 on a robust consumer marketing strategy. Following Excel’s acquisition of Ace & Sons, AFFIRM recommended refreshing both brands and created a unified visual identity that would connect the two companies while preserving the established reputation of each. After introducing Excel’s refreshed branding and updating its website, AFFIRM used the new visual direction as a foundation for the Ace & Sons website. AFFIRM’s Senior Digital Designer, Mark Skowron, created a streamlined user experience that makes it easy for homeowners to explore insulation services, learn about available rebates and financing, and request project information. “Our goal was to create a clear visual connection between Ace & Sons and Excel Home Improvement by allowing each company’s identity and expertise to stand on its own,” Skowron said. “Both companies have built their reputations on quality craftsmanship and dependable service. The coordinated websites help communicate those shared values and give customers a consistent experience across brands.” The new Ace & Sons website incorporates the company’s refreshed branding throughout, presenting a modern and approachable identity while reinforcing its connection to Excel Home Improvement. The result helps Michigan homeowners recognize the relationship between the companies and feel confident working with brands they know and trust. Explore the new Ace & Sons Insulation website at . Visit Excel Home Improvement’s website at . *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Earns Telly Award for ONE Transit Rebrand](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-earns-telly-award-one-transit-rebrand/) **Published:** July 6, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (PEWAUKEE, Wis.) – AFFIRM Agency, a Wisconsin-based full-service marketing and communications firm specializing in behavior-change marketing, has earned a Telly Award for its rebranding work for the Regional Transportation Authority of Central Oklahoma (RTA). The project introduced the organization’s new public identity, ONE Transit. The Telly Awards recognized the campaign in the Branding category, which honors branded content campaigns or series that use logos, symbols, and design to distinguish an organization or product. AFFIRM’s work on the ONE Transit rebrand received a [Telly Award](https://www.tellyawards.com/winners/2026/branded-content/campaign-branding/one-transit-branding/357433/) in this category. “We’re honored to receive this recognition from the Telly Awards for our work on the ONE Transit rebrand,” said Danny Mager, President of AFFIRM Agency. “This project reflects the power of strategic branding to unify partners around a shared vision and create a clear, compelling identity that supports long-term growth and regional impact.” Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens and are judged by a council of industry leaders from across the creative, production, and media landscape. The awards recognize standout work in branded content, social video, immersive storytelling, and other categories that reflect the evolving ways organizations connect with audiences. “We needed this rebrand to go far beyond a new logo and colors. We wanted people to see themselves in our plan for a better-connected Central Oklahoma when we introduced the ONE Transit brand,” said Armando Reyes, Public Affairs Manager for ONE Transit. “AFFIRM created a video that told that story in a way that was authentic, inspiring, and aspirational for Central Oklahomans. The initial response from our audiences is tremendous, and we’re thrilled to see the work earn national recognition with a Telly Award.” For additional background on the project, AFFIRM previously shared news of the ONE Transit brand launch and the strategic process behind the new identity in a company news item announcing the rebrand rollout earlier this year: . *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Welcomes Three New Team Members](https://affirmagency.com/news/three-new-team-members/) **Published:** June 19, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (PEWAUKEE, Wis.) – AFFIRM Agency, a Wisconsin-based full-service marketing and communications firm specializing in behavior-change marketing, is pleased to welcome three talented marketing professionals to its growing team. Over the past six months, these new hires have brought fresh perspectives, specialized expertise and strong enthusiasm to their roles, further strengthening the agency’s creative, social media and client service capabilities. **New Social Media Coordinator: Delaney Carlson** Delaney Carlson joined AFFIRM’s social media team in January 2026 as Social Media Coordinator. In her role, she supports clients’ organic social media and blog content by developing engaging ideas, contributing thoughtful content and bringing a strong sense of creativity to every project. A UW-Milwaukee graduate, she previously led social media and publicity efforts for the Manfred Olson Planetarium and brings a strong background in digital storytelling, audience engagement and content development. **New Graphic & Digital Designer: Jake Johnson** Jake Johnson joined AFFIRM in March 2026 as Graphic and Digital Designer. Since joining the agency, he has contributed thoughtful, high-quality design work across digital and print projects, quickly making an impact with his creativity, technical skill and attention to detail. Jake graduated from both NWTC and UW-Green Bay, while running his own freelance graphic design business while going through school. He brings creative expertise across graphic design and digital execution, along with a collaborative approach and strong visual problem-solving skills. **New Senior Account Executive: Taylor Brazell** Taylor Brazell is AFFIRM’s newest Senior Account Executive who joined AFFIRM in May 2026, bringing prior agency experience and a strong client-service mindset to the role. She has quickly become a valuable contributor by helping manage projects efficiently, building strong client relationships, and bringing fresh ideas to the team. A UW-Whitewater graduate, she was introduced to agency life through a student-run pro-bono consulting firm and brings B2B experience spanning product launches, branding, websites, advertising and industry tradeshows. AFFIRM is excited to welcome these new team members and the added talent, perspective and momentum they bring to the agency. Their combined strengths further support AFFIRM’s commitment to delivering strategic, creative, and results-driven marketing solutions in an ever-evolving industry. To learn more about the team, visit: *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency and CMRignite Partner with Milwaukee County to Launch Comprehensive Community Services Awareness Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/milwaukee-county-to-launch-comprehensive-community-services-awareness-campaign/) **Published:** May 4, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Pewaukee, Wis. — AFFIRM Agency, a full-service marketing and communications firm based in Wisconsin specializing in behavior-change marketing, announced it is partnering with CMRignite to support Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Behavioral Health Services (BHS) in launching a comprehensive education and outreach campaign for Comprehensive Community Services (CCS). The campaign is designed to increase awareness of CCS and drive enrollment among eligible Milwaukee County residents. Comprehensive Community Services is a voluntary program that provides coordinated mental health and substance use support for individuals living in Milwaukee County who are enrolled in Medicaid and have a qualifying diagnosis. While CCS has been available since 2015, this marks the first large-scale, strategic effort to elevate awareness, reduce stigma, and connect more individuals and families to the program. AFFIRM Agency, in collaboration with partner CMRignite, is leading the development of a fully integrated campaign that includes digital advertising, paid social media, online video, streaming audio, and community-based outreach tools. The effort is grounded in a human, empathetic approach that meets people where they are and emphasizes accessibility, trust, and hope. The campaign centers on the theme, “Your Choice. Your Life. Your Support.” highlighting that CCS is a personalized, voluntary program designed to help individuals build stability, independence, and wellness on their own terms. Messaging will focus on normalizing help-seeking behavior, clarifying eligibility, and making it easier for individuals and families to take the next step toward support. “Too many people who could benefit from CCS simply don’t know it exists or aren’t sure how to get started,” said Laura Monagle, Vice President of Client Services and Public Relations at AFFIRM Agency. “This campaign is about breaking down those barriers, making the program feel approachable, relatable, and within reach for individuals and families across Milwaukee County. We’re proud to partner with Milwaukee County and CMRignite to help connect more people to meaningful, life-changing support.” The campaign will prioritize outreach to underserved and hard-to-reach populations, including youth, adults, and seniors enrolled in Medicaid, as well as families, caregivers, and community-based referral partners. Efforts will include multilingual materials and culturally responsive messaging to ensure accessibility across diverse communities. Through a layered strategy that combines paid media, grassroots engagement, and trusted community voices, the campaign aims to significantly increase participation in CCS, with a goal of expanding enrollment in 2026. Milwaukee County residents interested in learning more about Comprehensive Community Services can visit [MilwaukeeCountyCCS.com](http://MilwaukeeCountyCCS.com) or call 414-257-6060. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Leads the City of Joplin’s New Recycling Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/city-of-joplins-new-recycling-campaign/) **Published:** February 9, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (PEWAUKEE, Wis.) – AFFIRM Agency, a Wisconsin-based marketing and communications firm specializing in behavior-change marketing, partnered with the City of Joplin to launch a new community-wide recycling campaign on February 2, aimed at increasing awareness of recycling opportunities and encouraging greater participation among residents and local businesses. AFFIRM was selected as the marketing agency of record for the initiative and led development of the campaign’s creative strategy and brand identity. Branded [“**Recycle! It’s How We Roll”**](https://joplinrecycles.com/)**,** the campaign highlights the importance of recycling in a fun, approachable way while educating the community about available recycling options. The comprehensive campaign includes campaign branding, photoshoot, video shoot, online ads, print ads, radio, and outdoor ads. AFFIRM also developed key messaging, creative concepts, and a paid media strategy designed to maximize community reach and engagement. By combining strong creative messaging with a targeted media strategy, the campaign is designed to help the City of Joplin increase participation in its recycling programs and reinforce sustainable habits across the community. “We are proud to partner with the City of Joplin to support an initiative that benefits both the community and the environment,” said Danny Mager, President of AFFIRM Agency. The ‘Recycle! It’s How We Roll’ campaign was designed to make recycling feel accessible and relevant to residents while reinforcing the positive impacts their actions can have on the community.” The campaign had a successful campaign launch with over 6,000 unique visitors to the landing page in the first month, over 200,000 impressions on paid social ads, and over 1.5 million impressions on online display, online video, and streaming audio ads. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Leads the Wisconsin Community Health Plans Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisconsin-community-health-plans-campaign/) **Published:** April 20, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (PEWAUKEE, Wis.) – AFFIRM Agency, a Wisconsin-based marketing and communications firm, partnered with the Wisconsin Association of Heath Plans to launch a new statewide campaign launched April 19, aimed at increasing awareness of the unique Community Health Plans Wisconsin has to offer. The campaign titled “[Your Health. Your Community. Your Plan](https://wicommunityhealthplans.com/).”, officially launched April 19-25, during Wisconsin Community Health Plans Week. The integrated effort is designed to reach consumers, employers, and policymakers with clear, accessible information about the value, stability, and local impact of community health plans across the state. AFFIRM led campaign strategy, message development, creative execution, public relations, and multi-channel rollout, including earned media, digital advertising, streaming audio, and social media. The campaign also includes stakeholder toolkits and a dedicated landing page to support ongoing education and engagement. “Wisconsin has a unique and highly competitive health plan market that many residents may not fully understand,” said Laura Monagle, Vice President of Client Services and Public Relations. “Our goal was to create a campaign that makes that story clear, relatable, and meaningful, connecting the idea of local health plans to real benefits for individuals, families, and employers.” The campaign highlights key differentiators of Wisconsin’s market, including strong regional competition, a high percentage of provider-owned plans, and the stabilizing impact of the state’s reinsurance program. Messaging emphasizes how community health plans deliver choice, quality, and continuity of coverage while reinvesting in the communities they serve. Through a phased rollout extending beyond the April launch, the campaign will continue throughout the year with expanded paid media and educational content. “Community health plans are deeply rooted in the communities they serve, and that local connection makes a meaningful difference in both cost and quality of care. This campaign helps highlight how Wisconsin’s unique health plan landscape delivers real value to individuals, families, and employers while strengthening the overall health of our communities.” John Nygren, Chief Executive Officer of the Wisconsin Association of Health Plans. For more information about the campaign, visit [WICommunityHealthPlans.com](https://wicommunityhealthplans.com/) *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Leads Rebrand of Regional Transportation Authority of Central Oklahoma to ONE Transit](https://affirmagency.com/news/one-transit/) **Published:** February 26, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (PEWAUKEE, Wis.) – AFFIRM Agency, a full-service marketing and communications firm based in Wisconsin specializing in behavior-change marketing, has led the comprehensive rebrand of the Regional Transportation Authority of Central Oklahoma (RTA), resulting in the launch of its new identity, ONE Transit. Selected as the agency of record, AFFIRM led a strategic, research-driven brand development process that culminated in a unified name, comprehensive visual identity system, logo design, and new website to support the organization’s mission and long-term regional vision. The ONE Transit brand officially launched following a unanimous vote by the RTA Board of Directors during the Feb. 11 board meeting. The launch included a comprehensive brand package developed by AFFIRM, including the official ONE Transit branding and logo, a new public-facing website, and additional conceptual elements designed to support future communications, outreach, and regional initiatives. Originally formed in 2019, the RTA serves as a regional, independent government agency responsible for planning, funding, implementing and operating transit projects across Central Oklahoma. The agency is composed of three member cities, Oklahoma City, Norman and Edmond, and is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors representing each municipality. Beginning in 2024, AFFIRM conducted extensive research and stakeholder engagement sessions, collaborating with the RTA Board of Directors, staff and key partners to ensure the new brand reflects the organization’s values, governance structure, and commitment to regional connectivity. The name ONE Transit was selected to represent unity, collaboration, and forward momentum. Derived from the first letter of the founding member cities, Oklahoma City, Norman, and Edmond, the name reinforces a shared regional commitment to building an integrated, modern transit system that enhances mobility and quality of life throughout Central Oklahoma. The new visual identity reflects a unified path forward, symbolizing movement, accessibility, and regional partnership. The modern design underscores efficiency, sustainability, and long-term growth while positioning ONE Transit as a cohesive and future-focused transportation authority. “We are honored to partner with the RTA on this transformative initiative,” said Danny Mager, President of AFFIRM Agency. “The launch of ONE Transit represents more than a name change; it reflects a unified regional vision for mobility and collaboration. We look forward to continuing our partnership as ONE Transit advances transit development across Central Oklahoma.” *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Selected by Italian Community Center to Lead Marketing for Festa Italiana 2026](https://affirmagency.com/news/festa-italiana-2026/) **Published:** March 12, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** PEWAUKEE, WI — AFFIRM Agency, a full-service marketing and communications firm based in Wisconsin specializing in behavior-change marketing, announced it has been selected by the Italian Community Center (ICC) as the agency of record for Festa Italiana 2026, one of Milwaukee’s most iconic lakefront festivals. Festa Italiana will take place July 10–12, 2026 at Henry Maier Festival Park, welcoming thousands of attendees for a vibrant celebration of Italian culture, cuisine, music, and family traditions. As part of this partnership, AFFIRM Agency will lead an integrated marketing, advertising, and public relations campaign designed to support sponsorship, increase attendance, drive ticket sales, and elevate the festival’s visibility across the region. The work will focus on re-engaging longtime attendees while introducing Festa Italiana to new and younger audiences. “We are honored to partner with the Italian Community Center on such a beloved Milwaukee tradition,” said Amy Opad, Director of Account Services at AFFIRM Agency. “Festa Italiana is more than a festival. It’s a celebration of heritage, community, and connection. Our team is excited to help amplify that story, expand its reach, and bring new energy to the 2026 festival.” AFFIRM will deliver a comprehensive scope of services including strategic planning, campaign development, creative production, event website, paid media, public relations, and performance analytics. The campaign will highlight the authenticity, energy, and welcoming spirit that have made Festa Italiana a staple of Milwaukee summers for generations. Festa Italiana 2026 will feature authentic Italian cuisine, live entertainment, cultural performances, family-friendly activities, and fireworks along Milwaukee’s lakefront. For tickets, event details, and updates, visit [www.festaitaliana.com](http://www.festaitaliana.com). *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Selected as Public Relations & Marketing Partner for Valley Transit  ](https://affirmagency.com/news/pr-marketing-valley-transit/) **Published:** January 9, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI) AFFIRM Agency, a Wisconsin-based full-service marketing and communications firm specializing in transit and transportation marketing, has been awarded the contract for Public Relations & Marketing Services for Valley Transit, owned and operated by the City of Appleton, providing transit services to customers in the Appleton/Fox Cities area. Under the five-year agreement beginning January 1, 2026, AFFIRM will lead comprehensive marketing and communications efforts designed to increase ridership and strengthen public perception of transit in the Fox Cities. One of AFFIRM’s first projects was a bus wrap dedicated to driving operator recruitment for Valley Transit. “AFFIRM is proud to partner with Valley Transit and committed to positioning the organization as a leading employer of choice,” said Danny Mager, President of AFFIRM Agency. “We have a long history of delivering measurable results for transit systems across the country, and we’re excited to bring that expertise to the Fox Valley. Valley Transit is an essential service for workers, families, students, and visitors and we look forward to helping the system grow ridership, attract new audiences, and deepen community support.” Valley Transit provides fixed-route bus service, ADA paratransit, and supporting mobility services across Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, Kaukauna, Fox Crossing, Kimberly, Little Chute, Buchanan, and Grand Chute, Wisconsin. As the system continues expanding community partnerships and improving customer communications, AFFIRM will support initiatives focused on rider education, operator recruitment, public awareness, and digital engagement. AFFIRM’s work for Valley Transit will include: - Strategic public relations and media outreach - Crisis communication planning and rapid-response support - Social media content creation, monitoring, and analytics - Creative development for print, digital, video, and out-of-home campaigns - Media planning and placement across traditional and digital channels - Website content updates and collaboration on WordPress enhancements - Community engagement, event support, and marketing partnerships. AFFIRM brings decades of public transit marketing experience to the partnership, with recent work for systems including Janesville Transit System, MTA/Long Island Rail Road, Southwest Ohio Regional Transportation Authority (SORTA) Metro Bus, Greater Portland METRO, EMBARK Transit of Oklahoma City, Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA), and Wisconsin Department of Transportation. “Valley Transit is an incredibly important part of the Fox Cities, and our team is excited to help more people understand the value, convenience, and reliability of the service,” Mager added. “We’re ready to get on board.” *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Selected to Lead City of Joplin, Missouri Recycling Outreach Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/joplin-missouri-recycling-outreach-campaign/) **Published:** October 23, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI) AFFIRM Agency, a leading behavior change marketing firm, is proud to announce it was selected by the City of Joplin, Missouri after a competitive RFP process to lead the development of a comprehensive public education and outreach campaign designed to raise awareness of and participation in the city’s recycling program. The City of Joplin is committed to building a cleaner, greener community by helping residents and businesses understand the importance of recycling and how to make it part of their everyday routines. AFFIRM is partnering with city officials to develop a clear, engaging, and results-driven strategy to ensure those goals are met. AFFIRM brings a proven track record of success in recycling communication. The agency previously helped launch the “Recycle For Good” campaign in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which became a model for how municipalities can effectively motivate residents to recycle more and recycle right. “We are excited to share our ideas with the City of Joplin”, said AFFIRM President, Danny Mager. “Our team is passionate about creating a more sustainable future, and we believe with the right mix of education, awareness, and community engagement we can inspire lasting change.” The Joplin recycling campaign will include a blend of traditional and digital tactics designed to reach residents where they are. Plans call for video and radio PSAs, digital out-of-home, social media, community outreach events, and easy-to-use educational materials that help simplify the recycling process. The campaign’s goal is to not only increase awareness of Joplin’s recycling services but also to boost participation rates heading into 2026 and beyond. By making recycling simple, accessible, and motivating, AFFIRM and the City of Joplin aim to create measurable impact for both the community and environment. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Communication, Transit Marketing, transportation --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Leads Rebrand of Walworth County Transportation Services: Introducing Walworth County Connect ](https://affirmagency.com/news/walworth-county-connect/) **Published:** December 3, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** **AFFIRM Agency Leads Rebrand of Walworth County Transportation Services: Introducing Walworth County Connect** PEWAUKEE, WI — AFFIRM Agency, a full-service marketing firm based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin is proud to announce the successful renaming, rebranding, and launch of a comprehensive marketing and outreach campaign for Walworth County’s public transportation services, now officially known as **Walworth County Connect**. Formerly known as Wal-to-Wal DIAL-a-RIDE, the county’s transportation program has undergone a strategic transformation to better reflect its mission of accessibility, reliability, and community connection. The new brand, **Walworth County Connect**, was unveiled at a public launch event on October 30, 2025, at the Walworth County Government Center in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Walworth County Connect’s rebrand also includes new identification for the two service options: **Share** – a shared-ride taxi service for any trip purpose within the county, and **Care** – a specialized transit service for non-emergency medical appointments outside the county. AFFIRM Agency led the creative direction and strategic rollout of the rebrand after being selected by the county as part of a competitive RFP process. The agency collaborated closely with Walworth County officials to develop a new name for the ride services, visual identity, messaging framework, and multi-channel marketing plan that includes: - New logo and branding assets designed for accessibility and visual clarity - Fleet vehicle decals for high visibility across the county - Paid media outreach strategy including radio, digital display ads, print, and email marketing - Community engagement tools such as a Rider Guide, wallet card, magnet, and more The rebranding and renaming process was informed by community feedback, including an online survey that identified “Walworth County Connect” as the preferred name. The name emphasizes the program’s role in linking residents to essential destinations and fostering inclusion for all residents of Walworth County. The tagline: “**Connecting our community, one ride at a time.”** is a direct reflection of that goal. AFFIRM’s Vice President of Client Services, Laura Monagle, noted, “This project is a perfect example of how thoughtful branding and strategic marketing can elevate public services. Walworth County’s transportation services are already a huge asset to the community, with dedicated county staff, schedulers and drivers. Walworth County Connect is more than a name, it’s a promise of connection, care, and community, which is exactly what the county is providing. AFFIRM is excited to help get the word out about this service to more people who will benefit from affordable, convenient ride services.” *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Named Marketing Services Agency for EMBARK Transit in Oklahoma City](https://affirmagency.com/news/embark-transit/) **Published:** November 17, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI) — AFFIRM is pleased to announce that it has been selected as the new Marketing Services Agency of Record for the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA), doing business as EMBARK, the public transportation trust for Oklahoma City. EMBARK provides bus transit, paratransit, streetcar, bike share transit and ferry services. AFFIRM was selected after an RFP process for a three-year contract to provide strategic planning, creative development, and marketing consulting services to support EMBARK’s mission of connecting people to opportunity through safe, convenient, and reliable mobility options across Central Oklahoma. Through this multi-year partnership, AFFIRM will collaborate closely with EMBARK’s in-house communications and marketing team to advance initiatives that grow ridership, attract more “choice riders,” and increase engagement with EMBARK’s rider platforms. The agency’s work will span research and insights, campaign marketing and media strategy, creative development, and digital content, helping position EMBARK as a forward-thinking mobility brand serving Oklahoma City, Norman, and surrounding Central Oklahoma communities. “We’re honored to partner with EMBARK in their efforts to make reliable transportation options accessible to everyone in Central Oklahoma,” said Danny Mager, President of AFFIRM Agency. “Our team has more than 20 years of experience in public transit marketing, and we’re excited to bring that expertise to EMBARK to help strengthen their brand and grow their service.” Its new partnership with EMBARK builds on AFFIRM’s expanding portfolio of transit and transportation clients nationwide, including successful work with the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (Cincinnati Metro), Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority, Regional Transportation Authority of Central Oklahoma, Greater Portland (Maine) Metro, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and other regional transportation organizations. With expertise spanning behavior change marketing, strategic communications, and creative storytelling, AFFIRM continues to help build awareness of the benefits of alternative modes of transportation and drive measurable ridership growth. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Named Media Buying Agency of Record for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ](https://affirmagency.com/news/nwtc-media-buying/) **Published:** November 4, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI) AFFIRM is pleased to announce it has been selected as the new Media Buying Agency of Record for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC). In this role, AFFIRM will partner closely with NWTC’s in-house marketing and creative team to lead the College’s media planning and placement efforts, helping ensure its messages reach the right target audiences across Northeast Wisconsin. By joining forces with NWTC, AFFIRM will leverage its expertise in higher education marketing to support the College’s mission of providing accessible, high-quality education that meets the evolving needs of students and employers alike. This partnership builds on AFFIRM’s strong track record of media buying across Northeast Wisconsin for public sector and higher education institutions. Recently, the agency has planned and placed traditional and digital media in the market for the Wisconsin Departments of Transportation, Health Services, and Justice, as well as the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay and Moraine Park Technical College. This work included media planning, placement, monitoring, and reporting, as well as negotiating significant added-value exposure for its clients. “We’re thrilled to add NWTC to our client portfolio,” said AFFIRM President, Danny Mager. “Higher education plays a vital role in shaping the workforce of tomorrow, and we’re excited to bring our media expertise to help NWTC share its story and connect with students across the region.” As AFFIRM continues to expand its client base, this new partnership underscores the agency’s ability to deliver strategic, results-driven marketing solutions to organizations that make a real difference in their communities. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Communication, Transit Marketing, transportation --- ### [Long Island Rail Road’s Program, Transit Solutions, Celebrates 20 Years ](https://affirmagency.com/news/long-island-rail-roads-program-transit-solutions-celebrates-20-years/) **Published:** October 10, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## ***AFFIRM Agency Produces 20 Compelling Video Stories Showcasing Sustainable Commuting Across Long Island, New York*** (Pewaukee, WI) – Long-time AFFIRM Agency client Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) program, Transit Solutions, is celebrating 20 years of helping make Long Island, New York a better place to live and work through pre-tax transit benefits, alternative transportation, and employer-driven initiatives. Transit Solutions has introduced hundreds of thousands of employees to sustainable commuting options, resulting in reduced congestion, improved air quality, and meaningful cost savings for both workers and businesses. Since its inception twenty years ago, Transit Solutions has: - Engaged with 5,633 employers and relevant organizations - Responded to 3,958 requests for presentations and customized information - Introduced hundreds of thousands of employees to sustainable commuting options throughout Long Island. To mark this milestone, AFFIRM partnered with the LIRR for Transit Solutions’ **“20 for 20**” campaign. Featuring [20 video vignettes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyLA4VIgx2w&list=PLs_zmwdvY56BB-v7Ic3_AJ8mikrHaG8FM) and a compilation video, the series highlights voices from education, healthcare, business, and government who have benefitted from the program’s impact on mobility, sustainability, and quality of life. [![LIRR Transit Solutions](https://affirmagency.com/assets/lirr-20for20-1024x709.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/lirr-20for20.jpg)AFFIRM drove the campaign’s strategy, creative development and video production, ensuring the stories came to life across digital platforms including the [Transit Solutions website](https://transitsolutions.org/), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/transitsolutions/), and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/lirr-transit-solutions/). The campaign launched on Earth Day 2025 and culminated at the 20th Anniversary celebration during Car Free Day Long Island at Farmingdale State College, where the final video premiered to partners and community members. The **“20 for 20”** campaign features the following Transit Solutions stories, among others: - **Adelphi University:** Showcased efforts to provide sustainable campus transit options, including shuttles to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). - **NICE Bus:** Highlighted how the bus company connects riders with transit resources and promotes events like Car Free Day Long Island. - **GPI:** Featured the prominent engineering company’s director of sustainability and its participation in Car Free Day. - **Northwell Health:** Explained its collaboration with Transit Solutions to promote employee benefits like pre-tax transit benefits and a bike co-op. - **Nassau University Medical Center:** Highlighted the hospital’s executive director of community outreach as a key partner. “Transit Solutions has made an extraordinary impact on the quality of life on Long Island over the past 20 years,” said **Danny Mager, President of AFFIRM Agency.** “This anniversary was not only an opportunity to celebrate the program’s success, but also to showcase how LIRR’s commitment to commuter education and sustainable transportation continues to deliver lasting value to businesses, employees, and the environment.” ### **About Transit Solutions** Transit Solutions is a program funded by the Long Island Rail Road to educate Long Island residents and employers about the benefits of using pre-tax transit benefits and choosing alternative transportation. For more information, visit . *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Communication, Transit Marketing, transportation --- ### [AFFIRM Ranked Again in Milwaukee Business Journal’s Top 25 Largest Milwaukee-Area Advertising Agencies](https://affirmagency.com/news/milwaukee-business-journal-top-25/) **Published:** October 7, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI) The [*Milwaukee Business Journal*](https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/subscriber-only/2024/08/16/largest-milwaukee-area-advertising-agencies.html) recently released its annual list of the Top 25 largest advertising and marketing firms in the Milwaukee area, and AFFIRM Agency is proud to be recognized once again. AFFIRM has been included on this list for many consecutive years, a reflection of its consistency and sustained growth in the industry. This recognition reflects the continued growth of AFFIRM’s team, client partnerships, and full-service marketing capabilities. Over the past year, AFFIRM has delivered award-winning campaigns, expanded its work in [transportation](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/), healthcare, and public service sectors, and strengthened its commitment to helping organizations achieve their marketing goals through strategic, creative, and results-driven solutions. “Being named among the largest agencies in our region is an honor and testament to the dedication of our team and the trust our clients place in us,” said Danny Mager, president of AFFIRM. “We’re excited to continue building meaningful work that makes a difference in the communities we serve locally and nationally.” As AFFIRM looks ahead, the agency remains focused on innovation, collaboration, and measurable outcomes and the values that have driven its success for 40 years. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Leads Record-Breaking Summer Travel Campaign for Dane County Regional Airport ](https://affirmagency.com/news/dcra-summer-campaign/) **Published:** September 17, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI) AFFIRM Agency, a leading full-service marketing and advertising firm based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, proudly partnered with the Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) to deliver a wide-ranging summer travel campaign. The integrated “FLY EASY. FLY MSN.” campaign ran from May through July 2025, with extended bonus placements through September, and played a central role in helping MSN airport achieve its busiest summer travel season ever. From May through August 2025, MSN recorded 854,330 total passengers, up from 814,545 during the same period in 2024, continuing a five-year growth trend and underscoring strong traveler loyalty and regional demand. “This year’s campaign perfectly captured the ease and convenience of flying from Madison during the busy summer travel season,” said Danny Mager, President, AFFIRM Agency. “The results speak for themselves. More people than ever are choosing MSN for both business and leisure travel, and we are proud to have been instrumental in telling that story.” ## **A Multi-Market Strategy with Measurable Impact** AFFIRM’s strategy focused on increasing top-of-mind awareness and highlighting the advantages of flying local. Campaign creative and messaging highlighted key traveler personas and other strategically targeted audiences most influential in travel planning and spending. The campaign generated impactful results, including: Digital display advertising, generating over 2.5 million impressions and a 0.18% CTR, more than double the national benchmark. Social media campaigns reaching more than 2.4 million users across Madison and Dubuque, with nearly 20,000 clicks to dedicated campaign websites. Radio and outdoor placements including over 650 radio spots and high-visibility billboards on the Beltline and I-94—collectively earning more than 4.6 million impressions and significant value-added exposure. Transit advertising on Madison Metro buses, which remained active well beyond the paid flight period at no additional charge. Dedicated campaign microsites—FlyMSNAirport.com and DubuqueFliesMSN.com—recorded an increase of 300% more sessions than previous summers, reinforcing the strong engagement and interest generated by the campaign. ## **Expanding the Reach into the Dubuque Market** In addition to the Madison-focused campaign, AFFIRM developed a targeted sub-campaign in the Dubuque, Iowa market to reach travelers seeking greater flight options and convenience. With limited nonstop service available locally, the creative strategy positioned Dane County Regional Airport as an easy, accessible alternative just over an hour’s drive away, with nonstop flights to major leisure and business destinations that Dubuque travelers couldn’t reach directly. Geo-targeted digital and social media ads, localized creative, and a dedicated landing page (DubuqueFliesMSN.com) drove more than 1 million impressions and 5,200 clicks, exceeding performance expectations and signaling clear interest in flying from Madison. “The Dubuque market provided a strategic opportunity to expand Dane County Regional Airport’s reach into a nearby area where travelers were eager for more options,” said Mager. “By positioning MSN as the logical and convenient choice, we helped connect a new audience to the benefits of flying Madison**.”** ## **Building Long-Term Traveler Loyalty** The 2025 summer campaign builds on AFFIRM’s long-standing relationship with Dane County Regional Airport, supporting its continued growth, expanded nonstop service, and reputation for exceptional customer experience. With 17 nonstop destinations, modern amenities, and an expanding traveler base, MSN is on track to set an all-time annual passenger record by the end of 2025, reinforcing its role as the airport of choice for south central Wisconsin travelers. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [Wisconsin’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Campaign Expanded During Suicide Prevention Month with Major Wisconsin Sports Partnerships](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisconsins-988-expanded-with-major-wisconsin-sports-partnerships/) **Published:** September 25, 2025 **Author:** Laura Monagle **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI) – AFFIRM Agency, a leading full-service marketing and advertising firm based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, continued to drive awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline throughout the state of Wisconsin with expanded outreach during Suicide Prevention Month this September. Through innovative partnerships with some of the state’s most visible and trusted organizations, including the UW Badger Football and Volleyball programs, the Green Bay Packers, and the Milwaukee Brewers, the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline campaign is reaching millions of fans across the state with its life-saving message. Since launching in 2022, Wisconsin’s 988 public education campaign has significantly increased awareness, trust, and usage of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In 2025 alone, the campaign has generated nearly 3 million impressions, contributing to a 22 percent increase in calls and a 48 percent increase in texts and chats from June 2024 to June 2025. September’s expanded efforts were timed to elevate awareness during National Suicide Prevention Month, a moment when the need for strong, visible mental health resources is most urgent. ## **Sports Partnerships Bring the 988 Message Directly to the Community** As part of a comprehensive awareness, education and outreach campaign, AFFIRM Agency secured partnerships with top Wisconsin athletic organizations to deliver high-impact messaging. University of Wisconsin-Madison Badger Football and Volleyball are integrating 988 awareness across games and events, where passionate student and alumni audiences gather. The Green Bay Packers highlighted 988 through in-stadium activations, digital platforms, radio and outdoor, reinforcing the message with fans across the state and beyond. The Milwaukee Brewers amplifyied 988 messaging during key home games, leveraging both in-park visibility and broadcast reach. These sports partnerships provide a trusted, community-driven platform for reducing stigma around mental health and reinforcing that confidential help is always available. [![988 Partnership with Brewers](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-brewers-1024x576.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-brewers.jpg)## **Building on Research and Behavior Change Strategies** The full Wisconsin 988 campaign, which uses proven social and behavior change marketing has been active since 2022. Tactics include bilingual outreach in English, Spanish, and Hmong, targeted messaging to at-risk groups, and a comprehensive toolkit of communication materials available to partners statewide. Television, radio, digital video, paid social, outdoor, social media and community-based outreach ensure the 988 message is accessible wherever audiences are most likely to receive it. “A campaign like Wisconsin’s 988 Lifeline shows the importance of combining research, targeted outreach, and trusted community partnerships,” said Danny Mager, President and owner of AFFIRM Agency. “By aligning with organizations like the UW Badgers, Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers that have deep emotional connections with Wisconsinites, we are putting 988 front and center, especially during Suicide Prevention Month. This is exactly the kind of behavior change marketing that inspires us as an agency.” *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Works with Wisconsin’s Aging and Disability Resource Centers to Launch First-Ever Statewide Awareness Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/adrc-campaign/) **Published:** September 10, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## **Campaign supports new toll-free ADRC phone number, searchable resource directory and outreach efforts** (Pewaukee, WI) AFFIRM Agency, a leading full-service marketing communications firm planned and executed the first-ever statewide marketing campaign to increase awareness among Wisconsinites of the state’s free aging and disability resource centers (ADRC) and Tribal partner agencies. Developed in just four months, the marketing campaign also helped to support the rollout of a new ADRC toll-free phone number and searchable resource directory offering streamlined connections to local ADRCs. Available in almost every county in the state, for 27 years Wisconsin’s ADRCs have offered a “Bridge to Support” to resources and information for older adults, persons with disabilities, their families and trusted influencers. ADRC staff work with individuals to identify and outline next steps in finding resources for housing, benefits, financial planning and more. ADRC services are offered at no charge, and Tribal partner agencies provide specialized services that support the needs of Tribal communities. AFFIRM’s task was to find a compelling, consistent way to share the many benefits of ADRCs and reach a broad audience, provide the communications tools necessary for local ADRCs to use in support of the effort and drive people to engage with ADRCs before an urgent need arises. Armed with a deep dive into secondary research, AFFIRM tapped into the heart of the people who need the resources ADRCs and Tribal partner agencies can provide, along with the dedication and passion of the staff who serve. In developing the messaging, AFFIRM collaborated with ADRC program leaders to ensure that the campaign employs a narrative free of implicit or explicit ageism or ableism and that universal accessibility standards are applied to campaign materials. [![ADRC Work Examples](https://affirmagency.com/assets/adrc-work.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/adrc-work.jpg)“In addition to AFFIRM’s 40-years of experience in behavioral change and public service campaigns, our team is also becoming more and more knowledgeable about the importance of creating accessible messaging that can reach and be received by everyone, regardless of ability, age or other factors,” said AFFIRM Agency President Danny Mager. “We are proud to be a part of the ADRC and Tribal partner agency awareness campaign and believe strongly in the mission to make sure everyone knows about this incredible resource in Wisconsin.” After creating accessible and uplifting messages and a strong call to action, AFFIRM determined how to effectively communicate to these groups within Wisconsin. Based on a thoughtful, data-driven, measurable approach designed to stretch the budget as far as it could go, the agency created a comprehensive media strategy and statewide campaign, including TV commercials, radio, online video, static and animated banner ads, outdoor advertising, collateral, and paid social media. AFFIRM also produced an informational video with enlightening testimonials from ADRC and Tribal partner agency customers and staff. Put together in just four months, the campaign launched in March 2025 and initial reporting shows that in just the first two months, calls to the toll-free number and visits to FindMyADRC.com have increased on an average of 35 percent. Local ADRCs and Tribal partner agencies are making use of the toolkit materials for their own education and outreach efforts. The campaign reflects the resilience, independence, and connection to community that ADRC customers feel when they receive the support of objective, professional assistance to make informed choices based on their personal beliefs, values, and circumstances. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Powers Brand Evolution and Growth Strategy for Excel Home Improvement](https://affirmagency.com/news/excel-brand/) **Published:** September 10, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI) AFFIRM Agency, a leading full-service marketing communications firm based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with Excel Home Improvement, the premiere Michigan-based siding, roofing and gutter contractor. AFFIRM has been selected to lead the brand modernization and marketing strategy for Excel and its newly acquired affiliate, Ace & Sons Insulation, setting the foundation for long-term growth and category leadership. Excel Home Improvement, a third-generation, family-owned business established in 1963, has built its reputation on exceptional craftsmanship, reliable service, and experienced professionals. With every crew leader having a minimum of 10 years of experience, Excel has become a trusted name in siding, roofing, and gutter services across Michigan. Now, with the acquisition of Ace & Sons, a cellulose insulation provider that enhances energy efficiency and lowers utility costs, Excel is poised to expand its footprint and service offerings. AFFIRM is playing a pivotal role in this transition by revitalizing the brand identities of both Excel and Ace & Sons to reflect their shared values while positioning them for continued expansion in a competitive marketplace. [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/excel-work.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/excel-work.jpg)“This partnership marks an exciting chapter for both companies,” said Danny Mager, President of AFFIRM. “Excel Home Improvement’s legacy of excellence, combined with our branding and marketing expertise will help Excel to grow and to integrate Ace & Sons seamlessly and effectively. We’re honored to help guide their transformation.” AFFIRM’s work involves a comprehensive brand refresh, including an updated logo, tagline, and bold new visual identity for Excel. These updates will extend across all marketing channels from digital platforms to print collateral, ensuring consistency, modern appeal, and renewed relevance in the home improvement industry. For Ace & Sons, AFFIRM is creating a complementary brand refresh that aligns with Excel while maintaining its distinct legacy. This dual-brand strategy ensures both companies remain recognizable and respected, while benefiting from unified messaging and visual synergy. “Having Ace & Sons become part of the Excel family is an exciting milestone,” said Carson Claypool, Owner of Excel and Ace & Sons. “AFFIRM has done an outstanding job of bringing these two brands together with purpose and clarity. We’re confident that this investment in branding will fuel our next phase of growth.” To maximize market impact, AFFIRM is also developing and executing a robust, multi-channel media strategy designed to elevate awareness, drive customer acquisition, and build long-term brand equity throughout Southeast Michigan. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency’s Work on Wisconsin’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Marketing Results in Increased Statewide Awareness ](https://affirmagency.com/news/988/) **Published:** August 14, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## *Consistent, multi-year public education and outreach campaign is yielding significant results* (Pewaukee, WI) AFFIRM Agency, a leading full-service marketing and advertising firm based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, has been involved with research, branding and marketing for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the State of Wisconsin since 2022. The statewide public education campaign, which includes materials in English, Spanish, and Hmong, has significantly increased awareness, trust, and use of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In 2025 alone, the campaign has served nearly 3 million impressions to audiences who need the service most. Wisconsin’s 988 Lifeline has seen a 22 percent increase in calls, and texts and chats have increased by 48 percent from June 2024 to June 2025. With an integrated multi-channel marketing and advertising campaign, bilingual outreach, and targeted messaging to at-risk populations, the campaign has helped drive a surge in 988 contacts and increased understanding of the service. The 988 awareness strategy includes providing a full toolkit of communications materials, available online for partners and community groups to download or request for their own outreach efforts. AFFIRM worked with Wisconsin’s 988 team to leverage unique partnerships with the Green Bay Packers, the Gun Shop Project, the Veteran Peer Outreach Program, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) and more. Examples of key creative deliverables for the current campaign can be found here: . Though the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national service, each state is charged with ensuring that the approach to service and messaging is customized to the state’s specific audiences and those at highest risk. Before the 988 service even launched, Wisconsin’s 988 team focused on defining those at-risk populations, barriers and misperceptions of the service. [![988 billboard rural](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-billboard-rural-1-1024x576.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-billboard-rural-1.jpg)For a campaign like 988, AFFIRM applies its successful social marketing and behavioral change process. For example, the agency planned and conducted focus groups and surveys to assess the current understanding of resources among at-risk populations, and to explore how the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline might be effectively communicated to these groups within Wisconsin. Based on the research, AFFIRM created a comprehensive media strategy and statewide campaigns, including TV commercials, online video, radio, static and animated banner ads, outdoor advertising, infographics, collateral, and paid social media. Specific campaign measurables are tracked, and key insights on those results help inform the next phase of the campaign. [![988 Social](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-social-2-1024x576.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-social-2.jpg)“The Wisconsin 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline public education and outreach campaign is an ideal example of the breadth and depth that is perfect for AFFIRM’s expertise in social marketing and behavioral change,” said AFFIRM Agency President Danny Mager. “Effectively determining the barriers and then crafting key messages to the audiences who need to hear it the most is something we do very well. This kind of approach is also highly applicable to product marketing, consumer products and services and business-to-business marketing. It’s our passion to change behavior for the benefit of all our clients and their unique objectives and goals,” he concluded. The Wisconsin 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline campaign continues to highlight confidentiality and works to reduce the stigma of seeking help through inclusive messaging. As a result, 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline usage increases, along with public trust and understanding. Additionally, each year, the campaign performs well with strong added value from traditional media tactics. The campaign’s effectiveness can be seen with the high volume of 988 contacts within the state – so much so that AFFIRM was engaged to successfully help recruit additional 988 counselors by the non-profit that staffs the service, Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Amplifies AtwoodFest’s Music Festival with In-Kind Marketing Support ](https://affirmagency.com/news/atwoodfest/) **Published:** July 23, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## *Award-winning Branding and Creative Support Boosts Attendance and Community Engagement* (PEWAUKEE, WI) AFFIRM Agency, a full-service marketing and communications firm based in Pewaukee, is proud to announce its ninth year of continued award-winning support of Madison, Wisconsin’s AtwoodFest through the donation of creative promotional services. The pro bono partnership reinforces AFFIRM’s ongoing commitment to supporting local community events and nonprofit initiatives across Wisconsin. AtwoodFest, one of Madison’s most beloved neighborhood music and street festivals, returns July 26-27, 2025, with a dynamic lineup of local and national music acts, family-friendly activities, food vendors, and community engagement opportunities. AFFIRM contributed to the festival’s success by providing eye-catching marketing collateral, including event branding, posters, music schedules, social media graphics, digital ads, and on-site signage pro bono. Over the past nine years, AFFIRM’s creative messaging for AtwoodFest has not only won multiple National Advertising Federation ADDY™ awards, but the branding contributed to AtwoodFest being recognized as the 2025 winner in the category “Best Music Festival” at the Madison Area Music Awards for the second year in a row. “As a Wisconsin-based agency, we’re passionate about supporting the communities we live and work in,” said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “AtwoodFest celebrates music, art, and neighborhood spirit. Our incredible design team loves to have the chance to flex all their creative muscles to outdo themselves year after year. It’s been a pleasure using our creative talents to help spread the word about this amazing event which takes place practically in my backyard,” Mager said. Each year, AFFIRM’s creative approach starts with the festival brand poster design, intended to reflect the vibrant, grassroots energy of AtwoodFest. Year after year, the AtwoodFest poster reveals a different mix of bold typography, colorful illustrations, and a playful tone intended to capture the festival’s welcoming and lively atmosphere. Once the poster is designed, the look and feel are extended to other materials such as the event website, social media graphics, onsite signage and more. [![AtwoodFest posters designed by AFFIRM](https://affirmagency.com/assets/atwoodfest-posters-1.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/atwoodfest-posters-1.jpg)AtwoodFest posters designed by AFFIRM“AtwoodFest wouldn’t be what it is without the contributions of community partners,” said Steve Sperling, General Manager of the Barrymore Theatre, one of the main festival organizers. “AFFIRM’s long-time commitment to the festival and superhuman creative work has helped us grow attendance and attract new sponsors and the attention of both well-known and emerging artists. Their dedication and design expertise made a huge impact, and we’re incredibly grateful for their support.” AtwoodFest is produced by Sector67, a non‑profit hackerspace/makerspace and community workshop, the SASY Neighborhood Association, and the Barrymore Theatre. To learn more about AtwoodFest, visit [www.atwoodfest.com](http://www.atwoodfest.com/). *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency and Wisconsin Department of Transportation Rides Success in Motorcycle Training Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/motorcycle-training-campaign/) **Published:** July 11, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## *Rider Training and Recruitment Campaign Recruits 14 New Rider Coaches and Increases Motorcycle Course Participation* (Pewaukee, WI) AFFIRM Agency, a leading full-service marketing communications firm, worked with the State of Wisconsin and the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council (MOSAC) on development and management of the rider training and recruitment marketing campaign that launched in May 2024 and will continue this summer. Over the past year, the campaign successfully increased enrollment in Rider Training Courses and recruited 14 new certified coaches statewide. The campaign focuses on building awareness and educating Wisconsin motorcyclists on rider education courses along with the need for experienced riders to become rider coaches. As a part of Wisconsin’s “[**Zero In Wisconsin**](https://zeroinwisconsin.gov/)” initiative of achieving zero preventable deaths on Wisconsin roadways, this campaign hopes to encourage motorcycle riders to get trained to be the best rider possible and for those experienced riders to share their riding wisdom. [![MOSAC Campaign Example](https://affirmagency.com/assets/mosac-collage.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/mosac-collage.jpg)The campaign has returned for Summer 2025, with a continued focus on encouraging motorcyclists across the State to ride smarter and safer with the message: **“Ride On Wisconsin. Ride Our Roads with Confidence.”** It also features a strong call to action for experienced riders to give back: **“Coaches: Share Your Wisdom!”** This dual-focus campaign highlights the benefits of rider education, including skill enhancement, increased confidence, improved road awareness, and potential insurance discounts. For prospective rider coaches, messaging emphasizes mentorship opportunities, flexible scheduling, and the vital role they play in improving road safety. The comprehensive marketing campaign features a strategic blend of outdoor billboards, radio spots, digital display ads, gas pump toppers, and other targeted tactics, all aimed at directing individuals to the registration website, where they can enroll in training courses or apply to become a rider coach. “Motorcycle crashes and fatalities tend to spike during the warmer months” said Danny Mager, AFFIRM president. “By promoting safety training and increasing the number of certified rider coaches, we’re helping reduce preventable crashes and keeping Wisconsin’s roads safer for everyone.” The campaign aligns with peak riding season supporting Wisconsin’s and AFFIRM Agency’s broader enforcement and education initiatives around motorcycle awareness, high-crash months and shared road safety. This initiative is a part of **Zero In Wisconsin**, the State’s ongoing highway safety campaign working toward zero preventable traffic deaths. For more information, visit *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency and Wisconsin Department of Transportation Celebrate 20 Years of Advancing Seat Belt Safety](https://affirmagency.com/news/seat-belt-safety/) **Published:** June 2, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## *Statewide seat belt usage increased from 73.3% to 92% over the past two decades, helping to save lives on Wisconsin roadways* (Pewaukee, WI) AFFIRM Agency, a leading full-service marketing communications firm proudly marks twenty years of impactful collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) in promoting seat belt safety. Through consistent, targeted, strategic marketing campaigns, along with other initiatives like the introduction of a primary seat belt law, Wisconsin’s seat belt usage rates have risen from 73.3% to a peak of 92%, aligning closely with national averages and saving lives on Wisconsin roadways. AFFIRM’s involvement in WisDOT’s CLICK IT OR TICKET initiative began in 2006 when seat belt usage was lagging in comparison to national averages. Embarking on an intensive, strategic multi-year behavior change strategy for seat belt safety that was part of a multifaceted traffic safety effort, AFFIRM’s early marketing campaigns yielded positive results and increased usage. In 2009, Wisconsin enacted a primary seat belt law, permitting law enforcement to stop drivers solely for not wearing a seat belt. At that time, the state’s seat belt usage was approximately 74%. Recognizing a huge opportunity for increased education and public awareness on the importance of seat belt safety, AFFIRM introduced Green Bay Packers legend Donald Driver as the spokesperson for the [“CLICK IT OR TICKET”](https://zeroinwisconsin.gov/programs/occupant-protection/) (CIOT) campaign. Driver’s involvement enhanced the campaign’s impact by providing a relatable and influential voice for men ages 18-34, the campaign’s primary target audience and the demographic identified through research as the least likely to wear a seat belt. Through television and radio ads, animated videos, online ads, public service announcements, and press events, Driver became a trusted influencer, encouraging Wisconsinites to buckle up every trip, every time. The CLICK IT OR TICKET campaign has reinforced the message that buckling up is a simple yet vital action for safety. Over the past twenty years, AFFIRM’s behavioral change marketing strategies like the CLICK IT OR TICKET campaign, combined with enforcement and educational strategies aimed at encouraging consistent seat belt use among motorists have been a successful approach. [![](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wisdot-affirm-seat-belt-safety-1024x748.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wisdot-affirm-seat-belt-safety.jpg)“We’re incredibly proud to celebrate twenty years of partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on the CLICK IT OR TICKET campaign,” said Danny Mager, President at AFFIRM Agency. “Together, we’ve helped raise Wisconsin’s seat belt usage from 73.3% to 92%—a powerful reminder that smart, consistent public education can save lives. It’s been an honor to support a campaign that’s made our roads safer for everyone.” The CLICK IT OR TICKET campaign continues to evolve to employ measurable strategies and keep the message top-of-mind, with interactive components such as the current, popular [Driver Safety Quiz](https://driversafetyquiz.com/), offering participants a chance to win an autographed football by Donald Driver. These initiatives have fostered community engagement and reinforced the importance of seat belt safety across Wisconsin. AFFIRM Agency remains committed to supporting WisDOT’s mission to enhance road safety through effective communications strategies. The agency’s expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns continues to play a crucial role in promoting public health and safety initiatives for all Wisconsinites. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Wins A Record Seventeen ADDY Awards in 2023](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-wins-a-record-seventeen-addy-awards-in-2023/) **Published:** March 16, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## *Large number of awards represents high-level work for clients in many categories* (Pewaukee, WI) AFFIRM Agency, a leading full service marketing and advertising firm based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, won a record total of 17 ADDY awards, including three GOLD ADDYs, at the 2023 American Advertising Awards hosted in Madison on February 18, 2023. AFFIRM was awarded its largest total of ADDY awards in the history of the agency this year. This annual awards show is put on by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and attracts almost 35,000 entries each year and is renowned locally and nationally. AFFIRM won a GOLD ADDY for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT): Bobby Portis CONTROL YOUR DRIVE Integrated Media Public Service Campaign. This campaign was created to warn young male drivers in Milwaukee about the dangers of speeding and reckless driving with the goal of reducing crashes, injuries, and deaths on city streets. The campaign features Milwaukee Bucks basketball star and fan favorite Bobby Portis in his first-ever public service messaging partnership. AFFIRM was also awarded a SILVER ADDY for the [TV spot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW2j2jc3-mg) created for the campaign. AFFIRM won two GOLD ADDYs for work done for the City of Bloomington, Indiana’s GO BLOOMINGTON! program; one for the GO BLOOMINGTON Program Launch Integrated Media Public Service Campaign and the other for the GO [BLOOMINGTON](https://gobloomington.org/) Program Website.. GO BLOOMINGTON! is a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program that provides people with education on transportation alternatives for reducing single occupancy vehicles (SOV) on area roadways. AFFIRM designed the visual look and feel of this new brand from the ground up and built the new website. Gold ADDY Award-winning items are automatically forwarded on to the Regional Competition where, if they win Gold there, they are then forwarded on to Nationals. AFFIRM won SILVER ADDYs for work done for Henry Vilas Zoo outdoor advertising, Dane County Regional Airport’s wrapped bus and scoreboard advertising, WisDOT animated CLICK OR TICKET TV spot featuring Donald Driver, and the agency’s own video reel of work. AFFIRM won BRASS ADDYs for design work on Hultafors Tools trade show booth and new North American brand/catalog, Milwaukee Urban Forestry Fund brand and materials, HammerHead Trenchless trade show exhibit, Levin Ginsburg Attorneys website redesign, Cincinnati METRO banner ads, and WisDOT Work Zone Safety TV commercial. “The fact that AFFIRM won 17 ADDY awards this year is exciting considering the wide variety of client work the awards recognize,” said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “From trade show booths to brand books, television commercials and websites, I couldn’t be prouder of the award-winning work done by our agency team or more grateful to the clients that entrust us to do the work.” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Wins Two Telly Awards for Excellence in Video and Television](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-agency-wins-two-telly-awards-for-excellence-in-video-and-television/) **Published:** June 2, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** AFFIRM Agency announced today it was recognized with two awards in the 44th Annual Telly Awards: a Silver Telly for the animated online “Transport Yourself” video the agency produced for the Amtrak Downeaster Passenger Rail Service in Northern New England in the Non-Broadcast-Travel & Tourism category and a Bronze Telly for the “Control Your Drive” Local TV commercial featuring Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks that the agency produced for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in the Public Service/PSA category. The Telly Awards honors excellence in video and television across all screens and is judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks, and production companies including Hearst Digital Media, Netflix, Disney Parks and Paramount. “AFFIRM continues to push the boundaries for video and television innovation and creativity, especially for social marketing campaigns,” said Danny Mager, president of AFFIRM Agency. “This recognition is a credit to our clients for their willingness to allow us to help tell their stories in unique ways, and to all the dedicated professionals who worked hard to bring these projects to life. We are honored to be recognized for the great video and screen work we do.” This year, the Telly Awards attracted more than 13,000 entries from top video content producers across the globe. The full list of the 44th Annual Telly Awards winners can be found at; [www.tellyawards.com/winners](https://www.tellyawards.com/winners). ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Assists Cincinnati Metro (SORTA) to Rapidly Exceed Pre-Pandemic Ridership Levels ](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-assists-cincinnati-metro-sorta-to-rapidly-exceed-pre-pandemic-ridership-levels/) **Published:** May 13, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## *Industry ridership average surpassed by 30% and Metro (SORTA) ridership up 34% since 2022* (Pewaukee, WI) AFFIRM Agency, a leading full-service marketing communications firm based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, celebrates a major milestone with its long-term client, Cincinnati Metro (SORTA). Together, they have helped drive Metro’s ridership to exceed pre-pandemic levels, a national achievement in the transit industry. By 2023, Metro not only reached but surpassed 100% of its pre-COVID ridership, compared to the national average of just 70%. As a trusted marketing partner of Metro since before the COVID-19 pandemic, AFFIRM played a central role in developing and executing marketing efforts that engaged the public and helped restore trust in public transportation. Strategic marketing campaigns in each year since the pandemic have been designed to overcome rider concerns or misperceptions, along with instilling confidence in Metro and in public transportation. AFFIRM was instrumental in creating messaging for the launch of Metro’s ambitious growth plan, **“Reinventing Metro”,** which began in 2020. AFFIRM created the branding for the initiative and helped communicate the major service improvements to Hamilton County residents. Since the launch of Reinventing Metro’s service improvements in 2021 ridership on expanded weekday frequency routes increased by more than 126%. Overall, ridership for 2022 was up 29%, already exceeding pre-pandemic levels and was continuing to rise. [![Reinventing Metro](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-riding-is-believing.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-riding-is-believing.jpg)Building on that success, AFFIRM developed the **“Get Up & Go Metro”** campaign, aimed at attracting choice riders for leisure activities. Positioning Metro as the go-to transportation option for events and entertainment. This campaign allowed ridership to continue to grow during the beginning years of the pandemic as 2023 ridership saw a 32% increase over 2022. [![Get Up and Go Metro! Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-get-up-go.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-get-up-go.jpg)In 2022, AFFIRM designed the bold branding for **MetroNow!,** Metro’s new mobility-on-demand service that launched in Spring 2023. Leveraging the visual style of the “Reinventing Metro” campaign, the MetroNow! brand helped generate excitement and accessibility for the service. With strategic marketing support from AFFIRM, MetroNow!’s ridership soared to an 115% increase in 2024 from 2023. [![MetroNow! Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-now-campaign.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-now-campaign.jpg)> “AFFIRM’s collaboration with Metro has been key in aiding us to surpass post-pandemic ridership numbers by helping us meaningfully connect with our community”, said Dave Etienne, Director of Marketing, at Cincinnati Metro. “Their strategic marketing efforts and understanding of public transit have helped us not only recover but grow ridership and reach new audiences in innovative ways.” AFFIRM has continued to help build ridership in 2024 by creating and launching a vibrant new marketing campaign, headlined [***Your Way To Go***](https://ridingmetro.com/). This robust campaign includes many of the successful media tactics from past campaigns including digital online, print, outdoor, and radio to reach target audiences throughout the County. The creative takes a fun and engaging approach to boost bus ridership by emphasizing that Metro is, indeed, **Your Way To Go** by showcasing popular attractions in Hamilton County, Ohio. [![Metro Your Way to Go Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-your-way-to-go-campaign.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-your-way-to-go-campaign.jpg)> “Transit is a core area of expertise for AFFIRM. With many years of experience working with Metro and other transit agencies, we have a deep understanding of our clients’ marketing objectives,” said Danny Mager, Owner of AFFIRM Agency. “Our team is skilled at effectively promoting public transportation to current riders, non-riders, and those who have stopped riding, with the goal of consistently increasing ridership.” Cincinnati Metro’s leadership in overcoming post-pandemic ridership challenges is a powerful example of innovation and resilience in public transportation. AFFIRM continues to strategically plan ways for Metro to build ridership through unique and exciting marketing campaigns, partnerships, and events. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with expertise in social marketing and behavior change campaigns that positively impact public health, transportation, social causes, as well as product marketing and consumer influence. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin the agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM RANKED AS A TOP MILWAUKEE DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY BY DESIGNRUSH](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-ranked-as-a-top-milwaukee-digital-marketing-agency-by-designrush/) **Published:** June 21, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis. – June 21, 2021) AFFIRM Agency has been recognized among the 30 [best Digital Marketing Agencies in the Milwaukee](https://www.designrush.com/agency/digital-marketing/wisconsin/milwaukee "https://www.designrush.com/agency/digital-marketing/wisconsin/milwaukee") area in 2021 by DesignRush Marketplace. DesignRush is a reliable online guide to finding the best professional companies and agencies categorized according to vertical and area of expertise. After evaluating and analyzing AFFIRM’s performance with some of the most prominent brands in the region, the online platform gave AFFIRM a spot among the most reputable firms in Wisconsin. AFFIRM Agency was founded in 1985 by Jim Staples, an ex-Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel marketing executive and was taken over by Danny Mager and Steve Stocker in 2006. Both had led their previous companies through expansion and growth while managing brands for national clients. AFFIRM has achieved a 90% client retention rate thanks to their relentless pursuit of opportunity and optimization efforts. In 2020 with the global recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the company had no layoffs, adopting an “employee first” policy, and was able to grow from the previous year. AFFIRM’s presence has grown from Wisconsin into all regions of the U.S. being recognized for their work with small- to medium-sized companies as well as throughout the public sector. DesignRush evaluates thousands of agencies and is committed to helping brands find the best solutions for their needs. The platform has a listing that allows users to search partners based on clients, portfolios, reviews, pricing structure, and testimonials. This recognition to AFFIRM Agency is one of many that distinguishes the agency and claims it’s excellence. ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit www.affirmagency.com.* --- ### [AFFIRM Wins Four 2021 ADDY Awards](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-wins-four-2021-addy-awards/) **Published:** February 23, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** **Pewaukee, Wis…February 23, 2021** – AFFIRM won four ADDY awards at the 2021 American Advertising Awards Show hosted virtually on February 9 by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) – Madison Chapter. Nationwide, the ADDY Awards attract nearly 35,000 entries and is the industry’s most representative competition. AFFIRM won two ADDY awards for its Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation Distracted Driving Prevention public service announcement TV commercial in the Television Advertising and Animation/Special Effects categories. The PSA, titled [INDISTRACTIBLE](https://zeroinwisconsin.gov/programs/distracted-driving/), encourages Wisconsin drivers to stay focused and not give in to distractions while driving in order to reduce preventable deaths on Wisconsin roadways. The award-winning [television spot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oPhLWP5Ids) and accompanying online ads feature a young driver focused intently on the road while surrounded by distractions like friends, food and phones! **INDISTRACTIBLE** is one of AFFIRM’s many campaigns for the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation’s [**ZERO IN WISCONSIN**](https://zeroinwisconsin.gov/) traffic safety marketing initiative. In the Product or Service Sales category, AFFIRM earned an ADDY for its work with Laura’s Gourmet Granola, a certified woman-owned business based in Tempe, Arizona. After first re-designing the company’s [website](https://www.laurasgourmet.com/) in 2018, AFFIRM created a custom, high-end media kit as part of the agency’s 2020 national media relations strategy to spread the word about Chef Laura Briscoe’s artisan granola and help Laura’s Gourmet Granola better reach consumers around the country. AFFIRM also won an ADDY Award for its public service social marketing campaign, [**Let’s Beat Covid-19 Wisconsin Style**](https://www.facebook.com/affirmagency). Launched in July 2020, the digital campaign connects COVID-19 safety measures, like masks and social distancing, to popular Wisconsin activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, eating frozen custard, and cheering on local sports teams. **Let’s Beat Covid-19 Wisconsin Style** will continue to run through the end of the pandemic. “AFFIRM had another successful ADDY Award season,” said agency President Danny Mager. “I am proud of the AFFIRM staff who, despite a pandemic and a fully remote workplace, produced exceptional work that earned high marks from our peers. I am excited to see if some of our entries make it to Nationals!” *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit www.affirmagency.com.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Named to Inaugural List of Forbes Magazine’s America’s Best PR Agencies 2021](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-agency-named-to-inaugural-list-of-forbes-magazines-americas-best-pr-agencies-2021/) **Published:** November 4, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis. – November 4, 2020) AFFIRM Agency ([www.affirmagency.com](http://www.affirmagency.com)), a full-service marketing communications agency, has been named one of America’s Best PR Agencies 2021 by *Forbes Magazine*. AFFIRM is the only agency in Wisconsin and one of only 200 agencies nationally to make the inaugural list. The firm earned Forbes’ 4-Star distinction. “We are honored by this recognition and are grateful for the clients who put their trust in us to help tell their stories and share their good work,” said Danny Mager, agency principal. “This distinction reflects the hard work, professionalism, ethics and talent of our AFFIRM team, who have not missed a beat during the pandemic. We’re proud to have been recognized by *Forbes*, as well as our peers and customers across the country.” Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to select [America’s Best PR Agencies](https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-pr-agencies/#4c8f024e476d) based on an independent survey of more than 7,000 PR agencies in the United States. To develop the list, Statista surveyed more than 12,700 experts and 20,500 customers. AFFIRM brings decades of experience in public relations, social marketing, crisis communications, media buying, branding and creative, market research, and multi-media creation, along with the latest in digital strategy. The firm specializes in supporting behavioral and social change campaigns that benefit communities throughout the United States. Visit [www.AffirmAgency.com](http://www.AffirmAgency.com) to learn more. ***AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit*** [***AffirmAgency.com***](http://affirmagency.com)***.*** \### --- ### [AFFIRM Again Named Top Milwaukee-Area Advertising Agency by Milwaukee Business Journal](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-again-named-top-milwaukee-area-advertising-agency-by-milwaukee-business-journal/) **Published:** September 2, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis. September 3, 2020) AFFIRM Agency has been named one of the Milwaukee area’s 25 largest advertising agencies by *Milwaukee Business Journal* for the ninth year. The full-service agency was listed as the 21st largest in the area. AFFIRM’s staff of 15 addresses a wide variety of marketing needs including branding, media planning and buying, digital strategy, public relations, social media, website development, and more. The team works with many public and private sector clients, including the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Long Island Rail Road, Dane County Regional Airport, Amato Automotive Group and The Fireside Theatre. “This recognition would not be possible without our fantastic AFFIRM team and clients,” said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “AFFIRM’s expertise in social marketing, media buying and digital strategies, paired with compelling creative is a key factor in our continued success,” Mager concluded. The Largest Milwaukee-Area Advertising Agencies list will be featured in the upcoming print edition of the *Greater Milwaukee Business Journal*. It can also be found in the publication’s online *Book of Lists.* AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](http://www.AFFIRMAgency.com). --- ### [AFFIRM Applies Social Marketing Expertise to Beat the Spread of COVID-19](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-agency-applies-social-marketing-expertise-to-launch-campaign-aimed-at-curbing-the-spread-of-covid-19-lets-beat-covid-19-wisconsin-style/) **Published:** August 7, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis. August 7, 2020) AFFIRM, an award-winning, full-service marketing agency based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin has announced the launch of a digital public education campaign to raise awareness of the actions Wisconsinites can take to help curb the spread of COVID-19. The campaign, **Let’s Beat COVID-19 Wisconsin Style**, leverages the agency’s social marketing expertise and is designed to remind residents throughout the state how they can continue to enjoy Wisconsin traditions but still take the actions necessary to keep the virus in check. To help spread the word and not the virus, follow **Let’s Beat COVID-19 Wisconsin Style** on AFFIRM’s [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/affirmagency), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/affirmagency/) and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/affirm-agency/) pages, or visit our [website](https://www.affirmagency.com)[.](https://www.affirmagency.com/) “For more than 15 years, AFFIRM has specialized in social marketing campaigns designed to promote behavior change in targeted audiences,” said AFFIRM Agency president Danny Mager. “Every person on our team has been personally affected in one way or another by the pandemic. We were inspired to apply our expertise to address perhaps the greatest public information challenge of our lifetimes,” he continued. “There are a number of good public information campaigns out there, so why create yet another one? Our research showed that there was a gap between the attitudes toward taking these actions and the messaging approach for reaching people in our state. Wisconsinites are all united in some way by our cultural traditions, whether that’s food, sports, festivals, family, neighborhoods. We didn’t see another campaign that engages our collective and unique experiences as Wisconsinites as the core of why and how we can continue those safely during COVID-19,” explained Mager. **Let’s Beat COVID-19 Wisconsin Style** shows exactly how staying at home, physical distancing, wearing a mask, and washing your hands ties directly to how we can continue to hold our traditions close. The campaign creative includes uniquely Wisconsin traditions that speak to statewide audiences, including diverse communities: front porch visits, fishing, camping, hiking, frozen custard, bratwurst, Lake Michigan, picnics, football and more. AFFIRM believes that a creative approach based on research is positively engaging marketing at its most powerful and effective. The campaign will make use of online digital strategies to reach the target audiences. “Until there’s an effective vaccine or other treatment, the only way we can slow the spread of the virus, and save lives, is to take action individually,” added Mager. “AFFIRM Agency will continue **Let’s Beat COVID-19 Wisconsin Style** as long as it takes – until we can say, ‘We Beat COVID-19 Wisconsin Style.” Follow AFFIRM’s social media and our website ([www.affirmagency.com](http://www.affirmagency.com/)) and **Let’s Beat COVID-19 Wisconsin Style**! ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing for transit, transportation, public health and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* **Tags:** COVID-19, marketing, Social Media --- ### [AFFIRM Renews Contract with Long Island Rail Road Through 2022](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-renews-contract-with-long-island-rail-road-through-2022/) **Published:** July 17, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis. July 17,2020) AFFIRM, an award-winning, full-service marketing agency with offices in Pewaukee and Madison, Wisconsin will continue its work with long-time client Long Island Rail Road on the TRANSIT SOLUTIONS marketing campaign through 2022. The TRANSIT SOLUTIONS program reduces air pollution and traffic congestion in Long Island by offering pre-tax transit benefits to local employers and hosting Long Island’s annual Car Free Day each September. The new two-year contract provides additional funding to expand the TRANSIT SOLUTIONS program across Long Island, when previously the program focused solely on Nassau County. Additionally, AFFIRM will promote LIRR Double Track and Third Track Expansion projects, and the long-awaited East Side Access service to Grand Central Station targeted for completion in December 2022. “We appreciate the opportunity to work on this exciting expansion of the TRANSIT SOLUTIONS program,” said AFFIRM president Danny Mager. “Along with our current marketing efforts, we are developing targeted email blasts and a TRANSIT SOLUTIONS LinkedIn page to reach even more employers.” Since AFFIRM began its partnership with Long Island Rail Road in 2008, more than 3,700 companies and organizations have learned about the advantages of pre-tax transit benefit programs. Major Long Island employers have implemented pre-tax transit benefits for their employees after connecting with the TRANSIT SOLUTIONS program, including Northwell Health, NYU Winthrop Hospital, Leviton, and Macy’s. In 2013, AFFIRM planned, branded, and executed Long Island’s first annual Car Free Day. Six years later, 5,824 Long Islanders pledged to be car free or car-lite on the seventh annual Car Free Day, a 128% increase from the first event in 2013. This resulted in 128,000+ reduced miles of driving and 64 tons of reduced CO2 emissions. “AFFIRM specializes in using marketing strategies to create positive change in communities,” said Mager. “We look forward to using our expertise to encourage cost-efficient, environment-friendly transit options to more Long Island residents.” To learn more, please visit or contact AFFIRM. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* **Tags:** AFFIRM, Long Island Rail Road, marketing, transit --- ### [AFFIRM Helps Henry Vilas Zoo Launch Re-Opening and Fundraising Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-helps-henry-vilas-zoo-launch-re-opening-and-fundraising-campaign/) **Published:** June 29, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis. June 30, 2020) AFFIRM, an award-winning, full-service marketing agency with offices in Pewaukee and Madison, Wisconsin has announced the launch of a campaign to raise awareness of the re-opening of the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, and to help the Zoo raise funds after it was closed to the public for the first time in its 100-plus year history due to COVID-19. In addition, AFFIRM was selected by Dane County to provide ongoing marketing services for the Zoo. “The Henry Vilas Zoo has been an important and beloved part of the Dane County community for over 100 years” said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “We are thrilled to partner with the Zoo during this exciting new chapter in its history.” The Henry Vilas Zoo, one of the only admission-free zoos in the country, re-opened to the public on June 18th, and AFFIRM designed and launched a marketing campaign to encourage attendance, donations and to educate the community about safety measures being implemented during the pandemic. The strategic campaign – “We Missed You At the Zoo” shows the animals at Henry Vilas Zoo welcoming back their human friends, and includes a request to help support the Zoo through donations due to lost revenue from concessions and lack of visitors and events during the closure. The heart-felt message is being delivered through direct mail, outdoor, radio, print and digital advertising, as well as updates to . Mager, a 37-year resident of Madison, and who, along with his family is a regular patron of the Zoo, is particularly proud of the new tagline AFFIRM developed for the Zoo – “A Part of You”. “The Zoo has been a part of people’s entire lives, from going to the Zoo as a kid, birthday parties, weddings, corporate events, running at the Zoo Run, or seeing the Zoo Lights at the holidays,” said Mager. “We know we can rally the Dane County community and encourage donors at various levels to support the Zoo to ensure it thrives for years to come.” The Henry Villas Zoo is open daily and admission is free. Visit for more information. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Helps UW-Carbone Cancer Center Rename and Rebrand the Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Program to the Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-helps-uw-carbone-cancer-center-rename-and-rebrand-the-wisconsin-comprehensive-cancer-control-program-to-the-wisconsin-cancer-collaborative/) **Published:** May 29, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI…May 29, 2020) The Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, which is overseen by the UW-Carbone Cancer Center, recently worked with AFFIRM on renaming and development of a new brand and website for the program and its ongoing collaboration with the Wisconsin Cancer Council. The new name and brand – Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative – launched in April, 2020. The Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative is dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer for everyone in Wisconsin, and the primary goal of the project was to more effectively communicate its mission. AFFIRM was chosen to provide research, naming, message testing, development and design for the new name and brand, including the updated logo, and an all-new website. According to AFFIRM Principal, President Danny Mager, “The Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Program and Wisconsin Cancer Council are dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer in the State. That is why we were honored to have the opportunity to help them develop a new name that better communicates who they are and what they do. We think the Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative’s new name, branding and website will give the organization a fresh new start as it prepares to launch its next 10-year Wisconsin Cancer Plan.” To learn more about the Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative, and see the new branding and website developed by AFFIRM, visit . ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* *\###* --- ### [AFFIRM WINS FOUR AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-wins-four-american-advertising-awards-2/) **Published:** February 18, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…February 18, 2020) AFFIRM won a total of four ADDY awards at the 2020 American Advertising Awards Show hosted at Monona Terrace in Madison on Saturday, February 15, 2020. The annual awards show is put on by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) – Madison Chapter. Nationally, the American Advertising Awards attract almost 35,000 entries and is the industry’s most representative competition. Entries that are recognized with Gold awards gain automatic entry to the regional and national American Advertising Awards, with Silver awards being eligible for a fee. Not only is receiving an ADDY award a great honor, entering in the competition benefits the entire advertising industry with entry dollars helping to fund programs such as public service, internships, advertising education, and more. AFFIRM won a GOLD ADDY in the Online/Interactive Apps, Games and Virtual Reality category for the [Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation Donald Driver Safety Quiz](https://driversafetyquiz.com/). The quiz was created to encourage drivers to buckle up – every trip, every time- when driving in order to help achieve zero preventable deaths on Wisconsin roads. The Driver Safety Quiz features Green Bay football legend Donald Driver and uses a fun, interactive game to test people’s Driver Safety knowledge while giving them a chance to win an autographed Donald Driver football. In the Out-of-Home & Ambient Media category, AFFIRM was awarded a SILVER ADDY for the AtwoodFest 2019 Promotional Poster. Atwoodfest is an annual neighborhood festival held every summer on the near east side of Madison, Wisconsin featuring a wide selection of food, arts & crafts vendors, and more than 20 regional music acts. The inspiration behind this year’s Atwoodfest poster was the classic WOODSTOCK dove image from 1969 combined with festival namesake and original Madison Mayor David Atwood as the dove sitting on the guitar and promoting the festival’s “2 Days of Peace, Music & Community”. The agency also won a SILVER ADDY in the Public Service Film, Video & Sound category for the video it produced for Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity titled “Rita’s Story”, which tells the inspirational story of Rita and how becoming a Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity homeowner positively changed her personal and professional life. Along with testimonials from Rita and her family, the video uses footage from different groups that participated in the building of homes in the Midtown area of Milwaukee, drone footage, and data that shows the positive impact that Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity has had on the community. The video was originally produced to be shown at Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity’s annual *Framing the Future Gala* and helped the organization raise more than $370,000! Check out “Rita’s Story” [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpkFJ8vr3QE). Finally, AFFIRM won a SILVER ADDY in the Advertising Industry Self-Promotion category for its agency Holiday E-Blast. The festive client e-mail titled “Holiday Letters from AFFIRM” features an animated Christmas tree made up of AFFIRM’s logo with each ornament featuring a photo of an AFFIRM team member with a “holiday letter” telling about their personal and work highlights from the year. Check out the Holiday Letters from AFFIRM [here](https://affirmagency.com/holiday-letters/)! “We’re proud of all of the work we do for our clients, so it’s especially gratifying when some of it is recognized by our industry as being exceptional”, said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “Our clients and our staff are always excited to win ADDY Awards and I look forward to a few of our winners making it all the way to Nationals!” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Awards, awareness, Branding, Engagement, identity, Logo, marketing, Social Media --- ### [AFFIRM Produces Full-Scale Branding & Media Campaign in One Week](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-produces-full-scale-branding-media-campaign-in-one-week/) **Published:** April 29, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…April 29, 2020) When long-time client Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA) decided to quickly move forward with their planned drive-through light show to entertain people stuck inside during quarantine, AFFIRM created an entire branding and media campaign in a week! DCRA, Madison, Wisconsin’s commercial airport, serves travelers with over 20 non-stop destinations throughout the country. With access to International Lane, the airport access road with capacity to host a display, Dane County and airport leaders thought a large-scale light display could be a great way to utilize the space while traffic is slower due to the pandemic. AFFIRM quickly jumped into the project, partnering with both the airport and Traditions Lighting, who handled the show logistics. Within days, the agency brainstormed the show’s name FLIGHT OF LIGHTS, and created a full brand representing the light show. Branding materials created included the logo, digital, print, and billboard ads. The agency also wrote and recorded a radio script, designed and printed event signage, and created an event microsite (check it out here: [www.flightoflights.com](https://www.flightoflights.com)). In addition to these creative assets, AFFIRM also handled the social media campaign, assisted in the media conference, and placed all local media. Typically, a campaign like FLIGHT OF LIGHTS could take months to plan and execute, but AFFIRM and its partners wanted to surprise and delight residents quickly. FLIGHT OF LIGHTS has been a tremendous success with hundreds of cars driving safely through to see the display nightly. The event has also received national recognition from media outlets such as CNN, People Magazine and Travel & Leisure. Because of its popularity, the airport is excited to make FLIGHT OF LIGHTS an annual event to welcome in the Spring. To see it this year, the show runs through Sunday, May 10 nightly from 7:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, Dane County Regional Airport, marketing, media buying, Public Relations --- ### [STOP DWI NEW YORK: HAVE A PLAN Campaign Launches Staples Marketing-produced HAVE A PLAN App for iPhone, Android and Windows Phones](https://affirmagency.com/news/stop-dwi-new-york-have-a-plan-campaign-launches-staples-marketing-produced-have-a-plan-app-for-iphone-android-and-windows-phones/) **Published:** July 29, 2014 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Laura Monagle, APR (262) 650-9900 **STOP DWI NEW YORK: HAVE A PLAN Campaign Launches Staples Marketing-produced HAVE A PLAN App for iPhone, Android and Windows Phones** (New York State…July 29, 2014) The State of New York’s STOP DWI NEW YORK program has launched a new app as part of its HAVE A PLAN campaign. The app was produced by Staples Marketing in Pewaukee, Wisconsin and is available on iPhone, Android and Microsoft Windows mobile platforms. The HAVE A PLAN campaign provides would-be drivers with information that helps them to make the best decisions regarding drinking and driving. This new app provides interactive information on the dangers of driving while under the influence, and also allows users to easily connect with alternative means of transportation. “We are very proud to be involved with the production of this app for STOP DWI NEW YORK,” said Danny Mager, Staples Marketing Principal and Marketing Director. “This app, along with the overall HAVE A PLAN campaign, serves a very important purpose, and we know it will go a long way towards improving safety on New York State roads.” Established in 1985, Staples Marketing provides advertising, public relations, marketing, and Web development services for both business-to-business and consumer clients. The agency’s business expertise, focus on results, and quality customer service deliver consistent, on-target results for its clients. For more information, visit the agency’s Web site at [www.staplesmarketing.com](https://www.staplesmarketing.com), or contact them at N28W23050 Roundy Drive, Suite 100, Pewaukee, Wisconsin 53072, phone: 262-650-9900, Fax: 262-650-3160. \### --- ### [Staples Marketing Names Amy Opad Account Executive](https://affirmagency.com/news/staples-marketing-names-amy-opad-account-executive/) **Published:** August 22, 2014 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Laura Monagle, APR (262) 650-9900 **Staples Marketing Names Amy Opad Account Executive** (Pewaukee, Wis…August 22, 2014) Amy Opad has been named Account Executive for Staples Marketing, a leading advertising, PR, interactive and social marketing agency. Opad has been an assistant account executive with the agency since 2013. In her new role, Opad will be responsible for managing and growing client relationships, as well as leading efforts with each client to develop and implement marketing, advertising and PR strategies that lead to bottom line results. “Staples Marketing is passionate about reliability and resourcefulness when it comes to working with different kinds of companies, and we’re confident that Amy will continue to offer those qualities to both our agency team as well as her clients,” said Steve Stocker, Staples Marketing Principal and Creative Director. Established in 1985, Staples Marketing provides advertising, public relations, marketing, and Web development services for both business-to-business and consumer clients. The agency’s business expertise, focus on results, and quality customer service deliver consistent, on-target results for its clients. For more information, visit the agency’s Web site at [www.staplesmarketing.com](https://www.staplesmarketing.com), or contact them at N28W23050 Roundy Drive, Suite 100, Pewaukee, Wisconsin 53072, phone: 262-650-9900, Fax: 262-650-3160. \### --- ### [Agency for Community Transit Selects AFFIRM Agency for Media Planning & Buying Services](https://affirmagency.com/news/agency-for-community-transit-selects-affirm-agency-for-media-planning-buying-services/) **Published:** August 27, 2014 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** [![Print](https://affirmagency.com/assets/RideFinders_Logo.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/RideFinders_Logo.jpg) (Pewaukee, Wis…August 27, 2014) Agency for Community Transit (ACT), an extension of Madison County Transit in Greater St. Louis, has awarded a three-year contract to AFFIRM Agency (formerly Staples Marketing) for Media Planning & Buying. Over the next three years, AFFIRM will provide media planning & buying services for nine promotional campaigns related to the RideFinders program. The mission of the RideFinders program is to provide transportation services and information to commuters through a network of nearly 900 regional employers and colleges. “We are looking forward to helping ACT and RideFinders provide better access to transportation solutions in their community,” said Danny Mager, Marketing Director at AFFIRM Agency. “Our media team is second to none, and we’re excited to be a part of a great initiative in the St. Louis metropolitan area. ***AFFIRM**, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. We serve local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and have special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** media buying, media planning --- ### [Melville Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Staples Marketing client Transit Solutions (NY) with 2014 Business of the Year Award](https://affirmagency.com/news/melville-chamber-of-commerce-recognizes-staples-marketing-client-transit-solutions-ny-with-2014-business-of-the-year-award/) **Published:** November 17, 2014 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Laura Monagle, APR (262) 650-9900 **Melville Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Staples Marketing client Transit Solutions (NY) with 2014 Business of the Year Award** (Manhasset, NY…November 17, 2014) The Melville Chamber of Commerce in Melville, NY has honored Transit Solutions with one of its Business of the Year Awards for 2014. Transit Solutions is a subsidiary of Long Island Rail Road, a Staples Marketing client since 2006. The award recognizes Long Island organizations for their community support, mentorship and interest helping those who work, live and visit the area. Transit Solutions promotes the use of public transportation in order to improve air quality on Long Island, relieve traffic congestion and to help commuters save both time and money. The organization advances these initiatives through partnerships with local businesses and pre-tax commuter benefit programs. Staples Marketing leads the effort in raising awareness of the program among businesses, commuters, and the community at large. “Working on this campaign has really been a privilege,” said Danny Mager, Staples Marketing Principal and Marketing Director. “We are proud to be affiliated with them and all the great work that they do.” Established in 1985, Staples Marketing provides advertising, public relations, marketing, and Web development services for both business-to-business and consumer clients. The agency’s business expertise, focus on results, and quality customer service deliver consistent, on-target results for its clients. For more information, visit the agency’s Web site at [www.staplesmarketing.com](https://www.staplesmarketing.com), or contact them at N28W23050 Roundy Drive, Suite 100, Pewaukee, Wisconsin 53072, phone: 262-650-9900, Fax: 262-650-3160. \### --- ### [City of Milwaukee’s Recycle For Good Campaign Has Produced Excellent Results](https://affirmagency.com/news/city-of-milwaukees-recycle-for-good-campaign-has-produced-excellent-results/) **Published:** January 15, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** [![Recycle For Good Milwaukee Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Recycle-For-Good-Milwaukee_Logo.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Recycle-For-Good-Milwaukee_Logo.jpg) (Pewaukee, Wis…January 15, 2015) The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) recently released their report covering the RECYCLE FOR GOOD campaign, an initiative implemented by DPW in 2008. The results have been very positive, including a 19.6% per-household increase in pounds of recycled materials over the five years following the campaign launch. AFFIRM Agency (formerly Staples Marketing) was awarded the marketing contract for the program in 2008. Since then, their contributions to the campaign have included development of the RECYCLE FOR GOOD brand, a campaign-specific website, along with print, online, and radio messages. “It’s fantastic to see the way people have responded to the recycling messages, because recycling is something everyone should take very seriously,” said Danny Mager, AFFIRM Agency Principal and Marketing Director. “I’m very proud of the work we’ve done on this campaign, and of the way the City of Milwaukee’s recycling has improved.” ***AFFIRM**, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. We serve local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and have special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Milwaukee --- ### [Staples Marketing Wins Eight American Advertising Awards](https://affirmagency.com/news/staples-marketing-wins-eight-american-advertising-awards/) **Published:** February 23, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Laura Monagle, APR (262) 650-9900 (Pewaukee, WI…February 23, 2015) Staples Marketing, LLC ([www.staplesmarketing.com](https://www.staplesmarketing.com)) won a total of eight ADDY awards at the 2015 American Advertising Awards Show hosted at UW-Madison’s Union South on Friday, February 20, 2015. The American Advertising Awards are the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting more than 50,000 entries every year through local competitions around the country. The American Advertising Awards competition aims to recognize and reward creative excellence in the art of advertising. The American Advertising Federation of Madison Awards is the only Southeastern Wisconsin point of entry to the regional and national American Advertising Awards. Staples Marketing won a GOLD ADDY for the New York State STOP-DWI Program’s “Have A Plan” mobile application in the category of Apps – Mobile. “Have A Plan” was developed to connect would-be drivers with interactive information on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It provides facts about impaired driving, activities designed to gauge impairment, and means of contacting both alternative transportation providers and local authorities. The app encourages drivers to have a plan when drinking, and makes it much easier to do so. The agency also won seven SILVER ADDY awards, including four in total for the Salt Lake City Police Department’s “Trucks Need Space!” campaign, which uses a variety of different media to remind drivers to drive safely around commercial trucks. In 2014, Staples Marketing won a National SILVER ADDY for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s CHOOSE YOUR RIDE! vehicle wrap, after winning both BEST OF SHOW and two GOLD ADDYs at the District 8 Regional Competition. This April, both the “Have A Plan” mobile app and the “Trucks Need Space!” campaign will be entered in the regional competition. “These awards are very special to us because they represent great relationships and a lot of hard work on behalf of our clients and our team,” said Danny Mager, Staples Marketing Principal. *About Staples Marketing* Since 1985, Staples Marketing has been providing advertising, public relations, marketing, and Web services for both business-to-business and consumer clients. The agency’s business expertise, focus on results, and quality customer service deliver consistent, on-target results for its clients. For more information about Staples Marketing, visit [www.staplesmarketing.com](https://www.staplesmarketing.com) or call 262-650-9900. --- ### [Dane County Regional Airport Launches WHO KNEW?! Campaign, Starring Michael Feldman](https://affirmagency.com/news/dane-county-regional-airport-launches-who-knew-campaign-starring-michael-feldman/) **Published:** March 3, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** [![DCRA Feldmanscale](https://affirmagency.com/assets/DCRA_Feldmanscale.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/DCRA_Feldmanscale.jpg) (Pewaukee, Wis…March 3, 2015) Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) in Madison, with the help of AFFIRM Agency (formerly Staples Marketing), has launched a new marketing campaign this week. The WHO KNEW?! campaign promotes the quality and convenience of flying out of MSN as compared to other airports, and it prominently features Wisconsin Public Radio personality and Madison-resident Michael Feldman as its spokesperson. AFFIRM developed the “WHO KNEW?!” theme for the campaign as a takeoff on Feldman’s well-known radio quiz show “Whad’Ya Know?”. WHO KNEW?! educates audiences on MSN’s benefits using a “quiz show” format extended into media tactics such as streaming video, radio, outdoor, online and print. There is even a campaign-specific landing page where people can go and take the WHO KNEW?! quiz themselves to determine their level of knowledge about Madison’s award-winning airport: [www.MSNairport.com/whoknew](https://www.MSNairport.com/whoknew). “This is a really fun campaign that communicates how easy it is to use Dane County Regional Airport, which is still really one of Madison’s best-kept secrets,” said Danny Mager, AFFIRM Principal and Marketing Director. “Michael Feldman is hilarious and did a great job of working with us to produce our own unique quiz show promoting the airport! Now everyone will know not only how many weekly flights there are out of MSN, but that, according to one contestant, Frank Lloyd Wright sometimes danced without his shirt on at festivals.” ***AFFIRM**, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. We serve local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and have special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Dane County Regional Airport --- ### [Staples Marketing is now AFFIRM](https://affirmagency.com/news/staples-marketing-is-now-affirm/) **Published:** July 1, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** [![AFFIRM Logo Tag V 2015](https://affirmagency.com/assets/AFFIRM_Logo-Tag-V_2015.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/AFFIRM_Logo-Tag-V_2015.jpg) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Laura Monagle, APR (262) 650-9900 (Pewaukee, WI…July 1, 2015) As of today, Staples Marketing LLC, a full-service advertising, public relations and marketing agency founded in 1985 and headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, has changed its name to AFFIRM, in order to better reflect the purpose and mission of the agency. While the name for doing business has changed, the agency remains the same company with the same staff at N28W23050 Roundy Drive, Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The new website is [www.affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com). **Clearing up confusion, setting a course for the future** Ten years ago, when Danny Mager and Steve Stocker took over management and eventually ownership of Staples Marketing from founder Jim Staples, people often asked if the agency was associated with a certain office supply company (which it is not). According to Stocker, the agency’s Creative Director, “This was a long-time in the making. Even though Danny and I joined the agency knowing there was some confusion with the Staples name, we knew that the name was recognized in Public Sector marketing circles and didn’t want to change it right away. After seeing our growth and reaching our 10-year anniversary as business partners, combined with marking our 30th year, we felt the timing was right to launch a strong, new name for the firm,” Stocker concluded. Over the past year, Staples Marketing undertook an extensive process of getting input from clients, staff and resource partners in order to clearly define the agency’s purpose, mission, and vision. “Through surveys and interviews, we were able to establish a common purpose that defines what we do and why we do it. That purpose *– to effectively communicate to people how they can make their lives better*, is at the core of our agency as we move forward into the agency’s exciting next chapter,” said agency principal and marketing director, Danny Mager. Stocker added, “Our mission remains the same: To help clients achieve their most ambitious goals through advertising, marketing and public relations campaigns that enhance brand awareness, improve sales and foster growth. That’s what AFFIRM is all about and that’s how we create *Positively Engaging Marketing* for our clients.” *Please note that AFFIRM is a doing business as (d/b/a) name for Staples Marketing LLC, which remains our legal name. All existing client and vendor agreements under the name Staples Marketing LLC remain valid, enforceable and in full legal effect.* ***AFFIRM**, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee Wisconsin. We serve local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and have special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** AFFIRM, Branding, Logo --- ### [Wisconsin Department of Justice Launches DOSE OF REALITY Campaign With AFFIRM’s Help](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisconsin-department-of-justice-launches-dose-of-reality-campaign-with-affirms-help/) **Published:** September 17, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** [![DOJ logo RGB tag](https://affirmagency.com/assets/DOJ-logo-RGB_tag.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/DOJ-logo-RGB_tag.jpg) *Statewide prescription painkiller abuse awareness, education and prevention effort necessary to help save Wisconsin lives* The Wisconsin Department of Justice and Attorney General Brad Schimel, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services launched the **DOSE OF REALITY: Prevent Prescription Painkiller Abuse in Wisconsin** public education, awareness and prevention campaign today via news conferences in Milwaukee and Green Bay. AFFIRM was selected by the Wisconsin Department of Justice to assist them in the research, strategy, planning and execution of this important public education and awareness campaign. AFFIRM has become a national leader in the development of public sector social marketing campaigns that encourage positive behavior changes, such as using a seatbelt, selecting transit or recycling more. The goals of DOSE OF REALITY: Prevent Prescription Painkiller Abuse in Wisconsin are to: - Inform and educate Wisconsinites about the improper use of prescription painkillers - Warn about the dangers of inadequate storage and disposal of prescription painkillers - Inform each audience as to the role they play in education and abuse prevention, from medical providers and parents to high school students and young adults - Encourage positive action The statewide campaign tactics include: targeted media flights over the next 12 months, television ads, radio ads, outdoor, online and mobile ads, print materials for the medical, dental, pharmaceutical communities, website, social media, and an online Pledge. **DOSE OF REALITY: Prevent Prescription Painkiller Abuse in Wisconsin** also includes an online ordering portal so that the medical, dental, pharmacy communities, law enforcement, public health and others may upload and/or customize all the campaign materials (where applicable) at no cost to them. For more information on **DOSE OF REALITY: Prevent Prescription Painkiller Abuse in Wisconsin**, visit [www.doseofrealitywi.gov](https://www.doseofrealitywi.gov). *AFFIRM, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. We serve local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and have special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com.* \### **Tags:** Attorney General Brad Schimel, Dose of Reality, Government, prescription painkiller abuse --- ### [Car Free Day Long Island 2015 Successful in Raising Awareness of Alternative Ways of Commuting](https://affirmagency.com/news/car-free-day-long-island-2015-successful-in-raising-awareness-of-alternative-ways-of-commuting/) **Published:** September 28, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (September 28, 2015…Pewaukee, WI) AFFIRM is pleased to announce that the marketing and public relations campaign for Car Free Day Long Island, held on September 22, 2015 () was a resounding success in helping raise awareness of the alternatives to commuting by car that save energy and the environment. AFFIRM is the agency of record for the Long Island Rail Road’s TRANSIT SOLUTIONS Campaign to Increase Transit Usage, which promotes pre-tax transit benefits and alternative modes of transportation to driving on Long Island. In addition to TRANSIT SOLUTIONS and the Long Island Rail Road, other Car Free Day LI sponsors include NICE Bus, 511NY Rideshare and Suffolk County Transit. This year’s results exceeded the record results from 2014 in total pledges, miles of driving saved, and total reduction in CO2 emissions: - Total pledges: 2,963 (4% increase from 2,855 in 2014) - Total miles saved: 77,660 miles (8% increase from 72,000 miles in 2014) - Total CO2 reduction: 39 TONS (8% increase from 36 TONS in 2014). Car Free Day Long Island also experienced increased involvement from organizations throughout the region: - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced Suffolk County will soon offer County employees the pre-tax transit benefit - Seven municipalities earned Car Free Day LI Municipal Challenge Awards for promoting Car Free Day LI in their municipalities and encouraging their residents and employees to try commute alternatives - Significant press coverage from FiOS1 and WALK FM - 12 Long Island Colleges and Universities participated in pledging activities for Car Free Day LI - Farmingdale State College hosted a great Car Free Day LI Rally ***AFFIRM**, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. We serve local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and have special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Long Island Rail Road, marketing, Public Relations, Transit Solutions, transportation --- ### [Wisconsin DOJ Sets Record for Drug Take Back Day](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisconsin-doj-sets-record-for-drug-take-back-day/) **Published:** November 3, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** [![WIS DOJ 15112 Drug Take Back Thank You News Graphic 110615](https://affirmagency.com/assets/WIS-DOJ-15112_Drug-Take-Back-Thank-You_News-Graphic_110615.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/WIS-DOJ-15112_Drug-Take-Back-Thank-You_News-Graphic_110615.jpg) (November 3, 2015…Pewaukee, WI) The Wisconsin Department of Justice, Office of Attorney General Brad Schimel had a record-setting Drug Take Back Day on October 17, 2015, with 44,698 pounds collected and incinerated. The October 17th collection beat the previous record set in May of 2015 by several thousand pounds, in part due to the DOSE OF REALITY: Prevent Prescription Painkiller Abuse in Wisconsin campaign that launched one month earlier informing people about the dangers of prescription painkillers and promotion of proper disposal. AFFIRM is proud to work with the DOJ on the DOSE OF REALITY campaign, and was able to engage outdoor advertising partners in donating public service announcements about the October 17th Day in order to help raise awareness of this crucial part of the prevention effort. Each spring and fall, the DOJ coordinates a statewide collection of unwanted and/or unused prescription drugs with thousands of participating organizations and agencies. Wisconsin residents go to Drug Take Back sites and the drugs that are collected are weighed and taken by semi-truck escorted by armed guards to a special incineration facility out of state. However, residents do not need to wait for a Drug Take Back Day to properly and safely dispose of unused or unwanted prescription drugs – visit to find a Drug Take Back location near you. ***AFFIRM**, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. We serve local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and have special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Advertising, Dose of Reality, Government --- ### [RTA - DuPage County Transit Marketing Campaign Driving Great Results](https://affirmagency.com/news/rta-dupage-county-transit-marketing-campaign-driving-great-results/) **Published:** November 9, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (November 9, 2015…Pewaukee, WI) The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in Chicago launched a marketing campaign in January 2014, designed to inform suburban DuPage County residents about how they can better utilize transit for both work and entertainment. The results have been very positive so far with over 815,000 visitors to the campaign landing page and over 2.5 million total page views. AFFIRM Agency developed the DuPage County Transit Marketing campaign for the RTA and implemented a number of tactics to drive County residents to www.RTAChicago.org/DuPage, which features a trip planner and other valuable information about transit options using Metra and Pace in DuPage County. To drive people to the website, AFFIRM designed and placed signage at DuPage County shopping malls, ran a digital online campaign, placed door hangers targeting homes living on strategic bus routes, placed print advertising in local publications, and posted a schedule of digital and vinyl outdoor advertisements. “The RTA has really made it easy for DuPage County residents to access information about the best ways to utilize their local transit system,” said Amy Opad, AFFIRM Account Executive. “It’s great to see how successful this campaign has been, because educating County residents about the many different ways that Metra and Pace serve them will hopefully result in less traffic and cleaner air in the County!” ***AFFIRM****, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. We serve local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and have special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Advertising, marketing, transportation --- ### [Dane County Regional Airport Wins WAVE Award for WHO KNEW?! Television Commercial Produced by AFFIRM](https://affirmagency.com/news/dane-county-regional-airport-wins-wave-award-for-who-knew-television-commercial-produced-by-affirm/) **Published:** November 17, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI…November 17, 2015) AFFIRM won a Merit Award at the Media Communications Association International – Madison Chapter’s (MCA-I Madison) WAVE Awards on November 12, 2015 for a television commercial it produced for the Dane County Regional Airport’s (MSN, [www.MSNairport.com](https://www.MSNairport.com)) WHO KNEW?! advertising campaign. MCA-I is a global organization comprised of communications and media professionals and the Madison chapter is the largest single chapter in the country. Its WAVE Awards reward excellence in media communications and the 2015 ceremony was held at the Pyle Center on the University of Wisconsin – Madison campus recognizing over 50 organizations in 18 categories. AFFIRM won a Merit WAVE award in the *Commercials At or Under :30* category for the “WHO KNEW?! – 12 Direct Flights” :30 second TV commercial it produced using Tilt Media in Madison as its production partner. The commercial features “WHO KNEW?!” host and National Public Radio star Michael Feldman quizzing people on their knowledge of how many non-stop destinations people can fly to from MSN. AFFIRM collaborated with MSN to launch the WHO KNEW?! campaign ([www.MSNairport.com/whoknew](https://www.MSNairport.com/whoknew)) in April 2015 to promote the value and convenience of flying into and out of MSN. AFFIRM has been MSN’s agency of record for more than four years. ***AFFIRM****, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Dane County Regional Airport, marketing, television commercial --- ### [Dane County Regional Airport Wins Three ACI-NA Awards for Campaign Created by AFFIRM](https://affirmagency.com/news/dane-county-regional-airport-wins-three-aci-na-awards-for-campaign-created-by-affirm/) **Published:** November 19, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI…November 19, 2015) Dane County Regional Airport () won three awards at the Airports Council International – North America’s (ACI-NA) 2015 Excellence in Airport Marketing, Communications, and Customer Service Awards on November 10, 2015. These annual Awards recognize airports that have excelled in the areas of marketing and public relations during the previous year. The 2015 Awards were held during the ACI-NA Marketing & Communications Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. MSN placed second in the prestigious *Marketing Campaign* category for the AFFIRM-developed WHO KNEW?! campaign featuring National Public Radio star and Madison resident Michael Feldman. The campaign launched in April 2015 and uses a humorous “quiz show” format to reveal all of the reasons why it’s better to fly out of MSN as compared to other regional airports. MSN also won second place awards in the *Promotional Item* and *Radio Advertising* categories for a WHO KNEW?! branded media kit in the form of a board game and a :60 second radio ad featuring Feldman quizzing real-life Madisonians about their airport knowledge. AFFIRM has been MSN’s agency of record for more than four years. ***AFFIRM****, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Advertising, Dane County Regional Airport, marketing --- ### [AFFIRM Selected For Suffolk County Bus Rapid Transit Branding and Marketing Campaign, Furthering Its Transit Marketing Expertise](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-selected-for-suffolk-county-bus-rapid-transit-branding-and-marketing-campaign-furthering-its-transit-marketing-expertise/) **Published:** November 23, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI…November 23, 2015) The Suffolk County, New York Department of Economic Planning and Development has selected AFFIRM to develop the branding and marketing plan for its new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. With construction running over the next few years, the BRT will ultimately serve three corridors within the County with all routes being express, running north-south and stopping only at high-use locations such as office parks, colleges and hospitals. In December 2015, AFFIRM will conduct focus groups of Suffolk County residents to acquire qualitative and quantitative data about target users’ motivation to use the BRT, as well as message testing creative naming for the service. Upon completion of the research, AFFIRM will create an umbrella brand for the BRT along with sub-brands for each of the three corridors. The agency will also develop a marketing plan concurrent with the branding initiative. The marketing plan will focus on the promotion of the Nicolls Road Corridor, the first of the three BRT routes scheduled to start service, including creative design and production, website and other digital assets, project management, and media planning and placement. “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to work with Suffolk County on this campaign,” said Amy Opad, AFFIRM Account Executive. “Bus Rapid Transit is a ground-breaking new concept in public transportation, and we’re excited to play a part in bringing the service to the residents of Long Island.” ***AFFIRM****, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Branding, Bus Rapid Transit, New York, research, Suffolk County, transportation --- ### [AFFIRM Provides Creative Services for Anti-Marijuana Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-provides-creative-services-for-anti-marijuana-campaign/) **Published:** November 30, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** [![Make the Right Choice - Let's Be Blunt](https://affirmagency.com/assets/LBB-ad-for-affirm-news_1024x512_120915.png)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/LBB-ad-for-affirm-news_1024x512_120915.png) (Pewaukee, WI…November 30, 2015) The Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (MCSAPC), overseen by the Community Advocate Public Policy Institute, launched the **Let’s Be Blunt** public education campaign on November 16, 2015 with help from AFFIRM. The goal of Let’s Be Blunt is to prevent marijuana use among developing adolescents by encouraging them to make better choices and help raise awareness. To effectively reach this audience, MCSAPC hosted a contest to encourage Milwaukee youth, ages 12 to 17, to design posters incorporating compelling, age-appropriate messages. Based on teens’ submissions, AFFIRM and Mosaic Communications created the Let’s Be Blunt messaging and imagery. Creative includes outdoor and transit ads as well as a corresponding social media effort. Individuals can interact on the campaign’s online platforms ([www.facebook.com/letsbebluntmke](https://www.facebook.com/letsbebluntmke), [twitter.com/LetsBeBluntMKE](https://twitter.com/LetsBeBluntMKE), [instagram.com/letsbebluntmke](https://instagram.com/letsbebluntmke)) and use the hashtags #LetsBeBlunt and #NoNeedForWeed. According to AFFIRM Principal – Creative Director, Steve Stocker, “We’re glad to be a part of this important effort for getting Milwaukee teens engaged in spreading the message on preventing marijuana use while raising awareness of the problem. The Let’s Be Blunt campaign lets kids know that no matter what their situation is, smoking marijuana isn’t the answer, and sharing positive messages will help others make better decisions.” ***AFFIRM**, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. We serve local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and have special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Advertising, Social Media --- ### [AFFIRM Teams Up with WISDOT’s RIDESHARE Program to Remind Travelers About Carpooling to Ease the Stress of Road Construction](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-teams-up-with-wisdots-rideshare-program-to-remind-travelers-about-carpooling-to-ease-the-stress-of-road-construction/) **Published:** November 30, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI….November 30, 2015) AFFIRM and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WISDOT) RIDESHARE Program recently launched a multimedia effort aimed at increasing Rideshare’s top-of-mind awareness among target audiences who are impacted by highway construction, while encouraging them to enlist in the carpooling program. “With ongoing major construction projects in the region, such as the Zoo Interchange, and winter weather on the way as well, the RIDESHARE program can make it easier and less stressful for commuters,” said Travis Willer of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. “By sharing rides, people can save money, time and stress, especially when the roads are not as navigable. It’s an important message that needs to get out to carpoolers and employers,” said Willer. As part of the awareness campaign, AFFIRM produced new radio ads and online banner ads that aired on radio traffic reports, Pandora and targeted online this fall. RIDESHARE, a free service provided by the State of Wisconsin, serves all of Wisconsin and bordering counties in neighboring states (Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota). The RIDESHARE program makes it easy for those interested in carpooling to find co-commuters by registering online at . ***AFFIRM,*** *formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* ***\###*** **Tags:** Advertising, multimedia, online, pandora, radio, rideshare, transportation --- ### [AFFIRM Helps Ultra Tool & Manufacturing Launch Updated Website](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-helps-ultra-tool-manufacturing-launch-updated-website/) **Published:** December 10, 2015 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (December 10, 2015…Pewaukee, WI) Ultra Tool & Manufacturing, a Germantown-based leader in manufacturing, tooling, and automation, has launched a new responsive website. AFFIRM developed and provided creative services for all of the refreshed web pages. As the first step of a long-term SEO plan, the enhanced version of the manufacturer’s site () launched on December 4th and includes new and updated copy that better highlights Ultra Tool’s services. “Ultra Tool is investing in a long-term SEO program. Building a responsive website on an appropriate CMS completes the first phase of this program, and we’re super excited about it,” said AFFIRM Senior Account Executive, Rick Panten. ***AFFIRM****, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** creative services, responsive website design, seo --- ### [Laura Monagle to Present Social Marketing, DOSE OF REALITY with Anne Schwartz of DOJ at PRSA on February 17](https://affirmagency.com/news/laura-monagle-to-present-social-marketing-dose-of-reality-with-anne-schwartz-of-doj-at-prsa-on-february-17/) **Published:** January 27, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (January 27, 2016) AFFIRM’s vice president of client services and public relations, Laura Monagle, APR will be presenting along with Anne Schwartz, director of communications and public affairs for the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), on “Changing Behaviors Through Social Marketing: Wisconsin DOJ Sends a Dose of Reality” at the PRSA Southeast Wisconsin Chapter luncheon on Wednesday, February 17th from 11:30am-1:30pm at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee. Attendees will hear more about DOJ’s **DOSE OF REALITY: Prevent Prescription Painkiller Abuse in Wisconsin** public education and awareness campaign, created in partnership with AFFIRM, and the use of social marketing: \* What social marketing is, when to use it and how it works \* How to build a coalition around a topic with many stakeholders \* What you need to do to uncover your target audience’s barriers or motivations to the change \* The measures of success The presentation is open to non-members of PRSA. There is a cost for the luncheon. For more information, visit [www.prsawis.org](https://www.prsawis.org). AFFIRM is a leader in social marketing with clients such as WisDOT, Chicago MetraRail, Long Island Rail Road, City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works, Dane County Regional Airport, and others. **Tags:** Dose of Reality, Government, marketing, PR, prescription painkiller abuse, PRSA, Public Relations --- ### [AFFIRM Recognized in Milwaukee Business Journal's Book of Lists](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-recognized-in-milwaukee-business-journals-book-of-lists/) **Published:** February 5, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…February 5, 2016) AFFIRM has been listed in the Milwaukee Business Journal’s *Book of Lists* for 2016. The full-service advertising agency was ranked as the twentieth Largest Milwaukee-area Advertising Agency. The Milwaukee *Book of Lists* recognizes leading business, employers, and organizations in the market. AFFIRM has been listed in the Book since 2010. “It’s an honor to be acknowledged in the Book of Lists again. The talent and passion in Milwaukee advertising is exceptional and we’re proud to contribute to that,” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director, Danny Mager. AFFIRM was recognized at The Business Journal’s Book of Lists party on February 4. ***AFFIRM****, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Book of Lists, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Business Journal, Milwaukee-area Advertising Agency --- ### [AFFIRM Collaborates with Elmbrook Schools on New District Program](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-collaborates-with-elmbrook-schools-on-new-district-program/) **Published:** February 9, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis… February 9, 2016) Elmbrook Schools has chosen AFFIRM to develop a brand and subsequent advertising for the district’s most recent educational initiative. Set to begin in January 2017, the program will allow high school students to work on real-life, professional projects with local businesses. Enrolled students will receive high school credit and work in an off-campus, but within district, building for several hours during the school day. The program will allow students to be directly exposed to their areas of interest and receive first-hand experience in preparation for their collegiate and professional careers. Having an identity and brand for this program is importance since it is a collaborative, community initiative. Once brand development is complete, AFFIRM will produce several videos, both informative and interest-sparking, for several of the program’s key stakeholders: community members, district staff, business partners, parents, and students. A student-focused campaign will follow to inform high school juniors and seniors of the program before enrollment begins. Initially only available within the School District of Elmbrook, the program will likely extend to other districts in Wisconsin to provide students the opportunity to expand on their interests while still in high school. “As a recent graduate, I am acutely aware of the importance of education. Elmbrook Schools is providing an incredible opportunity to its students and it is an honor to work alongside the district as the program develops,” said AFFIRM Assistant Account Executive, Karissa Holzbauer. ***AFFIRM****, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, collaboration, Elmbrook Schools, marketing, video production --- ### [AFFIRM to Redesign SunVest Solar Website to Provide an Even Better Customer Experience](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-to-redesign-sunvest-solar-website-to-provide-an-even-better-customer-experience/) **Published:** February 17, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…February 17, 2016) AFFIRM has been selected to complete a website redesign for SunVest Solar. The solar electric installation company is headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin and has installed more than 30,000 solar panels across the country. SunVest Solar’s new website will include updated graphics, content, and a responsive design to better provide customers with the information they need on various devices. The site will launch late spring 2016 at the current web address: [https://www.sunvest.com/. ](https://www.sunvest.com/.) “Working with SunVest is an exciting experience. The company is making incredible strides for solar electricity and it’s rewarding to be working with them as they grow,” said AFFIRM Assistant Account Executive, Katie Smallwood. ***AFFIRM****, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Wins Ten American Advertising ADDY Awards Including Best of Show](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-wins-ten-american-advertising-addy-awards-including-best-of-show/) **Published:** February 29, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** [![AFFIRM Best of Show MadAdFed 2016](https://affirmagency.com/assets/AFFIRM-Best-of-Show-MadAdFed-2016-1024x847.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/AFFIRM-Best-of-Show-MadAdFed-2016.jpg) (Pewaukee, WI… February 29, 2016) AFFIRM won a total of ten ADDY Awards including the competition’s top award, BEST OF SHOW, at the 2016 American Advertising Awards Show hosted at UW-Madison’s Union South on Saturday, February 27, 2016. The American Advertising Awards are the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, aiming to recognize and reward creative excellence in the art of advertising and attracts more than 50,000 entries annually through local competitions across the country. The American Advertising Federation of Madison Awards is the only Southeastern Wisconsin point of entry to the regional and national American Advertising Awards. AFFIRM won BEST OF SHOW and a Gold ADDY for the ZERO IN WISCONSIN “Driver Surprise” TV Commercials in the category of Single Medium Public Service Campaign. The series of “Driver Surprise” TV Commercials was created for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s ZERO IN WISCONSIN campaign to promote seat belt use. The commercials show unsuspecting Wisconsin drivers arriving at a gas station only to be surprised “candid camera”-style by NFL legend Donald Driver, who reinforces the importance of always wearing a seat belt while driving. Judges defined this piece as “very innovative, funny and smart. It was creative, unexpected and a humorous way to promote an important message that appeals to a large audience. Excellent production value and unique ads that share an incredibly vital message that ultimately saves lives.” The “Driver Surprise” campaign also won two Silver ADDY awards for an individual TV Commercial and the “Driver Surprise” Outtakes Video. In receiving the BEST OF SHOW award, AFFIRM principal Danny Mager said, “There’s are a lot of great work being done by agencies in Madison and Milwaukee, so to win the Best of Show award for work that we’ve done is especially gratifying. It’s a credit to the great team we have at AFFIRM and having the kinds of clients who give us the creative license to get their message out in ways that are unique and engaging,” he concluded. The agency also won ADDYs for the following campaigns: AFFIRM won Silver ADDY Awards for the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s DOSE OF REALITY Web Banner Ads and “Overdose” TV Commercial in the categories of Advertising & Promotion – Web Banner Ads and Public Service Television, respectively. The DOSE OF REALITY: Prevent Prescription Painkiller Abuse in Wisconsin public education, awareness, and prevention campaign launched in September 2015 and aims to inform and educate Wisconsinites about the improper use and dangers of prescription painkillers and encourage positive action. AFFIRM won a Gold ADDY Award for the Dane County Regional Airport WHO KNEW?! Press Kit, and Silver ADDYs for Video Pre-Roll Ads, and Radio Advertising. The WHO KNEW?! Campaign uses a fun, quiz show format featuring National Public Radio host Michael Feldman to educate Madison area travelers about the benefits of flying out of Dane County Regional Airport as compared to faraway big city airports. Lastly, AFFIRM won a Gold ADDY in the category of Collateral – Card, Invitation, Announcement for the 1960’s psychedelic-style poster it designed for “50Fest”, a large 50th birthday event that took place in Madison over Labor Day weekend. All of AFFIRM’s Gold ADDY winners will now automatically advance to the American Advertising Federation Regional Awards competition in Minneapolis this spring. Regional winners will then advance to the National competition. “We are extremely proud of the creative work we do for our clients, especially when it makes an impact in the area of social marketing,” said AFFIRM principal and creative director Steve Stocker. “While being recognized by leaders in our industry is wonderful, we’re even more gratified that it supports our purpose, which is to effectively communicate to people how they can make their lives better,” said Stocker. ***AFFIRM****, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Awards, Dane County Regional Airport, Government, marketing, transportation --- ### [AFFIRM Selected as Agency of Record for METRO Bus System in Cincinnati](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-selected-as-agency-of-record-for-metro-bus-system-in-cincinnati/) **Published:** April 1, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…April 1, 2016) As a national leader in transit and transportation-related advertising and marketing, AFFIRM has been selected as the agency of record for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority’s METRO bus system. METRO is the public transportation agency serving Cincinnati and surrounding suburbs. AFFIRM was awarded the METRO contract as the result of a competitive RFP process. As part of the contract with METRO, AFFIRM will plan, create, and execute all of the bus system’s advertising campaigns through 2019. The agency will use its extensive transit and social marketing experience to motivate METRO’s potential rider base, including Millennials, in order to increase ridership and improve public perception of the bus service. “At AFFIRM, our vision is to effectively communicate to people how they can make their lives better, which is why we place a large focus on public transportation. Bus systems and other transit entities provide incredible benefits and opportunities to riders,” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director Danny Mager “All of us at AFFIRM look forward to working with METRO as the system positions itself for a new generation of riders, insuring all Cincinnati–area residents have a modern, reliable alternative to driving.” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, cincinnati, marketing, transit, transportation --- ### [North Mississippi Medical Clinic Launches Google AdWords Campaign with AFFIRM’s Help](https://affirmagency.com/news/north-mississippi-medical-clinic-launches-google-adwords-campaign-with-affirms-help/) **Published:** April 7, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…April 7, 2016) AFFIRM was chosen by Springboard Brand & Creative Strategy to plan and execute a Google AdWords campaign on behalf of the North Mississippi Medical Clinic (NMMC). The AdWords campaign launched on April 1 and promotes NMMC’s three urgent care centers in Tupelo, Mississippi. Ads will be served in response to Google searches about urgent care within Tupelo. As an initial test, the campaign will run for three months. In conjunction with the AdWords campaign, AFFIRM created an urgent care-specific landing page for NMMC. All ads within the AdWords campaign click-thru to the page, which is fully responsive. “At AFFIRM, we take a great deal of pride in our purpose of effectively communicating to people how they can make their lives better. Working with Springboard in support of NMMC is a perfect example of that purpose at work. It’s incredibly rewarding to provide people with the resources they need to improve their lives,” said AFFIRM Assistant Account Executive, Karissa Holzbauer. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AdWords, AFFIRM, Google AdWords, marketing, SEM --- ### [AFFIRM Awarded Suffolk County STOP-DWI Contract to Help Reduce Deaths and Injuries from Alcohol and Drug-Related Crashes](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-awarded-suffolk-county-stop-dwi-contract-to-help-reduce-deaths-and-injuries-from-alcohol-and-drug-related-crashes/) **Published:** April 14, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI…March 8, 2016) After a competitive RFP process, AFFIRM has been awarded a contract with the Suffolk County, New York STOP-DWI Program. The Special Traffic Operations Program for Driving While Intoxicated (STOP-DWI) was developed in New York to reduce deaths and injuries due to alcohol and other drug-related traffic crashes. The program promotes DWI prevention as a public priority and coordinates local efforts in areas including Law Enforcement, Probation, and Rehabilitation. Since the Program’s inception, the chances of being killed by a drunk or impaired driver in New York have been reduced by 70 percent. For the next five years, AFFIRM will develop a strategic, targeted media campaign to promote safe driving behavior and raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving in Suffolk County. This campaign will also help to promote the overarching New York State STOP-DWI Association’s new HAVE A PLAN mobile app, which provides a number of different ways a person can help prevent drunk driving, including a blood-alcohol estimator and a safe ride home feature. “Intoxicated driving still represents a huge problem on American roadways, especially in places like Suffolk County that are large leisure destinations,” said AFFIRM Account Executive, Amy Opad, “We look forward to being able to make a difference there by working with STOP-DWI Suffolk County to educate people and change behaviors, leading to safer driving conditions and reducing the number of injuries and deaths resulting from alcohol and drug-related crashes.” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, drunk driving, marketing, New York, Suffolk County --- ### [AFFIRM Introduces The DISTRACTOR in New Wisconsin DOT Distracted Driving Commercials](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-introduces-the-distractor-in-new-wisconsin-dot-distracted-driving-commercials/) **Published:** May 3, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…May 3, 2016) AFFIRM and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation have launched a new creative advertising campaign focused on the dangers of distracted driving and the fact that texting while driving is only one of many dangerous distractions people engage in while on the road. The campaign, which launched during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, features a dangerously funny anti-hero called The DISTRACTOR. Literally an embodiment of drivers’ consciences, The DISTRACTOR appears in the vehicle just as drivers are contemplating doing something that will distract them while driving such as eating, drinking, and applying make-up. The DISTRACTOR eggs them on , ultimately leading to a ticket, car crash, or worse. The DISTRACTOR’s custom-made costume is covered in items that distract drivers: coffee, soda, burger, bagel, French fries, toothbrush, make-up, hairbrush, hair dryer, cellphone, map, and even a selfie stick. Franne Lee, a Tony and Emmy Award-winning costume designer now residing in Madison, Wisconsin designed this unique creation. Lee also worked as a designer for Saturday Night Live during its first five years of production, designing costumes for some of its best-known characters including the Coneheads, the Blues Brothers, and the Killer Bees. The DISTRACTOR TV commercials can be viewed at . “We are extremely excited to have had the opportunity to partner with Wisconsin DOT for this campaign,” said AFFIRM Account Executive, Amy Opad, “Distracted driving is a growing problem and it is important to generate awareness of other distractions aside from texting. The DISTRACTOR is a unique, fun way to get that message across using a humorous appeal that will hopefully help us to achieve the State’s vision of zero preventable deaths on Wisconsin roadways.” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** AFFIRM, safe driving, transportation, Wisconsin DOT --- ### [AFFIRM Develops New Candid-Camera Commercials with Donald Driver for Wisconsin DOT](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-develops-new-candid-camera-commercials-with-donald-driver-for-wisconsin-dot/) **Published:** May 11, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…May 11, 2016) For the eighth consecutive year, AFFIRM has developed all creative advertising for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s ZERO IN WISCONSIN highway safety campaign. Since 2009, Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame member and Green Bay football legend Donald Driver has been the campaign’s seat belt safety spokesperson. In 2015, AFFIRM produced a series of candid-camera style TV commercials at a Wisconsin gas station in which Driver played the role of the voice at the other end of the gas pump and quizzed people about their seat belt use. These commercials won the American Advertising Federation – Madison BEST OF SHOW Award at the 2016 ADDY Awards in February 2016. This year, AFFIRM revamped the idea to target a younger male audience using the same candid-camera style at Milwaukee barbershop, Gee’s Clippers. In both cases, people were unaware they were being questioned by Donald Driver until he revealed himself, resulting in an excited, surprise reaction every time. As part of the national CLICK IT OR TICKET effort, these Wisconsin DOT commercials have been airing statewide on both TV and radio and can be seen at . “Our agency’s purpose is to effectively communicate to people how they can make their lives better,” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director Danny Mager. “These new spots for CLICK IT OR TICKET are a perfect example of that purpose in action. They’re fun, compelling, and should help the Wisconsin DOT move towards its vision of zero preventable deaths on Wisconsin roadways.” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, safe driving, seat belt safety, transportation, Wisconsin DOT --- ### [AFFIRM Wins Three Telly Awards for Public Service TV Spots](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-wins-three-telly-awards-for-public-service-tv-spots/) **Published:** May 19, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…May 19, 2016) AFFIRM has been awarded three Telly Awards in recognition of its public service television spots developed for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Wisconsin Department of Justice, and Dane County Regional Airport. The Telly Awards honor the best film and video productions, including online video, non-broadcast video, and local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs. The 37th Annual Telly Awards were expected to garner over 13,000 submissions from all 50 US states and multiple continents. AFFIRM won a Silver Telly Award for the ZERO IN WISCONSIN “Driver Surprise: John” TV Commercial in the category of Local TV & Local Cable – Not-for-Profit. The commercial is part of a series of “Driver Surprise” TV commercials created for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s ZERO IN WISCONSIN campaign to promote seat belt use. The commercial shows an unsuspecting driver arriving at a gas station only to be surprised by NFL legend Donald Driver who reinforces the importance of wearing a seat belt while driving. The agency also won a Bronze Telly Award for the WHO KNEW?! campaign online video in the Commercial – Transportation category. The commercial, developed for Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, WI is part of a larger brand awareness campaign featuring National Public Radio personality Michael Feldman. The video was created in a format similar to Feldman’s “Whad’Ya Know” trivia show. The commercial also won a Media Communications International WAVE Award for Best TV Commercial of :30 Seconds or Less in November 2015. Lastly, AFFIRM won a Bronze Telly Award for the DOSE OF REALITY “Overdose” TV Commercial in the Local TV & Local Cable – Public Service category. As part of the overall DOSE OF REALITY Prescription Painkiller Abuse Prevention public education and awareness campaign, the commercial aims to inform and educate Wisconsinites about the improper use and dangers of prescription painkillers and encourages action. “AFFIRM is proud to be working with such great public sector partners on these important campaigns,” said AFFIRM Principal –Marketing Director Danny Mager. “They give us the creative license to communicate their messages in original and innovative ways and winning these Telly Awards is a great reinforcement of this process.” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Dane County Regional Airport, Government, marketing, Wisconsin DOT --- ### [METRO Celebrates National Dump the Pump Day with #61616 Event in Cincinnati, Ohio](https://affirmagency.com/news/metro-celebrates-national-dump-the-pump-day-with-61616-event-in-cincinnati-ohio/) **Published:** June 8, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…June 8, 2016) AFFIRM was selected by Cincinnati’s METRO bus system to create a major ridership event in recognition of National Dump the Pump Day, which is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and will be held June 16, 2016. To encourage people to ride public transportation and save money, AFFIRM and METRO have launched #61616, a once-in-a-lifetime ridership event, to celebrate the once-in-a-lifetime Dump the Pump Day date. To participate, Cincinnatians pledge to ride METRO on 6/16 at [www.METRO61616.com](https://www.METRO61616.com). After pledging, they receive “text tickets” on their mobile phones that will be redeemable on 6/16. They will also be automatically entered to win several prizes from the event’s sponsors including concert tickets and theme park passes. On #61616, pledgers will redeem their text tickets for free METRO Day Passes at four select METRO bus stops. There will be free refreshments from Qdoba Mexican Eats, Schweppes Sparkling Water, Busken Bakery, The Pop Shop, and Pit to Plate as well as free entertainment from local Cincinnati bands: Jess Lamb, Buggs tha Rocka, Elementree Livity Project, and The Cliftones (acoustic). Along with event planning, AFFIRM has designed and developed all creative for the campaign including online banner, transit, and print ads as well as radio commercials and several promotional items including t-shirts and stickers. The agency also created and maintains the campaign website, [www.METRO61616.com](https://www.METRO61616.com), which is updated in real-time with pledges and other event information. “We’re very excited to be working with METRO and to have our first campaign with them be fun and interactive,” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director Danny Mager. “#61616 will help to introduce a new generation of riders to the system and entice them to try it out with free food and live music!” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, cincinnati, event planning, marketing, METRO, National Dump the Pump Day, ridership --- ### [AFFIRM Celebrates Successful Transit Event for METRO Bus System in Cincinnati](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-celebrates-successful-transit-event-for-metro-bus-system-in-cincinnati/) **Published:** June 20, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis… June 20, 2016) On Thursday, June 16, 2016, AFFIRM helped Cincinnati bus system, METRO, celebrate National Dump the Pump Day with a city-wide transit event. AFFIRM has been planning, developing, and executing all of METRO’s creative advertising materials since early 2016. Prior to the event, Cincinnati residents, employees, and transit users were asked to pledge to ride METRO on #61616 at the event’s website, [www.METRO61616.com](https://www.METRO61616.com). After pledging, each individual received a text ticket. AFFIRM also developed web banner, radio, print, social media, and transit ads to promote the event as well as several promotional items including stickers and t-shirts. On #61616, METRO hosted events at four bus stops in the Cincinnati area where people could redeem their text tickets for a free METRO Day Pass. Each stop featured free food, live music from popular bands local to Cincinnati, raffle prizes, and other freebies. Among the event sponsors were Qdoba Mexican Eats, Natorp’s Nursery, The Pop Shop, Hubbard Radio, Radio One, Pit to Plate, Schweppes Sparkling Water, and Busken Bakery. When the event ended, 1,641 people had pledged to ride METRO. This number far surpasses the system’s previous ridership events and provides positive foreshadowing for METRO’s future. “Planning and hosting #61616 alongside METRO was an incredible experience,” says AFFIRM Assistant Account Executive, Karissa Holzbauer. “Seeing the joy on people’s faces as we celebrated Dump the Pump Day and making a positive impact on the METRO brand was more rewarding than I could have ever expected. We’re already looking forward to our next campaign and outreach effort with METRO this fall,” concluded Holzbauer. [![ZP2 7761](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ZP2_7761.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ZP2_7761.jpg) [![ZP2 9149 (1)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ZP2_9149-1.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ZP2_9149-1.jpg) [![ZP2 9310](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ZP2_9310.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ZP2_9310.jpg) [![ZP2 9337](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ZP2_9337.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ZP2_9337.jpg) [![ZP1 0477](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ZP1_0477.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ZP1_0477.jpg) [![ZP2 9445](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ZP2_9445.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ZP2_9445.jpg) ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, event planning, marketing, METRO, National Dump the Pump Day, transit --- ### [AFFIRM Selected as Agency of Record for Commuter Connect in Indianapolis](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-selected-as-agency-of-record-for-commuter-connect-in-indianapolis/) **Published:** June 23, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…June 23, 2016) AFFIRM, a national leader in transit and transportation-related marketing, has been selected as the agency of record for Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority’s (CIRTA) Commuter Connect rideshare system. Commuter Connect provides residents and employers in Indianapolis and surrounding counties with alternative transportation to single-passenger driving, free of charge. Users can participate in carpooling, vanpooling, riding transit, biking, and walking. AFFIRM was awarded the Commuter Connect contract as the result of a competitive RFP process. As part of the contract with Commuter Connect, AFFIRM will plan, develop, and implement the organization’s marketing campaigns including advertising, digital, and social media. The agency will use its extensive transit, ridesharing, and social marketing experience to motivate people in Indianapolis to engage with Commuter Connect to save money and sustain the environment with an overall goal of increasing carpools, vanpools, and overall awareness of the system. “We’re excited to bring our experience in transit and promoting the benefits of commuting to the Indianapolis area and the Commuter Connect program,” said AFFIRM Marketing Director, Danny Mager. “A lot is happening in Central Indiana right now with regard to transit use and planned improvements to infrastructure and accessibility, which will benefit the entire region,” continued Mager. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, CIRTA, marketing, transit, transportation --- ### [AFFIRM’s Mager Featured in Wisconsin State Journal’s “Know Your Madisonian”](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirms-mager-featured-in-wisconsin-state-journals-know-your-madisonian/) **Published:** July 28, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…July 28, 2016) Each week, the Wisconsin State Journal runs a feature on a local Madison resident who has made a positive impact in the Madison, or Wisconsin, community. This week’s “Know Your Madisonian” highlights the accomplishments of AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director, Danny Mager. Mager has played an integral role in the development and execution of dozens of advertising campaigns at AFFIRM, including the recent DOSE OF REALITY campaign for the Wisconsin Department of Justice and ongoing ZERO IN WISCONSIN campaign for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. When out of the office, Danny plays in an ultimate frisbee league in Madison – he was a member one of the league’s founding teams – and loves attending live music shows; he’s been to over 2,000 in his lifetime. On living and working in Madison, Mager states, “I don’t think there is any better place to live in the country than Madison … And I think the Near East Side of Madison is the best place within the best place.” For the full article, click [here](https://bit.ly/2a6ZNo3). ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Danny Mager, Dose of Reality, marketing, music, transportation --- ### [AFFIRM Again Recognized in Milwaukee Business Journal](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-again-recognized-in-milwaukee-business-journal-2/) **Published:** August 20, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…August 20, 2016) AFFIRM has again been recognized by the Milwaukee Business Journal’s list of Largest Milwaukee-Area Advertising Agencies. The full-service agency was listed as the twenty-third largest in the area. This list will be published in the 2017 Milwaukee *Book of Lists*, which recognizes leading businesses, employers, and organizations in the market. AFFIRM has been listed in the Book since 2010. “It’s an honor to again be acknowledged in the Book of Lists,” said AFFIRM Principal – Creative Director, Steve Stocker. “Milwaukee is making great strides in marketing and advertising and we’re proud to actively contribute to that exceptional work,” concluded Stocker. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Book of Lists, marketing, Milwaukee Business Journal --- ### [AFFIRM Again Recognized in Milwaukee Business Journal](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-again-recognized-in-milwaukee-business-journal/) **Published:** August 20, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…August 20, 2016) AFFIRM has again been recognized by the Milwaukee Business Journal’s list of Largest Milwaukee-Area Advertising Agencies. The full-service agency was listed as the twenty-third largest in the area. This list will be published in the 2017 Milwaukee *Book of Lists*, which recognizes leading businesses, employers, and organizations in the market. AFFIRM has been listed in the Book since 2010. “We’ve worked hard to build AFFIRM over the past dozen years, so it’s very rewarding to be recognized on the Top Agency List,” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director, Danny Mager. “There are a lot of great agencies in the Milwaukee market, and our plan is to have AFFIRM continue to grow and further ascend on this list!” concluded Mager. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Business Journal, milwaukee-area --- ### [AFFIRM Adds Skowron as Senior Web Designer/Developer](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-adds-skowron-as-senior-web-designerdeveloper/) **Published:** August 29, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…August 29, 2016) AFFIRM ([www.affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com)), an award-winning full-service marketing firm in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, has hired Mark Skowron as Senior Web Designer/Developer. Skowron has over a decade of experience working for recognized companies in the Milwaukee area, in addition to serving his own clients, and will be a strong addition to AFFIRM’s creative and digital capabilities. Skowron will be providing design and development, as well as online strategies, for agency clients. “We’re excited about Mark joining AFFIRM as he brings years of solid experience across a number of digital areas,” said AFFIRM Principal – Creative Director, Steve Stocker of Skowron. “His knowledge and strategic approach, not to mention his easy-going manner, will be a tremendous benefit to the agency and our clients. And despite the fact that Mark is a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, we decided to hire him anyway,” joked Stocker. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Mark Skowron, marketing, Pewaukee, Web Designer, Web Developer --- ### [AFFIRM Celebrates World Car Free Day with Events in Long Island, NY and Indianapolis, IN](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-celebrates-world-car-free-day-with-events-in-long-island-ny-and-indianapolis-in/) **Published:** September 23, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…September 23, 2016) For over a decade, hundreds of cities across the world have celebrated World Car Free Day on every September 22. This year, AFFIRM helped Long Island, New York and Indianapolis, Indiana celebrate this annual event. For the fourth consecutive year, AFFIRM collaborated with the Long Island Rail Road and other partners to host Car Free Day Long Island. In addition to the event’s growing number of corporate sponsors and participants, 4,111 Long Islanders took the pledge to be car free or car-lite on September 22, saving over 84,000 miles of driving and 42 tons of CO2 emissions. Since its inception, Car Free Day Long Island has grown to be the second largest Car Free Day celebration in the US. As the Advertising Agency of Record for the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority’s Commuter Connect program, AFFIRM coordinated the first annual Car Free Day Indy in Indianapolis. On September 22, Commuter Connect hosted events at several Indianapolis-area locations, including Angie’s List and Monument Circle, featuring free live music, refreshments, and Emergency Ride Home passes – an important benefit of Commuter Connect’s program providing carpoolers with free rides home in emergency situations. With nearly 600 pledges and major coverage from Indianapolis media, Commuter Connect leaders deemed the first annual Car Free Day Indy to be an extreme success and are already making plans for the second annual event in 2017. “It’s been greatly rewarding to work with both the Long Island Rail Road and the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority to bring World Car Free Day to life in their markets, “ said AFFIRM Account Executive, Amy Opad. “We hope to grow both events next year so that they continue to promote sustainable transportation not only on September 22, but throughout the rest of the year,” concluded Opad. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, event planning, long island, marketing, sustainable tranpsortation, transportation, vanpooling --- ### [AFFIRM Helps City of Milwaukee Create a New Environmental Education Center](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-helps-city-of-milwaukee-create-a-new-environmental-education-center/) **Published:** October 15, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…October 15, 2016) AFFIRM has worked with the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works to launch the new Milwaukee Environmental Education Resource and Tour Center. Located in a downtown Milwaukee building that’s part of Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful (KGMB), the Center has a completely renovated interior that includes new displays and info graphics. The Education Resource and Tour Center (MEERTC), which is facilitated by KGMB, serves all sectors of the community and especially school-aged children who visit the facility throughout the school year. The new displays and infographics promote the concepts of reduce, reuse, recycle, compost and litter prevention through KGMB tours, conservation of natural resources, field trips and educational outreach. Activities emphasize interactive hands-on, minds-on experiences. [![recycling center display 1](https://affirmagency.com/assets/recycling-center-display-1-300x229.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/recycling-center-display-1.jpg)[![recycling center display large](https://affirmagency.com/assets/recycling-center-display-large-300x226.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/recycling-center-display-large.jpg) AFFIRM provided project management, illustration, and design for the displays which include free-standing exhibits, window clings, and pop-up banner displays produced and installed by Splat!dpi. “The new displays really enhance all of the great things that the City of Milwaukee DPW and KGMB are doing to help educate kids on the impact of recycling and making our environment better,” commented AFFIRM Creative Director, Steve Stocker. “The infographics and illustrations are eye-catching, easy-to-understand, and interactive making them a huge improvement for the facility,” continued Stocker. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, education, education center, marketing, project management --- ### [AFFIRM Adds Strandberg as Assistant Accounting Manager](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-adds-strandberg-as-assistant-accounting-manager/) **Published:** October 16, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…October 13, 2016) AFFIRM ([www.affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com)), an award-winning, full-service marketing firm in Pewaukee, Wisconsin has hired Paula Strandberg as Assistant Accounting Manager. With over 15 years of accounting and financial analysis experience, Strandberg will assist AFFIRM’s Accounting Manager in collecting, analyzing, verifying, and reporting on all of the agency’s finances. “We’re excited to introduce Paula to AFFIRM. Her impressive experience, attention to detail, and hard-working nature will make her an excellent addition to our team,” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director, Danny Mager. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, marketing, new hire --- ### [Wisconsin DOJ Launches DOSE OF REALITY Community Outreach Kits, Expanding Prevention Efforts](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisconsin-doj-launches-dose-of-reality-community-outreach-kits-expanding-prevention-efforts/) **Published:** October 20, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…October 20, 2016) The Wisconsin Department of Justice has added Community Outreach Kits for Parents, Coaches and Educators to the DOSE OF REALITY campaign website ([www.DoseOfRealityWi.gov](https://www.DoseOfRealityWi.gov)), furthering Wisconsin’s efforts to prevent prescription painkiller abuse. The kits are the latest addition to an already extensive online ordering portal, which contains all campaign materials that organizations throughout the state can download and use at no charge to help spread the prevention message. The portal contains materials for businesses, as well as radio and television commercials, print ads, outdoor ads digital online ads, fact sheets, and more. Thus far, over 120 organizations have ordered materials through the portal. With help from AFFIRM, the Community Outreach Kits were designed to help parents, coaches, and educators learn how to prevent and spot prescription painkiller abuse as well as how to help someone who is addicted. Each kit contains instructions and guidelines for use, posters, fact sheets, talking points, PowerPoint presentations, social media content, and campaign logos. “Parents, coaches and educators are key influencers for the audience most at risk for starting down the road of prescription painkiller abuse: youth age 12-18. The more we can spread a consistent prevention message, and offer organizations the tools by which to raise awareness of the dangers of opioids and narcotics, the more lives we can save,” said Laura Monagle, APR, vice president of client services and public relations at AFFIRM. The Community Outreach Kits and more information can be found at: [www.DoseOfRealityWI.gov](https://www.DoseOfRealityWI.gov) ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, community outreach, Department of Justice, Dose of Reality, Government, marketing, outreach, prescription painkiller abuse, prevention --- ### [AFFIRM to Develop Brand for Milwaukee County’s Pathways to Responsible Fatherhood Project](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-to-develop-brand-for-milwaukee-countys-pathways-to-responsible-fatherhood-project/) **Published:** November 7, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…November 7, 2016) AFFIRM has been selected by Milwaukee County as the advertising agency for the *New Pathways for Fathers and Families* program. *New Pathways* will serve men in Milwaukee County who are low-income biological fathers, expectant and adoptive fathers, stepfathers, as well as those who serve as a father figure. Through skill-building workshops and individualized service, the integrated program involves three Core Program Services: Economic Stability, Responsible Parenting, and Healthy Marriage/Relationships. AFFIRM will be responsible for all brand identity development of the *New Pathways for Fathers and Families* program, including logo design, tagline development, logo library, and usage standards. The agency will extend the brand to collateral materials including a brochure and sell sheet as well as a dedicated website. These materials will aid in helping fathers and father-figures improve their lives and strengthen their relationships with their children. “We’re reaching out to a young, internet-savvy audience so our message and the look and feel of the materials has to be cool and more appealing,” said AFFIRM Senior Account Executive, Rick Panten. “Just as much thought has to be put into where and how we’re reaching our target. A mobile-friendly website with links to program partners as well as the Milwaukee County Transit website are great tools and will work great for this program in conjunction with all the other materials AFFIRM is creating,” concluded Panten. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, marketing, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County --- ### [Dane County Regional Airport Experiences Best Ever Passenger Traffic with Help from AFFIRM](https://affirmagency.com/news/dane-county-regional-airport-experiences-best-ever-passenger-traffic-with-help-from-affirm/) **Published:** November 15, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…November 15, 2016) Dane County Regional Airport experienced its best single month traffic numbers in October 2016. With 80,648 passengers flying out of Madison, October 2016 passenger traffic increased 13.0 percent over October 2015. Since it launched its advertising campaigns with help from AFFIRM (STOP THE SCHLEP! in 2012 and WHO KNEW?! in 2015), the Airport has seen steady increase in passenger traffic both in to and out of the airport. Other factors that play a role in passenger traffic include restaurant openings and new, non-stop flights “It’s great to hear about Dane County Regional Airport’s incredible surge in passenger traffic,” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director Danny Mager. “It’s a true testament to the effectiveness of the Airport’s advertising, marketing, and consistent community outreach, among other factors,” concluded Mager. Dane County Regional Airport’s second best month was in 2014 with 80,559 passengers. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Dane County Regional Airport, marketing, passenger traffic --- ### [Wisconsin DOJ and Wisconsin DOT Partner for Drugged Driving TV Commercial Developed by AFFIRM](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisconsin-doj-and-wisconsin-dot-partner-for-drugged-driving-tv-commercial-developed-by-affirm/) **Published:** December 7, 2016 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…December 7, 2016) Wisconsin Department of Justice and Wisconsin Department of Transportation have collaborated to develop an anti-drugged driving TV commercial as part of their DOSE OF REALITY and ZERO IN WISCONSIN campaigns. The commercial, titled “Drugged Driving: One and the Same” replaces alcohol with prescription drugs – rather than shaking a martini shaker, a bartender shakes a pill bottle full of drugs; instead of buying a 6-pack of beer, a man purchases a 6-pack of pill bottles. In doing so, the ad explains that drugged driving is just as dangerous and illegal as drunk driving. The new commercial can be viewed at: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrtL\_SlloOc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrtL_SlloOc) [![pills kills](https://affirmagency.com/assets/pills-kills-300x169.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrtL_SlloOc) “We take pride in working with Wisconsin DOJ and DOT to make Wisconsin a better, safer state,” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director, Danny Mager. “By collaborating on this new anti-drugged driving TV commercial, both organizations are able to bring a strong, empowering message to the State and encourage safe driving and responsible drug use,” concluded Mager. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Department of Justice, drugged driving, Government, marketing, television, television commercial, transportation, TV commercial, Wisconsin DOT --- ### [AFFIRM Featured in Adweek](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-featured-in-adweek/) **Published:** December 22, 2016 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…December 22, 2016) AFFIRM’s Holiday Mannequin Challenge video was recently featured in Adweek’s *Agency Holiday Cards 2016: The Coolest, Funniest and Silliest Season’s Greetings.* The holiday video was shot in 4K resolution and features AFFIRM’s Force Award lightsaber trophy as a selfie stick, an intense game of dreidel, and Santa enjoying an Old Fashioned. “We had a lot of fun brainstorming, filming, and putting the video together for the holiday season” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director, Danny Mager. “It’s an honor to be recognized by Adweek and to be a part of this list!” See the full article [here](https://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/agency-holiday-cards-2016-coolest-funniest-and-silliest-seasons-greetings-175193). *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.AFFIRMAgency.com)*.* *\###* --- ### [KMA Bodilly Launches New Tagline and Website with Help from AFFIRM](https://affirmagency.com/news/kma-bodilly-launches-new-tagline-and-website-with-help-from-affirm/) **Published:** January 5, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…January 5, 2017) To celebrate their fifth anniversary as KMA Bodilly, the Madison-based accounting firm has launched a new tagline and website. Since the firm no longer solely serves small business, the new tagline, *We’re invested in you,* represents the firm’s recently broadened clientele. AFFIRM developed the tagline and updated all of the firm’s collateral material, including business cards, letterhead, envelopes, and folders, to match the refreshed brand. In addition, KMA Bodilly launched a new website under a new domain – [www.cpakma.com](https://www.cpakma.com). Designed and developed by AFFIRM, the new website is more user-friendly and mobile-optimized. It also features updated content to better present information about the company’s services to prospective and current clients, and reinforces the firm’s updated brand. “It’s been a pleasure to help KMA Bodilly unveil their new tagline and website,” said AFFIRM Account Executive, Karissa Holzbauer. “Their new, refreshed brand and website are truly representative of the firm and will serve it well as they continue to grow,” concluded Holzbauer. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, digital design, KMA Bodilly, marketing, tagline, website, website redesign --- ### [Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault Launches BY YOUR SIDE Campaign Developed by AFFIRM](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisconsin-coalition-against-sexual-assault-launches-by-your-side-campaign-developed-by-affirm/) **Published:** January 30, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ![WCASA 16103 By Your Side Logo tagline 300 dpi](https://affirmagency.com/assets/WCASA-16103-By-Your-Side-Logo_tagline_300-dpi-300x91.png) (Pewaukee, Wis…January 30, 2017) The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA), in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of Crime Victim Services, launched the **BY YOUR SIDE: Support for Sexual Assault Survivors in Wisconsin** campaign today via news conferences in Madison, Green Bay, and Milwaukee. AFFIRM was selected by WCASA to assist with strategy, planning, and execution of this important public education and support campaign. The goal of BY YOUR SIDE: Support for Sexual Assault Survivors in Wisconsin is to inform sexual assault survivors that there is a number they can call for help, support, and to find resources and information about their sexual assault kits. The statewide campaign includes a targeted online media flight, posters, and outdoor billboards. Materials are available for download and use at the campaign website, [www.byyoursidewi.org](https://www.byyoursidewi.org). ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Government, marketing, sexual assault survivors --- ### [DOSE OF REALITY Campaign Extends to Maine, Minnesota, and Nebraska](https://affirmagency.com/news/dose-of-reality-campaign-extends-to-maine-minnesota-and-nebraska/) **Published:** February 16, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…February 16, 2017) The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s DOSE OF REALITY Prevent Prescription Painkiller Abuse in Wisconsin public education, awareness, and prevention campaign has been introduced to three new states – Maine, Minnesota, and Nebraska. AFFIRM has adapted the original Wisconsin DOSE OF REALITY campaign logo and materials – including print, outdoor, radio, and TV ads as well as posters, brochures, and website – for the new three states. The campaigns can be viewed at [www.doseofrealitymaine.org](https://www.doseofrealitymaine.org), [doseofreality.mn.gov](https://doseofreality.mn.gov/), and [www.doseofreality.nebraska.gov](https://www.doseofreality.nebraska.gov), respectively. The campaign launched in Wisconsin on September 17, 2015 and has since achieved positive, measurable results including over 1,000 materials ordered through the campaign’s online ordering portal from 100 different organizations. In addition, the number of pounds collected at the state’s bi-annual Drug Take Back Days has consistently increased, making Wisconsin the second largest drug collection state behind Texas. “Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel has been incredibly generous in letting other states access the DOSE OF REALITY materials,” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director Danny Mager. “Prescription opioid abuse and addiction is a public health crisis all over the country and the more states that start to fight it on the local level, the better the chances are that they can help stem the tide,” concluded Mager. For more information on the campaign, visit [www.doseofrealitywi.gov](https://www.doseofrealitywi.gov). ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Dose of Reality, Government, Maine, marketing, Minnesota, Nebraska, opioid abuse, prescription painkiller abuse, prescription painkillers, Social Media, wisconsin --- ### [AFFIRM Develops Brand for MC Services’ New Customer Relationship Management System](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-develops-brand-for-mc-services-new-customer-relationship-management-system/) **Published:** February 21, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…February 21, 2017) AFFIRM has completed all branding for the new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system SalesTrackR developed by MC Services, an IT consulting firm that also provides development, management, network integration, and technical support services. Created for busy sales representatives, SalesTrackR features many benefits, including mobile integration, digital line cards, MacKay profiling, and unlimited online training, which make it a more streamlined, all-in-one CRM that far exceeds competitors. In addition to brand development, including naming, tagline development, and logo design, AFFIRM has created corresponding SalesTrackR collateral materials. These materials – product banners and a sell sheet – will be used at trade shows and similar tabling events where the product will be sold. “It’s a pleasure working alongside MC Services,” said AFFIRM Account Executive, Karissa Holzbauer. “They’ve developed a truly impressive, all-in-one CRM that deserves recognition and we hope the product’s new name and collateral will help introduce it to customers in the best way possible,” concluded Holzbauer. ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Branding, customer relationship management, marketing, MC Services --- ### [AFFIRM Wins Four American Advertising Awards](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-wins-four-american-advertising-awards/) **Published:** February 28, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis… February 28, 2017) AFFIRM ([www.affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com)) won a total of four ADDY awards at the 2017 American Advertising Awards Show hosted at UW-Madison’s Union South on Saturday, February 25, 2017. The American Advertising Awards are the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, aiming to recognize and reward creative excellence in the art of advertising and attracting more than 50,000 entries annually through local competitions across the country. The American Advertising Federation of Madison Awards is the only Southeastern Wisconsin point of entry to the regional and national American Advertising Awards. AFFIRM won a GOLD ADDY for the “One and the Same: Drugged Driving” TV Commercial in the category of Public Service Television. The TV commercial was created as a joint effort for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s ZERO IN WISCONSIN campaign to promote safe, sober driving and the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s DOSE OF REALITY campaign to prevent prescription painkiller abuse. The commercial portrays situations where being under the influence of prescription drugs while driving has the same impact on an individual as driving under the influence of alcohol. The agency also won a GOLD ADDY for the rebrand of prominent Madison, Wisconsin-based law firm Cullen Weston Pines & Bach, LLP to Pines Bach in the category of Integrated Brand Identity Campaign. The rebrand consisted of a new name and corresponding tagline, new brand mark, updated website and stationery, a paid media campaign, and a launch event – Deep Roots, New Branches – that included a donation to the Madison Parks Foundation to help replace the city’s ash trees that have been felled by the emerald ash borer infestation. AFFIRM will advance to the Regional American Advertising Awards competition in Minnesota later this year for their “One and the Same: Drugged Driving” TV Commercial and Pines Bach rebrand campaign. The agency also won an ADDY for the METRO #61616 Ridership campaign in the category of Guerilla Marketing. The #61616 event took place in Cincinnati, Ohio on National Dump the Pump Day, 6/16/16 with a goal of reinventing the METRO bus brand and increasing ridership among young Cincinnati professionals and other choice riders. Lastly, AFFIRM won an ADDY in the category of Advertising Industry Self-Promotion for the firm’s 2016 Holiday Mannequin Challenge video. “It’s always rewarding to be recognized by our peers in the advertising industry and I know that this year’s ADDY judges had a huge increase in entries to judge,” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director, Danny Mager. “Winning these ADDY Awards also pumps up the AFFIRM staff that worked hard on these projects and thrills the clients we collaborated with and who made it all possible,” concluded Mager. ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Awards, Branding, event planning, marketing, self-promoion, video production --- ### [FLY LOCAL Campaign Takes Off for Dane County Regional Airport](https://affirmagency.com/news/fly-local-campaign-takes-off-for-dane-county-regional-airport/) **Published:** March 21, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…March 21, 2017) Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) in Madison, with the help of AFFIRM, its contracted advertising agency, has launched a new marketing campaign. The FLY LOCAL campaign promotes the many benefits of flying out of MSN compared to other airports, including how it helps to support the local economy. AFFIRM developed the FLY LOCAL campaign theme as an airport-specific take on the popular “Shop Local” and “Buy Local” rallying cries for small businesses and restaurants in communities like Madison. FLY LOCAL uses “locally sourced” Wisconsin animals – a flying cow, for example – to help portray the local nature of the airport and its many benefits compared to “big box airports” in other cities. Creative extends to media tactics such as outdoor, online, print, and Wisconsin Public Radio. There is also a campaign-specific landing page where people can pledge to FLY LOCAL for the chance to win a $250 Dane Buy Local gift card. Dane Buy Local is an organization of over 700 local businesses that serve Madison and Dane County of which Dane County Regional Airport is a member: [www.flylocalpledge.com](https://www.flylocalpledge.com). As part of this campaign, Dane County Regional Airport will sponsor and be present at dozens of local events in Dane County. A FLY LOCAL booth will be set up at concerts, festivals, and other events including the Dane County Farmer’s Market where people can take the FLY LOCAL pledge, learn more about the Airport, and get fun, free FLY LOCAL items. “Despite its award-winning design, service and convenience, Dane County Regional Airport is still a well-kept secret to some local residents, especially with the proximity of other major airports in Chicago and Milwaukee”, said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director Danny Mager. “By reminding residents to FLY LOCAL whenever possible, we’re working to keep travel dollars in our community rather than having them depart to other cities and states. At the same time, we think that once people experience how easy it is to fly from Madison, flying local will become their preference in the future,” concluded Mager. ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, buy local, Dane County Regional Airport, Fly Local, Madison, marketing, shop local, wisconsin --- ### [AFFIRM’s Quade Attends nowHERE Design Conference as Keynote Speaker](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirms-quade-attends-nowhere-design-conference-as-keynote-speaker/) **Published:** April 3, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…April 3, 2017) AFFIRM Senior Graphic Designer and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point alumnus Ryan Quade attended the nowHERE Design Conference at his alma mater on March 31 as a keynote speaker. Quade’s presentation provided students with his well-rounded perspective of the design industry, tips on finding the perfect job, and advice on how to best advance a design career. Quade has over ten years of experience spanning in-house, freelance, and agency design that has helped startup companies grow and resulted in award-winning statewide consumer campaigns, including AFFIRM’s DOSE OF REALITY: Prevent Prescription Painkiller Abuse in Wisconsin public education and awareness campaign, the recent BEST OF SHOW winner at the 2017 Bell Awards. The nowhere Design Conference, a two-day inspirational event for design students from universities across the state, is hosted by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Chapter at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. With three keynote speakers and workshops, the conference provides students with feedback and career advice from returning alumni. In past years, the nowhere Design Conference featured speakers including Chip Kidd, Tnop Design, Michael Gericke of Pentagram, Golby & Friends, Space 150, and Modern Species, among others. ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*. **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, conference, Design, design conference, Government, keynote speaker, marketing, nowHERE --- ### [AFFIRM Helps Indianapolis Rideshare Program Commuter Connect Launch PERFECT MATCH Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-helps-indianapolis-rideshare-program-commuter-connect-launch-perfect-match-campaign/) **Published:** April 10, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ![Perfect Match Commuter Connect campaign](https://affirmagency.com/assets/CIR-17104-Perfect-Match-graphic-v2.jpg) (Pewaukee, Wis…April 10, 2017) Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority’s (CIRTA) Commuter Connect has launched its new Find Your Perfect Match brand awareness campaign. Developed by AFFIRM, the campaign is a fun parody of the popular reality TV show *The Bachelor* with “contestants” who are looking for their perfect carpool match rather than a love interest. Creative extends to media tactics including online, radio, and [pre-roll video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jZlSAcRTwY&list=PLs_zmwdvY56BOnpgUVH5HlieYVDW09kAN) and encourages people to register on the Commuter Connect website and “find their perfect carpool match.” The campaign will lead into Commuter Connect’s bi-annual Commuter Challenge campaign in May. “Who knew finding a carpool match could be so fun?” said AFFIRM Principal Danny Mager. “By equating Commuter Connect with a popular TV show, people will see doing the right thing for themselves and the environment by carpooling in a whole new light!” concluded Mager. ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, CIRTA, marketing, parody, perfect mach, The Bachelor, transportation --- ### [AFFIRM Wins Best of Show at Business Marketing Association Milwaukee Bell Awards for Wisconsin's DOSE OF REALITY](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-wins-best-of-show-at-business-marketing-association-milwaukee-bell-awards-for-dose-of-reality/) **Published:** April 28, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis. – April 28, 2017) AFFIRM Agency ([www.affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com)), a full-service marketing communications agency, was honored with Best of Show and a Bell Award from the Business Marketing Association (BMA) Milwaukee at the BMA’s 2017 Bell Awards banquet on April 27, 2017. The annual BMA Bell Awards showcase the best and most effective B2B work created by agencies, corporate marketers and vendor partners in southeast Wisconsin. Out of 150 entries, AFFIRM received the BMA Best of Show and was the Bell Award winner in the category of Services Performed or Produced for Non-profit Organizations for its work on the Wisconsin Department of Justice DOSE OF REALITY campaign. The Wisconsin Department of Justice and Attorney General Brad Schimel, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services launched **DOSE OF REALITY, a** public education, awareness and prevention campaign, to address prescription opiate abuse and its spread in the state. Since launching the DOSE OF REALITY campaign, the bi-annual Drug Take Back Days in Wisconsin have been, in the words of Attorney General Schimel, “wildly successful.” The amount of drugs collected during the Drug Take Back Days after the launch of the Dose of Reality campaign has consistently increased by 4,000-22,000 lbs, as have the number of participating agencies, and permanent drop boxes. The spring 2016 Drug Take Back amount collected was the second-highest amount of drugs collected anywhere in the United States since Drug Take Back Day was initiated. More than 50 different organizations in the state have ordered DOSE OF REALITY campaign materials to be used in their markets, including Aurora Health Care, Prevea Health, and the Wisconsin Dental Association. In addition, other states including Maine, Nebraska, and Minnesota have adopted the campaign for opiate abuse prevention efforts. “It’s always rewarding when our campaigns are recognized by our peers in the industry,” said Danny Mager, agency principal. “Winning Best of Show against other recognized agencies and the high level of competition is especially gratifying because of what this campaign is doing.” Mager went on to say, “We’re honored to be able to work with the Department of Justice to raise awareness of the opioid epidemic in Wisconsin and to create the messaging that helps save lives.” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.AFFIRMAgency.com). \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, awareness, Dose of Reality, Government, prevention --- ### [WisDOT and Donald Driver Announce Click It or Ticket Mobilization and New TV Spot](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisdot-and-driver-announces-click-it-or-ticket-mobilization-and-new-tv-spot/) **Published:** May 31, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (May 26, 2017…Pewaukee, WI) The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced its annual Click It or Ticket mobilization at a press conference on May 22nd which was held at Fire Station #2 in Milwaukee. Former Green Bay Packers star and Zero in Wisconsin spokesperson, Donald Driver, helped to launch this year’s law enforcement safety initiative by encouraging all drivers and passengers throughout the state to wear a safety belt. The Fire Station was a fitting location since firefighters respond to many of the car accidents and crashes. Donald was even “fitted,” and presented with his very own fire helmet as Honorary Fire Chief. In addition to its law enforcement efforts, WisDOT will also be running TV, radio, and online messaging created by AFFIRM, many of which feature Driver. The newest spot in the campaign, “BAD DATE,” was also unveiled and highlights the importance of *everyone* in a vehicle buckling up. An unbelted passenger’s body can become a projectile inside a vehicle in even a minor crash, injuring or killing his fellow riders. “We wanted to communicate to the 10% of people who still don’t wear their seat belts that if you’re not going to do it for yourself, do it for your friends and loved ones who might be in the vehicle with you,” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director Danny Mager. “By promoting this new message of Buckle Up: Every Ride, in Every Seat, we hope to further reduce the number of preventable deaths on Wisconsin roadways.” ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Wins Telly Award for Drugged Driving Public Service TV Spot](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-wins-telly-award-for-drugged-driving-public-service-tv-spot/) **Published:** June 19, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** Pewaukee, Wis…June 19, 2017) AFFIRM ([www.affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com)) has been awarded a Telly Award in recognition of its television spot developed for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Justice. The Telly Awards honor the best in TV and cable, digital and streaming, and non-broadcast productions. The 38th Annual Telly Awards received over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. AFFIRM won a Bronze Telly Award for the “One and the Same: Drugged Driving” TV commercial in the category of Public Service/PSA for Local Commercials. The TV was spot was created as a joint effort for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s ZERO IN WISCONSIN campaign to promote safe, sober driving and the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s DOSE OF REALITY campaign to prevent prescription painkiller abuse. The commercial portrays situations where being under the influence of prescription drugs while driving has the same impact on an individual as driving under the influence of alcohol. Go here to[ watch the TV spot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2SPC-zzpbY). “It’s rewarding to see these collaborative efforts being recognized by our peers, especially when they have an impact on the community,” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director, Danny Mager. “We take pride in working with Wisconsin DOJ and DOT to make Wisconsin a safer state.” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* *\###* --- ### [AFFIRM Develops Internship Campaign and Worker Training Grant Campaign for the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-develops-internship-campaign-and-worker-training-grant-campaign-for-the-wisconsin-department-of-workforce-development/) **Published:** July 10, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** [![Print](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Wisconnect_FastForward_logos.jpg)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Wisconnect_FastForward_logos.jpg) (Pewaukee, Wis…July 10, 2017) The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) recently launched WisConnect, a campaign that connects Wisconsin college students with internships at businesses in Wisconsin. AFFIRM developed the creative identity, brand strategy, and marketing plan to drive students and businesses to the DWD’s InternshipWisconsin.com website. WisConnect allows businesses to share internship opportunities and encourages students to apply by creating an online profile. AFFIRM also helped to develop a media plan for DWD’s Wisconsin Fast Forward program to increase awareness of the available worker training grants available to Wisconsin businesses. The Wisconsin Fast Forward grant program creates a strong environment for private sector job creation by helping businesses train highly skilled workers to fill current job openings and meet ongoing skill requirements. “DWD was under a tight deadline to get both of these campaigns implemented and I’m very pleased with the responsive and collaborative way our team reacted and got everything done on time and on budget” said AFFIRM Principal – Marketing Director, Danny Mager. ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** AFFIRM, DWD, Government, Grants, Internships, WisConnect --- ### [Stand Up, Step Up: AmeriCorps’ Serve Wisconsin Launches New Recruitment Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/stand-up-step-up-americorps-serve-wisconsin-launches-new-recruitment-campaign/) **Published:** September 11, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…September 11, 2017) This September, Serve Wisconsin launched its new AmeriCorps member recruitment campaign. Centered on the theme “Stand Up, Step Up,” the campaign encourages youth in Wisconsin to give back to their communities and those in need by stepping up to serve as an AmeriCorps member. AFFIRM developed the campaign’s creative identity, brand strategy, media and marketing plans to connect with AmeriCorps’ target audience and inspire service and leadership in Wisconsin’s youth. Kicking off in a press conference on the National Day of Service, September 11, Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, Board Chair of Serve Wisconsin, Paula Horning, and Melinda Wyant Jansen of Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee were joined by nearly 50 AmeriCorps members and alumni to speak on the new campaign and the organization’s goals to increase membership in order to better serve the community in its areas of need. AmeriCorps members provide intensive services through non-profit, faith-based and community organizations to tackle problems such as disaster relief, child education, public safety and housing throughout Wisconsin. Members are given the valuable opportunity to enrich their own lives through volunteerism, while cultivating important life skills including teamwork, altruism, resourcefulness, a positive outlook and so much more. “We’re honored to have been given the opportunity to work on the Wisconsin AmeriCorps Recruitment Campaign and help young people who become members to realize their full potential while earning great career skills,” said AFFIRM Principal—President Danny Mager. “At the same time, they’re helping their fellow Wisconsinites improve the quality of their lives. We’re also very proud of the fact that this campaign aligns with our agency purpose of effectively communicating to people how they can make their lives better.” Visit [StandUpStepUp.org](https://www.standupstepup.org) for more information on the campaign and Serve Wisconsin. View the new :30 ad here: [![logo americorps wisconsi](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-americorps-wisconsin-300x300.png)](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-americorps-wisconsin.png) ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, AmeriCorps, Branding, Milwaukee, Serve, Stand Up, Step Up, volunteer, wisconsin --- ### [AFFIRM Hosts Fellow AMI Members](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-hosts-fellow-ami-members/) **Published:** September 15, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…September 15, 2017) AFFIRM Agency owners Danny Mager and Steve Stocker hosted their fellow AMI (Agency Management Institute) members for their bi-annual meeting for agency owners. Twice a year, the AMI group meets at a different location around the country to gain new perspectives and share ideas about issues impacting their businesses with other advertising agency owners from places as diverse as Albuquerque, San Francisco and Richmond, VA. During this years’ two-day Fall AMI meeting, members got to immerse themselves in all things Wisconsin! AFFIRM treated its guests to an authentic tailgate at Miller Park, followed by a Brewers victory. They wrapped up the week with an agency tour where they were welcomed by AFFIRM staff, drinks and apps before heading to dinner at Seven Seas in Lake Country. “Becoming a member of an Agency Management Institute advertising agency owner group has been a tremendous learning experience,” said Mager. “It’s fascinating to see and learn how other agencies are experiencing and overcoming many of the same business challenges we face regardless of where they’re located.” ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*.](https://www.affirmagency.com/) \### --- ### [WisconsinEye Releases New Opioid Documentary “Straight Forward: The Truth About Addiction”](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisconsineye-releases-new-opioid-documentary-straight-forward-the-truth-about-addiction/) **Published:** September 19, 2017 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…September 19, 2017) A new documentary targeting the opioid epidemic in Wisconsin is now available through the state’s public affairs cable network, WisconsinEye. *Straight Forward: The Truth About Addiction* features honest, in depth interviews with young Wisconsinites fighting to recover their lives and futures from addictions that in most cases, involved opioids. AFFIRM helped to coordinate the documentary’s premiere at the community event that took place at Oconomowoc High School on September 19th to more than a thousand students, parents, educators, and community members. “Our work on the DOSE OF REALITY opioid abuse prevention campaigns for Wisconsin, Maine, Minnesota, and Nebraska made us a good partner for WisEye in engaging the community on this issue,” said Laura Monagle, vice president of PR and client services. “We are passionate about the opioid prevention message, especially for those at highest risk: 12-18 year-olds and we look forward to sharing the documentary’s message in many ways.” ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* --- ### [A Dose of Reality: Wisconsin DOJ Announces New Elder Opiate Abuse Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/a-dose-of-reality-wisconsin-doj-announces-new-elder-opiate-abuse-campaign/) **Published:** October 9, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis….October 9, 2017) Wisconsin’s Department of Justice has initiated a “Dose of Reality” for Seniors and Caregivers on the risks of misusing opioids and other prescription drugs. This at-risk group has often gone unrepresented in targeted prescription drug abuse education, but with more than 4,000 Wisconsin residents aged 55 or older hospitalized for opioid dependence or prescription opioid poisoning last year, it is clear that steps needed to be taken to ensure proper care and education for this segment of the population. Wisconsin’s [Dose of Reality](https://doseofrealitywi.gov/) campaign is designed to fight the opioid epidemic by educating Wisconsinites on the dangers of opiate abuse and addiction and encouraging safe use and disposal of unused prescription opiates. The campaign was launched in September 2015, and has prevention messages for the medical community, coaches, parents, educators and employers. AFFIRM developed the campaign’s creative identity, brand strategy, research and marketing plans to most effectively reach and educate on the dangers of misusing prescription opiates by creating succinct, focused messaging to at-risk segments of the population. The new, targeted messaging for seniors and caregivers includes information and resources for senior centers and elder healthcare facilities. These educational materials are free to download, and can be accessed at . “Each segment of the population affected by the opioid crisis needs messaging that speaks to them,” said Laura Monagle, APR, vice president of client services and public relations for AFFIRM. “While a unified prevention campaign is key, one message does not fit all – so we created DOSE OF REALITY prevention for young Wisconsinites, parents, the medical community, businesses, educators, coaches and now seniors and their caregivers. We want seniors to recognize they can ask for non-narcotic painkiller alternatives, and we want their caregivers to understand the risks of opioid addiction,” Monagle continued. “Professional senior caregivers and facilities can also help to raise awareness of the proper use, safe storage and safe disposal of prescription painkillers. We are proud to continue to support the Wisconsin Department of Justice in this mission to save lives,” she said. For more information on the Dose of Reality program, or for a complete list of resources available to you or someone close to you, visit . *\###* ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Dose of Reality, drug abuse, education, opiate, opioid, prevention, wisconsin --- ### [AFFIRM Wins Five WAVE Awards Including Judge’s Choice](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-wins-five-wave-awards-including-judges-choice/) **Published:** November 27, 2017 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…November 17, 2017) AFFIRM, a full-service advertising agency in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, has been awarded five WAVE Awards in recognition of television commercials it produced for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Wisconsin Department of Justice, and Unison Credit Union. The WAVE Awards are judged and awarded by Madison Media Professionals (formerly Media Communicators Association International – Madison) to honor Web, Audio, and Visual Excellence, including audio and sound design, branding and corporate image, broadcast commercials, cinematography and videography, directing, editing, graphics and animation, product sales and marketing, service sales and marketing, and training and informational. AFFIRM won three of its WAVEs, including a prestigious Judge’s Choice Award, for the ONE AND THE SAME: DRUGGED DRIVING TV commercial it wrote and produced for the Wisconsin Department of Justice and Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The commercial, which uses a creative metaphor to communicate the increasing problem of people driving while on opioids in Wisconsin, won in the categories of Audio and Sound Design and Broadcast Commercials in addition to the Judge’s Choice. The commercial was a joint effort for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to promote sober, safe driving and the Wisconsin Department of Justice to prevent prescription painkiller abuse. The agency also won a WAVE Award in the Broadcast Commercials category for another driving safety commercial it wrote and produced for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, BAD DATE: REAR PASSENGER SAFETY. This commercial focuses on the importance of everyone in a car buckling their seat belt no matter where they are seated. One unbuckled passenger can threaten the lives of others in the car in even a minor crash. AFFIRM won its fifth WAVE Award, also in the Broadcast Commercials category, for the humorous STUNT DOUBLE TV commercial it wrote and produced for Element Creative of DePere, WI and its client Unison Credit Union. This commercial features a real Hollywood stuntman painfully communicating why it’s better to choose Unison Credit Union over a bank. “I always enjoy winning WAVE Awards since they’re voted on by the talented people who are responsible for the actual technical production of the commercials,” said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “When other directors, videographers, animators, editors and audio techs say your commercial is really great, that really means something!” *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit www.AFFIRMAgency.com.* \### **Tags:** AFFIRM, Communication, Government, Wisconsin DOT --- ### [Wisconsin DOJ Largest Fall Drug Take Back Collection; Leading National Drug Disposal Program](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisconsin-doj-largest-fall-drug-take-back-collection-leading-national-drug-disposal-program/) **Published:** November 27, 2017 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…November 27, 2017) The Wisconsin Department of Justice, Office of Attorney General Brad Schimel announced the official collection total for October’s Drug Take Back event. This fall, Wisconsin collected 63,941 lbs. of unused medications, which is the largest fall drug take back collection to date. Wisconsin had more law enforcement agencies participate in the event than other state in the country. 266 police and sheriff’s departments hosted 130 Drug Take Back events on October 28 and have provided 349 permanent drug disposal drop boxes to dispose of unused medications all year long. “Affirm is extremely proud to work with the Wisconsin Department of Justice on the DOSE OF REALITY campaign and in promoting Drug Take Back Day,” said Laura Monagle, APR, vice president of client services and public relations. “The more unused prescription painkillers can be properly disposed of, the less they are available for misuse and abuse.” *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit www.AFFIRMAgency.com.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Re-Wins Long Island Rail Road Contract to Increase Transit Usage in Nassau County](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-re-wins-long-island-rail-road-contract-to-increase-transit-usage-in-nassau-county/) **Published:** January 3, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** *(Pewaukee, WI…January 3, 2018)* After a competitive bidding process, AFFIRM has been awarded a new contract to continue implementing the Long Island Rail Road’s Campaign to Increase Transit Usage in Nassau County, New York. AFFIRM originally launched the campaign it branded as TRANSIT SOLUTIONS in March 2006. A major focus of the effort is marketing outreach to employers in Nassau County to educate them about offering pre-tax transit benefits to their employees. As a result of this effort, dozens of Long Island employers now offer the money-saving, and air quality improving, transit benefit to their workers. Another key success of the campaign has been the creation and launch of the annual CAR FREE DAY LONG ISLAND event that promotes going car free or car-lite on International Car Free Day every September 22. During the fifth annual event in September 2017, a record 4,100 Long Islanders pledged to participate in order to help improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion in their communities. During the new contract period, which extends through 2019, AFFIRM will continue to work with Long Island-based TRANSIT SOLUTIONS Manager and well-known transit advocate Rosemary Mascali on expanding and enhancing the program, including communicating major transit enhancements on Long Island such as the Third Track Long Island Rail Road Expansion Project. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue working on the TRANSIT SOLUTIONS campaign and CAR FREE DAY LONG ISLAND”, said AFFIRM Senior Account Executive and New York native Amy Opad, “with all of the exciting new transit projects happening on Long Island, it’s a great time to be collaborating with the LIRR to educate people about these options and the transit benefit that makes it easy to take advantage of them”. *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.AFFIRMAgency.com)*.* *\###* **Tags:** AFFIRM, long island, marketing, New York, transit, wisconsin --- ### [The Fireside Theatre Prepares for a Big Season in 2018](https://affirmagency.com/news/the-fireside-theatre-prepares-for-a-big-season-in-2018/) **Published:** January 26, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…January 25, 2018) After finishing a top-selling season in 2017, one of the best in the theater’s recent history, the Fireside Dinner Theatre in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin has kicked off another big season for 2018. Starting out the year with Kopit & Yeston’s “Phantom,” a musical with lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Arthur Kopit is based on Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel *The Phantom of the Opera*. The musical is different than Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” and has been in production over 1,000 times worldwide. “Phantom” will be showing at the Fireside Theatre through February 18, 2018. After “Phantom” the Fireside cast will perform Disney’s “Newsies,” set in New York at the turn of the century that was adapted from the Walt Disney Film. “Newsies” will be showing February 22-April 8. Next will be “42nd Street,” the show about Broadway and Times Square from a show-business perspective. “42nd Street” will be live April 12-May 27. Then, “A Second Helping” will begin. The show is a sequel to the comedic “Church Basement Ladies,” which played in 2017. “A Second Helping” will be showing May 31-July 15. After that, Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” will go live on the Fireside stage. The Disney classic will include popular songs like “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World.” Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” will be showing July 19-September 2. Next, “Grease” will come to the Fireside stage. To this day, “Grease” is still one of the world’s most popular musicals around the globe, featuring hits such as “Greased Lightnin’” and “Summer Nights.” “Grease” will be playing at the Fireside September 6-October 28. Finally, the 2018 season will conclude with “Elf the Musical,” based on the ever-popular holiday film which features Will Ferrell. Just in time for the holidays, “Elf the Musical” will be live at the Fireside November 1-December 23. “The Fireside is a favorite Wisconsin – and national – destination because guests are treated like family,” said AFFIRM’s Vice President Laura Monagle. “AFFIRM is pleased to be able to work with The Fireside to make sure that their special brand of professional entertainment, fine dining and unique shopping becomes a tradition for many generations to come.” The Fireside features world-class fine dining before each show, included in the ticket pricing. Information on the theater, all shows, menus, and tickets can be found online at [www.firesidetheatre.com](https://www.firesidetheatre.com). *\###* **Tags:** AFFIRM, Communication, fireside theatre, Public Relations, sales, theater, wisconsin --- ### [TRANSIT SOLUTIONS HONORED AS MELVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S TRANSPORATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR](https://affirmagency.com/news/transit-solutions-honored-as-melville-chamber-of-commerces-transporation-business-of-the-year/) **Published:** February 12, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…February 12, 2018) The Melville Chamber of Commerce in Melville, NY, has presented Transit Solutions with its second award for Business of the Year in the Transportation category. Transit Solutions previously won the award in 2014 and has been a client of AFFIRM Agency since 2006. The Melville Chamber of Commerce aims to provide networking opportunities, business to business services, and other resources to stimulate business opportunities within the community. The award is given to organizations on Long Island that display exemplary community support and mentorship. Transit Solutions encourages Long Island residents and workers to utilize public transportation for the benefit of the community. They aim to increase ridership by educating residents on the positive effects of using public transportation to improve air quality, conserve energy and reduce traffic congestion. Transit Solutions also serves the community by encouraging companies and employees to enroll in a pre-tax transit benefit program, saving both time and money. AFFIRM Agency has helped raise awareness for Transit Solutions for over ten years. “Transit Solutions is honored to once again be recognized with the Business of the Year award in the Transportation category. We appreciate our partnership with the Melville Chamber in jointly promoting more sustainable forms of transportation,” commented Transit Solutions Manager, Rosemary Mascali. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** AFFIRM, New York, Public Relations, Transit Solutions, transportation --- ### [Dane County Regional Airport Celebrates Record-breaking Passenger Traffic](https://affirmagency.com/news/dane-county-regional-airport-celebrates-record-breaking-passenger-traffic/) **Published:** February 23, 2018 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…February 23, 2018) Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA) recently announced that it experienced its best year yet in passenger traffic in 2017. With 1,907,499 passengers traveling through Madison, passenger traffic increased 3 percent over the previous year – the highest count in the history of the airport. Since the launch of several advertising campaigns that were developed by AFFIRM including STOP THE SCHLEP! in 2012, WHO KNEW?! in 2015, FLY LOCAL in 2017, DCRA has seen steady increase in the number of travelers both in and out of the airport. New, non-stop flights have also played a significant factor in passenger traffic. In addition, DCRA will be providing non-stop service to Philadelphia and San Francisco beginning this spring. “We’re proud of this achievement and the work we’ve developed for DCRA since 2012” said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “Our campaigns have received industry awards and recognition so to see that DCRA experienced its best year ever for passenger traffic is testament to their commitment to getting the word out. It also shows why more and more people are deciding to FLY LOCAL at DCRA!” ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [AFFIRM WINS THREE AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-wins-three-american-advertising-awards/) **Published:** February 26, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…February 26, 2018) AFFIRM won a total of three ADDY awards at the 2018 American Advertising Awards Show hosted at UW-Madison’s Union South on Saturday, February 24, 2018. The American Advertising Federation (AAF), established in 1905, is a national organization that includes members across all disciplines in advertising. The annual American Advertising Awards are the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, recognizing and rewarding creative excellence in the art of advertising through local competitions across the nation. Entries that are recognized with Gold awards hold the only point of entry to the regional and national American Advertising Awards. AFFIRM won GOLD ADDY for the FLY LOCAL campaign in the category of Integrated Branded Content Campaign for Dane County Regional Airport (MSN). The campaign, which promotes the many benefits of flying out of MSN compared to “big box airports” in other cities, was developed as an airport-specific take on the “shop local,” “eat local,” and “buy local” movements in communities nationwide, including Madison. The FLY LOCAL campaign features “locally sourced” animals, including a flying cow and a pilot chicken, which have been extended creatively using tactics such as outdoor, online, print, Wisconsin Public Radio, social media, campaign-specific[ landing page](https://www.flylocalpledge.com/), and a presence at local events in Dane County. AFFIRM will advance to the Regional American Advertising Awards competition later this year for the FLY LOCAL campaign. The agency also won a SILVER ADDY for the Unison Credit Union TV commercial “Stunt Double” in the category of :30 Second Television Commercial with a budget under $5,000. The commercial was created to show how at Unison Credit Union, you can make sound financial decisions without the need for a “stunt double” or anyone else. Lastly, AFFIRM won a SILVER ADDY for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Justice joint effort TV commercial “Drugged Driving: One and the Same” in the category of Sound Design. The commercial also won a GOLD ADDY last year in the category of Public Service Television. “We work hard all year long for our clients, and it’s gratifying to be recognized for the great creative work we produce for them,” said AFFIRM President, Danny Mager. “Our purpose at AFFIRM is to effectively communicate to people how they can make their lives better, and it’s extremely fulfilling to know we’re living out that purpose.” The “Stunt Double” commercial can be viewed here: The “One and the Same” commercial can be viewed here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrtL\_SlloOc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrtL_SlloOc) ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Awards, commercials, Communication, Dane County Regional Airport, Fly Local, marketing, purpose, Unison Credit Union --- ### [Monagle Joins Panel Discussion at Godfrey & Kahn’s 29th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar](https://affirmagency.com/news/monagle-joins-panel-discussion-at-godfrey-kahns-29th-annual-labor-employment-law-seminar/) **Published:** March 23, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…March 23, 2018) AFFIRM’s vice president of client services and public relations, Laura Monagle, APR recently attended Godfrey & Kahn’s 29th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar in Madison, WI on March 20th as a guest panelist. Godfrey & Kahn S.C. hosts this annual Seminar for clients to learn more about labor and employment legal issues and trends affecting their workplaces. Monagle joined Godfrey & Kahn S.C. Labor and Employment attorneys Jon Anderson and Tom O’ Day to discuss the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. The panelists discussed the impact that both movements have had in the local community from a legal and public relations perspective. The 2018 seminar also reviewed legal developments from 2017 and the first year of President Trump’s presidency with a focus on laws, regulations and cases that continue to impact the workforce. Monagle will continue to serve as the guest panelist on public relations and reputation management for the #MeToo and #TImesUp presentations at the Labor and Employment Law Seminar in Brookfield on April 11th and in Green Bay on April 18th. ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/). **Tags:** Advertising, Godfrey & Kahn, law firm, legal, Public Relations --- ### [DOJ Hosts First-Ever Dose of Reality Week](https://affirmagency.com/news/doj-hosts-first-ever-dose-of-reality-week/) **Published:** April 30, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…April 30, 2018) Wisconsin’s Department of Justice hosted the first-ever DOSE OF REALITY Week April 22-29. DOSE OF REALITY Week was created as an opportunity for everyone in Wisconsin to get educated, spread the word, and take action to prevent the dangers of prescription painkiller abuse and addiction, as well as shed light on the statewide and nationwide opioid epidemic. The week included Wisconsin’s Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28, and was recognized via a proclamation from Governor Scott Walker. Individuals and organizations across the state participated in DOSE OF REALITY Week by attending an awareness event, viewing WisconsinEye’s opioid documentary, printing and distributing DOSE OF REALITY education and awareness materials, and properly and safely disposing of unwanted and unused medications by participating in Drug Take Back Day. The DOSE OF REALITY campaign, which originally launched in September 2015, was designed to raise awareness of the risks of prescription painkillers and to help prevent opioid and narcotic abuse and addiction. Since then, the campaign has seen measurable success in the number of campaign materials ordered, the number of organizations ordering materials and the amount of drugs collected during Take Back events. The state’s last Drug Take Back Day took place in October 2017 and was the largest drug take back collection to date collecting 63,941 lbs. of unused medications. The total amount collected at the April 28th event will be announced by the Wisconsin Department of Justice in the coming weeks. “The DOSE OF REALITY campaign has continued to raise awareness of what we all can do to prevent opioid addiction through simple, yet powerful actions: secure storage of prescription painkillers, proper disposal and starting conversations with family and physicians about alternative pain management,” said Laura Monagle, Vice President of client services and public relations at AFFIRM. “We are proud to be getting that message out and hopefully, saving lives.” *AFFIRM is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.AFFIRMAgency.com).* \### **Tags:** Department of Justice, Dose of Reality, drug take back, opioid abuse prevention, wisconsineye --- ### [SERVE WISCONSIN’S STAND UP, STEP UP AMERICORPS CAMPAIGN NAMED BEST SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CAMPAIGN IN BRANDED CONTENT IN THE 39TH ANNUAL TELLY AWARDS](https://affirmagency.com/news/serve-wisconsins-stand-up-step-up-americorps-campaign-named-best-social-responsibility-campaign-in-branded-content-in-the-39th-annual-telly-awards/) **Published:** May 23, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis … May 23, 2018) AFFIRM Agency announced today that the STAND UP, STEP UP campaign it produced for Serve Wisconsin to recruit new AmeriCorps members has been named Best Social Responsibility Campaign in Branded Content in the 39th Annual Telly Awards. The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens and are judged by leaders from video platforms, television and streaming networks, agencies, and production companies including Vice, Vimeo, Hearst Digital Media, and BuzzFeed. “AFFIRM is pushing the boundaries for video and television innovation and creativity at a time when the industry is rapidly changing,” said Sabrina Dridje, Managing Director of the Telly Awards. “This award is a tribute to the talent and vision of its creators.” Serve Wisconsin, a division of the Wisconsin Department of Administration, needed a campaign that would appeal to college students and young adults to generate awareness and interest in serving as an AmeriCorps member in the State. AFFIRM developed the campaign theme STAND UP, STEP UP and, making judicious use of Serve Wisconsin’s limited budget, produced an innovative animated campaign that encouraged the target audience to pursue opportunities with AmeriCorps with tactics including campaign microsite, video pre-roll and TV commercial, online banner ads, and social media. “We’re extremely proud of the STAND UP, STEP UP campaign and how it effectively communicates the AmeriCorps brand promise and message”, said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “Most importantly, the campaign has resulted in AmeriCorps chapters around Wisconsin generating more inquiries from potential members and significantly raising awareness of the organization’s mission.” The Stand Up, Step Up microsite can be viewed here: The Stand Up, Step Up TV Commercial can be viewed here: The full list of the 39th Annual Telly Awards winners can be found at [www.tellyawards.com/winners](https://www.tellyawards.com/winners). ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* ***The Telly Awards*** *is the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council—an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multiscreen industry The Telly Awards celebrates.* \### **Tags:** AFFIRM, AmeriCorps, Awards, Government, Social Media, Technology, vice, vimeo, wisconsin --- ### [Wisconsin Department of Justice Announces Elder Abuse Awareness Digital Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisconsin-department-of-justice-announces-elder-abuse-awareness-digital-campaign/) **Published:** May 23, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…May 23, 2018) The Wisconsin Department of Justice recently announced the start of a digital online campaign to raise awareness about elder abuse. The second phase of the campaign features a new website, [www.ReportElderAbuseWI.org](https://www.ReportElderAbuseWI.org), and digital online ads, developed by AFFIRM, to encourage Wisconsinites to report suspected elder abuse, recognize the signs of elder abuse, and provide victims with resources throughout the state. Attorney General Brad Schimel launched the Attorney General’s Task Force in August 2017 followed by the launch of radio ads in the first phase of the public awareness campaign in January 2018. “Unfortunately, elder abuse is a growing problem in Wisconsin”, said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “So, we’re committed to working with the Attorney General’s Office on developing materials that will not only build awareness of the issue but motivate people to step up and prevent it in all its forms.” To learn more about elder abuse, visit: [www.ReportElderAbuseWI.org](https://www.reportelderabusewi.org/) Read the Wisconsin Attorney General’s news release [here](https://www.doj.state.wi.us/news-releases/ag-schimel-launches-online-media-campaign-elder-abuse-awareness). ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, Attorney General Brad Schimel, digital campaign, elder abuse, Government, website design --- ### [AFFIRM WINS THREE BUSINESS MARKETING ASSOCIATION MILWAUKEE AWARDS](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-wins-three-business-marketing-association-milwaukee-bell-awards/) **Published:** May 25, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis. – May 24, 2018) AFFIRM Agency ([www.affirmagency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/)), a full-service marketing communications agency, was honored with two Excellence Awards and one Bell Award from the Business Marketing Association (BMA) Milwaukee at the BMA’s 2018 Bell Awards banquet on May 17, 2018. The annual BMA Bell Awards showcase the best and most effective B2B work created by agencies, corporate marketers and vendor partners in southeast Wisconsin. AFFIRM received a Bell Award in the category of Video, Short Form/Commercial for its Unison Credit Union STUNT DOUBLE television commercial produced on behalf of Element Creative of DePere, WI. Unison Credit Union wanted a fun and engaging concept that would help it to stand out from other financial institutions in the Fox Valley. The commercial was also created to promote the grand opening of Unison’s sixth branch location in Grand Chute, WI. The ad uses a humorous and surprising approach to show how you don’t need a “stunt double” to apply for a loan at Unison. The Unison Credit Union STUNT DOUBLE TV commercial can be viewed here: AFFIRM also received an Excellence Award in the category Integrated Marketing Communications Program (Budget $100,00 to $200,000) for its creation and execution of the Dane County Regional Airport FLY LOCAL campaign. The campaign, which promotes the many benefits of flying out of Madison, WI compared to “big box airports” in other cities, was developed as an airport-specific take on the “shop local,” “eat local,” and “buy local” movements in communities nationwide, including Madison. The FLY LOCAL campaign features “locally sourced” animals, including a flying cow and a pilot chicken, which have been extended creatively using tactics such as outdoor, online, print, Wisconsin Public Radio, social media, campaign-specific[ landing page](https://www.flylocalpledge.com/), and a presence at local events in Dane County. Lastly, AFFIRM received an Excellence Award in the category Product/Capabilities Brochure or Catalog for its work on the Wisconsin Center District Promotional Brochure. The brochure was created for the Wisconsin Center District, comprised of the Wisconsin Center, the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, and the historic Miller High Life Theatre, to showcase the many different options that the downtown Milwaukee trio of venues has to offer event promoters in order to attract world class entertainment and big-name shows to book dates there. “Winning these Bell Awards is a validation of the hard work that went into these three projects,” said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “It’s very gratifying to see such diverse clients be rewarded for being willing to be creative with their marketing while at the same time making sure the messages were on target and achieved their objectives.” **AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** AFFIRM, business --- ### [Wisconsin Department of Justice Announces KNOW METH "Altered State" Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisconsin-department-of-justice-announces-know-meth-altered-state-campaign/) **Published:** June 20, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis….June 20, 2018) Wisconsin’s Department of Justice, in partnership with Marshfield Clinic Health System, Northwoods Coalition, and the Alliance for Wisconsin Youth, has kicked off a second phase of the public awareness campaign KNOW METH, warning of the dangers and economic impact of methamphetamine use. The theme of the campaign, *Altered State*, created by AFFIRM Agency, uses iconic Wisconsin imagery transforming and left in a state of decay, much like meth use does to the user’s body. KNOW METH was initially launched in January 2018 with the purpose of preventing Wisconsin citizens from using methamphetamine and encouraging those who are addicted to seek treatment. The newly launched phase will include targeted online, video, television, radio ads, and print materials which can be found on [www.knowmethwi.org](https://www.knowmethwi.org/). The campaign will target over 35 counties in Northern and Western Wisconsin where meth use is most prevalent. “Methamphetamine cases analyzed by the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories has increased nearly 500% from 2010 to 2017,” said Laura Monagle, APR, Vice President of Client Services and Public Relations at AFFIRM. “AFFIRM Agency is privileged to join the fight to help reduce the devastation it has on families and communities across our state. Knowledge is power, and that is why KNOW METH is so important.” For more information on the KNOW METH campaign, or for a complete list of resources available to you or someone close to you, visit [www.knowmethwi.org](https://www.knowmethwi.org/). ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Attorney General Brad Schimel, drug addiction, Government, knowmeth, meth use, methamphetamine --- ### [Affirm's Digital Growth Continues](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-digital-growth-continues/) **Published:** July 2, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis….July 2, 2018) This summer, AFFIRM expanded its Digital Marketing Team as well as its Digital Marketing offerings to its clients. Joining the team are SEM Specialist Michael Bonin, Proposal Writer Anne Kyte, and Digital Intern Briana Lerner. The agency’s enhanced, comprehensive digital packages now include everything necessary to effectively deliver the right message, engage the right audiences, and maximize ROI in the Digital Marketing landscape. All packages combine multiple digital assets working collaboratively together to elevate our clients’ digital presence. An ongoing digital program is one of the most effective forms of marketing in today’s ever-changing world of advertising. Customizing digital services to specific company needs and goals means reaching target audiences in ways that most effectively resonate with them. In addition to reputation management and social media management, AFFIRM’s enhanced digital packages include strategizing and implementing Pay Per Click (PPC) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) campaigns that make a true impact. While SEO campaigns require time to see results, PPC campaigns can offer a more immediate positive impact. Generally, SEO and PPC programs should be used together to complement each program’s efforts in order to achieve the most efficient overall performance. With three different packages available, AFFIRM’s digital marketing strategies can be adapted and applied to any business. For organizations looking to test the digital market and learn how much room for growth exists, the BASIC digital package makes the most sense. The STANDARD package combines the power of reputation management, social media, PPC, and SEO to get relevant content in front of target audiences on a more consistent basis. And for clients looking to immerse themselves and take total control of their digital presence, the PREMIUM package offers everything plus ongoing digital monitoring, management, and support. Plus, all levels can be further customized based on an organization’s marketing objectives. “Bottom line, the future of marketing is digital”, said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “That’s why AFFIRM is investing heavily to enhance our digital capabilities in order to continue serving our clients in the most effective way possible. And we’re very excited about it!” For any questions or to start the discussion about which Digital Package is best for you, please contact AFFIRM Director of Digital Strategy Lisa Harrington at or at (262) 650-9900. **AFFIRM** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.affirmagency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### --- ### [Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center Launches Wil-Power Capital Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/news/wil-mar-neighborhood-center-launches-wil-power-capital-campaign/) **Published:** August 27, 2018 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis….August 27, 2018) The Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, located in the Williamson-Marquette neighborhood in Madison, has launched its *Wil-Power* Capital Campaign to seek support for its building renovations. The Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, “A Place for All People,” is a popular, inclusive community center that has provided diverse programming since 1968 for people in need. Wil-Mar’s year-round programming includes child-care, summer youth camps and employment programs, emergency food services, nutritious community meals, cultural movement programs, and wellness and fitness programs targeted at seniors and children. Wil-Mar also produces beloved community festivals such as Fete de Marquette that are attended by tens of thousands of Madison area residents. AFFIRM helped to develop the campaign’s creative theme, brand identity, and marketing and outreach elements. The Wil-Power campaign will help to support the renovations of the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, which will include: - Repair and strengthen the building’s foundation, including fixing current water damage, and repair the grading to prevent future water damage; - Refurbish the building interior: install new carpeting, paint all rooms, wall patch and repair, and install energy-efficient windows; - Complete energy-efficient revamp of the HVAC system; - Install a new wood floor in the large gathering space; - Install energy-efficient appliances in both kitchens; - Update to the electrical and plumbing systems. “I’ve lived in the Marquette neighborhood for more than 30 years,” said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “So I jumped at the chance to have AFFIRM help Wil-Mar on its capital campaign since I know how vital they are to our community in Madison!” To show your Wil-Power, go to . ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, community, community outreach, fundraiser, local, Madison, marketing, outreach, Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, Wil-Power, wisconsin --- ### [MONAGLE HELPS EMPLOYERS NAVIGATE TOUGH TOPICS AFFECTING WORKPLACE COMMUNICATIONS](https://affirmagency.com/news/monagle-joins-panels-discussing-hot-topics-affecting-workplace-communications/) **Published:** October 25, 2018 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** AFFIRM’s Vice President of Client Services and Public Relations, Laura Monagle, APR was a featured presenter in October on two important topics affecting workplaces and employers: employee sexual misconduct allegations and opioids. Laura was privileged to share a panel discussion on *\#TimesUp and #MeToo: A Legal and Public Relations Perspective* with labor and employment attorneys Margaret Kurlinski and Rebeca Lopez of Godfrey & Kahn S.C. at the statewide Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Conference on October 11th. On October 18th, Monagle discussed opioid communications for workplaces at the Vorpahl Fire & Safety 3rd Annual Safety Day, held at Lambeau Field. “These are tough topics for an employer to consider,” said Monagle. “However, it is much better to begin to examine your policies, proactively communicate them and be ready to speak about them. With opioids, prevention and awareness might save someone’s life. With sexual misconduct, it’s important to be prepared to respond to the media in addition to employee concerns,” she continued. “As the need for employee recruitment and retention continues to grow, we want our companies to be perceived as safe, healthy places to work. A solid communications plan is key – it was a pleasure to exchange information and tips with SHRM and Safety Day attendees, and learn from them as well,” Monagle concluded. ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, communications, lambeaufield, legal, opioid, opioid abuse, opioid abuse prevention --- ### [Dane County Regional Airport Wins ACI-NA Award for FLY LOCAL Campaign Created by AFFIRM](https://affirmagency.com/news/dane-county-regional-airport-wins-aci-na-award-for-fly-local-campaign-created-by-affirm/) **Published:** November 19, 2018 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI…November 19, 2018) Dane County Regional Airport () won first place for Overall Marketing Programs among other small airports at the Airports Council International – North America’s (ACI-NA) 2018 Excellence in Airport Marketing, Communications, and Customer Service Awards on November 15, 2018. These annual Awards recognize airports that have excelled in the areas of marketing and public relations during the previous year. The 2018 Awards were held during the ACI-NA Marketing & Communications Conference in Ottawa, Canada. MSN placed first in the prestigious *Overall Marketing Program* category for the FLY LOCAL campaign developed by AFFIRM. In the thick of the eat/shop/buy/stay local movements, Dane County Regional Airport launched the FLY LOCAL campaign to encourage travelers to fly out of Madison instead of other regional “big box” airports. In line with the theme, AFFIRM helped to develop outdoor billboards, print ads, online ads, radio ads, and social media, as well as the creative campaign’s “spokesperson” – a flying cow. In addition, a FLY LOCAL booth was strategically placed at local festivals and events to raise awareness. The FLY LOCAL campaign, which will continue into 2019, focuses on all of the benefits and features of flying local, including the potential to save money on parking, gas, tolls, and traffic, the locally-sourced food vendors within the airport, and supporting the local economy. ***AFFIRM**, formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### --- ### [AFFIRM to Develop Campaign for the Embassy Suites by Hilton and the Rockford Conference Center](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-to-develop-campaign-for-embassy-suites-by-hilton/) **Published:** January 29, 2019 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…January 29, 2019) AFFIRM Agency has been selected by Gorman & Company as the marketing agency for the Embassy Suites by Hilton and the Rockford Conference Center. Gorman & Company is currently in the process of transforming the iconic Amerock factory in downtown Rockford, IL into the 160-room Embassy Suites by Hilton and the adjoining Rockford Conference Center. The Amerock building, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011, sat abandoned for years. Gorman’s initiative to bring it back to life is generating wide anticipation in the market. The opening of the Embassy Suites by Hilton and the Rockford Conference Center is scheduled for April 1, 2020. AFFIRM will be responsible for the marketing and public relations program to introduce and build awareness of the hotel and conference center to regional target audiences. “We’re thrilled to be working with Gorman & Company on a project that’s going to be transformative for downtown Rockford,” said AFFIRM Agency President Danny Mager. “Gorman & Company specializes in bringing historic properties back to life and from what I’ve seen, the Embassy Suites by Hilton and the Rockford Conference Center is going to be one of their greatest accomplishments!” ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### --- ### [AFFIRM Wins Five American Advertising Awards](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-wins-five-american-advertising-awards/) **Published:** February 18, 2019 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…February 18, 2019) AFFIRM won a total of five ADDY awards at the 2019 American Advertising Awards Show hosted at Monona Terrace on Saturday, February 16, 2019. The American Advertising Federation (AAF) is a national organization that includes members across all disciplines in advertising. The annual American Advertising Awards are the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, recognizing and rewarding creative excellence in the art of advertising through local competitions across the nation. Entries that are recognized with Gold awards hold the only point of entry to the regional and national American Advertising Awards. AFFIRM won a GOLD ADDY for the By Your Side campaign in the category of Integrated Media Public Service Campaign for the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA). The awareness campaign was created to provide survivors with support, information, and resources that are available to them. In addition to a paid targeted online campaign, the campaign featured a microsite ([www.byyoursidewi.org](https://www.byyoursidewi.org)) with information on the Wisconsin Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, an interactive map to help those in need find resources in their area,. All campaign materials, including pre-roll video, posters, online ads, and outdoor billboards, are available for download by non-profit support groups and media throughout the state. AFFIRM will advance to the Regional American Advertising Awards competition later this year for the By Your Side campaign. The agency won a SILVER ADDY for the Barrymore Theatre branding in the category of visual – logo design. The newly designed logo captures all that is the Barrymore Theatre, including the past and present with a clean – but retro – looking logo to stay in tune with the hip neighborhood where the theater is located. AFFIRM also developed a new tagline to fully capture everything the theater stands for: *Uniquely Madison, Music + More*. The new logo and tagline can be seen on the theater’s newly designed website: . AFFIRM won a SILVER ADDY for Laura’s Gourmet Granola website in the category of Online/Interactive B-to-B websites. AFFIRM was able to stay true to the existing brand and create a new look for Laura’s Gourmet Granola’s website, which included art-directed photography. AFFIRM also revamped the e-commerce platform to be more user friendly. The fully developed and designed site can be found here: . AFFIRM won a SILVER ADDY for the Wisconsin Center District brochure in the category of Public Service Collateral – Brochure/Sales Kit. The brochure is used by the Wisconsin Center District to advertise the three facilities available to new cliental and bookers at national trade shows. AFFIRM included the Wisconsin Center, the Miller High Life Theater, and the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in the brochure to draw new talent to Milwaukee. () Lastly, AFFIRM won a SILVER ADDY for their holiday campaign entitled, “Elf Days of Christmas” in the category of Social Media Campaigns. This campaign was a brand awareness campaign created for Facebook during the holiday season for AFFIRM Agency itself. The campaign followed Jasper the Elf as he experienced a rebrand after wandering far from the North Pole. “It’s always gratifying to be recognized for the work done on behalf of our clients,” said AFFIRM Agency President Danny Mager “This year’s awards reflect everything from important public service messaging to fun entertainment marketing, helping to showcase the breadth of work AFFIRM has been able to do over the past year.” ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### **Tags:** Advertising, AFFIRM, Awards, awareness, Branding, Engagement, identity, Logo, marketing, Social Media --- ### [AFFIRM to Develop Campaign for the Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-to-develop-campaign-for-the-long-island-commission-for-aquifer-protection/) **Published:** February 20, 2019 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…February 20, 2019) AFFIRM Agency has been selected by the Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection (LICAP) to develop and launch a comprehensive public education and marketing campaign to encourage drinking water conservation on Long Island and to educate Long Islanders about their vital groundwater supply. LICAP focuses efforts on groundwater resource management and both quality and quantity issues facing Long Island’s aquifer system that is experiencing depletion. Every day, over 7 million residents utilize the water from the underground aquifer for drinking water and without action now, the drinking water for generations to come is in danger. AFFIRM will be responsible for campaign development, digital advertising and the social media campaign to introduce and build awareness of the water conservation initiative to regional target audiences. “Water is our most vital natural resource and many people don’t even know what the source of their drinking water is,” said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “Campaigns like the one AFFIRM is doing for LICAP are going to become more and more common as parts of the country that think they have a plentiful supply find out that even where rainfall is common, due to a variety of natural and man-made factors, drinking water is still in danger.” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [www.AFFIRMAgency.com](https://www.affirmagency.com/).* \### --- ### [Dane County Regional Airport Launches Daily Non-Stop Service to Los Angeles](https://affirmagency.com/news/dane-county-regional-airport-launches-daily-non-stop-service-to-los-angeles/) **Published:** March 27, 2019 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…March 27, 2019) Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA) will celebrate its new daily non-stop service to Los Angles, California during the inaugural flight event on March 31, 2019. Los Angeles is one of 19 non-stop destinations from Madison. New non-stop flights have played a significant factor in passenger traffic. In 2018, DCRA launched five non-stop destinations including: San Francisco, Philadelphia, Fort Myers, Tampa, and Phoenix. The airport also experienced its best year yet in passenger traffic in 2018 with over 2 million passengers traveling through Madison. Since the launch of several advertising campaigns that were developed by AFFIRM including STOP THE SCHLEP! In 2012, WHO KNEW?! in 2015, and FLY LOCAL in 2017, DCRA has seen steady increases in the number of travelers both in and out of the airport. “AFFIRM is proud to support the incredible growth of Dane County Regional Airport as they keep expanding with new flights and new airlines,” said Laura Monagle, VP of client services and public relations at AFFIRM. “We are fortunate to have such a great travel option in Madison and we encourage everyone to FLY LOCAL!” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* *\###* --- ### [MILWAUKEE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITES REDESIGNED BY AFFIRM](https://affirmagency.com/news/milwaukee-habitat-for-humanity-launches-new-websites-redesigned-by-affirm/) **Published:** April 17, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (April 17, 2019…Pewaukee, WI) Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, the Milwaukee-area non-profit organization that provides affordable housing to families living below the median income and works to revitalize neighborhoods, has launched 2 new websites- one for Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity and one for the Habitat ReStore. AFFIRM was chosen for the project and provided all website development and design for the refreshed websites which launched in late March. The redesign aimed to provide a more updated look with streamlined user experience as well as personal touches, that focus on the programs Habitat offers along with the families who benefit from using their services. According to Principal, Chief Creative Officer Steve Stocker, “We’re excited to have been able to work with Milwaukee Habitat to support their mission and give everyone involved with their programs a better way to access information and further their cause. We know that the experience that people or organizations have with Habitat can start online, so making the site as easy as possible to donate, become a sponsor, a volunteer, or find the nearest Restore, will allow Habitat to grow and make a greater impact on Milwaukee.” The Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity and Habitat ReStore websites can be visited at and . ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* *\###* --- ### [Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection Launches Our Water Our Lives Campaign to Encourage Drinking Water Conservation](https://affirmagency.com/news/long-island-commission-for-aquifer-protection-launches-our-water-our-lives-campaign-to-encourage-drinking-water-conservation/) **Published:** May 31, 2019 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…May 31, 2019) AFFIRM was contracted by the Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection (LICAP) to develop and launch *Our Water Our Lives,* an education and awareness campaign to conserve water from the aquifer – Long Island’s only drinking water supply. LICAP focuses efforts on groundwater resource management and both quality and quantity issues facing Long Island’s aquifer system that is experiencing depletion. Every day, over 7 million residents utilize the water from the underground aquifer for drinking water and without action now, the drinking water for generations to come is in danger. The *Our Water Our Lives*campaign, created by AFFIRM, features a microsite, a digital online program, social media content, and a brochure to encourage drinking water conservation on Long Island and to educate Long Islanders about their vital groundwater supply. The campaign will focus on three conservation measures: encouraging the use of smart controllers, rain sensors, and other water-saving technology to help residents water their lawns more efficiently; encouraging the use of EPA WaterSense products for indoor water savings; and, for those who choose not to use water-saving technology, encouraging the adoption of alternate-day lawn watering, which saves water and promotes healthy lawns. “Drinking water can’t be taken for granted,” said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “Since most people don’t know where their water comes from and think there’s any infinite supply, it’s critically important to educate them, especially in places like Long Island where the only water they have is literally right under their feet. By taking simple steps, like turning the tap off when they brush their teeth, each individual can have a large impact on saving our water for future generations.” ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** Advertising, Branding, marketing, water conservation --- ### [Bringing the Cool Factor to a Hot Live Music Event — AFFIRM Helps Promote Popular AtwoodFest in Madison](https://affirmagency.com/news/bringing-the-cool-factor-to-a-hot-live-music-event-affirm-helps-promote-popular-atwoodfest-in-madison/) **Published:** June 26, 2019 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…June 26, 2019) For the third year in a row, AFFIRM Agency has partnered with Madison’s Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahara (SASY) Neighborhood Association, the Barrymore Theatre, and the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center to plan and produce all of the advertising and marketing materials for the 6th annual AtwoodFest neighborhood music festival. In addition to raising funds for the non-profit organizations that produce it, AtwoodFest attracts thousands of people from throughout the Madison area to one of the city’s most eclectic neighborhoods featuring a wide selection of ethnic foods, arts & crafts vendors, and 25 regional music acts. The festival features two main music stages, a KidsFest stage and activities area, 20 local food stands, 14 Wisconsin craft beers, 75 vendors, MakerMarket, and a Community Arts Project. AFFIRM was first commissioned to develop the creative theme and outreach materials in 2017. Paying homage to David Atwood, the nineteenth-century Madison mayor, congressman and publisher who is the namesake of Atwood Avenue, the vibrant near east side street where the festival takes place, AFFIRM uses a creative take on Atwood’s image in the festival’s promotional posters, flyers, t-shirts, social media and website. “Over the past three years, AtwoodFest has grown into one of Madison’s largest summer music festivals”, said AFFIRM President and Atwood area resident Danny Mager. “We love the fact that our fun, creative advertising has helped to define what is now one of the highlights of the year on Madison’s east side.” AtwoodFest takes place July 27-28, 2019. For more information, go to . ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* --- ### [The Fireside Dinner Theatre Announces Its 2020 Theatre Season - “A Season of Favorites”](https://affirmagency.com/news/the-fireside-dinner-theatre-announces-its-2020-theatre-season-a-season-of-favorites/) **Published:** July 30, 2019 **Author:** **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis… July 30, 2019) AFFIRM Agency is excited to once again partner with The Fireside Dinner Theatre in Fort Atkinson, WI to promote its newly-announced 2020 theatrical season! Since 2008, AFFIRM has collaborated with The Fireside to create strategic marketing and advertising campaigns that have engaged existing audiences, while introducing The Fireside to a new generation of theatre-goers. The 2020 “A Season of Favorites” features popular Broadway shows, Fireside classics, and beloved stories, including: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER – December 31, 2019 – February 23, 2020 GUYS AND DOLLS – February 27 – April 12, 2020 A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR BASEMENT: CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES – April 16-May 31, 2020 WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS: LIVE BAND REVUE – June 4-July 19, 2020 Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA – July 23-September 6, 2020 JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT – September 10-October 25, 2020 HOLIDAY INN – October 29-December 27, 2020 2020 season tickets are on sale now! Over the past 11 years, The Fireside Theatre has introduced its incredible brand of superb musicals, memorable dining, spectacular shops and fabulous service to a new generation of fans and has seen more than a 20 percent increase in new attendees. “Just one trip to The Fireside will make you a believer – we are excited about the new season and our continuing partnership with this landmark Wisconsin destination” said AFFIRM Vice President of Client Services Laura Monagle. “We encourage everyone to head to Fort Atkinson in 2020 to see for yourself how The Fireside Theatre is more than you’d ever expect!” The Fireside Dinner Theatre features world-class fine dining before each show, included in the ticket pricing. Information on the theater, shows, menus, and tickets can be found online at [www.firesidetheatre.com](https://www.firesidetheatre.com). \### **Tags:** Advertising, Broadway, marketing, Musical Theatre, The Fireside, The Fireside Dinner Theatre --- ### [AFFIRM HELPS YOUR CHOICE TO LIVE PROVIDE PARENTS WITH A “WAKE-UP CALL” REGARDING DRUG ABUSE](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-helps-your-choice-to-live-provide-parents-with-a-wake-up-call-regarding-drug-abuse/) **Published:** August 19, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (August 19, 2019) Your Choice to Live () an Oconomowoc non-profit that specializes in drug and alcohol abuse education and awareness, especially among youth, recently launched the online version of its live “Wake Up Call” tour. “Wake Up Call” is aimed at helping parents, educators and others learn about the unsuspecting locations where young people may hide drugs or alcohol. AFFIRM helped to plan, develop, program and launch the Wake Up Call website at with content provided by Your Choice to Live. The “Wake-Up Call” website is open to adults age 21 or older and features an interactive quiz in which parents, educators, and other community members “tour” different areas of a young person’s bedroom and try to identify commonly-found items where young people may hide drugs or alcohol. Quiz results reveal all the items, along with information on how the items are used for concealment. The site also provides access to a wide range of resources regarding youth substance abuse through the Your Choice to Live website. This project highlights AFFIRM’s expertise in social behavior-change marketing, especially with regard to substance abuse prevention. In addition to “Wake Up Call,” the agency helped create and has now implemented the DOSE OF REALITY opioid abuse prevention campaign in seven states, as well as methamphetamine (KNOW METH) and drunk driving prevention campaigns in the state of Wisconsin. “We are so happy with the launch of this meaningful project,” said Vice President of Client Services and Public Relations Laura Monagle. “As a mom of two young people, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Your Choice to Live to help other parents. Education is prevention, and this organization is so dedicated. We hope that all adults come away from this website better informed, and if help is needed, the resources are there to find it,” Monagle concluded. Adults 21 or older can request the password, and then log in to take the “Wake Up Call” quiz at . Requests for the live “Wake Up Call” tour can be made by contacting Your Choice to Live . About Your Choice to Live Your Choice to Live, Inc. is a 501©(3) non-profit organization established in 2012 by the Lybert family after their son struggled for many years with a drug addiction. The Lybert’s began sharing their family story of the struggles of addiction in order to help others navigate similar situations. The organization now provides programs and presentations in Wisconsin and the Midwest to provide awareness, prevention education, resources and support to youth, parents, schools and communities in regard to alcohol and drug use. **Tags:** drug abuse prevention, opioid abuse, wake up call, your choice to live --- ### [WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S “DRIVE SOBER” CAMPAIGN UNVEILS NEW TAGLINE AND MEDIA EFFORTS](https://affirmagency.com/news/wisconsin-department-of-transportations-drive-sober-campaign-unveils-new-tagline-and-media-efforts/) **Published:** August 21, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee Wis… August 21, 2019) AFFIRM will continue its media planning and buying efforts for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER traffic safety campaign. In addition to TV, radio, and online advertising, the DRIVE SOBER messaging will be communicated through chalk art at Lambeau Field in late August. AFFIRM’s DRIVE SOBER public service announcements feature some of Wisconsin’s top extreme athletes, who emphasize that if they wouldn’t do their stunts drunk, they certainly would never drive drunk. The advertisements also encourage Wisconsin drivers to download the DRIVE SOBER mobile app, which has helpful features such as a Designated Driver Selector and Find a Ride tool. The DRIVE SOBER campaign is a part of the Wisconsin DOT’s “Zero in Wisconsin” initiative, which aims to reduce preventable deaths on Wisconsin roadways. The “Zero in Wisconsin” theme has been recently refreshed and has a new tagline: “Together We Can Save Lives.” “We are thrilled to continue working with the Wisconsin DOT on this campaign,” said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “We hope that our new chalk art messaging at Lambeau Field will encourage even more people to drive safely.” The annual DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER Impaired Driving Enforcement Period runs from mid-August to Labor Day 2019. For more information, visit the [Zero in Wisconsin website](https://witrafficsafety.org/). \### **Tags:** transportation, Wisconsin DOT --- ### [CAR FREE DAY INDY CELEBRATES LARGEST TURNOUT EVER AT 4th ANNUAL EVENT](https://affirmagency.com/news/car-free-day-indy-celebrates-largest-turnout-ever-at-4th-annual-event/) **Published:** September 30, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…September 30, 2019) In honor of the annual Car Free Day, the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority’s Commuter Connect program coordinated with AFFIRM to host their 4th annual Car Free Day Indy, encouraging Central Indiana residents to go car free or car-lite on Friday, September 20th. The event collected a record-breaking total of 1,272 pledges! As the Advertising Agency of Record for the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority’s (CIRTA) Commuter Connect program, AFFIRM helped plan and staff the event, as well as create all Car Free Day Indy branding and marketing materials. On September 20th, Commuter Connect hosted events at several Indianapolis-area locations, including Cummins Plaza and Monument Circle, featuring live music, free refreshments from Wild Eggs and Chick-fil-A, and the chance to win prizes, play games, and interact with various vendors. Mayor Joe Hogsett and CIRTA Board President Bill Ehret also came together to offer a proclamation from the city declaring September 20th as Car Free Day Indy. “It’s been greatly rewarding to work with both the Long Island Rail Road and the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority to bring International Car Free Day to life in their markets, “ said AFFIRM Account Executive, Amy Opad. “We hope to grow both events next year so that they continue to promote sustainable transportation throughout the rest of the year,” concluded Opad. ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** marketing, transportation --- ### [AFFIRM Agency Collaborates with Pathways for Fathers and Families](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-agency-collaborates-with-pathways-for-fathers-and-families/) **Published:** October 22, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…October 22, 2019) AFFIRM Agency is pleased to enter another phase of its ongoing collaboration with Milwaukee County Pathways for Fathers and Families. Initially working with Pathways on original branding in 2013, this newly launched phase includes collaboration on a brand refresh, including an updated website, brochure, poster, transit advertising and social media. The Milwaukee County Pathways for Fathers and Families is a county-wide collaboration composed of various local partners with a goal to strengthen father-child engagement, improve employment and economic opportunities, and develop healthy relationships in their lives. AFFIRM will be collaborating with Pathways for its ongoing social media management. By providing skill-building workshops and individualized service, the integrated Pathways program involves three core program services: Responsible Parenting, Healthy Marriage/Relationships, and Economic Stability. The ultimate campaign goal is to aid fathers and father-figures in improving their lives and reinforcing their relationships with their children. “Working with the Pathways to Fatherhood program fits in perfectly with our agency purpose to help people make their lives better,” said Danny Mager, “We hope the program’s updated website and materials will help more families in Milwaukee County to know about the program and its benefits.” ***AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*. **Tags:** Branding, marketing, Milwaukee County, pathways for fathers and families, skill building --- ### [AFFIRM Produces Rita’s Story for Milwaukee Habit for Humanity’s Gala](https://affirmagency.com/news/affirm-produces-ritas-story-for-milwaukee-habit-for-humanitys-gala/) **Published:** October 24, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…October 24, 2019) AFFIRM Agency, an award-winning, full-service advertising agency in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, was honored to produce [***Rita’s Story***](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpkFJ8vr3QE&trk=organization-update-content_share-video-embed_share-article_title) for the Milwaukee Habit for Humanity’s **Framing the Future Gala**. ***Rita’s Story*** tells the account of Milwaukee Habitat homeowner Rita, who gave her testimony about her and her family’s life before they worked with Habitat. Rita retells the process of working with Habitat, the volunteers who helped them build their home, and the impact it had on her family. The video also touches on the opportunity the new home gave Rita to build upon her in-home business making soap. Taking place over a period of several months, the video uses footage taken of different groups participating including Sargento Foods, Kohl’s Corporation, Thrivent, and others. The shoot featured homes being built in the Midtown area of Milwaukee on north 28th and 29th streets. To provide a different perspective of the neighborhood, showing proximity to downtown Milwaukee with the skyline in the distance, AFFIRM shot dramatic drone footage. The title used at the beginning, “Transforming Neighborhoods. Transforming Lives” reflects the overall impact that Milwaukee Habitat is having on Milwaukee and the families who benefit from their services. The video included facts regarding the need for affordable housing in Milwaukee along with data on the impact that Milwaukee Habitat has had on the community. ***Rita’s Story*** took over 80 hours to produce with the majority of time being donated pro bono by AFFIRM to Milwaukee Habitat. The *Framing the Future Gala* included an attendance of four hundred people, raising more than $370k, a new record in Milwaukee Habitat Gala history! The Gala also helped Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity exceed their fundraising goal by more than $60k! The proceeds will be invested into the Milwaukee community, helping families in need of safe, affordable housing. The Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity and Habitat ReStore websites can be visited at . You can view [***Rita’s Story here***](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpkFJ8vr3QE)***.*** **AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation, and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* **Tags:** AFFIRM, community, Habitat for Humanity, Milwaukee, news --- ### [Amtrak Introduces new Thruway I-41 Bus Service to Green Bay](https://affirmagency.com/news/amtrak-introduces-new-thruway-i-41-bus-service-to-green-bay/) **Published:** November 8, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…October 23, 2019) The Wisconsin Department of Transportation recently introduced the Amtrak Thruway I-41 bus service that allows riders round- trip transportation between Milwaukee and Green Bay with stops in Appleton, Oshkosh, and Fond du Lac. The bus service also provides a seamless connection to and from Chicago via the Amtrak Hiawatha train. In 2004, AFFIRM began working with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on the Amtrak Hiawatha Passenger Rail Service Advertising Program and since then, ridership has increased by 82.5%. AFFIRM is now working to promote the new Thruway I-41 bus service to residents in the Green Bay and Fox Cities area who may not be aware of the Amtrak Hiawatha service to Chicago. AFFIRM is using tactics such as geo-targeted online ads that direct users right to the Thruway bus ticket purchasing page on the Amtrak Hiawatha website; The Amtrak Thruway I-41 Bus Service features many of the same conveniences found on the Hiawatha trains, including free WIFI, at-seat plug ins, tables, and cupholders. “It’s exciting to see the continuing growth and success of the Amtrak Hiawatha with the addition of the new Amtrak Thruway I-41 Bus Service,” said AFFIRM President Danny Mager. “Now residents of Northeast Wisconsin have a seamless way to travel to Chicago and back in the same day without having to worry about traffic, parking or road construction!” ***AFFIRM*** *is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit* [*www.AFFIRMAgency.com*](https://www.affirmagency.com/)*.* \### **Tags:** AFFIRM, Amtrak Hiawatha, Green Bay, Milwaukee, news, transportation --- ### [Dane County Regional Airport Wins WAVE Award](https://affirmagency.com/news/dane-county-regional-airport-wins-wave-award/) **Published:** November 26, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, WI…November 21, 2019) Dane County Regional Airport () won a WAVE Merit Award for its new IT’S ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY Branding & Corporate Image Video at the Madison Media Professionals 2019 WAVE Awards held in Madison on November 13, 2019. The WAVES are a celebration honoring excellence in local talent in the video production industry. The airport’s video, which can be viewed at , focuses on many of the beautiful features and convenient benefits that make Dane County Regional Airport one of the fastest growing regional airports in the country. “With all of the growth and activity we’re experiencing, including new non-stops to Boston, Nashville, Portland and Seattle, we really wanted to do something special to showcase the airport”, said Dane County Regional Airport Marketing & Communications Director Brent Kyzer-McHenry. “This video really shows how easy, convenient and downright civilized it is to fly out of Madison as compared to big city airports!”. In addition to streaming the video on its website and YouTube channel, the airport may also use the video as part of its 2020 digital marketing effort. ***AFFIRM,*** *formerly Staples Marketing, is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing transit, transportation and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit AffirmAgency.com* \### **Tags:** AFFIRM, airport, marketing, video --- ### [Pewaukee Chamber of Commerce to Work With AFFIRM](https://affirmagency.com/2020/01/30/3384/) **Published:** January 30, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** (Pewaukee, Wis…January 30, 2020) Pewaukee-based agency AFFIRM will work with the Pewaukee Chamber of Commerce on a new initiative in 2020 to help reposition the organization. The Chamber which is led by local businessman, Derek Miller started working with AFFIRM in late 2019 on several small projects. The Pewaukee Chamber was founded in 1948 and is currently working on a new vision for its members to be unveiled in late spring that AFFIRM will be assisting on. The Chamber will continue to host various events including the annual Community Awards Gala and will be introducing several new activities including monthly roundtable meetings and focus groups. After being known as Staples Marketing for 30 years, AFFIRM rebranded themselves in 2015. The agency has extensive experience in projects involving rebranding and positioning organizations both in the private and public sectors. Miller, who is the Executive Director of the Chamber, has presented several new initiatives to the Chamber board of directors that are focused on the area of personal development and the impact it can have on business development. The changes will be reflected on the organization’s website and across all communications with the goal of adding more value for existing members as well as growing the membership base. The initial project is targeted for completion during the second quarter of 2020. For more information on the Pewaukee Chamber of Commerce please visit, . **AFFIRM** is a full-service marketing communications agency with headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The agency serves local, regional and national clients in Business-to-Business and Consumer markets and has special expertise providing social marketing, transit, transportation, and health benefits marketing and communications. For more information, call 262-650-9900, or visit [*https://affirmagency.com/*](https://affirmagency.com/) **Tags:** Branding, marketing, Pewaukee --- ## Portfolio ### [Cleanworx](https://affirmagency.com/work/cleanworx/) **Published:** March 6, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Cleanworx™ Work type: [Branding](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=branding) / [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=digital) / [Print](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=print)## Helping to develop and market a new brand and product line CleanWorx, a new brand from Sani-Matic, helps take the complexity out of cleaning. The first product in the CleanWorx line to be offered to customers is the CyClean 35, an automated parts washer for parts requiring cleaning-out-of-place. This product offering was the first of its kind for Sani-Matic and a genius plug-and-play concept for budget-conscious businesses. ### The ask Sani-Matic reached out to us for help in developing a brand identity for CleanWorx, the new value brand they were set to launch, along with the branded look and feel for the first product under this brand, CyClean 35. The ask included: research, logo creation, tagline development, brand exploration, logo library and usage guide completion and the execution of brand materials (i.e. brochure, technical datasheet…), and brand and product campaigns (digital ads, print ads, tradeshow panel graphics). ### The process AFFIRM started from scratch by getting to know the ins and outs of the Sani-Matic family of brands and product offerings. We did a deep dive into their market segments and current marketing efforts to better understand their unique positioning. We collaborated with the client to deliver a new brand, product, and successful marketing campaign. ### The result In less than 4 months from start to finish we helped to launch a first-of-its-kind new value brand and product offering, which debuted at the Pack Expo Conference receiving accolades and excitement. The success of the initiative led to continued work from the client and the eventual execution and rebranding of several business units and product lines. ## Logo design ![Cleanworx Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cleanworx-logo-design.png "cleanworx-logo-design") ## Brand guidelines ![#image_title](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cleanworx-brand-guidelines.avif "cleanworx-brand-guidelines") ## Brand Brochure ![Cleanworx brochure](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cleanworx-cyclean-brochure-1.avif "cleanworx-cyclean-brochure") ## Digital Advertising ![Cleanworx baking digital](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cleanworx-online-ads-baking.avif "cleanworx-online-ads-baking") ![Cleanworx food digital](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cleanworx-online-ads-food.avif "cleanworx-online-ads-food") ## Product Logo Design ![Cyclean 35 logo design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cyclean-35-logo.png "cyclean-35-logo") ## Product Technical Datasheet ![Cyclean TDS](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cleanworx-cyclean-tds.jpg "cleanworx-cyclean-tds") ## Trade Show Design ![cleanworx tradeshow](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cleanworx-trade-show.jpg "cleanworx-trade-show") ![Sanimatic Cleanworx Cyclean Trade Show](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cleanworx-tradeshow.jpg "cleanworx-tradeshow") ![Sanimatic Cleanworx Cyclean Trade Show](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cleanworx-tradeshow1.jpg "cleanworx-tradeshow1") ![Sanimatic Cleanworx Cyclean Trade Show](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cleanworx-tradeshow2.jpg "cleanworx-tradeshow2") **Portfolio Categories:** Branding, Digital, Print --- ### [Henry Vilas Zoo](https://affirmagency.com/work/henry-vilas-zoo/) **Published:** December 28, 2024 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Henry Vilas Zoo Work type: [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=digital) / [Print](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=print) / [Website](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=website) A Madison treasure, Henry Vilas Zoo is one of only a handful of free zoos in the nation. As a community-supported zoo, we aimed to be efficient and impactful with a limited budget. Leaning on our core values, like being Exceptionally Agile, Openly Collaborative, and Amazingly Resourceful, we maximized marketing efforts without losing momentum or compromising quality. Below are some examples of large- and small-scale campaigns and projects which delivered on our promise to always produce high quality work, sometimes under tight timelines or with limited budget. - Fundraising - Branding and Events - On-Site Messaging - Website Fundraising ## Fundraising Campaigns The Henry Vilas Zoo is a cherished part of the Madison area and plays a vital role in the surrounding communities. It offers visitors the opportunity to experience its beauty and wonder through free and enjoyable attractions. To keep the zoo accessible to everyone, fundraising is essential to sustain one of the region’s most beloved institutions. Through these efforts, we encouraged a pipeline of new and regular donations to the zoo. ### Roar for More #### Outdoor ![Henry Vilas Zoo Roar for More outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-roar-for-more-outdoor.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-roar-for-more-outdoor")#### Digital Display ![Henry Vilas Zoo Roar for More online](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-roar-for-more-online-social.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-roar-for-more-online-social")### Zoo Light Up My Life ![Henry Vilas Zoo End of Year Giving](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-eoy2023.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-eoy2023")#### Digital Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) #### Giving Tuesday Outdoor ![Henry Vilas Zoo Giving Tuesday](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-giving-tuesday.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-giving-tuesday")### Fun & Free + Light Way to End the Year #### Outdoor ![Henry Vilas Zoo End of Year Giving](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-eoy2022.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-eoy2022")#### Newspaper ![Henry Vilas Zoo End of Year Giving Newspaper](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-eoy2022-newspaper.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-eoy2022-newspaper")#### Digital Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ### A Part of You #### Digital Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ### Put a Bo On It! #### Digital Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ### People’s Choice Awards #### Advertisement ![Henry Vilas Zoo People's Choice Award](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-peopleschoice.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-peopleschoice")### Reopening the Zoo The Henry Vilas Zoo, one of the only admission-free zoos in the country, re-opened to the public on June 18, 2020. We designed and launched a marketing campaign to encourage attendance, donations and to educate the community about safety measures being implemented during the pandemic. The strategic campaign – “*We Missed You At the Zoo*” shows the animals at Henry Vilas Zoo welcoming back their human friends, and includes a request to help support the Zoo through donations due to lost revenue from concessions and lack of visitors and events during the closure. The heart-felt message was delivered through direct mail, outdoor, radio, print and digital advertising, as well as updates to their website. #### Direct Mail ![Henry Vilas Zoo Direct Mail](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hvz-mailer-jpg.avif "hvz-mailer")#### Outdoor ![Henry Vilas Zoo Billboard](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hvz-billboard-jpg.avif "hvz-billboard")#### Digital Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) Branding and Events ## Branding and Events AFFIRM developed the overall Henry Vilas Zoo tagline and branding to help communicate their goals to educate the public and conserve wildlife. We also developed a number of sub-brands for the unique and engaging fundraising events developed by the zoo, as well as exhibit openings, educational programs and more. The following examples represent general zoo branding efforts along with these special event branding and materials. ### Tagline Development + Logo Lockup ![Henry Vilas Zoo branding](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-logo-1.png "henry-vilas-zoo-logo")### Brand Usage Guide ![Henry Vilas Zoo brand guidelines](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-brand-guidelines.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-brand-guidelines")### Foundation Logo Design ![Henry Vilas Zoo foundation logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-logo-foundation.png "henry-vilas-zoo-logo-foundation")### Edge of Africa Branding Part of the Strategic Plan for Henry Vilas Zoo included the development of the “Edge of Africa” which is an area of the zoo that will feature animals from the continent of Africa. The area will begin with the development of a new giraffe barn. To support fundraising initiatives for the capital campaign, the Zoo asked AFFIRM to develop a brand and messaging for the Edge of Africa. ![Henry Vilas Zoo Edge of Africa Branding](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-edgeofafrica-branding.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-edgeofafrica-branding")### Brew Lights Event Branding ![Henry Vilas Zoo Brew Lights](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-brew-lights-branding.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-brew-lights-branding")### Feast with the Beasts Event Branding ![Henry Vilas Zoo Feast with the Beasts](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-feast-beasts.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-feast-beasts")### Brewfari Event Branding ![Henry Vilas Zoo Brewfari Event and Branding](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-brewfari.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-brewfari")### Spooktacular Event Branding ![Henry Vilas Zoo Spooktacular](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-spooktacular-logo.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-spooktacular-logo") On-Site Messaging ## On-Site Messaging The zoo’s on-site messaging and wayfinding signage were outdated and in need of an upgrade. We were excited to step in and enhance their navigation and internal visuals. Our work refreshed the signage with a modern, bold, and brand-forward approach. Additionally, the zoo was facing a tight deadline to regain its prestigious AZA Accreditation, with wayfinding signage playing a crucial role in the process. We delivered the new signage and managed installations within the tight timeline, helping them successfully meet their goals. #### On-site Maps ![Henry Vilas Zoo On-site Maps](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-map.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-map")#### Wayfinding Signs ![Henry Vilas Zoo wayfinding signs](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-wayfinding-signs.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-wayfinding-signs")#### Donor Keyhole Stations ![Henry Vilas Zoo Donor Keyhole Stations](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-donor-keyhole.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-donor-keyhole")#### Aviary Entrance Wrap ![Henry Vilas Zoo Aviary design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-aviary-design.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-aviary-design")#### Zoo Entrance Signs ![Henry Vilas Zoo Entry Signs](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-entrance-signs.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-entrance-signs")#### Artic Fox Signage ![Henry Vilas Zoo Signage Artic Fox](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-signage-artic-fox.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-signage-artic-fox")#### Trifold Brochure – General ![Henry Vilas Zoo Trifold Brochure](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-trifold-brochure.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-trifold-brochure")#### Trifold Brochure – Educational ![Henry Vilas Zoo Educational Trifold Brochure](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-trifold-brochure-educational.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-trifold-brochure-educational")#### Train and Carousel Punch Card ![Henry Vilas Zoo Carousel Punch Card](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-carousel-punch-card.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-carousel-punch-card") Website ## Website With an outdated website and no budget for a complete redesign, the zoo commissioned AFFIRM to perform some much-needed updates. We installed and configured a new page editor on select pages, which allows the client to update the content through an easy-to-use front-end WYSIWYG system.​ We redesigned key landing pages and user interface elements for better end user interaction. This allows the future design of the website to be more on-brand and scalable as the website grows and changes. We also provided training sessions with key staff members through video calls with screen sharing session. The client is now able to reproduce and extend these new templates to other pages to make editing easier. #### Website Design ![Henry Vilas Zoo website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-website.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-website") ![Henry Vilas Zoo website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-website2.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-website2") ![Henry Vilas Zoo website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/henry-vilas-zoo-website3.jpg "henry-vilas-zoo-website3") **Portfolio Categories:** Digital, Print, Website --- ### [GWRideConnect](https://affirmagency.com/work/gwrideconnect/) **Published:** December 14, 2024 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # GWRideConnect Work type: [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=digital) / [Social Media](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=social-media) / [Video](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=video)## Launching a revolutionary awareness and ridership campaign GWRideConnect is a free ridesharing service in the Fredericksburg, VA region that connects people to transportation solutions other than driving alone. They sought to address the ever-persistent challenge of encouraging single-occupancy-vehicle drivers to shift their behavior from driving alone to more sustainable and efficient modes of transportation. ### The ask The client approached us with specific goals to increase awareness of GWRideConnect in the area and to increase the amount of new riders signed up with GWRideConnect. ### The process To inspire action and break through advertising noise, we developed the “Revolutionize Your Commute Campaign” to raise awareness of GWRideConnect’s services and to inspire a cultural shift in the way people think about their daily commute. This campaign’s creative approach honored the history of the American Revolution in and around the Fredericksburg area, while infusing a modern twist to make it relevant and engaging. ### The result The campaign was highly successful, with GWRideConnect earning a 10% growth in new applications during the first year. In addition to the increase in new applicants, we met or surpassed our awareness goals for all of our paid media. We surpassed digital online display impression goals by 56%. Geo-targeted Google Ads generated 897,422 impressions, which were in the top 3 positions 91% of the time (industry standards are 80% or higher). With paid social media, we more than doubled the unique users and impressions we anticipated this campaign would earn. With radio the client earned 21% more radio exposure through bonus spots. We also saw high engagement with YouTube video impressions. With the help of this campaign, our client earned an **Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) Award** for excellence in commuter transportation marketing ## Animated Video ## Radio Spots – Revolutionize Your Commute ### General :15 ### General :30 ### Vanpool :30 ## Radio Spots – General Branding ### General :15 ### Bulldozer :15 ### Vanpool :15 ## Animated Display – Rideshare [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ## Animated Display – Vanpool [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ## Static Display – Rideshare ![GWRideConnect Static Display - Carpool](https://affirmagency.com/assets/gwrc-statics-rideshare.jpg "gwrc-statics-rideshare") ## Static Display – Vanpool ![GWRideConnect Static Display - Vanpool](https://affirmagency.com/assets/gwrc-statics-vanpool.jpg "gwrc-statics-vanpool") ## Paid Social Media ![GWRideConnect Social Facebook](https://affirmagency.com/assets/gwrideconnect-social-facebook.jpg "gwrideconnect-social-facebook") ## Social Media Graphics ![Vanuary Social Graphics](https://affirmagency.com/assets/gwrc-vanuary-social.jpg "gwrc-vanuary-social") **Industries:** Transportation **Portfolio Categories:** Digital, Social Media, Video --- ### [Milwaukee Urban Forestry Fund](https://affirmagency.com/work/milwaukee-urban-forestry-fund/) **Published:** April 9, 2024 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Milwaukee Urban Forestry Fund Work type: [Branding](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=branding) / [Print](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=print)## Rooted in research, we helped grow a brand from the ground up. The Milwaukee Urban Forestry Fund, supported by donors and administered in partnership with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, was started in 1991 to improve the quality of life in the city through support of tree planting and improved access to green spaces. Trees play a vital role in Milwaukee and its neighborhoods by providing improved air quality, reduced storm water runoff, energy savings, improved well-being, and community beautification. ### The ask In 2022, the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works – Forestry Services (DPW) was looking for potential tree planting projects in neighborhoods throughout the city to be partially or fully funded by the Milwaukee Urban Forestry Fund. To help accomplish this task, DPW recognized that it should develop a brand and brand strategy for the Urban Forestry Fund, something it didn’t have for the first 30 years of the fund’s existence. ### The process We began by meeting with Forestry Services and conducting in-depth secondary research to understand similar programs nationwide. After reviewing our findings with key stakeholders, including the Department of Natural Resources, we used those insights to develop initial Urban Forestry Fund brand concepts for DPW. ### The result Once a logo was selected, we expanded the brand across a range of bilingual materials-including brochures, postcards, a PowerPoint template, yard sign, and digital flyer-to help DPW effectively engage Milwaukee residents. The new brand was developed on a concise timeline to accommodate the tight funding deadline. Since then, AFFIRM has helped DPW to develop additional branded materials for the program. ### Branding development ![Urban Forestry Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/urban-forestry-logo.png "urban-forestry-logo") ![urban-forestry-branding](https://affirmagency.com/assets/urban-forestry-branding.jpg "urban-forestry-branding") ![Logo Exploration](https://affirmagency.com/assets/urban-forestry-logo-exploration.jpg "urban-forestry-logo-exploration") ### Flyer Design ![Flyer Design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/urban-forestry-flyer.jpg "urban-forestry-flyer") ### Trifold Brochure ![Trifold Brochure](https://affirmagency.com/assets/urban-forestry-trifold.jpg "urban-forestry-trifold") ### Yard Sign ![Yard Sign](https://affirmagency.com/assets/urban-forestry-yard-sign.jpg "urban-forestry-yard-sign") ![urban-forestry-yard-sign-sp](https://affirmagency.com/assets/urban-forestry-yard-sign-sp.jpg "urban-forestry-yard-sign-sp") ### Direct Mail ![Mailer](https://affirmagency.com/assets/urban-forestry-mailer.jpg "urban-forestry-mailer") ![Mailer](https://affirmagency.com/assets/urban-forestry-mailer-sp.jpg "urban-forestry-mailer-sp") **Portfolio Categories:** Branding, Print --- ### [Wisconsin DOT Control Your Drive](https://affirmagency.com/work/wisconsin-dot-control-your-drive/) **Published:** February 20, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Wisconsin DOT | Control Your Drive Work type: [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=digital) / [Video](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=video)## Bobby Portis is getting ahead of speeding and aggressive driving in Milwaukee. We partnered with Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Bobby Portis on an anti-speeding and reckless driving spot reminding people to ‘CONTROL YOUR DRIVE’ on the court and behind the wheel. The spot was unveiled at a press conference with Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Craig Thompson, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and of course, Bobby Portis. Since then, the campaign has been running throughout Milwaukee and at the Fiserv Forum during games. ### TV Spots ### Digital Display ![Online Display](https://affirmagency.com/assets/portis-online-display.jpg "portis-online-display") ### Milwaukee Bucks in-stadium deliverables ![L-Bar graphic](https://affirmagency.com/assets/portis-l-bar.jpg "portis-l-bar") ![In-stadium video](https://affirmagency.com/assets/portis-in-stadium-video.jpg "portis-in-stadium-video") ![Ring Beam](https://affirmagency.com/assets/portis-ring-beam.jpg "portis-ring-beam") ### Behind the scenes video **Industries:** Transportation **Portfolio Categories:** Digital, Video --- ### [Hultafors](https://affirmagency.com/work/hultafors/) **Published:** February 6, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Hultafors Tools Work type: [Branding](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=branding) / [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=digital) / [Print](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=print) / [Public Relations](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=public-relations) / [Video](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=video)## Providing the tools for North American success and product launch Hultafors Tools is a Swedish company that specializes in manufacturing high-quality hand tools for professional use. With a history dating back to 1883, Hultafors is renowned for producing durable, reliable tools designed for tradespeople in various industries, including construction, carpentry, and outdoor work. Their product range includes everything from axes, hammers, and measuring tapes to knives and utility tools. The company’s commitment to quality and innovation has made it a trusted brand among professionals worldwide. ### The ask AFFIRM was engaged to help Hultafors Tools to translate its brand to be more relevant for North American professional tradesmen, who are the end users of the company’s line of precision-engineered premium hand tools. We also developed campaign tactics to support the launch of the brand new line of Work Gear products. ### The process Within just a few months, we built the North American brand and established complete brand guidelines and standards, expanded and refreshed the Hultafors Tools catalog, completed in-use product photo shoots, a North American brand video, and supported work gear launch PR efforts. ### The result We designed the new look for Hultafors’ trade show booth, which was first shown at the 2022 STAFDA show. The updated branding and product messaging have supported the Hultafors sales team in attracting interest from national retailers. A targeted national digital campaign was launched, featuring static and animated ads, along with streaming audio, to promote the new work gear and highlight the durability of Hultafors Tools. Our efforts also contributed to Hultafors’ successful appearance at the 2023 World of Concrete. ## North American Brand Guidelines ![Hultafors Brand Book](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-brand-book-jpg.avif "hultafors-brand-book") ## Catalog Design ![Hultafors Catalog](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-catalog1-jpg.avif "hultafors-catalog1") ## Photo Shoot ![Hultafors Photo shoot](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-photo-shoot-6-jpg.avif "hultafors-photo-shoot-6") ![Hultafors Photo shoot](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-photo-shoot-3-jpg.avif "hultafors-photo-shoot-3") ![Hultafors Photo shoot](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-photo-shoot-5-jpg.avif "hultafors-photo-shoot-5") ![Hultafors Photo shoot](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-photo-shoot-2-jpg.avif "hultafors-photo-shoot-2") ![Photo shoot](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-photo-shoot-1-jpg.avif "hultafors-photo-shoot-1") ![Hultafors Photo shoot](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-photo-shoot-4-jpg.avif "hultafors-photo-shoot-4") ![Hultafors Static](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-static-digital2-jpg.avif "hultafors-static-digital2") ![Trade Show Booth Design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hultafors-trade-show-booth.jpg "hultafors-trade-show-booth") **Portfolio Categories:** Branding, Digital, Print, Public Relations, Video --- ### [HammerHead Trenchless](https://affirmagency.com/work/hammerhead-trenchless/) **Published:** May 5, 2022 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # HammerHead Trenchless Work type: [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=digital) / [Print](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=print) / [Website](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=website)## Digging deep to take HammerHead to a higher level HammerHead Trenchless, founded in 1989 in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, manufactures trenchless construction equipment for installing, repairing, and replacing underground infrastructure like water, sewer, and gas lines. Its products include pipe bursting systems, CIPP technologies, and pneumatic boring tools. As a subsidiary of Charles Machine Works (The Toro Company), HammerHead supports global customers with equipment, training, and expert field service. ### The ask As a leader in providing comprehensive trenchless equipment, supplies, training and support to customers worldwide, HammerHead Trenchless has looked to AFFIRM to help with building brand awareness as well as a recent product launch. ### The process We created the “IT’S ALL HERE” campaign to help position HammerHead as a one-stop shop for contractors across all industries including wastewater, plumbing, gas and more. We also helped with the launch of Bluelight LED CIPP (Cured In Place Pipe) as being “LIGHT YEARS AHEAD” and the next generation of lateral rehabilitation. ### The result More recently, we designed the new look for their tradeshow booth that was introduced at the 2022 WWETT in Indianapolis. The show attracts customers and exhibitors from all over the world and the booth not only stood out at the show, but resulted in HammerHead’s most successful tradeshow ever. ### Print Advertising ![HammerHead Trenchless Print Ad](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hammerhead-trenchless-print-ad-jpg.avif "hammerhead-trenchless-print-ad") ### Brochure Design ![Bluelight Brochure](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hammerhead-trenchless-bluelight-brochure-jpg.avif "hammerhead-trenchless-bluelight-brochure") ### Digital Display ![Digital Online](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hammerhead-trenchless-online-jpg.avif "hammerhead-trenchless-online") ### Tradeshow Design ![HammerHead Trenchless Trade Show](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hht-tradeshow11.jpg "hht-tradeshow11") ![HammerHead Trenchless Trade Show](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hht-tradeshow1.jpg "hht-tradeshow1") ![HammerHead Trenchless Trade Show](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hht-tradeshow7.jpg "hht-tradeshow7") ![HammerHead Trenchless Trade Show](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hht-tradeshow2.jpg "hht-tradeshow2") ![HammerHead Trenchless Trade Show](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hht-tradeshow5.jpg "hht-tradeshow5") ![HammerHead Trenchless Trade Show](https://affirmagency.com/assets/hht-tradeshow6.jpg "hht-tradeshow6") **Portfolio Categories:** Digital, Print, Website --- ### [Borth Wilson](https://affirmagency.com/work/borth-wilson/) **Published:** November 1, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Borth Wilson Work type: [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=digital) / [Video](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=video) / [Website](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=website)## A marketing refresh for a quality remodeler With over 100 years as a family business, Borth-Wilson Plumbing & Bathroom Remodeling specializes in working with Southeast Wisconsin homeowners to turn their old bathroom into a beautiful new highlight of their home. So, when they needed to refresh their own advertising and website, they turned to AFFIRM for a marketing remodel that looks great and really flows! ## Website Design ![Borth Wilson Website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/borth-wilson-website-home-jpg.avif "borth-wilson-website-home") ![Borth Wilson website home layout](https://affirmagency.com/assets/borth-wilson-website-home-layout.jpg "borth-wilson-website-home-layout") ![Borth Wilson Website gallery](https://affirmagency.com/assets/borth-wilson-website-gallery.jpg "borth-wilson-website-gallery") #### Company Video **Portfolio Categories:** Digital, Video, Website --- ### [Dane County Regional Airport](https://affirmagency.com/work/dane-county-regional-airport/) **Published:** December 26, 2024 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Dane County Regional Airport Work type: [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=digital) / [Print](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=print) / [Public Relations](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=public-relations) / [Video](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=video) / [Website](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=website)## Highlighting how easy it is to upgrade your travel experience Our latest campaign for Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) urged travelers to not waste time and money driving to a faraway airport when they could be upgrading their overall travel experience by flying local. ### The ask The airport needed a way to show the public that MSN offers parking right across the street, locally sourced food and drink, shorter security lines, and free ultra-fast Wi-Fi 6 internet throughout the airport. The new South Terminal at the airport also offers travelers a variety of unique amenities like business centers, charging ports on all furniture, a kid’s area, pet relief area, and more. ### The process We created a classy, upscale micro-brand and messaging to reflect the conveniences of flying local. We featured people enjoying each of the features highlighted in the campaign. Using a combination of targeted digital display advertising, radio, outdoor, and traditional print, we executed a complete campaign to get this message out. ### The result The campaign was promoted at the airport as well as social media, radio, billboard, print, and online ads. We’re proud to say that the campaign drove 8,197 Fly Local pledges for the airport and increased traffic to the main website. ## Animated Display Ads – Summer Campaign [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ## Animated Display Ads [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ## Landing Page ![DCRA Upgrade Campaign - Landing Page](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-upgrade-website.jpg "dcra-upgrade-website") ![dcra upgrade summer website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-upgrade-summer-website-jpg.avif "dcra-upgrade-summer-website") ## Print Ad ![DCRA Upgrade Campaign - Print Ad](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-upgrade-print-ad.jpg "dcra-upgrade-print-ad") ![dcra upgrade summer print ad](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-upgrade-summer-print-ad-1-jpg.avif "dcra-upgrade-summer-print-ad") ## Outdoor ![DCRA Upgrade Campaign Outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-upgrade-outdoor.jpg "dcra-upgrade-outdoor") ![dcra upgrade summer outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-upgrade-summer-outdoor-jpg.avif "dcra-upgrade-summer-outdoor") ![dcra upgrade holiday outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-upgrade-holiday-outdoor-jpg.avif "dcra-upgrade-holiday-outdoor") ## Radio Spot **Portfolio Categories:** Digital, Print, Public Relations, Video, Website --- ### [SORTA Metro](https://affirmagency.com/work/sorta-metro/) **Published:** June 5, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # SORTA Metro Work type: [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=digital) / [Print](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=print) / [Social Media](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=social-media) / [Video](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=video) / [Website](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=website)## Transforming Cincinnati’s Public Transit Landscape Since 2016, AFFIRM Agency has partnered with the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) to revitalize Metro, Cincinnati’s primary bus system. Together, we’ve navigated challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, to not only recover but also exceed previous ridership levels. Our collaborative efforts have redefined public transportation in the region, introducing innovative services and infrastructure improvements that have set new standards for transit agencies nationwide. - General Brand - Your Way to Go - MetroNow! - Sports Partnerships - Get Up and Go General Brand ## General Branding AFFIRM Agency played a key role in helping SORTA Metro successfully market their rebrand and service improvements by executing a comprehensive, multi-channel campaign that elevated the transit authority’s refreshed identity across the Greater Cincinnati area. The strategy included eye-catching outdoor advertising, impactful print collateral, and creative bus wrap designs that transformed Metro’s fleet into moving billboards. AFFIRM also developed engaging digital display ads to capture audiences online and forged a strategic partnership with Red Bike to extend the brand’s visibility and reinforce its commitment to sustainable urban mobility. This integrated approach ensured consistent brand messaging across all touchpoints, driving awareness and public enthusiasm for the new Metro. ### Video ### Bus Wrap Designs ![Metro Rebrand - bus wrap design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Metro-Rebrand-Campaign-LargeBus-Wrap.gif "Metro-Rebrand-Campaign-LargeBus-Wrap") ![Metro Rebrand - bus wrap design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Metro-Rebrand-Campaign-Bus-Wrap.gif "Metro-Rebrand-Campaign-Bus-Wrap") ![Metro Rebrand - bus wrap design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Metro-Rebrand-Campaign-ShortBus-Wrap.gif "Metro-Rebrand-Campaign-ShortBus-Wrap")### Outdoor ![Metro Rebrand - outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Metro-Rebrand-Campaign-Outdoor.jpg "Metro-Rebrand-Campaign-Outdoor")### Red Bike Partnership ![Metro Rebrand - Red Bike Partnership](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Metro-Rebrand-Campaign-Red-Bike.jpg "Metro-Rebrand-Campaign-Red-Bike")### Outdoor Digital sign ![#image_title](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Metro-Rebrand-Campaign-Orange-Barrel.jpg "Metro-Rebrand-Campaign-Orange-Barrel")### Digital Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ## Metro Delivered Campaign “You asked for it… Metro delivered” was the theme carried through to all campaign materials and showcased how Metro delivered on the highlights mentioned. This campaign reinforced Metro’s commitment to its riders and all of Hamilton County. In addition, Metro shared how riders helped Metro lead the nation in post-pandemic ridership recovery. This campaign was extended to all media tactics including outdoor, print, radio, online, and more one-offs that were requested. AFFIRM was able to plan, implement, and create the campaign with just a few weeks’ notice. ### Video ### Icons ![Metro Image Campaign Icons](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Metro-Image-Campaign-Icons.jpg "Metro-Image-Campaign-Icons")### Outdoor ![Outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Metro-Image-Campaign-Outdoor_Weekend.jpg "Metro-Image-Campaign-Outdoor_Weekend") ![Outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Metro-Image-Campaign-Outdoor_24hour.jpg "Metro-Image-Campaign-Outdoor_24hour") ![Outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Metro-Image-Campaign-Outdoor_Jobs.jpg "Metro-Image-Campaign-Outdoor_Jobs")### Digital Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) Your Way to Go ## Your Way to Go Campaign With the start of the new year, it was time for a fresh marketing campaign encouraging Hamilton County to ride Metro. AFFIRM began creating a new general brand campaign encouraging people to ride Metro to promote how Metro is *Your Way To Go*. We created headlines that went along with Cincinnati traditions, highlighting the great atmosphere and things to do in Hamilton County. This campaign showcases fun layouts and imagery, bringing a new twist and lightheartedness to the general brand campaigns. From *Get Up & Go* to *Metro Delivered*, this offers a new and exciting way to promote that Metro is *Your Way To Go*. We extended this to print, radio, outdoor, and online. ### Outdoor ![Metro Your Way to Go Billboard](https://affirmagency.com/assets/your-way-to-go-billboard1.jpg "your-way-to-go-billboard1")### Landing page ![Your Way to Go Website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/your-way-to-go-website.jpg "your-way-to-go-website")### Digital Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ![Metro Your Way to Go Social](https://affirmagency.com/assets/your-way-to-go-social.jpg "your-way-to-go-social")### Digital Outdoor ![Metro Your Way to Go Digital Billboard](https://affirmagency.com/assets/your-way-to-go-digital-screen.jpg "your-way-to-go-digital-screen")### Print ![Metro Your Way to Go Print](https://affirmagency.com/assets/your-way-to-go-print.jpg "your-way-to-go-print")### Bus Info Screen ![Metro Your Way to Go Bus Info Screen](https://affirmagency.com/assets/your-way-to-go-bus-info-screens.jpg "your-way-to-go-bus-info-screens")### Outdoor Advertising ![Metro Your Way to Go Signage](https://affirmagency.com/assets/your-way-to-go-billboard2.jpg "your-way-to-go-billboard2") MetroNow! ## MetroNow! In 2022, Metro asked AFFIRM to design the branding for its new mobility-on-demand service starting in Spring 2023. Leveraging the look and feel developed for REINVENTING METRO, we created a bold brand that helped to further the message that there’s something new and exciting happening with Metro. The METRO NOW! logo is being used in a number of different ways to promote the new service, including online, video, print, and outdoor. ### Branding Design ![MetroNow! logo design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-now-logo.png "metro-now-logo")### Brand Usage Guide ![mobility on demand service branding logo usage guide](https://affirmagency.com/assets/mobility-on-demand-service-branding-logo-usage-guide.jpg "mobility-on-demand-service-branding-logo-usage-guide")### Vehicle Wrap Design ![MetroNow van wrap](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-now-van-wrap.jpg "metro-now-van-wrap")### Landing Page design ![MetroNow! Website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metronow-website.jpg "metronow-website")### Video ### Digital Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ### Outdoor ![metro-now-campaign deliverables ww bulletin](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-now-campaign-deliverables-ww-bulletin.jpg "metro-now-campaign-deliverables-ww-bulletin") ![MetroNow Billboard](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-now-billboard1.jpg "metro-now-billboard1") ![metronow billboard](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-now-billboard.jpg "metro-now-billboard")### Direct Mail ![MetroNow Direct Mail](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-now-direct-mail1.jpg "metro-now-direct-mail1") ![MetroNow Direct Mail](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-now-direct-mail.jpg "metro-now-direct-mail") Sports Partnerships ## Sports Partnerships AFFIRM plans and implements strategic partnerships for Metro with the Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball team and F.C. Cincinnati professional soccer team. Each year, we incorporate the current running campaign to generate several creative deliverables for the transit service. ### Reds Bus Wrap ![Reds Partnership Bus Wrap](https://affirmagency.com/assets/reds-partnership-bus-wrap.jpg "reds-partnership-bus-wrap")### Reds Bus Extended Kong ![Reds Partnership Bus Extended Kong](https://affirmagency.com/assets/reds-partnership-bus-kong.jpg "reds-partnership-bus-kong")### Reds Stadium Concourse Signage ![Reds Partnership Stadium Concourse Signage](https://affirmagency.com/assets/reds-partnership-stadium-signage.jpg "reds-partnership-stadium-signage")### FC Cincy Partnership Stadium Signage ![Digital Sign](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-fc-cincy-digital-sign.jpg "metro-fc-cincy-digital-sign")### FC Cincy Partnership Bus Extended Kong ![FC Cincy Partnership Bus Extended Kong](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-fc-cincy-extended-kong.jpg "metro-fc-cincy-extended-kong")### FC Cincy Partnership Bus Wrap ![FC Cincy Partnership Bus Wrap](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-fc-cincy-bus-wrap.jpg "metro-fc-cincy-bus-wrap")### FC Cincy Animated Stadium Signage [https://affirmagency.com/assets/fc-stadium-signage-1920×1080-1.mp4](https://affirmagency.com/assets/fc-stadium-signage-1920x1080-1.mp4) Get Up and Go ## Get Up and Go After years of success with our Reinventing Metro campaign, Metro asked AFFIRM to develop a campaign that would encourage choice riders to ride Metro for leisure. We implemented a new campaign that included digital ads, print ads, radio, video, and outdoor billboards. We also continued our successful partnerships with the Cincinnati Reds and FC Cincinnati, as well as the downtown Cincinnati ice rink. The campaign was a success, as ridership saw a 32% increase over the previous year, exceeding pre- COVID-19 ridership on local routes. ### Video ### Outdoor ![Get Up and Go Metro - outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Get-up-and-go-metro-game.jpg "Get-up-and-go-metro-game") ![Get Up and Go Metro - outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Get-up-and-go-metro-Mall.jpg "Get-up-and-go-metro-Mall")### Social Media ![Get Up and Go Metro - social](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Get-up-and-go-Social.jpg "Get-up-and-go-Social")### Digital Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ### Print ![Get Up and Go Metro - print](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Get-Up-and-Go_spanish-print-ad.jpg "Get-Up-and-Go_spanish-print-ad") ![Get Up and Go Metro - print](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Get-Up-and-Go_MOH-print-ad.jpg "Get-Up-and-Go_MOH-print-ad")### Digital Outdoor ![Get Up and Go Metro - outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/Get-up-and-go-metro-bingo.jpg "Get-up-and-go-metro-bingo") **Portfolio Categories:** Digital, Print, Social Media, Video, Website --- ### [DHS 988](https://affirmagency.com/work/dhs-988/) **Published:** April 15, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Wisconsin Department of Health Services Work type: [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=digital) / [Print](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=print) / [Social Media](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=social-media) / [Video](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=video)## 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Branding and Marketing The Wisconsin Department of Health Services selected AFFIRM to research and brand the state’s version of the new national 988 Crisis Lifeline that was expanding on and replacing the existing service. Additionally, AFFIRM developed the marketing plan and creative execution to launch awareness campaigns in Wisconsin. ### The ask The goals of this initiative were to research, brand, and raise awareness of the new Wisconsin 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline service, its purpose, and how to use it. Next, education about how the service works was necessary. Finally, increasing confidence and trust among all Wisconsinites was crucial, particularly among those most at risk. ### The process We conducted focus groups and surveys to assess the current understanding of resources among at-risk populations, and to explore how the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline might be effectively communicated to these groups within Wisconsin. Based on our research, we created a comprehensive media strategy and statewide campaigns, including TV commercials, online video, radio, static and animated banner ads, outdoor advertising, infographics, collateral, and paid social media. ### The result These efforts successfully raised awareness around the 988 Lifeline. Key barriers were addressed by emphasizing reduced wait times, immediate access, and the presence of trained, compassionate counselors. The campaigns also highlighted confidentiality and worked to reduce the stigma of seeking help through inclusive messaging. As a result, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline usage increased, along with public trust and understanding. Additionally, the campaigns performed well with strong added value from traditional media tactics. ## Branding ![988 Branding](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-logo-1.png "988-logo") ## Branding – Spanish and Hmong ![988 Logo Spanish](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-logo-sp-1.png "988-logo-sp") ![988 Logo Hmong](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-logo-hmong.png "988-logo-hmong") ## Poster Design ![988 Posters](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-poster.jpg "988-poster") ### Digital Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ## Informational Video ## Outdoor ![988 billboard rural](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-billboard-rural-1.jpg "988-billboard-rural") ![988 billboard teen](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-billboard-teen-1.jpg "988-billboard-teen") ![988 billboard aian](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-billboard-aian-1.jpg "988-billboard-aian") ## Gun Shop Card ![Gun Shop Card](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-gun-shop-card-scaled.jpg "988-gun-shop-card") ## Gas Pump Topper ![Hmong Gas Pump Topper](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-gas-pump-topper-hmong.jpg "988-gas-pump-topper-hmong") ## Social Media Design ![988 Social](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-social-english-spanish.jpg "988-social-english-spanish") ## Info Sheet ![#image_title](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-info-sheet-1-scaled.jpg "988-info-sheet") ## Infographic ![#image_title](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-infographic-1-scaled.jpg "988-infographic") ## Website Graphics ![988 Website Graphics](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-website-header.jpg "988-website-header") **Portfolio Categories:** Digital, Print, Social Media, Video --- ### [City of Sun Prairie](https://affirmagency.com/work/city-of-sun-prairie/) **Published:** August 12, 2026 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # City of Sun Prairie Work type: [Print](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=print)## Mapping a new way to experience Sun Prairie More than 40 years after the idea first appeared in City plans, the Sun Prairie Bike Loop became a reality. The new 23-mile recreational route connects parks, neighborhoods, natural areas, commercial districts, and community destinations throughout Sun Prairie. ### The ask The City of Sun Prairie turned to AFFIRM for our experience in transportation, mapping, and wayfinding to develop a branded bike map for its new recreational Bike Loop. The goal was to create an easy-to-use resource that would help residents navigate the route while encouraging visitors to explore Sun Prairie and support local businesses along the way. ### The process AFFIRM worked closely with the City to turn complex GIS data and a long list of community destinations into an approachable rider experience. We developed the Loop’s visual identity and designed a map featuring suggested stops, shortcuts, parking, parks, attractions, restaurants, shopping, and other amenities, giving riders the flexibility to make the Loop their own. The reverse side extends the experience with bike safety, maintenance, and riding tips, along with connections to additional Sun Prairie resources. ### The result Sun Prairie officially opened the Loop in June 2026 with a community ribbon cutting and inaugural ride. Together with new wayfinding signage and sharrows installed throughout the route, the finished map provides a lasting resource for residents while helping position Sun Prairie as a destination for cyclists to ride, explore, and experience the community for years to come. ## Brand Exploration ![Sun Prairie Bike Map Brand Exploration](https://affirmagency.com/assets/sun-prairie-bike-route-branding-1.png "sun-prairie-bike-route-branding") ## Bike Map ![Sun Prairie Bike Map](https://affirmagency.com/assets/sp-bike-map-full-display.jpg "sp-bike-map-full-display") ![Sun Prairie Bike Map](https://affirmagency.com/assets/sp-bike-map.jpg "sp-bike-map") ![Sun Prairie Bike Map](https://affirmagency.com/assets/sp-bike-map-1.jpg "sp-bike-map-1") ![Sun Prairie Bike Map](https://affirmagency.com/assets/sun-prairie-bike-map-zoomed.png "sun-prairie-bike-map-zoomed") ## Patterns and Custom Illustrations ![Sun Prairie Bike Map Custom Illustrations](https://affirmagency.com/assets/sp-bike-map-illustrations-1.png "sp-bike-map-illustrations") ## Custom Icon Design ![Custom Icon Design Sun Prairie Bike Map](https://affirmagency.com/assets/sun-prairie-bike-map-icons.png "sun-prairie-bike-map-icons") **Portfolio Categories:** Print --- ### [Briggs & Stratton](https://affirmagency.com/work/briggs-and-stratton/) **Published:** November 17, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Briggs & Stratton Work type: [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=digital) / [Print](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=print) / [Video](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=video)## Generating market success With over 110 years of experience, Briggs & Stratton is the world’s largest small engine producer, the number one marketer for pressure washers, and a leading manufacturer of power generation, lawn and garden turf care and job site products. ### The ask The company wanted to update and refresh marketing and communications related to its line of home standby generators. We were asked to help re-energize the marketing support for these world-class products, including identifying their best-in-class features and benefits, and their best-in-class warranty. ### The process To effectively communicate to the primary target audience of homeowners and dealers, we created infographics, product sell sheets, and a dynamic, engaging video that are integrated into the company’s newly-launched website. ### The result Combining video with infographics allowed us to capture emotional appeal while provide concise, visually appealing information that is easy to digest. This combination created a powerful, multi-layered experience that not only grabbed viewers attention but also communicated the client’s value proposition effectively; leading to increased brand awareness. ## Standby Generator Benefits Video ## Infographics ![Infographic Design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/briggs-infographic-2.png "briggs-infographic-2") ![Infographic Design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/briggs-infographic-1.png "briggs-infographic-1") ![Infographic Design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/briggs-infographic-3.png "briggs-infographic-3") ## Sell Sheets ![briggs-sell-sheet](https://affirmagency.com/assets/briggs-sell-sheet-2-jpg.avif "briggs-sell-sheet") ![Generator Cling Design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/briggs-generator-cling-jpg.avif "briggs-generator-cling") ## Warranty comparison animation ## Made in America Identity ![briggs-usa-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/briggs-usa-logo-1-jpg.avif "briggs-usa-logo") **Portfolio Categories:** Digital, Print, Video --- ### [Teklynx](https://affirmagency.com/work/teklynx/) **Published:** November 13, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # TEKLYNX Work type: [Public Relations](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=public-relations)## Elevating TEKLYNX through Strategic Media Relations TEKLYNX, a global leader in integrated barcode and RFID labeling software, selected AFFIRM Agency to develop and execute an ongoing strategic media relations program designed to elevate the company’s thought leadership and innovation across multiple industry segments. AFFIRM also implemented a successful awards submission strategy that earned international recognition for TEKLYNX’s leaders and products. ### The ask We were asked to research editorial opportunities across five different vertical industries whose audiences are key business stakeholders and prospects for TEKLYNX. We were also tasked with juggling multiple long-lead and short-lead media pitches along with crafting case studies, trend articles, and expert articles, building, growing, and sustaining media relationships to position TEKLYNX as a trustworthy, credible source for news and information. We were also asked to schedule editorial meetings with key publishers, and find compelling, consistent ways to multipurpose news across different channels. ![Food Logistics logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-food-logistics.png "logo-food-logistics") ![Supply & Demand Chain Executive](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-supplydemand-chain.png "logo-supplydemand-chain") ![#image_title](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-supplychainbrain.png "logo-supplychainbrain") ![#image_title](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-mddi.png "logo-mddi") ![Labels & Labeling](https://affirmagency.com/assets/logo-labels-labeling.png "logo-labels-labeling") ![Article](https://affirmagency.com/assets/teklynks-article3.jpg "teklynks-article3") ![Article](https://affirmagency.com/assets/teklynks-article2.jpg "teklynks-article2") ![Article](https://affirmagency.com/assets/teklynks-article1.jpg "teklynks-article1")### The process Starting with a thorough audit of media outlets and editorial opportunities for the year, we mapped out priorities for coverage based on product, sales and business goals. Consistent client collaboration and engagement yielded story ideas and generation of newsworthy content designed specifically for priority coverage. In addition, AFFIRM built, established and grew relationships with media publishers, reporters inclusive of the client through successful editorial meetings so that TELYNX would be positioned as thought leaders in the space. Ongoing strategic awards entries and submissions and wins were leveraged for additional coverage. ### The result Over the course of a year and a half of consistent, proactive, strategic business-to-business media relations, AFFIRM achieved more than 80 million PR impressions across 16 different outlets. In addition to earned media coverage, we secured editorial meetings with relevant publishers and journalists, helped bridge new relationships with publishers covering the emerging cannabis industry, an earned podcast opportunity and helped TEKLYNX win eight prominent industry awards. **Portfolio Categories:** Public Relations --- ### [ManpowerGroup](https://affirmagency.com/work/manpowergroup/) **Published:** November 19, 2019 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # ManpowerGroup™ Work type: [Public Relations](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=public-relations)## Ongoing Open Enrollment and Benefits Communications Strategy ManpowerGroup is a global workforce solutions company that connects organizations with skilled talent across a wide range of industries. It provides staffing, recruitment, workforce consulting, and talent development services to help businesses adapt and thrive in a changing labor market. ### The ask ManpowerGroup tasked AFFIRM Agency with helping support open enrollment and new hire communications for health and financial benefits for all its North American employees. What began as a request for one Open Enrollment guide became a full, strategic benefits communications strategy led by AFFIRM for almost nine consecutive years. Through the years, significant changes and company acquisitions required an extensive overhaul of Open Enrollment communication, as well as sensitive compliance and change communications and branding strategies. ![#image_title](https://affirmagency.com/assets/manpower-guide.jpg "manpower-guide") ![Manpower Postcard](https://affirmagency.com/assets/manpower-postcard.jpg "manpower-postcard") ![ACA Mandated Notice](https://affirmagency.com/assets/manpowergroup-communications1.jpg "manpowergroup-communications1") ![ACA Mandated Notice](https://affirmagency.com/assets/manpowergroup-communications.jpg "manpowergroup-communications")### The process Using a behavior change marketing approach to Open Enrollment communications, AFFIRM, along with technical benefits sub-contractor The Write Source started by identifying the areas of change from year to year to define the specific communications goals of each enrollment year. After gaining an understanding of the enrollment goals and objectives, AFFIRM created an Open Enrollment theme for each plan year, along with key messages and change communications that could be used across all business divisions. The breadth of work included: - Complete communications strategy - Complete benefits guides - Key messaging for implementation of a Consumer Directed Health Plan (CDHP) - Key messaging for compensation strategic communications - Extensive change communications strategy - Campaign branding & themes - Stop smoking communication campaign - Summary plan descriptions - Plan change awareness campaign - Wellness materials - Extensive Open Enrollment communications - Health Care Reform introduction and ongoing ACA strategic, educational and compliance communications - Periodic internal communications to clarify benefits understanding or communicate legislative changes - DOMA communications for HR and field staff ### The result With the release of the first Open Enrollment materials led by AFFIRM, former ManpowerGroup CEO Jeff Joerres stated that the guide was the “best Open Enrollment guide the company had ever produced.” Subsequent campaigns for Open Enrollment, which included multiple media and a significant number of deliverables customized to each employee group, were highly successful in terms of meeting company timelines and goals as well as employee compliance and feedback. In addition, key messaging developed by AFFIRM and The Write Source team was adopted company-wide for use outside of Open Enrollment. **Portfolio Categories:** Public Relations --- ### [AtwoodFest](https://affirmagency.com/work/atwoodfest/) **Published:** April 28, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # AtwoodFest Work type: [Branding](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=branding) / [Print](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=print)## Marketing one of Madison’s largest summer music festivals In 2017, AFFIRM was asked to help AtwoodFest better communicate the fun and funky quality of the event, and breathe new life into its marketing. Our first ideas were to use the festival’s namesake, David Atwood, who was one of the first Mayors of Madison, as our psychedelic spokesperson. This evolved into an equally “far out” imaginary family. After COVID threw us some curveballs in 2020, we celebrated the return of Atwoodfest in 2021 and 2022 with a heroic space launch theme. In 2025, we created a new theme with witty branding and marketing collateral based on one of music’s most beloved mockumentaries, Spinal Tap (if you know you know). ![2025 Atwoodfest](https://affirmagency.com/assets/2025-atwoodfest.jpg "2025-atwoodfest") ![2024 Atwoodfest](https://affirmagency.com/assets/2024-atwoodfest.jpg "2024-atwoodfest") ![2023 Atwoodfest](https://affirmagency.com/assets/2023-atwoodfest.jpg "2023-atwoodfest") ![Atwoodfest 2022 poster](https://affirmagency.com/assets/atwoodfest-2022-poster.jpg "atwoodfest-2022-poster") ![Atwoodfest Tshirt 2022](https://affirmagency.com/assets/atwoodfest-2022-tshirt.jpg "atwoodfest-2022-tshirt") ![atwoodfest 2021 posters](https://affirmagency.com/assets/atwoodfest-2021-posters.jpg "atwoodfest-2021-posters") ![atwoodfest-2020-tshirt](https://affirmagency.com/assets/atwoodfest-2020-tshirt.jpg "atwoodfest-2020-tshirt") ![Atwoodfest 2019 Poster](https://affirmagency.com/assets/atwoodfest-2019-poster.jpg "atwoodfest-2019-poster") ![Atwoodfest 2018 posters](https://affirmagency.com/assets/atwoodfest-2018-posters.jpg "atwoodfest-2018-posters") ![Atwoodfest 2017 poster](https://affirmagency.com/assets/atwoodfest-2017-poster.jpg "atwoodfest-2017-poster") **Portfolio Categories:** Branding, Print --- ### [Wisconsin DOT Click It Or Ticket](https://affirmagency.com/work/wisconsin-dot-ciot/) **Published:** April 29, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Wisconsin DOT | Click It or Ticket Work type: [Website](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=website)## Promoting DRIVER Safety in Wisconsin There’s been no better person to connect with young men in Wisconsin than Green Bay football legend Donald Driver, who has served as the DOT’s seat belt spokesperson for over ten years. ### The ask Wisconsin drivers who still don’t wear seat belts consistently are young men, 18-34. With the changing media landscape, AFFIRM has to constantly evolve the messaging it produces for the DOT to engage and educate this audience as to why it’s so important to buckle up, every trip, every time. ### The process AFFIRM developed TV spots, online ads, and a new interactive DRIVER SAFETY Quiz that educates and entertains users while they learn traffic safety tips. People who complete the quiz can enter to win an autographed Driver football. ### The result AFFIRM won an AAF Gold ADDY Award for the quiz in the Online/Interactive category, but, more importantly, thousands of Wisconsin drivers had fun taking it while learning how to improve their driving, making us all safer in the process. ### TV Spot and Pre-roll ### Digital Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ### Driver Safety Quiz Website ![driver-safety-quiz1](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-safety-quiz1.jpg "driver-safety-quiz1") ![driver-safety-quiz-questions](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-safety-quiz-questions5.jpg "driver-safety-quiz-questions5") ![driver-safety-quiz-questions](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-safety-quiz-questions4.jpg "driver-safety-quiz-questions4") ![driver-safety-quiz-questions](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-safety-quiz-questions3.jpg "driver-safety-quiz-questions3") ![driver-safety-quiz-mobile](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-safety-quiz-mobile.jpg "driver-safety-quiz-mobile") **Industries:** Transportation **Portfolio Categories:** Website --- ### [Wisconsin DOJ Dose of Reality](https://affirmagency.com/work/wisconsin-doj-dose-of-reality/) **Published:** May 28, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Wisconsin Department of Justice ### Here’s a Dose of Reality. By 2015, prescription opiate abuse was a public health crisis in Wisconsin. Deaths and hospitalizations from overdoses were increasing by huge margins and four out of five heroin addicts start by abusing prescription painkillers. The Wisconsin Department of Justice wanted a public information campaign with the aim to stop the spread of prescription painkiller abuse in Wisconsin, especially among youth and young people ages 12-25. ![dor logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dor-logo.gif "dor logo") ![dor billboard](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dor-billboard.jpg "dor billboard") ![dor facebook](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dor-facebook.jpg "dor facebook") ![dor brochure](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dor-brochure.jpg "dor brochure") ![Dose of Reality Online](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dor-online.jpg "dor-online") ![dor popupbanner](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dor-popupbanner.jpg "dor popupbanner") #### The Results AFFIRM was hired by the Attorney General’s Office to research, plan, produce and execute a statewide Prescription Opiate Abuse Prevention, Education, and Awareness Campaign. The agency branded the campaign DOSE OF REALITY and produced a multitude of marketing materials in an abbreviated timeframe so it could launch in September 2015. Among these materials was a campaign website, [www.DoseofRealityWI.gov](http://www.doseofrealitywi.gov/), that features an online materials ordering portal that allows health care organizations around the State to access and use the campaign materials for free. Through December 2018, more than 4,000 campaign materials have been downloaded from the portal by hundreds of Wisconsin communities and organizations. DOSE OF REALITY has also helped lead to a 70% increase in collected unused prescription medications on the twice-a-year DRUG TAKE BACK Days promoted by the campaign. Finally, the Wisconsin Department of Justice is generously allowing other states to use the campaign in their fights against opiate abuse so AFFIRM has worked with states such as Arkansas, Georgia and Texas as they join the effort. **Portfolio Categories:** Branding, Digital, Print, Social Media, Video, Website --- ### [Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative](https://affirmagency.com/work/wisconsin-cancer-collaborative/) **Published:** April 28, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative Work type: [Branding](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=branding) / [Print](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=print) / [Website](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=website)## Helping to Reduce the Burden of Cancer The Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Program and Wisconsin Cancer Council work together to educate Wisconsinites on actions that can be taken to reduce the burden of cancer in the State. ### The ask The client wanted a more uniform name, brand and website to better communicate their mission and provide flexibility to future marketing efforts. ### The process The Program engaged AFFIRM to research and develop a new name that would become their overall brand and be extended to all materials, including an updated website and statewide cancer plan. ### The result The result was a new name, *Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative*, and a fresh new brand for a program that’s vital to reducing cancer and improving overall health in the State. Additionally, the organization now has new tools to work with, like a brand new interactive website, brand guidelines, and robust design for the new cancer plan. ### Branding ![wisconsin-cancer-collaborative-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wisconsin-cancer-collaborative-logo.png "wisconsin-cancer-collaborative-logo")### Website ![wisconsin-cancer-collaborative website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wisconsin-cancer-collaborative-home-jpg.avif "wisconsin-cancer-collaborative-home") ![wisconsin-cancer-collaborative-website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wisconsin-cancer-collaborative-website-scaled.jpg "wisconsin-cancer-collaborative-website")### Brand collateral and Cancer Plan ![wcc-branding-collateral](https://affirmagency.com/assets/wcc-branding-collateral-jpg.avif "wcc-branding-collateral") **Portfolio Categories:** Branding, Print, Website --- ### [Fatherhood FIRE MKE](https://affirmagency.com/work/fatherhood-fire-mke/) **Published:** May 28, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Fatherhood FIRE MKE ### Helping to brand Milwaukee’s newest fatherhood program. The Milwaukee County Fatherhood FIRE Program promotes fathers as *Family-focused*, *Interconnected*, *Resilient*, and *Essential* in the lives of their children, families, community and society. Their goal is to help fathers and fatherhood figures become stronger parents, more engaged partners, and better prepared for employment and advancement opportunities in the job market. With a limited budget, we created the branding, website, and English and Spanish marketing materials. ![fatherhood-fire-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/fatherhood-fire-logo.jpg "fatherhood-fire-logo") [ ![fatherhood-fire-website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/fatherhood-fire-website-1.jpg "fatherhood-fire-website") ](https://fatherhoodfire.org/) ![fatherhood-fire-flyer](https://affirmagency.com/assets/fatherhood-fire-flyer.jpg "fatherhood-fire-flyer") ![fatherhood-fire-flyer-sp](https://affirmagency.com/assets/fatherhood-fire-flyer-sp.jpg "fatherhood-fire-flyer-sp") ![Bus Shelter](https://affirmagency.com/assets/fatherhood-fire-bus-shelter-ad-jpg.avif "fatherhood-fire-bus-shelter-ad") ![Bus Ad](https://affirmagency.com/assets/fatherhood-fire-bus-ad-jpg.avif "fatherhood-fire-bus-ad") ![Bus Ad](https://affirmagency.com/assets/fatherhood-fire-bus-ad2-jpg.avif "fatherhood-fire-bus-ad2") --- ### [American Bolt Corporation](https://affirmagency.com/work/american-bolt-corporation/) **Published:** June 17, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## American Bolt Corporation ### A visual refresh for a local legacy company American Bolt Corporation is a family-owned company that has been a leading distributor of industrial fasteners since 1962. In order to keep up with the competition and expand into other areas in Wisconsin, the company needed to update its image and website to gives its customers and sales staff an easier way to access information and order materials. ![abc-logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/abc-logo.jpg "abc-logo") ![abc-website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/abc-website.jpg "abc-website") ![abc-website-ui](https://affirmagency.com/assets/abc-website-ui.jpg "abc-website-ui") ![abc-action-photo2](https://affirmagency.com/assets/abc-action-photo2.jpg "abc-action-photo2") ![abc-action-photo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/abc-action-photo.jpg "abc-action-photo") ![abc-action-photo3](https://affirmagency.com/assets/abc-action-photo3.jpg "abc-action-photo3") ![abc-value-prop](https://affirmagency.com/assets/abc-value-prop.jpg "abc-value-prop") ![abc-business-cards](https://affirmagency.com/assets/abc-business-cards.jpg "abc-business-cards")#### The Results When we initialized American Bolt’s rebrand, we started with an updated logo and tagline, website and social media launch. When this was successfully completed, we moved on to expanding the updated branding to all of American Bolt’s collateral and marketing materials, including stationery, product line cards and sell sheets. The company’s refreshed image has been incredibly well-received by American Bolt’s customers and staff. We’re now prepping the next phase of the branding roll-out, including updated vehicle graphics and location signage. **Portfolio Categories:** Branding, Print, Website --- ### [Zero in Wisconsin](https://affirmagency.com/work/zero-in-wisconsin-website/) **Published:** December 21, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Zero In Wisconsin ### Designing a website to help achieve zero preventable deaths on Wisconsin roadways Most traffic crashes are caused by motorists’ behavior, such as speeding, driving while impaired and not wearing safety belts. We know that most of these deaths are preventable. Partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, we designed and developed [zeroinwisconsin.gov](https://zeroinwisconsin.gov/) to highlight traffic safety initiatives and safe driving programs that raise awareness, educate, change behavior, and save lives… together. ![Zero In Wisconsin Website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ziw-website.jpg "ziw-website") ![Zero In Wisconsin Website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ziw-website-pages.jpg "ziw-website-pages") ![Zero In Wisconsin website design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ziw-website-design.jpg "ziw-website-design") ![Mobile view of Zero In Wisconsin website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ziw-website-mobile.jpg "ziw-website-mobile") **Industries:** Transportation **Portfolio Categories:** Digital, Website --- ### [Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity](https://affirmagency.com/work/milwaukee-habitat-for-humanity/) **Published:** June 28, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity ### Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity needed a new website to help drive its mission. By providing affordable home ownership programs, home repair solutions, and neighborhood revitalization, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity is improving living conditions one block at a time. When it came time to redesign their website, Habitat for Humanity looked to us for help. Taking a user-first approach, we completely restructured the site — allowing for a modern UI, improved visual flow, and SEO-friendly code structure. The final product is flexible and easy to manage, allowing Habitat to continue to perform updates in-house. ![habitat-home-page](https://affirmagency.com/assets/habitat-home-page.jpg "habitat-home-page") ![mke-habitat-website-pages](https://affirmagency.com/assets/mke-habitat-website-pages.jpg "mke-habitat-website-pages")The Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity and Habitat ReStore websites can be visited at and . **Portfolio Categories:** Website --- ### [Allmand](https://affirmagency.com/work/allmand/) **Published:** October 8, 2020 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Allmand ### Lighting up a new category Allmand, a division of Briggs & Stratton, is a leader in providing the most reliable and rugged light, heat, power and air products to the rental, construction, and special event markets. The company recently developed a brand new light tower product line using air-cooled power, making it the first of its kind in the category while providing the most light output in the industry. We were asked to help create the positioning for the new light towers, branded as the Night-Lite GR-Series, including identifying their best-in-class features and benefits. To effectively communicate to the primary target audience of heavy equipment, jobsite and agricultural rental companies, we created infographics, product sell sheet, light output comparison charts and a dynamic, engaging video within less than two months. ### Infographics ![allmand-infographic2](https://affirmagency.com/assets/allmand-infographic2.gif "allmand-infographic2") ![allmand-infographic1](https://affirmagency.com/assets/allmand-infographic1.gif "allmand-infographic1") ![allmand-infographic3](https://affirmagency.com/assets/allmand-infographic3.gif "allmand-infographic3") ![allmand-infographic4](https://affirmagency.com/assets/allmand-infographic4.gif "allmand-infographic4")### Icons ![allmand-icon2](https://affirmagency.com/assets/allmand-icon2.gif "allmand-icon2") ![allmand-icon3](https://affirmagency.com/assets/allmand-icon3.gif "allmand-icon3") ![allmand-icon1](https://affirmagency.com/assets/allmand-icon1.gif "allmand-icon1") ![allmand-icon4](https://affirmagency.com/assets/allmand-icon4.gif "allmand-icon4")### Sell Sheet ![Allmand Light Sheet](https://affirmagency.com/assets/bg-allmand-light-sheet.jpg "bg-allmand-light-sheet") **Portfolio Categories:** Print, Video --- ### [STOP DWI New York](https://affirmagency.com/work/stop-dwi-new-york/) **Published:** March 5, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## STOP DWI New York ### Designing an app with safety in mind Every year in New York, there are too many tragic injuries and deaths from alcohol-related vehicle crashes. We designed the *Have a Plan* App that reminds residents to have a good time, but end with a safe ride. The app enables people to locate and call a taxi service, create a designated-driver list, educate themselves on Blood Alcohol Content levels, find information on DWI laws and penalties, and even report a suspected impaired driver. ![Suffolk Stop DWI app home screen](https://affirmagency.com/assets/suffolk-stop-dwi-app1.jpg "suffolk-stop-dwi-app1") ![Suffolk Stop DWI App](https://affirmagency.com/assets/suffolk-stop-dwi-app2.jpg "suffolk-stop-dwi-app2") ![Suffolk Stop DWI App games](https://affirmagency.com/assets/suffolk-stop-dwi-app-game.jpg "suffolk-stop-dwi-app-game") **Portfolio Categories:** Digital --- ## Transportation ### [Transit Solutions](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/transit-solutions/) **Published:** March 26, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # MTA/Long Island Rail Road Work type: [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=digital) / [Social Media](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=social-media) / [Video](https://affirmagency.com/work/?cat=video)## Highlighting the advantages of pre-tax transit benefits ### The ask Long Island Rail Road needed to reach out to the public to help them learn more about transit services, such as the train and bus, in order to reduce congestion and improve the air quality in Long Island, New York. ### The process The *TRANSIT SOLUTIONS* program was developed to promote pre-tax transit benefits for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Long Island Rail Road. This included developing the name and brand identity for a program that hadn’t previously existed. We developed educational and outreach materials across a variety of tactics, including print, digital, online, out-of-home and displays; all with a consistent look, theme, and messaging. The program is supported by a dedicated website at [www.TransitSolutions.org](http://www.TransitSolutions.org). ### The result The current campaign, *Everyone LOVES a Winner*, has been very successful. As of February 2025, 5,449 Long Island employers/groups have been contacted, resulting in 3,651 in-person presentations/customized proposals being made. The campaign website attracts thousands of visits each year from Long Island employers and employees wanting to learn more about transit and pre-tax transit benefits. Many major Long Island employers and schools now offer the pre-tax transit benefit because of first being educated about it by the campaign. ## Logo Design ![Transit Solutions Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transit-solutions-logo.png "transit-solutions-logo")## Website Design ![Transit Solutions Website Design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transit-solutions-website.jpg "transit-solutions-website")## Static Display ![Static display](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transit-solutions-digital.jpg "transit-solutions-digital")## Animated Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ## Direct Mail ![Transit Solutions Direct Mail](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transit-solutions-mailer.jpg "transit-solutions-mailer")## Print Ad Design ![Transit Solutions Print Ad Design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transit-solutions-print-ad.jpg "transit-solutions-print-ad")## Social Media ![Transit Solutions Social Graphics](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transit-solutions-social.jpg "transit-solutions-social")## Half Page Ad ![Transit Solutions Half page ad](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transit-solutions-northwell-health-new-employee-ad.jpg "transit-solutions-northwell-health-new-employee-ad")## Tabling Banner ![Tabling Banner](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transit-solutions-tablingbanner.jpg "transit-solutions-tablingbanner")## Special Event Branding and Flyer ![Transit Solutions Bingo Branding and Flyer](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transit-solutions-bingo.jpg "transit-solutions-bingo")## Air Quality Flag Designs ![transit solutions air quality flags](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transit-solutions-air-quality-flags.jpg "transit-solutions-air-quality-flags") --- ### [Summer Fun](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/summer-fun/) **Published:** September 17, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Summer Fun ## Metra Rail Metra in Chicago is the nation’s second busiest commuter rail service. As Metra’s advertising agency of record, we planned, created, and implemented several different ridership campaigns that helped the service experience 24 consecutive months of increases after a few stagnant years prior to our contract. One of those campaigns was “Summer Fun” where we targeted leisure riders to ride the train to their sunny, outdoor activities rather than deal with Chicago traffic. The campaign won Metra its first ever American Advertising Federation ADDY Awards and was successful in building ridership during off-peak hours. ### Summer Fun Digital Outdoor ![Metra Outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metra-outdoor.jpg "metra-outdoor")### Gas Pump Topper ![Metra Gas Pump Topper](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metra-gas-pump-topper.jpg "metra-gas-pump-topper")### Outdoor ![metra-out-of-home](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metra-out-of-home.jpg "metra-out-of-home")### Online Campaign ![Metra Online](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metra-online.jpg "metra-online")### Print advertisement ![Metra Print](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metra-print.jpg "metra-print") **Categories:** Blog **Clients:** Metra Rail --- ### [Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/daredevils-dare-not/) **Published:** September 18, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over ## Wisconsin Department of Transportation How do you effectively reach young drivers in Wisconsin with the vital message that if they drive drunk, they can get arrested… or worse? Have some of the state’s most talented extreme athletes show the level of skill necessary to perform daring feats that they would never attempt drunk… and then point out that impaired driving is even MORE dangerous. These award-winning ads have cut through the media clutter and helped the state reduce the number of impaired driving deaths and injuries. ### TV Spots ### Static Online ![Daredevils Statics](https://affirmagency.com/assets/daredevils-statics.jpg "daredevils-statics")### Animated Online **Categories:** Blog **Clients:** WI Dept of Transportation --- ### [New York STOP-DWI](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/suffolk-stop-dwi/) **Published:** September 19, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## STOP DWI ## Suffolk County New York We developed a strategic, targeted media campaign to promote safe driving behavior and raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving in Suffolk County, New York. This campaign also helped to promote the overarching New York State STOP-DWI Association’s new [HAVE A PLAN mobile app](https://affirmagency.com/work/stop-dwi-new-york/), which provides a number of different ways a person can help prevent drunk driving. ### Campaign Website ![Suffolk Stop DWI Campaign Website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/suffolk-website.jpg "suffolk-website")### Static Online ![Suffolk Stop DWI Static Online](https://affirmagency.com/assets/suffolk-statics.jpg "suffolk-statics")### Animated Online **Categories:** Blog **Clients:** Suffolk County --- ### [Click It or Ticket](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/click-it-or-ticket/) **Published:** September 20, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Click It or Ticket ## Wisconsin Department of Transportation Wisconsin now has a nearly 90% seat belt usage rate. Unfortunately, the 10% of drivers still not buckling up tend to be young men between the ages of 18-34. Research shows that these guys don’t respond well to heavy-handed enforcement messages, but they do listen when it’s a peer or someone they respect delivering the news. Enter Green Bay football legend and Dancing with the Stars champion Donald Driver! Driver has been the WI Dept. of Transportation’s seat belt safety spokesperson for 10 years and in that time, usage in the state has increased by more than 15%. Check out some of the creative messaging we produced that helped “drive” this positive change. ### TV Spots ### Driver Safety Quiz [ ![Driver Safety Quiz](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driversafetyquiz.jpg "driversafetyquiz") ](https://driversafetyquiz.com/)### Static Online ![ciot-statics](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ciot-statics.jpg "ciot-statics")### Animated Online [https://affirmagency.com/assets/21-WisDOT-MRKTMEDIA-054-CIOT-Animated-300×250-1.mp4](https://affirmagency.com/assets/21-WisDOT-MRKTMEDIA-054-CIOT-Animated-300x250-1.mp4) **Categories:** Blog **Clients:** WI Dept of Transportation --- ### [Time Well Spent](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/time-well-spent/) **Published:** September 21, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Time Well Spent ## Amtrak Hiawatha For more than 10 years, we handled all branding, advertising, marketing for the state-supported Amtrak Hiawatha Passenger Rail Service between Milwaukee, WI and Chicago, IL. The Hiawatha service is one of the busiest Amtrak short routes in the country and prior to our campaign, it was also one of the best kept secrets in the Midwest. When we launched our first campaign, annual ridership was 400,000. Within five years, it had doubled to more than 800,000 annual riders and added new stops and renovated stations in downtown Milwaukee, Mitchell International Airport and Sturtevant, WI. Our comprehensive marketing plan included a new brandmark, a variety of creative deliverables, and a media plan for both Milwaukee and Chicago markets. ### Branding Design ![amtrak featured1](https://affirmagency.com/assets/amtrak-featured1.jpg "amtrak featured1")### Website Design ![amtrak-hiawatha-website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/amtrak-hiawatha-website.jpg "amtrak-hiawatha-website")### Outdoor ![Amtrak Outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/amtrak-hiawatha-outdoor.jpg "amtrak-hiawatha-outdoor")### Gas Pump Topper ![Amtrak Gas Pump Topper](https://affirmagency.com/assets/amtrak-hiawatha-gas-pump-topper.jpg "amtrak-hiawatha-gas-pump-topper")### Print advertisement ![Amtrak Print](https://affirmagency.com/assets/amtrak-hiawatha-print.jpg "amtrak-hiawatha-print")### Radio Spot **Categories:** Blog **Clients:** Amtrak Hiawatha --- ### [Car Free Day Indy](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/car-free-day-indy/) **Published:** September 21, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Car Free Day Indy ## Commuter Connect For over 5 years, we’ve coordinated the annual Car Free Day Indy event in Indianapolis. Every September, Commuter Connect hosts events at several Indianapolis-area locations, featuring free live music and refreshments. This event promotes the important benefits of Commuter Connect’s programs, while encouraging people to help the environment by going car free or car-lite. ### Website ![cfdi website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cfdi-website.jpg "cfdi website")### Outdoor ![cfdi-outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cfdi-outdoor.jpg "cfdi-outdoor")### Social Media ![Car Free Day Indy Social](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cfdi-social.jpg "cfdi-social")### Static Online ![cfdi-statics](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cfdi-statics.jpg "cfdi-statics")### Animated Online ### Poster Design ![Poster Design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cfdi-poster.jpg "cfdi-poster")### T-Shirt Design ![cfdi tshirt](https://affirmagency.com/assets/cfdi-tshirt.jpg "cfdi tshirt")### Radio Spot **Categories:** Blog **Clients:** Commuter Connect --- ### [Fly Local Campaigns](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/fly-local/) **Published:** September 21, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Fly Local ## Dane County Regional Airport The FLY LOCAL campaign promotes the many benefits of flying out of MSN compared to other airports, including how it helps to support the local economy. Using “locally sourced” Wisconsin animals – a flying cow, for example we helped portray the local nature of the airport and its many benefits compared to “big box airports” in other cities. Creative extends to media tactics such as outdoor, online, print, and Wisconsin Public Radio. We also developed a campaign-specific landing page where people can pledge to FLY LOCAL for the chance to win a gift card or airline travel vouchers. ### Campaign Microsite ![Fly Local Landing Page DCRA](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-warm-weather-website.jpg "dcra-warm-weather-website")### Static Online ![flylocal-statics](https://affirmagency.com/assets/flylocal-statics.jpg "flylocal-statics")### Outdoor ![dcra-takeoff-outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-takeoff-outdoor.jpg "dcra-takeoff-outdoor")### Print advertisement ![Fly Local Print](https://affirmagency.com/assets/flylocal-print.jpg "flylocal-print")### Animated Online ### Animated TV Spot ### Radio Spots **Categories:** Blog **Clients:** Dane County Regional Airport --- ### [Indistractible](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/indistractible/) **Published:** September 22, 2021 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Indistractible ## Wisconsin Department of Transportation We developed a new PSA titled INDISTRACTIBLE, encouraging Wisconsin drivers to stay focused and not give in to distractions while driving in order to reduce preventable deaths on Wisconsin roadways. The award-winning television spot and accompanying online ads feature a young driver focused intently on the road while surrounded by distractions like friends, food and phones. ### TV Spot ### Static Online ![Static Online Campaign](https://affirmagency.com/assets/indistractible-statics.jpg "indistractible-statics") **Categories:** Blog **Clients:** WI Dept of Transportation --- ### [Riding Is Believing](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/riding-is-believing/) **Published:** September 22, 2021 **Author:** Brett Wysocki **Content:** ## RIDING IS BELIEVING ## SORTA/Metro Bus We worked with Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority on a strategic marketing plan and campaign to educate the public about its new service improvements for Metro Bus in Cincinnati. Research shows that if you can get someone to try riding the bus and they experience how much more productive and relaxed they can be compared to driving alone in traffic, they’ll start to ride more often. That’s why we developed the theme RIDING IS BELIEVING! ### Campaign Microsite ![Campaign Microsite](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-microsite.jpg "metro-microsite")### Outdoor ![Metro Outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-outdoor.jpg "metro-outdoor")### Direct Mail ![Metro Direct Mail](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-postcard.jpg "metro-postcard")### Print advertisement ![Metro Reds Magazine Ad](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-reds-ad.jpg "metro-reds-ad")### Metro Bus Wrap ![Metro Bus Wrap](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-bus-wrap.jpg "metro-bus-wrap")### Reds Concourse Signage ![metro-concourse-signage](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-concourse-signage.jpg "metro-concourse-signage")### Static Online ![Metro Statics](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-statics.jpg "metro-statics")### Animated Online [https://affirmagency.com/assets/21-SORTA-037-ReinventingMetro-OnlineAds-RouteSpecific-Animated-300×250-1.mp4](https://affirmagency.com/assets/21-SORTA-037-ReinventingMetro-OnlineAds-RouteSpecific-Animated-300x250-1.mp4) [https://affirmagency.com/assets/21-SORTA-037-ReinventingMetro-OnlineAds-General-Animated-300×250-1.mp4](https://affirmagency.com/assets/21-SORTA-037-ReinventingMetro-OnlineAds-General-Animated-300x250-1.mp4) ### Ring Beam Stadium Animation ### Radio Spots **Categories:** Blog **Clients:** Metro Bus --- ### [RTA Transit Benefit Fare Program](https://affirmagency.com/transportation/rta-transit-benefit-fare-program/) **Published:** March 26, 2025 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** # RTA Chicago ## Promoting the benefits of transit Working with Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Chicago, we promoted the features and benefits of riding transit to the residents of DuPage County, Illinois in order to get discretionary riders to use Metra and Pace more often. Tasks include Market Research, Branding, Marketing Plans, Creative Design, Digital Design, Media Buying, Website Development, Outreach ![Campaign landing page](https://affirmagency.com/assets/rta07-campaign-landing-page-jpg.avif "rta07 campaign landing page")### Campaign landing page ![Web banner ads](https://affirmagency.com/assets/rta06-web-banner-ads-jpg.avif "rta06 web banner ads")### Web Banner Ads ![Yorktown mall banner design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/rta04-yorktown-mall-banner-design-jpg.avif "Yorktown Mall banner design")### Yorktown mall banner design ![English print ad design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/rta01-english-print-ad-design-jpg.avif "rta01 english print ad design")### Print ad design ![Spanish print ad design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/rta02-spanish-print-ad-design-jpg.avif "rta02 spanish print ad design")### Print ad design – Spanish ![Digital billboard design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/rta05-digital-billboard-design-jpg.avif "rta05 digital billboard design")### Digital outdoor **Categories:** Blog --- ## UW ### [988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline](https://affirmagency.com/uw/988-suicide-crisis-lifeline/) **Published:** February 24, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Wisconsin Department of Health Services ## 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline ## Branding development ![988 Logo](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-logo.png "988-logo")## Television ## Video ## Animated Display [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation) ## Outdoor ![DHS 988 Outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dhs-988-outdoor2.jpg "dhs-988-outdoor2") ![DHS 988 Outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dhs-988-outdoor.jpg "dhs-988-outdoor")## Social Media ![DHS 988 Social Media](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dhs-988-social.jpg "dhs-988-social")## Infographic ![Infographic](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-infographic.jpg "988-infographic")## Safety Plan ![DHS 988 Safety Plan](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dhs-988-safety-plan.jpg "dhs-988-safety-plan")## Wallet Cards ![Wallet Cards](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-wallet-cards.jpg "988-wallet-cards")## Information sheet ![988 information sheet](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-info-sheet.jpg "988-info-sheet")## Popup Banners ![Popup banners](https://affirmagency.com/assets/988-popup-banners.jpg "988-popup-banners") --- ### [Click It or Ticket](https://affirmagency.com/uw/click-it-or-ticket/) **Published:** February 28, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Wisconsin Department of Transportation ## CLICK IT OR TICKET ## TV Spots ## Animated Display Ads [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ## Static Display ![CIOT Driver Static](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ciot-static-ads.jpg "ciot-static-ads")## Print Advertisement ![Driver Spanish Ad](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ciot-driver-magazine.jpg "ciot-driver-magazine")## Promotional Cutout with QR Code ![Promotional Stand](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ciot-driver-cutout.jpg "ciot-driver-cutout")## Driver Safety Quiz Website ![driver-safety-quiz1](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-safety-quiz1.jpg "driver-safety-quiz1") ![driver-safety-quiz-mobile](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-safety-quiz-mobile.jpg "driver-safety-quiz-mobile") ![driver-safety-quiz-questions](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-safety-quiz-questions5.jpg "driver-safety-quiz-questions5") ![driver-safety-quiz-questions](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-safety-quiz-questions4.jpg "driver-safety-quiz-questions4") ![driver-safety-quiz-questions](https://affirmagency.com/assets/driver-safety-quiz-questions3.jpg "driver-safety-quiz-questions3") --- ### [Ready for Takeoff](https://affirmagency.com/uw/ready-for-takeoff/) **Published:** February 27, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Dane County Regional Airport ## Ready for Takeoff ## Outdoor Advertising ![dcra-ready-for-takeoff-billboard](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-ready-for-takeoff-billboard.jpg "dcra-ready-for-takeoff-billboard")## Bus Wrap ![Bus Wrap](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-bus-wrap3-1.jpg "dcra-bus-wrap3") ![Bus wrap](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-bus-wrap4.jpg "dcra-bus-wrap4") ![Bus Wrap](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-bus-wrap5.jpg "dcra-bus-wrap5")## Backlit Signage ![Backlit sign](https://affirmagency.com/assets/dcra-ready-for-takeoff-backlitsign-1.jpg "dcra-ready-for-takeoff-backlitsign")## Animated Display Ads [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation) ## Static Display Ads ![Static Online](https://affirmagency.com/assets/ready-for-takeoff-static-digital.jpg "ready-for-takeoff-static-digital")## Social Media ![Social Ads](https://affirmagency.com/assets/social-ads.jpg "social-ads")## Radio --- ### [Payroll Plus](https://affirmagency.com/uw/payroll-plus/) **Published:** February 28, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Payroll Plus ## Program Launch ## Website Design ![payrollplus-website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/payrollplus-website.jpg "payrollplus-website")## Social Media Posts ![Social post design](https://affirmagency.com/assets/payroll-plus-social.jpg "payroll-plus-social")## Digital Display Advertising ![Digital Ads](https://affirmagency.com/assets/payroll-plus-digital-ads.jpg "payroll-plus-digital-ads")## Print Advertising ![Print ad](https://affirmagency.com/assets/payroll-plus-print-ad.jpg "payroll-plus-print-ad") --- ### [My Mental Health Matters](https://affirmagency.com/uw/my-mental-health-matters/) **Published:** February 28, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Mental Health America of Central Carolinas ## My Mental Health Matters ## Digital Display Advertising ![Static display](https://affirmagency.com/assets/mha-static-display.jpg "mha-static-display")## Animated Display Ads [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ## Social Media Posts ![social campaign](https://affirmagency.com/assets/mha-social.jpg "mha-social")## Landing PAge ![MHA Landing Page](https://affirmagency.com/assets/mha-landing-page.jpg "mha-landing-page")## Outdoor ![Outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/mha-outdoor.jpg "mha-outdoor") --- ### [Transport Yourself](https://affirmagency.com/uw/transport-yourself/) **Published:** February 27, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## Amtrak Downeaster ## Transport Yourself ## TV Spot ## Campaign Landing Page ![Campaign Landing Page](https://affirmagency.com/assets/transport-yourself-landing-page.jpg "transport-yourself-landing-page")## Social Media Posts ![Social](https://affirmagency.com/assets/downeaster-social.jpg "downeaster-social")## Animated Display Ads – Hotel [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ## Animated Display Ads – Hockey [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation1) ## Animated Display Ads – Shopping [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation) ## Animated Display Ads – Museum [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation4) --- ### [Metro Summit Express](https://affirmagency.com/uw/metro-summit-express/) **Published:** February 27, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## SORTA Metro ## Summit Express ## Campaign Branding ![Summit Express Campaign Branding](https://affirmagency.com/assets/summit-express-branding.png "summit-express-branding")## Campaign Microsite ![Microsite](https://affirmagency.com/assets/summit-express-home-page.jpg "summit-express-home-page")## Digital Display Advertising ![Summit Express Digital Display](https://affirmagency.com/assets/summit-express-digital.jpg "summit-express-digital")## Social Media Posts ![Summit Express Social](https://affirmagency.com/assets/summit-express-social.jpg "summit-express-social")## Email design ![Email blast](https://affirmagency.com/assets/summit-express-email-blast.jpg "summit-express-email-blast")## Transit Advertising ![Summit Express Transit](https://affirmagency.com/assets/summit-express-transit.jpg "summit-express-transit")## Outdoor Advertising ![Summit Express Outdoor](https://affirmagency.com/assets/summit-express-outdoor.jpg "summit-express-outdoor")## Branded Giveaway Items ![Branded giveaway items](https://affirmagency.com/assets/summit-express-branded-giveaways.jpg "summit-express-branded-giveaways") --- ### [Go Bloomington](https://affirmagency.com/uw/go-bloomington/) **Published:** February 22, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## City of Bloomington ## Go Bloomington! ## Branding development ![Branding](https://affirmagency.com/assets/go-bloomington-branding.png "go-bloomington-branding")## Website ![Go Bloomington Website](https://affirmagency.com/assets/website-gobloomington.jpg "website-gobloomington")## Digital Display Advertising ![Digital Advertising](https://affirmagency.com/assets/go-bloomington-digital-ads.jpg "go-bloomington-digital-ads")## Social Media ![Social Media](https://affirmagency.com/assets/go-bloomington-social.jpg "go-bloomington-social")## Poster Design ![Poster](https://affirmagency.com/assets/go-bloomington-poster.jpg "go-bloomington-poster")## Bus Card Design ![Flyer](https://affirmagency.com/assets/go-bloomington-flyer.jpg "go-bloomington-flyer")## Print Advertising ![Magazine Ad](https://affirmagency.com/assets/go-bloomington-magazine.jpg "go-bloomington-magazine")## Bus Advertising ![Bus Advertising](https://affirmagency.com/assets/go-bloomington-bus.jpg "go-bloomington-bus") ![Carpool Service Branding](https://affirmagency.com/assets/go-bloomington-carpool.jpg "go-bloomington-carpool")## Various Deliverables ![Various Deliverables](https://affirmagency.com/assets/go-bloomington-deliverables.jpg "go-bloomington-deliverables") --- ### [Metro RIDING IS BELIEVING](https://affirmagency.com/uw/metro-riding-is-believing/) **Published:** February 23, 2023 **Author:** Affirm Agency **Content:** ## SORTA Metro ## RIDING IS BELIEVING ## Video ## Campaign Microsite ![Campaign Microsite](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-microsite.jpg "metro-microsite")## Digital Campaign: Service Improvements [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#animation) ## Digital Campaign: High Gas Prices [ Play Animated Ads ](?reload=1#gas) ## Static Display Ads ![Metro Statics](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-statics.jpg "metro-statics")## REDS CONCOURSE SIGNAGE ![metro-concourse-signage](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-concourse-signage.jpg "metro-concourse-signage")## METRO BUS WRAP ![Metro Bus Wrap](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-bus-wrap.jpg "metro-bus-wrap")## PRINT ADVERTISEMENT ![Metro Reds Magazine Ad](https://affirmagency.com/assets/metro-reds-ad.jpg "metro-reds-ad") --- ## Categories ### [Blog](https://affirmagency.com/category/blog/) --- ### [AI](https://affirmagency.com/category/ai/) --- ### [ChatGPT](https://affirmagency.com/category/chatgpt/) --- ### [Grammarly](https://affirmagency.com/category/grammarly/) --- ### [Jasper](https://affirmagency.com/category/jasper/) --- ### 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[Logo](https://affirmagency.com/tag/logo/) --- ### [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/tag/digital/) --- ### [ADDYS](https://affirmagency.com/tag/addys/) --- ### [Communication](https://affirmagency.com/tag/communication/) --- ### [Technology](https://affirmagency.com/tag/technology/) --- ### [Core Values](https://affirmagency.com/tag/core-values/) --- ### [Instagram](https://affirmagency.com/tag/instagram/) --- ### [crisis communications](https://affirmagency.com/tag/crisis-communications/) --- ### [community](https://affirmagency.com/tag/community/) --- ### [awareness](https://affirmagency.com/tag/awareness/) --- ### [wisconsin](https://affirmagency.com/tag/wisconsin/) --- ### [mobile friendly](https://affirmagency.com/tag/mobile-friendly/) --- ### [media planning](https://affirmagency.com/tag/media-planning/) --- ### [media buying](https://affirmagency.com/tag/media-buying/) --- ### [Dose of Reality](https://affirmagency.com/tag/dose-of-reality/) --- ### [prescription painkiller 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Journal](https://affirmagency.com/tag/milwaukee-business-journal/) --- ### [Book of Lists](https://affirmagency.com/tag/book-of-lists/) --- ### [Milwaukee-area Advertising Agency](https://affirmagency.com/tag/milwaukee-area-advertising-agency/) --- ### [writing](https://affirmagency.com/tag/writing/) --- ### [email](https://affirmagency.com/tag/email/) --- ### [text](https://affirmagency.com/tag/text/) --- ### [grammar](https://affirmagency.com/tag/grammar/) --- ### [twitter](https://affirmagency.com/tag/twitter/) --- ### [linkedin](https://affirmagency.com/tag/linkedin/) --- ### [youtube](https://affirmagency.com/tag/youtube/) --- ### [presentations](https://affirmagency.com/tag/presentations/) --- ### [transit](https://affirmagency.com/tag/transit/) --- ### [cincinnati](https://affirmagency.com/tag/cincinnati/) --- ### [AdWords](https://affirmagency.com/tag/adwords/) --- ### [SEM](https://affirmagency.com/tag/sem/) --- ### [drunk driving](https://affirmagency.com/tag/drunk-driving/) --- ### [safety](https://affirmagency.com/tag/safety/) --- ### [inspiration](https://affirmagency.com/tag/inspiration/) --- ### [summer](https://affirmagency.com/tag/summer/) --- ### [safe driving](https://affirmagency.com/tag/safe-driving/) --- ### [Super Bowl](https://affirmagency.com/tag/super-bowl/) --- ### [learning](https://affirmagency.com/tag/learning/) --- ### [blog](https://affirmagency.com/tag/blog/) --- ### [METRO](https://affirmagency.com/tag/metro/) --- ### [ridership](https://affirmagency.com/tag/ridership/) --- ### [event planning](https://affirmagency.com/tag/event-planning/) --- ### [National Dump the Pump Day](https://affirmagency.com/tag/national-dump-the-pump-day/) --- ### [seat belt safety](https://affirmagency.com/tag/seat-belt-safety/) --- ### [Positioning](https://affirmagency.com/tag/positioning/) --- ### [CIRTA](https://affirmagency.com/tag/cirta/) --- ### [client relationships](https://affirmagency.com/tag/client-relationships/) --- ### [writing for the web](https://affirmagency.com/tag/writing-for-the-web/) --- ### [business](https://affirmagency.com/tag/business/) --- ### [TV](https://affirmagency.com/tag/tv/) --- ### [Pewaukee](https://affirmagency.com/tag/pewaukee/) --- ### [Web Designer](https://affirmagency.com/tag/web-designer/) --- ### [Web Developer](https://affirmagency.com/tag/web-developer/) --- ### [Mark Skowron](https://affirmagency.com/tag/mark-skowron/) --- ### [election year](https://affirmagency.com/tag/election-year/) --- ### [millennials](https://affirmagency.com/tag/millennials/) --- ### [long island](https://affirmagency.com/tag/long-island/) --- ### [vanpooling](https://affirmagency.com/tag/vanpooling/) --- ### [sustainable tranpsortation](https://affirmagency.com/tag/sustainable-tranpsortation/) --- ### [web design](https://affirmagency.com/tag/web-design/) --- ### [fonts](https://affirmagency.com/tag/fonts/) --- ### [css](https://affirmagency.com/tag/css/) --- ### 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### [community outreach](https://affirmagency.com/tag/community-outreach/) --- ### [prevention](https://affirmagency.com/tag/prevention/) --- ### [Department of Justice](https://affirmagency.com/tag/department-of-justice/) --- ### [Facebook Pages](https://affirmagency.com/tag/facebook-pages/) --- ### [Milwaukee County](https://affirmagency.com/tag/milwaukee-county/) --- ### [creativity](https://affirmagency.com/tag/creativity/) --- ### [compelling](https://affirmagency.com/tag/compelling/) --- ### [compellingly creative](https://affirmagency.com/tag/compellingly-creative/) --- ### [reliable](https://affirmagency.com/tag/reliable/) --- ### [volunteer](https://affirmagency.com/tag/volunteer/) --- ### [KMA Bodilly](https://affirmagency.com/tag/kma-bodilly/) --- ### [website redesign](https://affirmagency.com/tag/website-redesign/) --- ### [website](https://affirmagency.com/tag/website/) --- ### [digital design](https://affirmagency.com/tag/digital-design/) --- ### [passenger traffic](https://affirmagency.com/tag/passenger-traffic/) --- ### [drugged driving](https://affirmagency.com/tag/drugged-driving/) --- ### [TV commercial](https://affirmagency.com/tag/tv-commercial/) --- ### [television](https://affirmagency.com/tag/television/) --- ### [resourceful](https://affirmagency.com/tag/resourceful/) --- ### [predictions](https://affirmagency.com/tag/predictions/) --- ### [trending](https://affirmagency.com/tag/trending/) --- ### [video](https://affirmagency.com/tag/video/) --- ### [collaborative](https://affirmagency.com/tag/collaborative/) --- ### [goals](https://affirmagency.com/tag/goals/) --- ### [emojis](https://affirmagency.com/tag/emojis/) --- ### [news cycle](https://affirmagency.com/tag/news-cycle/) --- ### [earned media](https://affirmagency.com/tag/earned-media/) --- ### [reporter](https://affirmagency.com/tag/reporter/) --- ### [journalist](https://affirmagency.com/tag/journalist/) --- ### [consumers](https://affirmagency.com/tag/consumers/) --- ### [sexual assault survivors](https://affirmagency.com/tag/sexual-assault-survivors/) --- ### [problem solving](https://affirmagency.com/tag/problem-solving/) --- ### [Photo Captions](https://affirmagency.com/tag/photo-captions/) --- ### [Engagement](https://affirmagency.com/tag/engagement/) --- ### [motivation](https://affirmagency.com/tag/motivation/) --- ### [focusing](https://affirmagency.com/tag/focusing/) --- ### [opioid abuse](https://affirmagency.com/tag/opioid-abuse/) --- ### [prescription painkillers](https://affirmagency.com/tag/prescription-painkillers/) --- ### [Maine](https://affirmagency.com/tag/maine/) --- ### [Minnesota](https://affirmagency.com/tag/minnesota/) --- ### [Nebraska](https://affirmagency.com/tag/nebraska/) --- ### [customer relationship management](https://affirmagency.com/tag/customer-relationship-management/) --- ### [MC Services](https://affirmagency.com/tag/mc-services/) --- ### [Madison](https://affirmagency.com/tag/madison/) --- ### 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--- ### [Godfrey & Kahn](https://affirmagency.com/tag/godfrey-kahn/) --- ### [By Your Side](https://affirmagency.com/tag/by-your-side/) --- ### [sexual assault](https://affirmagency.com/tag/sexual-assault/) --- ### [hashtag](https://affirmagency.com/tag/hashtag/) --- ### [drug take back](https://affirmagency.com/tag/drug-take-back/) --- ### [opioid abuse prevention](https://affirmagency.com/tag/opioid-abuse-prevention/) --- ### [wisconsineye](https://affirmagency.com/tag/wisconsineye/) --- ### [kpis](https://affirmagency.com/tag/kpis/) --- ### [spring cleaning](https://affirmagency.com/tag/spring-cleaning/) --- ### [vice](https://affirmagency.com/tag/vice/) --- ### [vimeo](https://affirmagency.com/tag/vimeo/) --- ### [elder abuse](https://affirmagency.com/tag/elder-abuse/) --- ### [digital campaign](https://affirmagency.com/tag/digital-campaign/) --- ### [data](https://affirmagency.com/tag/data/) --- ### [privacy](https://affirmagency.com/tag/privacy/) --- ### [Cambridge Analytica](https://affirmagency.com/tag/cambridge-analytica/) --- ### [meth use](https://affirmagency.com/tag/meth-use/) --- ### [drug addiction](https://affirmagency.com/tag/drug-addiction/) --- ### [methamphetamine](https://affirmagency.com/tag/methamphetamine/) --- ### [knowmeth](https://affirmagency.com/tag/knowmeth/) --- ### [data privacy](https://affirmagency.com/tag/data-privacy/) --- ### [ppc](https://affirmagency.com/tag/ppc/) --- ### [cpc](https://affirmagency.com/tag/cpc/) --- ### [fyi](https://affirmagency.com/tag/fyi/) --- ### [pink tax](https://affirmagency.com/tag/pink-tax/) --- ### [burger king](https://affirmagency.com/tag/burger-king/) --- ### [know meth](https://affirmagency.com/tag/know-meth/) --- ### [fear appeals](https://affirmagency.com/tag/fear-appeals/) --- ### [scare tactics](https://affirmagency.com/tag/scare-tactics/) --- ### [DARE](https://affirmagency.com/tag/dare/) --- ### [drug use](https://affirmagency.com/tag/drug-use/) --- ### 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Fireside](https://affirmagency.com/tag/the-fireside/) --- ### [Musical Theatre](https://affirmagency.com/tag/musical-theatre/) --- ### [Broadway](https://affirmagency.com/tag/broadway/) --- ### [LUNA bar](https://affirmagency.com/tag/luna-bar/) --- ### [Adidas advertising](https://affirmagency.com/tag/adidas-advertising/) --- ### [wake up call](https://affirmagency.com/tag/wake-up-call/) --- ### [your choice to live](https://affirmagency.com/tag/your-choice-to-live/) --- ### [drug abuse prevention](https://affirmagency.com/tag/drug-abuse-prevention/) --- ### [pr intern](https://affirmagency.com/tag/pr-intern/) --- ### [researching](https://affirmagency.com/tag/researching/) --- ### [client communication](https://affirmagency.com/tag/client-communication/) --- ### [reputation management](https://affirmagency.com/tag/reputation-management/) --- ### [press](https://affirmagency.com/tag/press/) --- ### [local news](https://affirmagency.com/tag/local-news/) --- ### [media coverage](https://affirmagency.com/tag/media-coverage/) --- ### [media strategy](https://affirmagency.com/tag/media-strategy/) --- ### [media landscape](https://affirmagency.com/tag/media-landscape/) --- ### [pathways for fathers and families](https://affirmagency.com/tag/pathways-for-fathers-and-families/) --- ### [skill building](https://affirmagency.com/tag/skill-building/) --- ### [Habitat for Humanity](https://affirmagency.com/tag/habitat-for-humanity/) --- ### [Green Bay](https://affirmagency.com/tag/green-bay/) --- ### [airport](https://affirmagency.com/tag/airport/) --- ### [audience](https://affirmagency.com/tag/audience/) --- ### [targeting](https://affirmagency.com/tag/targeting/) --- ### [objectives](https://affirmagency.com/tag/objectives/) --- ### [surveys](https://affirmagency.com/tag/surveys/) --- ### [interviews](https://affirmagency.com/tag/interviews/) --- ### [podcasts](https://affirmagency.com/tag/podcasts/) --- ### 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Airport](https://affirmagency.com/clients/dane-county-regional-airport/) --- ### [Commuter Connect](https://affirmagency.com/clients/commuter-connect/) --- ### [WI Dept of Transportation](https://affirmagency.com/clients/wi-dept-of-transportation/) --- ### [Suffolk County](https://affirmagency.com/clients/suffolk-county/) --- ### [Amtrak Hiawatha](https://affirmagency.com/clients/amtrak-hiawatha/) --- ### [Metra Rail](https://affirmagency.com/clients/metra-rail/) --- ## Industries ### [Transportation](https://affirmagency.com/industry/transportation/) --- ## Portfolio Categories ### [Branding](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-category/branding/) --- ### [Print](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-category/print/) --- ### [Digital](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-category/digital/) --- ### [Video](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-category/video/) --- ### [Public Relations](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-category/public-relations/) --- ### [Website](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-category/website/) --- ### [Social Media](https://affirmagency.com/portfolio-category/social-media/) ---