Facebook as Business Promotion
Facebook has not only revolutionized the social world but the business world as well. In the public relations and marketing world the best part about Facebook is that it involves free promotion. Unlike billboards or other advertisements in which businesses pay for ad space Facebook is free, at least for now. Facebook is an effective way to get the word out about a business. Through this social media platform both people and businesses are able to network by forming new connections and ventures. Additionally, these groups can be effective in getting out information about upcoming events or other promotional activities that an organization may be involved in. Also, Facebook can give businesses a personal touch. While traditional media outlets such as print and television are only one-way streets Facebook gives users the ability to provide feedback. For example, if I were a satisfied customer I could directly tell a company how happy I am with their product by posting on their Facebook page, where other users can see how satisfied I am. Conversely, if I thought the product was terrible I could post on the company’s page telling them how disappointed I was in their product. In this case, not only would others see my negative feedback but the company would be forced to respond to my post. Lastly, Facebook has a definite “cool” factor. Companies with Facebook are cutting edge and modern. With Facebook expanding its demographics on a daily basis it is a great tool for promoting an organization and reaching new perspective clients.
Image Marketing team at the CT Business Expo

 

Image Marketing Team on the Red Carpet

Wow, what a great looking team we have, especially on this dazzling new red carpet and logo’d step and repeat we had created for the CT Business Expo! Well I guess we’re naturally  a little biased regarding our good looks, but still…

The team came together on June 9, 2011 for a great day full of both networking opportunities and educational seminars at the CT Expo Center. Since this was our first large trade show/ expo in quite some time, we racked our brains to come up with the perfect theme to accurately represent our savvy marketing brand. Since we’re a full-service marketing, public relations, and event planning agency, we knew we needed something that was both young and fun, but also memorable and effective all at the same time. The red carpet pictures turned out to be the best option to reach both prospective clients and partners, and also achieve our desire to increase our Facebook page traffic.

Overall, we took over 75 pictures on the Image Marketing Consultants’ red carpet, and attracted over 200% more traffic to both our website and Facebook page in the three days that followed.  We also helped man a few of our clients trade show booths as well so let us know if you need help staffing your booth in the future.

Here comes that bias again, but we’re not the best corporate event planners and marketing gurus in Connecticut for nothing! Need some good, creative ideas for your next campaign or special event? Call us today to help plan your next big gig!

Royal Wedding Lends Details to Create the Perfect Event

With the royal wedding finally behind us, we, as professional event planners, can take inspiration from this event of the century and help translate the same feeling of perfection into our clients’ upcoming soirees. From the attire to the press, the tablescape to the menu, every detail needs to be taken into consideration to plan a fabulous event, and there was no better example than the nuptials of Price William and Kate Middleton this week. Here we cover some of the event details that feel are necessary to wow even the most discerning of guests:

Attire: When Kate stepped out of the queen’s Rolls-Royce, both London and the world watched with awe as her timeless, yet modern dress made its official debut. The French lace, the hand embroidery, the sheer veil- each piece was chosen with care to make a statement and that’s what some events of late have been missing. Our tips are to keep your attire in tune with your style, whether that be modern, edgy, simple or bohemian. And wear what looks good on you, not the latest fashion model!

Venue: Pick a venue that is easily accessible, but that also fits the needs of your specific event. The grandeur of Westminster Abbey played the perfect backdrop for a royal wedding, but perhaps a small intimate affair is more your style. Remember, colors and themes can be changed, but location and the bones of the building cannot.

Personal touches: The simple program with the black and white photo and the chocolate biscuit cake were just two of the personal touches that the bride and groom chose for their special event. What’s special about you that can be seen throughout your event? Perhaps cowboy boot centerpieces in Texas, seashell favors in Cape Cod, or your mom’s homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert? These are the touches that will make your guests say wow throughout the entire event.

Need help making your next event a successful one? Call us today!

Meeting with John Ratzenberger

The word celebrity conjures up such a different meaning to me than it did ten years ago. Back then, I was lucky if we would see James Van Der Beek’s family at the movie theater in nearby town, Cheshire, and felt like we were the luckiest onlookers ever. Boy how things have changed. Over my career, I’ve been fortunate enough to mingle with the likes of Donny Osmond, Tom Cruise, Melania Trump, Howie Long, John O’Hurley, and the list could keep on going….

However, yesterday, I had the pleasure of spending about two hours with the most down-to-earth “celebrity” I’ve ever met, Cliff Claven… errrr, I mean John Ratzenberger. John walked into the office in a kinda wrinkled, kinda stylish jacket that was both too big and too small all at the same time. How refreshing it was to not see his stylist standing over his shoulder making sure the lint was all picked off his sleeves!

We discussed everything from his pet charities to his time in London, and it seems like everything in between as well. It was the best two hours of the month- and that’s saying a lot since it’s been quite a month! We’re going to be working on some publicity projects together in the very near future and I’m genuinely excited to see where this business relationship takes us! After all, he is the sixth highest grossing actor of all time at the box office! And, did I mention he had one of the most stunning blonds I’ve ever seen  on his arm? And I’m not sure which one of them I liked better since she was shares my love for antiquing and jewelry…. more on that to come!

An Interview with Kate Sirignano from Image Marketing Consultants

An Interview with Kate Sirignano from Image Marketing Consultants

What is the history of your business?
What began more or less as a consulting venture–event planning for companies and organizations–became an official company in 2007 at the urging of my family, particularly my husband, who recognized both its potential as a business and my passion for the field. Up until then I had done it on a full-time basis for major companies, but felt there was a need for an agency in this area to help smaller clients. Since our founding, we have added public relations and marketing communications to the mix so that now we can offer services such as branding, copywriting, publicity, media buying, web and graphic design, and overall marketing strategy.

What motivates you to continue to grow and develop as a company?

To be honest, it is simply an enjoyable way to earn a living, and I really wouldn’t like to be doing anything else. Working with so many different and varied clients is incredibly rewarding because of how we help them reach new levels of success through the use of our own skills and creativity. Long gone are the days of traditional advertising agencies that decide to use a simple print ad or radio commercial to try to grow business for a client. There are so many more opportunities today. Where events and public relations are concerned, we work very hard to identify new, intriguing and creative ways of getting the word around. Much of it is about finding the perfect angle and the most effective way of promoting it.

Why did you select Southington as company headquarters?

Frankly, we didn’t look anywhere else. I was born and raised in Southington, and instinctively knew that this was a great place to open an office. It is centrally located (which is important since many of our clients come from out of state), easily accessible from most areas in Southern New England and the New York metropolitan area, and very professionally-oriented. If you want to know the truth, we were also aware that there were no other companies in this area that do exactly what we do, so it seemed a natural fit from a competitive point of view.

What makes your business unique?

An inherent ability to meet the specific needs and objectives of every client, whether it’s a sole proprietorship or a Fortune 500 company. (And our clients do indeed fit that range–and everything else in between.) One day we might be planning a corporate grand opening event in New York City featuring a national celebrity, and the next day we might be developing a local marketing campaign for a venerable old mom-and-pop shop around the corner. So we need to constantly evaluate and reevaluate our methods and tactics, and use all the skills and creativity that we already have in our corporate toolbox. We truly love what we do and take enormous pride in our work. Perhaps that alone makes us unique.