What Are You Thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Whether you’re having Thanksgiving at your house or traveling to a relative’s house, everyone will be joining together to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday. To help get everyone in the spirit, CMA asked its employees to share what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving:

“I’m thankful for the hardworking team here at CMA who apply their passion for what they do every day.” – Jeffrey Barnhart, President and CEO

“I am thankful for the health of my family and the good will that we share with each other. Particularly as my sons begin to make their way in the world, I find my relationships with them evolving and growing stronger.” – Christian Horn, Vice President of Communications

“I am thankful for the health and happiness of my friends and family.” – Corie Eisenberg, Marketing Coordinator

“I’m thankful for celebrating 5 years with CMA!” – Erin Higgins, Director of Marketing Services

“I’m thankful I work with a really fun group of people who make it easier to be creative.” – Diane Webster, Senior Associate Creative Director

“I’m thankful for my wonderful family and friends who complete my life in every way!” – Lauren Ward, Marketing Coordinator

“I’m thankful that I work with such a fun, creative, intelligent group of people!” – Kaitlin Friedmann, Manager, Public Relations

“I am thankful to work in an environment that encourages creativity.” – Meghan Higgins, Public Relations Coordinator

“I am thankful that my family is healthy and happy!” – Melanie Kotsonis, Executive Assistant

Feel free to share with us what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving. Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Happy Thanksgiving!

FIN Turns to CMA to Apply Financial Industry Experience

Challenge: Raise product awareness for Financial Investment News (FIN) among investment management marketing and sales professionals and stand out from competing companies at industry events.

Solution: CMA developed a comprehensive product offering brochure designed to catch the attention of attendees of the Association of Investment Management Sales Executives (AIMSE) Annual Conference this fall. The design reflects a professional and modern feel in a well-organized manner. Using a unique shape, CMA created the piece to stand out among competing investment management industry service providers and publishers.

The brochure communicated the benefits, ease, and abilities of the company’s major product, FINsearches, while tying in information about the features and highlights of its FINdaily and Nonprofit News publications. As a piece that defines and incorporates the company’s products as well as publications, this brochure serves as a memorable “leave behind” after face-to-face contact.

Why CMA? Impressed by CMA’s knowledge of the financial industry, the resulting brochure received rave reviews from the client about what CMA was able to deliver.

CMA’s work with FIN is a perfect example of the results of good team work. FIN has worked with members of the PR team for years helping to promote the conferences of long-term CMA client PAICR (the Professional Association for Investment Communications Resources) through informative articles in their magazines. Over time, the FIN publishers began to see that CMA is more than just a PR firm and turned to CMA to more effectively market themselves.

Revisiting Your Brand

As we approach the end of 2010, it is important for business owners to revisit their company’s brand identity. Does your brand still represent your company’s mission and goals? Does it continue to effectively showcase your company’s products and services? Does it appeal to your target audience? Once you’ve determined how your brand measures up, it is important to evaluate whether your company’s marketing pieces reflect this direction. Consider these tips for evaluating your brand.

Strategy. When revisiting your brand, it is important to take the time to meet with the decision makers in your company to evaluate your company’s strategic direction and if it still holds true. Through CMA’s Marketecture™ process, we take clients through a strategic planning session to determine an appropriate direction for branding and marketing their company.

Logo. As your logo is an important element to your company’s brand identity, make sure to evaluate whether it continues to standout in the minds of current and prospective clients. Does your logo format, color and design represent your company and speak to your target audience? You ultimately want to ensure your brand is identifiable throughout your targeted market.

Sales brochure. Your company sales brochure is consistently utilized by your team during the sales process. Make sure you determine whether it effectively showcases your company and its products and services, as this is a main tool in helping to bring in new business. Also, evaluate whether the information in your brochure clearly explains to your target audience why they should select your company’s products and services to fulfill their needs.

Need help re-establishing your brand? Give us a call today.

Jeffrey Barnhart
President and CEO
jbarnhart@cmasolutions.com

CMA Selected to Launch Energy Watch Blog

CMA was recently selected by marketing veteran, Bill Attardi, for the launch of the blog version of his popular Energy Watch newsletter.

For over a decade, electrical industry insiders have turned to Attardi for breaking news in lighting, distribution and other related business segments. Trusting in CMA’s understanding of the industry as well as our team’s rapid adoption of digital media, Attardi selected CMA to develop the structure and new look of the Energy Watch blog and maintain fresh content on a weekly basis. The blog retains popular features such as Attardi’s monthly commentary “Something to Think About,” provides critical news updates in a more accessible format and introduces a newly designed Energy Watch header, custom created by CMA’s design team.

Since September, the blog has developed a devoted following and CMA continues to work with Attardi to increase readership and interest in the new format.

CMA Director of Marketing Services Selected to NJ CAMA Board

CMA’s Director of Marketing Services, Erin Higgins, has been selected to the New Jersey Communications, Advertising and Marketing Association’s (NJ CAMA) Board.

Higgins will serve as Co-Chair of the organization’s ASTRA Awards, which honor the best creative, strategies and design work created by the communications, advertising and marketing community. In her role, Higgins will support the ASTRA Chair with award submissions, event content, scheduling, location selection, promotion as well as on-site coordination.

Bill Petzinger, President at NJ CAMA commented, "I am delighted to welcome Erin to the Board of Directors of NJ CAMA. She possesses the strategic ability and passion that our organization needs which will ultimately prove valuable in her role as ASTRA co-chair. We look forward to working with her."