How to Use Anthems in an Age of Solidarity Posted on April 9, 2020 | August 14, 2023 by jolean Anthems are taking over the airwaves. Every time you turn on the TV, anthem videos are on repeat. You might not have had a name for them up until this point, but now you know. Anthem videos are cinematic, highly emotional spots that use poetic language and empathy to explain or evoke a brand’s purpose. Why Are We … Read more
The Truth about Taking a “Brand Stand” as part of CSR Posted on May 21, 2018 | February 10, 2022 by jolean This blog has been updated from the original on 2/10/22 We’ve all heard that with great power comes great responsibility. And for this reason, brands in the past have been cautious about dabbling in social and political issues, worried that it might hurt their brand. They haven’t all considered it as part of their corporate social responsibility, or CSR. Today, … Read more
The Art And Science Of Storytelling: How To Connect With Your Audience Posted on March 19, 2018 | April 18, 2018 by Scenic Road Why? Why do certain images or ads get attention, while others fall flat? While there’s no simple answer, new insights are telling an old story: it starts and ends in the brain. … Read more
You Need to Know These Five Trends for Video Marketing in 2018 Posted on December 6, 2017 | May 16, 2018 by jolean 2018 is in full swing, and marketers know one thing about time’s passage: you have to stay on top of trends in-the-minute, or you will be left behind. Surely by now you’ve learned that your brand needs video marketing, and how visual storytelling techniques can be applied to any industry. This time last year, HubSpot CEO Brian Halligan said … Read more
How To Tell Emotional Brand Stories That Pull At Your Heart And Wallet Posted on April 13, 2017 | May 11, 2020 by Scenic Road We all have a heart. Emotional brand stories tap into your beating heart to leverage personal experiences, everyday challenges, and yes, even animal love (you knew there was a reason for all of those puppy videos), to compel their audience to take action. Today, we’ll share seven brand video examples.… Read more
3 Brands Taking a Stand (and Why You Should Care) Posted on February 15, 2017 | April 5, 2019 by jolean From racism to immigration, more brands are taking a strong stance on social issues. For those who haven’t put a name to it yet, social advocacy is when a brand decides to address a social issue and use its voice to raise awareness and advocate for change. This blog will showcase three brands running in the minefield, and share the … Read more
Top 3 Trends to Boost Your Video Content in 2017 Posted on January 12, 2017 | October 11, 2022 by jolean I create video for a living. And man-oh-man, is it hard to keep up with trends. Technology is moving like lighting, and I’m more a slow-drizzle, look-at-my-reflection-in-the-puddles kinda gal. If you’re like me and need to pick up the pace from a mosey to a mad dash, this blog will give a brief canvass of what’s hot on the horizon.… Read more
5 Paths to Authentic Storytelling Posted on September 26, 2016 | October 17, 2021 by jolean Be authentic. It’s easy to say but hard to do. Problem: Brands today face a major “authenticity deficit” where only 1 in 5 consumers say that brands and companies are open and honest, according to a report by Cohn & Wolfe. Solution: Here are five ways that you can use authentic storytelling to not only reach audiences, but … Read more
How (and Why) to Harness Empathy in Storytelling Posted on July 18, 2016 | October 10, 2022 by jolean A Case Study As advertisers, marketers and communicators, our job is to make content that engages and inspires our audience to take action. For that to happen, it’s not enough to reason with them with facts and figures. You have to move them in some way. For instance, with a story of the Army Sgt. who was awarded this Purple … Read more
3 Ways Brands Can Learn Storytelling from Cartoons Posted on July 1, 2016 | April 5, 2019 by jolean It was our first appointment viewing. Our first open-mouthed, awe-inspired, aspirational experiences with storytelling: cartoons. You might think what Wile E. Coyote and SpongeBob can teach us is well, elementary, but you would be wrong. Whether it’s a factual story, a fictional one, or a promotional story like advertising or marketing, we can all learn from storytelling tools to be … Read more