A guide for brands

From hot-button political issues to trending news topics, brands often struggle with whether they should create social posts on sensitive occasions. And as the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks approaches, you may be wondering what to say, and how best to say it. Read on to learn the dos and don’ts of posting on this important day.

Imagine … a social media platform that has text-based posts and uses hashtags. A timeline feed where users can collaborate and connect. A space for doom-scrollers and content creators alike.

You’re thinking Twitter … right? WRONG. I’m talking about Meta’s new platform Threads.

Fair trade. Eco-friendly. Carbon neutral. Sustainability claims are front and center in products and services across nearly every industry. And it shows: It’s a market worth more than $14 trillion a year. So how can you successfully frame up eco-minded copy in your marketing, while still standing out from the pack? Here are five easy tips to help you craft an effective sustainability message, no matter the industry.

In part two of our series on artificial intelligence, Creative Director John Vogel talks about the ethics of creating content with AI. For example, should you tell a client when you’ve used AI to create something? Do you need to give ChatGPT a byline? And should creative directors worry about being replaced by AI? In our latest episode of Marketing Then & Now, John explores the murky ethics of AI-generated copy and imagery, discusses why we’re still in the “dial-up phase” of AI, and outlines how your business can utilize AI assistance (the right way) to create engaging marketing campaigns.

The answer is yes and no. How’s that for annoying?

Wait! Don’t go anywhere just yet. Give me a chance to explain.

For any marketers who are still choosing to ignore AI as if it’s a fad, or, even worse, getting defensive about how AI “can’t do what I do,” I urge you to stop that immediately. To bury your head in the sand is not only disadvantageous to your career, but you’re also potentially doing your clients a disservice. Plus, no one wants to get left in the dust, and that’s exactly where you’ll be if you don’t read the rest of this article and shift your perspective.

With technologies like predictive analysis, natural language processing, machine learning, and chatbots, the future promised to us by The Jetsons doesn’t seem all that farfetched anymore. But what are the limitations of using AI tools to supercharge your business’ marketing efforts? And what can they excel at? In part one of this new series, Bozell’s Chief Marketing Officer Jackie Miller highlights the shortcomings of this new tech, as well as how marketers can use it to create campaigns that meet your audience at the right time, the right place, and with the right messaging (without freaking them out).

Ownership group grows with addition of husband-wife team

Bozell, a full-service marketing and communications agency founded in 1921, announced today that it has added two new owner-operators to its ownership group. Longtime Bozell employees Laura and Andy Spaulding have joined Kim Mickelsen, Robin Donovan and Jackie Miller as owners, effective immediately.

“Holy stats, Batman!” That’s what you’ll be saying after you listen to this episode of Marketing Then & Now, featuring our social media and PR strategist, Hannah Rotchafer. Not only will Hannah share with you some insights on the current audiences of each social platform, but she’ll also shed light on the different types of marketing and messaging that are best served on each one. And it doesn’t stop there. She’ll also answer questions like how often and when you should post, how to make the posting process more efficient, and even how to proactively create a crisis plan. No marketer or business owner should miss this episode.

Art direction can be a powerful thing when done well, proven true in this episode of Marketing Then and Now. Senior art director Heather McCain talks to us about her overarching creative philosophy, how the world of art direction has evolved over the years, and what her experience has been as a marketing expert on the board of the Refugee Empowerment Center – including her efforts in rebranding the nonprofit and then spearheaded a candle-selling campaign that brought in a regular monthly income for the nonprofit and offered a way for female refugees to make an income, gain on-the-job experience and learn English. 

We see you. Tired. Having trouble concentrating. Uninspired. But we’re not here to call you out for being lazy and procrastinating. We’re here to tell you you’re just burnt out.

What is burnout?

The World Health Organization defines burnout as a “syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” Although first defined in 2019, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has not only brought more attention to burnout and its long-term effects but has also shed light on just how rampant burnout is among working individuals.