Hi! My name is Natalie Matthews and I am ecstatic to begin as the new social media and marketing intern at HMG Creative, this semester. Born and raised in Clear Lake, Texas, I have enjoyed dancing competitively for twelve years with my older sister and traveling alongside the rest of our family in our free time. I am an avid cooking show viewer, occasional chef for one and dedicated consumer of all things sweet. You can often find me making my way around Town Lake while listening to some of my favorite artists, ranging from Frank Sinatra to Katy Perry. I am passionate about empowerment, the alleviation of poverty, education and positive living.

Continue…

We’ve all been touched by the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales, entranced by superstar endorsers like Britney Spears, and become hooked on brands like Apple through futuristic imagery. The biggest game of the year means the greatest chance to reach millions of viewers between plays. As one of the most important opportunities for marketers to reach large audiences and create buzz about their products, Super Bowl spots have long been an integral institution of the game itself. Super Bowl LII will not disappoint, and we have an early look at some of the most anticipated advertisements to watch out for this Sunday.

Continue…

When is the last time you have walked into a store just to try on that shirt and redeem the coupon you received via email last month? The last time you’ve checked the reviews on that electronic you’ve been anticipating for a year, just to wait in line for 6 hours on the day it is released at Best Buy? Is it that we are becoming more impatient and comfortable with a screen controlling our purchases? Or could it be that buying online is the most efficient and economical option for today’s society?

Continue…

This year, we saw a one-minute Super Bowl spot from Toyota featuring a Paralympic athlete and the journey she took to increase her chances of winning a gold medal. Heartwarming and inspiring—no cars were featured in the ad, which promoted the phrase, “When we’re free to move, anything is possible.” So what does this say about what we value as consumers? Are features and benefits our main concern? The fact is, in a world with so much variety, availability, and interconnected commerce, we subscribe to the brands we choose to invest loyalty in, not the products we choose to buy.

Continue…

As we all know, SXSW is just around the corner, which means expansive opportunities for the exchange of new ideas, the introduction of multiple industry advancements and crowds of the biggest and brightest innovators of our day and age. Keeping up with the constant stream of developing media and technology can be a big task. Fear not. This time around, we’re bringing you the top 5 panels that will aid in staying on the cutting edge of branding and marketing. Learn what makes these some of the most instrumental topics for the future of our industry.

Continue…

HMG Creative has a new team member! We would like to introduce Brandon, our newest addition to our web development team, who originally grew up in the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky and migrated to Austin for the opportunities in the Tech Industry.

Brandon started in the Tech world fixing computers for friends and family in High School, which eventually turned into running an IT Services and Web Development business in college. He studied Biology while at the University of Cincinnati but decided to switch career paths into becoming a full-time Web Developer. Having ran several teams and worked in a variety of industries, Brandon has a wealth of technical experience that he’s excited to bring to HMG Creative.

Continue…

Apple has had an exciting year with new Macbooks, iPhones, Apple watches, and plenty of new updates to keep their consumers on their toes. Not only has Apple been coming out with new products, they have also been updating their software in order to enhance user experience. Specifically, the updates to the new App store and Safari browser are substantial enough that they are likely to greatly impact your business’ marketing strategy. Here’s what you need to know about Apple’s latest software update that could change the way you market to your consumers:

Continue…

It’s the spookiest time of the year, but it won’t be the costumes that scare you tomorrow. If you thought search engines gave you access to the entire web space, you’re in for a surprise. Ever heard of the dark web? Recently, the dark web has made headlines as a digital place for criminal and illegal activity. As law enforcement continues their mission to control the dark web it is important that we educate ourselves on this topic and understand just how terrifying it really is. Ready to get spooked?

Continue…

With the introduction of the new iPhone X, augmented reality has created a significant buzz in the digital world, even being named “the next big thing” in the industry. Researchers and engineers are now pulling graphics off the screen and integrating them into real-world environments. For example, Pokemon Go was one of the first successful applications of AR and has spearheaded the development of many more games and apps utilizing this kind of technology. As technology continues to progress, augmented reality will become prominent in the digital industry.

Continue…

Slack is the fastest growing business application in history. Launching in 2014, Slack is a platform that connects teams with the apps, services, and resources they need to get their daily work done. With access to over 1,000 apps and a strategic API, Slack works with partners and developers globally to create apps and integrations that make your work more efficient, automates tasks and brings better content into your conversations in Slack. Not only is it a great tool for communication and project management, it also creates a more social work environment by allowing individuals to send quick emojis and gifs. We love Slack, so we thought we’d compile our favorite Slack hacks.

Continue…