Super Bowl 2018: The Brands That Will Make Your Next Monday Office Chat Worthwhile

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.

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Shopping Without a Basket: How E-Commerce Is Shaping The Consumer Experience

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?

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The Gift of Giving: Corporate Social Responsibility’s Effect on Branding Strategy

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.

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The Ultimate Dinner Date: Valentine’s Day in Austin

It’s February and love is in the air. The time has come for red and pink to color our worlds and to celebrate those we hold dear.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect romantic spot for you and your significant other, or you’re just ready to treat yourself to a meal that you deserve, there’s a place for everyone in Austin this Valentine’s Day. Known as a destination for culinary invention and gourmet classics alike, Austin continues to bring delicious and delectable food to its people year after year. Here at HMG, we have compiled a list of some of the newest restaurants and dives for a taste of the best that this city has to offer.

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Meet Courtney, HMG’s Newest Member

Hello hello, I’m Courtney Bateson, HMG’s new Marketing Coordinator. I am so thrilled that my journey has brought me here, and I can’t wait to dive into this role to give it my all.

Born and raised in the north of England, I’m a lover of all things creative. Traveling, photography and food are my main points of interest and I usually find a way to combine the three in my spare time. I studied Marketing Management at University in Manchester and it was here where I had the opportunity to study abroad. Enticed by the scorching hot summers and the endless supply of BBQ that Texas had to offer, I chose to study at Texas Tech University. Next thing I knew, I was in the high plains of Lubbock, adapting to a new academic system and integrating into a completely different culture. I screamed with excitement when I saw a tumbleweed rolling down the street for the first time – embarrassing, I know.

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Optimizing your Website for Voice Search

As artificial intelligence continues to advance, we’ve found ourselves new best friends with intelligent personal assistants such as Siri, Alexa, Cortana, and Google. The way people search the web for information is changing from the traditional search engines. Nearly 60 percent of searches today are performed through mobile devices. Mobile devices are becoming our key source of knowledge and consumers are increasingly using their voice over their fingers to search the web. Asking questions and receiving answers has never been quicker or easier. As voice search continues to gain market share, it is imperative that we as marketers understand how to optimize our websites in order to stay ahead on SEO best practices.

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Optimize Your Blog—Integrate a Pillar Page

Just when you thought you had SEO all figured out…

We all know Google has cracked down on keyword stuffing, internal linking and much more when it comes to blog content, but it’s time to make some changes—again. Google’s new algorithms penalize you if your internal links don’t directly expand on another topic. I can already see the organization freaks (much like myself) losing it over this new algorithm, but don’t fret. Run with it by integrating pillar pages.

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Chatbots—It’s “a bot” time you get one

Social media and messaging apps have led to the evolution of bots. A bot is a computer program that automates certain tasks by chatting with a user through a conversational interface like a messaging app. Interactions with bots can be straightforward such as asking a bot for the location of a restaurant, or more complex, like troubleshooting your internet service. In a world of immediacy and instant demand, simply offering an app won’t cut it anymore. Consumers expect an immediate response when it comes to customer service, and bots offer quality service before the customer even comes across an issue. If you haven’t invested in bots quite yet, here are a few reasons you should consider:

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Apple News: Adapt Your Marketing Strategy to the Latest Updates

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:

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Here Are Our November Print Specials

Festivities and events are on the rise as the fall and winter seasons approach, and as a full-service marketing agency, we are well aware of the design and print needs of most companies during this time of the year. HMG Creative is offering major savings on high-quality design work and commercial printing throughout the month of November as events and company parties continue to creep closer and closer. Continue…