Blog
HRB Week in Review 5/25/10
As the temperature heats up outside, so does the work for HRB clients.
Strategic planning continues to move along for a large media company client. It is one thing to develop a new brand and it is another to roll it out in a way that is most effective and causes the least amount of strife for employees. Sometimes a tough balance…
HRB’s strategic planning unit, the Growth Division, has been doing work for current clients and engaging prospective clients via Web, phones and direct mail. The response to this new way of growing client businesses has been exciting and rewarding. If you have questions about how HRB can help grow your business, please contact us.
Kicked off a Web project for a new client in the medical field this week. As a highly skilled surgery specialist, this doctor and hospital want to tell the story of patients who have benefited from corrective surgery and help others understand they can have a life without pain.
One of the premier design firms in the region came to HRB for help with crafting a brand and marketing strategy that will help current and prospective customers understand all of its services and capabilities. Last week we analyzed the research we did on behalf of the firm; this week we present the findings. It’s always interesting to present research to clients on their own brand and company. Most times we find some surprises no one anticipated.
Connect with HRB:
Creating software demonstrations is a very technical and creative task. Last week HRB took a shell of a software demo and built some amazing graphics and functionality that will keep the audience engaged.
Work continues on a new product launch for a client in the ag industry. We are finalizing key messages and design of the initial roll out kit and then will continue to develop print, radio and direct mail.
We finalized a new logo and Website design for a client in Coralville. We began the next step to develop the copy for the Website and other marketing materials.
A client in Cedar Rapids is launching a summer campaign to promote the use of its urgent care services. Look for outdoor and direct mail to launch in June.
A Live HRB seminar on blogging presented by Senior Vice President Jeff McEachron held in the Quad Cities Thursday, May 20, had an excellent turnout and resulted in follow-ups talks with a number of attendees. Jeff will give the presentation “If You’re Not Blogging – You’re Missing a Marketing Gold Mine” again on Wednesday, June 2, at 11:00 am at the Skywalk Group, 205 Second Street SE, Suite 204, in Cedar Rapids.
Our next Live seminar in the Quad Cities, “5 Steps to a Fresh New Brand in Less Than 30 Days” is coming up on Wednesday, June 9 at 11:30 am. The presenter is HRB Vice President of Public Relations Shelby Kraus. It will be presented at the Quad City Realtors Association headquarters in Bettendorf.
If you would like marketing, design, advertising, strategic growth planning, public relations or Web assistance, please contact us at 800-728-2656 or jthebeau@hrb-ideas.com.
Jim Thebeau
Partner/CEO
Follow me on Twitter @JimThebeau
Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jimthebeau
Henry Russell Bruce is a full-service advertising agency and Internet marketing firm that focuses on branding, developing and executing marketing roadmaps, and growing companies.
HRB Week in Review 5/19/2010
Another week of fun at HRB.
One of our brand teams was intimately involved in the internal brand launch of a major media client all last week during employee meetings. Re-branding brings up a lot of questions, but overall it was very well received. The video and animation we produced for the event kept the spirit upbeat and sent the participants off on a good note.
A large transportation client had a big public relations announcement last week. HRB supported that effort by putting together a plan, writing the elements and pitching it to the media.
HRB presented a seminar, “Tell Your Story Using the New Public Relations Strategies,” in Cedar Rapids. The group discussed tips and ways to incorporate social media into your public relations program and how traditional PR still has a strong role…you just have more territory to cover.
Our next live seminar will be delivered by HRB Senior Vice President Jeff McEachron in the Quad Cities at 11:30 am on May 20. His presentation, “If You’re Not Blogging - You’re Missing a Marketing Goldmine” addresses the relationship-building and marketing power of blogging. Blogging is one of the most direct-to-the-consumer communications and marketing mediums of our day. It is unfiltered information coming directly from the company to the marketplace. Jeff is an expert on this subject. You can see for yourself by reading his blog entries on the HRB Website. Jeff will give this same live seminar in Cedar Rapids on June 2.
Our Web work continues to increase so we’re starting work on sites for a new health care client and a regional development agency. We continue to handle ongoing optimization and Internet marketing campaigns for a number of Web clients on a weekly basis.
We have a new graphic design intern from Drake University starting next week. Her name is Allison Maze and she will be a senior this fall. She just returned to her hometown of Cedar Rapids following a semester of college and working for a design firm in London. Welcome to HRB for the summer, Allison.
And, a new intern will be joining the public relations soon to work with PR VP Shelby Kraus and members of the Web team as those two functions continue their growing symbiotic relationship.
HRB President and partner Steve Erickson is a featured writer in the May issue of Edge Business. His piece, “Make your brand the life of the party,” makes a strong and compelling story on how to position your brand to make it attractive to your audience. And, he answers the question “How does a brand actually demonstrate a genuine interest in and engage its audience?” It’s really a good read for those interested in upping their brand game.
We would like to thank the 15 new clients who have joined the HRB team so far this year – clients who look to us to help them build their brands and grow their businesses.
Please take a look at our portfolio to see how we’ve been helping our clients with their marketing efforts.
HRB Week in Review 5/10/2010
Fast and furious! That was the motto last week at HRB.
An HRB Web client took our relationship to the next level when they asked for our help to launch and promote a new product. The product will be rolled out statewide this summer with meetings and a mass media campaign. We are developing direct mail, emails, print ads, radio spots, a video, handout kits, press releases and presentation materials. It’s a quick turnaround but we’re up for the challenge and excited to work with this great bunch of people.
A large Cedar Rapids based client in the transportation industry kept us busy last week with a number of projects. A significant leadership change in the organization took place and HRB helped to communicate the news to both local and trade media. We also put the finishing touches on the internal communications pieces and sent them into production.
People are registering for the May 20 HRB live seminar in the QC – If You’re Not Blogging – You’re Missing a Marketing Gold Mine, presented by HRB Web guru and Senior Vice President Jeff McEachron. The presentation will be held from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Quad City Area Realtor Association, 1900 State Street, in Bettendorf. Jeff gives the same presentation on June 2 at the Skywalk Group in downtown Cedar Rapids.
Our live seminar series on Web and marketing topics is presented each month in the Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids. Upcoming topics include: 5 Steps to a Fresh New Brand in Less Than 30 Days, Social Media Success Stories – Do You See Yourself Here?, Strategic Planning for Business and Marketing Success and The Value of Design in Brand Identity.
Research is underway for a new healthcare client and a project timeline is in place for work to begin this week.
Rolled out a new brand to the internal audience of a large regional media company. Next step – going public with the new brand.
Jim Thebeau
Partner/CEO
Follow me on Twitter @JimThebeau
Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jimthebeau
Henry Russell Bruce is a full-service advertising agency and Internet marketing firm that focuses on branding, developing and executing marketing roadmaps, and growing companies.
HRB Week In Review 4/23/2010
The week at HRB was focused heavily on new business. We wrote a marketing proposal for a new luxury condominium development that is in the works in the Corridor. We also presented a marketing plan to an engineering firm in Cedar Rapids and two IT firms in the Quad Cities that serve totally different target audiences.
HRB began implementing a strategic plan for a client in the law enforcement industry by presenting a new logo, tagline and website design.
Work continues on a number of other projects including a new website for a client in Cedar Rapids, and a trade show follow-up marketing plan for a client in Iowa City.
We submitted a proposal for a design project for the Iowa Quad Cities Chamber in order to continue our community involvement by our office staff there.
Presented a website proposal to a higher education client that should be finalized in the next 30 days or so.
HRB has another healthcare client in eastern Iowa who wants a new website and marketing support materials.
We are in the middle of a research project for a large lumber supplier in the Quad Cities.
Jim Thebeau
Partner/CEO
Follow me on Twitter @JimThebeau
Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jimthebeau
Henry Russell Bruce is a full-service advertising agency and Internet marketing firm that focuses on branding, developing and executing marketing roadmaps, and growing companies.
HRB’s Week in Review – April 2nd, 2010
This week, we wrapped up a 4 month Web site project for a company serving higher education. After populating hundreds of pages of content, collecting images, programming special features and adding extra layers of security, it went live in the past few days.
Plans continue as we prepare to launch a new brand for a communications company. The list is very long to reach out to the multiple audiences, but our campaign theme is going to catch your attention!
HRB is interviewing customers and former customers for a design firm to help define its brand.
Ever wonder how those online demonstrations are put together? There’s more to it than you think! HRB is working on an 8-minute demo to explain special features for this application.
There are a ton of public relations projects being developed right now. We’re doing everything from trade, national and local media relations, event PR, press kits and writing newsletters!
As a first step, HRB received a download from a higher education client in order to develop a Web site proposal, which is now underway.
Nearing finalization of a media plan for a Quad City credit union that is growing and adding to its locations.
Survey instruments are almost approved for a Quad City construction design firm so that research calls can begin this week.
The HRB team is putting the finishing touches on an educational seminar a client is hosting in Coralville this week. Engaging the media with PR, wrapping up final event details, and producing final collateral pieces.
Presented design concepts for a new Web site for a client.
Worked on content for the next edition of a client newsletter.
Jim Thebeau
Partner/CEO
Follow me on Twitter @JimThebeau
Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jimthebeau
Henry Russell Bruce is a strategic marketing and Internet marketing firm that uses research, brand-building, advertising, media buying and planning, design, public relations, Web design and strategies to help clients grow market share, generate new business, create brand loyalty and measure marketing results to build and support its clients' brands. HRB, founded in 1973, has offices in Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa. For more information, contact HRB.
