Tag: marketing

gen z advertising

The Ultimate Guide to Gen Z Advertising: Reaching the Next Generation

If you’ve ever tried to market to Gen Z and found yourself asking, “Why isn’t this working? It had emojis and a TikTok dance,” take a deep breath. You’re not alone. Gen Z advertising isn’t about tossing a few hashtags into the ether and hoping you go viral. It’s about understanding a generation that grew up online, isn’t afraid to call brands out, and can detect when something is inauthentic faster than your sassy nephew, Jeffrey, can say, “Delulu.” 

At ON Advertising, we’re all about this challenge. With a blend of creativity, innovation, and a touch of Gen Z-inspired irreverence, we help brands effectively connect with this savvy, socially conscious audience. So strap in, this is your no-cap guide to Gen Z advertising, packed with real tips, big vibes, and maybe even a spicy meme or two. Let us know if you need help translating that.

1. Emphasize Authenticity and Transparency

Gen Z doesn’t crave perfection. They crave real. Like fr fr, or “for real, for real” as in, this is happening, like for real, and I’m going to say it a second time just so you understand how real it is. This mindset translates into ditching overly polished commercials and gorgeous models that don’t even look like people in favor of genuine, relatable content. Think behind-the-scenes peeks, user-generated content, and brand voices that sound genuine rather than basic or mid-tier. 

In Gen Z advertising, it’s not about being flawless; it’s about being honest. If your product is good, let the people know. If you made a mistake, own it. Remember when a major skincare brand publicly apologized for an ad misstep? They gained more Gen Z fans because of it. That’s the power of transparency. At ON Advertising, we help brands craft messaging that’s not just authentic, it’s authentically you.

2. Prioritize Inclusivity and Social Responsibility

Gen Z is the most diverse generation yet, and they want the brands they support to reflect that. They’re looking for inclusion, not as a buzzword but as a baseline. Your Gen Z advertising strategy should highlight real voices, different perspectives, and a commitment to social justice.

We’re not talking about lazily posting a single rainbow logo in June. Gen Z wants to see sustained efforts in supporting causes, hiring diverse teams, and showing up year-round. Brands that consistently take a stand on issues like climate change, racial equality, and mental health will win hearts and loyalty. At ON Advertising, we guide clients to do just that, in a way that’s true to their mission. In fact, we are the largest minority-owned, full-service agency in the Southwest. 

3. Mobile-First Design is Non-Negotiable in Gen Z Advertising

Let’s be real. If your ad isn’t optimized for mobile, it’s already been swiped past. Gen Z lives on their phones. Whether they’re doomscrolling through tears at puppy rescue TikToks or sharing videos with their gym friends at brunch, mobile is the portal to their world.

Effective Gen Z advertising means quick load times, vertical video formats, thumb-stopping visuals, and interfaces that are more intuitive than your grandma’s enormous, large font tablet. At ON Advertising, our creative team makes sure that every ad we build is created for mobile-first interaction, because that’s where Gen Z lives, laughs, and likes.

4. Data Privacy and Personalized Experiences (With Caution)

Yes, Gen Z likes personalized content. No, they don’t want to feel like you’re watching them through their webcam. There’s a fine line between helpful and creepy. (Ever get targeted ads so specific you feel like you’re in the middle of a Black Mirror episode?) 

Great Gen Z advertising strikes that balance. Be clear about how you use data, offer opt-ins, and don’t overstep. Personalization should feel like a friend remembering your birthday, not a stranger knowing your shoe size. At ON Advertising, we create tailored experiences with transparency built in, so trust is always part of the equation.

5. Highlight the “Why”

Here’s the thing about Gen Z: they care. A lot. About climate, equity, mental health, you name it. They don’t just want to know what your product does. They want to know why you do what you do.

This is where storytelling comes in. Every piece of Gen Z advertising should connect your brand’s purpose to their passions. Think less “Buy this smoothie!” and more “Here’s how we source ingredients sustainably to reduce our environmental impact.” ON Advertising understands how to uncover and communicate your brand purpose, aligning your “why” with what Gen Z is looking for.

6. Be Agile and Adaptable

What’s trending today could be cringe tomorrow. If you’ve ever shared a month-old meme and gotten roasted by your sassy nephew, Jeffrey, at a family dinner, you already understand this. Gen Z advertising demands speed and flexibility. Algorithms shift, slang evolves, and you need a team that can ride the wave without wiping out.

At ON Advertising, our creative culture thrives on experimentation. We A/B test, monitor social trends like hawks, and aren’t afraid to pivot when a strategy stops working. If Gen Z teaches us anything, it’s that staying still is the surest way to fall behind. If Curtis Mayfield taught us anything, it’s to move on up towards your destination. 

Gen Z advertising isn’t just about speaking to a generation. It’s about listening to them, learning from them, and showing up authentically; that fr fr, fr fr authentic. At ON Advertising, we blend data, creativity, and purpose-driven storytelling to help brands do just that. So, whether you’re launching a new campaign or revamping an old one, remember: with Gen Z, you’re not just advertising, you’re starting a conversation. Perhaps you’ll get a follow-back. 

ON Advertising is the Largest Minority-Owned, Full-Service Advertising Agency in the Southwest

We are the largest minority-owned full-service agency in the Southwest and we did not get there by accident. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business grow to the next level.

Our brand strategists work synergistically to develop and support successful market influence. Our full-scale consideration of each facet of marketing and advertising operates with clear goals and objectives laid out for each client and their unique needs. 

Our team of thinkers, creatives, and researchers blend their talents to develop a brand that works for you. Whether you are seeking additional advertising advice for your Gen Z audience or any other marketing project, we can make it happen!

branding strategy

Evolving Your Branding Strategy in a Dynamic Market

In today’s business world, change isn’t coming; it’s already here, sipping Coconut LaCroix and disrupting your industry with a cheeky little grin on its face. Markets shift fast, consumer expectations evolve even faster, and trends can go from “must-have” to “please stop” in the span of a TikTok. If your brand is still using the same playbook from a few years ago, consider a reboot.

At ON Advertising, we understand that a modern branding strategy needs to deliver more than good looks. It has to move with the times, connect emotionally, and deliver measurable results. Let’s explore how to evolve your branding strategy without losing your brand’s soul.

Acknowledge the Ever-Shifting Landscape

Technological advancements, algorithm changes, social trends, and shifting consumer behavior have transformed the way brands communicate. The tools you used last year might already feel outdated, and that viral trend you hopped on last month? Ancient history. 

An intelligent branding strategy embraces change, adapts quickly, and always looks ahead. If you’re not actively evolving your approach, you’re falling behind, even if your logo is dope AF. 

The Core of Your Brand Remains

Here’s the good news: evolution doesn’t mean erasing your identity. The most effective branding strategy updates outward expressions while staying true to inward values. Your mission, purpose, and brand voice are your foundation. Evolution simply gives them a next-gen wardrobe.

Upgrading your brand is like upgrading your phone: same essentials, but with fewer bugs, better looks, and way more capability. It should feel fresh, familiar, and ready for whatever’s next.

Competitive Analysis: Go Beyond the Obvious

Keeping tabs on your competitors is important, but simply knowing their names isn’t enough. A great branding strategy dives deeper, analyzing how they communicate, what visuals they use, where they show up online, and how customers are engaging with them.

At ON Advertising, we go beyond the surface to identify what they are doing and, more importantly, what they are missing. These gaps are where your brand can shine. Strategic differentiation doesn’t just help you stand out; it helps you stand tall in a crowded market.

Embrace Digital Transformation

If your branding strategy isn’t digital-first, it’s falling behind. Your website, social media, digital advertising, and content strategy all need to work together with the seamless precision and harmony of the New York Philharmonic. From scroll-stopping Instagram stories to smooth e-commerce experiences, your online presence should reflect your brand with clarity and consistency.

Whether you’re fun and quirky, minimalist and modern, or somewhere between sophisticated and meme-friendly, digital channels are where your audience lives—and where your brand needs to thrive.

Keep Your Branding Strategy Consistent

Evolving your brand doesn’t mean going undercover. You wouldn’t trust a friend who suddenly spoke in haikus, wore a full astronaut suit, and only communicated via GIFs. The same goes for brands. That haiku astronaut would make for a fun Batman villain, though. 

Anyway, consistency in tone, visual identity, and messaging builds trust, strengthens recognition, and ensures your audience knows exactly who they’re dealing with, whether they’re on your website, in your store, or scrolling past your latest ad.

Make Data-Driven Decisions

If creativity is your compass, data is your map. A strong branding strategy is backed by metrics, not just hunches. Track key performance indicators like website traffic, social engagement, audience behavior, and conversion rates. These insights help you identify what’s working, where to improve, and when to pivot.

At ON Advertising, we believe in creativity powered by information. It is how we build branding strategies that perform, not just look pretty.

Future-Proofing Your Brand

Evolving your brand is not a one-time update. It is a long-term investment in staying relevant, resilient, and resonant. A flexible, well-planned branding strategy ensures your business is ready for whatever comes next, whether it be new platforms, new audiences, or even new competitors who want your crown.

By evolving strategically, you don’t just keep up with change, you lead it.

Want to evolve your branding strategy with confidence, creativity, and measurable impact? Let’s talk. Because in a world that moves fast, your brand shouldn’t just keep pace, it should stand out.

ON Advertising is the Largest Minority-Owned, Full-Service Advertising Agency in the Southwest

We are the largest minority-owned full-service agency in the Southwest and we did not get there by accident. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business grow to the next level.

Our brand strategists work synergistically to develop and support successful market influence. Our full-scale consideration of each facet of marketing and advertising operates with clear goals and objectives laid out for each client and their unique needs. 

Our team of thinkers, creatives, and researchers blend their talents to develop a brand that works for you. Whether you are seeking additional advertising advice for your Gen Z audience or any other marketing project, we can make it happen!

custom website development

Custom Website Development: Elevate Your Online Presence

At ON Advertising, we’ve seen it all: websites that load slower than dial-up, navigation menus with the logic of a treasure map, and brand voices that shift from William Shakespeare to Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski in a single scroll. These issues don’t just hurt your credibility; they can tank your digital marketing efforts before your content even gets a chance to shine.

Enter custom website development. And no, we don’t mean grabbing a template and slapping your logo on it. We’re talking about building a tailored digital experience that reflects your brand, meets your business needs, and grows with you. Think of it like designing your dream home, except with fewer gallery walls and more JavaScript.

Tailored to Your Brand

Your website should feel like a vibrant extension of your brand, not like you googled “free website template” and then chose the first search result that appeared. With custom website development, you can align everything, from the color palette to the copy tone, with your unique identity. Whether you’re bold and energetic or sleek and professional, your site should speak your language and resonate with your audience.

At ON Advertising, we specialize in creating websites that look, feel, and function like your brand. Through thoughtful structure and navigation design, we ensure that the user journey is intuitive and engaging. And with our SEO copywriting and content strategy services, your site doesn’t just look the part, it performs in search rankings as well.

Functionality That Fits

Why settle for one-size-fits-all when your business is anything but average? One of the biggest perks of custom website development is that it’s, well, custom. That means we build the features you need. Want to integrate your CRM? Create an interactive product builder? Design a blog with filters that actually work? We’ve got you.

This isn’t just about glitter and gadgets or bells and whistles or shiny things that don’t do much. With custom development, we avoid the clutter of unused plugins that slow your site down and create security risks. Our team focuses on what’s essential for your users, so your site runs lean and performs clean.

Scalability and Growth Through Custom Website Development

If we’re being honest, nobody wants to rebuild their website every two years. Custom website development is built with scalability in mind, so as your business grows, your website can grow with it. Think of it as planting a digital oak tree, not a potted fern. Yes, ON Advertising also knows stuff about gardening. 

Anyway, our developers will future-proof your site to handle new technologies, user flows, and even full-scale e-commerce operations. And with services like custom e-commerce applications and user-friendly content management, you’re equipped to manage your content and sales confidently, no IT degree required.

Performance and Optimization

We’ve all bounced off a slow-loading page. According to studies, if your site takes more than three seconds to load, you’re losing visitors, and probably revenue. With custom website development, we optimize every line of code for performance. That includes load testing, mobile responsiveness, and all the secret SEO sauce that helps search engines fall in love with your site.

We don’t just build fast websites, we build smart ones. Our team ensures your content is optimized and internally linked to keep users engaged and moving toward conversion.

Security and Reliability

Let’s talk about security. Template sites are more likely to be targeted by hackers, especially if you’re using common plugins or outdated themes. With custom website development, we bake security into the foundation. We know where the vulnerabilities are, well before the bad guys do.

From secure logins to encrypted data handling, your site will be equipped to handle traffic, transactions, and trolls with equal ease. Plus, with ON Advertising in your corner, you’ll have a reliable partner to monitor and maintain your digital fortress. Or whatever you call it. 

Investing in Your Future

We understand that custom website development might sound like a big investment. But here’s the thing: it is. Don’t worry, that’s a good thing because, unlike a quick-fix site that looks dated in a year, a website built with custom website development is a long-term asset. It adapts, scales, and drives real results.

When you partner with ON Advertising, you’re getting more than just a website. You’re getting a creative team that understands marketing, digital trends, and what it takes to stand out online. From conversion-centered landing pages to full-scale user experience design, we build with purpose and passion.

ON Advertising is the Largest Minority-Owned, Full-Service Advertising Agency in the Southwest

We are the largest minority-owned full-service agency in the Southwest and we did not get there by accident. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business grow to the next level.

Our brand strategists work synergistically to develop and support successful market influence. Our full-scale consideration of each facet of marketing and advertising operates with clear goals and objectives laid out for each client and their unique needs. 

Our team of thinkers, creatives, and researchers blend their talents to develop a brand that works for you. Whether you are seeking additional advertising advice for your Gen Z audience or any other marketing project, we can make it happen!

Subcultures

Understanding Subcultures: The Key to Effective Cross-Cultural Advertising Campaigns

If your marketing strategy still revolves around tired demographic buckets like “Millennials who like iced coffee” or “Gen Z with a Wi-Fi addiction,” it might be time for a reset. Because let’s be honest: people are more than their age and caffeine consumption. To truly connect with audiences today, brands need to dig deeper. Enter the world of subcultures, the secret sauce behind impactful, authentic, and wildly shareable cross-cultural advertising campaigns.

What Are Subcultures (and Why Should You Care)?

Think of subcultures as modern-day tribes—communities formed around shared interests, values, aesthetics, or experiences. We’re talking sneakerheads, cottagecore enthusiasts, Letterboxd nerds, and crypto traders who live in their moms’ basements (no judgment here, xoxo). These groups may not be huge, but they are powerful in influence.

When brands tap into subcultures with authenticity and respect, they unlock emotional resonance that no generic campaign can replicate. It’s not just about speaking to people, it’s about speaking their language. And when you get it right? These communities don’t just consume your content; they carry it, remix it, and spread it faster than a TikTok dance challenge.

Unlock Deeper Connections Through Subcultures

At ON Advertising, we’ve seen time and again that understanding subcultures is the heartbeat of successful cross-cultural marketing. It’s not enough to say, “We’re targeting urban millennials.” What does that even mean anymore? Instead, we ask: What do they value? What do they fear? What brings them together? 

Whether it’s a fandom, a fashion aesthetic, or a shared online universe (Reddit counts), subcultures give brands the opportunity to forge real connections based on identity and belonging—not just purchase intent.

Subcultures: Master the Art of Influence Mapping

Now, here’s where it gets a little spicy: Subcultural Influence Mapping. This is ON Advertising’s not-so-secret weapon—a strategic approach to identifying how niche communities shape broader cultural conversations. Because—spoiler alert! What starts in a micro-community often goes macro.

Think about how streetwear started in skateboarding subcultures before dominating global fashion. Or how fans of Korean pop culture drove the rise of K-beauty trends in the U.S. We analyze how these cultural breadcrumbs spread, then use those insights to craft campaigns with both laser focus and mass appeal.

Go Beyond Demographics with In-Depth Research

Understanding subcultures requires more than a quick scroll through Instagram. It demands real research, the kind that involves social listening, ethnographic analysis, and trend forecasting. You know, the stuff that sounds fancy but really just means “doing your homework.”

It’s through this deep dive that we uncover the nuances that make or break a campaign. Like why a slang term beloved in one community might be cringeworthy in another, or why featuring the right creator isn’t about follower count, it’s about credibility within the tribe.

Bridging Niche and Mass Markets (Without Trying Too Hard)

One of the biggest myths in marketing is that you have to choose between niche and broad appeal. But here’s the truth: when you engage subcultures authentically, your message doesn’t stay in the corner, it echoes across the room.

Great campaigns don’t dilute themselves for mass audiences; they invite the masses into something authentic. When your brand earns its place within a community, that community becomes your best amplifier.

Partner for Culturally Intelligent Campaigns

Bottom line? Marketing to subcultures isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about building trust. And trust is earned through consistency, empathy, and a little humility (no one likes a tourist who acts like a local five minutes after landing – they come off as fake and untrustworthy.) 

At ON Advertising, we specialize in creating culturally intelligent campaigns rooted in real-world insight and subcultural expertise. We help brands speak to these communities and grow with them, driving engagement, relevance, and long-term brand love. 

So next time you’re planning a campaign, don’t just ask who your audience is—ask what they stand for or believe in. It might just be the key to your next big breakthrough.

ON Advertising is the Largest Minority-Owned, Full-Service Advertising Agency in the Southwest

We are the largest minority-owned full-service agency in the Southwest and we did not get there by accident. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business grow to the next level.

Our brand strategists work synergistically to develop and support successful market influence. Our full-scale consideration of each facet of marketing and advertising operates with clear goals and objectives laid out for each client and their unique needs. 

Our team of thinkers, creatives, and researchers blend their talents to develop a brand that works for you. Whether you are seeking additional advertising advice for your Gen Z audience or any other marketing project, we can make it happen!

Media Buyer

The Modern Media Buyer: Strategies for Navigating Today’s Landscape

Being a media buyer in today’s world is a bit like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded… on a rollercoaster… during a thunderstorm. Okay, maybe not that complicated, but the modern media landscape is certainly wild. From TikTok to traditional TV, programmatic platforms to podcasts, the sheer number of channels where brands can engage their audience is both a blessing and a beautiful mess.

At ON Advertising, our team has made media buying our superpower. And like any great superhero origin story, ours is fueled by strategy, creativity, and probably way too much coffee. Definitely too much coffee. Just ask Paige. Anyway, it’s time to buckle up and learn how today’s media buyers (that’s us!) tackle the madness with style and smarts.

How Media Buyers Do It 

1. Navigating the Fragmented Digital Landscape (AKA Herding Digital Cats)

The modern media buyer isn’t just buying ad space—they’re orchestrating a symphony of social, streaming, search, and more. We’re talking programmatic ads one minute, influencer partnerships the next. Fragmentation is real, and it’s fierce. But fear not: a strategic, unified approach cuts through the chaos. At ON Advertising, we build comprehensive media plans that turn fragmentation into focus.

2. Data-Driven Decisions Are the New Black 

Gone are the days of guessing who’s watching your ad and crossing your fingers. Today’s media buyer lives and breathes data. With analytics dashboards and programmatic tools in our arsenal, we pinpoint audiences with surgical precision. Personalized messaging? Yes. Wasted impressions? Nope. It’s media buying—but smarter, leaner, and way more efficient.

3. Omnichannel or Bust

Modern consumers are everywhere, and so is the savvy media buyer. Whether it’s your inbox, social feed, or the podcast you binge on the way to work, your brand should be showing up with consistency and cohesion. Omnichannel integration ensures your message hits home no matter where your audience is browsing.

4. Agility: Because Plans Change (Almost Always)

If a media buyer had a motto, it might be: “Test, optimize, repeat.” The only thing constant in advertising is change, so we stay glued to performance data, tweaking campaigns faster than you can say “real-time reporting.” KPIs? We live for ’em.

5. Privacy vs. Personalization: The Delicate Dance

Consumers want personalized experiences… but also value their privacy (go figure). As modern media buyers, we walk a tightrope of compliance and customization. Tools like contextual targeting and first-party data strategies help us deliver relevance without being creepy. It’s a win-win.

6. Creative Is Still Top Dog

You can target the perfect person at the perfect time—but if your creative looks like it was made in Microsoft Paint circa 2002, you’re toast. Engaging, contextually relevant content is the not-so-secret weapon of any successful media buyer. That’s why our creative team works hand-in-hand with media planning to ensure messaging that breaks through the noise.

7. Staying Ahead of the Curve

A modern media buyer doesn’t just react—they anticipate. AI-powered targeting, influencer marketing, VR ads… we’re keeping tabs on it all. Because the future waits for no one, except for maybe my mom, who is still trying to figure out TikTok.

At ON Advertising, we don’t just buy media—we craft experiences, drive results, and stay ridiculously obsessed with the ever-evolving ad game. Whether you’re a brand looking to make sense of the madness or just here for the digital dad jokes, remember this: the media buyer is your MVP in the marketing world.

ON Advertising is the Largest Minority-Owned, Full-Service Advertising Agency in the Southwest

We are the largest minority-owned full-service agency in the Southwest and we did not get there by accident. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business grow to the next level.

Our brand strategists work synergistically to develop and support successful market influence. Our full-scale consideration of each facet of marketing and advertising operates with clear goals and objectives laid out for each client and their unique needs. 

Our team of thinkers, creatives, and researchers blend their talents to develop a brand that works for you. Whether you are seeking additional advertising advice for your Gen Z audience or any other marketing project, we can make it happen!

Experiential Marketing

Experiential Marketing: The Future of Advertising

At ON Advertising, we’ve seen a lot of trends come and go. However, one shift we’re not only excited about — we’re all ON for — is experiential marketing.

You’ve probably heard the term tossed around at marketing conferences or in between sips of overpriced oat milk lattes. But what is experiential marketing, really? And why are brands (the smart ones, anyway) putting more of their budget into experiences over traditional ads?

Let’s dive in.

What is Experiential Marketing?

In short, experiential marketing is all about engaging consumers in real-life, interactive experiences. These can be pop-up installations, live events, product demos, immersive environments, and so much more. Basically, anything that gets people off their screens and into your brand’s world.

Unlike traditional advertising, which talks at your audience, experiential marketing invites them to play, taste, touch, and experience your brand firsthand. It’s the difference between seeing a pizza commercial and walking into a surprise pizza party hosted by the brand — complete with a selfie wall, local artists, and a mysterious guy in a pepperoni suit. (Don’t worry, we’ve got contacts. That pepperoni guy is gonna be huge!)

This is the kind of engagement that really sticks with people, and that’s the magic.

Experiential Marketing

Why is Experiential Marketing the Future?

In a world of short attention spans, endless content, and consumers who can smell a sales pitch from three scrolls away, experiential marketing bulldozes through the noise.

It drives higher engagement and stronger brand recall. When someone has an emotional or memorable experience with a brand — instead of just seeing an ad — they’re far more likely to remember it, talk about it, and (most importantly) become loyal to it.

It also fuels organic brand advocacy. People love sharing cool experiences on social media, and nothing says “Look at me! I’m a trendsetter!” like tagging your friends in a video of you ziplining into a giant branded ball pit. (We’re sure this happened before.)

Most importantly, experiential marketing meets the evolving demand for experiences over things. Especially among Millennials and Gen Z, it’s not about what you buy — it’s about the stories you can tell. And if your brand can create exciting and meaningful stories that are fun to tell? You win, hands down. 

Key Elements for Experiential Marketing Success

Of course, you can’t just slap a logo on a balloon and call it a day. Successful experiential marketing requires a few key ingredients:

  • Clear Goals: What are you trying to achieve — awareness, leads, loyalty? The experience should be built with a strong purpose.
  • Defined Audience: Know who you’re targeting and tailor the event accordingly. (Sorry, your grandma may not be into your VR skateboarding demo.)
  • Authentic Brand Alignment: The experience should feel genuinely connected to your brand identity, not just trendy for trendy’s sake.
  • Creative Execution: This is your moment to shine — be bold, be weird, be unforgettable.
  • Call to Action: Whether it’s signing up, following, purchasing, or sharing, always give your audience the next step (without killing the vibe).

A Real-World Example We’re Excited About

One experiential campaign we’re especially proud of is happening right now in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We’re collaborating with local artist David Santiago and Blake’s Lotaburger to create a community-driven mural experience. David will begin by painting the outline of a mural on the side of a Blake’s Lotaburger location. The following week, members of the community will be invited to help fill in the mural with color — transforming it into a vibrant, collaborative art piece that celebrates local culture and creativity.

To top it all off, we’ll be hosting an unveiling event the next weekend featuring live music, local vendors, art activities, photo opportunities, and appearances by Blake’s Lotaburger ownership, employees, the artist, and members of the community. It’s more than a mural — it’s an immersive, meaningful brand moment that invites people to take part in something lasting.

Challenges & Considerations

Now, we couldn’t call ourselves a full-service agency if we didn’t keep it 100. Experiential marketing isn’t always easy. Measuring ROI can be tricky. What’s the value of a smile? A TikTok video? A long-term relationship? (We can help you answer all of those questions, by the way.) It can also be resource-intensive. Think big ideas, bigger logistics. Budget, staffing, permits — the unglamorous backbone of any great activation. And of course, there’s the safety and planning piece. We love a crowd, but not chaos. Smooth execution comes from precise prep and a team who knows what they’re doing. (Hi, that’s us.)

Experiential marketing is more than a buzzword — it’s the future of advertising. And at ON Advertising, we’ve got the creativity, strategy, and logistical muscle to bring your brand to life in unforgettable ways.

Ready to get on it? Let’s create an experience worth talking about.

Experiential Marketing

ON Advertising is the Largest Minority-Owned, Full-Service Advertising Agency in the Southwest

We are the largest minority-owned full-service agency in the Southwest and we did not get there by accident. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business grow to the next level.

Our brand strategists work synergistically to develop and support successful market influence. Our full-scale consideration of each facet of marketing and advertising operates with clear goals and objectives laid out for each client and their unique needs. 

Our team of thinkers, creatives, and researchers blend their talents to develop a brand that works for you. Whether you are seeking additional advertising advice for your Gen Z audience or any other marketing project, we can make it happen!

creative process

The Creative Process: From Brainstorm to Execution

The creative process is a mysterious journey. For many, it’s a delicate dance between inspiration and frustration, a constant ebb and flow that can lead to brilliance—or a horrified blank stare at your screen. What works for you may be something as simple as taking a long walk while listening to Steely Dan or even watching old ’90s toy commercials to spark a burst of inspiration. The truth is that the creative process is deeply personal.

What works for one person might not work for another, and what works for a graphic designer may differ wildly from what works for a copywriter or a videographer. Despite these differences, there are some common stages that many creatives go through to bring their ideas to life. Let’s dive into the creative process of three types of creatives: graphic designers, copywriters, and videographers.

Exploring the Creative Process:

Graphic Designers

For a graphic designer, the creative process often begins with a spark of inspiration and evolves into something visual. Here’s an example of how they might approach it:

  • The Spark: Inspiration hits—whether from a photo, color palette, or client brief. Something clicks, and the design journey begins.
  • Research & Moodboarding: The designer gathers ideas, trends, and images to shape the visual direction through moodboards.
  • Sketching & Drafting: Initial sketches and rough drafts lay the groundwork for the concept, moving closer to reality.
  • Refining the Design: Colors, shapes, and typography are fine-tuned, bringing the idea to life and adding cohesion.
  • Final Execution: The design is polished and aligned, with final tweaks and feedback before completion.

Copywriters

Copywriting might seem as simple as putting words on paper, but it’s more like folding 100 fitted sheets blindfolded while someone tases you. Okay, maybe not that extreme, but it’s definitely not easy. The writing process is a wild safari through the jungle of language and clarity. Here’s how a copywriter typically tackles a project:

  • Understanding the Brief: The copywriter sets the foundation of the piece by clarifying the message, target audience, and the proper tone.
  • Brainstorming & Outlining: The copywriter attempts to capture as many free-flowing, relevant ideas living in their brain as possible before organizing them into a structured outline that makes sense to others.
  • Drafting the Copy: The first draft is written imperfectly, aiming to clearly and effectively convey ideas and messages.
  • Editing & Refining: Unnecessary words (and sometimes jokes) are cut, and sentences are tightened for clarity and impact.
  • Final Review: The copy is tested for tone and readability. After final adjustments, it’s ready to be released into the wild—or perhaps just sent to the client.

Videographers

Videography combines creativity with technical skill. For videographers, the creative process often involves a lot of collaboration and technical problem-solving. Here’s their typical approach:

  • Concept Development: The videographer envisions the final product, playing it out in their head. Whether it’s a commercial or social media video, they can envision almost every detail.
  • Storyboarding & Planning: A storyboard or shot list is created, detailing sequences, angles, and timing to tell a compelling story. Generally, this is done on a tight deadline and can be extremely time- and energy-consuming.
  • Filming & Capturing Content: All the pieces come together for filming. Sometimes, this involves actors, and other times, just objects. The videographer captures footage over an extended period, often from multiple angles, waiting anywhere from minutes to hours between shot setups.
  • Editing & Post-Production: The footage is edited, unnecessary shots and superfluous material are removed, and sound effects, visual effects, music, and sometimes voiceovers are added to maximize impact.
  • Final Cut & Feedback: The final version is reviewed, adjusted based on feedback, and prepared for distribution.

Overall, the creative process is never a one-size-fits-all journey. Whether you’re a graphic designer, copywriter, or videographer, your approach will differ based on medium and your unique way of thinking. Yet, the beauty of creativity lies in its diversity—every individual’s process is a personal reflection of their artistry. Embrace the quirks, the chaos, and the inspiration because, in the end, it’s all part of bringing your ideas to life.

ON Advertising is the Largest Minority-Owned, Full-Service Advertising Agency in the Southwest

We are the largest minority-owned full-service agency in the Southwest and we did not get there by accident. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business grow to the next level.

Our brand strategists work synergistically to develop and support successful market influence. Our full-scale consideration of each facet of marketing and advertising operates with clear goals and objectives laid out for each client and their unique needs. 

Our team of thinkers, creatives, and researchers blend their talents to develop a brand that works for you. Whether you are seeking additional advertising advice for your Gen Z audience or any other marketing project, we can make it happen!

niche marketing

The Psychology of Niche Marketing: Understanding Your Audience’s Needs

Niche marketing isn’t about casting a wide net and hoping for the best. It’s about focusing on a specific audience, speaking directly to their desires, and offering them solutions that matter. ON Advertising believes that effective niche marketing isn’t only about selling a product – it’s about building relationships, understanding needs, and connecting with people on a deeper level. Let’s break down why this works and how you can use these insights to craft a successful marketing strategy.

Niche Marketing Tips

Focus on Specific Desires

Successful niche marketing hinges on understanding the specific desires and pain points of your target audience. While broad marketing strategies try to appeal to everyone, niche marketing is all about pinpointing a well-defined group with unique needs. This means you have to do your research, get to know your audience like a new friend, and tailor your messaging to address what they want – not just what they passively want but what they really want. What keeps them up at night? What do they crave? 

Empathy and Connection

As we said, niche marketing is about connecting with your audience on an emotional level. At the heart of this connection is empathy. If you understand your audience’s struggles, dreams, and challenges, you can craft marketing messages that truly resonate. People want to feel heard, seen, and understood. When your marketing reflects this understanding, you build trust and loyalty. And trust? That’s the secret ingredient in successful marketing.

Identify Shared Values and Beliefs

Niche audiences often share core values and beliefs that shape their purchasing decisions. Whether it’s a passion for sustainability, a love for a specific hobby, or a strong political stance, these shared values create a sense of community. In niche marketing, aligning your brand with these values strengthens the emotional connection with your audience. When you demonstrate that your product or service aligns with what they care about, you reinforce that sense of belonging. And let’s be real – people want to feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves.

Understanding Subcultures

Many niche markets are subcultures in their own right. They have their own language, norms, and trends. Think about the rise of veganism, the DIY movement, or even niche hobbies like birdwatching. These subcultures often have a distinct identity, and tapping into that can give your marketing an edge. And as ON Advertising always emphasizes, cross-cultural advertising is more important than ever. When you understand their nuances and speak their language, your marketing feels more authentic. It’s not just about targeting a demographic; it’s about joining a conversation that’s already happening.

Addressing Pain Points and Solving Problems

At its core, niche marketing is about solving specific problems for your audience. Whether it’s a product that simplifies their daily routine or a service that addresses a specific challenge, you must highlight how your offering improves their life. People are always searching for solutions to their pain points. If you can position your product as the answer they’ve been looking for, you’re golden. Be the hero to their problem – it’s the way to build a loyal following.

The Power of Identity

Lastly, niche marketing taps into a powerful psychological driver: identity. People love to identify with groups that reflect who they are. Whether it’s a specific lifestyle, belief system, or hobby, niche marketing often helps reinforce a person’s sense of belonging. By aligning your brand with that identity, you’re not just selling a product – you’re reinforcing the consumer’s place in the world. This feeling of belonging is a powerful motivator, making them more likely to buy and become a brand advocate.

Niche marketing is all about understanding the psychological drivers of your audience. By focusing on specific desires, empathizing with their needs, addressing their pain points, and aligning with their values, you can build a marketing strategy that resonates deeply with your audience. At ON Advertising, we understand the nuances of niche marketing, and we know how to craft messages that hit home. By tapping into the psychology behind niche marketing, you can turn your audience into loyal fans who feel understood, supported, and excited about your offering. 

ON Advertising is the Largest Minority-Owned, Full-Service Advertising Agency in the Southwest

We are the largest minority-owned full-service agency in the Southwest and we did not get there by accident. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business grow to the next level.

Our brand strategists work synergistically to develop and support successful market influence. Our full-scale consideration of each facet of marketing and advertising operates with clear goals and objectives laid out for each client and their unique needs. 

Our team of thinkers, creatives, and researchers blend their talents to develop a brand that works for you. Whether you are seeking additional advertising advice for your Gen Z audience or any other marketing project, we can make it happen!

programmatic advertising

Programmatic: A Comprehensive Guide to Automated Advertising

Let’s be real – advertising is a lot like dating. You’ve got to find the right person, find the perfect moment to ask them out, and, of course, find the ideal setting for the actual date. But what if we told you there’s a smarter way with programmatic advertising? This tech-savvy matchmaker and futuristic solution does all the hard work while you sleep. Yes, you read that right. While you’re counting those sheep. 

What is Programmatic Advertising?

At its core, programmatic advertising uses automated technology to buy and place digital ads. Gone are the days of manual negotiations and endless email chains with ad sellers. With this type of advertising, it’s all about using algorithms and data to serve the right ad to the right person at the right time. Think of it as the “set it and forget it” of the advertising world — except it’s not just “forgotten,” it’s continuously optimizing.

How Programmatic Advertising Works

Programmatic advertising uses real-time data to make decisions about where and when to place ads. Imagine you’re an online shopper looking for Crocs (we’ve all been there, no judgment). As you browse, programmatic advertising kicks in, analyzing your behavior and serving an ad for a pair of Crocs just like the ones you were eyeing. It’s almost like the internet’s way of reading your mind — a tad creepy, but in a good way.

The process involves several players, like Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs) and Supply-Side Platforms (SSPs). The DSP buys ad space, while the SSP sells it. When you visit a website, the SSP opens up an auction, and the DSP places bids to display an ad to you. All of this happens in milliseconds. It’s like the world’s fastest game of “who gets the ad?”

Benefits of Programmatic Advertising

Programmatic advertising is popular because it saves time. That means no more spending hours negotiating rates or manually placing ads. It’s also incredibly efficient. Programmatic allows for hyper-targeted ads, meaning you’re not wasting your budget on random clicks from people who have no interest in your product.

And let’s not forget the power of data. With programmatic, you can track the effectiveness of your campaigns in real-time and make adjustments on the fly. It’s like having a GPS for your advertising journey — always recalculating to get you to the destination faster and more efficiently.

Programmatic Advertising Best Practices

Of course, just because programmatic advertising is powerful doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all. Here are a few best practices to keep in mind:

  1. Target with Precision: Leverage data to understand your audience and their behaviors. The more you know, the better you can serve them relevant ads.
  2. Optimize your Creatives: Make sure your ads are not only eye-catching but also match the intent of your audience. The right ad at the right moment is what really makes programmatic shine.
  3. Monitor Performance: Just because programmatic is automated doesn’t mean you can forget about it. Track the results, and optimize as needed.

Challenges of Programmatic Advertising

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: no system is perfect. One of the biggest challenges of programmatic advertising is ad fraud. Since transactions happen in real-time, there’s a chance that bots or fraudulent websites could trick the system into placing ads in low-quality spaces. But don’t worry; there are tools and solutions available to help detect and prevent fraud.

Another challenge is the complexity of the ecosystem. With so many platforms involved, it can be overwhelming for beginners. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll be running campaigns like a pro.

Programmatic vs. Traditional Advertising

So, how does programmatic stack up against traditional advertising? Traditional advertising is more like a one-size-fits-all approach. You buy ad space, run your ads, and hope for the best. With programmatic, you’re using data to fine-tune your approach, making it more targeted, flexible, and efficient. It’s the difference between throwing everything you have at the wall and using laser-scope precision. 

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, programmatic advertising stands out as a powerful, data-driven solution that offers efficiency, precision, and optimization. Sure, it’s a little more high-tech than traditional methods, but it’s also the future of advertising — and the future is now. So, next time you’re planning your ad campaign, consider letting programmatic take the reins. It’ll do all the heavy lifting, while you kick back and watch the results roll in. Happy advertising!

ON Advertising is the Largest Minority-Owned, Full-Service Advertising Agency in the Southwest

We are the largest minority-owned full-service agency in the Southwest and we did not get there by accident. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business grow to the next level.

Our brand strategists work synergistically to develop and support successful market influence. Our full-scale consideration of each facet of marketing and advertising operates with clear goals and objectives laid out for each client and their unique needs. 

Our team of thinkers, creatives, and researchers blend their talents to develop a brand that works for you. Whether you are seeking additional advertising advice for your Gen Z audience or any other marketing project, we can make it happen!

Search
RECENT POSTS
ARCHIVES
Archives