We received an email from the Sioux Empire United Way recently thanking Lawrence & Schiller for its support. The email was another reminder of the generosity of the Lawrence & Schiller team. Seeing the L&S staff give back is just another indication of their character and commitment to the community.

Thank you to everyone at the agency who raised $36,125 for the Sioux Empire United Way. Here a look at what our donation will provide:

• 248 children with one weekend’s supply of food.
• 100 people with suicide crisis support.
• 36 children with free dental screenings.
• 207 meals to a homebound older adult.
• 88 children with one book each month this year.
• 12 cyberbully prevention programs for students.
• 6 rental deposits for homeless families.
• 40 mattresses for bunkie beds, for young children.
• 1 year of after school programs for 4 students.
• 136 families with connections to child care.
• 16 hours of financial counseling for a couple.
• 40 wigs to cancer patients.
• 16 children to take part in swimming lessons.
• 100 grocery deliveries to homebound older adults.
• 60 low-income Cub Scouts with 3 day summer camp.
• 80 girls with scholarships to join Girl Scouts.
• 8 months of helping a disabled individual live independently.
• 18 adults in a GED class with funds for fees and books.
• 1 year of craft supplies for an after school program.
• 6 families with grocery cards incentives to complete their self-sufficiency goals.
• 16 sessions of marriage counseling for one couple.
• 20 hours of interpreter support for refugee/immigrant parents to communicate with their children’s teachers.
• 36 children an hour of safe interaction with a noncustodial parent.

Micah Aberson, Lawrence & Schiller’s Vice President of Client Service, is featured in the latest issue of Sioux Falls Business Magazine.

Read about the importance of consulting marketing experts to help develop successful plans that yield positive results. And remember to pick up a copy of this month’s Sioux Falls Business Magazine.

Last week, Lawrence & Schiller’s famed business cards were featured on the iBrand Studio blog in a post entitled, “30 Creative Circle Business Card Designs.”

We’ve heard many comments about our unique business cards throughout the years. They’ve been compared to coasters and used as office frisbees. But the most popular question is, “Can I fit this in my wallet?” We like that question because at L&S we like to stand out from the crowd. We don’t want our business or a client’s business to get “lost in the shuffle.”

Take a look at our business card and other circular designs at iBrandStudio.com.

Oh, and drop us a line if you’d like to find a place for our card in your wallet.

Each year at the Day of Love, our pre-Christmas celebration, we recognize team members who have reached significant landmarks in their careers at L&S. This year, three employees were honored for 10 and 25 years of service.

John Pohlman

Twenty-five years ago, John impressed the leadership of Lawrence & Schiller with his professionalism and intelligence when he assisted Scott Lawrence as a producer on a commercial shoot. Shortly after, he joined the L&S team and has worked his way up to executive vice president.

John’s leadership, wisdom and composure have proved invaluable to L&S over the years.

Shelly Johnson

As an account service team member, Shelly has proven her ability over the past 10 years to produce the best outcomes for her clients. She successfully manages a substantial flow of projects, primarily for Midcontinent Communications. Her leadership and foresight are assets on the account service team.

Chris Matheson

Ten years ago, Chris was living in Sioux Falls but traveling to Los Angeles to produce commercials for Boston Market. He was hired to take the quality of Lawrence & Schiller’s broadcast production to the next level. With hard work, creativity and humor, Chris has done just that. By surrounding himself with talented individuals and ensuring L&S stays true to its brand, he has helped our agency produce effective and award-winning work for clients.

The entire L&S team wants to thank John, Shelly and Chris for their continued dedication and leadership. Feel free to congratulate them on their accomplishments in the comments section below.

Paul Schiller & Craig Lawrence

The Lawrence & Schiller staff also honored Paul Schiller and Craig Lawrence, the founders of Lawrence & Schiller, for their 35 years of partnership. A plaque with the four logos that have represented L&S over the years was given to both men.

Thank you to all who attended the annual Lawrence & Schiller Ho Ho holiday celebration. We look forward to the event all year, because it doesn’t get much better than spending an evening with clients, business partners, co-workers and friends.

We enjoyed seeing guests sport their 20’s style and attitude in our photo booth. Take a look at a few snapshots.

South Dakota Department of Tourism
and L&S Team Members
Front: Melody Morton, Carrie Burns and Laura Mitchell
Back: Thad Friedman, Micah Aberson and Jim Hagen

Midcontinent Communications
Front: Pat and Patti McAdaragh, Trish and Jeff McCann
Back: Jon Pederson

Great Western Bank
Front: Steve Ulenberg, Melissa Travis, Doug Tribble, Ken Karels, Kelly Nelson and Jill Palcovic
Back: Katie Lebrun, Toni Cranny

Now that the party is over, we’re already brainstorming the next bash to carry on the Ho Ho tradition started by Craig Lawrence and Paul Schiller back in 1976. Have any ideas for next year’s theme? Submit them in the comment section below.

Merry Christmas!

We would like to welcome three new employees to the L&S team.

Tony Barlow – Digital Strategist

Tony, a Hudson, WI, native, graduated from Northland College with a degree in meterology. He will be working as a Digital Strategist at L&S. Previously, Tony was instrumental in website development and social media strategy for a local news station. When he’s not online, he enjoys spending time with his family and hunting.

Amanda Jenson – Pay Per Click Specialist

Originally from Ralph, SD, Amanda Jenson is a student of Dickinson State University. She has been hired as a pay per click specialist intern at L&S. In her free time, she enjoys playing basketball and shopping.

Nathan Pease – Finance Specialist

Nathan, a Sioux Falls, SD native, graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in economics. He joins the L&S team as a Finance Specialist. Nathan enjoys spending time with his wife and doing activities outside such as hiking.

Welcome to the 5280 team!

During our September webinar, two L&S Account Service Team members, Carrie Burns and I (Natalie Eisenberg), dug into the art of selling ideas effectively. We shared some of our own stories and lessons that have helped get ideas delivered and accepted in various situations.

Here’s a snapshot:

1. Be well versed on the “thinking behind the ideas” you are presenting.
   Remember to re-state the goal of the idea before presenting the idea itself. Also, sit down and talk to all team members who contributed to the idea and understand and be able to speak to their points of view. Why did we choose this color or wording? Know these answers. Also consider bringing the target audience into the conversation or even into the room as you present ideas. Remind people that, while all of our opinions matter, what really matters is what the target thinks.
2. Choose the right technology for the job at hand.
   Explore your options beyond Power Point, such as Prezi or Keynote. Face to face is best, but use video conferencing if you can’t get into the same room. Be more effective in conference calls by choosing the right room, projecting your voice, and taking turns. If you must email an idea, write in the rationale and follow up quickly with a phone call to explain.
3. Be ready for game day.
   If you are lucky enough to have a captive audience of decision makers in a formal presentation setting, take advantage of this opportunity. Rehearse with your team and choose the right team members to deliver the material. Only the best presenters present. Engage the audience with both high and low tech touches as well as varying your own delivery style throughout the presentation.

Watch the full webinar below or at http://youtu.be/kSF0Qt-g4M8

Going the Extra Mile isn’t all about long hours, it’s about sharing innovative thoughts and delivering results for clients. Each quarter, the Marketing and Advertising Professional (MAP) Award is given to a Lawrence & Schiller team member who goes above and beyond.

Miles Rausch, an interactive developer, earned the third quarter MAP for his work as the architect and developer on a host of web projects during the past quarter. Rausch launched four major websites for a single client in the span of three weeks, a task unmatched at L&S. The websites included Midcontinent Communications’ “X is Next” teaser site, the XisNext.com launch site, MidcoSN.com and a Midcocomm.com overhaul.

Along with his meticulous attention to detail, Rausch is appreciated for his positive attitude, willingness to teach others and sense of humor.

Congratulations on your achievement, Miles! We’re so thankful to have you at L&S.

Feeding South Dakota is driving a shiny, new Toyota Highlander today, thanks to voters like you.

Distributing more than 9.4 million pounds of food in a year is a big job, and Feeding South Dakota welcomes all the help it can get in bringing food to those in need.

That’s why they were excited to participate in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program. Feeding South Dakota was given a video toolkit to help tell voters on Toyota’s Facebook page why it should receive a brand-new Toyota.

We were happy to lend a “helping hand” in their pursuit of feeding South Dakotans.

Take a look at the video we helped create for Feeding South Dakota: http://youtu.be/CoiJq71uwSw

With stiff competition from four other non-profits, voters made Feeding South Dakota a winner on June 28. Today, with keys to its Toyota Highlander Hybrid in hand, Feeding South Dakota is thankful for the new wheels. We’re thankful we were able to come along for the ride.

Check out the Feeding South Dakota Facebook page for the latest news and to learn how you can lend a helping hand.

Today, some of us at Lawrence & Schiller will pack up our laptops and trade them in for a set of golf clubs. Yes, it’s time for the 15th Annual L&S Golf Scramble. Tension is high as the teams get their game faces ready for this long-anticipated competition. The coveted L&S Cup Trophy sits in our second floor sitting area as a constant reminder for those walking by, of what’s at stake.

“I wish everyone the best of luck, but not too much luck! Since this is the 15th L&S scramble and I haven’t won yet. But in all honesty, I hope everyone has a great time today,” said Scott Lawrence this morning. His team, The Ringers, is set to kick-off the scramble at 3:45 followed by the Bear Cats, Gardy’s Golfers, Pedroia’s Putters, What’s Golf? and Chelle’s Chippers.

If the team names didn’t give it away, this scramble isn’t too serious. Tension at the office isn’t all that high, nor are the stakes. We play to have fun! That’s the culture at L&S, we work hard and are excited to spend a little downtime having fun with fellow employees.

Good luck to everyone playing this afternoon!

Last week I dipped my toes into the world of Pinterest. Launched in March 2010, the website recently graced the list of Time Magazine’s “50 Best Websites of 2011.“ The website allows users to create theme pages displaying relevant photos that the user has “pinned” to their page.

Think of an artist’s mood board that you might see at an advertising agency – photos taped or pinned to the wall to create a look or feel for a campaign – and take that digital. Users can create boards of any desired theme. Currently, I am working on a wedding board. Other common boards include home décor, clothing, travel, crafts, and so on. Instead of magazine clippings crammed into a file folder, I have one easy, clean, and digital place to drag and drop any ideas that pique my interest.

You can log into the program through your Facebook account. It also allows you to find friends from Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo! or Gmail. Frequent pinners and trend-setters are featured on a Tastemaker section.

When “pinning” items to your boards, you can re-pin from other users’ Pinterest board, or you can pull images from the Internet using the ‘Pin It’ tool installed on your toolbar. All photos are given credit and accompanied with a link to the original source.

Beyond a personal hobby, I can see many uses for Pinterst. The travel industry could allow pinners to create a whole virtual travel itinerary, retailers could keep an eye on what trends are hot and could pull them into a look book. Our artists here at L&S (thanks Katie Fritz and Sarah Pitts for introducing me) have already been using the boards for collecting interesting fabrics, designs, typefaces, and design inspiration.

What about campaign deliverables? Think of presenting a post-campaign report visually, in a way that the client could share with other stakeholders who want a quick way to see a high level overview of the campaign. I am excited to explore the possibilities.

Whether you’re a novice or an expert, a trainee or trainer an intern or a vice president, there is always room for growth. I’ve decided to use my last blog post to offer some advice to the next batch of interns and new hires based on the lessons I’ve learned in the last three months.

• Always ask for help. Someone will come to your rescue.
• Everyone was the newbie once. They know what you’re going through and are always willing to make you feel at ease.
• Make yourself available. If someone in the agency needs help with anything, volunteer. Spontaneous trips to Brookings can make for a great change of pace.
• Food makes friends. If you keep candy on your desk, they will come. (Poor Field of Dreams reference).
• Be helpful. Don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself during a faux photo shoot, even if the whole staff will end up seeing it.
• Don’t get frustrated. If you’re writing a report, don’t worry if it feels like you’re spending all of your time formatting the document and not actually doing any reporting.
• A well-oiled machine. Maintenance of all machines in the building is essential. The binding machine does have to be emptied once in awhile, or you might think you caused its demise.
• Get ready. If you aren’t ready to work hard and stay focused, run the other way fast.
• Practice makes perfect. Rehearsing in front of a mirror before a big presentation DOES help.
• Be yourself: It’s the best piece of advice I have to offer. Remember, you were hired for a reason.

My time at L&S will draw to a close soon, and I will be off to my next adventure. I will never forget these three months, short as they may have been. I formed relationships that will last beyond my time here, developed as a professional and as a person and learned more than I could have hoped. I look forward to the future, and appreciate everything L&S has done to prepare me for it.

Over and out-

Meghann

Every summer, movie studios roll out their most explosive, eye-popping, eardrum bursting, star-studded blockbuster movies. Maybe it’s just the air conditioning, but audiences always seem to line up at the door to see the “can’t miss” movies of the summer. As it turns out, my summer internship at L&S has been a lot like a blockbuster movie. I may not have the glittering good looks of a leading man, but there are some striking similarities between a summer movie and my summer internship.

1) I Am a Sequel.

Hollywood has gotten a reputation for putting out sequels year after year. Take this summer for example. “Transformers 3!” “Pirates of the Caribbean 4!” Another “Fast and Furious” movie! Each of these films represents a horse that has been brutally bludgeoned to death, but they also represent me—a sequel.

Year after year, L&S seeks out those people who have the abilities to make a positive impact on the agency. In fact, many of the agency’s current employees spent time interning before becoming full-time Extra Milers. I am just another intern in a long and proud line. And just like the summer blockbuster, the folks here at L&S love to meet and work with the latest summer interns. I just hope I didn’t disappoint. I would hate to be referred to as the intern that was as bad as “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”

2) I Work With An All-Star Cast.

I’d mentioned the fourth “Pirates” movie earlier. That movie made lots of money thanks in most part to its stellar cast. Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane and Keith Richards! That’s some ensemble.

If an internship at L&S is anything, it’s star-studded. The characters at this agency are beyond talented and, unlike some Hollywood stars and starlets, they are completely devoid of ego. They are selfless and willing to do whatever it takes to deliver an award-winning performance.

3) Big Productions And Big Budgets.

Hollywood blockbusters are known for their staggeringly large budgets. For example, this summer’s “Green Lantern” cost a cool $200 million. Now, I have a tough time understanding any digit that contains over 4 numbers (let alone 9!), but luckily, my summer here at L&S has allowed me to better comprehend large budgets, how they work and how we can get a real bang for a client’s buck.

That’s where the production comes into play. In three months I’ve seen websites built, campaigns launched and commercials filmed. Maybe we should start referring to the L&S offices as “the Lot?”

I’m sure this comparison could go on, but you get the point. Like a big movie release, my summer here at L&S was filled with excitement, suspense, excessive snacking, and of course, it was all in 3-D. So, in keeping with the movie motif, that’s a wrap!

An old proverb claims, “All good things must come to an end.” The end is in sight for the Lawrence & Schiller summer internship program. With less than twoweeks to go, it’s almost impossible for me to fathom that the summer is almost over. The office is buzzing with back-to-school talk and fall plans, but I still feel like it’s June and I have plenty of opportunities to get a summer tan. There is still so much for me to learn and so much to do, the internship can’t be almost over. But then again, “all good things must come to an end.”

But do they? Do the greatest things ever really come to an end- a definite, final end? Sure, high school, college, vacations, relationships, great meals, and time with family and friends all technically come to a close, but do they really end?

I believe truly impactful, great things never end, but instead carry a legacy. My high school and college memories are irreplaceable. They always to come to life randomly or when sparked by something I see or hear. What I learned in college, mostly about myself rather than academic subjects, has shaped me into who I am now. If those years had been the slightest bit different, there’s no doubt that I’d be a different person.

Great vacations and time with family endure through pictures and in my memories, as I’ll always cherish those times and relive them with those I love. All good things don’t have to come to an end. The really good ones will travel through time with you and will eventually reappear one way or another.

While the summer internship program at Lawrence & Schiller is technically coming to a close, it’s by no means is it ending. I will always remember it as “my first job out of college.” It was the starting point of the rest of my adult life in the workforce. It’s where I went through the adjustment of college into adulthood; where I felt frustration and pressure, but learned flexibility and patience. It’s where I made great friends and found strong mentors. It’s where I learned the beauty of happy hour and how to run at 5 a.m.

Lawrence & Schiller taught me professional life-skills that will only continue to grow. This is definitely not the ending, but instead only the close of a lesson. So again, I have to disagree with the old proverb when thinking back on this internship. Yes, life will move on, but I’ll always have what I have learned from Lawrence & Schiller as I look forward to the next “good thing.”

A few years ago, when I was a senior in college about to graduate, I read a book called “How To Win Friends and Influence People”  by Dale Carnegie. I remember thinking to myself, “I do not need help making friends! C’mon, I am a college student, that’s what we do!”

After the first couple chapters and class discussions, I began to understand that friends are more than just good buddies, acquaintances, and life-long family friends. Our friends are the most important factor in our success as an individual and as a person. Once I got my head wrapped around this idea, the rest of the book was a breeze and extremely applicable to my life.

During college and the first few years after, there were many instances where I learned the value of solid relationships.

• Meeting my husband.  We became best friends and helped each other through the ups and downs of college and growing up.
• Being captain of my college cheer team. I learned how to be a motivating and respectable leader. I also came to value the importance and challenges of being a friend and teammate at the same time.
• Moving to the Sunshine Coast of Australia. I felt relief and utter joy after meeting our first friends, Jack and Nina, at the bus stop in Airlie Beach. We had been away from home, on the other side of the world, for more than a month. One simple question about which day cruise they were going on led to two weeks of bonding at our apartment, a life-long friendship, and a connection in Europe.
• Observing my parents. They have taught me by example how their friends, both personal and business related, have helped them succeed as individuals and as business owners.

I could talk about so many stories of how a relationship has benefited my life and as my internship at L&S comes to an end, I will capitalize on the new relationships I have built. My teammates and supervisors have taught me everything I now know about the agency and our clients. I hold much respect for all those that have taken the time out of their busy schedules to answer my questions and teach me the why’s of what they do.

Not only have I built relationships with my co-workers, but company events have introduced me to co-workers from other teams, business associates, clients, and vendors. Events like the ribbon cutting to announce the newly remodeled team space at L&S, the all-staff lunch, and the family picnic have all helped me build new relationships.

Keith Farazzi, an expert on relationship development, spoke these words about building relationships, “Everything that you want to achieve will be with and through other people.” With every new job and adventure in my life, I have gained experience and built relationships, and my time at L&S has been and will be no different.

Recently, I was assigned one of the most challenging tasks as an intern at Lawrence & Schiller. Go up to strangers while they’re on vacation and ask their thoughts. Ask them specifically what vacation means to them. Though I was a bit hesitant about this task at first, after all I grew up my entire life being told not to talk to strangers; I was amazed at the answers vacationers readily offered.

Vacationers had no problem defining vacation. People expressed vacation meant “being unplugged,” “not having to work,” or “escaping from daily work.” But as I heard these things, I couldn’t help but question if they were really following through on what vacation meant to them?

A recent Adweek/Harris Poll helped answer my question. The study reported that of the 40 percent of Americans vacationing this summer, 46 percent say they will or did work while on their vacation. That means nearly half of American vacationers are working during their time off. Of the 46 percent, 35 percent are monitoring e-mails, 22 percent are checking voicemails, and 22 percent are occasionally taking phone calls for work purposes. These statistics go to show we may have a definition of what vacation means to us, but we do not live up to that definition.

The question that follows is why? Why aren’t we following through with our desire to be “unplugged” while on vacation? People may have differing opinions on this question, but as someone who sees the glass half full; I would like to believe it is a testament to our employers and employees.

We want to be there for others and build success, even if that means taking ten minutes from a five day vacation to check voicemails. So to those who strive to be “unplugged” while on vacation—best of luck. And now that my work here is done, I better get back to my own vacation at the lake. So much for being “unplugged,” but at least I’m not alone!

Do you have trouble unplugging? How do you handle work while on vacation? Share in the comment section below.

Before my internship at L&S, I never wore a watch.

My tendency has always been to run a little behind schedule or exactly on time—never early. Growing up, my family often threatened to leave me at home if I wasn’t ready to go. And now, the people in my life know that “I’ll be there in 10” actually means, “I’ll be there in 20.”

At L&S, all we do is run on time. Monday morning Boot Up, an agency-wide status meeting, begins at 8:15 a.m. At 8:14 a.m., Emily at the front desk announces that Boot Up is starting now in the lobby.

Let me tell you, now actually means right now at L&S. Ready or not.

After being at the agency for three months, I’ve truly learned that when it comes down to it, all we sell is time. Yes, ideas and designs, media placements, websites, press releases, marketing plans, video footage and lots of emails are packaged with it, but at the end of the day it’s the time we put into everything that makes L&S great.

It’s also the nowness, the ‘get-r-done’ mentality, that L&Sers live by that puts the agency on top. A lot of work gets done right now and pushed out the door every day, and “a lot” is an understatement. It’s way more than that.

The longer I work, the more I appreciate and admire efficiency. Managing time is a tough thing to learn, but it’s so important. It’s important to respect other people’s time, and when there’s only a total of eight hours in a work day I know how valuable every minute is. It all adds up.

In my time at L&S, I’ve been given time. The people around me have taken time out of their days to teach me more about public relations, marketing and advertising, and I am grateful. There is so much to learn and understand, and I know that with more time and in the years to come I will truly grow into a professional.

On my birthday in June, someone special gave me my watch. Believe it or not, it took me 22 years to actually wear one and now I can’t leave the house without it. At L&S, I’m continuing to learn how to quickly switch from project to project and how to work in a place that’s different from minute to minute, but that’s how time works. With time, things change. The best way to live and work is in the now, but with a vision for what’s to come and what’s next.

This is the final post from Mari in a series of reflections from the Lawrence & Schiller interns. Take a minute to read their past posts!

Walking through retail stores these days is really taking an emotional toll on me. I can’t help but notice the gigantic no. 2 pencils and delicious looking apples hanging from the ceilings. Over-sized, chalkboard signs with doodles and arrows pointing, “This Way” hang strategically, leading me to aisles of supplies for none other than my third favorite time of year (behind Christmas and my birthday), “Back-2-School”.

This year is very bitter sweet for me, because for the first time in 19 years, I’m not going back to school. I have been tempted to take the obnoxious, yellow pencils and knock displays over in a fit of jealousy, but then I remember all of the lucky kids who still need their Lisa Frank folders, gel pens and colorful notebooks. While I was the strange child who had her school supplies in July (and Halloween costume shortly thereafter), a recent report by the National Retail Federation found that more parents will be shopping later this year for their kids’ school supplies.

Almost one-third of families will start back-to-school shopping just one or two weeks before school starts, compared to less than 25 percent who shopped at that time last year. More than 40 percent of families will begin shopping three weeks to one month before school starts, which is up from the 33 percent who shopped at that time last year. So for students who don’t start school until September, school supplies shopping won’t start until the beginning of August or later.

Yet it seems like stores begin their back-to-school season earlier and earlier each year. Some retail stores begin promoting school supplies as early as mid-June, but most begin rolling out campaigns in the beginning of July. However, with back-to-school shopping as the second biggest sales period behind the holidays, it’s easy to understand why retailers are anxious to kick the season off.

The study also shows that back-to-school and back-to-college spending is expected to top $68.8 billion this year, but spending is down from last. Families with children grades K-12 with spend an average of $603.63 (per family), slightly down from last year’s $606.40. Back-to-college spending will average $808.71, which is down from last year’s $835.73.

Retailers should start treating back to school shopping like holiday shopping. Last minute sales and promotions will go over well with this year’s late shoppers. Consumers are waiting, searching and shopping around for the best deals and sales, much like holiday shoppers. Retail stores could also see a benefit by having blowout school supplies sales and deals in mid-September, comparable to day-after-Christmas sales.

If the day after the Fourth of July becomes the Black Friday of back-to-school shopping, then those who are like me and have an urge to lay out all of their school supplies and ache to write with their new pens on fresh loose leaf paper will be pleased as punch. Enjoy it while it lasts, kiddos.

Trying to capture the attention of Millennials is like trying to swat a fly blind-folded with your hands tied behind your back. “A swing and a miss!” This group, ages 16 through 34, is vital to the restaurant industry, but how in the world are restaurants supposed to catch Millennials’ attention in their crazy, fast-paced, jam-packed day, especially when there are countless ads from other restaurants to break through?

A report completed by advertising agency Barkley, consumer researcher Service Management Group and The Boston Consulting Group digs into Millennials’ lives and how restaurants can cater to their jumbled lifestyles.

One interesting trend the research found was that Millennials tend to snack more throughout the day than non-Millennials (ages 35 to 74). Thirteen percent of Millennials eat at restaurants during off-peak hours, compared to six percent of non-Millennials. Their busy schedule often disrupts the normal timing of meals, also playing a part in the odd eating hours. To cater to this trend, quick service restaurants could offer specials or promotions during mid-mornings or afternoons. A “snack break” marketing idea could draw in those who just need a pick-me-up to get through the next stretch of their day, and offering a deal or promotion would add a sweet incentive. Also, restaurants could offer smaller portion sizes to encourage a “snack,” instead of a meal.

The study also found that Millennials eat out more often than non-Millennials and spend an average of $173.95 a month on eating out. While most of that money is spent at quick service restaurants, Millennials were more likely to eat at fast casual restaurants.

Convenience, healthful meal selections, exotic food choices and the experience draw Millennials to specific brands. But, as assumed, there is also definitely a “me” factor involved. While non-Millennials tend to dine out more often with family, Millennials see eating out as an opportunity to treat themselves. Special occasions (33 percent) and the desire to socialize with friends and co-workers (22 percent) are among the top reasons Millennials eat out. And according to Jeff Fromm, senior vice president of sales, marketing and innovation at Barkley, Millennials think, “Do I feel special or unique?  Would I want my friends to see me at this place?”

All restaurant types can capitalize on elevating customer experience. Making the Millennial feel like the center of the restaurant’s world and giving them an adventure is sure to keep them coming back for more.

When I wake up in the morning I hear ads on the radio, I see billboards and ads online, all within the first few hours of my day. Consumers, like me, can hardly make it to work without being bombarded by advertisements, so how do marketers break through?

After listening to Robbin Phillips talk about her book “Brains on Fire,” which is about bypassing the advertising campaign and reaching your consumer through movements, I have a new outlook on what it takes to create a lasting impression. Phillips describes advertising campaigns as a project with a beginning and an end, it has a set budget, time frame and creative, while a movement is organic, it grows and lives within your audience, not your media buy.

This involves turning your campaign on its head, rather than placing the focus on your product you need to focus on the people. For example, on the very first page of her book it says, “It’s about people. When it comes to technology, what’s exciting and shiny today will be frickin’ dead tomorrow.” Throughout the book you will find reference to this new found focus on the consumer and how it has shaped their approach to different challenges in all types of industries.

If you build it, they will come.

I’m not talking about a baseball field in the middle of Iowa, I’m talking about a place where people can come together and share their thoughts, talk about their experiences and feel connected to your brand. Building a platform to facilitate organic growth and leveraging social media through the use of brand advocates and loyalists can take you beyond the media buy.

This topic is worthy of a thesis paper, however, the limits of time and space keep me from writing one now. So for the purpose of giving you a taste of online movements, check out these sites to see how innovative brands are going past the campaign:

Fiskateers.com

Wal-Martmoms.com  

And be sure to check out Midcontinent Communication’s effort to move past a campaign through online engagement Midcocomm.com/xisnext/buzz/!