Cut to the Chase with Cheryl Bame of Bame Public Relations | PR for Legal Firms
,

Cut to the Chase with Cheryl Bame of Bame Public Relations | PR for Legal Firms

An informative case study/interview on embracing a niche, PR for legal firms.

Cheryl Bame ,principal and founder of Bame Public Relations in Los Angeles, California, is a communications professional with enviable contacts and reach.

 

She’s widely recognized for her work with law firms, professional services firms, financial and real estate companies as well as industry trade groups.

Some key highlights from our interview  around PR for Legal Firms – Cheryl talks:

  • Stepping into the ring with 1974 Muhammed Ali. (You’ll have to listen)
  • Getting her start as a reporter, and how she entered the legal PR/marketing field.
  • Specialization within her PR firm and the impact on new business.
  • Founding the first Public Relations Special Interest Group (SIG) and PreCon for the Legal Marketing Association (LMA).
  • Ongoing content toi drive new business and starting the Legal PR Blog in 2010.
  • Moving that content from her blog over to LinkedIn and how that has helped her and her firm.
  • Walking the walk: speaking at conferences and taking part in webinars.
  • On a personal note, why she’s taking a step back from her very active volunteering this year and why it was necessary.
  • And finally, how boxing takes a part in her life. (It’s pretty cool.)

More on Cheryl: After a decade in the broadcast news business, Cheryl has spent nearly 24 years implementing communications programs that involve media relations, social media, networking and speaking engagements and other professional reputation strategies.

In 2015, Cheryl was asked by the International Board of Directors of the Legal Marketing Association to launch the group’s Public Relations Special Interest Group to advance the public relations profession for the legal industry.

A frequent speaker and blogger, Cheryl has a passion for her craft and her clients’ successes.

Key URLs

Cheryl’s LinkedIn:   / cherylbame  

Legal PR Blog: https://bamepr.com/the-legal-pr-blog/

Bame PR Site: https://bamepr.com/

/by
Marketer’s Edge Interview Kathryn Blume: 501c3 Nonprofits

Marketer’s Edge Interview Kathryn Blume: 501c3 Nonprofits

RSW/US is an outsourced ad agency business development firm that works specifically with ad agencies, PR Firms, and Martech Firms to find better-qualified new business opportunities and get you closer to close

In this episode of Marketer’s Edge we’re talking 501c3 nonprofits with Kathryn Blume, Managing Director at Hyperbaric Vermont.

If your ad agency focuses on nonprofits or 501c3 nonprofits, you should watch this episode of Marketer’s Edge.

Hyperbaric Vermont is a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to raise awareness of the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and increase accessibility to this life-changing treatment.

They offer education to the public and to physicians and outreach to community and health care organizations about the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), as well as provide training, support, and resources to affiliated and independently owned treatment centers and physicians.

Why Advertising Agencies Should Watch This Episode-Kathryn talks:

  • The Importance of marketing and advertising for Hyperbaric Vermont as well as the challenges of marketing on a limited budget.
  • Her background in environmental studies, theater, and social activism.
  • Her role as an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church.
  • Advice for marketers considering bringing a new agency on board.
  • What kind of organization Hyperbaric Vermont is and what Kathryn does for them.
  • How Hyperbaric Vermont differs from other similar companies.
  • Her diverse background and path to Hyperbaric Vermont.
  • Advice Kathryn would give to any agency that was attempting to win business from her.

If your firm is struggling with new business, contact Lee McKnight Jr. at lee@rswus.com for a conversation. That’s our sole focus at RSW/US.

/by
Grocery Retail
,

Marketer’s Edge Interview With Michael La Kier: Grocery Retail

RSW/US is an outsourced ad agency business development firm that works specifically with ad agencies, PR Firms, and Martech Firms to find better-qualified new business opportunities and get you closer to close

In this episode of Marketer’s Edge we’re talking grocery retail with Michael La Kier, Vice President of Brand Development for IGA, Inc.

If your ad agency focuses on grocery retail or independent retailers, you should watch this episode of Marketer’s Edge.

The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) was founded in 1926 to bring family-owned, local grocery stores together under the IGA brand.

Nearly a century later, the support of a nationally known brand is still giving IGA grocers the ability to better compete, while at the same time, allowing them to stay true to who they are—hometown store owners in a position to meet the needs of their unique communities.

Today, communities across the U.S. are being served by second, third and even fourth-generation local IGA grocers.

Why Advertising Agencies Should Watch This Episode-Michael talks:

  • His responsibilities as Vice President of Brand Development for IGA.
  • IGA’s unique business model and its support for independent retailers.
  • The shift in IGA’s branding strategy to emphasize retailer individuality.
  • The application of analytics in understanding customers at a local level for IGA stores.
  • Community engagement by local IGA store owners and corporate support.
  • IGA’s internal teams and use of external agencies for marketing purposes.
  • Challenges facing agencies in the retail sector post-COVID, like supply chain issues, inflation, and changes in digital marketing.
  • The evolving landscape of agencies and the importance of transparency and business understanding in agency-client relationships.
  • Michael’s varied background including advisory work, teaching, the CMO position, and role as managing editor at Shopper Matters.
  • The transition from Coca-Cola to startup consultancy and the challenges faced.
  • Advice for marketers considering bringing a new agency on board.
  • Advice for agencies trying to win business: understanding the client’s business.
  • Patience in business development, and empathetic communication strategies.

If your firm is struggling with new business, contact Lee McKnight Jr. at lee@rswus.com for a conversation. That’s our sole focus at RSW/US.

/by
Marketer’s Edge Interview With Jason Falls: Influencer Marketing
, ,

Marketer’s Edge Interview With Jason Falls: Influencer Marketing

RSW/US is an outsourced ad agency business development firm that works specifically with ad agencies, marketing services firms, and PR firms to find better-qualified new business opportunities and get you closer to close

In this episode of Marketer’s Edge we’re talking influencer marketing and generative ai with Jason Falls, the Executive Vice-President of Marketing at CIPIO.ai.

If your ad agency focuses on influencer marketing, generative AI, or visual content platforms, you should watch this episode of Marketer’s Edge.

CIPIO.ai is on a mission to democratize visual content, uniquely combining the power of brand communities and generative AI.

The patent-pending Visual Content Platform allows brands to search, discover, manage, create, regenerate, distribute, and collaborate visual content at scale.

Visual Content Platform allows Brands to deploy user-generated content and GenerativeAI Content in paid advertising, customer purchase experiences, website engagement, and social media campaigns at a fraction of time and cost.

This unique approach has driven growth for esteemed brands such as JBL, Orange Theory Fitness, and Botanic Choice.

Why Advertising Agencies Should Watch This Episode-Jason talks:

  • His most notable career highlights and the accomplishments he’s most proud of.
  • How CIPIO.ai differs from other platforms, such as CreatorIQ.
  • The biggest challenges he expects to face as EVP of Marketing for CIPIO.ai and how he believes he will address them.
  • Experiences from his past he’ll draw upon to navigate the challenges in his current role.
  • Strategies for marketing CIPIO.ai to build awareness, including their target customers and the most effective methods to reach them.
  • What CIPIO.ai is and what he does for the company.
  • How influencer marketing has changed over the past 5-10 years.
  • Jason’s predictions for the influencer marketing space over the next 3-5 years.
  • His past work with agencies, how he has utilized them to support his business needs, and whether he currently works with any.
  • The advice he would give to a marketer looking to bring an agency on board.
  • Any advice he would offer to an agency looking to win business from him.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

If your agency or PR firm is struggling with new business, contact Lee McKnight Jr. at lee@rswus.com for a conversation. That’s our sole focus at RSW/US.

/by
Marketer’s Edge Interview With Dave Kettner: Renewable Fuels & Chemicals
,

Marketer’s Edge Interview With Dave Kettner: Renewable Fuels & Chemicals

RSW/US is an outsourced ad agency business development firm that works specifically with ad agencies, marketing services firms, and PR firms to find better-qualified new business opportunities and get you closer to close

In this episode of Marketer’s Edge we’re talking renewable fuels and chemicals with Dave Kettner, President & General Counsel at Virent, Inc.

If your ad agency focuses on renewable fuels and chemicals, you should watch this episode of Marketer’s Edge.

Located in Madison, Wisconsin, Virent is creating the low carbon chemicals and fuels the world demands using a wide range of naturally-occurring, renewable resources.

Its patented technology features catalytic chemistry to convert plant-based materials into a full range of products identical to those made from petroleum.

The products are drop-in replacements that enable full utilization of existing logistics infrastructure without blending limitations.

Why Advertising Agencies Should Watch This Episode-Dave talks:

  • The need within the renewable fuels and chemicals industry to create an interest in the consumer to want those products.
  • Their focus over the last few years on working with B2C businesses to communicate to and educate their customers.
  • Virent’s work with Patagonia to successfully manufacture its first fully biobased product, the SugarDown Hoody.
  • Their work with Japanese materials maker Toray Industries to mass-produce the world’s first 100% plant-based polyester.
  • The challenge of building awareness and educating businesses like Patagonia on what it means to be biobased, and the sustainability advantages associated with that.
  • Virent’s efforts to commercialize its BioForming® technology and promote that brand name.
  • The challenge of building and expanding refining capacity.
  • One of the industry’s biggest challenges: education and getting people to understand the full dynamics and the opportunities presented.
  • What kind of organization Virent is and what Dave does for them.
  • What it means to create products that are “drop-in replacements”.
  • What the competitive landscape looks like for Virent and how they differentiate themselves from similar offerings.
  • Virent’s historic contribution to the aviation industry as their bio-based fuel was used in the first commercial passenger flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel.
  • Virent’s partnership with Johnson Matthey to further advance the commercialization of their BioForming® process for production of bio-paraxylene (PX), a key raw material for the production of renewable polyester.
  • Their possible need to work with marketing agencies in the future, something they have not had to do up to this point.
  • Advice he would offer to agencies seeking to win business from him.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

If your agency or PR firm is struggling with new business, contact Lee McKnight Jr. at lee@rswus.com for a conversation. That’s our sole focus at RSW/US.

/by
Marketer’s Edge Interview With John Vincent-Automotive Marketing
, ,

Marketer’s Edge Interview With John Vincent: Automotive Marketing

In this episode of Marketer’s Edge we’re talking automotive marketing with John Vincent, Director of Business Development at Apex Automotive.

If your ad agency focuses on automotive or the concept of Modern Retail Marketing, you should watch this episode of Marketer’s Edge.

The Apex Automotive Group, with locations in Myrtle Beach and Anderson, SC, treats the needs of each individual customer with paramount concern.

They know that you have high expectations, and as a car dealer they enjoy the challenge of meeting and exceeding those standards each and every time.

Why Advertising Agencies Should Watch This Episode-John talks:

  • John’s predictions for future changes in the industry over the next decade.
  • The impact of companies like Carvana on dealership business.
  • The concept of Modern Retail Marketing and the possibility of it reaching an inflection point, and if so, when.
  • What The Apex Automotive Group does as an organization and John’s role within it.
  • The notable changes that John has observed in the auto dealer industry over the past few years.
  • The need for a shift in the “net to gross” mindset for Modern Retail Marketing to be widely adopted.
  • Whether John has an agency to assist him in overseeing all of the marketing activities for Apex Automotive.
  • Any advice he would offer to agencies seeking to win business from him.
  • Advice for marketers who are considering partnering with an agency.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

If your agency or PR firm is struggling with new business, contact Lee McKnight Jr. at lee@rswus.com for a conversation. That’s our sole focus at RSW/US.

/by
Marketer’s Edge Interview With Farida Peters-Abbadi: Health Diagnostics & Biotechnology
,

Marketer’s Edge Interview With Farida Peters-Abbadi: Health Diagnostics & Biotechnology

In this episode of Marketer’s Edge we’re talking health diagnostics & biotechnology with Farida Peters-Abbadi, Vice President of Marketing at Agendia.

If your firm pursues clients in biotechnology, health diagnostics, or life science, you should watch this episode of Marketer’s Edge.

Agendia is a precision oncology company headquartered in Irvine, California, committed to bringing patients with early stage breast cancer and their physicians the information they need to make the best decisions for the full treatment journey.

Why Advertising Agencies Should Watch This Episode-Farida talks:

  • Her 18-year career in the healthcare industry.
  • Advice she would  give to a marketer entering or new to the market.
  • Her work with marketing agencies and the advantages and disadvantages of in-house teams.
  • Advice to marketers considering bringing an agency on board for the first time.
  •  The role of AI in healthcare and whether she utilizes it in her role.
  • The partnerships she forms with companies that develop next-generation treatment tools.
  • The toughest challenges to marketing the Agendia brand.
  • How she differentiates the Agendia brand from other companies doing similar work.
  • How her law degree has helped her in her various roles as a marketer.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

If your agency or PR firm is struggling with new business, contact Lee McKnight Jr. at lee@rswus.com for a conversation. That’s our sole focus at RSW/US.

/by
Marketer’s Edge Interview With Tori Bogner: Local Bank Marketing
,

Marketer’s Edge Interview With Tori Bogner: Local Bank Marketing

In this episode of Marketer’s Edge we’re talking local bank marketing with Tori Bogner, SVP/Marketing Director at Signature Bank of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

If you’re interested in financial and local bank marketing, you should watch this episode of Marketer’s Edge.

Signature Bank of Arkansas was established in 2005 by a team of well-respected and experienced local bankers who had the dream of building a bank where decisions were made locally and in the best interests of not only the bank but customers and team members as well.

Why Advertising Agencies Should Watch This Episode-Tori talks:

  • The void in the banking industry that Signature Bank fills and how they accomplish it.
  • The biggest challenges in convincing potential banking customers what Signature offers is different and better.
  • The bank’s newest offering, Banco Si, its origins, and the reasons behind its creation.
  • Growing up on a rice farm, and how that experience influences her current position.
  • Her experience working with marketing agencies compared to in-house teams.
  • Her role at Signature and one of the first challenges she had to overcome.
  • How her experience in other industries has helped in her current role.
  • Advice for marketers considering bringing an agency on board for the first time.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

If your agency or PR firm is struggling with new business, contact Lee McKnight Jr. at lee@rswus.com for a conversation. That’s our sole focus at RSW/US.

/by
Cut to the Chase with James Rayburn, President/CEO, charlieuniformtango | Ep. 4-Buying an agency, Punk Rock, and technical difficulties
,

Cut to the Chase with James Rayburn, President/CEO, charlieuniformtango | Ep. 4-Buying an agency, Punk Rock, and technical difficulties

In episode 4 or our agency interview series, we’re with James Rayburn, President and CEO of charlieuniformtango, and we’re talking buying an agency, Punk Rock, and technical difficulties (well. we experience those, but it’s fun.)

This is Cut to the Chase, the RSW/US interview series that delivers brief, but impactful views from ad agency principals on growth strategies and the challenges that come with it in today’s weird, evolving landscape.

James Rayburn joined charlieuniformtango in 2002 as an Assistant Editor at just 22. It turned out to be the perfect way to learn the business, and in 2009, James was promoted to Editor, doing award-winning work for household-name clients like FIAT, Universal Studios and Dr Pepper.

Fast forward to 2019, and James and two of his colleagues, Joey Waldrip and Deedle LaCour, approached Tango founders, Lola Lott and Jack Waldrip, with a plan to buy the company.

In 2021, after a two-year transitional phase, the sale of the company was finalized, and James became the company’s President and CEO.

About charlieuniformtango:

For more than 25 years, charlieuniformtango has been an industry leader in film and postproduction.

The company delivers results across all mediums – from second screen to silver screen.

Its growing roster of international clients includes American Airlines, Abercrombie & Fitch, FIAT, Jeep, Lexus, McDonald’s, Dr Pepper, Ram, H.E.B., Samsung, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Universal Orlando.

Some key highlights from our interview and buying an agency:

James actually goes with answering an RFP instead of a fork to the hand! 1:26

James talks charlieuniformtango (CUT) and how its evolved with the times 2:41

Starting at CUT at just 22 years old and making his way up the ladder 5:35

Making Filmage: The Story of DESCENDENTS/All, a feature-length documentary about the punk-rock band, The Descendents. Showcasing more than 50 interviews with legends like Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and Mark Hopkins (Blink-182), the film won rave reviews – and awards – from festivals around the world. 6:49

Buying an agency-purchasing CUT-was it always the plan? 10:10

The advice James would give to someone considering buying an agency 11:43

James talks the 2-year transitional phase before he, Joey, and Deedle purchased the agency 12:45

The odyssey begins for Lee & James where technical difficulties and a crying baby make things fun-Deedle also makes an appearance (we’ve all been there!) 13:57

James talks the best thing about our industry (advertising) 15:50

And the worst: 18:02

Thanks for being on Cut to the Chase, James!

Key URLs:

Charlieuniformtango http://charlieuniformtango.com/

James’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-ray…

Filmage: The Story of DESCENDENTS/All https://filmagemovie.com/

/by
Cut to the Chase with Kelly Callahan-Poe, President of Williams Whittle-Full-Service Ad Agency | Ep. 2
, ,

Cut to the Chase with Kelly Callahan-Poe, President of Williams Whittle-Full Service Ad Agency | Ep. 2

This is the second episode of Cut to the Chase, featuring Kelly Callahan-Poe, President of Williams Whittle, full service ad agency in DC. 

Cut to the Chase is the RSW/US interview series that delivers brief, but impactful views from ad agency principals and business development leaders on growth strategies and the challenges that come with them in today’s weird, evolving landscape. 

Williams Whittle is a full service ad agency that works with nonprofits and forward-thinking companies dedicated to making a positive impact. 

In this episode, Kelly and Lee McKnight Jr. talk: 

  • Owls on toilets (you’ll have to listen)
  • Williams Whittle’s point of difference and how their focus informs that difference.
  • Nonprofits and the natural extensions other related verticals offer.
  • The struggle agencies have in creating thought-leadership content
  • The WW Media Club, and the Two Marketing Mom’s Podcast
  • Kelly’s advice and how she maintains a consistent flow of content for the agency

Thanks for the interview, Kelly! 

Links: Williams Whittle: https://www.williamswhittle.com 

WW Media Club: https://www.williamswhittle.com/wwmed… 

A good read can challenge, inspire and motivate you. We have some avid readers on the Williams Whittle team who are often sharing tidbits from their latest page-turner to inspire us inside and outside of the office. So, we thought we would share our favorites with you! Welcome to the WW Book Club! 

Two Marketing Mom’s Podcast: https://twomarketingmoms.com 

Marketing Moms @kellycallpoe & @veeolachk talk work + life strategy ☯️ for #marketing & #advertising professionals at twomarketingmoms.com. 

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 

If your agency or PR firm is struggling with new business, contact Lee McKnight Jr. at lee@rswus.com for a conversation. That’s our sole focus at RSW/US. 

/by