As marketing and PR are changing rapidly with the constant evolution and expansion of the digital ecosystem, success requires integrated efforts that combine the smartest tactics in traditional PR combined with online marketing and SEO practices. The Internet has changed how we receive information, how we interact and engage with each other, with brands and with media. PR is a critical aspect of the marketing mix and there are fundamental shifts in strategy and approach that Zenzi Communications, an integrated marketing and PR agency, works with daily.

First and foremost, it is critical for PR professionals to be knowledgeable in all digital tools, including social media, blogs, mobile apps, SEO and email marketing. PR and online marketing are two areas of expertise that should go hand-in-hand.

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Chiquita Banana’s Sticker Contest is being recognized as an innovative contest involving its consumers in the re branding of their iconic blue sticker, a strategy also known as crowdsourcing. This blogger explains the growing trend of crowdsourcing, and showcases Chiquita as perfectly utilizing this new concept.

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http://www.slideshare.net/secret/4PAcLseoHIsedn

Remember the “4 P’s”?  Well, according to the firm it’s now all about the three I’s — ideas, interaction, and intelligence.  “Marketers who change their thinking will lay the groundwork for partners that are more agile, can build long-term relationships with active customers and communities, and can use data to drive real-time decisions,” says the firm.

Whether it is word of mouth, grassroots events, social media, traditional PR, blogger or user endorsements, SEO or a combination, we, at Zenzi, are big fans of working with clients to hone in on the key pain points for audiences, think creatively, and look to new and innovative channels to best engage and interact with them.

The latest from Forrester proves it–those that can best think outside of the box about the conversation they want to have with prospects and seek out ways to get them to interact will prevail.

ZENZI HELPS COLORADO BUSINESSES ‘BE KNOWN’ AND ‘BE FOUND’

-Highly effective integrated agency opens office in Boulder focusing on digital marketing-

San Diego, CA, and Boulder, CO, February 1, 2010—Zenzi Communications, an award-winning agency that combines traditional marketing and PR with search engine optimization and social media for maximum impact, has expanded operations to Boulder, Colorado. Veteran marketer Anke Corbin will lead a local team focused on the digital aspects of helping companies ‘Be Known’™ and ‘Be Found’ through a creative and results driven approach.

Headquartered in San Diego, Zenzi is one of the city’s fastest growing companies and specializes in working with technology, B2B, consumer and hospitality clients. Among those on the firm’s roster include Boulder-based Parascript LLC, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Fresh Express Artisanal Salads, San Diego Botanic Garden, Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism, California State University-Northridge, Bank of Nevada, Mushroom Networks, Sandvine, Business OnLine, BeneTrac (a division of Paychex), and more.

“I grew up in Colorado and always considered expanding Zenzi into my home state. The time is right to take our cutting edge and highly effective approach to marketing and communications to this region. Our goal is to continue to serve leading businesses who want to move at a fast pace, innovate, grow and enjoy success regardless of the surrounding economic climate,” said Sarah Znerold Hardwick, founder of Zenzi.

To spearhead operations in Boulder, Zenzi is partnering with expert Internet marketer Anke Corbin whose background includes Internet startup Interzine Productions, online marketing for Times Mirror Interzines & Times Mirror Magazines, Time Inc., VP marketing at Transworld Media and her own Internet Marketing Agency Anke C. Marketing On-Demand.

“Our objective at Zenzi is to help our clients BE KNOWN, which in today’s world includes being found by search engines, connecting online and developing social relationships, influencing stakeholders including media, investors, prospects, current customers, vendors, employees and most importantly-being relevant.   Combining my boutique Internet Marketing agency with award-winning Zenzi Communications is a perfect fit, positioning us to provide exactly what savvy companies have been asking for,” said Anke Corbin, Zenzi Colorado Partner. “We’re excited to be in Boulder, and we’re currently looking for the right office space and skilled and passionate marketing specialists to join our team.”

About Zenzi:

Zenzi means crescendo: the culmination of carefully crafted notes, harmonies and dynamic sounds. As a full service integrated marketing and PR agency, our mission is to create a similar phenomenon for our clients. We help you BE KNOWN and BE FOUND by developing creative integrated solutions that work in harmony for maximum effectiveness.  We specialize in getting the word out in a hurry using multiple touch points. Whether it’s lead generation, sampling a product on college campuses, outreach to bloggers, improved search results or a feature story in Business Week, we have the connections and expertise to do it all. Founded in 2002, Zenzi is one of San Diego’s Fastest Growing Companies and has been recognized by many of the nation’s leading PR, marketing and business organizations for our creative and results-oriented campaigns. If your goal is to increase market share, break into new industries, find investors or generate qualified leads, Zenzi can help.

By Don Schempp, Senior Vice President of Torrey Pines Bank
Jan 01, 2010

By necessity, local businesses and residents have tightened their belts and are delving into savings to get through these tough times.

These are good short-term solutions, but the important question is what will be the lessons that endure once the economy changes from downturn to recovery and eventually to growth and prosperity?

I’ve been in banking for almost 40 years and I’ve seen many recessionary periods and times of great prosperity. The common denominator in any economic cycle is that planning for the future is fundamental to achieving your financial goals. Read more!

Here at Zenzi, we strive for excellence in all areas of the marketing matrix. We pride ourselves on keeping up with every new trend and delivering unprecedented PR results. In an effort to increase the quality of our PR efforts, we have launched the Zenzi SEO PR service.

Zenzi SEO PR is a new service that leverages blogs, online and traditional media, reviews, video search, photo search, events and social media networks to influence and optimize your Website results.

With Zenzi SEO PR, we have expanded the traditional definition and approach for SEO to include both Organic SEO and Universal SEO. Organic SEO is about optimizing your own site. Universal SEO optimizes links from influential sources such as reviews, video sites, social media and directories, which can either positively or negatively impact your website’s level of relevance.

We offer a variety of SEO PR plans to fit your individual needs. Please give us a call for more info!

So, how can companies use this knowledge of where decisions are made to influence customers and accelerate the marketing decision making process?  Integrate some of the basic principles of neuromarketing and make a quick and meaningful connection and cut through the clutter:

• In line with one of the most basic PR principles, consistent communication is key. Prospects are bombarded with sales messages and it can become distorted and chaotic…The old brain craves communication in the same voice. Review your materials to make sure your brand is cohesive and not diluted.
• The word YOU is one of the most powerful and influential words in the English language. Play to the natural ego of the old brain and help them understand what you can do that will transform their lives and company
• Maintain your audience’s attention with contrast.  Periodically disrupt the meeting by turning on/ off the slide show, lights to trigger the old brain to respond.  Don’t be afraid to get out there in front of people!
• Simplicity and speed are key. The brain is wired to use the least amount of  energy possible, so come prepared with props and tangible objects to bring out during presentations to increase recall with decision makers later.
• In selling conversations, the most important times are the beginning and end.  Focus on 3 claims in the middle and don’t spend more than 10 minutes total. Your claims should be benefits relevant to the self-centered aspect of the old brain. Storytelling can be an effective way of encoding information so it will be remembered later.
• Be visual. The eyes are the most powerful sense in decision making. Create an experience that is emotional with videos, objects ad props.  Your delivery is just as important as the content you are presenting!

Going creative in a big way doesn’t necessarily mean a big budget (this is a good thing!). Limited resources can force you to look at alternative solutions, find ways to better communicate and steer you toward the answers you need. Tumultuous economic times call for risk-takers, those willing to step outside of traditional thinking and let their creativity flourish. The results can bring a substantial payoff with new and unique market opportunities for your business.

At Zenzi, we hold weekly brainstorming sessions to generate a continual flow of “big ideas” that help our clients cut through the clutter. Good leadership plays a significant role in fostering a creative workplace, and we believe a strong commitment to creativity should be an essential part of every company’s culture.

To help your company “Be Known” and innovate in the midst of a rapidly changing business environment, it may require looking in different directions and taking a leap of faith. At Zenzi, we love to help our clients dream big and rise to the creative challenges of the time. Creative energy is contagious, and a dedication to infusing your workplace with its powerful buzz is the foundation of a strong and sustainable brand.

Zenzi’s Tips to Unleash the Creative Potential In Your Company

• Clearly define and get to the root of the problem before you start brainstorming.
• Choose a leader or a facilitator to keep the meeting on track.
• Get visual- use a white board or computer to record ideas.
• Study the history of your business or product to know what’s been done before.
• Unleash your imagination and tackle what seems impossible.
• Stay positive! Avoid talking about why ideas won’t work.
• Collaborate, don’t compete. Be open to multiple points of view.
• Put yourself in the place of the customer and play around with solutions from that perspective.
• Tap into current trends and ideas so you have more insight.
• Let go of the inner critic and connect with the flow of events in the moment.
• Push through the dry spells, but don’t forget to take breaks when you need them.
• Give everyone a chance to speak, and try not to interrupt when someone is talking.
• Be authentic and true to your values.
• Recognize when you’re over-thinking something.
• Continue to innovate and improve; piggyback on one another’s ideas to make them stronger.
• Give your team enough time for good creative ideas to bubble to the surface.
• Once you have concrete ideas in mind, weigh rewards versus risks.
• Evaluate from a strategic perspective and make sure your solution is in line with your overall business goals and objectives.
• Set forth vision and act on your creative ideas!

SAY WHAT?
Most managers believe creativity is effective, but don’t make it a priority
in the workplace.

The London Times reported that 96 percent of business leaders cite creativity as integral to business success. Despite that belief, only 10 percent discuss it at board meetings and more than 40 percent say “nobody has responsibility for it in their business.”
Tech Talk

Need inspiration? Go online for ideas!

Here are a few of Zenzi’s favorite sites to get the creative wheels turning…

• www.flypmedia.com  Breakthrough digital magazine that blends new technology + storytelling to make the news more interesting. Flyp Mag combines animation, videos, music and  additional links, along with a cool page-flipping feel.
• www.trendrr.com  Social and digital media tracking website, where you can track the latest online trends in anything, or you can browse the hottest trends to come. Try it free.
• www.infosthetics.com  This weblog “explores the symbiotic relationship between creative design and the field of information visualization,” featuring creative new ways of using visual language (think dynamic charts and graphs) to bring information to life.
• www.hobnox.com  Amazing entertainment and publishing platform, Hobnox focuses on creative collaboration and fosters a cultural community. Watch music festival footage on Hobnox TV, create your own music with their Audio program, or connect with other cool people worldwide.
• www.experienceproject.com  Imagine a social forum where you can explore over three million life experiences, toss ideas around with other users, share your own stories, and support causes you care about. The “Confessions” section alone is a well of creative fuel
• www.ffffound.com  This weblog of visual candy is the perfect place to get the brainstorming clouds rolling in, with a barrage of colorful images and designs. We like to scroll through the site to help break through creative blocks and get inspired.

Zenzi means crescendo, the culmination of carefully crafted notes, harmonies and dynamic sounds. Formerly SZPR, Zenzi is a full-service integrated marketing and PR agency whose sole mission is to help our clients thrive. Our ability to garner media attention, reach customers online and offline through media relations, social media, staging events, and generating buzz with grassroots publicity stunts is unmatched in San Diego, Boston or San Francisco.   We are experts at both traditional PR and marketing as well as Web 2.0, social media, and SEO using the ‘New PR’. Recruiting the attention of target markets at a variety of touch points makes a sound your customers will hear loud and clear.   Our marketing and PR expertise includes sampling products on college campuses, increasing brand awareness via media tours in New York with editors, creating viral internet buzz in social media, and getting publicity from feature stories in Business Week, Oprah or wherever you want to be. Zenzi has a track record of success, our media connections and marketing & PR expertise will help your brand BE KNOWN.