Mark your calendars! Spyglass has been working with Laurie Greeno, MaryAnn Goldstein, Paula DeCosse and the other talented members of the Symphony Ball team to design their latest spine-tingling, show-stopping, fundraising gala coming up Saturday, June 24. The Minnesota Orchestra’s Symphony Ball 2017, “A Night on the Silk Road” will be an exotic evening of music and mystery exploring the artistic, cultural and culinary influences of the ancient Far East. From the Turkish Grand Bazaar to the palaces of Persia, through the steppes of Central Asia, to the Indian Himalayas and the Great Wall of China, this is one sensory journey you won’t want to miss.

Get your tickets today!

Cardiac arrhythmias take a significant toll on the people we know and love—and many, many others. Over 9 million people are affected in the US and EU alone. Sadly, 130,000 Americans die annually from atrial fibrillation (AFib), and that number continues to rise as our population ages.

Despite advancements in medical technology, AFib has remained a massive challenge for doctors and there has been very little significant progress in treatment for decades. AFib continues to greatly restrict what otherwise healthy people can do every day, and greatly shortens life expectancy. Today, the only available treatments have serious side-effects, dismal efficacy rates, and the intervention with high-voltage paddles is shockingly painful.

Thankfully, Cardialen has a breakthrough device poised to change all that. It’s the first, painless arrhythmia solution in over a decade. It identifies, treats and helps to ensure long-term heart health. Now, with 19 key patents in place and a clear pathway of care for insurers and doctors, the future is bright for Cardialen, and those with AFib.

. Paula Skjefte, Cardialen Chairman and CEO explains, “The pieces are in place. We are passionate about the opportunity to save and extend millions of lives. It’s the most promising cardiac treatment solution in decades. We have the human data to prove our therapy works and we are moving fast. We’re thrilled to be working with Spyglass and confident they will help take the Cardialen story to an entirely new level.” Visit www.cardialen.com to learn more.

Relevant insights and astute observations aren’t easy to come by, so the Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association (MIMA) “Excited for Change: 2017 Trends for the Modern Marketer” event on January 18th was much appreciated. Spyglass was there, and from our purview, there were more than a few savvy revelations on the state-of-the-state of marketing and how to forge a nimble way forward. Like many observations, a few are simply smart reminders, while others are cool new ways to use what we know to see the world through a different lens.

1. Pay close attention to patents, art and culture. As the world of advertising increasing blends with culture and the hip and the hot, every brand needs to use the tools available to them to tap into the now and spend more time understanding why the new is what’s next. Patents are a great example. While technology continues to play a larger role in our lives, (See also The Internet of Things), it’s important to understand the thinking behind the patents that go into new gadgets like the personal assistant Alexa or Amazon Echo. They offer interesting revelations about the process of discovery and what excites us.
2. Black swan moments matter. Way back when, in a white-swan-only world, scientists declared that black swans did not exist. Low and behold, black swans were discovered soon after. The point? Anything is possible. Never say never. Many have spent precious time dismissing groundbreaking ideas in their infancy from Apple to Twitter, only to eat crow later. The lesson is simple. It’s OK to be late to the game—but you need to be a student of why these ideas worked and what you missed.
3. New buzz word alert: Thumb stopping. We’re going beyond Facebook ‘likes’ to “thumb stopping”. As mobile takes pole position over laptops and desktops, it’s all about creating content you simply have to stop and look at. And that is precisely the content most of us share with our friends and colleagues. Thumb stopping involves creating more targeted and niched content that best relates to a visitor’s questions and interests. How to create that content is not necessarily your problem, but sharing it is. Being among the very first to share the best content matters.
4. Call it spin control, but… The simple truth is you have to sell change as an opportunity, not a nuisance. Both internally and to your customers and prospects. Have a vision and communicate why change is good and how it opens up a whole new set of powerful potentialities.
5. Surprise! OK, not really. Whoa, 84% of millennials don’t trust traditional advertising. Which is why, more than ever, you need to put customer needs above brand wants. Your brand is here to serve, protect, surprise and delight. Think of ways your technology can help your customer and not your marketing goals. Provide non-expected service, reject intrusiveness, be trusted. Then, segment, market and keep them loyal.
6. Measure twice, cut once. Pay attention to what data can tell you and start looking at how your data scientist can be more involved with marketing goals. Make sure you know what’s working and what isn’t. Then work with your team to decide how to measure the success of any content, branding or marketing strategy. Proving that what you are spending is working is the best way to secure more marketing investment and grow your business.

As always, the devil is in the details, but the one unassailable fact is: To “be it” you’ve got to “see it”. It’s not about you, it’s about them. Good luck out there. Call us if you need a hand. We’re uncovering new ideas every day, and it’s a good bet they can help you break on through.

MIMA is an interactive marketing-based educational and networking organization in the Twin Cities. To learn more visit the MIMA website

The AMA (American Marketing Association) hosts events throughout the year that feature today’s leading and emerging marketing experts. Paige DeRoma is on the Minnesota AMA board and Sara Martin is a volunteer. Together, with other members and volunteers, this talented, dynamic-duo is ensuring the MN AMA Chapter is putting on MUST SEE events.

“The Future of Marketing: Automation” is January 24th at the James J. Hill Center in St. Paul and will be a savvy introduction to marketing automation and an excellent way to gain important tips for using systems such as CRMs, webinar platforms, your website and your social media presence to make better connections with customers and prospects. Eric Lehnen, the Marketing Lead at Redpath Consulting Group, will lead the discussion.

“Make Your Job Search Work for You” is January 31st at Mozza Mia in Edina. Here you’ll learn the best new ways to stand out in the job market from HR pros who will also answer all of your job search questions. Matthew Pryor, Sr. Manager of Talent Acquisition at The Schwan Food Company will be speaking. Custom Creations Photography will also be there to take your free professional headshot.

Click on the links for all event details and to register.

Sara is also on the board of Minnesota Women in Marketing and Communications (MWMC), another excellent organization that is dedicated to helping women professionals in marketing advance their careers. Click here to learn more about MWMC and their upcoming events.

Spyglass team members also enjoyed attending this morning’s Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association (MIMA) event, “Excited for Change: 2017 Trends for the Modern Marketer” on January 18th at the Nicollet Island Pavilion. This event focused on giving attendees what they need to master the challenges of interactive marketing in 2017, as well as showing them better ways to identify trends, leverage emerging technology and measure progress. Spyglass will post photos and share key takeaways. Stay tuned!

Automated Retailing Solutions had no brand—just a big, ambitious plan and lots of experience. They wanted to be a force in the new world of automated retail, and they chose Spyglass to help them build their brand from the ground up. Together, we developed a look, messaging, logo, website and marketing tools for both ARS and their first official product launch—a next-gen customizable, intuitive retail kiosk named Leonardo. Inspired by da Vinci’s spirit of innovation and a highly advanced user interface, Leonardo is helping companies expand their brands’ reach far beyond brick and mortar locations.

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings conference. Spyglass worked with Carlson Wagonlit Travel, the world leader in corporate business travel management, to develop an innovative, app-like experience for the event that allowed CWT to showcase their future-focused products and services.

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Patriot is a community bank with eleven branches in Connecticut and New York. Along with a top-to-bottom rebrand, we helped them reach the nonprofit sector in their footprint and demonstrate how they are committed to helping nonprofits make their dollars go further so they can have an even greater impact. The “We Believe” brochure was part of a larger campaign that included a special event, an Ultimate Interest Offer, exclusive access to a white paper on the state of nonprofits in CT and other elements.

Learn more about the MarCom Awards