Doug Brown

Not all merch fits every event. Here’s how to choose items that make sense for your audience, budget and goals. #promo4brands #custommerch #promotionalproducts 

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This may have been the tradeshow that broke the enterprise camel's back. Multiple brands are taking a look in the mirror after ADLM. "We're a billion dollar company, we shouldn't be stuck in the back with pipe and drapes." "We need something that's more hands on for the researchers and manufacturers we talk to." "We're growing again and it's time to rethink how we show up here." Charismatic booth staff isn't enough. A tower with some plain graphics isn't enough. Banking on just your pre-set meetings isn't enough. We are talking about hundreds of exhibitors (read: competitors) showcasing: Diagnostics Molecular science Lab management Translational medicine Breaking down complex offerings like this require more nuance than just slapping together some infographics and putting your products on a table. Exhibitors are seeing their neighbors provide immersive demos. They see the increased levels of engagement. They know it's time to level up their presence.

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Year-end reality check for QSR owners: As the year wraps up, most operators look at sales and labor. Here’s the question many skip:  Would your employees choose to work here again next year? Manager behavior, scheduling fairness, and how time off is handled matter more than perks. Small improvements now can reduce turnover in Q1. #QSRManagement #YearEndReflection

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The Silent Power of Pet Swag Most companies still think corporate swag needs to stay within the obvious: notebooks, mugs, tote bags. But here’s the truth: some of the most powerful promotional products are the ones that reach beyond your direct industry. Take pet swag, for example. You don’t need to be a pet company to benefit from it. Why? Because pets live where emotions live. When you put your brand on a leash, a collapsible bowl, or a toy, you’re no longer just giving away an object. You’re entering the daily routine of your client, their home, their family. That’s not just visibility. That’s emotional branding — the kind that creates stronger recall and loyalty than most traditional giveaways. For industries outside the pet market, this can be a surprising shortcut to stand out. ✔️ High emotional impact ✔️ Brand exposure in daily life ✔️ Association with care and connection At ODB Promo, we see pet promotional products as one of the most underused yet effective strategies in corporate gifting. The question is: Have you considered what your brand could achieve with custom pet swag? #CorporateSwag #EmotionalBranding #EmployeeEngagement #BrandLoyalty #ODBPromo

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Franchise Fact Friday - Unlocking Franchise Potential Through Brand Strategy 🌟 In the Franchise Advisory Board Podcast, Jennifer Campbell, CFE of Hot Dish Advertising Group shared her secrets to franchise success: a strong brand strategy, precise lead generation, and engaged employees. Jennifer’s 24 years in the industry have shown her that a unified approach, where every part of the brand experience is connected, creates lasting impact. From consumer marketing to employee engagement, each touchpoint strengthens the brand. Tune in to the episode for Jennifer’s top tips on building a franchise brand that sticks! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gTXHwHga Dave Hansen Keith Levenson, CFE Wayne Engeron, CFE Tiffany Kearley, CDMP / PCM

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Most multi-location and franchise brands don’t struggle because they don’t have a strategy. They struggle because execution gets harder once more than one team is involved. When you have one location, alignment happens almost automatically. Add another, and things start to shift. HQ sets the direction. Local teams interpret it. Different managers, different priorities, different platforms. No one is doing anything wrong...but over time, your brand starts to sound a little different from location to location. That’s usually where consistency quietly breaks. And consistency doesn’t mean rigid, copy-and-paste content. It means alignment: clear expectations, shared standards, and systems that make it easier for every location to show up the same way. When consistency slips, it’s rarely a creativity issue. It’s operational. Consistency doesn’t happen accidentally...it’s operational. Curious: where do you feel consistency is hardest to maintain right now: messaging, platforms, or execution? If you’re thinking about tightening alignment without adding more to your internal team’s plate, this is the kind of work we support every day. www.illbeesocial.com --- #DigitalMarketing #LeadGeneration #MultiLocationMarketing #ContentCreation #franchisemarketing #MarketingAgency #GrowthMarketing #emailmarketing

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Many business owners make the mistake of selling what they like rather than what the market actually demands. It is a simple but costly disconnect: your personal inventory preference often clashes with consumer behavior data. To bridge this gap, consider these quick shifts: * Analyze real-time sales data over gut feelings. * Prioritize high-demand inventory, even if it’s outside your comfort zone. * Listen to customer requests rather than just pushing existing stock. By aligning your supply with true market needs, you transform your lot from a static showroom into a profit-generating machine. Have you ever pivoted your entire business strategy based on what your customers were actually asking for? #BusinessStrategy #MarketDemand #SalesGrowth #BusinessAnalysis #CustomerInsights #Productivity

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Local Gift Guides: The Easiest Way to Win the Holidays (and Strengthen Local Media) The holidays aren’t just a busy season for retailers, they’re one of the best opportunities for local media reps to help small businesses shine. Every community has incredible local shops and service providers. They just need someone to bring them together. That’s where a Local Gift Guide becomes more than a section in the paper - it becomes a community marketing campaign. When you pitch it, you’re not just selling ad space. You’re helping local advertisers: • Build visibility when it matters most • Reach both print and digital audiences • Be part of something that drives community pride Here’s the key: Make participation simple. Bundle print and online. Add QR codes that link to digital offers. Share it across social media. The easier you make it, the faster local advertisers say “yes.” I’ve seen this idea consistently open up new revenue streams for publishers — and more importantly, rebuild connections between local business, media, and community. If you’re a sales rep, this is your moment to lead. Help your local businesses win this season and keep that momentum going all year long. Check out the live link to a successful holiday gift guide in one of our partner markets in the first comment. #LocalMedia #SalesLeadership #PublisherSuccess #Wehaa

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🚀 Business Texting in 2026: Are You Ready? SMS marketing isn’t “old tech” anymore—it’s evolving faster than most businesses realize. In 2026, we’re seeing: ✅ RCS and multimedia messaging replacing plain text ✅ Trust + compliance as key engagement drivers ✅ Omnichannel integration with email, social, and apps The numbers speak for themselves: 📈 45%+ response rates 📈 25% promo redemption rates for some industries 📈 21% YoY increase in purchases from SMS subscribers If your business isn’t making SMS a core part of its strategy, you’re leaving serious revenue on the table. #SMSMarketing #BusinessTexting #DigitalMarketing #MarketingTrends #CustomerEngagement

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Does your Phoenix-area business treat Scottsdale and Phoenix as the same market online? 🔍 That could be a major drain on your marketing budget. Targeting "Phoenix" is a heavyweight fight, while targeting "Scottsdale" is a different game entirely—with a different audience, different expectations, and different keywords. Knowing the difference is key to getting a real ROI. In our latest blog post, we break down: ✅ The massive difference in competition. ✅ How customer intent changes from city to city. ✅ Why your messaging needs to be specific. Stop wasting ad spend and start targeting smarter. Read the full breakdown here: https://lnkd.in/gsejzkpY #LocalSEO #PhoenixBusiness #ScottsdaleAZ #ArizonaBusiness #DigitalMarketing #SEOtips #SmallBusinessMarketing

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Every franchise says “our people are our brand.” Then they ghost half the people who apply. Here’s a secret: candidates don’t separate your hiring process from your brand. To them, it’s the same thing. We unpacked it with Franchise Business Review → 👉 From Recruitment to Reputation https://lnkd.in/gmvq7A3u

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Search engines can only rank what they can read. Ecommerce Premium uses server-side rendering to make your entire menu indexable, leading to higher SEO rankings, more visibility, and 35% more Google traffic to your store. At the heart of every product is a commitment to create a more connected cannabis industry, where everyone wins – retailers, brands, and consumers. 👉 Learn how Premium can benefit your business: https://lnkd.in/gQYTtXTK

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Franchise marketers have one of the hardest jobs in advertising - keeping 1,000+ local voices on brand, on message, and on budget. We see it every day: corporate teams need governance, franchisees need autonomy. The answer isn’t more rules or more tools - it’s smarter systems that make doing the right thing the easiest thing to do. With AI-driven localization, integrated data, and real-time insights, brands can empower every store to launch campaigns that look and perform like national work - but feel local and authentic. If you’re rethinking how your franchise system scales local media, it might be time to let Hyperlocology AI handle the complexity so your teams can focus on growth. #franchisemarketing #qsr #localadvertising

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Your company store shouldn’t be an inventory dump — it should be a brand experience. Here’s how to turn your merch platform into an engine for engagement, loyalty, and even revenue. https://bit.ly/3LLvMBg

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