Mobile Website VS. Mobile App: Which is Better?

Man using phone by semi truck

In a busy world, it is more important than ever to meet people where they are. With over 275 million smartphone users in the U.S. alone1, this means meeting your audience through a strong mobile presence. Whether it is through a website or mobile app, an optimized digital presence is the core of a strategic…

Read More

Utilizing Local SEO to Grow Your Business

Person using smart phone in field

In the age of technology, search engines are one of the most effective ways for consumers to find your business. Whether they are searching for a local restaurant for dinner or information about a new product, about 81% of people search online for a product or service1. As a company, it is important to invest…

Read More

Why Brands Should Be Using Video Marketing to Target Rural America

Video marketing film crew outside

Video is a powerful form of communication that continues to grow in relevance and effectiveness. If a picture is worth a thousand words, think about the worth of a video. There’s a lot of reasons video production should be on your radar to help you effectively reach rural American audiences. In this article, we’ll discuss…

Read More

Why You Should Measure Digital Marketing KPIs

Man using phone leaning on four wheeler in a field

We’ve seen a lot of changes over the last few months. We’ve all been impacted by COVID-19 and the effects of the pandemic have been felt far and wide. In rural America, we’re beginning to see businesses open back up and life carrying on in what will be our new normal for the immediate future. …

Read More

Leveraging Zoom Through Facebook Live

Zoom Facebook Live screengrab

Out in rural America, businesses are beginning to re-open and consumers are starting to slowly venture out into public. Things are not what they were pre-pandemic and likely won’t be for a while. We’re all adjusting the best we can to what will become the new normal for the immediate future.  In the image above,…

Read More

Marketing Strategies to Lead your Brand into the Future

tunnel bridge facing the light

COVID-19 has changed and will continue to change our lives and our customers’ lives long after we start to settle into a new normal. In our OUTthink article last week, Act Like a Boy Scout and Be Prepared, we discussed getting ready for what’s ahead by planning for the market recovery right now, if you…

Read More

Act Like a Boy Scout and Be Prepared.

Boy Scouts Be Prepared Badge

Many of us kids who grew up in rural America were Boy Scouts. If we didn’t learn it on the farm, it’s where we learned how to tie knots, camp, shoot and canoe. It’s where we honed skills that became lifelong habits. It’s where we learned how to be prepared for whatever might come your way. Certainly however,…

Read More

Ways to Leverage Social Media During Uncertain Times

Using social media during uncertain times

In today’s climate, people are turning to social media more than ever. Social media provides ways to connect and interact with friends and family through this time of physical distancing. People are eager for interaction. As a result, social media can be a very effective platform for brands to maintain their visibility during this uncertain…

Read More

Is Your Website Relevant? | COVID-19 Website Considerations

man using computer

Websites are an integral component of almost every marketing or communications program. They are more important today than ever with the challenges we’re facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Strategic adjustments to your website that offer help, provide timely and relevant information and humanize your brand can help your company survive this time of hardship…

Read More

COVID-19 Marketing Messaging | What Do You Say?

positivity and inspirational word cloud

The COVID-19 situation has certainly changed life as we know it. Things are going to be different for a while, especially for the immediate future. As folks are social distancing, working remotely and settling in to a new normal, the question of “What should we be saying in our marketing messaging?” naturally presents itself. In…

Read More

What COVID-19 Means for Marketers

Covid-19 Image

The last few weeks have been crazy to say the least with the COVID-19 pandemic. The uncertainty revolving around the situation has disrupted our normal way of life. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our leaders, our healthcare workers and all those directly impacted by the coronavirus as we navigate through this challenging time.…

Read More

2020 SUPER BOWL ADS

How about those Chiefs!!! Super Bowl LIV was very special for Missouri. Our Kansas City Chiefs made an amazing comeback to beat the San Francisco 49ers and bring the Lombardi Trophy home to Kansas City. Super Bowl LIV was fun to watch, and featured some great ads. In this special edition of OUTthink, we’ll share…

Read More

You Never Know

Businessmen at a trade show shaking hands.

When writing this, I’m in between a trade show and a plane ride home and wanting to share a nugget dug out of my last couple of days’ experiences. My nugget from the show is…you never know. My planning for the show started a couple of months ago when we started scouring the list of…

Read More

Great Scott! Back to the Future with Scenario Planning

back to the future car

The creators of the Back to the Future trilogy were on to something. At the risk of dating myself, the first installment of the three-part movie series debuted the year I graduated from high school and was the highest-grossing movie of 1985. It had cool special effects, catchy songs (Forget Michael J. Fox … I…

Read More

The Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Marketing

Artificial Intelligence in Marketing

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is the process of utilizing data to generate insights to improve performance and efficiency. The marketing industry is in the early stages of adopting AI, but it is poised to have a huge impact on marketing in the coming years. To give you an idea of just how big of an…

Read More

Simple Message. Perfect Targeting. Great Execution.

Every now and then, an ad comes along that just makes you feel good.  Maybe it’s the imagery, or the product and the way it’s being used or maybe it’s the music.  In Ford’s new TV commercial, Tow It, it’s all three, and that doesn’t happen every day. Ford F-150 TV Commercial, ‘Tow It’ When…

Read More

Rural America Market Research

farmer holding a phone

At Callis, we’re proponents of research. For over 30 years, we’ve used research to build out and execute strategic marketing programs that deliver results for our clients, helping them build their brands and grow their businesses. To help you better understand the rural American consumer, we’ve compiled some compelling market research applicable to the rural…

Read More

Why Rural America Includes Urban Areas

farmer-at-computer

Approximately one fifth of our Nation’s population lives in what’s commonly considered rural America. Some of these people making up this portion of our country live in rural areas and communities, spanning from the east coast to the west, and from our northern and southern borders. Some even live and work in areas outside of…

Read More