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. …

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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,…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Why Should You Market to Rural America?

woman in car in rural America

Rural America is more than just a place. It’s a mindset and a way of life and it’s different than any other place in the world. In spite of some misconceptions, rural America is not defined by endless rows of corn, bean and wheat fields and dead-end roads. It is defined by the people. People…

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How Does YouTube Advertising Work?

YouTube Advertising on a TV

YouTube is a large and fast-growing website. It is the second most visited website in the world, outscored only by its parent company, Google. YouTube’s large reach and popularity make it a prime venue for advertising. This guide will give you the basics on YouTube advertising and why it might be right for your business.…

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Marketing Ideas for Events

neon trade show sign at event

There are many different ways to leverage an event. You may choose to host an event, sponsor an event, or participate in some way as yourself or representing your business. In any capacity, utilizing event-based marketing strategies can help you generate leads, engage with current and potential customers, build your brand recognition, learn new practices,…

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