Field Fresh Marketing

Marketing News You Can Use

holidays

Keeping it Real and Emotional

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Have you noticed each year brings fewer and fewer holiday cards in the mail? Chalk it up to our digital society and social media. And while a tangible, hard copy of anything evokes extra thought and care, I admit this year I also went the way of “too busy.”

Shame on me.

Poking at my guilt was this article on small business trends for 2024. Yes, artificial intelligence will continue to be the hoopla. But guess what it’s not? REAL. In the coming year emotional intelligence will be our marketing edge. Empathy. Relationships. Tactile products. Human interaction. Experiences in which we physically partake. Customer service. Soft skills. The REAL list goes on and on.

In 2024, I’m focusing on real. How about you?

My Mistletoe Wish

My friend, Carla, fills her home with beautiful wreaths made from her garden, and her gift of mistletoe radiates the loving person she is. May these same gifts of hope, joy, friendship, and love fill your Christmas and New Year. God’s blessings to you!

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

Let’s Work Together

Think Adunate might be a good fit for your next project? Give me a holler and we’ll discuss ideas.

CONTACT ME

Perfect Gifts for Your Outdoor Adventurers

Winter is a beautiful time to be on the trails!

Shop Here
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How to Handle the War on Christmas

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Just when you think we’re done battling the alleged ‘War on Christmas,’ someone revives it once again. The meme below recently appeared in my social feed and given it immediately amassed more than 400 comments means the argument is far from over.

When it comes to marketing your business, such talking points take joy out of the season. As one commenter said, “It’s my least favorite time of year to do social media for our business. I’m always waiting for at least one person to get mad.”

How do you handle respecting others while staying true to your brand? The answer is holiday spirit. No matter what holiday you celebrate, ’tis the season to show love, be compassionate, and promote peace.

How to Market with Holiday Spirit

  • Know your market. Avoid making assumptions of someone’s traditions or beliefs.
  • Stay out of echo chambers. The world is filled with amazing people, even if they are different than you. Appreciate diversity.
  • Be respectful. The best way to bring light to your business and belief is to be kind. Be more than kind…think of your customers before yourself.
  • Let your customers have a voice. Choose to not take offense. Instead, graciously accept season’s greetings in the spirit they are given.

What I’m Working On This Month: Not Much!

My husband recently had shoulder replacement surgery. He’s an easy patient; nonetheless, I stepped away from the computer to spend more time with him. My projects this month have been delightfully tactile—such is a benefit of being self-employed. Want to get started on your own road to flexibility? I can help!

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

Let’s Work Together

Think Adunate might be a good fit for your next project? Give me a holler and we’ll discuss ideas.

CONTACT ME

Perfect Gifts for Your Outdoor Adventurers

Winter is a beautiful time to be on the trails!

Shop Here
NOT SUBSCRIBED? LET’s Do This!

Ending the Year with a Bomb (Cyclone)

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Dreaming of a White Christmas? We got it (and more). The good news is, following those frigid temps, gusty winds, and drifts of snow, came the sun. And a glorious sunshine it’s been!

Hang In There!

In many ways small businesses are dealing with their own end-of-year storm. COVID, worker shortages, supply chain disruptions, high inflation are all challenges entrepreneurs face. But the good news is, people are sticking together and helping one another.  

I’m thankful for another year working with an inspiring network of people. Many are clients. Others are cohorts. They have helped me in a multitude of ways and I’ve been honored to be there for them. We’re hanging in there.

And here’s the most optimistic news of all: Small businesses everywhere are finding success. The sun shines after a storm. Hang in there! 

LET’s WORK TOGETHER
Commerce Street Brewery Hotel, Mineral Point, WI

What I’m Working On This Week: Nothing!

They say the week between Christmas and New Year’s is when you don’t know what day it is, who you are, and what you’re supposed to be doing. Yep, that’s us. And, for the good word, Commerce Street Brewery Hotel is a delightful mid-week getaway!

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

  1. Maine’s tree tippers: A generational tradition of trimming trees and making wreaths.
  2. What is cozy, really? With January in the coming, this is something you may want to know.
  3. Covid came quickly but the vaccine did not. How scientists developed the mRNA Technology inside Covid vaccines. Not as rushed as some of us thought.
  4. Infinite Ellipses of Ritual and Flavor, a tasty read on beans. Plus a recipe.

However you celebrate the holidays, God’s blessings be with you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Unity for the Holidays

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Do you choose a word for the year? Many do. Some choose a word that sums up the current year, others choose one for the coming year.

My word for 2021 was unity. I realize this seems a bit absurd, given the major events that transpired. But if we take it down to a personal level there is joyous unity to be found in each of our lives.

Whatever holidays you celebrate at this time of year, may you have peace, love and unity. God’s blessings!

Ways Unity Blessed Adunate in 2021

  1. I’m wrapping up my first year as a board member for Women Food & Ag Network. I’ve learned so much and am proud to be part of a wonderful group of women coming together. 
  2. Adunate did four logo projects this year! Logos are truly a collaboration of creativity between my clients and I, and they are to be congratulated when we showcase the final product. Here’s an example.
  3. My siblings and I will soon complete 12 months of weekly emails. Even though we share differing views, we’ve remained respectful, avoided arguments and enjoyed the conversation.
  4. I’m spending lots of time in the USPS these days and its staff has renewed my faith. They’ve been a helpful team in my new business venture. Their delivery has been timely. They’ve become friendly!
LET’s WORK TOGETHER

What I’m Working On This Month

We’re not done yet, but here’s a first draft of the logo I’m working on with Women Caring For The Land for its ambassador program. 

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

  1. NFT has been added to dictionaries. I didn’t even know what it was, did you? Think cryptocurrency for art. Maybe?
  2. Helping children find awe: Slowing down, unstructured time—important things for kids.
  3. Yummmm! Homemade eggnog!
  4. Christmas in Lake Country, join us online or in our beautiful, new church building! A wonderful celebration of our Savior’s birth!

Seasons Greetings from Adunate!

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From our home to yours, may your celebrations be blessed!

So, yes, this is my home office, where for the past 15 years Adunate has worked its magic. This year my work space has been both a refuge and, well, an isolation (I’m guessing you can relate). But, hey, no complaints here. As we wrap up 2020, I’m thankful for so many blessings: faith, family, friends and good health. 

Keep On Keeping On

I’m also thankful for another year working with inspiring clients. It’s an understatement to say it was one of complexities and contrasts, thanks to the coronavirus. I watched some clients struggle to keep their doors open. Yet another client started a new business—check out Hymns In My Heart, a specialty card shop.

One of my clients had to cancel its annual conference part way through our project, yet I was privileged to present marketing workshops at two others. The world stopped meeting in person and overnight we mastered all manner of videoconferencing technology. Amazing, isn’t it?

Many of my clients have changed the way they deliver their products. Curbside pickup and online shopping carts are now the norm, which in turn changes the work I do for them. This year, web design kept me much busier than print design. 

Through it all, I cherish our meaningful friendships. I truly work with the best clients! As Curtis Mayfield used to sing, “And there’s still a lot of faith and warmth and trust, when we keep on keeping on.”

And that’s just what we’re doing—keeping on.

LET’s WORK TOGETHER

What I’m Working On This Month: Vacation!

Every holiday season my husband and I take time off between Christmas and New Year. This year we’re adding a couple days on either side to make it a full two weeks, said with a big cheer! We’re planning a few day trips, hiking (hopefully snowshoeing) and plain ol’ hanging out at home. Glorious!

These off-days are also the time I clean my office and start planning the new year. Stashing the old calendars and putting out the new is always rejuvenating. I think we’re all ready for that, right?

Good riddance, 2020!

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

  1. Christmas in Lake Country: meaningful for the whole family, either in Facebook or YouTube
  2. Ever want to align your planting with the seasons? Me too. I bought this Gardening By The Moon Calendar for 2021.
  3. WFH is a hot topic. I love perusing home offices and creative spaces.
  4. Art Story: The Ecology of Expression and Perspective, celebrate Winter Solstice with the Women, Food & Ag Network.

Wrapping Up 2020

However you celebrate the holidays, my prayer is that God is with you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!