In digital marketing, strategies and best practices are constantly changing. And although we’re all busy trying to make marketing magic happen, sometimes we need to step away from the daily grind to learn something new. Whether you're more experienced and need to upgrade your tech-savvy or you're young and eager, looking to find the why behind the best practice. Maybe you are somewhere in the middle, jockeying for your next big win for the team. Online learning is the staple of 21st-century personal improvement, helping you get better at doing what you do.

Paid advertising is perhaps the most important tool for letting the world know about your destination. While your organic social channels and website might be pumping out great content, it’s pretty difficult to compete in a digital landscape without dropping some dollars. Whether you’re marketing for an up-and-coming small town or a well-known city that’s been drawing tourists for years, it’s a tool you’ll want to have in your toolbox. This doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune on digital advertising; it just means you need to be strategic.

If you’ve been working in the real estate industry for long, you’re probably quite familiar with your local MLS (Multiple Listing Service). An MLS is a data feed of property listings in a particular area, generally managed by a real estate association. It’s a way for real estate brokers to share information about available properties so that selling and buying agents can both benefit from selling a property.

As a graphic designer, you will likely be challenged at some point in your career with creating some type of large format design. While “large format” doesn’t have a formal size definition, it’s a design that’s usually viewed from a distance and is, well, large. We’re talking billboards, trade show displays, vehicle wraps, or even custom flooring and walls. Given the massive size of these designs, the stakes are higher; the larger the design, the bigger any mistakes will appear. On top of that, large format printing is expensive. You’ll cringe at having to reprint your work because of an avoidable mishap.

It’s no coincidence that you’re seeing more and more for-profit companies participate in charitable giving and volunteering, and take a moral stance on big issues. According to the 2020 Zeno Strength of Purpose Study, 94 percent of global consumers say it is important that the companies they engage with have a strong purpose. In the Deloitte Global Millennial Survey 2019, 42 percent of millennials said they have begun or deepened a business relationship because they perceive a company’s products or services to have a positive impact on society and/or the environment. Further, 37 percent said they have stopped or lessened a business relationship because of the company’s ethical behavior.

In the world of NPO's and NGO's influence and impact have become major drivers in our world today. We know that passion fuels your mission and vision and that your association has focused goals, a relatable mission, and dedicated members. So far, your efforts have gone towards creating meaningful connections with like-minded people and growing your base. However, your website may be lackluster, and some of your members are having trouble finding what they need online, especially as in-person communication dwindles more and more.

Banks are developing apps, calculators, worksheets, and more to help people manage their finances and draw in new leads. It's a whole new world out there, and now is the time to embrace the tools that customers are calling out for. 2019 saw more than one trillion financial application sessions, a record high according to the 2020 Mobile Finance Apps Report from Liftoff. The Financial Times calls the uptick in financial app users a "fintech feeding frenzy," and there's plenty to go around.

Many sources date the first press release back to 1906, following a Pennsylvania Railroad accident. The agency staff released coverage about the event before journalists could cover it on their own. It's rumored that some newspapers re-published the release nearly verbatim – a brilliant success for the Railroad's PR team.

Nonprofits, NGOs, and charitable organizations have transitioned heavily in the marketplace to being forces for awareness and action in Western Culture. Whereas once, marketing was focused solely on fundraising events, membership drives, or various development pitches, nonprofit branding has become a significant force of influence, as social good has become intertwined with our daily lives. As a nonprofit, the brand has the potential to be the driving force or a disassociative challenge toward your goals of creating awareness, development, or public support for your mission. An effective brand shows the areas where target audiences are aligned with your organization, calling them to partner with you toward success.

No matter how brilliant or successful you are as a designer, everyone has those days – you're stuck in a rut, hitting dead ends, feeling like everything you create looks like something else you've already done, or it's just not quite right. We all need a little inspiration-on-demand from time to time. Fortunately, there are plenty of design and creativity resources on the interwebs to spark ideas and keep you moving forward toward the cutting edge. Check out some of our favorites.