Nye and Associates Blog

Nye & Associates marks 35th anniversary

2012-01-16T08:54:00.000-08:00

2012 marks 35 years in business for Nye & Associates! We are thrilled to celebrate this success, and we feel fortunate and very blessed to be in a position to make this claim. This is a time to reflect on our past successes and to focus on new beginnings.

We have a lot of things in store for 2012 and beyond, including expansion of our interactive division and new technology tools that will help our clients continue to grow. We’re grateful for the relationships our agency has had and continues to have with local, regional and national clients. To each of you we say, thank you. To those of you who don’t know us, we invite you to give us a call at 316-263-5878 to schedule an appointment. We’d like to get to know you!

A new era begins

2012-01-06T13:44:00.000-08:00

Effective Jan. 1, 2012, Gary Nye of Nye & Associates has retired. We salute Gary and wish him well on his future endeavors, which will no doubt involve more than a few golf courses. We are very excited to announce that Lee Clark and Ruth Johnson of Nye & Associates have purchased the agency and will be managing the business as equal partners moving forward. Ruth has been with N&A for 10 years and Lee has been with N&A three years. In their new roles Lee and Ruth have plans to continue growing the business, including expanding the agency’s reach nationally. The strategy to develop more regional and national business has been in place for several years, and as a result N&A has seen positive growth and new opportunities. It’s a very exciting time as we prepare for the future ahead, which will include expanding our interactive division. For information, please feel free to call us at 316-263-5878.

Wishing our friends find peace, prosperity and purpose this holiday season and in the year to come.

2011-12-22T11:09:00.000-08:00

In doing business, trust is important. There has to be a mutual understanding and respect between companies doing business together. We understand this, and we take our clients trust very serious. We work hard to ensure every effort is made to intentionally do the right thing, make the right investments every time, time after time. We're in the business of making sure your business is successful and prosperous. We would like to extend a very hearty thank you to our clients and a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to our friends everywhere.

News from SEMA

2011-11-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

By Lee Clark, VP Business Development, Nye & Associates

It’s good to be home. SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) was very exciting, and action-packed but WOW is it a lot to take in over a few days! There were more than 100,000 people who attended SEMA in Las Vegas and more than 2,000 exhibitors, ranging from car audio to performance products to automotive aftermarket accessories. There were B2B companies and consumer-direct companies, and many who were both! We had two clients exhibiting this year, both are international manufacturers/distributors of automotive accessory products to help protect your vehicle. We also made some new friends. The good news is our clients are up in terms of annual revenue compared to this time last year. And more good news - many marketing directors and company owners admitted their sales revenue was either up, or flat. Most companies were not down. Not to say there weren’t a few. Overall, the auto industry is seeing a comeback that has been working its way up the ladder the past couple years. This is a good thing. For all of us. It means jobs and a more stable economy. While SEMA offered new concept vehicles, celebrity appearances and some of the coolest vehicles in the world - the best part for me was hangin’ with our clients and watching them succeed!!

Amid our nation's financial confusion

2011-06-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

By Lee Clark, VP, Business Development, Nye & Associates

Some say the economy is rebounding. Some say we're amid a second economic collapse. Though everyone may be thinking it, but not many saying it, it is just plain difficult to to know who is correct and who is using the nation's financial status as an aggregate to promote self reliance.

It's possible and likely that some companies are taking advantage of customers in order to make a buck. And that's just sad. That said, while there are hardships and new opportunities during this period of change one thing remains constant. And this is something we should all remember, including me. New customers will not know who you are unless you tell them. Whether you have a comprehensive advertising program in place or you simply make phone calls or utilize DM or the Internet to reach out ... it's crucial to reach and touch / educate your prospective customers. It's equally important to maintain contact with existing customers. After all, the best customer is one you already have (haven't heard that one before have you?)

So whether you're a small mom and pop or an international multi-gazillion dollar company. Get busy, gettin' busy. If you run into any hiccups along the way, give me a shout: lee@nyeandassociates.com.

Marketing Dollars: Gambling Off Limits

2011-04-11T12:32:00.000-07:00

By Lee Clark, VP, Business Development, Nye & Associates

So, I’m at a convention in Las Vegas recently where I'm waiting to be seated at Mesa, Bobby Flay’s restaurant inside the Bellagio. To kill a few minutes I sat at a slot machine. I’m the first to admit I’m not a gambler, and so the idea of tossing money into this glowing metal piggy bank wasn’t enticing.

However, since our group was occupying the seats, I felt like we should at least drop a few quarters. And so that’s what I did. I dropped in and quickly lost $4.25. Now, to some that may not seem like a lot of money. Fact is, it might as well have been $100. Not to say some don’t go to Vegas and strike it rich, but I personally witnessed a lot of gambling and a lot of LOSING during my visit. This made me think of how important it is that companies NOT gamble with their marketing dollars. They’re so far and few between these days.

I think it’s important that companies invest where it makes sense. Many times this is tied to promoting the right message to the right audience using appropriate creative. Targeted approaches are becoming increasingly important as marketing dollars dwindle, and with the advent of the Internet, social media, mobile device marketing, QR codes, etc., the options are so vast. Here at N&A, we consider ourselves experts in getting our customers the biggest bank for their buck. We’ve proved it for 33 years, and we’re still proving it today, with local, regional and national accounts. Are you in need of precise targeting to help build sales and drive traffic? If so, hit me up at lee@nyeandassociates.com. Thanks!

What 2011 means for marketers

2011-04-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

It's 2011 and our country is coming out of the recession. Really! What this means to many marketers is that there may be an opportunity to ramp up your marketing efforts and take market share away from your competition.

At Nye & Associates, we believe this is also a great time to do a better job of targeting your marketing. By doing so, you can be assured that you a hitting a much greater number of "real" prospects", and as a result, maximizing your return on investment.

For many businesses, a well thought-out social marketing program can be a powerful tool in reaching prospects. If you are interested in learning more about putting social marketing to work for you, give us a call at 316-263-5878.

Gary Nye
President
Nye & Associates

Becoming a proactive business 101

2011-03-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

Today we live in a highly competitive world where setting your business apart from the crowd is even more important. Often companies lose sight of the competitive advantage that is gained from being proactive.

We’re talking about keeping your company’s look and interaction with your clients current.

Here are a few questions every business should consider:

• When was your last headshot taken and what does it say about you?
• How old is your website and is all of the information current?
• Is your business social?
• How old is your printed literature?
• How’s your photography look?

Your headshot
I know why in the world did we really go here? The truth is, customers want to relate to who they are working with even more than in years past. Having a natural and relatable headshot can be a foot in the door. Who really wants to work with someone who has a cold frowny face? If we are totally honest, relatable CEOs and staff pictures help. 

Your website
How recently has it been updated? Websites are dynamic tools and it’s important to keep them looking fresh and current.

Your sociability 

Are you social? Have you thought about using social media for your business? Being online is a great way to stay connected to your audiences, wherever they may be.

Your printed literature

Annually auditing your current literature is key to keeping your company current. If your company reaches a new certification, updates a logo or adds a new product and you haven’t updated it in your literature, then you might be sending mixed messages to your customers. Another way to look at it is from the view that styles change and if your literature hasn’t, you might end up looking out of date.  

Your photography
Photography is one of the most overlooked items when it comes to marketing a company. Stock images are cool and cheap but what happens when another business starts using the same image in your market? Talk about mixed signals. Another thing to look at is the environment in your photos. Cell phones have gotten smaller, computers screen are no longer tube style and TVs are now flat. Good photography can give your business the competitive edge that sets it apart.

It can hurt making an honest assessment of your company, but with the help of an agency like Nye & Associates you can get headed in the right direction.

Jeff Wendling

Art Director

Nye & Associates

Need help launching a new product? We can help.

2011-03-01T10:27:00.001-08:00

Golf Essentials, LLC, of Wichita, Kansas, recently developed a revolutionary new product for golfers called SandyCaddy.™

Although simple in design and concept, SandCaddy™ will make a huge impact within the golf community. Walking and riding golfers can now add sand to divots from irons simply and quickly, promoting faster grass growth.

Golf Essentials tapped Nye & Associates to help develop all the components necessary for a successful new product launch, including consumer goods packaging, logo, an e-commerce website, displays and promotional sales sheets.

Nye & Associates was instrumental in the new product being awarded Best New Product of the Year at the 2011 PGA Show. Nye & Associates, Inc., is currently working with Golf Essentials to develop comprehensive strategic marketing plans geared toward driving consumer and dealer sales.

“Nye & Associates helped us put this entire product launch program together in less than three weeks. We had to be at the PGA Show and Nye made it happen. In fact, we won new product of the year, thanks in a large part to the package, literature and website design they created for us.”

– Mike Allen, Partner, Golf Essentials

If you have an idea for a new product or are ready to go to market, call us (316.263.5878) and we'll help you get the results you want.

TV Spots for the Outdoor Channel

2010-12-13T13:27:00.001-08:00

Filming new TV spots that will be running on the Outdoor Channel this January.

Happy Happy Birthday

2010-11-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to our Mistress of Pink Ruth Johnson. Ruth wears many hats at Nye & Associates including General Manager, Production Manager, Media Buyer & Account Service. If you've got a project, she can make it happen.

Give her or anyone else at Nye & Associates a call to get started at 316-263-5878.

Tobacco Free Wichita celebrates 40 years

2010-10-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

The Tobacco Free Wichita Coalition celebrated their 40th anniversary at a party last night.

Congrats on 40 years TFW!

Nye & Associates Account Executive Climbs Kilimanjaro

2010-09-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Account Exec Jennifer Worrell who recently summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world and the tallest mountain in Africa.

New Commercials

2010-09-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

On location shooting some new commercials for our spa client this week.

Video Shoot Day 2 - Break Time

2010-08-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

The N&A team and our client say break time during our second day on location. Things are going well - lucky enough to have some shade, expecting 107 degrees today, but spirits are high. Everyone is very excited about the progress we have made and we are excited to get to editing!

Video Shoot Day 2

2010-08-03T07:56:00.000-07:00

Nothing like picking record-breaking hot days for all-day outside video shoots! Here we are setting up for the first shot of day in some perfect morning sunlight and prepping for the next round of shots.

Video Shoot

2010-08-03T07:51:00.000-07:00

It's always fun, and exciting to develop videos for our clients. We're on location for two days this week developing a series of videos for an awesome client! The videos will be used on the company's website, in point of purchase displays, on YouTube and in many other places. It's all part of the overall strategy N&A helped develop for this national brand. Good stuff!

Are you in need of assistance with video development? Whether it's for use on the Internet, TV or another platform - N&A can help. Give us a call - 316.263.5878 - and let's ham it up a bit!

Bike to Work Day

2010-05-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

Last Friday was Bike to Work Day. Here, Jennifer & Ruth head out in style.

Walk at Work Day

2010-05-17T12:37:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday, May 19, is Walk at Work Day, sponsored by the Sedgwick County Health Department.

Are you planning on participating, too? For a chance to win prizes, sign up at www.sedgwickcounty.org.

Rolltop Laptop

2010-05-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

Cutting edge laptop:

www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=7H0K1k54t6A

Where do we sign up for one?!

PINK Day Party

2010-05-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

Sporting our pink and enjoying a little pink food:

Pink Lemonade
Ham & Bean Soup with Pink Cornbread
Salmon Dip with Tomato Crackers & Radishes
Sparkling Strawberry Jello

PINK Day

2010-05-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

We’re celebrating PINK today. We’re all wearing a little dash or a lotta, and we brought in pink treats to share. But more importantly, we’re honoring all the mother’s out there and giving a shout-out to breast cancer awareness. And last but not least, it’s Miss Ruth’s, The Queen Of All Things Pink, Half Birthday!

Join the fun – what are you doing that’s pink?

Life is not the color pink. Pink is the color of life.

Local Lunch Spots

2010-05-03T12:03:00.001-07:00

The weather has been so nice lately that we've been heading out to enjoy some of the great lunch spots around Wichita.

Last week we checked out Mike's Wine Dive and here the ladies of Nye & Associates are enjoying a delicious meal at The Palette in Delano.

Today we headed to Dolci & Joes.

What are some other new Wichita lunch spots we should try?

Take the Test

2010-04-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

1. Can your employees recite your Mission Statement without a cheat sheet?

2. Does your company have a clear, concise Vision Statement, describing it three years from now?

3. Have you taken the next two steps in the Strategic Planning process by generating specific Goals and an Action Plan for each goal?

4. Do you believe you are getting the maximum value out of your marketing expenditures?

5. Do you feel your competitive business environment is changing faster than you can keep up with?

6. Do you want help with any of the above?

If you answered no to any questions 1- 5, or if you answered yes to question 6, give us a call at 316-263-5878.

Social Media 2012

2010-04-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

Article from Advertising Age on what social media will look like in 2012:

http://adage.com/digitalnext/article?article_id=143145

Exciting times.

Nye & Associates Does Topeka

2010-04-08T07:48:00.001-07:00

We were in Topeka for meetings so we made sure to stop by our favorite lunch spot, New City Cafe. We also tried several cupcakes from Daddy Cakes. Yum!

What are some other fun spots in Topeka?

5 Essentials in Marketing for Kansas Banks

2010-03-30T13:24:00.000-07:00

Competition is stronger than ever, and is coming from more places than ever before. In order to assure success, Kansas banks must pay attention to these vital marketing issues.

Customers have more choices today, than ever. They can get financial services down the street, in the mail, on the Internet, from credit unions, brokers, national banks, regional banks, local banks, insurance companies, finance companies, and others.

So, what are the five essentials?

They are: Competitive Products & Services, Strategic Positioning, Aggressive Target Marketing, Effective Community Relations, and Superior Customer Service.

Competitive Products and Services is just what it says. If your bank isn’t reviewing and making carefully planned decisions about your mix of products and services, your customer base can quickly erode due to the perception of more desirable services being offered by more aggressive competitors.

Strategic Positioning refers to how you want to be perceived in your community. Do you want to be The Innovator? The Ag Bank? The Friendliest? The Most Community Involved? Defining the Strategic Position for your bank is a key essential ingredient in this process.

This is a key factor in developing a focused marketing effort. Giving thought to how you want to be defined in your community is the foundation for the creation of a clear and effective marketing program.

Aggressive Target Marketing is not just a catch phrase - it's a strategy. It means identifying precisely who you want to do business with, and making direct, concerted efforts to offer products and services to fit this market. Families, farmers and small businesses are three examples of specific targets that can be identified and marketed to.

The key to effective target marketing is creating the best match between the products and services you offer, and the specific audience that has the highest potential of using these services.

Effective Community Relations is the process of creating interaction with your prospects in situations other than when you are soliciting their business. Good examples of this concept are events, seminars, participation in local sports activities, participation with schools, and other good-for-the-community events.

In many cases, people want to do business with a financial institution that clearly has and demonstrates a sense of involvement with the community. Community relations activities can take many forms. The key is analyzing your community, what the competition is doing, and the opportunities that exist, and then developing a plan to create increased community visibility for your institution.

Superior Customer Service is also critical in the process of achieving success. Bankers must make a commitment to managing every interaction with their customer, with the goal of making it a positive experience.

Customers have three general expectations when they receive service. These expectations are to be recognized, to be made to feel important, and to be taken care of. These three needs are always there, just in varying degrees, depending on the type and level of service they are receiving.

The bottom line is that the effective management of these five factors is fundamental to competing and succeeding today. Smart bank leaders are now integrating a strategic planning process into their business. This process involves setting a Vision, Objectives, and Action plan for determining what and how they will successfully compete in today’s marketplace. These five essentials then become the foundation for a successful bank marketing plan and will be key to long-term success.

Gary Nye
President
Nye & Associates

Web Sites

2010-03-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

What not to do: http://www.yvettesbridalformal.com/

First Impressions – Your Web Site

2010-03-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

"Honey, stop the car! Back up. I think we’ve found it. . . our dream home!”

Does this sound familiar? If it does, you can probably remember the reason you stopped. There was just something different about that house - something that caught your eye, something visually appealing that made you want to get out of the car and take a look inside. It’s curb appeal!

Leading real estate experts agree that without curb appeal, the odds that your home will sell for its asking price drastically decrease. The old adage "first impressions mean everything" really is true.

The same holds true for your Web site. Albeit unfairly, many organizations are judged based solely on their Web presence. You may have the most profound thing to say, the highest quality product to sell, or the finest education in the land to offer, but none of it matters if your Web site is not appealing to visitors.

First-time visitors to your Web site will choose to continue surfing your site within three seconds or so, not unlike outdoor advertising where marketers have three seconds to introduce and sell you on a specific product or brand. You can have all the fancy gadgets, you can use catchy technological phrases like RSS feeds or blogs, but the simple fact is if your Web site is not professional and visually appealing, in most cases, none of it matters.

If during those first few seconds your Web site is found to be visually appealing and inviting, Eureka! You have made a good initial first impression, which is tantamount to walking into a well-appointed and clean department store with a spotless bathroom. And we all love that, right?

Now it’s on to the second stage of the visitors experience - content.

Visitors to your Web site want to be informed. They have visited your site for one of two reasons:

1) They were referred to you by someone they know, or have heard about you and want to learn more.
2) They happened upon your Web site while conducting a general search.

Now that you’ve built it, and they have come, what next? My advice to you would be to keep it fresh and to keep it real. For obvious reasons, Web sites that become stagnant over time with little to no change in content or graphics become less appealing, and visitors have less reason to frequent your site.

On the contrary, Web sites that take advantage of tools specifically geared toward updating content and images give visitors something new (and hopefully interesting) to read. The goal should be to provide informative, relevant, and useful information to your visitors, thereby encouraging them to visit again and visit often.

An effective Web site will give your visitors a memorable experience and encourage repeat visitors to the Web site. To learn more about creating effective visual aspects and content for your Web site, call us at 316-263-5878.

Lee Clark
VP, Business Development
Nye & Associates

Our booth at the Metro Mingle

2010-03-11T12:36:00.000-08:00

We participated in the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce Metro Mingle & Small Business Awards Showcase. Here's Lee and our booth.

Mardi Gras Party

2010-02-18T12:20:00.001-08:00

We celebrated Fat Tuesday in style. Our festive menu included:
Mimosas
King's Cake
Jambalaya
New Orleans Sunburst Salad
Spicy Cajun Crawtators Chips
Kings Rolls
Louisiana Root Beer
Fruit Bouquet with Dipping Chocolate

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Photo 2: Christy & Jenny celebrating Mardi Gras
Photo 3: Ruth & Lee with Jambalaya & Louisiana Root Beer
Photo 4: Jennifer with the King's cake & Mardi Gras Swirl cupcakes

Out Celebrating Ruth's 8th Anniversary

2010-01-15T12:58:00.001-08:00

8 years at Nye & Associates! Congrats Ruth.

Johnson Wedding

2010-01-11T13:11:00.001-08:00

Ruth, Mother-of-the-Groom, with Gary & Karen.

What is Nye & Associates Smarter Marketing?

2010-01-06T11:48:00.000-08:00

An action plan we create for you, focused on your goals and based on well thought-out strategies.
An action plan that maximizes the efficiency and productivity of each part of your marketing program.
An action plan that can be effectively implemented and tracked.

Nye & Associates Values
In order to deliver Smarter Marketing, Nye & Associates believes in these values:

Strategically Focused

If it doesn't already exist, we help you create a specific Vision of Success, and the Marketing Objectives that will lead to this success. This is a critical first step in the process of developing an effective marketing plan.

Appropriate Creative

We develop creative solutions that fit you, your organization's personality, and budget, as well as what’s needed to be competitive in the marketplace.

The Right Size

We are the right size to provide creative, timely and cost-effective marketing services. Our creative team brings the range of experience and talent needed to produce powerful marketing solutions.

Experience

Our unique approach to the marketing process, knowledge of effective marketing techniques and experience in a broad range of business environments combine to allow us to deliver effective marketing programs for you.

Nye Christmas Party

2010-01-06T09:12:00.001-08:00

Enjoying a Christmas feast, complete with Karen's famous Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes at Gary & Karen's home.

Obnoxious Christmas Sweater Day

2010-01-06T09:06:00.000-08:00

The Nye team celebrating in style.

Health Care Marketing Today

2010-01-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

Health care marketers today face an unusual dilemma. The dilemma is that fundamentally, there are two distinct markets to be served, and communicating with these two markets is very different.

The traditional market consists of consumers who still read newspapers, watch television, and read magazines. The new, non-traditional market, uses Facebook and Twitter, sends multiple text messages every day, and watches selected television programs and videos on their computer. For the most part, marketing to these two audiences requires two distinct strategies.

The good news is that with appropriate strategic thinking, you can be effective in reaching both target audiences. Due to the high cost of traditional marketing, and the fact that marketing budgets have become so fragmented, the need for great strategic thinking and execution has never been greater.

Strategic thinking begins with a clear definition of the audiences you want to reach. The strategy that “I want to reach everyone” or “I just want to get my name out there” doesn’t work anymore.

Successful health care marketers will take a two-pronged approach that targets each of these vital markets. Each approach needs its own strategic focus, yet must share a common thread for building the brand, establishing a consistent and distinct theme, and expanding the number of contacts of people within each target market.

Public relations, guerilla marketing, and engagement marketing tactics will play an expanding role in a successful marketing plan for health care marketers today. Each of these strategic components of the plan enable marketers to do more precise targeting, thus being able to communicate even down to a one-to-one basis with their prospects.

Hospitals, physicians, or other health care service providers can develop marketing programs that touch specific audiences in times other than when direct services are needed. Examples of these kinds of touches include seminars, newsletters, screenings, an interactive Web site and other engagement marketing techniques.

In every business, and particularly the health care business, consumers have more choices and are much more involved in the decisions they make regarding their own health care. Providers who deliver great customer service, provide educational information to their patients, and in general, position themselves as caring leaders in their business, will thrive.

The “we’ve always done it this way” strategy no longer works. Marketers have to be smarter, more targeted, more versatile and more caring to be successful today.

I encourage you to think non-traditionally, to think like your customer, and then communicate in ways that meet the needs of your savvy consumers.

Gary Nye
President
Nye & Associates

Flat Art

2010-01-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

Found in the Nye Archives: Flat Art from circa 1992.

This is a hand-drawn TV spot storyboard. It’s amazing how things change, and it’s good to look back, just to see how far technology has brought us. We’re grateful it’s all done on computer now.

Ruth's Birthday

2010-01-05T12:38:00.000-08:00

Celebrating Ruth's Birthday at Yia Yia's