Do you have one of those fancy proprietary processes?

Yes and no. What we mean is there is a clear process before we jump into any project but it is probably very similar to other fancy agencies because it is the proper way to do it.

Here is how it usually goes.

1. Schedule an initial call/meeting to hear the client's challenges, speak to our specialties, and judge if we are a good fit.

2. If proceeding schedule a kickoff meeting where we run the client through 20-30 questions to understand the situation and the brand personality and appetite for risk and reward.

3. Internal brainstorm session based on the kickoff discovery. Anticipate any possible roadblocks and develop solutions and a plan.

4. Pitch ideas to the client.

5. Adjust based on feedback or proceed as pitched.

6. Execute the plan, make the client happy and read about our execution in media, and hear people talking about it everywhere we go.

You talk a lot about the importance of a brand, what do you mean and why should I care?

A great brand (like the ones we build) delivers a return on your investment. Brands build a bridge from customers to avid fans. Fans talk about your company to their friends and bring them with them to your door. Fans grow your business and increase revenue. Recognizable brands like Nike and Apple credit their branding to be worth as much as 50% of their market share. Chances are you are not a brand of their size so to make this more realistic we have seen brand recognition and customer acquisition for our clients grow in upwards of 15 – 95% in their target market that they attribute considerably to their brands after working with The Idea Integration Co.

What is Word of Mouth Marketing and why do I need it?

The five-second explanation is that WOM is anytime a customer turns to someone near them and says “You will never believe what I just saw” or even just someone says “WOW, that’s cool, I NEED to tell someone about it”

The more polished and common definition for Word-of-mouth marketing (WOM marketing) is “When a consumer's interest in a company's product or service is reflected in their daily dialogues. Essentially, it is conversational advertising triggered by customer experiences—and usually, something that goes beyond what they expected. Word-of-mouth marketing can be encouraged through different publicity activities set up by companies, or by having opportunities to encourage consumer-to-consumer and consumer-to-marketer communications. Also referred to as "word-of-mouth advertising," WOM marketing includes buzz, viral, blog, emotional, and experiential marketing.

The reason is it important is two-fold.

1- People are probably talking about your brand already and you have no idea what they are saying, or worse, they aren’t talking about you at all. WOM gives people the tools not only to talk about you but also helps shape the message they will share.

2- 93% percent of word of mouth and referrals happen offline. You read that right. Real conversations about your brand are happening every day while people are in line to pay at the grocery store and over coffees with friends.

So why are you investing all your budget Online and not calling us?

What do you mean by “marketing stunts?”

We are glad you asked! Marketing stunts are activation that makes people scratch their heads and want to know more. Usually, physical (in real-world) activations but can also be digital with the goal of making people turn to a friend and say “You will never guess what I just saw”. Stunts are our favorite thing to do and we are one of the best at this but please remember it isn’t the only thing we are known for.

A few examples of our previous stunts are:

• We were the first people to use skywriting (clouds) to promote a could based software company.

• We have twice executed US-based cross country road trips for clients

  • The first time we met customers in 18 cities over 14 days from Miami, Florida to Austin, Texas, and treated them to breakfast lunch, and dinner with them with the goal of meeting them, listening to their comments, sharing updates on the product, and company, and forming a closer bond with them.

  • The second time (for a different client) we drove from LA to NYC meeting with 24 of the brand’s clients over 17 days making professionally produced and shareable brand videos for each of our client’s customers we met. These videos were edited from the road and posted online within 24 hours of shooting as well as a larger documentary-style video showing the entire trip.

• We created a fake advertising agency for a data research client where we made intentional “bad ads” to show the importance of testing your creative before you release it to the world.

• We borrowed the concept of the “Tupperware party” and sent Tupperware to 500 people filled with information on how to pitch a client (software brand) brand in their homes to their like-minded friends. As an incentive, they got to keep the Tupperware and got the food at their party paid for if they showed their pitch on social media.

• We have done large and small scavenger hunts.

• …and a hundred other examples.

Your work tends to be edgy, do you work with boring brands?

Our superpower (lame cliche we know) is to make boring brands cool and cool brands unforgettable. It isn’t about being edgy for edgy sake but rather finding the part of the brand personality that can be blown up and made memorable. We match your comfort level and not ask you to match ours, cause if it was up to us every project would include a giant robot.