A Roller Coaster Day at Omni
By Kathy at Omni | July 2, 2009
On June 30 the staff from Omni visited Six Flags in St. Louis for our long overdue team building exercise/fun day. Together we rode six roller coasters and other extreme rides (see video below), sampled excellent summer park food, and met some characters even more interesting than ourselves! Overall it was a great day and successful in recharging our creative batteries. The team building portion of the exercise consisted primarily of the thrill seekers in the group convincing the others to ride the coasters. For those who may be considering a trip to Six Flags in the near future, here are Omni’s ratings for the six roller coasters that we had the pleasure of riding:
1) Batman - our favorite of the day, very smooth and extremely fun with lots of upside-down loops and curves, we had to ride this one a second time
2) Mr. Freeze - like being shot out of a cannon from the start, extremely fast and over quickly (30 - 45 seconds?), and strange sensation of going backwards, not for the faint of heart, thrill seekers will love this one like we did
3) Evel Knievel - new and pretty good for a wooden coaster, not too jerky and a nice long ride
4) Tony Hawk’s Big Spin - deceptive little coaster lulls you into a sense of security, but forward momentum combined with constant 360 degree spinning throws you for a loop. We had a casualty on this one with a pulled neck muscle, but overall the group liked it!
5) Ninja - we came, we saw, we conquered, it was fine and fairly smooth
6) The Boss - least favorite of the day, a brain rattler, extremely jerky and so long you are praying for it to be over long before it actually ends and left feeling like you’ve been in a car accident and suffered whiplash
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Bear Markets, Budget Cutbacks, Marketing Malaise - Oh My!
By Jill at Omni | June 24, 2009
Recession, sell-offs, layoffs, closings, bailouts - is it a reason for businesses to despair or an opportunity for a second chance? It is often said that Americans are by far one of the most optimistic cultures on the globe, although it would not necessarily seem that way if you polled a few friends these days. But even with the prolonged negative news, at some point we just have to say, “Okay, enough of this, let’s pick up the pieces and get things back on track!” It does not mean instant success or magical profitability or zero unemployment. It just means putting on a new attitude and a creating a reason to keep plugging along.
Most business owners have experienced painful operational trimming and tough decisions in the past year. I have heard clients and other business owners discuss their tactics to refocus, shift their processes and alter methods for business development to keep up with the new dynamics of doom and gloom. It is hard to keep the proverbial stiff upper lip when you are bombarded with messages about the seemingly endless consequences of financial failures. Marketing, like all service businesses, tends to be a line item that is initially vulnerable to being cut. However, strategic-thinking clients see it as a tool to help them achieve stability and loyalty even in challenging times.
So, what does this mean for marketing and business? Absolutely everything. It means that once we recover from the constant barrage of this new world of cutbacks and lagging economic indicators, businesses have an opportunity to emerge stronger, more attentive, and more focused than ever before. Maybe budgets are being trimmed, but being cost-efficient and strategic in spending marketing dollars is always a good idea. Maybe it is a little harder to figure out what customers want now, but it is beneficial to determine what customers really need from you to help align your business and investment of time and resources.
Focus, strategic planning, consistent messaging and dedication to customers– these are all cornerstones of successful marketing.
Topics: Client Services, Marketing | 1 Comment »
Radio for Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System
By Kathy at Omni | June 9, 2009
Here is the latest radio spot produced by Omni Communications Group for Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System.
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Design Saving Media?
By Jill at Omni | May 22, 2009
One of my new marketing colleagues, Steve Dilley (a motion graphics designer) recently sent me a link for a video that showcased a young (well, young by my terms) designer from Poland who has made incredible changes in the communications field in eastern Europe. Jacek Utko is a Polish newspaper designer whose revamping of newspapers in Eastern Europe have not only won world renown and awards, but have also helped increase circulation of those publications up to 100%. His discussion is “Can good design save the newspaper?”
Jacek has transformed boring, unread newspapers in the former Eastern bloc, by the redesign and re-thinking of the content. These papers have achieved STELLAR increases in circulation (translation: more money).
Design saving a media tool? Design saving a business industry many have said is beyond saving? In Bulgaria, Estonia, and Poland? Something to ponder - how smart strategic marketing and design is changing the fortunes (literally) of business. We hear a lot lately about major newspapers failing in the U.S. Just wonder what would change if really innovative and smart design with marketing entered into the prescription.
“Design coherent with strategy and content can be used as a tool to completely change the product, the process…” Wise words from Utko.
Utko notes that design was only PART of the process. He explained how he borrowed from Architecture regarding how form and function make a strategy (hey, there’s that ’strategy’ word again!). The story itself is worth watching - it is inspirational if nothing else.
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Omni Welcomes Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System
By Kathy at Omni | April 30, 2009
Omni Communications Group is pleased to welcome Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System as a new client of the marketing agency. Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System is located in Mattoon, Illinois, and Omni will help promote the healthcare services and medical specialties of their hospital facility and treatment centers, including their comprehensive Regional Cancer Center, Heart and Lung Center, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, and Center for Interventional Pain. Welcome aboard to Sarah Bush Lincoln!
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Omni Helps America In Bloom Locally
By Kathy at Omni | April 30, 2009
Jean Bruner-Jachino of Omni Communications Group will help raise funds for America In Bloom by working as a bartender this evening at Bennigan’s Grill & Tavern “Movers & Shakers Night” along with Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin, Lisa Ellis of Illinois National Bank, Amber Sabin of City Water Light & Power, and Karen Conn of The Inn at 835 and Conn’s Catering. All tips received this evening by these local celebrity bartenders will be donated to America In Bloom, a national program that has existed since 2001 to work with more than 150 cities across the country to promote nationwide beautification programs and personal and community involvement through the use of flowers, plants, trees and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements.
Bennigan’s is located inside the Hilton Springfield downtown, and the event is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Stop by to help support Springfield’s efforts in the American In Bloom competition to improve the quality of life for Springfield residents and visitors.
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Medical Marketing and Positive Economic News
By Jill at Omni | April 21, 2009
Omni is excited about our recent opportunity to work with the Mid-Illinois Medical District to fulfill their marketing campaign this year. Not only is this a project that allows us to put our skills as marketing strategists to work, it is also an opportunity for Omni to use our considerable medical marketing experience to help the MIMD achieve their goals of awareness in our community.
Omni Communications Group has a long history (almost 17 years!) working behind the scenes to build businesses locally, regionally and even nationally. At a recent strategy meeting, we discussed how we’re kind of like Northwestern Mutual - the ‘quiet company’ - we are in business to promote our clients’ businesses, and we know that by growing THEM we will achieve success as well.
We applaud the Mid-Illinois Medical District and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s Q5 team for their considerable efforts to communicate to the Central Illinois region how important the medical industry is to our community and beyond. This is an enormous undertaking with enormous potential for all of us who live and work here in Springfield, Illinois. And isn’t it nice to hear some positive economic news about growth, new jobs, improved healthcare services and success for a change?!
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Omni Sponsors Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
By Kathy at Omni | April 9, 2009
Omni Communications Group is the proud sponsor of the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago performance at Sangamon Auditorium on Thursday, April 16, 2009. Everyone at Omni is looking forward to this performance, and you can take a peak here at what it’s all about or learn more at the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago website.
Topics: Omni News | 1 Comment »
Connect with Omni Communications Group on Facebook
By Kathy at Omni | April 8, 2009
Omni Communications Group now has a presence on Facebook, the rapidly growing social networking website, in keeping with the latest and greatest media trends. Anyone can now connect with Omni Communications Group on Facebook, become a fan of the page to keep up to date on Omni news and happenings, and interact with current or future discussions of interest. If you aren’t currently a member of Facebook and want to see what the social media revolution looks like, you can check out the Omni Facebook page at the following link:
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Diet Mountain Dew Abraham Lincoln Commercial
By Kathy at Omni | March 31, 2009
You make the call, is the Diet Mountain Dew commercial featuring Abraham Lincoln as a stark raving mad wrestler great or is it disrespectful to our nation’s greatest President, the Great Emancipator who gave his life for his country?
Topics: Creative Services, Marketing | 1 Comment »