We are pleased to announce the addition of Kevin P. Mullan, Vice President, New Business Development to the Thread team.

As Mental Health Awareness month reaches its end, we need to find a way to continue this conversation and make the workplace environment a positive and healthy place.  Let’s face it, there is stigma surrounding mental health because it can be a tricky topic to discuss at work.

Amazon owns a Top 3 spot on nearly every current consumer survey related to customer service, technology and innovation, brand trust and just plain, old fashion company growth.

Data from the Center for Workplace Mental Health indicates that employees with depression miss an average of 31.4 workdays each year and lost another 27.9 workdays to nonproductive time, costing employers an estimated $44 billion annually.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In a world that is increasingly opening to – and understanding those with – mental health issues, it’s no surprise that Mental Health Awareness Month is now a firmer fixture on calendars and in organizations around the U.S.

Just a few years ago, brand activation was a phrase most of us had never heard. But as the era of “engagement” dawned in marketing, brand activation became an essential part of any professional’s toolkit.

The equation was simple: replace impressions with experiences to create a stronger relationship and deeper loyalty between the consumer and the brand. In its truest sense, brand activation is the art of driving consumer action through brand interaction. The key aim of brand activation marketing campaigns is to get consumers to act. It’s about bringing brands to life via experiences and forming long-term emotional connections. 

If you are a nonprofit organization, here are three important marketing trends you should include in your 2019 planning.

1. The Revival of Email

As the reach on social media channels like Facebook declines through stricter algorithms and policies, nonprofits should ramp up email communications.  By 2021, 7.7 billion email accounts are expected worldwide.  Smartphone users check emails 81% of the time on their device.  And with 59% of email opens occurring on mobile, you need to ensure any landing page click thru’s are mobile optimized as well.

I had a conversation with a recent college graduate last week and I asked him if he used LinkedIn to prep for a meeting. His response surprised me. “I already have a job. I don’t need LinkedIn.” Really? In this time of big-data, constant networking and social media driven everything, LinkedIn still is thought of as just a place to find a job?

LinkedIn is so much more. And if you’re not using it as part of your organizations digital marketing strategy you are missing out.

Learning the Ropes of Social Media

The Midwest is full of world-class marketing events this summer. With warmer weather finally here, it’s a great time to feel refreshed, get inspired and expand your marketing knowledge at some upcoming can’t-miss marketing conferences.

Below are Thread’s picks for the top five marketing conferences in the Midwest this summer.