Search Results for: social media

I know our brand needs to get in on this social media thing, BUT…

May 1, 2014 by Leave a Comment

“It’s confusing.” “How do you know which pages to join?” “I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M DOING!”

If this is how you feel about social media, I understand. Branching out into an unfamiliar area is scary, especially if you’re unsure about taking the next step. However, if you don’t take this step, you and your brand are going to be left behind.

It’s no secret that social media is on the cusp of world domination (I’m joking, of course). The role social media plays in our daily lives is a big one and its influence is growing. Social media provides avenues in gaining the attention of your audience that traditional mediums simply can’t deliver. With this being the case, it’s extremely important for brands to develop a solid social media strategy. With new tools and platforms constantly emerging, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the entire social media process. However, with the right focus and attitude, creating your own “social space” can benefit your brand in ways you could never imagine. Here are a few things to consider when embarking on your social media journey:

1)      What is your objective? The best social media strategies have a goal in mind. For instance, do you want to drive sales, increase awareness, attract a following, etc.?

2)      Create engaging content. Think of social media as a two-way communication model. This is your opportunity to communicate directly with your audience and their opportunity to communicate with you. Post questions, surveys and other items that will elicit a response. In this moment, you have the attention of your audience; make good use of this opportunity.

3)      Respond in a timely manner. If a follower has taken the time to comment on a post, or send a private message, respond, and respond quickly! This is your chance to make a great first impression!

4)      Listen, Listen, Listen! Your audience will give you a good guide on what they want to see and learn. Ask for their feedback.

5)      Do your research. Research your options. Learn about the platforms, and decide which are most appropriate for your brand. Don’t hesitate to ask for help!

6)      Set targets and measure performance. It’s important for a brand to measure social media performance. How do I gauge success? Some key performance metrics to track include:

–          Shares of social media conversations

–          Social media following (Is your audience growing?)

–          Reach: Is your content engaging? How many people are seeing your messages?

–          Overall engagement: Are you getting likes, comments and shares on Facebook, re-tweets on Twitter, pins on Pinterest, etc.

Now that you and your brand are ready to take the social media plunge, keep this in mind – “Brands should focus more on how to BE social, and less on how to DO social media.”

Filed Under: Creative Communication, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Meat guys and social media

May 23, 2011 by 2 Comments

“Did you check-in?”

This is a question my friends and I often ask each other when we go anywhere and everywhere. It could be a hot new restaurant in the city, grocery shopping at our Whole Foods Market®, or a new clothing store on Michigan Avenue. It seems we are always electronically connected to each other, sharing details on new product findings, sales/deals (I love a good sale!) and anything different or unique.

Between Facebook®, Twitter®, Yelp®, YouTube® and Foursquare®, social media has become a part of our daily lives and engrained in our culture. It has completely changed the way consumers receive information and communicate with each other, and is a modern form of word-of-mouth marketing. Marketers from almost every industry have made social media a significant part of their marketing programs. I say almost because… well, the meat industry has only had minimal participation. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Public Relations Tagged With:

The “Secret” is Out! How to Score Big in the Social Space

June 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Remember the scene from the 1996 classic film, Space Jam, when Michael Jordan hands his pals on the Tune Squad the “Secret Stuff?”  Along with some help from Bugs Bunny, MJ was able to pull a fast one on his teammates. He was able to convince them that his magic elixir (water) could help them defeat the evil MonStars. Lucky for him, it worked!

Where you going with this, you might ask? Well…unlike the contents of Michael Jordan’s water bottle, there really is “secret stuff” that can help lead your team to a successful social strategy.

What is this “secret?” It lies in your mindset. Unlike in a fictitious, animated basketball game where winning or losing is the only thing that matters, in the social game, capturing key learning’s and listening to your audience is the secret that will eventually lead to success.

That’s right, in order to be successful you have to take a step back and realize the importance of experimentation, testing and most importantly, listening.

Take, for instance, our work with Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., and their Star Ranch Angus® beef brand. Throughout 2014, we were tasked with increasing engagement across all of Star Ranch Angus beef’s digital platforms, with a particular focus on their Facebook page.

Our first tactic was to re-think the brand’s current approach to strategy. Instead of “doing” social media, we positioned the brand to “become” social by developing and experimenting with fun, relevant content, geared toward engaging the audience. We paid close attention to metrics, gauging the type of content that sparked reactions. We then focused on those themes to make sure we were giving our audience the content they wanted to see.  Along with testing options in our targeted advertising, we implemented a giveaway campaign that served as the primary traffic driver on the brand’s page. The campaign helped establish a dedicated following that we now refer to as “our community.”

Following the shift in strategy, we saw significant increases not only in engagement, but in following as well. The success of the Facebook page also contributed to increases in web visits and to the addition of another social platform for the brand, Pinterest.

So, when thinking about the next step in your social adventure, keep in mind that, even though you don’t have six championship rings or a team of misfit cartoon characters, you have everything you need to be successful. Take the time to experiment, test and listen, and you’ll be on your way to becoming the “Michael Jordan” of the social space.

To see more of our work with Star Ranch Angus beef, check out this case study chronicling our digital efforts.

Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

The Social Brand

February 14, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Social media – It’s no longer just a phrase, but a culture; a living, breathing and growing world.  Social media has created an arena where real people come to make meaningful connections in a virtual world. In less than a decade, a site that was created overnight for an elite group of college students has grown into an integrated online community of more than 800 million active users that can communicate in more than 70 languages. Social media has not only changed communication, but redefined it.

The social media boom has brought to light the importance of having a social brand strategy as part of a brand’s development. Creating a social brand strategy may seem like an impossible task to anyone unfamiliar with this once in a generation phenomenon, but there is a starting block for everything.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Public Relations Tagged With: , , , , ,

Midan Digital Gallery


Welcome to Midan Marketing

From the farmers who help bring calves and piglets into the world to the families who enjoy dinners created around a tender, mouthwatering entrée, we are the only marketing firm that understands the complete meat channel. We’re proud to present the materials below as a display of our skill and passion for delivering premium marketing services within the meat industry.

Examples of Digital Work

Tyson® Crafted Creations® Brand Animated Video

The exciting variety of modern flavor offered in each Tyson® Crafted Creations® product is brought to life by this visually bold animation.

View Materials

Open Prairie® Natural Angus Beef Rancher Video

A look into the daily lives of the hardworking ranchers who bring you the wholesome flavor Open Prairie® Natural Angus beef is known for.

Watch Video

National Pork Board Cutting Video Sales Tool

Engaging, informative content is a digital marketing must. This short video is part of a Cutting Guide series that shows best practices for pork cutting.

Watch Video

Star Ranch Angus® Beef Stop Motion Video

A fun video that incorporates the fresh visual appeal of stop motion to encourage and teach viewers to cook this summer-inspired recipe.

Watch Video

National Agri-Marketing Association
Award-Winning Materials

Website Directed to Consumers

Designed to educate, inspire and entice, this fun-to-navigate website corresponds with the Tyson® Crafted Creations® brand look and feel.

View Materials

Trade Advertisement

Inspired by the blank canvas that is every high-quality cut of Chairman’s Reserve® Certified Premium Beef, this print ad captures attention with bold simplicity.

View Materials

Social Media Campaign Directed to Consumers

By engaging our online community, this contest helped spark a spirit of creativity in the kitchen with the great flavor and versatility of Star Ranch Angus® beef.

View Materials

See Something You Like?

If any of these marketing materials look like what you’ve envisioned for your business, let us know! We’d love to talk with you about how Midan can help you grow your business and reach your goals.

CONTACT US–

Colorado Premium Webpage


Welcome to Midan Marketing

From the farmers who help bring calves and piglets into the world to the families who enjoy dinners created around a tender, mouthwatering entrée, we are the only marketing firm that understands the complete meat channel. We’re proud to present the materials below as a display of our skill and passion for delivering premium marketing services within the meat industry.

Brand and Product Development

Tyson® Crafted Creations® Brand Animated Video

The exciting variety of modern flavor offered in each Tyson® Crafted Creations® product is brought to life by this visually bold animation.

View materials

Open Prairie® Natural Angus Beef Rancher Video

A look into the daily lives of the hardworking ranchers who bring you the wholesome flavor Open Prairie™ Natural Angus beef is known for.

Watch Video

National Pork Board Cutting Video Sales Tool

Engaging, informative content is a digital marketing must. This short video is part of a Cutting Guide series that shows best practices for pork cutting.

Watch Video

Star Ranch Angus® Beef Stop Motion Video

A fun video that incorporates the fresh visual appeal of stop motion to encourage and teach viewers to cook this summer-inspired recipe.

Watch Video

NCBA Flat Iron Steak Launch

We designed an appealing label and developed a comprehensive program to educate meat department associates about this terrific cut.

View Materials

National Agri-Marketing Association
Award-Winning Materials

Website Directed to Consumers

Designed to educate, inspire and entice, this fun-to-navigate website corresponds with the Tyson® Crafted Creations® brand look and feel.

View Materials

Trade
Advertisement

Inspired by the blank canvas that is every high-quality cut of Chairman’s Reserve® Certified Premium Beef, this print ad captures attention with bold simplicity.

View Materials

Social Media Campaign Directed to Consumers

Engaging our online community, this contest helped spark a spirit of creativity in the kitchen with the great flavor and versatility of Star Ranch Angus® beef.

View Materials

Midan Presentation Materials

Midan Case Study Presentation

Case studies demonstrating specific projects that will resonate with Colorado Premium and their goals.

PRESENTATION– 

Midan
Capabilities

Learn more about the roots that shaped Midan Marketing and the work that has been created through the years.

LEARN CAPABILITIES– 

Meat Consumer Segmentation
Executive Summary

Midan conducted a survey to learn about various types of consumer segments that exist in today’s U.S. meat market.

GET THE RESEARCH– 

Interactive Marketing Manager

March 10, 2017 by

Overview

The Interactive Marketing Manager will develop and oversee the execution of interactive marketing programs intended to strengthen brand recognition, expand and drive new revenue and support clients’ digital initiatives.

Marketing Responsibilities

Team Responsibilities

Qualifications

Education, Training and Network

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications or related field

Google certification preferred

Iowa Premium Webpage


Welcome to Midan Marketing

From the farmers who help bring calves and piglets into the world to the families who enjoy dinners created around a tender, mouthwatering entrée, we are the only marketing firm that understands the complete meat channel. We’re proud to present the materials below as a display of our skill and passion for delivering premium marketing services within the meat industry.

Examples of Video Work

Tyson® Crafted Creations® Brand Animated Video

The exciting variety of modern flavor offered in each Tyson® Crafted Creations® product is brought to life by this visually bold animation.

Watch Video

Open Prairie™ Natural Angus Beef Rancher Video

A look into the daily lives of the hardworking ranchers who bring you the wholesome flavor Open Prairie™ Natural Angus beef is known for.

Watch Video

National Pork Board Cutting Video Sales Tool

Engaging, informative content is a digital marketing must. This short video is part of a Cutting Guide series that shows best practices for pork cutting.

Watch Video

Star Ranch Angus® Beef Stop Motion Video

A fun video that incorporates the fresh visual appeal of stop motion to encourage and teach viewers to cook this summer-inspired recipe.

Watch Video

National Agri-Marketing Association
Award-Winning Materials

Website Directed to Consumers

Designed to educate, inspire and entice, this fun-to-navigate website corresponds with the Tyson® Crafted Creations® brand look and feel.

View Materials

Trade Advertisement

Inspired by the blank canvas that is every high-quality cut of Chairman’s Reserve® Certified Premium Beef, this print ad captures attention with bold simplicity.

View Materials

Social Media Campaign Directed to Consumers

Engaging our online community, this contest helped spark a spirit of creativity in the kitchen with the great flavor and versatility of Star Ranch Angus® beef.

View Materials

AMC 2017 Top 10

February 27, 2017 by Leave a Comment

midan-marketing-team-photoBigger than ever before (with 1,300 attendees!), the Annual Meat Conference (AMC) 2017 was an awesome opportunity to hear from experts across all phases of the meat industry about what’s next for our favorite proteins. We came prepared with our trusty notepads and pens to capture the key takeaways, and we had our work cut out for us. See below for our Top 10 learnings. What were your key findings from AMC 2017? Please share below!

Midan’s AMC 2017 Top 10 takeaways:

  1. New consumer segments can help the meat industry zero in on target customers
    New research segments meat consumers into six distinct groups with unique meat shopping attitudes and behaviors. (Michael Uetz & Danette Amstein, Midan Marketing, Meat Consumer Segmentation). Learn more here.

  2. Foreign trade remains a crucial part of meat industry success
    Forecasters predict a 4.5% increase in meat exports in 2017. Export markets must grow significantly to keep supply and demand in balance. (Randy Blach, CattleFax, Market Outlook for Meat and Poultry)

  3. The meat industry continues to face stiff competition from alternative protein sources
    There are 39% more food items with protein claims on the market today than there were four years ago. (Anne-Marie Roerink, 210 Analytics, The Power of Meat: An In-Depth Look at Meat through the Shopper’s Eyes)

  4. “Environmental eating” is dramatically impacting agriculture
    Today’s agriculture has two marketplaces: Commodity [Filling/Financial] vs. Value-Added [Feelings/Flavor]. Value-added food has a “feel good” story that sells social consciousness. (Damian Mason, Agriculture: Trends, Topics, and Tomorrow)

  5. Consumers deepen bonds with brands through shared values
    61% of consumers will not buy a product if it does not meet societal obligations. (Tish Van Dyke, Edelman, Modern Marketing in the New Media Environment)

  6. Organic offers big opportunities for increased basket rings at the register
    For total U.S., annual dollars per household spent on organic is $126. “True Believers” on the spectrum of consumer segmentation spend nearly triple that amount. (Larry Levin and Steve Ramsey, IRI, The Impact of Organic and No Antibiotics Ever Positioning on Total Store Sales)

  7. There were 540 food recalls in 2016
    Food crises unfold in a predictable sequence. Prepare in advance for a food safety issue by creating an incident guide that includes staged messaging to address possible scenarios. (Jeff Hahn, Hahn Public, Emerging Consumer Concerns and Issues Management)

  8. Pig farmers are connecting directly with consumers
    The next generation of pig farmers is successfully using social media platforms (check out @RealPigFarming on Twitter) to share photos of day-to-day farm life. (Brad Greenway, US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance and Angela Anderson, National Pork Board, Communicating the Story to Consumers)

  9. Opportunity for companies ready to tailor food offerings to meet personal health needs
    While past nutrition guidelines have focused on “one size fits all” recommendations, consumers now expect a more customized approach to health and nutrition. Companies who take action now will lead the future of food (and health). (Simon Negri, A.T. Kearney and Jennifer Bentz, Tyson Foods, Inc., Personalized Nutrition: An Industry Disruptor?)

  10. FSIS easing into new requirements for ground beef recordkeeping
    FSIS has taken a six-month “soft approach” to enforcing the ground beef recordkeeping rule that became effective on 10/1/16. Retailers attempting to comply with the new rule aren’t likely to be disciplined; operators aware of the rule but ignoring it could face as-yet-unspecified disciplinary action. A new notice outlining how FSIS will enforce infractions is expected within 6-8 weeks. (Mark Dopp, North American Meat Institute and Hilary Thesmar, Food Marketing Institute, Regulatory Update)
Filed Under: Market Research, Noteworthy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Topics that Shaped 2016

December 14, 2016 by Leave a Comment

At Midan, it is our job to pay attention to what is happening in the meat industry and beyond. Each week we comb the headlines, not only to keep up-to-date, but to identify patterns that could become trends that impact our industry. As we look back at the past year, a few prominent themes emerge that are likely to continue to require our attention in 2017.

Millennials: The challenge is different with this generation – we simply can’t lump them into a nice, neat category. After all, these “kids” have redefined individualism! One thing is certain: they are a large population force to be reckoned with and their impact has led to shifts in how businesses market to them. Millennials grew social media, heightened consumer consciousness about issues like sustainability and led the charge for clean labels, all while demanding bold flavors and convenient meal options. Complicated? Yes! Worth the effort? You bet!

Want to learn more about Millennials? Check out Michael’s blog on meat-specific Millennial research that we released this year and get additional insight from these articles:

Clean Labels: “Free From,” “Does Not Include” and “No <insert here>” – You are familiar with these kinds of claims because many of you make them. We have evolved from touting USDA grade to branded meat products to branded meat products that differentiate themselves with key attributes. Most of these attributes now focus on what is not in the product.

“Natural” as a claim is losing staying power with beef, but not so much with other proteins, according to Nielsen data. Claims such as “Antibiotic-Free” and “Minimally Processed” have seen significant growth:  antibiotic-free beef sales for the 52 weeks ending 8/27/16 were $321 million. The numbers prove this is more than a fad.

If you are in the beef business and not talking about what to do with your “natural” labels, it’s time. If you are in the prepared business and aren’t removing words consumers don’t understand from your ingredient list, it’s time. If you are a retailer, take note of how you describe what is in your meat case. If you are a chef, it’s time to add to your next round of menus.

Read more about the impact of clean labels:

GMOs:  As a meat industry, we have (for the most part) been able to sit on the sidelines and watch this one unfold. Turns out the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) unveiled two years’ worth of review and proclaimed, “There is no evidence that GMOs are risky to eat.” This declaration did not stop consumers or Congress. Sales of non-GMO food products have soared in the past four years and aren’t showing signs of slowing…yet. Lawmakers brought forth new regulations on how GMOs should be labeled. Although the bill (penned after NAS’s proclamation) exempts foods where meat and poultry are the main ingredients, we still need to keep our eye on it.

This issue is really about something much bigger than GMOs. It is about transparency and consumer trust, and how easy it is to lose one without the other. Whatever the next hot topic is for the meat industry, we need to be prepared to leave the safety of the sidelines and respond.

Read more about 2016 GMO news:

Social Media:  Don’t groan! We need to talk about it, because social media has exploded beyond just B2C.  Marketing is about relationships and it turns out both customers and consumers are …wait for it…human! Marketing is moving to more of a “human-to-human” (H2H) philosophy. So whether you participate in the social media world or not, your customers and your consumers do. If you want them to know about you, you’ve gotta be where they are. Period.

adult-social-media-users
Not sure where to start with social media?  Get tips from a variety of helpful blogs in our archives.

Read more about the social media explosion:  

Got other 2016 topics that should be on this list?  Please leave me a comment – I always love to hear from you!

About the author:
As a Principal of Midan Marketing, Danette is always thinking strategically about how to move the meat industry forward. Her lifelong love for the meat industry began on her family’s farm in Kansas and continues today in her passionate work for meat clients. Midan provides integrated marketing strategies, branding programs, digital media platforms, creative communications, public relations and market research services designed to help make meat more relevant to consumers. 

Filed Under: Noteworthy, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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