Strand’s Post

In an exciting turn of events, I've decided to put my own digital marketing skills to the test in a new, hands-on venture. 👇 I've partnered with my colleague Shaggy to launch a Christmas light installation business right here in Salt Lake City... This is our real-world laboratory where we'll be applying our own digital marketing techniques to a local, tangible business (yes my primary focus is still the marketing agency)❗️ Our goal? To light up SLC and see just how effective our online strategies can be! Why Shaggy, you might ask? Our partnership is built on a foundation of complementary skills and previous successful collaborations. Together, I believe we form a dynamic team poised to make a significant impact in both the marketing and delivery aspects of this business. 🤝 Our simplified marketing approach includes: 1. Strategically chosen exact-match-domain: (https://lnkd.in/g9de-hbw) 2. Optimized Google Business Profile 3. Targeted Meta advertising campaigns 4. Traditional outreach via yard signs (old school I know) 5. Strategic partnerships with other home service companies Whether you're a fellow marketer, a business owner, or simply enthusiastic about innovative business approaches, we value your input. We're open to your thoughts on our strategy. Are there key elements we've overlooked? Is there a particular aspect of our process you'd like us to share more about? We invite you to follow along as we document each step of this venture. It's an opportunity to witness firsthand how digital marketing principles perform when applied to a seasonal, service-based business model. Your insights and suggestions are welcome as we illuminate SLC homes and marketing strategies alike this holiday season. Oh and if you have read this far, you get an early Christmas 🎁 ... If you purchase Christmas lights, and refer to this post, Shaggy (and I) will dress as elves while we do the job. Cole ✌️

55+ Marketing That’s Clearly Better Clearwater Living is rapidly expanding nationwide and is becoming the preferred choice for those aged 55 and above who are seeking innovative and wellness-focused independent, assisted, and memory care communities. This market segment is discerning and strategic about where and how they want to live in the present and in the future. Clearwater is not just meeting these needs but exceeding them. P11 is proud to have played a key role in the creation of the brand, its highly successful launch, and its ongoing national marketing efforts. Numerous new Clearwater Living communities are opening and are in the pipeline all over the country, including in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas. Recently, a new Clearwater Living community opened right around the corner from P11’s Newport Beach office, and it's great to watch the progress and the well-attended grand opening. P11’s Executive Vice President, Kendall Carre, is extremely pleased with the ongoing accomplishments. "By reinforcing the brand, its core values, and unique offerings such as their 6 Dimensions of Wellness, Clearwater continues to lead the way in senior marketing excellence. We appreciate the collaboration as the brand continues to evolve. P11’s complete knowledge and proven experience and leadership in all aspects of senior living have been a real asset to our strategic partners.” Stay tuned for more updates about the exciting marketing P11 is creating for this amazing 55+ brand. Trust P11 to help your 55+ brand thrive in this highly competitive market, too. https://loom.ly/HRoyd0M #P11 #RealEstateMarketingAgency #SeniorLivingMarketing #SeniorLiving #ClearwaterLiving

"Always be brave. Always ask the questions." Karen Baines FCIM, Marketing Director at The Crown Estate, shares her best piece of advice for property marketers. For more advice from Karen, read our blog on The Future of Placemaking 👉 https://lnkd.in/eaJmcU89 #3SearchEvents #placemaking #marketing

Unlike many leaders in the public relations industry, I never studied PR in school or worked at a major firm. Instead, I cut my media teeth in journalism. It was while writing for newspapers and magazines in the mid 2000s – receiving hundreds of PR pitches a day – that I developed a sense of what worked and what didn’t in media relations. (There was a lot that didn’t.) Occasionally I’d tap into this knowledge while doing a little PR as a side gig, usually at the request of a business or artist who had never worked with someone in PR. Eventually those side gigs snowballed into the business that became Theirsay. As I built the firm, being an outsider to the industry was an advantage. Doing things differently helped us cut through the noise and land meaningful coverage for our clients. Our proposals didn’t look like proposals from other firms. We didn’t pay attention to competitors or the PR industry at all. We just focused on delivering value to both our clients and the press. Clients who had bad experiences with PR previously appreciated our fresh approach. As we grew and the caliber of our clients increased, our approach normalized a little. We adopted the tech tools every firm uses. We started doing more traditional press releases, while also continuing to place stories other firms might not think to pitch. I started to feel less like an outsider, but definitely not like an insider. Things seem to have come full circle now. The camping industry report and attendant PR campaign we executed for The Dyrt was recognized at the national level with an Anvil Award from Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). It was one of the top three data-based PR campaigns in the U.S. last year. So I guess this little firm is officially not an outsider anymore. But our philosophy of bringing forward great stories that support the public good of journalism while also driving business objectives for our clients has never changed and never will. The list of other Anvil honorees offers a much more encouraging picture of the PR industry than looking at my inbox in 2007. I see other examples of outsider thinking that are transforming this industry for the better. It turns out PR has more to offer than I used to think it did and there is room at the table for outsiders too.

When you're as old (we mean experienced😂) as we are, you know that sometimes the traditional marketing and PR methods work best! This was definitely the case when long-term client, Jenner (Contractors) Ltd, asked us to deliver a campaign based on a major seafront regeneration scheme in Folkestone – Shoreline - that overall would see 1,000 homes built, along with restaurants and leisure facilities over the next decade. Our objectives for the PR and Media campaign were to: 📢 Highlight & communicate the challenges of the build – just look at those curves! 📢 Showcase to the industry and supply chain Jenner’s skills, and ability to deliver large-scale, complex projects 📢 Create a permanent record of the project through the key trade print coverage 📢 Generate considerable exposure for the project 📢 Align Jenner with leading trade publication titles Did we achieve these objectives? Absolutely, and more! We: ✅ Achieved 'Best Contractor Campaign' at the 2024 Construction Marketing Awards ✅ Delivered an ROI of 12.9. ✅ Secured a digital reach of 555,538 and a print reach of 123,390 ✅ Created a permanent record of Jenner's delivery of Shoreline and aided conversations about future phases ✅ Strengthened Jenner's relationship with the industry press, giving them a greater understanding of their business ✅ Positioned Jenner as a leading contractor and showed clear differentiation through the targeted Tier 1 press How did we do it you ask? Well, the answer is just 1 click away 👇 https://bit.ly/3ZEIHK7 Leave us a comment if you agree that traditional PR can still achieve fantastic results. #ConstructionPR

Yesterday, among my hosting tours of one of my previous major urban projects. A consortia I initiated won worldwide registration against over 90 registrations fully integrated with the world's most significant light railway infrastructure. Among my guests yesterday was the previous Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Ted Baillieu AO, who, in a sense, contributed to Melbourne Central's staggering success as Australia's #1 Big Gun 2024 Retail tourism destination by introducing "free city circle" tram services. Yesterday, the City of Melbourne's light railway infrastructure was packed with people all day, and tourism was very high. Melbourne Central has its light railway tram stops at either side of the project. I fully integrated this world-leading public transport into the double-decker underground heavy railway called Melbourne Central Station. Melbourne Central has become Australia's most successful CBD retail and tourism destination because of my initiative to create a sense of place. This year's expected footfall of 40m annual visitors is up despite the CBD of Melbourne footfall being down over 500,000 per week, with Australia's highest occupancy levels of office space headed for basket case status. By saving the Historic "Shot Tower" in our planned major urban project long before the Heritage Authority jumped on the bandwagon, trying to save with no imagination of what could be achieved, just creating mass hysteria instead of being constructive, a similar situation is happening across Metropolitan Melbourne with lack of inclusive residential-grade mid-rise apartments within 400m walking distance radius of each tram stop in Metropolitan Melbourne over 1,600 outside the City of Melbourne underutilised. As a proven Placemaker over the decades, Melbourne Central is a testimonial to my reputation for respecting historic overlays with "no mandatory requirements" through my initiative and sense of social responsibility. Well before Melbourne Central as a proven Placemaker, my respect for Historical Overlays was demonstrated in the City of Adelaide as one of the pioneers in the revival of back-to-the-city living in various projects like Brougham in Brougham Place North Adelaide, one of Adelaide's most exclusive addresses and a further exclusive address on the corner of East Terrace and Halifax Street East Adelaide. The beer promotion and banners have been removed, which I agree with as inappropriate given the Heritage Authority's angst. Today, Melbourne Central, built in a previously neglected precinct of the City of Melbourne, has become Australia's largest urban renewal project; Melbourne Central has transformed this previously derelict precinct of the City of Melbourne as a catalyst project for over $9bn of new investment into a thriving destination. #MelbourneCentral #FormerPremier #Harropfactor #Placemaker #SocialResponsibility #Inclusiveness #ShotTower

Second in a series on "Changing Sr. Living Marketing" Why Are We Only Focused on Filling Rooms Instead of Building a Real Brand? Senior living marketing is stuck in a cycle. We spend money on short bursts of activity—flash deals, “act now” messages, inconsistent campaigns—all aimed at driving occupancy. But what are we really doing? Are we just selling a room, or are we creating a lasting identity that resonates with people? This constant push for immediate occupancy ignores the bigger opportunity—branding. Senior living should be more than a transaction; it should represent a lifestyle, a community where passions are rediscovered and new stories are written. What if our message shifted? Instead of focusing on the deal of the moment, we start creating a sense of what life could really be like in our communities: 🎨 “Rediscover the artist you’ve always been. Senior living that inspires you to live creatively every day.” 🌿 “More than a home—this is where you find freedom, friends, and your next great adventure.” These messages are more than just words. They paint a picture of the feeling our communities can bring. It’s not just about filling a bed for the night—it’s about creating a place where people can live fully, with passion and purpose. We have to change the conversation. We need to move beyond short-term occupancy goals and start building a brand that tells a bigger story, one that speaks to the heart and aspirations of people ready for their next chapter. Explore how you can change your message with a partner like Grit & Gravel #SeniorLiving #BrandingMatters #LivingWithPurpose #MarketingThatInspires #RediscoverPassion

From Nightclubs to Construction Marketing I started my career in marketing for nightclubs, restaurants, and bars... industries where showing off is second nature. When I looked at the construction industry, though, it was a completely different story. Amazing projects, impressive craftmanship but the online presence? Let’s just say it was… lacking. That’s why Joe and I made the leap into construction marketing. Growing up, my dad ran multiple construction companies, so I saw firsthand how tough it can be to win work, get paid on time and juggle everything else. We’re here to help subcontractors stand out, win more work and finally show off what they do best. Because if you don’t market yourself, no one will. Need help putting your projects in the spotlight? Let’s chat.

Think about two sports teams. On one team, each player tries to be the star. On the other team, everyone works together for a common goal. Which team do you think would do better in the long run? It's the same with creating a strong place brand. Everyone in your city, region, or country needs to work together with a shared purpose. When everyone—from shop owners to schools to families—agrees on what makes your place special, you can tell others about it much better. This teamwork can bring in more visitors and new businesses to you. It can also make people who live there feel really proud of their home. #placebranding #destinationbranding #countrybranding #tourism #collaboration

Step right up and explore the Playgrounds of Tomorrow! We are excited to introduce Cushman & Wakefield’s brand-new research into the UK’s experiential leisure sector. Characterized by a world where interactive games meet exciting night-time venues, experiential leisure has become a key proponent of social lives in cities across the country, with the UK emerging as the premier market for prime operators. Explore our research and uncover the key factors driving the sector: 📈 What’s driving the rise of experiential leisure? 🏙️ How is the sector’s growth reshaping our cities and real estate? 🔥 Where are the hottest opportunities for growth? 📍 What role does experiential leisure play in placemaking? Click here to find out more and access the full report > https://cushwk.co/3Vw1VPG For more information, please contact Dominic Bouvet, Matt Ashman, Matthew Englender or Edward Bavister in our UK Retail & Leisure team. #CWPlaygroundsofTomorrow #experientialleisure