The Evolution of Marketing Messaging During a Pandemic

Initially, in response to the unpredictability of the coronavirus and uncertainty of the future, marketers leaned on a human-centered messaging approach to appeal to consumers. While empathy in a time of crisis is important, it led to cluttered inboxes with messages from random brands that were less informative and more performative, and repetitive messaging containing the phrases, “We’re all in this together,” and “In these unprecedented times…”

How has messaging evolved in the past year and what should marketers focus on?

4 Marketing Trends to Prioritize in 2021

If there is anything we’ve learned from the past year, it is that the world can throw unexpected curveballs at any time. Marketers, who are typically nimble on their toes, had to rework how they operate to think faster and act even quicker during 2020. Any expectation about how the year would flow or quarterly performance predictions were thrown out the window.

As we move into a new year, here are some future-proof trends that, even despite an uncertain future, can help your team focus on keeping the ball rolling.

Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersJanuary 12, 2021marketing trends, 2021Comment

Setup Agency Partners Continue to Shine Through a Cloudy 2020

At Setup, we work with a number of outstanding and award-winning marketing agencies. Despite 2020 throwing hurdles at the world, our partners still managed to shine. Working with such impressive companies motivates us to continue to make connections, and they truly got us through the year.

Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersDecember 15, 2020awards, marketing awards, agency partnerComment

CMO Spotlight | Ellen Donahue-Dalton - Medecision

Setup CEO Joe Koufman virtually sat down with Ellen Donahue-Dalton, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Medecision. The full conversation covers her career path from politics to marketing, ability to form connections within her organization to succeed, and working for a purpose-driven company and ever-changing Healthcare industry.

CMO SpotlightSetup - marketing matchmakersDecember 11, 2020CMO Spotlight, CMO, marketing advice, thought leadershipComment

Industry Marketing in 2020 + Moving Forward

In the past few months, Setup has spoken to marketing executives in different industries spanning from IT to Entertainment to gauge how companies are adapting during this time. In the conversations, frequent trends brought up included focusing on innovation, building consumer trust, and streamlining diversity and inclusion efforts.

Industry BlogsSetup - marketing matchmakersDecember 8, 2020COVID-19, covid-19, pandemic, industry blogComment

Did 2020 Ruin Black Friday?

Despite malls resembling ghost towns, companies stepped up to make the holiday shopping season “normal” for consumers, leading to one of the biggest digital sales days ever - following 2019’s Cyber Monday - as U.S. consumers spent around $9 billion on retail sites.

How did retailers effectively change Black Friday to adjust to the current needs of the pandemic?

Marketing Industry/TrendsSetup - marketing matchmakersDecember 1, 2020COVID-19, covid-19, pandemic, black fridayComment

A Check-up on the Healthcare Industry in 2020

Since COVID-19 has uniquely impacted the Healthcare industry in particular, we reached out to some marketing Healthcare experts to get their perspective on communicating with consumers to develop trust and changes in the industry moving forward.

Industry BlogsSetup - marketing matchmakersNovember 23, 2020industry blog, healthcare industry, COVID-19, covid-19, pandemicComment

CMO Spotlight | Melissa Proctor - Atlanta Hawks + State Farm Arena

Setup CEO Joe Koufman virtually sat down with Melissa Proctor, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Executive Vice President of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. The full conversation covers Proctor’s path from a ball girl for the Miami Heat to the CMO of an NBA team, the Hawks’ community-driven purpose and strategy, book writing process, and leadership mentality.

CMO SpotlightSetup - marketing matchmakersNovember 20, 2020CMO Spotlight, CMO, thought leadershipComment

#MarketingMixer | Ins[peer]ation Discussion Recap

Our November #MarketingMixer focused on providing an avenue for marketers to share their trials and triumphs during 2020. This intimate event allowed marketing professionals to network directly with one another in breakout rooms, and then share their successes and obstacles with one another in the main room. Marketers walked away with new insights, connections, and the desire to learn more from different industries and perspectives.

Great Marketing Drives Our Economy

The best marketers seek to uncover the true needs of a consumer then develop a solution to serve those needs.

How can marketers continually do this and which companies have succeeded in the past? Joe Koufman, CEO of Setup, shares his thoughts from his experience and conversations with other marketing leaders.

The Hospitality Industry Moving into 2021

COVID-19 has devastated the hospitality industry, causing marketers to get innovative in a time of crisis. How is the hospitality industry adapting and what trends will we see going into 2021?

CMO Spotlight | Kristie Goshow - Preferred Hotels + Resorts

Setup CEO Joe Koufman virtually sat down with Kristie Goshow, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. The full conversation covers how her love for travel shaped her monumental career in hospitality and lodging, her leadership style aims to empower her team, and her ability to uncover opportunity in the most unlikely circumstances.