Patina Content Studio

For Mike Boyd, our Strategies and Partnerships leader, this quote sums up his passion for travel. A few years ago, amid a family health crisis, Mike realized he hadn't taken a real trip in about 15 years. Life and work, work and life, had gotten in the way. That day he vowed to travel at least one time a year. 3 years ago he went to Belize, last year to Greece, and this year to Croatia. Mike's not sure where next year's trip will be--perhaps a destination on a list he's been compiling or even a domestic trip to one of the 8 states he's never visited. Mike's love of travel stems from the excitement he experiences immersing himself in another culture, meeting new people, living a different lifestyle, trying new food, and exploring and discovering new places. It's always a shot in the arm for his psyche, spirit, and creativity. And while we miss him when he's away, we fully support his passion for exploring the globe! #worklifebalance #dreamtravel #travelbuff

It's easy to get distracted by new technology and go overboard with the latest gimmick. On the other hand, when you're trying to show just how fun a new waterslide is, we're fully buying into the 360 camera. Just sayin. #waterslide #360camera #GoPro #MargaritavilleLanierIslands #FinsUpFalls

When you're looking at a blank page or screen wondering where to get ideas for engaging content, here's a list of our favorite go-to's: ~ Highlight what's new and different ~ Provide an interesting profile ~ Tease something exciting that's on the horizon ~ Share a recent achievement or challenge ~ Highlight a noteworthy trend ~ Call out a favorite new technology ~ Share tips, ideas, hacks, and inspiration #content #contentcreation #ideas #engagement #inspiration

Happy Sidewalk Egg Frying Day! July 4th is Sidewalk Egg Frying Day and we can't wait to celebrate with a side of coffee and a tube of sunscreen. Question: How effective are holiday and special day posts when it comes to engaging audiences? Or has it become just one of those necessary obligations, like going to the dentist? Btw...Happy 4th of July.🎆🎆🇺🇸 #July4th #4thofJuly #Sidewalkeggfryingday #holidays #content #contentcreation

When our Content and Creative Director, Sue Pendleton, was a segment producer at "Good Morning America" she had some crazy adventures. Talking to Tammy Faye Baker while in the courthouse bathroom and just before the jury returned with a verdict, is a good example. But Sue's favorite adventure was a 1,000-mile bike ride down the coast of California on Highway 1 during (what her Dad called) an "early mid-life crisis." The trip was a whim. On a borrowed bike. A mountain bike; not a road bike, no less, and camping the majority of the time. It started as a 500-mile adventure, but after surviving Big Sur, continuing to the Mexican border seemed like a cakewalk. This sense of adventure, with a dash of risk-taking, is essential to Sue's approach to content creation and creative direction. #contentcreation #creativity #risktaking #leadership

Planning and getting ahead of content creation is a challenge. It doesn't matter if it's for another client or our own company. Working with clients, it's a matter of prying information out of their brains. Not that they don't WANT to share the information, but we get it, it's not a priority and they're busy running their business. When it comes to our own content, it's often the same situation -- waiting for a project to deliver or waiting for info. When we can get a month or two ahead, it feels like running up and down the beach without a care in the world. Or getting your expenses done. You know the feeling. #contentcreation #content #welovedogs #summertime

Caroline Levenson is an incredibly talented interior designer who specializes in historic homes. We create some of her social media content because...well...she's busy and has a thriving business to run! The photography she takes for her portfolio is stunning. Caroline directs her photographer to only use natural light. Never artificial light. Even in small dark spaces. It makes for a more complicated photo shoot--as the photographer has to plan around the sun, but boy is it worth it. And something to consider for future shoots. #photography #art #interiordesign #historichomes #portfolio

Start small. That's our motto. Creation by committee doesn't work. But it's important to engage one key stakeholder at the early stages and throughout the process. It's equally important to include other key stakeholders, but in a way that keeps them out of the sausage-making process (which can be messy, right?!). We want stakeholders to provide information and insights, define goals, and clarify expectations. In this way, they can buy into the process--without being a distraction or derailing a project.

You can have the best strategy for SEO and SEM, and an awesome social media following, but if some of the basics aren't in place none of it matters. This came up recently with a client that acquires properties to manage and add to their large marina portfolio. Many of these new acquisitions are companies that were previously small mom-and-pop businesses. The biggest challenge has been finding (and shifting) ownership of Google My Business and social media accounts. And some of the GMB locations haven't been verified. For many companies, these details fall into the long history of the company. Ownership has moved from one person to another or belongs to an employee who has long gone. As companies grow and evolve these details are easy to get lost. Our PSA for the day is to take a quick assessment of where your company stands. #googlemybusiness #gmb #business #businessmanagement #marketing

What's in a name? We've been working with a new client to rebrand their home construction business. Previously, they were solely in the B2B space, but now they're shifting their business model to incorporate a consumer-facing service building individual homes and boutique communities. Creating a name for a business, with multiple stakeholders, is no easy feat. Stakeholders can get distracted, go down rabbit holes, and become paralyzed by the process. When we presented our options, we advised our clients that the name is only a small piece of the brand-building process. Leaning into a name that connects to their core values and value proposition - even if it's not intuitive to the outside world, takes some of the pressure off. Internal reminders of the company's core values and value proposition can build a brand from the inside out. #brandbuilding #marketing #brand #businessname