Lauren Jones

Thrilled to have represented Vintage Faire Mall in a live segment on Good Day Sacramento in my prior role as a Senior Manager of Marketing. Now, as a brand strategist, I have the opportunity to discuss the powerful synergy between marketing and live TV with my clients.🚀 In today's fast-paced digital world, where personalized connections are key, leveraging live TV presents an incredible opportunity to engage with your target audience both dynamically and authentically. 💼 Live television amplifies brand visibility, fosters trust, and drives meaningful interactions with viewers through a more personal connection. In this case, with the host and I as their guide, I was able to provide an experience we were offering for a holiday activation. 📈 Here are a few key takeaways: 1️⃣ Real-Time Engagement: Live TV allows for instant interaction with the audience, fostering genuine connections and feedback. 2️⃣ Authenticity: Nothing beats the authenticity of live content. It humanizes brands, making them more relatable and trustworthy. 3️⃣ Targeted Reach: By strategically aligning marketing messages with live programming, we can reach our target audience at the right time and in the right context. 4️⃣ Memorable Impact: Live TV leaves a lasting impression. It's an opportunity to tell compelling stories and leave your audience wanting more. Not to mention, provide shareable content to the platforms that you control. 5️⃣ Call To Action: Provide an actionable next step for your potential customer. For instance, "Make Your Reservation" and pre-plan your visit. Let's continue to push boundaries and redefine the future of marketing together! 💪 #Marketing #LiveTV #Innovation #brandstrategist #adagency

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Fourthmeal... the meal between dinner and breakfast. It's been almost 20 years since we introduced this crazy idea that didn't just elevate the business, but truly became part of the cultural lexicon. The team at FCB Irvine and Taco Bell realized that 'spice up the night' had done great things for the business, but wanted to provoke the fast food industry as only TB could. Strategically, we leaned into the fact that the food did more than just fill you up, but late at night it was more about 'feeding your carnivorous side' (aka the main idea from the brief). Since then, seeing how the business has continued to evolve, creative that pushed deeper into the role Fourthmeal can play in people's nights, and as the CBO said at the time... "TB is really just late night food we eat during the day". Remembering our crew that created this iconic idea... Chris D'Amico, Michelle Purcell, Teddy Brown, Sean Hardwick, Richard Pinnella, Cooper Olson... they've all gone onto great things, but this is one that I always go back to. #Fourthmeal #iconic #brands #creativeideas #business #latenight #FCB #advertising #campaigns #makingithappen #TBT #throwbackthursday #socal #creative #marketing #provoke #strategy #brandstrategy #creativestrategy #fastfood #qsrmarketing #qsr https://lnkd.in/e2xZZf3t

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I’m a proud CA Valley native with deep roots in Visalia, California. 🌳 { Here’s how I would have rebranded this California town! LOVE! I hope you enjoy this reimagined Brand Identity System!} I grew up in Fresno, CA, but my weekends were spent in the city of Visalia, visiting my Grandmother and skipping over to Taylor Hot Dogs with every visit. My father grew up here, attending local schools and growing up on a farm off of Avenue 304 as his father was the Ranch Foreman. So when I saw that this vibrant central valley town recently went through a rebrand, I was taken back by the direction city officials took! 🥴 The original logo is cherished by the community. It has a traditional aesthetic that resonates with long-time residents, emphasizing the city’s history and the sense of community. But even in 2024, Community members agree that a Brand Refresh is needed to reflect what the city is today. The community, if anything, is not opposed to change and innovation. Unfortunately, what they got was a minimalist design, reducing the visual elements to basic shapes and colors. While modern, this approach may seem impersonal and abstract, losing the intricate storytelling that the original offered. Even worse, the responsible party responded with “🎶 Let’s give’em something to talk about…🎵” 😒 And as a Brand Strategist and Designer, that even made me upset! The discrepancy between Visalia’s original and rebranded logo underscores the critical importance of a strategic approach to branding. 💡Effective brand identity is not just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a visual representation that resonates deeply with the community’s values, history, and identity. ✨Rooting branding efforts in strategy ensures that the brand reflects the essence of the community, fostering pride and connection among its members!!! Happy to share BTS of my rebrand, the strategy behind the designs, and other use case mockups, and MORE! 👉🏾 Perhaps we can influence and change the fate of Visalia’s rebrand! Help me get this seen by City Official in and around the San Joaquin Valley, especially the City of Visalia!! LIKE COMMENT AND RESHARE WITH YOUR NETWORK. Thank you! @cityofvisalia #visalia #visalialogo #cityofvisalia

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Who else is attending VidCon next month?! I'd love to schedule meet-ups. 📆 I'll be in Anaheim alongside Kate Finley, a featured panelist on Thursday's schedule. Kate will discuss how the creator economy can fuel growth and drive business success. 👏 Hope to see you (and my favorite influencers -- looking at you, Hank Green!) there. 😎 #VidCon #InfluencerMarketing #Influence #Influencers #Creators #CreatorEconomy

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As we wrap up this year's festival season down in Indio, CA it brought us an unexpected twist. While Coachella has long been the crown jewel of music festivals Stagecoach is emerging as a formidable contender and may have just overthrown Coachella this year. Here are just 2 of my thoughts as to why: 1. Genre Appeal: Country music has seen a resurgence in popularity, expanding beyond its traditional audience. Stagecoach capitalizes on this trend, offering a lineup that appeals to both country loyalists and crossover fans. With acts like Wiz Khalifa, Post Malone, Marshmello and so many others showing up there are more eyes on country music than arguably ever before. 2. Audience Experience: With a reputation for a more relaxed atmosphere, Stagecoach offers a different kind of festival experience that might be attracting those looking for something more laid-back than the high-energy hustle of Coachella. As a digital marketing agency with a keen eye on entertainment trends, we at NOX Media are closely watching these developments. Understanding these shifts not only helps us tailor our strategies but also predicts where the market is heading. What do you think contributed to Stagecoach’s potential edge this year? Let's discuss below!

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As VP of Brand Partnerships at Fixated, I spend my days building bridges.   I connect passionate creators with innovative brands, fueling campaigns that resonate with audiences and deliver results.   But the truth is, finding the perfect fit hasn't always been easy.   That's why I'm incredibly excited about Instagram's new "Creator Insights" feature.   But what is Creator Insights and how can brands benefit?   Think of it as a secret weapon for brands like mine, offering a glimpse into a creator's performance right on their profile.   Creator Insights provides brands with a quick snapshot of an influencer's account health over the past 30 days. It is some sort of a cheat sheet that reveals:   Follower Growth: How quickly is the creator's audience expanding? Accounts Reached: How many unique users are seeing the creator's content? Accounts Engaged: How effectively is the creator sparking interactions with their audience (likes, comments, shares)?   So, why does this matter? Here's why Creator Insights is a gamechanger 👇

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Part 1 of this three-month corporate comms specialization from UC Irvine focuses on communication methods and organizational "storytelling," a term I've always hated because it sounds like kindergarten. Having completed the coursework, I've learned the best brands are those that fuse marketing and communications objectives with enough self-awareness--think Dos Equis--that we don't feel like we're being read to sleep by our kindergarten teacher after lunch and recess. In other words: not all stories sound the same, not all of them need to leave you blandly, genially happy, and some can be quite short, simply arousing a desire for a product or to deepen a relationship with an organization. Thanks Chris Ruoff and Coursera! #communications #marketing #storytelling

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Lauren Lamb, Desiree Mejia and myself had the honor of attending our THIRD Meta Performance Marketing Summit in San Francisco this month! 🛩 We got to spend a few days nerding out with some of the most talented performance marketers in the game discussing the latest and greatest from the Meta ecosystem of products. We recapped our top learnings from the Summit to share with YOU for free! For those who attended, what were your standout learnings from the event? Let's keep the conversation going! #metaperformancemarketingsummit #metaads

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Ever wondered how out-of-home advertising is thriving in San Francisco? Check out my latest blog post to see how brands are making waves in the Bay Area with creative campaigns and takeover transit ads. Read it here! #OOH #SanFrancisco #Advertising BART OUTFRONT Media

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Brand Breakdown: La La Land Kind Cafe 😊 I live in Los Angeles... the pinnacle of trends, brands, and culture. And there are SO many brands here that deserve recognition for how above & beyond they go. This week, I'm walking you through La La Land Kind Cafe, my favorite coffee spot to work from in LA. Here's why they crush: 🙂 Brand Identity The brand is "in the business of kindness." They literally call themselves the 'Kind Cafe' because they envision a world where EVERYONE is kind to each other. Kindness is at the root of everything they do. 🙂 Visual Identity La La Land leans into yellows, creams, and browns to cue happiness. They took the original smiley face and made it THAT much better. 🙂 Merch Strategy I might be bias but... La La Land crushes merch. Every time I bring a new friend in, they go "ugh I need one of these hats." They merch you would actually want to wear. ... it also helps that they keep the merch on a rack next to where you line up to order. Smart. 😂 🙂 Social Strategy La La Land isn't a regular coffee shop on social. Yes, they promote their new drinks. But they also sprinkle in positive affirmations. AND they have a series called "Drive By Kindness" where they shout compliments out of their car to strangers. 🙂 Mission The Kind Cafe puts their money where their mouth is. They hire & mentor foster youth as one of the ways they give back to the community. And their brand strategy is clearly working... La La Land Kind Cafe just opened their 12th location in Plano, TX in March! I expect them to be all over the map pretty soon. --- Follow Ali Kaltman more brand breakdowns, and DM if there are any LA brands you think I should cover! (And yes... I know La La Land started in TX, but it's only in TX and CA, so wanted to share!) #brandbreakdown #LAlocal #brandmarketing

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Question: Who's in SF for Config this month? Friends, fellow marketers, new #UX buddies? It's my first trip to the Bay Area in ages, and I'm stoked. {Fun fact: The first piece of "art" I had in college was a framed photo of the Golden Gate Bridge.} It's also my first industry event as an attendee in ages. I'm ready to geek out about Figma - so come sit by me. #design #marketing #uxresearch

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In our March San Francisco Beelieve Conference, Adam Lifshitz, Sr. Director of Product Subscriptions from Condé Nast, opened the Chargebee audience eyes to how Conde's media brands are constantly improving at acquiring and retaining millions of media subscribers through targeting, testing, and engagement of niche audiences. This has had had an "immense" impact on Conde's top line. 📈 From our new case study, now live: "Deploying Chargebee Retention transformed our strategy, allowing us to craft targeted experiences for niche audiences. By simply introducing this technology, we witnessed a notable increase in customer retention. Through a customized approach to retain subscribers, we initially focused on simply reiterating the value they gain by staying with us, which in itself resulted in a significant boost in retention right out of the gate." Adam Lifshitz thank you for you/your teams' efforts to constantly improve your subscription business with Chargebee - and for being a great partner! Case study linked in comments below ⬇

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Have you ever felt the impact of an invisible illness? Crohn's disease may not be visible, but it disrupts countless lives daily.  Today, I had the honor of participating in the Take Steps for IBD Walk in Orange County, an event spearheaded by my daughter, Vanessa Sher and her incredible team. Diagnosed with Crohn's at the tender age of 10, Vanessa now dedicates her career to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, tirelessly working towards a cure. I couldn't be prouder of how she's turning her personal battle into a beacon of hope, sharing her journey and inspiring others to "take steps" towards a cure. It's personal for us. I've accompanied her to more colonoscopies than any mother should, but it's these experiences that fuel our commitment. So, I pose this question to you: Do you have a cause close to your heart? For me, supporting Crohn's and Colitis research is a no-brainer. If you're looking to make a difference, here are a few ways you can help: 1) Educate yourself and others about IBD. Awareness is the first step towards change. 2) Participate in events like the Take Steps walk. Your presence makes a difference. 3) Donate to organizations dedicated to finding a cure. Every penny counts. 4) Volunteer your time or skills. It's about more than just money; it's about community. Let's unite in the fight against IBD. If my daughter's story resonates with you or if you support a different cause, I'd love to hear about it. Drop a comment below, and let's share our experiences and motivations. If you found this post insightful, please give it a like or better yet, repost it to spread the word. Together, we can take steps towards a future free of Crohn's and Colitis. #CrohnsDisease #TakeSteps #FindACure #theshermethod ❤️ I am Rhonda Sher  ★ Supporting you converting your relationships to revenue on LinkedIn  🔑   Providing done for you LinkedIn profile makeovers, training, coaching, mastermind memberships, keynotes and podcast guesting ❤️ Like this post? Want to see more? 🔔 Ring the 🔔 bell on my profile Follow #theshermethod 🔝Connect with me

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This is hella interesting. I don’t think it’s a brand problem…I think it’s a profit over people problem. When you get comfortable just because of your name, cut corners on quality/material/innovation, and shift away from facilitating community+connection—why buy when you can no longer resonate with a brand whos values go against your audience and their cultural touch points are surface level at best. Sometime you have to slow your processes down and give people the room to develop regardless of what the board says. New Balance moves so strategically and slow when making choices and have been at the center of creating culture. Moving as fast as culture is never the answer if it’s at the expense of people for profit and doesn’t create impact over time.

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🎙 New Podcast - CreatorIQ 🎙 Had the honor of sitting down with Conor from CreatorIQ on the #EarnedPod to talk all things Creators, Threads, and Meta OG days. #podcastguest #podcast #meta #creators #threads #marketing #creatoreconomy

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At the ANA Brand Masters Conference in Carlsbad, California, I had the pleasure of hearing @DougZarkin, author of "Moving Your Brand Out of the Friend Zone," share his insights on building brand love. Doug explained that the formula behind brand love is value = experience/price. This might sound simple, but it's all about the value a brand creates. According to Doug, it’s not just about getting a good deal or a low price. He refers to the entire experience a brand offers. I could resonate with that too, when I am hooked on a brand I talk about them to my friends and recommend them. Bringing this full circle to my work at Quest Global, I believe this is why we should live into being the most trusted thinking partner for our customers. Another key takeaway from Doug’s talk was the importance of nurturing lifelong customer partnerships, making them reach a sweet spot where they are loyal and emotionally invested in the brand’s success. To maintain this lifelong relationship with customers, we need to listen more to them, understand their needs and consistently deliver more than what’s expected. It’s about making customers feel valued and showing them that their trust in us is well-placed. I think this helps move a brand out of the friend zone and step forward into the hearts and minds of our customers forever. What brand do you have loyalty to and why? #BrandLove #CustomerExperience ANABrandMastersConference #DougZarkin

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Our latest #AANHPI report, in collaboration with Gold House, highlights the shift in the conversation from community to industry as Bing Chen shares here. Check it out in his own words! And check out Nielsen for our latest report!

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I will be in Vegas next month for the licensing expo (my first time attending) so would love to catch up with: - Any gaming clients who want to learn about our performance driven influencer capabilities along with our abilities to create longer term creator / ambassador programs. To learn more about creator programs, check out Jennifer Zall ' s blog here - https://lnkd.in/gpgCxhiA - Any non gaming clients who know they have to be involved in gaming but do not know where to start or how to reach out to talent (since we are talent agnostic, we have deep relationships with talent and their representatives). This Dungeons and Dragons movie campaign spearheaded by Emilee Helm showcased how Gamesight combined our intricate knowledge of the gaming market and our relationships with talent to put together a month long and tight turnaround massive campaign with talent across the US. - https://lnkd.in/gpbQUkbg. - Any company who wants to learn more about chat sentiment and how this data can support your efforts reaching the Twitch audience. Check out Nikolas Racelis-Russell's blog here - https://lnkd.in/dcfM-8jp #videogames #licensing #videogameindustry #influencers

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I love what YouTube is doing in commerce 🛍️👏 Last week they launched new shopping features including Collections (a way for creators to set up virtual stores), and an Affiliate Hub that shows a list of e-commerce partners offering commission rates and promo codes. Both are going to help creators directly sell products featured in their videos and earn commission. What I love most about this is that while most of the industry speaks to affiliate partnerships as direct brand/creator collabs, this is affiliate on your own time. Brands can easily list affiliate links and provide further incentives any time they want, while creators can use those links on current or previous content whenever they want. And as AI detection gets even better the ability to automatically tag every product in every video is going to be a complete game changer. If passive income is the dream of most creators, this is a really attractive toolset to get there. Just when it seemed like TikTok was running away with the commerce torch, YouTube says not so fast. Meta your move… #influencermarketing #creatoreconomy #affiliate #socialcommerce https://lnkd.in/gfMX7kD2

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