We've Moved

The Blogger platform has been good to the Idaho Ad Agencies blog for the past four years. But it's time for the blog to stretch its legs a bit.

That being said, you can now find the Idaho Ad Agencies blog at www.idahoadagencies.com.

Please feel free to head on over to the new site, or wait just a moment and you'll be redirected automatically.

Thanks to everyone who has visited the site over the years, and we look forward to seeing you at the new Idaho Ad Agencies site.

Comments...

...have once again gone on a downward spiral. It seems to happen every couple of years.

As such, the ability to leave comments anonymously has been disabled.

Everyone is welcome to share their opinions, and everyone has the right to their own opinion, but let's keep things above the belt, shall we?

An Idaho Radio News Update

Back in October, Don decided that it was time to close up shop over at Idaho Radio News.

It didn't last long.

He's back at it again, still cranking out regular updates on the ins and outs of the radio world around the state. I'm pretty sure he's got the same disease I do - this whole blogging habit's a hard one to break!

For what it's worth, I say a much-belated "welcome back Don."

Technorati tags: idaho radio news

The Final Results: Think Pink's Concert for the Cure

For those of you who may have missed it, Think Pink's Concert for the Cure was this past Saturday. By all accounts, the concert was well attended, and a great time was had by all.

When it was all said and done, through ticket sales, sales of their signature Save the Boobs t-shirts and raffles of donated prizes, the event raised $4,000, which will be given to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

One touching moment during the concert that was passed along: "Pat Crozier and Nick Mcdowell from local band Smooth Old Fashioned High played a dedication song, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, that showcased the tribute wall which was a rotating slideshow of people who have battled all types of cancer."

Credit goes to the founders of Think Pink Inc, as well as the Boise Advertising Federation, for promoting this concert as their public service project for the year.

Technorati tags: think pink inc, concert for the cure, save the boobs t-shirt, pat crozier, nick mcdowell, smooth old fashioned high, boise advertising federation

UPDATE - The Broken Barker Benefit

I just got word from the Wirestone folks that the Broken Barker Benefit has been postponed, and will not be happening this Friday, as originally planned. It seems that there was a setback in his recovery, so they've decided to push it back.

At this point, I know that a decision will be made later this week, and as soon as I have more, you'll know as well.

Technorati tags: wirestone, jeff barker, broken barker benefit

Quiet Week for the Idaho Ad Agencies Blog

Yes folks, it's going to be a quiet week for the Idaho Ad Agencies blog. Brian is taking a "working vacation" in Oregon this week, so new posts could be few and far between.

We'll return to normal programming next week.

In the mean time, here's a few other sites that might tide you over:

Underdog Effect
Ad Age Small Agency Diary
Silicon Florist
American Copywriter
Adpulp

Technorati tags: idaho ad agencies blog, underdog effect, ad age small agency diary, silicon florist, american copywriter, adpulp

Embracing Their Awkwardness

Over the past couple of years, I've regularly picked on, harassed, and generally tormented to folks over at Stoltz Marketing Group about their lack of updates to their website.

They finally got sick of me pestering them. Or not.

In all seriousness, though, the folks over at Stoltz Marketing Group have launched the latest and greatest version of the agency's website. In addition to the typical fodder -- capabilities, portfolio and such -- they've also shared some of their unique personality, and a lighter side of the agency with a few candid photos from the staff throughout the years.

You'll have to see the site to fully appreciate it.

Now you're on the hook though, folks. Gotta keep it updated.

Technorati tags: stoltz marketing group

A Few New Additions

I've been lazy, at best, when it comes to mentioning the new agencies that have been added to the Agencies in Idaho section to the right. So, in no particular order, here are some that have been added recently:

Campbell & Associates - "Targeted advertising & comprehensive media services" out of Pocatello.
Cendesic - "Full service search and digital marketing agency" based in Boise.
Mitchell + Palmer - Branding, strategy, execution, the works (it seems) based in Boise.
Motive Media - Web design, branding, and advertising media agency out of Boise

Who else have I missed?

Technorati tags: campbell & associates, cendesic, mitchell + palmer, motive media

New Agency Addition - Red Sky Public Relations

Okay, so I'm horribly behind on this one. Happens to the best of us...

Red Sky Public Relations is a recent addition to the marketing and communications world here in Idaho, but they come packing a pretty big punch. Red Sky was founded by Stephanie Worrell, formerly of Worrell Communications, Jessica Flynn, previously Communications Manager at Tamarack Resort, and Alicia Ritter, formerly Director of Fundraising Initiatives at Boise State University.

The firm also started with Catie Wardwell as an Account Executive and Robert Deen as an investor and advisor.

Red Sky PR started off with a bang, opening their doors with clients such as Supervalu/Albertsons, Tamarack Resort, College of Western Idaho and more. On the interactive front, they also publish the PR Musings Weblog.

Techorati tags: red sky public relations, red sky pr, stephanie worrell, worrell communications, jessica flynn, tamarack resort, alicia ritter, boise state university, catie wardwell, robert deen, supervalu, albertsons, college of western idaho, pr musings weblog

A Little Housekeeping

It was politely brought to my attention recently that the list of Agencies in Idaho is in need of attention. It's something that has been in the back of my head for some time now, and I know there are several additions that need to be made.

So, don't be surprised to see a few new things pop up every now and again. If you have any suggestions, or notice something missing, by all means, send me an email.

And now here's another way to get your fix

Every month, the number of visits to the Idaho Ad Agencies website amazes me. Subscriber counts continue to rise, whether that's through feed readers, email subscriptions or whatever other form you choose.

But why stop there. Let's add another option to the list.

In addition to everything else, you can now find the Idaho Ad Agencies blog feed on Twitter. The exact location is twitter.com/idahoadagencies.

Already using Twitter? Great - you know what to do. Never heard of it? Take a few minutes and give it a look. Then, if you feel so inclined, jump on into the pool.

Technorati tags: idaho ad agencies, twitter

Changes are in the air

Word over the weekend is that changes are happening, and more may be on the way...

Details to come as they're made available, but in the mean time I can tell you that among those changes may be a new contributor to the Idaho Ad Agencies blog.

Stay tuned.

Technorati tags: idaho ad agencies blog

UPDATE - An open letter to the BAF

As expected, the open letter to the Boise Advertising Federation drew quite a bit of interest, and several responses.

Included in those was one from Edward Moore, President of the BAF, as well as a response from Shane Vaughan, one of the current BAF board members. My thanks go out to both of them for taking the time to respond on behalf of the BAF. Agree or disagree with what they have to say, they deserve credit for responding openly.

If you haven't already, and are so inclined, take some time to read the original post as well as the comments to date. Then, by all means, add your own if you'd like.

Technorati tags: boise advertising federation, edward moore, baf, shane vaughan

BlueLine is no more

For those who may not have yet heard, BlueLine Grassroots Marketing is no more.

Tac goes into much more detail on the New Comm Biz site, so there's no need to regurgitate it all here as well.

Technorati tags: blueline grassroots marketing, new comm biz

New Addition - Adrian + Sabine

In what seems to be an ongoing trend, this addition to the Idaho Ad Agencies roster is headed up by a former member of Oliver Russell & Associates.

Adrian + Sabine Creative Services offers "strategic planning,project management, event planning, and "virtual agency" services." It was founded by Courtney Robinson Feider, formerly of Oliver Russell. Adrian + Sabine's focus is on matching business with creativity, by matching the appropriate creative service with a given business, and the right business with the right creative individuals.

This, by my own unscientific calculations, is the third new business to come into being from a former Oliver Russell staff member over the course of the past year. Some may remember that Kristy Weyrich formed W Design about a year ago, and Paul Carew started Carew Co. about six month's ago.

Technorati tags: oliver russell & associates, adrian + sabine creative services, courtney robinson feider, oliver russell, adrian + sabine, kristy weyrich, w design, paul carew, carew co

Full disclosure - an update

As those of you who have been reading the Idaho Ad Agencies blog for a while know, I make a conscious effort to ensure that this site is focused on the marketing / advertising / agency world here in Idaho, without throwing too many of my own personal activities into it.

There have been exceptions, of course, when I felt it was appropriate. This is one of those times.

As many of you know, I have been working for Closed Loop Marketing & Advertising. Yesterday, however, was my last day with the agency.

It's no secret that I've long been a fan of the interactive space. I'm a self-described internet junkie, and have been involved with online activities in one form or another for over a decade. That trend continues to this day.

My new venture, for those who are curious, will involve working with agencies, and their clients, on how to best understand and utilize the new media space, and the assortment of tools available in that arena. Blogging, podcasting and social networking are a few of the areas that I will be focusing on. As has been the trend for several years now, so much of everything that we do has moved online, and those businesses, and their agencies, who are able to take advantage of that trend will have greater success in the long run.

As part of this change, I will also put a renewed focus on this site. Admittedly, I have not dedicated much time to it lately, but I plan to change that.

Now I'm not trying to make this sound too much like a sales pitch -- hopefully it hasn't come across that way. I felt it necessary, however, to let you the reader know what changes are happening on this side of the keyboard, and how they could impact the blog. I've said it before and I'll say it again - thank you to everyone who visits this site regularly, and contributes in one way or another. I am still of the opinion that we have the opportunity to raise the bar, so to speak, on the marketing and advertising world here in Idaho.

As always, I welcome your questions, comments and feedback.

Technorati tags: idaho ad agencies blog, closed loop marketing & advertising, almost live productions

Getting settled in at the new place

By all accounts, Rizen Creative has finished, or is very close to finishing their move into the new office space.

Once they do get settled in, perhaps they'll be so kind as to give me a tour of the shop.

Technorati tags: rizen creative

New Agency Addition

Imagination Graphics (iMgX) is a full service ad agency / graphic design shop located in Coeur d' Alene. They first opened in 2002, and have been steadily picking up clients and employees ever since.

A quick spin through their website suggests that iMgX is an eight-person shop that focuses primarily on graphic design and signage.

Thanks for the heads-ups Sean. Just remember though, now you guys are on the hook to send updates from time to time.

Technorati tags: imagination graphics

Updates from the folks over at Stoltz

For those who have been reading this blog for a while know, I've been known to rail on agencies who don't update their website from time to time. Stoltz Marketing Group is one that I've nagged at repeatedly.

In spite of my good-natured ribbing about their lack of activity represented on their website, the folks over at Stoltz really have been quite busy. Since mid-October they've:

Created a couple of television spots for Northwest Nazarene University's undergraduate enrollment campaign. If you've watched the Boise State Football games this past fall, you've likely seen them at some point. If not, they're up on YouTube, and you can see them here.

Life:


Change:


They've also been chosen by Simplot to create a national print campaign for their RoastWorks line of vegetables, scheduled to start running in January.

Idaho Rivers United was the recipient of a newly-designed website, courtesy of the pro-bono work of the SMG crew.

And that was October alone.

Among other things, December has seen Stoltz Marketing Group selected by The Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to create a national campaign to increase the number of adult male mentors. This is the result of work done at the local level on Men in Need (featured here last fall), which was credited with increasing local male volunteer levels by 46% in 2006.

Also this month, SMG launched the website for Avimor, a "master planned community in the Foothills."

If you'd like to find out more about any or all of this, you can take a look at the online version of SMG's Winter Newsletter.

Now if they would just start putting out some more regular updates, maybe I wouldn't have to write out these long, laundry-list kind of posts...

Hey, its nice to dream once in a while, right?

Technorati tags: stoltz marketing group, northwest nazarene university, boise state football, youtube, simplot, idaho rivers united, big brothers big sisters of america, avimor

Those pesky expiration dates

Platinum Advertising Group's website seems to have vanished into thin air. I quick check of their domain name registration reveals this little tidbit -- it expired on November 23rd.

Oops.

And apparently no one has thought to check on this site since then. I've said it before and I'll say it again -- the devil is in the details. Bad form folks, bad form.

Thanks for the tip S.

Technorati tags: platinum advertising group