Agency Life
Pro Bono Marketing Program for Non-profits
Civilian Launches 2021 Pro Bono Marketing Program for Non-profits Supporting local non-profits has long been a fundamental part of Civilian’s mission strengthening communities. This year we are expanding our geographic reach to include international organizations and committing to two organizations for strategic campaign development. Both of the non-profits chosen will receive six months of integrated…
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A Creative’s Guide to Photo Shoots: How to Embrace the Chaos
We’ve done a photo shoot once or thrice… roughly. Below are some of what our Creative team thinks about before, during, and after each shoot. Take it with a grain of salt, no one shoot is the same. Just like a wedding, you’ll plan for everything to be perfect. It may not seem to go…
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Time Well Spent
Civilians Give Back Nearly 100 Volunteer Hours in 2020 Here at Civilian, we have a relentless desire to help others. We tackle the most complex issues affecting the communities we live in and are hell-bent on making a difference by doing work that matters. As part of that belief, we provide employees with paid time…
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The Power (and Art) of a Claim or Benefit
If the above sounds the slightest bit interesting the odds are you’re an advertising or marketing professional and at some point, you’ve been tasked with selling a product, service, or idea. If however you’re not familiar, a claim is any statement of fact that’s made on behalf of what’s being promoted to help differentiate, establish…
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The Value of Thinking Upstream
Most business leaders think of themselves as problem solvers. Clients, customers, and colleagues come to us with problems or business needs and we deliver solutions. Too often though, we only solve the symptoms of the problem rather than thinking upstream to address the origins of the problem itself. What Does It Mean to Think Upstream?…
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Marketing as a Force for Good
Recently, I [virtually] sat down with an old college buddy Heather Smith to record an episode of her podcast, Things That Are Good. Heather’s goal in the podcast is to highlight aspects of life that are positive in a not-so-positive world, through frank conversation and a few laughs. Both Heather and I have spent our…
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What does a lift on stay at home orders look like for Civilian’s pets?
With parts of the country slowly opening back up, it’s time to start asking the important questions: What does a return to normal look like for the pets of America’s Finest City? These good boys and girls have certainly been enjoying all the extra time with their fellow humans, but what happens next? Should they be…
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Managing Your Meetings like a Boss!
4 Easy to Follow Tips on How to Have More Productive Meetings Meetings are a workplace mainstay and a useful tool for any type of collaboration. Whether virtual or in person, knowing how to facilitate a successful meeting is key, as momentum and topics can easily derail at any gathering of minds if not handled…
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Tips for Successfully Transitioning Focus Groups Online
Until COVID-19 upended the world as we know it, advertising focus groups were in-person events, often held at special facilities where clients and agency staff could watch the responses from behind two-way glass. Earlier this year we scheduled a series traditional focus groups for the Perinatal Health Initiative (PEI) within the San Diego Health and…
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Supporting Employee Wellbeing in a Work-From-Home World
Chances are, you’re reading this post at home. You could be alone with your thoughts in a studio apartment or tucked away in a closet seeking silent productivity away from your restless brood. Whatever your situation, you are likely adjusting not only to how you can personally operate in this shelter-in-place environment, but also how…
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