NEW ADS ARE LURING VISITORS TO THE FLORIDA KEYS

NEW ADS ARE LURING VISITORS TO THE FLORIDA KEYS

This week in Keys Weekly, Mandy Miles featured Tinsley Advertising and our latest work for The Florida Keys & Key West. The article included new photography and print ad examples currently being utilized to promote the destination.

See the full story and new images here: KeysWeekly.com

Thank you Mandy and The Florida Keys for the collaborative partnership we’ve shared for more than thirty years allowing all of us to do great work… that works!

Today marks the end of a legend, but not the end of a dream.

Our heads hang low and our hearts are overflowing with sadness as we announce the passing of our founder and CEO, Sandy Tinsley who died on October 1st of a heart attack.  But, in typical Sandy style, she was surrounded by family and close friends in her final hours.  

Sandy Tinsley was a pioneer in the advertising industry, starting an ad agency in 1974 when there were but just a few women in the business.  After working in radio and as the marketing director for Holsum Bakers, she decided she could do it on her own, opened her own agency, and took Holsum on as her first client.  The agency quickly acquired many national and international accounts transforming brands like The Florida Keys & Key West and SuperClubs Resorts.  She saw great successes with her Tinsley Yellow Pages division as well as the launchings of SilverSea Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. On nothing more than a hand shake with the “coach” himself, Sandy created the Don Shula Show, the first and longest-running coach’s television show in NFL history.

Sandy enjoyed great success and was able to entertain family and close friends at her vacation homes in both The Florida Keys and North Carolina. Better than that, she was able to share her talents and rewards with others including her charitable work with the Boys & Girls Club, Easter Seals, The Leukemia Society, the Deering Estate and Kids in Crisis.  

But, her greatest gift was how she made us all feel  – valued and special.  Often calling those she cared about, “kid”, she was always interested in our families and our children’s latest accomplishments.  It was not uncommon for her to recognize accomplishments with a hearty “outstanding!” or a “fannnntastic!”

Although it will never be the same without her smiling face, contagious laugh and positive outlook on life, her dream and passion will live on through all of us who cared so much for her.

We will miss you “kid” ––  a lot.

Services will be held at Van Orsdel Funeral Homes at 4600  SW 8th Street, Coral Gables, FL on this Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 1:30 pm to 3 pm.  In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you make donations to the following charities that were near and dear to Sandy’s heart:


Thank you,
John Underwood

How long-form videos fit into a short attention span world.

By Dorn Martell

There is no doubt that the average person’s attention span has decreased (are you still with me?). Four-hour political speeches and three-hour operas were once considered the norm a hundred years ago. Now people exist in a constant state of restlessness swiping and clicking their way to the Promised Land of interesting content. But, does this mean that all video must be cut down to nanoseconds, and that anything over 30 seconds will never be seen?

Simply put, no.

Our experience and research has shown that long-form videos enjoy great viewership and engagement, but the challenge is putting the most engaging content on the right platform. And there is a difference between the platforms and the state-of-mind of the viewer.

YouTube and your Website
The difference between these platforms and other Social Media Platforms is the search/opt-in dimension. For example, our 2-minute video for the Rustic Inn at Jackson Hole generated more views and had greater engagement than any video the company had ever produced. And over 85% of viewers watched the whole film. It wasn’t just because it was a really high quality film; viewers who were interested in visiting Wyoming sought it out. The sweet spot for length appears to be between 2 and 3 minutes, but videos between 6 and 15 minutes can garner a 50% engagement rate! This demonstrates that relevant content can hold the viewers attention for much longer than predicted.

Facebook
Videos on Facebook are viewed differently than videos on YouTube or your website. The videos may appear in your newsfeed, as posted organically by friends, or you may see videos posted in groups that you belong to. Then, there are sponsored posts with videos. These videos are supposed to be targeted to your interests but experience shows they are quite random. The optimal length of a video on Facebook is 60 seconds. If a viewer has a connection to the content they will invest a minute of their lives to watch it. This 60-second video was part of a very successful fundraising campaign for the Coral Restoration Foundation: If a tree falls.

Instagram
The popularity of Instagram is quite amazing, from its beginning as a photo filter app to its current dominant position in Social Media. Millennials and Gen Z flock to Instagram mainly because their Mom is on Facebook and you can “follow” celebrities instead of having to “friend” people. The videos that got the most comments on Instagram averaged 26 seconds. So, the prediction of the “death of the 30-second spot” has proven to be over-hyped as the 30-second video is alive and well on Instagram. Here is an example of The Florida Keys & Key West’s sponsored post.

Video Pre-roll
A lot of advertisers will see stats that indicate that viewers will drop off within 3 seconds and therefore try to pump as much info in the beginning of the film as possible. This is a mistake. If your audience taps out before 3 seconds your content is either not relevant, not engaging or they clicked on it by mistake. Our research indicates that the “skip ad” button stimulates viewers to click off regardless of content. So it is important to buy pre-roll that cannot be skipped. 15 and 30 second formats work well for video pre-roll. An engaged viewer will consume up to 30 seconds while waiting for their video to play or continue. Here is an example of 15-second pre-roll for The Florida Keys and Key West.

The bottom line is this: if you create relevant and engaging content your audience will watch it, whether it’s 15 seconds or 15 minutes. Don’t dumb down your videos or assume you have to trick people into interacting with your brand. Be honest. Be creative. And don’t be afraid to go long.

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE NUMBERS. A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTHCARE MARKETING.

HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTHCARE MARKETING

By Rick Blitman

Okay, so your new website is up and running. Your video went viral. Your CRM is reaching out. And your social media is getting seen. But are you really connecting with consumers?

It’s hard to tell.

That’s probably not the answer anyone expects to hear, but the reality is that despite an unprecedented array of data-measuring technology, there’s still no step-by-step, guaranteed roadmap to instant, quantifiable success in the world of medical marketing. 

Most people just go on about their day-to-day lives not thinking about healthcare at all, until all of a sudden, a medical issue pops up. And then it’s all they can think about. Your primary goal should be to become the first place that people with medical questions think about when they need medical answers. That’s where marketing actually begins.

While there’s no denying the importance of KPIs in a digital world, the first step in the marketing chain still revolves around creating a memorable branding campaign that resonates with consumers. Just as it always has. Because no matter how robust your website is, no matter how extensive your outreach, consumers won’t reach back unless you make them feel something. In other words, you can’t treat your patients like a number.

Think of it as the difference between a doctor who walks in, looks at your chart and instantly diagnoses you, versus one who looks you in the eye and asks how you’re feeling.

When people are at their most vulnerable, they’re likely to remember the confident voice that tells them they’re going to be okay.

And once you’ve established that voice, it’s essential to reinforce it at every touchpoint on your patients’ health care journey. From their initial web search, to the way you answer your phones and respond to inquiries on your web portal, every interaction should be a seamless reflection of the brand. 

At Tinsley Advertising, we weave stories across every platform. Whether it’s creating a compelling emotional story about the healing power of faith for Holy Cross Hospital, or providing the comforting reassurance that nobody understands children better than Miami Children’s Hospital, whether on a 75” tv screen, a 48’ billboard, or a 468 x 60 pixel banner ad on your cellphone, the tone remains the same. And so do the results. Holy Cross Hospital’s web traffic increased by 42%, and Miami Children’s by 50%. And both institutions successfully reversed declining market shares.

 With careful planning, critical attention to detail, consistent follow-through and a little bit of magic, all of your numbers will fall into place, too.

How TECHNOLOGY is Changing the SOCIAL MEDIA Game for Travelers

By Giovanny Gutierrez

Art of Travel Marketing Magazine

We may not have flying cars just yet. And Elon Musk’s hyperloop is still just a pipe dream. But make no mistake: the future of travel marketing has arrived. And today, new technologies are changing not only how people book travel, but also how, where and for how long they go.

Think about it – for many of us, travel planning takes place mostly or entirely within the online social sphere. We learn about cool places to go on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. We research destinations that interest us in on TripAdvisor, Yelp and Google (which now includes social media posts in search results). We book our travel on Trivago, Kayak and Expedia. And then we share our own adventures – you guessed it – right back on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. The irony is, the ultimate goal of using this technology is to turn off our brains for a week or more.

So does all of this mean that uploading an Instagram photo into the ethersphere every day at 2 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST (good times, by the way) is enough to give your travel brand the top of mind awareness it needs? It should only be that easy.

You see, as consumers become more digitally connected, their purchasing behavior becomes more complicated. Today’s traveler has more touch points with more brands than ever before. So while marketers need to stay on top of the shifting popularity of social platforms to capture and retain their customer’s business, you need to have a deep understanding of their intentions at every stage of the customer lifecycle. Travel companies and marketers have taken notice, and are investing millions of dollars into emerging technologies designed to help them keep up with this hyper-changing, socially interconnected world. The goal? To provide consumers with better recommendations that meet the demand for more personalized online experiences – long after the transaction has been completed.

Enter algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI). Once the stuff of sci-fi cinema (think “Blade Runner”, “War Games” and “The Matrix”), these technologies are real, and absolute game changers for social media planners. While it’s important to realize how algorithms work, it’s vital to understand that the slightest change might affect your marketing efforts. Just when companies thought they had Facebook all figured out, the social media behemoth decided it wanted more relevant user posts and less publisher content in its news feed. By changing its algorithm to “pay to play”, Facebook caught many companies with their pants, well, you know. Instagram’s change from a chronological feed to prioritizing content that receives above average engagement wreaked havoc of its own.

So what can a savvy social media marketer do to game the system? Focus content not on views and reach but engagement instead. Create valuable content that will be boosted, by making it engaging, educational, entertaining and most of all, relevant to your audience.

As the number of social media networks grows, the way consumers interact with them grows as well. Yet despite all this growth and technology, at the end of the day it’s still about people. As essential as artificial intelligence has and will become, human intelligence is still paramount. The legitimacy of your voice and the trust you instill with your message will win the day.

What does the future hold for technology? Which social platforms will reign supreme? While it’s really anyone’s guess, one thing is for sure:

Content is still king.

For more insights on travel marketing, click here for a free download of Tinsley Advertising's "Art of Travel" Magazine

WE DO. Romancing the Bridal Market.

By Danielle Salman

Art of Travel Marketing Magazine

 

Every little girl dreams of her big day. She’s finally engaged to the man of her dreams, and then reality hits: it’s time to plan a wedding. In the days of a never-ending stream of content, where does the bride actually begin to plan her fairytale wedding?

It used to be, you and mom would simply grab dad’s checkbook and pay a visit to Franck the wedding planner…and then just keep paying and paying and paying. But the world has changed a lot in one generation. TV shows like “The Bachelorette” and “Bridezillas” have transformed a once-traditional industry into a virtual free-for-all. We’ve gone from a struggle to keep up with The Jones’ to “Keeping up with The Kardashians”, overnight. Today’s brides are anything but predictable and cookie-cutter. They’re looking for something unlike anything they’ve ever experienced. They want different, exciting, fun…total wow factor. Whether it’s an extravagant soiree, intimate affair or off-the-beaten-path nuptials, the bride and groom want their guests to walk away saying, “wow, that was an amazing wedding.”

Just as today’s bride is untraditional, so, too, should be the marketing approach to reach this niche market. While continuing to place ads in established media like print and television remain important, the approach should also have a heavy focus on mobile and social efforts. After all, the Millennial market is constantly connected to their devices. She may be giving her hand in marriage, but her eyes and ears all belong to Apple and Android. Mobile has become imperative for “on the go” couples. Between lunch breaks, at work and on commutes, brides find any excuse to continue researching via mobile.

When searching for venues, vendors or inspiration for the
big day, brides also turn to social platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. These accessible resources have replaced the maid-of-honor as the bride’s true BFF, and have dramatically changed how she discovers where to host her wedding or where to find new ideas. According to Pinterest, 81% of engaged Pinners started planning on Pinterest before even getting engaged. Think about that. Today’s brides are confiding with Pinterest more than with their beloved. Crazy.

From venue inspiration to customizable experiences, those brands that properly align their platforms to appeal to the bridal community have the opportunity to be a part of each bride’s journey. Do you accept this rose?

For more insights on travel marketing, click here for a free download of Tinsley Advertising's "Art of Travel" Magazine

How Data Fills the SALES FUNNEL

By Scott Sussman

Art of Travel Marketing Magazine

In a world of ever-evolving technology, the media landscape and the way people consume it, is in a constant state of flux. And while it’s easy to be overwhelmed when looked at on a grand scale, you can take some comfort in knowing it has always been this way. We can go back to the era of the printing press…or Marconi’s radio…or the invention of television. Today, it’s that amorphous thing called “digital.” Nobody really knows for sure what it is, but they know it when they see it, and every marketing plan better have it. The media may change, but the goal has always been the same:“How do we get the message we’re trying to sell in front of the people we’re trying to sell it to?”

No matter how we initially reach them, our sole mission is to drive prospects through a funnel that leads to one thing: a sale, with ideally, a long-term relationship. The biggest change with the advent of technology is that we’ve never been better able to capture data along the way that allows us to customize our message to the people we’re trying to reach.

Today, even traditional media like television and radio are anything but traditional. Set-Top box data has advanced the case that TV is alive and well, and not just through broadcast and cable, but via Over-The-Top television like Apple TV or Roku, and apps on Smart TVs. Data Learning allows us to track viewers on digital devices after they’ve been exposed to a commercial on a Smart TV. And while terrestrial radio may have given way to online radio/audio such as Pandora and Spotify, prospects are still listening, and data gleaned from their listening habits allows us to better target them with precise messaging.

Magazines may be the least dependent on data, but publishers are better equipped to gather more information about their readers and delve deeper into their demographic backgrounds. The point is, once we get that data, we’re better able to deliver a targeted message directly to our prospects through the devices that never leave their hands.

When it comes to marketing travel, the first step is creating a compelling message through imagery, music and sound that stimulates awareness among the widest range of prospects and seduces them into the funnel. Here, in the upper stage, we begin to capture data. We’ll use this information to tailor communication through the rest of the process.

Once a prospect has shown interest, they enter the middle of the funnel. In this secondary stage, we’ll use data generated in the upper funnel to send messaging to those who have engaged with your advertising or website. Pixel technology embedded in digital media allows us to track them for retargeting on a multitude of platforms, including social media and ad networks.

Now, we’re in the home stretch. We’ve caught their attention and captured their data. We know who they are,and they know who you are. Welcome to the lower funnel.At this point, the prospect has narrowed their choices and wants more information.This is the ideal time to deploy travel platforms like Adara and Sojern.These travel data specialists have exclusive partnerships with Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and other travel companies (hotels, cruise lines, airlines, etc.). Once the consumer has moved to the bottom of the funnel and into the booking window, timely emails from these data providers are able to serve them advertising in real time, allowing your product to be the last ad they see before booking. Like an unobtrusive waiter, we’ll be there to serve them exactly what they need at the exact moment they need it, and hopefully make the sale.

But don’t pop any bottles just yet. You’re not finished. You may have made the sale, but the marketing process never ends. Your best customer is your past customer, and you want them to come back again and again. Customer Relation Management (CRM) will allow you to use the data you’ve been collecting throughout the process to remarket to everyone who has expressed interest in your product. By keeping in touch with them through various digital platforms (emails or digital advertising) or print collateral (brochures or postcards), you’ll be able to maintain top-of-mind awareness, and provide them with special offers and incentives to return.

Now, go ahead and start planning a vacation of your own and get ready for the next wave of technology to take over.

For more insights on travel marketing, click here for a free download of Tinsley Advertising's "Art of Travel" Magazine

How to Speak to the INTERNATIONAL TRAVELER

How to speak to the international traveler

By Michelle Tannebaum

Art of Travel Marketing Magazine

These are interesting and challenging times in America, to say the least. A strong dollar and controversial immigration and travel policies have led to a decline in U.S. tourism. According to the UNWorldTourism Organization, the number of trips made by global travelers surged 7% in 2017. But they’re just not coming here. Travel to the U.S. fell by 4% in 2017, following a 2% drop the year before…bumping the U.S. to third place among the world’s most visited nations, trailing France and Spain. Now, more than ever, marketers need to put out the welcome mat and send an inviting message to international travelers around the globe.

Notable Global Traveler Insights
In a world drawn closer by the internet, and more informed by 24-hour news cycles, we need to be sensitive to world events. Political unrest and terrorist attacks haven’t affected the overall number of international trips, but they’ve had a significant impact on where travelers choose to go. Destinations with a positive safety message are reaping the rewards.

The cruise industry continues to see explosive growth. Visits to cruise websites have almost doubled in the last three years, with 32% year-over-year growth in 2017 alone, according to Adobe Digital Insights Europe Travel Trends Report 2017. Interest in cruises rises an average of 20% in January- March of each year, with most consumers booking summer cruises in January.

Car rentals, however, are experiencing a decline due to ride-sharing apps like Uber & Lyft and the increased popularity of one-stop destinations such as cruises and all-inclusive resorts.

European Travelers
A strong U.S. dollar makes this a great time for Americans to travel the world, but more expensive for Europeans to come here. They’re still coming, though, thanks to plummeting long-haul air travel prices caused by increased competition from budget airlines. And they’re typically staying two weeks or longer. Germany recorded the highest level of spending in international travel, followed by the UK and France. Data from ODIGEO, Europe’s largest online travel company, is predicting that San Francisco, Miami and Los Angeles will likely receive a boost in tourism in 2018 driven by low cost flights, key sporting events, and clever investment by local governments.

Brazilian Travelers
Despite a deep recession that began in early 2014, and a severe depreciation of the Brazilian Real versus the U.S. dollar that has made travel to the U.S. considerably less affordable, the United States remains the number one destination for Brazilian travelers, and they continue to spend heavily here. In fact, the U.S. attracts more Brazilian travelers than any other country, including their own Latin American neighbors.

Chinese Travelers
Chinese travelers are perhaps the biggest segment to keep an eye on now, and in the future. According to China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market Analysis 2012 – 2017 and Forecast 2018 – 2024, Chinese visitors spend more in the U.S. than visitors from any other country, and Chinese travelers mostly travel for pleasure. By 2030, tourists from Asia will lead all regions of the world in total departures and travel expenditures. And of all Asian countries, China will play the biggest part in this growth thanks to rising incomes that are driving exceptional growth in spending and travel.

Some noteworthy insights about the Chinese market come from a study done by TripAdvisor China and The Boston Consulting Group. Chinese travelers prefer to travel in February, May and October, which is typically a slower period for many Western destinations. On average, they spend 40% of their travel budgets on shopping, especially on luxury goods and bargains on premium brands. They tend to be spontaneous, and have shorter travel planning timelines. And most significantly, they’re willing to pay a premium for lodging, dining and shopping.

What does it all mean?
If we’re seeing one consistent pattern, it’s that despite all the politics and global economic turmoil, people from around the world still want to come to the United States. The key is to make them feel welcome when they do.

For more insights on travel marketing, click here for a free download of Tinsley Advertising's "Art of Travel" Magazine

TINSLEY SADDLES UP FOR THE RUSTIC INN AT JACKSON HOLE

By Dorn Martell

Did you ever dream you were a cowboy or a princess? Your childhood dreams become reality in our new campaign for The Rustic Inn Creekside Resort and Spa at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In this series of five videos, we covered everything from accommodations and amenities to locally sourced cuisine and mountain adventures.

Each video was created to entice a different sub-set of our target audience. In “Wake up” and “Go with the Flow” we highlight the Zen side of the mountain experience where everything revolves around the trout stream that flows through the property. The video “In the Heart” highlights western adventures from rock climbing and horseback riding to white water rafting and mountain biking, in and around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. We explore the depth of resort accommodations in “Spread your Wings”, including the indulgent Spa Suites. In “Magical Adventures” we reconnect with our inner cowboy and show travelers how Rustic Inn creates lifelong memories for families.

Tinsley also created a long-form film that covers everything, including local game and the extensive wine cellar. Proving that you can go into the wild without giving up creature comforts.