Insights

It doesn’t matter what kind of client you are… or what kind of project you have… you can “dream big” and benefit from award-winning creative work. 

Collaboration between an agency and its’ clients is so important. It’s no secret that at Yes&, we’d prefer to be face-to-face with our clients, brainstorming and dreaming big. It has taken a lot of thinking outside of our typical creative process to solve the challenges brought on from the pandemic, however we’re pleased to share that this year, Yes& has had the pleasure of being reunited and working on-site with some of our clients.

Jordana Well, Yes& Vice President and Director of Experience Design has honed in on her creative writing through a unique journey that allows her to continuously discover and activate her creativity to dream big. Jordana began her career after graduating from Harvard with a degree in Educational Media. She specializes in user-centric transformative experiences and masters in storytelling, design and technology to build meaningful connections for global brands. Here’s a bit of advice she has to share about inspiring yourself and continuously polishing your creative process.

ICYMI: This is part three of our “Campaign Conversations” series, where we give you an inside look at the member acquisition campaign our agency launched for AMADC, the DC chapter of the American Marketing Association. Today we’ll be covering the campaign launch, and what you can do when unexpected speed bumps show up.

Creating Connections between PIO’s and Press Breaking down barriers between public information officers (PIO) and the working press can sometimes seem daunting. It doesn’t need to be. The Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Houston, TX brought together the best environmental reporters and leading policy leaders. The conference also attracted leading non-profit organizations like Environmental Defense Fund, Friends of the Earth and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Several Biden Administration officials served as panelists and educators at SEJ. Attending PIOs were truly able to meet, mingle and provide context for their important jobs in this enviro-driven Administration. Working together, attending field-based education events, kayaking trips on local rivers and field trips to Houston Zoo to look at endangered species, journalists and officials unified. Barriers to conversation quickly dropped. Two notable panels of the event involved the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The first panel was proctored by Washington Post Environmental Justice Reporter Darryl Fears, who has served as the lead environmental correspondent for some 20 years. The second panel on Environmental Justice addressed the stark “cancer alley” health concerns of Louisiana and Texas; industrial pollution which impacts diverse or multicultural communities in disproportionate number; and how EPA is standing up Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) communications within its own ranks.

Yes& was named the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the Marketing Campaign of the Year Government/Institutional/Recruitment category in The 20th Annual American Business Awards® for work done on the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) “Keep Home” campaign. The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning “crowned,” the awards will be presented to winners at a gala ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Monday, June 13. Tickets are now on sale. More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, including Startup of the Year, Executive of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Thought Leader of the Year, and App of the Year, among others. Yes& Agency was nominated in the Government/Institutional/Recruitment category for Marketing Campaign of the Year. The Yes& winning campaign supports FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, which faced the dilemma of marketing a product most people have already decided they do not need. Hurricanes are bigger, broader and more predictable every year. With the risk of flooding in many communities, many consumers still bet against mother nature instead of protecting themselves financially against flood damage. To launch FEMA’s new campaign, Yes& deployed an integrated, multi-channel campaign targeting consumers, insurance agents, and community stakeholders in Florida, Texas, Louisiana, New York City, and Atlanta through video, audio, digital advertising, radio, social media, search ads, and a unique digital destination.

Yes& is proud to announce several new partnerships with academic institutions and organizations across the United States. Awarded these contracts through several competitive evaluations, Yes&'s experience in academic institution branding, applicant journey mapping, and .edu website development will support them in attracting a new generation of students and improve the branded visitor online and in-person experience.

Launching a higher education website is hard work—in part, because of the vast number of people it needs to support. When designing a refreshed digital presence for a higher education institution, there are various audiences to consider, from the staff spanning departments to students and alumni, and the prospective students and families who may be exploring options. Each audience has a unique interest in the website focused on their individual intentions and needs. The work P’unk Avenue (now part of Yes&) accomplished with Daytona State College’s website is a prime example of how taking a student-centric approach to your website can address the needs of a shifting audience in the higher education space. Anthony Robinson, Senior Vice President of Digital Strategy for Yes&, has years of experience serving clients, particularly in Higher Ed and was a pivotal player on the Daytona website redesign project. “When working with an institute that has a strong continuing education program, it’s crucial that the messaging focuses not solely on prospective high-school graduate students and considers all prospect students. Whether that is people looking for certification courses or parents returning to continue their education, it requires hard work to truly understand your audience and be conscious of the people who are actually partaking in your university’s courses,” Anthony explained. Daytona State College has provided some of the most accessible and affordable academic programs in the South and the state of Florida for the past 60 years, with a long history as a college credit, adult education, and vocational school. They have an authentic story to tell about their approach to “finding your path.”

It’s simple, really. To ensure your company's success, you want to hire and retain the best people. The clients will quickly follow. Upcoming college graduations offer one of the best ways to build a solid talent pipeline from the bottom up. Companies have the opportunity to hire high potential college interns and recent graduates who provide new and fresh ideas that will help the company grow and improve. By partnering with colleges, companies can inspire the next generation of professionals while staying engaged and up to date on marketing trends. Bringing in college students allows companies to develop early talent that can become the next leaders of their organizations. At Yes&, we are constantly looking for new talent—and some of the most innovative ideas come from our Yes&terns. We continuously strive to deliver the best quality of work for our clients and look for team members who are both skilled and passionate about the work. Our internship program is selective, pulling from top area marketing programs. Our Yes&ternship program allows interns to get a glimpse of what working at a marketing agency is like—so that before they accept an entry level role, they know it is the right fit for them. The program is structured so that interns spend equal time learning and working. The program offers internship classes where students have the opportunity to learn from employees throughout the agency, participate in a course of study, and contribute their ideas to different projects. The ultimate goal of the program is to provide interns with an experience that encourages them to want to work for Yes& after they graduate. At the end of the program, interns have the opportunity to reflect on what they have learned at Yes& or talk about a significant project. By going back and reflecting on what they have done during their time at Yes&, interns have the chance to understand what they have learned during their time at the agency. Not only are these presentations one of our interns’ favorite parts of the program, but they are also exciting for their mentors and executive committee to witness.

A new generation has arrived, and it’s time to welcome them into the workplace. They’re socially conscious, creative, want their voices to be heard, and love a good bargain. If you haven’t guessed it by now, we’re talking about Gen Z. Associations are beginning to shift their focus to targeting members of Gen Z. Members of Gen Z are finishing up their time in higher education. Now they’re beginning to enter their careers and explore the different paths they can take. They are searching for the best learning opportunities, the best networking, and the strongest professional development path. As associations are scrambling to connect with the next generation of members, they should consider the unique perspectives Gen Z can bring to the workplace. Associations can accomplish this by partnering with colleges to activate the next generation of members while they are finishing their time in higher education. Offer career development and learning opportunities. It’s time to bring Gen Z into the fold. Associations can learn from this generation by inviting them to participate in the conversation while they are still in college and share their voices regarding what matters to them. By offering internship programs and partnering with students in higher education, you can provide mentorship for the next generation, while also working towards building a pipeline of potential members. Be authentic. Gen Z wants to be part of an organization, or a community rather, with shared values. They are loyal to their beliefs and can easily detect if you aren’t being true to your organization's mission. They value advocacy and activism, and aren’t afraid to hold organizations accountable if they aren’t upholding their beliefs. Take advantage of social media. Gen Z’s virtual content consumption and creation is unlike other generations. Associations can use social media as a resource for Gen Z to find information quickly about the company culture, recent news, and available internships and full-time positions. Start by exploring and getting involved in new channels and testing out different marketing tactics to reach and engage Gen Z. Gen Z can help fill in gaps of learning, networking, and connections that many have lost due to the pandemic. Gen Z is ready to have their voices be heard—and it is an opportunity your association does not want to miss.

Yes& (formerly Beyond Definition) was recently named a Merit Winner by SPD for its 57th Annual Winners List. Yes& is proud to be recognized by the prestigious competition for its design of the “Chew on This” feature opener in the October 2021 issue of NACS Magazine.