Tina Davis, Author at SCG Advertising & PR

International Cat Day: Whiskers at Work

August 8, 2024

by Tina Davis Marketing Personal Interest Recruitment Advertising

International Cat Day

I previously recognized International Cat Day (August 8^th) by comparing cat behavior with Recruitment Marketing. You can revisit that Blog Post here, where I shared my journey to Crazy Cat Lady and introduced my feline family members. Everyone is doing well, and we have had a lot of interest from candidates wanting to join the team. Apparently, they’ve heard good things and new applicants appear on the back patio from time to time.

Cats work hard in our world. Here are just a few of the jobs they dutifully perform:

Emotional Support/Therapy Animal: Whether serving as an emotional support animal for an individual or part of a care team within a hospital or nursing home, these specially trained professionals play an important role in providing comfort and support.

Speaking of roles, how about the cat ACTORS, who entertain us in a variety of TV, movie and stage productions.

On the smaller screen, Cats are a huge part of the Influencer world. TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are full of popular cat influencers. Just a couple of these stars include @CatManJohn for Russell the cat who uses buttons to communicate or Lady the cat @thetruckeduplife.

Space: In 1963, Felicette, also known as “Astrocat”, became the first and only cat to go to space.

Pest Control: In Lighthouses, cats served to keep pests away and served as companions to the Lighthouse Keeper and their family. Cats serve a similar purpose in barns and on ships.

Ancient Egyptians used the felines to hunt birds on riverbanks.

Mayor: Talkeetna, AK, had a feline mayor for 20 years. Stubbs the cat was named after his stubby tail and served in office from July 18, 1997, up until his death on July 21, 2017. During his time as mayor, he survived an attack from a dog, being shot at by teenagers with BB guns and falling into a (cooled off) deep fryer. Talk about having nine lives!

Of course, now they are part of our political discourse.

Whether they are employed and earning a paycheck or working for cuddles and kibble, I’m sure you will agree that the payment is well earned.

As part of our SCG brand toolkit, we have a variety of #merch. Our latest addition is a TOP TAIL CAN COVER. Comment or touch base with me or an SCG team member to get one for yourself. Made in the USA, the can cover is 3.5.”

Promotional Products Work From Home

February 23, 2023

by Tina Davis Advertising Branding Marketing Public Relations Uncategorized

Promotional products and apparel are an excellent way for companies to build engagement with customers and employees. Strategies have shifted slightly with so many employees working remotely or in a hybrid schedule. We increasingly take into account what items would improve productivity in a home office or move easily with the employee between home and office.

TECHNOLOGY

All those Zoom meetings mean that we need to stay connected and organized.

Chargers
Ear Buds
Mouse Pads
Cord Organizer
Camera Cover
Ring Light
Branded Desk Organizers
Pens

APPAREL

Since your fellow Zoomers are only seeing the top half of you, you might as well have warm toes with branded socks or slippers. Logoed apparel keeps comfortable clothing professional for those on-camera moments.

TRAVEL

Traveling from home to office is a marketing/recruitment opportunity with branded bags, laptop sleeves, phone wallets, or pop sockets.

GIFT OPTIONS

To keep distribution simple, consider a gift program that allows recipients to select from a range of items that are delivered to their preferred address.

We’ve all seen the social media posts of connections starting a new job with a delivery of employer swag, but I recently saw something even cooler. A departing employee received an Alumni gift thanking them for their service and wishing them luck in their new endeavor. We’ve talked to clients about using “return tickets” officially giving employees in good standing permission to change their minds if the grass isn’t greener within a specified period of time, but this takes it one step further.

There are so many ways to use company swag to reach customers and potential employees. Contact SCG today to brainstorm ideas and make your next event memorable.

Recruitment Marketing and Cats

August 4, 2022

by Tina Davis Advertising Marketing Recruitment Advertising

Monday, August 8^th is International Cat Day!

I was never a cat person. We always had dogs. Then a mama cat gifted me with kittens, twice, and my journey to crazy cat lady began. Don’t worry. We found homes for many and with the support of my favorite vets, we got everyone checked out, vaccinated, and made sure there wouldn’t be more kittens. Cat behavior is interesting and got me thinking about how it correlates to my recruitment marketing business at SCG.

#1 – Cats are like passive candidates. You can’t force your intentions on them. They have to come to you. If you dangle the right toy/treat/message and wait patiently, they will eventually acknowledge and respond.

#2 – Looks can be deceiving. Our cats are adorable but have a killer instinct, keeping birds, chipmunks, mice, etc. on notice. In recruitment marketing, you need to review resumes carefully and don’t judge too quickly. You also shouldn’t judge on appearance. Some very talented employees may come with tattoos, piercings, or non-traditional hair choices.

#3 – I often find “gifts” from the cats that aren’t necessarily on my wish list. Sometimes it’s about aligning background and experience with the appropriate open requisition and not just judging against the job applied for.

#4 – I’m a morning person. Many of the cats are night prowlers. I try to understand their behavior and adapt accordingly. When hiring for different shifts, think like your candidate. Put your message out on late night radio or tv. It’s usually less expensive than those coveted drive time radio slots or prime time tv. Host a virtual hiring event or just have a chat bot available for questions overnight.

#5 – Like people, cats need to feel welcomed as part of the team. We recently took in a new cat that needed to be rehomed. He hid under the bed for days. Super timid. Then we put a collar on him and his personality dramatically shifted. Suddenly, he engaged with humans and cats alike. It seemed he needed to feel secure in his new home. In recruitment marketing, whether it’s a branded polo shirt, computer bag, coffee mug or something else, welcome new hires with something that says they are part of the team. For those working onsite, also consider a special badge or pin that identifies new hires so that coworkers can spot them and help when they seem lost or might need assistance.

#6 – Every cat has their own language. Who knew…purring is not the official cat language. Some cats vocalize with sounds that are almost words. Our Amelia has a high-pitched trilling meow. Others are almost silent unless they feel threatened and may hiss or growl. Candidates also have different communication styles. In this market, be open to communicating via phone call, email, text…at least in the beginning. Unless it’s critical to the job function, listen to words as much as communication style. Interviewing can be a stressful situation and well qualified candidates may not perform well. When looking for bilingual candidates use bilingual messaging in ethnic media and be mindful of cultural differences/sensitivities.

Catalina is the cat who started it all and is now Queen of the clowder. From a homeless girl in trouble to a beloved family pet who never strays, she’s found her place. May your recruiting journeys be equally rewarding.

Tina Davis

Tina Davis
VP, Account Services
SCG Advertising & PR

Energize your Recruitment Efforts

February 24, 2022

by Tina Davis Human Resources Recruitment Advertising

As a woman of a certain age, I’m actively working to slow aging and stay physically fit, looking forward to an active retirement.

A good friend convinced me to join Orangetheory Fitness (OTF). OTF works for me because I get bored easily and no two workouts are quite the same. Our coaches push us through a mix of treadmill, rower and weight floor activities that build strength and endurance. I often sing, dance and joke through a workout. Today wasn’t one of those days. We ran hills (treadmill elevation) and I was doing okay. No speed records but getting it done. Then the weight floor did me in. As coaches swung by to offer advice and adjust my form, I struggled with arm work using light weights and was left frustrated and discouraged.

A lot of my talent acquisition friends are feeling the same way about Recruiting. They do the work, modify their form and if they are lucky enough to get applications, the candidates ghost the process or don’t make it through, all while employees are leaving out the back door.

There are NOW HIRING signs everywhere you look. So why is recruiting so difficult?

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) allows you to get results faster than working out at a steady moderate pace. We all need to work smarter rather than harder. Progress comes when you push yourself.

Are you posting and praying that candidates will see the ad and apply, or actively sourcing?
Are you crafting your message and strategy from the perspective of the target audience? You have to understand your target and speak their language.
Are you giving them a reason that they should consider working for you? I passed several billboards recently that said JOIN OUR TEAM! and WE’RE HIRING. That’s it. No reason why I should work for that employer? What do you have to offer that another employer doesn’t?
Are you creating brand ambassadors within your current employee population by using testimonial videos, social media sharing, and a culture that they want to brag about?
Are you taking your message to the candidates in their day-to-day life with Mobile Display Ads, Streaming TV, branded coffee sleeves, text messaging, Pizza Box ads, and more….
Are you actively retaining your current employees?

If you didn’t answer yes to every question, you have some work to do. I’d love to help you fill in the gaps and I’d be happy to share an OTF class pass so you can build the strength to continue pushing through. I will be back at it, starting fresh, next week and will running the annual Atlanta Mission 5k tomorrow.

Social Media in the Afterlife?

October 7, 2020

by Tina Davis Personal Interest Social Media Uncategorized

While we’re all adjusting to a new normal of remote work and virtual classrooms during the COVID pandemic, social media can be an important connection to family and friends. A Harris Poll conducted between late March and early May found that between 46% and 51% of US adults were using social media more since the outbreak began.

2020 has been a tough year for all of us, and not any easier with the untimely loss of friends and colleagues. Imagine my surprise when receiving status updates for the recently departed. Thirty million Facebook users died in the first 8 years of its existence and statisticians tell us that the dead will soon outnumber the living on Facebook according to this article on loop.com.

This has become such a big issue that we now have the FADA (Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act) which was set in place to extend the traditional power of a fiduciary to manage tangible property to include management of digital assets. So far, 25 states have enacted some version of FADA.

We should all take basic steps to get our digital affairs in order:

Make sure you have computer passwords, phone passcodes, etc. safely stored and accessible to trusted family/friends.
Have online usernames and passwords in a secure location for a trusted contact/executor. At a minimum, make sure they are written down in a safe place but do consider a reputable password manager software. Consider Roboform, 1Password, Lastpass. Your unique situation can determine if a free solution works or you need something more robust in a paid subscription.
Establish a legacy contact on Facebook and other sites that allow it. A legacy contact can make decisions about memorializing your profile, how to respond to tributes, or to request removal of the profile.
Include a ‘digital estate plan’ with your will and power of attorney.

COVID also left 40 million Americans unemployed at least temporarily. As those job seekers look for new opportunities, many turn to LinkedIn for networking. This can be more difficult with many outdated profiles on LinkedIn. I’ve seen many examples of people who start fresh when leaving one employer. That may be because a profile was “hacked” or they didn’t want to be identified with a bad experience, or simple oversight. These dormant profiles may seem like no big deal, but I would worry about them being bait for hackers who know you aren’t paying attention. If you don’t want to update/maintain a profile from a previous employer, you can delete/deactivate. Here’s a link to instructions on how to do that, even if you don’t have access to the original email account or password. It’s a little dated but should help.

I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. It’s supposed to be quite eye-opening to concepts of technology addiction, social engineering, and surveillance capitalism. Yowza! If you’ve seen it, share some feedback. I will be watching in the next few days and look forward to the discussion.

Here are a few links if you’d like to research further:

https://beyond.life/help-centre/admin-legal/social-media-accounts-loved-one-dies/

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/get-your-digital-accounts-ready-in-case-of-death/

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-prepare-your-digital-life-for-your-death

It’s a Wrap! Putting your Brand to Work for You

September 3, 2020

by Tina Davis Advertising Branding Recruitment Advertising Uncategorized

What do you think of when you think about advertising? Clients frequently think narrowly of a limited range of options. One of the reasons that I love what I do is the constant variety. Every touchpoint with your customer or job candidate leaves a lasting impression. You should be reinforcing mission, vision, and values at every opportunity.

Over the years, we’ve helped clients tell their story on billboards, movie theatre screens, mall food court tables, coffee sleeves, t-shirts, banners on the front of buildings, shuttle buses wraps, computer screensavers, custom coins and holiday ornaments, just to name a few.

Shuttle Bus Wraps

Elevator Wraps

So, when Upson Regional Medical Center asked for help in identifying a vendor to help wrap the elevator doors in their hospital, we were ready. They wanted to share a safety guideline limiting the number of passengers in the elevators combined with a message reinforcing their commitment to caring for their community.

After presenting several design options, the client unanimously selected one design that featured four stock images of medical professionals. The client asked us to swap in their own employees and we were well on our way.

We faced an added challenge with the location of the hospital, which is approximately 70 miles from Atlanta in Central Georgia. We contacted vendors within a reasonable radius and carefully evaluated proposals, ensuring reasonable investment, quality job and ease of removal when the time comes. The client had 34 doors to be wrapped and we wanted to ensure it was done properly.

I am thrilled to say that installation was completed in one day with minimal interruption and the client was very pleased with the result, showing it off on social media the same day.

Ten Reasons to Call SCG for Promotional Products and Apparel

June 17, 2019

by Tina Davis Advertising

This post about promotional products was originally published in 2016. As I was preparing to update, I thought about growing concerns about the environment and pending trade tariffs and how those issues impact the promotional products industry. Whether you call them giveaways, logo merchandise, swag or chachkis, promotional products are big business. Promotional products sales consistently top $24 billion annually and growing, according to Promotional Products Association International (PPAI).

Like any other part of your marketing strategy, it’s all about knowing your audience, staying within budget and getting the best potential return on your investment. Price is always part of the decision process when clients evaluate options for promo products. While budget will continue to factor in, I’d like to challenge everyone to consider safety and environmental impacts as well.

Here are a few tips and trends to think about:

1. I always try to steer health & beauty products to options “Made in the USA”. This may become more and more important with trade negotiations. Lip Balm, Sunscreen, Antibacterial Hand Sanitizers are all available from US manufacturers under FDA standards.

2. Environmentally friendly — According to the Advertising Specialties Institute, 42% of people had a more favorable opinion of an advertiser if the promotional product they received was environmentally friendly. Reusable shopping bags are still popular because they double as a way to carry all collateral and other giveaways. Think about recycled notebooks or business cards/informational flyers embedded with flower seeds. Restaurants are moving away from plastic straws. Consider reusable options here too.

3. Be Unique – walk up and down the aisles of any exhibit hall and you will see more pens, post-it notes and water bottles than you can imagine. If you must go traditional, at least make it interesting. How about a pen that lights up or includes a scroll for your Marketing message, a post-it note in an interesting shape, or a collapsible water bottle that will be easier to take home.

4. Make it Practical – what good is having your logo on something that gets thrown in a drawer and forgotten, or worse yet, into the trash before it leaves the hotel. Tech tools remain popular as everyone struggles to stay connected. How about a cell phone wallet that closes, a data blocking USB adapter, a webcam cover, or a fisheye lens for your cell phone camera? I still love the universal can cover that’s perfect for pet food.

5. Toys – whether they take them home to the kiddies or play with them at the conference, grown-ups like toys. I’ve seen high-level professionals compete for something fun/cute.

6. Venue appropriate and/or aligned with a conference theme – Beach events cry out for sunscreen, hats and fans; rain ponchos for SEC sports fans who don’t want to miss a moment of the action; golf tools for tournaments….you get the idea.

7. Don’t forget the team apparel. A unified appearance reinforces the brand and makes it easier for attendees to know who belongs in your booth and can answer questions. Beyond conferences, spirit wear can build morale and make casual dress codes more manageable.

8. Your employees need recognition We designed gorgeous 2-sided custom coins for a hospital to recognize employees who go above and beyond and turned them into holiday ornaments. Thank employees with service awards, holiday gifts, new hire welcome kits, employee picnic items, or instant appreciation for employee referrals.

9. Think about bundling smaller items into a themed package. We’re just finishing a stadium pack for an awesome client’s employee recognition. Packaged inside a stadium approved clear bag with inexpensive binoculars, rain poncho, and sunscreen. Touch base for more details or custom recommendations.

10. Display your Brand – we can also help with your display needs. From a basic retractable banner stand to a multi-dimensional work of art, stand out from the crowd in a sea of similar messages. Have you considered a branded ice barrel? This inexpensive enhancement is great for on-site events for employees or prospective new hires.

Yes, the promotions business is huge. You can order online from any number of sites, but you should be ordering from a partner that will consult with you and be there when something goes awry. It’s no secret that a lot of items are imported, and standards aren’t consistent. Be sure your vendor has proven suppliers and can anticipate challenges, staying on top of things, and deliver on time and on budget. Call 678-733-9375, ext 192 for information, recommendations or quotes for comparison with your current vendor.

Employee Communication Beyond the Welcome Letter

February 26, 2019

by Tina Davis Human Resources Recruitment Advertising

You’ve nurtured the candidate relationship and made the offer. They accept. Yay!

Now the real work begins. How do you keep employees, in a highly competitive labor market? As in most relationships, communication is key. Start early and communicate often.

Consider touchpoints through the critical first two years:

Welcome the New Hire
One month
6 months
1 year
18 months
2 years

The pace and sequence of information will vary based on your specific culture and team structure, but the effort will pay off. Here are some ideas of things you can do:

In larger organizations, give new hires a Newbie Badge, so that employees can welcome them warmly and provide direction if they seem lost.
Use a variety of communication methods. Many ATS/CRM tools have built-in onboarding communication modules. Take advantage, but email, text, postcards, flyers, multi-page brochures, custom screen savers, dedicated intranet pages, branded promo items or apparel with a campaign theme are all valid. In most cases the appropriate method will align with the message easily.
Be sure to market an employee referral program early, while they are still in the honeymoon phase. Good recruiters will ask references about their own career aspirations and openness to opportunities. You want to take full advantage of this opportunity to brand the organization and fill open roles.
Invite new hires to lunch and learn more about how the reality of the environment matched their expectations.
Remind new hires of available benefits. This is often glossed over in orientation and paper information packets. I can’t tell you how many focus groups I’ve facilitated where employees gripe about lack of a benefit that is actually available, but not communicated effectively.
If you offer retirement savings make sure they are taking full advantage. An employer match is free money (or at least part of the total compensation package).
Remind new hires of your Performance Evaluation process and timing. If you follow the generational archetypes, millennial workers crave constant feedback. Older workers may be fine with annual touchpoints but don’t ignore those who need feedback more frequently.
Make sure any Employee Service Program (ESP) is shared and promoted as a benefit to employees. Make it easy for employees to deal with any life hassles that could become a distraction so that they are highly efficient at work.
A good onboarding/internal communication strategy will not only keep new hires engaged but will also get them talking about the organizational culture and benefits.
If you do happen to lose a star employee, give them a Return Ticket that allows them to return within 30 days if they change their mind. Most people know their value but providing tangible proof of your commitment could take any ego out of it and make it easier to admit that the grass wasn’t greener.