Originally hailing from Sydney, Australia, Courtney Maher recently joined our team as a Regional Field Manager. To get to know her better, read along in this edition of the Employee Spotlight!

Influencer marketing is a core component of almost every brand’s marketing strategy. Recent studies found that about three quarters of all brands currently work with influencers in some capacity and 84% of brands plan to increase their influencer marketing spend in 2019. Although marketers are investing in the tactic, it’s also important to understand how influencers themselves engage with brands. Here, we shed some light on how established influencers prefer to work with brands to ensure successful collaborations.

We are proud to announce that Inspira Marketing Group has been named a Best Place to Work in Connecticut by the Hartford Business Journal for the fourth consecutive year! This award honors companies in the state of Connecticut who rank highest in employee satisfaction as determined by a survey administered nationally by the Best Companies Group.

Norwalk-based Inspira Marketing Group, an experiential marketing agency, was recently recognized as one of the “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America” by Entrepreneur Magazine in the Entrepreneur360 List. This study forged by Entrepreneur recognizes companies that have mastered a balance of impact, innovation, growth, leadership, and value.

From social to chatbots, digital communication has opened the door for more immediate engagement between consumers and brands. Consumers expect those conversations to be personalized and authentic at every touchpoint; and a brand’s performance during those interactions has a huge impact on customer relationships. Researchers found that those brands that communicate with them, rather than at them, build long-lasting emotional connections with consumers. Here, we look at the human characteristics consumers look for in brands and how consumer experience can impact business outcomes.

As we all know, the holiday season can be downright chaotic, with travel being one of the leading sources of stress for millions of Americans. So, in order to fulfill their commitment to bringing fun to not-so-fun situations, our friends at Smirnoff have stepped in with the Middle Seater campaign.

This may come as a surprise, but social media is no longer purely “social.” Researchers found that activities are increasingly centered around content, news, entertainment, and brand discovery rather than friends and family connections. Here, we learn how and why the shift is occurring.

This has been a pivotal year for retail. It’s out with the old and in with the new, and there’s an interesting story emerging with what’s new. Retailers have learned that consumers aren’t simply interested in shopping, which they can easily do from the comfort of their homes. Rather, they want retailers to offer a seamless omnichannel experience at all touchpoints and immersive brand experience when they are in-store.

Food trends come and go, but as tastes change, so do the needs of consumers. The shift to a wellness-focused lifestyle has resulted in a more mindful approach to food. Consumers are re-prioritizing how and what they eat and the need for reassurance about the safety of food has led to an increased demand for ethically and environmentally sourced products. As consumers seek out healthier food and beverages, brands will have to consider how they position their products and understand what claims are most important to consumers.

A growing body of evidence reveals that consumer purchase decisions are linked to corporate values. Researchers found that 87% of consumers say they would purchase a product because a company advocated for an issue they care about, and more than three quarters would refuse to purchase a product if they found it supported an issue that was contrary to their beliefs. As brands are increasingly expected to take a position on social or political issues, they must be careful to choose positions and causes that authentically align with their practices, or risk being perceived as inauthentic.