With more and more video conferences, meetings, and gatherings happening over Zoom, we thought it would be fun to offer some creative backgrounds for you to download and use.

Tags: video

As we, at Vya, have been working through the COVID-19 crisis, supporting the marketing and communications needs of our clients and developing our own marketing and messaging, we have learned from, and continue to reference, many useful resources. Here is a list of what I have found to be the most helpful resources for marketing during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tags: marketing tools, bank marketing, resources, franchise, crisis communication

At this time of year businesses often assess their performance of the past year and determine priorities for the year ahead, while looking at the broader trends that may impact their future success. Among these trends in 2020 is a focus on humanizing interactions and experiences in an increasingly digital world.

Tags: corporate culture, marketing strategy, local marketing

Whether your marketing budget is growing or shrinking, you no doubt need to figure out how to fund marketing’s expanding role, a growing number of marketing channels and the integration of new marketing technologies.

Tags: bank marketing, marketing budget, marketing strategy, marketing technology, franchise marketing

For the past several years, Franchise Update Media’s annual franchise marketing conference has been a must-attend event for the Vya marketing team. This year was no different. What was different was the name of the event, which rebranded as the “Franchise Marketing Leadership Conference.” With the new name came a revamped focus on leadership and recognizing marketing excellence. The result was a new and meaningful experience.

Tags: marketing leadership, leadership, franchise, franchise local marketing

In a recent post, we touched on the ever-increasing competition for qualified franchisee candidates. According to data cited by the Franchise Performance Group, some 4,000 franchise brands are competing for just under 14,000 new franchisees entering the marketplace. This level of competition requires franchisors to differentiate and create value for franchisees across every aspect of the business.

Tags: brand consistency, growth, franchise, franchise local marketing

I recently attended the International Franchise Association’s Annual Convention (IFA 2019) in Las Vegas with my colleague Allan Greer. This was my first time at IFA, which is a bigger conference, with a broader franchise focus than the consumer marketing franchise events I regularly attend. What I liked about IFA 2019 was the chance it provided to learn more about the various roles within franchisor organizations and the challenges they face.

Tags: branding, brand consistency, franchise, franchise marketing software, franchise local marketing

My Vya colleagues and I recently returned from our first BAI Beacon conference (Oct. 9-11 in Orlando), and I have to say, there was a freshness about it that is often lacking at financial services industry events. The format was energizing, the content thought provoking. Here are some of the top ah-ha moments and inventive aspects we experienced.

Tags: bank marketing, strategic marketing, banking customer experience, BAI Beacon

Is it smart to include marketing at the highest levels of strategic planning? At Vya, we think so. Organizations across a wide range of industries are searching for ways to gain their competitive advantage in the face of rapidly changing market dynamics. More than ever, marketing’s influence and insight can and should play a role in high-level business strategy.

Tags: bank marketing, strategic marketing

I recently returned from the 2018 Franchise Consumer Marketing Conference, in Atlanta, and as with past FCMC events, it was a great place for picking up fresh ideas and insights from some of franchising’s most innovative and successful marketing pros and practitioners. 

Tags: marketing strategy, customer experience, local marketing automation, franchise, franchise local marketing