TD Ameritrade’s quarterly offers have played a large role in their quest to increase deposits among existing clients. Ervin & Smith has been responsible for the concepting and execution of these campaigns, including the TaylorMade campaign above. The goal was to play up the giveaway items while tying them to the TD Ameritrade brand. This successful campaign featured direct-mail, e-mail and online components.

Vehicle Service Group asked Ervin & Smith to create a campaign that would convey the benefits of its industry‑leading Revolution lifts. The team responded with a strategy that set VSG apart with bold messaging and convention‑defying visuals. The campaign stood out dramatically in trade media, told the brand story and connected with prospects in a meaningful way that caused them to recall this campaign more than any others, according to a readership study.

Camp Bow Wow, a premier doggy day camp provider, asked Ervin & Smith to develop a marketing strategy and plan that would help them increase revenue and overall awareness. After conducting focus groups and female-only chat sessions, we developed a targeted direct-mail, radio and e-mail marketing campaign that saw an immediate boost in awareness and camper reservations. Plus, the execution of building and in-store signage helped reinforce the brand image and campaign message.

Lincoln Benefit Life asked Ervin & Smith for help in launching two new life insurance products. The goal was to get independent agents excited about presenting these products to their clients as a dynamic duo that could have a powerful impact on their financial lives. The result was the superhero campaign, complete with a custom-illustrated comic book.

Trustworthy

Cute Car

Sucker

Metro Credit Union was experiencing growth during a time when many mortgage companies were closing their doors. To create awareness of this fact, build trust and convert consumers to their credit union, Metro tasked Ervin & Smith with creating a series of radio ads. We created 30-second
spots covering Metro’s mortgage assistance, high standards of banking, lowest-ever auto rates, and their take on bank fees, which broke through
the airwave clutter.

While Valvoline Instant Oil Change (VIOC) wanted to keep the bulk of their Web content the same, they also wanted a fresh look for the site’s home page. Ervin & Smith took on the challenge and revamped the page so that it would put VIOC’s services, discounts and locations front and center. By putting the most in-demand components in prominent places on the home page, and creating interactive elements to keep users interested, the result was a more usable and relevant experience for visitors.

When Cy Wakeman, keynote speaker and executive coach, hired Ervin & Smith to “make her famous,” increase demand for her as a keynote speaker and help her land a book deal with a large publisher, we took her seriously.

Using Wakeman’s proprietary content, our public relations team developed a strategic plan that positioned Cy as a thought leader in the leadership industry.

Campaign efforts have been successful. Cy has been mentioned in publications like The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, MSN.com and The New York Times. She has authored articles in Forbes and More Magazine and is a regular contributor on FastCompany.com.

Her book will be hitting stores in September.

When Catholic Charities was given five days’ notice that George W. Bush would be visiting their organization’s Juan Diego Center in conjunction with his immigration reform campaign, they called Ervin & Smith for help.

Ervin & Smith spearheaded all media relations efforts and worked in partnership with Catholic Charities to plan for the national media spotlight. Efforts included planning and coordination of a media breakfast, tour coordination of the Juan Diego Center, White House Press Corps logistics and execution of event collateral.

In addition, we coordinated with White House Media Affairs and the Secret Service to prepare and secure the location for the president’s impending visit.

Media impressions for Catholic Charities were a staggering 250 million, increasing national brand awareness of the Juan Diego Center and Catholic Charities of Omaha.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) asked Ervin & Smith for help in overcoming its image as a local commuter school and increasing student recruitment. Ervin & Smith planned and created a complete brand campaign, including general brand standards, that revamped UNO’s image, employed alternative communications venues that appealed to the target audience, and offered a long shelf life.

Our strategy was to present UNO as the “total college experience” – stellar academics, plus comfortable student housing and a lively social scene. Messaging was distributed through teen-friendly media, including school events, text messages, Facebook and YouTube, and guerilla techniques such as a street team revving up Maverick football fans. The first phase of the campaign successfully changed perceptions about UNO within the target audience, boosting applications and admissions. Phase 2 refined the focus on UNO academics with updated photography, captivating copy and a new website, all of which continued and strengthened the Mojo brand.

Immanuel Senior Living (ISL), Nebraska’s premier provider of senior living, wanted a fresh, new website that showed how much ISL cares about making “the rest of your life, the best of your life” true for its residents. After completing use case studies and a competitive analysis, Ervin & Smith created a website that appealed to both future residents and their families, as adult children (usually daughters) often research these communities for their parents.