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marketing trends Tag

November 18, 2025
in Uncategorized
by Patricia Uhrich

Designer vs. Agency: When to Call Which

Let’s be honest — sometimes you just need a clean layout fast. And sometimes, you need a strategic partner who can connect the dots between data, creative, audience behavior, and ROI.   Knowing when to call a freelance designer or design firm versus engaging a full-service agency isn’t just a budget question — it’s a business decision. And it starts with knowing what you’re really solving for.   Here’s how we help clients think it through.   When a Designer or Design Firm Is the Right Call A freelance designer or small design studio can be a great solution when:   ✅ You’ve Already Built the Strategy If you already know the “what,” “who,” and “why” — and just need someone to translate that into a visual deliverable — a designer may be exactly what you need. Think: Resizing existing creative assets Adapting a campaign to different formats (social tiles, banners, flyers) Internal presentations, event signage, sales sheets   ✅ You Have...

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August 26, 2025
in Uncategorized
by Patricia Uhrich

3 Trends Marketers Should Know for Q4 2025

As Q4 approaches, the pressure is on. For many organizations, the last quarter of the year isn’t just about closing strong — it’s about setting the tone for the year ahead. In highly competitive and regulated industries, that means more than “keeping up.” It means staying ahead of trends that directly impact acquisition, onboarding, retention, and renewals.   At Direct Choice, we see three trends that should be top of mind as you build your Q4 2025 campaigns.   1. Print and Offline Channels Are Making a Comeback We’ve seen firsthand how print and direct mail have regained traction in recent years. In a world where digital messages can get lost in crowded inboxes, tangible materials stand out and create a sense of credibility that’s hard to match. Campaigns that integrate mail with digital touchpoints consistently outperform single-channel efforts.   For Q4, pairing direct mail with email, streaming video, or SMS can create a powerful one-two punch...

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July 16, 2025
in Uncategorized
by Patricia Uhrich

GEN X: THE QUIET FORCE YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE

We’ve talked Gen Z. We’ve talked Millennials. Now it’s time for the generation that quietly built the bridge between analog and digital—Gen X.   Born between 1965 and 1980, this generation doesn’t chase trends, and they don’t need the spotlight. But don’t mistake quiet for irrelevant. They’re raising families, leading teams, making big purchases—and they’re still the ones paying for everyone’s phone plans. What makes Gen X tick? Skeptical. Savvy. Self-reliant. Raised during Watergate, MTV, and economic uncertainty, they know how to read between the lines—and they spot B.S. fast.   Digitally fluent, but grounded. They embraced tech early—from dial-up to iPhones. They’re not glued to TikTok—but they are on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Chart: Platform usage among Gen X – over three‑quarters on Facebook, 70% on YouTube, and solid presence on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Source: SlickText, via Sprout Social   They spend. A lot. Gen X averages over $83K in annual household spending and commands...

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April 15, 2025
in Uncategorized
by Patricia Uhrich

Time Out for Marketing Memes

If you feel the need to press “pause” on all the stories surrounding tariffs and economic uncertainty, then scroll on! We’ve scoured the web for some of the best marketing memes —  current, some classic, and all entertaining (that is, if you enjoy a good laugh at yourself and your chosen career).   A meme’s power is often directly proportionate to how it taps into current cultural trends. If you’re able to do that for your brand, bravo! Just remember that your meme’s popularity may expire faster than your free trial for Apple TV.     Incorporating memes into your marketing mix allows you to foster a sense of connection with your audience, makes your brand feel more approachable, and encourages viral sharing. At least we hope that’s what these classics do for this blog post.   Like your most successful marketing campaigns, the most appreciated and shared memes are often super-relevant to a niche audience. As...

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March 10, 2025
in Uncategorized
by Patricia Uhrich

Tune into these Top 5 Podcasts for Marketing Mastery On Demand!

Chances are you have go-to comedy, true crime, or fitness podcasts to help you survive boring commutes, travel delays, etc. After all, they’re the top podcast categories for listening. But what if you used some of that time to advance your business, your creativity or your career in marketing?   In this post, we’re diving deep into the top 5 marketing podcasts that every marketer should be listening to in 2025. We’ll explore what makes each show unique, the value they offer, and how they can help you elevate your marketing game. Whether you need a quick dose of inspiration from creative innovators or a deep dive into complex marketing concepts, our curated list of podcasts is sure to keep you ahead of the curve. Read on to discover the shows that are reshaping the way we think about marketing and how you can integrate their insights into your own strategies.   Marketing...

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January 13, 2025
in Uncategorized
by Patricia Uhrich

Five Top Trends Reshaping Marketing In 2025

Top Five Marketing Trends In 2025 Survival in the marketing world has always been about evolving with societal and technological trends. What’s different today is the pace of evolution, especially on the technology side. If you feel like innovation is accelerating in every direction, you’re correct and AI is a major force behind it. That’s why AI is number one in our top five marketing trends. 1. AI-Driven Personalization at Scale AI continues to revolutionize how brands engage with consumers. Now, AI is enabling us to build more hyper-personalized marketing strategies and unique customer experiences at scale. Tools like AI-powered chatbots, predictive analytics, and dynamic content generation helps us anticipate customer needs and create tailored offers in real-time.   We’ve already become accustomed to seeing incredibly on-target ads and product recommendations on various platforms, all thanks to AI analyzing our browsing behavior and past purchases.   Source: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/artificial-intelligence-marketing-market-report   2. The Rise of Zero-Party Data The term “zero-party data” was...

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September 4, 2024
in Uncategorized
by Patricia Uhrich

GEN Y: OUR BIGGEST & BADDEST GENERATION

In our continuing series on generational marketing, we’re moving down the timeline from Gen Z to Gen Y. Among the media and marketing worlds, the two generations are often lumped together for their similarities. Both are associated with a prominent tendency to shop online and through social channels. That’s also where they get their news and entertainment.   Gen Y and Gen Z are also lumped together for their world view and politics. According to a report from the Centre for the Future of Democracy at the University of Cambridge, they are more disillusioned with democratic politics than Generation X or baby boomers were at the same stage of life. That comes as no surprise in the U.S. where the presidential and congressional seats are filled with Boomers. Time will tell if this election cycle changes any of that.   How Gen Y differs from generations before and after  They’re the biggest: Generation Y/Millennials, born...

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May 16, 2024
in Uncategorized
by Patricia Uhrich

GEN Z’s Rapid Economic Recovery: What You Need to Know

As the college class of ’24 launches their mortar boards into the air, they should be celebrating more than academic achievement. They navigated the social and educational perils of COVID 19 and came out of it with unrivaled economic success.   According to CNN, the unemployment rate for recent college grads ages of 21 to 24 has recovered more than 2.5 times faster than after the Great Recession of the late 2000s. Better still, fewer of them are underemployed compared to Gen Y, which bodes well for their economic success and the marketers who have goods and services to sell to them.   SOURCE: Economic Policy Institute   Gen Z from A to …uh… Z Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z, along with the tail end of Gen Y, share some defining traits that should shape how we marketers approach them. Here are our top 5:   Behold THE mobile tech generation: Gen Zers knew how to...

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April 2, 2024
in Uncategorized
by Bill Rogers

2024 Solar Eclipse Spotlights the Value of Event Marketing

On April 8th, this writer will be taking part in a momentous astronomical event that’s proving to be an equally massive marketing event. According to Forbes, the Total Solar Eclipse could generate $1 billion boost in consumer spending on hotels, flights and rental cars to food, gas, special events and souvenirs.   Along a 115-mile-wide path stretching from Maine to Texas, cities and travel companies are luring millions of potential visitors with special packages and watch parties. Major brands are cashing in on the rare event, too. Sun chips, for example, is promoting a chance to win a limited-edition eclipse-themed flavor ­(pineapple habanero and black bean spicy gouda) and solar eclipse swag bag only during the eclipse. What’s so hot about event-driven marketing? First and foremost, the majority of consumers love a good party. Business insider recently reported that American consumers have mostly moved on from the pandemic and are spending more on experiences than...

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March 12, 2024
in Uncategorized
by Patricia Uhrich

Keeping Pace with Social Media in 2024

New Networks. New AI Tools. Facebook turned 20 last month. Twitter/X turns 18 this month. Teens who quickly adapted to TikTok are now graduating college. Yeah, time flies. And as Einstein taught us, time is relative. A year in social media marketing must be the equivalent to at least 50 years in non-digital media. We could easily miss the dawn of the next big thing while figuring out Meta’s latest targeting options (updated this month). On that note, we’ve compiled some novel social media trends that deserve our attention.   New Networks: At the very least, keep these on your radar.   Threads: Built by the Instagram team, Threads is sold as a safer alternative to the free-for-all that is Twitter/X. The big difference is that Threads gives users more control. You can control who replies to or mentions you and limit replies to select groups. You can also post longer messages (550 characters along...

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Direct Choice Inc

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It's about a unique coming together of brand, direct & digital marketing and intelligent data management and analytics in real time.

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Dec 20

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Direct Choice wishes everyone the happiest of holidays! In the spirit of the season, we are supporting The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, who are continuing to give aid to those affected by Hurricane Helene. https://foodbankcenc.org/ #happyholidays #HurricaneHelene #FoodBanks

Direct Choice wishes everyone the happiest of holidays!
In the spirit of the season, we are supporting The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, who are continuing to give aid to those affected by Hurricane Helene.
https://foodbankcenc.org/

#happyholidays #HurricaneHelene #FoodBanks ...

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Dec 16

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The DCI Team enjoyed a festive holiday luncheon and white elephant gift exchange last week at Trattoria San Nicola. So nice to see everyone IN PERSON! Happy Holidays 🎄!

The DCI Team enjoyed a festive holiday luncheon and white elephant gift exchange last week at Trattoria San Nicola. So nice to see everyone IN PERSON! Happy Holidays 🎄! ...

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Jun 26

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🎉 We are thrilled to announce that Direct Choice, Inc., in partnership with @centercityfilmvideo , won two Telly Awards! 🎥✨ 🥈 Silver Telly in the Insurance category for Jefferson Health Plans' "Reshape Your Medicare" campaign 🥉 Bronze Telly in the Insurance category for Blue Cross NC's "Yes Plan 2" campaign A huge thank you to our incredible team and partners for their dedication and creativity. We couldn't have done it without you! Here's to many more successful campaigns ahead. 🥂 #TellyAwards #DirectChoice #CenterCityFilmAndVideo #BlueCrossNC #JeffersonHealthPlans #AwardWinningCampaign

🎉 We are thrilled to announce that Direct Choice, Inc., in partnership with @centercityfilmvideo , won two Telly Awards! 🎥✨
🥈 Silver Telly in the Insurance category for Jefferson Health Plans` "Reshape Your Medicare" campaign
🥉 Bronze Telly in the Insurance category for Blue Cross NC`s "Yes Plan 2" campaign
A huge thank you to our incredible team and partners for their dedication and creativity. We couldn`t have done it without you! Here`s to many more successful campaigns ahead. 🥂
#TellyAwards #DirectChoice #CenterCityFilmAndVideo #BlueCrossNC #JeffersonHealthPlans #AwardWinningCampaign ...

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Apr 16

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Had a little sprinkle last week for our Production Director, Tom Mellon! He and his wife Marghi are expecting an addition to the family in May. Delicious lunch @whitedogwayne ! Best Wishes Tom and Marghi!!

Had a little sprinkle last week for our Production Director, Tom Mellon! He and his wife Marghi are expecting an addition to the family in May. Delicious lunch @whitedogwayne ! Best Wishes Tom and Marghi!! ...

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Feb 29

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Direct Choice was honored to present this check to Alex Archawski from the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network (GPVN). GPVN’s mission is making Greater Philadelphia the Best Place For Veterans. #phillyvets #gpvn #communitymatters #givingback

Direct Choice was honored to present this check to Alex Archawski from the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network (GPVN). GPVN’s mission is making Greater Philadelphia the Best Place For Veterans. #phillyvets #gpvn #communitymatters #givingback ...

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Dec 20

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To celebrate the sentiments of peace, love and understanding, this year we are contributing to the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network, who work to make our city the best place for Veterans. Happy Holidays from Direct Choice Inc! #Phillyvets #GPVN #HappyHolidays

To celebrate the sentiments of peace, love and understanding, this year we are contributing to the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network, who work to make our city the best place for Veterans. Happy Holidays from Direct Choice Inc!
#Phillyvets #GPVN #HappyHolidays ...

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Dec 18

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A fun time and great food at our annual holiday luncheon and gift exchange held @autographwayne! Many alcohol-related gifts beginning with the letter “I”! Thanks Nick! (We missed you Beth!) #happyholidays #whiteelephant #funholidaytimes

A fun time and great food at our annual holiday luncheon and gift exchange held @autographwayne! Many alcohol-related gifts beginning with the letter “I”! Thanks Nick! (We missed you Beth!) #happyholidays #whiteelephant #funholidaytimes ...

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Aug 2

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Had a fun and informative time at the @BCAPhilly Hospitality Breakfast last Friday. Speaker @TarynSouthern gave a thought-provoking presentation focused on how AI is changing our world. #ai #aimarketing #bcaphilly

Had a fun and informative time at the @BCAPhilly Hospitality Breakfast last Friday. Speaker @TarynSouthern gave a thought-provoking presentation focused on how AI is changing our world. #ai #aimarketing #bcaphilly ...

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May 19

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Proud to report that Direct Choice picked up 2 Benny Awards last night in the digital/social media marketing categories - Congrats to All!! #pdma #bennyawards #socialmediamarketing #digitalmarketing

Proud to report that Direct Choice picked up 2 Benny Awards last night in the digital/social media marketing categories - Congrats to All!! #pdma #bennyawards #socialmediamarketing #digitalmarketing ...

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Dec 20

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This holiday season, we’re continuing to support @philabundance to help them end hunger in our local communities. Happy Holidays from Direct Choice Inc! #philabundance #happyholidays

This holiday season, we’re continuing to support @philabundance to help them end hunger in our local communities. Happy Holidays from Direct Choice Inc! #philabundance #happyholidays ...

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