Partner Spotlight: Adam Dince, Digital Marketing Veteran | SEO | User-Experience | Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), Adjunct Marketing Professor

The Power of Listening

Can you hear that? It’s your data speaking, and Adam Dince wants you to listen.

There’s a temptation for today’s driven, busy professionals to try outrunning their competition by constantly implementing the latest and greatest technologies as fast as they can. But this blistering pace of business mentality can overlook a tried-and-true growth concept with ancient staying power: listening.

Listening has been a key aspect of Adam Dince’s career advancement and professional growth; integral to a 20 year career in online marketing and to his personal work beyond digital. Adam’s had many titles over the years, which include digital marketing and SEO expert, adjunct marketing professor, author, and certified hypnotherapist. It turns out supporting hypnotherapy clients and reaching customers online have common methodologies; both require using an empathy-based curiosity to understand and subsequently offer unique solutions to people.

Adam's Professional Journey

Adam’s journey with digital began back when websites were little more than online business cards, sales were finalized over landlines, and agencies had to take the time to explain to their clients the utility of online search and social media. What’s special about Adam’s career trajectory is that he evolved alongside digital, moving in lockstep with how it developed, changed, and shaped business as we know it.

He began by working with small businesses before holding a series of ascending positions of leadership roles within big agencies, to corporations and ultimately higher-education, where he is making an impact today. Adam is the Director of Digital Experiences at Collegis Education, leading a team of front-end developers/designers, SEO rockstars, and marketing automation professionals—the team’s end goal is empowering and engaging prospective students by helping them reach for academic and professional dreams

Why Organic Search Matters

Knowing and implementing new tech is important, but marketers can’t put the cart before the horse. They must first listen to the data, interpret and finally, implement. Social listening is a timeless strategy that is always useful because it puts the customer first; letting their behavior guide the decisions we as marketers make. Adam advocates for the 80/20 rule: spend 80% of your resources listening, 20% posting content. By carefully observing the online behavior of your customers or prospective customers—which is now easier than ever with digital tools like Google Analytics—you can get better at reaching them. Helping customers find exactly what they’re looking for more efficiently is a simple, but revolutionary business concept. “That’s Google’s whole purpose,” says Adam. “Search is the only [digital channel] where you can truly help someone find the info they need when they want it.”

Adam’s passion for organic search runs deep, and he sees the data that organic search provides as both a compass and crystal ball for businesses and leaders. He constantly asks, “What has the data been telling us? How is it morphing over time? Where will it lead us in the future?” Data also bridges gaps in organizations and can help unify strategies across multiple digital channels including paid ads, online word-of-mouth, organic social media. “There are always ways to leverage data to pull into other marketing channels.”

If this makes Adam sound like a kind of digital anthropologist, digging through data for patterns, you’re not wrong; that’s how he views his work.

In the Key of D Episode

Adam recently joined our podcast, In the Key of D: Using Digital to Transform Your Business. In conversation with hosts Creatis President/CEO Kathy Hollenhorst and digital expert Gino Giovanelli, Adam digs deeper into importance of paid, earned, and owned media (P.O.E.M.), SEO’s ability to provide cross-channel solutions for companies, and the importance of letting your data lead. This episode will be released Monday, February 1st, and will be available on all your favorite podcasting platforms, including Apple, Google, Spotify & Stitcher.

Connect with Adam Dince on LinkedIn here. 

Subscribe to the In the Key of D podcast here.

If you are in need of digital and marketing support, especially during the challenging era of COVID-19, Creatis offers flexible resourcing solutions so that you can get your work done on time. Please contact our Director of Business Development, Sandi Henrikson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Partner Spotlight: Michele Vig, Founder of Neat Little Nest

Holistic Decluttering for All

The power of keeping a clean and tidy space has never been more relevant than this past year, when home and office became one for many professionals. The act of decluttering can offer a satisfaction that runs deeper than just showing-off a clean work-from-home background on a video meeting; there’s an art to decluttering that can lead to lasting personal change, creativity, and efficiency.

Michele Vig, founder & Chief Organizer of Neat Little Nest^®, is here to help us sustain that fresh-out-of-the-shower feeling in all aspects of our lives through her unique method of holistic decluttering. Michele is a professional organizer and decluttering expert, motivational speaker, author, and award-winning entrepreneur. Her recognition includes a “40 Under 40” award from Minneapolis/St Paul Magazine and being named one of 2012’s Top 50 Women in Business in Minnesota.

Like all the most valuable things in life, clearing our souls (not to mention our desks) is going to take some effort, starting with a realistic look in the mirror. “It’s important to consider what factors contributed to your clutter if you want to achieve long-lasting change,” says Michele. But don’t feel guilty about where you’re at because guilt itself is a kind of emotional clutter. “Embracing a helpful mindset — one that is decisive, kind and guilt-free — is essential to embark on your holistic decluttering journey.”

The good news gets better: Every day is a fresh start.

Neat Little Nest^®

Michele made a fresh start of her own in 2017, leaving a C-suite executive role at retail coffee giant Caribou to pursue what brought her the greatest joy: helping to free people from their clutter and create the beautifully organized spaces they have always dreamed about. You can hear this joy in her voice when she talks about helping people unlock their own peace. This passion translates to the brand Michele has built.

Over the past four years, Neat Little Nest has had incredible growth — carving out a huge following on social media, partnering with major organizational solutions brands and working alongside Twin Cities clients to help declutter their mental and physical spaces.

Neat Little Nest is ready to help you start your decluttering journey en route to more joyful spaces and increased creativity and efficiency. They offer a range of flexible services for decluttering and organizing your home, close, pantry, corporate office, or home workspace. After all: What better time than a springtime pandemic to start decluttering your life?

Learn more about Neat Little Nest®: https://www.neatlittlenest.com/
Connect with Michele on LinkedIn here.

Creatis Connects Event

We hope you can join us for an exclusive virtual Creatis Connects Event on April 8th featuring Michele Vig! She’ll share her expertise on transforming a mental and physical space of chaos and clutter into one of calm and tranquility, offering some helpful goal-centered “homework” to get us started. Attendees will also have a chance to win a copy of Michele's book "The Holistic Guide to Decluttering" and a 2021 planner, while networking with Twin Cities professionals.

Register for the Event here.

If you are in need of digital and marketing support, especially during the challenging era of COVID-19, Creatis offers flexible resourcing solutions so that you can get your work done on time. Please contact our Director of Business Development, Sandi Henrikson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Employee Spotlight:
Joshua Copeland, Creatis Studio Designer

Joshua Copeland graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design (MCAD) in 2018, having dipped a toe into freelance branding and design for clients. Joshua was then hired to be apart of the Creatis Studio team in the summer of 2019, where he's since been growing as a talented and versatile designer on our team. Part of the unique skillset that Joshua brings to Creatis is a knowledge of web design and front end development as well as expertise in creative and graphic design. These digital skills led to a unique opportunity supporting our 2020 Creatis Cares Honoree, UpTurnships. Joshua has done exemplary work helping the UpTurnships team reimagine and refresh the design of their website. Check out the images below to see some of Joshua's work for UpTurnships. 

And learn more about Joshua, from Joshua! Here's a Q/A:

What's your background in design?

As a graduate of the Minneapolis college of art and design I was exposed to a lot of different outlets for design. I spent the first half of my college experience focusing on print and book design but really fell for branding, digital and web design by the end of my time.

How would you describe your professional design style?

When designing for clients I really try to think about how we can fill the clients' design needs with a minimal approach.

Can you go into some detail about the project you’re doing for UpTurnships? + Why you’re enjoying it?

Upturnships presented us with the need to have their website design updated and the content reorganized. It was fun to work on this project because I knew there weren’t a lot of rules and I could really get creative with the asks from the client. You can see an example of the work I did for UpTurnships below. 

What kinds of work do you do for other Studio clients?

Day to day what I do varies from working on emails to annual reports to mailers and flyers.

What are your loves outside of design?

When I'm off the clock I take care of a vegetable and an herb garden. I like to grow ingredients that I can make things from and this years theme is cocktail recipes.

Any other equitable causes or volunteer opportunities you’d like to promote?

I just started working with a group of volunteer advertising folk to help out small businesses (primarily BIPOC owned) on lake street effected by last year’s civil unrest. We ask the owners what/where they think they need design/web/photography assistance and we take it from there! I also volunteer at the LGBTQ+ Quatrefoil library both in a graphic design capacity and helping among the stacks.

Apply to Creatis today and get started an flexible, exciting career with some of the best marketers and creatives in the Twin Cities. Apply now

Employee Spotlight: Tim Breden, Marketing Campaign Manager

How did you get connected to Creatis?

I was contacted from a relationship manager who used to work at Creatis while I was working through a different agency on another role in downtown Minneapolis. I wasn’t sure about the new role presented to me by Creatis since it was part time and in a new field for me, but I’m so glad I went forward and applied. I received an offer [from Creatis] and was placed at Medtronic.

What makes Creatis a great career fit for your right now? 

I really enjoy the flexibility that Creatis offers and how they are always willing to assist and check-in with you on your current role. They also provide you with resources and have a dynamic team to help you succeed at your assignment.

What kind of responsibilities do you have in your current role? 

I work as a Marketing Campaign Operations Manager helping to facilitate and complete marketing data requests we receive from other teams. I work with a variety of teams with various responsibilities to make sure a project is completed with all the requested data— while also responding to and providing solutions for any issues that arise during a project timeline. 

What's your favorite part about your role supporting UnitedHealthcare?

I really enjoy the people I work with on my team. They are some of the best co-workers I’ve ever worked with. Some of them are located on other sides of the country, but we all connect so well even while working remotely. I also really enjoy the work I do as I find purpose in it as we are making a difference in people’s lives by providing important information to help customers who utilize UnitedHealthcare for their insurance and health needs. 

Any advice for people who are interested in marketing? 

I would recommend to keep an open mind while starting a new role in marketing. Marketing encompasses more areas than you may think and there is usually an area of marketing you will find you enjoy and are passionate about. My degree is not in marketing and I never thought I would enjoy a job or career in marketing, but I’ve really enjoyed all my roles in the marketing business.

What are your other interests or hobbies—anything you'd like to share with the world? 

Outside of work, I enjoy being outdoors and engaging in activities while exploring new areas both in the Twin Cities metro and in greater MN and WI. I also enjoy hanging out with friends, going to breweries and distilleries, watching movies and new TV series, being around dogs, and trips up to Lake Superior! I am looking into taking some Master degree level classes too.

Apply to Creatis today and get started an flexible, exciting career with some of the best marketers and creatives in the Twin Cities. Apply now

Partner Spotlight: Andrew Eklund, Founder and CEO of Ciceron

Weathering Major Economic Storms

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: COVID-19 hasn’t disappeared. Coronavirus continues to dramatically alter how we live and work. Early skeptics have been perhaps humbled by the brutal reality the world faced these past 12 months. Maybe in part it’s a lesson in humility for all of us.

Now for the good news: There are two causes for hope on the horizon, the most important being the historically rapid development of effective vaccines, which are already saving lives. The other? Digital Transformation.

Can you imagine going through this pandemic without digital—that is, without access to online banking and bill paying, ecommerce shopping, remote work capabilities and video meetings, or even basic communication with friends and loved ones? Digital is literally keeping economies and societies afloat right now.

Andrew Eklund calls it “an existential reality,” especially for businesses. He’s right. Embracing digital transformation is no longer optional. Those organizations that weather and survive the economic “ice bath” of COVID-19 will have survived largely because they went digital well before the chaos of 2020. Andrew saw digital’s staying power and potential when it was barely a gleam in the world’s eye—way back in 1995—when Andrew founded Ciceron, one of the first digital-only marketing agencies in the United States.

While Andrew didn’t exactly predict the future, he did successfully evolve with it and keep Ciceron nimble by adhering to a pivotal leadership rule: Staying open to change.

Economic Reinvention

Finding ways to adapt and reinvent ourselves in the face of massive challenges is what we humans do. We’ve been doing it for a long, long time. So why shouldn’t businesses and entrepreneurs do the same? The most successful are the most alert and open to change. Business leaders have a responsibility to learn from past crises when it comes to navigating their organizations through troubled waters, according to Andrew.

Looking back at just the past 20 years, Andrew points to four seismic events that have irrevocably altered the U.S.—and ultimately the global—economy: the “dot com” crash, the tragedy of September 11, the Great Recession of 2008, and now the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. What’s the key to persevering, especially in the marketing and advertising industry, when the world is turned upside down? Economic reinvention. Reinvention works when business leaders with a sixth sense notice and take advantage of digital trends and economic opportunities to reach their customers more efficiently; to evolve as the customer evolves. However, it does require the moxie and agility of near-constant adaptation.

Andrew notes, “Out of every recent economic event or downturn, what has risen out of the ashes—in the marketing and advertising world—have been digital channels.” An example he offers is the birth of programmatic advertising (think “auction” style pay-what-you-want ad buying on social media, streaming TV, and paid search), which rose out of the 2008-2009 market collapse when digital advertising became more flexible and inexpensive due to deflation. What happened with business leaders who had the foresight to leverage programmatic ad buying? Most found major success. Including, of course, Andrew’s company Ciceron, which had its largest growth year in 2019 and was named one of the world’s “Top 100 Fastest Growing Agencies” by Ad Week. Ciceron puts into practice what Andrew preaches in terms of reinvention, and the company now embodies an innovative “data + media + creative” model, offering clients the ability to have a partner who can seamlessly integrate these interconnected disciplines.

In the Key of D Podcast Featuring Andrew Eklund

Knowing and implementing new tech is important, but marketers can’t put the cart before the horse. They must first listen to the data, interpret and finally, implement. Social listening is a timeless strategy that is always useful because it puts the customer first; letting their behavior guide the decisions we as marketers make. Adam advocates for the 80/20 rule: spend 80% of your resources listening, 20% posting content. By carefully observing the online behavior of your customers or prospective customers—which is now easier than ever with digital tools like Google Analytics—you can get better at reaching them. Helping customers find exactly what they’re looking for more efficiently is a simple, but revolutionary business concept. “That’s Google’s whole purpose,” says Adam. “Search is the only [digital channel] where you can truly help someone find the info they need when they want it.”

Adam’s passion for organic search runs deep, and he sees the data that organic search provides as both a compass and crystal ball for businesses and leaders. He constantly asks, “What has the data been telling us? How is it morphing over time? Where will it lead us in the future?” Data also bridges gaps in organizations and can help unify strategies across multiple digital channels including paid ads, online word-of-mouth, organic social media. “There are always ways to leverage data to pull into other marketing channels.”

If this makes Adam sound like a kind of digital anthropologist, digging through data for patterns, you’re not wrong; that’s how he views his work.

In the Key of D Episode

Andrew joined his longtime business colleague/podcast co-host Gino Giovannelli and host Kathy Hollenhorst on the Creatis podcast, In the Key of D: Using Digital to Transform Your Business. In this fascinating episode, Andrew explains more fully how his theory of economic reinvention works, why it’s important for leaders to build and empower a nimble team, and his insights on staying current with shifting digital trends. You can listen to the full episode available on any major podcasting platform, including Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher, or follow this link:https://creatis.com/podcast

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreweklund/

Learn more about Ciceron: www.ciceron.com

Read Andrew’s article on the outlook for 2021: https://www.ciceron.com/predictions-2021-a-messy-but-necessary-grind/

If you are in need of digital and marketing support, especially during the challenging era of COVID-19, Creatis offers flexible resourcing solutions so that you can get your work done on time. Please contact our Director of Business Development, Sandi Henrikson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Cargill’s mission is to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.
Every day they’re connecting farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, people and animals with the foods they need to thrive.

Their business model is not only unique, but Cargill has been extremely successful at it. They are now operating in 70 countries worldwide, with a team of over 155,000 professionals.

Creatis & Cargill - Planting Seeds of Service

There's an old saying that goes, “What you plant now, you will harvest later.” While this applies literally to Cargill’s agriculture and nutrition markets; it also works as an analogy to business relationships.

Creatis believes in and practices planting seeds of service from our first contact with a client. But you can’t stop at the meet/greet or nothing will grow and develop! We take seriously the practice of nurturing business relationships through authentic dialogue and creative/marketing expertise until those acquaintances become fully-fledged shared journeys.

We’re finding success with impactful global companies like Cargill because we don’t just throw out wild sales-pitches and fail to put our money where our mouth is. We knew that an innovative, unique company like Cargill needed a team of experts able to quickly understand their needs and offer solutions. Preparation was key to being able to best add value to Cargill.

Several years ago, through contacts our leadership team made with marketing leaders at Cargill, we were given an opportunity to provide support on a print production project.

This team at Cargill needed on-site assistance but required an individual with a very specific skillset and background. We had the perfect Creatis employee who we knew fit Cargill’s culture. He was able to jump in and help and delivered with excellent ongoing work.

Through the reputation of our timely, impactful services and other referrals within the company - our relationship with one team at Cargill bloomed into many. And ultimately, our support helped more Cargill teams be successful and efficient. That’s the best kind of harvest for us.

How We Support Cargill

Like the way Cargill takes raw goods and turns them into finished products, Creatis helps turn unfinished Cargill projects into finished products.

Over the past 5 years, we’ve partnered with Cargill to help their marketing teams get more work done. Because of the flexibility of our model - offering both on-site support and remote project-based resources whenever needed – we’re able to meet Cargill’s needs quickly.

We’ve worked with several different divisions and teams at Cargill, including Protein & Eggs, Cargill Corporate, Business Operations and Supply Chain and Cocoa & Chocolate.

Creative/Marketing Services

The Creatis Studio services to Cargill have included: PowerPoint design & template creation, icon creation, infographics, signage and more. 

Our expert employees have also been able to support Cargill on-site in a variety of roles that include design, art direction, digital project management, business analysis, marketing research and content management. In some cases, our assistance has gone beyond traditional creative/marketing service, which isn’t typical for Creatis - but it worked because we took the time to understand what the specific client’s challenges were, and then responded accordingly to be of service, even when it meant leaving our comfort zone.

This is what we’re good at - providing the right resource to make an immediate difference on a client team. We’re so glad to support Cargill and aid in their efforts to help the world thrive

Employee Spotlight:
Emily Harp, Project Coordinator

How did you get connected to Creatis?

When I was interning with UnitedHealthcare my senior year of college in 2018, I worked closely with several wonderful Creatis contractors. I thought, "If all Creatis employees are as amazing as them, there really must be something really special about this company." Last year, when I was looking to get exposure to multiple teams and projects, I remembered Creatis and the contracting style of work and connected with Julie, a Relationship Manager. and the rest is history. I can say with confidence that my first impression of Creatis years back was correct. Everyone I have had the privilege to work with has been nothing but kind, encouraging, and dedicated to excellence in work.

What makes Creatis a great career fit for your right now? 

I thrive when I am continually learning new things. Contracting has proved to be deeply invigorating for me as I get to meet new people, experience multiple teams' processes, and be a part of many unique projects. Still in my early 20s, this type of experience I believe is truly invaluable.

What kind of responsibilities do you have in your current role? 

In my current role as a Project Coordinator at UnitedHealthcare, I work with a team that manages the "UHC Toolkit," a platform for UHC agents to order flyers, brochures, business cards, etc. I primarily serve as a go-between for internal clients and our vendor, helping manage the programming of new items onto the Toolkit. Many of our materials need to go live by 10/1, so these next couple months are going to be pretty crazy!

What's your favorite part about your role supporting UnitedHealthcare?

First, I cannot speak highly enough of my team. So much of a positive work experience is shaped by the people you work with, and I feel so blessed to be working with such incredible people, Second, I have always enjoyed being able to take ownership of my own projects, In this role, while all my team members support one another, we all manage our own projects end-to-end, and I love the autonomy I feel over my work. 

Any advice for people who are starting out in a marketing career? 

When I got my first "big girl" marketing job, I remember feeling terrified that I didn't know enough, that my boss would expect me to know everything coming in. Quickly, I learned that no one expects you to know what's going on when you start a new job. The technical skills can be taught. But as a wise processor once told me, "What cannot be taught is work ethic, integrity, and interpersonal skills." Show up ready to listen, learn, and ask all your questions, and know you'll catch on sooner than you think. 

What are your other interests or hobbies—anything you'd like to share with the world? 

I live Downtown Minneapolis right by the Stone Arch Bridge, and I LOVE city living! When I am not working, you can probably find me enjoying an oat milk latte at a Minneapolis coffee shop while doing freelance video editing work, taking a long walk through the city listening to podcasts on spirituality or politics, or at a wine bar dreaming about life goals with a friend over a glass of cabernet. I also am very into weightlifting and you'll find me in the gym every evening trying to set those PRs!

Apply to Creatis today and get started an flexible, exciting career with some of the best marketers and creatives in the Twin Cities. Apply now

Employee Spotlight: Aleks Cyrankowski

Role: Designer | Art Director  
Client(s) Served: Creatis Studio, Cargill

Aleks & Creatis Studio

Aleks has spent the last five years as a major difference maker for the Creatis team, excellently serving our clients while developing in her career. 

In 2015 the freelance design work she was doing for Target came to a halt, so she started exploring other career opportunities in the Twin Cities. Aleks had a connection with our former studio director, and it so happened that we had an opening on our in-house Studio team at the same time she was looking for work. As soon as we hired her, we knew the partnership would be special. 

There are so many positive things you could say about Aleks as an employee, but one that sticks out is her committment to excellence. Her primary passions are art and design, and it shows through every detail of the projects she works on. A true creative - Aleks won't rest until both she and the client are satisfied with the final product. She's capable of interpreting what a client wants and needs, while injecting her own strong sense of style into the designs as well. 

The work she did in our studio grew more complex over the years, and she began taking on most of the creative design projects our clients needed done. Our President/CEO took notice of Aleks design skillset and work ethic, and worked with Aleks on redesigning the Creatis brand identity. We still use the designs from her work everyday in our internal and external branding! 

(Pictured: Examples of Aleks design work for the Creatis)

Aleks & Cargill

When a long-term creative design role opened at our client Cargill in summer of 2018, we decided - in consulting with Aleks - that it would be a fantastic way for her to utilize more of her creative & art direction skills while serving our client. She was able to make an immediate difference on her team. She's helping to jumpstart a branding refresh project, develop fresh designs, collaborate with an important creative team, and present to high-level executives.

The flexibility of the Creatis model has been a perfect fit for Aleks over the past 5 years, as she's been able to serve our clients with excellent work both in our offices and at our clients. We look forward to continuing to see how she grows and impacts Cargill as a Creatis employee.