Against the Grain

We love art! The art of music is not to be forgotten, especially today. Here are our favorite songs that touch our hearts each Valentine’s Day…

Todd Senne (President) – “Summer Lovin’” by Olivia Newton John and John Travolta

Ron Maahs (CEO) – “San Diego Serenade” by Tom Waits

Annette Halbur (Business Manager) – “Keeper of the Stars” by Tracy Byrd

Peter Rincker (Web Developer) – “L.O.V.E.” by Frank Sinatra

Janelle Steinkamp (Senior Project Manager) – “Valentine” by Martina McBride

Brett Adams (Account Director) – “On Bended Knee” by Boyz II Men

Brent Wirth (Creative Director) – “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton

Andrew Maahs (Designer) – “My Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie

Abe Goldstien (Senior Account Manager) – “This Is Always” by King Pleasure

Ashley Danielson (Media Specialist) – “God Gave Me You” by Blake Shelton

Yancy DeLathouder (Interactive Director) – “Everything” by Bitter:Sweet

Paul Burger (Associate Interactive Director) – “Lady” by Kenny Rogers

Heather Weaverling (Media Director) – “I Love the Way You Love Me” by John Michael Montgomery

Kristin Sunde (Public Relations Director) – “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel

Jason Wells (Project Manager) – “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green

Alex Rich (Project Manager) – “Let’s Get it On” by Marvin Gaye

Abby Luhrs (Designer) – “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by The Darkness

Jeremy Koppin (Interactive Designer)  – “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones

Leng Vong (Production Manager) – “It’s Your Love” by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

Kim Hildreth (Assistant Business Manager) – “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis

Angel Smith (Designer) – “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel

If anyone out there knows Sherri Sheinfeld, tell her I still think about her. Sherri was my first Valentine, and although she moved to the suburbs when we were 12, and the last time I saw her was at my bar mitzvah in 1964, I still have fond memories of her and the swingset in her backyard. However, I would like to forget the time another boy beat me up because I carried her violin case home from school.

Sherri (or insert the name of your first Valentine here) demonstrates one of Ries and Trout’s 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing — The Law of Leadership. Sherri was the first in the Valentine category for me and always will be. I would be hard-pressed to remember the names or backyards of other grade school girls I had crushes on.

As you celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, think about your first Valentine. Then, think about your company. Are you the first in your category? If you are, focus on reminding customers and prospects why you enjoy that enviable position. If you aren’t number one in that category, think about the Law of the Category — establish a new category you can be first in.

By the way, on a recent trip to my hometown I actually bumped into Sherri’s parents. I told them about my crush on her. They said Sherri never really mentioned me. Wish I would have read Ries and Trout earlier in my Valentine career.

Round two of "A Day in the Life..."

8–8:45 a.m. –– Caught up on emails and voicemails. Discussed upcoming client information for the week with Trilix’s media director.  

8:45–9:15 a.m. –– Worked with designer on special ad copy for client. Met with a project manager to get the ad copy finished and ready for the client. Sent to client for approval.

9:15–10 a.m. –– Worked with project manager to get client ad copy ready for ads due this week in the Council Bluffs/Omaha area. Double checked the sizes of the ads, sent ad copy to the media reps at the newspapers and confirmed the run dates. Marked off ads sent on orders and updated production calendars.

10–11 a.m. –– Collected signed insertion orders from newspaper reps after placing schedule for February print ads. Revisions to prices were made on one of the orders in the client’s favor, so revised order and resent to the client.

11–11:45 a.m. –– Continued placing entire 2012 print schedules for client to lock in rates and dates now. Sent out orders to the media reps and collect signed insertion orders.

11:45am–1:15 p.m. –– Lunch with media rep from Farm Progress.

1:45–2:30 p.m. –– Met with media reps from the Des Moines Register. Learned about a new opportunity for a client, and updated the rep on the status of current clients and plans for 2012.

3–3:30 p.m. –– Met with Trilix team members for a quarterly client review. Brainstormed new ideas and opportunities.

3:30–4 p.m. –– Printed off media invoices emailed from various media vendors and filed into client invoice folders to be reconciled, entered and paid.

4–5 p.m. –– Entered remaining print orders for client for 2012 schedule. Sent a few more emails, updated timesheet and closed down for the day.

Super Bowl Sunday is fast approaching, and millions of Americans are looking forward to an exciting game, entertaining halftime show, delicious food and maybe a couple of beers. And for many of us, the Super Bowl ads are the most anticipated, and best part, of the game experience.

After 111 million people tuned into last year’s game, more people than ever are expected to have their eyes glued to the tube in a few weeks. With those expectations, some of the nation’s savviest and largest companies scrambled to purchase their ad slots before the NFL season even began, leaving just five openings by early September (USAToday.com). 

With the average ad package around a hefty $3.5 million price tag, we think it’s safe to say consumers should be in for a real show this year. Common favorites like Budweiser –– who purchased four and a half minutes of air time –– GoDaddy, Pepsi, Coca-Cola and M&Ms are expected to be back.  

“In recent years, we’ve seen a lot of ‘safe’ comedic commercials featuring kids, babies and animals,” says Trilix President Todd Senne. “That was especially true during tough economic years. Now that the economy is starting to improve, we should see a lot more humor and risks as companies try to differentiate themselves. I’m looking forward to seeing who ventures outside the comfort zone.”

With anticipation rising, we at Trilix are gearing up for our seventh annual Super Poll Iowa, a fun and easy way to track the best Super Bowl ads. Look for a registration email from us in a few days so you can cast your vote and be entered for a great prize, to be revealed soon!

Tell us which Super Bowl ads are your all-time favorite on our Facebook page.

Ever think you might like to work at an agency? Maybe you’re not a designer, copywriter or web programmer, but you have great client skills, big ideas, can manage budgets and are always (or at least mostly) organized. The account services department could be where you belong!

Here’s a look at a day in the life of Trilix Senior Project Manager Janelle Steinkamp:

8 a.m. – Routed several client jobs to creative team members so they are on their desk when they get in.  Also routed jobs with copy to be proofed to our stellar proofreader.  

8:30 a.m. – Worked with a web designer on several updates for a client website and emailed ad proofs to another client for approval. 

9:05 a.m. – Discussed projects due today in our status meeting with the creative team. Then, met with our interactive team to discuss web projects and deadlines. 

9:45 a.m. – Routed a job to a designer for a client print ad, as well as a copy request for a new client sales sheet. Double checked revisions on a catalog and sent to client for final approval. Also made updates to an e-newsletter and sent off for client review.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Break for lunch!

1 p.m. – Entered new client jobs into our tracking system. Routed more ads to a designer, and sent others to a different client for approval. Checked deadlines that are still due this afternoon. Sent approved ad off to a magazine for publication. 

3:30 p.m. – Filled out my timesheet, and entered several POs and invoices into our system.

4:30 p.m. – Wrapped up, logged off and headed home!