Well, we’ve officially made it to the end of 2021! A lot has happened this year, but we’re going to stick to what we know best – marketing.
It was another year of innovative, clever, and downright impressive marketing efforts, and as we looked back, the Clarity Quest team wanted to share who they thought absolutely nailed it in 2021.
Lindsay Groth, Account and Business Development Director
Adele and her new “30” album.
I mean, right?!
With each release, she gives us a sneak peek into her raw story. And with every album, we say, ‘she couldn’t possibly do it again.’ Yet, “30” proves us wrong, and this chapter is better, richer and you empathize with her experiences — while in the back of our head, we are already anticipating the next chapter in the legendary Adele.
Casey Frushour, Senior Director of Creative Services
There’s nothing I love more than great marketing/design and delicious food… Impossible foods just happen to encompass both of those criteria. They also get a few points from me for offering up a product that helps combat the climate crisis.
With their use of bright brand colors and bold/minimal design, their packaging captures the shopper’s eye while also touting water usage reduction and emissions savings. 2022 is going to be a breakout year for plant-based meat products as they’ve only just begun to take market share from their mooing and oinking competitors — and Impossible Foods is set to be the market leader.
Chris Slocumb, President and Founder
I’m a sucker for delectable chocolate. Vosges’ branding and design match the quality of its chocolate. It’s an experience to open one of their purple boxes. If you haven’t tried their caramel marshmallows yet, put them on your bucket list.
Brian Shilling, Executive Vice President of Client Operations
Everyone loves free stuff. And everyone loves pizza. So Domino’s latest Surprise Frees campaign is a win-win.
I’ll admit I’m not a huge Domino’s fan, but when I ordered for a recent family get-together (because they were the only local place open at the time) I was hit with a Surprise Free — though it took me a minute to realize it.
At first, I thought, “I didn’t order a medium pepperoni pizza! They messed up!” My anger turned to excitement when I finally noticed the Surprise Frees sticker on the box and the note on my receipt.
It was unexpected, it was free, and it left a lasting impression. You better believe I enjoyed that extra pizza (to myself) for lunch the next three days. And I was delighted every time.
Rayna Southart, Content Marketing Manager
As a dedicated Swiftie, I’d have to pick Taylor Swift. She is truly a marketing genius and never fails to get her loyal (and loyal is putting it lightly) fans excited about her next venture. Seriously, what other artist could generate the MASSIVE hype she has for rereleasing old music?!
Her marketing efforts are well-thought-out, intricate, and sometimes mysterious—leaving fans excited to decipher codes and piece things together.
Taylor also spots opportunities quickly, like when her song, Wildest Dreams, was trending on TikTok. This prompted her to release Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version) as a single, even though she hadn’t rerecorded that album (1989) yet. As you could imagine, people went nuts.
She’s created an absolute powerhouse of a brand and has proven that she’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Bonnie Quintanilla, Public Relations Director
I have a tie for my favorite ads.
Charmin: When you stream on Hulu and pause during a show they have a graphic that pops up with their bears and logo that says “enjoy the go.” Very smart as most people pause for bathroom breaks.
JCPenney: Their holiday ad features a song, Joy, Comfort & Peace. It’s a catchy tune and uses the first letters of the company name.
David Gomez, Account Director
The brand I really loved in 2021 was Stryve Biltong, specifically the slab that comes with the slicer. It’s healthier than beef jerky, has no sugar, and is full of protein. Their ads did a good job getting my attention and they drove me to their website. I liked the design of their site and the animated scrolling on their homepage, and I caved and made a purchase. I am now a big fan.
Tom Bonaventura, Account Director
Jeep is one of my favorite brands along with Disney, they have great marketing!
Melanie Hilliard, Account Director and Content Lead
SparkToro has been holding my interest for much of the year.
In the world of marketing, it’s hard to bring original ideas to the table. Still, their blog and LinkedIn content from founder Rand Fishkin is overflowing with fresh (and provocative) views on the regular.
Looking for a B2B healthcare marketing agency to help you nail your marketing in 2022?
