In our latest episode, we speak with Aja Romano, a respected writer and expert in fandom and culture at Vox Media. We dive into the evolution of fandom, the stigma associated with it, and how brands can effectively engage with fans. Aja shares her personal journey into fandom and highlights the importance of authenticity […]
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In our latest episode of, “The Fan Lab”, we dive into the fascinating journey of Glossier with Elizabeth Affuso, who is a professor of media studies with a focus on fashion and beauty cultures, as well as the shifting dynamics of celebrity and influencer economies. She published a case study, Into the Flow, examining how […]
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In this episode, host Jonathan Hanson talks with Avi Santo, a professor and department chair for communications at UNC Chapel Hill. We dive into the fascinating world of fandom, identity, and fan entrepreneurship. Through his research and expertise in media studies, Santo sheds light on the intersection of consumer culture, fan communities, and the […]
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Companies that are able to build fandom around their brands gain tangible ROI through long term brand preference. Research shows brand preference directly improves profitability, price premiums, cash flow and market share. Case in point, Monster Energy. Monster has dialed in their marketing, skipping TV ads and traditional advertising, instead tapping into fans across adrenaline […]
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Download Decoding Fandom. Win today’s fans and create cultural relevance. In some of our previous fandom data insights, we talked about how one of the characteristics of a strong fandom is the social connection that occurs through a shared passion. Fandom is not a demographic or a psychographic, it’s a latent emotional mindset that emerges […]
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The current incarnation of fandom has grown out of the early internet message board culture of the late 1990s. Since then it’s grown into the dominant mode by which people connect and relate with each other about the things they care about. And whether it’s creating controversy or commerce, fandom’s reach and power is impossible […]
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Fandom activates our need to be a part of something larger than ourselves, while simultaneously deepening our sense of individuality so marketing to fans requires a different mind set. It’s something that we saw in our experience in the sports and athletic apparel space, but isn’t limited to just that vertical. The thread that ties […]
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If you asked us to pick the most powerful force in brand building over the past few years, the answer would be easy: it’s fandom. We’ve seen it transform brands through our work in sports, athletic apparel and footwear. And we can see it across culture, showing up in people waiting in line for Old […]
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We’ve always believed that business can be a force for good and have worked hard to create an agency where our values are reflected in our actions. So in that spirit, we are very proud to announce that we are officially B Corp Certified. Our recent certification is proof that it’s possible to balance purpose with profit, […]
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Full Case Study Here In the world of casual footwear, Crocs has become a household name, known for their comfortable and versatile shoes. However, they wanted to go beyond their existing fan base and tap into the fervor surrounding college athletes and the world of sports. In a strategic move, we worked with Crocs to […]
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Building a thriving employer brand and culture is hard. The modern work environment is at a major inflection point – The Great Resignation, Hybrid vs. Remote vs. In-person, GenZ entering the workforce – it’s hard to keep up, but more importantly hard to stand out. We help employers create fandom for their workplace, culture, and […]
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We help employers create fandom for their workplace, culture, and employee experience because we believe a strong employer brand and culture has an important role in creating brand equity. It greatly influences retention and alignment which ripples outward to affect how a brand shows up publicly. We worked with NZXT to help them solidify their […]
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As an agency with an office in Baltimore, we are proud to work with Visit Baltimore, on a recruitment campaign. They are a private, not-for-profit organization and the official destination marketing organization for the City of Baltimore. They generate economic benefits for the region through the attraction of convention, group and leisure visitors by marketing its […]
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Americans have been using CRAFTSMAN tools for generations and are apart of any do-it yourself tool bench. We worked with them as their e-commerce and social media video production partner, creating photography and explainer videos for their website and e-commerce retailers like Lowes and Home Depot. We crafted each video to help ensure that […]
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This article originally appeared in Jonathan Hanson’ Adweek column. Brand equity is a term that sounds like it’s rooted in the world of finance. In some ways it is, because it’s all about creating brand value on the perceived quality it has, regardless of the actual quality of the product or service. The perceived value […]
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When it comes to promoting your brand, creating high-quality content that resonates with your audiences is of the utmost importance. While consistently creating these quality deliverables for your social media channels, website, marketing and advertising can be expensive, there are ways to maximize the amount you create during the production process. You’ll want to implement […]
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This piece was penned by co-founder, Jonathan Hanson, for our quarterly newsletter. I was recently engaged after vowing to never get married. As I happily eat every word I’ve said disavowing the practice, I’ve been reflecting back on both romantic and professional relationships. I’ve gotten a lot wrong, like saying “never”, or allowing ego to […]
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As you know, creating content is a necessary albeit expensive part of your marketing and advertising strategy. Picking the right production team to bring your vision to life is vital to not only getting the final product that you want, but doing so in a timely and fiscally responsible manner. There are steps […]
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This piece originally appeared in an article for Forbes Agency Council by Unconquered’s CCO, Jonathan Hanson. Your brand is an ecosystem. Everything—from your foundation and products to your partnerships, social media, marketing and customer service—plays its individual role. While your product is vital to your brand, it still needs to live cohesively within the rest of […]
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Your brand is so much more than just a product or logo. It’s an ecosystem made up of many parts that need to work cohesively for your company to thrive. It is this entire ecosystem that influences how your customers and the general public think and feel about your brand. These thoughts and feelings translate […]
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