CULTURE

At LO:LA, we bring big agency and in-house experience matched with the flexibility, attention, and “outside the box” thinking of an independent shop, all while never sacrificing quality and consistently turning out compelling creative made with love. Today, we proudly announce that we are one of the most reviewed global out-of-home advertising agencies on The Manifest. For context, The Manifest is a business guide that compiles and analyzes practical business wisdom for innovators, entrepreneurs, and small and mid-market businesses. With native roots in London and nurtured by the vibrant, collaborative, and diverse culture of Los Angeles, LO:LA was founded in 2017 on the notion of reimagining advertising creative that not only resonates but finds magic in the moments that matter. RTR Media worked with us on a website development project in 2021. The client’s website was outdated and did not convey the quality of the projects they produce. The goal was to update the website, give it a cinematic look and change the focus to a business-to-business website. “They were smart to mirror our management style. They were thoughtful, human, and devoid of ego. It was about great work and clear communication.” – Chief Creative Officer, RTR Media In 2022, The Manifest celebrates the leading services providers, naming LO:LA as one of the most-reviewed out-of-home advertising companies. We’re truly honored to receive this award, as it confirms the hard work and dedication we put into every single project we tackle. “We are thrilled with this recognition. A huge thank you to all our clients that make our collaborations a joy!” – Nicholas Platt, CEO & Founder, LO:LA Do you have a project in mind or questions about our services? Don’t hesitate to send us a message, and we’ll get back to you shortly.

LO:LA is thrilled to announce it has won 2 Silver Awards for it’s work with the Volunteer Center. With over 2,000 entries from across the U.S. and from around the world, the Davey Awards honors the finest creative work from the best small shops, firms, and companies worldwide. Please visit daveyawards.com to view the full winners list. The Daveys are judged and overseen by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA). The AIVA isan invitation-only member-based organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media. Current membership represents a “Who’s Who” of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms including: Spotify, Majestyk, Big Spaceship, Nissan, Tinder, Conde Nast, Disney, Microsoft, GE Digital, JP Morgan, PGA Tour, Wired, and many others. Visit aiva.org for more information on our judging body. The Davey Awards would like to recognize the 18th Annual Best-in-Show winners for their exceptional achievement. About the Davey Awards: The Davey Awards exclusively honor the “Davids” of creativity, the finest small shops, firms, agencies,and companies worldwide. David defeated the giant Goliath with a big idea and a little rock – the sort of thing small agencies do each year. The annual International Davey Awards honors the achievements of the “Creative Davids”, who derive their strength from big ideas rather than big budgets. The Davey Awards is the leading awards competition specifically for smaller agencies as they compete with their peers to win the recognition they deserve. Please visit daveyawards.com for more information.

El Segundo Award Program Honors the Achievement EL SEGUNDO October 7, 2022 — LOLA – London : Los Angeles has been selected for the 2022 Best of El Segundo Award in the Advertising Agency category by the El Segundo Award Program. Each year, the El Segundo Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the El Segundo area a great place to live, work and play. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2022 El Segundo Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the El Segundo Award Program and data provided by third parties. About El Segundo Award Program The El Segundo Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the El Segundo area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value. The El Segundo Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy. SOURCE: El Segundo Award Program CONTACT: El Segundo Award Program Email: PublicRelations@companieshonor.com URL: http://www.companieshonor.com

The content marketing industry’s growing acceptance of narrative presents writers with a wealth of fresh possibilities. The human brain is hardwired to react to stories. In fact, neuroscience has shown that stories are the most effective method to get people to pay attention, remember details, and make emotional connections. Your readers will always be hardwired to seek out and appreciate a good story. Most people have spent the better part of their lives tailoring material to the needs of algorithms. Therefore, it may be challenging to reawaken a dormant creative muscle to evoke an emotional response from your audience and permanently stamp your brand into their minds. However, this doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Because of this, we are here to show you how to create a compelling brand story. WHAT IS A BRAND STORY? How your customers perceive you is one of the most important factors to consider if you want your brand to succeed. That being said, as a company, you have complete control over how people perceive you, and one of the best ways to do so is through the brand story. A good brand story will make your customers feel something. It will tell them about your history and what you intend to do in the future. However, you should avoid discussing your product or service when it comes to brand stories. The objective should be to illustrate your customers’ experience with you. A strong brand story can help your brand grow more than any other type of marketing. When your message is well-written, and your brand is consistent, you can take full advantage of a brand story. If one of your customers has a good experience, it will spread the word about your business to those who are not yet customers. ELEMENTS OF A GREAT BRAND STORY Developing a compelling brand story requires forethought and preparation. This also means that you shouldn’t settle for the minimum. Great stories are not written; they are rewritten. Therefore take your time and analyze what you are creating. However, we are going to offer a few guidelines that are going to help you create a compelling brand narrative. 1.    UNDERSTAND THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND YOUR BRAND The “why” behind your brand is one of the most important factors you need to consider. It doesn’t matter if you are branding a yogurt shop or branding a WP website. You must invest effort into this. Get a firm grasp on the reason for your brand’s existence. In only a few phrases, you should be able to describe what your brand provides, how it stands out from the competition, and state your value proposition. As soon as you have this, you may use it as a blueprint for the rest of your writing. If you are stuck, here are a few questions that can help you figure things out: What drove us to launch this company? Is there a reason this brand exists? What do we prioritize? Is there a way we can make a difference in the world? 2.    EMOTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR A COMPELLING BRAND STORY As we’ve mentioned multiple times already, emotional connection is crucial to a successful Brand Story. Creating an emotional connection with your target demographic is the primary goal of every successful brand narrative. Identifying common goals and objectives is the first step. You may do this by developing a brand narrative that reflects your company’s fundamental beliefs. Your product’s narrative, for instance, may center on your deep appreciation for the outdoors, which you may use to highlight the value of environmental responsibility. Sharing the same perspective with your clientele is a great way to build loyalty and make people think of your company as a reflection of their values. Almost any shared value may serve as a point of connection between individuals. 3.    REGULARITY IS ESSENTIAL Keep your brand true to the ideals it represents by maintaining consistency across all touchpoints. Customers have seen a lot of ads and can usually tell when a company is trying to pull one over on them. If your audience believes you betrayed their trust, your ability to connect with them through storytelling will suffer. If you say you’ll do something, do it. It’s important to stay true to the values your brand promotes, or you risk losing the trust of your consumers. Integrate your values into your brand’s narrative to show customers why they matter and how you plan to live up to them. If your brand’s message is consistent across all marketing channels, consumers will trust you. People will abandon a brand that seems inconsistent in favor of one that is more reliable. 4.    MAKE YOUR CUSTOMER THE MAIN PART OF YOUR BRAND STORY Customers respond more strongly to compelling brand stories in which they can see themselves as the protagonist. You need to cast the consumer in the lead position, with the brand serving as a guide. The hero is more likely to accept you into their world if you frame your aim as participation rather than control. You may begin to improve customer engagement by centering your efforts on the customer’s actual experience. 5.    SIMPLICITY IS KEY FOR A COMPELLING BRAND STORY And the final element we will mention in our guide on creating a compelling brand story is simplicity. It might be difficult to condense your brand’s narrative into six seconds. To do this well, you’ll need a wide range of scientific knowledge as well as an aesthetic eye. Don’t skimp on the story’s nuance and complexity just because the message is brief. Also, check regularly to see whether your brand’s narrative is easy to understand, consistent, and compelling. How much would you remember if you just had six seconds to learn about a brand? Is it interesting enough for the consumer to want to tell others about it on your behalf? You need to consider all of this if you wish to have a successful brand. Image used: https://www.pexels.com/photo/time-for-change-sign-with-led-light-2277784/

Businesses will usually value their brand as their most valuable and recognizable asset. Therefore, it’s only natural to want to remain consistent with your branding so that audiences can have an easy time identifying your products and your company. However, there are a few situations where redesigning your entire branding is a good idea. At the LO:LA creative marketing agency, we’ve helped many clients re-invent themselves and successfully grow their companies. From our experience, here are the 7 most important signs it’s time to rebrand your business. 1. You are struggling to stand out from the competition You shouldn’t feel bad if your business has difficulty getting customer attention; what matters is how you choose to handle the situation. Most businesses will struggle with this issue at some point, and they fail to find adequate solutions. While you could invest in marketing and run a campaign to improve brand recognition – that same campaign would probably be more effective after a rebranding. Business owners aren’t usually keen to admit if their current branding is, and we aren’t trying to insult you – downright bland and generic. Increasing your marketing budget will probably yield a poor ROI in these situations, especially if users find your current branding unexciting. A fresh coat of paint and a carefully tuned redesign can help you stand out and generate more leads. However, we have to recommend that you don’t stray too far and rebrand your business so that it is totally unrecognizable. This drastic change in branding can alienate your loyal customers. For this reason, try to remain at least somewhat consistent with your brand values when planning the redesign. 2. You’ve outgrown your old brand Depending on when your company was founded, it may be time to rebrand your business if the current branding is outdated. Trends in the modern marketplace can change quickly, and what was once considered relevant can easily feel out of touch. Besides reflecting company values, your branding should also keep up with the cultural zeitgeist. On the other hand, it is possible that your company had humble beginnings and has grown significantly since its founding. Sadly, many small companies that start experiencing growth often don’t have the adequate funds to perform a complete rebranding. For this reason, we offer Brand in a Box solutions that are ideal for small and medium-sized businesses. 3. You want to expand into new markets At their inception, brands are usually products of their time and place and tend to encapsulate those values. If your business is trying to make a presence in a foreign market, there could be a slight mismatch between the cultural norms and your brand. You need to take the trends and sensibilities of the local market into account and adapt your brand accordingly. This situation is actually more common than many would believe. Most industry leaders make slight brand adjustments to appeal to a new audience. We can see similar trends occur when existing companies are trying to make a name for themselves on new digital platforms. You can consider adjusting your brand to incorporate some of the traits and qualities of the new platform. Before making these sorts of changes, it would be a good idea to see what the competition is doing and how they have changed their branding strategies to adapt to the new medium. 4.  If you are recovering from bad PR Although no one wants to admit it, PR mistakes frequently happen. Arguing with customers and defending obvious mistakes won’t do your brand any good, and you will probably lose whatever trust is left with your audience. Instead of choosing to die on that hill, we suggest taking a time out from the public limelight. You can view PR disasters as one of the most obvious signs it’s time to rebrand your business. Of course, you should do your best to correct any mistakes and try to make amends. Put company-wide policies in place to ensure you won’t make the same mistake again, and use this as a learning experience. Additionally, you can use that time to revitalize your brand and come back strong. Using new branding to match your new company values can help you win back your customers. 5. Your target demographic has changed As businesses grow and market conditions change, it’s perfectly normal that you will attract different customers. When this happens, it is possible that your brand doesn’t appeal to your new customer base. It would be best if you put in some effort and research into understanding and targeting your new audience once you know who your customers are. Use that insight to rebrand and promote your company successfully. You can apply the same strategy when you want to target a new type of customer with your marketing. 6. The products and services you offer have changed Businesses will rarely offer the same products and services during the entire lifespan of the company. Old products and services commonly get discontinued, and new products are launched to take their place. Sometimes, a company can decide to go into a different industry branch. If your old branding was centered on products you no longer support, it’s probably time to rebrand your business. For example, the 3M company was initially into mining and was called the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. When they gave up on mining and became a global conglomerate, they rebranded as 3M and stopped using mining in their name. 7. You are going through a merger or acquisition When going through a merger, most companies will opt to rebrand. However, there are a few considerations you need to take into account. How will the merger affect the branding, and if there are two existing brands, can you retain the individual identities of both? When rebranding due to a merger, you should consider how that will affect your customers. Wrapping up the 7 signs it’s time to rebrand your business There can be many reasons to rebrand, and you don’t need a particular excuse if you want to change your company’s identity. It is still a good idea to look for signs it’s time to rebrand your business since they can be potential warnings that your current branding isn’t performing well. Ultimately, you should continually monitor how users perceive your brand and take the necessary steps to ensure your company’s growth. Image used: https://www.pexels.com/photo/time-for-change-sign-with-led-light-2277784/

Every business owner wants their company to stand out. A strong, recognizable, and consistent brand strategy is an excellent way to achieve this. While most people would agree that having a brand is crucial, many still fail to realize the importance of brand consistency. As a marketing agency, it is our job to empower businesses to achieve their goals and help them develop and improve their branding. Your company will be able to thrive and grow with the proper use of marketing and branding. One of the best ways to make that happen is by being consistent and authentic to your unique vision. WHAT IS BRAND CONSISTENCY? Unfortunately, not everyone is a marketing expert. People often confuse basic concepts, so let’s set the record straight. First of all, a brand is much more than just a logo. A brand is an intangible concept that is used to represent a company and its values. Brands often do this through recognizable identifying markers such as logos or slogans. For any business owner, the brand will represent the most valuable asset, and we have done numerous case studies on creating a winning brand identity. THE IMPORTANCE OF BRAND CONSISTENCY IN THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE Trends change over time, and unless you are particularly versed in online marketing, you might have trouble keeping pace. New platforms are constantly emerging, and your brand needs to be adaptable and consistent to provide you and your customers with something you can rally behind. Although you should strive to be consistent across all platforms, there is still ample room for creativity in your company’s marketing. HERE IS WHAT BRAND CONSISTENCY WILL ACHIEVE: 1.     IT HELPS YOU STAND OUT Getting noticed is the objective of any marketing campaign. It’s no secret that users are constantly exposed to an increasing amount of advertising, which is, in turn, yielding diminishing results. You can’t rely on a funny or controversial slogan and hope to grab the attention of modern audiences. That approach has been tried many times before, and the novelty has worn off. Of course, you should still employ creative copywriting but also aim for consistency. As long as your brand is consistent in tone and presentation, not only will audiences notice you, but they will also remember your unique style. Thankfully, even small companies that don’t have large marketing budgets can use clever marketing solutions to stand out. 2.     BUILDS TRUST Trustworthiness is a significant component of any brand’s success. A great way to build trust is through brand consistency. Your brand should reflect your company values and instill confidence in your audience. On the other hand, if your branding is all over the place, customers might wonder how reliable your business is. It is, however, perfectly acceptable to realize that your current branding isn’t working and to go for a complete overhaul. We helped Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar rediscover their brand. Together, we refreshed their brand in a way that was tonally consistent with their company values, allowing them to build trust with new audiences and their existing customers. 3.     SETS EXPECTATIONS Your brand should immediately tell users what your company is about. You only get one chance at a first impression, which is why the importance of brand consistency cannot be understated. Create a powerful brand to represent your company that users will associate with quality products and excellent service. Remember that your audience will quickly learn what to expect as long as you continually send the same message through your branding. Users who see your logo or any other part of your company’s brand will easily remember the values you stand for. Consistency is also great for keeping customers engaged with brand websites and social media profiles since it will let you stay in their minds. Users who constantly engage with brands online have a higher chance of purchasing from the brands they trust. 4.     CONSISTENCY CREATES POSITIVE EMOTIONS Customers like knowing what to expect from a product or service. Once you have managed to earn their trust, you can elicit positive emotions through the use of consistent branding. Consistently using positive reinforcement will cause your audience to associate positive emotions with your brand. If you manage to create deep, positive memories related to your company and your products, users will be happy at the mere mention of your brand. Remember that this takes a lot of time, effort, and a coordinated strategy for your entire company. However, once you create powerful emotional bonds with your audience, your most loyal customers will become brand ambassadors and continue to spread positive word of mouth. HOW TO CREATE A STRATEGY FOR BRAND CONSISTENCY? First, you will need to know exactly what you want to achieve. Try to accurately define the goals for your marketing and your whole company. Ideally, they should line up and give you a good idea of what you are striving for. From there, you can start defining other vital elements that will help you create a consistent brand strategy: Set clear guidelines that are easy to understand. Employees from various departments need to be able to access and understand the brand guidelines you have created. The guidelines should include technical specifications for the use of digital assets, as well as a style guide that can ensure the proper use of your brand. Have a plan for growth. Agile branding will ensure you won’t have to rework your brand every year. Think about where your company is heading and how you plan to utilize your brand in the future. Encourage internal communication. If you want your brand accurately represented across multiple platforms, then all of your employees need to understand the importance of brand consistency. Listen to what your employees have to say about how they perceive your company values, and see how that lines up with your brand’s public image. IN CONCLUSION An adequately managed brand can help you boost sales, improve customer retention and build trust for your company. However, to achieve this, you need to acknowledge the importance of brand consistency and take steps to ensure that your brand is properly utilized in a consistent way. Image used: https://unsplash.com/photos/pJ_DCj9KswI

I have been a creative for longer than I care to remember, but it has been something I have always loved. I was always aware that creating the work was only half the battle, the ability to sell the stories you create is an art form in its own right. I first put these simple rules down on paper a few years ago for the team I was working with, but I think they are as relevant today as they were then. So, here are the 10 simple things I try to stick to when it comes to sharing the work. I hope you find them useful. Rule #1 Sell the problem… …and the solution will sell itself. Before you even open your mouth, your client will have a clear understanding of the problems they face but they will have no idea what your solution is.To position your solution, start with a clear summary of their business problem and show empathy for their situation, explain in detail how you find a simple and elegant solution to the issue at hand. All that is left to do is share the idea. Rule #2 Do things Left. Take your client in an unexpected yet welcome direction. Make sure your solution has something unexpected about it, something that gets the client to think differently about their feelings about the current situation.It may not be the thing that the client ultimately buys, but it will most certainly be the thing that they remember. Rule #3 Have Fun Seeing creative work is the high point of any client’s day. Make your presentation enjoyable to sit through, this does not mean cracking jokes or being the center of attention, but it does mean making the presentation light, comfortable and something the client looks forward to.Remember, when you have fun it’s infectious. Rule #4 Respect Murphy’s Law If something is going to go wrong, it will. Don’t panic! Take a deep breath and start again. It can happen to anyone, how you handle it can make all the difference. Rule #5 Slow Down We all naturally talk quickly. If we get nervous, we talk even faster. Remember, we don’t want the client to miss what you are saying. Use simple, concise and focused statements. Make sure you pause between points to make sure each idea is understood. Rule #6 Smile Look like you are enjoying yourself, after all, you’ve put the time and sweat into the work. You’ve made it just right. Smile and be happy, enjoy the ideas you are presenting. Rule #7 Make the story human Put yourself in the picture, your idea can always be made more relevant. Put yourself or a loved one in the story and make the story believable, show that it could happen to anyone. Make the solution real in any way you can. Rule #8 Passion Period.Nothing sells ideas like passion. The crucial element when selling your work is giving a s***. Rule #9 Start small Dream big for your clients, the brief might only require a small solution, but always paint a picture of where the work could go! What might it become over time? Could it change the world? Start small but dream big. Rule#10 Relax You’ve told the client what you want them to hear, the work is done. The trick is to focus on the good feelings, that way you’ll want to do it again and again.As I said earlier, working in the creative business is something I love, sharing ideas that can have a positive impact on people makes it all worthwhile. At LO:LA we like to say everything we do is made with love, let us know if we can help you with something you will love.

We have been helping brands tell their story, create engagement, and feel more relevant for literally decades. We pride ourselves in helping to make a new brand articulation stick. Along the way we have seen the same common pitfall trip companies up, but if they are overlooked, they can make the difference between success and failure. You can follow all the tried-and-true approaches to making a brand articulation complement the company mission, you can follow an inclusive process to uncover the nuggets that lay at the heart of the problem, and you can develop a robust method to articulating how the brand should think, feel, and act in the world. And trust me, we love and do all of this, but every time we accept a brief to help define a brand, we find that if we don’t pay equal and focused attention to the following 5 areas, we know all the effort, passion and good faith will be for nothing. I first saw the marked difference and positive outcome that comes from paying close attention to these key factors very early on in my career, while working back-to-back on 2 rebrands for 2 major financial institutions I was struck by the very different outcome from 2 equally impressive, reimagined brand thoughts.When I looked back at the differences between the 2 scenarios and the differences between how the brands were received, I noticed 1 or 2 very simple differences which I have seen happen time and time again, differences not in the work or the process or the diligence and care that was put into the work, but differences in how the immediate team and the wider company were engaged and brought into the process. I was fascinated to see the same outcomes happen when attention was paid to the way the team was engaged and involved. Simple moments of collaboration, an invitation to input and celebration of group pride worked wonders, helping the work find a home and be accepted by the outside world. So, in our work we try to make sure these 5 key actions are always in consideration and always factored into our ideas of success. These might seem obvious but ignore them at your peril: Get everyone on the same page. You’ll be surprised at how differently people see a problem and what is needed. Once we take the brief, we make a point of talking to everyone with a stake in the outcome, this usually takes the form of a structured 30-minute interview/conversation where we try to understand perspectives and context for the work. Seeing the similarities and differences to perspective early on helps set expectations not just with the work at hand but with each other. Once we have conducted the conversations and assessed the output, we always like to get into a round table conversation to share findings and raise the questions of clarifying certain points, it’s really great when you see people realize they are thinking differently and how they become mindful of the real and tangible common goals. This then really becomes the brief, the real starting point for the work. Invite all key stakeholders. All too often because a brand request is made by the marketing department that is where the answer stays too. In our experience the greatest success comes from having representation from all areas of the business, creating something in isolation will only lead to work that isn’t embraced and doesn’t have ownership from the whole business. Having a working team that understands and articulates how this brand work will have a positive impact on their jobs is invaluable, all the research in the world can’t replace first person real time experience. We make sure the workshop environments we create are not intimidating, helping people freely share their thoughts. Having an environment where ideas and real-world scenarios are discussed helps quickly focus the things to help it be authentic, tangible and still inspirational. Share with the company early. While the thinking, energy and process is still fresh it’s a good practice to get a read on what you have created, this is a good time to take advantage of any preexisting company meeting to bring everyone up to speed on what you are doing. A simple show and tell with a Q and A can help seed the thinking and create a positive sense on anticipation of what is to come. It’s also great to hear any concerns early on. If there are concerns make sure you address them, making a point to prove you have listened and adapted to accommodate the wider teams concerns. Having everyone rooting for the outcome supplies the key momentum needed to push through to a successful outcome. Be proud of the story you have created. Of course, you are proud of what you are doing, but it pays dividends to show everyone you whole heartedly believe in what you are working on. Demonstrating your buy in leaves people in no uncertain terms about where you stand, it signals a clear direction and gives permission for others to share their passion or appreciation for the direction of the company. I’m not suggesting you have to bang a huge gong or create a company chant (thought that could be cool) or even act like Jared Leto in We Crashed, but an authentic signaling of your buy in works wonders. Champion your champions. This is the point where you start to see the green shoots of adoption and behavior change, this is probably the most crucial moment, the moment when you start to see others behaving in the way you want them to. This is the moment to bring attention to these observed behaviors and praise people for what they have done. Anything new can be scary for people, the fear of embarrassment and not quite fitting in are powerful dissuaders, helping people overcome their inhabitations and show how the new message has a positive impact on them is the key to unlocking the power of your new brand story. As people start to see real-time and personalized examples of behavior change, they feel more comfortable in expressing their own behavior change. Having a forum or place where you can share these stories and reward these stories is a great way to speed up engagement and make adoption an enjoyable thing. At the end of the day a new direction for the brand or a new way of expressing the company message is a tool for everyone and it just makes sense that everyone should receive help using it. Being able to deliver a more purposeful articulation comes down to getting the whole team on board and engaged. Long before the outside world sees what you intend, your team must be won over and happy. For more insights on how LO:LA can help your brand contact@thelolaagency.com

We are all so excited to learn that the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce has named the Volunteer Center South Bay/Harbor/Long Beach as the Nonprofit of the Year for their annual Impact Awards. During the pandemic, the Volunteer Center had to quickly pivot to respond more fully to where care is needed most in the community. Over the past year, they have continued to rebuild their staff, finances, and programs after the impact of COVID, at LO:LA we had the privilege to help galvanize their core brand and messaging to support this truly inspiring effort and focus. We are grateful to have great partners and collaborators like the Volunteer Center. Congratulations and keep up the awesome work.

The winners of the 28th Annual Communicator Awards have officially been announced by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts. With over 4,000 entries received from across the US and around the world, the Communicator Awards is the largest and most competitive awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals. We are excited to announce LO:LA has received 4 Gold and 3 Silver Awards We received recognition for the following work: Fable – The Storied Beverage 2022 Communicator Awards ExcellenceCollateral – Packaging for Marketing 2022 Communicator Awards DistinctionCampaign – Branding for Integrated Campaign Volunteer Center – Touching Herts & Opening Minds 2022 Communicator Awards ExcellenceCollateral – Cause & Awareness for Marketing / Promotion 2022 Communicator Awards ExcellenceGeneral Not for Profit Websites Cure – Bringing Health Home 2022 Communicator Awards ExcellenceCampaign – Branding for Integrated Campaign Good Cook – Spoon Licker 2022 Communicator Awards DistinctionIndividual – Other for online video West Basin – Super-cali-frugalistic 2022 Communicator Awards DistinctionCampaign – Environmental for Integrated Campaign

At London : Los Angeles, we bring big agency and in-house experience matched with the flexibility, attention, and “outside the box” thinking of an independent shop, never sacrificing quality and consistently churning out stimulating creative made with love. In line with our endeavors, we’re delighted to announce that we’ve been named one of the top naming agencies on The Manifest, a company listing platform. According to them, we’re one of the most naming companies in Los Angeles! You can find us on The Manifest to better know us and see how we do our work. In 2017 London : Los Angeles was founded by our CEO, Nicholas Platt, on the idea of reimagining advertising creative that not only echoes but finds magic in the moments that matter. We are about quality creative and marketing that’s accessible, affordable, and resonates. Whether it’s a full-service approach to a specific project or campaign, you can choose to commission all or just a bite-size piece. In 2021 CURE, a wellness center, partnered with us for its rebranding efforts. We handled the design for the website and app to make everything uniform. These include a new look and feel for the wellness center’s products, store, and online presence. Moreover, we redid the client’s labels and logos and managed their social media channels. “Their responsiveness is outstanding — if I need something, they get it done quickly.” – Michael McCauley, Owner, CURE The Manifest spotlights the leading companies in Los Angeles, and we’re thrilled to be recognized as one of the most reviewed naming vendors for this year. This recognition validates the level of trust and confidence that our clients put into our work, and for that, we’re deeply grateful! Are you looking for the best marketing minds and talents for your project? Get in touch with us!

Are you inadvertently killing curiosity? Although a lot of businesses talk about wanting inquisitive minds in their company more often than not their curiosity is stifled, things like efficiency and conformity are being more important to the company. Curiosity is a good intention but with no follow-up. Let’s get real about curiosity, Curiosity has probably been the single most important quality to the progress of humanity. From the wheel, to airplanes, to the smartphone, they all have a curious mind at their inception. So why are businesses so adverse to embracing curiosity as an important skill that could change everything? Curiosity can be powerful in helping a business on many levels. When we are curious, we think more deeply about a problem, we look for innovative solutions and think through all the potential drawbacks. We innovate and are genuinely more creative. Curiosity can help a business or brand adapt to new market conditions and explore new and more interesting ways to sell their products, things that naturally make a company more resilient to change or to new competition. Cultivating a culture of curiosity leads to great trust and respect within the team. Leading teams that thrive on innovation are usually always granted the time and space to be curious. This virtuous cycle is only going to benefit any company that chooses to embrace and adopt this way of working. How do we get more curious? Sounds great! Right? “Let’s be more curious and everything will be better” So, why do so many businesses stifle inquisitive minds, why are businesses frightened that the risk and perceived inefficiency are too high a price to pay to be curious. In a survey conducted by the Harvard Business Review in which 3,000 employees from various industries were asked only 24% of them said they felt curious in their job on a regular basis and 70% said they face resistance when they start asking more questions. Is your business in need of a curiosity shot in the arm? How can you overcome some of the natural barriers to developing a truly innovative and creative team? The Harvard Business Review research piece goes on to say that when we are curious, we are less likely to fall prey to confirmation bias. Rather than looking for support for our beliefs, or stereotyping people. Curiosity helps us seek out the evidence that we are wrong and stops us from making broad-sweeping judgments about potential candidates. Curiosity leads to empathy Curiosity encourages people to put themselves in someone else’s shoes and take an interest in seeing the situation from their perspective. This helps people collaborate more effectively and easily, conflicts are less intense, and the group achieves better results. So, are you letting short-term targets get in the way of long-term goals? Is the busy work becoming the focus and are you losing sight of the company’s vision? A good question to ask is how can we make our company mission more part of our everyday? How can we evidence our focus or vision? Are there simple things you can create to help the team stay focused? Do you have the right mindset about exploring possibilities? Leaders often think that letting their teams follow their curiosity will lead to a costly mess, and often shy away from curiosity because it would make managing a more difficult task. Having an easy life trumps curiosity! How do we overcome this barrier? How do you incentivize curiosity? I’m not suggesting you make it a spectacle or tie it to financial gain, but there is a constant contest between innovation and an easy life, which seems silly but omnipresent. How do you make sure the promise of a better solution looks more attractive than an easy life? A lack of curiosity killed a brand A great example of a company choosing efficiency and low risk over curiosity is Ford. In the 1900 Henry Ford created a car for the masses, the Model T Ford accounted for 56% of all car sales, but once such popularity was achieved Ford focused on efficiency and fine-tuning the production line. But as the economy boomed people chose variety over price and they looked elsewhere. Ford’s focus on efficiency over innovation led to Ford losing dominance and allowing others to gain market share. How do you balance efficiency and innovation? Can you ask questions like Why? What if? and how might we…? What can you do to make them part of the everyday language and approach you have to even the mundane tasks, making big questions part of the small and every day can help balance efficiency and innovation. At LO:LA we developed Brand Articulation’ sessions to really help you focus your brand’s why, and set a clear agenda for innovation, we have also developed the Shake Session as a simple tool to help you inject a little ‘what if’ into the everyday. So, if you feel your company is choosing efficiency over innovation and you want a little help then why not give us a call. Photo by Justin Heap on Unsplash