Jun

3 Birds Supports Local Rugby Team with Blood Drive

Author: Drew Zabor | Published: June 17th, 2013 | Comments 0 | Retweet

Besides working at 3 Birds, I’ve been pretty busy this year helping create the first ever men’s rugby team in Chapel Hill, the Warriors! Those two roles came together recently in an event that truly shows the values of those who work at this company.

As a co-founder and the president of the team, one of my biggest responsibilities is to help create a long-term vision for the club and to set the standards for a successful program. One aspect that I believe is necessary for the long-term success of any team, organization, or business is to give back to your community. Therefore, after the conclusion of our inaugural season, I decided that it was only natural to give back to our community by hosting a blood drive.

We partnered with Rex Blood Services, a program of UNC Health Care, and decided to hold the drive at the YMCA in Chapel Hill, less than 10 minutes away from the 3 Birds office. Our team had about a month to pre-register at least 25 people or else the event would be called off. Unfortunately, a couple days before the deadline, we were still a couple of heads short.

That’s when my fellow 3 Birds employees stepped up and helped out by signing up. A total of sixteen 3 Birds Marketing employees registered to give blood.

The blood drive took place on Wednesday, May 22^nd and was a huge success. We registered 41 people and had 32 pints of blood donated, which means we helped save the lives of up to 96 local area patients. Best of all, the upper management at 3 Birds has already expressed interest in organizing a blood drive of our own. I’m grateful to all of my coworkers for their service, and I think it shows just what a unique company 3 Birds Marketing really is.

Tags: 3 Birds Culture, Chapel Hill, rex blood services, rugby, the warriors, ymca | In 3 Birds Culture, Food & Health | No Comments »

Jun

Happy Father’s Day from 3 Birds Marketing

Author: Paul Mirek | Published: June 14th, 2013 | Comments 0 | Retweet

With Father’s Day just a few days away, we want to take the time to convey our gratitude to all of the dads on our crew. We celebrate you on this day, and every other day, for all that you do at 3 Birds Marketing and at home!

We certainly cherish all of the fathers here at 3 Birds, however we must give special recognition to Len Wohadlo and Layton Judd, two fathers who are also leaders to all of us. We greatly appreciate the valuable guidance and motivation that each of you provide on a daily basis!

To Len, Layton and all of the fathers at 3 Birds, thank you for aiding in the growth of our company and empowering us as individuals. This Father’s Day, we salute you!

Tags: 3 birds marekting, father's day, Layton Judd, Len Wohadlo | In 3 Birds Culture | No Comments »

Jun

3 Birds Employees Run the Field with Tri Sports Social Club Kickball

Author: Paul Mirek | Published: June 12th, 2013 | Comments 0 | Retweet

At 3 Birds Marketing, “work hard, play hard” isn’t just a cliché. For the past five seasons, employees have been taking to nearby fields to engage in a little good-natured kickball competition with players from other local businesses and organizations. We’re proud to announce that this season included a 6-game winning streak and ended with a top-3 ranking for the company team. But the numbers only tell part of the story.

This spring marked the team’s first season with the Tri Sports Social Club, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Games took place at nearby Ephesus Park in Chapel Hill. 10 teams participated from throughout the community.

There were several highlights from the season, such as the time brothers Rien and Drew Zabor notched back-to-back homeruns. There was some sibling rivalry when we faced off against Training & Customer Relations Manager Tannen Gliatta’s sister on an opposing team, but we took the victory nevertheless. Many players revealed their own unique strengths, such as Julie Steelman’s great defense and Chip Reed’s remarkable batting average. (more…)

Tags: 3 Birds, Chapel Hill, kickball, sports | In 3 Birds Culture | No Comments »

Jun

What We’re Reading: Social Media Tirades, Facebook Ad Drops and NBA Leverage

Author: Jennifer Hambric | Published: June 7th, 2013 | Comments 0 | Retweet

This week, the 3 Birds crew gathered insight from around web, exploring the latest developments in digital marketing, social media and branding. Check out a summary of our recent research and learn how we’re applying this information to our strategic services.

31% of consumers will take to social media to vent about poor customer service (The Drum)

According to a recent survey, nearly a third of social media users take to sites such as Facebook and Twitter to complain about bad customer service. Of the 2,034 UK adults surveyed, many believe that taking their frustrations to social networking sites would not only gain the company’s attention, but also get their respective issues resolved expeditiously.

Key Takeaway: This UK-based survey draws attention to the universal value of social media as an effective customer service tool. Organizations must adapt to customer service requirements and use social media to manage their reputation, respond to consumers and reduce complaints in the long run. Facing this challenge can be daunting, but reputation management services from 3 Birds Marketing can help you keep an eye on the conversation about your business.

Hybrids Doing Well in Used Car Values – Much Better Than EVs (Automotive Digest)

The Blue Book Used-Car Market Report for May finds that used hybrid vehicles have a retained average value of 74.3% of their original MSRP, while used electric vehicles are retaining approximately 55% of their original value. Kelley Blue Book anticipates this trend to continue while consumers adapt to the new technology. (more…)

Tags: ads, CPC, Facebook, NBA, Social Media, sports | In Cars, In the News, Sales & Marketing, Social Media | No Comments »

Jun

Keeping Up With Google: Penguin 2.0, Google+ Updates, One Channel and Hangouts

Author: 3 Birds Marketing | Published: June 6th, 2013 | Comments 0 | Retweet

At 3 Birds Marketing, our clients come to us for digital content-driven solutions to facilitate customer engagement. Google is an essential accompaniment to that work. After all, your dealership’s presence in Google search listings (and those of other search engines) greatly affects your lead generation and conversion rates.

In order to best serve our clients, we believe it is important to be well-informed of Google’s many developments. So, in the spirit of progressive data solutions, here is a rundown of recent advancements from Google. (more…)

Tags: chat, google, mobile, Penguin, SEO, video, YouTube | In In the News, Social Media, Web Technologies | No Comments »

Jun

Inside 3 Birds: Logo Design for Launch Chapel Hill

Author: Kristin Tillett | Published: June 3rd, 2013 | Comments 0 | Retweet

One of our recent “What We’re Reading” posts included a look at some ‘logo uh-ohs’ from around the web. The examples in that article certainly make an impression—but not in a good way. A well-designed, thoughtfully-executed logo, on the other hand, can be an immense help when it comes to branding your business or organization and reaching out to a wider audience.

Earlier this year, the members of our Creative department got the opportunity to collaborate on a rebranding project for Launch CHAPEL HILL (located in our previous space on W. Rosemary Street). Jim Kitchen, whose original Franklin Innovation Center was a primary inspiration for the Launch project, requested an update for the original logo seen here:

Jim wanted to keep the basic premise of the logo intact while emphasizing the group’s three main sponsors: UNC, Orange County, and the Town of Chapel Hill. We’re proud to present an inside look at the process our creative team took to bring this project to fruition. (more…)

Tags: business, Chapel Hill, Design, entrepreneurship, incubator, launch, logo, start-up, UNC | In Design, Entrepreneurship & Startup Life | No Comments »

May

What We’re Reading: Sirius Expansion, Pinterest Brand Engagement, and Facts for Roadtrip Season

Author: Jennifer Hambric | Published: May 31st, 2013 | Comments 0 | Retweet

With Memorial Day just behind us and summer’s kickoff right around the corner, this is an idyllic time of the year for many of us at 3 Birds Marketing. Unsurprisingly, our collective readings this week encompassed articles pertinent to summertime and the automotive industry. So before your dealership commemorates the season for sizzling sales, check out a rundown of the industry trends we recently discovered.

New CEO to expand Sirius beyond satellite radio in cars (Chicago Tribune)

Jim Meyer, the new CEO of Sirius XM Radio Inc, has elaborate plans to advance satellite radio technology. His vision for the future of Sirius XM Radio includes in-car offerings such as an infotainment system, replete with weather and gas prices, and new safety equipment including a stolen vehicle tracking device and roadside assistance features.

Key Takeaway: Product knowledge. Working in any industry you need to know what lies ahead in terms of products, technology and advancement. For us, this means keeping a finger on the pulse of what’s happening in automotive tech. Though Sirius XM systems have been a strong selling point with car consumers for over a decade, lately, satellite radio has faced stiff competition from popular music-streaming app Pandora. With Sirius XM’s new offerings, however, satellite radio can possibly remain the preferred choice of automakers for years to come.

70 Percent of Brand Engagement on Pinterest Come From Users (Social Barrel)

According to a recent study conducted by global brand firm Digitas and analytics suite Curalate, “70 percent of brand engagement on Pinterest is user-generated, unlike Facebook and Twitter, where companies push campaigns using verified accounts and pages.” Unfortunately, the study also found that automotive brands are not capitalizing on the visual platform. In fact, brands purportedly received only three repins on average compared to the 10 repins that users received for posting automotive products. (more…)

Tags: automotive, Pinterest, Social Media, summer, technology | In In the News | No Comments »

May

What We’re Reading: Chrysler Quality, Jaguar Mobile, and Cadillac CPO

Author: Paul Mirek | Published: May 24th, 2013 | Comments 0 | Retweet

There was plenty to discuss in automotive marketing this week, including some important lessons for your dealership. Below, we look at the implications of three notable news stories from the past seven days and some options for facing them. With our innovative 3 Birds Marketing solutions, you’ll never be alone when it comes to tackling your marketing challenges. Get in touch to get started.

Chrysler quality chief: Little difference now with Toyota (Automotive News)

Doug Betts, Chrysler’s senior vice president of quality, recently declared that the quality gap between Chrysler Group vehicles and those of Japanese automakers should no longer be a deciding factor for consumers. “There are third-party metrics out there that say we are still short of where [Toyota] is, and I don’t disagree with those,” said Betts, but he maintains that “we have gotten close enough on reliability that it shouldn’t be a reason for somebody not to buy our cars.”

What it Means for You: Every automaker must deal with the issue of perceived quality, and dealerships also need to learn how to contend with consumer concerns like these. How are you addressing consumer perceptions—by focusing on other aspects as Betts suggests (“how the car feels, how it drives, how it sounds, how it looks?”) or in another way? Consider a service campaign emphasizing the importance of regular maintenance visits to any vehicle’s lifespan.

(more…)

Tags: automotive industry, cadillac, Chrysler, jaguar, mobile | In In the News | No Comments »

May

Why the Automotive Industry is Embracing Vine

Author: Jennifer Hambric | Published: May 22nd, 2013 | Comments 0 | Retweet

There’s a new social media craze on the horizon!

Vine is a new app that allows users to capture glimpses of their lives with looping, six-second videos. Though Twitter launched Vine in January, recent endorsements from celebrities and superstar athletes have enabled the simple video-sharing app to quickly grow a mass following. In fact, Vine’s popularity is so impressive that Facebook banned the foreseeable Instagram competitor within 24 hours of its release. But superstar backing and controversy aside, why is Vine already considered an asset to the auto industry? Enter the #DontDriveandVine campaign.The hashtag-driven campaign is quickly gaining momentum amongst avid social media users and car enthusiasts, alike. In case you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, in each of the videos marked #DontDriveandVine, people showcase their vehicles on daily commutes, at the car wash, on road trips, in traffic, in exotic locations and more. Though it’s a simple concept and quite brief in length, the originality displayed in each video has made #DontDriveandVine one of the most popular hashtags on the app, to date.

Disclaimer: We at 3 Birds do not encourage “Vining” while driving, or doing anything else that can be distracting behind the wheel for that matter. In fact, this hashtag can be a good lesson as to why you truly “don’t drive and Vine.” See Exhibit A.

With each six-second upload showcasing vehicle appreciation, there’s an opportunity to capitalize on social media sales leads and take advantage of free advertising. For that reason, it’s no wonder automotive brands such as Toyota are jumping at the chance to join the Vine trend and spark easy, yet effective consumer engagement.

Do you believe Vine is a valuable advertising tool for automotive brands?

Tags: automobile industry, automotive industry, automotive marketing, digital marketing, marketing, Social Media, video | In Social Media | No Comments »

May

What We’re Reading: Volkswagen’s Big Dreams, Pickup Popularity, and Lessons from Coca-Cola

Author: Paul Mirek | Published: May 17th, 2013 | Comments 0 | Retweet

As we catch our breath after the excitement of Digital Dealer 14, we still took time to check out what’s new in automotive digital marketing. Below, we highlight some of our favorite news stories and articles from the week—and take a look at what they mean for your dealership.

How Volkswagen Will Rule the World (forbes.com)

Martin Winterkorn, the man at the head of Volkswagen AG, knows he faces an uphill battle when it comes to his goal of making VW “the world’s most profitable, fascinating and sustainable automobile manufacturer” by 2018. However, he’s got some impressive tools to achieve this goal: the monumental scope of Volkswagen’s influence in its hometown of Wolfsburg, Germany, and a new modular assembly system which will allow the company to build all of its vehicles from just four basic tool kits.

Key Takeaway: Volkswagen’s grand ambitions could have profound effects on the brand’s dealerships (especially the new emphasis on direct factory sales). In addition, dealerships in other OEMs should be keeping an eye on Volkswagen’s progress. Even if Winterkorn doesn’t meet his goal, chances are that VW’s role in the automotive industry will look very different in just a few years.

Big Pickup Trucks: Americans Are Snapping Them Up Again (wsj.com)

In addition to the rebound of the automotive industry as a whole, pickup sales are also showing a sharp upturn. This article reports that “[sales] of large pickups are up 20% for the first four months of this year compared with a year ago—bigger gains than in small cars or midsize cars, according to Autodata Corp.” Because of this, automakers are gearing up for an increased demand in 2014.

(more…)

In In the News | No Comments »