It’s that time in Texas where fall flannels still need to be paired with shorts, and anything pumpkin spice absolutely should be on ice. Needless to say, we’re all counting down to cooler temps, cozy vibes, and maybe—just maybe—a whiff of a Cowboys playoff run. (Fingers crossed.)

It’s pretty safe to say that the Tegan team made the most of the summer months, juggling projects while traveling the globe and sneaking in some well-deserved R&R. Whether it was beachside hangs, mountain hikes, or finally finishing that summer reading list, we’ve soaked up the sun and recharged for the months ahead.

And how about those Team USA athletes? Like anyone with a pulse, we were glued to the Paris Olympics, cheering and high-fiving around the office and wishing we could sport berets all year long. Not gonna lie–watching GOATs like Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky stack medals like pancakes (ahem, crepes) added a little extra pep to our step.

Even with all the summer fun, we’ve been hard at work launching fresh projects, welcoming some amazing new clients to the Tegan roster, and gearing up for an exciting fall. The coffee is flowing, our inboxes are full, and our team’s creative energy is at an all-time high. There’s so much on the horizon, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Cheers!
— Aaron and John

Cool Things We Did

Awards

Inc 5000
We’re getting some serious déjà vu—and we’re loving it. For the second year in a row, we’ve snagged a spot on Inc. 5000’s prestigious list of the “Fastest Growing Private Companies in America.” This year’s lineup includes big names like Meta, Patagonia, and Grubhub—so yeah, we’re in pretty great company. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got some celebrating to do.

Project Launches

Outskirt Films
Outskirt Films, known for their emotionally resonant documentaries, teamed up with us to create a sleek, immersive website that showcases their powerful storytelling. With a bold design and dynamic UX features, the new site highlights their portfolio and connects seamlessly with potential collaborators.

BraveLove
We partnered with the incredible folks at BraveLove to launch a newly redesigned site that brings their mission of honoring birth mothers to the forefront. Featuring a fresh logo, streamlined navigation, and enhanced functionality, the new platform blends heartfelt storytelling with a modern, engaging user experience.

PBK
PBK, a nationally recognized engineering and architectural firm. tapped us to lead a full site redesign, focusing on positioning them as a trusted guide, industry thought leader, and major player in their field. Through a sleek, modern design and user-friendly functionality, we built a site that highlights PBK’s extensive range of services while making their clients the heroes of the story.

New Client Partnerships

Long Cove
Hold our calls and grab the sunscreen—Tegan’s heading to the lake! We’re thrilled to announce that Long Cove, the premier waterfront community on Cedar Creek Reservoir, has chosen us as their Agency of Record. Our team will be diving in with a multi-channel approach to help Long Cove connect with both current and future residents.

BAL
BAL is a leading corporate immigration law firm serving global companies around the world. As their go-to marketing partner, we’ll be building out a year-long content strategy, creating educational resources for email, social media, and their website. We’ll also support website updates, new content development, and SEO optimizations to enhance BAL’s digital presence.

Dallas Jewish Historical Society
The Dallas Jewish Historical Society has officially named Tegan as their Agency of Record! For over 50 years, DJHS has preserved and celebrated the rich history of Dallas’ Jewish community, and we’re beyond excited to help elevate their digital presence. From enhancing their website to crafting social media magic and refreshing their brand, we’re all in on this partnership.

Hot Industry Trends

Unlikely Brand Collabs & the Power of the Unexpected
In the world of marketing, one of the hottest trends is the rise of crazy, creative brand collaborations that catch everyone off guard—and the results are paying off in a big way. A standout example? The recent partnership between YETI and Liquid Death. These two seemingly unrelated brands—one known for premium outdoor gear and the other for its edgy water branding—teamed up to create a cool casket, just in time for spooky season. (Yes, seriously.) The result? Over $68,000 in revenue and a flood of social media buzz. The success of this collaboration underscores a key takeaway: sometimes the most unexpected partnerships yield the greatest results.

Liquid Death, now valued at $1.4 billion, continues to disrupt the beverage industry by focusing on brand meaning rather than product features. The brand cleverly taps into rebellious, edgy humor and “death to plastics” messaging, resonating with consumers in ways traditional bottled water brands have struggled to replicate. Despite the lack of innovation in the product itself—plain H2O in tallboy cans—the brand’s irreverent approach has created a loyal fanbase, highlighting the importance of brand identity over product differentiation.

The takeaway for marketers? Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to collaborations. Bold, unconventional partnerships like YETI x Liquid Death, or even quirky pairings like
continue to prove that creativity and cultural relevance drive consumer engagement (and revenue) in today’s market.

Brands to Watch

Reinventing a Classic
Hold on to your chinos. J.Crew is proving they are the new comeback kids on the block. After filing for bankruptcy in 2020, many thought the struggling retailer’s days were numbered. But now under new creative direction, the brand has managed to reimagine its identity while staying true to its roots–no small task. The key? A fresh take on classic American style.

One of the most talked-about moves in J.Crew’s revival is the relaunch of its iconic catalog, which was last published in 2017. The new fall campaign, featuring a blend of preppy heritage and modern style, brings a sense of nostalgia while keeping things current. With editorial content, including Q&A interviews and multiple covers starring icons like Demi Moore, the catalog aims to engage both longtime fans and a new generation of shoppers eager to lean into some classic closet staples.

J.Crew’s resurgence offers valuable lessons for other brands: embracing your roots while staying in tune to current cultural shifts can reinvigorate a brand and capture new markets. By combining familiar elements with fresh innovation, J.Crew is proving that reinvention can be the key to mastering the long game, one popped collar at a time.

Employee Updates

Fresh Faces
Our team is growing! We are super excited to welcome Brendan, Taylor, and Anna into the Tegan fold. Brendan is stepping in to lead our creative team, so you can expect lots of brilliant ideas headed your way soon. Taylor and Anna are joining our accounts team, lending their expertise to serve our expanding client roster. High fives all around!

Movers & Shakers
Special congrats are in order for Jacey, who was just promoted to Senior Account Executive! We couldn’t be more excited for her—or for us. Meanwhile, Kelsey has been making waves outside the office as well, and was recently appointed President of the Dallas Fort Worth Interactive Marketing Association, nbd. And last but not least, Morgan was named AAF Colorado’s Volunteer of the Year for her incredible work in planning the Addy Awards, chairing chapter communications, and everything in between. Bragging rights forever.

Love & Marriage
Julianne and Hemy officially tied the knot with a dreamy elopement that surprised and delighted us all. The Tegan Slack channel was pure and utter pandemonium. We laughed. We cried. We danced around the office. Is there anything better than celebrating love? We’re over the moon for these two.

The post Tegan Quarterly: Summer 2024 appeared first on Tegan Digital.

Two time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic arrived for a first-round playoff game last Saturday night dressed as a cartoon character. Apparently, all the best players are doing it. Really messes with the other guy’s head.

Not really. The Denver Nuggets star wore a similar outfit and signature wrap-around striped scarf as Gru, the infamous villain from Despicable Me. It was an instant hit on social media, with even the Nuggets franchise playing along, posting “going to play basketball, or going to steal the moon?”

Spoiler alert, the outfit wasn’t just a happy accident. Jokic’s fit was a teaser for his appearance in a promotion for Despicable Me 4. In the trailer, the basketball player is seeking therapy because the Minions insist that he’s their boss.

Perhaps the best part of this stunt is the subtle nature of it. Sure, the trailer spells out Jokic’s role quite clearly, but the quiet teaser beforehand? Seamlessly woven into real life. Pre game footage of the NBA player went almost unnoticed. But thanks to our friends on the world wide web, and a possible nudge from Hollywood, Jokic’s outfit made a big impression. Genius. Or an evil genius?

And this certainly isn’t the first time Hollywood has outsourced their PR to star athletes. In March, more than 1,000 college and high school student athletes shared content promoting Woody Harrleson’s latest comedy, Champions, as part of a sponsored NIL deal. It’s one of the largest NIL campaigns so far in terms of the more than 1,000 athletes involved, who generated nearly 2 million impressions. “The Champions offered a unique opportunity for student athletes to participate in promoting a major Hollywood film.”

Does this mean we could see Luka dressed as a Super Mario brother one day? One can only hope.

Top Stories

What is happening with Tesla?

The electric car maker has made the headlines more than once this week- and not the good kind.

The company cut prices in a number of its major markets, including China and Germany, following price cuts in the United States. Tesla is struggling with falling sales and an intensifying price war for electric vehicles. Elon Musk reported earlier this month that its global vehicle deliveries in the first quarter fell for the first time in nearly four years. Profit fell 55 percent, to $1.1 billion from the first quarter, and revenue fell 9 percent, to $21.3 billion. And seriously, what’s the point of $21.3 billion?

The slump in earnings was seen as inevitable after Tesla sales dropped dramatically, and mass layoffs were announced for both factories in California and Austin. Musk seems to be taking the problems seriously, but assures investors things will improve. Critics are not so sure. “Tesla lived on the coolness of its car, the idea that the company was about to launch autonomous vehicles and investor confidence in Mr. Musk’s ability to do nearly impossible things. Now its cars are old, the fleet of Robo taxis promised five years ago hasn’t arrived, and confidence in Mr. Musk is battered by disappointment and behavior that mystifies investors.” Ouch.

And to pour salt on the electric wound, nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks were recalled Wednesday over a defect with the accelerator, causing it to get stuck when pressed, increasing the risk of crash. The recall number represents all of the vehicle deliveries completed by the company since the rollout of the long-awaited truck in late November. Another Cybertruck issue? It apparently shuts down if you try to take it through a car wash.

Oh, and a recent fatal motorcycle crash was blamed on Tesla’s autopilot mode.

In summary, Tesla is having a really, really bad week.

The Caitlin Clark movement.

Everyone’s talking about Caitlin Clark. And for good reason. The basketball star led the University of Iowa Hawkeyes to the women’s NCAA Tournament championship game for the second year in a row, and games repeatedly smashed viewership records. She’s already hailed as one of the best female collegiate athletes of all time, and shows promise to change Women’s basketball forever.

In early March, Clark declared for the WNBA draft and prices for tickets to see the Indiana Fever, the team with the first pick in the draft, soared. Opposing teams have had to look into alternative venues to host upcoming games, expecting sellout crowds to see Clark play. “It really is a remarkable thing to watch unfold. She’s changing the game.”

This week, Nike signed a fat endorsement deal with Clark, committing to an eight-year, $28 million contract, plus a signature shoe. Clark joins an impressive lineup, including LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant. Not so funny enough, the Nike deal makes Clark’s WNBA contract look pretty pitiful. The player will earn $338,056 over the course of four years. Considering the superstar has built a multi-million dollar brand as an elite playmaker, the measly pay stings.

My guess? When Caitlin Clark steps on the court to do her thing for the Indiana Fever, the crowds will show up, and the ratings will continue to soar. I see some hefty contract renegotiations in her future.

Best of the Week

New Friends

We’re thrilled to introduce you to our new friends from Long Cove! The luxury lakefront community selected yours truly as their Agency of Record. Did our waterskiing skills seal the deal? Possibly.

Smart Strategy

Check out Hubspot’s roundup of six sales pitches to eliminate from your sales arsenal. I would like it noted that this list does not include smoke machines. Just sayin’.

Take a Break

Summer is just around the corner. Take that PTO, load up the kids, and hit the road. Check out Thrillist’s guide to America’s best national parks.

Weekly Mix

She’s done it again. We’ve had T-Swift’s latest album The Tortured Poets Department on repeat all week. Maybe take the day off tomorrow and give it a listen. Your boss will understand.

The post Why did Caitlin Clark cross the road? ???? appeared first on Tegan Digital.

Everything is blooming here in Dallas, and while it’s bittersweet trading in our barely used outerwear for short sleeves, we aren’t mad at all about the extra sunshine. (And hopefully, a few extra Lil T sightings!)

The past few months of the new year have been quite a ride. We’ve welcomed new client BFFS into the Tegan fold, launched an impressive line-up of projects, and even made some time to ski our way through the winter months.

Laura dominated the bunny hill on her first try, (no surprise there) and John, Aaron, Ryan, and Morgan have all been busy hitting the slopes from coast to coast with family and friends. It’s never too soon to start gearing up for the 2026 Winter Olympics as far as we’re concerned. Bonus: There were no emergency room visits.

Like everyone else in America, we had a blast cheering on the Chiefs and 49ers (but mostly the ads) in the Super Bowl and either living for (Laura) or rolling our eyes at (Kelsey) the unfolding Tayvis spectacle. True love or PR stunt . . . we may never know.

With spring in full swing, our calendars are filling up quickly with lots of exciting projects and opportunities we can’t wait to share. As always, thanks for coming along for the ride!

Cheers!

— Aaron and John

Cool things we did

Project Launches

Lyda Hill Philanthropies

We officially launched LHP’s new website in late February and it’s already breaking the internet. Our team loved bringing the catalytic vision of Texas philanthropic icon Ms. Lyda Hill to life in this redesign, which features bold, simplified layouts, clarified messaging, and an elevated user experience.

Hilton Care for All

We partnered with our friends at Hilton for a website redesign showcasing their groundbreaking “Care for All” initiative, a support platform designed specifically for Hilton team members to better care for themselves and those closest to them. The new platform is easily navigable and organized by caregiving needs, ensuring that folks can tap into the support they seek.

New client partnerships

People Serving People

Operating as the largest emergency shelter in Minnesota, this incredible organization provides resources and a support system for families experiencing homelessness in Hennepin County, MN. We’re teaming up with PSP and their Center of Excellence preschool to build two new sites that will connect with key advocate audiences and reach families in need.

BraveLove

This national, not-for-profit organization is using the power of storytelling to celebrate the bravery of birth mothers and challenge cultural stigmas surrounding adoption. Tegan will be leading a full site redesign, making sure their message is clear and compelling.

PBK

As one of the leading architectural firms in the nation, PBK crafts facilities that contribute to human achievement through purpose-driven design and exceptional service. We’re revamping the website with fresh designs and a unified message that better reflects PBK’s wide range of services across multiple industries.

petbar

Dallas’ favorite boutique pet grooming service is expanding, opening new franchise locations across the country faster than you can say “Woof”. As petbar’s new Agency of Record, we’ll be developing a communication strategy and marketing collateral tailored to highlight their unique offerings.

Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas

We are honored to welcome another respected leader in Dallas’ Jewish community into the Tegan family, proudly serving as the Federation’s Agency of Record. Tegan will work with their team to help boost their digital presence and increase education around their impact through social media and email marketing.

Dallas Independent School District

Serving over 139,000 students in 240 schools across the metroplex, DISD is on a mission to become the best urban school district in the United States. We couldn’t be more excited to continue to invest in the future of our Dallas community through this new partnership.

DMRE

We’re teaming up with the folks at DMRE, a Texas-based commercial real estate broker leading the way in land brokerage services for multi-family, residential, and industrial land. Tegan will be stepping in as an extension of their marketing team, providing ongoing support through research, strategy, and creative design.

Hot Industry Trends

Subway’s Footlong Snacks: Sweet and Savory Saviors or Just Another Hail Mary?

It’s no secret that Subway has been struggling for the past few years, shuttering hundreds of stores across the country. But just when you think you’ve witnessed the end of an empire, you see Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce out promoting Subway’s latest last ditch effort: The Footlong Sidekick.

Yes, you heard correctly. The teetering sandwich franchise is now venturing into the world of super-sized delights with 12-inch pretzels, cookies, and churros, and people are paying attention. But it’s not the first time Subway has called an audible to fight its way back into the public’s good graces.

In the early 2000s, on the heels of the SuperSize Me debut, a new wave of health-consciousness began to sweep across the nation. Subway quickly positioned itself as the healthier alternative to fast food, launching a slew of weight-loss campaigns with Jared Fogle as the poster boy. Things were looking rosy until the Fogle scandal hit in 2015, knocking Subway off its squeaky-clean pedestal. Yikes.

Despite legal battles and public skepticism, (Tuna-gate, anyone?) Subway has continued to fight back, revamping their menu with the Eat Fresh Refresh campaign in 2022. With a new lineup of high-powered athletes like Mahomes, Kelce, Peyton Manning, Steph Curry, and Simone Biles, Subway is still positioning itself as a healthier fast food alternative, but without the diet-culture vibes. Afterall, if a world champion can indulge in a hoagie-sized cookie, why not you?

Subway’s renaissance is the perfect reminder that adaptability is the ultimate secret sauce. Whether it’s pivoting after bad publicity or just keeping up with trends, brands should remember that the market landscape is always changing, and brands that don’t evolve will be forgotten. If companies LEGO and Apple like can master the power of reinvention, it shouldn’t be all that surprising that a dynasty like Subway couldn’t do the same—footlong churros or not.

Brands to Watch: Poppi

The whimsical prebiotic soda brand, Poppi, is making a big splash in the beverage market—and in our hearts. Let’s dive into what’s getting them the attention and what other brands can learn from their approach.

Generating Buzz:

With a flourish of color and a playful wink, Poppi knows how to make you look. They aren’t sitting back, waiting for attention; they’re actively seeking it out. From sending PR packages to influencers and enthusiasts to creating engaging pop-up events for product launches, they’re constantly on the radar of their target audience.

All the Touchpoints:

Poppi understands the importance of a comprehensive marketing strategy. Their “Soda’s Back!” 360 marketing campaign is a testament to this. By leveraging digital platforms, social media, and out-of-home advertising, they’re ensuring that their message reaches consumers wherever they are.

TikTok Domination:

Here’s the platform where Poppi really bubbles to the top.
They’ve mastered the art of user-generated content (UGC) by encouraging fans to create their own Poppi mocktail and cocktail recipes, tapping into the sober and sober-curious crowds. This not only drives engagement but also fosters a sense of community around the brand.

Relatable Brand Identity:

What sets Poppi apart is its relatable brand identity. It’s not just a beverage; it’s a lifestyle. (Hello Poppi merch ????) With its quirky, nostalgic, and vibrant persona, Poppi resonates with consumers—especially women—on multiple levels. It’s upfront about what it’s trying to do: making soda cool again—or maybe for the first time—through “joyful technicolor maximalism”. (La Croix could never). Plus, tapping into the trending interest in gut health, Poppi offers a refreshing way to feel good from the inside out. Pop cultured, indeed.

Tegan Approved!

It’s been pretty inspiring to watch Poppi crack the code when it comes to creating a brand that’s not only delicious but also playful, engaging and relevant. With their innovative marketing tactics and authentic brand identity, they’re definitely one to keep watching in the future.

We may not work for Poppi, (yet) but let’s just say our fridge is full and our door is wide open. And for the record, Strawberry Lemonade is the best flavor, hands down.

Employee Updates

Movers & Shakers

Laura celebrated her five year anniversary with Tegan in true Laura fashion: by earning herself a promotion to the role of Account Supervisor. We love this for Laura, but we especially love it for us. Morgan, who serves as the Communications Chair for AAF Colorado, pulled off another wildly successful ADDYs Awards, meaning she deserves a gold medal, a high five . . . and a day off.

Love & Marriage

Last December, our very own Katie Darden was posed with a pressing question that (surprisingly) didn’t involve a creative brief or website launch . . . and she said yes! It goes without saying that we’re absolutely thrilled for Katie and her new fiance, Alec. It’s also an official fact that Tegan’s unofficial matchmaking service is undefeated.

The post Tegan Quarterly: Spring 2024 appeared first on Tegan Digital.

Move over Swelce, we’re taking this game indoors. More than ten million viewers will tune into NCAA’s March Madness tournament in the coming weeks. And while that’s a significantly smaller number than the Super Bowl’s 123 million average viewers, this is really an apples and oranges situation.

Let me explain. Where the big football game has one night to make a big impression, March Madness takes place over three weeks. That breaks down to 12 hours of basketball for each of the first four days, five hours a day for the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, five hours for the Final Four and an additional three for the NCAA Championship game. That’s 76 hours of television in three weeks, all on the same few channels. To which I say… challenge accepted.

But all of those hours mean that much more opportunity for brands to get their message across to the clients. Effectively repetitive? Yes. The feeling that we’re being beat across the head with it? Also yes. CBS and TNT Sports reported they were “basically sold out” of ad inventory as of March 14. And Jon Diament, EVP of ad sales at Warner Bros. claims “this will be the best revenue tournament we’ve ever had.”

For a refreshing change of pace, advertisers are making it a point to play fair with men and women this year, placing an equal emphasis on both in their marketing. Powerade’s spot features two NCAA guards, Isaiah Collier from the USC men’s team, and Flau’jae Johnson from the LSU women’s team. Ritz used 16 college athletes for their campaign, including 8 men and 8 women. Even my math skills know that’s exactly even. And Marriot Bonvoy turned to coach Sydney Carter to lead their Game Day Rituals campaign. Fans can enter for a chance to win an exclusive experience at the women’s Final Four tournament in Cleveland, Ohio.

And in case you’re worried about going hungry the next few weeks, don’t be. The food deals are out of control. Wendy’s is offering customers $1 and $2 cheeseburgers exclusively via the Wendy’s app in honor of the big tournament. Buffalo Wild Wings is taking it a step further, and celebrating with their own special bracket. The restaurant had a real buffalo, Jack, pick a bracket for both the men’s and women’s tournament in a promotion the company is calling “Beat the Buffalo.” Fans have the opportunity to submit their own brackets, and “10% of challengers with a better bracket will have a chance to win bragging rights and some amazing prizes- a year’s worth of free wings and tickets to next year’s Final Four.” This a fun one, but a year’s worth of free wings? Is that not a health hazard?

It wouldn’t be a proper commercial roundup if we didn’t include the insurance guys. Because for every Buffalo Wild Wings commercial, there are three million GEICO spots (don’t look up that stat, just trust me). Their “However You Fan” commercial this year highlights the many ways to be a fan, whether you’re a trash talker, an emotional basket case, or incredibly superstitious. Give it a watch, even if just for the eight year old girl heckling the bench. Amazing.

IMHO, Larry Bird’s appearance in Allstate’s latest commercial takes the top prize this year. The NBA legend stars in the 30 second advertisement as himself, while Dean Winters (the Mayhem maker that we all love), represents an actual bird in the attic. The two face off, and obviously Mayhem does some serious damage. But the play on Bird’s name and March Madness/Mayhem? This is dad joke level expert. Trust me. I know.

Top Stories

More talk of the TikTok ban.

Raise your hand if you’re tired of hearing about a potential TikTok ban? Same. And to make matters worse, the House-passed bill that could ban the app in the US wont be taken up by the Senate any time soon. In fact, it could be months before any legitimate TikTok related legislation hits the floor.

Quick refresher. Government officials are increasingly worried that TikTok, which is owned by China-based parent company ByteDance, poses a national security threat to the US and its people. They are so worried, the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill last Wednesday that would give ByteDance about six months to divest the US assets of the short-video app, or face a ban.

TikTok says the concerns are baseless. It notes that about 60% of the company is owned by global investors, and three members of its five person board are Americans. It also boasts that it has spent more than $1 billion on a plan that stores US sensitive user data domestically on servers operated by Oracle, the American cloud computing company.

The TikTok ban is just one of many of Washington’s recent moves in response to US national security concerns about China, from connected vehicles to advanced AI chips to cranes at US ports. And it’s not just one party sounding the alarms. The ban support has been bipartisan from the get go, with both Republicans and Democrats concerned about China’s influence.

It took me four years to figure out the Renegade dance, and now we decide to ban TikTok? Not cool.

Princess Kate has cancer.

After weeks of online conspiracies and rumors swirling, the truth behind Kate Middleton’s silence has come out- and it is certainly not a sigh of relief. On Friday afternoon, the Princess of Wales personally addressed speculations regarding her health in a video message. She revealed that she has been diagnosed with cancer, and is in the early stages of “preventative chemotherapy.”

In the heartfelt message, the princess revealed the diagnosis as a “huge shock” to her and Prince William. She explained the family’s need for time to process with their children, and a request for understanding their need for privacy as she seeks treatment and healing.

A little backstory. A royal ruckus was set in motion back in January when Kensington Palace announced that Kate underwent a “successful” abdominal surgery and was expected to remain hospitalized for two weeks. She was announced to return to public duties around Easter on March 31st. In late February, in an attempt to quiet rising speculation about the Princess’ health, the Palace released a statement indicating Kate was “doing well.” Shortly after, on March 10, Princess Kate returned to Instagram with a family photo, thanking the public for months of well wishes and support. Wild turn of events? The photos were quickly retracted for being clearly manipulated. Even wilder turn of events? Princess Kate posted on X an apology for causing confusion with the photos, blaming herself for a sloppy editing job. Which was super believable.

The mishap led to an internet firestorm, sparking wild rumors including an impending divorce due to Prince William’s affairs, troubles incurred from an eating disorder, a missing persons report, or even a haircut gone wrong. Tragically, the reality was incredibly sobering for everyone.

UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak commented on the recent frenzy. “In recent weeks (the Princess) has been subject to intense scrutiny and has been unfairly treated by certain sections of the media around the world and on social media. When it comes to matters of health, like everyone else, she must be afforded the privacy to focus on her treatment and be with her loving family.”

Best of the Week

Sites to See

Hold the applause. We successfully launched Lyda Hill Philanthrophies’ new website last week and TBH, she’s a real beauty. Okay, you can applaud now.

Treat Trends

Twenty bucks says you’re reading this newsletter with a little treat in hand. Brands notice, and are increasingly marketing their everyday products as little luxuries. Could this work for you?

Smart Moves

Think With Google’s video marketing strategies explained, and then turned upside down. An informative read with concrete examples. Save this one for a rainy day.

Weekly Mix

Long live spring time in Texas. It might only last a couple of hours, but we’ll take it. Open those windows and cue up the March mix.

More News from the Week.

• The fascinating story of a Florida homeowner who is possibly winning the greatest game of chicken ever played.
• YouTube sensation Mr. Beast will have his own show on Amazon, where over 1,000 contestants will compete for a $5 million grand prize.
• Want your kids to vomit on Easter morning? This one’s for you!
• The bizarre trial of Craig Wright, who claimed to be bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, but isn’t.
• CosMc’s opened in Dallas on Tuesday. Lines in its new locations have had wait times for up to six hours. If we’re late for our next few meetings…just know it was for good reason.

The post Maybe Larry Bird created Bitcoin? ????‍♂️ appeared first on Tegan Digital.

The city of New York is suing TikTok, along with its friends Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and Snapchat, over the recent mental health crisis plaguing its youth. Additional plaintiffs include the school district and health organizations, all of which filed the lawsuit last week in Los Angeles. The suit alleges that the parent companies knowingly “designed, developed, produced, operated, promoted, distributed, and marketed their platforms to attract, capture, and addict youth, with minimal parental oversight.” Of course, the addictive nature of these apps isn’t bombshell information. If you’ve been around anyone with a smart phone in the last ten years, it’s obvious. However, we are just now witnessing the first generation to have access to such material at such a young age. And the consequences are proving to be devastating.

New York is certainly not the first entity to call out TikTok trouble. In case you forgot, it was actually President Trump who first attempted to ban the app. Trump’s Commerce Department cited TikTok as a threat to national security, and sought to prevent the app from being downloaded in app stores, and attempted to outlaw transactions between Americans and TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The administration strongly believed US user data was at risk of being accessed by Chinese authorities. The ban was determined by multiple courts to be “arbitrary and capricious.”

Fast forward a couple years, and the President demonstrates concern regarding the app again. But this time, it’s President Biden. The current White House regime actually signed legislation in late 2022 that banned most federal government-owned devices from using TikTok. Surely this is so choreographed dances don’t take over the Senate floor? Not exactly. The Office of Management and Budget called the new bill a “critical step forward in addressing the risks presented by the app to sensitive government data.”

An interesting turn of events? Just last week, President Biden’s reelection campaign launched an official TikTok account. His handle, @bidenhq, debuted Sunday during Lunar New Year Celebrations in China and Super Bowl LVIII in the US. And it is as cringey as it sounds. Obviously, the current administration is hoping to appeal to young voters. But everyone else is really scratching their heads. Republican and Democrat lawmakers alike have urged the President to deactivate his account. “How can the federal government warn Americans about the risks of this app if the Commander in Chief uses it too?” Great question.

Talk about a perfect illustration of the conflict at hand.
The safety of the app is certainly compromised, but it is very much a part of our everyday life. TikTok has quickly established residence in pop culture, and is considered a mainstay in our current society. Entire marketing strategies are built around the platform. This is not something we can just snap our fingers away. But at what cost do we continue on scrolling?

Top Stories

The latest AI scams

Software company Bitdefender recently revealed a large number of scam videos on Facebook and Instagram with audio deepfakes of celebrities like Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston and Tiger Woods. The stars are offering product giveaways and investment opportunities. The videos targeted more than 1 million users in the US and Europe.

Fake Jen Anistons aren’t the only phonies out there. A voter in New Hampshire claimed he got a call from President Joe Biden a few days before the primary, asking him not to vote. On the phone, Biden claimed “Voting this Tuesday only enables the Republicans in their quest to elect Donald Trump again.” Spoiler alert- it wasn’t actually Joe. It was a deep fake AI-generated message. More than 30 states have now introduced over 50 bills to regulate deepfakes in elections, focusing on disclosure requirements and bans. But regardless of the new regulations, many fear similar AI scams will compromise the integrity of future elections.

Another recent AI scam doesn’t threaten the White House, but your library. As if posing as an author isn’t lame enough, these scammers have stooped to new lows, and are now posing as deceased people. AI-generated biographies of recently departed celebrities have started appearing on Amazon. Michael Lelyveld discovered such biographies of his late brother, Joseph Lelyveld, a former executive editor of The New York Times, a day after his passing. Less than 24 hours for an entire book to be published? Talk about a dead giveaway.

President’s Day sales

Because nothing says honor our founding fathers like a stellar mattress deal. Truth be told, the timing of President’s Day is ideal. It’s appropriately spaced from the holiday season, just long enough after December 25 to give consumers a much needed break, and around the time a lot of the country is ready to start some pre-spring shopping. And after six long winter weeks, what the American public really wants is a day off… and a new, used Honda.

Groupon won this President’s Day for sure. The popular coupon company sent out a holiday promo for $10 off a $40 purchase from a local business in honor of “President Alexander Hamilton.” In case you missed the blooper, Hamilton was never a US president. Only an excellent Broadway showman. When Groupon was called out on the mistake, the company replied “you’re certainly entitled to your opinion.” Such a fire response. Whether the mistake was real, or a real big grab for attention, we’ll take it.

AirBnb took a playful stab at the holiday too, tweeting out “George Washington slept here- now you can too” with a rental property linked. I guess that’s enticing? Hostess Snacks put forth a valiant effort too, with cute little rhyme about a cherry tree and a former president. Denny’s, on the other hand, took a less cute approach. If you want to skip the link, it’s Mount Rushmore with pancakes flying from helicopters. A swing and a miss.

Best of the Week

The More You Know

Hootsuite presents Instagram Reels in 2024: A Complete Guide. Learn how to promote your brand, reach new people and engage your audience. That’s a win-win-win if you lost count.

Tips and Tricks

Minus the constant scamming and creepy deepfakes, AI is still really cool. Sora is an AI model that can create realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions.

What to Watch

File this under “shows to watch when you want to walk away with your heart shattered into a million pieces.” Netflix’s latest short series, One Day, has wrecked us all. Binge at your own risk.

Weekly Mix

NEEDTOBREATHE just released their latest album, the CMT Campfire Sessions, and now we are all enrolled in guitar lessons and shopping for urban cowboy hats. Volume up and giddy up.

More News from the Week.

Sam Altman seeks trillions of dollars to reshape the business of chips and AI. Trillions? Is that all?

Target offers a cheaper option to compete with Dollar Store brands. Because we all needed another reason to go to Target.

If you’re flying anytime soon, do not read this article.

The Atlantic’s latest piece on Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out. Do we really have to tease this one out? Because I’m sort of content on my couch.

Panda diplomacy is a thing.

The post Pancakes, pandas and possible fraud ???? appeared first on Tegan Digital.

I’m a big fan of January energy. The new year, new goals and a fresh start. Sign me up! For most of us, the rhythm is the same every year. Dusting off that old gym membership and setting the alarm a few minutes earlier. Maybe you even committed to Dry January. Or just Damp January? No judgment here. Progress over perfection, my friend.

When we think of the new year with our marketing caps on, there’s a similar anticipation. We look forward to how certain brands will evolve, which strategies will take off, and what campaigns we’ll see from our favorites. Here’s some of the Tegan team’s thoughts on the year ahead.

Kelsey– I might be stealing Katie’s favorite product thunder, but I’ve been loving watching Poppi’s rise to the top! Their current Soda’s Back! campaign is saturating the social space. It’s leaning into the notion that drinking soda doesn’t have to be shameful. While I prefer Olipop, Poppi is totally owning the prebiotic soda space.

Ryan– Open AI or Midjourney. I’m curious how they’ll make AI tools more and more user friendly, and continue to spin the negative views on AI.

Julianne– I am always interested to see what Adobe is doing, especially with Illustrator. In the past years, they have added a cool 3D tool, a reverse font identifier, and a mockup creator. Plus, they do something that annoys me each year. I hate their new font organizer! But it will be interesting to see how they implement their AI tools without alienating their core base of artists/creators.

Laura– Geico because they brought the Caveman back!! Curious to see if they keep running with it this year. We saw this ad last night and loved it.

Carley– The Gap. With stores closing over the last few years, and inventory steadily decreasing, I’m curious if it will make it through the end of 2024. They still hold a semblance of their once iconic casual, American style, but I’m worried the clock is ticking. Where will a girl get a decent priced denim jacket if their doors close?

Important footnote- we will also be closely watching Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in the year 2024. In depth analysis and passionate hot takes to come.

Top Stories

Zuckerburg plans for AGI.

The latest in the AI craze is the race to achieve artificial general intelligence, or AGI. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg is certainly on board. He’s announced significant resources dedicated to the technology and by the end of the year, predicts Meta will own more than 340,000 of Nvidia’s H100 GPUs- the industry’s chip of choice for building generative AI. Zuck’s end goal is to release Meta’s AGI version as open source software for everyone.

Sounds amazing… until it doesn’t. Critics claim pursuing the technology is “a bit like giving people a template to build a nuclear bomb.” This article even teases out How Artificial General Intelligence could make humans obsolete. No big.

Let’s back it up a bit. AGI is the ability for technology to achieve complex human capabilities like common sense and consciousness. Experts are all across the map on what AGI will actually look like in our everyday, but everyone agrees that progress is being made towards a new form of intelligence.

AI analyst Ian Hogarth defines AGI as “God-like AI” that consists of a “user intelligent computer” that “learns and develops autonomously” and understands context without need for human intervention. It’s the “without need for human” part that raises a red flag. The potential emergence of AGI has alarmed experts and politicians around the world who fear such a system, or a combination of multiple AGI systems, could evade human control and threaten humanity. Super.

Sephora kids and TikTok drama.

The latest social media firestorm is swirling around beauty retailer Sephora in response to the US locations’ apparent shifting demographic.

Shoppers have taken to TikTok, flooding the platform with posts complaining that young girls are taking over beauty product stores, such as Sephora and Ulta Beauty. The main idea? If you see a kid at Sephora, run. The hashtags #sephora and #sephorakids are currently trending, revealing the conflict in full force. Stores are shown messed up, product displays trashed, and testimonies of run-ins with young, unruly customers abound.

The Pew Research Center found nearly 1 in 2 US teens say they’re on YouTube or TikTok several times a day. Almost 1 in 5 say they’re on it constantly. With access to social media, and the rising trend of “get ready with me” and “makeup haul” videos, Gen Alpha’s latest obsession makes sense. Add excessive social media use with a heightened concern for one’s appearance (come on, you know you couldn’t pass up a mirror when you were 12), and you have the perfect storm. This past Christmas only brought this obsession even more to the forefront. Many parents noted how their pre-teens weren’t asking for dolls or roller skates. Instead, kids wanted face masks, serums and creams.

Brands have taken notice. Several cosmetics and skincare brands have launched items to serve not only tweens, but even younger demographics. Yawn is a company that launched to offer make-up and skincare for customers who are aged 3+. And Gryt, which launched in 2023, says its products are for tweens and teens, but can be used for those as young as eight years old.

To my own eight year old daughter- Taylor, if you’re reading this, the answer is no.

Best of the Week

Tips and Tricks

The state of email marketing. There’s an entire excerpt about how the Tegan Digest is the most influential newsletter of the century, but we can’t link that part for some reason…

The More You Know
From Freakonomics Radio, the No Stupid Questions podcast. Episode 176 teases out the overwhelm that comes with too many options, and lays out practical explanations for our decision anxiety.

What to Watch
The Emmys brought this one back on our radar, and now we can’t sleep at night. The 2022 miniseries tells the true story of a convict who strikes a dangerous deal with the FBI. Watch now, sleep later.

Weekly Mix
One of Jimmy Fallon’s latest bits involved a subway concert featuring him and Green Day. It’s fantastic. And it took us back to the emo soundtrack of our youth. Rock on.

The post Can we all agree Green Day still rocks? ???? appeared first on Tegan Digital.

Is it just me, or did we put on Halloween costumes yesterday, and today I’m setting up the Christmas tree? Every year, the rush toward the end seems to get faster. I swear we’re in a dead sprint over here. My neighbors started hanging lights in September. I mean, I don’t know whether to call the HOA or the police.

Regardless, the Tegan team is happy to keep up with today’s fast pace. Truth be told, we seem to thrive moving 100 mph. Project kickoffs, site launches, new apps, fresh designs and strategic campaigns—we’re going full speed in a lot of different directions. The past twelve months have been non stop hustle, innovative ideas, and enough espresso to fuel a small country. And no complaints here. We love what we do.

But in the words of the great philosopher, Ferris Bueller, life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

So, we’re taking a minute to look around. A quick pause to reflect and reminisce, if you will. Our team accomplished big things this year, and we’ve got big plans for the next. But before we cheers to the New Year, let’s take a moment to recognize all that 2023 brought our way. Without further adieu, our Year in Review.

Oh, and by the way, none of this would be possible without friends like you. Thanks for thinking of us for your digital marketing needs. We’re forever grateful.

More News from the Week.

• Why be a football coach, when you could be a fired football coach?
• Google is deleting old accounts, which means your sixth grade alias could be in trouble.
• Jennifer Lopez is promoting her new album and film, ‘This is Me…Now.‘ As long as sad Ben Affleck gets plenty of airtime, I’m in.
• How does Taylor Swift do it? Our very own Laura Chairez explains here.
• GQ’s roundup of this year’s top tech gifts. DM for my highlighted version.

The post Year in Review appeared first on Tegan Digital.

Whether you’re thinking about a full transformation, or a small refresh to stay ahead of design trends, there are some brands in recent years who we think offer great inspiration.

1. Burger King

Burger King took their own advice and decided to have their brand, their way. The 2021 rebrand incorporated a touch of nostalgia with some modern flare. Wanting to display freshness and craveability, Burger King introduced a warm color palette that replaced their previous synthetic feeling yellow and blue. And if the new logo looks familiar to you, you’re right. The burger franchise pulled elements from their logos from 1969 to 1999 to make what we see today.

2. Sweetgreen

We all know the importance of eating healthy–getting our greens, having enough protein. But oftentimes, healthy food is tied to the assumption of being boring and bland. That’s until Sweetgreens entered the chat. In 2021, the fast casual restaurant underwent a brand refresh to help consumers be excited about healthy food. Taking inspiration from hand-painted vintage cookbooks, they created a brand aesthetic built on vibrant colors, quirky illustrations, and close-up food photography. You’ll find images of juicy chicken, crisp lettuce, and plenty of fresh vegetables–anything but boring or bland. Are you drooling yet?

3. JELL-O

This year, JELL-O underwent a significant refresh after having the same packaging design for over a decade. They modernized the 125 year old brand by adding a 3D effect to their font, shifting from realistic fruit imagery to jelly fruit illustrations, and simplifying the packaging. The aesthetic transformation introduced a playful and fun nature, letting you know it’s more than just your grandma’s favorite snack.

What do all of these brands have in common? The past. While Burger King and Sweetgreen pulled inspiration from previous decades to shape their current design, JELL-O sought to leave its deep rooted perception in the past to continue evolving with the generations. One thing’s for sure: Nostalgia can be a powerful tool for brands to reinvigorate their target audience and increase their exposure to other demographics.

Successful rebrands demonstrate the power of visual design in shaping a brand’s identity and perception. With each new look, they have the opportunity to refocus a customer’s attention on their values and mission, transforming the whole experience.

If you’re thinking your brand’s identity could use a fresh coat of paint, you’ve come to the right place. At Tegan, we take pride in strategically guiding our clients on a visual redesign that aligns with who they are and where they want to go. We’d love to do that for you.

The post 3 Brands Who Got Their Refresh Right appeared first on Tegan Digital.

Taylor’s fans, known as Swifties, can belt the lyrics to any song, have probably been to the Eras tour more than once, and have made dozens of friendship bracelets. They also span across multiple generations – 45% of Taylor’s fans are millennials, 23% are baby boomers, 21% are Gen X, and 11% are Gen Z. With a demographic this broad, brands may struggle with how to make their content relevant and impactful with each generation.

Taylor is known for dropping Easter eggs in her Instagram captions and tweets, music videos, and more. Her fanbase is always looking, analyzing, and, most importantly, *expecting* her to drop cryptic hints about new songs, re-records, etc. Because of this, she’s had to keep up with the reputation over the years.

In 2019, Taylor announced she was re-recording several of her albums and since this announcement, Swifties have been eagerly waiting (and guessing!) when each re-record would come out. In true super sneaky form, she’s taken to dropping snippets of re-recordings in show/movie trailers and episodes.

In the last few years, we’ve seen:

• Summer I Turned Pretty Season 1 trailer previewed This Love (Taylor’s Version)
• Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 trailer previewed Back to December (Taylor’s Version) and debuted Delicate (Taylor’s Version) in a show episode
• Wilderness theme song – Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)
• Migration trailer – Out of the Woods (Taylor’s Version) which first previewed before the Eras Tour movie in theaters
• Spirit Untamed trailer – Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)

Over half of Swifties fall into the demographic of the above shows and movies. By promoting new releases where her fans are, she generates the type of buzz that’s every brand’s wildest dream. Taylor also uses her own organic channels to talk about new albums, dropping hints and causing Twitter, TikTok and Instagram to go crazy. Oftentimes, her hints cause songs that haven’t been on the charts in decades to skyrocket! Marketing. Mastermind. ????

Aside from being pop royalty (and queen of our hearts), we can learn a few marketing tips from Taylor.

???? Active social listening – In the Swiftie-verse, they call it #TayLurking. Taylor pays attention to what her fans are saying, doing, tweeting, and how they’re engaging with her content. A perfect example of this is the famous Bejeweled dance where Taylor incorporated a fan’s TikTok dance into actual choreography on her tour.

???? Authentic engagement – Between touring all over the world and attending Kansas City games, Taylor makes it known she’s not too busy to interact with her fans. Her liked tweets and liked TikToks are public, and she often comments on fans’ TikToks. Because of this, Taylor’s fans feel like they have a true, personal connection with her. She’s able to make a big audience feel exclusive and important just by taking time to engage with them.

Correct channels – Taylor also knows where her people are — what platforms they’re on and what shows they’re watching. She’s not dropping new song snippets during WWE matches because she knows that’s not where her audience is. That would make her a foolish one.

Looking to usher your brand into a new era and learn more about how to better reach and engage with your target audience? Let’s chat and we’ll ensure your brand never goes out of style. ????

The post Taylor Swift: Queen of Pop and Queen of Knowing Her Audience appeared first on Tegan Digital.

Getting to attend the first ever Texas Rangers playoff game at Globe Life Field was a total bucket list moment. As locked in as I was on the game, my eyes couldn’t help but wander and marvel at all of the non-baseball entertainment going on in the stadium around me.

If you don’t know, baseball seasons are quite long – like 162 games long. So keeping fans invested and willing to spend money on a game seven months into the season is impressive, even if it is the playoffs.

Now, this game stopped being interesting after the Rangers were up 6-0 in the second inning, but despite it being a runaway, the crowd remained intact, rowdy, and on their feet the ENTIRE game. The energy and atmosphere was unlike anything you’d likely experience if it were a regular season game.

This got me thinking – how do the Rangers keep the postseason engagement so high? Here are a few things I noticed:

Fan involvement.
Upon walking into the stadium, every fan (whether you were wearing Rangers gear or not) was offered a bright red “Texas” rally towel. Throughout the game fans were encouraged to lasso their towels and cheer during big moments. A small thing like a free towel makes spectators feel like they are part of the game. Logically, we know waving the towels around won’t be the difference between a win or loss, but in the moment, we believe in the magic. Plus I’ll admit, besides getting whacked in the face a few times, it was quite the scene.

A playoff slogan.
To help fans go all-in for the playoffs, the Rangers created a postseason slogan people could rally behind. “Go and take it” is being used EVERYWHERE – signage, social media, rally towels, promotions, etc. Establishing a slogan creates a sense of exclusivity for fans; they are part of something special since a playoff movement isn’t guaranteed every season. And of course, fans can further their support by owning some limited edition playoff merchandise sold by the team.

Over-the-top celebrations.
It’s difficult to remember what happens every play of a nine inning game, but I will never forget when the Rangers hit a homerun in the second inning. I nearly had a heart attack when a firework went off from behind the scoreboard, inside a closed stadium. Paired with strobe lights going off as well, it felt like a rave and not a sporting event. Home run celebrations have the potential to be iconic moments in the history of a team or player. They allow fans to share in the success, fostering a sense of connection and camaraderie. These added touches not only make a moment memorable, but provide entertainment and can become talking points amongst fans, adding an additional layer of engagement to the experience.

Food, food, and more food.
From greasy ballpark food to healthy alternatives, the options were truly endless (an indecisive person’s worst nightmare). They even had playoff-only menu items that have been added specifically for post season games, including a Chicken Parm Dawwg – because who doesn’t desire chicken parm on a hot dog? Teams are even going so far as to incorporate their playoff mottos into food items, like the Diamondback’s Embrace the Chaos Apple Pie Chimichanga. Even if you are a foodie who doesn’t like sports, you can find something to enjoy at the game.

Creating a memorable experience for your audience is crucial in building a strong connection and leaving a lasting impression. When fans (or users) have an unforgettable experience, they become deeply invested in the product or service you’re selling and ultimately crave more.

With that being said, if you are ever able to attend a playoff game (for any sport), I highly encourage you to take advantage of it. While you’re there, take note of the different ways that the team is keeping fans involved and engaged off the field. You’re bound to be impressed.

The post How the Texas Rangers Keep Fans Entertained During Playoffs (Besides Baseball) appeared first on Tegan Digital.