I’m writing this from our empty office. Sitting on a couch next to no one. It’s so quiet I can hear the fan turn 20 feet above my head. I didn’t even know we had fans. I spend most of the day looking at my computer screen. And when I’m not looking at that, I’m looking at the empty desks of my friends and colleagues. And I wonder. I wonder when we will all get to share this space together again. I wonder how different all of it will feel. I miss the sound of Shaina’s laugh. I miss what Erin’s smile looks like when it’s not through a zoom call. I miss the sound of Tucker walking around the office on speaker phone. And I miss how loud Rachel types. Real-life, in-person stuff.

Topics: Innovation, Content Marketing, Inspiration, Branding and Brand Value, Creative

Growing up in the remote cornfields of the Midwest can feel pretty isolating. Fortunately, I had a vast library of vinyl. Yep. I’m old. For me, the sound of that needle slipping across the surface of the record can be one of the most comforting sounds on this planet. Those few seconds before the music starts and the real escape begins.

To this day, when certain songs come on, I can remember what my room smelled like. The ratty old t-shirt I was wearing. Where I was sitting. The mood I was in.

Music plays such an important role in our day-to-day lives. Workout playlists. Go-to karaoke jam. Your wedding.

Topics: Innovation, Content Marketing, Inspiration, Branding and Brand Value, Creative

Back in January, we dove deep into two of the biggest social media trends of 2020: TikTok and the continued rise in popularity of video content. Although it was only two months ago, it feels like a completely different era.

A lot has happened in the past two months, and for many businesses, the focus has shifted significantly toward aiding and supporting community members in the uncertain time and future of the coronavirus.

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Innovation, Social Media Strategy and Best Practices, Content Marketing, Branding and Brand Value, Sustainability Marketing, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices

Community and collaboration has been a vital part of KSV’s DNA, but in times like these, community means that much more. We are fortunate enough be a part of several communities, allowing opportunities for connection, brainstorming and collaboration to help inspire great work and constant conversation.

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Innovation, B Corporation, Industry Expert Interviews, Content Marketing, Branding and Brand Value, Sustainability Marketing, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices

Money can’t buy happiness. But for today’s consumers, money (and technology) can buy time, and that’s pretty darn close to happiness.

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Content Marketing, B2B marketing, Media Strategy and Best Practices, Smart Technology

Communicating your company’s commitment to a polarizing topic can bring on paralyzing fear. The idea of taking a firm stance on a cause your brand believes in, especially when your competitors are not vocalizing their own beliefs or making their own commitments—whether it is climate change; gender equality; diversity and inclusion; fair labor practices; sexual assault; or LGTBQ issues—can feel risky. This is especially true in 2020, with the way that information is consumed and spread at such a rapid pace with one small, vocal commitment having the potential to go viral. 

Topics: Utility Communications, Climate Change, Content Marketing, Inspiration, Branding and Brand Value, Sustainability Marketing, Creative, B2B marketing, In the News, Climate and Social Justice

Not cold, stiff, done dead. Just the way it used to be, dead. It’s no longer this singular platform we seek out to connect with old friends from high school. It’s the way of life. And it has changed every aspect of how we take in the world around us—from how we consume news, to how we market our products or services. If you're ashamed to admit that, based on weekly notifications from your iPhone (thanks, Apple), you’ve spent upwards of 3-4 hours per day on your smartphone, know that you’re probably not alone.

Topics: Social Media Strategy and Best Practices, Content Marketing, B2B marketing

November feels like the optimal time for reflection. In theory, the biggest projects of the year are winding down, and a new year looms ahead. In reality, you are probably just as busy as you were in January—perhaps even more so—and will spend the weeks between now and the end of the year at a frenetic pace trying to find some semblance of balance between finishing out 2019 and planning for 2020, leaving little time for true reflection.

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Innovation, Content Marketing, Smart Technology, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices

Looking for the key to success in 2020? A tried-and-true tactic to build new relationships, nurture current connections, grow awareness, educate your customers, boost your digital presence, drive sales, foster leads, and stay competitive? Content marketing is your secret weapon.

Topics: Content Marketing, B2B marketing, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices

The Global Climate Strike. The United Nations Climate Action Summit. Greta Thunberg. And KSV. Like everyone else who felt compelled to rise up, we knew we had to do something. Protests and demonstrations are powerful things, but they only create change in the long-term when people refuse to let go of the conversation. To get people to hang on to their hopes for a better future, we created the KSV climate capsule. A collection of messages from concerned citizens inspired by hope for a better tomorrow.

Topics: Innovation, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Content Marketing, Branding and Brand Value, Sustainability Marketing, Climate and Social Justice