Each November, communities across the United States recognize Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Native peoples. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the resilience of tribal communities and the ongoing work being done to strengthen Native economies, protect natural resources, and preserve cultural traditions.

At Shank Marketing, we are grateful to work alongside a number of tribal enterprises and tribal communities across the country, including organizations in Washington, Oregon, California, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma. These partnerships allow us to witness firsthand the incredible work tribes are doing to support economic growth, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation.

While one month of recognition cannot fully acknowledge the many challenges Native communities have faced throughout history, Native American Heritage Month provides an important opportunity to learn, reflect, and honor the enduring strength of tribal nations.

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The History of Native American Heritage Month

The movement to formally recognize Native American contributions in the United States began many decades ago. Early advocates worked tirelessly to bring awareness to Native history and culture, believing that Native communities deserved greater recognition and understanding within American society.

According to Native News Online, Dr. Arthur Caswell Parker, a member of the Cattaraugus Seneca Nation, was among the earliest advocates to promote a day dedicated to honoring Native Americans. Dr. Parker devoted much of his life to advancing Native rights and helped establish several organizations that supported Native American advancement and education.

Another early advocate was Reverend Red Fox James of the Blackfoot Tribe. In an extraordinary effort to raise awareness, he traveled nearly 4,000 miles on horseback across the United States to petition the President for the creation of a national “Indian Day.”

These early efforts helped lay the foundation for broader recognition of Native American culture and contributions. In 1924, Native Americans were finally granted United States citizenship, though the path to full recognition and representation would continue for many years.

It was not until 1994 that official proclamations began designating November as Native American Heritage Month, providing a national opportunity to celebrate Native history, culture, and achievements.

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Tribal Communities Driving Economic and Environmental Leadership

Across the country, tribal communities continue to lead in areas such as economic development, natural resource restoration, and environmental stewardship. Many tribes have created thriving enterprises that support community growth while maintaining a strong connection to their cultural values and traditions.

Tribal gaming and hospitality enterprises have played an especially important role in strengthening local economies. These enterprises generate jobs, support community services, and fund programs that benefit tribal citizens and surrounding communities alike.

Beyond economic development, tribes have also been leaders in protecting and restoring natural habitats. Many tribal governments are actively involved in restoring fisheries, protecting waterways, and managing forests and wildlife habitats—efforts that benefit entire ecosystems and future generations.

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Tribal Partnerships Across the United States

Shank Marketing is proud to work with tribal communities and tribal enterprises throughout the country.

In Washington State, we work with tribes including Tulalip, Lower Elwha Klallam, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Suquamish, and Swinomish—many of which are Coast Salish tribes connected to the Salish Sea region and its deep cultural and environmental heritage.

In Oregon, we work with the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. In California, we work with Redding Rancheria, home to the Pit River, Wintu, and Yana peoples.

Our partnerships also extend to the Sokaogon Chippewa Community in Wisconsin and the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, each of which plays an important role in strengthening tribal economic development and preserving cultural traditions.

Working with tribal enterprises across the country offers an opportunity to learn from communities that continue to demonstrate resilience, innovation, and leadership.

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Reflecting on Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month serves as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage and lasting contributions of Native peoples throughout the United States.

It is also an opportunity for individuals and organizations to take time to learn more about tribal history, support Native-owned businesses and enterprises, and recognize the important role tribes continue to play in shaping the future of their communities and the environment.

As we reflect during this month, we encourage everyone to explore the stories, cultures, and traditions that have shaped Native communities for generations—and to recognize the leadership and resilience that continues to define tribal nations today.

What is Threads?

Threads is Meta’s “clap back” to X, formerly known as Twitter. With Twitter’s rebranding and recent changes, Meta felt it was an excellent time to put some skin in the game with Threads, the fastest-growing app in history with 100 million downloads in the first five days. So if you are familiar with the original Twitter, Threads will be a breeze. If not, Threads is a text-based sharing platform where you can engage with your Instagram following via text threads (where the name comes from). Unlike X, Threads allows you to create posts up to 500 characters long! Although, it is not recommended to use all 500 characters.

Threads Best Practices

If you are interested in creating a Threads account for your business, you must know its best practices! First, follow accounts with similar interests. Next, establish your brand voice. After that, keep your posts concise and to the point. With attention spans these days, the less reading the better! Just like with all of your social media, consistency is important, your business should be posting at least 5x per week! Engage in conversation with the accounts you follow and your followers. Account activity shows the algorithm you want the exposure. The use of emojis effectively conveys emotions and reactions to content - being yours or your responses to others. Sharing images on Threads can be effective given it is a text-based platform, your visual content can get more engagement.

Added Value

Threads gives businesses a unique opportunity to reach their customers in a new less-saturated way. Creating a Threads account linked to your business’ Instagram allows you to follow your current followers and gives them direct notifications to follow you back. These leads are hot because they are already connected to your brand via Instagram. This allows the opportunity to post mid-funnel content to your already existing leads/followers.

Takeaways

Threads is a new, fast-growing, exciting platform with connections to your already existing, warm Instagram following. Extend your social media reach and your brand voice to Threads by posting at least 5x per week with short, concise messaging. Reach your warm leads via Threads to build your brand’s presence on social media!

Sources:

• “THREADS APP TUTORIAL” by Modern Millie
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkUcWtVuxGo
• https://www.themodems.com/tech/how-to-use-threads-effectively
• https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/insights/five-reasons-why-threads-should-be-your-marketing-strategy#:~:text=Threads%20allows%20advertisers%20to%20create,video%20or%20even%20static%20assets.

This month is Native American Heritage month and at Shank Marketing, we want to highlight the incredible work so many of the Tribes we work with are doing to help restore natural habitats, encourage economic growth in Native communities, and replenish the environment of its natural resources. Many of our clients are committed to giving back to their communities in so many ways and throughout the month we want to express our gratitude and appreciation for their continued efforts since time immemorial.

We are so fortunate to work with clients throughout the Pacific Northwest, where many of our Shank Marketing team also reside. Washington state is well known for its beautiful and bountiful trees, once thriving river and ocean systems, and the constant rain that attributes to our illustrious landscapes. However, the land has changed enormously and due to human development and neglect has wreaked havoc on once thriving ecosystems and wildlife. One of these resources are the salmon that were once plentiful throughout the Western Washington river ecosystems. According to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, “the tribes in Western Washington participate in the annual Pacific Salmon Commission meetings to promote their harvest opportunity, but their primary focus is conservation of depressed chinook and coho stock”(www.nwific.org). We are so proud to work closely with several Washington state tribes; Tulalip, Lower Elwha Klallam, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Suquamish, Swinomish, all of which are Coast Salish tribes, or tribes that are a part of the Salish Sea basin that is rich in heritage between rivers and the ocean. We are so appreciative of the heroic efforts of those that came before us to affect change, and express our gratitude for the continued efforts of Washington State Tribes to return the land to its more natural condition.

The Northwest Regional Casino Marketing Boot Camp will be held at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, in Suquamish, WA from October 24-26th. This is the first time this event will take place in the northwest and we’re thrilled to gather with like minded folks in such an incredible setting. This collaborative experience is one that highlights the innovative efforts of marketing businesses to reach our customers in up to date and groundbreaking ways. We’re eager to be in an environment where colleagues, professionals, and entrepreneurs get to stretch our minds, indulge our creative side, and learn more about how to keep up with the ever-evolving world of casino marketing. Justin will be a session Coach teaching the benefits of marketing through social media content. He’s honored to be coaching alongside such talents in the industry as Julia Carcamo, Dan White, Bobby Thornton, Elizabeth Dixon, and Daniel Kustelski.

Social Media: Content Marketing for your Casino

At Shank Marketing, we pride ourselves on our ability to keep up with the times and constantly strive to be inventive so our clients can utilize the many facets and opportunities social media engagement provides. We love attending and moderating events like Casino Marketing Bootcamp NW. It gives us the opportunity to educate ourselves, learn best marketing practices, and bring our own ideas to the forefront of the industry. Recently, Julia Carcamo interviewed Justin on LinkedIn (Casino Marketing Boot Camp), to discuss the ways in which he plans to engage everyone with a special assignment before they get to the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort. He’ll be challenging attendees to think about their usage of social media platforms in ways that are simple, consistent, and constant. His hope is to highlight casinos through the eyes of customers. In the day to day experience of being at work, we often forget to look around at the space around us. Creating constant content can be exhausting but he plans to emphasize how to use your own facility in new and varying ways to help bring in more customers and excitement surrounding these businesses. This session with Coach Justin (Social Media: Content Marketing for your Casino) will be held the final day of this exciting three day event, on October 26th at 9am.

If you’re attending the Casino Marketing Bootcamp NW at Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort (casinomarketingbootcamp.com) October 24-26th please reach out to connect!

There has been a lot of buzz and excitement surrounding the Global Gaming Expo (www.globalgamingexpo.com) next week at The Venetian in Las Vegas from October 10-13. Every time the event is brought up in meetings and discussions, faces light up, voices raise, and a general enthusiasm sweeps our collective computer screens. It is evident that this event has an impact on our team in so many ways. 

“My favorite part about attending G2E is getting a chance to catch up with industry folks who I have known for years. Getting a chance to hear about the growth of their properties, tribes and careers is really amazing. I have been able to watch my colleagues make huge strides for their own tribes. It is really heartening.”-AbbyJustin and Abby were eager to share their long standing history with G2E. Justin has been going since 2011, and as Shank Marketing since 2017(the first year he started the company). Abby has attended regularly since 2003, when she was only twenty years old. She remembers clearly how impressed she was by her surroundings and knew she’d be returning. They expressed how important the event is in terms of networking, engagement, and innovative new technologies surrounding the marketing and gaming industry. Ultimately, both love being a part of the casino industry and connecting with others to learn and grow as a company. Justin says, “we hope to share more about what our company can do to help potential new clients in our industry, but mostly we’re just excited to strengthen relationships with clients and continue building our network.” 

The Shank Marketing team is thrilled to attend one of the top events gathering so many talented individuals in the industry. We look forward to seeing and connecting with everyone attending two of our sponsored events. On Tuesday, October 11th, from 5:30-7:30, a Happy Hour event will be held at Sugarcane in The Venetian. Sponsored by Shank Marketing, J Carcamo &Associates, MMRC, C3 Gaming, and Profitable Customers. The Native Networking party is on Wednesday, October 12^th from 8pm-12am at the Ghost Bar in the Palms Casino Resort. Sponsored by Shank Marketing, Raving, TG&H, SlotC, Red Circle, eConnect, TutorPerini, and Kencocompany. Justin Shank, Jordan Crahan, and Abby Yates are excited for another incredible G2E, held at The Venitian Expo in Las Vegas from October 10-13th. Please reach out and connect we’d love to meet up and discuss the potential of working together and meeting new talents in the industry!

Travel season is here and we’re having a blast catching up with friends, playing a few holes in tournaments, and checking out the latest and greatest advancements in the field. 

This week we’re attending the 2022 Northwest Indian Gaming Conference & Expo (WIGA). We’re excited to be attending for a number of reasons including that it’s being held at the scenic Tulalip Resort & Casino. Aside from the beautiful setting, Justin is moderating a panel discussion titled “Social Media — An Operations Point-of-View.”

Joining him will be JaNessa Bumgarner, CEO at Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel, Kevin Zenishek, Executive Director of Casino Operations at Northern Quest Resort & Casino, and Letisha Peterson, GM at Legends Casino Hotel. 

Social Media — An Operations Point-of-View

The scope of social media marketing has grown beyond the marketing department into everything we do as organizations to engage with players, employees, guests, and our local communities. Our panel will discuss social media from the operations perspective and provide some key takeaways for every leader in our industry to consider. How are we leveraging social media to innovate and attract new employees and/or players? How are we sharing news, events, promotions, and information about our casino property? What can we do to encourage participation throughout the organization to expand the digital footprint of our casino brands?

If you’re attending WIGA and want to learn more about Social Media from an operations point of view, be sure to check out the session on June 21 at 4:00PM. 

Over the course of the next couple months you can catch us at a few more conferences including the Casino Marketing & Technology Conference, The OIGA Conference & Tradeshow, and… of course, G2E! Slide into our DMs or send a text if you’d like to connect. We’re always down for a cup of coffee, any and all snacks, and gambling action!

Our Upcoming Conference Travel Schedule:

July 12-13: Casino Marketing & Technology Conference — Las Vegas, NV

August 9-11:  The OIGA Conference & Tradeshow  — Tulsa, OK

October 10-13: G2E — Las Vegas, NV

What are Instagram Ads?

You may have bought your favorite pair of jeans from an IG ad, or purchased that Amazon item due to an ad you scrolled by. Instagram advertisements are posts that are paid by the advertising business to market to users and will usually include a small “Sponsored” banner across the top of the post. 

As of January 2022, there are 1 billion active Instagram users with 500 million DAILY active users*. That’s a lot of business potential to tap into. 

Types of IG Ads

Here are the 5 most popular types of Instagram advertisement formats:

• Image: Image ads allow businesses to use a photo or graphic to market it’s brand and products in a user’s feed. 
• Video: Video ads allow more of a narrative to be told. This can be good for a business to promote its brand and voice. Videos can be up to 60 seconds, but less is more in this case. 
• Instagram Stories: These are image or video ads that take up the entire screen in the Stories function. Many feel it’s more immersive and engagement is higher.
• Carousel: This type of ad features multiple images or videos that allow physical engagement by having the user “swipe” through. This is used to showcase a series of products or a story. 
• Shopping/Tagged Ads: Shopping ads allow customers to purchase products from IG or have them click a link that takes them directly to the company’s website. 

With all that being said, it is up to the business to decide which format will provide them the best results based on their specific engagement goals. 

Why Should You Use Instagram Ads?

According to Business.com about 72% of Instagram users reported purchasing products*. This data helps us to understand the potential IG has to help businesses achieve engagement, reach, site traffic, and overall brand awareness. Not only are Instagram Ads  budget friendly for businesses, it provides a larger reach, and the various formats allow specific tailoring to target customers. These social media ads are also a more creative way to market and allow your brand voice to uniquely stand out. 

Another cool feature to these ads is the incorporation of influencer marketing! This advertising strategy allows businesses to promote content created by influencers on OTHER people’s feeds. This influencer- created content can even be seen by users who do not follow the influencer’s account. These ads are almost the exact same as the usual ads on Instagram, however in the post there will be a “paid partnership” label attached to the post. According to a New York Times article, businesses wish to utilize influencer marketing on this platform because “promoting content directly from an influencer’s handle inherently gives the post more authenticity than coming from a brand handle”. This gives the audience the authentic and organic content that they crave!

For any questions you may have, don’t hesitate to contact Shank Marketing for any of your advertising needs. We can help guide you in the right direction when it comes to social media marketing and advertising.

It’s hard to believe that we’re already a few weeks into January. Whether you’re breaking down the holiday decorations or ditching your resolutions, make sure you consider elevating your digital promotions game. We’re offering four customizable promotions for 50% off! Keep reading to learn more.

With the most romantic holiday of the year approaching, use this as your opportunity to let your clients know what you have to offer. Go ahead, embrace the pink and red tones of the season! Our Memory Match game allows you to use pre-selected themed tiles or your own images. Are you trying to push your Valentine’s Day promotions? This option will allow your guests to enter for their chance to win a preplanned romantic itinerary, something else, or we can omit the prizes so your guests can just enjoy a fun themed game! This game can be set up for a variety of different winners and prizes such as dinners, gaming credits, spa treatments, and lots more! Try out our sample memory matching game here.

The big football game is only a few short weeks away! Whether your business has plans for the game or you’d just like to use the opportunity as a fun themed marketing event – our word search game is a great option. With this game, you can select your own words to search – like your company name, or stick to the theme with football terms. Like all of our promotions, you can select your own prizes, too – tickets to a viewing party, branded gift basket, complimentary drinks, or something totally different! Try out our word search here.

Of course, once football season is over, we have to start preparing for St. Patrick’s Day. This is a huge holiday in the hospitality industry, that’s why we’re offering an interactive picture search. You guessed it, this promotion is 100% customizable too! Use an image of your business, your product, something else, or go with one we’ve provided. You pick the prizes, we’ll make the game! Check out our sample image search here.

You might not have filled out your brackets yet, but you will be soon! With college basketball being a month-long event, it’s important not to gloss over this one. For this basketball extravaganza, we’ve put together a customizable prize wheel. Your guests can spin the virtual wheel to win a prize, which you can choose the likelihood of winning. Give our sample a spin here.