Do you have a dedicated team who never takes a day off? Would you like one?
Would you benefit from a support team that doesn’t call in sick or take days off? How about a team of dedicated people that don’t count against your insurance benefits? Could you imagine working alongside people who always have a can-do happy attitude and many skills and experiences that will help drive your business’s success? Sounds too good to be true, huh? Well, it’s not. That’s exactly what you get with Shank Marketing when your business decides to build a relationship with us.
Why Shank is so successful.
Justin Shank, founder and very involved participant in the Shank Marketing Team that he has built, starts by creating the perfect team to fulfill any of your business’s marketing or advertising needs based on your business type. He does this by working with individuals with proven track records of success in various casino, entertainment, and hospitality industries, and he uses his talent strategically to build the best team for your business.
Being a network master, Justin spent his time wisely bringing in people passionate about the same things his clients are passionate about. He found this makes his client’s success more obtainable and provides added longevity because he knows his staff truly cares about the result of everything they do. Having a team whose experience comes directly from the various industries his company services provides a great deal of opportunity for a quick start.
Your benefits from Day 1.
From day one, your business will receive adequate attention from dedicated account managers, advertising managers, graphic designers, videographers, and creative strategists guaranteeing that your business needs will be met right out of the gate with your success in mind. You won’t have to waste time teaching them about your industry!
Remember when we mentioned a team that doesn’t call in sick or take days off? That’s because with the amount of support provided, and the tight-knit teams he’s created, when you have a need that has to be taken care of, he will always have someone within that role, even if it isn’t your dedicated team, to be able to step in and solve the problem. This alone has saved countless clients from hassles and headaches when they needed something done on the fly that was out of the normally scheduled scope of work.
Attitudes go a long way too. We know that employees can become pretty complacent, this is why Justin hires other marketing entities who are building their own business off of their work for you, so everyone is about their business, pun attended. He’s also realized that this helps his team grow new skills and relationships, making Shank Marketing’s strength much greater overall.
It may not be free, but it’s a lot more reliable.
When you are considering bringing in an agency, look beyond the initial price (don’t ignore it though) and you’ll quickly understand the value they bring if they’ve been put together correctly.
If you’re in the casino, entertainment, or hospitality industries and you are curious about what your dedicated team would consist of and what talents it would be able to provide, give Shank Marketing a look by visiting www.shankmarketing.com. We’re excited to get to work for you!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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This post was originally published on tgandh.com
We’re all dealing with a workforce shortage and the difficulty of finding and retaining marketing talent in this current job climate. Now is the time to implement a well-planned internship program to assist your organization in identifying talent that could add to your workforce and set up your organization for success in the future. This may not seem like a novel idea for casino organizations that have been running these programs for years, but any and every casino can benefit from offering similar programs.
We’re excited to celebrate a huge milestone for our team leader Justin Shank! He is entering a brand-new decade and we can’t wait to see all he will accomplish as a friend and colleague. Birthdays are the perfect time to reflect on previous years and set goals for the future. Though it can be deeply personal and individual, looking back at the past decade of Justin’s life, there have been so many obvious milestones and accomplishments.
He created and formed Shank Marketing, brought so many talented folks onto his team, married an incredible woman, became a homeowner, and most recently a proud doggie dad! We’re so impressed and privileged to know Justin, and though we know we’ll have many more memories and experiences with him ahead, we thought we’d share a little bit about what it’s like working with him.
I have a slightly biased relationship with Justin as his younger sister, Amy. I count him as my first and longest best friend, a fierce protector from the moment I was born, and now an incredible mentor and leader that gave me the incredible opportunity to be part of this team. As someone still new to the crew, I wanted to hear more about how everyone else sees Justin. Here are the amazing responses they shared!
How long have you known Justin and what was your first impression of him?
What do you like most about working for Justin? What do you like most about him personally?
Any funny stories to share?
Like Jordan, I’ve got too many funny stories to share about Justin! The common thread throughout these experiences’ ties so well into the Justin I’ve known my whole life. A wonderful leader, honest in a biting yet eloquent way, and a charismatic nature that people can’t help but want to get to know better. Happy Birthday Justin! Here are birthday wishes from the team.
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 days have grown colder, the leaves brightening and changing, and the season of gratitude, togetherness, and remembrance has begun. At Shank Marketing, November also holds special significance as we observe Native American Heritage month. We know a month of reflection and celebration for the rich and bounteous Native cultures will never be enough to erase the many wrongs and injustices done to the first people of America. Each day can be an opportunity to highlight the incredible work so many of the tribes we work with are doing to help restore habitat, encourage economic growth in Native communities, and replenish our environment to its natural and once bounteous condition. We are so grateful to work with several tribes in Washington, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, California, and Oregon and will highlight their incredible efforts throughout the month.
The history of Native American Heritage Month is one that spans time immemorial. It is a time to bring attention to lesser-known heroes in American history and embrace the past and present efforts of Native American people. According to Native News Online, Dr. Arthur Caswell Parker, a Cattaraugus Seneca Indian, was one of the first known advocates to introduce a day of celebration for Native Americans (www.nativenewsonline.net). He dedicated his life towards Native American efforts and advancement and established several American Indian rights organizations. Shockingly, in 1924 Native Americans were finally granted American citizenship, and Dr. Parker strongly advocated for what should’ve been a birthright. Another exceptional Native rights advocate was Reverend Red Fox James, of the Blackfoot Tribe. Reverend Red Fox James, “embarked on a 4,000-mile trek on horseback to petition the President for an “Indian Day” (www.nativenewsonline.net). These heroic efforts were still not enough to bring attention and recognition to Native communities and it wasn’t until 1994, that official proclamations were issued each year.
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. In Oregon, we work with the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe. In California, we work with the Redding Rancheria Tribe with Pit River, Wintu, and Yana people. We also work with a tribe in Wisconsin, the Sokaogon Chippewa community, and in Oklahoma the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma. Within our team at Shank Marketing, Abby Yates is a Tribal Member with the Nooksack Indian Tribe, and Olivia Rick is a Tribal Member with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. We want to encourage people to take the time this month for reflection and to honor and express our gratitude for true Native American heroes, both past and present.
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 12th 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:
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.
