Hello there!

Before we get started, I just wanted to introduce myself and give you a little background as to why the heck I think I know what I am talking about. My name is Syd Halbur and I am currently wrapping up my senior year at the University of St. Thomas as a (can you guess it?)…. Marketing major! After 4 years of exams, case studies and papers, I have come to notice a few marketing trends that I wanted to share with everyone.

1. Digital Marketing is EVERYTHING.

I am sure you have had this before but I cannot stress this enough, digital marketing is the future of the marketing industry. The average person spends around 4 hours a day on their phone. With the touch of our fingertips we can access the news, music, that funny cat video you sent your bestie last week, live streaming and much more. So, why not target where people spend most of their time? I’m not talking about creating an Instagram account and then posting 1 photo per year… I am talking about SEO, PPC, Google Ads, etc. It has never been so easy to reach your target market.

2. Dare to be Unique.

I am only 21 and I am pretty convinced I have seen every guerrilla marketing tactic possible. By now I’ve seen a talking lizard, wiener-mobile, coke becoming an interactive app and more. I am not harping on these methods but rather praising them. Wanna know why? Because at the end of the day, they accomplished their goal. I am a consumer spreading positive WOM about their product. Years later and I still can’t get over seeing the Oscar Meyer wiener-mobile driving around my small town of Mankato, MN. Today we think we have simply seen it all, so produce content that pushes that boundary and makes us reevaluate if we really have seen it all.

3. The Use Influencers.

These people are important. Due to the rise in social media platforms, there are also people who positioned themselves on top of this rise and they are called: influencers. Essentially, they make a living through people like you wanted to reach people like me. By using influencers, you not only get an expansive reach but you also get a sense of validation, as well. People see a face they know and love, promoting a product they know and love and soon enough these people come to know and love the product too! What more could you ask for???

4. Less Words, More Photos.

Content marketing is changing! In a time where everything is at our finger tips, we have become almost lazy. If an ad has too many words or does not appeal to us, we will simply not read it. Rather, say what you want to say in photos. If they chose to skip it, at least you got your point across in 5 seconds rather than the 30 seconds it would take to read. Plus, who doesn’t love a fun visual?

My final thoughts I will leave you with today is dare to be different. In a world where we are bombarded with ads from the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep, create content that pushes the boundaries. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope it was at least a little helpful for you!

It’s been said that people trust the things they know. Every time a potential customer sees your brand, it needs to tell a story—one that excites, informs and engages them. The stronger, more consistent your story, the stronger the connection. And the more likely someone will choose you and your products. People trust the things they know. We help you to make sure they know and great photography, capturing the essence of your brand plays a big part in that.

How it works.

Typically, most of our client base doesn’t have a great “library” of corporate photography when we begin working with them. Whether they are providing services or products, professional photography will play a play huge role in promoting these things. At Saga Design, we work with a variety of photographers, carefully selected based on our client material priorities and subject matter. We have access to some of the best commercial, portrait and event photographers in the region and we relish the task of creating an image library that can be used in a wide variety of materials, both printed and electronic.

We hire the photographer, provide direction and input during the shoot and then present your “best” imagery options for your final selection process. It’s a time consuming but rewarding process and some of our best work has been a collaborative effort between Saga, the photographer and you, the client. The shoots may happen at a client location or may be completed at a photography studio. Either way, most creative groups would agree that good photography sells more products, more services, more of everything that makes your business successful. Take a look around you… look hard at those premium brands you consume every day. They know what works and great photography sells more stuff.

At Saga Design, we help you successfully tell your brand’s story. We combine a creative approach with the analysis, strategy, great design and technological expertise to help create and consistently promote that story. We are a collection of passionate people who think and work with you to face the challenges of today’s marketplace—and get desired results. And how do we do that? Check out our life stories below.

Kari Halbur
Owner
After beginning her career in the software sales/development industry with Apple computer and a local software development firm, Kari Halbur founded an independent advertising agency, Red Door Creative, in 1995. With more than 25 years of experience drawn from extensive market exposure across a range of industries and state-of- the-art technology, Kari successfully manages projects ranging from major communications programs to one-time branding campaigns—with firms ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. She brings results-proven expertise to successfully address each client’s unique needs, with both the energy and expertise to meet marketing objectives, timelines and budgets. Kari’s industry-specific experience spans nonprofits, government, healthcare, commercial property acquisition, development and management, banking/financial services, software development, travel/hospitality and retail. Her latest endeavor includes Saga Design Group, a unique communication services firm that delivers strategic planning and branding expertise to emerging and high-growth businesses. Her clients range from early-stage startups to growth-stage entrepreneurial businesses. Her consultants have all served in key management and design roles across many industries. In her spare time, Kari enjoys biking, skiing, cooking, spending time her family and traveling. She has served on numerous boards and continues to provide design sponsorship to large nonprofit groups in the Mankato region, including the Red Cross and Feeding our Communities Partners/BackPack Food Program and the YMCA.

Sierra Kamatchus
Designer
Sierra Kamatchus is an independent designer specializing in graphic design, illustration, marketing communications and type design. While carefully tuning into each client’s unique situation and needs, she develops impactful work product via a combination of strategic guidance and creative concepts. Sierra’s professional experience spans large marketing campaigns, visual brand identity systems, advertisements, brochures, displays, infographics, invitations, newsletters, signage and websites for a variety of small- to medium-range companies, as well as startups, in the following industries: banking/financial services, commercial property acquisition, professional services, healthcare, nonprofit organizations and retail. Following her 2013 graduation from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design, Sierra completed an internship program at a financial cooperative for agricultural and rural clients. She subsequently joined a local advertising agency as a designer. Sierra is based in Mankato, Minnesota. In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors, traveling and spending time with her family and friends. She is also an active member of AIGA (the largest professional association of designers) and volunteers for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.