• GRINning From Ear to Ear: Matter Named Agency of Record

    Influencer Marketing Disruptor Leverages Matter’s Expertise in Media Relations 

    BOSTON – July 28, 2020 – Matter Communications — a Brand Elevation Agency specializing in PR, creative services, digital marketing and strategy — has been named the agency of record (AOR) for GRIN, the leading influencer marketing solution for e-commerce. GRIN’s influencer marketing software platform enables brands to foster relationships with over 32 million influencers, create authentic content and generate genuine excitement amongst consumers.

    Matter will spearhead a comprehensive PR program, including media relations and thought leadership, to amplify GRIN’s brand awareness while highlighting its innovative influencer marketing platform and distinct, relationship-based approach. 

    “At GRIN, we understand how brand trust creates a halo effect that permeates across all channels and exudes authenticity to consumer audiences,” said Sharon Thompson, VP of Marketing of GRIN. “Given Matter’s media relations prowess and more than 15 years of experience driving results for brands through thoughtful, integrated marketing programs, we now have a strategic partner with the expertise and experience to not only underscore our unique value in the influencer marketplace with key media targets, but disrupt the status quo and support future ventures into diverse marketing offerings.”

    Consumers are spending more time online through social media and e-commerce. According to a recent influencer marketing survey conducted by Matter, 63 percent of U.S. consumers have spent more time on social platforms and 82 percent have either purchased, researched or considered purchasing a product/service after seeing influencers, family or friends post about it. The impact is ubiquitous and as more brands embrace this approach, they will need the technology GRIN provides to do so. 

    “Our market research shows a sweeping majority of consumers have some part of their buyer’s journey impacted by influencer content,” said Mandy Mladenoff, President of Matter. “Now more than ever, brands need to forge relationships with creators who truly believe in their product or service. GRIN’s Influencer Marketing Platform is enabling strategic influencer connections while streamlining the process for brands, and we are thrilled to help elevate awareness of its platform.”

    With nearly 200 professionals across offices in Boston and Newburyport, MA, Portsmouth, NH, Providence, RI, Pittsburgh, PA, Boulder, CO, and Portland, OR, Matter is one of the fastest-growing PR, creative services, digital marketing and strategy firms in the country. Matter has won 12 “Agency of the Year” accolades in the past three years and has been consistently recognized as a top place to work.

     

    About Matter Communications

    Matter is a Brand Elevation Agency unifying PR, creative services, digital marketing and strategy into content-rich communications campaigns that inspire action and build value. Founded in 2003, with seven offices spanning North America, Matter works with the world’s most innovative companies across healthcare, high-technology, consumer technology and consumer markets. For more information, visit https://www.matternow.com.

    About GRIN

    GRIN is the #1 influencer marketing software that helps D2C brands manage influencer marketing programs at scale. GRIN’s software helps brands find and engage with high-quality influencers, automate email outreach, activate campaigns, develop authentic relationships within a private CRM, and provide an in-depth reporting suite to analyze the success of influencer campaigns. GRIN is the only end-to-end solution designed to create an authentic connection between influencer and brand; while providing true revenue attribution that measures the success of influencer marketing. For more information, visit GRIN.co. 

    Contact

    Matter

    Sara Pudvelis, 978-518-4535

    [email protected]

    www.matternow.com

    Matter

  • Why Your Brand Needs Audiograms

    Why Your Brand Needs Audiograms
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    What is an Audiogram?

    Audiograms are the video-ification of a short piece of audio – usually a spoken quote or sound bite combined with visual elements, such as photos, graphics, animated subtitles and sound waveforms to reinforce the spoken word. And they’re perfect for our “new normal” times, because you can create them 100% remotely!

    Audiograms are especially effective on social sites (where audio files themselves aren’t supported) as they’re a great way to boost engagement and capture users’ attention, whether or not their volume is enabled — which is important, given 85% of Facebook video is consumed without sound. Plus, they’re inclusive of the visually and/or audibly impaired, both underserved populations marketers often overlook.

    What Works Best in an Audiogram?

    While the possibilities are endless, here are the most enduring and effective use cases: 

    Testimonial Clips

    Whether you pull a line from last year’s testimonial video or capture new audio recordings from your client, audiograms are a great medium for sharing the social proof that comes from persuasive Customer Success Stories.

    For example, Wentworth Senior Living wanted to spotlight the high quality of care and sense of community they offer their residents. Due to COVID, traditional video production couldn’t take place within their walls, so we shipped microphones to residents and their children, and conducted remote interviews instead. The audiograms we produced from these interviews convey firsthand the superior level of care at Wentworth Senior Living, helping provide comfort and confidence to prospective community members and their families.

    Brand Announcements

    Elevate the importance and polish of your brand’s or C-suite’s key announcements. Your internal and external audiences want to understand your brand, so inspire them by sharing your position and actions on the challenges facing your company, your industry or even society at large.

    Recently, we created an audiogram for UMass Memorial Healthcare, sharing their heartfelt thanks to their frontline caregivers, which resonates with healthcare workers and the wider public. It includes user-generated photos from caregivers, branded imagery, encouraging music and authentic voice-over. 

    Podcast or Webinar Promotions

    By plucking pithy, exciting :15-:30 quotes from your upcoming podcast episodes or webinars, you can help drive awareness and interest, ultimately helping to grow your subscribers — an especially effective tactic if you’re consistently putting audiograms in front of your audience.

    Audiograms are an exciting new opportunity to further engage and activate your audience, especially now as the usual playbook has been thrown out the window. Why not try something novel?

    Audiograms engage those quickly scrolling through content on social media and are a great way to share bite-sized pieces of audio-driven content and grab the viewer’s attention in those precious, first few seconds.

    Regardless of your starting point, we’ll work with you to craft the messaging, branding, look and sound to create compelling Audiograms that speak to your audience (literally). No cookie cutter solutions here!

    To get your first audiogram made, fill out the form below to schedule a free consultation with a Matter video expert.

    Gabe Gerzon

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  • The Latest + Greatest from Matter Video Services: Q2 2020

    The past quarter has certainly challenged the Matter video team, but that just means we’ve been even more creative! From remote productions to animations, user generated content to live broadcasting, and podcasts to audiograms, the team is proud of the client collaborations and content produced in Q2. Additionally, we are excited to share Matter earned 7 awards for excellence in video at the 2020 Telly Awards. 

    Act-On – “Meet the New Act-On”

    Growing a business requires building a brand that people care about. Modern marketers want exceptional strategies that drive captivating brand experiences — now and in the future. Watch this short video to learn all about the new and improved Act-On, the growth marketing platform for the modern marketer.

    Hitachi America – “Pivot Power Success Story”

    One of the most immediate and critical impacts of COVID-19 was a rapid and severe depletion of personal protective equipment (PPE) for first responders. Demonstrating their commitment to social responsibility, General Motors and Hitachi were quick to respond. Watch this success story to see how GM and Hitachi moved from autos to medical masks in just six days.

    Xandr – “#InsideTogether Series”

    This video series was created using footage captured by Xandr employees from around the globe. Learn how they are staying connected and productive, if they are getting along with their new “co-workers” at home, what new talents they have discovered while working remotely, and much more. We may be social distancing, but we’re not alone because we’re #InsideTogether.

    Looking for help with your video marketing strategy and content creation? Fill out the form below to schedule a free strategy call with our team. And don’t forget about our At-Home Guide to Content Creation​​​​​​​!

    Nick Murray

  • Media on the Move: Retail Special Edition

    We’re halfway through 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic continues to dominate the retail news cycle. While it’s unclear how much permanent damage has been inflicted, current media headlines affirm that the effects of the pandemic could be long-lasting and have perpetual impacts on customer behavior and the retail sector as we know it. 

    Through ongoing conversations and our monthly retail reporter Q&A (latest edition here), we continue to hear from journalists that COVID-19 has only made the retail beat busier because of the profound hit the industry has taken as a result of the shutdowns. Outside of the pandemic, important conversations on issues of race and fairness have put a spotlight on improving diversity in fashion and prompted brands to take tangible action in support of equal rights and the Black Lives Matter movement. From store closures and bankruptcies, to ways retailers are addressing racial inequality, to shifting consumer habits and brand loyalty, there is no shortage of topics for the media to cover.

    These events have also reshaped newsrooms. The economic slump and decrease in advertising revenue have prompted several notable outlets to make reductions in their editorial staff, institute pay cuts, or realign current resources to cover more areas of business impacted by the pandemic. Questions about race and reporting have resulted in several resignations by top editors and other structural changes to ensure more diverse voices are heard in the media.

    Against that backdrop, here is a quick overview of reporter changes seen across the retail media space in Q2:

    Anjali Robins

    Anjali Robins joined the CNN Business staff as the first ever consumer, food, and retail editor. Before this new role, she was a news editor at CNBC.com

    Ann-Marie Alcantara

    The Wall Street Journal signed on Ann-Marie Alcantara as a reporter for The Experience Report, which delivers news and analysis on the ways that companies optimize data, technology and design to communicate with customers. She was previously a retail reporter at Adweek, covering the rise of direct-to-consumer brands and e-commerce.

    Anne Riley Moffat

    The Bloomberg editor and consumer team leader was welcomed back to the publication on June 1, after being on maternity leave for 24 weeks. She tweeted that she is still leading a team of reporters covering all things edible, wearable and purchasable, and to send tips her way at [email protected].

    Cale Weissman

    Modern Retail promoted Cale Weissman to editor. He was previously senior reporter for the publication and contributed to Digiday. Prior to that, Weissman worked as an associate news editor at Fast Company and a reporter for Business Insider.

    Deirdre Bolton

    Good Morning America and the ABC News family welcomed former Fox Business News reporter Deirdre Bolton as a business correspondent covering COVID-19’s great economic impact. Deirdre is active and responsive to tips on her Twitter account.

    Gloria Dawson

    Gloria Dawson joined Business Insider as senior editor to oversee its retail coverage. She was previously senior editor at Nation’s Restaurant News, where she wrote and edited breaking news and feature stories.

    Jason Schreier

    Bloomberg welcomed Jason Schreier as its newest tech reporter covering video games, business, culture, labor, delays and other aspects related to the gaming world. previously wrote for Kotaku, a video game website, and Wired.

    Julee Wilson

    Julee Wilson joined the Cosmopolitan staff as beauty editor and is responsible for driving beauty content across all print, digital and social platforms. She was previously global beauty director at Essence and prior to that, held various editorial positions at HuffPost and Real Simple.

    Karen Ho

    Karen Ho was named the global finance and economics reporter at Quartz. She was a freelance business and culture reporter for eight years; contributing to FiveThirtyEight, TIME, GQ, Refinery29 and more. 

    Katie Deighton

    Kate Deighton signed on as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, contributing to The Experience Report. She previously covered the creative industry for The Drum.

    Katie Richards

    In late April, the well-known Glossy reporter tweeted that she was leaving her role at the fashion publication to start a new career path at Citi.

    Kelly Bourdet

    Leaving her position as editor in chief of Gizmodo, Kelly Bourdet joined CNN Business as the assistant managing editor for the Beat Teams, overseeing coverage from the tech, media, transportation, and consumer sections.

    Kim Davis

    After DMN closed its doors, Kim Davis rejoined the MarTech space as editorial director of MarTech Today.

    Monique Valeris

    Monique Valeris became the new senior home editor for Good Housekeeping after two years as the home decor editor for ElleDecor.com and Veranda.com. She has contributed to Vogue.com and Popsugar as a lifestyle freelancer. 

    Samira Nasr

    Harper’s BAZAAR appointed Samira Nasr to lead as editor in chief – overseeing the publication’s U.S. edition. She was most recently Vanity Fair’s executive fashion director, where she directed the magazine’s fashion department and all fashion content. 

    Sarah Shannon

    Conde Nast announced the appointment of Sarah Shannon as Editorial Director of Vogue Business, where she will oversee the editorial teams based in London and around the world to deliver the news of global market forces and industry trends for fashion industry professionals. She spent over eight years at Bloomberg News in London as senior retail reporter.

    Planning your retail media strategy? Fill out the form below and we will be in touch.

    Kate Duchaney

  • Matter Named Agency of Record for HMS

    Matter Named Agency of Record for HMS

    The Matter Health practice welcomes the opportunity to advance the HMS mission of ‘making healthcare work better for everyone’

    BOSTON – July 7, 2020 – Matter Communications — a Brand Elevation Agency specializing in PR, creative services, digital marketing and strategy — has entered into a multi-year agreement to serve as the agency of record (AOR) for HMS (NASDAQ: HMSY), a healthcare technology company and leading provider of payment accuracy and population health management solutions. HMS’ technology, analytics and engagement solutions help healthcare organizations reduce costs and improve health outcomes, while also helping consumers lead healthier lives. 

    Matter will spearhead a comprehensive PR and media relations program focused on furthering HMS as an industry thought-leader and promoting its Health Ideas digital platform. At the same time, the program will expand and enhance brand awareness of HMS’ market-leading Payment Accuracy solutions and its capabilities in emerging areas such as Population Health and Patient Engagement. 

    “We wanted a proven communications partner because now is the time to tell our evolving story proudly, loudly, and widely,” said Maria Perrin, Chief Growth Officer for HMS. “We chose Matter not only because they are uniquely qualified through their depth of healthcare experience and expertise, but also because of their creative and innovative approach to storytelling.”

    Founded in 1974 and a publicly traded company with more than 3,100 employees in 25-plus offices across the country, HMS saves its customers billions of dollars each year.

    “We are excited to tackle the complex challenges and meet the sky-high expectations that HMS is, rightfully, demanding from us over the next few years,” said Ryan Lilly, Vice President of Matter Health. “This is a milestone day for not only our Matter Health practice, but for all of Matter.”

    With nearly 200 professionals across offices in Boston and Newburyport, MA, Portsmouth, NH, Providence, RI, Pittsburgh, PA, Boulder, CO, and Portland, OR, Matter is one of the fastest-growing PR, creative services, digital marketing and strategy firms in the country. Matter has won 12 “Agency of the Year” accolades in the past three years and has been consistently recognized as a top place to work.

    About Matter Communications

    Matter is a Brand Elevation Agency unifying PR, creative services, digital marketing and strategy into content-rich communications campaigns that inspire action and build value. Founded in 2003, with seven offices spanning North America, Matter works with the world’s most innovative companies across healthcare, high-technology, consumer technology and consumer markets. For more information, visit https://www.matternow.com.

    About HMS 

    HMS advances the healthcare system by helping healthcare organizations reduce costs and improve health outcomes. Through our industry-leading technology, analytics and engagement solutions, we save billions of dollars annually while helping consumers lead healthier lives. HMS provides a broad range of coordination of benefits, payment integrity, care management and member engagement solutions that help move the healthcare system forward. Visit us at www.hms.com or follow us on Twitter at @HMSHealthcare.

    Contact

    Matter

    Sara Pudvelis, 978-518-4535

    [email protected]

    www.matternow.com

    Matter