• Matter Celebrates October Wellness Month

    Matter Celebrates October Wellness Month

    Matter recognized October as Wellness Month across the agency. This month-long initiative gave employees an opportunity to focus on our physical and mental well-being, with the hope of picking up some new valuable takeaways we can use throughout our daily lives.

    Observed on October 10th, World Mental Health Day raises awareness and promotes individuals to view “mental health as valued, promoted and protected; where everyone has an equal opportunity to enjoy mental health and to exercise their human rights; and where everyone can access the mental health care they need,” as stated by the World Mental Health Organization.

    At Matter, we believe it’s imperative to open the conversation around mental health and work towards removing the stigma that so often comes with these issues. As the Wellness Committee continues to prioritize the mental health of our employees, we developed and distributed an anxiety survey to better understand the role anxiety plays in the workplace and how Matter can work towards better supporting its employees.

    Lastly, Wellness Month wouldn’t be complete without some fun events (see below for the weekly breakdown) and a wellness challenge. Some lucky employees even had the chance to win a cool prize to wrap up the month’s initiatives! Matter is committed to making wellness a priority in the workplace, and we’re excited to organize more wellness activities in the future.

    Week 1: Mindfulness + Movement

    We kicked off the month with an agency-wide closure in recognition of World Mental Health Day. Additionally, we held an in-person yoga session and a live meditation class!

    Week 2: Nourishing Ourselves from the Inside Out

    The Wellness Committee welcomed Meghan Kinsey from Motivate in Amesbury, MA, for the “Just a Little Healthier” Lunch & Learn session to discuss how nourishment can affect our everyday lives!

    Week 3: Helping Ourselves by Helping Others

    The Wellness Committee partnered with our Helping Hands Committee to bring awareness to the benefits of volunteerism and how giving to others is also a way of giving back to yourself. From Newburyport’s park clean-ups to Portland’s Light the night, every office went out in their prospective communities and offered a helping hand!

    Week 4: Connecting to Yourself + Others

    To wrap up the month, the Wellness Committee partnered with the Fun Committee for separate office-wide social events. The activities included a pumpkin carving contest, a Halloween costume contest and more! 

    Lucy Woodward

  • Despite Potential Recession, Matter Survey Finds Marketers Bullish on 2023 Budgets

    Despite Potential Recession, Matter Survey Finds Marketers Bullish on 2023 Budgets

    89% of CMOs and Senior Marketing Executives Plan to Increase Marketing Investments for 2023, Signaling Competitive Opportunities for Brands

    BOSTON, Nov. 2, 2022 — Matter Communications — a Brand Elevation Agency that integrates PR, marketing and creative services — today released findings from its 2023 Marketing Outlook Survey, which explored how CMOs and senior marketing executives across B2B technology, healthcare, retail, professional services and customer experience plan to manage marketing budgets, address economic challenges and engage customers in the year ahead. The survey found that almost all (89%) CMOs and senior marketing executives are planning to increase their marketing investments for 2023, with nearly half (44%) planning to substantially increase investments.

    “Our survey indicates – and historical data prove – marketers understand that while cutting marketing and advertising budgets during economic uncertainties may bring temporary financial relief, it often leads to significant long-term strain on sales pipelines, brand awareness and customer trust,” said Scott Signore, Principal and CEO of Matter.

    Integrated PR + Marketing Strategies Drive ROI for Brands this Year

    As the market becomes increasingly cluttered with brands competing for attention, organizations are prioritizing investments in high-ROI tactics to drive leads, by offering consistent, high-value content to their audiences.

    When asked to select the top three areas that saw the greatest ROI over the past year, CMOs’ and senior marketing executives’ highest-ranking choices were:

    • Public relations + social media (69%)
    • Content marketing (49%)
    • Video marketing (39%)

    Marketers Identify 2023’s Biggest Challenges + Budget Allocation Strategies

    Recent data from KPMG shows that 80% of CEOs anticipate a recession over the next 12 months. Matter’s survey revealed that the biggest challenges facing CMOs’ and senior marketing executives’ programs in 2023 are:

    • Measuring marketing performance (31%)
    • Economic uncertainty (30%)
    • Driving qualified leads/sales (25%)
    • Support from leadership (25%)
    • Other (2%)

    When asked to select the top three areas where they’re planning to allocate 2023 marketing budgets, CMOs’ and senior marketing executives’ highest-ranking choices were:

    • Public relations + social media (66%)
    • Marketing operations / analytics / mar tech (59%)
    • Content marketing (50%)
    • Video marketing (38%)
    • Brand Building (25%)
    • SEO + SEM (24%)
    • Media Buying (15%)
    • Internal communications (13%)
    • Demand gen (11%)

    COVID’s Downturn Was a Precautionary Tale for Companies that Scale Back Marketing

    Countless brands hit the budgetary brakes when the COVID pandemic began, only to realize they had overreacted. Those that stayed the course enjoyed a seamless acceleration into the fast lane as they remained top of mind with their customers.

    • 34% of CMOs and senior marketing executives increased their marketing investments during the COVID lockdowns/restrictions in 2020-2021
    • Of those who increased their marketing investments, 71% experienced substantial or moderate growth during the following 12-month period
    • While 48% decreased their marketing investments, 90% of those CMOs and senior marketing executives are now planning to increase their investments in the year ahead

    Research Methodology

    The Matter Marketing Outlook Survey was fielded by a third-party provider from September 29-30, 2022. The online survey research collected responses from more than 200 CMOs and senior marketing executives across B2B technology, healthcare, retail, professional services and customer experience, with responsibility for public relations, customer marketing, corporate/product marketing and social media in the U.S.

    Additional Resources

    With nearly 300 professionals across offices in Boston and Newburyport, MA, Providence, RI, Pittsburgh, PA, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, and Portland, OR, Matter is one of the fastest-growing PR, marketing and creative firms in the country. Matter has won 14 “Agency of the Year” accolades and has been consistently recognized as a top place to work. 

    About Matter Communications

    Matter is a Brand Elevation Agency that integrates PR, marketing and creative services into content-rich 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.

    Contact

    Matter
    Greg Amaral
    [email protected]
    www.matternow.com

    Matter