Megan Cunningham
CEO / Founder at Magnet Media
Website Address: https://magnetmediafilms.com/
Each week on “Marketing and Beyond,” our host talks to media experts across the country. This week our host speaks with Megan Cunningham from Magnet Media. To learn more, check out https://magnetmediafilms.com/.
What is your company Elevator pitch when talking about your company?
We are a brand studio that uses data and storytelling to drive business results.
What changes has your company made over the past 2 years that have impacted your business
We’ve increased the emphasis on our mission –telling stories that matter so that we live in a more empathetic and just world. And we narrowed the breadth of our services to focus on our 4 core competencies: (1) video, (2) branded podcasts (3) virtual / hybrid events, and (4) social / influencer marketing.
What is one tip that you would give when it comes to digital marketing?
Use a strategic, integrated approach to selecting the best content format and the best platform to engage your audience…and to be consistent.
What is the biggest change in marketing that you see coming in the next 2 years?
I think there are 3 changes to marketing that have been happening slowly, but are now accelerated with the pandemic: The first is the increased focus on mission and purpose. Mission-driven businesses are dominating, and growing at a faster rate than their competition in every category; and for traditional brands, the need to consistently examine your practices to ensure they are consistent with your company values is of growing importance. Gone are the days when simply having a corporate philanthropy effort or a Corporate Social Responsibility practice is enough: consumers and B2B buyers alike both demand more from the companies they buy from, and that includes making business decisions that are good for the planet, good for employees, and mindful of the needs of the larger community. All of the research shows that doing well by doing good is the way of the future, and marketers play a role in this to ensure their campaigns are not mere lip-service, but are tied to company behavior and practices. The second is the migration of marketers’ investment from traditional advertising (which is blocked, skipped, avoided) to brand storytelling (which is searched for, celebrated and shared). The rising popularity of streaming services has only accentuated this shift. The third is what was formerly known as “Digital Transformation” now includes the Metaverse. Thinking through how all the Web 3.0 dynamics –new forms of currency, NFTs, the creator economy– impact marketing is a journey on which we are all just beginning to embark.
