This week on the Digital Velocity Podcast, Kitty Hart of Heroic Productions joins Erik and Tim to discuss how to build a brand through innovative, memorable, and life-changing marketing events and experiences.
Businesses can either choose to do nothing and have no control over the brand, or they can develop the brand using various marketing strategies. Kitty says,
“In the brand world, we often will hear people say the brand is not what you say it is, it’s what other people say it is. And I get that. I understand what they’re saying. So, I always kind of push back on that and say, well then, you better make sure that the experiences that you’re putting out there are telling the story that you want to tell.”
An important way to cultivate a brand is through special events and experiences. When experiential marketing is done effectively, it will leave a long-lasting brand impression that generates revenue. Kitty explains,
“…if you’re not designing that entire experience, I guarantee that you’re leaving a lot of things that will be less than experiences for people in the room. So, it’s important that the brand, that the planning committee, the marketing team, that they’re thinking about, why are we doing this? How do we want people to feel? What do we want people to do as the outcome of this? Because that’s where you will get that ROI length somewhere down the line.”
Experiential marketing has been a reliable and profitable marketing tool for many years even though it is challenging to show direct return on investment. Kitty says,
“It is difficult to attach hard ROI on these initiatives, but we do know that there is such a strong connection between physical experiences and people. Experiential marketing has been around for a very long time. This isn’t something that’s just risen in the last few decades. This goes back to the 1800s, in fact. I wish that there were more examples of tangible ROI on it, but event marketing is a tried and true method of marketing. We see it most in engagement and what that does for a team and an employee base. The physicality of bringing people together and that interaction, networking, learning together. All of that is unmatched.”
Listen to this week’s episode to learn more about how businesses can use experiential marketing to create brand impressions.
About the Guest:
Kitty Hart is an accomplished sales and marketing professional with a passion for creating unforgettable experiences. As the Vice President of Client Brand Experience at Heroic Productions, Kitty leads the charge in producing in-person, virtual, and hybrid events for large corporations and organizations.
With over 28 years of experience working with brands of all sizes, Kitty’s expertise extends far beyond traditional marketing and sales approaches. She has a unique ability to help brands discover their authentic story and bring it to life through impactful brand strategy, naming, package design, and brand storytelling. Her passion for experiential marketing has also led her to become an expert in experience design, partnership marketing, and solving complex business challenges with Design-thinking.
Throughout her career, Kitty has been a sought-after speaker, writer, and mentor, inspiring countless professionals in the marketing and events industries. Her unbridled creativity and passion for experiential marketing make her an invaluable asset to the Heroic team.
When she’s not busy creating unforgettable events, Kitty can be found dreaming of becoming the next Food Network star. Her commitment to excellence and unwavering dedication to her craft make her a true hero in the world of event production and marketing.