michael del gigante
Making Your Website ADA Compliant: What Businesses Need to Know
Michael Del Gigante | February 25, 2020
By Michael Del Gigante Many businesses fail to take a key thing into account when developing and maintaining their websites: accessibility. Specifically, they don’t consider whether their sites meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While accessibility challenges aren’t new—websites have long been difficult to use for those with certain disabilities—a number of recent court cases have pushed the issue into the limelight and highlighted its importance. Why is accessibility so critical? What’s going on with the recent legal actions? How can you make your website ADA compliant? Here’s what ...
10 Resolutions Every Marketer Should Make for 2020
Michael Del Gigante | December 17, 2019
By Michael Del Gigante It’s time to make some work-related New Year’s resolutions. For most marketers, that’s no easy task. There are now so many different channels and tactics in the mix that having to choose just a few areas to focus (or refocus) on can feel overwhelming. So, where should you start? Which approaches should you consider embracing to make your marketing efforts more efficient and effective in the year ahead? To help, we’ve pulled together this list of 10 resolutions that every marketer should consider making in 2020 to have a more productive and prosperous year: 1. I will remember that social networks a...
Baby Boomer Travelers: What Marketers Need to Know [Infographic]
Michael Del Gigante | December 10, 2019
By Michael Del Gigante In their rush to court younger consumers, travel marketers sometimes overlook an important demographic: baby boomers. Members of this cohort, defined roughly as those born between 1946 and 1964, are especially valuable because they often have the income and time to take multiple trips each year: 70%: The share of total US disposable income controlled by baby boomers $6,600: How much boomers spend on leisure trips each year, on average 4 to 5: How many leisure trips boomers take each year, on average What are the key motivators and behaviors of this group? To find out, check out MDG Advertising’s ...
6 Reasons Why Facebook Is Essential for Hospitality Marketing
Michael Del Gigante | November 22, 2019
By Michael Del Gigante It’s easy for hospitality marketers to take Facebook for granted. The platform has been around for so long—more than 15 years now—and is so well established that it sometimes can blend into the background and feel like just one marketing option among many. However, the reality is that it’s far from just another marketing channel: for hospitality brands, Facebook is a uniquely powerful platform that has distinct advantages and holds unparalleled opportunities. What are these advantages and opportunities? What makes the social network so special? Why should marketers remain bullish on it after all thes...
10 American Brands That Get Patriotic Marketing
Michael Del Gigante | July 3, 2019
As Americans prepare for the July 4th celebrations this year, patriotism is on the rise. That’s not conjecture, but fact: According to a recently released survey of 5,862 US consumers conducted by Brand Keys, the share of people who consider themselves extremely or very patriotic increased across all age groups between 2018 and 2019. For marketers, this rising tide of patriotism presents powerful opportunities to connect with consumers. However, it also presents difficulties. As the researchers note in their report: “We live in an era of political polarization, consumer tribalism, and increasingly fervent social movements…Not onl...
TikTok 101: Understanding the Rapidly Growing Social Network
Michael Del Gigante | May 7, 2019
By Michael Del Gigante As in life, the only constant with social media is change. Just as marketers were starting to feel comfortable with the current landscape, along has come a fresh, rapidly rising network: TikTok. As eMarketer recently put it: "Not since Snapchat has any app shown as much potential as TikTok to disrupt the existing social media world order." In an in-depth profile of the app—titled "How TikTok Is Rewriting the World"—The New York Times was just as effusive, stating: "TikTok will change the way your social media works—even if you're avoiding it." What's the big deal? What exactly is TikTok? How popu...
Marriott’s New Bonvoy Brand: 5 Lessons for Travel Marketers
Michael Del Gigante | April 30, 2019
By Michael Del Gigante How big of a deal is it when Marriott, the world's largest hotel operator, rebrands its loyalty program? Such a big deal that ABC created a special television advertising block during the Oscars to help the company unveil its new offering: Bonvoy. By nearly any measure—media coverage, consumer buzz, or advertising spend—the program's launch has so far been the biggest travel and hospitality story of 2019. The move is important not only because it directly impacts Marriott's 120 million loyalty members, but also because it's the perfect case study for the wider travel and hospitality industry. What can...
Travel and Hospitality Marketing Budgets for 2019: 4 Trends to Watch
Michael Del Gigante | October 11, 2018
By Michael Del Gigante As you dive into 2019 budgeting, what trends should you be thinking about? Which approaches, platforms, and tools should be top of mind for travel and hospitality marketers? The team at MDG Advertising recently analyzed a host of recent analyst reports and industry surveys to find out. What came from that deep dive are these four key trends trends that every travel and hospitality firm should be watching closely in the year ahead: 1. The Power of Search When it comes to travel and hospitality marketing, search has become the digital workhorse. Newer channels may get more buzz, but it's search that continues to mo...
