CDC Names Sweeney Agency of Record CLEVELAND – Sept. 26, 2014 – Sweeney, the leading full-service marketing and public relations firm, has been named agency of record by the Centers for Dialysis Care (CDC), the largest outpatient dialysis provider in Northeast Ohio. Sweeney will provide the CDC with strategic planning and marketing implementation support as the region’s leading dialysis treatment provider continues to expand its footprint across Northeast Ohio.

In case you missed the major announcement on Tuesday, the "Big 3" soda makers "pledged a 20-percent reduction in beverage calories consumed per person nationally by 2025 by increasing consumer education and aggressive marketing of smaller portion sizes, water, and other no- or lower-calorie beverages." I implore you, please stop, go back and read that again.

Oh yeah, that's right... everything. This won't be much of a blog post, simply because I have so little desire to even talk about Urban Outfitters and their uber lazy approach to marketing. Fortunately, the marketplace will show this faltering retailer why it's a bad idea to hang your hat (or sweatshirt) on a hook with a very sharp end.

Sometimes my brain connects dots in ways that even I do not understand. Summer is quickly coming to an end, a reality that smacked me in the face this morning as the early temperatures barely hit 60 degrees. It is September; in fact, today is the 13th anniversary of 9/11, a date that escapes no one's attention, including mine.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must say that I am not a fan of most drug stores.  This is especially true of CVS and Walgreens.  It is not personal or even rational, it's just a thing with me.

So I open an email from Ad Age and click on a headline that reads: "Hey B-to-B Marketers: Lighten Up with the Business-Speak." As a professional marketer, I was naturally interested to see what Ad Age had to say. And then I read an "editorial" from Anelia Varela warning B2B marketers to get hip or get left behind.

Are you familiar with CenturyLink? It is a FORTUNE 500 company that calls itself "a leading provider of Internet, TV and voice." You've probably seen their television commercials with the tagline: "Your link to what's next." In fact, they may be the stupidest company on the planet.

Facebook likes to constantly remind us that social media is always evolving. One of its most recent changes is big news for brands that use contests/promotions to garner Page Likes (as opposed to Post Likes). According to the Facebook Developer Blog, the days of “Like to Enter” contests, coupons and promotions are over.

The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market is hands down one of our favorite trade shows of the year. It brings together the most passionate outdoor enthusiasts to showcase and talk about the latest innovations. While we're at the show to meet with media and launch promotional activities for our own clients, we're always on the prowl to experience the engaging and sometimes goofy marketing antics of other outdoor brands.

At Sweeney we don’t agree that any media coverage is good media coverage. Landing coverage in The New York Times or on the Today Show isn’t always the best course of action for every client. We focus on securing good quality coverage for our clients that is targeting the correct audience and helping the client achieve documented goals.