Mustang Marketing

It’s International Joke day! Why did the marketer fail at honey harvesting? Instead of delivering to the hive, he went B2B… Ok, our jokes may be bad but our marketing isn’t!

Mustang president and owner Dianne Badoud McKay was featured recently in Voyagela to share about the journey that led her toward owning a small, regional marketing agency in Ventura County and the challenges she's faced and how she's worked through them.

"I graduated from colleges during a recession, I lost my dad five years after the formation of our new company, I was a single mom for a while, there were some catastrophic investments, and I bought a marketing agency just before the pandemic. I lived the advice to just keep going and handle the challenge in front of me, then the next one, and so on."

Learn more about how Dianne — even about her favorite podcasts and books by checking out the q&a with VoyageLA.

https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-dianne-mckay-of-thousand-oaks/

Huge congratulations to Casa Pacifica and Casa Pacifica Angels Wine, Food & Brew Festival on another wildly successful Food & Wine Festival. We were proud to support this event and also loved seeing the new logo we designed for Casa Pacifica in action! This nonprofit does incredible work supporting vulnerable youth and young adults in our county, and this annual fundraiser helps make this important work possible every day. Great job to Shawna Morris and Carrie Hughes and her entire team for another wonderful event! We didn't take a lot of pictures ... we were too busy enjoying the festivities 💃

Earlier this month, Mustang President (and board chair of the Conejo Chamber) Dianne Badoud McKay, alongside friend and Los Robles Vice President Community, Employer & Government Relations Amy Commans, emceed the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce's annual Recognition Gala. It was a beautiful evening celebrating the honorees at Walnut Grove and remembering the late Eloise Cohen. Pictured: Amy and Dianne owning the stage; and a group photo of the new and past Woman of Year award honorees (including Dianne, who was honored in 2018).

Mustang is a proud sponsor of this event, and also designed the gala collateral. Congratulations everyone!

Happy Birthday to Mustang President Dianne Badoud McKay! 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻

Congratulations to Ventura County Public Works Agency on a fantastic Public Works Day yesterday! Our Mustang team was on-site to help with school bus check-in and to capture photography and videography footage, and of course, to make the crews take photos for social media :)

More than 1,200 students came out and got to check out lots of cool VCPWA machinery and trucks, and learn about all the work that VCPWA does in our county each day. This day was a massive agency-wide effort that had all hands on-deck to help lead tours and transform the parking lot with activities for the day. Great job to everyone involved!

On Friday, April 19, Mustang President Dianne Badoud McKay was honored at the Livingston Memorial Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon. The luncheon is an opportunity to honor mothers — both living and deceased — for the love, understanding and hope they bring to our families and the community. The luncheon also remembered the late Carol Gilbert.

It was a touching event … three of Dianne’s four children were able to attend … each, one-upping each other with warm, funny comments about their mom. Dianne’s youngest, Bennett, sent in a video which kicked off the laughs. Jackson and Danny spoke next, and then Carly sang a beautiful rendition of Baby Mine. After Dianne’s recognition, we heard moving comments from the loved ones of Carol Gilbert, who passed in 2020 after a remarkable life of service in our community.

All proceeds from the event will go directly to support our Livingston Cares program – supporting patients who are unable to pay for their care.

Mustang has been operating in Ventura County since 1986, and some of our key people have been living here longer than that. We are a homegrown marketing firm with deep ties to our community. That’s probably why we collectively volunteer on so many local boards and committees — we are county lifers and really believe in supporting the quality of life here. How long have you lived and/or worked in Ventura County?

Are branding nightmares keeping you up at night? Worried about losing momentum after taking a break from marketing? Scared of getting stale after reusing the same collateral? Tossing and turning, afraid of growing out of touch with your audience? Come to Mustang with your concerns, and we’ll work with you on a proper defense of your brand, so you can rest easy.

You’re already here, so we’re guessing we don’t need to sell you on the power of social media. And honestly, we spend most of our time doing for others, instead of ourselves (we know, we know), so we appreciate you hanging with us here when we do pop in with a post.

But, let’s talk about what you need. Mustang Marketing can help give your platforms and paid campaigns a boost, so you can reach your audiences where they’re at. DM/PM/Tweet … whatever us. Just reach out!

2024 is a campaign year — as in, we can’t wait to get you started on this year’s marketing campaigns!

Whether it’s fanfare for a new product release, an ad push for recruitment, or you just need a little oomph in your brand presence, Mustang can plan and execute strategic campaigns that strengthen your brand and support your goals. We’re Mustang Marketing and we approve this message!

Marketing Tip Tuesday!

Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2023 was “authentic,” and we say keep doing you in 2024.

Find what makes your company different, express it honestly and customers will notice. Fluffed up ads about the “supremely high-quality, best product ever at amazing, spectacular prices,” could be written about any business. So instead, lead with your unique voice and your unique value.

Graphic design is more than just a pretty face. So what can it do for your business? Read our latest blog to find out the real value — and the limits — of expert design.

https://www.mustangmktg.com/2024/03/20/what-good-graphic-design-can-do-for-your-campaign-and-what-it-cant/

We spy Mustang's president and owner Dianne Badoud McKay ... who also happens to be chair of the board for the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce. Today was the Chamber's economic forecast presentation, with keynote speaker Jennifer Barrera, President/CEO of CalChamber, and a presentation from Dr. Matthew Fienup, Executive Director for the Center of Economic Research and Forecasting at California Lutheran University. As always, one of the events we look most forward to each year.

Congratulations to our team!

Mustang brought home two ADDYs from the 2024 American Advertising Awards Coastal California Competition.

We are the proud recipient of the Silver ADDY in the Printed Annual Report category for the design of the Food Share of Ventura County Impact Report. Plus, we were awarded a Bronze ADDY for Public Service Annual Report for our work on the State of the Region Report for the Ventura County Civic Alliance. We couldn’t be happier with the recognition because we feel both reports visually express the hard work and vital civic contributions of our clients.

Read more here: https://www.mustangmktg.com/2024/03/11/mustang-brings-home-two-addy-awards/

The women of Mustang were out and about today supporting clients for International Women’s Day events …not a bad way to spend a Friday! Jess was AMR’s guest at the West Ventura County Business Alliance’s Inaugural Women’s Business Conference at Cal State University Channel Islands, which featured an excellent panel and lineup of women leaders in the community, capping off the afternoon with VC Supervisor of District 5, Vianey Lopez, who shared about the powerful number of women leaders we have throughout the county.

Emma headed out to Glendale to support the Greater Downtown Glendale Association at its Women’s Day Event at the MYA Rooftop, featuring keynote speaker Corinne Vedery, CEO of Caruso. Dianne celebrated a bit early, attending the California Conference for Women last week.

Mustang is a woman-owned and women-led marketing firm and we’re proud of it! Cheers today to women, and to the achievements we’ve made, and will continue to make, in social, economic, cultural and political realms.

Eight focus groups down as we work with the Museum of Ventura County to identify what the community believes to be the future of arts and cultural experiences in Ventura County. Today's focus group included folks from the Tourism sector and provided some unique insight on partnership opportunities.

By the way — the community survey on arts and cultural experiences in Ventura County is still open, and one lucky survey taker will win Disneyland tickets! Take just two minutes to fill it out now: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/22FF6WG

Great morning attending the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce State of the Chamber. Mustang president and Chamber board chair Dianne Badoud McKay led off the presentation with opening remarks, before the room enjoyed an overview of the Chamber's advocacy efforts on behalf of local businesses in our community over the past year from CEO Danielle Borja.

Hey you! Yes, YOU. We’ve got some questions for you. Read the latest from Mustang and let us know how your efforts stacked up in 2023. What’s your 2024 look like?

How well did you protect your brand this year? - Mustang Marketing Did your marketing efforts pay off in 2023? Maybe you blew it out of the water, doubled your revenue, made several trending hashtags, and got your brand name added to the dictionary. Maybe there wasn’t always the time or resources you needed to make every project a 10 out of 10. Either way, it’s...

We picked up new clients, brought old ones to new heights, saw campaigns from strategy to completion to review. We rebranded new clients and even had old clients dust plans off the shelf.

We represented clients to community leaders and community leaders to the public. We finished reports, designed web pages, pitched press releases, and booked client’s media appearances. We publicized for annual galas months in advance and ran crisis PR on a moment's notice.

We did all of it and more to serve our clients, and we are ready to do it again. So here’s to another year of busyness!

Mustang Marketing is proud to support the diaper bank. It helps children and families stay healthy which makes our community a better place. A special shout-out to Jess Weihe who works hard to do all she does for the good of so many.

This year was a stabilizing year for our diaper bank. After spending the last three years in “crisis response mode”, we knew we needed to pivot toward strategizing on expanding grant support to help sustain the diaper bank and the families it supports. We welcomed two new board members: Leanne Tapper and Sara Bartos! We supported an average of 317 kids (distributing 25,000 diapers (plus wipes)) each month. In 2023, we provided 303,000 diapers, double that in wipes, and celebrated surpassing the 1 million diaper mark, ending the year with a cumulative 1,119,000 diapers distributed to families since our diaper bank launch in 2018.

We are incredibly grateful to our Diaper Bank Business Sponsors: IMT Residential, Mustang Marketing, Oak & Iron Thousand Oaks, The Tipsy Goat, Clunen and Oakman Law, LLP, Melissa Goble Realty Group, Deka Law Group, Inc., Ventura County Credit Union, Santé Spa & Wellness and Conejo Restoration.

Thank you to those who have hosted diaper drives on our behalf:
Andy Pletcher & Chalice Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Conejo Valley | Friends of Fieldworkers, Inc. | Dawn Stines |
Moms Club of Westlake Village | Fit4Mom Thousand Oaks | Camarillo Adolpho High School | Aspen Elementary | Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks | Horizon Hills Parenting Program | Cypress Elementary | Maple Elementary Student Council | Julie Lang |
Michelle Reese | Conejo Valley Masonic Lodge #807 and Conejo Valley Eastern Star Chapter #632 | New Family Collective | Temple Etz Chaim | Just Peachy & Follow the Sun (Conejo Holiday Market Event) | Pack 3753 | Stephanie Geske

YAY to our grant/organization supporters this year: Open Hearts Foundation, County of Ventura - Government, City of Thousand Oaks - Local Government, Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks EARThS Magnet School, Food Share of Ventura County Baby2Baby

Thank you to each of you who have dropped off diapers, sent diapers from our Amazon Wishlist, joined our monthly Giving Circle, and/or made a contribution of any kind to help the diaper bank! We are immensely grateful for your support.

SHOUTOUT to our diaper bank volunteers: Stephen Herring, Amy Herring, Jessica Zertuche, Chloe Nash and Denise Lucarelli

See our full gratitude list here: https://www.conejocommunityoutreach.com/gratitude.html

Mannequins make great models, but people want to see how clothes fit on human bodies. It's always a strong choice to market your business with relatable, real-life case studies.

Case-in-point, here are some Mustang Marketing work samples so you can see our theories in action!

The Museum of Ventura County is seeking input from Ventura County residents that will help shape the future of arts and cultural experiences in our community. Can you spare two minutes to fill out the survey? Survey participants will be entered into an opportunity drawing for a chance to win Disneyland tickets!

Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/22FF6WG

What's worse than forgetting an anniversary? Forgetting a whole anniversary year. Mustang wants to remind you to start annual commemorations on day one. Plus, strategic planning and goal setting should start on day … yesterday. Reach out if you want to discuss what next year should look like.

Flashback Friday

Who better to lead Spark Conejo’s LinkedIn profile seminar than resident expert Dianne McKay? Recently, Mustang Marketing has been fielding growing demand for LinkedIn support, as businesses turn to the pandemic-proof social network.

If you missed the educational opportunity for the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce’s networking group back in October, we're always available for consultation and to lend a hand with a content refresh.

Wishing all you turkeys out there a Happy Thanksgiving Break! Who participated in the Turkey Dash this year? We were proud sponsors, but we might just admit that perhaps a few of us slept in today. Our offices will be closed today and tomorrow for our team to spend time with their families. Looking forward to connecting with everyone after the weekend on your end-of-year needs!

How well do you know Ventura County?

Local Ventura experts Mustang Marketing and Lead Designer Angie Burnside helped craft the look of the 2023 State of the Region Report for the Ventura County Civic Alliance.

Did you know that in 2022 there were 311,767 nonfarm jobs in Ventura County, an almost full recovery from the pandemic decline?

In case you missed the State of the Region event and the State of the County, or just wanted to refresh on stats, all the information in the report is available to the public. Give it a look if you want to see how school enrollment, housing prices, social service funding and more have shifted in the last several years.

https://publuu.com/flip-book/111925/659299/page/1

From jump-scares to pop-up ads, spiderwebs to web design, the season is rich with opportunities to get creative and spread some thrills. But that doesn’t have to end now that it's November.

As a treat, Mustang wants share with you our favorite hallmarks of Halloween marketing — so you can bring that strategic, fun, risk-taking spirit with you.

Read our latest blog … if you dare!

https://www.mustangmktg.com/2023/10/31/halloween-campaigns-can-happen-all-year-long/

He might be sneaky ... but not as sneaky as us, because we also text with his mom. IT'S SHAI'S BIRTHDAY TODAY! Shai makes everything better. He's proactive, he identifies the areas where folks need support and dives in, and he's a thoughtful writer. We are wishing him a very happy birthday today!