Let’s Work Better
Joe here. I’m taking over the blog again in the hopes we can all work better. Since COVID and Microsoft Teams had to be instantly adopted around the world, there has always been a group of users/skeptics of it. I am truly exhausted hearing all the complaints about Teams. Was reading Reddit this morning and […]
Cybersecurity Tips: Keeping Your Systems (And You) Safe and Secure
Today was a bad day in the IT world. Stryker, the giant medical device company based in Michigan was compromised by a group supported by Iran. Every computer and cell phone was wiped clean from an attack. You can read more about that here: Medical equipment company Stryker reports cyberattack | AP News This kind […]
rest in peace, windows 10.
Microsoft has announced that it will discontinue support for Windows 10 as of October 14, 2025. So, what does this mean for Windows 10 users? There’s a few things to know ahead of the fall. why you should upgrade now One major facet of having ongoing support from Microsoft is that users receive free software […]
KIS Branded Specialties: A Case Study
KIS Branded Specialties helps businesses across industries find the right promotional products for company events, trade shows, or conferences. the problem KIS initially approached us to help streamline inefficient software processes affecting one of their major clients, a medical industry partner that relies on KIS to manage and fulfill awards. It started out simple: award […]
Using Social Media to Grow Your Business!
Throughout my time as an illustrator, I have always needed social media to promote myself outside of an art fair/convention setting. Unbelievably, social media can be a tool to help small businesses and artists to grow! This may not be the case for everyone, but this has certainly been the case for me and my […]
Rita
The namesake of Rita: Rita Cat.The nonprofit world has its own challenges just like the for-profit world. They’re just a bit more unique: Fundraising, grants, event management, volunteers, timekeeping, memberships, sponsorships and on and on. OMG! There’s lots of companies out there that cater to nonprofits, too. A software platform for one or two needs: […]
Wrapping You Up in Their Brand
The holidays are upon us once again, and I’m excited to see that brands are bringing their “A” game to packaging design. For many companies, holiday packaging is an important part of their branding, and they don’t just do it for fun. Gift packaging: Helps create an emotional connection to their products Encourages gifting Adds […]
4 Tips on How to Increase Productivity Using Your Microsoft 365 Subscription
You’ve probably seen the saying “You have as many hours in a day as Beyonce”, but do you really? Do you think Beyonce creates tasks for her crew on a daily basis or is in back-to-back meetings all day? Probably not. She probably hires someone to do that for her, but many of us don’t […]
Pursuing a Creative Career: One Artist’s Journey From Performing the Story To Writing It Herself
Hi. My name is Katie and I’ve been working at JCMA for almost a year now. I joined the team in the fall of 2020, after spending months at home putting puzzles together, buying tie-dye kits, doom scrolling Instagram, and perfecting my Sourdough bread. You might be wondering – why weren’t you working? Well reader, […]
What Comes With Your Microsoft 365 Subscription?
Wouldn’t it be nice to come in to work and open one platform instead of ten? Well, you can with a Microsoft 365 subscription. From one terabyte of cloud storage to accessible apps across all your devices, Microsoft 365 can help you work smarter, faster and better for less. Just like a good cup of […]
5 Tips for Recording Videos of Yourself
Videos — we love watching them on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube, but we hate recording them. We get it. We’ve been there, too. But videos are essential for your marketing. In fact, 54% of consumers want to see more video content from a brand or business they support. Plus, 69% of people say they’d […]
5 Christmas Movies to Watch (+Drinks to Pair With Them!)
Instead of the entire family coming over for dinner or having holiday parties every weekend, Christmas this year will look a little more like this spring — bingeing movies with a drink in hand. Movies have always been a way to escape reality and with COVID Christmas coming up, it seems like a perfect time […]
What Is OneDrive Version History?
Microsoft recently added version history to OneDrive, helping remove the many copies of just one file. All the edits you make in a document has already been saved into another version without clicking the duplicate button. Learn how OneDrive version history works.
Why Authentic Marketing Will Help Your Brand Stand Out in a Post-COVID World
Competition is everywhere, no matter the size of your business. One of the differences between your business and the one next door is how you present your brand to your audience. As businesses become more and more technologically-savvy, the harder it is for your brand to stand out online. Authenticity is one important way for […]
A Day in Our Tech Intern’s Shoes
My name is Zachary Jortner, the infamous son of Diane Jortner, who heads up the “Valpo Neighbors” Magazines. I started working at JCMA near the end of June — June 23rd, 2020 to be exact. I have worked a large variety of jobs, from fast food to waiting tables to warehouse work, even making it […]
How Your Social Media Marketing Should Change Post-Coronavirus
When the coronavirus swept over the globe, it turned many lives upside down. The stay-at-home order forced businesses to adjust with the times. Many businesses succeeded by creating makeshift offices at home, curbside pickup and online ordering while some closed. Yet, social media was booming with COVID memes and political statements. As a social media […]
Working from Home: No Shoes, Too Much (or Too Little) Quiet and Generally Strained Sanity
As the coronavirus takes over the world, our team has had to adjust from downtown office life to working at home. Some are taking it really well. Others are possibly going insane — almost all of us. But the work keeps on coming and the coffee brews a lot more than normal. We’re staying focused and […]
Tips to Use Microsoft Teams to Work Better When You’re Working Remotely
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many employees to work remotely. As such, many of us needed a way to communicate. This is where Microsoft Teams saves the day, helping you video chat from your bedroom, a socially-distanced coffee shop or the train station. Learn how to use Microsoft Teams for meetings when you’re working […]
Choosing the Right Colors for Your Brand
“Color is a power which directly influences the soul.” -Wassily Kandinsky For 2020, you may have heard, Pantone’s color of the year is Classic Blue, which is so disappointing. It’s the epitome of the boring corporate blue color that I’ve worked with for the past zillion years as a creative. Color is such a subjective […]
Our Thanksgiving: Pumpkin, Wine and No Cell Reception
Thanksgiving is eating until you have to unbutton your pants, sit back, take a breath, then stuff your belly even more with yummy homemade food. It is more than food though, it is about family and friends getting together. We dove into how each of us spends Thanksgiving in Northwest Indiana. “When it comes to […]
Is It Time to #deleteFacebook? A Digital Marketer’s Perspective
I’ve been feeling a little queasy the past few days. And, as much as I’d like to blame last Saturday’s Chinese food, it’s really because of the news involving Facebook and their mishandling of user data as it relates to the 2014 and 2016 elections. According to the New York Times, Cambridge Analytica, a voter-profiling […]
What Your ‘About Us’ Page Isn’t Telling Me
It’s the stories, you know? I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into this. But one of the most unexpected, best, benefits of this new gig is how many people I get to have conversations with. Sometimes we’re figuring out if we might be able to work together, sometimes we’re trading ideas, and sometimes […]
4 Steps to Get Off The “Should-Could” Digital Marketing Merry-Go-Round
After decades in marketing and branding for other companies, I’ve struck out on my own, helping small businesses reach more of their customers by building a better digital presence. In the past few months, I’ve been lucky to have lots of conversations with people throughout the Region at various stages of business startup. After a few […]
Stay Ahead of the Robots: 6 Tips For Better Subject Lines
In case you haven’t heard, the robots may, someday soon, take over your subject line writing responsibilities, using their machine learning algorithms to optimize in a moment what you and I would take weeks of split testing to do. And, coming off a healthy run of writing a few thousand subject lines over the past few […]