FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matt Mattson
Carmel, Ind. — Starting in 2019, Fraternity and Sorority marketing strategy services formerly delivered under the Innova brand will now be offered directly from Phired Up. In 2014, Phired Up Productions acquired Innova Marketing, Inc. as part of its strategy to create a full-service system of growth for the fraternity/sorority industry. Innova has operated as a sister brand to Phired Up since then delivering one-of-a-kind marketing strategy and services.
“The name ‘Innova’ is going away, but our commitment to smart, relationship-oriented, data driven marketing strategy is as strong as ever,” said Matt Mattson, Phired Up’s President and co-Founder. “The close relationship between recruitment, marketing, relationships, and all that we teach makes it an obvious move to simplify our brand for our clients.”
As the fraternity and sorority industry continues to evolve, we are excited to offer the services Innova has been trusted to provide directly through Phired Up beginning January 1, 2019. While the quality, expertise, and standards of our work will remain the same, the Innova brand will be retired by the end of this year.
“We have been blown away by the desire in our industry to collaborate with our companies on creative, effective marketing pieces and strategies that have helped campuses across the country attract the types of members fraternity and sorority is meant to attract,” said Mattson. “The Phired Up team has always worked hand-in-hand with Innova to deliver valuable content and expertise to our clients, and we look forward to streamlining our efforts moving forward to help create a more holistic approach to fraternity and sorority marketing.”
As Phired Up more closely works to incorporate Innova’s strategy work into their daily brand, Brendan Nusbaum will continue to serve Innova design clients as Phired Up’s Creative Director. “I’m honored to continue working to serve the design needs of our strategy clients and our industry as we continue working to align the right members with fraternity and sorority,” said Nusbaum.
The company will double down on its efforts to make any and all creative work tie directly to smart marketing strategy. Phired Up will be engaging in creative and collaborative partnerships with additional outside partners to ensure that both the strategy and the tactics employed by our industry are best-in-class. This merging of Innova into the Phired Up brand is part of a larger refresh of the work Phired Up is doing to ensure all of the company’s deliverables are results-focused, relationship-based, and reflective of the needs and feedback from our clients and partners.
Innova clients can continue contacting Phired Up staff via their current contact information. Please direct questions to Matt Mattson at Matt@PhiredUp.com.
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Phired Up Productions helps fraternities and sororities grow. The company’s products, services, and brands are creating the future of fraternities and sororities by transforming the way people join. The company delivers relationship-focused, data-driven, results-producing TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, and STRATEGY solutions for every aspect of the pre-member experience from first-impression through initiation.
by Jason Allen
In fraternity and sorority, we often fall victim to “the buzzwords”. Our intent gets lost in our word choices, and becomes diluted into random phrases instead of powerful messages. What if we rethink the way we use buzzwords, and use them as they are intended rather than hashtags on Instagram? Here are a few of my favorite buzzwords, and what they mean to me:
Intentionality: I think what we mean when we use this is to show that we want to be having direct and focused conversations. When I say I am being intentional, I mean my mind and heart are in the right place, and I would love to really focus my energy on this one thing at this time. I want to be intentional on my word choice, because words matter. I am making the choice to be mindful about how I am approaching a person, a topic, or a boundary. Intentionality.
Leaning in: I think what we mean when we say this is that we are being present and diving into something rather than turning away. We are making the choice to opt-in, instead of opting-out. It could be during an intense conversation or during a chaotic moment, but we know being present and offering of ourselves is more important than ignoring it. Sometimes, we need to opt-out for self-preservation and keeping ourselves emotionally, mentally, and sometimes even physically safe. But, we lean in when we know it counts, and when we know it matters. Leaning in.
Vulnerable: As one of the most overused buzzwords, I think we mean to say we are being open and truly transparent and sharing things we normally wouldn’t. We are making the choice to put ourselves out there, when we know we could be judged. We are showing people a side of us that might not always be seen, and are allowing people to see a little deeper into who we are. And when we ask for someone to be vulnerable with us, we are inviting them in to make a choice to pull down their barriers and be truly present with us. Vulnerable.
Challenge & Support: This one is often tossed around with advisors and mentors (mentor, another fancy buzzword), but shows up in our chapters as well. We are trying to say that we hear and see and understand what you are attempting, but please allow me to have you think differently. And while you are trying to reframe and rethink, we are going to love you through it and to it. We are making a choice to engage and care enough to push back a little, and then take care of you while we push. We often times need to use challenge and support when discussing more delicate and serious matters, and again, are choosing to take the journey with you. Challenge & Support.
This is only four of the many we use, including, but not limited to: mentor, sisterhood/brotherhood, authenticity, values-based, accountability, and dialogue. What I want to challenge us to do (and I will support you through it) is to use the buzzwords as enhancers, not as words we hide behind. During recruitment, let’s use these words to truly talk about the experience, not about the script we use that has the words flowing through it. In our meetings, lets actually be present instead of using a buzzword to tell everyone how present you are. What I’m saying is, let’s make better choices around our words.
How will you use your favorite buzzword differently today?