Budding Culture

Budding Culture helps the Japan National Tourism Organization present a world of unique experiences.

SITUATION 

It’s no secret that Japan is a world unto itself. Not only is it almost halfway around the planet, but everything about it is foreign to most of us. The culture, the language, the customs, the food, the art – whatever your interest is, Japan seems to have their unique version of it.

Japan National Tourism Organization tapped Budding Culture to help develop a way to inspire travelers to explore Japan’s version of their own interests. Whether they be culture hounds, adventure seekers, foodies or pop culture aficionados – JNTO wanted to create a way to help travelers begin exploring what Japan had to offer.

SOLUTION

Budding Culture created an Only in Japan blog into the existing japantravelinfo.com. With this platform, we’re able to present the things travelers find unique to Japan across several categories. Regularly updated content and information ranging from outdoor adventures and cultural heritage, to modern art and architecture and pop culture appeal to virtually every travelers’ interest. Rich content that’s also shared across all of JNTO’s social channels, as well as it’s affiliates.

RESULTS

With constant fresh content and unique promotions, JNTO has seen a huge increase in customer engagement on their website, and over 231,000 unique visitors to the Only in Japan blog, 77% of which are new to JapanTravelInfo.com. We’ve also seen a 150% increase in incredibly engaged, incredibly passionate social media fans—People who LOVE having a relationship with Japan.

Charting a New Course with Content and Lead Generation Marketing

SITUATION 

Hornblower Cruises and Events is one of the largest and most established dining cruise and charter yacht companies in the United States with over seventy yachts, thousands of employees and millions of happy guests every year. With a growing presence on both coasts, Hornblower was looking to boost lead generation effectiveness for its corporate cruise business and enlisted Budding Culture to get the program on course.

SOLUTION

Our engagement entailed a comprehensive demand generation effort, including Buyer Persona Development; Customer and Prospect Database Segmentation; Content Strategy; Blog, Email and Ebook Content Creation; Lead Generation Marketing Plan; and, Marketing Automation Workflows.

RESULTS

Our efforts were implemented starting with Hornblower’s Summer Corporate Event Lead Generation campaign. Results for the campaign far exceeding previous years, with a quadrupling of qualified leads booking summertime corporate charters on Hornblower Yachts.

A FOCUS ON SMALL BUSINESS, ONE VERTICAL AT A TIME

Budding Culture used great story telling and rich, relevant content to help Epson Printers directly engage and inspire the real estate industry.

SITUATION

As an ever-evolving world increasingly turns to digital documentation, there are still entire industries that rely on the printed page. Epson enlisted Budding Culture to help create ways to directly engage and support these unique verticals as a solutions oriented partner.

SOLUTION

Initially targeting the Real Estate Industry, Budding Culture created an online resource supporting three key areas of the trade; commercial offices, residential offices, and agents that work primarily from home.

Users found mini-documentaries, case studies, user-guides, featured products and useful templates. Everything for the agents and offices that rely on desktop printing for promotional material, diagrams, contracts and document to help them thrive in a highly competitive industry.

RESULTS

Focusing on rich, relevant content, Epson significantly increased upper funnel prospects to their website 5X greater than traffic prior to the campaign, at a cost that was just 20% of their average outreach budget. But what does that mean to the bottom line? How about a fantastic 20% of the site visitors went on to shop relevant Epson products.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

Budding Culture helps this leader in IT and facilities infrastructure create powerful brand narratives to support a customer-centric online presence.

SITUATION 

With technology and connectivity now central to all modern building design, PLANNET’s business was expanding into new markets beyond their core data center planning, design and construction services. With these changes, the company needed to communicate their value to a broader, more segmented range of prospects.

SOLUTION

Budding Culture developed segmented buyer persona’s across all of  PLANNET’s service areas and target client types. We then created a message platform to guide all marketing communications, and content to give PlanNet a clear and persuasive way to deliver their core messages across diverse markets. The effort included a digital marketing playbook and road map to maximize all their digital lead generation  efforts.

RESULTS

Within weeks of the launch of PLANNET’s new website, featuring a new brand hierarchy and market-segment specific messaging, the company was generating new prospects and leads directly from their digital marketing, including one of their largest new client acquisition in years. 

CONNECTING WINE LOVERS TO THE PERFECT SERVING COMPANION

Budding Culture helps launch a completely new category of product for one of the leading brands in premium under counter refrigeration.

LOGO DEVELOPMENT

Budding Culture developed a new mark that worked alongside their existing corporate brand and for optimum use across all digital and non digital applications. 

COMPANION VIDEOS

Suite of video clips feature the product usage and premium craftsmanship for use on U-Chill website, social media and other digital marketing. 

WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

Budding Culture's web design & development team created a U-Chill branded second eCommerce storefront into U-line's existing main Magento website to act as the primary landing page for a first ever direct to consumer, e-commerce product for the company. 

TAPPING INTO INSTAGRAMMERS' PASSION FOR FOOD TO PROMOTE TRAVEL

SITUATION

JNTO is the Japanese government agency charged with promoting travel to Japan, which they do under the “Visit Japan” moniker in the United States. In January 2018 JNTO was looking to build a following and create buzz for their newly launched US Instagram profile @visitjapan.us.

Budding Culture was asked to create a 6 week promotion that would boost the @visitjapan.us Instagram following while creating buzz and engagement among US millennials.

SOLUTION: #JapanFoodBattle

Millennials love sushi and ramen—How about we have them pick a side and let's see who wins! We encouraged Instagrammers to tag their favorite sushi or ramen photos with @visitjapan.us and #JapanFoodBattle, as well as their support for either #TeamRamen or #TeamSushi, for a chance for to win a trip to Japan. In addition, all entrants received a unique contest url to share with friends. Use of this url rewarded participants with bonus chances to win. 

RESULTS

#JAPANFOODBATTLE blew up, engaging thousands of #TeamRamen and #TeamSushi lovers across Instagram, Facebook and YouTube over the 6 week campaign. Can you guess who won? It was a boon for the sushi, ramen and travel industries, and this good hearted rivalry continues to rage on to this day. Did we mention the campaign was an ADDY award winner in 2019 ;D!