OUTdrive

In the midst of an increasingly digital world, the demand for blue-collar jobs and industry workers is still prevalent, and maybe even amplified. But even in trades like welding, construction, and manufacturing, customer service and satisfaction drive future business and opportunities. Today's story is proof that with a vision and customer-forward mentality, you can start, manage, and grow a natio...

A key component of marketing and sales rests in the people behind the product or service. As a marketing agency based in rural America, we love a good story, especially if it has local roots and ties to agriculture. Today's episode has all three components. I sat down with Michael Hemme to talk about his family's business, Hemme Brothers Farmstead Creamery.  Tune into this episode to learn how the...

Did you know St. Louis claims the fourth largest sewer district in the country, only behind New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago? The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) is responsible for servicing nearly 10,000 miles of pipeline and over a million customers. So, you may be wondering what all this has to do with rural America.  Geographically speaking, St. Louis sits in the middle of the he...

5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Happy New Year! We hope you had a safe and fun weekend celebrating the start of the new year. Now that 2023 is officially here, we thought it was the perfect time to take a look back at our top downloaded episodes from 2022. In this edition of OUTdrive, we revisit our top five most popular podcasts of the year.  Join us as we countdown our most-listened-to episodes and uncover the t...

Culture is intangible, but you can feel it when you walk in a room. How would you describe the culture at your company? Whether it is clearly defined or not, every organization has a certain feel - or a "vibe" as the cool kids call it these days. At Callis, we walk the line between hard work and good fun. We have a group of the right people who really care. We strive to make smart decisions and ac...

Those of us who live, work and play in rural America know how important farmers are to our society. But, not everyone lives in a region surrounded by farms and farmland, which is why Missouri Farmers Care was established to promote the growth of Missouri agriculture and rural communities through communication, education and advocacy. In this episode, Executive Director Ashley McCarty explains why...

There are no less than a million things you can be doing digitally to reach your audience, and it's easy to fall into the idea that you need to have a presence on every new media channel out there. Sometimes, you just need to get back to grassroots marketing. Politicians refer to it as "shaking hands and kissing babies," but we like to think of it as staying connected to your fan base. In this epi...

There is no denying that healthcare is complex. Terminology, technology, and insurance just scratch the surface of understanding the system. This impacts the way hospitals and healthcare systems communicate with stakeholders, from the messaging they use to the media platform they use to get it out there. In this episode, Missouri Hospital Association CEO Jon Doolittle and I discuss successful comm...

The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas can feel like sprinting through a marathon, especially for those in the marketing industry. We know many of our listeners are back at it, too,  grinding away to catch up on emails and tasks following the Thanksgiving holiday. That's why we made today's episode "bite-size," so you can make the most of your time during a busy week. In this episode, I'm joi...

Every loyalty program should be designed to do one primary function: connect people; connect people to the things they want, to the rewards they can earn, or the status they want to attain. For example, we see commercials all the time for companies emphasizing their points, miles, and perks for frequent flyers. In this episode, airline loyalty thought leader Mark Ross-Smith joins OUTdrive from acr...

"If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime." There are very few things you can do throughout your whole life, but fishing is one of them. And, there is hardly a better place to do it than here in Missouri. In this episode of OUTdrive, I had the chance to visit with Brian Sowers to talk about all the things Crappie Masters is doing to...

When a consumer comes across your online presence, can they tell who you are? Or, maybe more importantly, can they tell what you are not? In our second episode with Steve Kroll, we discuss why businesses located in the Midwest should be leaning into what they know and asking for support in delivering the message. As Steve puts it, we want our client's consumers to feel like they are "running their...

How do you know if your marketing campaign is working? Not all channels are created equally when it comes to reporting. Fortunately, digital marketing avenues such as Search Engine Marketing (SEM), offer the value of predictive analytics and effective reach. In the first episode of a two-part podcast series, I sit down with Steve Kroll, President of Granular, to discuss his lifelong exposure to an...

At Callis, we take pride in putting together a great marketing team to develop and execute the best insights and strategies for our clients. Part of that comes from finding people with all types of business-related backgrounds, like sales, finance, or communications. Darren Grove, one of our account executives, is a prime example of that philosophy. Darren brings years of sales experience and high...

Did you know that Missouri youth involved in agriculture education courses directly contribute to the state's economy? In 2021 alone, Missouri FFA students generated over $58 million dollars of income through their supervised agriculture experience and work-based programs. And, those work experiences are not just farming-based, they are in business, tourism, science, and even marketing. In this ep...

Community colleges offer accessible and affordable training and education to a diverse demographic of students. This brings value and economy to the rural communities in which they serve. In this episode, Cliff chats with Dr. Brent Bates, the president of State Fair Community College, to discuss how community colleges should be considered a solution and asset to community challenges and opportunit...

Today's market is lacking in what consumers crave most: authenticity. However, a recent surge in agritourism has many Missouri farmers opening their gates for visitors to buy locally sourced products, support small businesses, learn about agriculture firsthand and enjoy a family-friendly outing. It really doesn't get more authentic than that. In this episode, Missouri State Fair Foundation executi...

Some people just know how to get the most out of life. They are constantly pursuing a new hobby or interest. They are involved in community boards and organizations. They are always in the know about the next big thing in town, most likely because they were part of the process to establish it. We often refer to them as movers and shakers, and our guest today is one of those people. In this episode...

Local governments address issues that have an impact on nearly everyone who lives, works or plays within city limits. If you look around rural communities, you'll see that many public servants are our neighbors, co-workers, and local business owners. Unlike federal lawmakers, these individuals actually have skin in the game. For today's episode, Cliff sits down with Andrew Dawson, mayor of Sedalia...

The long-term success of a business hinges on loyalty. Every day, companies are competing for brand loyalty, customer loyalty, and employee loyalty. This might be most evident in the car industry. Purchases are few and far between and a customer usually has their mind made up before they walk in the door. Building loyalty grows from the inside out, and today's guests, Kyle and Kelsey Weymuth, expe...

2022 is a significant year for Callis & Associates - it's our 35th Anniversary! Back in January, we started our #CallisTurns35 initiative on our digital and social channels. Every week for the first 35 weeks of 2022, we shared a lesson from each year Callis has been in business and featured a past client or project from that year, as well. It's been a challenge to churn out this content every week...

We know there can be a lot of complexity surrounding digital marketing, specifically within the topic of Search Engine Optimization. But, when you break it down, SEO can be simplified to crafting the most relevant and accurate answers to your consumer's frequently asked questions. In this episode, agency owner Rogelio Rodriguez gives valuable and simplified insight into digital marketing and how t...

CEO's have a lot on their plate, and managing finances is a critical part of running a business. Many small to medium size companies can't justify a full-time CFO, meaning this responsibility often falls on the owner. But, there are financial support options for businesses that just need a little help. After spending most of her career in varying CFO roles, Rebecca Mankin established her own compa...

A visit to the Gerken Dairy Center is a tradition for many who attend the Missouri State Fair. Ice cream, milking demos, and, of course, the butter cow sculpture, are just a few of the great things you can find inside the dairy barn. But, it also serves a greater purpose: connecting Missourians with the dairy farming community.  The producer-to-consumer relationship is incredibly important in agri...

We believe some of the best agriculturists come from the state of Missouri; not just farmers and ranchers, but bee-keepers, winemakers, orchard owners, and many others, as well. The Missouri Grown program was established to share the stories and the farm-to-table experiences available across the state. As a farm kid turned Missouri Grown program manager, Taylor Tuttle has a passion for educating M...