Modern Foundation | Digital Marketing Agency

This month marks the second anniversary of our Associate Director of Analytics, Joey Papan! Every day, Joey brings clarity to our clients' data and helps us make smart decisions. Join us in congratulating Joey! ?? ??

This month marks the sixth anniversary of our Visionary Lisa McEllistrem leading Modern Foundation! She continually is evolving our agency with innovation and her continuous efforts within the community. Join us in congratulating Lisa! ??

Open rates are dropping. Click-throughs are down. Engagement is slipping. You’ve tried all the usual fixes: better subject lines, optimized send times, maybe even a well-placed emoji. But nothing’s working. Here’s what’s actually going wrong with your emails and how to fix it. #EmailMarketing #DigitalMarketing

"It depends." It's not always a satisfying answer, but it's the reality of SEO. Audience intent -- not a checklist -- should be your guiding light.

Today we're giving a big shout-out to our all-star Account Executive Natalie Phippen! If you've ever worked with Natalie, you know she's sharp and always looking out for her clients, but what you might not know is she's pretty competitive on the tennis court ?? She played in college at Iowa State but lately she traded her tennis racket for a pickleball paddle. We're lucky to have her on the team... because trying to break her serve? No thanks.

People aren’t just searching anymore. They’re asking. Instead of scrolling through pages of blue links, they’re turning to AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity for direct answers. A new study shows Google’s annual market share dipped slightly (-0.91%) as AI-driven tools sent more referral traffic. But it’s not just AI. Google’s also getting squeezed by regional competitors like Qwant and Ecosia, which appeal to users looking for more privacy or a sustainable alternative. After years of a largely stable search environment, even small changes like these feel significant. But are these the early tremors of a larger shift or just a temporary shake-up?

Is the marketing funnel finally dead? Well, that’s what Martin Kihn, the SVP of Strategy at Salesforce Marketing Cloud, said in a recent Forbes article about the top "mega-trends" for marketing in 2025. He says that the path to purchase has “collapsed.” Thanks to shoppable ads and QR codes, you can go from awareness to checkout in 90 seconds. For him, that signifies the marketing funnel "finally" disappearing. It’s a bold take that I've been thinking about obsessively for a couple weeks now. You've probably heard some version of it before. And it feels right, right? Hey, if one Instagram ad can take me from not knowing a brand exists to handing over my credit card info, that's gotta mean the funnel's broken, right? Right? Right? Well, no. The funnel — awareness, consideration, conversion — isn’t a tactic. It’s a framework for understanding how humans make decisions. 1?? I become aware of a problem. 2?? I consider my options. 3?? I make a choice. That process is universal. And ancient. I mean, it's just Aristotle: Setup, Conflict, Resolution. (Okay, that's a gross oversimplification of Poetics, but you get the point.) Shoppable ads and QR codes are great for streamlining the journey. But they’re tactics. Sure, they make it easier to move through the funnel fast (especially for low-cost, low-consideration purchases), but all the steps are still there. Even if the whole thing happens in 90 seconds. But so what? Who cares? Or in the immortal words of Bart Simpson, "Don't have a cow, man!" After all, this isn't a Marketing 101 course. Okay, here's the thing: When we act like the funnel doesn't apply to us, I think we tend to oversimplify our strategies. Not every ad can — or should — go straight for the sale. The funnel is just a way of thinking about human behavior and our role in it. Without it, we lose the nuance that helps us build trust and make lasting connections. So no, the funnel isn’t dead — and that’s good news for marketers who think beyond quick wins — but Martin's broader point about how fast (and how smoothly) you can move someone through the funnel is a mega-trend for 2025 and beyond. #Marketing #DigitalMarketing #Strategy

We were excited to connect with the wonderful team Minnesota Oncology this week to set goals for the 2025!

I had the privilege of collaborating with 31 Minnesota business owners during my participation in the Goldman Sachs 10KSB program over the last 3 months. The diverse range of business models and industries represented truly showcased the essence of our state's economy. What united us all was our unwavering passion for entrepreneurship, our readiness to tackle challenges head-on, and our shared joy in accomplishments. Being part of a growth-oriented group that explored innovative perspectives on the global market and customer interactions was incredibly enriching. The camaraderie and support within this cohort kept me motivated throughout this journey. I sincerely thank Cynthia Brown, Erika Salina, MA, PhD, Rob Drake, MP Singh, Dr. Michelle Haggerty - Fourth Trimester Doc, and Sovady Huston, ACC, CPCC, for their invaluable contributions. #goldmansachs #modernfoundation #10ksb

Join us as we celebrate Henry Jessen's work anniversary!! Thank you for all your hard work and contributions to the team. To mark this milestone, we challenged Henry to a game of two truths and a lie. Let us know in the comments which you think is the lie ??: ??In 2024, Henry went to NYC 4 times? ?? In 2024, Henry attended 4 different weddings? ????♂?In 2024, Henry raced 4 triathlons