Picture this: You wake up early, grab your fishing rod, head to the lake, and cast your line—without bait. You sit there, waiting… and waiting… but the fish aren’t biting. Why?

Sponsorships can be a powerful marketing tool for small businesses—when done right. Too often, businesses write a check, slap a logo on an event banner, and hope for the best. But thoughtful sponsorship is more than a donation with your name attached.

The Philadelphia Eagles crushed the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX. But the night wasn’t just about football. It was about storytelling—on the field, in commercials, and in Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show. The big takeaway? Marketing isn’t just content.

The 2025 Grammys weren’t just a celebration of music; they were a reminder of how powerful media moments can be. During a red carpet interview on E!’s Live From the Grammys, Zuri Hall casually dropped a fascinating detail while speaking to five-time nominee Shaboozey: Googling his name causes the screen to tilt.

Marketing is a lot like building a fire. It takes a spark to get things started, the right fuel to keep it burning, and a little oxygen to make it roar. And, much like an actual fire, marketing without a plan is just a sad pile of unlit logs—full of potential, but going nowhere fast.

Having just recently attended the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2025), you’d think I would know. CES is kind of a new consumer products play land, with all the big brands you know, like Sony, LG, Nikon, Nvidia, Google…shall I go on? The main message from the conference — AI will take over everything.

Let’s be honest: fast food has its moments. It’s quick, it’s convenient, and it’s satisfyingly greasy when you’re in a pinch. But does anyone leave a drive-thru thinking, “Wow, that was life-changing. I can’t wait to tell my friends about this burger that tasted exactly like every other burger I’ve ever had”? Probably not.

At first glance, marketing and spaghetti might not seem to have much overlap (except for the occasional saucy ad campaign). But dig a little deeper, and you’ll see they’re surprisingly similar. Both can look like chaos at first, involve a mix of ingredients, and, when done right, leave you totally satisfied.

Struggling to turn visitors into customers? A well-designed landing page could be the missing link in your marketing strategy. Learn how to craft a landing page that grabs attention, builds trust, and drives action—without the fluff or confusion. Small changes can lead to big results, and we’re here to show you how.

Charcoal Marketing partnered with a local nonprofit to overhaul their outdated marketing approach. From revamping a clunky website to creating a cohesive brand identity, we worked alongside their team to modernize their digital presence. Our efforts included launching a Facebook community group, promoting events with consistent branding, and using lead magnets to boost membership. By the end of the year, the organization was better connected with its community and positioned for long-term growth. Ready to elevate your marketing strategy? Let’s make it happen.

With Nova Scotia's election season rolling in, there’s a lot to unpack—promises, missed promises, and let’s face it, probably more promises to come. But here’s the thing: beyond the typical campaign slogans and policy chatter, there’s a glaring missed opportunity, one that, as a marketing agency, we just can’t ignore.

Ah, Small Business Week—an annual reminder that while big corporations may have fancy office towers and gourmet coffee machines, small businesses are the real backbone of our economy. They’re like the unsung heroes of the business world, valiantly fighting for their place in the marketplace armed with nothing but determination and a questionable number of coffee cups.

Nova Scotia in the summer is an absolute dream—sunshine glinting off the Atlantic, crowded beaches, bustling festivals, and tourists flocking to quaint coastal towns. But as the chill of autumn creeps in and the tourists pack up their SUVs, it’s easy for small businesses to fall into the trap of seasonal hibernation.

I get it. Budgets are tight, especially for small businesses. You’ve probably thought, “I’ve got an iPhone. Can’t I just take the photos myself?” And sure, you can. But should you?

Working in a confidential industry can feel like walking a tightrope while juggling flaming torches — no pressure, right? At Charcoal, we’ve been there, done that, and somehow didn’t drop the torch.

Charcoal Marketing is pleased to announce the appointment of its new president, Mike Cyr. Cyr succeeds business founder and CMO Mike Hayes. Charcoal, established in 2016, is now steadily growing in its ninth year of successful operations.

Let’s talk about money. Specifically, your money. Because if you’re considering hiring an in-house marketing manager, you might want to sit down for this.

When you think of wine country, you might picture rolling hills, rows of grapevines, and the occasional rustic barn. But on a tour through Luckett Vineyards in Nova Scotia, you might be surprised to find an old-school, strikingly red, British phone booth.

In the relentless pursuit of saving money and streamlining operations, more US companies are turning to Canadian marketing firms. You might wonder why a country as big as the US, with more marketing agencies than Starbucks locations, would look north for help.

In this relentless onslaught of media consumption, how can smaller businesses hope to compete with the industry titans to earn their audiences attention?