Here is an article written in Chicago Tribune https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/vernon-hills/community/chi-ugc-article-the-new-gold-standard-in-online-marketing-2019-02-08-story.html
A change is slowly coming over online marketing firms. They have gone from a “do anything for anyone” business model to a paradigm driven by a desire to make the world a more positive place.
Over the past few years, clinical studies, Congressional hearings, and billions of comments on social media show an awareness that much of social media, including online video, Facebook, Instagram, and more, are simply not making our lives better.
A few online marketing firms have begun to work toward pushing a more positive message by working with clients that have a story to tell that’s powerful and life-affirming.
One such firm, Innerlight Media Group , based in St. Louis, Missouri, is leading this change. The CEO, Travis Blakely, lives by a motto that is new to online digital firms in general, particularly social media firms, “Knowledge is the new entertainment. Integrity is the new currency.”
“I come from St. Louis with a very troubled past of living in children’s homes. This inspired me to want to be an inspiration for people to live out their dreams and bringing their unique talents or inner light to the world.”
One great example of Innerlight’s past clientele is spoken word sensation Prince Ea. A social media giant that has gone super-viral with many socially conscious videos. Someone who Travis has worked with since 2011 and helped build his brand of millions of followers and billions of views. Another person Travis has worked with since 2016 before the massive following he currently has is Jay Shetty. A Forbes 30-under-30 member, Shetty’s motto is Innerlight media is a full-service social media firm with video production, social media growth, content distribution, and brand management. One of the most powerful tools in 2019 is influencer marketing, working with brands that already have thousands, even millions, of followers, to promote a brand. All of it starts with a brand strategy that meets that brand’s needs.
“Starting from a point of honesty means that a firm like ours doesn’t have a cookie cutter approach,” Blakely said. “We begin every conversation with potential clients talking about what they need, not what we want to sell. From there, we help them build channels that reach out to thousands, even millions, of followers and viewers.”
Innerlight Media’s mission is to affect positive change by providing the tools of online media to influencers that are helping the world move forward and be a better place.
This St. Louis company is the first of many that have begun to see their mission as making the world better. Over the coming years, companies will likely find more marketing companies putting their skills behind those people and brands that are working to improve the world.
It’s also likely that in the not-too-distant future, this change will have an effect on the social responsibility activities of many companies and brands.