While Cincinnati is known for its larger, highly experienced branding and marketing companies, there is a talented force of creative entrepreneurs who work with well-known brands across the county.
One of these marketing entrepreneurs, Mike Zitt, is working with other local creatives to form a group that can offer a wider range of services. This emerging group, called Complete is a way to be more competitive and act as a one-stop shop for brand development and support across platforms.
In addition to Zitt's, companies included now are:
Centogram - Technology Company, Jerod Fritz
Barkan Agency - Media Buying, Michelle Barkan
Wise Productions - Project Services, Tara Ackerman
"We benefit from a shared short-hand way of doing business together which is more efficient and enjoyable. Different then working with a team of employees, as small business owners, we are more passionate and committed and don't waste time jockeying for the corner office or get bogged down with internal company politics. We know how to run our own businesses well since we have done it successfully for a combined 35 years on our own," Zitt says.
Mike Zitt Inc., specializes in digital marketing with an emphasis on mobile app development. Zitt, originally from Cincinnati, worked in Chicago for eight years. He started out in printing and eventually worked for a company as a production artist and art director.
He eventually started his own company, and in the end, decided to bring it to Cincinnati. His hometown had the right mix of talent and affordability, he says.
"It was easier to start a business here because expenses and labor rates are lower," says Zitt, who is also president of the
Cincinnati Chapter of the American Advertising Federation. "I maintained most of my clients when I moved here."
Zitt has worked fo clients covering a wide range of businesses, including
TimeWarner,
Aetna,
Discover,
United Way,
Car-X,
RE/MAX and
Wrigley.
He was an early adopter of mobile app development—in 2007, he entered an early partnership with
Jumptap, the leading mobile advertisement network. Since then, his company has designed more than 200 rich media mobile ads, including more than 30 mobile ads for major companies like
Dunkin' Donuts,
Lexus,
Honda and
P&G. He created and delivered to the public one of first rich mobile ads with Dunkin' Donuts' “Frost” campaign with Jumptap.
His company is also moving into educational innovation. He's working with some area colleges to create educational support apps.
"Those will be completed very soon—we're working on creating training tools for teachers and classroom work," Zitt says.
By Feoshia H. Davis
Follow Feoshia on Twitter