In 2022, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) was seeking creative ways to tell their members’ stories. The marketing team was tired of running the same type of campaigns and wanted to inject some new life into their communications. Their vision included supporting loyal members, creating connectivity within the community, and generating buzz. Bell Media Group put a bid in for GRCA’s RFP, and in 2022, we jointly launched a wildly successful initiative that continues to this day.
Shorthand / Technology Partner
Lauren Little / Photographer
Project management, content writing, onsite media, graphic design, technical layout
When we first gathered around the table with representatives from GRCA to hear their needs and goals, we left brimming with excitement. These types of projects, which focus on viewer enjoyment and impactful digital experiences, are some of our absolute favorites.
In the first year of the initiative, BMG, GRCA, and photographer Lauren Little conducted onsite visits to five different local businesses, from a toy manufacturer to a magazine publisher to a bakery systems engineer. Each visit consisted of an interview portion hosted by BMG and a site tour, where photo and video media were captured.
The BMG team then crafted dynamic content using Shorthand, a third-party storytelling software that specializes in digital storytelling. Each story contains interactive elements that surprise and delight, like behind-the-scenes videos, interactive infographics, and beautiful, full-screen photos.
The initiative was a hit - other local businesses began clamoring for a spotlight and the campaigns reached hundreds of thousands of local professionals and business owners. GRCA renewed BMG’s contract in 2023 and in 2024, with no plans of slowing down. And with numbers like these, it’s easy to see why!
2023 RESULTS
132,835 paid & organic reach
386,736 paid & organic impressions
10,521 paid & organic link clicks
16,390 video views
19,654 story views
Average read time: 6 minutes and 6 seconds
Reached 35,000+ print and web readers of Berks County Living Magazine
Reached 16,000+ print and web readers of 422 Business Advisor
It’s no secret that people are reading less and less, and their attention spans are getting shorter and shorter. Storytelling projects with BMG strike a refreshing balance of innovation and tradition. Good writing is still key in these projects, but the narratives are enhanced with exciting media that is tied to the user’s scrolling action, creating an experience that feels fun and immersive. Because our goal is always to create the most exciting, dynamic, and interesting digital experiences, we leverage our entire team’s capabilities. Each BMG team member takes on a critical role, including communications and client coordination, content writing, graphic design, and video editing.
If this case study has sparked an idea for your business, let’s talk about how to bring it to life. Send us a message with a few details about what you’ve got in mind, and we’ll start revving up our creative engine.
CONTACT US
Based in Reading, PA
(610) 207 3653
zach@bellmediagrp.com