A Visual Comparison of Zoe Marketing vs. Metro Parent

Here on the Zoe website, we often refer to our “sister company” Metro Parent. But what’s the deal? What does a parenting media company in metro Detroit, Michigan have to do with Zoe?

It’s a question we often get — especially from clients working with (or aware of) Metro Parent. We sometimes suggest a shift to Zoe Marketing & Communications to fit their needs better.

This blog breaks down the differences in a simple and visual way. In it, we’ll detail: 

1. The different companies
2. The different approaches and styles
3. The different services offered
4. The different clients each helps
5. The different goals and visions
6. How they complement each other

Whether you read it in full or skim the infographics for details, you’ll see how Zoe Marketing differs from Metro Parent. And you can decide which — if either — might fit your marketing goals. 

1. The different companies

To start, let’s define what each company is.

• Metro Parent: A regional parenting media company in metro Detroit, located in southeast Michigan. Since 1986, it’s delivered helpful advice, local events and stories to parents and guardians. Today, it has a print magazine (bimonthly), website and social media.
• Zoe Marketing & Communications: This marketing agency grew out of Metro Parent and fellow sister company, Chicago Parent, in 2020. It offers more expansive marketing services in metro Detroit, Chicagoland and nationwide.

2. The different styles and approaches

Metro Parent is all about the southeast Michigan region. It’s a community-focused media group that engages local moms and dads. Since it’s been around 35+ years, it’s well-established and well-trusted in the area. As a result, it draws family-oriented businesses, giving them specific marketing services that best reach its audience.

Zoe Marketing & Communications offers a full suite of advanced digital strategies at the national level. It serves a diverse clientele — not just family-geared businesses — and regularly adds new services and innovations to meet clients’ goals and needs.

3. The different services offered

Metro Parent offers eight marketing services that tap into its local audience. This includes both followers of the brand (which are 82% female) and extended regional reach. These services include:

1. Magazine ads in Metro Parent, a bimonthly publication (print + digital versions)
2. Enhanced digital ads on MetroParent.com
3. Email marketing
4. Sponsored content articles (i.e., content that appears on/in Metro Parent media)
5. Programmatic ads
6. Creative services
7. Reels + sponsored social media posts (i.e., limited social media)
8. Gamification contests + giveaways

Zoe Marketing & Communications currently offers 13 tactics that reach the audiences of your choice. Here, the options include:

1. SEO (search engine optimization)
2. SEM (Search engine marketing) ads (also called PPC or pay-per-click)
3. OTT (over-the-top) streaming ads
4. Email marketing + management
5. Creative services
6. Content marketing (i.e., blogs and web pages for your own website)
7. Programmatic + location-based digital ads
8. Social media ads
9. Google Analytics management
10. Video (Reels/short-form + commercial videos)
11. Reputation management
12. Custom publishing
13. Web design + development

4. The different clients each helps

Businesses that market with Metro Parent want to reach the local family market — i.e., households with children and women/moms. These are small-to-mid-sized businesses. This can include (but isn’t limited to):

• Schools/test prep/tutoring
• Health care services
• Travel + attractions
• Autism therapy (ABA)
• Nonprofits
• Camps
• Auto dealers

Companies that market with Zoe Marketing & Communications come from almost any industry. Again, these are small-to-mid-sized businesses. They include all of the Metro Parent clients listed above, plus:

• Home improvement
• Attorneys + legal services
• Medspas + elective procedures
• Traditional retail
• Ecommerce
• Real estate
• Psychotherapy
• Finance, insurance + taxes
• Recruiting
• Restaurants

5. The different goals and visions

Metro Parent focuses on building up your local connections and community trust. Its goal is to engage with local parents and make you more visible to them — using its trusted brand as the main vehicle.

Zoe Marketing & Communications focuses on sustainable business growth and broad market reach. It constantly works to improve your customers’ experience and help you gain an advantage over your competitors. 

6. How they complement each other

Ultimately, these two companies have specific goals that can be quite different. However, they also have some overlap. In a nutshell:

• Metro Parent offers:
  • Strong local community engagement
  • Targeted marketing for family-oriented businesses
  • Trusted regional presence
  • Print and enhanced website advertising
    
    
• Zoe Marketing & Communications offers:
  • Advanced digital strategies
  • National reach and diverse clientele
  • Cutting-edge marketing technologies
  • Video and reputation management
  •  
• Both companies offer:
  • Custom marketing solutions
  • Focus on client education and understanding
  • Commitment to effective and ethical marketing
  • Help for businesses seeking growth and enhanced visibility
  • An increase in quality leads

Next steps for marketing with Metro Parent, Zoe — or someone else

Depending on your location, goals and industry, Metro Parent or Zoe Marketing & Communications might better fit your marketing needs.

Ultimately, Metro Parent is geared at family-geared businesses in metro Detroit, while Zoe offers broader services to any business anywhere in the U.S.

Wondering if Metro Parent or Zoe could be the right choice? Talk to us. We’ll tap into our 35+ years of marketing to develop a plan that fits your needs — and you can decide if it works for you.

But first, do a little extra digging to either prepare or see if we might not be a match by reading these blogs:

• 6 reasons Zoe Marketing (or Metro Parent) may be a bad fit for your business
• What to expect in a client needs assessment (CNA) with Zoe/Metro Parent