Six Word Stories
In advertising, it’s not so much what information your words communicate to the prospect, but what experiences they call forth from the prospect.
Make the Logo Smaller?
Advertising creatives and graphic designers groan at a client request to “make the logo bigger.” And both the request and the reaction are entirely understandable.
It Ain’t Always About Creating Better Mass Media Ads
"Our job isn’t to do television commercials. Our job is to solve problems. And it may be that television is the answer, but it probably isn’t the only answer..."
Social Media Strategies for Ugly Duckling Businesses
Contrary to what some social media experts presume, not every business sells things that people like talking and learning about.
Use All The Clichés — Just Tell ‘Em Slant
“Kill all clichés and ad speak” — standard, Ad Writing 101 advice. Good advice — certainly not wrong. It’s just not very helpful.
The Truth About “Creativity” In Advertising
In stark contrast to the notion of a “spoonful” of entertainment, most ads from highly successful branding campaigns are two-thirds to ninety percent entertainment.
Direct Response Vs. Branding – The Real Difference
WHO are you talking to, and WHEN are you talking to them? That’s the essential difference between Direct Response (DR) and Branding.
Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
Every customer who was going to buy from you, but who then decides to take his business elsewhere represents far more than a lost sale.
The Pros & Cons of Comparative Advertising
Should your ads directly attack your competition? Should they make direct comparisons between your product and service and the competitors?
The Modular Marketing Magic of Brandable Chunks
Done right, Brandable Chunks will shape and reframe how people perceive your company. Just like they changed a behind-the-times whisky into a badge of masculinity and tradition.
Combining Long & Short Ads to Stretch Your Ad Budget
5s are associating you w/ moment of need -- heavy on recall cues & repetition required for classical conditioning. 60s create bonding & emotion.
Participatory Advertising & Traditional Media
The most powerful participatory ads are ones that force MENTAL participation from the audience. Ads that cause the audience to connect the dots themselves. To fill in the blanks.
Theatre of the Mind – Why Your Radio Ads Need It
With the right sound effects, listeners have no choice but to visualize the scene you set forth for them. It will be a purely reflexive, automatic reaction.
The Advertising Magic of Mirror Characters
The first two of the Three Little Pigs are mirror characters. You only appreciate the third pig’s success after witnessing the failures of the first two.
Wizard Chat # 4
Psychologists refer to it as "narrative transportation." If you can transport listeners into the story, the ad becomes more persuasive.