Reverse Camouflage Advertising
Sharply define the edges between you and the alternatives. Not only with content, but with style as well. If everyone else is doing a “yell and sell,” talk intimately with the audience.
When Will My Ads Start Working?
Few business owners advertise long enough to see the results of their investment. They’ll pull up the seed and throw it to the side. Nothing ever grows! And that’s a good thing for you.
Why Your Business Should Have a Podcast | Wizard’s Roundtable
The untapped advantages your business could leverage by having a podcast. It’s surprisingly easy to do, and if you can have a 10-minute phone call, you can have a podcast.
Offering Something Great? What’s In It For You?
People believe in social proof and social signaling, making price an almost-fail-safe guide to quality. So if your price is out of line with your claims, people distrust the claims.
The Viewmaster Guide to 3-D Testimonials
3 common mistakes from testimonials and examples of what a 3-D Testimonial sounds like as a finished product. Here’s how most people screw it up, and how you can make sure you get it right.
“Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You” Applied to Marketing
Too many business owners want to spread their ad budgets among various media. That’s a recipe for failure. To be fair, though, it’s a common-sense mistake.
The Social Engineering Brilliance of “L’eggo My Eggo”
To understand the brilliance of what Leo Burnett did, you have to consider what they didn’t do — what a lesser advertising title might have done.
Why Character-Driven Ads are the Key to Higher Margins
Facts presented as facts — as standard “reason why” advertising — cause people to buy from a Consumer Reports mindset. They want bang for the buck.
Lambo vs Lear. Plot the growth curve for your business.
You can create campaigns that are fast like a Lambo. Fast to get moving. Quick to reach maximum speed. Then tons of resources to just keep steady...
Media Agnosticism
From matchbook covers to skywriting, it all works. Which is why you have to approach it all with Media Agnosticism. If somebody in your affinity group tells you they had success with direct mail, ask to see the piece. It matters.
Use a Screenwriter’s Trick to Make Memorable Ads
Character Diamonds were created by David Freeman, advisor to dozens of hit TV shows & movies. Deploying them in your advertising creates a bond with customers.
Do You Suffer from Feed the Beast-itus?
You’re no longer a one-man-brand or only running a few trucks. You should be getting ready to hit breakthrough. And yet, the bigger your business gets, the harder it is to “feed.”
Earworms and Advertising
If you’ve ever had a song or a jingle stuck in your head, that’s an earworm. And advertisers can and should use this phenomenon to their advantage. Seinfeld even built an episode around this phenomenon.
The evolution of the ease of recording at home or office.
The radio station was just telling their clients to record into their iPhones or Android phones. What!? This year has brought more options for better recording that are easier for the business owner.
Who Cares?
Who cares? 148.7 people, apparently. Dunbar’s Number has ramifications in social media, sure, but for small business, it has far more to do with marketing and influence and the importance of delivering a delightful customer experience.