Robots or Eyeballs?
Who to serve first. Is it humans with actual eyeballs? Or do the web-crawling spiders that fuel search algorithms win out?
Make the Invisible Visible — What Van Halen Can Teach About Branding
Apple earphones are white. Christian Louboutin features red soles. Is your brand that visible?
Why Branding Is the Cheat Code for Long-Term Growth
You'll eventually reach a point where you can no longer grow based on short-term advertising alone.
The Science Behind Successful Advertising
Many are seeking a perpetual motion machine for generating leads. But that violates Newton’s first law of thermodynamics.
Supercharging Your Sales Persuasion With Universal Appeals
First agitate. Then when you present the solution, offer it up as an ideal solution for special people, just like your prospect.
Taglines vs. Positioning Statements vs. Brandable Chunks
Brandable chunks are refined from average advertising in the same way that hi-octane gas is refined from crude oil.
How to Write Your Business Narrative
Use AI if you want your message to sound exactly like everything else published on the internet last week.
People Don’t Care About You, They Care About Them — Unless…
As a social species, we’re hardwired to care about each other — so long as you (or your brand) are part of their tribe.
Journalism and Great Ads
Never write ads like a journalist, write like a poet. The best ads build curiosity and engagement while leaving some things unanswered.
Pro Tip: Talk to Your Customers Like Friends
Most owners get this wrong in their preoccupation with delivering factual information. But buying decisions are almost never rational.
Beefsteak and T-Bone
Brands can manufacture a nickname or shorthand that sticks through smart placement. But don't approach it like George Costanza.
Brands Are Small Things — And That’s a Good Thing!
If your ads can be ignored, they will be. Which is a good thing. If your ads are high-impact and your competitors' aren’t: you win.
The Two Universal Appeals — Understanding the “Cult” of Cult Branding
1. You are special. 2. It’s not your fault. What is your advertising doing to communicate those appeals to your prospects?
The Importance of Defining Your Business Narrative
You ask, “If we do not physically interact with our customers before doing business with them, how can we differentiate ourselves?”
Calamine Lotion or a Chainsaw?
Silly sales jargon and industry-speak are the sand traps of marketing. Avoid them in your ads if you want to break par.