Happy Happy, Joy, Joy
Whether cartoons or ads, magical things are created when geniuses are given complete creative freedom.
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?
Hear, See, Speak No Advertising
We encounter 5,000 ads on a daily basis. Can you opt out? Or can you rise above the sea of sameness?
Predictability: The Silent Assassin of Storytelling?
In marketing, like any other story, you need the courage to take the risks necessary to create something truly memorable.
Can You Afford to Use Mass Media? Can You Afford Not To?
Here’s how to tell, and where you'll find the tipping point in most markets.
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.
Are You The SAFE Choice? Or, How One Weird Trick Boosted Sales by 30%!
The safe, easy choice wins out over the potentially better choice that carries more risk.
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.
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?