Showing Up — And Why Your Ads Might Not Be
Emotional Campaigns outperform Rational Campaigns by 5X. And campaigns that create fame are even more effective.
What “Experts” Get Wrong About Disney — And Why It’s Crucial to Growing Your Business
People come for the freaking princesses and all the other cool characters they fell in love with as a child.
Relational and Transactional Ads: The Perfect Combination
Do you want a quick sale or do you prefer building a solid customer base you can retarget for future transactions?
Why Conflict Is Essential – In Advertising and Life
We demand conflict, tension, and drama — be it in sports, books, movies, or advertising.
A Marketing Lesson, With Love From Gaston
Spoiler Alert… Gaston doesn’t get the girl, and you likely won’t get the customer if you take his same approach.
What’s Your Ad Campaign’s Meta-Narrative?
Is the story of Rocky really about boxing? Or is it about an underdog’s epic journey? Great ads are like that too.
Good Things Come in Threes – Strategy, Message, and Budget
Without a well-structured strategy, owners often end up bobbing in the water with no landmarks in any direction.
What Kids Can Teach You About Story Persuasion
There’s a REASON why for every conflict we always want to know “who started it?”
The Smile Above the Toilet
We have a couple of meaningful plaques in our chapel telling the story of our bells - but where else? Where does almost everyone go at least once?
How to Increase Brand Loyalty
Bill and three of my closest friends joined a cult and disappeared from my life. You might be asking yourself, “What does this have to do with marketing?”
Don’t Stop Pushing the Car: Effective Marketing When Times are Lean
Having worked with many, many business owners, the default is always panic.
Business as Romance: The Art and Science of Winning Customer’s Hearts
"In the absence of an emotional connection, people always choose the lowest price."
The 2nd Worst Time to Introduce Yourself to a Customer
By then — absent extraordinary sales skill — it’s too late to build preference and make a high value sale.
What Are Your Ads Really Selling?
People evaluate professional services in the same way that they’d evaluate a potential friend or romantic partner.
Inherent Drama As Advertising Super Power
One of the secrets behind many of the most iconic mascots, slogans, and campaigns in American history.