Alsofocuson
A key element of any strategy is choosing what gets focus. When I present a focused strategy, sometimes I get presented with a made-up word: Alsofocuson. As in, “I like the focus, but can we also-focus-on this other focus?”
Logo Change? Consider This First
She walked right up to the wall with all of the options and pointed right to the logos with the red and blue waterdrops on them. My 80-year-old grandma knew the Moen brand because of the red and blue drops in their logo.
Learning from the Legends — MacManus and The Penalty of Leadership
Too often inexperienced copywriters and advertising clients want to persuade with copy points — with information being pushed at the reader.
90% of Local Advertising Summed Up In 2 Slogans
Optimizing a purchase demands more time, energy, and attention than anyone can spare for 99% of purchases. Instead, people simply want their needs filled and hoped-for benefits granted at a reasonably fair price. “Satisficing.”
Attention Retention
As children we were told bedtime stories. In elementary school, we found books that we could read over and over. As adults, we still seek a good story. The familiarity of stories has been with us from before you and I could even remember.
Discounted Media Opportunities, Should You Buy Them?
You're having a good day at work. Then the phone rings. It's the local magazine rep with a once in a lifetime discount offer. Now you're under pressure.
What Advertising Can’t Do
Creativity worshippers tend to feel that while nothing works for sure, anything might work, so long as it’s rilly, rilly creative and the lightning strikes in their favor.
Not a Farmer? Check Your Heart!
Dear Intrepid Entrepreneur, if you have the heart of a farmer, you're already a success. What? Explain! On Super Sunday, February 3, 2013, Dodge aired this legendary ad. Take two minutes and listen.
Show Me the Future
You’ve seen this commercial before. A hand reaches for a Corona from behind an umbrella, a logo appears, and it all fades to black. If you can show me a version of me in the future, you’ve tapped into something powerful.
The Eternal Sunrise of Market Dominating Companies
When you’re searching for ways to level up your company, where are you looking hardest? Too many leaders strain and stare at the horizon for what’s going to change, hoping to leverage those changes.
Should I Buy Facebook Ads?
I’m in a local BNI* networking group and the question, “Should I buy Facebook ads?” almost always comes up when I tell a local business owner that I do marketing and advertising consulting. I disappoint them with my answer. Let me show you why.
How to Get (and keep) Attention | Wizard’s Roundtable
I’m joined by Orlando Wood, Chief Innovation Officer at System 1 Group in London. His book Lemon and subsequent short film Achtung! outline how we’ve lost customer’s attention over the years, and how to get it back.
How to get everyone in the world to buy what you are selling.
You want all of ‘em. Every single customer in the world. It’s natural. You did not open your doors and take all that risk for nothing. OK, let’s do it.
Transactional vs. Relational Customers: Are You Attracting the Wrong People?
Given the disproportionate amounts of revenue and profit generated by Relational buyers, you might even expect an over-abundance of messaging aimed at Relationals. But that’s not what you find.
Bonding vs. Branding: What’s the Difference?
All bonding is branding. But most branding isn’t bonding. Bonding requires commitment and proper execution. But it's worth it. Bonding blows the doors off of regular branding.