The Power of Context: Why Some Ads Hit Harder
How owners evaluate ads differs from how buyers actually encounter them.
Influencers Are Charlatans
According to Shopify, one in four influencers purchase FAKE followers.
TV Ads on the Cheap: Champagne Taste, Shoestring Budget
Spending $1,500 to $10,000 results in average quality. So what's right for you?
Combining Sales Activation and Long-term Branding
Get the split right, and you’ll escape the treadmill and grow year after year.
Diamonds, Drains, and the Danger of Over-Education
Business owners know too much. And "educating the customer" is one of their worst mistakes.
Man vs. Machine: Should AI Write Your Ads?
It is by definition derivative. What are other people saying? It'll say that too.
When Big Guys Get Loud, Small Businesses Should Listen Quietly
In smaller companies, fear isn’t just bad strategy — it’s toxic.
Google Is a Tactic, Not a Strategy
Google can deliver results but it requires a broader vision and destination in mind.
Lord Byron Killed by SEO Writing
Confused companies spend thousands on SEO writers of ill repute who produce little benefit.
The REAL Reason Jaguar’s Rebrand Doesn’t Work
In 2022 they sold 61,661 cars. 2 years later it's 33,320. Just shy of a 50% decline. How? Why?
Aspiring to Go Viral Is Lazy
I wish every business owner could go viral once, so they could realize how little it actually moves the needle.
Be Wild
Don’t fall into the trap of using safe, tame, lame ads. It feels tried and true, but it's a road to nowhere.
Strategy vs Tactics: What Business Owners Need to Know
If I looked at that the stuff that we did back then, I would laugh.
Where Should You Spend Your Ad Dollars?
Big brands can be a dominant purchaser in every medium but small companies need to budget carefully.
When the Numbers and the Vibe Don’t Match
Is your company's spirit strong but the numbers are lagging? This is a solvable problem.