When Sex Appeal doesn’t sell…
Charlie was the bestselling perfume on the planet until it traded 1970s empowerment for a more traditional appeal.
How to Write Headlines That Demand Attention
Have the courage to be different, evocative, surprising, and occasionally absurd.
The “Hail Mary” Trap: Why One Great Ad Won’t Save Your Brand
There's no "killer bell" that would have conditioned Pavlov's dog in a single ring.
The Secrets To BUILDING Trust In Marketing
True trust is only garnered over time. But you can also affect superficial assumptions.
Have You Fallen Prey to The Committee?
You developed a Good Idea. They said, “Let’s make it stronger. Build consensus.”
The Habit Loop of Advertising & Unforgettable Brands
Predictability kills advertising, but consistency is its lifeblood.
This Campaign Never Stopped Running?
The redundancy of "Kills bugs dead" is the point. The unusual phraseology makes it sticky.
Don’t Be an Egg-Laying-Woolly-Dairy-Pig
You instinctively know what that phrase means. Trying to please everyone satisfies no one.
How Do I Find More Customers Like My Best Ones?
The best customers self-select; they hear your story and think, “this is for me.”
Unicorns Are Real
Every business owner believes they are a unicorn. Most are just horses, indistinguishable from the herd.
Is It Better to Specialize or Expand When Revenue Feels Flat?
Will your expanded offerings reinforce what you’re known for, or confuse it?
The Art & Science of Copywriting. Move Hearts AND Minds.
Creative products are always shiny and new. The creative process is ancient and unchanging.
You should know why this ad worked…
It's been decades since we'd seen this Canadian Tire ad, but the shared experience and emotions still resonate.
Should I Turn it Green?
Every March, businesses seem to go under mass hypnosis in preparation for St. Patrick’s Day. Most get lost in the crowd.
Strategy vs Tactics. The Truth About Building Ads That Work
Forget gimmicks. What can I say that's true that people would actually accept as the truth?