Robots or Eyeballs?
Who to serve first. Is it humans with actual eyeballs? Or do the web-crawling spiders that fuel search algorithms win out?
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.
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.
10 Magical Words of the Direct Mail Kingdom
Despite the relatively high direct mail cost, the pay-off can be tremendous, and the benefits unrivaled.
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?
Calamine Lotion or a Chainsaw?
Silly sales jargon and industry-speak are the sand traps of marketing. Avoid them in your ads if you want to break par.
Ad Relevance: The Secret To an Effectively Working Ad
Relevant ads answer the implicit and often unspoken questions that customers have when seeing your ads.
Show, Don’t Tell
At best, hard data gets used to justify an action that is taken because of emotional instincts. First you need storytelling and bonding.