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The Ads Know What You Need…
…but they know they can’t deliver. Ever since I started working in the advertising industry I’ve been amazed at how advertisements can tap into human desires and emotions. In 30 seconds of video or audio, or a few thousand pixels, a successful ad can pull us into a story, make us laugh, bring us to…
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Start Small
The internet is all about connection, and if your website is successful it will do just that. Your site’s main objective is to connect with your customers, and for them to connect with you. If you’re just getting started in creating a web presence, think of your website as a business card. Unless you’re selling…
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Beyond Buzz
Does the loudest voice win in a shouting match? Some people think so, which is why they keep talking louder, re-explaining their point more urgently. Many advertisers think this is the case as well. Their billboards get larger, the ads get brighter, as they try to compete in en ever-noiser space. Even as their audience…
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Explore the Edges
We have a great backyard, with a huge lawn, deck, and a playground for the kids. But even with all that space to run around and play, where do you think we consistently find our kids playing? That’s right, on the edges. In amongst the trees at the back of our yard, where the little…
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The Choice to Go Social
If you’re engaged in the world of social media, you’d probably be surprised how many brick-and-mortar businesses remain hesitant to join the social media hype. Whether they think it’s just a fad, fear bad reviews online, or don’t have time to invest in a growing list of social channels, many businesses still choose not to…
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The Promise of Advertising
I watched an interesting School of Life video the other day that struck me because it touched on a nagging doubt that plagues me as a marketing guy. The thought that I’m pouring all my creative juices into helping convince people to buy more stuff. Is buying more stuff really what anyone needs? Is this…
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Answer “Why”, Win Your Audience
Remember that kid who sat in the back in math class who, in the middle of the teacher’s explanation of some theory, would raise his hand and ask, “Why is this even important?” The teacher, sensing the underlying defiance of this free-thinker, would fumble some answer, trying to avoid the “just because” response. (I, for…
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Just Marketing
These days our marketing radar is on high alert. We see straight through big ad campaigns that are all talk. We expect to be let down by loud promises. We don’t bother clicking on the banner ads. Like Ralphie, we’ve put our hopes in these promises, only to find out that it’s just a “crummy…
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How Often Should You Blog?
“Every day.” – Seth Godin “At least three times a week.” – Michael Hyatt “There’s no magic number. Blog as frequently as you can that generates quality.” – Scott Stratten The opinions are all over the place. If you followed everyone’s advice for blogging, tweeting, getting yourself out there, you’d be way busier and feeling…