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Loose Ends
Got any loose ends? You know what I mean. Unfinished business. Maybe it’s your 2015 New Year’s resolution you haven’t gotten around to yet? Dusting those office shelves? Cleaning out the sock drawer? Starting the new-you fitness plan? Hiring a life coach? Updating...
Buy Local for the Holidays and Every Day
Went to the cobbler yesterday. Yes, I said cobbler. Nu-Way Shoe Repair. Felt like I was in Mayberry. It was Johnson City. And I liked it. Would it have been easier to throw away the old shoes and Amazon a new pair? (Is Amazon a verb yet the way Google is?)...
Billboards: Are You Down with What’s Up?
THEN vs. NOW Love ‘em or hate ‘em, outdoor ads are eyeball magnets. While detractors call them visual pollution, I think they are great within reason. If you ever find your commute or other drive time boring, a good billboard can brighten your day a bit, right? Hate...
To build your business this year, build a better brainstorm
Well, it’s that time of year again. Time to figure out new ways to grow in the new year. Time to do more with less. Time to make some time to figure out how to make more time. The trouble is, try as we might, we can’t make time. The number 8,760 might ring a bell....
Is your networking not working? Try this.
In the immortal words of the Rolling Stones’ Shattered, with apologies to Mr. Jagger and and Mr. Richards, “All this chitter-chatter, chitter-chatter, chitter-chatter 'bout Shmatta, shmatta, shmatta! I can't give it away on 7th Avenue. This town's been wearing...
In branding, as in life, say what you mean and mean what you say
Have you heard the one about the brand manager who said she wanted to rebrand, but what she meant was, “I’m bored with our logo.” Your brand cuts way deeper than your logo. Just as a fresh coat of paint on a house may improve its curb appeal, a logo refresh may be...
Is Marketing to Millennials really that different from GenXers or Boomers? Yes, but…
If you need to stay on top of trends and technologies impacting marketing communications, as I do, this post is for you. Consider it a support group for anyone who toils in the vineyards of sales and marketing, advertising or public relations. Hello, my name is Steve...
A day in the life of an ad man
On days I like my job, I do it better. When I do my job better, I like it more. If I bring a good attitude to work, it usually makes for a better day. If I have a good day, it usually improves my attitude. Life’s funny that way, isn’t it? Often I can’t control...
Where do ideas come from? Knowing your brand, observing the world. (Post #3)
Another way to get started on seeing your strategy through the insights window is unearthing those real insights about your brand. If a brand is a community of users akin to a club, try thinking about the aspirations of that club’s members. Is the brand a Badge Brand?...
Where do ideas come from? Insights! (Post #2)
So, it’s time to develop a strategy. How to start? There are several pump primers, said Robin Hafitz of Open Mind Strategy in a recent webinar for members of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As). Riger participants learned about using insights,...