Is it just my clouded memory, or does this seem to happen every few years? The Gap goes along strong, then they try selling trendy clothes and sales drop, then they go back to basics, then they get stronger, then they screw up again, then they go back to basics? I swear I've heard this 3 or 4 times in the last 20 years or so. From …
Do Consumers Really Want To Converse With Your Brand?
The radical notion that marketers must cede control and enable consumers to create brand meaning for themselves is no longer radical, at least in theory. We talk about it all the time. And to a greater or lesser extent, many of us are making it happen. But have you ever wondered what to do with a brand that no one wants to talk to, co-create, or have a conversation with? It seems like the same ideas get tossed out at …
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WOM Beats Ads Hands Down
eMarketer picks up on a study conducted by BIGresearch that suggests the power of word-of-mouth, the far less manageable little sister of Advertising. Nothing new here, but I find stats and studies helpful when debating clients, account people, and suits of all sorts. …
Thoughtful Smokers Make Fewer Enemies
The Wall Street Journal looks at one tobacco company's attempt to create a kindler, gentler smoker. The world's No. 3 tobacco maker is betting on an unusual strategy amid a widening backlash against smoking: Keep smokers on their best behavior. Japan Tobacco Ltd. is bombarding Japanese subways, newspapers and billboards with ads that resemble earnest public-service announcements. "Don't smoke in a crowd, coats are …
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Of So-Called Rock Stars and Stage-Hogging Poseurs
I just *love* how Ad Age declared the Death of the Rock Star CMO. Well, who do you think anoints them as rock stars in the first place? I decided to explore this asinine trend: Now, there’s nothing wrong with saying someone has extraordinary skill or talent. Heck, even an extra helping of charm and good looks can help you succeed in the ad biz. But to elevate someone to “rock star” status is sheer lunacy. In a …
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Second Hype
Fortune is featuring an in-depth look at Second Life. They really have no choice, given the way big business is foaming over the site's potential. "The 3-D Internet may at first appear to be eye candy," CEO Sam Palmisano writes in an e-mail interview, "but don't get hung up on how frivolous some of its initial uses may seem." He calls 3-D realms such as Second Life the "next phase of the Internet's evolution" and …
How Does Your Agency Get Paid?
AdAge calls Crispin a pioneer in forging a new compensation model in which agencies truly partner with their clients, up to and including getting paid for an idea that really works. "The discussion is beginning to shift from 'What does it cost to generate work and services a client wants?' to 'What is the value of the services and materials the agency is creating for the client?"' said Ronald Urbach, partner, Davis & …
This Is Our Country. But Here Comes Their Truck.
No matter what you think of the ad's imagery and message, the Chevy Silverado spots featuring John Mellencamp are a huge deal. Really. Advertising professionals aren't the target audience for pickup trucks, but trucks like the Silverado and the Ford F-150 are what's been keeping GM and Ford in business. American-built trucks enjoy a brand loyalty that the regular cars don't have anymore. That loyalty will be put to …
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