One of the more interesting side effects of the popularity of AMC's "Mad Men" (which starts its 4th season on Sunday) is that the show has thrown a spotlight on the ad industry. And let's be honest, most people who don't work in the ad biz, or don't really know anyone who does, haven't got a clue how the whole business really works. So it's always enlightening to see how the industry gets portrayed in today's media, …
As A Writer, You Want Other Writers As Readers
I hope you don't mind me saying this, but it can be weird on this side of the screen sometimes, not knowing who's out there or who really cares. I think that's one of the great things about being a musician or stage actor--musicians and stage actors play live and get a visceral reaction from the crowd. For the most part, they know what's working and what isn't. So, it's nice when a note comes in that brings a bit of …
Continue Reading about As A Writer, You Want Other Writers As Readers →
Like Agencies, Ad Schools Compete For Talent
In a reminder that ad schools sometime compete for instructors as well as students, Eddie Snyder has joined Atlanta's Creative Circus as Senior Advisor of Advertising Studies. Snyder says, "I love teaching. After all, It's what a good creative director does: you teach, nurture, elevate work and inspire. The Creative Circus is the perfect environment for me to do just that." The Creative Circus is equally thrilled to …
Continue Reading about Like Agencies, Ad Schools Compete For Talent →
Sounds Good, But What’s On Their Heads And Feet?
"All Summer" is a new branded music video from Converse via Anomaly, New York. The song was produced by Rostam of Vampire Weekend and also features Kid Cudi and Best Coast. …
Continue Reading about Sounds Good, But What’s On Their Heads And Feet? →
McLocal: These Fries Are “Grown in Richland, Served in Ballard”
Lisa Hymas of Grist doesn't buy the McLocal message she found in suburban Seattle. She asks what's next, "High-fructose corn syrup from Ames, Iowa?" Here's my problem with the Gristian criticism. Way too many environmentalists are still stuck in an "us v. them" mindset, which is a trap. We're all in this together. We want corporations to listen to, and respond to, the needs of their customers and the larger …
Continue Reading about McLocal: These Fries Are “Grown in Richland, Served in Ballard” →
A BeanCast To Start The Week
Last night I had the privilege of appearing on The BeanCast with Joseph Jaffe, Helen Klein Ross, Duane Forrester, and of course, show host Bob Knorpp. We covered a range of topics, including the effectiveness of the Old Spice campaign, whether awards and effectiveness are correlated, the move by high-end fashion labels to sell their wares online, how to measure digital effectiveness beyond just clicks and create …
Putting Bogusky–And The Ad Industry–On The Couch
Frankly, I think too many people are psychoanalyzing Alex Bogusky's decision to leave CP+B. Dude's got enough money to do whatever he wants to in life--simple as that. If he wants to make the world a better place in some way, going outside the marketing framework of MDC is probably necessary. But …
Continue Reading about Putting Bogusky–And The Ad Industry–On The Couch →
Branson’s Daughter, Holly, To Run Digital Magazine Business
Ad Age reports that Virgin is planning to extend its brand into consumer magazines with the launch of a new title, Maverick, which will be available exclusively as an app for the iPad, iPhone and eventually, Android. If the venture is successful, Virgin hopes to establish itself as a leader in digital magazines. As I say here any chance I get, brands are in the media business today. Clearly, some, more so than …
Continue Reading about Branson’s Daughter, Holly, To Run Digital Magazine Business →
