I wanted to be in marketing before I even knew what the word meant. I just knew that the “right” words and images could sell products and services, change opinions and even get people to vote or make donations. I wanted to help companies find those words and images, put …
It’s 4:26 a.m. and my alarm goes off for the first time. I hit the snooze and doze off. It buzzes again at 4:31 and the war of voices in my head begins. “Get up and get to the gym,” says one voice. “Stay in bed,” says another. “You ate …
My wife is crazy about another man. I’d be jealous, but I’m crazy about him too. He’s my lawn guy Brian. Brian has a small landscaping and lawn maintenance company. His was the third lawn service we tried this past summer. The first two didn’t cut it (pun intended). My …
Janice Prion and Tim Smith were veteran sales people from Acme Fasteners. Acme was invited to make a sales pitch to Banner Manufacturing for the opportunity to supply fasteners for a huge new product line. Banner also invited Acme’s competitor, Carlyle Fasteners, to make a pitch. Carlyle and Acme went …
You may have heard the term brand personality being used lately. But what is it, and is it useful as a marketing tool for you? Or just another useless buzzword? What Is It Brand personality is really a set of human characteristics that is associated with a brand. Harley-Davidson might …
Do you know all you need to win? The Brand Name Game… NIKE! Nike, Nike bo Bikey Bonana fanna fo Fike Fee fi mo Mikey, Nike! APPLE! Apple, Apple bo Bapple Bonana fanna fo Fapple Fee fi mo Mapple, Apple! Come on everybody! I say now let’s play a game …
Everybody wants their share of the shale energy boom. And there’s nothing wrong with that — it’s as American as apple pie. The enormous checks for mineral rights leases that were given out recently in northeastern Ohio have gotten a lot of people excited and talking about a midwest version …
Everyone wants to be good at marketing. But few of us truly understand what marketing is, and few can describe it easily. The official definition seems to change each year. All I can do is tell you what it means to me. Marketing Is Power I was drawn to marketing …
“Your menu says your ribs are famous,” I remark to my waitress. “Do you think I can get their autographs?” She sighs at the lame joke and looks at my wife as if to say “Can’t you control this idiot?” My wife looks back as if she’s saying, “See what I …
The President of the United States of America (acronym: POTUS) makes an annual salary of $400,000 along with a $50,000 annual expense account. So I find it interesting that about $9 billion* will be spent on campaigns this year to get the job. That’s $9 BILLION with a “B” and a …
Over the years, I have noticed seven mistakes that come up again and again in marketing messages used by a wide spectrum of businesses and non-profits. Any one of these mistakes can harm or even kill your organization, but a lot of people make more than one of these mistakes. …
I can make you do what I want. Buy things. Vote a certain way. Feel better about my client. You won’t even think about it. You’ll just do it. How will I do it? First, I’ll study you — learn your habits and interests, then I’ll put words and pictures …
Our clients make it easy for us by allowing us to do marketing for some great products and services. But some of the best products don’t even exist yet — so I’ve decided to invent them and then market them. Here are my top three: #1 George’s Motorized Wall-Mounted Back …
