A recent article in Inc. asked the question: “Is Social Media Advertising or PR?”
Seriously? Now, Inc. is a well-known magazine and Scott Elser, the author of this piece, is co-founder of an advertising agency and presumably a bright guy, but the question seems enormously naive. Perhaps, of course, it is intended to be so simply to stir some discussion. But, who knows? Continue reading “Is Social Media Advertising or PR? – Duh!”
The Evian babies are back! In a new spot, which has received more than 41 million views on YouTube, adults find themselves face-to-face with their younger selves in a large mirrored window–and the dancing ensues. It’s adorable–but does it sell water? Where’s the relevance?
Contrast this spot to an equally creative–and far more out-of-the-box–spot Continue reading “Dancing Babies, Talk About Ship and Dads in Briefs: Creativity With Relevance Gets Results!”
With so many different social media outlets to choose from, how do businesses decide which one or two they should focus their efforts on? It’s a question that many are pondering these days. The good news?
Social media decisions are no different than any other communication decisions you may have dealt with in the past. There are multiple ways that you can communicate and connect with any audience. To make the best choices you need to Continue reading “What Social Media Tool Should You Use? No Easy Answers.”
A writer with Ragan Communications contacted me recently for my response to an article suggesting that QR codes were “dead.” He was writing an article in response to this claim and seeking input from those with opinions to share. My response: Continue reading “DVORAK, QWERTY, AC/DC, CD, MP3 — AND QR CODES”
Despite the fact that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is struggling and about to cut back on their delivery, there are some (including me) that believe that traditional direct mail still holds benefits for both marketers and consumers. In an increasingly cluttered email environment, after all, marketers will be challenged to come up with new ways to “capture eyeballs.” Traditional direct mail may hold some opportunities for a number of reasons: Continue reading “The Big Benefits of Traditional Direct Mail”
Marketers often pose questions like: “What are the best practices when marketing to women?” In my opinion, that question is far too broad. Women are not a homogeneous market segment. There are a myriad of variations among them. I was recently asked this question; here’s how I responded: Continue reading “What to Avoid When Marketing to Women? Defining the Audience Too Broadly”
“Creativity has been and always will be at the heart of our brands. It fuels our business – with consumers, customers, fans, agencies and partners all over the world,” says Joseph Tripodi, Executive VP, CMO and CCO of The Coca-Cola Company.
Branding Magazine as well as other companies and people around the world consider Coca-Cola as one of the most recognized brands. In addition to ensuring a high quality product and positive consumer experiences across multiple touch points, every year, Coca-Cola spends billions of dollars on creative, hilarious, and inspiring advertisements. Branding, as we’ve discussed extends far beyond the logo and company colors. However, those elements are key in connecting with consumers over time and keeping your name front and center–and recognized!
Coca-Cola’s simple, colorful design, has done just that. It’s proven to be extremely effective in making connections with consumers to market the company, and its products, literally around the world.
So how do you cement your brand in the minds of your market as Coca-Cola has? Follow these three C’s. Continue reading “The Three C’s to Cementing Your Brand in the Minds of Your Market: Coca-Cola Style”
I was interviewed recently for a blog on the use of perks to drive social media engagement. It’s an interesting topic and judging from the proliferation of such contests and competitions online an important one. Aside from questions related to the efficacy of such competitions, businesses should also be aware of–and knowledgeable about–the impact of these perks on their desired brand image and the laws related to contests, sweepstakes and lotteries.
