
7 Influencer Marketing Insights You Need to Know Today
BrandingIt was an invitation. Written with a spelling mistake or two and from someone I didn’t know. I went close to ignoring it. “I think you are doing a great job with your blog and hope that you can share that with businesses here in New…

Cut through the hype about brand storytelling
BrandingEvery time I see the words “brand storytelling” and read about its importance, I get butterflies in my stomach—not the good kind. And I’m a professional writer, so I can only imagine what it’s doing to marketers out there who don’t…

Starbucks Race Campaign – A Bad Idea From the Start
BrandingLook, I have to say first that I like the idea of the program; I just don’t like how it was done, whom it was done by or why they did it. Make sense? More discussion about racial equality is a huge hot button right now, and it needs to be…

Brand Maker or Brand Keeper?
BrandingWhat type of marketer are you really? Are you a brand maker or a brand keeper? Is there a difference? Before going any further, I would like to point out that there is no shame in being one or the other – Brand and business need both. In…

From Socratic Dialogue to Communication Brief
Advertising BrandingAs many of you who’ve done Copywriting in Action will know from experience, the Communication Brief is a remarkably effective and reliable vehicle for getting the mind focused and the thinking clear. But harvesting knowledge and insight from…

WHY EXCLAMATION MARKS ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND
Advertising BrandingI’ll let you in on a little secret. One of the biggest giveaways that a client has written their own copy, without hiring a copywriter, is the over-use of exclamation marks. The world’s most over-used punctuation mark has a lot to answer…

Public perception – How General Mills Shot Itself in the Foot Over and Over
BrandingThe New York Times broke the news about new General Mills legal terms on April 16. Here’s a portion of the “announcement” from the General Mills website: We’ve updated our privacy policy. Please note we also have new legal terms which…

My favourite brand – and why you’ll not find it in a shop
BrandingFor years, I have spent my time researching which type of ‘brand’ is right for me – for everything I buy. From clothes to food to music to video games, everything I love in my life is dictated by some form of brand. If I want to buy…

Brand activation – wherever, whenever, however
BrandingFlash mobs, interactive billboards, neighbours’ days and a whole new world of online experiences through social networks. Brand activation is hot. Whether you’re Nike or Mercedes, no big brand avoid the battle for the hearts of consumers…

Secret Branding Advice They Don’t Teach in Business School
BrandingWhile branding seems like something only the big name companies need to worry about, branding is actually happening to your business whether or not you realize it. As you advertise and interact with customers, you are creating an understanding…
