Many Happy Returns
What is the point of marketing in general and advertising in particular? This is not a rhetorical question. While the jaded among you might say it’s to employ the lower third of graduating MBA classes, the answer is neither so cynical nor complex. The point of all the...
The Obligatory Super Hole IX
Why am I here? Oh yes, to elucidate this year’s crop of Super Bowl broadcast advertisements for upwards of two dozen mildly enthused readers. I shall endeavor to deliver adequate amusement. The guidelines: I only review ads shown during the four quarters of the game,...
Sell Softly and Carry a Big Brand
In that specific world where only closers get coffee and WKRP’s Herb Tarlek is spoken of in reverent tones despite being 30 years past his pop culture sell-by date, there exists a special something known as “The Ask.” It most often occurs after a salesperson has given...
Boring Your Brand to Death
I've recently been tapped to write the advertising column for Omaha B2B magazine – a quarterly publication from the folks behind Omaha Magazine. My agency, Webster, redesigned the magazine's layout, which you can see here (warning: requires, shudder, Flash). I've...
What a Fool Believes
To answer your first question, yes, the purpose of this entire column is to give me an excuse to use a Doobie Brothers song as the title. Why the Brothers Doob? Because in February of 1973 they charted with a cover of “Jesus is Just Alright” which would go on to form...
Many Happy Returns
What is the point of marketing in general and advertising in particular? This is not a rhetorical question. While the jaded among you might say it’s to employ the lower third of graduating MBA classes, the answer is neither so cynical nor complex. The point of all the...
The Obligatory Super Hole IX
Why am I here? Oh yes, to elucidate this year’s crop of Super Bowl broadcast advertisements for upwards of two dozen mildly enthused readers. I shall endeavor to deliver adequate amusement. The guidelines: I only review ads shown during the four quarters of the game,...
Sell Softly and Carry a Big Brand
In that specific world where only closers get coffee and WKRP’s Herb Tarlek is spoken of in reverent tones despite being 30 years past his pop culture sell-by date, there exists a special something known as “The Ask.” It most often occurs after a salesperson has given...
Boring Your Brand to Death
I've recently been tapped to write the advertising column for Omaha B2B magazine – a quarterly publication from the folks behind Omaha Magazine. My agency, Webster, redesigned the magazine's layout, which you can see here (warning: requires, shudder, Flash). I've...
What a Fool Believes
To answer your first question, yes, the purpose of this entire column is to give me an excuse to use a Doobie Brothers song as the title. Why the Brothers Doob? Because in February of 1973 they charted with a cover of “Jesus is Just Alright” which would go on to form...