Poets of Commerce
How can we improve the process of communications so that we can create the types of messages that our audience tune into rather than turn off?How do we make headlines and content that break through the clutter and get the attention of a distracted audience?
Brainstorming and Climate Change
When I first entered the advertising business, one of the best parts was the "brainstorming" session. Since then I've seen the technique either drying up or being used in increasingly disjointed ways during my travels through ad agency lands. Too often, a brainstorm...
Who messed up the Oath of Office?
Is the Oath of Office written grammatically? Or grammatically written? And who actually messed up? Or who messed up, actually? Was it President Obama or Chief Justice Roberts?Should "faithfully" come, as an adverb, at the end of the sentence, to modify the whole...
Do you believe in ghosts?
Today there's a lively discussion about Blogging, Social Media and Ethics on MarketingProfs. The question is whether or not it's right to outsource your corporate blog to a ghostwriter. Some have issues with transparency, others with revealing too much to the...
The more it costs, the better it tastes
Oh boy, now the National Academy of Sciences is in on this neural marketing thing. Wine tasters thought "more expensive" were "more pleasant' and even experienced greater pleasant sensations in the neo-cortex, even though, in reality there were no differences in the...
Mind Mapping Software
I've often wondered when the day will come when your thoughts and ideas can immediately be transcribed and organized. However, until we can perform the Vulcan Mind Meld, here may be the next best thing: Mind-Mapping and Concept-Mapping software. Mind maps let you make...
How good web writing is good copywriting. Or not?
Revisiting what makes good web copy, I am further convinced that most of the same principles apply from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0.Usability guru Jakob Nielsen tracked how visitors scan a web page way back in 1996 (see the hot spots in Nielsen's eyetracking study). He found...
The Elements of Style
Traveling back further to good writing. Every writer (and that means you) should read the definitive style manual: Elements of Style originally written by William Strunk in 1918, an easy read full of pithy advice such as: "Make definite assertions. Avoid tame,...
IDEA LAND new forum on google
They say that which you resist persists. I've been wondering, for about 20 years, why people are seemingly so unable to communicate and cooperate. Why don't things get done?What persistent BIG question have you been unable to resolve? I'm talking business-wise, not...
Interesting Site
A gazillion things competing for attention on the web. Having a great name like Sally Hogshead and smart concept and audacity helps. Sally Hogshead is aiming toward the high life as a consultant and writer of a book/site/attitude called "Radical Careering". Haven't...
Guy Kawasaki Drinks Mountain Dew
Blogging is a great way to connect with people you'd never imagine you could. If you're an entrepreneur or marketer, you'll be inspired by Guy Kawasaki's Art of the Start . He really distills everything down into an entertaining 20 minute talk! The original Mac...
ABOUT ME
I’m fascinated by the process of collaborative communication and strategic creativity in marketing communications.