Category: advertising

If you ask the average person if they like negative ads or even think they work, they'd probably say "no they don't work and can they please just stop." But every campaign season there seems to be more and more negative ads. I'm predicting a record amount of negative advertising…

In advertising we deal with competing brands all the time. Logically thinking, you might assume that one brand really is better than another. But if facts and logic where what consumers were in the market for each product category would have one dominate brand and everyone else would just get…

I'm sure you've never been influenced by a political yard sign. Never. I mean, there's nothing to them but Clinton/Kaine or Trump/Pence. I suppose some of them may say "I'm with her" or "MAGA." But there's no real message there right? Just names. But according to what we know in…

Today, every brand wants to have an ethos of authenticity and a transparent culture. They're all claiming to be responsible green and sustainable. Or maybe it's all well-crafted bullshit sentimentality. Afterall, how can you really know what a company's management really thinks? Newsweek lists the top 10 US Green Companies this…

Popular culture would have you believe that production is a fun, safe and glamours business. In fact, it's none of those. Sure the A-list actresses get to shimmer on the red carpet on premiere night but most work days involve early call times, late wraps and a lot of tedious…

Hillary Clinton's campaign tactics, public statements and brand promise are all a lot more understandable than Donald Trump's, which I've previously written about. In fact, Hillary's campaign feel a lot like it could be for a packaged good's company than her competitor. After all, Proctor and Gamble's motto is "The…

10 years ago every single advertising client would ask "make us a viral video." Back then, there was still the slight possibility a brand could make a really outrageous video and people would spread it for you via email and social media. But they still all want content that will generate…

Donald Trump is famous for using the Ad Hominem attacks like "Lyin' Ted", "Crooked Hillary" and "Little Marco" on his opponents rather than the logical take down. Why does he do it? Simple: people don't care about facts in marketing, advertising and politics (and really, in most things). For example:…

I've shied away from this topic during the primary season because it's a radioactive hot potato that could blow up in my face. But it's also very instructive to those who can see beyond their own biases. (Disclaimer: I'm a third party voter and will not be voting or supporting…

A lot of ad creatives (and my students) think their job is to create the best damn creative humanly possible on every single assignment they get. That's awesome and I get it. It's also a good long-term career goal. You've got to always be selling improving your portfolio and track…