Years ago, I worked at an ad agency about which I used to say, “It’s like the owners read just the first chapter of ‘Running an Ad Agency for Dummies,’ set the book down, and said, ‘Yeah, I think we’re good.'” In fact, I used to joke that on the 3.5 days a week I averaged being the last one to leave, I wasn’t actually working late, I was simply waiting until everyone left so I could search for the near-pristine copy of the book. (To avoid burning any bridges, I won’t mention whether it was a full-time or freelance gig, nor will I mention in which state I did the work.) They, like everyone else who’s trying to make it in this crazy, mixed-up industry, should take a peep at these 13 pitfalls to avoid. Continue reading
Borrowed but worthy: 13 Ways to Kill Creativity
Posted in General
Tagged Advertising, Borrowed, Content, Copywriting
Requiem for a Form Letter
When I started out in business, applying for a job was a rather formal and prescribed thing. The candidate sent out a cover letter expressing interest in working for the company (or in a specific open position), highlighting qualifications, and asking for an interview. This was folded up with a resume, stuffed into a #10, and sent out to unsuspecting HR people all over the country. At the time, 90 out of 100 of those were followed up with a form letter expressing appreciation and an apology.
Nowadays, the job search is a whole different animal. Continue reading
Posted in Facebook, General, Twitter
Tagged Advertising, Copywriting, Facebook, LinkedIn, Me, Twitter
Living the Dream
This past Christmas, the in-laws graciously gave me a t-shirt that had a street-sign-esque drawing of a dude playing video games with the words “living the dream” emblazoned below it. I walked away from the tree thinking they bought it as an ironic joke. Nobody really believes that I spend my days paying video games and drinking Mountain Dew. Do they? If they think I’m living the dream, surely they know nothing could be further from the truth. Or is it? Continue reading
Posted in Facebook, General, Twitter
Tagged Advertising, Blogging, Copywriting, Facebook, LinkedIn, Me, Twitter
Spokesperson advertising: Be the brand, not the man
It’s great to have a spokesperson. Once you find the person who… well… personifies your brand, hold onto him or her. Give him or her whatever he or she wants. And by all means, keep him or her alive.
This is the lesson of Wendy’s. For years, Wendy’s was Dave Thomas. Dave Thomas was Wendy’s. Awkward at first, but lovable ‘til the end, Dave Thomas made Wendy’s feel like a great place to get a good meal at a good price brought to you by good people. Continue reading
Posted in Facebook, General, Twitter
Tagged Advertising, Copywriting, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter
Off-topic: Siri – Where Beta Meets Alpha
I consider myself something of an Apple evangelist. I truly believe that the world would be a better place if everyone worked on Macs. Workplaces would have less frustration. Wars would end. Dogs and cats would live together in harmony. I also believe that if Apple made car stereos, driving around would be more pleasant. And if Apple made TVs, filling my eyeholes with crap would be more simpler and more comfortable. Now, it’s with all that in mind that I can’t feel so good about Apple’s latest great-big wow, Siri. Here’s how a typical conversation between me and my digital assistant goes: Continue reading
Writing with Swagger
When I sit down to write, whether it be copy for one of my freelance clients, posts for this blog, or whatever for whatever, I do it without fear. The blank page is a daunting enemy, but if you stare at it with any level of trepidation, you’ve already lost. Fear breeds caution. Caution breeds mediocrity. Mediocrity breeds a career filled with regret. So, how do we fight the mediocrity? Continue reading
Posted in Facebook, General, Twitter
Tagged Advertising, Blogging, Copywriting, LinkedIn, Peep
Lawnmowing and the art of writing copy
As I walked the dogs through the park today, I happened across a guy mowing the grass. I was struck by how happy he seemed. No, not happy. Content. As he smiled and whistled, driving his riding lawnmower back and forth, I started to wonder why. Continue reading
Posted in Facebook, General, Twitter
Tagged Advertising, Copywriting, Me, Twitter
What’s in a name – redux
Lately it seems that all the freelance projects I’ve been given either have been to name a product, or that was a small component of a larger job. I suppose it’s a good sign that the economy is turning around: new products and new line extensions must mean the factories are humming again. But this isn’t an economics blog. Continue reading
Posted in Facebook, General, Twitter
Tagged Advertising, Copywriting, LinkedIn
Flash is the devil.
Flash is great. Sometimes, I find it hard to live on the web without it. Of course, depending upon the sites I hit, my state-of-the art iPhone and iPad seem like they were created in the 70s. But as wonderful and useful as Flash can be, it’s poison when it comes to SEO.
10 Best TV Commercials of 2011
Man, is it that time of year already? After the leaves turn and before the ball drops, we are inundated with every manner of ‘best of’ list from music to movies, political gaffes to stories that touched our hearts, and more. But most interesting to me every year is the list of 10 Best TV Commercials. Continue reading
Posted in General