From the category archives:

Marketing Guesswork

#occuppy Wallstreet. Classic Ready, Fire, Aim Strategy.

October 11, 2011
Thumbnail image for #occuppy Wallstreet. Classic Ready, Fire, Aim Strategy.

Regular readers may or may not have noticed I stay away from politics. I also don’t mention religion. And I sure don’t write about the place of religion in politics. But the #occupy protests over the last few weeks are just too juicy for me to ignore. Yummy, juicy, deliciously stupid. Uh oh. I said [...]

Read the full article →

You’re doing it wrong.

July 28, 2011
Thumbnail image for You’re doing it wrong.

Why would anyone need a plan? That’s no fun. Too much thinking and debating going on. The worst part is actually making decisions. Screw that. Let’s just make web sites and brochures. We all love the pretty pictures. What shall we put in the pretty web site? Oh, let’s worry about that later. We’ll put [...]

Read the full article →

Why Do People Buy – Part Two

January 14, 2010
Thumbnail image for Why Do People Buy – Part Two

So what does all this mean to marketers? (See Part One)
1. Advertising and marketing strategies should attempt to present an appeal strong enough to stimulate action toward satisfying one of Maslow’s basic human needs.
2. Maslow believes lower levels always take priority over higher levels so you shouldn’t attempt to sell products or services that only [...]

Read the full article →

Don’t Neglect the Sales People!

January 3, 2010
Thumbnail image for Don’t Neglect the Sales People!

I had an experience recently that shouldn’t have surprised me but it did. It happened as I started working with a $40 million software company.
My job is to help the company improve it’s value proposition and follow through with detailed marketing and tactical plans. To gather the necessary information, I was participating in a conference [...]

Read the full article →

Marketing Schmarketing. It’s not what you think.

December 16, 2009
Thumbnail image for Marketing Schmarketing. It’s not what you think.

What is marketing? Don’t ask me. And don’t bother Googling it either. And, please don’t ask your boss, your wife, your web designer or marketing consultant. It seems that the real purpose of marketing has been lost somehow over the last few years. I’m not even going to tell you that MY definition is correct [...]

Read the full article →

A life without risk is a life without growth.

November 9, 2009
Thumbnail image for A life without risk is a life without growth.

Looking back over the years I can see that my path has been what one might call “the road less traveled”. For me, risk and reward are inexorably linked and I have never worried about the possible consequences of zigging where most people zag. Of course this is the mindset of an invincible young man. [...]

Read the full article →

Marketing in a recession. What's the difference?

October 13, 2008

Everywhere I turn I see companies attempting to leverage the much hyped “downturn” in the economy. All of a sudden, they are touting special “Recession” services and techniques to overcome impending doom. Marketing and advertising agencies are especially guilty offenders. So, in my inimitable tradition of cutting through the smoke and smashing the mirrors, allow [...]

Read the full article →