Confessions of an Ad Man At a used bookstore many years ago, I bought a first edition of the 1963 classic Confessions of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy. Neatly folded and tucked inside the book was this hand-typed memo on Diamond National Corporation letterhead: Required reading The language in the memo seems almost quaint, […]
What is email marketing
Despite all the hype about TikTok, Facebook ads and YouTube videos, there’s still no better way to connect with your customers and grow your business than through email marketing. Yet the vast majority of businesses aren’t using it effectively. Own your audience On any other platform, whether it’s Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or even Google search […]
A Single Window
Constraints are good ” … life is much more successfully looked at from a single window, after all.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald / The Great Gatsby 1925 In the context of his masterpiece The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald probably wasn’t thinking about web design. I get that. More likely, this memorable line suggests that a person […]
The truth about logos
Are logos really that important? A lot of experts don’t think so. So, before you spend a dime on discovery sessions, personas, or mood boards, read this article. Logos are overrated There, we said it. It’s a controversial opinion, especially if you’re a graphic designer or “brand strategist.” But honestly, some of the most recognizable […]
Smart People
Don’t tell me what to do. “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do. We hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” — Steve Jobs (1995–2011) Amen. I reckon maybe 20% of big employers get this. The rest insist on second-guessing your every move […]
Email is hard
Email can be hard, but it’s also essential to modern business. So if you don’t fully understand how it works (or don’t care to), you should find a professional who does. And pay them well. Almost indispensable If you run a business there are few things worse than a broken email system. And here’s the […]
Short versus long content
Do people really read long-form content? Or, do they just scan, scroll, scan some more, then share — leaving the impression that they actually read something in its entirety. The best length for a blog post I read an article the other day that suggested that the best length for a blog post was 1,447 […]
Inspiration is for wimps
No shining moments It’s very trendy nowadays to peddle “inspirational” books and courses about “finding your passion.” And I suppose there’s a certain hopeful charm to the notion that one day your true calling will reveal itself in a single shining moment. I guess it happens to some people, but not many. And certainly not […]
How inbound marketing really works
Inbound marketing is often presented as the go-to strategy for building customer relationships. But inbound marketing on its own isn’t always enough. To be successful, businesses must first capture attention through outbound marketing. Inbound vs outbound marketing You may have heard these terms before and been thoroughly baffled by the confusing definitions you found online. […]
The power of emotion
When done properly, color, images, typography, and layout can generate a lot of emotion. That’s something to think about when you’re doing your next sales presentation. Or re-designing your website. Don’t be boring The impact of using emotion in web design is significant and far-reaching. Emotion-based design (also known as affective design) is a design […]
