The Web: TV With Its Hat On Backwards

From Ad Age, Tuesday:"Until now, online viewers have been able to watch TV with one substantial perk: fewer ads than if they watched the same show on TV...But that will soon change. The networks and distributors putting TV online are facing some tough economics...And that's forcing sites to consider breaking what has been a de facto rule in web video, that viewers only get one ad per break..."

How To Sell Great Creative: "Let's Do It On The Floor"

In the first part of this series, The Big Show, I talked about how big presentations are the death of good ideas. Today, an interesting lesson I learned from a couple of oddballs.At one point in my career I was creative director for the US operation of an Australia-based agency called Mojo.Mojo was recognized as one of the world’s really good creative shops. It was named “International

Odds, Ends and Beyond and More.

Top 5 Bullshit Marketing Terms Of 20085. Ideation4. Authenticity3. Megabrand2. Conversation1. NarrativeTop 7 Nothings Whose Names Made Them Something7. Joba Chamberlain6. Carrot Top4. Cheech3. Chong2. Regis Philbin2. Wavy Gravy1. Whoopi GoldbergSo Who Asked You To Look?Headline from Yahoo News: "Dim But Visible: Seeking Out Uranus"Most Difficult Word For Republicans To Pronounce:NuclearWhy I Love

The Crisis Of Advertising, Part 5: What To Do

The first four parts of this series were the fun parts -- whining about all the problems. This is the not fun part -- finding answers. I've written three drafts of this post and I still don't know what the hell I'm trying to say. The Crisis of Advertising? I have no idea what to do about it and anyone who says he does is full of shit.The first draft said we were going the way of the music

Funny Or Not Funny?

This "mock" recruitment video was very controversial around the agency when we produced it a while back.Some people thought it was hilarious. Some people were horrified.I'd love your opinion. Take a look at it and please respond to the poll on the right. The polling is over and here are the results:a) Funny-66%;b) Not funny -20%;c) Funny, But Easily Misunderstood - 14%If you think it's funny,

How To Sell Great Creative: The Big Show

You’ve been working on a new campaign for six weeks. Tomorrow’s the day you present to the client.The account director has booked the main conference room. Pastries have been ordered. The agenda has been Xeroxed.Coming from the client organization are the CMO and/or marketing director, the advertising manager, the brand manager and assistant brand manager, and maybe someone from upper

The Crisis of Advertising, Part 4 - Brain Drain

Last week, in The Crisis of Advertising, Part 3, I talked about why we are not attracting enough good creative people. Today's post is about the debasement of account management.The following is a true story.One of our junior account people was hired by our client. She had done a nice job working on the account. The client, not understanding the difference between cooks and waiters, hired her