The Twitter Quiz

Now that Twitter has officially changed the world as we know it (see Time cover) it's time to see how much you know about Twitter.A revealing study of Twitter users was published last week by Harvard Business Publishing. Before I give you the link, take this little quiz derived from the study and see how you do.1. Among Twitter users, the median number of lifetime tweets per user is:a. 1b. 55c.

Flop Sweat

There's a wonderful term that comics use to describe their physical reaction when they're bombing -- flop sweat.Everyone in advertising who has to make presentations to large groups -- especially creative presentations -- knows the feeling.You're standing up there. You've rehearsed your presentation. You've prepared a few gags. You're going through it just like you imagined. And you're getting

Knuckleheads And Geniuses

One of the good things about working in advertising is that we touch lots of different kinds of businesses. If you have a curious mind, you are in a position to be constantly stimulated.In my current capacity I have to know something about the automobile business, the restaurant business, insurance, wine, beer, spirits, travel, golf, dairy, energy, and finance. And I have to know enough about

The Volume Knob And The Tone Knob

Let's say for a minute that social media maniacs really believe all the noise they make about consumers wanting to have relationships with brands, and conversations about them.Let's also say that all these wonderful relationships and conversations are happening online, like the maniacs say.Now let's have a listen to The Grumpy Brit..."If I think about brands with which, for the sake of argument

Whiners Never Quit

This is a warning. I'm going to do some major whining today. If you don't like to listen to overfed ad brats whine, I don't blame you. Now would be a good time to abort.One of the characteristics of blogging that makes it different from most other forms of writing is that you get almost instantaneous feedback.Each night, I post the next day's blog at midnight PDT. I wake up each morning at about

Eye Rolls And 'Yes, Buts'

I keep reading in the trades that the ad industry has been slow to adapt to the digital world and if we're not careful we'll be left behind.My experience has been different.My experience is that very often when we recommend digital solutions to sophisticated clients we get eye rolls and polite 'yes, buts.'My theory is that because I'm located in San Francisco, where digital is not such a shiny

It's A Wonderful World

"Advertising is a failure. When you don't have that good relationship, then you have to advertise..."Did you know that Coca-Cola is failing? And Apple is failing and McDonald's is failing and Proctor and Gamble is failing?

You didn't know that? Where have you been?

It's obvious. They have to advertise. Advertising is what you have to do when you're failing.

This is because the internet has