Category: Advertising & Marketing

Be the best strategic storyteller

Posted on by Brian Lee

A recent poll by PR News and Nasdaq Media Intelligence asked which of Fortune’s 2015 Most Admired Brands succeed best at telling humanizing stories that drive positive awareness. The results were the following: one-fifth said that Apple is the best at doing this, with Coca-Cola in second. Other companies that ranked high were Walt Disney, Southwest and American Express.

Are you looking to share your brand’s story? Here are a few tips:

  • Share stories about your customers rather than employees
  • Use social media and your website to tell your story
  • Stay away from op-eds and radio when sharing story

So why is Apple so successful? It has found ways for consumers to buy its products without ever ‘advertising’ the actual product. Instead, Apple tells a story that engages everyone and makes them feel a connection.

For example, here’s an Apple commercial demonstrating its FaceTime app:

Buick’s all about creating impressions

Posted on by Taylor Kennedy

If a car company gave you the opportunity to test drive a car overnight and included a company-themed yoga workout, mix-at-home company fragrances and a “company meditation map,” would that make you more likely to buy one of their vehicles?

That’s what Buick hopes, as its “24 Hours of Happiness Test Drive” marketing campaign was released last week. The company hopes this idea not only shows their interest in their consumers but creates an impression that Buick trusts their shoppers.

Typically a brand for an older demographic, Buick is now targeting a new generation of buyers and combined that with the trending topic of wellness.

This campaign notion reminded me of the quotation, “if you’re not innovating, you’re going backward.”

So ask yourself, how are you/your company innovating and constantly improving to the ever changing demands of today’s society?

Don Draper’s revelation

Posted on by Brian Lee

“A new day. New ideas. A new you.”

Those words were spoken to Don Draper as he began to meditate during the closing minutes of the series finale of “Mad Men.” From there, he had an a-ha moment–or as we like to say here, a “revelation”–and subsequently created the famous “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” commercial.

I know that feeling. Although I don’t meditate, I’ve come up with ideas (although none of that scale) while on the elliptical, while reading and while watching “Mad Men” (honest!).

You don’t need to be in an office brainstorming session to come up with the next big idea. In my experience, inspiration can come from anywhere and anytime. Just don’t forget to write it down!