Author Archives: Julian Saunders

Direct line insurance rip off ?

In 2007 i switched my home (buildings) insurance to Direct Line for c £ 530 pa (a good £300+ saving on lloyds TSB). I was happy as larry. On my return from hols yesterday find the annual renewal letter.It is automatic renewal naturally- insurance people understand all about the power of inertia and what theContinue reading “Direct line insurance rip off ?”

is this what the big society might mean ?

A partnership between brands and local government? Brands have money. They want to be seen as trusted and rooted in the lives of their buyers,especially as this is a time when ‘glossy’ doesnt play in the west ( it does in China right now) and people are anxious and hunkering down Local government has veryContinue reading “is this what the big society might mean ?”

The underused art of visual storytelling in advertising #advertising#storytelling

There is not much of it about these days in adland-perhaps that is why we still remember the rare exceptions like The Man with the Hathaway Shirt-why the eyepatch/what is his story?It is no accident that he is older as old people have more stories to tell, more history. Modern advertisers often shy aware fromContinue reading “The underused art of visual storytelling in advertising #advertising#storytelling”

Story-telling is like improv’ comedy in social media #socialmediainfluence#storytelling

Storytelling was a hot topic at Social Media Influence 2011- but this is not the neat finely honed story-telling as we know it. You know what I mean- one author carefully crafting a tale with a beginning a middle and an end. No, this is much more like improvised comedy – it can start anywhereContinue reading “Story-telling is like improv’ comedy in social media #socialmediainfluence#storytelling”

Children’s book sales are up perhaps the internet is not rewiring our minds after all

Last year a new book- the Shallows by Nicholas Carr- suggested that the internet and new devices are “rewiring” of our brains and creating a new generation with the attention span of a knat- unable to concentrate without clicking away to something else. Certainly you have to get to the point quicker these days ( mostContinue reading “Children’s book sales are up perhaps the internet is not rewiring our minds after all”

Why big companies don’t know what to do about social media

and what they should about it. In this article, shortly to be published in Directory, Julian Saunders explains that social media radically challenge the way companies are organised around “selling to target audiences” rather than listening and responding.

Why the AV referendum was doomed-explained by behavioural psychology

Here is a perceptive comment on why the AV referendum was doomed to fail using insights from Behavioural Psychology by research agency Monkey See:- “the wording of the AV referendum question used would appeal to voters’ instincts to follow the status quo there can be little doubt. It kicks of with the unequivocal message, “At present,Continue reading “Why the AV referendum was doomed-explained by behavioural psychology”

How a story helps a little brand to charge a big price

I find myself wondering why I have just paid an unreasonable amount of money for a simple notebook- Moleskin to be precise. Then a little slip of paper falls out of the notebook book as I open it where learn that great artists and thinkers have used it for two centuries.Bruce Chatwin – a mythmaker ifContinue reading “How a story helps a little brand to charge a big price”

Humanity,charm and storytelling still win the day in digital media

VW’s new ad for the Passat is also a much shared viral. It is the story of a boy who thinks he is Darth Vader and tries unsuccessfully to use his special powers until, that is. till his dad comes home in the Passat and sudden his powers seem to work….. A simple human storyContinue reading “Humanity,charm and storytelling still win the day in digital media”