How businesses treat their employees during the Covid 19 crisis will lead to a reckoning – a very bitter one if times get hard. A famous poster, headlined “What did you do in the war daddy?”, was designed to shame men into volunteering for the army during world war one. It could be adapted inContinue reading “After the crisis, the reckoning”
Category Archives: brands
What Boris should do about The Conservative party brand
Just published by the UK marketing society: how the PM ( and Dominic Cummings) can make the party one that people want to vote for
Harry and Meghan – why and what next?
I was asked by Aurora- Pakistan’s leading journal about marketing, brands and advertising for a view on what Harry and Meghan should do. Here it is
Why politicians get so angry about Dominic Cummings
I am becoming one of those people who shouts at the TV screen. (I suppose it was inevitable – it comes with age along with hair sprouting unattractively from ears and nose and busy eyebrows. I haven’t developed the full Denis Healey – but i can see the direction of travel). My ire is aimedContinue reading “Why politicians get so angry about Dominic Cummings”
What will Facebook do next ?
Scandal ! ( click/share), Shock ! (click/share), Outrage !!( click/share), Anger !**! (click/Share) This is how Facebook grew its audience very fast and sold lots of ads over the past few years. It became, as the jargon has it, ” a publishing platform” and exercised the minimum possible control on what got posted lest itContinue reading “What will Facebook do next ?”
Why all marketers should get out of the office more
A show all marketers should see is Martin Parr’s photos at the National Portrait Gallery If only to see the original artwork for the excellent “Oneness” idents for BBC 1, a fine example of that classic thing – a great creative idea executed in a fresh way. The idea – like the best ideas –Continue reading “Why all marketers should get out of the office more”
The Marie Kondo phenomenon
My meditations and explanation of her success – Just published in Aurora Page 40
The psychological trick all politicians should know
What do all the following have in common ? Love it or hate it (Marmite) Probably the best lager in the world (Carlsberg) and this famous ad for VW: They are all highly successful examples of the pratfall effect which is this:- Displaying weakness increases empathy and like-ability. Imperfection and making mistakes are the stuffContinue reading “The psychological trick all politicians should know”
The uses of behavioural economics- a primer for those new to it
I have spent about a decade working on the application of BE to behaviour change/running courses on it ( since doing work for UK govt via the late lamented COI). This piece (published first in Aurora) offers a basic briefing on its application to communications. Key thought in a 100 words or less: we deludeContinue reading “The uses of behavioural economics- a primer for those new to it”
Calling all brand owners, take back control!
Programatic trading of media is clever automated technology that is spawning (AI enabled) services which will automate the creation of ad messages as well – more efficiency and cost reduction then. (This does not matter a lot as most ads- online- are fairly formulaic response/offer type stuff already) But Programatic also attacks one of ourContinue reading “Calling all brand owners, take back control!”