Category Archives: Language
Wasted Away in Swine Flu Ville
Cinco de Mayo used to be dream date for Tequila makers, Mexican beers breweries and margarita mix devisers. Not this year. The unfortunate hype around “H1N1″ aka Swine Flu and our friends in Mexico has cast a cloud over Cinco … Continue reading
Filed under Awareness, Hype, Language, Photography, Viral, Visibility
A Brand Forever Associated with “Killer”
Living in Southern California, the word “killer” is part of surfing lingo. Something “killer” is considered really good and harmless. It works, as in “that pair of Oakley Radars is killer, dude!” But when a brand assumes a different type of killer … Continue reading
Filed under Brand Placement, Communications Society, Language, News, PR
Could Marketing Help Taxes?
April 15 is dreaded in America. Even though we have taxes withheld from our paychecks year-round, the symbolic midnight tax deadline to “pay” Uncle Sam causes melancholy, dejection and resignation. But there is a flip side. Consider: Those expecting tax … Continue reading
Filed under Advertising, Creativity, Ideas, Language, Markets, Politics, Taxes
Will You Join Us?
A barrel of crude may recently dipped below $60. And oil companies are wise to start talking about environment. The latest: Chevron and it’s www.willyoujoinus.com campaign. A sampling of copy from print ads featuring earnest and environmentally serious faces: “I … Continue reading
Filed under Advertising, Brand, Design, Environment, Language, Logos, PR
Are Press Releases Dead?
As a marketer, are you pre-pitching target publications long before you issue a press release? If not, start now. Unless your company is holding a quarterly earnings call or responding to a crisis with a prepared statement, the press release … Continue reading
Message Police
What’s your company or organization’s story? How do you tell it? Messaging is part art and science. It takes a strong gut sense to move a group messaging session to completion — especially in the early phase of a company when … Continue reading
Mobile Wireless Air
Naming a high-tech company is among the more delicate chores for marketers. At startups, company founders can have strong feelings. Engineers can be obssessed with product function. Marketers balance reality and emotion. Some go with a default name that’s safe. Here are 3 popular examples of that naming … Continue reading
Filed under Creativity, Language
What’s Your Mission?
One of the best books on telling a good marketing story is Seth Godin’s All Marketers Are Liars. Upshot: If a company’s messaging doesn’t match its product or customer experience, there’s confusion, distrust and lost opportunities for repeat business. Which leads me … Continue reading
Filed under Business, Customers, Ideas, Language, Value Proposition
“Just” as Filler
Seth Godin, popular blogger, author and guru of marketing, is striking the word “just” from his vocabulary. Same for “sort of.” We get into habits. We use certain words more than others. “Just” is not that bad (when used sparingly). There’s … Continue reading
Simple
sim·ple /ˈsɪmpəl/ – [sim-puhl] adjective, -pler, -plest, noun –adjective 1. easy to understand, deal with, use, etc.: a simple matter; simple tools I don’t write code. But I do appreciate simple software (and tech support). Yesterday Microsoft made good on the Word 2007 bug fix. … Continue reading
