As we age, I think we all reflect on a life once was and reminisce about “how fun things use to be”. Was the advertising agency business more fun back in the day? In my opinion, it was. I was recently sharing with my team that today’s workplace and workday just seems to have become...
In case you haven’t noticed, the advertising agency landscape has changed, and the rules of engagement are not always fair. Over the past few years, we’ve written and talked about the advantages that small agencies like 78Madison have, but recently, another trend is worth looking at – the fact that clients themselves are now treating...
As someone who has been knee deep in the advertising agency business for over 40 years, the type of people I look for in 2024 are dramatically different from past decades. In today’s fast-paced and dynamic advertising landscape, success isn’t just about creativity or business acumen alone – it’s about a unique blend of skills,...
Another Ad Bowl – I mean Super Bowl – Sunday is behind us, and I’m sure everyone is standing around the water cooler this morning chatting about the best commercials of the game – are water coolers a thing anymore? I thought the commercials were trying too hard to be creative and on top of...
I was reminiscing about the good ole days in the advertising agency business with a friend who like me got their start on Madison Avenue in New York City. Both of us continue to run advertising agencies some 45+ years later, but the paradigm shift in our industry is mind-blowing when you think about it....
The “way to early” debate on the certain demise of the advertising industry due to AI continues to rage. Over past few months, I’ve had many discussions with folks in the advertising agency business, as well as with photographers, web developers, software engineers and more, and the response to the impact of AI is either...
It’s the new water cooler conversation piece – ChatGPT – the artificial intelligence (AI) that many say will transform (or destroy) their industries. In our circles of course, everyone is asking the question “Will Advertising Agencies become a thing of the past?” Heck, find one college student who hasn’t discovered ChatGPT and I’ll show you...
When things are looking grim, there’s often a knee-jerk urge to move efforts to the lowest-hanging fruit. I’ve watched the same phenomena take place time after time for 40 years. When times are tough, there is always a race to performance advertising. It’s more measurable than brand marketing, drives immediate response and is easier to...
The changing consumer and media landscape now provides small and independent agencies like 78Madison a competitive edge. The world has changed. Not more or less than in previous years or decades or generations. But in a post-cookie, post-pandemic, post-ad-free-Netflix world, things are different. It’s different for consumers, for brands and for the things that matter...
Many people are surprised that I have been in the same industry – advertising – for 40 years. In fact, most are fascinated by the fact that I continue to be so passionate about what I do. I will certainly confess that this has been a great ride so far, and I don’t see it...