In the fast-paced, algorithm-tuned world of modern marketing, where AI writes headlines, digital platforms change by the minute, and customer data fuels every strategy, you might wonder: Are the old advertising books still worth reading? Can anything written in the age of Mad Men possibly help in the era of machine learning? The answer is...
Recently I was asked by a college student what advice I would give someone who was thinking about stepping into the industry. Good question. After 40+ years in the advertising business, I’ve certainly seen it all — the booms, the busts, the revolutions, and the returns to basics. If you’re a college student dreaming of...
In an industry where buzzwords and generalizations often cloud the conversation, it’s crucial to peel back the layers and focus on the essence of what businesses truly seek in an advertising agency partner. Despite all the rhetoric about innovation, disruption, and creativity, my 45 years of experience with businesses of all sizes have allowed me...
As I am approaching 46 years in the advertising agency business – from Madison Avenue to Orlando and everything in between – I am often asked what advice I would give to build a winning local advertising agency. Of course I could write a book on such a subject, but ultimately my readers digest answer...
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...
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,...
Here is a marketing truth: existing customers innately have more value than one that requires being won over. The fact is, you either have customers or prospects. One is committed to your brand, and one is not. Yet it feels like businesses continue to dedicate more time and attention to the notion of winning new...
In the business and marketing world, we’ve all heard the phrase “sense of arrival”. It’s the portion of the overall customer journey that most companies are laser focused on. But is that really the best method by which to create a customer for life? When you think about it, there is not much that is...
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....
I was fascinated by a recent national study that indicated most CEOs feel their brand(s) needed to take a stand on social issues, even though less than a third of consumers want to see politics in marketing – and pretty much the opposite of what every agency seems to be telling its clients. Curious don’t...