Realistic Product Placement

I got the Madden ‘09 for the Wii this past week. It’s amazing that the franchise is 20 years old. It certainly has come a long way since I played the first version way back when. That includes the product placements.

At first, it seemed like it might only be music artists getting [...]

Losing that Loving Feeling

When an organization really connects with people, something special happens. A bond forms. A mutual respect and admiration drives the relationship. The organization is driven by its passion to deliver its product and exceed all expectations.

It does it so well, people talk. And their friends make a connection. And they [...]

Target Customer Intelligence

I’m stunned at the number of companies targeting fools and idiots in their commercials. Geico continues with its ridiculous caveman ads, Cox has their talk show ads, Dunkin Donuts introduced a new product recently with the same concept, and Staples reduces people’s intellect to pushing a red button.

Maybe they are seeing something in their [...]

Lessons from a Bike Saddle

I’ve come to realize that managing the life cycle of a product or brand is similar to riding a bike. It’s about shifting gears appropriately and making adjustments in rough terrain. Let me explain.

Starting your ride    

Start your ride in a comfortable gear. You’re warming up, getting the kinks out, checking to make [...]

Do or Do Not

The new school year is upon, and we have been working with our daughters, getting them back into routine. Part of that routine means getting up at 6:30 each morning.

So, about a week ago, my oldest came up to me and said she was trying to get up earlier. When I asked her [...]

Recanting a Rant

Yesterday, I started to rant about the hoops I was jumping through to cancel an account. I am going to say that, on the surface, I was getting ahead of myself. Any company has a right…no, a duty…to know why a customer wants to leave. The best way to do that is [...]

Cancelled Accounts

I’ve been cancelling a few accounts lately, for a variety of reasons. Two are credit cards I no longer want to use and one is a service I never use. I have had three completely different experiences, only one of which was good.

I tried to cancel one of the credit cards online. [...]

Unknown Is Just Fine

We are working on a project that could partner us with another company. It is quite exciting, to say the least! A small group of us met last week putting the structure together for an upcoming meeting. One of the questions that came up centered on the fact that, prior to this, [...]

Manufacturing Risks

A significant number, if not most, marketing organizations rely on others to manufacture their products for them. And there is nothing inherently wrong with that. Using quality contract manufacturing is perfectly acceptable. In fact, they most likely have competencies you, as a marketer, will never have.

But with that contract manufacturing comes real [...]