In last week’s Radio Times (which is nearly as good as The Sun for a pulse of the nation type snapshot) Radio 4’s Today presenter Justin Webb wrote in his column about how his children will have a limited need to know actual facts, what with the world’s knowledge being there at their digital fingertips. … Continue reading we’re going to need considerably more Investigators of Interesting
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I think Carling’s new ad might have missed a trick
I got sent a link to the new Carling ad 'Trick Shot' this morning. It's good - memorable, on brand, a bit of a homage to the Honda Cog and OK Go school of communications and it’s a nice touch to have the original "I bet he drinks Carling Black Label" blokes looking on at … Continue reading I think Carling’s new ad might have missed a trick
have O2 made a call that rubbish customer service pays?
I know I go on about consistent brand delivery across all customer touchpoints a lot, but below are some edited highlights from a 30 minute long online Live Chat between O2 and my sister (whose new phone doesn’t work and who would rather have called them but gave up after 2 ½ hrs on hold...) … Continue reading have O2 made a call that rubbish customer service pays?
why agencies need to own their positioning
Over my career I must have been exposed to more agency credentials presentations than can be entirely healthy. All three integrated agencies I worked for were rather keen on reinventing themselves every 18 months, complete with a new positioning to go with their new identity. And I’ve latterly had reason to look over more than … Continue reading why agencies need to own their positioning
should charity fundraising consider sufferers as well as supporters?
This is Campaign’s Ad Of The Day today (Thursday): By AIS London for Harrison's Fund (the Dad in question is a friend of the agency according to The Drum), it might well help fundraise for a less well-known and very serious illness, but I don’t imagine it will make the parents whose children are currently … Continue reading should charity fundraising consider sufferers as well as supporters?
in praise of pitching
You may have already deduced from the lack of posts from me recently that I’ve just surfaced from spending a month immersed in a major pitch (*crosses fingers, waits for phone call*). unpublished creative work-in-progress for The Pitch by Empire Design taken from AMC's website Does your agency pitch, or do you make a point … Continue reading in praise of pitching
the new BBC class calculator doesn’t get full marks from me
Have you had a play with the BBC’s new class calculator yet? Looking at the categories, most of the Planners I’ve met would slot neatly into the Technical Middle Class box: But when I tried with my own data, I came out as Established Middle Class, probably because thanks to my horsey friends I could … Continue reading the new BBC class calculator doesn’t get full marks from me
the most important brand touchpoint is person to person
I’ve been working on a couple of projects recently where I’ve discovered that one or more customer touchpoints are letting the brand (and therefore customer) experience down. I’m not talking about a poor quality DM pack or a hard to navigate website, but about the real ‘voice of the brand’ – customer facing employees. In … Continue reading the most important brand touchpoint is person to person
lovely ad, but will it do the job?
CSL sofas have just launched a new campaign by TBWA: It’s beautifully shot, stands out in the category and will certainly do something for CSL’s awareness, but… I’ve done quite a lot of work in the furniture retail sector over the last few years and I know how hard brands have to work to get … Continue reading lovely ad, but will it do the job?
1up – LSU assemble a crack team (and me) to train junior strategists (and, it turns out, me)
I spent last Thursday in London to help out at day one of London Strategy Unit’s 1up, a two day workshop-type course for aspiring and junior planners and strategists. The lovely Andreea from LSU asked me to come down and share my thoughts with everyone on practical day-to-day stuff like building client relationships. So I … Continue reading 1up – LSU assemble a crack team (and me) to train junior strategists (and, it turns out, me)