Last week in a client meeting, someone looked up and said “we’re just going to have to stop using press”. This client’s conversion rate via press has recently dropped from merely unimpressive to unsustainable and to put it in context, for them online activity now converts 100 times more effectively than press. You could of … Continue reading press just isn’t performing
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Northern agency Recession Watch
As a freelance, I inevitably get about a bit. So I hear an awful lot about how well (or otherwise) businesses and individuals round my way are doing. I can’t comment on the daily media stories about how the economy is getting better / worse / becoming more unpredictable by the day, but I certainly … Continue reading Northern agency Recession Watch
Hurrah for the Old Girl’s Network
I remember, quite distinctly, sitting in a restaurant at least ten years ago having one of our regular Friday night dinners with a gang of girls who all worked in the marketing industry around Leeds and wondering out loud if this was the start of a new Old Girl’s Network. I’ve just realised that it … Continue reading Hurrah for the Old Girl’s Network
it turns out I give good spreadsheet after all
I’ve been working with a new client for a few months that, by virtue of their business model, have to be very focused on a few KPIs. They do a lot of digital activity and are also pretty hot on tracking where other incoming leads are coming from, so you can tweak an element of … Continue reading it turns out I give good spreadsheet after all
charity messaging – for the good of the funds or the cause?
After a rather depressing visit to a local horse sanctuary full of miserable horses this week and another meeting with my vet about the life expectancy of my horse, the topic of euthanasia for horses and dogs has been on my mind. Chatting it through with the girls at the stables, we all agreed that … Continue reading charity messaging – for the good of the funds or the cause?
why isn’t anybrand saying that the gym isn’t always the answer?
I’ve had a bee in my bonnet for a while about what I see as the broad perception among the health, diet and fitness profession that being fit & healthy = going to the gym. Apart from the super fit fitness fans and some of my Dad’s 60+ mates (who seem to use the gym … Continue reading why isn’t anybrand saying that the gym isn’t always the answer?
Yay (and also Boo Hiss) to the return of long copy
I keep getting told that long copy ads are back. MI6 have this month taken a wordy approach to recruitment (courtesy of M&C Saatchi): (click the image above and click again to enlarge to a readable size) There’s lots of nice long copy outdoor around at the moment: which came from here, where there's a … Continue reading Yay (and also Boo Hiss) to the return of long copy
the rise of the high street assault course
No wonder our high streets are struggling – they’ve become a shopping assault course. In my second Planning job one of my clients was a big shopping centre. One of the insights we came up with was that this out of town complex was simply shopping made easier than the high street – it was … Continue reading the rise of the high street assault course
have Weightwatchers made a big fat mistake?
I was having a look at something/procrastinating on Vevo this morning and got served the new Weightwatchers ad (which came out at the start of the month but had somehow passed me by), by Saatchi & Saatchi. this is the short version, the long one lasts a full ad break It’s caused quite a bit … Continue reading have Weightwatchers made a big fat mistake?
why transcripts are a brilliant learning tool for quallies
I’ve done more focus groups in the last 18 months than I did in the previous 5 years. It’s been a steepish learning curve and one of the first things I realised was that I really hate listening back to hours of me moderating via Dictaphone for both analysis purposes and to find some good … Continue reading why transcripts are a brilliant learning tool for quallies