It’s been a couple centuries since Walter Scott penned “Marmion’s” well-remembered lines: “Oh, what a tangled web we weave/When first we practice to deceive!” But Sir Walter’s admonition to avoid deceit remains valid, and it’s sound advice for marketers. A greeting-card envelope appeared in this week’s mail. No return address, no stamp, just a colorful … Read more
Maybe you think that those of us who call attention to typos and similar mistakes are being pedantic, or anal-retentive, just plain picky. If the meaning is conveyed, who cares about whether the words are spelled right or sentences are properly structured? Nobody, if it’s a comment about your Saturday night outing at the local … Read more
Since social media caught fire, all sorts of companies and organizations have been aggressively trying to court followers. You get the solicitations through Facebook and other platforms asking you to like their pages, follow them on Twitter, or take whatever action is correct for the specific channel. When you visit a store or a restaurant, … Read more
Imagine that you have a brochure or newsletter article in front of you, and some of the type is printed in blue. Now take your index finger, and tap it repeatedly. Did anything happen? The object may have developed a slight dimple and you received some kind of repetitive stress injury, but did anything else … Read more
Technology’s impact on the marketing world has been growing exponentially. Each year sees amazing new platforms that give marketers more power and greater opportunities. However, they also create a dangerous temptation to completely eliminate the human role … and with it, do away with common sense. I’ve written about this in the past, pointing to Staples … Read more
Election coverage is fast-paced. I get that. But there’s always time to double-check what you’ve written. Unfortunately, many in the national media have been sloppier than normal this year. What’s particularly disturbing to me is when I see wrong words in Associated Press stories, given that the AP once set the standard for excellence. … Read more
I work in an industry that places a great deal of emphasis on creativity and originality. Within some corners of that industry, creativity is worshiped with the fervor of a religion. If something isn’t new and innovative, it’s viewed as second-rate and embarrassing. It’s true that there are many times when it pays to … Read more
The quick-service restaurant could be a little slow at times, so I called in my large order and was told it would be ready at 5:45. I walked in the door at 5:46, only to discover that not only was my order not ready; nobody had even begun to prepare my food. The manager … Read more
There’s a tendency among people in business — particularly younger people — to assume that lessons learned in the past have little value when applied to today. That’s especially true when it comes to marketing. Yes, channels such as email marketing and social media have been developed relatively recently. But the basic psychology that makes … Read more
One of the most common marketing mistakes made by today’s companies is regarding social media as a strategy. It isn’t. Social media is a channel, like the many other channels that are available to your business. Now, how you use social media and those other channels — that’s where the strategy comes in. I’ve seen … Read more