Archive | Anything else

Small book, big wisdom

By Scott Flood on May 22, 2019 in Advertising, Anything else, Marketing Wisdom

I’ve spent many years in the advertising industry, and from time to time, people ask me if there are any books about the craft of creating advertising I’ve found particularly valuable. I’ve read many, but the single most influential upon my work is a tattered 1972 paperback that still occupies a prominent place on my […]

Happy holiday’s and other goofs

By Scott Flood on November 28, 2017 in Anything else, General rants, Mistakes & Mishaps

Many people confuse the plural and possessive forms of words, and I usually cut individuals some slack when they make the wrong choice. But when the world’s largest chain of ice cream shops does it in its advertising, I can’t let it go. This promotional piece for Baskin-Robbins suggests that we “Celebrate…The Holiday’s” with a […]

Look to your customers for answers

By Scott Flood on January 25, 2017 in Anything else, General rants, Marketing Wisdom

If you’re not sure why your company isn’t performing as well as it should, the answer may be closer than you think. Your customers may have the insight you need to figure out what you’re doing well and what you need to improve. Richard Whiteley’s excellent book, The Customer-Driven Company, cites many successful companies that […]

Bookmarking death: purchasing a plot with Jesus

By Scott Flood on August 8, 2016 in Anything else, General rants

“So how many bookmarks do you need?” My blank expression led Jesus to realize that I obviously needed more information, so he continued. “We usually give you six bookmarks, but if you’d like, I can arrange to give you more.” Handing over a hefty three-ring binder, he pointed to the styles of bookmarks that were […]

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS AN ALOT

By Scott Flood on July 27, 2016 in Anything else, General rants, Online Words

My daughter introduced me to one of her favorite webcomics, and it’s become one of mine. Allie Brosh created the delightful blog (and subsequent book) called “Hyperbole and a Half.” It’s entertaining, if not easy to describe. Let’s just say that it’s a look at the absurdity of the world through childlike eyes and impressions. […]

PROOFREAD TO WAY BEST THE

By Scott Flood on June 1, 2016 in Anything else, Marketing Wisdom, Online Words

Here’s a handy trick for proofreading more effectively that I learned years ago from a boss: read what you’re proofing backwards. Start at the end, and read it word-for-word in the wrong direction. I’m completely serious, and it’s one of the most effective ways I’ve found — especially when I’m proofing something I wrote. That’s […]

CONNECT THE UNFAMILIAR TO SOMETHING FAMILIAR

By Scott Flood on February 24, 2016 in Anything else, Marketing Wisdom, Online Words

At a time when new technologies seem to appear every day, most folks are becoming overwhelmed. While they’re impressed by all the new features and opportunities, and while many can see at least some of how these new advances will benefit them, the sheer volume of information is pushing a growing number of people into […]

DON’T CATER TO ANGRY PEOPLE

By Scott Flood on January 6, 2016 in Anything else, General rants, Marketing Wisdom

Part of human nature is wanting to be liked. Deep within each of us is that child who wanted the other kids on the playground to play with us, the middle-schooler who desperately wanted to be seen as “cool” by his or her peers, and the young adult who hoped to be appealing to prospective […]

RESTAURANT SERVER DELIVERS DELECTABLE MARKETING LESSON

By Scott Flood on October 28, 2015 in Anything else, General rants, Marketing Wisdom

In Louisiana, they call it lagniappe. It’s a wonderful word describing those unexpected little extras we receive now and again. At the Indianapolis B2B Marketers October panel discussion, a restaurant’s server delivered some lagniappe that doubled as an excellent lesson for marketers. Following a delicious lunch at the downtown Ruth’s Chris, the panelists engaged […]

DON’T BE A POWERPOINT COMEDIAN

By Scott Flood on September 9, 2015 in Anything else, General rants, Marketing Wisdom

Every time I attend a conference, I’m reminded of one of my many PowerPoint peeves. It’s not my biggest peeve (which is the presenter who subjects you to copy-heavy slide after copy-heavy slide, and makes it worse by assuming that you’re illiterate, so he reads every word to you), but it comes close. No, the […]

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