A.K.A. Love is a lot like marinated chicken.
I could be writing this because I’m starving, or, if my nutritionist is reading this, because it’s my newly coined phrase for the writing process.
Say it’s date night and you, being the eternal darling that you are, decide to make some sort of fancy marinated chicken for your love…or sit down to pen the greatest proclamation of love and affection to be written this century. No matter, it’s the same process.
At the heart of it all is the chicken (yes, love is apparently like chicken…or at least in this reference it is). It’s the meat of what you’re trying to say, the canvas for your spice.
Let’s face it, people wouldn’t say “tastes like chicken” if chicken were that unique. Everybody loves, [most] everybody eats chicken. It’s universally applicable.
It’s that extra something that only you can bring to the table- the extra special blend of style, wording and character that make it your own. Throw them together and sit on it [not literally] and you’ll find that the things you want to say will come to you.
What you get is one savory dinner…or one really good piece of writing.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
In the Examiner.com
Yes, I'm still leveraging the infamous David-Letterman top 10 list that I used to land my job here at EMG- something that has since become the stuff of legend and a favorite of career reporters.
Please find the latest mention on today's Examiner.com:
http://www.examiner.com/x-828-Entry-Level-Careers-Examiner~y2008m9d25-Creative-ways-to-land-entrylevel-jobs?cid=Examiner
Why do we as an agency celebrate new and creative approaches to landing a job? Because it demonstrates a person that's willing to take risks, to show their true colors and differentiate themselves from the crowd, which, as we all know, is what branding is all about.
What was on my top 10 list? Well...that's for another time, but I can tell you what my #1 reason was: "I won't leave you alone until you grant me the opportunity to interview."
Please find the latest mention on today's Examiner.com:
http://www.examiner.com/x-828-Entry-Level-Careers-Examiner~y2008m9d25-Creative-ways-to-land-entrylevel-jobs?cid=Examiner
Why do we as an agency celebrate new and creative approaches to landing a job? Because it demonstrates a person that's willing to take risks, to show their true colors and differentiate themselves from the crowd, which, as we all know, is what branding is all about.
What was on my top 10 list? Well...that's for another time, but I can tell you what my #1 reason was: "I won't leave you alone until you grant me the opportunity to interview."
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Efficiency
Or, as I like to call it, making time where there is none.
Seemingly the bane of existence of every person who works by timesheets: the overwhelming pressure to be inhumanly productive isn’t exempt from plaguing the ranks of those in advertising, marketing and PR.
[see previous release on intangibles: http://famousallison.blogspot.com/2007/11/intangibles.html]
The fact of the matter is that things take time- even the intangible ones like thinking, meeting and planning. While an agency is usually home to a plethora of eccentric creative types, creative-on-demand without any time expenditure is virtually impossible.
I am hereby instituting a random creative thought of the day (or various random weekdays). In light of this generally unreasonable expectation to produce immediate genius, here’s an idea, off the top of my head, to prove that they’re not all gems-
This year for Halloween, Instead of candy, hand out autographed pictures of yourself, standing in front of your company’s sign displaying a big, cheesy thumbs up. A surefire way to curb childhood obesity.
Cynical and funny, yes... but a lousy idea. But it goes to show that if you want something creative without the development and brand exploration time, you’re going to get an idea like that.
So, while –really- good ideas take some time in nurturing and development, in the course of writing this post, I’ve sent out a release, made subsequent follow-ups and laid the foundation for a large scale direct mail campaign. Patience is key...as a wise one says, "The things you do today will pay off tomorrow."
Intangibly efficient. Invariably expedient.
Now that’s making time!
Seemingly the bane of existence of every person who works by timesheets: the overwhelming pressure to be inhumanly productive isn’t exempt from plaguing the ranks of those in advertising, marketing and PR.
[see previous release on intangibles: http://famousallison.blogspot.com/2007/11/intangibles.html]
The fact of the matter is that things take time- even the intangible ones like thinking, meeting and planning. While an agency is usually home to a plethora of eccentric creative types, creative-on-demand without any time expenditure is virtually impossible.
I am hereby instituting a random creative thought of the day (or various random weekdays). In light of this generally unreasonable expectation to produce immediate genius, here’s an idea, off the top of my head, to prove that they’re not all gems-
This year for Halloween, Instead of candy, hand out autographed pictures of yourself, standing in front of your company’s sign displaying a big, cheesy thumbs up. A surefire way to curb childhood obesity.
Cynical and funny, yes... but a lousy idea. But it goes to show that if you want something creative without the development and brand exploration time, you’re going to get an idea like that.
So, while –really- good ideas take some time in nurturing and development, in the course of writing this post, I’ve sent out a release, made subsequent follow-ups and laid the foundation for a large scale direct mail campaign. Patience is key...as a wise one says, "The things you do today will pay off tomorrow."
Intangibly efficient. Invariably expedient.
Now that’s making time!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Meet Cheerio!
Joyce Hutchinson of Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary interviewed with Pet Life Radio last week about one of the many wonderful adoptable animals Safe Haven has in foster care- a Labrador mix named Cheerio.
To hear the interview, go to: www.petliferadio.com, and click on 'Take Me Home' and click on 'Listen Now' by Cheerio's description.
See Cheerio's full profile here:
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11777736
To read more about Safe Haven's mission and the Peppermint Pig Thrift & Gift at: www.safehavenohio.org.
Friday, September 19, 2008
9/19
A snapshot from our beloved Newport on the Levee, right down the street from our offices!
Happy Friday!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Microsoft and the Shoe Circus
Microsoft has embarked on a series of commercials to respond to the popular Mac ads:
Being generally indifferent to which type of computer I use (so long as it's virus free and doesn't magically delete my files), I find it endlessly entertaining to hear friends passionate one way or another, discuss which is truly the better machine.
I can't claim full credit for the dialog (this is my friend Eric's doing), but because I found it entertaining, am including it for your enjoyment...
A Mac response to the above Microsoft commercial:
Hello I’m a mac, and I’m a PC
Mac: What are you doing PC?
PC: Oh, I just off the phone- I was trying to set up a cross promotion between myself and the makers of aspirin and other irritation based ointments.
Mac: And why would you want to do that?
PC: Well, as you know I can be obtained on the cheap, but my lack of compatibility and frequent breakdowns seem to be causing my consumers to suffer eye damage, headache, and skin irritation. I figure I may be a more desirable buy if I can help to prevent these side effects before they occur.
Mac: Hmm, I was unaware using a computer could cause any of those issues. Then again, I am always functional unless running Microsoft Office. It’s amazing the FTC doesn’t make you put a Surgeon General Warning right on your box.
PC: Tell me about it (Bends down to tie his shoe)
GET A MAC
Being generally indifferent to which type of computer I use (so long as it's virus free and doesn't magically delete my files), I find it endlessly entertaining to hear friends passionate one way or another, discuss which is truly the better machine.
I can't claim full credit for the dialog (this is my friend Eric's doing), but because I found it entertaining, am including it for your enjoyment...
A Mac response to the above Microsoft commercial:
Hello I’m a mac, and I’m a PC
Mac: What are you doing PC?
PC: Oh, I just off the phone- I was trying to set up a cross promotion between myself and the makers of aspirin and other irritation based ointments.
Mac: And why would you want to do that?
PC: Well, as you know I can be obtained on the cheap, but my lack of compatibility and frequent breakdowns seem to be causing my consumers to suffer eye damage, headache, and skin irritation. I figure I may be a more desirable buy if I can help to prevent these side effects before they occur.
Mac: Hmm, I was unaware using a computer could cause any of those issues. Then again, I am always functional unless running Microsoft Office. It’s amazing the FTC doesn’t make you put a Surgeon General Warning right on your box.
PC: Tell me about it (Bends down to tie his shoe)
GET A MAC
Monday, September 15, 2008
Did I say that?!
There was a query out last week concerning stories of mispronounciation- something that is surely universally relatable. So, in light of that, please find below my most memorable tale of mispronounciation for your enjoyment:
Awhile back I was volunteering at a high school solo & ensemble competition as a judges assistant. It was a simple job- making sure the kids were in the right place at the right time and announcing the group and song when it was their time to perform.
Just before lunch the last group to perform was set to go, and I stood up and announced the ensemble and song, composed by Schubert…which came out “sherbert.”
It wasn’t until I returned to my seat that I realized that everyone was staring at me with quite puzzled expressions. Not only had I mispronounced the composer’s name in front of the band and audience, but I mispronounced the dessert as well.
Needless to say, I will never mispronounce either of those two words again! :)
Awhile back I was volunteering at a high school solo & ensemble competition as a judges assistant. It was a simple job- making sure the kids were in the right place at the right time and announcing the group and song when it was their time to perform.
Just before lunch the last group to perform was set to go, and I stood up and announced the ensemble and song, composed by Schubert…which came out “sherbert.”
It wasn’t until I returned to my seat that I realized that everyone was staring at me with quite puzzled expressions. Not only had I mispronounced the composer’s name in front of the band and audience, but I mispronounced the dessert as well.
Needless to say, I will never mispronounce either of those two words again! :)
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
No ‘hot dead clumps’ today.
I’ve been religiously following the progress of the Large Hadron Collider- an ‘atom smasher’ that has been in the works for well over a decade, and was recently completed.
[See my previous post on this: http://famousallison.blogspot.com/2008/06/earth-to-become-hot-dead-clump.html ]
This morning was the initial start up of the machine that is reputed to have a one in a billion chance of turning Earth into a ‘hot dead clump’ or a black hole. This is monumentally cool.
Well, apparently our game of atomic roulette landed in our favor; Earth has survived to see another day and who knows what new dimensions we may discover with this new technology. Go science!
Read more here:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/09/10/lhc.collider/index.html
[See my previous post on this: http://famousallison.blogspot.com/2008/06/earth-to-become-hot-dead-clump.html ]
This morning was the initial start up of the machine that is reputed to have a one in a billion chance of turning Earth into a ‘hot dead clump’ or a black hole. This is monumentally cool.
Well, apparently our game of atomic roulette landed in our favor; Earth has survived to see another day and who knows what new dimensions we may discover with this new technology. Go science!
Read more here:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/09/10/lhc.collider/index.html
Friday, September 5, 2008
Happy anniversary to me!
Yesterday marked my 1 year anniversary with EMG!
They asked me to detail my best and worst moments on the job...and I have to say, it's a tough question to answer.
So, to roll them both together and make life easier on myself I will give an answer that universally addresses the best and the worst---
Let's call them the 'woulda coulda shoulda' projects that every agency has: the spectacular grand openings, parties, rebranding projects and all other great ideas that are thoroughly planned but never executed. Agencies probably collect hundreds of them only to file away and be forgotten.
It's obviously an awesome experience because each of these projects involved the love and dedication of an expert team using their creativity to build something great, thus making the disappointment suffered from a near-completed masterpiece that much more rueful.
And there you have it. Now, on to another year of adventure and mayhem!
Cheers!
They asked me to detail my best and worst moments on the job...and I have to say, it's a tough question to answer.
So, to roll them both together and make life easier on myself I will give an answer that universally addresses the best and the worst---
Let's call them the 'woulda coulda shoulda' projects that every agency has: the spectacular grand openings, parties, rebranding projects and all other great ideas that are thoroughly planned but never executed. Agencies probably collect hundreds of them only to file away and be forgotten.
It's obviously an awesome experience because each of these projects involved the love and dedication of an expert team using their creativity to build something great, thus making the disappointment suffered from a near-completed masterpiece that much more rueful.
And there you have it. Now, on to another year of adventure and mayhem!
Cheers!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
9/3
I just realized that it's been ages since I've shared any photos. Truth be told, I've been slacking lately, but here's one taken a couple of weeks ago. Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Branded Apparel Do’s & Don’ts
I did an interview for an article of this title awhile back for Promotional Products Buziness Magazine, but alas, my infinite wisdom wasn’t selected to be included as originally planned.
You can see the article here: http://www.ppbmag.com/Article.aspx?id=4307
Since my two cents weren’t included in the mix, here’s my promotional branding best practice advice from our experience working with American Joe Apparel, the 100% American-made online clothing retailer.
Do:
• Keep product incarnations low to reduce sitting on large amounts of inventory (simplicity is key).
• Be consistent with key messaging- from apparel appearance to logo design, to press releases and promotions, it’s best to present a unified front to your public.
• Capture email addresses. Be sure there’s an interactive element to your website- whether it’s a contest or newsletter, and keep in contact with your website visitors and show them why your brand is great. For American Joe, we created a ‘1912’ club which offers its members special discounts, gifts and a membership card. The website also has a contest and newsletter sign up, and catalog request feature, all of which contribute to the contact database.
• Dedicate a spokesperson to your brand. Someone who will be able to speak knowledgably about the product lines, and embodies the brand. For American Joe, we selected the company’s founder, Nan Moon. Seemingly an easy choice, we were able to play off the hero brand as she is a breast cancer survivor with a rousing and engaging personal story. Celebrities are nice, but they don’t build the real life persona credibility that a company’s founder can lend to the brand.
Don’t:
• Stray from your brand by selling unrelated items (i.e. if you’re an apparel company, we recommend sticking with your strengths, not straying to selling books, DVD’s or sporting goods). You can’t be all things to all people, and it’s best not to try.
• Hold promotional events that contradict your brand messaging. Appliance stores don’t have dunk tanks at their events for a reason; similarly, if you’re a 100% American-made apparel company, you probably won’t sponsor an international festival either. We’ve had our client, American Joe Apparel, hold a T’s for Troops event- because their brand is a ‘hero’ archetype, we wanted to honor America’s hero’s with free T-shirts as they arrived home from Iraq. It garnered much publicity and support from Army organizations and supporters.
• Launch a brand via advertising. A solid, believable brand is built by a PR campaign. Always keep in mind that the news media supplies credibility to your product, whereas advertising is for sustaining an existing brand- white noise, more or less.
You can see the article here: http://www.ppbmag.com/Article.aspx?id=4307
Since my two cents weren’t included in the mix, here’s my promotional branding best practice advice from our experience working with American Joe Apparel, the 100% American-made online clothing retailer.
Do:
• Keep product incarnations low to reduce sitting on large amounts of inventory (simplicity is key).
• Be consistent with key messaging- from apparel appearance to logo design, to press releases and promotions, it’s best to present a unified front to your public.
• Capture email addresses. Be sure there’s an interactive element to your website- whether it’s a contest or newsletter, and keep in contact with your website visitors and show them why your brand is great. For American Joe, we created a ‘1912’ club which offers its members special discounts, gifts and a membership card. The website also has a contest and newsletter sign up, and catalog request feature, all of which contribute to the contact database.
• Dedicate a spokesperson to your brand. Someone who will be able to speak knowledgably about the product lines, and embodies the brand. For American Joe, we selected the company’s founder, Nan Moon. Seemingly an easy choice, we were able to play off the hero brand as she is a breast cancer survivor with a rousing and engaging personal story. Celebrities are nice, but they don’t build the real life persona credibility that a company’s founder can lend to the brand.
Don’t:
• Stray from your brand by selling unrelated items (i.e. if you’re an apparel company, we recommend sticking with your strengths, not straying to selling books, DVD’s or sporting goods). You can’t be all things to all people, and it’s best not to try.
• Hold promotional events that contradict your brand messaging. Appliance stores don’t have dunk tanks at their events for a reason; similarly, if you’re a 100% American-made apparel company, you probably won’t sponsor an international festival either. We’ve had our client, American Joe Apparel, hold a T’s for Troops event- because their brand is a ‘hero’ archetype, we wanted to honor America’s hero’s with free T-shirts as they arrived home from Iraq. It garnered much publicity and support from Army organizations and supporters.
• Launch a brand via advertising. A solid, believable brand is built by a PR campaign. Always keep in mind that the news media supplies credibility to your product, whereas advertising is for sustaining an existing brand- white noise, more or less.
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