February 4, 2012

BrandingBlog Radio: Brett Feinstein – Political Advertising

Brett Feinstein - no doubt going negative

Brett Feinstein is a partner in the political advertising agency Pound & Feinstein.

He’s one of those guys that you have to get to know to understand. He’s loved and admired by those who take the time. If you know Brett Feinstein only superficially through Facebook or another near anonymous web arena, you probably only think you know him. That’s because he treats Facebook as his own psychology lab; questioning, pushing, shocking and provoking to see what kind of reaction he can get. It can be alarming…if you don’t know Brett.

I’ve known him for almost 10 years now and I always enjoy getting together for a meal when I can catch up with him or on Skype for a podcast interview. We talked for almost 4 hours. Most of it after I shut down the recorder.

I still ended up cutting about 30 minutes out of our official podcast interview just to get it close to an hour.

If you’re a student of marketing and advertising, you’re gonna like this one. We compare and contrast the various strategies used by retailers and candidates. I was surprised, enlightened and entertained through the entire conversation and I hope you will be too.

What I left on the cutting room floor was mostly a conversation about Facebook that got a little personal for a few third parties. So, I decided not to share it.

We did cover campaign strategy, messaging, research, direct mail and the life of a political campaign staffer.

 

Soundbites: Super Bowl Reach

NOTE FROM DAVE:  The “SoundBites” podcasts are usually re-written in an article style (via Shortcut Blogging), but this one was such an interactive conversation that I decided to simply use the transcript. Enjoy the game!

So far…in these pre-game days, this is my fave: Beuller? Beuller?

Want to read the transcript? [Read more...]

Stupid is as stupid does

This is clever, cute, witty.

Until you have to spell it. Or search for it.

Stoopeed.

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SoundBites: How To Calculate An Ad Budget

BrandingBlog SoundBites is a new podcast. In contrast to my rambling weekly talk-show format, these are concise topics that will average about 10-minutes. I’m using the Shortcut Blogging method. I hope you find them useful. Please let me know.

A full transcript follows…

Our first Soundbite is a lesson in how to set an ad budget

Chris: Welcome to Branding Blog SoundBites, we’re with Dave Young from BrandingBlog.com and a Wizard of Ads Partner.

Dave: Hi, Chris.

Chris: How are you doing?
[Read more...]

BrandingBlog Radio: Roy H. Williams on The Desire for Instant Gratification

Roy in Tuscan Hall - 2004

Roy H. Williams is the original Wizard of Ads and central hub of our consulting group. We had a good time chatting about the biggest mistake most business owners make when it comes to their advertising…The Desire for Instant Gratification.

Before we got to the subject, we chatted briefly about Nebraska and his single sojourn through the state. What do you think was his most memorable stop? You’ll have to listen to find out.

We also talked about the extensive research he’s done on the new Pendulum book, due out in the 1st quarter of 2012. There are still seats available for the class on November 15-16 in Austin.

I took this photo in May of 2004, shortly after he purchased land for Wizard Academy. He is standing in a barn that was to become Tuscan Hall. Fortunately, the barn was blown down by the wind before it could be remodeled and they had to basically start from scratch.

BrandingBlog Radio: Using Rituals to Generate Word of Mouth

In this episode, Craig Arthur and I discuss how businesses can use ritual to make their customers feel like “insiders” which will make them more apt to talk about the business to others. This is a form of kinetic Word of Mouth.

At the beginning of the podcast, we discuss Sarah Ripley’s article “Where DIDN’T you hear about us?” from the Wizard Chronicles.

I love riffing with Craig. This conversation is a great example of why I’m podcasting. I’ve had many dozens of calls like this over the years with Craig. We finally got smart enough to record them. Enjoy.

Followup to The Followup of the Talk to The Dog Post

Can I do this? Can I followup a followup to my original post? Who’s gonna stop me? (Why am I asking rhetorical questions?)

Brandon Hull linked to the original post and added this scene from Tommy Boy. Spot on.

Follow up to Speak to The Dog Post…

My buddy and business partner Jeff Sexton just sent this video produced by the Alamo Draft House in Austin.

Another great example of Speaking to The Dog (your customer) in the language of The Dog (shared experiences in theaters) about what’s important to The Dog (NOT texting in the theater).

A great example of when to use customer testimonials (or anti-testimonials) in their raw, unscripted form.

Warning….the video is uncensored….turn your speakers down if you’re listening in a cubicle or a daycare facility.

 

Talk to The Dog in the Language of The Dog

…About What’s Important to The Dog

That’s a Roy H. Williams phrase from a lesson on branding. It’s a reference to Pavlov’s experiments with dog salivation. The point is that if Pavlov had used anything besides meat paste, it would have been a lesson in how to annoy a dog instead of how to get it to react.

I wrote about some of the writing on the Duluth Trading Company’s web site about 7 years ago. As I was making the switch to WordPress, I’ve been revisiting a few of my old posts to make sure links work, etc.

I clicked over and found these videos on the Duluth site, and they talk to the Dog (guys who wear work clothes) in the language of The Dog (crouch without the ouch) about what’s important to The Dog (ballroom). Brilliant.

First, here’s a radio spot where they are thinking up the concept…

Next, the video on the web site for the same product…

More Duluth Trading videos…. [Read more...]

Don't Believe Everything You Read

Out for a walk this morning. I decided this sign would make a good blog post.
You write it. In the comments…ready, set, go.

Don't Believe Everything You Read