View on YouTube You don’t need the biggest budget to succeed at marketing. The biggest budget doesn’t guarantee success. No, you need the best ideas. The best ideas win. What do you think? Subscribe to this feed.
Don’t ignore “Ignore Everybody”
In Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity, Hugh MacLeod shares his 40 keys to creativity with straight talk and no apologies. There are no silver bullets, and instead he talks about refreshingly honest things like the fact that selling is harder than it looks, you have to put in the hours and you [...]
Publishing is dead. Long live publishing.
Here’s a nifty little video regarding the state of the publishing industry. Hang tight—there’s a twist about half way through. View on YouTube I know. This execution has been done before, but it’s still pretty clever and the message is the right one. There’s been plenty of talk about the eminent death of the publishing [...]
Don’t cut corners on creativity
I’ve said it a million times: It takes creativity to break through the clutter. Here’s an ad that does just that: View on YouTube 2009 was rough year, and a lot of companies have dramatically cut their marketing budgets. A lot of brand advertising budget has been moved to sales promotion. You gotta do what [...]
On creativity, sidecar moments and marketing
I saw something I’ve never seen before on the way to work yesterday: A thin, jumpsuit-clad man with white hair and beard riding a 70′s-era motorcycle with a sidecar. Just the sight of him sent my imagination racing: Who was he? How old was he? What did he do? What was he like? Did he [...]
Will the economy kill creativity?
Breaking through the clutter amid consumer cynicism and information overload requires creativity. Creativity comes in all forms. It can be beautiful, disturbing, fascinating, shocking, heartwarming, awe-inspiring, scary, fun—you get the point. We all know that creativity isn’t always easy to sell. Sometimes it’s the budget. Other times it’s inertia. But whatever it is, experiencing something [...]
There’s always room for creativity
Here’s a great example that proves, no matter how small, no matter how mundane—everything is better when you sprinkle in a little creativity: Click on the image above to enlarge. D-Barcode of Japan gets it. Why settle for a standard barcode when you can entertain and engage your customer? And when you reward customers and [...]
Big ideas, tiny budgets
Breakthrough creative agitates. It makes people uneasy, or angry. It might make you laugh or cry. And it always makes people feel—or think. Or both. But breakthrough creative doesn’t happen often enough. The excuse I’ve heard most often is “We don’t have the budget.” Well, some of the best marketing you’ll find doesn’t necessarily come [...]
Creativity outside the lines
To raise awareness regarding the AIDS pandemic in South Africa and commemorate World AIDS Day, The Cape Argus newspaper used their page numbers to share statistics provided by UNICEF and the South African Department of Health. View several examples by clicking here. The statistics are chilling. The awesomely simple and creative execution is inspired. And [...]
Mad Men and AdAge: Where the truth lies
In Can subliminal marketing be responsible? I shared a faux subliminal ad that AMC was using to promote Mad Men, their series about a fictional Madison Avenue ad agency set in 1960. For a number of reasons, I argued that for this show, subliminal advertising would actually be the responsible thing to do, even though [...]
Creativity + social networking = Zappos everywhere
Zappos, the online shoe and clothing retailer is popping up everywhere I go. In the last month, I’ve had a number of contacts with the company, none of them planned, and none of them through traditional marketing approaches. Zappos is embracing social networking I’m a fan of Twitter, the micro-blogging/social networking service, and so is [...]

I bet you’ll fail this test
Before you read ahead, play the video below and take the test. You won’t need paper or pencil, just your full concentration. It will take you one minute. This awareness test is powerful in so many ways. It’s short and simple: One video. One minute long. 30 words. No fancy graphics. Just a single powerful [...]
Seth Godin on curiousity (and creativity)
Boring marketing is irresponsible. Responsible Marketing puts a premium on creativity. And creativity only happens when you are able to stay curious. Here’s what Seth Godin has to say about it: How long has it been since you’ve allowed yourself to be curious? Afraid of doing something really different with your marketing? Don’t be: The [...]
Powerful ideas trump big budgets
My partner, Bill Boyd, ABC, sent me this video along with the following message: You don’t need a big budget in order to reach a huge audience. Just a powerful idea and a compelling way of presenting it. I couldn’t agree more. This video regarding global warming was created by a science teacher in rural [...]
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Personnel Concepts’ marketing:
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Your name + your picture = LinkedIn ad
January 31, 2012
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It worked with Darth Vader. Why not Ferris Bueller?
January 30, 2012
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Responsible Marketing LinkedIn group is heating up
November 28, 2011
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How, when and where we share on the web
November 4, 2011
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Tums commercials gone wrong
September 14, 2011
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12 examples of marketers that have exploited 9/11
September 10, 2011
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So tasty: Schweddy Balls Ice Cream
September 7, 2011
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guest1: I don't even own a company or have my own busines...
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Stephanie DeWitt: Great Post Patrick- thanks for letting us know! I ...
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Ron Rael: What a great marketing and branding technique for ...
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Polly: Thankk you sooo soo much for sharing, I just got...
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numero uno: Besides it's cheaper to order your own =D http:...
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numero uno: Why buy their plaque when I can get my own custom ...
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C2kazg: Get real. If I let one of these pushy reps who ref...
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