Beyond Coronavirus
Business leaders must begin to plan how the coronavirus will permanently impact their organizations in the future.
How Big Tech Could Thrive After Coronavirus
As SARS-CoV-2 continues its rampage across the globe, businesses are hurting. Global markets have taken a hit. The U.S unemployment rate jumped to levels never seen before, and will likely get worse before it gets better. There’s no way to sugar coat this — the economic news looks bleak. Unless …more
How Grab is Using Modern Channels to Engage Customers
In my blog post from March 18 I promised to follow up with additional posts about how Sprinklr customers have embraced modern channels. True to my word, here’s a look at Grab, Southeast Asia’s largest mobile technology company. In 2018, Grab acquired Uber’s Southeast Asia business. They’ve continued to expand …more
Modern Marketing and the Coronavirus
I’m a voracious learner. Throughout my career I’ve consistently preached the maxim that we must always be learning. This applies even in the midst of a global crisis. As a business manager, COVID-19 is almost certainly impacting your marketing, social media engagement, and customer care strategies. Many of you are …more
Managing Brand Communication During COVID-19
Your brand is your lifeblood, the promise to your customers. It’s safe to say that every marketer recognizes the value of their brand, and of brand communication. During a crisis, brand communication becomes even more important—so important that it is, quite possibly, a matter of life and death. Since the …more
It Takes Two
The standard pitch for a buddy movie goes something like this: two mismatched protagonists come together to create a unique bond. Think Butch and Sundance, Harold and Kumar, The Blues Brothers, or Romy and Michelle. In each film, the sum of the two together is far greater than the individual …more
¡That’s a Spicy Meatball!
Humor in advertising can be extremely effective if it hits the right note at the right time. Of course, the inverse to this statement is also true: humor can be risky if it misses the mark. It’s hard to get it right. It’s also hard hard to stand out in today’s …more
Ground Control to Major Matt Mason
Everyone has heard of G.I. Joe. Introduced by Hasbro in 1964, the movable fighting man was the original “action figure.” Not only does G.I. Joe exist today as a continually evolving toy, but he has made the leap into popular culture, featured in a slew of cartoons, books, and even …more
An Evening at the Waldorf
In December, 1978, Gourmet magazine published the heart-warming tale of Bud and Jean Ince. It’s a beautiful story but, sadly, online versions of the article are becoming difficult to find. There’s a Gourmet magazine archive that occasionally doesn’t work, and I fear this story may soon be lost forever (barring …more
These Lyrics Do Not Exist
I’m fully aware that any subjective analysis of music lyrics is fraught with danger. But hopefully we can all agree that there is great disparity in the quality, artistry, and virtue of modern song lyrics. Let’s face it, for every “imagine all the people, living life in peace” there’s an …more
Wait for It
“Good things come to those who wait,” said nobody while sitting on hold for 45 minutes randomly shouting “representative” at their phone …more
Can you hear it? That’s the sound of great advertising!
In my previous post (The late great Marx Toys, Part II) I talked about how toys and toy advertising used to give …more
The late, great Marx Toys, Part II
Marx Toys was arguably the greatest toy company of mid-century America. It created the coolest toys ever — our house was full …more
The Sprinklr Story
A little over a year ago I said “bye-bye” to both Microsoft and Seattle (previously) and started a new adventure at Sprinklr. …more
It’s Geek Christmas: Mary Meeker Internet Trends Report 2019 UPDATED
The one mandatory must read of the year for my team (and me) is the Mary Meeker Internet Trends Report. It’s worth …more
NYU professor and Pivot co-host Scott Galloway | Code 2019
It’s that time of year — late Spring Internet prediction season. In the last flurry of big events before we head into …more
The late, great Marx Toys — Part 1
Marx Toys was arguably the greatest toy company of mid-century America. It created the coolest toys ever — our house was full …more
Speaking at Social Media Week in NYC tomorrow!
I’ll be speaking at Social Media Week in NYC tomorrow (Tuesday, April 30, 2019) and I’m looking forward to delivering a talk …more
When developers insult you they start with a compliment…
“Mr Jobs, you’re a bright and influential man … and it’s sad and clear on several accounts that you don’t know what …more
Goodbye Ms Maas — and THANK YOU
Super bummed this morning — woke up to an obituary for Jane Maas, one of my advertising heroes. I’d actually messaged her …more
“What is a Brand” by Stephen King (different Stephen King) and Jeremy Bullmore, JWT London (1973)
Today is a very special day at copernicanshift.com. I have been waiting for YEARS for someone to post “What is a …more
Bye bye Microsoft … bye bye Seattle
It was 2006 — the housing crisis wasn’t on anyone’s radar … the iPhone had just been launched … and George Bush …more
100 Weeks of Leo Burnett, the Midwestern Master of Mascots WEEK 4
Here’s this Sunday’s Leo: “There is no such thing as a permanent advertising success.” — Leo Burnett @LeoBurnett #100Leos #LeoBurnett #MadMenSunday Continue …more
Perennials — less of a demographic and more of an attitude
There is a fantastic article by Leah Hardy in The Telegraph from last summer (July 2, 2017) titled Why women of 40 and 50 …more
TBT: Wonderful World of Marketing | Marketing a Better DeLorean
Throwback Thursday: Today we take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to jump in the Wayback Machine to re-visit a …more
Welcome Generation Z to the disapproval of your elders
Now that the Millennials have started getting married, having babies, and buying houses they’re a lot less interesting. So, we can all …more
A Colorful Way of Living: How to Be More, Create More, Do More the Vera Bradley Way
I just read the most interesting book! It’s called A Colorful Way of Living: How to Be More, Create More, Do More …more
True Confessions, Easter Edition
I hate eggs. They are one of the most disgusting food types imaginable to me, and I grew up hating them …more
100 Weeks of Leo Burnett, the Midwestern Master of Mascots WEEK 3
Here’s this Sunday’s Leo: “Loss of humility can wreck our judgment. Smug complacency can put a roadblock in front of our progress.” …more
KEYNOTE: Lexus Western Area Dealer Meeting
I had the recent honor of being the closing keynote speaker at the Lexus Western Area Dealer Meeting, and it was one of …more