by Jeff Slater | Apr 11, 2021 | Branding Issues, Marketing Advice
Christopher Penn, accomplished marketing thought leader and speaker, mentioned a cool idea in a recent newsletter. Say hello to the first, best, only test. He mentioned that he learned the idea when he worked with a national agency called SHIFT Communications and its...
by Jeff Slater | Apr 8, 2021 | Marketing Advice, Personal Stories
At times I provoke trouble – sort of marketing provocateur. I enjoy being the one saying – hey, can we talk about the elephant in the room? I’m not talking about getting into trouble, but if I am in a meeting, I like to take a step back and ask, why are we doing...
by Jeff Slater | Apr 6, 2021 | Marketing Advice
The upside-down ketchup bottle earned its inventor, Paul Brown, $13 million. With over 111 prototypes and many drained credit cards, he persisted and changed the way people consume ketchup and other condiments. He thought about the challenge from a new perspective....
by Jeff Slater | Apr 4, 2021 | Marketing Advice, Marketing Start Ups
Somewhere around 1995, I spent a million dollars to create a website. Psychologists call this an escalation of commitment. My mother would have called it meshuggeneh. (Yiddish for crazy) In hindsight, I must have snapped – and not into a Slim Jim. In the 1990s,...
by Jeff Slater | Apr 1, 2021 | Marketing Advice
Well, companies need more of the correct type of meetings. Of course, companies hold too many meetings. But the type of meeting I’m talking about is the pre-meeting before your company is about to pitch a prospective client or to present important findings a d...
by Jeff Slater | Mar 30, 2021 | Branding Issues, Interesting Brands, Marketing Advice
A brand’s promise is a declaration of assurance. Brands must make steadfast promises to build their community, tell their story, and differentiate themselves from the competition. When I’m asked to explain what a brand is, I use the word promise to help...