Earlier this week, we woke to the news that a local, family owned restaurant was engulfed in flames. Within a few minutes, a friend had emailed me to let me know it was a place we had all visited together on many occasions over the years. We were both sad for many reasons, but most…
Read more
What if someone told you they wanted to start up a business, but there were already 200 other businesses doing the same thing in your local market? You’d probably doubt the odds of their success… But what if they could guarantee their customers had a unique, memorable and sharable experience? Well then they might be…
Read more
It is no secret that many companies—large and small—believe that bringing their marketing efforts in-house can not only preserve resources, but also the bottom line. While I can understand how one would come to that conclusion, it is simply not the case. I know what you might be thinking: “Of course you would be pro…
Read more
This morning I was at a Missouri Venture Forum meeting and heard a very encouraging speaker discussing the entrepreneurial outlook in St. Louis. The speaker was Judy Sindecuse, CEO of Capital Innovators. At the meeting, two things stuck with me. First, someone asked me how I stay current on PR trends in St. Louis. I…
Read more
It never fails. At least once a year (maybe more) during a new client kickoff, we ask the question “who is your audience?” Then we receive an enthusiastic reply of “Everyone! Everyone can use/buy/benefit from my product or service!” Ugh. Now it’s time for me to burst your bubble and explain why not everyone is…
Read more
Think social media is just a way to let your friends know what you had for breakfast? Think again. The depth of social media is growing. Businesses and organizations are getting creative with how they leverage it to reach the masses, often in unexpected, yet highly effective ways. Wednesday, the Philadelphia Police Department did just…
Read more
A few weeks back I received an email from an ambitious young job seeker looking to break into the wondrous world of PR. He had just moved home from Mizzou and was in search of his first big kid job. Much to my surprise, he was not asking if I could get him a job…
Read more
So recently we got into a discussion about a brand and whether the customer cares if you make money. Well… we decided it depends. On what, you ask? THE BRAND Apple is a perfect example. They charge a premium for their products; however their brand is based on a solid foundation of products that simply…
Read more
I have never put much stock into these “Best Agency ___” contests. Not only are most of them super lame, they never reflect the sole reason you even exist—your work! Now with that being said, I believe there is an exception to every rule… and I have I found one. The Agency Post, an online…
Read more
As a curious human being, I love hearing the stories behind a business, and the stories about customers’ experiences with that business. As a marketer, I find that these stories are key in establishing a brand and creating strategy. When we begin the process, the first question I always ask is “why” – why does…
Read more
