Yet another testament to marketers’ ignorance, folly and unwillingness to do their homework I often quote that wittiest of politicians, Disraeli. He was a great favourite of Queen Victoria – as you can see, this picture was taken by her command. I …
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A tale of two posters
One a lost opportunity; the other perfect for purpose Stephen Leacock called advertising the science of arresting human intelligence just long enough to get money from it. Most people who write or design posters seem unaware how fleeting that time …
Read MoreMy five-year struggle with Google AdWords – and why they are good for you
Sheer stupidity: my secret copywriting weapon – but now I need help. Maybe you too? As you may have noticed with exasperation I have a fund of bad jokes. A favourite is on my stupidity. It often takes me a …
Read MoreJustice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done
A little lesson from Lipton’s Tea and a good CRM joke Many years ago David Bernstein, a big name in advertising for many years rang me uop cto ask if I would write a piece on CRM for the Unilever …
Read MoreThe dark art of writing to sell collectables
One of the best lessons on copywriting I ever received – and most still don’t get it I have been reading Samuel Pepys Diary. On 9th March 1662 he wrote that the crowns of Cromwell’s day were selling for 25 …
Read MoreHow not to write copy – in one interminable paragraph, with a little one tacked on
This indigestible lump of verbal sludge is about par for many “corporates”. You probably have more important things to do than wonder at the sheer ineptitude of much of the stuff put out by big firms. I, however, derive a …
Read MoreThe 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing? Baloney
“The Golden Rule is, there is no Golden Rule” – George Bernard Shaw We all like to impose order on the chaos around us. What’s more, few are keener on things that will solve everything for us without the pain of having to …
Read MoreSorry, this really is a load of propagandising old bollocks
Was what I danced to most nights part of a fight for gay rights? I really doubt it Don’t read this unless you like disco and you’ve nothing else to do. If so, you’ve got some great stuff coming your …
Read MoreCriminal waste of money by the Red Cross
I apologise, but I do feel sorry for these young people asked to do something so pointless The other day I saw two young people in front of a stand outside the local Sainsbury’s. I asked them what they were …
Read MoreAustralia’s loss, China’s gain
World’s greatest pool of untapped talent wasted The other day a lady who got my free stuff on how to get a job said how hard she found it, as she is in her ’50’s. I was reminded of this …
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