Social media experts spring up like toadstools. But who is REALLY making money? As I have said countless times, too many marketers are gullible fools who think a magic formula will relieve them of the pain of thought, exploration, experiment, measurement and conclusion. This morning I got an email …
Read MoreCategory: Uncategorized
The curse of opinion polls: followers, not leaders
How would George Gallup feel if he could see how today politicians are guided by the views of idiots? I have been writing a memoir of my experiences working with David Ogilvy. Others knew him far better and longer than I so I have …
Read More“How sweet it is to be loved by you” – or maybe not. The Mumpers are at it for Thanksgiving
A touching display: people I never met and don’t want to rush to tell me how much they care. I have just finished reading a book set in 1380 which uses the wonderful word Mumper – “a begging impostor”. Did it …
Read More“Nothing is ever as bad as it seems. Or as good”. What financial news matters?
Drowning in information? Good advice from The Motley Fool Because I write a fair amount about investment, about which I am startlingly ignorant, I follow a few writers in the hope of catching up. One is Morgan Housel of The Motley Fool. He gives …
Read MoreIgnore David Ogilvy. He deserves more than two pages
This is Ogilvy’s famous advice on writing. Sorry, I couldn’t follow it when describing him This is a memo Ogilvy wrote to staff 30 years ago The better you write, the higher you go in Ogilvy & Mather. People who …
Read MoreDoes anyone in charge have a clue? They’re less useful than cutlery
Elections no-one asked for, people doubly rewarded for being utterly hopeless – you really do have to wonder I wrote a lot about public affairs in this blog when Tony the Bliar and Hoots McBroon were mismanaging the country, but …
Read MoreSomething to make you think – if you have time to ask important questions – from Mr. Harrison
“How Advertising Can Find Its Purpose” is the title. Well worth a read if you ever wonder whether what you do is worth it. David Ogilvy’s mentor Raymond Rubicam stated flatly that “the only purpose of advertising is to sell. …
Read MoreJargon lunacy in Wales – paid for by us taxpayers, of course
If these people just promised benefits in plain English, they might do a little better. But they think fancy marketing drivel impresses. I was brought up in what they now call the “hospitality business” only in those days it was …
Read More“Physician, heal thyself”: Confessions of a smart-arse
I am often shocked when I abuse others for sins I commit myself. I should be shot. This time there was a happy ending Recently I got an email from Peter Smith of Marketing Doctors. It had a pretty good …
Read MoreBooty from my disastrous trip to Oz … how to build a brand with laughs
Never try to do Australia in a week that includes two seminars. You lose lots of things including your mind – but this is brilliant I should have known better. I’ve been going there since 1971. It is a long …
Read More