Inspiration

They added live music

I have a favorite restaurant near my house called Even Stevens. They have great food (I like the Turkey Day sandwich with a side of chips, which they pepper) but they also have a great atmosphere and a social cause (they give one sandwich to a local group in need for every one you buy). Each of their restaurants is designed with some sort of theme from the local community. The one near me is decorated with old dirt bikes hanging on the walls and videos of 1970’s dirt bike races — paying homage to something call the “Widow Maker Hill Climb” which was a thing back in the 70’s. I don’t think anyone was ever made a widow, but the dudes on their bikes were fun to watch.

I took two of my kids there today to reward them for their hard work in our yard, and when we walked in we could hear someone singing and playing the guitar.

The person taking my order told me they were trying something new by having musicians play at lunch. Now, instead of just eating my food and leaving, I found myself captured listening to the music and absorbing one more element to their brand. All of the songs were from the 60’s and 70’s which fit what they were aiming for, and it worked.

Challenge: think about something you could add to your product/service that can be a brand additive — something that makes people think you care about them and that builds you up in their minds. It will only help cement your positive vibe.

Scoreboarding Your Lead Generation Efforts

Generating leads is just one role of the modern marketer. They also need to show what they’ve been able to generate to show their continual value to the organization. One way I’m going to do this personally is through a regularly published scoreboard (probably weekly) to all of my sales people and my executives.

Pinterest is a great resource to find inspiration for many things, but did you know you can find some great scoreboards that other designers have created? Here is my board with a bunch that I like on Pinterest.

Cool Marketing Idea (Weekly Winner)

I really love it when someone proves basic marketing principles, like the concepts I discussed in my previous post about Market, Message, Media.

I recently received a box in the mail (yes…snail mail). Inside was a retro red viewfinder and three slide discs. How can you NOT take a minute to look through this. I did. I looked at it all—primarily because I thought it was a cool marketing piece. But then I realized they were smart and that they did their homework.

They found out who I was and a potential problem I may have (the Market). They wrote great copy to get my attention and their website was spot on (the Message). And then came the Media.

The viewfinder was great. But this morning I received an email with a customized video for me by a sales rep. The video wasn’t a finely polished piece, but that worked in it’s favor. It seemed more authentic, more natural. In the email were a list of dates and times that he’s available for a meeting. Great touch.

In the end, their marketing did two things really fast through some shock and awe. It informed me of their services and it persuaded me to call. Essentially, it got exactly what they wanted from me—a meeting. I’m talking with them later today.

 

Finding Your Purpose

Regardless of the path that winds through your life and your career, it will unquestioningly have its twists and turns. Some will take you down fun and exciting trails, and some will lead to impassable cliffs. In both cases, it’s critical to understand your purpose and where you want to go.

“This is the true joy in life,
the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one;
the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap;
the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
—George Bernard Shaw

Marketing is in my blood

I grew up in a house filled with marketing.

Literally.

Dad worked in television for 43 years and it seems every evening we discussed principles of advertising, critiquing tv ads, or discussing new products he’d seen. CBS paraphernalia was everywhere in our house, and I’m lucky enough to have a box of autographs from nearly every popular actor in the 80’s who had shows on CBS, including Tom Selleck, Walter Cronkite and the entire cast of M*A*S*H.

It’s safe to say that I like marketing. No, let me rephrase that. I really like marketing. I think about it, I read about it, and I research it every day. More importantly, I’m lucky to have had the privilege to practice it every day for nearly 25 years in my various careers.

Inspiration for my entire career has stemmed from a single quote that I found when visiting the Ogilvy & Mather offices in New York City many, many years ago.

Raise your sights! Blaze new trails! Compete with the immortals!
—David Ogilvy

Dad died last year, but my goal is to carry on his drive and love of marketing and to pass along same passion he instilled in me. So let’s work together to blaze new trails and discover new ideas to make a difference in our tribe.

Thanks Dad.