Does it connect?

The words of David Kennedy, co-founder of Wieden + Kennedy: We’re really not in the business of making ads. Our job is to make a connection.

Sometimes you can tell if ads or other marketing efforts connect just by looking.
More often, all you can tell is the quality of the design and writing. Yet well-written, well-designed [...]

If you’re going to make bad advertising, why not make it REALLY bad?

That’s a pretty cute headline I saw in the lobby at my local Bank of America the other day. “Buy Pizza, Get Dough.” Get it? Don’t worry, not many other people do, either.
It made me think of some less cute headlines that have been in the news lately:

BofA to Get $20B More From TARP, Plus Backstop [...]

Just for fun, which of these commercials do you like better?

Two Western-flavored TV commercials for two western-flavored hamburgers.
One from Burger King, the other from Jack in the Box.
Your thoughts?

Which Wieden+Kennedy do you prefer?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know they’re built for different purposes. But which do you prefer: The Wieden+Kennedy official site, or the blog from the Portland office?  And why?
Personally, I like the blog infinitely more. My guess is that the fancy corporate site has outworn its welcome. The days when figuring out what a website is [...]

Innovative websites

It’s becoming more and more rare to run across a website and think, “I wish I had done that.” Or even, “What rock have I been hiding under?” Here are three such sites — taken together, they may help you see the role of the corporate website in a new way.

Marketing promos that went horribly wrong

Were they bad ideas, bad execution, or both? You decide.
To follow this blog on Twitter, go to: @barrettrossie

More marketing inspiration

In a purely entertainment, this Pringles banner is wonderful. But it raises a few questions about the marketing value.
When people click the ad, what about it would make anyone buy the product? Is there anything compelling, other than the creativity of the ad? There seems to be a leap in logic from the funny commentary, [...]

Marketing a small business

I find fewer things as exciting and inspiring as someone diving into a new small business.

Inspiration and creativity still live

My wife just ordered a book through an independent dealer at eBay. A day later, she received a wonderful email… from the book! Here it is:

Wal-Mart to sell iPhones

The news that Wal-Mart will sell iPhones is a testament to the branding work done by The Martin Agency on Wal-Mart’s behalf.