How to Market the Holiday Season

This time of year you have to  be a irreverent. Its a holiday season no more. Think cultural symbols  and in the love of tolerance enjoy the season  with a twist Xmas, Hanukkah and Festivus and  the rest. Trust Bob Dylan  to kinda nail it with :  http://www.youtube.co/watch?v=JLZ8LPIh4Xc&feature=player_embed

So What is the Value of Direct Mail/Marketing

Apparently in Britain DM’s  think direct mail is ok . In an article in Marketing Wee  “Direct mail is regarded as a valuable business channel by the boards and senior management teams of organizations, according to marketers.

Marketing Week’s Direct Mail Attitudes research reveals that 56% of marketers believe that direct mail carries weight with the board and top executives at their organization. However, 30% of the respondents believe that direct marketing is not taken seriously at the executive levels of their businesses.”

Whats your thoughts on Direct Marketing?

John Cleese and creativity

A latte for anyone who knows who John Cleese is?  He is old but his ideas of creativity are a gift. Listen carefully.  He has a few good ones.

So if you are a creative in any fashion Id love to have your comments.

And here  is the video:

A repost:Life lessons from an ad man

I love this and I am a little  lazy so I am re posting it but take the time.  If you ever wanted to understand more about the art of persuasion you cannot do much better than this. Its another brilliant Ted Talk

Enjoy: 

The Serendipity Engine

An interesting speech by Chris Brogan and kudos he knows a little Zulu. There is something here. Check it out he is worth following and what he says resonates :

A Story that should find Corparate Sponsors

I am hugely inspired by a Congolese band called “Staff Benda Bilil” who are overcoming huge challenges and capturing Europe in a storm ..spread the word. These guys are not only survivors they are exceptional musicians:

National Geographic goes South African

Great Add but it is South African and that is good.

Directed by Cape Town-based Bryan Little from Fly on the Wall [the guys who made the Fokofpolisiekar movie that we enjoyed last week] these National Geographic ads have striking visuals.

CCFC Gets Refund From Disney

CCFC’s ongoing campaign to stop the false and deceptive marketing of baby videos has had an important success. They have  persuaded the Walt Disney Company to offer a full refund to anyone who purchased a Baby Einstein DVD in the last five years.  The refund is only available for a limited time, so please help us spread the word now.

Full article

What Is Integrated Marketing ? What is Strategy and Tactics ?

Its odd how old explanations in marketing get recycled over and over again.  Lets be clear once again that an integrated marketing approach is not a strategy, it’s the tactical delivery of a marketing strategy. I think that distinction is critical, because without the right strategy no amount of  talk about integrating multiple platforms and mediums makes much sense. In fact, in may instances integration is simply interpreted as doing more kinds of stuff. The problem with more stuff is that stuff without a central strategy can actually cause one stuff to combat and conflict with some other stuff.

Best South African Ad of 2009

If you are going to be a global brand you have to deal with local conditions and sensibilities.  Imagine you are  responsible for reaching a South Africa audience. Before you sweat go no  further and have a look at Cherry Flava.com’s choice of a top ad.  Here is their top choice for 2009.  Its brilliant. : #1 Best South African Ad of 2009 goes to Vodacom “Single Ladies”

Now how would you have managed a South African account ???