I sat in the conference room with no idea who the client was, what they did, or why it was necessary to pull me in on a first meeting with them.
The sales rep, Steve, and I had a long relationship and we had built a relationship of mutual respect and trust, so if he asked me to be in a meeting he knew I wouldn’t say no.
Holy crap! Where was AI 40 years ago when I started in the advertising industry? Imagine the speed of creation if tools, like we have today, were available back then. Before AI came along, creative ideation was done in a group setting or brainstorming, or my favorite, finding inspiration around me and letting my brain get lost in a song while dreaming up new ideas.
Read MoreAh, the age-old myth in advertising: "Show the product and they will come." Sorry to burst your bubble, but just because you have a crystal clear image of your product, it doesn't mean you've hit the jackpot.
Read MoreI'm so over it. The influencer world, that is. It's like they're all trying to be the same person. I mean, seriously, have you ever scrolled through your feed and thought, "Wow, that's the most original content I've ever seen?" I highly doubt it
Read MoreAs a copywriter with a brain that's a little... different, I've always been fascinated by the power of words to move people and drive business results. And in recent months, I've seen a major shift in the industry thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
Read MoreLadies, Gentlemen, and Non-Binary humans, it's time to get inspired! As the living dead, we know life can be a drag sometimes, that's why we've got you covered with a heaping serving of creative, brainy goodness.
This week's Swipe This has 5 ads (plus a bonus series) that will tickle your creative bone and leave you feeling inspired. Pay special attention to Rivian, it’s a print ad.
We all need a bit of inspiration every once in a while, don't we?
If you're looking for something to get your creative juices flowing, this week's Swipe This has you covered with 5 ads that have simple, clever, and unique messages. We don't think any one type of aesthetic or tone is better than another; instead, we think it's important for every ad to have a flavor that appeals to its target audience.
So if you're looking for an injection of creative energy, check out this week's Swipe This and get ready to experience some flavorful ads!
I never intended to start a consulting business. Like Ad Zombies, it was an unintentional development.
In the years since I founded Ad Zombies, I’ve been approached by business owners who have quietly watched me grow and scale my business. They would call and ask to “pick my brain” on this or that. Eventually, I agreed to work with a few, then a few more, and, well… reread the first sentence.
We all need some creative inspiration now and then, right? This week’s Swipe This features 5 ads to help get your juices flowing.
We like ads with simple, clever, and unique messages. We don’t believe in good taste, bad taste, or no taste. We believe all ads should have their own flavor, a taste that appeals to a specific audience.
When it comes to AI, it's like that one friend who always seems to know the answers to everything — they blurt out every Jeopardy question before you. Oh, wait… that’s me. Sorry. AI is not out to steal your job, but is here to help you out and make your life easier, like a superhero’s sidekick.
Read MoreAs a small business owner, 2023 presents both challenges and opportunities. With the economy facing uncertainty, it's easy to fall into the trap of cutting costs and going into defense mode. But this approach can be detrimental to the growth and success of your business. I follow the sage advice of my friend and mentor, Gary Vaynerchuk, and “go on massive offense.”
Read MoreAs someone who used to work as a corporate creative director, I can certainly relate to the feeling of dreading, loathing, and hating Mondays. It was the day that I had to get through to start counting down to the weekend.
For me, Monday is now a state of mind. I choose to make Monday my favorite day of the week, and you can too.
Hey parents of multiple kids, dogs, cats… even though we know we’re not SUPPOSED to have a favorite, we do.
It’s OK to admit it, no one is watching you read, or sees you nodding your head in agreement. Except me, you may want to block your webcam. JK 🤣!
Just as we’re not supposed to have a favorite kid, I guess we’re not supposed to have a favorite client, but I do.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone and found yourself saying something like, "How could you not know that?" or "That's so basic, everyone knows that!" It's easy to take our own knowledge for granted and assume that everyone else knows the same things that we do. I did it—check that, DO IT fairly regularly, according to my wife, Allison.
Read MoreWith each new year, it's natural to reflect on the past and consider how we can make improvements in the future. One thing that might be worth considering for 2023 is committing to not following the advice of Douchey Bro Influencers or DBIs. Remove them from your feed and your life. Yes, jump on the DBI Diet.
What exactly do I mean by "douchey bro influencers"?
We care about Football, the game, and the players… but until Monday Night, Damar Hamlin was just another player.
In the middle of the opening quarter, Damar took center stage in the story that has dominated the news today. After a routine tackle, things took a turn for the worse when Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field and went into cardiac arrest. It was a terrifying sight to see, and my heart sank as the world watched.
2023 arrived with the usual fanfare, partying, and resolutions… those dreaded resolutions. I stopped making resolutions years ago because I sucked at keeping them. Let’s face it, most of us suck at them. I prefer building my habit muscles over resolutions.
Read MoreBack in the day, bowl games were named after things like fruit (Peach Bowl), flowers (Rose Bowl), mother nature (Sun Bowl), fibrous plants (Cotton Bowl), and baking supplies (Sugar Bowl). Bowl games were fairly straightforward and easy to remember.
I long for those days.
As I watched them lift the World Cup trophy, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. Don't get me wrong, it was a momentous occasion and the players deserved every bit of celebration. But as I looked at the trophy, I couldn't help but think, "Is that it? Is that the best we can do?"
Read MoreI used to be terrified of having any kind of medical procedure done, especially ones involving the insertion of instruments into sensitive areas of my body. The thought of someone shoving a tube up my butt or worse—my urethra was enough to make me break out in a cold sweat. So, when my doctor told me I needed to have a cystoscopy, I was absolutely petrified.
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