Do all the trappings of the market you’re competing in mask your brand? Playing just by the rules set by your industry can whittle you right down to a dull, samey product. Be brave and step out of pack with a distinguished proposition that is true and compelling. Afterall, there’s a ‘sting’ within the word...Continue Reading

As a true measure of brand energy and strength, I would take a large mass of advocates over having a massive advertising budget any day. Afterall, the more advocates you have, the fewer ads you need to buy. Especially for smaller businesses, advocates are usually the primary vehicles for generating new customers. A client of...Continue Reading

Watching the Minions take over the world this summer got me thinking about those brands that were part of my life as a kid growing up in the 70s. These ’10 faves’ of mine were quite easy to recall as they sit at the heart of many summertime memories. Analytics aside, to me this is...Continue Reading

I think I can safely say that one of the most valuable players in any organisation is the ‘IT Guy’. And, I have a feeling a lot of people feel that way. They’re the ones that save they day. They fix the impossible. They are often the unsung heroes. There’s a day that IT guys...Continue Reading

Some very talented men and women of our time have created the world’s most loved brands. With Father’s Day coming, we decided to round up some impressive brand dads. Sorry ladies, this one focuses on the boys. How many do you recognise from the collage above? Jeff Bezos, visionary and master builder of Amazon. James...Continue Reading

Seeing the recent FIFA spectacle unfold feels akin to watching an unthinkable psycho-thriller. Can this really be happening? As a leader, I personally cannot comprehend separating myself from the accountability of those I’m responsible for… but maybe that’s just me. This debacle calls for sponsors to remember why they got into it in the first...Continue Reading

Video is more popular than ever in the marketing mix and I absolutely love how it’s giving small businesses access to a medium that was once reserved only for big brands with big budgets. On a technical level, it makes your website more dynamic and lifts your SEO performance. But I believe the most valuable...Continue Reading

With all the talk of the ‘big game’ tomorrow, it makes me wonder if there’s an analogy brewing from which leaders can assess how fit they are in the game of business. I’ve got 10 questions for you. If your answer is ‘Yes’, touchdown. If your answer is ‘No’, timeout. 1. Do you have a...Continue Reading

We often hear people say, ‘It’s not Christmas until I see that Coca-Cola ad’. It remains such an honour to have been part of the making of that icon which has been running since 1996! As a child growing up in the 1970s, I had the same feeling about the Norelco ad.  More recently, John...Continue Reading

This month we salute 3 leaders for their persistence, endurance and passion and for the benefits the world continues to receive from the campaigns they created and fought tirelessly to bring to fruition. First we recognise Sarah Josepha Hale for conceiving of the idea of an annual day of Thanksgiving and campaigning for 36 years...Continue Reading