While browsing my Coastal Living magazine a few months ago, I came across this full page ad.  Definitely caught my eye…for a few reasons.  One, the simplicity of the image.  All too often business/clients forget the human brain has challenges retaining multiple messages or images.  Tell me one thing!  You then have a fighting chance [...]

Advertising · Coastal Living · Marketing and Advertising · QR code · Texas

Every Monday I like to examine messages used in media.  Television, outdoor, print, radio, social media and more.  It’s an entertaining look at what advertisers and agencies focus on when it comes to their creative.  In a past blog we discussed “3 is the Key” when it comes to success in advertising.  One of those [...]

Advertising · Marketing and Advertising · Mosaic Monday

From the Life is a Gag website….here’s some real fun in marketing.  Taking a chance, thinking differently and actually implementing such ideas are most often way out of an advertisers comfort zone.  But what an impact it could have if given the opportunity! Below are two examples of how pushing that line benefits a business.  [...]

Advertising · Creative

My daughter Courtney forwarded this commercial to me via one of her SMAD classes at JMU.  This is less of a “judgement” call on effectiveness and message content and more of a guilty pleasure in advertising.  This commercial would most certainly catch my attention!  So…I’d say the demo target is….woman??  Your thoughts?  :)   Related [...]

Advertising · James Madison University · Maino · Marketing and Advertising

Here’s a creative and unexpected avenue to advertise!  I was recently on a flight back to VA from MI.  Aboard the US Airways flight I pleasantly requested a Diet Coke from the flight attendants fully stocked cart.  Once my request was fulfilled I noticed this napkin. Accompanying my refreshment was an advertisement from Hilton Garden [...]

Advertising · Diet Coke · US Airways

When I was a young mother I spent a few years of my sales career in the direct sales industry.  Most people parallel ”direct sales” to Mary Kay.  Mary Kay has a great name and excellent products. I chose a jewelry company to share my experience.  When I was involved in the industry we use to call [...]

Advertising · Facebook · marketing

One of our wonderful production partners, Andy at Appeal Productions emailed a car commercial to me and his two partners.  You’ll notice while watching, no brand name is mentioned.   So here was Andy’s question;  ”Is this a smart play on the East & West Coasts where people tend to drive Toyotas or Hondas? Can [...]

Advertising · Forbes · Ford Motor Company · General Motors

This layout appeared in my Coastal Living Magazine.  It is for Acura.  One page shows the outside of the vehicle and the second reflects what the car can carry!  With one look this advertising print ad conveys the value of the Acura RDX!  I would say the demographic target of Coastal Living would be woman [...]

Acura · Acura RDX · Advertising · Creative

This week we’ll highlight two radio commercials that I love!  They both have to do with healthcare and are very creative!  There are many different directions a business can take when it comes to their creative message.  Sincerity, storyline, conversational, strong emotion pull and humor are some of the approaches.  Humor is one that definitely [...]

Advertising · Creative · Marketing and Advertising · Memory