Recent studies in neuroscience have proven that all human beings have certain things in common. Our brains are hardwired to react to certain stimuli in the same way. These “Basic Human Truths” have implications on how to market to people. We’ve compiled a list of FIVE that I’d like to share with you.
I’m in awe at the number of brands who are jumping on the idea that catalogs provide a larger opportunity to not just sell products, but to engage both prospects and customers on a more meaningful level. I’m equally amazed at the number of brands, especially those that have been mailing for decades, who have […]
Years ago, I worked with a large greeting card company on their annual catalog and DM program. During an annual kick-off meeting, where they shared goals and objectives for the year, they did something nothing short of brilliant. First, they showed us their audacious financial growth target. Fairly intimidating, but we were used to it. […]
Why do you think so many digitally native brands are suddenly discovering print? Print is still the best ‘proactive’ method of getting your message in front of people. Studies show it’s far more memorable than a digital message read on a screen – people remember things far better when they’ve held it in their hands […]
Is there a clear difference between your brand and the competition? If people compare your brand to the other guys and they can’t tell the difference, the only thing left to consider is price. Join J.Schmid President Brent Niemuth with a branding lesson from Napa Valley.
What do Oreos, Mountain Dew, Shake Shack and Mack Weldon have in common? No, they’re not items from my Amazon wish list. Not all of them anyway. These are five brands that have tapped into the zeitgeist and attached themselves to the pop culture phenomenon that is the final season of HBO’s Game of Thrones. […]
Too many brands make us feel indifferent. Or feel nothing at all. But some brands have a certain something – an emotional appeal. They connect. They feel more HUMAN. Your products and all of your data don’t come first. People come first. And brands that recognize that – and act more human themselves – are […]
They typically feature cool images and design intended to grab our imagination and build a bridge to the brand’s proposition. Frankly, they leave me confused. I call this approach “passive creative.” It’s creative work that forces the audience to move through too many “mental clicks” to understand what the brand is offering. It’s unreasonable to […]
It seems like every other day we read about another storied brand going out of business, while at the same time, new upstart brands continue to gain traction. Much of this is fueled by evolving tastes and habits as each generation brings their particular and unique preferences to the marketplace. Millennials and Gen ‘Z’ buyers […]
