For a while now, the conversation has centered on one question: Will AI replace creative agencies? But that may have been the wrong question. AI is changing how work gets done. It can accelerate research, streamline production, and help teams move faster than ever before. What it can’t do is replace curiosity, strategic thinking, or […]
As human beings, we’re not very good at remembering facts. We’re much better at remembering stories. That’s why some brands seem to stick with us long after we’ve seen an ad, visited a website, or attended an event. It isn’t always because they have a better product. Often, it’s because they told a better story. […]
It’s the best piece of advice we’ve ever heard. When most people get ready to present an idea, lead a meeting, or speak in front of a group, they think, “I have to be good.” But that’s usually the wrong goal. Most people aren’t sitting there hoping you’ll impress them. They’re hoping you’ll help them. Help […]
For years, brands have wanted to know:How do we do more digitally? Today, we’re hearing a different question.What else can we do? It’s not because digital stopped working.It’s because every brand is competing for the same attention in the same channels. That’s why more marketers are exploring ways to create experiences customers can actually interact […]
While traveling in Salzburg, Austria, our president, Brent Niemuth, stood in front of the Mozart statue. Horses trotting by, the castle looming above, and an observation: When you think of Salzburg, a few things instantly come to mind: Mozart. The fortress. The Sound of Music. Clear, simple, unmistakable associations. Your brand works the same way. […]
When we think about strong brands, we often picture logos, taglines, or beautifully designed experiences. But sometimes, recognition happens even faster than that. Sometimes, it starts with color. In this quick hit from the road, J.Schmid President Brent Niemuth shares a simple branding lesson from Mykonos, Greece, where white buildings and blue water communicate a […]
When we think of powerful brands with rich stories, like Patagonia, we picture their website, their stores, maybe one of those beautifully crafted catalogs. But there’s something just as important that often gets overlooked: the people. In this quick hit from the road, J.Schmid President Brent Niemuth shares a branding lesson straight from a Patagonia […]
Well, it’s (finally) 2021. As we crawl carefully, still masked, out of the shadows of 2020, there is still much unknown. One trend I’m trying to understand is which way the external agency vs. in-house team pendulum will swing. Some suggest that the multilayered crisis that was 2020 now has in-house teams shrinking due to […]
I recently read an article about America’s most hated companies. Every year, 24/7 Wall Street publishes a list that invariably includes companies from the pharma, communications, travel, banking and retail sectors. Companies know a good reputation is vital to a company’s health and success. And yet they often overlook one of the simplest tools to […]
