Blog
Focus on the experience
Advertising gurus will tell you that the way to make your message resonate with consumers is to focus on the benefits not the features of the product. In other words, instead of telling the public the details of what your product can do, tell them why it matters to...
My Holiday Wish List
I haven't compiled a Christmas list since I was a little kid, so writing this was a lot of fun. It’s much easier to create a wish list as a kid because kids want everything and they don’t know what’s possible. So why not wish for more snow days or x-ray vision. It...
What is a QR Code and how to use them effectively?
By now you have probably seen an advertisement or magazine article sporting a QR Code. If you’re not familiar with this technology, Quick Response Codes are those strange looking little blocks of black and white squares that look like static on an old television...
Update on rebranding the Roanoke Valley CVB
Time for an update and an inside look at a very cool rebranding project that was introduced in this space several months ago. Readers of this blog know that rebranding means much more than adopting a new logo or tagline. Genuine rebranding requires a wholesale...
Branding advice from City Slickers
One of my all-time favorite movies is City Slickers starring Billy Crystal. It's about three middle-aged buddies who take a vacation to a working ranch and go on a cattle drive. The tough-as-nails crew boss is played by Jack Palance, who in a famous scene tells...
Political Advertising: No, thanks
In this final week of campaigning there is an advertising blitz going on designed to help people make their decision before election day. The only conclusion that all this advertising leads me to: I'm really glad that our firm specializes in tourism, hospitality...
Roanoke, VA : Outdoor Hub of the Mid-Atlantic
Q. What is the most famous hiking trail in America? A. The Appalachian Trail, and nearly a quarter of its 2100 miles are in Virginia including long, scenic stretches that run right through the Roanoke Valley. Q. What is the most visited unit of the National Park...
Brands, Brand Identity and Logo – how they relate to each other
When I do presentations for clients or groups I frequently start with a PowerPoint slide that illustrates how a brand is not the same thing as a logo, tagline, or company/product name. It’s important to understand that a brand is harder to nail down that any of these...
Choosing the right creative firm
A few days ago I posted the first of a two-part series on making the marriage between a client and a creative agency work. The first part offered a few tips on how to get the most out of your relationship with your agency and thus maximize the return on your...
Getting Maximum Benefit From Your Creative Agency
In this space we have written about subjects of interest to us as a creative agency – like developments in the world of advertising and the power of creativity. We've also written about topics specific to our clients and prospective clients – like tourism and...