1) A pink and girly “boutique” version of Monopoly recently got some attention on the Popgadget blog. Well, this is exactly what all girls and women have been waiting for. It makes the game so much more, hmm.. engaging. As Jenn wrote: “…the thimble, … Read on >
The concept of transparent marketing first presented in my book, Don’t Think Pink, is defined as being guided and inspired by the women you serve. In most instances, those women are not going to guide or inspire your brand (diet or skincare industries, for example) to exclude men as part … Read on >
How many of you have seen the new ad campaign for Blackberry (Ask Someone Why They Love Their Blackberry) - either in a business magazine or online - within … Read on >
How to market a product that people buy furtively, at best? 1) use humor, and 2) reflect your core market’s reality. Trojan’s new ad campaign, "Evolve," is doing that, and doing it well, to inspire sexually active young men and women toward more responsible behavior. Some networks don’t approve … Read on >
Have you noticed the new Wall Street Journal ad campaign yet? "Every journey needs a Journal" uses celebrities from the spectrum of industries (Sheryl Crow and Jake Burton, to Alice Waters and Oscar De La Hoya), who are telling their histories … Read on >
Mark Morford, a San Francisco Examiner columnist who may be a bit cynical and graphic at times - and whose politics are crystal clear (just a warning), just published a … Read on >
If you come across it in your nightly viewing, pay attention to the new "Let It Out" ad campaign for Kleenex. It updates the venerable brand through clever use … Read on >
During this season of consumeritis and its blur of endless, repeating television, radio and print ads, the occasional nod to social responsibility seems daring, and effective, in its simplicity.
For … Read on >
I occasionally come across marketing campaigns that have clearly taken to heart the concept of sharing their customers’ stories, and with such good intentions - however, their approach ends up … Read on >
Has anyone else noticed the storyline of the recent "Bold Moves" campaign television spot for the Ford Freestyle? It starts with a mom and … Read on >
The She Spot: Why Women Are the Market for Changing the World -- And How to Reach Them (BK Business)
by Lisa Witter and Lisa Chen
Social change driven by women - how much more hopeful about our world could you get? This book is well-written, and its nonprofit advice also applies, for the most part, to corporate marketing.
Peak: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow
by Chip Conley
I'm a big psychology buff, so this application of Maslow's hierarchy of needs to the business realm fascinated (and resonated) with me. As Conley mentions, psychology in business has long been about "fixing it," but that won't necessarily "offer the opportunity for transformation to a more optimal state of being or productivity." Everyone can learn from this discussion.
The Sexual Paradox: Men, Women and the Real Gender Gap
by Susan Pinker
A fascinating examination of how sex differences play out over the life span. One interesting quote: "For most women it's less a question of who's able to win. It's whether competing feels good and is worth the cost."
Robin Hood Marketing: Stealing Corporate Savvy to Sell Just Causes
by Katya Andresen
Andresen writes that causes can learn from traditional marketers, but after reading this, I'd argue that traditional marketers can learn from the causes profiled. An interview with Andresen is included in my eBook, 9 Minds On Marketing.
You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
by Deborah Tannen
Men have a more asymmetrical, positioning approach to communication, while women have a more symmetrical, connecting approach. This is a classic worth revisiting frequently.
