Last night I drove down one section of freeway in Atlanta and counted 32 outdoor billboards.  Of these, 28 had messages and/or layouts that could not be read in the time that one single car drives by.  Whatever happened to the rules for “six words or less?”  I was taught this principle in college advertising.  [...]

I am an Avis Preferred customer.  I recently landed at a smaller airport where Avis and Budget were sharing a rental counter as well as staff.   While they had a sign for Avis Preferred customers, there was only one line feeding both of the used car rivals, so I stood in it.  Everything was going [...]

I am commenting on the new State Farm campaign which I just say for the first time this morning. The situation of a wife catching a husband on line with his insurance agent and thinking he is talking with a woman leads one’s mind so far away from any kind of Expectation related to insurance, [...]

I realized that I had not heard from my car insurance agent in a long time, and could not remember even a bill. He is a State Farm agent and I have had one or more cars insured with him steadily since 1985 (26 years).   When I called them, I found that State Farm had [...]

Slimfast  is proving that no matter how old a brand might be, one can finally get to a great copy line that tells the story and does so in a way that links directly to the name of the brand.  And makes you wonder where this idea has been for so many years? “Who has [...]

For many years, I have meant to visit Columbus, Indiana.  You know that’s the town that is differentiated based on the architecture of its companies and buildings. I went yesterday. If it is possible to overdo branding for a city, Columbus may have done it.  The reason for the differentiation is real.  The logo is [...]

I find the techniques used for some internet advertising to be despicable.  For instance, Verizon’s IQ game.  This starts out as an unbranded challenge by an individual chosen to seem like a friend, a challenge for you to take an IQ test, and compare  your score to theirs.   You go through ten different screens [...]

Last night I drove past 32 outdoor billboards in Atlanta and of these, 28 had too many words to be read completely in the time that it takes one car to drive by.  What happened to the old principle of “six words or less” that I was taught in college advertising?   What were you taught? [...]

I learned this morning that new products guru Margot Chapman jumped off the Golden Gate bridge ending her brilliant career.  I will miss her.  We were friends for almost 35 years. Margot first made waves back in the late 60′s inventing Warm Fuzzies, the very first sheepskin bedroom slipper with the wool inside.  Yes, all [...]

What do you think about Waffle House vs. Huddle House?  Which is your best choice for a sit-down quick meal? I personally think that Waffle House is best on service.  I can never remember a bad Waffle House waitress although I once had a bad waiter at a Waffle House in Springfield, Missouri.  But never [...]