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03/19

Cross-branding Worked on Me

In a bold attempt to cross-brand, Taco Bell recently introduced their latest taco invention which includes a corn tortilla made out of a Dorito’s brand corn chip. While I’ve been known to nosh the “Bell” from time to time, I try to avoid fast food and especially Mexican fast food. I mean really, I do live in San Diego, one of the best places on Earth for authentic Mexican food. But, I must admit their food

03/12

Made Kony Infamous

Yesterday, I watched the KONY 2012 video for the first time. It’s twenty-nine uninterrupted minutes of pure empowerment, quality editing, and pathos-fueled passion. I was moved. I was curious. I clicked refresh, and saw that the video had been viewed 3,000,000 more times in that half an hour. That number, as I’m sure you’re aware, is now at over 40 million. I will let you make your own decisions about the merits of KONY 2012 and

03/09

Mad Dog – a day in the life of an agency dog

You may have watched a ratings winning TV drama based around advertising. Well, I’m here to set the record straight and let me tell you, it’s not all hooking up with Lassie.  Here’s a Mad Dog’s snapshot of daily agency life. First order of business is to make my presence known to the ladies. I’ve found that a slight tilt of the head, a glint in the eye and a subtle brush against the leg usually

03/06

The R-Word

I know, I know. But we need to talk about it. The Recession. I’ve been doing some soul-searching slash internet-digging about new industry trends, and the word is still showing up. So I have come to this obvious-but-also-necessary conclusion: the recession is still on everyone’s mind in a big way. Yes, we are seeing a renewal of optimism and 2012 did bring lower unemployment. And yes, recent stats are showing that decision-makers are ready to start

03/01

Good or Bad PR: Customer Service Can Make or Break Customer Loyalty

Having been in Public Relations for more than seven years (with an additional ten years of customer service experience) I have seen my share of good PR, bad PR and just plain “I can’t believe how this is being mismanaged!” PR.  Hailing from the South, where we’re famous for our world-class hospitality, I belong to the school of thought that crises are not only managed through framed statements, press releases and social media, but through good

02/29

#DailyNews

My mornings in the office typically start with a big cup of coffee and my computer. As I drink my coffee and try to convince my body to fully wake up, I peruse all of my communication sources- emails, voicemails, Facebook, Twitter, maybe Drudge Report if I’m feeling particularly ambitious.  In less than 20 minutes I am up to speed on everything important that is taking place in the world on any particular day.  Or at

02/24

So, You Wanna Be On TV

At the risk of repeating myself, I am going to keep harping on one of my favorite subjects: television advertising. Why do I like it so much? Because it’s starting to get very sneaky. It’s a new and aggressive field where advertising and creative content are becoming more intertwined by the second. Product placement is not the obvious notice-the-logo-on-our-cereal-box anymore. Realism is key. The gist is this: be it traditional marketing or a fictional plotline, everything

02/23

The Value of Social Media Marketing in Your Business

Most companies recognize the need for an online marketing presence and, at a bare minimum, have a company website.  Many more have begun capitalizing on the use of social media in advertising and marketing their brands, often employing social media such as tweeting, “liking”, blogging and trying to maximize their digital presence using search engine optimization (SEO). As with any new frontier, the boundaries involved in ownership of the digital media communities created, have become an

02/22

Technology could have saved me a $1,000

The classy city of San Diego is home of many colleges and three major universities: San Diego State University, University of California San Diego, and University of San Diego. On these campuses and many others throughout California and the United States, students live dirt cheap and survive on ramen noodles, tap water and other bare essentials.

02/22

AdEase Presents Digital Strategies at DHCX

It wasn’t a particularly sunny day in the Sunshine State, but this AdEaser was glowing nonetheless. I traveled down Interstate 4 (colloquially referred to as “the I-4 parking lot”) and onto SR-528 (“The Beachline,” one of the innumerable tollways that crisscross Central Florida). Merging onto International Drive (which is famously dotted with cheap T-shirt and beach towel stores), I saw the magnificent glass and concrete tower of the Peabody poke up from behind the Orlando-Orange County