Blog archives
Marketing stories in our blog
'Raccoon Mayhem' commercial (Allstate insurance)
August 28, 2011
The Allstate insurance Mayhem commercials starring Dean Winters have burrowed deep into my mental attic.
TV schedule shell games
August 18, 2011
When TV programmers keep us guessing about a show’s airtime, we might decide we don’t really need to watch it after all.
Advent calendar repurposed: Wisconsin Lottery's Holiday Countdown
November 28, 2010
The Wisconsin Lottery has themed its new instant ticket to take $15 a pop from gamblers during the holiday season.
RockMelt browser: Facebook privacy issues?
November 8, 2010
The new RockMelt browser is paired with Facebook Connect — potentially tying your real identity and other personal information to every Web page you visit.
Acid reflux symptoms remedy: Yogurt?
September 1, 2010
Acid reflux has long been battled by funny commercials for various medications. What about eating yogurt instead of pepperoni pizza?
Bruce Willis fragrance: Perfume, hair & body wash for smart guys
July 7, 2010
Bruce Willis Eau de Parfum and other fragrance products are being introduced by a German company this week. Tagline: Smart guys live forever.
Sprint's Facebook page: Social media messes the 4G message
March 26, 2010
A Sprint 4G ad brought me to their Facebook page — full of random and negative messages.
How to start a business, for free lance graphic designers
February 18, 2010
How do you start a business as a free lance graphic designer? This book is a bible to everything from writing a freelance business plan to collecting payment.
WordPress CMS alternative: SilverStripe open source content management system
November 24, 2009
Until last week, WordPress was the best solution I had seen for small, owner-editable websites.
Online analytics: Clicky Web analytics tools
November 8, 2009
What are Web analytics, and what services do realtime, online Web analytics tools like Clicky provide?
Pomplamoose: Music duo going viral via social media
October 26, 2009
While the music industry is floundering, this music duo appears to be thriving — thanks in no small part to their use of social media.
Netflix million dollar prize overlooks the obvious
September 21, 2009
Netflix could give much better movie recommendations if they ditched their 5-star rating system for the standard 4-star system.
Google Voice vs. (801) 823-2033: Annoying calls after FedEx Office
July 11, 2009
Our Google Voice phone number was getting annoying calls. Whose phone number is this, we wondered.
Amy Czerniec and the dog that broke her heart
July 1, 2009
Saying goodbye to one workplace, and beginning the search for the next.
'Morning Joe' Scarborough brews up Jon Stewart feud over Starbucks
June 10, 2009
Is there any connection between Scarborough picking a fight with the ‘Daily Show’ host and the launch of his campaign for, uh, his book?
Gary Vaynerchuck talks Twitter on CNN's 'Your $$$$$'
May 17, 2009
How social media, like Twitter, give anyone a channel to reach any potential audience.
The new yellow pages: Google advertising shines in NPR segment
May 6, 2009
‘All Things Considered’ looks at how small businesses are using Google Adwords to attract local customers.
FDA warning: Stop using Hydroxycut diet products
May 1, 2009
The FDA has received 23 reports of liver problems, including one death due to liver failure.
'Air Force One' over New York: Photo session evokes 9/11
April 28, 2009
They wanted to shoot images of the jet against New York’s harbor.
'Tweezing': How to pluck yourself big money from Twitter
April 22, 2009
Carve out an exciting a new career in the 140-character economy.
ABC's 'World News Now' (or is it 'America This Morning'?)
April 16, 2009
Whatever it’s called, it’s a pretty good early-morning news show that deserves its own website.
Red Gold tomatoes and the mysterious emailer
March 2, 2009
A guy offered to send me soem Red Gold tomatoes to blog about. Well, I do like Red Gold tomatoes.
AIG and a little trouble sleeping
March 2, 2009
AIG has succeeded wildly at one thing: Keeping families up at night.
Word-of-tweet recommendation for local business excellence
February 25, 2009
I was happy with Hoernel Key Shop so I Twittered that, and people responded.
'Engine 2 Diet' fad from Texas, 'Tecktonik' dance craze from France
February 24, 2009
Scouring the globe to bring you the new and the cutting edge, I have found a dance and a diet.
NPR: Wisconsin car dealer Russ Darrow believes in auto sales, is hiring
February 18, 2009
The company hopes to hire 55 more employees in sales, maintenance and repair and administration by March 1.
T.D. Mischke show returning March 4 via CityPages.com webcast (updated)
February 18, 2009
Great news: Tommy will be heard again beginning the first week of March.
Trader Joe's commercial: Jobim's 'Waters of March'
February 12, 2009
I don’t know if I buy that it’s an unauthorized commercial, but we certainly buy a lot of wine from Trader Joe’s.
'The Story of Stuff' with Annie Leonard
December 31, 2007
A 20-minute video looks at global consumerism, limited resources, and waste.
A history of Christmas in America: 'The Battle for Christmas'
November 24, 2007
Why Christmas is commercial: All about Christmas in the USA and the rich men who made it that way.
Free directory assistance: 1-800-FREE411
March 8, 2007
Yes, you do have to listen to a short ad, but otherwise it is free.
Blendtec blender viral videos: 'Will It Blend?'
January 11, 2007
Blend it! See this viral video campaign from blender maker Blendtec mixing smoothies from odd objects.
Zarqawi: Mastermind or numbskull?
May 5, 2006
The US has put a lot of effort into portraying Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as a fearsome adversary. Now they expose him as an idiot.
Labeling immigrants
May 1, 2006
How did CNN’s graphic designers arrive at this odd choice in branding their coverage of immigrants?
