Recently I had the privilege to do some brand development work for a local church. It was a very fun and rewarding project made even more special by it's warm reception. More on the brand development process later as we get further along, for now have a look at the spot. The spot was our first assignment in the process after doing some brand discovery sessions and creating some basic brand building blocks.
Enjoy and your thoughts are always welcome.
Reno Nazarene Church TV Spot from Justin Sullivan on Vimeo.
sterling doak lives to tell about it
Nov 28, 2008
Nov 25, 2008
Small, Smart & Scrappy Agency Rule #1: Respect It
I just got this note from a vendor I have been working with. We have an immense amount of respect for our clients and in turn that means we have an immense amount of respect for our reps and vendors. We don't treat these people like 2nd Class Citizens... we treat them like first mates on the Love Boat.
When I get notes like this is reinforces Rule #1. When you earn the respect of those you collaborate with, it creates a better product for the client and life is easier all the way around. And it makes it easier to be a giant killer.
"Got your check today - you are the greatest client ever. I didn't even have to hunt you down for payment. I've been trying to collect {a very small amount} from {insert giant local agency} for {a few} months! Screw those big agencies! Looking forward to working with you again."
So, hey, all you 'big agency' people out there need to remember something...the Small, Smart & Scrappy agencies are making the rules.
#1: Respect it.
When I get notes like this is reinforces Rule #1. When you earn the respect of those you collaborate with, it creates a better product for the client and life is easier all the way around. And it makes it easier to be a giant killer.
"Got your check today - you are the greatest client ever. I didn't even have to hunt you down for payment. I've been trying to collect {a very small amount} from {insert giant local agency} for {a few} months! Screw those big agencies! Looking forward to working with you again."
So, hey, all you 'big agency' people out there need to remember something...the Small, Smart & Scrappy agencies are making the rules.
#1: Respect it.
Nov 17, 2008
Good shot from Mike Henderson
He took this riding Amtrak from SLC to RNO - this was taken in Winnemucca.
Sep 25, 2008
Aug 17, 2008
Aug 14, 2008
Aug 9, 2008
Aug 8, 2008
Aug 6, 2008
Jul 29, 2008
Jul 26, 2008
80's party @ lap's
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Jul 25, 2008
Dear Blog,
I know I haven't written in a while. Get over it. I'm Gen Y dude - watch this video and shut up.
Jul 19, 2008
Jul 11, 2008
Jul 4, 2008
Jul 3, 2008
Jun 21, 2008
Jun 19, 2008
Jun 17, 2008
Sales Reps Take Note
Here's worthless sales tactic of the day: stop staying to me, "Your client seemed to really like our product." I know my client probably seemed pretty open to your product. After all, most of my clients, before we got in there and put a proper media plan together, were open to LOTS of products. Client's don't know a good media mix, so they dabble. They hire us for our professional ability to plan and place a good media mix.
So a few things are at play here, the first of which is; they want to stop talking to you and get back to work. So, let them. Call me and sell me your product. The client may sound extremely interested, but ultimately, they just want to get you off the phone, but still act like they are interested in what you have to say... in two minutes or less. Save the pitch for us. Next, saying the client liked the product and your pitch means absolutely nothing to me. The agency needs to review the product, look at it's potential and see if it fits the strategy. Please don't run up on us with, "this is so perfect for them" because you don't know the strategy. Stop. Ask some questions. Then let's work thru the pitch. Lastly, sell us. We love to be sold to. After you have an idea of what our strategy is, really tell us how you think it could work. Get some ideas going. Ask more questions. Be engaging. My number one complaint is lazy salesmanship. An example would be a recent email I got from a radio sales rep. The email didn't have a subject and the body of the text simply read, "Call me, I have an idea." It has dawned on me that the email could have been intended for someone else, but let's assume it was for me. There was no follow up in any way shape or form. Must have been one hell of an idea. That rep dropped a notch in my book. Totally worthless tactic and probably a waste of time if I returned the email.
An agency always wants what's best for our clients. Please respect the fact that we do, in fact, know what is best for their business. Put yourself in our shoes. See the big picture. Ask us a lot of questions. Find the angles. And then sell us. If you want to just check in to see if I'm ready to spend some money with you, you're going to be waiting while your competition is engaging me with better sales tactics.
So a few things are at play here, the first of which is; they want to stop talking to you and get back to work. So, let them. Call me and sell me your product. The client may sound extremely interested, but ultimately, they just want to get you off the phone, but still act like they are interested in what you have to say... in two minutes or less. Save the pitch for us. Next, saying the client liked the product and your pitch means absolutely nothing to me. The agency needs to review the product, look at it's potential and see if it fits the strategy. Please don't run up on us with, "this is so perfect for them" because you don't know the strategy. Stop. Ask some questions. Then let's work thru the pitch. Lastly, sell us. We love to be sold to. After you have an idea of what our strategy is, really tell us how you think it could work. Get some ideas going. Ask more questions. Be engaging. My number one complaint is lazy salesmanship. An example would be a recent email I got from a radio sales rep. The email didn't have a subject and the body of the text simply read, "Call me, I have an idea." It has dawned on me that the email could have been intended for someone else, but let's assume it was for me. There was no follow up in any way shape or form. Must have been one hell of an idea. That rep dropped a notch in my book. Totally worthless tactic and probably a waste of time if I returned the email.
An agency always wants what's best for our clients. Please respect the fact that we do, in fact, know what is best for their business. Put yourself in our shoes. See the big picture. Ask us a lot of questions. Find the angles. And then sell us. If you want to just check in to see if I'm ready to spend some money with you, you're going to be waiting while your competition is engaging me with better sales tactics.
Jun 14, 2008
These bikes are @ Rapscallion...
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The Happening
It ain't happening. Let me just say, this movie had some potential. Had all the classic sort of early 80's horror schtick going, pretty decent plot line and some attractive people. But an hour or better in, we've got no big scare payoffs. More scary innuendo, more goofy character confusion but no little girl shaking in a corner, jump out of your chair, holy S I think I just P'd the seat. Turns out there's no payoff to this cheese flick. Let me reiterate: NO ENDING.
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Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
Jun 12, 2008
Thursday at a glance
Get thru emails - act, delete, follow up, repeated. I have been keeping up via Blackberry, but need to clean some stuff out. I have a few hundred to plow thru.
Get some housekeeping issues squared away. Book some prod time for a TV spot. Get a proposal done for Reno Harley-Davidson and revise a radio ad. Update the Sparks Farmer's Market social media. Do some other stuff, and so on and so forth.
Eat some sushi with Adam Lapidus. Hell ya!
Finish up desking then ride the bike home before 5. Get in car and cruise over to opening night of Sparks Farmer's Market by 5:30, take some pics from the market and update the Twitter feed. Then bounce over to the Nevada Museum of Art for the AIGA Helvetica screening at 7p. I wish I was strong enough to ride the bike to Sparks and back but I don't think I have the legs yet to make this happen on time.
Finally, home to unwind.
Get some housekeeping issues squared away. Book some prod time for a TV spot. Get a proposal done for Reno Harley-Davidson and revise a radio ad. Update the Sparks Farmer's Market social media. Do some other stuff, and so on and so forth.
Eat some sushi with Adam Lapidus. Hell ya!
Finish up desking then ride the bike home before 5. Get in car and cruise over to opening night of Sparks Farmer's Market by 5:30, take some pics from the market and update the Twitter feed. Then bounce over to the Nevada Museum of Art for the AIGA Helvetica screening at 7p. I wish I was strong enough to ride the bike to Sparks and back but I don't think I have the legs yet to make this happen on time.
Finally, home to unwind.
Jun 10, 2008
Reno Ad Club Wins National Award
Reno Ad Club Wins National Award for Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission Campaign
Atlanta, GA (June 10, 2008) -- Ad2Reno, a young professional communications group in Reno, Nevada, placed first in the annual American Advertising Federation's Ad2 Public Service Competition.
The group designed and implemented a full service integrated marketing campaign for the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission (RSGM). The campaign titled "What's in a Name?", was based on reclaiming the identity of a person's name instead of their affliction. Along with traditional advertising, the group also distributed name tags throughout the city as well as posted a wall of change in the West Street Plaza for community members to post messages of hope. The group raised $60,000 of in-kind donations.
This is Ad2Reno's first time winning the national award. The club placed third in last years competition. Past public service campaigns include Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Nevada EcoNet and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
Ad2 Denver placed second and Ad2 Honolulu placed third.
###
About Ad2Reno:
Ad2Reno is an affiliate of the Advertising Association of Northern Nevada (A2N2) in order to allow young advertising professionals a place to grow their careers through annual public service campaign participation and ongoing education. In Ad2Reno, members have the ability to develop lasting professional and personal relationships with other advertising professionals through networking events.
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Atlanta, GA (June 10, 2008) -- Ad2Reno, a young professional communications group in Reno, Nevada, placed first in the annual American Advertising Federation's Ad2 Public Service Competition.
The group designed and implemented a full service integrated marketing campaign for the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission (RSGM). The campaign titled "What's in a Name?", was based on reclaiming the identity of a person's name instead of their affliction. Along with traditional advertising, the group also distributed name tags throughout the city as well as posted a wall of change in the West Street Plaza for community members to post messages of hope. The group raised $60,000 of in-kind donations.
This is Ad2Reno's first time winning the national award. The club placed third in last years competition. Past public service campaigns include Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Nevada EcoNet and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
Ad2 Denver placed second and Ad2 Honolulu placed third.
###
About Ad2Reno:
Ad2Reno is an affiliate of the Advertising Association of Northern Nevada (A2N2) in order to allow young advertising professionals a place to grow their careers through annual public service campaign participation and ongoing education. In Ad2Reno, members have the ability to develop lasting professional and personal relationships with other advertising professionals through networking events.
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Jun 9, 2008
Jun 7, 2008
Turner Field
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Jun 4, 2008
May 29, 2008
Realization
The movement toward more transparency and information sharing could actually dilute the importance of expertise. If true, being an engaging and likable person with a decent reputation will become very important.
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Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
May 27, 2008
May 17, 2008
May 15, 2008
May 14, 2008
BIke To Work Day is Friday May 16
Just a reminder - if in Nevada - to park your earth killer for a day and bike to work if you can. More info HERE.
May 8, 2008
May 6, 2008
Apr 30, 2008
The Shiner
Monday night, at my softball (misnomer) game , I was smashed on my nose - clearly you can see ground zero in the photo - by a ball that should have been caught. Not by me, but by the person who was trying to catch it. I don't want to get into details here but basically, dude didn't catch the rock, it was a cinch deal, and I ended up making the play with my face. Nothing I could have done, but I won't go so far as to say it was 'accidental'. I know the guy. He's a good guy, but things like this 'happen' around this person. I know his brother, too, and they are both semi-professionals as breaking shit.
Anyway, this nose is broken. I'm posting this as a motivational tool. This happened at the second game I've ever played in. I'm going to use it as a reminder of the price of entry. And now I'm going to K some effing A on the field.
Apr 27, 2008
Apr 17, 2008
Apr 13, 2008
Apr 11, 2008
Get at me!
Number one thing clients want from their agencies: Ideas.
Number one thing agencies want from their sales reps: Ideas.
Number one mistake agencies make: Not meeting with clients enough.
Number one mistake sales... you see where I'm going here Big Bird?
Great article in Media Post today about agencies annoying their clients with new ideas or re-pitching ideas over and over. The only way to get what you want or need is to play the harp, baby. The same is true for sales reps, whether we tell them that or not. One of my favorite sales reps, Ellen Dias from Charter, just dropped by to hand off a personal invite to the Client Appreciation Golf Day May 8th... checking the schedule... free! Anyway, in good form, she also brought by a package that we've flatly rejected several times. Except this time, we are pitching a new client and there are some elements to this package, with a bit of tweaking, that could be absolutely fucking brilliant for my soon to be happy as hell new client - as soon as they shake off the discount priced agencies who try to undercut our strategies by selling themselves as a commodity - and be one of the tipping points to make these folks see the light of day. Now, the point of all this is directed at everyone who has to sell, pitch and win: get in there and churn the butter. If you are in sales, get in that agency with those packages and sell it, maybe in a different way with a new angle. If you are an agency, keep showing up at your clients office with new strategies and tactics, play the harp, maybe play a new tune with it. Eventually, the magic happens and everyone's singing and clinking glasses to the tune.
Break out the harp, bring the pitch and get at me!
Number one thing agencies want from their sales reps: Ideas.
Number one mistake agencies make: Not meeting with clients enough.
Number one mistake sales... you see where I'm going here Big Bird?
Great article in Media Post today about agencies annoying their clients with new ideas or re-pitching ideas over and over. The only way to get what you want or need is to play the harp, baby. The same is true for sales reps, whether we tell them that or not. One of my favorite sales reps, Ellen Dias from Charter, just dropped by to hand off a personal invite to the Client Appreciation Golf Day May 8th... checking the schedule... free! Anyway, in good form, she also brought by a package that we've flatly rejected several times. Except this time, we are pitching a new client and there are some elements to this package, with a bit of tweaking, that could be absolutely fucking brilliant for my soon to be happy as hell new client - as soon as they shake off the discount priced agencies who try to undercut our strategies by selling themselves as a commodity - and be one of the tipping points to make these folks see the light of day. Now, the point of all this is directed at everyone who has to sell, pitch and win: get in there and churn the butter. If you are in sales, get in that agency with those packages and sell it, maybe in a different way with a new angle. If you are an agency, keep showing up at your clients office with new strategies and tactics, play the harp, maybe play a new tune with it. Eventually, the magic happens and everyone's singing and clinking glasses to the tune.
Break out the harp, bring the pitch and get at me!
Apr 8, 2008
Voting For Obama
Not gonna write much here; just blurting out that I'm voting for the black dude. Besides the charismatic upside, I just feel like he has an intuitive, political savvy that no one else is offering. He voted NO on this stupid war where most went along and he separates himself from the pack in that regard. I don't think they sell that point enough. I myself bought the shit farm when they were coming around with the deeds. I wish I could go back and look as smart as this man.
Let me just get all Andy Rooney on you -
"I like Obama because he plays basketball. You never see George Bush play basketball. He's short and bowlegged. (New camera angle.) Maybe he did, but never showed up for the games. (Shrugs) Probably too busy looking up girls dresses under the bleachers while guys like Barack were out getting rebounds and saying no to unnecessary wars. I wish more guys were like that now-a-days. Less talk, more Barack. Here's some campaign buttons I like...
This one says Half Honkey - All Donkey. We've got a full ass in there now.
This one's Bros Before Hoes. Bill obviously doesn't subscribe to that theory.
Good ol' Tits and Ass on this one. I wonder where the tits are?
This one is in reference to a rap song...
"...I just love that Jay-Z shit. Hit me."
Andy Rooney will return next week with another edition of 60 Minutes.
Let me just get all Andy Rooney on you -
"I like Obama because he plays basketball. You never see George Bush play basketball. He's short and bowlegged. (New camera angle.) Maybe he did, but never showed up for the games. (Shrugs) Probably too busy looking up girls dresses under the bleachers while guys like Barack were out getting rebounds and saying no to unnecessary wars. I wish more guys were like that now-a-days. Less talk, more Barack. Here's some campaign buttons I like...
This one says Half Honkey - All Donkey. We've got a full ass in there now.
This one's Bros Before Hoes. Bill obviously doesn't subscribe to that theory.
Good ol' Tits and Ass on this one. I wonder where the tits are?
This one is in reference to a rap song...
"...I just love that Jay-Z shit. Hit me."
Andy Rooney will return next week with another edition of 60 Minutes.
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