Marketing, Etc.

A Porfolio Piece? Not Yet

2010-04-29T22:46:35-08:00

At first glance, you’d think that writing the annual report for a major investment bank would be a fun project.

But I don’t think whoever wrote the copy for Goldman Sachs’ latest annual report (PDF) is going to include it in their portfolio – at least not for awhile.

Send No Money Without Delay

2010-03-28T19:51:29-08:00

Double negatives. In general, they don’t not confuse readers, so it’s best to never not use positive statements.

BS BS

2010-02-27T22:24:50-08:00

I call BS on BS.

One “BS” refers to Blue Shield. The other? I think you know what I mean.

Menu Psychology: A Lyrical Approach

2010-01-30T19:47:08-08:00

A recent New York Times article points out that “menu engineering” is extremely important to running a successful restaurant.

According to the article, restaurants dealing with the recession are “hoping that some magic combination of prices, adjectives, fonts, type sizes, ink colors and placement on the page can coax diners into spending a little more money.”

I guess that’s no surprise when you consider that the menu is probably the most valuable marketing communication tool for any restaurant—but just what are the best practices for creating a menu? And do those best practices translate to other industries?

Urgent (Sorta, Kinda)

2009-12-30T23:47:23-08:00

I know it sounds vague, but it was sorta kinda urgent…

Taking Stock

2009-11-29T21:43:00-08:00

Would you buy shares of company named “Forfeit”?

I did. Well, sort of.

SOD Alarm

2009-10-31T18:55:07-08:00

If you’re sick—or worried about getting sick—you’re probably not all that sensitive to price.

But what if you’re worried about a tree?

Sponsors of Tomorrow

2009-09-29T23:07:23-08:00

Here’s a challenge: How do you create advertising that positions a huge multi-national micropressor company as the industry’s leader in delivering the essential technologies we all use today?

Oh, and by the way—make sure it’s fun, engaging, and creative while you’re at it.

The Berkshire Hathaway Dividend

2009-08-29T21:24:25-08:00

Warren Buffett’s company doesn’t pay dividends, so I don’t ever expect to get an actual dividend check from my investment in Berkshire Hathaway.

But the other day, I did secure a pretty decent yield. And all it took was one 15-minute phone call.

A $200 Million Tip?

2009-08-01T03:08:23-08:00

Will the Fed raise interest rates anytime soon? Not likely, unless inflation rears its ugly head.

But nobody is expecting much inflation over the next year so. That’s why short-term interest rates are close to zero. And even if inflation does become an issue, we’re lucky—compared to Zimbabwe, that is.