What kind of marketing is the most effective?

sneezr.ca Have you ever asked yourself that question? I did. In fact, many years ago I spent countless hours trying to figure it out.
The answer turned out to be quite simple: word of mouth marketing. Or as I call it: the art of cultivating recommendations.

Surprised? Probably not. With recommendations, there is no sales pressure and no credibility issues. When your friends, family members or trusted co-workers recommend something or someone to you, they are genuinely trying to help you. That means a lot, which is why you usually remember it for a long time. But here is the catch: recommendations must be earned. How do you do that? Where do you start? How do you give people a reason to talk about your products/services? How do you nudge your story into every day conversations? I launched sneezr.ca to help you answer those questions.

What can the Amish barn-raising teach us about big ideas

Teamwork might work in building an Amish barn, but it can’t create a Big Idea.
The accepted system for the creation continue reading

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One good lead on great ideas

The greatest ideas are the simplest.
William Golding, Lord of the Flies

Case in point: The latest campaign for the Red Cross.

My 2¢: Simplicity is not about less effort. Simplicity continue reading

How to make a cover shot

Image via Blackthorn Cider

My 2¢:
In marketing, the distance between a press of the shutter button and a cover shot has never been greater.
It’s easy to forget that.

How to get people talking with a videologue

What’s a videologue?
The form of communication via short video = videologue.
Why should you consider it? When it comes to explaining what continue reading

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Why the eyes have it

My 2¢:
In advertising, improving people’s ability to remember and recall information is one of your goals.
People’s ability to remember and recall information soars continue reading

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A simple idea that shines

Check out this remarkable painting made with coffee cup stains by the Malaysian artist Hong Yi.

My 2¢: Simplicity is not about less effort. Simplicity continue reading

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An entire ad campaign summed-up in a single sentence?

Case in point: the new advertising campaign for AutoTrader.ca.

Simple yet delightful, no?
The whole campaign could be summed-up in just one sentence:
It’s continue reading

Thank you

Image via dianyla

“Thank you,” is what I said to a reader from Ohio whose email suggested that some of the insights I share here are continue reading

Word of Mouth Marketing 101: Awesomize your ads

Case in point: Dollar Shave Club.

My 2¢:
In life and in business you often don’t need more genius. You need less resistance.
Humour and surprise melt resistance. It’s continue reading

Were you raised to be Ordinary?

Shortly after I published my post titled What is now proved was once only imagined, I received an email continue reading