creativity

creativity, PR Fish Bowl • March 25, 2011

What’s Your "Limitless"Fantasy?

In Limitless, the new movie starring Bradley Cooper, a top-secret “smart drug” enables him to use 100% of his brain and become a perfect version of himself. Soon our protagonist can recall everything he has ever read, seen or heard, learn any language in a day, comprehend complex equations and beguile anyone he meets—as long […]

advertising, communications, creativity, Crenshaw Communications, marketing, public relations, social media • December 23, 2009

Pepsi Super Bowl Snub Scores PR Points, Changes Marketing Game

In recent years, the Super Bowl has become as much a brand PR vehicle as an advertising showcase. Companies can score big by announcing their participation in the adfest, and if they hit, their commercial will be replayed and discussed by pundits like Barbara Lippert and Donnie Deutsch throughout the post–game news cycle. That’s why it’s ironic that Pepsi’s recent announcement […]

advertising, creativity, Crenshaw Communications, public relations • November 9, 2009

Top Five Agency Lessons From “Mad Men”

I’m a mad fan of “Mad Men.” But I confess it’s not the soap-opera-esque personal life of ad man Don Draper that had me hooked all season. It’s life at Sterling Cooper, the fictional, but true-to-life agency. From the client meetings and internal politicking, to the bon mots of insouciant principal Roger Sterling, “Mad Men” is…well, pitch-perfect. Several episodes (like […]

advertising, creativity, Crenshaw Communications, social media • September 24, 2009

Etsy’s “Homemade” Ads Are A Hit

Just when I was about to write off the “crowdsourced” advertising trend as a fad…I happened to read about Etsy.com‘s consumer-generated commercial campaign in AdAge. The online crafts marketplace launched a contest among its own members for 30-second spots, and some of the entries are wonderful. You can view them and vote for your favorite handmade […]

advertising, communications, creativity, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, social media • September 14, 2009

Will Crowdsourcing Make Agencies Obsolete?

It sounds so easy. Instead of hiring a pricey ad agency or PR firm, just tap into the wisdom of the crowd to market your product. After all, they’re the ones buying it. Crowdsourcing is being touted as the latest trend in creative services, from logo design to advertising. Yet, most so-called crowdsourcing initiatives don’t truly harness […]

advertising, creativity, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, reputation • September 7, 2009

Why Agencies Shouldn’t “Chase the Lion”

Once, as I was beating my brains out all weekend to come up with fresh program ideas to try to win a new business pitch, my husband offered to look at my draft presentation. (He’s not a PR guy but has learned enough through osmosis that I value his judgment…and, frankly, there’s a point when […]

communications, creativity, Crenshaw Communications • August 28, 2009

Genius PR Move Of The Week

Normally I think creative job titles (Chief Enjoyment Officer?) in a corporate setting are contrived, and so, well, nineties. Not so for the lastest post at the National Railway Museum in York, England. The museum gained a new director recently, and along with it, a nice public relations boost. It was a golden opportunity, and they were quick to […]

communications, creativity, Crenshaw Communications, public relations • June 21, 2009

A Thumbs Up For “Old” Ideas

In any creative business, there’s a funny tendency for people to become attached to favorite concepts and tactics…especially those oh-so-inspired program ideas that no client ever actually bought. Then there’s the reverse of that, which is the “been there, done that” stigma that kills ideas thought to be too obvious, or “not differentiated.” I’ve been […]