I don’t know very much about the book, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. I was five when it was published. However, even my five-year-old self didn't need a book like that to point out some very noticeable differences between the behaviors of males and those of females. Today, I spend a good deal of my time managing social media campaigns for a range of clients. One thing that is very interesting to me as a social media marketer, and a challenge for our agency as a whole, is how to best speak to the varying preferences that exist among these unique genders. Perhaps I could go back to the book but I'm not sure the ROI is great there.

Found Art or Guerilla Marketing

When LED signs were placed all around the city of Boston displaying a cartoon character, people screamed, “TERRORIST ATTACK!!” But instead of instilling fear, this little slice of guerilla marketing set off a chain reaction in the media, garnering more publicity for the TV show than the creators ever dreamed possible. So, is this a brilliant example of how clever advertising used at the right time and in the right place can reap tremendous profits…or is it art?

This week I’m representing CommCreative at the annual South by South West Interactive conference (SXSWi). There are few better places where you can immerse yourself in some of the most creative ideas that are changing the interactive and social web spheres.

This Sunday’s Boston Globe ran a front page story on the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, highlighted by the recent Shepard Fairey show running through the end of August. I saw this show recently and was blown away. Not only by his unique style, but by grandeur of the work and the amount of artwork the man has produced. I found it refreshing and inspiring. Never having seen any of his work previously, I was surprised that when I left the parking lot and drove throughout the city, I could see his work adorning buildings, construction sites, as well as decals on street signs.

Earlier in my career I had the opportunities to hone my advertising agency skills at places like Saatchi and Saatchi and McCann-Erickson working on accounts like AT&T, General Motors, Tylenol, Coca-Cola, and Nintendo. Back then, our primary challenge was to make sure our work was memorable, pithy, targeted – all the characteristics that produce successful ad campaigns, increased sales, and happy CEOs.