The Marketing Viking

This picture was taken from my window this lunchtime:

Steve

Shriti Vadera silly remarks about “green shoots” show she doesn’t understand the first rule of business persuasion.

This rule was best explained by Tony Roma (played by Al Pacino) in the movie “Glengarry Glen Ross”: 

“You wanna know the first rule? You’d know it if you’d ever spent a day in your life. You never open your mouth till you know what the shot is.”

(to watch his whole speech, visit http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3HURJNd0J4U&feature=related)

If Vadera had followed that rule, she’d have known there was no shot on and kept her mouth shut.

Fortunately, she didn’t. And, as a result, we might soon see the back of this odious woman.

Steve

Drayton Bird does:

http://drayton-bird-droppings.blogspot.com/2009/01/follow-up-to-those-guys-holding-me-up.html

(”Alex Gibson” = me)

It’s an interesting point: it’s usually cheaper, quicker, safer and easier to increase sales through increasing conversion/response rates, so why do clients prefer the riskier option of spending money on brand new, untested advertising?

Steve

This recession has got me acting schizo.

On one hand, as a marketer I’m busier than a one-legged man in an arse kicking contest. 

But, at the same time, I’ve started to believe the economy was basically a Ponzi scheme and that thick Gordon is so desprate to win an election he’s going to fuck everything up and ruin the value of our money.

So, where do I turn to for advice?

1960s Bob Dylan, of course:

I will not go down under the ground
“Cause somebody tells me that death’s comin’ ’round
An’ I will not carry myself down to die
When I go to my grave my head will be high,
Let me die in my footsteps
Before I go down under the ground.

There’s been rumors of war and wars that have been
The meaning of the life has been lost in the wind
And some people thinkin’ that the end is close by
“Stead of learnin’ to live they are learning to die.
Let me die in my footsteps
Before I go down under the ground.

So, optimism shall prevail and I’m going to work for best while being ready for the worst. And, I’m going to help other business owners do the same.

My newsletters this year are going to revolve around 6 recession-busting core principles that will help every business grow their sales while their competitors sufffer.

To get an idea of what I’m talking about, read this old blog post I wrote in June 2007:

Amateur Hour Is Almost Over

Cheers,

Steve

P.S. Peter Hale has written a 10 point guide to beating the recession, which is well worth checking out.

(not just because I’m mentioned!)