Category Archives: Marketing

Don’t Hire a Growth Hacker. Hire a Direct Response Marketer Instead.

Posted on Thursday, 7 November 2013 5:01 am by markpilip

I’ve had some conversations with clients and prospective clients who think they need a “growth hacker.” I finally did some reading on what a “growth hacker” does and I think Mark Macdonald’s article is one of the readable and rational … Continue reading →

Posted in Direct Response, Marketing | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Don’t Hire a Growth Hacker. Hire a Direct Response Marketer Instead.

Yes, Doc Searls, Direct Marketing *IS* Advertising

Posted on Monday, 7 October 2013 12:20 pm by markpilip

Doc Searls, one of the authors of the Cluetrain Mainfesto (excellent book), blew it yesterday in his blog post. In it, he writes of the need of “real” advertising to exorcise the influence of Direct Marketing. It’s direct response, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Direct Response, Marketing, Rants | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Don’t Let MBAs Mess With Bourbon

Posted on Monday, 18 February 2013 9:18 am by markpilip

I’m a fan of Maker’s Mark bourbon and usually drink the stuff mixed with Diet Coke, so I wasn’t terribly upset when I heard they were lowering the alcohol volume to 84 proof from 90. I’d never notice the difference. … Continue reading →

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The Best $2 Kimpton Could Spend

Posted on Friday, 14 December 2012 11:28 am by markpilip

I’ve been in Boston and staying at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge. It’s a terrific hotel and the rates for Boston aren’t too bad. I’ve been impressed with the Marlowe and Kimpton hotels because of two simple things they did. … Continue reading →

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What “They” Want Or Think Doesn’t Matter

Posted on Monday, 8 October 2012 5:01 am by markpilip

On his deathbed Steve Jobs told Tim Cook not to worry about what he would do, but instead do what was right for Apple, or so the story goes. A great piece of advice. Now that Steve is dead, what … Continue reading →

Posted in Data, Marketing, Product Development | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on What “They” Want Or Think Doesn’t Matter

Design Your Community

Posted on Monday, 13 August 2012 10:57 am by markpilip

Andrew Chen reminds us this morning to design our community along with our product. This design, as design thinking teaches, should be thoughtful and iterative. The design should not be accidental. Because accidental design is what gets us a customer … Continue reading →

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Get Better Before You Start Shouting

Posted on Tuesday, 31 July 2012 8:27 am by markpilip

Marketing and communications professionals in companies and agencies often get called on the carpet to answer questions about why the product isn’t selling enough to please the executives. At times, it culminates in an agency review or with the termination … Continue reading →

Posted in Branding, Communications, Marketing, Product Development | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Scale and the Unbelievers

Posted on Monday, 21 May 2012 9:22 am by markpilip

There are two things that matter when building great products, movements or companies. They are easy to follow, easy to understand and also incredibly easy for those of us with MBAs and too much corporate experience to screw up. User … Continue reading →

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Product Development, Strategy | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Improve Your Super Bowl Ads

Posted on Friday, 3 February 2012 3:45 pm by markpilip

When I watch ads during the Super Bowl Big Game, I usually find myself muttering “call to action, call to action” to the point that my wife starts putting away the sharp objects.  The amount of air time that’s wasted … Continue reading →

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Apple’s War Chest

Posted on Wednesday, 1 February 2012 10:30 am by markpilip

Chunka Mui provides his reasons for Apple to say no to using some of its $100 billion cash as a one-time dividend for shareholders. As a shareholder myself and one that’s been handsomely rewarded by Apple’s focus on the experience, … Continue reading →

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