2011 – Jeff Pfaller

Increasing the Influence of Brands

Last week I wrote a post for Leo Burnett about how brands like IBM, McDonalds and Apple can start doing a better job spreading their content on twitter.

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Napkin Haiku Review – They Live, The Deep Focus Series

I got this little gem of a book from Matt Butler, a college friend who’s managed to put up with me for a few years. If you’ve heard of They Live, you probably know of the indescribable John Carpenter film starring the indomitable Rowdy Roddy Piper. (Hint: if you haven’t, go watch it. Now.) You’d never think of this cult-classic as a stinging social commentary, but that’s exactly what the author, Jonathan Lethem, does. The results are hilarious, I laughed out loud several times while reading it.

Deep Focus Series has a few others in the collection that are definitely worth checking out if you like the treatment of They Live.

Soul piercing look at
a movie with no soul. They
Live wins yet again.

Get They Live (Deep Focus)

Win Fabulous Prizes from Leah Petersen

Everyone loves free stuff, right?

If you don’t, this post is not for you. Right now over at leahpetersen.com there’s a little contest going on where you can enter to win books or hand-crafted knitted items – which is perfect because snowpocalypse is about to hit Chicago.

So if you’ve got a few head over there, follow her blog and twitter feed (because the best thing she has to give away for free are her online words)

Napkin Haiku Review – Towers of Midnight, by Brandon Sanderson & Robert Jordan

It’s an understatement to say I’d been looking forward to this book – I started reading the Wheel of Time series in the 7th grade. When Robert Jordan died, I figured any hope at a satisfying ending was lost. Thankfully, I was wrong in the second to last book of the series, Towers of Midnight, by Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan.

I plan on checking out more from Brandon Sanderson. He’s done beyond a bang up job taking over a complex universe that was, quite honestly, getting stagnant and breathed new life into it.

Epic tale goes for
the throat. Never lets it go.
Glorious battle.

Get Towers of Midnight

How to Not Freak Out When the Client Calls About Content

It all starts after the client reads something on Mashable. They come to agency day saying, “We need to get smarter about content. We need a content strategy.”

Source: IYWIB.com

“Can you guys take a look at our ________________ and come back with a POV?” (Fill in the blank with brand, website, social media presence, and/or paid/owned/earned efforts.

Source: Jonathan Rogers

A small task force is assembled.

Source: Funny or Die

But you all have work to do. Stuff with deadlines.

Source: gifmovie

Then the client emails the account guy. They need the POV tomorrow before they go on vacation.

Source: imugr.com

The team scrambles and pulls a deck together. It’s smart, insightful and actionable. It’s also 2 a.m.

Source: imgur.com

But the client’s reaction is _______________. (Fill in the blank with “I just don’t get how it hangs together” or “Someone from our digital knowledge center needs to weigh in on this.”

Source: replygif.net

Now everyone is involved, and this is all anyone on your team can talk about.

Source: Jonathan Rogers

A client has a suggestion. “Let’s audit all the content our organization produces.”

Source: imgur.com

All 3,400 pieces of content.

Source: imgur.com

Then they ask you to work with their other “digital” agency who “gets it.”

Source: GIF Bomb Lady

You’re heading to Starbucks for your fifth cup of coffee when you hear someone say “content strategy.”

Source: imgur.com

It turns out there are people who spend all day thinking about content.

Source: forgifs

In fact, they’ve done what your client is asking for seven other brands.

Source: LibbyLala

They’re convinced by your plea for help.

Source: gifsoup

A week after the kickoff, the content strategist reappears. You walk into the internal review more nervous than a nerd on prom night.

Source: thebvbway