Sometimes Asking Is More Powerful than Selling

I was at an up-and-coming restaurant in Denver called the Populist this weekend. It was a great experience for dining, but it also gave me some much-needed advertising inspiration. I’ve seen lots of hip menus at new restaurants trying to stand out. They give their food and drinks funny names or write descriptions of their cuisine using lots of quirky personality. But the menu at the Populist was the most interesting I had seen in a while. There wasn’t much that stood out, but in the drink section there was a listing called “Buy a round for the kitchen - $10.”

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MCG names Mark Stiltner Creative Content Manager

We just wanted to announce to all of our friends and followers the recent promotion of our Lead Copywriter, Mark Stiltner. Over the last two years, Mark has distinguished himself as a copywriter and creative thinker extraordinaire. Thanks to Mark, MCG’s content department has become a growing, multi-disciplined and extremely creative team.

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Making B2B Sexy at 3rd3rsday

MCG's lead copywriter, Mark Stiltner, has been invited to speak at this week's 3rd 3rsday on the topic Making B2B Sexy. We're excited to get to share Mark's creative genius and unique insight with the group. Here's a preview of his presentation:

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The Market Creation Group is looking for our next Copywriter Intern Extraordinaire

You: A smart, motivated individual taking your first steps toward advertising greatness. You must be able to write well, but writing skills alone aren’t enough. We’re looking for a writer who is also a conceptual thinker and understands how to use creativity to generate new ideas and discover new ways to leverage existing communication channels. A solid portfolio of student work is a must. A firm grasp of social networking and online marketing is a big plus. Us: The Market Creation Group is a B2B marketing firm, located in Denver’s hip and vibrant Santa Fe Arts District.

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Consumer is a Dirty Word

Does anyone else out there in ad land get offended by the term “consumer?” I’ve recently made a commitment to no longer use the word, even in briefs and strategic documents. You might be thinking, “What’s the big deal? It’s just a word.” As a writer, I can confidently say that words matter. It is my long-held opinion that the word “consumer” devalues people. It strips us down to the lowest common denominator and defines us by our most basic behavior. Even pond scum can consume. At a time when many of our nation’s most deadly diseases are self-inflicted symptoms of over-consumption, the term also reinforces a negative relationship between people and the companies that serve them.

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How to Make Your Competitors Jealous with Your Website

The Internet is arguably the largest revolution in communications since the invention of the printing press, but most companies use it as nothing more than a place to host the equivalent of an online brochure. As Internet users become more and more reliant on the Internet as a medium for communication, collaboration and interaction, there are big rewards to be had by companies that can develop websites that offer more than a brochure. Here are three tips the Market Creation Group uses to give our clients an edge online.

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If You Think Marketing Automation Is a Magic Bullet, You're Shooting Yourself in the Foot

Perhaps the biggest problem with marketing automation is its name. The word “automation” implies that this is a magical technology that you can turn on, walk away from, and presto – you’ll have a successful campaign. Perhaps a better name for this technology would be digital marketing assistant. But buyers beware! If your marketing automation system relies on content that lacks creativity and strategic insights, it can easily become an expensive spam maker.

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