The Dairy Queen Brand Extension

The Dairy Queen Brand Extension

Branding, Business, Marketing
My wife, Barbara, and I recently had lunch recently with my mom at the same Dairy Queen in Bellingham, Massachusetts that my family went to back in the day. Only now it is a Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, not just a place to get soft-serve ice cream, milk shakes and other frozen treats. Talk about a big brand extension. I mean, this company has been around since 1940 and has over 7,000 locations today. When I was a kid, we'd get whatever we wanted for our birthdays. That was awesome. This time around, we got whatever we wanted, too.πŸ™‚ And I thought it was great. And the service, too. We got cheeseburgers. No ice cream. Times have changed. We went there for a meal, not dessert. The consumer in…
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Attracting the Attention of your Audience

Attracting the Attention of your Audience

Advertising, Branding, Business, Marketing
If you don't attract the attention of your audience in advertising and marketing, you won't have any customers and clients. It's that simple. And in this day and age, it's more difficult than ever to stand out among the competition and clutter, to get people to notice what you have to offer them. However, I couldn't help but notice a truck recently that was conspicuously parked in the huge, empty parking lot along Sudbury Street outside of Mill & Main, the old, historic mill complex in Maynard. Bull Spit. That was the name on the truck. Bull Spit. Catchy name for a business. Right? Attention-getting to say the least. Both the double entendre of the name of this brewing company and the fact that this truck was so strategically parked…
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Be Like Kevin

Be Like Kevin

Branding, Business, Marketing, Social Media
Kevin Cronin is the lead vocalist and front man for the ridiculously awesome rock band, REO Speedwagon. He's a great performer and a great guy. But that's not why I want to talk about him today. I want to talk about how great he is on social media. Brands, businesses, professionals, people...everybody likes listening to Kevin and his legendary band perform, right? But not everybody knows how much they can learn from Kevin about how to use Facebook, Twitter and the like. It was more than 40 years ago when I saw REO Speedwagon at the Boston Garden. They put on a spectacular live show then, as I am sure they still do today. Yes, they're still touring, and I would love to see them again in concert. But in…
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Making My Book with Maria Antonia Silva and Morgan Hume

Making My Book with Maria Antonia Silva and Morgan Hume

Blogging, Business, Copywriting, Direct Marketing, Fundraising, Marketing, Social Media
In this episode of my podcast, Bob Cargill's Marketing Show, I talk with Maria Antonia Silva and Morgan Hume about the making of my new book, Twenty Jobs, Twenty Lessons - a Long, Strange Career in Marketing, from Junk Mail to Social Media. Maria was the designer of the book and Morgan the editor. Both of them are recent graduates of Suffolk University in Boston, where I am an adjunct professor. I can't thank them enough for their skills, talent and support. To purchase your own copy of my new book via Amazon, click here.
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My New Book is Available NOW on Amazon

My New Book is Available NOW on Amazon

Advertising, Branding, Business, Copywriting, Direct Marketing, Marketing, Social Media
My new book, Twenty Jobs, Twenty Lessons - a Long, Strange Career in Marketing, from Junk Mail to Social Media, is available NOW in the Amazon Kindle Store here. It is a story for young professionals with bright futures in front of them and senior executives who have been there, done that. It may be my story, but it could be your story, too. See for yourself. Read it today.
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Twenty Jobs, Twenty Lessons – a Long, Strange Career in Marketing, from Junk Mail to Social Media

Twenty Jobs, Twenty Lessons – a Long, Strange Career in Marketing, from Junk Mail to Social Media

Business, Copywriting, Direct Marketing, Fundraising, Marketing, Social Media
Adjunct professor, marketing consultant, social media specialist and copywriter, Bob Cargill, has written and published a new book called Twenty Jobs, Twenty Lessons – a Long, Strange Career in Marketing, from Junk Mail to Social Media. Based on his career in the marketing industry since 1983, this book, according to the author, is about marketing, advertising and social media, but also business in general. Cargill offers advice to readers on how to pivot in the face of a big obstacle, how to bounce back from defeat and how to succeed against the odds. β€œIt is a story of climbing the corporate ladder only to fall. It is a story about ambition, determination, success and failure. It is a story for young professionals with bright futures ahead of them and senior-level…
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The Six Ps of Retail Marketing

The Six Ps of Retail Marketing

Branding, Business, Customer Service, Marketing
There are four Ps of marketing...product, price, place and promotion. All are equally important. When it comes to retail marketing, though, there are two additional Ps, presentation and personnel. How you execute with regard to all these Ps can make a difference between success and failure for your brand or business. Many retailers are struggling in this day and age. Are they focusing enough on the two additional Ps, areas where they could possibly establish a competitive advantage over the competition? Amid COVID and a marketplace in which the only constant is change, nothing is easy today for brick-and-mortar stores. That's one reason why we're seeing more and more empty store fronts on main street. That's one reason why more and more retail is going etail.
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The Importance of Engaging Your Audience

The Importance of Engaging Your Audience

Branding, Business, Marketing, Music
Do you know the song, We Will Rock You, by Queen? Of course, you know the song. It was written by Brian May for Queen's 1977 album, News of the World. It was featured in a great scene in the movie, Bohemian Rhapsody. It provided Queen with a ridiculously awesome opportunity to engage with their audience. I used that song in my marketing class recently as an example of the importance of engaging with your audience as a brand or a business. The more those on the receiving end of your messages are involved with what you have to offer, the more likely they will be to support you. Stomp, stomp, clap...
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The More Personal Branding, the Better

The More Personal Branding, the Better

Branding, Business, Mark Schaefer, Marketing, Social Media
In a recent blog post, Mark Schaefer wrote about Five Things I Would Do Differently If I Were Starting Over, one of those things being to place "more intent on the personal brand." That's saying a lot, coming from someone who has such an extraordinarily strong personal brand. Mark is renowned far and wide for his marketing expertise and knowledge, his teaching and public speaking, his books and blog. If someone as conspicuous in their presence online as Mark is thinks he could place more emphasis on his personal brand, what about you and me? That's saying all of us could benefit from even more personal branding. Thanks, Mark, as always, for the words of wisdom.
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