The Story

Please watch this short film. It’s a perfect example of the difference between being creative and being emotionally engaging. The best marketers understand that it’s not what you say that is important, but how you say it.

Monolithic HSBC is trying to appear more customer-centric with their newest commercial, created by JWT London and production company Gorgeous. The tagline reads, “We recognize how people value things differently. So what we learn from one customer helps us better serve another.” While this statement feels a little empty, the commercial itself is […]

Bank marketing is usually boring and forgettable - but not Expobank’s. Looks like even the financial industry is learning that sex sells.
Rather than promoting its excellent customer service, Expobank is differentiating itself as having the sexiest employees. That’s right - hot tellers - it’s like the Hooters of banks. The […]

I just learned about a new tool for credit unions on the Co-Op ATM Network where users can find their nearest ATM by sending a text message. You just text your location (address, intersection, or zip code) to MYCOOP (692667) and they’ll send you a text with the address of the nearest Co-Op Network […]

I’m a big fan of metaphors and analogies—probably to the point where some of my team members, clients and partners get tired of hearing me talk about “building the foundation before you can put up the wallpaper in the bathroom,” and other of my little gems.
On his blog The Financial Brand, Jeffry Pilcher threw out […]

This article in the Puget Sound Business Journal got me thinking about the lack of niche marketing of financial services. Sure, there are banks (like Plaza Bank) targeting larger minority populations, especially Hispanics and Asian Americans, but what about other demographic niches? Where is the bank that exclusively focuses on attracting a clientele […]

I love my iPod(s). I wasn’t a super early adopter, but kind of in the middle. It’s great. I have an iPhone, too, and admit I couldn’t live without them.
I was at a bankers conference the other day, and the agenda came to that ever-exciting moment when the vendors stand up, pretend […]

As I’m sure you’ve heard (given the major advertising and promotional campaign), they’ve made the Broadway musical Mamma Mia! into a movie.
While the slew of ads and interviews on Entertainment Tonight and The Today Show wasn’t surprising, I was surprised by a unique and experiential brand collaboration with IKEA.
No news here, but the musical is […]

We just love it when someone comes along and backs up one of our brilliant ideas with statistics. That’s what happened today as I was cruising along comScore’s website and found this press release detailing the importance of customer experience in online banking. A while back, one of the brilliant minds here at […]

Ok, so the email actually came from somebody (most likely not David Lynch) at his website, but I still thought it was pretty cool! The email was sent to promote David Lynch’s new line of coffee products. I really appreciate this marketing move on the part of the David Lynch brand because all Lynch fans […]