15 Things Successful Brand Managers Should Master

Recently, I spoke on a marketing panel at a Young Entrepreneur’s Conference at the University of Texas, at Dallas.  In my conversations with these bright young dreamers, one reoccurring theme was a constant question….How do you build a successful brand?

Now, I love opportunities like this because it allows me to share a few brand management insights I learned from working with several successful brand managers throughout my career. I wanted to share with you a few of the insights I’ve learned.  I collaborated with my good friend Sheldon Boyea, Senior Brand Manager at Kimberly Clark Corporation to share a list of 15 jewels and insights with you. It is important to understand the consumer is boss and should drive everything you do.  Enjoy!

Guerrilla Marketing & the Small Business

Have you ever been minding your own business, carrying out your daily errands, trying to conquer the world one mundane task at a time, and some random crazy person comes up to you and asks you follow them up to some elaborate tent setup to try a little taste of Cup A and B of some unmarked food or drink product; to find out which you prefer?  Or have you been riding your friendly neighborhood public transportation and noticed that the hand railing you are holding for balance isn’t just railing anymore, it’s actually a set of exercise weights?

Is Prankvertising the new trend in Advertising?

Prankvertising is when a brand pulls a marketing prank on random, unsuspecting consumers. More major brands have started to use this approach as they realize how powerful this medium is at generating word of mouth buzz.  The more clever the “prank” the more apt it is to be spread virally through You Tube, Facebook, Twitter, etc.  It has the same appeal that “flash mobs” started way back in 2003.

Brands such as Coca Cola, Samsung and the TNT television network have all employed this tactic in their marketing strategy.   Some examples include the movie trailer for Dead Man Down.  The scene is set in an office building.

Reputation Management: What Others Are Saying About YOUR Business

As advertisers we work vigorously to make sure the message we distribute to the public is appealing to our target and engages consumers to the product. No matter how eloquent our messages are, a simple bad review of “This sucks” can turn potential consumers away in a heartbeat.  With the number of reviews made on a daily basis in large markets like DFW, small businesses and companies in Dallas need to be aware of their online reputation.  Here are a few reasons why you shoudl monitor your online reputation.

Marketing Stunts: Giant Dragon Skull Found on Beach

The marketing world seems to be finding more and more ways to capture attention through stunts.