Ask ten people what branding is, and most will describe a logo, a color palette, or a tagline. And while those things matter, they are really only the outward expression of something much deeper. At 78Madison, we believe brand strategy and branding aren’t simply things you create. They’re things you cultivate. Your brand is the...
One of the greatest lessons I learned in more than forty years in the advertising agency business is this: You don’t really know what you can accomplish until you stop waiting for someone else to tell you it’s okay. We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.” While I wouldn’t recommend...
Take a look at the homepage of most company websites and you’ll notice a pattern. “We’ve been in business for 25 years.” “We’re industry leaders.” “Our team is passionate about excellence.” “We provide innovative solutions.” The problem? Your customers don’t wake up thinking about your company. They wake up thinking about their problems. They want...
Most companies don’t have a marketing problem. They have a courage problem. In boardrooms and marketing meetings across the country, the same conversation happens every day: “Let’s not do anything too controversial.” “Let’s stick with what we’ve always done.” “Let’s not take any chances.” On the surface, that sounds responsible. After all, risk is something...
On paper, the brief is straightforward. Capacity. Dates. Budget. Brand alignment. Amenities. But anyone who has worked closely with meeting planners knows that’s just the surface. The real decision-making happens in the margins – in the things that rarely make it into the RFP, but ultimately determine where the business goes. Here’s what meeting planners...
Imagine your brand walking into a room. Not your logo. Not your website. Not your tagline. Your brand as a person. Do people lean in… or slowly look for the nearest exit? It’s a simple question, but it cuts straight to the heart of brand voice. Because whether you realize it or not, your brand...
There’s a moment – brief, almost imperceptible – when your audience decides what to do with you. Stay… or leave. Lean in… or scroll past. Engage… or ignore. That moment lasts about seven seconds. And in today’s environment, it’s often even shorter. We like to think people carefully consider messaging, weigh value propositions, and thoughtfully...
Mentorship is having a moment again. Programs are being announced, structures are being formalized, and metrics are being discussed. All of that has value. But at its best, mentorship has never been about systems. It has always been about people. That’s why Moroch Partners’ recent announcement of the Jack Phifer Mentorship Program stopped me in...
You did everything “right.” You chose a major. You completed internships. You sought mentors. You landed a job. You worked hard, stayed late, learned the ropes, and built a résumé that actually looks respectable. And now, ten years in, you find yourself asking a quiet but persistent question: Did I pick the right career? This...
There’s a saying that’s been floating around boardrooms for years: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” I heard it again today, and it stopped me in my tracks. Not because it’s new, but because it’s still undeniably true, and nowhere is that truth more visible than in the advertising agency industry. Advertising loves strategy. · We...