Sparking - Moving you forward

Narrate Newsletter


Do you want to show up more creatively for your clients and your colleagues, your family, and your friends?

Do you want to default to thinking about opportunity versus focusing just on problems?

Discovering Hope is full of proactive steps you can take right now, to achieve a more positive mindset or to help maintain the positivity you already have

Getting Positive reveals that more optimism is close at hand

Buy Books by Stuart Parkin at Amazon
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Trends

Brand Beats

On most occasions I enjoy Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon.’ Then again, Heaven 17, REM and Crowded House are favorites too. What does that say about me? Or more to the point, from a marketing perspective, how could brands use this knowledge to gain my attention and my loyalty?

According to William Chipps, author of the IEG Sponsorship report, corporate sponsorship by consumer brands incorporating music into marketing programs was expected to exceed $1.17 billion last year, nearly double what it was six years earlier.

So, what does it take to effectively harness music to build your client’s brands? Attached are some thought provoking articles on the why, how and which music can make your storytelling all the more impactful.

Happy reading

Stuart

PS. Have a look at my past newsletters

Articles and commentary that might be of interest…

The Power of a Story Told Well

At the EFFIE awards last week, which is all about business effectiveness (aka, selling stuff), the campaigns that won plaudits were invariably engaging and meaningful. As significant, the themes were easily understood.

What did the audience respond to? Great story telling with a ‘hero’ the audience could relate to and care about.

‘Truth well told’ sounds simple, but even if you have perfect understanding of your audience and your story, it’s surprisingly hard. We’re all in the story telling business and I believe most (all?) of us could all benefit from better ways to do that.

Nearby are a range of links which are both examples of effective narrative and methodologies that can enhance it.

What do you think? In your opinion, what one factor has been key for you in helping create a great story?

Sincerely,

Stuart

PS. Out June 28th ‘The Practical Pocket Guide to Account Planning’ by Christopher Kocek, provides a straightforward, no nonsense approach to understanding what Account Planners do on a daily basis and how they do it. Congratulations to Chris! Anyone else have announcements?

Articles and commentary that might be of interest…

An Introduction – Narrating your Success

The challenge and the fun of creating engaging brand stories can be fun and challenging or simply challenging! I know this as I talk to your peers on a daily basis. You know it because you live the challenge!

In 2013, more than ever before, we are under pressure to deliver results and we work in an environment where initiatives successes and failures very public.

The best storytellers will thrive as will those that are able to adapt their stories on the fly, using real time media to be relevant to existing and future customers.

targeted at strategic planners, and aims to inform, inspire and occasionally entertain. We’ll provide examples of great strategic ideas, process (not too much of this) and perspectives that might help you be successful with your agency partners, internal and external. The links nearby give some insights and approaches that were suggested as a means to stay ahead of the pack.

Content will evolve based on your feedback on what you find helpful – any thoughts welcomed!

Sincerely,

Stuart

Articles and commentary that might be of interest…

Anticipating 2014

Stuart ParkinHappy New Year one and all.

We all have a perspective on ‘big data,’ ‘ID security,’ ‘selfies’ and the ‘Polar Vortex!’ But, what are you anticipating  for the year ahead?

Your ideas, your anticipation could be the difference between an average and a great year.

Please find below a few perspectives, trends and forecasts that will, to a greater or lesser extent, consume your personal and professional lives in the year ahead.

All success.

Stuart

Articles and commentary that might be of interest…

Fancy a Laugh?

Peter Dabell (CEO, Ace Matric) tells us “Some form of humor is used in one in five commercials” and “most of the top Super Bowl ads of the last three years used humor”.

Why? Because funny advertising lowers our guard and our resistance to ‘being sold’, and we accept that in exchange for our attention we will be entertained. Yet, Nielsen research suggests there is “little correlation between humor and effectiveness”, and indeed, it carries a risk of alienating some consumers.

For humorous advertising to have a chance of working it must tap one of the ten humor archetypes (*) that connects with human emotions. And the advertising must be built on substance with humor used as a supplement; funny is pointless without a clear association with the brand.

Which brand do you think has most effectively harnessed humor? Let us know. If your answer is the same as Ivan Wicksteed, Chief Marketing Officer of Old Navy and is selected from ‘correct’ responses, you will win three free career planning sessions in 2014.

Enjoy.

Stuart

Articles and commentary that might be of interest…