Super Bowl Commercials

My preferred focus is marketing for small businesses, but it's hard to overlook the marketing brilliance that shines bright this time of year--the Super Bowl commercials. I wrote earlier this month about the possible death of these marvelous wonders, but for this year, they are still alive and well, full of surprise, creativity and innovative "hooks."

For your viewing entertainment, here's the whole rundown of marketing's own Super Bowl.

Pinterest for Businesses

There's a new social network in our midst--Pinterest. It will be interesting to see how business leverage this network. According to a recent article on Mashable, Pinterest is the top traffic driver for retail businesses. I'm anxious to talk to a business that is using the platform successfully. How can you make Pinterest work with your brand? I've got some ideas, but I'd love to hear yours. :-)

And the Pinterest frenzy continues...

Here are two more great articles about how small businesses are marketing on Pinterest, and how the site is changing web design.

Ferris Bueller Rides Again!

Just for fun, I wanted to share a blurb about the leaked Honda CR-V ad featuring 1980's classic, Ferris Bueller. I love the commercial, and I think it is genius marketing. Bueller is a favorite of Generation X and Y, and the CR-V is targeted to this segment of the population.

With the rise of social media, has the Super Bowl Ad seen its death? The Honda ad leaked a full week before the big game and is close to 8 million views still days before Sunday's event. There's something exciting about being made to wait like a kid at Christmas--keeping all ads secret until the game. But... there's also the lure, from a marketing standpoint, of garnering greater exposure, watching the ad spread like wildfire across the internet before the official big reveal. Companies spend millions on creating and building these ads, not to mention purchasing air time during the game. Why not let them springboard off social sharing?

Here's one guy's thoughts on the death of the Super Bowl Ads.

Marketing and Small Businesses

Some people say marketing efforts and small businesses mix about as well as oil and water. The small business customer is often the least desired client--budgets are small, the probability to get stiffed as a consultant is high, and there's a fear of trying new marketing techniques. 


I beg to differ (but not too loudly because I don't want every other marketing consultant trying to encroach on my space!)--I love the challenge of marketing small businesses. I believe limited amounts of money and a lack of a long chain of command make for the perfect conditions for real creativity to happen. Too many "cooks in the kitchen" and an unlimited budget stifle the inspiration to dream big. I've always been an innovator, problem solver, and a creativepreneur--I don't really feel alive until faced with a impossible challenge.


Walk with me and discover what others have been too quick to rule out.