Small Agency Diary

What Do Matt Lauer, Social-Media Experts and My Kid Have in Common?

A List of Things for Which I Give Thanks

Posted by Peter Madden on 11.25.09 @ 11:21 AM

Peter Madden

As a Small Agency Owner, and blogger-about-town for my friends at Ad Age, I thought why not do the lazy thing . . . scratch that . . . original thing . . . scratch that . . . I mean appropriate thing and give some Thanksgiving shout-outs:

Why You Should Care About My Actor-Friend's Next Goal

He's Part of a Growing Group Trying to Outdo Agencies

Posted by Peter Madden on 09.15.09 @ 01:19 PM

Peter Madden

I have a good friend who's an actor and comedian in Los Angeles. Let's call him Mike Friedman (shameless plug!). Mike has been out there for close to 15 years and is one of the hardest working guys I know. He's also very funny and great at what he does, and the combo of work ethic and talent has lead to his landing some great gigs. He's featured in commercials for Kentucky Fried Chicken, Harley Davidson and most recently he's the bartender in the MGD 64 commercial. He's also responsible the creation of "The Super," a TV show (final plug I swear!) that he's conceptualized and filmed and ultimately trying to gain interest in from the powers that be.

Mike most recently has a newer fascination, and this should be a wake-up call for every mad man and mad woman, small and large, out there: advertising.

A Facebook Primer for Small-Agency Owners

The Seven Personalities Who Roam the Social-Media Plains

Posted by Peter Madden on 07.31.09 @ 01:03 PM

Peter Madden

As everyone rushes on the covered wagons to find marketing gold in social-media land, I thought it made sense to provide some color as it relates to users of social media. I will preface this by saying that given a number of interests I have, and my primary job as connector at large, my friends and their friends of friends collectively represent a good cross section of people using Facebook. (I am saving Twitter for another day. One medium at a time, please.)

Agencies Have to Take Their Own Medicine

A Brief Struggle to Better Our Brand

Posted by Peter Madden on 07.20.09 @ 01:15 PM

Peter Madden

Do you promote your agency? Really? Do you put it out there the way you do for your clients?

When we at AgileCat reflected on this question, the true answer was -- kind of, but not nearly enough.

I Just Paid to Get My Butt Kicked

A Good Consultant Can Show You the Error of Your Ways

Posted by Peter Madden on 05.19.09 @ 02:02 PM

Peter Madden

Consultant is a word that has always made me run. Screaming. Like my hair's on fire. Considering how much product I use, this is a dangerous thing.

I think I can speak for the majority of agency owners who receive calls, letters, e-mails, everything short of a Molotov cocktail from a well-meaning individual or company promising to make us and our agencies better. Consultants. The C word, I thought.

Pro Bono Work May Pay Off for Idled Ad Hands

Just Because You're Out of a Job Doesn't Mean You Need to Be Out of Work

Posted by Peter Madden on 04.07.09 @ 10:53 AM

Peter Madden

I am surrounded by idled talent. Friends in high positions laid off as the results of companies shedding as many expenses as possible in their effort to survive. Add to this the number of resumes we receive from designers, PR professionals, account managers and more who were recently let go.

All of this talent idling is a real crime, and I may have a simple solution to get things moving again.

My solution isn't going to pay the bills, but it's sure to feed the soul, showcase your talent, make connections quickly and lead you toward that dream job quicker than you thought.

When Did We Get So Wimpy?

Quit Hiding Behind Your Computers and Go Stimulate the Economy

Posted by Peter Madden on 03.02.09 @ 12:18 PM

Peter Madden

I was at a restaurant yesterday waiting for a friend to show up and saw two corporate types eating cheeseburgers. With knives and forks.

Are you kidding me? I will assume one or both of them had a small container of Purell in their striped, tailored jacket pocket. Because germs are scary, after all, and it is cold and flu season. At least they seemed to be having a real conversation and not texting away with friends not present at the table.

What the Facebook Is Going on Here?

How Are We Supposed to Advertise to the Social-Media Addicted?

Posted by Peter Madden on 01.08.09 @ 03:54 PM

Peter Madden

So I'm on Facebook -- and it's a freak show. Plus, it's getting in the way of advertising, which of course, is a crime in most states outside of Hawaii.

I joined a couple of months ago, mainly due to my younger (therefore hipper) sister Kate. She was baffled that I -- as a communicator, branding-dude-about-town, Small Agency Diarist, etc. -- hadn't joined the fray. Thus I joined.

10 Random Observations on Ads, Advertising and Ad People

Posted by Peter Madden on 12.19.08 @ 01:29 PM

Peter Madden

1. If an advertisement makes you laugh, but you still don't buy the product, does the ad matter? I won't stay at the Holiday Inn, but love those Cal Ripken ads! Makes you think of a tree falling in the forest, doesn't it?

At Work in the Land of Layoffs

Keeping Employees Happy When They're Scared

Posted by Peter Madden on 11.24.08 @ 12:00 PM

Peter Madden

"If you don't get a call from me by 10 a.m., that means I've been fired along with everybody."

These were the words my wife left me with days ago. "Everybody" referred to hundreds of people being fired from jobs throughout her company.

Fortunately, she called me a little after 10. She said one word: "Safe." I didn't ask her for how long.