Day: May 7, 2006

“Why Don’t Ad Agencies Advertise?” is a simple question I’ve never considered. And it’s a remarkable to consider, even if it’s a deliberate overstatement. The author of the article is Simon Sinek, CEO of Sinek Partners (terrible, Flash-heavy website), which clearly is in the marketing field, but I can’t immediately discern why it is or is not different from the agencies he derides, though clearly it must be. (Right?)

Anyway, the article was written for the April 17, 2006 issue of BrandWeek, with the title “Advertising Execs Are Hypocrites,” and starts with this:

If advertising is so effective, why don’t ad agencies advertise? PR firms tout themselves in releases. Event planners throw their own parties. E-marketers use the Internet. These folks all believe in the effectiveness of their disciplines. Do ad agencies disagree?

and later continues

In truth, it’s what’s in the advertising that is not working. Ad agencies are doing a poor job creating messages that affect long-term value for their clients. Along with the media in which it exists, advertising has been commoditized.

As someone who is leaving a media company (more on that soon) which depends on advertisers and their agencies, I have lots of conflicting opinions on this topic. But I’m certainly glad I read the article.

Via 43 Folders, I read David Sedaris’s essay Memento Mori in the New Yorker.

Essentially, a wide-ranging riff, which includes a few paragraphs on the challenge of finding the perfect gift. Sedaris on the challenge:

Hugh thinks that lists are the easy way out, and says that if I really knew him I wouldn’t have to ask what he wanted.

I envision demonstrating my perception and acute empathy when gift-giving, offering the right item at the right time, exceeding even the unspoken expectations of the recipient. Let’s just say that is aiming a bit too high…so I will more often err on just giving what was hinted, requested, or leaves the decision in the hands of the giftee. Feels like a copout, but the stress of perfection sure takes the fun out of gift-giving.

The Sedaris essay, in case you didn’t already go read it, gently explores much more in a better written package. What I selfishly took away from it is only a nibble.