5 Rules for Great Websites
Stop copying competitors and build a site people want to visit. Focus on useful content, stickiness, professional craft, and ongoing care. Challenge assumptions, measure wisely, and keep refining with love.
Brand & Positioning Insights
Short, practical perspectives on market stance, differentiation, and brand strategy — focused on what actually moves the needle for founder‑led service firms.
What to Look For When Hiring Web Design and Development
The web design and development industry can be difficult for businesses to navigate, with options ranging from your cousin looking for iTunes cash to multi-million-dollar agencies like [Avenue A | Razorfish](https://web.archive.org/web/20060820095208/http://www.avenuea-razorfish.com/). This guide wi…
The 5 Forbidden Words of Advertising
Those five shiny words won’t win hearts anymore. They’re basic table stakes that scream defensiveness. Ditch the clichés, uncover what truly sets you apart, and claim fresh, memorable territory.
Top 10 Stock Photography Cliches
A tongue in cheek tour of corporate stock photo tropes, from triumphant thumbs and flirty headsets to manure powered growth and rockside WiFi, exposing how cheesy visuals quietly sabotage authenticity.
The Product is the Best Marketing Tool
Once upon a time, marketing was about hyping the benefits of a product in order to convince you to buy it. Whether you were happy didn't matter much, because you already had your money and had moved on to other customers. In a contemporary consumer society, however, that's thankfully no longer a sus…
The Sneaky Side of Viral Marketing
Stealth marketing blurs the line between clever and creepy. From overt BMW films to disguised Mercedes trailers, buzz wins until backlash hits. In a networked world, deception travels fast.
What's Wrong with Commas Anyway
This is a question that has gnawed at my soul for months. I’ve sent e-mails to a variety of prominent people who could answer the question, but I haven’t received any responses. Maybe they think I’m a nut.In any case, I now present this as an open question to the public: **What’s Wrong with Commas, …
7 Lessons Learned from One Year in Business
Forty has been in business for over a year now, and it's been a wonderfully successful first year, having completely blown away our business plan estimate, our own expectations, and even our craziest ambitions. While I don’t claim to be a business expert, I do think that we’ve learned some things th…
Don't Mess It Up!
The world’s biggest branding crisis isn’t accounting scandals, poor customer service, or ugly logos—it’s executives’ paralyzing fear that they’re going to do something wrong. Imagine that you’ve just been chosen as the new CEO for a Fortune 500 company. The numbers you see each morning are comparabl…
Fresh Thinking from...Bank of America?
We don’t typically think of banks as a source of clever and innovative ideas, but Bank of America has somehow managed to break out of the mold. [Keep the Change](https://web.archive.org/web/20051206011811/http://www.bankofamerica.com/promos/jump/ktc/) is a brilliant new service from Bank of America.…
Why Podcasting Took Off
The technology for of “internet radio” has been around for well over a decade, so why is it now taking off in the form of podcasting? Folks have dabbled in online radio for ages. Dozens—possibly hundreds—of companies have risen and fallen on the promise that it would work this time, that they’d fina…
What Corporate Identity Isn't
Misconceptions about the purpose of a corporate identity system often cause companies to limp along with a sub-standard business image. Find out how you can avoid these common mistakes in your own organization. (Update: Many thanks to Antonio Mariscal, who took the time to translate [a Spanish versi…
Imperfection and the Human Brand
Compelling stock photos, catchy slogans, and memorable marketing copy have just a fraction of the branding power of a single human being. Think of all the great ad campaigns you’ve seen in your lifetime. Now think of all the great people you’ve known. Family. Friends. Teachers. Classmates. Coworkers…
Should U.S. States Consider Changing Their Names?
In an effort to improve public perception (which leads to increased tourism and investment), some states might consider investing in an attractive new name. We’ve seen numerous examples of well-established companies changing names in an attempt to reinvent their reputations. We’ve also seen an incre…
Being Different Kind of Leader
There are passengers, and there are drivers—and there are also a few people who ride a bike instead. In his post [Let’s Steer This Ship Together](https://web.archive.org/web/20050508111709/http://www.willpate.org/archives/2005/05/04/lets-steer-this-ship-together.php), Will Pate talks about a concept…