Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Feb 3, 2012, 3:57 pm
Last year we tried something with great success: rather than waiting until after the Super Bowl to evaluate the commercials, we gave you the opportunity to do it in real time, then share your findings with us afterwards. It’s what we’re calling: “Marketing Sense or Nonsense.” As a reminde...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jan 31, 2012, 2:47 pm
Alan Maites recently appeared on Small Business Advocate Radio with Jim Blasingame, discussing some of the most important and relevant issues that concern businesses today.      
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Oct 25, 2011, 12:08 pm
In her book “Crazy ’08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History,” Cait Murphy informs us that the Chicago Cubs were the first sports dynasty of the 20th Century. Yes, those Chicago Cubs. No kidding. From 1906 through 1910, the Cubs w...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Oct 18, 2011, 4:34 pm
As a kid I remember the free ice cream cone I’d get on my birthday each year from Baskin Robbins. That was it. 31 choices to satisfy my sweet tooth. Flash forward a few years. Well, more than a few. On my birthday, I was amazed at how many “personalized” emails and direct mail I received fro...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Oct 11, 2011, 5:01 pm
What’s the message?   Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: A gecko, a caveman, and a man asking rhetorical questions are featured spokespersons for the same insurance company at the same time with the same ... Rather than simply mentioning Count Chocula as a childhood favorite, we mig...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Oct 5, 2011, 1:26 pm
The 19th century American retailer John Wanamaker is credited with uttering the famous line, “Half my advertising is wasted. I just don’t know which half.” It’s a truism every marketer knows. As Robert De Niro says in The Untouchables, “like a lot of things in life, we laugh because it’...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Sep 27, 2011, 10:29 am
Businesses are like boats. Both enjoy smooth sailing, but are prone to extensive choppy periods. They get tossed around in the waves of good times and bad. But big boats (and businesses) can handle much larger loads than small ones. They have a lot more margin for error. If you were sailing from Mi...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Sep 18, 2011, 9:01 pm
This is tricky. It’s sort of like asking, what’s a small investor or what’s a small bank account? Perspective matters. The corner hardware store may seem like a small business to you and me, but to the owner, it’s his entire life. A $1,200 savings account might represent somebody’s nest eg...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Sep 9, 2011, 9:58 am
Probably too frequently, we say to ourselves, “What were they thinking?” Well, the town of Surrey, British Columbia may be able to help answer that. You see, the city has invested $36 million to build a library that will loan people instead of books. You may pick the brain of a dolphin trainer,...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Aug 28, 2011, 1:52 pm
The Huffington Post, an online news site with a lean to the liberal side, has got designers and art directors, well, in a huff. Earlier this month, Huffington Post Politics announced a competition for anyone to create a new Huffpost Politics logo. One did not need to be a “professional” designe...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Aug 26, 2011, 5:24 pm
Alan Maites recently appeared on Small Business Advocate Radio with Jim Blasingame, discussing some of the most important issues businesses face in today’s marketplace. Listen here: Do you use your story to differentiate? Stop selling and start connecting with customers Helpful is the new vira...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Aug 21, 2011, 12:46 pm
 BAN CHILDREN? Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, among others, wrote the legendary 1729 essay, A Modest Proposal, suggesting the impoverished Irish sell their children for food. Of course, he actually meant to say that the rich are heartless and the attitude towards the poor is despi...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Aug 10, 2011, 12:45 pm
(And why should we care?) I know it’s been a long time, but I hear college is still a time for exploration. Not just to “find yourself” or “experiment” but to realize what it is you might want to do with your life. And the hope is to do it without succumbing to external pressures. To this...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Aug 10, 2011, 11:00 am
(And why should we care?) I know it’s been a long time, but I hear college is still a time for exploration. Not just to “find yourself” or “experiment” but to realize what it is you might want to do with your life. And the hope is to do it without succumbing to external pressures. To this...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Aug 1, 2011, 1:21 pm
When I was in grad school for creative writing, I taught a technical writing course exclusively for business majors. I had no experience with this subject; I’d never needed to write a memo or a real cover letter or a business proposal, and had only put together a rough outline of accomplishments ...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Aug 1, 2011, 10:21 am
When I was in grad school for creative writing, I taught a technical writing course exclusively for business majors. I had no experience with this subject; I’d never needed to write a memo or a real cover letter or a business proposal, and had only put together a rough outline of accomplishments ...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jul 25, 2011, 4:46 pm
Another Summer Of Blockbusters Or Busted Marketers? It’s that time of year again: time for the return of every summer’s pests: mosquitoes, ticks, visiting relatives, and the summer blockbuster product-placement infestation. Or is product placement in movies as irritating as a bad sunburn or a C...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jul 25, 2011, 11:57 am
Another Summer Of Blockbusters Or Busted Marketers? It’s that time of year again: time for the return of every summer’s pests: mosquitoes, ticks, visiting relatives, and the summer blockbuster product-placement infestation. Or is product placement in movies as irritating as a bad sunburn or a C...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jul 14, 2011, 2:58 pm
At the end of June, Google decided to launch another potential rival to Facebook: Google+. With predecessors Google Wave and Google Buzz not performing to expectations, Google is investing heavily to make sure that the third time is a charm. First glance and you might think it is a Facebook wannabe...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jul 14, 2011, 2:11 pm
  At the end of June, Google decided to launch another potential rival to Facebook: Google+. With predecessors Google Wave and Google Buzz not performing to expectations, Google is investing heavily to make sure that the third time is a charm. First glance and you might think it is a Facebook wa...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jul 10, 2011, 10:14 pm
What I learned as a Child of Small Business Owners Lesson 2: Ask for help to make real evaluations and better decisions. My parents have had two restaurants.  Each failed to the point of bankruptcy because of poor organization, strategy, planning, marketing and financial management.  You would j...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jul 10, 2011, 2:54 pm
What I learned as a Child of Small Business Owners Lesson 2: Ask for help to make real evaluations and better decisions. My parents have had two restaurants.  Each failed to the point of bankruptcy because of poor organization, strategy, planning, marketing and financial management.  You would j...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jul 7, 2011, 2:48 pm
Lesson 1: Location matters because your target audience matters. In my early teens, my most important argument against opening a Caribbean themed restaurant was our location. We lived in Alton, New Hampshire, a town on Lake Winnipesaukee with about 800 locals year round, 20,000 with summer lake-ho...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jul 7, 2011, 3:00 am
Lesson 1: Location matters because your target audience matters. In my early teens, my most important argument against opening a Caribbean themed restaurant was our location. We lived in Alton, New Hampshire, a town on Lake Winnipesaukee with about 800 locals year round, 20,000 with summer lake-hou...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jun 30, 2011, 2:34 pm
Back in 1891 they were known as the “Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers” in honor of their residents’ dexterity avoiding the massive amount of trolley-cars lining the streets of pre-borough Brooklyn. Today, Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is trying another type of dodge. It’s called Chapter 1...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jun 30, 2011, 1:30 pm
Back in 1891 they were known as the “Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers” in honor of their residents’ dexterity avoiding the massive amount of trolley-cars lining the streets of pre-borough Brooklyn. Today, Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is trying another type of dodge. It’s called Chapter 1...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jun 20, 2011, 1:46 pm
It’s been a long time since I last posted. My blog ‘cohort in crime’, Fred Petrick, passed away a few weeks ago. Although the ideas and opinions have been there, guess the energy and time haven’t been. Sorry about that. Been reflecting on the many things he taught me about marketing, asking ...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jun 20, 2011, 11:58 am
It’s been a long time since I last posted. My blog ‘cohort in crime’, Fred Petrick, passed away a few weeks ago. Although the ideas and opinions have been there, guess the energy and time haven’t been. Sorry about that. Been reflecting on the many things he taught me about marketing, asking ...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Jun 8, 2011, 4:24 pm
Since our previous Groupon Now post, three of our coworkers who purchased the $1 deal, but were unable to use it, received emails from Groupon. In all the letters sent yesterday, Groupon offered them a refund of the original dollar, plus a $5 Groupon credit, plus a $25 Groupon good at Carson’s Rib...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - May 30, 2011, 2:53 pm
Forbes recently came out with their annual list of the World’s Most Powerful Celebrities, and we couldn’t help but notice the shift in power (and medium). Perennial #1 Oprah Winfrey (who still ranks #1 on the money earned list at $290 million) was replaced by Lady Gaga (#8 on the money list) an...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - May 26, 2011, 6:10 pm
On Friday, May 20th, Groupon launched a new product: Groupon Now, which offers discounts good only on the day they’re advertised. To kick off the new product, Groupon set every deal in Chicago at $1. And rather than the business partner absorbing the difference in price, Groupon assumed it during...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - May 23, 2011, 1:50 pm
Marketers are always looking for something/anything to help differentiate their product from another. The qualities can be tangible: Coke Zero tastes like regular Coke; Southwest Airlines doesn’t charge a baggage fee; Netflix have no late fees. The qualities can also be intangible: Harley Davidso...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - May 17, 2011, 2:08 pm
Stay tuned for the very first pilot video-blog from new R&M Executive Creative Director, Dave Rockenbaugh. Take a trip around town with Dave as he scopes out the good, the bad and the ugly billboards, bus cards and other advertising and marketing stuff that may or may not begin with the letter B. T...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - May 9, 2011, 11:05 pm
TO: Wally Hayward, Executive Vice President, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of the Chicago Cubs. FROM: Alan Maites, President, Robinson & Maites Inc. RE:  Be The ‘Beer Me’ Guy At Wrigley Field It’s mid-May and it could be another “wait ‘til next year” year for Cubs fans. That includ...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Apr 30, 2011, 12:11 pm
New Names For Same Old, Same Old Stuff This has probably happened to you: A perfect (but not very polite) stranger, learning what business you’re in, think it’s okay make remarks about marketing/advertising being devoted to “deceiving people.” I find this more ironic than insulting, becaus...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Apr 24, 2011, 5:27 pm
Marketers RESOLVE® to get economy back on track “Economy In A Freefall!” “Recession Looms!” “Wall Street In Turmoil!” With shock value headlines like these in the news every day, the ones we create for marketing communications can look pretty trivial and useless.  “I’d Like To Bu...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Apr 17, 2011, 9:11 pm
Marketers make a moral choice Think of this as the marketer’s version of What Would You Do? (the ABC-TV program that gets viewers involved in solving ethical dilemmas). Imagine that your client markets a service to small businesses and high-income individuals in rural, low population density C a...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Apr 13, 2011, 11:53 am
What’s wrong with this picture? “Hilton HHonors $25 Million Rebranding: Q&A“ was the headline for the Promo website’s lead article on April 5. Rebranding? I’ve never heard of a customer retention/loyalty program being “rebranded.” What does it mean? Then from Promo’s interview with...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Apr 10, 2011, 5:45 pm
Quack attack turns back bad PR When they’re threatened by a public relations crisis, most companies aim to turn a negative into a neutral, at best. Think Chrysler F-bomb, BP oil spill, Groupon Super Bowl TV…we could go on and on. But when AFLAC responded to Gilbert Gottfried’s insensitive tw...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Apr 6, 2011, 11:19 pm
  Okay, so who else had UConn over Butler in the March Madness Pool? Nobody? Or how about the complete Final Four with those two teams plus Kentucky and VCU? Not them either huh? Oh well, you’re not alone. And whether you think this was a good tournament or not, one of America’s enduring rite...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Apr 4, 2011, 5:46 pm
The Reviews Are In Everywhere you look, people and the media can’t stop talking about Charlie Sheen.  From his crazy antics, drug-induced partying and his tumultuous marriages, to his most recent battle with the creator of his hit show, “Two and a Half Men”, this guy has the world watching h...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Mar 26, 2011, 12:02 pm
Aaargh! Pirates get into promotion Well, shiver me timbers! I see at Wired.com that Somali pirates are now offering a 20% discount: “They’re overstocked! They’re slashing prices! They won’t be undersold!  Sounds like a local mattress sale commercial? Nope, it’s actually a Somali pirate g...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Mar 23, 2011, 10:02 pm
When did their brain turn “OFF”? Last week, Groupon fired the ad agency responsible for their Super Bowl commercial depicting Timothy Hutton making light of the political situation in Tibet.   Andrew Mason, CEO of Groupon said they “placed too much trust in our agency to be edgy, informativ...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Mar 20, 2011, 8:37 pm
How small businesses can get their 15 minutes of fame Google “small business success” and you will be overwhelmed by website after website offering you either: A.     The business secrets that will soon have you lounging in a beach chair on your own personal tropical island, cold frosty on...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Mar 18, 2011, 12:02 pm
When we read the recent story that Chrysler parted ways with one of its agencies because an agency staffer used the “F-Word” in an official Chrysler tweet, a few thoughts came to mind: Are we glad that didn’t happen to one of our clients! We’re sure the Chrysler media relations team had bet...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Mar 14, 2011, 10:25 am
When “innovative” = “just plain weird” Hmmmm. Once again I’m experiencing the blogger’s dilemma. Coming up with a marketing or advertising topic is easy; what’s hard is coming up with a point of view that anyone would want to read about. But wait – look at this! Alan’s most recen...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Mar 12, 2011, 11:56 am
The world is changing. Digital is taking over. Companies are going bankrupt and some sales are down over 30%. While at the same time, new companies are sprouting up and sales are going through the roof. The way to succeed is to keep up with technology and your consumers. iPads are taking over from ...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Mar 6, 2011, 6:25 pm
What you market (not just how) makes for a better, smarter agency “Would you like fries with that?” That’s one of the things we’ve been conditioned to think, when we hear the phrase “service economy.” The idea is that service businesses are somehow second rate, compared to ones that ac...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Feb 25, 2011, 4:15 pm
Reasons to celebrate the day that everyone hates It’s income tax season, time for Americans to participate in their annual ritual of confusion and complaining. Things could be worse. You could be living in Russia in the early 1700s, when Czar Peter the Great imposed a tax on beards. Or in Great ...
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Alan Maites posted an article on RandM - Feb 21, 2011, 7:12 pm
“When you assume, you make an ass out of u, and an ass out of me.” So goes an old saying that applies very well to many advertisers today. One recent example is high profile, notorious series of TV commercials that Groupon began running (now withdrawn, at last) on the Super Bowl.  They satir...
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