Saxton Horne Communications

Seize your ad viewer’s attention with a sound bite or a catchy quote. Better yet, use a certain well-known quote that kicks off many stories: “Once upon a time.” It’s a great quote AND it kicks off a compelling story.

Here’s some trivia we hope you’re thankful for: It is estimated that about 46 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving. Chew on that number!

An overloaded ad overwhelms the buyer. If you try to highlight ALL your product’s features and benefits, the consumer probably won’t remember any. Focus your message.

A brainstorming session should be open and non-judgmental. Team members must feel free to take risks and pitch daring ideas. Not all ideas are winners; some miss the mark. You can’t win if you don’t fail, so embrace it.

On Veterans Day, we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation, and we thank those who continue to defend it.

Even 108-year-old ads can highlight best practices, says copywriter Nick Mathews, like this ad for Overland Automobile by renowned illustrator J.C. Leyendecker. “It inspires me because while the copy is presenting the features, the art is showing the benefit, a day at the lake with friends. That’s what good ads do: sell the benefit, the result.” A simple illustration of Model 81 would not be as compelling.

Virtual pitches are here to stay. If you’re accustomed to in-person pitches, you’ll benefit from a little practice. As you prepare your pitch, record yourself and then review, making notes of where you can improve, such as speech patterns, content, framing, and timing.

👉🏻 Riley Smith got his start in advertising as a marketing manager for a freestyle BMX team, juggling multiple duties, including onsite marketing, tours, and graphic design. He loves his current position because “it keeps my brain churning and excited for every day.”

Differentiators are the thing that separates a brand from the herd. 🙌🏻 One differentiator is customer service. To make your service stand out, your company has to make (and fulfill) a unique and clear promise, such as Zappos’ free shipping and returns on all orders, regardless of order size.

👉🏻 As the director of project management, Jessi has overseen a TON of projects, so picking her favorite was impossible.

“Really, I am proud of the project management department as a whole. I was the first person as the director over this new department and I was able to help write the process and build the department from the ground up, which was really exciting.”