Sam Ford | Fast Company

The Danger Of Saying "Lighten Up! It's Only..."

BY Sam FordFri Feb 3, 2012

If we are asking audiences for their time and expecting to engage with them, we need to respect that time and take our communication with them seriously. The moment dismissive attitudes start to creep into our work, we might make the switch from making sincere mistakes to insincere ones. READ»

DESIGN THINKING | Comment

Reports Of Design Thinking's Death Were An Exaggeration

BY Sam FordFri Jan 27, 2012

Though some have said we've moved past design thinking, its most exciting extensions move beyond the concept in its most narrow sense. Many wouldn't even be projects you'd expect from the IDEOs and Jump Associates of the world.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

S#*! Our Business Leaders Say: "We're in Business to Make Money"

BY Sam FordWed Jan 18, 2012

"We're in business to make money" and "we engage in marketing to market ourselves" are the kind of statements that send companies spinning into obscurity. And it is to serious business strategy conversations what "because I'm your dad" is to parent/child relations: a shortcut from someone who has no reasoned or considered approach.READ»

MARKETING | Comment

Should Marketers Strive To Make A Difference?

BY Sam FordMon Jan 9, 2012

Despite all the cynicism I've seen about marketing professionals--so often depicted as subversive brainwashers, spin doctors, or snake-oil salesmen--I've often imagined that even those who seemed aligned with mind-boggling products, causes, or political candidates must believe in what they do. That's my eternal optimism speaking, or perhaps my naivete.READ»

SAM FORD | Comment

Did Retailers Risk Damage to Their Brands Despite Hit Holiday Online Sales?

BY Sam FordTue Jan 3, 2012

Amid e-commerce glitches and technology's growing pains, retailers can still win the loyalty of customers. Here's how. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Trends Shaping The Future Of Entertainment

BY Sam FordWed Oct 12, 2011

A quick primer on the innovations and forces that are shaping the current state and future of the media and entertainment industries. READ»

SOAP OPERAS | Comment

Advertising Logic and the Race to the Bottom in Daytime TV

BY Sam FordTue Aug 2, 2011

Oprah's off the networks and many of America's most beloved soaps have been tossed aside in favor of not-so-compelling reality TV. Where did daytime TV go wrong, and how do we ensure the same fate doesn't capture the broader worlds of marketing or advertising?READ»

SAM FORD | Comment

Vince McMahon Gets (C.M.) Punked: The Wrestling Diatribe All the Fans Are Talking About

BY Sam FordFri Jul 1, 2011

The wrestling world has been abuzz this week over an incident that happened at the end of the latest edition of World Wrestling Entertainment's flagship show, WWE Monday Night RAW. C.M. Punk, a top WWE performer for the past few ...READ»

MIDWIFERY | Comment

O Midwife, Where Art Thou?: Experiencing the Plight of Midwifery Firsthand

BY Sam FordFri Jun 24, 2011

The midwifery profession has to come together to protect their brand from the misperceptions that surround it if they are going to be able to increase midwives' relevance and awareness.READ»

SAM FORD | Comment

Lessons Learned from Icons of Ring And Classroom

BY Sam FordTue Jun 14, 2011

Randy Savage was a pop culture staple of a generation's youth with his larger-than-life voice; his flamboyant, colorful outfits; and his provocative, over-the-top interviews. Beneath all that, though, Randy Poffo was a real athlete.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Can Hoover's Marketing Save Dying Soap Operas?

BY Sam FordThu Apr 21, 2011

Since the news that ABC was pulling the plug on soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live, the cancellation has been a major topic of discussion online. One thing keeping the story alive 1s the decision made by Hoover to pull all its advertising from ABC in the wake of the announcement.READ»

SAM FORD | Comment

In the Wake of ABC Soap Opera Cancellation, Is the Death of Soap Opera an Inevitability?

BY Sam FordFri Apr 15, 2011

Yesterday, ABC Daytime made the announcement that they were ending two of their three long-running soap operas, All My Children and One Life to Live, in favor of a cooking show and a "lifestyle transformation" show. READ»

SAM FORD | Comment

What We Can All Learn from Soap Operas

BY Sam FordWed Feb 16, 2011

Since the dawn of the broadcast era, soap operas have been a central part of television storytelling. The genre, a creation on radio during the 1930s, became a pinnacle form of storytelling during the Great Depression when audiences no longer wanted to or could pay per entertainment and instead were more accepting of "free," advertising-supported content.READ»

SAM FORD | Comment

Keeping Apple Fresh: The Importance of Designing (and Communicating) from the Customer's POV

BY Sam FordFri Feb 4, 2011

My mind has been on Apple and particularly how they seem to consistently develop technology developed for their audience in ways that resonates in their lives. Apple understands underlying needs audiences might have and how to develop technologies that are intuitive to those audiences.READ»

SAM FORD | Comment

Some Reading While You Wait?

BY Sam FordThu Dec 2, 2010

I'm not sure how the book ended up in the waiting room. Perhaps someone had left it behind in the distant past...I do know that the novel's presence was a symbol for me and some of the others in the room. And, for that, the novel's placement in the waiting room is actually a significant public relations problem.READ»

SAM FORD | Comment

"HELL IS REAL": The Battle over an Interstate Billboard

BY Sam FordWed Nov 24, 2010

In last week's piece, I wrote about my trip across The Bluegrass State to speak at the Louisville's Social Media Club. On my way there, I passed one of my favorite advertising juxtapositions. Off to the right, there's an exit sporting the sign for an adult bookstore. Then, on the left, there is a billboard with a message written in big block letters: "HELL IS REAL."READ»

SAM FORD | Comment

The Dangers of Typecasting within an Organization

BY Sam FordFri Nov 19, 2010

My wife and I were first-time homeowners in 2010, a house built in 1881 that we will be renovating for years to come. Having to deal with life without a landlord to call on for the first time, we quickly adopted my uncle Eric as our ...READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Nick Gilyard: The Future of Public Relations?

BY Sam FordThu Nov 11, 2010

In both the marketing and academic worlds, you tend to meet a lot of people. Sometimes, those meetings lead to long-standing relationships. Occasionally, you even meet someone who truly excites you or gives you hope. That's how I felt when I met Nick Gilyard.READ»

BURIED | Comment

Buried: A Film About Customer Service?

BY Sam FordWed Nov 3, 2010

I went to see "Buried," Ryan Reynolds' latest flick, about a truck driver in Iraq who is attacked and kidnapped by someone who wants a ransom from the U.S. government. What I expected was a suspense film. I got that, but I ended up with something I didn't expect: a film about customer service.READ»

CHEVRON | Comment

Hoaxes and the Chevron Debacle

BY Sam FordTue Oct 26, 2010

The hijacked "We Agree" campaign stung Chevron. Yet, hoaxes have a deep history in our culture. Back in August, I wrote a piece about our fascination with figures like P.T. Barnum, Andy Kaufman, and World Wrestling Entertainment's Vince McMahon who constantly blur the distinction between fantasy and reality. They play a crucial role in our society.READ»