The Brooklyn Brothers’ Post

Sitting here on a sunny Sunday, I can't help but feel grateful for where I am and excited about where I'm headed. 🌞 People often admire the success of giants like Amazon, Nike, and Apple, but it's important to remember that these companies didn't become industry leaders overnight. It took years of hard work and dedication. In another 10-15-20-30 years, we'll see a new set of hyper-successful companies, and the ones that will stand out are those that are currently in their infancy stages. NOM Media is one of those companies. Four years in, and we're on a journey similar to that of VaynerMedia, Wieden + Kennedy, or Ogilvy. These marketing/advertising giants didn't achieve their success overnight, and neither will we. But we're determined to get there. Sundays are for dreaming and manifesting, so we can hit the ground running Monday through Friday. So here's to NOM Media's journey to becoming the largest black-owned marketing/advertising group in New York, then the East Coast, then the nation, and eventually the world. And here's to all the companies out there putting in the work to reach their heights. It's literally just the beginning. 💪🏿 #NOMMedia #Marketing #Advertising #Growth #Manifestation #Success

Read my latest post in MediaCat Magazine, where I unpack details from our recent fandom report and remind us all (myself very much included!) to never forget the mainstream. As marketing and insights professionals we're often obsessed with the edges, the weird and the unexpected. But to be frank, bell curves exist for a reason! More below. #fandom #mainstream #mrx #insights

Apologies for the offensive title, but it feels accurate. The way we talk about culture is w*nky. And when you talk about it differently, you get punched in the face. Our creative partner, Carl Moggridge, explains why. https://lnkd.in/gDtDCkp2 #Culture #Opinion #Advertising

Given my background in Branding and Marketing, I always find it interesting to draw parallels between agency work and investment management firms. Lately, I've been seeing a lot more job alerts for Communications roles in asset management with an increasing need for a solid network of retail investors. This is super relevant now, with more and more retail investors diving into alternative investments. So how do you ensure you're front of mind for retail investors? Similar to how a branding agency carefully shapes a brand's identity to appeal to its target audience, investment firms must also focus on developing a strong brand. Effective branding is not only essential for attracting investors and retaining top talent but also plays a pivotal role in gaining a competitive edge in sourcing opportunities. Based on my experience in Branding and Marketing, here are some key strategies that I've found particularly effective: 🎯 Understand Your Audience: Identify and research investor profiles and preferences. 💡 Clear Value Proposition: Highlight what sets your firm apart. 🌟 Strong Brand Identity: Develop a consistent brand message across all touchpoints. 🤝 Networking & Relationships: Engage in industry events and build long-term connections. 📚 Educational Outreach: Offer webinars and workshops to educate potential investors. 👤 Personalized Experience: Tailor services to individual investor needs. 📊 Monitor & Adapt: Continuously evaluate and refine marketing strategies.

The one and only Jay Baer joined us to kick off the year! If you're not familiar, Jay is known for his memorable suits, best in class keynotes, authoring 7 books, being a tequila influencer, leading the charge in business strategy and winning over audiences of all sizes. A few of my favorite things that we talked about: ➕ Why having the "right" background may not be the best answer ➕ The story of how Jay owned and sold budweiser dot com ➕ How partnerships amplify messages and build trust ➕ How to build your personal brand and evolve with it over time ➕ Personal brands are important in B2B, as people trust people not logos ➕ The importance of customer insights and how partner teams should leverage them It's ear candy, friends.

What did Bill Bernbach have to say about purpose? Why didn't 'we' heart We Heart NYC? Do creative universities need Chief Social Purpose Officers? Is all art political? Why does purpose lead to bad marketing and worse social outcomes? What was Jungian about the John Lewis ad? Should creative awards award creativity? Was The Good Advert the worst advert of the year? All questions I've explored this year on S*bstack – links in comments. I didn't fully realise it at the time, but it turns out the Subst*ck was laying the groundwork for a book that I'll release early next year. Here's the blurb: The Road to Hell How purposeful business leads to bad marketing and a worse world (And how human creativity is the way out) The road to hell is paved with good intentions, says the proverb. Never has that been truer than in the case of corporate purpose, the movement that took over the business and advertising world following the financial crisis of 2008. Guided by the mantra ‘do well by doing good’, businesses embraced a social purpose agenda that sought to align doing good for society with doing well in the marketplace. The result, according to author Nick Asbury, has been a wave of humourless and hubristic advertising, and a spiral of worse social outcomes, as businesses wade into issues beyond their remit, while neglecting their real ethical responsibilities. Diving into examples including Bud Light, Patagonia, Cadbury and Unilever, Nick Asbury builds a compelling case against purpose – covering what it is, where it came from, how it leads to worse marketing, and how it leads to worse social outcomes. As a positive alternative, he makes the case for creativity, cognitive empathy and valuing the human over the corporate. Amid the fierce and topical debate about purpose and corporate politics, The Road to Hell is a sharp and entertaining intervention, shedding light on how we got here – and where we go next. * * * Thanks to everyone who has read and commented this year, in varying shades of agreement / disagreement – all much appreciated. #thoughtsonwriting #purpose #brandpurpose #startwithwhy #creativity

Is this autumn’s most powerful partnership? Brand partnerships are everywhere right now, but few are as on-the-money as the clever collab between our friends at Movember and iconic snack, Pringles. The QR-code moustache campaign takes the scanner through to Movember’s conversations page with access to resources and information about men’s mental health. But beyond the perfectly paired moustache icon, this campaign resonates further than a simple visual connection. It nails the snacking occasion in a deeply rooted culture-led strategy. Here’s what makes it so effective: ⏰⚽ Perfect Timing: Movember sits right in the heart of the social sporting season of football and rugby, making it the ideal moment to capture men’s attention when they’re together - and snacking. 🥸👂🏽Value and meaning: In an age where everyone's talking, the real edge is in understanding. It’s not about volume but value - and that’s what this delivers in tube-fuls. 🌟🤝🏿 Commitment: In its 4th year, the partnership follows one of our core culture-led principles, the authenticity stress test. Both brands are in it for the long haul, building trust and loyalty with consumers. What do you think? I would love to hear about any other winning partnerships you’ve seen recently. https://lnkd.in/eWMcXaKX

I made TWO clients cry this week. Ok, maybe they didn't sob, but there was definitely a light, joyful spritzing when we unveiled the first iteration of their brand repositioning strategies. Imagine thinking this part of the process is boring (I've heard that many times). This is the bit where you learn about what your audiences REALLY want (Spice Girl style) and how to show them you're IT! And your team *finally* agrees on how your brand should be positioned, your messaging, and your vision. It's the part of the process where everything comes together and starts to make sense. Sometimes, for the first time ever. I LOVE unveiling brand strategy because I only ever work with social or environmental impact businesses. So, the strategy and messaging aren't just about building a brand your audiences rave about; they're growing a business that makes a positive difference and gives back. And, my clients are always SO invested in every part of the process. Big up another brilliant Electric Peach B Corp client, Enjoolata Foundation, for the connection and doing so much to keep Sussex-based social enterprises thriving. Now, back to my mission to make founders and teams ugly cry. From joy, of course! What are you celebrating this week, peach?

So, what is Raze Impact? We’ve split Raze into two - Raze London and Raze Impact - so that both people and brands can be represented fairly in what we do. Raze Impact is on the side of brands. It’s a community of changemakers, joining forces and succeeding with the help of people. Impact is a central theme of Raze. Our ads are more than just a message on a wall - they’re a force for good. But to us, impact is about more than our ads. It’s in the DNA of the brands we work with - together, with people - to make the world better.

The Sticker Mule Fiasco makes me think about cause- or political-based brands. I'm a very politically minded person with my own beliefs, but I think brands are better off when they begin with a cause or values in mind. If a brand wants to share its political values mid-stream, it's extremely important that it do it with its full chest. You can't wonder why you're alienating half of your audience like Sticker Mule. You can't lament privately (and publicly!) why more people don't feel the same way you do like Sticker Mule. You need to plant the flag confidently as a part of your message but always put the product first. Cause-led brands have an advantage others don't because certain audiences will be pre-disposed to have an affinity for you. So own it and act like it. Need help building a cause-led brand? I have openings in August! Check out my examples in my profile, DM me, and let's get to work.