More Gain, Less Strain. This is a reoccurring theme for the client/agency relationship as emphasized in a recent CMO Council study. Top “strains” include limited knowledge of business and digital landscape, agreed upon performance metrics, integration of marketing plans/services, lack of value add strategic thinking and budget/pricing issues.

ADOTAS – The holiday season is a time of year to bring friends and families together, to enjoy a plethora of calorie-suffused foods and to buy the perfect gifts for your mom, dad, sister, brother, husband, wife, kids, best friends, co-workers, dog walker, neighbors, etc. You get the point. It’s the season of giving. So, where will consumers be spending all of their holiday dollars? Are retailers expecting consumers to tighten their online wallets?

Cue “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by BandAid. It’s the holiday season. I will bet you that by New Year’s Day you will hear this song more times than you will see an effective digital ad from the retail sector. Two reasons. First, people don’t get tired of the song. Second, retailing is too focused on direct response to be effective during the holiday season.

Question: What do you get when you mix People Magazine’s Most Beautiful Woman (JLO), a luxurious, yet simple Italian car, catchy party music, a flash mob of crazed and smitten men and four simple, sticky lines? Answer: A sexy, comical and memorable FIAT 500 television advertisement that continues to influence viewers beyond a brief 47-second TV spot.

Brands should grab your attention, invoke an emotion and drive you to want more. Good advertising should not only be creative, it should also spark creativity among its audience. A powerful brand starts with an amazing brand experience that lasts well beyond a first impression. It should move consumers through various stages and touch points. The key is to tell a story that is thought and action provoking.