I am many seasons behind on the Mad Men Television series, having just started watching at the end of last season.  And I must say I am having trouble getting excited about the show.  Yes, I like watching it to flash back to the old days of advertising (the show takes place a little further back than the start of my career!).  The non-stop smoking, the male dominated world and the role of the account person are very much the same as when I got into the business.  Thankfully, the drinking was confined to lunch and after work.  I like hearing mention of agencies still around today and watching the way “whatever the client says and wants” goes.  I had particular fun watching the new business world of this past week’s show, and reading the perspective of AdAge this week.  That was certainly before Agency Review Consultants existed…though they could have used us.

But all in all, I get really depressed when I watch this show.  Life was all sadness, gloom and depression.  I don’t think it is particularly realistic in that sense and it doesn’t make me want to watch the show each week.  So I record it and fast forward through it and then turn on something funny like The Office.  Now that brings me back to reality!

I guess I am not that surprised that personal blogging has become so popular – after all it’s a great way for anyone to express themselves and share thoughts and ideas.   But I must admit, I was surprised when I read that 2,400 bloggers attended the BlogHer annual conference last week in New York.  More surprising was that BlogHer is made up of 2,500 blogs reaching 20 million-plus unique visitors per month (AgeAge, Aug 10).  20 million!  No wonder there was a record number of sponsors this year.

As a marketer, communicating with this group of women is extremely valuable.  If she has the potential to influence millions of other women, you want her to be your brand’s best friend.  But you also must tread lightly because you want to talk to her on a personal, peer-to-peer level; you certainly don’t want to alienate her by communicating with the wrong tone.  After all, more people may be listening to her than you.

If your brand was applicable to today’s Working Super Mom, what would you say to her?  And how would you say it...

I’ve been a member of MENG Marketing Executives Network Group for about six years www.mengonline.com and served as the local Chapter Chair for three of those years.  Although I’ve passed the torch to another Chapter Chair, I’m staying very involved with the organization and will also be a guest blogger for the newly launched http://blog.mengonline.com/ 

Here’s a bit about the blog – hope you take the time to take a look: 

The Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG), a nearly 2000 member, not-for-profit organization of senior-level marketing professionals, today officially launched its blog, the MENG Blend. The blog is coauthored by 18 marketing professionals, including some of the most well known names in the marketing industry, such as Drew McLellan, Joe Pulizzi, Randall Beard, Matt Gill, Sarah Miller Caldicott and others. To view the complete list of MENG bloggers, visit http://blog.mengonline.com/meng-bloggers.

MENG Blend includes timely insight, relevant advice, shared best practices and innovative thought leadership surrounding a myriad of marketing disciplines.

A personal job search is just as volatile as the stock market.  You get some good news, maybe positive feedback from a phone interview and the hiring manager wants to schedule a face-to-face--the market is up.  Five minutes later another opportunity gets back in touch with you and it’s the end of the line--the market is down. Now it may not be Ben Bernanke calling you but there are so many touch points that can be positive or negative that it’s like riding an emotional pogo stick. 

It’s  impossible to keep a straight line on how you’re feeling during a rigorous job search.  A key tactic to managing the highs and lows is to find at least one “Coach”.  My advice is to find someone other than your significant other.  Your partner is the one you can vent to and say things you would never say to anyone else.  They allow you to burn off steam and can console you.  Your Coach, on the other hand, needs to be like a mentor or a highly respected peer, someone who knows you well enough to have a confidential and personal conversation, but can also kick you in the butt if you need it. 

I also think that asking someone to be your coach is important.  Let them know what your objectives are and ask if you can call them for advice before an interview and to debrief afterwards. It makes sense to have a couple of Coaches, that way you don’t burn anyone out. Other folks in job search mode can be great Coaches, and that way you can reciprocate. The thing is, at some  point in the job search everyone thinks they can do it on their own.  Job search is a full time job.  Isn’t it easier to get the job done with a team rather than flying solo?

Matt Gill

Senior Vice President

Pile and Company

I just read the story in AdWeek about the Pay-to-Play pitches in the UK and India.  

Funny how here in the US, agencies are worried about consultants that require them to pay an annual fee to be considered for their agency review, while in other countries it is clients requiring the payment.  

I have to take sides with the agencies here.  Imagine if other categories or industries used the same approach:  A lawyer would pay the client to handle their business or doctors would pay patients to treat them.  Now that would solve our healthcare crisis.

What I find particularly amusing is the notion that the client wants the payment as a sign of a good-faith commitment to winning an account they’re pitching.  It would seem to me that the amount the agency is putting into the pitch is commitment enough.  Maybe they are not asking them to do spec assignments, but even so, the cost of pitching business is significant and should be enough of a demonstration of commitment.

Interesting that even though there was a great deal of talk within the industry, there were still agencies that participated.  Seems to me, all the agencies should have said no.

Well one thing this article shows – new business in the US isn’t as bad as it can get.