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Wit & Wisdom Wednesday - Caldwell on Storytelling

 “Many Southern writers must have learned the art of storytelling from listening to oral tales. I did. It gave me the knowledge that the simplest incident can make a story.” Erskine Caldwell

It is Wit & Wisdom Wednesday at Elarbee Media, and we are happy to be back in the South for the some much needed office time. If you read our blog regularly, you will know we are fans of Southern literature and of Caldwell in particular. Having been on the road in meetings over the past two weeks, we have come to realize just how much of our role in client relationships and new business development is actually dependent on storytelling. 

In business, this is called a "case study", but in its most effective application it is actually just a story. The ability to convey a message to another person or group in a memorable and meaningful way can be the difference between success and failure. Dry data points are a great supporting items to follow up with, but rarely win the day. 

The most effective business story telling I have seen in action is by a close friend from Texas. Like Caldwell, he manages to take a small mundane incident, and envelope it in a level of hilarious detail that makes it memorable. Almost exclusively, the stories are self-effacing, and that enhances their value to the audience. Someone that would poke fun of themselves is surely worth listening to. It builds trust. There is, however, always a gem mixed in with the humor that is the intended if subtle takeaway. Without realizing there is a "lesson" underway, the audience hangs on every word. 

This Wednesday tell a story. 

Art Tuesday Perspective Checking

It is Art Tuesday at Elarbee Media and today we are focused on perspective. We are not speaking of artistic meaning of the word, but in terms of “changing” ours.

This Howard Finster-esque picture is by Colette (7). It was only natural for her to see a board with blue-green paint on it and assume it was a “canvas”. It was an ocean ready to be filled with fish. What it was, in fact, was a test board to choose a front door color for a beach rental property.

How you look at something determines its value to you, as well as how you approach and employ it. Having children around can often impart some of the most important lessons, ones we had learned long ago but forgotten,

In our business lives, change is a constant. Being able to see that change as a canvas ready to be painted is a valuable skill, and one we needed to be reminded to employ.

Cocktail Friday - Cheers Jess Barrows!

It is Cocktail Friday at Elarbee Media and today we are reflecting on a month of having Jess from our UK partner the Specialist Works in our offices. Jess went home earlier this week, and we already miss her. Much like the image of bottle caps in a tray that we chose to pair with this posting, having someone from outside in the office for an extended time feels very different. Like a cider cap in a tray of beer caps often times is it very different, and foreign.

Working across cultures has its own unique challenges. With the help of our capable “translator” Jess Barrows, we know we will be fine. We are fortunate to have had such an enthusiastic and supportive liaison, and we can’t wait to move forward with greater understanding and facilitated communications with her help. Cheers Jess!

Art-Tuesday - Haunting Art

Art speaks to us. When we hear but fail to listen, it often haunts us. We are not talking about “decorative” Art, but of the soul sharing, emotionally explicit variety of Art. It is the kind of Art that makes you uncomfortable.

When something speaks to you and you walk away have you lost out or does the haunting mean as much as the initial experience? Does being memorable have as much value as being present?

For advertisers, is the message and imagery that stays with people more important than continued exposure?

Power of Imagery - Rorschach Plate VIII

Unusual in our exploration of Rorschach Slides to date, Plate VIII has significant amounts of color – soft pastel colors. While we have seen bold and meaningful reds, in slides 1 to 7, this is the first slide that completely rejects the black and white. Why?

Does the power of color extend to pastels? Do we react to soft colors with the same gravity and passion ignited by the more stark black, white and red? Does it mean something less to us for its softness? Is there welcome and comfort where there may have been power in a different color choice?

Whichever side of the debate you fall on, it is clear that color has an impact. It changes not only the message, but also the openness of the recipient. Positioning advertising messages with the appropriate colors for both the audience itself AND the desired audience interaction is crucial.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day from Elarbee Media.

Cocktail Friday Champagne Saucers

It is Cocktail Friday at Elarbee Media and today we broke out these adorable Champagne saucers. They are tiny at only 3 inches high, but very old-school in their look and feel. Why are be breaking out the Champagne saucers you ask? Because we have had a very productive week, and it is time to celebrate. Cheers to all of you! 

Art Tuesday Color Juxtaposition

It is Art Tuesday at Elarbee Media and today we are featuring a small piece in our favorite vivid red by Shelly Leitheiser. Her work appeals to us for both its color and imagery. Art gives you the freedom to express yourself outside of what is literally visible. In this picture, we are compelled by the juxtaposition of color with subject matter. The full blown red color as a background for penguins is a surprise. The common theme of putting penguins in cold, blue and white settings where they naturally reside is turned on its head in this work we have nicknamed “Penguin Inferno”.

What appeals about Penguin Inferno, is the complete departure from what is expected. In this case departure is achieved through color. Can changing advertising color backgrounds have the same impact? Would having the unexpected as a part of the visual experience enhance or retard response to an offer? Playing with color in art is intrinsic. Playing with color in advertising is risky. Sometimes. Risk and reward go hand in hand. Be bold in testing, but do it in small controlled quantities.

Always be bold in expressing yourself through Art.

Today is Martin Luther King Day

Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Elarbee Media is keenly aware that today is Martin Luther King Day. While there are opportunities to practice the values Dr. King espoused on a daily basis, setting aside one day a year to reflect on his lessons is a boon.

Art Tuesday Organic Growth

It is Art Tuesday at Elarbee Media and today we are featuring a piece titles Morris Green. Outside of our normal buying patterns, this piece appealed to us with its Organic pattern and coloring. Nature and grounding are both excellent visual triggers for this new year.

In thinking about Organic, we can help address the issue of customer growth. Should marketing departments be focused on Organic Growth, or New Customer Acquisition? Doubling your existing client’s AOV (Average Order Value) can be as significant and at the same time considerably less costly than acquiring new customers. While the goal is to gain market-share; sometimes, focusing internally can accomplish that goal as effectively as outbound efforts. Organic is awesome.