Comments on: John Lennon, the marketeer

By: Michael Wagner

Michael Wagner — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 12:46:21 +0000

Good point! “I think a gimmick can work even for the smart ones if they are enjoying it” I recongize that as true to my experience. Certain gimmicks just make me smile. I don’t reject them or resent them. And for that reason I play along with them.

Hope you week has been a good one - keep creating, Mike

By: Niko

Niko — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 19:57:20 +0000

I agree with the lack of long term benefit. John Lennon's peace message is still being heard, but that probably wouldn't be true if he hadn't played in the greatest pop band ever. And I think a gimmick can work even for the smart ones if they are enjoying it. Enjoying being manipulated, sort of...

And yes, Finnish is my first language. :)

By: Michael Wagner

Michael Wagner — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 19:26:47 +0000

I’m in synch with you I think. I am finishing up listening to the audio book version of Here, There and Everywhere by Emerick with narration by Martin Jarvis. I love the readers oral interpretation of the various English accents.

Getting noticed is certainly the challenge when there is so much noise and so little signal. John’s approach was the outrageous and the gimmick. I think that works…short term. But I wonder about the long term effects. I see novelty and eccentric gimmicks being dismissed by people smart enough to know what is being “done to them” in our media savvy world.

I challenge clients to learn the art of balancing the different that makes them unique with the relevance defined by their audience. But this requires thinking and reflection - no easy answers are readily available.

Your postings are really helpful. I assume Finnish is your first language. This just adds to my admiration - thanks for “thinking out loud”.