David Esrati for Congress

Speaking of the internet’s giant role in politics, a great Ad man (of The Next Wave) and colleague in Dayton, Ohio is running for congress. He announced mid-December.

Congress: David Esrati for Congress
I hope that my open campaign, utilizing the Internet and Web 2.0 technology, along with the power of true ideas- can not only power this campaign to win, but that we can bring the disenfranchised and disgusted back into the fold.

And Ernie Schenck, author of The Houdini Solution and big-time Ad man himself, is spreading the word.

David puts it best here:

Ernie Schenck Calls This Advertising?: Esrati For Congress. Or Else.
I’ve used my personal blog to share my ideas for a better future for the last three years- it’s my intention to continue to use this technology to keep in touch with the people I hope to represent.

Hope that gets you started into the web of articles and information encircling his run for office. It’s a new day in politics. A great time for change.

Dare I say … The Next Wave?

Daniel Brian & Associates

There is an advertising agency in Rochester, Mi. It’s called Daniel Brian & Associates. Everyday, their people create campaigns and communication materials for clients. What sets them apart?

Their Mission:

1. God is the source of all creativity and the only authority above a client.
2. Love is the only rule. All others were made to be broken.
3. Character is the beginning of all success. For this reason, we will never intentionally lie to a client or for a client.

What? Really?

They are way ahead of most agencies, with such a strong mission (or a mission at all).

If they were a football team, I would be their painted, foam-fingered #1 fan.

VCU Students Put the Art in Advertising

Looks like the VCU AdCenter trains kids to be fantastically artistic, award-winning advertisers. Which sounds like a lot of hard, fun work.

Some say advertising should be straight-legged, with less art.

Some say art as advertising can be the best method.

Which side are you on?

Ads that Clean the Streets

Interesting idea!

Honest Advertising

I believe honest advertising exists in organizations like Ad Council. I’m tired of the way so many ad people spend more time figuring out which car they’re going to lease than which campaign they’re going to present.

Ad Council:

 

Ad Council campaigns are produced pro bono by advertising agencies retained by the American Association of Advertising Agencies.

Aah, there’s a heartbeat.

Sweden and Japan do not allow dishonest advertising.  No fine print!  No disclaimers!  How great is that? I’m getting excited about the possibilities of this industry all over again.

Rethink

The guys at Rethink Advertising know what they’re doing.

Googling for Candidates?

Be careful where you click. Presidential candidates are buying key search terms on Google, which means many people will find themselves reading about the candidate with the most spending power… just because the candidate spent the most money.

But that’s nothing new. The scary part? “It seems to be working,” said Jeremy Crane, director-search and online media at web analytics firm Compete. “People are clicking on these links.” – Ad Age

Whether they are finding the pages they wanted more easily, or are landing on the opponent’s page, is not clear. But it’s definitely another reason to get your head into the Google search game.

Which, to the surprise of most, doesn’t mean buying search terms. There’s another way. All you have to do is keep a WordPress weblog (like this one) and update it regularly. Using specific keywords and categories relevant to your topic will bring you to the top of Google searches. And what’s better than being at the top of Google (for free)?

So… why don’t political candidates have blogs? Some do. But they all should. And so should everyone else, with something to say.

I learned a lot about the web in Dayton, Ohio at a Websitetology seminar. Go to one. You’ll learn a whole lot, meet some cool people, and get a free muffin from Starbuck’s.