Content for Content’s Sake

December 8th, 2011 | by: Jim Kokoris

Content is king. Apparently, we can’t get enough of it. Agencies are appointing directors of content, brands are searching and maximizing every iota of it, companies are posting, uplinking and tweeting, volumes of it.

The result? There’s a lot of content floating around out there.

But is it good content? Is it relevant? Is posting unused b-roll of a video shoot featuring not-so-hilarious outtakes of a tool expert trying to fix a toilet, really going to help move your brand or your company forward, or are you posting it merely because you have it — so why not?

Case ( almost) in point. I recently caught the content bug and thought it would be a truly GREAT idea to post video on our website of a recent internal staff meeting. I thought this would be a neat way to showcase our terrific staff and offer clients and prospective clients, a glimpse into how we work, think, interact, etc. Fortunately, the logical section of my brain – the part that houses my common-sense neurons – kicked in and (after shooting the video) I backed off. (Full disclosure: we’re posting still photos instead.)

I concluded that, as fascinating as we are, no one outside of possibly our parents or spouses really wanted to see the team at JSH&A discussing our travel schedules, or debating where to have our annual holiday party. If anything, rather than help the image of our fine firm, such content could have proved a bit of a laughingstock. Just as dangerous — it could also put people, potential and current clients, deeply asleep.

As we continue to navigate our way through the social media maze, I think we all need to take a step (or two or three) back from the content abyss. Is it relevant? Is it different? Does it tell or support our story? Does it provide texture, substance, or context to a campaign? Will it help?

In other words, before forcing out a blog or a squeezing out another tweet, before posting unused video of that commercial, rather than asking yourself ‘why not’ — ask yourself another simple question.

Why?

Photo Credit: Search Engine People Blog

Tags: Content, Content is King, Content Management, Internet marketing, social media
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On The Campaign Trail

November 7th, 2011 | by: Jim Kokoris

Over the course of the next year, I will weigh in on the upcoming presidential election, offering wisdom, knowledge, pithy insights, ribald comments and, most of all, made-up facts and cheap shots all designed to amuse, entertain, and educate America as we make our way through this most democratic of processes.

Full disclosure: I am a card-carrying independent. I have voted Republican and I have voted Democrat. Sometimes I haven’t voted at all. (Rather than a statement, it was simply a case of forgetting to register.) I believe it is every American’s duty to vote for the candidate, and not the party. I have very few soapboxes, but this is one of them. (Another being people who wear flip flops at the office.)

Debates Still Matter

My first commentary is on the Republican debates. They have been really good in the way campy horror movies are really good. ( Editor’s Note: After watching Rick Perry’s first performance, my initial reaction, ”he’s drunk,” soon gave way to horror and then sympathy, when I realized he wasn’t.)

The ratings have been surprisingly strong. And I find it interesting that in this social media age, when our every move is allegedly defined by Facebook and Twitter, a good-old fashioned Lincoln-Douglass, Kennedy-Nixon smack-down still has weight, and based on Perry’s sinking poll numbers, a lot of it.

So if you can’t volunteer for your favorite candidate, can’t or won’t give money, can’t or won’t go hear a speech, can’t or won’t attend a town hall, a coffee, a pig roast, make sure you at least tune into the debates. Not only is it good theater, you’ll be doing your patriotic duty.

Photo Credit: DonkeyHotey

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A Father’s Day Memory with Brunswick Billiards

June 15th, 2011 | by: Jim Kokoris

With Father’s Day quickly approaching, I recalled my first memory playing billiards with my father on a Brunswick pool table. Recalling the fond moment led me to put it in writing and submit it as a guest post for the Brunswick blog, BeyondthePocket.com.

The following is the opening:

My first experience with a Brunswick Billiards table was when I was in fifth grade. Our next-door neighbors, the well-to-do Ruzichs, had gone on vacation and had asked us to look after their house while they were in Florida. I wasn’t sure what “looking after their house” entailed, the specific responsibilities were never described to me, but I was looking forward to the job nonetheless. The Ruzichs had the nicest house on Dame Avenue and since the Ruzich kids were much older than me, I had never stepped foot in it. Now I had my chance to snoop around.

The day after the Ruzichs left, I took the key they had left us and nonchalantly announced that I was going over to make sure everything was “okay.” I didn’t get far. My father intercepted me in our driveway and wordlessly took the key. He then walked across our frozen front lawn and vanished in the Ruzich house. He was gone for hours.

The afternoon of fun created a cherished father-son memory. To read the rest of it, visit BeyondthePocket.com.

What was your first childhood memory playing billiards?

Disclosure: Brunswick Billiards is a JSH&A client and the agency helps the company manage BeyondthePocket.com.

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No One Asked Me But…

December 15th, 2010 | by: Jim Kokoris

Our President still is wrestling with communication issues. Big time. His recent “use” of former President Bill Clinton is another prime example. I certainly can understand why he would enlist Clinton’s support in the tax cut issue,( Clinton remains a very popular figure) but putting him up on the Presidential podium to do his bidding, introducing him, then leaving for a White House Holiday party, gives me great, great pause. Exactly who’s the President again? If anything, Bill should have gone first – given his spiel—then introduced Obama who could have then reiterated what Clinton said. Then maybe afterward, the two could have strolled arm-in-arm down the hall for the Secret Santa exchange.

I’m not always sure what the White House Communications team is thinking. Sometimes I think not much.

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The Winter Games End Too Soon!

March 1st, 2010 | by: Jim Kokoris

Okay, I have to admit it, I’m not a big Winter Olympics fan. I can’t ice skate, and am one of the few able-bodied people on this planet who has never snow skied. I generally hate winter so sitting in front of the TV and watching an event that glorifies this season holds little, if any, appeal.

That said, I found myself in a prone position on a couch during the closing ceremonies — the remote was out of reach, so I was helpless. Consequently, I was forced to watch one of the most abrupt endings of any major sporting event ever. One minute it was all singing and dancing and inflatable things flying, the next, we were plunged knee deep into something called “The Marriage Ref.” At first, I assumed I had fallen asleep, and missed the requisite emotional and inspiring send off from Bob Costas, but when I realized that NBC planned this, I was shocked. Not that I really needed to see Bob one more time, but still, I felt cheated. I learned later that the broadcast closing was scheduled to continue an hour later, but by then, the mood was over. I went to sleep.

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No-Go for Chicago

October 8th, 2009 | by: Jim Kokoris

I was one of the few Chicagoans, it seemed, who was indifferent over our prospects of winning the games. Yet, when the news broke last week, I was surprisingly disappointed.

First, I had commissioned an extravagant celebratory lunch at the agency (pizza) and had juggled my schedule to allow at least an hour to enjoy the announcement show. (Once we lost, I had no recourse but to grab a slice and slink back to my desk.)Second, on the way into the office that morning, I began formulating plans to rent out my house to visiting Japanese in 2016. I thought I would clean up.
What really got me going though was a New Yorker article I had read the very day before, describing Rio as the drug capitol of the world. The article, written by Jon Lee Anderson, was the cover story and ran under the headline “Rio – Neglected by government, ruled by drug lords and devastated by violence.”*

Wow, I can’t wait to visit there, especially when you consider that:

Rio police kill more people than anyone else in the world; last year they killed 1,188 people. By comparison, U.S. police killed 371 people in the entire USA.

There were close to 5,000 murders in Rio in 2008. ( P.S. 90 percent of those murders go unsolved.)

Good choice Olympic committee. I’m buying my tickets today!

* Official city motto

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The World’s Most Interesting Man

July 15th, 2009 | by: Jim Kokoris

There are few commercials that make me yell “be quiet” to my kids while I turn up the volume when they come on, but Dos Equis beer’s “World’s Most Interesting Man” campaign is definitely one of them. (“the spot Girlfriend,” by longtime client Jim Beam was another.)

The campaign, featuring an Ernest Hemmingway/James Bond character, is flat out funny, and I very much consider myself a connoisseur of all things funny. Kudos to whatever agency came up with the premise. I heard the campaign is having a nice impact on sales which shows that in our fragmented marketplace, humor still breaks through.

While I haven’t had time to do much (or any) research on the campaign other than laugh at the commercials, I assume Dos Equis is following up with the requisite social media extensions: “World’s Most Interesting Man’s blog, World’s Most Interesting Man on Twitter,” etc. If not, they should – and in a big way.

Stay thirsty my friend.

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The World's Most Interesting Man

July 15th, 2009 | by: Jim Kokoris

Stay thirsty my friend.

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20 Years Old

July 8th, 2009 | by: Jim Kokoris

As you may know, JSH&A is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year – a milestone we’re acknowledging in a number of ways. (Pig roasts, special events, sponsorships and plenty of back slapping.)

For a small agency to survive and grow requires a combination of hard work, good people, and a modicum of luck.

It also takes good clients.

Over the years we’ve been lucky to work for some of the biggest corporate names in America. More importantly, we’ve been fortunate enough to work for some very decent people. Honest, reasonable folks who appreciate a good effort and value a partnership.

Running the risk of sounding like a corporate brochure, I think it’s safe to say that JSH&A is a special place due to our special client list. Together, we’ve made beautiful music.

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No-Go for Chicago

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20 Years Old

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