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February 28, 2009
I was just thumbing through Ad Age and noticed a great article What Is the Best Book Ever Written on Marketing or Media? If you didn’t catch the article, here is a list from the readers of Ad Age:
“Positioning ,” by Jack Trout and Al Ries,
Brad Johnson: “Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind,” by Al Ries and Jack Trout. Published in 1980 and updated in 2000. A classic book on marketing, branding and strategy.
Jean Halliday: “It’s Not What You Sell, It’s What You Stand For: Why Every Extraordinary Business is Driven by Purpose,” by Roy Spence with Haley Rushing.
Claude Brodesser: “The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America Is Tearing Us Apart.” I don’t know if it’s the best marketing book I’ve ever read, but certainly one of the more interesting, and one that speaks to the vastly different sensibilities of rural vs. urban consumers that anyone in marketing ought to read.
Matthew Creamer: “The Tipping Point,” by Malcolm Gladwell.
Michael Bush: “Direct Marketing: Strategy, Planning, Execution,” by Edward Nash.
Abbey Klaassen: “Groundswell,” by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff. Full of really great practical examples, in a genre (marketing books).
David Zapata
February 26, 2009
I remember the days in grade school when teachers would ask, “what do you plan to give up this year for Lent?” I never could think of anything REALLY good and my grandma (aka Momo), always told me that I was exempt from the rule. She also told me I could cheat on Sundays; I wonder if that applies for what I have decided to give up this year?
Fast forward to 2009 and consider it the ultimate sacrifice…a facebookless life for 40 entire days! Always up for a challenge, I have decided to embark on a facebook detox diet in celebration of the season. While I know some who couldn’t give it up for 40 minutes (you know who you are), I am looking forward to “getting back to the basics” if you will. This will include actually calling people on the phone, emailing them via archaic ways such as hotmail and gmail, and letting people wonder for the next 40 days what I am doing with my life, rather then me telling them every 30 seconds in a status update. Don’t worry, I am already trying to live vicariously through my co-workers and just like someone addicted to nicotine or some other substance, have found myself rocking at my desk, forcing myself to not type in that infamous web address.
Holly is…only 38 days to go!
Holly Ramsey Winter
Senior Publicist
During a recent lunch with my banker, we began discussing what we read. As I began listing the dozens of newspapers, magazines and blogs I read every week, I realized that was a great topic for a Blog down the road. Stay Tuned.
With that said, one of my favorite magazines to read is Fortune Magazine. This month is no exception. If you haven’t read the cover story on Facebook, it is a must read.
“How Facebook is taking over our lives” discusses the evolution of the social networking site and what influential people are using it.
With 175 million users, the power of Facebook is unquestionable. Read the article and decide for yourself.
David Zapata
February 23, 2009
1.) The Snuggie – Has anyone else noticed it looks like a costume from Lord of the Ring?
2.) People spitting on the train platform – Why is it appropriate to spit like camels while waiting for the train? It’s gross.
3.) Irish Dancing
4.) Surprises – I’d rather know what’s going on.
5.) Macs – I’ve never had one that holds a charge.
6.) Snow
7.) Listening to people chew
8.) Waiting
9.) Slow internet connections
10.) Hiccups
11.) Commercials where animals act like humans – Scary.
12.) Penguins
13.) Camels
14.) Ostriches
15.) Mini-Coopers – Buy a real car.
16.) Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman’s open heart necklace – It looks like a butt.
17.) House Plants
18.) Movies with too much vehicular action.
19.) Grainy bread
20.) Talking about Jessica Simpson’s weight problems.
Kassy Reiff
Publicist
February 18, 2009
It’s official. Tax season is here. And despite the painful faces many people make at the mere sound of the word taxes, I am always hopeful come April that I will get a little something back from my hard work in the form of a REBATE CHECK. Rebate. Check. Two simple words, yet when strung together, I can’t help but get excited at the thought of all that money – once taken away month by month in the form of FICAs and SSWTs – that will surely return and be mine once again.
….Except, it’s never mine for very long. Even now as my 1099s sit patiently on my kitchen table, I am already thinking of all the ways I will put the money towards good use: perhaps a plane ticket to visit a friend in Boston, or a new swimsuit for my upcoming trip to Jamaica or how about a splurging on a nice dinner at Zapwater favorite, Hub 51?
No, this year I think I will do something even more unusual with my tax rebate. I think I’ll save it. Because if I’ve learned one thing from living in these economic times, it’s that sometimes the best gift to oneself is truly nothing at all.
Sarah Marseille
Publicist
February 9, 2009
I can be quite particular about things from food to where I do my laundry. Sometimes I will drive ten miles out of my way just because I know a certain restaurant makes an outstanding fish taco. Having lived in Chicago now for nearly two years, I have searched my Old Town neighborhood far and wide for a decent place to get a haircut. Unfortunately, I have had little success.
Recently, I attended the grand opening for Urban Joe, a new barbershop located in Lakeview. As I walked in, I quickly noticed bleacher seating for waiting patrons, complimented by an array of flat screen televisions showing a movie or various sporting events. It became quite clear to me that Urban Joe isn’t the Enzo’s barbershop my Dad took me to as a kid in The Bronx, yet it seems that at Urban Joe the old school feeling of a classic barbershop blends easily with a new school vibe.
So through my journey of this fair city, I can check off another concern, for Urban Joe will be my new place to get a haircut and I shall have to wander no more
John Delaney
Special Projects/Office Manager
February 4, 2009
As the new intern at Zapwater Communications, I’m proud to say that interning here is a great way to gain valuable experience in the public relations industry.
Now, I’ve only been here a few weeks and am still going through the acclimation period, but I’m looking forward to contributing to the company and my clients. My previous internship was at a much larger agency, and I felt lost among the thousands of employees. While Zapwater is smaller, the agency provides greater access to my peers.
My eagerness to succeed grows daily, and it’s comforting to know that I’ve got supporting co-workers who are willing to answer any questions I may have. They are all highly determined and intelligent specialists who take extreme pride in their work and I’m thankful to be associated with them.
I would recommend this company to anybody looking to intern or any company looking to gain publicity within their industry.
Tim Moeller
Intern
February 2, 2009
Zapwater’s blog was selected agency blog of the month from among 19 agency entries from around the country. It was also a landslide. We received 283 of the 649 votes cast.
The recognition came from Fuel Lines, a blog written entirely for marketing and ad agency new business pitches and practices. If you don’t subscribe, you should.
A big thank you to everyone who voted! A bigger thank you to those folks here at Zapwater. With out them, there would be no content for the Blog.
David Zapata
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