Kevin Frank

For brands, the highest honor, and greatest reward, is irrational love. The benefits are many. People are more likely to forgive you, pay more for your products, stay loyal when new competitors emerge and they'll instantly want your product...no. matter. what. As we dream up the next INNOCEAN USA, building and measuring irrational love for brands is critical to our mission. And the person at the heart of this is Cindy Scott, author of the Ad Age article below.

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For marketers that work with creatives (or really anyone involved in brand decisions), this book from Marty Neumeier is a great resource. It’s smart, clear, and an easy read. Grab it. https://a.co/d/bkEoFxZ

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I’m here for so many elements of the BBL-Drizzy story… 🥩The beef between Drake and Kendrick that has done so much to put hip hop back on the mainstream cultural radar 💨The prodigious speed and quality of their output 👍The extent to which the world has not just observed but participated via memes, social commentary, their own musical contributions 🤖And now the first cleared sample (by Metro Boomin) from an AI-generated track raising vexing questions about whether that IP is owned by comedian King Willonius who wrote the lyrics and ‘generated’ the melody, the platform Udio whose tech enabled this or the thousands (millions?!) of artists on whose work it was trained 🤯 Ultimately this feels like a sign of our relentlessly paced times. As Billbaord comments… “AI samples offer a solution for musicians in today’s relentless online news cycle. While [Willonius] has made plenty of songs from scratch before, he says AI offered him the chance to respond in real-time to the breakneck pace of the feud between Drake and Kendrick. “I never could’ve done that without AI tools… It’s good for when you dig and can’t find the right fit. Now, you can also try to just generate new ideas that sound like old soul samples.” https://lnkd.in/ekY-AsiK #AI #Creativity #Drakebeef

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I'm deeply saddened to hear of the purging of creative talent at a company where several brilliant people I know worked. There's a disheartening belief at some companies that thoughtful, creative, strategic thinking isn't as valuable in an AI and data-driven marketing landscape. Nothing could be further from the truth. My strongest desire is to secure a role as a creative leader at a forward-thinking startup or entrepreneurial-minded growing company that needs exceptional, passionate, inquisitive minds to expand its brand, engage its community, and propel its marketing and creative efforts. If that happens, I could bring a team of people who fit that bill perfectly and immediately transform an in-house creative/marketing team. If you're looking for creative talent — ranging from brand management, design, content development, digital marketing, creative leadership, video marketing, data storytelling, and/or social media marketing, message me. I can direct you to a wide range of talent seeking immediate employment. And I can provide you with the highest recommendation and vouch for their tremendous capabilities.

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Not a headline I expected to read. Five Expert Tips for Brand Marketers Thinking of Collaborating with a K-pop Act. Now you know.

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Evolution is a powerful force. We aren't defined by our past experiences, but rather by how we learn and grow from them. At RedNovius, we believe in the power of clear communication, especially in complex fields like medicine. That's why we created PubVisuals - 2-minute animated explainers that make scientific data memorable and easy to understand. Health literacy is key! PubVisuals empowers you to grasp complex medical concepts. #Science #HealthLiteracy #PubVisuals

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Honest to Goodness

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This U.S. election, if nothing else, taught us that different people think very differently. Given our ad industry loves to explore human psychology, it's worth pausing to ask, why did Americans splinter apart so much last night? The best framework I've seen for this surprising mental battle doesn't come from Thaler or Kahneman, but rather Jonathan Haidt, the NYU Stern social psychologist who wrote "The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion." The secret to understanding our divisions, he said, is to first consider how different humans conceive of "morality." Morality actually has 6 unique sub-pillars, Haidt suggests -- caring, fairness, liberty, loyalty, authority and sanctity. Each pillar has value; as our human species evolved, it was important both to care and be fair to others while also to respect our elders who knew a few things and not eat rotten food. Each moral pillar is a way of helping us survive in a crazy, dangerous world. What creates tension today is liberals focus most on caring and fairness, while conservatives focus more on authority and loyalty. Haidt has tested this with various surveys and studies, and found that Dems or Republicans lock in immediately to any situation based on whether the vibe is "fair" vs. "loyal," subject to caring for others vs. respecting the hierarchy of authority. Our moral pillars are heuristics, mental shortcuts, to allow us to make a snap-judgment about any political or news event. In our minds, we react emotionally, quickly, and then sort the incoming facts in our brains to stack into the moral pillar that makes the most sense to us. And if you're behind one moral pillar, you likely can't see me behind mine. I dig this theory because it helps me understand why so many good people disagree with each other today. None of us are being logical. We're simply filtering the facts of the world to fit the moral storylines in our minds. It's worth stepping back, considering all of those 6 dimensions, and asking yourself, "can I learn a little about why the other side cares about that moral pillar at all?" For marketers, all of this is a wake-up call too. Demographics and proxy data and purchase histories may not matter as much to your future campaigns vs. the *psychographics,* or different mental states, that are the root of human behavior. We may look like our neighbors, but we sure don't think like each other.

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Are you a manager or leading a team? My good buddy Scott Albrecht was on The Friday Habit this week sharing his knowledge on the hierarchy of team needs. You should check out his book on Amazon and give this episode a listen wherever you get your podcast! https://lnkd.in/gTgCT7NF #podcast #leadership #contentmarketing

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"Chaos asks questions of you order never will" The wonderful Colleen DeCourcy retells her experience working with Dan Wieden when she took over as Chief Creative Officer at Wieden+Kennedy Her immediate response to me asking about working with Dan was this quote about chaos. We have a natural reaction against chaos because it can be destructive and unsettling but what if we reframed it as a necessary condition for achieving something truly breakthrough 🌪 Chaos propels you forward while order maintains the status quo 🌪 Chaos creates leaders while order creates managers 🌪 Chaos demands a response while order delays it 🌪 Chaos reveals the cracks while order papers them up 🌪 Chaos forces ownership while order delegates it 🌪 Chaos fosters creativity while order fosters compliance 🌪 Chaos requires trust while order replaces it It got me thinking whether there is an optimal mix of Chaos and order required to achieve breakthrough ideas and momentum? We spend most of our time creating order but what if what we actually needed was an injection of chaos? To hear more from this episode check out the links in the comments John Kearon Kerry Collinge Orlando Wood

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This is going to be a real challenge. Recognizing the importance of authenticity in brand story telling is critical. And as the author states..."The key is to blend the innovative capabilities of AI with the irreplaceable value of human insight, ensuring that your brand tells authentic stories that resonate with your audience." #authenticity #authenticcontent

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A recent article from the AMA highlights a critical insight: many U.S. consumers feel ignored by advertising. In a digital landscape that is overflowing with content, personalization and genuine connection are key. As marketers, it's time to rethink our strategies! Understanding your audience and engaging them authentically can transform your marketing efforts. Let's focus on creating experiences that resonate and make consumers feel seen and valued. One size fits all doesn't work anymore. At shyft digital we talk lot about adapting your approach to connect authentically with your audience. I’d love to hear your thoughts on your approach!💡✨ Read the article here:

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You remember this Spider-Man drawing meme from a few years back? https://lnkd.in/gXwXApdd You know, the one that shows the level of quality you get when you give an artist 10 minutes vs. 1 minute vs. 10 seconds? I remember when it started doing the rounds, a lot of creative types used it as an example of how much worse their work is when it's rushed vs. when they get enough time to truly ideate. What's funny is, this isn't even the best depiction of that. Imagine instead if you started by giving someone 10 seconds to draw a *brand new* superhero — one that doesn't already exist. My guess is the result would go something like "Uhhhmmmmm.... I dunnnoo.... (hastily scribbles rough silhouette with a cape)". Then give them 1 min and watch more detail get added. And then 10 and watch really rich character and story elements emerge. I see this a lot in organizations that put a premium on sprints and MVPs. It's one thing to put time constraints on refinement, evolution and optimization of an idea. It's another to rush the ideation itself. That's typically not a good recipe for innovation, since (as my example illustrates) when people are rushed, they tend to regurgitate/replicate the familiar. There is something to be said for putting some time constraints on ideation as a generative exercise. And when facilitated with a focus on lateral connections sparking new combinations, there is a way to hack novelty at pace. But often the main value is in getting all the obvious ideas out of the way, and getting the gears turning in the back of brains to let time do its work of mental marination. Then the real gems that team members can't stop thinking about can be prototyped/MVP'd/etc. Have you seen rapid ideation produce novel concepts (in product, comms, org design, etc.)? Or has it tended to churn out ideas that feel like replications/regurgitations, logical/linear progressions and slight incremental improvements on what already exists? #innovation #creativity #ideation #agile #mvp #prototyping #poc

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What do you think, is it worth the hype? A colleague shared this article with me today, and it is too good not to share more broadly. IMHO, most public sector orgs are far from ready for GenAI: 1.) because the tools are not mature enough, and 2.) because most orgs have some housekeeping to first (e.g. data, policy, processes). As my colleague pointed out, we haven't even really tapped into the full potential of more mature types of AI yet and some are ready to leap ahead to the unknown of GenAI. I'm here for it and excited about it, BUT...use caution when running toward the shiny new thing! https://lnkd.in/ePsappRB

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What makes great creative, great creative? We know it when we see it, we feel it when we do it, but could there possibly be...a formula? Our Think Integrated team took the time to consider this question along with analyzing some of the best work we've ever done or seen. While we found no set formula (thank goodness), we did identify these common traits, which we've put on paper and commit to from this point forward: 1. Have purpose, perspective and a point of view.  We’re not just making stuff to make it. All of our work serves a purpose. And we’re not just creators. We are problem solvers and communicators, driving toward something specific and intentional with every move we make.  2. Start with an idea. Always.  Ideas separate compelling, effective creative from collections of letters and pixels. Some people can’t tell the difference. We are not those people. 3. Tell the truth.  Great creative never lies, or needs to. It makes the truth — about a brand, a product, a person, or a situation — shine. 4. Be original.  Whatever you’re trying to say, be it verbally or visually, strive to say it in a way it hasn’t been said a million times before. Originality cuts through the clutter and earns the audience’s attention. 5. Surprise!  Great creative catches you off guard. It can paint the ordinary in an extraordinary new light. It can reveal a truth you never realized. It can make you feel seen and understood in a way you never dreamed possible. 6. Stay on strategy.  Yes, we’re repeating #1. That’s because we have to. Sometimes we get so carried away with being creative that we forget what we came here to do in the first place. Even the most original, surprising and exciting idea will fail if it doesn’t connect to our original purpose. 7. Embrace the edit (even when it hurts).  Great creative takes craftsmanship. No matter how much we fall in love with our work, we have to be willing to change what needs changing, take out what has no reason for staying, to rethink, rework and refine until we get it right.     8. The simpler, the better.  In a complicated and complex world, our job is to create order and understanding.  We make things look and sound beautiful while keeping the meaning crystal clear. 9. Words & visuals work together. Think of them as different tools to build the same story. How can they complement each other without competing? How can they reinforce, without repeating? 10. Speak human. For every client, industry or customer base we work with, we are always humans speaking to other humans (for now). Create accordingly.    11. Check–and double check–your work.   Even the tiniest little error can dim the sparkle of otherwise great creative. Take the time to review your work and ask the team when you need an extra set of eyes. (And you always need an extra set of eyes.) 12. Have fun! This is why we became creatives in the first place, isn’t it?  Anything you would add?

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Another gem from my conversation with Andy Pearson at Liquid Death as we talked about the surprising overlaps between ultramarathons and building a brand. Minimizing energy expenditure in both fields is critical. An important reminder for Friday afternoons and/or as we head into Thanksgiving. May we all find ways to reduce unnecessary processes and revisions that don't actually impact the work, and instead spend more of our time on projects that can make a meaningful difference for the brands we're trying to help. Full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gGbvYSgK Quote: "There's so much less energy that can be expended if you take a moment to step back and look at it really skeptically and objectively. And I think that's a real important thing that I hope for everybody in this industry, that we learn to untangle ourselves from unnecessary processes and unnecessary things that are keeping us working till 11 o'clock or working weekends or spinning on stuff or having to put decks together of hundreds of pages to bring to a client and having to do a 40 page strategy set up on the front end. There's all these things that we do because we think we should do them, not because we actually should." #strategy #insights #branding #agencylife #liquiddeath

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Last week at Google, at my team's (Agency Data, Measurement, and Analytics) onsite, I had the distinct privilege of moderating a fireside chat with my client (and friend!) Helen Lin, Chief Digital Officer at Publicis, who is a total industry powerhouse. Helen brought immense inspiration to the conversation and dialogue on change, staying agile, and how to best collaborate with clients. My three favorite lessons below - 🚀 Be introspective and iterate - Take time to be thoughtful about reorganizations and new titles because it’s all about aperture. Give each other grace for the discovery phase because that takes time, and it’s not simple. Messy means opportunity! 🚀 Change is hard - Swing change like a "sledgehammer" and push through noise. When you’re transforming quietly, you have the opportunity to come out strong. Play to win! 🚀 Become client’s trusted advisor - Truly understand clients’ problems and have no preconceived expectations on the solutions. Spend more time listening and understanding their aspirations, absorb it, and then reflect with ideas.  Even when we don’t have the answer, we can always provide a perspective! Thank you Marta Martinez Christina Mohebbi Nadia ✨ Carta for your support and Ada Rice for being my partner in crime!! 🙏🏽 #stayingagile #change #trustedadvisor #data #measurement #analytics #agency

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Congrats team. We're doing generative A.I. photo experiences differently. We can do some very unique things, allow product placement, etc that off the shelf solutions will not do. We just had a wonderful opportunity to work with Revolution Marketing and their client Method on the AI Aura Photo Experience at Coachella. Case study https://lnkd.in/g9a4Nffn It is an AI-powered generative image experience that creates personalized, stylized portraits that reflect a person's “Aura” in one of three styles: Pure Peace, Simply Nourish, or Daily Zen based on their inputs. Groove Jones is establishing policies and guidelines for developing AI-powered Applications and Experiences for brands that ensure ethical and legal use. Learn more here - https://lnkd.in/gX88cmRp

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