With apologies

While I have made several mentions of them over the past year, it has recently come to my attention that I have omitted Blueline Grassroots Marketing from the list of agencies here in Idaho.

So now, with apologies, they take their place in alphabetical order in the list to the right.
(P.S. -- if you are reading this through the automated feed, you'll have to visit the site itself to make sense of the "list to the right")

Technorati tags: blueline grassroots marketing

What have you done lately?

So much of the work that is done by agencies here in Idaho goes unnoticed, but that's not to say that it doesn't deserve some recognition. Some of that recognition, of course, will come from the Boise Advertising Federation and the Rockies award show.

I don't think one awards show does justice to a year's worth of work.

So here's your chance to show off a bit. Show me something that you've done over the course of the past year that you think merits some recognition. A story to go along with it would be helpful as well.

I know that there is a lot of damned good work that comes out of the state of Idaho, and too often it doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Let's change that.

Technorati tags: boise advertising federation, rockies awards, idaho ad agencies

What do your job listings say about you?

I've made reference to a number of job openings over the past year or so, and will likely continue to do so. The majority of those job listings are pretty straightforward -- what the job is, what the requirements are, how to contact the employer, etc.

Every once in a while, however, I come across a job listing that goes above and beyond. The latest job opening for Stoltz Marketing Group is just such an example.

It gets the basics of the job across. That much is a given. But it goes farther. It gives the reader a glimpse inside the walls of the shop, the environment, and the sense of humor of at least some of the people within the agency.

Now this isn't the only one that I've seen. Oliver Russell has had job listings that have done something similar. More recently, Rizen Creative has come close with their job listings.

In each case, there is undoubtedly a good writer behind it. They've taken the basics of the job and turned it into a piece that is more likely to make the potential employee want to work at their shop.

Well done.

Technorati tags: stoltz marketing group, oliver russell, rizen creative

More on the Idaho Lottery

As noted in a previous post, I suspected that it wouldn't be long before John Foster at the Idaho Business Review put the spotlight on es/drake and their work for the Idaho Lottery.

Today he did just that.

In reading his post, it really is quite humorous, and could very well be what happens behind closed doors in the hallowed halls of the Jefferson Place Building.

The comments, however, have not been quite so lighthearted. The folks over at Blueline, while speaking highly of the creative, don't seem to be big fans of the overall strategy.

While I respect their opinions, I can help but notice that the comments have the tone of "what you're doing is wrong" tone. Okay, fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But what do you suggest as an alternative?

Putting the money allocated to marketing back into the schools -- not realistic.
The Idaho Department of Education has an annual budget of over $1,000,000,000 (yes, that's $1 billion -- with a B). Sure, you might be able to put a half a million dollars back into the budget by doing that, but last year alone there was $11,255,042.95 distributed to school districts within Idaho as a result of the Idaho Lottery. Sure, you'll get your earned media with some PR about putting those budget dollars back into the schools, but that's a one shot deal. There went all of your money for 15 minutes of fame. Then what?

Okay, so you're not a lottery player. Think you don't benefit from the revenue that the lottery brings in? Think again. If you have a child in school, you benefit. If you've stepped foot on a public university in Idaho, you've benefited. If you'd like to know more, check out the Where The Lottery Money Goes pamphlet on the Idaho Lottery's website.

Bottom Line: Any lottery is a game of chance. A game is a source of entertainment. The Idaho Lottery is a brand that provides a variety of games, such as Powerball and scratch tickets. As the brand providing these games, I would expect the advertising to be entertaining as well. I find the spots that es/drake has done over the years to be very entertaining. And at the same time, they also provide a reminder about additional entertainment options, namely the games that are available for purchase.

Just my $.02 worth.

Technorati tags: idaho business review, idaho lottery, es/drake, blueline, idaho department of education, powerball

Anonymous Job Opening - Graphic Design

An anonymous employer in Sandpoint has an opening for a Graphic Designer. The full post can be found here.
(Courtesy of Craigslist)

Technorati tags: graphic designer job, craigslist

Job Opening - Advertising Sales

Creative Indoor Advertising has openings for Indoor Billboard Advertising Sales positions in Pocatello and Idaho Falls. The full job posting can be found here.
(Courtesy of Craigslist)

Technorati tags: creative indoor advertising, advertising sales job

Job Opening - Creative Web Designer

Temel in Boise has an opening for a Creative Web Designer. The full job posting can be found here.
(Courtesy of Craigslist)

Technorati tags: temel, web designer job

New Hire at Oliver Russell

Yes, it is official.

As hinted at in a previous post, Oliver Russell & Associates in Boise has a new account services director.

David Jenson has joined Oliver Russell, after working most recently in the Boise office of Duncan & Associates. For those of you keeping score, Duncan & Associates also came up last fall.

Congratulations David. You've got your hands full over there at Oliver Russell, but they're a great crew that consistently produces top-notch work.

Technorati tags: oliver russell, duncan & associates

Job Opening - Copywriter

Stoltz Marketing Group in Boise has an opening for a mid-level copywriter. The full job posting can be found here.
(Courtesy of creative hotlist)

Technorati tags: stoltz marketing group, copywriter job, creative hotlist

Spotlight on es/drake and Idaho Lottery

John M. Foster over at the Idaho Business Review is a fan of the work that es/drake has done for the Idaho Lottery. I just came across this post, which has since been answered by several people, including drake's own Jamie Cooper.

I wouldn't be surprised to see John bragging about them, either on or offline, very soon.

Technorati tags: idaho business review, es/drake, idaho lottery

Job Openings at Closed Loop Marketing

Closed Loop Marketing & Advertising in Boise has openings for:

Director of Client Services
Account Supervisor

Details about these positions can be found here.
(Courtesy of CareerBuilder)

Technorati tags: idaho ad agencies, closed loop marketing, client service director job, account supervisor job

How old is too old?

Not the age of the person, but the age of the portfolio piece.

As an individual, or as an agency, how long do you think that examples of your previous work should stay in your portfolio? 2, 3, 5 years? Longer?

I'd like to know what you think. Feel free to comment away.

Technorati tags: idaho ad agencies, portfolio pieces

2007 - What does it hold in store?

That, dear readers, is the million dollar question.

By now I'm sure you've read the news, commentary and opinions from the pundits on the year that was 2006, and what's coming in 2007. But I'd like to know what you think.

So, looking specifically at the marketing and advertising arena here in Idaho, what do you think 2007 has in store?

Job Opening - Senior Art Director

After spending some time trying to recruit locally, rizen creative in Boise is broadening their reach a bit. They are looking for a Senior Art Director with 4+ years of agency experience. The full job posting can be found here.
(Courtesy of Monster)

Technorati tags: idaho ad agencies, rizen creative, senior art director job, monster

New hire at es/drake

Jennie Myers has joined es/drake as a senior designer and associate creative director.

Congratulations Jennie.

Technorati tags: idaho ad agencies, es/drake

Who's In, Who's Out

In:
Linda Alden as Director of Marketing and Jana Chalfant as Director of Economic Services with the Boise Valley Economic Partnership. They are both full time employees of the BVEP, and will be working with the agency trio of Porter Novelli, Scott Peyron & Associates and es/drake.

Out:
Gary Martinez at es/drake. During a quick cruise through drake's website a few weeks ago this caught my eye. The "interactive" contact for es/drake is now Chad Connally, and Gary is no longer listed among the staff.
Kristy Stanaway at Oliver Russell & Associates. After many, many years with Oliver Russell, Kristy has made the leap over to the client-side, working for Hewlett Packard. More on her replacement at a later date.

Technorati tags: idaho ad agencies, boise valley economic partnership, porter novelli, scott peyron & associates, es/drake, oliver russell

Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a Happy New Year and a wonderful holiday season. I know I did. Took a little time away from the blog (and most computer-related things come to think of it), and ended it with a whirlwind trip to Glendale Arizona yesterday. I'm still waiting for my voice to catch the return flight.

In the mean time, its a new year, and a whole new round of news, commentary and anything else marketing-related that I happen to come across.