Show notes

* John on LinkedIn

* John’s Substack and other links

Summary

* John shares his journey from advertising to consulting, focusing on practical outcomes rather than marketing politics.

* He highlights the common misconception that advertising only means paid ads and explains that any brand communication can be seen as "advertising."

* John describes the industry's split between "brand" and "performance" marketing, noting that customers don’t view these distinctions.

* He emphasizes the importance of measuring marketing's financial impact and explains why companies need an "always-on" approach to marketing for lasting brand recognition.

* John criticizes the "trust-me" approach in marketing and suggests that marketers should communicate results clearly to executives, especially in financial terms.

* He explains how changes in privacy and digital tracking have made it harder to measure digital ad performance accurately.

* His recommendation for effective marketing measurement is to return to basic incrementality testing to see what actually drives growth.

* John stresses the need for brand-building but advises against over-investment in specific channels too early. He supports a balanced approach, combining testing and targeted investments.

* He concludes by encouraging marketers to detach emotionally from their campaigns and focus on long-term growth.

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