Blog Feed: Deep Ad Thoughts

It’s no secret that women have traditionally been the primary decision makers in the household and advertisers have continually targeted their traditional ad messaging towards them. Since the social network boom has dramatically increased over the past couple of years, and with the new Facebook Timeline layouts and the ability to brand YouTube and Twitter [...]

Things We Love – Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head!

Published on 2012-05-03 08:43:08

A big shout out and congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head on celebrating their diamond anniversary. Over the last 60 years more than 100,000,000 have been sold in 30 countries. 60 years and going strong, and in my opinion, they haven’t aged a bit. Ad created by DDB Paris, displays a little adult humor…crazy [...]

Things We Love – The Amish Market

Published on 2012-04-25 13:06:04

This place is legit. They’ve got the best food, the best services, and the best prices. They don’t even have to advertise – they run on WOM. My only complaint is that they aren’t open 24/7.

The most important part of a marketing campaign: a GREAT microsite

Published on 2012-04-19 13:40:16

Effective marketing campaigns capture consumers and create interest in a product or service. The most successful integrated campaigns strategically direct these interested consumers to a microsite devoted to the specific campaign messaging/content, rather than dumping consumers on their big and scary corporate site. But that doesn’t mean that you can just slap up a landing [...]

Now Hiring: Social Media Coordinator

Published on 2012-04-12 09:20:08

The Cyphers Agency is seeking a passionate, creative, and fun-loving Social Media Coordinator to serve as an integral member of our lean, mean word-of-mouth marketing department. The Social Media Coordinator will create great content for the web, implement social media marketing campaigns, and manage online communities. But wait! There’s more! All our team members do lots [...]

Advertising 101 – Print, is it Dead?

Published on 2012-04-12 08:17:31

I’m sure you’ve heard that print is a dying breed. Yes, newspapers aren’t as many pages as they used to be and their subscriber base has shrunk for all forms of print, but does that mean it’s not worth advertising in? Rather than focus solely on circulation numbers (the actual number of printed copies), you [...]

Oh the Things We Say

Published on 2012-04-11 12:28:38

It’s taken a little while for me to compile this short list of weird thing we say. Maybe we’ve just been more ‘normal’ these last couple of months… Boots are the hats of legs. Look at that bird, flying free through the sky. I envy that bird… Holy Binders! People like to be cupped. Someone [...]

Chocolate Bunnies

Published on 2012-04-05 09:08:47

A little Easter humor…

Advertising 101 – Pt 3, Added Value in Radio

Published on 2012-03-29 14:19:17

I don’t have any clever references to stories about buying radio, so we’re going to dive right into it! Radio is probably the only media that will truly give you added value. Radio reps are willing to negotiate and give you free bonus time, tickets to events, advertising on their station’s website, etc. Use this [...]

Things We Love – Web Fonts

Published on 2012-03-22 10:50:28

Advertising 101 – Pt 2, Effective TV Buying

Published on 2012-03-15 10:08:12

I once used to work with an independent owner of a company that was of the philosophy that more is better, meaning, buy the cheaper spots on TV because I can get more commercials. What he didn’t take into consideration was that those spots are cheaper because less people are watching that particular station or [...]

Things We Love – The Hunger Games

Published on 2012-03-09 13:21:14

We all need an escape. For me and probably 85% of the people I know that escape has quickly become Panem, the post-apocalyptic setting of the Hunger Games trilogy. Whether you’re Team Peeta or Team Gale, if you’ve picked up one of these books you know what I’m talking about. “Love” doesn’t even begin to [...]

Advertising 101 – Pt 1, Outdoor

Published on 2012-03-06 12:31:19

When marketers are creating their media plans for the year, often outdoor falls to the wayside and I believe that it’s because there are a few common misconceptions. Outdoor can be a great support to your total media mix. Here are a couple short pointers to keep in mind in order to make your outdoor [...]

Things We Love – Pencils

Published on 2012-02-22 08:05:22

� � � � � � � � � � � Admittedly, I am in love with pencils and I’m not afraid to say it! Here are the reasons I’m obsessed with my pencil: 1. I am a tad bit O.C.D. 2. Ugly “scratch outs” on my paper give me anxiety. Pencils have these beautiful [...]

Logo Design Predictions

Published on 2012-02-16 10:14:12

No, I’m not Nostradamus in any sense, but I am a graphic designer for The Cyphers Agency. So I’m somewhat qualified to predict logo design trends for the rest of 2012. Let me consult my crystal ball (the internet) and I’ll jump right into it with my first prediction: More use of script fonts in [...]

Dog Blogs

Published on 2012-02-14 10:35:13

This is a great Birthday card I received. Blogger humor.

Things We Love – Super Bowl Commercials

Published on 2012-02-08 09:25:41

How many people actually watch the Super Bowl for the game? I personally watch it for the commercials. Doritos Man’s Best Friend commercial gets me every time. What was your favorite?

Hold On For The Ride: Charles Barkley Takes Weight Watchers In A New Direction

Published on 2012-02-02 12:43:10

If you’re a man, watch television with a man, or watch the TV programs that advertisers like us to believe that men watch, chances are you’ve seen one of these ads from Charles Barkley, former pro basketball player and self-described “round mound of rebounds”: Yep, that’s Charles Barkley. For Weight Watchers. You might expect to [...]

Oh the Things We Say…

Published on 2012-01-27 13:45:38

I would like to end this busy week with a little TCA humor. Tidbits of our insightful conversations are worth sharing, because frankly, they’re kind of weird and kind of funny. Happy Friday! You can’t calibrate a rubber band. Is Niagara Falls in Canadia? (Yes, that’s supposed to say Canadia) My onion hand is distracting [...]

Happy 100th Birthday, David Ogilvy!

Published on 2011-06-24 09:47:56

One hundred years ago today, the Father of Advertising was born, and we at TCA are tipping our hats to him. While the big party is going down in Cannes, people all over the world are celebrating one of the most influential figures in advertising, Dav

How Does a Brand Stop a Hoax? By Rallying Their Ambassadors

Published on 2011-06-22 12:36:59

About a year ago we began hearing some unsettling stories about our favorite fast food franchise, McDonalds. Specifically, that the chain was setting us back about 50 years by charging African-American customers an extra $1.50 as “an insurance poli

Summer Silliness at The Cyphers Agency

Published on 2011-06-22 11:34:54

Not sure if it’s the sunshine, warm weather, or the short-sleeve shirts but summer silliness is definitely in the air at The Cyphers Agency. Just take a look at some of the QUOTES heard around the office lately, and you’ll know exactl

Infographic of the Day

Published on 2011-06-16 13:30:35

Reasons We Miss Anna: Ode To An AE

Published on 2011-06-16 09:37:04

Maybe you know how it feels when someone dear to you goes away for a really long time (like 3 weeks to Europe), or maybe you don’t. Just in case you are “one of those” who don’t know, I will give you a hint of what it is lik

The Cyphers Agency Just Keeps On Growing

Published on 2011-06-15 14:01:05

We are happy to announce our newest addition, Danielle Ensley. She has joined us as an account coordinator, working with clients such as Phillips Foods, Strayer University, Better Than Bouillon, and more. She brings advertising and social media e

Lose the Boundaries: Get Intimate with Your Consumer

Published on 2011-06-09 09:40:27

As marketers, we preach on getting inside the mind of our consumer. We praise demographics and psychographics, and find value in knowing that our consumers are of a certain marital status, household income, or age range. We love knowing if they are b

The Power of The Jingle

Published on 2011-05-26 09:09:55

In our industry, it is important to always be moving forward. Marketing without progression makes a company, brand, or product antiquated in so many ways. However, as the landscape changes and marketers are constantly learning of new ways to communic

A Healthy Dose of Laughter, Courtesy of The Cyphers Agency

Published on 2011-05-17 13:18:05

Here at The Cyphers Agency, we are very concerned about your health. Since we know laughing is a great way to stay healthy, we have decided to provide you with some free health care… And now your prescribed dose of QUOTES! -Is this supposed t

The Word Of Mouth Team Welcomes Kyle!

Published on 2011-05-11 10:17:02

The Cyphers Agency is tickled pink to announce the most recent addition to our team, Kyle Sacks! Kyle assists Push-n-Pull, our social media / word of mouth marketing division. With many exciting projects ramping up, Kyle’s contributions to con

A Marketing Lesson from… Chrysler…?!

Published on 2011-05-09 12:34:18

You’ll probably recognize this commercial from the 2011 Super Bowl. It is Chrysler’s “Born On Fire” ad, you know, the one where Eminem doesn’t smile. I won’t get too deep into the merits of it as a commercial, but there is a good advertis

Your Guardian Agency

Published on 2011-05-05 11:37:47

Have you ever had an irritating little computer problem that you just couldn’t figure out for the life of you? (If you work on a PC, I’m sure you can identify with this more than most). You try for what seems like ages to fix a formatting issue o

And We’re Back…With New Cyphers Agency Quotes!

Published on 2011-04-27 13:23:12

Here at the Cyphers Agency, we tend to get excited about the little things – Like cupcakes. We also tend to laugh really hard at our own silliness and we know you like it too. So without further ado, we present to you the latest edition of our fabu

Without Benchmarking, We’re All Blind Mice.

Published on 2011-04-21 12:15:59

You wouldn’t walk into a room and not turn on the lights. If you did, you wouldn’t know where you are in relation to everything that surrounds you. Marketing without benchmarking is like venturing into a room with the lights off. bench·mark

Don’t be such a Post-It!

Published on 2011-04-07 09:49:14

Two of the little things I’ve been working on lately are drinking more water and improving my posture. In order to help myself keep these goals top of mind, I used a very simple tactic: Post It Notes (real original, I know). I put one-word notes on

No Cruelty in Beauty: Effective Anti-Fur Ads?

Published on 2011-04-04 10:37:28

Here in the office, we are always coming across interesting or intriguing pieces of ad work. It often spurs a moment or two of discussion. This one got us talking. Often times, anti-fur ads are extremely graphic in nature (like this one – but b

And We’re Back…With New Cyphers Agency Quotes!

Published on 2011-04-03 13:23:12

Before I Die…

Published on 2011-04-01 11:57:13

Candy Chang painted the side of an abandoned house in her New Orleans neighborhood with chalkboard paint. Over that she stenciled “Before I die I want to _” 80 times and left chalk for people to use. The neighborhood did the rest. At The

And Now, Your Regular Dose of Cyphers Humor

Published on 2011-03-29 14:30:00

Sometimes you just need a good laugh. With that in mind, we’re proud to present you with what we believe to be the silliest batch of QUOTES yet. Enjoy. Share with friends. Really, we don’t mind. -Bill Gates should be the one that’s sick

Getting Your Target Audience to Act: Easier Said Than Done

Published on 2011-03-23 14:32:59

Act. Perform. Do. Move. Execute. Commit. Pursue. Participate. At the end of the day, most brands are trying to accomplish these things. Most want their target consumers to act: to try a new product, buy the newest version, tell a friend. Whatever the

And The TCA Award Goes To…

Published on 2011-03-18 09:34:07

Things have been getting pretty busy around The Cyphers Agency. While the satisfaction of creating great work is certainly a reward in and of itself, sometimes you need is a little recognition to keep on keepin’ on. Luckily, the powers that be

The Golden Rule of Marketing: Advertise unto the consumer as you would have a brand advertise unto you.

Published on 2011-03-17 14:47:27

I think everyone wants to be unique and different to a certain extent. Not “weird” different, just individualistic. I think its human nature to want to be perceived as an individual and not just another person in the crowd. It’s the reason we a

The Cyphers Crew Says the Darnedest Things

Published on 2011-03-15 08:27:10

As we begin to welcome the warm, sunny spring weather we’ve been so patiently waiting for, we thought we’d share another edition of our “famous” QUOTES! So sit back, relax and enjoy a good laugh at our expense. -I found an earring. It either

Local Genius: The Benefits Of Local Advertising

Published on 2011-03-11 12:47:32

If you lived in Argentina and spoke the local tongue, you would order a Pepsi by requesting a Pecsi. Phonetically, this pronunciation is easier for Argentineans. In 2009, Pepsi acknowledged this little quirk and gave BBDO Argentina the green ligh

Inspiration: Imitation is Suicide

Published on 2011-03-07 12:14:32

How are you pushing yourself today? Here’s some food for thought.

Target Audiences: Knowing Where They Are

Published on 2011-03-03 13:27:27

Many things have changed in the world of communications, but the old adage – “Start where your customer is” – still rings true. We have already established the importance of knowing your target audience, but once you have identified

Potomac Testing Unveils Brand Identity at Tradeshow

Published on 2011-03-02 12:33:01

“The Mid-Atlantic’s premier provider of Electrical Testing, Engineering & Field Services” – Potomac Testing was ready for a powerful new look. We designed a new brand identity to help them amp up their presence. We applied the

It’s That Time Again…Quotes!

Published on 2011-02-23 09:40:57

The ability to laugh at one’s self is one of the most endearing qualities a person can possess. Thankfully, all of us here at The Cyphers Agency possess it. This quality is also probably the sole reason we’re able to share our silliness with yo

The Man Behind the Curtain

Published on 2011-02-17 11:28:39

In a land called Oz, Dorothy found herself miles away from her home after a terrible tornado that turned her world upside down, from black and white to color. She was in unfamiliar territory and had to find a way to get back home. Asking around town,

It’s a Celebration!

Published on 2011-02-10 15:57:37

The votes have been tallied and the results are official – The Baltimore ADDY winners have been declared! We’re excited to announce that our hard work has won us the distinction of three ADDY awards from the American Advertising Federation Baltim

Super Bowl Ads May Fail to Move the Needle

Published on 2011-02-03 12:11:28

Every year it’s the same thing. The day after the Super Bowl, we’re all comparing notes on our favorites ads and someone brings up “that funny one with…[fill in the blank]” and inevitably the response is “Yes, but can you remember who it

The Great Audience Debate: The Crisis Communication Version

Published on 2011-01-28 15:25:19

Its a common debate among advertising professionals as to the degree of importance that the number of fans or followers attributes. While some claim its of the utmost importance, others like Ad Age say that maybe it isn’t the best measurement tool.

Knowing Your Target Audience

Published on 2011-01-20 10:01:25

Advertising and marketing – it’s what we do. So in our line of work, sometimes we come across companies that are stuck in an “we” mindset: How we want our brand to be portrayed. What we think the strengths of our products or services are.

Quotes of the Week!

Published on 2011-01-18 10:48:14

Sometimes you just need a little something to brighten your day – Especially during winter on the East Coast. Here is our attempt to make you smile (even if it is at our expense) on this cold, icy Tuesday. Without further ado, here are our Quotes

AT&T vs. Verizon … Again.

Published on 2011-01-13 10:15:31

The AT&T and Verizon battle seems ancient – a clash of the cellular Titans, if you will. Internally, we’ve discussed the marketing strategies and implications of both at length. We eve posted this as part of a discussion of the AT&

The New Starbucks Logo: A Redesign We Can Get Behind

Published on 2011-01-06 14:33:17

A short letter to Starbucks Coffee from me, a self-proclaimed addict: Dearest Starbucks, You have fueled me, consoled me, and energized me over the past few years. You have been there, through thick and thin – on warm days and cold. Your only f

Marketing for Loyalty, Not Leads

Published on 2011-01-06 08:51:57

Each of our clients has a unique set of problems or conditions we help them to deal with to accomplish their goals; but the end game seems to always be “sales.” As advertisers, we have been happily charged with that responsibility: delivering str

Quotes of the Week: Holiday Weight Gain Edition

Published on 2011-01-04 13:24:35

The holiday season is a time for family, friends, goodwill toward men, and all that other good stuff. It is also the time of year when most of us concede to the fact that we’ll be covered up until April and decide to put on our “winter weight.

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Blog Feed: Deep Ad Thoughts

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