(but I’m sure it’s blissful, while it lasts) By now, our non-lawyer readers have read at least one post that’s made them rethink some advertising campaign or marketing strategy. Right? We are creative, and although we know pretty much everything else, it’s not like we interpret legalities. (Not that we’d want to, either. It doesn’t… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: Laura Gutierrez
Elements of “Top 100″ Packaging Designs
Posted in MarketingThe Dieline posted their top 100 packaging designs of 2011 this week. Go on, check it out. It’s a great list, full of iconic and not-so-well-known brands. And, it’s a good lesson in marketing. If your business is one that sells a product, encased in some kind of packaging, I strongly suggest taking notes on… Continue Reading
Are You a Mind-Reader? Making Your Call-to-Action Known
Posted in MarketingCommunications can be tricky. Unless, of course, you’re conversing with yourself. More often than not, you are not your intended audience. It’s a bit more difficult to write copy or come up with a relevant campaign for your business’s consumers, especially when you can’t identify with the targeted audience. (And for some of us, we… Continue Reading
Use Thanksgiving as an Excuse
Posted in MarketingIt’s Thanksgiving—we’ve all got food on the brain. I’m sure we can agree that Thanksgiving is a great excuse to take in excessive calories of turkey and cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie…(yum). Sweet potatoes. Green beans…Anyway…where was I? Oh yes. Excuses. Since Thanksgiving is one of those few times a year most of America is “on… Continue Reading
Get Your Brand Name While it’s Hot
Posted in MarketingIt’s on my profile, but I’ll tell you again—an attorney I am not. From a legal standpoint, I’m not qualified to tell you why brands and/or businesses should grab their social network names while they are still available (Dan Kelly is, and he’ll be tackling that on Friday). However, I am qualified to tell you… Continue Reading
Don’t Make Me Block You! Pitching Your Business or Self to a “Stranger”
Posted in MarketingIf you are a business or individual that uses the equivalent of a cold-call to sell a product or service, then this post is for you. I’ve noticed the not-so-recent trend of the lack of customization (or, hell, relevance) of PR pitches and resume submissions. (My network has been voicing their frustration.) Even on Duets,… Continue Reading
Those Who Hate the “New” Facebook, Say “I”: Why You Need to Stay on Top of the Changes
Posted in MarketingMost of you hate it, if I can venture a guess. Change is hard for most of us, and this is one of the biggest changes yet to the platform that everyone and their brother is on. And to think—there are more changes coming. Even if you hate the new Facebook, what can you do… Continue Reading
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Posted in MarketingSocial media is a topic I (would like to think I) know a lot about. As much as I advise my clients (the attorneys here at W&W) to use social media, the key to the whole equation is taking it offline and “backing up” what you’ve said over the interwebs. In a world where the… Continue Reading
Passing the Brand: Thoughts on Continuing Your Brand’s Legacy
Posted in MarketingAdmittedly, I am not a branding expert. I am, however, a huge advocate of having a culture that’s brand-specific. Something along the lines of a legacy. Can you imagine how hard it would be to pass the company you started to someone else, relative or not? Most can’t, and a lot of companies don’t. But… Continue Reading
It’s a Small World: Using Your (Social) Networks to Grow Relationships That May Lead to Business
Posted in MarketingAwareness isn’t just about making a name for yourself. It’s about utilizing your network and being aware of others’ strengths in a way that mutually benefits both parties. As humans, we can’t know everything. (That may be shocking!) That’s why we have friends—referrals—to ask for real-world advice. With a straight face, I can tell you… Continue Reading
The “Physics” of Marketing: Every Action Has a Reaction
Posted in MarketingEven if you know nothing of physics (I do not), most of us know Sir Isaac Newton’s third law of motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The same concept applies to marketing—some agree, and others have differing opinions. There are at least two ways to look at anything so it’s… Continue Reading
Words of Caution on Being Early Adopters: Google+ & Its Current Role in Marketing
Posted in MarketingAs a marketer, I couldn’t resist jumping on the bandwagon. This time on Google’s Facebook-esque Google+. I begged and pleaded for an invitation until I finally received one. Excitedly, I added my peeps (mainly consisting of other marketers) to my “Circles,” and then I set off to figure out the great mystery: how does this… Continue Reading
Where is the Sarcasm Font When You Need It? (Incorporating Humor into Your Brand)
Posted in MarketingMy posts tend to be about the how-to side of social media technology. Today, I’m talking about technologies I want. (With some things to think about, of course.) My best girlfriend and I communicate regularly via social networks and texts. We’re of the same mind, for the most part, and that typically means “veiled” sarcasm-attacks…. Continue Reading
How Marketing & Consumers Have Fueled the Need for an Honest Product: A Social Media Story
Posted in MarketingAnother day, another social media scandal. By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of “Weiner-gate,” referring to the incident of Congressman Anthony Weiner sending an unsavory photo via Twitter. This incident is one of several high-profile fiascos that have played out over the last year, and I can guarantee there will be many more. Of course,… Continue Reading
The Repetitive Nature of Marketing
Posted in MarketingIt’s not a secret that repeating an action makes it a habit. The same applies to marketing, as my boss (the wonderful Deb Cochran) always says, "do it once, use it seven times." Television and print advertising are the most notable, of course. How many times do you see the same commercial during an hour-long… Continue Reading
A Discussion on Bullying, and Not of the Trademark Kind
Posted in MarketingThere’s been a lot of talk on DuetsBlog about trademark bullies. Some of this may apply, but I’m talking about the bullies that leave uncalled-for comments and “intrude” on your social space. The consensus, more often than not, is that as a business, you must reply (in hopes that you can display your ability to… Continue Reading
A Refresher on Headlines and Attitude, Important for Grabbing and Keeping Attention from Your Audience
Posted in MarketingHaving few characters to convey an idea or thought isn’t just for Twitter. I was reminded of this last week during the Legal Marketing Association’s annual conference. Feeling energized after talking shop with colleagues for three days, I struggled with what to include in my upcoming blog post. My fellow marketers have already posted many… Continue Reading
Hashtags: A Tutorial
Posted in MarketingTwitter hashtags can be very useful when used properly. And by useful, I do not mean in a selling capacity. Most users utilize hashtags to connect, to learn, to network. Think of it as if you were going to a conference—you’ve all got an interest in [fill in the blank]. You’re both on Twitter, that’s… Continue Reading
It’s All About the (Personal) Branding
Posted in MarketingWhether you believe in personal branding or not, there is some truth to the fact that how you portray yourself off- and on-line is extremely important. Call it "personal branding" or online reputation…whatever you want, as long as you monitor it and shape it in the way you’d like. A major component of "online branding"… Continue Reading
It’s All About the Advertising
Posted in Advertising, Marketing, TelevisionA week or two after the Super Bowl, I’m not the only one still talking about it (our guest blogger David Mitchel discussed it yesterday). This year’s commercials did not wow me like I expected (sorry, cute Darth Vader kid). What surprised me was the lack of brand message. Sure, Doritos has edgy ads, and… Continue Reading
Thoughts from the Marketing Side
Posted in Advertising, Marketing, TelevisionYou might have some idea of what I’m doing over there on the DuetsBlog sidebar. Or not. Either way, I can solve the “mystery.” Not an attorney, and don’t pretend to be one, but I do work with attorneys at Winthrop & Weinstine as their marketing communications coordinator, and that involves working on the backend… Continue Reading
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Duets Blog Authors
Steve Baird
Just so you know, I'm all about brands and the law, both professionally and personally. I regularly annoy family and friends in retail stores by focusing on product labels—not to buy the product, but to read the fine print and ask, "Who owns these brands" and "Did they really register those marks?" More...
Dan Kelly
You can call me a “non-traditional” attorney, which is a polite way of saying that I did not attend law school straight out of college. I spent five of my first six years after college as a junior high school teacher. The other year I worked as an engineer for a large corporation. More...
Sharon Armstrong
Voted most likely to become an actress while in pre-school, I don’t think I surprised anyone by becoming a lawyer, the steadiest professional gig open to those with a flair for the dramatic. More...
Brent Lorentz
Although I wish I could say my path to the law was the result of a lifelong dream or calling, it was more the result mere curiosity and an affinity for leather-bound books. More...
Catlan McCurdy
Having long been told by my parents that I could do or be anything I wanted, I chose at the age of 10 to become an attorney, as it was the career that would most likely lead me to my goal of becoming the first woman POTUS.More...
Tiffany Blofield
Although my initial career path was to be one of the Supremes (not the musically talented ones with platform shoes and sequins, but rather, the nine wearing sensible shoes and pressed black robes in DC), I will likely stay in Minnesota as I have never lived anywhere else. More...
Brad Walz
My law career started on the ice…as a defensive hockey player (we’re not talking professionally…and if I were, I probably wouldn’t have gotten into law). More...
Susan Perera
Born into the world with an aptitude for science and an affinity for art I found my career path quickly chosen for me. More...
Derek Allen
In hindsight, writing about creativity and the law may have always been in the cards for me. I began training for a career in litigation at an early age by finding ways to disagree with pretty much anyone about pretty much anything. In my longest-running “case,” I argued with my middle school math teacher, Mrs. Jabs, for the better part of four years over whether, even if I got the right answer, I had to show my work to get full credit. More...
Laura Gutierrez
An attorney I am not. Though told to become one, I don't possess those qualities needed to be an effective one (I lack confrontation skills, and although I can write a great argumentative essay, I can’t argue outside a sheet of paper). More...