Adding Structure and Impact to The Marketing Accountability Council (MAC)

Where we are and where we are going together

The MAC has been buzzing!

We've spent the past five months, our first five months, defining who we are: a passionate community driven by ethical, impactful marketing. We believe it's a win-win for marketers, businesses, and consumers.

We are building a solid foundation that aligns with our skills and interests. For anyone who knows me, this will come through in the notes below—we spent 10 minutes talking about Luther Vandross’s impact on Marketing!

We're ready to grow… and use that growth to empower marketers, companies, and consumers who need our expertise.

Sincerely,

Jay

Founder

Behind the Scenes: MAC Content Planning

Building the Foundation

The foundation has been laid, and it's time to formalize our approach:

• Vision and Manifesto: We’ve finalized our vision and manifesto. These are the guiding principles that will drive our content creation. You will see a creative campaign this summer highlighting this work.

• Content Planning: Our immediate tasks include creating pieces that invite people to explore our manifesto and engage with our vision.

Synthesizing Knowledge and Perspective

We're crafting content designed to engage everyone seeking to find their truth on their marketing journey.

Here's the “secret sauce:”

• Unafraid & Empathetic: We tackle the issues marketers face head-on, saying what others shy away from. We get it – the marketing world can be brutal. That's why we've built a community overflowing with empathy, where everyone feels understood.

• Synthesized Knowledge: We blend diverse perspectives to deliver actionable insights you can actually use.

• Chunked for Consumption: We understand different channels cater to different appetites. We'll serve up bite-sized social media content (think Instagram memes and TikTok skits) alongside in-depth blog posts (the main course!).

• Multi-Course Engagement: Every piece comes with a call to action—your invitation to join the movement! Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, the MAC table has a seat with your name on it. Active participation is encouraged, but casual drop-ins are always welcome.

The Marketing Arsenal You Need to Win

We're curating a list of essential marketing books, newsletters, ads, and even unexpected sources of inspiration like no other. The Working Title “The Modern Marketing Mindset Library.” This library is built by you and for you! Please share your favorite resources and personal marketing muses to help us create this collection.MMMM….

Engaging with You

We're all about fostering connections and sparking conversations:

• Interactive Surveys: We'll be reaching out to understand active members’ favorite marketing resources and personal inspirations.

• Member Spotlights: Get to know your fellow marketing warriors through detailed member profiles. It's time to put faces to the names and build a vibrant community. More is coming on this soon.

Structured Meetings for Maximum Impact

Almost every Friday, 10-15 of us meet at 2 PM. We chose that time because it leads to the weekend, and we want to make the meeting fun and less pressure-filled than mandatory work meetings. We've streamlined our meetings to keep things focused and action-oriented:

• Open Chat: Catch up on current marketing trends and share updates with your fellow marketers.

• Deep Dives: Sharpen your skills with focused discussions on core marketing topics. Each meeting will have clear goals and actionable takeaways you can implement immediately.

• Action Teams & Accountability: No more great ideas getting lost! We'll assign tasks and identify champions to ensure progress.

• Marketing Through the Ages: Learn from the past! We'll share fascinating historical marketing facts and examples to fuel your present campaigns.

• Open Share: Do you have something burning on your mind? This is your chance to share anything marketing-related and gain valuable insights from the community.

Injecting Humor and Insight into Marketing

We believe in learning that sticks. We'll be weaving humor and real-world examples into our discussions to make marketing knowledge fun and memorable.

Here are some insights from our Meeting on Friday, June 28th, 2024

• Discussion on Programmatic Advertising:

  • Jake shared a well-researched and engaging news digest about the United Nations' call for big tech to curb programmatic ads to reduce misinformation.

  • The Programmatic Poop Funnel - We discussed Bob Hoffman's satirical "Programmatic Poop Funnel," where he imagines a dollar spent on online ads vanishing through a series of fees and mysterious middlemen, with only a tiny fraction reaching actual viewers. Hoffman argues that while programmatic buying promises efficiency, a large chunk of the budget gets eaten up by fees, fraud, and unviewable placements, leaving brands with little return on their investment. You can learn more in Bob’s book, Adscam.

    

  • The Federal Trade Commission's order against Avast for selling web browsing data was mentioned, highlighting the ongoing issues with data privacy and programmatic ads.

  

• Humorous, Yet Truthful Product Marketing:

  • Jake shared some humorous product marketing examples, such as a can of 417 black beans with an exact count, a trashcan for discarded dreams, and an apology sock.

  • These examples were appreciated for their creativity and honesty, sparking a discussion on the value of honest marketing.

    

• Marketing History: Luther Vandross' Early Career as a Jingle Genius:

  • Even the smoothest voices gotta start somewhere! Music lovers learned that Luther Vandross, the legendary crooner, once spent his late 70s serenading not just hearts but hungry stomachs too.

  • Vandross honed his craft by singing jingles, including a catchy tune for Geno's pizza. The producer wanted something to capture the sizzling heat of their pies, and Luther, ever the innovator, improvised the now-famous "sizzling hot" – a vocal flourish that not only sold pizzas but laid the groundwork for his signature style.

  • The story is a testament to Vandross's talent and the surprising origins of musical legends, illustrating how his success started with making pizza sound like the most delicious thing on earth.

This meeting blended personal anecdotes, a celebration of achievements, and engaging discussions on current industry issues. It was all underscored by a culture of honesty, camaraderie, and the surprising origins of musical legends like Luther Vandross.

The Bottom Line: Growth and Value for All

Our goal is simple: empower our community with valuable, engaging content that fuels your marketing success. This transparent update is just the beginning. Stay tuned for exciting developments as we refine and implement these strategies.

We're exploring various ways to keep this valuable community thriving:

• Membership Models: We're considering tiered memberships to cater to businesses that need additional marketing support.

• Customized Services: Need a marketing boost? We'll be offering consultation, strategy development, and execution services.

• Shared Success: We're looking into implementing referral networks and commission-based models to create a win-win situation for everyone.

We Want to Hear from You!

Your input is invaluable. Share your comments and suggestions below. Let's build a robust marketing community together!