CHBlog

Posted by: Mel Campbell, Jr.

Without a doubt, Lower Dean River Steelhead are – pound-per-pound – the toughest game fish I have ever experienced in my lifetime.

I have fly fished many places for freshwater or saltwater fish, but nowhere have I seen so much beauty as the Dean River in British Columbia, Canada, nor fought a fish as strong as their famous steelhead trout.

Now, I go on fishing trips to take a little breather from the frenzied world of the advertising agency game. I go for the adventure, the camaraderie, and the excitement of fly fishing for game fish. The Lower Dean did not disappoint.

Lower Dean River Steelhead … Pound-per-Pound the Toughest Fighting Fish in the World! continued »

Posted By: Angela Wenner

Being located in downtown York, PA, has its advantages. We can walk to our beautiful downtown farmers markets for lunch several days a week. We are part of a vibrant business community committed to improving the downtown environment. And every year, on a Friday in late September, we become “Harley folks” in more ways than one.

For the last two years, our agency was asked to design the official Bike Night T-shirts which are sold by organizers at the event. Harley enthusiasts from around the country now wear our designs with pride. This year’s shirt featured vintage motorcycles like the ones selected to lead this year’s parade.

As the parade time approaches, our office walls shake as the motorcycles cruise into town for BikeNight. In the past, our agency Principal, Mel Campbell, Jr., has ridden in the parade on his 1992 Custom Low Rider. The rest of us make it a point to stake out a parade-watching location (preferably close to cold beverages) and mix and mingle with bikers, biker wannabe’s, old friends and thousands of visitors from around the country. Every walk of life is represented as the street fair progresses. Heavy metal bands play from the courthouse steps. Tell me, where else in the world does THAT happen?

Mike Tanner likes a challenge. But some challenges are bigger than others.

Like the cheese steak restaurant he set his eyes on in a mall food court. Lisa, his wife, winced when she first saw the place.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” she remembers saying. “It was run into the ground. Not only was it filthy and disgusting, the place was nondescript. It had no branding at all.

“I said, ‘We need to close this and revamp totally. I’m going home to call Mark Leinaweaver.’”

Mark is creative director for Campbell, Harrington & Brear. Lisa saw him as the one missing ingredient in this recipe for success.
Bringing Philly Boyz to Life continued »

Posted By: Mel Campbell / President of Campbell, Harrington & Brear

It all starts with a strategic marketing plan.

{Fact #12  … None of these new digital  media tools means a thing without a strategic marketing plan.}

What’s new?  Everything should start with a plan.  But what’s new with digital media is this: A plan is not only basic, it is essential.  Internet media is unique in the sense that all components have to be interconnected or it won’t work.  Because the main purpose for doing any of these things – social networking, blogging, Tweeting, etc. - is to generate Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Plopping down a new website and scuffling some social networking around won’t get you anywhere.  They must dovetail together.  And they must dovetail together with whatever else your company is doing in advertising and marketing.

Without an interactive plan it is meaningless digital goo.  Eventually you won’t support it, you will grow tired of it, and it will fail.

Beware the New Digital Age…Part 4: “Good Luck” continued »

Posted By: Mel Campbell / President of Campbell, Harrington & Brear

Let’s face it, if you are the slightest tech savvy you were barely grasping the many new and exciting features of websites … RSS feeds, blogs, galleries, forums, analytics, microsites.  Then, no sooner did you hear about a PURL when e-blasts popped up and someone mentioned SEO.  Then SEM.  Then, wow, social networking became the rage with Facebook, LinkedIn, Plaxo, when bam, Twitter hit the vernacular. Well guess what, mobile marketing is now exploding here in the states and QR code is coming on strong.  QR code?

Oh, and let’s not forget digital media hybrids.  The real “workhorses” like online print ordering for all internal forms, reports and documents; databases; FTP sites; direct-to-print, digital archiving, and e-commerce.

How does someone keep up with all of it?  The answer?  No one person can.

{Fact #8  … No single person knows and understands everything about the new digital world. No one.}

Even the best ad agencies that have been up on things since the beginning and the geekiest of geek organizations can’t keep up with it.  You can literally go to a full-day seminar every week and not acquire a complete understanding of what is possible in today’s new world.

{Fact #9 … Don’t look to IT for the answers.  They don’t understand all the nuances of new media either.}

Beware The New Digital Age…Part 3: “The Truth” continued »

Posted By: Mel Campbell / President of Campbell, Harrington & Brear

Welcome to the new digital age of communication, or “New Media” as it is called (presently transitioning to Interactive Media, Digital Media or Internet Media). You know, websites, digital archiving, e-commerce, jumpdrive marketing, FTP sites, social media advertising, whatever.

As a business person, you have a gut feeling that you need to enter this new world of electronic digital media sooner than later.  That is a correct assumption.

But, on the other hand, you don’t know enough about this new world to make an informed decision on how to be a part of it.  That too is correct.

{Fact #5 … If you are waiting for all the information before you make your move it will never happen!}

So where do you go from here?  To answer that question you first need to know the playing field.  Specifically the pitfalls, or in the case of the Digital Media “gold rush,” the landmines.  We have all heard much about the good ways in which “New Media” is going to benefit our companies and lives, but very little about its dark side and the “Nazgûl Night Riders” who are out selling products and services to your business.

Here is where you are today Mr. and Ms. Businessperson.

Not in my 37 years in the advertising/marketing industry have I ever
seen so much misinformation, disinformation, misrepresentation, unethical behavior, and outright scamming than I have in the past year or so.  It is just the tip of the iceberg, and it is only going to get worse before it gets better.

So where’s the danger?  Everywhere.  But here are three significant groups to look out for.

Beware the New Digital Age…Part 2: “The Playing Field” continued »