I never liked the word “blog.” it always sounded like something you coughed up in the midst of a God-awful viral infection. Blog always brought to mind the color and consistency of something one might expectorate. Ugh! And then El B smart-mouthed herself into my world by answering a post I had started on the ad industry “Facebook”, AdGabber on “The Future of Advertising Fading Into The Past“.
Innocently enough, the post that started out as a rant on the lack of anything substantive coming out of all of the hubbub started by P&G’s CEO A.G. Lafley claiming that the marketing business model was broken. Well El B was the first to reply with:
“Attraction - There is no affection without attraction. Don’t look available, look attractive.
Affection – We all need love and care, now more than ever. Show me some love and I might return. Affection solves the accessibility problem.
Attention - Short attention span. Yet there is always something that catches our attention. Once you get attention, you get awareness.
Affordability - Money does matter.”
And it was on. I responded with, ” Very zen-like. It took me a few minutes to gage whether you were serious or pulling my leg. Then I discovered a certain worldly outlook that indicated the wisdom of your post.”
From there the posts flew hot and heavy, turning into what one AdGabber termed a “Soap Opera” between “Doña Ana” who El B had fashioned as a single New York career woman who represented all of those in the advertising audience and her paramour of the moment, the infamous playboy diplomat “Don Porfirio Rubirosa” portrayed by yours, truly representing the clueless egos of Traditional Advertising.
And of course to add dramatic tension, El B came up with a rival love interest “Don Juan DeMarco” who represented the forces of alternative media who were intent on taking traditional advertising out for the count. This non-stop adsoap went on for days with a total of 56 episodes which finally wound up… No wait. I won’t spoil it. Click here if you care to know more.
In any case, the next thing I know El B is working on getting me to justify the reason for this publication with its massive walls of content not being ensconced on a blog platform and full of all the features of this brave new Web 2.0 environment. Of course my illogical arguments were swept aside and the next thing I know El B has thrown up an overnight prototype of what MadisonAvenew2.0 could look like.
It was then that I realized I was not in Kansas anymore. The mock-up looked great and when El B ran down all the features of blog vs. html I was hooked. So I asked her what it would take to make it happen. “I can make it happen,” was the last thing I read. The next thing I know, she had swept through MadisonAveNew and created a new architecture, navigation system, editorial platform to experience for the users.
I think Elena ‘El B’ is ready for a great opportunity with a major advertising or client organization. To say this young woman would be an outstanding asset to any firm she joined would be an understatement. A great writer. An insightful web strategist, a diligent web2.0 architect. And she speaks Russian, German, and English fluently. Take a look at her handiwork and keep in mind that two weeks ago it did not exist. Please put the word out to those that you know who may be looking for an extraordinary talent. Then drop me a line at me or visit her personal blog ArtAtaQ. She truly is one in a million.
To read 2007-2004 issues please visit MadisonAvenew’s archive.
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