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THE GHOST TOWN ISSUE

APRIL 2020

Firstly, we hope that you are safe and well.

This issue is being published from lockdown at the Rockstar CMO penthouse, we debated whether to publish and we delayed things a bit as we’ve checked with all our writers to make sure they are OK for us to go ahead. The nature of publishing a monthly magazine is that we set the topic a month in advance and some of these articles were written weeks ago.

So, despite the name, this issue is not themed around the virus. That’s not to say our writers are tone-deaf to what is happening, and I encourage you to check out their social media feeds to see how they and their companies are reacting to the pandemic, some really good stuff out there.

The actual theme for this issue is the balance marketers need in making decisions based on data and creativity.

This is pretty relevant right now as the human emotion of empathy is the watchword for communications as we sensitively navigate where our consumers are, their readiness to engage and how our brands, services, and products can help.

Perhaps something the data and the marketing robots would struggle with, and we’ve seen plenty of examples of automated campaigns causing embarrassment for brands over the last couple of weeks, as we continue to see push marketing for holidays, cars and eating out.

The title of the issue is a last-minute substitution, a nod to the crisis. It comes from the song by The Specials in the UK (and a later greatest hits album) released in 1981, an anthem for the closing of our pubs and social distancing and comes from a time of uncertainty we probably feel now.

So, welcome to THE GHOST TOWN ISSUE.

Thanks for reading, being part of our community, sharing the advice of all of the folks that generously contribute. I hope you, your families and colleagues are safe and well.

Ian

Ian Truscott / Founding editor. @iantruscott

Data based relationships need the human touch

Ted Rubin

In this article, our straight-talking resident Rockstar CMO Ted Rubin argues for the human touch in the relationship marketers have with their data…

Data Can’t Answer Why?

Keith Smith

In the interest of balance between data and creativity, maybe your fine-honed data-led campaign could use an emotional fire axe. Keith Smith, our resident business development expert explains…

All is Vanity

Dennis Shiao

All is Vanity was a song by the Manic Street Preachers and when asked about its meaning vocalist James Dean Bradfield told the NME that this song “deals with just hating those momentary lapses of just falling into narcissism” and in this article Dennis Shiao shares how this can happen for marketers…

The Swimming Pool #23: Brand purpose

Ian Truscott

In this trip to the Rockstar CMO Swimming Pool, we are inspired by Peter Morgan, Metia’s VP of Demand and our recent trip on the tour bus with him. Should ‘brand purpose’ be the next big splash in our portal to marketing hell?…

Get fans with a brand or big data?

Carmine Mastropierro

We welcome a new writer to our house band, Carmine Mastropierro, who debuts with his take on the theme of this issue with this classic example…

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Author

Ian Truscott

Not a rock star, but Ian is a 3 x CMO, a trusted advisor and Chief Bottle Washer at Rockstar CMO, who applies his experience to create ART (Awareness, Revenue and Trust) for B2B companies. Ian brings over two decades of marketing leadership experience to Rockstar CMO, he also a former techie, product marketer, CTO, agency guy and industry analyst.

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