Ask Your Doctor If _____ Is Right For You
I don’t know about you, but I talk to my doctor a few times a year. Don’t get me wrong, I like the guy. His name is Mark and he practices with PartnerMD. Yes, I am old enough now to call him Mark, rather than Dr. Petrizzi. I have issues and Mark has answers. I have problems and he takes care of them. But I don’t talk to him that often and only once did I ever ask him about a drug I’d seen advertised on TV. He said, “Nah, you don’t need that.” I said, “Ok,” and that was that.
I rely on professionals like Dr. Mark to advise me. I do not know the difference between Truvada and Trulicity. Honestly I just don’t care. I do not know what symptoms they treat. But thanks to truth in advertising laws, I do know their side effects; Truvada may cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, dizziness, depression, joint paint, and more. Trulicity apparently isn’t much better, because it can also cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, dizziness, depression, joint pain, fatigue, frequent bowel movements, and a whole host of other maladies.
A simple web search is often easier than asking a doctor. Websites like Healthline and WebMD will let me know that Truvada helps prevent HIV and Trulicity is used to treat type 2 diabetes. But be careful of self-diagnosis. Chantix will help you quit smoking, but will also make you vomit. Humira can treat your arthritis, but oddly enough it also gives you joint pain (say what?) — not to mention hives, itching, and vision problems. But the one thing that all of these drug ads have in common is the fact that they have a strong call to action, “ask your doctor if _____ is right for you.”
Almost 40 years ago, in 1981, Boots Pharmaceuticals made a TV spot advertising Rufen, a generic version of ibuprofen. The president of the company looked directly at the home audience and informed them to, “ask your physician” and we entered into a new era. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) had not updated advertising rules on drugs since the 60s, and was caught off guard. Afraid that millions of Americans would now directly contact their doctors asking for cheaper foreign drugs (Rufen was made in the United Kingdom) they demanded that the ad be taken down. Despite only running the ad for a week, Americans did indeed ask their doctors and a new age of information on demand was born.
Today, the phrase “ask your doctor” has become ubiquitous and the FDA mandates requiring side effects be mentioned has apparently little to no effect on drug sales. In the last decade, Big Pharma spent more than 10 billion dollars marketing prescriptions. In that time, prescription drug sales skyrocketed from $116 billion to a whopping $335 billion. Their 10% investment in marketing almost tripled their revenue. The point of all this? Advertising works and I strongly suggest that you “ask your Marketer if TV ads are right for you.” Operators are standing by. Call 1-877-MAD-MAIN or 1-877-623-6246. Side effects may include a better brand, more sales, increased hiring, more customers, and an overall feeling of well-being. Caution: seek immediate help if your ad lasts more than four hours. 😉
Monday, February 24 – Androsity
On Monday we welcomed our new Account Executive Andrew Simpson. Andrew was most recently an Account Executive with Snow Companies in Williamsburg. He is happy to join our merry band of Madison+Main-iacs, but is even more excited to cut his commute from 66 minutes to six minutes. I wrote a new bio for him and just posted it on the website.
Andrew Simpson has never watched an episode of The Simpsons, but we hired him anyway. Madison+Main’s rockstar Account Executive has been busy doing other things — traveling the world and taking really, really, really long walks. In 2013, he walked 500 miles on the El Camino Trail in Northern Spain. Just for giggles, he did it again two years later. Andrew, an economic refugee from Herndon, says “I Would Walk 500 Miles” for a client, but don’t ask him to sing the song by The Proclaimers. Both creative and organized, clients who work with this CNU grad get to experience what his colleagues have dubbed “Androsity.” (Andrew+Curiosity=Androsity)
Tuesday, February 25 – The Icing On The Cake
Office Manager Mollie Banks’ son Ollie had a birthday over the weekend and we were the beneficiaries as she brought in 11 pounds of leftovers from a 15-pound Ukrops birthday cake. On Tuesday, I ate a balloon made out of pink icing. On Wednesday, I ate the “day” in birthday. Now, the leftover cake just says “birth.”
Wednesday, February 26 – Sneak Peake
On Wednesday we welcomed the economic development team from the City of Chesapeake. We hosted them for lunch and a three-hour brand and marketing strategy session that we call CORE. These new clients are fun and informative. We learned a ton about site selection and the intricacies of marketing a convenient location, diverse business economy, and motivated workforce. Stay tuned for a “sneak peake” of the Chesapeake campaign coming in a few weeks.
One of the biggest macro-trends in marketing these days is the rise of the social media influencer. Account Executive Allison Nida attended a PRSA Luncheon on Wednesday where she learned a great deal on the topic from Megan Marconyak of Marco Style and Elizabeth Thomas of I Heart Vegetables. Allison and I both have a client who influences us greatly, so we’re sending a bottle of A. Smith Bowman Distillery bourbon to Virginia Diabetes Council Executive Director Julia Groom (thanks for the feedback last week Julia…you’re the best.)
On Wednesday night I managed to correctly hook up my new Xfinity cable and WiFi boxes all by myself, without calling a cable guy or having to deal with anyone from the company formerly known as Comcast. #FTW I completed the task by 6:55 p.m., just in time to watch my beloved VCU Rams lose their fifth game in row to Amherst Community College, also known as UMass.
Thursday, February 27 – Puff, Puff, Give
On Thursday we onboarded a new client, Ashland, Virginia based Buffalo Distro — one of the largest distributors of e-liquid, CBD, and hemp products. This was a lead from Communications Director Kent Brockwell. Go figure. I’m here to tell you folks, CBD is not just a fad. Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, was discovered in 1940 and millions of people use some form of the cannabis extract. The FDA has already approved Epidiolex for the treatment of seizures and demand for CBD products is expected to grow 22% on average over the next five years. Ask me if CBD is right for you. I’m not a doctor, but I say “yes.”
In other news, Mollie Banks celebrated her “21st birthday” on Thursday. We gave her the day off and sang happy birthday to her.
Friday, February 28 – Roads To Success
We’re thrilled about the work we did on the new Pocahontas Parkway website. Our team helped create various web articles that live on their homepage and help improve their SEO. It’s a part of a broader campaign to market my favorite shortcut to the airport. The site is now live. Check it out.
This morning we had a great kickoff meeting with our clients from The Parker Avery Group, and partners of the Atlanta-based retail consultation firm, flew in from all over North America. The Parker Avery Group is one of the most sought after retail consultation firms in the nation, with boasting an impressive list of clients from Belk, Cabela’s, Crate & Barrel, Dollar Tree, Lands’ End, Stein Mart, and Tiffany & Co. Check out their complete list of clients today.
A Few of Our Favorite Events
Lucy Corr’s Lucy Living Lecture | Featuring Mindy Conklin
6709 Roundabout Way | Chesterfield, VA
March 19, 2020 | 2 – 4 p.m.
Mindy Conklin, Executive Director and Founder of Hitting Cancer Below the Belt (HCB2), will share effective ways to prevent diseases such as cancer by focusing on proper nourishment, movement, and breathing. Mindy’s early detection and preventative behavior insights are backed by 20 years of experience in the health industry. Call Maria Bond at Lucy Corr to reserve your seat today at (804) 425-8280!
VA Council of CEOs Annual Retreat
The Omni Homestead Resorts | Hot Springs, VA
April 29 — May 1, 2020
By magnitudes, the single best conference I attend every year. Mix it up with more than 200 small/mid-sized business CEOs, enjoy the wonderful hospitality of Homestead, and prepare to be wowed by the speakers and workshops. You have to be a member to join, but I can help you with that! Call me.
A. Smith Bowman Distillery’s Master Distiller’s Dinner
1 Bowman Drive | Fredericksburg, VA
May 30, 2020 | 6 – 9 p.m.
Master Distiller, Brian Prewitt, will start the evening off with a guided tasting of rare Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Whiskies, accompanied by delectable small bites specifically selected by Chef Jessica Wilkins. Following the tasting, Chef Jessica will treat guests to a 3-course dinner served with carefully crafted bourbon cocktails. Cost for this event is $125 per person and is limited to 40 attendees. All tickets must be purchased in advance via Eventbrite and go on sale April 30 at 9 a.m.
Got an upcoming event you want to share? Can we come? Send us the deets!
“I told my doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going those places.”
— Henny Youngman