Rants & Waves

I was gently critiqued by a reader of the Weekly Report last week. He told me my rant last week against DoorDash was well written, but nobody really cared about the subject matter. He also said that when I post about my boat (or troubles with my boat) that people without boats could care less. He suggested that I should write more about marketing topics and less about personal stuff. Others emailed back positive things about the “rants and waves.” #myquote
Hey look, I get it. I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, every week. I’ve also been told by colleagues many times that my writing style and subject matter choices don’t always align with the latest trends in branding, marketing and PR. When I started writing every week back in 2011, I was advised by everyone in the company that no one would ever read a weekly marketing email.
In 2011, we had 190 subscribers in Constant Contact. Today, it’s over 10,000.
In the last 14 years of writing this missive, I have waxed poetic about a wide variety of topics. Through the years I have given business advice, marketing tidbits and examples of good brands and bad brands. I have talked about trends in AI technology and warned everyone that some day the robot overlords will kill us all. But I’ve also given scores of the Alberta Smith Sharks football victories and posted videos of my daughter, singing her heart out, at the Manchester High School show choir.
I have updated you on client wins, awards, and news of team members personal and professional successes. I’ve added pics of weddings, engagements, newborns, Christmas parties and singing happy birthday (in terrible time and tone) on Zoom. My favorite is when I’m on vacation and one of the team reaches out, usually with a terrible photo of me, grossly photoshopped by one of the design team. Looking at you, AJ. 🙂
Somehow, some way, I’ve always tried to balance the personal and the business and bring in some sort of relevance. So here’s the kicker.
We send out the Weekly Report. Madison+Main posts on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. We work hard. We play hard. And we share it all with you; clients, friends, family, and business associates.
Why? Our newsletter and social media is how we show you the people behind our business. After all, you don’t do business with a logo or building. You do business with other people.
Take a look at your company’s email newsletter and its Facebook page. Is it full of content about people or is it all business? If your biz communications are all business, that’s what we call marketing. If it’s focused on the people behind the business, that’s what we call branding.
#BoldBrandsWin
MONDAY:
RANTS & WAVES 2.0
UPDATE: I finally made it back from Urbanna in Tug Life last weekend. Manteo to Coinjock to Fort Monroe to Urbanna. Three days and angry waves in the Currituck Sound. And for those of you who actually care, the b@stards at DoorDash finally paid us back the money they’ve been holding hostage.
TUESDAY:
YOUR WALLS WILL THANK YOU
Now on display at TASTE Westhampton on Grove Avenue (through February): a quirky collection of colorful paintings by Daniel Goodman, Senior Copywriter at Madison+Main. With his vibrant palette and trademark (hit-or-miss) humor, each piece invites you to pause and smile before daring you to take it home. All proceeds go directly to the artist, which will come in handy when AI inevitably comes for his job. Go check it out!

WEDNESDAY:
CUE THE CONFETTI!
his week, Molly Whitfield turned 18… at Madison+Main, that is. As our President, COO, and longest-tenured team member, Molly has spent nearly two decades as the conductor who keeps our trains running on time and in the right direction. Her leadership and creativity have shaped M+M every step of the way—proof that agencies don’t need magic, just Molly.
THURSDAY:
CHARITY GOLF SEASON
On Thursday afternoon, 70+ golfers from all over RVA descended upon Hunting Hawk Golf Club for the Mechanicsville Rotary Golf Tournament. And thanks to Texas Inn, they each got a stylish, logo beer koozie. Be sure to check out the Madison+Main crew at a course near you, as we’re proud to sponsor two tournaments organized by great organizations—Teeing Off on Cancer presented by Hitting Cancer Below the Belt (HCB2) and Merry Links To You put on by Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother. Signups and sponsorships are still open, so click the links above to drive change!
FRIDAY:
DAVE’S ON THE (AIR)WAVES
This morning, I joined Rich Herrera bright and early on Richmond’s Morning News to chat about fun stuff to do in RVA this weekend. ICYMI, here’s the link.
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Fall Plant Sale
Date: Friday, September 19 – Saturday, September 20
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Location: 1800 Lakeside Avenue
One of Central Virginia’s most-anticipated plant sales, held outside in Parking Lot B, featuring dozens of vendors and knowledgeable volunteers to help you choose your best plants!
Date: Saturday, September 20 – Sunday, September 21
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $10 in advance ($15 on event day)
Location: 1700 Hampton Street
Toast the fall with friends and family at this two-day German-style festival. It’s the perfect way to join in on the world’s largest folk celebration without traveling to Munich! All proceeds benefit Maymont.
Iron Blossom Festival at Midtown Green
Date: Saturday, September 20 – Sunday, September 21
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.
Tickets: $137.88 (and up)
Location: 2401 W. Leigh Street
One of Richmond’s most popular music festivals highlighted by a smorgasbord of talent on two stages, both Saturday and Sunday at Midtown Green.
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.'” – American Proverb