Madscam (Paperback)

by George Parker (Author)
Key Phrases: pint ads, inhouse agency, youz mind, Madison Avenue, Rolls Royce, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
After 30 years of agency experience with Madison Avenue firms like Ogilvy and Mather and Young and Rubicam, Parker, who is known for his advertising blogs "AdScam.com" and "AdHurl.com," offers this friendly, informative guide to advertising for small businesses. After outlining how to focus your advertising on your business's strengths, find your unique selling point and budget appropriately, Parker devotes a chapter each to print, television and new media ad strategies. In the final sections, he discusses how to hire freelancers and agencies, and how to track results. Resources and a glossary round out the book. Beginners will find more useful ideas than an established small business person, though his insider tips (e.g., a list of "Dumb Things You Should Avoid" when advertising, such as "trying to associate yourself with things that have no relevance to what you do") can be very insightful. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description

Advertising industry insider George Parker dishes the dirt on big advertising agencies and reveals Madison Avenue's best-kept secret: that your business can produce the same quality ad campaigns on its own!

In this no-holds-barred exposé of the dangers of dealing with ad agencies, Parker reveals exactly what you should do to create fantastic-looking, results-producing advertising at a reasonable cost. It's everything Madison Avenue doesn't want you to know.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Entrepreneur Press; 1 edition (November 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599180421
• ISBN-13: 978-1599180427
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #800,084 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The one book the ad agencies hope you don't read..., November 15, 2006

By	A Reader in Washington, DC - See all my reviews

I learned more about advertising laughing my way through George Parker's "MadScam" than I learned about England earning an entire Ph.D.! On his blogs, Parker can be rude, boistrous, outspoken, and downright sexist, but those are primarily the qualities by which I treasure his opinions. In this book he sobers up and presents the world of advertising for the small or medium-sized business owner who thinks it might be time to hire an agency. He psychoanalyzes the typical advertising executive's deepest motivations and the average business owner's needs and worries with a level of honesty that will save you -- his devoted reader -- an absolute fortune.

According to evidence on his Adscam blog, Parker's best stories have not yet been printed in a book, and in fact should probably never be printed anywhere. But if this book is the success it deserves to be, the public surely will drag those stories out of him. Meanwhile, I admire the Entrepreneur Press for having the vision to offer an industry veteran's clear-eyed observations to the world. It's as much fun getting to know George Parker as it is learning about advertising, and you'll be wealthier and happier for both.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mad Ave Phoenix Rises!!!, November 13, 2006

By	Opera Don "Mad Ave Escapee" (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews

Mr. Parker, where have you been?

After more years in the marketing business than I really want to think
about, I've read my fair share of business, marketing and advertising books. They usually fall into two categories: War stories from people who once had their name on an agencies front door before it was swallowed up by one of the multinational groups, and formulaic books full of check lists and "immutable" reasons why the author is an authority on something or other.

Refreshingly, MadScam, isn't like that at all. Yes there are amusing
stories, but these are used to cleverly illustrate a point, rather than as
an excuse for the author to toot his own horn.

There are also very specific instructions on how to go about creating great advertising. Not through the use of stilted formulas and clichés, but rather the application of logic and common sense.

But above all, George Parker has written a timely and important book,
because he stresses the importance of the content of what you do, as well as the style in which you do it. As he constantly reminds us, we are all in the communications business, so for heavens sake, let's start communicating.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fab!, November 12, 2006

By	The Cartoonist (London, UK) - See all my reviews

At last - a useful book about advertising. From a client's point of view. George Parker exposes the big dumb agencies as what they are, which is big and dumb, and how a client can get better advertising with good freelancers or a small team. But then, it's also a good book for creatives too: read & learn! Highly recommended.