Under the Influence from CBC Radio

This week, we explore Word-of-Mouth Advertising. Most businesses hope good products and excellent service are enough to encourage positive recommendations. But the smartest companies actually have strategies to ignite word-of-mouth chatter. It's the oldest form of advertising, but it's the most effective by far.

From the Digital Box Set: In this episode, we look at the wild and crazy world of Viral Videos. Some brands spend big money on videos and nobody watches, meanwhile a cat video is viewed by millions. It's a world with no rules, fuelled by luck and timing. We'll look at the most-viewed videos ever, including a video a woman made when she quit her job that attracted almost 10 million views, the Evian bottled water video that went into the Guinness Book of World Records and a Dove video that broke the Evian world record. These days, marketers can't necessarily spend their way to consumer attention, they have to earn it. And Viral Videos can be just the ticket. This is an archived episode that aired originally on March 3, 2014.

From the Digital Box Set: In this episode, we look at famous people who began their careers in advertising. Many people who have gone on to shape popular culture cut their teeth in the world of marketing. From Dr. Seuss, Salman Rushdie and Bob Newhart, to Sir Alec Guinness - yes, Obi-Wan Kenobi himself - they all spent their formative years writing copy. Each learned some valuable skills on their way to the top. And their stories are remarkable. This is an archived episode that aired originally on March 14, 2014.

From the Digital Box Set: This week, we explore How Weather Affects Marketing. With 75 years of climate data cross-referenced with reams of shopping research, marketers can now use the weather to predict sales. Sears Automotive knows that 5-year old car batteries die after three consecutive days of sub-zero temperatures, so they advertise on day four. The busiest day of the week at Harley-Davidson dealerships is exactly 22°C and sunny. When spring temperatures hit 21°C, hair removal products surge 1400%, and BBQ sales jump 200%. And did you know that when the temperature drops just one degree in the Fall - just one degree - mousetrap sales surge 25%? Marketers do. And while they can't manage weather, marketers can certainly now manage the financial implications of weather. It's a whole new day. This is an archived episode that aired originally on March 21, 2014.

From the Digital Box Set: This week, we look at Elevator Pitches. The marketing industry is a business of short, concise messages. Be it the confines of 30 seconds, the space in a print ad or the restrictions of Twitter. The true test of an idea is whether or not it can be explained in just a few words. An elevator pitch forces that discipline - if an idea can be explained in the time it takes an elevator to go from the first floor to the second floor, it's probably a solid idea. And if it can't be - it probably means the advertising idea is fuzzy. We'll explore the art of the elevator pitch in business, in publishing and in the land of the quick pitch - Hollywood. This is an archived episode that aired originally on April 4, 2014.