Under The Influencewith Terry O'Reilly
Latest
How a deck of cards earns one restaurant lineups out the door
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.
How one Alberta town attracts both human and non-human visitors
Some small towns find themselves in the middle of nowhere - or are situated off the main highways - and have a difficult time attracting tourists. That’s when they turn to marketing to create landmarks are often quirky, sometimes bizarre and completely unexpected.
This brand mascot is the most recognized but least liked on TV
Some brands use disgustingly effective advertising mascots to talk about delicate subjects on television. Fun characters that personify bodily functions the way human actors never could. But one in particular stands out from the pack.
How the McDonald's founders profited more by promising less
Sometimes inventors eliminate a feature of their inventions to create a brand new product. And often, that brand new product takes on a whole new purpose.
This divorce firm's YouTube campaign earned 90M impressions
The legal industry in North America will spend north of $1B on advertising this year. And as a result, some law firm advertising is good, some of it bad, but a handful of it highly creative.
How South Africa used soccer to help end domestic violence
The innovative ways marketers are using audio to send powerful messages around the world.
The unexpected reason the Geico Gecko was born
The insurance industry's marketing has been totally disrupted since the millennium. And it all started with a lizard.
Why William Shatner nearly sued an Ontario condo developer
Sometimes a celebrity is featured in an advertising campaign without his or her knowledge or permission. There’s no denying the pull of celebrity, but a brand is a legal property. And if you trespass, you risk trouble.
How A Quiet Place marketed a silent movie in the 21st century
From marketing a horror film with virtually no dialogue to advertising an R-rated superhero, today’s movies aren’t just breaking records - they’re breaking all the rules
Meet the man who influenced your entire breakfast this morning
From cereal to orange juice, this man is responsible for persuading North Americans toward our everyday breakfast choices.
Why Ray Davies flew 26,000 km to save Lola
Sometimes lyrical brand mentions lead to major success. Other times, to lawsuits and bans. But each tells a fascinating story.
From cheese to cannabis - the fascinating products made by monks
Monks create a myriad of merchandise that is sold to the public. Some sing and sell CDs of their chants. Others brew their own beer. A few even deal in marijuana. But in almost all cases, the products sell well and sell fast. And the reasons why are fascinating.
The wackiest vending machines in the world
Vending machines aren’t just soft drink dispensers, they’re marketing machines. They’re portable, branded on all sides and are becoming smarter and smarter. The list of items you can find in vending machines around the world may surprise you.
The unexpected way Nixon's ban on cigarette ads changed TV forever
From the very first 10-minute radio commercial in 1922 to five-second commercials today, the length of ads has changed dramatically over the decades. But it isn't the changing lengths of commercials that’s so fascinating, it’s the reasons why.
How Audi used Wi-Fi to outsmart BMW
As the world of marketing gets more and more cluttered every day, it’s forcing advertisers to get creative. And Audi rose to the challenge.
Big News from Under The Influence: The Arrival of the Digital Box Set
We're excited to announce that our Digital Box Set is here. For the first time ever, the entire Under The Influence archive of past episodes will be available for podcast download free of charge. No more waiting, no more paywalls.
The day a beer brand found out its celebrity spokesperson was in rehab
In the world of advertising, landing a celebrity is a big deal. But celebrities attract a lot of attention. And so do their mishaps.
Celebs you didn't know started out in the ad biz
From Dr. Seuss to Obi-Wan Kenobi, the list may surprise you...
The Nivea prank that had airplane passengers sweating
How Nivea pranked travelers, Evian made babies dance and other viral brand videos.
How some grocery store mirrors nudge you toward healthier choices
Why Texas grocery stores are using strategically-placed mirrors and self-image to steer customers toward the produce section.
How Bill Gates really feels about the "Get A Mac" Apple ads
Why Jaguar parodied Mercedes infamous chicken commercial, how Samsung poked fun at Apple and how Apple perfected advertising mockery with Microsoft.
Do your favourite brands match up with the rest of Canada's?
From top coffee brand to favourite car make, the answers may surprise you.
A list of the top-earning dead celebrities
From Marilyn Monroe to Charles Schulz, the world's top-earning deceased celebrities may surprise you...
How Keith Richards wrote one of the biggest rock songs in history...in his sleep
After a night of partying, Keith Richards woke up to find that part of the evening was recorded on his cassette player.
The ingenious way Elvis Presley even made money off his haters
Colonel Tom Parker, the mastermind behind Elvis's rise to fame, found a clever way to make money off Elvis fans and non-fans alike.
