Author: Anyan

CAREER TIPS

How Loyal Should You Be To Your Employer?

August 14, 2020 | by Anyan

Look, let’s be honest. The company you work for is in it for the money. It may feel like a family with a rich culture but when push comes to shove the company will ultimately look out for its interest. The company will do whatever it must to stay profitable. It may take very hard decisions to safeguard its interest. It’s…

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CAREER TIPS

My First Year As Creative Director Of An Ad Agency.

August 7, 2020 | by Anyan

Imagine you’re in a room with Chinese investors. Of all the people clamoring for the spot, they chose to do business with you, because…because they believe Mandarin is your second language. Then Xin Chi Moon rattles his glass, proposes a toast to you and everyone waits silently for a long poetic Mandarin response. Only problem is, you haven’t actually actually…

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INDUSTRY | INTERLOCAL

How Influencers Kill Advertising Creativity.

July 28, 2020 | by Anyan

I have an unpopular opinion on the use of influencers in advertising campaigns; they are overrated and often killers of creativity. Give me a moment, I can explain. Influencer marketing has been around for as long as there’ve been influencers, probably dating back to Biblical times when Mordecai asked Esther to leverage her influence in the campaign to reverse a…

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INDUSTRY | INTERLOCAL

Spectacular Ghanaian Ads From The 1800s!

July 21, 2020 | by Anyan

Ghana is built on the back of great storytelling. This truth is obscured by descriptives like hospitable, morally conservative, religiously tolerant and culturally rich, but a forensic audit will trace everything back to the ability of a people to tell compelling stories. When our ancestors sought to create a moral framework and achieve behavioral change, they used taboos. Taboos are little…

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CAREER TIPS

The Genius Of A Bad Idea.

July 14, 2020 | by Anyan

A three-year tenure as Creative Director in an awesome digital Advertising Agency came to an end in December 2018. On my last day at work, I was pleasantly surprised by an art piece that captured moving personal notes to me. At the center of the piece in cherry red caps is ‘BAD IDEA, BEN’. Without knowing the back story, it’s…

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CAREER TIPS

Visual Arts Is For Jokers!

July 7, 2020 | by Anyan

That is what I thought back in the day. In Senior High, the Visual Arts class was seen as the class for underachievers; the course you settled for when you badly wanted to be in the school but didn’t make the grades necessary to be admitted to the Science or Business classes. Parents and ‘well-wishers’ would question the ambition and…

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INTERLOCAL

Ghanaian Retailers On Black Friday -The 419.

July 1, 2020 | by Anyan

Black Friday is an American shopping phenomenon that has made its way to Ghana, becoming more popular by the year. It appeals to the appetite for discounts and retailers are hoping to make it the biggest shopping day in Ghana as well. Looking at how some local retailers are playing it, I doubt it will be anywhere near the success…

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CAREER TIPS

The Advertising Black Hole -When You Get Fed-Up!

June 27, 2020 | by Anyan

It is this cancerous disease that eats you up, gradually wiping out your optimism, passion and energy. It turns you into a skeptic, an idea killer, an aged dinosaur with a shrunk ability to create anything authentic, creative and exciting. It’s the most toxic situation to watch out for as an advertising person. When I tasted advertising, I was on…

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Uncategorized

Are Ghanaian Brands Purpose-Driven?

June 20, 2020 | by Anyan

PZ is a favourite client because in addition to overseas TVC productions and the opportunity to work on behemoth brands like Imperial Leather and Morning Fresh, they also offer a deep understanding of the Nigerian market; the heartbeat of their Africa operations. Every two years an expensive brand refresh becomes necessary. Why? Because that’s about the time it takes for…

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Uncategorized

The Truth About Ghana’s Advertising Awards.

June 1, 2020 | by Anyan

Gong Gong is Ghana’s Advertising equivalent of the Oscar’s. It’s the flagship event for recognizing and celebrating innovation, effectiveness and creativity in the industry. For me, it’s also a key indicator of the state of our industry against a global backdrop. I led my agency to win a Platinum in Digital -an industry first-, 3 Golds and 4 Silvers. I…

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