Lately I’ve been considering some of the advertising language that flies past our ears every day — especially when it comes to describing and marketing food. At any given time, there seems to be a list of hits that consumers want to hear over and over again.

There’s the game. And then there’s the commercials. And, as a card-carrying ad guy, I’m obligated to be more interested in the commercials than the game, right? Neither the game nor the ads were really that thrilling; what follows is my take on what aired this year.

It’s 2019. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and emojis are everywhere. They’re in our text messages, our Instagram captions, our grandmothers’ Facebook comments and — you guessed it! — in our B2B marketing campaigns.

I encourage you to look at 2019 as a year of opportunity. If you aren’t happy with the outcome of your adverting initiatives from the last year, make a resolution to switch things up!

Unlike the two law firm commercials I watched this weekend, European marketers take the time to create and design absolutely gorgeous, epic storytelling ads that not only advertise but often serve to bolster the spirit of the season. I’ve compiled a few of my favorite examples here. So from me to you, Merry Christmas!

A marketing automation campaign creates a personalized journey which is a viable option for lead generation and growth, but it can feel like a daunting task. Here are five things I learned from working on my first, full-blown marketing automation campaign.