Author Archives: Rick Milenthal

About Rick Milenthal

I’m the Chairman of Engauge, one of the nation’s largest independent agencies. At Engauge, we leverage creativity and technology to develop transformational ideas that connect brands and people. Engauge, which has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Columbus, Pittsburgh and Orlando, is a portfolio company of Halyard Capital. Our client roster includes Nationwide Insurance, DAD’S Pet Care, The Home Depot, Best Buy For Business, Chick-fil-A, Brown-Forman, Food Lion, Van Gogh Vodka, and NGK Spark Plugs, among others. I’ve spent more than twenty-five years in the advertising and marketing industries. Before launching Engauge, I served as chairman of TenUnited and Worldwide Partners, Inc. This blog will focus on my everyday observations about marketing strategies and implementations. In particular, I’m interested in the ways that companies handle ideas: how inspiration begins, how it evolves, and how it translates in the real world. I’m looking forward to a conversation with you.

Our Historic Moment in Hong Kong

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Rick Milenthal

Tweet “It is like an artificial intelligence.” That is how Lau Seng Yee, the President of online media at Tencent described the vibrancy and interrelationship of social media. Tencent is the parent company of QQ, the instant messaging service of … Continue reading →

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The Whole World in the Park by my House

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Rick Milenthal

Tweet There she goes, running off into to woods. I think this time she sees deer. I’m walking on this beautiful weekend autumn day in our neighborhood woods with my Australian Sheppard, Mocha. Blue skies, cool air with the sun … Continue reading →

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Why Walmart Loves Total Engagement

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Rick Milenthal

Tweet “Where’s the growth? “ That’s how Walmart CMO Stephen Quinn started his talk at last week’s Association of National Advertisers conference.  I sat in the audience doing what everyone else in the room was doing.  Listening very carefully to … Continue reading →

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Keeping Up With Groupon

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Rick Milenthal

Tweet Sorry Goldman…but Groupon is worth just over $1 billion…..not 30. I really don’t want to say “I told you so.” Last week I heard about a great new site named http://www.isocalledit.com.  Brilliant name. So instead of I told you … Continue reading →

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Facebook Has its Own PAC

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Rick Milenthal

Tweet A few months ago my son Josh complained to me that Facebook was really becoming like a utility.  A bit like the cable companies or telecommunications firms.  But, I really didn’t agree with him.  I’ve worked with utilities my … Continue reading →

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Jobs — “You Can Only Connect the Dots Looking Back”

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Rick Milenthal

Tweet I had a blog post about Facebook all lined up. But I can’t do it today.  I can’t write a post that is not about Steve Jobs.   He was the visionary of leveraging creativity and technology.  The man that … Continue reading →

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Can You Say Yahoo in Mandarin?

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Rick Milenthal

Tweet Hope this doesn’t upset my friends back home. But I am fortunate to have a break from some West Coast meetings and I am writing this sitting outside looking over Santa Monica Beach.  It’s 72, sunny, no humidity.  Always … Continue reading →

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Keep an Eye on SecondMarket

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Rick Milenthal

Tweet In March I wrote about JPMorgan starting a fund for investing in social media (Is All This Money Good for Innovation in Social Media?). I guess the marketplace is answering my skepticism with a resounding yes.   Have you … Continue reading →

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It’s Not So Hard. Just Make Jobs.

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Rick Milenthal

Tweet I am so proud of my partner and Engauge cofounder Stan Rapp for his efforts to lead the way on rebuilding our economy with his leadership of the November 1 National Jobs Day.  Just a few days ago the … Continue reading →

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Would You Ask Everyone to Work on Christmas?

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Rick Milenthal

Tweet A few months ago I talked to my friends at Worldwide Partners about speaking at their European meeting.  I was looking forward to it until I noticed the dates, September 29 and 30.  The first two days of Rosh … Continue reading →

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