Mark Jenkins - WSI Digital Marketing

Mark Jenkins - WSI Digital Marketing Driving business results through Digital Marketing

🦈 Marketing (and TV) Flashback: How “Jumping the Shark” Became a Thing 🦈Ever heard the phrase “jump the shark” to descri...
09/08/2025

🦈 Marketing (and TV) Flashback: How “Jumping the Shark” Became a Thing 🦈

Ever heard the phrase “jump the shark” to describe when a brand, show, or campaign has run out of good ideas?

It comes from a 1977 episode of Happy Days. By then, the show was running out of steam. Even the love of Joanie and Chachi didn't seem to help. To keep viewers hooked, the writers sent Fonzie—yes, leather jacket and all—water skiing over a live shark.

Audiences thought it was ridiculous. Instead of boosting interest, it cemented the idea that the show had peaked and was desperately chasing attention.

The term stuck. Today, “jump the shark” means the moment a brand, show, or idea goes from iconic to irrelevant because it tried too hard.

Marketing Takeaway
Desperation shows. When brands overreach with gimmicks or stunts, customers can sense it. Authenticity and consistent value will always beat a shark-jumping moment.

👉 What’s a campaign you’ve seen that totally jumped the shark?

This post is for educational and commentary purposes only. All trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners.

Your website should be your most effective salesperson, working tirelessly 24/7 to transform visitors into customers. Ho...
09/03/2025

Your website should be your most effective salesperson, working tirelessly 24/7 to transform visitors into customers. However, many websites fail to achieve this.

That’s because on a website, every detail counts: a captivating headline, intuitive navigation, and a compelling call-to-action are all crucial. And while modern customer journeys are evolving, the core principles of excellent web design endure.

WSI specializes in building websites that are not only visually appealing but also highly effective. Because ultimately, aesthetics are secondary to driving conversions, which directly impact your bottom line and keep the lights on.

Learn more about optimizing customer touchpoints: 👉 https://www.wsiworld.com/blog/modern-customer-journeys-mapping-touchpoints-in-a-digital-first-world

🤷‍♂️ When $40M Buys Confusion: Burger King’s “Where’s Herb?” CampaignSo, being in QSR marketing for most of my career, I...
09/02/2025

🤷‍♂️ When $40M Buys Confusion: Burger King’s “Where’s Herb?” Campaign

So, being in QSR marketing for most of my career, I think this campaign is especially interesting. In 1985, I was a young Second Lieutenant at Ft. Bragg. As a fast food lover in the era of mass media, I remember seeing the BK “Where’s Herb?” commercials. A lot. My initial thought was, “who cares?” and apparently, I wasn’t alone.

In November 1985, Burger King launched the campaign, spending approximately $40 million in an attempt to generate buzz around a fictional “Herb,” who had never eaten a Whopper.

“It started with cryptic ads like, “What are you waiting for, Herb?” and culminated with a 1986 “Big Game” reveal of a nerdy-looking actor. Customers who found Herb in restaurants could win $5,000, and everyone else in the store entered for a $1 million prize. There was also the quirky “I’m not Herb” offer: say it when ordering and get a Whopper for $.99.

Campaign Results
• Initial sales bump: Store sales reportedly increased by about 10% during the three-month promotion period.
• Profit collapse: Despite that early lift, Burger King’s profits (not YOY sales) plunged by 40% in 1986, making it one of the most expensive flops of the decade in advertising. At first, folks were curious to the point that service was slowed by staff trying to explain it all. But then the reveal was such a snoozer, customers decided that finding out “Where’s the Beef?” was more satisfying.

Marketing Takeaway
$40M bought attention—but not loyalty. Mystery only works if the reveal is rewarding. Herb wasn’t.

👉 If “Where’s Herb?” launched today, do you think it would flop—or could it work in the age of memes and social media?

This post is for educational and commentary purposes only. All trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners.

Google’s new AI Overviews disrupt how users search—and how businesses get found. Whereas I used to just type keywords in...
07/02/2025

Google’s new AI Overviews disrupt how users search—and how businesses get found. Whereas I used to just type keywords in Google, I now find myself asking it questions every day. And I took pictures of and finally know what kind of trees are in my backyard.

If you're a business owner, this shift could dramatically impact your traffic, conversions, and online presence as the traditional search engine results pages (SERP) are pushed further down the page.

As digital marketing specialists, WSI Consultants meets with business owners to:
✅ Break down the AI update in plain English
✅ Audit current digital strategies
✅ Recommend actionable steps to stay visible

Now’s the time to adapt, not react. Let’s meet up and discuss what this means for your business.

🧠 Read the full article: https://www.semrush.com/blog/google-ai-mode-could-reshape-search/

🎉 We’re proud to announce a major milestone: WSI is celebrating 30 years!What began as one bold idea in 1995 has grown i...
07/01/2025

🎉 We’re proud to announce a major milestone: WSI is celebrating 30 years!

What began as one bold idea in 1995 has grown into a global story of innovation, transformation, and purpose.

Milestones matter. But the true measure of a legacy is the impact created over time. For three decades, WSI has helped businesses grow through strategy, trust, and a future-focused mindset—always evolving, always delivering meaningful results.

This celebration is about honoring the journey, recognizing the progress, and continuing to shape a vision that’s built to last.

To our clients, Consultants, partners, and global team: thank you for being part of the story. 💙

Here’s to the next chapter. Here’s to continuing to Embrace Digital. Stay Human.

- https://www.wsiworld.com

The short week countdown is on! Friday brings fireworks, family cookouts, and a reminder that freedom is worth celebrati...
06/30/2025

The short week countdown is on! Friday brings fireworks, family cookouts, and a reminder that freedom is worth celebrating together.

Until then, here’s to squeezing in every sun-soaked moment between Zoom calls and inbox pings. Sometimes the best team-building exercise is a muddy Slip ’n Slide (bonus points if you remember the Wham-O commercial!).

How do you get ready for the big red-white-and-blue weekend? For me, it's power washing the pool area, trimming the landscape, and having everything as perfect as I can for friends and family. Drop your pre-holiday routine below! 👇

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