35 years experience in the ad biz here - you're 100% correct. Nothing an ad agency can produce comes anywhere close to the persuasian power of family and friends reco/demo. Those people used to be called brand evangelists. Now they are extremely loyal brand influencers and are worth their weight in gold.
RIP Dolly Parton 😭
My favorite Dolly story:
In 1967, Porter Wagoner introduced Dolly Parton on his popular television show.
She was only 21 years old, and this was her big break. But Parton had bigger plans for her career, so she went on to leave the show on seemingly good terms.
Wagoner took it hard, and he went on to badmouth her and ultimately sue her for $3 million, alleging breach of contract.
The suit was settled out of court, with Parton later saying, "It took me a while to pay it off, but he got the first million dollars I ever made."
When Wagoner hit financial trouble later in his life, Parton bought his production company — only to gift it back to him.
“Forgiveness is all there is,” she says.
https://t.co/xZNePlRZqt