Over the years, we've frequently lent our creative capabilities to Hewlett-Packard. So when the time came to promote our HP Approved Supplier status, we knew a simple letter just wouldn't do. Instead, we created an interactive calling card (or in layman's terms, a self-promotion microsite).

Cruise on over to www.burnsmarketing.com/hp for a one-of-a-kind look into our capabilities – and a few laughs.

Most advertising surrounding developmentally-challenged individuals tries to evoke sympathy by focusing on their disabilities. But what would you get if you did the opposite – and celebrated their abilities?

A campaign that leaves a lasting impression with current supporters and attracts potential new donors. At least that's what Foothills Gateway experienced with the unique message of "I have a ____ ability" and out-of-the-ordinary imagery.

The attention-getting theme highlighted Foothills Gateway's mission of empowering citizens with cognitive disabilities and their families, while encouraging potential donors to have a "give-ability."

Do you want us to let you in on a little secret? Sometimes laughter is the best strategy for getting PR results.

What started out as a joke at the coffee maker a few weeks back, morphed into a pretty darn good idea for a press release. As we were poking fun at a few recent announcements from across the pond in which outrageous sums of money were spent on mediocre creative, it dawned on us that our business could build a new revenue stream, without even trying very hard. You have to make a formal announcement about that, right?

As it turns out, we guessed right. Not only did we accomplish our goal of providing some levity to the press that Friday morning, but as an added bonus, reporters from the Rocky Mountain News and Fort Collins: Now saw value in our glowing prose. Either that, or it was a pretty slow news day. I suspect the latter.

Click here and scroll down to the subhead "High-priced slogans" for the story in the Rocky, or here for the coverage in Fort Collins: Now.

The week before Christmas – what a perfect time for shopping, parties, and a technical training event from HP. How do you pull people away from yuletide cheer for an important four-day event? Instead of threatening them with a visit from the in-laws, you promote the event as an adventure they can't afford to miss with an energizing theme, excellent speakers, and informative sessions. And everyone agreed, selling-out the event and giving a satisfaction ranking near 100-percent. (We thought those hot summer days would have you longing for a Christmas story in July.)

If you're trying to manage more than 1,100 events a year without an event management solution, imagine the headache you're going to have. Forget about taking two aspirin and worrying about it in the morning. Instead, how about using an event management solution that offers customized on-line registration, a fully-staffed call center, multiple registration options, and system support for financial transactions? It's pretty much a life-changing solution for the company that publishes life-changing ideas.

Like every great revolution, a little graffiti and a strong voice goes a long way. And sometimes, it even works out well when your employees think their world is about to come crashing down. You see, it limbers them up, gets them talking, and readies them for action – the motivation necessary to reach an aggressive sales goal.

During a company-wide meeting, Husky employees learned two important things – (1) no, they weren't getting fired and (2) that they were about to revolutionize the independent parts industry.

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