Archive for April, 2013

Dancing Babies, Talk About Ship and Dads in Briefs: Creativity With Relevance Gets Results!

Monday, April 29th, 2013

The Evian babies are back! In a new spot, which has received more than 41 million views on YouTube, adults find themselves face-to-face with their younger selves in a large mirrored window–and the dancing ensues. It’s adorable–but does it sell water? Where’s the relevance?

Contrast this spot to an equally creative–and far more out-of-the-box–spot (more…)

What Makes Great Marketers Great?

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

The skills of great marketers are many, but are primarily rooted in an understanding of consumer or human behavior and all of its complexities. Marketing is a challenging field of endeavor because, while there are certain principles and tenets of practice that are widely accepted, there are also many exceptions that challenge the rules. I’ve been a marketer, I’ve worked with marketers, I’ve hired marketers–both as staff people and as external consultants or vendors. I’ve worked with both effective and not so effective marketers. What does it take to join the ranks of the effective marketers?  In my opinion, those who will be most effective in marketing-related positions are those who: (more…)

The Difference Between Leadership and Management

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013

Leaders lead. Managers manage. Followers follow. Each of these roles within any organization is important, but there is often confusion about what leaders do vs. what managers do.

To me the distinction is clear. (more…)

Should You Outsource Your Marketing Function?

Thursday, April 18th, 2013

I was interviewed recently by a reporter with Inc. Magazine about the prevalence and value of outsourcing the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) role. It’s a topic that I definitely have an opinion about–one that may seem to be at cross-purposes with my own self interests. As a marketing communication consultant I’ve actually served in the role of an “outsourced CMO” on a couple of occasions. In one instance, the client was looking for not only my assistance with current marketing efforts, but my recommendations for how they should proceed in the future — should they continue to outsource this function, or should they hire someone to handle their marketing efforts on staff?

(more…)

What the %&*$ is a #Hashtag and What Is It Good For?

Monday, April 15th, 2013

I admit to being somewhat flummoxed (I like that word!), by the use of the hashtag (#) on Twitter. Sure, I get the general idea and I use hashtags myself. I understand that using this symbol in front of a word or phrase will help those who are interested in certain issues readily find relevant posts. But, doesn’t that happen through organic search anyway? Recently, I came across an article that I thought might shed some insight into the issue and, while  it included some relevant tips and suggestions, I’m still left wondering:

“Can’t I achieve the same thing through just regular search results?”

Where hashtags seem to have the most relevance, and where I think they’re most effectively used, IMO, (more…)

Media Pitch Best Practices: Your Name in the News!

Thursday, April 11th, 2013

At least once a week – maybe more often – I’ll have a prospect or client say to me:  “I can’t understand why the media won’t run a story on my…” Well, there may be a number of reasons. Here are 5: (more…)

Creating Online Communities

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

I assist some clients with their social media activities, including the managing of online groups–some are more successful than others. As I’ve managed and monitored their groups, dabbled with my own, and evaluated other groups I’ve noted a number of factors that seem to impact their success. (more…)

What Social Media Tool Should You Use? No Easy Answers.

Thursday, April 4th, 2013

With so many different social media outlets to choose from, how do businesses decide which one or two they should focus their efforts on? It’s a question that many are pondering these days. The good news?

Social media decisions are no different than any other communication decisions you may have dealt with in the past. There are multiple ways that you can communicate and connect with any audience. To make the best choices you need to (more…)

DVORAK, QWERTY, AC/DC, CD, MP3 — AND QR CODES

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013

A writer with Ragan Communications contacted me recently for my response to an article suggesting that QR codes were “dead.” He was writing an article in response to this claim and seeking input from those with opinions to share. My response: (more…)