Strategy

We’re living in a world of big data. Most households have numerous smart devices, from cellphones and speakers to cars and even entire homes. The Internet of Things has not only made our lives easier but has also opened up a whole world of marketing opportunities and new ways to reach consumers. A decade ago, futurists and industry experts eagerly discussed the possibilities of the Internet of Things (IoT). In…

I’ve discussed quite a bit in this blog, and in the book Mean People Suck, about where empathy comes from. Are we born with it? Is it learned? It’s certainly an acquired skill, but there’s plenty of proof that empathy has been part of the human condition for some time. The evolution of empathy can be traced back to long before homo sapiens walked the Earth. Empathy enabled us to…

Everyone’s familiar with the Fortune 500 and the clout and prestige it brings. Fortune Magazine first started the list way back in 1955, naming the companies with the highest revenue in the U.S. Much has changed since the first list, and it’s important to look at the companies growing and shrinking, which is covered in an article by Tyler Durden in Zero Hedge. The article provided me with some key insights…

A recent survey found that 73% of CEOs think that marketers lack credibility and have quite a bit of work to do to earn their trust. Establishing credibility and trust in marketing is more important than ever before. Marketing Week reported a similar finding that revealed that only about one-third of B2B CEOs consider marketing an important part of their business. Why? It might be us. We’re often so eager…

What’s the most desirable trait every company today wants boatloads full of? Innovation. In the post-digital post-COVID era, no matter what industry you’re in, your company is probably constantly looking for creative ways to apply new technologies so you can become more efficient. You’re likely racing to come up with the most innovative ideas to gain a competitive edge. The problem is, nothing kills the creative mindset that’s necessary for…

With companies shifting their marketing budgets away from physical events and inappropriate ads, the corporate blog and content marketing are becoming central elements of marketing. You know that blogging needs to be the central hub of your content marketing strategy. But you just don’t have time – you have a business to run. You wonder about hiring a content marketing agency, but you don’t have a clue how much to…

One of the biggest challenges in marketing today is increasing retention and lifetime value of existing customers. By optimizing this value, brands have the opportunity to improve business performance. The key to successfully enhancing this value is through a Voice of the Customer (VoC) program. Developing a customer advocacy approach includes many facets, including data, measurement and research. Let’s explore what customer advocacy is, why it matters and the role…

I am so excited to let you know that today you can purchase Mean People Suck: How Empathy Leads To A Bigger Profits and A Better Life. You can buy it on Amazon, Walmart, Barnes & Noble and the audiobook will be out soon. Like in a few days... When most people hear the title, they typically say, "yeah, mean people really do suck!" Then I can see them reflecting.…

If customer service is a school coach, customer success is a personal trainer. The former is reactive, transactional, and focused on serving as many people as quickly as possible. Trainers are proactive and flexible, designing programs around what the trainee wants to achieve. But just like athletic trainers, customer success people need two things to succeed: engaged trainees and the right tools. Although a customer success staff can’t control who…

The biggest challenge marketers face right now is reaching their target audience, and I mean really reaching them. Not just publishing an advertisement or piece of content that an audience might see or read; but reaching them with a message that piques their interest and starts a conversation. This is where account-based marketing (ABM) comes in—and, it’s no wonder that ABM was deemed the second most popular marketing strategy for…