Can a brand possibly become well known (and respected) by taking the high road in a low key approach? There’s a great commentary by Aaron Baar in MediaPost about the Will Smith brand, and how he (and his management team - no doubt) do a phenomenal job at … Read on >
I am officially a sucker for the Olympic Games. Just thinking about them brings back a lot of memories of my brother, sisters, parents and I feeling so proud of the athletes for … Read on >
1) Shopping centers are clearly, and not surprisingly, feeling pains in today’s economy. Stories like this Wall Street Journal piece and this USA Today piece describe the trouble developers are facing in trying to lease space, and the lengths to which some malls are … Read on >
With boarding passes becoming the latest billboard space, advertising just got more ubiquitous. Independently thinking marketers may want to consider the 180 degree option for “wow-ing” their customers: giving the captive ad audience a little white space, on them.
I wrote about this in my latest Huffpo piece. … Read on >
Especially in an industry is rooted in the construction and building industry (where bigger and more imposing have long been "better"), it can be hard to even wrap your mind around how the consumer actually experiences the space. Imposing structures do not inspire a lingering shopper - who knew?
So, … Read on >
For a few days last week I worked with Jim Oswald* (see more on him below) on a graphic illustration project about what vibrant community means. The idea was to gather the words and thoughts of passersby at the Pacific Coast … Read on >
No one is to blame here, but high level marketing types are apparently still spending more money on branding and promotions than they are on gathering consumer insights. This seems odd, since no amount of money you throw at those two things will actually be effective (for the long term, … Read on >
In my latest eBrandMarketing post, I write about how to make women seem less foreign as consumers. Yes - they are worth “studying,” but mainly it’s time to interact with them.
Here’s a clip:
In the marketing realm, there is much evidence of the same sort of fear of the … Read on >
1) Aliza Sherman-Risdahl, one of the pioneers of women in technology and author of several books (including her latest, The Everything Blogging Book), just launched the Small Biz Tech Girl podcast. Her years in the business, experience with her own entrepreneurship and ability to make technology … Read on >
Peak: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow
by Chip Conley
I'm a big psychology buff, so this application of Maslow's hierarchy of needs to the business realm fascinated (and resonated) with me. As Conley mentions, psychology in business has long been about "fixing it," but that won't necessarily "offer the opportunity for transformation to a more optimal state of being or productivity." Everyone can learn from this discussion.
The Sexual Paradox: Men, Women and the Real Gender Gap
by Susan Pinker
A fascinating examination of how sex differences play out over the life span. One interesting quote: "For most women it's less a question of who's able to win. It's whether competing feels good and is worth the cost."
Robin Hood Marketing: Stealing Corporate Savvy to Sell Just Causes
by Katya Andresen
Andresen writes that causes can learn from traditional marketers, but after reading this, I'd argue that traditional marketers can learn from the causes profiled. An interview with Andresen is included in my eBook, 9 Minds On Marketing.
You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
by Deborah Tannen
Men have a more asymmetrical, positioning approach to communication, while women have a more symmetrical, connecting approach. This is a classic worth revisiting frequently.
BOOM: Marketing to the Ultimate Power Consumer -- The Baby-Boomer Woman
by Mary Brown and Carol Orsborn
It's a hot topic - and the case studies and examples presented in BOOM can offer up insights to get you started.
