New Belgium Brewing’s Torched Earth Ale

New Belgium Brewing’s Torched Earth Ale

Branding, Business, Cause-Related Marketing, Marketing
Would you ever make a good product into a bad product? Why would you do such a thing? Well, just ask New Belgium Brewing. They made Torched Earth ale, a bad-tasting beverage made with "smoke-tainted water," to make a statement about the climate change crisis. In the process, they got tons of PR and brought lots of attention to this important issue. Brilliant, if you ask me. Simply brilliant. Good for the people at New Belgium Brewing for taking such a strong stand as a brand. How could your business or organization do something similar that results in such a win-win situation?
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Marketing, Social Media, Healthcare and Teaching with James Gardner

Marketing, Social Media, Healthcare and Teaching with James Gardner

Advertising, Branding, Business, Marketing, Social Media
In this episode of my podcast, episode 134, I talk to fellow adjunct professor and marketing professional, James Gardner, for over an hour. While our conversation covered everything from marketing to social media, teaching to technology, healthcare and more, this is the quote of his I want to leave you with today because I think it is a such a great example of James' words of wisdom. "I think the challenge for tomorrow's leaders is...keep the best of yesterday, but overlay it with the tools of tomorrow." ~ James A. Gardner About James Gardner James is a digital sales and marketing leader with 20 years of B2C and B2B experience. While his career’s roots are in consumer packaged goods and strategy consulting, James has held leadership roles with fast-moving tech…
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How to Satisfy a Dissatisfied Customer

How to Satisfy a Dissatisfied Customer

Boston, Branding, Business, Customer Service, Instagram, Leadership, Marketing, Public Relations
How do you satisfy a dissatisfied customer? Ask Norm Laviolette, CEO of Laugh Boston. He knows. He demonstrated recently what a business should do when a customer complains. He went above and beyond to turn a bad customer experience into a good one. When someone complained on social media about the chicken wings she ordered at his establishment, he went out of his way to resolve the issue. He personally delivered to this customer not just another order of chicken wings, but free tickets to an upcoming show, a $100 food and beverage voucher and a T-shirt. Good for you, Norm. Kudos, props and cheers to you and Laugh Boston for providing such an exemplary example of ridiculously awesome customer service. P.S. Thanks to Maureen Dahill's Caught In Southie article,…
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Marketing is Every Employee’s Job

Marketing is Every Employee’s Job

Business, Communications, Marketing, Social Media
I’ve always believed that every employee is a marketer to some extent, especially when it comes to using social media on behalf of his or her employer. Employees need education and empowerment, of course, for which the company’s marketing team should be responsible. But once they’re properly trained, they can help amplify their employer’s messaging, helping to get the word out to an exponentially larger audience. This is collaboration. This is cooperation. This is a coordinated effort between every member of a team. This is any employee of any organization possibly making the difference between the success and failure of a campaign. Does your organization have this every-employee-is-a-marketer mindset? Do you contribute to, support or lead your company’s marketing efforts? P.S. Thanks to Norman Guadagno, CMO at Acoustic, by the…
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PR and Corporate Communications with Maura FitzGerald

PR and Corporate Communications with Maura FitzGerald

Boston, Business, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations
In this episode of Bob Cargill's Marketing Show, Episode 131, I talk to Maura FitzGerald, Co-Founder and Partner at V2 Communications, a Boston-based public relations and digital communications firm. During our conversation, we touch upon the challenges that businesses have faced during the pandemic, the importance of a solid internal communications program, hiring practices, employee empowerment and much more. About Maura FitzGerald Maura is one of Boston’s most seasoned public relations veterans. With decades of experience and not one, but two, high-growth PR agencies under her belt, Maura was the 2019 recipient of Boston PR Club’s John J. Molloy Crystal Bell Lifetime Achievement Award. Over her career, Maura successfully founded and grew one of the premier U.S. brands in strategic technology communications, FitzGerald Communications. Under Maura’s direction, the agency immediately…
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Marketing During the Pandemic and Beyond with Helen Pinchanski

Marketing During the Pandemic and Beyond with Helen Pinchanski

Advertising, Branding, Business, Marketing, Social Media
In this episode of my podcast, I talk to Strategy Consultant, Purpose Marketing Strategist and Digital and Customer Experience Advisor, Helen Pinchanski, about marketing and social media during the pandemic and beyond. Helen is a fellow member of the board of directors of AMA Boston, a marketing industry colleague and a good friend. She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to her areas of expertise and a great conversationalist, as you will hear. Watch. Listen. Enjoy.
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How to Get Your Audience’s Attention

How to Get Your Audience’s Attention

Business, Direct Marketing, Marketing
How do you get your audience’s attention as a marketer? How do you get your prospects to take the first step in the buyer’s journey? When I had my own business in the early ‘90s as a freelance copywriter and creative director doing a ton of direct mail marketing, I sent dozens of colorful, hand-painted metal mailboxes stuffed with samples of my work to potential clients. It was my way of introducing myself to them, my way of prompting them to take notice of me and my professional services. And it worked wonderful well. It wasn’t an inexpensive campaign for me, but it was a successful one. It resulted in an abundance of attention and plenty of new business. For years, people would refer to me as the guy who…
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Put on a Show

Branding, Business, Communications, Content, Marketing
Chris Brogan is on to something. In an article he recently published on LinkedIn here, he said he was going to be changing his title to “Showrunner” and that he would be helping companies turn their business into a show. Chris is perfectly suited to do just that for his clients. He's a master communicator, whether he's hosting his daily video show, The Backpack Show, keynoting a conference or writing a blog post. Imagine what he can do for your digital brand if he does just a little of what he does for himself and others already. I concur with Chris completely. With the emergence of social media years ago, we said that every brand was a publisher. I say that they’re now broadcasters, too. Whether we’re talking about independent…
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