Be Like Kevin

Be Like Kevin

Branding, Business, Marketing, Social Media
Kevin Cronin is the lead vocalist and front man for the ridiculously awesome rock band, REO Speedwagon. He's a great performer and a great guy. But that's not why I want to talk about him today. I want to talk about how great he is on social media. Brands, businesses, professionals, people...everybody likes listening to Kevin and his legendary band perform, right? But not everybody knows how much they can learn from Kevin about how to use Facebook, Twitter and the like. It was more than 40 years ago when I saw REO Speedwagon at the Boston Garden. They put on a spectacular live show then, as I am sure they still do today. Yes, they're still touring, and I would love to see them again in concert. But in…
Read More
Making My Book with Maria Antonia Silva and Morgan Hume

Making My Book with Maria Antonia Silva and Morgan Hume

Blogging, Business, Copywriting, Direct Marketing, Fundraising, Marketing, Social Media
In this episode of my podcast, Bob Cargill's Marketing Show, I talk with Maria Antonia Silva and Morgan Hume about the making of my new book, Twenty Jobs, Twenty Lessons - a Long, Strange Career in Marketing, from Junk Mail to Social Media. Maria was the designer of the book and Morgan the editor. Both of them are recent graduates of Suffolk University in Boston, where I am an adjunct professor. I can't thank them enough for their skills, talent and support. To purchase your own copy of my new book via Amazon, click here.
Read More
Hosting Live Conversations on Twitter Spaces in the Classroom

Hosting Live Conversations on Twitter Spaces in the Classroom

Marketing, Media, Social Media
Big THANKS to NU Media's Sudha Mathana Gopalan for writing a ridiculously awesome article - which you can read here - on the Northeastern University College of Professional Studies graduate-level course I taught this past spring on social media. As a student in this graduate-level course, Sudha participated along with her classmates in a series of three Twitter Spaces I hosted during class. In these Spaces, we talked amongst ourselves - albeit publicly - about our educational learnings as well as with an audience comprised of like-minded thought leaders who had an interest in the same topics and issues. Sudha also put together the video you see here during which she asked me to talk about Twitter Spaces and why it's such an excellent way to build a community of…
Read More
My New Book is Available NOW on Amazon

My New Book is Available NOW on Amazon

Advertising, Branding, Business, Copywriting, Direct Marketing, Marketing, Social Media
My new book, Twenty Jobs, Twenty Lessons - a Long, Strange Career in Marketing, from Junk Mail to Social Media, is available NOW in the Amazon Kindle Store here. It is a story for young professionals with bright futures in front of them and senior executives who have been there, done that. It may be my story, but it could be your story, too. See for yourself. Read it today.
Read More
Twenty Jobs, Twenty Lessons – a Long, Strange Career in Marketing, from Junk Mail to Social Media

Twenty Jobs, Twenty Lessons – a Long, Strange Career in Marketing, from Junk Mail to Social Media

Business, Copywriting, Direct Marketing, Fundraising, Marketing, Social Media
Adjunct professor, marketing consultant, social media specialist and copywriter, Bob Cargill, has written and published a new book called Twenty Jobs, Twenty Lessons – a Long, Strange Career in Marketing, from Junk Mail to Social Media. Based on his career in the marketing industry since 1983, this book, according to the author, is about marketing, advertising and social media, but also business in general. Cargill offers advice to readers on how to pivot in the face of a big obstacle, how to bounce back from defeat and how to succeed against the odds. “It is a story of climbing the corporate ladder only to fall. It is a story about ambition, determination, success and failure. It is a story for young professionals with bright futures ahead of them and senior-level…
Read More
Using Twitter Spaces in a College Classroom

Using Twitter Spaces in a College Classroom

Branding, Marketing, Media, Social Media, Twitter
Wait! What? You're not using Twitter Spaces yet? My students and I hosted a Twitter Space recently, and it was such a ridiculously awesome educational experience. In hosting this Space - a discussion about what's new in social media - we built a community, we positioned ourselves as thought leaders and we learned a lot from those who partook in this public conversation online. Hosting your own Twitter Space is a great way to engage with your audience and develop long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with like-minded professionals. See for yourself. Host one today.
Read More
The Six Ps of Retail Marketing

The Six Ps of Retail Marketing

Branding, Business, Customer Service, Marketing
There are four Ps of marketing...product, price, place and promotion. All are equally important. When it comes to retail marketing, though, there are two additional Ps, presentation and personnel. How you execute with regard to all these Ps can make a difference between success and failure for your brand or business. Many retailers are struggling in this day and age. Are they focusing enough on the two additional Ps, areas where they could possibly establish a competitive advantage over the competition? Amid COVID and a marketplace in which the only constant is change, nothing is easy today for brick-and-mortar stores. That's one reason why we're seeing more and more empty store fronts on main street. That's one reason why more and more retail is going etail.
Read More
Social Media is Unique

Social Media is Unique

Branding, Marketing, Social Media
If you're using social media the way you use your other marketing channels, you're making a big mistake. Social media marketing is a two-way street where you should be engaging with your audience members, listening to them and even making them the center of attention, not your products and services. The more they see that you care about them as human beings, not customers and prospects, they'll be more likely to trust you and - when the opportunities arise - do business with you.
Read More
The Importance of Engaging Your Audience

The Importance of Engaging Your Audience

Branding, Business, Marketing, Music
Do you know the song, We Will Rock You, by Queen? Of course, you know the song. It was written by Brian May for Queen's 1977 album, News of the World. It was featured in a great scene in the movie, Bohemian Rhapsody. It provided Queen with a ridiculously awesome opportunity to engage with their audience. I used that song in my marketing class recently as an example of the importance of engaging with your audience as a brand or a business. The more those on the receiving end of your messages are involved with what you have to offer, the more likely they will be to support you. Stomp, stomp, clap...
Read More