Ephemeral Content on Social Media

Ephemeral Content on Social Media

Branding, Content, Marketing, Social Media
Ephemeral content. Now you see it, now you don’t. It’s around for only so long. It comes and it goes. Instagram Stories. LinkedIn Stories. Twitter Fleets. All examples of ephemeral content. All great ways to put yourself in front of your audience on social media. Ephemeral content is lightweight and informal, easy to both produce and consume. Ephemeral content appears at the top of your followers’ feeds, so the odds are that your audience will see it. And because they know it is going to be there for only so long, they feel a sense of urgency to check it out before it disappears. There are many reasons why ephemeral content is so popular right now on social media. There are many reasons why you should be incorporating it into…
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Come Down from Your Ivory Towers

Come Down from Your Ivory Towers

Business, Marketing, Social Media
Come down from your ivory towers. That was a big takeaway for me after reading the book, The Cluetrain Manifesto, back in the day. That point was made loud and clear to me. Business executives needed to stop distancing themselves from their constituents and instead start talking to them and even more importantly, listening to them on the internet. It’s been some 20 years since this book was published, but its main message holds true now more than ever. Thanks to social media, there is no excuse anymore not to be engaging with your customers, prospects, connections, followers, subscribers, fans and even critics. The savviest and smartest marketers and advertisers get it. They’re conspicuous in their presence online day in and day out. They’re joining the conversations on LinkedIn, Twitter,…
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Employee Advocacy on Social Media

Employee Advocacy on Social Media

Branding, Business, Marketing, Social Media
If I had employees, I would make sure they knew how to use social media. I would teach them how to use LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and the like on behalf of my business. I would encourage them to share content online that helped promote my brand. I would provide them with incentives and rewards for doing so. This would be a win-win situation. They would be learning new skills, expanding their own respective networks, keeping on top of industry news, positioning themselves as thought leaders and building better careers. My business would have a stronger workforce, one that would help me amplify the reach of my marketing communications and tee me up for greater success. What about you? Do you have employees? Are you training them to advocate on…
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The Secret of Success in Marketing and Life Itself

The Secret of Success in Marketing and Life Itself

Branding, Business, Marketing
Empathy. It’s one thing we could all use more of if we want to be more successful in both our professional and personal lives. Yup. Think more about others and less about yourself. It's that easy. That’s the secret to success in marketing, the field in which I earn my livelihood, in business in general and in life itself. When you walk in someone else’s shoes, you learn a lot about how they think, feel and live. You gain an understanding of their needs and wants, their shortcomings and strengths, their wins and losses. You can relate better to them and vice versa. It is easier to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with them. Empathy towards others – friends or family, colleagues or clients, teammates or neighbors, even complete strangers…
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A Few Words about Marketing with Amanda Baier

A Few Words about Marketing with Amanda Baier

Marketing, Social Media
In this episode of my podcast, Bob Cargill's Marketing Show, I talk to Amanda Baier, the Director of Marketing Communications for Vecna Robotics in Waltham, Massachusetts. About Amanda Baier Amanda Baier is the Director of Marketing Communications for Vecna Robotics. She is responsible for corporate communications, including the internal communications, sales support, and the planning and execution of strategic industry-facing initiatives. She has previously held roles within small IT and automation startups and nonprofit organizations and thrives at the intersection of business impact and humanistic outcomes. Amanda holds a dual degree in English and Comparative Literature with a Specialization in Technical Communications and Business Writing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
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Social Media Usage During the Pandemic

Social Media Usage During the Pandemic

Branding, Communications, Marketing, Social Media
A lot of things have changed during this pandemic, including what people expect from social media. Not only are they turning to social media more often lately, they’re looking for a shared experience with others there, a stronger sense of community. That’s something that was emphasized in an article I read recently written by Victor Snyder for business.com... https://www.business.com/.../social-media-patterns.../ I’m not surprised about the increase in social media usage. Almost everybody’s in quarantine in some way, shape or form. If not necessary for doing business, jumping onto LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the like is the next best thing to being there with our friends, family, colleagues and clients. The coronavirus crisis has accelerated the advancement and adoption of online communications technology. In both our professional and personal lives, we’re…
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A Great Ad for a Great Cause

Advertising, Communications, Fundraising, Marketing, Restaurants
It’s a great ad for a great cause. But it’s much more than just an ad. It’s a fundraising campaign for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. It’s about the closing of Coogan's Restaurant in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City after some 35 years in business. Facebook put this ad together, pledging to match up to $100,000 of the funds raised as a result of this campaign. What particularly stands out to me about this spot is the riveting version of Gloria Gaynor's classic, mega-hit song, “I Will Survive,” sung by Swedish artist, Lykee Li, that accompanies it. See – and listen – for yourself here.
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The #WhoAmIMaskChallenge

The #WhoAmIMaskChallenge

Advertising, Branding, Cause-Related Marketing, Marketing, Motivation
Why do you wear a mask? I wear a mask because I want to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. I wear a mask because I don’t want people to get sick and die from COVID-19. I wear a mask out of respect for those around me. What about you? Not only is this a relevant, timely conversation that was started by William Lucas (Bill) Walker last month, this is a great campaign which you can learn more about here. Bill is an Emmy Award-winning writer/producer who wanted to get the word out about the importance of wearing a mask during this pandemic. So he challenged people – like me and you – to record a short video introducing ourselves and telling the world why we wear a mask.…
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Marketing During the Pandemic and Beyond

Marketing During the Pandemic and Beyond

Branding, Marketing, Social Media
In this webinar (which I presented for the New England Direct Marketing Association on August 19, 2020), I talk about the importance of authenticity and immediacy in marketing, especially as witnessed during this pandemic. I share a handful of examples of brands that have pivoted during these tough times, changing up their messaging to align with how consumers are feeling about the world these days. You will learn how the social in social media can help you put a face on your brand and build trust among your audience which can lead to long-term, mutually-beneficial relationships. Webinar production provided by Robert Lee of ShaLaLaLa Productions and John Kovaleski of OMBM Enterprises.
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