Is brand loyalty dead? One of the interesting findings in the IBM survey of CMOs ( here is is my take on the overall report) is that companies are unprepared to deal with "decreasing brand loyalty." They're asking the wrong question. Were travelers loyal to Wells...
There was an interesting conversation about thought leadership on #profschat the other day around what it is, what it means, where it fits into an organization’s priorities, who “owns” it, and how to execute a successful thought leadership strategy. And it got me...
I stopped into an Irish Pub the other day for a quick pint of Guinness. A guy sidled up to the bar and ordered "two PBRs and a Coors Light." This post is about impressions--and your brand. Are you wearing flip flops at work? Do I have to call you more than once...
Love it, hate it, or deny it exists, personal branding is a hot topic. And it's going to be THE topic today for #sm122, a weekly tweet chat around the business of social media. Join me at 12 noon EST as I host a conversation around personal branding. We'll explore:...
Zappos has nothing on the Corner Parking Lot in Charlottesville, Virginia. Just watch The Parking Lot Movie, a funny, fascinating documentary that debuted at SXSW 2010. It has everything: class-ism, culture, hiring people you trust, empowering your employees,...
Assessing value can be one of the toughest challenges facing any business. Bring small business folks together for a conversation, and the topics of rates and handling negotiations routinely come up. Pricing is often in the eye of the buyer—budget, need, demand, and...
Guy Kawasaki is a born marketer. But he's also an entrepreneur who's smart, personable, answers his own mail (and his tweets too), and is at times utterly enchanting. Kawasaki came through Washington last week on his Enchantment book tour, dropping off books for...
When you think of the PGA Tour, what comes to mind? (Bear with me here--this post is not about sports.) Here's my short list: Really ugly clothing Country clubs Boring men (see bullet 1) flying around in private planes What's on yours? Here's what should be top of...
Ever find yourself saying "do as I say..."? I've known for some time that my Web site needed some work. The calls to actions were mostly hidden (or missing altogether). The font didn't, as my brother so succinctly put it, "do justice to your design sensibility." The...
You can't really shake a first impression. It's done. When we screw it up, we have to live with that. But I'll share a secret: You can make a second impression. I received a call recently from someone I'd talked to a few months ago about a possible project. She had...