I wrote a post a couple of years ago about finding fresh voices. It was all about how you need new perspectives to be creative. I'm taking a Coursera class right now on Internet Giants: The Law and Economics of Media Platforms. It's a fascinating look at Microsoft,...
Independent Thinking Blog
Social Media
This Superpower Will Make Your Business Better
I know who's obsessed with bacon and who has seen Jimmy Buffet in concert 100 times. I can tell you who roots for the Mets, or the Tigers, or the Cubs. Who's crazy about the NBA and who really, really loves college basketball. I can identify the runners, and people...
Why You Can’t Be Content Agnostic
Sometime last year I heard a radio show host discussing metrics in a fragmented media market. To access his show, you could listen live on radio, watch simulcast on TV, download two different streaming apps, and download the podcast to listen later. Just measuring the...
The 3 Words That Keep Social Media Marketers Up at Night
So you want to know what keeps many social media marketers up at night? Return on investment. That's right. According to new research, 60 percent of social media marketers surveyed said that measuring the ROI of their digital programs is their #1 challenge. Slotting...
The Latest Trend in Content Curation
There's a new trend in content curation. People. This should be good news. One, we are people (and it's useful to be valued). Two, it's helpful for anyone who thinks that algorithms aren't the secret sauce to world domination. For the record, my content is already...
Is LinkedIn the Anti Social Network?
Now we are 7. My blog turned seven on June 4, which means I've been blogging here since 2008. Which seems a long time, especially in digital years (which make dog years seem quaint). I wasn't marking this passage of time--but LinkedIn was. At some point last week, the...
When to Schedule Social Media Posts
I'm not a fan of automation. Automats? Big fan. Automated processes? Of course (where they make business sense). But automated posts? Not so much. The problem with automation in social media channels is that you end up with people and brands who are not active on a...
100 Tips for Marketing Your Business
Small Business Trends has pulled together a new e-book, and it's chock full of simple ideas to help your business stand out. Innovative Marketing Tips to Make Your Business Sizzle contains over 100 separate tips, many in the areas of Web design, video, photography,...
The Power of Visual Recording
I reinstalled Instagram on my mobile phone the other day. My friend Beth Schillaci shamed me into it. She's going to a Capitals playoff game (count me officially envious), and she's posting pics on Instagram. And she told me, "You really need to get on Instagram." I...
Technology Won’t Make Your Business More Social
In a 24/7, customer-centric world, you have to be present to be part of the conversation. Snooze, and you will lose. A recent consumer poll found that 47 percent of customers value speed in responding to questions or complaints. Dig into the data and several more...