As technology continues to advance, business has become increasingly complex. Now more than ever, there is a need for the IT department and the Marketing department to collaborate. Typically, Marketing and IT have been at odds: Marketing is constantly requesting service from IT, and IT is constantly trying not to over-promise and under-deliver. This dynamic [...]
It’s been 11 years. 11 years since I started leading technology at StudioNorth, a creative agency that’s more than 33 years old now. I’ve been fortunate to find this place, where walking the knife-edge of what’s new is actively encouraged, even expected. However, this is a creative place at heart — full of right brains [...]
We often hear people say that social media is great for B2C companies—the Coca-Colas, Targets, and AT&Ts of the world. But what about B2Bs? Are your customers really on Facebook posting updates and tweeting about what they ate for breakfast? Do they even know what Twitter is? Here are three reasons B2B companies may want [...]
We’ve all been there, on both the client and agency side. The client defines a need, and the agency develops the proposals/estimates. Then, if the gap between an established budget and the estimated costs is wide, both parties are left feeling the entire exercise was a waste of time. The client says to the agency, [...]
Innovation, innovation, innovation. It’s nearly impossible to escape hearing and reading this word in the context of our everyday lives. It has become so over-used that it’s beginning to blend into meaningless jargon — or it becomes so aspirational that it seems unattainable. Sure, it’s easy to identify innovative legends such as Steve Jobs, Henry [...]
In every business setting, there is going to be conflict, whether it’s with your colleagues, peers or even clients. Almost always, the conflict is centered on communications (or lack thereof). As someone who has researched and put in place various communications practices across a number of different businesses, it occurs to me that authentic communications [...]
Subjective vs. Objective Validation. We all need it. Reassurance in our lives, relationships, and deliverables gives us the confidence we need to survive in this unstable, ever-changing world. But, how can validation help us in the world of B2B marketing? Validating concepts and messaging with internal stakeholders is a common practice. We do it to [...]
Everybody uses business tools to be more efficient and productive. It could be as simple as pen and paper, or in my case, as complex as technology can make it. The iPad meets both those criteria for me. It’s simple to use and “just works,” but right now it’s also the pinnacle of personal technology. [...]
