American Marketing Association

📢 Exciting Opportunity for AMA Collegiate Chapters!

For nearly 40 years, the Student Career Forums by Marketing EDGE have been a gateway for students to dive into direct, digital, and data-driven marketing. Now, the American Marketing Association is continuing this legacy by offering $1,000 Career Forum Grants to select AMA Collegiate Regional Events!

Fall applications are closing on August 16, 2024. Apply now 👉 https://lnkd.in/eT-SSXph

Thinking about using humor in your marketing? Discover the benefits of adding a touch of wit to your campaigns, from boosting recall to building rapport.

Check out insights from Lianna Patch/Social Media Examiner on how humor can enhance your brand's connection with your audience ⬇️

Embracing Humor in Your Writing: The Funny Side of Business : Social Media Examiner Want to make your marketing more relatable? Wondering how humor could help? Explore how to embrace humor in your writing.

Get ready to "Evolve" at the 2025 AMA International Collegiate Conference! 🌟

Scheduled for April 3-5 in New Orleans, 2025 will feature inspiring talks, valuable networking opportunities, engaging competitions, and much more. It is the premier event for student marketers and this year's theme embodies our dedication to embracing change and fostering growth in an ever-shifting marketing landscape.

Stay tuned for registration details, and join us as we evolve together! 👉 https://bit.ly/4dtwiN7

Building a strong brand presence can significantly impact your website's authority and search engine rankings. When reputable sites link to yours, Google may view your site as more authoritative, potentially improving your search visibility.

Here are some strategies to consider for building a brand that attracts valuable backlinks:

◼️ SEO: Increase your visibility in search engine results pages through effective optimization.
◼️ Social Media Management: Expand your reach and engage with audiences on various social platforms.
◼️ Digital Advertising: Promote your brand strategically in relevant locations.
Influencer Marketing: Collaborate with influencers to enhance your brand's exposure.
◼️ Guest Blogging: Write authoritative posts for relevant sites within your industry.
◼️ Content Marketing: Develop and distribute content that enhances your visibility and authority.
◼️ These efforts contribute to a flywheel effect in link building: acquiring more links boosts your authority and visibility, making it easier to secure additional links in the future.

For more insights on link-building strategies, Semrush has outlined 10 approaches to help you obtain quality backlinks. Explore their recommendations to refine your strategy 👉 https://www.semrush.com/blog/link-building-strategies/

📸: Growtika on Unsplash

Explore the impact of customer-centric marketing!

Imagine two brands: Brand A focuses on standard marketing, while Brand B highlights real customers, offers educational tips, and partners with trusted influencers. Brand B's approach demonstrates the power of putting customers at the forefront.

Tips for how to build a customer-centric strategy:
✨ Capture Insights: Use social data to understand your audience deeply.
📈 Showcase Real Customers: Feature their stories and feedback.
🤝 Prioritize Social Care: Respond promptly and personally on social media.
👀 Monitor Competitors: Stay ahead by tracking industry trends and gaps.

Transform your marketing by making your customers the star. Dive into these strategies and more from Sprout Social, Inc. 👉 https://bit.ly/4cVTbIQ

Technology companies must determine "what to sell" before answering the "how to sell" question for innovation, according to research from the AMA Journal of Marketing.

Read the full article here 👉 https://bit.ly/3xkgwRy

✏️: Kellilynn M. Frias, Mrinal Ghosh, Narayan Janakiraman, Dale F. Duhan, and Robert F. Lusch, “A Theory of Product-Form Strategy: When to Market Know-how, Components, or Systems?” Journal of Marketing

Choosing the Right Sales Approach: Know-How, Components, or Systems Technology companies must determine “what to sell” before answering the “how to sell” question for innovation.

Short-form videos are emerging as a key trend for 2024, with 73% of consumers preferring these concise clips for learning about products. According to HubSpot’s State of Marketing Report, 56% of marketers plan to invest significantly in short-form video this year.

This growing preference is partly due to shrinking attention spans, now averaging just 47 seconds. Short-form videos cater to this trend by delivering engaging content in a brief format.

Explore the reasons behind this shift and how short-form videos are shaping marketing strategies via the article link below!

For more insights, refer to HubSpot’s State of Marketing Report: https://bit.ly/3i7rlPP

The Psychology of Short-Form Content: Why We Love Bite-Sized Videos Ever wonder why short-form videos are so popular? Turns out there's a bit of psychology behind it.

🏅 The opening ceremonies kick off today, July 26!

For all the latest on marketing—brand promotions, TV ratings, athlete endorsements, and social media highlights— Ad Age has you covered ⬇️
https://bit.ly/4c07fjq

Tracking Olympics 2024 marketing news The 2024 Summer Olympic Games will take place from July 26 through Aug. 11 in Paris. Here we’ll track all things related to Olympic marketing, including brand promotions, TV ratings, athlete endorsements and social media highlights.

Discover how marketing drives responsible technology while putting people first at the 2024 AMA Summer Academic Conference in Boston, MA, August 16-18!

Registration grants you access to transformative discussions and innovative insights with top experts in the field ➡️ https://bit.ly/4eVpjOn

Dive into why bounce rate in digital marketing can be more nuanced than it seems and master the art of analysis with Google Analytics 4 in this article from Search Engine Journal.

Want hands-on virtual training? Attend our upcoming Google Analytics Bootcamp on August 27 for practical insights and skills 👉 https://bit.ly/3LBnNnj

In our hyperconnected world, marketing communication is evolving beyond traditional methods. Harvard Business Review explores "Echoverse Marketing," a new framework where brands, consumers, media, and AI agents all contribute to a dynamic marketing ecosystem.

🔍 Key Takeaways:
Beyond Traditional Communication: Shift from one-way to omnidirectional communication, where meaning is co-created and continuously evolving.

Expanded Actor Network: Embrace an assemblage of actors, including AI, in marketing strategies.

Strategic Evolution: Move from promotion and relationship marketing to echoverse marketing, focusing on co-creation and shared meaning.

How do you think the rise of AI and omnidirectional communication will impact the way brands engage with their audiences in the future? 🤔

Read the full article here: https://hbr.org/2024/06/the-new-rules-of-marketing-across-channels
📸: HBR Staff/MirageC/akinbostanci/David Zaitz/Getty Images

Season 2 of the AMA Marketing / And Podcast has arrived! 🌟
Join AMA CEO Bennie F. Johnson for captivating discussions at the crossroads of marketing and innovation, featuring an incredible lineup of trailblazing guests:

🎙️ Rohit Bhargava, "Future Storytelling and Not Being the Hero"

🎙️ Dr. Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel, "Cultural Intelligence and Responsibility of Marketers"

🎙️ Dr. Jason Wingard, "Value of Disruption and Future Proofing Skills"

🎙️ Clay S.,"Promises and Perils of Tech and Ethical Frameworks"

🎙️ Naomi Wohl Litowitz, "Recognizing the Future and Connecting with Your Audience"

🎙️ Wes Michael | "Getting It Right and Being Part of the Solution"

🎙️Brian A. Rice | "Career Breakthroughs, Leveraging the Power of Design, and Mentorship"

🎙️ John Fisher, "Shoes as Entertainment, Brand Personalities, and Being the CMO"

🎧 Tune in for thought-provoking conversations at the intersection of marketing and innovation. Don't miss out—subscribe and listen now!💡

Marketing / And Podcast with Bennie F. Johnson AMA's Marketing / And Podcast with Bennie F. Johnson In a world where marketing is everything, and everything is marketing, we explore the world through

🎙️Our CEO, Bennie F. Johnson, was recently featured on The Heart of Giving Podcast! Tune in to hear Bennie discuss the latest trends in marketing, his leadership journey, and the impact of the AMA’s initiatives.

🎧 Listen here: https://bit.ly/3YdAzje

Looking for more to listen to? Check out the AMA Marketing / And Podcast hosted by Bennie here 👉 https://bit.ly/3S4j6oL

Marketing Charity | The Heart of Giving Podcast Bennie F. Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Marketing Association (AMA). AMA is the largest community-based marketing association in the world. Their community of local chapters spans more than 70 cities and 320 college campuses throughout North America. AMA is home to award-win...

In a recent article by Tom Fishburne, also known as the Marketoonist, he explores the often misunderstood concept of brand storytelling. Fishburne emphasizes that true storytelling, unlike marketing communication, requires "conflict" to engage and connect with audiences.

Fishburne recalls his visit to Character's Portland studio, where Jim Hardison and David Altschul highlighted conflict as essential in storytelling, saying, "Conflict is the engine that makes the story go."

He also references insights from Orlando Wood of System 1 and Les Binet, who differentiate between "showmanship" for long-term brand-building and "salesmanship" for short-term direct-response. Binet and Peter Field's 60:40 rule recommends 60% of advertising spend on brand-building and 40% on performance marketing. Binet cautions against trying to combine these two approaches simultaneously, as they serve different purposes.

Read the full Marketoonist article here 👉 https://bit.ly/4fjuTKP

How does your brand balance long-term storytelling with short-term sales tactics? What do you think about the 60:40 rule mentioned? Let us know in the comments! 💬⬇️

Combining SEO and content marketing can help achieve multiple goals: acquiring search traffic, building thought leadership, attracting links, and generating long-term sales!

✏️ How Does SEO Enhance Content Marketing?
- Audience Insights: SEO reveals what your audience is searching for, guiding content creation to meet their needs.
- Predictable Distribution: A significant portion of web traffic comes from search engines, ensuring your content reaches a wide audience.

📝 How Does Content Marketing Enhance SEO?
- Increased Search Traffic: More content allows for more keyword rankings, driving search traffic.
- Effective SEO: High-quality content attracts backlinks, generates leads, and converts traffic into sales.

The same effort, money, and time invested in both strategies yield combined results. High-ranking content drives significant traffic, attracts links and social media shares, and educates potential customers about your product.

Ahrefs breaks down how you can implement a strategy like this here ↙️ https://bit.ly/46o2mQ3

Feeling overwhelmed by social media saturation? You're not alone. With over 5 billion users and endless content, standing out is tough. The proliferation of social media platforms and AI-generated content has also intensified competition for user engagement. The challenge is real, but so is the opportunity! Reset your strategy: emphasize originality, creativity, and strategic engagement.

Dive deeper into these insights from Sprout Social, Inc.👉 https://bit.ly/3zOQkTO

Join AMA's 2-Day Social Media Bootcamp in September for hands-on training and expert insights to elevate your strategy! 👉 https://bit.ly/3Wh4eFw

What the state of social media saturation means for brands Social media saturation is making it harder for brands to reach their audiences. Find out what's causing the problem and how to overcome it.

Deciding between short-form and long-form videos for your marketing campaign can be challenging. With 89% of consumers wanting more brand videos and people watching an average of 17 videos per day in 2023, video content is crucial.

Here’s a quick guide from DigitalMarketer that can help you choose the right format for your campaign ➡️ https://bit.ly/3Ws01Ah

Looking for more hands-on marketing training opportunities? Check out our upcoming events: https://bit.ly/4cKdwRB

AI offers endless opportunities, and bloggers are actively exploring its potential. According to a survey conducted by Orbit Media Studios, 65% of bloggers use AI in various capacities. The most common application is idea generation (43%), while only 3% use AI to write complete articles.

What does this mean? 👉 AI is helping bloggers get a head start, but very few are using it to replace themselves as writers.

Here's the breakdown of AI use in blogging tasks:
- 43% generate ideas
- 29% write headlines
- 28% create outlines
- 21% write first drafts
- 3% write complete drafts
- 22% suggest edits
- 6% create visuals
- 9% write promotional emails
- 17% write promotional social posts

Does this graph reflect your use of AI in content creation? Share your experiences and how AI fits into your daily workflow! ⬇️

Read the full Orbit Media Studios report 👉 https://lnkd.in/gEXb7mn

Deciding whether to become a marketing specialist or a generalist depends on your interests, career goals, and work environment. Here's a closer look, with insights from Semrush, to help you determine the right path for you:

✨ Marketing Specialist:
1. Pursue relevant education and certifications
2. Dive deep into a niche
3. Master cutting-edge tools and techniques

"I believe everyone should start as a specialist. By diving deep into a topic, you can then extrapolate to other areas, making your transformation smoother."
— Andreea Westenberg, Director of Paid Traffic at Semrush

✨ Marketing Generalist:
1. Gain a broad educational background
2. Acquire experience across various disciplines
3. Develop strategic thinking skills

"I became a generalist first because the agency setting exposed me to so many different things. Over time, I found my passion in SEO and content creation, which led me to specialize."
— Leigh McKenzie, Growth Manager at Backlinko

Both paths offer rewarding opportunities! Which one aligns with your goals? Let us know! 👇

Check out the full article from Semrush: https://www.semrush.com/blog/marketing-specialist-vs-generalist/

Happy , marketers! Swipe to test your knowledge of AI history 🧐

Hit the link in our bio to explore some of today’s AI research courtesy of the AMA Journal of Marketing + more!

Trivia Content Source: | A Timeline of Artificial Intelligence

The acronym “SPACES” stands for six distinct community management categories: Support, Product, Acquisition, Contribution, Engagement, and Success.

While the strategies you use to analyze your community performance will vary based on the type of community you’re building, here are some metrics to consider for each:

[S]upport: Conversation engagement (e.g., posts, comments), quantity of questions asked and answered, reduced customer support calls
[P]roduct: New product ideas, new feature adoption, customer satisfaction
[A]cquisition: Conversion rate, new leads/signups, new customers
[C]ontent: Users creating UGC, new and active users, conversation engagement (e.g., posts, comments)
[E]ngagement: Conversation engagement (e.g., posts, comments), new member signups, event attendees
[S]uccess: Net Promoter Score (NPS), customer retention, customer satisfaction

6 Types of Community Management (+ Tips from the Experts Who Manage Them) via HubSpot 👉 https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/community-management-types

Instagram recently shared some new tips to its Professional Dashboard in the app, featuring the following tips to help maximize your content's performance. ⬇️

1️⃣ Grab attention in the first 3 seconds
2️⃣ Reels that are 30-60 seconds long see better performance
3️⃣ Use trending hashtags (though IG’s CEO has repeatedly noted that hashtags don’t improve reach)
4️⃣ Tap into trends, and trending audio
5️⃣ Look to drive direct engagement (especially shares)
6️⃣ Reply to comments within 7 days
7️⃣ Share your content on IG at the same time as other platforms
8️⃣ Create relatable, humorous content
9️⃣ Upload clips in high resolution
🔟 Create 10 or more Reels per month, on average

Creating compelling Reels is all about creativity and resonating with your audience. Explore trends and see what's working for others to spark your inspiration. The best content reflects your unique voice and connects authentically with your followers.

Improve your Meta Social Media Advertising by attending our upcoming AMA Virtual Training on August 7th! 👉 https://bit.ly/4cyClPJ

Source: Social Media Today, LLC / https://bit.ly/3zBT2vy

Instagram

Most consumers are very or somewhat concerned about the privacy of their personal identity when shopping online. Baby Boomers are most concerned (68.1%), followed by Gen-X (64.2%), and U.S. Adults 18+ (61.8%). While Millennials and Gen-Z consumers are less concerned than these groups, over half of survey respondents in these categories still report being concerned. Given this, it’s critical for brands to consider privacy when creating targeted customer experiences or the personalization they provide will deter consumers rather than engage them.

Navigating privacy and personalization in digital marketing is a delicate balance. Prioritizing first-party data enables personalized experiences while safeguarding privacy. Stay informed to navigate these evolving landscapes effectively.

Read the full Forbes article here 👉 https://bit.ly/3VSJkfG

Copywriting vs. Content Writing: What's the difference? 📝

The distinction between copy and content becomes clear when viewing them through the following 3 lenses:

1️⃣ Tone: If you had to personify a text and assign an occupation to that person, what would it be?
2️⃣ Purpose: The “why” behind a sequence of actions.
3️⃣ Goal: The “what” that propels someone toward fulfilling a purpose.

Read the full article from Semrush: https://bit.ly/3siiC5E

Customer-centric marketing places the customer's needs and preferences at the forefront of all marketing efforts. This approach involves actively gathering customer insights through surveys and social listening, and using that data to tailor promotions and improve customer interactions.

What are the benefits of customer-centric marketing? 👇
It enhances brand loyalty, aids in customer retention, and boosts new customer acquisition by resonating more deeply with target audiences. Brands finding success by effectively implementing these strategies are , McDonald's, Atlassian, , and Salesforce.

4 ways marketers can implement these strategies effectively 👇
- Utilize tools like social listening to understand customer sentiments and preferences in real-time
- Showcase real customers in your content,
- Provide exceptional social customer care
- Continually monitor competitors to maintain a competitive edge.

By prioritizing customer needs and building strong, personalized relationships, brands can differentiate themselves in competitive markets and drive long-term success.

Source: Sprout Social, Inc.
Read the full article here ➡️ https://bit.ly/4cVTbIQ

We're thrilled to introduce our new and returning members of the 2025 AMA Board of Directors! Together, we're ready to innovate, inspire, and empower marketers worldwide.

Read the full press release here 👉 https://lnkd.in/grZ6RGPH

A very special thank you goes out to our Executive Committee of the AMA Board:

- Mike Brady – Chair, Bob Sasser Professor and Chair, Department of Marketing, Florida State University
- Lisa Bowman 🎯 – Immediate Past Chair, Founder and Chief Mojo Officer, Marketing Mojo, A Digital Marketing Agency
- Robin Tooms – Chair-Elect, Chief Marketing Officer, Members Credit Union
- Jeff Lupinacci – CFO, Omnicom, Flywheel Digital

Mike Brady, from Florida State University, brings extensive marketing expertise and a steadfast commitment to our community in his role as our new AMA Board Chair!

"I look forward to working with my fellow AMA Board colleagues as we focus on shaping the future of marketing and supporting our incredible community," Mike Brady shared.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to our outgoing board members for their visionary leadership and commitment to advancing our field.

Join us in welcoming our new board members! 👏

- Tiffany White, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- John Kennedy, The Sorium Group
- Nadya Kohl, Volta Media, A Shell Brand
- Maura L. Scott, Arizona State University
- Kimberly A. Whitler, University of Virginia

And finally, thank you to our continuing members who continue to bring invaluable insights to the table! 👏

- Anders Gustafsson, Professor of Marketing, BI The Norwegian Business School
- Brian Fergemann, Senior Counsel, Marketing and Intellectual Property, McDonald's Corporation
- Rebecca Slotegraaf, Professor of Marketing and Neal Gilliatt Chair in Marketing, Indiana University - Kelley School of Business
- Angela Brutsche, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Texas REALTORS®
- Eli Jones, Professor of Marketing, Mays Business School - Texas A&M University
- Christine Welsh Mathers, Head of Global Communications and Brand for Noble Corporation
- Matthew Witt, National Digital Experience Lead, Deloitte Digital

It's going to be an AMAzing year! 🎉

The "audience arbitrage" trend involves using tools like SparkLoop to recommend other newsletters as soon as someone subscribes. It helps offset ad costs and can even generate profits immediately. However, it also carries risks like potential brand damage, email deliverability issues, and unreliable engagement reporting.

What are your thoughts on this strategy? Would you consider it innovative or risky?💡

Dive deeper into this concept (and it's risks) via this breakdown from HubSpot ➡️ https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/this-newsletter-growth-trend-is-straight-from-wall-street

Join our UX Best Practices for Email Marketing Training taking place July 10! Learn UX basics and apply them to boost your email marketing success 👇 Can't join live? The content will be available on-demand! https://www.ama.org/events/virtual-training/ux-best-practices-for-email-marketing/

The 4th of July barbecues have barely cooled down, and companies are already shifting gears towards back-to-school season.

Last summer, TikTok videos using the hashtag more than doubled to 469K, highlighting a prime opportunity for brands to engage and drive sales. TikTok has just released a Back-to-School campaign guide to guide featuring the insights marketers need to navigate this pivotal period.

P.S. A link to the playbook is available via the link in our bio if you want to dive deeper! 🤳

When do you think “Back-to-School” season really starts? 💭

The Fourth of July barbecues have barely cooled down, and already companies are shifting gears towards back-to-school season. Last summer, TikTok videos using the hashtag more than doubled to 469K, highlighting a prime opportunity for brands to engage and drive sales. TikTok has just released a Back to School campaign guide to guide marketers through this pivotal period featuring insights like:

74% of college students plan their shopping lists on TikTok by mid-summer.
63% of parents discover education essentials on TikTok.
42% of parents make purchases because of TikTok.

Also included in the guide are:

📚 Key dates and user activity trends for optimal planning
🔔 Top product categories and TikTok user preferences
✏️ Effective strategies to amplify your brand messaging
🚸 Tips for integrating different elements to maximize impact
🎒 Timelines to align promotions with peak interest periods
📖 Expert advice on crafting compelling video content

Craft compelling content strategies using product reviews, tips, and trending hacks to captivate your audience. Utilize 's Events API and Pixel for campaign optimization, and explore creative solutions to prompt immediate action.

Get your copy of the playbook: https://bit.ly/3VMqyqA