Engaging Results Communications

“There are very few believers in the work readiness of college graduates. Only 13% of U.S. adults, 11% of C-level executives, and 6% of college and university trustees strongly agree with statements about the work readiness of graduates...That’s why self-built skills are becoming more and more necessary."
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/unexpected-content-marketing-skills-to-build/391947/

"No matter the strategy, the idea is the same: to market personally and value your customers, but also efficiently so you can save time, scale-up, and keep running your day-to-day."
https://www.business2community.com/marketing/the-18-best-marketing-strategies-for-2021-from-the-experts-02374950

"Running a business can get complicated. It’s easy to get bogged down in the details and forget the basic strategies that got you there. But staying strong in those areas is a must, as members of the online small business community can attest."

https://smallbiztrends.com/2021/01/get-back-to-basics-10-small-business-improvement-tips.html

"...2021 is a new year, which means new opportunities to reach and expand your patient base. And it’s all thanks to these wonderful marketing trends you can start taking advantage of right now. How you can pivot your marketing strategy to fit a post-pandemic world? The answers are actually simpler than you might think."

https://invisionmag.com/2021-is-a-new-year-lets-make-your-marketing-new-too/

"MTV Entertainment Group has launched a new initiative to fuel the creation of more content from production companies owned and operated by BIPOC and women. They have committed $250M over three years in production to bolster the next generation of creative leaders and business owners."

https://deadline.com/2020/12/mtv-entertainment-group-bipoc-women-production-companies-diversity-representation-inclusion-1234636832/

MTV Entertainment Group Launches Initiative To Bolster Content From BIPOC And Women-Owned Production Companies MTV Entertainment Group has launched a new initiative to fuel the creation of more content from production companies owned and operated by BIPOC and women. They have commited $250M over three years…

"If you're a business owner, people have probably been talking to you about digital marketing for ages — whether it's a well-meaning friend or an ad agency on the prowl, you've heard endless suggestions on everything from SEO to PPC and every other three-letter acronym. And all that was in a pre-pandemic world. The sudden, jarring shift to an audience more frequently online will leave behind many lasting effects on how businesses reach their target audience."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2020/10/12/digital-marketing-tactics-all-businesses-should-use/?sh=1cdcdb092f7e

Council Post: Digital Marketing Tactics All Businesses Should Use If you're a business owner, people have probably been talking to you about digital marketing for ages — whether it's a well-meaning friend or an ad agency on the prowl, you've heard endless suggestions on everything from SEO to PPC and every other three-letter acronym.

"Ecommerce shopping has steadily grown, even accelerated due to Coronavirus...Nearly every category and vertical has been impacted, including books, video, electronics, and of course household goods. We can expect this holiday season to be even bigger."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/matzucker/2020/11/01/ecommerce-marketing-preparing-for-the-new-wave-of-customers/?sh=576b50c62a59

Ecommerce Marketing: Preparing For The New Wave Of Customers The new wave of ecommerce shoppers are bringing their offline behaviors. Mat Zucker interviews a leading marketer on how brands can meet their needs online.

"Despite the glaring issues present with social media platforms, people still crave digital attention, especially during a pandemic, where in-person connections are strained if not impossible.

So, how can the industry change for the better? "

https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/22/3-reforms-social-media-platforms-should-make-in-light-of-the-social-dilemma/

3 reforms social media platforms should make in light of ‘The Social Dilemma’ – TechCrunch The industry needs to change to create more engaged and genuine spaces for people to connect without preying on human psychology.

"Social media. Short sentence, long conversation. Gen Z is the next generation that digital marketers need to start homing in on, and the only effective way to do that is through social media.

The era of the banner ad is dying out, slowly but surely. It might have worked for older, less tech-savvy demographics, but it’s not going to be nearly as effective in the future. "

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/358241

How Gen Z Is Transforming Digital Marketing Just take one look at Wendy's.

Check out this article for 5 fundamental shifts in the marketing industry within the last few months!

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/5-fundamental-shifts-that-are-shaping-search-digital-marketing/383416/

5 Fundamental Shifts That Are Shaping Search & Digital Marketing Businesses are rapidly transitioning to digital – with the demand for SEO at its core. Here are some of the changes marketers must pay attention to.

“When you are starting a side hustle, one of the most important things you can do for your business is market. But marketing can get pretty out of control if not planned strategically. The first thing you need to do is make sure your marketing is synergistic with your sales plan”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephanieburns/2020/10/12/the-ultimate-guide-to-starting-a-side-hustle-part-6-marketing/

The Ultimate Guide To Starting A Side Hustle Part 6: Marketing When you are starting a side hustle, one of the most important things you can do for your business is market. But marketing can get pretty out of control if not planned strategically.

"Digital marketing is undergoing a sea change. For marketers today, data is not just a helpful tool, but a necessity to reach the right customers. And while there's an overwhelming amount of data available and many martech solutions claiming to be the best, the challenge is in finding solutions that work together. Thankfully, innovative data acquisition strategies are bringing together data in new ways. "

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2020/10/01/better-together-the-data-ecosystems-driving-todays-digital-marketing-sea-change/

Council Post: Better Together: The Data Ecosystems Driving Today's Digital Marketing Sea Change Digital marketing is undergoing a sea change. For marketers today, data is not just a helpful tool, but a necessity to reach the right customers.

"Many digital marketing agencies have sailed through these troubled waters unscathed and some have even experienced meteoric growth, but I think it is fair to say that the majority of marketing agencies had a worrying March / April period and I know of several that continue to struggle."
https://browsermedia.agency/blog/what-does-covid-19-mean-for-digital-marketing-agencies/

What does Covid 19 mean for digital marketing agencies? | Inbound Marketing Agency The impact of the coronavirus has sent shockwaves across the planet. What does it mean for the future of digital marketing agencies?

"As consumers transition from traditional forms of media to online channels, so must marketing strategies follow and adapt to consumer trends. Marketing professionals must know how to communicate with audiences on online platforms, and these skills have power beyond the digital marketing world. Employers are also looking for candidates with digital marketing skills such as expertise with web platforms, strategy, and design, in addition to oral and written communication skills."

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-digital-marketing-should-make-its-way-onto-your-resume-01601320942

Why digital marketing should make its way onto your résumé This digital marketing course is the key to connecting with audiences online

https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/can-we-amplify-the-good-and-contain-the-bad-of-social-media/

Can We Amplify the Good and Contain the Bad of Social Media? To make social platforms a more positive force, we must understand the phenomena that drive them.

"Social media marketing offers a massive potential customer base to brands that use it right. However, it can sometimes be difficult to get social media "right." There are so many elements that contribute to social media success that it's easy to implement one or more of them poorly."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2020/09/14/15-things-marketing-teams-might-be-doing-wrong-on-social-media/

Council Post: 15 Things Marketing Teams Might Be Doing Wrong On Social Media Agency pros explore the most common things that a marketing team facing low engagement numbers might have gotten wrong in their social channels.

"To set your company apart from its competition, you need to tell a unique story. Sharing the “why” of your business helps bring humanity to your brand and it’s something that will resonate with your clients. This storytelling is critical, but sometimes your chosen narrative just isn’t working."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2020/09/02/12-clear-signs-your-current-marketing-strategy-isnt-working/

Council Post: 12 Clear Signs Your Current Marketing Strategy Isn't Working Staying aligned with the current needs and wants of your customers will help ensure your marketing produces great results.

"Attribution in digital marketing is being done with plaintext urls and variables that anyone can see, copy, or attack. It is the weakest link in all of digital marketing that fraudsters have been exploiting since the beginning of digital marketing, to this day, and going forward too. Fraudsters do this to cover their tracks, make campaigns appear to be performing better than they really are, or to claim credit and revenue shares for sales they didn’t drive."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/augustinefou/2020/08/20/attributionthe-weakest-link-in-all-digital-marketing/

Attribution—The Weakest Link In All Digital Marketing Plaintext URLs, Plaintext Parameters, Plaintext IDs. What could possibly go wrong?

"A digital marketing plan is a great way to get in front of your target audience. Whether you’ve never tried to reach consumers online before or you’ve had issues achieving success in the past, now is the time to explore your opportunities. Here’s how to create a digital marketing plan that aligns your marketing and sales teams, calls attention to any obstructions in your process and assesses performance on a comprehensive scale."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2020/07/31/how-to-create-a-digital-marketing-plan-in-2020/

Council Post: How To Create A Digital Marketing Plan In 2020 There’s never been a better time to embark on a digital marketing journey. Go out there and get things started, and see where the adventure takes you.

"Influencer marketing has received increased attention as marketers strive to get their messages to stand out in cluttered advertising environment... But what impact will the COVID pandemic have on influencer marketing?"

https://www.forbes.com/sites/charlesrtaylor/2020/07/30/is-covid-making-marketing-influencers-more-influential/

Is COVID Making Marketing Influencers More Influential? A new survey by digitial agency A&E (Amra and Elmira) suggests more opportunity for influencer marketing to be effective going forward. The impact of COVID-19 on influencer marketing is analyzed.

"One of your greatest foes as an entrepreneur is misinformation. There is a lot of erroneous advice online, especially when it comes to social media marketing. Unfortunately, much of this guidance seems reasonable on paper. Without the right research or knowledge, you may end up unwittingly endangering the future of your business."

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/353127

7 Social Media Marketing Myths, Busted Businesses, brands and personalities need to know the truth.

"The Great Recession of 2007-2009 was one of the most difficult periods of my life, but I got through it, learned some valuable lessons, and eventually emerged in a much better place as an entrepreneur. Now, even though the coronavirus pandemic is causing both a health and economic crisis, I’m confident I can get through this difficult period, using my past experience of overcoming a recession. And other entrepreneurs can also take action to make it through to the other side.

"

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/353282

How to Survive a Crisis as an Entrepreneur Recessions are temporary, but how you use your time now can pay off well into the future.

"Now, salons, restaurants, florists and fitness instructors, among others, are creatively adjusting to the new realities of the coronavirus economy, pivoting to bringing parts of their business online, connecting with communities directly on social media or launching creative side hustles.

"

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/heres-small-businesses-threatened-covid-19-surviving-pandemic-71628734

Here’s how small businesses threatened by COVID-19 are surviving the pandemic Many businesses won't make it to the other side of COVID-19 without your help.

"A new survey of nearly 300 top marketers at for-profit US companies reveals how the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the landscape for marketing organizations across a range of industries. Among the findings: because of the total collapse of in-person marketing engagement due to the lockdowns, consumers are now significantly more open to new digital experiences and offerings from companies, more receptive to companies’ efforts to promote social good, and more deliberate in their consideration, purchasing, feedback and loyalty behavior."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2020/07/08/cmos-report-massive-shifts-in-consumer-behavior-and-marketing-strategies-post-covid-19/

CMOs Report Massive Shifts In Consumer Behavior And Marketing Strategies Post COVID-19 A new survey reveals how the coronavirus pandemic has reshaped the landscape for marketing organizations across a range of industries.

"One of the most common thought leadership topics in B2B marketing is that B2B companies need to start acting more like B2C companies and learn how to appeal to their customers’ emotions. Every day, marketers create thousands of blog posts, podcasts, social posts, and white papers (“just fill out this form and we’ll send it to you for free!”) talking about how B2B buyers are people, too."

https://www.industryweek.com/leadership/corporate-culture/article/21135490/change-your-culture-change-your-marketing

Change Your Culture, Change Your Marketing Too often, the marketing department is where manufacturing innovation goes to die.

"In addition to advancing your business priorities, your brand must also strive to achieve the appropriate tone, given your audience and the circumstances we’re marketing in. Some might see this as a compromise, but tone is an important component of messaging, which brings brands closer to their goals — these objectives are one and the same. The difference nowadays is that audiences are likely to be more sensitive to tone given the global pandemic, its economic fallout and movements for racial equality."

https://searchengineland.com/content-marketing-in-times-of-disruption-336288

Content marketing in times of disruption What brands need to consider to produce timely content and stay relevant during market upheavals.

"The current climate of this pandemic has been hitting certain businesses harder than others. While many businesses have been able to pivot online, others have had to close their doors after decades. Some businesses have made realistic and effective pivots to their business models and are worth considering applying to your own. "

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2020/06/25/how-brands-can-pivot-their-marketing-to-stay-afloat-during-a-pandemic/

Council Post: How Brands Can Pivot Their Marketing To Stay Afloat During A Pandemic Some businesses have made realistic and effective pivots to their business models and are worth considering applying to your own.

“We live in a world where rules and policies often define who we are and what we can or cannot do. Imagine a world with no boundaries, where we could be true to ourselves and trust everyone to be understanding and show empathy toward each other.
Look around. Our daily experiences are shaped by boundaries. Let’s look at a few branding and marketing examples that exist today and how we can reimagine the experience.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2020/06/17/reimagining-the-boundaries-of-our-marketing-experience/

Council Post: Reimagining The Boundaries Of Our Marketing Experience It’s time to reimagine our experiences and how we interact with our audience.

“For those who want to further explore this buzzy app for business, remember that you’ll be creating video-based content with a different mindset than on Instagram or Facebook. TikTok doesn’t rely on high-resolution images or polished content. Users look for originality, creativity, fun and humor.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2020/06/17/how-to-use-tiktok-in-your-marketing-strategy/

Council Post: How To Use TikTok In Your Marketing Strategy Remember, TikTok isn't just a Gen Z fad.

“Remember when young entrepreneurs dropped out of college to run their startups? Maxine Marcus is bucking this historical trend.
Maxine founded The Ambassador Company (“AmbassCo”) when she was a sophomore in high school, though she admits that she only seriously began focusing on the business when she was a seventeen-year-old high school senior.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johngreathouse/2020/06/16/this-gen-z-entrepreneur-is-defying-the-zuckerberg-jobs--gates-dropout-path/

This Gen-Z Entrepreneur Is Defying The Zuckerberg, Jobs And Gates Dropout Path Despite her full course load at USC, Maxine Marcus has continued to grow her venture, which she plans to run full time, when she graduates in 2022.

"This is something that few companies have ever truly had to deal with. It appears as if marketing in the current state of affairs is like throwing a dart aimlessly and hoping that it manages to stick into the board. It’s affecting both tenured marketing veterans as well as startups alike, and no one seems to have a set answer: How do we market in times of uncertainty?"

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2020/06/11/marketing-in-times-of-uncertainty/

Council Post: Marketing In Times Of Uncertainty How can you help your customer right now? What about your product or service can directly benefit them at this very moment?

"As you progress in your entrepreneurial journey, you’ll begin to think of new ways to branch out and stretch your limits. Diversifying your investment portfolio helps you maximize returns and minimize risks. Entrepreneurship is one way that bold businessmen and women take the plunge into diversification and career advancement. But there’s another option to consider: franchising."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/serenitygibbons/2020/06/09/when-should-entrepreneurs-think-about-franchising-as-an-option/

Tackling uncertainty with entrepreneurship Two summer programs aim to equip students with entrepreneurial skills.

"For business leaders, tigers come in many forms. They may be a crisis stemming from a natural phenomenon or they may be a financial, technological, or ethical crisis. Whatever the cause, the important point is that the entrepreneur who wants not just to survive, but to thrive, is willing to confront the biggest challenges facing his or her business head-on.

Downplaying the risk—or worse, turning your back on the danger altogether—is a one-step recipe for disaster. In fact, it’s just asking to be eaten."

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/351229

Are You Willing to Face the Tiger? How Entrepreneurs Continually Rise to the Challenge. What sets great entrepreneurs apart is their approach to a crisis.

"Brendan Cox is the founder of Cox Visuals, the All Up In Ur Business Podcast, Teen Assistant, Kicks Cases, The Booth Pennsylvania, & Cox Social Media Management, all based out of both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Brendan first started out as an entrepreneur in the 7th grade when he ran a widely popular phone case company. Rather than hiring a graphic designer for his website, he did the graphics and social media, teaching himself Adobe Photoshop."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryjuetten/2020/06/04/ten-tips-for-success-from-a-teen-entrepreneur/

10 Tips For Success From A Teen Entrepreneur All of the founders I’ve talked to in the past have, if not startup experience, a fair amount of life experience upon which to draw. So it was uniquely interesting, and a bit surprising, to talk to a serial entrepreneur with multiple ventures to his name before he reached legal drinking age.

"It seems like every single year Google implements some type of algorithm change that completely redefines what SEO is. But when you look beyond these individual updates, I believe what you’ll see is an overall shift toward the need to attract high-quality brand mentions across digital spaces. In other words, if you want each of your individual locations to rank high in both organic search and on map listings, you need other websites to talk about your company."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2020/06/02/the-future-of-multi-local-marketing-is-a-blast-from-the-past/

Council Post: The Future Of Multi-Local Marketing Is A Blast From The Past Digital PR represents the new SEO.

"With many living a few steps from their offices, America’s always-on work culture has reached new heights. The nine-to-five workday, or any semblance of it, seems like a relic of a bygone era. Long gone are the regretful formalities for calling or emailing at inappropriate times. Burnt-out employees feel like they have even less free time than when they wasted hours commuting.

"

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/three-hours-longer-the-pandemic-workday-has-obliterated-work-life-balance-1.1425827

Three hours longer, the pandemic workday has obliterated work-life balance - BNN Bloomberg People are overworked, stressed, and eager to get back to the office.

"The business world is upside down. Things are chaotic right now, and rightfully so, but there are still signs of hope. Entrepreneurs and business leaders need to think outside the box to help their companies navigate these unprecedented times and hopefully to come out stronger on the other side.

Now is the time to be agile, to be willing to re-evaluate your strategies and change your business models, and to adapt your marketing on the fly. I’m seeing a lot of examples right now of how B2B companies are using this moment of crisis as an opportunity to grow by re-positioning their products and services based on current needs."

https://www.thehour.com/business/article/It-s-Time-to-Get-Creative-and-Adapt-Your-15286457.php

"The right words have always been an essential ingredient of effective marketing. So we can’t help but wonder how the lexicon may be changing, how the language of marketing content may be shifting as a result of COVID-19."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultalbot/2020/05/21/how-covid-19-is-changing-the-language-of-marketing/

How COVID-19 Is Changing The Language Of Marketing How have changes in consumer behavior altered the way marketers communicate? In some cases, the shift has been dramatic.