Back in the day I used to own a 1977 Monte Carlo. It was “light buckskin” and had been my Mom’s car, a pretty hot ride in its day. In fact it’s what I originally drove west with all my worldly possessions in tow, when I moved to Vancouver in 1987. An 8-cylinder gas-guzzler with swivel bucket seats, it went like the clappers, and was fueled as much on a hope and a prayer, as it … [Read more...]
Earned media versus “going native” in the age of “snack and share” news
Knowing how to earn media, and how and when to “pay to play” in this new "snack and share" mobile news model, is going to be critically important for marketers and public relations people. This week I look at how things are changing, trends and numbers, what publishers look for in terms of sharable earned media content, and what native advertising actually is, and how it is … [Read more...]
Three keys to small business success
In February I had the good fortune to attend the Small Business BC annual awards ceremony, celebrating excellence in small business within the province of British Columbia. It’s always an inspiration to hear about new business ventures, and frankly to be in a room with so many people out there “making it happen.” I deliver monthly marketing workshops for Small Business BC, so I … [Read more...]
The future of social media: 4 trends to watch in 2017
Predicting the future is a crap shoot at best. But the folks behind this years State of Social Media 2016 study have been at it for a while, and so far their track record has been pretty good, when viewed in hindsight. This year they surveyed 1,200 B2B and B2C businesses in the fall of 2016 for the results I’m going to note. You can get a full copy of the STATE OF SOCIAL MEDIA … [Read more...]
5 Ways Trump is winning at media
Like a car crash all over the front-page news, we just can't look away. It's fascinating to examine international interest in the current US federal election. While many American's can't see it beyond their own borders, the results actually matter a lot to rest of us, given the role America has always played on the world stage. There's something about having a major shift … [Read more...]








