It’s been a week since returning from the Uprising in Tennessee – a retreat at the RT Lodge in Maryville, hosted by Mark Schaefer. Gathering some of the most brilliant minds in marketing from Canada, the US and abroad, it was an immersive experience of thought leadership, discussion and social interaction. I’ve been ruminating on a statement that stuck with me during one … [Read more...]
Marketing creativity & traveling light: the Japan Airlines story
I’m a huge fan of traveling with only a carry-on. But Japan Airlines recently took packing light to a whole new level! The Japan Airlines story The company introduced a service where they will rent you clothes at the destination, eliminating the need to pack a bag altogether. Prices range $28-48 to rent a wardrobe for two weeks. You select clothes by gender, size, season - … [Read more...]
How to reach one million people through word of mouth
It’s human nature to want to tell stories. Ever since writing my second book, Word of Mouth Mouse & Mobile – how to get your story told in the age of digital, I’ve been fascinated by how stories spread, and in particular the power of having others share your message for you. Word of mouth is a very powerful form of marketing not only for the huge potential reach, but … [Read more...]
What makes cult brands special?
This past week I attended the Cult Gathering marketing conference in Banff, a meeting of CEOs and marketing directors from global cult brand leaders. Cult brands don’t just have customers, they have fans and brand evangelists who do much of their marketing for them through word of mouth online and off, and through earned media and publicity. In fact, most spend very little on … [Read more...]
Nurture the niche and let them talk
Do you remember the tin can walkie-talkie? Where you connected two empty tins with a string and spoke into them, allowing the string to magically transmit the message? Admittedly the tin can walkie-talkie, or tin can telephone as some people may remember it, is pretty LOW-TECH compared to the cell phones we have these days. But it tapped the attraction of a fundamental human … [Read more...]
