Are You Treating Your Fans Like Cattle

Email ain’t dead yet. When they wake up, 59% of consumers check their email account before anything else online, according to new research from ExactTarget (disclosure: client), in a sweeping survey of 400+ Americans. (play with the data in the super cool interactive tool below) This correlates well with a similar, but far less statistically […]

Cognitive Surplus – Use Social Connectivity to Change the World

My TIVO hates Clay Shirky. In his piercing new book Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age Shirky asserts that the technological revolution has enabled us to work together to conquer challenges big and small, if we’d just watch less TV and commit to participating in something other than our own mental decay. […]

Why You Should Use a Content Rationale Report

Little is the new big. On today’s Web, buying decisions are influenced less by the grand, sweeping programs that take old marketing and put a fresh coat of social paint on them. On today’s Web, buying decisions are influenced more by specific, hyper-relevant pieces of content that your brand creates to get in front of […]

3 Ways Infomercials Can Inspire Your Social Media

I know, I know. You’re thinking that I’m crazy. But, I’m not. I’ve been in marketing or advertising (online or otherwise) for 20 years. I’ve been thinking lately about why I got involved in social media. What was the attraction? I’ve realized it’s THE TRUTH. That’s something sorely missing from a lot of traditional advertising, […]

Crowdsourcing: Beyond the Basics

Guest post by Clinton Bonner, Director of Sales at Chaordix, specializing in the technology and services of managed crowds for open innovation and social research. What is the next generation of crowdsourcing? Crowdsourcing is evolving beyond the shiny contest model (Doritos’ “Crash the Super Bowl”) and into something more meaningful to the brands embracing it […]

Why You’re the Key to Social Media Success

The biggest obstacle standing in the way of companies’ embrace of social media isn’t the tools, or measurement confusion, or even being able to make the time to do it day-to-day. The biggest obstacle is corporate culture. New research from White Horse of 104 companies found that in 86% of companies, executives are not using […]

Is Your Twitter Addiction Paying Off

Twitter can suck you in to a vortex of counter-productivity like one bite of that KFC Double Down sandwich. I love the Twitter culture and community, and I spend quite a bit of time using Twitter. It also continues to be a reliable conduit for new visitors here at Convince & Convert. Maybe you found […]

Driving Sales with Relevancy and Utility

Guest post by Jeff Molander, professor of digital marketing at Loyola University’s School of Business, public speaker and author of a forthcoming book aimed at improving digital marketing results. Find him at jeffmolander.com In this economy need is the new want. And exceptional businesses are realizing tangible, meaningful outcomes using social media & mobile marketing. […]

4 Detective Tricks to Find Your Customers in Social Media

For many companies, the conversation has shifted from “why” or “should” we do social media, to “where” and “how” social media should be done. A major component of answering those questions effectively is understanding in which social outposts your customers are concentrated. Because there really is no benefit in beating your customers to the punch. […]

It’s Time for Real-Time

When I was a kid, I set a few goals: Having a laundry chute (I’m easily amused) Having a pool table Owning my own company Learning to play guitar Writing a book The first three I got handled pretty easily. Turns out, I’m totally non-musical, so that guitar thing is going to be tough. But, […]

Are You Ready for the Opportunity Economy?

Sure, the speed and always-on nature of the real-time Web makes it a daunting and challenging environment. A single tweet, YouTube video, or blog post can be the spark that sets off a firestorm of controversy. But while companies are rightly trying to get their heads around the concept that every customer is now a […]

Delivering Happiness Delivers Indeed

Yes, nice guys can finish first. This is the overarching theme of Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s new book Delivering Happiness, a Path to Passion, Profits, and Purpose. Released today (I was given a free, preview copy), Delivering Happiness chronicles the rise of Zappos from a half-baked notion to multi-billion dollar pinnacle of high touch customer […]

What BP Can Learn from Umpire Jim Joyce

jim joyce

We don’t ask for much, really. We may be the least vindictive, grudge-holding society ever. For the most part, we’ve forgiven Tyson, Clinton, Nixon (my father-in-law is still a hater), Tylenol and about 63,157 other transgressions. We’ll forgive Roger Clemens. We’ll be okay eventually with Mel Gibson. Same thing with Marion Jones. And Tiger. But […]

Making Boring Things Sexy – the Wufoo Way

Guest post by Jason Amunwa, who is a marketing consultant and designer at JaffyDesigns in San Diego, CA. He writes for marketing blog The Zest, loves talking digital marketing strategy and is suspicious of helicopters. About a week ago, I was hungrily feasting on Jay’s post about why info is only boring if we make […]

Do You “Like” How I Look In These Jeans?

Like Button

Is the interconnected Web bringing us together, or making us all distracted voyeurs? Apparel company Diesel – who’s aggressive marketing is consistently noteworthy – has rolled out perhaps the first-ever integration of Facebook “likes” in a dressing room…. Diesel boutiques in Spain now come equipped with the Diesel Cam, where shoppers can try on garments […]