Did you know that 70% of customers say they would rather learn about a company through articles rather than advertisements? This is particularly important in the B2B world of organizations that are offering their services as products. Purchases that range from hundreds to thousands of dollars are not going to be made after two visits to your website. The savvy …
The Marketing Communications Audit: Content Marketing Step 2
What is it that a sports coach and her/his team are looking for when they review past game tapes of next week’s opposing team? At first glance, that could seem like an incredible waste of time! The answer is holes. They’re looking for holes—holes in the opponent’s offense, holes in their defense. Where are the gaps, what are the weaknesses, …
Content Marketing Step 1: Know Your Audience
Know your audience. Having pulled together four weddings in the last three years, please understand that I’m still in recovery mode. So the best analogy I can come up with about knowing your audience is related to wedding analogies. When you’re putting together your guest list, travel arrangements and seating at the reception you have to take all kinds of …
Content Marketing: What Is It?
Marketing Overview Summary First there was Integrated Marketing. Then there was Direct Marketing. Then Online Marketing, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing and now Content Marketing. With all these marketing buzz words, one can easily become confused. (Apologies if I missed a few 🙂 ) What’s the difference? Is there a difference? Interestingly, there can be quite …
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Millennials: The Economic Engine of the Future
The wedding is just over 5 weeks away. After marrying 3 sons off in the last three years, I FINALLY get to play the role “Mother-of-the-Bride!” As the parent of 5 millennials, it’s easy to identify with the stereotypes of this younger generation as entitled, spoiled and non-committal. Wedding planning is a great microcosm to see these characteristics at their …
Gen Y: Retention and Loyalty
Our daughter was recognized as an Outstanding Scholar recently at her university and I was truly touched with the intimacy of the ceremony and recognition given to each student. But what blew me away was the tribute to the educators and influencers that helped motivate each student to achieve such a high level of excellence. As an educator myself, I …
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Association Membership: Keeping Gen Y Motivated and Engaged
“The challenge inherent in keeping Gen Y engaged is that we’re easily distracted, we want to see progress from our daily efforts, and have a high need to stay in touch with those leading us.” ~ (p. 108) Translation for Associations: GenY needs to know OFTEN why being a part of your association matters. They need to see measureable …
Associations, Are You Talking to Me?
I’ve been waiting to see if some of the associations that I’m interested in would reach out to me first. Why? I’d rather spend the money on a weekend get away or dinner at my favorite restaurant, unless you can convince me of the value of membership in your association. I love to read posts by XYZ University’s Shannon Neeser. …
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Y-Size: Getting Gen Y to Work For You (And Stay a While)
I am always updating my resume. When I look at it, I think, “Wow! Either I have no sense of loyalty to some of these companies, or I am a jack of all trades!” In fact, I have 2 resumes. One is for teaching and performing dance, while the other is for social media marketing. As a member of …
Digital Marketing: 3 Things Dave Matthews Band Can Teach Us
Tuesday, December 18th was a big day for me. I turned 25, attended AMADC’s panel discussion on digital marketing for non-profits, and topped the evening off with the Dave Matthews Band (DMB) concert at first Mariner Arena inBaltimore. I’m a huge DMB fan. Every time the band comes around the area, I make a point to attend his concerts. I …