Blog

YouTube Kings & Queens Dethroned

Can the kings and queens of YouTube become dethroned?  Sure!  It happens all the time!  Hot today…  Gone tomorrow!

When I did the original research for the first edition of my bestseller “The Social Media Bible”, back in 2007, I interviewed George Strompolos, Content Partnerships Manager for YouTube (1 of 50 interviews), he was astonished that a 14 year old kid from Nebraska could earn as he put it “7-figures” from PPC ads by sounding like a chipmunk. (more…)

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Fake News Spreads Faster Than An STD

Ok..  I am sure that you heard that…  Paul McCartney died!  Right?

Back in November of 1966, “Paul McCartney is Dead” became an urban legend and conspiracy theory alleging that Paul McCartney, of the Beatles, died in a car crash and was secretly replaced by a look-alike.  All the clues were right there on their album covers and in their song “I Am The Walrus”.  Every Baby Boomer alive remembers that hoax. (more…)

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Baby Yoda Out-Trends Washington

Baby Yoda…  What can I say?

I think again, we are discussing the symptoms of the human condition.  Back when the Cabbage Patch doll craze arrived in 1983, we all believed that materialism had reached a new high, but people were just becoming fatigued by continuous waves of new electronics. (more…)

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Branding Innovation – Follow Up

Because of the overwhelming response I received on the original Branding Innovation article about not providing “best-in-class” examples, here’s how existing major corporations communicate their brand messages in an innovative fashion.  These are several of the most acclaimed examples from this year.

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Facebook Shores Up Its Position on Fake News Front

https://www.technewsworld.com/story/Facebook-Shores-Up-Its-Position-on-Fake-News-Front-85410.html

Facebook Shores Up Its Position on Fake News Front

By Peter Suciu 

Facebook on Thursday announced new tactics to reduce the spread of fake news. Its efforts will include combining technology with human reviewers to identify and remove fake accounts; partnering with fact-checkers; and promoting news literacy.

Facebook will expand its fact-checking programs to new countries, scrutinize photos and videos more closely, and increase the impact of fact-checking through new techniques that could include identifying duplicates and using Claim Review.

It will monitor repeat offenders more closely and take actions as necessary. It will undertake new efforts to improve measurement techniques, and partner with academies to provide greater transparency. (more…)

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Organic Innovation

In this article, I am going to make you look at innovation as if it were a living organism. From the very moment of its conception, inspiration, innovation, thought, idea, and invention each takes on a life of their own. This concept is out there, radical, and unusual, but if you want to think with a higher level of innovation, you have to change the way you think.

To that end, I wanted to share this idea, concept, or new life form with you in the hopes that you will become infected by it and help it spread, reproduce, and flourish. (more…)

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Are Gift Cards A Scam?

Are Gift Cards A Scam?

Do you like sending gift cards?  Do you like to receive them?  More so, do you like spending them?  I love amazing (and Amazon) gift cards!  So, does everyone else!

Last year, Americans spent $146 billion on gift cards, which represented nearly 5% of ALL retail spending in the U.S.  There was an estimated $26 billion spent on gift cards just during the last year holiday season alone. American shoppers spent an average of $153.08 on gift cards.

In a recent survey, 93% of Americans surveyed said they have given a gift card.  Why, because it’s easy for the giver and the getter can get whatever they want.  No more ugly knitted sweaters from grandma, Disney branded Snuggies, Christmas ties, or something with the name George Foreman on it.  What I am saying is, “no more returns”.  We no longer have to celebrate “National Returns Day:” or as the Brits call it, “Boxing Day”.  We get exactly what we want and someone delivers it to our door. (more…)

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Historical Interview eBook

 

This is where you can get your free historical Interview eBook,

“The Sparks That Ignited The World”!

My way of saying thank you for 10 years of support!

Can you believe that social media has been around for more than 10 years now?

Help me celebrate social media’s 10th+ anniversary by downloading your copy of insights from the people who changed the world!


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The Process of Innovative Thinking

The Process of Innovative Thinking

By Lon S. Safko. Article is provided courtesy of Financial Times Prentice Hall (Pearson Publishing)

Innovative Thinking is very popular right now—and for good reason. Corporate America is beginning to realize the importance of Innovative Thinking and how it allows us to be leaders in world technology by being more creative and competitive. Innovative thinking is what enabled companies such as Honda, Toyota, and Nissan to take huge market share from industry leaders such as General Motors and Ford, who somehow lost their capability to innovate (while most U.S. automobiles were made by hand, the Japanese employed robots). While U.S. autos were getting 16 miles per gallon (MPG), the Japanese autos were getting as high as 30 MPG. Their cars were efficient, inexpensive, and reliable. Even today the Japanese continue to surprise us with innovation: check out the Lexus LS 460, which parallel parks itself.

Innovative Thinking is about more than retaining or growing market share; it’s about creating new products and services, discovering new markets for existing products and services, and improving existing products and services, which all result in greater revenues. Innovative Thinking isn’t limited to the tangible; it can be applied to systemic issues, human resources, product delivery, market channels, sales, marketing, public relations, finance, ecommerce, web design, and even advertising. (more…)

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You May Just Be In The Dark About Generational Behavior

You May Just Be In The Dark About Generational Behavior

Can you define the following major generational marketing categories: 13th Generation, Me Generation, Echo Boomers, Chief Friendship Officers, Selfie Generation, Radio Babies, Baby Busters, Tweennials , and DINKs?

If not, then you may just be in the dark about generational marketing behavior.  THis should really help you and please remember to share tis with others. (more…)

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