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How Small Businesses Can Compete Without Big Data
Almost every day you hear a story about “Big Data” and the incredible predictive analytics that come with it. Target knows you’re pregnant before you do, Amazon knows what you want to buy, and Pizza Hut knows what you like to eat. As forbearing (and incredible) as the pundits make it seem, having mass quantities of predictive data is not a (…)
Why You Keep Falling For Fake News
There is a strange thing that happens anytime we see something published. Intellectually we know, just because it’s published, doesn’t mean it’s true. It just means it’s published. Yet, when we see something published, we start to behave like someone who’s never seen a newsreel before. We’re in a trance. There’s something about being “published” that (…)
Why Your Facebook Rants Feel So Darn Good (But Still Don’t Work)
We were at dinner. There were 6 of us. One of the six is Ann. Ann is the token loose cannon. We all are nice to Ann, but think she’s crazy. She’s a grandmother, very friendly, a little nutty. We’re polite and generally try and ignore her conspiracy theories or neuroticism because, you know, manners. (…)
What Just Happened
At some point last night, we all had that moment. That moment you tell your grandkids about, like where you were when Kennedy was shot or when the first tower was hit. Last night, that moment was, “Oh %^&!, he’s really going to win.” I was on the couch with my husband glued to our (…)
The Surprising Upside of Manipulation
A funny thing happens when you tell people you work in marketing. You become the devil. “So (dramatic pause), you manipulate people for a living?” That’s always a fun conversation starter. (I recommend this debate if you’re bored at your next dinner party. #protip) When I started in marketing, the ethical boundary for me was very (…)
Why We Buy Things We Don’t Need
You know that feeling of standing in your closet filled with clothes, but you have nothing to wear? Most people believe that feeling is the brainchild of evil of branding and marketing experts conspiring to make you addicted to wanting more stuff. Trust me, marketers wish they could dupe you into buying things you don’t want. Heck, I’d (…)
The Real Reason Self-Promotion Sucks
No one likes promoting themselves. It’s awkward, uncomfortable, and makes us all feel like we’re bragging and annoying people. When you start to feel like, “I’m not a salesperson. I’m the subject matter expert. I shouldn’t have to do this. I’m above this.” one of four things happens: You start to explore your paid-ad options (…)
How to Write a Good Customer Survey
“Are you afraid of the impending robot revolution or do you feel completely safe and not at all worried about A.I. technology?” That wasn’t a joke. A real surveyor for a real (and prestigious!) institution asked me this. A pollster called my landline and I agreed to “answer a few brief questions on the economy.” (…)
When You’re Ready to Throw in the Towel
My fiancé was laughing at me. I had just declared my foray into entrepreneurialism a bust and he was laughing. “Who says “throwin’ in the towel’ anyway?” “I do.” “You’re not throwing in the towel.” “Yes, I am. I’m not cut out for this. I was wrong. This was stupid. It’s over.” Laughing. He was (…)
Why Can’t Marketers Just Explain What They Do In a Way That Makes Sense
Why Marketing Is So Confusing (When It Doesn’t Have To Be)