Do you remember when email was invented? don’t have any specific memory of the day it turned up, like magic, on my computer at work, but I am fairly certain it was a matter of minutes before I joined every other marketer on the planet getting very excited about the possibilities of the medium. probably spent hours constructing presentations about the new age of customer conversations, the inevitability of one-to-one marketing and, naturally, the immense efficiencies of this incredible new relationship tool. But is it quite time to pasture this old plough horse? don’t think so. m not picky. MORE >>

Just back from my first two trade shows of the season, and I am sad. It would seem, dear friends, that despite our resolve to not suck at these things, we just can’t seem to get it right. Last year we saw Angry Birds staffing booths, coffee cups greeting visitors and  what happens when you let marketing people do what they do best, which is not selling. Let’s say it together: trade show booths are very, very, expensive inside sales calls that happen to have nicer carpet than your office. So why is there so little selling? think we need to apply a new, simpler standard. Exactly. And MORE >>

Oh, goody. My LinkedIn connection, Diana, just endorsed my skills in marketing strategy. Yesterday Sylvie gave me a thumbs-up on my team-building expertise, and last week Martin endorsed me as the corporate communications guru I imagine myself to be.  Self-esteem is running high, which means self-doubt can’t be far away. An interesting side-note is that Martin invariably endorses me a day or so after we disagree about something in a board meeting. Is an endorsement the social media equivalent of an apology or an offering? This profile is surely someone else’s. We need some rigour, here folks. MORE >>

Last week we talked about how to rock your trade shows. This week let’s follow that up with a glimpse into trade show stupidity with some stuff that just shouldn’t happen, but sadly does (and I have proof). Let’s look at this booth. It’s a 20 by 20. That’s a lot of real estate for this poor guy to cover. No wonder he needs a rest at 10am. Plus it’s soooo boring. There’s nobody in the booth. What a huge waste of time that must be. The other booths are busy, but not this one. Must be the marketing department’s lame booth design. Violation: Rule Four – Send the right people. Must be the carpeting. MORE >>

Last week we looked at how tiny lapses in proofreading can do nasty things to a brand. Just in case this is a problem of not knowing how to proofread, as opposed to a problem of not caring about it, I offer my tips to get your stuff proofed before people like me are bored enough at a conference to check the spelling on the signage. In general, if you can get someone else to do it, that’s better. First, you can do much more interesting things like pick the new golf shirts for the swag cupboard and second, you can make them sing the I-Am-Very-Very-Sorry Song if they miss something. Next stop…. MORE >>