by Jake Sorofman | May 21, 2013 | Submit a Comment
For many marketing leaders, contemplating the range of digital marketing options can feel like gazing up at the stars. It’s awesome and infinite—at once inspiring and intimidating. You hear this in the voice of so many digital marketers today. They’re fired up by big visions. But they often have more passion than conviction—because, let’s face [...]
Category: digital marketing Tags: digital marketing
by Jake Sorofman | May 15, 2013 | Submit a Comment
It may sound like some sort of high-minded existential question, but I’d argue that it’s the essence of everything you do as a modern marketer. The best marketers can answer it without flinching. They have a clear, unambiguous raison d’être that, as my colleagues Richard Fouts and Jennifer Beck say, resolves the ever-important and perhaps more [...]
Category: digital marketing Tags: digital marketing
by Jake Sorofman | May 10, 2013 | 3 Comments
Earlier this week, I had a conversation with a strategy consultant named Steve Shapiro who wrote a book with an intriguing title: Best Practices Are Stupid. I haven’t read it yet, but I absolutely will. (With a title like that, how could I resist?) It got me thinking about patterns in general and the fact [...]
Category: digital marketing Tags: digital marketing
by Jake Sorofman | May 8, 2013 | 3 Comments
The debate rages on: Big data or big deal? Gartner sees big data maturing rapidly, as indicated by its position on the hype cycle. It’s not dead or dying, by any means, but the dynamics are changing. Perhaps calling it a raging debate is an overstatement. But if you follow this blog, you’ve heard me [...]
Category: digital marketing Tags: digital marketing
by Jake Sorofman | May 3, 2013 | Comments Off
Cool is a tough thing to pin down. It can mean an unconventional twist—or it can mean cultivated conformity. It can mean laser-focused intensity—or a devil-may-care attitude. Fonzie was cool. Williamsburg is cool. So is Detroit. Portland, Seattle, Mini Coopers, iPads. Cool? You be the judge. You’re the judge because cool is a state of [...]
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Category: digital marketing Tags: digital marketing
by Jake Sorofman | April 30, 2013 | 3 Comments
In a recent HBR post, I discussed the rise of the digital CMO—specifically, what digital marketing asks of leadership and what it means for accountability. I signed off with what will be seen as a hopeful call to action or ominous pronouncement, depending on where you sit (organizationally and philosophically): “Disruptions can be swift and [...]
Category: digital marketing Tags: digital marketing
by Jake Sorofman | April 25, 2013 | 3 Comments
I’m an unapologetic word nerd. The rhythm of language—when words are crafted, composed and committed with an artful intent and a conviction to clarity—is one of my true pleasures in life. So, naturally, I was intrigued by Dan Roam’s case against words in Blah Blah Blah, his treatise on the power of visual communication. Roam’s [...]
Category: digital marketing Tags: digital marketing
by Jake Sorofman | April 23, 2013 | Comments Off
Ever hear a song or jingle that you simply can’t get out of your head? It’s called an earworm and it’s an insidious contagion that has driven us all to distraction from time to time. Examples? A recent Atlantic article offers a list of the all-time stickiest pop songs: – “Single Ladies” – Beyoncé – [...]
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Category: digital marketing Tags: digital marketing, digitalmarketing
by Jake Sorofman | April 18, 2013 | Comments Off
One of the greatest challenges to any content marketing program is feeding a replenishing supply of interesting content—which depends on feeding your brain with a replenishing supply of inspiration. But how do you keep the fire burning day after day? You need to use your muse—find the tricks that help you trigger inspiration. Here are [...]
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Category: digital marketing Tags: digital marketing
by Jake Sorofman | April 12, 2013 | 42 Comments
OK, don’t forget big data—it’s a big deal. But, these days, content may be giving data a run for its money. Why? Because, as I’ve said before, content is the grist for the social marketing mill. Without compelling, insightful, inspiring content, social engagement simply fails to happen. Also, while big data may be the intelligence [...]
Category: digital marketing Tags: digital marketing
