Jake Sorofman

A member of the Gartner Blog Network

Entries Tagged as 'digital marketing'


Building a Content Supply Chain

by Jake Sorofman  |  June 11, 2013  |  3 Comments

Of all the questions I hear on the topic of content marketing (and I hear plenty; content bigger than Elvis* these days), the one I hear most frequently can be approximated as follows: How, in the name of all that is good and pure, do we produce engaging, share-worthy content every single day? I mean, [...]

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When Content Eats Marketing

by Jake Sorofman  |  June 5, 2013  |  1 Comment

In his second act as one of the most successful venture capitalists working today, Web wunderkind Marc Andreessen often talks about the theme that informs his investment decisions: “Software eats the world.” By this he means new ventures that utilize software and Internet technologies to disrupt and transform business models and entire industries—perhaps the way [...]

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The Digital Marketing Hybrid: The Blurring of Agencies and Vendors

by Jake Sorofman  |  May 29, 2013  |  3 Comments

In the world of digital marketing, the distinction between agencies and vendors is blurring. Agencies and technology vendors, once such distinct animals, are now merging. Like a hologram, their shape shifts depending on the angle of view. Why? Because today’s marketers want solutions—not solutions of the tired, self-congratulatory variety so often trumpeted in marketing collateral. [...]

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Great Content is the Great Equalizer

by Jake Sorofman  |  May 21, 2013  |  Comments Off

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 [...]

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What Does Your Brand Stand For?

by Jake Sorofman  |  May 15, 2013  |  Comments Off

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 [...]

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For Digital Marketers, Sometimes It’s About What Not to Do

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 [...]

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Big Data or Big Deal?

by Jake Sorofman  |  May 8, 2013  |  4 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 [...]

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What is Cool? Cool Vendors Challenge Our Thinking

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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Digital Marketers: Afraid of Disruption? Move Up the Stack

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 [...]

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Blah, Blah, Blah: Why Marketers Should Think Visually

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 [...]

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