- What You Can Learn From Starbucks' MistakesMarketing Inspiration
Comedians used to make jokes about cities with a Starbucks on every corner. It seemed ridiculous at first, but we've gotten so used to their ubiquity that the closure of...
- Feel the Brand LoveCustomer Behavior
Launching new products can be an attractive growth strategy. Many companies see brand extensions as a lucrative way to increase revenue and build their customer base. Thus, marketers take a...
- Employees Say the Darndest ThingsSmall Business
You've heard about companies that block access to social media sites like YouTube and Facebook, a decision grounded in the belief that employees will waste time or—worse—leak proprietary information. But...
- Wine Enthusiast, Sans CheeseSmall Business
Marketing isn't a one-size-fits-all proposition, and Brian Clark of Copyblogger makes the case for being true to your brand in a post about Gary Vaynerchuk and his online show Wine...
- Shameless Marketing StuntMarketing Inspiration
No one looks forward to the Walk of Shame—that early morning journey back to your place after a one-night stand. In most cases, you're wearing the same clothes from the...
- Inspiration from the Swat TeamMarketing Inspiration
In the South, where it starts to feel like summer in April and the heat doesn't abate until November, flyswatters are indispensable. They don't, however, get much branding love from...
- Come Sell With MeB2B Marketing
What's a solid marketing strategy to initiate during the downturn? Expand overseas!
According to Jeremy Quittner, there's no time like the dismal present to explore—and enter—B2B international markets. His recent BusinessWeek...
- Do You Have a Wienie?Marketing Inspiration
In a post at the Hear 2.0 blog, Mark Ramsey tells a story about the "Carousel of Progress" built by Walt Disney and his imagineers for the 1964 World's Fair....
- Product Upgrades: Who Buys?Customer Behavior
Advertising has to appeal to a wide range of consumer types. That's why marketers adopt so many different strategies for different audiences: consumers vary in what motivates them. Now, some researchers...
- Do You Really Want a Logo That Only Costs $100?Small Business
In a post at his blog, David Airey discusses the strange phenomenon of companies that think they can get a great logo on the cheap. Among the not-unusual postings he...
- Being Green: It Ain't EasySmall Business
In a blog post, Beth Ziesenis recalls working at a Colorado dude ranch, and being asked to put placards in guest rooms urging water conservation. They were intended to save...
- Be a Shape-ShifterCustomer Behavior
Did you ever notice how many products or packages are rectangular? Think tissue box. Think cereal box. Think books. Think paper bags! The list is endless.
Apparently, there's a good...
- Laugh 'Til You CryMarketing Inspiration
The U.S. Campaign for Burma has attracted a wide range of talent for PSAs protesting the country's oppressive military dictatorship. Many of its videos—say those from Sarah Silverman and Jason...
- What Will You Do if Your Brand Gets Jacked?Marketing Inspiration
In a post at his blog, Jeremiah Owyang discusses the case of artist Nadia Plesner, who produced a t-shirt depicting an impoverished child holding a Louis Vuitton bag and a...
- Looking Good, Fancy FaceCustomer Behavior
OK, we're a shallow society. We admit it. Image does matter. And now, researchers are showing that even the typeface you choose for your ads can affect a consumer's experience and behavior....
- Branding Tips from the Queen of BurlesqueMarketing Inspiration
Though she might be better known for her marriage to rocker Marilyn Manson and her ubiquitous appearance on best-dressed lists, Dita von Teese has been a driving force in the...
- This Ain't Your Dad's Corporate BlogB2B Marketing
Everybody's doing it, but you've held back. Frankly, you're afraid you just don't have enough to say to do a company blog. Congratulations! You've taken the first step toward forming...
- Baby Steps to Blogging SuperstardomSmall Business
In a recent post at his blog, Seth Godin explains how you can use a blogger's sensibility to improve your other writing—from ad copy to thank-you notes. But the post also...
- Don't Be a TwitMarketing Inspiration
If you've embraced Web 2.0, you're probably using Twitter, a networking service that broadcasts messages of up to 140 characters through a variety of channels. As with any new form...
- A Case of GeniusSmall Business
"Case Studies are the marketing version of Aesop's Fables," says Drew McLellan. "Stories told to make a point or teach a lesson that demonstrates the value of your product or...