The listener needs to know—within the first couple of lines of dialogue—who is talking, where they are, and why they're having this conversation. No small task—but there are tricks! more

B2B marketers are moving away from traditional marketing tactics toward online content marketing: 82% now use content marketing in their programs, making it more popular than search marketing (70%), events (68%), and public relations (64%), according to a report by HiveFire. more

"You know content marketing can do big things for your brand," writes Corey O'Loughlin at MarketingProfs' Daily Fix blog. "The only problem is: The powers that be may not know enough about content." How do you persuade the C-suite about content marketing's value to your SEO efforts? You'll need a solid ... more

Marketing professionals have mixed opinions on the state of branding today: 58% of those surveyed say "we're in a time of revolutionary change when it comes to how powerful brands are created," whereas 42% express the opposite viewpoint, saying "the fundamentals haven't changed at all," according to a report by ... more

There's a good chance you've gotten email with the phrase "bad news" in the subject line.  "It has been used by a number of Internet marketers to increase response rates, notably during product launches, often achieving particularly high response rates," writes Danny Iny at the AWeber blog. Why does a "bad news" ... more

ARRRRGH! Few things are more painful to listen to than bad dialogue. How can you go about writing good dialogue? Fire up the video, and we'll get started. more

If you don't optimize your blog—or other online content—there's a good chance you're missing out on higher search-engine rankings that could extend your reach well beyond your site's current readership. But take heart: Sometimes all you need are a few tweaks here and there. "A little attention to this area ... more

Science tells us that the brain's two hemispheres process information quite differently. Knowing that, we can shape our writing to appeal to either the left brain or the right brain. But which should you appeal to? more

Although Google remains the search engine of choice for most customers, you can't ignore the importance of optimizing for Bing—which currently powers nearly a third of all stateside searches. And at the Bing Community's Webmaster Center blog, Duane Forrester provides insight into Bing's SEO preferences. "[There] are a few items we love to ... more

Dan Zarella's "Science of Social Media" Webinar inspired a recent post by Facundo Villaveiran at Channelship's Video Blog about the known "truths" of "winning" at social media—and the realities that may or may not match them. Below are a few of Zarella's insights about how some anti-engagement tactics might actually get ... more

If you sell a B2B product or service, your email strategy should include plenty of nurture. "A great lead nurturing program can have a dramatic impact on an organization's bottom line," writes Megan Leap at the Daily Fix blog. "But so few B2B marketers actually get it right." So, what ... more

You've finished the script. It's great. It's funny. It's the kind of writing that gets attention and wins awards. You send it to the client. Think it'll come back unscathed? Maybe... IF you follow this tip. more

Though overall global marketing budgets in the tech sector are increasing 3.5% in 2011, they are not keeping pace with annual revenues in the sector, which are expected to grow 6.5% over 2010 levels, according to a report by IDC. more

"In the United States, the franchise industry accounts for almost 40% of all retail sales," writes Dedric Polite at the HubSpot blog. "Unfortunately, many franchise companies with large networks of franchisees spread throughout the country are not taking advantage of on-page search-engine optimization best practices." To help change that picture, Polite ... more

It's the Foursquare age—a time of badges and free drinks for the Mayor. We've discussed the importance of integrating game mechanics at your site, but to do that well, it might help to know how the game industry stays innovative. We enjoyed The Guardian's future-forward takeaways for game developers from the recent Develop ... more

Observing that the typical short (<25 word) marketing message produces almost nothing of value, Adele Revella has set herself to correcting this grave error. According to Revella, the typical business product is a multi-tasker with a long list of features and benefits, meaning we have to get its key merits out ... more

You and two friends have spent the last three hours climbing up the edge of a giant pizza crust. Finally reaching the top, you look out over the vast plain of pepperoni and green peppers. The aroma causes you to lose your balance and tumble down into a pool of ... more

When email subscribers share and discuss your content with friends and social networks, they start to sound like insiders. "Others will want to be insiders, too," says Stephanie Miller at MarketingProfs' Daily Fix blog. As a result, your list will grow—and so will your reach. "Customer-instigated sharing acts as a ... more

"Every brand wants a cadre of evangelists who can help sway millions of readers with product reviews, blog posts, videos, tweets, etc.," write the Ivy Worldwide team in an article at MarketingProfs, "but the only way to do that is to allow influencers to make up their own minds, post ... more

Busy marketers like you don't have time to create content. Considering all the campaigns going on, how could you? But content marketing doesn't have to be an intensive, all-consuming task if you start with small steps. more

Penetration levels of microblogging and social networking continue to grow worldwide, driven by increased adoption in emerging countries; but as the Web has evolved, Internet users have moved toward consuming and transmitting content rather than producing it themselves, according to Wave 5 of the GlobalWebIndex by Trendstream. more

If the only thing consistent about your radio spots is that they always sound different, you may have a problem. If you're aiming for a brand sound, you'll never hit your mark if you constantly change elements. more

"Have you noticed spelling errors on the websites of major, legitimate retailers and/or service providers?" asks Julia Rubiner in the Editorial Emergency newsletter. "The answer is almost certainly 'no.'" Large corporations set a high bar for the rest of us: A single error looks sloppy and unprofessional to visitors, who ... more

You're driving. Through Iowa. Endless fields of corn. Row after row of stalks the same size, the same height, the same color. That, actually, is much like a drive through radio advertising. How can you hope to stand out? more

"People have limited attention to spare," writes Mark Brownlow at Email Marketing Reports. "They focus on those messages perceived as deserving that attention: messages that are clearly important, personal or something they want and expect." There are, however, a number of barriers that stand between your email campaigns and your subscribers' ... more