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I’ve recently joined MarketingProfs as Research Director and I’d like to offer some insight to anyone interested in my take on digital media. I have worked in digital media research my whole career, but my father started out as a reporter for Time Magazine back in the 70s and has spent the last 20 years …

Starbucks reported today that their earnings rose to 24 cents a share from 16 cents and bested the expectations analysts who were seeking per-share earnings of 19 cents. What’s at the heart of this positive news for Starbucks? According to the Wall Street Journal article, the profit was “aided by cost cuts.” (Starbucks Swings to …

Dear CMO: I installed an HP K8600 printer in my office this weekend. Having spent a good bit of time working with my partner on a retail experience problem, I realized while I was installing this very complex piece of office machinery that I was staring at the solution right before my eyes. While I …

If you read the last two blog posts on Social Search could it be a Google Killer and When is Amazon go Social, you would begin to get a glimpse of the web in the next 24 months. A very different web that brings your search results based on what your friends clicked on and …

Humility, patience, and generosity are not the virtues we typically associate with corporations, but these are exactly the qualities it takes to be good members of an online community. Or so we found in our recent survey of about 3,000 global IT decision-makers. This week, Toolbox.com and PJA released the fourth wave of our survey …

Executives are fond of iterating well-worn phrases that have become so overused, so trivialized, that they’ve been rendered meaningless. One of my favorites: “Our greatest asset is our employees.” Wish I’d received a quarter every time I’ve heard that one. Having said that, the really smart companies take this very much to heart. Especially in …

The Chipotle restaurant chain just announced that it will sponsor free screenings of the newly released documentary film, Food Inc. Kudos to them. There is something very authentic about allowing your brand to become vulnerable in this way. By inviting its customers to see the ugly truth, Chiptole is walking its talk of a responsible …

I was delighted to be the email advocate on a panel on “Creating an Environment for Viral Marketing Success,” moderated by entrepreneur and author Guy Kawasaki last Thursday. It was a virtual complement to the SmartBrief Buzz2009 event, held in Washington DC with more than 80 association executives. The panel included social media practitioners Brendan …

I am intrigued by Frito-Lay. Having not eaten a Frito for years, I must say that the endeavors of this brand compel me to once again munch a bunch. Two recent activities in particular are brilliant. Yes, of course, for the actions, but most importantly for the intent and motivation that guide their decisions. First; …

Strategic planning helps marketers answer what to sell, who will buy it, and how to beat competitors in the marketplace. However, in today’s volatile and chaotic marketplace, some executives argue that it’s better to “fly by the seat of your pants” and skip forecasting. What happens when strategic planning is locked in the basement? Let’s …