— INSIGHTS
Agency Insights + Perspectives
Agency perspectives, marketing insights and inspiration for businesses who want to connect and understand the digital economy and grow their brands in impactful ways.
2021: A Digital Marketing Year In Review
After the omg-what-now scrambles of a locked-down 2020, marketers found a firmer footing in the gotta-go-digital world of 2021. Unsurprisingly, e-commerce thrived while many street-front stores barely survived. Digital buyers currently top 2.2 billion – well over a quarter of the global population of 7.7 billion people ...
What You Need To Know About Imminent US Data Privacy Laws and How They Will Impact Your Business
When it comes to consumer rights and data privacy, the USA has struggled to keep pace with the rest of the world. In contrast to Europe’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), which came into effect in 2018, soon followed by Brazil’s LGPD and South Africa’s POPI, this ...
Facebook Targets Small Businesses with New Conversational Ads
Interacting with potential customers through automated chats opens up a whole new world of opportunities for small businesses. No matter whether it’s a Click-to-Messenger ad or a Sponsored Message, these virtual conversations range from product recommendations to harvesting email addresses. Here’s how they work: Click-to-Messenger ...
Important Tips For Boosting Holiday Sales
The holidays are here! And that means that sales will be soaring as 2021 draws to a close. So here are a few hot tips on how to keep up with digital marketing trends in an (almost) post-pandemic world. From early-bird Black Friday offers starting mid-November through ...
B2B Content Strategy, and how to execute it to boost sales.
Marketing to businesses is like a marathon, planned for the longer term. That’s why B2B content strategies are very different from briefer campaigns reaching out to end-consumers through fast marketing sprints. Managers are busy people with looming performance targets, coping with endless demands on their time and ...
MarTech Trends for 2022
Marketing technology – aka MarTech – has come a long way from the random email shots that clogged the world’s inboxes and drove users crazy during the 1990s. Today, digital marketing tools pinpoint their targets with amazing accuracy, in terms of topics and timing. Thanks to state-of-the-art ...
Does Content Syndication Really Boost Exposure?
Content marketing is tricky and necessary. It's an important component of your digital marketing strategy, but to do make it effective, it can take a considerable amount of time to create content that actually drives traffic back to your brand. And what's worse, we all know that ...
Marketing Objectives and How to Set Them
Clearly defined and easily measurable, effective digital marketing objectives are signposts guiding companies through the economic minefields of global markets. When they can see where they are going, and how well they are progressing, teams are more motivated to battle through tough times and seek out alternative ...
The Death of The Cookie: Reaching Customers In The Age of Privacy.
All over the world, consumers are demanding better protection from their governments, with regulators introducing new consumer privacy and data protection laws. This means that businesses are having to restructure their approaches to customer data. Global Demands for Privacy Since Europe’s General Data Protection Regulations ...
Diversify for Survival: Facebook Outage Shakes Up Small Businesses
Trapped in digital amber for eight hours, users all over the world were shocked when the Facebook app family went off the air on October 4. In a shocking demonstration of its power over the online economy, millions of transactions were suddenly suspended in cyberspace. This mega-outage ...
Will Apple Kill Email Marketing Metrics?
If your business is heavily invested in email marketing, then you'll want to read this to understand a big change happening now, thanks to Apple. Scheduled for introduction with their Fall 2021 software updates, a massive ground shift is about to shake up the email marketing world. ...
Bumping up Business through Website Conversion Strategies
Conversions come in all shapes and sizes, from micro (following you on social media) to macro (making a sale). Intermediate steps include signing up for a newsletter or booking a demo – and all of them are valuable parts of your website conversion strategies. A well-designed website ...
Bricks-and-Clicks: A New Retail Battlefield?
For decades, the online retail sector has been driven by books and music, personal electronics, and home appliances, together with footwear, clothing, and sports gear. However, digital marketers and their clients are still trying to decide whether decisions to buy are made initially at physical outlets, or ...
TikTok Pilots In-App Shopping Feature
Image Credits: Shopify x TikTok Riding the crest of the online buying surge, video-sharing platform TikTok is expanding its year-old e-shopping partnership with Canada’s Shopify e-commerce platform. As 2021 draws to a close, TikTok Shopping is running a pilot test among selected Shopify merchants in the US, the ...
Pot Goes Pioneer: Weed Marketing Breaks Fresh Ground
It’s a unique dilemma: how does an industry worth US$ 17.5 billion survive – and even thrive – without online advertising? This is the situation faced by the cannabis segment in the USA, where the stigma of pot still casts a long shadow. Some companies are surviving ...
— INSIGHTS
Agency Insights + Perspectives
Agency perspectives, marketing insights, and inspiration for businesses who want to connect and understand the digital economy and grow their brands in impactful ways.
Banning TikTok: The Collision of Geopolitics and Everyday Life
Understand the full story behind TikTok's U.S. controversy. Explore its national security risks, cultural impact, and implications for creators, small businesses, and the future of social media. Prepare for a world without TikTok.
The Evolving Role of CMOs: What I’m Expecting in 2025
What does leading as a CMO in 2025 take? In this article, I dive into the challenges and opportunities of modern marketing leadership, offering a bold vision for the future of strategy, creativity, and accountability.
From Automation to Ideation: AI’s Better Role in Your Business
Move beyond automation and generative tasks to unlock AI’s full potential in strategic ideation, decision-making, and innovative growth with actionable tips and thought-provoking questions.
My 2025 Marketing Playbook
Explore actionable marketing strategies for startups in 2025, including expected trends and step-by-step tips to implement them effectively. Stay ahead of the competition with this comprehensive guide.
The Not-So-Secret to Startup Success in 2025? Content, Content, Content
Content marketing reigns supreme for startups in 2024. Learn how cost-effective strategies, enabled by tech, drive inbound growth with examples from real estate, hospitality, and B2B industries.
Why Your Business Needs a Fractional CMO in 2025
A fractional CMO combines strategic leadership, flexibility, and execution to drive growth in real estate, startups, SaaS, B2B, and hospitality industries without the cost of a full-time hire.
— KEEP READING
More articles and valuable reads from our team of digital experts.
Bad Marketing Ideas: How to Spot Them Early and Let Them go faster.
Not every campaign is a winner. Learn how to spot when a marketing idea is doomed, avoid wasting resources, and pivot effectively without falling into the sunk cost trap.
Startup Growth: Skip the Influencers, Book the Podcasts.
Forget traditional ads and outdated influencers—podcasts are the new frontier for startups to reach massive, engaged audiences. Learn how earned media on podcasts can transform your marketing strategy."
Rewriting Startup Growth: Retention First, Acquisition Second.
Discover why customer retention is more cost effective than acquisition and learn actionable strategies to build loyalty, boost repeat business, and grow your startup sustainably
Budget-Friendly Content Marketing: Strategies That Stretch Every Dollar
Struggling with a tight content marketing budget? Discover five data-backed strategies to maximize every dollar and deliver impactful content without breaking the bank.
Coasting Isn’t a Skill: When Startup Slackers Sink the Ship
Being a team player in startups is essential, but what happens when helping out turns into doing someone else’s job, too? This article explores the fine line between supporting your team and the growing resentment when slackers tip the balance into burnout and frustration.
Content Reimagined: Elevate Your Blog Beyond Just SEO-Driven Posts
Discover how to reboot your blog into a dynamic content hub that resonates with real people. This 1500-word guide will show marketers and startups how to craft blogs that go beyond SEO, fostering trust, authority, and engagement.
The War-Time CEO Mindset: How to Lead When the Stakes Are Highest
Building a startup from the ground up is the quintessential journey of a visionary founder. Those early days are fueled by passion, innovation, and the desire to change the world. Founders ...
Should Startups Still “Move Fast and Break Things” in 2024?
Explore the relevance of the "Move fast and break things" motto in today’s tech world. As user expectations rise and competition increases, should startups still prioritize speed over quality?
The Short-Term Trap: How Poor Marketing Hurts Your Brand and the Long-Term Path to Success
In the high-demand, fast-paced marketing world, there's a persistent temptation to focus on immediate results. Whether it's driving conversions, increasing clicks, or boosting short-term sales, the pressure to show quick wins ...
The Build Trap Explained: Why Your Startup Needs to Focus on Value, Not Features
Is your startup stuck in the Build Trap? Learn how to shift from endless feature development to delivering real customer value. Discover strategies to break free from feature overload and focus on long-term growth.
Distraction or Opportunity? Navigating Startup Growth In Presidential Election Years
Explore how presidential election years affect startup growth, funding, customer acquisition, and consumer behavior, and discover strategies to navigate the challenges of a polarized political environment.
How to Lose a Customer in 20 Slides or More.
The ability to communicate effectively and efficiently is paramount in both sales and marketing. Yet, many leaders, particularly CEOs and founders, fall into the trap of overloading their presentations, pitch decks, ...
Beautiful, Broken, and Unusable: The Tale of Neglecting UX & Product Management.
Discover why relying solely on a UI designer and an engineer to build a product often leads to failure. Explore the importance of incorporating UX professionals and product managers to avoid costly redesigns and enhance user experience, illustrated by real-world examples like Snapchat, Google Glass, and the failed Humane AI Pin.
Profit vs. Principle: The Dilemma of Corporate Social Responsibility
This article explores the complex debate over whether brands should take a public stance on political and social issues, examining the risks, rewards, and real-world examples from the past twenty years.
Rethinking B2B Marketing: Five Strategies for Modern Success
Five cornerstones of modern B2B marketing that will help your business navigate a changing landscape. Learn how to balance trust and sales, enhance human interaction, maintain consistent messaging, go beyond intent, and prioritize relevance over personalization for sustained growth and success.
Review Wars: The Battle for Five Stars and the Death of Honesty
Discover the truth about the broken internet review system, where businesses and consumers alike abuse the process. Explore real-life examples, the consequences of manipulation, and potential solutions to restore honesty and transparency. Join the conversation on how to fix online reviews.
Winning Gen Z: What Marketers Need to Know About This Influential Generation
Explore the challenges and opportunities of marketing to Gen Z. Learn about their values, preferences, and behaviors, and discover effective strategies to engage this influential generation. From authenticity to digital innovation, find out what resonates with Gen Z and how to win their loyalty.
The High Cost of Neglecting Process & Discipline in Your Startup
Discover the critical importance of creating and following process in startups to prevent chaos, budget overruns, missed deadlines, and other detrimental issues. Learn why discipline in process adherence is essential for success and growth.
Building a Strong Marketing Foundation for Startups with Limited Resources
Discover effective strategies for building a strong marketing foundation for startups with limited resources. Learn how to leverage digital marketing, affordable tools, partnerships, and community engagement to achieve your marketing goals.
Strategic Planning for Startups: Balancing Budgets and High Expectations
Learn how startups can effectively balance budgets and expectations through strategic planning, prioritizing investments, lean practices, and effective communication. Discover practical tips for managing financial constraints while driving growth and building stakeholder trust.
The Disconnect: Why Seasoned Executives Often Struggle as Startup Founders
Explore why seasoned corporate executives often struggle as startup founders. Learn about the differences in resources, decision-making, and execution, and discover real-world examples of why this transition is not always successful.
Innovate Your Startup: Embrace First Principles Thinking
Without question, startups are chaotic by nature, and making sound decisions is crucial for success. Yet, many entrepreneurs and founders find themselves trapped in conventional thinking, relying on analogies and existing ...
OKRs vs. KPIs: How to Measure What Matters
This comprehensive guide explores the key differences between OKRs and KPIs and how each framework can drive startup success. It provides unique characteristics, examples, and strategic benefits.
Stop Stalling: The Importance of Efficient Decision-Making in Startups
Explore the vital importance of clear, concise, and analytical decision-making in startups. Understand why many founders struggle with indecision and how efficient analysis can drive success and prevent failure.
Startups: Go All In On Your Best Idea. It’s That Simple.
When building a new startup, the temptation to execute multiple ideas or constantly pivot to new, untested concepts can be overwhelming. However, seasoned entrepreneurs and successful startup founders often emphasize one ...
If You Map It, They Will Come: Unlocking the Power of Interactive Maps for Marketing Success
Unlock the potential of interactive maps to dominate local search, capture audience intent, and drive conversions. Learn how to strategically use mapping to provide valuable content, improve SEO, and engage your target market.
From Data to Decisions: Top B2B Marketing Benchmarks to Guide Your 2024 Strategy
In B2B marketing, staying abreast of the latest benchmarks and statistics is not just beneficial—it's essential. As a Chief Marketing Officer with extensive experience guiding B2B startups, I've learned that leveraging ...
Maximizing Results & Outcomes: Your Role as an Effective Client
In the realm of business services, whether dealing with agencies, consultants, or freelancers, the adage "the customer is always right" is often taken for granted. However, true professionalism and optimal outcomes ...
Maximizing Your Professional Impact with LinkedIn’s “View My Website” Feature
Have you noticed the “View My Website” link popping up under everyone’s profile? Cool, right? LinkedIn, the leading professional networking platform, recently introduced a significant enhancement to its user profiles: the ...
Navigating the AI Evolution in Search: Strategies for Future-Ready SEO
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, its integration into search engine technology reshapes how users interact with digital content and how companies must adapt their search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. The ...
From Data to Decisions: Top B2B Marketing Benchmarks to Guide Your 2024 Strategy
In B2B marketing, staying abreast of the latest benchmarks and statistics is not just beneficial—it's essential. As a Chief Marketing Officer with extensive experience guiding B2B startups, I've learned that leveraging precise ...
Social Media Sellout: Are Brands Destroying the Social Experience?
Explore why the consumer backlash against social media advertising is growing and what it means for future marketing strategies. This article dives deep into consumer attitudes revealed by a significant survey, discussing why brands must rethink their approach to avoid alienating their audience. With a sharp increase in ad fatigue, learn what strategies could turn the tide in favor of genuine engagement and value-driven content.