We’re social creatures by nature. Much of our social interaction has now moved online, but the fact remains, we crave community, communication and connection with others. The rise of social networks (which shows no signs of stopping) is evidence of this.

This leads me to wonder, what does the future hold for our “social” lives? So many of us connect with each other digitally on a consistent basis—and in fact, studies are showing that our penchant for social networks is …

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Posted on February 08, 2012 by Bryan Kramer

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So much content, so little time.

When it comes to marketing strategies, content marketing has been crowned king. According to a survey done last summer by HiveFire, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Internet marketing software solutions company, many marketers have made content marketing the most-used tactic in their toolbox. According to HiveFire’s B2B Marketing Trends Survey Report, twice as many B2B marketers now employ content marketing as they do print, TV and radio advertising.

Which brings me back to this—everyone has …

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Posted on February 01, 2012 by Bryan Kramer

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The other night I was helping my son glue his green army men back together. We had several glues to choose from, and picking the right one for the task at hand was more difficult than we’d bargained for. I make big business decisions every day, right? And here I was, staring at a 2^nd grader, stressing over which adhesive to use.

I was . . . (wait for it) . . . stuck. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

What does …

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Posted on January 25, 2012 by Bryan Kramer

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I’m a marketer on one hand and a tech geek on the other, so you can imagine how stoked I was to attend my first CES (Consumer Electronic Show) in Vegas last week.

My inner geek was like a kid in a candy store, checking out all the cool gadgets, gizmos and innovations. However, the marketer in me felt a little deflated—more like a kid in a candy store with no money. With my press pass in hand, I was …

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Posted on January 19, 2012 by Bryan Kramer

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(It’s the social thing to do)

Back in the day, your parents probably freaked you out with stories about the perils of “stranger danger.” Don’t talk to strangers, don’t get into their cars, and for the love of all things cautionary, don’t you dare accept candy from them. (And let me add, I am now one of those parents—I will freak my kids out about stranger danger until they turn 18.)

But think about the broader issue of trust and …

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Posted on January 12, 2012 by Bryan Kramer

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It’s no secret that everyone can connect with anyone. In fact, I just proved it.

Now, I’m not saying I didn’t work hard or don’t really enjoy connecting with people online. Actually, I had a really good time doing this and feel like I have connected with some really great people!

That said, for the last 90 days I wanted to show myself that the art of connection is possible–I connected with 6,000 new people on Twitter. My total reach …

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Posted on January 04, 2012 by Bryan Kramer

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As 2012 looms ever larger, many of us will inevitably indulge in a bit of navel gazing. We will look at our flaws, faults and failed ambitions, and resolve to do better in the future.

So here’s what I propose: Forget about it. Get your eyes off that last 10 pounds and on to something more important. Many of the resolutions we make end up on the cutting room floor by February, anyway. This year, why not focus on something …

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Posted on December 20, 2011 by Bryan Kramer

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Good news: According to ZenithOptimedia, major media U.S. ad spending will grow 3.5% next year.

It’s a modest increase, but it’s heading in the right direction, and you can bet that it’s going to be managed to the penny, with analytics tools and other kinds of technology working together to stretch marketing budgets everywhere.

With this in mind, digital marketing will be on the upswing big time in 2012. Here’s what to watch for.

Mobile goes mainstream. The title of …

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Posted on December 14, 2011 by Bryan Kramer

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Last week I mentioned a recent survey by IBM indicating that 78 percent of CMOs expect more complexity in marketing over the next five years, but only 48 percent are prepared to deal with it.

That’s a big disconnect.

So let’s bridge the gap, because it’s not enough to just forecast complexity. You have to be ready to meet it head on and know how to deal with its intricacies.

Here are five ideas to get you started.

Know the …

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Posted on December 05, 2011 by Bryan Kramer

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