The original “Choose Your Own Adventure” book was created by Edward Packard called the “Adventures of You.” Between 1978 and 1998, it was a phenomenon for kids (and adults), because it was the first time the reader was given control over the outcome. With so many options to end the story, the unexpected twists brought the reader back to try it again and again.

If this behavior sounds familiar, it’s because it also describes today’s customers. With so many choices …

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Posted on May 08, 2013 by Bryan Kramer

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Our global, collaborative marketplace is driving innovation faster than ever before. Small companies are leveraging the power of social and automated marketing, appearing larger and making it harder to differentiate between small and big businesses. This increased lack of differentiation means it’s getting harder to get noticed.

Disruption in the marketing world is not a new idea – in fact, it’s one of its founding principles. But there are two sides to disruption – dark and delightful. How many times …

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Posted on April 09, 2013 by Bryan Kramer

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It’s been three weeks since my return from my first SXSW Interactive conference in Austin, and I am finally getting around to writing my recap. Things to note about sentence #1: 1) My first time at SXSW. Yes, I am no longer a virgin of said elusive event, and just like the actual first time you do it, mistakes were made. 2) Been back for 21 days. And just now writing about it, obviously while the memories are fresh. And …

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Posted on April 03, 2013 by Courtney Smith

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It used to be that proximity drove everything. The ability to take that call, from your land line. Your capability to make a living, through learning a trade that your town had a need for. Even your opportunity to find a mate, at the school dance.

Today, we live in a world where through phones, social and video chat, people can connect instantly from anywhere around the world, without moving from their chairs. GPS mapping systems have sharpened their abilities …

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Posted on March 04, 2013 by Bryan Kramer

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We are getting closer than ever before to achieving the highest level of “social intelligence” – meaning understanding the real time information we have access to that powers smarter decisions faster, and with more accuracy. Social media has both set the platform for us to become more intelligent and nimble and address the rising expectations of today’s customer. And, new tools continue to multiply exponentially to help us wrangle this platform/medium/channel. The question is… how do we get smarter about …

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Posted on February 21, 2013 by Bryan Kramer

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Building a “number two mentality” into your brand is the most important thing you can do for lasting success. A “number two mentality”, to me, means being in the position of the underdog. I love the mentality of the underdog, because their hearts are true, they try so hard to achieve their dreams and their fans are right there beside them, cheering them on. This is in stark contrast to the mentality of a number one brand or product; after …

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Posted on February 11, 2013 by Bryan Kramer

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The Law of Attraction, one of the seven Laws of the Universe, explains that “like” matter is attracted to other “like” matter, whether positively or negatively. Magnets are scientific evidence of this, and although there’s no specific evidence to prove this Law in humans, I can say that I am a firm believer. We’re all coming up with great ideas on how to expand our reach, develop our business, or market our personal or professional brands differently – all in …

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Posted on February 04, 2013 by Bryan Kramer

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An actor gets noticed. A start-up gets acquired. An agency, like the famed Crispin Porter + Bogusky upon launching their ground-breaking anti-smoking “Truth” campaign. Even Justin Bieber, whose YouTube video skyrocketed him to stardom.  All coined “overnight success” for their accomplishments. Even in business, Apple became an “overnight success” more than once, when the right person and going back to the formula was reapplied to launch them into juggernaut status once again.

Well, I’m calling BS.

It seems odd that …

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Posted on January 28, 2013 by Bryan Kramer

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I don’t care what language you speak, who your brand is or what message you’re trying to send, we all need to speak more human (tweet this). Often enough we complicate what we’re trying to say. Ironically, as our world becomes more customer-owned and socially-enabled, we continue to see complicated, redundant, over-technical, and over-thought mass messages getting pushed out – and lost – in the ether. Is it really getting harder to stand out, with so much data and information …

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Posted on January 24, 2013 by Bryan Kramer

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It doesn’t matter what kind of work you do, the best storytellers are the most successful (tweetable). I’ve been in awe my entire life and followed brands and people who make it look so effortless. What’s really fascinating to me is how a story comes together. I think its what first drew me into advertising. The great ones know how to deliver something that speaks directly to you and make you feel like you are a part of it. And …

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Posted on January 15, 2013 by Bryan Kramer

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