You’ve perhaps heard a lot about branding a business, but how much time have you invested in building your personal brand? Just like a business’ brand helps form that company’s identity, your personal branding is part of how you market yourself. It can encompass everything from your experiences to your beliefs. And, when it’s done well,...

You can’t rely solely on ads to power business. It’s about more than that. You want to build a community, and it involves getting to know your customer, connecting on a personal level and gaining their trust. Goldie Chan knows how powerful an online community can be. Known as the “Green-Haired Oprah of LinkedIn” (a fan gave her...

These days, it’s hard to find a business that doesn’t use email marketing. While social media accounts and websites increase your audience and brand awareness, your email list is what often creates real opportunity to engage and build trust with people–and, eventually, sell to them. Email marketing offers a powerful return on investment (ROI). According to a 2015 study...

Even in volatile economic times, you, like many other executives around the world, may be spending prodigiously to market your business. According to a 2018 CMO survey by Deloitte, Duke University, and the American Marketing Association, marketing budgets are expected to grow in the next year and reliance on marketing analytics is up by 30 percent. Not...

Livestreaming video marketing has become a must-do trend in the digital marketing community. Thanks to Snapchat, Facebook Live and other competing social media that connect users to brands in real-time, there’s been a surge in content creation that boosts social presence and builds brand loyalty while livestreaming. It’s a no-brainer because from what I’ve seen...

Coupons and exclusive discounts have long been a way to win customers. Everyone likes a deal, especially when it feels like it’s only available to a small portion of the audience. When executed the right way, discounts can incentivize customers to try out a new business or look at a known business’s latest offerings. However, when...

Many physical retailers continue resisting ecommerce. These businesses are hesitant to try online marketing, fearing they’ll dilute their existing business model or confuse customers but ignoring mounting evidence that brick-and-mortar shops without an online business are seriously risking failure. The internet continues to grow as a means of effective advertising and marketing, and retailers that want to survive are...

It’s the time of year when everyone who does content work for a startup or tech company here in the Bay area wants to talk about how to generate story ideas. They know I do this work for a living and they want tips as they prepare their 2018 content strategies. It’s safe to say that if you’re...

The holiday season is pretty much here already, and the internet is still probably the outlet of choice for much of your marketing. But, don’t count out traditional marketing just yet. Just as in-person interactions can personalize your relationship with customers and colleagues, print collateral can make a different type of impression on customers. For freelancers, the...

Today’s companies are under a lot of pressure to create memorable, sticky brands — especially amidst growing competition from online retailers. Starting a business is one thing, but building a story around it is something entirely different. Unfortunately, not all companies hit a home run when it comes to branding. In fact, even well-known retailers...