Monthly Archives: August 2010

Optimizing Content Using Keywords

SEO strategies and tips vary from one SEO blog to the next. Regardless, the more SEO strategies you can incorporate into your internet marketing efforts, the better. Our expert team of SEO marketers gathered… Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Marketing by Ethan Lyon | Monday, August 30th, 2010 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Defining Heart and IQ Brands

Brand appeal is much like sex appeal. Some salivate at even the thought of an iPad, like some ogle at an Anna Kournikova poster. There is an elite class of brands that can instill such junkie-cravings. First that comes to… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Friday, August 27th, 2010 | 2 Comments

How to: Effective Emotional Brand Marketing

Have you ever said “Wow” after watching a TV commercial? Have you ever been so deeply moved by a brand’s commercial that it changes the way you feel in that moment? Brands that connect on a truly authentic… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Top 5 Sales Presentations

According to Albert Einstein, “Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means.” We might take one of the greatest thinkers of the 21st Century’s quote further and say “Showing an example is not the main means of… Continue reading →

Posted in Startups & Innovation by Ethan Lyon | Monday, August 23rd, 2010 | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Startup Business Model: Internet Publishing

Internet businesses are finally profitable. In some cases, Internet companies are wildly profitable with operating margins of 35%. It’s not just Google that has scaled. 10 years ago, Internet companies went public without revenue. Now, companies such as OpenTable are at 15% + operating margins just a year after IPO. It’s not just Internet platform companies that achieve great scale. 24/7 Wall Street believes that Gawker keeps over 50% of its revenue as operating income. Continue reading →

Posted in Startups & Innovation by David Capece | Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Social Media Marketing Strategies

LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube, Mixx and the list goes on. There are dizzying amounts of social networks on the web, so which do you choose? Is YouTube most in-line with your brand or should you allocate a social media advertising budget… Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Marketing by Ethan Lyon | Monday, August 16th, 2010 | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Top 4 Simple, Yet Effective Ad Campaigns

A good commercial is not necessarily measured by its CGI effects or Ashton Kutcher telling you to buy one camera over another. At times, we are reminded that good advertising starts with a brilliant idea and ends with a simple … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Marketing by Ethan Lyon | Thursday, August 12th, 2010 | Tagged , | Leave a comment

How to Refresh Bank Brands

In the wake of Main St vs. Wall St, large bank executive bonuses, and bailouts, consumers are wary of financial service companies. Lack of confidence in the banking sector contributed to June 2010′s Consumer Confidence report’s 9.8 point dip. To… Continue reading →

Posted in Market Trends by Ethan Lyon | Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How to Blog for Corporate Marketing

“Trust is what drives profit margin and share price,” says Larry Light, CEO of the Stamford brand consultancy Arcature and a veteran of McDonald’s and ad agencies BBDO Worldwide and Bates Worldwide to MSNBC. “It is what consumers are looking for…. Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Marketing by Ethan Lyon | Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Steps to Refresh Your Brand

What do Coca-Cola, The Beatles, Madonna and Abercrombie & Fitch have in common? The iconic cultural brands have an incredible ability to stay relevant amid shifting consumer attitudes. Coca Cola is one of the oldest examples of an adaptive brand. … Continue reading →

Posted in Market Trends by Ethan Lyon | Monday, August 9th, 2010 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Transparency In The Community

I recently stumbled upon a series of brutally honest fables that includes classics such as Sexy Woman Mooches off of Horny Short Men, Duck with Low Self Esteem is Tormented, and Little Spoiled Brat Robs Innocent Animals. To some these re-titled fairy tales are what the titles for classic stories really should be. They do just what any good title should do. They tell you what the story is about. While these might seem a bit outrageous, the truth is that these are spot-on trend with the move towards a more human, real, transparent discourse that is ongoing. Consumers are wary of the hype and would rather know the truth. Continue reading →

Posted in Market Trends by David Capece | Friday, August 6th, 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Food & Beverage Trends

Food Channel recently released their top 10 food trends ranging from Food With Benefits to Experimentation Nation. Likewise, Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman Co. released their 13 Restaurant and Hotel Food Trends for 2010 . Beyond the trends towards healthy sustainable eating, the 2 trends from these reports that continue to increase in the era of consumer saving and the vigilante consumer are: Upscaling the Downscale and Keeping It Real. Continue reading →

Posted in Market Trends by David Capece | Thursday, August 5th, 2010 | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Healthy Eating Trend

A healthy lifestyle seems like an unattainable dream to many. US obesity stats are ominous as the US has the most obese nation by a large margin. The latest stats show 30.6% obesity rate in the US, which is 25% higher than the #2 most obese nation, Mexico. The UK is the 3rd most obese nation. For those of you who love Italian cooking, note that it’s possible to eat Italian food all the time and avoid obesity as the nation of Italy has just 8.5% obesity rate, meaning that the US is nearly 4 times as obese as Italy. In the wake of our national obesity crisis and with our aging population, it’s likely that the trend towards healthy lifestyle will continue to rise. Continue reading →

Posted in Market Trends by David Capece | Thursday, August 5th, 2010 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Green Living Consumer Trend

Green living is taking hold. “Recently while I was brushing my teeth, my 6-year-old son scolded me for running the water too long. He severely reprimanded me, and at the end of his censure asked me, with real outrage: don’t you love the earth?” says Stephen Asma of the Chronicle in his Green Guilt commentary. For those who are embracing green living, check out these new green options: green dating, green travel, green driving, green rooms, and green jewelry.

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Posted in Market Trends by David Capece | Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Social Community for Change Agents

Ever heard of the Green Guerillas Youth Media Tech Collective? The green youth media group proclaims their collective to be sustainable storytellers who challenge the status quo. “We are young media makers who define sustainability in terms that make sense to us. In April 2009, we embarked on a new project with our veggie diesel bus to create our fourth feature film—Green Guerrillas Blockumentary v.3 HD—which will showcase stories of sustainability from under-represented communities in the current environmental movement.” These and hundreds of other change agents are sharing their stories on Changents, a startup social community that serves as a catalyst for social entrepreneurs and great causes. Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact, Startups & Innovation by David Capece | Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Consumer Trends in Customization

Founded 13 years ago, Build-A-Bear Workshop was an early entrant into mass customization. With more than 400 stores world-wide, it has successfully scaled to become the largest chain dedicated to the create-your-own trend. Much of today’s innovation is centered around empowering customers to customize products and enjoy truly unique customization experiences. The customization trend ranges from products that spice it up with customized features, to products that are customized from the inside-out.

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Posted in Market Trends by David Capece | Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Innovation in Social Cause Business Models

NBA legend Magic Johnson recently spoke at Wharton’s first Social Impact Forum saying, “Legacies are not built on how much money is made, because after all there are a plethora of millionaires in the world. Instead, they are built on how many people can be touched with the amount of money made. Individuals are able to set themselves apart by helping communities get on their feet.” Today, it has become fashionable to do good and many entrepreneurs are building businesses with generosity at their core focusing on urban renewal, children’s initiatives, and even the basics such as food and water. Continue reading →

Posted in Market Trends, Social Impact by David Capece | Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 | Tagged , | 1 Comment

2010 Trends in Innovation

Earlier this year, Bloomberg BusinessWeek published its list of 50 most innovative companies (in partnership with Boston Consulting Group) and for the first time, the majority of companies were headquartered outside the US. 88% of executives in China said they were raising their innovation budgets this year, followed by 82% in South America and 73% in India. The rate fell to 48% in the U.S., ahead of only Japan, where just 34% of executives said their companies planned to increase innovation spending. All of which suggests the U.S. may not be dominating the innovation list again soon. Continue reading →

Posted in Market Trends, Startups & Innovation by David Capece | Monday, August 2nd, 2010 | Tagged | 1 Comment

Emergence of Online Social Gaming

Online gaming has overtaken email as the number two online activity, according to a new study by Nielsen. Online gaming was only outpaced by social networking, the most popular sites being Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Unlike browsing brand… Continue reading →

Posted in Featured by Ethan Lyon | Monday, August 2nd, 2010 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment