You’ve probably seen this meme. It’s usually a reply to some inauthentic attempt by a company to appear “in touch” or appeal to a group they’re not a part of. Authenticity has been an issue since the very dawn of commercial communication. Some inauthenticity comes from deception or misrepresentation. The famous “4 out of 5 dentists” or “80% Continue Reading...

Social media is essential for your branding, like putting up a sign outside your brick-and-mortar business. The message amplification you get from social media can be rocket fuel for your business. Sponsored posts or earned media — it doesn’t matter. It works either way. Before you jump in, there is one big question you need to answer: Which Continue Reading...

Cold email is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to connect with people and companies. Your message goes straight to their inbox. And if they like your approach, you’ll have the beginnings of a relationship. A well structured outreach campaign can generate 5 or more positive replies for every 100 contacts. But for all the advantages of Continue Reading...

“On the average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.” So said the “Father of Advertising,” David Ogilvy. Ogilvy’s mastery of the written word propelled him to the top of the advertising world. Some of his headlines still capture Continue Reading...

How much of a product do you need to launch? None at all, if you ask Joel Gascoigne. The Buffer founder decided to create a tool to schedule his Twitter posts — but when he “launched,” the tool was nothing more than a spark in his mind. “I created a super minimal two page website, without building the product at all,” said Gascoigne in a Continue Reading...

“David, you’re up,” the host said. I flicked the mute button off on my phone and prepared to speak. I’m an Oklahoma City Thunder fan and moonlight as a salary cap expert. It was NBA draft day and I was on Spotify Greenroom with my friend, reporter Keith Smith. An insider had just dropped the news that the Thunder were going to pick Australian Continue Reading...

All of us probably have a favorite guest — I’m personally a fan of Bill Burr on Conan or Chris Stapleton’s guest spot on Justin Timberlake’s “Say Something.” A great guest lifts a show from ordinary to extraordinary, adding something the host can’t. You can be that great guest. Even if you have your own podcast, guesting on other podcasts is Continue Reading...

Content may be king, but your business podcast is the power behind the throne. It’s like when a band releases an album. All of a sudden there’s a cornerstone piece of “content," creating material for tours, interviews, radio playback and more. Your business podcast can do the same — if you curate it properly. Podcast curation is a powerful Continue Reading...

Podcasts are still incredibly popular — and they’re poised to become even more prominent. Networks are paying premium prices for audio-only content. Bill Simmons sold his site The Ringer to Spotify for $200 million, largely based on its podcast network. Joe Rogan’s podcasting deal was reportedly around $100 million. They’re only the tip of the Continue Reading...