Connectivity Strategy

07/19/2021

In case you have not had time to catch up on the latest industry news, check out this noteworthy article!

Why Content Marketing Should Be the Foundation of Your Marketing Strategy.

Producing quality industry content will help you across the board.

07/15/2021

“It's our idea as business people when we have an idea to construct that idea with support. Take time to bring people along with your journey."

This advice is from Gene Foca, Chief Marketing Officer for Getty Images. Head over to TheCMOSuite to listen to Gene and Sean talk about how to build stronger internal relationships. https://loom.ly/dAmsgZ8

The CMO Suite, Season4

07/09/2021

"Listen to your peers, listen to these podcasts. Go attend those intimate sessions with like-minded people. Get in safe spaces with people and be vulnerable. Allow yourself to teach and be taught."

This advice is from Danny Wright, Chief Brand Officer for AdWeek. Head over to TheCMOSuite to rewatch a great episode where Danny talks about how he navigated from the music industry to leading brand for one of the industry's key publishers. https://loom.ly/mEwbFt8

The CMO Suite, Season4

07/08/2021

Dating app Bumble, which empowers women to make the first move, will open its first café in New York in July. This café and wine bar was announced two years ago but was delayed due to the pandemic. Bumble Brew is partnering with Pasquale Jones to create a space for daters, networkers, and friends to gather.

What is unique about Bumble Brew was its original focus on “date-friendly” food but has been reconceived as a “safe space for healthy and equitable relationships and connections.” This dining spot will open its doors initially for breakfast, then introduce lunch on July 31 to the menu and dinner on Aug. 7. https://loom.ly/dS2T48M

The launch was delayed, and now the space is designed for more than dating.

06/24/2021

Marketing bosses at both Royal London and BMW state that marketers need to focus on experience, rather than promotion, which can re-energize both brand and marketer.

Susie Logan stated that, “It’s a really big opportunity for marketing to play a larger role in an organization and unleash some of their skills,” she added. “Marketers tend to be people who are both creative and analytical, and that becomes ever more important as you move into experience designing.”

Marketing is there to protect the brand, but also it helps with the progress. Marketing evolves every day, and it is the company’s responsibility to keep up with consumer needs.

Michelle Roberts, of BMW states that, “We are judged as brands, rightly so, by the experience that we create.” BMW’s staff is taught to have an outside-in perspective when it comes to the consumer, ultimately putting the consumer first. https://loom.ly/uu_JkAY

06/22/2021

Amazon Studios and Prime Video CMO Ukonwa Ojo goes into detail on why every mistake is viewed as an opportunity to build relationships with customers.

Ojo believes that innovation should be driven by customer needs. Amazon contributes a lot of its success by listening and paying attention to what the consumer base wants. Ojo stated at the Festival of Marketing: Fast Forward that, “If you see something that’s not working, fix it.” Having a mentality that failing is acceptable if you fix it, is a philosophy that Amazon lives by.

“It means that you’re not afraid to make big bets, because at Amazon we’re not afraid to fail. We talk a lot about two-way door decisions versus one-way door decisions. Most decisions are the former; if it doesn’t work you can probably try something else. With that mindset we’re willing to take more risks and we try a lot of things that haven’t been done before. I’m really proud of that.” https://loom.ly/Trn11VQ

05/03/2021

“In 2020, Shopify merchants generated more than $307 billion in global economic impact. Together, Shopify merchants would make up the 7th largest company in the world in terms of revenue, above Apple, BP, and Volkswagen.” These statistics aren’t just numbers- but tell the stories of entrepreneurs. Since Shopify was born, it has been proven that commerce can be a force for good, and that these very entrepreneurs drive communities forward. Entrepreneurs starts their business without any idea of how it will grow and the impact they will have. This is called the Shopify Effect. Shopify merchants are creating millions of jobs while being the largest workforce in the world. The effect and reach that Shopify merchants have accomplished in 2020 is huge. Just last year, merchants generated over $20 billion in cross-border sales.Beyond the merchants, so many people are behind the Shopify businesses: developers, designers, marketers, photographers, and accountants all make their living by working with Shopify merchants. In 2020, partners generated $12.5 billion in revenue, which is up 84% since 2019. Shopify entrepreneurs have successfully grown in reach, revenue, and the creation of jobs, forever shaping e-commerce.
https://loom.ly/HWwVKxk

When an entrepreneur starts a business, they create a ripple impact that can change lives, communities, and the world. That’s the Shopify Effect.

04/29/2021

Podcasts have skyrocketed under the pandemic, and is a large part of digital publisher’s and streaming app’s growth strategy. The invite-only app Clubhouse has also disrupted social media, allowing figures like Elon Musk and Bill Gates to talk about a variety of topics. Clubhouse’s reported value is $4 billion. Facebook will be testing a feature called Live Audio Rooms so that public figures can host discussions with fans listening in, and the goal is a wide rollout by the summer. Facebook will also be integrating podcasts into its main app along with discovery tools. They want to help podcast creators connect with new listeners and directly monetize through Facebook’s platform will an Audio Creator Fund to support its talent. This new podcast front will drive up Facebook’s engagement.
https://loom.ly/_q-tv-0

A slew of updates includes Live Audio Rooms, where public figures can host discussions in a manner akin to Clubhouse, and an in-app Spotify integration.

04/21/2021

The Harris Poll conducted a study on behalf of Sprout Social, and found that 46% of surveyed business executives expect their social media marketing budgets to increase up to 100% in the next three years. 91% of executives expect increases to their company’s social budgets. Social media currently stands as the number one preferred way to learn about brands, and increases purchase intent. 78% of surveyed consumers say they are more willing to purchase from a brand after a positive social media interaction. "Our research shows that U.S. companies today rely more on social media than any other communications channel for virtually all critical business activities," Anna Ginovker, director and senior consultant at The Harris Poll, said in a statement. With the focus of e-commerce as online shopping accelerated due to the shuttering of retail stores due to COVID-19, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok are some of the apps that social commerce capabilities have been built on in recent months. Almost all (95%) of executive respondents said they believe brands will rely more heavily on social media to identify business opportunities over the next three years.
https://loom.ly/32nAUpY

Growing investments don't necessarily reflect confidence, as less than half of respondents described their current strategy as "very effective."