2010 February

Sometimes, you don't know what you don't know until it's pointed out to you.  Until you miss something you can't easily get back.  Until it's too late. Do you know - In business How satisfied are your employees with their daily work? Whether employees understand exactly how they contribute to an end product or business growth? Does every individual understand the downstream effect of what they do (or don't do)? What your people are really thinking about the way things are run? Why...

In a world of clutter and competition, successful brands are those which are distinctive and strong, generous and rewarding.  Consistent in every touchpoint of internal and external communications.  Successful brands seek to delight a finite group of target customers deemed to be a perfect match for the brand's offering. The very definition of success means the brand doesn't try to be all things to all people; doing so would dilute its message, claiming a flexible position in an anxious attempt...

Content can be a wonderful thing. It can illuminate the unknown, introduce a concept, immerse a reader into a conjured time, place, or frame of mind. Like a time machine that inserts you Right There. In the midst of things. Good content flows seamlessly from first introduction (say, a Home page) to closing thought (maybe a Contact Us page). It feels like it stems from a single source. It wraps you in a comfortable, pleasing cloak. It's more than maintaining brand messages or established tone...

When a consumer wants to learn more about eco-friendly cleaning services, where do they go?  When they want to find a good pediadentist near their kid’s school, what do they do?  The answer, of course, is the Web. Research indicates that peer reviews – recommendations made by friends or family – are extremely influential to a buyer’s decision-making.  A thumbs-up sign from someone who’s bought from Company X or Brand Y is like the Everyman’s Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Those...

Nick Bergus is a teacher, a foodie, a writer, a videographer, and new media creator.  He has business sense, a creative flair and an unflappable 'approachability' factor that makes intellectual discussions entertaining and satisfying at the same time.  And he's my second guest for the 10 In 10 Vlog series.  I'm thrilled he had a few minutes to chat with me about journalism, new media, pay walls, and steeped traditional professions like hog farming in Iowa. Nick believes that multimedia tells...