David Meerman Scott's Blog, page 30

How to Turn Lukewarm Customers into Raving Fans: Me on the Tony Robbins Podcast

I am super excited that I am a guest on this week’s Tony Robbins Podcast! The episode is titled Cracking the Code on Company Culture: How to Turn Lukewarm Customers into Raving Fans, and Disengaged Employees into High-Performing Teams.

When “Good” Design #Fails Badly

I wake up, bleary-eyed from mild jetlag associated with a three-hour time change plus one more glass of red wine the evening before than I should have had. The Marriott Luxury Collection Hotel that the conference organizer put me in beautiful and comfortable. I let the warm shower ease me into the morning. But then, rats! I can’t read the damned little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

Are You Creating Marketing Assets or Just Generating Marketing Expenses?

A modification in how you think of your marketing, simply changing your thinking from an expense to an asset, is a powerful reminder to build marketing that will help your business grow. In accounting terms, an asset - such as equipment, furniture, real estate, and inventory - is a resource that belongs to your business and has value over time.

How to Effectively Use Q&As after Keynote Speeches

The keynote speaker at your event just delivered a fabulous talk. Attendees offer sustained applause and perhaps a standing ovation. As an event planner, you’re thrilled! But now what? Should the keynote speaker have a Q&A session? Or not?

American Utopia on Broadway: Fandom at Its Finest

If you’ve paid attention to the news, it seems like there’s nothing good happening, nothing to celebrate — just darkness and polarization. David Byrne’s American Utopia, which opens today on Broadway for a limited run at the Hudson Theater through early 2020, is an ideal antidote to the grim times. Byrne takes us on a journey of joy, hope, and wonder through absolutely fantastic music performed by a front man at the top of his game together with a fabulous band of international musicians.

What is U.S. Presidential Candidate Cory Booker a Passionate Fan of?

Cory Booker is a U.S. senator from New Jersey and Democratic candidate for president. He is one of more than 20 presidential candidates I've had an opportunity to visit with in New Hampshire. I’ve asked candidates a simple question: “Outside of your work and family, what are you a passionate fan of?”

What Makes Someone a Fan?

Recently, the New York Times published an interview titled, "What Makes Someone a Fan?" The article argues that sports fandom extends past ticket sales and finds its roots in emotions, identities, and tradition. My co-author (and daughter) Reiko and I have been analyzing what we call Fanocracy for five years now, and while we agree with much of the NYT article, we believe the power of fans goes way beyond sports.

2020 Presidential Candidate Fandom

On August 15, I attended a Donald Trump MAGA rally in Manchester, New Hampshire. I witnessed massive Trump fandom in action and I wrote about the marketing aspects of the  event. Several weeks later, in the exact same venue, I attended the New Hampshire State Democratic Convention (as an independent guest, I am not a member of a political party). At the DNC event, 19 candidates for president addressed the gathering. It was fascinating to see fans of the various Democratic candidates as passionate as Trump’s fans.

When a Trademark Is a Bad Idea

I’m just back from the HubSpot #Inbound19 conference. This year 25,000 people convened in Boston to learn about inbound marketing, sales, and customer support. A Google search returns more than 50 million hits for the term “inbound marketing” coined by HubSpot, but not trademarked. Would millions of people be talking about inbound marketing if HubSpot had claimed this phrase as their own with a trademark and not let others freely use the term?

How Surfing Influenced Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard: Fanocracy Stories

Tulsi Gabbard, a member of the U.S. Congress from Hawaii and candidate for President, is also an avid surfer. It says so right on her @TulsiGabbard Twitter profile: “Soldier. Veteran. Surfer. Congress. Candidate for President.” So when I had an opportunity to ask her a question at a town hall event in New Hampshire, I went straight to her love of surfing. Later, when I had a moment to speak with Gabbard away from the spotlights, she told me mine was the best question she’d ever been asked in her entire political career! That’s what happens when you get people talking about what they are a fan of.