American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote this oft-repeated observation, and I’ve used it as a tagline of sorts, since founding Learned On Women in 2004. As socio-anthropologist and author Helen Fisher observed in her book, The First Sex: he “correctly discerned another feminine faculty related … Read on >
My latest post for eBrandMarketing.com considers the consumer advisory board (or customer advisory board, aka CAB) concept. Taking a cue from Chrysler (and the other huge brands like P & G that have formed them on a large scale), smaller brands/even independent retailers might gain much from developing their … Read on >
I’ve got polar winds on my mind today (it’s cooooold in Vermont), and have been inspired by recent news about people with forethought to ease polarization around hot-button issues. Ah.. there’s hope!
See my full post at eBrandMarketing, or just ponder the following excerpt:
Is
polarization a habit for some people … Read on >
yWhen it comes to form and function, the huge industries behind cars and computers perhaps struggle most to keep the delicate balance for today’s consumers. Both realms have long been run in very traditional ways, with product development and marketing decisions based mainly on linear thinking. But, any brand that … Read on >
I’ve written about storytelling a fair amount in this blog, and I gave a MarketingProfs webinar on it earlier this year, so most of you know how important I think it is. My favorite author on the topic is Annette Simmons, who wrote in her book,The Story … Read on >
This week I launch my contributing editorship with eBrandMarketing.com, a Glam Media publication, with a post on my mission to make "marketing to women" obsolete. The non-gendered end goal = marketing to the highest customer standard, whoever that customer may be (and, yes, she may well so often … Read on >
Peak: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow
by Chip Conley
I'm a big psychology buff, so this application of Maslow's hierarchy of needs to the business realm fascinated (and resonated) with me. As Conley mentions, psychology in business has long been about "fixing it," but that won't necessarily "offer the opportunity for transformation to a more optimal state of being or productivity." Everyone can learn from this discussion.
The Sexual Paradox: Men, Women and the Real Gender Gap
by Susan Pinker
A fascinating examination of how sex differences play out over the life span. One interesting quote: "For most women it's less a question of who's able to win. It's whether competing feels good and is worth the cost."
Robin Hood Marketing: Stealing Corporate Savvy to Sell Just Causes
by Katya Andresen
Andresen writes that causes can learn from traditional marketers, but after reading this, I'd argue that traditional marketers can learn from the causes profiled. An interview with Andresen is included in my eBook, 9 Minds On Marketing.
You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
by Deborah Tannen
Men have a more asymmetrical, positioning approach to communication, while women have a more symmetrical, connecting approach. This is a classic worth revisiting frequently.
BOOM: Marketing to the Ultimate Power Consumer -- The Baby-Boomer Woman
by Mary Brown and Carol Orsborn
It's a hot topic - and the case studies and examples presented in BOOM can offer up insights to get you started.
