One of my favorite transparent marketing examples from Don’t Think Pink, which I use pretty often in my presentations (especially when my audience is fairly male-dominated) is that of ESPN: The Magazine. That brand (in … Read on >
1) There is a good post and interesting discussion of whether or not social media is “feminine” (i.e. because women like to connect and thus… you know, the usual stereotype) on SocialMediaExplorer. I put myself right out there as a freak of nature - in that I blog … Read on >
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 >
1) Though I report on both the ups and downs of the brand, I am, at the core, a Lululemon lover. That’s why it was interesting to read that the yoga apparel retailer’s new CEO is a woman with a Starbucks background. Margaret Brennan’s CNBC interview with … Read on >
Quick - what’s the first name that pops into your head when I say "hugely successful investor." Yeah, that’s the name I came up with too: Warren Buffett. Well, it turns out, his style of researching and being patient with where he puts his money is more typically feminine than … Read on >
I just came across a blog post that brings up a fairly common ad campaign phenomenon: two gender stereotypes for the price of one. Though the "chocolate man" television ad being discussed was clearly an attempt at humor, it actually comes off as either "off" or just plain … Read on >
Maybe it’s the political season rubbing off, but the word and concept of “polarization” has been on my mind lately. Whether its male vs. female, democrat vs. republican, black vs. white or vegetarian vs. omnivore - it can all seem a little extreme. On an average daily basis, … Read on >
In my years of monitoring and analyzing marketing’s latest, one thing is for sure: pretty much every market segment is misunderstood and there has, without a doubt, been a study done on it. If you lined them up next to one another, whether men/women, Boomer/Gen Y, mom/single dad, wouldn’t all … Read on >
Do you remember when you started to notice people drinking water in bottles? Since those of us who are Baby Boomers or Gen Xers grew up with soft drinks (or "pop" as we used to say in my Midwestern neck of the woods) all around us, that changeover was extremely … Read on >
Count me as one of the 40.5 million women (out of 90 million people) expected to watch the Super Bowl on February 3rd. Where usually I am not … 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.
