In an interview entitled, “Is Marketing to Women Dead?” - Maria Reitan, host of Purse Strings Radio, and I talk about how gender awareness is evolving in marketing, including which brands already address those changes in how men/women buy with their ad campaigns. Marketing to women isn’t … Read on >
Is this perpetual hunt for the ways in which people are so extremely different from one another - Republicans from Democrats, women from men, “macho” men from “feminine” men, “strong” women from “soft” women - really necessary? Of course there are differences among us all, and if we are … Read on >
If the New York Times is reporting on men and Botox, that doesn’t necessarily make it mainstream… yet. Still, I would suggest that you file it away should you ever need proof that men are:
- starting to express more interest in buying products that were previously women-specific … Read on >
There is a marketing undercurrent gaining momentum as I type. Men are getting comfortable with the opportunities to walk a less linear path toward their purchase decisions, and more men’s brands are leveraging two strategies that have been so successful with women - engagement and community.
As per a r… Read on >
Sometimes the stars just align and consumer trends come together in a way that seems so natural. Consider, for instance, the women’s market and sustainable business practices. If you’ve been struggling to pursue each as a separate initiative, take heart. In many ways, you will come to powerfully reach today’s … Read on >
Your assignment, should you choose to accept it:
1) Please read this book.
There will be more from me, once I’ve had the chance to read it myself, but in the meantime (and if you are game), I strongly suggest you take … Read on >
As 2007 ended and “top trends” for 2008 were released by every marketing consultant and his/her brother, I reflected a bit. How far have we come? Has marketing to women, as a field of business study, evolved as quickly as its subject has? Are there any big new trends that … Read on >
This week I launch my contributing editorship with eBrandMarketing.com [ed. note: as of 11.08, that blog became ReachingWomenDaily], 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 … Read on >
It all started with an email conversation about beer advertising, and how simply making a “fruity” version wasn’t going to do it for the beer drinking women I knew. Then Joan and I got talking about gender trends in marketing in general, and it got really interesting, - and … Read on >
Leadership and the Sexes: Using Gender Science to Create Success in Business
by Barbara Annis
"The future of corporate success (especially with women occupying 50 percent of the workplace) lies in women and men both becoming gender intelligent in negotiations." This book is HR/leadership-focused, but there are significant implications for marketing team effectiveness and the understanding of today's consumers.
Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men
by Michael Kimmel
Kimmel offers incredible insights on how young men view their own masculinity (and why). The way men think, in general, will be key to the broader gender trend conversation of the 21st century - with some major marketing implications (if you ask me).
The She Spot: Why Women Are the Market for Changing the World -- And How to Reach Them (BK Business)
by Lisa Witter and Lisa Chen
Social change driven by women - how much more hopeful about our world could you get? This book is well-written, and its nonprofit advice also applies, for the most part, to corporate marketing.
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."
