This post is part II of II. To read part I, click here. Truth and authenticity. Truth makes compelling comedy. Great comics talk about what they know - the good, bad, and ugly. Hacks try to sell what's popular rather than focus on generating authentic material that [...]
Comedy and marketing have much in common. Well, comedy is marketing, really. And some marketing is pretty comical, intentionally or not. Comedy is a priceless education. In addition to 20 years in marketing, my many years in sketch, stand-up and improvisation have provided a number of critical business [...]
Marketing is about the story you tell your customers, and the stories they tell about you. If there’s a big gap between who you say you are and who customers say you are, you have a problem. I can’t tell you how many times I hear businesses [...]
I wrote and posted this article well over one year ago. I find that it has become even more important! In fact, I just had this same conversation three times this week! As a result, I am re-posting with a few minor tweaks. You can read the original [...]
Kathy will be giving a webinar for Women in Consulting (WIC) on June 5th.
If you took a journalism class in school, you know how important the inverted pyramid is. Give people the top headline first – then the details. Start with the big a-ha headline – always – to grab attention. Yet, too many companies – especially in technology – [...]
Think Un-Product I was waiting to see the movie, “Lincoln,” last weekend when the this “trailer” played in the theater. “Oh no,” I thought, another cliché movie about finding love and missed connections, literally and metaphorically – as love between two bloggers blossoms as a result of a [...]
The way you communicate with your audience either creates or destroys value. And communicating doesn’t mean that you’re successfully connecting with people. When marketing communication is brief, focused, and simple, it can add value by challenging your prospects’ status quo, expanding their options, and helping them to see [...]
I was at the Applied Improvisation Network conference in San Francisco last week as a speaker, attendee, and conference organizer. I – like many attendees – apply principles of improvisation (not improv comedy, although I do that on stage) to improve client outcomes. Improvisation does not mean “winging [...]
Great marketing IS storytelling, and it is the essence of connecting with your audience. So why aren’t there more storytellers in product – especially in high-tech? Many companies gather customer requirements, build in a few of the most important needs, create a prototype, and collect beta-test feedback. [...]
