by Craig Gagnon on June 17, 2011
If you’re in business, chances are you have a LinkedIn profile. Currently more than 100 million of us do. And, if you’ve been following the financial news, you know that LinkedIn recently went public. The first major social media IPO. So lots of eyes were on the stock price which opened at $45 a share [...]
by Craig Gagnon on December 29, 2010
#4 in a series on how to respond to a rapidly changing world and the need to ReThink key elements of marketing and planning. Marketers all recognize the importance of knowing their customers. But do you know them as well as you once did? Or have they changed while you weren’t looking? And, given the [...]
by Craig Gagnon on December 23, 2010
#3 in a series of posts on how to respond to a rapidly changing marketing landscape and the need to ReThink key elements of marketing and planning. Let me begin by saying, emphatically, that if you have a good, strong agency relationship, hang on to it. Far too many marketers are too quick to look [...]
by Craig Gagnon on December 3, 2010
Marketing is in the midst of a revolution. The world is changing and it’s changing fast. Time honored “best practices” have become irrelevant and new practices have yet to be proven. Advances in technology are responsible for many of these changes. Traditional media has declined. New media has emerged. Social media has allowed consumers to [...]
by Craig Gagnon on November 25, 2010
This blog is all about planning and strategy and marketing and related subjects. Today is no different, and yet it is. Our day will be great because we’ve planned ahead for a relaxing unstructured gathering of family and extended family. The big plan: enjoy one another’s company and be grateful for the time together. The [...]
by Craig Gagnon on November 4, 2010
I’ve moved several times in my life. After each move I found a new doctor. And each new doctor started with a medical history, physical exam and blood work to determine the state of my health. However, almost every visit thereafter is due to a specific problem: the flu, a turned ankle or some other [...]
by Craig Gagnon on February 2, 2010
You’re one of us. You believe that a carefully crafted plan is critical to success in the marketplace. You’ve convinced the authorities that you can’t simply start implementing marketing campaigns without understanding the audience, examining the competitive environment, defining the overriding brand promise, creating a compelling strategy, efficient tactics and a tight budget. You’ve even [...]
by Craig Gagnon on January 8, 2010
Ever since the days of Bud Grant and Fran Tarkenton, I’ve been a fan of the Minnesota Vikings. I’ve watched them through ups and downs and, for the first time in awhile, I’m optimistic about the post season. So, like many of you, I’ll be watching a lot of football over the next few weeks. [...]