What’s New
Article: Avoiding the cardinal sin of communication. Linda discusses how to avoid turning off your target audiences with your communications on MultiBriefs: Exclusive.
Article: Clear as muck: When the only thing that’s certain is more uncertainty. Linda discusses how to keep going in today's challenging world on MultiBriefs: Exclusive.
Podcast: Linda Popky interviews Karen Jackson who talks about some of the reasons companies have trouble integrating sales and marketing - and how that hurts profitability. - Listen.
Podcast: Deb Zahn talks with Linda Popky and Lisa Anderson, SAC Executive Directors, about what SAC (Society for the Advancement of Consulting) does and how it helps consultants build successful businesses. A Craft of Consulting podcast. - Listen.
SAC® Press Release: "Increased Customer Focus Will Help Business Thrive in 2021" - Linda recommends focusing on what matters to customers now. – Read release.
Video: Just a Moment for Marketing: One-minute marketing tip videos. – View over 100 videos.
eBOOK: Top of Mind: 101 Insights to Transform Your Business
Purchase PDF or ePub book.
Book Video Trailer Learn more about Linda Popky's book, Marketing Above the Noise: Achieve Strategic Advantage with Marketing that Matters.
Subscribe to the Top of Mind Thursday Newsletter
Free articles download with sign up
Marketing Above the Noise
Introducing Dynamic Market Leverage™, an approach to help cut through the clutter, stand out, and effectively build business.
Available in Hardcover and eBook formats
Top of Mind Thursday October 15, 2020: Let Me Be Perfectly Clear
If you’re one of those people who likes to wait until chaos stops and things settle down before taking action, I have bad news for you: It’s not likely to happen soon.
We are less than 3 weeks away from a presidential election which may or may not be decided immediately. We are close to having a vaccine to prevent COVID-19…or perhaps not that close at all. There’s agreement that wearing masks is the best way to stop the spread of the virus…except among those who think they don’t work.
There’s immense polarization in the US right now on many issues. It’s unlikely the election will change that–regardless of who wins. In the meantime, we need to keep calm and carry on, as the British say.
Learning to manage through uncertainty and ambiguity is a learned skill. That means we can all make improvements in this area. Rather than bemoaning the fact that we’re in this situation, we need to get used to where we are today and take the appropriate actions.
What new challenges are your customers facing and how can you assist them? How can you help your employees stay engaged and productive when they’re caught between family and work responsibilities? What can you do to support those around you, such as your local community?
Uncertainty has moved into the neighborhood and plans to stay for awhile. We need to accept the situation. That’s one thing that’s perfectly clear.
Contact me to find out how you can get heard above the noise–even in a crisis situation.
Check out our marketing thought leadership podcasts and the video trailer for my book, Marketing Above the Noise: Achieve Strategic Advantage with Marketing that Matters.
.
Let us help your business rise to the top.
linda@popky.com
(650) 281-4854
www.leverage2market.com
Top of Mind Thursday October 8, 2020: Pumpkin Spice
It’s that time of year: Pumpkin pie, pumpkin latte, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies. You name it–it’s got pumpkin in it.
Some of us like pumpkin. Some of us really love pumpkin. But after awhile, there’s too much of it for just about everyone (and especially for those who weren’t aficionados to start). Every package is orange and every food product starts to taste the same. We start to long for good old-fashioned chocolate and vanilla cookies, apple pie, or latte that tastes simply like latte.
We see this in the business world as well. Something pops up that’s new or useful and people begin to adopt it. If it continues to attract attention, more and more people join the bandwagon. Soon, everywhere you go you see nothing but pumpkin everywhere.
Are you bombarding your customers with the same flavors as everyone else? Are you riding an existing trend rather than creating your own?
The first rule of standing out from the crowd is to do something that makes you, well, stand out. Do something original to spice up your business.
Contact me to find out how you can get heard above the noise–even in a crisis situation.
Check out our marketing thought leadership podcasts and the video trailer for my book, Marketing Above the Noise: Achieve Strategic Advantage with Marketing that Matters.
.
Let us help your business rise to the top.
linda@popky.com
(650) 281-4854
www.leverage2market.com
Top of Mind Thursday October 1, 2020: Up for Debate
Tuesday’s Presidential debate was a spectacle in itself.
Regardless of political inclinations, most people who watched the event seem to agree this event set new lows for political communications. The moderator lost control of the process early on and never was able to get things back on track. The evening was more about shouting at and over other speakers and less about civilized discourse.
The debate team is rushing to create a better process for the remaining debate sessions. Maybe they’ll be able to craft a process that keeps things more under control moving forward, but, given the situation, that will be a serious challenge.
What happened on national TV Tuesday should be no surprise to anyone. From the beginning, this political campaign has been about name calling and accusations, posturing and innuendos, mudslinging and character assassination.
In a time when fighting a global medical crisis has become politicized, science has been belittled and ignored, and racism and bigotry have been encouraged, this kind of spectacle is to be expected.
The question is how long we will allow this to continue. We have serious issues to face–from a pandemic that has already killed hundreds of thousands of people, to climate conditions that are causing unprecedented fires, storms, and flooding, to social justice issues that continue to smolder.
There are plenty of valid topics on which political candidates can offer legitimate political view points. Maintaining civility and treating political opponents with respect and basic consideration should be the least we can do. Allowing ourselves to fall to a new low should not be up for debate.
Contact me to find out how you can get heard above the noise–even in a crisis situation.
Check out our marketing thought leadership podcasts and the video trailer for my book, Marketing Above the Noise: Achieve Strategic Advantage with Marketing that Matters.
.
Let us help your business rise to the top.
linda@popky.com
(650) 281-4854
www.leverage2market.com
Top of Mind Thursday September 24, 2020: Remembering RBG
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a diminutive woman in many ways.
She was small in physical stature and spoke in a quiet voice. She stated her points calmly and treated everyone with respect. Even those who vehemently disagreed with her on legal matters considered her an esteemed colleague and a friend.
But RBG had an outsized impact on legal matters that affect most of us. Before she argued against discrimination on the basis of sex before the Supreme Court, women couldn’t get a credit card or apply for a mortgage without their husband’s support. Men weren’t offered the same benefits for child care and parental leave as women. When she dissented from a court opinion, she did it with style and class.
RBG strongly believed in the US Constitution–and she carried a pocket copy with her at all times. She stood up for justice and equality for all and she did it in a quiet, calm, professional manner.
It appears that another woman may be nominated to take her seat on the court. But it’s unlikely that any of the likely candidates can bring the combination of legal knowledge, experience, candor, compassion, and style to the position. Her position will be filled, but she cannot be replaced.
RIP RBG. May her memory be for a blessing.
Contact me to find out how you can get heard above the noise–even in a crisis situation.
Check out our marketing thought leadership podcasts and the video trailer for my book, Marketing Above the Noise: Achieve Strategic Advantage with Marketing that Matters.
.
Let us help your business rise to the top.
linda@popky.com
(650) 281-4854
www.leverage2market.com