As media becomes more ubiquitous, naturally, we consume (and crave!) more of it. The easier it is to consume, the more of it we want. Perhaps most helpful to this trend is that “the media” now goes where we go via our mobile devices. So it’s no shock that, according to eMarketer data, the average time spent per day with “Major Media - Digital” climbed to 5 hours and 43 minute in 2017 and is expected to reach 6 hours and 1 minute in 2018. Check out the chart below. What is als

Many of us use social networks in our daily lives. But isn’t it starting to feel cluttered with junk? It seems like Facebook is the new “chain letter” and Twitter has become a hotbed of snark. While that content can be fun (no one loves snark more than me), how much value is it adding to our lives? It’s very simple to make a statement why your opposed to something - “that sucks” “you’re an idiot!” “you troll!”, etc. But how does that interaction really move the needle in ter

We need a new word for “Friends.” How many people on your social channels do you actually KNOW? I personally have more than 4,800 “friends” on Facebook, yet I probably I only know 10 percent of them. Are they my friends? Not really. But do we have a shared common interest or friend? Maybe. One definition of friend is “a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.” Do you have “mutual affection” for every one of your Twitter followers? While there i

Social media makes it easy to be polarizing. Black or White, Yes or No, Republican or Democrat. Often, there is little room for nuance, context and thoughtful discourse. As the “virtual” iteration of who we are, social media often gives us a one-dimensional look at ourselves and our “friends.” Let’s look at an example. Sue may have expressed support for Hillary Clinton on her Facebook page. To many, that one “thing” about Sue can tell you many other things about her (she is p

Part Two of Two In a previous article, I wrote about the importance of creativity. While creativity is something that naturally occurs in your brain, many agree that there are things you can do to grease the wheels. Here are just a few things to inspire you: Read about Creative People and listen to what they have to say and how they live their lives: Elizabeth Gilbert, noted author and speaker, wrote about creativity in her book “Big Magic” where she advocates that creativity

Part 1 of 2 Ready to have your mind blown? Creativity really has nothing to do with the “left side” vs. “right side” of your brain. According to Scientific American: “The latest findings from the real neuroscience of creativity suggest that the right brain/left brain distinction does not offer us the full picture of how creativity is implemented in the brain. *Creativity does not involve a single brain region or single side of the brain.” It’s actually much more complicated t

Part 2 of 2 Ok, we know WHY good storytellers are important, but here are a few tips for those of us who are still working on the craft. 1. Tell the Story for an Audience If a story only resonates with the person who is telling it, then they should just be talking to a mirror. The best stories are those that speak to their audience directly and compel them to confront new realities. Good stories hit the listener in their soul and make them feel as if the writer or speaker is

Part One of Two Telling good stories are about forming connections. Before film, television, social media – even before books, people have been telling stories. They are a way to preserve culture, share family history and connect with others. Creating good stories now isn’t all that different, we just have more technology to help us. Storytellers are the keepers of history, culture, tradition and the zeitgeist. The ones we turn to when we want to know more about something – b

We know from previous posts that the brain processes images differently than it processes text. Throw in how the brain processes video – and now we’ve got a party! Here are some fun facts from this amazing article in Psychology Today: Consumers are 39 percent more likely to share content if it’s delivered via video, and 36 percent more likely to comment and 56 percent more likely to give that video a coveted “like.” The average consumer with an Internet connection watches rou

Part 2 of 2 Pros of Quora Great potential for massive exposure Quora can help you expand your networking and visibility in numerous beneficial ways. Other than engaging existing clients, it can also help you attract the potential customers. Interestingly, Quora can also help you connect with industry experts and other marketing geniuses that you need to keep a track of in order to stay competitive. Quora can give you some amazing ideas Marketing is all about creativity. If yo