Archive for December, 2008
The eBrand Media Law of Clarity
By Tom Polanski, EVP, eBrand Media and eBrand Interactive
In a down economy, marketing departments are among the first to see lay-offs. If you’re laid off and about to be, I think you have a great opportunity to pursue those passions you’ve always pushed into the background. If you could pursue a dream, and you were guaranteed success, what would it be?
One of my favorite sayings is, “Clarity, clarity, clarity. And when you think you have enough; go get some more”. If you’ve lost your job, I encourage you to grieve deeply for a period of time, and then to move into the solution. The solution for me always begins with a self-inventory. That inventory should result in three columns:
1. Personal assets or strengths. Work to maximize these.
2. Personal weaknesses or challenges. Find way’s to manage these.
3. Contrary actions. What would you do differently, based on your performance at your previous job, to become a better employee?
The inventory work I suggest takes self-honesty and courage. But the rewards are great. Take that list of contrary actions, print it out and tape it to your door so that you see it every day. It will help to make the small business which is you, run more efficiently and effectively. Remember that your future isn’t in a job. Your future is in you.
Posted by Tom Polanski in Personal Growth, Strategy, eBrand Media on December 15th, 2008
Google Expanding in All Directions
By Tom Polanski, EVP, eBrand Media and eBrand Interactive
This was sent over to me by one of my business partners, Sherice Jacob:
“As both an SEO and a Google shareholder, I have a love hate relationship with the company. More recently I have been feeling love when buying up shares of their stock, especially seeing how they are still buying marketshare while competitors are downsizing.
Increased Monetization
Google has been showing more ads on search results, and accidentally leaked some AdWords click volume numbers for Cyber Monday. Google paid click volume was also up, year over year, in categories like Department Stores (39%), Books & Magazines (28%), Comparison shopping (25%) and Sports & Fitness (24%). Even categories like Apparel (9%) and Home Furnishings (14%) were up. They recently announced they are accepting ads promoting hard alcohol, have started running credit card arbitrage ads on their own network, and created an additional chunk of targeted inventory by allowing advertisers to target ads to the iPhone and G1.
Posted by Tom Polanski in Advertising, Marketing on December 12th, 2008
Dennis Consorte and David’s Cookies are class acts. They ROCK!
By Tom Polanski, EVP, eBrand Media and eBrand Interactive
I’ve been in business a long time but it still thrills me when I run into a company that treats customers, employees and vendors with class. To be sure there are a number of definitions of class, but for me, class is when somebody, or a company, does everything the right way effortlessly. When that person or company extends itself, with graciousness, for the sake of others, even when it doesn’t have to, it’s classy.
Dennis and David’s Cookies, which includes Ari Margulies, and others, are by application of my definition, class acts. I include Ari in this because it all starts with ownership and management. The people they hire are a reflection of their beliefs and core values. I’ve never spoken or met Ari but think highly of him based on my interactions with Dennis.
I’m extremely confident that David’s Cookies treats it employees well because I am of the belief that a man of Dennis’s merit would’ve left long ago if he didn’t find his work environment engaging and fulfilling. I suspect that he feels that he is part of a team where his opinion is valued and his efforts appreciated.
Posted by Tom Polanski in Growing a Business on December 9th, 2008