actionable marketing guide

Dear ,

Greetings from a blustery New York City as Thanksgiving and the holiday season blow into town!

By Wednesday afternoon the city is filled with cheerleaders and marching bands from around the country. They get to strut their stuff down Broadway on Thanksgiving Day.

One of my favorite activities is watching the balloons get inflated for Macy’s parade. This takes place on the Upper West Side across from Central Park and adjacent to the Museum of Natural History. Unlike the dinosaurs that inhabit the historic museum the gigantic cartoon balloons are reined in with ropes.

Most of Thanksgiving weekend is stuffed with promotions and sales, often neglecting the true meaning of the holiday.

This year, I recommend you fully appreciate Thanksgiving by being totally present with your family and friends. Especially if you’ve got young children present, they’ll never be this way again.

So take your family photos then make everyone check their smartphones in a bowl by the door until they leave.

Even if you can’t stand your Aunt Marilyn or your crazy Uncle Nat, take the time to know them. In the process you may see them in a different light. Maybe you’ll have a new respect for them (or not.)

Last week, a number of articles have surfaced that make me want to cherish this holiday time without devices.

Living in today’s connected world is difficult. Recent research shows how tied we are to our devices. We check our devices 47 times a day. That’s roughly 4 times per hour.

Our social media and apps are making us addicted, not to drugs but to their content. They’ve been programmed to keep us tethered to their content. It’s a type of addiction that can be difficult to overcome.

Deep Work author Cal Newport made the point that what made Leonardo DaVinci successful was his ability to unplug from the world and follow his own thoughts. While there weren’t devices and apps 500 years ago, he had equivalent distractions. (BTW, get Walter Issacson’s new biography of Leonardo DaVinci (Amazon Affiliate).

Give yourself time to recharge this weekend. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to read. I know it’s old school but it enables you to escape and get inspired.

Even better if you’re traveling or dreading the family use this opportunity to fill your reader. If you’re driving try the audio book version. (BTW, here are the books that marketers recommend.)

I’d like to take this time to thank you my readers. I want you to know that I cherish your readership.

To me you’re more than just an email address amassed into a list. You’re the people who fulfill my writing by providing a welcoming audience.

Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers!

Happy Marketing
Heidi.

Heidi Cohen
Actionable Marketing Guide

​​​​​​​Join me at:

Social Media Marketing World 2018

Brought to you by Social Media Examiner, this is the conference for anyone wanting to learn how to make the most of social media and meet the companies and experts in the field.

Join me at this exciting event. I’ll be speaking about Content Creation.

This year you have a wider choice of attendance options:

• All Access Pass. Allows you entry to all of the sessions and parties. It’s the traditional offering. This is good for people interested in social media who want all the networking benefits of the parties and gatherings.  Learn More.

• Content Creator. Is tailored to content creators. Its lower price point helps content creators on a budget. It limits your attendance to creation sessions (including mine) and the general sessions.  Learn More

• Virtual Ticket. Gives you all of the conference content from the comfort of your computer. You don’t need to leave home. It saves you on travel as well as other live expenses.  Learn More

Don't delay – Register Now and Save! 

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• Heidi Cohen gave her insights on 2018 SEO planning in OptinMonster's post, Strategic SEO Tips From The Experts, Check it out to improve your content and social media for 2018 and beyond.

• Andy Crestodina’s Orbit Media’s Blog Survey is a comprehensive look into how businesses use blogs today. It’s also well worth your time since every business (B2B, B2C, NFP or solopreneur) needs a home base. Heidi Cohen added her insights to this research.

• Heidi Cohen was selected as one of 18 Digital Marketing Influencers You Need To Follow On Twitter by AdHawk. If you’re looking to fill your Twitter stream, we suggest that you check out this list.

• Regardless of your position or the amount of public speaking you do, I strongly recommend that you take the time to watch this Ted Talk Cambridge spotlighting Michael and Amy Port. They’re trained actors who’ve applied their experience to public speaking.
  Everyone needs to improve his skills whether you’re on the big stage or giving a wedding toast.
  BTW, I also recommend that you read Port’s book, Steal The Show.
  
  

• Additionally, I strongly recommend reading Margaret Magnarelli’s editorial on Contently, Understanding Pain Is The Key To Customer Centric Marketing. The article is based on solid research and makes a strong case for empathy in building customer connections.