Straight Talk Blog
Ted Rubin
Own The Crowd: Why Collaborative Content Creation Really Wins
CEO of Photofy John Andrews considers how collaboration with your employees could make your digital content sing… Digital marketing today is a crowded arena. It’s become the primary tool for marketers in terms of dollars spent. But as spending has increased,...
read more
Building Better Relationships… Why Saying “No Thank You” is Important
No thank you... is that really so hard to say? I get that people are busy, and that we all get a little overwhelmed sometimes from all the marketing that we see. But if we've got a long-standing relationship and I'm reaching out with an offer, a favor for a friend,...
read more
“It’s All About Relationships!” An Interview with Ted Rubin ~via @mentionlytics
Many people in the social media world know Ted for his enthusiastic, energetic and undeniably personal connection to people. Ted Rubin is the most followed CMO on Twitter according to Social Media Marketing Magazine; one of the most interesting CMOs on...
read more
Hype Meets Reality: Why Programmatic Is Not Ready For Prime Time
My take on the slew of pitfalls presented by programmatic media buying – and why you should go old school and place your own ads. Programmatic media buying, marketing and advertising is the “algorithmic purchase and sale of advertising space in real time”, and it has...
read more
“Unsubscribe” Does NOT Mean Send Me More Emails!
Ever unsubscribe from a mailing list only to keep getting emails from the brand in question? You’re not alone. It’s actually one of my biggest pet peeves, and here’s why. Isn’t it great when you unsubscribe and start getting more emails? Signing up for any type of...
read more
The Retail Tax
Direct to Consumer is the Future of Brands by John Andrews After experiencing disruption from agile, direct to consumer brands, many traditional brands are starting to move towards similar models. A simple reason why... traditional retail is effectively a tax. This is...
read more
Employers: Treat Every Employee Like A Mary Kay Rep
Empowering your employees will result in success for your brand... Every retail employee is an individual with their own unique skills, outlook, and ability to solve problems. With the right training, an employee can learn to be a true ambassador for your brand, an...
read more
Digital Marketers Need To Be Reminded: Walk In Your Customer’s Shoes
Why marketers need to really understand what their audiences want, before they – and their products – become irrelevant... Does it appear that you’re followed around online with ads for things you already own? A case in point... I own three Nests, nine Nest smoke...
read more
Traditional Retailers Are Failing And It’s Not Amazon’s Fault
Instead of laying the blame for poor performance elsewhere, traditional retailers should be looking in the mirror, taking a closer look at their customers, and innovating to best serve those customers... Traditional retailers are failing, and while I know you'll find...
read more
Thinking Back on Decisions and How They Impact Your Success
I learned very quickly to be careful about looking back too much. I made sure to learn from my mistakes, but tried not to second guess myself. I have always done everything I can to build relationships and surround myself with friends and colleagues I trust… A Network...
read more
Want To Reach Customers? Think Like One!
Why EMPATHY for your CONSUMER will always result in a Better, More Effective Marketing Plan. It's pretty easy to sit in a room and come up with a flashy marketing plan that's sure to please other marketing experts. That doesn't mean it will be a good marketing plan or...
read more
Are Bloggers/Influencers, Worth the Money to Influence Consumers?
Are bloggers/influencers, worth the money to influence consumers? My take... #1... it’s all about the situation, the context, and the bloggers/influencers. #2... it’s most often, although not always, more about the content than the “influence.” #3... everyone...
read more
The Difference Being Vegan Makes in Your Health is Undeniable
Being Vegan, Vegan Being: Ted Rubin – The Difference Being Vegan Makes in Your Health is Undeniable. ~via @Inspira77394961 / InspirationalSouls.com Tell us a little about yourself. I lived in NYC and Long Island until December 2016 when I relocated to Pompano Beach,...
read more
The New Measure of Success: Return on Relationship with Ted Rubin (Podcast) ~via @TheEntrepYou
Ted Rubin is a leading social marketing strategist, Photofy CMO/Advisor, MC/Host Brand Innovators Summits... Speaker / Author / Provocateur. He is the author of Return on Relationship, How to Look People in the How to Look People in the Eye Digitally and The Age of...
read more
Beware The Risks of Arrogance and Pride in Business
Buzzing off those results you secured for your company? Feeling confident? Maybe even a little self-important? Time to check yourself people. Ever work with someone who always had all the answers, even if they weren't paying any attention to the questions? Have you...
read more
Blockchain IS NOT the Answer to Marketing with Customer Experience in Mind
This article was posted to Harvard Business Review and seemed to have gotten a lot of play... What Blockchain Could Mean for Marketing. The following is my comment and viewpoint. Unfortunately very few HBR contributors engage commenters... In my opinion Blockchain...
read more
The Five Main Challenges Facing CMOs Today
From employee advocacy to peak data, let's lay down the big challenges CMOs around the world are facing right now – and what they can do to improve their marketing in each area. 1. Understanding and embracing the power of employee advocacy Empower your employees and...
read more
You Have My Full Attention – Don’t Waste It
It is very, very rare to have your customer's full attention. No matter how good your marketing is, people are still thinking about the food in the oven, the letter they have to mail, or the game they watched last night. Even when someone comes into your store,...
read more
It’s My 61st Birthday and I’d like to Share…
I would like to share my Favorite Birthday quotes… ” Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of ‘you’ to the world.” ~Anonymous “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” ~Abraham Lincoln “Sooner or later...
read more
Take Back Branded Content Outsourcing and Dependency
If you own a hospitality or service business, chances are that you’ve encountered some negative user-generated-content (UGC) on sites like Yelp or Trip Advisor—even Facebook. Let’s face it… digital technology has enabled third parties to insert themselves in between...
read more
Build Your Brand “With a Little Help from Your Friends”
Who doesn’t remember the old Beatles classic “With a Little Help from My Friends?” I can hear that tune and Ringo Star singing the lyrics in my head, can’t you? “Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends. Mmm, I get high with a little help from my friends. Gonna...
read more
Retail Relevancy and the Changing Digital Landscape
*LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE*: This week’s episode – 006: Ted Rubin, CMO, Photofy... Retail Relevancy and the Changing Digital Landscape Are you using technology to advise you and create valuable, relevant customer experiences? Are you using mar-tech as part of...
read more
Make This Year a “Social” Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving, the time when we give thanks not just FOR, but TO those who have been an important part of our lives. This year, I propose we all try a Social Thanksgiving – one where we focus on the true meaning and value of relationships, and take the time to pay...
read more
Influencer Marketing Tips to Increase Exposure
If a person demonstrates passion and knowledge, they’re much more likely to gain traction with people who share their interests and become influential in that respect. Everyone influences someone, so we all have a place to start. And from the start your comments, the...
read more
Entrepreneurial Persistence
I like to think that business mindset is made up of an individual’s “collection” of attitudes. And in addition to attitudes of confidence, gratitude and optimism, I think it’s also absolutely essential to add an attitude of persistence. Persistence is essential… it is...
read more
Only Stupid Entrepreneurs Build Their Wings on the Way Down
Ray Bradbury once said: “If we listened to our intellect, we’d never have a love affair. We’d never have a friendship. We’d never go into business, because we’d be cynical. Well, that’s nonsense. You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the...
read more
Nobody Has True National Localized Influencers Like Macaroni Kid—No One!
Are you more likely to pay attention to a product recommendation from a Google ad, or from a local parent you know and trust? If someone you know in your neighborhood offered you a useful product sample to try at just the right moment, wouldn't you be more likely to...
read more
What You Post is UP TO YOU… No One Else
What you post here is UP TO YOU... no one else. Simply put, don't listen to the prognosticators that tell you what is and isn't appropriate on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, your Blog, etc,... IT'S ALL BULLSHIT! Post whatever works for you. The best content...
read more
I Was Asked Last Night…
"How do I make a difference tomorrow, or right now, and going forward. I’m just a small cog... AND, what CAN I do regardless... for me and my company?" Welcome to the ‘Age of Influence,’ where anyone can build an audience and effect change, advocate brands, build...
read more
LinkedIn Response, When Someone Tells You What You Should and Should Not Post…
First of all... curious who made you the arbiter of what does and does not belong on LinkedIn? Second... LinkedIn is a "social" network, and a place for conversation that the person posting wishes to foster. I am the person, and this is the conversation I wish to...
read more