Author Archives: Nick Westergaard

On this week’s Social Sound Bite – recorded live at the KXIC studios in Iowa City – Jay and I discussed the new Instagram algorithm. While some are freaking out — pleading with followers to turn on push notifications for … Read More →

When your business category is taboo, how do you get people to talk about it? Suzy Bátiz is the inventor and entrepreneur behind Poo~Pourri, an innovative brand that is literally changing the way we go to the bathroom. As founder … Read More →

On this week’s Social Sound Bite – recorded live at the KXIC studios in Iowa City – Jay and I discussed a new report on which digital marketing tactics are most effective. Guess what? Once again, the winner was email … Read More →

“Everyone has a brand because everyone has a reputation.” John Michael Morgan knows a thing or two about branding for everyone. That’s because the Brand Against the Machine author has worked with everyone from bestselling authors, Fortune 500 companies, small … Read More →

“Every single time you respond to a customer complaint it increases advocacy. Every time you don’t it decreases it.” Jay Baer would know. For his new book Hug Your Haters, Jay didn’t just write about what he thought and felt about … Read More →

“People want to hang out with brands they like and trust. Those are the principles we were founded on in 1906.” As Chief Marketing Officer at Coldwell Banker Real Estate, it’s Sean Blankenship’s job to guide a brand going through one … Read More →

On this week’s Social Sound Bite – recorded live at the KXIC studios in Iowa City – Jay and I discussed Facebook instant articles. These fast-loading, mobile friendly articles have been available for big publishers like The New York Times and National … Read More →

“I think 2016 is the year of the blog.” And Maddy Osman knows a thing or two about brands and blogging. That’s because she’s the force behind not one but two blog brands. Her lifestyle blog, Chicago Cheap Ass, helps … Read More →

In recent years, Super Bowl ads have become as watched as the game itself. We’ve come a long way since Apple’s 1984 ad first alerted viewers that there was still something to see during the game’s commercial breaks.

“Brands often fall flat when trying to be an Onion or a Buzzfeed.” As these irreverent powerhouses have taught us, humor can significantly impact your online reach. A mistake many make is trying to execute this potent mixture on their … Read More →