The Future of Live Streaming

By: Chidu Subbiah
Untitled designLive Streaming has become a buzzword of late, but the history can be traced back to the late 90’s and early 2000’s when computing power became cheaper and powerful. The bandwidth of networks grew dramatically in this timeframe which increased the number of people and computers with access to those networks, creating the Internet as we know it today. Early live streaming efforts were mostly single-event broadcasts and were more focused around audio streaming. Continue reading “The Future of Live Streaming”

A Chat With MDMC Speaker Andrew Cohen

By: Lindsey Nolan
Andrew Cohen (1)
Andrew Cohen is the Director of Social Media at Moosylvania. Andrew joined Moosylvania in 2013 after graduating from Babson College with an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. Previous to that, he attended the University of Miami where he created his own small business – a sports blog titled, On The Can. He currently oversees 20+ social brands and content creation at the agency.
We got ahold of Andrew Cohen of Moosylvania to get some tips on marketing, and here are some of his thoughts.
Q: What are some of the worst mistakes a business could make when it comes to content marketing?
A: Spending their entire budget on their facebook page. Too many brands think their page is the most important place to spend money when in actuality it should be a mix.

Q: What do you think is next for content marketing? How will it evolve in the coming years?
A: It has already and will continue to drive towards instant gratification. Whether it is through social platforms or on the interwebs, brands will be tasked with linking content to gratification.
Q: Social media marketing is free, right?
A: Ha! What’s free is the ability to connect with millions of people – what and how you connect is where the money comes in. If you’re not spending, you’re not playing.
Q: A small business owner has to wear many hats and time is always tight. What are some social media time management tips you have to help them stick with their social media campaign without losing a lot of time?
A: Focus on targeting first and foremost. Who do you want to talk to and what action do you want them to take? If you know these things – the rest can be determined a lot more streamlined. You don’t need constant posting to make a big splash.
Q: Share your favorite digital marketing case study. What did you like most it?
A: We do a yearly top 100 brand survey within millennials and each year we ask questions to understand why they ranked. Within it, you can see the detail (or lack thereof) of why people adopt brands. It’s riveting.
Q: According to you, what are the top three mistakes committed by organizations today in leveraging digital marketing?
A:
1. Not Setting Goals  
2. Not defining how to reach those goals
3. Using social media as a stand alone strategy

Q: Which are your three favorite digital marketing tools?
A: 1. G-suite
2. Adobe
3. Instagram

Q: What are the top 3-5 skills you look for when hiring a candidate for digital marketing profile?
A: 1. Ambition
2. Ability to manage themselves/others
3. Focus (on tasks/projects/etc)
4. Ideation ability
Q: Who are three people you respect when it comes to digital marketing?
A: Simon Sinek
Norty Cohen
Evan Spiegel
You can meet Andrew Cohen on April 13, 2017 at MDMC by attending his session The Participation Game from 12:15pm -12:45pm. The session will take a look at what makes millennials interact with brands
Author
Lindsey Nolan is a senior Digital Marketing student at the University of Missouri – St.Louis, a member of the Pierre Laclede Honors College, and an active member in the Iota-Xi chapter of the Delta Zeta Sorority.

A Chat with MDMC Speakers: Jered Schneider

Jered Schneider
Jered Schneider is the Executive Market Director at SnapShot Interactive. Snapshot is a digital marketing agency that focuses on video-centric web design and development in all of their products.  SnapShot Interactive currently holds offices in St. Louis and Nashville.
Prior to joining SnapShot, Jered started and grew his company, Pounds Media, into a full service video production company that helped the likes of GE, Emerson, Caterpillar, and the St. Louis Cardinals tell their stories.
Now with Snapshot, Jered continues to help companies large and small tell their stories using video, animation, web, graphic design, and more.  He focuses on delivering great experiences and results to his current clients, and seeks to find new clients who need a great experience with great results.
We had the opportunity to speak with Jered Schneider about content and digital marketing.  Here are some of his thoughts on what we had to ask:

Q: What are some of the worst mistakes a business could make when it comes to content marketing? JS (Jered Schneider): One of the biggest mistakes we see businesses make is assuming that all content is good content. It’s common to see companies putting out poor quality photos and videos on social media just for the sake of getting content out. Not everything needs to be completely professional, but understanding that every piece of content is a reflection of the quality of your product or services, and investing in producing quality content is an investment we have seen pay off time and again.
Q: What do you think is next for content marketing? How will it evolve in the coming years? JS: Many folks will be distracted by trying to be all things to all people. I think savvy businesses will begin to create more robust content strategies on fewer channels, investing in quality content on proven platforms rather than chasing fads.
Q: Social media marketing is free, right? JS: Bad social media is free, good social media is an investment. While the account is free, it requires time at the least. And beyond that, an investment in quality strategy and content. But the return on this investment is easy to track, and the companies that really get it know that social is a revenue generator.
Q: A small business owner has to wear many hats and time is always tight. What are some social media time management tips you have to help them stick with their social media campaign without losing a lot of time? JS: Because social media is something that we all do when we are sitting on the couch, it is easy to get sucked into aimlessly using social for business purposes as well. I always like to plan out time to use social each day with specific goals in mind so I don’t get sucked into the trap of aimlessly browsing.
Q: According to you, what are the top three mistakes committed by organizations today in leveraging digital marketing? JS: Chasing the new thing is often painful to see. Many companies get anxiety about not being on the hot new platform, so they just jump on without much of a plan, or an understanding of the return on that investment. We all know that Snapchat is popular, but does your insurance agent really need to be on Snapchat? If done right, it could be really fun and could be valuable, but most likely, someone signs up for an account, posts a few times, and then never again.
Q: Which are your three favorite digital marketing tools? JS: Twitter, Facebook, Vimeo
Q: What are the top 3-5 skills you look for when hiring a candidate for digital marketing profile? JS:
Social Media understanding – do they actually “get it”
Self motivated
Lifetime Learner
Who are three people you respect when it comes to digital marketing? JS:
Mike Spakowski – Atomicdust
The whole Almanac team

You can come see Jered Schneider speak at a panel session on How Not to Be Obsolete: Everyday Social & Digital Strategies for Everyday Businesses at MDMC17 on April 13th, 2017.  This panel session will be held from 3:00pm – 3:40pm in the Centro room.

A Chat with MDMC17 Speaker: David Deck

By: Brittany Lloyd
David Deck
David Deck is the owner at Built to Lead. A former professional soccer player and successful executive with progressive experience building, growing, running, and evolving businesses from $1M (5 employees) to $100M (+200 employees). David is an educator by degree, a teacher and coach at heart, who is uniquely equipped to partner with CEO’s and business owners with the aim of: building them into leaders, transforming their teams, and growing their business. Born in 1973, David is the middle brother of 5 left-handed boys. He was married in 2001 to a tenderhearted spitfire and his soul mate. He is a father to 3 great kids. Self-described as a beautiful ruin and passionate fool, as well as a strategic idealist who is unreasonably aspirational and perpetuates improvement.
While working at his business, Built to Lead, David’s focus is small to medium, family owned, privately held companies that want to take things to the next level or need to change / evolve but might not know how. He challenges the leader of the organization (first and most) to more clearly define who they are, what they believe, and why it matters. Then they systematically transform every aspect of the company in alignment with what was (re)discovered. Thus, creating a more successful, thriving company.
I was able to catch up with David for a sit down. Check out some of the Q&A below.
Question: What are some of the worst mistakes a business could make when it comes to content marketing?
A:
– Lacks authenticity
– Not a clear overarching content strategy / purpose
– Inconsistent brand ethos
Question: What do you think is next for content marketing? How will it evolve in the coming years?
A:
Authentic influencer endorsements.
Individuals with a good personal following / brand will hold the most marketing power if they stay authentic individuals who only “promote” things they really believe in.
I can see a day in the future when influencers are able to select the companies they want to work with verses just work for companies who will pay them.  If influencers truly understand their power and hold true to this, this will be a marketing channel unlike any we’ve seen to date.
Question: Social media marketing is free, right
A: No.  It takes time and resources to develop a point of view, a purpose and position.  It takes time and resources to develop a strategy to communicate authentically and consistently.  It takes time and resources to test, learn, listen and respond.
Question: A small business owner has to wear many hats and time is always tight. What are some social media time management tips you have to help them stick with their social media campaign without losing a lot of time?
Answer: Be real, be transparent, be authentic.  Just talk about the things you are doing and don’t try to be something you aren’t.
Question: Share your favorite digital marketing case study. What did you like most it?
A: I tested this “authentic influencer endorsement” concept while at New Balance.  I helped influencers define their own voice and personal brand.  Then had them talk about their everyday life and New Balance in their own way.  The results (engagement and sales) were significantly higher via the influencer’s social channels compared to New Balance’s.
Question: According to you, what are the top three mistakes committed by organizations today in leveraging digital marketing?
A: 1) Not taking the time to define who you are, what you do and why it matters.  This should be the anchor to align all marketing and creative decisions.
2) Speaking to themselves, not their customer.  After you’ve developed your brand ethos, you have to test / rinse / refine your message until it resonates with the target customer.
3) They over complicate it.
Question: Which are your three favorite digital marketing tools?
A: N/A… trial and error are the best teacher.
Question: What are the top 3-5 skills you look for when hiring a candidate for digital marketing profile?
A:
– loves all things digital in and out of work
– loves learning
– not afraid of failing
– always wants more
– believes in this channel
Question: Who are three people you respect when it comes to digital marketing?
A: 
1) Judy John from Leo Burnett – created the “like a girl” campaign and delivered the message in such a powerful way.
2) Pete Frates, Pat Quinn and Corey Griffin – started the ALS Icebucket Challenge
3) The Kardashians – don’t respect them in any way other than how they have built a marketing empire where they are the brand and decide what they want to endorse.
I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did.
Join us on April 13th at the MDMC17. David Deck will be inspiring us all in the Perficient room from 12:15pm.-12:45pm. during a special Lunch time Pop Up session. David will be speaking on the power of “OPUS”. This word means “work” in Latin. David will be there to encourage and help you clarify your passion and align it with your work.