Why marketing isn't marketing anymore

Good read. Basically, strip out bias by focusing on product and sales.

Why marketing isn't marketing anymore

16 Leadership Lessons from a Four Star General

This a really good post about the leadership lessons learned by General Stanley McChrystal. I haven't read his book, but this links to a quick round up.

16 Leadership Lessons from a Four Star General

In the end, “there are few secrets to leadership.” 

It is mostly just hard work. More than anything else it requires self-discipline. Colorful, charismatic characters often fascinate people, even soldiers. But over time, effectiveness is what counts. Those who lead most successfully do so while looking out for their followers’ welfare. Self-discipline manifests itself in countless ways. In a leader I see it as doing those things that should be done, even when they are unpleasant, inconvenient, or dangerous; and refraining from those that shouldn’t, even when they are pleasant, easy, or safe.

15 Types of Content That Will Drive You More Traffic

Need more traffic? Who doesn't, right?

Leaving aside the issue of targeting your key audiences, this article is a very good breakdown of all the different content types you should be evaluating...

15 Types of Content That Will Drive You More Traffic

Content type #1: Infographics
Content type #2: Meme
Content type #3: Videos
Content type #4: Guides
Content type #5: Book reviews
Content type #6: Opinion post (a.k.a. “Rant”)
Content type #7: Product reviews
Content type #8: How-to
Content type #9: Lists
Content type #10: Link pages
Content type #11: Ebook
Content type #12: Case Study
Content type #13: Podcast
Content type #14: Interview
Content type #15: Research and original data

Read the whole article for everything you need to know (almost!)

THE US 20: Twenty Huge Trends That Will Dominate America's Future

A little old, but I think everyone should read this. You need to know all of these trends in order to plan for the future.

THE US 20: Twenty Huge Trends That Will Dominate America's Future - Business Insider

It is a long article (with tons of awesome charts), so here is a quick summary.

1. The Bay Area Is Now The Center Of The Universe
2. The Sharing Economy
3. The Texas Growth Engine
4. The Great Congealing Of Cities And Suburbs
5. Rise Of The Robots
6. Energy Costs Have Stopped Growing
7. Renewables Are Surging
8. Wearable Technology
9. Everyone's Living Alone
10. Everyone Dates Online
11. Stagflation
12. The Future Of Housing Is Renting
13. Obesity Is At A Crossroads
14. The Gun Control Debate Is Over And Guns Won
15. The War On Drugs Is Over And Drugs Won
16. Old Hollywood Is Dead And Old TV Is Dying
17. The Education Bubble Has Burst
18. Teacher Evaluations
19. The Unintended Consequences Of Obamacare
20. The End Of Men

You can argue about some of these trends, but you have to acknowledge that something important is happening in each area.

Why marketers should keep sending you e-mails?

Why? Well, because it still works, duh...

Why marketers should keep sending you e-mails - McKinsey & Company

E-mail remains a significantly more effective way to acquire customers than social media—nearly 40 times that of Facebook and Twitter combined. 

That’s because 91 percent of all US consumers still use e-mail daily, and the rate at which e-mails prompt purchases is not only estimated to be at least three times that of social media, but the average order value is also 17 percent higher.