Trophy hooked by a fishing hook on white background.

Avoiding wolves in the award forest

marketingimagineBusiness Tips & Lessons

There are awards we are all familiar with — the Oscars, the Emmys, the Pulitzer Prize — as well as awards that have become well known in their particular niche industry. Cartoonists know the Reuben is a coveted and longstanding award for excellence in the field of funny pictures. Some awards are very well-known in a certain industry but not …

Management: It actually is rocket science

marketingimagineBusiness Tips & Lessons

I believe Imagine has a strong company culture that has grown from many successes and failures. It’s not easy, but over the years I think collectively we have discovered a few things that work. Managing people is a big responsibility that employers often treat as a burden because it is challenging and nuanced. It’s often pawned off to others without …

Fonts matter

marketingimagineBranding

I recently received an email written in a bright color and the Comic Sans font, and I was surprised at my negative reaction. As far as business emails go — as well as my go-to Word default — Times New Roman, size 12, is my jam. I blame it on my journalism roots. Arial isn’t bad, either. I like them …

Five ways owners of small business can stay motivated

marketingimagineBusiness Tips & Lessons

Over the last 20-plus years running a small business with my business partner, I’ve learned how difficult it is to stay motivated at times. Aside from meeting payroll and keeping the business viable, there are things there that keep you motivated and encouraged. Here are 5 simple ideas on how to possibly spark some motivation or inspiration amongst the deluge …

Writing content is not an act, it’s a lifestyle

marketingimagineMarketing

Humility is a good value for a content developer. If you don’t have a curiosity about people, whatever empathy you claim will be false and probably devolve into some arrogant claims that will be immediately seen as an attempt to manipulate or insult the consumer’s intellect. But genuine empathy is rooted in humility and the understanding that many people contribute …

picture of a podcast studio with microphones, sound mixer and laptop

The medium is (still) the message

marketingimagineCommunication

Way back when I was in college, we studied the works of a Canadian communications analyst and philosopher named Marshall McLuhan, who developed original theories on the substantive and stylistic differences between radio, print and television, among others. McLuhan’s influential work on “hot” and “cool” media can best be summarized by the 1960 John F. Kennedy/Richard Nixon debates. Those who …