What kind of marketing is the most effective?

sneezr.ca Have you ever asked yourself that question? I did. In fact, many years ago I spent countless hours trying to figure it out.
The answer turned out to be quite simple: word of mouth marketing. Or as I call it: the art of cultivating recommendations.

Surprised? Probably not. With recommendations, there is no sales pressure and no credibility issues. When your friends, family members or trusted co-workers recommend something or someone to you, they are genuinely trying to help you. That means a lot, which is why you usually remember it for a long time. But here is the catch: recommendations must be earned. How do you do that? Where do you start? How do you give people a reason to talk about your products/services? How do you nudge your story into every day conversations? I launched sneezr.ca to help you answer those questions.

When trying to be helpful, focus on important things

I just finished reading one click by Richard Brandt. I’m not sure how much you already know about Jeff Bezos and the continue reading

What’s left when you take away a half?

This is long so feel free to skip it.

Story #1:

I just got back from a meeting with representatives of the exclusive Calgary-based Ferrari retailer continue reading

Can you call yourself a designer?

In his timeless book titled Design as ArtBruno Munari notes that a “Designer is a planner with an aesthetic sense.”

Case in point: continue reading

Are you a dreamer?

Caspar David Friedrich – The dreamer

My 2¢: All those who eventually become successful first do a fair bit of dreaming. It’s easy to forget that.

Ever wonder how James Bond got his job?

Sometimes a remarkable opportunity arrives with no story.
But for the most part in life, all great things start with a story.

Case in point: Mi6. Yes, you read it continue reading

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It’s easy to forget…

Just because something is legible doesn’t mean it communicates.
David Carson

The above is one of my favourite observations by the American continue reading

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What can Red Bull teach us about business

Rationality is a fetish of the twentieth century; we are not allowed by our culture to admit true irrationality as an explanation of our behaviour. continue reading

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That which unites us

We humans have a common emotional lexicon guiding us through life.
That’s my favourite gem from the Charles Darwin’s book In continue reading

Should you be like the wolverine?

A few night ago I watched a remarkable documentary on PBS about wolverines—one continue reading

The Art & Craft of Perseverance

A few days ago, the best-selling author James Lee Burke said something in an interview that caught my attention. Here’s a little taste:

JLB: continue reading