The proliferation of blogs, podcasts and online versions of print and broadcast media channels have created a new kind of influencer. Savvy public relations departments and firms are beginning to realize that these new influencers have different needs than their traditional journalist cousins. Most of these new influencers have not been assigned the story, nor [...]

There are two areas of my life that are colliding in a big way; fatherhood and the notion of radical trust. As you may already know, Danielle and I are expecting to become parents for the first time in July . The significance of fatherhood is creeping in at a quickening pace. Many hours are [...]

Marketing Facts Night: Discover Your Industry Identity Host: UofT – Management & Economics Student Association (MESA) Keynote: “Don’t Follow, Lead” with Collin Douma of Social Media Group. January 28th, 2008 – Grand Baccus, Toronto Ontario (Scarborough) Event video: From MESA Who knew that dancing silhouettes could sell MP3 players? Or talking beavers would generate massive [...]

The conversation can be deafening, like the screaming buzz of a stadium at the peak of a rock concert. Other times the conversation is mute, like smiles exchanged on a jogging path. Friendly gestures or screaming anguish, it’s conversation that literally defines our humanity. Good conversation can be traced to antiquity, if not on record, [...]

#1 Focus on success in social media 2008 will be the year that determines which agencies actually understand social media, and which ones should stick to their core competencies. In 2006, most people were asking, “what is social media?” By 2007, the tone had changed to, “how can we participate in social media?” In 2008, [...]