One of the podcasts that inspired me to create this one (back in Feb ’06) was “Internet Business Mastery with Sterling & Jay.” Today, Internet Business Mastery is the #1 internet business and marketing podcast on iTunes…and, for good reason. These guys not only know what they’re talking about, they also present it in a fun, relaxed, and honest way. Have a listen and you’ll see what I mean. Right click to download.

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(Yeah, I know this is a marketing blog, but I just love Apple…)

Reported by Ben Parr on Mashable:

Apple has surpassed $300 billion in market capitalization, achieving a distinction shared currently by only one other company in the world.

By Monday at 12:10 p.m. ET, the price of Apple Inc. shares has risen by more than seven points to 329.75, giving the company an approximate market capitalization of $302.47 billion.

Apple has reported record earnings this year, thanks to the success of the iPhone 4 and the iPad. Apple sold 3.89 million Macs, 14.1 million iPhones, 9.05 million iPods and 4.19 million iPads in the fourth quarter alone.

Just eight months ago, Apple was worth $223 billion, making it the world’s most valuable technology company ahead of arch rival Microsoft. In October, shares of the computer and mobile device maker eclipsed $300, valuing the company at $274 billion.

Put another way, Apple is now worth six times the value of Facebook, and the company has increased its value by $50 billion in just six months.

Apple is now the world’s second most valuable company, bested only by Exxon Mobil Corporation’s $376 billion market capitalization.

I never plug other people’s stuff unless I believe it 100%. Well I believe in Gary Vaynerchuk and his book 200%. Yesterday, in NYC, I got a chance to meet the man himself when he personally signed my copy. If you don’t yet know about Gary or his book, Google it.

“CEO of the decade” and marketing genius Steve Jobs uses neither Twitter or Facebook as part of Apple’s marketing. So, what does that say about Social Media and the need to make it a key part of a marketing plan?

My analogy…

During the Gold Rush, the guy who got really rich with an explosive business was not a prospector. He was the guy who made the pants for the prospectors — Levi Strauss. Steve Jobs is today’s Levi Strauss.

The modern day Levi Strauss.

Listen to John Follis and other top marketing thought leaders discuss the most relevant topics of the day. http://themarketingshow.net

This is the first  in a new series I’m calling “Marketing Sabotage.” It’s inspired by an experience I just had with a web service company — one that has some of the very best marketing I’ve seen. But, they probably won’t get my business. Point being that great marketing will get a prospect knocking at your door, but what happens after that will make or break whether that prospect becomes a customer.

(more…)

The past decade saw a seismic shift in marketing communications as blogs, podcasts, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter led the media evolution. It’s an exciting time. Yet, with this cool evolution the focus on a clear, compelling company or product message has often been devalued. In many cases the over-reliance on media and technology has shifted the focus away from the resolving the key (and usually tough) marketing issues necessary for growing a successful business.

The most successful companies and organizations (Apple, Google, Team Obama, etc) work with top, independent marketing firms and experts to help them develop and maintain a strong brand message realizing that the media and technology is only a tool to help them get their message out.

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It’s Not about having a Great Product or Service.

It’s about having a great product or service and repeatedly convincing many people that you do. How you do that depends on your particular product or service, your target, your specific marketing goal, and your budget. It also depends on how visible, likable, informative, engaging, creative, memorable, and smart your message is.

Examples
Results

The past decade saw a seismic shift in marketing communications as blogs, podcasts,  online video, and other forms of Social Media led the media evolution. It’s an exciting time. And yet, with this evolution, the focus on “message” has, too often, been lost. In many cases, the over-reliance on new media and technology, has sacrificed the focus on development of a compelling, creatively engaging, message.

The most successful companies and organizations (Apple, Google, Team Obama, etc) work with marketing experts to help them develop and maintain a strong brand message realizing that the media and technology is only a tool — a tool to help them get their important message out.

More