What are marketers wishing for this December? I know, I know . . . We all want more hours in the day, bigger budgets and better ROI -but unfortunately, those kinds of things are just too difficult to wrap! Here are a handful of more practical ideas I suggest you add to your holiday wish list this year.
Mobile devices. Marketers today are always "on." We have to be. Even when I'm not "at work," I'm thinking about strategies, planning tactics or running through the numbers on a new initiative. Of course, most of us are now always "on-the-go," too. No one is chained to a desk anymore, and if you're like me, you're often traveling to meet with clients or to collaborate with colleagues at industry events.
Nomads like us need information that's easily accessible and as portable as possible -and that's why a full-feature smartphone is a must-have for anyone in marketing today. What's more, I have to add that I'm now a big fan of the iPad, as well. I estimate that these days I reach for my iPad instead of my laptop about eight out of ten times. I find it's more convenient and more intuitive.
Productivity apps. If you want to be productive while you're on-the-go, you need the right apps. I use a marketing app to access my content, look up customer profiles, and even check my spend and performance -anytime, from anywhere that I can use my phone. That kind of accessibility isn't just convenient, it's empowering. Remember this:
Access = Productivity = Results.
The iTunes App Store is loaded with general business and productivity apps, too. If you need help narrowing down the selection, see PCMag's favorites listed in the article, The 100 Best iPad Apps.
Angry Birds subscription. Even if you're equipped with great apps, no one can be 100 percent productive 24/7. Once in awhile, you just have to kick back and re-charge. I find Angry Birds offers the comic stress-relief I need. Plus, whenever I'm playing, I'm reminded about the phenomenal success of Rovio, the maker of Angry Birds. Billed as "the largest mobile app success the world has seen so far," the game now boasts a combined 500 million downloads across all platforms. See this interview with Andrew Stalbow, Rovio Entertainment's General Manager of North America, for great insights about the company's marketing plans for 2012. We all can learn something from Rovio's accomplishments.
Marketing books. Speaking of marketing case studies, have you read any of the informative -and yet highly entertaining -marketing books out today? Don't be fooled: Business books aren't the dry tomes they used to be. Download a few to your iPad or Kindle this holiday season, and see for yourself. I guarantee you'll start the New Year with fresh ideas and inspiration.
I particularly liked Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. Given current industry dynamic s, we all know marketers have no choice but to embrace change. However, being the change agent isn't always easy. In Switch, brothers Chip and Dan Heath, present an analysis of why we often fear change and what we can do to modify our behaviors to start moving in a new direction. I've applied concepts from the book with my team, and I've seen strong results.
Wi-Fi detector shirt. So far, every one of my suggestions has a digital component, and it's clear that these days, we all want to stay connected. Wear this shirt and you won't have to bother turning on your iPad/laptop to see if you are within range of wi-fi access. All you'll have to do is look down. The bars on the front of the shirt start glowing as the surrounding wi-fi signal strength fluctuates. ThinkGeek.com calls it "stylish." I think it's fun -and quite emblematic of our digital world.
Social media accessories. We're going to be talking more and more about social media marketing in 2012, so why not dress the part? Twitter-inspired accessories, such as necklaces, earrings and wedding bands (!) are available atTwittaBling.com and on Etsy. Social media t-shirts, baseball caps and more are at CafePress. If you're looking for home décor, Craftsquatch offers pillows perfect for Facebook, Twitter and G+ fans.
Did I miss something that's on your list? What gifts are you hoping to unwrap this holiday season?