All the Interesting Things: Marketing, PR, and Ideas for 01/17/14

One of SHIFT’s 7 core values is connected which means much more than just having a full Address Book app on your phone. Connected means knowing what’s going on, knowing what’s worth reading and sharing. Here are the top 5 most interesting reads that SHIFTers shared among each other lately. Let us know what you think in the comments!

Booth Babes Don’t Work

Vice President Christopher Penn on why this matters:

This post by Spencer Chen should put to rest any remaining myths about the effectiveness of “marketing events consultants”… aka “booth babes”. He did an A/B test at two separate booths at a trade show, staffing one with “consultants” and the other with actual grandmothers. The results? Grandma netted 550 leads generated at the show, while the “consultants” netted less than half. The next time you’re thinking about who to use to staff a booth, bring Spencer’s data with you.

Stress Screener

L&D Coordinator Kristina Norris on why this matters:

Be sure to keep yourself healthy and balanced this year by taking time to replenish those things that restore your well-being. They can be anything from eating healthy, taking breaks throughout the day to refresh your mind, expressing gratitude or taking a yoga class. Learning to let go of items that are out of your control and keep things in perspective can also help you restore a sense of physical and emotional well-being that the body requires.

Check out ‘Stress Screen’ provided in the link to measure your stress and to find more tools and resources to help you improve your mental health.

Worldwide Internet, social media and mobile statistics: Dig into 183 pages of data

Account Executive Ilan Cedillos on why this matters:

For all us data nerds out there!

Coda for iPhone is a collaborative platform for creative writers

Senior Marketing Analyst Chel Wolverton on why this matters:

It’s often said that if you want to be a better writer, practice is the key to making progress. This week I read about an app called Coda that makes practice on the go easy. No excuses, sign up and write while on the bus, waiting for food when dining out, or wherever else life may take you. If you made the resolution to be a better or more creative writer this year, this may be the app you’re looking for.

Media Relations is Dead. Long Live Media Relations.

Marketing Analyst Amanda Grinavich on why this matters:

We’re in an interesting time where the media landscape is shifting. In the past, getting your client’s name out there relied mostly on getting them into the news. Publications were the lead gatekeeper. Now, the rise of social media and content marketing has changed that, giving brands new opportunities to tell their own stories and interact directly with their audiences. While relying solely on media relations is no longer relevant to strong PR success, it will continue to be one of the top things clients look for. Peter Himler does a great job addressing the topic in this piece.

Chel Wolverton 
Senior Marketing Analyst

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