Comments on: Boston The New Hub Of Marketing

By: dealsbennett

dealsbennett — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:10:42 +0000

Dharmesh – it is amazing – we have a great deal of talent focused in this emerging field. Need to continue to push the boundaries, help each other deliver on the promise and create a vibrant ecosystem around this movement! Jeff

By: Dharmesh Shah

Dharmesh Shah — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:38:47 +0000

Thanks for picking up on this meme.

It’s amazing to be in the middle of such talented visionaries in the marketing space in the Boston area.

By: dealsbennett

dealsbennett — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:22:39 +0000

Thanks for the comment Jules. We have to walk the walk now. Also thanks on Groundswell edit…it is one of the books I recommend on this blog…and it is the work of Josh Bernoff and Chalene Li…duly noted. Changed in the post too. Thanks to both Josh and Charlene for a very good book.

By: Jules Pieri

Jules Pieri — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:00:53 +0000

We always did do “thinking” well in Boston. The tradition continues. I like your perspective on “companies” vs. “brands,” and the levelling of the playing field. In my young business I never worry about the big guys taking us on. They are at a huge disadvantage.

Taking this logic even further, I enjoyed a chat with Jorge Espinel (Former head of M & A at AOL) the other day. He said “People are only going to affiliate with people now, not brands. That is where the powerful connections (and valuable assets) will get built.” “Companies” that understand this will prosper.

It’s really hard to the the big guys to compete on that basis. Zappos breaks through by creating a personal connection at all levels but they are an exception and not easy to imitate. They had that culture from the start, when it was much harder to build, pre social media.

Little addendum: Josh Bernoff co-authored “Groundswell”.