• marketing lessons from reality v

    7 Reality TV Marketing Lessons That Aren’t About Going Viral

    Look, I didn’t mean to become an expert in reality TV. It just… happened. One minute, I was folding laundry to the soothing chaos of Real Housewives of New Jersey, and the next, I was mentally taking notes on how Teresa’s personal brand somehow survived flipping a table. And prison. Yes! She survived flipping a table and federal prison. And somehow came back with a book deal and a glow-up. And that’s when it hit me: reality TV is an absolute goldmine of marketing lessons. I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous. But if you squint past the drama, sequins, and aggressively edited dinner parties (or the survival challenges, renovation…

  • spring reset ideas

    5 Spring Reset Ideas That Don’t Involve a Cleanse or a Rebrand

    I’m not doing a “new me” this spring. I don’t have the energy for some full-blown reinvention. And truthfully? I kind of like the old me. She’s really been through it, but still has a few endearing quirks. For example, she has this thing for reality TV, goes to bed weirdly early, and keeps a list of oddly specific notes in her reminder app. (Current favorite: “Organize the pantry, toss the mystery tea bags, and stop pretending the decorative lentils are part of a meal plan.”) Instead, what I am doing is a soft reset. Not a cleanse (been there, done that!). Not a challenge (have enough of those, thank…

  • knitting lessons business marketing

    What Knitting Has Taught Me About Business and Marketing

    I’ve been knitting for many years. It started all the way back before my daughter was born, when I was determined to make her a blanket before she arrived. That was also probably my first lesson in good intentions not always leading to results (or maybe in biting off more than you can chew!). Despite buying all the supplies, picking out the perfect pattern, and envisioning how beautiful the finished product would be, I never actually made that blanket. But I did learn something: starting is easy, but following through is the real challenge. Almost two decades and hundreds of successful knitting projects later, I’ve found my place in the…

  • duo marketing gamification storytelling

    Duo’s “Death” + Gamification + Storytelling = Marketing Genius

    By now, you’ve probably heard the heart-wrenching story of the “death” of Duolingo’s owl, Duo. And I’m putting “death” in quotes because, let’s be real… did he really die? Will he be revived? Probably. But that’s beside the point. If you need a recap, check out this article. What’s (slightly) more interesting than the fate of our adorable language coach is the marketing genius behind this moment. Let’s dive into what Duo has to do with marketing, gamification, and storytelling. How Gamification Made Duo’s “Death” So Effective Duolingo didn’t just build an app; it built an experience. And at the heart of that experience is gamification, the use of game-like…