Timing is everything when you’re connecting with customers through social messaging. To get it right, you need to learn to leverage anticipation, break rules and encourage fun – in other words, doing it the Volkswagen way.

Tune in as , general manager, marketing strategy and media with VW, shares his tips and tricks for connecting with shoppers socially – driving the buzz that drives sales.

What’s your… read more.

Loyalty is a very tricky term to define. And even trickier to achieve.

So, let’s level the playing field here. Brand loyalty is a shopper’s preference for a particular brand, be it a retailer or product, and a commitment to repeatedly purchase that brand in the face of other choices. Traditionally, retailers establish loyalty programs that offer rewards to repeat customers. This allows retailers to keep track of preferences and buying habits, but is this loyalty defined?  It could just as easily be understood as opportunism, transient and fleeting, driven by a transactional relationship rather than long-term engagement.

To… read more.

While some auto industry giants battle vehicle recalls and government bailouts, Mazda zooms into 2010 with a new model and a solid brand. Don Romano, President of Mazda Canada and acting CMO of Mazda North America joins us to talk about the 10th anniversary of Zoom-Zoom, the launch the new Mazda 2  and the value of a customer-centric strategy.

Don also shares:

• Why… read more.

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At fifteen years old, Amanda Vega worked at the forefront of social media before the term even existed. Her first job was to spot emerging trends in AOL chatrooms. More than a decade later, Amanda continues to apply the basic principles she learned at AOL to help leading brands establish valuable online social strategies. We caught up with Amanda, now CEO of Amanda Vega Consulting and author of PR in… read more.

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With more than twelve years of digital marketing experience, Matt O’Brien, founder of Mint Social, shares his “five-by-five” model for social media as well as his insights on social media’s holy grail: return on investment.

Also on The Brand Show, Matt explains:

• How to establish goals for a social media campaign.
• Why social media delivers… read more.

Erika Andersen, CEO of Proteus International and author of Being Strategic: Building the Castle on the Hill has helped major brands turn vision into action for more than 20 years. She talks with us about what it means to be strategic and how to cross the chasm between where we’re starting and where we want to go.

During our interview, we learn:

• The real definition of strategy and true fingerprint of strategic thinking.
• Common obstacles that can get in the way of a company’s desired future.
• Techniques… read more.