Joel Trammell says, “Every growing company has a laundry list of initiatives it could pursue: products to develop, markets to enter, partnerships to chase, strategic hires to make … and on and on and on. Many of these pursuits might seem deeply important, each possibly the key to runaway success. But realistically, the company can focus on only a few of these goals at a time. For the ambitious leader, this feels like being at a mouthwatering buffet with a tiny saucer for a plate. Choosing goals to tackle — and then fully committing to them — is painful. So a lot of us end up pushing... [...]

Christina Warren says, “Adobe Flash’s death march continues. Google announced Tuesday that beginning June 30, display ads built in Flash can no longer be uploaded to AdWords or DoubleClick Digital Marketing — its two biggest ad products. In a Google+ post announcing the news, Google added that it will stop running Flash ads on Jan. 2, 2017. The one minor caveat is that video ads using Flash will still continue to work and be served. This is just the latest sign that Flash on the web is truly coming to an end. And that’s a good thing, because despite the major role Flash played... [...]

John Rampton says, “Social media is an essential part of 21st century life. And, that’s especially true for business owners who are looking to connect with customers, influencers and even potential investors. While having a social media marketing strategy is a necessity, it can become extremely time consuming. Between updating your profile, responding to customers, coming up with content and sharing content, managing your social media accounts can become a full-time job”. 7 worthwhile ways to automate social media MarketingProfs  [...]

Kellen Beck says, “The speed of your Chrome browser is about to go up. That’s thanks to Google  rolling out a new data-compression algorithm, which will speed up your web browsing by reducing file sizes. Google employee Ilya Grigorik announced on Google+ that the Brotli compression algorithm will be coming soon to Chrome. Brotli is currently in beta, and advanced Chrome Canary users can enable it now through the chrome://flags menu in. Following Google’s previous data-compression algorithm, Zopfli, Brotli is named after Swiss baked goods, meaning “small bread.” The... [...]

Mashable team says, “The scene: A smoke-filled room clamors with anger, frustration and optimism as men in earth-tone suits and skinny wool ties debate — from art to copy to product placement — the best ways to sell dishwasher fluid. At long last, they agree, clink their glasses of brandy and set a plan in motion for six months down the road. That’s marketing in a nutshell, right? A closed-door, one-size-fits-all operation that moves at the speed of molasses. Well, let’s just say that picture is a little outdated. And not just because of the outfits. Today, technology plays... [...]

Stephanie Walden says, “When it comes to your business’ customer service strategy, social media can simultaneously be your brand’s most valuable ally and its most intimidating nemesis. On one hand, when handled skillfully and tactfully, customer service via social media can produce positive PR and create fervent brand loyalty that’s infectious. Having 24/7 access to customers and the ability to instantly communicate with them — as well as quickly resolve issues — can prove invaluable. On the other hand, social media provides a very public forum for disgruntled customers... [...]

Nellie Akalp says, “By now, we’ve all seen the impressive numbers on the “freelance” or “gig economy.” Millions of professionals are skipping the traditional corporate structure and turning to freelancing, consulting or temp/on-demand assignments. According to a study by MBO Partners, the U.S. economy currently has 30.2 million independent workers — and that number is expected to hit nearly 38 million by 2020. While these solo entrepreneurs may not need all the formality of a small to mid-size business, they still need to build their brand and manage their business.... [...]

Shafqat Islam says, “In 2015, we reached peak content marketing. Even Gartner has content marketing entering the “trough of disillusionment.” That means we’re going to be suffering from the hangover as things get real. Marketers’ tenacity to stick with the game plan will be tested and we’ll see some “me too” content marketing efforts stutter and stop. But the marketers who stay the course and focus on their strategy (and measurement) will emerge as long-term winners, both for themselves and the brands they represent. Budgets will continue to grow, but will require more justification... [...]

Chris Perkins says, “With little fanfare, a new Facebook feature has emerged. The desktop-only feature called Facebook Professional Services lets users find reviews and information on local businesses. Search Engine Land first reported about it Monday night. A click on one of Facebook’s business categories brings up a list of well-rated local businesses, with links to their business profile pages. There’s a host of categories to choose from though it seems like there are some bugs in the system. For example, clicking on “Event Planning” in New York City brings up... [...]

Jason Abbruzzese says, “”Know thyself.” It is one of the Delphic maxims of ancient Greece, carved into the Temple of Apollo. It is sage advice but also a warning — one that Yahoo and its CEO Marissa Mayer still have not heeded. Is Yahoo a media company or a tech company? That’s the central question that has dogged the once-dominant Internet company for the better part of a decade. It was the question Steve Jobs posed in 2007 when he visited the company headquarters. It’s also the question Mayer told people in 2014 to stop asking. But it’s a relevant question,... [...]