Happy Thursday <<First Name>> –

A fresh coat of paint can do a lot. It can revitalize a space, add visual interest, and help you set the stage. That’s why I’ve taken a page from interior design and applied it to this email newsletter. I’m eager to hear what you think. However, my primary goal hasn’t changed. To provide you with the marketing and communication content you may have missed over the past week. Without further ado ...

Why Are We Unfriending Facebook?

According to the Infinite Dial 2019 study from Edison Research, Facebook use is down for the first time in its history. This week on Medium, Edison VP Tom Webster explores why people are turning their backs on the social network giant. Spoiler alert: The answer isn't as simple as you think.

How Google's Keynote Speakers Keep Presentation Slides Engaging and Easy to Follow

"One point per slide" is a lesson I give frequently in my communication courses. Sounds like this advice is in the Google keynote speakers' playbook as well.

Most Americans Report Being More Likely to Trust A Purpose-Led Company

According to new data from Porter Novelli / Cone, over three-quarters of US adults expect businesses to positively impact society instead of just make money. However, the proof is in the pudding. Or, in this case, in the yogurt ...

Chobani Pays Off School District Lunch Debt

What can that positive impact look like? Chobani will wipe out the outstanding lunch balances accumulated over the school year in the Twin Falls School District in Idaho. As I noted in Brand Now, standout brands stand for something.

Remixing Your Brand’s Story and Content
This week on the On Brand podcast I was joined by Judi Holler, speaker, improviser, and author of the the book Fear Is My Homeboy. We talked about the power of story, content remixing, and how improv skills make you a better communicator.

Intermission: Shine Through Restoration

Last week I saw a restoration of “The Shining” at FilmScene in Iowa City. This brand new restoration of Kubrick’s classic was overseen by Steven Spielberg and debuted to accolades last month at Cannes. The buzz was warranted. The film looked and sounded amazing (Sweet Fancy Moses — that opening aerial shot with the ominous music sets the stage perfectly).

Restoration isn’t just for classic films. You can take some of your best-performing content historically and look for ways to enhance it for today's audiences. Update that old top blog post of yours with new data. Infuse it with new and divergent opinions. Enrich it visually with images and video. The sky's the limit! But don't get too stressed. Remember, “All work and no play ...”

Here’s How Logos of Famous Painters Would Look

Okay, this is just fun. Brazilian artist Milton Omena challenged himself to create visual identities for famous painters.

Seth Godin Doesn't Think You Should Memorize Your Talk

In a blog post earlier in the week, Seth Godin shares why memorizing your next speech may not be the best move. I've seen great points for and against this article. Personally, what Seth describes is how I work. I don't have a script that I memorize. I have stories I tell and a visual reminder prompting me as to which story comes next. Ultimately, you do have to do what works best for you.

Slaughterhouse 5-0

Fun act: Kurt Vonnegut wrote much of his classic novel Slaughterhouse-Five while teaching at the writer's workshop at the University of Iowa. Here are a couple of articles about what this novel tells us today and a look back at Vonnegut's time at Iowa.

REMINDER: The Comfortable Camouflage of Bad Communication

Last week I shared a new post stressing that bad communication habits are easy to fall into because we're frequently surrounded by bad communication models. The solution? Find better models. Here are a few ideas on how you can do that.

There you have it! If you have ideas on stories we could share or content you’d like to see in any format (article ideas, blog posts, podcast guests, events, etc) simply reply to this email and we can chat. I’d love to hear from you.

Until next week, see you on the Internet!

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