Marketers Studio - David Berkowitz's Marketing Blog

What Can Madison Avenue Can Learn From Silicon Alley?

I'll keep this one quick. I've got a post this week in Digiday on how some agency professionals are starting to apply a Silicon Alley & Valley mentality:

Recent dealings with peers at other agencies have been collaborative, open and supportive, partially thanks to the formation of the Technology, Advertising & Startup Council, which I co-founded with Darren Herman, Ian Schafer and Mark Silva. While we’ve all cut our teeth in the agency business, I’m not sure any of us wholeheartedly identify with being ”agency people.” I have been with my agency for seven years, but calling me an agency guy is too limiting. When I’m doing my job well, I’m a connector of people and ideas, a strategist, an educator and an advisor. I’m not the grown-up version of the kids in the 2006 satirical clip, “When I Grow Up I Wanna Work in Advertising.”

I identify far more closely with the spirit of Silicon Valley and Silicon Alley. People with the Silicon ethos believe in collaboration. There is far more to be gained from partnership opportunities than there is to be lost from competitive threats. It’s the mindset that gave birth to open source and the Creative Commons. Darren nailed it in a blog post last spring, when he said, “entrepreneurs are idealists and agencies are realists.”

Read the full post at Digiday. I'd love to know what you think.

What Are You Doing During Social Media Week?

It's that time of year again! While Social Media Week should be every week, it's only once week a year (well, two weeks each year, but only once week a year in any given city).

This year, I'll be a little more cooped up than usual, but I am taking part in two events, and it'd be great to see you at either or both.

On Thursday, February 21 at noon, I'll be joining the Technology, Advertising & Startup Council (TASC) for an event to answer startups' questions. If you're at all interested in how startups can better work with agencies and marketers, come join Darren Herman, Ian Schafer, Darren Herman, and myself. Also, if you want REALLY help support this event, submit and vote on questions in advance using Google Moderator.

Later on Thursday, I get to join an esteemed group of panelists judging the SUXORZ - the worst social media marketing blunders of 2012. Along with Suxorz founder Henry Copeland, you'll hear from Kenyatta Cheese, BL Ochman, and Saya Weissman, plus an audience that tends to be very interactive and knows how to have a good time. Oh, and because I like you, use the code SUX for 50% off. 

See you there? Let me know.

PS: I'll be at SXSW too, if you're planning ahead...

 

 

A Video Recap of CES 2013

I've had some coverage of the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show here before, but I've got one more to add to it, via iMedia Connection. Along with giving an Insights Presentation recapping the major trends, I got to show a two-minute video from the convention center featuring some big trends and bigger brands. Read more at iMedia, and thanks go to Bethany Simpson for her deft camerawork and production, and David Zaleski for his professional editing and post-production.

CES wrap-up video from iMedia Connection on Vimeo.