In the summer of 2008, while the people of New York City were sweating and bustling about, as they do, we were off the sidewalks and on our computers. It was dumb. But we were working hard, learning a great deal in this internship doohickey, and paying the rent.
Then, one ridiculous day, we went to a conference. At this conference, which will remain unnamed, we met a lot of wacky marketers. They met to discuss the challenges of “brand interaction in social media” and “creating conversations with customers,” and other four-dollar phrases made of four-cent words. We sat, we listened, and we took passed notes.
We learned a lot from that conference, but nothing from what they said there. Instead, we took home a notebook full of exasperated retorts and personal resolutions. We also took home the new realization that we already knew the right way to market– we just didn’t realize, at least this vividly, how very unprepared everyone had been for marketing online (or anywhere).
Of course, not all marketers are wacky. We know a few great ones, brilliant and wise ones, and we follow them wholeheartedly. We also try to be unwacky ourselves, so wish us luck.
