Paul Dunay is an award-winning B2B marketing expert with more than 20 years’ success in generating demand and creating awareness for leading technology, consumer products, financial services and professional services organizations.
Paul is the global vice president of marketing for Maxymiser a leading web optimization firm, and author of four “Dummies” books: Facebook Marketing for Dummies (Wiley 2009), Social Media and the Contact Center for Dummies (Wiley Custom Publishing 2010), Facebook Advertising for Dummies (Wiley 2010) and Facebook Marketing for Dummies 2nd Edition (Wiley 2011).
His unique approach to marketing has led to recognition of Paul as a BtoB Magazine Top 25 B2B Marketer of the Year for 2010 and 2009 and winner of the DemandGen Award for Utilizing Marketing Automation to Fuel Corporate Growth in 2008. He is also a finalist for the last six years in a row in the Marketing Excellence Awards competition of the Information Technology Services Marketing Association (ITSMA), and is a 2010 and 2005 gold award winner in Driving Demand.
Buzz Marketing for Technology, Paul’s blog, has been recognized as a Top 20 Marketing Blog for 2009 and 2008, a Top Blog to Watch for 2009 and 2008, and an Advertising Age Power 150 blog in the “Daily Ranking of Marketing Blogs.”
Paul has shared his marketing thought leadership as a featured speaker for the American Marketing Association, BtoB Magazine, CMO Club, MarketingProfs, Marketing Sherpa, Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG), and ITSMA. He has appeared on Fox News, and his articles have been featured in BusinessWeek, The New York Times, BtoB Magazine, MarketingProfs and MarketingSherpa.
Paul holds an Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Computer Science from Ithaca College.
Amen to this, Paul.
I think what you’re saying is that brands must show their “human” side more and less of their corporate side. Social media certainly allows this to happen. Heck it practically forces it. Though Apple has done it well with their ads (Mac vs. PC) on that old medium called television. 🙂
That’s the tough part about social media that people and companies are having a tough time understanding. We realize how much time and effort it takes to do it well (and we’re trying!)
Successful utilization of social media requires lots of work – one can’t just hang around on the fringe, one must get in there, interact and build relationships. It’s very similar to offline networking. Some people can build a golden Rolodex of contacts, (online it’s the giant friends list) but that network only becomes valuable with constant interaction that deepens the relationships and when one really gets to know their contacts. We should all think about the questions we ask and information we gather when TALKING to people face to face.
The social media strategy is a task that can’t be given to ‘someone in the marketing department’ to dabble in. For it to be effective, it’s a full time job!
the engagement piece that social media has created has really enlightened me to the possibilities…I love the Comcast TV commercials. They make me laugh and provide a connection but I’m only momentarily engaged. Great branding, very little engagement. Unless there’s huge coolness factor AND everyone jumps on board like with Apple, a friend’s recommendation or influence impacts me the most to buy.
I think that’s an interesting perspective; there is a definite danger of using social media as just another “demographic” chart.
As always, it’s less about the “what” of the customer, but the “why”–regardless of demographics, are we hitting the right buttons with them.
-Steve
InsideSales.com
Hi paul, something stopped me dead in ym tracks yesterday and it was this: Blogs are conversations and brands are not conversations. What do you think?
Marc
totally disagree – I have worked very hard to open our brand up to a conversation and I am glad I did
having said that – we use things like a blog, like podcasts, like forums to CREATE that conversation
one relies on the other to make the conversation
Excellent post.. thank you!