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Amazon Go, Instant Gratification, and the Boring Future of Business (Thinks Out Loud Episode 265) — Headlines and Show Notes

Amazon uses its Amazon Go stores to provide the shopping experience of the future. Swipe your phone when you enter, pick up your things, and simply walk out. No lines. No scanning products. Nothing. It's cool. It's also surprisingly… boring. Yes, it provides instant gratification. But it's an experience that's so invisible as to be, ultimately, uninteresting.

What is interesting though is how Amazon Go — and competing options as they come down the pike — will shape expectations for customer experience for every business. Your customers will expect instant gratification. They'll expect seamless experiences. They'll demand that their interactions with you become invisible. Or, the reverse:, much more interesting.

How can your company cope? How do you create these kinds of experiences? The latest episode of Thinks Out Loud takes a look at Amazon Go, instant gratification, and the boring future of business for you. And even better, offers answers for these questions for you.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you:

Amazon Go, Instant Gratification, and the Boring Future of Business (Thinks Out Loud Episode 265) — Relevant Links:

* Amazon Go Shows How E-commerce Will Work in the Future (Thinks Out Loud Episode 182)

* (1) Jean-Yves Gonin on Twitter: "#B2B buyers are also #B2C consumers, as #ecommerce experiences explosive growth, so do expectations >>> #PwC and @salesforce via @MikeQuindazzi >>> #dreamforce2019 #onlineshopping #AI #IoT #DataAnalytics #DigitalMarketing >>> https://t.co/JtSBGX5HJP https://t.co/nl8WaH1ywp" / Twitter

* 65% of B2B buyers prefer to conduct their purchase research online

* 37% of SMB B2B respondents and 31% of enterprise takes place online (PWC & Mike Quindazzi)

* Lori Wizdo at Forrester has being saying something similar for years, noting that, on average "74% of business buyers told Forrester they conduct more than half of their research online before making an offline purchase." Myth Busting 101: Insights IntoThe B2B Buyer Journey

* Why AI is a 'Differentiator for the Future' at Starbucks – QSR magazine

* Customer Experience is Queen? What Does That Mean? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 190

* 8 Amazing AI and Customer Experience Posts For You Archives

There's an old joke that says if you laid all the economists in the world end-to-end, they wouldn't reach a conclusion. That seems entirely appropriate given the current reporting on the odds of — or against — a recession next year. Just check out the variety of (educated, mind you) opinions from an array of economists listed in the show notes below.

But here's the thing. Whether there's a recession or not isn't important. How you react, how you make your marketing work, in good times and bad is what separates the great marketers from the merely average.

Whether you're worried about a recession or not, the latest episode of Thinks Out Loud looks at what you can do in a down economy to ensure your business succeeds. And what's even better is these tips work during good times too.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you:

Relevant Links — Worried About a Recession Next Year? Here's How Marketers Can Cope (Thinks Out Loud Episode 264):

* US recession odds are dwindling, key indicators show | Fox Business

* Global Economy Will Avoid Recession, and See Some Recovery in 2020|The Conference Board

* Ryan Avent on Twitter: "[whispers] The yield curve uninverted immediately prior to the last three recessions." / Twitter

* "…Under the current Moody’s Analytics baseline economic outlook, which does not forecast any recession…" Source: Trump in a landslide? This historically accurate model predicts exactly that – MarketWatch

* How Likely Is A Recession By The 2020 Elections? Here's What Top Economists Say | Bankrate

* The U.S. Will Likely Avoid Recession in 2020. Here's Why – Bloomberg

* Global economy 'far' from recession, IMF official says – Reuters

* Economy: Management Insiders Forecast a 2020 Recession | Fortune

* 3 out of 4 economists predict a U.S. recession by 2021, survey finds – The Washington Post

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Google keeps wining in the marketplace. You see this everyday. If you're like most businesses, you rely on Google for 40% to 60% of your traffic or more. They're the beast that scares your industry's 800lb. gorilla. And they keep getting better… and bigger. But they also provide a clear example for how you can win in the cutthroat competitive digital environment you live in every day.

The latest episode of Thinks Out Loud looks at why Google keeps winning and the playbook they provide so that you can win too.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you:

Relevant Links — Why Google Keeps Winning. And How You Can Win Too. (Thinks Out Loud Episode 263)

* Understanding searches better than ever before

* Stop Outsourcing Your Sales & Marketing to Gatekeepers Like Google (Thinks Out Loud Episode 257)

* Why Google is the Beast That Scares Your Industry's 800-lb. Gorilla (Thinks Out Loud Episode 238)

* How to Compete With Amazon (and Expedia and Google and…) (Thinks Out Loud Episode 221)

* AI For Marketers: AI Makes Big Data Little (Thinks Out Loud Episode 196)

* AI Won't Steal Your Job: Smart People Who Put AI to Work Will (Thinks Out Loud Episode 208)

* Content is King, Customer Experience is Queen (Thinks Out Loud Episode 188)

* Data is the Crown Jewels: What That Means for Marketers Today (Thinks Out Loud Episode 239)

* How To Run Your Business As If Google Didn’t Exist (Thinks Out Loud Episode 298)

* How to Build a Digital Company (Thinks Out L...

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For Marketers, It’s Not a Mobile Phone. It’s a Window (Thinks Out Loud Episode 262) — Headlines and Show Notes

Data and mobile go hand-in-hand for marketers. That's not a secret. But have you thought about what that really means for your business? We live in a time of radical transparency. Because the radically transparent information that customers can gain about your business tells them everything they could want to know about your products, services, quality, and prices — whether you want them to or not.

But their mobile phone isn't really a mobile phone. It's a window. And just as they can see into your business, you can see into their lives. Savvy marketers understand this. They also understand what's appropriate to look at… and what ought to be off limits. Savvy marketers know how to ask permission… and know what they maybe shouldn't ask for at all. And savvy marketers know how to put that data to work for their business… and for the benefit of their customers.

The latest episode of Thinks Out Loud looks at why it's not a mobile, and why it's a window. And we also take a look at you can succeed in a world where both you and your customer can see everything about one another without being creepy.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you:

For Marketers, It’s Not a Mobile Phone. It’s a Window (Thinks Out Loud Episode 262) — Relevant Links:

* Should You Quit Marketing and Become a Data Scientist Instead? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 261)

* The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail (Management of Innovation and Change) by Clayton M. Christensen

* Sensors – definition – GSMArena.com

* Why Mobile and Data Go Hand-in-Hand for Marketers (Thinks Out Loud Episode 253)

* What the Big Shift to Mobile Means for Your Business (Thinks Out Loud Episode 251)

* Why are marketers afraid of data?

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Should You Quit Marketing and Become a Data Scientist Instead? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 261) — Headlines and Show Notes

Given the rise of data science in marketing, whether for personalization, AI, predictive analytics, or whatever comes down the pike next, you wouldn't be criticized for asking whether you should quit marketing and become a data scientist. But is that really a good idea? Is the future of marketing nothing more than writing algorithms? Or is there a future for creative people who focus on the customer in total.

The latest episode of Thinks Out Loud looks at whether you should quit marketing and instead focus on becoming a data scientist – and how you can best succeed no matter what the future of marketing, or data, holds.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you:

Relevant Links:

* Data is the Crown Jewels: What That Means for Marketers Today (Thinks Out Loud Episode 239)

* Why are marketers afraid of data? – Biznology

* AI and … Pizza? – Biznology

* “How To Measure Anything: Finding the Value of Intangibles in Business” by Douglas Hubbard

* Will Digital Turn Every Business Into a Service? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 235)

* Who Owns the Customer? Marketing or Digital? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 226)

* How Badly Has Facebook Effed Up? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 234)

* How Marketers Can Put Data to Work Next Year – Biznology

* Maximizing Data to Put Personalization to Work for Your Property

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State of the Podcast: Does Podcasting Still Make Sense in 2020 (Thinks Out Loud Episode 260) — Headlines and Show Notes

With the growth of mobile, podcasting provides a huge content marketing opportunity for many businesses. In fact, we've found it very positive for our business here at Tim Peter & Associates. So, what lessons have we learned about using podcasts for B2B marketing? How can you build a successful podcast that meets the needs of your customers? And do podcasts work for B2B marketing?

The latest episode of Thinks Out Loud provides a "state of the podcast" update for you, along with tips, tricks and lessons learned from over 260 episodes of podcasting for B2B marketing.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you:

State of the Podcast: Do Podcasts Work for B2B Marketing? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 260) -Relevant Links:

* International Podcast Day

* Mobile Is Not a Device; Mobile is a Situation (Thinks Out Loud Episode 259)

* Does Podcasting Make Sense for Your Business in 2019? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 230)

* Thinks Out Loud Episode 11: Does Podcasting Make Sense? A Digital Marketing Case Study

* Thinks Out Loud Episode 12: Small Business Podcasting Overview

* Mobile Is Not a Device; Mobile is a Situation (Thinks Out Loud Episode 259)

* Content is King, Customer Experience is Queen (Thinks Out Loud Episode 188)

* Hey Marketers: Is 2019 Everything You've Hoped For?

* 3 Trends Driving Your Digital Strategy (Thinks Out Loud Episode 185)

* Transcription Services | Audio & Video Transcriptions – Rev

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Mobile Is Not a Device; Mobile is a Situation (Thinks Out Loud Episode 259) — Headlines and Show Notes

This shouldn't be news, but mobile is way bigger than you think. No, really. Much, much bigger. And the reason is because mobile is not a device; mobile is a situation. And it's a situation that major players like Apple, Google, and now Amazon are positioning themselves to take advantage of. The question is whether you're doing the same for you business.

The latest episode of Thinks Out Loud takes a look at the fact that mobile is a situation and asks how you get ready for your business to handle that situation in the coming year.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you:

Relevant Links:

* Amazon plans Alexa earbuds with fitness tracking, Echo with subwoofer

* The Future of Digital Arrived Last Week (Thinks Out Loud Episode 177)

* AirPods are the second-best selling Apple product within two years of launch, search rate up 500% YoY – 9to5Mac

* Apple Watch Was Number One Smart Watch in Q2 2019 With an Estimated 5.7M Units Shipped – MacRumors

* Mobile, Millennials, and…Moms? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 256)

* Mobile is So Much Bigger Than You Think – Thinks Out Loud Episode 140

* It's All E-commerce, Apple Edition

* Thinks Out Loud Episode 30: The Rise of AGFAM (Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft) and Everywhere Shopping

* Google is preparing for screenless computers – Quartz

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Gatekeepers Gonna Gate: Apple, Google, and Antitrust (Thinks Out Loud Episode 258) – Headlines and Show Notes

Apple's getting in some trouble for how their App Store restricts access to apps that aren't Apple's. Google's getting in even more trouble with antitrust authorities. And Facebook's not super popular with regulators either, facing scrutiny from a handful of state attorneys general too. We live in a world where it's clear that gatekeepers gonna gate. But is antitrust regulation the right answer? Should Google and Apple and Facebook and Amazon have to reveal all the details of how they do what they do?

The latest episode of Thinks Out Loud takes a look both at the reality that gatekeepers gonna gate and asks a series of questions about what you should expect of these tech giants, both as a marketer and as a consumer.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you:

Relevant Links:

* How Apple's Apps Topped Rivals in the App Store It Controls – The New York Times

* Google under antitrust investigation by 50 attorneys general – The Verge

* Stop Outsourcing Your Sales & Marketing to Gatekeepers Like Google (Thinks Out Loud Episode 257)

* Why Google is the Beast That Scares Your Industry's 800-lb. Gorilla (Thinks Out Loud Episode 238)

* Digital Gatekeepers and the Death of Organic Traffic (Thinks Out Loud Episode 247)

* How to Compete With Amazon (and Expedia and Google and…) (Thinks Out Loud Episode 221)

* In Digital, Is Google Your Enemy? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 249)

* How Worried Are You About Google Next Year? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 255)

* Digital is Like Gravity (Thinks Out Loud Epis...

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Stop Outsourcing Your Sales & Marketing to Gatekeepers Like Google (Thinks Out Loud Episode 257) – Headlines and Show Notes

Google, Facebook, Amazon, and others are starting to face a fair bit of scrutiny over whether they have too much power in the lives of consumers and companies. That's probably for the best. But, regardless of how the various investigations unfold, it's worth asking whether you could do more to ensure Google is good for your business too. And the single biggest way to do that is to stop outsourcing your sales & marketing to Google – and to every other gatekeeper too.

How can you do that? Well, the latest episode of Thinks Out Loud takes a look at the actions taken by gatekeepers over the last couple of years and how you can use these technology giants to help, not harm, your company's sales and marketing.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you:

Relevant Links:

* More Than Half the Nation’s State Attorneys General Could Sign on to Antitrust Inquiry Against Google

* Why Google is the Beast That Scares Your Industry's 800-lb. Gorilla (Thinks Out Loud Episode 238)

* Digital Gatekeepers and the Death of Organic Traffic (Thinks Out Loud Episode 247)

* How to Compete With Amazon (and Expedia and Google and…) (Thinks Out Loud Episode 221)

* In Digital, Is Google Your Enemy? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 249)

* Mobile, Millennials, and…Moms? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 256)

* How Worried Are You About Google Next Year? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 255)

* Why Verizon Selling Tumblr Should Make Marketers Very, Very Happy (Thinks Out Loud Episode 254)

* Quick "Verizon Sells Tumblr to WordPress" Follow-up

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Mobile, Millennials, and…Moms? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 256) – Headlines and Show Notes

I've talked before about the "end of Millennials" and how we need to think about the world's largest demographic cohort not as "Millennials," but as "adults under 40." Well, research from Pew highlights exactly how why that's even more important than you may have realized…and got me thinking about what mobile, millennial moms mean for marketers today.

The latest episode of Thinks Out Loud takes a look at mobile, millennials and moms to uncover how those will shape your marketing over the next year or two — and why you want to be thinking about your business for years to come.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you:

Relevant Links:

* Millennials are the most tech-saturated generation of parents yet. It isn’t always a good thing. – The Washington Post

* In the U.S., 17 million Millennial moms | Pew Research Center

* Where Millennials end and Generation Z begins | Pew Research Center

* Smartphone, Social Media Users Have Broader Social Networks In Emerging Economies | Pew Research Center

* Mobile Technology and Home Broadband 2019 | Pew Research Center

* The End of Millennials (Thinks Out Loud Episode 224)

* The Mobile-Social Commerce Connection – Thinks Out Loud Episode 118

* Why Mobile and Data Go Hand-in-Hand for Marketers (Thinks Out Loud Episode 253)

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