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Award-winning blogger, brand marketer, public relations executive and social media innovator As featured on CNN, "60 Minutes" and "Good Morning America," and in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Telegraph (U.K.), The Times (London) and more

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Read Marian's award-winning four-part series from the Huffington Post about the brain (including creativity, collaboration, the information onslaught and the new definition of braininess) here.
February 19, 2013, 9:01 am

2013 Will Be Brutal for CEOs

by Marian in: Social Media | The Economy | brands

Originally posted on CNBC.com.

I recently came across some survey data that suggests 2013 will be a tough year for CEOs—or, at least, many of them believe that it will be. Now that the economy’s “green shoots” of recovery are starting to bud into potential blossoms, expectations are up in terms of … [continue reading... ]

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January 17, 2013, 11:48 pm

From Bradley to Lena: Personal Branding on the Red Carpet

by Marian in: Mass Media | Social Media | Trends | brands

Originally posted on Forbes.com.

Pleasure and entertainment are probably the main reasons people tuned in to the Golden Globes and its red carpet pre-show on Sunday. It’s safely sanctioned, free fun to see the fashion and hairstyles and the reactions to them. But these events are also fascinating as trend barometers, pointing out what’s … [continue reading... ]

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January 15, 2013, 9:01 am

Personal Branding Around Communities and Political Beliefs

by Marian in: American Life | Politics | brands | marketing

Originally posted on Forbes.com.

I recently got a humorous pitch from a real estate agent in New Hampshire, where, he wrote in his email, “there is a theme-branding wave that is part capricious, part serious business.” At first his proposal made me giggle, but then I saw how it reflects the ways in … [continue reading... ]

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January 9, 2013, 10:39 am

When Should Branding Begin?

by Marian in: American Life | Social Media | Trends | Youth | brands

Originally posted on Forbes.com.

I’ve written extensively about brands—personal brands, community brands, conference brands and so on. But I’m certainly not alone. This era is widely regarded as the age of the brand.

But most of the personal branding conversation doesn’t focus on the age at which we begin branding; it focuses more on adults … [continue reading... ]

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December 19, 2012, 9:01 am

Turning Your Name into a Brand

by Marian in: brands | marketing

Originally posted on Forbes.com.

To a certain extent—in this age of marketing ourselves, finding our niches and explaining how our distinctive personal backstories make for unique selling propositions—all our names are brand names. But some have gone above and way beyond.

That’s especially true in the world of fashion, where some of … [continue reading... ]

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December 12, 2012, 12:01 pm

Get Savvy About What’s Next

by Marian in: Public Relations | Trends | brands | marketing

Originally published on the blog of the Council of Public Relations Firms.

Great trendspotting creates great consumer marketing campaigns, terrific innovative new products and savvy newscrafting. I know: The most famous brands in the world have hired me over and over for my trendspotting methodology, ensuring that their multimillion-dollar (sometimes billion-dollar) … [continue reading... ]

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November 19, 2012, 4:23 pm

Branding’s Winners and Losers, from Ms. Clinton and Madonna to Monica and Mitt

by Marian in: Change | brands

Originally posted on Forbes.com.

Some people have the brand elasticity to not just survive crises but also transcend them, rising up out of the proverbial ashes newly empowered and invigorated, remaining in the spotlight because they want to be there. Whereas others simply can’t seem to bounce back, no matter how … [continue reading... ]

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November 1, 2012, 9:01 am

When Brands Need a Reboot (Think Lance)

by Marian in: CSR | Public Relations | Social Media | brands | health and wellness

Originally posted on Forbes.com.

It used to be that if you were famous and you screwed up, the path to redemption was clear: Hire an old-school, big-name publicist to keep yourself out of the news for a while, then orchestrate a high-profile comeback (think a self-deprecating turn on “Saturday Night Live”) to … [continue reading... ]

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October 25, 2012, 9:01 am

Making Places and Brands

by Marian in: Change | Public Relations | Social Media | Trends | brands

Originally posted on PRWeek.com.

This is the second in a series of three posts that will discuss what I see as a PR émigré managing in a world where evolution meets revolution.

Some cities always attract the limelight. New York and Paris have rich pasts full of historic events and interesting people that will always … [continue reading... ]

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June 4, 2012, 9:01 am

One-Man (and One-Woman) Brands

by Marian in: CSR | Social Media | brands

Originally posted on @erwwpr’s flagship blog.

What can we learn from people who have created a brilliant Brand Me? In today’s highly curated world of social networking, it’s more important than ever to let your personal brand beacon hit new heights. Your brand can incorporate everything from the hobbies you pursue in off-hours (as if that … [continue reading... ]

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