If you’re like most people, you might think of anniversaries as a time for looking back. Not me. Usually, I prefer to look ahead. But, this year, I’m making an exception. Only, I’m not looking back to celebrate the thirteen years that Tim Peter & Associates has existed. Nope, I’m looking back… well, just a little bit further. 45 years, in fact. Why 45 years? Why so far? And what does that have to do with marketing, digital or otherwise? Well, that’s what this episode of Thinks Out Loud is all about. I hope you’ll give a listen and see for yourself. Want to learn more? Here are the show no ..read more

AI has the potential to make our teams faster and more effective. But will this power also make marketers dumber? Will it hurt their ability to learn and to grow? Turns out the answer depends entirely on how we use it. We learn by doing, by thinking, and, yes, by sometimes failing. Senior marketing leaders — and business professional of all kinds — need to think about how they and their teams are using AI to ensure we help our teams get smarter while they’re also getting faster. Because, otherwise, their effectiveness will only exist for a short while. How can you use AI to make your marketin ..read more

AI might be entering the “trough of disillusionment,” but that doesn’t mean it’s dead. Far from it. In fact, an increasing number of customers are using AI every single day. And, yet, despite this increased use, savvy marketers aren’t spending their time thinking about the artificial intelligence; they’re thinking about their customers. That’s what you should do too. Because AI isn’t what matters. Your customers are what matters. And AI only matters if your customers are willing to use it. So, will your customers use AI? If not, what’s keeping them from putting it to work? And, most important ..read more

I’m calling it: We’ve reached “peak AI.” There’s too much hype. With over $50B in venture capital investment in 2023 and literally thousands of “AI focused companies” in marketing technology alone, that’s a bubble that needs to let at least some air out and soon. And when that happens, we usually see a serious backlash. My advice to you if and when that happens for artificial intelligence is simple: Ignore it. Seriously. You need to ignore any AI backlash. Not because it won’t be justified… at least in part. But because hype and backlash are two sides of the same coin. One side assumes everyt ..read more

As noted in the past, with all the hype and hope attached to artificial intelligence, it’s worth asking, is it time for your marketing team — is it time for many of your teams — to use AI? The simple answer to the question is, “yes.” As it happens, the more complicated answer is yes, too. Why is it time for your team to use AI? Where are the areas where AI can provide the greatest value to your organization? How can it help you improve your marketing — and your business? And, most importantly, how can you get started? That’s what this episode of the Thinks Out Loud podcast is all about. Want ..read more

The Information reports that Amazon and Google are quietly tamp ing down generative AI expectations, noting that it’s tough to make the case for AI benefits “because of the high cost of the software and the difficulty of measuring productivity gains.” That echoes the comments I’d made in this “Best of Thinks Out Loud” episode that “We’re past the point of AI pilots in marketing. Instead, in 2024, it’s time to put AI to work in your marketing.” Why is this reality important for your brand and your business? What does putting AI to work in your marketing mean? And, most importantly, how can you ..read more

In our latest Thinks Out Loud interview, company founder and president Tim Peter sat down to talk with Howard Chang, CEO of The Turn Lab and CEO of Just Boardrooms. In this thoughtful and insightful discussion, Howard and Tim discussed: Artificial Intelligence and its effects on the future of work Remote work, loneliness, and the need for belonging Managing anxiety in a rapidly changing, often remote workplace Increasing productivity Improving business as a force for social good And how Howard’s personal health journey has helped him grow as a leader We think you’ll enjoy this deeply engagi ..read more

You’ve heard me say many times that “gatekeepers gonna gate.” That’s what they do. Woudln’t it be great if there was an easy, inexpensive way to bypass Big Tech’s gatekeepers? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could extend your brand’s awareness and reach without having to rely too heavily on Amazon, Google, Facebook, Apple, or Microsoft? Would you believe me if I said there might be an option you’re overlooking? What is that option? Podcasting. Now, I want to be fair. Podcasting takes some work. It requires consistency, patiences, and at least a little effort. It’s absolutely not the right cho ..read more

If we learned anything from Big Tech’s earnings this quarter, it’s that Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Apple have a clear vision for the future & and that Google doesn’t. Don’t get me wrong. They have a vision. It’s just a bad one. Their vision: Ads, ads, and more ads. The only thing they seem to know how to talk about, the only thing they seem to know how to do, is sell ads. Their grand vision for artificial intelligence is about how to improve the ad experience and use AI to place ads alongside tools like Search Generative Experience. Where are the other members of Big Tech focusing their ..read more

Scott Cohen of InboxArmy knows email marketing inside and out. Scott started as a copywriter and focuses on driving revenues for his clients. In particular, he knows why email marketing is so important in a marketing landscape increasingly affected by artificial intelligence. What is the future of email marketing? How can marketing professionals use AI and email marketing to improve their connections with customers? And, more importantly, how can you get your customers to open, click, and buy when an AI minds their inbox? That’s why this episode of the Thinks Out Loud podcast features an inte ..read more