In 2024, every brand needs to be an entertainment company. The best ones give their audience the microphone. TikTok’s power and allure is that they’ve given anybody who wants a voice the ability to have one.  Sure, this means TikTok is full of hysterical, unhinged videos of people squishing slime and asking their boyfriends how often they think about the Roman Empire. For those of us who aren’t chronically online, this seems unimportant at best. But if we take a step back, we can see there’s something much more meaningful going on that’s changing how information is disseminated—and it mak ..read more

As marketing itself becomes more diverse — and as customers expect authentic, consistent diversity in their marketing — telling those narratives in a respectful and accurate manner becomes paramount. What do marketers need to keep in mind as they explore how to reach new audiences with these stories? To learn more about how this issue impacts the trans and non-binary community in particular, AMA SF spoke with Niko Storment (he/they), founder of Rosen Creative House, a San Francisco-based, trans-owned marketing and event production agency. Storment shares his perspective on how narratives in me ..read more

The AMA SF board brings together talented marketers from across the Bay Area, and we’re proud that many dedicated women give their time and attention to ensure our events, webinars, and marketing go off without a hitch. This Women’s History Month, we’re thrilled to highlight the women who make it happen on AMA SF’s 2023-2024 board. Meet them below and connect with them on LinkedIn. Khushi Arora, VP of Early Career; Co-founder, Externship Academy Connect with Khushi on LinkedIn What value does volunteering on the AMA SF board bring to your career? Volunteering on the AMA-SF Board allows me to ..read more

More than 60% of marketers have utilized artificial intelligence (AI) in their marketing activities so far. Marketing relies on data-driven insights and innovative technologies to connect with our target audiences. But what happens when those very technologies inadvertently reinforce biases and stereotypes? How can marketers ensure that the use of artificial intelligence remains ethical, transparent, and inclusive in an ever-evolving digital landscape? AMA SF spoke with Steve Anderson, a Bay Area-based AI expert and a 20-year veteran in the data industry, to learn more. Why diversity is essent ..read more

AMA SF spoke with Heavenly Johnson , Head of Marketing at San Francisco-based career development platform Reforge, to learn the key role consistency plays in marketing to diverse, multicultural communities. Here, you’ll learn Johnson’s take on what customers expect from brands, on treating awareness months as highlights and not singular events, and tips for building authentic marketing campaigns that resonate. Black History Month: February is a highlight, not a standalone event For Johnson, consistency is a core term in marketing to the Black community, or to any community with a highlight mon ..read more

Here in San Francisco, we’re lucky to be a short drive away from Napa Valley, one of the most robust areas for wine production in the world. With that designation comes no shortage of wineries showcasing their products to an eager market — and marketers competing for those palates. How can they create impactful campaigns that resonate with their target audience, and most importantly, bring vino-lovers back to their winery?  Experts like AMA-SF member Phoebe Ullberg, Director of Marketing for Napa-based winery Domaine Carneros, bring unique insight, fresh ideas, and budget-conscious creati ..read more

As the first state to pass data privacy laws in 2018, California is very much a data privacy pioneer. But these laws don’t just apply to Golden State companies or marketers based here — they reach farther and have a greater impact than some marketers may realize. What are some of the false perceptions about data privacy that many marketers have? To learn more in recognition of 2024’s Data Privacy Day, AMA SF spoke with Jodi Daniels, CEO and privacy consultant of Red Clover Advisors, and Robin Andruss, Chief Privacy Officer with Palo Alto-based SkyFlow, to bust the most common data privacy myth ..read more

A more robust, yet still highly competitive, job market is likely to take shape in 2024. Whether you’re entering the workforce, are in between jobs, or are looking for a career change, the right prep and planning can help you stand out from hundreds or thousands of other applicants.  We spoke with Larissa Gerlach, Senior Recruiter with Talentfoot and an organizer and speaker with AMA SF’s Career Accelerator on Feb. 6th, 2024, to learn more about the opportunities and challenges job seekers can expect this year. The state of hiring for marketing jobs in 2024 Gerlach believes that 2024 will ..read more

As marketers, we’re used to keeping one eye on the now and an eye toward the future. What better time to assess what’s ahead than the New Year? We polled our members and the AMA San Francisco board to hear the changes and trends they expect to shape how marketers do their jobs in 2024.  AI’s impact continues to reverberate “Generative AI” may not be Oxford’s Word Of The Year — that honor goes to “rizz” — but there’s no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) tools will continue to reshape how marketers engage with their everyday responsibilities. The possibilities are seemingly endless, f ..read more

A message from AMA SF President Eric Weidner For more than 85 years, the American Marketing Association-San Francisco chapter has been dedicated to one main objective: we help professional marketers succeed. I titled this post “Resilience and Success” because there’s uncertainty in the air going into 2024. Nobody knows what’s to come, but we do know that the marketing profession is changing, and changing fast. That’s where “resilience” comes in. And that’s why AMA SF is so important. Resilience comes through your professional network. Need help or advice? Need a job? Need a cup of coffee or a ..read more