For more than a decade, marketing teams have built technology stacks with the enthusiasm of children collecting toys. Every new problem brought another subscription, another dashboard and another login that someone in the team had to remember. There was a CRM for customer data, an email platform for campaigns, project management software for workflow, social media tools for scheduling, analytics platforms for reporting and a growing assortment of AI products promising to write content, improve advertisements or make the marketing team more productive.

I have always believed that good decision-making requires more than data. In business, we are trained to look at facts, numbers, patterns, risk and opportunity, but there are times in life when the next step is not sitting neatly inside a spreadsheet or strategy document. Sometimes you just know you are at a crossroads. That is where I found myself recently. I had a number of things sitting on my mind. Property. Business. Future direction. Personal decisions that were not completely separate from professional ones because, as every entrepreneur knows, your life and your business often move together.

There’s something powerful about watching someone at the top of their game bring everyone else along for the ride. That’s exactly what Taylor Swift did on her Eras Tour and many employees around the world applauded her for doing so. She didn’t just break records and dominate headlines, she showed the world that she can be very generous too. She broke the mold when it came to showing gratitude to her team and it's something that many entrepreneurs and business leaders can learn from. From truck drivers to dancers to behind the scenes crew she handed out nearly two hundred million dollars in bonuses. Not stock options not promises cold hard bonuses that changed lives. It was authentic generous memorable and completely intentional. And watching that unfold made me stop and think about what it means to truly value your people.

It’s my birthday and there’s a lot to think about. I’ve hit the halfway mark, as they say. Many things have changed in my life over the past few years - some good, some not so good.

The good? With age comes wisdom. There are so many things I’ve been able to learn, and I’m definitely a better person for it.

Choosing the right marketing agency can shape the growth of any business. It can determine whether your business launches with a bang or fails to lift-off. With countless options available to businesses, it is not always clear which agency best fits your needs. A good marketing company becomes an extension of your team. It should align with your business values, understand your goals, and deliver measurable results. Here is a comprehensive guide to what you should look for in a top-performing B2B marketing agency that offers outsourced marketing services, helping you make the right decision.

Promotional products remain one of the most effective ways for brands to create lasting impressions, drive loyalty and build awareness. In 2025, the best-performing branded items combine usefulness, sustainability and daily visibility. Whether you’re looking to enhance customer relationships, boost employee engagement or generate buzz at events, these items top the list of what buyers truly value this year.

Too often we’ve seen a promotional product fall flat. Companies have set up at a tradeshow only to take home most of what they thought would be winners with attendees.

This happens for a lot of reasons; branding is not in a place that enhances the promotional product, there isn’t any choice for the customer or simply it’s the ‘wrong place at the wrong time’.

As a marketer with more than 30 years’ experience, I love swag!  I still have sitting on my desk a Call Design phone charger from a contact centre conference I went to a few years back, a DOMO drink bottle that is always filled with hot water monitoring how much I drink in a day and umbrella’s from every brand imaginable. I even have a stockpile of mints in my top drawer which are handier than you think.

Exceptional customer service is crucial for building brand loyalty and maintaining a competitive advantage. Customers expect prompt, effective, and personalised support, making it essential for companies to invest in high-quality customer service. As businesses grow, managing customer interactions can become a challenge. Outsourcing customer service to specialised contact centres has emerged as an effective strategy for companies looking to streamline operations and improve customer satisfaction.

If your brand is striving to stand out but struggling to do so, Forrest Contact provides a unique and effective solution. Their specialised contact centre services enable companies to reach the right audiences, nurture leads, and support marketing initiatives with expert customer engagement. Here’s how Forrest Contact plays a crucial role in driving growth for B2B marketing teams.

Today I went down to Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to see what I could learn from the Salesforce World Tour. Unfortunately, it was a waste of my time. A disaster.