Happy World Theatre Day!

Do you enjoy going to the theatre? Do you consider yourself a theatre connoisseur? If you answered "yes" to these questions, then you know today's significance: it's World Theatre Day.

According to International Theatre Institute (ITI) with international headquarters in France, "Since 1962, World Theatre Day has been celebrated by ITI Centres, ITI Cooperating Members, theatre professionals, theatre organizations, theatre universities, and theatre lovers all over the world on the 27th of March. This day is a celebration for those who see the value and importance of the "theatre" art form, and acts as a wake-up-call for governments, politicians, and institutions which have not yet recognised its value to the people and to the individual and have not yet realised its potential for economic growth."

Each year, "a figure in theatre or a person outstanding in heart and spirit from another field is invited to share his or her reflections on theatre and international harmony. What is known as the International Message is translated into more than 50 languages, read for tens of thousands of spectators before performances in theatres throughout the world, and printed in hundreds of daily newspapers. Colleagues in the audio-visual field lend a fraternal hand, with more than a hundred radio and television stations transmitting the Message to listeners in all corners of the five continents."

This year, actor William Dafoe provided the Message for World Theatre Day 2026:

"I am an actor principally know as a film actor. But my roots are deeply in the theatre. I was a member of the Wooster Group from 1977-2003 creating and performing original pieces at The Performing Garage in NYC and touring throughout the world. I have also worked with Richard Foreman, Robert Wilson and Romeo Castellucci. Now, I am the Artistic Director of The Venice Theatre Biennale. This appointment, the events in the world, and my desire to return to theatre work has strongly formed my belief in the unique positive power and importance of the theatre.

At the humble beginning of my time in The Wooster Group, the NY based theatre company, we would often get very little public at some of the performances at our theatre. Often the rule was if there were more performers than public we could choose to cancel. But we never did. Many of the company were not trained in the theatre but were people of different disciplines that came together to make theatre- so “the show must go on” was not really our mantra, however we felt an obligation to keep our meeting with the public.

We would also often rehearse during the day and in the evening show the material as a work in progress. We would sometimes spend years on a show while sustaining ourselves with touring of older performances. Working years on a piece would often become tedious for me and I found rehearsals somewhat trying but these works in progress showings were always exciting-even if the tiny public was a damning judgment of the level of interest in what we were doing. It just made me realize how no matter how few people, the audience as witness gave the theatre its meaning and life.

Like the sign in the gambling hall says “YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN.” Shared experience in real time of an act of creation, that may be scored and designed but is always different, is certainly the obvious strength of the theatre. Socially, politically, theatre has never been so important and vital to our understanding of ourselves and the world.

SHARE THIS: Socially, politically, theatre has never been so important and vital to our understanding of ourselves and the world. ~William Dafoe for @ITIworldwide #WorldTheatreDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

The "elephant in the room" is new technologies and social networking, which promises connection but seemingly has fragmented and isolated people from each other. I use my computer daily even if I have no social media, I have even googled myself as an actor, and have also consulted AI for information. But you have to be blind not to recognize that human contact risks being replaced by relationships with devices. While some technology can serve us well, the problem of not knowing who’s on the other end of the circle of communication runs deep and contributes to a crisis of truth and reality. While the internet can raise questions, it very seldom captures a sense of wonder that theatre creates. A wonder based in attention, engagement and a spontaneous community of those present in a circle of action and response.

As an actor and theatre maker, I remain a believer in the power of theatre. In a world that seems to get more divisive, controlling and violent, our challenge as theatre makers is to avoid the corruption of theatre solely as a commercial enterprise dedicated to the entertainment by distraction or as the dry institutional preserver of traditions, but rather to foster its strength to connect peoples, communities, cultures and above all to question where we are going. Great theatre is about challenging how we think and encouraging us to imagine what we aspire to.

SHARE THIS: Great theatre is about challenging how we think and encouraging us to imagine what we aspire to. ~William Dafoe for @ITIworldwide #WorldTheatreDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

We are social animals and designed biologically for engagement with the world. Every sense organ is a gateway for encounter, and through this meeting, we achieve greater definition of who we are. Through storytelling, aesthetics, language, movement, scenography - theatre as a total art form can make us see what was, what is, and what our world could be."

From a marketing perspective, successful theatre productions - and especially musicals - have beome part of society's collective storytelling as well as internationally-known brands.

So, back to my initial questions...Which are your favorite theatrical productions? Mine are "Phantom of the Opera," "Les Miserables," "AIDA," "An Enemy of the People," and "CATS." Of course, I'm also a fan of "Sunset Boulevard," "Starlight Express," "Wicked" "Moulin Rouge," "A Chorus Line," "Frozen," "Aladdin," and "Hamilton."

Lucky me, I have tickets to see "Phantom" in June!

Image Credit: Marna Otoni via Pinterest.

Read more about World Theatre Day at ITI's website:

https://www.world-theatre-day.org/

Does Social Media Open Doors for Your Brand?

I joined social media platforms back in 2009, first my blog, and then Twitter (called X today), then LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. Twitter was what I liked to call "an international water cooler," because people from all over the world were represented and participated. I was able to meet people from other countries, and above all, learn from people who I would never have been able to meet had Twitter not existed. Twitter became an educational, supportive, and inspirational personal and business branding resource.

Over the years, new social media platforms have appeared, some have had staying power, while many shuttered their sites. The jury is still out with the latest crop of new platforms, such as, Mastodon, Threads, and Bluesky.

But let's return to Twitter (I refuse to call it "X" and have noticed that several well-known brands also continue to refer to it as Twitter when promoting their accounts). Back in 2019, I read an article on LinkedIn by a Canadian leadership expert who explained why his company was leaving Twitter. Since I continue to use Twitter for brand-building campaigns, brand engagement, community-building - as well as live-Tweeting during special events, such as, the annual Super Bowl, Presidential elections, and more, I thought I'd check in with Bart Egnal to ask if he regrets his decision to leave Twitter. Highlights of our conversation follow a brief bio.

Based in Toronto, Canada, Bart Egnal is the CEO and owner of The Humphrey Group. Over the past 20 years, he′s written countless speeches, coached hundreds of leaders, written a book, and overseen the expansion of the company from Toronto to Vancouver, Calgary, Mexico City, and the United States. He′s also the host of The Inspire Podcast and serves as Chairman of the Niagara Institute. In 2015, Bart was recognized by the International Alliance of Women for his contributions as an ally and continues to be deeply committed to creating a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable world.

QUESTION: We "met" after I read an article you wrote about social media and the decision you and your company, The Humphrey Group, made to leave Twitter back in 2019. I was inspired by your article and wrote a post on my blog (links to both are provided at the end of our Q&A). You wrote, "After three years on Twitter, The Humphrey Group sent its last tweet. And though we will keep our LinkedIn profile, we intend to invest little time or energy into our social media presence in the coming years." Today, nearly 7 years later, what are your thoughts about leaving Twitter - both your company's account and your personal account?

BART EGNAL: No regrets and no loss. For our B2B work, LinkedIn has been the place to have more robust conversations. We have also built a strong following outside of social media through a strong content strategy. 

QUESTION: Following the shutdown of your company's Twitter account, what did you hear from your clients/fans/followers?

BART EGNAL: Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

QUESTION: Some of the best aspects of Twitter/X simply cannot be replicated on other platforms, for instance, discussing the ads during the Super Bowl in real time, showcasing creativity in people's bios (for example, whether a title was "Chief Happiness Officer," "Brand Architect," or "Jungle Cruise Skipper," the uniqueness of a person's bio was an invitation to say hello or follow), and participating in TweetChats (this was always a great way to meet like-minded people based on specific topics with hashtags or for brand-building for businesses). What do you miss about Twitter?

BART EGNAL: On a personal note, I do sometimes miss the chance to connect directly with thought leaders. But I found Twitter became more polarizing during COVID and then following the ownership change, so I made the personal decision to also drop off a few years ago, with no regrets.

QUESTION: There are some brands that continue to "speak and engage" on Twitter/X: Sesame Street, Oreo, Merriam-Webster, Encyclopaedia Britannica, and the New York Public Library to name a few. Do you think Twitter/X has evolved into a business-to-consumer only social platform?

BART EGNAL: I can't comment on the platform's evolution but can say we see little B2B value in it.

My gratitude to Bart for sharing his thoughts about social media and for making a repeat appearance on my blog after nearly a decade.

SHARE THIS: Don't do social, be S.O.C.I.A.L., which means be sincere, open, collaborative, interested, authentic, and likeable. ~Vala Afshar #SocialMediaTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: Twitter is a key that unlocks thousands of doors, some of which you never even knew existed. ~Matthew Kobach #SocialMediaTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: EPS Security.

Meet Bart online:

Website: https://www.thehumphreygroup.com

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/bartegnal

Read the posts referenced in this Q&A's first question:

Bart's post on LinkedIn (January 2017)

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/farewell-twitter-bart-egnal

and

Social Media: Brand Builder or Mission Distraction? (September 2019)

https://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2019/09/social-media-brand-builder-or-mission.html

Read four memorable posts about Twitter on #DebbieLaskeysBlog:

How Do YOU Connect on Twitter? (August 2022)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/08/how-do-you-connect-on-twitter.html

and

How Has Twitter Impacted Your Brand? (March 2016)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2016/03/how-has-twitter-impacted-your-brand.html

and

How Does Your Business Create Social Media Circles? (April 2014)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2014/04/how-does-your-business-create-social.html

and

How to Build Your Brand on Twitter (March 2013)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2013/03/how-to-build-your-brand-on-twitter.html

See How Some Brands Celebrated the Oscars!

While the 2026 Oscars ceremony is in the history books, you wouldn't know it by scrolling on Instagram. Many brands continue to celebrate the big event by showcasing their products in a memorable way.

Here are five brands that have mastered brand alignment with brand storytelling:

WINE AND DESIGN

This brand describes itself as "premier art experiences" and elevates "the paint and sip experience beyond the canvas." So, it was not a surprise when posts appeared on Instagram with the message, "This is your official sign to stop taking art so seriously and start pairing it with whatever brings you joy. Movies, memories, or a little main character energy, Wine & Design has got you. Create any of these paintings or projects at your local Wine & Design studio!" Photos featured famous people in their red carpet fashion with artwork with matching colors and/or designs.

SIMON & SCHUSTER AUSTRALIA

This brand describes itself as a publisher that loves "connecting people with the books they love to read." So, it was not a surprise when posts appeared on Instagram with the message, "If these Oscars outfits were book covers. We matched some of the most iconic red carpet looks from the Oscars 2026 with covers that give the exact same vibe!"

WATERSTONES

This brand describes itself as "The UK's leading bookseller." So, it was not a surprise when posts appeared on Instagram with the message, "Presenting the 2026 Oscars red carpet #LooksToRead." And then a second post with the message, "Oh you thought we forgot about the after party? Presenting the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscars party #LooksToRead." Both sets of photos featured famous people in their red carpet fashion with book covers with similar colors and/or designs.

PANTONE

The brand describes itself as "The global authority for color communications and inspiration since 1963." So, it was not a surprise when posts appeared on Instagram with the message, "Red carpet color recap from the 2026 Oscars." The photos featured famous people in their red carpet fashion paired with their matching Pantone colors.

HARPER COLLINS

The brand describes itself as "Publishing great authors since 1817." So, it was not a surprise when posts appeared on Instagram with the message, "Presenting our #LooksToBooks from the Oscars!" Both sets of photos featured famous people in their red carpet fashion with book covers with similar colors and/or designs.

SHERWIN-WILLIAMS

The brand describes itself as "Your neighborhood store for paints, supplies, and color. Inspiration equals completed project." So, it was not a surprise when posts appeared on Instagram in a reel with color samples and corresponding numbers at a microphone and the message, "And the glitzy gold SW 6691 goes to: best original hue (Kismet SW 6830), best leading beige (Classic Sand SW 0056), best accent wall (Edamame SW 7729), most fun to say (Bunglehouse Blue SW 0048), and color of the year (Universal Khaki SW 6150)."

What can other brands learn from these memorable posts? Did you see other brands that celebrated the Oscars by aligning their products in such a memorable way? Chime in and share!

SHARE THIS: Brands that align their products with trending news or special events have the potential to be memorable. #Oscars #BrandAlignment #BrandExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: Wine and Design, Simon and Schuster Australia, Waterstones, Pantone, Harper Collins, and Sherwin-Williams (all via Instagram).

Read my post: Did Your Brand Promote the Oscars? Lessons in Email Marketing (March 2026):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2026/03/did-your-brand-promote-oscars.html

Did your brand celebrate Women's History Month?

Like everyone, I receive a ton of promotional emails on a daily basis. However, as a marketing professional, when I see an email that clearly demonstrates a clever strategy, I take notice.

During March, we celebrate women and their overlooked contributions because it's WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, or stated more accurately, WOMEN'S HERSTORY MONTH! According to the United Nations, “Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes, and violence, a future that’s sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights, and opportunities for all. To get there, the world needs women at every table where decisions are being made.”

And as Hillary Clinton, former First Lady of the United States, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of State, said, "Women's history is an essential and indispensable part of the national narrative. By understanding the achievements, struggles, and contributions of women throughout history, we gain a fuller, more accurate, and more inclusive understanding of our collective past."

According to the U.S. Census, "Women's History Month honors the successes and sacrifices of U.S. women. It dates to March 8, 1857, when hundreds of women from New York City garment and textile factories rallied to protest harsh working conditions. In 1909, New York City became the site of the nation's first Women's Day celebration, a year after 15,000 women there marched to demand shorter working hours, better pay, an end to child labor, and the right to vote. More than seven decades later, in 1981, Congress set aside the second week of March as Women's History Week. Six years later, Congress expanded the week to a month."

So back to my email inbox...I received a memorable email from nail polish brand Orly International, Inc. According to the brand's website, "Family owned since 1975, Orly products are made with love at their headquarters in Los Angeles. In 1977, Jeff Pink created The Natural Nail Look to help screen actresses speed up the time between wardrobe changes. Simple, classic, and feminine, this time-saving manicure accentuated the nails without ever upstaging the outfit. Stylists and starlets loved the new look that quickly spread through the fashion world. Once it hit the runways of Paris in 1978, Jeff knew he had the perfect name...the French Manicure!"

So, when I saw the email aligning the brand's products to Women's History Month, I took a second look! While I may not have made a purchase from Orly this month, I am a repeat customer. Therefore, I can definitely appreciate the email campaign, because as I often say, "Brands that can align their products or services to an event, holiday, or trending news that everyone is talking about have the potential to be memorable."

So, what can your brand learn from this brand's effective email marketing campaign? There's still time for your brand to celebrate women - there's a week left in March!

SHARE THIS: Brands that align their products or services with trending news have the potential to be memorable. #BrandAlignment #BrandExperiences #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair. ~Shirley Chisholm (U.S. Congresswoman) #WomensHistoryMonth #WomensHERstoryMonth #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water. ~Eleanor Roosevelt (First Lady and Diplomat) #WomensHistoryMonth #WomensHERstoryMonth #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right. ~Rosa Parks (Civil Rights Activist) #WomensHistoryMonth #WomensHERstoryMonth #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Orly International, Inc.

Read "That’s What She Said: Wise Words from Influential Women" by Kimothy Joy:

https://www.kimothyjoy.com/the-book

Happy World Storytelling Day!

World Storytelling Day is an annual celebration that encourages people to tell and listen to stories. It is a day that brings people together through the power of storytelling.

According to Wikipedia, "World Storytelling Day is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. It is celebrated every year on the March equinox, on or near March 20. On World Storytelling Day, as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many languages and at as many places as possible, during the same day and night. 

World Storytelling Day has its roots in a national day for storytelling in Sweden, circa 1991. At that time, an event was organized for March 20 in Sweden called "All storytellers day." At the same time, in Mexico and other Latin American countries, March 20 was already celebrated as the National Day of Storytellers. In 2002, the event spread from Sweden to Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Estonia. In 2003, the idea spread to Canada and other countries, and the event became known internationally as World Storytelling Day. Starting around 2004, France participated. In 2008, the Netherlands took part in World Storytelling Day. And by 2009, there were World Storytelling Day events in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Australia."

According to ThereIsADayforThat, "On this day, oral storytellers around the world are busy inspiring audiences, and creating community, by telling classical tales, local stories, glorious, horrendous, happy, challenging, spooky, romantic, and dramatic epic stories. Some wrapped in music, some staged, and others intimate - but every story is told in a unique and compelling way, by a storyteller whose heart is full of great tales to bridge our divides and remind us what it is to be human."

The theme for 2026 is "Light in the Dark." This phrase has three meanings:

(1) a situation when you're in trouble and danger, struggling to escape - this happens a lot in stories.

(2) it could mean profound or meaningful water, perhaps, the waters of life or healing that are also found in stories.

(3) it could mean water that goes down in some way, for instance, a well or river.

Do you know the "3 C's of Storytelling?" They generally refer to CHARACTER, CONFLICT, and CONCLUSION, highlighting the need for relatable people, a central struggle, and a satisfying resolution.

And do you know the golden rule of storytelling? The widely accepted "golden rule of storytelling" is  to SHOW, DON'T TELL, meaning to immerse the audience by using sensory details, actions, and dialogue to let them EXPERIENCE the story, rather than explaining events or emotions. Instead of saying a character is sad, an author describes slumped shoulders, tear-filled eyes, and a quiet voice, allowing readers to interpret and feel the emotion themselves, making the narrative more engaging and powerful.

Some memorable stories to read out loud today would be "Horton Hears a Who!" by Dr. Seuss, "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein, and "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein.

SHARE THIS: Today a reader, tomorrow a leader. #WorldStorytellingDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

And since many of the world's most successful business leaders point to reading as an important life skill and hobby, author Paul Smith wrote a book entitled, "The 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell."

When asked WHY Paul wrote the book, he explained, "Over the last decade, I’ve conducted in-depth, one-on-one interviews with over 300 CEOs, executives, and leaders across dozens of industries and in 25 countries around the world. And I’ve consulted or trained literally thousands more. These 10 leadership stories were chosen because they are the ones my executive clients most frequently ask for help in crafting, cover the most important territory of ideas about which a leader should have an opinion and exert some influence in the organization, and will be useful to leaders in just about any functional discipline, including general management, sales, marketing, finance, operations, human resources, information technology, engineering, etc."

Without further ado and with much applause to Paul, here are THE 10 STORIES GREAT LEADERS TELL:

(1) Where we came from (our founding story)

(2) Why we can't stay here (a case-for-change story)

(3) Where we're going (a vision story)

(4) How we're going to get there (a strategy story)

(5) What we believe in (a corporate-values story)

(6) Who we serve (a customer story)

(7) What we do for our customers (a sales story)

(8) How we're different from our competitors (a marketing story)

(9) Why I lead the way I do (a leadership-philosophy story)

(10) Why you should want to work here (a recruiting story)

SHARE THIS: Every great leader is a great storyteller. And, the first and most important part of being a great storyteller is knowing what stories to tell. ~Paul Smith via Eric Jacobson #WorldStorytellingDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Do you have a favorite story to read or share with others today? Chime in and share.

Image Credit: Piktochart.

Meet Paul Smith here:

https://leadwithastory.com/meet-paul-smith/

Check out Eric Jacobson's review of Paul's book:

https://ericjacobsononmanagement.blogspot.com/2019/12/best-new-leadership-book-of-2019.html

Branding Tips to Stand Out - A Q&A with Emily Aborn

LinkedIn has often been called the "international watercooler" of business. According to Google, the metaphor refers to how professionals use the platform to discuss industry trends, company culture, leadership, diversity, and current events - topics that previously occurred around a physical office watercooler. Today, LinkedIn has over one billion members in 200+ countries.

As a LinkedIn user with nearly 2,000 connections, I have always used the platform as an "international watercooler." Over the last decade, I've reached out to second and third connections as well as suggested connections. As a result, I've "met" people all around the world and had inspiring discussions online, via phone, and via email about corporate culture, customer experiences, employee experiences, leadership, and marketing.

Recently, I "met" Emily Aborn on LinkedIn. Once we connected, we had a conversation about branding, brand messaging, brand personality, and more - and highlights follow below. But first, an introduction: Emily Aborn writes for a living, and even she struggles to write for and about herself. Successfully facing down the blinking cursor of doom is no small feat, and it can stop a brand in its tracks from sharing its message with others. That’s where Emily, a Small Business Copywriter and Podcast Host, steps in to help! She has experience writing for over 115 industries and has worked with 1,000's of individuals to help them gain visibility in their marketing. She helps a brand's voice make a distinct imprint and stand out. And for fun, Emily enjoys spending time in the great outdoors in rural New Hampshire, game nights with family, listening to podcasts, and reading every book she can get her hands on. 

QUESTION: I "met" you on LinkedIn and was immediately impressed by your cover image's message, "Your voice. Your distinct imprint." How did you come up with that tagline?

EMILY ABORN: In late 2024, I was deep in the throes of reconnecting to the "why" behind what I do as a copywriter for small businesses and nonprofits. For me, words aren't "just words," they’re world-changers, perspective-shifters, connection-builders, and powerful expressions of who we are at our core. A lot of my work as a copywriter centers around helping individuals and businesses to stand out amidst the chaos of the online space and noise. The specificities of the words often get lost (a la Maya Angelou's, "They’ll remember how you made them feel") but the impact of the words and our messages ripple outward and onward. Our voice, our brand, our message...it's intended to leave a "mark" in the lives of others. When we find our unique voice, it can do just that. The tagline came to me (as most taglines do) as a shower thought, and I knew instantly it was "the one."

SHARE THIS: Words aren't "just words," they’re world-changers, perspective-shifters, connection-builders, and powerful expressions of who we are at our core. ~Emily Aborn #BrandMessaging #BrandTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: Our voice, our brand, our message...it's intended to leave a "mark" in the lives of others. ~Emily Aborn #BrandMessaging #BrandTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: What first attracted you to marketing?

EMILY ABORN: I’ve had an entrepreneurial spirit since I was a little kid. It comes at me from both sides of my family, and is literally part of my DNA. In addition to starting numerous ventures of my own, everywhere I've ever worked, I've been an advocate and force to help spread the message even more. I've found myself wearing the hat of "marketer" before I even had the words to describe what I was doing for other organizations! In 2018, my husband and I were in the process of closing a retail shop we owned together, and I was at a crossroads. Needing to decide what to do next and not knowing exactly how to determine that, I simply said, "Yes!" to opportunities presented to me by fellow business owners and shifted naturally into helping others with their online and offline marketing efforts. A business was born virtually overnight before we even closed our former operation.

QUESTION: How do you explain "brand voice, tone, and personality" to new clients (or friends/family) who don't live and breathe branding and marketing?

EMILY ABORN: Most people aren't nearly as fascinated as I am with getting into "the weeds" of what makes a brand voice a voice, what makes a tone a tone, and what makes a personality a personality. That said, I would define them as follows: 

Brand Voice: The consistent elements that come through as you express yourself. Your own, personal, distinct vocabulary, mood, style, and structure of writing/speaking. 

Brand Tone: How you say what you say - your attitude, mood, depth, and pacing. 

Brand Personality: Just like your personality, this is made up of the human characteristics and adjectives you want your brand to be known for: smart, curious, friendly, funny, helpful, kind, etc. 

QUESTION: What's your favorite brand, and what makes it stand out?

EMILY ABORN: It would be impossible to pick a favorite brand! It depends on what we're talking about (clothes, tech, cars, accessories, home goods, food, etc.), but I will share a brand that I think hits the nail on the head with its marketing: Airbnb. Their ads always speak the exact pain points of their customers without making you feel like you're even "in pain." They whisk you away without whisking you away and help you dream bigger for your next getaway. They also do a great job of adapting the ads to every style of traveler.

QUESTION: What's your favorite social media campaign, and why?

EMILY ABORN: I love the creator Mahdi Woodard on Instagram as well as Tad Hargrave. They both bring a HUMAN perspective to marketing and focus on sustainability, defining niches in new ways, and anti-hustle/burnout. I'm all about bringing the un-AI-able and human experience to social media (and beyond). 

QUESTION: I see that you're a big reader (me too - I read 64 books during 2025!), so what's your favorite book of all time, and why? And what was the last book you read, and why did you choose it?

EMILY ABORN: Amazing with 64! Even with a couple sprints of reading a whole book in a day, I didn't even come close to that this year (sitting squarely at 46). If I tell you my favorite book of all time, all the other books will be jealous! It's hard for me to think back to ALL the fabulous books I've read since I've been reading really good books since I was 5, but over the past couple of years, I enjoyed The Alice Project as it rekindled my love of historic fiction and had all the right elements of drama, romance, truth, horror, and heartbreak. The last book I read was The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and it was just a book "tossed in" to a free book swap I was doing on a whim. It turned out to be a page-turner with a seriously unpredictable ending. Currently, I'm reading Fiona Davis' The Lions of Fifth Avenue. I read mostly fiction with the exception of a few books to satiate my curiosity and love of learning. 

SHARE THIS: I can't pick a favorite book - because all the others will be jealous if I do! ~Emily Aborn #Reading #Bibliophile #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: I often ask people if they could dine with anyone from history or the corporate world, who would they choose? So, who would you choose, and why? 

EMILY ABORN: My husband and I play this game a lot! I'm not entirely sure who from history/corporate world, but I'd love a bite with some inspiring writers: Anne Lammott, Stephen King, Kristin Hannah, Julia Cameron, Rick Rubin, and countless others who I could learn from and soak up their magical wisdom and advice! Who's hosting!?

My gratitude to Emily for sharing her insights and for appearing here on #DebbieLaskeysBlog!

Image Credits: Emily Aborn.

Check out the links Emily referenced:

https://youtu.be/S43Vb30aM10

and

https://www.instagram.com/mahdiwoodard/

and

https://www.instagram.com/marketingforhippies/

Meet Emily online:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyaborn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyaborn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emily.catherinegrace

Substack: https://www.smallbusinesscasual.substack.com

Website & Podcast: https://www.emilyaborn.com

Read some excellent posts about LinkedIn's importance:

Top 2 Reasons LinkedIn Is Taking Over the World (2012) by Erika Andersen (who has appeared here on my blog 13 times over the last decade):

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2012/05/11/top-2-reasons-linkedin-is-taking-over-the-world/

LinkedIn at 20: how a new breed of influencer is transforming the business networking giant (2022):

https://theconversation.com/linkedin-at-20-how-a-new-breed-of-influencer-is-transforming-the-business-networking-giant-196413

LinkedIn is the business world’s water cooler (2025):

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alexisgraham25_linkedin-is-the-business-worlds-water-cooler-activity-7389636878574002176-MIde

Will Your Brand Celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Today, on St. Patrick's Day, there's nothing as green as the Chicago River. However, many brands choose to stand out by adding green to their logos or email communications, by creating green products for the day, or by doing something totally out-of-character to celebrate.

Here are some brands that joined the St. Patrick's Day celebrations:

SUR LA TABLE

In an email, this cooking supplies and cooking class brand promoted its green product line with the message, "Lucky finds, going green, from deep emerald to soft sage - refresh your kitchen with a verdant look."

SEE'S CANDIES

This candy brand added green and shamrocks to its packaging.

KRISPY KREME

This doughnut brand added green to its doughnuts as well as its packaging.

ORLY INTERNATIONAL, INC.

This nail polish brand created green nail polish.

And let's not forget what Sherwin-Williams (the paint brand) shared on Instagram last year: "St. Patrick's Day: No luck needed. Find your next paint color with help from our Color to Go samples."

As I often say, "Brands that can align their products or services to an event, holiday, or trending news that everyone is talking about have the potential to be memorable."

So, will your brand "go green" next year on St. Patrick's Day?

SHARE THIS: Brands that align their products or services with trending news have the potential to be memorable. #StPatricksDay #BrandExperiences #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: People think in stories, not statistics, and marketers need to be master storytellers. ~Arianna Huffington #StPatricksDay #BrandStorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: Sur la Table, See's Candies, Krispy Kreme, Roma Downey via Instagram (Irish Blessing), and Orly International, Inc.