I love to write, and perhaps, in a previous life, I was a novelist. But in this life, I enjoy writing blog posts and sharing my commentary about marketing and leadership - and I've been blogging since 2009. Post number 500 was written and published with no trumpets blaring and no big celebration, however, not 750. For post number 750, I'm sharing a recap of my favorite topics, posts, and guest experts. So find a comfortable chair and join me on a journey down memory lane.
My first post was published on October 9th, 2009, and was entitled, "GM Hired a Woman to Lead US Sales - Yes, a Woman." I vividly recall my discussion with my company's web designer at the time as we discussed this exciting announcement. He suggested that, if I felt strongly about the news, I should start a blog to share my commentary. I did, and my blog is going strong nearly 16 years and 750 posts later.
As the URL evolved into the name of the blog, Debbie Laskey's Blog, it was time for a hashtag to also appear, thus, the creation of #DebbieLaskeysBlog in August 2021. This hashtag, as a form of marketing and building brand identity, has since accompanied all posts on Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, Mastodon, and Bluesky.
As I wrote in November 2009, "Should You Blog? Blogs have been around since the early 1990's, but should you have one? If you answer YES, then find your voice. If you are an individual, write as you speak and share your expertise. If a company, determine your company's voice and make sure that the senior management team approves. Second, develop a timeline for updating your Blog. Daily may be too much work – weekly or monthly may be better options. Third, create a strategy for content. Decide on key themes or topics. Future topics will be derived from visitor feedback, and research industry-specific venues for additional ideas. Now, start blogging!"
Here are some memorable posts about brand identity, brand strategy, personal branding, leadership tips, and brand promotions:
*April 2016: When Creating a Product Name, ONE WORD Can Make a Difference
*October 2016: Three Branding Lessons from Binge Watching
*November 2016: Five #LeadershipTips from the 2016 Presidential Election
*November 2016: Six Branding Tips from the LA Auto Show
*February 2020: What's Your Favorite Valentine's Day Brand?
*April 2020: What's Your Favorite Easter Brand?
*April 2021: Does Your Brand Recognize April Fools' Day?
*November 2022: What Brand Stands Out on Thanksgiving?
*December 2022: What Are Your Favorite Holiday Ads?
*December 2022: Five Personal Branding Lessons from Santa
*December 2022: What's Your Favorite Brand the Day After Christmas?
*December 2022: What Are the Most Famous Brands on December 31st and January 1st?
*April 2023: Don't Fool Your Customers TOO Much on April Fools' Day
*December 2023: Happy #NationalChampagneDay
*January 2024: "Top 10" New Year's Resolutions for Leaders (inspired by Eric Jacobson)
*January 2025: "Top 10" New Year's Resolutions for Leaders for 2025 (inspired by Eric Jacobson)
*February 2025: Don't Forget that Timeless Marketing Mantra: Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover (inspired by Melanie Bell and her Leaders Who Fiction virtual book club)
Beginning in December 2022, I created a weekly series called "Marketing News of the Week." From the health scare of Buffalo Bills Damar Hamlin and the amazing amount of donations to re-designed products promoting the Lunar New Year, these posts provided explanations as to how mainstream news impacted marketing. While intended to be a weekly series, these posts sometimes appear a couple of times a month - as well as monthly recaps.
As a lifelong fan of reading who has shared a myriad of book reviews on my blog, during the fall of 2023, I created a series called the "Fall Back to Reading Series" and invited 30 leadership, marketing, and customer experience experts to answer questions ranging from the three business books that made the biggest impact on their careers to their favorite authors to creative names for a nonprofit to promote reading to children and young adults. Series highlights appeared on my blog on January 31, 2024.
From March through June 2024, I invited 30 thought leaders to share their commentary to think about leadership in nontraditional ways. This #SpringLeadershipSeries featured TV shows, films, works of fiction, products, and brands that either showcased leadership or were embodiments of industry leaders. Series highlights appeared on my blog on June 20, 2024.
During the 2024 Summer Olympics from July through August 2024, I invited 17 leadership experts to share insights as to how leadership aligned with the Olympics in what I named my #OlympicsLeadershipSeries. Series highlights appeared on my blog on August 12, 2024.
Following the presidential election of 2024, I invited five female leadership experts to share commentary about leadership, gender bias, misinformation, and more as part of my #PostElectionSeries that appeared during November and December 2024.
From October through December 2024, a series entitled "Holiday Leadership Series" appeared on my blog and featured 10 thought leaders and their commentary as to how leadership and marketing were impacted by the holiday season in what I called my #HolidayLeadershipSeries. Series highlights appeared on my blog on December 31, 2024.
And another series is currently running entitled, "Spring Leadership Series 2025" featuring 25 experts. In my #SpringLeadershipSeries2025, I have asked thought leaders five questions about team-building, reading, and leadership. This series runs from March through June 2025.
Each year while watching the Super Bowl, I also watched the ads, also referred to as the #AdBowl and the #BrandBowl. Then, on the following Monday, while football experts played "Monday Morning Quarterbacking" about the game's highs and lows, I always posted my recap of the best (and sometimes worst) ads. To date, I've written 13 of these posts.
As a marketing pro, without a doubt, my favorite series has been my annual "Top 10 Marketing Highlights" posts. They were written with a nod to David Letterman for the format and appeared on the first day of each year. To date, I've written 15 of these posts.
Starting in 2022, I created an annual series called "(year) Was the Year of #BrandIdentity Changes." In this annual recap published in January, I provided details of interesting brands that either rebranded, changed their logo, changed their name, co-branded, formed an interesting partnership, created a unique hashtag to match a campaign, changed iconic packaging, or in some other way made branding news during the year. So far, I've written three of these posts.
In 2023, there were so many food-related brands that made news that I started a separate "Food Branding Series of (year)." So far, I've written three of these posts.
Started in 2022, I created an annual series called "Words and Terms that Told the Story of (year)." In this annual recap published each January, I shared key words that appeared again and again in news broadcasts as well as the most searched term on Google. So far, I've written three of these posts.
Started in 2022, I created an annual series called "Notable Deaths in (year) and Some Personal Branding Tips." In this annual recap published each January, I shared a list of individuals who passed away the previous year and why they inspired me. So far, I've written three of these posts.
Started in 2022, I created an annual series called "Barbie Made News in (year)." In this annual recap published each January, I provided details of the Barbie dolls released by Mattel during the year to celebrate important women and their accomplishments. Of course, during 2023, the blockbuster film made news. So far, I've written three of these posts.
Started in 2022, I recognized "National Leadership Day," and on February 20th, I invited a leadership expert to share commentary about leadership. So far, I've posted three of these Q&A's.
Started in 2023, I created a new annual series entitled, "Best Book I Read" for the previous year. So far, I've shared my picks from 2023 and 2024, and the posts appeared in early February each year.
Started in 2025, I created a monthly series called "Best Social Media Post of the Month." This series was inspired by Oreo's April Fools' Day post in 2024. So far, there have been three of these posts - and they appear the first week of each month.
From February 2013 through June 2014, I served as a writer for the "IBM Midsize Insider Program," and many of my posts during that time were written about marketing and social media put into perspective for midsize businesses. Those posts appeared first on IBM's website, and once live, they then appeared on my blog.
Over the years, my blog has received some much-appreciated recognition. As a result of my posts, I was invited to be a "Featured Contributor" to Business2Community.com, and I wrote unique posts specifically for that online community. In addition, my blog was included in the BRANDING category in James Strock's SERVE TO LEAD BLOGS LIST in 2021 and also in the Center for Management & Organization Effectiveness TOP LEADERSHIP BLOG LIST in 2014.
Lastly, 20 experts (authors/speakers/coaches/instructors) graciously appeared on my blog in Q&A formats several times. I'd like to give a BIG shout-out with applause to them now: Erika Andersen, Melanie Bell, Julia Carcamo, Susan Colantuono, Doug Dickerson, Amy Diehl, Kevin Eikenberry, Joni M. Fisher, Lee Goldberg, Mark Herbert, Rebecca Herold, Rebecca Rucker, Shep Hyken, Eric Jacobson, Jim Joseph, Michael McKinney, Katherine Spinney, Eric Stone, James Strock, and Ron Thomas. These individuals have inspired me and made a long-lasting impact on my blog and on me, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.
Writers often talk about writer's block. But this recap has demonstrated that, when you view the world through "marketing-tinted glasses," then writer's block is definitely NOT a problem. There are too many marketing-related topics to write about.
I wish to thank you for joining me on this trip down memory lane and for continuing to read my posts (and sharing comments). See you next time on #DebbieLaskeysBlog - for post #751 and beyond!
SHARE THIS: When you view the world through "marketing-tinted glasses," then writer's block is not a problem! ~@DebbieLaskeyMBA #DebbieLaskeysBlog
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
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