As you probably already know VI has numerous clients in healthcare and public health. That said, we are always so pleased when healthcare gets mainstream attention. A couple of weeks ago Las Vegas hosted the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show. There, they deemed this the year of the wearables. A great number of the wearables are geared to the fitness market.

1. Develop An Annual Plan
Ideas don't mean anything if they remain stored in your head, and you can't measure success without goals. Write down your objectives for the year, develop a strategy for achieving them, then create tactics that will execute that strategy.

January is almost over but it's not too late to make this year even better than 2013. How? Start with imagination.

VI President Tim Berney Talks Super Bowl Ads For The Daily Oklahoman.

It’s been a big few months for both Flipboard and Pinterest. The personal magazine creator, Flipboard released it’s latest update allowing users to buy products via Flipboard, create their own magazines and “flip” content from commerce websites using the new bookmarklet feature. An announcement that they have gone live on Windows 8.1 quickly followed the update.

As a media buyer I am quite often questioned about TV and its value as an advertising medium. Some of the most common things I hear when questioned on whether to use TV ads or not are the claims that people are fast-forwarding through commercials or viewing television online. All of these things have truth to them, but at the end of the day, TV still reins true as the quickest way to reach the largest audience.

You may have noticed videos on your newsfeed acting a little different recently. Since September, Facebook has been testing a new feature that plays users videos automatically as you scroll or swipe past them. They report seeing an increase in views, likes, shares and comments by more than 10%.

You’ve probably heard of Amazon Prime. It started in 2005 with an offer of $79 per year to receive 2-day shipping on all orders. Would customers be willing to pay the extra amount just to get 2-day shipping? Why would they pay extra when most consumers were hurting financially? How would Amazon not lose money by offering 2-day shipping on all purchases for only $79 a year?

There’s no denying that social media has quickly become one of the most effective and efficient ways to communicate with an audience. Social media provides the interactive platform necessary to build the irreplaceable connection between brands and their audiences. Consumers and B2B buyers alike are no longer viewing this interaction as optional – consumers expect to communicate with businesses where they already spend time. So why are so many businesses still skeptical as to how and why they should incorporate it into their marketing plans?

Are we a make 'em and break 'em kind of society? According to research, the answer is yes. On average, 40% of Americans will make New Year's resolutions while only 8% will actually follow through and achieve their goals. 

T’was the day of Christmas
And all through the house,
Every person was playing
But not with a mouse.

Thanksgiving is past. Christmas is bearing down and the end of the calendar year is upon us for all practical business purposes.