Entries by Michael Zimmerman

Howard EcoWorks names Laura Pasternak to Board of Directors

Laura Pasternak has been named to the Board of Howard EcoWorks, a Columbia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to empowering communities and diverse workforces to respect and restore the region’s natural systems for future generations. “We’re excited to add Laura’s expertise to the Board and look forward to her contribution to the cause,” said Bill Withers, […]

2020/20

Happy New Year! While many celebrate 2020 as the beginning of a new decade in the Common Era (though the Gregorian Calendar clearly gives that distinction to the year 2021), we see it as the year MarketPoint will turn 20. So, as we begin to celebrate our twentieth year, we thought it would be appropriate […]

Distinction vs. Differentiation: It’s Time to Stop Asking for the Impossible

(This article previously appeared on LinkedIn.) Last weekend, the American Quilter’s Society displayed hundreds of hand-made quilts at the Lancaster County Convention Center. The show was visually overwhelming, featuring craftsmen (actually, mostly craftswomen) from around the U.S. and abroad. Each of these artists could rightfully claim their works were one-of-a-kind – yet, that distinction alone carries […]

Laura Pasternak Named to MD Top 100 Women Again

The Daily Record has named Laura Pasternak, Principal, MarketPoint LLC, to its 2019 listing of Maryland’s Top 100 Women. The Daily Record began Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 1996 to recognize outstanding achievements by women demonstrated through professional accomplishments, community leadership and mentoring.

Frustrated by Crowdsourcing? Get Used to It.

Recently, I came across a LinkedIn post that railed against crowdsourcing and its negative impact on freelance design, in particular. The author’s point was simple enough: Crowdsourcing sites (like DesignCrowd, Crowdspring, 99designs, and countless others) run contests in which graphic designers compete by submitting what they believe is the best design solution to a challenge brought […]

Advertisers Awaken to Blindness: Audio Description in Advertising

George Wurtzel is blind. But that doesn’t stop him from teaching woodworking at Lighthouse San Francisco and Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. And why should it? “Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean that I can’t do it,” laughs George. “I can’t run a four-minute mile. There are some people who can, but […]

The 2018 MarketPoint Thanksgiving Quiz

Saying “please” and “thank you” seems to be a lost art. At least that’s the conclusion you might have drawn, had you joined us for Halloween. Children wandered up and down the sidewalks, barely making eye contact with one another – some talking on their smartphones, some listening to music through their earbuds – and […]

Volkswagen’s New Brand Strategy: “Becoming Less German”

Writing for Campaign Magazine, Simon Gwynn revealed, today, Volkswagen’s new brand strategy: to become “less German.” On the surface, one might wonder whether being perceived as “less German” is, as far as strategies go, about 73 years behind history. Let’s not forget that Volkswagen once made the transition from “the German people’s car” to a […]

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Finding Fresh Material for Social Media

Customers sometimes ask, “How can organizations like mine keep coming up with fresh material to share on social media?” Well, here’s a very short answer that might make it easier to find material. And the best part is you already know the mnemonic.