Writing

I spent a couple days at CES in Las Vegas two weeks ago. It was my second year in a row attending and it was just as much as a whirlwind as the first go-round. Two packed days full of meetings and events. I did get some time to venture to the showroom, which I left with the hunch that voice is going to be huge in 2017, as I wrote last Monday.

I’m also excited to announce I’ll be teaching Digital Marketing this semester at NYU. This is a second-semester graduate program class focused on growing a brand’s digital presence. I hope to do similar posts to what I did for last semester, bringing you into my classroom to show you what I’m talking about.

Finally, I joined Snapchat. Add me.

Reading

A former Snapchat employee said the company is inflating active user numbers ahead of their IPO.

Remember when Netflix had a DVD business? Turns out they still have 4.3m subscribers.

The New York Times gave readers a look at the production of iPhones and how they get into your hand.

Something I’ve been thinking about a lot is how great companies differentiate themselves — I think it was my trip to Disney. The main thing these companies offer that’s different is an experience. Starbucks is one of those brands.

Speaking of experience: the Boston Globe has created a dedicated subscriber Facebook Group. This same sense of community is something I love about The Information.

Believe it or not, there is a portion of this fine country that has no interest in shopping on Amazon.

The Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold wrote a stellar piece on his year covering the Trump presidential run.

Publishing platform Medium is shifting its focus from advertising to… something else.

This bio from The Ringer on Mark Burnett was fascinating.

If you have time for a long read, then check out “The Fighter” from The New York Times Magazine.

Finally, Christmas is over, but I loved this NPR feature about how NORAD came to be the official Santa tracker. It’s a feel-good read to start your week.

Rock and Roll.

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