About Gary D. Cohen
This is where I share my thoughts about what interests me. Over the last few years I have spent a significant amount of timing learning about social media and the power of consumers, community and engagement. Honestly, loyalty, trust and respect have always been at the core of who I am and what I do, and these are all requirements for successful social media efforts. I run Speakery, a consulting company that helps companies optimize sales, marketing, websites and business initiatives. We also help companies understand the opportunities offered by social media and how to integrate them with traditional marketing efforts.
I was formerly CEO of crayon, a conversational marketing advisory and consulting firm. I am a “recovered” CPA and banker who has had senior roles in sales and marketing, client management and operations at large international financial services companies in addition to startups.
Certain life experiences prior to and subsequent to 9/11 had fundamental and formative effects on me. “Life’s short, play hard” was the Reebok line that has always resonated for me and together with Nike’s “Just do it!” have become rallying calls for me. I believe that no experience is wasted and we owe it to ourselves to learn from what we do and live life to the full.
I believe strongly that we are all in sales, client and brand management – regardless of what we do for a living – and that as marketers, advertisers and PR professionals we have an obligation to act in the best interests of our clients and their clients or consumers. I have always been interested in understanding people’s drivers and their communication styles. That has evolved into a strong interest in psychographics as the base for integrating advertising, marketing and PR to connect and convert potential audiences. Understanding not just demographics but the audience’s passions, interests and cetain psychographic and heuristic elements, provides the key to reaching them. Not just in marketing/PR/Advertising, but in management as well. To be effective in our multi-tasking and limited sound byte era, requires connecting with a qualified audience numerous times and in different ways.
If I had to sum up my biggest motivation and driver, it is a desire to help clients, colleagues, my family and friends, my company and myself in a way that helps us be the best that we can be. I do whatever I can, gather the knowledge, understanding and resources required, and work as hard as I can to make that happen.
Interests: Family, learning, business, training, social media, photography, sports (especially golf), lively conversation, movies, sales, psychology, motivation, psychographics, traveling, beach, challenging assignments – and not necessarily in that order. Favorite book: Golf is a Game of Confidence. Favorite movie: Mediterraneo.
