Mark Schaefer publishes world’s first book with AI-driven cover

KNOXVILLE, TN — When Author Mark Schaefer published a book called “Audacious,” he knew it had to be, well, audacious. In a collaborative effort with New York agency Giant Spoon, his new book features an AI-driven, ever-changing “infinity cover.”

The book, which explores how humans fit in an AI-dominated world, feature a bold QR code on the cover. When readers hold a smartphone up to the QR code, a mesmerizing art display launches, morphing the cover into abstract interpretations of stories from the book.

“This is a first in the world innovation,” said Schaefer, “a unique cover that actually demonstrates the ideas from the book. To stand out today, you have to disrupt the story, where the story is told, and who is telling the story. This cover does all three.”

The colorful, mutating cover was a six-month technical effort driven by Schaefer and Giant Spoon. The book was uploaded into a generative AI system. The algorithm was trained on sample art pieces which set the style and color palette of the abstract art. Through the final system, a series of displays representing stories from the book virtually snap onto the cover, even if the reader moves around.

“This was a true technical breakthrough that provides an immersive experience for the reader,” Schaefer said. “People have compared it to a book with a video game vibe.”

“Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World,” is Schaefer’s eleventh book. He is a consultant, keynote speaker, and faculty member of Rutgers University. Schaefer is the executive director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions.

Giant Spoon is a full-service agency with offices in New York and Los Angeles. The company has been named by Fast Company magazine as one of the most innovative companies in the world.

• A video example of the cover can be found here.
• The AI-activated book cover can be found here.
• Photos of the book author can be found here.

Author Mark Schaefer adds AI flare to classic social media book

Mark Schaefer has published the third edition of his classic bestselling book Social Media Explained. The new edition has the subtitle “Marketing Success in the Age of AI.”

Creating a social media strategy for your organization may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Acclaimed author, educator, and marketing consultant Mark W. Schaefer untangles the world’s most understood business trend in this new book.

Schaefer said that Social Media Explained 3.0 is perfect for the busy executive, business owner, entrepreneur, or student who needs a quick and simple explanation of “what to do.”

The book provides insights into:

• How social media strategy has dramatically changed
• Unique insights into the role of content, engagement, and timing
• Practical ideas to initiate and measure a paid strategy
• The growing impact of AI on social media effectiveness
• Insights into measuring results
• Case studies illustrating social media success
• Answers to the biggest questions about measurement, organization and budgeting

Schaefer noted that while he did not use AI to write the book. Much of the audiobook was created using his synthesized voice, believed to be an industry first.

“Belonging to the Brand” Named a Top Marketing Book by LinkedIn

LinkedIn named Mark Schaefer’s book Belonging to the Brand: Why Community is the Last Great Marketing Strategy as a top marketing book recommendation for 2023.

LinkedIn editor Taquia Burt wrote:

While this wake-up call moment shone a light on loneliness, society was already experiencing a loneliness crisis before the pandemic. It’s a crisis that has been worsening over the past decade. Even as the world becomes seemingly more connected, there is a longing for belonging that isn’t being fulfilled in many people’s lives.

One marketer who was tuned into these truths before most is Mark Schaefer, author of this month’s recommended book for B2B practitioners. With advanced degrees in marketing and applied behavioral sciences, Schaefer’s keen observations of human behavior combined with his sharp analytical mind produced what is sure to be a foundational text for the new world of brand-customer relationship building.

“Belonging to the Brand” is Schaefer’s tenth book. It reached number one on Amazon in the categories of Marketing and Advertising upon its release in early 2023.

The review added:

Schaefer opens this book with a frank and vulnerable exploration of his own journey through social harm, loneliness, acceptance into community, and growth. His story is woven through with themes that will be familiar to most readers, driving home the life-changing power of finding your emotional home within community.

With an exploration of the modern loneliness crisis, Schaefer forms a strong argument for community being an essential part of the human experience.

New book explores the role of community in brand marketing

Mark Schaefer has published his tenth book, an exploration of the role of community in the context of brand marketing.

In Belonging to the Brand: Why Community is the last Great Marketing Strategy, Schaefer sets out on another future-view of the marketing world. He posits that three mega-trends are coming together in a way that point to community as an important part of the future of marketing:

1. Traditional marketing doesn’t work like it used to. Month by month, the power of our marketing is diluted by waves of content, ad-free streaming services, unpredictable trends, fickle consumers, a decline in loyalty, and other factors he called out in Marketing Rebellion. We need a bold new way to connect with consumers in meaningful and lasting ways.
2. Tech investments enable belonging. Where is much of the VC money going these days? Web3. Metaverse. AI. NFTs. If you cut through the complicated jargon, you’ll find an emerging infrastructure to help people connect and belong in new communities.
3. Mental health crisis. Perhaps the most significant trend of our time is the crisis in mental health. As many social institutions crumble, people today are lonelier, more isolated, and more depressed than ever. Customers are literally longing to belong.

Schaefer said there are new ideas and inspirations readers will find nowhere else. For example:

• The connection between social media and content marketing in an “emotional continuum”
• The 10 overlooked business benefits of community-based marketing
• A unique and definitive view of brand community measurement
• The unexpected marketing leadership challenges posed by community
• Technological and sociological changes making social listening platforms obsolete

When the book launched, it hit the number one mark on Amazon in both the Consumer Behavior and Marketing categories.

Belonging to the Brand is available in paperback, hard cover, eBook, and an audio version narrated by the author.

Mark Schaefer named one of the top three global digital influencers

Social listening platform Brand 24 named Mark Schaefer of the top three global digital influencers in their latest research report.

This is an annual list compiled based on data demonstrating marketing thought leaders who are:

• Creating the most buzz
• Delivering the most engaging content
• Generating the biggest number of mentions

Mark has been among the top five influencers in each list that has been published by the company.

Mark Schaefer to speak at SXSW for third time

Mark Schaefer has been selected to be a solo keynote speaker at the prestigious SXSW annual festival for the third time.

Schaefer will be presenting highlights from his book “Cumulative Advantage” in a speech called “How to be Relentlessly Relevant in a Chaotic World.”

SXSW is in Austin, TX, as is among the largest festivals in the world drawing 500,00 people to an event that spans three weeks. Mark will be speaking at the Interactive portion of the conference in the Brand Strategy track.

He previously spoke at SXSW as a solo presenter in 2013 (discussing the newly-emerging trend of influence marketing) and in 2016 when he talked about trends in content marketing. He also appeared as a panel speaker in 2015 and 2019.

Cumulative Advantage hits number one on Amazon

Cumulative Advantage hits number one on Amazon

Mark Schaefer’s new book, Cumulative Advantage: How to Build Momentum for your Ideas, Business, and Life Against All Odds, hit number one in three Amazon bestseller categories: small business marketing, job hunting, and public relations.

Cumulative Advantage is Mark’s ninth book and the sixth book to hit number one in at least one Amazon category. Schaefer was the first author to hit number one on Amazon with a self-published book in 2015 with the smash bestseller The Content Code: Six essential strategies to ignite your content, your marketing, and your business.

Cumulative Advantage explores a pattern of activity that can create momentum for a business. The book description explains:

At its essence, marketing today is about answering one question: “How can we be heard?” How can we rise above the din of infinite options to create sustainable meaning with an audience or group of customers?

Following the old rules of digital engagement is not enough … not nearly enough. Even being “great” is insufficient in the face of overwhelming competition redefining the limits of excellence every day.

From the best-selling author of KNOWN and Marketing Rebellion comes a practical guidebook built for the modern world. Cumulative Advantage demonstrates how the world is stacked against us in big ways and small and provides new ideas to help us build the unstoppable momentum needed to rise above these barricades.

Filled with motivating ideas and fascinating case studies, Cumulative Advantage is an indispensable and practical source of inspiration for every person with a dream that’s ready to take flight.

Mark Schaefer joins B Squared Media as Chief Operating Officer

Stanton, NJ – (May 19, 2020) – Brooke B. Sellas, founder and CEO of B Squared Media, announced a new business partnership with globally-recognized marketing expert and author, Mark Schaefer, Founder of Schaefer Marketing Solutions. This partnership will bring B Squared Media into a position to become recognized as a premier digital agency and online customer care solutions provider.

Effective immediately, Schaefer will become Chief Operating Officer for B Squared, overseeing the company’s expansion strategy and rapid growth.

B Squared Media is known in the digital marketing industry for its premier “done-for-you” approach to social media, advertising, and online customer care solutions with a focus on industry-leading applications of artificial intelligence (AI). Customer ROI for digital ad spend is among the highest levels in the industry.

“As a young CEO, I wanted someone to help me lead the rapid growth of the company,”  Sellas said. “I also knew that person needed to be an industry veteran with wisdom and a robust network. There was no other choice than Mark, who can help develop me as a CEO and add immense value to our expanding business.”

Mark Schaefer is one of the world’s leading marketing authorities, keynote speakers, and the author of eight bestselling books about digital marketing including KNOWN and Marketing Rebellion. He is also a faculty member of Rutgers University and the founder  of one of the world’s top business podcasts, “Marketing Companion.” Mark invited Brooke Sellas to become his podcast co-host in 2019.

“Working with Brooke and her team at this stage of my career is a precise fit,” Schaefer said. “B Squared is an elite provider of out-sourced social media services and their approach to online customer care solutions is simply the best in the world.

“In my role as a global marketing consultant, I get to see every business approach imaginable. B Squared is the fastest-growing company in its niche for a good reason – they see social media and online care as integral pieces of the customer experience, not just a box to be checked. This is why they’re the most trusted company in the space.”

Mark Schaefer founded Schaefer Marketing Solutions in 2008 and will continue to serve current customers and partners in addition to his new role with B Squared.

“Mark is one of the most respected thought leaders in the business,” said Sellas. “It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to offer his strategic guidance to our customers.

“B Squared Media has been rapidly growing for years now, so we are beyond thrilled that Mark’s guidance, leadership, and marketing expertise will enable us to navigate that growth in a strategic manner.”

[About B Squared Media]

Founded in 2012, B Squared Media is the premier boutique agency of the digital marketing world. The company’s mission is to empower brands to use social media channels to build loyal, lucrative communities by “thinking conversation, not campaign.” B Squared Media is among the fastest-growing digital agencies in North America. In 2018, Brooke Sellas was recognized as a “Top 25 Brand Builder” in New Jersey by Leading Women Entrepreneurs & Business Owners in partnership with New Jersey Monthly magazine. For more information about B Squared Media visit www.bsquared.media.

[About Mark W. Schaefer]

Mark Schaefer is among the world’s most respected marketing thought leaders. He is an acclaimed keynote speaker, author, consultant, and educator. Complete details about Mark and his business can be found at www.businessesGROW.com.

Mark Schaefer named top social media expert by SEJ

The prestigious Search Engine Journal named Mark Schaefer as its top social media expert for 2020.

In the write up, SEJ columnist Anna Bredava noted:

“Mark Schaefer is an extremely prominent voice in marketing. He is an author and a keynote speaker, and his latest book “Marketing Rebellion: The Most Human Company Wins” has changed the way many marketing experts approach their job.

“He writes about the importance of relationships and the sense of belonging in marketing turning to psychology and even sociology as the basis for his social media marketing analysis and predictions.”

Where to follow: Follow Schaefer on Twitter to get involved in deep discussions on the state of social media marketing and read his blog for eye-opening insights.

My favorite piece: There was a lot to choose from, but this blog post about the business value of social media engagement was a winner for me. Show it to your boss next time they ask what is it exactly you’re doing.

Mark Schaefer is often recognized as a top social media expert based on his forward-thinking body of work:

First book on influence marketing: Return On Influence

Number one book on Twitter: The Tao of TwitterNumber one book on blogging

Number one book on SEO: The Content Code

Number one book on personal branding: KNOWN

His new book Marketing Rebellion: The Most Human Company Wins hit number one in both the marketing and advertising categories on Amazon.

Schaefer is the Executive Director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions, a faculty member of Rutgers University, and keynote speaker.

Mark Schaefer named Top 10 B2B marketing influencer

Keynote speaker and author Mark Schaefer has been named one of the Top 10 B2B influencers in the world in a recent study.

A variety of criteria went into the ranking including:

• Topical relevance of the content each influencer publishes
• Network engagement with on-topic content
• Network size and reach

Online data for this ranking was pulled from Twitter, blogs, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, SlideShare, and several other platforms.

Mark Schaefer is a well-known marketing thought leader, keynote speaker, consultant and college educator.