I’ve been doing some work for Aartrijk, a content marketing firm in the property-casualty insurance space, for the past year or so. I’ve enjoyed it immensely. I met Peter Aartrijk years ago when I was working at the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and he was at the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America.

One of the great things Peter does is keep up with his blog. That’s something that I admit I’ve slipped a bit on The Wayward Journey. Okay, I admit, I’ve slipped a lot lately. But then, Peter has folks like me and other Aartrijk associates contributing! I highly recommend that you give the Aartrijk blog, Brain Food, a peek.

Here are two posts that I’ve contributed recently. My thanks to Roni Acord of Aartrijk, who edits the blog and keeps us all on track.

Email. It’s Red Hot!

November 21, 2017

By Jay Morris

If you’re a baby boomer, you probably remember this gem of a marketing slogan from the 1980s: “Radio. It’s Red Hot!” It was radio’s claim to relevancy and continued clout at a time when advertisers were salivating over new media like cable TV and consumers were falling in love with CDs and videocassettes. But as an Esquire magazine headline announced in March 1984, “RADIO LIVES!” In fact, radio experienced a renaissance of sorts in the 1980s. It was portable, it was immediate, and it was local. [Read more…]

Are You Caught in an Echo Chamber?

August 8, 2017

By Jay Morris

Have you ever been in a large room or somewhere outdoors where every word you say is repeated back? Such echo chambers are an amusing diversion, especially for kids who delight in hearing the same words over and over. But when it comes to news and social media, echo chambers can have a polarizing effect on the way we receive information and perceive the world. [Read more…]