33 Tangents

We've all experienced this kind of scenario.  A new company arrives on the market with a product that is highly functional and meets our needs phenomenally.  The product is well designed and is of high quality.  The care and focus of the manufacturer is obvious.  The company gains a good foothold in the market, then decides to start adding more to it's product line, and the focus starts to get lost.  The company moves beyond it's core business and quality drops.   What can digital analytics learn from this?  Why does is it always perceived as a negative for a company to want to focus on it's core business?  What is the core business of digital analytics and what are some of the ways digital analytics strays from this?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss what it means for an analytics team to have a clearly defined purpose and how easily they can be distracted with less valuable items without one.  They also talk about the key things internal customers what from an analytics team and what distracts those internal customers from getting value.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

We talk regularly, both internally and externally, about the concept of Sustainable Analytics.  This is the practice of running your digital analytics program so that it focuses on providing value and support the key areas of the business while ensuring it is maintainable and accurate.   When looking at Sustainable Analytics, how can it help a digital analytics program be indispensable to a business?  Wouldn't doing less, not tracking everything for example, make a digital analytics program less valuable to a business?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss why having too many choices makes most organizations today are data rich and insight poor.  They also detail the typical things analytics practices do that diminish the value of what they provide to an organization rather than increase it.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

On last week's episode we talked about the concept of businesses that can be seen as boring, but are very profitable.  One of the key things with those businesses is that they are indispensable to their customers.   Over the years we've talked about the struggles with digital analytics, and while there has been progress, it's still not seen as indispensable to a business.  Why is that?  What does it mean for something to be indispensable?  What does a digital analytics team need to do to be indispensable to a business?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason continue their conversation with the theme of “boring yet profitable” businesses focusing on being integral to customer's lives and digital analytics practices.  They discuss behaviors within analytics practices that often prevent those teams from being seen critical to the success of the business and how to remedy that.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

What comes to mind when the term “boring yet profitable business” is used?  Often times these are businesses that have developed & refined offerings that are integral and indispensable to their customers.  They can often be derided for not being flashy or trendy, but that treatment fair?   What goes into reaching that kind of status?  Are businesses actively thinking about reaching that point?  What can prevent a business from reaching that?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss why the term “boring yet profitable business” is often not a compliment and why it's used.  They also talk about the characteristics common across these types of businesses and drives a business to reach this state.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

We're currently doing a series of episodes looking at the concepts of getting back to basics and simplicity.  We're looking at the benefits of refocusing attention on the key concepts and practices that can get overlooked or forgotten as analytics and testing programs age.   When working with a testing tool, it's easy to get lost in the excitement of all of the possibilities.  Those possibilities though may never materialize if proper planning doesn't happen.   Looking through the lens of getting back to basics and simplicity, why is a testing roadmap critical to the success of a testing and optimization program?  What are the key inputs for a testing roadmap?  What happens if this key component is ignored?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim welcome Jason Boal, 33 Sticks' Optimization Strategist to talk about one of the key foundational concepts for a successful optimization program.  This discuss what goes into developing a testing roadmap, how to include business objectives, and what happens when a testing roadmap becomes neglected.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

In recent episodes we've looked at the concept of getting back to basics and simplicity.  We've discussed the benefits of refocusing attention on the key concepts and practices that can get overlooked or forgotten as analytics and testing programs age.   When a large amount of data is collected, it is easy to get lost in all of the possible analysis that can be done.  While it can be fun to search out insights, are there certain analyses that are core to a successful analytics program?  Are there ones that should not be overlooked even though they may not be as appealing?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss why it is critical to remember that you need “crawl before you walk and run” and how to address outside pressure to move faster than the practice is able to handle.  They also discuss the influences that can cause an organization to forget the basics.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg  

We've started a series of episodes about getting back to basics and the value of simplicity.  We're looking at the benefits of refocusing attention on the key concepts and practices that can get overlooked or forgotten as analytics and testing programs age.     What are the best practices when it comes to designing a tag management architecture?  What needs to be considered when deciding on a TMS approach?  Is there a TMS methodology that provides the best approach?    On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast Jason and Jim are once again joined by Jenn Kunz to continue the conversation around the draw of over-engineering data collection solutions, this time with a focus on tag managers.    THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg  

A new implementation can be exciting!  It's a fresh canvas to work with.  A new client can present opportunities to try out ideas you've only thought of.  These are just two of the scenarios that analytics implementation engineers are presented with that create the pull to collect all of the data.     While this can be fun, exciting, and provide unique sets of data, there are problems that can result from an over-engineered analytics data collection solution.  Problems such as: Many times the solution designer has ideas for novel data that the analytics team doesn't find useful so there is data going unused.   Development time that could have been spent on other more useful work has been wasted.   The team now has a complex solution that requires more maintenance than it should.   How can engineers and architects resist the urge to “tag everything”?  What are steps that analytics teams can put in place to ensure the implementation work is focused on what is truly needed and valuable?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jenn discuss their history with implementing analytics solutions and how they've fallen into this trap before.  They talk through their thoughts on a less is more approach and how that applies to the current state of the digital analytics & martech space.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg  

Architecting data collection for multiple tools within a single vendor solution can be appear to be beneficial from the stand-point of reduced logic and streamlined integrations.  It can seem simplified and streamlined resulting in a solution that can be managed with greater ease.   Are there pitfalls when it comes to single-vendor solutions?  What problems with the data collection can present themselves?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason are joined by Jenn Kunz to discuss what organizations need to consider when working with a single vendor analytics & marketing technology solution (or even a martech stack that mostly, though not completely, consists of tools from a single vendor). They talk through the various risks, such as assumptions that are often made, and how teams can be set up for failure with a single-vendor solution.    THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Vendor lock-in occurs when a customer is made dependent on a vendor for products & services, unable to utilize other vendors without substantial cost.    How can organizations fall into a vendor lock-in situation?  What are the costs that are associated with vendor lock-in?  How can point analytics solutions lead to vendor-lock in?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents Podcast, Jim and Jason discuss what can lead organizations to get stuck in a vendor lock-in situation.  While vendor lock-in is most often considered undesirable scenario, they also discuss the potential benefits that can come with it.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Risks of point analytics solutions include myopic vision and teams working in isolation.  Teams implement solutions that fit a small amount of needs that do not take the needs of the organization, or the impacts to the organization, into account.  The downstream result is siloed data creating incomplete insights and even a poor customer experience.    If you have a customer experience this is supported by multiple data/platform touch points, and analytics is siloed, everyone may be able to claim success while in actuality it could be a terrible by the customer's perspective.   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents Podcast, Jim and Jason discuss a recent experience Jason had at a major retailer and what organizations need to consider to prevent it from happening.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

When people think of analytics data, many often think of “cold hard facts”, but this is can be very inaccurate.  Like many other things in life, data can be skewed, biased, or even outright corrupted.  Everyone has a bias and for an analytics team to act as an independent voice in an organization, steps need to be taken to ensure bias does not impact a team's ability to deliver on that promise.   Putting unintentional issues and flaws with data aside, what steps can those that lead analytics programs do to ensure data is not intentionally or unintentionally influenced by biases?  What can be done to ensure an analytics team does not create conflicts of interest?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss how to address conflicts of interest and developing a plan to prevent them from becoming a reality.  They also talk about why many times this is a topic that is avoided within analytics teams.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Conflicts of interest can do significant damage to an analytics practice.  It doesn't take much for conflicts of interest to occur and in many cases all it takes is the perception of one.   What are the potential conflicts of interest that an analytics program can face?  What impact do they have on an analytics program?  How do these conflicts of interest develop?     On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss the different types of situations analytics teams can find themselves in that could create a conflict of interest as well why it is critical to be diligent about preventing even the appearance of a conflict of interest.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Many organizations view teams and divisions in very basic terms.  They are either profit centers or cost centers.  Profit centers are those parts of the organization that have direct impact on revenue while cost centers are essential parts of the business but don't impact revenue.  Cost centers are viewed as something that needs to be contained.   Since analytics teams do not have direct impact on revenue, how can they be viewed as  more than cost centers with their contributions to the organization?  Why is it important for analytics directors and managers to evaluate the practice this way?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss how value created for an organization is more important for an analytics organization than being close to revenue generation as well as the need to highlight the value created.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

We're currently taking a break for the holidays.  We'll be back with new episodes starting on January 3, 2024.   This episode originally aired on November 16, 2022.   As the saying goes, one rotten apple spoils the bunch.  In the real world, one person can ruin an entire team.   How will a low level of data literacy impact an organization?  Can you think of example of organizations where it's apparent where they are not very data literate?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim continue their conversation around data literacy, focusing on how low levels of data literacy can impact an entire organization.  Looking back at past experiences, they discuss the causes for low data literacy in organizations and how companies made bad decisions due to it.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

We're currently taking a break for the holidays.  We'll be back with new episodes starting on January 3, 2024.   This episode originally aired on August 3, 2022.   The people that make up the digital analytics space come from a variety of backgrounds and have wildly different educational backgrounds and career paths.  Unlike other careers, there are no prescribed paths or series of steps to get into and move forward with a career in digital analytics.   What are some of the common traits that have made these folks with all sorts of different journeys?  What are some key things that will make someone successful in digital analytics?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss what they see as key factors to have a successful and thriving career in digital analytics.  They draw upon their intended career paths, their experience getting into the industry, and those they have worked with.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg  

Analytics teams are realizing that it's no longer good enough to just check boxes to show value.  They need to show how the organization benefits from both the team in place and the tools that have been implemented.  Analytics practices need to evolve and directors have to look at the practice as business unto itself. On social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram we see a lot of the hustle and entrepreneur hype.  It doesn't take much to find posts like “look how much I made in my first year” and “here are 5 easy steps to be your own boss”.  This is dangerous because it oversimplifies what it means to own and run a business.  It also sets the precenident that you can only explore being an entrepreneur by quitting your job and starting your own business. What does it mean to run the analytics practice like a business? What does an analytics director need to consider?  What is the impact to the organization? On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim first start talking about the dangers of the entrepreneur and hustle hype on social media and what is actually behind that.  They then discuss what it means to run your analytics team like a business, the steps and analytics director can take, and how you can make your internal shareholders feel like they are making a choice.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg  

We're currently taking a break for a new addition to the family.  We'll be back with new episodes starting on December 6, 2023.   This episode originally aired on April 13, 2022.   Server-side tracking is being pitched as the next great leap forward in analytics and marketing data collection.  It is positioned as the cure for all current ills facing digital analytics and marketing data collection as well as those to come.   What is it?  Is it overhyped?  What can it really do and what real problems does it solve?  What are the pitfalls?  Are you risking getting stuck in a particular ecosystem?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason, Jenn, and Jim discuss what they're seeing with server-side tracking and if they think it will solve the problems it is pitched to solve.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg  

We're currently taking a break for a new addition to the family.  We'll be back with new episodes starting on December 6, 2023.   This episode originally aired on February 16, 2022.   Requests for Proposal (RFPs) are a staple when it comes to the procurement of products and services.  They are often dreaded by not just those completing them, but by those running them.   What value can a company get by running an RFP to procure services?  Is there anything a potential vendor be aware of with an RFP?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss aspects of selling services, their experiences with RFPs, and the pros and cons they see with them.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

We're currently taking a break for a new addition to the family.  We'll be back with new episodes starting on December 6, 2023.   This episode originally aired on July 20, 2022.   Over last couple of years, the summer vacation season has provided the opportunity to talk about what is often seen as a controversial topic…Unlimited PTO.  It is something that has its fervent proponents and its ardent detractors.  It's a conversation that is ever evolving and where we people have changed their position on it.   The first conversation regarding this topic was back in 2019 on episode 64 and it has been two years since we last discussed it.     On this week's episode, Jim and Jason discuss what they have learned regarding unlimited PTO in that time and if & how their perspectives have changed.  They also discuss new ways they have seen others approach unlimited PTO as well as red flags regarding it.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

We're currently taking a break for a new addition to the family.  We'll be back with new episodes starting on December 6, 2023.   This episode originally aired on April 21, 2021.   Four years ago in the episode “Is Unlimited Time Off Actually Unlimited?”, Jim, Hila, and Jason took a hard look at the concept of unlimited PTO to see if it's something employees find valuable or just a gimmick.  They left that conversation genuinely questioning the value of “unlimited” PTO.   In the time since, Jim and Jason have discussed the topic several time through multiple means, most recently on Twitter.   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents Podcast, Jim and Jason continue that conversation on Twitter giving their current perspective on unlimited PTO and discussing how it is tightly tied to employee autonomy.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

It's often stated that “data is the new oil' and while that may be true, it oversimplifies the value of data.  Data by itself isn't inherently valuable.  The value comes when it is properly collected, processed, refined, and injected into the right conversations.   What is the value of data?  Is all data valuable?  Is it a boolean where data is either valuable or it is not valuable?  What is the cost of bad data?   On this episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim are joined by Stewart Alaniz.  Stewart is a 20+ year analytics professional who has provided valuable business insights for large brands in multiple industries.   He currently serves as a Data Governance Steward, focused on optimizing data collection, data enablement and analytics processes, including platform usage. In this role he focuses on establishing new methods to improve efficiencies in data quality and accessibility for data consumers of all kinds.   Last but not least, he drives a learning & literacy program to help educate business stakeholders, analysts and technical teams on the value of data.   Where you can find Stewart LinkedIn THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

The value a team produces isn't always apparent.  This is why it is critical for individuals and teams to ask themselves about the value they produce.  As discussed in previous episodes of the 33 Tangents podcast, the value of analytics is not usually tied directly to revenue and since that is the case, it is imperative for analytics teams to clearly define the value derived from analytics.   How does an analytics team create value for an organization?  What value does analytics bring to a company?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss how analytics should provide to and organization and the traps digital analytics teams fall into trying to prove value.  The also talk about the steps digital analytics teams can take to ensure their output has actual value, not just the appearance of value.   Items we mentioned: Evan LaPointe discussing the statistics of expertise. THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

As industries and organizations continue to recover from the covid pandemic, providing value is critical.  This is value provided by companies to their customers as well as the value provided by teams within those companies.  What does it mean to show value?   Is value always associated with a monetary value?  How can an analytics team show value when not directly tied to revenue?  What are the issues with tying analytics work directly to revenue?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim talk about the risks with revenue being the ultimate value for an analyst and other ways analysts can demonstration value.  They also discuss the pitfalls analytics teams will encounter when they fail to be proactive in defining the value they provide to an organization.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Value is a term that is easily thrown around, often with implied expectations.  When it's used are all involved aligned on the definition and outcomes?   What is value?  What is value when it comes to digital analytics?  What are the expectations when the term is used?    On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason talk about how & why asking “what is value?” is something not historically done by digital analytics teams.  They also talk about what steps analytics teams can take to ensure the value of their work is in alignment with the needs and expectations of the broader organization.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Vendor lock-in is a tactic employed across multiple industries and anyone in the digital analytics and martech space needs to be aware of it.  This tactic sees organizations you've partnered with implementing features and processes in such a way that you become completely dependent on them.  Any attempts to switch partners will come at a tremendous cost.   Why are you hiring an agency?  When you partner with an agency, are there signs that you can look for to determine what their priorities are?  Is your success important to them or are you just a means to an end?   On this episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss why vendor lock-in exists and how organizations get caught by it.  They also discuss ways to determine if a potential partner engages in this practice and how it is often packaged.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Analytics teams were decimated during the COVID pandemic and still recovering.  Many analytics teams are smaller than they were pre-pandemic and are showing no signs to returning to prior staffing levels.   This is leading to cases where the organizations have a substantial amount of analytics software at their disposal but either don't know how to use it or don't have the capacity to use it to its fullest potential.  What can analytics directors do position their teams to be the most successful?  How do you recognize if your team is overwhelmed, under skilled, or both, with the software available?  What is the first thing to consider?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss how organizations can reach this point and the first steps they need to take.  They talk about the signs a team is overwhelmed with the number of tools they have preventing the team from using them to their fullest potential.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Where does analytics live within an organization?  Does it live with Marketing or Product?  Does it live completely on it's own?  Properly positioning the analytics team is critical to enable the development of unbiased information and guidance for the organization.     What do organizations need to consider when determining where analytics lives?  What happens if analytics is not in the right place within an organization?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss what they feel is the best place within an organization for digital analytics to be placed and why.  They also discuss what organizations need to consider and the role digital analysts play in determining where analytics lives.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Fear, Uncertainty, & Doubt, also known as FUD, is a commonly employed sales tactic.  Decisions made out of fear are often drastic and wrong and martech sales in particular knows how to tap into the fear of opportunity cost.   With organizations pushing analytics teams that are smaller than pre-pandemic levels to deliver at high levels, how does the director of analytics see through the fear porn to recognize if a new tool will truly help their team?  Are there questions that can be asked?  When will a new tool help a team and when will it actually hinder their productivity?     On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss why FUD is so effective and how it can actually prevent organizations from seeing the root of the issues they are facing.  They also talk about how the experience associated with this approach can damage organizations internally and get them tangled up with the wrong tools.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Everyone has sat through vendor pitches where: The problem and solution are oversimplified The vendor doesn't fully the situation and specific problems The vendor's product doesn't actually address the stated problems   If not you're not careful to recognize these things, it becomes easy to get lost & become excited with the shiny new tool.  It's easy to get focused on the features of the tool and not the “why” of the tool as it's relates to your organization.  Why does your organization need this new tool?  Why is it necessary?    What steps can someone take to ensure they fully vet a new tool being pitched?  For those in director and above positions, what is the importance of asking “why”?  How does this apply to martech solutions?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss how a team can ensure they fully vet a new tool that is being pitched.  They also discuss the importance of those in positions of director and above asking the question “why” and when should it be done.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

The typical business response to the need to deliver more work is to hire more people and grow teams.  There are cynics out there that will dispute that statement and say business response is to drive employees harder.  That may be true in some cases, ultimate you have to hire.  While in many industries, larger teams are necessary to respond to growing needs and increasing demands, is it always true for information work?   We're seeing a trend in analytics where teams decimated by the covid pandemic are not returning to their pre-pandemic size, but expected to deliver at the same or higher level.  How can an analytics team be successful at a smaller size?  How can analytics directors position their team to be high performers without running them into the ground?  Is it true that smaller teams can be more nimble and responsive to changing needs?   On this episode of the 33 Tangents Podcast, Jason and Jim discuss what it would take from an analytics team to be successful as a smaller team.  They talk about the common issues that plague analytics teams of all size but are amplified when the team is smaller making them critical to address.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

It feels as though there is a movement to apply agile development methodologies to analytics teams, both the data collection component and the analysis component.  What does this mean?  What is the driving force behind it?   What are the risks?  What are the benefits?  Does this strip out the curiosity that we want in analysts?  Does this remove any room to improvise or flexibility to address impromptu business questions or scenarios?  We talk about how analytics already doesn't have a seat at the “grown ups” table, does this exacerbate that problem?  Does it reduce the value of the analytics team to just tickets completed?   On this episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss what it means to apply the Agile development framework to the analytics team's processes and the pitfalls they've seen organizations encounter.  They weigh the pros and cons of Agile as it relates to an analytics program and the impact it could have.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Many analytics teams are looking to be more effective with their time so it is spent more on using data to reach business goals and less on basic reporting.  To solve for that, many are looking find ways to automate the routine tasks and reporting the team does.    What does it mean to automate aspects of the analytics program?  What could automation enable for an analytics team?  What tasks can be automated and what should not be automated?  Does automation make the team less insightful by focusing on the routine?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss how automation can improve an analytics and what it is able to unlock.  They talked about how automation and new tools are changing the analytics industry and what those within the industry need to consider.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

There is a growing trend amongst organizations to centralize all of their data, including their web analytics data, in an internal database solution with a visualization tool layered over top.  One of the results of this is analytics teams moving, or being pushed, to use other tools for analysis and not the analytics platform itself.   Who is driving it?  Are the right people driving it?  What are people not thinking about?  Is there a level of over-simplification happening?  Is there risk in turning your analytics platform into a glorified, and very expensive, data collection pixel?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents Podcast, Jim & Jason are joined again by Jon Narong and they discuss the reasons behind this trend and the value that can be created when done right.  They also discuss what analytics organizations need to evaluate and the potential risks?   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Many analytics teams are looking to be more effective with their time so it is spent more on using data to reach business goals and less on routine reporting.  To solve for that, many are looking to make part of their analytics program self-service.   What does it mean for an analytics program to have a self-service component?  What are the steps an analytics organization needs to take to achieve this?  What are the key roles that need to part of the team?  Is self-service analytics a cliche or wishful thinking?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim are joined by Jon Narong to discuss their experience with organizations wishing to make data more self-service.  They cover the benefits, what organizations need to plan for, and the risks & potential pitfalls.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

What does it mean when an organization says it is “Mobile First”?  What does that mean for the customer experience?  What does it mean for employees and partners?  What does the organization need to do to ensure it follows through on being “Mobile First”?   On this week's episode, Jim is joined by Jon Narong to discuss the idea of being mobile first.  Jon is currently living in Thailand and many companies in South East Asia have a “Mobile First” mentality, much more than it is found in other parts of the world.  They discuss what it means to truly be “mobile first” and the first steps an organizations should take if that is the direction they want to take.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

As we gain experience in an industry, it's easy to develop blinders based on the region of the world in which we live and work. How are digital analytics and digital marketing different in South East Asia as compared to the US and EU?  What is a “super app”?  What are some of the key differences in the customer experience? On this week's episode, Jim and Jason welcome back Jon Narong to discuss his experience living in Thailand for the last 6 years after living in the Bay Area.  Jon shares insights on key customer experience differences between South East Asia and North America & Europe, the reasons for them, and the adjustments he's made.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

We're currently taking a break for some summer travel.  We'll be back with new episodes starting on July 19, 2023.   This episode originally aired on September 21, 2022.   Like many things in life, there is an art to being a consultant.  The problem though is that the word consultant has come to take on multiple meanings.  In some cases it refers to an individual brought in to evaluate a portion or an entire organization and provide director.  Other times it refers to a team that provides a services and works at the direction of another organization.   What does it mean to be a consultant?  What are the reasons why an organization hires an outside consultant?  What does it mean to run a consulting engagement?   On this week's episode of 33 Tangents, Jim and Jason discuss their expectations of a consultant and what makes someone successful in that role.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

We're currently taking a break for some summer travel.  We'll be back with new episodes starting on July 19, 2023.   This episode originally aired on January 25, 2023.   Merriam-Webster defines story as: 1) an account of incidents or events and 2) a statement regarding the facts pertinent to a situation in question.  Storytelling is a very powerful part of the human experience and a key tool used throughout human history.   It provides a level of familiarity and when done well, it conveys information in a way that resonates with all involved.   During a recent episode, guest Stephen Marshall said “Story is the glue for new facts and information.”  How does story apply to brands?  What does effective storytelling do for a brand?  How can brands ensure they are authentic?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents Podcast, Jim and Jason are joined by two special guests to discuss brands and storytelling.  The first is returning guest Stephen Marshall, the CMO of the East Tennessee State University's Research Corporation whose purpose is building academic/industry partnerships.  The second is first time guest Chase Friedman of Vanquish Media Group.   Chase Friedman is the Founder & CEO of Vanquish Media Group, a digital marketing collective specializing in brand strategy, development, and marketing for entertainment for brands and storytellers.  VMG has managed more than 100 brand, film and television, and integrated digital campaigns across multiple distribution windows and platforms.   Stephen Marshall, Ph.D. is an award-winning media professor, (digital) marketer/brand consultant, and higher education administrator. Stephen's consulting brand portfolio includes work for Siren Marine/Yamaha, Adobe, Nielsen, Coca-Cola, Texas Pete, BoxDrop, Tennessee Hills Distillery, and various other for-profits and nonprofits. A former academic department chair, Stephen is currently the CMO for the ETSU Research Corporation focused on building academic/industry partnerships.   Where to find Chase LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-friedman-438b2826/) Vanquish Media Group (https://vanquishmediagroup.com/) BrandStorytelling (http://www.brandstorytelling.tv)   Where to find Stephen. LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenmarshallphd/) BrandStorytelling (http://www.brandstorytelling.tv)   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

We're currently taking a break for some summer travel.  We'll be back with new episodes starting on July 19, 2023.   This episode originally aired on November 2, 2022.   What is data literacy? The text book definition as per Gartner is the ability to read, write and communicate data in context, including an understanding of data sources and constructs, analytical methods and techniques applied, and the ability to describe the use case, application and resulting value.   Looking at and thinking about that detailed, academic definition, what does all of that mean?  How does that apply to digital analytics?  How does it impact digital analytics implementation engineers and analysts?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss their feelings on data literacy, it's impacts on many areas of everyday life, and how the lack of it is causing issues in the world of digital analytics.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Many assume that the measure of success for an optimization program is a high testing velocity.  The problem here is that in order to support a high velocity, other parts of the test development pipeline become neglected, including developing a well thought out hypothesis.   How critical is a test hypothesis to the success of a test?  What goes into developing a test hypothesis and why is it important?  What happens when that part of the process is neglected?  What is more important, velocity or proper planning?  Is there a metric above all others when it comes to measuring the success?   On this episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim is joined by Jason Boal to wrap up the series on optimization programs.  They discuss why a test hypothesis is a key part of the processes of running an optimization program and gaining support from executive leadership.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

It is very common to see organizations split out their analytics and optimization programs among different teams. What does it mean to integrate you analytics and optimization programs, or at least prevent them from being separated?  What are some of the risks that are created when you keep them separated? On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason continue their series focused on optimization and a/b testing with Jason Boal, focusing on why organizations shouldn't keep their analytics & optimization teams separated.  They discuss why organizations end up with separated analytics and optimization programs, the impact of that, and what can be done to address it. THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Launching an a/b testing & optimization tool brings with it a great deal of temptation.  It is very appealing to just want to jump in and start deploying tests to see what it can do.   What are some of the traps when launching an a/b testing tool and optimization program?  What are some of the common mistakes when getting started with optimization?  What should you avoid?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents Podcast, Jason and Jim are joined by Jason Boal to continue the conversation around testing, optimization, & personalization programs.  This week they discuss the common pitfalls organizations run into when integrating these tools and building these programs.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Launching an a/b testing & optimization tool brings with it a great deal of temptation.  It is very appealing to just want to jump in and start deploying tests to see what it can do.   What is involved with standing up an optimization program?  Should you just jump in and start using the a/b testing tool?  What is the approach that should be taken?  What are the key first steps?   On this week's episode, Jason and Jim welcome Jason Boal, Principal Analytics and Optimization Strategist at 33 Sticks to discuss what is involved with standing up an optimization program.  They discuss things such as the key first steps an organization should take, deciding where your optimization program should live, and the involvement you need from other teams.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

Let's admit it, working on digital analytics can be fun.  For many of us in this space, it gives us a creative outlet.   That being said, doing good stuff alone is not good enough.  Are you working on cool stuff for the sake of doing cool stuff?  Does your work have value?  Does it have it's place?   On this episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss the balance between working on the tasks needed for today and spending time on items and research for the future.  They talk about how being intentional and being deliberate play key roles in creating that balance.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

There is a fine line between valuable work and work that no one really cares about.  Is the work that you're doing closely associated with the goals of the organization or are you just doing superficial work?   Do you know why your analytics team exists?  What constitutes “valuable” work in your organization?   On this episode of the 33 Tangents Podcast, Jason and Jim discuss what can lead to focusing on the wrong things and not being attached key organizational goals.  They also discuss what it means for an analytics team to live up to the promise of providing value to the business.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg

One of the faults of the digital analytics industry is that we often assume the value of what we're doing is clearly apparent.    Does your buyer actually care about digital analytics? Do they have a vested interest in the outcome of the project or are they just signing another SOW? Are you just doing stuff that is cool to you with no actual value to the wider organization?   On this episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss how to recognize if digital analytics is important to your organization and how to address it.  They also discuss certain things digital analytics implementers and practitioners do which actually lessen the importance of data for others in their organization. THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg  

During the day to day of a project, whether client side or vendor side, it is easy to loose sight of who is ultimately responsible for the project.  On the client side, this could be some senior level executive sponsor who seen infrequently.  On the vendor side, this could be the person who signed a statement of work, but has delegated the project to someone else.   As someone leading a project, keeping the ultimate buyer of your services in mind is critical to success.  Are you doing work with that person in mind?  Do you know what they are expecting as compared to your day to day contacts?  (Hint: They are more discerning and have higher expectations)   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss what it means to keep your buyer in mind, how to make sure you're in alignment with them, and what encourages teams to be out of alignment.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg  

Whether you are working vendor-side or client-side, there is ultimately a buyer associated with the project you are engaged with.  What does this mean and who is this person?   As someone leading a project, do you know who the ultimate “buyer” of your services is?  Are they your day to day stakeholder?  Why is knowing who this person is critical to your success?   On this episode of 33 Tangents, Jim and Jason discuss the importance of identifying the ultimate buyer of your project, risks of not doing so, and sharing the value of what you are doing with them.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg  

Note: We encountered some recording issues in the early parts of this episode and recovered the audio that we could.   While every organization deals with this issue to one degree or another, there are those where it is really bad.  It can take the form of “we just need to implement this new project management software and all of our project delivery issues will be solved”.  It can also be seen with “we just need to upgrade to the premium package from our digital analytics vendor and we won't have to worry about these data issues anymore”.   What is it like to work in an organization that thinks the next vendor, tool, or technology will solve all of it's ills?  What causes a company to fall into this trap?  How can they get out of it?  What is the end result of this mindset?   On this episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss what happens to organizations when they view the next “thing” as the savior for all of their ills.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg  

“By putting the employee first, the customer effectively comes first by default, and in the end, the shareholder comes first by default as well.” - Richard Branson   Have you ever been part of a project or initiative and after it is over, you feel as though things are not improved or in a better condition?  This can happen when a vendor's focus is solely on the tasks that need to be done and losing site of the bigger picture.   What is that bigger picture?  If all of the tasks are done, shouldn't that mean the bigger picture was taken into account and things should be in a better place?  How can you ensure your team keeps their eyes on both the tactical and the strategic?   On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss their experiences with being involved with projects that were deemed a success yet feeling as though no progress was made, including the things they've learned to ensure that doesn't happen.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don't forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg