The popularity of various platforms has shifted over the social media age. If there's any app that has stepped up its game over the past five years, it's Instagram. Facebook maintains its users by acting as a population directory to find anyone and everyone, but Instagram and Snapchat have emerged as prime sources of social media entertainment.

Shows like "Mad Men" illustrate the dominating influence of white males during the advertising boom of the 1950s and '60s. Less than 60 years later, marketers are at women's feet. What happened? According to the Boston Consulting Group, women make over three out of four purchasing decisions in the home. Maybe they always have, but now the research is there to validate it. 

Tourism is so important to the Tennessee economy, yet we could do better when it comes to attracting niche groups of women with big bucks to spend. 

As our new president continues to ignite the Twittersphere, and Facebook Live fosters ubiquitous over-sharing of graphic and violent content, let's reflect on the state of social media - where we've been and where we're going. Read more about how brands can stay digitally relevant in my Knoxville News Sentinel/USA Today Network - Tennessee column.

Some fashionistas may have been shaking their heads when acclaimed fashion designer, Zang Toi, partnered with Shop LC, to provide jewelry for his recent spring runway show. After all, Shop LC is a retailer focused on the value-conscious woman whose average purchase is under $100, while Toi dresses the rich and famous in garments that can set them back tens of thousands of dollars. (I recently salivated over an $18k ivory knit duster with sable fur trim in his NYC studio). But co-branded partnerships are big business and can benefit both companies when executed properly.

Entering the 2016 holiday season, Fletcher client Go Girl Designs' goal was to blast an influencer marketing and social media campaign to increase sales of Busy Girl Bangle products and boost Go Girl's online presence.

Hundreds of thousands of women gathered recently at the nation’s Capitol and across the country as part of a widespread movement for gender equity. Regardless of why women marched — and the reasons were deeply personal and varied — the fact remains that women still earn less than men in the workforce.

Super Bowl LI is in the books, and according to FOX, it was the most-watched television program in U.S. history, with more than 172 million viewers. As the Falcons and Patriots made history on the field, there was plenty of non-football conversation surrounding what, for many, is the real star of the game—the commercials.

As we speed forward into 2017, it’s hard to believe that we are celebrating our 10^th year as an agency. There have been highs and lows to be sure -- even days when pulling the sheet over my head and going back to sleep seemed like the best idea. But the sense of accomplishment that comes with building my own company has kept me energized, excited to keep learning and in a perpetual state of motion.

From notepads to iPads and textbooks to Facebook, technology and the way we receive information is shaping the way companies execute efficient marketing strategies. In response to the introduction of the smart phone and the exponential growth of social media users, digital marketing has become a vital part of effective marketing tactics. With each new social media platform comes the decision for a company on whether it will use the platform towards advertising efforts or make it the source for sharing the company’s brand.