“We consider Borders to be in the very elite group of high-quality retailers,” said Linda Farquhar, a securities analyst for Alex Brown in New York.

That was in 1998.

Thirteen years later, having filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy late last month, Borders now finds itself teetering on the edge of extinction. Once a proud and vital brand, the company has become a cautionary tale, a reminder of the perils of stagnancy and business as usual.

It’s a harsh reality. No company wants the cautionary tale label, but in an entrepreneurial era of high-velocity media and marketing innovation, the sluggish company that …

The iPad 2 is coming out this week, and there’s a great deal of news and debate on what the new version has and what it doesn’t especially with its video functionality and new apps. Below, I’ve shared my own “preview review” on whether or not the iPad 2 can function as a good mobile business video studio – either as a standalone solution or to complement to your current business video activities.…

In the last of the start-your-own in-house studio series, we look at determining what type of video is best for your brand and the staffing needs required to bring your video to life.

At this third stage of development, you’ve dipped your toes into the water, experienced some of the positive benefits, and made the move in-h

ouse with your own gear and editing facility. Now it’s time to grow and evolve–and start discovering the unexpected benefits of joining the production scene.

Picking the Right Video Approach

Obviously, the quality, style and relevance of the entertainment are critical factors to …

I interviewed a major retail company’s director of digital and video content to learn what mass merchants are looking for today when hiring a video production specialist. Read on to find out how hiring the right set of video production skills help a $1-plus billion, multi-channel merchant maintain its leadership position in the video commerce industry.…

Jimmy Healey, Senior Manager of Social Media and Ecommerce for Onlineshoes.com, shares what his company looks for when hiring a video production specialist. Read on to learn why he sees the traditional videographer role of years past morphing into one where a blended online skillset is now required – especially in search and social.…

On February 10, Apple’s iPhone 4 will be on Verizon’s network and available to Verizon Wireless customers, prompting us to ask an important question: What impact will the iPhone’s availability on Verizon have on the development of the mobile video commerce space?…

I confess.  There is no other topic in the online marketing world that both draws and repels me as much as “video email.”

Prior to joining the online video universe in 2008 with Liveclicker, I spent seven years in the email marketing industry, espousing best practices while working to advance the channel.  Yet as much as I was enamored with the business value of email, seven years in the industry was too much for me.  The pace of innovation made watching paint dry seem exciting by comparison.  The vast majority of market participants rioted against “best practices” on an …

[This article is the first in a three-part series on creating your online video strategy and creating your own in-house studio.]

It is 2011, you are a marketer, and the online video revolution is happening all around you: The golden-voiced Ted Williams has become an international star; two million-plus weepy folks have forwarded-to-a-friend this wonderful father-daughter duo; and brands everywhere are jumping with both feet into online video and discovering a new world of marketing possibilities.

You recognize the trend, but are stuck on the edge of the moment, barely dipping your toes into the water. To your …

This year retailers enjoyed the biggest holiday shopping boom since 2005. Anyone who is following e-commerce, video commerce, or just plain commerce needs to pay attention to one e-retail technology that showed a huge jump in use: QR codes. Learn what they are, why they’re important for e-retailers and marketers, and the many opportunities and examples we’re already seeing for QR codes in mobile video commerce.…

Ah yes, January.

Arriving with its own built-in sense of urgency, January wills us to take heed and hit the ground running. It is a month of action; synapses are firing, thoughts are born, and big plans are put into motion.

Adding to this month’s feeling of immediacy are the various predictions from industry watchers and analysts about what to expect in the coming year, including this thought-provoking list from Video Commerce Consortium founder Justin Foster.

The month’s “just do it” mentality provides the perfect environment for marketers with big ideas to expand your brand’s horizons. And for the fast-developing …