In the review of 2013 - The Marketing Year, I've telephone interviews with top US marketing author, consultant and commentator, Joseph Jaffe - whose latest book is Z.E.R.O. - and communications consultant Margaret E.Ward from ClearInk. In studio I'm joined by branding specialist Gerard Tannam from Islandbridge Brand Direction.

Our discussion is a broad ranging treatment of the highs and lows of the year. We discuss some of the celebrated marketing faux-pas of the year, as well as some case-studies of companies who got it right.

Among the examples and points discussed: 

Melt Bar and Grill

Why the 'Next Best Thing' is not the most important thing

Instagram Direct

Oreo Superbowl Tweet

Beyonce's unconventional album release

Nike - The Data Company

Keogh's Irish Crisps - the story of the potato field

Pantene's Anti-Sexism Adverts

In this podcast interviews with:

Paula Mc Carthy, Branded Content, TV3 Group, who talks about the media sponsorship deal that TV3 have struck with Brennans Bread to cover their Christmas movie line-up.

Clare Dunne, President Irish Travel Agents Association and MD Travel Broker, talks about the trends in the travel agent market

Conor Lynch: Connector 360 is interivewed about a specially developed app that his company have developed to encourage more people to give to charities at Christmas...

An extended interview with CEO of Homestay.com  - Alan Clarke - Alan was formerly Head of Gaming at Paddypower.  Homestay was established by Tom Kennedy, one of the co-founders of the major player in hostel bookings, Hostelworld. Kennedy's masterplan is to put a similar booking and organisational structure on the massively fragmented home-stays market. This is where people come and stay in other people's houses for a fee. It is one of the fastest growing sectors in the entire tourism and accommodation space. In our interview I discuss the parallels between the homestay and hostel markets, as well as the broader marketing strategy and segmentation in the homestay sector.

I am also joined by new arrival to Dublin's digital markeitng scene - Ivan Ariel. Ivan, who works for Connector 360,  is a Brazilian national with extensive experience in developing websites and social media strategy in his native country. He shares some case-studies from the Brazilian market in the cosmetics sector.