--- title: Ready State Blog. An investigative marketing agency. Strategy, design, content. (5) description: Ready State Blog. An investigative marketing agency. Strategy, design, content. (5) --- [![RS-avatar-positive](https://www.readystatements.com/hs-fs/hubfs/RS-avatar-positive.png?width=78&height=78&name=RS-avatar-positive.png)](https://www.readystatements.com/) - [About Ready State](http://readystate.com/about) # The blog of [Ready State](http://readystate.com/), a creative agency # [Hybrid staffing model gives brands more choices](https://www.readystatements.com/hybrid-staffing-model-gives-brands-more-choices) CMOs need the deep internal knowledge of an in-house agency, along with the outside perspective, cultural currency, and flexibility of an outside shop, Ready State CEO Kabeer Mamnoon argues. [![](https://www.readystatements.com/hubfs/zipper.jpg)](https://www.readystatements.com/hybrid-staffing-model-gives-brands-more-choices) By [Kabeer Mamnoon, CEO](https://www.readystatements.com/author/kabeer-mamnoon-ceo)  |  Jul 27, 2017 [Read More](https://www.readystatements.com/hybrid-staffing-model-gives-brands-more-choices) # [The CMO’s secret weapon: A journalistic approach](https://www.readystatements.com/the-cmos-secret-weapon-a-journalistic-approach) As media channels become overcrowded with brand stories, the styles and skills marketers use to tell them becomes crucially important. Journalism-driven stories can cut through the noise. [![](https://www.readystatements.com/hubfs/journalism-alejandro-escamilla-2.jpg)](https://www.readystatements.com/the-cmos-secret-weapon-a-journalistic-approach) By [Steven Wong, Cofounder](https://www.readystatements.com/author/steven-wong-cofounder)  |  Jul 13, 2017 [Read More](https://www.readystatements.com/the-cmos-secret-weapon-a-journalistic-approach) # [5 ways to excel as an embedded product marketer](https://www.readystatements.com/5-ways-to-excel-as-an-embedded-product-marketer) Marketers who work at their clients’ offices have distinct advantages and challenges. Here are tips to effectively navigating the challenges, from gaining insights to maintaining objectivity. [![](https://www.readystatements.com/hubfs/badges3.png)](https://www.readystatements.com/5-ways-to-excel-as-an-embedded-product-marketer) By [Adam Weigand](https://www.readystatements.com/author/adam-weigand)  |  Jun 29, 2017 [Read More](https://www.readystatements.com/5-ways-to-excel-as-an-embedded-product-marketer) # [Don't worry (much), my AI won't bite](https://www.readystatements.com/dont-worry-much-my-ai-wont-bite) Marketers and creatives—and their employers and agencies and clients—will reap tremendous gains from this explosion of machine marketing. The question is: What will our role really be? [![](https://www.readystatements.com/hubfs/image-2.png)](https://www.readystatements.com/dont-worry-much-my-ai-wont-bite) By [Steven Wong, Cofounder](https://www.readystatements.com/author/steven-wong-cofounder)  |  Jun 19, 2017 [Read More](https://www.readystatements.com/dont-worry-much-my-ai-wont-bite) # [Behind Ryan Putnam’s branded illustrations (Q&A)](https://www.readystatements.com/behind-ryan-putnams-branded-illustrations-qa) Thriving San Francisco-based designer-illustrator Ryan Putnam discusses how he balances analog—pens, pencils, brushes—with digital. He also explains why his favorite clients are in tech. [![](https://www.readystatements.com/hubfs/scraps-01%20copy.jpg)](https://www.readystatements.com/behind-ryan-putnams-branded-illustrations-qa) By [Claire Hartinger](https://www.readystatements.com/author/claire-hartinger)  |  Jun 7, 2017 [Read More](https://www.readystatements.com/behind-ryan-putnams-branded-illustrations-qa) # [The Sounds of Chinatown](https://www.readystatements.com/the-sounds-of-chinatown) On recent walks through Chinatown, we captured the sounds of the neighborhood through which we walk to work—and in which we grab lunch and happy hour drinks. [![](https://www.readystatements.com/hubfs/SOUNDS-chinatown-hero.png)](https://www.readystatements.com/the-sounds-of-chinatown) By [Curt Hopkins, Managing Editor](https://www.readystatements.com/author/curt-hopkins-managing-editor)  |  May 16, 2017 [Read More](https://www.readystatements.com/the-sounds-of-chinatown) # [Ready State’s CEO named Digital 40 Over 40 leader](https://www.readystatements.com/ready-states-ceo-named-digital-40-over-40-leader) Agency co-founder Kabeer Mamnoon’s personal philosophy, "question everything," manifests in Ready State’s work as "investigative marketing." [![](https://www.readystatements.com/hubfs/40050_ReadyState_0355-486041-edited.jpg)](https://www.readystatements.com/ready-states-ceo-named-digital-40-over-40-leader) By [Campaign US](https://www.readystatements.com/author/campaign-us)  |  Apr 25, 2017 [Read More](https://www.readystatements.com/ready-states-ceo-named-digital-40-over-40-leader) # [Build brand movements around 3 I's](https://www.readystatements.com/build-brand-movements-around-3-is) Successful brand movements need to be built around a budding cultural idea. They should inspire people to take action and, most importantly, give people an identity they can adopt as their own. [![](https://www.readystatements.com/hubfs/brand-movements-tim-tiedemann-149766.jpg)](https://www.readystatements.com/build-brand-movements-around-3-is) By [Ben Worthen](https://www.readystatements.com/author/ben-worthen)  |  Apr 20, 2017 [Read More](https://www.readystatements.com/build-brand-movements-around-3-is) # [5 ways to manage an effective product launch](https://www.readystatements.com/5-ways-to-manage-an-effective-product-launch) Product marketers within large organizations have a key role to play in rollouts of new products such as software, site features, membership programs. Here’s how to keep them on time and on point. [![](https://www.readystatements.com/hubfs/2391828247_22d8e71dfa_o.jpg)](https://www.readystatements.com/5-ways-to-manage-an-effective-product-launch) By [Adam Weigand](https://www.readystatements.com/author/adam-weigand)  |  Apr 12, 2017 [Read More](https://www.readystatements.com/5-ways-to-manage-an-effective-product-launch) # [7 hurdles to effective content marketing (and how to jump them)](https://www.readystatements.com/7-hurdles-to-effective-content-marketing-and-how-to-jump-them) From a lack of candor to ill-conceived job descriptions, we’ve identified several pervasive issues content marketers within large organizations face—and ways they can handily address them. [![](https://www.readystatements.com/hubfs/7%20Hurdles%20Hero-2x.jpg)](https://www.readystatements.com/7-hurdles-to-effective-content-marketing-and-how-to-jump-them) By [Derek Slater, Content Director](https://www.readystatements.com/author/derek-slater-content-director)  |  Mar 27, 2017 [Read More](https://www.readystatements.com/7-hurdles-to-effective-content-marketing-and-how-to-jump-them) [Previous](https://www.readystatements.com/page/4) [All posts](https://www.readystatements.com/all) [Next](https://www.readystatements.com/page/6) ### [Ready State. A creative agency. Built around you.](http://readystate.com/) © Copyright 2020 Ready State LLC