Sought-after speaker and the author of numerous marketing classics, Steve Rivkin is a dynamic speaker who has presented speeches and seminars throughout the world. Steve consults, writes and speaks on a variety of marketing and communications topics. He has a diverse background in marketing, advertising, naming, identity, corporate communications, public affairs and journalism. Steve is a well-known marketing expert & best-selling co-author of Differentiate or Die and IdeaWise: How to Transform Your Ideas into Tomorrow’s Innovations.

Prior to forming his own firm, Mr. Rivkin spent 14 years with Trout & Ries Inc., the prestigious marketing strategy firm known for its pioneering work in positioning and marketing warfare. As executive vice president at Trout & Ries, Mr. Rivkin supervised campaigns and strategy projects for such clients as Harrah’s Hotels, Ingersoll-Rand, Leica Cameras, Playtex, Stop & Shop Supermarkets, United Jersey Banks and Western Union.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Rivkin worked at International Utilities Corp., a Philadelphia-based conglomerate, in advertising, public relations and corporate identity. A journalism graduate from the University of Missouri, he began his career as an associate editor of Iron Age magazine, a weekly trade publication. Later, he was co-founder and editor of Financial Marketing Abstracts, a monthly newsletter.

Mr. Rivkin is a frequent speaker on marketing and communications topics, and has appeared at hundreds of seminars, conferences and retreats in the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia.

PROGRAMS

Brainstorms & Rainstorms
New ideas propel our business and professional lives. The common thread is the desire for fresh thinking and new ideas. This presentation shows you how to find an existing idea that’s worked for someone else … and then adapt that idea for your own. Like Doubletree Hotels, you could substitute an ingredient. Like Pizza Hut and AMC Entertainment, you could minimize or magnify. Like Commerce Bank, you could bring back an old idea. Attendees come away with a blueprint for more effective problem-solving and more effective brainstorming.

Differentiate or Die
Choice is a cruel master in the marketplace. Make a mistake in differentiating your business or your brand, and your competitors quickly take away your business. This presentation spells out how to make differentiation your business weapon. You’ll see that there is no such thing as a commodity, and that all goods and services can be differentiated. Using dozens of examples, this presentation explains what differentiation is not, and what it should be. Mini-case histories bring each point to life.

The Making of a Name
What makes one brand name great, and another brand name ghastly? Knowing the answer can be the difference between a flop and a marketplace triumph. This fast-moving presentation shows how names are made; how they’re bought, sold and protected; and the do’s, don’ts and nevers of naming.

Steve Rivkin Books:

Full Biography

Steve Rivkin founded Rivkin & Associates LLC, a marketing and communications consultancy, in 1989. His work focuses on the positioning and differentiating of companies and brands.

Steve has consulted for both healthcare and education clients, and also clients such as Abbott Labs, Cadbury-Adams, Celsia Technologies, Kraft Foods, Monsanto, NBC Universal, PG&E Corporation, PixelOptics, and Premio Foods.

As the co-author of six books on marketing and communications strategy, Mr. Rivkin is a nationally-recognized expert on marketing and branding. His books:

The New Positioning (1996, McGraw-Hill), the sequel to the international best-seller that introduced the concept of positioning.

The Power of Simplicity (1998, McGraw-Hill), a guide to coping with the complexities of management, leadership and people issues.

IdeaWise (2002, Wiley), a guide to observing, borrowing and adapting new ideas.

The Making of a Name (2004, Oxford University Press), a comprehensive study of the strategic, creative, linguistic and legal aspects of brand names.

Differentiate or Die (2^nd edition 2008, Wiley), on finding and exploiting your unique selling proposition.

Repositioning (2010, McGraw-Hill), on marketing in an era of competition, change and crisis.

Prior to forming his own firm, Mr. Rivkin spent 14 years with Trout & Ries Inc., the prestigious marketing strategy firm known for its pioneering work in positioning and marketing warfare. As executive vice president at Trout & Ries, Mr. Rivkin supervised advertising campaigns and marketing strategy projects for such clients as Harrah’s Hotels, Ingersoll-Rand, Leica Cameras, Stop & Shop Supermarkets, United Jersey Banks and Western Union.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Rivkin worked at International Utilities Corp., a Philadelphia-based conglomerate, in advertising, public relations and corporate identity. A journalism graduate from the University of Missouri, he began his career as an associate editor of Iron Age magazine, a weekly trade publication. Later, he was co-founder and editor of Financial Marketing Abstracts, a monthly newsletter.

Mr. Rivkin is a frequent speaker on marketing and communications topics, and he has appeared at hundreds of seminars and conferences in the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia.

For 18 years he has been on the faculty of the Estes Park Institute, a leading healthcare educational organization, as its Senior Fellow in Health Communications & Marketing Strategy. He is a board member of Estes Park Institute and the Volunteers in Medicine Institute.