So, I’m finishing up Kenneth Roman’s The King of Madison Avenue while starting Accidental Branding by David Vinjamuri. The later book reminds me of my intention to get on the mailing list for the J. Peterman catalog, something every marketer and copywriter should do. So I pop over to the website and find the following [...]

Just announced. Ellen Degeneres is leaving American Idol. This is the right move for her for countless reasons and there are lessons here for any entrepreneur.
It’s not because she’s not in the music biz. It’s not because she didn’t like saying hurtful things to contestants or because of her heavy work schedule although I’m sure [...]

So exciting to get unexpected lumpy mail. Today’s haul included 3 marketing books (one of the benefits of being a blogger–Thanks Todd And for dragging me to blogging…and thanks to Wiley & Entrepreneur Press).
The one I opened first (while waiting outside the donut shop for my kid finishing her shift) was David Meerman Scott’s [...]

I just dropped a hundred and twenty four dollars and twenty nine cents (on sale) for comfort in a box. They’re not sexy but they are cute and most importantly they feel like I’m walking on a soft spongy sofa cushion. Walking on a Cloud knows what it’s selling.
But many business don’t. [...]

Entrepreneurs are always being told to stand out from the competition. But how? Casey James was brilliant in choosing a not very memorable John Lennon song and making it moving and dramatic. Here’s the studio version below.

I loved the Beatles, but, in my opinion, John Lennon’s version below pales in comparison.

Share and Enjoy:
These icons link [...]

Dan Heath, co-author of Made to Stick, on getting noticed in a noisy marketplace. Check out his blog at Fast Company.

Share and Enjoy:
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

Are you a parenting coach? Octomom, Nadya Suleman, mother of 14, appeared on The View yesterday, defending her sanity to Whoopi and Barbara Walters. What a great piggyback publicity opportunity if you’re a parenting coach, psychologist, psychiatrist or any related profession. I have a client who was one of 16 kids growing up (not a [...]

Yup, it’s another season of American Idol. Ellen’s in. Simon’s on board for his last season (Miss you already Simon) and the lessons for entrepreneurs abound.
Just a singing contest. Hardly. Just like it’s not a “Who’s the best accountant?” contest when your prospects are looking for a new money man. It’s about personal branding. Standing [...]

It’s great to have David back with another guest post! The Second Edition of David Meerman Scott’s now classic book, The New Rules of Marketing and PR, a BusinessWeek bestseller published in 24 languages (WOW!) is released this month. (We’ll be giving away 3 copies of David’s book later this month so watch for that [...]

There’s a saying: “Any publicity is good publicity”. “As long as they’re talking about you” people say. Ain’t Necessarily So.
Want publicity? Careful what you wish for.
Just ask Toyota. Tylenol. Audi. Nurse Susan Nelles. Maple Leaf Foods. Domino’s Pizza.
Every company should have a “sh-t hits the fan plan” ’cause if and when it [...]