Social Media Strategies For Businesses

I can’t believe I found another old Internet geek like me! Yep, today’s conversation/podcast is with Jeremy Epstein, a hard core internet geek and now word-of-mouth marketing and social media strategist. Wow, I’ve been having a lot of people like this on the show lately haven’t I? Jeremy and I do some venting about clueless customers and how to approach them and educate them about social media. We also talk a lot about customer evangelism and at the... Read More »

What Is Social Media Marketing? Does It Work?

I’ve met a lot of people who say they “know” social media. But do they really know what they’re talking about? Look, this is all pretty much brand new in the grand scheme of things. So I wanted to find out what social media marketing is all about. I mean, is this really something that can be done professionally? So I went straight to the top of my list of people who I trust. My friend Lena West owns a social media marketing agency (Xynomedia) so I... Read More »

Podcast: Online Marketing For Small Business

Check this cool interview I did with Rob McNealy over at StartupStoryRadio.com. Rob runs a social media marketing company, as well as doing his podcast, and we chatted about that and all kinds of online marketing. Overall, a great interview with some helpful tips and tricks you can garner for your brand/business. Click here to listen.  Read More →

Is Your Online Social Life Ruining Your Real Family Life?

Being “social online” using things like Twitter and Facebook is all part of having and building a brand online, especially a personal brand. I cannot “not” be on Twitter and be active. If I wasn’t, it would be a liability to me in my line of work as a consultant in the business of online marketing. So the downside to being so social online is that it can affect my family life. My real life away from the computer and the Internets. Can our love... Read More »

Who Wants Twittermethis.com?

Twittermethis.com, my grand Twitter marketing experiment, is up for grabs. Who wants to take it over and give it a good home? I just don’t have time to do it. Watch the video for details.  Read More →

Social Media Marketing Is Bullsh*t?

Is it possible to do marketing in social media through tools like Twitter? Some would argue that it’s impossible, while others would argue that it’s very possible. I wrote the other day about my experiment in creating Twittermethis.com. Since then, the story has been picked up in multiple locations. One of them called it a bad idea (Blogcritics), and the other called it brilliant (ReadWriteWeb). It’s up to you to decide if you think it’s “spammy”... Read More »

Twitter Marketing Experiment - Twittermethis.com

I’m trying out a little experiment in “social media” land. This time I’m using Twitter. I’ve created a game called Twittermethis. Get it? “Riddle me this?” From Batman… You got it. Twittermethis is easy to play. You just follow @twittermethis on Twitter, wait for a question to be asked, and then be the first to answer it. Then you win! Usually the prize is $5. So Jim, why do this? Because it’s fun, and well, it’s... Read More »

Dear Social Media, Help Me Stop Smoking?

Help me stop smoking? I’m off the smokes for over a month now. I had quit over a year ago for about 3 years, but last year I got back on them due to some family stress (excuses, I know). I was only having a few a day, but nonetheless, it was still smoking. So now I’m back off them and I want to stay off. But I’m now hitting some type of wall where the cravings are coming on very strong. Watch the video below to help me stop smoking. It’s your fault... Read More »

A Conversation With My Niece About Facebook

My 19-year-old niece babysat my children last Friday night. She’s a Kent State (that’s a college) student who lives in a sorority in a “quad” with 4 other girls in one room. Every time I see her, I take the opportunity to talk to her about social media, and all things “new and hip”, etc… Heck, I have to, I’m a 36-year-old Internet geek. I see a lot of new tech online, but it’s obvious I’m not the core target for... Read More »

What Problem Does Facebook Solve?

A few days ago I sorta quit Twittering, reading or writing. I’m still off the Twitter crack, for now, but now that I’m feeling refreshed like a summer’s breeze again, I am wondering if it’s time to just dump Facebook too. I’m like the Heat-Mizer of social tools! I swear this isn’t linkbait (Sam). You’ve heard me say this privately. I don’t “get” Facebook. At least Twitter was awesomely useful to me, despite being... Read More »

Social Networks Killed The A-List?

Hugh thinks so. In the past, say, from the late ‘nineties until the last six-twelve months or so, Bloggers’ readership grew IN PROPORTION to the social networks that were built up around them. Hence the phenomenon of the “A-List”. But if we’re honest, looking back, it was always these circumventing social networks that were the really interesting part of the equation. The actual blogger in question, less so. Even if in our celebrity-worshiping... Read More »

Attention = Conversation

I just finished writing a chapter of a book that Drew is putting together. My chapter was titled “Can I Have Your Attention Please?”. It is about how new, free tools such as YouTube and Twitter and Flickr, to name a few, are changing the game and how brands today need to embrace these new attention getting tools if they want to be noticed in an ever-growing world of noise. Then just now I came across this piece. JPMorgan Chase & Co said it was reviewing its... Read More »

What Are The Reasons People Use The Internet? If You Don’t Know, Now You Do!

Take a look at this chart from an iprospect study on social networking behavior. Further proof that people come to the Internet for two main reasons… Pleasure & Problems! Take a look at the two biggest results below. One is for product research (solving a problem), and the other for entertainment (pleasure). I’m going to keep stressing this over and over until it’s branded into your brain. What do you do to solve problems for your customers, or to... Read More »

Sunday Night Roundup, Links & Random Thoughts

Here’s some links and thoughts I had after a beautiful 70-degree, sunny day here in Cleveland, Ohio. Thought #1: Jason Calacanis interviews Ted Murphy, fucking marketing genius (it’s #1 on Google Ted, you should be proud) and CEO of PayPerPost.com. A few thoughts popped into my head while watching this broadcast. 1. You ever notice how much nicer people are in person as opposed to when they’re calling someone an asshole on their blog? Ok, to be fair, I... Read More »

ZEfrank’s Last ‘The Show’ Today

I gotta tell you, I’m a bit weepy after watching his last show today. Why? Well, I’m a sucker for sappy music and slow-motion montages, plus, you know, ZE is THAT good. It sucks this run is over. You can watch ZE’s first show one year ago here. My only solace is that I can be sure of meeting ZE in person and seeing him speak at the Affiliate Summit this summer in Miami. Bring it ZE, I know you will. Thanks for the content and follow through, you have... Read More »

BigBrownBox.com Project Goes Live - Over $13k Value In The Box In Less Than An Hour

The Big Brown Box project just went live. Check it out, in less than an hour of it going live, the big brown box has over $13,200 worth of stuff in it. Including a $1700 Dell XPS gaming laptop. Want to put something in the big brown box? It’s easy, find out more here. Here are the first four items in the big brown box. Item #4: $10,000 Web Traffic Package From Jon At Wickedfire Forums! Item #3: $500 Podcast Design Consultation from David Lawrence Item #2: $1000 Professional... Read More »

The Big Brown Box Logo Revealed

We’re almost done with BigBrownBox.com. Just wrapping up some final touches on content and rules. Here’s our logo. Will you be ready for the Big Brown Box? What’s in the Big Brown Box? Stay tuned.  Read More →

How To Manipulate The Media & Get Free Publicity With Creative Marketing Ideas

Got 10 bucks, an hour of time and a creative idea? Because that’s all it really takes to get all the media publicity and exposure you or your business could ask for, all for almost free. Don’t believe it? I can prove it. This is a story about how I did it, why I did it and the results I got from it. You can do it too. What, you don’t like free publicity for little work? I know you do, read on. The Setup I live in Cleveland, Ohio, and I’m a die-hard... Read More »

Why Are More People Making Money Online?

Matt at Netbusinessblog.com posted a detailed analysis today entitled ‘Making a Living Online - All the Cool Kids are Doing it‘. I’ve been noticing a lot of extra activity in the web business world over the last year. At first I thought it might just be because the few sites I visit were marketing themselves better or that the internet was just becoming more popular altogether. After a little bit of looking at recent traffic trends, I think it just boils... Read More »

Affiliate Marketing Friends Have Helped Raise Over $500 So Far

We’ve passed the $500 mark of donations raised for charity over at AffiliateMarketingFriends.com. I wanted to thank all of those who have participated so far. The page is starting to fill up and it looks great! There’s still plenty of time to get in and get your spot. Some banner spots up top available as well, very cheap. Update: I’ve decided that the money should go to an organization in my hometown that is doing some AMAZING things. This page should... Read More »