While compiling (many) posts into a book is a common enough practice these days, how many people systematically plan out their blogging to optimize the construction and marketability of their book?

How many people craft different blog posts tackling the same subject from different angles and designed to appeal to different Temperaments?

How many people publish their nonfiction/business book in mind with a firm understanding of what they want the book to accomplish for them, what a book reasonably can accomplish, and…

...continue to read "Book Publishing 2.0 + A New York City Giveaway"

If you haven’t seen it yet, you’ll want to check out this YouTube video of two (former) Domino’s employees:

So, do you think that might have some rather profound effects on Domino’s marketing efforts?  Think you’ll be eating at Domino’s anytime soon?

What’s interesting is that the basic principle behind this was predicted not by some far-seeing futurist working in the technology field, but by Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Charles C. Krulak.

Gen. Krulak coined the term “strategic corporal” to refer to the…

...continue to read "Marketing in the age of the “strategic minimum wage worker”"

We write a lot about linking especially when it comes to persuading readers to take action.

There are a lot of objections to linking, especially linking off the website. The web & the HT in HTML is all about links.

I won’t go there today.

This blog post about New York Times columnist Frank Rich titled “Frank Rich: Why I Link” is worth reading.

Why has Rich embraced linking when his peers have not? “The theory was: Why not be as transparent as possible by…

...continue to read "Linking Matters"

Hat tip to Sam Decker for pointing out this anthropological introduction to YouTube by Prof. Mike Wesch who presented this lecture at the Library of Congress on June 23rd, 2008. This is fascinating for those interested in understanding why people do the things they do.

swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/TPAO-lZ4_hU&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0", "vvq-1462-youtube-1", "425", "355", "9", vvqexpressinstall, vvqflashvars, vvqparams, vvqattributes);

...continue to read "An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube"

The smart people at Twist Image have built a gorgeous video site to showcase 2007’s most valuable online videos, according to their “most influential friends.”

Paula Gignac, Seth Godin, Ken Wong, Joseph Jaffe, David Weinberger, David Usher, Jackie Huba, Shel Israel, John Gustavson, Christopher Loudon, Mary Maddever and our own Bryan Eisenberg were each asked to share their favorite video of the year.

Which videos were your favorites?

(To Mitch Joel, Mark Goodman, Mickael Kanfi, Aubrey Rosenhek and the entire team at Twist Image, joyeuses fêtes �…

...continue to read "12 Marketers Pick Year’s Most Valuable Online Videos"

Recently, Mashable reported that “The worldwide leader in sports” is opening up its collegiate arm, ESPNU.com, to user-generated videos. The service, known as Campus Connection, will allow students, faculty and fans of all colleges and universities to supply the videos, including play-by-play analysis, sideline reporting and even televised events. Much like NASCAR.com, where fans have transfered their enthusiasm for a niche (if it’s possible to call millions of die-hard fans a “niche”) sport into a thriving photo and video-sharing community, ESPNU…

...continue to read "ESPNU to be a Fast Follower of NASCAR"

Joshua Porter of Bokardo.com has taken a serious look at Facebook’s new so-called “opt-in” ad model.

…Facebook is now partnering with 3rd party sites and selling your information to them for money. How does this work?

Here’s a scenario: you go to Blockbuster.com and rent a movie. A little interface element pops up and tells you that Blockbuster is sending information to your Facebook account. It gives you ten seconds to say no…and then it sends it anyway. This is called “opt-out”.…

...continue to read "Opting Out of Facebook’s Disruptive Ad Model"

The advertising-as-entertainment, “live” (but not really), model-hosted, YouTube-ish site Firebrand.com just launched its beta site, and it definitely could be worse — especially considering its ambitious value proposition. Basically, Firebrand’s counting on becoming a destination spot for entertaining commercials, and the only people who might tell them they’re wrong — at this early stage, anyway — are are those who remain at least part-time singers in the choir to which they’re preaching.

When I first heard of the site, I said…

...continue to read "In (Mild) Defense of Firebrand"

Just a quick note to let you all know that we’ll be covering ad:tech New York this week. There will be a lot of great panel discussions and keynotes on all things new media. So, be sure to check out the official ad:tech blog and GrokDotCom for reviews conversations about hot topics in marketing optimization.

We’re a tad biased, but this really is a great city to play host to ad:tech’s 10,000+ attendees (if you can believe it). For better or for worse, New York is a giant…

...continue to read "GrokDotCom @ ad:tech"

There she is, standing in the piazza called Video Gaming. Sony saunters by without so much as a nod hello. Microsoft rushes past her so fast it sends her spinning. She’s surrounded by gunfire, stolen cars, electronic creatures with huge shoulders and small, perfect waists. (If only real men were built like that…)

With a heavy sigh, she heads toward the subway, back to Tetris Land, when something catches her eye. Is it? Could it be? Nintendo is walking straight toward…

...continue to read "Nintendo & Women: A Love Story"