There’s a bit of a hullabaloo floating around the Internet at the minute concerning the Momdot mommy blogger network and their proposed PR Blackout for one week in August. The topic is being discussed on Twitter pretty vocally and bloggers and PR pros are coming out with their take on both sides of the argument. Indeed, the flak got so bad that it led to a follow-up post on Momdot asking who’s more whiny, PR or bloggers? I’m not going…

We’re told (and tell our clients) that one of the key benefits of social media is that it’s allowing a channel to be opened between customers and business, and vice versa. But is this new openness simply leading to abuse of the system? Are people now using this new voice they have to bypass proper channels and cause as much havoc as they can, purely because they have the ability to? Take a look at Doug Meacham’s recent experience with…

As Twitter continues its rise in popularity, there are a bunch of tips and books out (or coming out) on how to best use it. There’s The Twitter Book from Tim O’Reilly and Sarah Milstein; the upcoming Twitterville from Shel Israel; the TwiTip blog from Darren Rowse; and I even chipped in with the Twitter Rulebook. But for all these and the other numerous guides floating around online and off, they can all offering differing viewpoints. What’s needed is one…

Recently I wrote why I was moving my #followfriday recommendations from Twitter to this blog. So, without further ado, here are my recommendations for this week. I hope you check them out – they’re all worth getting to know. Community. Khayyam Wakil (@iamkhayyam). Khayyam is an outstanding person and one that just keeps on giving. He’s one of these Twitter users that shares so much and never asks for anything in return. And away from Twitter he’s a pretty fine…

Wide Awake by The Twang  Download now or listen on posterous 02 Wide Awake.mp3 (7252 KB) Have a great weekend, folks – stay safe and keep smiling and see you in the usual places!

Your brand is what you make it. Your reputation is what makes you. There’s a small difference in wording but a big difference in overview. Brand may get you the initial success; reputation is what keeps it going.

Your brand is what you make it. Your reputation is what makes you. There’s a small difference in wording but a big difference in overview. Brand may get you the initial success; reputation is what keeps it going.

Last night on Twitter, I saw a pretty high-profile user retweet a message he’d received from one of his connections. It was high praise about this person, and was retweeted verbatim with no changes to the text. My initial reaction to that was to ask the following question to the Twittersphere: The responses came in thick and fast and they opened up a great stream of conversation for the next hour at least, with aspects to all sides of the…

Justin Michael is like many online users. He has a Twitter account and a Facebook account, as well as his own website. He’s passionate about new technology and social media/networking and what it can do for you, personally and professionally. Justin is also running for Mayor of Santa Barbara in the upcoming November 3 election. He’s using these social tools – Facebook especially – to help spread his political message, as well as his philanthropical one (Justin’s campaign message is…

Forts were built for a reason – to keep invaders out. Yet if the invaders came with numbers prepared for a siege, forts also left you trapped inside, unable to make your escape until you either surrendered or died from starvation. When you’re building your business, you may be looking at your growing empire as your own personal fort, keeping you safe from competitors. Just make sure you don’t get barricaded in and trapped from innovation by being too protected…