URL that has changed my life

Search.twitter.com.

It's an amazing tool to find exactly the right people who might be searching for your product or service online. Use this tool to find people, add them as friends and then update your twitter profile with content that is relevant to them. For example, if you are selling eco-friendly baby clothes:

1. Search twitter for baby clothes, new moms, cute clothes kids.

2. Find and follow those people who sent out relevant tweets.

3. Keep your twitter updated with info about new deals, products, etc.

This goes in the "I heart Twitter" file.

Even the Best Performing Marketing Channels Need to Work Harder

Paid search continues to grow in a downturn. While other forms of advertising (TV, print, display) are facing cuts, search is surviving because it’s extremely measurable and enables advertisers to easily tie revenue and ROI back to the ad level. Here's a great technical tips story from Marin Software's director of product marketing, Chris Wine, on how to make search work even harder.

Spring Creek Group Finds Niche in New Media

Great profile of Clay McDaniel in Smart Money's "Stand Out" section.

Advice from the Social Media Guy: Use Demonic Child to Make Your Site Go Viral

Here is a really funny post from Spring Creek Group answering a question - how to make your site go viral. It reminds me of a joke we used to tell when our clients really really wanted to be on the Today show - it would help if you would shoot someone or become involved in a really big sex scandal.

Economy Down - Spa Industry Up

You've heard of the Lipstick index, but did you that in times of a recession, spending on wellness-related services like spas, yoga, hair, beauty goes up. Makes sense that when times are stressful we all need to look and feel good. Today, InnerRewards, a new online marketing platform targeting the wellness industry launched its public beta. The site combines high-quality, original content with social networking, e-commerce and more. Here's a great article on holiday gift giving.

Yes Twitter Matters

I have to admit that I resisted using Twitter for a long time. I thought it was a bunch of inside the tech world folks talking to themselves. After using it for a few months my mind is changed. I get news feeds from Twitter, Post news on Twitter and connect with people I actually want to connect with. One of the many I've been following is Guy Kawaski. He's done a great job of promoting his new project - alltop.com. Here's a good "how to Twitter" piece he posted on Always On.

Good flack blog

I came across this blog today on the NYT. Great insights on the PR/media world. I learned this juicy tidbit that Dan Abrams is starting his own PR consultancy/research firm.

Calling All Geeks

Marin Software today put out a call for all search geeks. Check out the contest and some of the viral buzz.

How to Save Your Marketing Job

Good advice from my client Clay McDaniel at Spring Creek Group on how marketers can avoid the chopping block.

Inexpensive Rainy Day Activity for Kids

I recently started doing some work for a great Seattle company called Zebra Mix. Zebra Mix is a line of organic baking mixes for kids that can be found on amazon.com, fatbrain toys and in many retail locations like Whole Foods. They are not just baking mixes, each "kit" comes with a safari baking map with pictures, instructions and fun little games for kids. As a mom of a preschooler, I LOVE these. The other day my daughter and our nanny spent a rainy afternoon with a kit and made the most delicious chocolate chip cookies. Good response so far from the media and mommy blogosphere. Read the reviews in the Associated Press, Boston Mamas, and Mama Manifesto. Did I mention they make great holiday gifts? You can beat the $5.99 price tag.

Googling the Flu

More proof that search is a barometer for human behavior. Google partnered with the CDC to create a flu trends report where it compared searches with data from "a flu surveillance system" managed by the CDC. Computerworld reports on the correlation between the queries and the data.

How PR Works Today

Here's a great example of the PR 2.0 (PR + Social Media). My newest client, Spring Creek Group, scored some coverage with DMNews for a controversial piece written by principal Clay McDaniel. In this gloves off piece, Clay argues that social networks will replace email. The piece riled up well -known blogger Bob Bly not for its stance on social networks vs. email but on Clay's use of the word, "all". Bob's post generated a few other posts and caused a bigger discussion on social networks. The next day I got a call from a daily business reporter who saw the piece and wanted to interview Clay about social media.

Seattle Tech Companies With Good Exits

Happy to say that two of my clients, CleverSet and Imagekind made this list in Techflash today for companies that sold before the downturn.

PR Advice for Sarah Palin

Dear Sarah,

If you keep talking about something, like clothes from the RNC, the more it becomes a story. It's probably better for you if you just stop talking about those pricey threads once and for all.

Here are some tips to remember when dealing with the "Liberal Media Elite":

1. Stop talking.

Don't elaborate on answers to questions about the clothes. According to the AP, you responded to reporters questions about the clothes with "I never asked for anything more than a Diet Dr. Pepper once in a while," and “I never forced anybody to buy anything.” Even those responses are too long. Reporters want to write about this and you are delivering juicy quotes. The more you talk the more they write.

2. Don't let your dad be an unofficial spokesperson.

Your Dad apparently actually created a big story for the AP when he talked about how you spent the weekend sorting through the clothes. It's not that he really said anything controversial except for this strange comment "That's the problem, you know, the kids lose underwear, and everything has to be accounted for" it's that he spoke at all. He should not be answering reporters questions for you even if what he says seems innocent enough.

3. Change the subject.

If you want this negative news cycle to be gone, you must stop feeding it. Many reporters are hungry for stories about you right now so use this opportunity to change the subject. What you say will end up in print for at least another month so make some serious announcements that will actually help you if you really want to run in 2012.

Worst Press Release in the World

While reading the Bad Pitch Blog, the other day, I was reminded of Keith Olbermann and his "Worst Persons in the World" segment. Here is an example of one of the worst press releases I've ever seen. Time to reconsider the strategy of leveraging high-profile tragedies to sell gun racks.

Voter Turnout

Perhaps more people would vote if the political candidates were on Dancing with the Stars.

LOLCats: Um Why Didn't I Think of That?

I recently read an article about the phenomenal success of Seattle-based I Can Has Cheezburger and asked myself why didn't I think of that? Probably because I don't think pictures of cats are funny. But who cares what I think. These guys told CNET that they will reach one billion page in 2008. What an amazing success story!

Wave of the Future: A Press Release Machine?

One of my colleagues had the brilliant idea of creating a do-it-yourself press release generating machine. It's really a great idea and one that could save start-ups time and money. The entrepreneur types in two or three sentences with the actual news like "new CEO" or "$12 million in venture funding" then the machine adds in words like fast-growing, momentum, leverage, etc. and minutes later spits out a ready to go press release. Ok so maybe the idea is a bit over the top. Although I do believe that press releases are on their way out and what we'll see in the future is news being communicated via short, succinct blog posts with links to all relevant data. Here's a great example from Google.

Why Can't I Get Parking Spot at The Mall?

The Conference Board released new data yesterday - U.S. consumer confidence plummeted to its lowest level on record this month. Businessweek reports that "consumers are extremely pessimistic." Consumers expecting business conditions to worsen over the next six months surged to 36.6 percent from 21.0 percent. So can someone please tell me why the malls (at least in my local Seattle area) are still packed? If people are so depressed about the economy and afraid they will lose their jobs what are they doing shopping? Perhaps all the parking spots are being taken up by mall walkers or those resorting to meals at the food courts? It will be interesting to see what holiday shopping season brings and if we'll see the crazy post-thanksgiving shopping stampedes this year.

Straight Talk Express For Agencies

Should you fire your marketing agency? Great article from Clay McDaniel at Spring Creek Group with five key questions to ask. My favorite: "Do you know how I make money?" Especially in today's economy your marketing agency should understand what makes your company successful and what impact their work has on your bottom line.

The Power of Mommy Bloggers

Mom Central distributed a study last week titled "Illuminating the Power of MomBloggers." The report cites the power and influence of mommy bloggers on brands. Interesting facts from their press release:

- 96% of Moms value recommendations they find on Mom Blogs
- Over 78% of Mom Bloggers now review products and services
- 94% of Moms rely on other Moms to make purchasing decisions

Which mommy blogs are most influential? How do they work with brands? I'm putting together a list of the top mommy blogs and will be posting that soon.

Social Networks Now Mainstream

AdWeek reports that Forrester is out with new research today showing significant growth for social media. Their poll shows that 75 percent of Internet users participate in some form of social media, up from 56 percent in 2007.

Great list of social media conferences

Check out this list of social media events and conferences from Mashable. Another good place to find shows in the e-commerce, online advertising space is Internet Retailer. I'll be posting a compiled list here soon so stay tuned.