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Obviously, these folks didn’t hear about Al Gore III busting up the road at 100 mph in his Prius earlier this year. However, this campaign is cute. 
Is there an art to commenting on someone else's blog? Why yes, excellent question!
First, ask yourself why you're commenting. Are you trying to raise your own visibility, get others to know your expertise or simply make a connection? All of these are good reasons for commenting on a blog, but you need a plan of attack. Most importantly, you want the blogger to answer back so you can begin a true conversation.
For example, here's how to show your expertise (with grace):
Your post reminds me of what _______wrote. You may want to check out her article at (provide Web site). She argues ________; if you haven’t already read her, you may find it interesting. I'm eager to hear what you think.
This type of comment could be a triple header for you. First, you compliment the blogger (always a good idea). Then, you provide some potentially new material for the blogger to explore (note the “if you haven’t already read,” which is important because it does not assume the blogger doesn’t already know this information). And finally, you ask for a continuation of the conversation. Cool, huh?
Yup, there is an art to commenting!
How we got to be here today is a miracle. This site on 80s toys that probably should have killed you is pretty funny. The pogo ball was pretty strange – and dangerous. Suffice it to say, it was unmarketable. There were very few kids who could actually master the contraption.
Eleven years ago, at exactly 3:35 p.m., my daughter, Shira was born. I know it was 3:35 because at 3:30 my mother -in-law called to ask if I was "done yet."
We named her "Shira," Hebrew for song, so that she would be upbeat and happy the rest of her life. And so far, it's worked. Shira is my Tigger (see below). She's bouncy fun and rarely lets "the bad stuff" (as she puts it) get her down.
Tomorrow, more on marketing. But today, happy birthday, Shira. Keep singing your happy song. It's too cool for words.
Would you rather be a Tigger or an Eeyore? Chances are you’d like to be a Tigger – a bouncy, bouncy one.
Maybe that’s why I bought my kids a trampoline. It’s “bouncy bouncy fun,” as Tigger might say. (Of course I got the protective net so don’t freak.)
What’s cooler about trampolines, though, is that they’re great for meditating. I’m not one for standing still, so don’t tell me to chant in a corner to open my mind. I used to go for a jog, which was fine until I found the bouncer.
Jumping up and down on a trampoline must release endorphins because it makes me feel giddy. I also tend to think more creatively. Maybe there’s something here.
I looked up “benefits of trampolines” and found that they are good for the old CV system and help posture and lung capacity. What’s more, the G force exerted is supposed to release toxins.
Whoopeee! OK, marketers, get creative and bounce. I wish I could “do” Tigger’s laugh as a close. It’s so much better than Eeyore’s groan.
Are you confident enough to send your release through HubSpot's Press Release Grader? It’s a free application that evaluates your press release and provides a "marketing effectiveness score.” The score is based on the language and content of the release, plus advanced factors from Internet marketing experts at HubSpot such as links and search engine optimization characteristics.
When you get to be a certain age, everything old is new again. Wasn't I running around London in the 1980s singing the praises of Steampunk?
And here it is again, all shiny and not quite new again. Well, at least the whole Steampunk thing got a spread in the New York Times Magazine.
Not to worry. I kind of like Steampunk -- whenever it comes around. it's quite romantic, quite reflective of a more hopeful time. Quite.
Just don't re-do my living room in all Steampunk. With that proviso, I'm OK with it.
I am convinced that all the old paper relics like resumes and cover letters (even those soft-copy versions) will soon die a quick death, if they haven't already. The new careerist needs to brush up their LinkedIn and, yes, make those personal MySpace and Facebooks look a bit more professional.
We knew that the presidential campaign was going to get dirty. The Obama campaign has announced an interesting idea for fighting back. They’ve just launched a Web site called FighttheSmears.com. It’s designed to address the nastiness head on.
because it’s sexy, price is the “p” of the day as we slip further and further into economic gloom.
I thought Clinton said most of it on Saturday, but Advergirl says the rest of it on her post. As thrilled as I am about Obama’s victory, there is a piece of me that must grieve the demise of the Clinton campaign. Yeah, I cried when I heard her speech.
Why? Why cry for a candidate who was so problematic, who we all knew would move into the White House with more baggage than even moi – yes, moi – can claim?
Well, there was this secret dream. It goes something like this. Woman gets into White House. We all rethink our gender-biased roles. Yeah, we did that back in the 1970s and 1980s, but we didn’t go far enough. Some of us hit glass ceilings. Others weirdly reverted into old gender games. And still others claimed themselves “post feminists,” which I still want someone to define.
Let’s break it down to the raw, real deal. We didn’t get a woman into the absolute highest position of power. And, for me and my 11 year-old-daughter, that’s just not good enough.
Someday I'll tell my grandkids how I was there, making speeches about the equal rights amendment to my grade school compadres, trolling neighborhoods for NARAL during college, working for Betty Friedan as one of my first post-school assignments. And you know what they'll say? Grandma, looks like you just didn't do enough...Yes, I know.
Read this excerpt from JK Rowling's commencement address at Harvard…
It's official. I'm backing Barack (he's a mensch -- see lapel pin). My gal, Hillary, told me to back him and so I'm there. It's ok. We'll get the woman prez the next time. (I refuse to die until this happens, please take note.)
In the meantime, there is SO much to be done. Marketers of like minds, put your collective wisdom together to make sure a Democrat who supports health care reform and withdrawal from Iraq says the presidential oath Jan. 2009. As a mom of two teens, EVERYTHING depends on this election. Please lend your talents.
In case you missed it, this ad from Euro RSCG Sidney states, "Smoking Causes Premature Ageing." Yikes. Ya think those hands are a bit, um, overdone?
I just finished up another marketing class. Yay, I'm off the teaching circuit for two weeks. Boo, I'll miss this class. They were an eclectic bunch that taught me:
...And so much more. Honestly, if you want to learn all that you can about your field, teach. After all, we are all students of life, yes?
So, who writes for Helium? Is anyone making any money doing it? Seems to me a very hard way to make some scratch from a writing career. As I understand it, first your article gets rated by other Helium members. Then, if it’s rated high enough, it may get sold to a publisher of a magazine or Web sites. And I'm thinking they're not exactly paying Dan Brown rates.
I suppose Helium might be good for a little “shoe money.” And the exposure may be worth the effort. I'm looking for some real-life examples of real-life Helium writers. Or, maybe the whole thing is just a lot of hot air. Opinions?
I am sorry, guys. But this is a scarf. That's it.
