DISQUS

I love the rebrand. Didn't know you before, but as a woman (and person in general) I find the new design more inviting. We're professionals, but we're also people, and we like to smile and find things that intrigue us.

I'm with you 100%, Chris. People look at PR and marketing with the lenses of the past. This isn't 1990. We're doing things differently. And yes, there are people who will take sponsored posts just to make a quick dime, but there are dozens more who would only rep a product they believe in, like you and me. I look for products that I am already an evangelist for and try to get sponsored by them. That way, it's genuine. I know whatever sponsored posts you do, I can believe in them, because I believe in you. (release white doves into the atmosphere. cue sappy music).

Justin--
You are married now, then? Congratulations! Can't believe you fit it in with everything else you're doing. Tell Mrs. Levy congrats as well.

<abbr>Susan Payton, The Marketing Eggspert’s last blog post..Welcome to Twitter Tweek</abbr>

Chris--
I completely agree with you. I have long loathed McDonalds' food, but with a four-year-old, I've inevitably found myself there far more often than I'd care to admit. And every time I find something positive to blog about.Their nutritious-ish kids' meals. The McCafe. The updated design.

I met the Global CMO at AMA's conference in Orlando, and love how they're listening to bloggers. They're not yet embracing the social media realm, but maybe that's where New Marketing Labs can step in??

Justin--
Here's an example I love. Two guys made a rap about McDonalds McNuggets. Not because they were paid to, but because they wanted to. Naturally, it got viral pickup of nearly 2 million views on YouTube. McDonalds got wind of this and is using them in a commercial.

You want people to love your brand so much they would promote it for free.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSZ6k3QIsAk

Chris--
You tried to tell me this at BlogWorld. I don't know why for most people it is, but it IS hard to be your true self, especially after working for someone else for years and kowtowing to get the job, get the raise, stay in the game. Working for myself I don't have anyone to answer to but myself, but yet it's still hard to just let loose. The best I can do is wear sandals because I don't have an open toe policy for myself!

Anyway, I'm going to check out that book you mentioned. Expect to see me in full form next time you see me.

That's so great! I have to blog about this. I love that the guy is just so normal. A guy who just loves his beer and wants to spread the word.

Do you think they'll be successful in banning the $3m ads? I think as long as corporations have money they'll spend big, at least until New Marketing Labs gets ahold of them!

Chris--
A little controversy never hurt a blogger! Still, I think the reason you've been on blast is that people keep trying to apply old rules to the new game. And they just can't. There is no rule saying you can't do a sponsored post (and as a reader, I trust you enough to do one you believe in, not just to make a quick buck).

It's like a relationship. Your readers have to know you well enough to trust your reasons in doing something. If they don't, well, they weren't committed to you anyway.

Keep doing what you do. Give people something to complain about!

Susan

Hmm, it's as if you had a conversation with someone recently at a bar about starting as a speaker and here you have this amazing article. Thanks. You really motivated me to get serious about speaking (just as soon as I finish procrastinating on my book!). If you have any good conferences you think I'd be a good fit for, let me know.

Justin--
What's that saying? When someone is happy they'll tell 3 people. If they have a bad experience somewhere they'll tell 10 (or in your case, 10,000). Never piss off a blogger.

Great suggestions, Jim. I hope Peter takes you up on them. Or maybe add links to the actual post rather than me repeating the numbers I want to check out ("3, 6.4, 9 and 20. 3, 6.4, 9 and 20.").

Interesting. I really wouldn't have thought some of those stats were true, but then again, I'm not a market researcher. Just a marketer!

Susan Payton, The Marketing Eggspert's last blog post..Do You Take Obama or McCain in Your Coffee?

Chris--
Perfect timing! I just agreed to write my next book on internet marketing, so I am so excited about the ideas here. It's funny, I wrote a book in 2006, and a lot of these ideas weren't on the radar. It will be so much easier this time!

I can't wait to read your book and see how you promote it.

And by the way, I want you in my book.

Jim--
This service is awesome! Very useful for non-PR pros.

If I may offer another resource (ahem, my own): Do-It-Yourself Press Release ebook. It tells you exactly how to write a great press release (then go to yourpitchsucks.com to work on your pitch after) and how to distribute it: http://www.pressreleasesecrets.net

Glad you made it through the problems.

That's a great video. Think I'll blog on it too. Thanks Justin. You rock.

Hi Chris. I'm totally going to hunt you down at BWE08.

I have a marketing and PR firm, and the lines are just so blurred. New media. Marketing. Social media. PR. Where does one end and the next begin?

For the most part, I have to train (yes, I said it) my clients to be adaptable. To understand if something they've been doing for 10 years doesn't work anymore, it's time to try something in my New Media arsenal that may do the trick. It's a difficult task, to show people that change is the future in marketing, but it is my burden in life (as it is for everyone here!)

Great point. It's funny, we all band together, but in the "outside world," most people I meet haven't a clue what a blog is, let alone Twitter (that's why I'm looking forward to BlogWorld).

For me it's about adapting to change. I'm in marketing, so I'm really in internet marketing. Outside of work I'm really reluctant to do much social media bc it's my day job.

I cast my vote for Freelance Parent too. The blog is well done and useful.

http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/

Haha. I want to share my horrible fall-down story. A few years ago I was riding my bike and missed the curb and fell (in front of the entire college campus). Bloody knee #1.

Next day I left for Mexico City. As I walked across the street in my shorts (which apparently gave away the fact that I was American)I tripped in a pothole and bloodied/rebloodied both knees. With nothing to wipe them with, I just keeeeeeept walking.

I feel your pain. Literally.

This is awesome, Chris (sorry for the adjective).

But what you're saying is predicated on PR firms who formerly did (or still do) "old school" PR. For my company, Egg Marketing & Public Relations, I guess we're small enough that we've always been trying to keep up with how PR is changing. We only know the web.

It's convincing our CLIENTS that that's the way to go!

Thanks for the interview! I'm happy to answer questions anyone has.

Justin--
I'm not reading any PR/marketing books right now, but wanted to mention a favorite (as you well know): The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott. I even interviewed him here: http://www.sparkplugging.com/marketing/these-ar...

I love Google Alerts. I even use it for my own name (a bit egotistical, but it tells me where I am in the world of marketing). Also great for clients so you can add places their releases appear that might slip through the cracks otherwise.

Chris--
Great teaser ebook. You should make it a more in-depth book and also offer teleseminars on social networking (better you to tackle it than me). I'm starting to experiment with teleseminars and info products and I think this is a good candidate for one of your own!

Susan