Disqus - Latest Comments for Duane Brown

Re: Business Idea: Subscribe to Tagged Magazine Articles

Duane Brown — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:05:20 -0000

Hey Sam

That actually sounds like a pretty cool idea. I know I don't read magazines anymore because of what I can find someone, but sometimes not everything makes it online. Pricing would be an issue, but if it was right this could work as you get a good variety of magazines involved from a global perspective.

Re: Business Idea: Subscribe to Tagged Magazine Articles

Duane Brown — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 13:21:06 -0000

It's like Lexis Nexis but for the consumer. Lexis Nexis is very corporate gearing towards lawyers and business people.

This would be more consumer drive and event something bloggers might use as a way to archives magazine articles they might use. I know at school with have something similar for text books, the system isn't user friendly or easy to search. The average consumer would be the ideal users of this at the end of the day.

Re: Business Idea: Subscribe to Tagged Magazine Articles

Duane Brown — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:22:45 -0000

It's hard to say.. without having any real numbers to work with. LN is like a movie theater in that they give the publication a cut of the users fee (movie ticket). I doubt it's a 50/50 deal. I think the deal goes one of three ways:

1. They would get a share of the profits once all the expenses are paid off
2. LN pays the publication a flat fee every month regardless of the number of subscribers they have.
3. Similar to number 2, but it's a percentage of revenue and or subscribers.

Most publications look at it as an additional revenue source then something that competes with their ad dollar, IMO. I think you would almost have to go global at this point. The world is more now then ever viewed as a global economy. Maybe you start out with English but at some point you have to include other language as more people speak something other then English in this world.

Re: A story unfolds on Twitter (Scripting News)

Duane Brown — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:40:27 -0000

hey Dave

Are you sure it's real? When I read this I almost think of Lonely Girl but on a bigger scale. I'm sure the person is real but is the story.

Re: JobLoft post Dragon’s Den

Duane Brown — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:30:11 -0000

That's a sad state of affairs. I would have went with the Dragons. One owns Boston Pizza and the other La Senza, those are major brands in Canada and they know other people who would come on broad as paying customers with their reputation at stake. True, $200,000 isn't much but it's enough to get them through the transition that the dragons wanted to do and who knows, they might have invested more money in the end.

Re: » VeloCity - Incubator 2.0 or something completely new? | StartupNorth

Duane Brown — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:54:52 -0000

This seems like a great idea and something with potential.. if execution is in hand. The only bad part are UW students complaining about lack of REZ on campus for upper year stduents on the schools newspaper website.

RIM will be involved with this, I assume, in some way. It's to close to home for them not to get involved. This could spawn their next competitor or a company they'll buy for future potential. I would apply for this in a heart beat if I went to UW.

Re: Linked In just doesn’t get it

Duane Brown — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 12:55:19 -0000

I know this feeling, all to well. I signed up and now nothing. I did get a job offer at one point doing gaming PR in LA and a few spam letters, but otherwise everything else was potential people wanting to connect with me that I didn't know. I keep on saying I'm going to delete my account, but for some reason I can't or won't.

Re: No Wukkas: DraftFCB Recruiting Via Twitter - mediabistro.com: AgencySpy

Duane Brown — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:58:32 -0000

@CreativeAdGigs May want to tweet more then opening to help build a community & spread his message. Look at @venterchris for example from Critical Mass. He's making HR more personal and friendly.

Re: Funny or Die — and the challenge to the Long Tail

Duane Brown — Thu, 10 May 2007 14:14:04 -0000

A great example of a niche site would be GameTrailers.com, which just does videos on video games. I think soccer might be to small of a niche... but just sports would do very well. The site could divide into different sports people are into.

Re: Unwanted gift cards? Trade and sell them online

Duane Brown — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:24:30 -0000

There is also a new site that just launched called Giftah (www.Giftah.com). Mostly just for Canadian gift cards mind you.

Re: Twitter Clients for Blackberry

Duane Brown — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:06:14 -0000

I'm having the same issues on my Blackberry with Twitterberry. I would love to partner with a person to built a better app. Everyone is on the iPhone and that leave the Blackberry app store a wide open market for a better app.

P.S. Also saw your post about Social Media Camp Toronto. We've Mesh and other evens, so it would have to be a pretty unique event to have a Social Media Camp in Toronto, IMO. Would love to get together and start one if the event was going to be unique.

Re: In-game advertisements

Duane Brown — Fri, 30 May 2008 06:57:35 -0000

All advertising whether it's in-game or not is about context. If you get the right context and the advertising fits the message then it can work. To many people are just ads in a game and then they wonder why it's not working.

Re: JobLoft post Dragon’s Den

Duane Brown — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:30:11 -0000

Re: VeloCity - Incubator 2.0 or something completely new?

Duane Brown — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:54:52 -0000

Re: Zuckerberg Leaks the Numbers

Duane Brown — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:42:00 -0000

Mark gave out the numbers because he has no other choice if he raises the employee numbers and they all become shareholders. If Facebook has more than 500 shareholders, they have to start reporting like a public company or do an IPO. This is one of the reasons Google had to do an IPO.... I believe.

Plus, it's his company and though most private company's done share their numbers, doesn't mean he can't or that it's a bad thing. He said he wanted to be more open after the 60 minutes piece and maybe this is his start.

Re: Wikipedia and PR

Duane Brown — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 10:56:35 -0000

That's one thing about PR and the gaming industry, which I work in, is that people's perceptions are very schemed to the reality of the situation. Never mind that 99% of PR people are good and honest, people only believe what they think and or see in the news.

Also when someone in PR messes up, we all end up feeling the backlash of it all. My friends may joke, but they do call me spin doctor, flack and what have you when they first learned I was entering the PR game.

I think anyone, PR or other wise, should be not be allowed to edit text in Wikipedia is there is a direct conflict of interest.

Re: I Hate Media Relations

Duane Brown — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:03:08 -0000

Hey Ryan

Yeah, I got to say I agree with you on the pitch-o-phobia part of the post. Being just out of school and building my reputation, the last thing I want to do is piss off the wrong journalist and have them never take a pitch form me again.

However, I enjoy building media lists and for the simple fact I do it for video games and something I love more then sex, food and life itself.... well maybe not sex but you get the point. If I worked in another industry I know I would dislike it for a fact.

Re: I Hate Media Relations

Duane Brown — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 20:20:35 -0000

Hey Ryan

I just started my own PR company, Creative Traction (media). I dabble in web design as well, since a few of my clients are asking for it. I'm taking the road less travelled, you could say.

I actually had Ryan G, you biz dev guy in Toronto, come in last week and picth to one of my clients on what you guys do, as I though you guys could help them out. I'm a big fan of Fuel. I love what you guys do.

My company's site just went up today, which I'm very excited about. Blog: www.creativetraction.com/blog

Re: I Hate Media Relations

Duane Brown — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 09:36:44 -0000

Ryan - Thank you for the vote of confidence. I ran a national non-profit in college, so it's going to be the same and different at the same time. How is the new office coming? *cough* I would love to come out and see it when it's done and see how you work as the PR contact out there *cough*...hehe.

Re: No, no, no, no, NO!

Duane Brown — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:31:01 -0000

Molly Smith who was the head of PR at Sony left back in May just after E3. She started out at the bottom and worked her way up to the top position and had been with Sony since the PSone, more then ten years ago. Up until about two months ago, the position was empty until they brought in David Karraker (SP?), who has been doing PR in the wine/beverage industry as well as for Martha Stewart when she got jailed. I'm not sure what's going on, but it's not going well for Sony either way you cut it.

Re: No, no, no, no, NO!

Duane Brown — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 12:02:56 -0000

FYI; Zipatoni and Sony has replied to Next-Gen, an industry pub:

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_co...

Not the greatest Marketing/PR at work here.

Re: Advice to PR Students

Duane Brown — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 12:49:42 -0000

I would have to agree with Bob. Get as much experience outside of the classroom as you can. You need to set yourself apart from everyone else who is going to come out of your PR program with the same piece of paper.

Research the different fields and industries and maybe even pick one you want to go into. The sooner you do this, the sooner you can tailor projects to your area of interest and use research and homework assignments to learn about that area and meet people who could help get you a placement or job in that area. I found that very helpful for me and personally made school more fulfilling, interest wise, over all.

Re: I don’t care that your job is hard

Duane Brown — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 12:52:58 -0000

I had a great customer service experience yesterday at Mediatemple, which is the hosting company for my company and blog. I've always found them cheerful and very helpful. I can't remember the last time I had this kind of amazing customer service experience and that includes the Apple store. They know their stuff and are always willing to help and suggest something, if you ask for it.

Re: How did you get into marketing?

Duane Brown — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 23:53:19 -0000

I wanted to be a lawyer or a therapist as a kid and since those were shot down, $60,000 for UofT anyone. PR seemed like a good field to give me what I enjoyed about those areas. I interact with people, read oh how do I read, be creative and just know that the rules can change and no two clients are a like. I think I like the challenge more then anything.

I went to college and got that diploma, and now I get to run my own company and wake up each day ready to take on a new challenge and push myself as far as I want to go with no limits in site. Oh yeah, I did some PR stuff in high school. I just didn't know what it was at time.

Re: Finding regional blogs

Duane Brown — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 13:02:56 -0000

Ryan, If you wanted to find bands who are still in school. It would almost seem faster to just call up/email the local student union and ask them. Most would know of local bands on campus, as would the local school radio station. The radio station might even put a call out to bands, if you wanted them to help you with a press piece. I've a list of radio stations at college/universities, if you are interested in it.

Otherwise I think using Facebook and doing an advanced search might help. Most would put they are in a band in their interest section along with the network being the school they attend. This would help you find bands I think.

A Canadian site I like is www.projectopus.com

Re: Public Relations Tools

Duane Brown — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 13:51:42 -0000

Ryan, if you wanted to find bands still in school. It would almost be faster to just call/e-mail them. The campus radio station would or should at least know of some local bands on campus. I find many play frosh week at schools. I've a list of radio stations at college/universities, if you are interested in it.

Also, Facebook might be of help through their advance search. Most people would put they are in a band in their interest section and combined that with their network being the school. You should be able to find some that way, I think.

www.projectopus.com

Re: And Jobs begat iPhone…

Duane Brown — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 17:14:07 -0000

Yeah, those are the prices. I was taken back when I saw it a few minutes ago. I'm sure those are the American prices, so I want to know what we'll get changed here in Canada as well as what the phone plan will be like. It's an exciting time. Knowing that the iPhone will work together much like iTunes and Mac OSX, is a dream come true. I can't wait.

Re: Understanding

Duane Brown — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 10:33:54 -0000

I've the same issue with a lot of my friends. Some are the smartest people I know and others I've known for years, however, neither really gets what I do because it's such a broad field, which I think is part of the problem for them. No two clients and situations of what I do are alike.

PR isn't like being a writers, teacher or security person because our profession is so board that it doesn't lend itself to being easy to understand. One thing our profession needs to do is explain more to the public what we do. We basically need to PR ourselves whether it be through CPRS, IABC or another group all together. This has been talked about in the past, but nothing is actually done about it.

I had the same problem at my old job, where everyone knows what I did to some degree but didn't truly understand it. They thought I just surfed the net all day looking at gaming sites and wrote press releases. I guess my question for you Ryan is; how do we band together as a profession and educate the public about what PR really is?

Re: Understanding

Duane Brown — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 08:38:37 -0000

I think whether you are a PR person or business communicator depends on where you work. Some places one person does both consumer and business communication and other places it's divided between teams of people. At Dreamcatcher I did both, but focused heavily on consumer PR.

I agree, we need to understand ourselves better. I sometimes wish there was a better or easier way to explain what PR is to people. The dirty or shocked looks I get from people who find out what I do, is disheartening at times because they think I'm such a nice guy but work in a "dirty" field.

Maybe one day we can band together and PR ourselves, and show the good we do in the world. That's one thing I'm trying to do with my blog, shed a better light on the video game industry as some have a less then stealer opinion of this innovative and fun industry.

Re: Blogging from the sky

Duane Brown — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 08:12:36 -0000

Hey Ryan

Enjoy GDC. I wish I was going like there is no tomorrow.

Re: The playground, the jungle gym and the community

Duane Brown — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:23:33 -0000

Hey Ryan

Great post as always. I think your post is along the idea of Lego. You give people the raw pieces and let them decide what it's going to look like in the end. Lego is just Lego, but what people make with it can be a mater piece at times.

Lego has branched out to other areas, over the last few years, but that hasn't changed the idea that the person or community decides what they are going to build with their blocks.

Re: Every day I write the book

Duane Brown — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:42:51 -0000

Hey Rayn

I never saw this coming. Congrats on the new venture. I eagerly await more news about your new adventure. I wonder what your replacement will be like at Fuel.. I hope they are just as fun.

--
Duane

Re: Lessons from Blog World Expo

Duane Brown — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:48:18 -0000

hey Ryan

Nice story. How is the new company going? Do you've a website yet?

Re: Lessons from Blog World Expo

Duane Brown — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:45:11 -0000

hey Ryan

Sounds like you are quite busy. Keep us posted on how things are going.

Re: My glibness in the Globe and Mail

Duane Brown — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:50:09 -0000

Hey Ryan

I loved the article and it make me realize more and more how much I missed freelancing. It was interesting to learn about the challenges at work. I can't wait to see when your website goes live. keep up the hard work!

Re: Home Sweet Home

Duane Brown — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:31:09 -0000

Hey Guys

Congrads on getting the new space. Sounds like you'll have all the space you need and then some. Will there be an event space-cum-retail/art gallery on the first floor? Seems like a lot of space for 9 people.

Re: The geek behind TailRank…

Duane Brown — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 12:33:02 -0000

I use both. They do have some of the same news day in and day out, but they have times when one is getting news the other isn't. I think the key to the winner will be better news coverage and more specialization.

Re: Fear of Google

Duane Brown — Sun, 06 May 2007 19:37:42 -0000

I think that has always been the goal of advertising online. Knowing what I, as a consumer, do and where I've been and how I surf, so you can better advertise at me. Business Week, http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/..., has a story about Right Media, which Yahoo bought, about how they are trying to create more highly targetted advertising online. It'll be interesting to see if this purchase pays off for Yahoo.

Re: 200+ Internet Marketing Gurus on Twitter

Duane Brown — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:46:17 -0000

http://www.twitter.com/duanebrown

Blog: www.BandwidthCamp.com

Re: A Personal and Heart-felt Thanks to You

Duane Brown — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 23:08:41 -0000

Hey Doug

Congrats on all the hard work paying off. I enjoy reading your blog, even if I don't comment every week. Happy holidays and keep up the hard work.

Re: Bachelor Christmas Dinner

Duane Brown — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 18:03:12 -0000

lol... that's quite the meal there Doug. I'm doing the solo thing as well this year, but I felt like having some potato's and chicken instead. Those chips look mighty fine,... I want some.

P.S. Is there a way to add a feature, so the system remembers me each visit? I'm not a fan of retyping my information each time. Thanks.

Re: Bachelor Christmas Dinner

Duane Brown — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 21:42:36 -0000

Doug,

Thank you for the comment last night. I would be interested in helping you beta test the product when you are ready. Thank you again for the comment.

Re: Bloggin’ Ain’t Easy! Even with Vox

Duane Brown — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 21:58:16 -0000

I checked out Vox when it first launched as well and wasn't that impressed with it. It has a fancy frosting cover, but when it dig deep down, it's not as fun or simple to use. I think they could use an over haul on the system.

Re: Jaiku or Twitter

Duane Brown — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 11:55:21 -0000

Hey Doug

I love the new template. I'm not sure how long you've had it up, but I just noticed it today.

I get Twitter and Jaiku, but I don't use them for the same reason as well. I update my status once and a while on Facebook and even that's to much at times. I think it's kinda rude to update you status if you are with other people, just so you can tell the world who you are with. Maybe turning 25 this month had made me go soft and care about the quality of time I get with people. If I can find a novel use for them and not just what everyone else is currently using it for, then maybe I'll join.

Re: Jaiku or Twitter

Duane Brown — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 12:05:13 -0000

P.S. I just thought of something. It would be cool if there was a way to use the API and have customer service people Twitter/Jaiku your response back to you, especially if you are on the go and have it sent to you mobile device.

Re: Jaiku or Twitter

Duane Brown — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 08:20:25 -0000

Yeah, been a Faceboker for a while now. Total geek, so I try and keep up on everything new and hot. It allows me to staty in touch with everyone, especial my boyfriend, when we are apart for the summer and may not be online at the sametime.

A search databse would be even better. So many sites have mobile version now. Why not a knowledage database as well.

Re: Why aren’t Marketers Running to Jaiku?

Duane Brown — Sat, 19 May 2007 16:16:22 -0000

Do people really want a Woot.Jaiku.com? You can already get a feed at their site. Doug, I don't think it's as simple as finding another way to promote your product/service to the masses. The idea for jumpline or another hosting company is cool, but that wouldn't work for everyone.

Fox's Drive is already using Twiiter and that is working out. They are using it as a way to create a community around the show, but more importantly, for those who are into cars as well. I think for anyone in marketing who wants to use Twitter or Jaiku, they should be trying to crate a mini-community and not just shamelessly flung their products. But that's my 2cents.

Re: Why aren’t Marketers Running to Jaiku?

Duane Brown — Sun, 20 May 2007 20:59:15 -0000

I stop freelancing next week and start at an ad agency. My job is to live on the edge and bring things like twitter/jaiku to the company table. I hope my alpha geek cred gets the ad agency to adopt these bleeding edge trends/technology faster. It won't be easy, but it can be done.

Re: Why aren’t Marketers Running to Jaiku?

Duane Brown — Mon, 21 May 2007 11:04:59 -0000

Thanks Doug. I'm so happy as I get to live AND work downtown now.

Re: Hitch and Marketing

Duane Brown — Sat, 26 May 2007 19:04:30 -0000

Doug, I've seen the movie twice and I've applied it to my personal and professional life. It's gotten me the guy I've always said I wanted and an awesome job that can't be beat. In some ways it's just a movie, but if you really watch it, it's more like a philosophy for life. The advice works for getting the guy/girl, moving up in the company and pitching new business or even just getting your first house. For all those situations you want to be your best, do your homework and really pay attention to what's going on.

Re: Google Adwords: Save a couple bucks…

Duane Brown — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 11:29:09 -0000

Hey Doug

I just got into doing Google AdWords at work. Are there any good books on the subject that you can recommend? Thanks.

Re: Google Adwords: Save a couple bucks…

Duane Brown — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 20:14:01 -0000

Thanks Doug. I'll check it out...

Re: Blog-Tipping: It’s Reader Payback Time!

Duane Brown — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:56:35 -0000

Hey Doug

I won't turn down this nice offer.

http://www.creativetraction.com/blog/2007/07/05...

Thanks.

Re: I’m getting tired of FPAM

Duane Brown — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:10:34 -0000

Hey Doug

It could be that you've to many friends on facebook.

However, If you don't want to get invites, then change your search settings on Facebook so no one can find you and make friend requests, message you and so on and so forth. I looked my profile down tighter then a prison and now only get invites/messages from people I want.
__
Duane

Re: I’m getting tired of FPAM

Duane Brown — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:26:06 -0000

A lot of helpful opinions in here.

Also to the comment by Stephen. Facebook launched Flyers Pro on Monday, which is like Google Ad Words. Facebook won't be selling your information, but their system does read your profile and you'll see flyers based around what you put down on Facebook from advertiser.

I don't think this is a bad thing. I think for most people it's learning how to use Facebook and tweak it to their taste. I've designed it so I only get information that I want, which has been what made Facebook so appealing from the start. If you don't like something change your settings.

Re: My Next Read: Gravitational Marketing

Duane Brown — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:35:10 -0000

Hey Doug

This looks like a great book. Wish they would send me a copy to read and review. I'll add it to my list, which is growing by leaps and bounds right now.

Re: Why isn’t Networking in Every Curriculum?

Duane Brown — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:22:17 -0000

Hey Doug

That is one thing I need to do more of is networking. I've online covered but I could do more of the meet and greet with my peers in the real world. I'll have to find a way to fit it in between school and work.. it's a have to really.

Re: Why I’ve Started Using Twitter Again

Duane Brown — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:11:00 -0000

I just started using Twitter again. We'll see how it goes. I'll use it the same way I use Facebook, it's about the quality of people you are connected with and not the quantity.

Feel free to check out my blog and follow me on Twitter, only if it interests you.

http://twitter.com/duanebrown

Re: links for 2007-05-21

Duane Brown — Mon, 21 May 2007 19:51:31 -0000

Hey Chris

Thanks for the comment on my blog. I agree about the community being an important aspect of it all. Micro-communities are where it's heading online more and more these days.