DISQUS

Does this exist? Or am I giving some app developer an idea? Would be great to have an independent service that backups/exports my Twitter contacts and their profile, including website, on a daily basis. Better yet, also exports my conversation history with them. That way, even if Twitter disappears, my relationships don't.

If something like that already exists, let me know - you've just made me paranoid enough to want to sign up :)

Bang on - it's time that, as an industry (marketing, PR) we stop underselling social media as the poor man's broadcasting tool and start giving it the respect it deserves. It's the best way to be sure clients understand the level of engagement that is required to build dialogue and trust. Social media is one tool -- a really interesting tool, granted -- but only one tool in the communications strategy toolbox. It doesn't replace traditional PR or marketing, but it does a great job of supplementing it, when the conditions are right.

I would nuance what you've said here, however: "Blogging is pure SEO food." Beyond merely being a great way to move up the Google ranks, blogging is a relationship and community builder that, when done right, lets you pull the curtain back and get a better look at the Great Oz (or at the very least, your neighbour's knitting circle). I'd argue blogging helps build bridges and improve understanding, but then I might also start arguing that it is the solution for World Peace and, frankly, it's too early in the morning for me to start defending that point of view. ;)

Cheers
Michelle

I consider myself to be a pretty smart chick .. and have mistakenly emailed/texted the wrong person. The subconscious can make us work in mysterious ways sometimes. It's a shame that this has become anything but a private family issue - I hope that if it's a lesson in anything, it's one in learning who your real friends are. Glad she had such a great first time - I'm left wondering if people calling her stupid and doing news reports about this aren't just friggin' jealous. Keep your head up, Elizabeth. Having sex isn't a crime and neither is an accidental text. Karma will bite everyone who is trying to ridicule you in the ass.

Can we get the guy from the Free Hugs campaign? Injecting a little philosophy into Mesh could be very zen ...
Him or maybe a flash mob organizer or Improv Everywhere. I'd like to hear from someone involved in starting a movement .. and not just a marketing campaign.
Cheers!

Considering I was probably the first to retweet your Jobs tweet this morning, I'd have to say that the fact that you dedicated 10 characters of your 140 character allocation by typing the word "unverified" in your tweet covers all the bases for me. Long live the water cooler!

I'm just glad I followed that retweep up with a comforting message to my Apple and iPhone buddies encouraging them to take a deep breath ... that everything would be fine. I wouldn't want any heart attacks (no pun intended) on my conscience.

We all know how sensitive those Apple fans can be. ;)

Always a pleasure to read you, Mr Ingram.

Hi Chris,

I strive to ensure my press releases are anything but fluff, and wonder why it is that an announcement about a $10 000 prize would be considered un-professional.

.. unless it's not true?

Wondering what it is I'm missing.

Unless you _actually mean_ to keep the blah blah blahs in there ... in which case I'd respectfully argue that YOUR press release is full of fluff ;)

Cheers!

Michelle

There are bitchers and there are do-ers. I know which one I'd rather be .. and which one I'd rather hang out with / do business with / collaborate with / hear from / live with etc etc.

RE: Don’t Watch TV

Totally agree with this one. Got rid of my tv about 8 years ago and it's the best thing I've ever done. Get weird looks from the door-to-door cable tv salespeople who come knocking and don't believe me, but otherwise I'm like you : I go online or rent dvds for stuff that really interests me. If I had one in the house, I'd be watching home renovation shows all day long, I swear.

Since I don't, I end up with a few more available hours in my day than most of my neighbours.

Thanks Philippe, for being so candid about your startup experience - there's a lot of great insight in your post.

Ben : what a great case study for an eventual Montreal StartUp Camp. Giving Philippe the chance to express his new-found wisdom would be to his credit and show angels and VCs present that he's ready to tackle his next project -- and the community would learn a lot from his trials and tribulations.

Hmmm .. good advice, Ben. Yesterday, I woke up dazed and confused, convinced I had a PR campaign to run. It was all clearly laid out in my head - I could even see the colours of the press kits! Took me about 2 minutes of rationalizing to realize I'd (yet again) invented a campaign/event for an imaginary client during the night. On the up side, I now have about 5 campaigns ready to go for the right client! :)