Don't use programs that autofollow anyone who follows you on Twitter. It's a social network not a robot network. Don't broadcast messages on Twitter using bots. You'll just damage your brand, personal or corporate. Don't send friend requests on DIGG and then abuse the privilege with constant shout o...

An article I wrote about social media myths is online at Businessweek.com. For companies, resistance to social media is futile. Millions of people are creating content for the social Web. Your competitors are already there. Your customers have been there for a long time. If your business isn't putti...

Global Obamamania reached the bottom of the ladder with the Chia Obama. It's not funny. It's a racist, stupid ploy. Drugstore.com is selling them. Bad decision. Remember High school? There was always one kid who went over the line when everyone was fooling around. One jerk who'd get into ugly territ...

Being an entrepreneur is in my hard wiring. I’ve had my own business since 1981. Believe me, it’s not for everyone. You have to be the kind of person who not only can tolerate - but also loves - risk. So right now, in the worst economic climate, perhaps ever, my partner - programming and creativ...

By B.L. Ochman Let’s face it: we’re all drowning in email! We could spend most of our time just managing our inboxes. So why do advertisers and marketers of all stripes keep making the same two stupid email mistakes? Approximately 90 percent of the 12,000 or so emails I get every month are zappe...

Dear Mr Bezos: Let me tell you how, earlier today, you lost me as a customer – forever. A month or so ago, on Amazon's website, I pre-ordered the second and third book in the 10-book series, The 39 Clues for my nephew. Book two, One False Note, was published on December 2, 2008. It was my nephew's...

By B.L. Ochman With timerity, I offer my Internet marketing predictions for 2009. Thy are in no particular order. I think the words of the year will be mobile, subscriptions, lighting, and blog advertising. 2009 is going to be a roller-coaster ride, but we'll be fine in the end. I wish you all a yea...

Can viral content be created? Yes, if the product or service is something people want to tell their friends about. No if the product or service sucks. If you create something people will like, that offers them value for their money; that makes them laugh, think, or feel; or that saves them time, mon...

Money: the final frontier. You are more likely to know what your best friend eats for breakfast or how many times a week he or she has sex, than how much money they make. Despite all the Web 2.0 talk of transparency, openness, and honesty, you'd be hard pressed to find out what most new media consul...

Anyone who's ever been in a relationship can relate to these situations, although there surely will be some (men) people left wondering "But what's so bad about giving a vacuum as an anniversary gift?" The Doghouse came to me from women friends, it came in a direct message on twitter, and more than ...