Many people think that Search Engine Optimization involves some sort of magic formula. Sadly, quite a few SEO firms perpetuate this myth by shrouding their work in secrecy and mythology, spouting ten-dollar words like "algorithm" when they talk to potential clients. They make it seem like their SEO ...

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...

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...

I received a press release via email a few days ago from a well-meaning PR person. Guess what? I can't write about it because at the bottom of the release is this: NOTICE: This electronic mail transmission contains confidential information intended only for the person(s) named. Any use, distribution...

I’ve decided to take this post down. It was posted in good fun and I’m glad it provided amusement for most all but, upon reflection and a related conversation or two have decided to take it down. I’ve no desire to cause personal pain and as I hope you know do not make a practice of...

UPDATE 1: About six hours after this post, Andrew Frank commented (see below) and also clarified on his blog in a post This is Not a Product Test. Thank you Andrew. UPDATE 2: The day after this post, Andrew Frank posted The Watchdogs List which aggregated the responses from the two Gartner blogs in ...

Like many of you, I regularly follow a bunch of business-related blogs and check out dozens of others each week. Most of the new ones I check out have no value (for me) so I never return. I've been thinking about why I choose to pay attention to a blog vs. just cruise by after a quick check. I've co...

Social media = new media + opinion. Our opinion. If you want us to vote for you, buy from you, read you, or enter your contest, we want to hear your point of view, and then we want you to listen and respond to what we think. Social = two-way street. The Republican Party's clueless new video contest ...

I recently got a couple of invitations from friends on Facebook asking me to verify their ownership of their own blogs. Figuring it was a Facebook app sending out the invites, I clicked to confirm. Sure enough, I was asked to add “Blog Networks” to my existing applications. The app asked...

Recently I’ve had conversations with at least two executives high up within large interactive shops. In both cases, neither exec felt that social marketing was of much interest. “We’re not seeing much success in advertising on social networks,” stated one. “We just don&...