Danny Brown

podcaster - author - creator

Journal

Radio Killed the Video Star

dbblogtalkWell, not quite. However, the play on words is apt for the latest addition to this blog.

As well as posting the occasional video blog, I will soon be starting a regular chat show on BlogTalkRadio. This will be to complement what already happens here, and allow me to expand on ideas and conversations that would otherwise be too long as a blog post.

I’ll be looking at having special guests on to discuss their take on all things social media, PR and marketing, as well as talking about building success via community spirit, for both individuals and businesses.

Just as I’ve always said this blog is as much yours as it is mine, so it will be with the BlogTalkRadio show. I’d love to know the things you want to hear about and hope you’ll take part in the shows as well. After all, community is everything.

If there is anything particular you’d like to hear discussed, please feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments box below.

I hope you’ll join me when the show goes live in the near future. You can visit the show page here, and add to your RSS feed if you wish to be notified anytime a new show is announced.

Thanks for being part of the ride so far, and I look forward to us sharing a lot more soon.

Ten Green Bottles

Thirsty BirdThe phrase “drinking from the Kool Aid” is a strange one. Originating from a cult mass suicide, it’s also used to describe belief in perspective. I still can’t decide whether I’m a fan of the term or not, but that’s neither here nor there.

Either way, if I was to drink from the Kool Aid and share with you, here are ten bottles of Kool Aid that would fill your creative juice needs anytime. I hope you enjoy.

  1. Gary Vaynerchuck Can’t Help You. Great post from Seth Simonds about why change will only happen if we make the change for ourselves. Inspirational.
  2. How to Be a Social Media Expert – Chop Lettuce. This post from Scott Hepburn is actually the inspiration for this one. An insightful look at what it means to share and be informative to your community.
  3. Have You Ever Gotten On the Escalator and Stopped Walking? We live in a fast-paced world that shows no sign of slowing. Tim Jahn offers a reason for stopping and breathing in the air.
  4. Is Your Business Boring You? From time to time we all lose heart in a project. Although this is aimed at small businesses, Frank Reed gives us encouragement to get enthused again.
  5. The Beauty in Simple Stories. Oftentimes we make things more complicated than they need to be. Chris Brogan reminds us why simple is just as effective – short and sweet.
  6. What is Your Blog’s Bigger Idea? One of the stumbling blocks to people and businesses taking up blogging is the question of value. Here Mack Collier suggests how to offer just that.
  7. My Pitch Log Mashup, Vol. 3. Finding what tools and services to check out can take time. Which is why this series from Jason Falls is the perfect lunch-time treat for all the latest goodies.
  8. Tao of Marketing – Doing More With Less. When something is recommended by Maria Reyes-McDavies, it’s worth looking into. Here’s why.
  9. Leadership Fail. Just as Barack Obama inspires confidence in leadership, you’ll always get the flip side of poor leadership. Drew Weaver gives us a prime example.
  10. 49 Amazing Social Media, Web 2.0 and Internet Stats. You like figures? You like lists? You like all things social media and more? Then Adam Singer is your man.

Hopefully I’ve satiated your thirst with these drinks. But now I’m thirsty. So, what would you suggest I drink – any recommendations?

Creative Commons License photo credit: Vicki & Chuck Rogers

Is There Room for Market Relations?

Two P.O.'d Peas in Two P-O-Ds!Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock recently, you’ll know there’s been a whole host of blog posts written about where next for PR and marketing (and, to a degree, advertising).

I’m guilty of discussing it, and there are some great points of view from a lot of great minds. I guess it’s only natural – we’re at a crossroads for information, after all, and the time is here to decide what path we want to take.

Yet instead of looking at how PR and marketing can evolve individually, isn’t it possible that they can evolve as a co-joined unit instead?

Both involve the art of telling stories (and when I say that, I mean attract via description and not telling stories as in lying). Both look to appeal to your want factor by providing the need solution. Both are aimed at making the potential become the possible.

You’ll have your purists that say marketing and PR are two different beasts and shouldn’t be in the same cage. But are they really that different when you strip them down to the bare essentials? I’m not too sure they are, and I say this as someone who works in both fields.

At their very simplest, both are trying to appeal to that mass market triple-A connection:

  • Awareness
  • Acknowledgment
  • Approval

Many agencies are now combining their PR and marketing efforts into one because of this. If both are looking for a similar market and they’re so interconnected with each other, should we continue to keep PR and marketing apart?

How about market relations? Could that work? Too simple? Not enough? What’s your take on PR and marketing in today’s business climate?

Creative Commons License photo credit: Harpersbizarre

Closing Down for Earth Hour

Natalie Imbruglia supports Earth HourIf you look at the top of this blog, you’ll see a special toolbar. It’s to show I support Earth Hour, which happens this year on March 28th between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.

Earth Hour is an energy-saving initiative to combat the greenhouse effect and protect our environment.

You can find out more at the Earth Hour website.

The message bar at the top of this blog is via a plug-in from the good folk over at Brave New Code. When 8.30pm arrives on March 28th, it will disable my blog for an hour and display a special Earth Hour message instead.

The environment affects us all, and if all it takes to spread the message about Earth Hour is 60 minutes of a blog’s real estate, that’s got to be worth it, no?

If you’re running a self-hosted WordPress blog and want to show your support, you can download the plug-in here.

  • Update Monday March 23. If you run a Drupal-powered site, you can download a module here, thanks to Open Concept.

Creative Commons License photo credit: Earth Hour Global

The Kids Are Alright

You might recall that I recently won a Nintendo Wii for coming up with the new tagline for The Printed Blog. I mentioned at the time that, if I won, it would go to the Sick Kids hospital in Toronto. Today was the day that happened.

I met with Caron Irwin MA, Child Life Specialist and Entertainment and Donations Co-ordinator for the Sick Kids hospital. She told me that the Wii would be going to the kids that need it the most – the ones that can’t leave the care area because of their treatment. This makes it even more effective, as they can exercise and have fun in their own space. Most of all, they can simply enjoy being kids.

She also mentioned that they have 26 play areas and it’s their dream to have a Wii in each one. Who knows, perhaps a future 12for12k project?

Thanks to everyone who helped me win the Wii, and to The Printed Blog for offering the prize. Also, a special mention to Michael Schechter who sent some Wii games to hand over as well. I’m sure the kids at the Toronto Sick Kids hospital send their thanks too.

Caron Irwin