From the category archives:

A Simpler Way

Audio from Podcasting for Authors talk posted

November 24, 2010

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Some of you haven’t figured out that I don’t post everything I do on this site. Yes, you’re terribly confused and I’ve done a shitty job of making a clear delineation. I know… I know…
So here’s a quick note to say that I’ve posted the audio of my Podcasting for Authors talk last weekend at [...]

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Where has the fun gone?

March 18, 2010

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Image by Stéfan via Flickr

Actually, I’m having a lot of fun over on my new blog about digital business strategies, A Simpler Way.
Now you may not care. In fact, if you’re a loyal follower of my antics over here, you probably don’t care about the new blog. And that’s OK. Just know that things may [...]

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The battle between the biggest and the best

December 24, 2009

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Image by daftgirly via Flickr

It’s hard to become the biggest at something. For companies, it often means understanding market opportunities, what the masses want and beating the hell out of the competition in price. It’s not a field in which individuals can play without being a part of — or leading — an organization.
It’s [...]

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The missing revolution

December 21, 2009

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Image via CrunchBase

What if you threw a revolution and no one came?
Contenture is shutting down. No, you probably never heard of them and probably won’t miss them. And since I didn’t even know of the company until I saw notice of their demise, I won’t presume to offer cogent reasons why their [...]

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Little changes, little rewards

December 15, 2009

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Image by abakedcreation via Flickr

This post inspired by a nice soak in the steam room, my little reward for breaking my 1+ year sabbatical from working out.
None of us have it figured out. No one has achieved perfection. Supreme enlightenment is at best unattainable and at worst a scam.
There always remains a stone unturned. [...]

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Do you need a website to do business online?

December 15, 2009

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Image by Bobasonic via Flickr

The future is almost here. No, really. In a few days it will be 2010. That’s the future.
As of late, I’ve been writing a lot about business. Specifically, how the digital world changes what it means to be “in business”. A catch phrase I’ve been using over the last year [...]

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Exceeding by reducing choices

December 14, 2009

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Image by evo_terra via Flickr

Given the choice, I think every business would choose to be remarkable. Certainly no one in business wants to provide a bad business experience. But I’m more troubled by those in business satisfied to deliver a staple experience.
Staples are things you have to have, or need on a regular basis. The [...]

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Cultivating impatience in business

December 9, 2009

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Image via Wikipedia

I’m not a very patient man. My sense of time has always been a few clicks faster than those around me. This helped me in academics as a kid — but to a point. Impatience breeds boredom. And that leads to a host of issues with less-than-desirable outcomes.
But impatience can be — over [...]

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New FTC guidelines for bloggers are a bigger challenge for marketers

December 7, 2009

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Image via Wikipedia

Changes to FTC (Federal Trade Commission) guidelines on endorsements and testimonials were made active on December 1. And seven days later, I’m happy to report that I, a blogger, have not been sued. Neither, chance are, have you.
There was a huge stink about these proposed changes a few months back. Mob mentality won [...]

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Don’t scare off the new people

December 6, 2009

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Image by Getty Images via Daylife

There are only two types of “visitors” to your website, blog, profile, or account page1: Those who’ve never seen any of your stuff before, and everyone else. Converting the new visitor to a repeat visitor is a key goal for anyone in business. The definition of conversion varies, and we’ll [...]

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Passing on the wagons

December 4, 2009

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Image by devehf via Flickr

Perhaps it is my lineage of Oklahoma settlers, but I’m not a big fan of wagons. My mom had a station wagon when I was a wee lad, and I don’t remember liking that, either.
But the wagons I am speaking of are of a different sort. The first is the wagon. [...]

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Being an Expert Is Time-Sensitive

December 3, 2009

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Remember when you hung out your very own “expert” shingle? Oh, there’s no doubt that you deserved it. You knew as much — if not more — on the subject than anyone around you. And when the topic of your expertise came up, people immediately thought of you.
You received payment for the work you [...]

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Beware the tyranny of the ways

December 2, 2009

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Image by fotobydave via Flickr

Right Way
Two dangers here. First is the assumption that your way is a right way. Just because it works for you doesn’t mean it will work for someone else. The second danger is worse: the assumption that your way is The Right Way. In reality, there is no one right way. [...]

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When data is not your friend

November 30, 2009

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Image via Wikipedia

Here’s a new question you need to have at the ready: So what? Use it early and often, but use it primarily any time someone throws some stats or analysis at you.
I’m a data junkie. I admit it. I understood just enough in my college statistical mathematics class to prove to me that [...]

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The value of fair-weather fans

November 29, 2009

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Image by *0ne* via Flickr

When it comes to sports, I’m a classic fair-weather fan. I don’t have a team that I stand by through thick and thin. In fact, my only “team” is the college I attended right out of high school, and then it’s only the football team I care for. And I only [...]

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Surviving in a reputation-based economy

November 28, 2009

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Image by kandyjaxx via Flickr

When I walk into a room, I assume I’m the smartest person there. Call it a character flaw if you will, but it’s really a survival trait expressed in the modern world. But my self-described smarts come at a price — I lack the ability to actually do many things. I’ve [...]

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Avoid monoculture blogging

November 26, 2009

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Listen to enough “blogging experts” and you’ll hear a common theme: blog about one thing and one thing only!
I think that’s bad advice.
I’m willing to concede that many bloggers do in fact blog about one thing and one thing only. I’m willing to concede that they probably wouldn’t have as large of an audience as [...]

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Networking 2.0 in a networking 1.0 world

September 12, 2009

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Image of Christopher S. Penn by Christopher S. Penn via Flickr

Last night was Twestival in Phoenix. It was a rocking good time that was well attended. Props to @ChrisLee for being the local Phoenix coordinator of this national event. If you missed it, loads of photos are already on Flickr. I look forward to [...]

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Increasing convenience, FTW

August 31, 2009

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Image by net_efekt via Flickr
Increasing convenience isn’t about being bigger than the competition. Being better than the competition doesn’t mean you’re increasing convenience for your customers. And while doing things faster is a worthy goal, it’s not the same thing as increasing convenience.
Why increase convenience? Because we as a society are motivated by convenience. You [...]

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The Disconnect: Reasons Companies fail at Social Media and how to Succeed

August 19, 2009

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That’s the fancy title of my talk tomorrow at the Social Media for Business event, put on by SocialMediaAZ. This is a pure business event. It costs money to go. (I wonder how much I get?) And the talks are specifically for people in business. Less touchy-feely. More action and tactics.
I fought with my presentation [...]

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