If you've been wondering what happened to my Business Confessions blog, well it was getting a bit gnarley trying to talk about marketing without stumbling over my day job.  So posting what is relevant for general consumption have slacked.  I will still keep this blog going and post from time to ...<< MORE >>

I've been wondering if LinkedIn is seeing an influx of new users because of the economic downturn.  It appears to me that LinkedIn has crossed the chasm for B-to-B individuals, given the number of people asking to connect with me.  Including a number of people whom I haven't seen in ...<< MORE >>

I just finished listening to this book {Ponzi's Scheme) by Mitchell Zuckoff.  I absolutely love history stories and this book about Charles Ponzi and his use of the "Using Peter to pay Paul" scam is a wonderfully details description of Boston at the turn of the century. 

Buried in this story is the story about how to build a viral campaign.  In Ponzi's case it ultimately was a scam but there were some very interesting elements.  1) find a customer who would listen and be an advocate, 2) provide a product / service that was interesting, 3) love your customers, 4) provide emotional value, 5) be enthusiastic with the press, 6) believe in your vision and 7) deliver on your promise.

According to Zuckoff's account on Charles Ponzi, Ponzi did just that.  He even delivered on the promise for a time until the scheme imploded.  According to Zuckoff, Ponzi's downfall was optimism and false hope.  But I can see how he truly believed in his product (how misguided it was) and because of this belief virally sold his product to 10's of thousands of customers.

Having just recovered form CES, I came across this blog and found it very interesting.  It covers the history of 10 gadgets.

http://weburbanist.com/2009/01/08/the-evolution-of-10-essential-gadgets-technologies/

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I just posted on my other blog a rather lenghty tutorial on time lapse photography.  If you are interested check out http://blog.robde.com/2009/01/17/time-lapse.aspx

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Prediction number 8 came true (almost) yesterday from my prediction blog of Dec 24th.  Steve Jobs is stepping down.  Hasn't retired yet but it appears on his way.  Mr. Jobs is Apple.  When he left Apple the first time, the company lost its way.  With Mr. Jobs it became ...<< MORE >>

I think it is interesting when my differing interests collide.  It did this week when I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts called Lenswork.  These podcasts are about the creative side of photography. One of the most recent podcasts had a business twist.  You can hear it at http://www.lenswork.com/podcast/LW0478%20-%20Refuse%20to%20Participate.mp3.

The title is "Refuse to Participate".  It it was about refusing to participate in the recession.  It is about taking the position that although many people will be participating in the recession, people can and should decide not to.  Maybe by refusing to participate, we can turn the economic woes around.

Here it is the eve of 2009.  I'm looking forward to this year.  It will be a better year than 2008.  As a New Year resolution, I am going to refuse to participate in the recession.  I plan to take on a positivie outlook for a change and look forward to much better days in 2009. 

I thank all who read my posts and wish you a great 2009.

I see predictions every year and many of them have no substance.  They are predictions that are not measurable.  So I've decided to make some predictions that can be measured.  We will look back in 12 months and see how right or wrong I am...

1) The mainstream media will be so ...<< MORE >>

This is a great review of 2008. 

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http://sendables.jibjab.com/sendables/202809/2008_year_in_review#/teaser/202809 ...<< MORE >>

In a previous post I published the slides I was about to give at the Business to Business Netmarketing Breakfast. I had a great time and from the comments afterwards, I believe people found what I had said useful.  I thank Chris Brogan and Jamie Pappas for their support.  In addition, ...<< MORE >>