Skype the Marketing Gorilla

Yes, I'm finally using Skype. The lack of office phones in my virtual office has made me conform with the rest of geek nation. Add me to your Skype list - marketinggorilla.

'User-Generated Content and Social Media Advertising Overview' Released by The IAB

A Road Map for Reaching the Online Consumer in the Digital Ecosystem

NEW YORK (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) April 16, 2008 -- The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced the release of “User-Generated Content and Social Media Advertising Overview,” a milestone document that helps marketers, agencies and publishers better understand how these platforms have fundamentally altered the digital experience for consumers and advertisers. The report defines UGC and social media, provides a detailed overview of the latest advertising opportunities, and details case studies of campaigns that have successfully utilized UGC and social media.

“User-generated content and social media are among the most innovative and tangible ways digital media have transformed the advertising experience for consumers and marketers,” said Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau. “This report describes opportunities for marketers to marshal the enhanced level of consumer engagement now that online audiences have taken the driver’s seat, acting as both consumers and creators of content.”

Read the rest of the press release at PRWeb.com

Photo from Ad:Tech San Francisco 2008 - My buddies Peter Shankman and Lisa Van Noland Caraffi

Peter Shankman is an Entrepreneur, an Adventurist, and the CEO of The Geek Factory, a PR and Marketing boutique firm in New York City. Lisa Van Noland Caraffi is an affiliate manager at Kowabunga. I asked Peter (via Twitter) to track down Lisa at Ad:Tech in San Francisco and it worked.

WebmasterRadio.FM Announces its New Affiliate Program in Partnership with Pepperjam Network

Fort Lauderdale, Fl (PRWEB) April 14, 2008 -- WebmasterRadio.FM, the premier free, 24/7 Internet business radio network focused on the B2B marketplace is proud to announce its brand new affiliate program, now launching on the Pepperjam Network.

WebmasterRadio.FM is 24/7 Internet Radio for search engine optimization specialists, affiliate marketers, advertisers, public relations professionals, publishers, web analytics professionals and more. If you haven't listened to WebmasterRadio.FM you are missing out on free advice to become a more successful internet marketer.

Read the rest of the press release at PRWeb.com.

The Great TwitterMeThis Debate of 2008

I remember when I started following blogs back in 2001-ish and I followed the debate of what a blog was and what it wasn't. Some of the original bloggers (think of the Rebecca Blood era, but not her) argued that their style was the best and only way to publish a blog. When easy to publish services like Blogger started, they went nuts, saying that their culture of blog would be ruined by all the newbie wannabes.

These purist attitudes also said no to lights at Wrigley Field, no to Michael Keaton as Batman, no to NAFTA and the New World Order. But nothing could stop progress.

I say let Jim Kukral continue his TwitterMeThis experiment. There is nothing wrong with affiliates testing new and unique ways of earning money. Shawn Collins and Sam Harrelson have been beating down Jim for a week now and even puppets are getting in on the act.

Oh and by the way, thanks for the $5, Jim. I enjoyed beating out Scott on that trivia question. Sorry Jangro.

I need a phone built for email

I am in the market for a new phone and a new phone carrier. I don't care about music. I care about phone calls, text messages and easy to read email. Internet access not necessary. Camera is optional.

I had a Palm Treo and it was too much to handle. I currently have a Tracfone and its not enough.

So I'll take suggestions, minus the iPhone. Please help.

LinkConnector Launches an Affiliate Marketing Program for PhotoWorks

LinkConnector announces the launch of PhotoWorks, an Internet Retailer Top 500 Merchant, in its Affiliate Marketing Network.

Cary, NC (PRWEB) April 10, 2008 -- LinkConnector (http://www.linkconnector.com/), a leading Affiliate Marketing Network with progressive solutions for merchants and affiliates, announced today the launch of the PhotoWorks' affiliate marketing campaign. PhotoWorks, American Greetings' online personal photo publishing company and photography community, has teamed up with LinkConnector to offer affiliates an opportunity to ramp up their revenue stream while benefiting from many of the unique advantages of the LinkConnector Network.

Read the entire press release at PRWEB.

Help A Reporter - Connecting Journalists with Subject Matter Experts

Sharing with you today a great resource. You'll want to tell the
PR people, marketers, publicists, editors, and journalists you work
with about it too, because it's all about them and their needs.

If you're not already using www.helpareporter.com, check it out.
It's a service much like that other one that connects PR people and
journalists looking for sources, but this one is free. It used to
be on Facebook, but grew too large for it. Once you subscribe, you
receive about three (sometimes two, no more than four, ever) emails
a day with reporter, editor and freelance writer queries, written
so you can quickly and easily scan the topics for relevance.

If the topics do not apply to you or your clients, just hit delete.
If they do, you may contact the reporter or editor directly, as
instructed.

Note that Peter Shankman, the list facilitator, is very strict
about helping out these reporters. Respond only if your
information (or your client's info) is relevant and on target. If
not, and you send non-relevant emails more than once, you'll get
bumped off the list. Quickly. I've seen it happen. He's a big
believer in good Karma, and he's also quite funny, and tends to
also include a link to a fun site, or a funny story about his day
in the emails. It's a nice refreshing change from the boring,
non-funny emails we usually deal with.

Reporters can post queries at www.helpareporter.com/press, and
sources can sign up at www.helpareporter.com - As I said, it's
free. Peter asks that if you find it useful, then you make a
donation to any animal rescue charity or animal hospital.

You can forward the queries to others who are a fit, but do not
post any queries (or the editor/reporter contact info) on any blogs
or public websites. I received permission from Peter to send you
this note, since this is a private group and I'm helping to spread
the word to both subscribers and media to sign up.

www.helpareporter.com - The more people who use it, the better it
becomes.

50 Ways Your Web Site Is Discouraging Conversions — and How to Fix It

An actual PR pitch. First in a while. Thanks, Sally.

Tweaks that can help your site make your company more money.
By Inside CRM Editors on April 8, 2008

If your Web site gets great traffic but no sales or sign-ups to back it up, it's time to take a good, hard look at it. Chances are, your site is scaring off customers. Follow these tips to make your Web site more friendly to customers and encourage better conversion rates.

Read the entire article at www.insidecrm.com

Book Recommendation - The Detox Strategy, Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps

I've read great testimonials about this book and I'm recommending it to my friends and family, but especially myself. I'll be clicking this link in a few minutes and buying a copy. I have a 20 year High School Reunion coming up in a few months. It would be nice to be healthy for the 40th reunion as well.

Regardless of where and how you live, your body is harboring dozens if not hundreds of toxins that could be sabotaging your health. Low on energy? Dealing with chronic illness? Having trouble losing weight? Toxins might be to blame. From your mattress to your toothpaste to your nonstick pans to the food you eat and the (bottled) water you drink -- every day your body is bombarded with chemicals that can alter the way your body works, affecting its natural processes and capacity to heal and maintain vibrancy. Even though we are built to handle foreign substances effectively, our liver and other organs simply cannot cope with today's glut of toxins, many of which are too foreign and toxic for our bodies to manage well. This ultimately causes us to age prematurely, to gain weight, and to become more prone to disease.

The Detox Strategy by Brenda Watson, C.N.C., who is the bestselling author of The Fiber35 Diet: Nature's Weight Loss Secret, a PBS mainstay, and an expert on internal cleansing and detoxification, introduces us to the revolutionary RENEW program (Reduce, Eliminate, Nourish, Energize, Wellness), which aids in reversing the effects of aging and rejuvenating the body and mind. The program offers a holistic approach to protecting and nurturing your body's innate purification physiology. The result is a higher quality of life, more energy, longevity.

The Detox Strategy reveals:

* The truth about where toxins come from and how they affect our bodies
* How toxins can accelerate the aging process by causing poor health and chronic disease
* How to determine your individual level of toxic exposure and the steps you can take to reduce it
* Why efforts to cleanse and detoxify the body are an essential part of enhancing one's energy and vitality and preserving overall health
* How maintaining a cleaner, more vibrant body can affect longevity

The Detox Strategy includes a detailed herbal supplement plan for gently flushing out harmful toxins -- including heavy metals like lead and mercury -- plus delicious original recipes for nourishing meals that further promote detoxification. The Detox Strategy teaches cleansing concepts that are researched and clinically proven, and it provides you with the necessary tools to live in a purer and more energized body. Brenda Watson wants you to know the truth about your body and to help you live a longer and healthier life. With this easy-to-follow program you can jump-start your system and get on a path to optimum wellness. Are you ready?

Two videos you have to see on You Tube - A Mother's Gift

I've talked about Red Bear Radio on Stickam before and told you what a great bunch of people are part of that community. Well, here is an example that should be seen all over the world.

One of the regular members at Red Bear Radio is a woman named Jade from the U.K. She recently asked one of the Stickam DJ's - John, aka Smooth Operator, to do her a special favor. John is a crane operator in Houston.

Jade lost two girls when she was pregnant with them many years ago and she needed some closure. She asked that John take two balloons and write the girls name on them and tie them to the top of the crane. Another show host, Robert Matarazzo, dedicated a song for the event. After taking some pictures and video of the balloons, John released them into the sky.

Here is the first video of John and the balloons on the crane.

Here is the reply video of John and Jade meeting to discuss this beautiful event.

I just had to write about it and I encourage you to share the video with friends.

Fanball Launches The Godfather of Fantasy Sports Blog

Two days in a row, I've found interesting press releases on the home page of PRWeb.com.

Fanball.com has launched The Godfather of Fantasy Sports, a blog by fantasy sports pioneer and icon Charlie Wiegert.

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) April 2, 2008 -- Fanball.com, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, today announced the launch of The Godfather of Fantasy Sports, The Blog of Charlie Wiegert. Wiegert is Fanball's vice president of sales and marketing. Wiegert's blog discusses the fantasy sports industry, Fanball fantasy sports games and all things fantasy sports.

Read the rest of the Fanball.com press release at PRWeb.

Guerrilla Marketing In Tough Times Shows Small Business Owners Recession-Proof Strategies

Beginning Tuesday, April 8, Jay Conrad Levinson, the Father of Guerrilla Marketing, and Mitch Meyerson, the Founder of Guerrilla Marketing Coaching, will host an intensive eight-week crash course for small business owners facing tough economic times. Guerrilla Marketing in Tough Times features eight one-hour, interactive teleclasses with Levinson and Meyerson and eight one-hour, interactive coaching sessions with Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coaches.

(PRWEB) April 1, 2008 -- Jay Conrad Levinson, the Father of Guerrilla Marketing, and Mitch Meyerson, the Founder of Guerrilla Marketing Coaching, today announced an eight-week Guerrilla Marketing crash course for small business owners facing tough economic times.

Read the rest of the press release at PRWeb.

Now Accepting PR Pitches for Internet Marketing Related Companies

Hey PR Person! Do you have a press release that you positively have to get out in the next 24 hours??? If you use BusinessWire, Vocus/PRWeb, PRNewswire, ereleases or any other press release distribution service, send me your news...

I'm looking to offer free posts for products or services on legitimate ecommerce sites, especially anything in the search or affiliate marketing industries. I already post anything Affiliate Classroom releases, here is an example: Employers Can Post Open Affiliate Manager Positions for Free with Affiliate Classroom

So hit me with your PR Pitches. I look forward to being swamped with emails.

Contact Greg Hoffman