Archive for October, 2009
Books and e-Books: Who’s The Biggest Loser?
On the face of it, developments in digital publishing have signaled a decisive victory for aspiring and professional authors in recent months, judging by recent announcements:
Amazon recently declared that it’s Kindle e-book reader was its overall bestseller by number…
Fifteen Years and Counting
Ever heard of Hotwired.com? Do you recall navigating a Time Inc. site called Pathfinder? Remember a company called MCI?
If any of those things ring a bell, then you might look back fondly on October 27, 1994. That’s when the…
IAB Takes Up Arms Against the FTC’s Latest Endorsement Regulation Campaign
If the Federal Trade Commission had the intention to spark off a wave of sometimes worried, sometimes angry and often indignant blog posts and forum chatter with their “Final Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”, they’ve…
Are Reporters and Bloggers Guilty Of Using Weapons of Statistical Destruction?
As a blogger and an ex-newspaper reporter I have an axe to grind with many of my peers. Please avoid the temptation to distort reality by quoting statistics and data out of context, no matter how linkbait worthy the intended…
New Media Study Shows Increasing Consumer Empowerment
The 2009 Cone Consumer New Media Study, results of which were released on October 20, shows the continuing growth of consumer empowerment.
Cone, a strategy and communications agency that specializes in cause branding, looked only at users of…
Social Media and Microfinancing
The growing business use of social media may be just the beginning of a shift in the way worldwide commerce is conducted. By its very nature, social media encourages individuals to collaborate and help each other. Why shouldn’t this ability…
The Credit Report/Repair Niche Feels The Long Arm of the FTC
At first glance, the credit report/repair niche looks highly lucrative – with high lead generation payouts and search volume at stratospheric levels – one might wonder, “What’s not to like?”. That is, until you factor in the Federal Trade Commission’s…
How Far They’ve Fallen
A few short years ago, who could have imagined how precarious business conditions would be for traditional newspapers and magazines. As 2009 comes to a close, it marks the end of another dismal year for print media. Symbolic of the…
FTC Regulates Blogger, Viral Marketing Relationships: Analysis and compliance tips
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is regulating the use of blogs and other consumer-generated new media content in marketing. Revised advertising rules issued by the agency broadly extend the concept of endorsements and testimonials to include as sponsored advertising all…
Social Media: Are You A Tortoise Or A Hare?
When it comes to effectively using social media to market yourself and/or your brand, are you falling prey to a “Hare Syndrome” and losing site of the end goal?
Does this sound familiar?
You discover a new social media outlet,…
