Think Forward

We are agents of change, and we bring innovative solutions to complex problems. At the core of our work is a commitment to developing relationships and trust amongst our clients.

Join Marketing and PR strategist David Meerman Scott as he shares the new rules of reaching your audiences via social media. David is the author of the award-winning BusinessWeek best-selling book, The New Rules of Marketing & PR. His new hit book, World Wide Rave, was released in March 2009.

For decades, marketing and PR professionals have relied on buying expensive advertising and begging the media and analysts for coverage, interrupting “prospects” with our “messages” in hopes of generating interest.

The web has profoundly changed these rules. Smart marketers now communicate with buyers through content rich websites, blogs, YouTube videos, eBooks, and other online media that buyers actually choose to consume.

Attend this webinar to learn how to:

  • Identify audiences
  • Create compelling stories and ideas
  • Reach as many consumers possible
  • Lead consumers directly into your buying process

Speaker: David Meerman Scott, Marketing and PR Strategist; Award-winning Author
Event Date: June 24, 2009 2:00 PM EDT (New York)
Cost: This Webinar is FREE

Click here to register!

After another week on the road speaking, I had the chance to pitch in with the I6 on some ideas for how to take care of people like me. Below are a few of my favorites.

What I deserve:

  • Stop asking me for my slides so you can copy and distribute – you are only perpetuating ‘death by powerpoint’ – ask for handouts (in fact, insist on actual handouts)
  • Ask me how I’m attending to adult learning principles, yes I should know some of those…
  • Give me context, it might be fun to watch me walk into ideological chopper-blades in front an audience, but trust me – It’s only a short term thrill.
  • I am not a superhero – one hour (or even one day) of my wisdom will not resolve all of your internal conflicts, solve world hunger, or re-imagine your industry.  Stop asking — or pay more.
  • Evaluate me – I want to get better, make sure I get feedback.

What you deserve:

  • Sure, I’m a great writer, a ton of fun to speak with on the phone, or perhaps you’ve seen me on TV, double check that I can actually speak (it’s different).
  • Good speakers are an investment.  If I am giving the speech for free – you might get what you pay for.  If you are paying me, I’d better deliver.
  • Having me at an event should elevate both of us.  I should feel enriched for having met your group, and you should feel like I respected your audience, your mission and work.

For the whole list, visit the clever folks at The Impossible 6.

Excellence Before Branding

May 15, 2009

The rapid growth of social networking sites has led to an explosion in two things that are increasingly frustrating (particularly as they continue their rise in prominence):

Consultants who call themselves social media experts
(Ab)use of the term branding

The former can be explained by the lack of understanding the latter. That is, the more we allow branding [...]

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Swine Flu: Instilling terror since 1976.

May 6, 2009
Thumbnail image for Swine Flu: Instilling terror since 1976.
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Showing Up With “The Eye of the Tiger”

April 30, 2009

Here’s a great video of kids singing, but it’s also a fantastic illustrator for what happens when you get a bunch of people who show up, do a decent job and have a few stars among them. Jared (the soloist) is clearly a talented young singer, as are a number of kids in the group. [...]

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Have a cuppa joe with your favorite non-profit

April 29, 2009

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could sit down, drink a cup of coffee and change the world? Well, you can in a tiny way a few times a week.
Most people don’t donate to their favorite charities because they don’t have money set aside for that purpose. Here are two easy ways to dedicate money [...]

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The Most Badass Epitaph Ever (PIC)

April 27, 2009

Even Wyatt Earp lied to avoid a real confrontation with Allison.

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Determining My Hourly Rate:

April 15, 2009

1. Slap the client in face.
2. Tell the client your hourly rate.
If the person looked more shocked, horrified, offended, hurt, saddened, or wounded by the slap in the face, then you are still pricing yourself too low.
Pay By The Hour – Anil Dash

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Taxes for dummies: NEW MATH by Craig Damrauer

April 15, 2009

Taxes for dummies: NEW MATH by Craig Damrauer

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Charts for kids

April 15, 2009

Under other circumstances, I’d feel geeky for loving the fact that kids are seeing this stuff now, but if Merlin Mann likes it, ’nuff said.

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