Open Source Blogging

I’m really happy to see my friend Elizabeth Warren out in front of new ideas to protect consumers from banks and lenders. Maybe the time has come that consumers will be entitled to some representation in government when it comes to banking products and the banking system.

Ms. Warren, for years a scourge of Wall Street, has emerged as an influential force in the administration’s overhaul of financial regulations. The White House said the agency she helped inspire would strengthen consumer protection in areas including credit cards, mortgages and other financial products. If approved by Congress, it would be able to … Continue Reading

One of my greatest joys, is my photography. It is something that I love to do. It is an extremely personal part of me that I thought I’d share with you.

Even if you are facing difficult financial times, find something you love to do as well. Read my previous post “Don’t Let Your Debt Consume Your Life. Take Advantage of Free Beauty Around You” for more information about this philosophy.

Shipping Container Art

Many would say that what I call art on this shipping container, … Continue Reading

Twitter is getting a TON of hype right now. Even today, on ABC radio, I heard about a meter for your plants that tells you they need water via Twitter. Here’s a “Tweet a Watt” do-it-yourself kit that lets you build a power meter that will work with Facebook and Twitter.

Sorry, got distracted there by the hype. Remember when Facebook tried to buy Twitter and failed?

That might have been the best possible thing that would happen to … Continue Reading

So much amazing information to share from the Branded Content Conference in Miami - but one key point I wanted to share now was from David Meerman Scott's presentation on World Wide Rave. 

David shared some key statistics on white papers. Almost all brands create and distribute white papers - those 8 to 20 page downloadable pdf's that are now staples in most marketing programs.

Many, dare I say, most brands (including my own company) "gate" their white papers.  To "gate" a white paper … Continue Reading

Chauncey wrote to me through the GetOutOfDebt.org site and asked the following question. If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.

Income from the GetOutOfDebt.org site advertising is used to help alleviate poverty. If you would like to help me to help others, there are easy and free things you can do, click here to learn how you can help.

“Dear Steve,

I have outstanding debts like most people and I want to get them away for my family. I don’t … Continue Reading

Article by Zen Habits contributor Jonathan Mead; follow him on twitter.

Not getting enough items on your To-Do list checked off? Do you feel guilty because you’re not doing enough?

I’ll be the first one to admit that I don’t always remain calm, zen and un-phased when I don’t get everything done. Sometimes I get distracted; sometimes unforeseen events happen which get in the way of my ambitions.

Sometimes I have a hard time not caring about unimportant things. I want the dishes to be clean and the house spotless, all my errands to be finished and everything neat and tidy. … Continue Reading

As the clock struck noon EST and Barack Obama was being sworn in as our next president, the White House IT department flipped the switch on the new White House website. (See the difference in these before and after screen shots.)

According to Macon Phillips, director of New Media for the White House (in the first blog post ever from the White House), the new website will focus on:

Communication - new briefing room, … Continue Reading

I gave a luncheon presentation entitled Content Marketing: The Present and Future of PR? yesterday for my new friends at Cincinnati PRSA.

Content Marketing: The Present and Future of PR?
View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: cincinnati 42)

(Note: Some of the images look a bit distorted in slideshare).

Here's the high level overview:

Traditional media channels are on death row. Old business models can't support profitability, even though TV, radio, magazines and newspapers are still being engaged … Continue Reading

Just read this post from Seth Godin on continuing to fight the good fight (it's really short, take a read).  After I finished, I immediately started to think of content marketing/custom publishing efforts in corporations (big surprise, right?).

So many times, marketers get into the content arena with great (and often realistic) aspirations, but their timetables are too short. When expected results don't come in three months, they ditch the program to advertise, call more customers, or any other demand generation activity they can think of.

It's … Continue Reading

My friend Gavin Heaton put together this very funny video regarding the book Age of Conversation 2. First, take a look at this video (frankly, a good example of a low-cost way to make a point that's worth passing on). Second, buy the book. Mine arrived a few weeks ago and it's worth the read…especially if you are trying to figure this whole "social media" thing out, or you need to convince upper management about what is going on in social media and content marketing (and why you need to … Continue Reading