Sneak Peak - Episode #18 (Interview with QJew.com founder)

by Jared on November 30th, 2005

For those folks who just have to know…we have a great show lined up for Episode #18!Summary (Episode #18 - The Dating-Marketing Connection)What do on-line dating and marketing have in common? The absolute need to make a connection. This week the qjew.com founder sits down to talk about breaking through the “X Factor” in creating connections on-line and in-person.Tune in this Thursday for a great episode as we open up a new chapter in the 20SMF!

Media Alert: 20SMF Coverage in Washington Blade

by Jared on November 25th, 2005

As promised in Episode #17, this week’s Washington Blade is out and does have a great mention of the 20SMF. If you can, hit the newsstands and pick up a copy or view it on-line.Its a great article about the power of podcasting in the GLBT community and though it frames my show in comparison to others, I still think I made out pretty well.Here’s an excerpt:

{the} show is part of his Web site, www.20somethingmarketing.com. He saw a gap in the post-college professional life of marketing people…. He reports that his listeners are asking questions about how to deal with their bosses and what level of ambition is appropriate for a newly hired marketing consultant.

Ok, so its not totally reflective of the insanity that sometimes permeates this show - we will still take it ;).Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday and as for me - I’m off to the “Black Friday” Sales!

Episode #17 – Speak Up, Damn It!

by Jared on November 24th, 2005

Short show this week all about speaking up and out for your own individuality. Tune in, great commentary on modern communication, and a healthy dose of deep thought on not pissing people off.

I) Notes, Holiday Broadcasting, Etc.
II) When To Speak Up
III) How To Speak Up
IV) Surprise Annoucement For Next Week’s Show!

Click Here To Listen To The Podcast

20SMF’s Best Boss Story Contest

by Jared on November 21st, 2005

As promised - the Best Boss Story Contest is now open for submissions…

Rules:

Submit your best story about how you were able to kick some serious result-driven ass at work by using upward management. Bosses, co-workers, it doesn’t matter - just as long as its fairly clean (i.e. no over-the-top raunchy intern stories) and no one gets fired.

Submit your entries by December 2nd to jared@20somethingmarketing.com

The listener who submits the best story, as judged by Jared, will receive the incredible 20-Something Marketing Mug as pictured below!

Ready? Guys - START YOUR WORD DOCUMENTS!

Vindication: PurecastMedia Go Down The Hole!

by Jared on November 17th, 2005

OK, this is going to be somewhat mean but it needs to be said. We just got the news that my former podcast network, PureCastMedia.com, just went bankrupt. The only remnant of their site is this:

Our Apologies…

PureCastMedia.com has been shut down due to incredible bandwidth overages that skyrocketed into thousands of dollars. All subscriptions have been cancelled and will not again re-occur. All of our business databases and email contact capabilities were also disconnected from us (because it was all on that server) when this happened, so we have no way of telling anyone about this except with this page. Again, our apologies… we never intended this to happen.

The PureCast users have nothing left - they can’t access their shows, their listners can’t access their feeds, and g-d forbid they didn’t have back ups.

I left PureCast based on a few factors, one of which was their insistence on going with a bad business model. PureCast was formed by a bunch of ex-Clear Channel guys (FM radio) who thought they could use a viral referral method to bring on tons of business, and offer FREE hosting to some of the biggest podcasts out there. No wonder their bandwidth costs went soaring, they under-delivered from Day 1!

I fault the PureCast management, their idea was a good one but their eyes were bigger than their stomachs on this and there is something to be said for modesty in business models.

Lessons from this?

1) Don’t think buzz is going to pay the bills, cause its not.

2) Don’t sell yourself on the basis of a brick and mortar model when your services are all net-based with no real collateral.

3) If you have to go out of business, do it with enough decency to inform your users before-hand.

4) Don’t ask for advice then not take it. Especially from marketers ;)!

This is one of those moments when I can look back on my choice to leave PureCast, take the hit early - and it paid off in spades. This might be the net folks, but good sense for business models will never go out of style.

That being said - if you got burned by PureCast - let me know and I will be glad to help you get back up and running, including helping you host your show (hopefully not too large) and transitioning your users.

Episode #16 – Marketing Bosses Anonymous

by Jared on November 17th, 2005

&eWe love our bosses, don’t we? Even if we don’t we have to tip our hats because its management up, down, and sideways that makes our lives interesting. We go over the 4 boss types as well as why screwing up may be good for us.

Show Notes:
I) Memo To Holiday Marketers
II) 4 Boss Types
III) News: Atlanta destination campaign and themes
IV) Mercury Retrograde and why it may be a good thing

Referenced Links:

Vote For The Show on Yahoo!

My Analysis of Atlanta’s new Ad Campaign

Click Here To Listen To The Podcast

- Jared

Bloody Superstitions

by Jared on November 14th, 2005

So much of what we do in marketing may be science but many times, a lot of what we encounter in marketing challenges does rely on sheer dumb luck. In that, we try to find ways to control fate through various means - the favorite of which is reading superstitions.

Yeah, its silly and because we might not be as jadded as many of our Gen X counterparts, I do know many people that are seriously superstitious, to the point of mania. We’re talking reading horoscopes all the time, not walking under ladders, etc.

For me, I am not a die-hard astrology fan, but I do start to see what they mean in certian circumstances. In fact, I am usually creeped out by one particular astrological occurance - Murcury Retrograde.

For those of you who are not familiar here is a great breakdown by Jan Spiller:

THE PHYSICAL PHENOMENA

Mercury Retrograde cycles occur approximately 3 times a year, 3-1/2 weeks each time. From the point of view of the Earth, it appears that the planet Mercury is going “backwards” in its orbit.

What is physically occurring is that Mercury is “slowing down” in its elliptical orbit around the Sun, and because the Earth is continuing to spin on its axis, Mercury “appears” to be going backward.

When this astronomical phenomena occurs, there are predictable, marked effects in our experience on Planet Earth.

HOW IT AFFECTS US

In astrology, the planet Mercury rules the conscious, logical mind. When the planet Mercury goes backwards, our thinking starts to go “backwards”- into a reflective mode.

During the time period of this phenomena, we all experience certain psychological effects in common: inattention, confusion, reversals of decision and then getting back on the “right track” again; unexpected, emotionally-charged miscommunications with others and the necessity of repeating actions more than once to get them “right”.

If you are unaware of the cycle, it can be frustrating. If you are aware of what is going on in the atmosphere, you can greet the inevitable “glitches” with a sense of humor.

Oftentimes, things you do under Mercury Retrograde have to be repeated. If you have your car repaired, you may have to take it back to get the job done properly.

Because your thinking is not in its usual bent, creative ideas that occur to you under this cycle will often not seem viable when Mercury goes into direct motion. It is best to wait until after this cycle is over to enter into agreements with others or to present new ideas.

Physical arenas that are ruled by Mercury seem to go haywire at this time: computers, telephones, printing, all fields related to transportation or communication are particularly vulnerable to malfunctioning during the Mercury retrograde cycles.

Long story short people? Now untill December 5th don’t be surprised if your electronics break, your good ideasl fail, or you are prone to make rash desisions.

I have already had several things happen today that are hinting that murcury has my face on a dartboard somewhere. I am optomistic though, but just thought you should know ;).

Episode #15 – The Stupid Things We Do

by Jared on November 10th, 2005

It is not in being right but being dead wrong that hilarity ensues…Why do we do the stupid things we do? Because the voices in our heads tell us? Perhaps! Just listen and find out!

I) Ego and misinformation drive us to stupidity
II) News: Bush f***s with Shamu, Army of None, Purpose or Porpoise?
III) Game Plan: Get over it – get back in action

Referenced Links
Vote For The Show on Yahoo!

Click Here To Listen To The Podcast