Mike’s Points

Well, not me necessarily. But, companies do have the power . . . to control their brand. Some may call it a company’s “tag.”

Granted, not total control, but, do we really ever have total control over anything? Not really. Companies never did, do and won’t have total control over their brand. That’s one area where I agree with some bloggers.

But, companies do have more control over their brand than any other entity, individual or groups of individuals. Period. So, get over it.

How?

> Through marketing materials like ads, media and public relations, direct mail, sales literature, etc.
> Through communication with customers, prospects, decision-makers and opinion leaders via Web sites, corp blogs, sales people, customer service, purchasing personnel, etc.
> AND through acting consistently and with focus through the above people and during the above activities.

Only then will the brand, image or tag companies wish to convey predominantly come out.

Will everyone have the same perceptions of the company? No, but the prevailing perception will be the one, or very close to the one the company is trying to convey. As long as the brand and effort remains consistent and focused.

Now, how to be consistent and focused is a topic for another post.
– Mike

Technorati tag: branding

Hey, I gotta have some good stuff (even if it does link to others) rather than have the Strumpette soap opera at the top of my post lists. So, for your reading, surfing and thinking pleasure, I point you to:

Somebody Give Hugh Hewitt a Distinguished Service Medal, Scott Baradell/Media Orchard

Mere consumption of media does not a media critic make/Romenesko Letters, Poynter’s Romensko

Wouldst Thou Drink From The Holy Grail?, Todd Defren/PR Squared

Women 10 Percent of Top Bloggers, Kami Huyse, APR/Communication Overtones

Alka-Seltzer Stunts way into Guinness, Peter Shankman/PR Differently

Across the Web/Print Divide, Cyberjournalist.net

Blogging’s impact on PR (and vice versa), Christian Crumlish/Radio Free Blogistan

– Mike

Tag: Tags? We don’t need no stinkin’ tags!

UPDATED 4:33 p.m.: Looks like the Strumpette is back up. Up and down. Up and down. Looks like a yo-yo today.

Just saw the below when curiousity got the better of me and I checked the Strumpette.com site.

Could this be the end of our “fling” with Amanda Chapel/Brian Connolly?

Did Amanda and Brian have a fight?

Did Edelman hack the site?

What is Scott Baradell doing for links these days?

Was Strumpette.com really an April Fool’s joke??

Inquiring — okay, okay nosey — minds want to know.

Mike

Technorati tags: This is not worth any Technorati tags.

Many bloggers have blogged about begging for links, joining the so-called A-list, and other ways to build your blog links and brand your blog.

But, of course, it has nothing really to do with content! It’s the same-old, same-old: Just the right mixture of sexuality with mixture of controversy and some chest-beating about how honest you are.

That’s how you build comments and links.

So, now, I do have a confession — and a pool of my own — to make.

First, I’ve been living a lie. I’m not who you really think I am.*

Actually, let’s have a game. Who am I?

Heck, even I don’t know at times.

But, enough about of sexy ol’ me.

Now, for the controversy part. HHHMMMM?

My sources tell me there is trouble brewing in the blogosphere. I’ve been wondering about the Bad Pitch Blog. Then, soon thereafter, there was the Good Pitch Blog. What’s that about?

Let’s get a pool going to see which’ll cease to exist first! $0.25 per square for any date after April 1.

Then, you know what I heard? Well, it seems that a few well-known bloggers are planning to quit to . . . .

Wait. Can’t spill the beans on that one yet.

Arrivederci,
- Lucky Bernard

Now, after our two-day PR escapism, let’s get back to more serious stuff.

*My apologies to Chris Jericho, Austin Powers and Fred Flinstone.

Not blogging a conference. There is a difference.

For my day job, I researched and started reading a bunch of military blogs earlier this year. Still am reading them, and likely will continue to read at least some of them here on out. I’ve learned a lot, and have been emotionally, personally moved at times.

Did you know that there’s a milblogger conference on April 22? (By the links, you can probably safely say yes.)

So, I got to thinking, what other kind of niche or non-mainstream blogging conferences are there? I did some research, and found the below list . . . along with a couple other blog sites of interest. So, are these on your conference schedule (listed in no particular order)?

BlogHer Conference, July 28 & 29, San Jose, Calif.

Godblog Conference. There was one in October 2005, but the current site doesn’t work. Can’t tell if there’ll be one in 2006.

Tracking online food blogging events

Fashion & Blogging Conference. Was Oct. 3, 2005, during Fashion Week. Haven’t found any reference to one in 2006. There was Digital Lifestyle Day (Jan. 23-24, 2006, in Munich).

Northern Voice: Canada’s Blogging Conference, was Feb. 10-11, 2006, U of British Columbia

There might be a wine bloggers conference in 2006.

Now, for the other blogs I found of interest:

AAPR Issues blog (recently marked it’s first anniversary)

For sale: Patriot Blog. (eBay bidding starts at $2500, though.)

A non-profit blog exchange, with some background/explanation here. It looks like it includes some good info. for non-profit blogging, as well.

So, what have I missed? What other blogging conferences are there, besides the ‘run-of-the-mill” (expected) ones?

– Mike

Technorati tags: blog conferences