Home again, home again, jiggity-jig...

To market, to market to buy...a Pre?

Finally home and rested from an extremely long week at CES. But long certainly doesn't mean it wasn't good. Honestly, from start to finish, this will go down as my favorite CES to date. It was busy, my feet were killing me, I didn't get nearly enough sleep and I lost the charger to my laptop - but the positives outweigh my laundry list of negatives, by far.

All three of our clients at the show had a good time, talked to the right people and continued to tell their stories - can't ask for more than that.

I, however, had a little 'social media' heyday at this show. I sat in on the Social Media Jungle hosted by Jeff Pulver - it was amazing. Lots of smart people sharing their views on the how’s/what’s/when’s/why’s of the crazy online. Jeff Pulver crammed a ridiculous amount of talent into a one-day event. If you are in a city on his 2009 breakfast tour, I highly recommend taking part. My two favorite speakers were Chris Brogan and Warren Whitlock - Chris had a lot to say, but was summed up with "ignore the folks who don't 'get it'" ('get it' was over used to the point where I kind of wanted to pull out my hair), and to 'stop talking about talking' - I love this. I know it doesn't sit well for my blog (since pretty much all I do is write about 'talking'), but it still resonates with me - get out and DO, DO, DO. Also, his story on why he considers himself a pirate is delightful.

Warren Whitlock talked about giving - to always give more than you get. He chatted up an amazing study about a can of soda - I am hooked. I like to think that I approach PR this way - my goal is always to help journalists, bloggers, tweeters, whoever out - then if it benefits me (or my client) in the end, great - but I am going to make a point of 2009 being my year of giving. I have also been pushing to work this to the front of our communications with some of our clients - I think we get caught up in the 'what have you done for me lately' mentality or definitely the 'I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine'...but the point is, it should never be stipulated. From now on, my first question will be, "how can I help you?"

I also got to attend Robert Scoble's 'It won't stay in Vegas' party and I have to say, the folks at the Parnassus Group know how to put on a blogger event that is both fun and beneficial to the sponsors. I hate to see events like this explode in popularity, because inevitably they turn into junkets that are lacking on true networking and instead just table after table of demonstrations - but I am hoping the best for them, because this event was fantastic and a highlight to my time at CES. AND I won a Sonos multi-room music system - talk about great swag. The folks at Sonos are sending it this week and I cannot wait to try it out.

Last but not least, I am cautiously optimistic about the Pre. I won't just run out and get one the moment it is released, but I am pretty sure I am going to have to get one sooner rather than later.

Overall, killer time at CES this year. AND I DIDN'T GET SICK. It is like a little CES miracle.

Bring on 2009...and CES

Just zipped my suitcase and I am ready for my flight tomorrow - hooray for Vegas and CES. I have to watch my Horns from a sports book, rather than travel to the game, again - but I suppose, as far as places to watch football go, Vegas ain't a bad option.

Pretty excited about the show this year, as I have no booth duty whatsoever and instead will mostly be helping with parties (magicJack REVOLUTION on Wednesday, January 7th, Bluetooth SIG Best of CES 2009 at Tao Friday, January 9th - if you are interested in swinging by, let me know and I will get you on the list), attending the 'It Won't Stay In Vegas' blogger party and sitting in on the Social Media Jungle super session - where all of my little blogging heroes will be speaking - I might actually get to meet a couple of them (I'm talking about you, Toeman). I have several dinners with clients lined up, several interviews I have to facilitate - a busy, but as far as CES standards go, tame week.

OH - and I am going to be meeting up with Murray SawChuck, magicJack's magician of choice for the show. Hoping he teaches me some clever little trick I can use to shock and amaze all my friends.

See ya in Vegas!

the problem with just messing around...

...online is that I link to things, sign up for things, try things out, etc. and then forget how the hell I did what I did when I need to do it again. Annoying.

Hit me baby one more time

Britney has a new album out next week and I stumbled across the lyrics to one of her songs. I honestly have no words to express my joy here. Brit likes her Bluetooth and her hands-free. Apparently, Bluetooth is dead sexy.

when opporutnity knocks

You have to open the door. Or, ya know, participate in the interview or send the product for review. I'm just saying...

just don't piss 'em off...

When things go wrong online, they go horribly wrong. Take the Motrin vs. Moms war that started on Twitter this weekend. Pretty crazy stuff.

When a product gets panned or someone possibly gets sick, or hell, when the bloggers all turn against each other...when the online world rallies, it gets, hmmm, out of hand pretty quick. I think this is one of the biggest problems I have when explaining social media, web 2.0, bloggers, whatever to clients. They want to know how to control millions of people voicing their opinion - I don't care how good I am at my job, I cannot control the entire blogosphere. And neither can they.

I am always encouraging clients to get involved, but I think they see these horrific meltdowns and they just shrink away. Then, the further away they get, the demands get more foolish. I had a client insisting we contact a forum and have them remove all negative feedback about their product - uh, okay...I'll get right on that.

And then I have another client who just posted anonymously on a NYT Bits blog post - in defense of this client, he wasn't astroturfing (if that is still what you crazy kids are calling it). Honestly, he was just trying to inform the journalist and the other readers of some information that had been left out of the initial post. I wish he hadn't posted anonymously - I am a firm believer in transparency. Post away...just claim your posts. I suggested as much, and I think the client is on board. But I understand his hesitation...the online is a scary place.

The deal is that old chant that it is all about participation is no joke. It really is all about participating – start with a facebook page or hell, just set up your Google home page to watch a few of your favorite sites. Make a comment or two, set up a profile on digg, go play around on Vanno (it is fairly new, but I think it has a lot of potential).

And yeah, sometimes the bottom drops out. So I guess the chant should be, "Participate, be transparent, but for the love of god, don't piss 'em off"

The light at the end of the tunnel...

I have been fairly disenchanted with work over the past couple of months. Actually, I would say pretty much Q2 and Q3 were the closest I have ever been (and will ever be) to thinking that bagging this whole PR thing and going back to work at the GAP might be the best idea.

Pretty sure my blog posts of late have mirrored my negativity.

But today I got some fabulous news. Things are looking up. I think I might actually be able to like my job again.