Serial entrepreneur Jason Calacanis launched Mahalo.com, a human-powered search engine, at the Wall Street Journal's D Conference yesterday. "Google's mission is to index the world's information; our mission is to curate that wonderful index," said Calacanis. TechCrunch has more on the developments. …
Do It Yourself
Guy Kawasaki's buddy, Glenn Kelman, the CEO of online real estate brokerage Redfin, has written an eleven-point treatise on DIY public relations. His sixth point about going agencyless in this brave new interworld is well fashioned: 6. Most publicists feel threatened by the Internet’s systems of attribution, glorification and punishment, where Digg can make an obscure posting more important than the evening news. …
tiny gigantic’s Authentic Brand Voice
I like what Josh Kamler at tiny gigantic has to say about authenticity. Authenticity is a basic requirement for any healthy relationship, but it’s nothing more than that. That’s why it rubs me so wrong to see decks and brand guidelines that trumpet authenticity as a value: We are authentic, they say. But here’s the thing: authentically what? That’s the real question. That’s what people really need to know. It’s what …
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Content Is King
It's not enough for Google to "do no evil." They must also do good. According to the New York Post, beginning this Friday the search giant will in fact do good. Google is trying to clean up its search results by cracking down on dubious Web sites that contain little content but lots of ads. Google has notified a number of Web publishers in the last few days that they will be dropped from its popular "AdSense" program …
Branded Communications Must Provide Something Of Value
BusinessWeek offers eight dos and don'ts for marketing a small business via online social networks. Here's the first: Communications consultant (and charisma coach) Olivia Fox Cabane says that trying to sell your products, services, or yourself when you first meet someone is the fastest way to ruin a networking relationship before it begins. Instead, she suggests using your own tools and expertise to give something …
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Timmerman’s Place And Time
According to Adweek, Red Tettemer, a Philadelphia-based independent, is launching a unit led by creative media strategist Rachel Timmerman, formerly of MDC's Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Miami. The division blends account planning and creative development and is designed to leverage campaign ideas across the breadth of today's emerging media landscape. "We think Rachel can inspire creative development by delivering …
CBS Makes Wise Investment
CBS acquired social-networking Web site Last.fm for $280 million, delving further into the music business where it was once a major player. Last.fm, "The Social Music Revolution," was founded in the U.K. in 2002 and now has 15 million plus active users in more than 200 countries. Me included. Last.fm's team -- including founders Felix Miller, Martin Stiksel and Richard Jones -- will continue to independently run the …
Casting Call
Download this file if you and a creative partner would like to compete for a spot on Oxygen's new show, "Adfight." On the show, two-person teams will vie for the chance to have their work showcased on national TV. Casting Director, Danielle Barba, says the show will be shot toward the end of June. The time commitment is 3-5 days. Teams have until June 8th to submit their credentials/applications. …