Who needs a blog to blog? Not this guy. He screwed some dry erase boards on the back of his trailer (hence, “trogging”). I’ve seen him driving around Tallahassee, and yesterday, I was lucky enough to catch sight of his vehicle — parked.

So what? Who cares about this guy’s “trog”?

Well, I see it as further proof of the shift in power from mass media to everyone around us. The owner of this truck is publishing content. He got creative and figured out an easy way to make his opinion public (and the medium he chose makes his content fully updateable).

Whether you agree or disagree with his perspective is not the point. People with something to say are publishing content whenever and wherever they can. Everyone wants — and has a need — to be heard, and the passionate among us will always find a way.

I say three cheers for the trog, and most importantly, its creator. (To download a larger image, just click on the photo.)

What do you think? Let me know by commenting below, or by writing it on the back of your car and sending me a photo.

Hope you’re well.

I’d like to thank today’s Conversation Friday attendees (left to right) Howard Libin of Adventures in Advertising, Juli Puckett and Allie Merzer-Fleming of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, and Fred Addonizio and Jim Bennight of Brian Barnard’s Flooring America.

We got the Conversation going by playing Chris Brogan’s “Don’t be that guy” video, which sparked plenty of discussion about when to be human, and when to sell. We talked facebook and twitter strategies and pros and cons, what’s working in retail and what isn’t. By 1pm (from right to left), the facebook regulars had converted Fred from a member to user (here’s a quick before and after); we discussed how Jim could use his blog to cast a wider net and attract readership and and drive online conversation; talked about how, just yesterday, Allie’s facebook feed fed more ideas for next year’s Annual Chamber conference; discussed how Julie could use twitter hashtagging and explore twitter from a professional and personal standpoint; and how Howard’s love of the yard sale has inspired a weekly series of updates.

I’m grateful for everyone’s presence here today. I learned a heck of a lot about each of these people’s businesses and their points of view. It was a group effort that offered a human dynamic you just can’t get online. (We all know each other better than we did at 11:59am that’s for sure.)

If you’d like to join us next Conversation Friday, just leave a comment here or drop me a note at our facebook page.

Have a great weekend.

Last week at a conference I got a bag full of swag. It’s a business conference reality that would be more welcome if companies thought a little harder about what they’re putting their logo on. (Imagine thinking of something so cool, people don’t even consider it swag!)

Anyway, this one from Veolia Environmental Services put the frosting on the swag cake. It’s an energy saving light bulb made of foam.

I’ll repeat that: It’s an energy saving light bulb made of foam — from an environmental services company.

It does nothing but sit there with a logo, website, and phone number in tiny red print. Do you think it will emit a faint, muted glow if I screw it into a socket? It’s not an eraser, and I can’t give it to my dogs because they’ll rip it to shreds and eat it, causing further injury to the environment within hours. This thing is of absolutely no use. It would have been more environmentally conscious to give nothing at all.

I confess, however, that I may be speaking too soon. After all, their tagline is “turning waste into a resource.” Perhaps they’ve got a plan to turn this bad idea into a good one, but as far as I can tell, it’s just more landfill.

What do you think? Got any swag gripes? Love to read about ‘em.

Have a good one.

After speaking to several audiences and new prospective clients over the past month regarding social media strategies, tactics, and tools, I’ve heard the time-constraint complaint time and time again — always in different forms, but always with equal passion: Who has time for this?!; There aren’t enough hours in the day!; Facebook is a full-time job!

Well, what the heck are you doing here then? You know darn well you don’t have time to read this blog post either.

Take a step back, to a time before you started your business. Before you became a mom or dad. Before you became a lot of the things you are today. You didn’t much time back then either — but you did what you had to do. Why? Because those things are important, and if you’re a business owner, a lot of those things are part of sustaining and growing a business.

We both know you won’t find the time to rethink the way you connect with consumers where they are every day — online — because things are still okay. Things are still manageable. The money’s still coming in.

But when do you think you’ll find the time? When some other business starts carving into your market share and your customer base? When some other business is invited for an RFP you should have had in the bag?

They say it’s better late then never, but it’s up to you to decide: is that entirely too late?

Last weekend, I was fortunate enough to participate in a panel discussion at the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Conference at Amelia Island (here’s an NPR story that aired prior to the event).

Dave Fiore of Davemail, Jim Wacksman of Association Studios, and I took turns fielding questions from a great audience. John Fleming of The Fleming Agency moderated.

Here’s a free download of the 2-sided piece everyone in attendance received on developing a sound strategy. It’s a process we used at Digitas on a daily basis to keep all our communications focused, and it’s something every business should do BEFORE starting any marketing project. If you want to step a little deeper into defining or re-defining your business and mission, Mark Lefko of The Lefko Group offers free e-book download on corporate values. It’s available here.

Hope these tools can help you focus your marketing efforts. If you need any guidance, leave a comment below or contact me any way you want.

ps. Kudos to everyone at the Chamber for hosting a fantastic event and rich learning experience. (I won’t get into the bourbon portion of the weekend or I’ll need more Advil.)

Photo Credit: Tallahassee Democrat

Why? It’s a masquerade, a farce. It’s as misguided as paying a copywriter to go speak for you at a luncheon, or attend a dinner in your stead. You should be the one speaking for your company. You should be the one enjoying the succulent cordon bleu and field peas (not pictured).

Just imagine you, the CEO of the company who’s been paying their agency to post your updates, is sitting at the same table with a person who’s had a wonderful dialogue with your company. You’re introduced, and she begins to recount the many online interactions she’s had with “you.” You, however, have no clue what she’s talking about. Do you a) call the copywriter, b) spit out your cordon bleu and excuse yourself.

Every day, our on and offline lives become more intricately intertwined. Our business and personal lives merge into an overall presence. And the possibility of bumping into a someone your agency has been corresponding with is all the more plausible.

Just think about it. Then rethink about it. The potential for doing it yourself is far greater than the alternative.

What’s your take?