Just when the blogosphere was starting to question her future, Amanda Congdon reminds us that she’s still around (and talented) with an amusing, but sad reminder of her current reality. With a clever twist however, we zoom in on Amanda wearing a business suit, eating breakfast in front of an audience comprised of stuffed dolls at her parent’s home. Congdon picks up a familiar stack of papers and begins to read the news to her captive viewers. “In today’s news,…
Don’t Slash Your PR Budget, Game Winners Don’t Sit on the Marketing Sidelines
With an image like this, I guess it’s fair to summarize the following article in this way, “benchwarmers can not drive successful brands and businesses. And businesses who choose to sit on the sidelines can never win a game.” Venture capital is no longer a guaranteed funding source for startup companies, and from what I’m hearing in the VC community, it may no longer be desirable. New business models are forcing sales to become the lifeblood of business once again…
Stirr Mixer 1.4 Wrap-up – An event worthy of your time
Last week’s Stirr event was definitely an indication that Silicon Valley is ready to socialize and network again. Yes, I know…before you start attributing everything to the hype of Web 2.0 and offer your premonitions of dotbomb 2.0, please read between the lines of the following wrap-up. The truth is that a group of energetic and optimistic folks decided to help reconnect Silicon Valley and generate the impression that we are all ambassadors for the next chapter in technology innovation:…
Breathing New Life into Dying Web 2.0 Start-ups
On Sunday, Dead 2.0 ran an amusing, yet poignant article that should slap Web 2.0 CEOs and marketers with a dose of reality. What started as methodologies and technologies to enhance the dynamic between site, applications and their users has blown up into what many are calling Dotbomb 2.0. The evolution of Web 2.0 is out of control now that the marketers have gotten a hold of it. Today’s self appointed Web 2.0 leaders are really nothing at all close…
Zero to 60 in 2.5 Seconds
Recently, the fastest, most expensive production car on the market was unveiled in Los Angeles — the 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4. At $1.3 million, it will be available to only the elite (many of whom probably reside in Silicon Valley). Don’t be surprised if you see this bad boy on Sand Hill Rd. or Santana Row. It’s definitely not for the weak of heart. The Veyron has a top speed of 250 mph and launches from zero to 60 in…
Rocketboom Gets a Prescription for Fun – Thanks Dr. Tiki
In one of the best Mashups in vlog history, Rocketboom 2.0 met Tiki Bar TV celebrating its first “Casual Friday” with new host Joanne Colan. Colan introduced the episode acknowledging that usually RocketBoom would not run its normal Casual Friday episode, because she was “dying” to jump into the news. While reading the day’s top story about some ArchBishop (wasn’t really paying attention), Dr. Tiki from TikiBarTV, leans into view, stares into the camera, and states, “It’s Friday. And yes,…
Climbing the Corporate Marketing Ladder of Success
Suddenly you find yourself quickly rising through the corporate ranks, marcom coordinator, marcom manager, director of marketing, VP of Marketing! Ahhhhhh, the sweet life. One sec, don’t forget the rise to stardom takes more than the ability to kick ass in any one segment of marketing. As you grow, so should your horizons, experiences, talents, capabilities, and expertise. Whichever discipline launched your rise to fame, as you clime the ladder of corporate success, your comfort zone will expand until you…
Rocketboom 2.0 Blasts Off
After much anticipation (or shall we say fanfare), Rocketboom 2.0 launched today with its new “interim” host, Joanne Colan. You may know Joanne as a former VJ for MTV Europe. To most of us however, she is an attractive woman with an English accent. I was unfamiliar with her work, so I approached today’s vlog with an open mind. After the surprise announcement of the Andrew/Amanda split, bloggers and reporters feverishly tapped sources to uncover the new replacement. Rachel Sklar…
RocketDoom…RocketBust – Cue The Elton John Track
Today’s edition of Rocketboom will be filed under the, “no really, we can keep a show going without the star who put us on the map.” Andrew Baron, what possibly could have pushed you to place yourself in such a PR nighmare? The news is everywhere! Techcrunch reported that Congdon was fired, Valleywag dedicated a dozen entries to the subject. Donna Bogatin from Digital Micro-Markets Blog summarized it this way, “From Rocketboom to UnBoomed: Web 2.0 partnership fizzles out.” Office…
Revisiting Guy Kawasaki’s "How to Suck Up to a Blogger"
In February, Guy Kawasaki wrote an extensive article that was in essence, a strategy guide to strengthen the bridge and enhance the likeliness for PR and communications professionals to reach influential bloggers. Yes, I know, February…that was a lifetime ago in Silicon Valley. But, I think this article will only gain greater relevance as time goes on and is more important today than it was just several months ago. Let’s, for the sake of editorial continuity, agree that blogs are…
