Gin and Topics: The Shiny, New Penny

I’m super excited about the launch of Spotify in the U.S.

I got my invite yesterday and I’ve already told it I’m in love with it. In fact, I may have to marry it and have it join my iPhone, iPad, Trek Madone, and Westone earphones family.

If you’re interested in streaming music, sharing it with your friends, listening to what your friends are playing, linking your iPod, and not needing an Internet connection (cough, Pandora, cough) to play, you should check it out.

This link gives me credit (I don’t know what I get) so feel free to use it! For you, I think it either provides instant access or puts you at the top of the invite list.

Exciting couple of weeks. First Google+ and now Spotify. These things happen in threes. Wonder what’s next? Do you think it was the announcement of the Facebook video feature? I hope not.

Until we figure it out, here are the top five stories for this week’s Gin and Topics.

5. Launching the Google+ Expert Training Course. A couple of days ago, my friend Del Williams tweeted me and said people are already charging to teach people how to use Google+. This is downright astounding to me. It’s been three freaking weeks and people are already claiming to be experts? Enough to charge others to teach them how to use it? That’s why  love this tongue-in-cheek article from Allen Stern about the  very topic. (h/t to Sean McGinnis for the link.)

4. Content Marketing Like Lego Does It. It’s a real talent when people can look at the world around them and find marketing lessons in them. That’s why I love this blog post from Jennifer Fong about how LEGO does their content marketing and what you can learn from them to take back to your own jobs. The ideas are fantastic.

3. Observing Obama’s First Twitter Town Hall – Live. To say I’m ultra envious of Geoff Livingston that he not only got to attend the town hall, but that he was in the front row (and got to use their swanky bathrooms) is putting it mildly. I know. I know. I said I was jealous of him last week. But then he went and wrote about the experience. No matter your politics, this is a great blog post to read because it’s from his perspective.

2. Casey Anthony: How Social Media Tweaked Defense Strategy. Well, I’ve tried to stay out of the Casey Anthony trial discussion, but this one is too good to pass up. It talks about how the defense team paid attention to what was being said about the trial on the social networks and in the blogosphere. They took what they were hearing and adjusted their trial strategy. Pretty freaking amazing!

1. Google+, Digital Sneetches, and Getting Real Value from A New Tool. I declared that I am in love with Christopher Barger after reading his Forbes blog post. Not only is he a fantastic writer (I’m watching him closely so I can mimic his style), he provides some very valuable lessons about how to use Google+ (or, really, any social network). Trust me when I say, you’ll be in love with him too, after reading this.

Hope everyone gets to see Harry Potter this weekend! I’ll be seeing it, tending to my lawn and the baby birds, and riding my bike.