Well, I’m nine days into National Novel Writing Month and I have to say, it’s totally fun! It’s not like writing a business book or a blog, both of which I love. But it’s totally different because you get sucked into the story and the characters become friends, if not members of the family. Did anyone see the movie “Ruby Sparks?” It’s like that. You can ... Read More

Today’s guest post is by Jessica Valenzuela. It’s fairly indisputable that thought leadership is good for one’s brand. In today’s digital world that thought leadership can come in many forms: Regular, thoughtful tweets, LinkedIn group involvement and engagement, and Facebook posts and sharing of news; bylines on popular sites, corporate blog posts that go beyond naval-gazing, executive Q&As, and much more. For organizations with varying levels of resources ... Read More

Today’s guest post is by Yvette Pistorio.  I’ve been a social media community manager for just about two years and I love it. It’s fun, I get to meet so many new people, and I get paid for it! I landed in the world of social media via a little luck, a pinch of patience, a solid writing background, and by doing tasks outside of my official ... Read More

Today’s guest post is by Amy McCloskey Tobin. When I first delved into the world of social media I was overwhelmed with the possibilities. For the first time in history, a small business could communicate directly with its target audience. I was thunderstruck by the realization that small marketing budgets, the bane of growth for most small businesses, were practically irrelevant. A smart plan and time to ... Read More

The awesome thing about the web and social media, in particular, is it levels the playing field. No longer do you need millions of dollars to spend on PR firms and ad agencies in order to build your brand and reputation among the masses. Today all you need is a good writer, a self-hosted website and/or blog, and organically grown social networks. With those three things, ... Read More

Before I give you Gin and Topics, I want to talk to you about my friend Jennifer Stauss Windrum. At least a year ago (if not longer), she began her quest to build a non-profit to support lung cancer research. You see, her mom – who has never smoked a day in her life – has lung cancer and to say it’s been an eye-opening experience ... Read More

Today’s guest post is by Martin Waxman. November 1: Halloween plus one. Pumpkins are smashed or become a raccoon feast. Morbid decorations are laid to rest. And our ghoulish tendencies are put under wraps for another year. But for kids, Halloween is far from over. Now comes the time they’ve been waiting for: A much anticipated sugary feast. When kids dump their candy collection on the floor, ... Read More