I’m having a hard time believing it’s already October. Just a year ago I was wondering if we were going to make it through the recession and trying to figure out what it would take to move us back into growth mode. Guess I lost sleep for nothing…and man it went by fast!

Following are the top five stories for week ending Oct. 1, 2010. If you feel like I missed something fun or important, please hit me over the head and send me the link!

5. Dear Marketing and PR Pros: You’re Still Pushing. I love Beth Harte. Anything she says or does I think is fantastic. Everything from the amazingly gorgeous flowers she grows to brilliant blog posts she writes. She claims not to be very good at blogging. I beg to differ. When you read this post about how customers don’t want to be part of your campaign, you’ll agree.

4. Fifteen Ways to Handle “Pick Your Brand” Requests. Everyone knows my pet peeve is “can I pick your brain” requests and Lisa Barone handles the same topic with humor. Check out #9. It makes me want to have a business partner just so I can do that!

3. Need a Reservation? Depends On How Big You Are On Twitter. Finally a personal reason for my Twitter account! I can join the Klout Klub at the Palms in Vegas. In AdAge written by David Teicher, the Klout Klub “will allow high-ranking influencers to experience Palms’ impressive set of amenities in hopes that these influencers will want to communicate their positive experience to their followers.” Woo hoo!!

2. Big Player Gets Bigger. Is it a sign of the times that the big PR firms are beginning to buy smaller firms again? Does it mean the economy is rebounding? Or is the industry going to begin it’s pre-recession consolidation trend? It was announced yesterday that Edelman (headquartered here in Chicago) acquired Houston-based Vollmer.

1. In A Computer Worm, A Possible Biblical Cue. This is scary and freaking amazing, all at once! A virus, called Stuxnet, is making its way through computers around the world in search of one industrial complex. You can read up on the virus by Googling “stuxnet,” but this New York Times article describes how a biblical cue may show the virus is actually set to destroy Iranian missiles. Fascinating!

There you have it! If you have anything you think should be featured, don’t be shy about sending it. Have a great weekend!

Gini Dietrich

Gini Dietrich is the founder, CEO, and author of Spin Sucks, host of the Spin Sucks podcast, and author of Spin Sucks (the book). She is the creator of the PESO Model and has crafted a certification for it in partnership with Syracuse University. She has run and grown an agency for the past 15 years. She is co-author of Marketing in the Round, co-host of Inside PR, and co-host of The Agency Leadership podcast.

View all posts by Gini Dietrich