What is your writer publishing under your name?

Full disclosure: I’m a ghostwriter. I write books, articles, blogs and more that are published under my clients’ names. Using a ghostwriter is a smart move for busy executives, professionals and subject matter experts who need to publish material but don’t have the time and/or writing skills to do it themselves. One caveat: If you decide to hire a ghostwriter, be sure you know and approve what...

Paul Azinger and a High School Teacher: Why Your Company Needs a Social Media Policy

Recently a Florida high school teacher was suspended for controversial comments he made about same-sex marriage on his personal Facebook page. Pro golfer and ESPN analyst Paul Azinger caught some flak from ESPN for comments he made on Twitter about President Obama’s performance.   The high school teacher was reinstated and ESPN is handling the Azinger issue “internally” according to its social networking...

Debt Collectors, Facebook, Social Media, and Your Company

A judge in a Florida case has ruled that debt collectors may not use social networking sites to contact debtors, their family or their friends. I found this case interesting in part because I used to write a column for Commercial Law Bulletin (published by the Commercial Law League, an organization of collection, creditors’ rights and bankruptcy professionals). It’s also intriguing to watch how social media is...

Email Marketing is Alive and Well!

All the buzz about social media has made some business owners question the value of email marketing. The fact is that email remains a powerful marketing tool—but like any marketing tool, it must be done well to produce results. Email is the workhorse that can drive other campaigns, says Eric Kirby, CEO at Connection Engine. Mark Brownlow has some great stats on why you should be doing email marketing, but the...

Facebook Marketing Strategy

Should your business have a Facebook page? That's a question you have to decide based on the type of business and your particular market. Most companies can benefit from a Facebook page, but you need to set it up right. A Facebook basic: Your profile is you as an individual; your page is your company. Your profile is where you connect with your friends; your page is where you build a fan base (where you get...