And now it begins

I am fascinated by the Christmas advertising this year and all the references to the social media networks. Seems as though corporate America caught the bug and now won't let go until we are all friends with every major retailer on the planet.

Speaking last week with a friend of mine who is in the Internet marketing business, he said he advises everyone to stay away from Facebook, Twitter, etc. I asked him, then, what should replace the instant communication that social networking provides? "Good question," he said as he returned to his job as a network administrator. It's a good thing he's not on the marketing side.

However, this guy is smart - really, really smart - when it comes to computers. And with the Facebook hacking that's been going on of late, I have to wonder if maybe he's right. It's up to us, however, to provide the platform. Anybody got any ideas?

Would it be any different today?

Seventy-three years ago today Life magazine hit the stands for the first time. I have to wonder how a pictorial magazine featuring news and lifestyle issues would fare in today's marketplace. Of course, the Life magazine that I grew up with is long gone. But could something as iconic as Life launch in today's online world? Would the world of New Media embrace such an endeavor? I only have questions. Does anyone have an answer?

Let's Rock

What do you think of the benefit of news aggregation - the bringing together of several news sources at one spot? How will aggregation change once the MSM figures out how to charge for its content? And that is coming.

Thanks for coming

I've invited a lot of my friends to follow me on Twitter and follow this blog. Numbers mean everything in the world of online, and I need numbers.

Let's talk numbers. If you know of innovative ways to drive traffic to Web sites, share with me and I'll share with you. I've been studying a wonderful thing called "negative keywords" today. A little mind-rattling after spending the past few years sleeping with keywords - positive keywords versus negative keywords.

Bring it on my friends. There is a debate to be had here.

Teaching an old dog new tricks

I've been in the media business all of my life, working as a newspaper reporter, editor, designer, trash-can-emptier, online editor and more. You name it and I've done it.

As a member of the Fourth Estate felled during these times of dying newspapers, I am researching where we are going next. How will we as journalists find places to work in this strange new world? What skill sets do we need? What strange new words and phrases will enter our lexicon?

I'll let you know what I discover, and I encourage you to share with me your thoughts of how the thousands of experienced and honorable journalists out there right now can convert unemployment checks into paychecks.