:: The Marketing Fresh Peel

The Real Age of Conversation Bum Rush: March 29th

Posted by Chris Wilson March 4th, 2008

And you thought it was never going to happen!

It’s what we’ve all been preparing for and waiting on….and preparing for…. and waiting on and then the announcement of AOC2 was made. But as I promised, the Bum Rush must go on!

The book has finally made it into Amazon’s system and everything is in order for today’s announcement of the Age of Conversation Social Media Bum Rush, which will happen on March 29th.

So what exactly am I proposing?

I’m calling for a “bum rush” all of the social media you can get your hands on, ultimately directing people to Amazon to buy the book. Despite all of the past delays, I think now is the perfect time to launch this endeavor. With the buzz about Age of Conversation 1 slowly dying down, and plans for Age of Conversation 2 in the works, this is the perfect opportunity to breathe new life into the old Age of Conversation project. If we do it right we might even be able to transfer some of the momentum of the AOC 1 into AOC2.

Plan of Action (for March 29th)

With the infinite amount of social sites and connections on the web, this is a huge undertaking. That is why I came up with this plan of action list with the highest priority items at the top. The idea is to generate as many touch points around the web as possible so that it will be hard not to spot the Age of Conversation activity.

Buy the Book & send others to buy the book. This is the number 1 call to action, because this is where we want to see the most impact. NOTE: Please buy 1 copy at a time because Amazon counts bulk orders once, and please use this affiliate link, which will help us in tracking sales. Remember, all the proceeds from the book sales and referrals will go to charity. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1847992994?ie=UTF8&tag= drewmclellan-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325& creativeASIN=1847992994
Blog About It - Make sure you have a prominent link to the Amazon listing so that readers can easily purchase the book. (Remember to use the affiliate link above. All of these earnings will go to charity as well.)
Twitter Commentary - Join Drew and I as we give a Bum Rush play-by-play on Twitter. (Follow us: @Freshpeel, @DrewMcLellan, @Servantofchaos) We also ask that everyone saying anything about the Bum Rush to use the code #AOC so that it can be picked up by Twemes.com
Trackback or Comment on the post that I will leave here on March 29th at 12am CST, so that everyone can follow the conversation and help promote exposure on social sites (Digg, StumbleUpon, Del.icio.us, etc.)
Digg the posts listed here & send emails and shouts to friends requesting Diggs.
Stumble the posts listed & tell friends to do the same.
Bookmark your posts on Del.icio.us
Add your post to other social media outlets ( Technorati, Ma.gnolia, Furl, BlinkList, Newsvine, Facebook, etc.)
Send an Old Fashioned email to your friends about the Bum Rush for AoC.
Keep talking - Get on ooVoo, iChat, Aim, or where ever you like to talk, and start talking.

We need all hands on deck for this one. I’ve used this quote before but I think it fits nicely. Ryunosuke Satoro once said,

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

The same is true with all of the actions on this list. By ourselves they will do very little, but together we can make waves.

Age of Conversation Bum Rush Badge

For anyone who wants to add some Bum Rush flair to their blog or website, have I got something for you. I’ve designed a badge and provided the HTML code that can be easily copied and pasted. Right now the badge links to this post, but feel free to change it to a post that you’ve written about the Bum Rush event.

If you need any help with the code or have any problems just let me know and I will do my help you get the Bum Rush “bling bling” added to your site.

Just copy and paste the code below:

<a href="http://freshpeel.com/2008/03/AOC_BumRush_March/"><img src="http://www.freshpeel.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/AOC_banner.jpg" alt="Join the Age of Conversation Bum Rush on March 29th" /></a>

What You Can Do Right Now

Spread the word - Surely you are connected to people outside of your marketing cronies. Start talking…hence the word “conversation” in the title of the book.
Add the Join the Rush Badge to your Blog or Web page. (Just copy and paste the HTML code above.)
Blog about It - Make sure everyone gets the word that the Bum Rush will be rescheduled.
Create a podcast or video and upload to Youtube or other streaming video site (Maybe David Brazeal or Anna Farmery can do a special edition?).
Add your Reviews and tags on Amazon - Right now the Amazon page looks a little naked. Help fill it up!
Join the Facebook Group - This is a great way to connect with all of the AOC writers and fans. You can join the group here.
Become an AOC Fan on Facebook - Show your love for AOC. Yet another awesome way to connect with AOC writers and fans. Join AOC fan page here.
Add AOC to Wikipedia - Any experts on Wikipedia guidlines? Made to Stick is a good example of what can be included.

——-

Got anything to add? Let us know in the comments.

CATEGORIES: Social Networks, Events, Books, Marketing

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March Refresh OKC

Posted by Chris Wilson February 27th, 2008

Refresh Oklahoma City, The Brand Box

For everyone in the Oklahoma City area, I will be speaking at the March 18th edition of Refresh.

I will be presenting The Brand Box, which started as a simple post and has been developed into an full presentation on branding.

There is no charge and all are invited to attend. For more details go to Refreshokc.org.

CATEGORIES: Events

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1 Year Later and Still Fresh

Posted by Chris Wilson February 22nd, 2008

1 Year and Still Fresh

Break out the party hats, simple sugar foods and of course some fresh juicy oranges. It’s time to celebrate! Not only is it Friday, but today also officially marks the 1 year anniversary of when I first started peeling fresh marketing posts for all to read.

I can’t believe that I’ve been blogging a whole year. That is, minus a little hiatus, while I was hacking my way through customizing my own WordPress theme, but lets just chalk that up as part of the whole blogging experience.

A lot of great things have happened in a years time.

got to meet a rock star author
interviewed the lead singer of The Format, my favorite band (which sadly is no more)
had a little semi-productive rant
found that sometimes short and simple is all you need
organized an online revolution that has yet to happen (The rush must go on! Someday, I promise! )
jumped on the bandwagon for book 2
hosted the first Fresh Peel contest (with some sweet prizes)
read a book from the Netherlands and loved it
given lessons in how to talk like a human
and I’ve come into contact with some of the most awesome people from all over the world

So peel a fresh orange and lets drink the juices to another great year of peeling back the old ideas and traditions of marketing.

And I just want to say thanks to the Fresh Peel readers. Your comments, emails, phone callls, and even your subscriptions have played a big part in the Fresh Peel’s evolution.

Now I leave you with the Top 5 Favorites from year 1 (most views):

CATEGORIES: Events

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RELATED POSTS: UNM2PNM Continues: Review of Join the Conversation

Post2Post Tour: Feb 11th-15th

Posted by Chris Wilson February 8th, 2008

Map Post2Post February

The Post2Post Virtual Book Tour starts on Monday.

I will dig into the topics of creativity, idea generation, innovation and much more with Ramon Vullings, co-author of Creativity Today.

In one of my question and answer with Ramon, I plan on zeroing in on these subjects and how they can be applied to branding & marketing. This is something you won’t want to miss.

Below is the schedule for the week:

Site	Date
Think For A Change Paul R Williams	Mon, Feb 11
ConnexionPastor Charles Whitmore	Tue, Feb 12
Principled Innovation Blog Jeff De Cagna	Wed, Feb 13
The Marketing Fresh Peel Chris Wilson	Thur, Feb 14
Grassroots Innovation Greg Eisenbach	Fri, Feb 15

CATEGORIES: Creativity, Events, Books

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Age of Conversation Round 2

Posted by Chris Wilson January 23rd, 2008

Age of Conversation Round 2

Round 1 of Age of Conversation was a knock out!

The book came together in what the publishing industry would consider breakneck speeds. The fact that it was a collaborative effort, with over 100 contributing authors that were literally from all over the globe, makes the books’ publication even more mystifying.

The authors came together with a common purpose. They wanted to bring their conversations to the rest of the world, and to give back while they did it.

Here are The Age of Conversation stats, to date:

Over $10,000 raised for Variety, The Children’s Charity
Press from AdAge and other prominent publications (including Fast Company, PSFK, and BusinessWeek)
103 different contributing authors
Contributing authors came from 10 different countries

Now it’s time for AOC Round 2

Drew’s call for authors kicks off preparations for the next Age of Conversation, and in the spirit of democracy and collaboration, this time around topic was put to a vote. The choices are:

Marketing Manifesto
Why Don’t People Get It?
My Marketing Tragedy (and what I learned)

If you would like to jump in and become an author of this legacy in the making, email Drew while there’s still room in the ring. I’ve already put my name in the bucket.

—–

Some of you may be thinking (or at least I hope you are thinking), “what about the Bum Rush?” I only have one thing to say to that. The Age of Conversation Bum Rush will happen, so start planning now and stay tuned.

CATEGORIES: Buzz, Events, Books, Marketing

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The Bus Stops Here: Post2Post Virtual Book Tour

Posted by Chris Wilson January 10th, 2008

Post2Post Book Tour Bus

Get ready for traffic jams, paparazzi flashes, brute security, screaming fans, and excessive news coverage that will rival the presidential race.

The Post2Post Virtual Book Tour, along with Ramon Vullings, co-author of Creativity Today, will be making a stop here on Thursday, February 14th.

Ramon is an advocate of innovative thinking and has a spark for initiating change. He is a part of the New Shoes Today organization, which specializes in helping businesses drive creativity, innovation and change.

Currently the book is only available from Amazon UK and 800CEORead.

More details to come.

———–

You can find out more information on the Post2Post Tour at Idea Sandbox.

Be sure to check the schedule of what’s happening next week on the tour. Seth Godin will be making the rounds to an awesome blog lineup talking about his newest book, Meatball Sundae.

CATEGORIES: Creativity, Innovation, Events, Books, News

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Let’s Try This Again: AOC Bum Rush Rescheduled

Posted by Chris Wilson January 2nd, 2008

PressRelease, I'm starting to feel like a politician that makes a lot of promises and can't seem to keep any of them.

I’m starting to feel like a politician, making a load of promises that I can’t seem to keep (very fitting for ‘08).

The Age of Conversation Bum Rush, which was scheduled for Saturday the Jan. 5th, has been delayed yet again and due to the holiday pileup at Amazon, we don’t have an ETA on exactly when the book will be arriving on the site.

Instead of making more promises that I can’t keep (and looking like a fool doing it), I’m not going to set a new date for the bum rush until we know exactly when the book will hit Amazon shelfs. So please stay tuned!

The rush must go on!

(For any one not familiar with the bum rush event, you can get the rundown and a badge for your site at Age of Conversation Bum Rush: Update & Starter Kit)

CATEGORIES: Events, Books, Marketing

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Age of Conversation Bum Rush: Update & Starter Kit

Posted by Chris Wilson December 18th, 2007

Age of Conversation Bum Rush Update: New Date of January 5

Update: The Age of Conversation has been rescheduled for March 29th. More details here.

It’s been almost a full month since I first proposed the idea of a “Bum Rush all of the social media you can get your hands on.” Since then, we’ve learned that the book will be moving to Amazon and the initial date of the bum rush had to be rescheduled.

With all of that going on I thought it would be a good idea to recap our plans.

So, I’ve (1) updated the plan of action list, (2) created some Bum Rush “bling bling,” and (3) provided a couple of new ideas for things you can start doing right now.

Plan of Action List (for Jan. 5th)

If you have a blog write a post about AoC and/or the Bum Rush. Make sure you have a prominent link to the Amazon listing so that readers can easily purchase the book. (We will have an affiliates link to the book, which I will post before the Bum Rush. All of the earnings will go to charity as well.)
Throw in some Twitter posts about AoC and/or the Bum Rush.
Trackback or Comment on the post that I will leave here on Jan 5th at 8:00pm CST, so that everyone can follow the conversation and help promote exposure on social sites (Digg, StumbleUpon, Del.icio.us, etc.)
Digg the posts listed & send emails and shouts to friends requesting Diggs.
Stumble the posts listed & tell friends to do the same.
Bookmark your post on Del.icio.us
Add your post to other social media outlets ( Technorati, Ma.gnolia, Furl, BlinkList, Newsvine, Facebook, etc.)
Send an Old Fashioned email to your friends about the Bum Rush for AoC.
Create a podcast or video and upload to Youtube or other streaming video site (Maybe David Brazeal can do a special edition). Again be sure to share the link so everyone can give the video views and mark it with a high rating

Ryunosuke Satoro once said,

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

The same is true with all of the actions on this list. By ourselves they will do very little, but together we can make waves.

Age of Conversation Bum Rush Badge

Age of Conversation Bum Rush Update: New Date of January 5 For anyone who wants to add some Bum Rush flair to their blog or website, have I got something for you. I’ve designed a badge and provided the HTML code that can be easily copied and pasted. Right now the badge links to this post, but feel free to change it to a post that you’ve written about the Bum Rush event.

If you need any help with the code or have any problems just let me know and I will do my help you get the Bum Rush “bling bling” added to your site.

Just copy and past the code below:

<a href="http://freshpeel.com/2008/01/lets-try-this-again-aoc-bum-rush-rescheduled/"><img src="http://www.freshpeel.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/AOC_banner.jpg" alt="Join the Age of Conversation Bum Rush on January 5th" /></a>

What You Can Do Right Now

Spread the word - Surely you are connected to people outside of your marketing cronies. Start talking…hence the word “conversation” in the title.
Add the Join the Rush Badge to your Blog or Web page. (Just copy and paste the HTML code above.)
Blog about It - Make sure everyone gets the word that the Bum Rush will be rescheduled.
Play - Hopefully you will have some time off over the holidays. Take some time to play with social media sites. Make connections.
Join the Facebook Group - This is a great way to connect with all of the AOC writers and fans. You can join the group here.
Become an AOC Fan on Facebook - Show your love for AOC. Yet another awesome way to connect with AOC writers and fans. Join AOC fan page here.
Add AOC to Wikipedia - Any experts on Wikipedia guidlines? Made to Stick is a good example of what can be included.

——-

I would love to hear any ideas or additions you can make to this list.

CATEGORIES: Buzz, Events, Books, Marketing

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