A really interesting interview about what social media means for marketing with Guy Kawasaki on Podtech. He mentions a panel of teenagers who hardly ever see a TV ad, don’t use email much, but do send 1,400 texts a month. They still read magazines though, and buy products they read about in print online.

He reveals that he should work first on his book, then on his blog, then on his email - but he answers email first, then works on his blog, then works on his blook. (I recognise this - I find email addictive). He wants to write a book called “How to Change the World” (the new name of his blog). He says there’s a difference between “changing the world” and doing something BIG. It’s not just for megalomaniacs who want to build billion dollar companies - but it could be for a campaigning blogger. I think I’m going to read it - if he ever finishes his emails! By the way, he reveals that he makes $4000 a year in advertising from his blog - but it also brings people to him who want marketing advice, and he often takes 0.5% or 1% in options. He says, half jokingly, that it’s the new model for blogging. You build such credibility that people want to give you equity for advice.

Storynory - where we normally do children’s stories - has an interview which might interest a wider audience. It’s with Charlie Higson - who appears on TV as the used car salesman Swiss Toni - and who is also an accomplished thriller writer. He was chosen by the estate of James Bond creator Ian Fleming to write the Young Bond series of novels about the formative years of the secret agent. They are based in the 1930s, when Bond was a lad at Eton.

The title of his latest novel, Double or Die, was chosen by an interent poll over at the Young Bond site. There are also some excellent unofficial Bond sites that have been important in growing the popularity of the Young Bond series. In general, it’s pretty clear that the publishers of Children’s books, such as Puffin, are fairly clued up about the Internet. I think they are ahead of publishers for adult books, some of whom still regard the internet as a threat to their intellectual property. In fact, much of the marketing and public relations for children’s books takes place online these days - hence Storynory’s good relations with authors for young people.

We’ve also been working on a pilot of a new podcast, and have generally been keeping ourselves busy during the first week of the New Year..

I must admit that I’m quite swayed by the book reviews on Amazon, so I was a little shocked to see this job posted on the Freelance Work Exchange.

Write Online Book Reviews

Must have an amazon.com account and know how to write english well.

Seems like not very good money too!

Apple is targeting businesses that use the word “pod” as in iPod. I have to admit that we have parked a domain called “murderpod” which we hope to use one day (not for nefarious deeds, I hasten to add). I wonder if PodShow? or numerous other podcast spin-offs have received letters from Apple’s lawyers.

Years ago, I used to be telephoned by the likes of Biro and Hoover when I let their tradenames slip into print out of context of their business. How foolish! I always thought, and still do. When your name becomes part of the language, you have truly worked your way under the skin of the public. It’s not something to discourage. Apple should be proud that it’s put pod into currency, and Google should be proud that we are busy Googling all day