$1500 Raised So Far…

Well it has been amazing…in 6 weeks we have raised $1500.

We are still short of our goal of $5000. But, we are pacing 2 – 3 books per day, so I expect us to reach our goal in 100 – 150 days!!

Thanks for all of your support!!

Jeff

First 2 Week Fund Raising Report

Wow…what an amazing 2 weeks. CONNECT! has been on sale for just over 2 weeks, and the response has been amazing. The book has raised over $1000 in 14 days! There has been plenty of blog coverage of the book launch, and I want to thank everyone for their support! We are 20% of the way to our goal!

The Book is Available starting Today – EARLY!

CONNECT! Marketing in the Social Media Era is now available … early!

After nearly 6 months, the 100 authors who make up The Project 100 have succeeded in creating a not for profit, collaborative book on Marketing in the Social Media Era. It was a labor of love…many late nights editing articles and working with the 100 authors…but WE DID IT!

Along with all the amazing content, I believe that this is the first book to publish Tweets…and one of the first to create a collaborative not for profit book.

The book is $19.95 plus shipping and handling, with all profits will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. You can buy your early copy by clicking on the link to the right.

The official launch date is April 6th…but I wanted to offer those “in the know” a chance to buy their copy early.

The Target is to raise $5000 for Susan G. Komen…

Thanks!
J. Caswell

Countdown to Launch: Preview One – Alan Wolk

Days of Dinosaurs and Roses 

by Alan Wolk 

The amazing thing about social media is that it’s totally destroyed the power of ads to sell things to people. Because seriously, why would I bother listening to an ad when I can listen to the reviews and opinions of hundreds of my fellow consumers. Most of whom are interested in providing me with the real deal on whatever product or service they’re reviewing. Not in feeding me a clever pun or wacky visual. 

We’ve seen clever puns and wacky visuals for over 50 years now. It’s hard to remember which one is which. I mean every bank is friendly and caring. 

Social media changed all that. It put power into the hands of consumers, allowing us to fact-check our ads. Google is the new middleman. We see an ad for a car. Do we go to the dealership? No. We go straight to Google and see what the reviews are. If they’re favorable, then—and only then– do we go to the dealership.

 That’s a change of epic proportion. 

It’s the sort of change that might, if we’re lucky, convince corporations that if they want to sell more boxes or bring in more customers, they need to produce a superior product. A product that people actually like and say good things about in their online reviews. A product that doesn’t provoke angry remarks on Twitter or Facebook. And actually feels like a wise decision. 

This, to me, is the real power of social media. And why marketing at the birth of social media is both a joy and a challenge. 

Those of us selling well-designed products with strong fan bases have an easy time of it. Our fans want to join our Facebook pages. They proudly write glowing reviews on their blogs and display our logos all over MySpace. Life here is good. 

But woe to those selling shoddy, unsexy, unloved products. No one wants to be their Facebook fan or even their friend. Twitterers unceremoniously block them. And reviews are universally unkind. Brand managers point accusatory fingers, certain that if only the agency was the least bit competent they’d find a way to turn all those naysayers into fanboys. And delude themselves into thinking that a brand new slogan is all that’s needed. As if. 

Extinction is not a pretty process. The king is dead. Long live the king. 

 

BIO: Alan Wolk, author of the renowned Toad Stool blog (http://www.toadstoolblog.com) is a New York-based creative strategy consultant who lectures frequently about social media (both to large audiences and to anyone who’ll listen.) He is best known for the series “Your Brand Is Not My Friend.”

  

Connect! The Book is Coming this April!

Win an Advance Copy of Connect!: The Book

Now is your chance to get an advance copy of Connect!: Marketing in the Social Media Era. How? Its easy. Post a comment on this post telling us what THREE things you would market this book on a $200 budget. The best idea (as judged by the editorial staff) will will a copy of the book. We are looking for completely out of the box ideas…so do not hold back. We want ideas that will drive significant sales of this NOT FOR PROFIT book…

Susan G. Komen is Excited to be the Charity of The Project 100

I have been speaking to several executives @ Susan G. Komen for the Cure regarding The Project 100. They are thrilled to be the charity that all of the book profits will be going towards. We will have links on their main webpage promoting the book after its release.

Speaking of release dates…Keep your eye on this space…the release date will be announced on February 19th…come back to see when you can buy your own copy of the book!!

Twitter Contest

Given the power of Twitter, I thought it would be cool to incorporate it into Connect! Marketing in the Social Media Era. Here are the rules:
1) If you are not following Jeff Caswell on Twitter go ahead and do it. Click Here.
2) @NoJacketReq tell me in 140 characters what the impact of social media on marketing.
3) The best entries will be included in the book! It is the easiest way to be included in the book!!
Good Luck!!

A few of the entries:
@agilminer marketing in social media means there is no marketing. There is communication, storytelling and building relationships with your customers.

@morsecode9 Provides the platform to gain greater access while connecting and engaging with influencers

@Sanitra Social media makes the world a little bit smaller & marketing’s world that larger

@derekobrien SM gives me a worldwide industry link that provides me info instantly as it happens so I can feed it back to students.

@perryhewitt breaking wave of consumer conversations leaving an indelible mark on brands-marketers can listen, learn, and ride, or be buried

@BigLeagueWIFFLE Stop building anti-social media and get on Twitter! Don’t u wanna be in the game

Send yours in today!!

The Project 100’s Cover Unveiled!

I am thrilled to share with you the cover of our book. Kevin Broome sent it to me late last night. Kevin has done a fantastic job capturing the spirit of the book. Please join me in thanking Kevin for his support of The Project 100!
Be sure to visit Kevin’s blog – it is a great site and a good read!

Shout out to Bryan Hadaway for the new Header!