<b> Bold Interactive Inc.

Alright, people, lots of links today. And here’s why: I didn’t look at my Google Reader once over the past weekend. No, not once! I was too busy watching the ALCS, the Foo Fighters on SNL (plus Andy Samberg and Kristin Wiig - they’re hilarious), old episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, playinig Mah Jong Tiles on MSN games and going to improv class. Thank goodness for Digital Cable in HD. Although, I was late b/c I watched Bridget Jones Diary. I love that movie. Ok, now back to work:

My Glorious Defeat - Screenwriter John August @ MSN

Beware of would-be psychic clients and mutant projects - Blah Blah Technology

37 Viral Post Ideas You Can Use Today - the always awesome Skellie @ Skelliwag

Got Clients? Advertising is for Boring Businesses - Liz Strauss @ Successful Blog

How To Generate Free Recurring Blog Traffic To Specific Articles - Matt Jones @ Blogging Fingers

Do You Have a Crisis Management Plan? - Jonathan Trenn @ MarketingConversation.com

Make Money from Video Ads - Matthew Sherborne @ his Marketing Strategy blog

Making Sense of Google Analytics Bounce Rates - Molly @ NLC Internet Marketing Blog

5 Reasons Your Business Blog Should Be Hosted on Wordpress - Dev Basu @ Search Engine People

Web Strategy: The Many Challenges of Writing a CEO Blog - Jeremy Owyang @ Web Strategist

Recently, screenwriter John August spoke to the students at his alma mater, Drake University. His speech was entitled “The Challenge of Writing in a Digital Age.”

In his speech, August outlined four major points:

This week, we’re going to be digging into each point and extracting the lessons for strategy and success. I want you to do your homework and be ready to have a conversation with me about this! You can read John August’s speech in its entirety here.

Why in the world would we listen to a Hollywood screenwriter about new media? Well, John August happens to have a very successful blog, and he experienced a big Digg earlier this year that gave him valuable insight into the world of social media. Suffice to say, this dude knows what he’s talking about.

Technorati Tags: john august, writing, digital age, new media

But I still can’t talk about it. Sorry.

How to create a great website Seth Godin @ his eponymous blog

Internet Marketing Myth - Free Methods YC @ Internet Marketing Minds

As I’m writing, a certain sporting event is on.

But I can’t write about it. I can’t discuss it. Because they just aired a very special announcement informing me that I’m not to talk about this event that I’m watching.

My team is losing, so I don’t want to. But what if the next game is awesome? I won’t be able to participate in any Word of Mouth Marketing.

Shame on you, Major League Baseball!

Oops!

Technorati Tags: major league baseball, baseball, sports, cleveland indians, boston red sox

1. Customer service is the new marketing, collaboration happens by inspiration. - Valeria Maltoni on Product Displacements
2. So my advice is to never pay for traffic but to pay handsomely for intent and to consider paying for browsing. - John Marshall on Never, Ever, Pay For Traffic
3. Never submit something to a client you wouldn’t put in your portfolio. - Lauren on It’s All Your Portfolio
4. In a world full of crazy marketing messages, aggressive sales tactics and a “dog-eat-dog” mentality, we all crave doing business with those people who have taken the time to get to know us. - Sarah Robinson on From My Mailbag: It’s All About Relationships
5. What attracts people to blogs is more about the person behind the writing than the actual writing itself. - Lyndon Antclilff on Your Secret Weapon is You
6. What you think they’re doing may not be what they’re really doing. - Diane Aull on Imitation: it may be sincere, but it isn’t always smart
7. Do you really think an enthusiast is going to buy your ordinary tatara in order to save a few bucks? - Seth Godin on What You’re Up Against
8. If you believe in something hard enough, you will achieve it. It will become your reality. Unfortunately, many people practise this to their own disadvantage. - YC on Chicago Cubs - Curse Of The Billy Goat - Are You Cursed Too?
9. What are you doing to provide a more positive buying experience for your customers? - Steven Bradley on Ask Not What Your Customers Can Do For You…
10. If you are already passionate about your subject matter, and you add compassion to that mix, you will be better able to reach your audience. - Donna Fontenot on Injecting Passion and Compassion Into Your Business
11. The functionality of your website navigation can make or break a site’s overall performance. - Stoney de Geyter on 20 Ways to NAVIGATE to Higher Conversions
12. Here’s the thing, if you can prove yourself a reliable resource for a journalist you will be looked upon as a friend, until then, you’re just a pest to an overworked, often underpaid, reporter. - John Jantsch on The Proper Way to Stalk a Journalist
13. Some people distill alcohol - copywriters distill words. - Andrea Morris on The Power of Being Concise
14. E-mail has a terrible reputation. That reputation is undeserved, but earned through poor execution. - Ian on 6 E-mail Marketing Sins: The American Marketing Association

Recently, a blog in my newsreader has had a hard time of blending in its paid links. They’re so painfully obvious, my soul cringes. But instead of getting on a moral high horse, I’ve decided to help you bloggers who have a hard time blurring the lines of reality.

Here are tips to help you Fake It:

1. Take acting classes
2. Read books on creative writing
3. Learn to beat the lie detector
4. Become the best Balderdash player in the neighborhood
5. Watch a bunch of old ‘Alias’ episodes
6. Read the works of Jayson Blair
7. Play a lot of poker
8. Study improv
9. Make Comedy Central your primary news source
10. Watch a Presidential debate. Either party will do.
11. Attend a Congressional hearing on the use of steroids in sports
12. Believe celebrities when they say “It’s just an honor to be nominated.”
13. Observe said celebrities facial expressions when they lose
14. Go to a bar and listen to what people say upon meeting each other for the first time. Emulate.
15. Get breast implants.
16. Donate to the OJ Simpson Legal Defense Fund
17. Read the works of James Frey
18. Create an alter ego
19. Sit in a courtroom and believe everything you hear
20. Go to New York City and buy a Prada knockoff
21. Always do the opposite of what you say you’re going to do
22. Be late to work every day. Come up with a new excuse every day. Or perfect the same excuse - traffic, same spot everyday.
23. Wear electronic art in Boston

Go get your fake on!

Technorati Tags: faking it, blogging, paid links

Aly and AJ is a pop music duo that’s a hit with girls ages 7-13. One of their most popular songs is “Rush.” And there’s a line in the song that goes like this:

Don’t let nobody tell you, your life is over

The problem with this song (besides the glaringly obvious double negative) is that the way the line is combined with the music, I only get the following part of the song stuck in my head:

Your life is over

Yes, at least once a week, I have those words playing over and over again in my head.

What part of your message is sticking in customers’ heads?

Good TV from last night: Private Practice (a heck of a lot better than Grey’s so far this season!) and Life. What did you watch?

Why Post Images Should be on the Left Michael Martin @ Pro Blog Design

How To Become a Famous Blogger Totally Hilarious Cartoon posted @ Blogging Expertise

The Conversations You Want to Have Mike Sansone @ ConverStations

I Love AdWords Editor Diana Adams @ E-Marketing Performance - well, someone should write about paid search cuz it ain’t gonna be me!

Wanna be included on a future Coffee Break? Send me your links using the contact form!

Can You Be Found Where People Are Looking? Steven Bradley @ The Van Blog

Is Your Success a Moving Target? Skellie @ Skelliewag

To Write a Review Folks Find Useful — Don’t Stick to the Facts Liz Strauss @ Successful Blog

Brands Need to Think B-to-We as i-citizens Enter the Marketing Love Triangle Kelly Mooney @ Mooney Thinks

New Uses Christopher Carfi @ The Social Customer Manifesto