My Mentors When I was in High School were Rocket Scientists

Where could a student in elementary, middle, or high school get a mentor that is a rocket scientist, a CEO, or highly paid professional?

In Junior Achievement, that’s where.

During my high school years in Orlando, JA had a program led by volunteers that helped students form companies, create business plans, manufacture a product, and sell it. They were small businesses in action.

My mentor/volunteers just happened to work at Cape Canaveral and Martin Marietta. A couple were business guys but others were actual rocket scientists.

We formed a couple of companies made up of 10-12 students each in my years with JA, manufactured some products, and sold them. Both companies were successful – we generated a profit. Each company competed against the other companies in the same program to try and make the most profit.

JA is still doing that program and many more. What I learned from JA got me started to think like an entrepreneur; made me a better employee during my careers at IBM, Motorola, and others; and I’m still using the fundamental principles taught by this remarkable organization in my consulting business, Brown Ltd.

Today I had a chance to take the Palm Beaches-Treasure Coast Junior Achievement staff through my Digital Marketing and PR 2.1 presentation.

Support this super organization and watch them grow as they continue to engage the market! Follow them on:

Website:
http://www.juniorachievement.com

Facebook:
http://goo.gl/lJ1UU

Twitter: @JAofPBTC

LinkedIn:
http://goo.gl/60JK9

Brownie Bytes

Folks are liking my Brownie Bytes on social media so it’s time to start keeping them on my website. Check in often. I’ll update regularly.

Here’s the latest:

Brownie Byte: “How to create advertising that sells” – David Ogilvy. Written a long time ago but still true today. Instead of “ads”, substitute “content.”

The core of the strategy still works. It’s just not pure advertising when you change the focus from ads to content and Internet channels.

Join Brand Journalism on LinkedIn

@BrandJournalism: Almost every big company is starting a Content Marketing/Brand Journalism Program.

Join our LinkedIn Group to learn more and keep up-to-date: http://t.co/CFiIvOOqKj

Professional Writing: Art or Business?

I was asked recently what it’s like to write for money. The motivation of the person that asked was, “Shouldn’t you write for the sake of art?”

I’ve been a professional writer for over 20 years. My titles have changed but my job always involves writing, content producing, and editing for PR, marketing, advertising, books, news, web, TV, etc.  Sometimes I only provide the creative direction or strategy.  Many times I write the material or scripts myself.  One of my current titles is Communications Director but I always think like a writer and publisher/broadcaster on every project.

Just about anyone that can write a letter to home thinks they can write for literary acclaim, social commentary, and yes… money.  Some can.  Most can’t.  It’s a business, not art.

Writing for “art” is done by a very small segment of the literary world and there is nothing wrong with that.  And there is nothing wrong with writing for money either.

I’m fortunate because I get to do my hobby as my job – for profit. And here’s what James Patterson, the most profitable writer in the world has to say about it. He talks about literature vs. entertainment and is right on the money (pun intended). Interestingly, he’s one of our directors in the non-profit that I’m involved in:

Author James Patterson, Inc. Churning Out Bestsellers

The 65-year-old crime and thriller author has written 106 books, sold more than 260 million copies and boasts 76 bestsellers, a Guinness World Record.  See this NBC News segment of his newly remodeled oceanfront Palm Beach home where he works:

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/rock-center/50265676

See More (NBC News)

Tell a True Story Well. Hire a Brand Journalist.

The stories of your organization, products, services, and customers are at the heart of content marketing.

Your stories are not advertising and not traditional public relations. It’s the truth about you, who you are, and what you promise.

The best brand journalism is fair and honest.  It’s best told by experienced journalists.

We look for good stories about you. Real-life stories that bring your offerings to life.

Brand journalists rely on facts and know how to simplify to make a compelling story that attracts an audience and engages them in a way they care about.

Stories are memorable, not lists of features or marketing speak. These stories go beyond copywriting, advertising creative, press releases or collateral. They are simply interesting to your customers.

Here are some example:

Everyday Heroes & Leaders

Icom Magic for Amangiri

Connect and Conserve in the Galapagos

Citizens & Icom Become the Eyes and Ears with the Police in the Country of Colombia

BUILDER CLOSEUP: VillageWalk at Lake Nona

The Minto Times

World Wildlife Fund in the Florida Keys

Need more traffic to your website and more engagement with prospects? Present them with stories. Hire a brand journalist. Contact R. Michael Brown today 561-756-1674, MikeBrown@BrownLtd.com

Brown Ltd. Releases Executive Summary of Marketing & PR 2.1 – Download for Free

Businesses are struggling to hold onto the one-to-many, mass media model of communicating with customers and audiences.

They need to let it go.

Gone is the time when you could rely solely on your business doing a simple advertising and PR mix, based on placing ads, sending press releases, and working with reporters to get your message out [outbound marketing]. It used to be that customers would find your information in traditional media and then make purchase decisions based on your ads, your media stories, and your sales person’s recommendations.

They might have even checked out your website.  Customers want more information than that now.  They want to feel safe in their decisions.  They want recommendations from other customers.  And they want it instantly.

A dramatic shift toward one-to-one communication is happening.  The net makes it possible.  Now it’s digital first with inbound marketing.  Businesses must be in the publishing business to survive.

Click the Link Below to Download the Brown Ltd. Marketing and PR 2.1 Executive Summary to learn more (PDF: 3.5 MB)
Marketing and PR 2.1 Exec Summary