You know Johnnie, I own just about every marketing, branding, innovation, and creativity book ever published, but I can't get myself to purchase a Seth book (I even own "Free Gift Inside" by Stephen Brown). And until now, I didn't understand why. I think it's because I am virus averse. It simply FEELS like Seth is proving his point about viral marketing with his clever titles and email promotions (i.e. include prolific bloggers and email marketers in his Bull Market report). What do you think?

Tom: Thanks for dropping by. I'm still working through Free Prize Inside and I'm gonna blog some more considered thoughts on it later.

Yes, I think Seth's promotion is a manifestation of what he talks about. I suppose that can seem self-indulgent - then again, I like the sense of What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get. And what if he didn't practice what he preached... that would be seen as inconsistent.

What I really like is that the guy knows how to write and how to present his ideas in a down-to-earth, simple way.

I'm biassed of course, as he's been kind (discerning?) enough to include me in the Bull report.

Anyway, more to follow!

I'm blushing. I really am.

Yes, the work is supposed to be a "money where your mouth is" sort of thing. If I don't think it'll work for me, why write about it?

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED A HEAD SHAVING LATELY?

“The second thing we did was to turn me into a brand. So, I shaved my head and gave thousands of speeches, just to get the word out...Shaving my head was worth millions of dollars in advertising because people recognized me, and for some reason that made them believe what I said.”

-Seth Godin

Well, this is interesting. I was at a small trade show yesterday-- here in my local upstate NY area, and NO ONE had ever even heard of Seth Godin. Oh well. Here I was touting my mention in his ebook (for Windsor Media Enteprises, my POD publishing company) and people were giving me blank stares. Some really smart people. People who study the Internet and business and...well, not marketing, but still...I spent a lot of time explaining Seth and "the purple cow" and the "Bull Market" to justify the importance of being in his ebook, which was okay, because then people wanted to talk about my book, Dickless Marketing: Smart Marketing to Women Online. Apparently, Seth hasn't made it into the far reaches of consulting in Rochester, NY. To Kristin: I draw the line at shaving my head! I might dye my hair purple, though.

Yvonne, Being weird (dyeing you hair purple) isn't necessarily a purple cow!

j/k.

Peter, how astute of you. But, I like purple. I was a Cher look alike for a long time, now I have red hair, so...purple seems like a natural progression.

This is what blogging is SUPPOSED to be about. Intellectual stimulation, self-effacing humor, childlike honesty, fun, ideas, passion, etc.

Thanks Kirsten, Johnnie, Yvonne, Peter and Seth! You've renewed my faith in the medium. ;)

In my (concentric?) circle, most have heard of Seth. If not, I mention "Permission Marketing" and the heads begin to nod.

What's interesting, though, is that when the conversation turns to what Permission Marketing (or Purple Cows or Free Prizes) is all about, not many (or at least not enough) where I work practice what is preached.

Consider me Sethanized.