So I’ve been experimenting with Twitter over the past couple of weeks with a few simple objectives. First, (1) I wanted to expand my network to topical and classifiable tweeps within certain demographics and try to keep up with a broader network. Next, (2) I wanted to test the level of engagement I could muster from said followers. Here’s how it has worked out.

Objective 1:

I googled around for Twitter directories and found a host of them. I was looking primarily at engaging marketing and advertising people (admittedly early adopters) as well as local and regional tweeps. Any overlap would be a definitive bonus. I found sites like Twibs (http://twibs.com/) where I could follow businesses as well as sites like Twellow (http://www.twellow.com/ ) and TwitDir (http://twitdir.com/ currently offline) to both post my existence and find others to follow. I really figured that my ratio of following versus followers would be a bit skewed due to lack of engagement on the part of those I was following to refollow but was pleasantly surprised. Utilizing these tools and those suggested by my tweeps I grew my network to currently 90 followers following only 151. It seems that everyone truly wants this medium to succeed. I registered with Twitter Counter (http://twittercounter.com/) to keep track of my growth and here’s what it looks like today with very little effort put forth. You can view my network here. (http://www.twitter.com/jaythornton000).

What better reason to run 3+ miles than for breasts? Help me out everyone. I’ve signed up for the Race for the Cure here in Northwest Arkansas and I’m trying to exceed my goal. Anyone that knows me knows that I’m not the running type. I’ve promised (and am training daily) to run every step of this race if I meet or preferably exceed my $150 goal.

This is not a lot of money and I’m already 47% there. Chip in and watch me break myself for a good cause. I mean really, is there a better way to spend $20 in the world today? Not to mention it’s tax deductable. Who needs a write-off?

Here’s the link:

http://race.komenozark.org/site/TR?pg=personal&fr_id=1070&px=1288845

Just a little taste for everyone on the Memphis Trip. Pictures will be available on my Picasa page in the next few and blog will follow.

So every headline, picture caption, and talking head surround the Madoff plea mentions the size of the cell. While yes, Arthur Ponzerelly should burn for this, and a lot, isn’t there anything more viable we could talk about? Like restitution perhaps? Why does this family still have any assets what-so-ever? I hear the wife is claiming some $65mil that she says has nothing to do with Bernie’s business. Yeah, she made it selling Tupperware I’m sure.
Take these people for a fraction of what they’ve taken everyday people for and let them get a job. How much is a penthouse in Manhattan worth? I’m guessing several peoples’ life savings. They’re probably wearing my annual salary on any given day. eBay that mess and give it back. Basically, I’m saying that jail doesn’t solve it.

Today looks like its going to be entirely devoted to copywriting so lets loosen up a bit. On a typical day I’ve got upwards of 15 open projects that speak to at least three different types of reader. These groups vary wildly to say the least. They have different interests, situations, and needs. I find that its fairly hard to change gears when moving from an employee directed message to a customer ad so I try to segment the day into three parts.

Morning:
Customer directed copy. I find this one the easiest to start, primarily because I write more of these.
Early Afternoon:
Employee directed copy. This one, oddly enough, gives me fits. We’ve got two distinct subdivisions of employee type and they generally don’t want to hear the same thing. A light touch is mandatory here and the message is a strategy effort more than anything to balance getting the message across without turning one subdivision against the other.
Late Afternoon:
Business partner directed copy. These go out about once a month and are typically fairly safe to work on with a brain clouded by the day’s writings. Generally speaking, we’re letting these organizations know about our latest updates, additions, and thanking them for being a part of our operation. Warm and fuzzy typically works.

And there you have it… my copywriting schedule. Back to it. Have yourself a day and Friday will be here before you know it.

In an effort to streamline my network of networks I’ve recently signed up with Ping.fm (http://www.ping.fm). This is a handy little tool to link all your networks through a single interface. My personal mix is one of Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, Blogger, Google Chat, and LinkedIn. I added them on Ping’s site and control them through an iGoogle. Initially I thought it was pretty convenient but today I’ve learned a lesson in mixed audience reception to a single message.

Innocuous as it may sound, I posted a relatively ridiculous good night message of “wishing you all the peaceful sleep that comes with being associate with my kind of magic. Lol” to the Statuses segment of my Ping network. This went to Facebook, cool, MySpace, fine, Twitter, ok, and LinkedIn… um… didn’t really think about that one. While I have no problem wishing my LinkedIn network a pleasant evening, this isn’t the tone I generally take with the professional network. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still the same person here, there, and even in real life, if you could imagine that. I tend, as everyone does, to structure my tone and demeanor to the crowd I’m in.

Today I’ve been inundated with messages and emails from the LinkedIn crowd taking obligatory jabs at my little demographic faux pas. One in particular “Sleep … I gave that up twenty years ago. Oh, by the way … that’s not magic that’s BULL SHIT!”

So here I am today, digging through the mess that my LinkedIn Inbox has become. Thanks to all who took their jabs and please, for those who have yet to comment, get them in soon before all the good witty comments are taken.

So as of this morning I’ve got 2 trade shows, 3 weeks of training, and some video advertising to evoke (for lack of a better term) to name a few… oh, and these aren’t on my list. It’s going to be a wild few weeks. I’ve got a question for the masses. How many ads can you remember from your last trip to the airport? Further, let’s expand. What do you do for a living and did they reach you at a decision making position? I’m genuinely curious.

Well, at least we’re stirring up the marketing mix a little. I think with the variety we’re trying, the brand will benefit. Does this mean Q1 numbers will be better and most accurately attributed to a single ad? Doubt it. But billions of dollars in annual ad spending across the country can’t be fruitless can it? This is one of those moments of excited exhaustion. I’m looking forward to the new challenges but would love an assistant that knew their way around an adobe product or two.

Today is Monday, March 2nd, 2009 and while I’m happy that we’re one step closer to warm weather, I’m a little less than thrilled about month-end. This is that time of the month where creative process dies to make way for excel spreadsheets, SQL queries, and ROI reports.

This month is looking fairly decent. We’ve landed some big business through online ads that should pretty much pay for the year. Now it’s just a matter of proving revenue throughout the campaign list. Fun-fun.

The joy of all of this is that my reports are at the mercy of those reporting. This means that one group, who has yet to report any leads, is going to have to help me answer for several thousands of dollars we’ve spent on them. Again, fun-fun.

So, I think I’ve procrastinated enough. I’m off. Wish me luck.

I mean, wow… if poop got any funnier, it would have it’s own reality show with Mini-Me and Flava-Flav.