Killing the Vanilla (or 15 Useful Things You May Not Know About Me)

Image (c) Mellissa Thomas, 2010.

Imagine reading a blog that provides you great value, but no insight about the author. You wouldn’t feel connected at all, would you? 

Sure, you’d bookmark it and revisit once in a while for new posts, but ultimately it would be a dry experience for you because you’re not emotionally invested in any way. You probably wouldn’t even recommend it to anyone you know.

Well, we writers sometimes come across as “shielded” on our blogs for two key reasons. 

For one, humans are mean creatures sometimes, so it takes cojones to expose ourselves; and once we publish something online, it’s there permanently – stored on a server somewhere for future blackmail use – so we tread very carefully.

Sometimes our second block is our content: when we’re talking about something stiff like ROI metrics, it’s probably not a good idea to inject our guacamole preference. Wrong conversation.

So just as we turn on and off certain parts of ourselves in live interactions according to context, we do it online as well. My only hope is that I haven’t come across as vanilla to you so far because of it, and if that is the case, I’m breaking out the Rocky Road today. 

The Fundamentals of a Killer Internet Marketing Strategy, Part 3

The Final Four Key Steps to Creating a Killer Internet Marketing Strategy

Certified Internet marketer and music business blogger Ronald Grant returns this week for the conclusion of his Internet marketing strategy series for new and growing entrepreneurs.

He covered the first four steps in Part 2 last week. Have you been taking notes so far? If not, be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2 to find out what you missed.

Community is more vital than ever…build it as best you can!

Social networking has infiltrated just about everything we do, and in terms of the music and entertainment industries, it’s probably one of the greatest phenomena to happen in a long time (if not the greatest.)

Why?

The Fundamentals of a Killer Internet Marketing Strategy, Part 2

The First Four Key Steps to Creating a Killer Internet Marketing Strategy

Certified Internet marketer and music business blogger Ronald Grant returns this week, continuing his guest article on Internet marketing strategy fundamentals for new and growing entrepreneurs.

In Part 1 last week, he discussed the key to any Internet marketing strategy: knowing your purpose and keeping the business in mind.

Ronald gets down to brass tacks here. Take very careful notes.

You ready for this? Good. Here are the first four tips that will point you in the right direction.

The Fundamentals of a Killer Internet Marketing Strategy, Part 1

Today's guest post is Part 1 of a 3-part series on online promotion by Certified Internet marketer and music business blogger Ronald Grant of Muzik Issues Today and The Music Business Revisionist. Prepare to take some notes.

These days, online marketing and promotion are a must if you want your company to go anywhere of value, especially in music and entertainment business.

So let's take your inventory.

Which Entity is Right for Your Entertainment Media Business: LLC or S Corporation?

Learn the Difference Between LLCs and S Corporations

Choose your entertainment media business entity carefully.

Note: Before taking the plunge with your business, make sure you consult with a certified accountant and/or legal counsel for legal and financial details behind starting a company.

Most new entertainment media entrepreneurs opt to make their businesses LLCs or S Corporations because of the tax advantages associated with both options. However, you can only choose one. Which will it be?

Inc.’s article lists the similarities and differences of LLCs and S Corps beautifully, including the pros and cons of both – and I’m sharing them with you here.

Friday Feature: What’s Stopping You From Doing It Yourself? [Interview]

Indie Film Director and Editor Justin Connors Proves You Can Do It

“ If you can teach yourself Photoshop and Illustrator, you can pretty much learn any program.  -Justin Connors

It’s a simple as that, according to Connors.

Don’t think you can do it? Someone tell you can’t? Here’s some motivation for you to keep going.

 Full Sail University Film alumnus Justin Connors has trained himself into a beast, learning the entire Final Cut Studio software suite, Shake, After Effects, and Photoshop; and since 2010, he’s been creating the remarkable content produced by one of the nation’s premier entertainment media universities by doing what he taught himself to do: editing.

Full Sail’s in-house creative agency, Platinum Creative, shoots and edits all of the school’s events, guest lectures, concerts and promotional videos, and is also the creative force behind their award winning graphics and websites. If it needs to be seen or read by anyone, Platinum Creative does the branding.

As a Platinum Creative editor, Connors directed the unreleased footage of Tim Tebow’s campus appearance in promotion of Tebow's documentary Tim Tebow: Everything In Between, and was even on location in Aspen to capture and edit footage of the Winter 2012 Xgames on behalf of Full Sail. You can see all of his other work here.

Sound miraculous? It’s not.

Connors’ journey, like yours, started small – and one step at a time.

I held a phone interview with the super-busy Connors to get into his head and find out how he did it all.

What a Great Film Instructor Taught Me About Disappointment – and What You Can Learn

"I want to quit 3 times a month! The 99 no's get to me. 
They'll get to you too... we're human. The constant disappointment 
and rejection sucks." – Jason S. Blanchard

Old Film Instructor and very inspiring friend Jason S. Blanchard intimated to my class in one his dynamic lectures that three times a month he feels the urge to quit the entertainment business. Three times. Sometimes it’s that overwhelming.

The Geek just had one of those days. Disappointment nearly discouraged me to stop blogging.

6 Things You Need to Know About CreateSpace Before Self-Publishing [Slideshow]

The New York Times reported that eighty-one percent of people believe they have a great book idea and that they should write and publish it. 

According to the Self-Publishing Resources blog, "...that represents over 200 million people in the U.S. who want to write a book in their lifetime!"

That's a lot of people. 

Fortunately, there are enough self-publishing options available out there for everyone to accomplish that goal. 

Today, the Geek does your work for you again (it's my pleasure, believe me) and explores the most ubiquitous self-publishing site of them all: Amazon.com's CreateSpace. 

Do You Know Your Online Fundraising Options? [Chart]

By now, you've probably seen many crowdfunding (or online fundraising) campaigns via sites like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo being shared by your friends on Facebook or Twitter. 

It's a pretty simple process: you set up a campaign page on a site, and pump your social networks and email contacts to get donations. Sounds easy enough, right?

However, the devil is in the details, and more of these crowdfunding sites are popping up every year. 

So where does a newbie even start? 

Good news. The Geek's done most of your work for you.