June 30th, 2006 by admin

They say sales people are the easiest to sell to and by extension marketers are easy to sell to as well.  Let’s face it,  we appreciate a good pitch and reward it.

My wife can testify to this. I can be sold on anything.  Heck, if the price and pitch were right, I’d buy the Brooklyn Bridge.  I’m a sucker. 

That brings me to today.  For the first time since the 49, 59, 69 cent menu, I ate at Taco Bell.  One of my colleagues was going there, I was hungry and I had a hankering for something.  What might you ask?  Crunch Wraps of course.  Why?  Because they are "Good to Go."

Thankfully, my pocketbook only allows me to indulge Taco Bell’s Pitchman.  Otherwise, I would have to go out and buy a Saab.  Why?  Because they are born from jets.  Up until recently, I never realized that I always wanted a car that was "Born from Jets."  Now, when I accelerate on the freeway, I look down at my Honda’s speedometer and think, "Poor car.  You were not born from jets."

June 24th, 2006 by admin

I do not want this post to turn into a rant, but I feel people need to be warned.  A few weeks ago my car was broken into and my camera was stolen as well as other things.  The only relief I had was that my homeowners insurance was all paid up.  For the last ten years I have used Farmers Insurance.

I filed the police report and submitted the claim.

To my surprise, my claim was referred to the special investigative unit.  It appears, Farmers when doing their due diligence saw the 3 T-shirts I had for sale on this site and was trying to prove that I was a professional photographer.  You see, homeowners insurance does not cover items used for a professional purpose.

I had to undergo an hour long interrogation about my professional life.  I told them I was a marketer and that millions of people use Zazzle and Cafe Press to sell items to their family and friends.  I told them that I had not even sold one T-shirt and that photography was my hobby.

I got my settlement check the other day.  The camera was not covered because in their eyes I am a professional.

Take head of this story.  The insurance companies will use everything in their power not to make good on a claim.  to the insurance company I am a professional photographer even though I do not have a business license, I do not depreciate my camera gear as a business expense, and I have never been paid to shoot a picture.

I wonder, does this mean that the computer I used to upload the images onto Zazzle falls under professional purposes?  Does my house now count as a business?  Can an insurance company use the fact that someone sold something on eBay to get out of paying a claim on a stolen computer?

Zazzle should post a warning on their site that using their service will void your homeowners policy.

June 11th, 2006 by admin

I just got back from the Photography competition at the San Diego Fair.  All the images were phenomenal and I am honored that mine did so well amongst such stiff competition.  Below are my results. Click on an image for a larger view.

First Place B & W Scenic The Path
Third Place B & W Scenic Inpiriation Point Wash
Fourth Place B & W Waterscapes Sunset Cliffs
Honorable Mention Color Scenic Eggshell
Honorable Mention B & W Waterscapes Children’s Pool
Honorable Mention Other Smile
Color, Scenic Serpentine Trail

June 6th, 2006 by admin

I have to admit that I am still recovering from the Internet bubble years of the 1990’s.  I admit it.  I was an addict.  I played the game whole hog from naked calls on CMGI to founding Internet companies in my spare time. 

In 2001, I went into rehab, otherwise known as an MBA program.  Desperate times called for desperate measures.  Having only a philosophy degree, I needed formal business training to cure me of my Internet wanderlust.

Two years of formal education inculcated upon me the need to found any new venture on a sound revenue stream. At the beginning of 2006 this basic revenue tenet seemed obvious.  However, now I am not so sure.

This whole Web 2.0 phenomena has got me wondering.  People who appear brighter, smarter, and more insightful than I could ever hope to be are founding companies left and right in order to gain eyeballs and an unpaid user base.  Hardly any of these companies has a definable revenue stream.

I had a conversation with a CEO of one of these companies the other day.  I’m not going to mention the company or the CEO, but you could probably guess.  Anyway, this fellow wanted ideas on how to market his company.  My response was that the marketing should be targeted to the people who will ultimately be paying the bills.  I agreed that eyeballs were good, but pressed him about who were actually his customers.

His reply, "And