What’s WRONG With Publishing (Really)?

Why am I down on the publishing world? It’s starting to make little sense why I would write something that while widely read could be given out in a “cleverer” format. Doing a book with a major corporation just starts to seem…odd, given the proclivities in which I do everything else now. With that far-reaching statement, and by means of explaining my thought process, here is why publishing, as the kids say, needs to man up and change itself.

Keep Secrets/Kill Image

By Richard Laermer, Guest Author When the search engine god Google was asked by the Justice Department to hand over search data in an effort to revive the Child Online Protection Act (COPA), it quickly refused. That was special. The question reared its head: “What does Google have to hide?” Could it be S-E-X? Cynics

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Big Picture, All I Got

By Richard Laermer, Guest Author The salon where I get my “hair cut” in Soho has been doing a terrific job for years. But they have branched out to the point of no return and now the owners got a whole line of products he’s hawking. Whatever. But now, when I call, instead of “push

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Avoid Risk, Sure. Then Die!

By Richard Laermer, Guest Author As some of you know, I’m the author of the book Punk Marketing (www.punkmarketing.com). The first article of the Punk Marketing Manifesto is probably the most powerful rule in marketing—and in business. Simply put it is Avoid Risk and Die.Some of our greatest successes as a country and as a

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Lying: That Your Final Answer?

By Richard Laermer, Guest Author How the hell did lying become so fashionable – again! Lately it appears everyone has foregone lessons of our recent forefathers (Mr. WorldCom, Mr. Rigas, and M.S. Living) and it’s right back to “what can I get away with” time AGAIN. We are entering a nascent period where it’s too

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Proof of Life: Taking responsibility for your words (for a change)

By Richard Laermer, Guest Author Let me just explain that heading, please. Responsibility has become a buzzword. And I think it’s got to be known for more than just good psychology. Here’s my question slash quandary: Why can’t people be careful when it’s only going to get worse for them? Why o why. Sure, you

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You Win Some, YouTube Some

By Richard Laermer, Guest Author You decided your latest widget from the widget factory needs to go viral. Your “marketing guy” says the best way to reach your youth market on a shoestring is to go about posting a vid on YouTube. Before that happens, please take some time to consider how to make your

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