Nina’s background in writing for both traditional media and transmedia give her a unique perspective as the face of entertainment changes and adapts. Read on for your dose of inspiration!

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1. How did you get the name “The Slackmistress?”

Back in 1997 I was working at Earthlink Network. My boyfriend at the time also worked there, and he was busy creating his “personal web space” (remember those?) and he called it “The Slack.” One of the first things he wrote on there was a list of things he had in his briefcase. So it looked something like this:
A #2 pencil.
A notebook.
A pen.
& etc.

I told him unless he had a severed head in there, no one cared. (Tact, thy name is NOT slackmistress.) He said if I thought I could do better, I was welcome to. I wrote a short essay called Notes on Decaf and called myself “The Slackmistress.” Then I wrote a bunch more. Six months later we broke up and he gave me the site. I wrote weekly essays at The Slack starting in 1997 (I don’t think it was called blogging yet) and moved to The Slack Daily in 2006. I didn’t have a clue that I’d still be doing this in 2009.

2. Why did you choose your current career and how did you get started?

I didn’t really choose my career – it chose me. I moved out to LA to work in entertainment. I had just graduated from film school but wanted a job with a weekly paycheck. I liked to argue with people, so I thought I’d be an agent. Plus working at an agency was a great training ground. It was – a training ground that made me realize I had NO BUSINESS being an agent.

I had always written, and while reading client scripts I realized I could try my hand and TV writing. A few years later I got my first gig on “Lizzie McGuire” and then moved on to writing a few different live-action and animated shows (“The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy” “Romeo”) and then things slowed down. WAY down. Then one day I got a call from my former “Lizzie McGuire” Executive Producer Stan Rogow who had founded a company that was making Web TV called Electric Farm Entertainment. They were looking for someone with TV series experience who also innately knew and understood the online environment – from blogging to forums to Twitter to Facebook. I started working with them, writing episodes of Crackle’s “Woke Up Dead” as well as penning the characterblogs, as well as creating and writing the ARG as well as additional online content for MTV’s “Valemont.”

3. If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Funny, creative, busty.

4. What are some new, emerging online social media platforms/tools that you absolutely love?

It’s not emerging but I LOVE TWITTER. OMG I LOVE TWITTER. It’s funny because I’m all about the social side of social media. And I think Twitter is sheer perfection for that. I have met some of the most brilliant, funny, engaging people through Twitter.

5. You are always “ON!” You manage 8+ Twitter accounts, have a weekly online show, and are engaging with millions of people from all over the world 24/7. How do you manage your time?

I don’t sleep? Honestly, I’ve spent my years in social media having fun and being social. I used to joke that I live in social media – I met my husband through blogging – he even proposed in his blog comments. When we got married we almost crashed the Mandalay Bay’s server that was webcasting the nuptials because people had seen our relationship evolve online. It’s such a natural extension of who I am and what I do, that I don’t really think about it.

I mean, for work, it IS work. But I love what I do. Both “Woke Up Dead” and “Valemont” are forging new paths in entertainment. With “Valemont” I created the entire online world and immersive experience, and the fans have been AMAZING – not only in responding to the material, but participating and creating and making it their own. So every day I wake up wanting to give them more to play with.

Right now I’m paid to wake up and do something creative every single day (until the end of November, when my current gig ends.) That’s pretty awesome, so if I lose a little sleep, that’s okay.

6. Please share a professional phobia or obsession….confession session!

Clowns. Clowns scare the CRAP out of me. Oh, professional? I’m always convinced that I’m never going to work again. Being a writer is scary sometimes.

7. What do you believe successful “Wild Web Woman” traits are?

Not being afraid of your voice and knowing how and where to use it.

8. Do you have a personal mantra that you would like to share with other Web Marketing Therapy readers?

If the other kids don’t like you, it’s because they’re jealous. Wait, sorry, that was my mantra in third grade.  Don’t take it personally is my mantra for almost everything. As a writer, people are always commenting on your work and giving notes and trying to pay you less, etc. Don’t take it personally. (This also works for living in public – blogging, livestreaming, Twittering, etc.)

*Tune in Tomorrow for Part Two of the Slackmistress’ Interview!

Sarah Caminker, Web Marketing Therapy’s Virtual Vixen, had me in marketing awe (awe-ha!) last week when she said that “instead of B2B or B2C, we have to start thinking P2P (People to People)”

(I know, OMG, is that profound or what??)  Those of you not getting it yet, keep reading, I want to convert you…

New media = new rules of marketing and it’s all about how we make relationships with people…forget products and services…THINK PEOPLE!

When you invest time in creating web marketing collateral, you want to give people CHOICES (P2P marketing is all about putting power in people’s hands!) so they decide (it’s about them, not you!) how they want connect with you (on their terms).  Thinking P2P web marketing takes the focus off you, your company, your product, your services, your bosses ego, etc., and puts the energy where it needs to go…on the people.

I am not even close to being off my P2P soapbox, so sign up to be on our RSS feed to get more wild web freebie updates and learn more P2P tips.  In the meantime, remember that professionals connect, communicate, collaborate with web marketing.  Healthy web marketing serves as a stellar piece of COLLATERAL that can help brand, build and boost business.

People need people…products and services connect us and web marketing (done right) can help connect you through RELATIONSHIPS to help people know you, like you, trust you and buy from you.

Who’s with me?

Now that you have a video, own your content, control your brand experience and increase your brand recognition with a motion graphic intro and exit. What is a motion graphic?   It’s like the short Pixar clip you see before the movie starts and there you go.

Click on the video below to see an example of a video intro and outro:

Imprint your name and logo every time the video is played with a motion graphic intro and exit and make it easy for viewers to find you by providing website information.

Remember, your video might be linked or embedded on other websites or come up on a Youtube search – so make sure the viewer knows whose content they are looking at.

Web Marketing Therapy practices what we preach and can help you create this easy tool for ensuring solid brand recognition.

Do you know what people are saying about you? Determine your personal brand strategy and manage your reputation online to boost your biz!

Do you know what people are saying about you? This is important because everything you do - including the little things - can affect your company’s reputation. According to personal branding expert Liz Dennery Sanders, everything you put out there, from you personal appearance to how you communicate - both online and offline - can affect your reputation!

Liz is a branding visionary and successful entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, public relations and celebrity outreach. She is also the founder of SheBrand.com, a company dedicated to empowering other female entrepreneurs and small business owners to embrace success by building a powerful personal brand.

As Liz points out, you may not always have control over how your customers, the media or your competitors perceive you. But you can influence how you are perceived by others by having a consist and powerful brand strategy to boost your personal brand and enhance your company’s image!

In her article, What Are People Saying About You? Liz outlines the four important areas to consider when determining your personal brand strategy. Keep these things in mind when you manage your reputation online.

1. Brand Attributes – These are the adjectives or “descriptors” that best describe you. What are the qualities that you want to exude and be best known for? When you make decisions about your brand collateral, website, promotional materials etc., ask yourself if they truly represent the attributes that you have chosen.

2. Brand Identity – Visual continuity is a critical aspect of brand building. It’s important that you create a “face” for your business and that this is replicated in all facets of your image. This not only includes your logo, letterhead, packaging, website, advertising and promotional materials, but also your personal wardrobe and presentation style.

3. Brand Definition – Make sure you clearly define your brand in a way that you want others to perceive you. In one sentence (often referred to as your tagline), you should be able to eloquently communicate what you do and how you can help the other person. For example, my tagline is “I help female entrepreneurs build powerful, confident personal brands with style.”

4. Brand Message – In Politics, one of the Golden Rules is to stay “on message”. This means that everyone on the team understands and is able to clearly communicate the same brand message. A thread of continuity should run through all aspects of your business – from employees to your website and collateral materials. Whether I speak to an employee, peruse your website or receive a letter from you in the mail; I should walk away with a sense of your brand attributes and an understanding of your message.

Get more great tips on building a powerful personal brand at SheBrand and follow Liz on Twitter @SheBrandLiz

For more health marketing inspiration, follow me on Twitter @my_dog_ate_it

• Wikipedia features over 13 million articles in more than 200 languages
• Brad James of Los Angeles, California sent 217,541 text messages in March 2009
• 90% of the 200 billion emails sent every day are SPAM

The video below was updated in Fall 2009 and focuses on the changing media landscape, including convergence and technology and was developed in partnership with The Economist.