My brother sent me this video this morning of  my 3 year-old niece singing It’s a Grand Old Flag while they were driving to Grandma’s house. Oh my gosh. She is so adorable!

If you can’t see the video above: click here to watch.

Here are the lyrics in case you want to follow her.

You’re a Grand Old Flag
by George M. Cohan

You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

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Don’t forget our Coffee with the CEO gathering this Tuesday morning. Come live social media with us!

Here are the details:

Where: Panera Bread, 21^st street, Ghent, Norfolk, VA.

When: Tuesday, November 10^th from 10:00 AM until around 11:00 AM.

What: Hangin’ out talking social media for your business with other professionals in Hampton Roads.

Who: Anyone. Everyone.

Why: Just because you rock!

Make a note on your calendar, share it on Twitter, and join us on Tuesday!

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photo credit: thundersquee.com

I’ve been working through several major topics the last few months with the goal of publishing them as eBooks on the web. A couple of the topics, including personal and corporate branding strategies, inbound marketing techniques, yes’s and no’s of blogging, and social media business strategies that work, have emerged at the forefront and should be published soon.

With the publication dates drawing near, I’m finding myself at another crossroads, or will be soon. Should I publish the eBooks as free downloads? I’m talking totally free - as in, don’t even collect email addresses prior to download.

I’m thinking in my minds eye that I should, if for no other reason than to increase the posibilities of viral distribution via email, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, LinkedIn, etc.

But being of a marketing frame of mind, I’m also hearing from the other shoulder that I should think lead generation and at least collect contact info at the time of download.

What do you think? Would a contact info gate before the eBook download prevent you from stepping further?

Research from the field:

• David Meerman Scott seems to say no to collecting info in this post and this post.
• Ann Handley lays out both points of view nicely in this post.
• Susan Gunelius agrees with removing the registration gate in this post.

Did any of these change your mind?

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1 Thessalonians 4:14

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

Yesterday Walt, our Creative Director, and I had the pleasure of visiting the shop of a local client. John Manus was gracious enough to show us around. Adver-tees has just signed with JASE to provide Internet Marketing consultation and to guide and assist with their inbound marketing initiatives.

Here are a few photos from our visit to the Adver-tees shop in Chesapeake. Adver-tees specializes in screen printing, embroidery and promotional items.

Adver-tees
www.bestdealonshirts.com
942 Canal Drive
Chesapeake, VA 23323
(757) 487-1424

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Keith Parnell, CEO of JASE Group, CLO of NeedLocalHelp.com and Co-Principal of New Media Conventions, has morning coffee with several local business professionals in Hampton Roads. The major topics of conversation are social media, inbound marketing strategies, social networks, and how each can benefit their business.

Related Info:
http://www.coffeewiththeceo.com/
http://www.jasegroup.com/inbound_marketing/
http://www.jasegroup.com/social_media/
http://www.keithparnell.com/

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Psalm 91:2

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Full story from CIO.com here.

Microsoft says, umm, no. Our product is better and we’re going to get close to making it affordable for small businesses.

Microsoft has cut in half its per user per month list price for Exchange Online services and cut by 33 percent the price of its Business Productivity Online Services suite of online productivity applications.

The drop from US$10 per user per month to $5 for Exchange Online is significant because it brings Microsoft much closer to the price Google charges for its Google Apps Premier Edition (GAPE) suite that is anchored by Gmail. In addition, Microsoft said allowable mailbox sizes would go from 5GB to 25GB, a move that ups Microsoft’s stake in the so-called “bottomless” inbox war with other online providers.

Good to see Microsoft still pushing forward with listening to its users. First Windows 7, now Exchange Online.

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Go vote.

Speak your mind.

Go vote.

Now!

Join me this morning at Panera Bread on 21 street in Norfolk for coffee and the new Coffee with the CEO video series.

We’ll talk about marketing, advertising, technology, your business, my business, family and life.

Let’s live social media!

Register here on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188055025347

Join the video series online at CoffeeWithTheCEO.com.

Subscribe to the RSS feed or sign up for the daily email newsletter here.

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I’m listening to Norah Jones complete new album, The Fall, on NPR while catching the muted MLB World Series on the background television. That’s right, the whole album, free. Thanks NPR!

On The Fall, Jones maintains her jazzy, sultry sound while pushing into more contemporary pop territory. “Chasing Pirates,” “Even Though” and “It’s Gonna Be” (the album’s most rock-oriented song) are excellent examples of her new approach. But she doesn’t abandon the old one completely: “Back to Manhattan” may be her loveliest song since “Come Away With Me,” while “Man of the Hour” is set to a bluesy shuffle and “December” possesses a lullaby-like quality.

A warm, organic-sounding record, The Fall showcases Jones’ musical depth in exciting and unexpected ways, suitable for old fans and newcomers alike. Please leave your opinions of the album in the comments section below.

Listen to Norah Jones on NPR here.

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According to Net Applications via the Macintosh News Network, Internet surfers substantially prefer the Microsoft’s Windows operating system.

Microsoft Windows: 92.52%
Apple Macintosh: 5.27%

Wow! If you listen to the propaganda machine called ‘Mac vs. PC’, the latest Apple advertising campaign, you would think Macintosh is in the game. Obviously they are not.

The point to this message is not to rub my Apple fanboi friends the wrong way but to ask that we all pay closer attention to doing our own research. Don’t take the insinuated word of a well-crafted advertising campaign.

What do you think? Did these numbers surprise you? Do you use Mac or Windows? Or both? By the way, we use both.

Photo credit: pixelzooi

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How strong is your brand? Is your brand stronger than your company’s brand?

I got to thinking about that this afternoon while watching the introductions of Brett Favre to the Green Bay community on his first return to Packers stadium. He received mixed reviews from the Packers fans but the majority were probably cheering for Bret, despite the fact that Green Bay is the only NFL franchise that is owned by the citizens (tax payers) of the City. Seems Brett’s brand does far exceed the strength of the Packer’s brand from the perception of loyal Packers followers.

So I ask you, can your brand stand strong outside the umbrella of your organization’s brand?

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Coffee with the CEO: Let’s Live Social Media in Ghent

Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Time: 10:00am - 11:00am
Location: Panera Bread, 739 West 21st Street, Norfolk, VA

Description:
Come out to Panera Bread on 21st street in Ghent, Norfolk, VA on Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM and have coffee with Keith Parnell, CEO of JASE Group Marketing & Advertising, CLO of NeedLocalHelp.com, and Co-Principal of New Media Conventions.

No agenda. No sales. Just sharing.

Talk social media.
Talk new media.
Talk about your business.
Talk about how to grow your business.

Let’s live social media!

See the video from last week’s event here.

Register here on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188055025347

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I would love to say that I created these oh-so-elegant words, but I can’t. These are the perfect thoughts of my friend, Cassandra Thomas, a member of our New Media Conventions planning team for the April 2010 event. You can find her on Twitter @MarketingFlair.

Now is the time to engage with new media.  NMC10 is going to be an innovating and engaging experience for all of Virginia’s Tidewater region and beyond.  New Media experts from afar will come to share their ideas that can take your social media experience to a new level.  Businesses will learn how to make their entire marketing message communicate across all new media.  From Social to Mobile to Global — New Media Conventions 2010.  Don’t miss it!  And be sure to also follow them on Twitter @NewMediaConv.

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