If you’re in Franchising and are heading to the IFA Convention, here’s a last minute tip for your trip: go download Joel Libava‘s new book Become a Franchise Owner! for the flight to Orlando. 

The Franchise King!

While I’m sure Joel, “The Franchise King”, wrote the book for entrepreneurs and future business owners, I am recommending this work for everyone working the franchise space including marketers, operations, sales, and especially suppliers. While most of these folks will never buy a franchise themselves, Joel lays out fantastic inside information on how this industry works and answers questions that they may have not known to ask.

I myself have been working with franchise system brands, CEOs, and CMOs for a decade or so and found myself thinking, “oh, that’s how that works,” or “ah, that’s why they do it that way…”

And, it’s a fun, honest read by a guy who is not afraid to hold back! 

Riding home from New York on the train yesterday I noticed something interesting. The signs on the train always catch my eye for the first few minutes. They range from scotch ads to airlines and investment firms. But this time it was different. It was four different ads for Google. Google has been hitting the airwaves on TV a lot lately, so I figured this would be along those lines. You know, look at all you can do with the Google suite of sites and platforms. 

But when I took a closer look, I couldn’t believe what I was reading. It was basically a description of cookies… what they are, why they are used and best of all, how to delete them. The gist was that cookies help a site remember you so you don’t have to start all over each time you visit.

I have to admit, I felt a little weird standing up, walking over and snapping a picture of the sign, but I did not care. I had to do it. And it’s not THAT uncommon these days, I guess.

I had to get a picture because of all the times I have had to explain cookies to people and then how to delete them. Not only did I want to steal some of their wording, but I thought it was a fascinating commentary on the current internet climate.

If you are on YouTube or Google you probably have seen the overt messages about the upcoming privacy policy changes. Or maybe you’ve read one of the countless articles retweeted on Twitter recently that explain and comment on it. If you have not, you should read up. There are going to be a lot more eyes on your information, particularly your Gmail, that you will want to be aware of.

Whether the new Google changes are good or bad, I am not here to comment on. I just thought that it was an amazing case of education, proactive damage control and PR to help deal with the potential backlash that will come when this all goes live.

Cookies are one of those things that many people don’t fully understand and instantly instill an aura of distrust. It’s funny that a word like “cookie”, that had always been such a happy term, has morphed into the poster child of the Big Brother Era.

  

I’m honored to be moderating a panel of Chicago’s top media, digital, and PR thought leaders making predictions for 2012. Be sure to join us February 21 at PRSA Chicago!

PRSA Chicago Third Annual “Predictions” Panel

What’s Ahead in 2012 for our industry? What can we learn from last year’s events, issues and PR moments? 2012 is an exciting year filled with new and unique PR and communications opportunities. What can we learn from our panel of diverse experts? Please join us on February 21st as industry leaders convene to talk about the year ahead for communicators around the world. Our leaders will dialogue and take your questions. Don’t miss this special, annual event!

Panelists include:

•       Bill Adee, Vice President/Digital Stuff, Chicago Tribune Media Group

•       Laura Chavoen, Senior VP and Director of Digital Strategy, MSL Chicago

•       Anna Rozenich, Director, Communications, SunCoke Energy

•       Jim Motzer with DePaul University

•       Moderated by Jack Monson, Vice President, Engage121 and Board Member, PRSA Chicago.

 .

Rob Biesenbach is a former PR counselor, actor, and author of Act Like You Mean Business. The book and Rob’s January 17 presentation teach business people what they can learn from actors, screenwriters, and playwrights, including:

• Understand and connect with your audience.
• Find, shape and tell compelling stories that move people.
• Express your ideas more visually and with greater impact.
• Tap into the power of emotion to really break through.

.
If you’re looking to change up your typical pitch this year to something that will stand out, please join us for this event. RSVP today via PRSA Chicago.
. 

The International Franchise Association‘s annual conference is just a few weeks away and the social media discussion is already top of mind for many attendees. With keynotes from top social media influencer Guy Kawasaki and leading broadcast media host Bill O’Reilly, communications and particularly social engagement will bet the biggest topic of the conference this year.

I’m glad to once again be organizing the unofficial Tweetup with my friend Deb Evans to kickoff the first night with some informal networking and discussion of social media with franchise pros. Our 3rd Annual IFA Tweetup will take place in the lobby bar of the Orlando World Center Marriott on Saturday just after the Taste of Franchising. RSVP today below and please share with your colleagues using the hashtag #ifatwtup!

.. 

Everyday, bloggers and other content creators use the device of “The Top (insert a number) Things You (insert topic, advice, or other).” This is an easy way to attract readers who don’t really want to dive deep into a subject but want a quick read.

As we near the end of the year, I’m sure the lists of the best this or that from 2011 will be flying soon. So, as you develop your lists, think about what that number is that you want to us to stand out. Top 100? Too much. Top 40? Too old-school radio. Less than ten? Now you’re talking!  Here’s my list of the best numbers to use for lists, with absolutely no scientific evidence of anything.

The Top 6 Numbers to use for “Top _____” Lists:

#1 – 6

#2 – 10

#3 – 5 (tie)

#3 – 7 (tie)

#5 – 3

#6 – 9

Here’s an updated post originally published last year at this time.

31 years ago today, a major news story broke in the middle of a Monday evening. There was no Facebook, no Twitter, no Social Media, no Internet, and no 24 hour cable news.

How did most of America hear the news? Via Howard Cosell.

Cosell was broadcasting ABC’s Monday Night Football and broke in with an unforgettable announcement:

“AN UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY…JOHN LENNON…SHOT TWICE IN THE BACK…DEAD ON ARRIVAL.”

Check it out here

Cosell Interviewing Lennon, 6 Years Earlier on MNF

Here’s my list of the best Christmas songs of the Modern Rock Era, which I’m defining as roughly the mid- 1970s through the early 2000s. You will find no Perry Como, Andy Williams, or Bing Crosby here (wait, we do have some Crosby….see #2…) What are your favorites to add?

10. Squeeze – “Christmas Day” (1979)

9. Captain Sensible – “One Christmas Catalogue” (1984)

8. Slade – “Merry Xmas Everybody” (1973)

7. Weird Al – “Christmas At Ground Zero” (1986)

6. Ramones – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” (2001)

5. Pretenders – “2000 Miles” (1983)

4. The Kinks – “Father Christmas” (1977)

3. Band Aid – “Do The Know It’s Christmas” (1984)

2. David Bowie and Bing Crosby – “Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth” (Recorded / Originally Broadcast 1977; Released 1982)

1. The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl – “Fairytale of New York” (1987)

Tis the season … for Mashable Awards voting! My colleagues and I at Engage121 are thrilled that our firm is a finalist for Digital Company of the Year. Other finalists include big guys like Dominos Pizza, Progressive Insurance, and The WWE, so it’s an honor for our 13 year old social media software firm to be recognized. Thanks to all of our friends and clients for their votes!

Vote here for your choice of Digital Company of the Year

]]> http://jackmonson.com/2011/11/27/mashable-awards/feed/ 0 prworkbench mashable_awards_5th.jpg