It is always great to see that people believe we have done something unique with Trump University.  Lena West did a guest post on the lipsticking blog and she gets what Trump University is all about.  

Before you launch a new product, create a new campaign, build a new business etc. , ask yourself is this something that has been done before or has this never been done.  If you can answer never you are probably on to something interesting and noteworthy.  Don't let anyone convince you that you have to stick with what has 'always' worked.  If you do, then you will end up as just average.  Take the risk.  It might just pay off.

Let me know if you have a business that meets the never criteria.

A newly found blogger friend of mine, Jack Spirko posted a challenge on his blog to his top 25 bloggers.  He wants to see which bloggers were monitoring his posts and their name across the web.   I was/am honored to be included with some of the bloggers he has listed in his top 25.

This is an interesting challenge for me since this blog is still relatively new.  Jack's blog posting and my guest posting might help generate some buzz for this blog and Trump University.  I think there is a lesson in this challenge for any entrepreneur or marketer building a brand.

Do you monitor how the world is talking about you?   It is difficult to review every online mention but it is worth setting up some time  each day or week to monitor your brand (and while your at it your competitors).  It takes time, but it is time well spent.  You can use a few different tools to keep tabs on your brand online.  Here are my recommendations:

• Google Alerts
• Technorati
• 'Old School' search - type your name and see what comes back
• Read your competitors blogs/newsletters
• Keep an eye on all industry related material
• Ask your friends, coworkers, suppliers, and family to send you anything they see

Keep an eye out for my guest post to Jack's blog and tell your friends...

PS - Let's see if Jack pick's up this mention.

If your like me and your mind is full of ideas and things to take care of then you should check out Jott.  Once you are registered you can call a toll free number from your cell phone and leave yourself a message.  The message is then transcribed and emailed to you.  I just opened an account and now my ideas will be waiting for me in my inbox.

Now you can say good bye to all those scraps of paper you take notes on when the idea pops and you don't have a notebook.  Don't worry about forgetting the idea just Jott it down. 

Once you get Jott fully set up you can even send notes to other people.  No more pecking out shorthand text messages while on the road. 

Let me know what you think once your registered.

If you are an expert then you should create a Squidoo page.  These are basically one page websites that showcase your business or skills. Take a look at our Squidoo page and let us know what you think.  We are donating all profits generated from this page to the Squidoo charity fund.  We could use some extra traffic, feedback and votes to make the page better which will eventually help some worthy causes.  

If you are marketing a business, product or service then you are an expert in that area.  If you are an entrepreneur or real estate investor then you should tell the world about your business by creating a Squidoo page.  The pages are indexed by Google for search and the links you place back to your site help your own natural search results too.   Once you are on Squidoo people can find you.  If people can find you they can do business with you.  

It is also fun to say that you have a Squidoo page...

Enjoy.

In my last post about how business can use blogs to market their company I never imagined this case.  TerraCycle produces environmentally friendly fertilizer from worm poop (yes, you read that right) and is now being sued by the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.  You can read all the details on the TerraCycle site (we are not providing legal advice or taking sides).  The reason for pointing this out is that TerraCycle is fighting back by using their blog to address the complaint and is blogging about the details of the lawsuit.  This is a very interesting use of a blog and Web 2.0 technology.  (Note of caution - If you have a similar issue with a competitor you should seek legal advice before taking a similar course of action.)  Their story gets better since a number of national media publications have picked up the story.  All the publicity is helping TerraCycle raise awareness about their David vs Goliath case and is increasing interest in their product.  It is too early to tell who will win this lawsuit but I am sure the folks at Scotts Miracle-Gro didn't expect this sort of a battle.

Who do you think will win in court? In the court of public opinion?