Since then, we’ve formed a new company – Bryghtpath LLC and done a ton of consulting work in Boston and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul (the two cities where our primarily partners are located). Our work has been focused on bringing the Web 2.0 tools and culture to the inside of large corporations — and we’re going to continue to focus on that work.

In addition, we’ve picked up and grown some great niche sites – like Shadowpriest.com and Light Natured – both sites for players of the huge online game World of Warcraft. Most of these sites have been prudent growth investments for us.

Even though I’ve done some blogging and podcasting over at The Blog Herald for Splashpress Media, as I’ve been on vacation this week, I realize that I need to do more writing — so I’m going to make an attempt to bring back this blog – which we acquired from David Krug in 2006 — and use it as a base for my writing moving forward.

More to come later today!

Enjoy!

I’ve also been invited to begin blogging at The Blog Herald, where you’ll see me several times a week with news and featured posts – along with the weekly BH podcast.

Here’s a look at my initial feature piece on the idiocy of Shel Israel and the humor of Loren Feldman:

I’ve read Naked Conversations, the book by Robert Scoble and Shel Israel that talks about the power of blogging for individuals, businesses, and communities. I’ve even used their examples with clients – a few of which are mentioned in their book.

I walked away from the book thinking that both of these guys totally “got” the blogging and social media thing. My online experiences with both of them on and off over the years confirmed this – at least until I began watching Global Neighborhoods, Shel’s new show on Scoble’s new gig at Fastcompany.tv.

We’ve posted edition 2007.4 of The Blog Herald Podcast over at The Blog Herald wherein we discuss the 6th anniversary of September 11th, 2001.

The readers of our newspapers sometimes do not read the news at all, and when they do, they sometimes do not believe what they read. I once asked a man why he read a certain New York City paper, when he was expressing to me such completely different political views from those held by the paper. He looked at me and said: “The sports sheet is good and that is the only page I really read, except perhaps some of the comic strips. They have some of the best in this paper.” That remark was illuminating.

The Russian people are at a great disadvantage, of course, because they have only the government-controlled papers to read. They have only government-controlled radio. And so, if they want to be independent-thinking citizens, there is really very little hope of getting any point of view except the one the Government wishes them to have.” ~ E.R.

Eleanor Roosevelt was ahead of her time when analyzing the importance of media, and expression. Truly we can find inspiration in truly enabling independent thinking citizens here, and abroad. Over time we have seen Government and Big Corporations influence our media more and more primarily TV and Newspapers but also our mainstream online publications. Today just as in the Post World War 2 era we have a pressing need for independent thought and an attention to how and why Governments and Corporations hold influence over our Press and our Media.

One cool thing to do to help market your sites is to take part in StumbleUpon Groups in Facebook.

I’ve just started doing this and I find some pretty cool things by networking with fellow Stumblers.

Marisa’s Dandelion Patch: My own internet marketing consultant: It’s folks like Marisa that give me hope in the blogosphere. There are real people who aren’t afraid of being themselves that don’t want to be famous and are geniune. Thanks Marisa for sharing some honest insights.

Bootstrapper: The 100 Daily Reads for Entrepreneurs: Not sure who passed me this link today but it sure was a nugget of goodness. I found a few really good reads and I expect you will too.

Hi, I couldn’t help but notice how ‘gorgeous’ or ‘amazing’ you are can I have your phone number?

One thing I’ve found in doing this experiment. Yes I actually did this. And you know what I walked away with a pretty high yes to no ratio based on the level of confidence and how engaging I was.

The same thing goes for those looking to score links from all the hottest bloggers. Here’s a sample email I sent out to some friends and pals in the industry.

To The Most influential people I know that will actually read this website are you guys!

That’s why I’m sending you this.

Recently I’ve gotten back into web publishing after a little hiatus of consulting for another firm and I’m gung ho. I love the fire that launching a new site gives you. I’ve hand selected some articles that I feel you and your readers can glean some wisdom from. I love feedback so feel free to toss me plenty.

Post #1 Title Goes Here
This is where the first Url Goes

Post #2 Title Goes Here
This is where the second url goes

Thanks for taking the time to look the site over. Feel free to subscribe to the RSS Feed:
This is where the feed address goes

Please do let me know if you post a mention on your blog as I’d love to post something about your company, or upcoming exciting project.

Thanks,
Me | Publisher
My Website Address

Number one this email does a few things for you it builds your confidence in sending it out to folks in your niche. It also will help build your subscriber base and build quality inbound links. But most importantly it builds your confidence. Just like walking through a mall and asking girls for their numbers after a few interactions you get more and more confident. The best way to build a site is to not be afraid and just go out and do it. Spend half your time creating amazing content – spend the rest of your time creating amazing relationships no matter the quantity its quality that counts.

What are you waiting for? Seize the day.

Ask her for her number already.

One thing that a lot of people here in Missoula and I am sure elsewhere have noticed is a severe lack of high quality content on the local level. I was alerted by an email to a few newspaper sites that did a good job of incorporating local content including Flickr,YouTube, and Blog Content. Sadly enough it doesn’t happen in this town.

Also a deep focus on the ultralocal is something newspapers around here do a poor job of. Bloggers are slowly picking up the slack. So a partnership is ideal newspapers utilizing blogger’s content in exchange for revenue and exposure. In an ideal world it’s a match made in heaven.

From time to time I will jump on here and share some tidbits of wisdom that I learn from embarking on this experiment of crafting an online newspaper on the local level. One thing I’ve learned already is how easy it is for just about anyone to publish a website. I think a lot of people have false assumptions about web publishing. Hopefully I can help share some layman tips to help debunk the intimidation that is falsely heaped upon us by those without knowledge.

In my opinion my greatest competition is me. I really am a “What have you done for us lately” kind of person. One of my favorite successes of all time is obviously 901am, little do most people know is that I started this site, I had a vision for it and I accomplished it. Some days it’s hard to look at a site you created only to see yourself scrubbed from any mention but I don’t see it as a legacy site. I see 901am as a huge learning experiment. I’ve always viewed my best work as the work I haven’t accomplished yet.

In publishing most often your greatest competition is yourself. I know the person that is hardest on me is me. For every Tom,Dick, and Harry that rips into me I’ve probably ripped into me twice as hard and a bit more furious.

You pick up the pieces and your learn from your mistakes. That’s the nature of any business. You don’t have to love those who dump on you. You don’t have respect them. But you should at least listen because behind the criticism there is probably a sliver of truth that you can glean. That gleaning becomes wisdom.

Without a doubt the only person that can defeat you is yourself. Only you can decide if you are a loser in the publishing world. The tools are equal, the ability to market yourself is equal, the playing field and the audience is all the same. The question is Will you defeat yourself? Publishing is like golf. All the tools are the same, the field is the same, the audience is the same. It’s all about YOU, showing up to be great.

Got a moment for greatness?