To those of you who’ve been participating or just following along as Hitch comes to life, I appreciate your eyeballs and interest and the countless discussions, phone calls, emails & meetings over coffee and beers.

It’s a wonderful experience to involve so many bright minds from the across the country (and literally across the world) in intellectually stimulating and challenging discussions; both philosophical & practical about the nature of marketing.  We’ve shared books, blogs, pdfs, videos, tweets and text messages.

What’s come out of these discussions is a new kind of marketing resource for companies.  Hitch connects you with your marketing dream team:  specialists ranging from brand strategists, ad agencies, experiential marketers, word of mouth firms, branded entertainment, digital conversationalists, app/widget developers and more.  At their core, Hitch and its growing roster of companies share a pioneering spirit and a penchant for calculated risks as well as a commitment to accompany marketers through this evolving media environment. 

A new breed of marketer is evolving from the ashes of traditional models. Together, brand and customer become futurists and innovators who support, encourage, and engage the collaborative discussions and co-creation happening in online communities, coffee shops, dorm rooms and board rooms around the world.

Business relationships are gold so I’ll do my part to keep up the conversations we’ve begun; I ask you to do the same. This dialogue can only benefit all of us and the trade of marketing we all love. 

Thank you for your input and suggestions.  Thanks also for challenging me and cheering me on.  I’m off to SXSW Interactive in a few short weeks and back to put the finishing touches on Hitch.

Stay tuned.

Here’s a brilliant little post about the cost of the Denny’s promo to feed everyone in America a free breakfast on Tuesday.  Of course he neglected to mention the cost of the superbowl spot.  But it makes for an interesting post!  

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/02/02/math-says-dennys-free-breakfast-a-good-deal-for-the-company-to/

How can your agency be indispensible to your clients and prospects?  Give them something you’re not billing them for.

Far too often agencies are only willing to spend energy on the things that show a tangible payoff at the end.  Time spent demonstrating that you’re thinking–that your radar is up for the client you worked so hard to land (remember them?) or the one you’re trying to land, means more to your prospect than a 7′ tall box sent to their lobby to get their attention.

Wowing the CMO into hiring your agency rarely happens.  It’s the thing of folklore.  It’s legend.  And if it’s your new business strategy, you’re sunk.

Instead why not follow Peter Shankman’s Haro updates and look for places your client can be featured.  (OK I know that’s a PR agency function and that’s part of what they get paid for but PR people can use Haro too)! 

Get their blog submitted to aggregate content providers like Alltop.

While you’re working like mad to pitch the next big project to your clients and prospects, think about them once it a while.  Show them it’s not all about the money–it’s about the relationship.  Then put your money where your mouth is.

Free, just like Gideon’s at the Holiday Inn.  But if you like it, share it, and give Dave his props.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/bzzagent/The_Word_of_Mouth_Manual_Volume_II.pdf