Blog

A journalist once asked me about the connection between Lean Media and guerrilla marketing. Certainly, there is a possibility of test audiences being so taken with the demo version, rough cut, beta game, or manuscript that they feel compelled to tell all of their friends about it, thereby giving it a boost when it doesRead more

Most 21st century businesses need to have at least a little media DNA to market their products/services and connect with customers. If you have a website or social media presence, these are in fact important channels for distributing media to an audience, which may consist of current customers, prospective customers, partners, and peers. Many smallRead more

Brands, manufacturers, and resellers using Amazon Seller Central are constantly seeking Amazon reviews for their products. What’s the best legitimate way to get real Amazon reviews? In the short video below, I reveal five best practices for getting honest Amazon reviews that follow Amazon’s strict review guidelines and don’t turn off shoppers. Includes examples, warningsRead more

This is a continuation of my blog series called Media Myths, based on my book Lean Media and some of the questions I get from people interested in the framework. You can see read the other posts here. Myth #2: Lean Media is the same as Lean Startup I hear this one a lot, particularlyRead more

Dean Wesley Smith is a prolific fiction author. He’s also a prolific blogger, and spends a lot of time sharing his observations about the craft of writing. Some of his advice is helpful, but in one of his recent posts (a chapter from one his nonfiction books) he takes aim at the practice of using betaRead more

The Lean Media book project is still on track. In November, I wrapped up the second draft and sent it out to a group of beta readers including media professionals and lay readers. I am now synthesizing their feedback and determining what parts need to be brought back into the third draft. There are someRead more

I’m in the midst of writing my Lean Media book and today was working on a chapter about Lean Media feedback. Since the beginning feedback has been a central part of the Lean Media framework, and the last version of the flowchart had audience feedback coming back to the creative team after the idea, prototypes, and soft launch.Read more

I have been relatively quiet on the Lean Media website. Behind the scenes, however, I have been making progress with the Lean Media book. There are a few major updates to share, but I also want to reassure readers that the project is continuing and I expect to have more materials to post (including new draft chapters) inRead more

Last month I gave my first public presentation of Lean Media at a forum at Harvard hosted by the Harvard Extension Alumni Association, of which I am a member. The presentation at Harvard Hall on May 22 was part of an innovation symposium. It was short, but very effective — 10 minutes to present and 10 minutesRead more

Over the weekend, I listened to Tim Ferriss interview Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert cartoon strip. Before hearing the interview, I knew about Dilbert. It’s a classic. Everyone who has worked in an office can appreciate Adams’ relentless satire of office life. But I knew very little about the history of the strip, or Adams’Read more