I was always a TinyUrl gal. I mean, it makes sense really. I’m tiny, I like the word tiny and I like links that are tiny.

BUT THEN! Then! I learned that through services like Urlzen and Cligs you can make your links tiny and TRACKABLE, too!

This is important for those of you who are using Twitter, linking to interesting articles/clips on Facebook or promoting your personal blog. Or your other blog. See! Now that you’ve clicked there I’ll know because the “my cligs” section will tell me so.

Anyway, I think this sort of thing is about the coolest invention ever. And I’m sure there are more than just two of these services out there. Give it a quick Google. I just happen to dig this one.

Oh, and the nice thing about Cligs is that it’s creators are still in the throws of building it out, so they are very quick to respond to feedback. That’s how I got into an email conversation with Cligs man Pierre, who said that he I got the idea for it when he started using Twitter and realized that he had no idea how many peope were clicking the links he was sharing.

Well, thanks, Pierre! Thanks to you I know exactly how many folks are clicking on the links I’m sharing. Knowledge is more than power, it’s flipp’n cool.

Cligs on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cligs

You know how some folks are all proud that their kids do amazing things? Well, I don’t have kids, but I do think I know what that joy feels like:

Behold! My grandmother and her new 3G iPhone.

How do ya like her now, crackberry?

I’m sure the folks at Apple know this already, but the iPhone is actually perfect for seniors. It’s easy to read (even outside), the buttons are big, the menus are very clearly displayed and the ringer is super loud. Besides, what senior isn’t going to love having Bingo, Little Jimmy Dickens and Sudoku on their phone?

I’m so, so proud! I can’t wait till she gets a Wii! She’ll basically be freakishly cool at that point.

Ah, career advice. As much as I love giving it, I really love to hear it. I’m dork, I know. Sometimes it’s commonsense and rather pointless like “work hard” or “never give up.” But many times it makes you step back and access your situation. It makes you grateful for what you’ve got and/or passionate about what you could attain.

It’s even more fun when the advice is cool. Like this offering from career strategist J.T. O???Donnell, which points out that since the vast majority of new jobs are landed based on who you know, you should probably start caring about who you know and how they remember you.

To this point, O’Donnell asks if you are a marble-type or sponge-type employee and warns, “your answer will determine the quality, quantity & quickness of job offers you receive.”

So … are you a marble?

Marbles are people that as they progress through their careers, don???t take the time to connect with others and build meaningful professional relationships. While they maintain a shiny professional persona, they fail to gather any weight in the form of contacts and resources that can help them in the future.

Or are you a sponge?

Sponges are people who make it a point to connect and build relationships with managers, co-workers and clients. They see value in building a strong professional network by getting to know people on a deeper level. By acquiring and maintaining workplace connections, they build professional weight that they can leverage in the future.

Why does it matter?  Read O’Donnell’s explanation here. I can testify to the impact a first/only impression makes on your future. That dude you just stood next to at the Shelby County Imagination Library event may be your next boss. Just say’n.  

New-to-me blog alert! I just stumbled upon Bulletproof Blog and I’m savoring every word.  It’s the well-written and highly relevant product of Dallas Lawrence (and others) of DC-based Levick Strategic Communications. I don’t know much about the firm, but I hear they are a big deal and I sure dig the blog.

Anyway, this post about the death of print journalism is a great (albeit sad) one. Rather than just reminding us that the end is near, Lawrence cites numerous sources as he piles up the stats that make your smarter. Like this:

Today, newspapers are struggling to keep up with the evolving needs of a next-generation audience. According to one estimate gathered online, more than 10,000 newsroom jobs ??? that???s 40 jobs per day ??? have been cut in 2008 alone.

I love stats. Oh, and he gives kudos to the Washington Post for their use of Facebook and calls on others to follow suit, adding:

If its industry is to survive, others must take a page from the Post???s online playbook and engage the next generation whether they???re ready or not.

All that said, print journalism isn’t dead yet. While I’m thrilled that so many PR pros and journalist are learning to embrace their inner geek, I hope we don’t fail to stay engaged in the present state of media relations. Print – daily and weekly – still has a place today, particularly if you live outside of a top five media market.

Successful PR pros must have a balanced skill set and that means you’ve gotta be willing to kick it old school if need be. Tennessee markets aren’t even in the top 30, but they are still very important to our clients. Your best tweet merely complements your ability to craft a well-written op-ed – it does not replace it.

Just say’n.

Public Relations Society of America chair-elect Michael Cherenson recently shared a few “insurances” to advancing your PR career. I agree with them wholeheartedly and, as a PR practitioner, would only add to his list “create luck for clients and prospects, too”:

Knowledge is power. The more you know, the more powerful you will be. Every public relations professional must constantly retool and make a commitment to professional development. It’s no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Knowledge is not enough. You also need a network, connections, and relationships. Get involved; be a leader.

It’s still not enough to be smart and know lots of people ??? you also need luck. And luck isn???t an accident. Lucky people often make their own luck by being proactive and attacking life with a positive attitude.

Preach on, brother. As hubby and I phrase it, “you make your own breaks.” Either way, it’s true and the action items rest with you.

I had a friend in junior high whose mother would say things like, “No, I don’t need the salt shaker. If the Lord wanted me to have salt on my food he would have made it salty. And that’s true for life, too.”

She was a nice lady, but her logic never hit home. The Lord gave you and me a brain and opposable thumbs, so get to salt’n, sister. Life’s too short not to.

B.L. Ochman has a great top ten list of reasons CEO’s and the like should not blog.  All of her points are valid, but my favorite is the first:

1. The blogs most companies want to create are guaranteed to join the 900,999 out of every million blogs with no readers. Why? They???re boring.

I agree with it wholeheartedly, but my number one reason for anyone – CEO’s or SAHM‘s – should not blog is this:

A blog is like a dog. You’ve got to feed and water it. You’ve got to love on it and take it on long walks in the park. You’ll need to name it. Get it checked out by experts every now and then. Oh! And there will be poop. You’ll need to pick that up. Fail to do these things and it will die — and no one will ever trust you with a blog again.

Trust me (even though I just told you not to), I know. I’ve killed two such blog-dogs in my lifetime. Why? See Ochman’s point number 4.

It makes me wonder when someone out there will start a no-kill blog shelter where you can go and adopt unwanted blogs into stable, loving homes with good time management skills.

Anyway –

I’m now the proud owner of three blogs, Flackrabbit, Chic Geek and Picalicious. I promise (hopefully) not to kill them. They are very time consuming, but also very rewarding. Plus, it’s good writing practice. So you’ve got that going for you, which is nice.

I’m so, so sad. Going to BlogHer Nashville was going to be the blogging badge for my geek sash (sigh).

Dear BlogHer Nashville attendee:

Thank you so much for registering for BlogHer’s Reach Out Tour. It is with great disappointment that I am writing to inform you that late last week the BlogHer Team met and made the very tough decision to cancel the Southern leg of 2008 Reach Out Tour, including the event in Nashville on October 16, 2008.

One year ago, in response to community polling about where BlogHer???s annual event should take place, we created an ambitious plan to spend two weeks on the road visiting six cities. Although we have done casual meet-ups in various cities in prior years, our goal here was to bring each city a full BlogHer Conference experience, including multiple tracks of programming, full meals, schwag and a fun cocktail party. At only four weeks out from the Tour???s start we realized that we simply would not have the resources to deliver that kind of high-quality experience in all six cities and instead have decided to focus on the two cities that have the most sponsor and community member support.

As you read this, your account is being refunded for your registration to the conference, and we want to thank you for that registration and let you know that we sincerely hope we get another opportunity to meet you in person in the next year, whether at the Boston and DC stops of the Tour, at our annual event next year or at some other meet-up throughout the year.

Please let me know if you have any questions, and once again, we apologize that we cannot carry through with BlogHer Nashville this year.

Call me obsessive, but I cannot resist the weekly urge to check the pulse of my online self.  I want to know what you see when you Google any combination of Margie Maddux Newman.

It’s not that I think everyone is out there Googling me, but what if they do? I want to be sure those results are not in the least bit embarrassing. I also want them to be relevant, even if they are nothing more than my thoughts on Google Chrome, downtown living, public relations stuff or my love for Nashville Predators Hockey. Read More…

Thanks for thinking of me, Nashville Business Journal. It really means a lot.  BTW, I didn’t know my iPhone and Crema comfort coffee would be in the shot, but it is more realistic that way.

We did the NBJ Q&A and photo shoot before the PR News announcement. It is really weird that this is all hitting in the same week; it’s all very humbling.

I’m in shock to be among PR News’ 15 to Watch. It’s such an honor to be listed with these very talented flacks working for major, big dog folks.

Thanks, Goad, for nominating me. It really means a lot.