Book Recommendation: The Score

Comic Book Recommendation: The Score
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The ScoreDid you love “Ocean’s Eleven” (either the 1960 Frank Sinatra original or Soderbergh’s 2011 remake with George Clooney and Brad Pitt), too? Love the idea of a big crew pulling a big heist? Sure, taking down a casino is ambitious, but how about taking down an ENTIRE TOWN? I highly recommend:

The Score” (1964) was the fifth novel by Richard Stark (a nom de plume of Donald E. Westlake) that follows hardboiled heist master “Parker,” a character whose stories have been adapted into film (notably Mel Gibson in “Payback”), but never by name until award-winning animator/artist Darwyn Cooke pitched the idea for these 1960s-set Graphic Novel thrillers (“The Score” being the third of four). Westlake was so impressed with Darwyn Cooke’s Saul Bass-style treatment, he gave his blessing to use the name Parker for the central character — something he had never previously allowed with any film adaptation of the Parker novels.

By the bye, there is an upcoming adaptation of Stark’s 19th (!) Parker novel, “Flashfire”. “Parker” is currently filming and scheduled for release in 2013. Jason Statham stars as the title character, along with Jennifer Lopez (who was fantastic in another great Clooney heist flick, “Out Of Sight”) and Michael Chiklis. Nice!

GIVE IT A TRY!

©2012 Benjamin Holcomb. All rights reserved.

Authenticity Rule #1: Don’t Lie

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In Marketing and Social Media (“So-Me”) circles, there is a lot of talk about ‘authenticity’ in messaging. With the relatively new ability to engage our guests and customers one-on-one, authenticity is increasingly vital. Message ‘Broadcasting’ – i.e. casting the widest possible net – is no longer ideal. And in some cases, it can be downright detrimental to your business.

Today, I received an Email from a new Business-to-Business Web site, whom I won’t reward with name promotion:

This is not an authentic marketing effort.
This is not an authentic marketing effort.

When I first opened the message, I went on a quick, emotional roller coaster: “Hey, this Heather person discovered me based on my experience as a professional graphic designer and Creative Director,” I thought. About half-way through reading it, the realization, “Hey, she has no idea who I am,” followed by a deflating feeling, “Waitaminnit. this is SPAM.”

Despite her claim of being “excited to find” me and, she does not know me. “I think you’re a perfect fit!” she assured me. But this is just fake personalization; Merge-fields and Email templates, with a casual salutation (“Hey”) thrown in to suggest an existing friendship. And I felt manipulated.

How fast do you think I clicked the UNSUBSCRIBE link? This Web site lost me as a customer before they even had me.

In his brilliant second book, The Thank You Economy (pictured at right, available on Amazon.com), author Gary Vaynerchuk reminds us there is always a “C” in “B-to-B.” Even if you’re reaching out to a business, one must remember there is always a customer on the other end.

So how does one ensure authenticity in one’s Marketing messages?

Rule #1: Don’t Lie.