Okay maybe that is pushing it but you don’t see too many 10 year partnerships in the online space. The announcement which many of us in the industry have been waiting to hear for a couple years now finally came through today. Yahoo and Microsoft signed a deal that puts them as search results partners.

In the deal Microsoft’s new Bing search engine (yes, it is actually from Microsoft even if they are have done a very good job of trying to cover that up to the general public) will provide the algorithmic results to Yahoo and the technology for how the paid search results are managed, while Yahoo will be selling the premium search ads.

The move is long-awaited even for those that didn’t necessarily see the move as a good one. What it does is put the resources of the #2 (Yahoo) and #3 (Microsoft/Bing) search vendors together to compete with Google which has been maintaining a 2 to 1 share over both of them combined fairly consistently.

If you haven’t used Bing, I do recommend trying it. It was a vast improvement over their previous attempt, results appear to be better and the display/interface is much improved.

Its about time someone finally stepped up to the plate to challenge Google. I fully expect Google to react well and roll with the news just fine. But it will be interesting to see how the industry reacts and how the ad sales pick up for Yahoo/Bing. At the end of the day I’ll always say it is about the results, so if they want to break into Google’s share over the long term it will take more than a marketing blitz, but at least they’ve made a change. It was time to adapt or die.

Social networking, web 2.0, new media; call it what you will, but the social activities that occur online are about community.  We have seen it time and time again, people that are simply online “friends” or connections being there with you in times of joy and in sadness.

Today we are seeing this community join together for a mommy blogger in her family’s time of need.  This mommy blogger goes by the pseudonym MckMama and writes the blog My Charming Kids.  Her youngest child, Stellan, is a very brave little boy.  He has suffered from heart failure since birth and is currently not doing well.  As soon as his most recent battle for his life occurred, her online community was there to support her.  There are 719 comments on her most recent blog post, the term Stellan is trending in twitter, and numerous twitter users have added a Twibbon to their profile picture that simply says “Stellan.”  The vast majority of these people have never met MckMama or Stellan, but they feel close to them from the words that are shared online.

Sometimes we forget how wonderful people can really be, how much a stranger can really impact the lives of others, and how much saying something positive can mean to a person that is going through something rough.  Our thoughts are with you MckMama and Stellan and thank you for reminding us what really matters in life.

Thomas Edison once said, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” That seems to place an inordinate (and highly simplified) amount of importance on just rolling up your sleeves and getting to work. And we all can work, right? Then why aren’t we all out there inventing better light bulbs?

It’s the inspiration. Without it, there is nothing to work for or on.

So where do we turn for inspiration? Usually to personal heroes in our own lives or prominent historical figures and newsmakers that are known to millions. But these individuals, as remarkable as they may be, are only the tip of the iceberg. The world is filled with people who have amazing ideas and do things that stretch the potential of human achievement – usually behind the scenes and without widespread recognition of their amazing achievements.

A lot of them can be found on TED.com.

So what’s a TED? TED is a small nonprofit group that believes passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately the world. On Ted.com they provide a clearinghouse that offers knowledge and inspiration from some of the world’s most inspired thinkers – for free.

Currently, there are more than 450 TEDTalks that span a gamut of topics and themes including creativity, technology, business, science, culture, arts, design, environmental, global and social issues and much, much more. Or, if you prefer, you can search under headings including, “most e-mailed,” “jaw-dropping,” “persuasive,” “courageous,” “ingenious,” inspiring,” “beautiful,” “informative,” etc.

I had two talks that I was going to recommend to you but I changed my mind. Not because they weren’t worth watching – they were (and are) – but because the truly remarkable thing about TED is the opportunity for personal discovery. There are so many directions you can go; and every one will take you someplace you’ve never been before and teach you something new and inspiring.

But be warned. TED is like potato chips – you can’t watch just one. With every story that leaves you shaking your head in amazement, there are hundreds more which are equally powerful, astonishing and remarkably relevant to our work and our lives.

For myself, I find TED a great way to start the day. It makes me think about what I do in my job, and more importantly, challenges me to find new ways to do it even better.

Be inspired.

There’s a commercial out now for BlackBerry that is running both on TV and in movie theaters. It starts out with a closeup of Bono singing “I’ll Go Crazy if I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight” from U2′s latest album, “No Line on the Horizon.” The scene quickly changes to a wide shot of the entire band performing in front of a wild crowd, followed by the words “BlackBerry Loves U2,” the BlackBerry logo and a URL.

While I also love U2, this spot leaves a lot of unanswered questions:

• Why should viewers care that BlackBerry loves U2?
• Why is U2 now partnering with BlackBerry, when the band’s partnership with BlackBerry competitor Apple was well publicized through the U2 branded edition of the iPod?
• Does U2 love BlackBerry back?

After visiting www.blackberry.com/u2, it turns out that BlackBerry maker Research in Motion is the main sponsor of the band’s tour. The band also is releasing the “U2 Mobile Album,” which will be available only for BlackBerries and features “No Line on the Horizon,” ways to connect with other U2 fans, images and news.

The lesson to marketers, though, is that when associating with celebrities, ensure that they are not more strongly connected in the public’s eye with your competition. It could have a confusing — and detrimental — effect.

Recently, the FDA advisory panel recommended strong limits on acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, in order to reduce deadly overdoses and liver failure caused by overuse of the drug. The recommendations included eliminating prescription drugs such as Vicodin and Percocet, and reducing the maximum dose of Tylenol.

Anticipating a less-than-favorable reaction from consumers, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) – the maker of Tylenol — was quick to react to the news from the FDA advisory panel. Within days of the panel’s recommendation, J&J ran three days of full-page ads in national newspapers, including USA Today and the New York Times. According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, the ads specifically addressed the advisory panel’s concerns about overdose associated with misuse of the drug stating that if, “you take more than the recommended dose,” then “you can cause serious liver injury.” The ads also assured that Tylenol is “the safest brand of pain reliever you can choose” when taken in the proper dosage. The landing page on Tylenol’s Web site also carries this message, promising consumers that their safety is Tylenol’s number one priority and offering important information about the recent meeting of the FDA advisory panel and its concerns with acetaminophen.

Johnson & Johnson’s prompt reaction to reassure consumers mirrors the company’s response in 1982 after Extra Strength Tylenol that was deliberately laced with cyanide killed seven people. Tylenol was not at fault; however, J&J still put customer safety first and immediately recalled all of the product, halted all advertising, and set up an 800-number for consumers with questions and concerns, among other things. A company with a model example of crisis communications still used in textbooks today, it’s good to see that J&J is still on its toes, prepared to provide crucial information and reassurance to consumers when a potential problem arises.

In the months ahead — once the FDA decides how to act on the advisory panel’s ruling — some say that J&J will have to have to find a balance in its marketing messages between touting Tylenol’s safety and acknowledging the advisory panel’s concerns.

I’ll make it a point to watch how J&J markets Tylenol over the next few months to see exactly what approach this well-known company takes. Any predictions?

Financial Times editor Lionel Barber told a UK audience this week that almost every news organization will charge for content in some way in the next year, as reported by PR Week. My question, then, becomes what value will news organizations provide that will engage readers to pay. That model was tried and failed a decade ago by many mainstream media. What will be different this time?

Traditional media have evolved and until recently thrived as the gatherers of information. Along the way, they became the agenda setters for discussion on issues with tremendous clout and must-read/see/hear status. With the explosion of online media and the ease of sharing and monitoring opinions (and the accompanying cultural shift that has people seeking this information online first), we don’t need media to gather as much; and “I can set my own agenda.” Think about it. I can subscribe to Web sites, blogs, Twitter accounts, and Facebook pages that give me only political news with my particular ideology, or only sports news that supports my favorite teams. I can ignore the rest. And frankly, there’s something satisfying in doing so for many who feel that the traditional media have abused that power in setting agendas consistent with their own personal views; not necessarily representing objectivity or the sentiment of the readers.

At the same time, the Wall Street Journal has a very successful pay-for-online content model, specifically because it provides content that often isn’t available anywhere else and goes deeper than traditional media typically report. Take note traditional media: To be worthy of my online dollar, you’ll have to do the same and offer something I can’t find elsewhere online. At a time when traditional media are shrinking their news staffs and relying on more canned wire stories, while expanding beats that allow less depth on original content, it’s difficult to see them re-inventing themselves in that meaningful way.

What do you think?

It’s official — Chicago’s Sears Tower now is called the Willis Tower. A British insurance company, Willis Group Holdings, has been granted naming rights to the building. The change has not been popular with Chicago residents, though; an online petition protesting the change has more than 36,000 signatures.

Chicagoans have not liked name changes in the past. Many refuse to call the Chicago White Sox stadium by its official name – U.S. Cellular Field, and residents protested the 2005 name change of Marshall Field’s to Macy’s.

The CEO of Willis Group Holdings, Joe Plumeri, has made the best of the situation. In an interview with AFP, he said that people should have fun and that ”They can call it the Big Willie as far as I’m concerned.” That’s smart for the reputation of Willis Group Holdings and for the Willis Tower. Big Willie it is.

Today’s issue of the PR Week Breakfast Briefing announced that a group of “Mommy Bloggers” have declared Aug. 10-16 a “PR blackout” week. Instead of reviewing products and freebies they use or have been sent to try out, they’ll return to the topics that presumably prompted them to begin blogging. Read the article here.

As marketing communicators, we often are charged with the goal of securing placements in prominent consumer publications or on popular websites and blogs. But if we examine the words “public relations,” maybe we need to step back and realize that although some bloggers review products, we need to respect that their public – blog readers, fellow mommies, and other loyal members of the mom community – doesn’t necessarily want to become part of a company’s public.

Are blogs meant for anyone to try to participate in since they’re open for the public to read and comment about?

During difficult times, problems loom larger, tempers become shorter, outlooks become dimmer and it gets all too easy to feel downhearted. Especially on the job. 

Worry and anxiety in the workplace can cause stress, (and vice versa) which can lead to high blood pressure, sleeplessness, depression, loss of attention and other maladies that can be detrimental to our physical and mental health. All of which can also grievously affect the quality of your work, and ultimately, the health of your company.

Fortunately, while we may not be able to control the economy, we can help control our attitude with a highly effective treatment that doesn’t involve pills or self-help books (although these can be very useful for some people in certain circumstances.) No, the answer lies in just putting a smile on your face.

I’ll pause here a moment to let those of you scoffing finish with your jeers. There, got it out of your system. Good. Now pay attention.

Everyone knows that you smile because you feel happy. What you probably didn’t know was that you feel happy because you smile.

Research by physiologist, Dr Israel Waynbaum, indicates that facial muscles used to express emotion trigger specific brain neurotransmitters. So whereas frowning triggers the secretion of stress hormones that can increase blood pressure, weaken the immune system, increase susceptibility to infections, and exacerbate depression and anxiety, smiling actually lowers the stress hormones cortisol, adrenalin and noradrenaline and produces hormones which stabilize blood pressure, relax muscles, improve respiration, reduce pain, accelerate healing and stabilize mood.

So what’s there to smile about? A lot more than you’d think – even in the darkest hours.

As a cancer survivor and frequent speaker at National Donor Family Council gatherings, my wife, Rose D’Acquisto, leads “Laugh Therapy” sessions wherein she encourages people who have undergone enormous loss to share funny stories about their loved ones. The results are incredible. People who came in with their heads down and the weight of the world on their shoulders leave with smiles on their faces and lighter hearts. Just from laughing. You can, too.

Next time you feel inclined to voice a discouraging word at the office, stop and take a moment to find something to smile about. You’ll not only feel better, you’ll be more productive. And because smiling is contagious, so will your coworkers  

One of the biggest misconceptions that businesses make when it comes to social media is the amount of time it can take.  Companies will make comments like “We can just start a blog” or “Twitter will be easy.”  However, they do not realize the immense amount of time it takes to manage these types of efforts.  Beyond the issue of time management, creating compelling and interesting content can be an extremely difficult task.

Today I found an interesting advertisement for the new movie The Ugly Truth.  It highlighted the movie’s twitter account and offered a call to action for users to create the account’s content:

The advertisement states “Tweet your best dating advice to @UglyTruthMovie“  and “Come Back Friday (movies release date) for the top tips.”  Now we have stated before how smart it is to do advertisements that call attention to Twitter accounts, but this ad is adding a whole new piece to the puzzle.  This ad is not only informing people about the Twitter account for the movie, it is working to create content (and topics) without the administrator actually having to come up with it.  Can you say GENIUS?  The other interesting piece to the ad was the location of the media buy.  The above advertisement is currently on the middle of the first 3 pages of PerezHilton.com which attracts the exact same market as The Ugly Truth is aiming to reach (and get into the theaters).  So in a nutshell, the advertisement is targeted directly at the perfect group of people to build the account’s content, while engaging them in efforts to sell some tickets.

Do you think some of these “content creators” (and viewers for that matter) will be venturing to the theaters this Friday?