Bloggers Arrive

Interesting that the 2011 Blog World Expo in New York is co-sharing the convention center with the Book Expo America at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. Interestingly ironic and somewhat contradicting as digital media is increasingly competing with traditional print.

As I was making small talk with the lucky fella (or unlucky considering we both flew out of South Bend, Indiana and survived three cancelled flights and one half day late of a successful work day in New York) sitting next to me on the plane, I was telling him about this conference I was on my way to. He admitted that he was clueless about social media. iPod owner was the highest level he could mark on his digital development growth chart, in fact.

He shared that he was talking to his daughters, both tweens, about how the Gutenberg press changed the face of history. They laughed and told him the printing press is nothin' compared to the internet.

Digital bloggers + Book authors. United or divided?
A new twitter friend, @coffeewithjulie also known as Julie Harrison was tweeting about her *heavenly* experience at the Book Expo. When I asked her if she agreed that the digital and print realms were  A contradiction, she tweeted, "that the biggest names in social media are those with best selling books."
Many bloggers yearn to be in print to prove that they have arrived. Someday we hope that won't be necessary. The brand equity found through social media channels is more valuable than anything found on pulp, in my opinion that is. Both the digital and printed medias have a purpose in our lives.

As keynote speaker of the opening night of the expo and author of The Mirror Test, Jeffrey Hayzlett boldly phrased it, "I want a book online and in print so I can read it in the air, on the toilet, wherever the hell I want to."

It is fascinating to engage in this topic at a conference as these two worlds of storytelling and journalism collide, compete, coexist and continue to impact our communication and cultures.

Digital media has certainly impacted me. It has opened doors to opportunities that I would have never had with a telephone, pen and paper. Through twitter, I have met some dynamic individuals who educate me and inspire me. Heck, the last two gigs I've been fortunate to secure have come from twitter, including this assignment that I'm on as I report for Social Fresh on Blog World.  I've been able to have my voice heard and have made real connections from small rural Indiana.

And, here I am. At New York attending the Blog Expo. After three cancelled flights, as I walked into the Javits Convention Center to the VIP registration to pick up my press pass, I think to myself *I have arrived.* (finally.)

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Identity Defined. That was then. This is now.

Like a mechanic who needs to take his car to the shop for some repairs, we understand our own need for our own professional services!

The Midas Center has gone through a lot since its birth in 1999. At a glance, here is the timeline of how our identity and brand has evolved.

1999
acdesign studio, inc. (200 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL)
visual integrity for the legal community
Clients served: Edelman Public Relations Worldwide, Arthur Andersen, Schiff Hardin, Linder Legal Staffing, Alder Murphy & McQuillen, Rapoport Law, Moran Consulting and more.

2002
The Midas Center, Inc. (809 N. Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL)
Transforming Touchpoints into Gold Through Visual Integrity(TM)
Additional clients: Dennemeyer, Patent Cafe / ipFRONTLINE.com, Cassiday Schade and more.

2010
The Midas Center LLC (200 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth, IN)
When we describe our offering, in the past, we would respond:
We provide marketing, public relations, advertising and branding services.
(zzz...snore...old...boring...irrelevant terms, right?)


That was then: We offer award winning marketing, advertising, public relations and branding services to businesses who want to achieve success.

This is now: We are brand builders, buzz generators, media developers, success makers. In other words, when people ask us, "So, what do you do?"
We will respond with, "We transform opportunity into gold. We are like a think tank that is fueled by creativity, technology and impact!"

Yeah. That sums it up, don't you think? These terms include our community site development through our subsidiary, iHEART Green Media as well as allowing us to offer social media management, execute campaigns and craft collateral for clients. . .

What do you think?

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What Have You Been Up To?

When people ask us, "What have you been up to?" We answer, "Just keeping busy, building buzz and loving every second of it!"

That is the short answer... We thought we'd share a little more detail with you for the long answer... It is a golden era for us at The Midas Center! Here is some more information about "What we have been up to."

Today's headline in the South Bend Tribune was "Small storefront holds big ideas inside." Here is a link to the full article > We want to thank Virginia Ransbottom for writing an articulate article about our agency and the many entrepreneurial wheels we are grinding for business development!

This morning owner Andrea Cook was on the air with owner Gary Treat to promote the upcoming launch of www.TreatsBridalSuite.com. In fact, this Friday night we are hosting a Launch Party for the online expo and magazine dedicated to the local bridal market.

Friday night, March 11th, at 6:00 to 8:00, The Midas Center and iHEART Green Media will be opening its doors to invite the community for a Grand Opening party in conjunction with the Launch Party.

There is a lot to celebrate, including some new accounts, iHEART sponsorships and advertisement placements. We'll be sharing details with you on these new relationships soon.

Later today Cook will be in South Bend at the public broadcasting studio recording a show with Phil D'Amico, Director of Business Growth at The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County and host of WNIT's Economic Outlook program. The show will focus on Social Media and its impact on economic development. Details on the show, its panel members and airing times, click here >

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