You have seen it over and over throughout the years. MC Hammer, Mike Tyson, and others that have spent more than they make. The problem isn’t actually with their spending. It is with their choice of (or lack of) investments.

There are certain sure things in this world. One of them being that there is such a thing as a “safe investment”. The problem is that most people (even celebrities that have consultants) don’t know what they are or how to use them. Another sure thing is that it takes very little research to find that safe investment.

Now, I am sure that what you are about to read will be challenged by so-called experts. The problem is that those experts are non-educated in the real world. They simply repeat things they read or hear.

In these economic times, you read a lot about how investors lose their shirts in real estate. The reason why though is something that isn’t told. Real estate can make you, and keep you rich. You just have to buy it properly otherwise you end up on the news bitching about it. Buying it right means providing the seller with what they can accept, and taking the property using leverage. You do not pay all cash for a property and expect to make a profit on it in your lifetime. You pay $10k, at most, down on a $100k property. Then you rent it out and have that mortgage be paid by the tenants. Your return is infinite once you get your $10k down payment back (which is very much within your lifetime).

You can start new companies as well. Once that aren’t completely risky and have no exit strategy. Celebrities have the clout to make a big dent in a grand opening, or an e-commerce launch.

The biggest problem is some celebs think that their income is a permanent thing. Multiple strings of income is essential though. I consult on these things. Unfortunately, I wasn’t around when MC Hammer lost his shirt.

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Marketing is something you can read about online. There are vast internet resources where you can go to, read, and become an “expert”. But the fact is that if you do not understand that marketing is an ever-changing industry, then your expert title will mean nothing. Being an expert doesn’t mean that you retain information that you read, and regurgitate it on request. Being an expert means being creative, and innovative on a daily basis.

Being creative and innovative sometimes means risking everything. There was that time when marketers left a device in the open public, and everyone thought it was a terrorist attack. I admit, people over-react, and mostly are stupid. The good thing is that you can capitalize on stupidity. But stupidity is not your greatest marketing tool.

Effective marketing stands out. Think about the absurd in current society, then come up with a way to use it in a way that generates attention. This is the formula to a successful marketing campaign that will become viral. Viral marketing explodes into leverage, which means that your advertising dollars have been recouped many times over.

Effective marketing in current society (America) would be some bald dude with a colorful tattoo on his head, and wearing wings or something. It has to stand out apart from the competition. DRTV uses this concept, but unfortunately many campaigns are way below the bar. There are commercials that you remember like the funny Geico lizard. Then there are those obscure commercials that simply remove themselves from your brain the instant that the 30 seconds are up.

Using the effective marketing concept paired with current technology such as social networking, and internet media, you can really make a branding dent with little effort past that of using your creative brain.

Feel free to mention your creative concepts below.

I would like to challenge Perez Hilton, and TMZ to actually come up with something newsworthy, and do it without spreading crap gossip to the masses.

My celebrity PR consulting is something that is not mentioned in the press. It is a pretty well kept secret even though I have been doing it for years now. I can honestly say that I have some juicy stories to tell, but I would NEVER sell out my celebrity clients.

Now what I am wondering is, why on EARTH would celebrities even allow such a slug like Perez Hilton to even get near them so he can post his crap on the net for mindless followers who lack their own lives to read and comment on.

Another issue I have is that TMZ is conveyed as a good source for celebrity news. The problem is that their crappy reporting is just that. Crap. Celebrities actually have newsworthy items to report about, but what we end up seeing is them getting some washed up actors to give them an interview. Or they catch a celebrity leaving a bar because they were trying to unwind after a crazy tour or some other gig.

I would like to think that Perez Hilton and TMZ have the same reporting style. Gossipy crap reported by a kindergartner. I would also like to note that my 6 year old is looking for a job in the media. Either of you two hiring?

Incoming search terms:

• tmz is stupid
• pr consulting makes more money?
• tmz brandon connell

I would consider myself one of those types of people who mix business with pleasure. That being the fact that I use my Facebook profile to network with people in order to generate traffic and/or sales. I have been reconsidering this though because I find myself in my older age wanting to associate with “friends” in my spare time. Unfortunately, I have spent a good portion of my life networking for business though.

Previously, I thought that success was generating thousands of myspace friends, or facebook contacts. I was successful at that, but my personal life was out there on a platform that I didn’t want to share with the general public. I can’t really complain here because nobody is forcing me to blog.

Does anyone else have issues mixing their business with pleasure?

As an advertiser, what do you look for in a blog site when considering whether or not to buy ad space? Especially when a blog is non-specialized?

Consider this. The target blog reaches over 1 million readers every month. The blog publishes posts about everything from technical tutorials, to the wife not putting out. Do you advertise your product that cleans car rims?

Non-specialized sponsoring is a tough topic. There are blogs out there that are specific to an industry. Take problogger for example, who posts about creating a successful income from blogging. You can advertise your new blogging platform on that site, and probably get many downloads/purchases.

I would like your input here about whether or not you would advertise on a blog that is not specialized, and why or why not.

I found this interesting and thought I should post it. I noticed that websense was visiting my website. I believe it decided to visit because of my post about Iran. If you don’t know, websense is a company that provides a way to block access to certain sites based on it’s content. The Chinese government and other repressive regimes are known to use websense, and blocks their citizens from free speech and access to content that speaks freely.

Very interesting that they decided to visit me.

Incoming search terms:

• how to make money websense
• how to make money with websense

Looking for a way to keep your website updates with fresh content without having to actually spend time researching and typing? If you hire a blogger, you can get the content requirements that you need without using your precious time as an investment. You can find bloggers to write 1,000 word articles for as cheap as $8 a piece.

If you need someone, I am available. I have various knowledge, but am able to research any subject based on your need. Blogging, if you don’t know, is the best way to get search engine spiders like googlebot to stay on your website, constantly indexing.

I recommend WordPress as your blogging platform, and I can install it if needed. I find that WordPress has a bunch of free, essential plugins that allow your blog to be search engine friendly, and integrate with social networks and other modern media.

I have to say, I voted for Barack Obama. Before I get flooded with complaints from GOP drones, let me say that I welcome Bush right now when it comes to the handling of Iran. I am unsure of why we are sitting back waiting for Iran to develop their nuclear technologies. I think that Bush would have forced his military onto Iran by now. It is the smart move forward at this point.

Iran is one of those countries that can be compared to Burma, or Tibet (two places that also need to be invaded by military force). We are dealing with a bunch of kids. I can’t really compare it to anything else because they don’t like to be punished by the equivalent of putting them in a time-out. The sanctions are obviously not working, therefore we need to try something else.

I don’t like to call myself a democrat, or a republican. I am really nothing when it comes to politics. It’s all a bunch of crap, and most of America falls for it. I do however, know right from wrong. What’s wrong would be for us to sit back and watch a country bomb us.

In order to know me a little better, I thought I would share my current tv watch list. These are shows that I prefer on primetime, and not primetime.

1.) House – I watch this because he actually reminds me of me. I started from the very first show. His ability to always be right, and his way of offending people. It’s crazy but I think they wrote this show based on ME.

2.) Bones – I kind of like it because of the dynamic between the main characters. It’s one of the few crime shows I actually can follow without getting bored.

3.) Numbers – It’s a good show because of the math. My wife watches it because it’s a good crime show, but I am more of a math nerd. So sue me.

4.) Simpsons – Do I really have to tell you why? It’s funny. And my wife says that they came up with the Homer character by studying me. Funny, but she sounds like Marge when she grumbles.

5.) Cribs – I used to watch this all the time because it game me something to look forward to financially. I still like the show because it’s just a great show.

6.) Human Target – Great because of the fighting. I am a martial artist after-all. I like those kinds of shows.

It might not be a complete list, but it’s a good start to an insight into what I like to watch.