Imagine the biggest, juiciest, most delicious meatball you can imagine. Now picture covering that meatball with caramel, hot fudge, whipped cream and colored sprinkles.

Pretty disgusting, huh?

That’s the picture that Seth Godin painted in his new that seller Meatball Sunday. He makes the case that new media marketing options like blogs, online video, social networks, and all of the Web 2.0 social media marketplace are like the toppings at an ice cream parlor.

If you start with ice cream, adding sprinkles, cherries, hot fudge and whip cream will make it tastes great. But if you start with a bowl of meatballs, it becomes messy, disgusting and ineffective.

Seth’s message is directed at corporations who sell basic staples like cereal, beer, cars and toys.

But this analogy is even more applicable to entrepreneurs and small-business owners.

Here’s why…

It’s OK to market like a meatball - IF…

Imagine again that same big, juicy, delicious meatball. Except now this time picture that meatball surrounded by fresh handmade spaghetti, covered with the tastiest tomato sauce you’ve ever had, dusted with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and accompanied by a great glass of Chianti.

Quite a different experience now isn’t it?

You see, for the solo-preneur, start-up entrepreneur or small-business owner; the fact of the matter is YOU are the business. You are what you’re selling.

Why?

Because the fact is —

people by WHO you are before they buy WHAT you’re selling.

If you’re marketing in today’s new media marketplace, it doesn’t matter if you’re marketing as a meatball, tofu, or ice cream.

What needs to come first is you answering the following three questions:

- What is my personal brand? (And how well is that packaged?)

- How effective are you at gathering a Tribe that passionately connects with your style?

- Have you chosen the right “toppings”?

Look - the bottom line is pretty simple. It’s human nature for you to want to hang out with people who are like you. The same is true in business. We want to do business with people who are like us… or at least people who we like.

How well you package and present yourself will have a major impact on your success in today’s New Media Marketplace.

What about you?

What are your answers to the questions above?

And what else do you think is crucial to persuade people to to buy WHO you are before they buy WHAT you’re selling?

Share it in some graffiti down below.

I recently wrote a piece on the New Media Marketing blog for Entrepreneur Magazine, and it caused quite a controversy. In it I raised the question of women having a natural advantage when it comes to the art of influence and online persuasion. The topic generated a lot of comments and stirred up both men and women to join in and share their opinion.

As a matter of fact, the topic was so controversial that the buzz continued on Twitter, and at parties in the “real world”. Including a recent get together with one of my clients living Hawaii.

He started to say, “Women Rule on Twitter” while we were walking on the beach in Kailua to catch the sunset. But then, a couple of Mai Tais later, once again – the controversy took over. In the dark of night he “might” have admitted too much of what he REALLY thinks about women, and how he can’t compete with them on Twitter.

I dunno – but it sure had me laughing! (And laughing - and laughing esp while editing this video.) But I’ll let YOU decide.

Does he speak the truth? Or go too far? Is he sexist? Or simply admitting that women do indeed have a natural advantage for any type of social networking activity on the net?

J.P. Micek chimed in, (on the laughing) and went on to agree that women really DO indeed rule on Twitter. He said it was because they have, (and I quote) “The Whole Package”.

What do you think the whole package is, giving women the advantage on social networking sites?

And is it only women who have the whole package when it comes to winning on Twitter? Or can men develop the skills necessary to win in the new media marketplace?

Make your opinion count with a comment below.

@CoachDeb

Let’s face it, in today’s’ world of politically correct speech most people walk a line that’s so bland, they blend into the white walls they’re standing in front of. Most people are afraid to say anything that they’ve been indoctrinated to believe is “wrong” or “evil” or… God forbid… something that some man, woman, child, (or cross-dresser, molester or red-footed blue-nose field mouse) may take as “offensive.”

The good news is that this makes it really easy for you to stand out from the crowd. And actually, if you stop being a squishy Jello-like person and stand for something — you’ll attract a crowd.

When you speak your mind, unfiltered and unabashed, you’ll be surprised to see you’ve got a Tribe of raving fans who’ve quietly been thinking what you’ve actually had the guts to say.

The Gabby Cabby example

My good friend Wayne Kelly over at On Air Publicity has a great example of this “get-real” approach. It’s a quick radio interview with the Gabby Cabby.

In the 3-minutes of audio that Wayne shares, you’ll see how a strong, straight-shooting Personal Brand transformed a NYC cabby into a internationally known “expert” on the streets of New York City.

Of course, when you decide to be different, to be edgy, you’d better be able to back up what you’re saying.

• Be passionate about your niche, know your stuff, and use facts to reinforce what may “seem” like outrageous comments.
• DON’T rattle off facts or opinion to hammer people over the head with your views.
• DO use facts to make people think and come to a conclusion on their own.

I have a saying that I’ve used for years… “Most people think in screams, and speak in whispers.” In world dominated by brainwashed Jello-minded people, you don’t need to scream to get noticed. (Leave that to the Marketplace Molesters.)

Just speak what your Tribe is thinking and you’ll not only get attention — you’ll be remembered.

When is the last time you spoke without filters? And what happened?

What makes a Marketplace Molester? And how do Tribal Seducers act in contrast? Knowing the difference can set you up to attract crowds of raving fans… or be scorned and hated by the masses.

Here we’ve got some examples of a Marketplace Molester, Physical Spammer, and a legendary Tribal Seducer in and about Sydney.

Now with New Media… it’s easier than ever to be a Tribal Seducer. Why would anyone want to take the Marketplace Molester approach?

Have you seen them?

So know that you know what a Marketplace Molester looks like in the real world, can you think of some that you’ve seen online?

What about Tribal Seducers — online or off-line? I bet they’re fewer you can think of. But the ones that do pop to mind, you’re probably a fan of (or at least respect.)