Life is full of choices.Pepsi or Coke? Salad or pasta? Boxers or briefs? Compact or utility vehicle? Answer it or let it roll over? Go out or stay in? Take the over or the under? Call or send an e-mail?

The Detroit Free Press announced earlier this month that the government released a sobering jobs report indicating that the number of unemployed nationally rose by 632,000 people in the month of December to more than 11 million.That's a lot of people, many of whom are experiencing serious repercussions.According to a recent report in the Washington Business Journal, "Two recessions over the last decade have elevated the number of people living in poverty, with nearly half of the increase occurring in the suburbs of the nation’s biggest metropolitan areas, according to a report released Wednesday by the Brookings Institution."People aren't just losing their jobs, they are losing their cars and their houses, even their families.

Do publicity and media relations tactics like news releases and media coverage support organic search engine optimization?

Recently our company was instrumental in the building and construction of a new sustainable retailer.  This new building received a lot of local and trade media coverage; however, our involvement is getting overlooked.  Is it too late for us to get a piece of the pie?  If not, how should we approach the media?

2009 was all about transparency – open communications and honest relationships. No more secrets in a world of social media; give us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. After all, the truth will set us free.Maybe not so much.I read this morning in the Wall Street Journal that the new president of Procter & Gamble plans to introduce 30% more new products this year than last.

How can I effectively measure the results of a consumer product email marketing campaign? ___________________________________________________ By Jennifer Manocchio Prior to starting your email marketing campaign, set specific and measurable objectives. For most consumer packaged goods companies, email marketing objectives often include: increasing company/product awareness, increasing web site traffic, and increasing product trial and sales among current and prospective customers.

Over the holiday weekend I managed to catch about five minutes of A Christmas Carol on TV. It wasn't the classic movie starring Reginald Owen or even the 50s favorite starring Alastair Sim. And it wasn't the new Jim Carey animation.

I received a call from the company that produces The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television. They wanted to feature our products on their show, but there was a pretty significant cost associated with it. Should I consider this opportunity? ____________________________________________________ By Jennifer Manocchio It is not uncommon for Sweeney to receive calls from production companies that want to feature our clients’ products on their television show.

Once upon a time (in the early 1980s) I was an account executive with Burson-Marsteller/Chicago. One of my accounts was the National LP Gas Association and gas prices were soaring, which was good for the propane industry. So good in fact that Ford Motor Co.