I had big plans for today. After all, it was two years ago today that I ventured out into the world on my own to create something . . . important. At the time, I didn't really know what that would be or what it would look like. And it's grown and changed over the last two years.

But a few months ago, I got crystal clear about my business. So I told the world when they would get to see the magic happen: January 23, 2012.

Yup. Today was the day I planned to launch a new website -- a website that would really reflect who I am and how I can make a difference in this crazy world in which we live. The website was going to look a lot like it already looks. But the copy would be completely new and the services I offer were going to be more tailored to what I truly love so I could be even more effective at helping people build their business.

It was going to be big!

But then, something happened. Something that changed everything. My big plans no longer seemed very big. And instead of being totally bummed out, that little spark of excitement -- that little crazy part of you that absolutely demands to be heard says, "Okay, other people might think that you are completely out of your rabbitassed mind! Who cares? If you don't do something with this, if you chicken out . . . well, then you may as well be hit by a Mac truck!"

Remarkably, my inner critic stayed quiet. She was probably scared out of her mind!

Okay, so what the hell happened? Well, here's the Reader's Digest version: A huge number of ideas, people and influences culminated in this weekend, as I was frantically drafting copy for my website and working with BrainyFeet's Larah Ritchie and two fellow travelers in the Self-Made Business Academy 72 Hour Business Plan retreat. It was this weekend that a little kernel of an idea that I've been carrying around busted out of its shell! My desire to help entrepreneurs fall in love with their marketing was a good start. It all stemmed from my impassioned plea that fellow entrepreneurs embrace their marketing, my belief that marketing is a system and a process that any entrepreneur can conquer, and my absolute knowledge that sleazy, slimy manipulation marketing tactics are not only contrary to the way we want to show up in this world but not the most effective way to build your business. The ideas were good. But we need something bigger, badder and bolder. What we need is a revolution.

And so, the Honest Marketing Revolution was born.

I'll be honest. This was a long time in the making. Sure, it all came together this weekend -- but I did not do it alone. I had a lot of help. And I have a lot of people to thank. I'll get to that part too. And I'll tell you all about my fellow revolutionaries!

I'll also be sharing my entire windy, twisty, crazyass story in my next blog post. It's easy to forget that progress rarely follows a straight line, so I hope there's some value in my personal story.

In the meantime, I have already purchased the domain name for my new site. And I'm meeting with a good friend who is a graphic designer tonight. We're celebrating my two year anniversary, her half-birthday and the birth of the Honest Marketing Revolution. This is a huge moment for me! And I am looking forward to sharing it with you!

Oh, and since I've got some weird bravery thing goin' on right now I'll also share something else with you. I am planning to write a book. Of course there's no doubt what I'll call it: "The Honest Marketing Revolution." Feel free to reserve a copy now!

I first met Camille Breeze, Director and Chief Conservator at Museum Textile Services, six or seven years ago. At the time, I was living in Andover, Massachusetts, and doing some consulting work for a couple of cultural heritage institutions. As a result of that work, I became acquainted with the New England Museum Association. That was how I first heard about the Ancient Peruvian Textiles Workshops that Camille was running each January.

It didn't take me long to learn that Camille's business was right in town. Within a few weeks, I got to meet Camille, take a tour of the conservation lab and hear all about textile conservation and the work she was doing in Peru.

I was fascinated.

Tapestries, samplers, quilts and uniforms were spread out on tables being cleaned and protected from further damage. Interns were learning about textile conservation and getting hands-on experience. And, she was traveling to Peru each year to help conserve fragile pre-Columbian textiles. Oh, and did I mention that she was also holding down a part-time job as she built her business?

Today, Camille has a much larger conservation lab and a full-time conservation assistant. She also continues to work with interns, providing hands-on training in the art and science of textile conservation to museum professionals, students and others. So you can imagine how excited I was to learn that we were going to work together!

When Camille first contacted me, Museum Textile Services was just finishing a two-year project conserving 18 Tibetan thangkas for the Mead Art Museum. With the project coming to an end, it was time to focus on marketing.

Our first step was to create a marketing plan and talk about branding. The plan needed to use a good mix of both inbound and outbound marketing strategies. Now having a written plan is lovely, and quite satisfying, but if the plan is not sustainable, and if it is not referred to regularly and treated as a living document, then it just gathers dust on the shelf.

In creating the marketing plan, we needed to clarify our goals, establish priorities and create a sustainable timeline. It's always been easy for me to be a bit too ambitious and plan to accomplish everything right out of the gate. But that can quickly lead to burnout and frustration. So do yourself a favor, and give yourself time to implement your plan and learn from the experience. Besides, if you're rockin' it like crazy, you can always quicken the pace!

Once the marketing plan and timeline was established, it was time to put it to good use. Museum Textile Services already had a Facebook page, so we talked a little bit about best practices and a few tips and techniques for using it more effectively. We're also slowly building up a presence on other social media outlets and have an account with PRLog, a news release distribution site.

But the biggest news is that Museum Textile Services just launched a new website with an integrated blog and a host of excellent resources to help cultural heritage institutions protect the textiles in their collections. The new site was designed using Weebly, the same platform that this site was built on. There are a number of benefits to using Weebly, but one is that the staff and interns at Museum Textile Services were able to build the website themselves. My role was to work on strategy, help with the technical details of transferring the domain name and create a Press Room and set up an email newsletter through MailChimp.

As we were putting the final touches on the website, New England was hit by Hurricane Irene. Vermont, Western Massachusetts and parts of Connecticut were hit incredibly hard. In no time at all, Museum Textile Services had added a Disaster Response page to the website, including salvage charts and other handouts. At the same time, they sent out hundreds of postcards to cultural heritage institutions in the effected areas to let them know about the resources and to offer a free 30 minute consultation.

From the very beginning, Camille has been committed to sharing her knowledge and expertise. Today, social media offers even more opportunities to share knowledge. As a part of a marketing plan that includes speaking at conferences, writing articles and conducting workshops, Museum Textile Services will continue to grow. That I am a small part of that journey, makes it that much sweeter!

Last Wednesday, at exactly 8:39 p.m. I unlocked the "Crunked" badge on Foursquare. Apparently my activities as an unofficial member of the Pixability camera crew raised some concerns. Foursquare knew I had checked into four pubs in one night. As a result, I earned a pub crawl style badge. Foursquare thought I was drunk!

It's been a few too many years to mention since I participated in a pub crawl. Nope. I wasn't drinking. Instead, I was bombing around Boston with the gang from Pixability. Earlier that evening I had participated with over one hundred other marketers in the World's First Marketing Flash Mob. The Flash Mob and the series of networking parties that followed were all a part of the FutureM Conference.

Pixability is a video marketing company. Their big idea? To make it simpler than ever for businesses and organizations of all sizes to tell their story via video. So as a part of the FutureM Conference, the gang at Pixability traveled from event to event (party to party) to ask one question: what is the future of marketing?

I was recruited as an unofficial member of the Pixability camera crew. I would be perfectly comfortable behind the camera, but I've never actually used one! So, to avoid being put in front of the camera, I gave myself a job.

Each time we arrived at a new venue, I checked in on Foursquare and announced that the Pixability camera crew had arrived! We started the evening with the rest of the flash mobbers at Lir Irish Pub & Restaurant. From there, we headed to The Rattlesnake Bar & Grill, where we gobble up at least a couple of tacos! Next up? Ned Devine's Irish Pub at Quincy Market. Our final stop of the evening was WorkBar Boston, a collaborative workspace with a fun and funky vibe. I checked in to Foursquare asking "Are your ready for your closeup? The Pixability camera crew is here!"

And that was when I was rewarded with my "Crunked" badge. Not the worst way to earn that particular Foursquare distinction!

We all have a couple of people in our lives who are . . . well, trouble. One of the biggest trouble-makers in my life is Rob Ciampa, VP of Marketing at Pixability. Rob has big ideas and big energy. He also has dimples, which make an appearance anytime he's up to something. Oh, and he has my phone number.

When he called me at the end of August and started the conversation by greeting me in Italian, I knew I was in trouble. The reason for his call? The gang at Pixability had decided to organize the world's first marketing flash mob at the 2011 FutureM Conference in Boston. I had participated in a couple of flash mobs. As a result, Rob dubbed me an expert. I was promptly recruited as the flash mob strategic consultant.

The plan for the flash mob was ambitious and there wasn't much time to prepare. I was afraid it was too ambitious and expressed my concerns. It's a good thing they didn't listen to me!

Boston has a huge marketing community, most of whom would be taking part in the FutureM Conference. The goal behind the flash mob was to bring this group of people together to highlight Boston's innovative marketing community, and to make a bit of a splash with the world's first marketing flash mob, performed to LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem!

What is a marketing flash mob?

In this case, not only were all of the participants marketers, but social media marketing was incorporated into every aspect of the flash mob. Because time was short and the participants were spread out across several different companies, much of the training, coordinating and choreography took place through videos posted on YouTube. Social media was used to recruit those crazy enough to dance in public.

The event itself started with a social media call to action over a loud speaker in Copley Square:

Check in!

A very brave, lone dancer used Foursquare to checked in to the flash mob. The music started. And she danced. A few moments later, more dancers joined in the fun. When the music stopped, another call to action was issued:

Tweet!

The music stopped. Everyone pulled out their smart phones and sent a message on Twitter. As more dancers joined in, the process was repeated twice more as participants signed in to Facebook and Google+.

But there were a lot of logistics. For the event to be successful, over one hundred people needed to come together to dance. They all needed to arrive in Copley Square and change into the Future M t-shirt. Pixability also needed to make sure that the sound system worked. Oh, and since there was never an opportunity to get all of the participants together at one time, none of us knew exactly who was and who was not there for the flash mob.

And did I mention that Pixability wanted to create a huge M from bright red fabric? And that all the dancers would have to be under the M? Oh, and the video would be useless if you couldn't actually tell that it was an M? 

I had a few concerns. First, the music was copyrighted. Would LMFAO grant permission to use their music? Would YouTube strip the sound? Second, a flash mob was getting together in the middle of Copley Square at rush hour. Would the police shut it down? And since there was no public sound system, one needed to be brought to the sight. Where would it be set up? And how would the dancers create a big letter M without any practice?

My suggestion had been to keep it simple and not to bother creating the M of dancers. Boy, was that a mistake! Pixability sent a videographer to the twenty-third floor of the John Hancock Tower, which gave a perfect aerial view of the M. They had cameramen, logistics folks and two-way radios. They even recruited Mr. Frosty to let a cameraman get up on top of the ice cream truck. In all, there were six videographers in strategic locations to shoot the event from several different angles. And they live streamed the event. The final, edited video was launched in less than 24 hours.

What did I learn from all this?

First, you can get the advice of as many advisors and experts as you want - but at the end of the day, your project is your project. If you want to take a bigger risk in hopes of getting a bigger reward, do it. Never let another person's fears hold you back.

Second, the gang at Pixability is up to any challenge. They are talented, creative and driven. They know how to push the envelope and get shit done. They are also a hell of a lot of fun and they know how to use video to tell a compelling story.

Third, I can't shuffle to save my life. I watched all the videos. Practiced and practiced the moves. I tried to shuffle, but I was an absolute disaster. The good news is that it didn't matter. Not many of us could shuffle, but each one of us had a ton of fun.

Finally, the next time Rob calls with some crazy idea . . . I'm all in!

When I first decided to redesign the website for Joppa Communications, I did a ton of research and took a hard look at the various web design platforms on the market. Learning about the different options helped me figure out what I wanted.

I had only three requirements. First, I wanted to own my content and I wanted a site that I could update myself. I didn't want to have to rely on a web developer to make changes every time I had a new idea or wanted to offer a new service. Second, I wanted to have a blog integrated into my website so I could share useful information. Also, the Google spiders who crawl the web just love new content! Third, I wanted to be able to customize the site to reflect my brand. It needed to have enough flexibility to let me add columns and images and play around with the color scheme.

By the time I finished my research, I had narrowed my options down to WordPress or Weebly. Both platforms met my criteria, and both have a huge selection of templates that provide a great starting point but allow for customization.

In January, I started working on my new website. I selected a WordPress template, found some great images and started writing copy. I was rarin' to go!

Then why is this website built on Weebly?

Let me start by saying that WordPress is a great choice, and it may well be the best choice for you. But after working with WordPress for a while, it became clear that I just didn't have the technical know-how to make my website look the way I wanted it to. And, frankly, I had no desire to learn all the technical stuff. I could have gotten help, but I knew that anyone who worked with me on this project would live to regret it. I kept changing my mind, rewriting content and changing the navigation bar. I was driving myself nuts, so I knew that I would be an absolute nightmare of a client!

It was clear I wasn't really ready. So, I put the project on hold and let my original site stand. Six months later, in an eighteen hour marathon session, I wrote new copy, selected images and redesigned my website. I also upgraded my Weebly account and became an affiliate.

So, why am I such a fan of Weebly?

1. Weebly does not require you to know any code whatsoever. It is literally a drag-and-drop website development program. I can add copy, images, headlines, YouTube videos, photo galleries and slideshows, embedded documents, surveys and flash. I can also add editors to my site so other people can update content or contribute to the blog.
   
2. I can choose a different template whenever my little heart desires and all of my content will transfer right over to the new template. I don't have to reinvent the wheel just because I want to reinvent my look.
3. Weebly is getting better and better all the time. You can purchase premium templates and new plugins are always being developed. It also integrates with many Google applications.
   

Okay, then why do I still recommend WordPress?

WordPress has an infinite number of templates, and new templates are being designed all the time. It also has about a billion plug-ins that allow you to do almost anything you could possibly imagine. And, WordPress itself is constantly being upgraded and developed further. The truth is that WordPress has many more users than Weebly and a bit more capacity. So for some businesses, it just makes more sense to use that platform.

Now I'll turn it over to you. What do you particularly like or dislike about either of these services? Is there another service that just rocks your world? Did I miss some of the strengths or weaknesses of either of these platforms?

I'm not going to mince words here. I love food. I love to cook. I love to eat. And I love to talk about food. I read food blogs, have way more cookbooks than any one person should own, and I explore other cultures through their food. There is nothing more enjoyable than sitting down to a table for a feast with friends. In fact, if you sit down for a feast with absolute strangers, the chances are good that you'll be friends before you finish the entrée. So, when my friend Sally told me she wanted to start a food blog, and that she wanted my help, I couldn't wait to get started!

Sally and I have a shared history. We went to high school together; we were roommates in Cambridge right after graduate school; and today we live in the same small city. We both like to cook, but our styles are wildly different. I own about a million cookbooks. Sally? Yeah. She doesn't own a single one. Sally is a creative cook. She makes stuff up as she goes - and it works. For a long time, it made me crazy! Even worse? She didn't see what she did as creative. So before she could start a food blog, she first had to come to terms with the fact that she is a creative cook.

It sounds easy, right?

But embracing our creativity can be frightening. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities. One of which is failure. Those stakes are even higher when you decide not only to embrace your creativity, but to broadcast the results of that creativity to the world! 

If you want to start your own blog, the hardest part is making the decision to do it. Sally and I had a ton of conversations about the possibility of starting a blog. Ultimately, her goals were simple. She wanted to use the blog as a way to inspire others to cook without slavishly following a recipe, and she wanted to inspire herself to get out of a deep food rut.

Once Sally decided to launch a food blog, our next step was to figure out a name. Ideally, we wanted the name of the blog to reflect Sally's style of cooking and to be available as a domain name. After playing with a few ideas, we landed on The Risky Kitchen. It was perfect.

Our next step was to figure out what platform to use for the blog. I know Weebly like the back of my hand, and it does have blog capability. But for The Risky Kitchen, we decided to go with WordPress. There were two reasons for the decision: (1) a huge number of bloggers use WordPress for their blogs; and (2) both Sally and I wanted to get to know this platform a little better. I know just enough about WordPress to be truly dangerous. So, we started with that bit of information and went from there!

Once we had a simple design up and running, we got to work. My role was to serve as a cheerleader, editor, taste-tester (my favorite job!) and social media resource. My goal was to help her find her own way - to make her own rules and find her own blogging voice. Her job was to cook great food, remember to write down the ingredients, and write her story. There was just one more thing to do: get Sally set up on Facebook and Twitter.

The blog was launched on July 4, 2011. Since then, Sally has made some incredible connections with local food producers and restaurants. And I have weighed in on almost every recipe - even challenging her to make a dessert that features saffron! But the best news? This blog has given her the confidence she needs to start looking for a job in the food industry. And . . . she's got an interview! Go get 'em, Sal!

I am in love. I haven't always been faithful - I confess that my eye has wandered. I flirt with Facebook on occasion and I know the relationship will continue - but I don't think it will ever really advance. I had a brief and passionate affair with Google+ that has mellowed into a warm friendship. LinkedIn and I have come to a respectable understanding that resembles a good business relationship. But Twitter? I still swoon over Twitter!

For many of you, I'm sure this sounds just a little . . . well, nuts. But bear with me. I have some good reasons for loving twitter.

If your goal is to get 30,000 followers, don't bother reading any further. I would rather 50 fabulous folks chatting with me on twitter than 50,000 followers who could care less about connecting. So, what are my goals for Twitter? My primary goal is to connect with potential clients, colleagues and friends. My secondary goal is to learn. Twitter is my favorite source of breaking news, shared resources and personal and professional and professional development opportunities.

Although my romance with Twitter has been going on for well over a year now, it was not love at first sight. In fact, I had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, to even sign up. Who in the world will care what I have to say in 140 characters or less? Won't I just be tweeting alone in the woods?

Lynn Felici-Gallant, garden writer, editor and marketing goddess behind Indigo Gardens, is responsible for introducing me to Twitter. And it is only because of her tenacity that I finally gave it a try. At the time, I thought she was a little obsessive about this whole tweeting thing.

I was a newcomer to Twitter, so Lynn introduced me to writers, marketers, business owners and strategic thinkers. She gave me a basic orientation, taught me about hashtags and told me all about Twitter chats, where I made even more connections.

Twitter chats are organized around specific topics. Blogging, public relations, nonprofit consultants, garden writing, B2B - you'll find almost any topic of interest on the Twitter Chat Schedule. These conversations allow groups of people to share information and connect with each other. Twitter chats allow you to start building relationships with people you may never have met otherwise.

Over the past year or so, I have met some incredible people through Twitter. Many have become business mentors, colleagues, collaborators, accountability partners and friends. I have been fortunate to meet some of these folks in person. I've connected with others online or over the phone. The power of a social media tool like Twitter is in making meaningful connections. So, hop on Twitter. Give it a try! If you do, give me a shout @JoppaThoughts and let me know your there. I'd love to continue the conversation and introduce you around.

One of the most important things we can do for ourselves is to take time to recharge the batteries. If you are self-employed, work hard to make the world a better place, or are one of many members of the creative economy, it is especially important to remember to take time off. For many of us, it is incredibly easy to get lost in our work. To be so engaged with what we are doing that we forget to take a little time for ourselves.

But no matter how meaningful and fulfilling our work, too much of it will undoubtedly lead to burnout.

This week was the perfect opportunity for me to take a little time off and to recharge the batteries! Family came to visit and I had the opportunity to look at my town through the eyes of a visitor. So, for those who are interested, here's a short slideshow of a few of my favorite places and new discoveries.

I am fortunate to live only a few miles away from Plum Island, home of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Walking along the beach, through the marshes and on the boardwalks that traverse the sand dunes allows me to get centered. These walks - whether they are along the beach or in the city - give my subconscious the opportunity to work on sticky issues and come up with incredible, creative solutions!

When was the last time you were a tourist in your own town? When was the last time you took a break and just recharged the batteries? What is your favorite way to recharge?

Take a little time this week - and every week - to connect with whatever it is that makes you happiest. If you have a hard time finding time, make a date with yourself - and use that time to go for a hike, explore a local museum or simply browse the bookshelves at your favorite bookseller. You'll come back to your work refreshed and energized.

Go ahead! You deserve it.

Marketing has changed tremendously over the past several years. Along with those changes, we now have a whole new language and a ton of jargon.

The good news is that there is not a single marketer out there who hasn't had to look up a new term or ask a question. I remember attending a Web 2.0 conference several years ago and raising my hand to ask: "What is Web 2.0? For that matter, what is Web 1.0?"

This week, I was talking about the value of inbound marketing when my client stopped me in my tracks. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she said. "What is inbound marketing?"

Good question. Here's a little primer about inbound marketing, outbound marketing and the relationship between the two.

Outbound marketing, also referred to as broadcast marketing, interruption marketing or traditional marketing, focuses on finding customers. Advertising, direct mail, cold calls and purchasing email lists are all a part of outbound marketing.

Outbound marketing is frequently pretty expensive, and it is less and less effective. As consumers, we are inundated with advertisements. Advertisements are everywhere. On television, advertisements are no longer confined to commercial breaks but are often incorporated into the programming. Magazines rely on advertising revenue to survive. Even the carts at the grocery store are adorned with advertisements. With this constant onslaught, it's no wonder we've become experts at tuning out the marketing messages.

At the same time, more and more consumers are turning to the internet to find the products and services they need. Google is no longer just a search engine. It is now a verb!

Inbound marketing, also referred to as content marketing, focuses not on finding customers, but on being found by customers. Instead of creating advertisements, the inbound marketer creates content that potential customers will find valuable. By being of service to those already looking for information about the products or services you offer, you start to build a relationship. The folks who receive your content start to get to know who you are and how you operate.

Email marketing can be used either as an inbound or outbound marketing strategy. When a company purchases or creates a list of email addresses and then sends the people on that list an email blast, they are using email for outbound marketing. It can either take the form of spam, which includes any unsolicited email regardless of how great the content is, or it can be an email advertisement through a paid service. Many professional organizations will allow members to purchase the opportunity to send an email blast to fellow members. This is simply traditional advertising in a more modern dress.

When a company offers individuals the opportunity to sign up for an email newsletter and then sends materials to those who opted-in to the list, they may be using email for either inbound or outbound marketing. It depends on the content. If the email is an advertisement designed to tell the consumer about the product or service and how great it is and what problems it will solve, the email is being used for outbound marketing. If, however, the email offers the subscriber valuable content, information that will help them solve the problem at hand or gain a better understanding of the issue, it is being used for inbound marketing.

For most businesses, the marketing mix should include both inbound and outbound marketing strategies. Traditional marketing works very well for some businesses, and can be an important part of an overall marketing plan. But don't limit yourself to traditional marketing efforts simply because you've "always done it that way." And for each marketing tool you use, know whether you are using it

Public Relations just isn't what it used to be. Newspapers across the country are struggling. Most have faced severe cuts. Some have gone out of business. While I mourn the loss of the type of investigative reporting I have always affiliated with Bob Woodward, I rejoice in the growth of so many voices online! Sure, not all are terribly reliable. But there have always been claims of bias in the news industry. And at least we expect news shared by a regular Joe to come from his point of view and include his personal bias.

Traditional public relations tactics are - for the most part - still valid. They just aren't enough anymore. Online press releases help you reach your audience directly. Sure, the media may pick up your story, but media participation is no longer essential. Many people go directly to Google to search for news on almost any topic. If your website, blogs, social media platforms, online news releases or articles match that search, your news gets directly into the hands of your target audience. Oh, and the more content you have out there that links back to your website, the greater your website visibility!

To distribute your news release online, there are both free and paid services. After looking closely at all of the options available, I narrowed the sites I use down to just two: PRWeb, a paid press release distribution service; and PRLog, a free service that is advertiser supported.

Alright, so it's narrowed down to two options. But what is the difference between the paid service and the free service? I'm a small shop - and most of my clients are small shops too. So I love a good free resource. And, I have to say, I was impressed by PRLog. Here's why:

1. It's free. It doesn't cost one red cent. Nothing. Nada. Zero. Zilch. And that means you can post news releases several times a month without breaking the bank. Got a new project? Post a release? Just finishing up a project? Post a release! Recognized by the Chamber of Commerce? Great! Post a release!
2. You can create a full business profile that includes a link to your website.
3. You can also post staff bios to showcase your expertise and the expertise of your staff.
4. Your business gets its very own press room, where every press release you post is documented and archived. Oh, and you should probably keep a press room on your website as well!
5. It includes built-in analytics so you know how many times your press release was looked at, how many +1's it received, how many folks tweeted it and how many times it showed up on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Sounds pretty great, right? And it's free! True. But there are a few downsides to PRLog:

1. It only allows your press release to have three hyperlinks. PRWeballows you to have as many as your little heart desires (but recommends that you stick to a half-dozen or so).
2. It does not allow you to hyperlink a word or phrase. You have to type out the entire webpage URL. PRWeb allows you to hyperlink words and phrases, thus allowing you to direct people to different parts of your website.
3. It only allows you to submit one image with your news release. PRWeb allows you to submit multiple images. And a picture is worth 1,000 words!
4. It incorporates advertisements right into your press release. PRWeb is completely free of advertisements.
5. It is a clunky interface that could use a little attention. PRWeb is shiny and bright and pretty. It focuses on the content but it is also visually appealing.

So now the $1 million question: Is it worth paying PRWeb $80 every time I submit a press release? Or is it better to go with PRLog and get many of the same benefits without such a substantial investment? I asked this exact question on LinkedIn, and I got a wonderful response from Jim Bowman, The PR Doc:

"The short answer is that you usually get better results with paid services. When I publish an online release, I am looking for page one search engine ranking for my keywords within a few hours, and I expect it to remain near the top of online newsrooms, including Google, Yahoo! and Bing, for one or two weeks. Anchor text links in the releases drive traffic to your website and help improve search engine ranking. Furthermore, releases that contain secondary keyword sets often rank in search engine results for years after the release date."

For many solopreneurs, I still think PRLog is incredibly valuable. It does a great job of building SEO, increases web traffic and - if the release is interesting enough - is likely to be picked up by bloggers with an interest in the topic. For the most newsworthy releases, you might consider springing for the $80. If you do, be sure to use PRWebs tools to make it the best release possible. Take full advantage of anchor text and photographs.

And please, let me know how it works out!