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New Todd And Feature for Authors and Their Books

March 23, 2008 | 1 Comment

UPDATE: Click here to access the new authors + books section.

Since launching this blog in July of 2006, dozens of authors and publishers have asked me to promote their books. While I am all about promoting a good book, I just don’t have the time to read that many books from cover to cover.

In an effort to support authors and give my readers a glimpse of new marketing and media books, I am launching an “authors + books” series. The series will feature guest-written posts by authors of new or recently-published marketing and media books. Starting today, authors wanting to participate in my promotional series can email me a short pitch.

The guest author submissions, preferably 300 to 700 words, can either be 1) an edited excerpt, so that it can stand alone, from the forthcoming or recently-published book, or 2) an original byline column not previously published anywhere else. When I say “not previously published,” I mean not verbatim. You can still use previously-published ideas, concepts and topics, but the content should be somewhat unique from any other previously-published version.

The only other requirement is that your book and post must relate to marketing, media or one of the other categories in the left sidebar of my blog. Not all author pitches will be accepted - they must fit appropriately with the theme and content of this blog.

If your pitch is approved, please submit your post with a short biographical byline (no more than three sentences) as well as front cover artwork and a head shot. Your guest posts will be archived in a new category on my blog called “authors+books.”

Lastly, I will ask that you send me a physical copy of your book, so that I can also read it when/if I have time and perhaps add some of my own commentary down the road (no guarantees). It will also become a part of my ever-growing library of marketing and media books that I keep at work for me and my colleagues to read and reference.

According to my server stats, my blog - toddand.com - currently gets 93,000 hits per month, of which almost half are unique visitors. My visitors include many of the world’s top marketing agencies, media companies, corporations and educational institutions.

Thanks for your interest in Todd And = Marketing + Media, and I look forward to your pitch.

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Posted by toddand | Filed Under Advertising, Authors+Books, Blogging, Educational, Management, Marketing, Media, News, Personal Finance, Public Relations, Random, Social Media, Strategies+Tactics

Diversify Your Investments with Historic Newspapers

March 13, 2008 | 8 Comments

Between your 401K, IRA and those Apple shares you’re sitting on, you have most of your money in securities and equities. You’ve got a shrinking cash cushion and the value of your house is tanking. You may want to further diversify your portfolio.

Instead of scratch-and-win lottery tickets, why not consider collectibles? A collectible is an appreciating asset that is either rare or desired by many. Stamps, coins, fine art and sports cards are the most common collectibles, but the most appropriate collectible for marketing and media executives is historic newspapers. When framed, rare newspapers also make for unique and interesting wall art around the office.

Given the state of news media and the possible extinction of the printed newspaper, this collectible is the perfect relic for new and traditional media enthusiasts alike. Even better, unlike old baseball cards and coins, which have millions in circulation, historic newspapers are scarce. Back in the early 1700s, the earliest newspapers only printed a few hundred copies. As such, many of these early issues, when found today, are truly one-of-a-kind. The unbelievably rare newspapers go for thousands of dollars and more, but there are relatively few newspaper collectors in existence today so you can easily find museum-quality newspapers for a couple hundred dollars or less. That won’t last forever.

Previously, we discussed the most popular 20th century newspaper — Dewey Defeats Truman — so now let’s cover some of the 17th and 18th centuries.

The oldest continually published newspaper in the world began printing in Oxford, England on November 16, 1665 while King Charles II was avoiding the plague. It was called the Oxford Gazette (click image to enlarge) and many sources, including Britannica and newspaper historian Mark Mitchell (see video below), consider it to be the first English-language newspaper (it was the first to fit the definition of the term “newspaper”). After the 23rd issue of the Oxford Gazette, the King felt the plague was subsiding so he moved the paper back to London where it resumed as the London Gazette. While it originated as a weekly paper, the Gazette continues to be published each weekday in 2008 as an official record of British government. Any of the first 23 Oxford Gazette issues are worth more than $1,000 each - most reaching north of $5,000.

Across the pond, the first American newspapers began printing in the early 1700s. The Pennsylvania Gazette, started on December 24, 1728, was only the eighth newspaper printed in the colonies, and only the fourth outside of Boston.

Benjamin Franklin bought the Gazette in 1729 and gave the paper a brightness and liveliness unknown before to any colonial paper except his brother’s New England Courant, according to “American Journalism” by Frank Luther Mott. But the Gazette was a much better newspaper than the Courant - more well-rounded with “superior news handling, greater advertising and a handsomer appearance,” wrote Mott. “Franklin was more fully aware of the possibilities, limitations and responsibilities of colonial journalism than were most of his fellow editors,” Mott added.

For collectors, it is extremely rare to find pre-1750 issues of this Benjamin Franklin-printed newspaper. An issue in one of the finest conditions ever encountered is pictured at left (click to enlarge). I’ve been told there are auction records of pre-1750 Pennsylvania Gazettes to $11,000!

There are only a handful of newspaper historians and mega-collectors in the world. One is Mark Mitchell. His collection contains 20,000 original issues across five centuries and, according to his website, is one of the nation’s finest and most historically-complete private holdings. Here is a video of Mark sharing some of his private pieces:

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Posted by toddand | Filed Under Educational, History, Media, Newspaper Collecting, Personal Finance, Video

Stop researching. I found the best 529 plan.

March 4, 2008 | 10 Comments

UPDATE: 529 plans have become increasingly competitive over the last few years and even more so, it seems, in the last few months. On April 16, 2008, Morningstar released its best and worst 529 list, which has seen a shake-up with many previously-horrible plans becoming excellent options now. The lesson here is do your research because 529s change like the wind.

As a new dad, I’ve been hunting for the best 529 college savings plan for my daughter. My research included dozens of personal finance websites and magazines, and I can safely say I’ve found the best option (as of today). To help any readers who happen to be looking for 529 plans, I figured I’d save you the search and share a brief summary of my findings.

The Utah Educational Savings Plan is No. 1 today. Hands down. Here’s why:

It has the lowest costs, with expenses of 0.38% or less.
Its investments are managed by Vanguard, my personal favorite fund manager.
Its low costs outweigh most in-state tax deduction benefits, according to my accountant. However, Kiplinger shares an anecdote with Chief Justice John Roberts where that isn’t the case.
It’s recommended by Morningstar.
Its age-based funds will automatically change the asset allocation to become more conservative as my daughter nears college age.
Its automatic withdrawals allow me to set it and forget it.
Its application was quick and simple - took me 10 minutes, tops.

By the way, this post helps kick start my personal finance category of posts (at left). Before blogging, my hobby was personal finance. I was very well read on the topic and could talk a mean game of equities and passive investment strategies. My interests have since transitioned to emerging media and babies, but I remain fascinated with personal finance and will continue to post on the subject from time to time.

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Posted by toddand | Filed Under Personal Finance

Lunchtime House Fire Serves as a Reminder

March 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment

This is a photo I took with my cell phone on my way to lunch today. Coincidentally, my wife and I walked around our house last weekend filming our personal belongings for insurance coverage. If you haven’t done so already, let this image serve as your reminder to document your belongings. And store that documentation off site.