This infographic that’s making the rounds (it’s shown up several times in my Facebook, Twitter and G+ feeds) presents 36 rules of social media. It’s a little reminiscent of the 95 theses of The Cluetrain  Manifesto, except they seem to come at some of the same issues from completely opposite directions.

For example: Social Media Rule #29 says, “People don’t want to shop where they socialize.” But Cluetrain Thesis #1 is simply: “Markets are conversations.”

So maybe people don’t want to shop where they socialize … but do they want to socialize where they shop? (Malls would suggest: Hell, yeah!) And if so, what are the implications for brands online?

Here’s another one: Cluetrain thesis #74: “we are immune to advertising. Just forget it.” Doesn’t quite dovetail with Rule #25: “The only way to scale word of mouth: paid advertising.”

So does advertising work, or doesn’t it?

Sorry, I don’t have any answers. I just find it interesting that when it comes to business wisdom, it’s often style that trumps substance. Advertising works. Advertising doesn’t work. The substance of the position doesn’t matter; say it with the proper style, though, and you’ll convince plenty of people that you’re right.

Takeaway for marketers (and for non-marketers, too): Style vs. substance. Sorta sound like life, not just marketing, dunnit?

How much am I worth? How much should I charge? Should I take this job?

These are the kinds of questions any thinking person asks themselves from time to time. If your work is such that you’re constantly trying to secure new clients on an ongoing or freelance basis, you probably ask yourself these sorts of questions more than most.

Mark Evanier has a great post about all this, and in it he links to another great blog post from a guy named Tom Richmond whose work you may have seen in MAD. Go read them both. There’s nothing of value I could add, no matter how hard I might try.

“To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.”
—Buddha

Mashable reports.

These days, Anthony Weiner notwithstanding, a Twitter account is as important as a Facebook account, town halls and kissing babies for a politician. It’s communication with constituents — and anyone who hasn’t figured it out yet needs to. Fast.

Today is Jack Hanna’s birthday. Here he is on David Letterman’s program back in 1990.