Political commentary? Disagreement about art? No, the issue that has professionals locked in combat is, of all things, the number of spaces that should follow a period.

Afarhad Manjoo’s article, “Space Invaders,” addresses this dispute. He writes, “Typing two spaces is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong.” When mono-spaced type was used on typewriters, two spaces after a period increased readability and cleanliness on the page. With the advent of electric typewriters and auto-spacing on computers, space-space became unnecessary. Considering this has been going on since the 1970s, why is this still a sensitive topic with no consistency in practice?

The answer to this would probably be, “Because that’s what we’re used to.” Since many of us learned two spaces when we were learning to type- 20, 30, 40 years ago, we never consciously thought of it again.

Who is to say that one or two spaces after a period is cleaner, simpler, or prettier? Afarhad Manjoo makes his opinion clear. The question should be – will we be consistent in teaching students a space-after-period rule in the future?

Read the full article for more.

How does a company successfully sell a product for double the closest competitor’s price? Especially a low-involvement purchase such as a water bottle? The case study on marketingprofs.com analyzing SIGG Water bottles is a perfect example of a company doing just that.

First, it requires consistency, quality, and a profit-driven marketing plan. Second, it helps to be Swiss-made. This identifies luxury items like watches, knives and chocolates. SIGG water and fuel bottles applied this association to their marketing process.

Also, after researching the American consumer, SIGG was strategically positioned to reflect both health and green practices. The reputation and visibility of the product quickly grew, driven by a variety in bottle designs and availability in many retail outlets. This new/accurate marketing plan has given SIGG the ability to average a price of $20-24 per bottle.

So, is a SIGG water bottle really more hip than a Nalgene, Camelbak, or a Klean Kanteen bottle? Depends on the premium one is willing to pay, but there is no doubt about the success of the SIGG.

Read the full article for more.

It’s simple: Your business needs social media to show potential customers “that you are human and care about their world.”According to Christine Whittemore’s article, Still Holding Back, 10 (Business) Reasons to Participate in Social Media, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social sites are all about getting back to business basics. Connecting with people, engaging in two-way communication. Being social is good business.

A few of the 10 reasons to participate in social media: create dialogue, manage your reputation, and bring your static media to life. One-sided sales messages that shout at people, traditional one-way communications, have never been as effective as listening to a customer and exchanging meaning, finding out how your business can help.

Whittemore makes the case for businesses putting the effort into engaging in social media for all the right (brand-building) reasons. Read all 10 reasons for a refreshingly common sense point of view.

Read the full article here.

When a TV ad for a cruise line comes on, we all know what to expect- the palm trees at sunset, kids having the time of their life playing in the sand and the couples living their dream on a romantic getaway. These situations look all too perfect, and the commercials even catch us putting down the remote or looking up from the ironing to fantasize the feeling for a moment. It’s all couples and kids. What about the rest of us?

What about all the consumers who do not have a husband, wife, or kids? The 57% of singles under the age of 45 and the 40% under the age of 35. An article in Brandweek, “The Power of One,” describes this untapped market and the missed opportunities in neglecting it.

Most of the companies that do decide to target this $2.2 trillion segment rely on the stereotypes of single people being only interested in alcohol, body wash, and gum or mints. However, this is the group that is spending more time on the internet- researching products, thinking about purchases and blogging or talking about them afterwards.

Just as traditional forms of media and advertising levels have lowered, so has the narrow-minded approach in determining a brand’s target market. It is critical to look past the statistics and obvious markets, and search for new, alternative approaches. After all, $2.2 trillion should not be overlooked.

Read the full article for more.

Why would you want us to blog for you? Other people hire us to blog for them so we thought it was a good idea to share our blogability. If you’re maintaining a blog, we can add a new voice, keyword optimize an entry, or find the creamy center in a dry idea. If you’re new to blogging, our team can walk you through the basics, explain why blogs can be critical to your business, and contribute your first blog!

Our SEO content expertise has brought us work from businesses and agencies in San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York. Content includes articles, press releases, blog entries, PPC descriptions, and page copy and design. We can organize elements, including videos, photos and original designs, and synchronize it all to work with 360-degree campaigns.

Whatever you’re thinking about, selling, photographing, raising, promoting, living through, cooking, writing, inventing, branding – give us a brief rundown and we’ll create a new blog entry for you.

We saw the potential in Gilles Marini long before he was the naked guy in Sex and the City: The Movie, and a finalist on Dancing with the Stars. He was one of the models in a Sundance Spas photo shoot we produced.

Gilles didn’t dance that day but he changed clothes. Which means he was naked on our set before he was famously naked on that other set.

Here’s Gilles in a hot tub looking like a regular guy relaxing in his backyard. Hey Gilles, say hi to the patties if you win, or just blink twice if you read this.

See more Gilles at http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancingwiththestars

Don’t try looking it up on your calendar because it isn’t there. As far as I can tell, there is no Hug a CPA Day, at least not in English-speaking countries. But I say it’s time to show some love to the ones who count. Here’s why.

You think you’re stressed about taxes? Think about all those tax preparers. If they’re successful, they’re busy working nights and weekends. If they’re just starting out, this can be make-or-break season for their entire business. And I can’t even imagine what it’s like to be a customer service phone rep for TurboTax. Phone service is always frustrating, but here’s a guy with receipts piled on his desk talking to a stranger about his money. That’s a bad mix.

If you know a bookkeeper or a CPA, notice how much they seem to need a hug during those final 30 days leading up to April 15. Our accountant Jona, who hasn’t had a day off in ages, already has dark circles under her eyes. Yet she’s worried about us. Tilts her head to one side, asks how we’re doing, always calls us “my dears.” She needs a hug.

Ken, the CPA, and his staff are patient and kind. They prod softly, “When do you think you might get your information to us?” One year, when I finally got around to filing taxes in October, I confessed my deep anxiety about taxes to Ken. He was sympathetic, but didn’t get it. He knew about the procrastination, the frantic search for misplaced receipts, regret about mileage unlogged, but he didn’t understand. It happens every year, he said. It’s not unexpected. What’s the big deal?

Ken needs a hug.

At least this year, we don’t have to beat ourselves up for not making that SEP IRA contribution, right? Turns out it was a scam anyway.

So here’s to starting a social media movement to create National Hug a CPA Day. Tell everyone. We the people are declaring National Hug a CPA Day on March 15.

And no, I am NOT the Patty/i who’s married to a CPA.

Thursday, February 26, 2009, 7 PM, Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla, $5 for MCASD Members, Students, and Seniors / $7 General

watch?v=nAElKTnEO1M&NR=1

Wonderfully offbeat with an unapologetic streak of indie moxie, filmmaker Aaron Rose and co-director Joshua Leonard’s Beautiful Losers offers a collective portrait of like-minded artists who emerged from the underground art, music, and skateboarding scenes of the early 1990s. Catch the San Diego premiere of this quirky documentary featuring the likes of Harmony Korine, Mike Mills, Ed Templeton, Shepard Fairey, and Cheryl Dunn, among others.