She will be sharing her tips on how brands and professionals should behave when anonymous comments – the nasty kind – are posted about your news or stories online.

Samantha says, “Some of the channels may have changed, but the fundamental rules of public relations still apply.”

Visit www.commercialideasnetwork.com.au to book your place at the lunch, and while you’re there, look around at this fantastic new network created by Anne Miles.

All the details about speakers, lunch and tickets are in the flyer below.

SEPT2Syd_Flyer

Letterbox Deals makes a very good point about their channel – in a world of fragmenting media, everyone still has a letterbox!

More than a collection of theories and ideas, Do the Work by bestselling author Steven Pressfield shows you how to actually get on with doing the work.

At LilBirdie, we’re not just about bringing you irresistible deals for innovative advertising opportunities and marketing services. We also want to sniff out ideas, inspirations and bargains to help you tackle your business challenges.

And Do the Work promises to do just that. It’s an inspiring book published by Godin’s The Domino Project, which is offering it free on Kindle.  Check out The Domino Project’s interview with the author here, then download the book from Amazon to your Kindle for free.

Be prepared to start finishing those projects you’ve been putting off!

UPDATE 24 May 2011: The book is no longer free, it’s now USD$7.99 on Amazon – still a bargain at that price.

All credit goes to our good friend and colleague Jane Evans at Giant Leap, who translated our sketchy brief (“can we be grey and pink?”) into such a striking look.

It equals a coupon for 50% off the penthouse suite at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, according to this story on mycouponcodes.com.

Before you agree that our first deal looks a little on the pricey side, consider what you get for your money: one night in a fancy hotel vs your brand exposed to millions of people in Melbourne not once, but twice.

We still have a few branded balloon offers left for savvy buyers. The deal will end at midnight on Tuesday next week (17 May).

Our second deal could also be considered “big ticket” compared to the deals on the consumer group buying sites, but again, look at what you get: 150,000 branded luncheon napkins for $1000.

That’s less than one cent per napkin!

• Apply your brand to a hot air balloon for an incredible price
• Join the exclusive list of brands in the sky with Picture This Ballooning
• More great deals to come from LilBirdie.com.au

The first media deal from LilBirdie.com.au will go live at 12.00 midnight on Tuesday 10 May, offering an incredible deal to put your brand on a hot air balloon with Picture This Ballooning – used by the most enlightened marketers.

LilBirdie.com.au will back this up on Thursday with another amazing deal on a media option that’s available in shopping centres in key metro locations.

“The idea behind LilBirdie.com.au is to build a highly valuable community of marketers and business owners, and use their collective power to secure exclusive deals on media space, niche advertising opportunities, marketing products and services,”said LilBirdie.com.au Managing Director Jonathan Levy.

“Like other group buying businesses, our deals will be offered online for a very limited time and often in limited quantities, so it will be first in best dressed. This is a unique way for businesses to trial different media ideas while reducing the risks involved with allocating often large sums to media.”

The deal from Picture This Ballooning – the leading provider of special shape and branded hot air balloons – is for a large format branded banner, to be located on the company’s famous “Yellow 77” balloon that flies over the heart and districts of Melbourne. It also includes two flights over the city and room for two passengers to fly as well.

Damian Crock at Picture This Ballooning said there are some incredible true stories about business deals that have taken place in balloons at around 1500 feet.

“Branded ballooning combines a memorable experience with an incredible expression of the brand,” said Crock. “Imagine doing business at the base of your own 10-storey brand, while gliding through the air.

“Your brand could be seen by an entire stadium of footy fans or at a music festival, or even a whole country town. Ballooning allows you to fly your brand in uncluttered environments & over well know landmarks. This could include the Sydney Opera House, the MCG and many other locations around the world. The photos and footage make the moment last forever.”

Visit LilBirdie.com.au to become a member or propose a deal.

TwitterCue #LilBirdie.com.au group buying for media space first deal is LIVE, 50% off your brand on a hot air balloon, limited time

• Apply your brand to a hot air balloon for an incredible price
• Join the exclusive list of brands in the sky with Picture This Ballooning
• More great deals to come from LilBirdie.com.au

“The idea behind LilBirdie.com.au is to build a highly valuable community of marketers and business owners, and use their collective power to secure exclusive deals on media space, niche advertising opportunities, marketing products and services,”said LilBirdie.com.au Managing Director Jonathan Levy. “Like other group buying businesses, our deals will be offered online for a very limited time and often in limited quantities, so it will be first in best dressed. This is a unique way for businesses to trial different media ideas while reducing the risks involved with allocating often large sums to media.”

“Branded ballooning combines a memorable experience with an incredible expression of the brand,” said Crock. “Imagine doing business at the base of your own 10-storey brand, while gliding through the air. “Your brand could be seen by an entire stadium of footy fans or at a music festival, or even a whole country town. Ballooning allows you to fly your brand in uncluttered environments & over well know landmarks. This could include the Sydney Opera House, the MCG and many other locations around the world. The photos and footage make the moment last forever.”

CAMDEN 9 MAY 2011: What a great way to celebrate our launch! Jonathan and I headed down to Camden in Sydney’s south-west to experience the amazing branded hot air balloons that are made by the first company to offer a deal on LilBirdie.com.au – Picture This.

It was a perfect Autumn morning as the Nudie balloon took shape in the air. Picture This international ballooning champion, pilot Paul Gibbs did the honours on the photos, and you’ll agree with me that he can operate a camera as well as he can fly a balloon –thanks Paul.

I can just imagine the massive impact of one of these balloons flying over a festival or sporting event, or even a small town. It would be impossible to miss.

If you want to experience a Picture This balloon ride for yourself, then enter our Facebook competition. There is a double ticket balloon ride to be won in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane for our LilBirdie members.

I can’t wait to see which enlightened marketer snaps up the incredible deal from Picture This of their very own branded balloon to fly across Melbourne. If you haven’t read the details, they can be found here [link].