create some buzz

How would you like to come home to a box full of the newest, hottest products on the market? You can, with BzzAgent.

Most people who know me know I'm a BzzAgent -- I participate in viral marketing for products that fit my lifestyle. I signed up with BzzAgent, the leading word-of-mouth media network, and then sat back and waited for the emails. Every month or so, I get an email that asks me to join a particular campaign. If I'm interested, I sign up. If it doesn't appeal to me, I do nothing.

Most campaigns come with free stuff for yourself and for you to share with friends, and coupons to buy more. It's really fun because you get to try new things (without paying for them) and share them with your family and friends. I've been a BzzAgent for over two years, and have done campaigns for Pledge Multi-Surface Wipes, Hershey Take 5, AquaPod water, Ziploc containers, Listerine Whitening Strips, Wrigley 5 gum, and Eucerin lotion.

What BzzAgent asks of its members is to try the products, share them, and then give them feedback. It doesn't have to be positive and it doesn't have to be an elaborate marketing scheme. It can be as simple as giving all your friends a sample, leaving a coupon in a strategic place in the grocery store, or mentioning the product in a conversation.

I used to think this was really weird (I first read about it in Pattern Recognition by William Gibson) because strategic word-of-mouth buzz seemed so, well, contrived. How fake is it to promote something to others that you might not really like or even care about? But the thing I like about BzzAgent is that I don't have to do anything. The more you buzz, the more campaigns you get to join, but you don't have to give false positive feedback or spend a lot of time or money to participate.

There are short surveys to fill out before, during and after campaigns, and then you submit BzzReports which are just detailed accounts of your buzzing. You are awarded points for these activities, which can be traded in for prizes.

I'm usually skeptical about this kind of thing, but it's actually pretty cool and fun. I've done the BzzAgent thing now for a while, and I totally recommend it!

free snack from kashi

The Kashi Snack Drive wants you to trade in your favorite sugar-coated or salt-loaded snack for one of their healthier alternatives. And they're so positive you'll love their snacks that they're willing to send you one for free. I just traded in old-fashioned cotton candy for a free oatmeal dark chocolate cookie. And wait till you see the format of their online forms ... tres cool.

If you live near San Diego, Chicago, Boston or New York, you can visit the Kashi Snack Drive for free snacks. Tell all your friends and let's make the world a healthier place, one Kashi at a time :)

I've never actually tried their snacks. I've tried the cereal and wasn't really a fan ... too hard and crunchy for my taste. But I'm willing to give them another try. Anyone a Kashi lover?

mor chikin yo

Chick-fil-a is giving away a free sandwich and coke to anyone who goes to this website and fills out their information! They have the best ads for any food chain. The cows with protesting signs draped over them pleading people to, "Eat Mor Chikin" is great! Chick-fil-a is the bomb and I'm sincerely sorry to all those folks who don't have one in their state. My condolences are with you.

free earrings from twisted silver

While browsing Design Mom, a great blog for unique kids designs, I came across this fantastic opportunity for free earrings from Twisted Silver. Yes, FREE!

All you have to do is go to Twisted Silver and a box will pop up, asking you to subscribe to their website. Fill in your name and email address, and the first 500 will get a free pair of ultra-light lithe earrings, shown above. I signed up today, and mine are already on their way!

Not to mention that Twisted Silver has some super-cool jewelry for decent prices, and has been getting quite the buzz recently. Check out their Celebrities section to see who's been spotted wearing their jewelry around Hollywood.

The thing I really like about Twisted Silver is that a lot of their pieces are "convertible" and can be worn in several different ways. As their site says, "Belts become necklaces ... become chokers ... become multi-wrap bracelets!" I'm saving up for the Trinket Necklace.

find the artist in you

Deviant Art is one of my favorite websites for artistic resources. If you are in a creative slump and need some ideas or just a little inspiration, then this is a great site for that! I've downloaded tons of stuff for photoshop. They have brushes, textures, backgrounds, stock photos, almost anything. There is also a lot of art that you can purchase if you are looking for something in particular. I mainly just use it for the photoshop resources, but it has a variety of things to offer.

do you like free stuff?

Who doesn't? I love to get free stuff in the mail, so when I found out about Vocalpoint, I just had to sign up and I haven't been disappointed. Sometimes they send you actual free product in the mail, and sometimes they send you a coupon to get something for free. So far, I've gotten a new Venus Breeze, Pur water bottle, sneak peek Meerkat Manor DVD, Kashi cereal, and discount tickets to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, along with tons of great coupons. And I've only been a member for a couple of months!

The program is designed for women, and run by P&G, and in exchange for all this free stuff, all they ask is that you subscribe to their weekly newsletter, answer a couple of quick surveys each week (they are 1-2 questions long), and share your coupons and information that they send you with others.

It's cool to check out new things just before they hit the market, and to try new things you might never have bought on your own (like Kashi cereal, for me)!

Enjoy!
--Jessica