This week’s top conversational marketing stories:

Are You Wearing the Role You Occupy – on Chris Brogan

“Jimmy Herald, the lead singer of the above-mentioned Hillbilly Herald, had a powerful stage presence. He kept leaping onto the monitors and staring out into the audience with an almost crazed expression. He made a lot of eye contact. And he said all the things a lead singer of a rock and roll band should say, loudly, proudly, and as crass as a… well, a rock star. What I learned by looking at Jimmy that night was that he looked the part, he performed in a role that we’d expect, and he took on the mantle of lead singer of a rock band. Does Jimmy Herald act like that when he’s sitting in a restaurant? Probably not. Is he every bit as bombastic as he was when he worked whatever his last real day job was? No, he’s a hundred times more outgoing, whether he’s the most shy guy in the world inside.” This Chris Brogan post with over 301 social likes uses Jimmy Herald of the Hillbilly Herald as the perfect example of looking and playing the part of whatever you are selling. What’s your role and how do you accept and excel in it?

Why Facebook Users (‘Like’ and ‘Unlike’) Brands - on MarketingProfs

Over 711 people agreed that this post was worth a read. “Nearly nine in ten Facebook users (87%) say they "like" brands on Facebook, and among them fully one-half (50%) say a brand's Facebook page is more useful than its website, according to a survey from Lab42. However, not all fans are convinced that brands are listening to them: Among those 82% who say Facebook is a good place to interact with brands, only one-third (35%) say they believe brands listen to them on Facebook.”  And the number one reason why people unlike? Too much clutter in their feed. Take a look through these statistics as both a marketer and a user. What are your thoughts on each point?

What Internet Marketers Know That You Don’t - by John Jantsch on Ducttapemarketing    

This Jon Jantsch post, which garnered over 443 social likes, focuses on getting back to the basics of a solid marketing plan where the internet just happens to be the delivery platform. “I use the term “Internet Marketer” in the title here in a less than flattering way. There are certainly those who make a living selling products and services via the Internet that deliver real value, but many “info and Internet” marketers also prey on people’s fears, hopes and irrational dreams to pedal worthless junk over and over again. However, what these folks know that you don’t is that you don’t necessarily need the best product, you don’t have to create a revolutionary innovation, you don’t have pile on more and more services and features and you certainly don’t have to slash prices to compete.” Look through the list of what internet marketers know that you don’t and tell us what you think!

Let's keep the conversation moving forward! Do you wear the role you occupy? How into your work character are you? What is your strategy for Facebook? After seeing these stats do you think it needs to be tweaked a little? And what do internet marketers know that you don’t?