As one of the instructors in Planet Ocean’s Mastermind’s series, I’m delighted that they’ve asked me to contribute to the new blog! For those of you who haven’t met me, I’ll give you the guided tour.

I’m the Head Redhead at RHW Media, a niche marketing consultancy based in Denver, Colorado. We specialize in digital strategy, which essentially translates to we keep companies from looking like idiots online. Our primary work is in developing social strategies for brands, helping them establish plans that will:

• Communicate who they are and what they do with a distinct personality in social outlets.
• Build relationships with their audience bases to in turn, help them build better brands.
• Discover where they should be spending their ‘social’ time online.

We work with everyone from fun outdoor-oriented brands like Kahtoola to startups and Silicon Valley law firms like Fenwick and West – and we love every minute of it!

What you’ll probably notice the most about my brand and online presence is that…well…it’s a bit out there. RedheadWriting (my blog) is known for delivering “unpopular thoughts and blunt advice” and in words your grandmother might not approve of around the holiday dinner table. Yet, it’s my brand that’s built me my audience, which in turn has led to my monthly column in Entrepreneur Magazine as well as my first two book deals! My forthcoming business book, The Power of Unpopular, debuts at SXSW 2012 in March of next year, and talks about the biggest myth in the marketing world: the concept that being “popular” is the key to brand success, when in fact, it’s exactly the opposite!

I’m a highly interactive blogger, so if you ever see anything here at Planet Ocean posted by me and you have a question, leave a comment (once we've opened blog comments, coming soon) and I guarantee that I will respond (I have a one-for-one comments policy!). I love getting email, so feel free to send me your questions (there’s an easy to use Contact Form on my website). And why do I respond to every email and comment I get? Because without you, I wouldn’t get to do what I love for a living and there’s not a day that goes by where I forget that.

And if you’re curious, in my spare time, I’m an avid cyclist (road, track, and downhill mountain biking), mediocre yet enthusiastic runner, and dedicated audiophile. My life’s rarely without music and I can’t think of anything better than a dinner with friends, great wine and good music. I look forward to sharing with you – and be warned…I mince no words and will always shoot it to you straight. Never worry about disagreeing with me (because we all will with one another at some point) and we’ll figure this whole “business” thing out together!