Gini Dietrich is no spin doctor. In fact, she started the PR and marketing blog, Spin Sucks, to tell the world exactly that. Dietrich is out to change the negative face of PR and marketing by being an expert in both.  She knows spin, and tells the world how to avoid it.

One of the top-rated communication professionals on the social networks, Gini was recently named the number one PR person, according to Klout and TechCrunch, and number one on Twitter, according to TweetLevel. Her blog has received the 2010 and 2011 Readers Choice Blog of the Year.

Dietrich, along with co-author Geoff Livingston, have written a book about to hit the bookstore shelves: Marketing in the Round: How to Develop an Integrated Marketing Campaign in the Digital Era. Marketing in the Round talks about integration and how to optimize every platform to get the only thing that matters: results.

We had the opportunity to talk to Gini about tearing down silos and syncing our entire message (far less dangerous than it sounds) across platforms. We quizzed her on her take of the new Facebook Timeline for businesses. She shared how small businesses with a smaller marketing budget can utilize her spin-free concepts. You can find more of Gini on Twitter and on her Facebook page, and find out why Spin Sucks.

The Social Side Of PR With Gini Dietrich [ 27:04 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It’s been said before, design is a whole lot more than pretty pictures. Joshua Garity agrees. Proudly described as a design psychologist and brand strategist, Josh advises businesses large and small on how design can be used to connect with their audience. He knows that the right look, feel, and layout can build the type of customer connections that few other things can.

In the past 12 years, Josh has established successful ventures in film, print and interactive media. The sum of his experience has landed him consulting gigs with some of the worlds biggest and best companies like The New York Times, Wendy’s, American Family Insurance, and more. His role is to help them build legitimate customer relationships and increase revenue through behavioral psychology, brand direction, and creative design.

From his website:

This approach lowers golf handicaps, increases the going-rate of inter-office high-fives, and sky-rockets the ROI of anything that needs rocketing. Warning: there is no proof that these statements are accurate.

During the show, we asked Josh about why emotional design was like the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, what he thought of those annoying little email newsletter pop-ups, and how website colors impact influence. We even spent a moment discussing the science of website tracking and creating calls to action.

To learn more about Josh, visit his blog or follow him on Twitter at @iamlucid. If you want Josh to help you increase conversions, boost revenue, or learn more about his consulting servies, visit him here.

Design Psychology and Brand Strategy With Joshua Garity [ 33:04 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Although Laura’s career started in web design, it didn’t stay there for long. In 2009, Laura turned from web design to web marketing, specifically social media marketing. Now, Laura runs a very successful social media training company that specializes in training the ultra-small business on how to master social media marketing.

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or even YouTube – it can be a confusing world out there, but Laura aims to make it easier for all of us. She self-published the book Facebook Fame, and has released several video training libraries that cover the gamete – Facebook to WordPress.

We were privileged enough to visit with Laura from her office (for February at least) in Buenos Aries where we asked her some of the most pressing questions about Facebook and how to win as a small business on social media. You can learn more about Laura’s business on her website, follow her own thriving community on Facebook, or check out her status on Twitter. Listen up, you too might just become Facebook Famous!

Finding Facebook Fame With Laura Roeder [ 30:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Justing Lukasavige is a storywriter. He helps individuals and businesses tell better stories that attract customers and change the world. We like that about him, and asked him to share with us how he does it – and why it matters. How does a business tell a story? Why does a business need story? In the show, Justin shares his secrets for success.

Justin is no stranger to stories. He graduated from college with a degree in aviation and immediately became a commercial pilot. Knowing it wasn’t the story he wanted to live, he began coaching people to get out of debt. He grew his business so quickly (with the help of coaches and mentors) that other business owners took notice and asked for advice on doing the same. Now Justin travels the country as a speaker and trainer and hosts four online radio shows each week from his Coach Radio studio.

It is impossible to underestimate the power of great stories. Justin’s success proves that. To see more of his story, be sure to stop by his blog and subscribe to the excellent Coach Radio Podcast. You can also follow him on Twitter, Google+, and/or Facebook.

Learning To Tell Your Story With Justin Lukasavige [ 32:44 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Technology is changing, and where technology goes, so goes the consumer. In this interview, we asked marketer, technologist and futurist Mitch Joel of the Six Pixels of Separation blog and podcast about his take on what he calls consumer connectivity.

Mitch Joel is the President of Twist Image – an award-winning Digital Marketing and Communications agency (although he prefers the title, Media Hacker). He has been called a marketing and communications visionary, interactive expert and community leader. He is also a Blogger, Podcaster, passionate entrepreneur and speaker who connects with people worldwide by sharing his marketing insights on digital marketing and new media.

Marketing Magazine has dubbed him the “Rock Star of Digital Marketing” and called him, “one of North America’s leading digital visionaries.” He has also been considered one of the most influential authorities on Blog Marketing in the world. It was a pleasure to have Mitch on the show, and we certainly encourage you all to follow him on Twitter as soon as humanly possible.

Understanding The Connected Consumer with Mitch Joel [ 25:10 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Brian Solis is principal at Altimeter Group, a research-based advisory firm. Solis is globally recognized as one of the most prominent thought leaders and published authors in new media. A digital analyst, sociologist, and futurist, Solis has studied and influenced the effects of emerging media on business, marketing, publishing, and culture. His current book, Engage, is regarded as the industry reference guide for businesses to build and measure success in the social web. Brian’s newest book, The End of Business As Usual explores each layer of this complex consumer revolution that is changing the future of business, media, and culture.

In this episode we discuss the consumer revolution with Brian, and his book – The End Of Business As Usual: Rewire the Way You Work to Succeed in the Consumer Revolution. In the interview, Brian shares his insights about the consumer revolution that is changing buying habits and consumer thinking. This is a must-hear interview for any online marketer.

Brian blogs regularly and is must-follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

The End of Business As Usual with Brian Solis [ 30:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Lilly Linquata is the Social Media Manager for PerkStreet Financial, an online bank that offers 1% or 2% cash back on all purchases made with their debit card. It is an exciting product in the banking world – an industry that is not typically know for its social media prowess.

My interactions with PerkStreet began with a simple inquiry about their product over Twitter, but soon grew to an online conversation between me and their brand, and then into a conversation with their powerful online community. You can read more about my amazing customer experience in my blog post from last week.

In the interview with Lilly, we took a look behind the scenes at PerkStreet and ask Lilly about the magic that made for such an amazing social media community. You can see their community in full action on their Facebook page or company Twitter account. You can also visit their website to learn more about their product.

Community is one of those mysterious words in social media business. We all want them, we all talk about them, but they aren’t always that easy to come by. In the interview, we asked Lilly about the special PerkStreet sauce that built their community, and how they keep it going strong. It’s a great interview that anyone with an interest in social media or business won’t want to miss.

To see their community in full swing, check out their Facebook page or company Twitter account.

Building A Social Media Community with PerkStreet's Lilly Linquata [ 32:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Scott Stratten is an expert in Viral, Social, and Authentic Marketing – a strategy that he calls Un-Marketing and outlined in his book UnMarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging. It’s all about positioning yourself as a trusted expert in front of your target market, so when they have the need, they choose you.

Scott now has over 94,000 people follow his daily rantings on Twitter and was voted one of the top influencers on the site. Scott say it’s the only time he’s felt comfortable being compared to Ashton Kutcher, P Diddy and Justin Bieber.

We asked Scott about this whole UnMarketing thing, and let him toss in a few laughs along the way. Seriously, if you don’t split a social media gut on this one you are either a unicorn, or a non-human form of protoplasm. Enjoy the show!

Better At UnMarketing with Scott Stratten [ 1:03:05 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Scott Ginsberg has transformed wearing a nametag into a six figure enterprise. For an ongoing 3,946 days, he has worn a nametag every single day to make people friendlier.

He is now the author of twelve books, including HELLO, my name is Scott, The Power of Approachability, and Make a Name for Yourself.

Scott has been dubbed as “The Authority on Approachability,” and is ask to speak on the subject regularly. He has also worked as a consultant with some of the worlds largest companies.

We talked with Scott about how wearing a nametag every day has change his life, and his business. We also picked up a few tips on approachability, making better small talk, and Scotts writing routine.

You will definetally want to follow Scott on Twitter where he is a master at creating conversation. He also blogs regularly about approachability, business, and marketing on his blog.

Hello My Name is Scott Ginsberg [ 52:11 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jim Kukral is a web marketer, speaker, customer evangelist, and online monetization expert. He is the author of the top selling book Attention! This Book Will Make You Money and a regular blogger at his website. He has time and time again taught his readers and his Fourtune 500 clients how to use attention-getting online marketing to increase their revenue. He has inspired many entrepreneurs to become true doer’s and leading online success stories.

According to Jim, doers get what they want, and everyone else gets what they get. During the show, he shows us how a doer attitude will lead to online success. Jim believes, and appropriately makes the case, that attention can and does lead to revenue building opportunities. In the show we asked him how we can use tools like blogs and podcasts to generate attention and revenue. Jim provides many of his key’s to success, and a few entertaining anecdotes from his 16 year Internet marketing career.

You can follow Jim on Twitter or read his blog where he regularly teaches readers how to get more sales, leads & publicity. You can also pick up his newest book titled How To Catch Happy, his guide to catching the biggest fish of all.

Generating Attention and Revenue With Jim Kukral [ 55:19 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download