From the MADSEN CYCLES website…

Weekly-contest-09-promo So let’s be honest, the last link contest we held was just a blast. So we did some pinky-twisting and Jared Madsen (our founder) consented to an idea of pure madness. We’re going to run the contest again, only this time – we’re going to give away a bike every week.

You read that right – we’re going to give away a MADSEN bike every week. The contest rules are basically the same. You link to us from you site, Twitter account or blog – and someone clicks the link (could even be you!) and you’ll be entered to win.

We’ll announce a new winner each Wednesday here on the blog. To be eligible to win, you just need to link to us from your site, and have at least one person follow the link from your site to ours during the week preceding the announcement.

You can also earn an entry by following us on Twitter and/or joining our email list.

We also created a whole new juicy set of banners you can use to link, if you’d like (or you can just use a text link if you prefer, no biggie).

For all the links, banners and details, head over to our contest page.

See you back here in one week where one lucky winner’s getting a new bike!

I realize that when you participate in social media venues such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, you put yourself out there. And sometimes become the taget of the Blow Hard, Know-It-All, Jackass for no reason other than percieved misconception or plain ignorance.

Today I was publicy but lightly rebuffed by @baldheretic for having the words “Social Media Marketer” in my Twitter bio. His tweet: If your twitter bio says “Social Media Marketer” and you follow me you are likely to get denied and blocked like @greggluhring just did.”

I had just followed the chickenshit man because he was touted (maybe by himself) as a “Social Media Expert.” I did not ask him anything that would allow him to deny me anything. And the fact that he blocked me just showed me and the world that he was able to dish it out but was not willing to take it. By blocking me he effectively keeps me from replying to his twisted way of thinking. Usually you block someone if they are bothering you or if there’s a creepy situation like: they have no followers and are only following one person: You. I’ve blocked several people like that.

So what is the difference between a marketer and and expert? I call myself a marketer because I use the skills I’ve gained to help my clients in their marketing efforts mostly on the web. The things I’ve learned this year alone in Social Media would make most peoples’ heads spin. That’s why they hire me to do what I do. Because I understand and I have the aptitude in my skillset. I suppose you could call me an expert but I’m not so bold.

The man that calls himself an expert is an expert only in broad generalizations and blind classifications. Instead of Expert, I would call him a Social Media Dick. He kind of looks like one.

Aren’t blogs fun?

GL