Two big items in the news today. At least, the news as it relates to me. And this is my blog, so I get to talk about it here. Them’s the rules. (Smiley face.)

1000 Dollars for 1000 Tweets

First, I want to say thank you to everyone who has participated so far in the 1000 Dollars for 1000 Tweets promotion. I got some awesome responses, and almost everyone asked that their dollars be donated to charity. I haven’t run the numbers yet, but on behalf of everyone at the National Brain Tumor Association, I want to say thank you.

For those of you who requested your dollars, I will have them all in the mail on Monday morning, along with a quick little letter saying thanks. Keep an eye out for it. Thanks again!

What’s that you say? You haven’t heard of the 1000 Dollars for 1000 Tweets promotion? Well, you must not be following me on Twitter or Facebook. But that’s okay. There’s still time. (Read more here.)

No More “Hire Matt” Section

Now the more bittersweet news. You might have noticed that I took down the “Hire Matt” section of this site. People are asking why I did that, and I suppose it’s time I came out and broke the news.

As of today, I’m officially spoken for.

Yup, it’s true. I got snapped up. My new full-time employer is a little company called Digitas. You might have heard of them; they’re the largest digital marketing agency in the world. I’ll be working as the community manager for one of their largest clients. From what I gather, I’m going to be the first community manager that Digitas has ever hired. That one sentence says a lot about where the profession of marketing is heading: a multi-national ad agency with its roots in direct marketing is hiring people to manage the everyday online social interactions of its clients. (Which is not to say that Digitas hasn’t been involved in social media up until now — they have, and how — but now they’re hiring people specifically for that reason. It’s awesome!) Worlds are colliding, friends, but instead of one or the other breaking apart, it looks like they’re fusing. How freaking awesome is that?

So that’s the sweet. Here comes the bitter.

I’m going to have to end my consulting contracts for the time being. That’s right: I’m moving out of chaotically beautiful world of freelance marketing. So I have to bid a fond farewell to all of the clients with whom I have worked over the past several months. It kind of sucks. I really enjoyed working with all of my clients — I genuinely had fun helping them create processes and strategies that turned their businesses into hubs of information. These clients are at the forefront of a new and exciting shift in the way that businesses communicate with each other and the rest of the world, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that they have the tools they need to continue down the path we have forged.

To my former clients, I want to say thank you for the opportunity to work with you. My door is always open.

Photo credit: MLHS