Called the "Prime Minister of Permission Marketing", Seth Godin has a lot to say on an enormous variety of topics.  All of his writings speak to museum folks willing to challenge the staid and dramatically fusty marketing concepts long-familiar to those in the heritage world.

If you like to start the day off by thinking, Godin's blog is a must-read. (WARNING: drink your coffee prior to opening Seth's blog posting of the day.)

Recent topics include this little gem on non-profits that begins:

"Non as in non-profit. The first issue is the way you describe yourself. I know what you're not, but what are you?"

It's facetiously simple, until you let the idea rattle around your brain for awhile.

Another posting which resonates is entitled "Spare no expense!":

"The problem with customer service is not a new one. It's about balancing between serving a lot of people a little, or dropping everything to serve a few people a lot."

How many times in a year does your museum or membership organization have to think about making that decision?

Godin's style is no-holds-barred, something that you may or may not enjoy. But if you like brain teasers and the occasional challenge of thinking about your museum from an entirely different perspective, try the blog.

If you don't want your e-mail box cluttered, or are against blogs on principle, visit www.sethgodin.com, his official website. You can download a bunch of free e-books, and chapters from his current publications. You can also search the blog archive, particularly useful when you're looking for an idea that will spark a conversation at a board or committee meeting. 

Seth Godin is the author of ten books including Tribes (2008) and Permission Marketing (1999).  Check out his blog at http://sethgodin.typepad.com

By Liz Shapiro