Press Coverage Done Right: A Story Of Social Media, PR And Stalking is an article that was posted today by Michael Brenner. Michael will no doubt be excited about all the Google Analytics his blog is wracking up today. However, it might be a little downer when he realizes they're all from me. My bad.

I can be all cool and talk big about how not to bother Journalists, and what the best way to keep up with their coverage and know when to pounce on a good story pitch. However, how can I be all cool, and not bother myself?

I confess. I have a problem. I have a google analytic addiction. This goes back to a previous post about being over informed and having too much information at your fingertips.

I analyzed what I would say, made sure I could provide back up links to relevant information, and I set my clock for when Michael said the blog would be live. I was so excited to see it. It's my first interview. To me, this equals Oprah. I'm pretty excited. (I'll let you know if Michael has a "Brenner Effect" at a later date).

After I sent the email to my mother (She's my biggest fan), I tweeted a couple times, and posted the article on Linkedin. This wasn't my post after all, it cited me. So, I can't be too aggressive with my posting or I'll just be tooting my own horn. However, here I am blogging about blogging because I don't think my numbers are high enough. (toot toot.)

Yes, I understand what this looks like. But I've already said I have a problem... I can't help it. Same with my work analytics. I send emails for B2B marketing for a technology company just about monthly. We use Salesforce for analytics and I'm addicted to watching the numbers go up as the email goes out. Who's opening? Who's ignoring? And GASP--who just unsubscribed?!

Each number, each part of my ROI point is personal. What can I do better next time? How can I make changes? There has got to be an easier way...

Meanwhile, we're looking into social media monitoring software, I'm testing new gadgets for my personal blog and learning how to take them to the enterprise level for work. All these things will help my addiction. Or will they enable my addiction? hmm...only time will tell.

Am I alone here? please say no, please say no, please say no, please say no, please say no, please say no...

While I should be packing for a fantastic learning opportunity with other Argyle CMO Forum attendees, I'm instead blogging from home. The conference is in New York, you know--the city under scrutiny for not knowing how to properly respond to a blizzard? The latest reports give all the doom and gloom of expected inches of snow and possible mayhem. This Texan girl must decline potential blizzards, trips to visit the New Yorker Office with old pals, and chances to rub elbows with new marketing comrades. Dangit.

Why? Because the internet told me to.

Friend of mine (and fellow blogger) is having a baby. Nearly freaking out about diapers, strollers, food, daycare, you name it, she is Googling it. She is rightfully overwhelmed. Have you seen the reviews on these things? Frightening. You go with a 3-Star stroller instead of 4-Star, and you risk your baby's life and wellbeing. Not to mention their rep at the playground-for like, LIFE. Luckily, I can come to the rescue and refer her to another friend of mine (and blogger) who has reviewed several of these items. Alas, she still has no idea what she wants.

Why? Because the internet changes it's mind.

I get home, boyfriend tells me how John Elway has embraced Twitter. How the once "CIA-like" secrecy of the NFL is being released for the first time, and people are loving it. They love the new influx of information. This will no doubt cause controversy every Sunday and Monday in the household. As if the new ESPN iphone app wasn't accessible enough, now Elway has a play by play in the boardroom.

I'll be the first to admit. I love it.

I google everything. If I'm going to an event. I search for pictures so I know what to wear. If you are selling me something I'm the slightest bit interested in, I'm checking you out. If you're applying for a job, you better have a linkedin profile. And if I just met you, I already know more about your ex-girlfriend that you do. But honestly what good does this do? Ya, not much.

What I do know, is that over-informed travelers are likely to spend more time at home. Maternal instincts make you spend sleepless nights googling poop-holders. And Twitter scares stockholders to death.

I'm wondering how many others out there are like us? (assuming you are reading this because you googled me) The over-informed and undecided...

Knowledge is power...right? Multi-tasking was the premier trait seeked by job recruiters in the 90's (see INC interview with Julie Morgenstern.) Now, is the more focused individual the more informed? Do people without the white noise interruption become the most wanted? Is it better to know more of less than less of more?

Honestly, I still don't know.

Therefore, I blog about these topics, pose these questions, google for reference material, post on twitter, write about it on Facebook, and anxiously await feedback from my readers. If I don't receive immediate feedback, I'll post again on Twiiter tomorrow morning. If I don't hear anything then, I'll check my Google Analytics account to make sure people are reading my blog. Then I'll check what company they are from, then how long they spent reading, then maybe check what search term they used to find me... then maybe... oh gosh.... its a never ending circle isn't it?

I google so I can learn more. So I know what to google better, so I can learn more....