A strong dose of no B.S. reality

Mike Koehler of Smirk New Media and #clarkclass

Groundbreaker. That's Mike Koehler, former newspaper sports guy who could see the future of media changing.
With the growth of the internet and digital media changing traditional media, he quit a full time job, used his business contacts, and started the first all-digital media marketing  company in the city ten years ago. 
Today, SmirkNewMedia with an office in Automobile Alley, employs more than 10 people, some remotely, and handles services for some major clients.

Smirk's office lobby

What I like about Mike is his non-nonsense approach to life and business, seasoned with more than a little newspaperman's snarkiness. In addition, he has provided student internships, and will only hire people who can write, passing an interview test, demanding knowledge to the Associated Press stylebook.

Here are some of my students' takeaways when we debriefed following Mike's visit:

• We have an internal clock when we are consuming media.
• Give readers what they want not what you think they need
• Time is of the essence
• Get to the point.
• Niches get riches.
• Think about the future not just what’s popular today.
• The digital feedback you get online is better than any other.
• Don’t be afraid to ask the question
• More consumers take their complaints to social media than to the help lines.
• He’s a no BS kind of guy.
• I like that he was an English major.
• No matter what you’re doing, you’re selling.