Renee's question yesterday kind of reminded me about the chicken and the egg thing. (Where the egg is the product, and the chicken is the brand...)

So... which one comes first? Give it some thought. We'll come back to it in a minute or two.

Meanwhile, since we're on the subject of "branding," check out this fun little clip showing difference between Apple and Microsoft packaging schemes. (Thanks to Marketing Roadmaps for the heads-up.)

Also, Johnnie Moore reminds us that word-of-mouth marketing isn't a fluke. For those of us who understand its value, it's just plain common sense. For those of you who don't yet understand it, sit down, relax, and think about it this way: If people like your product, they'll recommend it to their friends and peers and family members. If they don't, they won't. That's all it is. It isn't a magic bullet. It isn't anything new. It's as basic as it gets.

More importantly, it isn't something you can fake.

At the core of every brand is at least one great product. It isn't the other way around. If you aren't sure that you agree, read this.

Okay, so, back to Renee's question - and taking it a very short step further: When it comes to brands and products, the eggs have to come before the chicken. Products make brands before brands can make products.

(But you already knew that.)

Also today:

Shel Holtz also points us to a fantastic new online service (Edgeio) that a) will clarify the value of tags for you, and b) should put classified ads a run for their money:

"Let’s say you want to sell a bicycle. In your blog, you write an item describing the bike and providing all the same information you would in a newspaper classified, a Craig’s List entry, or an eBay auction. Next, you tag the item “listing.” Finally, you publish it to your blog. Edgeio, which monitors some 30 million blogs, will identify the tag and list it in the proper category on its site. Once you find a listing you’re interested in, you can click to view the original post. I’ve already seen blogs set up by individuals solely for the purpose of listing items for sale via Edgeio. I’m about to test it here on this blog."

Could this be the future of classified ads? You decide.

Also, Neville Hobson points us to two fascinating topics today: 1) Follow his link to the mysterious Microsoft Origami project, and 2) find out how to overcome collaborative obstacles.

Lastly, don't forget about the New Communications Forum this week in Palo Alto, CA. Corante's Shel Holtz will be there, so think about joining him there if you can! Check out more info here. There's still time to register.

Have a great Tuesday, everyone.