By: jackie.sauter

In the pool, Michael Phelps would have me beat hands-down. There’s no doubt he’d lap me in record time.

But online, I’d like to think I’d have a fighting chance in a skill match against the golden boy. After all, I spend 40-50 hours a week hunched over my laptop, messing with code and trying to help TDR harness the power of the Web.

But according to his marketing agency, Phelps is no slouch when it comes to technical skills. It’s all part of a strategy that Peter Carlisle of Octagon mapped out over the last six years: a strategy that includes having the swimmer post to his Facebook page himself, upload his own photos and participate in Web chats.

Now, I created a Facebook page for our new pub, Exhibit A, last week. I’m not proud to admit that it took longer than I expected to finish the job – the array of available features is dazzling. So, once complete, I scoped out what “MP”’s page had to offer.

Sure enough, it puts mine to shame.

There are 1,557,250 fans of Michael Phelps as I write this.
Exhibit A has 7. (..to be fair, my advertising budget’s a lot lower).

His last note, a two-graf memo on his upcoming trip to Vegas? Received 293 comments, most of which are filled with effusive praise (“Take it easy and spend lots of time with your friends!!”)

He’s posted videos, updated his events (yes, it’s this Saturday that he hosts SNL), and shared his favorite songs, which you can buy or download as a ringtone.

It’s all part of Carlisle’s plan: “Until swimming changes, where it’s televised frequently between the games…, he has got to create his own platform.”

Just wish the platform didn’t trump mine quite so badly. If you’re on Facebook, do me a favor: check out Exhibit A. And consider becoming a fan. That’s all I ask.

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor 

P.S. As I am about to hit “publish”, I noticed an uptick in fans of Phelps: Now he’s got 1,557,314. Barack Obama only has a couple hundred thousand more.