SiliconBeat

Maybe you fancy yourself a closet marketing genius. Maybe you’ve been watching all those episodes of “Mad Men” and have been dreaming about trying your hand at marketing. Or maybe you just need a fun distraction from the economic Armageddon that threatens to return us to the Stone Age.

Whatever  your motivation, Plantronics, the Santa Cruz company best known for its mobile headsets, wants your help. The company is launching a contest today asking folks like you to come up with a new term to replace “telecommuter.” Apparently, that phrase dates from the early ’70s and has become a bit tired. According to Plantronics:

“We’ve come a long way in the last 35 years. In today’s increasingly dispersed and globalized workplace, telecommuting encompasses so much more than replacing a daily commute with telecommunication. So how should we be referring to the tens of millions who telecommute?”

Here’s how it works. Go here to register and submit your idea. The deadline is October 24.

On Oct. 30, Plantronics will post the best submissions for public voting. Who will pick the finalists? According to Plantronics, “Our panel of distinguished judges will determine the finalists.” Those judges include me, your humble columnist.

Even if you didn’t submit a phrase, you can still vote on the best ones through Nov. 7. Plantronics will announce the winner on Nov. 18.

Ready? Then get started.