Are you sitting down? Well stand up and get going to one of the multitudinous events happening around the Mid-South! Autumn is BarCamp season, social media is in the air, and many of the tickets are free.
So go! Jonesboro is only an hour or so away, and we’re trying to put together a caravan to go to Birmingham for WordCamp.
But besides our raves about BarCamps, the podcast also includes a great interview with Michael Synk: the business man, the consultant, the book club organizer. In one of his many roles, Michael coordinates the In-Synk Executive Huddle, a peer group for entrepreneurs and CEOs. In the same vein, he has also formed a Business Book Club, which he describes as “the book club for people who don’t have time to read the book.” RSVP here for the next meeting, which is tomorrow, September 3, 8 am at Davis Kidd, when they’ll be reviewing Blue Ocean Strategy.
The Expedition ventures into the world of video with Chris O’Conner and Prodigi Arts! Chris showed our attendees today just how powerful the impact of video can be over a still image. Even adding a little animation to a company logo can add the pizazz needed to make the impression you want. Chris suggested a few tools, including Adobe Premiere, After Effects, and Final Cut for anyone who wants to try their hand at some DIY video. For Dave’s pretty mind mapping of Chris’s presentation (which includes more suggestions for tools and tricks!), click here!
For the core conversation, we split into three groups. One group continued down the video road with Chris, Beth Sanders answered some Wordpress questions with another group, and the last huddle compared Foursquare to the brand new Facebook Places. One Expeditioner shared the harrowing tale of a young man who has already faced a solid grounding due to Facebook Places when a friend shared his location, which was not where he told his parents he would be. Facebook, however, definitely has the upper-hand in visibility since even people not using Places are able to see where their friends have checked in right in their feed.
On the Wordpress side of the room, the big confusion seemed to lie in the difference between Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org. For a great explanation of the difference, click here, or better yet, head to LunaWeb TONIGHT for…
You may recall that shortly after our own Dave Barger returned from the South by Southwest Conference, our podcast featured a short interview with Natalie about her preparation and ideas for this conference. Well now it’s just around the corner! Listen in to hear Natalie share some details about the informal structure and basic principles behind the PII 2010 conference.
In our social media news, you’ll hear a little of this, a little of that, a little of Twitter, and, as always, a lot of Facebook. In this case, Facebook Questions, which the Social Expedition hopes will eventually become a great compendium of knowledge, and not a forum for silly questions. And don’t be too disturbed if that link takes you to a page that says “We’re not ready for you yet.” The feature is being rolled out slowly.
Android has viruses, Google has multiple account sign-in, and Rdio sounds cool but simply isn’t as free as Pandora. Companies and brands who are having trouble keeping up with all their location-based presences (on the ever-growing number of platforms) will be excited for Geotoko.
Don’t miss the chance to ask questions or have lengthy app-filled conversations on these topics at our Twilight Camp on August 19th! It’s 5:30 at Davis Kidd in the Bronte Bistro. Come chat with us and enjoy a cup of something iced!
Download the podcast here, listen with the player below, or click the iTunes logo to subscribe.
The Social Expedition was lucky enough to snag a moment of Andy Glover’s time, which he spends in his studies for his Doctorate in Organizational Development and Change and his position as the Help Desk Manager at Methodist Healthcare.
Wait, Organizational Development and Change? What what? What does that mean? Well, the hint is that it has a lot to how social media has changed not only business, but the customer and how they choose to interact with a business. To learn more about it, check out the podcast. Andy seriously has some interesting observations to share.
He promised to send us some resources for those who want to look further into the ideas he’s exploring in his doctoral program. When he gets that over to me, it will replace this very sentence. Then, go find Andy on Twitter and at his blog!
For the rest of the show, we present to you the “illions.” 500 million Facebook users. 100 million Foursquare check-ins a day. We’ve got the statistics.
Then, aggregation tools are so in. The iPad app Flipboard is pretty, but overwhelmed by their traffic. Yet another location-based service (LBS), Scvngr makes us long for check-in aggregation. Enter FourWhere and Check.in, and they’re just two of the many that are popping up. Ping.fm is kind of the opposite of an aggregation tool- it will take a post and shoot it to your Twitter, Facebook, blog, and any other networks you hook it up to. It’s a great idea to set it up to be an emergency broadcast system, but we definitely discourage using this method for your regular posting. After all, Twitter and Facebook are different for a reason.
Lastly, we didn’t have time to cover this in the podcast, but we definitely want to encourage people to participate in YouTube’s Life in a Day project. Take some video on Saturday, July 24 that reflects your daily life, and send it in. The most compelling video will be compiled into a feature film that will be shown at the Sundance Film Festival. So pull out your cameras and take part, folks!
Download the podcast here, listen with the player below, or click the iTunes logo to subscribe.
First, a participant created a Foursquare check-in for Twilight Camp, and everyone with access to the program made their presence known. This launched a comparison of Gowalla to Foursquare.
Gowalla has a better iPad application (Foursquare just has the iPhone app, which you can zoom in on for the iPad’s bigger screen)
But the Gowalla app is apparently pretty buggy.
On the other hand, Gowalla has sweet prizes to collect and trade, adding another fun element to the GPS check-in.
Of course, the main pro for Foursquare is the participation: it has about 5 times as many users as Gowalla, and is growing much faster.
More businesses are interacting with Foursquare. Apparently, if you show the cashier at American Eagle that you checked into their location, you can get 15% off your purchase through July 31!
On to iPad apps! And we got a few great recommendations. Starting with Twitter apps, Tweetdeck is of course very popular, but one of our participants had to tout the superiority of HelTweetica. A very pretty interface and the ability to activate a Twitter screensaver are two of this programs nicest features. Definitely worth checking out.
For anyone looking for a great journaling application for the iPad, our friend Andy swears by MaxJournal for $2.99. He downloaded 3 other journal apps, ranging from $0 to $10, and he said this one was by far the best.
The prize-winning iPad app, though, had to be Uzu, a $3 app that puts thousands of particles at your command. With multi-touch kinetic response, you can create a swirling vortex of phenomenal cosmic power the likes of which genie-Jafar has never seen! For the key to that dork Disney reference, skip to minute 3 here. But it’s like that. Only, on an iPad. Apparently, it’s a great stress-reliever/mind-clearer.
The iPad has been a huge success for Apple. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for their most recent iPhone. Much of Twilight Camp was spent in speculation of what Apple should do. Of course, today, we all found out what they are, in fact, giving out free bumpers (and refunds for already purchased bumpers) to all iPhone 4 users, and offering a full refund to those who are still unsatisfied and want to return their device. Oh, the drama.
Those on the Android side of things can simply lean back and chat up the latest apps (as they hold their phones just as they please, of course). Once again, the Advanced Task Killer is ranked as the number one battery saving app of them all. Also mentioned as highly wonderful were Doubletwist (media app), Launcher Pro (an alternate homescreen app), and, just for fun, Retro Camera.
A few other interesting topics that were tossed out onto the table…
Jigsaw.com is “The world’s largest database of up-to-date, downloadable, & complete contact information.”
Searching #tcot in Twitter makes for some interesting political debate material.
Lastly, there were two big issues discussed that we at the Social Expedition will be watching here over the next while. First, we speculated on the complexity of internet anonymity, particularly on forums and comment sections for newspapers. In some ways, the option of anonymity offers users a chance to say what perhaps could not otherwise be said. Especially in the case of countries where dissent is a punishment, anonymity gives a voice to those who would otherwise be unable to bring their opinions to light. On the other hand, you run the risk of receiving a multitude of inappropriate, off-topic, or radical comments. What do you think? Should anonymity remain?
And secondly, we are growing concerned over the lack of conversation happening on Twitter. Maybe DMing has become more prevalent than replying, but we’ve noticed a definite drop in the number of interactive tweets. It seems more like Twitter is becoming a giant billboard, and we definitely don’t want to see that happen. Let us know what you think in a comment, or better yet, tweet it to @smexpedition, and we’ll start a Twitter conversation!
Can you believe it’s already the second half of 2010? Yes? Well, alright.
Today in our weekly social media expedition, we discover Social Media Day. This holiday, apparently backed by Mashable.com, went unobserved in Memphis, but maybe we’ll catch the next one. Honestly, we didn’t even hear about it until a few days ago. Then, MIT has some exciting news about lightning-fast optical internet connections, but have we heard this before?
Facebook actually takes a step forward in privacy, and we discuss why Facebook applications never took off (except, of course, Farmville). Then, we project that Facebook will go after Google’s lunch with a search engine, but Google might be getting even by launching a whole new social network soon. And an iPhone on Verizon? Let’s not get too excited just yet.
Lastly, our local listeners might be interested in this: A Memphis Marketers and Social Media Tweetup! It’s next Thursday (July 8), from 6:30 to 9pm at Dan McGuinness on Spottswood.
And don’t forget about the Social Expedition’s own July Meetup on the 15th, 5:30pm at Davis Kidd’s Bronte Bistro!
Download the podcast here, listen with the player below, or click the iTunes logo to subscribe.
So little Facebook news this week! Instead, this weeks podcast kicks off with some news about the AP Stylebook’s 2010 edition, which adds 42 new rules for proper social media grammar. The new rules make “unfriend” and “Googling” legitimate terms, define “website” as a lowercase word and puts a space in “smart phone.”
We’ve got some Twitter updates and a couple new Facebook developments, including a little information on the “Like” button errors. Contrary to some rumors, clicking a faulty “Like” button will not give you a virus. Facebook is working on the problem. For now, CNN had some luck fixing their buttons by changing the text from “Like” to “Recommend,” which is a drop-down option here on the plug-in page.
On a somber note, we discussed the oil spill and some ways to stay updated through social media. Here are the links we promised.
Last, we discussed Tribe Sourcing. For a long post on that topic, click over to the LunaWeb blog here. For more information about the wonderful non-profits we brainstormed with, check out Forever Young Senior Wish Organization and Women of Style, Spirit and Success.
Download the podcast here, listen with the player below, or click the iTunes logo to subscribe.
The Expeditionaries spent their Cinco de Mayo morning talking social at the monthly breakfast meeting of the Social Expedition. Dave Barger of LunaWeb spoke with the group about new Facebook features and online privacy.
(Fun fact: it was Dave’s 62nd presentation in the last two and a half years on social topics, to more than one thousand people.)
Dave talked us through all of the new plug-ins being offered by Facebook to connect the site and its features with sites across the web. The first one on the agenda has already been adopted by around 50,000 sites, and Dave says it will likely be the most game-changing tool of the group: the universal “Like” button.
A user simply needs to grab a snippet of code and plug it in to a site to see the now iconic “thumbs up” appear on a page. When someone visits the site and clicks the button, an item will appear on their personal activity feed and the news feeds of their friends on Facebook, just as it would with activities and interactions within the four walls of the site itself.
Other plug-ins Dave discussed included a comments tool, which will bring the function of commenting — as you would on Facebook in response to a photo, video or note — to external sites, allowing users to leave text comments and, of course, linking that activity back to the user’s news feed.
After the plug-ins, the discussion turned to privacy. Facebook’s recent partnerships with external sites like Yelp and Pandora have made public information that many users thought was only being shared among their friends and connections. Dave noted that one of the main problems with Facebook’s privacy settings is that users have to choose to opt out rather than choosing to opt in.
He walked us through the steps a user would need to take to access privacy settings and discussed each section and potential implications of each — for example, information your friends can share about you. You may think you’re protected because you’ve tightened up your personal security, but your profile details can still find their way out into the public through your friends.
Generally, Dave advised against putting anything remotely sensitive on Facebook; even if you think you have that portion of your profile locked down, Facebook could change the rules of the game at any time, leaving you exposed.
Dave wrapped up his presentation with some highlights from his recent trip to SOBCon, including the advice “Quit collecting blueprints and start building something.”
Join us for our next meet-up on May 20, Twilight Camp at Davis Kidd’s Bronte Bistro, and be sure to mark your calendar for next month’s breakfast, happening Wednesday June 2.
We braved the pollen Wednesday to make it out to the April Social Expedition breakfast, featuring guest speaker Rod Kirby and his thoughts on blogging.
Rod’s presentation was titled “The Four Pillars of Blogging Success.” He broke down those four pillars — Content, Community, Design and Scalability — into step-by-step guidelines, beginning with creating quality content. The best blog content is scan-able, Rod said, because ultimately, as much as we’d love people to spend hours on our sites reading every word we write, it’s just not the way people consume online media.
A second key to developing quality content is planning, Rod said. He uses an editorial calendar to plan out when he will post about what topics, and also employs a strategy for the types of content he posts. For example, on a certain day of the week he will post a text blog post, on another day a poll and on a third day, a video. Setting the expectation for content delivery also keeps people coming back to the site as repeat visitors, he said, because they know there will be new content on a particular day.
The next pillar is Community, and Rod used the word “nurture” to describe how a blogger should treat his or her online community. Start conversations, participate with your readers in your own comments section and continually strive to offer value. As in business, Rod noted that a blogger must offer his reader a value proposition. What can the reader gain from reading this blog, what is the value in a post?
The next pillar is design, where Rod said the key is “easy.” Easy to navigate, easy to subscribe, easy on the eyes. And as for the fourth pillar, scalability, Rod asked the bloggers in the room: Where can your blog take you? What are your possibilities with this brand and this content outside of just your site and outside of the online space? Think about E-Books, radio, television, etc. How can you build a business and brand around your blogging?
During the Q and A session, Rod mentioned some of his favorite plug-ins for WordPress, the platform he uses for RodKirby.com. For comments, he recommended Disqus and CommentLuv. We also got into an interesting discussion about the value of negative comments and e-mails, and the value of leaving those comments up or even posting a negative e-mail live to your site. The general consensus was that showing those alternate viewpoints can be a huge positive for a blogger, because others may have had the same thoughts; posting the negativity allows you to respond to it and clarify your points.
If you missed out this month, don’t miss the May breakfast, and of course join us for Twilight Camp on Thursday, April 22 at Davis Kidd’s Bronte Bistro. You’ll also want to sign up now (while you can get the Early Bird discount!) for TribeCamp, the upcoming web/tech conference from LunaWeb and Launch Memphis.
It’s as busy as ever before at the Social Expedition news desk, particularly in the legal department. Some headlines we talk about:
Google executives convicted in association with YouTube bullying video
Google conviction affects Internet workers
Yelp sued over extortion
In the cracks in between those topics, Matthew and Ansley share examples of how customers who are converted are the most loyal, and Matthew busts out some serious opinions about obscenity and Apple’s decision to clear the App Store of explicit content.
All that and more happen in the main section of this week’s podcast.
Our guest this week was Kerry Crawford Trisler, better known to some, she reports to us, as “That Girl With the Blog.” You might more officially know her as the human being behind the @ILoveMemphis Twitter handle and related web and social presences, notably the I Love Memphis blog.
Elizabeth Cawein, Dave Barger, Kerry and Matthew Crawford Trisler
Crawford Trisler talked to us about her role at the Memphis Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, where she’s technically known as “social media specialist” — she lets us in on the myriad ways that title just can’t quite capture a typical day on the job.
We also talked to Kerry about her favorite tools and platforms, the evolution of the CVB’s social philosophy and how she measures their social footprint. Though Kerry’s techniques are a bit more analog, it’s a topic we’ll be diving into this week on The Core Conversation.
We’re hoping to pull in representatives from some different firms who have tools on the market for measuring social analytics to weigh in on the podcast. Either way, we want to hear from you, as always – how do you measure social interactions? Or is it like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree? You tell us, Friday at 11:30 a.m. CDT. Call in at 646-721-9429 or listen live here.
And of course, join us for next week’s Expedition breakfast. It’s already March? We know, it can’t be — but it is. So be there to hear more from Kerry, who’ll be joining us as our guest speaker. You can RSVP and learn more through MeetUp.
