I have Moved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is the new one:
http://scientificinages.blogspot.com/?spref=gr#close=1
AddThis
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
YEAH - Blog Metrics
A Framework for B2B Pros Thinking About Start-Up, Evolution Milestones and Success Measurement. Metrics for new client-side bloggers and Agencies to assess start-up and evolution are scant. Here’s a B2B team thinking about an approach for getting to benchmarks.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
From LINKED IN/ Alexander Lawrence
Defining the “Social Entertainment” category
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The term “Social Entertainment” is being used to define a new category of social media that combines social networking with highly interactive, immersive media such as games, virtual worlds, avatars, etc. Social Entertainment is different from social networking. Social networking is about communication - connecting with people you already know, sharing information with them. Social Entertainment is about entertainment - having fun with existing friends as well as new friends who you can meet by sharing games, videos, and other premium content.
Various companies are starting to align themselves in this category of Social Entertainment. Here are some I’ve found (listed alphabetically).
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Doppelganger
“Doppelganger is a social entertainment company, and producer of the award winning vSide virtual world (www.vside.com). vSide is an immersive and connected virtual environment that complements and amplifies the interests of the youth demographic: music, pop culture, fashion, celebrities, self-expression, communication, community and social networking.”
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ElfIsland
"Social entertainment company focused on empowering tweens to make a difference in the world through social media and online gaming"
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hi5
“Headquartered in San Francisco, hi5 is one of the world's largest and fastest growing social entertainment sites. Our focus is on delivering a fun, interactive, and immersive social experience online to our users around the world. With over 60 million unique visitors every month, hi5 is the number one social site in dozens of countries across Latin America, Europe, and Asia.“
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Loudcrowd
“Loudcrowd is a community of people who love music and want to do more than just listen to music. “
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Meez
“Meez is a leading social entertainment service combining avatars, web games and virtual worlds.”
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OMGPOP
“OMGPOP is a place to hang out, play free online multiplayer games, chat and make friends”
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PlayScreen
“San Diego based PlayScreen is a social entertainment company delivering mobile social games, ringtones, wallpapers, videos, and text services on all major US Carriers.”
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RockYou
“RockYou is the world's largest publisher of social entertainment applications. We offer people the ability to engage and have fun with one another using the relationships they've already developed on social networks”
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Slide
“Slide is the world's leading social entertainment company. We offer people the ability to communicate, engage and have fun with one another within the context of relationships they built on social networks“
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SmallWorlds
“Headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, SmallWorlds has developed the next generation of social entertainment for teens and adults with an accessible web-based virtual world that combines a unique combination of social game play, web2.0-inspired content, and entertainment.”
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SocialNetwork.com
“The Social Entertainment Network (SEN). SEN provides downloadable software and web browser based services for people to increase their opportunities to meet each other and interact socially. This online service has its own proprietary software which has been installed on thousands of computers in over 200 countries worldwide.”
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What others are out there? How does your company engage with social entertainment?
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Seeking "authentic" PR reps
The learning curve in Social Media Marketing (SMM) is moving at light speed so firms such as mine (Edge Communications Inc.) are rushing to educate our clients and us as quickly as possible concerning the ever changing environment of “social.”
Our clients are tuned into YouTube and understand that possibly customers are re-editing commercials for their our enjoyment or writing on blogs about rumors or redefining them on Wikipedia with misinformation and ganging up on them in social networking sites like Facebook. Our clients are well aware (because we either told them or they hear about through their own channels) that these are all elements of a social phenomenon that has created a permanent, long lasting shift in the way the world works. However, they, and we see it as an opportunity and not a threat.
A number of our clients want what you suggest: PR external resources to maintain a connection to media (social and otherwise). A lot are happy with their PR firm partnerships and are willing to invest jointly in the discoveries of new (or just maybe more different rather than “new”) communication tools. However, we, as responsible partners and PR experts, don't want them to jump on the bandwagon just to jump on the bandwagon. Hence, we are asking our clients (and are guiding them as they answer): what is the objective, strategy and goal for Social Media Marketing (SMM)?
Our clients are discovering that SMM is a full time job for their partners as well as for their clients and their in-house staff. As successful business people they are fully aware of the investment required to stay ahead of the curve. Having been burned by all the hype in the 1990s about the need to have a web site ASAP our clients are working together with us to address and develop a clear mission statement with clear and obtainable priorities before jumping into the mix. So, the issue for our clients and us is not about authenticity but rather what is the best approach AND what is the ROI. They and we are committed to SMM. The big move is to determine the best way to become “social.”
As a side bar all our clients are B2B, no consumer products or services, which makes the thinking process a little different. Additionally, in our world it is not 100% clear that SMM is the best way to go right now because we are not 100% convinced that our prospects are even involved with social media. Education about SMM and the development of a rifle shot strategy, with clear goals, is the way we are approaching SMM with the C Suite as well as with middle managers of all our clients.
So, the question, “where are the PR firm(s) that can pull off timely, authentic communication to represent a range of clients” can be answered with one sentence: We are right here. I think the really smart PR firms are partnering with their clients to develop clear strategies and goals with a clear ROI attached … and both are investing in the future by embracing education and experience.
Our clients are tuned into YouTube and understand that possibly customers are re-editing commercials for their our enjoyment or writing on blogs about rumors or redefining them on Wikipedia with misinformation and ganging up on them in social networking sites like Facebook. Our clients are well aware (because we either told them or they hear about through their own channels) that these are all elements of a social phenomenon that has created a permanent, long lasting shift in the way the world works. However, they, and we see it as an opportunity and not a threat.
A number of our clients want what you suggest: PR external resources to maintain a connection to media (social and otherwise). A lot are happy with their PR firm partnerships and are willing to invest jointly in the discoveries of new (or just maybe more different rather than “new”) communication tools. However, we, as responsible partners and PR experts, don't want them to jump on the bandwagon just to jump on the bandwagon. Hence, we are asking our clients (and are guiding them as they answer): what is the objective, strategy and goal for Social Media Marketing (SMM)?
Our clients are discovering that SMM is a full time job for their partners as well as for their clients and their in-house staff. As successful business people they are fully aware of the investment required to stay ahead of the curve. Having been burned by all the hype in the 1990s about the need to have a web site ASAP our clients are working together with us to address and develop a clear mission statement with clear and obtainable priorities before jumping into the mix. So, the issue for our clients and us is not about authenticity but rather what is the best approach AND what is the ROI. They and we are committed to SMM. The big move is to determine the best way to become “social.”
As a side bar all our clients are B2B, no consumer products or services, which makes the thinking process a little different. Additionally, in our world it is not 100% clear that SMM is the best way to go right now because we are not 100% convinced that our prospects are even involved with social media. Education about SMM and the development of a rifle shot strategy, with clear goals, is the way we are approaching SMM with the C Suite as well as with middle managers of all our clients.
So, the question, “where are the PR firm(s) that can pull off timely, authentic communication to represent a range of clients” can be answered with one sentence: We are right here. I think the really smart PR firms are partnering with their clients to develop clear strategies and goals with a clear ROI attached … and both are investing in the future by embracing education and experience.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
BAS CARES/Answering Lynne's question
Lynne has a great point and her question is the top question going right now....Beyond changing the mindset about social media (it's about having a conversation with an audience and not advertising to them), another challenge is that far too many are intent on finding THE social media tactic that is right for them. That can be incredibly limiting. I enjoy using Twitter as much as anyone, but 5% of people with a computer are on Twitter right now. And while that particular tool is growing rapidly, this doesn't change the fact that companies and individuals need to diversify and use different tactics for different purposes (blogging, podcasting, Twittering, Facebook, LinkedIn and so much more). Choosing which tactics can achieve your individual or group (read- brand) goal with consistency is obviously where experts like the Linked IN meeting at BAS on 7/23 come in, but it won't be enough to tell BAS CARES members and others to get into social media. We have to show them how certain social media tactics relate to their audience -- without forgoing other parts of the media mix like letters, phone calls and networking at events, etc.... so how do I answer Lynne's question? .... with a question:
How does BAS CARES encourage HR professionals and hiring managers in the U.S. to share ideas about how job seekers can effectively use social media for their job searches so employers have access to the best available talent?
First the "traditional" step of "who am I and why do you need me?" should be addressed before thinking about marketing yourself.
When I was last fired/let go/whatever - well, after recovering from the shock I spent hours going through a self-assessment, identifying my styles, pinpointing my strengths and developing a short list of accomplishments which eventually became the core of my resume. This was hard to do because I am much better at helping others than I am at helping myself. However, food on the table and rent being paid helped me focus. After I discovered, painfully, what my strong selling points/strengths I was ready for the next step....
I was now ready to develop my career marketing campaign, and, in the process, I learned such a campaign usually consists of these eight tactics:
1. Developing an engaging personal presentation which shows how you can use your skills and experience to address one of a prospective employer's most pressing needs;
2. Writing letters of introduction which generate information/referral interviews for carrying out your market research;
3. Setting up appointments by telephone for information/referral interviews;
4. Writing thank you letters to those you meet through information/referral interviews;
5. Preparing for information/referral interviews through job, company and industry research;
6. Developing the questions you need answered during your information/referral interviews;
7. Managing the information you gain through information/referral interviews; and
8. Keeping people within your contact network informed and enrolled in your effort to create a job for yourself (yeah for BAS CARES and LinkedIN!).
Notice that these eight tactics carry you beyond the shotgun approach of blindly sending out a bunch of resumes to companies and beyond the routine of submitting your resume electronically to job sites.... sins I was very guilty of in my instant need to recover from no job.... and sins I learned did nothing to help me get a job and only added to my craziness about work and money ....
However, I discovered that the above is an indirect but effective marketing campaign that involves a high degree of personal contact. It's one in which you ask for information -- not a job. It's a marketing campaign that emphasizes research, a search in which you continually narrow down your job options to a position and a company that are right for you.
I quickly learned that "You are in charge of that process." That means you don't always have to follow today's guidelines for submitting resumes -- electronically or otherwise -- because you're bypassing the automatic filtering process that characterizes the contemporary job application process in many companies and organizations. A eureka moment for me!!!!!!!!!!
Becoming proficient in using each of these eight tactics required practice. It is all personal, like social network marketing. SO, I practiced, failed and practiced some more....
Soooooooooo ... what about Lynne's question..... Everyday I hear (and read) people talking about social media. They usually use social media toys to define social media. Not only that, they believe that social media marketing starts with “them” and not “you” or “us.” How many times have you heard that social media is “Twitter or Facebook”? How many people have you heard say that they use Facebook or LinkedIn to promote themselves or their their business? They are all social media marketers, right?
Not really!!!!!!!!!!!!
Social media is all about empowering folks (the public, you and me) to create their own content. Whether it is sharing photos (Flickr, etc.), videos (YouTube), audio (podcasts), written content (this blog) or simply ideas (Twitter), social media = public + content. So many think social media is about having a Twitter account and pushing out tweets (don't you just love the new lanuage of the net?) to their followers, who - if they are like me, by and large don’t read those updates most of the time .... unless it is something I want or need, which means me, you and us not them.....
Having a presence on sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are a part of what it means to market using social media. Using those sites to engage users for the purposes of including them in the marketing process - whether soliciting their ideas (in conversation, social) OR evangelizing your resume is truly the secret sauce in social media marketing.
It never ceases to amaze me how many experts talk about social media but leave most of the important stuff out. They talk about transparency, and its true that being open and honest is a great thing, but it isn’t inherently “social media” — its just good public relations. Obviously, there is a place for PR on sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn (as well as thousands of other social networks).
Research tells us that a very small percentage of users on social networks actually take the time to create anything. That may well be true (and probably is, frankly), however, it doesn’t change the nature of social media. Marketers (i.e. you looking for a job are marketing yourself) must overcome obstacles every day in getting the word out about their "stuff." Those who can apply the right incentives, through active and thoughtful engagement using social networks, will be the ones who are truly successful.
So the next time you read (or better, talk about) social media, remember that its about the users and engaging them in a way that lets them take part in your process. From a marketing perspective, social media marketing is all about not just talking to your customers, but empowering them to talk for you.So the answer to Lynne's question is: Try them all and use the one or two or three that work best for you - and trust that with the right base (discovering your strengths) and the best effort of networking (live and online) something will come your way.
How does BAS CARES encourage HR professionals and hiring managers in the U.S. to share ideas about how job seekers can effectively use social media for their job searches so employers have access to the best available talent?
First the "traditional" step of "who am I and why do you need me?" should be addressed before thinking about marketing yourself.
When I was last fired/let go/whatever - well, after recovering from the shock I spent hours going through a self-assessment, identifying my styles, pinpointing my strengths and developing a short list of accomplishments which eventually became the core of my resume. This was hard to do because I am much better at helping others than I am at helping myself. However, food on the table and rent being paid helped me focus. After I discovered, painfully, what my strong selling points/strengths I was ready for the next step....
I was now ready to develop my career marketing campaign, and, in the process, I learned such a campaign usually consists of these eight tactics:
1. Developing an engaging personal presentation which shows how you can use your skills and experience to address one of a prospective employer's most pressing needs;
2. Writing letters of introduction which generate information/referral interviews for carrying out your market research;
3. Setting up appointments by telephone for information/referral interviews;
4. Writing thank you letters to those you meet through information/referral interviews;
5. Preparing for information/referral interviews through job, company and industry research;
6. Developing the questions you need answered during your information/referral interviews;
7. Managing the information you gain through information/referral interviews; and
8. Keeping people within your contact network informed and enrolled in your effort to create a job for yourself (yeah for BAS CARES and LinkedIN!).
Notice that these eight tactics carry you beyond the shotgun approach of blindly sending out a bunch of resumes to companies and beyond the routine of submitting your resume electronically to job sites.... sins I was very guilty of in my instant need to recover from no job.... and sins I learned did nothing to help me get a job and only added to my craziness about work and money ....
However, I discovered that the above is an indirect but effective marketing campaign that involves a high degree of personal contact. It's one in which you ask for information -- not a job. It's a marketing campaign that emphasizes research, a search in which you continually narrow down your job options to a position and a company that are right for you.
I quickly learned that "You are in charge of that process." That means you don't always have to follow today's guidelines for submitting resumes -- electronically or otherwise -- because you're bypassing the automatic filtering process that characterizes the contemporary job application process in many companies and organizations. A eureka moment for me!!!!!!!!!!
Becoming proficient in using each of these eight tactics required practice. It is all personal, like social network marketing. SO, I practiced, failed and practiced some more....
Soooooooooo ... what about Lynne's question..... Everyday I hear (and read) people talking about social media. They usually use social media toys to define social media. Not only that, they believe that social media marketing starts with “them” and not “you” or “us.” How many times have you heard that social media is “Twitter or Facebook”? How many people have you heard say that they use Facebook or LinkedIn to promote themselves or their their business? They are all social media marketers, right?
Not really!!!!!!!!!!!!
Social media is all about empowering folks (the public, you and me) to create their own content. Whether it is sharing photos (Flickr, etc.), videos (YouTube), audio (podcasts), written content (this blog) or simply ideas (Twitter), social media = public + content. So many think social media is about having a Twitter account and pushing out tweets (don't you just love the new lanuage of the net?) to their followers, who - if they are like me, by and large don’t read those updates most of the time .... unless it is something I want or need, which means me, you and us not them.....
Having a presence on sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are a part of what it means to market using social media. Using those sites to engage users for the purposes of including them in the marketing process - whether soliciting their ideas (in conversation, social) OR evangelizing your resume is truly the secret sauce in social media marketing.
It never ceases to amaze me how many experts talk about social media but leave most of the important stuff out. They talk about transparency, and its true that being open and honest is a great thing, but it isn’t inherently “social media” — its just good public relations. Obviously, there is a place for PR on sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn (as well as thousands of other social networks).
Research tells us that a very small percentage of users on social networks actually take the time to create anything. That may well be true (and probably is, frankly), however, it doesn’t change the nature of social media. Marketers (i.e. you looking for a job are marketing yourself) must overcome obstacles every day in getting the word out about their "stuff." Those who can apply the right incentives, through active and thoughtful engagement using social networks, will be the ones who are truly successful.
So the next time you read (or better, talk about) social media, remember that its about the users and engaging them in a way that lets them take part in your process. From a marketing perspective, social media marketing is all about not just talking to your customers, but empowering them to talk for you.So the answer to Lynne's question is: Try them all and use the one or two or three that work best for you - and trust that with the right base (discovering your strengths) and the best effort of networking (live and online) something will come your way.
NSPRA 2009 -- Using Web 2.0 and Social Media to Reach Your Audience
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Using Social Media in Professional Development
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
Using Social Media in Professional Development
View more documents from Stratepedia .
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Time to make the donuts!
The emergence of blogs, wikis and RSS aggregators has put the spotlight on new patterns of influence, and search engines are transforming how we find information in the digital realm. These technologies are just a part of a larger transformation of how people get information, what they listen to and who ultimately influences them.
Now, how do we live?
Time to make the donuts!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, how do we live?
Time to make the donuts!!!!!!!!!!!!
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