Twegg Video Update #1

So far we've gotten 85 entries in the form of hard-boiled egg donations and tweets about the contest. Our goal is 2,009 eggs by Easter's end so please keep your entries coming... bringing you one step closer to possibly winning a Kindle 2!

Reading that has changed my thinking and behavior

Many of us do a lot of reading in the course of a week. There is a myriad of newspaper articles, blog posts, emails, and books that we can choose to skim or dive into, but which ones really make a lasting impact on us? While not every piece of writing is meant to dramatically change our thinking or behavior, I do believe we should be seeking out those that challenge and even change the way we do things. The following pieces of writing have left a lasting impact on me and many of them have dramatically changed the way I look at the world and interact with it.

“Ads Are the New Online Tip Jar” by Seth Godin
After reading this blog post from Seth, I now view online ads completely differently. Instead of avoiding them like the black plague, I now find myself actually clicking on some. My click, which is free and easy, is a great way to reward good writing and chip in a little money to the writer for his/her hard work.

The Long Tail by Chris Andersen
The power of the small pieces combined. Did you know there is a whole world of small niche markets out there that are dramatically changing how the market looks? It starts with the iTunes model, but affects every sphere of business. The Long Tail shows that today you don’t have to be everything to everyone - you need to be everything to your audience.

“There’s A Better Way To ReTweet!” from TwiTip by Miles Tinsley
Miles made an excellent point about adding original content and thought to a ReTweet instead of just passing it along. I like this method because it is good way to show the author/blogger that you actually read their article and comprehended it (the traditional “RT” method could just look like an attempt to suck up due to the lack of thought and effort).

“The Hedgehog Concept” from Good to Great by Jim Collins
Companies (very) often fail because they loose focus on their Hedgehog Concept. What can you make the most money at, dominate the market at, and be very passionate about doing? Don’t do anything outside of the intersection of these three things. Try to broaden your vision too much and you will loose focus.

What have you read that has changed the way you think?

2009 Easter Twegg Drop Contest

Moving the message of “social media for social good” across Twitter, Axiom has created a special holiday partnership with Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLFNOW) for the first annual Easter Twegg Drop. Our old English phone booth will house 2,009 plastic Easter eggs filled with Twitter ID contest entries – representing the tweets and hard-boiled egg donations of 2,009 Twitterers.

For every contest entry, a single egg drops into the booth. One lucky participant will win a Kindle 2 after the eggs roll out post-Easter Sunday and a name is announced. The winner will be featured here on our blog, which will also show video updates on reaching our goal of 2,009 eggs.

Directions for entering the contest:

Twitter users can enter the contest one of two ways, but those wishing to increase their chances of winning may choose both options:

1. Tweet the message: "Real Eggs for the Hungry. Win a Kindle 2! http://twurl.nl/maj4x6 #tweggdrop" and your Twitter handle will be put into an egg in the Axiom phone booth.
2. Make a direct egg donation of $5 or more to Mobile Loaves & Fishes at their site (www.mlfnow.org/egg) and you will receive an additional entry (make sure to leave your Twitter handle on the donation form).
   

Contest Prize:

One lucky egg will be chosen on April 14th and be awarded the Kindle 2!

*Deadline for entries is midnight April 12th.

Thank you for spreading the message of feeding the hungry and Happy Easter!

About Mobile Loaves & Fishes
Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) is an Austin-based nonprofit that provides food, clothing, dignity, and housing to the homeless and indigent working poor. MLF accomplishes this mission through the use of catering trucks that go out onto the city streets of Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans, Providence, and Nashville every night of the week, thanks to the hard work of over 12,000 volunteers. For more information, please visit http://www.mlfnow.org/

Contest to Be Announced Monday

Our apologies for not having a fresh, new blog post about social media for you today. Tim and I have been hard at work on a secret contest that will launch Monday. We are really excited about this campaign, but we can't tell you about it until next week! Here are a few clues about the contest to wet your appetites over the weekend:

- Twitter
- Easter Eggs
- and a very special prize...

Just In Case You Still Thought It Was A Waste of Time

The Internet is forever changing the way we do everything. If you need a little more proof that things will not be reverting anytime soon look no further than this week's headline from the UK. The British government is now recommending that Twitter, podcasting, blogging and social media become part of the mandatory curriculum in elementary schools.

There are still a lot of hard core skeptics that think this "social media thing" will soon pass just like all the other trends and fads. "It's a waste of time, pointless, not worth the time to learn."

That's what they said about the television and even the internet.

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networks may not be around in years to come, but the ideas are here to stay. The choice and consequences are pretty simple. Knowing that things are going to continue to move in this direction, you can start to learn about it now and think about how it will affect your business/industry/career/life. You can then have a head start and start to evolve those areas. Since you are reading this blog, you have probably already decided to go this route. The other option is that you can avoid and reject change. Ignore it long enough and you might become the next music industry or newspaper industry.

Social media and Web 2.0 are here to stay.

Can Numa Numa Guy and Geico Gecko Be Friends?

With more and more companies and brands getting involved in the social media space these days, marketers are trying hard to come up with new ways to engage the audience. Whether it's viral videos on YouTube, internet celebrity endorsements, or popular blogger outreach, brands have blurred the lines between company controlled messages and user-generated content.

Here's the latest video to makes its rounds on the web:


The Numa Numa guy has done stuff like this before (Pork and Beans with Weezer) and I believe that we will continue to see big companies working hard to tap into the social web for ways to get their brand in front of people.

Here's the question - Do company marketing and user-generated content really mix well? I can think of three camps of thought:

1. These videos are just plain fun and require no deep thought aside from their pure entertainment value. Numa Numa guy is funny and we love the dancing Gecko - bring on more of it.

2. These kinds of videos just feel like an awkward attempt to mix corporate advertising with viral user-generated content. They try too hard to be clever and don't really mix very well. Some in this group would even argue that this is the equivalent of selling out - these videos were never meant for this purpose. Think classic rock songs on car commercials.

3. Mixing corporate images with user-generated content does not get any real message across. Was 'Where the Hell is Matt?' successful? Extremely. Did it have anything to do with chewing gum? Nope. It's impossible to correlate the good feelings and fun these videos create with actual sales or growth, even if the video is extremely popular and company health and wealth improves in a year, therefore they are a waste of time, money, and effort for companies to make.

So where do you fall? Is there a category missing? Can corporate messages and marketing be mixed successfully with user-generated content?

How to Control Brand Messaging on Twitter

Twitter’s claim to fame is fast delivery and response, and consumers have come to appreciate the outstanding customer service such a tool provides. The takeaway from a brand using customer service strategies is a message of care and concern – everything that in-store customer service isn’t. Though, how can brands ensure the key messages part of their created identity will be carried across Twitter feeds? I once said it’s impossible to control brand messages on Twitter, but now I digress after recent revelations.

True, consumers have a powerful voice, but brands can certainly overpower negative and confusing tweets by considering how a consumer typically reaches out to a company on Twitter. Consumers only know how to interact with brands (not the people behind the brands) on Twitter in one way. By offering tweets of praise and complaints, they let the brand rep know the company either is or isn’t doing their job.

Subjectivity is not a good barometer when it comes to brand message development, because a lot of it might be considered blown smoke. (People still reply to @comcastcares with faulty messages about a broken down TV, internet connection, etc. just to see if they’ll actually respond). Knowing the potential for discrepancies, how do brands control the messages on Twitter?

• It’s all in the profile While I agree with a short bio about the tweeting brand rep, I don’t think it’s wise to blur the lines of professional position vs. personal interests by offering up things like “I love Cheetos” in the Twitter bio. In order to ensure brand messaging consistency, companies need to insert a shorter version of their values, mission, and passion. If too personal, consumers might think a company rep’s love for Cheetos is because he/she works for them. Here's a brief bio example I speak of:

• Addressing the issue publicly Honestly, what is the point of DMs (besides avoiding spam e-mail) if, by nature, all social networks and blogging platforms are meant to be transparent? Brands can stop a naysayer quicker by @-ing them. A DM message is not searchable, so when consumers are looking for answers via Twitter search, they won’t find a company’s reply to a very strongly worded consumer comment. And if you want to avoid spam e-mail, you can certainly DM them that info if further discussion is necessary.

• A ground for resource links Twitter is not the only way to communicating a promotion or contest, though companies love to do it all the time. But say a customer was to reply and ask what the promotion was and 140 characters didn’t allow for a good explanation. Hopefully, other communications would come into play, so Twitter could serve as a resource link to additional info on Web sites and blogs. Some companies have avoided this issue altogether by making their Twitter profile more concrete and theme-driven. Here's an example:

• Two Twitter accounts? If you’re a brand rep on Twitter and you really want to interact on a more personal level, a way that taps into your interests, you should consider creating both a personal Twitter account, and a professional one dedicated to brand values, mission, and passion. While I understand a professional Twitter account heightens the possibility of spam, it’s better than having mixed messages about the brand. If you’re McDonalds, you tweet about special menu deals, new products and service, and countries you love to visit. If you work for McDonalds, you tweet beyond your company and talk about your love for snacking on Cheetos, alternative music, and the hit television series “Lost.”

Remember, it's all about tweet consistency and not blurring the lines. People say mix the personal with the professional, but I have to disagree as personality can be conveyed through a professional Twitter account-- keeping in mind those key messages, values, and passion of an organization. I would argue the former only works if you're self-employed or a C-suite level executive.

What are your thoughts on branding consistency via tweets?

Axiom Featured in Upcoming Fox9 News Segment

Fox9's Trish Van Pilsum stopped by the Axiom offices this past Friday to talk about Facebook Faux Pas. Here's a summary of what happened, and be sure to check out Van Pilsum's segment on Tuesday, March 31 at 9 p.m. on Fox 9 Twin Cities.

Happy One-Year HARO!

Today marks one-year since the first HARO was published. HARO (Help A Reporter Out) was started by the ever-energetic Peter Shankman as a resource for reporters to connect with information, resources, and other people to help with stories. Three times a day a list of requests is published and sent out all over the world. In a year, the list of subscribers is now up to 70,000 strong and growing.

Consider signing up for HARO's list. If you are a reporter looking for sources, this is definitely the place to go. If you are a marketer or PR person, this is a great list for finding opportunities for your clients (just make sure to read and follow the rules). Happy HARO Day!

TwitterJobSearch.com

Just ran across TwitterJobSearch.com yesterday and thought it was a great tool to share. With a very simple interface (much like Google), TwitterJobSearch.com aggregates all Tweets pertaining to job listings and allows you to search for them. For instance, if you wanted to find jobs in Minneapolis, simply type "Minneapolis" and a list of all the job Tweets in Minneapolis, MN will appear.

If you are in the search for a job I would recommend setting up some RSS Feeds of the jobs you are interested in. Type in the term(s) you are interested in and then click the "Subscribe" button on the page. Now every time the search engine finds a Tweet with your term in it, you will be immediately informed and will be able to react quickly to opportunities.

Shameless Self-Promotion: A Good Thing for Targeted Ads

Who ever said that shameless self-promotion wasn’t a good thing? Oh yeah – Twitter. While dozens have dismissed the seemingly too commercial brands as nothing more than spam artists, companies like Google are now relying solely on what you want to say about their ads.

Finally, someone gets what social media is about: a content-driven democracy. Through Google’s new targeted ad approach, you can customize your preferences for the ads that pop up, but first you have to navigate through the many that land on your page as a result of cookies (those parcels of text that are input into a browser).

Still, other social Web companies have yet to catch on, like uStream.TV. Don’t get me wrong—I love uStream, but not the ads they have forced on a lifecaster’s page. I’d prefer to watch Cali Lewis of GeekBrief.TV talk about her video nomination for the Island Reef Job (Vote for Cali!) without the distraction of a Techcrunch ad. Sponsored ads only work if it’s really in the best interests of the consumer watching, not a generalization of the viewing public.

Facebook has somewhat gotten it right, as I don’t think ‘hot bods’ actually correlates to my profile interests of running or boxing. But I have to say, Google is entirely on the right track and I’m looking forward to seeing more shameless self-promotion being the criteria for ads smattered all over the Web… from this point forward.

What do you think about ads on your favorite social network?

Story Telling

"Eat at Java Street Cafe and pay what you think is a fair price." This creates a story and experience that people will share with their friends. It's innovative, unique, simple, and has the marketing built right in.

It's spreadable.

What kind of story are you telling? Are you creating products and services with the marketing built in, or are you creating confusing or frustrating stories that never take off?

Social Web Starter Kit: How to Avoid Reputation Desperation

Anyone notice how the Web 3.0 world (microblogging/blogging integration) is making brands (We’re all brands!) so desperate for attention? Time and time again, we at Daily Axioms have fallen into the trap of seeming too commercial and not enough personal—in order to build up buzz for our blog. In keeping aligned and keeping people’s interest within social networks, it’s important to know several things about building a socially Web-acceptable reputation.

1) Think self-disclosure
I’m very tired of trying to reach 1,000+ followers inappropriately on Twitter, hoping they’ll @ me by a “That’s cool” response. I managed to get @armano's attention by tweeting about something we had in common: we both like sour stuff. All relationships online, at the core, are personal—because self-disclosure is easier online. If I met @armano on the street, would “I like sour candy” be the first thing out of my mouth? No. We’d probably talk about the weather or sports.

Moral: When you say things that strike a chord with someone personally on Twitter, trust me, they’ll tweet you back.

2) I actually read your post. Here are my thoughts.
On blogs, brands don’t try hard enough. Moreover, the PR agencies representing them don’t really know this blog editor at all, and a simple “Great post. You should check out this new product from…” is a great way to let the commenters know you’re a selfish spammer. Some might think a post with massive comments= strong opportunity to get the word out, but if you don’t read the post and the comments pertaining to the post first, you don’t know the context.

Moral: Know the context to determine if your product/service/event really suits the situation.

3) Check your motive
This really sums up the first two, but this needs a category all its own. In an effort to get ahead or standout, we act very selfish. We won’t acknowledge others in the space and we’ll only speak to the author or moderator. When I see comments or replies on Ustream or Twitter hashtag events like this, it indicates a person doesn’t want to be social; rather, they’re in it for themselves, and if applicable, their client. Moderators and blog writers can see through this and dismiss the deceptiveness by blocking you. (Trust me, it can happen)

Moral: Engage with the community you are now a part of (You didn't just hop in).

4) Listen. Welcome feedback.
Has it ever occurred to you that your subscribers or fans will give you answers to your unsaid questions as to why you’re not getting more traffic, or why this product isn’t selling as well as you thought it would the ‘beta time around’? Your community wants to hear from you, so if you’re not reaching out to them and welcoming feedback, how are they going to know if you’re actually listening and making the necessary adjustments?

Moral: Say the unsaid so you can get the answers needed

5) Now you’re ready to build a networking plan!

• Make a list of all the people you’d like to know online that are also within your professional network offline. These are the people you see at pro events and social media conferences—within your region.

• Make a list of all the people you’d like to know online that are miles away from you. These are the people that you can have a long distance relationship with by simply being an active community member on their blog, discussion forum, LinkedIn Q&A, or Twitter feed.

• Engage with your key members of your new community 2-3 times a week—whether close by or long-distance.

• Provide your community with some helpful info you’ve read about recently that pertains to what was discussed on their blogs, Twitter feed, etc. You can do this by simply commenting on their blog or e-mailing them the info. You know it will appeal, or your community will at least acknowledge-- if it pertains to what’s been on their minds lately.

• Beyond your pro network, reach out to niche-specific audiences that align with your interests and your client’s interests. Consider the steps above before making a list and making the contact.

Moral: A crowded space will bury you and it’s important to stand out by offering something the community can chew on—something that’s beneficial to all.

And that, my friends, is how people will start talking about you and your contributions to online communities appropriately.

Hungry? Why Wait? Because Brand Image Is Important

The most recent social media candy controversy revolves around an online campaign for Snickers. In the attempt to go hand-in-hand with Snickers most recent campaign, "Learn To Speak Snacklish," the creative company, Poke created a site in which users could generate their own Snicker's-styled text to use on social networks online. After Snickers threatened to sue them for unauthorized use of their logo and brand image, Poke was forced to take down the site and posted a blog response saying that Mars overreacted and is now alienating and angering fans.

While some may be upset, I would have to agree with the decision Mars made. Mars has to control their brand image. Anything could be typed into the text generator, including messages that would be inconsistent with their brand messaging and image (such as swearing). This is very similar to the outcome of Skittles decision to make their homepage a live Twitter stream. Mars cannot have people hijacking their brand to be used in immature or crude ways.

What's your take on Mars decision to shut down this campaign?

Life's Greatest Moments Know No Bounds on Twitter

Last year, we watched Twitter feeds with the RT of the first guy proposing on Twitter, and then the second guy, and then the third. (Then there apparently was somebody who proposed using Nintendo DS. I dunno-- ask this guy). But never before have we seen something like this: an unborn child on Twitter.

'Its' name is KermitKeliher and 'it' is the evolving fetus of the proud parents of Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Keliher, and Mr. Keliher is quick to point out, “We can’t call it ‘It’ for nine months, can we?” So alas, a famous Frog moniker was brought to life again.

Though it's not terribly interactive, I e-mailed Mr. Keliher (let’s keep it formal for the sake of the occasion:) to ask him a couple questions about Kermit and stepping into fatherhood. Here’s what he had to say:

DA: When is the baby due?
MK: Due August 7, 2009

DA: What made you decide to put a fetus on Twitter?
MK: Why? Why not?! I thought it'd be a fun way to break the news to a certain group of my friends, and I did it the day before an SMBMSP event, so my timing was right on.

DA: (I definitely agree with that point. Timing is everything in the world of buzz building).
If it's a boy, will you name the baby Kermit-- to offer real-life personification for the micro buzz?
MK: If it's a boy, family tradition dictates he be named Thomas, after my father. If it's a girl, we have yet to decide, but I promise it will not be Kermit.

DA: Do you think Twitter is the next best thing for Baby Books? Perhaps Baby Book 3.0?
MK: Twitter is only "the new baby book" if you have zero respect for your child. At least go with Flickr, for god's sake!

DA: (You prove a good point. It kind of reminds me of that funeral procession tweeted last year; an example of 'zero respect' for the dead). Are you going to TwitPic the ultrasound updates? (I'm hoping so :)
MK: I've never really been into the whole TwitPic thing, but I do have the first ultrasound photo on Flickr. I used it in Kermit's introductory blog post and it's Kermit's Twitter profile pic. We have another ultrasound coming up soon, and I'm sure I'll share that, too.

When Mr. Keliher isn't at home prepping to be a daddy, he works at this company and maintains a strong following through his PR blog and Twitter account. Mr. Keliher's got quite the sense of humor and you can find him among the #SMBMSP crowd.

Let's all congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Keliher in welcoming this new arrival into their lives and on Twitter! And that brings up my next thought... what other "blessings" have you seen unfold on Twitter?

Hello, My Name is Drew, and Who Are You?

Once a social media community has gotten rolling a bit, it can be tough to keep track of who all is actually following you on Twitter, who reads what you are writing on your blog, and what kinds of people make up your community. It's like a party - you may be having a conversation with a few people on one side of the room while a few new people come in the back door unnoticed. While it can be tough to keep up, it is so important! Google Analytics can only tell you so much.

I want to take this opportunity to reintroduce myself and ask you a few questions. My name is Drew and I work at Axiom Marketing Communications in Minneapolis. We work with a variety of clients on marketing, event promotion, brand management, and social media tactics as well as writing this daily social media blog. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing broomball during winter, discovering and listening to new music, and digging into LOST. I still have a lot to learn about social media and marketing, but reading and writing blogs as well as engaging in the online community have taught me a lot.

Now about you. Here are a few questions you could answer (any or all):

- What's your name, where are you from, where do you work?
- Favorite hobbies, current projects?
- Favorite blogs or books that you would recommend to others?
- How can we improve Daily Axioms for you? What would you like to see us write about more? Less?

The community at Daily Axioms is so important to us and we truly want to engage and get to know each one of you. Think of it like a party where we can all get to know each other a little more.

Water Off A Duck's Back

I have found Twitter to be a great tool for staying on top of news as it happens, connecting with people from my city, and learning more about social media. I share Twitter in the hopes that they might also benefit from using it. So when some people respond towards Twitter evangelists like this (and this), I initially get frustrated.

Then I think about ducks.

Some people are simply misinformed, ill-informed, or just ignorant about social media and how it will continue to change the world of business, marketing, and relationships. They react in a negative way. I would rather spend my energy teaching people who are willing and interested in Twitter than those who are opposed or simply not ready to hear about it. If you know and have experienced the real benefits of using Twitter, than why let the haters and naysayers cause you to react in an equally negative way? Don't comment on the naysayers' articles, don't argue with the social media critics, and don't waste your energy arguing about social media when it probably won't change those people. It's a waste of time to fight those who are unwilling; instead, put your energy towards those who are curious and willing to learn.

Twitter: What Are You “Endorsing”?

With the news that we're all entrepreneurs and that we’re all brand evangelists, isn’t your Twitter feed really answering the question, “What are you endorsing?” rather than "What's got your attention?"

Mashable writers Mark Drapeau and Lon S. Cohen have duked it out over the months, as Twitter has become a source of “growth” in start-ups and big-name companies—over whether or not brands belong on Twitter. It’s clear from how everyone talks on Twitter nowadays that brands do have their place (I agree with Cohen), but need a C-suite level voice behind them to be credible rather than spam-worthy (one of Drapeau's points). Both of them are right to varying degrees.

I’m happy to report that I’m a brand – you are too. And Twitter really seems to blur the lines, as brands on Twitter talk just like normal human beings… because they are human beings. There are, however, some exceptions. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Twitter is just one big massive community raising a commotion in hopes that others take a look at what they’re endorsing. The more followers the better, as Verizon Wireless 'dead zone' commercials teach us that brand evangelism maintains a network of individuals who will back you up when bullied, and solicit feedback as needed. So Twitter isn’t a dead zone; it’s a heavenly space where you're likely to find guardian angels following your every move.

Early on, Twitter fought for credibility due to ‘eat’ tweets. Even though these types of filler tweets are still part of Twitter, look closely and you’ll see that lately, everyone has become a brand and they’re following other brands.

“I feel like Tyson chicken tonight!” What about you?

Immersive Marketing for Watchman

An unknown group of people has hit the streets, spray painting walls and surfaces with taglines from the comic strip and soon-to-be movie Watchman (opening tonight in theaters). It is unknown whether these rogue marketers were hired by the movie studio or are just big fans of the graphic novel, but one thing is clear - it is an effective strategy for promoting the movie.

Immersive marketing is marketing that doesn't simply shove a product in front of us with advertising, but rather invites us to be part of a story that becomes something we talk about and spread to others. By creating an experience that is unique and stimulating, this type of approach reaches to people in an unobtrusive way and invites them to interact naturally (LOST has done this very well). People want to share experiences and stories (and pictures of Watchman graffiti on social networks), so developing strategies around immersive marketing is a smart way to go.

Does Your Twitter Bio Measure Up?

I’m always the experimenter. This week was no different, as I found myself modifying my Twitter profile—again.

Did you know that it pays to have a solid Twitter bio? Being too abstract and not enough concrete can cause a prospective follower to not follow after they read something like “I think I’m funny” or “I like PR.” Many times I find myself helping Drew filter through the number of people following AxiomPR to see if we might follow back, and the first thing we look for is a compelling bio. Some Twitterers don’t have bios and therefore take a risk in relying solely on their tweets to carry them. If you can do this effectively, more power to you! Knowing I can’t, I have to allow my bio to do some of the talking.

Your social media profile is forever out there in Web 2.0 world; that is, until you modify it. Search metatags will pick it up and put it up on Google numbers, and broadcast discrepancies. Somehow at one time you were a fireman who loved sliding down a pole, and now a modified profile suggests you’ve become a budding entrepreneur. Who are you really?!

It’s never a good idea to play a guessing game with those people following you on Twitter, but I’ve been guilty of it a couple times now. In creating a Twitter bio, there’s one major thing we will learn about ourselves: if we’re interesting. Social media separates the phony from the tried and true genuine article.

So… what did I come up with? Something that entirely suits me now and far into the future, or at least I think so:

Media relations and kulture consultant. Budding entrepreneur. Determined to make a difference in society. Food junkie.

Let’s examine this:
I’m very much love in with searching out online and print opportunities for clients both at Axiom and part of my freelance consultancy, Quac Kulture. I definitely am on the track to becoming an entrepreneur or at least exuding the passion to be one. I most certainly want to impact the community in which I live; not just take up space. And… I love sitting down at a good restaurant and digesting the best of the best a city serves up. Viola!

When things weren’t so concrete and I tried to rely on my creative spin within my Twitter bio (back when I was trying to be funny), I averaged about one person following me per day, even though I maintained similar tweets. With my new Twitter bio, I’ve seen more followers pop up in my Gmail than when I first started out. I’m finally me.

Is your Twitter bio really you, or are you having an identity crisis?

Clicks, Quantity, and Censorship is not Social Media!

Even in the buzzing social media advocacy groups, there are still some actions and suggestions that need to be shot down. We're all feeling the impact of bad counsel, because within a community, you will have citizens that attempt to mislead the masses.

Clicks. I used to get giddy when I found out how many people frequented our blog daily in terms of ‘views,” but it’s really the “visits” that matter. This goes for clicking blog links on Twitter as well, as we need to investigate if a content link found a visitor reading rather than clicking-through without giving RSS subscription a second thought. Mashable’s Sarah Evans calls it ‘return on engagement,’ and that’s clearly how the success of one positioning themselves on a blog, microblog and social network space should be measured.

Go ahead and throw your arms up in the air with excitement over your latest view count, but let it be known that 0:00 speaks to how you long you’ve actually kept a user’s attention. Sitemeter is for blogs in this regard, so is Tweetburner for yielding your quality of impact on Twitter. While I’m at it, here’s a list of other stellar site measurement tools.

Quantity. The only high return I’ve witnessed on quantity has been within the Twitter community. It’s amazing how much trust a Twitterer will put in you, if you a) @ them with a friendly response to something they’ve just tweeted about, or perhaps, in researching them and their Web presence outside of Twitter, asking them a question or commenting on their interests; b) make it a habit to connect on a daily basis; and c) offer a suggestion or tip to earn their trust in working with or alongside of you.

Here are just a few quantity go-getters who have been quite effective in yielding high return on engagement: @prsarahevans, @briansolis, @ambercadabra, and my friend in the Twin Cities PR community, @arikhanson. I watched @arikhanson’s Twitter populace multiply (strides ahead of mine!) by simply engaging in micro-blogging-inspired spin-offs, such as journchat and Tweet-up.

But what’s up with users pursuing 500+ connections on LinkedIn?! As Peter Shankman noted in prefacing a marketer’s new LinkedIn strategies book, “I’m on LinkedIn, Now What?” it seems everyone’s response is to cash in on hundreds more followers they meet on Twitter. I’m guilty of one of these—for the simple fact that I really didn’t know this person when I added them to my pro network. Will I ever meet them? A slim chance if I’m not a quantity go-getter on Twitter. To really offer stronger takeaway both for users and the ‘at a glance’ prospects, LinkedIn might want to think about instituting a hierarchy of influence instead of link levels.

Censorship. I watched the comment stream over a recent Mashable post regarding an assumed flub in Skittles’ new social media venture, and then I saw it scrolling down: “Skittles should use search operators.” How is filtering comments social media when everyone is, by social media law, entitled to their own opinion? Let’s remember citizen journalism a.k.a. social media isn’t a far cry from real world politics.

Companies representing a brand via social Web space needn’t worry about the nay-sayers because fans will do their protective part by firing back, and soon after, silencing the antagonist. Naysayers still do have their place, and wall posts like the occasional "$%#! Apple” on Apple’s Facebook Group tell us that. Bad move not to take it down? I think not, because hiding behind a controversy or bad ad move (hoping someone like a PR spin-doctor will pick up the pieces) is no longer a reality. So keep that wall or feed adorned with the bad and let the brand evangelists communicate the good.

At the core, social media is a hands-off, all natural type of territory – so don’t get carried away with click-throughs, popularity, or climate control. It just won’t work.

10 Reasons Not To Join Twitter

Yes, I am on Twitter (you can follow me here), but it might not be for everyone. Lots of people have been writing about their reasons to join Twitter, so I thought I would give you a few reasons not to join. Maybe more than reasons not to join, this list are expectations and goals you might want to change before joining.

10 Reasons Not To Join Twitter:

1.) If you don’t know why you are doing it. Don't get me wrong -I think that you can develop skills and better reasons for tweeting as you use it longer, but you should have some idea about why you are joining in the first place. Just because someone told you that you should or because it is really popular right now doesn't mean you should. While there is no substitute for actual experience with Twitter, reading Twitter articles, tip lists, and blog topics can help you to develop a better idea of how you want to use it before you jump in. By developing a game plan ahead of time, you can also hit the ground running and make the most of your Twitter time.

2.) To talk about yourself most of the time. You have some really great ideas in your head and valuable things to share, but Twitter is about how you can help others. You will gain more permission as time goes on to talk about yourself. The quickest way to not improve your Twitter network is to join Twitter, instantly follow 1000 people, and then insesently talk about yourself. Help others.

3.) To become an internet celebrity. I'm not sure I can point to anyone specifically who is doing this, but I have my guesses. Twitter is no doubt a good way to build personal brand, but if you are solely trying to use Twitter for your own good, please take a dose of humility.

4.) To get instant results. Social media is not a short-term project. It doesn't happen right away. It takes time, effort, hard work, and patience. Many join Twitter thinking its a silver bullet for the marketing project and that things will happen right away for them. Patience is possibly one of the most crucial traits you can possess when dealing with social media.

5.) To talk about what you had for lunch. Please do not perpetuate the false image that Twitter is just a bunch of people talking about worthless drivel. Provide actual content. Tweet a helpful article you read (because someone else will find it helpful too.) Learn to use the "@" to reply to people. Learn the value of ReTweeting.

6.) Because you think everyone else on Twitter will want to be your best friend. Not everyone on Twitter will care what you are saying. And that's okay. You need to find the group of people that does and become close to them. The Long Tail actually works in your favor because you no longer have to be everything to everyone. Find the tribe you can lead and engage them. Quality over quantity.

7.) To talk about your political beliefs or complain all the time. Maybe its just a pet peeve of mine, but when someone builds up a network of friends on Twitter and then stands on a soapbox to spout their political beliefs, I get turned off. Your personality does need to come through, but Twitter may not be the best place to whine about your problems or talk about things you really don't know that much about.

8.) To spam people. Definition of spam: "Unsolicited mail/e-mail [Twitter messages] sent out in mass quantities. Usually not even addressed by name to the person who receives it." Also this includes get-rich schemes, pyramid scams, and other untargeted pitches. Spammers, you (mostly) know who you are. Stop it.

9.) To program a massive que of messages that get tweeted every few minutes and then proceed to never actually talk to anyone. This kind of fits with the spam. Auto messages can help you get info published efficiently, but when the ratio of robot vs person messages is out of wack, people can tell. When I see someone Tweeting every few minutes (night and day and weekends), I get a little annoyed. Twitter is about real people connecting with real people, not just constantly pushing messages out.

10.) To just lurk. Sometimes I even find myself guilty of just reading other people's Tweets and not actually contributing anything. If you join Twitter plan on talking with people. Plan on learning how to follow people. Plan on answering questions. Get involved in the community.

GE's Smart Grid Technology

We usually don't talk too much about tech gadgets on Daily Axioms, but when I saw this one, it was too cool to not pass along. Check out GE's Smart Grid technology:



You can play around with GE's Smart Grid too. Just go to PlugIntoTheSmartGrid.com, print off a sheet, and turn on your webcam. Also, if you have a microphone, blow into it and check out what happens.

Imagine the possibilities for the future. You could hold up a credit card and see a hologram of your bills, balance, and other info. Maybe you could hold up a business card and see a video of the person introducing himself, samples of their work, or websites and blogs they are involved with. This kind of technology blows my mind, so I hope you enjoyed it as well.