Everyone is Getting Social

A new survey released from Cone, Inc. suggests that 93% of consumers expect companies to be involved in social media. From the blog post here:

* Companies should use social networks to solve my problems (43%)
* Companies should solicit feedback on their products and services (41%)
* Companies should develop new ways for consumers to interact with their brand (37%)
* Companies should market to consumers (25%)

What to make of this?

Consumers like feeling involved with brands they buy (not all brands, but as a generalization). They like having the inside scoop and feeling like the company cares about their input. Customers feel like they can influence a brand when they are connected through social networks. When you put out a tweet on Twitter about how frustrated you are with Comcast and ComcastCares writes you back within a few minutes and lets you know that a service rep is en route to your home, it is comforting.

Social media isn't for every company, but those who can should take full advantage of it.

Does Twitter Have a Tipping Point?

I think so. At least somewhat. I've slowly been building followers for Axiom. Since I hit 200 people following me, I've noticed a lot more people adding me each day. Also, I am more likely to get @axiompr replies to my Tweets. Interesting thought, but obviously with more people following you, the more credibility you are perceived as having.

See the trend for yourself here.

Someone Deserves a Pay Raise...

This is brilliant. It is taking something that has already been established as a medium for distribution, YouTube, and shaking it up. Literally. Whoever came up with this idea knows what they are doing.

Check it out here.

CBS Eyemobile: Citizen journalists new outlet

CBS has launched a very cool application for the iPhone called Eyemobile.

The app lets you upload photos/videos to a user generated news site: CBSeyemobile.com

CBS is following the trend of a number of successful user generated services, such as CNN's iReport and Fox New's UReport.

Power to the consumer is the current web trend. With sites like Twitter and blogs still rising in popularity and allowing instant updates, never before has the average consumer been so empowered (or at least feels empowered).

I'll give credit to CBS for joining the trend, even though Eyemobile isn't a great choice for a name.

twitter moms

twittermoms is a new website that is catching the attention moms all over the world. Currently, Twittermoms boasts about 5,000 daily users, with 39% being classified as addicts.

This makes you wonder when twitter will start offering up groups? I'm sure users would like to stick to one page or application for twittering, but twitter has been lacking in the features department.

It is a smart idea for a website. Check it out.

Zuckerberg Speaks

Creator of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, posted a blog about his thoughts on the reaction to the new Facebook design:

“As people share more, sometimes we need to change the site to accommodate how much information people are posting …

… We realize that change can be difficult though. Many people disliked News Feed at first because it changed their home page and how they shared information. Now it’s one of the most important parts of Facebook. We think the new design can have the same effect …

… It’s tempting to say that we should just support both designs, but this isn’t as simple as it sounds. Supporting two versions is a huge amount of work for our small team, and it would mean that going forward we would have to build everything twice. If we did that then neither version would get our full attention …

… Even if you’re joining a group to express things you don’t like about the new design, you’re giving us important feedback and you’re sharing your voice, which is what Facebook is all about.”


7 Million have joined anti-new Facebook groups. That is a lot of people to be upset, but in the bigger picture it could be viewed as only 7% of users. And if 93% of the other users keep using Facebook, it is unlikely that those 7% will stop. They will get over it and move on with their life.

A Corporate Guide To Twitter

From this PR Week article:

1. Understand how Twitter works. Like every community, there are norms and expectations for participation. Read the Terms of Service and watch how other people are using Twitter first.



2. Don't assume Twitter doesn't affect you. There are more than two million people on Twitter, including a disproportionate number of bloggers, reporters, influencers, engaged consumers and even public officials. People tweet about companies frequently. You should be actively monitoring – before a potential crisis occurs.



3. Protect your brand. As with other online platforms, opponents and critics can disparage or even hijack your brand. You can minimize this risk by monitoring Twitter and proactively registering account names related to your brand (e.g., Twitter.com/brand or Twitter.com/tagline).



4. Create a plan. Develop guidelines for employees and designated spokespeople, including guidance on what they should and should not discuss. Create a process for channeling information requests that do not fall within these guidelines.



5. Be transparent. Authenticity is a critical value for participation. Clearly define who you are and why you are on Twitter. To verify your credentials, link to a page on your company's Web site that says, “Yes, this is an official communication” from your Twitter bio.



6. Get personal. Twitter asks its users a simple question: “What are you doing?” Companies on Twitter should engage personally, as an individual representing the company, rather than as a monolithic corporation or a series of stodgy media statements.



7. Be consistent. Tweet on a regular basis. You do not need to tweet every thought, but you should invest the time to actively engage the community and respond to your followers. One rule of thumb is to tweet as often as you eat, not as often as you breathe – three to four times a day.



8. Include links. Twitter limits communications to 140 characters but you can use services such as TinyURL to create short hyperlinks to additional information.



9. Ask for help. When in doubt, ask for help. Don't be afraid to ask questions about how Twitter works or how it might affect you. The community is receptive to companies that are sincere about tweeting.



10. Remember these best practices (Twitter-style in 140 characters or less). Understand the community & how it affects you; think before you act; be transparent, consistent, and personal; link to information and ask for help.

How Twitter Has Changed the KXAN Newsroom:

This is a really good post on how Twitter has changed how KXAN finds and delivers news.

Highlights of the blog post:

"Twitter helped us get the news to the masses in a new (and faster) way. The first indication that Twitter was an important part of our distribution of the news and how people are consuming media in different ways came in a very local way. The newsroom “tweeted” that a traffic jam on a local highway was the result of a car fire and in less than five minutes three people sent us photos of the car on fire. We then took that photo and placed it on our other platforms of media distribution (Televison/Internet) and it wasn’t until later that we realized the power of Twitter."

"Here’s what we did in the newsroom: We assigned people to post Twitter updates as soon as information was received. We searched out people on Twitter that were “Tweeting” from the area where the hurricane was to make landfall. We introduced ourselves and told them that we were going to follow them and tell the world what they were experiencing. In return, we promised to keep them informed when other forms of media failed. In other words, traditional media was asking the public to make our product better. They responded and did."

"The question for traditional media is how do we utilize tools such as Twitter to enhance and build our product? how do we embrace the “collective newsroom” and the changing ways in which people consume media? You can’t ignore it and hope it will go away, that barn door is opened and there is no going back. I, for one, am excited about how traditional media and social media are building bridges and responding to the changes in distribution channels. I don’t know what is next, but I know that people are engaged and they expect me to keep up."

Newsflash: Employers Check Facebookk

This isn't really surprising or new information, but apparently more and more employers are checking Facebook profiles before hiring candidates.

Currently, 20% of employers check Facebook and another 9% plan on using Facebook to check out future employees.

My thought is: If candidates know their Facebook profiles are going to be looked at, why wouldn't they just create a fake account? Or I suppose the easier option would be to change your privacy options to limited.

Yammer: Twitter with a business model (pun intended)

TechCrunch50 announced Yammer as the winner of its start-up contest this week. As a moderate Twitter user, I felt compelled to give it a try. My thoughts:

- I'm impressed. A very simple idea, but brilliant. Exclusive Twitter type networks for companies. This is very beneficial for so many reasons.

- The live updating is a very cool feature. No constant refreshing of the page needed.

- No fail whales...so far at least. We will see when it becomes more popular.

- The exclusivity is a great feature.

Read more about it here.

"I've got a fever...

and the only prescription is some more cowbell..."

Check out this entertaining site. You can upload any mp3 and then insert all the cowbell you can handle into it.

Ever wonder what The Ting Tings would sound like with cowbell? Of course you do. Check it out below.

	Make your own at MoreCowbell.dj

New Facebook Today

My first reaction to the "New Facebook" compared to the "Old Facebook": Meh. Nothing too special. Everything seems clumped into one pile in profiles now.

But, today marks the official release of the New Facebook. Users will be forced to switch over to the new Facebook by the end of the week.

After browsing around on the new Facebook, I'll admit that I enjoy it. I was a skeptic, but the new features won me over.

The feature that I love the most is the homepage. The different tabs make things a lot easier and clear up some of the clutter.


The tabs on the home page almost remind me of scrolling through different RSS feeds. I'm sure plenty of people will hate the new facebook, just as they hated the mini-feed. This is a step forward for Facebook. I'm going to embrace it.

Apple App of the Week: MarketingProfs

Why MarketingProfs? Solely because it is the only marketing application in the app store. It carries with it some insightful articles as well as some articles with obvious advice.

MarketingProfs has articles broken up into 8 categories:

- Latest
- Hottest
- Inspiration
- B2B Marketing
- New Media
- Email Marketing
- Buyer Insight
- Small Biz

It is definitely worth downloading if you are in the marketing field. It is a free app so you don't have much excuse not to...

Google Chrome

It is here. Shortly after IE 8 and a Firefox update comes Google Chrome. Check out the video review below.

Download Google Chrome here.

How Media Has Change the Presidential Election

Think back to the last Presidential election in 2004. What was missing then?

- There was no YouTube.
- Candidates didn't send out Tweets on Twitter.
- Facebook was barely around at the time. No fan pages or profiles for candidates.
- Bloggers were viewed with little regard and credibility.



...and 4 years later:

- Every candidate has a YouTube Channel
- Most candidates actively used Twitter. If they aren't on Twitter, people are likely talking about them on Twitter
- Every candidate actively uses Facebook.
- Bloggers at both conventions were granted press passes, which would have seemed absurd last election.

Oh, how far social media has come...

Sell Your Twitter Soul

There is a new way for Twitter users to make money off of their accounts: Twittad. Twittad allows users to essentially "rent out" the background of their Twitter page for a fee.

Here is the breakdown of how it works for users and advertisers.

I remain skeptical on whether services like Twittad will gain popularity. The idea reminds me of the cars I see with advertisements all over them. An easy way to make money, but how many people want to sell their appearance for advertising? Not many cars on the road and probably not too many Twitter users.

5 easy steps on how to get sued as a blogger

1. Create a blog. (www.antiquiet.com)
2. Post content that attracts people. (music reviews and news)
3. Take a CD that has been in the making for over a decade and stream the tracks online. (Guns N' Roses "Chinese Democracy")
4. Get massive traffic on your blog. (Servers overloaded)
5. Get arrested. (at 6:59am in your pajamas)

A blogger who goes by the name Skwerl has been arrested for streaming 9 tracks off Guns N' Roses unreleased album Chinese Democracy. If convicted, he faces up to 5 years in prison. Read the article from the Smoking Gun and follow updates from Skwerl's associates here.

AMC: kicking the old marketing habbit

AMC's show about an advertising agency set in the '60s, Mad Men, has been causing a commotion on Twitter. Three of the characters have accounts on Twitter and have been giving updates. The thing is, AMC didn't create those accounts and doesn't know who did.

AMC got worried that someone was representing characters on their show and was concerned about what they might published. AMC then filed a DMCA takedown notice of the Twitter accounts.

It is my belief that AMC definitely jumped the gun and panicked with the Twitter accounts. Why they took it down: they couldn't control the message. Why they should have never taken it down: free publicity. They eventually restored the Twitter accounts with some convincing from their marketing team.

Interesting side note - by ordering the suspension of the Twitter accounts and then reinstating them, Mad Men has received a lot more publicity than if the Twitter accounts were left alone.

Explanation of YouTube comments

If you put a video up on YouTube, you should be prepared to face some hatred in the comments field (most people expect praise, hence why most videos are posted). I'm guessing in about 99.9% of videos with over 500 views, you will find a horribly offensive or inappropriate comment.

"Some of the comments on YouTube make you weep for the future of humanity just for the spelling alone, never mind the obscenity and naked hatred."
- Lev Grossman, Time Magazine 2006

This type of open criticism is worrying to companies that want to go viral; but it shouldn't stop them. There is the option of of blocking comments, but by doing that you would also block positive comments and important feedback.

Mike Wesch gives his formula for obscene comments below.

anonymity
+
physical distance
+
rare & ephemeral dialogue
=
hatred as public performance

Message to companies putting a video on YouTube: don't fear the negative comments. Most importantly don't take it personally and lash out against people, unless of course, you want to unleash The Streisand Effect. But I wouldn't think so.

An anthropological introduction to YouTube

This has to be the best presentation on YouTube out there.