Twitter

A few months ago Twitter was abuzz with thoughts about the @RedCross snafu and the @Chrysler all-around bungle. More recently, it was Burson-Marsteller’s attempt to manipulate Facebook. Today it’s (insert Twitter crisis of the day here). Tomorrow it’ll be something else. And we humans claim to be advanced mammals. Social Media Screw-ups Will we ever learn from the mistakes of others? Why do we continue to nod our heads and mutter “I know that’s right, um-hmm” while bashing stupid...

Brand bibles, FAQs, and troubleshooting guides can provide general outlines of Do's and Don'ts, policies and common steps to issue resolution. As helpful as these resources may be to a social media specialist (or customer service rep), they can't replace personal experience and direct exposure to an assigned product or service.  A more dimensional and holistic training approach is critical to help front line staff make smart, informed, and controlled choices. Several high-profile brands gained...

Recently Tamsen McMahon published a really great infographic on the Sametz Blackstone blog.  It's a decision tree that maps out paths for determining whether a tweet might get re-tweeted.  The graphic includes subjective filters ("Is it interesting?") and practical factors ("Am I busy?") to consider for those trying to spread the word about something on Twitter. We might add other subjective filters like "Will this be a 'me-too' RT?"  Sometimes you can really like something for its own merit...

Typically, I'm not one to let important things slide. And while I wish I could say that my reduction in blog posts was by design - a test of some sort - its not. That's not all that's lacking, either. I haven't dived thorough those great feeds in my reader in a good long while.  I'm still tweeting posts and articles about marketing, advertising, technology, and other material I think my followers might enjoy. But I'm not at the same level of 2-way communication (the word 'conversation' is starting...

A Blog And A Partner I had the opportunity to partner with Successful Blog author Liz Strauss, and let me say I'm darned lucky. Not only is Liz the fairy godmother of relationships and conversations, but she can identify kernels of ideas and say big things about them.  Things that get her readers thinking.  And you can be sure, they're always listening to Liz. The post I co-authored was published today and is titled "It's so easy to get stuck repeating what we already know." And you guessed...

Sometimes we are reminded that even those we are close to, those we have friendships and other relationships with, can be dramatically different.  I'm not talking chocolate vs. vanilla, The Office vs. CSI, or even Sean Connery vs. Roger Moore (blasphemy!) kind of different. I'm talking about "So why do you do all this Internet stuff, anyway?" kind of different. What-planet-are-you-from kind of different. Which is interesting, considering I've been married for 14 years.  I understand him better...

Funny Title for Building Your Brand Appeal I had a notion strike me, likely spurred by my informaniac-like consumption of written material (articles, reports, posts, papers, editorials, presentations, webinars, books, cereal boxes, the list goes on.  It's like a compulsion).  Lately I've been pondering the aggregated net effect of one's involvement (commitment is implied) and participation in UGC (user generated content). Where does it get you?  What does it give you?  Maybe moreover, What...

AdAge and Twitterville This is a busy weekend in Las Vegas.  At the risk of sounding oxymoronic, let me quickly add that I'm referring to BlogWorld & New Media Expo 2008, the convention for connectivity.  I'm workin' the laptop, and my TwitterFox keeps catching my eye - so I invariably check out the new Tweets and read all about the after parties, the panelists, see the Flikrs.  Good times had by all, it sounds like.  Although I'm here and they're, well, there, the stream of updates and photos...

The Social Media Marketing Best Practices Project, originated by Mitch Joel of Six Pixels of Separation, appears to establish a collective, organic SME repository using, of course, the inherent viral quality of social media to spread awareness and encourage participation in the Project. I found out about the project last week from Shel Holtz when reading his blog (he wrote about inclusion).  I'm a little apprehensive of throwing my hat into the ring, given the esteemed company, but the maverick...