Almost Savvy » Blogging

Social Media Stats – It’s Raining Content!

Irene Koehler — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:55:55 +0000

Does it ever feel that there is a non-stop downpour of Facebook posts, YouTube videos, Twitter tweets, LinkedIn connections and blog posts? Do you ever feel like you’re drowning in content?

If so and you spend any amount of time online, it isn’t just your imagination. The larger our networks of contacts, the more information we see pushed in our direction every time one of our friends shares a link to a news article, their latest blog post and a funny video of a cat dressed as Lady Gaga.

How frequently is new content added online, you may ask? It can take an awful lot of leg work and number crunching to figure that out. Luckily, Gary Hayes from Personalizemedia has put together a nifty tool which easily allows us to get a snapshot overview of the flow of uploaded content. Take a closer look and you’ll see that you can customize the data you see by selecting a timeframe and type of information (social media, mobile or games).

If you’re interested in digging deeper into the source data used here, you can find all the relevant links on Gary’s blog.

I’ll keep this blog post short because I just found out that I’ve got several hundred thousand YouTube videos to catch up on and that’s going to take some serious time.

Image courtesy of Tiago Ribeiro.

How To: Enjoy SXSW (Without Being at SXSW)

Irene Koehler — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:35:43 +0000

Over the next couple of weeks, you may be hearing and reading a lot about SXSW (read: South by Southwest). In the real world, it may not be that big of a deal, to many in the tech, film or music worlds, it is a must place to be to see the latest and coolest things happening and mingle with those making it happen.

While all the festivities take place in Austin, Texas from March 12 – 21, there should be quite a bit of content you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home (or office…just don’t tell the boss you heard it from me).

The festival has three primary tracks:

I’ll be attending Interactive events and will be blogging one of them (my blog posts will end up on the SXSW site, not here). If you happen to be at the Microsoft BizSpark Accelerator event on Monday, be sure to stop by and say hello. This event will be streamed live online for those who’d like to watch. I’ll be sure to post a link on Twitter and to the AlmostSavvy fan page on Facebook, so stay tuned for that.

Massive schedule of events

Stay up to date on the full SXSW schedule of events here (note that you can filter the massive schedule with “browse by” options near the top of the page) and what you’re able to watch online here. And, if you’re game, you can always experience it by watching the Twitter stream here, though my guess is that this will be extremely chaotic as it will be a mix of content from cool panel discussions, people wondering when the bus will arrive and a few late-night tweets from party which are certain to be regretted the next morning.

Is it too noisy?

If you’re using Twitter and finding that the SXSW tweets are clogging your stream while you’re trying to focus on other content, before unfollowing your friends en masse, check out these options to simply “mute” tweets containing certain keywords or hashtags.

Bring it on

So, sit back and enjoy the event, whether you’re in Austin with cowboys boots in tow, or at home in your jammies.

Which of the events look most interesting to you? Will you be there or have you been before? Any tips for me, a first-time attendee?

LeWeb Bingo! Watch and Play Along!

Irene Koehler — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:06:43 +0000

Here in Paris, the excitement about LeWeb is palpable. While the actual conference will take place over the next two days, there are many pre-conference parties and activities today.? I’m thrilled to be here as one of the LeWeb Official Bloggers and looking forward to meeting many of my peers from around the world.

One peek at the agenda and it is easy to see that the conference is packed full of meaty content. For those of you who aren’t lucky enough to be here, you may watch the events below. If for any reason, the embedded videos don’t work, just go to the LeWeb homepage, I’m sure there will be an updated link, if needed.

Whether you are participating in person or via the web, I invite you to have a little fun with the content by playing LeWeb Bingo. If you’ve never played bingo, it works like this:

Print one or both Bingo “cards” and keep it with you as you listen to the presentations. (To print, click on the image once, then click on it again. You’ll get a nice, large image suitable for printing.)
As you hear one of the speakers use one of the terms listed somewhere on the Bingo card, place a large X in that square.
The center square is a “free” spot. It automatically counts as having an X.
When you have an entire row, column or diagonal filled with X’s, you have Bingo! (I only advise yelling the traditional “Bingo!” if you are watching remotely and are alone at home. Yelling at the conference is done at your own risk.)
If you really want to win it all, go for a “blackout” – which means you continue to play until all squares on your card have an X. (And, by “win it all”, I mean that you get absolutely nothing as there are no prizes at all. You may, however, feel free to wager with a friend to see who will achieve “blackout” first.)

Let the games – and the exciting presentations – begin!

Live streaming from the Main Stage at LeWeb:
Video chat rooms at Ustream

Live streaming from Salle 400 at LeWeb:
Live TV : Ustream

Getting Ready for LeWeb, Need Your Ideas

Irene Koehler — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:19:16 +0000

Though I don’t yet have a place to stay, a map of Paris, or any appropriate winter clothes, I am indeed heading to LeWeb as one of three Official Bloggers from the U.S.

While I’m there, I would like to ask one question of those I meet. If you had the opportunity to meet technology and social media users and entrepreneurs from around the globe, what one question would you ask them? It can be related to software, hardware; serious or fun. I am most interested to know what you, the AlmostSavvy community, want to know from them. I will ask them and compile their answers into one blog post once I’ve returned.

To that end, I would really like to get your suggestions. To give you a bit more context, you may want to check-out the line-up of speakers on the LeWeb site and watch the video below.

And…to further show my appreciate for you, the AlmostSavvy community, do I have a deal for you! I’ve got a few extra invitations to Google Wave and will randomly select some of the commenters. So, when you comment, please also let me know if you’d be interested in a Google Wave invitation. Even if you aren’t, please share your thoughts. I want to hear from you!

Creating Evangelists: Social Media the Cirque du Soleil Way

Irene Koehler — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:47:19 +0000

As part of Cirque du Soleil‘s social media strategy, a number of bloggers attending BlogWorld in Las Vegas were invited to attend one of their fabulous shows. With six completely different Cirque shows in Las Vegas, choosing just one proved a daunting task, but I eventually selected LOVE.

It is hard to imagine any theatrical experience topping the feast for the senses that is LOVE, Cirque’s tribute to The Beatles. It is a high energy show in which cast members defy gravity and the line between performance space and audience members is blurred. It’s as if LOVE? dug deep into my imagination and re-created it all on stage, while making it all much cooler and more psychedelic in the process.

A key part of a successful social media business strategy is identifying those with influence and an interest in your brand, and then finding a way to engage them turning them into fans and evangelists. This strategy was definitely in play here. Results: Did I attend LOVE because I was offered a ticket? Yes, absolutely. Am I now a huge Cirque fan because I was offered a ticket? Absolutely not. It was 100% positively fantastical and fabulous. Will I continue to tell folks heading to Vegas that they should find a way to see LOVE? You bet.

Again, an example of marketing at its finest – create interest up front and then blow their socks off by delivering beyond expectations. A finely-tuned marketing and social media strategy which creates a level of buzz, but isn’t matched by the actual experience or product in real life will do nothing other than create a group of disappointed, and likely vocal, customers.

To learn more about how Cirque du Soleil is using social media, I spoke with Cirque Social Media Manager, Jessica Berlin.

Have you seen examples of brands using social media well or others missing the mark? Please add your thoughts.

Use Social Media to Be Human: Tips from Michael Brito

Irene Koehler — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:46:16 +0000

Sure, we’ve seen big brands using social media. We see them online on Facebook and Twitter, though we’re not always quite sure what they’re doing there. Are they there to sell products? Reply to customer complaints? Monitor our conversations?

More importantly, if they are using the tools and platforms successfully, is there anything that those of us with small businesses can learn from them? Are the same strategies they’re using applicable to small businesses without the same brand recognition?

Recently, at BlogWorld in Las Vegas, one of the nicest guys in Silicon Valley, Michael Brito, shared some of the principles he feels are central to effectively using social media for business.

As Michael says, it is all about the people and the relationships, not the tools. It is critical to understand your audience – their needs and interests – in order to begin to communicate in a way which is meaningful and helpful to them. Credibility and trust are never built when shortcuts are taken and this isn’t given top priority.

Your turn:

Which brands or companies do you see “doing social media” right? What lessons have you learned which you’d like to apply on a smaller scale?

Guess Who’s An Official Blogger for LeWeb 09!

Irene Koehler — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:43:15 +0000

Me? Really?

You know that feeling when that really good-looking person looks over at you and you’re really pleased with yourself for a moment, but then wonder if they are *really* giving that “Hey, baby!” look to someone right behind you? Well, OK, maybe it’s just me. That is exactly how I felt when I first received the email that began, “I’m happy to let you know that you are one of the lucky (and talented) bloggers who are receiving an accreditation to attend the conference LeWeb’09 in Paris, December 9-10th, as Official Bloggers.” Finally, it’s settling in that maybe that email was, in fact, meant for me.

What is LeWeb? The LeWeb website describes this year’s event as follows:

Over 1800 participants from 30 countries in Paris for the #1 European Internet event

The theme for the 2009 LeWeb Program is “Real-Time Web“

The real time web is taking the world by storm! Twitter has grown exponentially in one year with an extremely simple service that does only one thing keep you in touch with what your friends are doing, in real time. Facebook entirely redesigned its most important assets, its home page and opened its feed to third parties.
Given the growth of the Twitter and Facebook ecosystems with thousands of applications and new uses, startups as well all major players are adapting their services to compete in this environment. There was the static web, the social web and now here comes a new web: the real-time web.

Reading the list of LeWeb Official Bloggers, you’ll quickly note that it is a diverse group, coming from many different countries. In addition to me, there are two others invited from the United States. What an enormous honor it is to be selected!

What I blog about while I am at the conference will be partially up to you. Stay tuned for more information about this very soon.

In the meantime, I’d better dust-off that passport!

New to Social Media? Step 1: Be a Consumer

Irene Koehler — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:23:28 +0000

In the last post, you heard Chris Brogan describe how important having a blog can become in the quest to be found more readily online. We know you’re awesome, but if no one can find you, does being awesome matter?

If you are now thinking about taking the plunge, you’ll want to be sure to watch this video first. Up next is bestselling author Jennifer Kushell, who suggests taking the time to become familiar with what others are doing online before submitting to the pressure to jump feet first into social media.

I was thrilled to meet Jennifer at BlogWorld a few days ago. She and I were already connected and communicating through Twitter, but there is nothing quite like having the opportunity to sit down together for lunch. Speaking of lunch, this is exactly when I pulled out the video camera, so please excuse the background noise. With everyone so excited to network with others they knew only virtually, escaping to a quiet spot simply wasn’t possible.

Jennifer, aka @ysnjen on Twitter, is well respected in the social media world for her insights into how to communicate and brand oneself in the fast-paced online world. She is the President of Young & Successful and the author of several books for the young entrepreneur.

Jennifer’s advice makes a great deal of sense. It is critical to observe first. For example, if you are thinking of starting a blog, invest time in reading others’ blogs, especially in your area of interest. What do you like about the blogs? What would you do differently in terms of content or design?

As with all things online, it is extremely important to have a plan and goals first. This meshes with #1 on my list of 11 Ways to Thrive on Twitter. With a strategy in place, execution is more focused and more likely to succeed.

Have you taken the time to be a consumer of content first before being a publisher? Is there a downside to taking such an approach?

If you’ve enjoyed these interviews and are interested in learning more about how to get started using social media, be sure to enter your email address in the box over to the right and you won’t miss a thing. There are many more helpful tips to come and I’ll deliver them right to your emailbox.

Blogging – Just Do It!

Irene Koehler — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:23:52 +0000

Holy Toledo, am I having a great time at BlogWorld! I’m exhausted, energized, and inspired.

In my last post, I invited you to share your questions about blogs and blogging and promised that I’d seek out various bloggers to share their thoughts and advice. You certainly didn’t disappoint! Excellent questions poured in via email, Twitter, the AlmostSavvy Facebook page, and comments on my blog.

I absolutely believe there are enormous benefits to having a blog – if you have a plan and the dedication to stick with it. Rather than listen to just my take on things, I invite you to listen to a number of amazingly talented and generous bloggers I talked with at the conference.

First up is Chris Brogan. Chris is widely respected in the social media world, both for his technical expertise and his solid reputation as a caring and endlessly decent guy. His blog at ChrisBrogan.com is always inspiring and educational. Subscribe and you are in for a treat!?He recently co-wrote the New York Times Bestseller?Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust, a must-read for those interested in building valued business relationships through social media.

Here, Chris answers the extremely important question, “How can having a blog help me or my business?”

What do you think of Chris’ advice? If you have a blog, has it made it easier for you to be found online? What key points would you add?

What Would You Ask a Blogger?

Irene Koehler — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:55:04 +0000

I am *so* not a Las Vegas person. All the lights, people, gambling and drinking really aren’t my thing. Why then would I be packing to spend a few days in to Vegas?

If you’re thinking there must be a pretty compelling reason, you’re right. I’m excited to be attending BlogWorld in Las Vegas this year, along with thousands of other bloggers. Bloggers with a huge following, bloggers just getting started. Mommy bloggers, military bloggers, real estate bloggers. Lots of social media bloggers. Here a blogger, there a blogger…

My goals are to learn from others’ blogging experiences and to network with people I know “virtually” but have never met in person. My other goal is to be your representative at the conference. I’ll be taking my video camera with me and hope to interview some of the bloggers I meet. I plan to post the interviews online to share them with you.

What would you like me to ask them? Do you have questions about which blogging platform is best for beginners? Wondering why someone would decide to blog in the first place? Best ways to drive traffic to your blog? Favorite plug-ins for managing comments?

Please add your questions in the comments area below. BlogWorld has a jam-packed schedule of conference sessions, networking, and socializing, but I will do my best to get you some feedback and advice in response to your questions.

Vegas, here I come.

Almost Savvy » Blogging

Social Media Stats – It’s Raining Content!

Related articles which may interest you:

How To: Enjoy SXSW (Without Being at SXSW)

The festival has three primary tracks:

Massive schedule of events

Is it too noisy?

Bring it on

Related articles which may interest you:

LeWeb Bingo! Watch and Play Along!

Let the games – and the exciting presentations – begin!

Related articles which may interest you:

Getting Ready for LeWeb, Need Your Ideas

Related articles which may interest you:

Creating Evangelists: Social Media the Cirque du Soleil Way

You might also be interested in these:

Use Social Media to Be Human: Tips from Michael Brito

Related articles which may interest you:

Guess Who’s An Official Blogger for LeWeb 09!

Over 1800 participants from 30 countries in Paris for the #1 European Internet event

Related articles which may interest you:

New to Social Media? Step 1: Be a Consumer

Related articles which may interest you:

Blogging – Just Do It!

Related articles which may interest you:

What Would You Ask a Blogger?

You might also be interested in these: