In The In Crowd

Umm...too soon?

2012-02-03T16:31:00.000-05:00

Interesting Read: CNN Opinion

2012-01-31T16:28:00.005-05:00

I have had a few interesting discussions with some folks who disagree with my aversion to some of Facebook’s new timeline changes. My take was that Mark Zuckerberg is allowing his strategic partnerships and interests in financial gain to overtake his social networking platform. Their thoughts were that, it is his company, businesses are allowed to grow and that’s why our system is called “capitalism”. I completely understand their pov and agree that the opportunity for growth is a beautiful thing, however I just felt it was fair to reiterate that sometimes original goals are lost due to the volume at which money can talk.

Perusing through CNN.com this morning, I found an opinion piece that speaks to this subject and thought I would share:

“Simply becoming a multi-billion-dollar company changes the essence of its goals, activities, and purpose. Its bloodstream becomes filled with cash, and cash has its own agenda. For just like print, TV, or the Internet, money is a medium, too. It has biases, or tendencies, programmed right into it. The kind of money we happen to use -- bank-issued central currency -- is biased toward lending. That's why we call our system "capitalism." It's about the capital: Our money is designed to favor those who lend it to others who actually use it to build companies or create value.” (this just happens to be my favorite excerpt)

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/31/opinion/rushkoff-facebook-ipo/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Book Club Anyone?

2012-01-30T12:23:00.000-05:00

Making the time to read Steve Jobs biography is one of my top priorities for 2012. I'm familiar with many of the positive and negative sentiments people feel about Steve Jobs after reading this book and I'm incredibly intrigued. I look forward to sharing my thoughts once I'm finished! Also, feel free to let me know your takeaways.

Typography 101: Project 2

2012-01-25T21:46:00.000-05:00

Step 1: Choose a Theme: View from Scuba Goggles
Step 2: Sketch the letters A, B & C using the negative space to illustrate theme
Step 3: Create a vector image of drawing

Anemone Sketch


Anemone Vector

Untag! Untag! Untag!

2012-01-25T17:52:00.001-05:00

Quick summary of the latest article I read: Facebook is making mandatory timeline changes…yadda yadda…new big profile picture…blah blah…partnered up with companies...yawn... “new sidebar shows years that users can click on to see what was posted on that particular year in chronological order” – SAY WHAAAA?

Um, excuse me Mr. Zuck. Your empire was built off students and the idea of a peer-to-peer sharing space online. We blindly submitted too much of our lives to your platform and rolled with all of the new changes as Facebook started to grow. Now, while I realize this evolution began almost a million years ago in the digital age – don’t you think this mandatory timeline is a bit intrusive? I personally feel it’s completely unnecessary to remind people and allow others to see where someone was 5 years ago. What value does that bring to you or us?

I guess my point is: Friends – If you haven’t already, Untag! Untag! Untag!


(If this is you, please untag yourself)

An Apology and A New Future

2012-01-23T13:13:00.002-05:00

Dear Readers:

I would like to sincerely apologize to you for my recent blogging hiatus. Although it has been a while since I last wrote an entry, I have not forgotten my readers. Instead, I have actually been trying to brainstorm ways to take expand my interests and make my blog more relevant. I started In The In Crowd back in 2009, because I was passionate in my belief that social media was not just a fad, it was ‘the here and the now’. In my tagline, I even mention how my blog was to help readers understand new trends.

Fast forward to January 2012. Online communications often referred to now as digital communications (the fancy way of saying it), is recognized by most companies as an essential piece of their marketing strategy. The problem these days isn’t necessarily to convince people to have an online presence, the conversation has now transitioned into - how do we quantify or measure our investments/successes in this medium?

Back to my blog. While I do recognize those quantifiable conversations are extremely important to a business, it’s not exactly the direction I wanted to take my blog. As I redefined what my thoughts meant for In The In Crowd, I fell off the map and for that, I am truly sorry.

Good news though – I’m BACK! Since my last post, I signed up for a part-time Web Design and Development diploma program at the Art Institute of DC. I am currently enrolled in Typography and the Fundamentals of Interactive Design. This program is insanely perfect for me and I can’t wait to share all kinds of interesting facts that I am learning in class with you. I am also very excited to eventually redesign this blog to have a much fresher look (through my new html and css skills). Lastly, I plan to post more funny videos, interesting samples of other web sites/marketing campaigns and insights on digital communications from a web design and development perspective.

I hope you all enjoy!

Cheers,

eb

Google+

2011-06-29T12:31:00.001-04:00

I have always said that while Facebook might be the first major social network, it wouldn’t be the last. I originally joined Facebook in 2005 while studying abroad, because I wanted a convenient way to reconnect with my friends at home. I quickly discovered the ‘cool’ factor of Facebook – it was under the radar, only my peers had access and there were no gimmicks…it was just simple social networking.

However these days – my grandma and my 13 year old cousin are my friends on Facebook, the platform is saturated with ads targeted directly towards my information and there are a ton of privacy concerns. Even though right now it’s hot, Facebook is slowly losing its cool factor.

Well, hello Google+!

Google is developing a new network, Google+, that hopes to rival the popularity of Facebook. It makes sense, right? They are the leaders of search, emails, ads and office software – why wouldn’t they combine their different strengths into one major operation? For the moment, this new platform is in Beta version and only those invited can participate. While I am still searching for that invite, a la the Buzz era, I am excited to see where this network goes. It has a tough road ahead, but Google is just the company who may be able to pull it off.

Social Media Day 2011 - See You There!

2011-06-27T12:22:00.000-04:00

Mashable's Social Media Day is June 30! @Sisarina & @DCeventjunkie have partnered again to bring you a fun evening to celebrate all things social media! Gather your Facebook friends, your Twitter followers and your LinkedIn folks and come hang out with us for happy hour. Come meet your 'friends & followers' IRL (in real life).

This event is free but you must RSVP here to attend as we plan to hit max capacity on the roof. (Hint: The event is listed as 'Sold Out', but go ahead and put your name on "Add Me To The Waitlist" - they are following up with everyone who registers)

WHERE: Ozio's Rooftop
WHEN: June 30 - 5:30-9pm
ADDRESS: 1813 M Street NW DC
METRO: Farragut North or Dupont (South exit)
WHAT: Social Media Happy Hour Rooftop-style!

SPECIALS: Happy Hour extended until 9pm
$5 House Martini's
$6 Premium Martini's
$4 House Wine
$3 Domestic Beers
$4 Imported Beers
Sesame Chicken, Taquitos, Quesadillas, Mozzarella, and Ozio Burgers.

TWEET & POST: Tweet & post about it with: #smdaydc & http://bit.ly/smday2011

Beware of Twitter Bots!

2011-06-19T20:56:00.005-04:00

I recently read a headline on CNN that said “Twitter is the new Facebook.” There’s no doubt that Twitter is growing in popularity at an extremely fast rate and businesses are buying into the hype. Everyone is taking full advantage of the free, real-time social media platform to engage their customers. Now, the question has transitioned from whether or not to have an account, to how do we expand our follower base? Enter the Twitter bots. AHHH!

Twitter bots are basically software programs that are designed to roam Twitter, find popular hashtags or words, and then capture the users who utilize those specific words in their tweets. Then it begins following those users hoping they will return the favor (as most people usually do). Once you fall into their trap, they spam your feed and direct message inbox until you remove them from your account. Some Bots promise to increase a company's Twitter base up to almost 3,500 followers per week!

My question: sure numbers are important in a world so concerned with metrics and yeah, I can see why it’d be fun to tout your massive amount of followers – however, wouldn’t you rather have a solid group of tweeple, whatever the size, who chose to follow you on their own accord and not only support your brand, but are also engaged with it?

You Got Served!

2011-04-07T09:07:00.000-04:00

Come meet each other, have a few drinks, and raise money for Greater DC Cares on Thursday, April 7. Our happy hour will be from 6-8:30 pm at Sign of the Whale in Dupont. There will be a $5 cover/donation. The donation will get you a wristband for all beer, wine, and mixed drinks at half price, and $5 burgers and $5 appetizers. We'll also have a raffle for a $50 bar tab. All proceeds from the cover and the raffle go to Greater DC Cares! Please help to reach our goal of $1000. Bring friends!

Jessica Rosen, Maggy Baccinelli & Erika Brown created a team for Servathon 2011 — a volunteer event of Greater DC Cares that brings 8,000 volunteers to the area each year. Our team, You Got Served! still needs people to sign up. We will be working at Kenilworth Elemntary School on Saturday, April 16. Kenilworth is one of the largest and most-in need projects that Greater DC Cares supports. We will be painting, gardening and all around beautifying/bettering the school.

Join Now: http://servathon2011.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=46452...1&lis=1&kntae464521=7B79C8C6778B409FA504500C848D0FD2&team=4073681

Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Where Do I Sign Up???

2011-04-01T14:23:00.002-04:00

"Mark Zuckerberg Announces Retirement - Will Host Reality TV Show To Find Replacement"

Click to Read More >>>

Did Your Boss Ask for ‘Cutting Edge’?

2011-03-28T14:40:00.000-04:00

As digital technology continues to grow, so does the demand for bigger and better marketing efforts. I can imagine the frustrations some people probably feel when they finally understand Twitter and then their boss says ‘it needs to be more cutting edge!”. Well, if this is something you have experienced, send them a QR code – that’ll keep them quiet for a few days.

QR code = Quick Response Code

Basically, a QR code is a free marketing tool that allows you to generate a code which links to a URL, Text, Phone Number or SMS. Then, those who have a downloaded app on their Smartphone can scan your code (yes, like at the grocery) for your company’s hidden, exclusive, whatever message or Keenan Cahill video. It’s trending fairly quickly as 45.5 million people in the US have access to a Smartphone – so check it out!!

Click Here To Learn More >>>

And the Award for Best Integration of Social Media in a Super Bowl Commercial Goes to….

2011-02-07T12:08:00.000-05:00

Chevy Cruze!!!
First-dates, romance, real-time Facebook status updates, oh yeah…and a cool car – what more does a commercial need?

“I learned it by watching you, Zuck.” - ZING

2011-02-04T12:55:00.000-05:00

Dating’ Site Imports 250,000 Facebook Profiles, Without Permission

By Ryan Singel Email Author (Wired)

How does a unknown dating site, with the absurd intention of destroying Facebook, launch with 250,000 member profiles on the first day?

Simple.

You scrape data from Facebook. Read more>>>

What is the Internets?

2011-01-31T12:07:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately or fortunately my brain cannot comprehend what it is like to be in a professional environment without access to the internet. This clip shows the highly respected Today Show crew asking - “What does an @ sign represent?” - “What does internet even mean?” - “What does it do?” Wow.

Personal Plug

2011-01-27T12:52:00.000-05:00

You are invited to a fundraising happy hour tonight! The event is for DC Scores, a non-profit after school program that teaches over 800 local students soccer, poetry and service-learning. Event attendees will be able to purchase raffle tickets and try their luck at winning various fabulous prizes http://dcscores.blogspot.com/2011/01/enter-to-win-enticing-handful-of-raffle.html – 100% of the proceeds will go to DC Scores programming.

If you are interested in learning more about DC Scores, please check out the event link: http://dcscoresevents.weebly.com/dc-scores-happy-hour---12711.html

Hope to see you there!

Catfish

2011-01-22T08:15:00.001-05:00

In light of the recent success of The Social Network, I thought I would share another cool social media movie you should check out…

Catfish’s trailer describes this documentary as “not based on a true story – not inspired by true events – just true”. (I can vouch for the authenticity b/c these are my colleague’s best friends & he knew about the story as it was happening)

In a nutshell: This young guy is a photographer living in NYC…he connects with a rural Michigan family because an eight year old girl sends him a painting of one of his photographs. Through Facebook he gradually meets her entire family, including the girl’s older sister. The photographer and older sister begin an online romance although they have never met. One day, he is falling so hard for this girl he decides that is time they meet- however on his way to Michigan he realizes the family is a fabrication of their own imaginations.

This documentary is a great look into the more questionable side of social media and I think it’s important for every communication professional to be aware that part exist.

(Click here to watch the trailer) Catfish was released on DVD and Blu-ray on January 4, 2011.

Congrats!!!!

2011-01-17T15:26:00.000-05:00

WINNER OF 4 GOLDEN GLOBES!!!

Best Picture, Drama: The Social Network

Best Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Best Score: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network

Best Director, Motion Picture: David Fincher, The Social Network

The Sampler

2011-01-16T09:26:00.002-05:00

Cutting edge and innovative are two words which are frequently used when discussing the future of digital communications. Sure it sounds forward-thinking, but what do those words even mean?

I think Converse’s new IPhone app, The Sampler, is a perfect example of the possibilities of cutting-edge digital technology. Their app allows you to try on a pair of Converse shoes without evev stepping foot in a shoe store. Just grab your phone, point it towards your right foot and through augmented reality, you can see what you would look like in a Converse shoe. Need a second opinion? The app allows you to share the image with friends on Facebook.

Click here to download the app for free

I WANT TO GO!!! (stomps her feet & pouts)

2011-01-09T16:56:00.003-05:00

Using Social Media for New Business: How One Agency Increases Revenues and Profits Despite a Down Economy

"Join the PRSA Counselors Academy on Jan.14 for our first breakfast seminar, "Using Social Media for New Business." This in-person event at NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City is designed to connect senior-level counselors with the latest ROI-building strategies and highlight growth areas where investment should be considered.

Based on speaker Indra Gardiner's popular session at the PRSA 2010 International Conference, this event will feature insight on how to layer online and offline efforts for maximum exposure. With case studies and research, Gardiner will explain how to treat your agency like a client and increase visibility with aggressive branding, community outreach, public relations and a social media program. Also, practical strategies will be offered to grow a new business program and use social media for new business development.

Network with fellow agency counselors, while deepening your insight on an area of the industry that is still evolving!"

1-Hour 30-minute Seminar
Friday, January 14, 2011
8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. ET
New York, NY

Click here for more event information

2011 Tech Trends

2011-01-02T10:12:00.001-05:00

http://www.trendhunter.com/cool-hunting/category/Technology-Trends-and-Gadgets

Aww, thanks! :)

2010-08-30T14:10:00.002-04:00

On Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 12:24 PM, Heidi C. wrote:

Hi there blogger!

Just visited your "In The In Crowd" blog and I was super impressed by its design and content. We started our site Lookville.com not too long ago. It's a place for people to have discussions, share tips, and ask questions about fashion. It's been going great so far and I would love to have you on it! check it out if you're interested: http://lookville.com/signup?e=erikanb425@gmail.com&c=gen&ref=fb_us

And we would love to hear your feedbacks.

Ciao!

- Heidi C.

Much Like Heidi Montag...

2010-08-22T18:48:00.001-04:00

In The In Crowd is Getting a Facelift!

(Let me know what you think - erikanb425@gmail.com)

A Question I've Been Chewing On....

2010-08-22T13:39:00.003-04:00

Facebook = Sell Out?

Cosmos Are For Girls

2010-08-02T20:34:00.002-04:00

I’m not sure about you, but I am over magazines that teach me the top 10 ways to please my mate. I don’t want to waste any more time trying to figure out what guys are really thinking. It’s not that I am too old or too mature for these mindless reads; it’s just that my list of must-reads is growing out of control!

Need a new magazine suggestion that fits the bill? Try flipping through the pages of Fast Company – I promise you will learn something fascinating each issue (and no, I’m not being paid to say that). If technology, design, business, entrepreneurship, marketing, leadership, etc. is more your cup of tea, check out their self description:

Fast Company sets the agenda, charting the evolution of business through a unique focus on the most creative individuals sparking change in the marketplace. By uncovering best and "next" practices, the magazine and website help a new breed of leader work smarter and more effectively.

Fast Company empowers innovators to challenge convention and create the future of business.

Parlez vous francais?

2010-07-10T16:02:00.001-04:00

Social Media Sites Available In French

(my notes in a nutshell)

Skyrock

Aimed at people under 25
5th most popular site in France – 7th in world
21 million monthly visitors

Viadeo

Professional service
Functions in 6 languages
1,800,000 members

linternaute copains d avant

Site in French – I have no idea.

Netlog

Site in French – I have no idea.

Badoo

Over 50 million registered users
Pay to have a more prominent site for limited time
Like a chat room, dating site and picture rating site disguised as a social network. Doesn’t offer any group or other type of community that allow users to meet similar people

Hi5

Over 60 million active users
Like Facebook but with degrees of friends like LinkedIn
Recognized for being Spam-like – Will gather and contact all your stored email contacts

Ryze

Designed to link business professionals – esp. entrepreneurs
500,000 members in 200 countries
Positive media mentions

InterNations

100,000 users from 230 local InterNations
Site to address issues like relocation, intercultural competence, cross-cultural communications and everyday life as an expat.
Members often work abroad for trans- or multinational corporations, go on frequent business trips, form part of their native country’s diplomatic service, provide foreign aid in developing countries, work for intergovernmental organizations, non governmental organizations, as foreign correspondents, have expats as partners, or simply show a huge interest in different cultures

Talkbiznow

Business Networking Site
Competitor of both LinkedIn and Xing
Uses small-world phenomenon

Anybody Have An Invite?

2010-02-22T20:04:00.001-05:00

(Spain)

TUENTI (pronounced twenty) is known as Spain's version of Facebook and is the country’s most popular social network. However it is an invitation based platform, making it incredibly difficult to join.

Because I studied in Spain, I was super excited to join this type of network and reconnect with friends from my abroad experience. I've been trying for a solid week to receive an invitation utilizing the few contacts I have in Spain, current social networks, and Yahoo Answers. No dice.

If I ever receive an invite, I’ll give you all more details and hook you up with the coveted invite. Until then – a si es la vida.

Strategic Posting on Craigslist

2010-02-19T15:56:00.003-05:00

"$500 HOLY CRAP! IS THAT A ROOM FOR RENT ON MY CRAIGSLIST??!?!?!?

You bet your nomadic ass it is. Do you want to be homeless? Then you better come check this room for rent out. It has WALLS and a CEILING. BLOCKS THE FUCKIN WIND AND RAIN FOOL!"

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2010/02/best_roommate_ever.php

Around The World, Around The World...

2010-02-18T16:28:00.003-05:00

I am currently exploring the world of social networking…around the world. While Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and LinkedIn are common sites in the states, there are tons of social networks in other countries that are just as popular and wildly successful. In the next few days of reading intheincrowd.blogspost.com, you will get to see some of the findings of my research. I will be focusing on: Spain, France, United Kingdom and Germany.

Feel free to comment at any point if you know additional information about the topics I post!

Did you know?

2010-02-02T13:30:00.006-05:00

B - Building

L - Lists

O - On

G - Google

Well Said, Well Said...

2010-01-18T10:46:00.000-05:00

Just as Paul Revere embarked on his midnight ride to warn that the British were coming, social media acts as both the first warning and the rallying cry for mobilization. In the end though, social media is just a collection of tools. It's up to us, the people, to make the real impact on our world.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/01/18/social.media.impact/index.html?hpt=T2

Dear Diary,

2009-12-14T13:52:00.006-05:00

I've been trying to chat about social media with interested parties, but I keep finding that these experts seem to stay within a certain boundary of new media jargon. OK, I get it. In order to show the world we know what we are saying…we must use these common keywords to prove that we belong in the conversation. (ie. Facebook page, Twitter, MySpace & LinkedIn).

But come on people! If we know anything about social media, we should know that while Facebook and Twitter are hot tamales at the moment, they will eventually fade. This is why I believe it’s important to find social media mediums besides FB or Twitter. If you solely depend on the sites you hear about on 60 minutes – then you are missing the point of social media. It changes as quickly as it begins.

So, Be aware. Spend a little extra time searching for new, upcoming sites. Don’t be afraid to venture outside the obvious.

A Social Media Plan

2009-12-14T13:43:00.006-05:00

Fact: When you decide to create a social media plan, you should define your goals, messages and target audiences. Without understanding these key points your plan will end up being a mash of random thoughts – sprinkled by a few common keywords (ie. Facebook page, Twitter, MySpace & LinkedIn).

Shift Happens

2009-12-08T13:59:00.000-05:00

Staying Consistent

2009-12-07T09:17:00.003-05:00

The Color Palette Generator is a super cool tool that helps users match an image with a color scheme. So if you are designing something based off an image or logo, I recommend checking out this useful gadget. http://www.degraeve.com/color-palette/index.php

Note: Enter the URL of the image - not the Web site. You can find this by going to Google and then search "images" for your picture.

Here is an example of what you will see:

I Use These The Most...so far...

2009-12-01T09:16:00.006-05:00

AroundMe - "This app allows you to quickly find out information about your surroundings. How many times have you found yourself in need of finding the closest Gas Station?AroundMe quickly identifies your position and allows you to choose the nearest Bank, Bar, Gas Station, Hospital, Hotel, Movie Theatre, Restaurant, Supermarket, Theatre and Taxi."

I AM T-Pain - "With I Am T-Pain, the hip-hop artist's vocal style is merely a couple of taps away. All you have to do is sing into the microphone, and I Am T-Pain Auto-Tune technology will make you and your friends sound like stars. Record your versions of Buy U A Drank, I'm Sprung, Bartender and more. I Am T-Pain adds the Auto-Tune vocal effect made famous by T-Pain himself. "

Bubble Wrap - "Just the ticket when you need to fill 45 seconds until the stoplight changes (as a pedestrian, not a driver, people!) or until the next train comes. A piece of bubble wrap appears onscreen and you pop as many bubbles as you can (without doubling up) in 45 seconds. Race to see who gets the highest score."

Groupie or Fan President?

2009-11-04T20:07:00.001-05:00

I'm in the process of creating a Facebook presence for a local DC Band that I help manage - The Fed. I've been trying to choose which Facebook format I should go with - A Group or individual Fan page.

One (Fan pages) is available to unregistered users which allow you to be found, while the other (groups) can be accessed by all members of the group...making it easier to 'bulk invite' users to the page.

Here are some other things to consider:

I've decided after careful consideration that the best bet for a band is an individual Fan Page. It's a better tool for keeping users active.

Don't Be Obnoxious...Or Else

2009-11-02T11:31:00.000-05:00

Facebook spammer ordered to pay $711 million
(cnnmoney.com)

The social networking site wins damages against noted spammer Sanford Wallace for bombarding its users with junk mail.

Wallace, who has also been called the "Spam King," accessed Facebook members' accounts without their permission and sent out "phony" Wall posts and messages, the company said.

"Most notably, the judge referred Wallace to the U.S. Attorney's Office with a request that Wallace be prosecuted for criminal contempt, which means that in addition to the judgment, he now faces possible jail time," read the Facebook statement. "We will continue to pursue damages against other spammers."

This isn't the first time that Sanford was successfully sued by an online company. In May, 2008, MySpace won a $230 million judgment against Wallace for sending junk messages. Wallace was also fined $4 million by the Federal Trade Commission in 2006 for his excessive pop-up ads

http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/30/technology/facebook_spammer/index.htm?postversion=2009103017

Clouds Are Not Only In the Sky

2009-10-29T12:48:00.000-04:00

A Word Cloud is another word for Tag Cloud....I'm sure you've seen one before - I just created one on Wordle.com as an example:

(this is the tag cloud for IntheInCrowd)

Because internet users have little patience and short attention spans, Web sites use word clouds as a means to guide users through their site's with ease. This method helps to increase their SEO and direct traffic to targeted content. So basically, for users its a more refined search tool rather than a search bar.

Why are some words larger and bolder than others? The more dominant the word is in the cloud, the more frequently that term is used on that particular site.

Smallest - The smallest tag (lowest count) is shown at size 8
Largest - The largest tag (highest count) is shown at size 22

I recommend checking out these 2 sites to see the most popular words on your site and to create a word cloud for yourself:

http://www.webconfs.com/keyword-density-checker.php

http://www.metamend.com/seo-tools/keyword-density-analyzer.html

Interested in Social Media, and Networking with Fellow Practitioners?

2009-10-28T09:58:00.000-04:00

Social Media World Forum - Santa Clara, 9/10th November 2009

Details on the event can be found on http://www.socialnetworking-northamerica.com which is part of the growing Social Media Series of events running in London and Singapore http://www.socialmediaseries.net .

The show has a leading conference line up, with ‘free to attend’ exhibition and workshops. The workshops will be announced next week, and give an interesting compliment to the 20 exhibitors, providing 2 days of quality networking. Social Media Group Members can save 20% off the conference ticket price – only $695 for the 2 days, or $396 for 1 day. For bookings please email ian@sixdegs.com , with code SMM# , or phone the booking line on the web site - + 44 (0) 117 946 8876 .

Leading speakers at the show include;

Chris Heuer, Chairman, Co-Founder, Social Media Club • Brian Solis, Principal, FutureWorks • Peter Pezaris, CEO, Multiply • Richard Jalichandra, CEO, Technorati • Michael Donnelly, Director-Worldwide Interactive Marketing, The Coca-Cola • Mike Trigg, VP of Marketing, hi5 • Dalton Caldwell, Founder & CEO, imeen • John Andrews, Emerging Media Sr. Manager at Wal-Mart Stores, Wallmart • Scott Monty, Head of Social Media, Ford Motor Company • Alexandra Wheeler, Director Digital Strategy, Starbucks • Ziv Navoth, SVP Marketing & Partnerships, Bebo/AOL People Networks • Angela Courtin, SVP, Marketing Content and Entertainment, MySpace • Jeffrey C. Taylor, CEO, Eons.com / Founder, CEO, Monster.com More than 500 people have already pre-registered, if you are only interested to visit the “free” exhibition, please register in advance on http://www.socialnetworking-northamerica.com/register/free-exhibition.html To stay up to date, join the LinkedIn event listing on http://tinyurl.com/yfowvej

If you have an interest in other subjects such as the impact of social media on TV, politics, PR – or the London events - please visit http://www.socialmediaseries.net to find out about the other shows.

ɯopuɐɹ

2009-10-07T23:32:00.000-04:00

˙˙˙sı ʇı ǝɹǝɥ ʇnq - sıɥʇ pǝǝu ɹǝʌǝ plnoʍ noʎ ʎɥʍ ǝɹns ʎllɐǝɹ ʇou

http://www.en.fliptext.net/@ ʇı puıɟ ¿pǝʇsǝɹǝʇuı

Better Late Than Never

2009-10-02T09:53:00.000-04:00

Until recently my mobile means of communication was the Crackberry, however I just jumped on the i-phone bandwagon. I'm looking forward to exploring the world of i-phone applications and will be sure to keep everyone posted on the best apps, the advantages/disadvantages, and the major differences between blackberry's and i-phones.

VIP List

2009-09-29T14:53:00.000-04:00

(CNN) -- Google Wave, a product that promises to revolutionize online communication, will go out to about 100,000 beta testers Wednesday.

Want to be a Google Wave tester? https://services.google.com/fb/forms/wavesignup/

Dear A Bit Overwhelmed,

2009-09-29T09:27:00.000-04:00

If you’re beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed when updating your Twitter, Facebook, LinedIn, MySpace, Jaiku, Ning and blog accounts - Don't fret...I have a solution for you!

Ping.fm is a free downloadable service that allows you to update all your social networks from anywhere at once.

Interested? Check it out @ http://ping.fm/

Back to the Basics

2009-09-25T11:34:00.000-04:00

I apologize for being MIA - I was away on business/vacation...but now I'm back!

OK, so I'm currently trying to put together marketing pieces for my company and I'm beginning to realize how much of a pain it is to find a happy medium between company colors and the colors I'd prefer to use. In a conversation with a friend (an artist) about my dilemma, she suggested using complimentary colors. Genius! I mean, I knew that - I just hadn't referred to a color wheel in forever.

Study up on your complimentary colors - it will make life easier when trying to design something online. Thanks Katherine!

south park mmorpg

2009-09-08T10:07:00.000-04:00

Applicable From Old Skool to New Skool

2009-09-03T14:58:00.000-04:00

A man has a property in his opinions and the free communication of them.
James Madison

Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people.
William Butler Yeats

A world community can exist only with world communication, which means something more than extensive short-wave facilities scattered; about the globe. It means common understanding, a common tradition, common ideas, and common ideals.
Robert M. Hutchins

To be social is to be forgiving.
Robert Frost

To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.
Anthony Robbins

Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Side Note...About Me

2009-09-02T10:00:00.000-04:00

I have just been elected to join the Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT) Communications Subcommittee (CS)! Which means I will be helping their communications team raise YPT's online presence using social media!

I'm excited to take this interest to the next level!

Curious about this group? Check them out @ http://ypt.transportation.org/Content.aspx?id=1

Don't Forget Your Mints!

2009-09-01T09:09:00.000-04:00

Airlines are jumping onto the Social Media wave. How - you ask? Well, I'll tell you...

They are developing web-based seating assignments, creating their own inbound social networks, and finding a way for passengers to stay in touch after their flight lands. This will allow travelers to connect, whether that be for friendly convo, romance or to find fellow backpackers. Sites like vtravelled and Dopplr , already allow you to do just that, but airlines now want a piece of the pie.

My thoughts:

While some business travelers were incredibly disappointed they woud no longer be getting ‘work breaks’ while in flight due to the internet being accesible in air (boo hoo) – I am incredibly on board with this idea.

I’ve read about people who marry after meeting on flights, I’ve seen friends evolve from it and I personally have met many fellow backpackers aboard flights. I think there has always been a strong social component to traveling and its about time the aviation industry take advantage of it.

Read more details @ http://sparksheet.com/above-and-beyond-airplanes-are-social-media/

Opinions are like assholes...Everyone has one.

2009-08-27T11:59:00.000-04:00

LinkedIn Discussion Groups allows users to meet people with likeminded interests and share thoughts/opinions about any and every topic. I, obviously, am in a ton of Social Media groups as I find it incredibly interesting to see what is being said or shared about current trends. I recently posted my first discussion opinion: (my response is in purple)

How Much is Too Much? How Much is Not Enough? How Often do you Tweet for Your Business?

My goal is to tweet 2-3 times per day for my company, Face Time Marketing. On my personal twitter account however, I find myself tweeting more. I think it's because I feel a bit less constrained by the conventions of business communication.

I follow several people that I would like to hear more from. I also have some that over-tweet for my taste. What do you think is the Magic Number?
And for that matter... follow us on Twitter @facetimePDX

I've just started a Twitter account for my company, FastLane Hires and I've found that it's best practice to have a simple strategy: 1/3 be something about your company, 1/3 about your industry and a 1/3 misc. Readers want to learn more than they want to be sold...marketing your name just comes along with the territory.

That said - I don't think there is one award winning formula...Just know your audience and treat them as if they were acquaintances from your personal account. Nobody wants a full-time advertisement in their face - that's why social media has become successful.

Best bet: Keep them engaged and keep a balance of the type of tweets you post.

http://twitter.com/fastlanehires
Read more about my thoughts on social media @ www.intheincrowd.blogspot.com

I dunno...Google it.

2009-08-26T09:29:00.000-04:00

I thought Google was as common as getting dressed, brushing your teeth or being on Facebook. However, after several conversations with friends it has come to my attention that this is not the case. Most of us understand how to search use basic search criteria, but I say - take it a step further.

If you can't find the answer with a simple word search... ask Google your questions. Literatly.

Google (bloggers, ppl with similar stories and experts) have all had the same questions you have. There is no original thought. Once Google produces answers to your questions (links) - read a handful of the responses to find your conclusion...and Voila - your an expert.

Here are a couple examples of my past few questions fo Google:

1. What causes a child to have a night terror? (for a friend)

2. How do I embed a YouTube video on my blogspot account? (for my blog, obvious work in progess)

3. Where can I find FastLane Hires jobs? (shameless marketing)

Social Media Revolution

2009-08-18T16:57:00.000-04:00

If you care about Social Media at all - this is one video you must see. It's totally worth the 4 min 22 seconds. Promise.

Really? Reeaally?

2009-08-18T11:25:00.000-04:00

Want 25,000 Twitter followers within 90 days GUARANTEED!! Order NOW for 30% off - only $869.75!! -- http://usocial.net/twitter _ marketing/about 3 hours ago from API

Fight to Own Social Media Heats Up

2009-08-17T17:10:00.000-04:00

Facebook Cornering Market on E-Friends

By Chadwick Matlin

Sunday, August 16, 2009

"Facebook just bought the rights to nearly everything you do online. And it cost them only $47.5 million....

...That leaves two mega-conglomerates that will compete to be the portal of everything we do on the Internet. Google has long tried to get into the social game, and Facebook surely wouldn't mind expanding into some of Google's territory. (Real-time search is the likely entry point.) It's as classic an American struggle as Pepsi vs. Coke. Two companies, one market. Regardless of which side you choose, I'm sure Facebook will be happy to air your thoughts on the matter. Even if you write them on Blogspot, Google's blogging network. After all, that's why Facebook bought FriendFeed. So it could own you."

This is TOTALLY worth taking the time to read: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/15/AR2009081500040.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Share This!

2009-08-17T14:49:00.000-04:00

I've never really used an online bookmark...that would be too easy. Instead, I've spent the last however many years constantly retracing my steps to find 'that one site'. No more - I quit! I've decided to jump on board with the rest of the in crowd.

"Share This" allows users to easily send interesting web pages to friends, manage your contacts, categorize sent archives and resend any saved articles at anytime via email, AIM, My Space and SMS.

Wish me luck!

(If you are interested: http://sharethis.com/)

My Million Dollar Idea

2009-08-13T16:43:00.000-04:00

I have a friend who develops Facebook applications - We often sit around and brainstorm ideas for new, cool apps.

My best idea: What if there were Facebook kiosks, like the Kodak kiosks in CVS, where you could just log into your Facebook account and print pictures directly from your page!

I thought I'd just created a million dollar meal ticket...however, he informed me that my idea was already work in progress. Actually, every single crazy idea I tried to toss out was already work in progress. Blasted!!!!

What would be your 1 Million Dollar idea for a Facebook app?

Video Resume

2009-08-10T12:02:00.000-04:00

Everyone made fun Aleksey Vayner's in 2006 when he showcased his video resume. While I do agree that his credentials are a little farfetched - his idea was ingenious. I believe that in due time, this could be the only way an HR person will see your resume among a high stack of applications.

In the meantime tho - Watch this video and take note of all the things you shouldn't do...ever. http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/comedy/watch/e1336748NgyMqyG

Aack!

2009-08-06T16:45:00.000-04:00

For Anyone Besides Me Wondering What Was Up This Morning...

(CNN) -- Internet attacks shut down the social networking site Twitter for about two hours on Thursday morning and caused glitches in other sites like Facebook and LiveJournal, a blogging site.

Learn From Your Peers

2009-08-06T16:19:00.000-04:00

I stumbled across a pretty cool blog known as Dosh Dosh - this guy has browsed over 380 social news sites to deliver a list of the top 50 general and niche social media communities.

I've spent sometime scrolling through this list and I think it's a great starting point for anyone wanting to explore new online avenues.

My Top Picks:

Hugg: Hugg is a social news site with a strong focus on environmental issues. Also includes other categories like politics, science, fashion and technology.

I am bored: Covers general topics with a strong focus on weird and offbeat news. You can submit a link which may be posted after the editors approve it.

Hypediss: Social news site with a focus on design, fashion, urban culture and art.

Find some fav's of your own: http://www.doshdosh.com/list-of-social-media-news-websites/

Would you turn down over 3 million dollars via Twitter?

2009-08-05T16:35:00.000-04:00

Guess you aren't Paula.

"With sadness in my heart, I've decided not to return to IDOL. I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon" (Good-bye tweet)

What's Your Language?

2009-08-05T15:36:00.000-04:00

Everyone has their own online language. I can easily make a distinction of who is who as a result of each persons online vocab and response rate. It only takes a few seconds to realize when you aren't chatting with the person you intended.

For example:

Katherine (my best friend): Always responds quick, always quick to bust out a joke, sends me random links, corrects my grammar and uses: hi, eh, heh and :)

Paul (my boyfriend): Uses an endearing hello, takes two hours to respond, uses brb/back, only says a few words and once in a while throws in some Spanish.

It's interesting to think about your online presence...Does your chat language translate into other online mediums? Does it reflect how you are perceived by those that don't know you well? What's your language and the message you are sending?

Just an FYI

2009-08-03T09:15:00.000-04:00

If you are creating social media pages and need to keep your brand consistent - I highly recommend using Color Cop. It's a free color picker created for web designers and programmers, however incredibly simple to use. It even features a palette that will show colors to compliment your selected color. http://colorcop.net/

The Coolest Kid On The Block

2009-07-31T17:03:00.000-04:00

1-800-Flowers.com is known to be the pioneer of taking full advantage of the World Wide Web.

Their Street Cred:

- 1992: They were one of the firsts to start selling their produce online
-1994: They were the first merchant to utilize AOL
-2009: The are one of the first major companies to sell goods within Facebook. This means Facebook users can become a fan - and literately purchase items without ever leaving their beloved web site.

This is INSANE! Online entrepreneurs who created Facebook applications which allow you to send friends a crappy image of a flower, are already being put out of business! Why would you want a silly image when you can have a boquet from 1-800-Flowers.com?

While I'm sure thier are kinks to work out - I believe this is going to be the begining of an entire new way view social media, advertising in general, and the internet.

Check it out: http://tinyurl.com/1-800-FLOWERSfanpage

Let's All Get On The Same Page

2009-07-31T15:37:00.000-04:00

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Social media is online content created by people using highly accessible and scalable publishing technologies. Social media is a shift in how people discover, read and share news, information and content; it's a fusion of sociology and technology, transforming monologues (one to many) into dialogues (many to many) and is the democratization of information, transforming people from content readers into publishers. Social media has become extremely popular because it allows people to connect in the online world to form relationships for personal, political and business use. Businesses also refer to social media as user-generated content (UGC) or consumer-generated media (CGM).

Social media can take many different forms, including Internet forums, weblogs, social blogs, wikis, podcasts, pictures and video. Technologies include: blogs, picture-sharing, vlogs, wall-postings, email, instant messaging, music-sharing, crowdsourcing, and voice over IP, to name a few. Examples of social media applications are Google Groups (reference, social networking), Wikipedia (reference), MySpace (social networking), Facebook (social networking), MouthShut.com yelp.com (product reviews), Youmeo (social network aggregation), Last.fm (personal music), YouTube (social networking and video sharing), Avatars United (social networking), Second Life (virtual reality), Flickr (photo sharing), Twitter (social networking and microblogging), LinkedIn (business social media),Open Diary (blogging), and other microblogs such as Jaiku. Many of these social media services can be integrated via social network aggregation platforms like Mybloglog and Plaxo.