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Hosted Blogging Applications; Another Example Why They Are Not For Me

February 6, 2009 By 1 Comment

blogger.jpegI am constantly finding reasons why I am not a proponent of hosting blogging plans. I am a WordPress supporter yet I don’t recommend hosting your blog on WordPress.com, and in spite of the Google mantra of doing no evil, I tell many to run away from Google’s application Blogger. In a recent article by Tech Dirt regarding Google’s unilateral deletion of blog posts I get another piece of the puzzle that causes me to continue my preaching. In the post, they indicate:

An RIAA source says that the group sends Google a list of URLs it doesn’t like, and Google “then deals with the problem.” Google says that it notifies bloggers after their posts have been taken down, in accordance with the DMCA. But it should hardly be surprising that many of those affected say they’ve gotten no such notice, nor that the offending material was either legally posted and/or supplied by the labels themselves.

I have always been a strong advocate for owning my own content. Be it good or bad content it is still mine. I have heard the stories of whole blogs being deleted that were around for years and all of the data that was in that blog being lost to a black hole never to be seen. I am just not that trusting of others with my blog. I am not keen on the idea of Google being able to subjectively judge a post and remove it without any due process other than an alleged email or notice they sent. Sure it costs a little extra than just the URL and some specialty template, but paying for hosting and controlling your own destiny is something that is worth the price.

Filed Under: Blog Platforms, Blog Tips, Bloggers and Blogs, Blogging News, Blogs and Law, Business Blogging, The Site Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Identi.ca Not Twitter But Still Alive

January 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I have been giving a lot of my blog real estate to Twitter recently as it seems to be the darling of all of the micromediasphere (yes, I love that term and bought the URL just because. Did you click through?). I have also been interested in what is going on with other alternatives. Competition is good, but what is that competition? I had been wondering that when I received an email today from Identi.ca

On avergage I get more than 100 new emails every day from new followers on Twitter. I lose may followers and gain many, and recently my average followers increases about 30 per day. The email from Identi.ca was from a new follower. I rare occasion in my inbox. I headed over to Identi.ca and saw some changes. The site itself is newly designed from what I remember, yes it has been that long since I was there, and it indicated on the landing page itself that they have undergone a “massive upgrade” on January 23 and it warns to watch for “new features”. I’m curious to follow along with what this might entail as I would love to see someone push Twitter a little to get them to make themselves better. I am not sure if there are third party things being developed like my beloved Tweetdeck, or other applications to make things cooler, but I will keep up with what is happening. I am also watching what is going on with Plurk and Jaiku, but they are also a memory for me with Twitter growing into the powerhouse it is in the micromediasphere. We have already seen Pownce shuttered (for the time being although I have a theory about that one).

Perhaps I can contact Identi.ca and ask them to be on Social Mediasphere Radio since I don’t have a clue what tonight’s show will be on or what guests I might have. I was going to click through to the Identi.ca blog but alas it could not be easily found. Stay tuned?

UPDATE:  I am now doing my radio show this evening on the alternatives to Twitter.


Filed Under: Companies Needing Blogs, Mediasphere Radio, Social Media

Classmates Versus Facebook: The Social Network Dichotomy

January 21, 2009 By 2 Comments

cm_logo The bane of my existence currently is my ever increasing inbox of emails I need to respond to, and I am apparently only worsening the problem as I sign up for more and more social networks.  There is the wild game recipe club, the used furniture network, the parenting pull your hair out network, the underwater basket weavers network, and…well you get the idea.  I don’t actually belong to all of these clubs or social networks, but I can assure you they are out there with more then 3,600 clubs to join and be a part of online. One of the emails I get frequently is Classmates.com.

fb_logo I was looking into this pre-social networking social network recently because I wanted to compare the use of it versus the use of Facebook.  I get my login found out about the page where I could go to see friends and others, and when I tried to navigate to the next step, wham!  The protective firewall dropped and I was shut out, barred, and could go no further.  The next step was something that baffled me.  They wanted me to join for a small monthly fee.  There went the idea of using Classmates.com.  Why?  The answer to that is easy, I can use Facebook for free.

The catch-22 here is the fact that we are all asking Facebook to find ways to monetize and not make it intrusive, and then when a company like Classmates.com is monetizing, we tell them in order to compete they have to make it free. It’s like those arguments I have with my kids.  The only one that understands the argument is 3 years old.  Classmates.com is making money for being a part of its network, and Facebook is free to anyone with a computer and an Internet connection.  It’s like getting cable television and paying for it and having it available over the free airwaves. 

Last time I looked Facebook was worth a boat load of money and it is all anyone is talking about.  Classmates.com comes on the radar as a vehicle for spam and it is immediately ignored.  There is no reason why Classmates.com should not be able to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Facebook and take a large portion of its market share.  I recently sent out a message over Twitter stating the same thing with the gist being, why would I use Classmates for pay when I can use Facebook for free?  I had lots of responses to that Tweet stating the same thing.

I am not beating down Classmates here as that would not be constructive, but I think I have a solution that might work for them.  Open up your application to everyone and bring down that wall.  Thought sounded somewhat Reaganish didn’t it.  It’s true however that they need to change their thinking.  Instead having that mass database grow stale and have everyone treat Classmates like the spam king of email, shop that database as well.  Those that are struggling, i.e. Yahoo, perhaps a purchase of classmates to take on the world of Facebook is a good move? Either way, we will see the likes of Classmates.com fade away as Facebook grows stronger, and then the next thing will come along and be better.

You are the Classmates.com CEO.  How do you compete?  I want to know how you take on Facebook free, when you are sitting on income already coming in?

Filed Under: Advertising, Blog Tools, Blogonomics, Business Blogging, Marketing, Media, Social Media

Blogging Reaches The White House Courtesy of President Obama

January 20, 2009 By 4 Comments

I was sitting and watching the festivities today as President Barack Obama, our 44th President is sworn into office, and couldn’t help but notice that they were discussing the fact that the White House website was changed over to the new administration at 12:03 p.m. EST. They indicated that the menu for the luncheon was the number 1 visited page on the site, then I noticed that TechCrunch reported on the website and discussed the White House blog. We have made it to the White House!

whitehousegov-obama.png

As I prepare to head off to Chicago on Thursday to attend another event for Blog World Expo, I wonder about the changes (the key word that got him elected) that will take place and how social media will begin to seep into the mainstream more and more as our new President implements more in the digital world. I for one am looking forward to it. i will be talking about the new changes and the new President Obama on my radio show tonight so come and join me at 5:00 PST and 8:00 EST.

[Photo via TechCrunch]

Filed Under: Business Blogging, Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Social Media and Participatory Marketing

January 18, 2009 By 3 Comments

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Marketing has taken a new look as we enter the digital age. Companies are now looking for a new way to reach customers. They are reaching them in different ways because their customers are finding them in different ways. With everyone, even my 84 year old grandmother, searching the global market through Google, and getting recommendations from every friend in Facebook, Myspace, YouTube and in circles like Twitter with their options to buy or find services and products, businesses are clamoring for the attention of people. The new look and feel of marketing is participation, or what I have been calling participatory marketing.

Social media is really nothing more that participation in a social structure using different tools. All of the vehicles I mention above are merely a community of people. Like a block party where everyone gathers. An online neighborhood. They talk about their lives, they talk about their kids, they stand around the water cooler now known as their computer screen. They talk about you, your business, your product and your service.

Companies are trying to work their way into these communities now and they want to be the most noticed person at the party. The problem is that many of them are doing it wrong. They participate in the community but don’t provide anything of value. I’m not talking about walking into the party and handing out coupons for $5 off your $100 ice cream scoop. That is the way most are doing it. I’m talking about actually participating. Getting into a community of us Daddies and talking about how your 6 month old kept you all up all night is the conversation starter and ice breaker that works to get an in, but again companies open with that and then turn around and say, “Now download my sidebar widget thingy.” Again, what does that have to do with a sleepless night unless my 6 month old is put to sleep by your product? It takes a while for you to be in the group before I want to be approached for life changing conversations, like here let me help you buy a new home. Perhaps I should be calling this Kumbaya Marketing.

It takes a while for you to be in my group long enough to give me marital advice or if you want me to buy your stuff. Some of the companies have already been in my group a while. Some of the big brands and major companies are a part of our everyday lives and they can leverage that into instant credibility. If you come to my community for instance and say hey look at this cool Mac Book Pro, chances are we will all look and perhaps buy. If you want me to send you $100 to have me try your latest blue pill that will change my life, I will probably have to get to know you first.

[photo via mikebaird]*

*Not really relevant to participatory marketing but that is the point. Be relevant. That is one cute critter though. Since we are talking about Otters, check out Otter Box. See what I mean? No they are not a client, but they are a cool company that is using social media. They have been in my community a little. Now if I could get them to send me a new Blackberry case with the actual Blackberry in it.

Filed Under: Advertising, Business Blogging, Findability, Marketing, Services, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pardon the Dust We Are Changing Some Look And Feel Here

January 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

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We are trying out the a new template, we were using Lisa Sabin-Wilson’s, template before ad she is doing some really cool things. I look forward to her book coming out on WordPress For Dummies. There might be some dummy actually mentioned in the book.

We are trying some new things here to integrate some video and other media. I am also trying some other things because we have clients that need us to try them out as well. I suppose it is only right that I will be going to speak at Wordcamp in Las Vegas and have a new blog being developed with their application. We will be doing some different things and plugging is some new widgets and some new plugins will be installed.

Picture via “How To Make A Badass WordPress Logo” from 3nhanced.com

Filed Under: Bloggers and Blogs, Business Blogging, Findability, Marketing, Social Media, The Site Tagged With: , , , , ,

Social Media: 0-60 In The Blink Of An Eye Doesn’t Happen

January 7, 2009 By 2 Comments

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If you are thinking of going into social media you have to understand that going fast is not how it works. We are constantly sold the idea of going 0-60. From point A to point B as fast and with as little waiting as possible. We want instant satisfaction. We want to get there fast and get there before anyone else. We want instant results and complete satisfaction at the push of a button. I can think of a hundred of these statements. The problem is, social media doesn’t work this way.

When you started that first day of school or walked into your office that first day of work, did everyone love you right away? When you were on the first day of the job were you the star employee that now has the best parking space because you are employee of the year? Are you the new guy on the block and suddenly everyone has to have you on their list of must invites to the backyard bbq? Of course not. Social media is a journey to be certain. I have seen that some have driven the road faster than others but those that get there fast are a rarity. It takes a while to build trust and a relationship with your community. People need to get to know you. Like a first date you have to get to know each other and whether you want to go on a second and a third and finally after enough time has passed, a commitment can be made. Social media is the same way as relationship building in this manner. Some are better at it than others.

I am still developing relationships and traveling the journey myself. Some of the people I have met are gone and others are just getting into the game. I can offer this much advice. If getting on the social media freeway, make sure to get up to speed before merging. If not a crash is inevitable.

[photo via Irargerich]

Filed Under: Blog Tips, Business Blogging, Featured Articles, Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , ,

Your Social Media New Year’s Resolution: I Can’t Help Everyone

January 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

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There are many people out there getting into shape this week. Those 2009 New Year’s resolutions are getting into full swing. This is a time for the local gym to be jam packed with new people. That new guy that has a large gut (yes I am raising my hand), and an unused sweat suit will be showing up full of vigor and ready to be the next calendar boy or Men’s Health magazine cover. He’ll go a few days and then the pain will set in and the monotony will start and suddenly the honeymoon is over. They have small result on the scale and they think “wow this is easy” or they think “boy, I have this exercise thing licked.” Then reality hits and they suddenly wonder why they are having to actually work at it. The scale quit moving, or they get busy doing other “more important” things.

This is very similar to the idea of social media and starting that as a business. Many business people have all said to themselves, “I need to start a social media program here.” They perhaps even make it a resolution for the new year.  

They do a little research and get all jazzed about how it is going to change the way they market, advertise and interact in their community of customers. It is going to save them in this dark and scary economy. The propaganda they have read, and yes I consider it nearly as bad as propaganda, tells them that their troubles are over. Start a blog and you can sit back and watch the needle move to the black, get on Twitter and Facebook and watch you bank account soar. Sure they get a little bit of a result in the beginning as anything that is new. They watched as their weight on the scale drops a bit, like the guy that cuts Christmas fudge out of his diet and gets on the treadmill (raises his hand again). Then as with the guy that started his exercise routine, it starts to get hard, and the results are not easily seen, and the monotony starts to get the better of them and they finally abandon the program going back to the old ways. Gone is the difficulty, and that lactic acid burn they means it might be hard again tomorrow.

I’m like that trainer in the gym that everyone seeks out in January only to cuss out in March as it gets more painful to continue. I’m everyone’s go to guy when they want to get started then suddenly I’m the enemy and that evil guy that keeps pushing them to keep posting on their blog or to make those comments in Twitter. Many of them don’t have the discipline for it. Like the person that sets out to be the latest cover of a magazine they end up abandoning the program. Those that start and quit are not uncommon. The one that sees it through are the ones that will be the cover of a magazine soon. Which are you going to be this year. Can we push through the hard part?

[photo via DryRot]

Filed Under: Advertising, Blog Consulting, Blog Tips, Bloggers and Blogs, Bloggers For Hire, Business Blogging, Corporate Blogs, Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , ,

Budgeting Social Media Management

December 4, 2008 By 1 Comment

Reading Marketing Profs Paul Dunay’s post regarding the company budget for social media I found it interesting specifically about the idea behind content creation. Paul states:

Ok but the real cost (again unlike the traditional media stuff) is in Content Creation to fill up those social media / new media channels – here is where the cost can get large. I happen to think I am very fortunate since I work at a consulting firm where many people are thought leaders – so we have no shortage of opinions ;-)

He does not get into the costs specifically as he does with pricing the actual tools of social media. The tools he itemizes are:

A Blog;

A Podcast;

A Video;

A Wiki; and

A Community.

I refer to these things as tools as I also believe that applications can be used in a social media planned budget as well. The applications are mostly free to very inexpensive. I did notice he did not budget for the activities surrounding the likes of Twitter or other which enhance the above tools. Basically, they are free. He is correct however when he states:

So unlike traditional media – Print, TV and Radio – which can cost big money. Social media’s upfront costs very little…

You have to read through his original post regarding the overall budgets to get an idea of the numbers, but I wanted to wrap my mind around the budget ideas first and foremost. The low cost of social media is right now making it a hot and much sought after way of accomplishing a company’s advertising, marketing and public relations strategy.

The real cost is the people that can manage this strategy, someone that can understand the uses of each tool and application and how to make it work for its intended use. This is where the budget has to be difficult to nail down. The person that is responsible for this doesn’t even have a job title or description these days. Is it the marketing person, the advertising person or the public relations person that handles this? What department do we charge for the implementation of this new way of handling our media? These are some difficult questions to answer. I am personally seeing many more job openings on job boards, and seeing recruiters provide the answers to the question of who to place in the position. The real question I have for Paul is the budget for the wage for this person. How much does your company expert in the leadership of social media get paid? Do you have a budget line item for a social media manager?

Filed Under: Blog Metrics, Blog Revenue, Blog Tools, Bloggers For Hire, Blogonomics, Corporate Blogs, Marketing, Media, Services, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The State of The Micromediasphere

December 1, 2008 By Leave a Comment

One of the things I used to love about Technorati was when Dave Sifry would come out with his State of the Blogosphere address to all of us bloggers.  It sort of gave us a pie in the sky look at the number of blogs and what was happening on the back end of the blogosphere.  Those of us that consider ourselves old timers in the arena could sit back and watch as things began to unfold and we could talk about the good old days.  Technorati recently did another State of the Blogosphere that was released at Blog World Expo and CEO Richard Jalichandra was instrumental in getting the word out.

twitterlogo Now there has been a new sphere of influence in new media, and I have been labeling it the micromediasphere.  I know that others in my industry like Laura Fitton of Pistachio Consulting who refers to it as “microsharing“, and others are calling it something else like microblogging, but for the most part we are all talking about the likes of Twitter, Jaiku, Plurk, Yammer and up to an including today, powncelogoPownce. As of this writing, the folks at Pownce have given their 2 week notice that they are no longer going to be in the game.  I know that is a shame for some as they were one company that was well liked by developers and someone that was pushing the others applications to not suck.

I’ll be talking about the State of the Micromediasphere tomorrow on my radio show over at Blog Talk Radio.  My show The Social Mediasphere looks into hot topics like these and this is shaping up to be one of those topics.  I am hoping to get some guests on the show that can also talk about the State of the Micromediasphere.  I am inviting all to participate and give us your opinion and see what we can come up with and how things are looking for the future.

UPDATE:  This email just received today from the Pownce people:

We are sad to announce that Pownce is shutting down on December 15, 2008. As of today, Pownce will no longer be accepting new users or new pro accounts.

To help with your transition, we have built an export tool so you can save your content. You can find the export tool at Settings > Export.

Please export your content by December 15, 2008, as the site will not be accessible after this date.

Please visit our new home to find out more:
http://www.sixapart.com/pownce

Our thanks go out to everyone who contributed to the Pownce community,

The Pownce Crew

Filed Under: Advertising, Announcements, Blogonomics, Business Blogging, Marketing, Media, Mediasphere Radio, Social Media
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