Click on the link to dress Freddie Mercury. This made my day!
Monday, March 29, 2010
What is Your Social Media Conference Attending Personality?
After attending a few social media conferences, one becomes very aware of the various personality types of the different attendees. Many are nothing at all like their Twitter personalities, and some of them are downright surprising. If you spent any time at one of the big social media conferences, you no doubt recognize some of these personality types:
1. The Partier: You attend conferences for one reason, and one reason only; to party. Sure, you may show up at the convention center and shake a few hands for an hour or two, but your days are mostly spent making up for your nights. Nights you don’t remember until you catch glimpses on YouTube. Not too much business happens when you attend conferences, but you come home with enough business cards so your employer feels it’s justified. It’s all good though, no one really takes you seriously as a business person anyway. They like having you around because you’re buying the drinks.
2. The Vacationer: Like the Partier, you don’t necessarily attend conferences for their ROI value. Instead, they’re a vacation. They get you out of the house and away from the spouse and kids for a few days, making them well worth the expense. You can go out to dinner to restaurants that don’t serve crayons with the placemats, and sleep as late as you want in the morning. Maybe, just maybe you’ll even attend a session or too.
3. The Swag Collector: You travel to conferences with an extra, empty duffle bag in tow in order to bring home your swag. You’re not so much interested in the speakers or networking, and a sponsor paid for your ticket so it’s not like you have to work. For you, it’s all about what you’re coming home with. Free T-shirts, pens, and even laptop stickers have you squealing with delight. You go to the trade show as soon as it opens looking for the big ticket items so you can grab a few freebies before they run out. When you get home and your kids ask “what did you bring me” you don’t disappoint.
4. The Engager: For you, it’s about the people. You attend conferences to meet up with old friends and cultivate new relationships. You’re always seen in the hallways talking with groups of people and your dinners are never intimate affairs for two. The more the merrier. Unlike Partiers and Vacationers, you really are hoping to meet with people for both business and pleasure. You’re looking to build relationships for now and for the future. It’s no wonder you have no problem finding collaborators for your projects and know exactly who to call when specific situations arise.
5. The Star Gazer: You come to catch a glimpse of the big name superstars. You attend their sessions, stand in line for their book signings and make sure you don’t go home until you have a picture featuring you and the biggest names in the biz. For you, it’s not as much about meeting people as it is meeting the right people.
6. The Learner: For you, it’s the sessions. You came to learn from the best, and by golly, that’s what you’re going to do. You want Chris Brogan to teach you about trust and John Chow to show you how to make money online. You’re serious about getting ahead in the game. Parties and dinners don’t interest you. It’s the talks you come for.
7. The Job Hunter: You’re on a mission and that mission is to score employment. You show up in a suit and have a briefcase full of resumes. You learn who is hiring and arrange for meetings. You’re all business….not that there’s anything wrong with that.
8. The Volunteer: You can’t afford tickets to conferences because they’re so expensive. However, you found a loophole. You volunteer to help out. The only problem is, you’re so busy running around, stuffing bags and manning elevators you don’t get a chance to enjoy the conference itself.
9. The Speaker: You’re THE authority in your field and you want everyone to know it. Speaking is the best way to promote your books and your services. If there’s a conference, you’re sure to be found on a panel or session. Your advice is dead on and you can’t leave the room after your talk because your admirers have questions and want to snap photos for their blogs. Your talks go so well, the conference isn’t over before you’re planning your next talk.
10. The Pimp: You attend conferences because you have something to sell or promote. You wear T-Shirts proudly displaying your message and hand out a business card and spiel to everyone you meet. You WILL go home with multiple sales if it’s the last thing you do.
11. The “We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Badges” Guy: Conferences aren’t really your thing. You don’t like the sessions or all the hand shaking and you’re not really into frivolity. You fly to the city where the conference is held and even sign up for some parties and interesting events. However, you don’t buy a badge. You don’t need one. Everyone you want to speak with will meet you for dinner or at a party. You’ll put in a few appearances so everyone can see you were there, but you stay as far away from the actual conference as you can.
12. The Celebrity: If there are Star Gazers in attendance, they won’t be disappointed. You show up to see to be seen. You and your entourage are front and center at all the parties and events. You have a pocket full of sharpies for autographs and drink only the finest champagne. You time your entrances, and your exits, and never met a camera you didn’t like.
13. The Reluctant Celebrity: You’re famous in your circles but you’re not really into your fame. You want to be able to walk down the hall without stopping for autographs and photographs. You want to be able to sit and chat with your friends for more than two minutes at a time. You’re happy life is working out well for you and don’t mind sharing your secrets to your success, you just wish you could attend these things without an entourage.
What are some of the personality types you spotted at the various conferences? Do you see yourself in any of the above?
Deb Ng is founder of the Freelance Writing Jobs network. Follow her on Twitter @debng.
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After reading this my guilt level is about 5 of these. Social Media is still social right? Peter Shankman is MY hero.
The Missy Project's Annual Charity Golf Tourney/Auction
This is a great cause. Please click on the link to sign up or to contact Mary Magel for donations for the auction.
Analysts Ask if the iPad Can Live Up to Its Hype
Apple fans have breathlessly awaited Apple’s entry into the tablet computer market. Since the company unveiled the iPad in late January, investors have jumped on the bandwagon, too, running up Apple’s stock more than 10 percent.
Part of that rise can be attributed to the steady rise in sales of the iPhone and the company’s Mac computers. But much of it clearly has to do with tablet fever. On the day this month when Apple made the completely unsurprising announcement that the iPad would go on sale on April 3, the stock jumped nearly 4 percent.
Expectations are clearly high. Now the iPad has to meet them.
Apple has given no public indication of what kinds of sales it expects, or what may constitute success. But at the iPad introduction in January, Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, implicitly set a lofty standard. He said the iPad would offer an experience that was superior to that of netbooks, a rapidly growing category of inexpensive and lightweight laptops that accounted for $11 billion in global sales last year.
He also said that the 75 million people who own iPhones and iPod Touches already knew how to use the iPad, which uses the same operating system and touch-screen interface.
But analysts and investors are searching for their own ways to judge the iPad over the short and long term. Their projections vary, but many Apple analysts seem to think the company will sell around a million iPads by the end of its quarter in June, and around 5 million by the end of 2010.
Analysts acknowledge that a certain amount of guesswork goes into those projections, in part because it is not yet clear what kinds of applications and content will be available for the iPad from media companies and outside developers.
“The reality for the iPad is going to be determined by what apps are made for it,” said Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray. “People are debating the use case for it, and the use case will be largely determined by the apps. A lot of people are still on the fence whether this is a legitimate market or not.”
There are other variables at work. For example, it appears the iPad will initially be available only in Apple’s stores and at Best Buy. How quickly will Apple begin selling it through other retailers, and in countries other than the 10 it named this year?
Will Apple allow American wireless carriers other than AT&T, like Verizon, to offer data plans for the 3G version of the device? And how quickly might Apple lower the iPad’s price, or introduce models with new features like a built-in camera?
In considering how the iPad may affect Apple, analysts must also navigate the fuzzy topic known as cannibalization. Consumers who spend $499 for the cheapest iPad model might be buying it in lieu of a $999 MacBook laptop or, more likely, a $199 iPod Touch.
Many analysts are looking to historical precedent to gauge the iPad’s prospects in the market. Back in 2001, iPod sales started out slowly; Apple sold only 372,000 of them in its first year, then around a million in the second, after the opening of the iTunes Store.
After the iPhone’s introduction in 2007, which inspired a similar media frenzy, Apple sold 1.4 million handsets in its first two quarters, and then 6.1 million during its entire first year.
But the iPhone may be a poor example: people were already comfortable buying cellphones. Few people have ever owned a tablet computer. The iPad is something almost entirely new to most consumers, more akin to, say, the Kindle from Amazon.com or the Apple TV set-top box. Those devices each sold less than a million units in their first year.
Achieving the mass-market penetration — and cultural impact — of the iPod and iPhone is ultimately Apple’s biggest challenge with the iPad. “They are going to need to target mainstream users who might otherwise decide to purchase an e-book reader or a netbook,” said Michael Abramsky, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets. “If they are successful in starting to convince those kinds of folks, and getting beyond the early adopters who will line up for anything, then it has the potential to blossom.”
But even in those best-case situations, the iPad most likely will not change Apple’s overall financial picture anytime soon. A. M. Sacconaghi Jr., an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Company, predicts that the iPad could contribute about 28 cents a share to Apple’s bottom line in its first full year of sales. The iPhone, by contrast, is responsible for about $8 of earnings a share.
“It’s going to be pretty small from a financial impact initially, but the range of ultimate outcomes for the iPad is pretty big,” Mr. Sacconaghi said.
Investors are also trying to keep their expectations grounded. Erick Maronak, chief investment officer for the $1.2 billion Victory Large Cap Growth Fund, which counts Apple as its biggest holding, said he was looking forward to the iPad — but still banking on the iPhone.
The iPad “is yet another example of how the innovation with Apple continues, and that they have not grown complacent,” Mr. Maronak said. “But the much bigger driver is that this is going to be a pretty big year for the iPhone.”
All the iPad and iPhone optimism leaves many analysts and investors wondering what, exactly, disappointment might look like for Apple. If Apple sells only half a million iPads during the next two months, or less than 2 million by the end of September, it could conceivably damage the company’s stellar reputation with Wall Street — and Mr. Jobs’s air of infallibility in selecting and entering new markets.
“There’s always a risk,” said Charles Wolf, an analyst at Needham & Company, who points to past Apple failures like the Mac Cube and Apple TV, but nonetheless believes that the iPad will sell briskly.
If the iPad does fail to sell, “it could impact the stock,” Mr. Wolf said. “But I doubt it would be the end of the world.”
via nytimes.com
I'm anxious to see if it will too!
SXSW Showcase Gone DISGUSTING: NOFX Singer to Fans -- I Peed in Your Tequila
via tmz.com
Watch the video if you ave the stomach for it. Still shocked.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
LIVE from PAX East - Xbox Live's Major Nelson - Weekly Podcast
via majornelson.com
This week recorded live from PAX EAST.
GameStop Sued For Misleading Customers With Used Games
No big surprise here. GameStop has had one of the most shady practices around so this lawsuit was inevitable. Basically a used game can cost the consumer more than a new purchase because of content that may have come with a new game but not included in the used. I am going to be interested to see how this pans out. Hopefully it will result in less expensive used games for the consumer.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Social Media & Branding Snippet From @Pepsico At SXSW
via youtube.com
Quick comments by some Social Media leaders.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Twitter, As We Knew It, Is Dead
Why should you read this chapter?
Today, more than ever before, we’re presented with new web apps and tools that promise to help get things done. The truth is, they do the exact opposite.
In the chapter below we’ll learn how to truly leverage Twitter for results. This will allow you to focus more on things that matter; instead of spending time on something that simply wastes your time.
In an age of distraction, this skill is critical to reaching the freedom and dreams you desire.
I think it’s time that we again ask ourselves the question we’ve always been asking, what is Twitter? Or more, what has Twitter become?
Just like the web, twitter has undergone a profound transition.
Whereas web 1.0 was about publishing static web content, web 2.0 arose and centered on dynamic, social content. So, too, is Twitter’s recent transition.
Twitter started as a nifty little experience for sharing small details about your life (Twitter 1.0). This included people saying things like, “I’m eating a hot dog right now.”
Now, we’re seeing changes. Changes that are showing up right in front of us. Instead of “Sharing,” we’re “Tweeting”. Instead of the question, “What are you dong right now?” it’s replaced with “What’s happening?”
Slowly, and perhaps painfully for the founders, Twitter has turned into something else. Twitter has transformed into story sharing and link-sharing with a social twist. It’s transitioned from a place of primary sharing and interacting, to place filled with brands, links and ads. Instead of real-time conversations, we’re seeing a stream of real-time affiliate links.
Twitter has transformed into a place where people primarily do three things:
- A place where entrepreneurs/bloggers/freelancers share links
- A place where celebrities write when they’re drunk or bored
- A place where brands go to prove that they’re ahead-of-the-curve
This is Twitter 2.0 — welcome.
So how does one leverage this new form of Twitter to get the most out of it–in the least amount of time? Read on.
Understanding Twitter 2.0
Many get sucked into the hype machine and dive into Twitter without understanding its purpose. After a certain period of time, most fall into two camps: (i) either they never use it again, or (ii) they continually use it without understanding why they’re using it.
There’s an interesting concept in psychology that is on the rise today, more than ever before: FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
This concept is outlined in a fantastic book on Focus, Find Your Focus Zone, in which the the author, Lucy Jo Palladino, suggests that people are absolutely freaked out about missing the action. People are constantly afraid of being left out.
So, too is this concept within Twitter.
As Kathy Sierra points out, “Ironically, services like Twitter are simultaneously leaving some people with a feeling of not being connected, by feeding the fear of not being in the loop. By elevating the importance of being “constantly updated,” it amplifies the feeling of missing something if you’re not checking Twitter (or Twittering) with enough frequency.”
The Magic Bullet Secret To Getting 17 million followers in 3 hours!
(kidding)
If you glance at the top most-followed people on Twitter, you’ll ask yourself, what’s the secret? How’d they get there? What’s the magic bullet for getting more followers?
It’s simple: Be Shaq.
Yes, be a celebrity. You’ll notice that the most-followed people on Twitter already have a community offline. They’re movie stars, famous news anchors, musicians and pro athletes.
You’re not going to build a massive following by having a cool, magic bullet twitter strategy. Such ideas are short-term solutions. Typically followed up with massive un-follows, and in some cases, even getting banned from Twitter.
Here’s how the typical magic bullet Twitter follower software works
Simply write a program using Twitter’s API (application programing interface—check), and then follow a ton of people. Message them, and have the program interact with them. Once this is done, they’ll follow you. And then after a month or so, you un-follow them.
This is the strategy I once took on for an account, but have since abandoned it–because I didn’t get any value out of it.
After a certain point I had to ask myself, why I was trying to game a system. Why I wanted to get more followers. And really, the answer never came. So I decided to purge my account, and start fresh and new with a long-term value-driven strategy. A strategy that didn’t suck time out of my day; but instead, added value to my day.
The 7 New Dependable Ways to Use Twitter
Below is the 7 step indisputable method for leveraging Twitter in a focused, effective manner. A way in which results in sharing valuable information with a close set of followers.
1. Don’t read any other guide to getting productive on Twitter
Challenge me. Every other guide on the net that preaches how to use Twitter in a more productive, focused manner only adds to the confusion. The tools that you’ll see within Twitter only do one thing: they insist upon themselves. They’ll add to the confusing mess that Twitter already is. Here’s a sample of the tools you’ll find in these guides:
Sample Fluff Apps:
- TweeCalendar: Just sign up for TweeCalendar and you can Tweet appointments to your Google Calendar! You’ll send your followers info they don’t care about at all, and you’ll probably forget the calendar!
- TweeWeather: Set up weather alerts using Twitter! You’ll know when to not get out of your mother’s basement, and go outside!
- FlightTweets: Get tweets about your upcoming flight! The flight you’ll miss because you were busy tweeting
- TweeDo Lists: Write to-do lists via Twitter, annoy your followers, and get nothing done!
By all means, avoid these guides, and avoid these tools.
2. Avoid Twitter clients
Seismic and Tweetdeck are good for two purposes: (i) Power-users, and (ii) Pissing on time.
I only recommend using Tweetdeck or Seismic if you’re in the PR/Marketing field. If not, then don’t use it.
3. Don’t market yourself within Twitter
Don’t market yourself within Twitter; market yourself outside of Twitter. Do this by putting a link to your Twitter profile within various communities in which you interract:
- Facebook Profile
- LinkedIn Profile
- Your Blog
- Your Portfolio Website
- Your Email Signature
- (and any other site where you’re building a community)
4. Share valuable information without trying — schedule tweets
This is easily the most overlooked, and under-implemented tool within Twitter. As outlined above, over the past two years, Twitter has undergone a slow transition from a “What are you doing now” service to a “What news can you share?”
Within the era of Twitter 2.0, the question is not, “What can this person tell me that they’re doing.” Instead, it’s “What valuable information can this person give me?”
In order to share valuable information, the key is to not try. And more, make it a habit.
What I mean by “not trying” is that instead of manually blasting out awesome news stories everyday; instead, adopt an automated tweet scheduling tool that allows you to bookmark valuable links, and then schedule them over a period of time.
A couple services allow you to do this:
The one I use personally, and the one I recommend is Sharefeed. I recommend this one due to its simplicity, and effectiveness.
5. Respond and cultivate your community
Just like the secret and critical method for building a community on any blog, so too is the concept of building on Twitter. Twitter is really just an extension of your community on a different service. For this reason, it becomes critical to respond to each person that @replies you.
6. Only follow people that provide valuable information
This is one of, if not the most, critical elements in using Twitter. The foundation of twitter centers on what industry researchers call, “The Network Effect.” This holds that the experience drawn from Twitter is in direct correlation with who you follow. You are your environment. If you follow spammers, then you’ll think of Twitter as a place for spammers.
7. Check Twitter 3-4 times per day at most
In a later chapter we’ll discuss the concept of email batching or email crunching. This is the concept of chunking your emails into short, intensive sessions only a couple times per day.
For me, I recommend starting at four times per day, then bringing it down to three times per day, and finally getting it down to twice per day.
An extension of this crunch period should be your Tweet checking. Don’t check Twitter constantly throughout the day; instead, chunk it into infrequent, short sessions.
Conclusion:
The 7 steps outlined above will allow you to get the most out of Twitter, in the least amount of time and give your community actual valuable information.
To summarize, Twitter has undergone a shift from sharing Haiku-style details about ourselves (i.e. “I’m eating a hot dog right now”) to a place for brands, links and affiliates. In order to get the most out of this era of Twitter, I recommend following six steps:
1. Be weary of tools that preach that they allow you to be more effective
2. Don’t use Seismic or Tweedeck, or any other client
3. Market yourself outside of Twitter; not within Twitter
4. Share Valuable Information Without Trying (scheduling tweets)
5. Respond and cultivate your community
6. Only follow people that provide valuable information
7. Implement Twitter BatchingPhoto Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashmahal/ / CC BY 2.0-->Did you enjoy this chapter? If you have any edits or ideas to make it better, let me know and I may include it and credit you when I release the book!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Today is the day I won my bet with Andrew Hull (@loytx) for 48hrs of Facebook control
So you may be asking what bet is this? Well let me start at the beginning.... Our mutual friend Chris had a beer pong going away/birthday party in January. After it a few of us decided to head over to Lala's (great Austin dive bar) to have a few beers. Well there were a few really attractive brunettes walking around and I pointed them out to Andrew. He didn't even give a second glance. I then pointed out that he only looks at blondes. He told me I was ridiculous so we decided to do a test/bet. The details were that he had to find and go on three dates with a brunette before SXSW started. It was a honor system but Andrew is an honorable guy so no worries. If he did I had to wear clown shoes during a day of SXSW music. If he didn't I got to control 48 hours of his facebook. Well after numerous attempts to find a brunette he only went on dates with blondes, proving my hypothesis. So if you know Andrew Hull and are friends with him on Facebook he may seem a little different for a couple days next week. Enjoy!
I'm checking out SXSW Screenburn today. How bout you? A song for inspiration.
via youtube.com
I actually have the vinyl of this.
SXSW Volunteers make those bags by hand! Or at least stuff them.
via sxsw.com
I used to be one of them many years ago.. Oh the memories.
10 Ways to Not Be a Jerk at SXSW
10 Ways to Not Be a Jerk at SXSW
Pay Attention. These Are of Tremendous Importance
Posted Edited by Ian Schafer on 03.10.10 @ 04:40 PM
Let's say that your boss is cool enough to pay your way to SXSW this year. Whether it's your first time or fifth, there are 10 things to do that will be sure to alienate you from people at SXSW and those back at home that hate you for being there.
Ian Schafer 10. Don't post every Foursquare/Gowalla/Hotpotato check-in/update to Facebook and/or Twitter. Normally, it's marginally useful. But no one not at SXSW cares if you're in Conference Room 9ABCD, Ballroom D or Exhibit Hall 1. Use the app to follow people and see where they're at. Don't give your family, friends, and co-workers another reason to digitally silence you. That "which Jonas Brother are you" quiz you just sent all of them on Facebook is reason enough.
9. Don't live-tweet the panels you attend. Just because you made a bad decision to attend that awful panel doesn't mean we all did. And if you're at the best panel ever, letmegooglehyperboleforyou.com.
8. Sure, dress comfortably. But we still don't want to see your knees. And just because you're in Texas, it doesn't mean you need to wear cowboy boots.
7. Don't declare "[insert new social media gizmo here] the next Twitter." You do not get a badge for that, Mayor of Gurustan.
6. This year, SXSWi will be hosting bigger crowds than ever. On the interwebs, no one wants to hear you complain about those long lines at the parties that you're not on the VIP list for.
5. You're not a celebrity. You may be internet-famous, but the people at SXSW Film are famous-famous. When worlds collide, remember which one you are.
4. You're probably not really breaking news from SXSWi, so leave that up to journalists. Assuming they can even get a press pass.
3. Don't mention The Salt Lick if you're referring to the one in the airport.
2. Do not bring up UT basketball while you're down there this year. Trust me.
1. If you take one thing away from this, it's that SXSW would be nothing without the volunteers. Treat them well. Everyone, including you, is down there to promote something. Those kids are down there to learn -- even from you. Respect that.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
via adage.com
Ian Schafer was last seen tweeting about tweeters.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Friday, March 05, 2010
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - RGM version on YouTube aka NERDGASM!!!
via youtube.com
This is probably the best video ever.
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