Social Media | Geoff Livingston's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘social media’

Six Things To Change In Buzz

Monday, February 15th, 2010

My professional opinion on Buzz aside, as a user I find it to be a frustrating experience (image by tifa). Perhaps I’ve become spoiled with other networks, but Buzz strikes me as the Hyundai of social networks. Rather than just complain, I’d like to offer some suggestions. Here are six things I’d like to see changed in Buzz, all of which have been submitted to the Buzz team.

1) The background is killing me. There’s so much white space in Buzz, that I find it hard to read. Google’s patented look yes, but it does not lend itself to a friendly web screen presence… And since there are no real Buzz clients yet, please allow me to inject some customization and color. My old man eyes need it.

2) Can’t say it any better than this: It’s new and clunky. Make Buzz fluid, please.

3) Don’t forward commented posts. A fellow who shall not be named posted eight photos of a young lady’s derriere yesterday. I commented on the post to this effect: “She’s beautiful, yes, but this photoset indicates stalking.” Next thing you know this fellow’s post is in all of my follower’s feeds, and the ladies were not happy about it. I unfollowed said person simply because I cannot afford to anger my user base with someone else’s online behavior.

4) Give users the option to decouple email: Buzz makes Gmail a bacon haven, and that’s not good. I get too much email, and more socnet email is not what I want. Nor do I want notifications in my email desktop. Making people figure out a GMail filter is not cool, either. Generally speaking on Gmail and Buzz together, Boo!

5) Hasten the apps process: I think not having desktop or mobile clients out the gate was a mistake. Did Google strike with an element of surprise? Yes, it did. Does its service suffer for it? Why, yes, it does.

6) Similarly, publish a FAQ. Why do I have to search for all of the ways to integrate Buzz into my social media. Google should be doing everything it can to make the experience easier on users.

What would like to see changed about Buzz?

Popularity: 19% [?]

Tags: Buzz, changes, Gmail, social media, social network
Posted in Geekery, Rants, social media | 21 Comments »

What’s Coming Next?

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Shashi Bellakonda, Daria Stegman and Shonali Burke

Last week the Washington, DC chapter of IABC held an event on the past and future decade in online media. Daria Steigman moderated the panel, which included John Taylor, Sprint; Shashi Bellmakonda, Network Solutions; Torod Neptune, Waggener Edstrom; and Paul Sherman, Potomac Techwire.

The first conversation was fascinating, discussing which media properties mattered most, new or old. Instead of the usual black and white debate, Sherman noted that it really was a question of the stakeholder and the media forms they prefer. Neptune also noted that influence was determined media outlet by media outlet, not by traditional or new form. This matches the larger trend of confluence we are seeing between new and old media forms in the current marketplace.

All of the panelists agreed that organizational culture still continues to be the biggest barrier to success in social. It became apparent that determining how (or if) to embrace social needs to be a much more thought out process for organizations, particularly those with conservative cultures.

Both Sprint’s Taylor and Bellamkonda noted the important impact that mobile was making. Taylor added that the industry broke a record with mobile fundraising for Haiti. Shashi added that anyone could communicate using mobile, and noted Twitter as a primary example, as well as its importance to companies.

Corporate social responsibility campaigns are also becoming an important part of online communications for companies. Taylor noted Pepsi’s $20 million online giving program that replaced its traditional Super Bowl ads.

Later in questions and answers, the NBA’s suspension of Gilbert Arenas was noted, in particular, whether or not the league had a right to stifle Agent Zero’s tweeting. Bellamkonda noted that if its illegal, employees cannot be talking about it. Panelists all agreed that the NBA had to act to protect the Bullets, er Wizards, image.

Also of note, IABC-DC President Shonali Burke celebrated her birthday at the event. She used social tools to make her 40th a fundraising endeavor for Kids with Cameras.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Tags: Daria Stegman, future, Gilbert Arenas, John Taylor, mobile, Paul Sherman, Pepsi, Shashi Bellamkonda, Shonali Burke, social media, Torod Neptune
Posted in social media | 1 Comment »

Confessions of a Start-Up Junky

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Confession: Giddy joy pervades my fingertips these days. The reason? The challenge of starting anew.

See, I’m a start-up junky. And next week my two partners and I are launching our newco. I can’t wait!

I’ve been engaged in start-ups since 1996, when I joined CommunicationsNow as an editor to successfully launch several publications serving the wireless industry. Then I did a stint as media relations manager for a dot-bomb in Southern California called IPNet Solutions.

This past decade saw the successful launch of Widmeyer’s Design & Advertising practice. After that I helped get Sage Communications‘ PR practice off the ground. And most recently, I started, built and sold Livingston Communications, a social media boutique.

The Next Venture

So with my sixth venture (second as owner), what have I learned? What five suggestions will I bring to the table that will benefit my partners and clients?

1) Do what you love! Most people hate their jobs, but if you own your own company, then that’s your fault. In fact, it’s all your fault. There’s no one to blame, so make it worth loving!

2) Love your critics/enemies, too. Plenty of naysayers out there will tell you that it will be hard, that most newcos fail, etc. This time, it’s “Well, the economy is not that great,” or “Your focus won’t yield the most cash.” These people should be seen as a) sources of information about possible weaknesses that you can address, and b) points of inspiration.

Listen to criticism even if it burns. They may be right about your offering, and don’t you want to address that?

Conversely, I always love winning when I’ve been told it’s unlikely or impossible. When I receive resistance from naysayers, it only fuels me. To me, success comes from personal commitment to achieving a goal as opposed to what other people tell me I should be or can achieve. Many times the reasons find basis in their own fears.

3) Play to your weaknesses. If you’re not good at something, own it. Then outsource it or hire people to fill that role. In this new entity, my partners’ strengths play to my weaknesses and vice versa. I am very grateful for that. Now I can focus on areas that I truly excel in.

4) Embrace failure. Most of the companies I’ve been involved with sustained themselves or were sold, so ultimate failure is not my experience. Failing is. Failure in ventures always happens, but serves as the experience necessary for improvement and excellence. The question isn’t whether you will fail or have disappointments. It’s how fast can you get up, and evolve.

5) Don’t get set on facts. Markets change, people change, situations change, everything changes. The only thing in life and business that you can be certain of is change. Be ready to handle the comings and goings of relationships and situations. Impermanence is the rule of thumb.

That’s my big five, the rest stay in my head for now. But if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, please read Pam Slim’s Escape from Cubicle Nation. It’s the best book I’ve read on the topic.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Tags: communications, entrepreneur, failure, Livingston Communications, pam slim, Sage Communications, social media, start-up, success, Widmeyer
Posted in Me, Myself and I | 21 Comments »

#BlogPotomac Keynote Beth Kanter (@kanter) on the Future

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Continuing our informal series of interviews with BlogPotomac speakers at the Final BlogPotomac (October 23, at the State Theatre, register today!), our keynote Beth Kanter answered our questions about the future of social media. Beth is the author of Beth’s Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media , one of the longest running and most popular blogs for nonprofits. A frequent contributor to many nonprofit technology web sites and magazines, Beth has authored chapters in several books, including “Psychology of Facebook Applications,” edited by BJ Fogg, Stanford University and “Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission: A Strategic Guide for Nonprofit Leaders,” edited by NTEN both to be published in 2009.

BP: What social media application or network is really exciting you today and why?

BK: Right now I’m not excited by any one specific social media application or network, but the result of connectedness that these tools provides. I heard Jerry Michalski use the metaphor of the global brain. He mentioned that we were halfway through a transition process where we are renegotiating social contracts and connecting with people in a way that we haven’t before. The benefits innovation and creativity to be sure.

I get excited now that in a couple of clicks that I can go to site like slideshare and see ideas on a topic some of the best thinkers on that subject and recreate my own meaning of it or collectively recreate meaning with my friends. Or that I can send out a question on Twitter and get back lots of new ideas.

The point is that knowledge is now externalized in our global brain of connections with colleagues and other organizations. I think that this connectedness will thread together both individuals and make the boundaries of nonprofit organizations very porous – so that we’ll have colonies of organizations working together on issues/causes versus isolated islands. This melting of boundaries will happen from inside out through individuals working in nonprofits using social networks to
connect across silos and organizations.

BP: In your mind, what’s the biggest barrier facing corporate adoption of social?

BK: A lack of understanding about how the social contracts have changed and what it means. Changing this in organizations that have a decades or centuries of experience doing their work in a particular way is difficult. It means giving up control, being more open to being, well open, and a faster way of working. It means being a learning organization. That transition can be a big barrier. It doesn’t have to be – the right conversations inside about worst case scenarios, adjusting our expectations about failures, and having contingency plans – this can mitigate adoption issues.

BP: What current or future technology do you see impacting social the most over the next five years?

BK: Hmm .. I’m preparing a virtual keynote for the week after I speak at BlogPotomac – and I’d love to know what you and other readers think. With that said, I think real time web and mobile social will have tremendous impacts over the next five years. I think there will also be changes in “humanware” – where we’ll see more and more people who have grown up with the Internet come of age in terms of leadership of their nonprofits – this will an impact.

BP: Do you think social media has positively or negatively impacted society and why?

BK: Well, both. I think there are many benefits that we can take way from the age of connectedness – creativity, innovation, leveraging and much more. Today I was a training with a long-time activist from the 60’s who told me that her organization’s goal is to reach a wider audience and engage them – but can’t do that without being engaged on social networks. Movement buildings need to happen both online and off and social media a big part of that. There is also a dark side that we need to acknowledge – issues of security, privacy, and
identity.

Popularity: 25% [?]

Tags: Beth Kanter, blogpotomac, future, social media
Posted in Cause, social media | 2 Comments »

#BlogPotomac Speaker Jane Quigley (@jquig99) Discusses the Future

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Continuing our informal series of interviews with BlogPotomac speakers at the Final BlogPotomac (October 23, at the State Theatre, register today!), crayonista Jane Quigley joins us to discuss the future of social media. She is the lead for the afternoon sessions, and has one of the sharpest minds in the business.

With more than 14 years in the interactive marketing space, Jane has a true excitement for all things Social Media. She has implemented a number of social technology applications and campaigns for her client’s marketing and media schedules, including white-label social networks, corporate blogs, mobile campaigns and more.

BP: What social media application or network is really exciting you today and why?

JQ: I’m really enjoying Posterous. It’s even easier than Tumblr – the original mobile blog. All posts are done over email, the iPhone app or a “Share on Posterous” bookmarklet. It’s really the first mobile blog that is really “set it and forget it” = I never worry about formatting issues.

Also – I have a lot of respect for the Posterous team (Garry Tan and Sachin Agarwal). I’ve had mine for over a year and have been really impressed by the consistent performance and feature updates. The right features at the right time – no feature bloat. And they really use their own product. Not only do they each have a couple of Posterous blogs, which they consistently update, but they comment and favorite other user’s posts each day.

BP: In your mind, what’s the biggest barrier facing corporate adoption of social?

JQ: I don’t think there’s that much of a barrier anymore – most companies see the need to connect more intimately with their customers (and their employees). Where I see the disconnect is that most social media consultants don’t see the Big Picture. It’s not “where does social media fit into my marketing plan” but “how can I infuse conversation into all of our marketing”.

It’s so much more than a tactical plan – it has to start with strategy.

BP: What current or future technology do you see impacting social the most over the next five years?

JQ:I think it’s whatever is the easiest – that’s why Twitter works over Friendfeed, and Facebook over Orkut and the rest. The KISS-methodology works every time.

Besides that I’m keeping an eye on the localization of social – Foursquare and Gowalla, as well as a Techcrunch50 entry, CitySourced, which looks like a social/mobile Neighborhood Watch.

BP: Do you think social media has positively or negatively impacted society and why?

JQ:I think that the effect has been mostly positive – but I also think that too many people take many posts and reports at face value. Not many people are taking responsibility for fact-checking or researching what is true and what is opinion. Opinion is not fact. We can’t afford to be lazy.

Popularity: 20% [?]

Tags: blogpotomac, Jane Quigley, social media
Posted in social media | 1 Comment »

Live Earth: Love, the Climate

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

As part of the social media team at Live Earth, I am thrilled to announce the “Love, the Climate” campaign launching today, and continuing through Friday, the 25th (landing page coming later this week). Before the Climate Bill goes to the Senate floor, Live Earth is calling upon Americans to set aside partisan politics, and join together for a fun, positive and mind‐changing effort. For more information on the Climate Bill, see this Huffington Post article.

Ace Blogger and Thought Leader David Armano agreed to help, and created this fun alternate logo for the effort.

We need your help, too! Please, demonstrate your optimism and faith. Make our senators feel like environmental rock stars. Encourage and motivate them to support a greener future!

Here are three ways you can Love the Climate:

• Leave us a voicemail thanking a senator for improving the world and letting everyone know how much you love the climate. Call 347.422.6392 now to leave your message on the Live Earth message line (this is not a toll‐free number) or go to www.liveearth.org and we’ll call you! Live Earth will highlight the best voicemails on our website and forward the best ones to the senators to whom they’re addressed.

• Add to the “Love, The Climate” Facebook Page with a note, a message, a photo, or a link to content that shows how fantastic the climate will be after senators have taken action by passing the Climate Bill.

Here’s my cheesy video

• Make a video for the climate demonstrating to senators how amazing life has become in a future where the environment is protected. Submit your video at video.liveearth.org. Live Earth will promote the most creative entries, and forward the best videos to the senators to whom they’re addressed.

Your creativity can help you as well as the climate: all participants who register for the campaign will be entered into random drawings for one of our awesome “Climate Love Packs,” as well as our grand prize, a Schwinn street bike. In order to be eligible for the prize drawings, you must submit an entry form to Live Earth at http://joinliveearth.org/page/s/lovetheclimate.

Popularity: 20% [?]

Tags: Climate Bill, facebook, Live Earth, Love the Climate, phone message, social media
Posted in Green | No Comments »

Posts Tagged ‘social media’

My Photos

Categories

Archives

Author