what's hot on twitter
Now that Business Week has officially proclaimed that Twitter is ok to explore, people will be jumping on the Twitter train like crazy.
Want a cool snapshot of what they're all talking about? Check out TwitBuzz. See what people are talking about now, in the last 24 hours, the last 7 days, the last 30 days, and since the the history of man.
Labels: social media, trends, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:44 AM
0 comments
twitter as a sales tool
Looking for another example of how Twitter can be used to increase sales?
Woot now tweets their specials, as they're happening. How could you improve your customer's experience, using Twitter? Learned of Woottweets from the tweetmaster, Scott Monty. Via Twitter. (Duh.)
Labels: directmarketing, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
1 comments
how to create a mission statement
Working on a company mission statement, or brand mantra? Try fitting into a single Tweet. What a grand idea, from Jared Goralnick, on Twitter.
Since Twitter only allows 140 characters, it forces the writer to weigh every word. Like a producer weighs every second of a 30 second spot. More importantly, a 140 or less brand mantra is more likely to be read by your audience. So much more than those 3 paragraphs that the marketing committee drafted as a group, and then legal edited after the CEO added a couple of lines...awesome advice.
Labels: branding, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM
2 comments
twitter from second life
Communicate with your friends who are on Twitter, while you're in Second Life!
Now you can use an old-school typewriter, from within Second Life, to type a message that gets published on Twitter. Once you hit enter, it publishes your 140 character or less masterpiece to the SLtypewriter Twitter stream.
I know! Who needs friends anymore? Or the outdoors? Starting next week, I'm officially becoming a pixel.
Labels: mashup, secondlife, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:57 AM
1 comments
how to write a novel. 140 characters at a time.
NL Belardes works in the ABC newsroom. He's got an interesting side project: He's writing a novel, titled Small Places, 140 characters at a time. Using Twitter, of course. (If you start reading now, just make sure you start at the bottom.)
I wonder if he's actually posting as he's writing, or if he's got a portion of the story "in the can" and posts it periodically? (I've asked him via Twitter. Follow his personal Twitter stream , and maybe we'll find out.)
This is an interesting writing technique - because once it's posted, it's published. He can't go back and edit. That's got to be a real challenge for the author of a novel. This is a fun, and really cool idea.
Labels: publishing, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM
4 comments
spreading brand hate, via twitter
LessAccounting is taking advantage of the fact that there's a lot of disdain for for their chief competitor, Quickbooks. A quick scan of Twitter shows that the majority of chatter about QuickBooks is negative.
So LessAccounting is celebrating that fact with the creation of We All Hate Quickbooks, Do You?.
This is awesome, for LessAccounting. They've now illustrated to internet workers that:
+ You're not alone in your hatred for QuickBooks;
+ There's an alternative to the product you hate using.
As a small agency that uses Quickbooks - we're in the demo. And we've looked for alternatives to the nasty Mac version of Quickbooks, to no avail. We'll be checking out LessAccounting - because they've captured our attention.
This is a great lesson on both sides of the fence. LessAccounting is capitalizing on a situation that the larger competitor created with a less-than-spectacular product.
Quickbooks needs to do a better job of monitoring the chatter about their product, and become a part of the conversation. They can't hide behind their #1 status forever. They could be using this conversation to their advantage, and improving their product.
In the meantime, tweet away about how much you loathe using QuickBooks. LessAccounting is paying attention.
Labels: branding, marketing, social media, twitter, web2.0, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:14 AM
2 comments
overheard on twitter
About once a day, you see something on Twitter that you just want to share with the entire world. Yesterday, it was a quote from HookEmSarah:
"Presenting a communication audit on @JetBlue. Strategy? Be awesome and they will come."
And there you have it. Your new marketing strategy.
Labels: social media, strategy, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:32 AM
1 comments
a new way to waste away productivity with twitter
If Twitter isn't already stealing enough otherwise productive time from your day, you may want to play with TwittEarth. See tweets from around the world, but on a wonderous 3D globe. Like Twittervision, but cuter. I guess. Originally saw it on Mashable.
Labels: mashup, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:48 AM
0 comments
you really can buy friends
Maybe it's to make a statement, maybe it's a big fat joke, a PR stunt, or maybe it's just meant to take advantage of ridiculousness. Rocketboom creator Andrew Baron was selling his Twitter account, with all of his friends, on eBay. As of last night, it was going for over $1000. This morning, the auction has been removed. We may never know the how, why or what. Or ever care.
UPDATE: It's back!! Bid away for Andrew's friends!
Originally found this story from JJ Projects, (via Twitter. Duh.)
Labels: social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:48 AM
0 comments
view twitter streams as tweet clouds
Because you have absolutely nothing better to do. Tweet Clouds lets you view your (or anyone else's) Twitter stream as a tag cloud (explained here), featuring your most used words.
I guess that I should proclaim this tool as awesome - since that's my most used word. I'm pretty sure that's awesomely accurate.
Note: as of this morning, Tweet Clouds was down - likely due to the influx of Twitter users with loads of time to kill. Check back later for some tweet cloud fun.
Labels: social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:04 AM
0 comments
not everyone likes twitter
Wow. Someone doesn't like Twitter. Or liked it initially, and then got tired of it. Misha over at Three Minds writes a really good post about how he's so over Twitter.
A really good post - related to attention spans and experience curves. But I think he's wrong.
A quick look at Misha's Twitter profile shows that he's only following 4 people. Four people is far too small of a picture of the world.
When I hear the comment "I'm trying Twitter, but I don't get it," my first question is always "how many people are you following?" If you've just started Twitter - FOLLOW people. Once you've got between 40 and 100 people on your list, you'll get it. Trust me.
Misha finds that his 4 people weren't that exciting. I say follow other people.
Here's some cool experiences that I've shared in the last few months, through people I followed:
+ Experienced behind the scenes at the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland
+ Found the best parties at SXSW
+ Learned about the Frozen Pea Fund
+ Experienced behind the scenes of a music video shoot
+ Met new friends (in real life!) that I would have never known about
+ Got answers to technical questions
+ Learned key points from conferences that I didn't attend
+ Shared restaurant, hotel and shoot location ideas
+ Brainstormed
+ Got to know clients better
+ Met new partners, vendors and clients
+ Received news before CNN, newspapers or TV
+ Found incredible links to inspirational, educational and entertaining sites
So, if you're new to Twitter, or unsure about Twitter, FOLLOW people. Look at who your friends are following. Follow them. There's a whole group of new friends waiting for you. I swear.
Labels: social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:45 AM
4 comments
you have the right to remain untweeted. anything you tweet can be used against you.
In a court of law.
Just because it's fun, doesn't mean that it's not on the public record. Twitter IS on the internet. And there's a long history of internet as documentation in a court of law. So it should be no surprise that what you say on Twitter could be later used against you.
The internets. Fun for all. Even the lawyers. Do your kids, your employees, your coworkers realize that what's on Twitter will likely be available for ever and ever and ever? From David Armano, (via Twitter, of course.)
Labels: social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:55 AM
0 comments
jet blue owns the internets
Our agency LOVES JetBlue. It's the unofficial, official airline of Plaid. They get branding, they get the internet. And I'm pretty sure they also know how to fly. Now they're even using Twitter. And doing it right.
Yesterday, as I was rolling through my Twitter timeline, I noticed a tweet from JetBlue - warning NY area travelers that there might be weather delays, due to the sucky weather we were experiencing. I know when I travel, I'm constantly checking tweets (more than email sometimes), to keep up - so that's a pretty cool way to keep Twitter users informed.
But it gets even better. Moments later, Brian Shaler (via Twitter) points to some additional detail on how JetBlue is using Twitter.
They get it. They're using tools to be a part of the conversation, to enhance your service experience and to build their brand. Awesome. How could you use tools like no one else in your industry?
Labels: plaid, social media, travel, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:42 AM
0 comments
new twitter logo!
The sun wouldn't come up if we didn't have at least one post about Twitter each day...so here it is: Twitter changed their logo. In case you were wondering.
Labels: branding, design, identity, twitter, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM
2 comments
be good. be consistent. be a strong brand.
Chris Brogan writes another typically brilliant post about maintaining our online personas, and points to someone who gets it - Gary Vaynerchuk.
Think about it. You have a Facebook profile, you're on Twitter, LinkedIn, and about 68 other social sites. Are you the same? What image are you projecting? What is your personal social media brand?
Gary points out a lovely side effect of personal online branding- bad guys can't hide. Good guys will prevail. Transparency is a wonderful thing. People that are evil are being found out and identified for their actions - faster than ever in history. So here's to genuine, honest, great personal branding. Woot!
Labels: branding, facebook, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:29 AM
1 comments
it's raining twitter tools
The Twitter lords have laid yet another glorious Twitter tool upon us. Tweetburner monitors the most popular shared urls on Twitter. There are two charts - the top 10 of all time, and the top 10 of the last 60 minutes. A great picture of the twitterverse. Twitter be with you.
Labels: mashup, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:34 AM
0 comments
a twitter marriage proposal?
This just in....a marriage proposal on Twitter???
Even better: she said yes .
(I swear this is my last post on Twitter today.)
Labels: social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
1 comments
color wars on twitter
Internetebrity ZeFrank recently started using Twitter (again?), and kicked off something grand the other day. He started color wars. Harking back to the days of summer camp, where we were assigned a team, identified by color, and then participated in whatever field day events they had planned.
ZeFrank has brought color teams to Twitter. It started with a simple declaration of "I'm on the blue team", and a revised avatar. And then it spread. And spread. There are people who have now joined teams who don't follow Ze Frank, don't know why there are teams, or how this even started. But they're a part of something...to be determined.
If you follow a bunch of people (and if you don't, what are you doing??), maybe you've seen all the color announcements and references. I hear there was an insult match or something late last night, but didn't stay around to watch.
Are you on a team? What color? I haven't picked a team that I can identify with yet. Looking for inspiration.
Labels: social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:26 AM
4 comments
the difference between facebook, myspace and twitter users
Here's some interesting information about users of Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Max Freiert has compiled some research showing popular sites that users visited, in addition to the social sites. (He calls them "addicts", without any real background on addiction...I believe he actually means "heavy users.")
Max concludes that:
+ MySpace addicts are somewhat vain – focusing heavily on establishing and fine tuning their online personas by customization of their personal profiles
+ Facebook addicts focus more on engagement – interacting with applications, music and people both on and off the platform
+ Twitter addicts are most interested in fostering communication and exploration.
Not sure I completely agree with his conclusions, but regardless - this is some cool information. From Johan Bryggare, via Twitter.
Labels: facebook, myspace, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:40 AM
0 comments
twitter told in a cute way that will make you love it
Thanks to everyone who sent this link. You know we love our Twitter. If you haven't yet converted, here's a great clip that answers the question I'm most tired of answering: "Why should I use Twitter?"
Labels: social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 10:17 AM
0 comments
twitter lovefest at sxsw. Mat says FU.
I've gone on and on and on about the wonderous tool, Twitter.
It popped big time at SXSW last year. At this year's conference, it's the communication medium of choice, too - as attendees use it to share what parties are hot, what panels are interesting, what celebrities are at the taco joint on Sixth Street. Which is awesome, if you're at SXSW, but might be annoying, if you're not.
Well Mat was fed up, and is now getting everyone back. He's at home in San Francisco, but tweeting as if he's here at SXSW. Pretty funny stuff, if you've been annoyed at all of the SXSW tweets of the last few days.
Related, (and sure to annoy the crap out of Mat), twemes.com is a cool mashup of Twitter, that allows the tagging of tweets with the same theme. So you can track whatever meme of the moment might be important to you. The SXSW version is pretty much on fire, as you might expect.
(I just realized that if my mom were to read this post, she'd have absolutely no idea what that last sentence means. Buzzwords out of control.)
Tweet on.
Labels: mashup, social media, sxsw, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:33 AM
0 comments
global creativity boom: here we come
I met an old friend, Greg last weekend, who works in the entertainment business. We had a fun time catching up. (Not that we weren't already caught up, thanks to Facebook, but anyway...) He was telling me about how reluctant the music industry has been to break down global barriers. From video formats to iTunes sales, there are artificial walls everywhere. Walls created by old-thinking people, who insist on always doing things the way they've been done before.
Greg is a member of the internet worker generation. If you're reading this, you likely are too. We have a different expectation for sharing, communicating and consuming. And there are no walls. Bit by bit we're breaking them down. Those of us on the front lines can see it happening - across industries and all demographics. And of course, it's happening in his industry - just as it's likely happening in yours.
To this point, Bruce Nussbaum writes a typically brilliant post about the effect of social media on your business, and the coming creativity boom.
New, grand things are becoming possible. But you've got to be ready for change. Willing to let go. Of your brand, of your marketing, of your old thinking.
So - take a good look at your business and ask "what walls can we knock down?" (Or who do we need to push off to retirement.) And then get ready for the ride of your life.
Labels: facebook, social media, trends, twitter, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:10 AM
0 comments
twitter tv
TweeVeeBETA.png)
Earlier this week, as I was watching the debate on television, and my Twitter stream simultaneously, (and laughing harder than I have since SNL was funny thanks to mtlb), I realized that for the Twitterverse, television is relevant in a new way. I experienced the same thing during the SuperBowl, the Oscars, and other significant televised events.
This is an opportunity. Someone needs to produce television that I can add my own Twitter sub-titles to. Why couldn't a broadcast be streamed, and then allow a user to choose the Twitter buddies that appear as sub-titles? Every cable channel in the world is looking for a way to interact with the audience they're losing....let's produce this together.
We'll call it TweeVee. It will be huge. Where's my VC money?
Labels: social media, trends, tv, twitter, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:58 AM
7 comments
twitter at the moma
Twittervision, the totally addicting Twitter mashup has been included in the "Design and the Elastic Mind." exhibit at the New York Museum of Modern Art. Finally, a reason to leave your computer, and go outside.
I want to go to the exhibit, and then tweet my friends while watching it. The show runs now through May 12.
Labels: art, creativeinspiration, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:08 AM
0 comments
friday. a good day to start twitter. or tweeting.
Kevin Dugan has a sweet list of Twitter fun. Check it out if you're just planning to get started on Twitter today. And why shouldn't you?
Labels: twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:49 AM
0 comments
twitter: always engaging.
I know you're saying "if you love it so much, why don't you marry it?" in response to my love affair with Twitter.
Joseph Jaffe shares the timeline of Tweets from Ryan Kuder, who was in the process of getting laid off at Yahoo. Amazing.
Labels: search, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:22 AM
0 comments
enough reading about social media to keep you from doing any work today
You can thank Chris Brogan, (via Twitter) for finding this sweet list of killer social media lists, posts, articles, guides and stuff. Tell your boss you're taking the day off to read and get skooled.
The shot of Kylie Minogue has absolutely nothing to do with this post, or social media. I'm just too lazy to find something more appropriate. But I'm sure that even Kylie is all hot over this list, and sitting down to read it, as we speak.
Labels: blogging, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:22 AM
0 comments
awesome quotes found on twitter
My Twitter lovefest continues. Here's a handful of twitteriffic quotes I've found in recent days. From beautious and inspired to downright hilarious. Enjoy.
From Chris Brogan's feed:
"Ideas are a dime a dozen. People who implement them are priceless."- Mary Kay Ash.
"What's your twitter bio < 140: Me? I stay up late and come up with ideas for brands, and pretty much anyone else." From MTLB
"more people die for love than from cancer" crimes of passion are common. From LoicLemeur
"Just saw on poster: avoid pregnancy during alcohol" From JJProjects
"But will Obama do something about uneven sound levels between TV shows and commercials, that’s the thing. You know, the important stuff." MTLB
"My boss's boss just came in and asked me if he could borrow a few Leadership books. What's wrong with this picture? :)" From bradjward
Someone should do a Twitter book. Think of all of the cool quotes, the legendary conversations that have taken place....that would be sweet.
Labels: creativeinspiration, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:27 AM
3 comments
five steps to good twittiquette
If you're a regular BrandFlakes reader, you know that I'm a pretty big fan of Twitter. Here's why you should be too. As much as I love it, there are a handful of annoying things too...which led me to compose my five steps to good twittequette.
Like etiquette, not everyone has it - not everyone choses to use it. But in most social circles, a fair amount of etiquette (or Twittiquette, in this case) will do you well. So here goes:
1. Don't be a lurker. Here's the thing. As you follow your Twitter friends activities, you're going to feel connected to them. Over time, they could even become actual friends. But not if you're invisible. Join the conversation. Don't think that what you have to say isn't important enough or interesting enough. It is.
2. Don't brag to the twitterverse that you've reached a new threshold in followers. Nobody cares that you have 200, 500, or 1000 followers. I follow Henry Rollins because he's one of the most interesting human beings on earth. Not because he has 2000 followers.
3. Don't stress (or tweet about it) when a follower leaves you. (Maybe she was tired of all the bragging about the number of followers you had.) Nothing's more disgusting than a sore loser. Don't be one. It's not the number of followers that matters here.
4. If I follow you, follow me. Unless you're Henry Rollins famous. If your timeline's too cluttered - start another Twitter stream. One for your close friends and family, and another for your public persona.
5. Don't tweet about every single blog post you've written. You're a blogger. Hooray. So am I, and so is everyone else on the planet. If you've got one particular post that you're very proud of, or believe to be relevant to a current conversation, then please share. But don't be a link whore.
5a. Twitter can be an awesome promotional tool - but separate your conversations to be audience appropriate. Shameless self-promotion on your personal Twitter? Wrong. Setting up a separate Twitter stream to handle live coverage of your product's next event? Awesome.
What would you add to this list?
See you on the Twittersphere.
Labels: social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:13 AM
3 comments
social media and the next disaster
Google's doing good stuff again. Google.org's technology project titled InSTEDD, is pulling together some friendly technologies like Twitter and Facebook, to better prepare us for situations like emergencies or natural disasters.
This is a cool idea - but we've got a ways to go as far as stability is concerned. Twitter was brought to it's knees earlier this week, because too many people were twittering about the Steve Jobs keynote speech. One can only imagine how it would hold up in the event of a natural disaster. That said, as a communication tool for regional disasters (like Hurricane Katrina) these tools would be awesome.
Labels: facebook, social media, technology, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:42 AM
0 comments
write this down. seesmic is gonna be huge.
I've been going on and on about how I really believe this is the year for video to make a difference in our internet lives.
We bought Flip Video cameras for our crew here (no tape, and quickly upload with a built-in usb) so that we can document things that happen on the fly around our office. Already, we've recorded some embarrassing moments. My intention is that we'll be more aggressive about sharing video clips on our agency blog, on a more regular basis.
And now, I recently started playing with Seesmic. This is going to be MASSIVE. I'd describe it as Twitter meets video. Which is funny, because almost everyone on Seesmic is also on Twitter.
Possibly the coolest thing of all is its ease of use. Rather than recording and uploading a video clip (although you can do that, if you wish), Seesmic integrates with the camera in your laptop or machine. So with the push of ONE button, you're recording. When done, push another button, and it's published. It's really that simple.
This facilitates some amazing group conversations. Because it's quick and easy to respond to people.
I've also noticed another important dynamic, after only a few days on Seesmic. You become comfortable with yourself on video quicker than you think. I recorded my first Seesmic post and re-recorded it about three times. I was concerned about the way my hair looked, the way I sounded, and the lighting. After about a day or two, you lose all care for these things. Which is awesome for communication.
I've participated in some cool conversations with people from all over the world. About mundane topics like dogs vs cats, and about the latest internet trends. I told a client yesterday that it feels like I've gone to a really awesome party, and just met some cool new friends.
One of the more entertaining Seesmic-citizens, Seth, described the environment (and social spaces like Twitter) as anarchy. In a good way. What's really cool is that everyone is immediately an equal. There are no "a-listers" like what exists in Twitter or the blogosphere. You're only as good as your last post. Traffic or friend counts really have no bearing.
I'll continue to explore and experiment, and report discoveries. But I'm convinced this will be one of the most talked about applications of 2008. And it's only January!! This is going to be a sweet year on the internet.
For now, you'll need an invite to join Seesmic. (And sadly, I don't have any.) My advice is to kiss up to your Twitter friends, and see who has one.
Labels: blogging, social media, technology, twitter, video, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 12:37 PM
1 comments
two new habits to form in 2008
Happy New Year to all of our clients, friends and BrandFlakes readers!
The new year is the perfect time to form new habits and routines. I visit a lot of clients and brands across the country, and am always surprised at how many marketing folk still aren't using RSS to read their blogs, and are still a flutter about Twitter. If you fall into this category, I'm begging you to explore. Start now, with two easy resolutions:
1. Use an RSS reader. If you don't know where to start, Google's reader is awesome and easy. You'll be up and reading in minutes. Add blogs frequently. Whenever you come across something you like. You'll be amazed at how quickly you can read a HUNDRED blogs.
2. Start a Twitter account. You don't even have to Tweet. Not at all. But follow some other people who do. You can start with the NY Times, or Techmeme. Look at other people in the industry, and who they follow. (Look me up, too!) And now, check your Twitter feed a few times a day. I guarantee you'll be more informed.
Here's to more information, more fun, and more social/marketing/branding/design goodness for 2008!!
Labels: productivity, rss, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:07 AM
4 comments
some other people's top 2007 lists
We're far too lazy to create a BrandFlakesForBreakfast top list of 2007. We're still technically, on vacation, after all.
But we have bookmarked some other people's lists, for you. We've culled through the crap, so that you don't have to. Here's a couple of worthwhile 2007 Best of/Top Ten lists for you:
Best of Zen Habits in 2007
Top NYC stories of 2007.
Top Ten innovation mistakes. This is a good one.
Best Internet Marketing Blog posts of 2007. Another really good one.
Top Albums of 2007. (I know this is a polarizing subject - so I just took the laziest approach. Cool Hunting's list was the first in my RSS. So I now declare that one the best.)
Top Ten Ways to use Twitter.
The WTF moment of 2007.
And, while I could care less about football, and didn't even enjoy the Twitters of the Patriots game, here's a Top 10 list for the Giants fans.
And last but not least, LifeHacker's list of top 2007 lists.
Happy New Year to all of the Brand Flakes readers around the globe. May your year be filled with BrandFlakes deliciousness!
Labels: holiday, newyork, productivity, social media, twitter, web2.0, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:12 AM
0 comments
everything about everything about inernet marketing
Here's a massive list of the best internet marketing blog posts. How to do almost anything on almost any social tool. Lots of great reading if you're stuck at the office this week while everyone else is on vacation. They'll come back fatter, and you'll be smarter. (Always better.)
The pic of David Hasselhoff might seem related, but this is a pic that I snapped right as he was jumping onto a social media bandwagon. So it's related, trust me.
Labels: blogging, facebook, google, hacks, self promotion, social media, twitter, web2.0, webdev, youtube
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:42 PM
0 comments
the latest in social media fashion
Can't keep up with your social media networks? Get this shirt, and show the world what networks you're a member of. Excellent holiday gift. (If it's not already outdated, because the internet gods added more social network juice to the land of socialness.)
Labels: facebook, fashion, myspace, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:47 AM
0 comments
twitter on csi!
Not sure why this is exciting in the least bit - but Twitter was incorporated into the storyline of a recent CSI episode. I'm too lazy to count, but it looks like that first post featured is longer than the 140 characters that Twitter allows. Not that I expect realism on tv. Unless it's reality tv. Or something.
Labels: technology, trends, tv, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:20 AM
1 comments
here's a great way to get started on twitter.
Check out TwitterPoster. It's a visual representation of the most followed Twitter users.
If you're just starting out, and don't know who to follow, this is a good start. But as Twitterer (tweeter?) Gruber points out, this tool has the effect of drawing additional followers to the already popular. It would be so much better to find the exact opposite.
Labels: mashup, social media, twitter, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:18 AM
1 comments
aggregation. the solution for social media overload?
Fleet Street PR has an excellent post about the growing number of social media tools, and how there's less and less time in your life to use them. The graph above shows the number of social tools being used by the author David Fleet, over time.
This is the same dilemma that I hear from all of my blogger/social media friends. We're running out of time in the day. David points to the answer to all of our problems: aggregation.
Totally agree. But we need more of it. Faster. Now. I believe Facebook will become this in the near term. But there's another problem, too:
Content overload. I can no longer read all of my RSS feeds in a single day. Too many subscriptions. My Twitter feed is growing, and many days I miss important Tweets. I can see my Facebook newsfeed going in the same direction. I've decided not to participate in the Digg social profile/tool. Something's got to give.
Aggregation will be a part of the solution, but I fear that it's going to be necessary to limit the amount of content we consume, too. I've sadly nearly eliminated books from my life. No time. Replaced by RSS and other media. Aggregation can allow us to consume more, faster - but there's still a limit to the amount of media that a human can ingest. So...until Facebook can solve this problem for us, I think it still comes down to....content is king. The best will bubble up to the top, and the rest will sink to the bottom.
Labels: facebook, rss, social media, technology, trends, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
7 comments
this is how you launch a book
Joseph Jaffe's new book Join the Conversation just hit the stores, and he's managed an amazing feat. His book hit #2 on the business book charts (just under Alan Greenspan's book), and #26 on the overall Amazon charts yesterday. How did he do it? Bum rushing the charts.
By inviting all of his friends - his blog readers, his podcast subscribers, his Twitter followers, his Facebook friends and other social media friends....to join together on Sunday and purchase his book on Amazom.com.
And they did. And his book cruised up the charts. No doubt getting noticed by plenty of people who are not a part of his social network. Hooray for Joseph, and the success of his new book - and hooray for social media - in yet another great example of how small audiences networking together can create something huge. Congrats Joseph!
Labels: blogging, facebook, marketing, self promotion, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:31 AM
0 comments
future of media consumption, summarized in one quote.
Beautiful quote from Robert Scoble, via Twitter:
"Wow, over past three days I've read more than 10,500 items among 900 feeds. Whew!
I don't skim. I "imprint" on each item. If it makes an impression due to a variety of things that I look for, then I read. Then I share. "
Exactly.
Labels: social media, technology, trends, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:17 AM
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MySpace-ification of twitter: fictional characters tweet like real people
As I was browsing folks to follow on Twitter last night, I came upon a feed for Chuck Bartowski, the eponymous, fictional title character of NBC's new comedy, Chuck (FD: My agency, CJP does work with NBCU, but that doesn't mean I have to like Chuck). After saying a silent prayer Twitter wouldn't become the next marketing haven for FFFs (Fake Fictional "Friends") a la MySpace, I conceded in this specific case, I would allow it.
On the show, the character of Chuck is a tech geek who, if he were a real person, would likely be Twittering away like the rest of us. I was disappointed, however to see "Chuck's" Tweets ended the day the show premiered on NBC. This would have been a great social marketing tool for Chuck and NBC if they'd committed to keeping the Twitter feed updated; probably would have drawn in more viewers over time, which for NBC is crucial at the moment.
Labels: social media, television, tv, twitter
posted by Wilson Cleveland @ 3:27 PM
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what local news can learn from david armano
This weekend, creative supermind David Armano was out riding his motorbike, and witnessed a train accident - and a heroic couple of teens that saved a woman's life. Being the super Twitter dude that David is, he Twittered the events.
Everytime I turn on the local news (or go to my local paper online), I'm disgusted at the lack of interesting or worthwhile content. And local news seems to struggle with viewership, struggle with subscriptions, and doesn't understand what to do about this internets thing. Or how to compete with the national media online, who have already embraced it.
What if every journalist could Twitter? Watching David's Twitter unfold over the weekend, you could feel the rush of adrenaline that he must have felt. Imagine having that kind of coverage throughout your community? Unique, engaging, and something you can't get anywhere else. Newspapers and local TV news crews are setup to make this a reality. Why not now?