Robert Stinnett

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Posts Tagged social networking

Instant Messaging is so 2000 and Late

May 7

Posted by Robert Stinnett in Tech Stuff | View Comments

While doing some work here at home tonight I realized something – for corporate communications in our workplace, I love instant messaging.  It helps us keep connected even though we have offices and employees scattered across the US.  With just a quick “ping” I can engage in a conversation with one of my colleagues in Virginia, or with a click of the mouse I can share my desktop and hold a virtual conference with folks working in the field, at home, wherever!

I then realized that as much as I love IM in the workplace, here at home I haven’t used IM actively in probably three or four years now.  For social connections its a “dead” technology to me.  Who wants to have to run a myriad of instant messenger clients because friends are scattered across different IM networks – that is, if they even have an IM account to begin with.  Not to mention it seems like its no longer real-time communications.  If I wanted to IM someone socially I’d have to catch them when they were logged in, and then hope we had the same version of the software running so we could share a file or send a picture.  What a hassle.

Besides, who needs IM at home when you have things like Twitter or Facebook?  I don’t have to worry about what “version” of Facebook you are using, or if you are logged into Twitter.  It’s an always-on, connect any way you like, wherever you like technology.  You aren’t there?  Fine – you’ll get my message later.  It’s a pull technology as well – Twitter, for example, let’s you follow me but you don’t have to get an annoying pop-up every time I send out a message.  IM on the other had was a push technology.  If I wanted to talk with you I had to push a message to you (and only you).  Talk about social isolation – one to one conversations that were intrusive and hard to manage on the go.

Perhaps I’m getting “old”.  I remember when instant messaging was the revolutionary app. Logging into AOL to “chat” with my friends or downloading the latest beta build of ICQ to keep in touch with other Internet nerds like me.  Then again, maybe I’m not getting old and it’s the technology that is changing.  For every need there is a technological solution it seems, and for keeping up with friends nowadays IM isn’t it.  For keeping up with co-workers IM fits the bill just fine.

That is, until the next technological revolution begins…

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Forget Research Polls, We Have Twitter

Feb 25

Posted by Robert Stinnett in Marketing, Social Media | View Comments

Last night I was busy watching, along with millions of other people from around the world, President Obama’s State of the Union address.  Not only was his presentation inspiring and a call to action for every American, it was also the most heavily Twittered State of the Union ever.  At one point, by my count, over 700+ tweets were rolling in every second about the speech.  Even members of Congress were in on the act.

Regardless of what you think of Obama (and for the record, I’m a big O-man fan), what took place last night – and all throughout the 2008 election – is a sign of how the social landscape has changed.  In years past it would take hours, sometimes days, for researchers and survey firms to tabulate how people felt about an event such as this.  Even then, they were highly limited in what they could measure.  It was impossible to measure second-by-second response, and you only got a few people which (you hoped) represented the masses.  It was time consuming, inaccurate and limited.

Fast forward to 2009 and the social networks have transformed how we view any event, political or not.  Almost instantaneous reaction to the different parts of Obama’s speech flew through the Twittersphere.  Facebook and CNN provided a direct link so you could not only watch online, but also provide real-time feedback of what you thought.  Responses and reactions by the masses were available within seconds, not days.  The Whitehouse blog (let’s not forget this is the first Administration with a blog!) was updated with video and transcripts of the speech within minutes of it ending.  You just know that Obama’s administration was keeping tabs on what worked – and what didn’t.

We now live in a digitally connected world in which our social networks are a part of us just as much as the networks we form with our family, co-workers and “offline” friends.  No longer is it acceptable to “wait for the data” or to claim that you aren’t sure of how something played out in the marketplace.  We no longer need the polltakers or the research firms to tell us how the world reacted – we know how they reacted, and we are a part of that reaction.

The transformation to social media is still in the early stages, but nobody can deny it has already crossed the point of no return – and let’s be honest, who would want to return to the old way?  We know the value of being active in the social media; and we know what happens if we aren’t.    This is the golden era for the 3rd generation of marketing – and it’s exciting to watch it all unfold.

Think I’m off base or right on the money?  You could leave a comment, but how about dropping me a tweet instead?

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Secure Your Place in the Social Networking Line

Feb 24

Posted by Robert Stinnett in Marketing, Social Media | View Comments

On occasion I’ll be talking with a friend or co-worker and the conversation will wander to talking about the various social networking sites (Facebook, Bebo, Twitter, etc.) and online presence in general.  On occasion they will even ask me what’s the best way to get their name “out there”.  To which I reply that it is vitally important that you get your place in the social networking line as soon as possible.  Wait too late and you have lost a golden opportunity to market yourself.

So what do I mean by this?  Start by looking at the URL for my blog.  You’ll notice it isn’t being hosted at some 3rd party blog service, or being run off a commercial site.  Instead my blog is being powered by my own domain – robertstinnett.com.  I’ve also setup my email and Messenger programs to all tie back through this domain.  It is important that you register your name as a domain as soon as possible before someone else gets it and does “who knows what” with it.  Even if you have no skills whatsoever in domain management take 5 minutes to go to Godaddy.com and search for and register your name as a domain.  You want to make sure that you retain the power of your name and securing your domain is an important first step – if you are not already too late.

Robert Stinnett's Facebook profile

Next, let’s hit the social networking sites.  Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Bebo, etc.  Here you want to practice the same thing as above, except you want to try and secure as your username your real name.  On almost every social networking site I belong to my username is my real name.  Again, the philosophy here is you want to make sure you control it before someone else does.  Plus, by by securing your name you are forming a 1:1 relationship between searches for you and results pertaining to you.  You are, in essence, helping to build your own rank.  Call it SEO for peeps like me!

Next, integrate!  By this I mean that don’t make each social networking site an isolated island in the middle of nowhere.  Use the tools provided to integrate and share between the sites.  This is an excellent way to make sure that all your social sites stay up to date and it also helps make your personal brand stronger in search!  See the pattern here?  It’s the same techniques we’d use for commercial clients, just applied to you!

Finally, be yourself – but remember on the Internet it lasts forever.  You don’t have to be afraid of posting.  Living your life in a vacuum is going to hurt your personal brand.  You may be the world’s greatest auto mechanic, but if I can’t find you in Google then you don’t exist.  Participate in forums, be active in the social networking communities and know when to eat a piece of humble pie.  Before you know it, your personal brand will sing your praises for you – all thanks to the 3rd generation of marketing and social networking.

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Ford Understands Social Media

Feb 23

Posted by Robert Stinnett in Marketing | View Comments

I’ve been reading a lot of good things about Ford lately, and I’m not talking just about the fact they didn’t have their hand out for a bailout.  In fact, I’m beginning to think one of the reasons they aren’t asking for a bailout is because “they get it”.  What’s “it”?  Connecting with their customers in today’s society, aka Social Media.

I started hearing more good things about Ford, and checking them out, after I read about their upcoming presentation at Web Expo 2.0 on how they set their content free and connected with their employees, customers and suppliers.  Just reading this presentation outline makes you want to sit back and go “ooh” and “aaahh”.  A company the size of Ford making the leap to social media is just amazing – but shows that Ford does indeed “get it”.

It wasn’t long after I read that article that I stumbled upon Scott Monty’s twitter page.  Scott is the head of social media for Ford.  Now there is a job title I’d love to get!  Twitter is quickly becoming one of the more popular way for our mobile society to interact with each other.  The fact that he’s using it not only to interact with Ford customers, but also to present a face of Ford, is what makes it such a worthwhile venture in my opinion.  I feel that by being able to “tweet” him a message that I’m actually interacting with Ford on some level.

Ford doesn’t stop at Twitter, though.  Facebook, Myspace, Second Life.  These are all Ford media outlets.  I feel I can get more information about Ford products through these outlets than I could ever get before.  The beauty of it is that I’m getting information from all sides, and not just what traditionally would have been pushed to me by Ford.  The information is when I want it, where I want it and how I want it.  I’m in control of the content delivery!

I have to think to myself is it no wonder why Ford is weathering this economic storm much better than Chrysler and GM when they have forward-thinking leaders who see the value of social media.  They understand the value in connecting with their customers and hearing the good, the bad and the ugly.  They aren’t trying to make us buy a Ford or tell us how great they are – through their efforts they instead create evangelists, fans and enthusiasts who buy a Ford because they feel connected to the brand.  They feel they know more about Ford and its cars through the community and not just one-sided conversation.

Folks, you can’t buy better marketing then this.  When will other companies get it?

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Social Networking Gone Wrong…

Feb 21

Posted by Robert Stinnett in Social Media | View Comments

I’m a big advocate for social networking between customers and businesses.  However, I think this used car dealer might want to try a bit more tactful approach!  At least he does present some very good facts about how he runs his business, and is engaging with the customer.  Perhaps CARFAX needs to offer a “Used Car Negotiator” along the lines of Priceline’s Negotiator!

 

Taken from Craigslist (click on the image to zoom in):

 

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