Twitter just rolled out its redesigned front page for those visitors new to Twitter.com. If you’re already a registered user, you won’t notice the new look unless you sign out and refresh the home page. The new homepage helps provide a frame of reference, expectation setting, and also offers a lens into the conversations populating the popular microcommunity that connects people through 140 character strings. Twitter now places an emphasis on search, the very functionality that helped Twitter earn prominence…
Full Disclosure: Sponsored Conversations on Twitter Raise Concerns, Prompt Standards
This is the unabridged version of my latest post on TechCrunch. This version dives much deeper into the challenges, pitfalls, psychology, and associated opportunities to more effectively navigate this complicated, but imminent issue. Source In light of the FTC’s recent scrutiny of Social Media practices and the activity that connects brands to influencers and ultimately consumers, we will soon see guidelines and corresponding penalties to serve as governance for future engagement. My views and opinions of how the FTC is…
New Media University: Twitter 101 for Business
Over the years, I’ve actively called for Twitter to contribute to its own culture and direction by leading instead of following. It would effectively serve as a source of inspiration and orientation for consumers and the businesses hoping to connect with them, which would ultimately increase the alarming 40-percent user retention pattern. I suggested that the company actively define user scenarios and offer a quick-start guide for the unique groups of users seeking guidance in order to not only increase…
TwitCam Lets You Host Live Video Chats in Twitter
Video on Twitter has offered a way for brands and spokespersons to visually share a more human side of the company with friends and followers. Up until now, 12seconds, Seesmic Video, TwitVid, Twiddeo, Twitc, TwitLens, and Tweetube, offered the most common and seamless bridges for connecting short (episodic) videos directly to the Twitter stream. In the last two weeks, we’ve been introduced to two new solutions video solutions for Twitter, that combine live video, Twitter streams and community interaction in…
Identifying and Connecting with Influencers
Source: Shutterstock I recently was invited to keynote the Ragan New PR and Social Media conference in Chicago where I met some truly amazing people doing some truly incredible things in the world of enriched communications. Following my presentation, I was asked to share my thoughts for identifying influencers and also the associated methodologies and strategies that serve as the governance for meaningful communications also known as the rules of engagement. Also, I should point out that my use of…
Facebook Slowly Taking Over the World, Now at 250 Million Users
Mark Zuckerberg proudly announced on the Facebook blog this week that the popular social network continues its global dominance jumping from 200 million to 250 million users. To commemorate the milestone, Facebook created a map that visualizes connections and adoption worldwide. Zuckerberg credited you and me and the social graphs we weave with its phenomenal growth, “Each person who joins makes Facebook better by adding a presence to the site that friends and family can connect with and feel closer…
Channeling Our Inner Celebrity Through Twitter and Social Media
After I finish the new (unannounced) book that I’m feverishly writing, I plan to finally pursue “Internet Famous – The rise of micro celebrity and the end of privacy.” Alexia Tsotsis (disclosure, she’s a dear friend) recently wrote an intriguing article at the LA Weekly entitled, “Is All of Hollywood the Bitch in Twitter’s Sex Tape or Just P. Diddy?” She links to a recent article written by A.J. Keen, author of the controversial book, Cult of the Amateur, in…
Casting a Digital Shadow; Your Reputation Precedes You
Credit: Geekadam While speaking at the intimate and immensely valuable Zappos Insights event (Zappos Live), I shared thoughts of how the culture of any company or brand is as strong as the individual personification of it. Everything starts and fortifies with you. Your actions and words online are indeed extensions to how people interpret, perceive, and react to the brand your represent. Concurrently, you also represent your personal brand – the digital identity that’s established through the collection of digital…
Zappos is Powered by The Empowerment of Employees
Yesterday I spoke at Zappos Insights Live, an inaugural conference that offered a unique opportunity to learn about the spirit and culture of Zappos through a two-day immersion program. To say it was brilliant would be an understatement. And, I believe this is just the beginning. It’s incredibly clear that Tony Hsieh doesn’t just profess his belief in happiness and service; his entire organization lives and breathes it in everything they do. While Zappos the company is indeed “powered by…
Real-Time Conversations Gain in Influence, Hasten Social CRM
This is the unabridged version of my latest post on TechCrunch, “Real-Time Conversations Hasten Social CRM“ At the Real-Time Stream Crunchup on Friday in Redwood City, TechCrunch Editor-in-Chief Erick Schonfeld hosted a panel of industry heavyweights who are either building solutions or defining how they’re used in the world of business communications and customer service. The panel included: – Porter Gale, Virgin America – John Ham, Ustream – Eric Marcoullier, Gnip – Ross Mayfield, SocialText – David Sacks, Yammer –…
