Keeping Up With The Buzz

There is good news out there for businesses (here) who are thinking about using social media to reach the Baby Boomer demographic. Folks between the ages of 43-63 may not be plainly visible on social networking sites in droves but the good news is that they are lurking. Yes, that's right, Baby Boomers like to read blogs to inform themselves on topics that are of interest to them. And they use Google Blog search to find them (here).

The blog-o-phere was all a buzz this past week with the news (here) and (here) that Face Book would be changing their user agreement to reflect some alarming details. They originally stated that they would retain ownership now, here and forever of their users content of any kind. Since then, due to public outcry, that change has been revoked and we can all rest easy. Thank you Face Book! You were looking scary there for minute...

Twitter has been gaining ranks in Web 2.0 at a record pace this past year. This trend will likely increase with the addition of the "Twitter Search" (here) where one can scan tweets for content to liking. Obviously, a very useful tool. The infectiousness of Twitter is gaining momentum with every tweet and retweet across the service.

And lastly, You Tube added a new application called "annotations" (here) which allow views to comment not only on the page below the video but actually on the video as it plays - to the side. The word on the street is that the application is "interesting" but likely will be more "useful" as time wears on and folks come up with creative ideas to make it work for them. By the way, if you think it is distracting you can just turn it off in the account settings. *Poof* no more.

LinkedIn is the new resume. Don't get side tracked. You can't exist effectively in social networking without it. It is your credibility statement (here). Read just how to leverage Facebook and LinkedIn together (here).

The Truth About Trendy In Social Networking

Lastest news is that Facebook has now outpaced Blogger as being the most highly used social networking tool (here). Even though Twitter is running at considerably lower numbers as a beginner, the general consensus is that it will soon dominate all forms of networking for business. Conversely, Facebook will remain the choice of many for networking among friends and family. But don't forget about Blogger. It will still remain strong in the general niche category, appealing to the broad public as a news source.

The truth of the matter is that folks will use social media as a combination (here) in different ways to create different social effects. The beauty of it is that you can become heard over night and in some respects virtually famous instantaneously (here). Or, just talk to yourself.

There is certainly a youthful demographic age bracket that uses social networking (here) but that is ever widening and in time will not be an issue at all. Let's face it, not everyone is completely sure how to use it (here) but the most important thing is that we are ALL learning, rapidly, and making it out own.

Digital social networking is not going anywhere.

Bold Social Networking Trends for 2009

USA Today writes about the trending nature in social networking (here) towards "being viral". It appears that similar to viral e-mails and viral videos there are aspects of social networking that have an even greater ability to be so, specifically Facebook and Twitter.

Often times you will hear people comment on social media as a place where no money can be made. This may have been true in the beginning at inception but as it stands now there are plenty of folk using the viral nature of social networking sights to promote their businesses and create sales leads. Even Facebook themselves have found a way (here) to gain a profit through interactive ad placement.

Read Write Web touches on these very issues (here) while citing the top 10 trends for social networking in 2009. They go on to mention the above, making money from it, and also finding more distinct demographic niches with which to target that make complete useful sense to the consumer.

Government trends in this new administration are leaning towards social networking (here) as a method to remain transparent.

The point is that there are trends out there towards integrating the social networking world with our need to stay afloat in our own commerical lives. I think the difference this time is that the business networking is going to make sense and be purposeful, not intrusive and more open.

We are going to be able to bring this around full circle and make it work for us meaningfully.

The Voice of the Blog

The arts blog Lies Like Truth references the "pitfalls of institutional blogging" (here) which I think is relevant to the conversation of blogging for promotional purposes.

The point they are trying to make and that I agree with is that it is important to be positive, educational and productive when posting. It's the best and really the only way. Otherwise, you are wasting your own time and the time of your client.

Thou Shall Blog takes that a step further (here) by stating that you only have about ten seconds to interest your reader. So make it succinct and worth reading.

Truth in Blogging

Check out this brief video clip.

How did that make you feel? Do you believe him? Do you think he is STILL trying to sell you a bill of goods.

If you are anything like me, you are feeling just a little bit "icky".

When I represent a business or an entity on the front lines or behind the scenes I want to make sure that I am as genuine and real as possible because I think truth sells.

And I know for my own integrity I need to represent what is the clearest version of the truth I can possibly come up with. And it has to come from a place that I personally believe in. Otherwise, it's just not going to work.

Check out this one as a comparison:



Blogging has a great deal in common with video advertising. When representing yourself or a client it is essential to be to the point, upfront and transparent.

Otherwise, you can pretty much just hand over your integrity, because you've just lost it.