This week Skype released their new beta version and we were excited to try it out as instead of having to run a separate Ustream video feed for each of us on the show which gets all out of sync, we all (mostly) got to be on via Skype as they now allow 5 people to be in a video call at once! While Skype’s implementation isn’t perfect we think this may be our best looking show ever as you can actually see all of us talk 
Let us know what you think!
As for topics covered and guests, we were honored by another appearance from Reg Saddler aka Zaibatsu who had a lot to talk about on pretty much every topic giving his own insight since he’s a social media professional and helps businesses daily. We also talked about how Twitter is fighting back against the army of Justin Bieber fans who try daily to keep their idol in the trending topics list as well as how Clark Harris has taken a verbal vow of silence for a month and will only communicate via social media to raise money for charity.
Full Show:
The Triple Threat: Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube – A business’s key to online success
Businesses today that are having Generation Y becoming employees within the Market need to stay on board with what is a necessity for its online presence. The younger the employee the more fluent they will be in using social media.
[via freep]
@SilentClark shuts up and only talks via Social Media for a month for charity
@SilentClark aka Clark Harris has stopped communicating verbally and is only communicating through social media channels during the month of May to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Harris started the experiment as a tribute to his mother, Ruth Harris, whose 10-year battle with cancer ended last February. Thinking back to a more traditional fund raising campaign he participated in in 2006, Team in Training Century Ride, Harris began “looking for a bigger challenge to accomplish in her memory.” How could a cause campaign in today’s social media-enabled world compare to a primarily direct mail campaign from only a few years ago?
[via mashable & socialmediaexperiment]
Fans of teen singers outwit Twitter developers
Two nagging questions have been answered for me in a single news story this morning: Who is this Justin Bieber fellow I keep hearing about and why is his name always on Twitter’s much maligned “trending topics” list? Bieber’s name has long appeared – every day, or so it seems — on Twitter’s “trending topics” list because, well, because his youthful fans made sure of it by tweeting about him incessantly.
[via networkworld]
How the U.S. Engages the World with Social Media
People and businesses have been utilizing social media for quite a some time; As of late the US State Department was turned onto this not-so-recent trend. Bill Mays (not to be confused with beloved pitchman Billy Mays, RIP), is spearheading the State Department’s fledgling public relations effort. Mashable blogger Greg Ferenstein explained how this effort is the start of a new era of US public relations as it relates to diplomacy; he believes the culmination of the US State Department’s effort is the modern way by which the US can bridge “the last three” feet between them and citizens and officials in other countries. “The last three feet” is final gap which occurs during international exchange which can only be bridged by personal connection; social media is helping the US State Department bridge that gap. But, just because they’ve reached this point in the development of their political and diplomatic culture doesn’t mean everything is perfect. The US State Department may have a finely built Drupal blog and Twitter account, but it has yet to be seen how engaged they can really be in the 2-way conversation that these social media platforms provide. It’s no doubt encouraging that the US government is starting to integrate these powerful mediums into their policies, but only time will tell how effective the US State Department’s efforts will be in the scheme of global relations and diplomacy.
[via mashable & twitter]
HOW TO: Market Your Small Business With No Budget
Become an Expert.
1. Keeping up to date on what’s happening in your industry, by becoming a student of your trade you’ll be able to
2. Share your knowledge with others in your industry. Blog, tweet, share, and update about things relevant to your industry, this way you can build credibility in your field.
3. Remember every piece of content you post online – has the potential to boost your brand and drive search results and traffic at very little or no cost.
2.
Cultivate Super Users
1.Research to locate where your customer are spending their time.
2.The key is to target and cultivate super users or brand advocates — customers who are already fans of your brand, and share their positivity about it on the web.
3.Also seek out the movers and shakers within your Industry. When an endorsement comes from someone outside of your company, like a trusted blogger or social sharer, it has greater value and reach than anything you could send through official channels.
Ensure People Can Find You on the Web
1.Make sure when people are looking for you online. The information they find is accurate. (Phone #, address, etc.)
2.Also make sure to list yourself on the various online directories such as: yelp, angies list. If the site already lists your business, you should ‘claim’ it by adding more details to the listing, such as your company website URL, a map, phone numbers, or business hours.
3.Because a lot of those sites allow comments and feedback. It’s important to encourage your customers to go online and write
My Points
1) Though it is cost-effective, it can be very time intensive.
2) Toughest challenge but most important is developing a sound long-term strategy that is sustainable
3) Make sure you are managing your online reputation.
[via mashable]
Guest: Reg Saddler / zaibatsu
