Tag Archive for 'Web 2.0'

A Definitive Explanation of Social Media

Published
by
Matt
on Aug 3, 2008
in Web 2.0 and social media
. Comments

If you want Wikipedia’s definition of Social Media, you can find it here.

I like the definition and I think it’s accurate, if slightly long winded. But if someone asked me what social media is, personally I’d reply with “Social Media is any new web tool or technology that connects people.”

I’ve been thinking about it a little more and essentially, all social media can be broken down into 3 simple categories.

Social Media

Socially Created Content
A lot of what comes to mind when people think “social media” is really just the Socially Created Content piece. This includes things like blogs, podcasts, Flickr or Picasa, YouTube, and Wikipedia. Essentially anything where the main focus is content creation. This is one of the fastest growing parts of social media, primarily because of the shrinking the barriers to entry. You can start a blog that showcases your vacation pics on Flickr and links to your channel on YouTube in less than half an hour. Don’t believe me? Try it.

Socially Highlighted Content
The second major part of social media is Socially Highlighted Content. SHC works because when people find something truly great out there on the internet, they think “Wow I really like this! I think everyone should check this out.” Sites like Digg, StumbleUpon, Reddit, Del.icio.us, Yahoo! Buzz, Mixx, and many others, serve as a showcase/portal for content that people believe the community will find value in. If you’re looking for the consensus best of the web, check here first.

Social Networks
Along with Socially Created Content, Social Networks are the other half of what people think of regarding social media. By now, everyone has heard of Facebook, LinkedIn, and (unfortunately) MySpace. These networks, among many others, allow you to create profiles and connect with peers, friends, coworkers, and complete strangers to form a network of “linked” individuals. Social Networks have become the Rolodex or little black book of today’s generation, and represent an unparalleled way to stay connected.

The In-Between
Obviously not everything falls neatly into those three categories, hence my beautiful illustration (watch out Armano). There’s a lot of overlap, and a lot of sites that represent the intersection of two or even all three pieces. For example, a microblogging site like Twitter sits at the intersection of Socially Created Content and Social Networking, it’s the perfect blend of both. The same goes for Squidoo for Socially Created Content and Socially Highlighted Content and Google Reader’s share function for Social Networking and Socially Highlighted content.

But that’s Just my take on it.
Think I’m wrong? Don’t like the categories or found something that doesn’t fit? Let me know. I’d love to hear your feedback on this. It just wouldn’t be social without you.

Of Bubbles and Double-Edged Swords

Published
by
Matt
on Jul 14, 2008
in New Marketing and Web 2.0
. Comments

Alan Wolk, The Big TT, is on a roll. Today he put a great post together on the “tiny bubbles” that we all seem to live in. He points out that while most of us are on the front edge when it comes to social media, new marketing, and web 2.0, the majority of internet users (and your target marketing probably falls in this range) really aren’t.

I completely agree that we need to be aware of more than just what exists in our little space, and anything less would be a disservice to our readers, peers, clients, and profession. However, for New Marketers and Web Futurists such as ourselves, our position can truly be a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, we have to know where the mass is. And that might be checking out MySpace for the first time, or even just trying to get a handle on the Amazon recommendation/review engine. There’s no room for internet snobbery (of which I’m admitted guilty of sometimes) or elitism. If part of your job is to know your market, then you have to understand their online habits, even if they’re “soooo 2005″.

But that’s only half the equation. While we have to understand where the mass is, we can’t really be there. For many of us, it’s our responsibility to know what’s coming down the pike. We need to be on the bleeding edge, and it’s up to us to figure out how (and if) these new technologies can help us grow and connect to the market we’re after.

In the end, it’s this delicate balancing act of next and now that really defines the new marketer or web pioneer. It’s easy to catch a case of Bright and Shiny Object Syndrome and always be in search of The Next Best Thing, but if you spend all your time on that, you run the risk of being completely irrelevant to just the people you’re trying to reach.

Pork and Memes

Published
by
Matt
on May 23, 2008
in Web 2.0
. Comments

You’ve probably seen this already, but just in case, here’s Weezer’s internet zeitgeist stuffed “Pork and Beans”

“If Twitter Is Down, How Can We Twitter About it?” And 15 Other New Marketing Paradoxes

Published
by
Matt
on May 21, 2008
in New Marketing and Web 2.0
. Comments

If Twitter is down, then how can we Twitter about it?

Why do early adopters tell everyone they know about the next big thing, and then complain when everyone starts using it?

Is it still a wiki if only one person edits it?

If you accept a friend request from someone you hate, does that make you friends?

We want brands to join the conversation, but do we really want to talk to all of them?

If blogging gives everyone a voice, why is it still so hard to hear anyone?

If you’re in Second Life more than half the time, is it still second?

Why is the next big thing small now?

If knowledge is so valuable, why is everyone giving it away?

If you can’t find yourself in Google, do you really matter?

Why is it that when you’re completely busy, the first thing you do is tweet about how busy you are?

If people are so lazy, why isn’t RSS more popular?

Which came first? The troll or the message board?

When did something behaving like a virus become a good thing?

If the consumer finding out is inevitable, why do companies still try and trick us?

If a blog has more comments than posts, who’s blog is it?

What did I miss? Feel free to add your own.

A Simple Answer

Published
by
Matt
on Apr 21, 2008
in New Marketing and Web 2.0
. Comments

It’s very easy to blame something on the numbers. It’s also very easy to say something isn’t worth it, and to ask questions like -

How many of my customers really blog?

How many of them listen to podcasts?

How many are into Facebook?

How many of them are on Twitter?

But in the end it’s a pretty simple answer. Enough are.

How To Explain Web 2.0 To (Just About) Anyone

Published
by
Matt
on Apr 15, 2008
in Web 2.0 and Web Sites
. Comments

Have you ever tried to explain something new or “web 2.0″ to someone only to be met with a blank stare? Yeah, me too. Well have no fear, you can put your buzzwords away. Just use this handy guide as a reference.

Also, I highly encourage you to put your revisions/additions in the comments (oh how web 2.0 of me!)

Blogs - Like online journals that put new content first.

Craigslist - Just like newspaper classifieds, but online.

del.icio.us - Let’s you attach keywords called “tags” to sites. Like putting post-its in a magazine.

Digg - Someone submits a story, and if you like it you vote for it. The stories with the most votes end up on the front page.

Facebook - It’s like an online personal directory where you can connect with people, share photos, join groups, etc.

Feedburner - Lets you manage and track your blog’s RSS feeds.

Flickr - It’s an online photo album that you can share with other people.

Friendfeed - Makes it so your friends can’t pick their nose without you knowing.

Google Docs - Lets multiple people edit a text document that’s saved online.

Last.fm - Internet radio that plays music based on your prefrences.

LinkedIn - It’s like your business Rolodex, but online.

MySpace - You know your hot friend? Well this is her fat ugly cousin.

NetVibes - Lets you pick a home page with the content you want (also see iGoogle).

RSS - It’s like an email subscription that goes to your reader instead of your email account.

Squidoo - Easily build one page on a topic.

StumbleUpon - You pick categories and it takes you to a random page. If you like it you give it a thumbs up.

Technorati - Ranks and indexes blogs based on “authority”. Shows most popular blogs.

Threadless - T-Shirt company that relies on it’s active community.

Twitter - It’s like mass text messaging but you choose whose messages you see.

Wikipedia - Just like a regular encyclopedia, but one that anyone can edit.

YouTube - A free place people can put videos online.