Monthly Archives: December 2008
10 Popular Social Media Tools & Trends of 2008
You knew it was coming.
As we move swiftly toward 2009, it’s the perfect time to reflect on a flourishing year and touch on different social media tools and trends that have helped us all navigate and explore new elements of the rapidly changing Social Web.
Though this list could obviously go on for pages, below are my Top 10 Tools and Trends of 2008.
10. YouTube Insight
In March, YouTube unveiled YouTube Insight, a free analytics tool to help users follow trends around their video posts as well as explore viewer demographic info, keyword search referrals and other data (the Hot Spots feature even lets you track viewer engagement compared to videos of similar length…very cool info). Any regular reader here will know I’m a HUGE fan of this tool. Kudos YouTube.
9. The Mom Demographic
From Mommy bloggers and beyond, no one learned more about the influence and importance of listening to this crucial demographic (any any demographic for that matter) than McNeil Consumer Health Care after their Motrin Moms Ad backlash. In addition to Mom blogger networks, Moms (along with Baby Boomers at large) are taking to Facebook and other social networks to stay connected.
8. The Power and Ease of Video
No other format can help convey your message in such a clear, creative, concise and interactive format. Stop writing 15k checks to production companies to produce 2-3 min. spots. Flip cameras now provide HD quality video in an all-in-one tool that fits in the palm of your hand. No more excuses for assuming you can’t afford to create video to tell your story.
7. Customer Feedback Redefined
From @comcastcares and Pepsi Cooler to Dell’s Ideastorm, and Starbuck’s My Starbucks Idea, collaboration and real-time feedback has completely changed how companies interact and engage their customer base. Stop the “push” and start the “pull.”
6. Brandjacking
It ran a bit rampant at the beginning of the year, but word has gotten out about the importance of protecting your brand online. Take the right steps to make sure your brand is secure for the Social Web. U-R-L.
5. Social Media Literature
Sure, people have predicted and written about digital trends for some time, but in my opinion, no one has put together a more comprehensive book about social media and online trends to date than Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff, co-authors of Groundswell. Here’s my review, part 1 and part 2.
4. Hello Facebook, Step Aside MySpace
Sorry MySpace, but Facebook does it way better. Unless you’re a band that I’m checking out via a link from Pitchfork, my engagement with MySpace has dropped significantly. Spam, excessive ads, clunky interface and poor customer service equals BLAH. That being said, don’t completely blow off MySpace. Recent November stats from Matt Dickman over at Technoblogger show that the platfom is still quite popular across all age ranges (though its hard to tell how many of those profiles are inactive from a user standpoint). On the other hand, Facebook continues to develop as the “go to” all ages networking platform. My one request to Facebook – please start providing a video analytics tool (outside of what can used via the YouTube box app on pages).
3. Viral Secret Unveiled
The secret is there is no secret. 2008 may have been the first year PR and marketing folks realized this fact. Sure, there are key ingredients behind viral videos, but “viral” is never the result of a forced or contrived effort. Viral is the result of human reaction to connecting with funny, emotional or emphatic content (ex: Randy Pausch, Matt Harding).
2. Social Media and Politics
Obama opened the world’s eyes to an entirely new way of effectively using the Web to fundraise and build online communities. Results? Hello, White House. Let’s hope that degree of open dialogue and feedback continues. Things look promising with www.change.gov.
1. Twitter
Ever heard of it? Fastest growing social network in the U.S. Quick, simple, fluent and brilliant. Ramp up the categorization aspect of it all (outside of hashtags) and I think mass appeal will soon become apparent.
Here’s to an eventful 2009. It will be interesting to come back on this in a year and see where we’re at.
Cheers,
Scott
7 Secrets Revealed
Social Media Snippets is all about focusing on the changing world of the Social Web and its impact upon PR and marketing. That being said, following a tag in this post from fellow blogger David Mullen, I realized that I have revealed very little personal info about myself outside of my About page.
This little “Reveal 7 Secrets About Yourself” meme has been floating around the Web quite a bit so I thought I’d chime in as well. Here we go:
1) My settlement pattern has come full circle. I was born in Maine, then lived in Michigan and a northern suburb of Chicago before spending 14 years growing up in Oak Harbor, WA on Whidbey Island. I went to college at Vanderbilt in Nashville and lived in Newport, RI after that. I now live in Chicago. See? Full circle.
2) I will endlessly argue that the best scenic drive in this country is the Cascade Loop. On that same note, Arrowleaf Bistro is one of my favorite restaurants in WA and anytime I visit the homeland, I do everything possible to visit Rainy Pass in the North Cascades so that I can sit in peace while looking out at this view. Remember, these are secrets, let’s keep ‘em that way.
3) I have never had cable. There, I said it. And no, apartment guests are not flattered by this fact but rather annoyed that it takes me a good 5 minutes to tweak rabbit ears for semi-decent reception for what is usually a very poor weekday sitcom.
4) I’m obsessed…no, really obsessed with music. I worked at a small indie label near Newport, RI for awhile after being a Public Affairs Officer in the Navy (yup, quite a swap) but seemingly got out of the music biz at just the right time before the rise of all this digital stuff.
5) I have a horrible tendency to read multiple books at once. I’ve currently got my hands on James Frey’s Bright Shiny Morning, David Sedaris’ Naked and Dave Evans’ Social Media Marketing. On top of that, I read Time, Newsweek and about five different music mags at any given time. I need to change that, but I won’t.
6) I should probably be a spokesperson for Saucony. I currently own four pairs of Saucony shoes and would probably buy four more in a heartbeat. On that same note, I own 10 gray t-shirts that are all the same. Saucony shoes and gray t-shirts, guess that’s my game.
7) There are two people I am frequently told I look like. Hamilton Leithauser (lead singer from the Walkmen) and good ole John Krasinski (AKA – Jim Halpert from the Office). If only I was a sliver as rock n’ roll or half as witty.
Cheers,
Scott
Now, in accordance with the meme, I’m supposed to tag 7 more people to participate in the next round. Instead, I’ll be a rebel and break the rules by leaving it open to any readers to participate as they desire.
Here are the “rules” for my fellow bloggers:
- Link your original tagger(s), and list these rules on your blog.
- Share seven facts about yourself in the post – some random, some weird.
- Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.
- Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs and/or Twitter.
Are You Managing Your Digital Signature?
Last week, Tamar Weinberg at Techipedia did an incredible post on the Ultimate Social Media Etiquette Handbook. Throughout her post, Tamar identifies key “rules of engagment” and tips for anyone currently using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, social bookmarking sites (digg, delicious, etc.), FriendFeed, YouTube, StumbleUpon and blogs.
The comprehensive post, concludes with this key statement that drives it all home:
“You’re leaving your digital signature on the Internet right now. Think about the consequences of your engagement on any social site.”
Whether it’s a blog comment, wall post on Facebook or reaction to a YouTube video, think before you type. Google can be your best friend or your worst enemy and it’s up to you to brand yourself and develop a reputation for being a thoughtful, considerate individual who understands the existing nuances and repercussions that can result from not being smart about your Social Web presence.
Aside from sheer networking and overall etiquette in using different online tools, how you engage with others online speaks volumes. In many cases, online communications can be a more honest depiction of someone’s personality due to the openness that results from perceived anonymity that might not otherwise exist with in-person interactions. On the flip side, tone is often misconstrued online and thus it is easy to have your thoughts and emotions misinterpreted, causing a false perception of one’s personality.
This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t question or challenge ideas. Healthy dialogue and conversation is one of the core benefits of social media in helping solidify community and bring together smart, thoughtful minds to make new discoveries and answer tough questions. Just be cognizant of your approach and think about how that approach will be perceived based on the tool you’re using to channel communications.
Be sure to give Tamar’s post a read and pass it around. It’s one of the best posts I’ve seen this year.
-Scott
