11.13.08
Social Media. You have probably read about it, but what is it really? Wikipedia's definition is the best I have seen: Social media is really just a set of online tools that help people share and discuss information. Social media is really starting to move from something college kids do to the business world. I personally believe it is going to completely transform almost every aspect of business in the near future as people start to use these tools to interact more online. The tools available today include blogs, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Flickr and many more. The blogs discussed here will help you make sense of this whole new world.
Web Ink Now (http://www.webinknow.com/)
If you are not sure where to start learning about social media, David Meerman Scott's blog, Web Ink Now, is the blog for you. He keeps things simple and doesn't assume his reader is already a technology expert. Meerman Scott is an author, consultant, and speaker focusing on what he calls "online thought leadership." Basically he believes that the best way to connect with customers and prospects today is online and by becoming a "thought leader." (I translate that to mean respected authority.) To do this, you use strategies such as blogs, press releases and social media. He discusses some of the social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter in the business context of marketing and branding, and always explaining what he means when he gets technical. This is not a blog focused purely on social media, which helps the beginner put social media in a business context.
The Micro Persuasion blog, authored by Steve Rubel, is one of the most respected blogs on the topic of social media. Rubel is a seasoned professional a director at Edelman Digital, part of Edelman, the world's largest independent PR firm. Micro Persuasion is not a corporate blog, it is Rubel's personal blog that actually pre-dates his time at Edelman. He likes to discuss the very latest tools and how he is using them to become more productive. This blog is not for the social media novice, but if you want to learn how to use social media as a tool to become more efficient and communicate in a more productive way, then this blog is for you.
You could say Chris Brogan is one of the founding fathers of social media; he has been talking and writing about this topic for 10 years now. His blog is also very well respected and it is one of the most established blogs on the internet he actually started blogging in 1998 before they were even called blogs. Brogan advises businesses and individuals on how to use social media and social networks to build relationships and deliver value. In social media circles, Brogan's blog is a "must read" and he is a prolific blogger, writing seven days a week. I find his blog to be an interesting blend of the personal and the technological he really gets the "social" in social media.
Social Media Explorer (http://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/)
Social Media Explorer is the personal blog of Jason Falls, director of social media at Doe-Anderson, a brand building agency in Louisville, KY, USA. What I like about this blog is that it focuses on practical advice and how to make an investment in social media pay. Recently Jason has written about several small businesses and how they are using social media to drive business. He describes in detail the tools these companies are using such as YouTube videos, e-newsletters, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr and press releases. This site is not really for someone new to social media, but once you understand the basics, you will find practical advice here on how to make it work for your business.
The Harte of Marketing (http://www.theharteofmarketing.com/)
Beth Harte is a relative newcomer to the blogosphere, having started her blog in June. But she has quickly become popular with her insight, passion and her direct writing style. Harte has her feet planted in both business and academia; she is a marketing consultant and an adjunct professor in marketing and PR. What I like about her blog is that she gets to the meat of the topic and reveals what is important. She has the ability to appeal to the complete social media novice as well as the experts. A recent post, which should be essential reading for everyone starting out, dealt with social media etiquette and how to get started on the right foot when joining one of these social networks.
If you are not sure where to start learning about social media, David Meerman Scott's blog, Web Ink Now, is the blog for you. He keeps things simple and doesn't assume his reader is already a technology expert. Meerman Scott is an author, consultant, and speaker focusing on what he calls "online thought leadership." Basically he believes that the best way to connect with customers and prospects today is online and by becoming a "thought leader." (I translate that to mean respected authority.) To do this, you use strategies such as blogs, press releases and social media. He discusses some of the social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter in the business context of marketing and branding, and always explaining what he means when he gets technical. This is not a blog focused purely on social media, which helps the beginner put social media in a business context.
Micro Persuasion (http://www.micropersuasion.com/)
The Micro Persuasion blog, authored by Steve Rubel, is one of the most respected blogs on the topic of social media. Rubel is a seasoned professional a director at Edelman Digital, part of Edelman, the world's largest independent PR firm. Micro Persuasion is not a corporate blog, it is Rubel's personal blog that actually pre-dates his time at Edelman. He likes to discuss the very latest tools and how he is using them to become more productive. This blog is not for the social media novice, but if you want to learn how to use social media as a tool to become more efficient and communicate in a more productive way, then this blog is for you.
Chris Brogan (http://www.chrisbrogan.com/)
You could say Chris Brogan is one of the founding fathers of social media; he has been talking and writing about this topic for 10 years now. His blog is also very well respected and it is one of the most established blogs on the internet he actually started blogging in 1998 before they were even called blogs. Brogan advises businesses and individuals on how to use social media and social networks to build relationships and deliver value. In social media circles, Brogan's blog is a "must read" and he is a prolific blogger, writing seven days a week. I find his blog to be an interesting blend of the personal and the technological he really gets the "social" in social media.
Social Media Explorer is the personal blog of Jason Falls, director of social media at Doe-Anderson, a brand building agency in Louisville, KY, USA. What I like about this blog is that it focuses on practical advice and how to make an investment in social media pay. Recently Jason has written about several small businesses and how they are using social media to drive business. He describes in detail the tools these companies are using such as YouTube videos, e-newsletters, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr and press releases. This site is not really for someone new to social media, but once you understand the basics, you will find practical advice here on how to make it work for your business.
Beth Harte is a relative newcomer to the blogosphere, having started her blog in June. But she has quickly become popular with her insight, passion and her direct writing style. Harte has her feet planted in both business and academia; she is a marketing consultant and an adjunct professor in marketing and PR. What I like about her blog is that she gets to the meat of the topic and reveals what is important. She has the ability to appeal to the complete social media novice as well as the experts. A recent post, which should be essential reading for everyone starting out, dealt with social media etiquette and how to get started on the right foot when joining one of these social networks.