What is the next phase in the internet evolution? by André Klein

What many people misunderstand about the Net is its global outreach.

Increased internet usage has already led to and will continue to go into the direction of decentralization.

Chatting to friends or co-workers from your local area is just the tip of the iceberg.

Through the internet every person can connect to virtually anyone on the planet in virtually any country, culture or time-zone.

We will probably not have more government control in the future. And this is not because governments are „bad“.

Governments all over the world are highly in debt. The recession has led many people to stop looking towards the state for answers. Instead they have begun looking for answers from other people by using the net to collaborate creatively. We are venturing from an age of state-dependence into an age of civil independence. And this is just the beginning.

Many have already started blogs and websites sharing their experience of recession or unemployment in order to help others. People have begun creating online communities to support each other, share experiences and helpful tips on how to decrease costs and use the net to make a living independently of sometimes rigid local conditions. In short: People are changing their lifestyles based on the input they get online.

The global aspect of this collective sharing will not just lead to a decentralization of governmental organization but also cultural differences. Borders between people are becoming blurred. We may have a
different skin color, religion or language, but we all use Google (if it’s not censored by government). In other words: We are beginning to see the outlines of a new globalized lifestyle.

Governments world-wide have to adapt to those changes. They will have to become thinner and thinner, minimizing their costs (and thus taxes for citizens) and focusing on supporting individuals and groups directly instead of indirectly through representatives, lobbies and corporations.

If they are smart they will support people’s endeavors online and fuel the spark of individual innovation; instead of regulating it more they will make it easier for people to make breakthroughs by using the net to support themselves. This atmosphere of pro-active innovation will eventually lift both states and individuals.

If you want to find out more about this, I have written extensively about these topics in my recent book “A Mindful Guide to Online Living” and currently work as an online language teacher on learnoutlive.com.

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Is print media a dying newsform? by Steve Dubin

Change – count on it!

Just last week I was attempting to parrot my “elevator pitch” and was
interrupted.

“What do PR firms do now that on one has the time or the interest in reading
the Boston Globe?”

This is NOT the first time I’ve heard this challenge.  First, I inform my
colleague that we now call our former powerhouse newspaper the Boston Glo.
Half the circulation, all the pomposity.

Second, I explain that PR is STILL about reaching people and positioning our
clients as the “go to” source for their product or service.  It’s just that
the WHERE has changed.

Instead of starting the day with the Boston Globe and a cup of coffee, it is
fire up Boston.com, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube for starters.

Now the challenge is to be visible in ALL the places that your best prospect
might be looking.  Google, Vimeo, Craig’s List.  Feed the beast. And feed
the information beast on a regular basis – or your competition will be MORE
visible.

But how?

Content is still KING on the Internet. “How to” articles, intro videos,
milestone news releases and blogging of all of these help create a presence,
some traction, brand recognition.

The new fractionalized media landscape challenges you to be more creative,
more aggressive and more consistent.

Need help identifying opportunities? Packaging them? Getting messages to the
right audiences?  Email me, Tweet me, send a LinkedIn message.  Or go Old School and pick up
the phone.

(Steve Dubin is a the founder of the South Shore Ad Club (MA) and the
president of PR Works based in Kingston, MA. The company helps clients
maintain top of mind visibility in the traditional press and online. He can
be reached at SDubin@PRWorkZone.com, (781) 582-1061.)

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How do you get more traffic to your Twitter and Facebook pages? by Joe Bortner

Since beginning working on social media campaigns for businesses, I’ve found that there are a number of ways to grow your following on Twitter and Facebook.  Here are a few ways and tips on how to grow your social network:

1. Tweet and post during peak times: Working for the Spiffy Web Team I have found that our followers and fans are online at the same times throughout the week.  Also, find the type of people you are trying to target beforehand, to see when they are most likely using social media.  Take advantage of this opportunity by Tweeting and posting during these times to increase the chances of someone finding you and adding you as someone to follow.
2. Twitter and Facebook Tools: There are a number of ways to relate your posts to other existing networks.
   1. Twitter

i.      Hash Tags: By using hash tags (#) in your posts you will show up to users who search the term or keyword it is that you have hash tagged.  This is a great way to use keywords in your post and be found by users who don’t follow you.  For example, if I post about what happened this past week in the NFL, I will hash tag it #NFL so that anyone who is searching the NFL can find my post.

ii.      Retweeting and mentioning: This is a great way to be conversational on Twitter.  This will get you recognized by people you’re currently following and possibly have them return the favor in the future.

1. Facebook:

i.      Linking Pages: Facebook allows you to link to other pages that are currently on facebook by using the @ symbol before you say the other page’s name in your post.  This allows your post to show up not only on your page but the linked page as well.  For example, “Today I was at @McDonalds” the McDonalds would then be a link to their like page and my post would show under others on it.  This is a great way to reach people who currently do not like your page. The only stipulation with this method is that you personally have to like a page before you can link to it.

ii.      Promotions: On Facebook they have an application for running promotions.  Nothing works better for getting people to come to your page on a consistent basis better than promotions.   This will give people something to check out time after time to see what is being offered.  You could have a contest or just a print out coupon but it will keep people coming back for more and more.  It will also increase the likelihood that someone will share your page to their network

These tips and tricks are great but the number one way to build you social media presence is to use your existing network.  This can be an email contact list or just simply by talking to people in person.  Tell them that you’re on Facebook and Twitter and ask them to check it out and like your page, follow you, or both.

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Is the government ready to invest in social media?

Joe Vaughan

Social media is absolutely essential in local politics for two important reasons:

First, it provides a free central point of dissemination of information; a source where interested people can go to get the latest local political news, meeting schedules, etc. This online mass dissemination function is far more effective than the old standard mass distribution method for local political information – the telephone tree – huge lists of telephone numbers divided up between several people tasked with calling each number and alerting the answering party of important issues, upcoming meetings, and/or elections. The downside of telephone trees that social media avoids completely is missed phone calls, and worse, answered phone calls intended to last 2 minutes but instead going on for 20 minutes as the caller and recipient discuss the issues at hand. Political discussion is healthy, necessary, and all too often absent for our current political landscape, but when one has 50 names to call and a short time to call them, these discussions can slow the process dramatically. SO…

Second, social media – Facebook, Twitter, etc. –  allows interested people to discuss the topics they are following in a dynamic, easily accessed, easy-to-follow format. These important conversations that probably wouldn’t occur without online discussion board formats provided by most online social media are crucial for any political decision because a crucial part of being an informed voter is becoming aware of as many sides of each issue as possible in order to reach the appropriate voting decision. Online social discussion boards, as provided by sites like Facebook, Twitter, and others are perfect for this purpose. And, as I mentioned earlier, they are free!

Joe B. Vaughan, Jr. author of The Suburban Manifesto – How To Make City Hall Do Exactly What You Want, available on Amazon.com and other fine outlets:

http://www.amazon.com/Suburban-Manifesto-Make-City-Exactly/dp/1452800065/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

Suburban Manifesto is a cookbook on how to plan effective insurrection to change the most invasive form of government in the US – local government. It is a handbook for activists seeking change. After serving several years a city hall reporter for several small town newspapers, Joe led a successful revolution in Irving, Texas, ultimately electing a majority bloc to the Irving city council to stop rampant and dangerous overdevelopment.

www.joebvaughanjr.com

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Sean McLaughlin – In our struggling economy, is spending up to $200,000 on a degree worth it?

By Sean McLaughlin

Is there a better option instead of college? My answer is: for aspiring Business Majors, I think the answer is yes.

I realize most people who spend $200K on a degree acquire loans to help them make these payments. My idea is aimed at the minority of people (or most likely, parents) who actually pay cash upfront for their degrees:

Instead of dropping $200K on a 4-year (or more education), perhaps a better and more productive use of that money would be to start a small business with $20,000? Run the business until it succeeds. If it fails, invest another $20,000 on a NEW business idea. Repeat.

With the $200K you have to spend on an education, you’ll have TEN OPPORTUNITIES to make a business work. I can promise you that anybody will learn far more in ten failed businesses than any college degree will teach them.

And what if one of your businesses gets it right?

http://www.chicagosean.com/2010/10/college-bubble-better-idea.html

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Social Media Tips for Success for Businesses by Kimberly Ercius

Every business is challenged with the task of improving online visibility. Small businesses find it especially challenging as they have less bandwidth and fewer resources to implement search engine marketing techniques.

Many small businesses have a cult like following which, when leveraged, can be their greatest asset. If you can provide the platform for the voices of your most loyal customers, they have the potential to be your best marketing machine. Social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, are often that platform.

Twitter

A recent study by eMarketer looked at the top motives for following a brand or company on Twitter[1].

1- 38% of respondents said that they wanted to receive updates on future products.

2- 32% of respondents wanted to stay informed about the activities of a company.

3- 31% of respondents follow brands to receive information about discounts and promotions.

The other top content that motivates customers to follow brands on Twitter are the following: updates on sales, free giveaways, entertainment, exclusive content, etc. Twitter provides the ideal platform for short, quick updates to large amounts of followers.

Facebook

Why would your customers want to “like” you on Facebook? There are several benefits to the user who “likes” your business on Facebook. First, it might give them exclusive access to deals and promotions you offer. Second, if you’re witty, they’ll likely continue to pay attention to your brand for the entertaining content relative to a topic they are interested in. Third, it allows them to show support for their favorite brands and to see which of their other friends also “like” that company.

The following are the top 3 tips for natural social media success for your business:

1- Only genuine “likes” and “followers” are useful. If you can create a community of people who genuinely are interested in the topic and would want to interact with you and other members of the community you build, that is a formula for success.
2- Encourage your clients to post about you and tag your name. Hands down, that is the best way to build the community and generate qualified leads. Each time this happens, we get a number of messages directly through Facebook from people that are interested in learning more about working with us.
3- When you interact with your community, don’t focus on your company’s success. Focus on what your audience wants- tips to make their company successful. Provide useful information that is both timely and actionable, and they will continue to value the network you have created online.

For additional information about this topic, or to learn how to promote your business on the top social channels, please contact Sercius directly at info@sercius.com or “like” us on Facebook goo.gl/LkgG.

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[1] http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1007892, August 26th, 2010

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John Boyd – Is Telecommuting the wave of the future?

John Boyd

On the East East, I’ve seen a real increase in telecommuting.  Many friends have offices or cubicles at the workplace, but are able to work mostly from home. I think technology (Internet, Skype, etc) and time pressures (eliminating commutes) have been a driving force. I first experienced telecommuting about 10 years ago when a Maryland-based company hired me as Chief IP Counsel and agreed to open an office for me in NYC. They only did that after the Internet allowed them to and it worked well.

Many workers spend more time on the phone or on the computer, rather than in face-to-face meetings with nearby coworkers. I’m not suggesting face-to-face meetings aren’t important.   In fact, I’m the founder of MeetingWave.com, which helps members meet new people for business or social purposes, while providing targeting, control, privacy and flexibility (described below). We are not an event site, but instead focused on helping people meet with the type of people they would like to meet for business or social purposes. We’ve been described as a useful tool for job seekers since most opportunities found through contacts. Please contact me if you have any questions.

http://www.meetingwave.com

MeetingWave – The New Business Personals

Why use MeetingWave?

MeetingWave can help members meet new people for business or social purposes, while providing targeting, control, privacy and flexibility. Members can propose networking meetings describing the type of people they’d like to meet, yet control who attends and whether the meeting occurs.  The proposed meeting can be face-to-face (e.g., coffee, lunch, golf…) or virtual (e.g., Skype, teleconference,…).

What’s MeetingWave’s value to members?

Think of MeetingWave as creating immediate opportunities for members to be contacted by a potential employer or client to have lunch – without ever having to disclose their contact information or identity.  The member can ignore or decline, without ever revealing who they are.  MeetingWave is all about bringing immediate opportunities to members to meet new people, while providing control, privacy and flexibility in deciding who the member ultimately meets.

MeetingWave’s Verification Technology

Members can also have their work or alumni email addresses “verified” by MeetingWave and display an indication of that verification on their profile. When someone sees verified email domains (e.g., @ibm.com or @brown.edu) on a profile, they will know the user must be associated with the university or company identified in the email domain helping people feel more comfortable meeting the user (and vice versa). Only the verified domain is displayed – the user’s personal email address will not be disclosed for everyone to see.

Members can use their verified profile urls (meetingwave.com/p/username) on LinkedIn, with blog comments, and when using Craigslist. And – request to see someone else’s before meeting them or before bringing them into their network or agreeing to buy or sell an item on Craigslist.

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In our struggling economy, is spending up to $200,000 on a degree worth it? By Jessica Kizorek

Education is phenomenal. I am an adjunct professor at the Miami Ad School so I value the process of opening your mind to new ideas in an academic setting.

But spending $200,000 on a degree is not worth it, particularly on graduate degrees.

School is easier than the real business world. School can be a perfect place to hide out, to fly under the radar, and to procrastinate sticking your neck out. Being an entrepreneur is riskier and requires a greater degree of commitment to figuring things out and being resourceful.

Jessica Kizorek

The Chief, Badass Business Women

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How I do Bill by Amy Shropshire

Amy Shropshire

Director of Crayons and Napkin Sketches

CASK Communications

1. DO YOU CHARGE BY THE HOUR OR JOB? When I 1st started out I charged by the hour thinking that it would ensure that I got paid fairly for every hour worked. But I found that clients weren’t really sure what they were signing up for that way and tended to restrict how many hours I could work – Great for their budgets but not so great for creating quality, portfolio-worthy work. Now I charge by what I call packages. Clients can pick from a la carte services (like setting up a custom Facebook Page) or a bundle (custom Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Blog pages) for a set price. This way they can see the bottom line, and I get to make sure I’m not limited to an hour to create something that I’d be proud of. Only a couple of times have I gone over the time that I thought it would take me and most of the time I’m under.

2. HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF HOURS? Unfortunately, this came through trial and error and I took many jobs where I under-quoted (ouch). But I keep detailed logs of the time it takes me per task (a time management software like FreshBooks helps immensely) and that way I can look back and figure out how long a certain task is taking me on average.

3. HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE YOU ARE DEALING WITH THE RIGHT POTENTIAL CLIENT AND NOT SPINNING YOUR WHEELS? I take a very laid back approach to potential clients. I figure that if I’m constantly trying to find new business and selling them, I’m going to be spinning my wheels on a majority of them. Instead, I look to build relationships with people who I think could benefit from my services and just let them talk about their company and issues candidly (usually over coffee) which usually tells me more about what they’re looking for and what type of client they will be than trying to sell my services outright. Sometimes by the end of the coffee ‘date’ I’ve realized that I can’t really do what they’re looking for and gain a future contact but save myself from pursuing a client that isn’t a good fit.

4. HOW DO YOU DRAFT CONTRACTS? I cheated here. I had an attorney draft up a template contract and I just fill in the blanks with the details of the job. If its a long term job (like maintaining a social media account), I do contracts in 3 month periods. That way, if I find a client is too high maintenance to be productive, is asking for services outside of what they initially agreed, etc. I can renegotiate.

5. HOW DO YOU PROVE YOUR CREDENTIALS TO THAT OVER CAUTIOUS CLIENT? Initially, I let them take a look over my portfolio and see what work I’ve done in the past. I also have some past and current clients who have agreed to serve as references and tell the potential client about the work I have done for them.

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Networking: Believe it or not, you actually have to TALK to people

DeAnna Radaj

In my humble opinion, Milwaukee is one of the WORST cities to try and network. I’m in the design/construction industry & I go to Chicago for networking & industry events. This seems to be true across industry lines  as I’ve heard the “same complaint” from family members in IT/Healthcare. Milwaukee is very “clique-y” with the same people hanging out with the same people, talking about the same things-most of the time NOT business-related! Even for professional events I have attended, trying to engage people outside of the group they came to the event with, is near impossible (kinda defeats the purpose of a NETWORKING event). I now strictly attend alumni events and/or large vendor expos…the rest is a waste of time.

NYC is one of the BEST! (I travel there a lot for business) and any event I’ve attended has resulted, if not in a business contact, a new “friend” who shares the same interests. The people there truly want to get out & expand their circle.

DeAnna Radaj

Bante Design LLC

Move Your Couch, Change Your Life

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