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Mar 26 2009

What Is In An Identity?

By: Leo | 2 Comments

Identity – (ī-ˈden-tə-tē)
1 sameness of essential or generic character in different instances; oneness
2a: the distinguishing character or personality of an individual: individuality
2b: the relation established by psychological identification

The Big Question
So, what is in an identity? This is the question we have been asking ourselves at Triune for the past few months. And I propose that everything depends on your identity. When done right, your identity serves as the foundation for your thoughts, actions, and goals.

The problem for a lot of people is that they are confused about their identity. A person may say they are one thing and then act in a way that is not in alignment with that aforementioned identity.

The Identity Crisis
This identity crisis is at the center of our discussion of who Triune Designs truly is. We want our company’s actions to be in alignment with who we say (and believe) we are. Ask yourself the same question: who are you? Once you determine who you are, look at your services and see if they line up with this image.

The Benefit For Web Marketing
So, how does this relate to web marketing? Well, once you determine who you are you can accurately create your web marketing message. You are better enabled to create a message that is memorable and easy to transmit to others.

David Meerman Scott‘s new book, World Wide Rave says it this way:

… your message has to be supertight and easy to transmit in as few words as possible. “1,000 songs in your pocket” is the answer to “What is an iPod?” Before that, the Macintosh was introduced as “The computer for the rest of us.” If you can boil your message down to just its syrupy goodness, you can achieve lift – the irresistible force of millions of customers selling your product for you.

What Is Yours
Do you already have your identity? Are your formulating yours now? What about your message? Do you already have your memorable, syrupy-good message ready for people to spread? I would love to hear them.

Posted in: Web Marketing

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Mar 19 2009

Twitter: What Am I Doing??

By: Leo | 5 Comments

I had lunch a few days ago with Jonathan Scott, my life coach.. uh, my one-on-one motivational speaker… uh, my good friend and LifeGroup handler/director. During our conversation we talked about Twitter. I tried my best to explain Twitter and why people use it:

Well you see Jonathan, Twitter allows you to tell people what you are doing. It is in a similar vein to Facebook’s status update, but it is so much more than that. Through these frequent back-and-forth updates, Twitter allows you to really engage in conversations with other people. All of this helps to build a solid online community of friends and peers.

That explanation adequately describes Twitter and how it operates, but it occurred to me that you cannot truly understand what Twitter is until you dive in.

I Feel A Little Stupid
I was listening to a great web developer podcast a few weeks ago when I heard the following conversation. The conversation reinforces my aforementioned thought. The excerpt from the podcast is when two of the co-hosts were talking about President Obama using Twitter during his campaign.

Brad Williams:

Now, you can’t tell me that he [President Obama] didn’t think Twitter was a little stupid when he first heard what exactly it was.

I think everyone that signs up on Twitter has to question what they are doing when they first sign up.

Kevin Yank

Step one of Twitter: acceptance.

And there it is:

  • You will probably feel stupid as you sign up for Twitter.
  • You will definitely wonder what use you will ever get out of Twitter.
  • You may think how it will probably be a waste of time.

Twitter Icon by Mirjami Manninen

Join the Crazy Community
However, once you accept that you are just as crazy as the millions of other Twitter users then you will find a vibrant, exciting community. And from a web marketing perspective, this community is important to help build your brand, reputation, and relationships. All of which are necessary components of an ongoing web marketing campaign.

The Twitter icons are courtesy of Smashing Magazine and Mirjami Manninen.

Updated (February 15, 2011): Removed Twitter icon image because of the continuous hotlinking to the image.

Posted in: Web Marketing

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Feb 20 2009

Back-up Regularly

By: Leo | 7 Comments

Before continuing, I will give you fair warning: this story is not for the faint of heart. This story is full of anguish, tears, and loss… loss of data that is.

A couple of prominent web services have completely lost their data over the past few months and I mean everything!

Chalkboard

Ma.gnolia
According to SitePoint’s podcast, Ma.gnolia, a social bookmarking site similar to Delicious lost their entire database. Every single person who kept their bookmarks on this website lost everything and will now have to rebuild their store of website bookmarks.

Ma.gnolia

Journalspace
I also heard on SitePoint’s podcast that Journalspace, a blogging platform similar to WordPress(.com), lost all of their data. This means that every single member of Journalspace lost every single blog post. As any blog author knows, that is devastating!

Journalspace

Why & What You Can Do
Why did this happen? These websites did not back up their data properly. As a result, if the information was deleted on one (or two servers) then everything was erased. This is exactly what occurred in both of the aforementioned examples.

When it comes to your data (i.e. blog posts, personal photos, important documents, videos of the children) do not trust anything. Regularly back it up in multiple places.

Here is an example of how I back up this blog. I schedule automatic backups using an easy WordPress plugin called wp-db-backup. I save that back-up file to the computer in my office and then also back-up the entire drive to another location. With your data always err on the side of caution.

Do Not Be the Chalkboard
Essentially, if you do not back up your information, your data is no more than words on a chalkboard. All it takes is for someone (or something) to come by and wipe it clean and you have lost everything.

The chalkboard photo is courtesy of House Of Sims at Flickr.

Posted in: Blogs

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Feb 17 2009

Be Careful What Your Write

By: Leo | 2 Comments

The new social web is great! Individuals can communicate with masses of people in an unprecedented manner. You can easily broadcast your thoughts, conversations, and opinions on sites such as Twitter, Facebook or on your own blog. There is a problem, though, with not having many checks and balances before publishing your voice: your mistakes will be re-told by hundreds of people along with the accompanying evidence.

Be Careful What You Write

A Classic Example
I came across this blog article discussing a “conversation” on Twitter between a reporter and a marketing expert. I am not going to provide my opinion on who is right and who is wrong. The important lesson to take away from this conversation is that your words and actions can haunt you.

Be careful that you do not get into a tirade on Twitter. Beware of bashing someone on your blog. Watch out for saying something offensive on Facebook. You should always be strategic with your words, but on the Internet this is even more important. Choose your words carefully because you never know who is watching.

Quick Tips
Here are a few tips on how to lessen the chances of writing those words you will regret:
1. Count to 10… or 100… or 1,000. Regardless of the duration of time, take a break and step away from the computer. This is a classic rule to follow, but it does work.
2. Check your ego at the keyboard. Remember that the social web is all about relationships. As a result, you run the risk of getting your feelings hurt once in a while. That is a reality; accept it, deal with it, and be prepared.
3. If you need, take the conversation offline. If it is something that is really important to discuss, talk with the other person on the phone or in person.

Your Thoughts
What other techniques do you use to reduce the chances of having a major blowout online? Have you ever done this?

The photo is courtesy of Arturo J. Paniagua on Flickr.

Posted in: Blogs

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Feb 6 2009

Charlotte Twestival 2009 – Water

By: Leo | 8 Comments

Yikes, it has been a while since I last wrote on this blog. While almost a month has passed by, it only seems like a day. Well, back to typing away on the keyboard…

I wanted to announce a neat serve event that is going on around the Twitterverse. I believe people involved with social media all around the country (maybe the world) are organizing events for one cause: raising money to provide developing nations with clean, safe drinking water.

Charlotte’s Own Twestival
Charlotte is hosting one such event. Here are the details.

Time & Date: February 12, Doors open at 6 p.m., Festivities begin at 7 p.m.
Location: Cans Bar and Canteen, Uptown Charlotte, 500 W. 5th Street, 28202
Organized By: Jason Keath (@jakrose)
Charity/Cause: Safe drinking water for developing nations
Cost: Give what you can. Limited number of $5.00 tickets available. $100 VIP tickets come with plenty of perks. Tickets on sale now!

Event Description: Good people. Good time. Good Cause. Charlotte Twestival offers a night of socially conscious socializing, complete with entertainment and prizes. Join us February 12 to raise money and awareness for charity: water, a nonprofit organization that provides clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

Questions: Contact Whitney Ferrall (@whitneyferrall)

See more details and RSVP on Social Media Charlotte

Posted in: Extras

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Jan 12 2009

Books, Blogs, & Podcasts – World Wide Rave in Charlotte, NC

By: Leo | 7 Comments

This week I am writing about David Meerman Scott‘s newest book titled Word Wide Rave, which s being released on March 3, 2009.

If you have been following this blog for a while you will remember that I have referenced him in a couple of my posts. His book The New Rules of Marketing and PR is a must-read for anyone thinking about utilizing web marketing for their business.

David’s Own World Wide Rave
In his blog, David describes the concept of a world wide rave.

A World Wide Rave is when people around the world are talking about you, your company, and your products. Whether you’re located in San Francisco, Dubai, or Reykjav??k, it’s when global communities eagerly link to your stuff on the Web. It’s when online buzz drives buyers to your virtual doorstep. And it’s when tons of fans visit your Web site and your blog because they genuinely want to be there.

A Little Help
David asked his readers to take a photo of his book’s poster with a backdrop representing our city (or country). You can read more about helping him.

World Wide Rave by David Meerman Scott

My Hometown
I live in Charlotte, NC and wanted to do something creative to represent our city. I thought about some of the people down here in the Queen City (of the South) and came up with taking a picture with our fire department.

Charlotte has one of the best fire departments in the nation and its employees really strive to provide a high level of customer service. This great customer service is representative of the southern hospitality the South often brags about.

Charlotte Fire Department
I chose Charlotte’s Fire Station 8 (specifically) because, after a discussion with some of their firefighters in September, they started a blog. Station 8′s blog helps the public see some of the calls the firefighters handle and also gives them a glimpse of what goes on at a fire station. The station blog also aims at providing training resources for other firefighters.

With their blog and a new Twitter account, the firefighters of Station 8 are quickly becoming solid web marketers.

The Pics
Here are a few pictures of David’s poster in action in front of Station 8. The two firefighters pictured below are Adrian Cornette (FFII) and Jason Almond (FFII) on Engine 8 C-Shift. Charlotte Fire Department Station 8 is located at the intersection of The Plaza and Commonwealth Ave near downtown Charlotte, North Carolina.

Charlotte Fire Department Station 8

Charlotte Fire Department Station 8

Charlotte Fire Department Station 8

Charlotte Fire Department Station 8

Update (01/14/09) – Check out the guys from Station 8 on the World Wide Rave blog. Nice job Adrian and Jason!

Posted in: Web Marketing

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Jan 9 2009

Friday Feedback – Make This Blog Better

By: Leo | 2 Comments

One simple question. Many great answers.

Make This Blog Better

My last post on writing shorter blog posts got me thinking: what else can I do to this blog to make it better for you, the reader.

So, for this week I want your advice on one thing I can do to make this blog better. Please write your answer down in the comments below.

I look forward to reading everyone’s suggestions!

Do you like the photo in this post? It is courtesy of bonimo’s events on Flickr.

Posted in: Blogs

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Jan 9 2009

A Word Is Worth A Thousand Words

By: Leo | 7 Comments

I received some advice from my most trusted friend today: “your blog posts are too long”… Yikes!

Well, I have to admit that I have known about this problem for a while; however, it is a tough habit to break.

Keep It Short

From this advice comes this week’s lesson on how to write a blog. Avoid verbose blog posts. Essentially, do not use twenty words to make your point when 10 will work. Here are a few reasons why:

So, to heed the advice I received, I leave you with this: take care of your readers by keeping your blog posts short and to the point. Leave all the unnecessary fluff for someone else’s blog.

2¢ – Your two cents
Do you struggle with long posts?
How do you keep your posts short?
What other problems do you encounter when you write your posts?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. I would love to get your two cents on this post.

Do you like the photo in this post? It is courtesy of m00by’s events on Flickr.

Posted in: Blogs

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Jan 7 2009

Google Alerts – Keeping An Eye On the Conversations

By: Leo | 2 Comments

How Do They Do That?
Have you ever written about a person, a product, or a company in your blog and then have them respond almost immediately in your comments?

One way these web-savvy people do this is by using Google Alerts. Google Alerts is one of the most valuable tools in your web marketing arsenal and it is also one of the easiest to use. You just sign up for the service and let Google do all of the work for you.

What Are Google Alerts?
According to Googe, alerts are

email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.

You can use Alerts for

  • monitoring a developing news story related to your industry
  • keeping current on a competitor or industry
  • reputation management for your company
  • reputation management for yourself

How Do You Use Alerts?
Like I said before, using Google Alerts is very easy. You will first need to sign up for a Google account. Once you have it you can go to Google’s home page and look for My Account.

Google Homepage

Next you want to find the Google Alerts link.

Google Products

(You can also go straight to the Google Alerts page.)

You will now be on the main Google Alerts page. Simply enter the search term, criteria, frequency, and what email address you want to use. Once completed, you will begin receiving the alerts from Google as those search terms are found. Here is a little more information about each option:

Search Term – Enter your search term here. If you are using multiple words in your search I suggest using quotation marks around them. As an example I used the search term “web marketing” abominable snowman. This means I will receive alerts when Google finds information for “web marketing”, abominable, or snowman. I can simply move the quotation marks and it changes the alert completely. If I had used “web marketing abominable snowman” then I would only receive alerts when all four words are found. Using quotation marks is a simple concept, but they can prevent you from getting a lot of unnecessary emails.

Criteria – There are six options available for criteria: news, blogs, web, video groups, and comprehensive. Unless you are looking for something specific I recommend using comprehensive so that you get alerts for everything Google finds.

How Often (Frequency) – There are three options available for how often: as-it-happens, once a day, and once a week. This setting will depend on what you are searching for. I set up alerts for my name and my company. I receive them on an as-it-happens basis. However, in the scenario above, I would rather choose the once a day setting for “web marketing” abominable snowman since having that information is not as urgent.

Deliver To – You can choose from whatever email addresses you have set up with Google.

Google Alert for "web marketing" abominable snowman

After clicking on create alert, you will be finished and you can now manage your alerts. While I was on the manage alerts list I went ahead and added another search: “web marketing” yeti. This way I have a pretty comprehensive list that allows me to see how well those snow monsters in the north are handling their web marketing.

Manage Google Alerts

2¢ – Your two cents
Do you use Google Alerts? Have you found it to be a valuable tool in your web marketing arsenal? Is there any other advice you would recommend when using Google Alerts? What other Google products do you use to enhance your web marketing? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. I would love to get your two cents.

Posted in: Web Marketing

Tags: ,

Jan 5 2009

Blogs, Books, & Podcasts – 2009: The Year of the Blog

By: Leo | 4 Comments

I believe 2009 is going to be the year of the blog. Blogging and social media as a whole are continuing to become more popular and are now becoming essential tools in a businesses’ marketing arsenal. So this week’s recommendations provide some predictions for blogging in 2009 and information on how to become a better blogger.

2009: The Year of the Blog

Social Media Predictions
Mary Fisher is a blogger at Spinfield. According to her bio she used to be a newspaper reporter, and you can tell in her posts. She does an excellent job writing and I find her posts to be both enjoyable and informational. In this post, Mary provides six predictions on the state of social media in 2009. Here are a few of her predictions along with some of my thoughts:

Blogging Goes Mainstream ?Äì In 2008, many companies still needed to be convinced that blogging is beneficial. In 2009, blogging will be recognized as an economical tool for sharing information about organizations and products.

I completely agree. I think blogging really is going to take off this year. Dare I say that blogging might even become fashionable in 2009?? I guess we will have to wait and see.

The Rise of Blogging as a Profession? – Gone are the days of having an intern or just anybody regularly post articles about your company. Writing quality and legal concerns demand an increase in writing skill and professionalism.

I am not sure about this one. I agree that professionalism and good writing skills are important for business blogs. My concern, though, is the emphasis placed on hiring an outside professional blogger to write for a business blog. I wonder how much transparency is lost by hiring an outside writer to handle a company’s blog posts.

Budgets will be Saved ?Äì Reflecting the economy, lower marketing budgets will require creativity on the part of marketing departments. Limited marketing funds will continue to shift away from traditional media to more economical social media.

I agree that social media marketing is great given our current economic situation because of its low-cost nature. Almost no money is needed to start a web marketing campaign.

The problem a lot of people will encounter when they attempt web marketing is the amount of work it takes to maintain a solid campaign. This factor alone will weed out a lot of businesses who are not truly committed to web marketing and are not willing to put in the effort.

Beginners Welcome
The beauty of blogging is that it really does not take much to start – just a blogging platform and a few thoughts. Therefore, the barrier-to-entry is quite low. All are welcome to the world of blogging. Becoming a better blogger, though, does take some work. There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of posts providing advice to people who are just now entering the blogosphere.

Our blog, for example, provides information on how to write better blogs. Another such blog (ProBlogger) does the same. I recently read one of his articles that provides a summary of posts to help the beginning blogger. I included a few links here. If you are new to blogging I highly suggest reading them to help you improve.

Introductory Posts

Tips for Writing Content for Blogs

(Note: It should be noted that I first found this great blog post at ChurchCrunch before I had checked my Google Reader. Therefore, I am going to give ChurchCrunch a thumbs-up.)

2¢ – Your two cents
Did these links help you? Are you new to blogging? If you are new to blogging, what is the one thing that you feel you need to learn to get better? If you have been blogging for a while, what is one thing you would tell new bloggers to help them improve? Where else would you suggest looking for advice on how to write a blog? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. I would love to get your two cents.

Do you like the photo in this post? It is courtesy of Nic’s events on Flickr.

Posted in: Blogs

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