The Engaging Brand

Lessons from the Zuckerberg/Lacey interview?

The Mark Zuckerberg interview at SXSW has to my mind potentially changed the world for speaking at events - or at least for me. I love speaking and speak regularly on social media on how to use it as part of your engagement strategy inside and outside the company. However, the storm around this interview has left me with some thoughts - some good, some bad

• Great news that speakers or interviewers will now have to deliver against the audience expectations - not what they want to say.
• Great news that speaking and interviewing will be accountable in real time. In fact would be great if now interviewers took live tweets etc from the floor in a controlled fashion.
• Great news that more thought needs to go into what are the expectations of the attendees, how do we meet their value needs.
• Great news that we will invest time in finding the right speakers and skilled speakers
• Bad news that people will now think twice about standing in front of large audiences. We will potentially lose valuable knowledge because they don't want to be the next Sarah Lacey
• Bad news - ok so I sound old fashioned here! - that manners are considered secondary. Democratisation is great, anarchy I would rather avoid :)
• Bad news that people are using microblogging not just to have their say...but to have their "yell"
• Bad news that the story is in the demise of one person, am I the only person who thought..mmm hardly inspiring but then no worse than many keynotes that I have seen!

I interview a lot for The Engaging Brand podcast and it is hard work....you have to be totally concentrated on what the interviewee is saying...now, at a conference I potentially weaken myself as an interviewer, because I have to give 50% of my concentration to the audience. Clearly, you have always been aware of the audience but I think now, interviewers will naturally be as concerned about the audience, as the interviewee...won't that dilute the content potentially?

I totally believe in collaboration, totally believe in democratising the web etc However, surely we can combine that with some common sense and as my mum would say "some old fashioned manners, Anna"

Social Media Telesummit - Anna For One Night Only!

As a reminder, if you want to hear my thoughts on how to engage people, including suppliers and vendors, through social media, I am presenting at the Social Media Telesummit tonight at 2pm EST (7pm GMT)

Hope to see you there...but no difficult questions at the end!

Social Media Needs Human not Technical Skills

I was at a wonderful conference last week and was often faced with two social media statements

• It's OK for you, you are a geek...
• You must have lots of technical knowledge to live in a social media world

Oh if only I had programming knowledge!If only I was a geek.....

For me, the technology is an enabler not a barrier. Nowadays, the technological knowledge needed is as little as being able to log on to the internet. The block to effective use of social media is not programming knowledge but YOUR knowledge, passion and ability to communicate your brand.

I think Web 2.0 has never made it so easy to use technology, all you need are 3 human skills

1. Curiosity. Be a child and explore the possibilities The desire to find out how you can use it, and how others are using it was all that I had, when I first started out. The story goes - received iPod, saw word podcast, googled how to make podcast, watched on line video, put podcast together, kept asking questions to people of how to improve it. No technical knowledge required!
2. Connecting. There is a whole support network available to you on the web, via podcasts, blogs, social networking. There are people there to help you develop, that are waiting for YOUR expertise, that maybe want to work for a boss like you, that want a someone like you to listen to them and solve their problems....they are waiting for YOU. The only thing you need to do is to connect with them....How did I connect? Through being curious about who people were and what they did!
3. Consistency. I think being consistent with what you do on-line, consistent in frequency, consistency in approach, consistency in values, consistency in providing value. Consistency needs discipline but discipline comes through the passion for my work.

So no I am not a geek...I love technology because of 'what it does', not 'what it is'...

I believe curiousity, connecting and consistency will overcome any technological barriers that you may have! And actually they are 3 skill that you have to have for any business or any success in life

Social Media Telesummit 2008

For any of you out there looking for inspiration on how social media can form part of your engagement strategy and/or make money then check out the Social Media Telesummit being held by Leesa Barnes. Leesa has put together an amazing schedule

Here is the schedule - including yours truly on 25th at 2pm!

Schedule (All times are Eastern Time)

Day 1 - Wednesday February 20, 2008
12:00  Welcome Message by Leesa Barnes
12:30  Opening Keynote by Ramon Williamson
13:30  Future of Social Media Panel Discussion

Day 2 - Thursday February 21, 2008

12:00  Using Social Media and Premium Content to Create New Profits Centers for Your Business with Jason Van Orden
13:00   Branding and Blogging: The “New” Success Secret for Attracting More Clients and More Money with The Blog Squad
14:00  5 Ways to Use Social Media to Find & Create Your Next Joint Venture with MaryPat Kavanagh and Michele PW
20:00   Second Life: How to Build your Business Through Virtual World Participation with Kate Trgovac

Day 3 - Friday February 22, 2008

12:00  How Any Time-Starved Person Can Produce a Quality Podcast Using the Power of Automation with Karin Hoegh
13:00    How to Create and Profit from Your Own Niche Focused Directory with Penny Haynes
14:00    How to Get Sponsors, Keep Sponsors, Report to Sponsors, and Make Money with Your Blog and Podcast with Paul Vogelzang
20:00   Time, Money, Sex (and Salvation): How to Turbo Charge Your Blog Posts, Podcasts and Sales Copy for Maximum Traffic & Greater Impact with Andy Wibbels

Day 4 - Monday February 25, 2008

12:00   7 Reasons to Use Wordpress Blogs And Not Traditional Websites to Publish Content, Podcasts and Videos For Passion and Profits with Sherman Hu
14:00    Ways to Engage Customers, Vendors and Suppliers Through Social Media For Greater Profits with Anna Farmery
20:00    How to Get Social Media Buy-In from Your Boss, Company Management Team, Business Partner & Other Stakeholders with Kylie Johnson

Day 5 - Tuesday February 26, 2008

12:00   Podcasting Riches: How to Make an Extra $75,000 to $360,000 a Year Using a Podcast with Scott Paton
13:00    5 Ways To Sell The Content You Once Gave Away For Free with Paul Colligan
17:00   Why RSS Is Not Enough: How to Automate Your Business & Deliver Your Message Using Autoresponders with Christina Hills
20:00   Blog Profits Blueprint: How To Turn Your Blog Into A Six-Figure Income with Yaro Starak

Day 6 - Wednesday February 27, 2008

13:00   Building Your Online Personal Brand Beyond Social Networks, Websites or Blogs with Paul Copcutt
14:00   The Inner Secrets of Outrageous Marketing: How to Dominate Your Market Niche with Ron Rosenberg
20:00   Pricing, Positioning and Promoting Your Social Media Services with Scott Allen

Day 7 - Thursday Febraury 28, 2008

12:00  7 Steps to Creating a Killer Virtual Book Tour that Will Explode Your Book Sales and Turn Your Book into a Bestseller with Tynisha Thompson
13:00   The 12 Biggest Blogging and Podcasting Blunders to Avoid When Nurturing Your Personal Brand Online with Krishna De
14:00   How to Use Celebrity Interviews and High Profile Guests to Attract New Clients to Your Business with Jody Colvard
20:00  Telesummit Secrets: How to Position Yourself as the #1 Expert, Increase Your Product Sales, and Create a Community of Raving Fans Using a Multi-Day Virtual Event with Milana Leshinsky

Day 8 - Fri Feb 29, 2008

12:00  Closing Keynote with Jan Janzen
13:00  Telesummit Summary with Leesa Barnes
14:00  Open Q&A

Schedule (All times are Eastern Time)

Day 1 - Wednesday February 20, 2008
12:00  Welcome Message by Leesa Barnes
12:30  Opening Keynote by Ramon Williamson
13:30  Future of Social Media Panel Discussion

Day 2 - Thursday February 21, 2008

12:00  Using Social Media and Premium Content to Create New Profits Centers for Your Business with Jason Van Orden
13:00   Branding and Blogging: The “New” Success Secret for Attracting More Clients and More Money with The Blog Squad
14:00  5 Ways to Use Social Media to Find & Create Your Next Joint Venture with MaryPat Kavanagh and Michele PW
20:00   Second Life: How to Build your Business Through Virtual World Participation with Kate Trgovac

Day 3 - Friday February 22, 2008

12:00  How Any Time-Starved Person Can Produce a Quality Podcast Using the Power of Automation with Karin Hoegh
13:00    How to Create and Profit from Your Own Niche Focused Directory with Penny Haynes
14:00    How to Get Sponsors, Keep Sponsors, Report to Sponsors, and Make Money with Your Blog and Podcast with Paul Vogelzang
20:00   Time, Money, Sex (and Salvation): How to Turbo Charge Your Blog Posts, Podcasts and Sales Copy for Maximum Traffic & Greater Impact with Andy Wibbels

Day 4 - Monday February 25, 2008

12:00   7 Reasons to Use Wordpress Blogs And Not Traditional Websites to Publish Content, Podcasts and Videos For Passion and Profits with Sherman Hu
14:00    Ways to Engage Customers, Vendors and Suppliers Through Social Media For Greater Profits with Anna Farmery
20:00    How to Get Social Media Buy-In from Your Boss, Company Management Team, Business Partner & Other Stakeholders with Kylie Johnson

Day 5 - Tuesday February 26, 2008

12:00   Podcasting Riches: How to Make an Extra $75,000 to $360,000 a Year Using a Podcast with Scott Paton
13:00    5 Ways To Sell The Content You Once Gave Away For Free with Paul Colligan
17:00   Why RSS Is Not Enough: How to Automate Your Business & Deliver Your Message Using Autoresponders with Christina Hills
20:00   Blog Profits Blueprint: How To Turn Your Blog Into A Six-Figure Income with Yaro Starak

Day 6 - Wednesday February 27, 2008

13:00   Building Your Online Personal Brand Beyond Social Networks, Websites or Blogs with Paul Copcutt
14:00   The Inner Secrets of Outrageous Marketing: How to Dominate Your Market Niche with Ron Rosenberg
20:00   Pricing, Positioning and Promoting Your Social Media Services with Scott Allen

Day 7 - Thursday Febraury 28, 2008

12:00  7 Steps to Creating a Killer Virtual Book Tour that Will Explode Your Book Sales and Turn Your Book into a Bestseller with Tynisha Thompson
13:00   The 12 Biggest Blogging and Podcasting Blunders to Avoid When Nurturing Your Personal Brand Online with Krishna De
14:00   How to Use Celebrity Interviews and High Profile Guests to Attract New Clients to Your Business with Jody Colvard
20:00  Telesummit Secrets: How to Position Yourself as the #1 Expert, Increase Your Product Sales, and Create a Community of Raving Fans Using a Multi-Day Virtual Event with Milana Leshinsky

Day 8 - Fri Feb 29, 2008

12:00  Closing Keynote with Jan Janzen
13:00  Telesummit Summary with Leesa Barnes
14:00  Open Q&A

Web 3.0 to Reflect World 3.0 ?

Just read Jemima Kiss view on Web 3.0, mmm not sure...

This is where I stand on Web 3.0

• I think the Web mirrors what happens in the real world...as the world has become flat, Web 3.0 will become flat through reducing barriers, one identity that is recognized across the web.
• Personalization or individualization has become a way of life...I think the web will mirror that, with your computer experiences becoming personalized. I think aggregators and widgets will allow us to build a personalized web experience. When I sign on I will have my own web window rather than going to sites, programs, networks.
• More appeal to the senses..in the past it has been mainly visual with audio now building. I think the appeal of touch will increase (Seen by Apple iPhone)....why use old fashioned typing when you can use quicken the process through touch.
• I also think that 3D will emerge...virtual worlds will find a way of simplifying the user interface. As environmental issues become even more apparent, there has to be a role for virtual worlds. Key will not be replicating this world..people play games, go online often to get away from this one (!), it will be creating an environment that appeals to modern society - offices, buildings don't necessarily do that...

In essense I think that the 3.0 should stand for a more 3 dimensional approach

1. Reducing the flat nature of the web by creating a 3D view of how you interact with people and sites...one profile, one homepage that brings the web to you.
2. Appeal to more of the senses

Imagine widgets + gaming + passport all coming together in a 3 dimensional personalised operating system...?

What are your thoughts?

The 2nd Age of Conversation

As many of you know, I was delighted to be part of the first Age of Conversation with Drew Mclellan and Gavin Heaton. In fact I interviewed them on The Engaging Podcast about the lessons they learned on bringing together a global project which was a fascinating insight into the world of collaboration and social media.
 

The call has gone out for the next project and I love the idea of the internet coming together to share, to collaborate and explore a topic to help others develop their thoughts and their thinking. Up to now there are many people who have signed up
Angela Maiers, Drew McLellan, Luc Debaiseieux, Ryan Karpeles, Greg Verdino, Lori Magno, Gavin Heaton, Connie Reece, Anna Farmery,  The Kaiser, Katie Chatfield, Tim Jackson, Doug Meacham, C.B. Whittemore, Becky Carroll, Gordon Whitehead, Daniel B. Honigman, Daria Rasmussen, Jay Ehret, Jasmin Tragas, Jamey Shiels, Organic Frog, Bill Gammell, Nathan Snell, Stephen Landau, Stephen Collins, Stephen Smith, Mark Earls, Steven Verbruggen, Neil Perkin, Brett Macfarlane, Dino Demopoulos, Chris Wilson, Asi Sharabi, Mike Sansone

This is a hugely worthwhile project - with all money raised going to Variety: The Children's Charity.

If you want to know how you can contribute then check out Drew's post here

Learning to be a fish, doesn't make you a fish!

I was having a conversation with Heather Gorringe recently about small business and social media. (We are speaking tonight in Carmathenshire about how small business can use social media to grow their business)
She said something that really hit home to me....

"You can have a course at University to teach someone to be a fish - but it doesn't make them a fish!"

Sounds strange I know, but it is true. Social media as an engagement tool to be used within business to engage consumers or employees with the brand. I feel it is something that every business should be looking at.....but only if they are willing to be open, authentic, transparent and that you are passionate about marketing in this new era of conversational marketing.

"You can teach someone about social media tools, it doesn't make them a new marketeer!"