Shattering the Idea of Social Media Strategery

This is a snippet from a larger post on social media analytics from Avinash Kaushik.  Kaushik is a real smart guy, a Digital Marketing Evangelist for Google.  

Closing Thoughts: Two Crazy Social Media Lessons

1. Don’t have a social strategy: create products and services that compel social activity.

At the end of the day, it is important to remember that the Facebook engagement you create, the amount of traffic you can get from Facebook (to your online or offline presence) will rarely match the engagement, reach and outcomes that people who love your products will create for you.

So yes, focus on having a great Facebook presence and buy ads on Facebook, but remember to make your products and services so amazing that people can’t help talk about them on Facebook. The impact of this organic (free!) activity will blow your mind.

Ultimately social is not just about how social your company is. It is about how many social ripples your products/services create.

Don’t believe me? Just ask Apple.

2. Social media success does not guarantee business success.

Dippin’ Dots crossed five million Facebook Fans a couple of days before they filed for bankruptcy in Nov 2011. (They were recently rescued from bankruptcy, no not by their Facebook fans. ).

Pepsi is one of the most active social media participants, including on Facebook. Yet year over year they’ve continued to lose market share to Coke.

The examples are numerous.

In the end, business success (amazing products and services) can be hugely amplified by social media. Social media success can rarely make up for core problems with your business / business strategy / products and services.

It breaks some things down for me, in the few minutes I’m taking to post this:

1. Social content is similar to other content that supports brand, service, product and/or mission. The delivery method differs among social channels. No need to think of social content as some unique animal to ‘rassle with.
2. Build your social messaging to take advantage of each channel’s strengths, and have at it.

The Magic of Doing One Thing at a Time – Tony Schwartz – Harvard Business Review

The Magic of Doing One Thing at a Time – Tony Schwartz – Harvard Business Review.

Ahhh Tony…if I had the ability to do that….

Actually there are times when I can do that.  But there are times, like now; where one thing at a time is a luxury.

Gawker to Launch New Commenting Program

It’s about time someone took a new approach to this.  I like the back and forth of web comments, and try to avoid making comments on fanboy sites; whether political, tech or whatever.  Groupthink is boring, but on a lot of general interest websites (NYT, CNN, local newspapers, etc) there are too many trolls, too many political strategies, no real conversation.

“…The hope was that the Internet would boost the quality of public conversation and let writers and readers collaborate on stories, but instead, he said, there’s been a “tragedy of the commons… or tragedy of the comments.”

“For every two comments that are interesting, there will be eight that will be off-topic or toxic,” Denton continued, adding that some have been so toxic that he’s seen comments bring some writers to tears.

So, to fix the problem, he said, Gawker will launch a new commenting program in six weeks that will turn an elite cadre of Gawker-selected commenters into moderators.

“The core of the Gawker idea,” Denton revealed. “Is that everybody owns the thread that they start… and the discussion that they trigger….”

Click here for the rest of the story.

How Governments and Non-profits Can Use WordPress to Successfully Create and Operate a Website

The video is from Sean Herron at WordCamp Phoenix.  Sean is a developer at NASA, the home of all things rocket scientist.  It’s a very good 45 minutes.

Sean Herron: How non-profits and government organizations of all sizes can use WordPress to successfully create and operate a website

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Job Opportunity: O-H Community Partners Senior Associate/Manager of Sustainability

O-H Community Partners is a national economic development consulting firm. With over 20 years of experience, we bring real world expertise coupled with energy and enthusiasm for the work we do. Using a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach, O-H Community Partners brings to bear a full array of services for clients seeking triple bottom line (social, economic, and environmental) results.

Staff consultants work with the CEO and President to assess client organizational and program needs, create a customized service delivery plans, conduct primary and secondary research, develop and test implementation plans.

For more information and how to apply, please see Senior Associate Job Description

Job Opportunity: Kauffman Charter School CEO

Reporting to the school’s Board of Directors and accountable to the Vice President of Education at the Kauffman Foundation, the Kauffman School CEO is the school’s senior executive, overseeing all of the schools administrative and academic functions.His/her direct reports include:

Chief Academic Officer (currently Principal) Chief Operations Officer Chief Financial Officer

In addition to the capital budget, the Kauffman School CEO will oversee a $3 million annual operating budget, which is expected to grow to approximately $15 million when the school achieves its maximum capacity in 2018.

Please see Kauffman Charter School CEO Spec for more details and how to apply.

Job Opportunity: Production Assistant

Job Description:

The  Production Assistant will work with the county Bureau of Technology and Bureau of Public Affairs and Communications on internal and external television production work and planning.  Duties include, but are not limited to, shooting Cook County Board meetings, non-linear editing, scheduling interviews, show planning, and field filming work.  The Production Assistant will be part of a small team responsible for implementing all television production needs of the Office of the President in a professional and timely manner, including providing content for the county’s digital channel.

Experience:

A background in television production required.  Familiarity with a variety of non-linear editing systems, graphics software, photography and sound equipment desired.  Professional demeanor, can-do attitude and an ability to multi-task necessary, as organizational skills, creativity and forward thinking are key in this position.  Experience booking and scheduling of guests, show stacking or planning all a plus.  Ability to interact with a variety of constituents internally and externally.  Willingness to contribute ideas as well as follow tight schedules is necessary.