Category Archives: Social Networking
How To Launch A Social Network – Part 2
First, try to describe your concept in one sentence with a few keywords. The thinking here is that you should be able to describe your web start-up in one succinct sentence so that you can then stick to this core concept when fleshing out the details of your site. Remember that oftentimes the more narrow in focus and easy to understand your start-up is the more potential it has to go viral. Think Google. People won’t talk about it if they don’t know what it is or why it would benefit them quickly enough.
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How To Launch A Social Network – Part 1
If you’ve been bitten by the social network bug, you’re not alone. You are joining the ranks of thousands of other entrepreneurs pining for a social network to meet the needs of particular niche or provide utility to an increasingly “social-spoiled” audience. Social networking, and I’ll talk about this in my next blog post, isn’t just for socializing. It’s not only for consumers and it isn’t simply about conversation. Social networking is a feature, not a product and as such can dramatically enhance and impact an e-commerce website, directory or content-driven site. Social networks have many faces. There are simple, turnkey social networks like Ning and custom, complex social networks like WhereToGetEngaged.com and of course THE social network, Facebook.
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Engaging Conversations: Cast 1, Episode 3: Personality and Social Media
Recently Robby Berthume of Moon Berthume and Epsilon Concepts sat down with Andy Koehn, Jeff Haden, and Andrea Knight to discuss how social media is affecting business models, particularly in jewelry and bridal related industries, over a series of eight webisodes. The series was produced by Where To Get Engaged, an engagement and wedding social network designed and developed by Epsilon Concepts, and directed by Josh Gooden. What follows is episode three.
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Engaging Conversations: Cast One, Episode One: Social Media & You
Recently Robby Berthume of Epsilon Concepts and Moon Berthume sat down with Andy Koehn, Jeff Haden, and Andrea Knight to discuss how social media is affecting business models, particularly in jewelry and bridal related industries, over a series of eight webisodes. The series was produced by Where To Get Engaged, an engagement and wedding social network built and operated by Epsilon Concepts and directed by Josh Gooden.
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Twitter For The Rest Of Us (Pt 2) + 10 Ways To Use Twitter
Last week I wrote about what exactly Twitter is. Despite how popular Twitter has become, believe it or not there is still a large group (we’ll call these the “late bloomers”) who have no idea what’s going on. I know, hard to imagine. So we defined Twitter and discussed who started it, why it’s popular, how I personally use it, and the love and hate going around about it, complete with a video mocking the concept of twits and tweats. This week, I want to continue the discussion by attempting to answer the following question…
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Twitter For The Rest Of Us (Part 1 of 2)
Twitter has rapidly grown into an Internet phenomenon with countless geeks, journalists, and twentysomethings jumping on board. So is it really useful, over-hyped, or both? Is it a colossal waste of time or the greatest thing since sliced bread? Should Twitter really have a place in your social media toolbox?
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An Important Note on the Abuse of the Phrase “Social Media Campaign”
Although I have used it before, I detest the word campaign in the phrase “Social Media Campaign”. Conversations trump campaigns and the word “campaign” has a military undertone I’m not comfortable with. The people you’re supposed to be having a conversation with are not enemies to be raped, pillaged & plundered. Although I will continue to use the phrase, it would be nice to find a more accurate way of describing how brands initiate conversations with true fans (see also: Seth Godin’s Tribes) Until that happens, I will continue to …
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Kevin Kelly on Web 10.0
Note: Kevin Kelly also has one of the best examples of lifestreaming I’ve ever seen. Check out his site: http://kk.org/ to see what I mean.
In Action: The Successful Social Media Campaign
If you’re up for a good read, take a look at Mashable’s HOW TO: Grow a Startup 300% in 3 Days? SocialMedian Tells All. The title is bloated, but the article is important for at a few good reasons: People are the heart of any worthwhile business model (See also: Happiness as a business model) Listen to user feedback and actively do something about the feedback you’re getting Change should not be implemented lightly. Or slowly Forget traffic. You’re nothing without engagement Always build a good user interface. Always. Here’s …
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6 Things To Avoid In a Social Media Campaign
Don’t work without a system Although it’s easier to see the connection between creating media and art, code too is an art. Managed chaos is required so they can all work well together: each creative process should work within a framework with defined ways of going about it. A lot of it maybe uncharted territory so at the very least, clearly communicate the big picture. Don’t set unreasonable goals This is worse than setting no goals at all. Stretching the team too far guarantees that Monday through Friday, everyone’s simply …
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