#SMCQ16 On Measuring Influence

Earlier this week, the SMC Editorial Board posed the question “How do you measure influencers and/or influential social media platforms?” having wondered aloud which combination of measurement and know-how equaled influence. As the community response demonstrated, influence is equal parts quantitative and qualitative. From ‘listening platforms’ such as Radian6, eCairn and ScoutLabs which track and calculate conversation volume, page rank, comments and frequency as well as a host of other data garnered from Sales Force and CRM tools, to  good old intuition, influence is subject to the eye of the beholder. Some notes from the online response field:

“I look for the number of followers and the number of participants who add comments. Equally important is the quality of the content and the comments. They should be well-written, intelligent, supported by references to sources, focus on the positive, succinct, and not reflect a strongly biased opinion.” — James O’Connor, Owner, Clutter Control, O’Connor Communications,

“So effective, efficient messages are key.  Regularly is another.  Transparent, non-promotional communications essential.  Self-effacing humor is nice.  But the most important aspect is just to be a part of the conversation and thought stream.  One person with one comment at the exact right moment in time who we never hear from again can be a profound influencer.” —How Do You Measure Influencers,” by Bob Stewart,

@the_sophist: #SMCQ16 The act of measuriing influence, influences. Especially in the state of social consciousness. u can’t measure u can only approximate

Suggested Reading:

“How to Measure Influence Online,” Mashable, by Micah Baldwin, March 2, 2009

“Do You Know Jack About Social Media Measurement,” MetricsMan, June 15, 2009

“Is PageRank the Ultimate Measure of Online Influence?” Nine By Blue, October 8, 2008

“Social Media Metrics Superlist,” Interactive Insights Group,  by Robin Broitman, February 2nd, 2009

The SMC Editorial Board will be reviewing the responses and talking more about measuring influence, this Friday 10am PST on BlogTalk Radio Social Media Club. We welcome your participation.

SMCQ14 Media overload? Consequences of the stream

At the same time social media has created a wealth of opportunities to create, consume, interact and react to information, the diversity of media can be staggering as quantity and immediacy often overshadow quality. The Social Media Editorial board discussed how this ‘web of now’ is trumping deeper context and how exposure to a constant stream of information may be shaping our behavior for better or for worse.

We’d love to hear how you are making meaning in an increasingly shallow media landscape. What have we lost, if anything, and what are we gaining? Do you have any strategies for negotiating media overload? We’d love your comments on our 14th Question of the week:

SMCQ14 What are the consequences of exposure to a constant, high-volume stream of media and information?

How to join the Social Media Clubs Question of the Week discussion: Our goal with the Question of the Week initiative is to create a truly collaborative conversation within and around the most up-to-the-minute issues affecting Social Media. Each week, the Social Media Club editorial board looks at trends, topics and news affecting social media during a Blogtalk Radio broadcast. During the call, the editorial board forms the question. This is where YOU come in: we’d love for you to post your thoughts on your blog, via Twitter or by commenting on the Social Media Club site. Please tag your blogs and posts with a hash tag, ‘#’, so we can track the conversation. For example, if you wrote a response to Social Media Club Question of the Week 13, please tag your post ‘#SMCQ13’ and we’ll be able to find it, track back, and link the post to the original post. Your answers will all be included in the weekly Conversation post & Blogtalk Radio broadcast review of the answers we received. We also invite you to call in to the shows to share your viewpoint. Instructions about how to call in will be given on this site by the end of each week. Thanks for joining the club!

#SMCQ13 Is social media the new socialism?

“Just like the ant-communist Red Scares of the early part of the century,  Republicans today are throwing about ’socialism’ as the great ‘Blue Scare,’” noted Chris Heuer, during the Social Media Club Editorial Board’s weekly discussion.
The comment was inspired by one of the more compelling surveys of Social Media published in the most recent issue of Wired, called “The New Socialism: Global Collectivist Society is Coming Online,” by Kevin Kelly, May 22, 2009. Given the heavy baggage that the term holds, we wonder if such a tag will help or hinder all that social media has to offer society. That said, if Social Media — with its distributed power, collaborative, communal aspects  — isn’t socialism, what is it? And if it is the new socialism, how do we leave the worst of socialism’s reputation behind?

So we’re curious to know how you answer this weeks Question of the Week:

#SMCQ13 Is social media the new socialism?

We welcome your comments, posts & tweets. Tag: #SMCQ13

How to join the Social Media Clubs Question of the Week discussion: Our goal with the Question of the Week initiative is to create a truly collaborative conversation within and around the most up-to-the-minute issues affecting Social Media. Each week, the Social Media Club editorial board looks at trends, topics and news affecting social media during a Blogtalk Radio broadcast. During the call, the editorial board forms the question. This is where YOU come in: we’d love for you to post your thoughts on your blog, via Twitter or by commenting on the Social Media Club site. Please tag your blogs and posts with a hash tag, ‘#’, so we can track the conversation. For example, if you wrote a response to Social Media Club Question of the Week 13, please tag your post ‘#SMCQ13’ and we’ll be able to find it, track back, and link the post to the original post. Your answers will all be included in the weekly Conversation post & Blogtalk Radio broadcast review of the answers we received. We also invite you to call in to the shows to share your viewpoint. Instructions about how to call in will be given on this site by the end of each week. Thanks for joining the club!

SMCNYC Meeting on ROI for Social Media 6/17/09

Title: SMC New York
Location: PR Newswire, 350 Hudson, NYC
Link out: Click here
Description: Social Media Return on Investment
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2009-06-17
End Time: 20:30

Social Media’s Return On Investment - When will we get buy-in?

On June 17^th, members of the Social Media Club of NYC will take on the thorny question of how and when companies and brands are going to monetize their investment in Social Media.

Our meeting will be guided by the insights of presenters Josh Chasin, Chief Research Officer, comScore, Inc. and David Binkowski, Director of Word of Mouth Marketing at MS&L.

Binkowski will weigh in from the practitioners POV, and Chasin from the analytical.

We’ll explore the most current definitions and metrics. Look forward to a lively discussion on adapting current standards (driving targeted traffic) and making a case for new ones (level of audience engagement).

The evening event will be moderated by Donald Schwartz, Technology Writer Imagelink Productions & Technology Coordinator for Fast Company.com.

Agenda:

6:00-6:30 Registration and Networking

6:30-6:45 Welcome and introductions

6:45-7:00 Open discussion:  members pressing Social Media questions

7:00-7:45 Featured presentation: When and How the Buy-In Will Come for Social Media’s Return On Investment with Josh Chasin, Chief Research Officer, comScore, Inc. and David Binkowski, Director of Word of Mouth Marketing at MS&L

7:45-8:00 Wrap: Closing thoughts from members. Suggested new social media tools from club members. Upcoming event announcements. Then networking

Registration required for entry to the building. Photo ID may be required to enter the building.

Special Acknowledgement: The Social Media Club of New York City wishes to express their gratitude to PR Newswire for their support of this meeting.

NOTE: This event will be recorded. By purchasing a ticket or attending, you agree to be captured via video, audio, and photo. All media will be released under a (CC)Attribute-Non-commercial-share-Alike license.

Snacks, Drinks, Wine and Beer will be served.

SMCQ12 How are companies using social media to empower their workforce

Last week, the SMC Editorial board focused on how to best provide education toward preparing for the workplace of the future. This week, we realized, much of that future workplace is happening NOW. And many companies, comprised of employees representing several different generations of the education system, are slow to embrace (or are simply having a hard time getting their arms around) social media tools. At the same time some companies are stymied by fear of the new, weariness about getting too much information or concern that the use of social media at work will cut into productivity, others can’t imagine a desktop without several browser tabs opened displaying common social media URLs.  Is there a sweet spot for using social media at work?  If so, we’d love for you to share your tips. Which leads to our Social Media Question of the week #12:

#SMCQ12 Find examples of how organizations are empowering their workforce with [using] social media?

Please tag your posts, Tweets & comments #SMCQ12. On Friday, the board will reconvene to review your responses.

SMCQ11 Preparing for the workplace of the future

SMC members and readers had far ranging responses to the topic of educating toward a future workplace we can only begin to imagine. From teamwork to new media tools, online training to new models of socializing youth, its clearly a topic ripe for discussion and innovation. One common denominator among our respondents: a need to listen to the student as much as instruct.

Notes from the field:

On what we need to to:

“What do we need to teach kids? How to solve problems, work in teams, and access information to succeed. At present, that’s not what schools teach.” — Francine Hardaway

“…the real question is to ask how can we get the younger generation to teach educators and businesses about using social media” — Peter Williams

“We need to shift managerial thinking from a “sage on the stage” mentality to a “guide on the side” where we actively learn from our newest employees and find ways to incorporate their communication styles and approaches into “older” ways of thinking.” — Amy Smith

“Only by identifying what products and services will be in demand in the future, can we anticipate the type of goods that will need to be produced and the type of employee that will be needed to supply businesses who will produce things to meet society’s needs going forward. — David Ligon , http://etoolkit.org/etoolkit/

What some are already doing:

“At Laguna Playhouse, I use college interns and empower them with the responsibility of monitoring and updating all of our social media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Myspace, etc), so they have first hand experience of how to incorporate social media into the workplace.” — Christopher Trela

“Has anyone heard of Skoodat? It’s a brand new application using Salesforce.com and their software which will allow schools to provide leadership training to staff and monitor individual students skill sets before stepping foot in the classroom.” — Jessica Murray

More than one Twitter respondent pointed out a recent post on Business Week by  Jim Goodnight and Keith Krueger that took a deeper look at the issue as well as government involvement and support:

“Why Obama Can’t Ignore Education Tech“ Business Week, 12/25/2008

“School technology investments enable 21st-century learning and provide our current and future workforce with the tools they need to compete and succeed in our globally integrated world. To accomplish this goal, Obama’s reported $850 billion Economic Recovery Plan should include two critical components: 1. Investments in school technology and broadband; and 2. Investments in home-to-school technology targeted at low-income families. Specifically, the federal stimulus package should cover expenses for schools to install or upgrade Internet connections to broadband; hire technical and instructional technology support; and purchase or upgrade hardware, software, and services.”

Social Media Coverage Opportunity in Amsterdam

I am curently seeking two online content creators (blogging, video, audio, photo) to cover an event in Amsterdam. Locals only, and two tickets are provided for two people to cover the event utilizing as many coverage tools as possible to include:

• interviews with panelists
• photos of the event and the expo
• live blogging
• video coverage of as much as possible

Not requirements above need to be met, but candidates that can provide as many of those mentioned will be considered first.

The event is June 2nd, WiMAX Forum Global Congress 2009

Send your information HERE for consideration. Please include equipment you have to cover the event, availability, and links to blogs and other content you’ve created that highlight the work you’ve done.

SMCQ10: Free content, friend or foe? The jury is out

Consumer Electronics Blogger Sought

An amazing opportunity for new and established bloggers has just come my way. A globally recognized technology news agency is seeking talented writers and media enthusiasts to assist them with coverage of the latest and greatest in all manner of formats.

Biz-News is quickly rising as the go-to site for consumer electronic news in the field of HDTV, Smartphones, Storage, and and VoIP. The readership of the site extends across all professional markets specializing in said categories. This is an excellent opportunity for writers and bloggers to be featured on the site and gain international exposure as the expert in your field on behalf of Biz-News. Credit and bylines will be given to the writer, from time to time, passes to exclusive conferences and seminars for industry professionals will be granted for you to cover the event on behalf of the site.

Interested writers are asked to submit a portfolio of work to establish social proof and existing presence in the blogosphere. Interest in these fields is always a plus, and commitment to producing quality content is key. Biz-News focuses on high quality writing in order to maintain its established reputation amongst the numerous industry professionals that gather on the site. If you’re writing is not online, but you’ve got a body of work that includes printed articles in newspapers, journals, or magazines you are not excluded from this all call for writers.

The position does not offer any financial compensation, but does offer the following:

• inclusion into the established professional writing team of Biz-News
• FREE passes to major conferences worldwide as they become available for events in your area
• exposure and experience in writing for a globally recognized consumer electronics news site
• byline and attribution to all work done for Biz-News

Biz News is a platform of expression. We are eager to let the writer’s voice provide valid, informed, independent and relevant information in our columns.

If you’re interested, please send inquiries HERE.

Social Media: Who’s getting it?

• GlobeHop: Vendors that get social media are the ones who can break out of the lingo and use plain speak to tie it into client’s business goals.
• hifivelounge: Important to be able to talk simply and clearly about SM without resorting to buzz words. Also value in humility and perspective.
• hifivelounge: @Kimber_Regator that can happen with “experts”. We like to listen first & learn from a client as we roll up the sleeves….
• GraemeThickins: “How do you know your vendor understands social media?” I say if they don’t ask, “Why would you share your knowledge on Twitter?”
• Francine Hardaway offered up some other tips on vetting your vendor to see if they truly understanding social media: “Do you see your vendor on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, other social sites? That’s the bare minimum. Read your vendor’s blog or his Tumblr, or his comments on the blogs of others. Is s/he a valuable member of his/her community? Engaged? Respected? Thoughtful? Social media is a very quickly evolving space, and new tools come out every day. Does your vendor evaluate them? Write about them? Understand what they do? Only after you’re sure your vendor is actually a user of social media do you ask the questions you would ask of any marketing consultant.”
• And finally, SMC Board Member Kimberly Turner found a wealth of posts on the topic, as well as offering up her view: “What I do know for sure is that too many corporations tend to forget the “social” aspect of social media and treat it like just another way to broadcast their rigid message into the universe. I also know that you should not only look at a vendor’s previous results but also make sure that their approach will work well with your company’s individual goals.”

SMCQ2: Weighing in on the Responsibility of Social Media Services

In light of fluctuating terms of service and questionable archiving policies by some popular social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo), the SMC Editorial Board posed the question What are the responsibilities of Web 2.0 services to engage with and respond to the community it serves and what are the responsibilities of the community to the service? to discern how much content was being shared versus given away, what was being stored or simply abandoned, and who perhaps gets to do the giving away.   Free, as it turns out, often comes with a price tag and the deeper communities get in with their use of social media tools, the clearer some of the ambiguous terms of service become. As the following comments demonstrate, the question regarding responsibility of both service community spawned as many questions as real answers:

“the real question is whether  it’s reasonable to expect a certain level of service or % of uptime when you’re not paying for a product?” wrote Kai MacMahon http://kaimac.wordpress.com

MacMahon’s comments were echoed by Chris Dickens (@CravenDickens) in a comment to the original post: “The terminology we use (social media) is misleading and oddly seductive. We use these channels with a greater sense of ‘ownership’ than email and IM tools yet that is all they are - tools. And we have no ownership.”

“Archiving, maintaining, making accessible/findable, and distributing appropriate/relevant content contributed by the membership comes first.’ — Rich Reader (@Rich Reader)

“the responsibilities by web 2.0 services include uptime and modernized features. Be open to hearing feedback & also to communicate constantly with community so they know what’s going on with the service (eg not like how Facebook handled the Terms of Service fiasco).” — Ken Yeung, http://blog.thelettertwo.com/

” Community is not something that will necessarily be efficient, the metric for success should be quality and impact. Social media companies need to understand how to add value through their systems, not how to extract income. And if they can add value, the numbers will follow.” — Brian Reich, http://thinkingaboutmedia.com/

Will Social Media providers take note? Our board will be reviewing our findings on Podcast Radio, Friday, March 27, 2009 at 8am PST. Tune in and share your view on how terms of service are being defined, conflated, changed, negotiated and renogiated. We welcome your views and experiences!

A Social Survey for Social Causes

This is a modified version of a post that originally ran on Mashable, and is co-authored by Qui Diaz, Beth Kanter and Geoff Livingston.

Do you believe in social causes? That in any time, but especially bad economic times, we need our nonprofit industry working to help ailing parts of our society? If so, then we’d like your help filling out a survey.

Nonprofits have unique challenges learning how to communicate on the social web. It’s not as easy as selling a product or service, it’s charitable, and often involves education and relationship building with donors. Now that social media has become increasingly dominant and the old 1.0 ways aren’t working, nonprofits are grappling with how to connect with and engage the digitally savvy folks just like you.

The three of us - Geoff Livingston, Qui Diaz, and Beth Kanter - are working on a special project, dubbed “Philanthropy 2.0″ to provide nonprofits the information they need to best serve donors and advocates with meaningful conversations and dialogue about their causes. The Philanthropy 2.0 research project, funded by the San Francisco Foundation, Columbus Foundation and Minnesota Community Foundation/Saint Paul Foundation, will make this information available to the nonprofit sector. The Project intends to publish the executive summary of all of our findings in the Society for New Communications Research’s Journal of New Communications Research and for download on the Internet. Social Media Club members will get one of the first looks at the survey information.

So help us out, and take the survey. Give causes the information they need to best serve your desires for a smarter, better nonprofit industry that gets the social web. We’ll also give away ten copies of Now Is Gone by Geoff Livingston with Brian Solis to people who leave extra insights and feedback in the comments section on the original Mashable post. The most interesting comments will be selected.

Strategies Magazine sponsors the Social Media Club France

Following the sponsorship from Orange a few months ago, SMC France secured a new sponsorship with Strategies Magazine. Strategies, part of the Reed Business group, is the most famous and respected print and online weekly - specialized in the media and communication industry in France. Through this partnership, Strategies will facilitate the diffusion of the best practices elaborated and discussed among the members of SMC. By associating its name and image to SMC France, Strategies actively contributes to the development of SMC, and positions itself as a thought-leader in the communication industry.

The partnership launches with a video blog that will cover every SMC France public lecture and will be posted on strategies.fr.

Many thanks to Strategies for its support and its trust!

For any info on the Social Media Club France and its future / past events, please visit our wiki section or contact Pierre-Yves Platini (pyplatini at gmail dot com).

Web 2.0 Expo

Title: Web 2.0 Expo
Location: San Francisco, CA
Link out: Click here
Description: Web 2.0 Expo provides insight into the new generation of services and opportunities offered by Web 2.0.
Start Date: 2009-03-31
End Date: 2009-04-03

OMMA Global: Hollywood

Title: OMMA Global: Hollywood
Location: San Francisco, CA
Link out: Click here
Description: This biannual conference and trade show for the business of Online Media, Marketing and Advertising attracts about 4,000 people.
Start Date: 2009-03-23
End Date: 2009-03-24

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