Archive for January, 2009

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The New President: Obama

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Today, I wish to take a minute from tech, from web development, social media and all that and post some thoughts on the events of today since America just received her new president.

There are many milestones that President Obama has simply steam rolled over and made a reality for this country. The first Black president, the fact he didn’t come from tons of money, etc. He captured the American people and they voted him into his position. A position that means he is the leader of one of the greatest countries of all time, a position that requires he bring VALUE to it. Not just any VALUE, but POSITIVE VALUE.

The events of today are meaningless unless POSITIVE VALUE is brought to the American people, this country and the world by the new President. I say that not discrediting the fact that President Obama is the first Black president, as that is a milestone that has been needed for far too long, but as with anything I look at: race, sex and religion all aside – the amount of POSITIVE VALUE he brings is what will change this country, not his color, not his sex, and not his religion.

Negative value, my friends, will take the country backwards, first Black president or not. Time will tell how the change of today will shape the country and world. And in everything each of us as an individual, as a local community, an online community, and country do, we create some form of value. Value that is either positive or negative. Many say Bush brought negative value, many say Obama brings positive value. Again, time will tell the true value that Obama brings to the country and to the world.

I feel probably the most unfortunate thing I have seen is that so many people herald this change and I have gotten the sense that they feel immediate results are going to be realized…and the new President said himself it would take time. What happens if major change doesn’t happen in 6 months or even 12 or 18 months? Do the people who so fervently wanted this change, the people who interact at the speed of the Internet and social media in today’s constant changing country have the patience to wait and see the value, whether positive or negative? Do they have the ability to stand behind their choice? To stand by their beliefs no matter the change and value brought? Or will they quickly back-track, change their mind, change their heart and move on to the next election and try again? Much as they do with their business interactions, social media interactions and offline personal interactions? Ex-President Bush suffered that – from leading a country and having approval ratings skyrocket after the attacks in 2001, to becoming the “worst” that has been in a long time. Oh how fickle can we the people be. Back-track and change beliefs because it is the “popular” thing to do….it’s what the Jone’s did, so we should to.

One thing is certain – change is here. Let’s hope it brings POSITIVE VALUE to this country and the world.

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Do You Comment Just To Comment?

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Blog Comment Form

Blog Comment Form

One of the nice things about blogs is the ability on most of them to allow user interaction in the form of leaving comments on posts. I have done this, as I am sure most anyone who reads this has done as well. The question I pose today is this: Do you comment, just to comment?

The great thing about comments is, you can get a link back to your site. However, is that the only reason you leave a comment? If so, maybe you should re-think your strategy. Simply commenting for the sake of it, or the sake of a link is not only going to hurt you long run, but often times hinder the communication that is attempting to take place on the blog.

Just now I was reading a favorite blog, and had posted a comment earlier. So there I was reading other comments, and getting some brain-food from them, and I started clicking on the comment poster links. I visited probably about 10 different sites, one of which was a student who is currently doing freelance web design while going to school. Hmm….that sounds kind of where I started out at too!

That interaction found me retracing some steps I have taken, thinking of what success and failures I have had and reflecting on how to build into the future. All that from a comment on a blog post? You bet, because I took the time to read the post, comment something of positive value, and read those other positive value comments, and then actually visit the site to get “a look at” the comment poster.

Maybe you will just find another favorite blog to follow, maybe you will have a revelation, maybe you will see nothing of positive value. But if you aren’t truly interacting, following some of the comment poster links, and are just hoping everyone else sees yours, seems like a waste of effort since you aren’t giving any thing of positive value back to the blog poster or comment posters.

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Do You Create Value?

Monday, January 19th, 2009

Do you create value? Do you even know what value I speak of?

It seems that there are many voices in the social media/network arena, just as there are in the web development and PHP programming arenas, some claim to be “experts” while others do nothing but “bash” the experts. Human nature to be competitive I guess. But the basic idea is this, everything we do creates value. So to answer the question for you, yes you create value!

So the true question is what type of value do you create? Positive or Negative?

Want to build your followers, interact with the big dogs or sell more product? You had best hope you are out there, daily, generating positive value. Negative value will do nothing more than move you in the wrong direction.

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Beginning Social Media – Part 7 – Wrap-Up

Monday, January 19th, 2009

In this final series of the Beginning Social Media series, I wish to provide a simple wrap up of what I view social media as, what it can be and how it might be used via a simple list, much as the previous post about what can be provided by being active in social media.

  1. Social media is as much about interaction with people as it is the media shared between them
  2. While social media is exploitable for business, the relationships created are longer lasting and a stronger impression that a traditional marketing message to the masses through standard media outlets
  3. It doesn’t matter how many followers or friends you have, nor does it matter how many you follow in return etc.
  4. Number 3 above is true because it matters on the interaction you have with them
  5. When you do have the attention of your friends and followers, make what you say, type, play, share matter and be of value
  6. Understand haters are in every realm and grow a thick hide
  7. Realize even the big dogs are personable and friendly when approached in the proper way
  8. Learn from the mistakes of others, teach others not to repeat your mistakes when possible
  9. Broadcasting works in television, radio and some online media, but sometimes not so well in social media
  10. Being Genuine and yourself will get you farther than being what you are not
  11. No matter what your strategy for gaining friends, followers and building your “value” network, keep it just that, “value” network.
  12. Don’t just take value, but add and give value back

Social media is a new paradigm of user interaction, user generated content, branding (both business and personal) and opportunities to expand personally, professionally and business wise. If done properly it can propel one to the forefront and bring great results, and when done poorly it can ruin the best of people and businesses. Empowerment within social media makes people informed viewers of your message, and generally informed people can spot a fake, fraud or else wise a mile away.

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Beginning Social Media – Part 6

Monday, January 19th, 2009

So far we have looking at some dos and do nots in social media, how to interact since it is social after all, being genuine, as well as some inspiring posts by some of the better minds on social media. This post is a shorter one that is merely going to provide a random list of items that I see social media being able to provide for individuals and/or businesses.

  • Interaction with others in a new paradigm
  • Learn new skills
  • Gain more exposure for your skills
  • Find peers in your industry
  • Gain exposure for your business
  • Increase customer service
  • Increase communication channels
  • Get your message in front of more people for less cost
  • And the list goes on…..

Keeping some of the business aspects in check – social media is not just a place to broadcast a message of “Buy Our Product” – it is a place of true interaction with many “potentials”. Potentials being: potential customers, potential clients, potential employers, potential employees, potential peers…you get the picture.

As a side note, employers entering the social media atmosphere should be well minded to follow some of the advise that has been given for potential employees. If you shoot yourself in the foot using social media, potential employees who may have been top notch very well may shy away and go else where. So it is not just potential employees that must watch their social interactions, but those employers looking to social media to gain new and better employees.

Also if you are a business selling a product or service, you would do well to develop the relationships first and the product or service should lend itself, if its a decent enough product or service, to sell through the medium or to gain customers through the door.

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