The State Of The Real-Time Web
Louis Gray is without question one of the top experts in the real-time web. According to Gray ” Like it or not the web is moving faster and faster everyday.” At Blog World Expo I listened to him talk about the current and future status of the real-time web and real-time applications.
“If something is not real-time any more, then it just seems slow,” said Gray. “Real-time content makes information social”
A new protocal called Pubsubhubhub acts as the middle man between your content to the destination hub. It distributes information across networks in real-time, basically in removes delays and makes RSS real-time.
Below are a few of the major real-time services that Gray recommended checking out:
Collecta
OneRiot
Twazzup
Friendfeed
Pingie
Google Wave
LazyFeed
Blog World Expo Key Note Panel: Sponsored Content
I am at Blog World Expo in Las Vegas and today of all the panels, one generated the most buzz and controversy: Sponsored Conversations. The session included: Jeremiah Owyang, Ted Murphy, Wendy Piersall, Jennifer Leggio.
The panel started with an overview of new FTC guidelines which require bloggers to disclose if they were given money or products in exchange for coverage. Lots of gray area remains in defining what is considered compensation. The rules also make bloggers as libel as advertisers for product claims.
In the session about 60 percent of attendees were in favor of sponsored conversations. While only a small percentage were against. The theme of the panelists thoughts were that some sponsored conversations could work in the right situations. However, panelists made it known that sponsored conversations can be very damaging to brand reputation when done wrong.
It was clear that so much needs to be decided in this sector, but the bigger question is how the FTC will enforce this across the mound of content that is published each day on the web.
Riggin Joins Public Relations Department
Carrie Riggin joins Howard, Merrell & Partners as an account coordinator with the Public Relations Department. Initially, she will primarily service to major accounts, Butterball, LLC and Georgia-Pacific Professional Food Services Solutions, best known for the DIXIE® line of products.
Riggin’s communications experience fits well with Howard, Merrell & Partner’s growing public relations offerings. She will provide her clients with core PR support in the areas of media relations, writing, tradeshows, product launches and crisis communications. Previously with O’Keeffe & Company, in Old Town Alexandria, Va., she handled media relations and writing, facilitated media interviews, and organized events.
Riggin graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a minor in writing and rhetoric. She currently operates her own blogs, TheCollegeSkinny and TheSkinnyBuzz.
Where Does the Dinero Come From?
In an earlier post, we mentioned that Hispanics’ buying power is about to outstrip that of every other minority in the country.
(A projected $1 trillion by 2010 — a 457% increase over 1990 compared to a 176% increase in non-Hispanic buying power.)
So, where’s all that money coming from?
Well, you’ll find Latinos working in almost any job category you can think of.
Cowboys and cannery workers.
Disk jockeys and doctors.
Biologists and business executives.
Teachers and telecommunications engineers.
Secretaries and sales managers.
Hospitality workers and healthcare providers.
And, yes, gardeners and domestics and construction workers.
But here’s the part that might surprise you.
Turns out a lot of Hispanics own businesses.
Yep.
Three million of them.
That generate some $450 billion in annual sales.*
Which means Hispanic businesses need —
Banking and telecommunications services.
Computers and office supplies.
Office furniture and vehicles.
Janitorial and sanitation equipment.
And a host of other products and services.
So again the question is this.
Are they buying any of these things from you?
:: :: ::
Next time we’ll talk about what makes Latinos tick.
And about why understanding their values is important.
Stay tuned.
*Source: Selig Center for Economic Growth, 2006.
My Raleigh Tour Guide: Social Media
A newbie to the Raleigh area, I have found the trusty internet to be a great resource, not only for MapQuest directions, but to learn more about the city, current events and great restaurants to try. I am now an avid follower of several blogs and Twitter feeds that keep me up to date on Raleigh/Durham happenings. I figured I would share for those of you who may also be new to the area, just visiting, or Raleigh natives who might be looking for new things to do!
Blogs:
Raleighing – links to several other Raleigh blogs and resources
GoGoRaleigh – great way to find out about local events/concerts/speakers
NewRaleigh – news blog & magazine about restaurants, nightlife, music, art, politics, and culture
GinnySkal.com (formerly Ginny from the Blog) – a look at life in Raleigh, also PR, Social Media insight
Raleigh Conoisseur – conversations about downtown Raleigh and its evolution as a city
Twitter:
@news14raleigh – local news
@raleighweather – local weather
@360Raleigh – everything Raleigh
@LinkingRaleigh – networking
@Goodberrys – ice cream, duh
@RDCH – Triangle area social media
@NCStateFair – State Fair news (my first time going this year, so I need to be prepared)
These are just a few! For a full list, and to choose those you would like to follow click here.
Talking Social Media For B2B At Blog World Expo
Blog World Expo is one of the largest social media conferences of the year. It is an event that brings the industry’s best and brightest together to discuss the implications of new and social media on business.
The 2009 BlogWorld & New Media Expo will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, beginning on October 15th. This is first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of new media including: Blogging, Podcasting, Social Media, Online Video, Music, TV, Radio, Gaming, Entertainment and Communities. In addition to the only industry-wide new media industry exhibition, BlogWorld & New Media Expo features the largest new media conference in the world including more than 50 seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and internet-savvy business.
This year Blog World Expo has added a social media and B2B panel to the business track of the conference. I will be moderating the panel and will be joined by:
David Thomas, Social Media Manager at SAS
Kyle Flaherty, Director Of Marketing at BreakingPoint Systems, Inc.
Mica Veihman, Social Media Team Lead at Monsanto Company
The panel has a lot of information to cover in only an hour. It will address many components of social media for B2B companies including: lead generation, employee social media policy, social CRM, resources needed, business blogging, as well as any questions that the audience brings to the table.
Study: Social Media Impacts Search Clicks
The impact of social media on improving organic search results as long been discussed, however, a new study is shedding light on the connection between social media and the behavior of users in clicking paid and organic search links..
A break out statistic from the report:
“Consumers exposed to branded social media were 2.4 times as likely to click an organic link”
This study serves as another indication that search, social media or any other forum of marketing does not stand alone. All aspects of a campaign impacts the others, thus to maximize effectiveness a diversified campaign is important.
Study: Online Video Need To Be Funny And Ads Need To Be Short
eMarketer often seems like it publishes new research every week. Well this week research is all about online video. After reviewing the research data two major takeaways emerged.
Takeaway #1: Long pre-roll ads kill online video views. The chart above shows the gaps between views of videos that had a 30 second pre-roll ad vs. a 5 second pre-roll and then a 1/3 ad while the video was playing. This reaffirms how short the attention span is for online video.
Takeaway #2: Funny is more important than informative for views. The chart above shows a video being funny gives it a better chance for user engagement than a video that is emotional or informative regardless of the age demographic.
Both of these charts provides good food for thought when planning for online video content!
High speed photography
Q: Who likes high speed photography?
A: Everyone.
You could look it up, or just take my word for it.
I took a few hours to dabble in the high speed arts.
And I think that we can agree that the results are pretty stunning.
Using a $15 fish tank and some elbow grease I got some amazing results.
Check out more on Flickr or just watch this space, I’m sure there’s more high speed photos to come.
Fruit is the obvious object of choice, but I’m looking for something different.
Anyone have any ideas?
Anyone?
Bueller?
Where Does the Dinero Go? – Part 2
So, what’s the most important purchase Latinos make?
Last post, I said it might surprise you.
Let’s find out.
The most important purchase Latinos make is —
Their home.
That’s right.
U.S. Hispanics own homes.
“Well, duh,” you say.
No, wait. That’s not the surprising part.
This is.
Hispanics exhibit the fastest growth in home ownership of any minority in the U.S.
Twice as fast as non-Hispanic whites.
And four times as fast as African-Americans.
Which means Hispanic homeowners need roofs and decorations, furniture and security alarms, household supplies and cleaning products, pool chemicals and kitchen appliances, barbecues and bed sheets.
And a whole lot more.
The question is this.
Are they buying any of these things from you?
:: :: ::
Next time we’ll talk about how Latinos get the money they spend.
And about why one of the sources might surprise you.
Stay tuned.
