Tag: Online Communities

Mobile E-Mail (#2)

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So we learned a bit yesterday about some of the concerns around the rapid shift to mobile e-mail. Challenges across devices and operating systems make deployment more complex for sure. Grabbing the audience by the neck and getting them to respond, reply, engage, like you on Facebook, visit you on Twitter, buy something from you on Pinterest or pass along your offer to a friend that they know is in the market for your product, now this is where it gets really interesting. How do you incent this behavior? How do you drive ‘customer engagement” so that their “expressions” about your company and products are positive and they convey messages that will prompt others to consider your products over another?

So how do you breakthrough and distinguish your business in this rapidly changing technology and consumer engagement battle? Here are some very helpful tips that will provide you with a foundational approach to mobile e-mail.

Hope you learn a few tips and tricks on how you can be more successful with your mobile e-mail efforts. Thanks again to our friends at www.litmus.com.

Have an awesome weekend.

Webman

Etail – The Revolution #4

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Last of a series for this week.  So far we have looked at a number of interesting consumer etail trends plus solutions from eBay, Paypal and Facebook.  Today we will take a look at some other solutions from American Express.

But first, our final song of the week with Revolution in the title:

“Revolution rock, it is a brand new rock – A bad, bad rock, this here revolution rock – Careful how you move, Mac, you dig me in me back – And I’m so pilled up that I rattle – I have got the sharpest knife – So I cut the biggest slice – I have no time to do battle

Everybody smash up your seats – And rock to this brand new beat – This here music mash up the nation – This here music cause a sensation -Tell your ma, tell your pa – Everything’s gonna be all right – Can’t you feel it? – Don’t ignore it – Gonna be alright

Revolution rock, I am in a state of shock – So bad, bad rock, this here revolution rock – Careful how you slide, Clyde, all you did was glide – And you poured your beer in me hat – With my good eye on the beat, living on fixation street – I ain’t got no time for that ‘

Revolution Rock – The Clash

Take a look at what American Express is doing in social, letting cardmembers sync their cards with Foursquare, Twitter and Facebook. When American Express card holders sync their cards with Foursquare, they receive location-based deals and offers directly to their AmEx cards. Those who sync their card with Facebook, as part of the “Link Like Love” program, see deals in their newsfeed on Facebook, based on which companies they talk about and like. Consumers that sync their cards with Twitter, get savings loaded directly to their cards when they tweet using special-offer hashtags. The “Link Like Love” program lets brands and retailers tie sales back to efforts on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare, using the AmEx application programming interface.

Who doesn’t love a good deal? Twitter and American Express have partnered to offer special deals, discounts and coupons in 140-characters or less. If you’re an AMEX customer and a Twitter user, you’ve got $$ savings at your fingertips.

Visit sync.americanexpress.com/twitter to sync your AMEX card with your Twitter account. Then, you just have to tweet merchant-specific hashtags to load up coupon-less deals onto your card, which will become active the next time you shop at that particular merchant.  AMEX cardholders will see the coupon applied as a discount to their statement within days.

American Express® Cardmembers across the country can discover exclusive specials on foursquare. Connect any eligible Amex Card to your foursquare account today for couponless, hassle-free savings. #1 – SYNC: Go to sync.americanexpress.com & securely connect your Card to foursquare to find exclusive Amex specials at foursquare venues.

Amazing stuff.  Enjoy the weekend.

Webman

Doodle.ly – New Draw Something

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We have chatted recently about the incredible growth of Draw Something.  Viral growth that is just staggering.  Here is a quick summary of what has happened at Draw Something. I posted these statistics two weeks ago so I am sure they have gone up.

Some fun facts about Draw Something:

  • Launched 7 weeks ago
  • 20 million daily active users
  • 37 million downloads
  • 3 billion drawings since launch
  • 1 billion drawings last week
  • 2,000 drawings per second
  • Number 1 app in 85 countries

Pretty impressive stuff.  And now a new player has joined the scene (pun intended). The application is called Doodle.ly – www.doodle.ly.  It is only available on the iPad right now but given the huge interest in Draw Something, this will likely be the next destination for the artist inside all of us.

The site, which describes itself as “a social sketchpad for self-expression, creativity and inspiration” lets you create and share your wonderful pieces of art on Twitter and Facebook, as well as on the Doodle.ly site. The cool part about Doodle.ly is that you can run into some amazing artists randomly, so this site is set up just for that.

If you find a piece of art that you like, you can share it on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, or pin it on Pinterest.  The Doodle.ly iPad app brings a much better drawing experience, and has the pencil, ballpoint pen, highlighter, marker, and eraser that the site lets you use. You’ll also be able to browse work done by others, which will surely help the network grow once it gets more social features.

Take a look at this doodle.  Many artists out there just starting to tap into their creative sides.

Take a look.  I am not much of an artist, but always amazed by how creative people can be.  The Doodle.ly iPad app takes this to the next level of social engagement.  Do you think Facebook will buy them for a billion dollars, like Instagram?  Stay tuned.

Webman

Linked In – You Got Questions?

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As many of you know Linked In is the place to be for connecting with business people.  As I am an early adopter of many technologies/capabilities, I received an e-mail from Reid Hoffman, Linked In’s CEO and Founder when they passed the 100MM member mark.  It was a very nice touch.  Here is what I received from Reid:

“I want to personally thank you because you were one of LinkedIn’s first million members (member number 145247 in fact!*). In any technology adoption lifecycle, there are the early adopters, those who help lead the way. That was you.”

Sweet, I an number 145,247 and now the community has over 135MM members and growing.  I use Linked In aggressively for any number of business networking activities such as folks changing positions, important business news, plugging into new groups for learning and knowledge.  I was fortunate enough to have a Linked In professional provide me with some counsel on the best words to use for search results, layout etc. so that folks can easily find what they are looking for.

Today we see these images everywhere, but if you want to network your career Linked In is the place to be.  Well, we do not see the last one everywhere yet, but the Webman predicts this will be the next big social idea, Pinterest.  More on that in an upcoming blog.

Many folks ask me how to better use Linked In.  My friend Martha is always asking this question “Hey, I signed up, so now what do I do?” And yes fans, she may be a bit naive to Linked In but she has all the other attributes we look for – fun, smart, low maintenance, loves football and smokin hot; yup a 5 tool playa!

I came across a terrific infographic that does an awesome job of providing the Linked In Boot Camp basics.  Here is a quick summary for you and a link to the great infographic from Column Five.

  • Complete your profile
  • Connect with everyone you can – More is better
  • Customize your URL and websites
  • Spice up your image
  • Recommend others
  • Join groups
  • Add your company’s profile
  • Optimize your search results
  • Add applications

Here is a link to the infographic – http://columnfivemedia.com/work-items/mindflash-infographic-linkedin-boot-camp-basic-training-for-the-personal-marketer/

Linked In is great.  Use it to gain advantage and stay focused on the value and benefits.

Let me know what you think about this blog by commenting below.

Enjoy the weekend.

Webman

The Art of Focus

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How many times have we all used the word focus?  With ourselves, with our children, with our co-workers.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”- Ferris Bueller

Classic, but I digress.  Life does move really fast these days and if you do not look around you will certainly miss the most important things in your life.  If you are like me, we are all juggling so many things that many days are just a blur.  Husbands and wives running in different directions: children trying to grow up and face the everyday challenges of school, social, sports etc. (I think it was easier when we were growing up but that was a while ago so my memory may not be accurate).  Keeping up with changes in technology, news, work, play, friends, acquaintances, neighbors, banking, working out, eating healthy, facebook, twitter, linked-in, business meetings, networking events, even a party or two now and then, sports…….I am exhausted just listing these things.

What we are most challenged by everyday is our ability to focus on what is important and to not worry about the small stuff.  Much easier said than done, I know.  We make lists, we prioritize, we get handed honey-do lists – we have lists at home, lists at work, lists of projects, lists of people to call – we have handwritten lists on paper, post it notes, on the refrigerator and if you live in my home, small little lists and reminders on post-it notes all over the house as subtle reminders of the daily to-dos.  So many things to do, so little time.

In order to be more successful in everything that we do it is critical to remain focused on the items that move the needle.  At work, what are the items that you work on that truly make a difference to the business and to you?  Here is a technique that I learned many years ago that has worked for me and one that I have used on many occasions in business.  It is called the Start, Stop and Continue technique.  Make a list of the things you do everyday (Separate business, life, goals, home etc.) and ask yourself the questions.  What should I stop doing?  What should I start doing?  What should I continue doing?  Do this regularly as priorities, goals and impact changes constantly, just like life.

Additionally think about the things that are really important.  I found this today and wanted to share – 10 questions that create success.  I know I am giving you another task but this one is worth it.  I am asking myself these questions starting today:

  1. Have I made certain that those I love feel loved?
  2. Have I done something today that improved the world?
  3. Have I conditioned my body to be more strong flexible and resilient?
  4. Have I reviewed and honed my plans for the future?
  5. Have I acted in private with the same integrity I exhibit in public?
  6. Have I avoided unkind words and deeds?
  7. Have I accomplished something worthwhile?
  8. Have I helped someone less fortunate?
  9. Have I collected some wonderful memories?
  10. Have I felt grateful for the incredible gift of being alive?

So slow down, take a breadth, enjoy that cup of coffee or tea in the morning and think differently.  Has worked for Apple, so why not you?

Please let me know what you think of this blog by commenting below.

Webman

Blurring of the Lines!

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My friend DaCoacha is now retired, living the life.  He is a regular reader of the Webman’s blog and as he tells me he has time on his hands to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it.  DaCoacha is not worried about the life/work balance because he has put a check in the work box and can now solely focus on the things he likes to do with the people he likes to do them with.  I can regularly find him on Facebook after many years of being disconnected.  A very good thing, by the way, as we can find and locate the many people that we grew up with and reconnect in some way after so many years.  Would not have happened without the technology.

Many of you have teenage children or have observed their behavior of being constantly connected.  They will have friends over let’s say to watch a movie.  While watching they will constantly be on the ready with the phones, waiting for the little bell or ding to go off, identifying a new rather important to them text, tweet, Facebook post, e-mail or some other form of incoming information.  They immediately respond to the news, regardless of whether they are in a conversation with a friend or just watching the movie.  My favorite is when they are actually texting the people they asked over to watch the movie, when they are in the same room!

I have an on-going debate with one of my daughters over what I call “obsessive texting”.  She says, “Dad, I am just going to text so and so to see how he or she is doing.”  Seems harmless enough right.  I have then observed her actions over the course of the day and she will still be texting with that person, still finding out how they are doing.  How long does it take to find out how someone is doing?  A 10 minute conversation?  Asking them to come over to hang out and talk?  No, finding out how someone is doing has now taken the form of 500 text messages to determine how he or she is doing.  When I ask the question, the answer is, “Oh dad, she is fine.”  500 texts for that?  Geez.

Communication has been changed forever by technology.  There certainly is no going back.  The question is how can we all utilize these capabilities in a way that does not cause us more stress, where we can truly connect with the people we enjoy, love and admire.  Where we can learn the things we not only need to learn but want to learn?

Let me know your thoughts on this topic by posting your comments below.  More to come this week.

Webman

We Are Disconnected!

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Everyday we read how the world is flat, that we are all connected, that it is so easy to stay in touch with your friends and family through Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, You Tube, Flickr, e-mail, text messages etc.  We need some reality here.  The world has never been more disconnected than it is today!

Don’t get me wrong; I love technology.  But we have replaced real people relationships with real time technology posts about us.  We have moved from a “we” society to a “me” society.  No wonder we have all of the ethical, integrity, leadership and lack of trust issues in our society.

We have become a back yard society, one that no longer spends any time sitting on the front porch taking care of each other, looking after the kids in the neighborhood, relating in a real way; like having a face to face, eye to eye real conversation with someone about a topic you both care about.  Think about it.  Everyday we are now moving so fast just to keep up with all of these alleged “discussions’ and ‘conversations’.  We are not keeping up, we are treading water.  We have become a society of sound bites; formulating our opinions rapidly because we have to formulate the next opinion about something new in the next six seconds.

When I was growing up people cared.  We lived in towns with friends and family that cared about you, unconditionally.  Parents knew all of the other parents because many of them went to school together.  As a child, when you went out to play, all of the parents (who were front porch people), took an interest in what you were doing, making sure that you were safe.  We all grew up together and we knew that if you ever needed anyone, they would all be there for you, to help you through the good times and the bad.  You spent time with multiple generations and multiple ethnicities, learning from the people that lived it everyday.

Not only has this significantly impacted our generation, but this will continue to impact all future generations because it is now the norm.  Our children go away to college, because supposedly this helps them to grow, experience life and become adults.  Why on earth do we as parents support this?  My daughter is away at college ; I wish she were home.  She could get a more holistic education locally, by remaining engaged with her family, supporting the local community, experiencing life, volunteering, getting involved in many more important activities.

We have lost sight of what is truly important – being connected with people who really care about us and learning from their incredible wisdom and experience.  As we enter the holiday season, find the time to reconnect with the people who love you; the people that really know you; the people that made a difference in your life; the people that have always been there for you.

Sit on the front porch.  Say hello to people walking by.  Connect in a meaningful way.  And turn your phones and computers off!!

If you like this blog, please let me know by providing feedback below.  If you have any topics you would like for me to cover, just let me know.

Webman