NewMediaBrain

Ok...I couldn't help myself. Having gone through my Social Network experience noted earlier.....with the Hannah Montana concert. I have footage below of the opening concert in St. Louis over the weekend. How is this relevant to New Media in the business environment? Well, this footage was found with a view into the Huffinton Post and a reputable entertainment blogger who is featured on the front page today. 

Oh yeah, and I was able to lock in tickets. This of course did not have a thing to do with my  Miley World account and membership. Just a good friend making an old fashioned telephone inquiry directly to the box holder department at the stadium. Hmmmm.....a one on one conversation in this New Media World locks in pricey tickets in an old fashioned way.

A Blog About a Blog

Take a minute to see Arianna Huffington's view on how Main Stream Media intersects with the digital newspaper world. Those Main Stream Media writers are contributing real time and accurately researched content for the Huffington Post. For FREE! Quite a business model that seems to work for the writers and the Blog-Newspaper.

See Arianna's closing keynote at the IMedia Brand Summit in September 07 Here.

The World is Definitely Flat

Yes, I have experienced Thomas Friedman's pronounced phenomena....which has been updated by the way.  Did I travel to India recently?.....no I have not been fortunate enough to make it there. I did however spend a little time with Ricky in Kochin virtually through the help of Symantec...their help desk and the services of WebEx.

A reinstall of Norton Anti virus on our third computer in our household left me with needing assistance from the tech support people at Symantec. I entered my information into their website including my contact info and a summary of my issues.  I called the listed 800# ( but I could have requested they call me this evening), and spoke to Ricki. Because of my information already entered and given to them over the phone, they had my customer record in front of them showing my 3-Install purchase for Norton 07.  I was late getting our additional laptop updated and finally decided tonight to attempt that.

Ricky was kind enough to suggest I allow him to "take control" of my PC. So ...with his instructions I entered in a web address into my tool bar and found myself entering into a meeting via WebEx. Once there I allowed Ricki to take over my PC and control of my mouse to de-install my security software and reinstall an updated version of Norton Anti virus.

While Ricky worked on my second laptop finishing the install....all from INDIA...I sat down and did a little work on my other laptop. Flat is not the word. Flat out Amazing I would say.

What is RSS?

A simple video explanation for Real Symple Syndication. RSS is a family of Web Feeds formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines or podcasts.  A great video explanation!

Social Networks for The Disney Age

I recently had a colleague ask me about Social Networks. What exactly was I referring to when I spoke about a Social Network. A term that is a buzz word in any current marketing arena would seem to be common to most professionals in todays' business world. I have found that is not the case.

   A Social Network is a set of nodes each "node" representing an individual that may share a common interest or interdependency such as a vision, idea, friends, dislike, likes, or even disease. The ties between each node is the relationship to each other. In the simplest context,t he Social Network is visually the "map" of the series of nodes and ties.

The most recent Social Network that I have come into touch with is that of the up and coming Teen Superstar Miley Cyrus. Who may you ask is Miley Cyrus? Well she plays a double role in the TV phenomena television show by Disney, Hannah Montana. How does this fit into the discussion of Social Networks and it's importance in today's Marketing arena? Stay with me here.

As Miley Cyrus, the daughter of Country Western star Billy Ray Cyrus, who also plays her father on the TV show Hannah Montana has launched a multi-city concert tour and selling out in under an hour to crowds of 18,000 and more. Tickets are found "unavailable" an hour after release and quickly being made available on sites like Ebay and StubHub for upwards of triple the price.

How does the term Social Networking fit into this story? Yes, as one of the many individuals "blocked" out of ticket purchasing due to zip code restrictions set by the arena and Ticket Master, I was prompted to join Miley's social network so that I may be allowed to enter a special code and participate in a "pre-sale" offer. Only to be stumped by Ticket Master and the community lords representing said arena.

My interest was peaked by the Marketing strategy of Miley World where you PAY to be a member so that you may have pre-sale access to concert tickets and ...other rewards. Enter this site and you see there are Hannah Montana fans on-line chatting with each other about Miley...I mean Hannah....whatever. They are sharing pictures, events, stories......here it is. Take the Pre-Teen and Early Teen generation, who probably are FaceBook members and narrow the Social Network down even more with the interest of Miley Cyrus a.k.a. Hannah Montana.

Now, with members growing daily. Miley and her "people" and her advertisers and Disney have a platform to talk with, gain insight and purchasing power with more nitched information.  Cool Huh?

Gig,Job,Project,Assignment...What Do I call It?

I have been inspired to ponder the "wording" of my most current professional efforts.  Providing solutions to like minded business owners and professionals .....is my goal.  Offering an interpretation into the Social Media,Web 2.0 world to those individuals who are seeking a better solution or marriage to their own Old Media marketing efforts is an area of great need and opportunity.

A Gig ...Job...Project...Assignment...which one of these terms can best describe the process of  incorporating these solutions to a client.  Who knows? 

Brick and mortar institutions....provide a lot of employment opportunities....for many professions. What about this new age of employment?  Telecommuting, virtual conference rooms and meetings. I most recently listened to an old boss of mine ....giving a presentation...at a technology conference from my home office. It was great to hear his voice and his view on where technology is going at IT Conversations.  I then did a ZoomInfo Search and was able to find him at his most recent corporate rung upon the tall ladder he has climbed. We connected and he is a good reference for my forthcoming clients...from my Job days.

I knew this corporate mogul back during the days I had ....a Job....in a brick and mortar building...on Michigan Avenue.  At the time, we were paving the way with innovation and ground breaking consumer and business communication models. 

Today, the landscape has changed. Not just for myself from Midwestern flat plains to the coast, but for the business world...around the world. Resources don't have to sit down the hall, down the street or down the thru-way. The world is truly flat ....in the Web 2.0 world. 

A recent spot on a national news segment highlights a few such companies, most notably Crayon. With no true..brick and mortar. Counterparts meet in Second Life and hold virtual meetings. The cool thing, the focus for the solutions to their clients is embracing and maximizing the Social Media landscape while using all of those Social Media tools for themselves to deliver the customer's solutions. I bet these Crayon guys consider these client solution processes... cool gigs,assignments or projects.....not simply a job.

Back to School in the World of Web 2.0 Part I

Yes, it is September in New England and this time is most humorously marked by the confusion of wardrobe among the residents of this coastal town. Lilly Pulitzer and furl lined Crocs can be seen on the same afternoon in a downtown stroll.

This month also marks the beginning of school after a period of stopping and starting with Labor Day and a religious observation thrown in. It also marks the continued professional education that one involved in the world of New Media must embark on.

Let's not delay with this info and this info may involve a couple days of info going forward. The LG phone submersion did send me shopping with my final decision resting on a Blackberry.  Just 24 hours after Apple announced their drop..........in Price.  And now....as I continue my Web 2.O education and phone buyers remorse...I find the TypePad announcement of the Iphone mobile posting ability. Now I'm researching my "bail out" clause with Verizon.....too cool of a tool. Check out Somewhat Frank's video of a tutorial on placing a post on your TypePad blog via an Iphone.

Iphone vs. A Submerged LG on Verizon

What a super Northeast summer for weather. Beach, pool, more beach, water park after more beach. Well, an afternoon on the Lazy River with my LG cellphone left in my Patagonia boardshorts at Lake Compounce in Bristol,CT...left me with no cell service and an opportunity for a re-evaluation of my wireless carrier and  hardware.

Yes! After speaking with Linda at Verizon I found that my contract was soon up for re-newal and that I did carry the insurance needed to keep my hardware running in such a situation. I was able to forwared my cell phone to my son's LG phone to keep business running as usual. I have some decisions to make with a new phone available to me and my family.

So....the Apple Unlock happens in just the nick of time. Check out  Engadget's version of the story and the beginning of a hopeful competitve pricing model with this jewel.

The Area or the Era?

The Fourth of July holiday week was filled with friends gathering and great food being shared. A conversation among our holiday gathering began circling around graduation gifts. Having just gone through this same decision process for our own graduating family member......the discussion of the Apple MacBook took over the table. Now...please take note...none of these peers including ourselves has anyone in high school yet. In my previous dealings with computer purchases, the Apple folks just seemed like a small unique bunch. Typically centered around the graphic artist community or professional vidoegraphers and photographers.  These skill sets are being developed much earlier in the schooling years. Our own town community in Connecticut has Digital Film and Editing classes for children as young as 9.

Friends and relatives from LA to NY are acquiring this gem to organize personal photos, build slide shows easily and record music.  Apple iLife is the key to it all....I've used snip its of this technology to carry my family with me on my iPod via the built in photo storage and sideshow ability.

Is it the NYC bedroom community that we live in that subscribes to the notion of graduation gifts of such magnitude as a MacBook for a child? Or is it quite frankly the Era we live in? The Digital Era, the Era of Abundance? If there are town rec classes offering this instruction in the same glance as a tennis program that has been on the books for 20 years.....then...possibly the Era and the Area both are owed the credit.

And yes, this NYC bedroom community boasts as the home of one of the most recognizable Apple folks around.......yes the cool guy on your right.

I'll Believe Martin Liked His Face

In a recent conversation with a colleague/client, we spoke about Marketing in a New Media world. I was sharing The Dip and our conversation brought up questions about how to reach the "masses". How does ..my mom here about....a great new movie?  If not through traditional Main Stream Media (MSM) outlets...then how? Is my mom or your mom reading blogs? MySpace Sites? Pulling up You Tube Videos to review and gain info on "What's Hot?"...hmm, maybe.

A new movie being released in September 2007, I'll Believe You. I was fortunate enough to see a first run of this gem. View the trailer below....already being pushed around MySpace...

I'LL BELIEVE YOU: Theatrical Trailer

You might think the lead actor has a nice face for the camera....well...so did Martin. See this recent clip of the Member Project for American Express. David Alan Basche stars in I'll Believe You and is a featured walk-on in the Amex Member project video.  And how about that Member Project? Here is a completely socially responsible program.....focused on including and I am sure expanding American Express card membership while contributing to a Socially Responsible cause.

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