Social Media is unique.

Read enough Blogs and articles about Social Media and you will come across a coterie of commentators that take umbrage at the term ‘Social Media’ – they argue it’s just media, that adding Social is part of a plot for trend jumpers to cash in on a self created fad.

I think they are wrong.

Having come from a background as a TVC Director my experience has made it very clear that Social Media is a creature unto itself for one very simple reason;
Anyone can take part.
Anyone can create, publish, and distribute media like never before in history.
Anyone can comment on those creations and start a dialogue.

The only dialogue I used to have with media was yelling at the television, mostly during sport, or ‘A Current Affair’.
Apart from that I made ads that could only be made and shown by people with very deep pockets.

This fundamental shift in access warrants the definition of this form of media as distinct from what we have been used to. Whilst there are many common characteristics with ‘heritage’ media the differences are not trivial. I’ve covered this before with Media Meritocracy and I do tend to bang on about it because I think it is what is the most exciting thing about this form of media – it’s about what you’ve got to say, not what who can afford to be heard.

(Photo by Ahmed Rabea)

Great example of Social Media at work

Wednesday night I had the pleasure of taking part in a Geelong Chamber of Commerce panel discussing using the internet for business. One of the panelists was Raqual Ricardo from Chandon Craft.
It was fascinating listening to Raqual describe how they started a blog as a temporary measure whilst waiting for the website to go live, and then found they could not do without it.

The blog focuses on giving as much information as possible to their core client base, women 30 – 50’s, not seen as your traditional computer users. Raqual spends about thirty minutes a day updating, and if she skips a day people who come in comment on the fact that there was no post – talk about an engaged user group!

As you look through their content, their commitment to publishing, and that fact that they have been building this blog for some time it is as if they have ticked off every principal you hear discussed about how to go about building an audience through SM. All done by focusing on what adds value for their customers, and they are reaping the rewards each day.

Blogging Part 2

OK you thought the 25 ideas from yesterday were good – well here is double the goodness!

‘50 Ways to take your blog to the next level‘ from Chris Brogan. I have learnt a lot from following Chris’ blog. He is very generous with his knowledge and when I have made contact he has ALWAYS made time to reply.

Between the last post and this one you should have ample material to mull over on your blogging so back to normal transmissions tomorrow.

(icon from vistaicons)

Blogging part 1

When talking to people new to blogging there is often a bit of anxiety around how to ‘blog’ properly. I don’t think there is a definitive one size fits all answer as content requirements vary blog to blog and audience to audience. There are however some useful principles and concepts that apply across the board. Many others have written about this far better than I could so I’ll do a small series of posts pointing to the blogs I have seen that give IMHO the best advice about how to blog.

First up is Valeria Maltoni posting very recently on her blog Conversation Agent.

Pay particular attention to points 7 to 9, and 17 to 19, and 25, which advises to have fun. That’s more relevant than you may think – if it’s a grind that will show in your material. You’ll come across all cranky. And then no-one will want to know you. Which will make you more cranky. Then you’ll loose your job, and house, and spouse, and friends…probably your dog too, there’s only so much they can take.

Think how cranky you’ll be then.

I’ve warned you.

Here’s the post.