My friend stumbled upon this image from graphjam.com – enjoy!
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Tequila better than Texting while driving
By Erik Qualman
If you have been imploring your teenager, husband, or wife to avoid texting or tweeting while driving; you have been vindicated by results (below) from a recent Car & Driver test. The results are frightening.
At 70 mph, it takes a driver 15 feet to brake while driving drunk. Yet, compared to sending a text this is almost twice as safe as it takes 31 feet to brake while sending a text.
Driving 35 mph, it takes a texting driver 25 feet before braking compared to only 4 feet for a drunk driver (6x safer!).
Twenty-one states have banned texting and driving; seems it’s time for the other 29 states to join them.
Source of cartoon: unknown
Posted in Mobile
Tagged Texting and Driving, Texting and Driving Safety Statistics, Texting Safety
Geek is the New Chic
It seems that the coolest kids on the block are Geeks (see definition below): Pete Cashmere (Mashable), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Kevin Rose (Digg), Bill Gates, Biz Stone (Twitter), and Felicia Day. On wefollow.com we see that the geeks are accumulating more Twitter followers than the jocks:
1) Social Media = 85 million followers 2) Tech = 57 million followers 3) Sports = 33 million followers.
Also according to wefollow.com, here are the top five geek influencers:
A few years ago, bearing the title of geek would have been a stigma. Now, the geek title is a badge of honor.
Being a college senior in the educational mecca of Boston I see this firsthand on a daily basis, it is obvious who the ‘cool’ kids are on campus. Cool is no longer relegated to the jocks, it’s the students using their iPads and Androids walking with a purpose and who are not afraid to be different. In order to be outstanding, you need to stand out.
Twitter CEO in June indicated they receive over 65 million tweets a day [TechCrunch] and the Library of Congress archives all public tweets since April 14th, 2010. If this upward trend continues perhaps the geeks shall inherit the earth.
Even a definition on urbandictionary.com indicates being a geek is now hip:
The term now enjoys a special status within the technical community, particularly among particularly knowledgeable computer programmers. To identify oneself as a “geek” indicates a recognition that most people still consider programming computers to be a bizarre act, along with a certain fierce satisfaction in being very good at their inglorious profession.
That most software geeks now easily earn twice as much as the average laborer just sweetens their defiant embrace of the term.
Note: Unlike the word “nerd,” which is always pejorative, “geek” often carries a positive connotation when used by one of the group. The use of the term by outsiders is considered insulting.
“If you really need the right answer, check with Bob; he’s our resident alpha geek.”
The next time that one of your friends, or enemies calls you a geek, smile and say, ‘thank you, I’ve really worked hard to get here!’
Written by Cidney Carver
Cidney is a contributing columnist to Socialnomics helping to give a Generation Y and Z perspective on digital trends.
3 Reasons to Dis the Facebook Dislike Button
The fake Facebook dislike button spread quickly this week [as reported by PC World]. Facebook may consider a real one soon, but below are 3 reasons why we are better off without a dislike button:
#1 Humans Top Need is Acceptance
If you think the recent privacy concerns have caused many users to shrink back into their protective shells, imagine how many more will increase their privacy settings with a dislike button. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs after the basic needs of survival and security our top need is to feel accepted. This is one reason why social media has exploded; it would be somewhat going against the grain to have a dislike button.
#2 Encourages Bad Energy
One of the beautiful things about Facebook is with over 500 million users it has helped break down the hurdles of distance, culture & time. With applications like Causes there have been many positive things derived from our socially connected world. The implications on cyber bullying could be egregious if a dislike button is launched incorrectly.
#3 Invites Scams
One more item for Facebook to police, distracting them from more important advancements like better search and social commerce functionality. The Internet has shown that people don’t mind going to great lengths to gain an upper hand on competition – this is particular prevalent in Asia.
What do you think? Do you like the idea of a dislike button on Facebook?
Dislike Image: Courtesy of Topnews.in
Social Media Combat: FedEx vs. UPS
By Erik Qualman
FedEx’s Brown Bailout campaign is old, but I find it an interesting use of social media. The video below is one in a series that spoofs the UPS “White Board” commercials and it has over 300,000 on YouTube.
The video implies that UPS is looking for a government bailout that will hurt tax payers, but others speculate that part of the purpose of this FedEx social media effort is to help avoid FedEx employees from unionizing.
Whatever the case may be, it appears to attract interest. The Brown Bailout Facebook Page has over 128,000 people like it. What do you think? Do you like this use of social media? Or do you find it beneath FedEx to be this aggressive?
Socialnomics Defined
By Erik Qualman
As you might expect, I enjoy being social. Hence, I listen to everyone’s input and then adjust items to make them better. One of these items has been the exact definition of Socialnomics. Thanks to everyone’s input I have recently tightened the definition:
Socialnomics: The value created and shared via social media and its efficient influence on outcomes [economic, political, relational, etc.].
Simply put: Word of Mouth on Digital Steroids!
A subset of this is that in the future we will no longer search for things, rather they will find us via social media. One of the major components of Socialnomics is social commerce; transactions (outcomes) that occur via social media.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Socialnomics Defined, Socialnomics Definition, What is Socialnomics
3 Reasons Why CEOs Hate Social Media
By Erik Qualman
Allan Mulally [Ford], Tony Hsieh [Zappos], and Howard Shultz [Starbucks] embrace social media and their companies have benefited. However, many CEOs despise social media. This can be challenging for the social media champions within companies or social media consultants trying to help companies. For the socialmediarati, we have a choice; we can call these CEO’s disparaging names, or we can better understand why they hate social media. The first may be more fun [name calling], but the later is more productive and beneficial.
In a great post from the executives at DemingHill [Why Executives Hate Social Media] we get an unfiltered viewpoint – straight from the executives – on why they feel this way. I discovered this posts because they use many facts from my Social Media ROI post & video. I encourage you all to read the DemingHill post, but it is VERY long, so below is the Cliff Notes version.
#1 I Want Control
I want to control my company! I want to control my brand! I want to determine my destiny! It’s too important to leave it to chance (or simply be outvoted by the uninformed bourgeois)! Unfortunately and tragically for us executives, the beauty and power of social media is only fully unleashed when we LET IT GO, and that, my friends, is the hardest thing for us to do (…and also explains why we hate checking luggage at the airport).
#2 Lack of Understanding = Fear
The rapid rate of change in digital innovation has caused CEO’s to feel EXTREMELY vulnerable around technology because it is something on which we have become VERY reliant, but which we understand and “control” so little, and this vulnerability leads to fear, and this fear to irrational decisions and suboptimal outcomes. When CEO’s don’t have the confidence in their staff to delegate, or lack the humility to admit their ignorance regarding technology advances, they get defensive and act out in fear – or fail to act altogether.
#3 Fear of It Being a Fad
The truth is, I would LOVE to commit to social media in a significant way, but so far nobody in my organization has stepped forward with a cerebral, strategic, multi-generational, integrated, systematic, and sustainable methodology and roadmap for synergistically capitalizing on this medium over the long haul.
Why We Can Learn to Love It
#1 Unfiltered Feedback
If done correctly, social media enables CEO’s to hear raw, candid feedback from real people – people who aren’t afraid of being fired because they CAN’T be fired. The truth is, leaders with their ego in check are already fully aware that they work for the customer – the customer is his boss – so if the customer doesn’t like dropped calls on their iPhone or the sauce on their Domino’s pizza, it’s their job to make it better. Now, every customer is not always right (or wrong), but if 850 out of 1000 user comments say that the new Sketcher’s Sport shoe caused them to sprain their ankle, then something needs to be fixed – and FAST! CoolCleveland’s Founder Thomas Mulready is a perfect example of a CEO with this customer orientation. After emailing out his weekly eMagazine for 7 years, he decided that it needed to be updated, and set about introducing a new format with much fanfare. In doing so, he also did something revolutionary – he asked all 90,000 of his readers for feedback on what they thought of the new style – and boy did they reply with scores of comments submitted over the span of a few days. But then he did something else revolutionary – he actually listened, modifying and improving the new site to reflect reader tastes and preferences. Yes, it takes humility (“Who are these people to give ME feedback? I invented this product! Don’t they know they can just click the links?) but the end result is an engaged audience who now feel genuinely empowered to provide even MORE feedback, emboldened by the knowledge that their comments actually impact (and can improve) the end product.
#2 Authenticity
As you’ve probably noticed, NOBODY can tell the company story and embody the company brand like the CEO (think Steve Jobs) and by offering the ability to immediately and directly engage stakeholders – whether on a typical day, during a product launch, and/or especially during a time of crisis – social media provides an invaluable medium for maximizing brand value and minimizing potential brand degradation. Social media helps firms “Keep it real” but couches it in a positive brand-reinforcing context.
#3 Low Cost (Six Sigma)
In case you were wondering, executives LOVE things like Six Sigma because, 1. It reminds us of our Greek fraternity days in college, 2. The other soccer Dad’s don’t understand Value Stream Mapping, and 3. Six Sigma and lean processes are all about SPEED and COST SAVINGS, two of our favorite topics. By its very architecture, social media is positioned to leverage firms’ Six Sigma orientation. PLUS, it takes your marketing posture from a one-way, blanketing, bullhorn approach to a more intimate, just-in-time interaction; offering the opportunity for a more detailed, valuable and more PROFITABLE conversation and connection with your audience (and you don’t need a Black Belt to do it).
To read the full original post from the DemingHill executives, please click here: Why Executives Hate Social Media
You HAVE To Make Videos… Period!
Today we have a guest post from Jim Kukral the author of the new book: “Attention! This Book Will Make You Money.” Thank you Jim for the post and for the kind words!
There I was, sitting in the board room of a global manufacturing company watching a presentation about their plans to use social media in 2010 and beyond. Their E-biz Director was going through a PowerPoint explaining their strategy; talking about how they’re engaging on Facebook, and recruiting on LinkedIn and monitoring their brand on Twitter, etc…
Then something happened that caused me to chuckle inside. They started to talk about YouTube and they pulled up one of the Socialnomics videos that @equalman had made and told me, “Watch this video, it will wow you. It wowed us.”
Of course, I had seen the video months earlier, but I didn’t let on. The reason I laughed inwardly when they showed me the video was that this was not the first time this happened to me. To be precise, this was the fourth time a client had showed me this video telling me that “You HAVE to watch this!”
Powerful words, yes? You HAVE to watch this!
When was the last time sometime took one of your brochures and handed it to someone else and said, “You HAVE to read this!”
The answer: never.
Let’s face it. Videos are powerful word-of-mouth generators and attention-getters. Your old tri-fold brochure… not so much.
Erik’s videos about Socialnomics are a perfect example of how you can craft a video that not only entertains, but also solve problems. Because when you can do both of those things, that’s when you have a video that people HAVE to watch, and share.
Sometimes it’s hard for people to get their heads around this concept. It’s not their fault. The Web, and social media, has changed everything. The old rule of solving a problem for a customer is still paramount, yes, in fact, solving problems is why Google is as big as they are. They solve problems for you and me by finding us the solutions/answers we need. They do it better and faster and easier than everyone else, and that’s why we use them more than everyone else.
But YouTube, which is owned by Google, has the unique ability to not only solve your problems, but also entertain you. Not a lot of people realize this, but YouTube is full of millions of how-to type videos that actually show you how to get something done. Need help figuring out how to setup Google Adwords? Just search YouTube for “adwords help” and watch a screencast video of someone walking you through it. Want to know how to cook a chicken? Do a search for “How to cook a chicken” and watch a video showing you how to do it every step of the way. There are millions and millions of videos like this on YouTube, and as people begin to get more comfortable with creating video, there will be millions and millions more.
Now what’s more entertaining? Reading a blog about how to cook a chicken, or watching a video? Are you more likely to forward on an article about how to cook your chicken, or the video? You know the answers.
Videos are indeed a powerful way to not only educate your audience, but entertain them. Every business or brand should be leveraging the tremendous power of Web video to drive more sales, leads and publicity.
There’s a reason that YouTube is the #2 search engine behind Google. Customers want your videos. Now get out there and give them to them.
About the Author Jim Kukral:
For over 15-years, Jim has helped small businesses and large companies like FedEx, Sherwin Williams, Ernst & Young and Progressive Auto Insurance understand how find success on the Web. Jim is the author of the book, “Attention! This Book Will Make You Money”, as well as a professional speaker, blogger and Web business consultant. Find out more by visiting www.JimKukral.com. You can also follow Jim on Twitter @JimKukral
Posted in YouTube
Facebook & Social Media Privacy
Privacy is top of mind these days and the folks at WordStream have put together the below infographic. It reminds me of that old song from Rockwell: “I always feel like somebody’s watching me, and I have no privacy.”
Infographic byWordStream Internet Marketing
Fast Company Influence Project: Pyramid Scheme or Genius?
By Erik Qualman
Link baiting, pyramid scheme, marketing genius? Yes. Fast Company’s Influence Project is a little bit of everything. The Influence Project is promoted by Fast Company as finding the most influential person.
Essentially, the person that drives the most traffic to www.fastcompany.com before August 15 will have the largest picture in the November issue of the magazine. My guess is that person will also appear on the cover. To date over 18,000 people have signed onto the project. It’s unclear if everyone will have their picture in the magazine (size of picture based on influence) or if only the top influencers will appear.
Bubbly Scottish-Canadian Mari Smith is the current leader and she was wise to start influencing early since your photo grows as the people you invite get others to join (i.e., pyramid in action). Leading up to the November issue, Fast Company is conducting spotlight articles on some of the top influencers like Smith and Scott Monty (Ford).
Mari Smith is currently in the lead/top influencer
In the nature of full disclosure Smith and Monty are also friends of mine. Also the links in this article will give me influence, but I’ll never surpass Mari since she influenced me.
Whatever you think of the project, it has certainly produced a lot of free PR for Fast Company and will increase traffic for a few months. Jason Fell at foliomag.com reports that because of the link-clicking aspect associated with the project, Fast Company has seen its traffic spike about 20 percent this month. Fell also noted that Fast Company Executive Digital Editor Noah Robischon who at the time disclosed “Over 13,000 people have registered so far,” says executive digital editor Noah Robischon, “and it’s growing daily.” Now over 18,000 have joined and it continues to grow.
Free PR and opinions include:
PCMag.com | Dan Costa
“The Fast Company story turns influence into a ponzi scheme, a Flash-enabled popularity contest, and a high tech version of Narcissus’s reflection.”
The New York Times
Fast Company seems to have caught onto the fact that probably a good 50 percent of social networking is ego related and used it to formulate a cracker of a business plan: “The influence project,” is (almost) unapologetically a link baiting pyramid scheme.
Brass Tact Thinking | Amber Nalund
“I really think they missed the mark with The Influence Project, in a big way, and confused the idea of “influence” with ego.
To me, influence isn’t about popularity. Or even reach. It’s about the trust, authority, and presence to drive relevantactions within your community that create something of substance. That last bit is key.”
TechCrunch | Michael Arrington
“We’ve got links to click. Join me in my quest to put Chevy Chase, with an afro, on the cover of Fast Company Magazine. My work will then be done here.
And join us next week at TechCrunch when we’ll hold a contest to see who can click the most ad units on our site. Winner gets called “The Most Awesome Person Online” and we’ll put their picture on our home page for a day! And a free tshirt!”
While there are great arguments on each side of the debate, we do need to credit a traditional magazine for thinking progressively in an attempt to grow traffic and their subscriber base.
Note – the links in this post are to my profile in the project, and as such “add influence”. If you’d like to check the project out from scratch, use this link.
