A blind eye to social media?

Been digging through a survey about social media just put out by Russell Herder and Ethos Business, one of those mysterious groups that does that sort of thing. These folks surveyed more than 400 executives to check out what they had to say about their use and perceptions of social media.

You can read the whole report here, but I thought I'd offer my take.

• 87 percent of those surveyed said that social media was not included in their crisis communications plan.
• 40 percent said: "Our technology blocks employee access to online social media for any purpose."
• 81 percent see social media as a corporate security risk
• 69 percent have no written social media policy and
• 73 percent see their companies increasing their use of social media (82 percent for brand building, 60 percent for networking and 32 percent for customer service)*

All in all, a good overview of what's kicking around in the brains of business decision makers. But it's easy to wonder if we should lose faith or just remain patient.

It's always been tough for the early adopter crowd to chillax, while the rest of the world tries to hurry up. Businesses are going to be more cautious than the fictional techie in his mom's basement.** But the problem I see is that caution borders on paranoia about new technology.

The worry about security, in my mind, is always on thin ice. Informed, well-trained and educated employees who know how to avoid sites that could endanger a system are always better than a blanket ban of sites for banning sake. As we bang our collective heads against the walls about how to make our school kids more competitive with the world, huge chunks of the Internet are inaccessible by teachers and students because of "security" concerns.

Lift the veil on the web to more workers, more students and more teachers and some of them will find better ways to communicate, share insights and (maybe) discover the next big thing. But turning off the tap to the web just makes for more problems than solutions.

And for a business owner to just say no, means that they are choosing to stay out of the conversation and link economy that is thriving now on the web. No engagement means they have chosen to give that insight, that potential good will with customers and that profile to their competitors.

From the looks of it, a majority of execs want to dive into the social media pool, but have to figure out what it is first. Hasn't the web gotten mainstream enough that every business needs to keep up with what is happening online in order to thrive as a business? While members of the geek squad like me may think so, even decades after the web was born, it's not the case.

Companies are still stepping out by not having a policy in place for use, by not including it in their crisis communications and not embracing the web as an active, rather than a passive, tool.

If the primary concern for many of these companies is protection, which is why they bring the firewall down to keep the bad guys out, while not use two of the best pieces of protection out there in enacting a social media policy for employees and figuring out how to use social media once something flares up in their business.

Two essentials that aren't going anywhere for a while. Maybe the execs will look their way soon enough.

FOOTNOTES

* Execs could give more than one answer on reasons for using social media.

** And for the record, it was my Mom - and Dad's - basement.

ESPN, USMC, NFL, Oh my.

Three of the most successful, rigorous, tightly guarded and feared organizations in the country – The NFL, the U.S. Marines and ESPN – threw down the social media clamps on their personnel this week.

All three are the best in the world at what they do – whether that’s protecting Sundays in the falls, protecting freedom or protecting the college football bowl system – and they all want to make sure their troops are in line with the message.

The Marine Corps cited concerns about security, saying recent attacks on Facebook and Twitter by “bad actors” have provoked questions about the safety of Marines using the sites, as well as problems with the potential for information getting out that may put them in harm’s way.

The NFL has left Twitter policy up to its teams, some of which have jumped in and warned players that out-of-bound tweets (let alone in-game ones) will be subject to fines. While leagues like the WNBA encourage players to engage in social media, even as the game is going on. The big shots like the NFL and NBA want to keep a close eye on the messages players are putting out. The reason? More on that later.

Finally, ESPN has told its “talent” that any sports-related content belongs to the network and can’t be casually tweeted. So, if someone tweets Doug Gottlieb to ask about the Bedlam game, he has to ask his supervisor if it’s OK to say OU will win.

The Marine Corps’ stance is about the only one I can live with. We are often consulted on how these social media policies should work best for business. Protecting internal information is a top priority on my list. Businesses don’t want their information exposed, whether it’s potential internal deals, hiring and firing decisions or proprietary information. The Marines have the utmost internal information they want out of the Web. They are sacrificing connections with loved ones, of course, but loose lips sink ships. (So loose tweets, sink fleets?)

The NFL and the ESPN, on the other hand, want to sacrifice personality for control of their marketing message. In both cases, the individuals in each business have built themselves into an important personal brand, whether it’s Chad Ochocinco or John Clayton. Their employers want to make sure those personal brands are serving the overall brand – hence the clampdown. But, in the long run, the lack of personality and freedom to post online is only going to hurt the bigger companies. Those regulated Tweets and updates on social media are not going to serve any special purpose in the social media sphere any more than an RSS feed of headlines would.

Social media is here to provide texture, context and personality to an individual, which will lead to connections, communication and community with other users. While ESPN and the NFL have monster brands and have made few mistakes, turning off the ability to have hundreds of employees connect with people who are already their fans is a move in the wrong direction.

Content is King, Shankman close second

Here is a blog I wrote for The Journal Record's web site after speaking at OkieSMart in Tulsa.*
Meeting Peter Shankman was the latest in this thrilling summer. I feel blessed with who I have been able to connect with both on and offline.
The bottom line when talking about the continuing ripples of social media on reputation and brand management is that content leads to influence and reputation and there's no way of reversing that formula.
I have a bunch of video of Peter**, which I will soon post to STF's YouTube channel.
Otherwise, enjoy the blog.

FOOTNOTES
* A great, well-attended show which gives a sneak peek at just how well we're doing it here in the state. A true, statewide conference would be incredible. You heard it here first.
** First name basis. We're buds.

Wrangling Social Media Tidbits

There’s so much to blog about, including some leftovers from my trip to New York City to talk about Twitter. Here are some social media tidbits in rapid-fire fashion:

• In case you were wondering about the 140 Characters Conference and my speech about the Oklahoma Twitter community’s use of hashtags and mashups during our ice storms, tornadoes and wildfires, you can watch the whole she-bang right here. I start at about the 1:50 mark.

• Stephanie Smirnov, president of DeVries Public Relations, was in the audience and wrote a nice and flattering blog post about her impressions. High praise for someone like me who is just starting out, in the PR world.

• Updates are happening fast and furiously in the world of Twitter applications. I was able to meet the guys who run Hootsuite, one of my favorite sites for managing multiple accounts. Their new version, which I was lucky enough to get a beta invite to, is even better and is a really good emulation of TweetDeck, but inside the browser. If you don’t use Hootsuite, you should check it out just for the fact that it allows you to time-release Tweets for later posting. A great time saver. Check out Hootsuite here.

• If anyone needs an icebreaker to talk about the power of social media, now is the time. While the Time Magazine cover story gave Twitter buzz, I think what’s happening in Iran gave it bones. The use of social media during these tumultuous past two weeks has shown it is now an indispensable part of anyone’s communication with the world at large. This works for businesses as well as people. Andrew Sullivan’s blog, which is a daily read for me, has done the best job of not only emphasizing this point, but for providing some of the best dispatches via tweet that are coming out of Teheran.

• One of the best moves a company can make before they dive into the deep end of social media is to figure out a policy for how they want their employees to engage with customers online and what, if any, restrictions they want to put on the content of those interactions. Strangely, some of the biggest bumblers in this area have been media companies. The Associated Press is the latest, with their employees’ union crying foul over the fact that the AP wants employees to monitor what their connections are saying on Facebook and delete any comments that might reflect poorly on AP.

Yes, that’s right. If your crazy uncle Earl sends you a message about his awesome weekend of debauchery in Vegas, you could get bounced by the bosses.

To me, that crosses the line. Companies do need policies in place to serve as guidelines and that could prevent crisis, but they only have so much leverage.

Mashable, as always, has great coverage of the story here.

• And if you’re still in the mood to drive up some Oklahoma-based hashtags on Twitter, here’s the latest - #OKHeat.

Changing the game

Speaking and attending the 140 Characters Conference in NYC really opened my eyes and changed the way I looked at things.*
It also happened at a time when things were changing in the world of social media. The expectations are now that social media, and Twitter specifically, will be a part of every big event.
Here's what I wrote in a guest blog for The Journal Record.

FOOTNOTES
* Like Times Square. Did you know they have a really big Walgreen's there? Who knew?

Who does Twitter bring together?

Try this: Harlem rappers, the Israeli Consulate, Al Jazeera, hyperactive rock-and-roll critics, mommy bloggers, a frustrated CNN anchor and a very, very ticked off co-host of the Today Show.

And that was just on the first day here at the 140 Characters Conference, the Twitter Love-In I get to hang out at, in New York City.

While the Twitterati has to wait until Wednesday to learn all about what we’re doing in Oklahoma with our 140 characters, Monday was reserved for one of the greatest panel discussions I’ve ever been lucky enough to witness.

Topic du jour was “Twitter as a news-gathering tool” with Rick Sanchez of CNN, probably the most social media-engaged member of the mainstream television media, along with the Today Show newsie Ann Curry.

Sanchez was there to defend his network against the criticism that bubbled up over the weekend when CNN failed to cover well enough (in the minds of some) the Iranian election.

What eventually got Sanchez and Curry riled up was the inevitable clash between journalism and commerce. Curry was unhappy with the clash between what she and others see as valuable and important coverage – in areas like Darfur – and what areas are doing to cut back costs and providing more of what drives ratings.

Another lively discussion was Sanchez’ defense of his use of social media and how he uses crowdsourcing. While other networks use social media in a trendy and gimmicky way, Sanchez feels like it helps to guide his show and gives him a brain trust that he had always ‘talked to’ instead of ‘talked with.’

"This is the first time that we are going to be able to connect with citizens that we, in the so-called mainstream media, will be able to pay attention to... who could be a reliable source aside from our talking heads… and happy-faced, really pretty anchors,” Sanchez said.

The crisis in journalism aside, he understands that Twitter is key on connections between the media companies which, even though they might not want to be, are driven by profit and their customers.

The users now have some say with what they get from the companies and now, through social media, have a bigger outlet to craft and criticize what gets done.

The power has shifted and Twitter has become a lever that can, with little effort from only a few, move much bigger mountains, even CNN, NBC.

New media, meet Now Media

When I first got the job at Schnake Turnbo Frank | PR, I asked that my title be “New Media Director” instead of “Social Media Director,” just because it sounded broader and could encompass things like videos, pod casts and anything else that may be invented next Thursday.

Maybe I need to come up with something else – “Now Media Director."

That’s what I learned during the morning session of the 140 Characters Conference, where I have been invited to speak about how people in our region are using Twitter.

Through the first part of the day, the conference is incredible. I’ll have some videos up later today at STF |PR’s YouTube page.

Jeff Pulver, who created a little company called Vonage and moved on to invest in some of the top and hottest startups, came up with the 140 Characters Conference (watch the live tweet stream here.) He’s invited Tweeters from all over to talk about how Twitter and its offspring have changed the world.

That’s where we get “Now Media.”

“Search was always about what was recent and what was ancient,” Pulver said. “But now it’s about the now.”

“When you are living in the now, dealing with things in real time, the way you work changes.”

The idea is that Now Media is its own entity now. Real-time information sharing has evolved into something distinct from what TV, newspapers and traditional media are doing.

Look at what’s happening in Iran. People are using Twitter to share vital information and you see the changes as they’re happening.

Pulver was joined in the early session by Jack Dorsey, one of the founders of Twitter and Fred Wilson, a top venture capitalist, who talked about how to make money off of the Web.

To Wilson, the key to dollars from social media is passed links. These are shared links (retweets, reads you found interesting) that you get from people you trust. Those links have innate value because they come from people in your “network” of followers, friends, etc.

The big bomb Wilson dropped, based on the trending analytics of the sites he is a part of, was this declaration: "The combined power of Facebook and Twitter will surpass Google in the next year."

That’s a bold statement, but since Twitter is such a more intimate tool than search, encouraging sharing and recommendations, it has the power of people instead of algorithms behind it.

It’s about what you are reading NOW. What you find interesting NOW. And that’s how it’s become more than new media – it’s NOW media.

What are the most valuable words on the Internet?

“Have you seen that …?”

As the true value of social media is debated around the clock, there’s a certainty, when it comes to this phrase. If you can produce something on the Web that can get one cubicle-dweller to lean over to the other and whisper, “Have you seen that …?”, then you are solid gold.

Susan Boyle blossomed out of the “Have you seen that …?” phenomenon. “Saturday Night Live” was resurrected by it. Reality TV depends on it to keep the blood (and cash) pumping.

And little businesses can get big bumps out of it, hooking the social media eyeballs and mouse clicks for a few precious minutes.

We’ve seen performers on the Web who have jumped to the big screen (like SNL’s Andy Samberg and actress Felicia Day). There have been imported TV shows which floated through YouTube only to become primetime in the U.S. (Wipeout, anyone?) and we’ve seen products turn the uncertain commercial tastes of everyone in this economy into strange, but true, profits. (Just ask the geniuses behind the Snugglie.)

So what does it all mean? Are there any real ways that a biz hungry for customers can make the “Have you seen that…?” magic happen?

Well, it helps to be lucky, creative or plain crazy.

You can’t predict things like the Keyboard Cat or Dramatic Hamster. Those videos just happen. Same goes for the eccentric successes of Tay Zonday or iJustine.

But the Web rewards uniqueness, creativity and great stories. That’s as much of a secret formula as there is.

“Have you seen that …?” doesn’t happen when someone sets out a sign on the sidewalk with hopes people will walk into their real (or virtual store).

“Have you seen that …?” grabs you and doesn’t let go.

OKC Twitterers

Wrote up a short article for NewsOK.com today about Twitter.

To Twitter or not to Twitter seems to be the question of the day for anyone who spends time on the web and is considering dipping their toes in the social media waters.
So what's all the hubbub about this site that limits users to 140 characters for each update about "what they are doing"?
I posed the question to the Twitter community on Tuesday afternoon asking folks who follow me (@mkokc) to tell me why they use the site.
Here are some of the responses, smart and smart-alecky alike.
* chrismartintv: "I use it to communicate with potential clients, users in connected fields of work, report interesting news and Tweet random tidbits."
* badcox: "Original reason: to learn the technology; now, to connect with friends, co-workers and brag about my son."
* youngblood: "To pick up chicks."
* akurys: "To find out what peers in my career field are up to, keep up with trends/news, solicit suggestions for books/movies/places to eat!"
* puckchk: "I use it mainly to get updates from various sports teams,scores,etc that i can't get anywhere else. News updates."
* bscarter: "I like to connect with folks, and it's more personal than a simple blog, more expansive than Facebook."
* vshanekempton: "To tap into the rudimentary telepathic output of my chosen community. Voice=currency,both social and economic,in the information age."
* rfast: "As a new bird, I'm learning tons on the social media front/the art of concise but meaningful convo. & its impact personally & professionally."
* mattgalloway: "What kind of guru would I'd be if I didn't."
* m_wible: "I use it b/c it's a great tool for networking & job searching, but also b/c it keeps me up to date with news & I've met cool ppl!"
* billhandy: "I use it to be a better professor."
* smartgoat: "Because it's the simplest of all the social networks: Say whatever you want, follow people you find interesting."
* WhitneyFleming: "I love the "viral" aspect to this awesome marketing tool and how quickly tweets spread."
* LoriRasmussen: "Story ideas, social networking with other journalists and PR pros."
* programwitch: "Why I use Twitter? To connect and inform. Use it to make friends, pass along ideas, ask questions and promote my blogs & podcast."
* jonfisher: "Twitter allows me to tap into the flood of real-time-web information. It's also allowed me to rapidly grow my professional network."
* JLanie: "I use Twitter to quickly/effectively communicate with friends, family & keep up w/ my favorite people and organizations."
* patrickallmond: "It allows me to ask a question and get it answered fast. It also allows me to share my content far and wide - fast."
* johnjac: "I hope the be interview by NewsOK one day, that is why I use twitter ;-)"
* BradHP: "Main use for Twitter is to connect with other comic creators, promote my work, and hopefully jumpstart my writing career."
* kristen_okla: "I use Twitter to listen to and learn f/ new ppl and smart conversations, network w/ new ppl. I've met some amazing ppl here."
* normanregional: "Norman Regional twitters to keep our community informed. We hope to reach all generations & provide local, useful health information."
* andreamyers: "It's an easy, fun way to express myself, meet cool people I might not meet otherwise and stay in the know about all kinds of things."
* LeaTerry: "I use Twitter to find story ideas, and to find credible people to interview for my articles."
* L0rdHelmet: "To be part of the conversation in real time. To get the news from those that are actually there, and because it's fun!"
* danielle_walker: "To share and glean new ideas and perspectives, and to connect with people."
* MyJRNY: "I use Twitter to turn acquaintances into friends, increase my awareness of real-time OKC happenings, and laugh. (people are funny)"
* tamarin2087: "I Twitter because it is faster and easier than blogging. I rarely have a paragraph to share. Just want to point out a link."
* B2design: "I use Twitter to keep up on what's happening in real time. It's an incredible communication tool (and highly addictive!)"
* FreshPeel: "I use Twitter to stay on top of news & trends and to connect with people."
* garyhail: "1.To see what others in our industry are doing. 2. As a news update source. 3. To promote our products. 4. Personal Growth."
* ginamstudio: "Because it's a great way for groups (etsy) to quickly network, it's easy to follow cool people who are fun to talk to, it's entertaining."

Who goes there: Your online brand and identity

All this deep social media thinking has me wondering about the best way to manage, wrangle, control and cajole my online life.

While many folks have connected to me through Twitter*, I've been trying hard to create some brand consistency across the web. That's why I started this blog and gotten a separate new gmail address - themkokc@gmail.com

But, of course, at last count, I think I have five different gmail address, plus a yahoo mail account, plus a work account. All of those e-mail addresses have their own address books.** My pal Sam Sims wondered aloud this past week if contact forms online will soon have spots for social media usernames. I'm hoping for a big hairy Google solution.***

And, as I try to build up my following on Twitter, I realize I've let my LinkedIn profile go dry for weeks. I also need to get a better account for YouTube, Yelp, Vimeo, UStream and the list goes on.

The key, and something I have tried to preach during the recent SM Speech World Tour, is that honesty is the best policy when it comes to online identity. I hold with that, but there is also the problem.

So many possible portals puts pressure on a user to keep things fresh because each site offers a possible interaction.**** And any possible interaction is a possible life-affecting***** interaction.

What I would advise is sitting down one day (I'll probably do it this weekend) and get all of your social ducks in a row. Make sure you are signed up for everything. Have a consistent username across all platforms and make sure your web is good and tight, everything linking to everything overall.

Why do this?

* First, it shows that you are on top of the tech. You should be able to sign up for new sites as they come and integrate them into your personal social media branding plan, instead of catching up with sites that people mention over a cocktail at Rococo.

* Check out wikipedia or some of the big social media news sites to get good lists of these sites.

* Figure out what the strengths of each is for you and that will help you figure out the best way for you to use it professionally.

* Use sites the applications out there which enable you to post across multiple sites (last.fm, etc.) and it will save you time.

* Include Google reader and your rss solution in this mix.

* Even if you don't do anything on a site, at least you have squatted on your online ID.

FOOTNOTES
* - @mkokc, ranked No. 16 in Oklahoma City. Take that @bbjsports!
** - Somewhere David Allen's head just exploded.
*** - What else is new?
**** - Hey, didn't I meet you on www.fansofbillnyethescienceguy.com?
***** - I looked it up a couple times and still don't know if that shouldn't be effecting.

Riding the flood

Resolved: Follow all of the innovations about social media and web tools out there on the World Wild Web.

Result: Fat chance, buster.

With the pace of change happening so fast in and around the media world, I felt like needed to do my best to keep track of everything that could effect my business, my life and my potential business. So every morning, I checked the revelant sites, kept my eyes out of tweets and retweets about news, set up Google alerts and skimmed YouTube and the rest.*

What I found out is that there is a flood out there. Even if you narrow you focus on one product, like my fondness for Twitter, it is so hot that the flow rushes past me like the mighty Mississip'. The folks at Mashable can't catch everything, but don't feel overwhelmed.

Instead of getting discouraged by this, I'm encouraged by the tech-tsunami.** It shows that even in the face of a economic kick in the head, Americans in garages, basements, backrooms and bars*** are still wringing Grade A New New Things out of existing products and birthing new ones faster than the octomom.

I could wake up tomorrow morning with the new Twitter home page**** and wake up Tuesday with 12 new ways to ninjafy it. People who crack the codes are that much faster and smarter than me.

Now don't get me wrong, I still have a few tricks under my sleeve as well and I feel lucky that I can grab a ride on the big floating log of first-adapter-ness and pluck out some of the choice debris of innovation during the deluge.***** I'm thinking of ways to refine my thoughts on how all of these gears fit together and have even come up with my own trademark phrases that I will roll out in the next few weeks (knock on wood).

Until them, I'm happy to be in the middle of the muddy mess, like Huck Finn and Jim and the cast of Land of the Lost.

Dry land is pretty boring these days. Might as well go with the monster flow.


FOOTNOTES
* - Just @freshpeel alone can keep you busy for days.
** - I tried technami, but it sounded weird.
*** - Most likely McNellie's.
**** - Any day now, Biz.
***** - Wow, extend a metaphor much?

Heading to Stillwater

The mkokc World Tour kicks off today with a talk at Oklahoma State and @billhandy's social media class.
Should be fun. Have a decent Powerpoint ready.
Thinking more and more about the web as Mayberry USA.
Report back soon.

Welcome to mkokc.com

Thursday was some kind of day in the world in which we live.
Congressmen were bounced on one hand and praised on the other for tweeting during Obama's non-SOTU. The Oklahoman was basking in the warm glow of its greatest APSE haul in history.
And then there was the Rocky Mountain News.
Why choose today to launch a bigger, better blog. A day when one of the better metro newspaper bites the dust, leaving so many good people as well as some friends in its wake?
Maybe its because I got a lonely email today asking if Prayingforpapers.com had died. Maybe it's because I want to have a more of a say in the world of Web 2.0, since I am down in the mud every day trying to mash the square peg of newspaper journalism into the round hole of the web. There are so many "social media" experts on Twitter and Facebook who 30 days ago were "no-money-down real estate" experts.
There have been so many positives that I've experienced from actual social networking in the few months since I've changed jobs.
So this is another mashup for me - the blog equivalent of tweeting, live streaming and live chatting during the #ice storm of the media landscape.
They say that someone starts a blog every five minutes somewhere in the world.
Here's to social media, multimedia and ubermedia.
Here's to my five minutes.