This is something I've been thinking about but didn't really think it wise to blog about, but what's the point of having a blog if you can't write what you want to write about, wise or not?
I'll just throw this out there. A few weeks before BlogWorld I received an email from a company that makes a product similar to one I'd blogged about. They expressed interest in my point of view and wanted to chat. I was flattered and a bit perplexed--why would they want to talk to me? But whatever--I was curious so I said ok. They set a phone meeting with me and a VP. Literally two minutes before that meeting, the person emailed me and said sorry, they had a big deadline and the VP couldn't make the call. I could have done with the courtesy of a bit more notice, but whatever. Then a few days later the person emailed me again, asking again to set a time to chat. I knew they'd be at BlogWorld the following week and said maybe I'd run into them there and we decided to do that.
Several times during the time I was in Vegas this person emailed me, but as with most of the people I wanted to meet at BlogWorld, schedules were crazy and time was tight and we never were able to find time to meet. Not for lack of trying--we exchanged multiple emails, trying and re-trying to meet up, but we managed to miss each other anyway. No big deal. I didn't give it a second thought...until a week later when I read a blog post by the person who had been wanting to chat with me and saw that they had proudly hosted an event with a small group of "influencers" during BlogWorld. The post goes on to describe the hand-picked list of "A-listers" who were invited to chat and hang out. Lists each "A-lister" by name. Because everybody knows that hanging around with the popular kids makes you look cooler by association.
Here's my thing: I know I'm not an A-lister. Am not one and don't aspire to be one. However, I am person. As are all other influencers, present and future. If your strategy as a brand is to engage influencers--and which brand does NOT have that as a strategy these days?--don't treat people like they only matter if they have X-thousand followers on Twitter or X-million page views per day on their blogs. You approach me and want to chat about your product? And you're hosting an informal gathering at a conference we're both attending, to chat about your product? What a coincidence. But don't make me feel like I'm the kid you only want to be friends with if your popular friends are busy.
Ok, I'm done whining now. I think.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Cool Stuff Happening On and Around Socialfish
Today I wrote a guest post on Socialfishing "Hiring for Social Media: Talkers and Listeners."
But the main thing I'm excited about over there on Socialfish is the fact that Lindy and Maddie's BOOK is coming out next week! Open Community, the little book of big ideas for associations navigating the social web will be coming out on November 1. I CANNOT wait to read it! I also may just have something super cool over here in conjunction with the book so stay tuned... (or how about subscribing...much easier than sitting in front of this page for the next few weeks. If you prefer to subscribe via email, there's a link for that in the right sidebar....see it?)
But the main thing I'm excited about over there on Socialfish is the fact that Lindy and Maddie's BOOK is coming out next week! Open Community, the little book of big ideas for associations navigating the social web will be coming out on November 1. I CANNOT wait to read it! I also may just have something super cool over here in conjunction with the book so stay tuned... (or how about subscribing...much easier than sitting in front of this page for the next few weeks. If you prefer to subscribe via email, there's a link for that in the right sidebar....see it?)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Product Review: BitDefender Total Security 2011
I don't usually do product reviews but this month my post for the BitMom's blog network is just that: a review of BitDefender Total Security 2011. Just in time, too, because I just got a new laptop and I'm not making the same mistake with this one that I have with previous computers: not installing any virus protection.
If you read my blog, follow me on Twitter or know me in real life you know I am adamant about the fact that, while I'm a mom and a blogger, I'm not a "mommyblogger." However, as a mom of two teens (ok, a teen and a pre-teen, but close enough) online safety for kids and teens is something I'm passionate about. I don't need to remind anyone about the tragic consequences of online bullying, and that's just one of many topics I think it's important for parents to be aware of. That's why I'm a proud member of the BitMom's blog network--mom blogger or not!
At any rate, it's also one of the reasons I like BitDefender's software--because it offers both virus protection and parental controls. Granted, I'm sure other antivirus products I've used have had parental controls but it's admittedly not something I've thought about until recently.
I also liked how easy it was to install the software, and all the online resources their website has: a comparison chart to see which product is the best match for what you're looking for, a comprehensive online support center with articles, documentation and video tutorials, and even user forums. And I definitely liked how it immediately found and deleted 13 infected items on my 2 day-old laptop--yikes!
But why take my word for it? I have a giveaway for you! Actually, more than one giveaway; 11 of them. Ten codes for your choice of BitDefender Total Security 2011 for PC ($79.95 value) or BitDefender Antivirus for Mac ($39.95). AND, if you too are interested in online safety and security for kids and teens, I have a special giveaway for the first one of you to join the BitMom online community then come back here and leave a comment telling me you've joined: a Lemon Sugar BitMoms spa package. Don't worry if you're not a mom or even a woman--not required! It's a great online community for parents dedicated to keeping their family safe online.
To enter to win a code for the free BitDefender protection of your choice, just leave a comment; on October 31 I'll use Random.org to pick 10 winners. For the Lemon Sugar spa package, the first person to join BitMoms and leave a comment here with a link back to their profile there wins.
I’m a BitMom Blog Network Member. I received BitDefender software for review purposes and a stipend to attend a blogging conference of my choice.
Monday, October 18, 2010
BlogWorld Recap
Ok, well I had grand intentions of blogging from BlogWorld, but the full-blown suckiness of AT&T prevented me from being able to do it. Not to go off on a tangent, but I can't even TELL you how frustrating it was to be at a conference, trying to do one of the following at any given moment:
But anyway...enough about that...the reason I'm so mad about my lack of connectivity is largely because BlogWorld was so awesome and there was so much I wanted to share about it, but after the fact it's all blended into a big fuzzy-ish memory. I knew this would happen; hence my triple frustration at not being able to write about it in the moment.
ANYWAY, the best I can do right now is say that I had an absolute blast there. Being there was like swimming in a sea of Kool-Aid and everyone was drinking it. Maybe in the for-profit world experiences like that are par for the course, but in the association world, they are so rare as to be basically non-existent. I'm sure I sound like a drooling noob by saying this but I don't care. I met cool, friendly people. I visited vendors who were talking about stuff directly relevant to me either personally or professionally. I got to tell the guy from Audible.com how awesome I think their iPhone app is. I got to ask the guy from Blogger if I'm crazy or did spell check just disappear one day? (I'm not crazy; spell check is indeed gone. Sigh.) I got to hear porn stars talk about how they use social media. I got to put faces with many of the names I see every day on Twitter. Hell, I even got to dance on a platform. I could go on and on but I'll leave it at that.
Was there stuff I didn't like? Sure. Was it basically a white man fest? Yes. Did I almost starve to death from lack of food and die of thirst from lack of water or coffee? Yes. Did I get to meet Jeff Hurt, at long last? Alas, no. But will I be going back next year? Absolutely.
Since all I'm able to do right now is be sappy about how great and fun it was, here are a few posts about the actual sessions and stuff:
Feel free to add a link to your wrap up post in the comments.
- Text a friend to figure out where we were supposed to meet
- Tweet something cool from one of the sessions
- Upload a photo to Facebook
- Check in on Foursquare or Whrrl to share my whereabouts and/or try to win something
- Blog about the awesomeness of the event
- Speak to my husband or kids on the phone
But anyway...enough about that...the reason I'm so mad about my lack of connectivity is largely because BlogWorld was so awesome and there was so much I wanted to share about it, but after the fact it's all blended into a big fuzzy-ish memory. I knew this would happen; hence my triple frustration at not being able to write about it in the moment.
ANYWAY, the best I can do right now is say that I had an absolute blast there. Being there was like swimming in a sea of Kool-Aid and everyone was drinking it. Maybe in the for-profit world experiences like that are par for the course, but in the association world, they are so rare as to be basically non-existent. I'm sure I sound like a drooling noob by saying this but I don't care. I met cool, friendly people. I visited vendors who were talking about stuff directly relevant to me either personally or professionally. I got to tell the guy from Audible.com how awesome I think their iPhone app is. I got to ask the guy from Blogger if I'm crazy or did spell check just disappear one day? (I'm not crazy; spell check is indeed gone. Sigh.) I got to hear porn stars talk about how they use social media. I got to put faces with many of the names I see every day on Twitter. Hell, I even got to dance on a platform. I could go on and on but I'll leave it at that.
Was there stuff I didn't like? Sure. Was it basically a white man fest? Yes. Did I almost starve to death from lack of food and die of thirst from lack of water or coffee? Yes. Did I get to meet Jeff Hurt, at long last? Alas, no. But will I be going back next year? Absolutely.
Since all I'm able to do right now is be sappy about how great and fun it was, here are a few posts about the actual sessions and stuff:
Feel free to add a link to your wrap up post in the comments.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
BlogWorld Here I Come!
Tomorrow morning I'm headed to Vegas to BlogWorld & New Media Expo. I can't wait. And not just because it's in Vegas, but because I'll finally be able to meet (or at least see in real life) many of the people I've "seen" online every day for the past few years.
I decided to go rogue and not bring my laptop--it will be iPad and iPhone only. It's freaking me out only HUGELY but I'm trying to not obsess. I will try to blog (or, if you're lucky, video blog!) from my iPhone, but for the sake of convenience and my non-agility on a touch screen, I'm going to be doing it on my Posterous blog. So if you miss me while I'm gone, go look for me over there.
And thanks very much to BitMoms for paying my registration for BlogWorld! (as compensation for being a a BitMom Blog Network member, BitMoms provided me with a conference stipend.) Speaking of BitMoms, look for a giveaway courtesy of them on this blog in the next few weeks.
I decided to go rogue and not bring my laptop--it will be iPad and iPhone only. It's freaking me out only HUGELY but I'm trying to not obsess. I will try to blog (or, if you're lucky, video blog!) from my iPhone, but for the sake of convenience and my non-agility on a touch screen, I'm going to be doing it on my Posterous blog. So if you miss me while I'm gone, go look for me over there.
And thanks very much to BitMoms for paying my registration for BlogWorld! (as compensation for being a a BitMom Blog Network member, BitMoms provided me with a conference stipend.) Speaking of BitMoms, look for a giveaway courtesy of them on this blog in the next few weeks.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Slippery Slope of Association Blogger Outreach
It's not often that two of my favorite things to blog about happen to intersect but today you're in luck. Mom blogger drama has made its way to the association world. Score. But actually this is a post I've been meaning to write for a while about a topic that I am sort of torn about: associations doing blogger outreach campaigns.
To summarize the two links above, in case you don't feel like clicking, the Corn Refiners Association (CRA), embarked on a blogger outreach campaign to try to dispel some of the bad press High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) has been getting. They gave a group of mom bloggers gift certificates (I'm not sure of the amount) in exchange for their participation in an informational webinar and a blog post hyping how HFCS is actually not bad for you.
It's not for me to say whether this was a good idea or a not a good one; suffice it to say the result has been both CRA and the bloggers being portrayed in a pretty negative light. I definitely understand WHY CRA thought this would be a good idea: because PR agencies are pitching mom blogger outreach like it's the perfect addition to any media campaign. Moms are influencers; people trust them--they are the perfect vehicle to get your associations message out to the general public. But not so fast....this CRA/HFCS debacle brings up a bunch of issues associations considering doing blogger outreach need to consider before deciding to go for it:
The blogger outreach model is not one-size-fits-all and I'm worried that associations-- notoriously behind the curve in embracing social media--will increasingly begin to be wooed by PR agencies or consultants who are pitching blogger outreach--particularly mom blogger outreach--without considering whether it's really a great fit. It may be a great idea, but being aware of examples like this CRA one remind us that it just as easily may not be.
And let me end this by coming out and saying--because I am often misunderstood and want to make it perfectly clear--that I have "met" Therese Pompa, CRA's social media manager, (online at least) and in no way mean this to be a criticism of her. Social media and blogger outreach are totally new to the association world and the whole reason I wrote this post was to point out that this is a new path for us to forge and for those of us who work for a particular association, we may not realize how potentially thorny one of our issues may be until it's out there for public consumption. The blogosphere is a weird and interesting universe where controversy often rules the day, and "results not typical" may well be a good disclaimer for this particular case. Or maybe not...
I should also mention that, in the interest of full disclosure, ASHA has done blogger outreach campaigns; this post is about my personal take on the issue, not ASHA's.
To summarize the two links above, in case you don't feel like clicking, the Corn Refiners Association (CRA), embarked on a blogger outreach campaign to try to dispel some of the bad press High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) has been getting. They gave a group of mom bloggers gift certificates (I'm not sure of the amount) in exchange for their participation in an informational webinar and a blog post hyping how HFCS is actually not bad for you.
It's not for me to say whether this was a good idea or a not a good one; suffice it to say the result has been both CRA and the bloggers being portrayed in a pretty negative light. I definitely understand WHY CRA thought this would be a good idea: because PR agencies are pitching mom blogger outreach like it's the perfect addition to any media campaign. Moms are influencers; people trust them--they are the perfect vehicle to get your associations message out to the general public. But not so fast....this CRA/HFCS debacle brings up a bunch of issues associations considering doing blogger outreach need to consider before deciding to go for it:
- Compensation--the issue of blogger compensation is already thorny enough, but at least for brands or for-profit companies, it's sort of straightforward. Not so for associations. I don't have my CAE and am no expert on the intricacies of lobbying rules regarding 501(c)(3) and/or 501(c)(6) organizations but I know enough to know there are things to know. Restrictions on how much an association can spend on lobbying activities, etc. Plus there's the "feel good" factor of bloggers being compensated to get out the message of a nonprofit...it's dicey at best.
Now you know me: I'm all for bloggers being compensated--and not in gift certificates or good karma or whatever. Blogger outreach shouldn't be about the magical way your association can get the equivalent of a big media buy for free or cheap. ESPECIALLY if the issue is a thorny one, as many associations' issues may well be--you are putting bloggers in the hotseat. Look at the flack the women who participated in the CRA campaign are being subjected to...and all for a gift certificate? Lobbyists are paid big bucks to put a positive spin on a controversial industry or issue. Can you really expect uncompensated bloggers to take heat and defend your industry? Is that fair? - Disclosure--the FTC has issued guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials by bloggers; make sure you're familiar with them. CRA was transparent about this campaign--that the bloggers were compensated--however, call me nosy but I think "compensated with a gift certificate" is too vague. Don't even think about trying to hide the fact that your association is behind a campaign because your'e worried about fallout or scrutiny--the blogosphere has a way of ferreting out any and all information like this and you definitely don't want a bunch of blog posts about how your association tried to skirt FTC's guidelines.
- "Influencers" vs. Members--there's a lot being made about "influencers," particularly moms. But who is ultimately the most passionate and qualified "influencer"for your industry--someone who knows nothing about it but has thousands of blog readers and followers on Twitter, or members who are not only passionate experts but may well have their own spheres of influence both on and offline?
Say you're thinking about offering bloggers a free registration to your meeting in exchange for them blogging about it, or free books or other materials. Are these opportunities your members would love to be offered but aren't being considered for because you only want to target "influencers" as touted by Klout or Technorati or whatever? Yes, it's more work to ferret out which of your members are influential online or off, but ultimately isn't it more authentic to utilize your most passionate and qualified evangelists--your members--to promote the work your association is doing? Definitely at worth considering is all I'm saying.
The blogger outreach model is not one-size-fits-all and I'm worried that associations-- notoriously behind the curve in embracing social media--will increasingly begin to be wooed by PR agencies or consultants who are pitching blogger outreach--particularly mom blogger outreach--without considering whether it's really a great fit. It may be a great idea, but being aware of examples like this CRA one remind us that it just as easily may not be.
And let me end this by coming out and saying--because I am often misunderstood and want to make it perfectly clear--that I have "met" Therese Pompa, CRA's social media manager, (online at least) and in no way mean this to be a criticism of her. Social media and blogger outreach are totally new to the association world and the whole reason I wrote this post was to point out that this is a new path for us to forge and for those of us who work for a particular association, we may not realize how potentially thorny one of our issues may be until it's out there for public consumption. The blogosphere is a weird and interesting universe where controversy often rules the day, and "results not typical" may well be a good disclaimer for this particular case. Or maybe not...
I should also mention that, in the interest of full disclosure, ASHA has done blogger outreach campaigns; this post is about my personal take on the issue, not ASHA's.
Is Social Sign On Really All That?
Last week on associationTech, Maddie Grant wrote a post about single sign on for association websites. She referenced Jeremiah Owyang's recent post about social sign on and the "problem" it solves: connecting customers with corporate websites that are detached from the social networks people spend their time on. I hadn't really given the issue much thought--or so I, well, thought--until I read her post; presumably I had actually given it quite a bit of thought because my response was basically a blog post.
And never being one to squander a good blog post, here's the comment I left:
I guess I'm still skeptical about tying sign-on to something I have control over (a corp website) to something I have no control over that is notoriously ridden with trouble (Twitter and Facebook). I have had too many instances of Facebook Connect not working at all--take the Washington Post website, for instance. I can't tell you the number of times I've tried to access an article on that site only to be totally hung up by Facebook Connect. I just tried it now and it was ok, but that was the first time in months that it's worked. I've literally had to go to Twitter to search for the link to an article that I can't get to on the Post site because it gets hung up at Facebook Connect sign on.
Also, I think that Facebook's back-end controls for tools like Connect and the "like" button are DEPLORABLE. Like, could NOT be worse and do not work AT ALL. Ostensibly with the "like" button you're supposed to be able to track who is liking your page and even have the capability to send messages into their news feed. Yeah, good luck with that--we installed the like button on our blog and many of the product pages in our online store and haven't yet been able to access either the insights on Facebook or understand how to send messages to "likers." And don't even get me started on how to use any of these Facebook business tools you have to resort to searching dozens of blogs for instructions, caveats and workarounds because Facebook's own offerings and level of support are so dismal.
I have also heard from others that Facebook Connect just didn't work for their corporate website, or was fraught with problems like I just described.
I also don't agree with Jeremiah's assertion that "the information consumers enter into the antiquated registration pages is likely inaccurate percentage-wise compared to the level of accuracy in self-updated profiles in Facebook and other social networks." You think I trust Facebook with my information?! I WANT my association to have my correct information, phone number, address, etc. Facebook--hell no.
I'll stop now before I take over this whole blog, but suffice it to say that until Facebook, Twitter and the like start offering actual customer support and reliable, whale-free service, there's no way I'd feel comfortable tying them to the sign-in process for a corporate website.
And never being one to squander a good blog post, here's the comment I left:
I guess I'm still skeptical about tying sign-on to something I have control over (a corp website) to something I have no control over that is notoriously ridden with trouble (Twitter and Facebook). I have had too many instances of Facebook Connect not working at all--take the Washington Post website, for instance. I can't tell you the number of times I've tried to access an article on that site only to be totally hung up by Facebook Connect. I just tried it now and it was ok, but that was the first time in months that it's worked. I've literally had to go to Twitter to search for the link to an article that I can't get to on the Post site because it gets hung up at Facebook Connect sign on.
Also, I think that Facebook's back-end controls for tools like Connect and the "like" button are DEPLORABLE. Like, could NOT be worse and do not work AT ALL. Ostensibly with the "like" button you're supposed to be able to track who is liking your page and even have the capability to send messages into their news feed. Yeah, good luck with that--we installed the like button on our blog and many of the product pages in our online store and haven't yet been able to access either the insights on Facebook or understand how to send messages to "likers." And don't even get me started on how to use any of these Facebook business tools you have to resort to searching dozens of blogs for instructions, caveats and workarounds because Facebook's own offerings and level of support are so dismal.
I have also heard from others that Facebook Connect just didn't work for their corporate website, or was fraught with problems like I just described.
I also don't agree with Jeremiah's assertion that "the information consumers enter into the antiquated registration pages is likely inaccurate percentage-wise compared to the level of accuracy in self-updated profiles in Facebook and other social networks." You think I trust Facebook with my information?! I WANT my association to have my correct information, phone number, address, etc. Facebook--hell no.
I'll stop now before I take over this whole blog, but suffice it to say that until Facebook, Twitter and the like start offering actual customer support and reliable, whale-free service, there's no way I'd feel comfortable tying them to the sign-in process for a corporate website.
Am I just as skeptic or do others agree that social sign on is not yet ready for prime time? Am I the only one who routinely has problems connecting to sites using Facebook, Twitter or the like? And am I the only one who has had problems accessing the back end data from the Facebook "like" button?
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