Tag: google

8 Great Social Media Tips for Journalists

Posted on by Deanna Utroske

Skilled media professionals have the ethics and workflow strategies in place to excel in the digital age. It’s simply a matter of translating existing best practices to your platforms of choice.

Make the most of your social media presence by following these recommendations:

  1. Sign up for Google+ authorship.
    Make your byline work harder for you. Once you’ve signed up for Google+ authorship, your articles will be personalized with your Google+ profile photo in search results. And, you’ll have access to some useful analytics too. Learn more here.
  2. Link to your other social platform in your Google+ About section.
    Be sure Google knows how relevant you are across the social media universe and your readers know where else to find your insightful posts. Include all your social media accounts in the Links section of your Google+ About page.
  3. Link to your website above the fold of your Facebook profile.
    Drive traffic to your site by including a link to your homepage in the first two lines of your publication’s About section on Facebook. Readers are more likely to visit and bookmark your site if it’s one click away.
  4. Turn on your Facebook subscription feed.
    Encourage readers to follow your posts without needing to Friend you. Add a Follow button to your personal Facebook page by clicking on Settings, Followers, then Who Can Follow Me, and from there selecting Everybody.
  5. Make LinkedIn posts using the share button on your site.
    This lets LinkedIn know that your site content is the first stop online for the latest and greatest information in your field and that it’s share worthy. The LinkedIn share button on your site also conveniently lets you use one click to share the same link as an update, as a post to multiple LinkedIn groups and to Twitter as well.
  6. Personalize your LinkedIn URL.
    Customize the URL for your LinkedIn profile to match your byline. This creates a stronger affiliation between your profile and your personal brand and helps turn up your profile in search results as well.
  7. Filter your LinkedIn contacts.
    Connect with experts more quickly by filtering your contacts into useful categories. Get started by hovering your cursor over Network, clicking Contacts, hovering over a single contact and clicking Tag. You can assign multiple tags to any given contact and of course many contacts to each tag.
  8. Become a LinkedIn Influencer.
    Soon, influencers won’t be limited to the 500 leaders and motivators that LinkedIn hand-selected. You’ll be able to publish blog-style content on the site and become recognized as a thought leader in your field too. LinkedIn is rolling out this feature for users gradually; so watch for it on your page.

    9. And one more helpful reminder:
    Each platform preferences complete profiles when in returns search results. More of the people you want to find you will be able to do so faster when your profiles are complete.

Media pros who took part in a recent workshop that I led found these particular tips worthwhile. Feel free to leave a comment with your best social media advice for journalists and editors.

Deanna Utroske is the Social Media Brand Director for New York Women in Communications and writes on women’s career issues, lifestyle topics and more. Follow her on Twitter @DeannaUtroske

3 Ways To Grow Your Brand with Google+ at SMW

Posted on by Sara Adam

Google+ is heavily favored among early adopters as a social layer. With 540 million monthly active users, with 300 million viewing their Google+ stream at least once a month, while an additional 1.5 billion photos are uploaded to the site every week. “Slowly but surely we are getting a feeling that there’s a real momentum, but it is still early days and there are plenty of opportunities to grow and add new features and make them easier to use,” Matt Cooke, product marketing manager for Google+, says.

We at Social Media Week are big fans of the tool. Our office regularly uses Google Hangouts for remote meetings. And we are building our own Google+ community (if you aren’t already joining us there, you should…) So, naturally we were excited to have them join us here at SMW NYC as a City Supporting Sponsor. Through their multiple events at Social Media Week New York, Google+ is teaching us how to do social better and connect with customers in a personalized way — something we all need help with from time to time.

  1. Grow With Google
    Every brand wants to grow and expand their influence. This practical session will outline examples from smart brands that are using Google platforms to do just that. Learn how to get more content in a Google search, how to increase android downloads, and meet your marketing objectives.
  2. Make Your Brand Social Across The Web
    Did you know that your Google+ posts show in search results? It’s just one way you can use Google+ to help get your brand discovered across the web and build deeper relationships with current and future customers. Through social, brands are becoming more human and Google+ can play a significant role in helping you and your brand make more meaningful connections.
  3. Continue the Conversation with Google+ Hangouts
    Used by Barack Obama, the NFL, and the Huffington post, Hangouts are a great way for brands to connect with their customers in an increasingly personal way. In fact, our team regularly uses them to conduct remote meetings. Additionally, their feature set facilitates continued engagement by allowing you to record and rebroadcast hangouts, embed them into your own site, and allow users to subscribe for future Hangouts. Which means the tool could really help your business advance.

We are definitely looking forward to learning from the experts at Google at these seminars this week. When a leader offers to show you how to maximize what they do, you take note. Join them.

What Senior Ad Marketers Need to Attend During SMW

Posted on by Dani McNally

It’s not about gimmicks or the latest buzzwords. Advertising goes deeper than just slick tricks to get your click. The dominance of social media has changed not only the ways in which advertising and marketing executives present a brand to an audience, but also what the audience can offer back. So, this year, we’re stepping up what’s available for senior marketers. We’ll be looking at human behavior, creating sustainable retail models, and more with these events:

Brand New World: The Expanding Role of the Digital CMO
The role of the CMO is evolving rapidly through the influence of technology and digital, as we must extract insights from big data, learn from disruptors, and adjust approaches to product design. That’s why we’ve dedicated an entire half-day to helping senior level marketers understand the tectonic shift that is taking place today. Join fellow CMOs offsite at Bloomberg as experts, including Jill Nussbaum from The Barbarian Group; author Douglas Rushkoff; Lisa Shallet, Goldman Sachs, James Cooper from betaworks.

Before you head to Thursday’s CMO summit at Bloomberg, whet your appetite for advertising and marketing insight at these idea-spiking, success-spurring events happening earlier in the week at Campus:

  1. Fueling Social Fandom at MTV, VH1, and Comedy Central
    Millennials and Gen-Xers are passionate about the TV shows, movies, and songs they love—and they aren’t afraid to tell you how they really feel through their tweets, shares, likes, posts, hashtags, and more. Learn from the networks that do it best on how to excite your audience enough that they take their opinions to the web.
  2. PSFK Labs’ Future of Retail Showcase: Creating a Sustainable Instant Retail Model
    Piers Fawkes, Editor-in-Chief of PSFK.com, and the team behind PSFK’s much buzzed about 2014 “Future of Retail” report invite you on a riveting exploration of the ideas and innovations shaping tomorrow’s retail landscape. He’ll be joined by a thrilling lineup of guest speakers from leading brands and cutting edge innovation incubators, including Tim Queenan, Director of Strategy, Google Creative Lab, Lee Hnetinka, CEO & Co-Founder, WunWun and Rachel Shechtman, Founder, Cube Ventures and STORY.
  3. Grow Your Audience with Google, Hosted by Google+
    More eyeballs on your content are never a bad thing—they equal more logins and registrations, more app downloads, and more user engagement. The innovators at Google and the companies that have utilized their innovations share how you can, too.

    And if you want more from Google, Make Your Brand Social Across The Web brings Diya Jolly, Senior Product Manager at Google, to share how Google+ helps you express your brand, create deeper connections with your audience, and get discovered across Google and the web.

  4. The State of Real-Time Vs. Predictive Marketing in 2014
    Spontaneity and diligent planning: They both have their benefits, so which should your marketing team use to get the ultimate response from your target audience? Proponents of both real-time marketing and predictive marketing, uberVU’s CEO Mark Pascarella and MYR’s Chief Distribution Officer Jeff Melton, respectively, argue their case then open the discussion to determine the best ways and the best times to use both strategies.
  5. The UnQuiz: Test Your Knowledge of the Biggest Brand Surprises on Social
    Think you know social media? It might be time to think again. Author, former digital editor of The Onion, and comedian, Baratunde Thurston, will do his best Alex Trebek as he hosts this sure-to-be side-splitting quiz show to showcase what Unmetric already knows — which brands are succeeding online, and how.

Have you registered yet? No? Get your pass today here, enjoy tons of amazing free perks from Citibike, Naked Wines and the New York Times, and join us and our partners, Nokia, for what will be an extraordinary week of exploring our always on, always connected world.

Warby Parker & Google+ at Global HQ

Posted on by Lindsey Taylor Wood


It felt a little like Christmas morning when we found out that Warby Parker and Google+ were teaming up for a one-of-a-kind installation at our new Global HQ. This year’s theme is all about collaboration, so it’s a thrill to see incredible brands like these two doing just that.

Stop by the kiosk and check out what they are up to! Rather than looking at your new Warby frames in a mirror, you can show them to and get feedback from a Google Hangout full of SMW attendees from around the world — as well as celebrities, influencers, fashion experts, and Warby Parker employees — all of which will be jumping in throughout the day to share their thoughts with you.

Each Hangout will be streamed live on Warby Parker’s G+ and Youtube channels, and featured on a large screen monitor at the kiosk. So come by! Grab a pair of their signature shades, make some new friends and get the best tastemakers in the biz to weigh in on your new look!

Want to find out more first? Check out a Hangout from earlier today!

 

Wednesday Events You Can Still Sign Up For

Posted on by Nicky Yates

It’s SMW NYC! We know not everyone has registered to join us but don’t fret. We have an incredible schedule for tomorrow with some spots still available for you. Without further ado, here’s our Top 10 events you can still sign up for!

9:30 at Bloomberg: Innovate or Die: Are You About To Have A Kodak Moment?
9:30 at JWT: Native advertising: An elegant evolution or just another paid placement?
9:30 at 92Y: Girls Education and Women’s Empowerment in Real World Social Networks
9:30 at Hearst: It’s Complicated: Dating and Relationships in the Digital Age
12 at Bloomberg: PSFK Presents The Future of Work: Making Social Work in Collaborative Workplaces
12 at Hearst: Running: Social Implications of the Global Equalizer
12 at JWT: What’s On Your Plate?: How Digital Has Evolved Our Palates
2:30 at 92Y: Social + Grassroots = Change
2:30 at Bloomberg: Social As the Great Equalizer: Interviews with Companies Large and Small
2:30 at Hearst: Daria Musk and Google: Social Media and the Rock Star
6 at Bloomberg: The Problems Entrepreneurs Should Be Solving Over The Next 3 Years, hosted by American Express OPEN Forum

Don’t wait any longer- we’re running out of time! Register now, and join us tomorrow!

5 Minutes with Ogilvy’s John Bell

Posted on by Lindsey Taylor Wood

As you’ve probably heard by now, advertising vanguard Ogilvy & Mather has joined us again this year as an NYC Supporting Sponsor. Last year, they announced Social@Ogilvy at our event, and we hear they have a few more tricks up their sleeve this year too. Social@Ogilvy’s Global Managing Director, John Bell, sat down with us to talk about the past, present and future of social, and Ogilvy’s participation in SMW13.

1. What is Ogilvy’s greatest success with social media to date?
Social@Ogilvy has built a global team across 35+ countries, delivering award-winning integrated social media solutions for brands. Building such a strong team that “gets” how to apply social to real business solutions is our best accomplishment. Helping Ford, IBM, Nestlé and other great brands put social at the center of what they do has been terrifically rewarding.

2. What do you think is the most exciting thing happening in the emerging technology and/or new media space right now?
When you look at all the interesting phenomena, like SnapChat and the established players, like Facebook, and the merging next-gen platforms like Tumblr, but I get most excited by Kickstarter. It’s taken the crowd-funding model and made it real and reliable, and is now enabling all sorts of entrepreneurs and artists to source funding. I helped my friend at Padua Playwrights take a show to Berlin this month. Truly satisfying to be a part.

3. What are you looking forward to most at SMWNYC 2013?
We have some great sessions at Ogilvy in NYC, Paris, DC and more. I am looking forward to our NYC sessions with David Karp from Tumblr. I have a lot of interest in the platform, as they are just starting to monetize it and have incredible creative work all over it. That same day, we are doing something unusual and downright unwise. We will be creating and debuting a strategy to use Google+ for Caterpillar. Only, we will be doing it live before the SMW2013 audience. Risky but fun.

4. Tell us about your goals for SMW. As one NYC’s City Supporting Sponsors and a host of several events, as well as a Master Class, what do you hope attendees will take away from these experiences?
We want to share our own passion for applying social to business problems. SMW2013 is a weird, connected, global event, where we can create remarkable experiences — at the Chocolate Factory (Ogilvy HQ in NYC), in Paris, DC and more — and we can also participate all week long online, to drive a focused conversation. Okay, we will see how focused it is, but it will be great, that much I know.

5. What is the most creative way you’ve seen social media used?
Well, I am not sure I expected to say this, but our guys did some really neat brand advertising via Tumblr for the Lincoln Motor Company. I mean, I just think social has fundamentally changed how brands bother with pure brand work to the point where there are always dual motives for engaging users online. The Lincoln work included a great collaboration with these artists who create Cinemagraphs — really rich photography, with a story or moment captured there. We’ll see if this is the next wave of using social for brand purposes.

6. This year, our global theme is “Open & Connected: Principles for a Collaborative World.” How does Ogilvy embody or support this idea?
We have a global network of 550 people who are connecting every day via our Social@Ogilvy wiki, through G+, a new video meeting platform called Fuze, not to mention Facebook and IM. We know our best work comes from collaboration, and now that means doing so 1,000 miles away or more. We’ll see how others apply connectivity and collaboration during this week.

7. Last year, Ogilvy launched Social@Ogilvy during SMW NYC. With the first year anniversary approaching, how has this gathering of experts around the globe impacted Ogilvy’s work? What changes are you seeing in Public Relations from social media?
Social@Ogilvy officially launched at SMW 2012. But we had been in business since 2005. We have grown our network and solutions over the past 7+ years. This past year just took us to a much higher level. More client engagements across 3, 5, 20 markets. More serious business problems. More accountability with measurable programs. And more awards.  Our team is cross-discipline. We work on marketing programs, customer care programs, PR programs, shopper programs and, yes, even pure-play social programs. This is our POV, that the best social is integrated with other disciplines. And I believe that each of these disciplines will see even more radical change through this next year or two of social growth.

Google+ Hangouts at SMW NYC: Live Tonight And More!

Posted on by Nicky Yates

We’ve got some big news, and we want you to join us. Grab your laptop, and get ready for SMW NYC interaction on a new level…

SMW13 is partnering up with HuffPost Live

Today, at 5pm EST, our media partner HuffPost Live covers how safeguarding free expression and an Open Internet is still a critical issue.  Watch the exchange on the current issues facing both our country and the global community, with leading thinkers, including: Jillian York of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Andrew Rasiej of Personal Democracy Forum, and Christine Chen of Google.

With their use of Google+ On Air HangOuts, HuffPost Live does live integration of social media better than most.  

Check it out and share your comments. The conversation doesn’t stop on HuffPost Live.

Join us today here, but don’t get too settled. That’s just the beginning of what we are doing with Google+!

Google+ Contest

We asked our community to come up, and then host, incredible Hangouts during SMW13, with the best one recieving a $5k prize! Over 40 events were chosen to participate! From chatting about education with girls in underdeveloped nations, to cooking tortillas, there is a wide range of Hangouts for you to chose from and participate in. Tune-in. Tell us which SMW user Hangouts you think are best, and we’ll unveil the winner following SMW13. See them all here.

Hangout During SMW NYC

In addition to the above collaborations, you can join in and watch during SMW NYC! We are thrilled to feature two incredible Hangouts:

Wednesday, Feb. 20th from 2:30 – 4pm: Daria Musk and Google: Social Media and the Rock Star
If you’re looking for a bit more fun, then you want to head to Hearst (or G+!) to see Daria Musk. An Internet sensation, she’s taken over Google+ to expand her reach musically. She may even give you a performance or two…

Warby Parker and Google+

Warby Parker: the latest business sensation. Google+: the stable but creative force. Together. From February 19 to 21, Ideas Connected at the Global HQ will feature an installation which allows users to interact via Google Hangout. Pulling in some surprise attendees, one thing you do know is it’ll be fun and spot-on. If you’re in town, make to check it out live.

Head over to Google+, and try out a Hangout as well. We look forward to seeing you online and in-person!

12 Events to Register for NOW

Posted on by Lindsey Taylor Wood


With hundreds of events (over 200!!!), we aim to highlight the ones that catch our eye and share them with you. Here are a dozen that grabbed our attention this week, each from industry leaders — several of which were just named Fast Company’s most innovative companies of 2013 — aiming to bring you the best content and conversation at SMW NYC:

  1. Ogilvy presents: Contextual Awareness: What Is The Future of Social Intelligence?
  2. BuzzFeed presents Genuine Appeal: Creativity and Authenticity in the Social Age
  3. Games for Change presents: Half The Sky Movement: Using Transmedia to Inspire Real Impact
  4. Pfizer & LiveWorld present: How to Improve Social Media in Regulated Industries and Consumer Sensitive Markets
  5. OfferPop presents Keeping Up With the Agile Consumer
  6. Time.Inc presents: The Secret Sauce of Native Advertising? Authenticity.
  7. Conversocial presents: The Social Engagement Hub: Re-Imagining the Contact Center as a Critical Marketing Tool
  8. Imagination presents: Connections: How the Internet of Things is Transforming Our Social World
  9. Code for America Presents: We Built This City: The State of Civic Technology, with Code For America and IDEO
  10. House Party presents: All Earned Media is Not Created Equal: Winning Hearts, Minds & Wallets via ‘Experience-Driven Social Marketing’
  11. Google Presents: Google+ Hangouts: Go Way Outside the Box(es) – expert tips & tricks to further innovation
  12. SideTour presents: SideTour: The P2P Experience Economy: Four Unique Events for the SMW Community

For the FULL SCHEDULE click here. And keep in mind, if you want to skip registration and lines, and attend events that are already full, you can still BUY A PASS here.

My Top SMW NYC Events

Posted on by Nicky Yates

When I was asked to share my top SMW NYC events, I must admit I got a bit excited. Coming from the non-profit background, I love the tools that SMW NYC provides to organizations seeking to create change and the discussions that evolve around making a positive impact. It’s interlaced in so much that we offer- and that excites me. But the best part is — that’s not all SMW NYC offers. There’s a bit of everything for everyone.

So, when I’m not exploring our new Global HQ (and seriously, why wouldn’t I be with our hands-on classes, disruptive speakers and interactive exhibits), I’ll have my eye on these events for the big week. If you’re there, make sure you swing by and say hey!

1197 Monday Event: Opening Reception 1197Juried Exhibit & SMW PicYourCity
There’s no greater feeling than seeing a project come to fruition; and having spent the past two months manning the PicYourCity competition, I couldn’t be more excited to see the gallery with 1197! Plus, there’s wine & cheese. Monday, evening, I know my plans. And if mobile photography is your thing, 1197 is a weeklong series of events entirely devoted to the topic, brought to us from our friends at Nokia. If you don’t make it out on Monday evening for the reception, I encourage you to check out many of their events throughout the week!

gsummitX- Gamification in NYC
I had the pleasure of hearing Gabe Zichermann drop his gamification knowledge last year. And let me tell you, the man is a phenomenal speaker. I’ve never heard the concepts broken down in such an intuitive and easy to understand manner. So, on Tuesday, if you’re wanting to learn more or wanting to go deep with gamification, loyalty and engagement, be here. There will also be 1-2 demos from companies using gamification in their business model, and Gabe’s unique workshop-like game called “Play for a Cause.”

So You Think You Can Start Up?
Ok, confession time: the recovering reality show junkie in me LOVES pitch events. So, when I saw our friends at Hearst were putting together the ultimate fashion startup pitch event, I was in heaven. On Tuesday, digital fashion start-ups will go head to head in this ultimate “elevator pitch” challenge and demonstration. Teams will have a total of 5 minutes to impress the judges, competing for editorial coverage on ELLE.com. Just make sure we all dress to impress for it.

Giving Gangham Style: An ideation With the #GivingTuesday Team
If you’re into NGO’s, the phenomenon that is #GivingTuesday is something you’re well acquainted with. The backstory: on November 27, 2012, thousands of companies, NGOs, small businesses and individuals came together to celebrate the first-ever #GivingTuesday— a new social media-driven campaign to create a national day of giving. It was a success and on Tuesday of SMW, the creators behind will share what made it a success and how social is a major player in philanthropy.

The Rise of Visual Social Media
Being in community management, the increase in visual is something you learn to deal with. Images are so vital to telling stories. But the ethics of using them is still a bit more nebulous. So, on Tuesday, the WSJ is bringing together photographers and social media editors to talk about how images can be used ethically in social. With everything from copyright issues, elements of a viral photo, photoshopped images, the use of filters and Instagram’s TOS changes, it’s a must if you’re in the field of social media content.

Girls Empowerment & Women’s Empowerment in Real World Social Networks
Kicking things off on Wednesday, She’s the First will touch on the power of education and female empowerment. It’s a serious topic and one we can all contribute to to create more sustainable and lasting change. And the panelists on this event know what they’re talking about.

PSFK: The Future of Work
Ok, another confession for you: over the past 3 years, I’ve become a big PSFK fan girl. If you’ve not read through any of their reports, you’re missing out. And this year, PSFK is delivering big again. They’ll be sharing an exclusive preview of their upcoming Future of Work report, part of a series of in-depth analysis of trends driving key sectors and subject matters. Don’t miss it.

Equalizing the Playing Field
Social media is the great equalizer. It’s been fascinating to see how small and large companies respond to it. Pulling together 3 unique companies of various sizes, we’ll be exploring how each is navigating the space. The best part- it’s got Nokia’s Craig Hepburn. This guy drives some serious discussions around social and doesn’t hold back. If you missed him last year, don’t make the same mistake again.

Daria Musk and Google: Social Media and the Rock Star
Continuing on the trend of exploring case studies, few make a greater example of the power of collaboration on Google+ than Daria Musk. With the power of social media, Daria has become a self-made rock star. Dara will join a fireside chat to talk how social has helped her career (and dreams) grow- and perform a mini-set for all those in attendance. It’s sure to be inspiring, and our friends at Google+ will share tips on how you can maximize the platform. Win- win.

How To Be Funny in 140 Characters or Less, Part Deux
I missed the original last year- and I’ve been kicking myself ever since. Seriously. Our How to Be Funny in 140 Characters or Less was amazing. It was funny; relevant; and informative. I’m not missing the sequel. You better believe come Thursday, I’ll be in the audience taking notes, and all my friends will hope I pick up better jokes and comedic timing. So, join me as we watch Lizz Winstead, Julieanne Smolinski and Jon Friedman break down comedy in brevity and aim to take the #1 trending spot in an hour.

Deep Focus Presents: An Evening of Disruption
We’re big fans of Deep Focus and Advisory Board member Ian Schafer. It’s really hard not to be. They are pulling together some of the industry’s biggest disruptors for a thought-provoking evening of why we should all learn to feel very comfortable being uncomfortable. Knowing them, it’s bound to be insightful, humorous and an all-around great time. Thursday evening, this is where it is.

Betting on Journalism: Andrew Sullivan & Buzzfeed
Ok, if you’re never gotten a chance to view the Buzzfeed offices, you’re missing out. But aside from that, this Thursday event will pull together two seemingly opposite styles of journalism and talk how these models work. Exploring what content counts online and dissecting what everyone means when they talk about “the future of journalism,” this event will be great for the news geek in us all.

Event Spotlight: Internet Zero to Rock Star Shero

Posted on by Lindsey Taylor Wood

If you didn’t think Google+ alone could make you a household name, think again. Singer songwriter Daria Musk went from internet zero to rock star Shero in the span of a 6.5 hour online concert.

To learn more about Daria’s remarkable story and the ways in which social media can double as a star making machine, join her along with iCrossing’s Vice President of Marketing, David Deal, and Google+ Business Marketing Manager, Caro McCarthy on Wednesday, February 20th from 2:30 – 4:00pm at Hearst’s Lifestyle and Culture Content Hub. Register here.

For a quick look at Daria’s back story, check out this video:

The Power of Social Media in Education: #Latism

Posted on by differencesmag

This post is a series of blogs contributed by SMW NYC media partner Differences Magazine. To learn more about Differences Magazine and to see the original post by Vivian Nunez, please click here. 

Education and technology should not be viewed as two distinct entities, especially in today’s world. There are many ways that the younger demographic, K-12 age group, could benefit from having more of what would be considered “their world” incorporated into their everyday learning schedule. In the panel for “The Power of Social Media in Education” many topics were discussed especially those pertaining to just how much the Latin community needs a dose of technology in their day-to-day life.

For example, it is important that social media be used as a bridge between students, but equally as important is the need to involve parents. Social media should be a leverage to get a grassroots movement started within a community. Angelica Perez-Litwin identified the issue when she assessed that Latinos “need a lot more one on one contact and social media will be a good way to start that.” The use of social media is the perfect tool but it is only the beginning, different resources or mentorship programs have to come hand in hand with the upgrade in technology.

Mentorship programs are just one example of how using social media could really have a strong impact on a child’s life. Another example would be the use of Google, Google+, or Google Docs. All of these Google branches are being implemented in schools to help students work in groups, while still allowing the teacher to moderate who does what amount of work. They are all very user friendly and they demonstrate how technology could be used in the most positive way to complement, not supplement, what is taught the traditional way in class.

Nonetheless the most important point I took away form this particular panel is that many students might not be fully aware of all the resources that are available to them. The implantation of technology in less affluent school districts is not an easy feat, but it is not impossible either. Students in all areas of the world deserve the chance to incorporate the newest technologies into their educational world. Social media would be able to be a catalyst for change among these communities if only they were given the chance.

While many initiatives are being made to bring a technological revolution to communities that are lacking access to computers or internet, there is still a need for “new content to try and get Latino parents to help kids in their education” as stated by Jose Luis Rodriguez. The new content aimed at the Latino community has to be both geared to their necessities and understanding of their possible limitations. A implementation of both a grassroots form of communication coupled with social media seemed to be the verdict set out by all the panelists.

An Interview with Stephen Bates, Oracle Public Sector Director of Business Strategy, on Social Media, Public Companies, and Advice for CEOs

Posted on by Lisa Chau

Stephen Bates is the Director of Business Strategy for Oracle Public Sector, one of the largest technology companies in the world. In this role, he drives program capture to enlarge Oracle’s hardware and software footprint within DoD, Federal Civilian agencies, Canada, and both state and local.

Stephen Bates, twitter: @batess

Q. What is the general consensus among public companies regarding social media? 

SB: Most publicly traded companies have fairly well defined guidance regarding the use of social media. As you know, publicly traded companies are regulated by the SEC regarding disclosure of material information. There is necessary due diligence that must be done regarding public communications. More and more companies are discovering social media as a way to harness their internal intellectual capital, but the free two-way exchange of information via social media remains a concern for a variety of reasons. Most companies will use social media as a marketing tool, allowing them to carefully craft both message and the medium. Others do an extraordinary job of customer service through Twitter (think Starwood Preferred Guest, Zappos, American Express, and JetBlue).

Q. Who are the CEOs who embrace social media?

SB: Aaron Stout has a list of Fortune 500 CEOs on Twitter.

Michael Hyatt, Tony Hsiesh, Scott McNealy, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, Mark Cuban, Jack Welch, Sir Richard Branson, Schmidt, Tim O’Reilly, Fred Wilson.

The WSJ ran an article recently in the Careers section discussing the decline of resumes. Union Square Ventures, headed by Fred Wilson, simply asked prospective candidates to send them links to their web presence. I would imagine Klout scores weighing more heavily in future job prospects.

Q. Who would you like to see using social media?

SB: Firms that are customer-focused. I would love to see Jeff Smisek of United. There are HIGH RISKS, however. Consider the following:

CEOs are busy people with tons of demands on their time.

The stakes are high. If you make a mistake, you can end up in the front page of the Wall Street Journal. And not in a good way.

Financial risk makes it tricky to talk about meaningful drivers to the business (the SEC doesn’t take kindly to potential insider information).

Twitter is hard to learn, so learning “on the job”  — while the world is watching — can be unnerving.

Q. What are best practices for firms to leverage social media?

SB: Be personal. American Express is superb at this. They put a name to their company Twitter account. The Army CIO-G6 also does this; she tweets herself unless tweets are prefaced by “staff.”

Be consistent across all forms of social media.

Be timely and accurate.

Q. You worked as a General Manager at Apple for four years. What are your thoughts about Apple and social networking?

SB: If you recall, Apple wanted to partner with FB, but Mark Z’s terms and conditions were too onerous (See the 7 Nov 11 cover of Forbes magazine.) Apple wanted to buy Dropbox, and while not social, it did round out the ecosystem. Look at how deeply Twitter is embedded into the iOS. Phil Schiller tweets, but Steve Jobs did not nor did Tim Cook. Speculation on Apple’s future product plans is generally a fool’s errand.

Q. What do you see as the next big revolution in social media?

SB: Social overtaking and/or disrupting search. Search will be social. And the marketing metrics will get tighter and more effective. Look at Klout, ComScore, ListenLogic, Radian6 as examples of increasing measurement, but for business and consumer.

Q. Will Facebook exist in 5 years? 

SB: Absolutely, but mainly due to the lack of a credible alternative. I had high hopes for Google+, but I think Timeline was such game changer that few are going to make a similar such an investment in Google+, at least in the short term. That may change in the longer term for those that don’t have such an investment in FB.

Q. If you were hired as the CEO for a startup social media company, what are the first three key issues you would address?

SB: A CEO has two major priorities: Set strategic vision and focus on talent. Delegate everything else to your top managers. Do I have enough projected capital to execute my strategic vision while paying above market rates for my employees? If not, how do I raise and what is the appropriate debt and equity structure? What’s my exit plan? Are my metrics meaningful? Are my employees as fanatically devoted to customer service as I am to them? I spend quite a bit of time in the hiring andvetting process and would train managers accordingly. Employee churn kills companies.

 

Lisa Chau has been involved with Web 2.0 since graduate school at Dartmouth College, where she completed an independent study on blogging. She was subsequently highlighted as a woman blogger in Wellesley Magazine, published by her alma mater. Since 2009, Lisa has worked as an Assistant Director at the Tuck School of Business. In 2012, she launched GothamGreen212 to pursue social media strategy projects. Follow her on twitter.

Let Me Google That For You

Posted on by Bassam Tarazi

I’m sure some of you know the service, Let Me Google That For You (LMGTFY). It’s one of those parasitically brilliant – or iteratively brilliant, depending on how you define it – sites that is used when you want to come up with a sly remark to your friend’s question, “Does anyone know any good bars near Penn Station?”

Simply type in “Bars near Penn Station” into the search bar on LMGTFY and you are then given a url which you can send to your friend. What your friend experiences, is this.

It’s hysterical but it also loops back into something that broke into the news today. Google announced that its searches are now going to be filled with results from Google+, which therefore means that your search will be influenced by what your friends are doing or what they think.

The Truth About Google Search

Google will cease to be the objective search tool that we all think it is and be more reliant on what your community is experiencing. Well actually, I lie. Google hasn’t been the objective online answering tool for over 2 years now. Google’s search algorithm tailors your search results based on your user behavior. This is how it works in real life: Below is a screen shot of my Google search window after I typed in “travel film festival.” Have a click and take a look. Does yours match? I’m guessing not.

What Does This All Mean?

It means that Google is banking on the fact that you care more about types of things you’ve searched for previously, and now, things that your friends/colleagues think is important. You might be up in arms at this fact but Google didn’t get to where they’ve gotten by being foolish.

We care what our friends are doing and the number one thing we want in life is the respect of our peers. This works when we’re looking for a bar near Penn Station or if we’re looking for a photo booth vendor. After all, if we didn’t care what our friends thought, a site like Let Me Google That For You wouldn’t exist. Why would we ask our friends when we could instead use the most powerful search engine ever made? Because we like being having things in common to those around us.

In fact, Google is banking on that.

 

Bassam Tarazi has been to 42 countries, holds a Mechanical Engineering Degree and a Green MBA. He is also a LEED AP and a certified Carbon Reduction Tarazi is co-founder of the tremendously successful Nomading Film Festival aimed at travelers, and recently launched his own motivational framework, called Colipera. Colipera leverages on the idea that peers publicly stating their goals to each other is more likely to inspire action among the whole group than tackling a goal individually would. Currently he lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Leveraging LinkedIn to Land a Job-Job: Part 1 of 2

Posted on by Greg Bodenlos

I’d like to offer some point-counterpoint commentary on a topic matter that currently occupies a lot of my physical and mental energy consumption: how to optimally leverage your LinkedIn network to land, as I affectionately like to call a “full-time position with benefits.” A Job-Job. While I am currently enjoying my flexible schedule freelancing for various Manhattan start-ups as both social media strategist and sales manager, I am really after that Job-Job.  As a social media enthusiast, I am hell-bent on finding ways to optimize my usage of LinkedIn to get ahead and land that ideally suited position.

I recently stumbled upon a really interesting infographic (because seriously, what infographics have you come across that weren’t interesting?) billed as the LinkedIn Boot Camp (praise you Mashable and Pete Cashmore!). It immediately sparked a barrage of pre-conceived opinions I possessed about this social networking site. I decided to take the time to offer a bit of a point-counterpoint analysis on this, largely spot-on piece outlining nine ways to best take advantage of the site’s functionality and features. Note: please excuse the somewhat corn-ball ‘boot camp’ metaphors that each point leads with; they were MindShare.com’s, not this author’s, choice of vernacular.

  • Point #1 – Core Conditioning: Completing Your Profile – This is a no-brainer, baseline action item that you should check-off your LinkedIn To Do list as soon as possible.  From an SEO perspective, completing your profile in full is a crucial component of managing your own personal brand.  To be more transparent, as the infographic accurately points out, your LinkedIn profile will consistently index as a top 5, first page search result when you, or more importantly, potential clients and future employers, “Google you” in search for more information on your background.  So get on this…pronto!
  • Point #2 – Endurance: Connect with Everyone – I’m not sure that I fully agree with this.  Yes, direct connections are integral to building your network and, in turn, would presumably improve your ability to leverage said network for both business lead generation and professional opportunities.  That said, you should not dismiss the very clearly stated message that LinkedIn champions each and every time you reach out to ‘LinkIn’ with someone (yes, the term has become a verb); that is, it is notbest practice to connect with someone you do not know at all or, more specifically, someone who has very little to do with the professional space that you occupy. Every generic, rather innocuous LinkedIn invitation that I receive from someone I have never met in my life just makes me feel like I’m being ambushed by some obnoxious telemarkterer.  So unless you have some affinity for bantering with telemarketing folk, I would steer clear of this spammy-practice.

    LinkedIn
    Image by Christopher S. Penn via Flickr
  • Point #3 – Guns & Ammo: Customize Your URL and Websites – Like point #1, this is another ‘no-brainer’ that needs to be at the very top of your To Do checklist, not only for SEO purposes but for ensuring that your profile maintains a clean look and feel.  After all, you are the keeper and protector of your own personal brand, a brand that I contend is the most important out there (lo siento Starbucks…).

Hope these first three points were a helpful start to all of you savvy, social networkers out there. Here’s to hoping your next step is your LinkedIn page. Stay tuned for the second half of this point-counterpoint LinkedIn discussion…

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I’m a motivated Cornell University Hotel School alumnus, affectionately known as a Hotelie for life, with keen interests in social and digital marketing for hospitality and lifestyle brands. I’m very passionate about sales and marketing in the hospitality industry, specifically as it relates to the dynamic online space. In my free time, I obsess over growing my musical intellect (both modern and past-time artists apply), tennis, and running practice.

Hub Spotlight: Google

Posted on by Isabella de Medici

Social Media Week New York begins next week and posts this week will include overviews of each of the five Content Hubs, which is where much of the programming is taking place.

We are incredibly excited to be partnering up with Google, host to the Science and Technology Hub.  The company continues to remain on the cutting edge of technology rolling out concepts like Google Ideas, a hybrid think tank based in New York, developing policy and solutions based not only on traditional research and analysis, a pragmatic approach to resolving complex, international issues.  Events at Google throughout the week will cover how social media is revolutionizing and complicating human interaction.

What would happen if you couldn’t be single until you changed your relationship status on Facebook? Our cure for the Monday blues is this hilarious session hosted by SpaientNitro, and hear what the experts say would happen if we could only communicate with the same methods used through social media.

Then join Wired Google for the next panel,  on the developing situation in Egypt.  that will cover how citizens are using Web 2.0 technologies to assemble and protest their regimes.

Then you can attend an awesome tech panel hosted by DOTGO, featuring technologies integrating text messages into websites, mobile and other software.

Tuesday takes you to an exciting conversation on the power of crowds, hosted by the UN Global Pulse.  Find out how incredibly diverse groups are, and the influence they have from a grassroots level to international.

Want to know what all those Facebook and Twitter updates are doing to your brain? A Social Media Scientist might be able to tell you at our next event, hosted by Opera Solutions.

Our final event looks at the power of leveraging social media analytics, and how mass collaboration is launching scientific discoveries forward at unprecedented speed.

Come to Google on Friday, and witness a provocative discussion led by Douglas Rushkoff, Erick Schonfeld and Josh Harris.  They’re sure to having a heated talk on how connected we really are to each other through technology, and fodder we’re providing to advertisers with our online content.

Our final event covers how current and emerging technologies are impacting governmental response to a crisis.  Mobile and internet access are redefining global response time and attempting to resolve them at a granular level.

Isabella de Medici, author of polichic.com, is a contributor to the NY Social Media Week blog.