nittyGriddy

Traffic Light Changer iPhone App!

April 17th, 2010 41 Comments

The newly released Traffic Light Changer App developed by Pat Flynn and Quoc Bui from LOLer Apps, allows you to turn traffic lights from red to green [while stopped at the light] using your iPhone or iPod Touch – in turn giving you complete control of intersections.

Here’s how it works:

The application transmits a signal that triggers a preemptive sensor on the traffic light. Often referred to as a MIRT (Mobile Infrared Transmitter) it is usually used by emergency (such as ambulances) and police vehicles only. In order for it to work, simply turn on the application and point your device at the traffic light box which is generally found on top of the traffic light. Once your aim is set, all you need to do is press “Transmit Signal”, and the road is all yours!

IS THIS FOR REAL? Of course not!!! Do you seriously think Apple or any federal authority would approve an application that would cause complete and utter mayhem in the streets? Seriously folks! There is no transmitting of any signals whatsoever and if the light does turn green while you’re pointing at it, then it’s purely coincidental!

However, if timed correctly, you could actually make it look like it was you who changed the lights and fool your family and friends :)! A bit childish – I know – but it could be fun the first few times.

To see a preview and download this fun app for free, visit the iTunes App Store.

To remain up-to-date with LOLer Apps latest applications, you can visit their website or follow them on Twitter.

[image credit: iTunes App Store]

Dribbble: The New “It” Hangout & Sharing Space for Designers

April 14th, 2010 15 Comments

Before anything else:

In case you’re wondering whether the 3rd “b” in the title is a typo, let me assure you – it’s not! It’s just the way Dribbble creators, Rich Thornett and Dan Cederholm from SimpleBits wanted to spell the word. Okay, now that that’s out of the way, let’s move on to what Dribbble actually is!

According to the site’s FAQ, Dribbble is: “show and tell for designers, developers and other creatives. Members share sneak peeks of their work as “shots” — small screenshots of the designs and applications they are working on. It’s also a place to talk design, give and receive feedback and iterate toward better work.”

Dribbble, as the name implies, uses basketball analogies for the diverse actions or activities that its’ members can do. For example, members are referred to as “players”; uploaded designs are called “shots”; to “draft” someone means to invite them…

Here’s how Dribbble works:

Players of this creative community upload small screenshots (300 x 400 pixels max) of their work in progress – such as web and logo designs, typography experiments, animations, sketches and so forth. These shots, which are limited to 24 per month for each player, are categorized by tags in order to simplify and filter the search process. Players can also follow other players (Twitter style), whose work they can either like, link to, tweet or rebound to show a progression of work.

[image credit: SimpleBits]

Although Dribbble membership is free, it is available by invitation only (a concept similar to that of asmallworld). In an effort to maintain high quality design work and preserve the ethos of Dribbble, a person must be drafted by an existing player. If you’re interested in joining this network of talented and elite creatives [where well known designers such as Jason Santa Maria, Doug Bowman, Jeffrey Zeldman, Shaun Inman, Dan Cederholm, Veerle Pieters and more are present] keep your eyes open or more like glued to your social graph. For as the company itself advises, “we routinely issue invites to existing members. When this happens, members often announce on Twitter that they are looking for folks to draft. If you’re interested, be sure to have a URL handy to show off some of your work.”

Are you a designer or developer? Is Dribbble something you would be interested in? Post your comments.

18 Great Books on Social Media (Part 3)

April 13th, 2010 1 Comment

To all you social media fans…Part 3 – the last part of my ongoing article “18 Great Books on Social Media” [see Part 1 and Part 2] is here! If you’ve been following these posts, you will recall that in Part 1 I mentioned that there are well over 100 books that have been written on the subject of social media. Therefore, if you know of any others, please feel free to add on to this short yet worthy list and if you’ve read any of the ones mentioned (or not), I would love to hear your take on them.

[Books 13 to 18]

13. Crush It!

In “Crush It”, Gary Vaynerchuk shows how anyone can build a career around what they’re passionate about. He also delivers both high-level and platform specific strategy and analysis, allowing you to take advantage of the current business environment while preparing you to succeed as it changes and evolves.

By combining practical analysis and strategy with the same passion and humor that’s made Gary one of the most in demand keynote speakers in the U.S. as well as network television’s go to wine expert, “Crush It” is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand and harness the future of business and work.

By reading “Crush It”, you will learn things like:

Why social media has evened the playing field, destroying the “gate-keepers” who had previously dictated the distribution of content.
How to build an online business around your passion without quitting your day job.
Why Twitter and Facebook are just tools and not a social media strategy.
How to take advantage of the half-billion dollars in advertising that are moving to the internet
Why storytelling is the most important business concept in the current marketplace

You can buy this book on Amazon for $13.59 or less.

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14. Marketing to the Social Web (2nd Edition)

“Marketing to the Social Web” is an updated and expanded version of the popular guide to social media for the business community.

Marketers must look to the Web for new ways of finding customers and communicating with them, rather than at them. From Facebook and YouTube to blogs and Twitter-ing, social media on the Internet is the most promising new way to reach customers. “Marketing to the Social Web” (Second Edition) helps marketers and their companies understand how to engage customers, build customer communities, and maximize profits in a time of marketing confusion. Author and social media guru Larry Weber describes newly available tools and platforms and shows you how to apply them to see immediate results and growth.

Rather than broadcast messages to audiences, savvy marketers should encourage participation in social networks to which people want to belong, where dialogue with customers, and between customers, can flourish. Networking sites like MySpace, Facebook and even Flickr are the perfect forums for this dialog; this book shows you how to tap into this new media.

Marketing and Public Relations expert, Larry Webber, presents an exceptional opportunity to use these new tools and models to reach new markets, even in today’s fragmented media environment.

You can buy this book on Amazon for $17.96 or less.

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15. Secrets of Social Media Marketing

“Secrets of Social Media Marketing” is a handbook for marketers and business owners to use in deciding how to employ the new social media for online marketing. Social media has quickly moved from the periphery of marketing into the forefront, but this is a new and quickly-evolving field and there are few established formulas for success. Building on the lessons set out in Gillin’s acclaimed and oft-reviewed “The New Influencers: A Marketer’s Guide to the New Social Media”, this book provides practical advice on strategy, tools, and tactics. It is a hands-on manual that will educate marketers on how to extend their brands, generate leads, and engage customer communities using online tools.

You can buy this book on Amazon for $10.85 or less.

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16. The Whuffie Factor

“The Whuffie factor” catches the crest of Web 2.0 and shows how any business can harness its power by increasing whuffie, the store of social capital that is the currency of the digital world.

Everyone knows about blogs and social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, and has heard about someone who has used them to grow a huge customer base. Everyone wants to be hands-on, grassroots, and interactive, but what does this mean? And more to the point, how do you do it?

While “The Whuffie Factor” will traverse the landscape of Web 2.0 and show how to become a player, it is not just another book about online marketing. The book provides business people with a strategic map and specific tactics for the constantly evolving, elusive, and, to some, strange world of on line communities. By connecting with your customers through community interaction, you’ll raise your social capital, create demand, and sell more product. Consumer loyalty is a direct result of whuffie. With great stories of online business successes and cautionary tales of major missteps, Tara Hunt reveals how social networking has more influence over buying decisions than any other marketing tool and how your business can tap into the vast world of Web 2.0 to build an unshakable foundation for 21st century-style online success.

You can buy this book on Amazon for $16.50 or less.

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17. The New Rules of Marketing and PR

“The New Rules of Marketing and PR” shows you how to leverage the potential that Web-based communication offers your business. Finally, you can speak directly to customers and buyers, establishing a personal link with the people who make your business work.

This new second edition paperback keeps you up-to-date on the latest trends:

New case studies and current examples are included to illustrate the very latest in marketing and PR trends
Completely updated to reflect the latest marketing and PR techniques using social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
Includes a step-by-step action plan for harnessing the power of the Internet to communicate directly with buyers, increase sales and raise online visibility

The 2nd edition of the “The New Rules of Marketing and PR” gives you all the information you need to craft powerful and effective marketing messages and get them to the right people at the right moment-at a fraction of the price of a traditional marketing campaign.

You can buy this book on Amazon for $10.96 or less.

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18. A Survival Guide to Social Media and Web 2.0 Optimization

It’s no secret that the future of the Internet is the Social Web, and that the future is this very instant. Millions of people and businesses are interacting, sharing, and collaborating on social networking sites, media communities, social bookmarking sites, blogs and more.

“A Survival Guide to Social Media and Web 2.0 Optimization” will show you how to use the tools of Web 2.0 to build a successful Web presence. From Squidoo to YouTube, Facebook to WordPress, wikis to widgets, blogs to RSS feeds, business owners, authors, publishers, students, PR and marketing professionals can learn to apply and integrate these tools by themselves. Gone are the days of relying on Web developers! This book arms you with the nuts and bolts of the new, open-source Internet through hands-on, real-world examples. And, the companion CD is packed with links to other resources, directories of social websites and fillable forms and worksheets to help you map your strategy.

You can buy this book on Amazon for $16.47 or less.

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*Note: The descriptions that are under each book cover have been taken from the original sites or authors and have been slightly modified/reworded.

Boys Will Be Girls!

April 12th, 2010 No Comments

@aplusk says A+ for this kool video made by the Harvard Sailing Team! And no, they are not affiliated with the prominent university or its’ sailing team in any way. HST is a NYC based sketch comedy group whose singular vision and style have set it apart from other sketch groups in the area (according to Time Out NY). Their humorous videos have been featured on well known sites such as Cracked.com and CollegeHumor.com.

Boys Will Be Girls was produced by the award-winning production company Untucked Films. Its’ title pretty much says it all; boys acting and talking like girls.

Watch this comical parody of these 4 guys hanging out and communicating with each other the way typical girls might…well, definitely not all, but at least some!

18 Great Books on Social Media (Part 2)

April 10th, 2010 2 Comments

This post is a continuation of 18 Great Books on Social Media (Part 1). As was previously mentioned, the article has been divided into 3 sections in order not to publish a mile long post :)! Furthermore, I have tried to include only those books that have been published within the last 2 years. Seeing how quickly the social media world is evolving, I wanted the information and data to be as recent as possible – as it is, one year old data in this industry could already be considered as being out-of-date. Regardless, they are all good references by experts in the field.

[Books 7 to 12]

7. Twitter Power: How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time

In “Twitter Power” Internet marketing and Web innovation expert Joel Comm shows businesses and marketers how to integrate Twitter into their existing marketing strategies to build a loyal following among Twitter members, expand awareness for their product or service and even handle negative publicity due to angry or disappointed consumers.

The book also presents case studies of companies on the forefront of the Twitter movement, to help you develop your own social networking strategies. “Twitter Power” is the result of extensive testing and participation in the social networking community and is a must-have for any business that wants to keep up with the social media movement.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

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8. Content Nation: Surviving and Thriving as Social Media Changes Our Work, Our Lives, and Our Future

Discover how social media communications is changing the content provider industry in “Content Nation: Surviving and Thriving as Social Media Technology Changes Our Lives and Our Future”. Developed through a collaborative wiki, this book is a collection of information from social media experts and serves as an example of how social media impacts the way we provide and receive content. You will learn how social media changes the way businesses market products and services, influences how people interact with the government and dictates how we communicate with one another on a personal level.

This book is revolutionary not only in its scope, but in the way it came to be. Through the wiki collaboration process, it evolved and developed online at ContentNation.com—literally created by the social media it examines. Hundreds of individual publishers contributed to its content. If you have sent an e-mail, voted in a Web poll, posted a video on YouTube, or sent a text message, you are part of “Content Nation”. Welcome to the evolution.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

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9. The Social Media Marketing Book

Are you looking to take advantage of social media for your business or organization? With easy-to-understand introductions to blogging, forums, opinion and review sites, and social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, this book will help you choose the best – and avoid the worst – of the social web’s unique marketing opportunities.

“The Social Media Marketing Book” guides you through the maze of communities, platforms and social media tools so you can decide which ones to use, and how to use them most effectively. With an objective approach and clear, straightforward language, Dan Zarrella, aka ‘The Social Media & Marketing Scientist,’ shows you how to plan and implement campaigns intelligently, and then measure results and track return on investment. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the social web, this book will take you beyond the jargon to social media marketing mastery.

This book will help you:

Make sense of this complicated environment with the help of screenshots, graphs and visual explanations
Understand the history and culture of each social media type, including features, functionality and protocols
Get clear-cut explanations of the methods you need to trigger viral marketing successes
Choose the technologies and marketing tactics most relevant to your campaign goals
Learn how to set specific goals for your campaigns and evaluate them according to key performance indicators

You can buy this book on Amazon.

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10. Social Media Metrics: How to Measure and Optimize Your Marketing Investment

Whether you are selling online, through a direct sales force, or via distribution channels, what customers are saying about you online is now more important than your advertising. Social media is no longer a curiosity on the horizon but a significant part of your marketing mix.

While other books explain why social media is critical and how to go about participating, “Social Media Metrics” focuses on measuring the success of your social media marketing efforts. Success metrics in business are based on business goals where fame does not always equate to fortune.

This book will help you determine:

Why striving for more Twitter followers or Facebook friends than the competition is a failing strategy
How to leverage the time and effort you invest in social media
How to convince those who are afraid of new things that social media is a valuable business tool and not just a toy for the overly-wired

You can buy this book on Amazon.

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11. Groundswell

Corporate executives are struggling with a new trend: people using online social technologies such as blogs, social networking sites, YouTube, podcasts… to discuss products and companies, write their own news and find their own deals.

Therefore, when consumers you’ve never met are rating your company’s products in public forums with which you have no experience or influence, your company is vulnerable. In “Groundswell”, Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff explain how to turn this threat into an opportunity.

“Groundswell” is based on analysis by Forrester Research. The book is filled with practical, data-based strategies for companies that want to harness the power of social technologies like blogs, social networks and YouTube. It features full case studies, a complete road map for social strategy and data from around the world.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

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12. The New Influencers: A Marketer’s Guide to the New Social Media

The influence of bloggers, podcasters and users of other social media is profoundly disrupting the mainstream media and marketing industries. Paul Gillin’s “The New Influencers” explores these forces, who these new influencers are, their goals and motivations, takes a look at the changes they have initiated and offers strategies for marketing within this dynamic new macrocosm.

“The New Influencers” explores:

Why social media are now so influential in consumer decisions
The differences between traditional and new media
Interacting with those within the blogosphere
How to take advantage of this new medium
Guerilla marketing on the Internet
The need for complete transparency
Strategies for both small and large businesses
Whether your company or organization should start a blog

You can buy this book on Amazon.

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*Note 1: The descriptions that are under each book cover have been taken from the original sites or authors and have been slightly modified/reworded.

*Note 2: Part 3 will shortly follow and will include another 6 great books on Social Media.

18 Great Books on Social Media (Part 1)

April 10th, 2010 14 Comments

By now, it should be quite obvious that the future (and current state) of the Internet is the Social Web. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to know that there are literally 130 plus books and probably an equal number of eBooks that have been written about Social Media thus far.

In my effort to present you with a few insightful books on the ever-so popular topic, I decided to split the article in 3 parts in order not to end up with a mile long post :)! Like I said, there are many good books on the topic, so feel free to add on or contribute to this list.

*See Part 2 of 18 Great Books on Social Media

*see Part 3 of 18 Great Books on Social Media

[Books 1 to 6]

1. The Social Media Bible

“The Social Media Bible” will show you how to build or transform your business into a social media-enabled enterprise where customers, employees and prospects connect, collaborate and champion your products, your services and your way of doing business.

Using the systematic approach presented in this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to:

Increase your company and brand value by engaging people in new forms of communication, collaboration, education, and entertainment
Determine which social media tactics you should be using with your customers and employees
Evaluate and categorize the tools and applications that constitute the rapidly evolving social media ecosystem
Make social media tools like Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, blogging, podcasting, and hundreds of others a part of your business strategy
Do a social media analysis inside your company to improve internal operations and outside your company to create and monetize relationships with customers and prospects
Implement social media micro- and macrostrategies to give your business the competitive edge it needs to survive and thrive

You can buy this book from Amazon.

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2. Trust Agents

In “Trust Agents”, two social media veterans (Brogan and Smith) show you how to tap into the power of social networks to build your brand’s influence, reputation and profits. Today’s online influencers are web natives who trade in trust, reputation and relationships using social media to accrue the influence that builds or brings down businesses online.

The book explores how people use online social tools to build networks of influence and how you can use those networks to positively impact your business. Because trust is key to building online reputations, those who traffic in it are “trust agents,” the key people your business needs on its side.

Part career advice, part communications management, and part technology know-how, “Trust Agents” aims to deliver high level theory, actionable next steps and stories and case studies to bolster the opinions and experiences of the authors.

You can buy this book from Amazon.

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3. The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web

The explosion of social media can present a great challenge to marketers. By reading this book, you’ll understand how social web technologies work and learn the most practical and effective ways to reach people who frequent social media sites.

“The new Community Rules” cuts through the hype and jargon to give you intelligent advice and strategies for positioning your business on the social web, with case studies that show how other companies have used this approach.

This book will help you:

Explore blogging and microblogging, and find out how to use applications such as Twitter to create brand awareness;
Learn the art of conversation marketing, and how social media thrives on honesty and transparency
Manage and enhance your online reputation through the social web
Tap into the increasingly influential video and podcasting market
Discover which tactics work – and which don’t – by learning about what other marketers have tried

Tamar Weinberg is an expert in social media and viral marketing as well as an Internet Marketing Consultant and prolific blogger. You can follow Tamar’s work at her very insightful blog Techipedia.

You can buy this book from Amazon.

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4. Six Pixels of Separation

A digital marketing maven who parlayed a podcast into a thriving career, Joel extends the notion of human interconnectedness by six degrees to the virtual world. With abundant Internet social networking sites and mobile texting, we are all intrinsically connected.

This book integrates digital marketing, social media, personal branding, and entrepreneurship in a clear, entertaining, and instructive manner that everyone can understand and apply. Through the use of timely case studies and fascinating stories such as one Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library, who transformed his parents’ New Jersey liquor store from a $4 million business to a $45 million one in five years by connecting to Facebook and Twitter and creating a video podcast to lure customers, “Six Pixels of Separation” offers a complete set of the latest tactics, insights and tools that will empower you to reach a global audience and consumer base.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

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5. Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day

Written by a social media marketing expert, this book eschews theoretical surveys of social media marketing to focus on practical, how-to advice for understanding social media, developing a social media marketing strategy, implementing the campaign and then measuring results.

“Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day” is filled with interesting case studies, step-by-step guides and hands-on tutorials. It is written in the popular Hour a Day format, in which intimidating topics are broken down into easily approachable tasks.

If the idea of starting a social media marketing campaign overwhelms you, the author of this book will introduce you to the basics, demonstrate how to manage details and describe how you can track results. Case studies, step-by-step guides, checklists, quizzes and hands-on tutorials will help you execute a social media marketing campaign in just one hour a day. In addition, you will learn how to integrate social media metrics with traditional media measurements and how to leverage blogs, RSS feeds, podcasts and user-generated content sharing sites like YouTube.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

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6. Socialnomics

“Socialnomics” is an essential book for anyone who wants to understand the implications of social media, and how businesses can tap the power of social media to increase their sales, cut their marketing costs and reach consumers directly.

Brands can now be strengthened or destroyed by the use of social media. Advertising is less effective at influencing consumers than are the opinions of their peers, making direct-to-consumer marketing messages less valuable each day. But savvy companies are using online networking sites as massive focus groups and as an efficient means of communication with consumers. If social media isn’t part of your business strategy, you’ve already fallen behind the curve-and your competition.

In “Socialnomics”, Erik Qualman offers a fascinating look at the impact of social media on business to reveal what the future holds and how businesses can best take advantage of it. He explores how social media is changing the way businesses produce, market and sell products; how it eliminates inefficient marketing tactics and middlemen; and how businesses are connecting directly with their customers through popular social media platforms.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

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*Note 1: The descriptions that are under each book cover have been taken from the original sites or authors and have been slightly modified/reworded.

*Note 2: Part 2 will shortly follow in the next post with another 6 great books on Social Media.

The Numbers Behind Prostitution

April 8th, 2010 2 Comments

Prostitution is often referred to as the world’s oldest profession. The commercial sex industry includes street prostitution, massage brothels, escort services, outcall services, phone sex, strip clubs, lapdancing, adult and child pornography, video and internet pornography and sex tourism. That’s one hell of an industry! From street whores to high class hookers and from North America to the rest of the world; this business has enjoyed considerable growth and expansion throughout the years.

According to this somewhat shocking yet eye-opening infographic by Jason Powers (via onlineschools.org), $1 will get you quite a ways (or more like YOUR WAY) in South Africa. Just think what $5 will get you!

Scroll over texts and images for Image Zoomer or click here to view the full size version.

16 Free eBooks on Social Media

April 7th, 2010 26 Comments

[UPDATE: Make sure to also check out my follow-up post with new and more of these fantastic eBooks – “9 Free eBooks on Social Media“.]

If you’re reading this blog, then you’re somewhat familiar with social media – the ongoing and ever-growing buzzword and phenomenon on the web today. And whether you’re keeping in touch with friends and family, growing your company’s brand, promoting your product or blog… social media and networks have become a major part of our daily lives.

Below is a list and brief description of 16 ebooks that pertain to social media, including the power or rewarding effect it can have when used properly [having a few different perspectives can’t hurt :)]. They can direct you in the right direction in order to achieve social media success or can help you improve or accelerate your performance if you’re already an active user of the social web.

1. What is Social Media?

This ebook answers one simple question: What is social media? From iCrossing, “What is Social Media?” runs down all the basics, from how social media is being used to providing definitions of the ever-changing jargon that personifies social media.

Download ebook from: www.icrossing.co.uk

2. The Essential Guide to Social Media

“The Essential Guide to Social Media” is a brief overview of how to listen and participate in social media and new media marketing. It is an executive outline of Social Media tools and resources needed to listen and participate, guiding PR, Customer Service, Product Development and Marketing.

Download ebook from: www.scribd.com

3. The Social Media Starter Kit

“The Social Media Starter Kit” covers some of the most popular social media tools and technologies, including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and blogging, as well as some productivity and supporting tools to make social media task management easier and more fluid.

Download ebook from: altitudebranding.com

4. Getting Started with Social Media

“Getting Started with Social Media” is written as a guide or checklist to get you or your small business started with social media. Basically, it’s your starting point. A practical chart is also included inside the ebook so that you can print and use it to fill in your different social media profile information.

Download ebook from: orangejack.com

5. What is Social Media Marketing?

This ebook is a brief overview of what Social Media Marketing is all about. It looks at various styles of online communication and includes a couple of case studies.

Download ebook from: orangejack.com

6. The New Rules of Viral Marketing

The smart marketers profiled in “The New Rules of Viral Marketing: How word-of-mouse spreads your ideas for free” tell you exactly how they used viral marketing and provide advice in their own words.

Download ebook from: www.davidmeermanscott.com

7. Getting a Foothold in Social Media

A rundown of some of the basic, fundamental elements of building a social media plan. Although it is directed at smaller and medium-sized businesses it is also consistent for companies of any size.

Download ebook from: altitudebranding.com

8. Customer Service: The Art of Listening and Engagement Through Social Media

In the era of Social Media, there are new tools and philosophies to more effectively listen and engage with customers and in turn, cultivate a more significant community, enhance your brand, build relationships and hopefully create evangelists along the way. “Customer Service: The Art of Listening and Engagement Through Social Media” is about how to do so through a new level of PR, Social Marketing, community management and customer service using social tools driven by a meaningful, value-oriented two-way program.

Download ebook from: www.scribd.com

9. The Simple Web

As bloggers and Webmasters, we want many things: more visitors, more subscribers, more comments, more money, more inbound links and more people saying good things about us. Our wants aren’t in question. It’s the how that gets us. The answers to these questions and more can be found in this ebook.

Download ebook from: www.skelliewag.org

10. A Primer in Social Media

Social media represents a broad change in how people communicate with one another. This is exciting for businesses as it presents new channels and methods of reaching consumers. As such, early adopters have encountered both successes and failures in developing strategies that incorporate this new paradigm. smashLAB advises groups to remain strategic and pragmatic in employing social media.

Download ebook from: www.smashlab.com

11. Social Media Tips

Kodak CMO Jeff Hayzlett and his team put this ebook together to share some of their thoughts and first hand experiences using social media for their business. Hayzlett takes the time to use social media like Twitter and Facebook because in today’s media landscape it’s vitally important to be where your customers are. Kodak has always embraced this marketing philosophy, and today that means being active in social media.

Download ebook from: www.kodak.com

12. Blogs and Social Media

Download ebook from: www.prsa.org

13. SEO for WordPress Blogs

Download ebook from: www.blizzardinternet.com

14. Get Viral – Get Visitors

This ebook provides useful information about Viral and Internet Marketing.

Download ebook from: www.staciemahoe.com

15. The Social Web Analytics eBook 2008

This ebook is an introduction to Social Web Analytics (SWA, also known as Social Media Analytics), the driver for it, how it can be applied, the key vendors and their services, and considerations for your organisation’s procurement of such services.

Dowload ebook from: socialwebanalytics.com

16. Building a Social Media Team

If you’re considering deploying a team to tackle your social media efforts, you may want to read this. We’ll discuss why you might need a team, how to assemble one, roles and responsibilities and more. This ebook includes a look inside Humana’s social media “Chamber of Commerce” and how their interdisciplinary team is driving social media efforts at their company.

Download ebook from: altitudebranding.com

Have you read any of these? Are there any other ebooks on social media that you like or recommend?

*Note: The ebook descriptions that are located under each image have been taken from the original sites or authors and have been slightly modified/reworded.

[image credit: (orange ebook – top left) via inkwelleditorial.blogspot.com]

Blogging from Prison!

April 4th, 2010 6 Comments

There are a couple hundred million blogs floating around the blogosphere. And as I’ve recently learned, it pretty much seems like anyone and everyone from everywhere, is blogging or using some other form of social media; from normal folks to big time celebrities – they’ve all got something to say; including me :)! Therefore, it’s somewhat less newsworthy when you hear of someone, especially a famous person, jumping on board the “blogotrain” and starting their own blog. However, it’s generally more fascinating when they do so from prison!

There are actually a large number of “jailhouse bloggers” that exist. But for now, check out the 5 that I visited below.

Scroll over texts and images for Image Zoomer.

This blog is by none other than famous rapper, Lil Wayne, who was sent to prison last month on a weapons charge. No stranger to social media [2nd most popular artist on MySpace, sports blogger for ESPN and recent Twitterer], Lil Wayne has found a way to continue communicating with his fans through his newly set up blog WeezyThanxYou.com.

Maurice Clarett, former running back for Ohio State, has served nearly half of a 7 1/2 year sentence for aggravated-robbery and gun convictions. Since October 2008, he has been blogging about his life in prison on The Mind of Maurice Clarett. Although he doesn’t have internet access in jail, he sends his entries to family members who post them for him.

Shaun Attwood aka Jon is a British stockbroker and rave organizer that was formerly incarcerated in Madison Street Jail in Phoenix, Arizona for allegedly being the head of a club-drug conspiracy. In his blog Jon’s Jail Journal, which he started back in 2004, he writes prison stories about his friends inside, documents the inhumane conditions of the cockroach-infested jail and campaigns against Sheriff Joe Arpaio. You can also view Atrwood’s full profile on MySpace.

Prison Pete is currently an inmate and an unemployed programmer in a New York state prison. He has spent the past 10 years of his life living behind bars while regularly updating his personal prison diary since 2004. Since he has no email or internet access, he types his letters which he then sends to his friend and blog editor.

Ted Braden is a 20 year old boy that was arrested for trafficking MDMA (Ecstasy). He now resides in his cell at RMC-Main in Lake Butler Florida. Since Braden doesn’t have access to the internet, he writes letters to his mom Kelly Shannon Kelly, recounting stories of his crimes, arrests, life in prison and so forth. She then posts them on his blog Teen in Jail in an effort to relay his message to others so that they don’t make the same mistakes. You can follow Mrs. Kelly on Twitter.

[image credit: (top left) Zazzle.com]

DriveSafe.ly Blackberry App

April 2nd, 2010 11 Comments

Let’s face it, we’re all somewhat addicted to our smartphones; and even more so when it comes to text messaging. In all seriousness – have you ever seen or had lunch with an avid Blackberry user? It’s like their eyes and fingers are permanently glued to the keypad. Once in a while they’ll look up to acknowledge your presence but if not, they’re on a continuous BBM mission. What’s worse is that it doesn’t stop there. I’ve seen people jog, cross the street, watch movies, attend meetings, probably even sleep and of course drive while “BBMing” someone.

When it comes to texting while driving, it doesn’t get any more dangerous than that. Regardless of the kind of phone we use, I’m sure that at some point or another, we’ve all done it – and a lot!

I won’t go into all the car accident cell phone statistics here because I plan to leave those for an upcoming post. But I will tell you that today almost 4 out of 5 (80%) car accidents in the United States are caused by cell phone distractions whereas 1 out of 3 (33%) from driving while intoxicated.

Well, our caring friends over at iSpeech® have developed a way for us to stay safely connected while driving. DriveSafe.ly is a free mobile application for Blackberry, iPhone, Android and Windows Mobile devices that aims to stop distracted driving. The unprecedented mobile application reads text (SMS) messages and emails aloud in real time and automatically responds without you needing to look at your phone. In a few words, it’s the perfect solution for responsible texting while driving. Your hands stay on the wheel and your eyes on the road!

Other DriveSafe.ly features include:

Hands free
One-touch activation – easy set-up
Bluetooth and radio transmitter compatible
Reads shorthand (lol, brb, rtfl…)
Customizable auto-responder
Free version reads up to 25 words

Needless to tell you what the benefits are! For more information about Drivesafe.ly or to download the free or Pro application click here.

I just finished installing it on my Blackberry. If you use a compatible phone, I strongly suggest you do the same!

[image credit: (top) Wireless and Mobile News; (bottom) makeuseof.com]

Good Friday and What It Means

April 2nd, 2010 1 Comment

Although this post has nothing to do with Social Media or blogging, I thought it appropriate to share all the same. Call me selfish, but my blog, my rules!

As you all know, today is Good Friday.

Now many of you may know the meaning behind today and what it stands for, but I still thought a little history lesson would be nice. In all honestly – there’s a couple things I learned myself while writing this piece.

There’s no humor, snarkiness or wits in here. Just good old fashioned Wikipedia-style info.

What is Good Friday?

Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday, is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday.

In the Catholic church, it’s the day on which we commemorate the passion (or suffering) and death of Jesus Christ on the Cross [His Crucifixion] – the act that brought salvation to those who believe.

On This Day the Following Took Place: [Biblical Accounts]

Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane by the Temple Guards through the guidance of his disciple, Judas Iscariot.

He was tried in a mock trial then beaten and flogged. A crown of long, sharp thorns was thrust upon his head before he was forced to carry his own cross outside the city to Skull Hill. Weak beyond belief, a man who was pulled from the crowd was forced to carry Jesus’s cross the rest of the way.

Upon arrival, Jesus was nailed to the cross along with two other criminals; one on each side. He agonized for 6 hours, but during the last 3 (from noon to 3 pm), darkness had covered the entire land. At 3 pm, with a loud cry, Jesus gave up his spirit.

The sign above Him read, “King of Jews”.

A question that is often asked is…

Why is a day as such – one that is filled with such pain and where such a horrible and disgraceful punishment occurred – called Good Friday?

Actually, Good Friday isn’t the only term that was (and is) used to refer to this day.

In the Roman Missal, it’s called Feria VI in Parasceve; in Greek Liturgy they say he hagia kai megale paraskeue – meaning the Holy and Great Friday; in German, it’s Charfreitag (or Karfreitag) – meaning Sorrowful or Mourning Friday; and in Norway, it’s referred to as the Long Friday – because of the length of the day’s services.

In all honesty, I don’t think anyone knows for sure why we call it Good Friday in English. But after a little digging, I noticed there were 3 recurrent explanations that could serve as answers.

An archaic meaning of “good” is something akin to “holy”. Hence, “Holy Friday.”
It was recognized that the evils of that day lead to the greatest good; the salvation of mankind. So despite the bad, the day was truly good.
An archaic meaning of “good” is “God” – just as “good-bye” means “God be with you.” That’s why it use to mean “God’s Friday.”

In commemoration of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the humiliation and painful death that he suffered as a sacrifice for Christians, I leave you with this verse from the Bible.

John 3:16,17

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

(Brief interpretation: Jesus is pure and without sin. Only His sacrifice could cleanse Christians from their sins and offer them eternal salvation.)

[image credit: via Sermons4Kids.com]

[sources: Wikipedia, Christian Cadre, Associated Content, Rev. Ken Collins, BibleStudy.org]

Funniest Homeless Signs

March 30th, 2010 11 Comments

Nowadays, being homeless has become somewhat competitive and it seems that homeless people have developed a great sense of humor in order to help their cause. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that being homeless is funny. On the contrary… there is nothing amusing about a person living on the streets; it’s actually a very sad and horrible thing. As for me, I try to give a helping hand whenever I can and I hope that most of you do the same. But that’s all besides the point. My point here is that there are an awful lot of funny signs out there and it’s only the most clever and creative ones that may get people to chuckle and spare some change.

Here are few that you may not have seen before…

[book id=’4′ /]

[image credit: compiled from numerous sources]

By Human, For Humans: A Kinda Social Media Journal

Traffic Light Changer iPhone App!

Boys Will Be Girls!

The Numbers Behind Prostitution

DriveSafe.ly Blackberry App

Good Friday and What It Means

What is Good Friday?

On This Day the Following Took Place: [Biblical Accounts]

Funniest Homeless Signs

Something About Griddy

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Top 20 (S)Talkers of the Month

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By Human, For Humans: A Kinda Social Media Journal

What is Good Friday?

On This Day the Following Took Place: [Biblical Accounts]

Categories

Top 20 (S)Talkers of the Month

Popular Posts

Flashbacks

Social Media Quotes

Social Media Count

Facebook Fan Box

Google Plus!

Cool Sites that Rock!

Kick-Ass Social Media Sites

I’d Love a Few Words

Meta