Social Media Butterfly

SocialVibe Launches Disaster Relief Cause

Posted by Nathania Johnson

Recently, I told you about the launch of SocialVibe, which connects brands and social media users. What makes SocialVibe stand out is there focus on charitable giving.

Now, SocialVibe has launched a special Disaster Relief Cause, so that brands and users can work together to provide support and aid during times of emergency.

The development was fueled by the Myanmar cyclone and the earthquake in China. As of this post, SocialVibe has raised $1,008 for Disaster Relief.

It’s this kind of thing that makes me believe SocialVibe could be one of the next hot things. You and I, together, can help make that happen - and make a difference at the same time. Go get your SocialVibe on.

Bigelow Tea’s Online Video Strategy Incorporates How-To Vids

Posted by Nathania Johnson

You know I love social media with a purpose. But did you know I also love tea? And did you know I also love Bigelow tea?

No, I’m not shilling for them. I came across a press release about Bigelow’s new “How To” video, part of a greater “How To” series.

The new video is “How to Naturally Decaffeinate a Cup of Tea.” Now, if I want decaf (and I rarely do), then I’ll just buy decaf tea. But, I did learn alot - including the fact that the first 30 seconds of what comes out of a tea bag once it hits the hot water is caffeine! Did you know that? (Bigelow recommends pouring out those first 30 seconds of water, and placing the tea bag in a fresh batch of the boiling stuff.)

They also have videos on how to make cocktails using their tea products.

I love “How To” videos, and I think they’re a great way for companies to enter the online video space. Got a new product in your store? Have tips and tricks to share? You don’t need anything fancy, just a simple “How To” video will do

Twennis: Putting Twitter to Great Marketing Use

Posted by Nathania Johnson

Twitter mania continues! Now TennisChannel.com is getting in on the action, but not by the usual means of setting up a Twitter account and posting regularly.

Instead, TennisChannel.com has launched Twennis.com. The simple, one-page site advertises live streaming of the French open on TennisChannel.com. But it also features tweets about tennis. They just scroll along, powered by Twistori.

I love this concept, and I hope to see more companies making use of it - and even taking it to the next level.

But what is the next level? Leave a comment and let us all know!

via @juliaroy

Google’s Slow and Subtle Foray into Social

Posted by Nathania Johnson

Google Reader, an RSS newsreader, is going social but in a very subtle and simple way.

Here’s the deal. You’ve been able to share items in Google Reader for a while, as well as email them to friends, etc. Now you can use a toolbar button to “note” things in reader, and they’ll be grouped with your other shared items.

My first reaction was, “Big deal, it’s not like this is Facebook or Twitter.” But then I remembered my thoughts from earlier in the week where I’m looking for social media that has more of a purpose and is less of a fad.

In fact, the lack of hype about Google’s foray into anything remotely social is refreshing, especially with the popularity of Google’s brand.

Hype has a tendency to peak. Friendster’s buzz faded in MySpace’s shadow and now Facebook is the hot network andTwitter is all the buzz, too.

Compared to that, Google’s social growth seems turtle-like. But Google’s pace may help it avoid some of the hype and tech pitfalls that plague the uber-popular sites of today.

Additionally, Google’s social products will likely be built in to the things you do every day - chat, email, read RSS feeds, for example. In a sense, if social is part of the grand plan at Mountain View, Google is almost building backwards from current web 2.0 sites, many of which are sprinting in a marathon.

FYI, if you want to read my shared items, click here.

Don’t Let Perfection Stand in the Way of a Good Social Media Campaign

Posted by Nathania Johnson

If you’ve been doing marketing, PR or advertising for a while, then you are likely used to making sure even the littlest details are taken care of down to a T.

But in social media, it’s actually perfection and not the little mistakes that can cost you.

For example, let’s talk about colors. Creative types that are used to more traditional agencies are likely to insist that the colors on a website or online video match EXACTLY to the official colors of a company’s logo.

But keep this in mind: everyone’s computer, laptop or mobile screen is calibrated differently. The shade of colors on your logo will look different from screen to screen.

So don’t let yourself get too caught up in spending gobs of time getting it just right. Social media is more about organic conversations and relationships, and less about corporate polish. Set yourself free and network away!

The Difference Between Rock Stars and Rockers

Posted by Nathania Johnson

I read and hear a lot about “rock stars” of social media, blogging, or seo (search engine optimization). But I’m not easily impressed by rock stars. Instead, I have far more respect for rockers. What’s the difference?

• Rock stars are all about publicity. Rockers are all about their craft.
• Rock stars are on the cover of Rolling Stone. Rockers are on the cover of Guitar Player.
• Rock stars know Billboard charts, publicists, and the paparazzi by name. Rockers know chords, pedals, amps, strings, recording software, acoustics, etc.

For these reasons, I’ll trust a rocker over a rock star any day. And this translates to social media and online marketing as well. I’m not naming names, but I’ve read a bunch of the so-called “A-listers” and often thought that they’re out of touch or full of it. That may sound harsh. But the people who really know there stuff are generally not well known.

That’s not to say that a few rockers don’t reach stardom. Darren Rowse of Problogger is a good example of an A-lister that offers real value.

It’s just that sometimes the world of social media and seo is not unlike Hollywood. I see far too many magazine covers of pop stars and starlets who had a hit movie or a hit song once, but not much since. They’re only intriguing because they’re hot or do crazy things that get attention.

I’ve seen many an A-lister achieve similar status in online marketing. They did something cool once and it solidified them as a rock star in the industry. Now, everyone follows them whether or not what they’re producing now holds any value. It may not seem as shallow because that link bait post on “101 things you never knew you could do with [fill in the blank]” sure was a fascinating read. But if you don’t find yourself using anything you learn from a so-called A-lister, it might be worth considering why you spend so much time listening to them.

On the flip side, there’s a lot of social media rockers out there. They’re amazing people who are generous and passionate about what they do. They love the work and do it whether they’re rewarded with notoriety or not. Generally, there’s a healthy dose of the geek factor going on. And when you see that, you know you’re in the presence of rocker greatness. When that happens, pay attention. Take careful notes. If you really want that social media campaign to succeed, you’ll want to have the right gear and play the right notes. And the rockers will show you how it’s done.

Do Yourself a Favor - Don’t Copy Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman

Posted by Nathania Johnson

Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel’s “spat” about who they’re, um, “dating” is hilarious. But don’t be one of the hundreds of people who copy them and throw it up on YouTube hoping for instant fame and fortune.

Go ahead, play practical jokes on your significant other at the expense of your relationship. (I’m guessing your girlfriend doesn’t have quite the dark sense of humor as comedian Sarah Silverman).

You can even put it up on YouTube to share with your friends and use up Google’s server space instead of your own.

But please, for the love of chickens, do NOT expect to be famous. Don’t pout when you only 10 people watch your video. Don’t wonder why Joel McHale didn’t include your clip on The Soup this Friday night.

Now, this advice seems to be in direct contradiction of something I truly believe in when it comes to the internet and technology. And that is: Don’t be the first one. Be the MySpace not the Friendster. Be the iPod, not whatever mp3 player came before it.

But upon close inspection - MySpace is not a copy of Friendster. iPod was not a copy of earlier mp3 players.

Be inspired. Be innovative. But do not be a clone!

The White Hat and Black Hat of Social Media

Posted by Nathania Johnson

If you’re familiar with Search Engine Optimization, then you’ve likely heard the terms “white hat” and “black hat.” The white hat folks are purists who would never sell a text link or cloak text. The black hat folks throw caution to the wind and spam the heck out of the internet. That’s extremes, and of course there’s always the “grey area,” but you get what I mean.

As Social Media becomes more popular, we’re starting to see “white hat” and “black hat” techniques as well. I was talking with Marketing Don Al Scillitani yesterday about power users on Digg who get offers in the neighborhood of $5,000 to submit or vote up posts on the popular social bookmarking site. That’s very black hat if you ask me.

Then there are the stories of PR firms and companies paying people to pretend to be brand evangelists and blog favorably about brands and products. Again, very spammy, very black hat.

White Hat Social Media, like white hat SEO, is a slow process. But it has the best and most “sticky” results. Digg spikes very rarely have long lasting effects, while an organic Stumble has low bounce rates and the ability to target audiences well.

There’s a reason why “Patience is a virtue” is a proverb that has stuck around. Don’t let the immediacy and speed of modern society fueled by innovative technology trick you into tactics that will eventually backfire.