Warehouse Media

Research shows links, not conversation, lead to high Twitter follower counts

2011-07-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

According to research by Dan Zarella – a social media scientist at Hubspot – engaging in thoughtful conversation with your followers on Twitter does NOT result in more people following you. (For more on Zarella’s research, click here) For many, myself included, this is somewhat earth-shattering information. For years now, we’ve been preaching a strategy of “engage, engage, engage and social media success will be yours!” Were we all wrong? Does consistent conversation not help, but actually damage your overall social media value? Not necessarily. I believe there is a fatal flaw in reaching that conclusion from Zarella’s research (especially from a fundraising standpoint).

In a related post about his link/follower/reply ratio data, Zarella says…

“If you are a marketer, there is no point in pursuing a twitter strategy that doesn’t include getting as many followers as possible.”

No point in pursuing a strategy that doesn’t lead to the highest follower count possible? So 5,000 people who don’t even remember they’re following you is better than 500 who talk about you on a weekly basis to their friends and family? If that’s the case, there are plenty of snake-oil salesmen who’d be happy to help you reach your goal of attracting “10,000 followers in one week!”

Make no mistake, providing quality content is an essential tactic to any successful social media strategy. I would surmise that’s the best takeaway from Zarella’s numbers. It is, after all, solid data and that’s something that should never be ignored or carelessly discarded. But we’re not talking about an “either/or” scenario with social media. Do both. Provide quality content via links and then talk about those links in meaningful conversations with the followers who engage you. High follower counts are something we all want, but the quality and influence of each follower is something that can’t be ignored. Those quality relationships are the ones which will be most impactful in helping you and your organization achieve its goals via social media.

For more on how a strategy of engagement leads to increased giving, please read this previous post that includes a Q and A from Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

Black Bean Burgers (Whole Foods Recipe)

2011-04-16T10:23:00.001-07:00

Grill season is back! If you're looking for a tasty treat to please every member of your patio party - veggies included - I recommend the Whole Foods online recipe for Black Bean Burgers.

In addition to the ingredients listed in the recipe, add one chopped jalapeño and a TON of hot sauce (Tasbasco, Frank's, etc) to the mix before you form the burger patties. Don't go light on the hot sauce. I can't give you an exact measurement, but copious is the best way to describe the amount I added and it wasn't too much.

Bon appétit!

How to Produce Simple, Quick Video for YouTube

2011-03-22T13:30:00.001-07:00

Do you have a Flip camera? How about a cell phone? It doesn't take much to produce simple, high quality video these days IF you know the basics of videography. The following video has some tips to get beginners started in the right direction.

Making YouTube Video Work

2011-02-05T09:44:00.000-08:00

A recent video Warehouse Media produced is having a solid first 24 hours on YouTube - 340 views after day one. As is often the case with successful YouTube videos, the strong early view count was no accident. Yes, cats on keyboards and crazy dance moves can make for amazingly popular YouTube videos, but relying on a cute video leading to viral success is to YouTube strategies what relying on the lottery is to investment strategies. This video is working, because of a well-thought out team approach that included excellent work from Kelly Sayre (@SportKelly) and Ryan Ott (@IamMNnice).

Kelly works with the St. Cloud Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and wanted a couple YouTube videos that would promote everything there is to do in Central Minnesota. She worked with Warehouse Media to produce the videos and together (Kelly, Ryan and myself) worked out a strategy to get those videos watched. Here are the key components...

Involve people in the video who will help get it seen

The woman interviewed for the cross-country skiing section will be sending the link to her friends and members of her ski club
Those who had venues featured and contributed media (photographs) shared the video with friends

Work with your friends

Local radio station WJON had a strong existing relationship with Kelly. As a result, the station posted the video on their website.
WJON also allowed us access to their sound-proof booth for recording the audio (thanks!)

Help those who help you

As part of the total package, Warehouse Media provided a half-day video training session to the St. Cloud CVB. Kelly invited friends and colleagues as a way to say "thank you" for their help throughout the year and with the video.

The video below is the finished product. Hopefully, the strong early showing is just a start. Either way, it serves as a great example of how YouTube is one of the most "social" sites of them all ...and is a reminder of what it takes to have success in the medium (other than being extremely lucky:)

Skiing Blackcomb Mountain

2011-02-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

Took out the Flip™ cam and grabbed some video on top of Blackcomb Mountain on a recent trip to Whistler. Which got me wondering ...would a ski hill be willing to trade a free trip for some significantly-reduced (or free) video work? (Much higher quality than what is shown below, of course).

If you are a ski hill and want to add some video to your marketing, click here. If you just like looking at pretty footage from on top of a mountain, check out the video below!

The Arizona Massacre

2011-01-09T21:40:00.000-08:00

Blame for this shooting doesn't rest solely on one extremist's PAC. It goes to all those who make a living on dividing Americans by making us fear and hate each other. This shooting is the result of a mentality that says we shouldn't tolerate those with different political views than our own. That is wrong and it has to change.

For a sadly ironic story that says so much about where we are as a country at the moment, click here.

Gophers v. Hawkeyes, 11//27/10 at TCF Bank Stadium

2010-11-29T07:44:00.000-08:00

All's well that ends well.

That couldn't be more true for the 2010 Golden Gopher football squad. Interim Coach Jeff Horton's 2-3 record may not be impressive at first glance, but consider the teams the Gophers played in that five-game stretch.

A home loss to a Penn State team that is well-coached and on its way to a bowl game after wrapping up a 7-5 season
Another home loss to Ohio State - A top 10 team that will likely be playing in a BCS bowl game
A road loss at Michigan State - Another top 10 team that would have been the Big 10 champion if it were decided on the field and not in the BCS
A come-from-behind road win against bowl-eligible Illinois
A win against a ranked Iowa team, in a trophy game, that might qualify as the most exciting, satisfying Gopher victory since Mason beat Michigan

According to the experts, Horton will not be considered for the head coaching job. Knowing that, I think I join a large number of the Gopher Nation who'd like to thank him for the job he did taking a broken season and making it interesting and a lot of fun to watch down the stretch. Let's hope this late-season success propels the Golden Gophers into the next era of winning football at the U!

Dayton v. Emmer Recount

2010-11-04T13:29:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the recount for the Minnesota gubernatorial election, I present to you, the greatest moment all-time in Minnesota election recount history...

Special thanks to Jed Hirschfeld for reminding me of this ballot from the Coleman v. Franken recount.

What the Vikings Should Be Thinking

2010-10-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

The more I think about it, T Jack could easily give the Vikes a 2-1 record in the next three games (Lose to the Pats, win at home against Arizona and on the road at Chicago) By then, Brett's healthy enough to beat the Packers at home and the Vikes are 5-5 and (probably) in a tie for first at that point.

There. Problem solved. No need to lose any more sleep or productivity. Skol.

Minneapolis and Saint Paul at Sunset and Sunrise

2010-10-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

Work on the Riverside Plaza video communications plan is underway! Earlier this week, I made my way to the top of the tallest building in the apartment complex. From 40 floors up, downtown Minneapolis and Saint Paul are even more beautiful than they look from ground level...

Here's looking east toward downtown Saint Paul at sunrise...

The sun going down over Minneapolis...

Riverside Plaza: Rebuilding Minneapolis History

2010-10-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

It's a city within a city. More than 5,000 residents living in high rises on a space about the size of Target Field. It's a place with history - this winter it could be added to the state's historic register - and also a place with nearly 10,000 Facebook fans. If you've ever lived in Minneapolis, you know that place; perhaps by its not-so-flattering name, but for those who live there it's Riverside Plaza.

Riverside is back in the news and that's a good thing. Check out this FOX 9 report for part of the story:

Now here's the rest of the story. To answer Jeff Passolt's question at the end of the above FOX piece, this January the landlords will be starting a two-year renovation project that will rehab every square foot of living space in Riverside, including new plumbing to address the pipes mentioned in the FOX story. The renovation will preserve Riverside's history while once again making it a comfortable home for the people who live there. Warehouse Media is fortunate enough be the firm chosen to produce the video communications associated with the renovation.

The videos will...

Communicate important renovation-related messages with all of Riverside's residents in several different languages. (Versions will be translated in multiple languages to serve the community's diverse population)
Explain why the renovation is happening and what needs to be fixed.
Talk about the history of a complex that has been part of Minneapolis' skyline since the early 1970's.
Tell stories about life as a resident in Riverside.

The last point is what excites me the most. Perceptions of the people who inhabit this place aren't always positive. Probably because the people with those misconceptions don't know stories like the one where a child who lives in the complex, whose family makes roughly $10,000 a year, led a massive fundraising effort to gather money and supplies for the earthquake victims in Haiti. Those aren't the stories you'll see on 60 Minutes, but they are the stories we'll be telling on Riverside's soon-to-be-developed YouTube channel.

So stay tuned...

Warehouse Media Expands

2010-08-16T10:53:00.001-07:00

While I've talked personally to many of you about this, my career path has taken an unexpected, but (so far) rewarding turn - I am now 100 percent self-employed. Yep, Warehouse Media is no longer just a silly Twitter handle ...it's also the silly name of my company!

In short, I create high-quality video content for organizations to use on their blogs, websites, Facebook pages ...basically, I give you something to show people online. Which is important, because Google loves nothing more than YouTube videos (SEO). For more, check out my short video explanation of Warehouse Media:

So if you know anyone who wants to get noticed using video, please send them my way! Justinwarebco at gmail dot com.

Minneapolis Recycling - Sort it ...sometimes

2010-06-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

Recycling is beyond important. The amount of glass, plastic, metal and paper that would otherwise end up in landfills is evident every time you drive through one of Minneapolis' many alleys on that area's recycling collection date. So, it would stand to reason that the city would make recycling as easy as possible for its residents. After all, plenty of other midwestern cities have adopted commingled recycling (where the city does the sorting for you) ...so why not Minneapolis? Well, here's the explanation from the city:

Sorted recycling generates the biggest revenue. Revenue from recycling provides money for:

-Large item pickup
-The voucher program
-Clean City programs
-Ongoing operating costs

If the City of Minneapolis used single-stream recycling (all recycling in one bin, as some areas do), the higher cost of processing these materials would result in lower revenue, and possible cuts in other waste services.

OK, that makes sense. I really do appreciate being able to leave large items out and have the city take them, at no extra cost. Which leaves me with just one question ...if all recycling needs to be sorted by individuals, then where does the trash from the commingled recycling in city parks go? In those blue cans, conveniently placed all over heavily used public areas, we discard all of our recyclable waste all in one intermixed container. Is that recycling sorted by hand? ...or does the city have a machine for that?

This is not a complaint, just an honest question. If anybody knows the answer, please share! Ultimately, I'd like to see recycling made as easy as possible for everyone.

Offshore Wind Potential

2010-06-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Coastline touches more than half the United States and off those coastlines exists massive energy potential. Oil? Nope. Wind is the energy source and there is enough of it to power the entire country with energy to spare. In the video below, fast forward to the 4:46 mark for more on the power potential off-shore wind has to offer (or watch the whole video ...it's worth six minutes of your time!):

(Video courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory or "NREL")

A lot of Federal money goes into subsidizing the current form of energy pouring in off our coastlines - and recently, onto our coastlines thanks to BP's colossal, on-going spill. Let's push our lawmakers to start redirecting those subsidies toward clean forms of energy, like the offshore wind turbines described in the above video. It's the only guaranteed way to prevent another oil spill like the current disaster taking place in the Gulf of Mexico.

Behind the "B16 Ten" Logo

2010-06-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

The Big 16 appears to be over before it happened, which is a shame for an alum from the University of Iowa.

On June 11th, with Nebraska joining the Big 10 and seemingly assuring the destruction of the Big 12, many members of the sports world theorized the Big 10 would be adding as many as 5 teams, making it a 16-team league. Had that happened, the conference would be in need of a new logo. And within the day, a graduate student from the University of Iowa produced the image you see embedded in this column. His name is Chiraag (he asked that I don't use his last name) and he cobbled the could-be logo "just for fun."

"I thought I had an idea that worked for the Big Ten if they did expand to 16 teams ... and wanted to share it," said Chiraag. "I've been pleasantly surprised with all the support and compliments I have seen on many different online forums. Graphic design has always been a hobby of mine, and as a graduate of a Big Ten school (University of Iowa), this was a natural interest of mine."

Chiraag has not been in contact with anyone from the Big 10. If Nebraska is the only addition, it's likely he won't ever hear anything from the conference. However, should Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Missouri or any other combination of four teams end up joining the ranks, will Chiraag's hobby turn into a lucrative business brought about by the instant, info-sharing nature of the Internet? It'd almost be worth adding four teams to find out, wouldn't it?

The "Pro-am" Journalist: Is it Safe to Eat?

2010-06-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a quiz for all your bloggers and/or journalists out there: what do many bloggers feel entitled to that would also make most true journalists lose their job? Answer: publicly begging for payola. See exhibit A (the following stream of tweets from one weight-loss blogger)

On one hand, I can understand why this blogger was upset. They were essentially told they'd be getting something in exchange for a blog post advertising GNC products only to have GNC later back out. So what happened? Probably only the folks at GNC know, but since this is my blog, I'd be willing to venture a guess.

The upset blogger claims she wants to "review" GNC's products. Reviews are trusted to be as free from bias as possible - something that gives an accurate appraisal of something to help inform consumers of whether they should buy/eat/wear/travel to something. So, good reviews are obviously something a company likes to see written about their products. But what happens when those reviews or the reviewer is less than credible?

A lot of smart PR and marketing strategists will tell you that, given the savvy of the modern media consumer, the last thing you want is to have reviews look unauthentic. Some strategists would even suggest planting a poor review amongst a sea of positive reviews just to make those positive reviews appear more credible. So, knowing that those same savvy consumers might notice that this one particular "reviewer" only reviews what she gets for free - and assuming GNC knows that fake reviews can be more detrimental than beneficial - it's quite possible GNC said "thanks, but no thanks. We'll get our good reviews the old-fashioned way - with a solid product." Which led to this...

Of course, the whole thing could just be disorganization on GNC's part, but that's not the point. The point is, this blogger is unwittingly telling everyone that follows them on Twitter "hey, my blog is for sale! These reviews are bought and paid for and, let's face it, are really just more annoying advertising!"

To be fair, journalists are sent fee product for review on a constant basis. That said, the very thought of so publicly complaining about not getting free merchandise in exchange for a review would be abhorrent to any properly-trained journalist. And that's just it - the vast majority of everything published on line has no legitimate training behind it.

Check out this story from Ad Age on "Pro-am" journalists. If you don't have an account or don't want to log in, here's the paragraph that matters most from that piece. It's a quote from former New York Observer Editor Peter Kaplan:

"The relationship between the reporter and the editor is the one safeguard when it comes to the business of truth telling." In assessing the recent rise of so many content farms (large masses of content gleaned on the cheap from untrained citizen journalists), Mr. Kaplan referenced Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle," and perhaps minted a new quote for future observers: "What these sites are producing," he started before a long pause: "You know what it is? It's like sending unchecked meats out to the public."

That's precisely what the angry GNC blogger is providing - unchecked meats that might not be safe to eat. The blogger means well and could have written an honest review. But we don't know. And she represents an ever-growing demographic of "Pro-am" journalists with little or no training and just as much credibility.

None of this post is meant to dissuade anyone from serving as a citizen journalist. Instead, it's meant as a reminder of how important it is to get our information from credible, reliable, cross-checked sources. Our democracy depends on an informed public and that depends on reliable, well-trained journalists - not bloggers who throw temper tantrums every time a bone gets pulled from their teeth.

LOST

2010-05-24T07:43:00.001-07:00

It took a solid 12 hours for my LOST-induced state of zen to wear off. The euphoria of the grand finale episode remained strong as I lay in bed watching the Jimmy Kimmel post-LOST wrap up; through a good, but short night's sleep; as I fought morning rush-hour traffic on 494 through Bloomington; it even stayed intact through the weekly round of morning meetings once I got to work. Clearly this was a powerful television experience.

SPOILER ALERT! If you keep reading, make sure you've seen the finale.

The episode more than delivered on the questions I needed answered. Mainly, what was really going on in both the island and sideways worlds - what was real and what wasn't and if something wasn't real, than what was the purpose of that fictional realm? Turns out (I think) the island was a real place where the survivors really did survive. But these are just details to add substance to the story. What was the show really about?

There are a LOT of people who want to say it was all about religion. LOST certainly had heavy religious themes. After all, the series closed with everyone presumably transitioning into some sort of heaven-esque after life. That said, while religion had a major role to play in the storytelling of LOST, saying the show was all about the truth or existence of religion or faith is still too simple. Much like the island and ancient philosophy, religion was another detail used to tell the story.

LOST was driven by the stories of the show's characters and every one of those characters was flawed. Kate was a murderer, Sawyer a con man. Locke and Jack had daddy issues like no other, as did Hurley who also believed he was cursed. Then there was Benjamin Linus, who many have called the greatest TV villain of all time. Every one of them found redemption. Even Ben - who we all finally learned to trust thanks to his poignant apology to Locke before Locke entered the church - turned out to be a good man and Hurley's island-guardian sidekick for who knows how many hundreds of years.

The main message and on-going theme of LOST was that through all the potential to be evil, there is good at the core of all human beings. For all the bad deeds done by the cast of characters, there was redemption available by doing something good of equal or greater magnitude.

That's a message that makes ya feel good - and it's why much like myself, so many millions of Americans went to bed with a inexplicable feeling of zen following the conclusion of what might be the greatest TV show of a generation.

Extremely Random Facebook Photo Musing

2010-05-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

The best thing about Facebook are the pictures that users don't necessarily choose, but are often the first photographic representations of a person on their profile. You know, that first round of pics titled "Photos of You" when you're looking at your own profile?

Every other album is what the user chooses. Of course, a user can untag themselves and remove a photo from their "Photos of You" album, but that's being a little disingenuous with your friends, don't you think? "Photos of You" is sort of the "this is who I really am, without a filter" album. If you find yourself constantly removing images from this album, what does that say about your comfort level with yourself?

Since this is turning into a preachy post, I'll put my money where my mouth is and show you that, despite the potential embarrassment, I'm happy to allow some of my less photogenic moments to stay tagged. Is this a flattering picture I would choose to post on my own? Probably not. Was it a good rendition of "Born to Run"? Absolutely not. Is the arms-raised image of Robert Plant in the background awesome enough to save the photo? Without a doubt. In the end, I'm clearly having a great time, dressed up in yellow face as Simpsons character Kent Brockman during a good friend's 30th birthday party. If that doesn't give you a free pass to do a terrible karaoke rendition of a Springsteen song, then I don't know what does. I'm more than cool with people seeing this side of me. If I'm not, then I shouldn't engage in behavior that leads to such a picture being taken.

If you like the person you see through another person's lens (literally) then you're probably in decent shape overall. If you often feel the urge to "untag" yourself, perhaps you should take a closer look at the actions depicted in the photo instead of untagging and hoping the unflattering image goes quietly back into the Internet ether from which it came. Just sayin'...

The Blogger - Tomorrow's Don Shelby?

2010-05-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

Personality is an important thing when it comes to catching someone's attention. Make them laugh or cry, scared, awestruck or just generally impressed, a person with personality is usually able to command another person's attention better than someone lacking charisma. So it stands to reason that one quality you'd find in a journalist is a good, approachable personality.

For decades in TV news, that personality belonged to an anchor. If you look at the golden years of local news in Minnesota circa the '80's, you'd find KARE-11's Paul Magers duking it out with the about-to-depart Don Shelby from WCCO - both great news guys who knew how to command a viewer's attention with that oh-so-cool balance of stern sincerity that was broken occasionally, and always at just the right moment, with a little down-home humor. That was the media world of yesteryear.

In today's media world, it's not enough for a reporter to be polished. Today, there has to be a genuine connection between that reporter and his or her audience. There has to be give and take. Reporters have to listen to feedback (good and bad) and react to it appropriately. They have to write an occasional blog post that offers more to a story - or perhaps why they chose to tell a story in a certain way. They have to use all the new media tools available and facilitate on-going conversations with news consumers. Last but not least, they have to use that new media to show viewers, listeners and readers their personality. Reporters have to connect with news consumers and show them why they should be trusted with getting the facts right and giving them sound information to base decisions upon.

So is the blogger the new anchor? Maybe. More likely though, is that a good blog is just a solid tool in the arsenal of the modern reporter. A way to not only add to and clarify a story, but also an opportunity to add a little aweshuckedness and levity to what is (and should be) a serious topic - good journalism.

...

Want some examples? It's not all about personality alone. Check out this story from Mashable for examples of how a few journalists have used Twitter and Facebook to advance the quality and timeliness of their work.

Tough Times Disappear at Target Field

2010-05-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

On a recent Saturday night, my wife and I enjoyed a nice dinner with my parents, headed home and starting kicking around a few ideas for how we'd spend the next five or six beautiful hours of freedom that only a Saturday night can offer. After crossing a few things off the list and realizing there would probably be some easy-to-get, inexpensive tickets to the Twins v. Orioles game at Target Field, (rain postponed the game from the night before) we decided to jump on the train and head out to the ballpark.

For $10 a piece, we got seats worth $12 (not huge, but it's always fun to get a deal, right?). From there, we grabbed a couple beers and headed to our seats which were tucked neatly into the right field corner. Like so many spaces in this beautiful park, these seats were dripping with character - bleachers that offered a nice view of the action in a party-like atmosphere.

We arrived late, but the game was a good one (1-0 Twins in the top of the 4th inning). The temperature was not what most people would consider baseball weather with a game time reading of about 45 degrees, but the sky was clear, the grass was green and the gloves kept our fingers protected from the icy cold emanating from the beer cups in our hands.

About an inning into our night, my wife got a text from her brother saying he was just a few sections over. We grabbed our beer and headed to their section, watching the game the entire time thanks to Target Field's open concourses that offer numerous sweeping views of the action. As we walked, met up with and talked to my brother in law, we couldn't help but notice some of the other things that make this park so sweet.

There are the countless meeting areas where you can chat with friends and still catch a big play with a quick glance every time the crowd erupts. There are the outfield seats that seem impossibly close to the action (seriously, it feels like you're sitting on Cuddyer's shoulders in the right field sections). There's the State Fair food on a stick in the concession area behind those seats. There are the sections of stadium that were actually built over existing freeways - something that isn't noticeable from inside the stadium, but is surprisingly apparent when you walk around it. The undercover roadways are the result of trying to squeeze a major league ballpark into a tiny, 8-acre parking lot. When the plans for this park were being drawn up, architects and organizers were criticized for trying to squish a stadium into such a small space. Now that it's open, the limitations caused by the size of the land seem to be more benefit than detriment. Because of the lack of space, architects were forced to get creative and the end result is one of the warmest, coziest, most unique environments I've experienced in pro or college sports (that includes more than a dozen arenas, stadiums and ballparks).

And then there's the view.

Yes, this view that gave us an incredible rainbow after a short, early May rain shower.

All the bells and whistles are what you'd expect with a new ballpark - the character and coziness is beyond what you'd expect - but that's not what makes the Twins' new home so special. With everything that's gone wrong with the world lately, Target Field is a place where we can all take a break from reality and focus on something that we got right.

A lot of us have lost or are losing jobs; we've been fighting viciously over things like health care and none of us trust the leaders we've elected to clear up those debates; we've seen businesses leave or collapse and well-known business leaders crumble into piles of corruption; we're tired of being at war and being perpetually reminded of terrorism - but for a few hours at the ballpark on a Saturday night, we can forget about those things and sit back with awe-struck smiles on our faces as we take in Minnesota's new meeting place. A ballpark to watch our constantly-overachieving, small-market baseball team play ball against the beautiful backdrop of the downtown Minneapolis night sky.

Target Field wasn't free. As a Hennepin county resident, I pay the sales tax increase nearly every day. But it's hard to quantify and put a price on the feeling of community generated by the new ballpark. At a time when we need it the most, Target Field makes us feel good, if only for a few hours at a time. To me, that makes every penny spent well worth it.

Gluten is Good (for Lawns)

2010-04-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

Just about the same time we're starting to figure out that gluten might not be good for our guts, many of us are learning that it is a wonderful food for our lawns.

Corn Gluten Meal is an all-natural alternative to the petrochemicals that homeowners have been dumping on their lawns for decades in the hopes that they'll have the greenest, most perfect-looking patch of grass on the block. But there are serious side effects to that lush, green, weedless look. One, is the contamination of our fresh water ways. Two, is the threat that those weed killers and fertilizers are slowly killing us by giving us cancer - especially if you're a dog, according to this article.

So to keep Tupper (our dog) and everyone else who plays on our yard safe, I've officially transitioned to an organic lawn using only corn gluten meal for weed control and fertilizer. And here are the results...

Perfect? No, there are a few dandelions, but overall the grass coverage is thick and soft. I don't have to worry about getting sick from rolling around in my own back yard and I can't be blamed for toxic algae buildup on area lakes. After three years of use, my lawn is officially hooked on corn gluten meal.

Occupation or Inspiration?

2010-04-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

If you follow social media, then you're probably used to reading all those peppy, motivational quotes reassuring us that "failure is only a step toward success" and that if we truly "follow our dreams, success is the only option." (They remind me of a cross between a hard-core hippie and that "case-of-the-Mondays" woman from Office Space) Cheesy as they may be, some people not only live by those fortune cookiesque tidbits, but do quite well for themselves, too.

The following companies are run by people who may not be tweeting those ooey-gooey bits of overjoy, but they are living them. And I'd wager most of them would refer to their work as more of an inspiration than an occupation...

Regreet works by using labels and mailing supplies that make it "easy and chic for you to reuse greeting cards," according to Regreet's website. And how awesome is that? Let's see, they 1. protect the environment by using less paper and producing less waste from discarded greeting cards, 2. provide a tracking system that lets you follow your greeting card everywhere it goes (assuming other recipients also enter their info) and 3. give well wishers a more affordable option than plopping down $5 on a tiny piece of cardboard at Walgreen's everytime a birthday or anniversary pops up. Creative, fun and helpful.

Element Six Media is one of the most fascinating companies I've seen. By reshaping snow, sand, flora and water, Element Six creates advertising displays using only the stuff you'd find in your grandma's garden. (Talk about sustainable) It's beautiful stuff and something I could see taking off should they convince some larger cities (doesn't this just absolutely belong in San Francisco?) to sign long-term contracts for their service.

So those are a couple quick examples of companies where I'd guess the employees never utter the word "work." Can you think of any others? I'd love to know...

Foursquare Code of Ethics

2010-04-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

So what's fair when it comes to Foursquare? Should there be an unwritten rule that says you have to actually be at a location to check in? Not check in shortly before or just after leaving even if you're close enough for Foursquare to think you're still at that location?

To be fair, I'm guilty of checking in at certain locations from my home, because they're only a handful of blocks away. For example, I'm currently locked in an epic battle with @xMikemx for the mayorship of Minnehaha Park. We've gone back and forth as mayor of the park over the past few weeks, often checking in multiple times daily. Now, I do walk or bike through that park on a near daily basis, sometimes more than once a day. The problem is, I don't always remember to check in while I'm there. Thankfully, my home's proximity to the park allows me to check in at the park while my feet are resting on the ottoman with my dog Tupper sitting comfortably on my lap. I'm not lying. I was in the park ...just not right at that very moment.

So the question is, does this fit under the Foursquare code of ethics? Is it about telling people where you just were or where you are? Should you be letting people know where to find you or just updating them on where you've been or where you're going? Am I thinking WAY too much about this and should I find better things to do with my time? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Being Good is Good Business (Thanks to Social Media)

2010-03-28T20:54:00.000-07:00

There is an inherit danger with social media.

Platforms and tools like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube all bring with it one thing that PR pros of old didn't have to leverage; automatic and immediate transparency. Yep, we can officially (and I think quite happily) throw that old phrase "spin doctor" out with yesterday's trash, because in today's world, spin often gets unspun pretty quickly in the self-policing world of social media where everybody, everywhere is a journalist.

So what does that mean for us PR pros? It means working with clients who bring integrity to the table on a daily basis. For example, at StoryTeller (the PR shop where I call home) we have MindWare Toys. MindWare is "the nation’s best resource for toys that engage and entertain." With a focus on creating and selling children's toys that don't just entertain but teach, MindWare's mission is more than just making money ...they're also focused on making the world a better place.

Another client, Helping Paws, is a non-profit that trains service dogs to help those with physical disabilities. Yet another, the Minnesota Section PGA has a goal of growing the game of golf and will soon be offering tips and tricks to anyone who's interested via their YouTube channel in the near future (stay tuned).

All are great organizations that simply don't have a need for old PR tricks of deceit and slight of hand.

So beware all you organizations out there that have a lot to hide, social media is ready to make life very difficult for you. Thankfully, I get to work with a lot of clients who don't have that concern.

Social Media Backlash? Or are we Just Getting Smarter?

2010-03-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

Remember when you first started tweeting? And how much fun it was talking with other like-minded social media users about the “power of social media?” There was this sense that a new communication technique was here to change the world for the better and that we were all so smart to be a part of it. You know, those of us who “got it” with regards to using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs, etc?

Now we’re starting to hear a different story. It’s a story of a social media backlash where users are beginning to drop off the radar. (For more on this perceived backlash, check out this post from AgencyBabylon) So that begs the question, is this the beginning of social media’s end?

That’s hard to imagine, considering that in many ways, social media has already changed the world. From the elections in Iran to Ashton Kutcher battling CNN for followers to the first thing you do in the office every morning, the world is probably a different place thanks to the new world of communication ideology (that being a world where you talk with the people who matter to you, not at them). But let’s face it, the social media love fest is over. Everyone knows about social media, nearly everyone has a profile on at least one of the platforms, plenty of people have made mistakes, others have had success …so the novelty is over. We don’t need to spend our time evangelizing about the benefits of social media anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I still love using Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, YouTube and others …I’m just a little tired of talking about how much I love it (which I think is the backlash Mr. AgencyBabylon is referring to in his post).

So now comes social media 2.0; using the new interactive communication ideology affectively to achieve whatever it is you’re trying to achieve. Which means integrating that ideology into all your communication plans. In the past, it was enough to simply be on Twitter or to post something to YouTube ...just make sure you’re out there, because “it’s better than not being out there” was the driving force behind a lot of social and interactive media plans.

We’re past that now. Now is the time to start putting specific plans in place with clear objectives and desired results. Then executing those plans to increase sales, raise awareness, build networks or what ever else it is you’ve been trying to achieve since you started trying to achieve things (long before social media came around). That, in my opinion, is far more exciting than sitting around and tweeting about how much we all love social media.

So is there a social media backlash? I don't think so. We're all just getting a little wiser about how to make the most out of something we love so much.

Tips on how much to feed your pooch in cold weather

2010-02-19T09:37:00.001-08:00

Hey dog owners! Just a heads up that I did a guest post for Coborns Delivers about the proper amounts for feeding your dog during the winter months (although the tips can be applied any time of year).

Please take a look when you get a chance!

If you want to learn more about Coborns Delivers, click here (they're a client of ours at StoryTeller)

Wanted: A Conversation Manager

2010-01-22T07:55:00.000-08:00

Quick, name your organization’s conversation manager.

So, who is it? How long did it take you to name that person? Do you have such a person employed with your group? Do you know what a “conversation manager” is?

If you’re a communications professional with a knack for interactive (social) media then …rejoice! My guess is there will soon be plenty of conversation manager job openings available to you in the near future, because every organization needs someone who spends a good deal of time managing the social media conversations taking place about their organization.

On Twitter, Facebook, via blogs, in videos on YouTube, message boards (and the list goes on) …there are a lot of places available for members of the public to praise and criticize your organization. The good news is, all of that information is out there, free of charge for you to peruse and respond to, which you should almost always do. The only problem is this takes time. Either you have a number of people with not enough to do or you need help. And that help is out there in the form of what some are starting to call conversationalists, individuals who:

A) Have a passion for multiple platforms of social media
Pretty simple. They use Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, have a blog, etc.

B) Have a high degree of real-world communication sophistication
We’re looking for emotionally intelligent people here. If their Facebook page is plastered with derogatory language and pictures of the user shotgunning beers, you might want to look to the next applicant.

C) Understand the personality of the organization
If you’re working with a conversation manager who’s not a full-time employee of your organization (a PR firm, for example), you want to make sure that person has taken the time to understand how your organization thinks, a.k.a. what your organization’s personality is. This goes beyond what you sell or provide your members or customers …it’s more about what someone from your organization would be expected to talk about should they run into someone at a coffee shop. In other words, what matters to you personally, beyond your business goals.

So, I’ll ask again, who is your conversation manager?

Calling it in DeRusha's Favor

2009-11-17T08:02:00.000-08:00

Barring some unforeseen act of a deity, it appears Jason DeRusha will take first place in the November Social Media Sweeps. I'll still check in at the end of this week, but as of now, it's...

DeRusha: 137 points
Kim Insley: 38 points
(A handful of others scored in the single digits)

Great effort by @KAREmorninggal, but as expected, it appears DeRusha's ironclad grasp on Twin Cities social media is too strong. I've been told that KARE's meteorologist Sven Sundgaard has a huge following on Facebook, however his profile is private and he has yet to accept my friend request, making it a little tough to monitor how well he's interacting.

Which leads me to wonder more about Facebook and how news orgs are using the social platform. At the University of Minnesota (my employer and alma mater) we've been able to develop a strong Facebook presence with the U's official fan page. For that page, we (the U's News Service) make an effort to update as frequently as possible (usually daily updates Monday-Friday) with videos, pictures and links about the University and its students, faculty and staff. And we have more than 20,000 people watching those updates as fans. One would think a well-run page for KARE or 'CCO could be just as, if not more popular (the stations already have tons of video content to upload and discuss). So, news orgs, what have ya got on Facebook?

Social Media Sweeps Update and Puppy Cam

2009-11-13T06:54:00.000-08:00

It appears we have a two-newsperson race developing for the November Social Media Sweeps...

@Derushaj: 64 points
@KAREmorninggal: 17 points

It looks like it's going to be tough to take down @Derushaj, but @KAREmorninggal is giving it her best shot ...maybe she needs a Kim Cam?

Speaking of cams, but in otherwise completely unrelated news, this is my new favorite YouTube video ...a killer combo of funny, clever and cute...

The "Shiba Inu Live Puppy Cam" music video won the 2009 Webby Award for Viral Video ...not sure if it's the most appropriate category, but either way, that video deserved to win something! Well done.

Game on!

2009-11-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

KARE 11's Kim Insley has jumped in the game and looks like she could provide some real competition to Mr. Derusha. Game on!

@Derushaj: 37 points
@KAREmorninggal: 8 points
@jojeda: 6 points
@Jasonmatheson: 1 point

November Social Media Sweeps Update

2009-11-10T14:36:00.000-08:00

The November social media sweeps contest is off to a slow start (0 submissions). But, as many of the tweeted quotes often suggest, patience is the key and failure is just part of the process or something along those lines...

Anyway, I've decided to take a look at some of the reporters who follow me and tally up a score after day 1 of the social media sweeps. The results are as follows:

@Derushaj: 37 points
@Jasonmatheson: 1 point
@jojeda: 1 point
No other reporters following @warehousemedia scored any social media points in the last 24 hours to my knowledge.*

C'mon Minnesota newsies ...you don't want to see DeRusha walk away with a win that easily do you? If you've done something that should be recognized or if you're a news consumer who thinks a journalist is using social media and using it well, please, let me know!

*The Warehouse's methods for scoring this contest are the farthest thing in the world from scientific, let alone accurate.

November Social Media Sweeps

2009-11-08T18:40:00.000-08:00

Forget about the November sweeps rating period, let's use social media to measure the success of local TV journalists! To find out more about this new media contest between TV reporters, watch the video below ...or, if you'd rather keep reading, I'll explain the contest below the video...

Sweeps can be a frustrating thing for TV reporters. It's that time of the year when Nielsen collects ratings on newscasts, which determines how much money a newscast can demand for advertising ...which pretty much determines how valuable that newscast and its reporters are to a station. It's a system that can make individuals in newsrooms feel helpless since they have little control over the outcome of sweeps. I mean, we're talking about the public's perception of an entire station and a reporter has influence over maybe two minutes of that station's time out of 24 hours a day? That's a tough spot to be in...

Of course, with social media, the ability to interact with the viewers now gives reporters and anchors a new method of swaying public opinion in their favor. So how many reporters are using this medium to their advantage? Below is a simple point system to monitor TV journalists' usage of social media.

Points:
Tweeting about a story: 1 point
Replying to followers who ask about a story: 5 points
Interacting with audience via live Web cam: 10 points
Linking to outside person/organization via blog: 10 points
Story generated by a tip found on social media (tweet, Facebook update) outside the news organization: 5 points

Do you see any of those things taking place on TV news? Are you a reporter who's doing those things? If so, drop me a line and let me know. In a couple weeks, I'll tally up the score and see who comes out on top. AND, we'll see if Jason DeRusha really is as social media savvy as we all think he is... :)

Weekend lengthened to help America, Justin Ware

2009-10-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

News Release
10/25/09

Minneapolis/St. Paul: Justin Ware is going to now consider Sunday afternoons and early evening as “part of the weekend” in an attempt to get more out of weekends, easily the best part of the week.

“We took a hard look at how we’re dividing up our time and decided there’s more we can do with the hours we have on the clock,” said Ware.

Early evening Friday will continue to be considered the beginning of the weekend and Ware says he’ll continue to observe the weekend at an earlier day, should vacation allow. The moves are something Ware believes will provide himself with more enjoyment and is pretty sure can also help other people.

“I just think a longer weekend is something America could use at this point.”

To contact Ware visit: twitter.com/warehousemedia

Social Media Lets Athletes Talk to Fans on Their Own Terms

2009-10-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

Looking for some real, scientific research on the impact of social media? The University of Minnesota (my employer) might soon have some answers to questions about just how effective (or, gasp, ineffective) social media is when you're trying to bring about societal change.

The University of Minnesota's Tucker Center - a research center that examines how sport and physical activity affect the lives of girls and women, their families, and communities - is using their Fall Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) to tackle some of the big questions about social media and what it means to women's sports. Read more about that event here. Meanwhile, many of the researchers working at the Center are busy putting social media to the scientific test and asking "Will this technological paradigm shift challenge or reproduce the ways in which female athletes are traditionally portrayed in mainstream sport media?"

One great point of view comes from Ann Gaffigan, Co-Founder of the Women Talk Sports Network. She argues that social media enables athletes to go directly to the fans: "Social media puts the power in the athletes' hands so that they can better control the message they want to send and the image they want to project. It also allows them to connect personally with fans and be available as a role model, which is what the fans miss out on when mainstream media fails to cover women's sports." In sum, as WTS Co-Founder Jane Schonberger points out: "Social networks allow female athletes to play the 'media game' on their own terms."

What do you think? Angela Ruggiero, Olympic hockey star, U of M grad student and DLS panelist, wants to know (and asks you in the video below) ...what impact on female athletes can/will social media have?

Super-duper-falling-over-spasm-inducing excited for this Saturday...

2009-09-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

...because, after three long years of waiting, TCF BANK STADIUM OPENS FOR BUSINESS AT 6 PM! As a fair disclaimer, I do work for the U of M, but I'd be all slobbery-excited over this thing whether I was an employee or not (perhaps even more so if I wasn't:)

Just in case you haven't heard, it's been 27 years since the Gophers played a football game on the University of Minnesota's campus. 27 years since 50,000 fans, alums, students, passers-by -- Minnesotans -- got together on a beautiful fall day and walked through Northrop Mall, down University Avenue, to a massive, outdoor event. That, my friends, is community. The Star Tribune did a nice job of capturing what was lost (and will soon be regained) with their spectacular coverage leading up to this Saturday.

Words, as eloquent as they are, only do this facility so much justice. If you'd like to see (and hear) what the Stadium is like, here are a few videos we've thrown together at the U of M. The first, a tremendously passionate Tim Brewster-driven pep rally:

...and the second, President Bruininks' and A.D. Maturi's welcoming Minnesota back to campus:

As for me, I'll be floating around some parking lot near the Law School on Saturday, grinning ear to ear and soaking up the sun (or rain), celebrating our return to football the way it's supposed to be played ...outside.

Social Media Pros Wanted-- Just one thing ...what makes a SM Pro?

2009-08-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

I’m starting to notice a shift in the world of social media employment. While many organizations are still trying to get by with an intern running their social media efforts, others are coming to the realization that this Twitter/Facebook/YouTube thing is more than a fad. For example, check out this recent post from Agency Babylon. As you can see, a lot of the jobs listed on the Babylon post are not targeting fresh-faced college kids – these are posts from big shots like Target and Cargill, looking for experienced communicators who know how to leverage social media.

So now that it appears organizations are looking for experience in their social media hires, it would be interesting to learn what flavor of experience they’re looking for when selecting candidates. There are some clear success stories with social media (I love this recent example from Sears), but still a lot of disagreement about what makes a good social media strategy, even though most would agree having such a strategy is important.

Since a big part of my world is higher education, I’d point anyone asking “how should we use social media?” to this list from othersidenotes.com. It’s university-focused, but the general themes could be used by anyone in any organization – get personal with the people who matter to what you do.

What do you think? If you were hiring a social media pro (with a few years of communications experience under their belt) what criteria would you use to differentiate what I’m sure would be a big stack of applicants?

Wolf Shirt Motherload

2009-08-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

Much thanks to @Drewcswain for submitting the first (and likely the last) wolf shirt photo to Minnesocia. As promised, it will be posted. So feast your eyes on one of the most epic displays of wolfshirtdom in all the Midwest (Wisconsin, in this case).

Three Wolf Moon over Minnesocia

2009-07-24T06:34:00.001-07:00

Three Wolf Moon is the number one apparel item on Amazon.com ...and social media (mostly YouTube and comment sections) is a big reason why. Maybe you haven't heard of the Three Wolf Moon sensation yet? No worries, we got you covered in episode 6 of Minnesocia.

For that Three Wolf Moon musical I mentioned in the video, click here

The wolf-shirt sensation all started with a comment on Amazon about how the Three Wolf Moon shirt made its owner a "babe magnet". Since then, more than a thousand others have posted tongue-in-cheek comments, Facebook groups have started in support of the shirt, YouTube videos have been posted ...I haven't seen a twitter handle for Three Wolf Moon yet, but would love to follow if you know of one.

So, great ...if you're the folks at The Mountain (the Maine-based company that produces 3WM and many other ferocious nature shirts), you're all over social media, but what's it worth to you? I know the answer is obvious, but just in case, The Mountain's employees are now working over time, churning out shirts for thousands of orders a day. Click here for a link to the complete story.

I mean, c'mon ...the number one apparel item on Amazon? ...and it's a shirt that most people associate with low-grade amusement parks? 3WM is just another in a long line of examples of how a smart social media campaign (even though this one was accidental) is marketing at its best.

Beer with your Buddy

2009-07-09T06:26:00.000-07:00

If you like dogs and beer, then you'll love this episode of Minnesocia!

Thanks to the folks at K9-Connection, every other Thursday there's a Twin Cities-area happy hour event where dog owners can bring their pooches with them and enjoy a beer with other dog owners. My wife and I brought our new best friend Tupper to the last event and had a blast. Sound like fun to you? Click here for upcoming "Beer with your Buddy" events.

In this episode, there are pictures from the June 25th BWYB at The Nomad, plus a new doggie Facebook page trend that is guaranteed to make you go "awwwwwwww".

Title Game! @OMMinneapolis v. @CampusPizza

2009-06-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

(13) @CampusPizza shocked the world! After solid, but tight wins over the (4) and (5) seeds, Campus passed the toughest test of the tournament by knocking off powerhouse (1) @PunchPizza.

Meanwhile, (2) @OMMinneapolis came out ahead of their seesaw battle with (3) @greenmill001. So now the championship is set ...it's the overachieving underdog versus the consistent powerhouse in the first ever, Best-tweeting MSP Bars/Restaurants/Coffee Shops tournament ...cast your vote below! Voting ends Thursday, June 25 at 7 pm.

The Final Four! ...best-tweeting MSP Bars/Restaurants

2009-06-18T06:14:00.000-07:00

What a second round! The @greenmill001 v. @KipsPub battle was epic with @greenmill001 narrowly edging out a victory at the last minute. The biggest surprise of the tournament? That would be (13)@CampusPizza with impressive wins over four and five seeds. But now they're facing the biggest test of the tournament as they lock horns with (1)@PunchPizza. Of course, the champion is up to you ...so cast your votes now! Polls close Sunday, June 21 at 6 pm.

Best MSP Bars/Restaurants/Coffee Shops on Twitter, Round 2

2009-06-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

Upsets galore! (13)@CampusPizza pulled off a shocking victory over powerhouse (4)@RockBottomMpls. (11)@KipsPub not only knocked off (6)@TCTHURHAPPYHOUR, they gained the most votes of all 16 participants, including (1)@PunchPizza. Does that mean @KipsPub is the bar to beat? It's up to you! Voting for the second round ends at 11 pm, Wednesday, June 17.

To see the full bracket, click here

Best MSP Bars/Restaurants/Coffee Shops (on Twitter)

2009-06-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

It's tourney time in Minnesocia! We're putting Twitter-savvy bars, restaurants, coffee shops ...just-about any food-related account we could think of, head-to-head in a bracket-style tournament. Check out the most recent Minnesocia then go to the links below to cast your votes! It could be you like the food, the atmosphere of the place ...or maybe you're a big fan of their Twitter accounts or Facebook pages. Either way, let us know who your favorite is!

For the full bracket, click here

The Boss on Chasing Your Passion

2009-05-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

Like him or not (but let's be honest, how couldn't you?), it's tough to argue that Bruce Springsteen doesn't have a way with words. But you don't have to take my word for it, check out this version of Thunder Road.

Still not convinced? Have a look at what the Boss had to say about his passion, Rock 'n Roll, before that performance on vh1 Storytellers:
"What I got out of Rock 'n Roll music was a sense of a larger life, greater experiences ... a sense of fun, more fun, a sense of personal exploration and your possibilities. It was all lying there inside of you, just there on the edge of town."

So what the hell does that have to do with social media? Well, nothing if it's not your passion. For me, however, it happens to be a passion. I love the way social media seems to be opening up the world of marketing and public relations; worlds that, up until not too long ago were considered by some to be, at best, less than open ...at worst, outright deceitful. Social media is inherently the opposite of those things. It's an open forum that engages with communities and, if any tricks are tried, usually those communities will retaliate and quickly right the ship ...much to the damage of the organization.

And that notion excites me. When I think about a campaign that's going to benefit the organization as much as it does that org's members and/or customers, it fuels my fire. I get the sense of a larger life, greater experiences, more fun and better personal experiences ...all those things the Boss mentioned when talking about his love of Rock 'n Roll.

Unfortunately, since social media isn't nearly as cool as Rock 'n Roll (and since I'm no Springsteen when it comes to anything) the magnitude of all those things probably won't be as great for me. But, never the less, finding a passion and doing that for a living is pretty cool. Whether it's teaching, carpentry, medicine, social media ...or, for the lucky few, Rock 'n Roll.

It's alive!

2009-05-08T06:47:00.000-07:00

Minnesocia has real people in it! PEOPLE! But don't worry, there's no Soylent Green in this or any other episode of Minnesocia...

In case you haven't seen it before, Minnesocia is a somewhat-weekly roundup of what people are looking at and talking about when it comes to social media in and around Minnesota. So please, have a look and let me know what you think!

Special thanks to @kareemy, @cydneyw, @arikhanson, @rickmahn and @lulugrimm for their help in producing this episode of Minnesocia.

Take 2

2009-04-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

It's time for the next episode of Minnesocia ...and I need your help! I'd like this piece to turn into a quick video update of everything you need to know about what's happening with social media in and around Minnesota. To do that, I'll need to get some tips from you. So, if you come across any great Tweeters in the TC's, know of a St. Cloud business that is rockin' on Facebook, have a YouTube video from the Duluth Harbor Area in mind ...send them to me at justin@warehousemediaservice.com or @warehousemedia!

And now, here's Minnesocia, Episode 2:

Minnesocia ...or perhaps another name

2009-04-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

Time for fun with video cameras! Just for the heck of it, I decided to put a little video together about some of the more popular topics (Twitter users know them as "hashtags") floating around the Twitterverse in the past week. Keep in mind, this is the FIRST ATTEMPT at something. But I would like to see it grow with your help. So, please, have a look, then let me know what you'd like to see in the next episode of Minnesocia. And it doesn't have to be on Twitter ...Facebook, Digg, random Web sites, whatever you've been looking at on line, please let me know! Also, if you can think of a better name than Minnesocia, I'm open to suggestions on that, too!560 340

Good News! (If you're willing to earn your advertising)

2009-04-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

The idea that expensive ad buys could become a thing of the past is welcome relief to some and no doubt horrifying to others, depending on what it is you do for a living. Before reading further, you have to check out this insightful post from Advertising Age.

As with most things involving multi- and social media, this should be viewed as an opportunity. Any organization with the time and willingness to interact with their audience ...in an authentic and meaningful way ...can then use those relationships to promote their products and messages to that audience.

But it does take time. If you haven't already, now is when you should open your Twitter account, begin an effective presence on Facebook, get some good videos up on YouTube ...start letting your customers and/or members know you care about them, by talking with them on a regular basis.

So who is doing this and doing this well? If you're on Twitter (and you should be!), check out the following tweeters for good examples of effective two-way communication: @comcastcares @zappos @HRBlock

Yes, those companies are still spreading their messages, but more importantly, they're catering to the questions and topics submitted by their customers and thereby building trust with those customers. Once that trust is there, you can then use the tools like Twitter and Facebook to mount inexpensive (Facebook and Twitter are free) and highly effective ad campaigns.

In a sense, it's nothing more than good ol' fashion customer service with a 21st-century technological twist ...that opens the door to nearly-free advertising.

New position: Social Media Manager

2009-04-06T09:03:00.000-07:00

So how about a random-thought blog post to get things rolling late on a Monday morning...

Let's start with a question: How many people are thinking of hiring/have already hired a Social Media Manager? We're talking about a person who's job is part cowboy driving the cattle ...with the cattle being every member of the public who's interested in and/or commenting on your organization or product on the Internet ...and part facilitator, making sure those talking about your org have the correct information and are getting their questions answered.

A goal of any good social media strategy is forming an on-going, two-way relationship with your audience. For any organization with more than 1,000 members (customers, employees, students, etc.), I'd think managing those relationships would at least be a part-time job. Sooooo ...do you have such a duty in your office?

Everything's Amazing, Nobody's Happy

2009-04-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

It's hard to argue with comedian Louis CK's view that we are all extremely spoiled when it comes to the wonders of modern technology. And who can blame us? We've been trained to expect the amazing as routine.

Human beings adapt, for better or for worse, to their surroundings. There are plenty of studies that suggest everyone maintains a similar level of relative happiness and that buying more stuff or owning the newest gadget only gives a temporary rush and then we very quickly settle back to our original state of happiness. Same things goes for technology ...we take things like iPod technology for granted. Never mind the fact that iPod technology allows us to carry a library of data on a piece of metal and plastic the size of a piece of gum ...we've come to expect iPods to work and when they don't, we're flabbergasted.

But never mind the happiness aspect of it all ...having the newest iPhone app, being part of the most recent social media community, constantly sitting on the cutting edge of communication technology ...those things are not just cool, but can help a business or organization get a leg up in an ever-changing world of communication. Which is why some of us do need those things to work ...and why it's important to keep a proper perspective when they don't.

Last night, while battling GoDaddy and Dreamweaver simultaneously to set up warehousemediaservice.com I flew into a rage similar to those encountered by the users of this new, and fictitious, product from Sony. (WARNING! ...that last link has explicit content ...and is extremely funny) Just after my obscenity-laden outburst, my wife and I watched that video from The Onion and had a good laugh. Then, got back to work, went through one more obscenity-laden outburst, and eventually completed the task.

Long story short, the job got done and would have been done with or without the outbursts. Which is why I'm going to try and remember that everything is amazing and I should be happy to have all this technology to help me do my job.

Minneapolis' New Town Center

2009-03-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

Thousands of fans pouring off of trains from Big Lake and Bloomington, families riding bikes in from Southwest Minneapolis, pedestrians making their way from bars and restaurants in the Warehouse district ...that will be the scene (at least) 81 times a year at Target Field starting in April, 2010.

Click here for an update on the exterior of Target Field

It's becoming more apparent that there actually was quite a bit of thought that went into building this ballpark on the north side of downtown Minneapolis. Yes, the small lot makes for a tight fit and yes, there is a garbage incinerator right next door, but when it's complete, Target Field will be the meeting place for tens of thousands of Minnesotans. A hub of activity that will be especially easy to get to, with or without a car.

In a recent Star Tribune article (see above link) the writer describes "the escalators and elevators used to connect commuters to the two levels of trains at the ballpark's transit station." Imagine if every major gathering point in the Twin Cities was designed with this transit strategy in mind. Imagine how much less congestion we'd have at the Xcel if (or when) rail lines brought in 1/3 of the spectators. Or how much easier the commute from the southwest suburbs would (will) be when the southwest light rail line pulls thousands of vehicles off the roads every day.

The multiple means of getting to Target Field will make the game-day experience more enjoyable and less congested for everyone involved. And that ease of use will help draw people to the stadium long after, God forbid, the Twins current string of success runs out. Which means the new Target Field will continue to be a center of economic activity for decades to come.