eBiz Tomorrow by Chris Salazar

Jeremiah has posted a rather long and extensive post asking his audience who has more information about Generation Y:  The Government or Facebook?

(For the sake of argument let’s assume that the Government will only rely on their own resources/information and will not drift off to Facebook)

Perhaps its a waste of time to compare these two entities, especially since they are almost at opposite ends of the universe (in terms of who they aretheir goals, business plans, etc).

AGAIN, let’s put all of this aside to figure out the real answer to Jeremiah’s unearthly question.

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What do you see everytime you fill something for the government?  (does this look familiar?)

“Under penalties of perjury…”

Because of this, I, nor will you, lie to the Government about your personal information (on a general basis, there’s always few who will lie regardless).

Yet, compare this to Facebook.  Facebook has NO way of verifying that the information you provide is correct.  Sure, you can put in all of your personal information and be honest, BUT I’m sure and willing to bet money that more people lie on Facebook than they do on Government submissions.

So should we really be asking which source gives us valid info?  You can have all the information you want, but if none of it is true, then there’s no case.

Here are the questions I would ask:

1. Who provides the most accurate information?
2. Which source of information would be most useful for marketing campaigns to Generation Y?  How about Product Research?
3. Is quantity the important thing?  Or should we be focusing on something else?
4. What are the benefits of “formal” information (government) vs informal information-giving (facebook)?

The ultimate question is…

HOW can we combine both ideas and resources from the government and facebook to create the ultimate customer database?

Its just not worth it to compare these two, both acquire information from people in totally different ways.  And in all reality, aside from my bday and maybe my relationship status in Facebook, everything else could be bogus in my Facebook profile…I could be trying to impress my gf with movies that I “like”…or I could be posting bogus pictures of “my” car…OR could I be telling the truth about everything?

 

Webware, from one of my tweets, just reported that Jonathan Swartz has declared an end to blogging!  Wait just one minute, its not near, and won’t be for a while.  But like anything else, it will come to an end.

However, the end of blogging just means we’ve all moved to something better…whatever that might be who knows.  It’ll be something more eye catching, more advanced, and most importantly MORE INTERACTIVE.

Instead of trying to predict blogging’s successor, we need to prepare ourselves, just like we do for earthquakes, for the coming of something new that will take us by storm.

How might we do this?  I’ll jot down some notes and ideas, but please add in your own input as well.  I want to be prepared…I dont want to fall off the web 2.0, web 3.0 radar!

1. Keep up with your blogging:  its not easy, and I’ve fallen off many times, yet its important to stay in the loop.  You’ll find it more easy to see signs of change…and you’ll know who to follow
2. Stay in tact with tools that either compliment blogging or are just as interactive like Twitter:  twitter is the most effective way to not only reach a large audience but to keep up with industry trends
3. Research, Analyze, and Predict the future: this will keep you on your toes and keep you mentally ready for the move
4. Have open discussions with peers about where the blogging industry is moving and how to get there:  wherever you go, you gotta bring your network with you.  Why not move together?
5. Keep your emergency pack ready for drastic changes:  computer, internet, research, and most importantly your willingness to take risks and stay interactive

Although this change might be easier for individuals, I’m skeptical of how corporations will adjust.  This process will be slower and more difficult, but is it worth it?  Or should corporations stay put and not panic, and wait for the kinks to pave out?

Ah!  This is exactly why web 2.0 is entertaining, it’ll never stay the same, it’ll never be easy.

Social Media has emerged in many cases as the new way to do business around the world.  Some make a living in this sphere and some just don’t get it.  From generation to generation, the definition of social media differs, but its implications on the Generation Y or the “Internet Generation” are a bit more subtle.

Let’s take a look at key technological characteristics of Generation Y:

• 97% own a computer
• 94% own a cell phone
• 76% use Instant Messaging.
• 15% of IM users are logged on 24 hours a day/7 days a week
• 34% use websites as their primary source of news
• 28% own a blog and 44% read blogs
• 49% download music using peer-to-peer file sharing
• 75% of college students have a Facebook account ^[21]
• 60% own some type of portable music and/or video device such as an iPod.

Generation Y spends a majority of their time using technology and social media together to explore, learn, and communicate with others.  Technology is key, but social media adds the extra dimension that extends way beyond turning on a computer or an ipod standalone player.

Yet, has social media made things too easy for Generation Y?  Has social media negatively impacted society? 

Social Media has made things EASIER and READILY available, but some fear content and information will be taken for granted.  Easier to find and readily available information sure does make living in today’s world quite easy, but is this a good thing?

Below is a list of “negative” impacts Social Media has created.  Yet, don’t take this personally, these impacts are just another companies’ opportunities for success:

• With a surplus of information, the “valuables” will be lost
• Finding information is too easy, but finding factual and credible information is harder than ever
• Traditional mediums for finding info (searching through a library’s reserve or scholarly reports) is taken for granted.  What would happen if the internet was shut down? Does this generation have the know-how to find information?
• Desire/Ability/Benefits of creating unique content is hindered with the ease of plagiarism and/or the surplus of information on the web
• Frankly, the majority of today’s social media tools take up a lot of time that can be spent doing other things (homework, job searches, individual research, or extra curricular activities)

This is not a report to put down social media in any way.  By all means, its here to stay.  But, before matters get worse, technology and social media must work together to prevent Generation Y from being too dependent on online tools.

I recently wrote about how to become a successful intern since I was interned for about 2 years at a Bay Area tech company. But, since I’ve grown into the workforce, I’ve seen my blogging decline. I thought it was going to be the opposite, but I’m getting back into shape and motivating myself to continue blogging.

I will give this my best shot, but these are characteristics that I currently working towards since they seem to be prominent in most successful bloggers. This will serve as a checklist for me…I’ll revisit this to check on my progress.

How To Become A Successful Blogger

• Think PASSION, not numbers
  • Some bloggers start off or eventually participate in the popularity/number contest–AKA your technorati rank
  • Numbers and Ranks are a distraction, instead write about your passion
  • Blogs written with passion are much more powerful, resourceful, and interesting
• Join the CONVERSATION
  • Shel Israel, author of Naked Conversations, said we should join the conversation by listening FIRST–excellent advice!
  • Listen to what others have to say, start writing your own thoughts, comment on other blogs, and invite them to talk with you
  • Be a good listener and a good contributor
• Exhibit THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
  • Keep your posts unique and resourceful
  • Add value to what has already been said and introduce new ideas and questions
  • Make your posts thought provoking, not just a summary of what’s going on
• Create TRUST
  • Shel Israel said blogging should be like:
    • “Two neighbors leaning on a fence talking about their interests”
  • Create trust by creating an informal and open global conversation
  • Invite others to agree and disagree with you
• Enable comments
  • Comments are an important feature of blogs, enable them and help keep the conversation going
  • Positive and negative feedback are both good, don’t worry
  • The best thoughts, perhaps some you did not think of, come from comments
• Become the starting and ending point for all conversations
  • You want the conversation to start and end with you
  • First, keep up to date with global trends, news, and innovations and provide your honest opinions
  • Be enthusiastic and raise eyebrows
• Network with other bloggers
  • Build relationships, do not just sit back and hope things will happen
  • Venture out in the blogosphere, meet new people, and build friendships
  • Commend bloggers for a job well done and help them become thought leaders as well

Despite being a personal list, these rules apply to all (even corporate bloggers). This is an on-going list that I will continue to update with YOUR COMMENTS!

I am introducing a set of guidelines that can be used to enhance your user’s experience and inspire conversations. These commitments have been introduced by Barry Posner, Dean of the Business school at Santa Clara University, but in a student-leadership context…instead, I am relating these ideas to Blogging.

The Ten Commitments of an Exemplary Blog

1. FIND YOUR VOICE by clarifying your personal values and including your expertise. All publishers must have their own unique voice that sets them apart from all others. Whether its with humor or language, defining and exemplifying your own voice is key.

2. SET THE EXAMPLE by aligning actions with shared values. (GO FIRST!) Exemplary Blogs are leaders and need to model the way for others to follow. Set the example for everyone else and let them drive their own experiences, then allow them the opportunity to reflect and converse.

3. ENVISION THE FUTURE by imagining exciting and emerging possibilities. Most successful bloggers are “early adopters” and are constantly searching for the next opportunity. While some are just starting to blog, others are moving on to podcasts/audio conversations, and soon few will be moving towards video conversations.

4. ENLIST OTHERS in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations. Publishers know their audience and should always write with them in mind. Appealing to their needs heightens the experience and enriches the conversations.

5. SEARCH FOR OPPORTUNITIES by seeking innovative ways to change, grow, and improve. An exemplary blog is always changing and finding new ways to both attract new readers and fulfill needs. There is always room for improvement, but those blogs who embrace the idea of positive change and run with it succeed.

6. EXPERIMENT AND TAKE RISKS by constantly generating small wins and learning from mistakes. Never be afraid to challenge the common belief, after all the worst that can happen is you are wrong. But in some cases, the “minority” belief is right, as we have seen in Why Blogs are NOT Important

7. FOSTER COLLABORATION by building trust. (Let the user’s drive the conversation). Allowing the user to take control builds trust. This is why RSS Syndication (the user’s vehicle) has been generating some hype among many online companies. In short, RSS gives users complete control over what they want to read, which establishes a sense of trust between the reader and the publisher/coporation.

8. STRENGTHEN OTHERS by sharing power and discretion.

9. RECOGNIZE CONTRIBUTIONS by showing appreciation for excellence. Recognize those who are thought-leaders and provoke interesting conversations.

10. CELEBRATE THE VALUES AND VICTORIES OF OTHERS by creating a spirit of community. Ah Yes, building a community is important and perhaps an important goal for every blog. Exemplary blogs build communities where everyone is NOT afraid to speak and everyone has a voice. This voice is what drives the conversations and enhances the reader’s experience.

If you had to make your own list, what would you have?

I read this article about the 6 ways to not get stumbled. A lot of these reasons are logical and really take aware from the essence of the content posted. We all know that you need to not only report/summarize other content, but add some sort of value, right? Yes, this is all true, but HOW DO YOU GET STUMBLED?

Readers will stumble your blog if its useful and entertaining to them. This means your blog has to be in tip-top shape! Let’s review my 4 C’s of Blogging: Content, Clarity, Conversation, Customer. All of these shape your blog into something that is real and filled with value.

1. Content - Your content has to be relevant and up to date. This is what keeps your users coming back for more. Don’t just provide the bare bones, but add extra interesting and thought-provoking incite. Content on your site is key…and gauge success by noting trends and periods when you have most traffic.
2. Clarity - Make sure your voice is clear. Take a clear stance and prove it! In fact, be clear from the beginning of your goals for each blog post. This will help you stay on track with the blog post and gauge your success at the end. Is the purpose and point of your blog post conveyed clearly?
3. Conversation - Create an atmosphere that is ready for conversations. This will not come right away and takes work, but gear up and be ready for when it does happen. Conversations is important, but its not most important. First connect with yourself, write down your thoughts, then work on getting others involved.
4. Customer - Plain and simple, think of your users as customers. What do they need? What mediums do the use? How can you best express your thoughts? And, why are you blogging? Treat your users like customers, work on not only finding new customers, but keeping them. Shouldn’t be too hard considering we are all each other’s customers, just put on those shoes and write to your specific audience.

These are pointers on how to have a good blog, but theres still a lot of effort needed from you. You’ve got to connect with other people around the blogosphere. Don’t wait for them, go out and get them yourself!

Each corporation has several different entities and business units. Somehow, someway all of these must fit together to work towards the overall business strategy. Its imperative that each corporation have their own brand, but still hold together and create one…this is especially true for corporate online communities.

In an attempt to show this, I’m noting all of the different business units in a typical corporation:

• IT
• Marketing/PR
• Finance/Accounting
• Channel Partners

For every company this may be different, but these entities MUST work together for the overall purpose of the corporation. However, each must take into consideration their target market and specific customer.

Here’s some examples of different brands for each:

• IT - “The Techies”
  • Your experts in all the back-end tech stuff that not very many other people even understand. Your brand is “geek” and use this to attract these types of people.
  • Tech shows, blogs with technical info, podcasts, videocasts…doesn’t matter what it is, it should be TECHY!
  • Community Actions: Create tech shows, blogs, forums podcasts and videocasts demonstrating the capabilities of your products. Think about what “you” as a techy would want, and create it! Host user forums, live demos, and work closely with user groups during customer events.
• Marketing/PR - “Creative and Customer Facing”
  • These groups touch the customer. All eyes are on them, messaging is on them, they’re the face of the company. Again, speak your customers language, but stick to what you’re good at (leave the tech stuff to the techies)
  • Informal blogs, marketing campaigns that reach the customer, reach out to user groups and connect them with IT folks. Make the connections, generate leads, gain interest…and do all of this informally (thats the key)
  • Community Actions: Use PR and Blogs together as compliments. However, do not confuse them. Marketing should make sure the online community is involved in all customer touch points (events, product launches, R&D, etc). When creating PRs, Marketing should create two versions…1) the PR, and 2) a human version (informal) of that for the blogs
• Finance/Accounting - “It’s all about the numbers! Show me the money!”
  • Provide customers with the good numbers. Provide all of the other business units with the right numbers to pave ways for improvement.
  • Financial advisors need numbers, provide these to them. However, always, always be accurate.
  • Community Actions: You’re the number geeks, show your expertise. Do not be afraid to boast how well the company is doing or even a specific product! Strategically let your customers know through the blogs, events, or even website…just make sure this does not come off as bragging. Customers don’t like big egos.
• Channel Partners - “Customer Outlets…the VARs”
  • Other than direct sales, channel partners bring in the majority of the customers. Strengthen relationships with VARs, work with Marketing to create tools and campaigns that are beneficial for your partners.
  • Help partners increase visibility of your products/services, encourage them to promote them too!
  • Community Actions: Create tools your VARs can actually use. Videocasts, webinars, demos…all of this is good, but make sure the content is relevant. Partners are very specific in their needs, get one of your Partner experts talking to customers. Channels need a spokesperson, whether this be a blogger, podcaster…it’s important.
    

Each business unit can work on creating and enhancing these brands. All can work together to create a group of bloggers that target each one of these, or even a set of podcasts with an expert from each brand involved. Doing this will inevitably reach your customers in a variety of different ways.

Each brand should have one individual who represents them and touches the customer. This person should be savvy enough to know about the industry, company, product/service, and their specific brand. As each person markets their brand, they will all be working together to improve the overall brand of the corporation. This shows synergy…synergy is attractive and customers like it!

Jeremiah recently reported that his blog post has been translated to Hebrew, and I’m happy to report that my post on Social 2.0 and How to utilize its full potential in business bas been translated to Spanish here!

This is great for me.  Not only do people read my content, but some feel that it’s worthy enough to translate late into a different language.  This is awesome and definitely gives me a lot of motivation.

Thanks to everyone for reading.  Look forward to more collaboration in the near future!

I’ve previously talked about the basics for building an online community starting with corporate blogs. This is great for building a foundation, but each online community must have an underlying strategy to keep it living. Strategic planning is vital in ensuring online community goals are met and evolving.

Here’s my list of milestones and goals for all online community blogs (within the first few months):

• Integrate corporate blogs in all customer touch points including:
  • Announcements
  • Product Launches
  • Product Developments
  • Support
  • Customer Events

• Create community blogs to foster industry conversations (2-way) and thought leadership

• Encourage Product Marketing to actively participate in the online industry conversation:
  • Watch corporate bloggers and step in when needed
  • Interact with other industry practitioners and build an online social network
  • Provide corporate bloggers with research and ideas from the blogosphere

• Allow corporate blogs to be used as a feedback mechanism to improve products, support/tech help, messaging, and strategy
  • Connect product teams with current customers/users to build better products
  • Connect users with users to solve technical issues and log information in archives/database

• Utilize corporate blogs as sales tools
  • Use blog entries as conversation starters
  • Refer to corporate blogs and/or specific posts for tech help/information
  • Use blogs/bloggers to answer questions from the sales field

• Improve communication with partners and vendors
  • Blogs = reseller tools to promote vendor’s product info and support
  • Another medium to foster communication, product awareness, and channel partner advantages

• Use corporate blogs as a mechanism to keep track of competitor’s successes and advantages
  • Listen to their customer feedback - what are they doing well?
  • How are their customers reacting to your product launches, etc?
    • How can this information help your company improve product and operations?

This is a great list to start off with. It’s general, yet each corporation can prone it to their own liking. Additionally, here are some other thought-provoking posts that can help with your planning:

1. How to sell social media to your boss
2. Social 2.0 and How to utilize it’s full potential in business
3. The 4 C’s of blogging
4. Benefits of corporate blogs
5. Users vs Consumers - Who’s in, Who’s out

For the next few months, I will be putting on the hat of an Online Community Marketing Manager and pretending as if I’m starting my own from scratch. For simplicity reasons, let’s assume I’ve already got all the back-end server stuff taken care of.

Some questions to ponder about building an online community are:

• who will participate?
• how much time with contributors need to spend on the tool(s)?
• how long does it take to see results and how are these measured?
• how will the online community integrate with other promotional and communication efforts?
• should you allow comments?

Some corporations have only a few bloggers, usually expert thought-leaders, and others have a wide range of employee bloggers (like Sun and IBM). Figuring out what best fits the company’s culture is very important. Either way, here’s a good blog policy to follow (created by sun).

The next important question to ask is why you are blogging. How can you align the blog with the online community and most importantly, the overall messaging of the company. Here’s a few steps to do this:

1. What is the corporate message? Write it down on a piece of paper and figure out how you can achieve this
2. How can you shape the blog to support and coincide nicely with your company’s overall strategy?
3. What trends and topics are hot in your industry? Visit sites like technorati to find out. Using tools like Google Alerts to keep up with the market. You need to be 100% up to date.
4. Who should blog? An individual, a group, or the whole company?

It’s one thing to create tools and push them out there, but its another to have a strategy and a goal for them. They must be part of the value chain that ultimately leads to the corporate message. The blog should spark conversation within the industry, somehow promote the company’s image, and be used as a knowledge base for all.

There are a few important aspects of blogging that serve beneficial and could help jump start other community marketing tools as well:

• Tagging - the method of categorizing information by topic, idea, customer, solution, etc
  • Taxonomy - formal categories grouped by data hierarchy, data relationship, and data type
  • Folksonomy - allowing users the power to define categories to make info easy to search, find, and store (i.e. flickr)
• Webfeeds, RSS - allow sumarries and/or full text entries to be read in feedreaders (MyYahoo, Google Reader)
• Comments - allow all comments, only delete spam. This fosters a dialog between multiple individuals at a time
• Web Analytics - how will traffic be analyzed? Google Analytics is a great tool. What stats must every blog have?

These are all things a Community Manager must take into account and be ready for. Just the first step in creating a blog, but there’s more. What about other help docs? If I were to create help docs (as few as possible), they’d have the following titles (in no particular order):

1. How to incorporate blogs with Flickr
2. Best Practices for blogging: Blogging 101
3. Blogging etiquette: What should and should not be said
4. How to become social and up-to-date with industry trends
5. Blog Analytics Essentials: How to make sense out of graphs and stats

Last, but not least, the role of a Community Marketing Manager is important. This person must possess certain characteristics in order to successfully evangelize the importance of such tools and to keep a program growing. Jeremiah has the 4 Tenets of a Community Manager, which are very difficult to uphold.

This should be enough for now. Please let me know how you’re doing…what roadblocks are you facing? Maybe we can help each other!