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An Eye on Social Media and the World
 Only 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week and 52 weeks in a year. How can ANYONE find the time to keep up on all there is to know in the world of Social Media? Well, the answer is, you CAN"T !!! But you CAN do your best and that starts right here, by reading this blog and many like it. I hope you'll find this information interesting, exciting, and even arousing at times. I welcome your comments, your feedback, and just about anything else. This IS Social Media afterall.
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Social Media for the Entrepreneur
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Written by Administrator
Thursday, 08 January 2009 20:19
 I recently received an email from someone asking me, " I'm starting a company and I'm interested in how I can use social media to get people to my site and my blog."
It's a fair question, and one that is probably on many people's minds. I'm not an entrepreneur, nor do I know if I could ever be one. (That's probably why I'm at a corporate job). A few people - much more qualified than I to speak on this subject - have addressed this issue. You might take a look at what they had to say:
I'm not sure what I can add, but here's my email response. Rather than being list of tools, resources or prescribed tactics, I took more of a behavioral approach.
First off, I wouldn't be concerned about getting people to your site/blog. Social media isn't about getting traffic, it's about building relationships.
What are you doing out there? What social networks are you involved in? What blogs do you read? Interact with people, leave comments, be helpful by providing tips or links. Overall, spend 2-3X more reading & commenting on other people's stuff than you do writing your own. Over time, this will get people naturally interested in what you have to say.
Social media is a karmic business, and you have to give in order to receive. Share you knowledge and information freely. Create an ebook with valuable tips and give it away on your blog or site. Go out of your way to connect people and to show you're willing to give something before you get something.
I'm sure there are many more suggestions that you have, as a smart social media practitioner, student or professional. What are they?
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Written by Administrator
Thursday, 08 January 2009 20:16
 When the one year turns into the next, it's human nature to become reflective. Rather than do a best-of post or look at what I've written, I thought I'd turn this post over to you.
I'll admit that this is not a totally original idea. My friends and social media colleagues Todd Defren and Jake McKee have both done so as well.
It Is All About You
Essentially what I'd like to know is this: what would you like to see me write about in 2009?
Would you like me to write more about blogging techniques? Or tips for using Twitter? Or maybe developments in Facebook? News, information, statistics, and studies from the marketing and social media industry? I know I've spent a lot of time writing about Ford lately, but would you like to see more case studies from my work?
Maybe I'm missing the boat completely. But I'd like your input, either in the comments section, through an email, or Twitter. Let me know what kind of information you'd find most helpful.
If you don't already do so, please consider subscribing to this blog. It's free, painless, and calorie-free for all of your 2009 resolutions.
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Case Study: Social Media for Crisis Communications
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Written by Administrator
Thursday, 08 January 2009 20:14
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 A couple of weeks ago on the heels of Ford's appearance before some Congressional committees, I had to deal with a major firestorm online.
In short, the issue was that there was a Ford fansite called TheRangerStation.com that received a cease & desist letter from Ford, and the owner posted that Ford was asking for $5,000 and the URL to be turned over. It turns out there was much more to the story. The owner was selling counterfeit Ford goods, and together, we reached a reasonable solution to the situation.
Ron Ploof, a B-to-B social media consultant, has created a completely masterful case study of what happened here. I'll leave it to him to set it up, tell the story, and draw out the lessons, here in this Scribd document.
In the end, it's created a point of conversation for us internally (and externally, I might add). I've committed to creating a more fluid conversation between Ford's Communications area and Office of General Counsel, so we don't run into these surprise situations again. We'll still need to protect the brand and our licensees, but if we can work with enthusiast sites, we'll be in a much better place.
Related links:
Interview on For Immediate Release
Real-time review of the day's events on Voltage Blog
Left the Box's assessment
What are your thoughts? Would you have done anything differently?
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